The Chin Wag October 21 2020

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PARK UPGRADES CONTINUE TO BRANCH OUT IN MEANDARRA Leo Gordon Apex Park in Meandarra will be revitalised with new facilities and extensive landscaping as part of Western Downs Regional Council’s local stimulus package to create jobs and boost the liveability of the region. Works to enrich the popular park will include new picnic shelters, a BBQ shelter, walkways, new trees, turfing and irrigation throughout the space. Council Spokesperson for Recreational Spaces and Cemeteries Councillor Carolyn Tillman said once complete, the project would benefit locals and visitors alike. “Leo Gordon Park is a very popular spot in our community and it’s in a prime position to welcome travellers passing through the beautiful town of Meandarra,” Cr Tillman said. “It is important that we continue to maintain our parks and open spaces right across the region as they are a valued part of the community and play a big role in the liveability for our residents. “The completed project will not only provide a more modern space for our community to enjoy but will also entice our visitors to stop and stay a little longer in our towns.” The Leo Gordon Apex Park upgrade is included in Council’s extensive COVID-19 Recovery Package and will support local business with the majority of materials and labour sourced within the Western Downs. Construction is expected to commence during the first week of November. To find out more about upcoming Council projects visit www.wdrc.qld.gov.au or contact Council on 1300 COUNCIL (1300 268 624). THE FACEBOOK GROUP THAT CHANGED SMALL BUSINESS FOREVER FOR RURAL AUSTRALIA The Facebook group that was created by Jenn Donovan, called Buy From a Bush Business, turns 1 on October 31 st 2020. In one year, Jenn has taken her online community, which supports rural small businesses from NO members to 285,000 members, and still growing at 100’s a week. Jenn, a farmer’s wife and marketing thought leader, who lives in the Riverina of NSW, tells how she was driving home from a marketing tour, with her business, of the Riverina back in October 2019, when she came up with the idea of a Facebook group to support rural small business owners. “Buy From the Bush was a hashtag that people were starting to know about but didn’t know how to get involved with. It was the most common question all week during my workshop tour of Narrandera, Wagga Wagga, Moulamein and Hay”, says Jenn. “I lived and was working in drought country – years of drought had hit these (and many other) towns hard. It was coming up Christmas and no one was looking forward to it.” “I know as an ex-retailer, that if farmers don’t have money, towns don’t have money – so no one really expected a good Christmas in their business”. With the complexities of Instagram for some business owners, Jenn decided that a Facebook group, where people could just post themselves, was the way to go. So, on Friday October 31 st 2019, after getting home from a week away, she created Buy From a Bush Business Facebook Group. Jenn laughs at how she celebrated with such gusto at 5,000 members, 10,000 members, 25,000 members – having literally no idea that it would grow to be, not only the size of a small city, but an economy all of its own. “I have no idea how much money has been traded in the past 12 months, but it must be in the 100,000’s of thousands – possibly millions”, says Jenn “Some people who posted didn’t even have a business yet, just a hobby, but soon found themselves with a community of brand new buyers, from all over the country, wanting their goods”. It was a strategic decision by Jenn, from the beginning, that it wouldn’t just be an “Australian Made” group. “As an ex-retailer, I didn’t make my goods, so I wanted to support those who were like me. Whether they made the product or not wasn’t my concern – I just wanted to help. My theory was that if we didn’t help retailers like the ones in the main streets of our rural towns, we’d have ghost towns everywhere – which would further ruin the rural economy for many years to come”, says Jenn. Little did Jenn know what was to come. Many communities who were already hurting from drought, faced the devastation of the summer bushfires, loosing homes, livelihoods and the so important, for many communities, the tourism dollar. To then, to be hit with Covid19 on top of everything else. She connected the city with the country. She created a community that, even if they couldn’t afford to spend money with businesses, they helped in other ways like sharing a post, liking a post or giving the business owner encouragement or a compliment – which is, at the heart of it, what SOCIAL MEDIA is all about. If, by chance, you aren’t one of the 285,000 odd members of Buy From a Bush Business – join the group here: facebook.com/groups/buyfromthebush Advertise in The Crossing NOW - Call 0411 896 004 THE CROSSING - Wednesday October 21, 2020 - Page 3
HELPING FATHERS FEEL EMPOWERED IN WESTERN QUEENSLAND A program which aims to support fathers in western Queensland has taken off with a second group now formed. The Fathers with Futures has been running for around a year and stopped briefly due to COVID-19, before resuming in Term 3. The group came about after Anglicare Southern Queensland identified a lack of support services for Dads in the region. Anglicare Southern Queensland is one of Queensland’s most trusted social welfare organisations. Established in Brisbane in 1870, it’s a not-forprofit charity delivering a broad range of community services, including homelessness support, mental health and family counselling, foster care and aged care. One in every 30 Queenslanders is empowered by Anglicare Southern Queensland. Anglicare Southern Queensland Roma Family Support Worker Daniel Wales said the rational became that “if there’s very little support services for Dads, then we should empower Dads to establish their own support networks,” he said. “And so the group was born. Being a father myself as well as a Family Support worker enhanced my ability to facilitate the group and relate to the issues and struggles of the Dad’s who attend. Due to its popularity, a second Fathers with Futures group now exists. “The main one meets on the second Sunday of the month and has four regular Dads and about half a dozen Dads who make it when they can,” he said. “The other one (Fathers With Futures: Weekday Edition) meets on the second and fourth Thursday at the month, and currently has three regular Dads.” When it comes to people having a rough time my main advice is this: “In July we get an accountant to help us with our tax refund to help us get a nice fat tax return. When the tractor brakes down we get a diesel mechanic to help us get our machine back up and running. When the wiring in our house goes on the fritz we call a sparky to help restore power,” he says. “Our families and mental health are the same deal. We have the ability to slog our way through, but there are people in our community who are trained in these areas who can help us get through it easier and safer. We ask for help with every other aspect of our lives, let’s ask for help with our families and mental health too. Even if that person is your best mate, our folks, or even the dog.” Daniel is passionate about supporting local Mental Health initiatives in the Roma area, last week he was involved in the Blue Tree Project run by Lifeline. The Blue Tree Project is aimed at helping raise awareness of mental health issues within the community by painting trees in the local community blue. If you’re a father in Roma and are interested in joining the group, contact us today on 1300 114 397. Pictured: Daniel Wales assisted Lifeline to paint a local tree blue for the Blue Tree Project. The No.1 Newspaper in Dalby & surrounds! CONTACT US Email: news@thechinwag.com.au Office: 0411 896 004 Post: P.O. Box 226, Toogoolawah Q 4313 PAID ADVERTISING Email: advertise@thechinwag.com.au Call: 0413 22 52 01 ADVERTISING: Dugald Strachan EDITOR: Scott Strachan SUB-EDITOR: Xanthe Strachan JOURNALIST: BUSINESS MANAGER: Melissa Strachan ACCOUNTS: Leanne King WEB/SOCIAL MEDIA: Savanah Aylward A publication of... Supports Western Downs Artists & Events Advertise in The Crossing NOW - Call 0411 896 004 THE CROSSING - Wednesday October 21, 2020 - Page 4
Page 1 and 2: Chinchilla House N Tea Pre loved fu
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Page 7 and 8: FUNERAL NOTICE ZOE BELL zoe@thechin
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Page 15 and 16: ABC 6:00 News Breakfast [s] 9:00 AB

The Chin Wag October 21 2020

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