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This year will see the 30th Anniversary of an iconic running event – the Toowoomba Road Runners King & Queen of the Range.

First conducted in 1982, the run commenced at Withcott and finished at the old Toowoomba Showground, with one lap of the main arena. In the early years, the run was dominated by Toowoomba running legend Albert Van der Wyk as the King of the Range and Jodie Curd as the Queen of the Range. In 1985 a young 15 year old novice from Toowong in Brisbane, Gordon Fletcher, came up and beat much older and more experienced runners, including Albert Van der Wyk and Peter Bourgaize, and in doing so, claimed a new record of 28 m 30s, 13 seconds ahead of Van der Wyk’s record of 28m 43s.

In 1986, the course changed and finished in Queen’s Park and it saw the arrival of a new star. This was the first year that Glenn Benecke won the event; the start of a dynasty as he would ultimately win on no less than13 occasions. This record stands today unchallenged and many believe will never be broken. A new Queen of the Range also emerged in Lynette Stern.

Fast track to1992 and the course changed yet again for the final time After ascending the range, runners now turn left into Tourist Drive and proceed along the top of the Range to Long St and then up to Picnic Point to finish at the water tower. This course is longer with an additional ascent to Picnic Point of 440 m and a total distance of 8.3km. Benecke was quick to swoop and claim a new course record of 32min 55secs and this has only been beaten once since, when he broke his own record in 1997, lowering the time to 32m43s (the current standing record).

Each year the Toowoomba Road Runners offer $100 to any runner who can break the record and they have yet to pay up! Lynette Stern was the inaugural winner of the new course but within a few years she had to give way to a new up and coming Queen, Janine Reid. Janine was the Queen for five years and holds the current course record of 38m10s however she does not hold the privilege of the most race victories. This honour belongs to the current Queen of the Range, Toowoomba’s Tressa Lindenberg, who has won the event a total of seven times, starting in 2002, with a personal best time of 40m43s. The closest challenge to Janine’s record came from Samantha Bretherick in 2003 with a time of 39m15s. Samantha, a Welsh cross country runner, loved nothing more than running hills in her native Wales.

Current King of the Range is Hintsa Mebrahtu, an engineering student at USQ who now lives in Brisbane. He is now rated in the top ten runners in Queensland over 10,000 metres and last year won the Twilight 10km in Brisbane and the Queensland Half-Marathon. The current Queen is none other than Tressa Lindenberg and she has a goal of winning the next three to make a neat 10 for her record book..

In discussing the history of the King & Queen of the Range the walkers must not be forgotten. Every year since its inception, a group of hardy walkers set off a half an hour before the runners to ascend the range. This is a non competitive event because the walking is not supervised. However, for the individual, it is just as much a challenge. Last year the Toowoomba Road Runners said goodbye to their oldest stalwart walker, Bill Horsfall. Bill died of cancer at 90 but up until age 88 he walked the range every year.

Submitted by Peter Rookas
Toowoomba Hospital Foundation
peter_rookas@health.qld.gov.au
Ph. (07) 46166166
Fax. (07) 46166177

The USQ Twilight Song Recital scheduled to be presented in the USQ Arts Theatre on 15 June has been cancelled due to illness.

One half of the IkonMusic duo, soprano Emma Baker-Spink, has been struck down with a severe case of laryngitis and is unable to perform.

The next recital in the series will see local jazz ensemble Swing On In perform an evening of traditional jazz favourites with a contemporary edge, at the Twilight Jazz Recital on 29 June – bookings and enquiries – USQ Artsworx Box Office on 4631 1111.

Submitted by
Michelle Fox,
USQ Artsworx
4631 1114

This year marks the 152nd anniversary of Queensland becoming a separate colony from New South Wales. Here in Pittsworth we will be celebrating the occasion on Sunday 12 June at the Pioneer Village. Once again the Queensland Day Committee has organised a full program. Admission will be free.

A highlight this year will be the display of over 90 historic motor vehicles. Participants in the Queensland Historic Motoring Council’s 2011 rally will be joining our celebration and giving local car enthusiasts the opportunity to view some quality vehicles from yesteryear. The cars will be on display from 9.30am and visitors will be able to purchase tea, coffee and scones from the Beauaraba QCWA ladies.
Official proceedings will begin on the covered stage at 11am with the welcome by Cr. Ros Scotney from Toowoomba Regional Council.
Allan Petersen, who will be the MC for the occasion, will then invite Cr Ros to read the Declaration of Queensland Day. This will be followed by the flag raising ceremony led by the local Guide group and Mark Schuster will perform “God Save the Queen”. Proceedings will then move to the Post Office where Cr Ros will officiate at the naming of one of the display rooms.

Local land holders will then have the chance to record their cattle or horse brands for posterity on the Branding Board for $30 each. There will be displays by White Mischief and Amazing Soaps and the Craft Shop will be open. Gail Parish, Ruth Taylor and Barbara Harris will also have a lace and spinning display in the Post Office.

Local gardening identity Penny McKinlay will be presenting a talk in her unique style. Old time children’s games will be organized by Allan Petersen and Bill Krautz to ensure the day rounds off with a family flavour.

There’s no need for anyone to go hungry. Ron and Lyn Pearce and their helpers will use their camp oven expertise to provide traditional Aussie favourites such as stew, billy tea and damper with syrup. Cook’s Softdrinks will be on sale during the various activities.

Mark Schuster will continue performing on his button accordion throughout the morning and the Queensland Day Committee is awaiting confirmation on other musical entertainment.

Make sure you bring the family and join in what should be an enjoyable celebration at the Pioneer Village. It is envisaged that activities will be finished by 2pm.

Submitted by
Peter Ross

A public lecture conducted by the Australian Decorative and Fine Arts Society, Toowoomba

Tuesday 7 June 2011

The beauty of ceramics produced by the Royal Worcester pottery in England is well recognised and pieces are found in many Australian homes. Perhaps less well known is that the art of one of Australia’s premier artists of Australian flora and fauna, Ellis Rowan (1849 – 1922) is represented on many Royal Worcester pieces. Harry Frost, an unrivalled expert on Royal Worcester porcelain, will discuss the link between Royal Worcester and Ellis Rowan’s beautiful water-colours in an illustrated lecture on Tuesday 7 June for the Toowoomba Group of the Australian Decorative and Fine Arts Society (ADFAS).

After university where he graduated in ceramics, Harry joined Royal Worcester in 1976 as designer-modeller and followed that by his appointment as curator at the Museum of Worcester Porcelain. Harry Frost spent over 25 years with Royal Worcester and is now in great demand internationally as a lecturer on the work of the renowned pottery.

Harry Frost’s lecture will be given in the Glennie Room, The Glennie School, Herries Street, Toowoomba on Tuesday 7 June starting at 6.45 pm, and will be followed by supper. Members of the public are very welcome to attend. The cost is $20 for persons who are not members of ADFAS and $10 for students.

For further information about this lecture and about membership of ADFAS contact the Secretary of ADFAS, Toowoomba on 07 4636 6164.