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Deployed soldiers, sailors, airmen and airwomen will celebrate Christmas Day in Afghanistan, the Middle East, Egypt and Sudan, while others will be on duty closer to home in East Timor, Solomon Islands and on border protection duties in Australia’s north.

Although some will work through the Christmas period, many will celebrate Christmas with a traditional Christmas lunch and a game of cricket or beach volley ball giving the day a typically Australian theme.

More than 3000 Australian Defence Force personnel are deployed on operations throughout the world this festive season.  It can be a particularly difficult time for those members who are deployed and for their families at home.

Christmas is a time to remember family and loved ones and those who have passed. It is also a time for optimism, to think about the possibilities the future presents,” Commander of Australian troops in the Middle East and Afghanistan, Major General Angus Campbell said. He plans to spend the Christmas season in Afghanistan and on Christmas Day will be serving lunch to troops in the field.

Our men and women have been through an intense operational period this year. They have made a significant contribution to security and stability in the region. Many have lost mates who are sadly missed, more so at this time of the year,” Major General Campbell said. On behalf of the men and women under my command, I would also like to take this opportunity to say thank you to the families and friends of our deployed personnel and more broadly to the people of Australia for their support as we go about our mission in the Middle East and Afghanistan.”

Near Africa and the Gulf of Aden HMAS Parramatta will celebrate with a special Christmas lunch for the approximately 190 crew members on board.

As part of the International Stabilisation Force (ISF), Australian Defence Force personnel in East Timor will host a group of children from a local orphanage to lunch and share in the festive activities at various ISF bases during the day and Australian soldiers serving in the Solomon Islands will enjoy a Christmas lunch with the Australian Federal Police led Participating Police Force.

Australian Defence Force personnel serving in Afghanistan on Operation SLIPPER are enjoying some of the 1350 Lions Christmas cakes generously donated by Lions Australia.
(Left) Lance Corporal Michael Baker (Townsville, Qld) and Corporal Emily Lodge (Townsville, Qld), both from the 3rd Combat Service Support Battalion from Townsville, take a break to enjoy some Lions Christmas cake at the engineering workshops in Tarin Kot, Afghanistan.

Commander of Joint Operations Command, Lieutenant General Ash Power, said: During this Christmas period, all Australians should spare a thought and be very proud of our deployed men and women who are serving their country with distinction on operations at home and on distant shores. Their unwavering commitment under the most difficult circumstances is commendable.”

Toowoomba Hospice recently held its annual Christmas Carols on the lawn at 57b O’Quinn Street for the 9th time and the crowd just gets bigger and bigger!

Chairman of the Toowoomba Hospice Mr Graham Barron OAM wanted to thank all those involved On behalf of the Management Committee, staff and volunteers at the Toowoomba Hospice I would sincerely like to thank the Toowoomba Municipal Brass Band and the High Altitude Choir for combining their talents to help kick off the festive season at the Hospice by presenting the 2011 Toowoomba Hospice Christmas Carols”.

He continued “Our Annual Christmas Carols keeps growing due to the generous support we receive from the community and visitors to our beautiful city, it was a wonderful afternoon with a great array of local talent being displayed”.

Finally, Mr Barron wanted to say a special thanks to Pickwick Potatoes, Home Ice Cream, Coffee Cruiser, Garden City Hire, JJ Richards, Wilsonton Lions Club, and 1300TOWING for bringing Santa

The Toowoomba regional community is being called upon to take a stance against all forms of violence with a Street March in Toowoomba today,  Thursday 15th December.

While it is acknowledged that violence isn’t rampant in Toowoomba, the committee’s aim is to promote and keep Toowoomba a safe, healthy and peaceful community. By saying that violence is not an option, the Toowoomba community can maintain its reputation as a desirable place to live.

Prominent citizens including the Mayor Peter Taylor & USQ Vice Chancellor Bill Lovegrove will lead other local champions of the ‘Toowoomba Says NO to Violence’ message.  The Street March which will leave from near the Empire Theatre at just after 11.00am this morning, march north along Neil Street, swing west into Margaret Street and then south into Ruthven Street to finish on the steps of the Town Hall. Mayor Taylor, USQ Vice Chancellor Bill Lovegrove and Marcus Romea, a student from Toowoomba High School Mt Lofty campus will address the gathering. Following the short speeches there will be a Free Sausage sizzle available, food supplied by Rotary with cold drinks available for purchase.

People wanting to join in the march are asked to assemble on the grassed area near the front of the Empire Theatre Church in Neil Street, Toowoomba at 11.00am for an 11.30am move off.

Submitted by:
Tony Rehn
Crime Prevention Officer
Southern Region
Queensland Police Service
Ph 07 4631 6755

ADDENDUM: Our Walk Against Violence was a success.  We estimate 60 people walked and took a stand, a bit down on last year but I think the weather had something to do with that. Thanks to Mayor Peter Taylor, Vice Chancellor Bill Lovegrove and the marvellous effort of Nathan Romea, student representative of Toowoomba State High School for their leadership of the march and their important words at the end.

This is a great city and region and we are on the right track to alert people to that fact, together with their responsibility to themselves and this community. With much development in the pipeline we are in for some heady times in the next few years and with your consent and assistance TSN2V can be there to help weave the fabric of this community into the strong, resilient and amazing tapestry it can be.

Special thanks to the Pipes and Drums, marvellous effort to be there on short notice and play for the entire length of the march, thank you.

The passion for helping kids in need at Christmas time will see over 200 motorcycle enthusiasts take to the streets of Toowoomba this weekend when the Downs Motorcycle Sporting Club (DMCSC) conducts their 25th Annual Toy Run on Sunday (18th December) from Picnic Point, Toowoomba

Bikers from all over the Downs, South East Queensland and northern NSW will converge on Picnic Point from four (4) different starting points before wending their way down through the streets of Toowoomba to the clubhouse headquarters of DMCSC in Water Street.

DMCSC Toy Run coordinator Nathan Beddoes said there were bikers coming from everywhere. We’ll have riders from Brisbane, Ipswich, Wondai and even south to Tenterfield joining us for this annual event as well as our Downs riders. Anyone with a motorcycle or scooter is more than welcome to join in. All we ask is for each rider to bring a toy.”

Toys from the Toy Run are distributed to Lifeline, Foster Care Association and the Toowoomba Hospital Foundation for kids at the Children’s Ward in the Toowoomba Hospital.

Bikers will assemble at 11.00am at Lorrimer’s Toyworld in Oakey, Rudd’s Pub at Nobby, Grand Hotel Crow’s Nest and Target carpark in Gatton. They will all converge on Picnic Point and meet up with the Toowoomba motorcyclists to leave Picnic Point at 12.00 midday to ride to the DMCSC headquarters in Water Street (just south of the James Street Tennis complex).

The Toowoomba West Lions Club & the Toowoomba Hospital Foundation will provide a Sausage Sizzle for a gold coin donation to the Toowoomba Hospital Children’s Appeal.

Submitted by:
Peter Rookas,
Toowoomba Hospital Foundation,
Ph 4616 6166