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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

We have been advised that due to weather related issues, Carols at Peacehaven (Peacehaven Botanic Park), Highfields have been cancelled for 2011.

Christmas at the Village (Pittsworth Pioneer Village) has also been cancelled. However some elements of the program will go ahead next Friday evening in the Pittsworth Town Hall Courtyard. The Combined Churches Carols have been transferred to the Pittsworth Town Hall this evening from 7.00pm