Prisoner work camps awarded during Springsure conference

Prisoner work camps from Blackall, Springsure, Warwick, and Winton have been recognised for their efforts to help regional communities.

Corrective Services Minister Judy Spence said the 17^th Annual Work Program Awards were held in Springsure last night (Thursday August 21) with awards presented to work camps in four categories.

Ms Spence said: “The Work Program has contributed about 165,340 hours of labour valued at almost $2.5 million to community projects in the past year.

“Work camps provide low-risk prisoners with genuine opportunities to make a positive contribution to society while developing new skills and a work ethic.

“They are one of the most successful prisoner rehabilitation programs in Queensland.

“My congratulations to the Corrective Services staff and the prisoners involved,” Ms Spence said.

QCS Acting Director-General Neil Whittaker said: “Community advisory committees – made up of council, local police and community representatives – also play an important role in the success of the Work camps.

“Their assistance and guidance is appreciated by Corrective Services field supervisors who manage the day-to-day activities of each camp.”

The awards were handed out during the annual Work Program Conference held in Springsure on August 20 and 21.

Representatives from 11 shire councils, Work Camp Community Advisory Committee members and senior executives from Queensland Corrective Services (QCS) attended the conference.

Winners of the Work Camp Awards

The top award, the Bunny Powne Perpetual trophy for Best Capital Works Project, went to Blackall Work Camp for a joint project with Blackall Shire Council to fit out the Blackall Girl Guide Hut.

The old dirt-floored shed was officially opened in March this year following a major rebuild by prisoners under the guidance of a council engineer.

Prisoners performed about 1000 hours of labour valued at $15,000.

They removed about 140 cubic metres of dirt from the floor before laying foundations, installing drainage and sewage and pouring a concrete slab. The metal-clad building was then renovated internally with a timber framework, fibro sheeting and a suspended ceiling. To complete the modern fit-out, a bathroom, toilet and kitchen were installed and the building was painted.

The award for Most Effective Single Maintenance Project went to Springsure Work Camp for their efforts in resurrecting the Old Springsure Hospital as a significant local historic site and tourist attraction.

Offenders performed more than 2000 hours of labour at the site where they restumped the heritage-listed building, installed new floors, landscaped the grounds and concreted walkways.

Traditional building techniques and materials were used in keeping with the building’s heritage values with offenders now also contributing to the site’s ongoing maintenance.

Winners of the Best Contribution to any Community Event or Service award were Warwick Women’s Work Camp for their assistance managing the fallout from the Equine Influenza outbreak at a World Cup equestrian event held at Warwick.

Female prisoners initially assisted organisers in setting up for the international event in July 2007 at the Morgan Park Equestrian Centre. However, by day two of the event the site was declared a quarantine zone with 200 people and their horses locked down for four weeks.

The offenders worked around the clock carrying out a range of activities, including preparing meals, cleaning and maintaining amenities, shovelling manure and assisting with decontamination procedures.

Correctional Officers organised food donations and led offenders in operating a canteen to feed everyone on site. Officers also joined the official Crisis Management Team working with representatives of Government and community agencies to coordinate life within the quarantine zone.

Winton Work Camp won the Best Presented Camp award for the second year running for the pride taken by prisoners, camp supervisors and the Community Advisory Committee members in the upkeep and presentation of the camp’s grounds.

Mr Whittaker said the Work camps enjoyed a productive working relationship with local communities and council representatives.

“These camps continue to prove their worth to rural and regional communities by enabling the completion of work that otherwise would not be done,” he said.

QCS currently operates 13 Work camps which are aligned to local correctional centres.

• Darling Downs Correctional Centre manages Mitchell, Dirranbandi, Charleville and St George
• Capricornia Correctional Centre at Rockhampton is aligned with Clermont, Blackall and Springsure
• Townsville Correctional Centre is linked to Boulia, Julia Creek and Winton
• Brisbane Women’s Correctional Centre is responsible for the Warwick Women’s Camp
• Townsville Correctional Centre manages Bowen Women’s Camp.
• Lotus Glen Correctional Centre near Cairns manages the Innisfail Work Camp.

The program, originally known as the Work Outreach Camp (WORC) program, was founded in 1990 when a crew of officers and 100 low-risk prisoners travelled to Charleville to help with the clean-up effort after the region was hit by floods.

Contact: Corrective Services Carly Wood 3239 3945 or 0409 581543

Ministers office: 3239 6218