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A free public information forum to discuss the impact of population growth in regional areas will be held in Toowoomba on Wednesday 8 December 2010, from 7pm – 9pm, Jacaranda Room, Grand Central Shopping Centre.

Hosted by Householders’ Options to Protect the Environment (HOPE), the evening’s topic will be ‘Regionalisation of population growth: whose agenda is it and what’s in it for us?’

The Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) is currently calling on the state government to develop a population policy. LGAQ believes more needs to be done to manage the impacts of a growing population on environmental and natural resources, as well as providing for services and infrastructure.

According to HOPE president Frank Ondrus, the forum is a unique opportunity for the public to have their say on the increasing population and its potential impacts on their region, and to talk about such issues as sustainability, jobs, development and the local environment.

By 2031, Queensland is estimated to be home to 6.3 million people”, says Mr. Ondrus, however, at the moment we are only reacting to trends in population growth. We should be preparing for growth. We should be talking about the potential impacts on the local environment and our natural resources, as well as our ability to provide services and infrastructure to this expanding population.”

Speakers at the forum on Wednesday 8 December include Jane O’Sullivan from Sustainable Population Australia (SPA) and Dr Geoff Cockfield Associate Professor (Government and Economics) & Deputy Dean of the University of Southern Queensland.

For further information, or to RSVP for the forum please contact Frank Ondrus on 4639 2135 or email office@hopeaustralia.org.au.

Submitted by Keryn Donnelly, Media Officer – HOPE Inc

The Toowoomba Hospice will start its Festive Season this Sunday 28th November at the Hospice in O’Quinn Street.  Chairman Graham Barron OAM said the Hospice is celebrating the Festive Season with carols and lighting of the Christmas tree.

The Toowoomba Hospice has been providing Palliative Care Services to the Lockyer Valley, Toowoomba and Darling Downs Communities since July 1st 2003. We are excited to be able to celebrate our 7th Christmas and we want to thank the Community as a whole from the bottom of our hearts for supporting us so we can provide Palliative and Respite Care for those with a terminal illness especially at this time of the year” said Mr Barron. We are having Christmas carols here at the Hospice from 5pm, Toowoomba Municipal Band will be playing, High Altitude Harmony will lead the singing accompanied by the students from St Anthony’s Primary School, there will be food and drinks on sale as well, so bring the family, a blanket or chair and kick off the Christmas season with us here at the Toowoomba Hospice”.

Mr. Barron wants to reassure all those who attend on Sunday that the ‘Big Fella’ in the red suit will be coming in from the North Pole for a quick visit. I have had our promotions and fundraising manager Mark Munro on the phone to the North Pole coordinating a special visit from Santa and I am pleased to say he is on his way and will arrive at 6pm via a BIG RED TRUCK!!!”

It is all about eye-catching style and revolutionary engineering at the Transport and Main Roads Heritage Centre. Saturday’s open day marks the last opportunity to view the international exhibition Industrial Desire: Detroit Concept Cars.

The exhibition is a unique opportunity to sneak a peek at the highly secretive and competitive world of car design. With less than a few thousand car designers globally, it counts as one of the world’s most competitive and secretive careers. Open from 10am to 2pm, Saturday – This is  your last chance to view this international exhibition.

Contrasting with these dream machines of the future is the attention-grabbing style of the Jaguar Drivers Club of Queensland and the practical revolutionary designs of machinery from Highfields Pioneer Village … A short distance away, visitors can be amazed at the spirit and missions of the Zuccoli aircraft collection on display in the airport precinct.

After seeing these exciting displays, take the opportunity to talk with like-minded enthusiasts over a BBQ hosted by Rotary Club of Toowoomba City.

Located near the airport terminal on Mutze Street, the Transport and Main Roads Centre is a hidden gem.. It showcases an engaging representation of the skill and dedication that goes into connecting Queensland from early pioneering days to current road-building technologies.

Saturday, 27 November, 2010, 10 am to 2pm

• Free entry to Industrial Desire: Detroit Concept Cars

• Free entry to Toowoomba Zuccoli Classic and ex-military aircraft collection at Aerotec

• Machinery from the Highfields Pioneer Village collection

• Visit from the Jaguar Drivers Club of Queensland, with other car clubs expected

• BBQ and other activities

For more information contact Karen Barrett on 4633 2506 during business hours.

With the exception of weekend public days,  the centre is open Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm.

Industrial Desire is presented by Transport and Main Roads Heritage Centre through artisan in partnership with the College for Creative Studies, Detroit, and toured by Museum and Gallery Services Queensland.

Heritage Building Society’s CEO John Minz was last night announced as the Queensland winner of Australia’s CEO Challenge Race for his passionate campaigning against domestic and family violence.

In a special touch, Mr Minz received the award in Brisbane last night from Canadian educator and campaigner Dr Michael Kaufman, one of the three men who co-founded the White Ribbon Campaign in Canada more than 20 years ago.

The CEO Challenge Race concept asks the leaders of prominent organisations to accept nomination into a race” that takes place between May and November each year to raise awareness and funds in support of action against domestic violence. This year, Mr Minz was up against two fellow racers in Queensland Rail CEO Paul Scurrah and Accenture Senior Manager Bill Skipper.

As well as raising more than $15,000, Mr Minz’s campaign used a wide range of activities to support the effort to eliminate the scourge of domestic violence from our society.

The activities included launching a White Ribbon Camellia, which is now on sale at Bunnings outlets’ organising a series of newspaper articles profiling positive role models; theming the Heritage float at the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers around the campaign against domestic violence; organising briefing sessions for key management staff around how to deal with the impacts of domestic violence in the workplace; distribution of posters and brochures through all branches; stories in internal and external newsletters; and sponsorship of team entries in sporting events with jerseys promoting the campaign.

In accepting the award, Mr Minz praised the wholehearted commitment of Heritage staff and the people of the Toowoomba community in supporting his efforts.

Submitted by  Andrew Fox

Manager Public Relations

Heritage Building Society

November 25 marks White Ribbon Day, the United Nations’ International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. In Australia, the White Ribbon campaign works to prevent violence against women by encouraging men and boys to take positive action to create change.

The campaign aims to have all Aussie men take an oath and swear” never to commit, never to excuse and never to remain silent about violence against women. This year, the campaign aims to have one million Aussie men take the oath! One in three Australian women will be a victim of physical or sexual violence or abuse in her lifetime. They are the mothers, sisters, daughters or friends of men across Australia.

In support of this significant day, a gold coin donation breakfast will be held in Toowoomba at Laurel Bank Park on Thursday 25th November at 7.00am. Wet weather venue is now St Mary’s Hall, cnr Hill & West Streets….

The Toowoomba Rotary Club will combine with both Zonta International Clubs in Toowoomba to cater for the gathering and emphasise the need for citzens to speak up about violence in the community.

The White Ribbon campaign is supported by the White Ribbon Foundation as a national campaign to prevent and reduce violence and abuse of women. It is unique because of the focus on encouraging men to take the lead in their immediate communities and networks, by speaking out about violence and challenging the attitudes that allow violence in our society.

You can join the ranks of men supporting the campaign by swearing at www.myoath.com.au or by wearing a white ribbon or wristband on White Ribbon Day, November 25, you can show your support for the campaign. White Ribbons and wristbands will be available on the day or prior at any Heritage Building Society branch.

For more information about White Ribbon Day visit www.whiteribbonday.org.au