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Archive for the ‘Western 2’ Category

A Fashionable Fundraiser

Thursday, April 4th, 2013

A great day was had by all at the annual ‘Tracking the Arts Race Day’ on the 8^th March 2013 at Clifford Park Race Track.

A popular favourite in the USQ Artsworx season, Race Day is not only a social highlight, but also an important fundraising event for the University’s production house.

Artsworx Manager, Rebecca Scollen said, “a flourishing arts scene is the sign of a healthy community.

Rebecca Scollen and Andrew Mason

Race Day is the only fundraiser for the year making it a real showcase for products and students.

More than 190 people enjoyed the afternoon of fashion, fun, art and auctions showcasing the skills and wares of USQ Creative Arts staff and students.

Sue Pearson, Peter and Judi Mitchell

Guests enjoyed performances by USQ singers and musicians; had the opportunity to bid on a fabulous range of artworks by USQ Visual Arts Lecturers; and watched Australian artist and McGregor School tutor, Don Milner create a masterpiece for the live auction.

True to race day tradition, the event also included a hotly contended fashions on the field and a fashion parade introducing Carolyn Taylor-Smith’s fabulous new fashion range and styling hats and fascinators by local milliner, Michelle Mingay.

Kate and Alexander Nordang

The event raised close to $8 000 on the day, which will go directly towards the 2013 season assisting in the production of events that involve USQ Creative Arts students, such as the Shakespeare in the Park Festival, Children’s Theatre Week, concerts and visual art exhibitions.

On the day Skytrans proudly donated two air tickets Toowoomba to Sydney to help contribute to the fundraising effort.

Posted in Community Support, Toowoomba | Comments Off

C&K Gabbinbar Community Kindergarten Trivia Night

Tuesday, December 18th, 2012

(Pictured L to R – Penny Chandler (Director C&K Gabbinbar Community Kindergarten) & Beck Hooley (Winner of Skytrans Prize) & Baby Lola

The C&K Gabbinbar Community Kindergarten recently had its first ever fundraising event which was held on the 17th November 2012. We were delighted when approximately 100 Trivia Buffs ‘battled it out’ to be the 2012 Trivia Champions. To say the competition was ‘fierce’ was an understatement.

Our small but dedicated Fundraising Team had sold almost 1600 multi-draw raffle tickets leading up to the night and at the actual event itself. We were truly impressed with the generosity of local businesses who wanted to be involved with the evening through donations for our multi-draw raffle and auction. The most sought after prize on the evening (thanks Skytrans!) was a return flight for two people from Toowoomba to Sydney. Congratulations goes to Beck Hooley (pictured above) who won the major prize and now just has to decide who else to take on her trip.

Thanks to this outstanding support from local families and businesses, we were able to raise funds in excess of $3000.

Our Kindergarten (of approx. 20 families) has only been open since January this year as a part of the government scheme for providing more opportunities for Queensland children to attend Kindergarten. As we are a not for profit organisation, we rely on fundraising events such as the Trivia Night to provide essential resources and any improvements to the service. We are using the funds raised from our Trivia Night to improve the children’s outdoor eating and play areas which are currently exposed to the elements.

Thanks to the roaring success of this year’s event, we are all looking forward to doing it all over again, bigger and better next year.

Posted in Community Support, Toowoomba, Western 1, Western 2 | Comments Off

Boulia State School Trivia Night & Auction

Thursday, November 29th, 2012

Trivia Night this year was another GREAT success!! A lot of planning and effort does go into the night and would not be possible without the ongoing support of the community and other businesses. This year we were blown away by the immense generosity of local people and businesses with their gifts and donations that were auctioned, as well as the purchases made on the night.

One of the mostsought after auction items this year was the amazing donation by Skytrans of flights to the value of $2000!! Simon and Cam Case were the successful bidders on the night and were very excited with their win. Well done Simon and Cam and thank-you Skytrans!

We were able to raise a significant amount of money that will go directly towards the 2013 Snow Camp. Special thanks must go to Miss Muffy for all of her organising and for preparing the challenging trivia questions and to Mr Geoff Norton for being our Auctioneer on the night.

Article & Photos Courtesty of Dan Lindemayer, A/Principal, Boulia State School

Posted in Boulia, Community Support, Western 2 | Comments Off

Diamonds and Dust!

Tuesday, November 27th, 2012

On the 24th November 2012, the township of Boulia came alive once more for the fourth annual Diamonds & Dust Ball. Each year this ball is organized to fundraise for the Royal Flying Doctor Service, who without, Boulia would have extremely limited medical services.

This year is quite special though, as the proceeds are going to Kimberley Cunningham to contribute to her quest for 2013 Isa Rodeo Queen. All of Kimberley’s proceeds will be donated to the RFDS.

A fantastic night was had by all, with over 160 people through the door. The centerpieces fascinated all, young and old, with water crystals (dubbed jelly balls for the evening) still rolling around on the floor the next morning.

The winners of the evening were as follows:

Prince of the Ball - Connor Hindom

Princess of the Ball – Charley Hall

Best Dressed Gent – Ben Brown

Loveliest Lady – Belinda Thompson

Stud of the Ball – Jaxon (last name unkownn)

Belle of the Ball - Katelyn (last name unknown)

People’s Choice Award - Sheridan Sarmardin

The winner’s of the lucky door prize, generously donated by Skytrans were William & Yuarna Dean, a local family.

Ann Britton made herself available to take photos for all that wanted to pose and will kindly be donating the proceeds of these sales to the RFDS. Fantastic music was provided by the now infamous Bradley Edgar and the dance floor was full until closing time when the CWA (Jenny Anderson) sold hotdogs for the hungry masses, also in aid of the RFDS. The greatest end to a most fantastic evening.

We look forward to doing it all again next year!

Photos courtesy of Ann Britton.

Posted in Boulia, Community Support, Western 2 | Comments Off

Ladies Day…Fifty Shades of Durham Downs Station

Thursday, November 22nd, 2012

The truckies radios were abuzz…

’Where are all these ladies going on the roads?’

Blokes have Ag Shows and Rodeos to go to but this weekend was about giving the ladies some of the things that were, well, just for ladies.

This was a day for meeting like-minded rural and remote women, sharing stories, being inspired by guest speakers from around the country and being empowered to take control of their own health and well-being.

Cocktails and coffee, massages and manicures were all crammed into one day, Saturday 10th November – approximately 1400km west of Brisbane at remote Durham Downs Station, located on the Cooper Creek. The only town further west is Innamincka, near the famous Burke & Wills Dig Tree, then next stop Lake Eyre and the Simpson Desert.

The brainchild of Durham Down’s governess, Kristy McGregor, this 20 year old dynamo (with the support of Managers Michelle Reay & Jon Cobb and the Station team), co-ordinated the event – drawing 100 women from Quilpie, Longreach, Charleville, Birdsville areas as well as Northern NSW and SA, with ages ranging from 90 to 14.

Ladies arrived from up to 10 hours drive away, craving some female company and conversation. With the chance to ‘frock-up’ being rare in the bush, Friday night started with a massive storm, turning the red soil into a mud pie. High heels were very practically traded for boots and thongs, but undeterred, everyone dressed in pink for the Jane McGrath Foundation fundraising cocktail party. Gay Tully from Windorah gave an empassioned speech about being a cancer survivor.

The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) flew in with their team, offering counselling, pap smears, breast exams and the latest in medical information.

The guest speakers were Robyn Hills, an award winning photographer, helicopter pilot and fashion designer from Caloundra, Qld, who spoke about being creative and passionate about life, while sharing her photographs for visual inspiration.

Acclaimed author Meme McDonald shared her journey of being raised in the bush and becoming a writer. She encouraged the women to document their resilience and life in the outback.

Ana Snyman flew in from Byron Bay and got a packed house to her presentation on understanding how your body works, demystifying the female anatomy and giving excellent practical advice on improving your sex life. The women attending commented that they never realized how much they didn’t know and were grateful for the opportunity to have an open discussion about what works and how to improve, which is sure to please their partners after staying home to look after the children.

Travelling from Perth, Stephanie Coombes, a ringer in WA, shared her passion of social media. Women learned about Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, and using a blog to network and communicate rural activites.

Lyn Barnes is a well-known Australian artist with a gallery in Quilpie.

Women were given the opportunity to dabble in some art by contributing to a group painting under her guidance. She created a scene depicting a stockwoman wearing a pink workshirt, which was then auctioned for the RFDS and Jane McGrath Foundation.

The weekend would not be possible without the support of Bulloo Shire Council, Desert Channels Queensland, Regional Arts Development Fund, Drill Search, Mighty Leaf Tea and Skytrans.

Some of the comments of the feedback forms were:

My cheeks are sore from laughing so much
Have made fabulous new friends
Feel totally rejuventated and ready to go back to the station
Finally got to talk to another woman
I drive 600km for my husband, I drive 600km for my children, but I never drive 600km for myself – so decided to come
Are we having another one next year?

Article coutesy of Kristy McGregor & Michelle Reay of Durham Downs Station

Photo’s courtesy of Robyn Hills www.ROBYNgraphs.com.au

Posted in Bedourie, Birdsville, Boulia, Charleville, Community Support, Cunnamulla, Quilpie, St George, Thargomindah, Western 1, Western 2, Windorah | Comments Off

Monday, November 5th, 2012

Don’t wait for a disaster to happen before you think about how you and your family are going to survive.

In a major disaster, high winds, rising floodwaters, debris or damaged roads can prevent emergency services from reaching you.

Your community could be isolated and essential services disrupted for up to three days or more.

During a large scale event emergency services will focus on assisting the most vulnerable in the community.

You may not have immediate access to support and will need to rely on the supplies and equipment you have on hand at home.

If you were isolated right now, would you be prepared?

For more information contact;

Emergency Management Queensland

Community Engagement Officer Christopher Wegger

Christopher.wegger@dcs.qld.gov or 40328682

Posted in Announcement, Aurukun, Bedourie, Birdsville, Boulia, Brisbane, Burketown, Cairns, Charleville, Cloncurry, Coen, Cunnamulla, Doomadgee, Gulf Region, Karumba, Kowanyama, Lockhart River, Mornington Island, Mount Isa, Normanton, Northern Peninsula Area, Pormpuraaw (Edward River), Quilpie, St George, Sydney, Thargomindah, Toowoomba, Western 1, Western 2, Windorah | Comments Off

Quilpie Digger’s Race Club Presents 2012 Pride of the West Race Meeting

Friday, November 2nd, 2012

Imagine the thunder of hooves enveloped in a haze of dust; out of the red haze appears a cluster of speed, muscle and sheer determination. Horses fully stretched, jockeys straining with mouths closed to keep out the dirt. The crowd closes in, watching and listening to the racing commentator whose enthusiasm belies the fact that he has no idea either. If you are watching and listening to this, it must be September and you must be in Quilpie.

Perhaps you have just witnessed the Grocer’s Gallop, the first of four sprints that make up the Quilpie Digger’s Race Club Pride of the West Race Meeting, a unique day of bush racing where the only stipulation regarding horseflesh is that it must not be a registered racehorse and likewise, no registered jockeys or trainers either. Station horses race throughout the day over four hundred metres; the locals will tell you to back the jockeys not the horses. Well supported by the community, the race programme features races such as The Cattle Carter’s Classic, The Bulloo River Bolt and the Wool Grower’s Wager, with successful competitors vying for the chance to race off in the final to be The Pride of the West.

Quilpie always caters to the crowd: it is great to be on course early to enjoy the Race Committee’s Welcome Drinks and mix with visitors and locals alike. Fashions of the Field are hotly contested throughout the afternoon, the Bulloo Park turf dazzling with colour, stunning millinery and death defying heels. The 2012 Pride of the West featured The Bristol Car Club of Australia with nine beautiful old Bristols on display and their proud owners enjoying the renowned Quilpie hospitality. For the racing tragic, sky channel betting is available with bookies on course and a local tote. The Calcutta run before the Pride of the West is a spectacle in itself with all the theatre and excitement only a bush auction can provide.

When the horses have been fed and stabled for the night, the party really kicks off with a great band and the bar open till late; for those not too sore from their big day’s racing, there is still time to retrieve their pride and prove themselves on the dance floor.

Skytrans have been great supporters of the Quilpie Digger’s Pride of the West and the Race Club would like to acknowledge their strong support over the years and sincerely thank them for their generosity and commitment. Their sponsorship prize of a return ticket for two is much sought after and is always a great drawcard for the Race Club. Many of our visitors fly out for the meet, either into Quilpie or Thargomindah and it is wonderful to have this reliable air service so our city cousins are able to experience what is quite simply, true bush racing.

Posted in Community Support, Quilpie, Western 2 | Comments Off

Skytrans Provides Lift for Frontier Services

Tuesday, September 4th, 2012

The Managing Director of Skytrans, Simon Wild announced today details of a community partnership with Frontier Services that will strengthen the provider’s network of services and care delivered to remote families across Queensland.

Under the partnership, Skytrans will provide Frontier Services’ staff with flights to remote locations across Queensland to enable the provision of vital services; particularly children’s services for young families and health care in remote communities.

“Skytrans operates to some of Queensland’s most isolated and remote communities and understands

the challenges that people in these communities face on a daily basis, in terms of quality of life. Through our partnership with Frontier Services we feel that we are making a contribution that offers people access to a service that provides social and emotional support to those in need,” he said.

According to Frontier Services Regional Manager, Karen Harvey, the partnership will assist child care workers with the Frontier Services Remote Family Care Service to reach isolated families and provide relief child care for up to three weeks a year.

The Remote Family Care Service works alongside the Frontier Services Remote Area Families Service (RAFS). FiveRAFS teams of trained early childhood specialists travel out to remote properties and communities in four-wheel-drive vehicles, jam-packed with educational toys and activities for the children. They also provide resources, advice and support to the parents.

Frontier Services also has two health care services in Queensland; the Savannah Regional Health Service and the Bollon Bush Nursing Centre. The Savannah Regional Health Service, based out of Georgetown, played an active role in helping the community recover from Cyclone Yasi.

Ms Harvey said that in effect, “The families, who are a long way from mainstream child care services, can access the service when they need it most, for example during shearing, mustering or hardship.

“Being able to access the flights to get our child care workers around the state will make a huge difference. It will give us more flexibility to respond to a family’s request, particularly if there is an urgent need. It will also greatly reduce travel time for the child care workers, many of whom are on the road for weeks at a time.

“We are delighted to begin this partnership with Skytrans that will strengthen the whole region as we work together to support remote Queensland,” she said.

Pictured:

John Dickinson, Frontier Services National Development Manager with Skytrans Managing Director Simon Wild.

Karen Harvey, Frontier Service QLD Regional Manager; Anna Burley, Frontier Services Primary Health Care Nurse & Team Leader of the Savannah Regional Health Service; Steve Jones, Skytrans Commercial Manager of RPT Services; Billy Gordon, Skytrans Community Development Manager.

Posted in Announcement, Aurukun, Bedourie, Birdsville, Boulia, Brisbane, Burketown, Cairns, Charleville, Cloncurry, Coen, Community Support, Cunnamulla, Doomadgee, Gulf Region, Karumba, Kowanyama, Lockhart River, Mornington Island, Mount Isa, Normanton, Northern Peninsula Area, Pormpuraaw (Edward River), Quilpie, St George, Sydney, Thargomindah, Toowoomba, Western 1, Western 2, Windorah | Comments Off

Windorah Sports Camp in it’s 22nd year!

Friday, August 24th, 2012

The annual Windorah Sports Camp was held from 18 to 22 June. This camp proves an opportunity for outback primary school children to receive specialised instruction from professional sports coaches. Skytrans has been involved for the last three years in providing travel, free of charge, for these coaches to Windorah.

This is the 22^nd year for the camp which had its inception in 1992. The camp enables hundreds of students in Western Queensland the chance to develop their physical, social and personal skills. Rural and remote schools often experience difficulty in gaining regular access to specialist physical education teachers as well as the hardships experienced when teaching team sports to a school with low enrolment numbers and children spanning every primary school year level!

Professional, accredited coaches were sourced to provide the best possible coaching and included baseball, athletics, touch football, cricket, gymnastics and tennis for the 2012 camp. The coaches came on the Skytrans flight from Brisbane to Windorah for the week long camp.

Ninety-two students were in attendance ranging in age from 5 to 13 years, with participants travelling up to 500 km to attend the camp. Students came from Windorah, Jundah, Stonehenge, Bedourie, Birdsville, Isisford, Muttaburra, Jericho, Mount Isa, Longreach and Charleville Schools of Distant Education.

The camp continues to provide students with valuable educational and social experiences, irrespective of the tyrannyof distance and geographic isolation.

Posted in Community Support, Western 2, Windorah | Comments Off

Skytrans Inaugural Toowoomba to Sydney Service!

Monday, August 20th, 2012

A chilly July morning in Toowoomba saw passengers rugged up in readiness for the Inaugural Toowoomba to Sydney flight. This newest of Skytrans routes has been in the planning stages for over a year now, and has been highly anticipated.

Toowoomba Lord Mayor Paul Antonio and several other Toowoomba dignitaries officiated in a cake cutting ceremony in what is a turning point in Toowoomba’s history, witnessed by 39 passengers set to board the inaugural service.

Television, Press and Radio were at the forefront capturing every moment and a journalist from the Toowoomba Chronicle accompanied us on the flight recording every exciting moment.

Clear blue skies paved the way for a smooth flight to Sydney while Flight Attendants Hayley and Sam attended to passengers every whim.

Touch down in Sydney was met with applause and a great sense of pride, and being part of such an historic moment could be felt by all. Two fire trucks delivered the traditional water cannon welcome as the plane made its way down the taxiway and capped off the realization of such a memorable flight.

A very warm welcome by the CEO of the Sydney Airport and other dignitaries brought home just how important this service is, and the long term benefits it generates for Toowoomba. This is the first regional interstate service operated into Sydney airport, illustrating the emergence of the Downs region as a strong economic performer for Queensland.

An enthusiastic group of passengers boarded for the flight from Sydney to Toowoomba. Once again we were blessed with blue skies and the flight to Toowoomba went smoothly and without a hitch.

The commitment by all concerned in the preparation and execution on the day resulted in a highly successful launch and one which impressed all who attended.