NORTH WEST COMMUNITIES GO ALL OUT TO CELEBRATE QLD’S 150TH

From a free community concert to historic bus tours, communities in Brisbane’s North West have pulled out all stops to celebrate next year’s Queensland’s 150^th Anniversary, Premier Anna Bligh said today.

“There is outstanding interest for the remaining $2.4 million for the third and final round of the $4 million Q150 Community Funding Program,” she said.

The program, initiated by the Government, helps communities stage their own 2009 celebrations.

“Once again creative events and activities dominate the line-up.

“It’s great to see communities so excited about celebrating our 150^th anniversary of separation from New South Wales.

“We’ve come a long way since 1859 and we have plenty to celebrate.

“Eight community applications from Brisbane’s North Western suburbs have successfully applied for $66,240 in the third and final round of Q150 Community Funding.

“They include the Creche and Kindergarten Association’s free Q150 Concert for families, and the Enoggera and Districts Historical Society’s bus tours of historical landmarks.

“The Lions Club of Enoggera is producing a series of digital stories, Taking Mitchy Memories to the Streets, that will be launched in 2009 as part of Q150 celebrations.

“Today’s Proclamation Day and 21 sleeps until we start our biggest birthday year yet.

“We’ve added more than 300 successful community commemorative projects to the Q150 groundswell of activity that’s building up for next year.

“Queenslanders now have almost 500 Queensland Government-funded community activities they can enjoy or participate in around the State.

“This is on top of the major touring events like the Q150 steam train, Q150 shed and Q150 Film Festival.

“Queensland turns 150 only once and we’re doing everything we can to make sure celebrations touch as many Queenslanders as possible.

“From Weipa and the Torres Strait Islands in the North to Bedourie in the Far West and the Gold Coast in the South, there’s a Q150 activity for everyone.

“2009 is our year! Get ready to enjoy the events, the commemorations and the many creative ways you’ve come up with to mark this milestone in your own communities.”

North West Q150 Community Funding projects in Round 3:

Brisbane Women’s Hockey Association Inc, Windsor, $10,000. An exhibit of historical memorabilia and a written history of Brisbane women’s hockey. It incorporates the a celebration of the History of Hockey in Brisbane with the Under 11 Southern Cross Hockey Competition in August 200 when some games – between youth players and over 70s - will be played in the old style.

Creche and Kindergarten Association of Queensland, Inc, Newmarket, $10,000. A free Q150 Concert for children and families in South East Queensland. The aim of the project is to provide an opportunity for people to experience music, movement and Indigenous culture. The concert will be held in December 2009 at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre at South Brisbane.

Dale Jones, Samford, $10,000. The writing and performance of a musical work to represent the life and experiences of Queensland pioneer venerated by the Indigenous community in South East Queensland, Tom Petrie (1831-1910). Petrie’s moral fortitude as he walked a tightrope between two conflicting world views, set him apart. His life story will be presented as a cycle of original songs with narration in two performances in the Samford area in 2009.

Enoggera and Districts Historical Society Inc, $2000. Two weeks of local historical bus tours to landmarks beginning in April 2009 and open days at the Enoggera and District Historical Society during Queensland Weeks, providing the public with an opportunity to become more informed of local history.

Enoggera State School Parents and Citizens Association, $9000. Two historical mosaic artworks by students and landscaping that celebrates the history of the school and Queensland’s 150^th anniversary, at the school entrance. Enoggera Stage School has a rich history which extends back to 1871. It began as a one-room classroom serving local pastoral children before growing into a vibrant and busy school in the 1950s with over 900 students many of whom came from the Enoggera Military Camp.

Lions Club of Enoggera, Mitchelton, $6740. Taking Mitchy Memories to the Streets digital stories (audio visual) DVD. The production will include local history stories and include specific iconic places and institutions. The completed DVD will be launched at the Mitchelton Library as part of Q150 celebrations.

Samford District Historical Museum Inc, Samford, $10,000. Installation of historical dioramas that commemorate wartime history at Grovely Railway Station War Museum and capture the history of the Samford Valley servicemen and women, preserving their legacy for future generations. The museum will be opened in late 2009.

The Windsor and Districts Historical Society Inc, $8500. 150 years of the Lutwyche Road Corridor, a 48-page self-guided walk booklet and photographic display tracing the story of the route from the beginning to today’s marvel of modern engineering.. The route of the Lutwyche Road Corridor has been known by many names in its time – the proposed Great Northern Road, the Bowen Bridge Road joining Lutwyche Road and further on from Kedron Park Hotel cornier, it became Gympie Road. Now it’s known as the Lutwyche Road Corridor. People have been using this route for more than 150 years to gain access to the lands to the north, and avoiding the tangle of mangroves around Breakfast Creek as they escaped the then crowded and unsanitary Brisbane.

Q150 program of events is available online at www.q150.qld.gov.au. More events are uploaded weekly. Printed programs will be available in local newspapers week commencing 25 January 2008 with a second printed program planned mid-year.

Media inquiries: 3224 5400

Kathleen Proctor, Secretary, Brisbane Women's Hockey Association Inc, 3357 9560, fax 3357 7234, kathleen.proctor@bwha.com.au

Libby Burke, Communications Coordinator, Creche and Kindergarten Association of Queensland, 3366 8273, fax 3366 8273, l.burke@candk.asn.au

Dale Jones 3289 3545 djs@samford.net

David Livett, Public Relations Officer, Enoggera Districts Historical Society Inc, 3366 3191, fax 3366 5904, dlivett@bigpond.net.au

Beth Large, Vice President, Enoggera State School Parents and Citizens Assoc, 0417 881231, beth.large@bigpond.com

Maurice Drake, President. Lions Club of Enoggera, 3355 9872 mandadrake@bigpond.com

Margaret Hickey, President, Samford District Historical Museum Inc, 3287 1259 museum@samford.net

Beres Elva McCallum, Secretary, The Windsor and Districts Historical Society Inc, 3236 9695, beresmac@iprimus.com.au