GOLD COAST COMMUNITIES GO ALL OUT TO CELEBRATE QLD’S 150TH

From fashion and a musical to a yesteryear community festival, Gold Coast communities 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.

“Twenty-one community applications from the Gold Coast have successfully applied for $186,191 in the third and final round of Q150 Community Funding.

‘They include Burleigh Chamber of Commerce’s Solstice Festival with its Q150 Fashions by the Sea, Coombabah State School Parents and Citizens Association’s Blue Ribbon Bell musical a tribute to the agricultural show and St Francis Xavier Catholic Primary School Parent’s and Citizen’s Association’s Yesteryear community festival.

“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.

“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.”

Gold Coast Q150 Community Funding projects in Round 3:

Biggera Waters State School Parents and Citizens Association, $9348. Students will participate in creating three murals, a history of the local heritage, a DVD of family histories and a magazine, photographic collection

Boykambil Village Residents Association Inc, Hope Island, $10,000. Commemorative sandstone pillars with interpretive plaques on the historical significance of Boykambil and the planting of Moreton Bay Chestnut trees on each side of the canal. The pillars and trees will symbolically reconnect both sides of the village of Boykambil divided by the canal. Hope Island was also originally called Boykambill, a derivative of an Aboriginal word for the Moreton Bay Chestnut Tree/Black Bean Tree. The commemorative stones will be located in Banksia Park on Boykambil South and the Esplanade on Boykambil North.

Burleigh Heads Chamber of Commerce Inc. - Burleigh Solstice Festival, West Burleigh, $6300. Q150 Fashions by the Sea during the Burleigh Solstice Festival.

Coombabah State School Parents and Citizens Association, $10,000. Blue Ribbon Bell, a musical tribute to a great Queensland icon, the agricultural show. The musical will be a commemoration of the culture of Queensland's agricultural heritage, history and culture. Coombabah State School has had a history of staging musicals as part of extra-curricular activities and provides strong support and development opportunities to students in performing arts. Over 100 students from Prep to Grade 7 will participate in the musical.

Eight Mile Plains State School Parents and Citizens Association, North Tamborine, $7770. A school art gallery of - 150 views of Logan Road, 8 Mile Plains - Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow - over the past 150 years - with artwork created by students - exhibited in the school community, local galleries and local places of business in celebration of Queensland's 150 anniversary. There will be a party at the gallery opening of children's art work commemorating Logan Road and its impact on the local environment and people across time. The school also celebrates its 140th birthday on 7 June 2009.

Friends of Fleays Association Inc. West Burleigh, $9070. Republishing David Fleay's book - Paradoxical Platypus - Hobnobbing with Duckbills - the centrepiece of a wider project engaging the community in honouring our natural and cultural heritage, and working towards conservation for the future.

Gaven State School Parents and Citizens Association, $5500. A Q150 Extravaganza presentation of stories on stage to celebrate Queensland's history and 150th birthday.

Girl Guides Queensland - Gold Coast Region, Helensvale, $10,000. A combined celebration of 100 years of Girl Guiding, and 150 years of Queensland.

Gold Coast City Choir Inc, Ashmore, $10,000. A CD on a collection of Queensland songs to bring this important music to the attention of the wider community.

Lesley Jenkins Historian 5582 8659 ljenkins@goldcoast.qld.gov.au

Gold Coast City Council, Surfers Paradise, $10,000. Researching and publishing 'Then and Now' - a history of the Gold Coast.

The Motorcycle Enthusiasts Club Inc Gold Coast, Mudgeeraba, $10,000. The 2009 Wintersunshine Rally - promoting the State's 150th anniversary and exhibiting the historic role of motorcycling in the development of the State.

Returned and Services League of Australia (Queensland Branch) Currumbin Palm Beach Sub Branch Inc, $6500. Carnivale Mystique, a program of cultural events at the Currumbin RSL and surrounding Currumbin Creek area.

Southport Surf Life Saving Club Inc, $10,000. A DVD and web-based living history of the people and places that have shaped one of the largest community organisations in Queensland.

Spatial Sciences Institute (Queensland Division) - $10,000 Gold Coast Town Group Q150 commemorative permanent survey marks in the Gold Coast region celebrating surveyors and other spatial information practitioners who were involved in the demarcation of Queensland from the then colony of New South Wales 150 years ago.

St Augustine's Parish Primary School Parents and Friends Association, Palm Beach, $10,000. A mural and garden space that beautifies the preferred entrance to the School, and provides a quiet and reflective area in the School. The mural traces the history of the school within the context of the history of the local area. Hugh

St Francis Xavier Catholic Primary School Parents and Friends Association, Runaway Bay, $10,000. A 'Yesteryear' community festival that will incorporate the Q150 celebratory theme alongside traditional festival fair and activities. Examples of activities include: children's stage productions, music performances from local secondary college, art exhibition including children's art works reflecting on Queensland and community life on the Gold Coast, displays of school projects on Q150 themes, typically Australian foods and an exhibition of amazing stories on people who have built their lives and fortunes in Queensland.

St Kevin's Parents and Friends Association, Benowa, $6353. Q150 and St Kevin's 30th birthday celebrations community event.

Tallebudgera State School Parents and Citizens Association, $5000. Restoring the historic Man on the Bike structure - which represents the first teacher/principal of the state school.

Varsity Lakes Community Limited, $10,000. The Varsity Under The Stars concert a community event in September 2009 that will embody Q150 ideals -.

Volunteering Gold Coast Inc, Surfers Paradise, $9750. A performance on International Volunteers Day 2009 - reflecting on the history of volunteering in Queensland and imagining its future. A DVD of the performance will also be created.

Youth Enterprise Trust, Tamborine, $10,000. Staging of the YET Woodstock Bush Fair in 2009 as part of celebrating Queensland's 150th anniversary. The bush fair is on a farm at Tamborine. It is a public day full of family fun - a big BBQ, country and Indigenous music, bush poets and bush dancing, pioneering skills (wood work, blacksmithing, working draught horses, milking and cheese/butter making, camp oven cooking demonstrations, bush stool-making demonstrations, competitions include horse shoe throwing, egg throwing, sack races and gum boot throwing. Entertainment: only rides and farm animals. Stalls from regional producers service providers.

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 4500

Maritha Odlander, Secretary, Biggera Waters State School Parents and Citizens Association, 5537 7064, odlander@bigpond.net.au

Osk Lowe, Committee Member, Boykambil Village Residents Assoc, osk@aapt.net.au

Jennifer Mayfield, Event Organiser, Burleigh Heads Chamber of Commerce Inc, 5576 2655, info@burleighsolsticefestival.com.au

Lisa Grigg, President, Coombabah State School Parents & Citizens Association, 5501 3888, fax 5501 3800, lgrig10@eq.edu.au

Fiona Eastwood, Teacher/Librarian, Eight Mile Plains State School Parents and Citizens Association, 3340 6333, fax 3340 6300, feast3@eq.edu.au; Kim Woulfe, Secretary, Eight Mile Plains State School Parents and Citizens Association, 3340 6333, 0432 610 185, fax 3340 6300, eddywoulfe67@hotmail.com

Maree Wallace, President, Friends of Fleays Association Inc, 5535 9528, mwallace53@optusnet.com.au

Michele Alker, Treasurer, Gaven State School Parents and Citizens Association, 5573 7933, michelealker@hotmail.com

Barry Dowling, Grants Officer, Southport Surf Life Saving Club, 0418 727 401, jdowlin12@optusnet.com.au

Donna Thompson, Leader, Girl Guides Queensland – Gold Coast Region, 0417 792 534, kardon@bigpond.net.au

Lesley Jenkins, Historian, Gold Coast City Council, 5582 8659, ljenkins@goldcoast.qld.gov.au

Joan Graham, Fundraising Manager, the Motorcycle Enthusiasts Club Inc, 0412 477 754 hrd50@optusnet.com.au

Suzanne Kelly Administration Officer 5559 5022 cvsc@westnet.com.au

David Edwards, Chairperson, Spatial Sciences Institute (Queensland Division) – Gold Coast Town Group, 5574 0733, dedwards@bennetandbennett.com.au

Craig Molloy, President, St Augustine’s Parish Primary School Parents and Friends Association, Palm Beach, 02 6674 4493 craig@seekchange.com.au

Jacqui Drescher & Tina Shanahan, Committee Coordinators, St Francis Xavier Catholic Primary School

Parents and Friends Association, 0406 301 038, 0431 942 834, fax 5574 6931, alanjacd@bigpond.net.au, tinas@mysoul.com.au

Lisa Maree Lynch, President , St Kevin’s Parents and Friends Association, 5570 7939, skconvenors@hotmail.com

Gail Bishton, Co-ordinator, Tallebudgera State School Parents and Citizens Association, 5568 5222, gbish9@eq.edu.au

Trina Taylor, Manager, Varsity Lakes Community Limited, 5657 5160, trina.taylor@lendlease.com.au

Richard Patterson, General Manager, Volunteering Gold Coast Inc, 5526 2811, richardp@volunteeringgc.com.au

Steve Warwick, Chief Operating Officer, Youth Enterprise Trust, 0403 185 159, stevew@yet.net.au