29 December 2008 - Archived

NEW Year celebrations in Ipswich Wednesday night will centre on Timothy Molony Park opposite St Mary’s Church. From 6pm a huge night of free entertainment has been planned for all the family to enjoy. Roving performers, movies and fireworks at 9pm and midnight will make for a perfect way to welcome the New Year. Bring a rug and a picnic or buy from the food vendors on site. Two family movies will also be on the big screen. The first at 7.15pm is Alvin and the Chipmunks. At 10pm Ice Age 2: The Meltdown will lead up to midnight and the countdown to 2009. Don’t forget this is an alcohol free and smoke free event for all the family presented by Ipswich City Council with the support of media partners including Channel 9 News. A reminder also for nearby residents to take care of family pets and check they are secure during the fireworks.

Next year Queensland celebrates 150 years since the colony was proclaimed on 10 December 1859. It is a milestone for our great state and one I’m sure everyone will be eager to celebrate. I have written to Premier Anna Bligh offering our full support for the program of events during the year.

Last week Lloyd and Dulcie Bird celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Lloyd and Dulcie represent the heart and soul of our city, especially with Lloyd’s lifelong dedication to educating others about the environment and preserving rare plant species in our region. On behalf of the city we wish Lloyd and Dulcie the warmest of congratulations on reaching their golden wedding anniversary.

The road fatality numbers still paint a grim picture despite an intense holiday road safety campaign. We all know what not to do, but somehow many drivers think they are different or invincible. As you take to the road for end of year celebrations with family and friends I’d like you to remember a road safety message from a few years ago – it’s better to arrive late than dead on time. This message has even more relevance today given our busy lifestyles. Give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination. This will reduce the temptation to speed or take unnecessary risks on the road.

22 December 2008 - Archived

AS the year draws to a close our city is in a strong position despite the gloomy economic news. We can be confident about the future and look forward to many exciting developments which lay ahead for our city in 2009.

Among the many achievements we'll see next year include the completion and opening of Home HQ at West Ipswich in February, completion of the $366 million state government funded Centenary Highway extension from Springfield Central to Yamanto. On the city centre front we will celebrate the opening of the Queens Park Environmental Education Centre which will include a new site for the kiosk.

The Ipswich Motorway upgrade will continue to take shape with the commencement of the Dinmore to Goodna section. In Springfield, the new parklands will become a reality and work is expected to commence on Stage 2 of Orion Springfield Town Centre.

The much anticipated Riverlink footbridge is also due for completion in May with on site works commencing next month. The Brassall bikeway will also be officially opened in early 2009. This new shared bikeway and pedestrian link will provide a walkable and safe link between North Ipswich and Brassall. The bikeway will also provide better connections between surrounding suburbs and Ipswich Central.

Last week it was a pleasure to officially open the new Redbank Plains Pizza Capers at Kruger Shopping Village. Congratulations to Danny and Tracie McLees and their staff on bringing the very popular store to the local community. It has been some honeymoon for the couple who were only married a few days before opening the store.

This is the final column before Christmas so on behalf of all councillors and staff, I want to take this chance to wish everyone all the very best for the season. We have every reason to be proud of our city and have so much more to look forward to in 2009. Have a very merry Christmas and a happy new year. Above all please stay safe on the roads and remember always drive to the conditions. The road safety message is one we must all take seriously as we head into the Christmas break.

15 December 2008 - Archived

BEING Mayor is not just a title, but a responsibility. It is one I take very seriously and together with all councillors we are the current custodians of setting the broader strategic direction for Ipswich City Council and the city. It is on the public record, and I have said many times, that I don’t work for council. I work for the residents. I have also said many times how supportive I am of council staff. This great team does a fantastic job and without their support it would not be possible to deliver the many outstanding and innovative programs and projects Ipswich is famous for. It is only by working together to create strong partnerships between residents, businesses, councillors and staff that we have been able to achieve so much. Of course there is so much more to do to secure our future and our place in the region. Change is happening all around us. Institutions we once took for granted have disappeared. Ipswich City Council is in a strong position and is fortunate to have survived and prospered since the amalgamation with Moreton Shire in 1995. While many other councils are still finding their feet following their recent amalgamations, Ipswich is powering ahead. I do not believe in privatisation of council services, nor do I believe in outsourcing. I am 100% committed to our staff. This does not exclude us from taking on new ideas and challenging the way we do things. To meet the challenges of growth we can’t be second best. We have to be open to new ideas. Improving customer service for residents was a key factor behind the public announcement a little over 12 months ago that council had entered into a partnership with the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) to create Services Queensland. Ipswich City Council owns 50%, the LGAQ 25%, and the remaining 25% is a private company which specialises in improving customer service. Local government is the majority partner in Services Queensland. The most important aspect of this partnership is that the people of Ipswich and council own the intellectual property created by Services Queensland. We now have access to cutting edge systems, technology and ideas. The city will continue to go forward when everyone works together. Thank you for being proud of your city.

8 December 2008 - Archived

A FOOTBRIDGE connecting Riverlink and the Ipswich Mall will move a step closer this Thursday when test drilling gets underway on the northern side of the river. This work is needed to allow for the construction of additional bridge supports. Sensitive heritage considerations and very challenging engineering requirements have all been considered during the design of the new five metre wide pedestrian bridge. A full scale model to be unveiled will show a structure in complete harmony with the existing rail bridge. While there’s no doubt everyone would have preferred the bridge was finished a year or more ago, the reality was designers were faced with a lack of historical engineering information, which could have comprised public safety. All major issues have now been resolved and it will be tremendous to see construction work begin.

Congratulations to 24 new Ipswich Advocates who were introduced at a special ceremony held at the Visitor Information Centre last week. More than 40% of the estimated 688,000 visitors to Ipswich each year come here to visit family and friends. Ipswich Advocates will help promote our special places including the River Heart Parklands, Kholo Gardens, Queens Park, Workshops Rail Museum and Colleges Crossing.

The Mayor’s Carols by Candlelight are on this Saturday 13 December at the Ipswich Turf Club. Again this year we will enjoy a wonderful range of entertainment featuring local Ipswich talent. Special guest stars Troy Cassar-Daley and Natalie Gauci will take to the stage with a support program featuring traditional carols. Many sponsors, including Channel 10, are working in partnership with Ipswich City Council to support this signature annual Christmas event. Admission is free for all the family.

There’s a host of other Christmas events this week including the Seniors’ Christmas Breakfast this Thursday from 9am in the Ipswich Mall, Collingwood Park State School P&C community carols Tuesday from 6pm and Nowlanvil is holding carols by torchlight on Thursday night from 6.30pm.

1 December 2008 - Archived

CHRISTMAS carols and events are getting into full swing this week with many local community groups and churches spreading the spirit of the season. The Mayor’s Carols by Candlelight are on Saturday 13 December at the Ipswich Turf Club. Again this year we will enjoy a tremendous range of entertainment featuring local Ipswich talent, including the Cambrian Youth Choir. This year promises the biggest and best carols ever. Special guest stars Troy Cassar-Daley and Natalie Gauci will take to the stage with a support program featuring traditional carols. Many sponsors, including Channel 10, join in partnership with Ipswich City Council to support this signature annual Christmas event. Don’t forget admission is free for all the family.

Schools are also preparing for the holidays with a number of events planned to celebrate the end of year. A special concert at Kruger State School this week showcased the talents of students from prep to year seven. The concert was organised by the P&C, teachers and volunteers. Congratulations to principal Regina Acton and all the team at Kruger State School.

Happy 99th birthday wishes go to Elizabeth Wegener at Lauriston. Local councillor Andrew Antoniolli and I helped to mark this special birthday with family and friends on Monday. Cecil and Beryl Wilkinson celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary this week at Brassall Village. The Wilkinsons were previously long time residents of Leichhardt and it was wonderful to join with local councillors Charlie Pisasale and Cheryl Bromage to offer congratulations on behalf of the city for 70 magnificent years of marriage.

Ipswich Thistle Pipe Band has secured Jimmy Barnes as the special guest star for the Ipswich International Tattoo in 2009. This is a major coup for our city with the Tattoo now a annual event on our cultural calendar. Congratulations to Joe McGhee and the band for being such enthusiastic city ambassadors.

24 November 2008 - Archived

THE run of severe weather last week was a testing time for everyone. It has shown the spirit of Ipswich is alive and well. I have been so heartened and proud to be Mayor of this great city after witnessing and hearing stories to lift the human spirit. Strangers went to help others who were hit hard and many still have some way to go before life returns to normal. Shops, industrial and commercial premises, including Big Dad’s Pies in Limestone Street and a long list of residential properties suffered some form of inundation. When I called in to several stores in the Westway Centre I couldn’t believe how much damage had been caused and only a day later the pie shop was open, as was the kebab shop next door.

So much rain in just a few hours pushed drainage and road systems beyond their limits and we saw the devastation caused to both private and public properties. It has been so long since a flood we have forgotten how quickly rivers and creeks can become raging torrents. It doesn’t matter what nature throws at us, as a community we will rise to the many challenges.

During all this severe weather it has been disappointing to read and hear a few people taking anonymous cheap shots at council workers. I know many staff worked around the clock and were out in the height of the storm responding to calls for help. And it is not just during storms. Many council staff are rostered to be on-call and often work after hours across a range of council services, including the repair of water and sewerage mains. In many cases this can be late into the night while the city sleeps.

As a council we are always looking to improve service to the community. Feedback from residents is always welcome. Some might say I have dug my heels in to improve customer service for the community, but we must all work together to make sure the city moves forward for the benefit of all residents. I am prepared to work with anyone who is also prepared to work in the best interests of the city.

17 November 2008 - Archived

IPSWICH Nature Centre in Queens Park has become one of the jewels in the crown of our city and among the top visitor attractions. In the past week the Nature Centre was chosen by Channel 9’s Today show to broadcast the national weather. Reporter Steve Jacobs had a great time with members of the Ipswich Thistle Pipe Band, local school students from Girls Grammar and Silkstone primary, along with Hedy and Pat Keogh and members of the Ipswich Multicultural Projects Inc. National Seniors made sure everyone had a breakfast with a sausage sizzle, tea and coffee. Thank you to everyone who turned up to fly the Ipswich flag on national TV. The Nature Centre also hosted the Backyard Habitat event on Sunday and provided the chance to hear from local landcare experts, learn tips about saving water, sustainable garden solutions and how to bring more of nature’s beauty into your backyard.

There are a lot of things happening in our city. Last week I joined the CEO to present information sessions with council staff. The city is very fortunate to have so many talented and hard working staff that put in a lot of effort to make our city a better place in which to live. It is very clear we have a great team of people working in the best interests of our community.

Chat Time last Saturday at Brassall Shopping Centre proved again how many great ideas residents have to share. It was a very busy morning and I was joined by local councillors Cheryl Bromage, Heather Morrow, David Pahlke and Andrew Antoniolli to hear feedback and to share the latest news on the developments currently underway in our city.

Year 7 students of Leichhardt State School have completed their first aid course and were rewarded last Friday with the presentation of First Aid Certificates. Congratulations on your hard work and dedication. Thank you also for the warm welcome to your school.

McHappy Day was another success over the weekend and it was great to drop into the Riverlink store to help out for an hour. This annual day helps to raise funds to support the great work of Ronald McDonald charities. Thank you to everyone who called in to say hello.

10 November 2008 - Archived

METRO Hotel Ipswich International is under the new ownership of Transmetro Corporation. Last week the city welcomed Alex van Kersey to his new job as general manager of the hotel. Alex is looking forward to meeting regular patrons and to welcome new customers to the hotel, including diners at Platform 9 restaurant. It was also tremendous to welcome CEO George Bedwani. There was talk for many years we needed hotel of this quality with the convenience of being located in Ipswich city centre. The new management understands the important role the hotel has to play in the life of Ipswich and is keen to make local residents feel welcome.

A new entertainment program known as the River Sessions has commenced at the River Heart Parklands. From 3pm to 6pm on the second and last Sunday of each month all the family can enjoy free entertainment featuring jazz and popular easy listening music. Each performance will be staged on the man piazza area near the water feature. Congratulations to Cr Andrew Antoniolli and all those involved in making such great use of the parklands. Thanks also to Energex for their support of the River Sessions.

Movies in the Park continues to roll out across all council divisions attracting many families to enjoy a free movie on the big screen. This Saturday night Cr Paul Tully is looking forward to welcoming residents to Evan Marginson Park at Goodna for the screening of Santa Claus III. Arrive by 6.30pm and join with the Ipswich Hospital Foundation’s fit flicks team for a pre-movie warm up routine. Take along chairs, a rug and picnic hamper and settle in for a great family movie.

Ipswich is fortunate to have so many volunteers ready to assist the many initiatives of council. Honorary park rangers are a group of volunteers from a diverse range of backgrounds and form the 'eyes and ears' of the city's parks and reserves. Trained rangers keep a watchful eye on our parks and reserves and liaise with Council officers on issues ranging from daily routine maintenance to reporting of illegal activities. Recently a special ‘thank you’ afternoon tea for honorary park rangers was held at the Woodend Nature Centre.

3 November 2008 - Archived

INTEREST in our city continues to grow. This was clearly in evidence last Friday at the Civic Hall for the annual yearly city update presentation. Many local businesses were joined by other interested corporations and investors looking to expand operations in the Ipswich region. Overall the city is going well with the population growing at approximately 5,000 each year. Ipswich is also fortunate to have job generating industrial land close to where people live. The city has a key role to play in the sustainable growth of south east Queensland, and more importantly in the western corridor.

Ipswich Region Community Church celebrated a day of honour on Sunday to recognise emergency service personnel, community organisations such as the RSPCA, politicians and business leaders. Those attended included representatives from the ambulance, fire, police, SES and Ripley Valley Rural Fire Service. This annual day of honour is a tremendous gesture from the church and shows appreciation to those volunteers who spend tireless hours working for our community.

Ipswich and West Moreton Lifeline held their latest graduation for telephone counsellors last week. All participants completed a 14 week telephone counselling course, which included a number of counselling “shifts as both listeners and speakers while being coached by a supervisor. They then completed 12 five hour counselling shifts working all hours of the day and night. Ipswich Lifeline provides many of the hard to fill shifts like the “overnighter”. As a city we are very fortunate to have 60 counsellors with an exceptionally high level of commitment, care and a desire to give something back to the community.

The origins of Police Citizens Youth Clubs can be traced back 60 years. On the weekend a special celebration was held to mark this anniversary in 2008. The Ipswich PCYC is one of the biggest in Queensland and continues to attract record memberships and community participation in the many programs held at the Griffith Road centre.

27 October 2008 - Archived

TAKING control and re-energising the heart of our city are key factors behind Ipswich City Council buying Ipswich City Square. This move will end years of impasse over the future direction of the traditional centre of our city. The signing of this contract will be remembered as the most significant event in the history of Ipswich since Reids department store was destroyed by fire in 1985. Everyone agrees Ipswich City Square is in need of significant redevelopment and general refurbishment to attract new retailers. Once ownership has been transferred to council in early 2009, the private sector will be encouraged to facilitate redevelopment of the entire site. Ipswich City Square is one of 17 catalytic projects as outlined in the Ipswich Regional Centre Strategy. Council is not generally in the business of being a shopping centre owner or developer, but the unique circumstances facing the future growth of the city centre required council to take a leadership role in moving the city forward.

Many people have asked me if council can afford it. The firm answer is yes. The city is in a strong financial position and well placed to manage the development of this centre in the short to medium term. It is planned to recoup the capital outlay within three to four years by bringing in private developers through expressions of interest. The value of heritage buildings, the Bremer River and identified future public transport corridors will all be considered in the future redevelopment. Planning for the redevelopment of Ipswich City Square has already been underway at the same time as council was negotiating to take over ownership. The long term redevelopment may include retail activity such as major department stores, cafes, restaurants, and up to 20 levels of commercial and inner-city residential accommodation.

The Ipswich Regional Centre masterplan and Council’s planning scheme already allow for building heights similar to Aspire. In the short term we will seek to aggressively market and attract new stores to the centre by engaging commercial letting agents. There are many national retailers still seeking a presence in Ipswich city centre. Importantly, the centre is well placed next to trains, buses and taxis.

New babies were welcomed to the city during the Baby, Toddler and Child Expo last week. The expo brought together parents, carers, educators and like minded organisations to share, learn, and promote awareness of resources. Special thanks to those organisations that supported the expo, including the Ipswich Hospital Foundation and Community Services Australia.

20 October 2008 - Archived

THE signing last week of the Flinders to Greenbank-Karrawatha Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was yet another win for the environment. It was also an opportunity to deliver an important message that Ipswich is playing a vital role in the development and preservation of major green space corridors. This MoU will assist in the coordinated management of nature conservation, recreation, and cultural heritage in this ecologically significant bushland corridor.

It may have been a while on the drawing board, but the wait for a new Three Mile Bridge has certainly been worth it. This jointly funded $4.2 million project between council and the federal government through the Department of Defence, now provides vastly improved access to RAAF Base Amberley. For many years the old low level timber bridge was the first to go under water during a flood. Now we have a new bridge with much improved all weather access to and from Ipswich Central for defence and civilian personnel working on the base.

The opening of the new NEC Springfield office marks another milestone in the development of Springfield Central. It was tremendous to welcome NEC chairman Mr Hajime Sasaki. The city is honoured to have such a significant presence from one of the worlds leading IT corporations. This is also another piece of the puzzle that is the vision of Springfield Land Corporation’s Maha Sinnathamby.

Thank you to the many residents and members of local community groups who attended the external meeting of council held at Karalee State School last week. Once again it was great to get feedback and many good ideas during the Chat Time held before the meeting.

As a community and with a desire to become Australia’s healthiest city, it was great to drop into the men’s health symposium held by the Ipswich Freemasons Men’s Health Group. Backed with the work of the Ipswich Hospital Foundation, many other groups and organisations can get involved in easy fitness programs at the gym or around the home.

13 October 2008 - Archived

SUPPORTING and encouraging young people helps build pride in our city. Last week six local high school students graduated with a Certificate IV in project management at Bremer TAFE. The program is an initiative of Ipswich City Council in partnership with Lead On and The Bremer to actively engage young people with exposure to real–life projects and community experiences. Lead On has been working with Council for a number of years to facilitate the engagement and involvement of all sections of the community in providing these opportunities. Students now have a qualification that provides them with the skills and knowledge to actively participate and engage in projects, and provide pathways to higher education, and increased employment optons. Congratulations to Keaton Jenner, Jacob Knauth, James Petersen, Laureena Scott, Kate Gardiner and Tammie Hetherington.

The sporting heritage of Ipswich was again highlighted in Melbourne last week when Allan Langer was inducted into the Sports Australia Hall of Fame. This accolade is well deserved by Alfie who paid tribute to his family and friends for their support all through his years of playing, including those early days at Norths.

Movies in the Park is off to a great start with good crowds attending the first two events. This Saturday a karaoke version the Sound of Music is sure to be a big hit when it screens at Ipswich Girls Grammar hockey fields in East Ipswich. The city will be alive with this family classic starring Julie Andrews. At each event all the family can join in a pre movie warm up with the Ipswich Hospital Foundation fit flicks team. Don’t forget to take along chairs, rug or a picnic hamper and arrive by 6.30pm.

The environment will receive a further boost with the signing of a Conservation Partnership this week. The Flinders to Greenbank-Karawatha corridor will provide ongoing protection of over 40 kilometres of green space between Ipswich and Brisbane. The corridor has unique and important biodiversity qualities. This partnership agreement is a milestone for south east Queensland conservation.

Wayne “the Poo” Roberts bid farewell to the River 94.9 airwaves last Friday after nearly three years back on the air. Wayne will be fondly remembered by thousands of fans for a career which has spanned more than 35 years entertaining south east Queensland. Thank you Wayne for your tremendous support of Ipswich and the western corridor.

6 October 2008 - Archived

MOVIES in the Park made a welcome return for another season of free movies with a big launch in Queens Park last Saturday night. All council divisions will be treated to a free movie by the end of the season in March next year. At each event all the family can join in a pre movie warm up with the Ipswich Hospital Foundation fit flicks team. Don’t forget to take along chairs, rug or a picnic hamper and arrive by 6.30pm. This Saturday Leichhardt Park will be the venue for Game Plan.

The Defence Force Air Show was another spectacular success for Ipswich. Tens of thousands of people enjoyed the outdoors and were treated to one of the best air shows I’ve ever seen. Congratulations to all defence personnel who contributed to such a magnificent weekend. Special thanks to Chief of the Air Force Air Marshall Mark Binskin for working in partnership with the local community and for backing Ipswich as the home of the number one RAAF Base in Australia.

The warmer weather is a good reminder to check the family pool is in working order, but more importantly the safety fence is up to standard and other precautions are taken. Council has issued a new check list to encourage greater vigilance by parents around home and public pools. Pool safety is a community responsibility and it saddens me where I hear of pools being used as child minding centres. I also must thank Andrew Plint of Laidley for joining me at Leichhardt Swim Centre last week to launch the new pool safety check list. Andrew and Katherine lost their daughter to a tragic drowning 12 months ago and established Hannah’s Foundation to promote drowning prevention and awareness. Copies of the new check list are available at all swim centres, council customer service centres and online at www.ipswich.qld.gov.au

29 September 2008 - Archived

PARALYMPIAN Greg Ball represents the heart and soul of our city, so it was fitting to present Greg and his coach Jim MacDonald with special City of Ipswich plaques last week. It is incredible to think Greg has been at the top of his sport for over a decade. The pair has averaged up to 100,000 kilometres a year on their bikes and in recent times Greg has become even stronger. His efforts of gold medals in Sydney and Athens Olympics, a bronze in Beijing breaking his own world record time, countless national and international titles, are nothing less than remarkable. It is people like Greg and Jim that make us all feel proud to call Ipswich home.

The 2009 Girl in a Million quest was launched in Ipswich last week. The aim of the quest is to raise money for the care and well being of veterans. This is achieved by involving young Queensland women who, while contributing to a worthy community service, gain personal enrichment through a better knowledge and understanding of themselves and the role of the RSL. The quest actually began in 1959 as the ‘Centenary Year Queen’, named after Queensland’s centenary year. In 1960 it was changed to Girl in a Million.

Happy 70th birthday to Evelyn Spencer of Gailes. It was wonderful to visit Evelyn last Saturday, who was born in Rosewood and has lived in Warrillview, Coleville, North Ipswich and Wulkuraka. Evelyn and her late husband ended up owning a business in Silkstone, and eventually they sold the business for a small butcher shop in Gailes with a house attached for her young family to live. It became Spencers Store on Waterford Road Gailes - a business which she ran for 20 years. Evelyn is a committed volunteer to Meals on Wheels at Redbank and most recently started knitting for charity. Congratulations Evelyn.

From humble beginnings in 1994 as Global Info Links and as the first local government owned Internet Service Provider at the time, iTel Community Telco was officially relaunched last week as South East Queensland Community Telco. The name change and new branding will more accurately reflect the area served by the company. South East Queensland Community Telco is proudly based in Ipswich.

Thank you to Riverview Christian Church for the invitation to speak at the regular monthly breakfast. It is always good to catch up with Pastor Paulo and the congregation to hear feedback on how we are going as a city and to talk about the latest developments in Ipswich.

22 September 2008 - Archived

DESPITE the somewhat gloomy outlook on world markets, Ipswich is showing tremendous resilience especially in the real estate market. Reports this month have many local agents very busy signing contracts. In some cases the level of sales has been well up on the previous two months. Ipswich is fortunate to remain as a real estate hot spot, and still offers a range of housing including traditional Queenslanders for first home buyers. There are also plenty of opportunities for families to make a tree-change to acreage properties in the rural areas of our city.

Local service clubs such as Lions, Apex and Rotary are often unrecognised for the tremendous work they perform in our community. Last week Ipswich City Rotary Club received a visit from Rotary District 9630 Governor Chris Wright. While Chris was here on an official visit he also took time to induct three new members. Congratulations to Laurie Mundt, Warren Parkinson and Michael Melling.

Happy 50th wedding anniversary to Desmond and Gloria Whelband of Yamanto. It was wonderful to be able to surprise Gloria last Friday afternoon and to offer best wishes on behalf of the city.

A lifetime dedicated to the hospitality industry was rewarded last week when Michael Gambaro received yet another accolade at the 2008 Caterers Awards of Excellence. The award was presented in recognition of Gambaro’s outstanding contribution to the restaurant and food service industry. Michael is also a great friend and supporter of Ipswich.

There were plenty of outdoor activities to enjoy over the weekend including the annual Riverview Festival. Congratulations to the entire community of Riverview for organising such a great event. On Saturday the Spring Lifestyle Expo in the Ipswich Mall offered everything from outdoor living, heath and beauty, hobbies, fashion and food on sale in a carnival style atmosphere. If you missed the expo last Saturday, you can catch the action in the mall again this Saturday between 10am and 2pm.

Last week I was invited by students of Ipswich Central School for the Year 4 book launch session at the PCYC. I’m not sure I would make the grade as a teacher but it sure was lots of fun to take time to read a book to the fourth graders.

15 September 2008 - Archived

RUGBY League was the winner on Saturday with a huge crowd at North Ipswich to witness the Queensland Cup grand final and the upset win by Souths Logan over the Ipswich Jets. In one of the closest games I can remember at a grand final the mighty Jets made a hard fought comeback in the second half to level the score at 18 all. In the last seconds of the game our grand final hopes were dashed by South Logan as they scored the winning try. I could feel the hopes of thousands of fans evaporate as the full time siren sounded. It has been a tremendous season for the green, white and gold. Regardless of the grand final result, congratulations to coach Kevin Walters, captain Danny Coburn and all the team for playing great football throughout the season. Your combined efforts on and off the field attracted an increase in the number of supporters for all the home games and sets the Jets up well for season 2009. Saturday’s result also means I lost a bet with Logan mayor Pam Parker. I had to wear the winning team jersey at Tuesday’s council meeting this week and fly the Logan flag in South Street.

It was a celebration of success at the annual Apprenticeships Queensland awards night held the RSL on Friday. The best of the best were honoured. From school based trainees through to fourth year apprentices, it was tremendous to witness so many young people being acknowledge by their employers. The night was also an opportunity to pay tribute to Dave Handyside for his 20 years of service to the company and to present Dave with his ‘I wish I was Born in Ipswich certificate’. Poet, TV host and sports commentator Rupert McCall was the MC and kept the audience fully informed with regular footy score updates for Broncos fans.

Friday was a big night in Ipswich for visiting personalities. Over at Yamanto Channel 9’s Karl Stefanovic welcomed guests at Blue Ribbon Honda for the official opening of the new showrooms. Congratulations to the Stallard family for your investment and faith in the future of our city.

8 September 2008 - Archived

TIME to show your support for the Ipswich Jets by flying the team colours of green and white. I encourage all businesses to dress up their shopfronts with balloons, streamers and posters as a big show of support for our Queensland Cup team. This Saturday the grand final will be played in Ipswich for the first time. We’re expecting a capacity crowd at the North Ipswich Reserve so please allow extra travelling time to get to the grounds well before the 2pm kick off. Once again I want to congratulate the players, coaching staff, sponsors and supporters on reaching the grand final. It will be a great day to cheer on the Jets and show our Ipswich pride!

Hardly a week goes by that we don’t hear some news about the current and future growth of Ipswich and the western corridor. While I appreciate growth and the benefits it brings to our city in terms of jobs and amenities, we are not going to lose sight of the value of our heritage and natural attractions. Similarly for Ipswich city centre, we will continue to focus on and support the collective efforts of all levels of government in partnership with businesses who understand the need to re-invent themselves and continually find better ways to do business and attract customers. It is also about Ipswich City Council being a catalyst for change and helping to take control of our future. The growth we have witnessed in the past eight to ten years will pale in comparison to the latest forecast of 4.6% annual population growth in the next 15 years. Our big challenge remains to manage this incredible growth while maintaining the lifestyle of the Ipswich we all love.

Ipswich Civic Hall continues to set new attendance records. This fantastic result is due in no small part to the very impressive Festival of Theatre program initiated by Ipswich City Council. The high calibre of musical acts and the sheer variety in the program has resulted in many people attending Civic Hall for the first time. The program is also attracting new audiences from outside the city who are discovering it is not necessary to travel great distances to enjoy a night of first class entertainment.

1 September 2008 - Archived

SPRING has arrived so we can start putting away the warm clothes for a few months. This time of year is also about rejuvenation and new growth, not just in the garden. It is also about reinvigorating ourselves and those close to us. As I go around the city talking with various community groups, schools, businesses, young people and seniors, there is an increasing feeling of tremendous pride in where we are heading as a city. The city overall is going very well. Yes, there will be things needing attention, like a pothole or unwanted graffiti, so I urge you to make contact with your local councillor, the council call centre or my office to report anything you feel needs fixing. Thank you to the many residents who take the time to provide valuable feedback.

The final Briggs Road home game of the season for our high-flying Ipswich Jets against Northern Pride drew a huge crowd of supporters on Saturday to witness one of the sweetest victories in the history of the club. It was a tough first half but our boys showed grit and determination to pile on the points after half time. Congratulations to the players, coaching staff, sponsors and supporters. Now we turn our attention to the Queensland Cup grand final in Ipswich on September 13. It will be a day to rally behind the Jets and show our Ipswich pride!

Glebe Garden Club presented a wonderful home gardeners workshop and expo at Glebe Road Church last Saturday. It was great to call in and offer congratulations to club members and visitors. Glebe Garden Club provides members regular meetings with guest speakers giving information on a wide range of horticultural topics, plant sales, competitions, exhibitions, bus trips and other garden related activities.

Planning is already underway for the Mayor’s Carols in December. Again this year this major free community event will be held at the Ipswich Turf Club. Thank you for the feedback on how we can make the event even better. Many Mums and Dads have told me the fireworks need to be a little earlier for the young ones. The date has now been set so mark Saturday December 13 on your calendar.

A musical blast from the past is set to rock Helidon this Saturday from 9.30am to 5.30pm with many Aussie legends from the 60’s rock and roll era. The Delltones, Normie Rowe, Little Pattie and Tony Worsley will take to the stage in a marathon supported by Q150 funding at Rock Stock Farm Helidon. There’s more information on the net at www.helidon.org

25 August 2008 - Archived

AMBERLEY RAAF Base is set to ‘explode’ with just over $1 billion of public and private investment in the next 10 years. Already there have been significant upgrades to buildings and infrastructure and a number of new building projects are either underway or planned. In fact the base is one big construction zone with so much going on. This of course is great news for Ipswich as we welcome more defence and contractor personnel and their families. The base is also set to host the 2008 Defence Air Show, so keep the weekend of October 4 and 5 free. This event will attract tens of thousands of eager spectators to Amberley.

Seniors week celebrations in the Mall were well attended last week as was the SeniorNet open day to help seniors participate in using a computer to keep up with our world that relies so much on computer technology. There are now 350 members responding to this challenge of helping each other get online and understand the internet. Training rooms are located in the Humanities Building in South Street.

Since I initially spoke on 612ABC radio with Madonna King last week it has been an emotional time talking with and receiving emails from many people with multiple sclerosis. I deeply appreciate the wave of support but I am still working at 100% and firing on all cylinders. I am also fortunate to be in remission and managing my MS since the original diagnosis a few years ago. It is not contagious and there is more information available on the MS web site www.msaustralia.org.au.

A significant announcement last week with the letting of the contract by Leda Holdings to build the Riverlink footbridge. There’s no argument it should have been finished before now, but the reality is this is a ‘one-off’ building site with unique heritage and safety considerations. The good news is safety, heritage and the environment have all been accounted for in the method of construction to be used by Wacol engineering firm Casa Engineering. I’m predicting the new footbridge will become a tourist attraction in its own right with the design very much a faithful replica of the original bridge and a very similar design to the existing rail bridge.

18 August 2008 - Archived

ASSISTANT Police Commissioner Col McCallum was in Ipswich last week to discuss the latest crime prevention initiatives for the Ipswich District. It was timely to have a meeting with Col and to discuss a number of issues important to the future development of Ipswich city centre and to further strengthen the highly effective cooperation between Council’s network of Safe City cameras and the police service. I want to thank our Safe City staff and all police officers for their support in making our community a safer place for everyone to enjoy.

Congratulations to students who participated in the Ipswich and West Moreton Districts Maths Team Challenge last Thursday. This year the challenge was jointly organised by Ipswich Girls’ Grammar and St Mary’s and held in the main auditorium at Girls’ Grammar. Around 50 teams vied for championship honours and showed great spirit representing their respective schools.

Minimising our impact of global warming is only one reason for becoming a member of the new Ipswich Climate Change Taskforce. Last Thursday members of the community put their hands up to help make a difference. We may only be one city in the world, but change must start somewhere. Councillor Cheryl Bromage, representatives of the business community, community groups, and council officers have joined the taskforce.

Ipswich Art Gallery continues to provide a broad range of exhibitions and programs as well as being a venue to launch a variety of community and school events. On the weekend the second annual Ipswich Lions Children of Courage Awards was held. These unique awards are remarkable in their focus on children with special needs. Whether their personal hurdle has been a physical, mental or social one, the children recognised by these awards have overcome adversity to achieve a wide range of goals in their young lives. There is much we could learn from these incredible young people who have faced challenges head on and truly deserve our admiration and recognition. On Sunday at the gallery the Small Worlds exhibition was officially launched in association with the Primary Arts Network. The exhibition of artwork by students from Ipswich North State School and Springfield Lakes State School is now on display. Earlier this year one class from each school participated in an artist-in-residence program.

11 August 2008 - Archived

Congratulations must go this week to former Ipswich City Councillor Denise Hanly whose tireless work with the Ipswich Crime Stoppers Committee was recognised earlier this month through a special statewide award. Denise was named joint winner of the Crime Stoppers Volunteer of the Year Award while Ipswich District Crime Prevention Unit co-ordinator Sergeant Nadine Webster won Police Representative of the year and an achievement award went to the Ipswich Area Committee. Well done!

I would also like to highlight the achievement of Ipswich based spirit medium Charmaine Wilson who was named as Australia’s most gifted psychic after taking part in the Channel Seven show The One: The Search for Australia's Most Gifted Psychic. Charmaine was awarded the title by the Australian public from a field of seven top Australian psychics.

Another great result was achieved at the Queensland Training Awards regional final by two students from The Bremer Institute of TAFE. Bundamba’s Matthew Graham was awarded the Trainee of the Year title as well as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year. Brassall’s Melanie Llewellyn was named the Vocational Student of the Year. Good luck to you both at the upcoming State awards. We know you’ll do Ipswich proud.

I am pleased to see that Fijian doctor Jagdish Raj has now taken up his new position at the Gailes Medical Centre. The centre was forced to close its doors in April due to the lack of a doctor and I joined forces with Federal Member for Oxley Bernie Ripoll, the Ipswich and West Moreton Division of General Practice and Dr Harry Ratnam to lobby the Federal Government to approve Dr Raj’s application as an overseas trained doctor to work in a metropolitan area. It is great to see that a successful solution has been achieved for the benefit of the local community.

The past weekend was a big one in Ipswich with a number of special functions and activities. I particularly enjoyed the meeting I had with a not so wild bull ahead of the National Rodeo finals to be held next weekend in Ipswich at the Briggs Rd Sporting Complex. Our city has been chosen to host this special national event for the next five years and we welcome the National Rodeo Council to Ipswich.

It was wonderful last Saturday to share the commemoration of Victory in the Pacific Day, marking the end of World War II, at Manson Park at Raceview with the family of late Ipswich woman Rose Manson. Mrs Manson lovingly cared for the graves of American servicemen at Manson Park which was a special cemetery in their memory east of the main Ipswich Cemetery.

It was also my pleasure on Saturday to congratulate North Ipswich couple Alan and Barbara Greenhalgh on their 50th wedding anniversary. Best wishes for what I’m sure will be many happy years still to come.

Members of the Agility Dog Club of Queensland celebrated the opening on the weekend of a new clubhouse at the Tivoli Sporting Complex. This facility will provide a meeting and social venue for the members and visitors of the club and will continue to support their active junior training program. I’m sure the dogs will enjoy the facilities as well with lots of obstacles to negotiate.

4 August 2008 - Archived

My beloved MG will hit the road next Sunday for a rare drive to the North Ipswich Park Cricket Ground for Just Rock Ipswich’s annual Back to ’63 Classic Car Show and Shine. This event is always a fun one and I am really looking forward to the lap of honour I’m going to be doing complete with special passengers “Marilyn Monroe” and “Elvis Presley”.

Ipswich will pay tribute next Saturday to the end of World War II in a special ceremony at Manson Park to commemorate Victory in the Pacific (VP) Day. Manson Park is an American war cemetery east of the main Ipswich Cemetery which honours American servicemen who paid the supreme sacrifice during World War II and each year we show our respects to them.

Thanks specially go this week to outgoing Queensland Governor Quentin Bryce for her great support of Ipswich and Queensland. On behalf of the city I would like to wish her all the best in her new posting. I would also like to warmly welcome Queensland’s new Governor Penelope Wensley. We look forward to seeing you in Ipswich in the near future and sharing with you the many great things our city has to offer.

A great day was had by all yesterday at the Grandchester Model Live Steam Engine Association’s Family Fun Day. This day acts as a valuable fundraiser each year for the association with proceeds going to finance the continued operations of the Model Live Steam Engine Association. I applaud the work the association members do in providing a venue which gives much enjoyment to the young and the young at heart.

The Ipswich Friendship Force Club is looking for new members, with the view of meeting people from other countries around the world and the opportunity to home host. Being part of this club, you will make many friends, including people in Ipswich with similar interests. If you would like to find out more contact Joan on 3282 4386.

My love of collecting coffee cups and my Guinness World Book of Records achievement will soon be showcased on the ABC TV’s Collectors program. I hosted the Collectors’ team recently for quite a few hours and shared with them a number of my favourite cups. It was a fun time and I look forward to seeing the program when it airs soon.

28 July 2008 - Archived

THE annual Ipswich family open day and workers reunion is on this Sunday at the Workshops Rail Museum with free admission for Ipswich residents. This is a great opportunity to take the family to enjoy free entertainment, displays, giveaways and lots of other activities. It will be a great day to explore the award winning rail museum and the many first class attractions.

The Rotary Club of Ipswich City held its annual changeover dinner at Woodlands recently. Congratulations to incoming president Alec Gazsik. I have been a member of this particular club for several years and members gave me a huge surprise and a great honour when it was announced I was to be the recipient of a Paul Harris Fellow.

The annual soapbox derby organised by Moreton Region Scouts in Lobb Street Churchill was a lot of fun again this year. Unfortunately I was absent from the celebrity race as other council commitments kept me away. Congratulations to the winners and I’m looking forward to participating again next year.

Grandchester Model Live Steam Association’s family fun day is on this weekend. The first Sunday of every the model steam trains fire up for a great day in the wonderful country atmosphere of Grandchester. Don’t forget to wear fully enclosed footwear if you want to ride a model steam train. Congratulations to the many volunteers and steam enthusiasts for creating another tourist attraction for Ipswich and the western corridor.

Rain last week nudged the combined water storage levels of Wivenhoe, Somerset and North Pine dams to just over 40%. The Queensland Water Commission has moved from level 6 restrictions to what will now be known as High Level restrictions. The community responded magnificently to target 140 during level 6. We are all encouraged to remain among the top water savers in the world with a revised usage target of 170 litres per person per day. Remember to still keep those four minutes showers, but more importantly, we should never forget the lessons learnt from the drought. No longer can we afford to take water for granted.

21 July 2008 - Archived

CONGRATULATIONS Ipswich! We’ve done it again by scooping the pool in the regional Tidy Towns awards announced last week. This is a great reflection of the tremendous work everyone is doing in our community. We have won a number of awards over recent years and these latest remind us that we have a lot to be proud of. As well as winning Inland South East Queensland’s Tidiest Town, Ipswich also scored –

• Tourism Queensland Friendliest Town Award: Marburg

• Sustainable Solutions Award: Ipswich (for Springfield)

• Paradise and Bishopp Outdoor Advertising Heritage Award: Ipswich

• Australia Post Bush Spirit Award: Marburg

• Onesteel Recycling Partnerships Award: Marburg and Ipswich

• MINT Individual Outstanding Accomplishment Award: Lance and Rhonda Dobbs for the Springfield Community Garden

Thank you again for all the hard work and commitment in helping to make our city and region the envy of many others. There’s more awards to see at www.congratulationsipswich.com

Ipswich was centre of the sporting stage over the weekend with the running of the V8 supercars at Queensland Raceway. The City of Ipswich 400 was a huge success blessed with great winter weather. Well done to the race organisers, and to John Tetley and his team at Queensland Raceway. Thanks also to Ripley Valley developers Payce Corporation for joining with Ipswich City Council to back the event.

This Sunday the annual Wingate Park2Park is on again in Limestone and Queens Parks. All the family can take part in either the 10km or 5km fun run. Remember all proceeds from the Park2Park go towards the Ipswich Hospital Foundation's efforts make our community the healthiest in Australia. Register online at www.park2park.com.au

The following weekend on Sunday August 3 the annual Ipswich Family Open Day and Workers Reunion is at the Workshops Museum in North Ipswich. Free entry vouchers have been distributed to all Ipswich residents for a day of free entertainment, fun and of course a chance to visit the award winning Workshops.

14 July 2008 - Archived

THE Royal Flying Doctor Service is one of the most respected service organisations in Australia. It has a special place in the hearts and minds of all Australians. Local resident Elsie Denham is expressing her passion for supporting the RFDS in many ways. One of those is to raise much needed funds for the service. Elsie has organised a wonderful 21-day camping safari bush adventure travelling by luxury coach to the red centre via western Queensland. The final destination is the geographical centre of Australia and will also take in Yalara, Alice Springs and Kings Canyon. For more information and to book please call Elsie Denham on 0448 212 265.

This weekend Ipswich will again feature on national television with the next round of the V8 supercars at Queensland Raceway. This year the event will be known as the City of Ipswich 400 with the backing of Ipswich City Council and Payce Corporation, one of the major partners involved in the future development of Ripley Valley. It is tremendous to have the support of significant corporate partners who are keen to be involved with the community and the positive promotion of our city on the national and international stage.

The Queensland Country Women’s Association was established in 1922. The core role of the QCWA has not changed through the decades. It is to improve the lives of women and children and hence the family through education, health and welfare. This support is even more important in isolated areas of Queensland. This month the Ipswich branch marks its 82nd birthday with a number of special celebrations in the rooms at 84 Limestone Street.

Ipswich Rugby Union Club is also celebrating this month. It is 40 years since the club kicked off as an idea between friends and is now known as Ipswich Rangers. Every weekend over 150 juniors and 100 seniors take to the playing fields of south east Queensland proudly wearing an Ipswich Rangers’ jersey. Congratulations to all players, club volunteers, sponsors and supporters on 40 great years of rugby.

7 July 2008 - Archived

QUEENSLAND Rail’s Redbank workshops celebrated 50 years of operations over the weekend. The site was commissioned in 1958 as a diesel locomotive maintenance facility and is now one of the key rolling stock centres for QR. Deputy Mayor Victor Attwood, being a former employee, with a strong attachment to the Redbank workshops, joined many families and visitors for the open day. Congratulations to everyone involved with the celebrations and for recognising the tremendous contribution thousands of QR workers and families have made to our city.

What about those mighty Maroons? A series win in the State of Origin and the whole state was on a natural high for several days after. Some commentators are already suggesting a return to the golden days of Origin when Queensland dominated the series for a number of years. Let’s hope they are right.

Thank you to the many residents who took time to stop and share ideas at Chat Time last Saturday at Winston Glades shopping centre. It was great to join with local councillors Sheila Ireland, Charlie Pisasale and David Pahlke to hear first hand from residents their ideas or concerns. Our job is to work with residents and represent their best interests.

A newspaper column last week by Phil Greenaway stating it’s about time Ipswich City Council got behind the game of squash came as somewhat of a surprise. I’ve never had anyone approach me about squash and no one has ever called me asking for assistance in staging tournaments. As most local sporting officials know, my door is always open and I welcome regular feedback, as do all councillors. Council is very supportive of local sport and I would encourage squash officials to contact my office to share their ideas.

It was great to welcome Channel 9’s Bruce Paige to the city last week to discuss the latest developments in Ipswich. I also want to thank Channel 9 for their tremendous support of our community through such programs as Extra and Weekend Extra. During the recent Ipswich Festival, there were many examples of positive stories about Ipswich broadcast to a state-wide audience by Channel 9.

30 June 2008 - Archived

ON Monday of this week Ipswich City Council adopted the city budget for 2008-2009. This year it has been a particularly difficult budget. All councillors worked hard to minimise the impact on families. We know the family budget is facing general cost of living increases so this was certainly a priority when framing the budget. At the meeting it was tremendous to have Rita Langer present to the city a game worn jersey that Alfie played in at the 1992 Broncos’ premiership win. The jersey has been framed and will take pride of place in the City of Ipswich collection.

Congratulations to all those who took part in Reserve Forces Day on Saturday at the RSL Memorial Hall park. This was an opportunity for the community to salute the thousands of volunteers who give their time freely for training and service to country and recognise the commitment they make to the defence and security of our nation.

Last week I had a meeting with deputy premier Paul Lucas to discuss in detail the future key infrastructure needs of Ipswich and the western corridor. As the population continues to grow in south east Queensland, Ipswich is placed front and centre of helping our state capital cope with congestion.

The new Springfield Health City was launched last Friday by Professor John Hay and Maha Sinnathamby. Stage one of this exciting new development for Ipswich is located opposite Education City. Construction will begin later this year on the fully integrated Springfield Health City with Mater Health Services and the University of Queensland as major partners. This new precinct will provide a comprehensive approach to health services planning and delivery, as well as providing state of the art education facilities for medical specialists.

The 2008 UDIA awards for excellence have again highlighted the wonderful achievements being made in Ipswich. Orion Town Centre’s 6-star green building rating scored a win in the large retail category and the state president’s Best of the Best award, and Aspire residential development was also nominated for an award.

23 June 2008 - Archived

RESERVE Forces Day this Saturday salutes the thousands of volunteers who give their time freely for training and service to country. Show your support for our reservists and help recognise the commitment they make to the defence and security of our nation. A special recognition ceremony will be held in the RSL Memorial Hall park on the corner of Limestone and Nicholas Streets from 10am.

Thank you to the many residents who dropped by for Chat Time at Riverlink shopping centre last Saturday. It was a great opportunity to meet with the mayor and local councillors from Divisions 5, 6, 7, 8 and 10. Chat Time continues to provide a valuable link between residents and councillors.

Congratulations to Karalee state school on the official opening of the new community hall on the weekend. Local residents have worked long and hard on this project and it was great to finally see this facility completed and available for school and community use. The new hall is a tremendous asset for Karalee.

Carl Dewer is an 11 year-old with a degenerative hereditary eye condition called Retinitis Pigmentosa. Last Saturday Carl, his family and friends wanted to help raise awareness of this condition with a Walk-4-Change. The walk raised funds for Retina Queensland, Springfield Christian Family Church and Springfield Lakes State School anti-bullying program.

Ipswich Chamber of Commence reminds members and guests of an information session on sustainability and climate change on 21 August. The cost of energy and water can only go up, so businesses must learn how to use less. The adoption of sustainable practice is increasingly regarded as a means of gaining a competitive edge, increasing market share, and boosting shareholder value among companies.

Gary White has been Ipswich City Council’s City Planner for six years and leaves us this month to take up the Deputy Director-General position with the Department of Infrastructure and Planning. Gary commenced with Council in May 2002 and during his time with us has contributed a great deal to the changing face of Ipswich. Our city is at the beginning of a very exciting era. On behalf of residents, staff and councillors we wish Gary all the best in his new role.

Last Friday 612ABC radio gave me the opportunity to take calls from listeners and to discuss major issues facing Ipswich and the western corridor. Thank you to regular morning show presenter Madonna King for the invitation and to Terri Begley who was in the host chair while Madonna was away.

16 June 2008 - Archived

IT WAS another tremendous day of racing for Ipswich Cup day last Saturday. Again, more than 20,000 people enjoyed racing’s social event of the year. Congratulations to Wayne Patch, his committee and the staff of the turf club on another sell-out of corporate marquees. It was a credit to everyone involved. This event is always one of our top tourist drawcards each year.

Drag racing fans have voted with their feet and shown they were in favour of the new Thursday to Sunday format for the 2008 Winternationals. Attendance figures released for the June long weekend event at Willowbank Raceway confirmed a crowd up 10 percent on last year with 38,500 people through the gates. This is great news for the new Thursday to Sunday format and track general manager Steve Bettes has already announced the 2009 Castrol EDGE Winternationals event will be held from June 4-7 in 2009.

Riverlink Shopping Centre now has a new Italian restaurant. Santino’s is well known to Gold Coast diners for their Orchid Avenue eatery so it is great to welcome the team to Ipswich. Santino’s offers a traditional Italian menu to add the city’s dining options. A surprise guest at the official opening was NBA star Andrew Bogut. After two years playing for the Milwaukee Bucks he is likely to retained by the Bucks for a further five years. Andrew is back home getting ready to play for the Australian national team at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

This week the Ipswich Minister’s Fellowship will meet for their annual luncheon. It is always great to catch up with our local church leaders and to discuss issues and events of common interest.

Ipswich Tourism is continuing to offer members a program of guest speakers at regular association business forums. This week outstanding motivator and author Sergio Carlo Maresca was in the city to share his insights about doing business. Sergio talked with passion about motivation, strategy, new perspectives and how to make your business thrive.

9 June 2008 - Archived

LAST Friday Ipswich scored another outstanding award to recognise our contribution to the environment. The award for excellence in overall environmental management was presented to Ipswich City Council at the 2008 United Nations Association of Australia World Environment Day Awards held in Melbourne. Ipswich received the top award in the local government category with a detailed submission entitled, ‘City of Solutions: Thinking Globally, Acting Locally’. Thank you to Cr Cheryl Bromage for attending and being on hand to bring the award back to Ipswich.

The Ipswich Chamber of Commerce breakfast at the turf club last week was well attended. Members and guests heard first hand from Channel 9 executive Les Hart plans for additional channels available with digital TV. Already there is limited alternative programming available on the high definition channel. Next year additional channels should also become available as each network can transmit up to four different channels. More free TV choice is on the way to encourage consumers to upgrade to either a digital TV or set top box. It was also great to welcome Heather Foord back to Ipswich.

The Local Government Association of Queensland has restructured the executive in the wake of the elections last March. I am pleased to be on the executive representing Ipswich. Last week strategies for Queensland local government were discussed at an intensive two-day workshop. Our sustainable future is very much wrapped up in decisions made at a local government level. It is vital that all pickets fences are taken away between local councils and that we work together on issues of common concern.

The state government budget has again delivered for Ipswich with Premier Anna Bligh continuing to back our city for the future and the role we have to play in the western corridor. It was great to have Deputy Premier Paul Lucas in Ipswich last week to attend Rachel Nolan’s budget briefing dinner.

The Winternationals at Willowbank Raceway was again another huge success over the long weekend. This annual event is always well supported with many visitors travelling from all over Australia and the world to be here for this premier event on the drag racing calendar. Special thanks must go to the many volunteers who happily donate their time to keep the event running like a well oiled machine. Well done to everyone involved.

2 June 2008 - Archived

WORK is well underway on the new Tower Central redevelopment of the historic Ipswich Post Office. The official sod turning last week marked the beginning of construction in earnest and there was confirmation of Australia Post as the major tenant. The entire site will be developed as part of the $30 million project that will incorporate the magnificent heritage buildings facing Brisbane Street.

Carole Park industry precinct is located within the eastern boundary of Ipswich and is home to several major manufacturers and businesses employing thousands of people. Last week I officially opened a new laboratory and Queensland office of engineering company PearlStreet Limited. This company brings together several smaller companies involved in consulting and the testing of engineering materials.

Regional planning was the main focus of a meeting held by the South East Queensland Council of Mayors in Ipswich recently. A significant amount of time was devoted to discussing the SEQ Regional Plan and how to effectively manage growth. A number of priority issues important to all councils include transport planning, housing affordability, infrastructure funding, management of the environment and natural resources and rural issues. The state government has announced the first major review of the Regional Plan will be brought forward to next year, 12 months earlier than originally scheduled. Ipswich will again make a significant contribution to this review in partnership with neighbouring councils.

The Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF) is a joint initiative between the state government and council to support local arts and culture. A showcase of RADF supported works from 2005 to 2007 are now on display at the Ipswich Art Gallery. This exhibition is a wonderful showcase that illustrates the diverse range of talent and creativity in our community.

A world record for the number of short black coffee cups is something I never thought I would be associated with. Thank you to so many people who have helped created a Guinness World Record for Ipswich. There is one little known aspect of the 650+ set collection. It also supports fund raising efforts of local charities. A framed cup donated from the collection can either be auctioned or become a valuable prize in a raffle.

19 May 2008 - Archived

CHAT times with the mayor and local councillors are proving to be a valuable forum for feedback from residents and for distributing information about major council initiatives and services. Last Saturday morning it was great to join councillors Paul Tully, David Morrison and Sheila Ireland at Orion Town Centre. Thank you to the many residents who stopped to enjoy a coffee at Gloria Jeans. It was a great opportunity to hear about the many exciting things happening in our city and to pick up an Ipswich pride pin.

St Edmunds College has launched a new mentoring program which offers students a first hand opportunity to learn from experts. Congratulations to school principal Brendan Lawler and the school community for getting behind this tremendous initiative. Young people are our future and any additional life and work skills on offer to students must be commended.

The Ipswich Women’s Development Network welcomed founder and CEO of Shout! Speak Out Rachel Kayrooz to a packed network breakfast last Friday. Members and guests gathered to hear from Rachel the background to the establishment of the non-profit organisation for women and child survivors of domestic violence. Rachel’s powerful story was as inspirational as it was disturbing. Proceeds from the breakfast will support Ipswich Women’s Centre Against Domestic Violence and West Moreton Women’s Health Centre.

Max and Eva van der Waag had a wonderful celebration marking 60 years of marriage at the Mi-Hi Creek Hotel on Saturday. Thank you to daughter Maria for contacting my office and allowing me to drop in and wish Max and Eva all the best on behalf of the city of Ipswich.

Queensland Heritage Week encourages respect for our history and heritage both locally and state-wide. On Sunday, Woodlands of Marburg hosted a Heritage Festival with involvement from schools and other community groups based on a heritage theme. Thank you to the many volunteers who give so much of their time to preserving heritage for future generations to enjoy.

12 May 2008 - Archived

CONGRATULATIONS to Marcia Cruikshank and the Ipswich Show committee on the success of the 2008 show. The weather certainly added to the great family atmosphere and the ring program had something for everyone. I agree with Miss Showgirl Nakita Schmid that young people need to get involved behind the scenes and have a say on what they want to see at future shows. It was also a great honour to be the recipient of life membership to the Ipswich Show Society.

Sixty-five years of marriage is a very special achievement that is generally symbolised with a gift of star sapphire. Last week George and Patricia Tanzer of Flinders View celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary. Well done George and Patricia on reaching this wonderful time in your lives. It was great to drop in with local councillor Sheila Ireland to present flowers and a special certificate to mark the occasion.

It is crucial that as a community we work together to restore confidence in the suburb of Collingwood Park and the city following the subsidence that occurred during the past couple of weeks. It is important we reassure the nation that people are not fleeing and houses are not disappearing into big holes. I am appealing to the media to work with us to get the facts before the people. Only 1% of the total area of Ipswich has housing built over former underground mines. What we have is a legacy of the past when in 1974 an unapproved subdivision was built against council’s best advice at the time. The assistance and compensation package announcement by the State Government will go a long way to alleviating the stress and anxiety of many people. There are still several issues to be resolved. We can’t change the past, but we can work together to resolve the issues in the best interests of home owners and the city. The state government help line is 1800 109 122 and there’s more information on the council website www.ipswich.qld.gov.au

The QUT Smart Train departed North Ipswich last Friday on a journey around the state taking a message of technology and innovation to 24 regional centres. Four carriages are fitted out with the latest interactive and informative displays appealing to all ages. Thank you to Her Excellency Quentin Bryce, QUT Vice Chancellor Professor Peter Coldrake and member for Ipswich Rachel Nolan for launching the Smart Train in our city. This week the train will be in Toowoomba, Roma, Mitchell, Charleville and Chinchilla.

As many people know I have a collection of short black coffee cups. A submission was lodged with Guinness World Records headquarters a few week ago. I’m hoping that confirmation will be coming through any day now that Ipswich has a collection worthy of a world record.

5 May 2008 - Archived

Labour Day in Ipswich was celebrated under a perfect autumn sky on Saturday. The parade was again well supported and celebrations also in included marking the success of the Your Rights At Work campaign in the lead up to the federal election last year. After the parade there were guest speakers and many families joined in the family fun and great atmosphere in Timothy Molony Park.

The subsidence in Collingwood Park continues to cause distress for those with homes affected. The quick response from the state government in sending in support workers and offers of temporary accommodation from the Department of Communities and the Department of Mines and Energy is to be applauded. Building inspections are continuing on damaged homes. The state government has a hotline number for residents in the subsidence area to call. It is 1800 109 122. Council’s website also has more information. It is also important to point out that Collingwood Park is a large suburb and the affected area is limited to a few streets centred on Duncan Street. However our number one concern and priority remains for the home owners and residents who have had their lives turned upside down as a direct result of the subsidence.

The annual show season in the district got under last Friday and Saturday with the Marburg Show. Fine weather blessed this wonderful country show. The Marburg committee always present a great event. Don’t forget the Ipswich Show is on this week from May 8 to 10, with the Ipswich show day public holiday on Thursday.

This Wednesday it will be a pleasure to officially open the newest housing display village in Ipswich. Members of the Master Builders Association have come together to support and create Fernbrooke estate at Redbank Plains which features 20 magnificent homes open for display. Fernbrooke is a $376 million masterplanned community being developed by Urban Pacific and will ultimately provide for 1,000 home sites.

28 April 2008 - Archived

ANZAC Day services in Ipswich again attracted record crowds made up of the young and the not so young. It is always a very solemn and special day for all Australians to come together. It is a time to pause and reflect on the freedoms we enjoy today and the sacrifices made by so many in the past. ANZAC was the name given to the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps soldiers who landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey early on the morning of 25 April 1915 during the First World War. Last week I had the honour of attending a number of services at local schools. Each and every ceremony made me very proud to be Mayor of Ipswich. I salute all students for their support and understanding of the true meaning of ANZAC Day.

Lavina Watson celebrated her 90th birthday on ANZAC Day at United Services Bowls Club in East Ipswich. It was great to call in with local councillor Andrew Antoniolli to wish Lavina all the best on a very special day.

Probus is a service club for active retirees. Last week Ipswich Probus club celebrated 25 years with a function at the Ipswich Turf Club. Probus members meet regularly and initiate opportunities to keep their minds active, expand their interests and to enjoy the fellowship of new friends.

Tom Edwards must be congratulated for his support of many local community and sporting groups. RT Edwards is again sponsoring the Ipswich Poetry Feast and I know from the committee that this is really appreciated. As part of the Retravision group, RT Edwards continues to innovate and lead in the competitive world of retailing. Last week at the Retravision National Conference RT Edwards received the National Multi-Store Award. The Edwards family and their loyal staff can be very satisfied after receiving this prestigious award. It is the highest award within the Retravision group which is a great honour for the company and Ipswich.

Queensland Pioneer Steam Railway Inc is made up entirely of volunteers dedicated to keeping our rich heritage of steam railways alive. On Sunday many corporate supporters and the public came together to ride the rails in heritage carriages pulled by the Kilrie steam engine. Special thanks go to Babcock and Brown and Ipswich City Council for taking a lead role in supporting the fundraising efforts to save Kilrie. Donations can be made at any NAB bank.

21 April 2008 - Archived

THE Ipswich Festival is more than a series of events strung together under the festival banner. It is a living breathing event that ignites pride and passion in our city. Thousands of people work together to provide entertainment and activities for residents and visitors to enjoy. The weekend was a spectacular example of what can be done when we work together for a common goal. The parade again was well supported with thousands lining the streets to enjoy the spectacle. The street theatre was fantastic, the Global Fiesta was an outstanding success in d’Arcy Doyle Place and the Mall and the Ipswich International Tattoo enjoyed capacity crowds at the Civic Hall. All this in the first weekend of the festival! The Art Awards last Wednesday signalled the start of the festival. Over 400 works are on display in St Pauls Hall. The awards have attracted a number of sponsors including the QT and Tony and Carmel Hutton. There’s still plenty to see and enjoy until April 27 including the Jazz Wine and Blues afternoon this Saturday from 3pm in d’Arcy Doyle Place. It’s a great time of year so make sure you get out and enjoy your festival.

Rugby league and Ipswich go hand in hand so it tremendous news that the Ipswich Jets equalled the record for the club’s highest score after defeating Norths Devils 60 - 10 at Bishop Park recently. There’s still a long way to go before the grand final, so I encourage all rugby league fans to get behind the team that represents Ipswich in the state competition. Home games are being played this year at the Briggs Road Sports Complex.

Robert and Hazel Wallace of Churchill celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary last week. It was great to visit Robert and Hazel with local councillor Charlie Pisasale. Also last week I joined councillor Sheila Ireland to visit St Mary’s Hostel to wish Robert Clarke a very happy 90th birthday.

Special thanks must go to Channel 9 for their tremendous support of the Ipswich Festival this year. Saturday Extra presented a special program from Queens Park with great friend of the city Rupert McCall. Bruce Paige and Heather Foord also supported the Mayor’s Ball on Friday night. Proceeds from the ball will assist the Ipswich Hospital Foundation.

The Old Flour Mill at the top of town has been part of our city for many decades. Last week I officially opened the Old Flour Mill Lane and Ellen Quinn Gallery. Other stores include a gallery, an Antique Shop and you can also drop in to enjoy a high tea.

Services for seniors have received a boost with the opening of the new Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre and the new office for Carers Queensland at 31 South Street. Thank you to Federal Member for Blair Shayne Neumann for the strong support of seniors and carers in our community.

14 April 2008 - Archived

Mayors from the region were in Ipswich last week for two key meetings. The western region councils met for the first time since the local government elections and the Council of Mayors were also in our city. Discussions at both meetings centred on managing growth, keeping up with the needs of infrastructure, transport planning, and the structure of both regional organisations taking into account council amalgamations. The future will be based on building strong partnerships between all levels of government and managing growth based on sustainable principles.

The party atmosphere will be at fever pitch for 12 days of fun during the 2008 Ipswich Festival with the biggest program yet for residents and visitors to enjoy. Much of the first class entertainment will be free and many cultural and community groups will present a fantastic range of events. There will be something for everyone. The huge street parade is always a favourite and starts at 3pm this Saturday (April 19). This will be followed by the World’s Greatest Rock Concerts on the main stage in d’Arcy Doyle Place. This Sunday will also be a huge afternoon and evening with the Global Fiesta from 3pm to 9pm. All these wonderful events and entertainment are made possible with the generous support of corporate sponsors and Ipswich City Council.

The annual Just Nudes exhibition is presented by the Ipswich Arts Society as part of the festival at the Old Court House. This is an all-media exhibition which received critical acclaim last year. All works are for sale.

The Booval Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star celebrates 80 years this month. A special celebration marked the occasion on Saturday at the Ipswich Masonic Centre.

Trina Williamson, an entrant in the RSL Girl In A Million quest, is very active with fundraising to help care for Queensland veterans. Trina held a charity night last week with the support of the Ipswich Greyhound Racing Club at the showgrounds. It was a pleasure to be able to sponsor the night for Trina. Thank you also to my big brother Cr Charlie Pisasale for attending and supporting Trina’s efforts.

7 April 2008 - Archived

THE city will be alive with 12 days of fun for the Ipswich Festival with the biggest program yet for residents and visitors to enjoy. Much of the first class entertainment will be free and many cultural and community groups will present a fantastic range of events. There will be something for everyone. The huge street parade is always a favourite and starts at 3pm on April 19. This will be followed by the World’s Greatest Rock Concerts on the main stage in d’Arcy Doyle Place. Sunday April 20 will also be a huge afternoon and evening with the Global Fiesta from 3pm to 9pm. All these wonderful events and entertainment are made possible with the generous support of corporate sponsors and Ipswich City Council.

Congratulations to the winners for the naming the rock wallabies at the Ipswich Nature Centre. Holly Goddard , Jordi Vaggs, and Alicia Butler each won an iPod for choosing Basil, Freddy and Trinity as the new names for our living city mascots. Well done kids and I’m sure you are going to enjoy the prizes.

The board of the Queensland Museum met at the Workshops Rail Museum last week. It was great to catch up and hear a progress report on The Workshops. It was also an opportunity to congratulate the Board on winning the recent Australian Tourism Award for heritage and cultural tourism and for helping to establish Ipswich as a tourist destination.

Zonta International is a global service organisation of executives in business and the professions working together to advance the status of women through service and advocacy. Woodlands of Marburg was the venue over the weekend for a conference of Zonta members.

A new training centre was opened at Springfield last week. MEGT Australian Apprenticeships Centre opened its 57th office at Education City. This new office will service the employment and skills training needs of employers and their new and existing staff. Congratulations to Ipswich region area manager Katrina Borthistle on this second office for Ipswich. It certainly reflects the significant growth being experienced in the western corridor.

31 March 2008 - Archived

THE post-election meeting of Council was held last Friday in front of a packed public gallery. Councillors established 11 Standing Committees that reflect the expectations of the community. These new committees will focus council on delivering works, programs and services to capitalise on Ipswich winning the award for the world’s most liveable mid-size city in 2007. During the meeting Cr Victor Attwood was elected Deputy Mayor for a second term. Friday’s meeting marked not only an historic day for Ipswich, but also for Queensland following the local government reforms introduced by the state government. For Ipswich our amalgamation was 13 years ago. The city will continue to power ahead without undue delays or interruptions to council programs. We are in a much stronger position than our forefathers could have ever imagined. We have 10 Councillors and a Mayor with a combined experience of 125 years in local government. Council will also now meet on a monthly basis on a Tuesday, to allow Councillors an extra week each month in their local community.

Ipswich Rugby League kicked off the local season at North Ipswich on Sunday. The IRL competition continues to produce the rugby league stars of tomorrow. Behind the organisation and the local clubs is an army of volunteers dedicated to sport and they deserve our recognition and thanks for their contribution to the sport of rugby league.

Last Saturday 9th Force Support Battalion (9FSB) at Amberley conducted their inaugural parade and official opening of the Bob Andrae Training Centre. This new facility will be the training and education centre for 9FSB which is located on the recently named Vung Tau Avenue.

Arias at Sunset on Saturday night at Booval House was another wonderful night of entertainment under the stars. Hayley Sugars and Jennifer Turnbull from Opera Queensland’s Young Artist Program were tremendous. The weather finally cleared by mid afternoon, much to the relief of Pam Lane and the organising committee.

Brassall Congregational Church celebrated 50 years of worship on Saturday with a special afternoon service and dedication of an anniversary stone. Members enjoyed a sausage sizzle and entertainment at the Jellicoe Street church.

The annual Relay for Life team event fundraiser for cancer research, education and patient support programs was run over the weekend. Well done to all those who took part and to the many people who made donations.

24 March 2008 - Archived

Today is Easter Monday which signals the busiest day of the year in Queens Park. The huge family fun day is a day full of free entertainment presented by Ipswich Awakening from 10am to 4pm. Special thanks to Hans and Ruth Booij and the many sponsors and volunteers for giving so much to the community. It is a special day for all families and I am looking forward to dropping by later to join in the celebrations.

Easter also means many families take to the roads to visit family and friends. The roads will be particularly busy this afternoon when many families return home. Please take extra care while driving and stay safe.

The city welcomed a nine member brass ensemble Alaska Brass from the USAF Band of the Pacific on Easter Saturday for a special performance at Riverlink near the food court. The ensemble is in Australia to take part in the 2008 Australian National Band Championships in Brisbane.

My favourite time of the year is almost here. The annual Ipswich Festival celebrates all that is good about the community and the city. Our festival strives for a full program of free events supported by many generous corporate sponsors. The ten days are jam packed full of entertainment, cultural exhibitions and activities. Don’t miss the street parade on Saturday 19 April. The Ipswich Festival is recognised as one of the fastest growing festivals in Queensland. It generates tremendous pride in Ipswich and attracts thousands of visitors each year as the city's premier cultural event. The festival has also received many industry awards for excellence, reflecting the enthusiasm and affection which exists for the Ipswich Festival.

The post-election meeting of Council will be held this Friday at 11.30am in the Council Chambers. This meeting will help to set the course of the next four years with decisions to be made on who takes on the job of Deputy Mayor and the new structure of the standing committees of council. It will also be a formal opportunity to thank residents for their vote of confidence in the entire team of re-elected councillors and to put forward the immediate priorities of council.

17 March 2008 - Archived

THE week leading into the local government election could only be described as adventurous. There were many last minute issues to deal with and residents to help. My sincere thanks must go to the people of Ipswich who have chosen to allow me to continue to move Ipswich forward. Being mayor of this great city is more than a title. It is a responsibility that I take very seriously. I also want to thank the many people who supported my campaign in so many different ways. It was very humbling to have such an army of supporters working on the campaign. The successful journey of Ipswich will continue in partnership with the community, business and all levels of government.

A very special 90th birthday last week. Beatrice Porter celebrated with family and friends in East Ipswich. It was great to call in and wish Beatrice all the best on reaching 90.

The Leukaemia Foundation World’s Greatest Shave gathered the support of many organisations and individuals to help raise funds this month. Congratulations to those who either shaved their head or coloured their hair at Riverlink Shopping Centre on Saturday. Ipswich City Council staff also shaved for a cure. Well done to Lyn Jones, Jared Lindley and the planning and development staff for supporting the Leukaemia Foundation.

Ipswich born Ashleigh Mac has clocked up 30 years of spinning the platters that matter. Many of those years have been at our local radio station River 94.9 in North Ipswich. Ash started when the station was launched as Q-FM in February 1990 then spent some time away including North Queensland before returning home a few years ago.

Look out for a special Great South East program soon on Channel 7. Laurel Edwards spent a day at Brighton House recently. It was great to drop in and join the crew. Thank you to Chanel 7 for their continued support of Ipswich and the western corridor.

Staff of the Workshops Rail Museum and Queensland Rail at North Ipswich were treated to a special “thank you” breakfast last week. This was held in recognition of the strong partnership between the Museum and QR which has resulted in many tourism awards. The most recent being the award for cultural and heritage tourism at the Australian Tourism Awards.

10 March 2008 - Archived

STAGE two of the Ipswich Nature Centre was officially opened on Saturday. This latest addition to Queens Park is a tremendous boost to the number of free attractions on offer for visitors and residents. The Nature Centre has been open to the public since Australia Day but final touches and preparations for many of the new animals had further delayed the ‘official' opening until last Saturday. Improvements to the value of $800,000 at the Ipswich Nature Centre are now complete.

The recent release of the City Centre Strategy and Action Plan will now get added momentum with the very high level of support announced by Premier Anna Bligh last week. The strategy will now be put into action, and I couldn’t be more enthusiastic in my support for the proposed State Development Area that will include most of the traditional CBD. I am looking forward to working with State Member for Ipswich Rachel Nolan to implement the recommendations of the strategy and action plan. No more will we tolerate land banking, absent landlords or neglected properties in crucial areas of our city centre. This move will also pave the way forward for Ipswich to achieve its true potential as a Principal Regional Activity Centre and to create employment, cultural and community facilities close to where people live.

Happy 100th birthday to Alice Armitage at St Mary’s Hostel Raceveiw. It was wonderful to visit on the weekend with local councillor Sheila Ireland to congratulate Alice and share the moment of this very special occasion.

The rededication of the Briggs Road Sporting Complex on Saturday afternoon was made possible by the strong partnership created between Kambu Progress Association and Ipswich City Council. All levels of government have also been quick to support the redevelopment. The Ipswich Jets will call Briggs Road their home ground for this year. Congratulations to everyone who worked on the project. The facilities are looking terrific and the much improved playing surface is ready for the opening round of the Queensland Cup this Saturday when the Jets take on the Seagulls at 3pm.

Congratulations to the Workshops Rail Museum on scoring a big win for their contribution to tourism at the Australian Tourism Awards in Canberra. They won the national award for Heritage and Cultural Tourism. This is more proof that Ipswich is now a serious player in cultural tourism. It also confirms that Ipswich can attract tourists that are looking for new experiences and to reminisce about the days of coal and steam. At the Workshops Museum you can also see interactive exhibits and travelling exhibitions from around Australia.

Thank you to the students at Redbank State School for the warm welcome last week during a visit to inspect the recent work undertaken at the tuck shop. The improvements made to school security and the tuck shop are great examples of how we can work together with our local schools for the benefit of students and staff.

3 March 2008 - Archived

IPSWICH Central was buzzing with people on Saturday for the first Ipswich Hobby and Lifestyle Expo. The great news is that the expo will be on again this coming Saturday March 8th in the Ipswich Mall. Eighty local clubs and organisations have been registered and more are being encouraged to take part free of charge. This is an ideal opportunity to recruit new members and create awareness of your group in the wider community. You can get more details from Ipswich Events on 3812 2974.

When birthdays pass the 100 mark it has to be extra special. So it was for Georgina Sheedy who celebrated her 102nd birthday with family and friends last week. On behalf of the city we offer Georgina warm wishes on this wonderful personal milestone.

The Defence Community Organisation Amberley has welcomed the 9th Force Support Battalion (9FSB) with celebrations at Matson Oval. It was great to join with defence members and their families for this special day. 9FSB has been relocated from Victoria, New South Wales and Townsville in a move that brings a significant Army presence to the area. The newly constructed purpose-built facilities for 9FSB are on land next to the RAAF base.

Ipswich Ministers Fellowship conducted a special Thank God for The Rain ecumenical thanksgiving celebration service at St Paul’s Church on Saturday afternoon. With dam levels nearing 40% a little more rain won’t go astray.

The Ipswich Community and Cultural online directory has been officially launched. This new web site has been created to provide up to date information on a whole range of services. The Community Directory is designed to promote community services and organisations within Ipswich, while the Cultural Directory is designed to promote the cultural and artistic diversity in our city.

Chris Jones is well known for his Fed Up Deli on the corner of Limestone and Thorn Streets. Chris is looking for votes to win the award for best deli. Last year we got behind Fenton for the best BBQ chef, now we can do the same for Chris.

USQ Springfield campus has launched Phoenix Radio – an online community radio service for Ipswich. This marks the start of the online delivery of programs that will support the whole community. The studio is part of the Bachelor of Applied Media degree and gives students access to the latest technology and the opportunity to be part of a working studio on a regular basis.

25 February 2008 - Archived

ANOTHER new business has opened in Ipswich. The Protocol 1 team have moved into their new IT training facility located on the corner of Bell and Brisbane Streets. They also have a computer store in Pine Mountain Road. Protocol 1 commenced business in Ipswich around five years ago offering a terrific service including sales and repairs, networking, remote access, software design and implementation and training. The Protocol 1 must be congratulated on creating a successful local business to service local business.

The revitalisation of our city centre can only happen with the full support and participation of the community, major private land owners in the city and local businesses. We need to clearly define Ipswich city centre as a world class centre within South East Queensland that will in the future offer a wide range of experiences including dining, cultural, performing arts, entertainment and other recreational activities. I would encourage anyone who would like a copy of the Strategy to call into the Task Force office located in d’Arcy Doyle Place.

The State Government is delivering more than words to back Strategy. Last Friday was the official opening of a new Ipswich office of the Environmental Protection Agency by Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation, Hon Andrew McNamara. This new regional office is located in the courthouse building and will service the growing western corridor and nearby areas.

ABC Radio National is planning a one hour broadcast from Ipswich. The Australia Talks program will host a program to discuss water issues. Droughts, water restrictions and floods have changed the way we use and manage water. A live audience will be welcome in the Barry Jones Auditorium at 1pm Friday March 14.

18 February 2008 - Archived

A BLUEPRINT and a roadmap for the future. The release to the media on Friday of the Ipswich Centre Strategy and Action Plan will be recorded as the most pivotal in the history of the city centre since we lost Reids department store to fire in 1985. Thank you to Deputy Premier and Minister for Infrastructure Paul Lucas for joining me to co-chair the Task Force. The Strategy and Action Plan focuses firmly on the future covering an area of 12 square kilometres to create an expanded Ipswich City Centre. A Master Plan is one of 17 key projects and full details will be released at the public launch this Wednesday. The revitalisation of our city centre can only happen with the full support and participation of the community, major private land owners in the city, and local businesses. We need to clearly define Ipswich city centre as a world class centre within South East Queensland that will in the future offer a wide range of experiences including dining, cultural, performing arts, entertainment and other recreational activities.

While the Ipswich Centre Strategy is all about the future it is important not to forget our heritage and past. This was clearly evident last week at the launch of council’s latest Then and Now Heritage Trails brochure which details an industry that was once the backbone of the our economy. I want to thank Cr Paul Tully for backing and supporting this series of brochures documenting the history of Ipswich. The community is extremely proud of its coal mining history as it provided the solid base on which today’s city had been established. There are a number of permanent reminders of this history throughout the city.

The final in this current series of Movies in the Park was great fun on Saturday night in Queens Park. Thank you to the Ipswich Hospital Foundation for their support and to Casey and the fit flicks team. All movies have been well attended and I’m confident that all councillors would be keen to promote another series of free family movies later this year.

11 February 2008 - Archived

OUR rich cultural diversity is part of what makes Ipswich such a special place. Last week I had a visit from senior members of the Samoan community to offer prayers for the future of Ipswich and its leaders. A special thank you to Rev Tauese Faitalofa who was here from New Zealand, Seiafi Fatialofa, Leaupepe Aiono, Faalei Aiono and Atua Aiono.

The Living in Harmony launch at the Ipswich Art Gallery last Wednesday night highlighted our cultural diversity with an inspirational celebration and launch of the “Who Do You Think We Are” project. A DVD, community directory and calendar are now available. They focus on sharing the differences and similarities of cultures, celebrating the uniqueness of cultural diversity within the Ipswich region, and increasing local community and business awareness of cultural diversities and protocols.

The minor flooding of the Bremer River was the first ‘test’ for the River Heart Parklands, and it passed with flying colors. What really impressed me was the skill and quick work by council staff both before and after. Within a matter of hours of the water levels falling, the Parklands looked spectacular, as though nothing had happened. Well done everyone!

Congratulations to local artist Karen Oberg on entering the Archibald Prize with a portrait of motor racing icon Victor Bray. It was a pleasure to unveil Karen’s entry for the media last week at the soon to be opened Gallery 23. This is a first time entry for Karen. The portrait is larger than life at 2.7 metres high.

Channel 9’s Today and Extra programs visited Ipswich last week for stories on the mayoral bid for a world record with the number of short black coffee cups in one collection. Extra also took time to record a segment on the manufacturing of Ipswich City Council street signs. Ipswich is one of the few council to offer personalised signs for sale to the public. These are available at $99 for a double sided sign.

Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School conducted their induction of prefects at a special ceremony on Friday. Congratulations to the incoming prefects and seniors. Thanks also to principal Flo Kearney and her dedicated staff on the continued success of Girls’ Grammar and the junior school.

4 February 2008 - Archived

LAST week’s signing of an Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) will be remembered as a watershed day in relations between traditional land owners and Ipswich City Council. This agreement is a very positive step which recognises the city's traditional land owners and is a genuine partnership to guide us all for the future. The agreement covers Council’s legal obligations for native title and cultural heritage but just as important, it also outlines key ongoing relationship initiatives such as Welcome to Country, business development and management of important cultural sites. The ILUA also provides structure and detail to meet the aspirations and responsibilities regarding native title and cultural heritage legal compliance. Critically, it also includes a range of relationship and sustainable initiatives such as employment, business development and ongoing consultation. A key point to understand is that this achievement is a legal document but importantly it is the start of an agreed journey between Council, the community and traditional owners. While the outcomes recognise and support the City's traditional owners, they also provide a broader platform for the whole indigenous community. I want to thank the many people involved in bringing this city to the fore in relations with our indigenous community.

Deputy Premier Paul Lucas was in Ipswich on Friday to join me on walk around Ipswich Central prior to the media launch on February 15 of the Strategy and Action Plan for the city centre. It was tremendous to have the Deputy Premier here taking such a keen and personal interest in the future of our city.

Many happy returns to Maureen Harper of Eastern Heights. It was great to call in and surprise Maureen last Friday morning with local councillor Andrew Antoniolli. All the very best Maureen on 90 fabulous years.

The Ipswich Community Gallery is located in Limestone Street with entry via d’Arcy Doyle Place. A new exhibition features photographs from members of the Ipswich Photographic Society. After the official opening last week I can recommend a visit to view the impressive photographic talents of members.

On Saturday Marburg residents officially launched the “my Marburg” campaign. This campaign is in support of Marburg’s entry in the 2008 Tidy Town’s competition. I would encourage local residents to join with division 10 councillor David Pahlke and support Marburg’s bid.

A warm Ipswich welcome to Majors Warren and Denise Parkinson to the Salvation Army Bundamba. On Sunday morning a special dedication service was held in the Brisbane Road church for Warren and Denise.

28 January 2008 - Archived

AUSTRALIA Day celebrations last Friday night attracted a big crowd to the Ipswich Region Community Church for the annual Ipswich Australia Day Awards and citizenship ceremony. Well done to the 56 people who have pledged their loyalty to Australia and all that we hold dearly. Congratulations also to the eight category winners of the annual Ipswich Australia Day Awards. The 2008 Citizen of the Year is Keith Pennell who has lived in Ipswich since returning from active service in World War 2. He signed up to serve at the age of 17. Keith has spent many years working as a volunteer helping returned servicemen and women in the Ipswich community creating a lasting legacy. This made him a stand out candidate to be awarded the title of Citizen of the Year. Rosewood Lions also held their annual Australia Day celebrations on Saturday morning at the Uniting Church Hall. It was great to attend with local councillor David Pahlke.

The long weekend to mark our national day is also when Ipswich City Council provides free admission to the Bundamba Swim Centre for the annual family fun day. On Saturday many families took advantage of the day to enjoy the water. Congratulations to the lucky winners of the learn to swim lessons and free admission passes. Thanks also to the Rotary Club of Ipswich City for the sausage sizzle.

Happy 90th birthday to Sylvia Lehmann of Raceview. It was great to visit Sylvia with local councillor Sheila Ireland last week and to recognise this wonderful personal milestone with family and friends.

Relay for Life is an annual overnight fund raising event for the Cancer Council of Queensland. In Ipswich the event this year will be held on March 29 and 30 at Ivor Marsden Park Old Toowoomba Road, instead of the usual oval at RAAF Base Amberley. This is a marvellous way to contribute to the Cancer Council. It's about celebrating life, honouring those who have survived cancer and remembering those who have lost the battle. To register please contact Laina Jonker after hours on 3201 5619.

21 January 2008 - Archived

THERE’S no disputing the success of the Safe City network of cameras established by council in 1994 as a crime prevention measure. Since those humble beginnings with just a handful of cameras, the network now extends to Goodna in the east and Rosewood in the west. The city can now boast 132 cameras backed by the latest digital technology that enables police to tender high quality images to the courts. It is important to remember that Safe City is not a law enforcement agency. That is the job of the Queensland Police Service. Similarly security on privately owned premises is the responsibility of the property owner or lessee. The primary role of Safe City i