5 October 2009 - Archived

Ipswich residents have been opening their hearts and wallets to help those left devastated by the tsunami in Samoa and American Samoa. Council is contributing $10,000 towards the tsunami’s victims. Ipswich is feeling the loss keenly as it is home to a very large Samoan community. Our city has a deep connection with Samoa and I was honoured and very proud earlier this year to be given the title of Samoan high chief - Afioga Lautoamapapafaasasa (pronounced Lotoa - MarParpar - Far – SarSar).

I thank Leighton Contractors for the wonderful project they unveiled for the city last Friday – the Regeneration of Woogaroo Creek Riparian Zone in Leslie Park at Goodna. The company created the legacy project involving the planting of 400 native trees and plants in the park to thank the local community for their patience and understanding during the Ipswich Motorway upgrade. This project is a wonderful gesture on Leighton’s behalf which will enhance our natural environment.

I enjoyed taking part in the Brentwood Rise Community Consultation session on Saturday. This area continues to grow and develop and it is wonderful as always to welcome a steady stream of new residents to our city.

The National Servicemen’s Association christened their new trailer at a family BBQ lunch at the Swanbank Picnic Reserve on Sunday. The organisation provides a wonderful support network to local servicemen through the Ipswich and West Moreton District Branch.

Congratulations must go to the members of the SeniorNet association who are seniors who assist other seniors to use computers and the internet. The association is holding its 13th annual general meeting today and council is proud to be able to support this long running community asset.

I also want to acknowledge the wonderful work being done in the area of drowning awareness by Andrew and Katherine Plint. The couple established the charity Hannah’s Foundation after losing their beautiful daughter Hannah when she drowned in their backyard pool two years ago. In her memory the foundation was born and the Plints have become tireless advocates for water safety. I am sure that there are many youngsters still alive today through the awareness they have created. They have my full support and that of the city and I was pleased to be able to officially open the second annual drowning awareness function held by the foundation last Saturday.

Tomorrow night (October 6) I will join with Minister for Community Services and Housing and Minister for Women Karen Struthers for the official opening of a special exhibition in the Ipswich Community Gallery featuring the work of youth from the Brisbane Youth Detention Centre.

28 September 2009 - Archived

I have been extremely proud over the past week to witness the strength shown by the community since the terrible fire at Silkstone State School. I say the community because everyone has been affected by this terrible incident, not just the school. I have lost count of the number of people who have expressed their sadness and outrage about the fire. Together, as a community, we will pull together to support the school and its students and teachers as they work to overcome this great loss.

A special partnership was recognised last week when I joined with my fellow mayors, Newcastle Lord Mayor John Tate and Port Stephens Mayor Bruce MacKenzie, along with RAAF representatives for the official signing of the Communities for Air Force Agreement. Through this historic agreement we have pledged to support the RAAF Base at Amberley in Ipswich’s case and at Williamtown in the case of Newcastle and Port Stephens.

Happy Birthday to Les Burger who celebrated his 80th birthday last weekend with family, friends and members of the Ipswich Orpheus Chorale. Special congratulations must go as well to John Gehrke for his 90th birthday. The Rosewood resident also celebrated last weekend with his large family which includes seven children, 16 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. We hope Les and John both enjoyed their special celebrations.

The crowd at Ipswich Fitness have been keeping Ipswich residents fit and trim for the past 10 years. They celebrated their 10th birthday in the Ipswich Mall last Thursday with a special open day.

I spent last Thursday with Queensland Education and Training Minister Geoff Wilson out at Springfield. It was great to be able to show him around the area and discuss the tremendous things that are happening in the city, and particularly Springfield, in the education and training field.

Tomorrow morning I will represent the city at a special local National Police Remembrance Day service at the James Sangster Memorial in Browns Park, North Ipswich. The day remembers all officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty and gives us a chance to honour the members of our wonderful police service who play such an important role in our community. We salute you, not just on National Police Remembrance Day, but all year round.

It will also be my honour next Saturday (October 3) to open the second annual drowning awareness function held in conjunction with Hannah’s Foundation. I am pleased to be able to lend my support to such an important occasion and now that the warmer weather is here, I encourage everyone to remain vigilant whenever they are in contact with the water.

21 September 2009 - Archived

CONGRATULATIONS to Peppers Hidden Vale on adding another tourism award to the trophy cabinet. The magnificent hideaway near Grandchester won the Best Hotel Restaurant at the Queensland Restaurant and Catering awards presented in Brisbane. Peppers also scored Best Hotel Restaurant at the Darling Downs Restaurant of the Year and Best Hotel Restaurant awards in June. It is a credit to the management and staff at Peppers Hidden Vale and a tribute to their hard work, dedication and commitment to excellence. The Ipswich region is blessed with many man-made and natural features which are attracting an increasing number of visitors each year.

Australia’s Open Garden Scheme offers two fantastic Ipswich gardens to explore this weekend. Hinemoa at 2 Ferrett Street Sadliers Crossing and Whitby Cottage on the corner of Bradfield and High Streets in Brassall will be open to the public between 10am and 4.30pm Saturday and Sunday. Entry is $6 per garden with under 18s free. Morning and afternoon teas will help raise money for charity. Since 1987 gardens owners with the scheme have raised over $4 million for the charities of their choice.

New businesses continue to open in Ipswich and create jobs. The long awaited opening of Trade Secret at Home HQ West Ipswich is set for Thursday October 1. This new store will employ up to 50 staff and open seven days a week. Trade Secret will join other major stores in the complex including Spotlight and Fantastic Furniture.

Following the negative comments made in parliament last week, I want to congratulate the great work of the churches and community groups in Springfield. There’s no doubt there is a tremendous community spirit which is driving this young community forward in a positive way.

Jason Swan of Yamanto is planning a fundraising day for Beyond Blue by hitting 3000 golf balls this Saturday at the Ipswich Golf Driving Range in Raceview. Putt Putt golf, a raffle and a $2 sausage sizzle will also help raise funds. Guest speaker David O’Neill from the Open Minds Personal Helpers and Mentors program will be supporting Jason on the day.

Ipswich Fitness in the mall is locally owned and operated and will celebrate 10 years with an open day on Thursday. Activities planned include free group fitness classes and demonstrations throughout the day.

14 September 2009 - Archived

TWO of Ipswich’s best loved champions of the environment were farewelled last week. Rick Nattrass and Lloyd Bird have left lasting legacies of their time on earth. Family, friends, colleagues and supporters gathered to farewell Lloyd at St Paul’s while a private service was held for Rick. The natural environment of our city is in better shape because of the passion and dedication of both men.

National Bilby Day was marked by the naming yesterday of the recently opened enclosure at the Ipswich Nature Centre as the Frank Manthey Bilby Burrow. This is a fitting tribute to his invaluable contribution to the survival of a rare marsupial. Frank’s dedication to bilby conservation is legendary. He has worked in partnership with Council and others including Dawn Fraser to ensure that our bilby enclosure is world class. It is only fitting that it should carry his name.

The state launch of Disability Action Week was held yesterday in East Ipswich. It was a wonderful day for families and included free entertainment featuring Bananas in Pyjamas. It was an opportunity for the community to learn more about local disability services and support available. Thank you to Minister for Disability Services and Multicultural Affairs Annastacia Palaszczuk for coming to Ipswich to help celebrate this special day. More than 15 different groups were represented with stands at the information expo. Last Friday the Moreton Schools Transition Expo was held at Glebe Road Uniting Church and gave young people a host of ideas for career options. This event was also part of Disability Action Week.

Ipswich Civic Hall welcomed Australian music legends Doug Parkinson, Glenn Shorrock and Wendy Matthews last week. It was an honour to introduce the Cool Change Tour show where every song was a classic hit. Many Little River Band hits had the audience singing along, while Doug Parkinson and Wendy Matthews added to an unforgettable night.

7 September 2009 - Archived

INTEREST in Ipswich by property investors and developers remains very high, if the attendance at the Property Council of Australia forum held last Friday was any indication. More than 200 people attended the function at the Metro Hotel Ipswich International. Guest speakers included transport minister and Member for Ipswich Rachel Nolan, Andrew Borger of Leighton Properties, Peter Hyland of Urbis and renowned architect Michael Rayner. These industry and community leaders spoke about the exciting future for our city centre as an entertainment, retail and residential precinct. It was also an opportunity for me to bring the audience up to date on the latest developments and possible options for Ipswich City Square. Since Council, through Ipswich City Properties Pty Ltd took ownership of Ipswich City Square, a large amount of work has been underway in preparation for the calling of expressions of interest from the private sector later this year for the redevelopment of this key parcel of land. In the meantime interest from retailers in the existing space has also been very encouraging. A number of successful retail promotions have also been held and attracted large crowds of shoppers to the Mall.

Overnight rain cleared to a fine day on Saturday for the Rosewood Festival. It was great to join the many locals and visitors enjoying the activities, including the fete at Rosewood State School. I’m sure everyone will agree it was a well organised inaugural Rosewood Festival with something on the program for all ages. Congratulations to local councillor David Pahlke and the committee of dedicated volunteers for bringing together such a diverse program of events. The festival has a bright future given the tremendous support of sponsors and the community.

Habitat for Humanity has built nearly 300,000 houses around the world creating affordable housing. One of the aims of Habitat is to help people get out of the rent trap. In Ipswich on Saturday a completed house was officially opened and dedicated. It was wonderful to meet Jamie and Donna and to congratulate John Walker and the local Habitat team for their wonderful work in the Ipswich community.

The Zonta Club of West Moreton celebrated 30 years with a high tea on Saturday. Zonta has been quietly serving the Ipswich community with fund raising and assistance for many community groups and organisations.

31 August 2009 - Archived

MANY thousands of residents, visitors and QR workers attended the Workshops Rail Museum yesterday for the Ipswich family open day and annual reunion of former workers. The day paid tribute to the enormous contribution made by QR workers to the development of Queensland and was a tremendous opportunity for past and present QR workers to reminisce and share stories of their time in the railways. This year was extra special with the arrival of the Q150 steam train at 4.30pm as it completed its journey around the state. We are very proud to be the birthplace of Queensland Rail. Since opening in 1884 over 10,000 people have worked at the Ipswich Railway Workshops.

It was gratifying to hear from Logan mayor Pam Parker apologising for the outburst from Logan councillor Darren Power who was critical of our city. It has been many years since I have heard such petty criticism across council borders. No matter where you live it is your home. We can all be proud of the tremendous achievement being made in Ipswich.

A very special 100th birthday was celebrated last Friday. Kathleen Roache of Brassall Village became our latest centenarian. Kathleen was born in 1909 at the former St Mary’s Hospital in Roderick Street. At the time Kathleen’s parents lived in Walloon and later she was married in Rosewood.

The Lions Children of Courage Awards on Saturday at the Ipswich Art Gallery highlighted the remarkable achievements of children with special needs. Their personal hurdles might be physical, mental or social. These children overcome adversity to achieve many goals in their young lives. They are inspirational young citizens and we adults could learn much from them.

Glebe Garden Club celebrated 150 years of gardening on Saturday with a workshop and expo for home gardeners. It was a great day with a sausage sizzle and talks from gardening experts held at the fellowship centre on the corner of Glebe Road and Eileen Street in Booval.

24 August 2009 - Archived

THE Ipswich Arts Foundation will celebrate the tenth year of the Ipswich Art Gallery with a special fundraising dinner on Friday September 4. A wonderful evening is planned with an exceptional menu and entertainment from multi award winning vocalist Katie Noonan. Supporters of the Foundation are invited to take part in this opportunity to assist in securing more acquisitions for the City of Ipswich Collection. All funds raised will maintain the growth of Australia’s premier regional gallery. For bookings or more information please call the gallery on 3810 7222.

Rodney Smith had the ride of lifetime in the Jack Perkins Dodo and Corporate Security Solutions sponsored V8 supercar at Queensland Raceway last Friday. The ride was secured by Mick Boyle at Churchill Abattoir after he was the highest bidder in the River 94.9 on-air auction the previous week. Mick decided it was a good idea to raffle the prize for staff and Rodney was the lucky winner. Thank you to the Jack Perkins new team sponsor Corporate Security Solutions for arranging the V8 ride and for supporting the Mayor’s Community Fund.

Seniors Week was celebrated last Thursday at Evan Marginson Park Goodna. A well organised day featured live entertainment and stalls of interest for all seniors. It was great to drop in with local councillor Paul Tully and the chairperson of the Youth and Seniors committee Cr Sheila Ireland. Many community groups and government agencies were represented on the day which had a carnival atmosphere. Community events such as these give residents a tremendous feeling of well-being, a place to belong and builds pride in our city.

Local apprentices who have been excelling in the workplace were recognised at the annual Apprenticeships Queensland awards dinner last Friday night. The gala event was held at Swifts Booval. Awards were presented in a number of categories including Trainee of the Year and Apprentice of the Year. Congratulations to all nominees and winners. The night also had strong support from many sponsors who understand the importance of encouraging excellence in the trades.

17 August 2009 - Archived

CONGRATULATIONS Ipswich for supporting the Channel 9 TODAY show live broadcast from Queens Park last Friday morning. It was tremendous to see so many happy people out and about enjoying the live entertainment. Special thanks must go to the TODAY team for their outstanding support for Ipswich and the Australian community. Many proud Ipswich residents went to a great deal of effort to create banners and signs. Karl, Lisa, Georgie, Cam, Richard and Steve really enjoyed their visit, in particular the warm and energetic welcome from Ipswich fans.

Mick Boyle of Churchill Abattoir was the highest bidder last Friday morning on River 94.9 and has scored an exclusive ride in the Jack Perkins #11 Dodo Racing Team V8 Supercar. Thank you to new team sponsor Corporate Security Solutions for donating the ride and for supporting the Mayor’s Community Fund. Mick’s winning bid was $1800. He will take to the track for three laps of Queensland Raceway this Friday at 4.30pm.

Pua Samia of Bundamba won the recent Miss Samoa Australia Beauty Pageant. This is one of the biggest annual events for the Samoan community in Australia. The pageant was founded in 2004 with the objectives of showcasing the talents of young Tama'ita'i (ladies) in Samoan culture. It highlights the inner beauty and attributes of a woman and focuses on the celebration of women, building role models and encouraging future leaders. It also provides an opportunity to view, learn and practice some of the most significance parts of the culture and heritage of Samoa.

Ipswich Little Theatre is currently celebrating their 40th year since relocating to the Incinerator Theatre from the old Town Hall. They have a display in the Ipswich Art Gallery during August and September and in conjunction with this, are presenting live performances. One of those last week was from S-Troupe. What makes S-Troupe so remarkable is that the entire cast is made up of people with disabilities. It makes me very proud to be Mayor when I witness such a strong spirit of cooperation between many different groups in our community.

10 August 2009 - Archived

THIS Friday morning on your way to work please come and be part of the audience as the Channel 9 Today show broadcasts live from Ipswich. Karl, Lisa and the Today team will host an extensive outside broadcast in Queens Park between 6am and 9am. There will be free muffins, tea, coffee and a sausage sizzle with Ipswich National Seniors. This is a tremendous opportunity for all residents to show their pride in our city and fly the Ipswich flag in front of a national TV audience.

The National Aboriginal and Islander Children’s Day was first celebrated in 1988. The annual day is marked on August 4 each year. Last week at the Neville Bonner Sporting Complex in Briggs Road a wonderful celebration for indigenous young people was held. It was a chance to participate in many cultural activities, entertainment and workshops. It was also great to drop in and offer words of encouragement and an official welcome on behalf of the city.

This month marks another important milestone if the history RAAF Base Amberley and the strong partnerships developed over many years with the city of Ipswich. The official signing of the terms of reference for the Amberley Community Engagement Forum was held at the Ipswich Art Gallery last week. The base is firmly part of the Ipswich family and we always look forward to making welcome the growing numbers of RAAF, Army and civilian personnel to our city. The issue of security of our military bases has also been in the news. I urge you to be alert, not alarmed, and to report any suspicious activity to the police.

Just Rock Ipswich presented their 16th annual Back to 63 Classic Car Show and Shine on Sunday at Len Johnson Oval North Ipswich. A large crowd enjoyed the entertainment which included dancing, music, fun and food. More than 200 classic cars took part.

3 August 2009 - Archived

Last week got off to a great start when Ipswich again claimed the title of South East Queensland’s overall Tidiest Town for the third time since 2004. Congratulations also to the Ipswich Youth Advisory Council members for winning the region’s Young Legends Award. We are now keeping our fingers crossed for the State Tidy Towns Awards which will be announced at the Queensland Local Government Association Conference on August 26.

The release of the updated South East Queensland Regional Plan last week reminds us that while we have to manage the constraints of growth in the future, sustainability and infrastructure will be the keys to making it work for Ipswich.

The city was abuzz over the weekend for the inaugural sustainability expo, Smart Living 2009. Ipswich City Council is taking a lead role in the promotion of environmental sustainability in South East Queensland as we believe it is the way to the future and the support shown by the community at the expo demonstrates that people are also keen to embrace all things green.

The environmental theme continued as I welcomed Australian singing legend Lee Kernaghan to the city. Local motor dealer Llewellyn Motors and Toyota Australia brought Lee to town for Smart Living 2009. While he was here Lee also helped to commemorate National Tree Day at Orion Springfield and joined me for an address to more than 300 young students at the University of Southern Queensland Springfield.

It was great to join with Ipswich born Des Whybird for the official opening of GHD’s Ipswich office at Springfield last Thursday. Mr Whybird is the chairman of the company which has now opened a local office in the Springfield Tower.

The Ipswich Art Gallery’s is currently home to a fascinating exhibition by Perth-based artist Rose Skinner. The I wish I lived in Wonderland exhibition runs until November 1 so make a date now for a visit.

Welcome to Ipswich’s newest retirement community – Milford Grange Retirement Community. The new complex was officially opened last Thursday. Replacing the Queensland Country Women’s Association (QCWA) aged care facility at Milford St, this facility is a joint initiative of RSL Care and the QCWA and operated by RSL Care.

A big thank you was delivered on Saturday to the workers behind the construction of the new Queens Park Kiosk as we celebrated the start of a new era at one of our favourite city eateries.

Fundraising was the order of the day at the St Joseph’s School fete on Sunday. Good on all those from the school community who volunteered their time to run this event. Happy 90th birthday wishes to Willy Hiltjes. I hope you enjoyed your party with all your family and friends on the weekend.

27 July 2009 - Archived

WEST Moreton Anglican College celebrates 16 years of service to the community this year. Last Friday night a special birthday dinner dance was held at St Paul’s Church Hall. The school is affectionately known as Westmac and has grown at a tremendous rate since the first students were enrolled. Guest speaker and rugby legend Tim Horan mingled with the crowd, signed autographs and gave an entertaining talk which included many rugby stories.

Congratulations to the Ipswich Hospital Foundation on a record breaking Park 2 Park fun run on Sunday morning. In just five years this popular half marathon, 10klm and 5klm course has become one the best in its class and raised much need funds for the Foundation. Special thanks must go to the sponsors, including Wingate, for their support in helping Ipswich become the healthiest community.

St Paul’s Church in the centre of the city was completed at a time when Ipswich was in the state of New South Wales. The church is home to a rare and much-loved pipe organ which is need of restoration. A fundraising evening is being held this week at Woodlands of Marburg and offers an opportunity to support the church organ restoration project.

Heartkids Queensland is a wonderful organisation which offers information, non medical support and understanding to families with children who have a heart condition. Each of the families involved with this group discovered what it is like to be faced with such traumatic news. All people cope differently, but there are times when it helps to make contact with others who have been in a similar situation and can listen and give support when it is needed.

Now the last word on the largest lamington. Thank you to sponsor Leighton Contractors, Billy Macs Bakery for taking on the challenge and John Grant for supplying not one, but two utes to help distribute the chocolate, coconut and sponge delicacy after the record breaking event. Did someone say ‘lamingtongate’?

20 July 2009 - Archived

THE future growth and development of Ipswich has been assured with the announcement last week of an Aerospace and Defence Support Centre at Amberley. The proposed hi-tech development will eventually be home to 3000 jobs and was announced by Queensland Minister for Infrastructure and Planning Stirling Hinchliffe. When approved the development will allow for a 183 hectare defence and aerospace hub on land adjoining the RAAF Base at Amberley. This is tremendous news for our city, given that we are already working hard to beat the world economic crises and creating new jobs. All partners working on this project are optimistic early construction works could begin as soon as 2011.

Last Saturday Goodna Rugby League Club honoured former Ipswich mayor John Nugent by naming the club building extensions the John Nugent Room. He continues to live in the Goodna area and has been a strong supporter of rugby league for many years. This is a fitting tribute to John and well deserved.

The Mayor’s Community Fund has allocated $12,000 this year to families who have suffered tragedy and have needed urgent assistance. Fundraising received another boost last Friday night following a gala function held at Brookwater Golf Club and organised by Springfield Land Corporation. Thank you

John Holland Constructions is currently doing a lot of work in the western corridor, including major projects at RAAF Base Amberley. The company is also a great corporate citizen and supports the wonderful work of the Endeavour Foundation in our region.

Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School has been operating since 1892 and is one of eight original Queensland Grammar Schools. Last week I visited the school to meet with students and joined in a discussion on leadership. Special thanks to Principal Flo Kearney and the team of dedicated teachers for providing the students with such a forum in which to learn and grow as future leaders in our community.

13 July 2009 - Archived

A CHRISTMAS holiday visit to Ipswich turned into a major change of lifestyle and scenery for former Sydney couple Lisa Fenton and Darren McConville. Last week Lisa officially became our city’s 160,000th resident. It is wonderful to know that Lisa and Darren enjoyed their holiday so much that they made a quick decision to leave Sydney and set up a new home in Springfield Lakes.

Also last week four Bilbies became the newest attraction at the Ipswich Nature Centre. Some 500 people joined in the official opening celebrations on Friday morning. The Bilbies are now settling in to their specially designed home built at a cost of $430,000. The work done by bilby expert Frank Manthey has been all about helping to save the endangered species. I’m sure visitors to the centre will be fascinated by the Bilbies and they will become a much-loved addition to the city. Council staff also deserve a great deal of recognition and thanks for their passion and drive in creating a world class habitat for the Bilbies.

National Indigenous TV will broadcast live from Briggs Road Sporting Complex this Wednesday to coincide with State of Origin 3. The NITV Barefoot Rugby League Show will beam live across Australia on Foxtel and Austar. Gates open at 4.30pm with the live show between 5.30pm and 7.30pm. After the program members of the public can join the Barefoot mob to watch the origin game on the big screen.

Ipswich City Rotary Club’s annual changeover dinner was held on Saturday night. Congratulations to incoming president Denise Hanly and special thanks to outgoing president Alec Gazsik for a great year.

I’m looking forward to the “beat the teachers” touch football game at Brassall State School on Wednesday. It’s not often I get to run around a football field. Regardless of which team wins it will be a lot of fun. I hope many of the Mums and Dads can also be at the school from 12.30pm.

John Holland Constructions is an impressive enterprise and a great corporate citizen. John Holland and their partners are associated with many large infrastructure projects around Australia. The company was founded by the late Sir John Holland in 1949. Sir John passed away last month aged 94. Throughout his life he made an outstanding contribution to the Australian construction sector.

6 July 2009 - Archived

The past week was a busy one with the announcement of council’s Budget for 2009-2010. The $512 million Budget represents an increase of 90% since our current team of councillors came together in 2004. In bringing down this budget, the pressures on family incomes were paramount in our efforts to further improve efficiencies of council without taking away services.

A fun day was had by all yesterday at the Mt Flinders Festival which helped to raise funds for the Flinders Peak Rural Fire Brigade.

Members from the Queensland Country Women’s Association gathered at the North Ipswich RSL Club last week for their Southern Region conference and a number of issues of interest to members were discussed and debated during this time.

It was wonderful recently to welcome members of Queensland’s State of Origin team to Ipswich for a special fan day. Mal and the boys received a rousing welcome from the local crowd which I’m sure provided them with a terrific shot in the arm and added incentive to win match two and effectively the series. Go Queenslander!

We have welcomed Ipswich’s newest residents with the arrival finally of our four Bilbies at the Ipswich Nature Centre. They are now settling into their specially designed home. I’m sure visitors to the centre will be fascinated by the Bilbies and they will become a much-loved addition to the city.

Special birthday wishes go out this week to Annie Blyth from Riverview Gardens Retirement Village for her 100th birthday. I hope you enjoyed your special celebration.

Ipswich is a city where people matter as over the past few years our city has been home to many success stories. The main foundation of this success has been the pride we have generated both within and outside the city. Throughout the next year council plans to keep people as the central point of its decision-making while at the same time ensuring that Ipswich is moving forward on the path of sustainable growth.

I particularly want to pay tribute to all of Ipswich’s volunteers for a job well done. The city’s volunteers are a tremendous bunch of people who are responsible for building community pride as they constantly give selflessly of their time and energy in a myriad of ways. We salute each and every one of you!

29 June 2009 - Archived

IPSWICH scored another win last Friday night at the Urban Development Institute of Australia Awards for Excellence. Congratulations to Springfield Land Corporation for picking up the top award as Queensland’s best masterplanned community.

The historic Jubilee Building at Ipswich Hospital was severely damaged by fire in 2005. The restoration and extensions to the original 1887 building, which was funding by public donation at the time, was officially opened on Friday. This building is another fine example of living heritage in Ipswich and the restoration is a credit to everyone involved.

A new era begins for motorists today as traffic starts using the $366 million Centenary Highway extension linking Springfield Central and Yamanto. Thank you to minister for main roads Craig Wallace and the state government for this significant investment in infrastructure for the western corridor. Ipswich is playing a vital role in the development of south east Queensland. This new highway will strengthen our local economy and provide the foundation for the next stage of sustainable development.

A new office in Ipswich Central for Boystown and Job Services Australia will be officially opened later today by the minister for Employment Participation Mark Arbib. For nearly 50 years Boystown has proudly provided help and reassurance for young people experiencing the challenges of life. This new service aims to provide training, work experience and other interventions to help young job seekers, particularly those most disadvantaged in our community It will help them make a successful transition into employment. Boystown will also work with local employers assisting them to find the right people for their workplace.

Ipswich City Rotary past presidents including 1980 charter president Fr Peter Dobson gathered for the first time in many years last week. The morning was an outstanding success so it has been suggested it become an annual event for the club which turns 30 in 2010.

The last 12 months has been another exciting chapter in the journey of Ipswich. Tomorrow the city budget for 2009-2010 will be handed down. It will be a budget which keeps people as the central focus and at the same time will keep our city moving forward on the path of sustainable growth.

22 June 2009 - Archived

CHAT Time at Booval Fair was well attended last Saturday morning. Thank you to all councillors who joined with me to meet many residents. Chat Time has developed into another important way we can learn about concerns from local residents, plus get feedback and many great ideas on making our city even better.

Ipswich Region Community Church held another successful Fuel conference for men on Saturday. Several other churches also support the program. It was great to officially open Fuel which was first held three years ago. Men from all walks of life and backgrounds attended for inspiration, mateship and fun. There were also displays of big boys toys and special guest was Pastor Sean Morris from the Metro Church Melbourne.

Leichhardt resident Phyllis Shaw celebrated her 80th birthday on Saturday with family and friends at Colleges Crossing. It was also a pleasure to drop in with local councillor Cheryl Bromage to wish Phyllis many happy returns on behalf of the city.

The council budget for 2009-2010 will be handed down next Tuesday June 30 at 9am. Unlike any other in recent memory, this budget is also not immune to the current financial situation. All councillors have been working very hard to make sure we can continue to build on the Ipswich success story. All families are facing price increases from a number of services so it is important we keep any rises as low as possible, but maintain growth. Ipswich is still in a very strong position. The announcement last week by Devine Limited of the release of another 1300 hundred blocks of land at Redbank Plains is again confirmation that Ipswich is still growing and creating jobs.

This Saturday Ipswich Multicultural projects will launch Aladdin’s Bazaar at St Paul’s Church Hall. Between 10am and 4pm all the magic of a Middle Eastern flea market will offer a big variety of stalls selling a wide range of goods. It should be a great day.

15 June 2009 - Archived

WINTER arrived with a bang last week and treated us to frosty mornings and perfect weather for the running of the 2009 Channel 7 Ipswich Cup. More than 20,000 racegoers enjoyed one the great sporting and social events of the year. There is also great sense of history associated with horse racing in Ipswich. In the early days of settlement the first Ipswich Cup in 1866 was won by Jibboom and the original Cup is held at the Ipswich Art Gallery. This year was the 143rd anniversary of the first Ipswich Cup and the club now has a function room carrying the name Jibboom Lounge.

Joe and Patricia Costanzo celebrated 50 years of marriage over the weekend with a special gathering of family and friends in North Ipswich. On behalf of the city it was great to drop in on Saturday and offer congratulations on reaching their golden wedding anniversary.

Many Ipswich City Council services and programs rely on community spirited volunteers. Last week a special breakfast was held at the Civic Hall to say thank you to 250 volunteers who happily give of their time to support the city. We have volunteers at the Ipswich Art Gallery, libraries, Nature Centre, Visitor Information Centre, seniors’ concerts and as park rangers. Recently the Ipswich Advocates program was also introduced.

Martin Corkery has served the Ipswich Chamber of Commerce well as president since 2007. I know members have appreciated his leadership and guidance of the chamber. Congratulations to incoming president Michael List, who has also been an active board member and strong supporter of Ipswich businesses and chamber initiatives.

People are celebrating Queensland’s 150th birthday in different ways. Wagonswest is a re-enactment of the days of Cobb and Co horse drawn coach travel. Rod Statham and his crew left Rosewood on the weekend and headed for Toowoomba where the wagon and horses were transported to Oakey to continue their journey to Longreach. More information is available at www.wagonswest.com.au

8 June 2009 - Archived

MARGURG State School students gave me a warm welcome last week when I became principal for a day during Education Week. It was a chance to get a first hand look at the some of the great things happening in Queensland state schools. Thank you to principal Fay Paterson and the teaching staff at Marburg.

Last Friday the $3.1 million Environmental Education Centre was officially opened in Queens Park. The new centre and kiosk facility contains a series of permanent displays with information on Ipswich and its environs as well as meeting rooms to accommodate groups of up to 90 people. The state government supported the new centre with funding of $1.5 million from the Q150 budget.

Willowbank Raceway was the place to be for drag racing fans over the weekend. The Winternationals has grown to become the biggest event of its type in the southern hemisphere. All the big names were there, including Victor and Ben Bray, Stuart Bishop, John Zappia, and Matt Abel. Top Fuel pilots Phil Read and Darren Morgan, Top Alcohol husband and wife duo Steve and Debbie Reed and Gary Phillips, Pro Stock competitor John Barbagallo and Top Bike rider Athol Williams. More than 500 competitors travelled from as far away as Perth and New Zealand. The sport of drag racing is a real family affair with many second and third generation competitors. The sport has also come of age with free to air television coverage on ONE HD.

The Bundamba sub-branch of the Naval Association of Australia held a commemorative service last Wednesday in memory of 74 American sailors who perished in the early hours of June 3 1969. The HMAS Melbourne and USS Frank E Evans collided in the South China Sea. The bow section of the Frank E Evans sank within minutes of all survivors being brought onboard. Both ships were taking part in an exercise at the time of the tragic collision. A reunion and reception for veterans was also held at the Ipswich Art Gallery.

1 June 2009 - Archived

WORKING together co-operatively is one of our strengths as a progressive and caring city. Strong partnerships between council, the community and business can deliver outstanding results. At this time of year all councillors must balance the needs of all in our community with the ability of council to deliver services and programs in the next financial year. We are facing the most difficult budget process for many years. Fortunately we are in a good position to maintain steady and sustainable development into 2010. Ipswich recorded a growth rate of 4.1% in the year to June 30 last year. Growth will help to protect jobs and create new ones through these challenging economic times.

Goodna now has a new skate bowl in Leslie Park. It was great to join with local councillor Paul Tully on Saturday morning to officially open the skate park for local residents.

St Edmund’s College has refurbished the library and added new classrooms. On Sunday a special blessing service and opening was held at the school. Congratulations to principal Brendon Lawler and the school community. Special thanks to state government minister and member for Ipswich Rachel Nolan and federal member for Blair Shayne Neumann for their support.

The annual Hans BBQ fundraiser was a great success again this year. If you drove along Warwick Road on Sunday you would have seen the community, including the Rotary clubs of Ipswich, supporting this wonderful event to raise funds for Ipswich Hospice.

It was a sell out crowd for Troy Cassar-Daley and Laurel Edwards at the Civic Hall on Friday night. Before the show commenced it was great to give Troy an official Ipswich welcome and to say thanks for coming to our city.

Special birthday wishes and celebrations for Gweneth Mae Stieler and Maude Ford who turned 80 this week. I also paid a surprise visit on the weekend to Lyn and Bernie O’Malley who finally tied the knot after 15 years of courtship.

25 May 2009 - Archived

RAIN and flood waters were the main topics of conversation last week. This most recent rain event was only six months after the November floods and has filled two of the three main dams for the first time in years. The drought is officially over and it has taught us how to live using less water. The community of south east Queensland has adapted well to not wasting water. We should not let these good habits go.

To those in our city and country areas who suffered at the hands of Mother Nature we continue to offer our support. There were many heroic efforts and stories of strangers lending a hand to help with the clean up. The community would be also lost without the men and women in the emergency services and SES volunteers who put others before their own concerns at home.

It is a little over one month before the council budget is handed down on June 30. Ipswich recorded a growth rate of 4.1% in the year to June 30, 2008. We are in a good position to maintain steady and sustainable growth into 2010. Growth will help to protect jobs and create new ones through these difficult economic times. All councillors are very mindful of the need to balance the demands of a growing city and the family budget. There’s no doubt this is the most difficult budget process the city has faced for many years.

Congratulations to the Haggarty family who celebrated 60 years in business last Saturday at their West Ipswich premises. John and Sandra Haggarty took over the business in 1983. I still remember working with John many years ago in the early days of Ipswich Community Aid and YUPI. Thanks for being such great corporate citizens and for supporting many community groups in Ipswich.

18 May 2009 - Archived

HERITAGE week celebrations hit a high note at Woodlands of Marburg on Sunday with the second annual Ipswich Heritage Faire. Congratulations to everyone involved, especially students from Bremer TAFE for helping to organise the event and to Jeff and Ros Cooper for providing such a magnificent venue to celebrate our rich heritage.

Ipswich born author of Over My Dead Body Jim Brigginshaw was back home last week for an author’s talk attended by former coal miners and other guests in the Barry Jones Auditorium. The book tells the story of events around the time of the great flood of 1893 and the formation of the first miners’ union. Over My Dead Body has been described as an Australian epic and well worth a read.

The Million Paws Walk at Limestone Park on the weekend attracted many four legged friends and their owners. This event is growing in popularity each year and helps to promote responsible pet ownership, including microchipping and the regular washing of dogs. Special thanks to the Ipswich Dog Obedience Club and the many volunteers for helping to make the day a success.

This Thursday is the official opening of the next stage of Brentwood Rise estate at Augustine Heights. Thank you to Investa for continuing to back the future development of Ipswich in this rapidly growing corridor between Springfield and Redbank Plains.

There are a couple of milestone birthdays to acknowledge this week. On Saturday Mavis Cunning will celebrate 80 years with family and friends at the Glades Hotel. Last weekend Margaret Hesse had a great afternoon celebrating her 70th birthday with family and close friends.

Congratulations to the organisers of the Legends of League game at North Ipswich on Saturday night. It was also tremendous to witness the Jets vs Redcliffe game as a curtain raiser to the legends game.

11 May 2009 - Archived

BUDGET discussions are now well underway prior to handing down the document on June 30 which will guide the city through 2009/2010 financial year. I want to thank all Ipswich City Council staff for the enormous effort in achieving further efficiencies so we can minimise any impact on families. As mayor and councillors, our job as your elected representatives is to make sure we do all we can do deliver a responsible budget. One thing is certain. We can’t stop growth and improving our city.

The Ipswich Show is over for another year and it can be declared a great success. A spell of fine weather helped boost attendance. Congratulations to Marcia Cruickshank, the committee and the many volunteers on a top show for 2009.

The recent announcement of a further injection of federal money into our local schools is most welcome. Thank you to Shayne Neumann member for Blair and Bernie Ripoll member for Oxley for being great advocates for our city and region.

The 2009 Queensland Heritage Festival was launched in Ipswich last Friday by Her Excellency, the Governor of Queensland Ms Penelope Wensley. As the birthplace of Queensland Rail the Workshops Rail Museum was a fitting location to launch the festival this year.

Country Comfort on South Station Road is offering a new dining experience for the public following the recent revamp of the restaurant and pool area. Last Friday night local councillor Andrew Antoniolli and I officially opened the new “Mediumrare Char Bar & Grill” for Peter Graves and his friendly team.

It was great to drop into the Civic Hall last week for the Kambu Elders morning tea and forum. Elders are hoping this becomes a quarterly event as part of the Elders calendar in the Ipswich region.

4 May 2009 - Archived

ELITE tennis continues in Ipswich this week at the George Alder Tennis Centre for the inaugural men’s US$15,000 and women’s US$25,000 Ipswich Tennis International tournament. The event is a big win for our city. Council with the support of state and federal governments committed $7 million for the full upgrade of the centre which included all playing surfaces and facilities. On behalf of all councillors and residents I want to thank the International Tennis Federation which governs these events for choosing to stage the Ipswich Tennis International. This event will provide a platform for tennis players to begin their journey in the world of professional tennis.

Keidge is a name synonymous with Ipswich since 1936. Last week at the grand opening of the new look Keidge’s Farm Machinery on Warwick Road Yamanto it was an honour to cut the barbed wire, instead of the traditional ribbon. Congratulations to Graham and Julia Keidge on your continued investment and faith is the future of Ipswich.

Ipswich Kart Club has spent close to $350,000 on resurfacing and upgrades to the complex in Champions Way at Willowbank. It is the 50th anniversary of racing at the track. The grand opening of the new look kart track was last Saturday morning. I was even tempted to do a few laps to mark this special occasion for the club.

A panel discussion on RAAF Base Amberley and the important role the base in playing in the development of Ipswich will be held this Wednesday at the Metro Ipswich International Hotel. The army has joined the air force at Amberley and is proof the future of base is about more than flying planes. This event is being organised by the Ipswich branch of the Urban Development Institute of Australia.

The show season is already underway. Marburg held their show over the weekend under mostly sunny skies and this week Ipswich will turn on all the fun for three days from Wednesday. Don’t forget the show holiday is this Thursday.

27 April 2009 - Archived

WITH the daily news reports of a world recession it was extremely pleasing to learn last week the population of Ipswich grew at an astonishing 4.1% in the year to June 2008. The latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics made it clear Ipswich is the fastest growing city in Queensland. The next nearest at 3.9% is Cairns, followed by Moreton Bay, Torres and Fraser Coast councils on 3.4%. It is evident all communities will feel some of pain from the world economic situation, however given the momentum of growth in Ipswich and the western corridor I’m confident we are living in the best place in Australia to ride out the financial storm.

The pressure on formulating the next council budget is weighing heavily on all councillors. Budget meetings are underway and one of the issues is to make sure we can maintain services at their current levels. I don’t know anyone who is ever enthusiastic about paying more for anything and your councillors feel the same, however there have been price rises in the cost of goods and services since last year. Our job is to minimise any increases and to support the Ipswich community as best we can through this period of financial turmoil.

Sid’s Place has been serving the building industry on the Darling Downs since 1950 and is still a family owned business. It was tremendous to officially open the new Ipswich Sid’s Place in Huxham Street Raceview last Friday and to welcome Josh, Ross and the team.

Congratulations to everyone involved in the 2009 Ipswich Festival. We were blessed with a run of fine weather. After the ANZAC Day ceremonies were completed on Saturday the Jazz Wine and Blues event filled d’Arcy Doyle Place from 3pm till late. On Sunday thousands of kids enjoyed the free entertainment of Capral Kids Kingdom to help wrap up the festival.

20 April 2009 - Archived

A STRONG community spirit was evident during the first weekend of the 2009 Ipswich Festival. Congratulations to the many businesses, community groups and individuals who made the annual Bendigo Bank Festival Parade such a great spectacle. Fine weather made the day even better. After the parade the Heritage Building Society street party provided many hours of free entertainment in d’Arcy Doyle Place. As a community we can all be very proud of the Ipswich Festival. This annual event has grown into one of the biggest festivals in Australia. The generous support of the many sponsors also means most of the entertainment during the 10 days and nights is free for everyone to enjoy. On Anzac Day don’t miss the Jazz, Wine and Blues from 3pm till late. Australian legend Renee Geyer will join a talented line-up of performers playing the main stage in d’Arcy Doyle Place. Look for more details on the festival program at ipswichfestival.com.au.

The beginning of the festival also coincided with the annual Tin Top titles at Willowbank Raceway over the weekend. Again the fine weather made for a very successful event at the Ipswich motorsport precinct. Many volunteers and sponsors continue to support the sport of drag racing at one of the finest facilities in Australia.

The Child Safe program is now operational at Riverlink. Parents are encouraged to make use of free wristbands for their young children. Simply write contact details on the band and should your child become lost, it will make it much easier for children to be reunited with Mum and Dad. Full details on the new Child Safe program are available throughout the centre. This is a tremendous initiative based on a successful UK program. Ipswich Child Safe is supported by the Queensland Police Service and Ipswich City Council.

Last Saturday it was great to drop in with local councillor Trevor Nardi to visit Edward and Elizabeth Richardson of Silkstone. On behalf of the city we wished Edward and Elizabeth congratulations on their 60th wedding anniversary.

The sport of boxing has played an important role in the life our city for many decades particularly in the post war years. The old Town Hall, which is now the Ipswich Art Gallery, was a popular venue. The 2009 reunion for Ipswich and District Boxing was held on Sunday at the Ipswich Turf Club where the old timers and the new crop of boxers shared many stories.

13 April 2009 - Archived

TEN days of free family entertainment starts this Wednesday for the 2009 Ipswich Festival. Don’t miss the family favourites including the Bendigo Bank Festival parade Saturday from 3pm. The theme this year is kids characters, cartoons and costumes. This will be followed by the Heritage Building Society street party in d’Arcy Doyle Place. The Energex main stage will rock into the night with sensational entertainment featuring Luella and the Heelers and Women of Soul. On Sunday the multicultural Global Fiesta is proudly sponsored by Ipswich City Council, 4EB and the Department of Communities. There will be six hours of food, dancing and exciting costumes to take you on a trip around the world. Global Fiesta is on from 11am until 5pm Sunday in d’Arcy Doyle Place. There’s plenty more action so check out your festival program which was delivered last week, or logon to ipswichfestival.com.au.

The Legacy Club of Ipswich charity bike ride is on later this month. Allan Norsgaard and Chris Kettle will ride 1021 kilometres from Ipswich to Sydney. Legacy continues to support around 800 widows and dependants of servicemen who paid the ultimate sacrifice for their country. The ride starts from Ipswich RSL on the corner of Downs and Lowry streets on 27 April. Please help Legacy Ipswich, Allan and Chris by making a donation.

Later today supporters and sponsors of Ipswich Awakening look forward to welcoming you to the annual Easter Monday Funday in Queens Park. From 10am to 4pm enjoy free carnival rides, extreme rides, live bands, kids entertainment and a whole lot more in Queens Park. Arrive early for the best picnic spots at one of Ipswich’s most popular annual events.

Ipswich United Services Ladies Bowls Club celebrated their 60th birthday last week. It was great to drop in with local councillor Heather Morrow and meet so many members and guests enjoying the party. Thank you to president Tinie Pearce and club patrons Mabel Turvey and Nellie Weatherhog for the warm welcome.

6 April 2009 - Archived

SCHOOLS in the Ipswich region offer a very diverse range of courses for students from agriculture through to computer, science and language studies. Ipswich State High School has opened what could possibly be a first in Australia by setting up a hair and beauty training salon. This new salon at 19 Ellenborough Street will give students real life hands on experience while still at school. Congratulations to all teachers and students for creating this new and innovative learning space.

It was great to attend Bethany school at Raceview for their student induction last week and I was at Grandchester State School on Thursday to wave off the cross country run. Visiting and talking with students is one of the highlights of being Mayor of Ipswich. The enthusiasm and great ideas from our young people are always impressive and at the same it is reassuring that our future leaders are already getting involved in the life of the Ipswich community.

Marjorie Bostock of Willowbank joined a very special club by turning 100 last Thursday. Marjorie was born in Mount Morgan and she and her late husband became residents of Ipswich in the 1940s. They purchased 11 acres at Ebbw Vale with plenty of room for cows and children. It was tremendous to learn Marjorie still lives at home and loves nothing more than weeding the garden and visiting places of historic value. Local councillor David Pahlke joined me on a visit to wish Marjorie many happy returns on behalf of the city.

Thank you Ipswich! You are doing well in the shoe count for Madonna King’s Shoes 4 Africa drive. So far almost 1500 pairs have been donated at Ipswich library branches. The appeal ends on 15 April, so if you have any shoes in reasonable condition you no longer need your donation at any Ipswich library will help those less fortunate in Africa. There’s more information on the 612ABC radio website.

The Urban Development Institute of Australia held its national conference in Brisbane last week. Delegates from the conference toured Ipswich keen to hear about the number of projects in the western corridor, including the Springfield suburbs and major developments planned and underway in Ipswich Central.

30 March 2009 - Archived

EARTH Hour Saturday night was supported around the world to highlight the need to take action against global warming. Here in Ipswich many families and businesses including Adana Turkish Restaurant in d’Arcy Doyle Place supported the event by turning of lights for one hour at 8.30pm.

Adjoining sites in East and Wharf streets have been given the green light for the development of two new multi level buildings. The seven and 11 storey project will create jobs and bring much needed quality office accommodation to the site of the former Super Cheap Auto. At the rear in Wharf Street an 11 storey residential tower will provide inner city apartments close to transport and shops. I want to thank Peter Sherrie and his team from Excel Development Group for their vision and investment in the city.

Glyn and Myrtle Marsden celebrated 60 years of marriage on Sunday with family and friends at the RSL club. The Marsdens have a long association with Ipswich as Glyn’s father was a local councillor for the city in the 1940’s and a member of parliament.

Last Thursday night the 2009 Discover Ipswich Visitors Guide was launched at the Visitor Information Centre in Queens Park. The centre has also had a welcome upgrade to the main service counter and the former meeting room has been opened up to allow more space for customers. There are new merchandise and brochure stands to make it easier for visitors to find exactly what they are looking for. Ipswich is fortunate to offer a big variety of experiences and already attracts more than one million visitors each year.

Congratulations to the Zonta Club of West Moreton for another successful Arias at Sunset on Saturday night in the beautiful grounds of Booval House. Again this year it was a wonderful night of entertainment with singers from Opera Queensland.

23 March 2009 - Archived

WE can now begin the process of restoring the heart and soul to our city centre with the formal handover last week transferring ownership of Ipswich City Square to Council. It is important to understand that this milestone will not magically fill the empty shops overnight; however we are now in the best position to re-energise the centre. World-wide property management experts Knight Frank has been appointed responsible for shopping centre finances and to immediately start of the process of marketing the centre. The city can also look forward to the completion of the new Riverlink footbridge to link the shopping precincts both sides of the Bremer River. Pedestrians who currently use the road bridge will eagerly adopt the new footbridge when it opens.

Congratulations to Premier Anna Bligh on an historic win on Saturday. We will continue to work in partnership with the Queensland Government on sustainable growth and creating jobs in Ipswich and the western corridor.

Happy birthday to Thomas Lawrence of East Ipswich who clocks up 80 years this week. I know his lovely wife Lorna is planning a big celebration with family and friends. Well done Tom. It was a very special day for Joan Hastie last Friday. For 50 years Joan has been president of the RSL Ipswich Railway sub-branch Women’s Auxiliary. In the true spirit of our city which is big enough to make a difference yet small enough to care, Joan and her dedicated volunteers have guided and supported the RSL for five decades. This is a tremendous achievement and on behalf of the city we say ‘thank you’.

The gala premier screening of the award winning Bollywood movie Om Shanti Om last week at Birch Carol and Coyle Ipswich City cinemas was well received. Special thanks to Des Power, Queensland Events and the Asia Pacific Screen Awards for presenting this Hindi language film in our city. It is the highest grossing Indian film of all time and tells the story of romance, revenge, retribution and reincarnation with plenty of humour.

16 March 2009 - Archived

THE call for a Spotlight store in Ipswich has finally been answered with the grand opening of the new West Ipswich store last Thursday. Congratulations to Zac Fried and his team for backing Ipswich with one of the largest Spotlight stores in Australia. More than 1500 people were waiting for the doors to open and many thousand more visited on opening day. The new Ipswich store has created 45 new jobs and joins more than 100 Spotlight stores in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore, all established since the company first opened its doors in 1973 in Melbourne. Spotlight and a Fantastic Furniture store are the anchor tenants in the new Home HQ development in Brisbane Street.

There are many shaved heads around Ipswich following last week’s World’s Greatest Shave. The shave for a cure has really caught on and it was tremendous to see how many people are willing to either shave or colour their hair to raise money for a worthy cause.

It was my pleasure on the weekend to be able to visit East Ipswich residents David and Joan Hamill to wish them a happy 60th wedding anniversary. The long-time Ipswich residents are the parents of former State Member for Ipswich and Queensland Government Minister David Hamill. Joan and Dave have also been tireless workers in our local community and it was wonderful to be able to share this special milestone with them. I wish them many more years of happiness together.

I would also like to send a special birthday wish to Gol Drover for his 100th birthday on behalf of the council and the community. A big party was held last weekend for Gol which I’m sure he enjoyed. I hope you also got that long awaited telegram from Queen Elizabeth II.

It was another busy weekend in our city with plenty of action in Marburg for the Country Cups Carnival meeting hosted by the Marburg Pacing Association. Congratulations to the committee and sponsors on presenting a great day of harness racing.

Last Saturday night the Ipswich Thistle Pipe Band marked 100 years since the band was established with a special dinner at the Civic Hall. Guest of honour was Her Excellency, the Governor of Queensland, Ms Penelope Wensley. It was a very special occasion deserving of all current and past members of the band. The talents of the band members have been recognised around the world, including Moscow. Members are always there to answer the call for help and are more than willing to assist many city and community events.

Michael Edgley's Great Moscow Circus is in our city offering a night of fantastic entertainment. Look for the big red and white circus tent in Limestone Park near the PCYC. This week is their final week in Ipswich so make sure you don’t miss a wonderful performance all the family will enjoy.

9 March 2009 - Archived

IF your New Year’s resolution included keeping fit the Ipswich Hospital Foundation has a fun program of events to help keep you motivated. Activities now include a new run at Springfield every Thursday at 5.30pm. Each week there is a tremendous range of run, exercise, yoga and walking groups to help lift the level of fitness in our community. Some of the highlights include the Saturday morning park run in Limestone Park every week at 7.00am. There’s a long distance run each Sunday at 6.00am from Fernvale to Lowood and return and a Monday afternoon walking group in Limestone Park starting at 5.30pm.

Business owners and mangers who maintain a positive attitude through the gloomy global financial news are proving that the Ipswich economy is still growing and holding up really well. There was clear evidence of the strength of the local economy at the annual Ipswich Chamber of Commerce Awards held at Woodland’s of Marburg last Friday night. Congratulations to all nominees and category winners including business person of the year Andrew Spark and business of the year Apprenticeships Queensland.

Shave for a Cure for the World's Greatest Shave fundraiser is on this week with Ipswich's biggest public shave at Riverlink on Saturday from 9.00am until noon. Shayne Neumann’s daughter Jacqui is joining the fundraising and shaving her hair at about 9.30am.

The future masterplanned community in Ripley Valley was the focus of a workshop run by the Office of Clean Energy last week. The event attracted nearly 80 people involved with planning Ripley Valley. The Office of Clean Energy offered advice and input to help create an iconic and sustainable development for Ipswich.

Michael Edgley's Great Moscow Circus is now in our city offering a night of fantastic entertainment. Look for the big red and white circus tent in Limestone Park near the PCYC. Make sure you don’t miss this wonderful performance all the family will enjoy.

2 March 2009 - Archived

MICHAEL Edgley's Great Moscow Circus is coming to Ipswich this week. Look for the big red and white circus tent in Limestone Park near the PCYC. By special arrangement with Michael Edgley a special charity performance will take place Wednesday March 4 at the reduced price of only $20 for adults and $10 for children. Tickets are on sale through www.ipswich.qld.gov.au/circus and all proceeds will go to the Mayor's Community Fund. Phone bookings can also be made on 3810 6699.

The new Brassall Bikeway was officially opened last Saturday. This is a tremendous new addition to infrastructure in our city. The project was jointly funded by council and the state government and cost $5.7 million. I want to thank Queensland government minister John Mickel for coming to Ipswich for the official opening. I have no doubt the bikeway linking Brassall and North Ipswich will be very popular with commuters and recreational cyclists.

Attending birthday celebrations for senior Ipswich residents is one of the very pleasurable jobs I have as Mayor. I always hear such wonderful stories of personal achievement and words of great wisdom. Last week Georgina Sheedy celebrated her 104th birthday with family and friends and still lives at home with the support of Meals on Wheels and home help. Eva Schmidt turned 100 on Saturday with daughters Val, Norma, and Bev who organised a very special surprise party with family and friends. Eva is now in the exclusive centenarian club and deserves wholehearted congratulations from the community.

St Paul’s Anglican Church has been part of Ipswich for 150 years. The church was completed in early 1859 when the rector of the day said it was one of the nicest church buildings in New South Wales. The colony of Queensland was established in December that same year. I’m sure Fr Matthews Jones would agree that St Paul’s is an outstanding example of church architecture and one of our city’s most loved heritage buildings.

Another fundraiser for the Victorian Bushfire Appeal is on Sunday March 15 in Lobley Park Churchill from 1pm to 5pm. A great afternoon is being planned by Ipswich Rotary Club featuring entertainment from Neil Duddy. There will also be a sausage sizzle, kid’s rides and raffles.

23 February 2009 - Archived

TIM Costello made a big impact during his visit to Ipswich last week. The CEO of World Vision spoke at a special breakfast held at the Metro Hotel Ipswich International on Friday. More than 170 people attended the event hosted by Ipswich Region Community Church and Ipswich City Council. I want to especially thank Pastor Mark Edwards for bringing the idea forward and to the many schools, churches and community groups who came along to hear an inspirational and entertaining talk from Tim. My take away message from the day has to be simply that we really do live in the lucky country and have nothing to complain about. It was great to see schools represented including Bundamba State Secondary College, Ipswich State High School, Girls Grammar, West Moreton Anglican College and St Edmund’s.

The new Riverlink footbridge is now being fabricated at Casa Engineering in Carole Park. You can view a short interview about the project recorded recently on the factory floor with Peter Casa. Just logon to www.ipswich.qld.gov.au/media and click on video gallery.

The fires and floods continue to tear at our hearts. Last Wednesday St Paul’s Anglican Church hosted a combined church service to honour those who lost their lives in the fires. I know there have been many collections taken up in the workplace and retail stores. At Ipswich City Council a group of staff in the computer support area held a morning tea and raised $1,721 for the Victorian bushfire appeal. Well done team and I hear the morning tea food was also purchased from Coles on their bushfire donation trading day.

One of the many stores raising money for the appeal is Just Lush Make Up and Beauty in Brisbane St. Sharron and the team have a jelly bean competition. A very large jar of jelly beans in on the counter. The cost is $1 per guess and if your guess is correct the prize is the jar of jelly beans and Just Lush gift certificate and beauty gift basket.

16 February 2009 - Archived

Not since Cyclone Tracy hit Darwin on Christmas Eve 1974 have Australians been so united following a natural disaster. Everywhere I go the emotion and sense of loss for our neighbours in Victoria has become stronger as each day passes. The extraordinary outpouring of support in many forms has surprised the most hardened cynics. The astounding amount of cash being donated to the Red Cross appeal is a reflection of the grief being felt across the nation. Everyone it seems is trying to help. On Saturday morning it made me very proud to be Mayor of Ipswich as I waved goodbye a convoy of trucks carrying much needed supplies for starving horses and dogs in the worst hit areas of the bushfires. Special thanks must go to Toby Barton from Thagoona, his colleagues and a host of supporters who are now in Victoria with bales of hay, dog food, equestrian supplies, tractors and many other items to assist families keep their animals alive. Thanks must also go to the corporate sponsors including FM Homes and Rentco Trucks who so readily gave money, trucks and other donations to make the support mission possible.

The “000” Gala Ball was held on Saturday night at the Civic Hall. The night pays tribute to our emergency service personnel and health care professionals in Ipswich. This ball this year was more special than usual given the crisis on Victoria. All those who work in emergency services deserve special thanks from the community for their tremendous dedication to helping others at all hours of the day and night.

Happy 80th birthday to Del Carsburg of Booval. It was wonderful on Sunday to call in with daughter Dianne and wish Del many happy returns on behalf of the city.

Also on Sunday it was an honour to be invited on to the tarmac at Brisbane airport as part of the official welcome home group to meet the soldiers, sailors, airmen and women who have returned home from overseas. In Ipswich we are very proud of our military, especially the men and women based at Amberley.

9 February 2009 - Archived

SCHOOL has resumed and this week St Edmund’s conducts the induction of their senior and junior leaders and senior class for 2009. The school has always urged students, staff, parents and supporters to achieve their personal best. This year St Edmund’s is adopting a play big approach to everything they do. Play big is all about presence, preparation and performance. It makes me very proud to be Mayor of Ipswich, especially when given the opportunity to present our future leaders with recognition of their final year at school.

Movies in the Park are back again after the holiday break. Last Saturday it was a great night at Jack Barkley Park in North Booval. This Saturday Sutton Park Brassall will be the venue for the screening of Enchanted. Don’t forget to arrive early and join in the physical fun with the Ipswich Hospital Foundation’s Fit Flicks team.

The Community Jobs Plan (CJP) graduation ceremony was held last Friday to acknowledge all participants and to thank the state government for their partnership and funding for the program. This CJP project at Briggs Road provided jobs for long-term unemployed people. Ipswich City Council arranged the work which was part of the recent upgrades to the complex.

Ipswich is more than the traditional heart of our city. Our country townships are often a hidden treasure for visitors. The residents of Marburg have made us all very proud with the win last year as Queensland Friendliest Town in the Tidy Towns Awards. It was great to join local councillor David Pahlke and members and friends of Marburg and District Residents Association for a special celebration BBQ last Saturday at Marburg Community Park.

It’s the first birthday of Oaks Apsire apartments this week. We waited a long time for inner city residential accommodation in a quality high rise building. Congratulations to everyone involved in backing and building Apsire.

2 February 2009 - Archived

THE heart and soul of any community is often reflected in the generosity of members of service clubs like Rotary, Lions and Apex. There are many others who also work tirelessly and contribute to our feeling of well-being. Officials from the Lioness Club of Redbank-Goodna visited my office last week to present a cheque for $3,000 on behalf of the Lioness Club of Dromana in Victoria. Redbank-Goodna club treasurer Pat Oliver, secretary Margaret McClure and president Daphne Jeffries told me the Victorian club was so moved by the November floods that they wished to make a donation to the city’s charity fund.

Major commercial construction projects which began last year are taking shape in Ipswich. Home HQ in Brisbane Street West Ipswich with anchor retailer Spotlight and is getting close to completion. The $30 million Tower Central project incorporating the heritage listed Ipswich Post Office is really starting to take shape and will be a tremendous boost to the availability of quality office and retail space in the historic centre of our city.

Channel 7 held a special function last week to mark 50 years of TV in Queensland. Those who remember the early days of BTQ-7 will also remember names like Brian Cahill, Jill and Beanpole, and Boris the Black Knight. Channel 7 commenced transmission on 1 November 1959.

The new kiosk and environmental education centre in Queens Park will also be completed in a few weeks. Being built at a cost of $2.8 million this new facility will provide a dedicated centre to inform the public about the flora and fauna of the region. This centre is a partnership between council and the state government with funding provided as part of the celebrations for Queensland's 150th birthday.

Winter sports have kicked off a new sign on season. Ipswich Knights Soccer Club has two sign days at the Bundamba clubhouse between 9am and 1pm on 7 and 15 February. Log on to ipswichknights.org.au for more information.

26 January 2009 - Archived

TODAY we celebrate what is great about Australia. We join together as a nation to look forward to the future while at the same time respecting our past. This national day means different things to different people. Many in the wider community share mixed emotions with Indigenous Australians and respect the efforts of organisers of events on Australia Day to acknowledge the very first Australians.

Australian citizenship symbolises our coming together as one proud country. This afternoon we welcome 80 new Australians at the Ipswich ceremony. All new citizens make a Pledge of Commitment to Australia and the rights and privileges we all share.

The annual Ipswich Australia Day Awards takes place tonight from 7.30pm at the Civic Hall and includes naming the citizen of the year. There will be awards presented in eight categories - Citizen and Young Citizen of the Year, Junior and Senior Cultural Award, Junior and Senior Sport Award, Sports Coach/Administrator Award and Community Event of the Year.

Bundamba Swim Centre is the place to be cool today for the annual family fun day. There’s free admission between 10am and 4pm with plenty of fun, swimming and water games. Ipswich City Rotary will fire up the BBQ for a sausage sizzle.

Chinese New Year 2009 celebrates the year of the Ox. There are many celebrations planned at venues across the city. Peter Wong and his team the Hong Kong Cuisine look forward to this celebration every year. According to the Chinese zodiac those born in Ox years are placid, patient and have a great physical stamina. Famous ‘Ox’ Australians include Dawn Fraser, John Farnham, Magda Szubanski and Cathy Freeman.

19 January 2009 - Archived

SCHOOL holiday activities continue to attract good crowds, including the amazing Disco Puppy: Staying Alive at the Ipswich Art Gallery. This innovative exhibition allows kids to learn and create their own dance party and to interact with three animated puppy characters. Over the Workshops Rail Museum the kids can meet Thomas the Tank Engine, the Fat Controller and their friends. The Kids in the City program will also offer Movie Mania this Thursday at 10.30am in the Barry Jones Auditorium at the Ipswich Library.

Local optometrist Franz Felfer has completed 30 years service to the Ipswich community. Franz started operating from Dr Steele’s rooms in 1978 in the old shops on the site of the current Brassall Shopping Centre. By 1982 he had moved to Booval where he remained until 2004. Since then Franz has been at Yamanto.

Keidge’s Machinery has also been around a long time serving the Ipswich region. Graham Keidge and the team are very excited to finally have work well underway on a new complex in Warwick Road. The new facility should be open for business in April.

The Metro Hotel Ipswich International held their first open day on Saturday. Congratulations to the new general manager Alex Van Kersen on opening the doors of the International which offered a chance for local residents to check out the tremendous hotel, restaurant and conference facilities located in Ipswich Central.

Committee meetings resume this week with all signs pointing to another busy year ahead. I’ve been talking with many people during the holiday break about the current state of business confidence in Ipswich. There’s no doubt some have slowed, however there is a great deal of optimism from many different retailers. Ipswich is fortunate to have a significantly diverse economic base to help cushion us from the worst the world can throw our way.

12 January 2009 - Archived

IT was wonderful to join with the family and friends of Alfred Jessup to celebrate his 100th birthday last weekend. Alfred was a teacher all his working life and retired at the age of 65 in 1974 after starting his career as a student teacher at the age of 14. Teaching took him all over the state in smaller one and two teacher schools later graduating to larger schools. He spent a good deal of his working life at East Ipswich and West Ipswich schools from the later part of the 1950’s. At the time the family lived at One Mile. On behalf of the city we wish Alfred the very best of birthday wishes on reaching his centenary.

Ipswich Rangers Rugby Union launched their Rugby Academy earlier this week at Ipswich Grammar School and announced the members of the various squads for 2009. President Damian Roche with the support of the committee and coaching staff has put together an excellent program for the four squads of players up to the age of 17. Many stars of Rugby played for Ipswich in their junior years, including current Wallaby and Queensland Reds player Berrick Barnes.

Fast food chain McDonald’s will hand over a very generous gift to the city this year. The former Baptist Church at the top of town will be restored and given to the city for community use. I believe this to be a first in Australia and it highlights how working together with community and business we can get an exceptional result such as this. I want to thank McDonald’s and their regional manager Andrew Gregory for this outstanding contribution to the on-going preservation of our heritage and for bringing life back into the former church precinct. The new restaurant will be built on the vacant land closer to Limestone Street, with car access from both frontages. The exit will be on to Limestone Street. It is expected construction will get underway by April.

5 January 2009 - Archived

THOUSANDS of Ipswich residents supported the city celebrations to welcome the New Year at Timothy Molony Park, opposite St Mary’s Church. On the first attempt 12 months ago we were washed out by rain, but this year a fine and warm evening enabled the show to go on. Everyone involved in staging this very successful event deserve our thanks. The backing of Ipswich City Council and many sponsors has given the city the first of what will become an annual event for all the family to enjoy. The movies, two fireworks shows, and the entertainment made for a tremendous night under the stars.

The year also got off to a loud start over the weekend at Willowbank Raceway for the Enzed International Nightfire New Year Series. USA Nitro Funny Car legend Gary Densham was given a very warm welcome by the fans. Once again Willowbank Raceway has put our city on the sporting map with the support of hundreds of volunteers and sponsors.

As we get back in gear for 2009 we can look forward to several major infrastructure projects being completed in Ipswich and the western corridor. Among them is the $366 million Centenary Highway extension linking Springfield Central with Yamanto. On track to open to traffic in June, this state government funded highway will provide Springfield residents with easy access to key areas of Ipswich including Ipswich Central with its fantastic shopping options. Cultural destinations like the Ipswich Art Gallery and Civic Hall will also be within easy reach. There are also many parks to enjoy including the iconic Queens Park with Nerima Gardens and the Ipswich Nature Centre. It won’t all be one way traffic with the new road opening up a quick and easy drive to Springfield from the central, western suburbs and nearby townships within our city boundary.

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 is to provide public safety surveillance and to work in partnership with the Police, business owners and the community in reducing and preventing crime. The network of cameras have again proved their worth in supporting Police in removing a rowdy group of young people who were clearly flouting the law in the Mall. I want to thank Ipswich Police again for providing valuable manpower and resources. New cameras in West Ipswich were activated last month, and later this month a further 22 cameras will join the network in North Ipswich. .

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. .

Last week the local media were briefed by Leda executive chairman Bob Ell on the design and engineering progress of the Riverlink footbridge that will be built next to the existing rail bridge. Safety is the number one concern and it has taken until recently for Queensland Rail and Leda to determine the engineering details of the more than a century old sandstone abutments. Revised plans are now being considered by council. The end result will be a five metre wide covered footbridge that will be constructed to the highest possible safety standards. .

The first round of committee meetings for 2008 start today and signal another busy year ahead. I know that all councillors and staff have set a cracking pace since the start of the year. There are some major decisions on the horizon and I am looking forward to the year with a number of key developments nearing completion and others about to commence construction.

14 January 2008 - Archived

CUSTOMER service is a vital part of any business or organisation. The staff at Ipswich City Council call centre are usually the first point of contact for many callers to council. Last year call centre staff answered more than 200,000 calls. This was a significant increase on the previous year and indicates how busy we are as a city. The wave of development and the number of new residents will continue to keep the calls coming. For everything from ordering a new wheelie bin to lost pets and planning inquiries, our call centre staff are trained to assist residents with a minimum of delay.

Habitat for Humanity is a not-for-profit housing organisation which builds simple affordable houses in partnership with low income families. To date more than 200,000 houses have been built in 200 countries. A couple of weeks ago the first Habitat House in Ipswich welcomed new residents. This first house for our city was built with tremendous support from organisations like Ipswich North Rotary Club and Glebe Road Uniting Church. To continue the work of Habitat for Humanity in the Ipswich area a local committee needs to be established. A public meeting will be held on Monday 18 February at 7.30pm in the Humanities Building South Street. For more information on Habitat for Humanity logon to www.habitat.org.au

School holidays inevitably brings some degree of boredom for our young people. Unfortunately this can lead to an increase in graffiti in public areas. I encourage you to report any graffiti so council officers can clean it up quickly. As a community we need to maintain a zero tolerance towards graffiti vandalism.

Mayor of the Gold Coast Ron Clarke apologised last week for his “leftover” label to describe people moving to Ipswich. Thank you Ron, your apology is accepted. Thank you also to the many hundreds of people in all areas of south east Queensland who called or sent emails of support.

John Williams has scored a personal goal before the start of the AFL season after being drafted by Essendon just before Christmas. He said he was really surprised to get the call but is now eager to move interstate and take the step up to AFL level. John is the son of local business identity and good friend of Ipswich Stephen Williams and we wish him every success in 2008.

7 January 2008 - Archived

THE new year brings us to another exciting chapter in the journey of Ipswich. Last year we witnessed a tremendous effort on the part of all levels of government, community groups, businesses, and individuals working together to make our city an even better place to live work and play. Our home is our castle and we are gaining the respect we deserve for playing our part in the future growth of south east Queensland. Ipswich scored a winning double in 2007 – the LivCom Award for most liveable mid-size city in the world and the Tourism Queensland friendliest town award for the south east region.

We’re getting the runs on the board with master planned communities, education, economic development, sustainable industries, new retail centres, lifestyle and tourism. Last year we witnessed record numbers of visitors to the Ipswich Art Gallery, Queens Park, and the Workshops Rail Museum. The motorsport precinct also continues to set records for the number of annual visitors and high profile events.

As we look forward to the challenges of 2008 we must capitalise on the good planning that is now in place for the entire city. It is critical for the future of Ipswich Central that we maintain our focus with the Ipswich Centre Strategy and then deliver standout results with the “wow” factor.

It is more important to do what is in the best interests of the city and its people, rather than short term fixes in order to get re-elected. One of the most exciting rewards for me is to hear our young people saying how proud they are to live in Ipswich. Be proud of your city and your city will grow and reach its full potential.

31 December 2007 - Archived

AS 2007 draws to a close it is important to stop and reflect on our achievements, both collectively and individually. There’s no doubting that the city has come a long way from those humble beginnings with a few shacks on the banks of the Bremer River. Through the journey we’ve had our ups and downs but with all the changes over the decades we can proudly say that we have continued to punch above our weight. Our community spirit is proud and strong. This was graphically illustrated at the United Nations backed LivCom Awards held in London on November 25. Ipswich was chosen from a field of nine short-listed cities from around the world with populations between 75,001 and 200,000 as part of the 2007 LivCom Awards for Liveable Communities. Ipswich was selected ahead of cities such as Norwich in England, Oshawa in Canada and Portsmouth in Virginia, USA. This award also recognises that as a city we have embraced the future, yet respect our past. There’s still plenty of work to do, including the Ipswich Centre Strategy for Ipswich Central. We cannot sit back and rest. 2008 will be another tremendously exiting year. Everyone I talk to agrees that Ipswich has a bright future and together we can be the star that shines brightly in the centre of south east Queensland.

Tonight, weather permitting, Ipswich will celebrate New Year’s Eve with free movies and fireworks in Timothy Molony Park, opposite St Mary’s. This is a free celebration for all the family presented by Ipswich City Council in partnership with the Queensland Times, River 94.9, Channel 9 and the support of generous sponsors. There have been many requests in recent years for an Ipswich event to welcome in the new year, so tonight we will party. There will be two movies – Arthur and the Invisibles at 7.10pm and Fantastic 4 – Rise of the Silver Surfer at 10pm. Two lots of fireworks are programmed for 9pm and midnight. Listen to River 94.9 for the latest details on the weather. Hopefully we can all enjoy a great night at this alcohol free event.

Talking of movies, don’t forget the free citywide Movies in the Park event in Queens Park on Saturday February 16. Starting at 6.30pm, you can enjoy a fun pre-movie exercise program with the Ipswich Hospital Foundation followed by a screening of “Music and Lyrics”. More details are available via the Council website www.ipswich.qld.gov.au

24 December 2007 - Archived

THE role of Mayor has changed many times over the years. Above all it is important to provide strong leadership and to work in partnership with all local Councillors and residents. Ipswich is on the verge of the biggest growth phase in the history of the city. We need to attract new sustainable industries to create more jobs close to where people live. The role of Mayor in this new century must also act to raise the profile of Ipswich on the global stage in order to attract interest from major overseas investors. All this must always be balanced by looking after our own backyard and residents who are the heart and soul of our vibrant city.

Thank you to all owners, trainers and jockeys for their understanding and patience during the staging of the second Mayor’s Carols by Candlelight at the Ipswich Turf Club. It was a tremendous evening that attracted a record crowd in excess of 7,000. I would also like to remind motorists who use T L Cooney Avenue and surrounding streets at any time of the year to always be on the lookout for horses and slow down when passing. It is easy for a horse to be startled and cause themselves or the rider an injury.

Glebe Road Uniting Church Carols in Cameron Park on Saturday night was enjoyed by many local residents and visitors. This was one of the hundreds of local carol events held during December and all of them highlighted the wonderful sense of community spirit we have in our city. It is this warm feeling of well-being that is attracting more new residents to become part of the Ipswich family.

The annual Ipswich Christmas Lights have been judged and the winners were announced on Saturday at a ceremony held in the Barry Jones Auditorium. Congratulations to everyone who entered and added to the great feeling of Christmas in all suburbs and rural areas of the city.

Christmas is a very special time of year, especially for children. I hope that you and your family enjoy the Christmas season. Thank you for your support and I look forward to another exciting year in 2008.

17 December 2007 - Archived

10 December 2007 - Archived

VOLUNTEERS are the unsung heroes in our community. Last week local volunteers were recognised for their valuable contribution to the well-being of Ipswich at the International Day for Volunteers breakfast in the Mall. The celebration was organised by Ipswich City Council and the Ipswich Volunteer Agencies Network. Volunteers come from all walks of life and we are blessed that so many people put their hand up to happily become volunteers. There are thousands of people who donate their time for charities, schools, sporting clubs, community support organisations, hospitals and aged care. Thank you to each and every volunteer for making a positive difference every day. .

Grade 4C at Central State School had a fun afternoon last week when I dropped in to say Merry Christmas. Thank you to Isaac for inviting me to meet the rest of the class and for allowing me to take part in some of the afternoon lessons. Congratulations to the Socceroos team who won the quiz with a little mayoral help. Well done kids! .

Merv Neumann is well known to residents of Leichhardt and One Mile for his tireless work in the local community. On Saturday morning the Merv Neumann Family Park was officially named to recognise Merv and his family for their generosity, support and involvement in the making the area a better place to live. It was a fitting tribute that the park and nearby Neumann Place has been named in their honour. .

Last Thursday night the annual Santa’s Lantern Parade was another success through the streets of Ipswich Central. The turning on of the Christmas lights and the Star is Born competition at the Rotunda in the Mall also attracted a big crowd. Remember that a visit Santa’s Wonderland is free and again this year you will find this attraction located under the cinemas in Ipswich Mall. .

Keep the Christmas spirit alive this Saturday 15 December. Don’t forget to take the family to the annual Mayor’s Carols by Candlelight, at the Ipswich Turf Club. Special guest stars Christine Anu and Marina Prior will headline a great night of free family entertainment. The Boogie Woogies will also make a special appearance for the kids, along with free rides, Santa and a giant fireworks display.

3 December 2007 - Archived

THE city received a tremendous boost last week with recognition at the International Awards for Liveable Communities held in London. Ipswich scored gold and first place from 1,500 other cities with populations between 75,001 and 200,000. This international award is strong acknowledgment of years of hard work by many people who have contributed a great deal to improving our city. This has been backed up by record levels of investment in Ipswich, including the healthy real estate market. Our focus on the future with masterplanned communities, cultural and civic services were also valuable contributors to winning the award. Deputy Mayor Victor Attwood was in London to collect the trophy. Cr Attwood also made a presentation to delegates from around the world and faced questions from the judges as part of the final round of judging. Thank you Victor for representing the city on the world stage.

Chat Time at Springfield Lakes on Saturday was well attended with many residents stopping to offer feedback on how we are doing as a city. Thank you also to councillors Paul Tully, David Morrison and Sheila Ireland. Over the last four years all chat time sessions have enabled the local community to provide many great ideas and feedback to local councillors. These ideas have contributed to our liveability.

Christmas in the Park in Brassall was another success last Friday. It was a great event supported by local councillor Cheryl Bromage, sponsors and a team of volunteers who come together each year to bring the spirit of the season to Sutton Park.

This Thursday night don’t miss the annual Santa’s Lantern Parade through the streets of Ipswich Central. The night will also feature the turning on of the Christmas lights and the Star is Born competition at the Rotunda in the Mall. Santa’s Wonderland is also open again for the festive season under the cinemas in Ipswich Mall.

Keeping in the Christmas spirit don’t forget to take the family to the annual Mayor’s Carols by Candlelight, Saturday 15 December at the Ipswich Turf Club. Special guest stars are Christine Anu and Marina Prior who will headline a great night of free family entertainment. The Boogie Woogies will also make a special appearance for the kids, along with free rides, and Santa!

26 November 2007 - Archived

THERE are few who can spin a yarn like the Irish, with a treasure of myths and legends to boast and a history steeped in tradition and mystery. Ireland is a goldmine for storytellers. In Ipswich the Watkins Academy of Irish Dance discovered some of these gems and through the magic of Irish dance and song presented a live performance featuring more than 60 dancers, singers and performers over the weekend at the Civic Hall. Congratulations on a marvellous program.

Santa’s Wonderland is open again for the festive season under the cinemas in Ipswich Mall. The kids will love it and mums and dads will love the free admission. Don’t forget Ipswich Central is the place to be on Thursday night (December 6) for Santa’s Lantern parade, the turning on of the Christmas lights and the Star is Born competition at the Rotunda in the Mall.

The annual Bocce tournament with students at Brassall State School played last week was a whitewash. Once again students were too good for myself and local councillor Cheryl Bromage. Thanks for the game kids. We’ll have to put in more training before next year!

Nominations for Ipswich City Council’s annual Australia Day Awards are still being accepted until this Friday (November 30). There are many worthy candidates in our community, in particular in the youth and junior sport categories. We all know someone who deserves to be recognised for their achievements so why not nominate them this week.

Year 7 students from Ipswich West State School attended the November Council meeting last week. It was tremendous to welcome our young people to the chamber and to take part in the question and answer session after the meeting.

Bundaleer Lodge residents celebrated their last country theatre restaurant before Christmas last week. As always it great to be with visit our seniors and have fun.

17 November 2007 - Archived

KMART stores celebrate 20 years of the Christmas Wishing Tree in all stores in 2007. Last year Ipswich was among the most giving of all cities and towns in Australia. The appeal has distributed more than 3.75 million gifts over the past 19 years. As an alternative to donating a gift, cash contributions can be made at any Kmart store register. One hundred per cent of cash contributions are converted by Kmart into Kmart gift cards, which are then distributed to people in need by the associated welfare groups, allowing appeal recipients to choose their own Christmas gift. The Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal is heavily relied upon by welfare groups to service those families in need at Christmas.

This is a great time of year to be in the garden. On the weekend Glebe Garden Club celebrated the first anniversary of the refurbishment of the Glass House. This historic building is a tremendous asset to the city and has pride of place in Queens Park. Whitehill Garden Club were also celebrating on the weekend – their annual Christmas concert was full of good cheer.

Another big crowd enjoyed the annual Brothers Rodeo on Saturday night. As always it was a great night of rodeo action for all the family. Congratulations to Mark Hennelly and the team at Brothers for presenting another great attraction for visitors and residents to enjoy.

Thank you to the many people who attended the most recent Ipswich City update at the Civic Hall, Those attending heard of the $7.9 million committed by council and the state government over the next three years to deliver a 12-point revitalisation plan. The Ipswich Regional Centre Strategy is an integral part of the current work of the Ipswich City Centre Task Force. The important role of the task force in shaping the future of Ipswich Central as a principal regional centre has been given added importance with Deputy Premier and Minister for Infrastructure and Planning Paul Lucas joining me as the co-chairperson. Representing Paul Lucas at a meeting last week it was great to welcome parliamentary secretary to the minister Stirling Hinchliffe to Ipswich.

The army of volunteers that keep our city’s sporting clubs alive and well can stand tall and proud of their achievements. It is also important to recognise the work of those volunteers who put in the hard yards many years ago and we salute their efforts. There are many examples in our midst of sporting clubs that were established several decades ago by hard working volunteers and enthusiasts. All of them keen to make a difference for the community. These volunteers give our city a real heart and soul and a sense of belonging to a community that cares for each other.

12 November 2007 - Archived

ST EDMUND’S College can trace its inception back to 1892 and since that time the school has grown to become one of Queensland leading colleges for boys from years 8 to 12. Originally known at St Mary’s Christian Brothers College, the name St Edmund’s was adopted in the mid 1960’s. St Eddy’s is my old school and it was a great honour and privilege to accept the “St Edmund’s Old Boys Medal” last week. This reminded me of the importance of maintaining respect for your school and your community.

Remembrance Day on Sunday allowed Australians to remember those who have died in war. In 1918 the armistice that ended World War I came into force and brought to an end four years of hostilities that saw 61,919 Australians die at sea, in the air, and on foreign soil. Few Australian families were left untouched by the events of World War I - 'the war to end all wars'. At 11am on every November 11 we must never forget the sacrifice of those men and women who died or suffered in wars and conflicts and all those who have served during the past 100 years.

Brothers Leagues Club members had something special to celebrate on the weekend with the official completion of the recent extensions and renovations. It was a great day, and in recognition of the origins of the club Brother Ted Magee performed the opening and I was proud to join with Brother Ted for the proceedings.

A very special birthday celebration was held in Rosewood on the weekend for Maisie Ham who celebrated her 90th birthday with family and friends. Maisie was born in Rosewood and has lived in the district all her life. It was tremendous to call in with local councillor David Pahlke to offer best wishes on behalf of the city.

Ipswich City Council presents Movies in the Park in Limestone Park this Saturday with the free screening of Eight Below. Don’t forget to arrive by 6.30pm and enjoy some exercises with the Ipswich Hospital Foundation’s fit flicks program before the movie.

Our local SES volunteers are to be commended on their community spirit and for their dedication in times when we need help. This is SES week and the national theme for 2007 is “ordinary people doing extraordinary things”. Ipswich SES local headquarters is located in Thorn Street. New volunteers are always welcome and encouraged. If you would like more information give SES coordinator Arie van den Ende a call during office hours on 3810 7839.

5 November 2007 - Archived

GRIDIRON or American football is a sport that has a solid supporter base in Ipswich with our team the Cougars proudly representing Ipswich. The Cougars are based at Jim Finimore Sportsground next to the One Mile Bridge. At round one of the playoffs on Saturday I joined the captains of the Cougars and the visiting team for the toss of the coin as the 2007 season draws to a close. The grand final Sunbowl XXIII will be played on November 17 at the Gold Coast.

Bremer TAFE staff and students are to be congratulated on their Power Play dinner held last Friday night. This annual dinner brought together the young business leaders of tomorrow, local business men and women, as well as current students of Bremer TAFE. This event has grown quickly to become one of the premier events on the TAFE calendar. This year guests were also treated to a train ride from the turf club to Swanbank courtesy of the Queensland Pioneer Steam Railway.

Norma Flannery celebrated her 80th birthday on the weekend. Congratulations to Norma on reaching a wonderful personal milestone.

Just Rock Ipswich is a non-profit social club that facilitates both rock 'n' roll dancing and a classic car club. Currently the club has around 200 members and welcomes new members. There’s more information at the Just Rock web site www.jri.com.au. Members held one of their regular dinner dances on Saturday night.

This is the sixth year Ipswich Region Community Church has held a special day of honour for our emergency services personnel, the RSPCA, political and business leaders. The church offered thanks for the tireless work for the community of Ipswich and surrounding areas.

Movies in the Park continues to be a big hit with residents. This Saturday night the big screen moves to Sir Llew Edwards Park at Flinders View. Screening this week will be Stick It. Don’t forget to bring a blanket or a chair and arrive early by 6.30pm and take part in the Ipswich Hospital Foundation’s fit flicks exercise program before the movie.

The Rural Fire Brigade does a fantastic job in times of emergency by assisting residents in our rural areas. On Saturday I joined division ten councillor David Pahlke to present a cheque to the Ipswich Group Rural Fire Brigade at Mutdapilly for the installation of the first of six tanks. A special thanks goes to all “firies” for their tremendous dedication to preventing loss of life and property.

29 October 2007 - Archived

TENNIS in Ipswich will be played at the highest levels when upgrades are completed to the George Alder Tennis Centre at Leichhardt. Last week both major parties promised additional funding with Wayne Swan offering $575,000 if Labor is elected to govern on November 24. Coincidentally, the coalition sports minister Senator George Brandis also offered the same amount. The new clay playing surface will offer players the incentive to improve their game and should also act as an incentive for more people to take up the game. Ipswich’s reputation for producing sporting champions should also include tennis. Council and the state government have already committed significant dollars to stage one of the upgrade.

There are many people passionate about our city. Paul Geddes has taken that passion to print with a magnificent new book of photographs titled “Icons of Ipswich”. This is a tremendous collection of photos taken by Paul over many years, including a large number taken in the past 12 months. The official launch of the book was held at the Ipswich Art Gallery last week and copies are available for purchase from either the Art Gallery or the Visitor Information Centre.

Movies in the Park this week moves to Henry Lawson Park at Walloon for the screening of Cars on Saturday night. Arrive early from 6.15pm and take part in the fit flicks exercise program with the Ipswich Hospital Foundation. Admission is free for all the family.

A very special birthday last week. Vi Vichie celebrated 97 years. It was great to drop in and wish Vi all the very best on her special day.

Last week Council sponsored in partnership with St Andrews and Ipswich General hospitals and Friendly Care pharmacy the inaugural Baby Toddler and Child Expo including the Welcoming Babies Ceremony. There was an excellent response from the community to the strong line-up of guest speakers that supported the theme for the day of celebrating and strengthening families. It was just wonderful to see Civic Hall full of babies and their Mums and Dads, the youngest baby being just six days old! Congratulations to everyone involved and I’m sure this has the potential to become an annual event.

Ipswich Central welcomed another new business last week. It was great to officially open the local office of Three Plus which offers full marketing and communications services to business. The new office is located in South Street. In our eastern suburbs, Sciacca Lawyers have opened a branch office at Springfield Lakes in the World Knowledge Centre in Sinnathamby Boulevard. It is tremendous to witness the surge in activity at Springfield Lakes and to welcome the Hon Con Sciacca AO who is also a good friend of Ipswich.

Booval Rotary have held their annual Vocation Awards at the Miner’s Right training restaurant at Bremer TAFE. The night recognised two students currently attending Bremer TAFE. I am always keen to encourage students to excel in their chosen field and as our city grows there will be increasing opportunities to secure jobs in hospitality.

Marburg and District Residents Association can be justifiably proud of the Black Snake Creek Festival Art Awards as part of the annual Black Snake Creek Festival. The awards and festival highlight the need for caring for the environment and in particular the revegetation of the creek banks and surrounding area. The local community and organising committee are to be congratulated on the annual awards and festival held on Friday and Saturday.

22 October 2007 - Archived

Ipswich’s reputation as a centre of excellence in education results in many international delegations visiting the city each year. Last week 50 students and teachers from Suiryo International Girls’ College from Yokohama in Japan were officially welcomed to the city by deputy mayor Cr Victor Attwood. The enthusiasm of these young students is to be admired and applauded.

The Ipswich Youth Advisory Council is helping with a tremendous range of ideas and proposals for council to consider. Like our overseas visitors, the youth advisory council is made up of young people who are keen to make a positive difference to their city. As a community we should give them a great deal of support and encourage more young people to get involved with civic events. A special congratulations must go to the organising committee on the official launch of the Youth Advisor Council last Friday night at the Ipswich Art Gallery and to Brayden and Anthony for encouraging me to sing The Gambler!

Ipswich Girls’ Grammar and Ipswich Grammar schools have formed a unique partnership. The two schools have established a printing facility with Fuji-Xerox that will serve the needs of both schools. This in turn will offer savings that can be directed at more on the ground educational programs for the benefit of students.

Thank you to everyone who dropped by at Chat Time in Marburg on Saturday. As always it was great to hear so many positive ideas and suggestions from local residents. I know that local councillor David Pahlke was also pleased with the attendance and feedback.

Noted broadcaster and former rugby coach Alan Jones was the keynote speaker at the October Ipswich Chamber of Commerce function held at the Ipswich International Hotel. Alan delivered a powerful address covering a number of current issues facing the nation including water. He also left the audience with his tips for the Melbourne Cup. Congratulations must go to Chamber president Martin Corkery and the board for continuing to bring such a diverse range of guest speakers to Ipswich audiences.

Last Tuesday I attended the annual State of the State 2007 address by Premier Anna Bligh. This was the new premier’s first State of the State, an event organised by the Committee for Economic Development. It was also an opportunity to offer a vote of thanks in front of a record attendance for this event, and to again remind all those present that the new Ipswich is moving forward, embracing change, and that we are a city ready to play our role in the sustainable development of south east Queensland.

15 October 2007 - Archived

LAST week at the Showcase Awards for Excellence in Education, the Primary Arts Network of Ipswich coordinated by Lee Fullarton, was named winner in the category of Excellence in Educational Leadership for its professional development of teachers within The Arts. This dedicated group of teachers includes Cheryl Charlton from Karalee State School, Heather Stubbs from Brassall State School, Lee Gerchow from Mt Marrow State School, Susanne Kelly from Fernvale State School and Gail Evans from Kruger State School, Congratulations team on your submission “1+1 to 3+6 and Beyond”, which also highlighted the wonderful collaboration that exists between Ipswich City Council, Ipswich Art Gallery and schools in the region.

Ipswich City Council is meeting in the suburbs this Wednesday night at Bundamba Secondary College starting at 7pm. Please come along from 5pm and meet informally with councillors and seniors officers. There will also be information displays highlighting council services.

Harrisville QCWA celebrated 80 years service to the local community at a special luncheon over the weekend. The Country Women’s Association continue to do a tremendous job in making a positive difference to country life. Well done ladies.

Congratulations to St Luke’s Anglican Church at Collingwood Park for their water wise garden party last weekend. Local councillor Victor Attwood dropped in to witness performances by students from Collingwood Park State School, the USQ musical group and Kim’s Dance School. The church grounds are looking great and also worth a visit anytime.

St Edmund’s Old Boys Association held their annual dinner on Saturday night at the new look Brothers. Guest speaker was Dr Roy Saunders current team doctor for the Queensland state of origin team and former doctor for the Australian team.

Tomorrow Premier Anna Bligh will be the keynote speaker to deliver the “State of State 2007” address at the Committee for Economic Development (CEDA) forum in Brisbane. This event is also an opportunity to showcase to the wider investment community the level of activity in Ipswich.

The Friendship Force will welcome visitors from Belarus to Ipswich this week. This is another group of overseas visitors travelling to our city through the wonderful work of local members of this international organisation. It will be an honour to welcome the 20 or so visitors at a special civic reception at the Visitor Information Centre.

This Friday the Ipswich Region Chamber of Commerce luncheon is sure to attract a big audience with guest speaker Alan Jones. The Chamber is to be congratulated for presenting a number of high profile and interesting guest speakers this year.

1 October 2007 - Archived

INDIGENOUS artist Dale Weston's exhibition Gathering of Dreams had a very special viewing of his inspirational works at Parliament House last week. Dale first made contact with Ipswich City Council in 2002 and since that time council has assisted Dale to develop his paintings. An exhibition held in 2005 at the Ipswich Art Gallery attracted the attention of many people. Well done Dale.

Police remembrance day was observed on Friday to honour and remember those brave officers who lost their lives in the line of duty and service to the community. Ipswich Police District conducted a special service at the James Sangster Memorial in Browns Park North Ipswich to acknowledge the years of service and to remember the sacrifice of those officers.

The second Movies In The Park at Spring Lake Park at Springfield Lakes was another success on Saturday with the screening of Night At The Museum. Brassall and nearby residents should mark Saturday October 13 on their calendar when Night At the Museum will be screened in Sutton Park, opposite Brassall Shopping Centre.

Thank you to the many residents who stopped by at Chat Time on Saturday morning at Riverlink Shopping Centre. As always it was good to get such tremendous feedback from residents. I always enjoy hearing the great range of ideas that so many people have for making improvements to our city.

It was great to meet recently with TAFE directors from across the state and education minister Rod Welford. The minister's vision for education in Queensland provided me with a very positive outlook for the future. Investing in the education of our young people is one of the most important that we as a community can support.

Wayne Patch is not letting horse flu stop the planning process at Ipswich Turf Club. There continues to be major disruption to racing and sadly there is obviously going to be financial pain for a lot of people who work in the industry. I know that Wayne and his committee will do everything they can to facilitate a return to racing at Bundamba as soon as possible.

Ipswich RSL hosted the state conference of the Incapacitated Servicemen and Women's Association of Australia last week. It was an honour to represent the city at a special wreath laying ceremony at the RSL North Ipswich.

24 September 2007 - Archived

IT was one of those appointments that makes the job of mayor worthwhile. Last week I was invited to visit grade four students at Central State School. Part of the visit included reading to the group. It is important that we as parents and the community at large continue to encourage our kids to excel at school.

Visiting Ipswich last week was Bob McNulty who is the President of Partners for Livable Communities based in Washington. Partners is a group of more than 1,000 organisations concerned with the economic health, quality of life, and social equity issues within local communities. Bob was here as keynote speaker for the Queensland Public Libraries conference and to attend a meeting of business and community leaders.

Congratulations to Ken Clarke who has been awarded the first ever life membership of Silkstone Baptist Church Soccer Club. Ken helped found the club in 1982 and since then has filled virtually every role on the committee including president, secretary, treasurer, coach and even sausage sizzle chef. Ken is now patron of the club.

The Friendship Force of Ipswich celebrated the Club's 20th anniversary with a special luncheon and afternoon tea on Saturday. Thank you to president Dianne Caswell and all the members on the tremendous ambassadorial role that members play in welcoming visitors to Ipswich.

Volunteers everywhere must continue to be encouraged as they add a wonderful human touch to many organisations. Volunteers are generally the only way these same organisations can function and provide a service to the community. Ipswich Art Gallery volunteers have been recognised at a special thank you event at North Ipswich Bowls Club. Currently the gallery has a team of 70 Volunteers and so far this year they have contributed more than 9000 hours which is fantastic. Well done.

Zilah Norrak celebrated a personal milestone over the weekend at Nowlanvil when she celebrated her 90th birthday on Saturday. It was great to call in to offer congratulations with local councillor Sheila Ireland. Happy birthday!

Ipswich City Council is fortunate to have such a great bunch of talented and loyal people proudly serving the city. Arnie Reis has retired after 25 years service and can now enjoy a long weekend without end on the water in his new boat. Thank you Arnie for your contribution to the city.

17 September 2007 - Archived

INVESTING in our future can take on many forms. One of those is investing in our own city to help create jobs and boost the local economy. The Queensland Times is to be congratulated on the launch of the Ipswich Rewards Card. Put simply this card is designed to encourage everyone to shop locally and will also help highlight the best buys across a whole range of goods and services. Look for details on the new Ipswich Rewards Card in the QT.

A century of service to the community by the Crèche and Kindergarten pre school group was celebrated over the weekend at Milford Street, Jacaranda Street and Equestrian Drive C&K kindy's. A special congratulations to Vicki Doig, who is presently the director of Milford Street and has been teaching at the kindy for 35 years. On behalf of all who have attended either as children or parents I want to say well done Vicki.

Premier Anna Bligh is settling in quickly to the top job. I also wish to join with many others in congratulating the member for South Brisbane on her elevation to the top political post in the state. Local member for Ipswich Rachel Nolan also adds to her duties the job of parliamentary secretary to Lindy Nelson-Carr, Minister for Communities, Disability Services, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Partnerships, Seniors, Youth and Multicultural Affairs.

The future of Ipswich Central as a major regional centre is gathering momentum, especially when you hear that ABN Amro Morgans have celebrated 10 years in Ipswich. I know that Tony Russell and his team go the extra mile for customers and it is great to see this business in such a prominent location on the corner of East and Limestone Streets.

Today in Ipswich we welcome Bob McNulty, President of Partners for Livable Communities based in Washington. Partners is a group of more than 1,000 organisations concerned with the economic health, quality of life, and social equity issues within local communities. Ipswich is the only Australian city represented. This has come about as a result of the tremendous effort so many people have put into developing and improving the quality of lifestyle in our city.

Edgar and Violet Wendt celebrate 70 years of marriage this year. What a wonderful personal achievement for the Wendts, so it was great to join local councillor Cheryl Bromage to present Edgar and Violet a special certificate and flowers on behalf of the city.

Students from Immaculate Heart Primary School at Leichhardt attended the council meeting last Wednesday. We met an eager bunch of young people who put quite a few questions to councillors after the meeting.

10 September 2007 - Archived

Congratulations to John and Jean McPherson on their dedication to raising funds for the Queensland Cancer Council. In just six years they have raised more than $700,000. John and Jean have been tireless fund raisers despite having to cope with their own illnesses and I have always seen them as proud ambassadors for Ipswich. Well done!

The Ipswich Youth Council is going from strength to strength. It always gives me a great sense of pride to meet with our young people to discuss issues and hear great ideas that we can take on board. These are the community leaders of tomorrow and again I congratulate the youth council on their valuable contribution.

Thank you to the many residents who took time to stop at Chat Time at Booval Fair on Saturday. It is always great to meet and hear first hand from the local community. Feedback is always welcome so please keep the good ideas coming.

Last Thursday night nearly 100 new Australians were welcomed at a special citizenship ceremony held inside Riverlink Shopping Centre. It was a pleasure and honour to conduct the ceremony with so many family members and friends looking on and giving their support. A special thank you to everyone involved in making the night a success.

Immaculate Heart school at Leichhardt held their annual spring carnival on Sunday. Again this year it was great to officially open the carnival which is run as a valuable fundraiser by the P&F.

Thank you to Glebe Rd Uniting Church for the invitation to offer a prayer for the city, sharing of faith and to present a greeting during a special service to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the church on Sunday. Special thanks also to Rev Brian Gilmore, Rev Dr Norma Spear, Rev Graham Slaughter and Rev David Baker.

St Paul's Church branch of the mothers' union held their centenary celebrations and thanksgiving service on Friday morning. This is one of the largest Christian groups in the world. The mothers' union is playing a wonderful role in the community "Sharing Christ's love by encouraging, strengthening, and supporting marriage and family life".

3 September 2007 - Archived

IPSWICH Central received a further boost and vote of confidence last week with the turning of the first sod on the new $111 million five-storey court house complex in Ellenborough Street. It was great to have the Premier and good friend of Ipswich Peter Beattie here for the launch of the biggest public infrastructure project in more than ten years. The future is very bright for our newly expanded city centre.

The Riverview Employment and Learning Program has run a very successful program that wrapped up with a special graduation ceremony on Friday. The program ran over eight weeks and included one week of work experience. Two participants have already secured employment which is a tremendous. Congratulations to all those who took part and to Riverview Neighbourhood House for hosting the state government funded program.

Brian Scott has opened a new food business in Riverlink. Congratulations to Brian and his family on adding Go Sushi to the food offering available in Ipswich Central. It was great to officially open the store with local councillor Cheryl Bromage on Saturday morning.

St Edmund's College is to be congratulated on their learning from experts mentoring program. This program gives students the opportunity to investigate, learn and research their mentor's field of work. This is followed by a research project that includes a presentation to the judges from the students on what they have learnt about their chosen field.

A valuable restoration and centenary project at St Brigid's Rosewood received a further injection of funds on Sunday after I joined local councillor David Pahlke to present a cheque to the parish. Part of the funding will also be allocated to a book project that will mark the 100th anniversary of St Brigid's in 2010.

I hope everyone had a great Father's Day. In Springfield it was a day with a difference that greeted visitors to DadFest 07 at USQ. DadFest featured many exotic cars, custom vehicles, collectables and big boys' toys on display. There was live music, competitions, plenty of food, fun and inspirational messages. This now annual event has been established by the Westlife group to honour men and fathers in our community.

The Asia Pacific Cities Summit over the weekend was an important event for a number of reasons, including discussions about the issues impacting cities around the globe. The theme this year was “Renewing Asia Pacific Cities and sessions covered urban renewal, tourism and economic development.

27 August 2007 - Archived

It is an exciting time for Ipswich at the moment as we are being recognised both nationally and internationally on many different fronts and it is great to see the way in which everyone is working together. Ipswich was last week proudly awarded second prize in the Local Government Landcare Partnerships Award for the 96 voluntary conservation agreements which have been established across the city since 1997.

This follows on the back of Ipswich being given the thumbs up by the judges of an international award for the world's most liveable communities inviting us to participate in the 2007 LivCom Awards. We will be competing in London this November in the whole of city section for cities with populations between 75,000 and 200,000 against Kakamigahara City, Japan; Norwich, England; Oshawa, Canada; Pecs, Hungary; City of Portsmouth, USA; Richmond BC, Canada; City of Santa Clarita, USA and Mancomunidad del Sureste de Gran Canaria, Spain.

Due to our involvement with the awards I was interviewed by BBC Radio’s Suffolk breakfast show last Thursday as Ipswich is up against the station’s local rival Norwich in the Livcom Awards.

My yearly get together with members of the Ipswich Ministers Fellowship at the Ipswich Civic Hall last week was extremely enjoyable. Our local ministers are concerned with more than just the spiritual health of our community, they also contribute to Ipswich’s economy. Many local church members are volunteers within their local parish as well as within other organisations in the Ipswich community and we thank them for the work they do.

Thank you for all the beautiful rain during the past week as it has made people much happier.

Unusual letter boxes made from a variety of objects such as an ancient microwave oven and a rusty old grass catcher were on display at the weekend at the Artist's Great Letterbox Challenge Auction in aid of the Mayoress' Charity Fund. The auction was a key part of the Kaleidoscope Festival 2007 on Saturday in d'Arcy Doyle Place which was organised by the Ipswich Arts Council. The action-packed program included local artists, performers, arts workshops for all ages, craft stalls, demonstrations, sand sculpture, children’s art, story telling, food and lots of fun. The entire event was run by volunteers which is another example of the deep sense of community spirit which exists in Ipswich.

This spirit will also be in evidence at the Combined Lions Club function being held at Harrisville tomorrow night by the Harrisville, Rosewood and Ipswich clubs. The recent inaugural Lions Children of Courage Awards at the Ipswich Art Gallery organised by the Ipswich Lions Club was a fantastic event which was truly inspirational and highlighted again the wonderful work which service clubs such as Lions undertake in the community.

Brassall State School fete earlier this month was the venue for the auction of a painting by budding Ipswich artist Sarah Ward representing multi-cultural harmony and the joint co-operation of various multicultural groups in Ipswich. Future generations will benefit from our vision of Ipswich as a liveable city and as Mayor I consider it important to work with our young people to promote their strengths and create a vibrant community.

This week, I celebrate a special milestone with Fay Sorensen as we have both been members for the past decade of the Bremer Institute Council and I have enjoyed working with her enormously and look forward to continuing this partnership in the future.

Thanks to all the Council of Mayors members who are working together to address infrastructure issues across South-East Queensland. This partnership approach will ensure that we do not get bogged down on issues as we want the best infrastructure for all.

Some of Ipswich’s top entertainers were in town last weekend as the tutors for council’s annual master classes program. This program is an essential part of Ipswich’s heart and soul and it was great to see the 71 student participants having such a great time.

Birthday wishes go out this week to some special Ipswich residents. Patricia Molkentein turned 80 while Connie Caruana was 70. We hope you both had a wonderful time on your special day and enjoyed your celebrations with family and friends.

I had the pleasure of presenting trophies to the winners of the Queensland pipe band championships last weekend. I also wish the Ipswich Thistle Pipe Band all the best when they represent us at Russia’s first international festival Kremlin Zoria (Moscow Military Tattoo) in Moscow’s Red Square between September 13 and 16.

This week, JM Kelly Group will host its annual retail awards at Winston Glades Shopping Centre on Wednesday to recognise the dedication of the centre’s retailers and I look forward to unveiling the winners.

20 August 2007 - Archived

I joined with Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman last week to host a joint reception at Brisbane City Hall to mark the 60th anniversary of Indian independence. A great night was had by all who attended.

The fantastic talents of Australian swing and big band singer and showman David Campbell were evident at the Ipswich Civic Hall last week for another very successful night on the Ipswich Festival of Theatre calendar.

Ipswich’s aerospace industry received a giant boost last week with the unveiling of the Bremer Institute of TAFE’s partnership with Aviation Australia to provide aero-skills training to senior school students in the greater Ipswich region through a course in aircraft maintenance engineering.

The artistic talents of young people in the region were highlighted at last Friday night’s launch of the Education Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Art exhibition at the Ipswich Art Gallery. The works of the senior visual arts students from the Moreton region will be on show at the gallery until September 6 giving the community the chance to see their work on display and I encourage everyone to take a look.

Springfield Lakes was the setting on Saturday morning for the launch of Seniors Week. An action-packed program was organised for the Seniors’ Celebrations at the Lake event with everything from golf putting and bush dancing to an aerobics display and line dancing. This day followed on from the tremendous 'Sensational Seniors Party' which was held last Friday to launch Seniors Week in the Ipswich City Mall. It was great to see Ipswich’s seniors having such a good time. Seniors Week runs until next Sunday so the week is a good time to let our older community members know how much they mean to us.

Ipswich’s CBD entered an 80’s time warp on Saturday as we celebrated the milestone of the 20th anniversary of Ipswich City Square as a focal part of Ipswich’s city heart. It was great to see everyone joining in the birthday party which featured roving entertainers, the Flip Side Circus, a jumping castle, a sausage sizzle and of course, some birthday cake.

We also celebrated the arrival in the Ipswich City Square of new retailers Jack in the Box Music and Books. I congratulate them on the commitment they have shown to Ipswich’s city centre. In Fiore Maternity Wear and Dimmey’s Discount Store are also relocating there as well which is great. Council welcomes them and wishes them all the best.

We also paused last Saturday to pay our respects to our veterans on Vietnam Veterans Day. Originally a day which commemorated the 1966 Battle of Long Tan, it is now is a day to honour all veterans from this conflict.

The special work carried out by the Starlight Foundation was highlighted last Saturday night at Rosewood State High School when they were the beneficiary of a special fundraiser. The foundation plays an important role in the lives of seriously ill and hospitalised children and their families throughout Australia acting as a bright spot in what can often seem like a time of darkness.

Another special group which is helping the children in our community is the Ipswich Lions Club. They held their inaugural Children of Courage Awards on Saturday at the Ipswich Art Gallery to recognise children who have faced life's challenges with exceptional courage. Awards were given to a great group of children aged from five to 15 years with "special needs", especially physical, who have shown exceptional fortitude in their lives. These awards were also special in that they were not a competition as every child nominated was a winner and received an award. Congratulations to all.

Another special event held in Rosewood on the weekend was the naming of Heit Park on Sunday. The Heit family have a long association with the Rosewood area and are thrilled to have a park named in their family’s honour.

Willowbank Raceway took a trip down memory lane on Sunday with Shannons Nostalgia Drag Racing Series. The raceway hosted the special day which included a display of nostalgia cars, a sausage sizzle, rock and roll dancing and a whole lot of fun.

A new-look Redbank Plaza Branch Library is being officially unveiled to the community this week. The refit to the library has involved a number of items of building maintenance along with the reorganisation of the library’s layout to make better use of the available floor space. The revitalised branch has already received the thumbs up from the community so if you have not seen the changes yet, drop in for a visit soon.

Council will join with the Friends of the Ipswich Library Service (FOILS) this week to launch a great new initiative – Books for Babies. Designed to encourage childhood reading and literacy it will involve book packages being presented throughout August to every baby born at the Ipswich Hospital or St Andrews Hospital.

Ipswich's many attributes have been given the thumbs up by the judges of an international award for the world's most liveable communities. The Ipswich community has been invited to participate in the 2007 LivCom Awards’ whole of city section for cities with populations between 75,000 and 200,000 in London this November.

I am meeting with the members of the Ipswich Ministers Fellowship at the Ipswich Civic Hall on Thursday. If there are any ministers out there who did not receive an invite but would like to attend please contact my office.

13 August 2007 - Archived

A FUNCTION on Monday night at the Ipswich Civic Hall saluted a special group of people – Ipswich's honorary ambassadors and honorary business ambassadors – Gordon and Barbara Chen (China), Deborah Lei (China), Michelle and Peter Huang (Taiwan), Dr Peter and Alice Yeoh (China and Malaysia), Manju Jehu (India), Nir Avrahami (Israel), Bill Chen (China and Taiwan), Sunil Gurram (India) and Mayer Hou (China and Taiwan). They all work so hard and we thank them for representing Ipswich's interests in their respective countries. It is unfortunate that Joy Chambers, Ipswich's honorary cultural ambassador and Ipswich Poetry Feast international patron, could not be with us but we still extend our thanks to her.

Congratulations to Queensland Rail on a tremendous day on Sunday. It was wonderful to be part of the fifth annual Workshops Rail Museum Open Day. Opening this world-class venue free to local residents is a great idea and one that the community wholeheartedly embraced judging by the crowd which attended.

Volunteers at the heritage model railway club are starting to lay the foundations of a miniature hobby centre and it was great to catch up with everyone on the weekend.

I also want to thank local business identities Jeff and Ros Cooper for their support of the Ipswich Art Gallery. They have just come on board and sponsored the heritage cabinet in the gallery's Bendigo Bank Hall of Time. This is a wonderful contribution to Ipswich's cultural identity and the Ipswich Art Foundation.

Thanks also go to another supporter of Ipswich – Queensland Senator Claire Moore. Senator Moore spoke in Federal Parliament last Tuesday about the Box Flat Mine Disaster after having been part of the service held to mark the 35th anniversary of the disaster. She gave a heartfelt delivery in the chamber and we thank her for her kind words.

I also want to pay tribute to my wife Janet for the work she does in representing me and the city in her role as Ipswich Mayoress. With a busy schedule it is tremendous to have someone like her to call on to step in when needed. In the past week for example she attended the annual general meeting of the Moreton Region Scouts.

An important milestone was celebrated on the weekend in the life of former Rosewood resident Ellen Stokes better known as Dolly – her 100th birthday. On behalf of the council and the community I wish you a very Happy Birthday and I hope you got that long awaited telgram from Queen Elizabeth II.

I am proud that one of our council staff is part of a new State Government publication called See Beyond the Disability which features Queenslanders with a disability sharing their ideas for a more inclusive community. Steve Casos works full-time in Ipswich Waste's recycling area and does a great job. Good on you Steve!

I was lucky recently to be given a special tour of Aspire Apartments which are currently under construction. The apartments will do the city proud when they are launched later this year.

There was no divisions between city and rural areas at the recent ninth birthday run of the Grandchester Model Live Steam Association held at Grandchester. Money raised will also be used for repairs to the historic Grandchester Sawmill damaged by fire on May 6. Thanks to everyone for their support to not only get the mill back up and running, but also for preserving the home of steam at Grandchester.

Community spirit was alive and well in Springfield last Saturday when Delfin hosted its latest Meet Your Neighbours event in Creekside Park with a free sausage sizzle and park launch.

The State titles for gateball (a mallet sport similar to croquet) held in Ipswich were a great success with participants coming from all over to take part. Congratulations to the Ipswich Croquet Club.

Everyone has got a bit of rock in them as evidenced as Just Rock Ipswich went from strength to strength on the weekend with their Back to '63 Classic Car Show and Shine which attracted more than 150 cars from throughout Ipswich, Brisbane, Toowoomba, the Granite Belt, the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast.

It was great to see people getting involved at Sunday night's twilight recital at St Paul's Anglican Church. The night was designed to recognise a community drive to preserve Queensland's first pipe organ which resides at the church.

Don't forget that Ipswich will be open on People's Day on Wednesday. We will be putting on our happy faces for a fun-filled Ekka Show Day and are expecting lots of Brisbane people to join us on their day off for a bit of retail therapy.

6 August 2007 - Archived

Redbank Ambulance Station was the setting last Thursday for a major announcement of new portable radios for the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) by Queensland Premier Peter Beattie and Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts. To be rolled out across the State, these radios will improve services for patients and safety for paramedics by offering a constant link with the QAS’ communications centres.

It was also great to have a discussion with the Premier about amalgamation issues and Ipswich as we are elected to carry out the wishes of our ratepayers. We need to work together to make our city a success. No matter where you live in South-East Queensland it is our home and we want to make sure our home and our city is given the respect it deserves. I look forward to moving forward in partnership with the State Government.

Thank you to all those who joined us at Redbank Plaza last Saturday for Chat Time. It is great to see the interest shown in our city and the plans the council has for the future growth and development of Ipswich.

Congratulations to Susan Pepper, Ron Christie and the team at Spa Orient at Spring Lake Metro at Springfield Lakes on this world-class facility. Congratulations also to Mark Pepper on being awarded an Australian Business Excellence Award for his work at Beaumont Transport. Well done!

There has been a lot of debate again recently on the Ipswich Motorway and how we are being crippled by a lack of infrastructure. I support all people who invest in infrastructure. The Federal, State and Local Governments all have a role to play and all know who is responsible for a particular piece of infrastructure. At the end of the day the people of Ipswich will decide who have and who will deliver this infrastructure for them.

Representatives from Brisbane Marketing were treated to some Ipswich hospitality last week during a special luncheon. This visit cemented the special relationship which council has already forged with the organisation as we continue to work closely together to promote South-East Queensland.

A popular Ipswich exhibition was brought to a close on Sunday with the conclusion of the Eaten Alive: The World of Predators exhibition at the Ipswich Art Gallery which was visited by nearly 35,000 people. We are pleased to have been able to offer the exhibition free, continuing a tradition of not levying admission charges for our exhibitions.

Brassall State School and St Joseph’s Primary School both hosted fetes on the weekend while the ninth birthday run of the Grandchester Model Live Steam Association was a double header event raising money for repairs to the historic Grandchester Sawmill damaged by fire on May 6 and well as marking its birthday. Council is pleased to support the sawmill to help it get back on its feet once again.

Congratulations as well to all the participants in the 2007 GPS Cross Country Championships at Limestone Park.

30 July 2007 - Archived

I would like to thank Queensland Premier Peter Beattie and Deputy Premier Anna Bligh for their enthusiasm regarding Ipswich. They were in Ipswich last week to celebrate the completion of the Bundamba to Swanbank section of the Southern Regional Water Pipeline and it was great as always to welcome them here. I congratulate the residents living near the pipeline construction area for the patience they demonstrated during the construction phase and also thank the project workers for the good work they have done.

My thanks also go to Queens Park Kiosk owners Kevin and Sharon Goodsir for allowing us to hold our latest taxi chat time there last week. This informal meeting is designed to help Ipswich’s taxi drivers keep up to date with local developments and activities as they are Ipswich’s unofficial ambassadors as they go about their work. It was great to have a chat over a burger and share the city’s continuing growth and development with all the taxi drivers.

Last week I chaired a community YourRights@Work Campaign forum organised by the Australian Council of Trade Unions. This forum, which included some of the candidates for the Federal seat of Blair, was also attended by Grace Grace – General Secretary for the Queensland Council of Unions and was designed to inform people within the Blair electorate about the Federal Government’s industrial relations laws. It is a great democracy we live in when all political parties can get together and work together.

Last Thursday I travelled to Townsville to sign a Memorandum of Agreement with Townsville Mayor Tony Mooney as we launched the new Partners for Queensland project. Through this tremendous project, both cities will share information and look at ways to learn from each other and experience new ways of tackling issues both are facing.

The streets of Ipswich were filled with participants yesterday in the 2007 Park Park Ipswich Fun Run. Council was proud as always to support this fun and successful day.

Ipswich’s newest sporting facility was also unveiled last Saturday with the official opening of the new $449,000 Ipswich Rangers Rugby Union Club’s clubhouse at Woodend Park.

Last Saturday, Ipswich welcomed the members of the 2007 Nerima Education Exchange which includes 68 students. It was tremendous to again reinforce the special bonds we share with our sister city. Exchange members are staying in Ipswich until August 3 and we hope they enjoy their time here.

The dedicated and professional work of the emergency services personnel of Ipswich was celebrated last Saturday at the 2007 "000" Charity Ball with Queensland’s new Minister for Emergency Services Neil Roberts and his wife Jenny in attendance. This was a great night which allowed the Ipswich community to pay tribute to the great services provided by its emergency services personnel as they work to keep us all safe and healthy.

23 July 2007 - Archived

Ipswich city centre now has a new coffee shop. De Lamauta Coffee Shop is in Brisbane Street next to Action Realty. Congratulations to Jenny McLean and Amy Vary on adding more variety and a unique coffee experience to our city.

The V8 supercars at Queensland Raceway have again provided a huge boost to the region over the weekend. The Ipswich Motorsport precinct was again transformed into a mini city with thousands of visitors enjoying the winter sunshine. Congratulations to John Tetley and his team for putting Ipswich on the motorsport map.

Thank you to Mary Platt for conducting a seminar on Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) last week at the Civic Hall. The Dore Program is a drug-free treatment for the approximately one in six people with learning, attention and behavioural difficulties. The program had also been found to be effective in assisting people with ADHD, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia and Aspergers Syndrome.

Congratulations to all UQ Ipswich graduates from the Faculty of Engineering, Physical Sciences and Architecture, and Faculty of Health Sciences and Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences. A special ceremony was held at the Civic Hall last week. Approximately half the graduates came from the Bachelor of Nursing, one third from Information Technology programs , and the remainder from Social Science programs. Well done to all recipients.

Quota International held their Jazzing Up July fundraising event on Saturday night. All service clubs, including Quota deserve our thanks for the great work they do for our community.

16 July 2007 - Archived

BOX Flat is a name that will forever be a reminder of the day 17 miners lost their lives as a result of an underground explosion on 31 July 1972. It was a very sad day for our city and one that will always be in the minds of those who lost loved ones. The city grieved as the men were entombed when it became clear a rescue was impossible. On the site today stands a moving memorial to those men. A special 35th anniversary memorial service is planned for Tuesday 31 July.

NAIDOC week celebrations included a Debutante Ball on Saturday night which helped celebrate 50 years of NAIDOC (National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Day Observance Committee). Congratulations to Jim Ralph and Kambu Medical Centre for organising a terrific night with funds raised going towards the annual Christmas Tree function for children.

John Nugent Way was officially opened last week at Springfield Town Centre. This new pedestrian and cycle path provides a direct link between Education City and Orion Town Centre. Named after former Ipswich mayor John Nugent this was a fitting tribute to a man who gave many years service as councillor and mayor of Moreton Shire followed by mayor of Ipswich.

This weekend the V8 supercars are back on the track at Queensland Raceway. The sports calendar in Ipswich is the envy of many cities as we are again showcased to a national TV audience. We will also welcome tens of thousands of visitors to the motorsport precinct. Congratulations to John Tetley and his team for the tremendous job in attracting such high quality motorsport events to Ipswich.

9 July 2007 - Archived

LOCAL service clubs contribute a great deal in time, effort and dollars to the Ipswich community as well as supporting many worthwhile aid projects overseas. Two of the many clubs having their annual changeover dinners this month include Ipswich Lions and Ipswich City Rotary. Derek Ward is the incoming president of Ipswich Lions with the club also marking their 45th anniversary in 2007 and Ted Roberts is the incoming president of Ipswich City Rotary.

Ipswich Old Boys Association held their 50th reunion on Saturday and is was great to welcome past players, officials, referees, family members and supporters who travelled from as far as New South Wales, North and South Coasts of Queensland, Toowoomba, and Brisbane. It certainly is a different kind of football played today than was played 50 years ago.

Two very special birthdays have been celebrated this week. Karrabin was the location for Jack Haggarty to celebrate 91 years, and Jean Cafferky marked her 90th birthday at Booval House.

The Ipswich Classic Car Club annual car show was a great success at the Ipswich Turf Club. This event was another great attraction for our city drawing in visitors from far and wide. Congratulations to all members and friends of the club.

It is always great to support our young people because they will be the leaders of tomorrow. Thank you to Stephanie Neuendorf for joining me to be “Mayor for a day”. I’m sure Stephanie found the day very informative and a small snapshot of a typical day in the life of the Mayor.

2 July 2007 - Archived

PAT Rafter is to be congratulated for partnering with Ipswich City Council in the creation of the Cherish the Environment fund to help minimise the impact of climate change. This new imitative was announced in the Budget last week. We have agreement to be the first Council in Australia to offer ratepayers the option of rounding up their rates by $1, $2 or more and this money will go into this new fund. Pat Rafter will also be involved in managing the fund and kicked it off with a donation of $10,000. Pat is patron of the Cherish the Children foundation and while he may not live in Ipswich his passion for the environment will help our city become carbon neutral in years to come.

A 12-point plan for Ipswich city centre was also announced in the Budget. The full plan can be viewed online at www.ipswich.qld.gov.au. I know that I am sick and tired of all the studies, now we need some action and an enthusiastic owner to take over Ipswich City Square. There is certainly a lot of interest by developers in purchasing properties in the centre of Ipswich. The Ipswich Post Office redevelopment proposal is just one that will be welcomed. The currently Limestone Street carpark at the rear of the Post Office will be transformed into a precinct of offices and retail with 2 floors for underground parking.

More new businesses opened in Ipswich last week, including a new Telstra shop at Springfield and Realogy Property Agents at Booval. Congratulations to Suzi and Jeff Niemeyer on the opening of the new business. On behalf of the city we wish you all the best.

Keeping local jobs for local people was demonstrated last week when I attended special celebrations at Bradken’s Ipswich facility at Karrabin. The occasion was to mark the completion of the 4,000th iron ore wagon produced for Rio Tinto’s Pilbara operation. Congratulations to the staff and management at Bradken on reaching this milestone. Well done.

Schoolboy rugby league was well represented last week in Ipswich with two carnivals being played. Independent Secondary Schools Confraternity carnival was played in wet conditions earlier in the week with some 40 teams from 34 schools from across Queensland taking part in this annual event. Also being played in Ipswich was the under 12 Zone 4 Primary School Rugby League Carnival. Players, coaches, officials, organisers, supporters and their families travelled from Charleville, Roma, Pittsworth, Jandowae and the Gold Coast to join with local Ipswich teams.

Finally this week, I just want to remind residents that my office is always available to take inquiries now matter how small you may feel they are. Often there is a very simple and logical answer. I encourage residents to call either my office or your local Councillor.

25 June 2007 - Archived

GOODNA Rotary Club held their meeting at the River Heart Parklands last week and combined that with a citizenship ceremony for Ann and Clive Hickman of Karalee.

Since 1931 RT Edwards have been providing service to the people of Ipswich. Congratulations to Tom and the family on the opening of the new look Booval store in new premises on Brisbane Road. This move is a fantastic vote of confidence in the future of our city.

ANZ bank is also showing confidence in our city centre by opening a new branch at Riverlink and upgrading the existing branch in Brisbane Street. As the population grows so to is the need to provide services that are convenient for the public. ANZ is to be congratulated for planned upgrade to the long standing Brisbane Street branch.

National Seniors celebrated 20 years this month with a special lunch at Ipswich Civic Hall. Congratulations to Peter Calcott and his band of volunteers who have made a tremendous contribution to the local branch of National Seniors. Keep up the great work in assisting local organisations like Nowlanvil. Well done.

Ipswich Region Community Church at Ripley presented a special night for men last Friday with the topic What Fuels Your Life?. Guest speaker David Gilpin presented a thought provoking range of views for discussion. Dave is an Aussie who is now leading a church in the UK.

18 June 2007 - Archived

THE 2007-2008 Budget for the city of Ipswich will be announced at 6pm June 27 and will end weeks of discussions by councillors covering a whole range of issues, not the least of which included the on-going drought. We must examine all the ways we can get through this extended period of record low rainfalls. There will be some changes to the water tank rebates scheme to maximum the best use of available water supplies. One of those options being considered is for tanks to be plumbed into the house for use in toilets and washing machines.

The Carnival of Horsepower has wrapped up with the running of another successful Ipswich Cup on Saturday. Congratulations to the Turf Club, sponsors and supporters for an outstanding event for our city. The economic benefits to the city and region from the Carnival of Horsepower are now measured in the millions of dollars with the added flow on effect of creating jobs.

Channel 10 general manager Chris O’Connell is a great supporter for Ipswich. It was great to catch up with Chris last week to discuss plans for seeing more of our city on TV.

Ipswich based Discovery Credit Union has a proud history of service dating back to 1965. Last week a merger of Discovery and Queenslanders Credit Union was announced. This will make for a stronger credit union to service the growing population of Ipswich and the western corridor.

Congratulations to Mr and Mrs Casson of Walloon who celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary with family and friends on Sunday. It was great to drop in to offer best wishes on behalf of the city for this magnificent personal achievement.

Ipswich now has a new doctors surgery after the official opening last week of Queensland Medical Centres at Yamanto. This will join six other centres in south east Queensland owned by an independent group of doctors. This new surgery is a welcome addition to the range of medical services available and will help meet the increasing public demand for appointments with a local GP.

Springfield Town Centre has added another hi-tech “first” with the commencement of construction last week on the new Polaris Data Centre. This new centre is being built next to the first high rise office block also under construction. The Polaris centre is a joint venture between Springfield Land Corporation and Suncorp, and will house data for Suncorp and other customers. This announcement is another tremendous boost for the city and further reinforces a bright future for Ipswich.

11 June 2007 - Archived

IPSWICH has again scored well from the State Budget announced last week by Premier Peter Beattie and Deputy Premier Anna Bligh. I also want to thank local state members Rachel Nolan and Wayne Wendt for their support of the city and to Local Government Minister Andrew Fraser for his support of the Ipswich City Centre Task Force. The city is going well and with this additional investment from the state government Ipswich is well placed for the future.

We’ll take all the rain we can get. The showers last week were very welcome and the few days supply we can add to the main water storages is literally manner from heaven. I want to thank everyone for their prayers for rain. The drought is still far from over and we need to maintain our efforts to meet Target 140.

Congratulations to Kaylene Harth and the senior staff at Bremer TAFE on the presentation of their new business plan. This plan reinforces to me why the Bremer won the large training provider of the year award for 2006.

As part of the annual Carnival of Horsepower the 40th Winternationals proved again that Willowbank Raceway is one of the great drag racing facilities in the world. To the many hundreds of volunteers who helped keep the event running smoothly the city says thank you. The awesome power displayed kept tens of thousands of spectators very happy as they witnessed another successful major sporting event held in Ipswich.

Raceview State School now has a new car park that will improve safety in the vicinity of the school. It was great to officially open this new car park on Friday with local councillor Sheila Ireland and a special thanks must go to the prep year students who were keen to show off their “Bob The Builder” paintings. Thanks also to Ipswich City Council crews on a job well done.

The Budget meeting of Council will be from 6pm June 27 at the Council Chambers. This meeting will be open to the public. As we’ve heard from other councils in the region the price of water is obviously going up. If you have been thinking about a rainwater tank and still not acted on getting one installed I suggest that when you do ensure it is plumbed into the house for ease of use in areas like the laundry. Details on making the most from water tanks can be found on the Ipswich Water web site – www.ipswichwater.com.au

The annual Enviroplan photographic competition is on again this year and showcases Ipswich City Council’s strong commitment to environmental protection and conservation. The unique natural and built environments of Ipswich present photographers with boundless opportunities to capture the beauty of the region. Now in its fifth year this photographic competition is designed to promote important environmental issues and to highlight the talents of local photographers. Winning images will be on display at the Ipswich Art Gallery as part of a three week exhibition.

4 June 2007 - Archived

GLOBAL climate change and the increasing scarcity of water in Australia are among the serious issues which were the subject of discussion at a special forum in Ipswich last week. Ipswich resident Steve Posselt is currently kayaking from Brisbane to Adelaide and his departure from Brisbane made the TV news. To coincide with Steve’s journey through Ipswich, a Kayak 4 Earth Forum was held at the Civic Hall. It is not going to be easy but I’m sure Steve will be successful in raising the awareness of climate change and its effect on sustainable water supplies.

Bremer TAFE hosted a breakfast last week with guest speaker Steve Austin from 612ABC radio. The Miner’s Right training restaurant was the venue and the aim of the breakfast was to help raise awareness of the many opportunities and training programs offered by TAFE statewide. Congratulations to the students for the high standard of food presentation and service.

Raceview State School grade 7 students who missed out on last month’s meeting of council had their turn last week. Again it was great to hear questions from the students after the meeeting. I’m certain they have taken away some important new knowlege about the responsibilities of local government.

There has been a lot of discussion about the future price of water and while we are facing substantial increases in water charges as a result of the drought, the overall increase in rates and charges will be tempered by lower water consumption and a modest increase in other costs. I want to thank all Councillors for their input during the many long Budget meetings. The Council Budget for 2007-2008 will be handed down at 6pm on June 27.

Bev Johnston received a nice surprise on Saturday to celebrate 25 years of teaching at the Church Street Goodna Kindergaten and Preschool. As Bev has given so much love and time to the Kindy, this was a great way for the commmunity to say thank you.

It was great to join Councillors Sheila Ireland, David Pahlke, Andrew Antoniolli and Charlie Pisasale for Chat Time at Yamanto shopping centre on Saturday. Local residents provided feedback on how we are going as a Council. It was also an opportunity to provide new information on current and future developments including the State Government’s construction timetable on the Centenary Highway extension from Springfield to Yamanto.

28 May 2007 - Archived

SCOUTS around the world are celebrating 100 years of service to young people this year. The first scout group was established in August 1907 and was held during the first nine days of August in 1907 near Poole in Dorset, England. The movement started in Australia a year later in 1908 and 2008 has been declared the Year of the Scout to mark Scouts Australia's centenary. About 60,000 Australians currently participate in Australian Scouting, while another two million have been part of the nation's largest youth development organisation over the past 100 years. The Royal Australian Mint will strike a circulating coin next year to commemorate this event. Former Australian scouts who have made a name for themselves include Bert Newton, Peter Garrett, Dick Smith and Jamie Durie.

The Civic Hall is quickly gaining a reputation in the region as a venue presenting quality entertainment. The Festival of Theatre program this year continues to give depth and variety to the shows on offer. Last week the Melbourne Comedy Festival was a big hit with patrons. This week the young ones will enjoy Play School live on stage. On Friday and Saturday night Ipswich Musical Theatre Company presents Disney’s High School Musical. Eisteddfods and community performances are also on the Civic Hall yearly program and are a vital part of the cultural heart and soul of the city. They play an important role in nurturing young talent.

The Ipswich Cup was first run 146 years ago and has become a “must attend” event on the social calendar. No doubt there are many plans being finalised for a day at the races on June 16. The Turf Club board, staff and sponsors are to be congratulated for putting Ipswich on the racing map with this annual race day that now attracts over 20,000 people.

The amazing Eaten Alive World Of Predators exhibition is now open at the Ipswich Art Gallery. The interest shown so far indicates that Eaten Alive will break all attendance records as this will be the first location in Australia that entry is free. Be prepared for a life size croc lunging from the swamp or see the enormous funnel web lying in wait for its next meal.

Ipswich Hospice Care conducted a celebration of life event last week at St Paul’s Anglican Church. Hospice is one of those very special organisations in our city that provides a compassionate and caring service to the community.

21 May 2007 - Archived

THE ENERGY and enthusiasm of our young people is something that I admire greatly. Last week the second meeting of the newly formed Ipswich Youth Advisory Council left me very optimistic about our future leaders. I heard plenty of great ideas across a broad range of subjects on ways we can do things better for the community. There are 25 members of the advisory council drawn from all areas across the city from a diverse range of family backgrounds. Ipswich City Council is pleased to have been able to bring these talented young people together to work in partnership developing ideas and policies for Council to consider.

Thank you to everyone who attended the launch of the Ipswich City Centre project office. Under the direction of the Ipswich City Centre Task Force a project team made up of local, national and international experts will be working between now and the end of this year to finalise a business plans listing priority projects and initiatives that will form part of the Ipswich Regional Centre Strategy. Everyone can play a part in shaping the future of Ipswich city centre. There will be further consultation with residents, the business community and State and Federal Government agencies. Again I must thank the Minister for Local Government Planning and Sport, Andrew Fraser, for actively participating in this vital project and for the State Government support in jointly funding this $2.2 million project.

Country music filled the air over the weekend at the annual West Moreton Country Music Festival at the showgrounds. International visitors came from as far as Japan. Congratulations to Trevor Johnson and all the volunteers for presenting another successful festival. Also this week Beccy Cole and Sara Storer performed at the Civic Hall.

Harrisville Heritage Day was a great success with many visitors enjoying a visit to of one Ipswich’s rural townships. The local task force committee do a tremendous job in promoting the area as a destination for day trips. Two pubs and a café make for a great excuse to stop and take in the country scenery.

14 May 2007 - Archived

THE future of Ipswich city centre as a major regional centre has taken another step forward with the official opening of the Ipswich Regional Centre Project office in d’Arcy Doyle Place. Minister for Local Government, Planning and Sport Andrew Fraser joined me on Monday to open this office that will be a focal point for local businesses and residents to participate in the development of the Ipswich Regional Centre Strategy. The Council and State Government have committed $2.2 million to the project.

HMAS Ipswich was decommissioned at a special and moving ceremony on Friday. It was appropriate that the location was the home port of the ship in Cairns. Mrs Dallas Hayden who originally commissioned HMAS Ipswich in September 1982 was also at the ceremony. On behalf of the city I want to thank all defence personnel for their support of Ipswich. It is hoped that again sometime in the future we will have another navy ship named after our city. While In Cairns there was plenty of rain and while I certainly didn’t mind the locals say they have seen enough this year.

No doubt organisers of the Ipswich Show were pleased that we didn’t get more than a drop or two even though we are desperate for rain in the south east. Congratulations to Syd Haag, the committee and the many volunteers who come together year after year to put on our annual show.

The Queensland Council of P&C Associations met at Kruger State School over the weekend and it was tremendous to welcome such an enthusiastic group of parents who are keen to be involved with supporting the education of their children.

Ipswich is about to have a law school thanks to the University of Southern Queensland Springfield campus. The USQ School of Law was launched by the Chief Justice of Queensland Paul de Jersey last week. The law program will be offered from the beginning of next year. This is yet another piece of the jigsaw positioning our city as a leader of education at all levels. No longer do school leavers seeking to study law have to find a university elsewhere.

The Ipswich Art Gallery continues to push the boundaries and come up with cutting edge exhibitions. This month the kids have been entertained by The Casio Brothers during the Ipswich Festival. The next big event opening on May 26 is sure to top everything before. From Questacon in Canberra we will see Eaten Alive-The World of Predators. This exhibition explores the behaviours, adaptations and techniques that predators use to catch prey. Eaten Alive will be a real surprise as well as educational for all ages. Best of all while the exhibition is in Ipswich admission will be free. You can witness a number of interactive exhibits, robotic exhibits and a virtual reality shark cage experience. Before Eaten Alive opens the gallery will need to close for five days from May 21 to 25 to allow for this major exhibition to be set up.

7 May 2007 - Archived

LABOUR Day celebrations in Ipswich have a long tradition as a colourful day for acknowledging the contribution of workers to the building of this great nation. On Saturday we witnessed the biggest attendance for many years. It was great to have Deputy Opposition Leader Julia Gillard, President of the ACTU Sharan Burrow and Queensland Council of Unions secretary Grace Grace. Together they led the march through the city to Timothy Molony Park to hear about the Your Rights at Work campaign. It was also great to see so many families enjoying the free rides and drinks.

Big Dad’s pies are one of the many recent business success stories in Ipswich. From very small beginnings in 2003 with one store in Limestone Street, the pie recipe of Noel Donnelly has taken off well beyond his wildest dreams. Soon Big Dad’s will take on the apple isle with a second pie factory in Launceston.

Congratulations to Delfin and Plantation Homes on donating a house and land to be auctioned for charity on May 26. This is a tremendous gesture on the part of these two businesses with the money raised from the auction to be donated to the terrific work of the Mater Foundation.

The Zonta Club of West Moreton will raise money for breast cancer research this Saturday 12 May with Jazz Tracks at the Workshops Rail Museum on the Powerhouse Terraces. This will be a wonderful program of music featuring Jimmy Styles.

The new Ipswich City Council customer service centre is now open in Ipswich City Square with a more convenient location for shoppers. On behalf of all Councillors I want to thank the many people involved in building and setting up this new centre which is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 4.30pm.

Happy 80th birthday to Kev Dwyer who was council alderman for 21 years. Have a great day Kev and thank you for all your advice and for helping to bake the cake we call Ipswich. The city is going well and with the creation of the Ipswich City Centre Task Force in partnership with the State Government, we will now work together with the business community and residents to put the icing on the cake and take the city forward.

The Cambrian Youth Choir are wonderful ambassadors for our city. Over the weekend they travelled in Inverell for a special performance.

Office professionals in Ipswich celebrated their 21st birthday of the National Office Professionals Day breakfast last Friday. Congratulations to the Ipswich Office Professional of the Year Tanya Groves who is Administration Manager for Work Venture Queensland. Thanks must also go to all employers for their nominations and for supporting the local branch of the Australian Institute of Office Professionals.

30 April 2007 - Archived

THE city is in a party mood with several more Ipswich Festival events on offer this week. Thank you to the many businesses and community groups who took time to prepare and enter a float in the annual street parade last Saturday. This week there’s more free entertainment in d’Arcy Doyle Place with everything from country to rock on the main stage. Channel 7’s free movies in the mall are on from Tuesday to Friday this week and coming up on Saturday we celebrate our cultural diversity with Link Up. All the festival information is also on line at www.ipswichfestival.com

The annual Ipswich International Tattoo was also a highlight over the weekend. Congratulations to Joe McGhee and the Ipswich Thistle Pipe Band on another spectacular show. This high standard of entertainment will also be enjoyed by audiences in Toowoomba on May 5.

Ipswich Girls Grammar School triumphed again last week with a visit from the Governor-General Michael Jeffery. The school formed a guard of honour and this was followed by a very moving speech from His Excellency who said that the young faces at the school were almost of the age of many young soldiers who first went to war. Teenagers who left their homes in the country and in the city to fight battles so far away, and who, in many cases, never returned to grow old. Special thanks must go to Flo Kearney, staff and students for inviting the Governor-General to address the school during their special ANZAC Day service held last Tuesday.

The crew from the navy patrol boat HMAS Ipswich exercised the right of Freedom of Entry to the city on Saturday. The parade was tinged with a degree of sadness as the ship is about to be decommissioned. The city looks forward to when the navy will name a new HMAS Ipswich.

Congratulations to Bernie Ripoll on the success of the Mall2Mall bike ride which has developed into a major annual event with around 900 riders. Starting in the Brisbane CBD, and finishing in the heart of Ipswich, the 50km bike ride raises much-needed funds for charity while being a great community bike ride. This year the Ipswich Hospital Foundation and the Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation are the beneficiaries from the ride.

23 April 2007 - Archived

CONFIDENCE in Ipswich continues to rise with not one, but two new ANZ bank branches opening this month. Last week at Orion Town Centre I officially welcomed Louise Clews and her team to the eastern suburbs. ANZ will also open a new branch soon at Riverlink Shopping Centre.

This week as a nation we observe ANZAC Day on the 25th April. Many schools have special ceremonies in the days before the official day and it is always an honour to be invited to these special school services to join with students in paying tribute to those who went to war and never returned. ANZAC Day is also a time to reflect on why we enjoy this great country so much and to give thanks. Lest We Forget.

Last week by Premier Peter Beattie and Minister for Local Government Andrew Fraser announced a review of council boundaries and amalgamation for some before next March. This is something the residents of Ipswich and the former Moreton Shire are very familiar with. I fully endorse the review. While parochial fears are only natural, residents in samller council areas should fear nothing. In the Ipswich and Moreton merger, a city was created that was able to tackle such groundbreaking projects as Springfield, and in the future Ripley Valley. Individually, neither council would have had the financial clout for these kind of projects. Today the city finances are robust and well managed and that allows us to provide an extensive range of services for the residents of Ipswich and gives the city tremendous faith in the future.

International interest in Ipswich was highlighted again this past week with delegations from Taiwan and India. The attraction of the vast reserves of industrial land for clean industry is only one of the reasons for this keen interest. There are many investment opportunities in our region. A total of 70 business leaders now have Ipswich on the radar as a possible location for future investment.

It was great to meet last week with Vera Short from Kambu Medical Centre and to catch up on the latest initiatives that will include a redevelopment of the centre to better serve the community.

Congratulations to Shayne White and Ipswich based Young Dancers Company for presenting the innovative production last week of Water-Wise Ballet for Children with such a timely message.

Channel 7 is really supporting our city this month . The Great South East on Sunday was dedicated to promoting the attractions of the region and the Ipswich Festival. This Thursday Sunrise will be broadcasting the weather reports live from the River Heart Parklands.

16 April 2007 - Archived

WATER is something we can no longer take for granted. The worst drought in a century has forced us all to realise that we can no longer return to the days of leaving hoses running for hours or use running water as part of a kids playground. Ipswich residents are again leading by example and further reducing average household consumption. There are a few easy-to-remember tips for helping cut back on the amount of water in every household, including keeping your shower to under four minutes.

Riverlink has opened with huge crowds visiting stage one of the centre during the first week of trading. I want to thank Leda for backing Ipswich with their investment and for their partnership in creating a newly expanded city centre to meet the forecast population growth. It is important to remember that a significant amount of retail dollars are spent outside Ipswich each year and by creating one larger CBD we can help reverse that trend and create more jobs right here in our city.

It was great to have the Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Infrastructure the Hon Anna Bligh in Ipswich on Friday for the Urban Development Institute forum on Ipswich and the Western Corridor. We heard the latest on the big infrastructure projects either planned or underway, including the Centenary Highway extension from Springfield to Yamanto, the Springfield passenger rail line, the Southern Regional Water Pipeline and the Western Corridor Recycled Water project.

Western Moreton Anglican College has grown to become one of the major private schools in the region after being established just a few short years ago. It was great to meet with students last week and welcome Ross Switzer as the new principal of the school. I certainly agree with Ross that parents, students and staff must understand each other and head in the same direction with the ultimate winner being the students who will benefit from their time at school.

Happy 60th anniversary to Wilbur and Enid Smith at Cabanda in Rosewood. Local councillor David Pahlke called in on Saturday morning to congratulate Wilbur and Enid on reaching this wonderful milestone in their lives.

The newly formed Ipswich Youth Advisory Council met again last week and heard a presentation covering issues including how to engage the community in discussions about their city and an overview of the three levels of government. After the meeting it was great to take members on a tour of the council chambers and to answer questions.

9 April 2007 - Archived

Active Ipswich Week kicks off in Queens and Limestone Parks on tomorrow. In its second year, the program is presented with the aim of getting us all outdoors to increase physical activity regardless of age or ability. Coaching staff from the Gold Coast Titans and ARL representatives will stage a coaching clinic and the Ipswich Cats will present an AFL clinic. There’s also plenty of activities planned for young people including an after party from 4pm on Friday April 13. Active Ipswich Week runs all week until Friday, so make sure you get out and enjoy the outdoors and feel better for it.

Today Hans Booij and Ipswich Awakening present the annual Easter Monday Family Fun Day at Queens Park between 10am and 4pm. This event has grown to attract thousands of people and this year I’m sure we will see attendance records broken. This is a terrific day with free carnival rides, free food and plenty of adventure for the little ones, so I suggest you and the family get there early and stake out a spot with the picnic rug.

The message is clear, stay safe on the roads this Easter holiday break. Many families travel long distances to be with loved ones. The road safety message is often forgotten in the excitement that an extra long weekend brings. Authorities are again pleading that we all take extreme care on the roads, observe those messages of driving safely and slow down to suit the road and weather conditions. Most importantly, take regular breaks on long trips. The State Government tqtalso launched an Easter road safety campaign and it is sobering to be reminded that last Easter, police performed 167,390 random breath tests. No doubt this year they will conduct just as many.

Redbank Plains State Primary School year seven student Deni Shellard won a competition to name the Fernbrooke community park last week. After many hours of thought, Deni came up with Gumleaf Park because of the gum tree’s significance to Australia and Queensland. While at school it was great to meet with prep year students who already have a craving for knowledge. Thank you to State Member for Bundamba Jo-Ann Miller, who was representing Minister for Education – Rod Welford, for supporting the introduction of the prep year.

Ipswich Girls Grammar School year 11 student Cassandra Boughen was “Mayor for a day” last Wednesday and spent the day with me. We attended the Cerebral Palsy fundraiser, Lions Ipswich sausage sizzle and met with management of Investa Corporation. I met Cassandra at her grandparents, Mervyn and Betty Boughen’s 60th wedding anniversary in February and she is a great example that the future of Ipswich is in good hands.

Tallegalla resident Lyne Marshall launched her book Gleaner or Gladiator: the struggle to create last Wednesday night at the Ipswich Art Gallery. Special guest Dr Gilbert Burgh from the University of Queensland’s Ipswich Campus was among the many who turned out to celebrate the occasion. Lyne received an RADF Grant from Ipswich City Council towards the production of the book which is a ‘must have’ on the creative process.

We have already begun planning the council budget which will again focus on investing in people and infrastructure. We will have our heads down to make sure we use funds wisely. In 2006, Ipswich had the ninth largest increase of population in a local government area. Providing the right infrastructure in key areas will be paramount to catering for future growth in the area as predicted in the South East Queensland Regional Plan.

2 April 2007 - Archived

IPSWICH will be alive with another Ipswich Festival later this month. Our city can be very proud of the festival as it has become one of the leading events in regional Australia. It is tremendous that so many community groups and the corporate sector get involved in creating a festival that helps to give Ipswich a heart and soul. The sponsors are to be congratulated for stepping up and generously contributing the dollars that help present so much free entertainment. The program of events is extensive so I encourage you and your family to make the most of the Ipswich Festival.

Camira Friends and Neighbours group enjoyed a visit to the River Heart Parklands last week. Everyone enjoyed the sunset and the experience of the CBD’s newest free attraction and recreation area. The community have really taken to the Parklands and this is most gratifying. This will give Council the confidence to move forward with other innovative projects as part of the on-going revitalisation of Ipswich city centre.

It was great to attend another of the National Seniors’ local branch interest meetings for members in Ipswich last week. Members were treated to a special presentation on the new Riverlink shopping centre.

It is hard to believe that 15 years have already passed since the first land was released at Springfield. Congratulations to Maha Sinnathamby and Bob Sharpless on their vision for Springfield which has contributed to Ipswich being centre stage in the development of the western corridor and south east Queensland. In 2006 Ipswich was the 9th fast growing region in Australia.

Students at Walloon State School have adopted Henry Lawson Bicentennial Park opposite the school. This will help give the students involvement in their local community that reaches beyond normal school routine. The students will be encouraged to help keep the park tidy and free of litter.

UQ Ipswich has launched a new advertising campaign with Made In Ipswich as the theme. The campaign features recent graduates and their successful careers. Thank you to Pro Vice Chancellor Professor Alan Rix for the preview of the campaign that proudly highlights the careers of past graduates from the Ipswich campus.

Chat Time at Karalee over the weekend was well attended. Thank you to the many residents who stopped to give feedback to myself, local councillor Heather Morrow and neighbouring councillor Cheryl Bromage. It was also an opportunity to provide information on council services, answer questions and to follow up on those great ideas that come from the community.

The Royal Australian Air Force Week celebrated 86 years on Saturday. March 31st is the date acknowledged as the foundation date of the air force in 1921. In 1939 the plans were enacted that saw construction begin on RAAF Base Amberley. The Base continues to make a valuable contribution to our city in terms of people and the economy.

26 March 2007 - Archived

It has been another great week in Ipswich.

The Harmony Day celebrations at St Paul’s Church Hall and last week’s citizenship ceremony remind us that multi-culturalism plays a special role in Ipswich. We work hard to foster community harmony and cross-cultural understanding throughout the city to create a greater appreciation of Ipswich’s diverse cultures. It is not just about filling in tests to become an Australian citizen, but embracing the values and way of life of all Australians.

Welcome to the 100 new businesses that opened in Ipswich last week, creating many new jobs for the city. More than 200,000 people turned out for the opening four day celebrations of the Orion Springfield Town Centre and I congratulate Mirvac on the tremendous job they have done. The opening of Orion is another significant milestone in the development of Springfield, bringing greater choice to Ipswich residents.

The Queensland Institute of Medical Research held a fundraiser hosted by John Gambaro of Gambaro’s Restaurant. Ipswich’s favourite poet Rupert McCall was in attendance and local businesses including Wingate Properties, Investa Corporation and the Springfield Land Corporation rallied to the support of the QIMR making generous donations. It is great to have people come to the rescue of those in need. Thank you to all who contributed.

Keep an eye out for the Great South East over the next few weeks for the special Ipswich program to be broadcast just before the Ipswich Festival. The program will showcase what’s happening in the city and I’d like to thank Channel 7 for their great support of Ipswich.

The ‘Ipswichians’ are a club filled with ex-Ipswich residents who now reside on the north or south coast. It was fantastic to have them back in Ipswich this week to take a look at all that has been happening around the city. They were very impressed with the changes since their last visit. The Ipswichians have a saying - there are two kinds of people, those who live in Ipswich and those who wish they could.

The 2007 Ipswich Poetry Feast was launched on Wednesday night to coincide with World Poetry Day. The Poetry Feast highlights the skills, talent and creativity of poetry writing. Poetry enthusiasts have strongly embraced the competition since it began and this enthusiasm looks set to continue in 2007. Congratulations to the Ipswich Poetry Feast Committee Chairperson Councillor David Pahlke and the volunteers and sponsors involved in a great night.

Congratulations to Ipswich Basketball for 45 years of basketball in Ipswich City. Ipswich has an impressive history of sporting champions. To reach a level where Ipswich teams are playing in the state league for the first time is a wonderful achievement. The commitment of managers, players, umpires and supporters to reach this level is evident. Basketball is an important part of the growth of Ipswich and I wish you well throughout the remaining season and look forward to hearing more of your success.

The Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) held a breakfast at Brookwater Golf Club on Thursday. The UDIA promotes sustainable urban development. With the majority of Queensland’s growth situated in the western corridor, Ipswich is of particular interest to the Institute. Ipswich is filled with potential and is a major part of the solution to accommodate the increased population as forecast in the South East Queensland Regional Plan.

A big thank you to Swifts Bowls Club for supporting and assisting with the Mayoress’s Charity Lawn Bowls evening at Swifts Sports Club at Booval on Friday evening to raise money for the Mayoress’s Community Support Committee. A great fun evening and barbeque was had by all and the funds raised will go towards different great causes.

The Rivers of Life Christian Church opened the Tivoli Miracle Centre at Chuwar on Saturday. This is stage one of the vision of redeveloping the former Tivoli Drive-In theatre as a major new community facility that will provide a place of worship for Rivers of Life Christian Church. It will also provide a community recreational and meeting venue and an employment and training centre to help the disadvantaged in the community acquire skills required for employment. Congratulations to all the volunteers and church members who made this possible.

Just Rock Ipswich Leisure Dance and Car Club held their annual dance at the Ipswich Showgrounds last weekend. More than 350 people relived the 1950s and 60s nightlife that was once experienced at Ipswich’s Londy’s café on Brisbane Street. This year’s theme was Dad’s Shed and the 50s and 60s memorabilia on display was a true trip back down memory lane. An electronic sky show took partygoers through a pictorial history of the clubs events of the last year.

19 March 2007 - Archived

UQ Ipswich opened their new activity centre last week. The centre, which will play an important role in the University's commitment to community engagement, is designed to provide a place for public activities and events on a small scale and as a facility for multi-faith activities. It was great to see Sir Llew Edwards and David Hamill at the opening. UQ Vice-Chancellor Professor John Hay said that the University of Queensland has invested $60 million to date on the Ipswich campus and that UQ will keep investing in Ipswich – we are truly a city of education.

The International Space Station is not something we give a lot of thought to in our everyday lives. Last week, I witnessed a special presentation from NASA’s Risk Manager at Houston Michael Lutomski. In a thought provoking presentation held in Ipswich it was clear that managing risk in space means there is absolutely no room for error. Senior personnel from RAAF Amberley, Boeing, Qantas, Ball Solutions and Tasman Aviation also attended the presentation.

Congratulations to Eamon Dodrill who attends Collingwood Park State School. Eamon is one of the school captains and getting his head shaved last Friday raised just over $3000 for the annual Shave for a Cure event. Well done Eamon and thanks also to local councillor and Deputy Mayor Victor Attwood for supporting the Leukaemia Foundation.

Rotary District 9630 covers a very large area of the state from south of the Brisbane River and then west to Charleville. Over the weekend, Ipswich played host to around 600 members who attended their annual district conference. Rotary is an impressive worldwide group of ordinary men and women who do extraordinary things to help their local community, country and overseas aid projects in third world countries.

The much anticipated official opening of Orion Town Centre at Springfield last Friday marked another milestone in the chapter of Springfield. Big crowds have already enjoyed this innovative and very “green” centre. It was great to have Premier Peter Beattie in Ipswich for this important event. Congratulations to Greg Paramor, the team from Mirvac and all the new retailers who are backing the future of Ipswich with their investment.

Happy 90th birthday to Marjory Warren who is enjoying life at St Mary’s Hostel at Raceview. It was great to call in last week with local councillor Sheila Ireland to help celebrate Marjory’s big day.

Sew Happy Lace Makers keep traditional crafts alive and this Saturday representatives from the Australian Lace Guild Queensland division will join local members to exchange information on lace and lace making. New members are always welcome and can email Madge McClellen at sewhappy42@hotmail.com

12 March 2007 - Archived

THE SEVENTIES are alive and well. Last Wednesday I had a wonderful experience with an energetic group of 70 year olds at Glebe Road Uniting Church. Jan Bailey, Rev Trevor Foote, Beverley Antoniolli and Joyce Lawton all celebrate turning 70 this month. The morning tea was conducted with real style. Tea was served in fine china cups. Thank you for allowing me to join the celebrations dressed in the mayoral robes.

The Ipswich Hospital Foundation’s SNAP program is a workplace detection and early intervention screening project that promotes healthy lifestyle changes. SNAP stands for the Screening Nutrition Activity Program. We all know that many aspects of our health are in our own hands but sometimes we need help and encouragement from others. Tom Yates and his team from the hospital foundation are to be congratulated on the promotion of this and other healthy lifestyle programs. I’ve had my check-up and pleased to report that my blood pressure is normal.

Our SES volunteers have been recognised at a special presentation on Sunday by the Minister for Emergency Services Pat Purcell. Congratulations to all recipients. All SES members deserve our thanks for the tireless and dedicated work they do in times of an emergency. Well done.

Congratulations to Redbank Plaza on the launch of their frequent shopper rewards program. It is great to see good retailaing and good promotions in action. On Saturday I was joined by local councillor and Deputy Mayor Victor Attwood to officially lauch the Redbank Rewards customer loyalty program.

Also over the weekend a Men’s Christian Breakfast was held at Brookwater Golf Club with the topic “One Man’s Influence”. These regular events are organised by Springfield Christian Family Chruch and for more information you can contact John Van Bennekom on 3818 0892.

Channel 10 is certainly showing an inceased interest in what is happening in Ipswich. Last week it was great to catch up with general manger Chris O’Connell and show him around the city including the CBD and the major developments in the Springfield and Brookwater areas.

5 March 2007 - Archived

THE FUTURE of the Ipswich CBD has never had a higher priority from myself and all Councillors. The second meeting of the recently formed Ipswich Centre Task Force was held last Tuesday. More importantly this task force has been given substantial resources to examine a number of key issues that need to be addressed. Funding of $2.2 million from Ipswich City Council and the State Government has already made possible the appointment last week of consultancy firm Urbis JHD. Their job is to develop a city centre strategy that will be backed by detailed research. This task force is a partnership with the State Government and I want thank local members Rachel Nolan and Wayne Wendt for their support and involvement. We will continue to work on confirming the Ipswich CBD as a principal regional centre for the western corridor and identifying catalyst projects to further boost the CBD. Other support may be in the form of encouraging more community involvement and marketing of Ipswich city centre. Key business leaders such as Tom Edwards, Ian Lupton and Andy Rawlings attended on Tuesday, as did Anne-Maree Edwards who represented the CBD Traders Advisory group. The task force will also conduct regular briefings for all retailers. I look forward to working with all parties to continue the revitalisation of the Ipswich CDB that has already begun with the new look Ipswich Mall, d’Arcy Doyle Place and River Heart Parklands.

THE RSL Girl in a Million Quest raises money for the community service work of the RSL and is a fantastic way to participate in your community while helping to raise funds for the welfare of Queensland veterans. It was tremendous to catch up with most of the local entrants Emma Donovan, Tara Parson, Anna Quatermass, Shantel Dora, Kandie Furness and Donna Reggett. Rebecca Nunn, Talitha Exton and Jessica Nugent are also entrants and missed a great morning tea. All the best girls.

Queensland Playgroup Association do a wonderful job in the community having been established by volunteers in 1973. The association commenced with 14 Playgroups and has since grown to be one of the State’s largest early childhood organisations. It was an honour to receive an award recognising community support for the association at the recent annual general meeting of the association.

Over the weekend the Confraternity of Brothers Clubs was held at Brothers Ipswich. This important gathering of Brothers Clubs from around the state was an opportunity for discussion on their future direction and to learn from each club’s successes.

The Ipswich showgrounds was alive with the sounds of many budgies on the weekend. Bird fanciers from across the region attended the annual Budgerigar Show at the Ipswich Showgrounds. On display were the best of the best budgies and it is interesting to note that this breed is native to Australia and one of the most popular pet birds in the world.

26 February 2007 - Archived

IT’S been a big week of store openings in Ipswich. In one day last week I attended three official openings – Priceline, Curves Gym and Sportsfirst at Yamanto, and later in the week the new GHD office in Springfield. I want to extend a warm welcome to these new businesses as it is a sure sign that the city is continuing to grow. It is also very encouraging for future development that a company the calibre of GHD has chosen to open an office here. GHD is an international company that provides professional services for companies involved in a wide range of activities including mining, industry and property development.

Thank you to everyone who attended the meeting of Council held at St Peter Claver College at Riverview last Wednesday night. In particular a special thanks to school captains Jack Ford and Mirinda Friend for their help on the night.

Staff of Ipswich City Council have been recognised for outstanding customer service at the annual Mayor’s Employee Excellence Awards last week. The overall winner was Greg Tarlinton who was awarded employee of the year. Greg works with Conservation Parks and Sport as a supervisor with the team who keep Queens Park looking its best year round. Greg has often gone above and beyond the call of duty to ensure Queens Park is maintained to a very high standard. He also works with community groups who use the Bush and Glass House. Greg's dedication to the job helps maintain Queens Park as one of our top tourist destinations.

North Ipswich Child Care celebrated their 30th anniversary last Friday night with the cutting of the cake. Local councillor Cheryl Bromage joined me at the celebrations in Hill Street, then on Saturday we attended the official opening of Suncare Lakes retirement community in Brassall.

Westfalen Community Gardens at Collingwood Park continues to do great work involving the residents from all over the city. Thank you to Trevor Gardner, Allan Brown and Melissa Watt for a briefing on the latest projects at the Dunlop Street site.

The Bank of Queensland Springfield manager Kym Wickstein and staff took time out of their busy day to have morning tea with local councillor David Morrison and myself last week. It was great to meet with such a bunch of positive people who are also great ambassadors for the city. Keep up the great customer service.

19 February 2007 - Archived

ONE of Ipswich’s best known families is the Edwards family, owners of RT Edwards. Tom Edwards celebrated his 70th birthday last week and it is tremendous that he still takes part in the day-to-day running of the business. Tom has been a friendly face for decades at the East St store and can still be seen greeting customers. Happy Birthday Tom and thank you for the way in which you have supported a vast array of community groups in Ipswich over many years.

The annual Ipswich Show will again be a highlight in the city during May. It was great to catch up recently with show society president Syd Haag to hear about the plans for this year’s show that brings city and country together.

Property analyst Michael Matusik is certainly a big believer in Ipswich and the western corridor. Last week, Michael was a guest speaker at a meeting of the Ipswich Chamber of Commerce. Much of Michael’s early predictions for the local property market have been realised.

Thirty years of political cartoons from Wil Mitchell are now on display at the Ipswich Art Gallery. Pull No Punches is the name of Wil’s exhibition of 120 cartoons which you can view at the gallery until March 23. This exhibition captures many of the events that helped shape the Ipswich of today and provides a wonderful visual time capsule of the political history of our city. Congratulations Wil.

Happy Chinese New Year for the Year of the Pig. According to tradition, your future personality, success and happiness are determined by the characteristics of your birth year animal. Ipswich is proud of the relationship we have built with the Chinese community and we will continue to build on this strong bond. Other traits for those born in the Year of the Pig include being friends for life, their relationships are very deep, devoted and rich beyond measure and they are very noble and give and receive lots of hugs.

During the next week please lend your support to the Colour Your Day appeal. Running between February 19 and 25, the appeal aims to raise more than $100,000 this year for the Cerebral Palsy League to provide vital equipment and technology, services and support to thousands of Queenslanders with cerebral palsy. Both children and adults can get involved in the week at either work or school by wearing bright clothes or hosting a colourful activity and collecting donations for the appeal. Contact the league for more information.

I want to congratulate the community on the great work taking place which I witness in my daily travels around Ipswich. What makes this city so great is its heart and soul which is our caring community. Keep up the good work!

12 February 2007 - Archived

SENIOR NET was setup in 1995 with the help of Ipswich City Council and is run by seniors to help seniors understand computers and the internet. For 12 years they have been offering training to develop computer skills and assistance on how to access the information superhighway. It is tremendous to see the group growing and continuing to offer a great service for our seniors. If you are still to get your own email address and wondering what the internet is all about then I’m sure Senior Net can help. Contact membership officer Marie Coleman on 3294 7148 for more information.

AFL got a kick along with a visit to Ipswich Mall from Leigh Matthews and six players from the Brisbane Lions last week. The team was met with a warm welcome from supporters. We wish the Lions all the best for a grand final win in 2007.

Maha Sinnathamby is a true champion of the west. This was again evident at the Boulevard Ball last week to mark the completion of the new four-lane road to link Augusta Parkway with the Springfield-Greenbank Arterial. This new road will be open in time for Orion Shopping Centre to commence trading on March 15.

Marilyn Brown will say goodbye to Ipswich after many years. Thank you Marilyn for your support of Ipswich Tourism during your time with Brothers and also for your work in supporting our young people at Apprenticeships Queensland.

Ipswich Grammar and Ipswich Girls Grammar have held their annual induction of prefects and seniors for the new school year. It is always great to meet with our young people. They are the community leaders of tomorrow.

Rosewood Anglican Church welcomed Kevin Ellem to the parish last Friday. Prior to taking up this position at Rosewood Kevin was teaching at Mt Crosby State School for the past 16 years. This move also marks a return to the ministry for Kevin.

The spirit of Ipswich is alive through many community groups across the city, including the Pride of Ipswich Chorus. I’m sure we’ll hear more from this all female chorus as they feature in the cultural life of Ipswich. If you would like to join the Pride of Ipswich Chorus contact Bronwyn Hollett on 0413 320 998 or 5463 4544. The group meets every Thursday from 7pm in the Humanities Building, corner of Nicholas and South Streets.

Camira Friends and Neighbours group held their first meeting of the year last week. This group of volunteers continues to do a tremendous job in supporting the local community. I also want to thank local councillor David Morrison for joining me at the clubhouse which is located behind the Caltex on Old Logan Rd. If you are interested in joining this group or would like more information, please contact Cr Morrison on 3818 3100.

Queens Park will soon get a further upgrade with a new Environment Education Centre. I want to thank the Premier Peter Beattie and Local Government Minister Andrew Fraser for their support of this new project. This is another great win for Ipswich.

5 February 2007 - Archived

WELCOME to your river! That was the theme at the official opening of the River Heart Parklands on Saturday night. For about a year council staff and contractors have been working to transform this previously little-used section of the Bremer River edge between the road and rail bridges. The new parklands are part of the River Heart vision for Ipswich city centre and is part of the bigger picture for revitalising Ipswich CBD. No longer are we turning our back on the river, but rather it becomes a focal point of the city. There are many people to thank including the State Government for backing the vision of Councillors. Council staff, contractors and designers have come together and created a very special destination for families and visitors. Most of all thank you to all those residents who took time to take part in the extensive community consultation that led to the final design of the parklands.

Last week I travelled to Puckapunyal in Victoria and Randwick in New South Wales for briefings with members of the 9th Force Support Battalion before their relocation to Amberley next year. RAAF Base Amberley is fast becoming a super base with the airforce and army calling the base home. It was a tremendous opportunity to talk with 400 families first hand about the various attractions in our city with information on accommodation, schooling, jobs for spouses and what living in Ipswich is all about. I want to thank the army for organising the briefing sessions and for making me welcome. It was encouraging to hear feedback from the army driver taking me to the airport that his wife was so impressed with the Ipswich story and they have decided to look for a new home here as soon as possible

Ipswich is famous for a broad range of cultural activities. The Cambrian Choir is off to Inverell in New South Wales for a concert in May that will again showcase the magnificent young talent in our ranks. Myfanwy Kernke is working with the production of the Vagina Monologues as part of a world wide campaign to stop violence against women and young girls. Thirdly, Shane White’s Young Australian Dancers Company is working on another ballet for children and featuring our talented young people as part of the program. These are just three more examples of what gives our city a cultural heart and soul.

The last word (for this week) on the Ipswich Motorway. While it is welcome that a start has finally been made on the Logan interchange at Gailes, we still need the Goodna to Dinmore section upgraded without further delay. It is a Federal Government road and only Canberra can break the impasse and should release the funding immediately.

29 January 2007 - Archived

AUSTRALIA Day marks the end of school holidays and family vacations. It is also a time of year to reflect on the values we hold dearly. As a nation we do have a unique sense of humour and laidback manner. We’re not afraid to pitch in and help our mates in times of either personal crisis or community disaster. We’re generally very positive and prepared to have a go to get the job done. All of these qualities and more were exemplified at the Ipswich Citizen of the Year Awards and the various citizenship ceremonies held over the weekend. It is important not forget these values for the rest of the year.

Over the weekend it was great to visit Ron and Beryl Oldham at Pine Mountain with local councillor Cheryl Bromage. Ron and Beryl celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary this year.

Cabanda Aged Care at Rosewood has notched up 20 years service to the community. There was a formal recognition event held in Rosewood over the weekend with more celebrations planned in October.

Congratulations to Two Wing cadets on their graduation at RAAF Amberley on the weekend. The base is playing an increasingly important role in our city and it tremendous to see young people taking their place in the defence force.

The official opening of another business generating more new jobs in the Ipswich CBD took place on Monday. DBMRyka tele-appointing centre commenced operation late last year at 131 Brisbane Street. Thank you to John Swete-Kelly for investing in the future of Ipswich and for having confidence in the Ipswich CBD as a major regional centre.

Rugby league plays a big part of life in Ipswich and this year I’m confident we will see the Ipswich Jets return to form with Kevin Walters as the new coach. Let’s all get behind the Jets this year and really give the boys the support they deserve at the home games. Ipswich Basketball is also working hard to put the city on the map in the coming season. At a meeting last week executives from the association revealed great plans for the new season. Make sure you look out for details of home games at Bundamba Basketball Stadium.

22 January 2007 - Archived

I REMEMBER playing touch footy with Bill McConochie when I could run and not get out of breath! Bill and Bev have sold their famous Billy Mac’s bakery in Hunter Street Brassall and I know the community will miss them. Bill and Bev have supported many local groups over the years. I’d also like to welcome the new owners and wish them all the best for the future.

This Friday Bundamba Pool will be loads of fun for the annual Family Funday sponsored by Ipswich City Council. There’s free admission for all the family with random prizes and games between 10am and 4pm. Lucky prizes will include an adult season ticket, two terms for learn to swim lessons and a month of aqua fitness kindly donated by David Urquhart Swim School. This is always a very popular day so make sure you get there early.

Every year at this time it is an honour to be part of the annual Ipswich Citizen of the Year Awards and citizenship ceremony. Thursday night from 6pm at the Civic Hall a number of residents will be recognised for their contribution to the well-being of our city. Ipswich is renowned for a tremendous spirit of caring for each other and these annual awards highlight members of the community who give their time freely for the benefit of the city.

Being Mayor of a city is not just a job, it is a huge responsibility. A lot of people ask what are you doing about this and about that. Many people are only concerned with one issue. The city is made up of many different parts and a Mayor must be concerned about all these individual and unique parts. It is a bit like baking a cake. Getting the ingredients right will make for a great cake.

The River Heart Parklands is nearing completion and we are gearing up for Sunday February 4 when the parklands open to the public for the first time. This previously unused area of the river bank between the two bridges is about to become one of the most popular destinations for families. Add Queens Park, Ipswich Nature Centre, Nerima Gardens, Ipswich Art Gallery and the Workshops Rail Museum and there are many good reasons to visit Ipswich.

15 January 2007 - Archived

MEET you at the Parklands! I’m sure this phrase will become part of Ipswich from February 4 with the public opening of the River Heart Parklands. The finishing touches are being made now and weather permitting the $4.5 million dollar project will add more than just a new destination to our CBD. I want to thank the State Government for their support in jointly funding this spectacular project with Ipswich City Council. The new River Heart Parklands opens up the banks of the Bremer River between the railway and road bridges and brings into sharp focus the on-going revitalisation of Ipswich city centre. I also want to thank Gary Donovan and the CBD Traders Advisory for their support and acknowledgement the merits of an expanded Ipswich city centre focusing on the river. The proposed opening in March of the privately developed Riverlink Shopping Centre on the former QR land is conditional upon the construction of a footbridge. What we are seeing today is a significant milestone in the history of Ipswich. The River Heart vision that was released by council just three years ago is substantially underway. In the future the River Heart vision for Ipswich will be regarded as a benchmark for other cities to follow.

Karen Oberg has said farewell to her role as executive officer of the Ipswich Chamber of Commerce. I know that Karen has made a valuable contribution to the day-to-day operation of the chamber office and to the annual awards night.

During the current school holidays we have welcomed many thousands of visitors to our city. Attractions such as the Workshops Museum, Ipswich Nature Centre, Queens Park and Ipswich Art Gallery. The Visitor Information Centre has been answering a steady stream of inquiries from day trippers. It is great to see that Ipswich can now offer an alternative for families looking for low cost or free recreational activities. Thank you again to the many volunteers who also help out during the summer holidays.

A special thank you to the many thousands of residents who responded to the recent Your City Your Say survey. It is taking some time to get through so many responses. The feedback has been tremendous.

Welcome to the QT’s new editor Natalie Gauld. It was great to have coffee with Natalie last week for an official welcome to our city. The role of a daily newspaper for Ipswich is an important one and I’m sure Natalie will make a meaningful contribution to the next chapter in the long history of The Queensland Times.

8 January 2007 - Archived

WATER and the worst drought in a century continues to be a hot topic of conversation. It follows then that the historic low water levels in our dams are also in the spotlight. So it is important to understand the basics and not be misled by sensational headlines. I don't want to get caught up in technical jargon, but how we get water from the dams to taps in homes is a major engineering feat. Something that we take for granted. The current discussion in the media about pressure reduction to reduce wastage, savings targets by councils, and water pressure needs some clarification. Ipswich City Council will meet savings targets by August 31 2008 and has already made significant savings in other areas including across 303 properties under council ownership. Water pressure to all homes in Ipswich will be at a level of service that meets household needs. By introducing water pressure management we will equalise pressure across the city as there are some areas with more than 3 times the minimum supply standard. This leaves us with plenty of scope to reduce pressure and therefore potential mains leaks in those areas.

I have written to the Prime Minister asking for his personal assistance to resolve once and for all the funding for an immediate start on a full upgrade of the Ipswich Motorway, not just the section from Gailes to Darra. I know it is sometimes difficult to understand the complex issue of which level of government pays for what and quite frankly I also know that most people don’t care who pays for it. They just want the road fixed. The plans for the entire upgrade show an M1 style of motorway complete with service roads that will dramatically improve safety for road users. There’s not a moment to loose and I am again appealing to John Howard for his help.

The annual Ipswich Citizen of the Year Awards will be held on the night of Thursday January 25 in the Civic Hall. Again this year there are outstanding nominations and it will be a great night to acknowledge the marvellous contribution all nominees have made to the well-being of our city.

I am already looking forward to this year’s Australia Day celebrations at the Bundamba Swim Centre as I officially take away the pain of one Englishman over Australia’s Ashes triumph and turn him into an Australian citizen. The ceremony with the former Mayor of the English city of Manchester John Ackerley and his wife Christine will be taking place from noon on January 26 and I’m sure it will be a memorable occasion. Rosewood Lions Club are also hosting a citizenship ceremony in the morning.

Everything is progressing well for the planned opening of River Heart Parklands in the coming weeks. We are creating a special new meeting place that will act as a focal point for the community. Once the Parklands are completed, I’m sure they will be embraced by Ipswich residents and those throughout South-East Queensland. It will become the venue for many special events and memories.

1 January 2007 - Archived

HANG on for the ride. Here it is 2007 and this year will be another 12 months of incredible achievement and progress for our great city of Ipswich. I’m sure that together we will continue to build on the great work and constructive partnerships of the past between business, community groups and individuals. In the coming year I look forward to meeting new people and establishing new partnerships. It is people that make the difference and as Mayor it is one of my responsibilities to encourage excellence and teamwork as we move forward. The rollercoaster will not be stopping any time soon. Ipswich is firmly centre stage in the future sustainable development of South East Queensland. The key is to create the kind of Ipswich we want it to be.

Many people will be enjoying a well deserved annual break this week but the wheels of council continue to serve us well. Spare a thought today for drivers collecting rubbish and to other dedicated staff often unseen including those that keep the water and sewerage systems functioning. Emergency service workers are true heroes being on call and on the job regardless of the time of year. Thank you to all the ambulance, Queensland Fire and Rescue, Emergency Management, SES and police staff for being there. Staff in hospitals are also there day and night to do whatever it takes. We salute you!

As you move about sometimes there may be things you notice that need attention. It might be a damaged safety sign, a leaking water main or something else that may impact on public safety. I encourage you to become the eyes and ears of council and to report such incidents so action can be taken to fix the problem. Ipswich City Council has a 24 hour number available – 38106666.

26 December 2006 - Archived

SAFETY on the roads should be top of mind every time you get behind the wheel of a car or on a motorcycle. TV news bulletins, radio and newspapers are constantly reminding us to take extra care. Too often we are seeing and hearing of senseless deaths as a result of traffic accidents. I urge you to be patient, drive for the conditions, and on long drives take a rest every two hours, even if you feel like you could keep going. A short break every two hours is one of the best road safety tips I’ve heard.

David Walker established his successful auto spares business many years ago and continues to be actively involved in the local community through church and various other community groups. Last week the Rotary Club of Ipswich City awarded David a Paul Harris Fellow - one of the highest accolades awarded by the club. David has received a commemorative certificate, a Paul Harris Fellow pin, and a medallion as recognition for the magnificent contribution he has made to the community, his family and Rotary.

The future of Ipswich is in good hands. Last week a group seniors from St Mary’s called in to the office for morning tea. It was very encouraging to talk about the future and to hear all the girls talk so positively about the confidence they have in Ipswich. All the best for 2007 and I look forward to seeing the next chapter unfold as these bright stars of tomorrow enter the workforce or university.

This is the final column for the year, so on behalf of all councillors and staff of Ipswich City Council, may you and your family continue to enjoy the festive season and all the very best for 2007.

18 December 2006 - Archived

REG Grundy and Joy Chambers have left a lasting impression of compassion and humbleness after their visit to Ipswich last week. Joy launched her new book and Reg his display of photographs at the Ipswich Art Gallery. It was tremendous that Ipswich-born Joy also accepted the role of international cultural ambassador and Poetry Feast patron for Ipswich.

Our CBD will be further strengthened by the creation of the new Ipswich Centre Task Force. Minister for Local Government, Planning and Sport - Andrew Fraser and I signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will result in local and state government working closer for the benefit of the city and to encourage further public and private sector investment in the Ipswich CBD.

Goodna’s 150th anniversary celebrations came to a close last week with the council meeting at Shiloh Church. Local councillor Paul Tully looked the part in period costume as did all councillors on the night. Thank you to the many residents who attended. Again next year we will have two night meetings in the suburbs as part of our commitment to make council meetings more accessible.

Eric Jones has been honoured by the Blackstone Welsh Church Soccer Club for his 36 years service as president. The club has renamed the Blackstone soccer field as the Eric Jones soccer field.

The River Heart Parklands is close to completion. EDAW is the company behind the overall design and Mark Fuller presented the city with a rare Wollemi Pine which now has pride of place in the parklands. When the parklands open in late January it will become a must visit destination in our city along with Queens Park, Ipswich Art Gallery, Workshops Museum and many others.

Dudley and Doreen Blaine have already been celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary and will keep that going with friends and family in the lead up to the anniversary date of the 22nd December. Congratulations Dudley and Doreen.

On behalf of all councillors and staff of Ipswich City Council I want to wish you a safe and happy Christmas. We constantly need to remind ourselves of the dangers of driving while tired especially over long distances so please stay alert behind the wheel and have a safe and merry Christmas.

11 December 2006 - Archived

CHRISTMAS was celebrated by thousands of people on Friday night at the turf club. The move to Bundamba for the city’s annual Carols by Candlelight has been a tremendous success. Thank you to the sponsors, many performers and support crew for a wonderful night of carol singing and to Troy Cassar-Daley. On behalf of all councillors and staff I want to once again wish you and your family a safe and happy Christmas season.

Over the weekend there were a number of smaller carols events including Riverview Neighbourhood House, Whitehill Church of Christ and Springfield Lakes. Thank you to all those who work hard at presenting these community carols events for the benefit of nearby residents. It is nice to know the spirit of Christmas is alive and well throughout Ipswich.

This week we welcomed Ipswich-born Joy Chambers for the launch of her new book and an exhibition of photography from husband Reg Grundy. Joy is one of our more famous daughters as a result of her appearances in TV shows like The Restless Years and Young Doctors. Joy was also honoured as international patron of the annual Poetry Feast. Reg Grundy personally launched an exhibition of photos from his book The Wildlife of Reg Grundy at the Ipswich Art Gallery.

This Wednesday night Ipswich City Council will meet at Goodna to mark the close of celebrations for the 150th anniversary of Goodna. Councillors and staff will be on hand at Shiloh Church from 5.30pm to answer questions at an informal meet and greet with the meeting starting at 7pm.

The first seniors breakfast in the Ipswich Mall last Thursday was fantastic. Thank you to everyone who turned up and to Peter Calcott and the dedicated volunteers from the National Seniors Association for cooking the sausages and running the breakfast. This was another great example of how we can use the mall for community benefit. It was a great morning and I’m sure we will do it again next year.

4 December 2006 - Archived

IPSWICH CBD has never looked so good. After the great lantern parade last Thursday and the turning on of the lights, the city is now looking a whole lot more like Christmas. Congratulations to everyone who took part in the lantern parade and to Jamee Cunningham from Silkstone State Primary School for helping me officially turn on the Christmas lights. Also this year it is tremendous to see something brand new in the shape of Santa’s Wonderland. Don’t miss this magical display in the arcade below the cinemas. Now there’s no need to drive elsewhere to see such a high standard of a Christmas themed display.

The Mayor’s Carols by Candlelight this year will be held for the first time at the Ipswich Turf Club. There are many reasons behind the move from Queens Park to Bundamba. As the city grows we need to have a new venue to accommodate larger crowds. The turf club has many facilities already on site, while Queens Park is limited by the lay of the land and views of a temporary stage can often be blocked by trees. I’m confident that the turf club will prove to be an ideal venue with easy access by public transport and more room for car parking. There will be early entertainment for the kids from 4.30pm with the main program starting at 5.30pm. Best of all – it’s free admission. There will be also no alcohol sold or permitted through the gates as this is a family event.

Boulder Steel made a significant move last week with the opening of an office in the Ipswich CBD. This is another stage and a positive move in the lead-up to construction of a specialty steel plant at Swanbank Enterprise Park. During the construction and operation of the plant we will see a significant boost to creating new jobs in Ipswich.

I was more than happy to conduct a special citizenship ceremony for Fr Roger Burns of St Francis Xavier Church at Goodna on the weekend. Fr Roger is well known to parishioners and also conducted a special service to give thanks for the many migrants who have settled in Goodna.

The season for Christmas breakups is underway. Glebe Garden Club held theirs on Saturday at Glebe Road Uniting Church, Ipswich Bowls Club held their BBQ on Saturday night and Swifts Rugby League Football Club also had a party on the weekend.

A couple of significant events last Friday highlighted people with a disability and how cigarettes butts damage the environment. The international day of people with a disability promoted support for people in our community who have a disability and their families and carers. We should always be aware and consider ways in which we can help to avoid discrimination on the basis of disability. Also on Friday the Butt Stops Here campaign was launched to highlight environmental friendly ways to dispose of cigarette butts. Thank you to State Minister for Environment and Multiculturalism Lindy Nelson-Carr, local state member Rachel Nolan and to the Keep Australia Beautiful Campaign for choosing Ipswich to launch this state-wide litter reduction program.

27 November 2006 - Archived

VOLUNTEERS everywhere are the unsung heroes of our community. As an example last week at a special ceremony at the Ipswich Art Gallery it was noted that 4,000 hours of time from volunteers enabled the gallery to greet 65,000 visitors in the past 12 months. On behalf of the city I want to salute all volunteers who make such a tremendous contribution to the well-being of our city.

Our local history defines who we are and so it was a wonderful experience last week to attend the launch of a book by Dr Noel Wallis on the life of Pauleen Casos during World War II. Ipswich and surrounding areas saw an amazing amount of activity during this period of our history and another chapter has been captured through the eyes of Pauleen.

Last Thursday night in the Ipswich Mall it was an honour to again conduct a large citizenship ceremony. Congratulations to all those who either became or reaffirmed their citizenship. Also on the same night was the Ipswich Alive combined churches celebration which featured the Bethel Youth Group dancers from Springfield with modern and traditional Polynesian dancing and Bethany Lutheran School Choir.

Less than four weeks to Santa’s annual visit and last Friday night saw the annual Christmas in the Park at Brassall that featured all local talent. Ipswich City Council is proud to support this and a number of other Christmas events across our city. Don’t forget that this year’s Mayor’s Carols by Candlelight will be held at the Ipswich Turf Club and will feature entertainment from Troy Cassar-Daley and a huge fireworks finale. Get there from 4.30pm for the bonus entertainment for the kids.

On Saturday a piece of our history returned home. A magnificent stained glass window has been restored and is now back in its original location at the Ipswich RSL Memorial Hall in Nicholas Street after being moved to Ipswich RSL Services Club at North Ipswich in 1979. In November 1922 the window was unveiled by the then Governor. It was erected by the Ipswich Train Tea Society in memory of the men who gave their lives for Empire and country.

Having and sharing pride in where we live can be like a tonic. How great was it to see our young people proudly wearing I love Ipswich shirts at schoolies? Well done girls. You have done the city a wonderful service, so please keep up the great ambassador role you are playing for Ipswich.

The annual game of bocce with Brassall State school students was again a lot of fun with local councilor Cheryl Bromage. We were soundly beaten by the students. I’m already looking forward to another game next year.

The Ladies Mid Week Tennis Club held their Christmas function last week and as always it was great to catch up and present trophies to the winning teams after another successful year on the court.

20 November 2006 - Archived

GOODNA’s 150th anniversary celebrations have seen many highlights this year. Last week Jim Soorley and Bill Shorten were special guest speakers at Goodna RSL. Jim spoke with enthusiasm about the history of Goodna and as the population moves west Goodna is the first stop as you leave the capital. Goodna will share in the growth but will not lose its sense of place and community. Bill Shorten spoke from the heart about his experience at Beaconsfield and gave us plenty to think about when it comes to balancing work and family time.

A delegation from the Love and Grace Welfare Foundation and Aikobo Atelier of Tokyo are in Ipswich to stage a Japanese textile exhibition as well as a Japanese music concert at the Civic Hall. These two organisations are working to ensure disabled and disadvantaged people in their own community live a useful life through creative activities. Love and Grace members have previously sent delegations to Ipswich to study and learn from our high standard of care for older persons and the disabled.

One of the many attractions in Queens Park is the historic Glass House that was built in the early 1900’s. It has now been restored to its former glory thanks to the combined efforts of Glebe Garden Club and Ipswich City Council. The original use of the Glass House was by the park curators for propagating and housing rare plants. More recently it has been used by local horticulturalists for a similar purpose. It is tremendous to see this partnership grow so the club can now use this building for botanical purposes and to retain the historical integrity of the site.

It is always a pleasure to wish our seniors happy birthday. Jack O’Brien has notched up his 90th. Happy birthday Jack!

Whitehill Garden Club always end the year in style with their annual Christmas Concert. On Saturday it was great to call in to the church hall in Raceview and join the fun.

I’m really proud to be chairman of Bremer TAFE. The tremendous work of Kaylene Harth and the team has seen Bremer win Queensland Large Training Provider of the Year and just last week Bremer TAFE also won the title of 2006 Australian Training Awards Large Training Provider of the Year. It’s no wonder that Ipswich continues to lead the way in education and training.

Congratulations to Brothers on another successful city of Ipswich rodeo. This event keeps getting bigger and better and this weekend attracted a huge crowd. Well done to everyone involved in organising this event.

13 November 2006 - Archived

AS the end of the year draws nearer it is timely to stop and reflect on an amazing 12 months that will soon become another chapter in the story of our city. Many people have come together and worked hard these past few years, coupled with the previous work of many others, we now we are seeing the positive results. We can be proud of the new Ipswich with jobs being created, the revitalisation of the CBD with the Mall and the soon to be opened River Heart Parklands on the southern banks of the Bremer River between the two bridges. When I move around Ipswich to attend various meetings and public engagements I feel that we are experiencing a great resurgence and there is renewed confidence on where we are heading. Ipswich has a real heart and soul, a spirit if you like, that give us a sense of belonging and a sense of place. I am also seeing this in the early responses to the Your City Your Say survey. This is tempered by real concerns and issues that we must all deal with as a community. As the city grows there will be many opportunities to help create the kind of Ipswich we want in the future.

The season of community Christmas carols is about to start and there will be a number of nights across the city for the family to attend. In the eastern suburbs Shiloh Church in Goodna always presents a wonderful night of entertainment with carols on December 1, 2 and 3. Cr Bromage’s division six carols at are Sutton Park on November 24 and the City of Ipswich Carols are at Ipswich Turf Club on December 8th. The planning for this event confirms that this will be a tremendous night of entertainment. Troy Cassar-Daley and the Queensland Pops Orchestra will be leading a tremendous night of free entertainment at the Turf Club.

They say all good things must come to an end. This week, Headquarters Indoor Bowls Club will wind up after 49 years. Les North has filled the role of secretary for 43 of those years. What an amazing effort Les. Well done. The mats and bowls are being donated to aged care homes in Ipswich, and the balance of the club funds of around $4500 is being donated to Ipswich Hospice. This is a magnificent gesture by members and I know the community will join with me in thanking the club for this contribution to the well-being of our city.

6 November 2006 - Archived

THE strength of any city can be measured by the way we celebrate our successes and the way we come together to support each other on sad occasions. These past few days have been very emotional for many people. To the Central school community, family and friends, our prayers and thoughts are with you.

Stephen Williams and Wingate Properties have raised the bar when it comes to supporting culture and the arts in our city. The Ipswich Art Gallery is a vital part of the heart and soul of Ipswich and has been gifted three outstanding pieces of local history. On display now are recently restored Cribb family pieces of furniture made possible by a generous donation from Stephen Williams. A magnificent sideboard forms part of the acquisition. They are important pieces of our local history and will now be preserved for generations to come.

The start of November signals that Christmas is not really that far away. Ipswich Christmas Lights will again bring much joy to thousands of people and so will the new look Mayor’s Christmas Carols. Mark Friday December 8 on the calendar and take the whole family to the Ipswich Turf Club for a magnificent night of family entertainment. This will be a must attend event for Christmas and there will be more details closer to the event.

Jean Vellecott celebrated her 100th birthday last week with family and friends. It was great to drop in and wish Jean all the best on reaching the big century.

Congratulations to Rosewood Lions on hosting the recent Lions District conference. I enjoyed catching up with members and their partners last week for a tour of the council chambers and Ipswich Civic Hall.

On Saturday an important chapter in our history was remembered with a memorial service at the Australian Imperial Forces Section in the Ipswich General Cemetery. The service paid tribute to 72 World War I and World War II veterans who lie buried in unmarked graves. The rededication marks the identification of 35 of the diggers. I want to thank Matt Rennie for his tireless volunteer work in researching the identity of the men. The memorial on site was constructed in partnership with Apprenticeships Queensland. Local businesses and several Ipswich schools were also involved with this special project.

Each year the Ipswich Region Community Church holds a day of honour service to recognise our emergency service personnel, political and business leaders and the RSPCA. I want to thank Mark Edwards for this very generous public acknowledgement of the contribution all these people make to the well-being and safety of our community.

30 October 2006 - Archived

BY now you should have a copy of the Your City Your Say survey delivered to your mailbox. The city is moving forward with new development and new infrastructure and this is underpinned with a fantastic community spirit that gives our city a real heart and soul. There is still much work to be done and I want to know what you think about the job done so far and where we can improve. Ipswich is overflowing with many inspirational stories from our many thousands of volunteers. I also want to hear about these achievements from heroes quietly working in the background. The survey is also online at www.ipswichcitychat.com.au. Please join me in continuing to build Ipswich as a respected place to live and a place we can proudly call home.

More than 160 Ipswich businesses voted with their feet and attended the launch of ecoBiz, an initiative of the State Government through the Environmental Protection Agency and Ipswich City Council. The main message from the meeting was to encourage businesses to do more with less water, energy and materials. That might sound difficult, but already there are outstanding examples of businesses improving their bottom line while reducing their overall energy and water consumption. I want to congratulate Sunfresh at West Ipswich on the remarkable results they have achieved under the ecoBiz program.

Last week Ipswich was visited by no less than four state government Ministers. Paul Lucas, Lindy Nelson-Carr, Kerry Shine and Andrew Fraser were representing the State Government and their portfolios. This presence in our city is further confirmation of the important role Ipswich has to play in the solution to accommodating future sustainable development in south east Queensland.

The weekend was very purple in Goodna for the annual Jacaranda Festival and this year became another highlight of the 150 years of Goodna celebrations. In fact the weekend was full of anniversaries and celebrations that included Cribb Street Child Care Centre (30 years) and Silkstone Baptist Community Preschool & Kindergarten (40 years). In other Baptist Church news, Pastor Frank Hall has retired after four years of service at Silkstone. It was great to catch up with Frank on Friday for morning tea and to hear about the tremendous contribution the church makes to the local community.

The drought has brought into sharp focus the condition of our waterways throughout the state. Last week Ipswich hosted the first annual conference of the Rivers Improvement Trust. This inaugural conference was timely as it brought together the 17 river improvement trusts in Queensland.

Over the weekend stage one of the Bethany Lutheran School Redevelopment Project at Raceview was officially opened and dedicated. It was great to be part of the ceremony along with local councillor Sheila Ireland, state member for Ipswich Rachel Nolan, staff, parents and students of Bethany.

Golf fans had a big weekend at the Queensland Open played at Ipswich Golf Cub. Our reputation as a sporting city continues to be reinforced by major events such as the Queensland Open Golf Championship. Congratulations to sponsors and organisers for bringing around 160 players who shared of $105,000 in prize money.

23 October 2006 - Archived

LESS than two weeks until Level 4 water restrictions are introduced and last week the Pisasale home was a customer of the State Government’s Home Water Wise Service. All taps and shower roses were checked for the rate of water flow and new devices were fitted that will result in lower water consumption. Shower roses have been replaced and the water flow has been reduced by around 50% and taps by about 40%.

Ipswichians on the Gold Coast is a group of local residents who get together regularly for social occasions both on the Coast and here in Ipswich. Last week they had a great day at the Workers Club in Southport to honour Ron Neilson who initiated the group. Phil Cullen, Vonny Bromley, Shirley Beirne and Betty Neilsen were some of the famous Ipswich family names who enjoyed the day.

Londy’s Café is a name many residents would know being a famous spot in Brisbane Street for many years. Mates Peter Londy, John Penglis, Tom Edwards, Jack, Peter, Harry and Jim Stathis called in for morning tea last Friday and it was great to heart their yarns about the old days when the café was a favourite meeting place.

Premier Peter Beattie is a good friend of Ipswich. Again last week at a major event in Brisbane Mr Beattie was singing the praises of our city and our achievements. We can all be proud that Ipswich is centre stage in South East Queensland.

Coming soon to your letter box will be a “your city your say” survey flyer. As Mayor I am very keen to hear your feedback on issues that are important to you. Please take a moment to reply to the short questionnaire and make any other comments on areas you feel that we can do better. This survey will shape the partnership between community and council for the next 18 months and beyond. I hope that there will be plenty of constructive comment on how we can continue to develop the kind of Ipswich we want our city to be. A city that has a heart and soul.

Last week it was great to welcome many famous faces to Ipswich including Australian of the Year and Queenslander of the Year Professor Ian Frazer as part of the Premier’s roll of honour tour. State MP for Aspley Bonny Barry represented Peter Beattie and reminded us how important it is to nominate deserving members of the community for recognition both at a national and local level. Ian also lent a hand by launching the call for nominations for the Ipswich Citizen of the Year awards.

Thank you Kelly Higgins-Devine and the 612ABC radio team for their outside broadcast last Friday at Bob Gamble Park. Many residents also turned up to give the ABC a warm Ipswich welcome and to learn a little about the history of the Bremer River. Bob Gamble Park is looking great even with the drought.

16 October 2006 - Archived

THE South East Queensland Regional Plan is a vote of confidence in the future of Ipswich and the western corridor. I want to thank the Premier for backing our city. Last week the first pipes were laid at Bundamba signalling the commencement of construction of the southern regional water pipeline between Mt Crosby and the Gold Coast. This is the beginning of the new water grid as promised by Peter Beattie and it is also significant for Ipswich that the pipes for this project are being manufactured by Carole Park based company Tyco Water.

Congratulations to all category winners of the Ipswich Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s 2006 Bendigo Bank Ipswich Business Awards. This is the 10th year of the awards and highlights achievements and excellence by businesses operating successfully in the Ipswich region. The awards have grown to become the premier event showcasing outstanding achievements by our business community.

Harvard is a name synonymous with excellence in medical education and last week I attended a meeting with representatives from Harvard Medical International that could result in the establishment a campus at Education City Springfield. Harvard Medical International is a self-supporting not-for-profit subsidiary of the famous Harvard Medical School. One of the goals of Harvard is to improve the quality of health care through excellence in clinical medicine, medical education and biomedical research. This is a very exciting prospect for Ipswich that we might be the location of the first Harvard campus in Australia.

The Ipswich Orpheus Chorale’s production of My Fair Lady opened at the Civic Hall over the weekend after weeks of rehearsals. We are blessed to have so many talented performers in our city. Since its inception the Ipswich Orpheus Chorale has staged over 40 musical productions and I’m sure that My Fair Lady will not disappoint. For bookings contact the Civic Hall box office as there are more performances this weekend.

The Drug Arm Book Affair is open this week at the Wesley Mission at 27 Ellenborough Street and I am honoured to be patron. It is great to see the community working together towards the common goal of Drug Arms’s work in the community by helping those when they need it the most and giving people hope for a positive future without unnecessary drugs. This event generates vital funds to continue street outreach and home assessment programs that are helping to reduce the harm of alcohol and other drugs in Ipswich. The first Book Affair last year raised over $8,000 for Ipswich programs and this year Drug Arm hopes to raise over $10,000.

Over the weekend a RAAF firefighters reunion was held at the Ipswich International Hotel and Amberley. It was great to welcome former RAAF personnel from all over Australia. More than 100 made the journey to Ipswich to join with former workmates for a reunion dinner and memorial service.

Ipswich Rugby League Old Boys Association hosted a social game of lawn bowls on Sunday at Swifts Booval with proceeds going to the mayoress charity fund. Thank you to all those who took part and had good fun while raising money for a very worthwhile cause.

9 October 2006 - Archived

A VISIT to Challenge Employment and Training last week has reconfirmed my belief in the value of arming our young people with more skills. It is great to see that Challenge is continuing to rise to meet the needs of the region. Currently Challenge Employment and Training can assist employers in the areas of horticulture, manufacturing, construction and asset maintenance.

Carole Park is at the centre of manufacturing in our eastern suburbs and last week it was great to see the latest developments at Paradise Foods. Not only has this company learnt how to play first grade against the big guns of biscuit making, they have also carved out a successful market producing many generic and house brand biscuits for supermarkets. It is tremendous that Paradise has grown to now employ 750 people. Well done!

Congratulations to Shelley Hawes of Ray White Springfield on bringing a number of first time potential investors to Ipswich for an industry forum to hear the latest developments across the city. Allan Keast from Leda Holdings, John White from Mirvac and Maha Sinnathamby from Springfield Land Corporation were together on the one program to give the audience an update on a number of projects including the Riverlink Commercial Village in North Ipswich being developed by Leda, Mirvac’s Orion Springfield shopping centre and Maha spoke of how Springfield came to be the engine room of residential development in our eastern suburbs.

Stockland has officially launched the Augustine Heights display village just off Augusta Parkway and a few minutes from Springfield There are 10 homes on display which are well worth a look. I also want to congratulate Stockland on their water conservation initiative of also supplying a 5000 litre water tank as part of the land purchase in the newly released Stage 4.

It was great to join with Division 2 councillor Paul Tully and long term locals Steve Davies and his brother Charlie to officially open the new Church Street-Jones Road link between Goodna and Bellbird Park. Steve and Charlie are in their 90’s so they had many yarns about the old days to share.

Powerlink is putting in the hard yards planning well ahead of population growth forecasts to put the necessary infrastructure in place to meet and exceed power demand. A major part of this planning for the future is currently under construction in Kruger Parade. This new sub-station will secure the region’s power needs for decades to come.

Terry Morris from Sirromet Wines dropped in for breakfast last week at the Ipswich Visitor and Tourism Association’s regular get-together of members. Terry shared lessons learnt from establishing the award winning Mt Cotton Winery.

2 October 2006 - Archived

IPSWICH now has 168 new or reaffirmed Australian Citizens following one of our largest citizenship ceremonies last Thursday in the Mall. It was a great sense of occasion for all those involved and represented what an Australian citizenship symbolises. It’s all about our unity as a nation and represented a united commitment to Australia, its people and the values we share. Congratulations to all recipents and a special thank you to Gary Lawrence and the RAAF Amberley Brass Band.

Volunteers are the backbone of every community and now volunteers are being acknowledged by local Cr David Pahlke in the community office in Rosewood. A Hall of Fame Honour Board now pays tribute to town and country volunteers. The first 12 have been announced, many of them volunteers for many decades.

Work is progressing well at the River Heart Parklands between the road and rail bridges on the city reach of the Bremer River. When completed before Christmas, the Parklands will be a major recreational area with boardwalks featuring a special water feature using recycled water. The River Heart Parklands will be a fantastic addition to our CBD revitalisation strategy.

Christmas is only 11 weeks away and already plans are well advanced for the Mayor’s City of Ipswich Carols by Candlelight. The big change this year is the location with the Ipswich Turf Club at Bundamba being chosen as the new home for the carols. There will be a spectacular line-up of entertainment with appearances from Channel 10 personalities and fireworks. Keep Friday, December 8 free for a night of carols and wonderful family entertainment.

The Friendship Force of Ipswich said farewell to visitors from Detroit and Michigan at a special dinner last week. The concept behind the Friendship Force is quite unique having been established in 1977 as a non-profit group dedicated to the principle that each person can make a contribution to global goodwill. Home hospitality is at the heart of a Friendship Force exchange and provides the opportunity for people of different countries and cultures to connect at a personal level.

Police Remembrance Day on Friday was a time to stop and remember the sacrifices of 135 officers who were killed while on the job since the Queensland Police Service was established. This year, the Ipswich service was conducted at the recently refurbished Sangster Memorial in Browns Park, North Ipswich.

Ipswich Hospice continues to proved much needed care for our community. It was great to attend the annual general meeting last week to hear of the great progress of Hospice over the past 12 months. Gayle Brockie, the staff and volunteers do a tremendous job at “our Hospice”.

The Ipswich Turf Club annual general meeting has re-elected Wayne Patch as chairman for another 12 months. Congratulations Wayne, and no doubt you are already turning your attention to the 2007 Ipswich Cup.

25 September 2006 - Archived

KIM Beazley was in Ipswich last week and has again recommitted his support for an immediate and full upgrade of the Ipswich Motorway. I again urge the Federal Government to take responsibility for the Ipswich Motorway which is a federal road. Daily we have commuters being caught in what becomes a car park and this is holding back the progress of our region.

Last week it was tremendous to catch up with Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Infrastructure Anna Bligh and new Local Government, Planning and Sport Minister Andrew Fraser. Both were impressed with the latest information on the tremendous growth in the western corridor.

Judith Halliday is an ambassador for the Stroke Foundation and currently has an exhibition in the new Community Gallery at the Limestone Street end of d’Arcy Doyle Place. A special thank you to Veolia Environmental Services for supporting this exhibition.

Goodna’s 150th birthday celebrations continued last Friday with a seniors morning tea at the Goodna RSL. Local councilor Paul Tully and I enjoyed catching up on the stories of the old days in the Goodna area and we were all entertained by Elizabeth Garnett.

Residents and commuters around Australian Hardboards at Bundamba are enjoying a refreshing change in the air with the official opening last week of a new $10.4 million water recycling plant. Previously waste water was irrigated over a large area of Bremer Business Park and now that this land is no longer required for irrigation. 300 ha of future industrial land has been freed up. I also want to congratulate Australian Hardboards on already reducing their town water consumption by 65%.

Author Hugh Lunn can’t keep away from Ipswich. He was back again last week for the 60’s and Better program. Hugh’s latest book, Lost For Words, is about all the old words and phrases which have drifted out of our everyday life. It is always great to catch up with Hugh who will be back in Ipswich next month for a friends of the library service (FOILS) literary luncheon.

Limestone Park was the venue over the weekend for the gathering of the clans for the south Queensland Pipe Band and Solo Piping and Drumming championships. There was plenty of music in the air to stir the soul. Well done yet again to the Ipswich Thistle Pipe Band for hosting the championships.

Brassall Sprouts is the name given to a new child care centre officially opened last week behind Brassall Shopping Centre. Congratulations to Hutchinson Child Care on completion of the state of the art centre and to John Tofte and the team at Brassall Shopping Centre for accommodating the new building.

18 September 2006 - Archived

IPSWICH cyclist Jessy Byrnes scored another win recently in Perth to become the under 17 womens Australian road racing champion after beating off the favourites from Western Australia. Well done Jessy. For dedicated athletes like Jessy there is a tremendous amount of support that comes from family and the community. I want to encourage businesses to consider supporting Jessy’s goal of competing at the next Olympics.

The headlines have been saying it all. Billions of dollars worth of development either under way or on the drawing board. Ipswich and the western ‘super’ corridor is firmly centre stage in the sustainable development of south east Queensland. I want to congratulate David Greenwood and the team at River 94.9 for bringing together a house and land giveaway competition at Collingwood Park. This can only reinforce the many other voices saying the same thing about our region and will keep Ipswich in the spotlight to listeners in south east Queensland. This competition will also encourage many people to visit our city for the first time.

The extension and upgrade to Brothers at Raceview is going well. Last week Mark Hennelly kindly showed me progress of the works. The first section to be given a serious upgrade will be the sports bar and Tryline Steakhouse which should be open by the end of October. Brothers has certainly come a very long way since the club secured land in Wildey street in 1963.

Drag racing’s 41st Australian Nationals over the weekend at Willowbank Raceway marked the start of another big season for Queensland’s home of drag racing. The annual Australian Nationals was secured to Queensland in 2002 with the support of Queensland Events Corporation under its Major Events portfolio. This support has allowed Willowbank Raceway to maintain its reputation as one of the premier tracks in Australia.

Well done to the leadership team, staff and students at St Mary’s Primary on their first ever Techno Expo. The expo showcased science and technology work of the students. Congratulations to Ryan Castles, Madison Snowden, Emma-Jane Lund, Nick Devin and Ashleigh Raby for organising the expo.

I’d like to thank Cr Sheila Ireland for heading up next the Australia Day Citizen of the Year wards committee. We will be calling for nominations soon and I encourage you to nominate worthy recipients. Cr Ireland is looking forward to working with the new committee and reviewing the nominations.

BoysTown Services now has a permanent presence in Ipswich with the official opening of the office in Wharf Street last week. Thank you to John Perry and his team for their tremendous work in helping young people back into the workforce.

Silkstone Scouts celebrate 50 years service to the community this month. Many community leaders of today got their grounding for their careers through the participating in the scouts. Happy birthday!

Thank you to the many people who stopped to give Cr Tully, Cr Attwood and myself feedback at chat time on Saturday at Redbank Plains Shopping Village. We will continue to have meaningful engagement with the community through regular chat times with divisional councillors in all areas of Ipswich.

11 September 2006 - Archived

SEPTEMBER 11 is a date forever etched in our minds. A day of extreme disbelief that some people could perpetrate such unthinkable acts on fellow humans. The media will certainly not let us forget September 11 2001, and nor should they. I pray that we never again see a repeat of a human tragedy on such a mass scale.

It is a week since the terribly tragic news about Steve Irwin. Many people would love to be able to visit Australia Zoo. Thousands are not in a position to travel to Beerwah so Ipswich City Council has responded to requests for a suitable location at which to lay flowers and tributes. Queens Park Nature Centre was chosen and a small tribute was been placed on the notice board which reads in part; “The world will be forever indebted for the legacy you have left. You have been a true inspiration for the children and adults alike and have forged bonds of friendship and greater understanding between all nations through you love and respect of the world of animals and the environment”.

One of the many community groups that gives our city a heart and soul is the Ipswich Tenancy Advocacy Service. I want to congratulate David Martin on the great job the service does for the community. If you need any advice on any tenancy issues be sure to give David a call.

Ipswich City Christian Church and Hannah’s House held their Shine Graduation last week and I was thrilled to be able to assist the outstanding work of Hannah’s House. This wonderful organisation provides a safe house and emergency accommodation for females aged 13-18. Hannah’s House also provides a positive environment to restore the pride and dignity of young girls who feel that the world has forgotten them.

Education continues to make an important contribution to our city both in terms of the economy and preparing our young people for the workforce. Local school principals meet regularly to discuss issues like how we can attract and support international students in Queensland secondary schools and how Ipswich and the region can contribute to a global future.

On Saturday it was great to be with the Ipswich Community Youth Service to help raise awareness in the community of the tremendous contribution the service makes to the region. The theme this year for Child Protection Week was 'Young visions for a child friendly Australia'.

Redbank Goodna Lioness club continue to do a wonderful job in the local community and this month the club celebrate 23 years with a special district and region get together at the Sundowner. Well done ladies.

Ipswich artist Karen Oberg launched her latest exhibition last Friday night at Gallery Newtown. The exhibition titled One Day Closer to Rain was supported on opening night with verse from Trevor Johnson. Artworks will be on display until September 16.

A warm Ipswich welcome to Steve Hutton the new general manager of the Queensland Times. Steve has moved recently from Grafton and is looking forward to being involved and supporting the local community.

As chairman of Bremer TAFE it gives me great pride that our local TAFE has won the prestigious Large Training Provider of the Year Award at the 2006 Queensland Training Awards. This now qualifies Bremer TAFE to enter the Australian Training Awards to be held in Adelaide later this year. Well done!

4 September 2006 - Archived

SYD Haag has been re-elected as president of the Ipswich Show Society for another year. Congratulations Syd on the tremendous work that you, the committee and the large number of volunteers do each year in showcasing the best of what Ipswich has to offer. The annual show brings city and country together every May with a display of pride in our city.

Ipswich Meals on Wheels marked their 50th anniversary of the service last week with a very special guest. Meals on Wheels was another Ipswich “first” and Queensland Governor Quentin Bryce called into the South Street premises to meet with volunteers and also took time to visit Keith Fairweather, one of the 230 recipients of the service in our city. This is yet another example of how lucky we are to have so many dedicated volunteers in our community.

Again I want to congratulate and thank all residents for taking up the challenge of reducing water consumption around the home. If no substantial rain falls in the next six to eight weeks the region will be on level 4 restrictions. Councils are working with the new Water Commission to iron out the exact details which should be known by the end of this month. Water saving is not about the big stick approach, but is more about education in the community. As you know I am a big believer in working in partnership to solve problems and with water we are achieving great results.

Students at Redbank Plains State High School are a very creative bunch. Last week their annual Art Expo again demonstrated that the arts program at Redbank Plains was full of innovative visual arts. This year a bigger space was needed to cater for the increased number of entries.

The Ipswich Hospital ladies auxiliary held their annual general meeting last week and it was great to attend and catch up on the excellent work being done by the committee and volunteers. Special guest was author Hugh Lunn who spoke on his latest book “Lost For Words” which is about Australia's lost language in word and story.

Endeavour’s Daisy for Disability Day was last Friday and it was great to officially open and dedicate the new putt-putt golf course in Thornton Street Raceview. The dedication was to Coral Ballin who was a long time supporter of Endeavour.

Construction on the CBD’s first residential high rise Aspire has been underway for a few weeks and Friday marked the official commissioning of the large crane now towering over the site. From my office I can see the crane which indicates to me that many years of hard work by many people is now paying off. Medium density residential in the Ipswich CDB will make a significant contribution to revitalising the CBD.

Being good neighbours and working together with Beaudesert Shire Council has produced a strategic partnership agreement that allows for the for the management of the Flinders to Greenbank greenspace areas. It was great that we could welcome councillor Hajnal Ban from Beaudesert Shire to Ipswich to sign the historic agreement.

The lifesavers of the bush from Landcare are helping to restore Blake Snake Creek and reduce salinity. On Saturday many volunteers pitched in to plant trees that will help restore the section of creek along the Marburg-Glamorgan Vale Road.

George and Cora Williams have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with family and friends at the Ipswich North Uniting Church. Congratulations George and Cora.

28 August 2006 - Archived

Government House was alive with the sound of music last week as Her Excellency Quentin Bryce hosted a recital for champions of the 2006 Queensland State Eisteddfod. It was a very Ipswich affair with performances by Thomas Keenan, Lauren Van de Ven, George Hogg, Julie Sibley and Helen Evans from the Orpheus Chorale. Christine Howden is a member of the Cambrian Choir and also performed at Fernberg Road. The Governor’s husband Michael Bryce clearly enjoyed the performance and proudly wore his 1951 Ipswich Eisteddfod medal.

The Planning Institute of Australia held its 24th annual State Planning Conference in Ipswich last Thursday and Friday. The conference was another important stepping stone in meeting the challenges associated with the implementation of the SEQ Regional Plan. The Western Corridor and Ripley Valley in particular provides a real-world example of cutting edge planning. We must plan to create sustainable communities and not just sub divide land. More importantly, we must avoid the planning mistakes of the past.

I love getting out of the office and meeting our seniors, especially during Senior’s Week. It was great to visit Lauriston in Robertson Road and catch up with a great bunch of seniors, including former councillor Georgie Conway.

Also as part of Senior’s Week celebrations, a meet, eat and greet fun day was held at the Marburg Showgrounds. Senior’s Week isn’t about how old you are but how you are represented in the community and this was a great way to have some fun.

The Lions Club of Ipswich-Redbank-Goodna is making a bid to bring the 2008 Lions Convention to Ipswich. The convention will attract around 400 people for the three-day event. The 2007 Rotary district conference will be in our city next March so we are certainly on the radar for major conferences and attracting new visitors to Ipswich.

It was smiles all round on Saturday for the major kite flying event as part of Goodna’s 150th birthday celebrations. The Queensland Kite Flying society presented kite making workshops and kite flying instructions at Evan Marginson Park. It was a fantastic day. Well done to all those involved.

The Ipswich Thistle Pipe Band was one of three Aussie pipe bands to perform at the 36th Festival Interceltique de Lorient in France (the biggest Celtic festival in the world). Our band took part in the festival street parade in front of 65,000 spectators before Ipswich citizen of the year Bob Green carried the Australian flag at the head of the night parade. I congratulate the band on flying the flag for Ipswich and Australia – they did us all very proud.

Spring has certainly come early with the recent warmer days. Our parks and gardens are looking fantastic even though the drought is making an impact. On behalf of all councillors I want to pay special tribute to parks and gardens staff of council who continue to do a tremendous job in keeping our open spaces looking as best they can during this dry spell.

21 August 2006 - Archived

THE Council of Mayors met for the first time in Ipswich last Friday and signed an agreement to deliver water savings to 130,000 households with $15 million support from the state government. Local government is contributing a further $7.5 million. I guess I do not need to remind you that we are experiencing the worst drought in 100 years and we must do everything we can to save water. The new Home Water Wise Service from by the state government will offer a water audit of homes and assists with having leaks fixed, and the installation of water efficient shower roses and tap aerators. You can find more details at www.homewaterwise.com

The Ipswich Region Chamber of Commerce and Industry continues to play a vital role in the business community and last week the centenary annual general meeting reelected Craig Thomas as president. Matthew Cobin is now junior vice president.

St Mary’s Employment Group (SMEG) celebrated 25 years service to the community on Saturday. SMEG has been assisting mature age job seekers get back into the workforce for all of this time. It is a credit to John Kenny and his team that they have been able to contribute so much to the community.

Now that the state election has been called I want to say thank you to Don Livingstone for his tireless work in Ipswich West. I would like to pay tribute to a man who has given many years service to local and state government. Don has been a strong representative and voice for Ipswich. Anytime help has been needed, he was always there working quietly behind the scenes. Best wishes to Don, Cheryl and family and I know there will be more quality time together, not to mention plenty of time for fishing!

Every year around this time the Ministers Fellowship in Ipswich have a meeting to discuss a wide range of issues facing the broader church and the community. They are always a great forum to exchange ideas and it was fantastic to attend last week and share my vision for the future of Ipswich. It is tremendous how much can be achieved when we work together as a community and the Ministers Fellowship sets us a great example.

Ray White Springfield is now locally open and it was great to be at the new Springfield Parkway office on Friday to meet with staff. This new office is another vote of confidence in the future of the Springfield area.

At Goodna on Saturday was the official opening of another business – Westside Boating and Marine is now under the guiding hand of new owners Michael Sinclair and Graham Davison. The Bertha street premises have been updated and offer more choice for boating enthusiasts.

14 August 2006 - Archived

THE mayors of south east Queensland have rolled up their sleeves and are working with the state government to tackle the worst drought in 100 years.  Water levels continue to fall and there's no disputing that the proposed water grid must happen.  We will work with the Premier to fix this water supply crisis.  Our goal must be to drought proof the region by 2015.  In the meantime, any water saving measure that can be made at home or by industry will extend our dwindling supplies.  The combined levels of Wivenhoe, Somerset and North Pine dams currently sit at around 28%.

The annual workers reunion and residents open day at the Workshops Rail Museum was another outstanding success.  With so many new residents arriving in our city every year, it is important that we know about wonderful tourist attractions like the Workshops.  All councillors are very supportive of this annual event and this year has the added attraction of the new Great Railway Journeys exhibition which will be at the Workshops until the end of the year.

Congratulations to the students of Central State School for taking part in a mock citizenship ceremony last week.  It is tremendous that students understand the value of such ceremonies and are keen to raise their interest in how our democracy works.  Well done!

Students from Redbank Plains State High School met with me last week with the ideas for modernizing the city crest.  While the crest is part of our history I want to congratulate the school and students for incorporating contemporary aspects of the new Ipswich which young people feel are significant.  Congratulations to Emily Madden for her design which I have selected as the winner.  The student crests are currently on display in the council foyer.

The UQ Ipswich Challinor Chase is set to become an annual event in the tradition of the St Lucia campus Great Court Race.  It was a perfect winter day last Thursday for the lunch time event won by Casey Zielke for the men and Danielle Blade for the women.

Ipswich City Rotary Club has a new president for the 2006-2007 year.  Allan Roebuck has taken over from immediate past president Anthony Elmore.  The Ipswich City club was chartered in 1980 and continues to support many community groups and Rotary International programs.  In the past 12 months this club has allocated a total $150,000 in donations which has been distributed among many groups in the community.

Focal Extended group are planning a move to North Ipswich next year and held a community information morning  tea at Browns Park last week.  This group continues to provide a much needed service to the community.

VP day was marked on Saturday with a commemorative service at Manson Park and it was great to welcome to Ipswich special guest of honour Brigadier General David Snyder from the US Air Force.  A monument stands just inside the entrance and a plaque was placed there in 1971 to honour the American Servicemen who paid the supreme sacrifice during World War II..  The monument also carries a second plaque dedicated to the memory of the United States of America Service Airmen who gave their lives in the defence of Australia during WWII.

7 August 2006 - Archived

I continually get feedback, particularly from new residents, about how friendly Ipswich is.  This is heartening to hear because from personal experience it is clear that throughout the city there is a general feeling of well-being.  This positive attitude is one of our strengths as a city.  In our busy lives it is great to take time to say hello to  neighbours and to warmly welcome the 78 new residents moving to Ipswich every week.

Leichhardt State School celebrated 50 years of service to the communities of One Mile and Leichhardt on Saturday with a special open day featuring historical photos and other school memorabilia.  There was also a dinner to mark the occasion at the Ipswich Golf Club on Saturday night.

Fifty years working in the one industry is a huge effort by any measure, so it was a privilege on Friday to wish radio veteran John Knox a happy retirement after 50 years behind the microphones of several stations including 4IP and 4KQ.  On behalf of all councillors and the citizens of Ipswich, well done Knoxy.  You have been there reporting the news through our highs and lows over the past half century.

CBDs around the world are reinventing themselves as a destination and meeting place rather than just a place for shopping.  The opening of the new look Ipswich City Mall and d'Arcy Doyle Place last November as part of Council's River Heart vision was a major step forward in the revitalisation of the CBD.  The next boost for Ipswich Central will be the opening of the River Heart parklands later this year.   This will bring to life the southern bank of the river between the two bridges and will become another reason to visit and enjoy the CBD.

Investor confidence in Ipswich continues to grow with the news last week that Ipswich Centre Plaza has new owners.  Once refurbished the seven level of office accommodation will provide more options in the CBD.  Also last Friday Wingate Properties sold their share of Bremer Business Park to Walker Corporation.  Wingate will continue to have a presence if Ipswich with Swanbank Enterprise Park and have opened an office in South Street.

Congratulations to the Red Cross on their 58th annual general meeting.  They now have a new mobile blood bank and today we will get a chance to see it for the first time.  If it has been a while since you have given blood and if you plan to give blood for the first time then today would be a great time to start.  Look for the new mobile unit in the usual locations or call the Red Cross for more information.

Division 9 councillor Sheila Ireland became a grandmother for the first time last week with the birth of Annie Elizabeth.  Mum and bub are doing well. Congratulations!

Thank you to the Ipswich Friendship Force for being such wonderful ambassadors for our city.  Last week 15 visitors from Wanganui New Zealand were home hosted in Ipswich.  The concept of a Friendship Force is quite unique and it began in 1977 in Atlanta USA.  It was set up with a single mission to create an environment in which personal friendships are established across the barriers that separate people.  It is active in more than 60 countries promoting friendship and goodwill through an extensive program of homestay exchanges.  I am also pleased to be the patron of the Ipswich branch.

In August 1976 during a special church service the Lifeline Centre in Ipswich was launched.  The then mayor George Hastings made the first phone call from a telephone standing on the altar of the Central Mission Church.  The telephone counsellor on duty received the call at the centre at 79 Limestone Street.  From that moment on there has always been someone on duty ready to pick up the phone and listen.

31 July 2006 - Archived

It was good to see that water splashing down last week. Let's hope it continues. During the week, I attended a board luncheon with the shareholders of SEQWater and water was also on the agenda at the Council of Mayors meeting. We can't change the past but it is important that we work hard to influence the future. All councils in the region, including Ipswich, are working together to ensure the proper infrastructure will be in place so we are not forced to continue bucketing water in years to come. We also need to focus on the quality of  our water supply, not just its availability. Our water needs to be the best in the world and we do whatever we can to achieve that.

I met last week with Ipswich's taxi drivers for the annual Ipswich City update function. This event provides us with an opportunity to update these drivers about developments taking place in the city. This sort of interaction is vitally important as our taxi drivers are ambassadors for our city, particularly when they are transporting visitors to Ipswich and it is crucial they know as much about our city as possible so they can impart the correct information to their customers while they are on-the-road. I thank the drivers not only for their input at the update but also for the way in which they are selling our city and its many attributes. I would also like to ask the drivers to let council know if they spot anything out of place while they are out and about such as graffiti. We are one community so it is important that we all work together.

Christmas came early in Ipswich last week with the Christmas in July celebration hosted by the National Seniors Association. It was wonderful to catch up with all the seniors at this function. Congratulations on a great event and morning tea and thank you for all the hard questions you fired at me. I appreciate your interest in our city.

I also caught up with the gang from Lead On as I presented them with a $25,000 cheque on behalf of council to cover operating costs for the organisation and to assist in the production of Lead On's LOOP Magazine. Lead On is a youth development program that promotes self confidence and esteem and builds business networks and professional career skills for young people aged between 15 and 26.

During the week I also had a fruitful meeting with Queensland Premier Peter Beattie. We appreciate all he has done for Ipswich and I congratulate him for the way he continues to think about and make plans for the provision of improved infrastructure for our city and state.

Congratulations must also go to all landholders in the Ripley Valley. It is wonderful to see the way in which you have come together to discuss the issues involved in establishing this future community. We are doing the planning today which will be needed for the future.

I would also like to thank the school communities of Woodcrest College and Ipswich, Redbank Plains and Bremer State High Schools for hosting a group of students from our Japanese sister city Nerima. This year's exchange involved 68 Nerima students and as always it was wonderful to welcome them to our city. These visits have a strong effect on education and learning. 2006 is the 14th Nerima Education Exchange to Ipswich and follows on from the visit I made last September with Cr Cheryl Bromage to Nerima.

Ipswich also welcomed representatives from the Korean city of Daejeon last Friday including the Mayor of Daejeon Metropolitan City, Park Seoug-hyo and other members of the WTA 5th General Assembly. They took part in a business networking luncheon at the Ipswich International Hotel.

A great day was had by all at the Ipswich Wingate Park Fun Run on the weekend. A record number of entrants were scheduled to take part in this year's event and I would like to thank Ipswich City Rotary and all the sponsors for the support they have given to help organise the day. Getting people involved in healthy activities is important and participants in the fun run should be congratulated for being involved.

24 July 2006 - Archived

Congratulations to students at UQ Ipswich on their graduation last week and bringing the total to 1200 the number of students who have graduated since the campus opened.  It is important to understand that knowledge is playing a key role in the development of our city.  I was also very impressed by one of the graduates Jessica Auld who made mention of the impact the Ipswich Motorway has on students who wish to commute to Ipswich for studies.  Jessica spoke from the heart about her daily ordeal on the motorway.  This highlights not only the economic impact this road has on south east Queensland, but the emotional toll on people's lives especially our young people.

Last week council voted to extend the rebates for water tanks to include all residents regardless of whether or not they are connected to town water.  The continuing drought has prompted a rethink and we have listened to feedback from residents.  We also moved to align our rebate scheme with the recent rebates announced by the State Government.  For the latest rebate information  please contact your local councillor, Ipswich Water or visit www.ipswichwater.com.au

In the lead up to the V8 supercars the Mi-Hi Tavern held a sportsman's lunch and raised $2000 for the community.  Special thanks to Russell Ingall for his amazing behind-the-scenes stories about life in the fast lane.  The Queensland 400 just gets bigger and bigger.  The crowds keep coming back in greater numbers and the event was another huge success.  The Ipswich Motorpsort Precinct contributes a great deal to the local economy and really puts our city on the map.

Happy 90th birthday to Daphne Unsworth who celebrated with friends at the Ipswich CWA Hall last Wednesday.  Well done Daphne and great to see you enjoying life to the fullest.

It was great to welcome Tom Barton and Henry Palaszczuk back to Ipswich for an update on the latest developments in Springfield, Brookwater and the growing aerospace industry.  Special guest was Bill Shorten who we got to know on our TV screens every night during the tragic Beaconsfield mine disaster.  Bill presented a really good insight into where we should be heading as a country.

The Kim Walters Choices program hosted a Think Pink fundraising night at Brothers last week.  There was a karaoke machine in the room and I apologise for my singing, however  I think Mark Hennelly from Brothers may have be take the award for being the worst singer!  Sorry Mark, I think you had better stick to the great job you're doing running Brothers and I should stick to being Mayor.

Ipswich's great tradition of choirs continues and a 120 year celebration of the Blackstone-Ipswich Cambrian Choir was held at the Civic Hall on Saturday.  The choir has made a tremendous contribution to the cultural fabric of Ipswich over the decades and I have no doubt this will continue.  Congratulations.

Division 7 councillor Andrew Antoniolli and his wife Karina have announced the arrival of their 5th girl, Sienna.  I know we have been promoting Ipswich as a family city Andrew, but I'm wondering if have you taken that too far?  Seriously, a warm congratulations to you and the family.

17 July 2006 - Archived

IPSWICH continues to be the envy of many other cities and towns in terms of our lifestyle and location in south east Queensland. Creating jobs close to where we live is part of our longer term strategy to create a city of centres and job generators.

Lafarge Plasterboard is not a name that is well known locally, but I'm hopeful that it soon will be. Lafarge employs 80,000 people in 76 countries and has just secured an option on 8.9 hectares at Swanbank Enterprise Park to construct a world class facility. We welcome this investment from Lafarge and they are planning to start construction towards the end of 2007.

Students at Ipswich State High are still recovering after I volunteered to be "principal for a day" last Thursday. Our young people are the community leaders of tomorrow and I am always keen to listen to what they have to say. Thank you to Simon Riley - the real Principal - and students for the warm welcome. It was also great to meet with the student council (19 school leaders) who have responsibility for a variety of student committees - sport, school spirit, fundraising, environment, arts, events, publicity. It is also interesting that this is the first year of operation of the student council which replaces the traditional prefects.
On going feedback from the community is so important. That is why we have been conducting regular Chat Times in all areas of Ipswich. Last weekend residents of divisions 4, 5 and 7 had the opportunity to meet with local councillors Trevor Nardi, Heather Morrow and Andrew Antoniolli at Booval Fair. Thank you to the many people who stopped to share their ideas.

Hilda des Arts was so much a part of our community for many years and the Community Footprints Awards named in memory of Hilda were held at the Ipswich International Hotel on Friday. Special guest speaker was 2006 Australian of the Year Dr Ian Frazer who was an inspiration to us all. Thank you to Gayle Brockie and the many volunteers at Ipswich Hospice for presenting these annual awards.

Mal Meninga is still on a high after the State of Origin win and has decided to invest in the rugby league heartland of Ipswich as the new owner of the top of town Strathfield store. Strathfield are now franchising stores and Mal is one of the first in Australia to take up the opportunity and we welcome his investment and confidence in the CBD. It is great to have one of league's legends part of our business community.

The work of the Historic Motorcycle Club of Queensland is now on display at Coonenana on Redbank Plains Road. This is on the site of the Ipswich Historical Society and well worth a visit.

The annual soap box celebrity derby down Lobb Street was a hoot on Sunday. Thank you to the Ipswich Scout Group for inviting me to participate and for organising a classic family favourite!

Ipswich Alive kicked off with the first community BBQ last Sunday. It was held at Moores Pocket and was hosted by Ipswich Citizen of the Year Bob Green. As announced in the budget, the Ipswich Alive program is designed to encourage neighbours to get to know each other. It was a great day with entertainment from Scottish pipers plus local bush balladeers Fiddlers Music Group. Thanks also to cartoonist Wil Mitchell for creating a pictorial momento of the day. If you would like to host a BBQ in your street, please contact your local councillor for more details on how council can assist with a neighbourhood BBQ.

10 July 2006 - Archived

Life in Ipswich has continued at a fast pace over the last week with a number of  interesting and varied activities taking place.

The 2006 National Aboriginal Islander Day Of Celebration (NAIDOC) Week was celebrated last week in a number of different ways throughout Ipswich with the launch of the Ipswich Indigenous Profile by council and a celebration day being held in Goodna's Evan Marginson Park. This week plays an important role in reconciliation and helps to bring together our community. I was honoured to have recently received a didgeridoo and during the launch of the profile, Cairns performer Paul Bong gave a moving didgeridoo performance and this has inspired me to re-double my efforts in learning to play. Perhaps I might be able to play a tune by the time NAIDOC Week 2007 rolls around.

I would like to congratulate the team at ANZ Bank. The bank unveiled its new business banking centre for Ipswich last week and I thank them for their commitment to Ipswich's Central Business District. The bank has opened this centre to support the growth which is occurring in Ipswich and the western corridor and this is yet another example of the way in which our city is continuing to move forward.

Ipswich Show stalwart Jack Haggarty celebrated an important occasion of his own last weekend with his 90th birthday. The Haggarty family are well-known in Ipswich with the whole family active in the community and Jack serving on the boards of a number of local organisations including Ipswich Community Aid. Happy Birthday from the City of Ipswich Jack!

Another special occasion was celebrated on Saturday night at North Ipswich with the Bulimba Cup and Trades and Labour Cup Reunion. It has been 40 years since Ipswich won the Bulimba Cup in 1966. To mark the occasion and honour the team, Ipswich Rugby League players, officials and supporters held a party. The Bulimba Cup was contested annually from 1925 until 1972 by representative teams from Brisbane, Ipswich and Toowoomba. The series was one of the major trials for Queensland and Australian selection.

The Queensland Railway Institute Social Bowls Club also marked its 50th anniversary with a celebration dinner.

I officiated at the opening of the 15th annual Queensland Dexter Breed Show at the Ipswich Showgrounds on Saturday. The two day show attracted breeders of Dexter cattle from throughout Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria and showcased the breed which is the smallest naturally occurring British cattle breed with a long history dating from the 18th Century. Dexters were first introduced into Australia in the 1880's and have enjoyed an Australia-wide revival since the mid 1980's.
 

Car buffs, including myself, had a wonderful time on Sunday at the Primer to Pristine Car Show organised by the Ipswich Classic Car Club at the Ipswich Turf Club. The cars on display included the top six classic cars in Australia which attracted much interest.

Village Life Retirement Village at Eastern Heights went on display on Sunday during their residents' open day which offered a chance for the community to learn more about this wonderful facility and what it has to offer.

Work is progressing well on the construction of what will eventually become the largest shopping centre in the southern hemisphere - Orion Springfield. During a site tour for a construction update last week with the development team from Mirvac, I was impressed by what is planned. This retail centre will play an enormous role in the future economic health of Ipswich as it will help to stem the considerable tide of retail expenditure which is currently occurring outside Ipswich City. It will also be a source of local employment for hundreds of people and is currently providing a large number of jobs within the construction industry. At this stage, the centre is scheduled to be open in March 2007 and I know that many Ipswich residents are looking forward to this.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Marc Wilkinson from Delfin Lend Lease who is leaving the company. Marc has played an important role in the further development of Springfield in his role as the project director. We welcome to Ipswich, Marc's replacement Paul Cochrane who has some big shoes to fill.

For a third year Ipswich City has won the Environmental Innovation Award in the 2006 Keep Australia Beautiful - Tidy Towns competition. Ipswich won this award in 2002, 2003 and again in 2006. Congratulations to all involved with this win.

3 July 2006 - Archived

KEEPING rates steady with a small rise in line with the CPI at about 80 cents a week, not counting water, for the average residential owner occupier, is good news for Ipswich ratepayers.  The adoption of the 2006-2007 budget last week came after many weeks of hard work from council officers and councillors to meet the challenges of our present growth and put in place the building blocks for the future.  Fact: there are 78 new residents arriving in our city every week!  The picket fence has gone forever as we continue to be centre stage in south east Queensland.  It is the people who are important and we must never forget that.  We will continue to address the needs of family and the community.  It is a tremendous achievement that we have been able to strike a balance to keep control of rates and charges.  There's more information on the budget at www.ipswich.qld.gov.au or contact your local councillor.

Former Ipswich resident Eddie Young is back in the city with opening of the Ink Shop at Yamanto.  It was great to officially open the first of three stores Eddie has planned for the area. Thank you Eddie for your investment in Ipswich and creating new jobs.  

During the week I attended Yamanto Police headquarters for ceremony to honour our police men and women.  They were presented with special awards,  medals and  clasps for their service to the force and the community.  It is easy to overlook the contribution our police make to our local community.  This ceremony is a way of recognising this valuable contribution.

The future of the Ripley Valley was centre stage last week with the joint announcement by the Premier of the $2 million master planning project to create a new 'model' community the size of Toowoomba.  This will be jointly led by State Government and the Ipswich City Council.  There's already been a tremendous amount of work done to get landowners and developers to sign on to the Ripley Valley Master Planning Task Force.  Thank you also to Ipswich Future committee chairman Victor Attwood and his hard work with the task force and the Ipswich 2020 and Beyond project.  With proper planning we can create living communities and not just sub divide land.

The Ipswich Motorway is in the news every week for all the wrong reasons and my recent trip to Canberra as part of a delegation from the Council of Mayors is not about the southern states versus Queensland.  It is simply about getting our fair share of federal road funding.  Victoria is getting 22.1% of the Auslink national funding but only has 13.5% of national vehicle kilometres of travel.  In contrast Queensland is getting 24.1% of this Auslink funding with 28.8% of vehicle kilometres travelled on the national road network.  It is time for Canberra to play fair.

26 June 2006 - Archived

WE'RE almost there with the finishing touches being added to the 2006-2007 Ipswich City Council budget.  It's been a tough few weeks for Councillors and council staff as we finalise the numbers.  We all know the issues associated with water and water price rises, but we won't forget our residents.  Don't forget the 2006-2007 Budget will be handed down during Wednesday night at 6pm in the Council Chambers, South Street and everyone is welcome to attend.

Three mayors - Ipswich, Caloundra and Boonah - representing the Council of Mayors made a quick trip to Canberra last week in a bid to convince our Federal counterparts that we need more money for roads in south east Queensland.  We are not getting our fair share of funding and I would like to thank all of the Mayors of south-east Queensland for their support.  We know congestion is getting worse and we'll be keeping the pressure on Canberra for more funding.

Ipswich Jets celebrated 20 years in the BRL/QRL competition on the weekend.  It was great to be there and watch the current team go through the paces at QLD Group Stadium.  I have been a long-time supporter of the club and have enjoyed many memorable moments.  Sport is a great way to get out and have a go and there are plenty of juniors coming through the ranks to make sure the club has another successful 20 years.

Rosewood put on a great show on the weekend and while the winter did its best to interfere it was still a successful show.  Congratulations to the many volunteers who come together to keep the tradition of country shows alive.  It's always a fantastic atmosphere with plenty of fun for everyone.

There was a huge turn-out at 2006 Ipswich Home Show and Outdoor Expo over the weekend.  Hundreds of exhibitors were on display, with everything you need for around the house, even the kitchen sink.

Senior Net continues to play a big part in our community.  More than 5200 hours of training have been conducted to date this financial year with almost 250 members participating in courses and around 200 members attending workshops.  Since its establishment, largely thanks to the vision of Hilda des Arts, there has been a dedicated team to make computer training for our seniors possible and I'm proud to support such a positive association.

I was delighted to officiate the Ipswich Redbank Goodna Lions Club's 34th annual change-over on the weekend.  The Club is patron of the Goodna Scouts and sponsors the Redbank School of Arts.  It also gives assistance to the young and unemployed people in our community. We are very fortunate to have such a fantastic club in our community - without the work of Lions, a lot more people would be finding the tough times tougher.

Ipswich is centre stage in south east Queensland and I was able to share some of our initiatives at the Smart Futures: Planning for Tomorrow Today Conference last week.  We are forging ahead with sustainable development in the City of Ipswich and delegates were keen to hear about our city.

19 June 2006 - Archived

THE 13th annual Ipswich City Council Awards for Excellence in design, heritage, student and environment categories were announced last week.  Congratulations to Suters Architects & The University of Queensland Ipswich Campus for the University of Queensland Boilerhouse Community Engagement Centre, Butterfield Projects and Husband and Leith Architects  for the Ipswich International Hotel and James and Patricia Ledwith for the Purga Creekside Revegetation Project.  Year 12 graphics class of 2005 from Ipswich Girls Grammar School scored well for their project 'Multifunction Restaurant - Architectural Design.  Well done to all award winners.

What a week of sport!  A trifecta of wins for Australia with rugby, soccer and league.  As a nation we certainly do love our sport, especially that tremendous win by Queensland in the State of Origin.  Let's hope we can take a win in Origin 3.

The first Mayor for a Day competition was won by Samantha Burnie of Leichhardt.  Sam attends Ipswich State High and joined me last Wednesday to get an insight into the hectic mayoral schedule.  Thank you to all those 12-18 year olds who took time to write their thoughts and ideas for the future of Ipswich.  I am also looking forward to catching up with all entrants in the next few weeks.

State government minister Tom Barton can't keep away from Ipswich.  He has been here four times in the past week, including the official opening of the George and Eileen Hasting sports complex in One Mile.  Thank you Tom for your great support of our city.

Ipswich's sensational seniors know how to have a good time.  Last Thursday celebrations took on a carnival atmosphere in the mall and featured the amazing Dean Vegas.  Congratulations to Peter Calcutt and his team of hard working volunteers for putting on a great day.  It was such a success I'd like to see it become an annual event!

The Ipswich Cup was another outstanding triumph and all the staff at the turf club will be looking for a rest this week.  This annual day has certainly put Ipswich on the map with thousands of visitors enjoying the winter sunshine and a first class day of racing, and maybe the odd beverage.

I'm not sure whether to let this one out, but recently the CWA ladies invited me as a bit of fun to model ladies wear. True story, and it was 1930's style.  I don't know what I was thinking by saying yes, but the hairy legs added something special to the look.  Thanks ladies for the laughs!

12 June 2006 - Archived

Ipswich scored well with lots of presents in the state budget last week.  The next big boost to the CBD will be the new courthouse complex to be built in Ellenborough Street.  There's no doubt this will contribute to the revitalisation of the Ipswich CDB as part of the River Heart vision for the city centre.  I want to thank Peter Beattie and his government for understanding the growth issues in the western corridor.  This new courthouse will be a perfect fit with the ongoing determination by council to see Ipswich become a major regional activity centre consistent with the SEQ Regional Plan.

The extension of the Centenary Highway from Springfield to Yamanto is now assured after the announcement of $11.8 million towards total construction costs of $270 million. Again this is tremendous news for Ipswich and is a vote of confidence in the future of our city, including the Ripley Valley and South Redbank Plains.

Our kids are our future.  I have said this many times and it is confirmed every time I visit a school.  Last week it was great to visit two Ipswich primary schools - Raceview and Amberley State Schools  - and hear from the students.  Well done!

We now have more Aussies in Ipswich after another well attended citizenship ceremony held on Queensland Day.  Congratulations to the many people who became new Australian citizens.  It was just fantastic to share your warmth and genuine enthusiasm and enjoy a BBQ afterwards.

Little Sophie Delezio is now out of hospital and while Sophie does not live in Ipswich her spirit and determination has touched us all.  There will be a country and country rock fundraising afternoon at Swifts Sports Club on Sunday June 25th from 1pm.  All performers will give their time to hep this event.  There's more information from Phil on 3288 7520.

Chris Foley MP was special guest at the Christian Businessmen's Breakfast last week at Booval Sports Club.  Thank you for the invitation to welcome Chris to Ipswich. Thank you also to Pastor Kurene and the Bethel Christian Fellowship for the special afternoon of gospel music and Samoan dances on Saturday.  It was great to catch up with members of the Samoan community.  On Sunday Silkstone Baptist Church held a special thanks giving service to our Lord for the many blessings he has bestowed on our city, and for the various ministries of the church and partnerships with other community organisations.

At the Chamber of Commerce Willowbank Raceway Breakfast last week former councillor Denise Hanly was recognised for 10 years of dedicated service as  Board member of the Ipswich Chamber.  Well done Denise. You continue to give to the community so much of your time and I know it is appreciated by many.

5 June 2006 - Archived

The core issues facing local governments everywhere appear to be universal world wide.  That is the message I have taken away from the Global Cities conference in France.  As the only mayor from Australia to be invited to attend this prestigious conference it was an honour to represent Ipswich and address mayors from 90 cities around the world.  These core issues include community consultation and city centre renewal.  Ipswich is a 'baby' compared to other cities that are 800 or 1,000 years old.  I did learn that while we may be the youngest city at the conference, we are at the leading edge of ideas for community consultation and CBD revitalisation.  Over three days up to 1,000 international participants shared best practices and concrete solutions to their daily urban challenges.  I was able to share our experiences and also bring back new and exciting ideas.

While in the northern hemisphere I was also invited by BBC Radio Suffolk to be a guest on their breakfast show broadcasting to a huge audience in south east England  from Ipswich UK.  This was a tremendous opportunity to promote Ipswich "down under"!

On the home front the historic Burley Griffin Incinerator Theatre in Queens Park was the venue on Saturday night as Ipswich Little Theatre night celebrated 60 years with a special production called Shakespeare Unleashed.  Special thanks must go to the life members and past presidents of ILT.  It was great to catch up with Nan Scott and Yvonne Hawkins, original members of ILT who appeared in the first play The Blue Goose performed at the old Town Hall on 2nd  and 3rd October 1946.

More major announcements in the last week will bring more jobs to Ipswich.  Blackwoods have announced the construction of a major distribution centre in Mica Street Carol Park.  This is tremendous news with facility due to be completed by the end of the year and operations commencing in January 2007.  One of the key aspects of this new warehouse and office complex will be the environmental credentials of the design.  The roofing will allow natural light into the complex to reduce the need for internal lighting and large capacity water tanks will be installed under the building below ground level to harvest rain water for later use on site.

St Mary's Employment Group (SMEG) has been operating in Ipswich for around 25 years and continues to assist mature aged unemployed to re-enter the workforce.  It was great to help SMEG raise awareness of their services during a special outside broadcast by River 94.9 FM on Saturday.

Happy 100th Birthday to Edith Blake of Flinders View who will celebrate the big one on June 7.  Wow, how many changes has Edith witnessed since her childhood days. A very warm congratulations.

Springfield Christian Family Church celebrates 11 years of service to Camira and Springfield this week.  Congratulations to John Van Bennekom on the wonderful contribution the church makes to the local community.

29 May 2006 - Archived

Missed it by that much.  While we lost the State of Origin by one point, it was  a great comeback in the second half.  The maroons showed their true Queensland spirit after being down 14-nil at half time and clawing their way back to equalise with only minutes to go.  Although we lost, only by one point thanks to a field goal to the Blues, we will be ready and waiting at Suncorp Stadium with the home ground advantage.  Meanwhile further south in that other game with the round ball Australia won by one point!

Town and country come together at this time every year for the Valleys' Field Day at Walloon State School.  This annual one day event has grown and now attracts thousands of people from a wide area and is a tremendous way to promote council's Enviroplan and Conservation Partnerships Program, among others.  To date more than 4000 hectares of natural areas have been purchased by Council and are being managed under the Ipswich Enviroplan.  These areas include the White Rock-Spring Mountain Conservation Estate and the Flinders Peak-Goolman Conservation Estate.  

Ipswich-born Australian cricket coach John Buchanan will be guest speaker at the Endeavour Daisy Chain luncheon on Wednesday, June 7 at the Ipswich International Hotel.   John has coached the Queensland Bulls and the Australian team and is set to retire following the 2007 World Cup.  Money raised will go towards assisting Queenslanders with an intellectual disability.  Phone 1300 448 464 or visit www.endeavourdaisychain.com.au to book your seat.

The release last week by Premier Peter Beattie of the annual update to the south east Queensland Infrastructure Plan is again good news for Ipswich and the western corridor.  Planning for the proposed  Springfield to Ipswich public transport corridor is included in the plan and will help us meet the challenges of growth.  Copies of the 2006-2026 Infrastructure Plan are available at www.oum.qld.gov.au

A group of Ipswich Just Walk It members have just got back from a visit to Rockhampton to promote this community based walking program that encourages a healthy lifestyle with the support of the National Heart Foundation.  Our local members are great ambassadors for our city and were given a warm welcome in the central Queensland city.

Ipswich Kindy was established as a community kindergarten nearly 70 years ago.  The association located at Milford Street celebrated under 8's week on Saturday.  Thank you to local councillor Andrew Antoniolli for attending their special family fun day on Sunday.

Happy 90th birthday to Pat Cassin of Eastern Heights who had a wonderful day on Sunday.  Well done Pat on this major milestone.

Vision Patchworkers are based at the Vision Church Hall in Booval and on Saturday they were busy celebrating 20 years of getting together.

22 May 2006 - Archived

The countdown is on for finalising the city budget for 2006-2007.  The key issues of growth and water will again make this a very difficult budget.  The recent announcement of increases in bulk water changes adds more pressure to how we can deliver a responsible budget.  On balance the city is going well.  People shouldn't be disappointed by things but should keep working hard and talking to council about issues and services.  We are going through exciting times.  Constructive feedback from the community is critical in the decision making process so I am always keen to listen to differing points of view.  On behalf of all councillors I also want to again thank the staff of Ipswich City Council for their outstanding contribution to the progress of our city.

The Ipswich Region Chamber of Commerce and Industry marked 100 years of service to the community on Friday night.  Members and guests were treated to some great entertainment and the history of businesses in Ipswich.  In 1906 there were obviously some very progressive leaders in Ipswich who had the foresight to establish the Chamber which is now one of the oldest business network groups in Australia.

The Ipswich branch of the Queensland Cake Decorators Association will celebrate their 10th birthday with a demonstration on 27th May 2006 at St Stephen's Church Hall in Ipswich.  The day involves showcasing of a variety of skills to the interested visitors by members including the current state champion and former national reserve champions.  The cost for the day is $20 including morning tea, afternoon tea and lunch and notes on the demonstrations.  If you would like more information please call Carol Van de Ven on 3294 6815.

Congratulation to Airtrain on their recent fifth birthday. Airtrain provides an easy way for Ipswich residents to get to and from Brisbane Airport and with increased traffic on our roads and higher petrol costs the train is becoming a great transport alternative. Our community has embraced Airtrain with patronage currently growing at 13% making us one of their fastest growing regions.

I would like to extend my congratulations to the Ipswich Harmony Club performing as the Miner Chords on their recent performance in the Annual Sunshine Regional Championships for barbershop choruses and quartets. The group which has only been singing together for just over six months placed fourth which is an outstanding effort. The all male group are always on the lookout for new members so if you are interested give them a ring on 3282 7524.

15 May 2006 - Archived

Following last week's Federal Budget which did not provide any funding for the Ipswich Motorway, I am calling on local, State and Federal government representatives to host a road summit on this vital issue. Everyone needs to put their political beliefs and different agendas aside to resolve the long-running and continual problems on the Ipswich Motorway. Let's work together to solve this once and for all.

We recently celebrated another first in Ipswich with the introduction of wireless broadband internet services by Telstra. This service expansion will position our city for the future as a modern and vibrant place in which information technology is playing a vital role.

Council officers have been hard at work this week on the 2006-2007 Budget. We are faced by a number of issues this year including how to manage the recent announcement by SEQWater about the planned increase by the State Government to bulk water costs. This is the water which council purchases to provide to its residents. This increase will have a considerable effect on our pricing structure for water so ratepayers need to be aware that a rise in water charges is on the cards.

Several important launches occurred last week in Ipswich's eastern suburbs with the official opening of stage one of the new Redbank Plains Shopping Centre and the launch of a $175 million masterplanned community at Redbank Plains known as Fernbrooke. Both of these openings highlight the investment and growth which is taking place in the region.

The success of the 2006 Ipswich Festival was celebrated at a special function at the Ipswich International Hotel last Tuesday. This year's festival was a wonderful event which showcased our city, not only to local residents but also to people from all over South-East Queensland.

The Ipswich Show is now over but once again it was a tremendous success. The performance by the US Navy 7th Fleet Far Edition 20-piece show band at the official opening was well received by the audience and we are pleased they could be with us for the Ipswich Show.

Happy birthday to the Ipswich Chamber of Commerce. It is wonderful to witness the partnerships which the chamber has formed in the community.

Ipswich financial planners Clift Porter & Associates are going from strength to strength. Congratulations to Ken and Chris Clift and Dave and Trish Porter for their investment in the city with the official opening of their new expanded office in Ipswich during the week.

The work carried out in the community by Mark and Gail Edwards through the Ipswich Region Community Church was honoured recently. They have been serving the church for the past 15 years which is a significant and noteworthy achievement. Mark also serves the community through his involvement with the Chamber of Commerce. Our city applauds you.
Another organisation which deserves our thanks is Ipswich Meals on Wheels. This volunteer organisation celebrated 50 years of service to the community on the weekend.

Happy Mother's Day to all those mothers out there and especially to May Rivans from Brassall who celebrated her 90th birthday.

8 May 2006 - Archived

It was a sad day in our city last week when Goodna's Presbyterian Church was destroyed. I thank everyone for all of their phonecalls, information and offers of assistance. Myself and my fellow councillors were saddened by this act of vandalism to a significant part of our history, especially as we mark 150 years of Goodna as a suburb. I assure the community that as your representatives we will be working closely with all authorities to do everything we can in relation to this matter.

I would like to take this opportunity to publicly honour a great Ipswich supporter, local businessman Tom Edwards. RT Edwards & Sons is an important part of Ipswich's business community and the company is proudly celebrating their 75th anniversary.

While on the Edwards family, the work carried out in the community by Mark and Gail Edwards through the Ipswich Region Community Church was honoured on Saturday night. They have been serving the church for the past 15 years which is a significant and noteworthy achievement. Mark also serves the community through his involvement with the Chamber of Commerce. Our city applauds you.

I also offer my congratulations to Catherine Nason from the Ipswich Women's Health Centre who was presented with the 2006-2007 Office Professional of the Year Award at the 2006 Office Professional of the Year Breakfast at the Ipswich Turf Club last Friday. All nominees for the award were wonderful representatives of their individual workplaces and I'm sure it was a difficult task as always choosing this year's winner. One thing I appreciate is that we have moved past the terminology of secretary and are now using the title of office professionals which is far more fitting.

I attended the Domestic Violence candlelight ceremony last Wednesday and this has reinforced my view that we will not have a strong and peaceful community until we have a zero tolerance towards domestic violence against women and children.

The valuable work performed by RACQ CareFlight and the Ipswich Hospice Care facility were both recognised last Friday when the Rotary Club of Goodna held their annual charity golf day at Brookwater Golf Club. I was pleased to be able to lend my support to these worthwhile causes. The day was a lot of fun and I'm already looking forward to the 2007 event. However I don't think anyone has to be concerned about my golf prowess as I think I should stick to politics.

I also enjoyed the time I spent with the members of the Historical Motor Cycle Club of Queensland. A contingent from the club visited The Workshops rail museum at North Ipswich to mark the HMCCQ's 35th anniversary and it was interesting to see the bikes which they have lovingly restored in many cases.

A special group of people led by Wayne Geddes and Peter Johnstone lent their support to the Leukaemia Foundation on the weekend by taking part in the annual Shave for a Cure in the Ipswich Mall. A few brave souls lost their locks for this wonderful cause and I believe a group of council's staff are also planning their own special fundraiser this week.

As always I enjoyed the time I spent on Saturday at Winston Glades Shopping Centre hosting another one of our Chat Times with Division 9 Councillor Sheila Ireland. It is great to be able to speak one-on-one with residents and hear firsthand about the issues which concern them and the things they love about our city.

I encourage every resident to spend some time at the 2006 Ipswich Show this week. Our show would not take place each year without the hard work of a large number of people, especially members of the Ipswich Show Society and president Syd Haag, and I salute them all for their tireless dedication and hope their efforts will be rewarded with strong crowd numbers throughout the three day event.

This year's show will feature a special highlight with a performance scheduled by the US Navy 7th Fleet Far East Edition 20-piece show band. They are coming to the city to take part in the celebrations associated with Australian-American Week and are presenting a series of free public concerts and we have been lucky enough to have them accept our invitation to perform at our show. We look forward to warmly welcoming them to Ipswich.

1 May 2006 - Archived

THE rights of workers throughout Australia are being celebrated this week through the annual Labour Day march. It was great to be part of the Ipswich parade on Saturday and join in the celebrations in Timothy Maloney Park..

Tribute was paid last week to Australian war veterans as we celebrated Anzac Day.  At the main Ipswich day service, I was proud of the way the city's young people conducted themselves and honoured the memory of those who fought for our freedom.

Thanks to the Goodna RSL Services Club for joining with Ipswich City Council to host the night-time Operation Frontline concert in Goodna. This was a spirited and emotion-charged way to remember the Anzacs as well as mark 150 years since Goodna was established.

This year we are also marking 120 years since the Ipswich Blackstone Cambrian Choir was established. The choir has enjoyed a long and proud history and holds the title of the longest continuously running choral organisation in Ipswich. Happy Birthday!

I also offer my congratulations to the students of Rosewood State High School, principal Gary Ball and teacher and project co-ordinator Amanda Wildie on the recent unveiling of their locker room upgrade. It was tremendous to see the final outcome of this project and I enjoyed the time I spent at the school with the senior students.

Ipswich has many community groups and last week I caught up with members of the Sew Happy Lace Makers for a coffee and a chat. It was great to learn about the group's history and I congratulate Madge McLennan and the group on behalf of the city for their efforts.

Another group which is active in the community are the North Ipswich Guides and their leaders. I recently met with four local leaders and the guides to discuss the local projects they are involved in and I take my hat off to them for the tremendous work they do.

Last week was a great week for water with the announcement last Friday of an $80 million project between South-East Queensland's 18 councils and the State Government.  The pressure reduction and leak management project is expected to save at least 60 million litres of water per day across the region.

On Saturday I attended the grand opening of the new Curves Fitness centre at Springfield. Curves promotes the benefits of regular exercise as an important part of a healthy lifestyle and this is something which council also actively encourages.

The last week has been extremely busy as the Ipswich Festival has continued with its wonderful program of events. I hope you have taken the time to experience some of the events yourself. The Link Up Multicultural Festival and the Amazing Drumming Monkeys at the Ipswich Art Gallery and the Women in Song event have all drawn great crowds.

We also received a lovely message during the week from our Ipswich Poetry Feast international patron Joy Chambers wishing us all the best for the fourth annual event. Ipswich-born Joy and her husband Reg Grundy continue to be enthusiastic about the Poetry Feast and we hope to see them in Ipswich later this year.

Another festival highlight, the Ipswich International Tattoo, has proved so popular it is taking to the road and heading to Toowoomba in June after three successful performances here. It really proves once again that there is something on offer for everyone in Ipswich.

24 April 2006 - Archived

Ipswich's second university campus at Education City in Springfield was officially opened by Prime Minister John Howard last week.  Education City is fast becoming Australia's largest learning community and is set on 18 hectares next to the new Springfield Town Centre.  The campus is planned to evolve over a number of stages with a forecast student population set to exceed 10,000 annually when Education City is fully developed in just a few short years.  It was also great to give the PM an Ipswich pride pin to remind him of his visit to our city.

This is one of my favourite times of the year when Ipswich shows how we can put on  a party!  It's Ipswich Festival time and the hours of free entertainment continues this week.  We can all be proud of the festival as it has grown to become one of the leading festivals in regional Australia.  One of the key features of the Ipswich Festival is that almost all the of entertainment is free.  I'd like to thank all the generous corporate sponsors and the local Ipswich print and radio media for getting behind the festival, often without direct financial reward.  Your generosity is appreciated by the Ipswich community and shows that our local media is very much a part of the Ipswich success story.

Saturday's grand parade was another great event for families.  Don't forget to watch the highlights of the festival parade on channel 7's Great South East on Sunday April 30 at 5.30pm.  You might even see yourself!

The Ipswich Art Awards continues to attract quality entries.  The launch and announcement of winners was held last week in St Paul's Hall.  Congratulations to Sally Harrison for taking out the best of show award and to all the category winners.  You can visit the art awards exhibition and see all the works at St Paul's daily from 10am to 5pm.

The new Ipswich International Hotel was the venue last Thursday for the "Women Making a Difference" luncheon.  Thank you to Adriana Ward for being guest speaker and for being so passionate about our city.

Last Sunday the Ipswich Railway Sub Branch of the RSL celebrated 70 years of service.  Congratulations to all members.

17 April 2006 - Archived

Easter is over for another year and I hope you enjoyed the break with family and friends.  While this holiday period is over we all need to hear the road safety message, so please take extra care on the roads every time you get behind the wheel.

There was plenty to do in Ipswich and the fantastic Easter Monday family funday was no exception. It was another great celebration with free entertainment and free food made possible with the support of many businesses and individuals in Ipswich. Well done to Hans Booij and the team at Ipswich Awakening.

Easter Sunday is now synonymous with the Marburg Pacing Association and they have held another successful meeting at the Marburg showgrounds. This annual event is now part of the calendar and is a great day for the local community.  Local councillor David Pahlke and I are proud to support the Marburg community.  

Last Wednesday night Ipswich audiences were treated to world class entertainment at the Civic Hall from the Chinese National Orchestra during their Australian tour.  Ipswich was fortunate to be one of only a handful of concerts.  The music and costumes where brilliant.

A little over 14 months of construction and the new Ipswich International Hotel is open for business.  Brisbane based builder and developer Josh Butterfield has created what he promised for Ipswich, and that is a first class hotel and with conference facilities in the CBD.  No doubt we'll be hearing about an official opening soon.

Active Ipswich Week was a tremendous success last week and demonstrated that a partnership between many local organisations can produce a terrific result for the community.  Thank you also to the state government for their support and to Rachel Nolan and Don Livingstone for getting out of bed early to join me at the official launch.  

The Australian Meat Industry Council have announced their annual "Sausage King 2006" awards.  Congratulations to Barnie  and Karen at Circle T Meats Raceview on winning 1st and 2nd place in the South Brisbane region for the best poultry sausages.  Local councillor Sheila Ireland and I called in last week  to join in the celebrations.  Well done!

Two rare pieces furniture that have been a part of the city since the 1860's have been saved and donated to the City of Ipswich collection.  Originally owned by the Cribb family the cedar pedestal sideboard and tilt top table were almost certainly lost to the city forever when they were discovered in a store in New South Wales.  This furniture needs some restoration and when completed they will be on permanent display in the Ipswich Art Gallery.  Thank you to Stephen Williams and Wingate Properties for their extraordinary generosity and gift to the people of Ipswich.  

"Ozzie All Over" in Bell Street celebrated their first birthday last week with the official launch of an exhibition of Australian art prints.  It was great to join local councillor Andrew Antoniolli to congratulate Frank and Sue on their first anniversary of trading.  Currently there's around 60 pieces on display including 10 d'Arcy Doyles.

10 April 2006 - Archived

Some people would have you believe that the current Mayor is taking credit for all the great things happening in our city.  I do take offence at this suggestion and nothing could be further from the truth.  Since being elected as Mayor in March 2004, I have stated countless times in many public forums that the 'new' Ipswich has evolved as the result of many years of hard work by previous councils, local state and federal members, businesses and with the tremendous support of the community, especially the volunteers.  In other words, I don't believe any one person can claim credit for the resurgence we now see.  It has been a combined effort that now has Ipswich punching above our weight.  And there's still a lot of work to be done.  Our city is well and truly in the spotlight and we must move forward with proper planning to meet the challenges of rapid growth.

Councillors have already started on the long path to determining the budget for 2006-2007. Again this year it will be a difficult process to balance the needs of new infrastructure against rates and charges.  The council budget will be handed down in June.  My thanks to all councillors for working together as a team.

Two pieces of history were saved last week with the generous help of Wingate Properties and the Ipswich Arts Foundation.  Furniture dating from the 1860's and manufactured in "Ipswich Moreton Bay" was uncovered in New South Wales after being lost to the city.  Until recently they were owned by Viva Cribb and had been in the family for about 140 years.  A magnificent cedar pedestal sideboard and a cedar tilt-top centre table have been secured for the City of Ipswich Collection.  These items are in good condition but will need some minor conservation work before going on permanent public display.  Thank you to Stephen Williams from Wingate Properties for his very generous support.

Happy 50th wedding anniversary to Dave and Maureen McLuckie of Raceview who celebrated the milestone with family and friends.  My thanks also to local Cr Sheila Ireland for joining me to present a special certificate to mark the occasion.

Congratulations to Cecil and Olive Stewart who celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on Thursday 6 April.

Cr Trevor Nardi continues to help raise funds for Diabetes Australia and awareness of diabetes.  Last week Trevor and daughter Melina held the 5th annual morning tea in Division 4.  Melina delivered a very informative talk about diabetes and was well received by the crowd of 160 people.

North Ipswich Scout Group held their annual general meeting on Sunday.  The scouting movement continues to be relevant in the 21st century and I want to pay tribute to the mums and dads who volunteer their time to support the scouts.

Anzac Day is one our treasured national days and last week I wrote to the PM requesting the he look at the issue surrounding insurance at all services, especially those organised by community groups.

Congratulations to former Ipswich resident Natalie Rasmussen who last week won a major national harness racing title in Hobart.  Natalie became the first woman to win in the 50 year history of the event.  Well done!

3 April 2006 - Archived

Ipswich was literally centre stage in Brisbane last week.  A audience of 250 attended a forum organised by the Brisbane Development Association to discuss the growth of Ipswich and the western corridor.  As one of the guest speakers I was able to share the success we are experiencing as a city.  Thank you also to Michael Samios from the Hotel Metropole and Professor Alan Rix head of UQ Ipswich campus for telling the Ipswich story so well.  The hard work of the past 10 years is now paying off.  Those outdated perceptions are changing and this was confirmed by the amount of positive feedback after the forum.

Further proof of the heightened interest in our city came from two other quarters last week.  Tourism guru Sir Frank Moore was in my office to discuss ideas and various  projects for Ipswich.  Clem Jones also called in to discuss the possibility of setting up a scholarship.  Clem was proudly born in Ipswich and went on to become Lord Mayor of Brisbane from 1961 to 1975.

The Boilerhouse Community Engagement Centre at UQ Ipswich campus is a wonderful example of business, council and community working together.   In April 1999 the Community Service and Research Centre was established as part of the brand new UQ Ipswich campus. Its aim was to support and facilitate partnerships between the UQ Ipswich Campus and the broader community.  It was an honour to officially open the Boilerhouse.  The support from people like UQ's Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Trevor Grigg, Professor Alan Rix, Dr Michael Cuthill, Hon Dr David Hamill and Sir Llew Edwards has been outstanding.  Hutchinson Builders have transformed the Boilerhouse with the extensive work funded by UQ, Bremer Business Park, Swanbank Enterprise Park, Bendigo Bank and Ipswich City Council.  The Boilerhouse is now a marvellous example of 'living heritage' in our city.

A warm welcome back to the airwaves for Wayne "The Poo" Roberts who is back on the radio at River 94.9.  As a big fan of Wayne I know he is going to do a fantastic job on the breakfast show.  On behalf of the city, I'd like to wish Wayne and the team every success.

Harrisville District Guides continue to do a tremendous job in the local district so it was a pleasure to be invited to their annual general meeting on Friday. We discussed the changing face of Harrisville and several guide and community issues.  There was the opportunity to recognise the great work of all the volunteers and present Ipswich pride pins with local councillor David Pahlke.

Opera At The Rock at Ivory's Rock conference centre keeps getting bigger and better.  This year we witnessed a  magnificent performance by Opera Queensland with excerpts from La Traviata.  The amphitheatre at Ivory's Rock added an extra dimension to the performance.  Congratulations to everyone involved with presenting Opera At The Rock.

The National Servicemen's Association local Ipswich branch unveiled and dedicated a memorial in the grounds of Raceview State School last Friday. Thank you to  association president Kevin Keys and member Noel White for inviting me to speak on behalf the city.  School captains Jarryd Berrenkamp and Alyce Cooney represented their school admirably and I also want to thank local councillor Sheila Ireland for joining me at the service.
There's more fun for all the family with the annual Ipswich Festival now recognised as one of the leading regional festivals in Australia.  I'm looking forward to the Channel 7 movies in the mall complete with big red bean bags!  Don't forget the big street parade on April 22 starts at the new time of 3pm.

27 March 2006 - Archived

The Commonwealth Games has given Ipswich a new sporting superstar.  Congratulations to Deb Lovely from Riverview who joined us via phone at the council meeting on Wednesday.  It was an extra special moment as we also had grade sevens from Raceview State School in the public gallery.  Thank you to Cr Sheila Ireland for organising the visit of students to the regular council meeting.

Later this year Ipswich City Council will relocate around 140 staff to office accommodation just off the Ipswich City Mall.  I want to thank all councillors for their support in voting for the relocation of staff from Ipswich Water and other departments to offer a service centre in the area underneath the cinemas.  This move was prompted by the current lease for Ipswich Water at Yamanto coming to an end soon.  The opening of this service centre is a clear vote of confidence in our CBD as a vital hub in the future growth of Ipswich.  This is part of the broader vision for Ipswich as a city of centres and job generators.  

Following the devastation of Cyclone Larry I made a personal call to the mayors of Cairns City and Johnstone Shire Councils to offer any assistance and support and to let them know that our thoughts and prayers are with them at this most difficult time.  Ipswich has provided 3 generators on loan until mains power is restored.

Life Education plays a valuable role in our community.  Congratulations to Ron and Jenny Shaw and "Blue" Block and Marlene who have been awarded life membership for their services to Life Education.  

There's more great entertainment coming up at Ipswich Civic Hall with the world renowned China National Orchestra.  This world class orchestra will perform on April 12.  

Aria's at Sunset was another magical experience at Booval House on Saturday.

Camira Friends and Neighbours had a great day last week when they had a bus trip to the Ipswich Art Gallery for chat time and a tour of the gallery.  It was great to catch up with members and division one councillor David Morrison for morning tea.

Hans Booij and the Ipswich Awakening team are getting ready for another huge Easter Monday Funday this year.  There's no doubt this will be a well attended event for all the family in Queens Park.

Goodna RSL is now bigger than ever after the official opening on Sunday of the impressive new extensions.  The board and members are to be congratulated on value adding to a great community asset.

The RAAF Amberley Strategic Advisory Group plays an important role in linking the RAAF with the community.  Thank you to Wing Commander John Martin and the member of the committee for their support of this group.

Ipswich Girls Grammar School held their presentation of senior badges last week and I want to thank local councillor Andrew Antoniolli for help to hand our badges and pride pins.

20 March 2006 - Archived

State Minister for Emergency Services Pat Purcell visited Ipswich Fire Station last week to present service medals and clasps to long-serving members of the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service. While Pat was here he commissioned three new appliances that will give Ipswich a major boost to fire fighting capacity.

Bundamba Wetlands (Daly's Lagoon) is an important natural asset in the Ripley Valley and is part of the Bremer catchment. Last week SEQ Catchments was officially launched and announced a regional investment strategy for natural resource management. Queensland Minister for Natural Resources Mines and Water Henry Palasczuk is a good friend and supporter of Ipswich. Thank you Henry for backing this important environmental initiative.

Congratulations to Eugene Munroe and the new team at Murphy's Pub on the St Paddy's day fundraising activities for the Sunshine Ward at Ipswich Hospital.

Michael Kinnane is the new Director-General of the Department of Local Government, Planning, Sport and Recreation. Michael paid a visit to Ipswich  to support Ipswich Basketball and listen to guest speaker Brian Kerle. Later Michael was able to take a brief tour of our city centre that included  the River Heart Parklands project now under construction on the southern bank of the Bremer River between the David Trumpy and railway bridges.

Chat Time in Rosewood on Saturday with Cr David Pahlke was a great opportunity to meet with local residents to discuss issues and get that all important feedback. Thank you to everyone who took the time to stop and chat. There are many exciting things happening in our rural townships, especially in the Walloon-Thagoona-Rosewood corridor.

Thank you to members of Ipswich North Rotary Club (one of five Rotary Clubs in Ipswich) for the warm welcome at your weekly meeting.  It was great to catch up with members and give a presentation on the latest developments in our city.

Bethany School at Raceview held a special event to present badges to student leaders.  Local councillor Sheila Ireland and I were very proud to see and hear of the tremendous enthusiasm of students at the school. Well done!

I love visiting our seniors and on Saturday I was joined by local councillor David Pahlke in Harrisville to help Margaret Taylor celebrate 70 years. Happy Birthday Margaret. Also on Saturday Don Risson celebrated his 80th in Eastern Heights. Division 7 councillor Andrew Antoniolli and I dropped in to share some cake with Don who has had a long association with the Cambrian Youth Choir.

Ipswich Just Walk It groups have notched up another year and the early morning walkers were out in force on Saturday in Queens Park. Congratulations to everyone involved in the Just Walk It program.

North Ipswich District Guides Support Group held their AGM last week to celebrate the success of the Guides and to present special badges. Thank you to Leanne Wyvill and the committee for the warm welcome. Guides are just another example of the tremendous work or our volunteers and their valuable contribute to the community.

13 March 2006 - Archived

Young Ipswich cyclist Jesse Byrnes has won 1 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze in the State Cycling Championships and is off to Perth in two weeks for the National Championships.  On behalf of the Ipswich community all the best in Perth.  I'm sure you will do the city proud with more gold.

Graham Douglas called in for coffee last week to discuss a number of issues.  It is great that in this country we can run against each other for political office, but come together to work for the good of the city.  Graham raised a number of issues including his concern about what plans are in place should a pandemic hit Australia and affect our local community.  Graham I appreciate the advice and look forward to working with you.

International Womens Day was celebrated widely by many community organisations including the Zonta Club of West Moreton.  Zonta's breakfast at Brothers was very well attended and it was great to hear of the great work of Zonta.

The Alara Association does a tremendous job for our community as a disability service provider and celebrates 15 years of operation this year.  Her Excellency Quentin Bryce officially opened extensions to their premises in Warwick Road and it is always a pleasure to welcome the Governor as a great friend of Ipswich.

The Miss Showgirl Ipswich quest continues to promote the annual Ipswich Show.  I want to thank Cr Heather Morrow for attending the awards presentation on Saturday night.  It will be an honour to officially open the show in May when city and country are on display presenting the best of the best in Ipswich.

March signals the start of the major football codes and locally it was great to drop into the season launch at West End football club in Chermside Road.

Augustine Heights has been officially launched and is the latest new suburb being created in Ipswich.  Congratulations to Stockland for working in partnership with council to create special communities and not just subdivisions.  Access to Augustine Heights is off Augusta Parkway.

Dawn Johnson and the members of the Australian Institute of Office Professionals have launched the search for Office Professional of the Year.  AIOP was established in 1963 and the local branch works to raise awareness of office professionals in the Ipswich region.  I encourage you to nominate anyone you think is deserving of the title to recognise their achievements and say 'thank you'.

7 March 2006 - Archived

The Board of Energex met in Ipswich for the first time last week. This was a chance  to hear first hand of the major projects either underway or proposed for the Ipswich region.  It was an ideal forum for councillors to get a full briefing and to provide feedback to Energex on behalf of the community.  I want to thank the Energex chairman for the meeting and slogan "positive power to Ipswich".

Redbank Plains now has a new Bank of Queensland branch.  Congratulations to Kelby Williams and his team on the recent opening. Another bank, Westpac, held a meeting of their Ipswich business customers at which I gave a presentation on the latest and proposed developments in Ipswich.  Thank you to Alistair Walsh and the Westpac team for the opportunity to meet with your customers.

It was great to officially open the new look Raceview Tavern with local councillor Sheila Ireland on Saturday.  $2 million in renovations has transformed this venue into a very modern facility for the area.  The tavern has an emphasis on attractions for the family and now employs up to 50 people either full or part time.

Ipswich hosted a number of events and conferences during the weekend including the Toastmasters Western Division conference at St Josephs Community Hall in North Ipswich and the Confraternity of Brothers conference at Brothers Leagues Club.  Hardly a week seem to pass that there is not some important meeting or conference being hosted in Ipswich.  We really are centre stage in south east Queensland!

One of the joys of being mayor is opportunity to meet many people young and old.  Local councillor Cheryl Bromage and I called into The North Ipswich Child Care Centre to help with their fundraising and one of the topics discussed with the kids was how to keep our city clean.  Thank you for the great suggestions and it is clear that our future generation of adults is in good hands.

27 February 2006 - Archived

Students from all divisions across the city were represented at the external meeting of Council held in Brassall last week.  I'd like to thank all parents and teachers for nominating our young leaders of tomorrow to sit at the council meeting beside each councillor.  I'm sure that James Turner, Luke Scriven,  Alyce Cooney, Madison Sowden, Danielle Kunde, Nicholas Buikstra, Zane Cude, Amber Haines, Robert Caza, Caitllyn Cridland and Adam Sharp enjoyed the experience, and who knows, we could see these names on a ballot paper in the future!

I am very close to finalising plans for more shade structures in the Mall.  These plans have been put together based on public feedback.  The first new structure will be adjacent to the Rotunda and details of the exact locations of  the new structures will be released soon.

Springfield remains the engine room of new development in Ipswich and the State Government has again recognised this with the announcement of a new $9.68 million electricity sub station for the area that is due to come on line next month.  Thank you to Queensland government minister John Mickel for the investment in the future of our city and to Peter Beattie for bringing community cabinet to Ipswich this week.

Member for Ipswich Rachel Nolan has marked five years as the local member with a  celebration dinner at Brothers.  The special guest speaker was Deputy Premier Anna Bligh who described Rachel as one of the up and coming stars in the parliament.  Congratulations Rachel.

We can all feel very proud of the Workshops Rail Museum even though they just missed a grabbing the award for Heritage and Cultural Tourism at the Australian Tourism Awards held on the Gold Coast last Friday night.  When the finalists were announced a loud cheer came from the audience.  Ipswich can rightly lay claim to one of Australia's many first class tourist attractions.

The new wig bank for Ipswich is an inspirational project to assist those in the community who are undergoing treatment for cancer.  Raceview Hair and Beauty, the Ipswich Hospital Foundation and River 94.9 have joined forces to help raise awareness and donations.  

RSL Rosewood sub branch held their AGM on Saturday night.  AGM's are a good time to stop and reflect on the achievements of the past year and to revisit what is on the drawing board for the next 12 months.  Many volunteer hours go into the work of the RSL and members should feel very proud of their contribution to our community.

Special thanks to Fr Roger Burns at St Frances Xavier's Goodna for the special prayers for all elected representatives at on Sunday.  Your special Civic Mass allowed us all to reflect on our responsibilities as elected representatives.  

Education City has created a number of firsts and last week it was the first set of traffic lights in Springfield.  I'm not sure if that is a good or a bad thing!  One thing is certain - Springfield and Education City are helping to create the new Ipswich and we can be very proud of how our city is evolving into the 21st century.

20 February 2006 - Archived

13 February 2006 - Archived

The subject of  water is certainly being discussed more and more as the drought continues to impact on our dam levels which are hovering around 33%.  Last week Ipswich City Council through Ipswich Water hosted a Water Forum for business and industry to highlight sustainable water management,  alternative water sources and recycled water.  The forum was very well attended which indicates to me the willingness of the Ipswich business community to work together with council in reducing water consumption.  I also want to thank residents for the outstanding effort in reducing water usage around the home since the introduction of restrictions last year.

Congratulations to students and  teachers at Dinmore State School on the recent AMH awards and welcome to student leaders for 2006.  I know the students and staff also appreciated the support of Cr Trevor Nardi and Jo-Ann Miller for attending.

iTEL community telco is going from strength to strength and I must congratulate John Goddard, Brian Ramsay and Paul Casos on the progress of the company.  The recent board meeting highlighted the value of having a community based phone and internet provider in Ipswich.

The new entrance feature at Ipswich Girls Grammar School is very impressive.  Congratulations to board of trustees chairman Peter Phillips and principal Flo Kearney.  This new wall is a statement of the proud heritage of the school and compliments the CBD entrance gardens in Queens Park across the road.  Thank you to the junior school students for the warm welcome at the official unveiling of the wall.

Ipswich has welcomed a new dental surgery this month.  Raceview Dental Clinic is now open in the Raceview Shopping Centre and certainly adds more choice to the many dental facilities in Ipswich.  Thank you to local councillor Sheila Ireland for joining me at the opening.

Commiserations to the Brisbane Bullets in their gallant fight against Perth to make the finals last week.  There's always next season, and I know the Bullets will again be offering their support of local players in the Ipswich region.  Thanks also to Graham McVean, David Greenwood and the team at River 94.9 for their involvement and support of basketball.

The city honoured the recently departed Chief Executive Officer of Ipswich City Council with a testimonial dinner last Friday night at the Civic Hall.  Sixteen years at the helm of Ipswich and Jamie Quinn's passion for the city has never been stronger.  We wish Jamie, Robyn and family every success and health for their future.  One thing is for certain, I'd tip this won't be the last we have heard of Jamie Quinn.

Don't forget the next night meeting of Council is Wednesday 22 February in Brassall.  Please come and see your council in action at the Ipswich Baptist Church Workshops Street Brassall.  Look for details in the Info Page or visit www.ipswich.qld.gov.au

6 February 2006 - Archived

Synergy Park at Carole Park is really kicking a few goals with a number of new developments either underway or approved.  This will mean more jobs on offer.  Calling Synergy home will be food industry supplier Trisco Foods, Sunny Queen Eggs, Chalet Patisserie, Spaceframe Buildings Pty Ltd, Total Steel Pty Ltd, Multi Span Pty Ltd,  a medical centre, child care centre and professional offices.

Just up the road in Cobalt Street Carole Park Visy Board are about to undertake a major expansion of the facility with a new building to be erected on the left hand side of the existing site.  Again this is great news for creating more jobs in Ipswich and I want to thank Visy for their continued investment in our city.

The Ipswich branch of the National Trust has been instrumental in restoring  an 1880's Victorian Cylindrical Harp Music Box that is now on display at the Ipswich Art Gallery.  The Music Box was part of the original furnishings of Garowie, the grand historic home in Eastern Heights built for the Cribb family in 1888.  It was left to the National Trust of Queensland.  Thanks must go to David Kernke and sponsors of the restoration appeal - The National Trust of Queensland Ipswich Branch, Zonta, the Rotary Club of Ipswich North and Ipswich City Council.

CATS is an organisation that contributes a great deal of social capital to Ipswich. Community Access and Transition Service (CATS) Inc is a disability services organisation that supports young people aged 16 to 25.  Last week CATS launched their community partnerships program.  Yet again I want to sing the praises of the army of volunteers who contribute so much to the well being of our community.

Congratulations to Andrew and Karina Antoniolli who are expecting number five child.  The question is, will it be a boy to add to the girl dominated household!

The South Street Club does a wonderful job for our seniors.  Congratulations to Tom Murray and his band of volunteers for giving our city a heart and soul.

The new entrance at Girls Grammar looks fantastic.  Thank you to the IGGS staff and students for the warm welcome for the induction of the 2006 Prefects and Seniors.  Well done to Peter Phillips chairman of the board of trustees, and principal Flo Kearney.

The City and Country Relations Consultative Committee meets regularly and the meeting last week was held in Rosewood.  Topics covered included dealing with issues of aging and care in rural communities.

Camira Friends and Neighbours do a fabulous job for the local community in the eastern suburbs of Ipswich.  It was great last week to pay a visit with division one councillor David Morrison and to discuss issues and ideas with local residents.

30 January 2006 - Archived

On Australia Day it made me very proud, yet humble to be Mayor.  We came together as a community to celebrate all that is great about being Australian.  The Ipswich Citizen of the Year Awards recognised the unsung heroes of Ipswich.  A warm congratulations to all winners.  Bob Green took out the top honour as Ipswich Citizen of the Year.  

I have been thinking about all the things I felt on that day.  From the early morning neighbourhood BBQ at Brassall, the Friendship Force BBQ at Goodna, and later that morning with Cr David Pahlke and Cameron Thompson with the Rosewood Lions.  John McRae is the president of Rosewood Lions and it was great to witness Clive Nicoll being awarded the Rosewood Lions local citizen of the year.

Also on Australia Day in the beautiful setting of Queens Park 88 new Australians took part in a citizenship ceremony. Our new Australians come from many countries including the UK, Vietnam, Fiji, Indonesia, Republic of South Africa, Samoa and Laos.

It was the end of an era at Ipswich City Council on Friday. Jamie Quinn has been at the helm for the past 16 years, and a total of 21 years with Council.  Jamie, thank you for the marvellous contribution you have made to the city.  On behalf of all councillors, we wish you, Robyn and your family all the very best for the future.

National Seniors do a terrific job in our community.  There was a big gathering last week to celebrate Australia Day.  Morning tea of damper and billy tea and lunch with pie and mushy peas!  Again I must thank Peter Calcott and his group for their tremendous contribution to our city.

Last week I mentioned the RSL girl in a million quest does a wonderful job for the community.  I forgot to add Louie Allen to the list of local entrants in last years quest.

The growth in Ipswich continues at full pace and Rosewood is not missing out.  Plumlife Developments have launched a new estate overlooking Rosewood.  Congratulations to Tony Hickmott and Plumlife Developments for your investment and faith in the future of this area of Ipswich.

23 January 2006 - Archived

The future has landed in Ipswich.  Last week I joined state minister Tom Barton,  member for Ipswich West Don Livingstone and federal member for Blair Cameron Thompson at the launch of the Boeing 737 Wedgetail project.  This is the largest and most complex aircraft modification program in the history of aviation in Australia. RAAF Amberley and Ipswich will benefit in many ways.  Firstly from the $450 million price tag of the project, and the creation of new jobs and skills at Boeing.  These aircraft will give the airforce more flexibility than what is in service today and will provide work for up to 170 personnel including aircraft technicians, engineers and support staff.  If I had said 10 years ago that Ipswich would be the centre of an aerospace industry, many people would have tried to run me out of town!

The elder statesman of local government, former Brisbane Lord Mayor Clem Jones, celebrated his 88th birthday last week.  Clem was proudly born in Ipswich and is an absolute gentleman.  It was an honour to present Clem with a born in Ipswich certificate.  Happy Birthday Clem!

To the team at Channel 9's Extra program, I want to say thanks for the tremendous coverage of Ipswich.  The program with Rick Burnett in our beautiful Nerima Gardens certainly helps to change those outdated perceptions that Ipswich is somewhere near the edge of the desert or there's nothing to see here.  Thanks also to Roslyn Cooper for showing the Extra team the delights of Woodlands.

Talking of tourism, it was great to meet with the new board of the Ipswich Visitor and Tourism Association and to discuss the plans for 2006.  I'm sure that under the stewardship of new president Michael Samios we will see new and innovative ideas from the IVTA.

Congratulations to David le Good on being elected president of the Ipswich Bridge Club.  It was great to attend the Bridge Club Congress over the weekend at Booval Sports Club.

The RSL girl in a million quest does a wonderful job for the community.  The local entrants in this years quest are Jessica Nugent, Tiffany Delafosse, Amber Burland, Danielle Reggett, Emily Morton and Anna Smith.  All these entrants are working hard fund raising and are taking their roles seriously in the community.  Keep up the great work girls.

Ipswich is full of great characters.  One of them is 86 year old Jimmy Doolan.  Harvest Rain Christian Care gave a lunch last week to honour Jimmy and his marvellous contribution to our city.  All the best Jimmy, and thanks for all you have done.

In just 20 years it will be 2026. Sustainable planing forecasts tell us that the population of Ipswich will be in the range 317,000.  What kind of Ipswich do we want our city to be?  The Ipswich 2020 and Beyond vision is a picture of our community in 20 years time.  This vision is now available on line at www.ipswich.qld.gov.au , or you can request a copy from your local Councillor.  I encourage you to take a glimpse into the future options for our city.

16 January 2006 - Archived

The new Highbury Park estate at Redbank Plains is about to join Telstra's Smart Community program whereby Telstra partners with developers to establish the best telecommunications services to meet the needs and expectations of home buyers.  This is more great news for Ipswich as all new homes in this estate will be wired with  full range of telecommunications services prior to residents moving into their new home, instead of waiting for the progressive rolling out of infrastructure as demand grows.  New home owners now expect to have access to broadband, cable TV and other enhanced communications the moment they move in.  Congratulation to John Cole from Telstra and Andrew Byrnes from Scottsdale Homes on building future proof homes in Ipswich.

Now on to my favourite subject - The Ipswich Motorway.  Men have been landing on the moon since 1969, but in 2006 it is still impossible to  travel on a modern highway between Ipswich and Brisbane.  There is still plenty of rubbish being peddled by some politicians about the time frame for upgrading the Ipswich Motorway.  These same people repeat out of date information based on the Federal Government drip feeding the funding and therefore slowing up construction.  Queensland Main Roads gave a detailed briefing last year that the entire motorway would be finished in just 4 years with full federal funding up front and an immediate start.  These same politicians keep insisting  that we will all be driving through a construction site for years and years.  This is simply not true.  Modern methods of road construction will mean that only 3% of the construction will be under traffic.  Instead of delaying the much needed start to upgrading the Ipswich Motorway these same people need to get on board with the bipartisan consensus of 18 south east Queensland Mayors and tell John Howard we need the motorway fixed now.  It is a vital part of infrastructure in south east Queensland.  To do otherwise is holding the region to ransom.

The Boeing Aerospace Support Centre at Amberley is celebrating a major milestone this week.  The first of the Boeing 737 Wedgetail AEW&C aircraft is on the ground and is the first of four aircraft to be modified by Boeing Australia.  This is part of the rollout of new airborne early warning and control capability for Australia.

Congratulations to St Mary's Employment Group on conducting another special "Pride In Ipswich" workshop. SMEG continues to do a wonderful job in our community assisting jobseekers.  Any employers searching for staff should give the SMEG team a call.

9 January 2006 - Archived

During first week of January Ipswich played host to the Namygal Monks from the 14th Dalai Lama's private monastery in India.  This was part of a cross cultural exchange that included monks from eight local monasteries.  Other highlights included the pouring of a sand mandala, a range of craft activities for children and adults, yoga workshops and an evening cross cultural welcome which focused on the spiritual well-being of the community.  The visit was significant to the local Buddhist community and an honour for our city as 2006 is the 70th birthday of the Dali Lama.

Does anyone remember going shooting for wild ducks in the Raceview area many years ago?  Back then Peter Londy, Richard Zande and Jack Stathis were mates with then Raceview local John Penglis.  I bumped into John recently while on a visit to Mt Tambourine and heard some great stories like the time when there were farms in the Cascade Street area that grew vegetables for RAAF Amberley.  These were grown to help feed the American troops.  John remains a great friend and ambassador for our city and now has the successful Cedar Creek Wines.  Cedar Creek has an Ipswich connection as they contract Warrego Winery to crush and bottle some of their wines.  What John has done is remarkable and his commitment to Ipswich and Queensland is fantastic.  Drop in for a chat with John and hear more great stories about Ipswich.

Summer and cricket go hand in hand and it was a pleasure to conduct an official reception for the Queensland primary girls cricket team last week.  The State Championships were held in Ipswich last November and this week the team is touring Victoria to play in School Sport Australia's Cricket Exchange which is held every January.  Good luck girls and thank you to Des Taege for the great work in supporting junior sport.

And finally this week, as we start 2006 take a moment to think how much the world we live in has changed in a few short years.  I want to ask you to pause for a moment and reflect on the billions of dollars being spent on looking for weapons of mass destruction.  While this is happening, here on home soil we have allowed drugs to destroy our youth.  As a community and a nation we need to see the same time and effort put into fighting the war against drugs.

2 January 2006 - Archived

We certainly are having a real Aussie summer this festive season.  It's been hot everywhere.  But put that in perspective and overall we have a great climate that lets us enjoy the outdoors virtually year round.  One thing is certain and that is we do need more shade structures in the new look Ipswich City Mall.  The good news is that now we can see exactly where new shade will be the most benefit and quotes are currently being prepared.  I'm sure it won't be too long before we have more shade, being mindful that in winter many people enjoy soaking up the warmth of the sun.

It's a brand new year and I hope you have made your resolution.  There's no doubt that 2006 will be a great year for Ipswich and my wish is to keep our city centre stage in south east Queensland.  There's still one or two sceptics out there, but just stop for a moment and reflect on the last eight years.  Ipswich has gone through an amazing transformation of a city reinventing itself.  In eight short years we now have two universities, tourism is on the increase with attractions like the Workshops Museum, wineries and the Ipswich Art Gallery.  Then there's the booming housing market and major developments in all corners of Ipswich.  When you talk about our city, you can now talk about it with immense pride.

The business of Council committee meetings swing into action from January 16 and again this year we will see a number of major decisions being made on the kind of Ipswich we want in the future.  Details of committee and council meetings are available on our web site www.ipswich.qld.gov.au

Summer holidays can sometimes mean that boredom sets in for the kids.  How about treating them to something completely different.  Disco Puppy is a fun interactive experience at the Ipswich Art Gallery and admission is free.  The Gallery is open 7 days a week with entry from d'Arcy Doyle Place.  Many families from outside Ipswich are now discovering the amazing new playground in Queens Park.  If you have not been for while, make sure you treat the kids to some great outdoor fun these holidays.

Now that Christmas is over for another year, don't forget to recycle those cards.  Many stores now have recycling bins to help the environment.

Finally, I'd like to wish you a happy and prosperous new year and all the best for 2006.

26 December 2005 - Archived

Did Christmas sneak up on you this year?  It did certainly did for me and now most of us have a few days to relax and enjoy quality time with family and friends.  It is also good to pause and remind you of the tremendous work carried out by our emergency service workers.  These unsung heroes are on the job day and night during the festive season.  

Jill and the ladies from Keeping Up Appearances called in for a cuppa last week to share their thoughts on the year.  Thank you ladies for the feedback and for being so proud to live in Ipswich.

This year the Ipswich International Hotel has steadily been going up opposite the council buildings in South Street.  It was very exciting last week to see the last of the scaffolding removed to reveal a magnificent addition to our city.  It will only be a few short weeks before the hotel opens for business.  At long last the city will have a first class hotel located in the CBD.

Ipswich District Juvenile Aid Bureau (JAB) has been involved for the past 4 years organising of a "Christmas Gifts for Kids" function.  This event is for the children of Ipswich who have been victims of abuse and who have had contact with members of the Ipswich District Juvenile Aid Bureau throughout the year.  The aim is to provide these young people and their families/carers with some joy and happiness at this time of year.

Happy 60th wedding anniversary to Jack and Estelle Duffie who celebrated this special occasion with the Cr Charlie Pisasale and myself.  Charlie had a great time looking at the old photos.

With the man in the jolly red suit back at the north pole thoughts turn to new year and resolutions.  My resolution for 2006 is to keep encouraging pride in our city and to keep promoting our city to the rest of Australia and the world.  The "See It Live It Do It" campaign will certainly help promote Ipswich as a family friendly fun place to live work and visit.

Congratulations to Heritage Building Society on the opening of the new Karalee Community Branch.  Next time you're at Karalee Shopping Village call in and say hello to Brian Carter and the friendly staff.  Thank you to local councillor Heather Morrow for joining me at the official opening.

Also this month Bendigo Bank has opened a new Community Bank in Rosewood.  Congratulations to the local community, including Division 10 councillor David Pahlke, for getting behind the community bank concept and to Bendigo Bank for supporting Rosewood.

It was great to drop into the Bell Street Health Plaza just before Christmas and join in the festive season fun with the Breathe Easy Ipswich Group.  Thank you for the warm welcome, and keep up the great work.

19 December 2005 - Archived

Many families love to have a drive around to look at the Christmas lights and there are many stand out streets in virtually every suburb and township of Ipswich. Thank you to everyone who puts in time, money and effort to create such wonderful displays and congratulations to the 2005 Christmas Lights divisional winners and to the citywide champion, the Brown family in Evans Road Thagoona. Well done!

It's been a great week for the environment with two major launches in Ipswich. The Clean Site program at Springfield Lakes highlights the need to keep building sites clean, and the use of reticulated recycled water to 14 homes at Springfield was also launched. Clean Site is a major step forward in caring for the environment as it encourages builders to adopt best practice when disposing of building site waste. At the Clean Site demonstration home local councillor David Morrison and I also presented Delfin Lend Lease an original painting of the lake and shops at Springfield Lakes. Ipswich is again leading the way in protecting the waterways of the south east.

The Queensland Pioneer Steam Railway at Swanbank added to their rolling stock on the weekend with the unveiling of a refurbished prison carriage. It is fantastic to see the trains running again this month and you can catch a ride again on December 31 from Swanbank Station.
James Sturges and the Ipswich Arts Foundation have again this year done an incredible job of raising money for the Ipswich Art Gallery. On behalf of all residents I can say that your efforts are really appreciated. A city is nothing without a cultural heart and soul, and the Arts Foundation is the rock upon which our cultural heritage is being preserved and encouraged.
UQ Ipswich and Bremer TAFE held their graduations last week. Congratulations to all students on both campuses. Bremer TAFE Director Kaylene Harth and the staff are doing a fantastic job and to see the students graduate made me very proud to be chairman of Bremer TAFE.
It is the home run to Christmas and many invitations to community celebrations have been coming in including South Street Club seniors who had a wonderful Christmas party last week and Focal Extended hosted a party with fancy dress at Glebe Road Uniting Church.
Australian Air Force Cadets 2 Wing Band provided a concert in the new look Ipswich City Mall on the weekend. Thank you for the great entertainment.
And finally, on behalf of all councillors and staff of Ipswich City Council may you have a very merry Christmas with family and friends and please take care on the roads through the holiday season.

12 December 2005 - Archived

Medical services in Ipswich received a further boost last week when Queensland Diagnostic Imaging opened their doors in the new medical centre opposite the hospital. Thank you to Dr Linda Cockburn and all the staff for a tour of this ultra modern facility. Ipswich is up there with the best.

The tireless work of police often goes unnoticed by the community. The Police Service Special Awards recognise the achievements of those in the service. Last week it was great to join with deputy commissioner Richard Conder, acting assistant commissioner Ann Lewis and Ipswich district superintendent Peter Guild at the annual presentation of awards at Yamanto.

The Ipswich and district Toy Run on Sunday was one of the best yet. Thousands of toys have been donated again this year. Congratulations to the Lockyer Valley Ulysses Club and their supporters for organising such a terrific event. The team at Brassall Shopping Centre also did a tremendous job assisting the toy run. Brassall was the new starting point with Brothers at Raceview again being the end of the run. Many families lined footpaths on the route of the ride and enjoyed the parade of colourful bikes. Well done everyone!

Hotelier Ken Talbot has recently taken over the Mi Hi Tavern in Brassall and it was great to catch up with Ken last week. Welcome to Michael Ryan who is the new manager at the Mi Hi.

St Mary's Employment Group perform a valuable role in our community by getting people back into the workforce. Another free workshop will be held in January to help people get back to work. A special thank you to the dedicated team at SMEG.

The mayoress has been out and about this past week attending many functions including St Mary's Hostel Christmas party, RSL Girl in a Million, TPI, St Michael's Aged Care and Brassall Village.

Premier Peter Beattie spent a good part of last Friday in Ipswich. From early morning Mr Beattie was on the go with the official opening of the new look Ipswich City Mall and d'Arcy Doyle Place. Thank you Peter for your outstanding support for Ipswich. Mr Beattie was also at Springfield for the commissioning of the water recycling demonstration project which is Queensland's first domestic water recycling project. Later he was at the seniors morning tea at Civic Hall. With our city taking centre stage in south east Queensland you can be proud to say that you're from Ipswich.

Shiloh Christian Church at Goodna have again presented a fantastic Christmas pageant this year. Special thanks to Alan Morris for allowing me to officially open the carols by candlelight evening. It was another great night for all families to enjoy.

Congratulations to June Frank and the team at Walkers Real Estate for another awards night to recognise the achievements of staff during the year.

The Salvation Army launched their Indigenous Ministry in Downs Street North Ipswich on the weekend. The Salvos continue to do a marvellous job in supporting our local community.

5 December 2005 - Archived

Last Friday we launched what I believe is the biggest marketing campaign ever for Ipswich. See It Live It Do It is designed to tackle outdated perceptions about our city, especially for those who have never been here. Look for the billboards around south east Queensland from this week. A special thank you to the businesses who have partnered with Ipswich City Council to make this campaign a reality.

Springfield has a new street named in honour of local residents John and Julie Ashby. Ashby Close is next to Bob Gibbs Oval and I joined local councillor David Morrison last week to present a certificate in recognition of their 20 years of dedication to local sport.

Thank you to all the cabbies and local business leaders who attended the latest city update session at Civic Hall. Again it was great to be able to share all the latest news on what is happening around Ipswich.

Jamie Quinn has been the Chief Executive Officer of Ipswich City Council for 16 years and last week he made the decision to resign the position due to ill health. On behalf of all councillors, staff and the entire Ipswich community I want to say thank you Jamie for your passion and enthusiasm for this city. It is great that you will still be involved in an honorary capacity with many Ipswich organisations.

Many school students are counting down the days to the holidays and last week Cr Cheryl Bromage and I played the annual game of bocce with Brassall State School. St Mary's grade 3 classes also made me welcome last week. I am always impressed with the vast general knowledge our young people have and the questions I get asked. Blair State School held their annual awards last Friday and I joined Cr Heather Morrow on a Christmas visit to chat with students at Karalee State School.

I don't like to spread gossip but here's one for you. Brassall resident Dianne Macaroni had a surprise 60th birthday party on Sunday and still getting over it. Happy birthday Dianne!

The board of Perth based Amex Corporation met in Ipswich last week. Amex (not to be confused with the credit card company) is a major landholder in the Ripley Valley. As members of the Ripley valley Task Force, Amex is working on the master planning for an ultimate population in the valley of around 100,000.

CODI celebrated 10 years of their annual awards to the community last week. There are many people to thank for keeping CODI on the road, including Tony and Theresa. Well done also to Doug O'Connor who kicked of these wards in 1995.

Many local clubs are holding their holiday season break ups. QRI Heritage Model Railway club held their annual Christmas lunch on Saturday and Glebe Garden Club got into the spirit of the festive season on the weekend. Thank you to Mavis Wakefield and members for the warm welcome to the garden club's Christmas celebrations.

The voice of the Ekka and many local agricultural shows Angus Lane dropped in for a coffee and chat recently. Angus is a great ambassador for Ipswich and when the chance presents itself, I know Angus always give Ipswich a plug when he is on the job behind the ringside microphone. Thank you Angus!

28 November 2005 - Archived

The Queensland Heritage Icon list includes Alvey fishing reels made right here in Ipswich. Last week Division One councillor David Morrison and I made an industry visit to the home of Alvey in Carole Park. The Alvey company is a Queensland success story and has been owned by the same family for almost 85 years. Bruce and Glen Alvey run the company today and they have been operating at the Carole Park site since 1978.

The new look Ipswich Mall and d'Arcy Doyle Place are complete. It is fantastic to see so many families enjoying the entertainment and celebrations over the weekend. There's still more to come when the Futurescope is fully installed with a high tech viewfinder.

Musicfocus is a new store that I officially opened in Booval on Saturday. Thank you to Melissa Fellows for help with singing.

Redbank Plaza was car heaven for enthusiasts on Saturday for the first Summer Motor Expo 05. Jamie Dunn's new Beach House put the expo together and this year money was raised for the YMCA and B105 Christmas appeal. I'm sure this could become an annual event in the top car park at the Plaza.

Thank you to all the volunteers who contributed to another successful Christmas In The Park at Brassall last Friday. There's just under four weeks to Christmas and still plenty of family fun to be had. The City of Ipswich Carols makes a welcome return to Queens Park this Friday night December 2nd. Come along and sing carols and be entertained by the Boogie Woogies, Simon Gallagher and a huge fireworks finale.

Personal milestones need to acknowledged so it was a great pleasure to visit Ken and Joyce McInally in Leichhardt to help them celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. At Brassall Village Jack Earsman celebrated his 85th birthday. Congratulations Jack.

Last week I had the chance to talk with future grade 12's at St Edmund's. The school's 185 grade 11 students have much to look forward to in 2006. Ipswich Junior Grammar School also held their end of year presentation night last week.

The magnificent Queens Park adventure playground is now complete and thank you to grade 4M students from Central State School for helping celebrate the opening. Queens Park is a park of regional significance that attracts thousands of visitors every year from all over south east Queensland. The new $850,000 playground is an attraction in its own right.

The Living in Harmony book published by Ipswich City Council was officially launched last week. Congratulations to the 3000 students, staff of Ipswich City Council and the facilitators who contributed to the project over a 12 month period. The end result is a publication that the whole city can be proud of.

The mid week ladies tennis group know how to enjoy life. Well done ladies on your weekly get together for fun and fitness. Normally I tell you what happens but I can't on this one. These ladies know how to enjoy themselves!

Ipswich Lions Club held their white cane dinner at United Services Bowls Club last week. This is just another example of the tremendous work our local service clubs do for our city.

Grandchester has really been put on the map with the release last Friday of a new tourism brochure in the Then and Now series. Local councillor David Pahlke is very pleased with the release of this new brochure as it includes Grandchester, Lanefield, Ashwell, Calvert and Mount Mort and will help encourage more visitors to take a drive through the beautiful rural areas of Ipswich.

21 November 2005 - Archived

School awards nights are a big part of many families calendar and Ipswich Grammar School held their annual Speech Night last week. Congratulations to headmaster Denis Frederiksen, chairman of the school board Paul Fallu and school captain Brett Gillespie. It is clear that our future is in good hands.

It was also wonderful to call in and chat with year seven students at West Moreton Anglican College about the role of local government. Thanks kids!

On a kind of sad note my son David has now finished his school years at St Edmunds and it was great to attend the valedictory night last week. Like all parents I have to get through the thought of him at schoolies this week!

One of Ipswich City Council's longest serving employees called it a day last Friday after starting with council in 1972. On behalf of all councillors and staff we wish Dave Port all the very best for the future. Thank you Dave for your many years of loyal service to the Ipswich community.

Bob Slater has been in Ipswich since 1979 and I salute his commitment to the local community and business. Congratulations Bob on the opening of your new Chemworld store in the mall. The shop looks great.

Brothers junior sports awards have again presented the Brothers Sport Star of the Year. Congratulations to Mick Wilson and the committee on organising a tremendous night that honours our junior athletes and encourages excellence in their chosen sport. Well done!

A new counselling service has opened in Ipswich. Congratulations to Chris Parker and her team for establishing Jigsaw Counselling Centre.

A very exciting week for our city last week with the start of work on the new Aspire apartments on the site of the Bakehouse in Darling Street. The great news is that the main part of the original Bakehouse will be fully restored and reopen as a function centre in the future. Aspire will begin to rise out of the ground between the Bakehouse and the Commercial Hotel.

I love getting out and visiting local community groups and clubs. So it was fun to visit Whitehill Garden Club who kicked off the festive season in style with their Christmas Concert last week in Raceview. Over at Mt Crosby Bowls Club they celebrated 50 years on Saturday with a special dinner to mark the occasion.

14 November 2005 - Archived

On Saturday night I joined local councillor David Pahlke at the Rosewood Hotel for a big fund raising effort for 11 year old Ayden Powell. Ayden suffers from a rare debilitating disease. The local community have rallied to the cause and seven ladies from St Brigid's have formed a committee to help. Co-ordinator is Kylie Wieland who can be contacted on 5464 9138.

The new Corporate House is now open at 16 Wharf Street. Congratulations to Jo Sayle on offering an range of new services and tenancies for businesses in Ipswich.

Cunningham Rise estate at Goodna now has a new park named in honour of former Goodna State School grade seven teacher the late Norma Mulvihill. Norma was much loved by the school community and served at Goodna for 17 years. Cr Paul Tully and I joined representatives from AV Jennings at the naming of the new park last week.

Welcome night for new residents of Springfield Lakes was well attended last week. It was great to catch up our newest Ipswich families and to give an update on what is happening in our great city. Well done Delfin!

Mark Edwards and the Ipswich Region Community Church held a National Day of Honour to thank all Police, Ambulance, Fire, SES and local politicians for their service to the Ipswich community. Deputy Mayor Victor Attwood and I were pleased to attend and on behalf of all members of the emergency services thank you for the service and recognition. It was really appreciated.

Brassall Christmas In The Park on November 25th in Sutton Park is shaping up to be the best yet. A full line up of local entertainment, a magic show from Ben Bradshaw, and a fireworks finale will make it a great night! I look forward to seeing you there.
On Friday I attended the observance of Remembrance Day at the RSL Memorial Park. November 11 was originally called Armistice Day after the guns fell silent to mark the end of World War I. After World War II the Australian Government agreed to the United Kingdom's proposal that Armistice Day be renamed Remembrance Day to commemorate those who were killed in both World Wars.
On Saturday I officially opened of the new SES administration building in Thorn Street. This $172,000 upgrade by Ipswich City Council (with $50,000 from the state government) gives our city one of the best SES facilities in the region. Again we owe a great deal of thanks to the 130 volunteers who dedicate their time to help others in times of emergency in all kinds of weather.

The Ipswich Art Gallery's morning tea last week celebrated the "The Women of Ipswich: Centenary of Queensland Women's Right to Vote". Several guests shared their stories and experiences of both triumph and hardship from past and recent times. Special thanks go to state member for Ipswich Rachel Nolan and Cr Cheryl Bromage for their contribution to the morning.

It was great to drop into St Paul's and meet the with Rev Mathew Jones and his volunteers who gave our seniors some Christmas cheer.

7 November 2005 - Archived

It has been another fantastic sporting week and Ipswich was the place for enthusiasts to be. There was the Melbourne Cup at Ipswich Turf Club which featured a fundraising lunch for the Mayoress Community Benefit Fund, greyhound racing, Queensland Open Golf at Leichhardt and the 40th anniversary of Australian Nationals at Willowbank Raceway. 2005 is also the 20th anniversary of the opening of Willowbank Raceway. Congratulations to all the event organisers and volunteers who work so hard and give so much to this city. I think we'll all need this week to recover!

Another new store has opened in the top of town. In Fiore is a new maternity wear shop and thank you to mayoress for performing the official opening last Thursday night. I'm hoping that another maternity wear store is giving new meaning to the concept of "growth corridor".

For year 12 students it is graduation time and recognition of 12 years of study. This year was extra special for me as my youngest son did his family proud at St Edmunds' graduation. As a father I know what this means to schoolies and I am going through the same challenges as many families do at this milestone in a teenagers life. I know one thing, our city is in good hands when I see so many young people standing up and being proud to call Ipswich home.

Ipswich Girls Grammar held their graduation on the same night as St Edmunds so I could not make both. I know it was also a very successful night. Flo Kearney and the staff are doing a wonderful job with our leaders of tomorrow. Well done!

Rosewood State School celebrated 130 years of service to the community last week and students and staff certainly live up to the school motto "Labour and Honour". It was great to be part of the celebrations with Beth shaving her head to raise money for the school. I'm happy to say that thanks to her son Bryce there is now more money to help pay for the schools' new air conditioning.

Another Red Rooster has officially opened in Ipswich creating more jobs in city. Last Friday local councillor Trevor Nardi joined me at the opening at Booval virtually on the same site where Pizza Hut used to be.

Relay for Lifers John and Jean McPherson did their bit to raise money for cancer research on Saturday. Last year Australia wide Relay for Life raised around $9 million. Congratulations to everyone who took part again this year!

31 October 2005 - Archived

Last week I attended Rosewood and Bremer State High Schools annual student awards. Our city is in good shape and I am convinced more than ever that education and our youth will play an increasingly important role in the development of Ipswich. Bremer High is now an aerospace gateway school. Congratulations to all staff on the tremendous work you are doing with our young people and the community.

While on education, the Blessing and Official Opening of St Augustines College took place last week. It is great to see this new school thriving and growing in our eastern suburbs.

Kosta Tszyu constantly punches above his weight and his visit to Ipswich on Friday for dinner at Brothers was an inspirational event. Like Kosta, Ipswich is also punching above our weight!

Again the rain last week has been welcome, but we are still to have drought breaking falls over the catchments of our three main dams - Wivenhoe, Somerset and North Pine. Ipswich residents have again been the star performers with the reduction in water consumption. Please keep up the great effort. Remember for the latest details on water restrictions log on to www.ipswich.qld.gov.au

The directors of Thiess Services, including Ross Kelly, held their annual get together last week to update the community on the latest innovations at Swanbank. It is great to meet people who are so passionate about the environment and the local community.

Chat Time at Brassall on Saturday was a very busy morning for Councillors Cheryl Bromage (Division 6), Andrew Antoniolli (Division 7) and Heather Morrow (Division 5). Chat Times are an important source of feedback on local issues. Thank you to everyone who took time to stop and say hello.

The State Government mini budget last week was good news for Ipswich. Thank you Premier Peter Beattie for the extra funding, especially in the areas of health.

The annual Jacaranda Festival at Goodna keeps getting better. The support from the local community is strong which is reflected in the large number of families attending the street parade, carnival area and talent quest on Saturday and Sunday. Congratulations to the dedicated volunteers who work long hours to make the festival a success.

24 October 2005 - Archived

Discovery Credit Union celebrated 40 years of service in Ipswich last week. In 1965 Discovery started as "The Queensland Coal Mining Industry Credit Co-operative". With the closure of the coal mines and the gradual shift from an industrial to a community base, the name was changed to Ipswich Credit Union. In 1996, Austax Credit Union become part of the Ipswich Credit Union and the name was changed to what we know today. Congratulations to John Brown, the Board and staff on your 40th anniversary.

Grade six and seven students at Central State School must be congratulated on conducting a mock citizenship ceremony last week. The ceremony was handled with great professionalism and the students displayed maturity beyond their years. Well done everyone!

Also last week I conducted a real citizenship ceremony for Michelle and Paul Johnson. Cr Andrew Antoniolli joined me for the ceremony at Ipswich Girls Grammar School where Michelle is a grade 5 teacher. A very warm welcome to our latest Aussies and special thanks to Flo Kearney and all the students who assisted me with the citizenship.

Ipswich Orpheus Chorale have again produced a winner with their latest production at the Civic Hall. The cast and crew can take a bow for "Jesus Christ Superstar." Everyone associated with the Orpheus Chorale should feel very proud to be part of a group that is capable of presenting such a high quality show. Melissa Fellows is playing the part of Mary and works in the Mayor's office where we enjoy her rehearsing!

The revitalisation of the CBD is progressing very well and last week the latest stage was opened with the unveiling of the new deck at D'arcy's on Doyle. We are only a few weeks away from completion of the Mall and d'Arcy Doyle Place.

The Bremer TAFE Board has been strengthened with the appointment of Dr Allan Andersen from Claypave. Allan's management and manufacturing experience will bring more diversity to the board of Bremer TAFE and I'm sure he will make a valuable contribution to the future of our local TAFE.

The Ministerial Regional Forum was held in Ipswich last week. Our young people were well represented at the forum and provided valuable feedback from the community. These forums are also an ideal opportunity to hear first hand of key state government initiatives and activities which have occurred in our region. Special thanks to Jo-Ann Miller for co hosting with Minister for Education and the Arts Rod Welford.

Congratulations to UQ Ipswich on launching the Heather Bonner Memorial Scholarship which is an annual gift from the Ipswich Women's Development Fund, a cooperative body established by women's organisations in Ipswich to promote the achievements of women in the Ipswich community.

17 October 2005 - Archived

THE rain and overcast weather has been a promising sign the past few days. Although the devastation it brought around Oxenford and Helensvale on Wednesday was not welcome at all. Our thanks to the SES volunteers from Ipswich that helped out our Gold Coast neighbours. Arie van den Ende and the crew are lifesavers. We appreciate the hours and tireless work the volunteers put in for the community.

Unfortunately, the rain which has fallen in the last few days was nowhere near enough to make an impact on the drought. We need more rain to fall in the catchments of our dams to make a real impact. Water restrictions are both necessary and vital until our dam levels increase. I would like to thank the community for the way in which they have already done as much as they can to save water. Ipswich's decreasing water consumption figures for this year show the community is heeding the waterwise message.

It's Westmac Rodeo time again on Saturday. All funds raised go towards the students at West Moreton Anglican College so if you haven't experienced the thrills and spills of the rodeo, this is a great chance to see it, and it's all for a good cause.

The owners of historic Rockton House opened the doors to the stately building to the public last Friday for a gala fundraiser for Ipswich Grammar School. Rockton House has clocked up 150 years of history. In 1918 the property was purchased by the Haenke family and it has remained in the family since, the home of Angela and Wybe since 1979. Angela has strong connections with Ipswich Girls Grammar School, as an old girl of the school, a former teacher and her daughter also attended the school.

Swifts Old Boys celebrated 30 years last week with a great night. Guest Johnny Sattler was on hand to spin a few yarns.

Last Tuesday was the 15th anniversary of the planting of the "food forest" behind Frank Street at the Neville Laegel Memorial Park in Whitwood Road, Ebbw Vale. Congratulations to Allan Andersen and the Claypave team hosting a BBQ to celebrate the day .

Taking the council meeting to the suburbs twice a year has again proved to be a success. Last week the meeting was held at Ripley and it was great to see those who took part. The meet and greet with councillors and senior staff is also proving popular and we will continue to do this at future suburban meetings.

Ipswich Show Society now has a new Secretary/Manager. Welcome to Jim Stuart.

Neighbourhood Watch held their 2005 State rally in Ipswich on Saturday, providing an opportunity for members from throughout Queensland to meet and network with their fellow Neighbourhood Watch representatives. Council was pleased to be able to support the conference with a community response grant of $2000 and we hope the delegates had an enjoyable and a productive time in our city.

The Mental Health Association Ipswich Branch held their annual Consumer/Carer Recognition Awards last week. Special thanks must go to branch president Cathy Stanbrook and to Dr Ken Piaggio for the welcome.

Congratulations to Brian Ward, the new president of the Focal Extended Inc. Focal Extended assist people with intellectual disabilities, their families and their carers. Tom and Betty McCrindle were honoured at the annual general meeting last week for their 30 years of service to the local community.

10 October 2005 - Archived

After the success of the first two Council meetings held outside the normal venue of the Council Chambers, we again take a regular Council meeting out to the suburbs. Ripley Community Church will be the venue for the next night meeting this Wednesday October 13. Again we will start at 7pm to make it easy for those people who are working during the day to get to the meeting. Please come along and see your Council at work. Arrive anytime from 5pm you will be able to meet informally with all councillors and our senior staff from across all council departments. I hope to see you there.

A brand new Priceline Pharmacy is now open in the Mall in the former Best & Less location. Last week Cr Andrew Antoniolli and I officially opened this new concept in healthcare retailing. This new pharmacy has the latest fittings and layout and is the first of its kind in Queensland. Again Ipswich is leading the way and congratulations to Christo Grove and his team on establishing a new business in the CBD.

Thank you to Marianne Webb for your 20 years of outstanding service to the community. Marianne has now retired from Ipswich City Council having started her career in local government at Moreton Shire Council in 1985 in the building section. In 1987 she became secretary to the Chairman and CEO of the Shire and after amalgamation in 1995 became secretary to the Mayor of Ipswich City Council. All the best Marianne!

Just another reminder about level two water restrictions. The worst drought in 100 years has forced all 13 councils drawing on the three south east water storage areas to adopt level two water restrictions. It is important to remember that without drought breaking rainfall in the foreseeable future Wivenhoe, Somerset and North Pine will run out of water in just two short years. This is a very sobering thought. It is vital that we all play our part in conserving water to extend the life of these dams.. The main points of the water restrictions include a total ban on sprinklers, no watering at all on Mondays, and the odds and evens system of hand held hosing before 7am and after 7pm. We have full details on www.ipswich.qld.gov.au or www.waterforever.com.au.

Those McCafes have certainly become popular and last Friday it was the official opening a new McCafe at Booval McDonald's. Thank you McDonald's for investing in the future of our city.

Keeping Up Appearances is an interesting little shop in Glebe Road run by volunteers that stocks a big range of bric-a-brac, clothing and books.

Civilian War Widows held their annual general meeting last week. They do a fantastic job for the community.

Even though summer feels like it has started early everyone still had a great time at Redbank State School's fun day on Saturday. Congratulations to the P&C and all the volunteers who worked very hard and raised a sweat to make it a successful day.

More volunteers were at work at Hans Welding Works at Churchill on Sunday for a fun day and BBQ to raise funds for Ipswich Hospice. Congratulations to everyone involved.

St Brigid's Catholic Primary School at Rosewood held their annual fete also on Sunday. It was a pleasure to be there to present the annual gladiator trophy!

3 October 2005 - Archived

Police Remembrance Day on September 29 gives us all a time to stop and reflect on the contribution our men and women of the service make to our community. This annual day honours those officers who lost their lives in the course of their duty. The cost of policing our community can come at a very high price.

The start of a new month and just a few weeks to Christmas. On Saturday it was a great pleasure to officially open the new Ipswich Hospice Bargain Centre in Brisbane Street. It is marvellous to see such community spirit getting behind Hospice, so make sure your check out the store soon.

Also on Saturday the annual Vigoro verus the Ipswich City Council mayor's team took to the field and again I can say that I must need a little more work at the gym. A few sore muscles but a great fun day.

It was a week-end of "openings" that also included the Don Martin Art Exhibition at the Springfield Lakes Spotlight Gallery, the new JBS Airstore in Brisbane Street and the Camira State School Fete.

The annual Ipswich Garden Competition just keeps getting better and better and has been running since 1970. Congratulations to all those who entered and to the winners. The competition is organised by the Ipswich Beautification Council with the support of many volunteers, Ipswich City Council and local businesses.

The Ipswich Horticultural Society was founded in 1866 and it was with great pride in our city that I launched the history book of the society "Play With Flowers and Smile". The book was written by historian Margaret Cook with help from Ian Pullar and Les Kliese.

Prayers to break the drought were held last week at the Bush Chapel in Queens Park. With level 2 water restrictions starting this week I want to thank the clergy that attended the media launch. Thank you for your prayers for drought breaking rains and especially relief for our farmers. We need to see a further reduction in water consumption. Remember there is now a total ban on using sprinklers.

20 years of hard work, sweat and some tears was washed away in the emotion of reflecting on two decades of Willowbank Raceway last week. Looking at a special video presentation highlights the priceless contribution of thousands of volunteers who have so much enthusiasm for the sport of drag racing. I am very proud to have Willowbank Raceway call Ipswich home.

Karalee students and teachers had a tour of the Council chambers last week. It is always great to chat with the kids and 60 students had plenty of questions. Our future is in good hands.

On Friday Goodna Neighbourhood House opened their upgraded facilities in Queen Street. Also in Goodna it's time to start thinking about the annual Jacaranda Festival. The plans are well advanced for a great weekend of entertainment in Evan Marginson Park. This year the grand parade will have a shorter route, due mainly to safety considerations.

Welcome to Peter King, the new general manager of Theiss Services at Swanbank.

26 September 2005 - Archived

Stage two of the new look Ipswich Mall is now open. I couldn't help but think of the song "Green Green Grass of Home" at the official opening last week. The new lawn looks fantastic and the countdown is on for the completion of works in the Mall and d'Arcy Doyle Place by November. Again I want to encourage everyone to come in and check out the works to date and to support our CBD businesses. It was also great to welcome a large number of retailers celebrating the opening of stage two.

Congratulations to Susan Pepper and Ron Christie of the Australian ROI Institute on locating their Australian headquarters in Ipswich. ROI is a service to help businesses raise the bar on their performance and quality of service. Thank you for your fundraising efforts for the City of Ipswich Community Fund.

Off leash dog parks are increasing in popularity and last week I joined Cr Tully for the opening of the latest addition to Ipswich City Council's dog parks. The newest park is in Goodna next to the dog obedience school in Brisbane Terrace. We gave the park a test run with Cr Tully's favourite St Bernard "Harry" and my own Shar-Pei "Sam". Maybe Sam needs to socialise a bit more with Harry because while he was a gentle giant for a photo, my dog did a Houdini and escaped - but that's a story for another time.

The army of volunteers that give our city its unique caring attitude continue to be the backbone of many community and sporting organisations. This past week a number annual general meetings have taken place. I want to wish the new committees of the PCYC, CODI and West End football club all the best for the next 12 months.

Here's a scary thought. There's only eight weeks until the annual Christmas in the Park at Sutton Park in Brassall. Again this year the committee has come up with a fantastic program with the support of many sponsors and volunteers. There will be plenty of traditional Christmas carols, plus for the first time this year a world class magic show with Ben Bradshaw, who was featured recently on the TV show Guinness World Records. Mark Friday November 25th on your calendar for a wonderful night of free entertainment.

Born in Ipswich certificates continue to be popular and are distributed to babies born in Ipswich. I'm sure these will become a great keepsake in the future. If you would like a special certificate for your son or daughter we have application forms at both Ipswich hospitals, so please fill them out and send the details to my office.

19 September 2005 - Archived

The war on graffiti continues and in the past few days we have received important information that we hope will assist police make a successful prosecution. Thank you to those who have called my office with details. By working together we can stamp out this recent outbreak of graffiti vandalism. On the latest count cleaning up graffiti will cost council over $100,000 this financial year.

Last Saturday was national tree planting day and Blue Gum reserve at Karalee was the location for a big gathering of volunteers who planted nearly 2,000 trees in one morning! What a great effort and special thanks also to local councillor Heather Morrow, Greening Australia, Envirofund, Main Roads and Council who contributed to a very successful day.

The drought shows no sign of breaking anytime soon and is forcing our hand to move to Level 2 water restrictions from October 3. This will mean a total ban on sprinklers and automatic watering systems with only hand held hosing under the odds and evens system before 7am and after 7pm. No watering on Mondays will continue. Last week the combined levels of Winvehoe, Somerset and North Pine dams was only 35.7%. Ipswich has been the star performer in the south east for reducing our consumption and I'm sure we can continue to play our part in conserving water.

I was in Rosewood on Saturday with Cr David Pahlke to welcome and officially open another new business. Congratulations Rachelle on the opening of Shells Hawaiian Massage Therapies.

Last Wednesday we welcomed 101 new Australians at a citizenship ceremony held in the Civic Hall. Congratulations to all those taking part who stood proudly and recited the Oath and Affirmation Pledge and then received Citizenship Certificates. I am looking forward to when we conduct the first citizenship ceremony on the new lawn in the Ipswich Mall.

Last week it was great to coordinate my first meeting as chairman of Bremer Institute of TAFE. Our local TAFE continues to develop programs to improve the skills of our young people.

During the past week many Ipswich families have hosted members of the Friendship Force from the USA. Special thanks to Dianne Caswell. As Patron of the Friendship Force for the past 11 years it is a privilege and honour to promote the ideals of the club. The idea of a Friendships Force began in the USA and was founded in 1977. Since then the program has involved nearly half-million volunteer ambassadors and hosts who have participated through 3,300 exchanges, touching the lives of more than two million people.

12 September 2005 - Archived

The change of season is certainly in the air with the warmer days and it's a time of year that I really love, especially in Ipswich. This year will be even more special with the completion of River Heart phase one - the Ipswich Mall and d'Arcy Doyle Place. Work is on track for a November opening, but before that we will see the next stage of the mall completed. Again I want to say a special thank you to all the retailers for their patience during construction, and to the council staff who are putting in a magnificent effort to get the work completed on time.

The Mall must a place we want to visit and I'm sure with the investment that Council and the state government are putting in to River Heart, we will have a wonderful place to meet. I am also looking forward to conducting the first citizenship ceremony in the new look Mall.

It was another busy round of council standing committee meetings last week and I want to thank Deputy Mayor Victor Attwood for his help while I have been out of the city.
Much is being written about the strong growth in Ipswich and the shortage tradesmen to build new homes. With this development it is also important to remember out past. The National Trust recognised our achievements and presented Ipswich City Council with a Gold Award in last years Queensland Heritage Awards. Ipswich has increased the number of heritage listed places from 1,774 places in 1992 to 7,118 places. We also have a free heritage advisor service for those people planning to restore or renovate historic Ipswich buildings. We continue to deliver great results when it comes to achieving a workable balance between heritage conservation and development.

From heritage to the environment, and again Ipswich has much to be proud of, especially the green space areas that are being preserved as a result of the Enviroplan program. Our waterways are continually on the improve, albeit slowly, and the drought conditions certainly do no help. We are now paying the price of the sins of a century ago when the river was regarded as an open dump. Council has invested millions of dollars to improve the water quality from waste water treatment centres. We continue to work in partnership with Healthy Waterways and the Moreton Bay Catchment Group. There's more on Enviroplan at the Council's website www.ipswich.qld.gov.au

Sunday's River Clean event saw a huge effort along the banks of the Bremer River next to the One Mile Bridge. Cr Charlie Pisasale put in many hours to get this day organised. Thank you to Channel 9's John Schluter for his support and to those who turned up to plant trees.

A surprise visit over the week-end from local councillor Andrew Antoniolli and mayoress Janet Pisasale to help celebrate the 50th wedding anniversary of Denis and Eva Dargusch in Silkstone was very welcome. Congratulations Denis and Eva.

5 September 2005 - Archived

The new One Mile Bridge has been open to traffic since last November, but the official opening waited until the works associated were completed and last Friday saw the official opening. Thank you again the everyone in Leichhardt/One Mile and to Lobb Street businesses for your patience during construction. Special thanks to Premier Peter Beattie for the state government contribution to this jointly funded project. Don Livingstone told stories of how long he has been asking for the bridge. Now have a new vital piece of infrastructure to add to the other major projects underway across the city.

On Saturday the commemoration service of the West Ipswich/One Mile World War I Memorial was held in Leichhardt Park. This was an important occasion as the refurbished memorial had been relocated to make way for the new bridge. Ipswich and Ipswich Railway sub branches of the RSL have given the relocation their full support along side local councillor Charlie Pisasale. This has been a tremendous example of a great result for the community through effective partnerships and cooperation with the RSL, community groups and family members whose names appear on the memorial.

We keep hearing about the growth in South East Queensland and Ipswich is certainly at the front line of this growth. Last week another piece of the jigsaw puzzle was put in place with the commencement of construction of Sinnathamby Boulevard linking the Springfield-Greenbank Arterial Road and the new Centenary Highway interchange. When completed this new four lane road will become a vital link with Education City, a new medical precinct and the new Orion shopping centre. If anyone needed further evidence that standing still in Ipswich is not an option, then please have a drive to this area of Springfield and see it all for yourself.

The Annual Local Government Conference was held last week in Brisbane and Ipswich was well represented by Cr Paul Tully. This annual conference is very important for councils as it is the primary policy setting mechanism for the LGAQ.

John Marsh pulled into the station for the last time at QR last Friday. Friends and colleagues gave John a fitting farewell at QRI and thanked him for many years of loyal service to QR and for his many years of volunteer work for the local community, particularly the Brassall Christmas Carols.

The inaugural Ipswich Racing Awards last week was held in the Eyeliner Lounge at the Ipswich Turf Club. Congratulations to Wayne Patch and Brett Kitching on a successful evening.

Westside Business Womens Network hold regular breakfast meetings at the Springfield Tavern and it was great to join members last week. Well done to Cecilia Snuggs and the committee for getting these meetings together. They are an excellent networking opportunity for local women in business.

Congratulations to all the students who entered the Redbank Plains High School Art Awards last week. In creating their artworks I know many students worked with retired miners Joe Llewellyn, Bevis Evans, Lance Waldron and Allan Berlin. The students also heard many great stories about our proud mining past.

Happy 20th birthday to Redbank Plaza. It's hard to believe that two decades have past already since the Plaza was opened. Thank you also to Deputy Mayor Victor Attwood for joining the celebrations on Saturday.