On Our Selection News - 26th January 2023

On Our Selection News On Our Selection News

Back to school

Hundreds of students returned to school this week after the long summer break, along with many Prep students, who started their schooling lives.

One local seat of learning, Cambooya State School, welcomed 18 new Prep students to the school this week.

The Prep students came in for their first day with big smiles and were very eager to get started.

With help from their mentor Year Six students, they had a fabulous start to their school year and all are looking forward to the fun, yet challenging year ahead.

A Tea, Tim Tams and Tissues morning tea was held for all parents after dropping off their children. It was a great chance to meet staff and other parents from the school.

Covering Cambooya, Hodgson Vale, Westbrook, Wyreema Districts "DAD AND DAVE COUNTRY"

ALL PHOTOS: Parents were on hand to help Cambooya State School’s new Preps on their first day of school.

Excitement grows for Allora Heritage Weekend

you will be intrigued by the vintage and veteran cars and trucks, many antiques, motorcycles and historical machinery.

This year there will be Grand Parades happening throughout the weekend.

Swap Meets will start at 6am on both days.

People come from far and wide to exhibit their goods so there is plenty of see, buy or swap.

Take a stroll to the pavilion on Saturday afternoon as Days for Girls will conduct a multi-draw raffle.

Gates will open at 6am both days with admission $10 per adult and children free.

EFTPOS will be available at the gate and there will be a canteen but there is no ATM onsite.

The Allora Heritage Weekend will be held at the Allora Showgrounds on the New England Highway.

If you need further information, phone Graeme on 0428 717 623 or Mark on 0438 623 734.

Summer

Tunes soon

Enjoy lazy summer Saturdays with an outing to Toowoomba Regional Council’s free 2023 Summer Tunes program, coming to Cambooya and other towns.

Environment and Community Services portfolio leader Cr Tim McMahon said performances extend multiple Saturday afternoons in February.

“Summer is a great time of year to enjoy a visit to our parks that will host some of the Region’s top musical performers,” Cr McMahon said.

“Pack a hamper and a picnic blanket to make a date with friends and family to keep the summer holiday vibes rolling.”

On Saturday, 4 February from 1pm to 4pm, Blue Room Blues will be performing at Memorial Park in Cambooya.

At the same time, Ethan Bielefeld will be performing at Pioneer Park in Clifton.

The next week, Saturday, 11 February, from 1pm to 4pm Andrzej Fenner will be at Newtown Park and across town Stephen Henry Quartet will be performing at Picnic Point.

On Saturday, 25 February, from 1pm to 4pm Slow Train Coming will be performing at Bicentennial Park in Southbrook and UnderCover at Centenary Park in Pittsworth.

Medical, dental practice coming to Wyreema

The corner of Newman Road and Balfour Street will soon be home to both a medical and a dental practice.

Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) last week approved a Material Change of Use development application submitted by Dr Jaideep Singh to construct the combined premises on the 820m2 site.

The future site of the dental and medical surgeries was part of a large piece of land that had been subdivided recently, houses currently in the process of being built in the other lots.

The planning report, submitted in July last year, stated that between the dental and medical surgeries there will be six full time equivalent employees and the proposed days and hours of operation are Monday to Friday 7am to 6pm.

Access to the premises will be via Balfour Street (Toowoomba Karara Road).

Although home to nearly 2,000 people as of the 2021 census, Wyreema has very few shopfront businesses.

Once built, the new medical and dental surgeries will join the long-running Wyreema Store and Wyreema Early Education, both located on Umbiram Road, as Wyreema shopfront businesses.

The plans show the medical practice having three consultation rooms and a treatment room and the dental surgery having four surgery rooms.

One revision made between the original plans and plans approved by TRC is the removal of a proposed footpath connection to Balfour Street, separate to the car park entry.

Tracey Merritt BVSc; Laura Boucher BVSc; Bianca Timmins BVSc; & Mark Owens BVSc BASc

Garth HAMILTON MP

Federal Member for Groom

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas holiday and is already having a great 2023. There is nothing better than spending time with family and friends to recharge the batteries before another big year. For me, that means getting back out to the mobile offices, door-knocking and community meetings that I enjoy so much. There really is no better way to ensure that local voices from my community are heard in Canberra.

As Deputy Chair of the Economics Committee there will also be much to do, particularly holding the RBA to account on future interest rises and how they will affect my local constituents.

Holding the government to account this year will prove much harder. Prior to the election, Labor promised that they would increase real wages, reduce power bills and lower your mortgages repayments but this has not happened.

With inflation hitting a 32 year high of 7.3% this month it’s hard to see how things are going to get much better. Rather than focus on addressing these issues and the cost of living pressures they create, Labor’s focus for the year is getting its Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum through.

Sadly, Labor refuses to release details of the model it proposes to implement, expecting Australians to vote first and ask questions later. As I do with all policy or legislation that comes before me, I intend to make a considered judgement based on the facts. I hope the Prime Minister releases these facts soon.

A digital rendering of what the premises will look like, with Newman Road on the left side and Balfour Street the right side.

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EDANYA

Brisbane West Wellcamp (Toowoomba) Airport has received $91,623 in funding from the Australian Government.

The airport will use the funding for runway and taxiway line-marking, LED upgrades to apron lighting and a stormwater management upgrade.

Wellcamp is one of forty-four airports across regional Australia share in $27.9 million of funding under Round 3 of the Regional Airports Program.

Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King said the Regional Airports Program delivers significant benefits for regional aviation and communities, including increasing safety for aircraft, operators and passengers.

“These projects are also an investment in the improved delivery of goods and services, including healthcare and passenger air services,” Ms King said.

Toowoomba Hospice Business Luncheon

Toowoomba Hospice will be hosting its first Business Luncheon on Friday, 24 February.

Administration and Fundraising Manager Mark Munro said Toowoomba Hospice’s Administration and Events Assistant Amy has had a lot of interest in their new fundraiser which is hoped to be held every six months with a business/company or an individual sponsoring it like Toowoomba Mahindra.

Toowoomba Mahindra dealer principal Russel Hughes said he was delighted to sponsor this year’s business luncheon.

“Being a local business we like to support local charities,” Mr Hughes said.

“When Amy approached me about this new fundraiser for the Toowoomba Hospice, I said yes for sure I would be love to be a part of it and help the Hospice raise some much-needed funds.’’

The Toowoomba Mahindra Luncheon will be held at the Royal Hotel in Toowoomba on Friday, 24 February from noon to 2pm.

The cost is $75, which includes a complimentary drink on arrival followed by a two-course meal.

Tickets, limited to 75 people, are on sale now at toowoombatickets.com.au

Toowoomba is LifeFlight’s busiest base

Toowoomba LifeFlight was the aeromedical service’s busiest Queensland base in 2022, with 659 people helped.

TRC moves ahead with new Administration Building

Toowoomba Region Mayor Paul Antonio has announced that a new Civil Administration building will be located within the existing Civil Precinct and will provide a modern flexible work environment to cater for its CBD based workforce and help to better support the community.

“This is a building for our staff and our community which is why we have been investigating different options over the past year,” he said

“Following these investigations, we are now at a point where we have a general agreement on what the new building’s inclusions and general features will be, ensuring we will be financially responsible with the new design.

“By constructing a new office there will be significant cost savings in the long run by bringing our workforce together in the one building.

The aeromedical missions were performed by the RACQ LifeFlight Rescue and Toowoomba LifeFlight Surat Gas Aeromedical Service (SGAS) helicopters, which are based at the Clive Berghofer LifeFlight Centre and cover a huge area of the state, from the Darling Downs and beyond.

In 2022, the Toowoomba-based helicopters clocked up 1,046 mission flying hours, the equivalent of being in the air for 44 days and nights.

LifeFlight Group Head of Operations Yvette Lutze said these helicopter crews respond to the full range of mission types.

“Searches, winch rescues, perhaps someone at a rodeo who has fallen from a bull, or a horse-riding incident,” Ms Lutze said.

“Motor vehicle accidents are also high on the list of things we respond to in that area.”

The top five mission categories in 2022 for the Toowoomba RACQ LifeFlight Rescue and LifeFlight SGAS helicopters were:

1. Medical/illness (83)

2. Motor vehicle accidents (74)

3.Medical/respiratory (not COVID-19) (70)

4.Cardiac (68)

5.Neurological (33)

The Toowoomba missions are estimated to cost approximately $16.5 million, but come at no cost to the patients.

Newly released statistics reveal inter-hospital transfers, which enable patients from the region to be airlifted to larger centres to access higher levels of care, make up the majority of missions, but motor vehicle incidents are the second most likely reason for a chopper to be called into action.

The Toowoomba aircraft, with Critical Care doctors and Flight Paramedics on board every mission, were tasked 74 times to the scene of serious on and off-road vehicle incidents, or to urgently transfer hospital patients in need of specialist care, after being injured in a crash.

“At present our staff are located in multiple locations across the CBD in buildings which are either being leased or within Council owned facilities that require substantial financial investment into ongoing maintenance and compliance upgrades.

“It is envisaged we will be able to create further efficiencies through the project which will improve how Council serves our community.

“Importantly, the building will support a positive and productive work environment for our staff which will lead to greater collaboration between and an improved workplace culture.

“There will also be purpose built facilities, such as a Local Disaster Coordination Centre, which is crucial for the community in times of disaster events.

“Additionally, it will generate further economic benefit to local businesses and suppliers throughout delivery of the project, with Council intending to shop local wherever possible.”

Council will soon invite expressions of interest before inviting written tenders for the package of works associated with the detailed design of the Civil Administration Building.

For more information on the Civil Building project call Council on 131 872 and quote Civil Building project or email info@tr.qld.gov.au

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SUPPORT AND SERVICES

We believe every human has the inherent right to live a ‘normal’ and empowered life; to have ability and opportunity to make one’s own choices. We aim to empower people with mental health or with disability

SUPPORT AND SERVICES

MiChoice Disability Supports, offers a variety of services supporting you to take steps in accomplishing your goals; your ambitions; your targets. For some people, goals may be reached in a time that may be lengthy. This may take 6 months; this may take several years of challenges and barriers. That is when we are at our most creative and supportive and our ‘together-journey’ begins

HOW CAN WE HELP YOU?

SUPPORT AND SERVICES

MiChoice

MiChoice Disability Supports, offers a variety of services supporting you to take steps in accomplishing your goals; your ambitions; your targets. For some people, goals may be reached in a time that may be lengthy. This may take 6 months; this may take several years of challenges and barriers. That is when we are at our most creative and supportive and our ‘together-journey’ begins

HOW CAN WE HELP YOU?

Support you in your home, in the community, or at your workplace to build confidence to live an autonomous life.

Support you with making the right choice for you and your safety.

Support you with an improved living arrangement to feel at ease in your living environment

HOW CAN WE HELP YOU?

Support you with your household tasks to keep on top of hygiene and instil home-pride

Social and community participation helping you stay connected with your community.

T 0460 880 556 or 0432 020 302 E info@michoicesupports.com.au

Managing inevitable disease pressure

Dr Simpfendorfer, Senior Plant Pathologist for the NSW Department of Primary Industries, will be presenting on cereal disease risk and management at this year’s Northern Update Series during February and March, hosted by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC).

He said disease has been a major concern for growers coming out of last year’s extremely conducive conditions, which saw high levels of stripe rust pressure in wheat crops and the widespread occurrence of white grain disorder or

Fusarium Head Blight infection.

“We’re going into the season this year with a high potential for carry over of cereal pathogens,” he said.

“There’s a lot of grain on the ground, which unless it dries up dramatically, will support a significant green bridge for early stripe rust infections in 2023 wheat crops.

“We’re also potentially looking at a drier spring, which is conducive conditions for expression of Fusarium crown rot as white heads which can cause considerable yield loss.”

For early stripe rust intervention, Dr Simpfendorfer said growers should look at varietal selection, consider using Flutriafol on starter fertiliser in susceptible varieties and be prepared to apply an early fungicide application to support seedlings if another early epidemic occurs in 2023.

To help control Fusarium crown rot inoculum, which has been building up in soils over multiple seasons, growers need to be implementing multiple control measures like testing soils, stubble and seed for disease presence and making informed decisions based off results.

“Growers will need to be doing what they can to manage Fusarium crown rot now - they need to be considering their grain quality and what they retained in the way of seed,” Dr Simpfendorfer said.

“If they retained seed from any crop where they noted pink or white grain at harvest, they need to get it tested straight away.

“If tests show Fusarium grain infection levels between 1-5 per cent, then seed treatments could be used to reduce the risk of seedling death.

GRDC Northern Grower Relations Manager, Graeme Sandral, said this year’s Northern Update Series will be packed with information that will assist growers in making informed, timely decisions to get the most out of their crops.

The GRDC Update Series is taking place in five locations across New South Wales, with the only Queensland event taking place in Goondiwindi on Tuesday February 28 and Wednesday March 1, where Dr Simpfendorfer will be presenting.

To register, visit icanrural.com.au/updates.html

How to plan and communicate an impactful community project

It doesn’t matter if you’re a grassroots community group or a land manager wanting to roll out a project, how you put that project together is essential if you want to get funding, engage other people and ensure outcomes on the ground. taking those ideas and turning them into solid plans, but it’ll also help people better understand the ins and outs of strategic communication - especially when budgets are tight or nonexistent.”

A four-hour workshop, coordinated by Condamine Catchment Management Association and funded by Australian Government will help grassroots groups and land managers understand project planning.

The workshop will look at how to turn a great idea into a solid project plan including budgeting, monitoring and reporting, and engaging volunteers.

There’ll also be a session dedicated to communication: who your audiences are, how to reach

them, and what to say.

Participants get involved at a similar workshop in Clifton last year.

Presenter Samantha Morris from Wombat Creative said project planning and management can be daunting to people, especially when they’re busy community volunteers.

“So, I’m going to break down the jargon and simplify the process. This workshop will be interactive and hands-on, and people are absolutely encouraged to bring their real-life project ideas with them,” she said.

While one part of the workshop will see participants focus on what makes a great project plan, another will specifically focus on how to communicate and look after volunteers the life blood of community groups.

“Project planning is one thing,” Samantha said, “but it’s entirely another to be able to communicate effectively about that project.”

“You need to be conscious of exactly who you want to communicate with, how to reach those people and the messages they need to hear.

“And none of that can happen if you’re not clear about why you need to reach those people in the first place.”

Mary-Lou-Gittins is the secretary of Condamine Catchment Association, and she said the workshop was taking place as a result of community need.

“We know from more than three decades of work in the catchment, that our grassroots groups sometimes struggle with the intricacies of project planning,” Ms Gittins said.

“They’ll have awesome ideas that they can’t quite articulate for funding bodies and strategic partners.

“Not only will this workshop offer practical strategies for

The workshop takes place on Tuesday 21st February 2023 in Pittsworth and attendance is free with morning tea and lunch provided. To RSVP contact 0429 642 092.

CLIFTON

AG REPAIRS

Local Events Calendar

If you are holding an event in the area covered by On Our Selection News, forward details to editorial@cliftoncourier.com.au

DATE EVENT LOCATION CONTACT

4 February Summer Tunes 2023, 1pm to 4pm Cambooya Memorial Park, Ramsay St TRC 131 872

11 February

12 February

Friends of Gormans Gap - Lookout Platform Gormans Gap Road, Preston president@fogg.org.au Repair Preparation, 7:30am to 3pm

Friends of Gormans Gap - Lookout Platform Gormans Gap Road, Preston president@fogg.org.au Repair Preparation, 7:30am to 2pm

13 February Cambooya Landcare general meeting 5.30pm 64 Eton Street, Cambooya cambooyalandcare@gmail.com

18-19 February

Friends of Gormans Gap - Lookout Platform Gormans Gap Road, Preston president@fogg.org.au Repair Preparation, 7:30am to 3pm

18-26 February Hike to Heal Scavenger Hike Mount Peel Bushland hiketoheal.org.au

Enrol now for fee-free TAFE in 2023

Recent school leavers and Queenslanders looking to upskill or change careers can enrol in one of the 37,000 Fee-Free TAFE places available in 2023.

Federal Minister for Skills and Training, Brendan O’Connor encouraged Queenslanders to make 2023 their year.

“If you’ve been thinking about studying something new, or upskilling, now is the time as Fee-Free TAFE and vocational education and training courses in Queensland are open for enrolments,” Mr O’Connor said.

“Skills shortages are gripping the nation, and those running through Queensland reflect the specific characteristics of the state’s labour market.

“These include health and community services (to support the NDIS and aged care sectors);, agriculture; and tourism and hospitality.

“It is vital that we support people locally to obtain the skills they need to fill job vacancies.”

Minister for Training and Skills Development Di Farmer said Fee-Free TAFE is a great opportunity for recent graduates to create a pathway to their dream career.

“Fee-Free TAFE training in 2023 will provide a wonderful stepping stone to an ideal career for recent school leavers, especially if they’re currently undecided about what they’d

like to do,” Ms Farmer said.

The most popular courses being studied include:

•Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care

•Diploma of Community Services

•Diploma of Business

•Diploma of Nursing (*eligible to First Nations Australian, people with disability or people from cultural and linguistically diverse background)

•Certificate III in School Based Education Support

•Certificate III in Information Technology

•Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care

•Certificate III in Individual Support and Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability)

•Certificate IV in Cyber Security

•Certificate IV in

Accounting and Bookkeeping

Ms Farmer said 84 per cent of TAFE Queensland graduates go into employment or further study.

She said as more people train in the available courses, it will assist these sectors to fill their jobs gaps, and address workforce shortages.

“At a time when our employers need more skilled workers, I urge all Queenslanders to learn about these free courses and change your life by training for a career you are passionate about,” she said.

TAFE Queensland Chief Executive Officer Mary Campbell said Queenslanders eligible for Fee-Free TAFE funding will have the opportunity to enrol in one of over 80 skill sets, certificates and diploma level qualifications currently on offer at TAFE Queensland.

“Child care workers, welfare support workers, office managers and ICT technicians are all in high demand throughout Queensland, so it’s encouraging that the majority of our current enrolments are in sectors with recognised skills shortages,” Mrs Campbell said.