The Christmas season has well and truly begun and local businesses, particularly our small businesses, operated by mums and dads in our region, need our support.
That’s why I’m encouraging everyone to ‘Buy Locally this Festive Season.’
Small businesses are the engine room of our region driving innovation, employment and economic progress. When you shop locally, your money stays locally, with one dollar spent at a local business returning up to five times that amount through employee wages, rates and the purchase of materials and supplies.
The ‘Buy Locally this Festive Season’ campaign is part of our State Government’s strong commitment to grow a prosperous small business sector.
To help our local businesses promote the campaign, there are lots of materials online to encourage your customers to shop locally. Just visit Queensland Government’s online Business Industry Portal.
Merry Christmas!
Iconic Crows Nest business, the Grand Old Crow Hotel is one of the first businesses across the region to sign up to the State Government’s “Queensland Apprenticeship Pledge”.
Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington visited the Grand Old Crow to thank Manager, Ty Rieck for taking up the Pledge, which aims to provide an incentive for businesses to take on a new apprentice.
“The Apprenticeship Pledge provides a $6,000 bonus for businesses to invest in the future of our state and their own business by taking on an apprentice,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“The bonus is paid in two instalments, $4,000 in a year’s time and $2,000 in two years. We hope this will help reach our target of 6,000 new apprentices taken on this financial year over and above normal recruitment and retention practices,” she said.
“I’d like to congratulate the Grand Old Crow for taking up the Pledge. In the Electorate of Nanango, we currently have 290 apprentices who make an important contribution to the region’s current and future prosperity, and this program will help increase these numbers,” Deb said.
Grand Old Crow Manager, Ty Rieck, said he decided to take the Apprenticeship Pledge to help the business employ a new apprentice chef.
“This has been an excellent opportunity for the Grand Old Crow and we’ll be taking on our new apprentice chef in the New Year,” Mr Rieck said.
For more information about the Queensland Apprenticeship Pledge, employers can visit www.training.qld.gov.au/pledge for guidelines and a fact sheet.
Photo: Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington with Manager of the Grand Old Crow, Ty Rieck.Ty has taken the Apprenticeship Pledge and will take on a new apprentice chef in 2015.
Hundreds of families in Brisbane and Ipswich could be spared the heartache of watching their homes devastated by floods thanks to improved management of the south east’s dams.
Water Supply Minister Mark McArdle today released new operational strategies for the Wivenhoe, Somerset and North Pine dams to minimise possible flooding ahead of the summer wet season.
“There is no question the region will see major flooding in the future and the Newman LNP Government is committed to doing everything it can to improve our resilience to natural disasters,” Mr McArdle said.
“The government’s strong 30 year plan for the water sector – WaterQ – recognises the challenges we face from climate variability and natural disasters, such as floods and drought.”
“In simple terms, the strategies allow more storage space in the dams to better cope with flood waters.
“In the case of Wivenhoe Dam, more water will be released earlier to minimise flooding.
“This could mean about 500 to 1,500 fewer buildings in Brisbane and Ipswich would be flooded in a repeat of the 2011 flood.
“At North Pine Dam the maximum water supply storage will be set at 90 per cent for up to 20 years.
“The Newman LNP Government is committed to making Queensland a safer place to live, work and raise a family and these measures mean communities will be better protected when flooding strikes again.”
The Wivenhoe Somerset Dam Optimisation Study (WSDOS) and the North Pine Dam Optimisation Study (NPDOS) were recommended by the Queensland Floods Commission of Inquiry.
Seqwater chief executive Peter Dennis said the studies followed the most comprehensive analysis of dam operations in flood scenarios ever undertaken in south east Queensland.
Mr McArdle said the new Wivenhoe Dam strategy could result in some bridges, such as Colleges Crossing near Ipswich, being closed more regularly when it floods and warned that it was impossible to prevent all flooding in Brisbane and Ipswich.
“All floods are different and the Wivenhoe and Somerset dams are both upstream of Lockyer Creek and the Bremer River and cannot protect us from floods coming down those watercourses,” Mr McArdle said.
The Department of Energy and Water Supply is finalising a preliminary investigation into potential new dams and the raising of Wivenhoe Dam, with the findings due to be completed before Christmas.
Further information is available at www.dews.qld.gov.au
Students across the Nanango Electorate are reaping the rewards of their passion for reading after participating in the 2014 Premier’s Reading Challenge.
Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington, visited Saint Mary’s to hand out certificates last week and will also visit Taabinga and Coolabunia State School’s before the end of the term to congratulate the students.
“Certificates are on their way from Premier Campbell Newman to more than 80,000 students across the state who achieved or exceeded their reading challenge targets,” Mrs Frecklingon said.
“I was really pleased to personally congratulate the Saint Mary’s students and also pass on the Premier’s congratulations. They are part of the more than 108,000 students in 700 schools across Queensland who registered to take part in the challenge which ran between May and September this year,” she said.
“For our students, this has meant reading or experiencing 20 books for Preps to Year 2s, reading 20 books for Years 3-4, and 15 books for Years 5-7 where students generally tackle more challenging reads,”
“I’m excited that this initiative, now nine years old, introduces our young people to such a life-shaping skill, not to mention the enjoyment to be had while engrossed in a good book.
“It’s pleasing to see students in the South Burnett are exploring the world through the pages of quality books.”
Schools who have participated in the 2014 Premier’s Reading Challenge from the Nanango Electorate include:
Photo: Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington, with just some of the readers from Saint Mary’s who took part in the Premier’s Reading Challenge this year.
Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington is inviting the community to comment on a proposal to name a gully in the South Burnett, Mangan Gully.
Mrs Frecklington said the unnamed gully in South Nanango would be named in honour of an ANZAC, Michael Mangan.
“Michael Mangan settled in the Nanango district in 1919 following military service from 1914-1918 with the 15th Battalion AIF, fighting as an ANZAC at Gallipoli in 1915,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“He also saw action in France, the Western Front, the Somme and Belgium. After the war, Mr Mangan settled in the Nanango district and was granted leases over the properties through which the gully flows. The gully flows in a north-westerly direction and crosses the D’Aguilar Highway until it meets Peach Creek,” she said.
Ms Frecklington said she supported the suggestion made by the South Burnett Regional Council to name the gully in honour of Mr Mangan.
“The proposal to name the gully in honour of Mr Mangan is timely as Australia prepares to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli landing,” she said.
In accordance with the Place Names Act 1994, local residents and community groups are invited to have their say on the proposal. Properly made submissions will be accepted by the Department of Natural Resources and Mines (DNRM) until 5:00pm on Friday 23 January 2015.
Queensland place name plan QPN1270 shows the location of Mangan Gully and can be viewed at the DNRM Kingaroy Business Service Centre, 214 Kingaroy Cooyar Road, Taabinga and the South Burnett Regional Council Nanango Office at 48 Drayton Street, Nanango.
Copies of the proposal plan can also be downloaded from the Queensland Place Names section at www.dnrm.qld.gov.au
Submissions in writing, either in support of or against the proposal, may be submitted to: The Executive Director, South Region C/- The Senior Spatial Information Officer (Place Names) Department of Natural Resources PO Box 573 Nambour Qld 4650 or online at www.dnrm.qld.gov.au
Enquiries about the proposal should be directed to Ross Norman by telephone on (07) 5451 2252 or by email on Ross.Norman@dnrm.qld.gov.au
Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington, has welcomed the announcement this week that people in the Nanango Electorate will receive a guarantee to have their elective (non-emergency) surgery on time - a national first.
Mrs Frecklington said from 1 February 2015, the LNP Government’s Wait Time Guarantee would ensure all eligible patients who are ready for elective surgery will have their procedure within the medically recommended time.
“I know that surgery waiting times are one of the biggest issues for our local community. This is a fundamental change for local residents – as they will no longer be just a number in the queue for surgery,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“Importantly, if the our local Hospitals and Health Services cannot provide surgery within this time, then patients will be offered the next available appointment in a public or private hospital at no cost,” she said.
“This surgery will be arranged by the original hospital, and patients will not have to pay for any travel or accommodation costs if they are treated more than 50km from their original hospital.
“Under Labor nearly 1 in 5 Queensland patients – 17% - waited too long for their surgery. We expect to have this at 0% by the end of the year – and the LNP’s Guarantee will keep it at 0%.”
From 1 February 2015, all eligible elective surgery will be carried out within the following nationally defined times:
Deb said in just over two and a half years, the LNP had transformed Queensland Health from being a Department even the Labor Party wanted to destroy, into a patient-focused service which is now offering an Australian first to Queensland residents.
“We promised to revitalise frontline health services for Queenslanders – and this announcement reiterates our determination to deliver on that commitment,” she said
“This is a strong team, with a strong plan to deliver the services we need.”
Patients who were currently on Queensland Health’s elective surgery wait list would soon receive a letter explaining how the guarantee works.
For more information about the Wait Time Guarantee visit www. qld.gov.au/WaitTimeGuarantee or call 1300 332 807 between 7am and 9pm, 7 days a week.
Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington has announced the launch of the Queensland Government’s ‘Kids in Care Christmas Appeal’, and is encouraging the community to donate a present and brighten the life of a child in care.
“Christmas can be a difficult time for kids who can’t live at home, but by donating a small present we can let these children and young people know that we care,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“Last year we had an overwhelming response to the appeal, with every child in care receiving a gift.
“Now we are asking the community to again support the Appeal and the children and young people who need help and support.”
Presents can include a range of presents, including gift cards, sporting equipment, board games, clothes and books. Gifts for teenage boys and girls, as well as the little ones, are greatly appreciated.
Once again, ABC local radio is supporting the appeal and promoting it throughout Queensland.
Deb said the Newman Government was working hard to reform the child protection system, so that kids and young people in care had a brighter future.
“We are delivering on our strong plan to support families, but there is more to do and the Appeal is about bringing the community together to care for young Queenslanders,” she said.
“The age of boys and girls in care across Queensland this Christmas ranges from babies right through to 17 year olds.
“Gifts do not need to be costly — inexpensive presents can bring just as much joy as something expensive.”
The appeal runs from 19 November to 5 December to allow time for gifts to be sorted and allocated. Any surplus toys will be distributed to other disadvantaged children.
Presents can be dropped off at the Nanango Electorate Office (Shop 2/36 Alford Street, Kingaroy), or local child safety service centres.
People can visit www.communities.qld.gov.au to find their closest donation point or find out more information on the state’s child protection system.
Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington, has welcomed the announcement that students at Esk SS, Toogoolawah SS, Nanango SS, Kingaroy SS, Taabinga SS, Meringandan SS, Kilcoy SS, Kilcoy SHS and Kingaroy SHS will have the chance to learn from a highly skilled and experienced teacher from 2015 as part of the Queensland Government’s Master Teachers initiative.
Mrs Frecklington said that the $135 million state-wide initiative will see 300 master teachers deployed to state schools across Queensland, in order to enhance teaching practice and lift student performance.
“I’m thrilled that four of our local schools have been selected and I have no doubt that local families will benefit immensely. I understand that one Master teacher will be shared between Nanango SS, Kingaroy SS and Taabinga SS and one Master Teacher will be at Kingaroy SHS. Esk and Toogoolawah will also share a Master Teacher, as will Kilcoy SS and Kilcoy SHS. Meringandan's Master Teacher will be based at the school and shared with Kingsthorpe SS,” Mrs Frecklington said
“From next year, master teachers will work in these schools for a period of three years, helping them to embed literacy and numeracy learning across the curriculum, provide coaching and guidance for teachers in the classroom and aligning teacher’s professional development with student needs,” she said.
“Importantly, primary schools selected to host a master teacher will also receive a resource package of up to $75,000 to support their work.”
Deb said this was all part of the LNP Government’s plan to achieve better student outcomes by improving frontline services.
“The recruitment drive for 300 master teachers is part of the Queensland Government’s $535 million Great teachers = Great results action plan,” she said.
“Two thirds of master teachers will be posted in primary schools, where they will have the important task of building strong literacy and numeracy foundations to help to boost student performance in the later years,” Deb said.
“State schooling in Queensland has gone from strength to strength under the our Government and we are determined to keep working hard to see that continue for many years to come, “ Deb said.
Christmas has come early for two Kingaroy clubs with the announcement of third round of the State Government’s Get Playing grants.
Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington said she was delighted that the Kingaory Netball Association and the Kingaroy Junior Speedway Club had been successful with their Get Playing applications.
“Sport and recreation clubs are an integral part of this community and are used by hundreds of kids, so it’s important that their infrastructure and facilities are modern and safe,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“Get in the Game is focused on promoting greater participation at the grassroots community level and supporting local clubs and this funding will help achieve that,” she said.
The two local clubs will receive the following funding:
Our groups are amongst 140 clubs statewide who will share in more than more than $11.4 million worth of funding under this latest round.
Sport and Recreation Minister Steve Dickson said the Queensland Government was keen to encourage more families to get involved in sport and recreation.
“We made an election commitment to get more young Queenslanders involved in recreation and sport and we are delivering through these highly successful programs,” Mr Dickson said.
“The response to Get Playing has been overwhelming, and the projects that have been delivered under this program have made a real difference to local communities. It’s pleasing to see the positive outcomes resulting from the first two rounds of funding and I look forward to seeing more improvements to our sport and recreation clubs statewide.”
Get Playing forms part of the Queensland Government’s $68 million Get in the Game initiative, and provides sport and recreation clubs with better facilities. Further details on Get in the Game are available at www.nprsr.qld.gov.au/getinthegame.
Photo: Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington, with Helen Maudsley (Kingaroy Netball) and the Minister for National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing, Minister Steve Dickson, inspecting the Kingaroy Netball Courts earlier in the year.
Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington says women in the South Burnett and Somerset will have more opportunities to get out and active under a new program aimed at getting more Queensland women involved in sport and recreation.
Mrs Frecklington said the South Burnett Regional Council and Somerset Regional Council were two of just 20 local Councils around Queensland which had been successful under the Queensland Government’s Get Out, Get Active program.
“The Government is providing nearly $20,000 to the South Burnett Regional Council to offer activities for women such as a ‘Women's Active Expo’ and an eight week 'Active Taster' program which includes three fitness sessions per week plus childcare,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“The funding will also employ a part-time project officer to support women's active participation in the activities,” she said.
“The Somerset Regional Council will receive $2,000 to run five come and try days providing sessions in fitness, aqua aerobics, Zumba, martial arts, yoga as well as a new walking group,”
“Get Out, Get Active will make sport and active recreation opportunities more accessible for more local women,” Deb said.
Recreation and Sport Minister Steve Dickson said the Queensland Government was keen to see more Queensland women getting active.
“The idea is to provide enjoyable, accessible and affordable activities to increase sport and active recreation participation of women, as part of the Queensland Government’s commitment to boost participation levels,” Mr Dickson said.
“Funding of $300,000 has been allocated to kick start the program and from this initial funding round, we will evaluate the response and the results, and consider expanding it in the future.”
The program idea came from the Queensland Government’s Ministerial Advisory Committee on Women and Girls in Sport and Recreation.
Five-time beach volleyball Olympian and gold medallist Natalie Cook, who was a member of the advisory committee, said the Get Out, Get Active projects were great news for Queensland women wanting and needing to be more active.
“It’s great to see that this recommendation has been taken up and is being put into practice through the Get Out, Get Active funding program,” Natalie said.
For more information on Get Out, Get Active, visit www.nprsr.qld.gov.au
Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington, is encouraging local community organisations to apply for funding under a million-dollar Queensland Government program for projects to help migrants and refugees get jobs or to start and grow their own businesses.
Mrs Frecklington said that $1.05 million is available under the Economic Participation Grants Program which has now expanded to fund larger regional projects which promote economic participation and business development.
“In this round, there will be two levels of grants, firstly the Local Economic Participation Projects which are open to organisations anywhere in Queensland to apply for funding of up to $40,000.
“A second new category of Regional Economic Participation Projects will provide for a maximum grant of $150,000 per year for up to two years for projects to be delivered in several key regional areas, including Toowoomba,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“This new regional focus is about sustaining growth and long-term settlement of migrants and refugees outside South-East Queensland which is a key ambition of the Queensland Plan – Queenslanders’ 30-year vision.”
Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Multicultural Affairs, Glen Elmes, said funding for this round had been increased because of the success of the previous round which assisted 14 projects across Queensland with funding totalling $288,677.
“Those fourteen projects have helped overseas-born Queenslanders improve their employment potential through training, networking and the acquisition of basic skills,” Mr Elmes said.
“This increase in funding for projects starting in 2015 is testament to the Queensland Government’s commitment to support innovative projects which give people from culturally diverse backgrounds the opportunity to attain economic independence.
“Queensland reaps significant economic and social benefits both from its cultural diversity and through continuing migration. Through skills, knowledge, ingenuity and sheer effort, generations of migrants have been instrumental in developing our economy and enriching our social and cultural profile.
More information about the Economic Participation Grants Program is available at: www.datsima.qld.gov.au
Thousands of students in the Nanango Electoarte have been kept safe on school crossings since the introduction of the School Crossing Supervisor scheme 30 years ago.
Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington said the scheme had made a huge contribution to protecting children and reassuring parents right across Queensland.
“I’d like to thank all our hardworking school crossing supervisors for doing their part to keep children safe,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“The School Crossing Supervisor scheme has had a 100% success rate since its inception, with not one fatality occurring at a supervised crossing since then.
“In hot, cold or wet weather, the supervisors are there, ensuring children are kept out of harm’s way and for this, we can’t thank them enough
She said when it was first launched 30 years ago, 255 schools adopted the concept of a School Crossing Supervisor.
In the Nanango Electorate, the first schools to sign up in 1984 were Goombungee State School, Toogoolawah SS, Kingaroy State School, Nanango State School and Taabinga State School. There are now 1,210 crossings, staffed by over 1,900 supervisors at 652 Queensland schools,” she said.
“The School Crossing Supervisors are also there to educate the children on safe road crossing practices.”
“The Newman Government continues to support and deliver initiatives such as the flashing school light program which provides a safer road environment around our schools. In the Nanango Electorate lights have been installed at Geham, Harlin, Taabinga and Kumbia and soon there will also be lights at Kingaroy SS.”
“I would also like to thank the schools, their principals and all others involved in helping this scheme continue for 30 years.
Supervised school crossings are a partnership between the Queensland Government, local councils and the school community.
Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington has announced that six local projects in the Nanango Electorate have been successful in receiving funding through the second round of the State Government’s Anzac Centenary Community Grants.
Mrs Frecklington said the groups will share in more than $100,000, enabling local communities to commemorate what the First World war meant to their community and she was pleased that four local projects had received support.
The local projects to receive funding are:
“I’d really like to congratulate these local groups on their successful applications. The First World War had a dramatic international impact, but the effects were also felt in local communities like Yarraman and Crows Nest and all around Queensland,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“This program acknowledges the sacrifice made and loss suffered by the many communities whose residents contributed to the war effort either on the battlefield or on the home front.”
“I urge everyone to support these Anzac commemorations as a way of acknowledging our community’s special place in Queensland’s military history,” she said.
For more information about the grants program and how Queensland is commemorating the First World War centenary visit: www.qld.gov.au/anzac100.
Photo: Deb and her daughters at the Yarraman Anzac Day Dawn Service. The Yarraman RSL have secured an Anzac Centenary Community Grant to build a display to WWI soldiers from the region.
More than 400 racegoers are expecting to head to the Kilcoy Racecourse this Thursday (6 November), for the Oaks Ladies Day.
Kilcoy Racing Club president Con Searle said the Country Race meet played an integral part in the local community.
“It draws patrons to the town, it fills the motel and hotels, it draws people into our bakery, butchers, fruit and veggie shops,” Mr Searle said.
“To outback towns, like Kilcoy, it brings the community together to enjoy a day at the races.
“There are seven races scheduled for Oaks-Ladies Day, with $96,000 in prize money. What an incentive to country provincial racing.”
Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington said the meet was the perfect way to enjoy Ladies Day.
“Kilcoy is just over an hour’s drive from Brisbane, and within easy reach of other sizeable population centres, so it’s a great opportunity to get out of the city and into the country to enjoy Oaks Day,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“This is a very special event which has proven hugely popular over the past few years, and provided a major social and economic boost to locals,” she said.
Racing Minister Steve Dickson said he was looking forward to attending the race day alongside local member Deb Frecklington.
“Country race days like the Ladies Oaks Day in Kilcoy provide not only a fantastic atmosphere but also an economic boost to the region,” Mr Dickson said.
The Queensland Government is committed to country racing, we’re providing an additional $4 million over four years to help rebuild country racing, with an additional 20 country race meetings to be held each year.
“The former Labor government tore the heart out of country racing but we are revitalising the industry with these new initiatives.”
