February 15, 2016
I would really like to thank the Nanango State School community for inviting me to be a part of their celebrations to mark the 150th anniversary of the School on Saturday, February 13.
It was an honour to be a part of this significant milestone – not only for Nanango State School, but Nanango as a whole – and it was terrific to see so many people there to mark the occasion.
Nanango State School was opened in 1866 as a one teacher school on the banks of Sandy Creek.
This was at a time when the local community had to raise one third of the building costs to match Queensland Government funding.
Records show the estimated value of the school at the time, including the value of the land, was 410 pounds, plus a 100 pound operating budget for the year!
Congratulations to the 150th organising committee and the Nanango Men’s Shed who, with the help of a Heritage Bank grant, made 27 picnic-style tables to commemorate the milestone.
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Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme: Make Sure You Claim!
I receive many enquiries at my office in regards to the Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme (PTSS).
The PTSS is designed to help rural and regional Queenslanders with accommodation and travel costs when they must head to major centres, such as Brisbane, for treatment.
Our former LNP Government doubled the PTSS in 2012, increasing the subsidies for the first time since 1987.
Unfortunately many rural and regional people aren’t aware they can claim the PTSS, or even know it exists.
So if you need to travel away from home for a specialist appointment or surgery make sure you ask your GP or local hospital about claiming a travel and accommodation subsidy.
The forms are further information are available online.
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Funding Comes In For Local Clubs
I’d like to congratulate three local groups from the South Burnett who will share in nearly $80,000 in funding through Round 86 of the Gambling Community Benefit Fund.
The groups represent diverse sections of the community, and the funding boost will be a great kick start to 2016 for them.
It’s great they are receiving this boost and I wish them well in their endeavours to improve and continue their wonderful community work.
The successful groups are:
- Ironpot Hall – $19,500 to paint their Hall
- Nanango Local Ambulance Committee – $26,545 to purchase medical equipment
- Nanango Show Society – $31,800 to seal internal access roads
I also had the chance to congratulate the Nanango Race Club on securing a brand new ride-on mower, which they were able to purchase through a successful Gambling Grant.
It’s this type of project which helps make life just a little bit easier for our local clubs and volunteers.
I’d also like to encourage any incorporated group to consider applying for a Gambling Community Benefit Fund.
There are four rounds per year, with the next round closing on 31 May.
If your group is interested in applying go you can find all the details by clicking here.
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Welcoming Our
New School Leaders
One of my favourite roles as the local state member is helping to welcome our new school leaders at induction ceremonies held across the Electorate at this time every time.
It is always an honour to congratulate our new school leaders, both primary and secondary, and I’ve already had the privilege of attending several schools including St John’s Lutheran College, Taabinga State School and Harlin SS.
I’ll be heading to Mt Kilcoy SS, Esk SS and Kumbia SS over coming weeks.
I hope all our students and staff have settled in well for the 2016 school year and I wish them a great year of learning and growth.
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Back To Parliament!
I am heading back to Brisbane for the first Parliamentary sitting of the year on February 16 for two weeks.
It will be a busy year for legislation and I’m looking forward to challenging the Labor Government on issues which affect our community and seeking answers.
There’ll also be much to do in my Shadow Minister role, asking questions of the new Minister for Agriculture, Leanne Donaldson and holding her to account for our primary producers.
In the first week back I’ll also be tabling several petitions, including my petition for a brand new Kingaroy Public Hospital and also three petitions on behalf of landholders on the Tick Line.
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Bringing Stamps To Life In Nanango
Thank you to the hard working Nanango Stamp Club for organising their 22nd Annual Stamp Fair.
It was a delight to officially open the Fair, which was held at the Nanango High School on February 6.
President Graham Coombe is doing a marvellous job generating interest in stamps and stamp collecting.
About 18 stamp clubs from Tweed heads to Gladstone converged on Nanango for the Fair.
Groups like the Nanango Stamp Club are the quiet achievers of our community and deserve our support and congratulations.
Photo Caption: At the Stamp Fair with Keith and Marion Campbell, Denise Northdurft and Graham Coombe
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Community Power On Display
The true power of community strength was evident in Kingaroy on Tuesday, February 9 night at the Kingaroy Concerned Citizens Group’s forum.
A 900-strong crowd demonstrated unequivocally that they did not agree Moreton Resources should be granted permission to build a coal mine so close to Kingaroy.
I’d like to thank everyone who took the time to attend and present their views.
I’d also like to thank the Kingaroy Concerned Citizens group, who did a remarkable job organising the evening and presenting a great deal of information in an easy to understand format.
It is forums and events such as these which galvanise a community and help me, as your local Member, to take your message to the decision makers.
I’d like to reconfirm two of the points I spoke about at the forum.
Firstly, before Moreton proceeds with any further plans, they must show good faith and start baseline monitoring in and around the exploration site, Kingaroy township and surrounds.
This must be independent monitoring which provides data on things such as dust, groundwater and noise so we, as a community, know what environmental conditions we have right now.
Secondly, only 1 per cent of all exploration permits for coal ever proceed to a full a development licence.
There is much ahead of us before this mine could be granted permission, and I think Moreton have just been served one of the biggest hurdles they will face – a resounding lack of community support.
As promised, I will now take the results of the forum to the Minister for Mines and the Shadow Minister so they can understand how the Kingaroy community feels about the possibility of a coal mine on their doorstep.
