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Toowoomba Hospice has sold over 170 tickets for Saturday 14^th August’s Race Day at Clifford Park.

Chairman of the Toowoomba Hospice Association Mr Graham Barron OAM said he was happy with the response so far to the 7th Annual Race Day. “We hope to sell another 50 – 100 tickets by the end of next Tuesday (10^th August) as we have to have catering numbers in by the close of business on that day”

This is one of the Hospices’ major fundraising/social events and will raise money to be used to assist the daily operations of this important community facility. Mr. Barron said the Hospice’s Mission is to provide free professional palliative care for all ages, based on mutual respect and trust for those who come to us and their families.

Tickets can be purchased from the Toowoomba Hospice in O’Quinn Street, phoning during normal business hours on 07 4659 8500 or email admin.toowoombahospice@bigpond.com Ticket price is $55.00 per head and includes your entry to the races, a complimentary drink and nibbles upon arrival, special smorgasbord dinner, prizes for the best dressed female, male and best hat and a silent auction to top off a wonderful day at the races.

It seems people in Queensland would rather go bush choosing tents, caravans and motorhomes over plush holiday apartments and overseas holidays according to a recent survey conducted by special event manager, Bob Carroll.

This is now the largest and most dynamic recreational Expo held in regional Queensland and is an event that pulls huge crowds with people attending from Brisbane to Charleville and from Moree to Kingaroy. This is a showcase of the new models and every conceivable accessory to go with them plus all of the bits and pieces to go in and on the tow vehicle. People will love this event but be warned, allow yourself plenty of time because it is huge”.

According to industry insiders, demand for camper trailers, caravans and motorhomes is growing and people are flocking to Adventure Expos like the Toowoomba event this weekend to look for their perfect ‘escape vehicle’.

Organisers of the Queensland Outdoor Adventure and Motoring Expo to be held at the Toowoomba Showgrounds are expecting over 15,000 people to pass through the gates this Friday, Saturday and Sunday as they prepare the Showgrounds for a record number of exhibitors and attractions.

Event in Brief :

Where : Toowoomba Showgrounds, Glenvale Road

When : Friday and Saturday 9am to 5pm and Sunday from 9am to 4pm

Cost: FREE parking, Admission adults $ 8-00, Seniors $ 6-00 and children FREE. Pay once and get FREE return entry all weekend.

Whats on show : A major camping gear clearance on site with adventure experts Anaconda. The very latest in camper trailers, slide on campers, roof top campers, caravans, pop tops and expanda vans, motorhomes and 5^th Wheelers. A range of the latest in quad bikes, motoring accessories and performance parts as well as holiday and touring ideas.

Great prize to WIN : Entry coupons are appearing in the Toowoomba Chronicle for a chance to WIN a brand new state of the art camper trailer thanks to Castaway Campers valued at $ 10,000-00

For more Info and competition details on how to win a brand new camper trailer : visit www.adventureexpo.com.au

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.