Saturday, October 29, 2011

Update - 27 October 2011

BAG NEWS ….

New BAG Management Committee – At the first meeting of the new Management Committee a new President was elected. Congratulations to Geoff Lawson who is eager to lead Booringa Action Group over the next 3 years. Adam McEvoy has taken on the role of Treasurer and I will continue in my role as Secretary, which is part of the Executive Officer position. The other committee members are Teresa Allen, John Birkett, Bruce Jones, and Donna McCarrol.

Membership – We had 1 new member join during the month, and 3 renewing members. For those members who have not yet renewed, it would be great if we could count on your continued support.

General Meetings – The new committee have agreed to try something new with regard to General Meetings, with a view to making these more social …. and of course more FUN! ….. and to encourage more informal discussion. Our November General Meeting is currently being arranged and I will send out details very soon.


BAG PROJECT UPDATES ………

Bottle Tree Bulletin – We only have two more editions left until our contract to produce the Bottle Tree Bulletin expires. An expression of interest was advertised for suitable service providers to produce and distribute the Bottle Tree Bulletin. BAG has submitted a new quote, wholeheartedly supported by the other community groups across the region. ….. so fingers crossed!

2012 Booringa Business Calendars – Invoices for advertising on the calendar have been posted and are now overdue. If you are a new business or you have not received an invoice, and would like to advertise on the calendar, please contact me urgently for details. The calendars will be distributed to all households in Mitchell, Amby, Muckadilla, Mungallala, and Morven before Christmas!

Dentist – Life Time Smiles, the private dentist who BAG helped get established in Mitchell, have recently made a business decision to close down their Mitchell operation. L

Christmas Late Night Shopping & Shop Local Campaign – I am after some comments from you regarding improvements or changes that can be made to the Christmas Late Night Shopping event and Shop Local Campaign that was done last year. A meeting of interested local businesses to discuss plans for this year will be held next Wednesday, 2 November 2011, 5.15 pm at the BAG/Landcare office.


GENERAL COMMUNITY INFORMATION ………

Australia Day Awards - Australia Day award nominations close in just over two weeks! The nomination form can be downloaded from http://www.maranoa.qld.gov.au/community/Australia%20Day/com_form_2012_australia_day_awards_nomination_form_dynamic.pdf



Until next time! :)

Cheers,
Sharyn.

Update - 25 August 2011

BAG NEWS ….

New BAG Management Committee – at our very well attended AGM on Saturday, a new Management Committee was elected. Congratulations to:

· Adam McEvoy
· Donna McCarrol
· John Birkett
· Bruce Jones
· Geoff Lawson
· Teresa Allen

Following the AGM, a Charity Art Auction and Gala Evening was held. Amazing support was received from both donators and purchasers. Around 70 people braved the cold, and a total of $4000 was raised to be donated to the Maranoa Retirement Village Auxiliary. What an amazing effort, and it is absolutely wonderful to see the community uniting for a common purpose. The Friends of the Mitchell on Maranoa Gallery, Booringa Action Group and the MRV Auxiliary all worked together, a great demonstration of the community spirit of Mitchell.

Membership – We welcome our 5 new members who have joined in the last month. For those members who have not yet renewed, these are now due. Now is also a great time to become a member of BAG and show your support for the community. Membership fees are only $11. We are thinking of setting a target of 100 members this year – will you be one of these?

Days have been busy at the BAG office of late and there are a few project currently in the pipeline which we hope will be cause for celebration very soon!! :)


BAG PROJECT UPDATES ………

Bottle Tree Bulletin – It’s hard to believe our 12 month contract to produce the Bottle Tree Bulletin is about to finish, this has gone so quickly!! It seems we just close the book on one edition and its time to start on the next! We have been given an extension for 3 editions while planning for a new tender/quote is arranged. We have continued to receive positive and encouraging feedback on this publication and we are grateful for the opportunity.


GENERAL COMMUNITY INFORMATION ………

PUBLIC MEETING – The Maranoa Retirement Village Auxiliary Sub Committee will address a PUBLIC MEETING on Saturday 27 August 2011, 10 am at the Mitchell Bowls Club (just before the Camel Races!!). This will be an opportunity to provide MRV supporters and the community with an update. I would encourage you all to attend.


Until next time! :)

Cheers,
Sharyn.

Update - 20 July 2011

BAG NEWS ….

The Annual General Meeting of Booringa Action Group (BAG) will be held on Saturday 20 August 2011 from 5 to 5.30 pm in the Mitchell Library. This will be an opportunity to showcase BAG's achievements for the past year and plans for the coming year. Members & non-members are most welcome to attend. For something different this year, we are combining our AGM with a fundraising function for the Maranoa Retirement Village! Please come along and support ‘For Old Time’s Sake’ - Art Auction & Gala Evening at the Mitchell on Maranoa Gallery. Doors open 5pm, auction starts 6pm. There will be live entertainment, a bar operating and hot food available. A $10 entry includes complimentary drink and nibbles. Please support this good cause, and feel free to come a bit earlier for the BAG AGM. To assist with planning and catering, please RSVP to me by 12 August 2011 – phone 4623 7814 or email bag.eo@bigpond.com

BAG Management Committee – Nominations our now open for the BAG Management Committee. If you are interested in helping shape the future direction of BAG and our community, please contact me for a nomination form. As a member of the BAG Management Committee, you will need to attend meetings once a month, at a day and time to be determined by the new committee. It is a very interesting and challenging position, which I would recommend for those interested in our community’s long term development and livability.


BAG PROJECT UPDATES ………

Child Care Centre – Terri-Anne Goodreid has been employed by Save the Children as a consultant for the Mitchell Anduna Kindy Project. Terri-Anne would like to extend an invitation to interested community members to attend an informal luncheon at 1pm on Friday 5 August at the Great Artesian Spa Complex. This will be an information gathering exercise, communicating and networking around the support needs for children and their families in our community.


GENERAL COMMUNITY INFORMATION ………

Mark McArdle MP LNP Shadow Minister for Health will be in Mitchell tomorrow, Thursday 21 July 2011. Howard Hobbs is hosting a light lunch with Mark McArdle from 12 noon at the Mitchell Bowls Club and would welcome any members of the community who would like to come along and discuss any issues of concern they may have with the Retirement Village or any other issues in Mitchell or the surrounding district.


Until next time! :)

Cheers,
Sharyn.

Update - 23 June 2011

BAG NEWS ….

We received advice last week that we were successful in securing funding from the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal to purchase and install new audio visual equipment at the BAG cottage. This is the first step in a series of projects we plan to implement to make the cottage a more useable and attractive community asset. We are hoping to be able to use this as a training and workshop facility as it will have internet access, a roof mounted data projector, pull down screen and a wireless microphone!

Maranoa Regional Placemaking – Council facilitated a design session on Monday, this provided an opportunity for community to share their ideas and suggestions for the improvement of the streetscapes and public spaces within Mitchell. I went along to share ideas passed on from BAG and community members. I agree that a larger vision of where we want to go is beneficial to ensuring effective project management. It will be good to see the resultant plans, which will be available for public comment.

BAG Management Committee – as the end of financial year and our AGM approaches, the current BAG management committee is due to retire and nominations will soon be called for a new committee. Current committee members are able to be re-nominated. Considering a position on the BAG Management Committee provides a unique opportunity. In the past three years BAG membership has grown from below 30 to close to 70. The current aim of the management is to ensure resources are available to undertake community benefiting projects. As a group we are exploring a number of revenue generating activities to fund our future development. I believe the progress to date is making BAG an attractive organisation for people to join and participate in at a higher level. In particular, the activities discussed at the management level are extremely entrepreneurial in nature which is very stimulating for those with a business orientated mind. The thrill of being involved in the decision making of a number of ‘start up’ business concepts is rewarding and with the human and financial resources that BAG has, the ability of the organisation to develop to fruition a new concept is quite strong. I am confident that members who choose to nominate will find their involvement very rewarding.


BAG PROJECT UPDATES ………

2012 Booringa Business Calendar – Planning has begun for the 2012 Booringa Business Calendar. There will be some changes to the design this year due to the supplier of the date pads we have been using going out of business. This opens up a new opportunity to be able to customise the date pad with our local events! So, if you or your community group have set dates for events next year, please let me know. Obvious inclusions are the Mitchell Show, Maranoa Diggers Race Day and my birthday! 


GENERAL COMMUNITY INFORMATION ………

Children’s Drawing Classes in Mitchell - The Friends of Mitchell on Maranoa Gallery are holding a series of drawing classes on Saturday mornings for children in Mitchell. The tutor is Roma resident Tammie Saunders who has been conducting children’s classes in Roma and is passionate about sharing a love of drawing. The first class will be Saturday 25 June 2011 9.00 am to 12 noon at the CWA Hall, Cambridge St Mitchell. There is a class limit so please book now. For children up to 17 years Suitable for all skill levels Please bring a sketch pad (pref A3 size), drawing pencils (lead or graphite), eraser and sharpener, and any other materials you may have at home including charcoal, chalk, pastels, crayons, butcher or coloured paper Cost is $15 per child per class for first child in a family and $10 for every sibling after that Please pay before the class (cheques can be made out to Friends of Mitchell on Maranoa Gallery Committee) to ensure your place. Please direct all enquiries to Nicole Harper - ph 07 46232618 or email n_harp@hotmail.com

Seniors Week - 20 – 27 August 2011. The purposes of this specially allocated week for seniors are: to recognise and honour older persons in Mitchell and the surrounding areas; encourage positive public attitudes towards older persons; to highlight the positive contributions of older persons; to promote an understand the aging process; to encourage a healthy lifestyle for person of all ages; and to have fun!! As part of this celebration MARSS are asking that all members of the community nominate a senior person who has made a difference in their lives. Application forms can be obtained from the MARSS office, the local Library and will be also sent home from schools.


Until next time! :)

Cheers,
Sharyn.

Update - 2 June 2011

BAG NEWS ….

The next BAG General Meeting will be held on Wednesday 8 June 2011, 7.00 pm at the BAG cottage in Ann Street.

We are fast approaching the end of the financial year, when memberships fall due for renewal. I will be sending out renewal notices early next week. Now would also be a great time for new members to join up!


BAG PROJECT UPDATES ………

Maranoa Retirement Village – BAG has been supporting the Maranoa Retirement Village Auxiliary in their efforts to secure the future of the MRV. Council have submitted a funding application to Regional Development Australia. If successful, a new facility will be built adjacent to the hospital and this will ensure the long term operation of the village. We are still exploring alternatives if the council funding application is not successful. Time is of the essence with Council advising they will decommission the village in October if no funding is secured. If you have any ideas on this matter, please contact me!

Senior IT Training – nearly 30 ‘seniors’ were provided with one on one basic computer training covering a range of topics applicable to their individual needs. These sessions were fun and participants’ feedback demonstrated how grateful they were for this opportunity to learn in a supportive and relaxed environment.

GENERAL COMMUNITY INFORMATION ………

Booringa Action Group, Maranoa Regional Council & the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI) are partnering to present a ‘Back to business’ workshop which will be delivered on Tuesday 7 June 2011 from 6.00pm-9.00pm at the Mitchell Hospital Boardroom. The Presenter is Ann Houston from Integra Management Services. Ann has received National awards for sales growth, marketing & overall business management. As Senior State Development officer with State Development Queensland, she has assisted many businesses throughout the region to reach optimum potential. ‘Back to business’ Tuesday 7 June 2011 6.00pm-9.00pm Mitchell Hospital Boardroom Cost: Free. Please RSVP for catering purposes. It has been a very tough time for businesses after the recent devastating natural disasters across Queensland. We have heard your requests for assistance after such a difficult trading period and we are inviting you to attend a free business workshop to help get your business back on track.
The Back to business workshops will help you to undertake: * a thorough assessment of your current business situation * assessment of market requirements * assessment of finance requirements * assessment of staffing requirements. You’ll also receive help in planning for the future including: * developing an action plan * identification of areas for improvement and diversification. All with the aim to strengthen your chances of future business success. Please call 4688 1200 for registrations!

Risk Seminar - South-West Queensland is often forgotten when it comes to information sessions and seminars, particularly those that are free of charge. CondonTreasure is committed to changing this trend, and will continue to make this a priority for 2011/12. These seminars are not sales pitches, but genuine information sessions, of which this upcoming Risk Seminar will be particularly important for Mitchell Residents’ peace of mind…..Next Thursday, in the Mitchell Hospital Boardroom, we will be holding the second seminar in the Safe and Secure Series: Strategies to Minimise Your Risk. Risk insurance can be very confusing and unfortunately is often placed in the ‘too hard’ pile, but hopefully sorted out before you need it. This seminar will explain the different types of insurances and identify which are most appropriate for you as a home owner, a business owner, or as a father or mother. It seems strange that we often insure our house and belongings (sometimes even the family pet), but often fail to insure the most important things in life, ourselves and our families? Or if we do have insurance, how do we know we have enough? After recent investigation into one of our client’s life insurance policies, their $2 million payout figure, equated to just $600,000, after tax, for his wife and kids, should the unforseen have had happened. Luckily, this was realised and amended before the policy was ever needed, but it highlights the importance of having the right cover, set up the right way. This seminar will explain insurance cover options and discuss ‘How much is Enough’. Who should attend? * Business owners who couldn’t pay their bills if they were unable to work for an extended period of time, * Families who rely heavily on one income, * Individuals or Couples with an income (or combined income) over $100,000 who have investments and commitments that could not be paid if they fell sick, or were injured and couldn’t work. The seminar will be held from 5:30-6:45 pm, at the Mitchell Hospital Boardroom, Thursday, 9 June. Refreshments will be served, so to assist with catering, we ask that people register their attendance by phoning 4622 5999 or emailing seminars@condontreasure.com.au.

Until next time! :)

Cheers,
Sharyn.

PS. Have you visited the Dentist recently? Life Time Smiles Mitchell – ph 1300 661 053.