BigDog Newsletter March 2022

Life is a journey

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No Masks but floods, floods and more floods.

For the second time in 8 weeks the Paul Myatt Community Centre was flooded with a river of water that comes from Alexander Street where there is no curb and channelling and Queensland Rail have this great drainage ditch that was covered over so that trucks can access the rails and directs the water directly towards the building. Council have been and are looking into some ways to reduce this flow of water that occurs every time we had heavy rain.

My heart felt thanks goes to our team of workers who provided their time in cold and wet conditions to lay sandbags, mop and squeegee the water, dig trenches to divert the rivers of water, to move furniture and electrical equipment out of the path of the water.

We were lucky that the damage was relatively minor compared to those poor soles in Grantham, Ipswich, Brisbane, the Northern Rivers of NSW and to Sydney who have lost so much.

In This Issue 2 Editor’s Notes 3 NDIS Updates Rockhampton staff who have not received their Capras shirts in either standard or indigenous versions need to contact Trey immediately.

4 Shane Warne 5 Neighbours End 6 Something Unreal 7 Love Food - Hate Waste 8 Child Safety 9 NGO Training Infographic 10 Toowoomba Community 11 Rockhampton Community 12 Health unleashing the potential 13 Staff Updates 14 What’s happening in March

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Toowoomba has selected the top 100 influential women and they include a number who are closely associated with BigDog including Kim Stokes, Alyse Nelligan and Sharon Boyce.

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Steph Toowoomba Operations

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Amanda NDIS and Accounts

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Maree Billing

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Bodie Ruthven Street Reception

To celebrate this day I would like to acknowledge some of the inspiring women who are such an integral part of the BigDog family, who give of themselves and provide love and nurturing to our participants and give so much to their communities:

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Jess Toowoomba Groups

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Suz Rockhampton founder

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Simone Rockhampton Operations

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Sarah Rockhampton Groups

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Kate Rockhampton Reception

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Dee Clean Team Coordinator

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Courtney Company Director

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Sharon SIL House Coordinator

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Leanne Operations Manager

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Mel SIL House Coordinator

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Ann Payroll and Accounts Payable

Thank you all so very much.

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1st Test Australian Vs England 25th—29th November 1994 The Gabba Brisbane Australia won the toss and elected to bat.

Half an hour into the final day, Shane Warne finally turned the tide back in favour of the Australians and effectively sealed the victory.

Warne cleaned up the tail to finish with match figures of 11–108 and pick up the man-of-thematch award, and the game was over before tea on the final day, England mustering 323 and Australia won by 295 runs.

What could be better than being there to watch the final day and to watch “Warnie” do

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his magic. Well, at the time I was an area manager with WD & HO Wills, Benson and Hedges sponsors of Australian Cricket and I got to watch the game from the best corporate box at the Gabba.

After the game we were invited down to the players change room to meet the team. I went up to “Warnie” to congratulate him on his game and he turned to me and said, “You’re one of the B&H boys aren’t you? Can I bum a smoke from you?”

Charming, cheeky and fun that’s how I’ll remember the encounter. The greatest bowler of all time—who could challenge this?

Shocked and saddened that you’re gone!

BigDog Support Services Magazine

Toowoomba’s very own Neighbours star Charlotte Chimes (sister of Zac SES) As production on the iconic Neighbours set comes to a sad close after 37 years, Toowoomba actor Charlotte Chimes is one of hundreds of cast and crew members mourning the loss, but appreciating the great times shared on Ramsay Street.

The show revealed on Thursday evening that it will “cease production” this year after many weeks of speculation that Channel Five in the United Kingdom would not be renewing their contract with the show.

Charlotte Chimes said the cast and crew had experienced a few weeks of “mixed emotions” between the speculation and confirmation of the show’s end.

“We’re all very sad that it’s over but I think we’re so immensely grateful that we’re part of such an iconic show,” she said.

Chimes joined the Neighbours cast in 2020 playing Nicolette Stone, who is one of many queer characters on the show. Chimes said the role and her ground breaking storylines were crucial in enhancing visibility on Australian television.

“I just feel so lucky,” she said. “I think visibility is so important. And Neighbours is really ground breaking for visibility – we have Georgie (Stone) who is a trans actor, we had the first gay couple marriage on the show.”

Neighbours has famously launched the careers of many global stars and household names.

The likes of Margot Robbie, Chris Hemsworth, Kylie Minogue, and Natalie Imbruglia all had Neighbours as a launching pad to their illustrious careers.

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Something Unreal Something Unreal Football Festival was a great success. The day was a get together for local young aspiring footballers enabling them to engage in a few games and chose from a variation of junior rugby teams local to Toowoomba.

Yet another Queens Park Markets has come and gone with great success, a strong staff turnout and an incredible amount of contributing stalls and foot traffic.

I also attended an NDIS event with the Shadow NDIS Minister, Bill Shorten, Sharon Boyce, Bronwyn Herbertson and Labor candidate for Groom, Gen Allpass. Lots of relevant questions but few answers.

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BigDog Support Services Magazine

Food waste is avoidable. You can fight food waste at home by changing a few habits.

Preparing only what you need, storing food appropriately and using your leftovers can reduce household food waste and save money.

• Plan your weekly meals by using a meal plan.

• Plan a specific day to use up your leftovers to create a new meal and make it a weekly routine.

• Regularly check what’s in the fridge, freezer and pantry before you go food shopping.

• Purchase the right amount of food.

• Shop with a shopping list • Have a ‘use it up’ shelf in the fridge or pantry and get everyone in the household to use food from this shelf first.

• Rotate food by moving oldest items to the front/top of fridge or pantry.

OzHarvest food drops are available at Alexander Street

Mar/Apr Magazine WhatsUp in Disability Stories in this issue include: • Bronwyn Herbertson • Dylan Alcott • Disability Strategy 2021-2031 • Changing the Landscape

To obtain a copy of WhatsUp in Disability magazine or to be a sponsor, please contact WhatsUp via: Office

11-15 Alexander Street, Toowoomba

Email

admin@whatsupindisability.org

Online

www.whatsupindisability.org

• Local Area Coordination • Assistance Animals

Steven Paull President 7

A child is placed in care when it is assessed that they are unable to remain safely with their family. Child Safety will provide a safe, supportive and therapeutic environment for a child. At the same time, it will work towards either family reunification or an alternative permanency option. A care arrangement may be provided during the investigation and assessment or ongoing intervention phases of child protection intervention.

If a child is placed in care, Child Safety will work with the child, their family, carers, licensed care service staff, staff from another entity and other relevant agencies, to: • help the child to maintain connection with family, community, culture and country, as appropriate • support the child through important transitions, such as moving from home to care, changing placements and leaving care

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• ensure the protection and care needs of the child are met, including their developmental needs • assist the child to gain the skills and sense of wellbeing that will allow them to realise their potential and positively participate in the wider community.

Child Safety is responsible for monitoring care arrangements: • to ensure the care provided is consistent with the statement of standards (Child Protection Act 1999, section 122) • so action can be taken to resolve identified concerns before they escalate into a standards of care review or a harm report.

A number of training modules are now available on our NGO Training Portal and it is mandatory for those support workers in Child Safety that they undertake and complete these modules as they become available.

BigDog Support Services Magazine

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Ready set go!!

We are set for an other wonderful month of fun with silly sock day on the forth Friday of the month. St Patrick’s day on Thursday 17th .

The worlds greatest shave or color your hair morning tea is the 16th March Gold coin donation, Staff $5.

We have made plans to go on a trip to Apex park/ transport museum in Gatton and a picnic lunch at the Highfields Pioneer village. Cooking class have moved to Mondays.

Food explores this month travel to China to try some Singapore noodles then we will pop over to Greece for some Chicken Gyros.

Happy Birthday to Sophie and Meg from all your friends have a fantastic day ladies.

BigDog Day Service Toowoomba Paul Myatt Community Centre 11-15 Alexander Street North Toowoomba 4350 Coordinator Jess Wright Phone: 4512 6020 dayservice@bigdogsupport.com.au 10

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Out and About Wow, where do we begin!

What an adventurous week Rocky Day service has had.

This week was all about being out with nature and learning about what wild life was spotted at Mt Archer, swimming in crystal clear water at Stoney Creek, where there was shark and croc wrestling!

BBQ at the park and fun with science.

BigDog Day Service Rockhampton BigDog Community Centre 170 East Street Rockhampton 4700 Coordinator Sarah Dillon Phone: 4573 4611 rockhampton@bigdogsupport.com.au

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Unleashing the potential These past 2 years have presented a huge challenge to the communities’ health and to health systems. Health systems have had to change, sometimes literally overnight.

In the face of this unprecedented challenge, the overwhelming feedback from health workers, consumers and partners – was about the positive change they experienced. Many would like to keep these once in a generation changes to create the health system of the future; a system focused on wellbeing, prevention, value and equity that provides the best possible healthcare to Queenslanders. This report provides a roadmap for the Queensland health system to build on the potential that

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was unleashed as Queensland responded effectively to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“A remarkable characteristic of the COVID-19 response has been the sheer pace of reform, with major changes such as the expansion of telehealth, the creation of COVID-19 specific clinical services within hospitals, and unprecedented levels of cooperation between private and public hospitals, and state and federal governments. Innovation has flourished, from ventilation hoods to 3D-printed medical parts to vaccine development. We must now determine how we carry forward this “can-do” attitude to health reform when we emerge from the acute crisis.”

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Farewell to Suz It is very sad to announce that Suz is leaving us to pursue another direction in her life.

Staff Birthdays

Suz was one of the parents at Rockhampton North Special School who had a PATH plan done for her son Tyler when he was in grade 12 at the school.

Suz was then, and remains now, passionate about creating a full and active life for Tyler.

After the PATH, Suz contacted us with a view of establishing a BigDog operation in Rockhampton and worked diligently to make this happen.

March 2022

With an original group of 3 and operating 3 days a week the Day Service commenced at the premises of the Umbrella Group in North Rockhampton where we used their downstairs area. After that, with more young people joining us we moved to the YWCA Centre and then to where we are today. Thank you for your dedication and successes.

10th

9th

22nd 26th

Deanna Michelle Dylan Michael Teah Juliette Susan H

Have a great day!

National Epilepsy Awareness Month Dig out the best of your purple garb - March is National Epilepsy Awareness Month. Marked by a huge range of community events, the month culminates on Purple Day of 26 March. Be part of the movement and help spread the word by wearing purple on 26 March.

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Queensland Transport Museum Gatton, Lockyer Valley This unique museum is home to a magnificent display of transport vehicles, from the Volvo Globetrotter cab over to the original Mack Furniture truck. There are display cabinets brimming with models, and even a crop-dusting plane.

NEW EXHIBIT Vintage Chevrolet Car Display (Only until April, 2022) Transport enthusiasts of all ages will enjoy discovering vehicles of different shapes and sizes, makes and models.

Also on display in the museum is the History of Western Maranoa Transport, which is a tribute to JC (Cyril) Anderson, his brother MJR (Curly) Anderson and also the men and women who worked for this renowned company.

Past employees are recognised with name plaques on the Western Wall.

Museum exhibits are ever-changing and each new visit takes you on a new adventure. Tour groups are welcome. There is also an onsite cafe open daily.

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BigDog Support Services Magazine

St Patrick’s Day 17 March 2022 Patron saint of Ireland. Born in Roman Britain in the late 4th century, he was kidnapped at the age of 16 and taken to Ireland as a slave. He escaped but returned about 432 CE to convert the Irish to Christianity. By the time of his death on March 17, 461, he had established monasteries, churches, and schools. Many legends grew up around him—for example, that he drove the snakes out of Ireland and used the shamrock to explain the Trinity.

Justice of the Peace This service is available at the Paul Myatt Community Centre 11-15 Alexander Street Toowoomba (please call first to make an appointment) The JPs in the Community Program is also available through major shopping centres, libraries, court houses and hospitals.

Contact Us BigDog Support Services

232 Ruthven Street Toowoomba QLD 4350 PO Box 234 Harlaxton QLD 4350

(07) 4632 9559 1800 22 44 32 www.bigdogsupport.com.au 15

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