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Once-A-Year Donors Could Solve Australia’s Blood Needs

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Once-A-Year Donors Could Solve Australia’s Blood Needs


Today is World Blood Donor Day, which occurs in tandem with the Australian Red Cross Blood Service’s annual celebration, National Blood Donor Week.

New statistics reveal that once-a-year donors could create a near-endless blood supply for Australian patients if they just make a second donation each year. About 40 per cent of Australia’s 455,000 blood donors who gave blood in the past year have only made one donation. Whole blood can be given four times a year, and plasma every fortnight.

The Blood Service confirmed that if once-a-year donors gave blood twice a year †just one extra hour of their time – Australia’s blood supply would be assured, no longer requiring urgent appeals at times when Australia is traditionally short on donors, such as winter and long-weekends.

The Blood Service’s executive director of donor services, Janine Wilson, encouraged Australia’s once-a-year donors to ‘double-up’ and make a second donation this year. “We really appreciate the effort that goes into making one donation and hope that this group of donors sees how just another hour of their time could make such a significant difference to the availability of blood and blood products for Australian patients,” Ms Wilson said. “A second donation from each donor would give us an extra 180,000 blood donations annually.

“The fact is that we as a nation are just a collective hour away from making this happen. It really is a remarkable ideal that we could quickly turn into a reality if our once-a-year donors just made one more donation.”

Ms Wilson added that the Blood Service was always on the lookout for new donors to join its ranks. “This week is National Blood Donor Week, a time when the nation says thank you to the 455,000 ‘bloody legends’ who gave blood in the past 12 months,” she said.

 “It’s also a great opportunity for anyone aged between 16 and 70, who is feeling fit and healthy and who may be eligible to give blood to get in touch to see if they can start their donation career with us.”

National Blood Donor Week is an Australian event that starts on 11 June and ends 17 June, and occurs in tandem with World Blood Donor Day on June 14.

 To give a (second) blood donation, please call 13 14 95 or visit donateblood.com.au

About the Australian Red Cross Blood Service

Australian governments fully fund Red Cross for the provision of blood products and services to the Australian community. This is possible through the support of more than half a million voluntary blood donors.

New State-Of-The-Art Police Station For Highfields

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New State-Of-The-Art Police Station For Highfields

Residents in Highfields will soon be able to benefit from the construction of a state-of-the-art local police station with the design phase of the project due to commence in upcoming months.

Police Minister Mark Ryan said funding for the new station was expended in the 2016/17 financial year for a flood study of the proposed site at 22 Highfields Road, which has now been completed.

“The next stage is now being progressed with preliminary designs for the facility under development,” Minister Ryan said. “Official commencement of the process is for the 2017/18 financial year, with the project anticipated for delivery in the 2018/19 financial year.

“The new facility will replace the existing Police Beat staffed by two officers.”

Police Minister Mark Ryan said the station would be modelled on the new $8.3 million station recently opened in Kingaroy, and is expected to include a number of purpose built work stations and a designated interview room with video and audio recording capabilities.

Kingaroy Police Station (Photo: Conrad Gargett Architects)

“Along with new training rooms there will be an evidence room as well as a major incident room,” Minister Ryan said. “This initiative is also estimated to generate a number of local jobs during construction. My government is proud of its investment in the future of community and police officer safety in Queensland.”

Commissioner Ian Stewart said planning for the Highfields site had a strong focus on community interaction including facilities shared with local community groups.

“The new station will make it easier for police to work during a 24-hour, seven days a week roster,” Commissioner Stewart said. “The ability to have our officers engage and respond at a local level in Highfields will be extremely important to ensuring the safety of the community.”

The Honourable Mark Ryan MP
Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services and Minister for Corrective Services
Commissioner Ian Stewart
Queensland Police Service

 

Toowoomba Hockey Association To Host State Championships

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Toowoomba Hockey Association To Host State Championships


Hundreds of athletes and their supporters are due to converge in Toowoomba from June 25th †27th for the 2017 U18 Men’s State Championships. The Championships will be hosted by the Toowoomba Hockey Association and played at the Toowoomba Hockey Grounds, Boundary St, Glenvale.

The tournament will showcase 19 teams of upcoming talent in a round robin competition, with the locals welcoming visitors from Brisbane, Ipswich, Tweed Border, Fraser Coast, Gold Coast, Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton, Redlands, Atherton, Gladstone, Sunshine Coast and Gympie.

Toowoomba Hockey Association will field 3 teams this year †1 team in Division 1 and 2 teams in Division 2. The 2016 State Championship title for Division 1 was held at Tweed Border and was claimed by the Brisbane team.

Spectators are welcome to come along and see the best Under 18 hockey players from across Queensland battle it out from 8am every day, with Toowoomba’s first Division 1 game at 10:30am, on Sunday 25th June, on Field 1 against Brisbane.

For all draw information: http://hockeyqld.com.au/Events/State-Championships/2017-State-Championships

Submitted by:
Danielle Sturgess
Marketing and Events Assistant
Major League Corporate Marketing

Donation To Hospital Foundation From Sausages

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Vince Little Publicity Officer Highfields Pioneer Village presents Alison Kennedy CEO Toowoomba Hospital Foundation with a cheque for $3,693.79

On Thursday 8th of June at 10:30am, Highfields Pioneer Village’s Publicity Officer Mr. Vince Little  presented Toowoomba Hospital Foundation CEO Alison Kennedy with a cheque for $3,693.79 from sales at the BBQ stall during the 2017 Easter Vintage Festival.Vince said that “Each year Highfields Pioneer Village volunteers host the annual Easter Vintage Festival where over 15,000 people visit the Village.

This year, Toowoomba Hospital Foundation and Highfields Pioneer Village Volunteers raised $3,693.79 from the BBQ stall, thanks to the public and local businesses for supporting the stall and raising much needed funds for vital equipment for children’s health!”.

Fairview Heights students were delighted to be part of the presentation to Alison Kennedy on behalf of the Toowoomba Hospital Children’s Appeal which continues to receive generous support from our community.

Since the launch of the THCA in 1998 more than $1 Million has been raised for Children’s Health at the Toowoomba Hospital and in the region. Many donations are received from community groups and business houses who host THCA fundraisers during the year.

Fairview Heights teacher Matt Edwards, Publicity Officer HPV Vince Little, CEO Toowoomba Hospital Foundation Alison Kennedy, Isla Pascoe, Zalee Doyle, Olive Aston & Olivia Gollan students of Fairview Heights State School
Alison Kennedy CEO of the Toowoomba Hospital Foundation talks to the children about the importance of Volunteer Work (NB: Permission granted by the parents of the children to have their photos taken for publicity purposes)

Submitted by:
Jody Dodds, Treasurer
Highfields Pioneer Village
73 Wirraglen Rd, Highfields.
P.O Box 325, Highfields QLD 4352
07 4696 6309
http://highfieldspioneervillage.com.au/

Royal Bull’s Head Open Day June 4th

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Royal Bull’s Head Open Day June 4th

With winter coming, everyone wants to find that cosy place to sit. Especially if its beside a fire. At this month’s Royal Bull’s Head Inn Open Day, the fire will be roaring and the soup will be hot!! You might also be able to try your hand to some Old Style Handicrafts.

Why not become a member of the National Trust. Being a member gives you free entry into every National Trust building in Australia. Membership forms are available from the Royal Bull’s Head Inn during our  Open Day, Sunday June 4th.

Recently, the The Royal Bull’s Head Inn were lucky enough to have funds granted in order to create a number of interpretive signs for the building.  These signs now proudly stand in front of significant locations around the Inn thanks to McDonalds and the Toowoomba PCYC.

 The Toowoomba Branch of the National Trust hosted a Thank You Morning Tea for Mark and Heidi Ward from McDonalds and the Maintenance Crew of the Police-Citizens Youth Club, who were involved in the production and installation of the interpretive signage at the Royal Bull’s Head Inn.

Helen Moloney with new Sign
Royal Bull’s Head Inn from rear aspect

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To keep up to date on what’s happening at the Royal Bulls Head Inn, head to our Facebook Page or follow us on Instagram. Also, if you’re interested in becoming a volunteer, or would like to make a private booking, contact the Trust by visiting  toowoomba@nationaltrustqld.org or phone Debby on 0402 138 751.

Virtual Reality Part Of Class And Court Rooms Of The Future

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USQ Law students can now learn and interact in a virtual replica of Toowoomba’s No 1 Court Room.

Olivia Milne, Jesse Sutherland and Alan Tai as ‘Me-Vatars’ in the virtual replica of a Toowoomba Court Room

Through virtual reality technology students can participate in the School of Law and Justice’s Moot Court proceedings from a computer anywhere in the world.

Appearing as ‘Me-Vatars’ students walk through the court room, role play, work in groups, and talk to their peers and engage with their lecturer while the full course is taught inside the virtual court room.

Head of USQ’s School of Law and Justice Professor Reid Mortensen said virtual reality technology had a number of uses throughout the bachelor and post-graduate courses.

“Moot court is a vital part of every law student’s education,” Professor Mortensen said.

“Advocacy skills that a moot teaches are invaluable and an important part of USQ’s law courses. Through the use of virtual reality technology external students can now participate and interact in real time.

“We will also be looking to use this technology in the USQ Secondary Schools Moot Competition where more schools from further away can participate.”

This landmark project is an outcome of USQ’s Technology Demonstrators Project.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic Services) Professor Ken Udas said the virtual moot court would facilitate a real world, authentic, immersive learning experience similar to that of actually being on campus.

“In recent years learning via virtual reality has changed the face of education by becoming complementary to traditional methods of teaching, allowing students to learn in their own time and at their own pace, without having to step foot in to the classroom,” Professor Udas said.

“It opens doors for our students to access the best kind of education by blending together the best of the real world, the best of online applications and the best of virtual world technology.

“At USQ we know that the highest quality education must be social and interactive and this is another quality example of how we as an institution are looking into the classroom of the future.”

For further information on USQ’s School of Law and Justice visit: https://www.usq.edu.au/bela/school-law-and-justice

Senior Constable Brett Forte – With Honour He Served

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Senior Constable Brett Forte – With Honour He Served

Open House Photo Report + Toowoomba’s Smallest Buildings Tell The Biggest Stories.

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Open House Photo Report + Toowoomba’s Smallest Buildings Tell The Biggest Stories.

Toowoomba Open House 2017 Phot0 Report

University of Queensland Rural Clinical School

UQ Rural Clinical School Building
Proceed This Way…


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clinical Director, Dr George Tucker at work
2nd Floor Interior

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Norma Robinson describes use of mannequins
Child Simulation Mannequin used in training

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From Little Things Big Things Grow …

Toowoomba Open House returns again in 2017 with over 19 of Toowoomba’s favourite historic and new architectural masterpieces open for public viewing, for free, on Sunday 28 May at various times between 10am and 4pm. The little things often generate the most interest and this is the case with Toowoomba Open House.

Three of the littlest buildings in the Open House catalogue this year are creating significant interest.

The Men’s Urinal on Russell Street is tiny but its story is enormous, for it tells of a time when public sanitation was a life and death issue. Imagine living in a city where Typhoid (directly related to contaminated ground water caused by sewage) was a fact of life, resulting in scores of deaths, particularly among children.
The Urinal reminds us of this time for its construction in 1919, was undertaken in the midst of a Typhoid epidemic and marked a concerted campaign by one of Toowoomba’s greatest Mayors, Dr T.A Price, to create a safer living and working environment for the residents.

The Air Raid Shelter, some 150 metres away, is small and unassuming yet it reminds us all of a time of fear and uncertainty. A time when Toowoomba was literally on the front line of efforts to defeat the Japanese in World War 2. It serves as a tangible reminder of the only time Australia has come under attack.
A time when troop, equipment and other war related trains passed through the city all day, every day. A time when ‘the war’ was front and centre in every one’s lives.

Augusta’s Cottage in the Mort Street Estate is miniscule by comparison to some of Toowoomba’s modern day houses, but it is one of Toowoomba’s most significant buildings, because its layout and form are typical of Toowoomba’s earliest houses. Constructed in Toowoomba’s first residential estate, the Mort Estate, the house is well over 150 years old, probably constructed around the time of the American Civil War and when the colony of Queensland was in its infancy. As such its history parallels, not only Toowoomba’s development but also Queensland’s.

Each of these ‘small’ buildings tell stories of tremendous significance.. Other highlights of this year’s event are several outstanding modern buildings that are set to become the heritage buildings of our future city, including the Toowoomba Flexi School on Chalk Drive, Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport, Toowoomba City Library and the University of Queensland Rural Clinical School.

Visit www.toowoombaopenhouse.com.au for more details.

Submitted by:
Stephanie Keays
Voluntary Co-ordinator
PO Box 2640 Toowoomba
Queensland 4350 Australia
Telephone +0432 939 350
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