Member for Mulgrave Curtis Pitt, on hand to celebrate the opening, said the $4.4 million Early Years Centre, located at Bentley Park College, was the fourth centre of its kind to open in Queensland since 2008.

“This wonderful new facility will offer our local community a one-stop-shop for early childhood education and care, family support and health services for children aged up to eight years,” Mr Pitt said.

“Completed by the Bligh Government this month, in time for the start of the 2012 school year, it’s the last of four early years centres to open across Queensland under a State Government $32 million, four-year commitment.

“With the opening of this wonderful new Early Years Centre at Bentley Park, with its linked satellite services in Gordonvale and Edmonton, there are now early years centre services in 13 communities across Queensland.”

Mr Pitt said the new facility was already giving the community access to a wide range of early childhood resources, programs and activities.

“The Early Years Centre is a purpose-built hub for children and families, including a kindy. Already we’ve seen parents with children who have special needs reaping the rewards of an integrated service,” he said.

“One mum enrolled her child at the kindy because there are child health nurses who can effectively support the kindergarten staff in addressing her daughter’s needs.

“Another mum was worried about her sick infant when dropping off her older child for the first day of kindy and was able to see a child health nurse immediately for advice.”

Mr Pitt said the Early Years Centre had been operating from temporary premises on the Bentley Park College site since early last year, while the permanent facility has been built.

“This brand new facility will allow the Early Years Centre to expand its already successful play and parent engagement activities through the Parents and Learning program,” Mr Pitt said.

“They are also partnering with Arc Disability Services Inc toy library and introducing specific programs aimed at shaping young minds and connecting families with kindergarten.

“Child health services are also being run through the centre and are already being accessed by local parents, complementing the services already offered at Community Health on Robert Road.”

Mr Pitt said the centre and its kindergarten were operated by The Benevolent Society, with the support of the State Government.

“The Bligh Government has committed some $5.4 million over three years to The Benevolent Society to support children and families through the Early Years Centre at Bentley Park,” he said.

“We also provide funding to the Society to operate the Early Years Centres in Browns Plains and North Gold Coast and their respective satellites.

“We are pleased to support the fantastic work being done by The Benevolent Society across the state to offer these wonderful Early Years Centres.”

“While this kind of rhetoric isn’t a surprise from the KAP, this statement has more holes than a tea-pot strainer so I wouldn’t be doing my job as the local MP if I didn’t respond,” Mr Pitt said.

Let’s look at this line by line:

“…Launceston has eight overpasses and 24,000 people. Compare that to nearly a million people in North Queensland and three overpasses.”

“Launceston has more than 106,000 people* and the idea that road planning should be based on the number of overpasses per people in an area beggars belief. Next we’ll be hearing that the KAP’s economic policy is based on chook raffles,” Mr Pitt said.

“Further, the combined populations of North and Far North Queensland would be only a little over 500,000*. Again, these figures have been plucked out of the air.”

“…a high-speed freeway that would destroy 1,000 businesses along Mulgrave Rd…”

“The final Bruce Highway Upgrade Master Plan has fewer than 100 property impacts in total. There are no resumptions in the first stage which got underway late last year,” Mr Pitt said.

“And I’m pretty sure a count of businesses on Mulgrave Road would not be in the order of a thousand.”

“…an upgrading of Mulgrave Road to facilitate business access, would allow Mulgrave Road to do its proper job.…”

“I’m not sure why they keep talking about Mulgrave Road because it’s a state-controlled road that begins after the Bruce Highway ends at the turn-off to Ray Jones Drive. I think somebody should donate a GPS to the KAP to help them find their way on this one,” Mr Pitt said.

“… the bureaucrats will not override the will of the people in this matter…”

“More than two years of consultation occurred on the agreed highway upgrade plan and there was overwhelming public support to get on with it and upgrade the existing highway,” Mr Pitt said.

“No person who lives in White Rock, Mt Sheridan, Bentley Park or Edmonton will benefit from the KAP proposal. These residents make up more than two thirds of total traffic and are bearing the brunt of traffic congestion problems.

“A second corridor would not alleviate this congestion so the existing corridor would still need to be upgraded, plus they’d have to drive south to Wrights Creek to get onto the new highway.”

Mr Pitt slammed the KAP proposal to ‘de-main the main road’ as irresponsible and bizarre.

“If an alternative route was to go ahead, the current Bruce Highway would cease being the national highway and would not attract federal government funding for future upgrades and maintenance,” Mr Pitt said.

“Upgrading the existing Bruce Highway makes it possible to undertake upgrades in several small stages, but this would not be possible with the second corridor option as the roads and bridges would need to be constructed in their entirety before providing any relief for existing traffic issues on the current highway.

“In the case of the Edmonton Traders, with respect, it may also be the first time I’ve ever heard of business people wanting to send potential customers away from their businesses and completely bypass their town.

“Everyone can see that Edmonton is growing and upgrading the existing highway is the best way to service this growth.

“The Bruce Highway Upgrade Master Plan has also been designed with the future community of Mt Peter in mind so that we can cater for the 50,000 or so new residents that will make the area their home in the next couple of decades.

“The Southern Cairns Integrated Land Use and Transport Study (SCILUTS) carried out between 1999 and 2001 considered and ruled out the option of a second highway in the short to long term.

“Due mainly to environmental impacts, the community and the government of the day determined the best option for Cairns was to upgrade the current highway and provide high quality multi-modal transport options, including improved public transport.”

Mr Pitt said this was not the first time the KAP has put forward a hare-brained position.

“This time last year in a two-page spread in The Cairns Post, the KAP candidate reckons he could build a new health facility at Edmonton for $25 million,” Mr Pitt said.

“Based on this price tag, their facility would have no surgery capacity, no ED capacity and no capacity as an alternate site in the event of a disaster, including being built for high cyclone capacity.

“The Katter Party’s proposal to build a $25 million facility could simply not provide the services needed. They have no idea of what the real costs are, not to mention they have no idea how they’d fund it. And it takes a hell of a lot of chook raffles to raise $25 million.”

Mr Pitt said he’d worked hard to secure the land for a future health facility at Edmonton and the facility had already been announced in the Queensland Infrastructure Plan.”

* Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics 31 March 2011.

Member for Mulgrave Curtis Pitt today announced Community Support Centre Innisfail will receive $141,765 over the next three years to help local families who need support to get back on track.

“Community Support Centre Innisfail provides access to specialist services like counselling and community education to help families deal with issues and stand on their own feet,” Mr Pitt said.

“This funding will allow the service to deliver intensive support to families and individual family members in the primary support areas of parenting, budgeting, and household skills via the provision of needs assessment and case management, counselling, group work, information, advice and referral to other specialist services as required.

“The target group for this service is children, young people (unborn to 18 years) and their families who find themselves in vulnerable situations but are not currently subject to statutory child protection intervention.”

Community Services Minister Karen Struthers said the organisation was one of 66 services across the state to share in more than $22 million in Queensland Government funding.

“The Bligh Government is committed to early intervention and prevention, building a brighter future for Queensland families,” Ms Struthers said.

“Ultimately it’s about building safer communities.

“I congratulate Community Support Centre Innisfail for its good work supporting local children and families in need.”

“Supporting safe and caring communities through funding organisations like the Community Support Centre Innisfail, is a core part of our Toward Q2 Tomorrow’s Queensland target.”

For more information on how the Queensland Government is helping communities visit www.communities.qld.gov.au

Member for Mulgrave Curtis Pitt will attend a community forum tomorrow evening (Wednesday 1 February) at Cairns State High School which will give local residents an opportunity to talk about the mining royalties-funded QET.

“The State Government wants to ensure that all Queenslanders have an opportunity to share their views on how we use the boom in our resources sector to transform the opportunities available to children,” Mr Pitt said.
 
“The QET would be established by taking a 50 per cent share of Liquefied Natural Gas royalties.

“This money could then be invested for the future education and training of Queenslanders.

“Over the long term, the QET would control billions of dollars to support education and training initiatives, giving Queensland’s young people a flying start into education and the workforce.”

Mr Pitt said two different operational models for the QET were proposed:

• Individual Trust Accounts for Education – an individual endowment that would mean every child born on or after 1 July 2012 would have a nest egg valued between $7800 and $9500 when they turn 18; or
• Dedicated Education Fund: an investment fund where the proceeds are reinvested by government in education and training initiatives beyond the basics throughout the schooling years and potentially beyond.

“We want feedback from Cairns residents about the QET and how it should operate,” Mr Pitt said.

“For example, if individual endowment accounts are established, what sort of eligibility criteria should apply.

“This is just one of the questions we will be asking community members at the forum.

“We want as many people as possible to benefit from Queensland’s resources boom.”

The Cairns community forum will be held at Cairns State High School, Crosswell Hall via Grafton Street, Cairns, and runs from 6.30pm to 8.00pm.

Community forums will also be held across the state in Townsville, Rockhampton, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

To learn more and RSVP for a community forum visit the Queensland Government website at www.qld.gov.au/educationtrust

Responses to the QET proposal paper can also be made online at the Queensland Government website at www.getinvolved.qld.gov.au/gi/consultation/205/view.html; by emailing Education.Trust@premiers.qld.gov.au or by writing to: Education Trust, PO Box 15185, Brisbane 4002.

Member for Mulgrave Curtis Pitt said the $1.3 million service was funded and built by the Bligh Government as part of a major initiative to improve access to kindergarten programs for Queenslanders.

“This is a significant investment in early childhood education in the White Rock area,” Mr Pitt said.

“This new service was originally scheduled to open in 2013 but was fast tracked to ensure more children in the southern corridor benefit earlier from a quality early childhood education.

“The service is operated by C&K and is part of our government’s commitment to provide extra kindergarten services in areas of need by 2014 to help give Queensland children a flying start to life.

Mr Pitt said the White Rock C&K Community Kindergarten caters for 44 children and has the capacity to offer two kindergarten programs delivered by an early childhood teacher for 15 hours each week.

“This service helps to meet the high demand for early childhood education services in this area.

“It offers parents and children the full range of educational facilities in one convenient location on the state school site.”

“This continues our commitment to deliver universal access to kindergarten programs for children in the year prior to Prep,” he said.

“A total of 108 extra services are planned to be established under this initiative by the end of 2012 with the locations for a further 13 services confirmed to open in 2013 on Catholic school sites.”

Mr Pitt said the Queensland and Australian governments had committed to increasing the percentage of four-year-olds participating in a kindergarten program to 95 per cent by mid-2013.

“Sixty nine per cent of kindy-aged children were enrolled in a kindergarten program in 2011 which exceeded our target of 65 per cent for the year, “he said.

C&K chief executive Barrie Elvish said kindergarten provided children with socialisation skills, early learning and numeracy skills which help to set their path for the ongoing learning journey through
school.

“C&K is excited to be part of this significant project,” Mr Elvish said.

Adam Willimott (Excellence Award) – Adam manages the Innisfail PCYC with his loyal band of staff and helpers who have worked tirelessly to raise money for the multi use facilities including squash courts, fitness & training centre and designated music room. During his 7 years in Innisfail he has established an effective management committee including business leaders, local government and ideas people. We often hear the platitude that ‘Our youth are our most important resource’ – Adam leads the way in putting meaning into this often repeated mantra. Working way beyond his designated role, Adam’s mentoring of youth towards positive attitudes, manners ambition and motivation. is clearly an inspirational role model for us all.

Shane Ross, Michael Jensz, Ashley Kneedbone, Andrew Sorbello, Reece and Wade Menieke, Lachlan Cooke (Achievement Award) - this group of seven friends banded together as self motivated volunteers working tirelessly for day covering holes in roofs after Cyclone Yasi hit Tully & district. They started immediately after the cyclone and covered approximately 140 roofs. These young men made a great difference to the loss suffered by many people in the community and in some instances allowed people to stay in their homes. When young people like this roll up to help their community in a disaster situation they rightly deserve recognition for their efforts.

Andre Guernier (Environment Award) – Andre has excelled as an active role model for a wide range of environmental volunteers including secretary for the local Society for Growing Australian Plants and convenes the Innisfail Visual Amenity Advisory Group. Andres series of treed streetscapes has had a considerable impact on groups involved with beautifying Innisfail in order to attract tourists. His indomitable enthusiasm and physical work towards improving our environment makes him a very worthy recipient of the Senior Environment Award.

Goondoi Dancers, Radiant Life College (Junior Cultural Award) – The Goondoi Dancers were formed in May 2011 under the direction Mr Joseph Drahm. Goondoi being the MaMu word for Cassowary. Where ever they have performed they have involved the community and told the story of their dances and their name. As a young dance team they have involved the community and demonstrated to young indigenous people that their culture is a proud culture with a long history. Congratulations to the Goondoi Dancers.

Dr June Perkins (Cultural Award) – Dr Perkins co-ordinated Licuala Writers of the Cassowary Coast from 2007 to 2011 and anchored the production of ‘Under One Sky’ the groups first anthology which was worked on in 2010 and launch May 2011. She established the Licuala Writers group blog and facebook presence. Without reward June has given inspirational talks at high school camps for indigenous students and has run enrichment programs for gifted and creative primary students June actively promotes open and harmonious relationships and environmental awareness. June is currently a guest blogger the Aftermath project for ABC Open Nth Qld documenting Cyclone Yasi aftermath and recovery. Dr June Perkins is a worthy recipient of the Senior Cultural Award.

Desley Winkleman (Sports Administrator Award) – Desley has been involved in Netball as an administrator and coach for in excess of 30 years and holding the position of President for approximately 10 also serving as registrar, secretary and coaching co-ordinator. Desley has taken many Innisfail and Far North teams to state and regional carnivals, and in addition to taking care of these teams, umpires as she has completed state grading umpires exams. Desley has been recognized for her efforts with life membership of Innisfail Netball where approximately 400 girls compete. Desley is a very appropriate winner of the Sports Administrator Award.

Phoebe-Kate Seawright (Youth Sports Award) - Phoebe-kate, representing the North Queensland Branch Surf Life Saving Queensland (SLSQ), is the current U14 State Champion Lifesaver after winning the gold medal at the State Surf Rescue Championships held at Broadbeach on the Gold Coast in February 2011. Phoebe is also the current U15 North Queensland Branch SLSQ Champion Lifesaver and will represent the Branch at the 2012 Surf Rescue Championships.

After competing at the North Australian Surf Life Saving Carnival held in Mackay in October, Phoebe was also named as a member of the Queensland Country team to compete at the SLSQ Inter-Branch Championships on the Gold Coast on the 2 and 3 December 2011. She has also been named as a squad member of the Queensland Country High Performance Pool Rescue Squad. Phoebe-kate is a dedicated member of the Surf Live Saving movement and apart from the strict training regime required to gain selection in the above events, she fulfils her rostered duties, patrolling two beaches in the NQ Branch SLSQ and is a keen & willing participant in fundraising activities.

Tara Strano (Senior Sports Award) - Tara has been competing in athletics since she was 8 years old. Over the years she has developed and honed her athletic abilities, excelling in the high jump which is her main athletic event, winning multiple National and State championships. Tara was selected in the U17 National Development Squad and has represented Australia twice for Athletics Australia, in Cairns in 2010 and in Samoa in 2011.

2011 was an excellent year for Tara, placing 1st in a number of major championship events, and winning gold in two events at the Oceania Regional Championships held in Samoa. Tara has a bright future ahead, qualifying to compete at the Australian Junior Championships in Sydney and representing Australia at the Oceania Championships in Cairns in 2012. Tara is a high achiever in her chosen sport and is a positive and supportive role model for younger athletes aspiring to be as good as she is.

Cancer Council Relay For Life Innisfail (Community Event of the Year) - When the sun went down over the Innisfail Showground on Saturday, 10 September 2011, it might have taken the temperature with it, but not the spirits of the people walking the track in the name of cancer research. Whether they were wrapped in blankets or costume clad, participants on the track were enthusiastic to say the least. The event was a great opportunity to connect with family and friends and meet new people and brought the community together for a common cause, to fight and raise awareness of cancer which has touched everyone in some way or another. Innisfail’s inaugural Relay for Life was a huge success thanks to the event organizers and the involvement of so many people living within the region, both young and old, with over 30 teams participating, together with their supporters and $66,000 being raised locally in the fight against cancer.

Jesse Witt (Young Citizen of the Year) – Jesse has been a member of the Etty Bay Surf Life Saving Club since June 2007 when he joined the Nippers. His enthusiasm and passion for lifesaving were obvious from the beginning and in the 2007 and 2008 seasons he was awarded with the Most Improved Boy at the annual Junior Presentation Nights. In 2008 Jesse gained his Basic Resuscitation Certificate and in 2009 after obtaining his Surf Rescue Certificate he was eligible to commence patrolling duties as a junior lifesaver. Jesse has completed many hours of voluntary life saving duties at Etty Bay. As a member of the Club Jesse competed in Junior 5 Man R & R team that won gold at the Queensland Junior State Titles. On turning 15 Jesse obtained his Bronze Medallion and in 2011 he coached the Junior 2 Man R & R team, winning a gold medal at the North Queensland Branch Championships held at Etty Bay in October. Jesse trained with the girls for a minimum of 2 afternoons/week for 4 months prior to the event, with extra training in the lead-up to the Championships. The girls are now eligible to contest the 2012 Queensland State Championships as members of the North Queensland Branch Team. Jesse has completed his Certificate III in Sports Management Coaching and gained a First Aid Accreditation. For his outstanding efforts and achievements, Jesse was awarded the Etty Bay Surf Life Saving Club’s “Best All Round Junior Lifesaver” for 2011 and is also the U17 Competitor of the Year and the Club’s Open Ironman Champion.

Jesse is a very active and enthusiastic junior member of the Etty Bay Surf Life Saving Club and displays remarkable commitment and maturity for someone so young. His commitment to patrolling and coaching to preserve lives in the water is a very positive reminder to us all that the youth of our region are very worthy role models and dedicated citizens.

Jean Vallianos (Citizen of the Year) - Jean has been selflessly dedicating her time to helping others within the Tully and wider community for many years. She is on hand to assist and support people within the community who are less fortunate and can be relied upon to lessen their sense of isolation, offer advice and support and to provide practical help. For more than 30 years Jean has participated on various Committees and Boards, willingly giving of her knowledge, skills and ideas and making a valuable contribution to each and every one of them. Unfortunately, there are too many to name individually, however most notable is Jean’s involvement as:

• The Secretary of the Tully Nursing Home for 31 years. Jean was involved in putting together a grant application to the Federal Government to rebuild the Nursing Home to meet newly introduced accreditation standards. The application was successful, however a condition of funding was that the Home match the Federal Government’s contribution dollar for dollar. There was still a lot of work to be done with Board members and the community working tirelessly to raise the required shortfall. The newly refurbished Home is open for business and is a credit to everyone involved.
• A Member of the Tully Branch of the Australian Red Cross for 23 years. In 2011 Queensland experienced both widespread flooding and Cyclone Yasi. In early to mid January Jean was deployed to the Gatton area where she spent nine days helping those affected by the floods. On returning home Jean was confronted with the prospect of a cyclone, with Yasi looming just off the coast. Jean and other Red Cross members were charged with establishing emergency shelters and arranging for mattresses, food and water to be available in the event of residents being evacuated or displaced. Cyclone Yasi crossed the coast at Mission Beach during the night of 2 February 2011, causing widespread destruction to our communities, including Tully, Mission Beach, Tully/Hull Heads and Cardwell. In the wake of the disaster, despite extensive damage to her own home and businesses, Jean volunteered at the Recovery Centre for up to 4 days a week, assisting residents traumatised by the event to fill out paper work and providing advice and assistance in any way she could. Five months after the cyclone Jean was still volunteering at the Centre for 2 days a week.

Jean has been awarded the Paul Harris Award from Rotary International in 2000, the Order of Australia Medal in 2005, Australian Red Cross National Distinguished Medal in 2010 and the Red Cross Meritorious Award in 2011. As the poet, Henry Longfellow once said: “No man or woman is so poor as to have nothing worth giving.” The sense of achievement and the satisfaction that comes from helping others must be a constant for Jean who is most certainly a worthy recipient of the Citizen of the Year Award. Congratulations Jean, well done

CAIRNS REGIONAL COUNCIL

A commitment to growing the Cairns region economically, combined with volunteer services to local organisations, has earned Russell Beer the honour of 2012 Citizen of the Year.

Mayor Val Schier this morning presented Mr Beer and seven other worthy citizens with awards as part of the 2012 Australia Day celebrations.

“Mr Beer has dedicated the last 20 years of his life to the community of Cairns, through not only his work, but his volunteer efforts through sporting organisations and the Diocese of Cairns,” Cr Schier said.

“A senior partner with local law firm MacDonnell’s Law, he has been recognised by the Queensland Law Society for Outstanding Achievement by a legal practitioner.

“He was also Chairman of AFL Cairns for eight years, but is probably best known as a board member of Advance Cairns.

“Although Cairns has been going through a rough patch economically, his dedication and tireless work toward the stimulation of our economy has been outstanding.”

The Young Citizen of the Year is Kieran Hicks.

“The recent graduate of Bentley Park College showed tremendous leadership as School Captain in 2011,” Cr Schier said.

“He was nominated for the Pride of Australia Medal and won a scholarship to attend the Indigenous Australian Engineering Summer School at the University of New South Wales in Sydney.

“Kieren shaved his head to raise funds for the Leukaemia Foundation, regularly donates blood to the Red Cross and is planning to study engineering at JCU next year.”

Other award recipients are:

Grant “Scooter” Patterson (Senior Sportsperson) – Represented Cairns and Australia in swimming championships since 2009. Achievements include two gold medals and one silver medal at 2010 Berlin International Championships. Now working toward London 2012 Paralympic Games.

Tennille Falappi (Junior Sportsperson) – The 16-year-old cleaned up at both the National and State Junior Track Cycling championships in 2011. Proving her all-round sporting prowess, she is also a black belt in karate.

Herbert “Junior” See Poy (Cultural) – A true gentleman who has been entertaining the Far North with his skills on the saxophone for more than 60 years. He recorded his first jazz CD at the age of 69 and readily donates his time and talent for any worthwhile cause.

Rose Boylan-Ascione (Junior Cultural) – A talented young lady with a wonderful voice, who regularly offers her time to charitable organisations. The 17-year-old recently received the Bernie Mackenzie Cultural Award for most outstanding performing arts student.

Peter and Anne Lloyd (Volunteer) – This duo has been the driving force behind the Bally Hooley Railway in Port Douglas for the past eight years, responsible for the entire operation of this recognised tourist activity. Also stalwarts of the Douglas Shire Historical Society.

Hazel Schipke (Volunteer – Commended) – A tireless worker for many community organisations and committees and a talented musician.

“These are just a few of the many amazing people we have in our community,” Cr Schier said.

“I feel honoured to stand alongside these outstanding citizens as we celebrate Australia Day.

“We are lucky to be part of a nation that supports each other in tough times, celebrates the good times and rewards those who inspire and assist others. That is what being an Australian is all about.”

Mr Pitt said Campbell Newman’s comments on Australia Day are further proof that the LNP leader is only interested in South East Queensland.

“Campbell Newman’s bias towards South East Queensland is well-known and his latest comments confirm that regions like Far North Queensland come a distant second,” Mr Pitt said

“Mr Newman let the cat out of the bag with his Australia Day boast that Ashgrove voters will benefit if he becomes Premier.*

“His cynical comments confirm what we already know – that Campbell Newman is pork-barrelling in SEQ to pursue his own personal ambition at the expense of Far North Queenslanders.”

Mr Pitt said Campbell Newman and the LNP have a long track record of neglecting the Far North.

“The Liberal National Party have long ignored Far North Queensland’s most pressing needs – whether it’s the Howard Government’s decade-long neglect of the Bruce Highway or recycled announcements around infrastructure, health, or jobs,” Mr Pitt said.

“His so-called infrastructure plan – the one he pinched from the South East Council of Mayors – commits huge resources to South East Queensland, while promising next to nothing for the Far North.

“His ‘Crisis Action Plan’ for the Bruce Highway – the one he says he’ll put together six months after the election – means he has no plan at all about improving our most important road.

Mr Pitt said Campbell Newman is about slogans and gimmicks and is always light on detail.

“As always, the Liberal National Party can come up with a list of problems, but they never have any solutions,” Mr Pitt said.

“From today, Campbell Newman has 57 days to come clean about how he will pay for the more than $5 billion in campaign promises he’s racked up.

“Anna Bligh and Labor have big ideas for the future of Far North Queensland but Campbell Newman is just in it for himself.”

*The Courier-Mail, p5, Friday 27 January

Member for Mulgrave Curtis Pitt said the organisation would receive $16,888 to upgrade facilities.

“They will use the funds to replace the theatre curtain, kitchen utility bench and concrete a disabled parking area,” Mr Pitt said.

Friends of the Con Secretary Janet Elders said the funding was timely.

“The old curtain was installed in 1972 and has been patched up many times. After 40 years I don’t think there are many performances left in it,” Ms Elders said.

“The old kitchen bench is also 40 years old and no longer meets workplace health and safety standards.

“It will be great to concrete the disabled parking area. We had the ramps installed but the parking area is just grass and can be tricky for a wheelchair in the wet.”

Mr Pitt said the Community Gambling Benefit Fund provided much-needed money to groups that worked hard in the community.

“Queensland is lucky to have organisations like Friends of the Con working for the community. Most of the people involved in these organisations volunteer many hours of their time, dedicated to providing a service for their community,” Mr Pitt said.

“The Gambling Community Benefit Fund allows the State Government to support the important work of these not-for-profit organisations.

“Through grant funding they are able to provide services to help educate people, enhance community safety and improve sport and leisure activities and opportunities to those who might not otherwise have them.”

To apply for the program, visit www.olgr.qld.gov.au and click on grants.

Mr Pitt said the organisation was among 13 groups in the Mulgrave Electorate to receive a financial helping hand from the Reef Hotel Casino Community Benefit Fund and the Gambling Community Benefit Fund worth $159,587.

“Babinda is lucky to have a local organisation like this, run by volunteers to provide young people in the Babinda area with boxing skills,” Mr Pitt said.

“We already have a rising star in Broughton Worth – who knows, we may see an Olympic or Commonwealth Games champion in the making.”

Eric Norman from the Babinda Boxing Club said the old trailer was purchased second-hand about 25 years ago and had seen better days.

“The old trailer served us well carting our portable boxing ring as far afield as Richmond, Hughenden and Hopevale,” Mr Norman said.

“With the new trailer we plan to cover the venues between Ingham and Mareeba.

Mr Pitt said the Gambling Community Benefit Fund allows the State Government to support the important work of not-for-profit organisations.

“Through grant funding organisations are able to provide services to help educate people, to enhance community safety and to improve sport and leisure activities and opportunities for those who might not otherwise have them.

“This is just one of the ways the State Government returns taxes from gambling activities to the community.”

To apply for the program, visit www.olgr.qld.gov.au and click on grants.

Some people may recognise Peter as the long-serving Santa Claus at Stockland Earlville. But these days he has hung up the big red suit and is focusing on promoting his 1,500 page book ‘Diary of WW2 North Queensland’ on a project which he began researching more than 26 years ago. For more information on his book, go to www.ozatwar.com

Thanks for your continued contribution to our local community Peter.