reader TOOWOOMBA
Toowoomba’s Free Regional Magazine
Edition 2
Ruthven Street
From the Editor Winter is well upon us; the days are shorter, the morning fog ascends and the wind has picked up across the Range. While it can be easy to get all gloomy, I personally love this time of year in our city with the deciduous trees exposing their branches, some autumn colours still around and when I see that fog, I’m taken away to a different place. The first Edition of Toowoomba Reader has been viewed online by over 120 people over the last month or so, a surprisingly great result and far exceeding our expectations. Edition 2 as you can see from the index on the right already has more content but we are still chasing contributors. If you have taken some local photos, written poetry about Toowoomba or you believe you have something to contribute, click here and get in touch. Enjoy Edition 2, Andrew
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contents 4 THINKING OF A RENO? Toowoomba might just be the place to tickle your fancy. 6 PARK: USQ JAPANESE GARDEN - A pictorial of the oriental beauty in it’s winter coat. 18 NOOKS AND CRANNIES - Small businesses need support to... 20 YRTEOP - A poem to warm to.
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Renovating in... Since the early 20th Century, Toowoomba has continued to strive for greater things and even today we see the never ending forward thinking development march on, to make this regional glory on The Range better than ever. It has suffered, as much of Australia has, in terms of leaving behind pockets of disuse; areas that still to this day need updates, need a fresh set of eyes cast upon them. Dwellings in many part of the city are becoming dated, becoming so old and so neglected only a hardcore renovator would stand up to the challenge. And so it is with residences just north of the CBD, places like Wilsonton and Kearney Springs too, a virtual gold mine is awaiting those brave and perhaps a little bit loony souls. All is well though. Tackling one of these as a ‘project’ is somewhat easy here, as Toowoomba is well equipped to provide all that you need. There is of course Bunnings, Masters has just come online and a few of the smaller, perhaps more convenient hardware stores operate in a spread out fashion. There are secondhand shops, even an auction house, you just need to know where to look. The weather too seems to be just right for the renovating pioneers; if it rains, there are plenty of internal works you could start, from the obligatory bathroom and kitchen updates, but of course there is so much more. A lot of houses here were built with VJ grooved internals, so those with the patience could do the acrylic filler dance, and a lot of flooring is now beginning to be bought back to life by would be “The Block” contenders. The complex question always arises but somehow here in Toowoomba, it’s just that little bit easier; should I go classical or modern? Take a short walk anywhere near the city and you can see that the colonial look is very much alive and kicking, especially on the external. And of course, Toowoomba is the “Garden City” after all, so a few formal patches of a Roman styled hedge should ought to do it. If you pick up an 80’s style brick and tile in Wilsonton for example, or even in Hi, modern is of course the go. Classical tends not to do justice to your standard lowest, so modernizing is key. Not ultra-modern, but modern none-the-less. Asbestos of course remains a concern and it’s no different here. Professionals are the way to go; after they’ve removed the silent killer, you can go hell for leather, just make sure you’re safe.
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Your advertisement here ! (1 page spread for Edition 3) Cost: $5.50 (GST Included) for the whole page!
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PICTORIAL
QUEENS PAR
Photography pictorial by M
JAPANESE
“I love blue sk 04
RK
Melinda Kiss
E WINTER
the park, especially at that moment just before dusk, when the kies make Photography way for dull pictorial oranges by and reds, itKiss becomes magical.� Andrew Melinda Kiss 05
THE University of Southern Queensland is undoubtedly one of the main attractions city. Thousands upon thousands of students, a lot of whom are from overseas, come to about all sorts of wonderful things at tertiary level; whether it’s a future engineer or a brilliant new teacher, Toowoomba’s USQ can accommodate many. While the buildings and lecture theatres remain largely utilitarian, a little gem pops its head up out amongst the buildings. A beauty that is remaining hidden no more, the Spectacular Japanese Gardens attracts it’s fair share of visitors, day in day out, morning through to dusk. It’s as you would expect it; bamboo, maples, bridges and ponds, authentic Japan. But in winter, a certain gloom envelopes the place. Many of the the trees have long dropped their leaves, the grey skies reflect a dull expression in the lake, the flowers that bloom brilliantly in summer are but a distant memory. It still has life however. Glimpses of yellow and auburn. It still draws people, to contemplate, to relax, to unwind and to think deeply. Perhaps you may like to visit… ...to be surrounded by the beautiful tranquil gloom.
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s of the learn
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“Notice that the stiffest tree is m while the bamboo
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most easily cracked, o or willow survives by bending in the wind.� Bruce Lee, 1940-1973
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"I'll lie here and learn How, over their ground ,
Trees make a long s And
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shadow a light sound ." Louise Bogan , 1898-1970
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Nooks and Crannies For Edition 3 onwards, we are introducing a new section, as you can see above aptly titled “Nooks and Crannies.” Each edition we are giving one lucky small business in Toowoomba a chance to feature in the magazine. It could be anything, a small café, a secondhand store, a small firm establishing themselves to support the Toowoomba region, or a business that needs a helping hand to fire. If you are interested in being our first feature “nook and cranny” business, just send though an email to toowoombareader@gmail.com and presto, a free plug. For you! The article remains ‘active’ online via this magazine, so it’s a sort of gift that keeps on giving. Our very first edition has been viewed by over 120 people already and we are projecting an online readership over 500 within a few months at the current rate of growth.
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Your advertisement here ! (1 page spread for Edition 3) Cost: $5.50 (GST Included) for the whole page!
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YRTEOP Tremblingly cold. Oh I love the fogginess, Oh I love the business, Where else would I rather be? On a cruise. On a beach. Maybe nowhere else. Beautifully winter, Always ways to stay warm...
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Your advertisement here ! (1 page spread for Edition 3) Cost: $5.50 (GST Included) for the whole page!
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We hope you’ve enjoyed Edition 2: slowly but surely growing. Next edition coming soon… For advertising opportunities and very reasonable rates, please contact us at toowoombareader@gmail.com NEED A FREE INSPECTION OF MAINTENANCE ISSUES OF YOUR INVESTMENT PROPERTY IN OR AROUND TOOWOOMBA? Call...
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