Artists spoilt for choiceRain brings out bushland beautyMEMBER FORTOOWOOMBANORTHWatts NewsEach year I can ask approximately 35 ‘Questions on Notice’ (QoN)of the Government, one per sitting day of Parliament. Theoretically,these questions enable the community of Toowoomba North to holdthe Government to account. The answer to the question should besupplied to the Table Office by the Palaszczuk Government within 30calendar days of the question being asked.At my recent bi-weekly community corners, I’ve heard concernsabout the reliability of electricity within the Highfields area. I have putthese concerns to the Palaszczuk Government’s Minister for Energy,Renewables and Hydrogen, Honourable Mick de Brenni in a QoN:With reference to the 16 power outages in Highfields in the last 18months – Will the Minister advise what infrastructure upgrades areplanned to ensure reliable power is provided to this area?Here is some of the Government’s response:“Ergon Energy network has advised that a review of the distributionof network to Highfields revealed there are no systemic issues causingincreased outages in this area. The severe weather experience across2021/22 has been the major contributor to outages.“The 2022-23 State Budget provided funding for a new 16.1MKleinton Substation, which when completed in ‘future years’ willincrease network capacity and improve the security of electricitysupply to the region.”I guess Highfields residents should take heart that the upgrade willbe completed in ‘future’, but with no timeline provided, it is clear thatLabor has failed to appropriately invest in the infrastructure requiredto maintain a reliable source of electricity.As a third term government, it’s worrying to see that their ability tomanage a core government service has fallen by the wayside, and as aresult our community is suffering.I will continue to seek updates on both future upgrades to thenetwork and stability as we head into another forecasted summerseason of severe weather events. The reliability of electricity is a mustand the management of this is a priority for the LNP, having earlier thisyear established the first ever Shadow Minister for Customer Service,a role which we will have in a future LNP government.Ergon Energy (a Queensland Government Owned Corporation)customers, particularly those in Highfields and Toowoomba, aren’tgetting reliable or affordable electricityand this isn’t good enough.I would like to finish with amessage of thanks and to celebrateour wonderful and dedicated teacherswithin the region. World Teachers’ Day2022 is on Friday 28 October – thankyou for all you do in helping to educatethe next generation!Until next month,TrevorP 4602 2100 A 182 Ruthven Street, North Toowoomba QLD 4350• PO Box 285, Harlaxton Qld 4350 E toowoomba.north@parliament.qld.gov.auW trevorwattsmp.com TrevorWattsMP /TrevorWattsLNP trevorwattsmp8 - HIGH COUNTRY HERALD - OCTOBER 18, 2022Artists of Crows Nest is an activeand popular group providingencouragement and support forthose taking their first tentativesteps into creating visual art.Members are spoilt for choicewhen it comes to opportunitiesfor skill development, exhibitionsand social interaction withan arty twist.With the recent closure oftheir Esk exhibition Our VisualConnection - Sketched, thegroup went straight onto theLowood Gallery with their exhibitionTiny Works, a displayof 63 small canvases includingmosaics, which is open until October29.The eagerly awaited weekendworkshop with Tricia Taylorusing pastels in a seascapehas been fully booked as is theone-day drawing workshop withmember artist Lyn Johnston.The last tutor workhop for theyear will be on December 7 withPam Shipman sharing informationon the pastel medium.Planning for 2023 is well underway with one of the highlightsbeing in June with masterpastellist Maxine Thompsonshowing her skills with animalportraits.Popular tutors Karol Oakleyand Elena Churilova will alsovisit for workshops in the firsthalf of the new year.Interested members of thepublic are welcome to comealong to any of the workshopswhere cost is kept to a minimumand some materials can be supplied.- Pam ShipmanOn coming home after nearlytwo weeks away, it is great to seeeverything growing.The regular rain and nowwarming spring weather has allthe trees and grass leaping out ofthe ground.The plants that thrive withgood spring moisture that producea bumper seed crop fornew plants during the wet seasoncontinue to flower.• The spectacular bloom ofdeep yellow to be seen in ourbushland parks is jacksonia(Dogwood.) - Dougal Johnston,HamptonGolden Oldies moviesat Crows NestOn Friday, November 4, Crows Nest Arts Council, in conjunctionwith Joel Archer’s Golden Oldies movies, is presenting A ChristmasCarol, a 1938 black and white film adaptation of Charles Dickens’sclassic novel.The show will start at 2pm in the Crows Nest-Community andRSL Centre, with cartoons and selected short films, followed by themain feature after intermission.Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children, with tickets availableat the door from 1.30pm. No pre-booking is required. Afternoontea is included in the ticket price.On Christmas Eve in 19th century London, the miserly EbenezerScrooge reluctantly allows his employee Bob Cratchit to haveChristmas off with pay but orders him back all the earlier the dayafter.Bob spends the last of his wages on food for his family’s humbleChristmas dinner.That night Scrooge is haunted by three spirits, The Ghost ofChristmas Past, the Ghost of Christmas Present, and the Ghost ofChristmas Yet to Come.The following day, Christmas Day, Scrooge is a changed man.He shares the true spirit of Christmas with the Cratchit family ina way that makes for a joyous and heart-warming end to the story.For further information contact the Crows Nest Arts Council secretaryon 0409 728 976 or cnacsecretary@gmail.com.Highfields Tavern to hostAustralia’s Biggest QuizEveryone in the community isinvited to come along and helpbreak a world record in Highfieldsnext week.Highfields will be one of the16 locations across the countryto be involved with Australia’sBiggest Quiz with the goal ofraising awareness and eliminatinghepatitis C.Hepatitis C is a blood bornevirus that without treatment cancause liver disease and liver cancerwhich is the fastest growingcause of cancer deaths in Australia.With more than 115,000 peoplewith the disease in Australiain 2020 and thousands more whodon’t know they have it, HepatitisAustralia has decided it’stime to put an end to the virusfor good.Walkley-winning journalist,TV presenter and social commentatorJan Fran (picture) willhost Australia’s Biggest Quiz,broadcasting across the countryvirtually.Hepatitis Australia CEO CarrieFowlie said the peak communityorganisation was progressingnational action on issues ofimportance to people affected bythe disease.Want to get into shapeand can’t afford gym fees?Walk and let us pay you!!Reliable people wanted to deliver leaflets 1-2 afternoons a week(Adults & High School students preferred)Contract Rates Regular paymentsDarling DownsPamphlet DistributorsShed 2103 North St, ToowoombaPhone 4639 1986during office hours“The trusted pamphlet people”This month includes highlightinghow we could end hepatitisC in Australia.“It’s not every day that theworld has the chance to eliminatea serious disease like hepatitisC, and whilst Australia’sBiggest Quiz promises to be alot of fun it is also history in themaking,” she said.“The connection betweentrivia and a health awarenesscampaign might not be obviousat first, but there is one big barrierin eliminating hepatitis C:knowledge.“It’s often said that knowledgeis power but most of us knowmore about sport, geography,music and film than we knowabout the disease. Our mission isto change that.”In Australia in the past fiveyears, 50 per cent of the peopleliving with hepatitis C have beenGowrie Little PlainconcertGowrie Little Plain Hall helda very successful Lindsay Waddington,pictured, Allan Caswell,Ken Lindsay and Lynchburgconcert on October 8.There was a huge crowd inattendance and the concert wassponsored by Toowoomba RegionalCouncil.The next concert is on November26 featuring Errol Gray“the backyard balladeer” andbush poet Gary Fogarty.For a very enjoyable nightof entertainment please phoneShirley on 4630 4384 to book.JAN FRANQuiz hostcured. A blood test can diagnosethe disease and an affordable 12-week course of tablets can cureit.Australia’s Biggest Quiz willtake place on Wednesday, October26 at the Highfields Tavernfrom 6pm. Visit virtual event,visit australiasbiggestquiz.org.Sacred concert atSt JamesThis Saturday night, Ars Cantorum will present Sacred Selections,a concert featuring a Mass in F by Franz Schubert and supportingchoral works by Vivaldi, Mendelssohn, Haydn,SupportFauré, GustavtheHolst,Karl Jenkins and John Rutter at 7pm at businesses St James Anglican Church who onthe corner of Russell and Mort Streets,supportToowoomba.the areaTickets are $25 and can be pre-purchased from St James ParishOffice between 9am and 3pm Monday where to Friday. Tickets you can live! be purchasedat the door subject to availability. There is no charge for accompaniedschool age children.The concert will be followed by a LIVE light supper LOCALfor the audienceand performers in the adjacent Parish Centre.SHOP LOCALEAT LOCALPLAY LOCALREAD LOCALYour localcommunitynewspaperRead the Herald FREE Onlinewww.highcountryherald.com.auor subscribe for aFREE weekly email link!Email details to: herald@highcountrynews.net.au or phone 4615 4416 to make arrangementsTo advertise phone 4615 4416 or email herald@highcountrynews.net.au
TOOWOOMBA,WANNA MAKEHISTORY?Australia’s Biggest Quiz is a world-record-breaking-history-making event.Sign up today and help raise awareness of hepatitis C and its CURE.Together, we can do something BIG and end hepatitis C in Australia.WEDNESDAY 26 OCTOBER 20226:00PM - 8:00PMHIGHFIELDS TAVERNCAN’T MAKE IT TO A LIVE EVENT? NO WORRIES, PLAY ONLINE!For more information and to register for FREE visit:www.australiasbiggestquiz.orgSupported byAustralia’s Biggest Quiz is part of the Ending HepatitisC campaign, brought to you by Hepatitis Australia.To advertise phone 4615 4416 or email herald@highcountrynews.net.au HIGH COUNTRY HERALD - OCTOBER 18, 2022 - 9