Voice report from Chief Superintendent (Southern Region) Andy Morrow relating to the situation in the Southern Police Region.
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There has been a change of venue for the Best of British 60’s†Cabaret at Helidon on Saturday 1st January,2011 . Due to the weather, it will now be held indoors at the Helidon Community Centre, starting at 8 p.m.
The versatile and highly entertaining band Hopney Moffatt will be playing the hit songs of the Beatles, Cliff Richard, Jerry and the Pacemakers, Herman’s Hermits, Dusty Springfield, Lulu and Petula Clark. Guests will still be greeted by Grenadier Guards, London Bobbies and British Belles at the entrance to Buckingham Palace.
A traditional Christmas feast is a consistent theme linking more than 3600 Australian Defence Force personnel deployed on operations throughout the world this festive season.
Deployed soldiers, sailors, airmen and airwomen have been celebrating Christmas Day in locations as far reaching as Afghanistan, the Middle East, Egypt and Sudan, with others closer to home in East Timor, Solomon Islands and on border protection duties in Australia’s north.
Considerable effort was also made to ensure that soldiers serving in the outlying patrol bases did not miss out and enjoyed a special hot meal with tastes of home and an abundance of assorted treats.
Commander of Australian troops in the Middle East, Major General John Cantwell, made a short visit on Christmas Eve to patrol bases near Mirawais in the Chora Valley to bring a Christmas message and, importantly, mail and resupplies. He spent Christmas morning with troops at Multi-National Base Tarin Kot before returning to the Australian national headquarters location at Al Minhad, UAE.
Near Africa and the Gulf of Aden sailors onboard HMAS Melbourne embraced the Christmas spirit by hosting a slightly unusual carols by cyalume†on the flight deck.
Closer to home, Australian soldiers serving in Solomon Islands also commenced festivities with carols on Christmas Eve, followed by a Midnight Mass. On Christmas Day, the command team handed out care packages sent by the Australian public to the troops, followed by an afternoon of sports.
As part of the International Stabilisation Force, Australian Defence Force personnel in East Timor hosted a group of 40 children from Dili’s St Bakhita Orphanage at lunch.
Commander of Joint Operations Command Lieutenant General Mark Evans said, During this Christmas period, all Australians should spare a thought for 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. They consistently demonstrate Australian values, professionalism and compassion and are held in the highest regard amongst their peers and all whom they encounterâ€.
Shortly before midday a Triple Zero call was received by police from an unknown motorist who observed a distressed driver and his vehicle caught in floodwaters on Clark Street at Clifton.
Sergeant Guy Smidt from Clifton Station attended the area known as the Black Gully causeway to find a vehicle stranded in deep floodwater. The 19-year-old Toowoomba man and his vehicle were on the verge of being washed off the causeway and down the creek.
With little time left to act the police officer, with the assistance of the QFRS, risked his own life to reach the trapped driver with a rope. QFRS then dragged the driver and the police officer to safety. Both men were uninjured.
A very short time later the vehicle was washed off the causeway and was completely submerged. Situations like these highlight the dangers of attempting to cross flooded causeways. Floodwaters are unpredictable and can rise and fall rapidly, quickly inundating vehicles and putting the lives of occupants and rescue workers at risk.
This young man could have very easily been swept into the flooded creek and we could have had a tragedy on our hands,†Sergeant Smidt from Clifton police said. We cannot stress enough the dangers of driving in wet conditions and the dangers of floodwaters that can rise without warning.
The 19-year-old has been issued with a Notice to Appear for driving without due care and attention. He is to appear at the Warwick Magistrates Court on January 25.
Issued by Police Media
Media and Public Affairs Branch
Queensland Fire and Rescue Service have had fourteen swift water rescues reported to them since midnight Saturday December 18 and tragically, 20 people have died in floodwaters over the past two wet seasons.
It only takes 15 centimetres of fast flowing water to knock a person off their feet and just 60 centimetres of flowing water can sweep a four-wheel-drive off a flooded causeway. The dangers of drains, creeks, rivers and causeways after heavy rain are often hidden beneath the surface and currents are deceptive.
Being a good swimmer is not enough to survive flowing flood waters and people can easily become tangled in submerged debris.
People who still intend to travel are advised to take extreme caution and not to attempt to drive through floodwaters. Parents must also keep a close eye on children around flooded creeks, drains and rivers. Children may think playing in bodies of water is fun, but it is deadly.
With heavy rain expected to continue falling across the state over the festive season, Queenslanders are urged to prepare for the wet weather and stay out of floodwaters.
More information on preparing yourself and your home for floods can be found at www.disaster.qld.gov.au .
For flood and storm assistance contact the SES on 132 500 and in a life-threatening emergency which includes people becoming trapped in floodwaters call triple zero (000) immediately.
Origin has been running a Holiday Pet Food Drive for regional animal care centres which house lost or surrendered pets over the Christmas holiday period. Origin has matched every donation made at council pounds in Dalby, Chinchilla, Miles and Tara in the Holiday Pet Food Drive.
Every December and January up to 50 dogs and cats are impounded by Western Downs Regional Council awaiting collection, identification or re-homing.
It’s a time of year when we should be thinking of how we can give and share the good fortune. While we relax, eat, drink and be merry, there will be pounds at Tara, Chinchilla, Miles and Dalby where animals need care and food.†Origin Community Relations Manager Bruce Chalmers said. I will be encouraging every Origin staffer to donate to the pet food drive and we will match the community’s efforts.â€
Western Downs Regional Council can only accept dry food donations. Pound drop off locations are: Dalby – Irvingdale Rd; Miles – Lynagh St; Chinchilla Pound – Slessar St; Tara – Beardmore St
For more information call Origin on 1800 526 369 or call Western Downs Regional Council directly on 1300 728 500.
Sunday 19 December from 5.30pm with a fundraiser Sausage Sizzle for Laidley School Chaplaincy.
Carols begin at 6:30pm
The event site is the wet weather venue, the Laidley Cultural Centre on Plainland Road, Laidley.
Everyone is welcome to come and sing all your favourite carols and be refreshed by the true story of Christmas.
Discover the Reason for the Season – presented by the combined Churches of Laidley as a gift to the community.
Wednesday, 15th of December is your last opportunity to vist Toowoomba’s Christmas Tree Festival in St Luke’s Anglican Church on the corner of Herries and Ruthven Streets.
The church has been transformed. with a forest of over 100 Christmas trees. Look and wonder at the trees adorned with displays depicting international traditions, hymns, carols and songs.
Free tea and coffee is available in the adjacent Church Hall, where you will find craft stalls with excellent gift ideas.
There is also a music program sponsored by the City Golf Club. On Wednesday the U3AÂ Chamber Singers will be performing from 12.30 to 1.30pm and the evening concert from 6 to 7pm will feature Christingle and Women in Harmony.
Toowoomba’s Christmas Tree Festival will be open for the final time for 2010 from 9am to 9pm Wednesday, 15th of December.
