Qld

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The children of the Allora Swimming Club were delighted to return to their home pool in November to commence their new season of swimming ... Allora Swim Team members have already competed in the Winter Short Course Championships, Fairholme Time and Technique Meet, Turbo Jets Spring Carnival, Toowoomba Open and a weekend out West for the Chinchilla and Dalby Open meets.

Labor has confirmed it is scrapping funding for the Agriculture Shows Development Grants Program. In Estimates week, Agriculture Minister Murray Watt said $14 million in funding for Ag shows was being “reprioritised”. Maranoa MP David Littleproud said Estimates had sadly proved Labor was taking even more money out of regional and rural Australia, with infrastructure funding for Ag shows now gone, including in the electorate of Maranoa.

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An $8 million project to upgrade North Queensland’s flood warning network is now complete with 180 new flood warning assets installed across 28 council areas in the Far North, North and North West of the state.  

‘A Common Thread is a collaboration between three Kuranda artists — Toni Rogers, Marcelle Dieben and Shiree Burnside,’ said Councillor Peter Hodge. ‘Each artist has a diverse background, but they have all been influenced by their grandmothers’ creative legacy and share passions for weaving, sewing, sculpting, and using recycled and natural materials.'

Tablelands Regional Council’s Christmas Lights Competition is on again! Mayor Rod Marti is looking forward to seeing the festive spirit reflected in light displays on houses, in gardens and across streets in the region.

The state government body tasked to handle the business operations of Bramwell Station say they are committed to keeping the roadhouse and tourist park open, but questions have been raised over the transparency of the dealings. In a statement to Cape York Weekly, the Department of Environment and Science said it was dealing with existing sublease holders to keep the tourist businesses up and running beyond November 30, when the keys are officially handed to the Queensland government.

Aurukun is no stranger to unrest but locals fear that issues in the community are at breaking point after a year of violence and sorry business ... Attendance at the school has dwindled as a result of violence in the street and sleepless nights, while the council struggles to find staff for essential roles, meaning services such as the post office and community bank have been closed intermittently.

Four new registered nurses have joined the Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service as part of a Queensland-first program to attract people from the city to the country. The nurses are part of the Rural Generalist Registered Nurse Program workforce initiative.

Roma Cup, 19 November 2022

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The Sunshine Coast citizen science program is growing, and council is calling on our community for their ideas. Citizen science is when people volunteer their time to partner with researchers to increase scientific knowledge and collect data about their natural environment.

Forestry Australia has welcomed a new study that highlights the significant value and benefits that state forests deliver for positive environmental, recreational, social and commercial outcomes. Assessing the net benefits of multiple use native forest management in Queensland found that state forests managed for multiple uses in South and Central Queensland delivered additional benefits and superior social outcomes over the long term when compared with benefits provided by national parks.

A North Queensland football coach and first aid officer who has spent his life working with troubled youth has put his hand up to assist in rehabilitation of criminal offenders through a trial of Katter’s Australian Party’s Relocation Sentencing policy. Relocation Sentencing, which has long been touted by the North Queensland-based party as “circuit-breaker solution” to the unrelenting youth crime crisis, would involve repeat offenders being sent to remote properties to work the land while completing compulsory therapeutic programs over a 6-12 month period.

A record number of Australian Catholic University pre-service teachers have headed into regional, rural, and remote areas nationally to complete their teaching placements this year. More than 250 teaching students will have travelled far and wide to learn on the job by the end of 2022 ... “We are hoping they will love it so much they will want to return to these regions as teachers on graduation.”

After 18 years of participating in the Back Plains Speech Competition, which features many primary school students from around the district, Sam has secured Greenmount State School its first win.

Entries are open for the Royal Queensland Show (Ekka) Giant Pumpkin Competition, with anyone able to get seeds delivered to them for free. The competition offers more than $3,400 in prize money, with a new bonus $1,000 for the heaviest pumpkin over a whopping 500 kilograms.

The Gomaren & Doctors Creek Catchment Landcare Group’s 6th Focus on Farms Photographic Competition attracted more than 400 entries this year ... Among the winners was the shot taken by Andrea Davis at East Greenmount. The eye-catching picture, entitled “A Boy and His Dog”, won the Open award for Best Photo of the Competition.

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Two community meetings were held in Allora on Monday afternoon to discuss the topic, both involving concerned locals who have properties impacted by floodwaters and representatives of Southern Downs Regional Council (SDRC) ... Many residents believe multiple floods earlier this year along Dalrymple Creek were made worse by the levee bank, particularly around the corner of Raff and Jubb streets.

The outstanding educators and staff at Toowoomba Catholic Schools have been celebrated at their annual Excellence Awards ... Mary Donnelly a Year 5-6 teacher from St Patrick’s School in Allora was an Award finalist. The ‘Mary Donnelly experience' is explained by parents as one in which their child is not only educated but thoroughly engaged by her wit and intelligence.