Queensland’s Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection, Andrew Powell officially launched the 2014 Toowoomba Open House event at a function at the Cobb & Co Museum. Guests were also addressed by Toowoomba Open House Coordinator, Stephanie Keays, Deputy Chair of the Queensland Heritage Council John Cotter, CEO of the National Trust of Australia (Queensland) Stewart Armstrong and Toowoomba Regional Councillor, Ros Scotney.
Minister Andrew Powell chatting with Stephanie Keays
The Toowoomba Open House Festival of Architecture runs from October 12 – 19. ÂÂ
Sunday October 12 Toowoomba Architects’ Design Trail Monday October 13 Toowoomba Historical Society Public Lecture featuring the work of architect William Hodgen Jnr Tuesday October 14 Launch of #toh4kids Wednesday October 15 Volunteer training Masonic Temple Thursday October 16 Architecture: Made by Women Exhibition Opens Friday October 17 Laneway Discovery Walk Saturday October 18
Drayton & Toowoomba Cemetery Tombstone Tour
Transport and Main Road Heritage Museum special open day
Toowoomba Open House official launch event Artsong at the Inn (Royal Bull’s Head Inn, Drayton)
Sunday October 19 Open House for 30 Buildings
The website and Facebook pages have the full details of the program.
Would you know what to do if you heard a bushfire Advice, Watch and Act or Emergency Warning message over the radio? Would you know the difference between the warnings issued or when to enact your bushfire survival plan?
Rural Fire Service Queensland (RFSQ) South Western Regional Manager Lawrence Laing said during a bushfire incident, different warning messages could be issued to provide valuable advice to residents in an affected area. “Emergency services personnel issue community warning messages through media and social media channels during significant bushfire incidents,†Mr Laing said.
“Community warning messages are used to inform residents of threat to properties, time to impact, the direction and strength of the fire and the steps residents must take to survive, and may be heard on the radio or viewed online, as well as via other media channels, he said.
“It’s essential for all Queenslanders to educate themselves and their families and understand the levels of warning now to ensure they aren’t confused or panicked if a community warning is issued for their area this bushfire season. Being properly prepared can increase your chance of survival in an emergency, and knowing how to process these warnings is a part of bushfire preparation.â€Â
Lawrence Laing (left) with Shane Hopton – Lee Constable photo
Mr Laing said there were three official levels of bushfire warnings which could be issued by Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) as an event escalated. These include:
Advice †you should monitor conditions and review your bushfire survival plan;
Watch and Act †conditions are changing and you should start taking action and follow your bushfire survival plan;
Emergency Warning †you are in danger and you should immediately act on your bushfire survival plan.
“If a community warning is issued in your area, you must tune into your local news broadcaster as emergency services personnel will be providing local radio with the most up to date information as it comes to hand,†he said. “Warnings are not only distributed by the media or on social media platforms. Firefighters, State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers or police may be doorknocking in the area or you could receive an Emergency Alert message on your mobile or home phone with advice on the situation and where to go for further information. ”
“If you feel that your property or life is threatened by a bushfire you should call Triple Zero (000) immediately.â€Â
Mr Laing said it was also important to keep a close eye on Fire Danger Ratings in your local area and when travelling in an area of high bushfire risk.
“Every day during the bushfire season, the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) will forecast an outlook of the Fire Danger Index (FDI). This takes into account temperature, humidity, wind speed and dryness of vegetation, and guides QFES to determine the Fire Danger Rating for the day,†he said. “The Fire Danger can range from ‘Low to Moderate’ to ‘Catastrophic’ and can assist you in preparing what actions you might take if a fire were to break out on a particular day.
“All of these methods of messaging are designed to be as informative as possible so you are able to make the best decisions for your family ahead of bushfire threat.
Mr Laing suggests visiting the RFSQ website to learn about community warning messages and Fire Danger Ratings now.
For more information on community warnings messages visit https://ruralfire.qld.gov.au/Fire_Safety_and_You/Prepare.Act.Survive/Index.html
and for information on Fire Danger Ratings visit https://ruralfire.qld.gov.au/FDRG.html
Submitted by: Jessica Saxton
Media Officer
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services
Dalby-based construction and resource services company Ostwald Bros has been awarded the State’s highest construction safety accolade at a gala dinner in Brisbane .
The Queensland Project Safety Excellence Award, presented by the Queensland Major Contractors Association (QMCA), the construction industry’s peak body, is designed to recognise outstanding contributions to workplace health and safety at a project level. In particular, the Award seeks to recognise innovation and the project manager’s own personal commitment to safety initiatives.
Ostwald Bros COO Steve Abson said he was incredibly proud of the team involved with its APLNG Rig Pads & Roads Project who beat five other contenders to take out the top award. “The project, located in Queensland’s Surat Basin, involves the provision of appropriate access roads and stable, flat, safe rig pads on which gas drilling facilities can be established for the operation of an energised gas field,†Mr Abson said. “The project is spread over a vast area which is loosely bounded by the townships of Chinchilla, Miles, Roma and Wandoan and generally has no road network.
“Our team used modern technologies like Google Earth to develop a smartphone APP to make tracking patterns in remote and rugged terrain safer and also developing a pilot Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) system for site reviews without being exposed to the hazards of traversing the field. “We’re committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace in all of our operations but it’s definitely a great achievement for a privately owned family company like Ostwald Bros to achieve big things, particularly for innovative projects like this and to be recognised by industry peers at the highest level.â€Â
QMCA President Tony Hackett said the Queensland Project Safety Excellence Award, now in its 14th year, is the State’s most prestigious construction industry safety award. “This year’s award was a closely fought battle with Ostwald Bros coming out on top against some of the biggest construction giants in the Queensland industry and I congratulate them on this accomplishment,†Mr Hackett said. “Ostwald Bros was a stand-out performer and their passionate approach and relentless pursuit in keeping people safe was definitely on display. Our annual safety excellence award encourages ever-higher safety standards and showcases the tremendous work of our member companies in this critical area.”
Enjoy the spectacular colours, movements and sounds highlighting unique Korean culture at the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) on Sunday, October 5. The performances will showcase Korean culture through traditional dances by the Second Wind Dance Company from HanYang University in Seoul and instrumental performances by the Korean Traditional Performers Group, Hanmadang, from Brisbane.
Residents are invited to experience a range of performances during the free show at the USQ Arts Theatre from 2-3.30pm.
The performance will include:
Samul Nori by Hanmadang, a performance of traditional percussion music usually performed with four traditional Korean musical instruments. Buchadechum by SWDC ,a fan dance where the dancers hold two beautiful fans in both hands creating amazing patterns and arrangements. Taepyeongmu by SWDC, a ‘great peace dance’ with the function of wishing a great peace for the country. Dae-Geum by Sang-Gi Bak,an instrumental soloist playing a large bamboo transverse flute. Buchae Sanjochum by SWDC. Soripungjeong by SWDC, a more traditional dance accompanied by traditional Korean instruments, dance styles and rhythms. Hae-Geum by So-Yeong Choi,an instrumental soloist playing a traditional Korean string instrument, resembling a fiddle. Samul Pangoot by Hanmadang, a performance of dance and music with traditional instruments while spinning Sangmo that is a specially designed hat with a long ribbon.
The performance is supported by Toowoomba Regional Council and the Korean Society of Queensland. With limited seating, please be early. For enquiries, call 131 872.
Submitted by: Angus Moffatt Media Relations Officer Stakeholder Engagement and Communication Toowoomba Service Centre
A pop-up tent city and steady stream of caravans and motorhomes is transforming the Millmerran Showgrounds ahead of this weekend’s (October 4 and 5) ninth biennial Australian Camp Oven Festival. The site is a flurry of activity with wood piles being stacked in anticipation of one of the country’s leading bush cooking competitions.
Apart from the serious camp oven cooking competition categories, patrons can try their hand at damper throwing and billy boiling competitions. Australia’s Living History will be on show with displays highlighting rope making, a foot-powered pole lathe, tractor pulling, mini pig racing and cow milking. See collections of axes, egg beaters, hand shears, dog and rabbit traps and a working blacksmith and wheelwright. Vintage tractors will be on show along with a chainsaw carving artist.
Ranger Nick and the Cast Iron Boys (Saturday only) will host cooking demonstrations on Stage Two. My Kitchen Rules contestants Paul and Blair will appear in a cook off at 12.30pm on Sunday. Pavilion market stalls operate on both days. Fashion parades and children’s shows also feature on the program.
A packed entertainment program opens with the Poets’ Breakfast (featuring Gary Fogarty, Jack Drake and Bill Kearns) followed by the official opening at 10am. The music line-up offers a treat for country music fans with performances by Graham Rodger, Jeff Brown, Keith Jamieson and Alisha Smith, Whiskey Road, Neil Duddy, Chris Pritchard, Alan Luscombe, Billy Peterson and CC & the Crusade among others.
League fans can enjoy the NRL grand final on Sunday evening. Further information and program from http://acof.com.au/
Submitted by: Angus Moffatt Media Relations Officer Stakeholder Engagement and Communication Toowoomba Regional Council
Mental illness will affect one in five Australians this year and 1 in 2 across their lifetime. What this means is that someone you know could be doing it tough right now, despite appearances.
October 10 is World Mental Health Day – a time to recognise the role we all play in our maintaining our mental health and a time to take positive steps to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness. It doesn’t matter if you have a mental illness, care for someone with a mental illness, or just care about good mental health, we can all do something. You can start by making a mental health promise at 1010.org.au then sharing it with family and friends via social media.
Millions of people around the world live with depression. “Living with a black dog†is a guide for partners, carers and sufferers of depression. It advises those living with and caring for people with depression on what to do, what not to do, and where to go for help.
Mental Health Australia (MHA) is the peak, national non-government organisation representing and promoting the interests of the Australian mental health sector, committed to achieving better mental health for all Australians. A not-for-profit organisation, MHA aims to promote mentally healthy communities, educate Australians on mental health issues, conduct research into mental health issues and reform Australia’s mental health system.
More than a century of fire brigade history will be on show to the public with the opening of the Toowoomba Fire Brigade Museum at Highfields.
President of the Toowoomba Fire Brigade Historical Society, Lester Naumann, at the wheel of a restored fire engine being positioned in the Museum
The museum, located at Highfields Pioneer Village, will bring together a collection of 11 historic fire engines, memorabilia including uniforms, badges and patches. Also firefighting equipment, historical records including descriptions of every callout in a series of occurrences, books, and photographs.
The contents have been collected by the Toowoomba Fire Brigade Historical Society which was formed in 1978. The historical society is supported by fire brigade staff, with every Toowoomba firefighter a member, and each contributing each payday.
The Museum will be officially opened on Sunday, October 19th, at 10.30 for an 11 o’clock start by former Toowoomba fire chief, Roy Jones
10:30am          Medal Presentation & Official Opening of Fire Engine Museum
12noon             Tour of the Museum
12:30pm          Lunch- Sausage Sizzle
1:30pm             Fire Safety Talk for visiting Public
2pm                    Tour of the Ambulance Museum
2:30pm             Blacksmithing
3pm                    Horse Works
3:30pm             Billy Tea and Damper available $5 each
Toowoomba Fire Brigade Historical Museum
Highfields Pioneer Village
73 Wirraglen Rd
Highfields, QLD 4352
*The Highfields Pioneer Village covers an area of 20 acres of picturesque grounds with over 50 buildings of historic interest, pleasant surroundings and picnic facilities.
This event is designed to help raise awareness and funds for kidney disease across Australia, an annual event that brings our kidney community together for a family fun day where people can meet, go for a walk or run.
Our participants usually have a special connection with kidney health and want to help raise awareness of this important cause and enlist the support of family and friends. Kidney Health Australia’s Big Red Kidney Walks feature varying distances to accommodate walkers and runners of all ages and abilities.
A BBQ is held for all event participants after the walk’s conclusion with entertainment for the whole family. To register visit – bigredkidneywalk2014.gofundraise.com.au
