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International Volunteers Day (5 December) is fast approaching. A day to acknowledge the immeasurable contribution made by individuals, who volunteer time and talents, in so many aspects of our society.

But, don’t go thinking that volunteering is what you do when you retire”!

Imagine the plight of those entering the workforce for the first time – you can’t get a job without experience and you don’t get experience without a job”.

A viable option then is to consider voluntary work. Apart from benefiting others by offering your skills and time, you’ll gain valuable work experience and give your resume a boost.

Volunteer work is a stimulating and rewarding activity, and a great entry portal into an organization. Apart from allowing you to develop your ability, it shows prospective employers that you’re determined to succeed, even if you have to start at the bottom. It is a well accepted fact that volunteers don’t always work for purely philanthropic reasons, so don’t feel guilty about undertaking voluntary work to improve your chances of paid employment.

Volunteer work will provide you with:

* The chance to think laterally about your skills;

* The opportunity to network;

* The opportunity to use and develop your communication and inter-personal skills;

* Motivation, enthusiasm and confidence;

* Actual work experience in a work environment; and

* The opportunity to explore career options before making a commitment.

Success as a volunteer depends on you, so remember to honour your commitment and understand your responsibility as a volunteer. Finally, ask for a reference – it will be a welcome contribution to your resume!

For further information about volunteering in the environment/conservation sector,

contact Frank Ondrus at HOPE on phone (07) 4639 2135 or email office@hopeaustralia.org.au .

Frank Ondrus, President – HOPE Inc

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.