Bits N Pieces September/October 2021

September / October 2021

B I T S ‘N P IE C ES

UPPER ROSS COMMUNITY CENTRE

FREE LEGAL ADVICE SERVICE

@ the Garbutt Community Centre Tuesday mornings Call 4779 7268 to book!

Our free legal advice clinic is available for both face-to-face and telephone appointments.

Tuesdays 4:00pm - 4.30pm

YOUTH HUB

UPPER ROSS COMMUNITY CENTRE UPPER ROSS COMMUNITY CENTRE

Monday & Thursday 9:30am-11:30am Gold Coin Donation

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The 2021 N.A.I.D.O.C theme is Heal Country, heal our nation calls for all of us to continue to seek greater protections for our lands, our waters, our sacred sites and our cultural heritage from exploitation, desecration, and destruction. Healing Country means embracing First Nation’s cultural knowledge and understanding of Country as part of Australia's national heritage.

To date our community has celebrated the following events during NAIDOC week which was held from 4th July to 11th July 2021; Flag Raising, Corporate Breakfast as well as the NAIDOC March and Deadly Day Out events. Our Elders Luncheon will be held September and the End of year Dinner in December. Keep an eye out for the flyers.

Along with a few businesses and not for profit organisations Community Gro participated as Gold Sponsors. This was an amazing opportunity for the organisation to not only promote the organisation to the wider community but to embrace and build cultural connections to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community of Townsville. The 2021 Townsville NAIDOC committee is comprised of Indigenous and non-Indigenous members of the Townsville community. The committee members volunteer their time to plan and coordinate events. If you would like to join the NAIDOC committee, please contact Topsy Tapim at the Upper Ross Community Centre for further information.

INTRODUCING CONNECTED CENTRE BEGINNINGS UPPER ROSS COMMUNITY Connected Beginnings is a new project being conducted out of the Upper Ross Community Centre. The project is federally funded with the focus on improving early childhood development outcomes for ALL children, achieving equity in school readiness. The project aims to investigate the ability of Upper Ross families to access early childhood, maternal and child health and family support services and determine what can be done to improve connections for the benefit of the children in the area. At the heart of all we do is the mission to see that all young people are loved and safe, have material basics, are healthy, are learning and participating, and have a positive sense of identity and culture.

Watch this space! You will begin to see Connected Beginnings Team Members out and about in the community engaging with families so we can listen to your stories – we want to hear your voice so we can advocate real change here in the Upper Ross.

KELSO COMMUNITY HUB Humans of Upper Ross - have you met Krystle?

Krystle Lewis is the new Kelso Community Hub Coordinator. Krystle is a local Upper Ross resident and has lived in Townsville for almost 20 years. She has been an active member of P&Cs for the last 11 years and part of the Upper Ross Community Voice for the past 5 years – she is now the President of the UR Community Voice, Thuringowa High School P&C and Kelso State School P&C. And, if that didn’t make her busy enough, she is also the Area Coordinator for P&C North QLD.

The brand new Community Hub is located at Kelso State School. This service is part of Community Hubs Australia which operates 94 Community Hubs across 4 States/19 LGAs and impacting nearly 8000 families each year - https://www.communityhubs.org.au/.

Krystle is passionate about all things community and all things education. She loves our schools and will always advocate all levels of government for more funding for the education of our children.

“Our community needs more infrastructure. Our community needs more assistance. And I am here to help and make that happen!”

The Connected Beginnings Team are excited to see the new Kelso Community Hub take shape and to be working closely with someone as passionate as Krystle

COMMUNITY GRO PROGRAMS/SERVICES UPPER ROSS COMMUNITY CENTRE TAX HELP

MEALS, MEALS, MEALS!

Do you earn approx. $60,000 or less and need assistance lodging your simple tax return? Book in with our Tax Help Volunteer now!

Only $4 We have some very yummy frozen meals available from the Garbutt Community Centre.

Give us a call on 4779 7268 or pop into the Centre (Tuesday-Friday : 9am-4pm) to see what we have available.

Cash ONLY!

Northreach Upper Ross Sundays 10am Thuringowa State Highschool Vickers Rd Condon All Welcome!

For more info 0401421179

Garbutt Community Centre 4779 7268 Thursdays 9am-12pm Upper Ross Community Centre 4774 0144 - Mondays 9am -12pm

COMMUNITY GRO PROGRAMS/SERVICES UPPER ROSS COMMUNITY CENTRE

KIDS AFTERNOON TEA PROGRAM @ Garbutt Community Centre WEDNESDAY-FRIDAY 3:00PM-4:00PM

Tiddas Yarning Circle

@ the Garbutt Community All children will receive a Centre yummy afternoon tea and Fridays : 10:00am will have access to computers, iPads, free WiFi, art and craft Join us for a friendly cuppa supplies and toys. and morning tea!

COMMUNITY INFORMATION COMUNITY UPPER ROSSINFO...

COMMUNITY CENTRE R U OK day is 9th September 2021 Got a feeling that someone you know or care about it isn’t behaving as they normally would?

Perhaps they seem out of sorts? More agitated or withdrawn? Or they’re just not themselves.

Trust that gut instinct and act on it. Learn more about the signs and when it's time to ask R U OK? By starting a conversation and commenting on the changes you’ve noticed, you could help that family member, friend or workmate open up. If they say they are not ok, you can follow our conversation steps to show them they’re supported and help them find strategies to better manage the load. If they are ok, that person will know you’re someone who cares enough to ask.

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COMMUNITY VISITORS SCHEME TOWNSVILLE - Recruiting Volunteers NOW The Community Visitors Scheme (CVS) is a national program funded by the Australian Government. The CVS aims to enrich the quality of life of residents of aged care homes who are socially isolated or lonely, and would benefit from a friendly visitor.

Due to the social distancing measures for COVID-19 our volunteers are unable to visit their residents at this time however we know that when the social distancing measures are lifted there will be many residents of aged care facilities that will be in need of social interaction and would benefit from having a CVS volunteer visit.

During this period we are working hard to build up our wonderful team of volunteers so that we will be ready to recommence the visits when the social restrictions are lifted. If you can spare an hour each fortnight and would like to visit an elderly resident of a local aged care home in Townsville please call our Upper Ross Centre on 4774 0144. or Garbutt Centre on 4779 7268.

Council Mobile Apps To report a problem to Townsville City Council online visit Report a Problem or download the Council Mobile Apps: iCouncil for iPhone and iPad Snap Send Solve for Android

GARBUTT COMMUNITY CENTRE GARBUTT COMMUNITY CENTRE UPPER ROSS COMMUNITY CENTRE PlayGro has started back again with our new Family Support Officer – Kristy. PlayGro families have been engaging and interacting well and have created some friendships in the group. It is good to see the children connect with each other and form their own little friendships, whilst also getting prep ready. Some activities have included handwriting sessions and creative sessions that focus on their fine motor skills. The children have also enjoyed sitting together and sharing a healthy morning tea.

Common Ground Arts & Craft The art group is continuing to grow and have seen some new faces coming along. As usual it is a very happy group, and they are all engaged with the different art projects each week. The group always finishes their artwork with some lunch and a laugh.

Art & Craft Hub @ GCC Thursdays 10am-12pm

GARBUTT COMMUNITY CENTRE UPPER ROSS COMMUNITY CENTRE NEW STAFF Garbutt Community Centre would like to introduce some new staff.

Kristy is our new Family Support Worker for PlayGro and the Community Support Work for the Wellbeing and Resilience Program.

We also have Claire who is our new Admin Assistant, we are very excited to have Claire on board.

And lastly, we also have a JCU Prac Student Emma – who is in her fourth year of Social Work and has been a great helping hand around the centre.

A huge Welcome to the Community Gro Team!

THRIVING KINNECTIONS - a new community group has started at the Garbutt Community Centre. Relationships Australia run a weekly yarning session run by their First Nations people. It is a Specialised Family Violence Service ‘Thriving Kinnections’, to contribute to addressing and reducing family violence in community.

Wellbeing & Resilience Program – This week Centacare delivered a program about Chronic Stress. What is stress, how to manage stress and how to incorporate selfcare in our everyday lives.

Participants engaged really well understanding what their stressors are and how to manage their stress. Participants also took away some new skills on how to identify and manage stress in their everyday lives.

A MESSAGE FROM AARON HARPER MP

E: Thuringowa@parliament.qld.gov.au

Ph: 07 4766 3100

PO Box 393, Thuringowa Central Qld 4817

Dear Residents, Covid -19 has challenged our local communities, States, Nations, and the World. Having just come out of the recent 8 Day lockdown (due to having been in SE Qld), I know the news was welcomed by the millions of Queenslanders affected, however now our Northern neighbour (Cairns) has been sent into lockdown due to an active case reported in their community.

This should remind us of the need to all to be vigilant in relation to COVID-19, keep up good hand hygiene, get tested if you have any symptoms and above all register through Qld health or your GP to receive the covid vaccine.

The impacts to health are significant with 203 million people infected worldwide and 4.29 million deaths. In Australia, 36,330 cases of infection have been reported with 936 deaths.

In Queensland we have managed Covid-19 (and the Delta Strain) well with swift short lockdowns proven to having been effective, however these necessary and required actions affect all of us, including our many small businesses. Billions has been spent in providing financial assistance for all those impacted from both a State and Federal level.

My message is we all need to get vaccinated. Please register today. This is the only way we will navigate our way through to restoring some normality in dealing with this global pandemic.

Stay safe, stay well.

Aaron Harper MP Office Location: Thuringowa Centre, Unit 8B, 48 Thuringowa Drive, Kirwan QLD 4817

Looking after Locals Bits ‘n Pieces is a Department of Communities Initiative.

Disclaimer: This newsletter is produced with assistance and contributions from the community.

The contents of this publication does not, therefore, necessarily reflect the views of the organisation.