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90 Years of “Royal’ for the RAAF

The Royal Australian Air Force will mark 90 years since the title of ‘Royal’ was bestowed on 13 August 2011. Although the RAAF celebrates its birthday on 31 March 1921, on this date the service was officially known as the Australian Air Force. But the decision had already been made, in February, to ask the King to grant the ‘Royal’ title. The approval of ‘Royal’ appeared in the Commonwealth Gazette on 18 August 1921, but what was printed there was the order signed by the Governor-General five days earlier. This stipulated 13 August as the date from which the service was to be known as the Royal Australian Air Force.

Courtesy of the National Archives of Australia collection www.naa.gov.au (click to enlarge).

90 Years of Air Force

Defence Media Operations

Harristown High Open Day Tuesday, August 16th

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Harristown is a large regional high school in Toowoomba offering a wide range of subjects to students. Our focus at Harristown is about learning, opportunities and achievements. In addition, four academy programs are available to talented students in the areas of academics, sports, industry and the arts.

On the afternoon of  Tuesday 16 August, staff and students are hosting an open afternoon from 3.30pm to showcase our school to the community. Feel free to come along share some refreshments, meet some of our wonderful students, talk to our friendly staff and tour the school’s first class facilities. We look forward to meeting you then. For more information phone Dina on 4636 8700.

Submitted by:
Ms Helen Parker
Deputy Principal (Bonda)
Harristown State High School
341-367 South Street
Toowoomba Qld 4350
Ph 07 46368 700

Council Connections: Week 2, August 2011

Toowoomba Regional Council Connections

The weekly program keeping you up to date with Toowoomba Regional Council’s facilities, activities and services.

Council Connections with Darren Burton
This week Darren talks about a special meeting of council for the budget, draft planning scheme, lending a hand at Carnival events, Carnival’s Garden Space, photography exhibition, new library hours, burn offs, gallery proposals and a reminder to dam users.

Toowoomba Languages & Cultures Festival this Sunday, August 14

The festival aims to foster a sense of belonging and increase understanding and cooperation amongst people of different backgrounds.

More than 100 international performers from our sister cities will take to the stages of the sixth Toowoomba Languages & Cultures Festival at Queens Park on Sunday, August 14. The popular community festival, being held from 10am to 4pm, is a celebration of the rich and diverse cultural heritage of the people of this region. Entry is by gold coin donation.
[iframe_youtube video=”iZgpCCqC6hI” height=”250″ width=”350″]
Above: Cr Paul Antonio joins in the Aboriginal dancing at the 2010 Festival.

Korean dancers are coming from Paju while Japanese sister city Takatsuki is sending a Japanese choir and their world renowned Taiko drummers. The Women in Harmony Choir from Christchurch will add their voices to the Toowoomba Women In Harmony Choir on the Peace stage while a Maori group will also be performing a special three part act. Indonesian Topeng masked dancers, Bollywood dancers, Chinese Lion dancers, belly dancers, Scottish Highland dancers, Cultural Stargazers, and Congolese, Thai and Sudanese dancers are among the many acts on stage.

The festival will feature a rich mix of languages, foods, dances, music and community members with 27 food stalls, over 60 displays, 25 market stalls, activities for children of all ages and non-stop multicultural performances on three stages.

For the first time this year, a Health and Wellness Expo will be part of the event. Over 20 health providers from traditional medicine and alternative therapies will be displaying their services and products.

Buses will be running from Millmerran and Crow’s Nest to bring people to the festival. Tickets cost $10 and buses leave council service centres at 9.30am and will leave Queen’s Park at 4 pm.

The Toowoomba International Multicultural Society (TIMS) is the major sponsor of the event which is also supported by Toowoomba Regional Council and Multicultural Affairs Queensland. The Modern Languages and Teachers Association of Queensland and Mercy Family Services are also major partners.

Elizabeth Jones,
Languages and Cultures Festival Co-ordinator
Ph 4688 6300

Council Connections: Week 1, August 2011

Toowoomba Regional Council Connections

The weekly program keeping you up to date with Toowoomba Regional Council’s facilities, activities and services.

Council Connections with Darren Burton
This week Darren talks about a photographic exhibition at Rosalie Gallery, burn offs, the Committee of Council meeting, new library hours, mobile library and the draft planning scheme.

 

Cecil Plains SES Group Gains Hero Status

Teamwork and commitment have earned the Cecil Plains group the 2011 NRMA Insurance SES Storm Heroes Award above several worthy nominations from across Queensland.

In December 2010/January 2011 all nine SES groups in the Toowoomba Regional Council area were deployed to assist with storm and/or flood tasks. The way the groups operated and performed during the period has been described as extraordinary. The SES Cecil Plains group, in particular, has been singled out for praise for their performance, with four major incidents defining their success.

Click here for full story http://www.toowoombarc.qld.gov.au/about-council/newspublications/news-releases/6582-cecil-plains-ses-group-gains-hero-status.html

Missing Persons Week (July 31 – August 6), 2011

This year the theme of the week is When someone goes missing, more than one person is lost,” highlighting the impact of a missing person on family, friends, colleagues and the community.

Police are appealing for information on several cases including the following:

Jayden Preston – Cambooya
Jayden is 15-years-old and was living at Cambooya. Police believe that he has left the area and may have travelled to North Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast area. Jayden was reported missing in February of this year by his father and extensive inquiries are under way to locate him. Jayden is described as 165cm tall, collar length dark hair and has a heavy build.

Matthew Rourke – Helidon

Matthew Rourke, 27 has been reported missing by his mother. He was last seen asleep at his home at Helidon Spa at 10am on December 11 last year. He has left all personal belongings at the address including clothes, bank cards and medication. Matthew Rourke was last seen wearing dark blue shorts, a green t-shirt and thongs. It is believed that he may have travelled interstate as he has previously travelled frequently.

As part of National Missing Persons Week,  the Queensland Police Service is urging people who are missing to make contact with a friend, family member or police..

Detective Senior Sergeant Damien Powell, Officer in Charge of the State Crime Operations Command Missing Persons Unit says Last financial year around 6000 people were reported missing in Queensland. While the Queensland Police Service’s recovery rate is 99.7%, there are approximately 260 people on the long term missing persons register (dating back to 1970). We rely heavily on information from the public to help locate missing people. However small the information may be, often the key to finding a missing person lies with the eyes and ears of our community and we encourage anyone with information to contact police,”

While people go missing for a variety of reasons and some do not wish to be located. If you have been reported missing and do not wish to be located, it is important you make contact with police. Once we have verified you are safe and well, your whereabouts will remain confidential,” Detective Senior Sergeant Powell said.

Anyone with information which could assist police with their investigations should contact Crime Stoppers anonymously via
1800 333 000 or crimestoppers.com.au 24hrs a day.

Crime Stoppers is a charitable community volunteer organisation working in partnership with the Queensland Police Service.

Council Connections: Week 5, July 2011

Toowoomba Regional Council Connections

The weekly program keeping you up to date with Toowoomba Regional Council’s facilities, activities and services.
Council Connections with Darren Burton
This week Darren talks about the next meetings of council, registering for Carnival’s “Garden Space”, new library hours, our Draft Regional Planning Scheme, Carnival’s program guide, family history research tips, scheduled burn offs, the mobile library and a reminder to dam users.