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By popular demand, the Toowoomba Choral Society is revisiting the hugely acclaimed Les Misérables” as its 2009 annual musical production. The musical is based on the novel by French author Victor Hugo and follows the struggle of Jean Valjean to rebuild his life in a world filled with poverty and evil and to show compassion to others along the way.

Well known Toowoomba tenor, Martin Paroz , plays the lead, Jean Valjean, against Brisbane baritone Lionel Theunissen’s Javert. The production will be a family affair for Martin as his young son, Harry, plays the part of Gavroche in the musical. Other lead performers include Lisa Skerman as Fantine, Lucy Whyte as Cossette, Naomi Montey as Eponine, Ryan Gornall as Enjolras, John Condon as Thenardier and Vicki Bravery as Madame Thenardier.

The talented Michael Escober, who played the King in TCS’ 2008 production of The King and I”, and more recently the part of Cosmo Brown in The Empire’s Singing in the Rain”, will play Marius.

Director Rosemary Carter believes that with such a wonderful new cast, there’s no reason why this year’s Les Miserables” shouldn’t surpass the Choral Society’s previous productions. She says It’s a very emotional and timeless show. People can’t help but become involved in the story which is full of action. There’s an abundance of rich characters, both good and evil, from young university activists to the Thenardiers.”

Les Miserables”, one of the most inspiring musicals of all time, will be performed at the Empire Theatre, Neil Street, Toowoomba from 28th to 30th August. Tickets are on sale from the Empire Theatres Box Office (phone 1300 655 299). Group bookings of 6 or more are eligible for a discount.

Arts Council Toowoomba (ACT) is excited to be part of the 60th Anniversary of the Carnival of Flowers and is working hard to ensure that Avant Garden 2009 will once again showcase the region as a vital and creative centre for the arts and engage the community and artists during Toowoomba’s Carnival of Flowers.

To foster artistic diversity and encourage creative expression in all its forms, avant garden 2009 has grown to include new types of artists, to display the full spectrum of creativity that is blooming throughout Toowoomba and the Darling Downs.

Avant Garden 2009 will run in three sections, firstly to showcase what is already known and loved, Arts Council in conjunction with the Toowoomba Chronicle will run a people’s choice award competition from the previous ephemeral public art exhibitions called Bring Back the Favourites”.

Secondly, Artists in Gardens will be a new feature in 2009 with artists working in parks and gardens, interacting with the visitors to the festival. Works on paper and canvas will be produced on site through out Queens Park and the Botanic Gardens, giving the public the opportunity to witness artists in action. These works created will be available for purchase from the artists through out the week of carnival.

And thirdly, Performance Ephemera will bring the ‘live’ to Avant Garden for the first time in 2009. With the theme Celebration, we are calling for submissions from local small performing troupes, individuals and senior high school dance and drama students to create a vibrant street theatre setting for the two weekends of Carnival of Flowers.

These works and their creation will be overseen by an Artistic Director who will be working with these groups. Through funding from Festivals Australia, Arts Council Toowoomba is in the privileged position to ensure that the role of Artistic Director and all performers involved in Performance Ephemera will receive appropriate payments for their creative work.

We are seeking submissions for interested artists for the Artists in Gardens and Performance Ephemea. For further information please visit our website: www.actmba.org.au

Avant Garden 2009 has been made possible through the generous support of the Toowoomba Regional Council, The Toowoomba Chronicle and funding from Festivals Australia.

Submitted by Lara Nunn, VP, ACT

Wilsonton Lions Club has again shown their support to the Toowoomba Hospice by way of donation of equipment to help with the care of people who are suffering from a terminal illness.

Toowoomba Hospice Director of Nursing, Mrs. Alicia Trimingham-Turl, said The Wilsonton Lions Club has again given us equipment that can be used to help our clients have a more comfortable stay while we are caring for them in the Hospice. We are so very fortunate to have strong community support, and Wilsonton Lions Club is no exception.”

A Trolley for the Hospice suction unit (which was bought by the Wilsonton Lions last Year), a Dressing Trolley, Coffee Table and a PA System were donated from proceeds from the Wonderful World of Magic Show held each year in September at the Empire Theatre.” said Lions President John Bidgood.

Business houses from around the Toowoomba region purchase tickets for the Magic Show and then donate them back to us so that disadvantaged children and their carers and families can have a night out. We are very proud to be able to serve our community.

Toowoomba Hospice is a not-for-profit, community facility, caring for people with a terminal illness and their families, at no cost, The Hospice is located in O’Quinn Street, Toowoomba and needs to raise valuable funds to keep the service running.

Alicia Trimingham-Turl ph 07 4659 8500

Visitors to Cobb and Co. Museum this weekend will have the opportunity to watch two heritage trades workshops.

A knife making blacksmithing workshop will be held on 20 and 21 June and participants will have the opportunity to make a knife in different styles such as a dagger, skinning or kitchen knife over the two day weekend workshop.

This workshop is only open to people who have completed the beginners and advanced blacksmithing workshops at Cobb and Co Museum however spectators are welcome to watch between 10am and 4pm each day.

On Sunday, 21 June there will also be an introduction to felting workshop. Participants will make a series of sample pieces using four different techniques that can be turned into decorative objects including glasses cases, book covers and pin cushions.

After completing the introductory felting workshop, participants will be eligible to attend the beginners’ workshop on August 8 and 9 for an opportunity to create their own unique wool felted shawl.

Museum Director Deborah Tranter said this is a great opportunity for visitors to see how two very different heritage skills both can be successfully today to make unique contemporary items.

Participants in the blacksmithing workshops have created objects as diverse as a mirror stand, flowers in steel, wine rack and book stand and to see some of the clothes, hats and scarves created through felting is just amazing,” Mrs Tranter said.

To receive regular updates on all Cobb and Co. Museum activities and developments, contact the Museum on 0746 39 1 971 or email inquiries@cobbandco.qm.qld.gov.au.

Deborah Tranter

Carolyn Janes, of Toowoomba, has gained new skills to support cancer patients by completing a three day ‘Introduction to Cancer Care’ course, run by Cancer Council Queensland in Brisbane this week.

Ms Janes, a health worker at St Vincent’s Hospital, was awarded a scholarship worth $1,500, enabling her to attend the course to advance her cancer care skills.

The scholarship covers all course costs, including study materials and regional participants are provided with travel, accommodation and meal expenses.

Health Professional Education Co-ordinator at Cancer Council Queensland, Sheila Deuchars, says the ‘Introduction to Cancer Care’ courses enable health workers who care for people with cancer to maximise their skills and improve their specific knowledge of cancer, so their patients receive the best possible care, attention and support.

Health care workers attended the course from across Queensland and return to their workplace and community with a wider knowledge of the treatments, side effects and support services available for people who are affected by cancer,” she said.

Participants networked with other cancer care health workers and cancer nursing specialists who share their expertise with course participants. This results in positive impacts for attendees, their patients and the families they care for.”

The course was sponsored by ESA International who will sponsor two additional courses offered by Cancer Council Queensland in 2009.

Cancer Council Queensland offers this course to assistants in nursing, undergraduate students, personal care assistants and home care workers who care for cancer patients in Queensland.

Other cancer care courses are offered to Registered and Enrolled nurses throughout the year on specific cancers like bowel, breast and prostate cancer.

The sun was out and so were the people, enjoying the culinary delights and visual pleasures of the Hampton High Country Food & Arts Festival.
With an attendance of over 4500 people and a warm sunny Sunday, the 17th of May turned out to be all the festival organisers and stall holders had hoped for and more.
Bede Mackenzie, stall holder selling Hampton Avocado Oil, was very pleased with the day saying, Fantastic festival; great crowds, great weather, great organisation. Well done to all your organisers and the local community.”
The official start to the weekend was the Saturday evening Art Exhibition. Music, wine, canapés and a new art tent provided the ideal setting to appreciate the talent of artists who live within a 50 km radius of Hampton. Judge Allan Bruce, president of the Toowoomba Art Society, praised the quality of work exhibited and presented first prize to Damien Kamholz for his pencil drawing ‘Birds Over Kata Tjuta’.
Resoundingly it is the food that people come for on festival day and from post festival feedback it seems that the crowds were not disappointed. The range on offer this year included traditional sourdough breads, organic beef sausages, just-pressed olive oil, wood fired pizzas, delectable sweets and plenty more to satisfy all tastes.
It was standing room only in front of the Chef’s Tent with enthusiastic Sunshine Coast chef Matt Golinksi making Moroccan Preserved Lemons and Muffolata – a delicious Italian bread stuffed with roast veges, cheese and smallgoods. Many people taste-tested Matt’s dishes and were most impressed with the combination of unique flavours. His recipes are now available on the Hampton Festival website.
The variety of musical entertainment was fantastic, the kids had a ball building the cardboard box kingdom and the stilt walkers added a great carnival atmosphere.
The annual Hampton High Country Food & Arts Festival is realised through the hard work of a volunteer committee of local residents, artists, growers and producers. Their commitment to presenting a quality festival which highlights the diversity of the produce grown and the artistic talent of the region has resulted in an event which is now recognised as one of the best in the state.
Debra Howe, Manager of the Toowoomba Regional Council’s Tourism and Events Branch offered her comments after the festival, Congratulations to the organising committee and volunteers for delivering an outstanding event over the weekend. I think the site layout and setup, organisation and product delivered was very professional and ensured the day was a huge success. The quality of stallholders and restaurants was amazing.”
As ever the support of the local community is integral to the festival’s success. Over 80 volunteers assisted in a variety of ways such as putting up tents and fencing, catering for the art opening, working in the bar or emptying bins and cleaning toilets.
Volunteer Coordinator Lynda Georgeson praised the help of this volunteer workforce, It is their assistance which is the back bone of the festival and without it we could not stage our event”.
Local businesses contributed with donations of essential supplies such as fuel, ingredients for cooking demonstrations and rubbish removal services. The assistance of the Toowoomba Regional Council’s Crows Nest District Service Centre is also greatly valued by festival organisers. Parks and Garden’s staff assisted with preparing the grounds, Administration staff assisted with printing of programs while Water Services staff assisted with water-wise signage and recycling options.
While the event is over for this year, now is the time for the committee to assess the 2009 event and get their heads together to begin preparations for a bigger and better festival for 2010.

Kerri Seccombe, Hampton Visitor Information Centre

Join the Mystical Mayhem fun at Cobb and Co Museum’s school holiday program to be held weekdays 29 June-13 July 2009.

Learn how to mix potions such as Witches Brew, Phoenix Tears Truth Serum and Confusing Concoction. Children will also visit the Enchanted Forest and learn about Australia’s ‘spooky’ creatures including owls, bats, snakes, and spiders.

Other activities included making a flying owl and bat and a broomstick pencil. Using magic and fantasy are fun, attention-grabbing ways for children to learn about simple science concepts and Australian animals, reptiles and spiders. Designed for children aged three to 12 years, these sessions facilitate families learning and experimenting together.”

All visitors to the Museum can also visit the Broomstick Emporium, designed for younger children, where they can dress up as wizards and witches, read magical books and solve animal puzzles.

Mystical Mayhem sessions will be held twice each weekday, at 9.30am and 11.30am and will cost $5.50 per child per session. There are no bookings and guardians must stay with their children in the Museum.

Thanks to Toowoomba Regional Council; entry to the Museum is free to all residents of the council area on presentation of proof of address.

Deborah Tranter

Museum Director

Entries are now open for the 2009 Hampton Art Exhibition to be held as part of the Hampton High Country Food & Arts Festival. To join in the celebration of 150 years of statehood in Queensland the theme ‘Heritage’ has been chosen for the exhibition.

Artists are encouraged to explore the stories, feelings and inspirations relevant to this broad theme in their works. It is open to all artists living within a 50km radius of Hampton. So people from as far north as Cooyar, as far south as Cambooya, as far east as Esk and Laidley and as far west as Jondaryan, and all in between, are welcome to enter.

The festivities begin on Saturday 16 of May at 7pm with the Art Exhibition Opening to be held in the marquees at Chapman Park Hampton. This year the function takes the format of a wine and cheese evening and entry is free. The artworks will be judged by Allan Bruce and prize money of $1400, donated by the Crows Nest Regional Art Gallery and Crows Nest and Highfields Branches of Heritage Building Society is on offer.

Artists wishing to enter – You can download the entry form and conditions from the Hampton Festival website www.hamptonfestival.com or you can call Jo Petrou on 4698 1687 to arrange for a brochure and entry form to be sent to you.

Kerri Seccombe