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The Ergon Energy Tidy Towns Regional Awards (Darling Downs) were presented recently in Toowoomba at Marks Courtyard, City Hall with Toowoomba  Regional Council towns featuring prominently.

Two of the awards were secured by Oakey:

1. The OneSteel Recycling PARTNERSHIPS AWARD

Over 130 agencies and individuals are partners involved in the Oakey Jigsaw initiative. The social problems of the town were highlighted and Health Services, indigenous workers, Toowoomba Regional Council, State Government, churches, community groups, sporting clubs, Emergency Services, employment services and the University of Southern Queensland all had valuble input into a plan to address Oakey’s problems. They all worked together to understand each other’s roles, the services they were able to  offer, and shared knowledge to ensure Oakey’s future is positive and productive.

2. YOUNG LEGENDS AWARD

One of the outcomes of the Oakey Jigsaw projectwas the formation of the Oakey Traditional Dance Troupe which consists of between 30 and 40 children and teenagers led by a 16 year old who knows that it is “OK to be aboriginal in Oakey.’  The Troupe has performed at Oakey, Toowoomba (with John Williamson) and Dalby Shows and a number of other community events. Very positive outcomes from this initiative include the boost to the childrens’ self esteem and a very noticeable attitude change amongst Oakey’s aboriginal youth.

Audio Report – Gordon Patterson speaks with David Totenhofer, Lorraine See and Jennifer Wharton.

Highfields students and the community will have more opportunities to get involved in sport and the performing arts following the completion of the new $2.6 million Highfields State School multipurpose auditorium and the $1.5 million new Resource Centre.

State Member for Toowoomba North, Kerry Shine MP, who opened the state of the art hall and resource centre, said the new hall and centre were a joint effort. The Bligh Government contributed $584,000 through the Major Facilities Program and $515,000 through the Education Queensland Smart Schools Subsidy Scheme, while  the Australian Government provided $3 million through the Primary Schools for the 21^st Century (P21) element. A further $18,000 came from Progressive Community Crow’s Nest Ltd (from profits of the Highfields Heritage Community Branch), which funded the stage curtain, and $10,000 from Toowoomba Regional Council to fit out the kitchen.

In officially opening the centre, Mr Shine paid special tribute to the school and the P&C committee which contributed $200,000 to the project.  He made special mention of Mrs Bronwyn Cairns for her tireless work towards seeing the ‘SmartSpace’ become a reality.

Mr Shine said “The new facility will allow more effective delivery of the current school Physical Education program, including gymnastics, structured dance, skipping, ball skills, handball and aerobics and allow for expansion of the program in the future.”

The auditorium has two music rooms, a full stage and wings, seating for 800 people and a 600 square metre sports floor, whilst ancillary buildings house  the library and resource centre.  Highfields State School Principal Warren Merchant described the project as ‘brilliant’ and said it was a celebration of the partnership between school and community.

Sport Minister Phil Reeves has said the multipurpose auditorium will also be available for community groups to utilise, and Education and Training Minister Geoff Wilson confirmed the stellar facility was not only for the students to pursue their passions in all fields of education but also for the wider community.

Some of Australia’s greatest professional golfers will converge on Toowoomba for this year’s staging of the $10,000 R & O Communications Senior Pro Am at the City Golf Club on Monday 2^nd August.

Former Australian Open champion & three times Queensland Senior Open champion Rodger Davis will spearhead the field which also includes the likes of prolific Japan Tour champion Brian Jones, Australian Senior Open champion John Clifford plus the popular trio of Mike Ferguson, Jeff Woodland and Ossie Moore. Throw in a couple of former Queensland PGA champions and former City professionals Bryan Smith and John Victorsen and you have a top quality field of golfing greats.

A field of 50 professionals will join local amateurs to contest the event which is a part of the Darling Downs swing of the Queensland Legends PGA tour. The City Senior Pro Am kick-starts a number of senior pro am events locally with Dalby, Chinchilla and Jandowae to follow. The real interest in this year’s tournament is the ‘red hot’ form of Rodger Davis who was a prolific winner of major events in his glory days in Australia and Europe.

Davis played one of the greatest shots of his career last week to birdie the final hole of the Queensland Senior Open championship and claim an unparalleled third title at Nudgee Golf Club. With his drive bunkered on the left hand side of the fairway and his approach to the elevated 18th green obscured by an overhanging Moreton Bay Fig, Davis crisply struck his second to within six inches of the hole to claim victory.

Amateur golfers have been invited to join the field of veteran professional greats with a 12 midday shotgun start on Monday 2^nd August. A presentation dinner and interviews with the golfing greats will follow that evening in the City Golf Club function rooms.

For more details, contact the City Golf Club on 4636 9000.

A Queensland Green Army project that gave six recruits the skills and experience they need to find jobs in recycling or waste management wrapped up in Toowoomba recently after 23 weeks.

Lifeline received funding of $228,000 under the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative to help 12 people through two intakes to get the skills they needed to find jobs.  Three people from the previous intake that graduated in February have now found full-time work.

The six recruits were split into two groups so that they would all get the chance to learn all about recycling and waste management at Lifeline’s Distribution Centre and at the Smart Tip Shop.

Member for Toowoomba North Kerry Shine said the project had helped the wider community while offering the participants an excellent chance to sharpen their workplace skills. He said that the Lifeline Green Army Recycling project was just one of numerous Queensland’s Green Army projects currently underway throughout the state.

Lifeline Business and Community Workplace Project Coordinator Angela Klein said that a few of the participants were keen to obtain the forklift qualification and this was completed during their work placement. We’ve also helped each person to improve their resume and we will keep supporting them as they start searching for their next jobs.”

If you are interested in participating in a Green Army Work Placement please register on the Green Army website www.greenarmy.qld.gov.au.

Member for Toowoomba North Kerry Shine is encouraging Toowoomba residents to think about their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes this National Diabetes Week (11 -17 July 2010).

Mr Shine said diabetes was the fastest growing chronic disease in the state, with more than 250,000 Queenslanders living with the disease. In 2007 it was estimated 50 new cases of diabetes were diagnosed in our state each day, but if current trends persist, by 2031 this number is expected to have tripled to about 160 new diagnoses each day.” Mr Shine said.

According to Diabetes Australia Queensland, it is estimated there are currently 7800 Toowoomba residents who have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes – however, research suggests that for every person diagnosed, there could be another person living with the disease unaware that they have it.

This year’s National Diabetes Week theme is Don’t be the type to leave it too late which highlights the serious complications of diabetes and what can be done to prevent it.  Associated complications include chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, blindness and lower limb amputation.

Mr Shine said  it is never too late to engage in healthy eating patterns and physical activity to reduce the risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes. I encourage residents to log on to the Diabetes Australia Queensland ‘Are you at risk’ website www.areyouatrisk.com.au and do a simple risk assessment to find out if they are at low, intermediate or high risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes.

Kerry Shine MP

State Member for Toowoomba North
Phone: 4638 5755  Fax: 4638 4056

Email: toowoomba.north@parliament.qld.gov.au

A talented new eight-member ensemble will bring their fanciful musical style to the Jondaryan Woolshed for the Big Country Sunday Brunch on 18 July.

With two guitarists, three vocalists, a pianist, a drummer, and a jack-of-all-instruments, Hopney Moffett create unique interpretations of jazz, funk, rock, pop and folk hits, as well as their own original music.

With so much talent to draw on, the result is often surprising, occasionally eclectic but always enjoyable, and the band’s aim is to bring joy to their audience.

Toowoomba Regional Council Mayor Peter Taylor says the Jondaryan Woolshed plays an important role in supporting and publicising regional  musical talent.

The Woolshed provides a monthly stage for local artists and entertainers and has helped many of them to establish and maintain successful careers”

Since the band was formed only two years ago, Hopney Moffett has developed a reputation for being a fun all-0ccasion band and has played at the recent Hampton High Country Food & Arts Festival, the Helidon Jazz Festival in 2009 and at the Breaking Free Concerts in 2008 and 2009.

Hopney Moffett released their first CD “I’m Just So Excited About Myself” in June 2009.

The Big Country Sunday Brunch provides outstanding value for money with a homestyle cooked breakfast, entertainment and access to the Jondaryan Woolshed’s attractions – including guided tours and sheep shearing demonstrations – for only $25 for adults and $12 for children.

Bookings are essential.

Call (07) 4692 2229 or visit www.jondaryanwoolshed.com

John Osborne

Chief Executive Officer,  Jondaryan Woolshed