Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Toowoomba Hospital elective surgery waiting lists cut - Queensland Country Life



01 May, 2013 02:43 PM


PENELOPE ARTHUR



THE Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service (DDHHS) will provide $3 million to reduce elective surgery waiting lists at the Toowoomba Hospital.

The DDHHS Board has also voted to upgrade two birthing suites at the Stanthorpe Hospital, build a second endoscopy theatre at the Toowoomba Hospital and commence planning for an upgrade of the emergency department of the Kingaroy Hospital and the palliative care unit at the Goondiwindi Hospital.


DDHHS Board chairman, Mike Horan, announced the extra funding after a board meeting in Kingaroy on Tuesday and said the upgrades would be provided with money from within the existing DDHHS budget.


“I’d like to thank the executive director of the DDHHS, Dr Peter Bristow, and all the staff for the fact that we have been able to achieve this additional work within budget and despite the Commonwealth Government removing $6.1 million from our budget in December,” he said.


Mr Horan said the $3million in extra funding for elective surgery at the Toowoomba Hospital would benefit patients from right across the DDHHS and South West Queensland.


“The money will be used to address long waiting lists for semi-urgent elective surgery and non-urgent elective surgery over the next two months,” he said.


“The $3 million will benefit about 200 additional patients.”


Mr Horan said Stanthorpe mothers would also benefit from upgraded birthing suites which would include ensuites and a specialised birth bath for pain relief.


“We are also excited to provide funds to commence planning and financial investigations of a revamp of the emergency section of the Kingaroy Hospital and improvements to the palliative care facility at the Goondiwindi Hospital,” he said.






Safety fears aired over Toowoomba Range roadworks - ABC Online


By Fidelis Rego


Posted May 01, 2013 10:41:31


Locals in southern Queensland's Lockyer Valley say they fear people will be killed because of roadworks on the Toowoomba Range, with motorists reporting delays of up to an hour.


The 12-month project is designed to stabilise the cliff face and realign a section of the range.


Some drivers are taking Murphys Creek Road as an alternative but Lockyer Valley Mayor Steve Jones says that road is also being repaired.


"That stretch of road is more than twice the slope of the range and you can imagine the circumstance of danger with that," he said.


Councillor Jones it is forcing many residents in towns like Withcott to change their daily schedule like dropping children off to school.


"Some parents have already taken children away, particularly from the childcare centre," he said.


He says there is no safety management plan in place.


Blancheview Road is also being used to bypass the roadworks.


Lockyer Valley resident Cam Macdonald regularly travels that route and says it is becoming too dangerous.


"The road is extremely narrow and there's blind corners all the way," he said.


The State Government says it is improving the road by repainting line markings, mowing grass verges and installing safety signs, and ensuring speed limits are policed.


Topics: road-transport, road, community-development, local-government, regional, regional-development, activism-and-lobbying, public-sector, toowoomba-4350, lockyer-4344



Monday, April 29, 2013

African feast a chance to dish up new friendships - Toowoomba Chronicle



Charles Kitapindu talks at the African community BBQ at the Wilsonton Heights Community Centre.Charles Kitapindu talks at the African community BBQ at the Wilsonton Heights Community Centre. Kevin Farmer

NOTHING brings a community together more than the prospect of a hearty meal.


More than 20 nationalities gathered at the Wilsonton Heights Community Centre yesterday to share in a traditional feast cooked by mostly Congolese women.


The gathering was an informal way for the African nationals to meet with other community members.


It was also a chance for organisations like Uniting Care Community and Mercy Family Services to outline their social services.


"All African-Australians come to Australia not for tourism," Charles Kitapindu of Mercy Family Services said.


"They come to Australia to stay.


"They have decided that Australia, specifically Toowoomba is to be their new home."


But isolation is a problem that many newly arrived migrants face.


Mr Kitapindu said his role was to create "community connectiveness" and reduce social isolation.


The lunchtime event was also an opportunity for Pauline Muraa to serve up her "bread" made from ground-up cassava root.


Pauline arrived from South Sudan five years ago and enjoys sharing the bread, served with cassava leaves, to her new friends in Toowoomba.







Sunday, April 28, 2013

TLD Racing sweats on results from Qld Road Teams Series - Toowoomba Chronicle


TRIAL SUCCESS: TLD Racing rider Darren Rolfe powers on to second in the time trial during the opening round of the Queensland Road Teams Series round in the Lockyer Valley.TRIAL SUCCESS: TLD Racing rider Darren Rolfe powers on to second in the time trial during the opening round of the Queensland Road Teams Series round in the Lockyer Valley. Contributed

TOOWOOMBA-based Team TLD Racing remains optimistic about its chances of gaining a place in its home town National Road Series race after the Lockyer Valley round of the Queensland Road Teams Series on the weekend.


The top Queensland teams contested the three-stage Lockyer Valley round, with a major crash in Saturday's road race delaying the release of official results.


They may not be known for days which leaves teams like TLD Racing in the dark as to how they went in the opening round on the weekend.


The leading non-NRS team in the Queensland series after the Lockyer Valley round also gets a start in the FKG Tour of Toowoomba, so TLD Racing team manager Aaron Haycock is keen to know whether his riders get a start in their home-town NRS event.


"It looks like we're in the top three non-NRS teams so hopefully we get a start," Haycock said.


TLD Racing made a great start to the weekend with Darren Rolfe finishing second in the 17km time trial, one second behind stage winner Correy Edmed.


Rolfe and Dean Russell then made early breaks in the 115km road race later on Saturday but were brought back by the peleton.


About 1km out from the finish line nearly the entire peleton was brought down which played havoc with final results.


Chris Maycock managed to ride on after the big crash to finish behind a two-man breakaway that avoided the mayhem behind them.


Maycock was again in the thick of the action in the 100km road race on Sunday as he was part of a 16-man breakaway that consisted of all riders from NRS team Budget Forklifts.


He attacked on the final King of the Mountain but was caught by a chasing pack.


And in a boost for TLD Racing, the remainder of its riders finished in the peloton to pick up some crucial teams points.







Friday, April 26, 2013

Toowoomba Library: a place to learn conversational English - ABC Online (blog)


Toowoomba Library: a place to learn conversational English


26 April 2013 , 3:34 PM by Belinda Sanders


The library of old... people would sit quietly reading for hours or researching school assignments.


It was a very silent place... a place for solitude for people who went there.


That is far from the case today... there is no SHHHHING in libraries these days.. the facilities are treated more like a community hub than a place of research work.


With that in mind... the Toowoomba City Library is hosting conversational English groups... targeting new residents who have settled here from a non-English speaking country.


The groups are designed to let people practice every day English.


Jane Hobbs is the Reference Librarian at Toowoomba City Library.


southern_queensland_mornings



Thursday, April 25, 2013

Doubt cast over $700m Toowoomba crossing pledge - ABC Online


By Fidelis Rego


Posted April 26, 2013 09:00:20


An infrastructure specialist at Queensland's Bond University says federal governments should not be put off from building roads, despite the nature of the economy.


Economists are expecting the Federal Government to post a multi-billion dollar deficit this financial year.


The Coalition has promised $700 million to begin the second Toowoomba range crossing on the state's Darling Downs if it wins the September election.


Bond University professor Michael Regan says going into debt to fund infrastructure projects is an acceptable risk.


"If we look at infrastructure from the returns we get from it in economic and social terms, we have to weight that up against the cost and debt of funding it, so there are some short-term implications for probably feasibility studies," he said.


"I think long-term the impacts will probably be not quite so great."


Professor Regan says the Coalition's promise may have to be reconsidered in the short-term because of the nature of the economy.


"All of the changes on the revenue side, that's the problems, the decline in revenue and many would have heard of the mining tax and so forth, they're unsustainable which means we're going to have a problem in the next three four five years maybe," he said.


"In that case I think you'll find governments will be constrained."


Meanwhile, the LNP Member for Groom, Ian Macfarlane, says the second range crossing will be included in the Coalition's first budget.


"Building the Toowoomba range crossing is not something that will cause us to be in deficit longer than we expect because it's already been factored into our figures," he said.


"What will cause us to be in deficit longer than we expect if [Wayne] Swan, the [federal] Treasurer, has not been telling the truth about the true state of the books."


Mr Macfarlane says the crossing work will be funded by savings in the budget.


"While we understand there will be a lot of pressure on the budget, the biggest issue in terms of returning to surplus will be to stop the wasteful [spending], so the extraordinary waste we're seeing on a gold-plated NBN [National Broadband Network] when we can have an NBN at a quarter of the price," he said.


Topics: community-development, federal---state-issues, activism-and-lobbying, federal-elections, regional, regional-development, road-transport, toowoomba-4350



Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Truckers to tolerate Toowoomba range roadworks - ABC Online


By Fidelis Rego


Posted April 24, 2013 13:05:35


The Queensland Trucking Association (QTA) says drivers will put up with 12 months of roadworks on the Toowoomba range if it means a safer road.


The Warrego Highway on the range will be reduced to one lane in either direction for about 12 months as work begins on stabilising the cliff and realigning a section of road.


QTA spokesman Peter Garske says the work is desperately needed.


"I'm advised that this work will be of a remedial nature that will remove a lot of that risk, if not all of that risk that we've previously experienced," he said.


"That will deliver considerable efficiencies to our industry.


"Time is extremely important in terms of the freight task."


Motorists faced further delays after a five-car crash at Withcott yesterday afternoon.


Mr Garske says members have been warned to expect delays but maintains the project is worth it.


"We understand these works to be critically necessary," he said.


"We support the fact that this work is being undertaken, we believe it will deliver longer-term benefits in terms of safety and therefore prevent delays over the coming years."


Topics: road-transport, regional, road, community-development, toowoomba-4350, withcott-4352



Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Firefighters union calls for third, urgently needed station - Toowoomba Chronicle



Toowoomba is in desperate need of a third fire station, according to the United Firefighters Union.Toowoomba is in desperate need of a third fire station, according to the United Firefighters Union. Daniel Perrin /TWE

TOOWOOMBA is in desperate need for a third 24-hour fire station to be manned by a crew of at least 16 firefighters as the city continues to grow and develop.


A third fire station was originally identified for Wilsonton in the late 1980s, but has never eventuated, prompting the United Firefighters Union to call on the government to review the funding.


"The situation in Toowoomba is leading in to failure," UFU state secretary John Oliver said.


"With population growth in Toowoomba, the impacts of climate change and the recent report showing Queensland will need another 1000 firefighters by 2020, the city has been highlighted as a higher risk regional city that needs an increase to meet the current demands."


Mr Oliver said that with the city acting as a transport route to regional Queensland, as well as the expanding commercial growth sector to the west, the third station was key to ensuring community safety.


"The significant chemical and road traffic being delivered through Toowoomba to support regional infrastructure (means) more firefighters will be needed to respond to these types of incidents when they occur," he said.


"They are being asked to do more with less and eventually something has to give, and we don't want to see a crew or community member lose their life due to a lack of resources."







Monday, April 22, 2013

Toowoomba Range closed in both directions by five-vehicle crash near Withcott - Courier Mail




THE Toowoomba Range has been closed in both directions after a five-vehicle crash.



Police said the accident happened near Withcott about 3pm Tuesday.


There have been no reports of major injury however the road is expected to be closed for several hours.




Friday, April 19, 2013

Toowoomba's Royal Show success - Queensland Country Life

Holding onto their hats at the Toowoomba Royal Show are St George's Angus Haymes, 9, Olivia Haymes, 4, Summer Haymes, 11, Brooke Grieve, 15, Toogoolawah, and front, Hunter Haymes, 7, St George, who were showing cattle at the show for RiverRun Charolais, Linville.

Holding onto their hats at the Toowoomba Royal Show are St George's Angus Haymes, 9, Olivia Haymes, 4, Summer Haymes, 11, Brooke Grieve, 15, Toogoolawah, and front, Hunter Haymes, 7, St George, who were showing cattle at the show for RiverRun Charolais, Linville.



IT was lights, cameras and plenty action at this year's annual Toowoomba Royal Show held over three huge days last week.

Crowds defied the windy and damp conditions to pack out the Toowoomba Showgrounds for the Australia's largest regional royal show.


Delighting crowds for 149 years, the Toowoomba Show has always been a benchmark for some of the finest exhibits, livestock and entertainment within the Queensland show circuit.



Josh Milton, Milton Park Suffolk and White Suffolk Stud, Allora, with his champion champion white Suffolk ram, and Chris Rubie, Sovereign Poll Dorsets, Oakey, with his champion Poll Dorset ewe. Click on this image to see more photos in our online gallery.


Numbers were at their strongest in the horse rings with just under 4000 entries taken for the showjumping and riding categories, equating to about 800 horses and 400-500 riders.


The novice, Galloway, hack, riding and breed classes were strongly supported by both the local contingent of riders and visiting competitors as well as hefty showjumping classes which ran for the show's entirety.


Ringmaster Catherine James (pictured), in her 12th year of charge, said the quality of horses and riders this year was on par with that of any other major show in the country.


"We have seen an outstanding quality of horses and riders this year, and the quality of Toowoomba's line-up would be equal to any royal show in Australia," she said.


"Many people have travelled travel long distances especially to compete at Toowoomba, from Far North Queensland to southern NSW, and this is definitely one of the better shows."


Catherine currently lives in Toowoomba but was raised in Condamine, and competed in all shows on the western Queensland circuit, so she has plenty of experience in the show ring.


Each year, she handpicks the judges based on their international level of judging and competing experience, and many travelled from interstate to take part, as well as the showjumping course builder from New Zealand.


Other highlights of this year's Toowoomba's action-packed show included the entertainment lineup of the Jet-Ski Pirates, Noah's Thoroughbred pig racing, the reptile shows, the RASQ Outback Riders, Eljay Driessen's trial bikes stunt show, the Toowoomba City Cheerleaders, Queensland Woodchop Championships, Tastes of Queensland produce display, and Toowoomba's largest ever seen fireworks display.



  • Read more in Queensland Country Life, on sale every Thursday.



Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Five Gatton players earn places in Clydesdales open squad - Toowoomba Chronicle


REP HONOUR: Ben Reuter is in the Toowoomba Clydesdales squad for the 47th Battalion Trophy carnival.REP HONOUR: Ben Reuter is in the Toowoomba Clydesdales squad for the 47th Battalion Trophy carnival. Nev Madsen

GATTON has been rewarded for its unbeaten start to the Hutchinson Builders TRL Premiership by having five players selected in the Toowoomba Clydesdales open representative team.


Halfback Jason Wilmott along with Sampson Mariner, Scott Cubit, Ben Reuter and Dale Perkins were today named in the Clydesdales' 20-man squad for the May 11-12 47th Battalion Trophy carnival at Gladstone.


The Hawks have the most number of players selected, with four representatives from Souths the next most from one club.


The Clydesdales will be out to defending their 47th Battalion Trophy win last year when they take to Gladstone in the revamped competition.


Dean Bosnich is back as coach of the Clydesdales, while Pittsworth halfback Dane Evans will captain the Clydesdales.


CLYDESDALES SQUAD: Rob Clevin, Bryce Denman, Sampson Mariner, Ben Reuter, Scott Cubit, Jason Wilmott, Dale Perkins, Steven Rodgers, Daniel Holmes, Dane Evans, Chris Schultz, Kyle Athorn, Ronnie David, Wade McGahan, Cameron Wuersching, Hayden McNicol, Luke Smith, Luke Baker, Brenden Wilson, Pat Manley







Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Toowoomba finishes runner-up at state softball championship - Toowoomba Chronicle


SWEET SWING: Toowoomba hitter Will Kraak in action at the plate.SWEET SWING: Toowoomba hitter Will Kraak in action at the plate. Contributed

TOOWOOMBA fell just short in winning the Queensland Under 15 Softball Championship at Ipswich.


The Toowoomba squad did a great job progressing through the round-robin stage of the carnival undefeated before Redlands got the better of them 7-5 in the grand final.


The result was still a big success for Toowoomba.


"The grand final could have gone either way it was that close. I'm very proud of them," coach Narelle Donald said.


The likes of Zac Erlandson, Owen Gray and Cassius Elisaia were strong for Toowoomba.


Some of the Toowoomba players could now be invited to a state camp later in the year after impressing at Ipswich.


Toowoomba's under 15 girls team finished fourth at its carnival.


The Chronicle's JS section returns next Wednesday.


Be sure to email your photos, stories and results to juniorsport@thechronicle.com.au.







Toowoomba finishes runner-up at state softball championship - The Sunshine Coast Daily


SWEET SWING: Toowoomba hitter Will Kraak in action at the plate.SWEET SWING: Toowoomba hitter Will Kraak in action at the plate. Contributed

TOOWOOMBA fell just short in winning the Queensland Under 15 Softball Championship at Ipswich.


The Toowoomba squad did a great job progressing through the round-robin stage of the carnival undefeated before Redlands got the better of them 7-5 in the grand final.


The result was still a big success for Toowoomba.


"The grand final could have gone either way it was that close. I'm very proud of them," coach Narelle Donald said.


The likes of Zac Erlandson, Owen Gray and Cassius Elisaia were strong for Toowoomba.


Some of the Toowoomba players could now be invited to a state camp later in the year after impressing at Ipswich.


Toowoomba's under 15 girls team finished fourth at its carnival.


The Chronicle's JS section returns next Wednesday.


Be sure to email your photos, stories and results to juniorsport@thechronicle.com.au.







Sunday, April 14, 2013

Hawks, Wanderers draw as football takes over at Newtown - Toowoomba Chronicle


BALL FLIES: Wanderers defender Rob East (left) puts pressure on Louis Mbangusi for Hawks.BALL FLIES: Wanderers defender Rob East (left) puts pressure on Louis Mbangusi for Hawks. Dave Noonan

GOALS were hard to come by for South Toowoomba Hawks and West Wanderers as Football Toowoomba moved in at Newtown Rugby League Ground.


Football Toowoomba matches will be played at the venue from now on and the first Premier Men's game proved to be score-less as Hawks and Wanderers played out a 0-0 draw on Sunday.


Willowburn managed to extend its competition lead with a 4-0 win over USQ at Commonwealth Oval on Saturday night.


Both teams played some good football in the first half but it was Willowburn that held a 1-0 lead at half-time thanks to a goal from Brodie Welch.


USQ came out strong after the break in chase of an equaliser but fell short of finding the net.


The Magpies were then able to capitalise on a tiring USQ outfit to add three more goals in the final half an hour.


The Premier Men's competition has also been reduced to five teams after Rockville pulled out.


Meanwhile, Willowburn recorded a comfortable 6-0 win over Highfields in Premier Women's action.







Goondiwindi lass is Downs Miss Showgirl - Toowoomba Chronicle



Miss Showgirl Darling Downs , Alexandra Turner. Heritage Bank Toowoomba Royal Show. Photo Nev Madsen / The ChronicleMiss Showgirl Darling Downs , Alexandra Turner. Heritage Bank Toowoomba Royal Show. Photo Nev Madsen / The Chronicle Nev Madsen

ALEXANDRA Turner has made her home town of Goondiwindi proud, taking the Darling Downs Miss Showgirl sash at the Heritage Toowoomba Royal Show.


Presented the coveted title by 2012 holder Kimberly Bach, Ms Turner said she was honoured to have the chance to represent her community in Brisbane.


"It's just a really fun weekend," the 23-year-old said.


"This is just great. I don't think Goondiwindi has ever had a Miss Showgirl go on to Brisbane."


Crows Nest Miss Showgirl Samantha Goulding was named Miss Popular, and Stanthorpe Miss Showgirl Ally Duske was awarded Miss Runner-Up.


Winners were announced by Brisbane RNA president David Thomas, who cautioned that competition at the annual Ekka for the coveted state crown would be fierce.


The honours were bestowed on the winners on the final day of the show on Saturday in front of a large and appreciative crowd.


Show chief executive Damon Phillips said about 55,000 people walked through the gates over the three days, and he thanked the community for their support.


"For an organisation such as ours, if we can put on a great community event and a great show, it allows us to interact with the community," he said.


"It is the cheapest agricultural show in the country and we see that as vitally important.


"It is quality and value for money, and something I think the community appreciates."


Mr Phillips said the committee would continue to source big-name acts. For all show results, visit toowoombashow.com.au.







Friday, April 12, 2013

Nurses' deaths an 'aching sore' (01:43) - Brisbane Times

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Thursday, April 11, 2013

Real-life 'ghostbusters' probe Toowoomba pub - ABC Online


By Fidelis Rego


Posted April 12, 2013 10:39:50


A team of 'ghostbusters' will spend the night in an historic pub on southern Queensland's Darling Downs to investigate claims of paranormal activity.


The team of four will spend Saturday night in the Royal Bull's Head Inn on Toowoomba's outskirts after being given permission by the owners, the National Trust of Queensland.


Darren Davies from Paratek Paranormal says there have been several sightings of ghosts in the pub, including two farmers who died of arsenic poisoning in the 1800s.


Mr Davies says he is among a team of four who will use the latest sensors and imaging equipment.


"Not every place in fact - far from it - is actually haunted," he said.


"[In] most cases electrical interference is one of the biggest reasons behind people's feelings or events, so we're really very realistic in terms of what we want to achieve."


He says in most cases there is a scientific reason for unexplained sightings but sometimes there is no explanation.


"When we've come with absolutely everything covered, well then, we have to accept that it is paranormal," he said.


He says the team will publish their findings within six weeks.


Topics: people, rural, history, toowoomba-4350



Charges over Toowoomba theft - BigPond News


Queensland police have charged a 32-year-old man after an alleged armed robbery ata fast food outlet at Wilsonton.


Police say that it will be alleged that at about around 11.30pm a man entered the store before threatening two staff members with a knife.


'He allegedly stole a sum of cash from the till and a fundraising tin from the counter before fleeing the scene,' police said in a statement.


'A 32-year-old Kooralbyn man was charged with one count each of armed robbery, enter premises to commit an indictable offence, possessing dangerous drugs and possessing a thing.'


Anyone with information which could assist with this matter should contact Crime Stoppers anonymously by telephoning 1800 333 000.



Inquest proves nurses 'mattered' - Brisbane Times

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Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Toowoomba murders 'person of interest' Desmond Roy Hilton faces hearing - The Australian



Lorraine Wilson and Wendy Evans


The last known photo of Lorraine Wilson and Wendy Evans. Picture: Angelo Soulas Source: The Sunday Telegraph




A PERSON of interest in the unsolved 1974 killing of two nurses has denied feigning memory loss to protect other suspects implicated in the brutal double-murder.



A "confused" Desmond Roy Hilton, 63, today told a fresh inquest into the slayings that he would have been too drunk to remember washing blood out of a car used by a violent gang of his relatives, despite previously describing the incident in detail to police.


He also said he would have been too keen to get back to the "beer bottle" to worry about the welfare of the girls his mates had admitted to giving "a hiding".


Sydney-based trainee nurses Wendy Evans, 18, and Lorraine Wilson, 20, disappeared while hitch-hiking in southern Queensland in October 1974.


Their remains were found in bushland at Murphys Creek, in the foothills of the Great Dividing Range near Toowoomba, two years later.


Digital Pass $1 for first 28 Days

Mr Hilton is the final person of interest of to give evidence at the coronial inquest in Toowoomba this week.


Of the several identified, only three are still alive.


The inquest has been told the group of men suspected of murdering the nurses - mostly from the Hilton and Laurie families - were well-known "hooning" through Toowoomba in Holden cars, drinking, brawling and picking up women against their will.


In 2008, Mr Hilton told police he had washed blood from a green Holden belonging to the Laurie family one Sunday morning in October 1974.


He said six men, including his cousin Wayne "Boogie" Hilton and relatives Allan "Shorty" Laurie and Allan "Ungie" Laurie, had turned up at his house in Toowoomba.


He said the men told him they had given a couple of girls a "hiding down the range".


However today, Mr Hilton had trouble remembering anything about the incident.


At one stage he said he could not remember the men talking about "girls" but rather a "brawl" with men down the range.


He suggested that if the substance was blood, it could have been from a kangaroo caught when the men were "roo-shooting".


"I was asked to clean the car, whether there was blood in there or not, I would've been too drunk to understand or remember," he said.


After several similar responses, barrister Wayne Kelly, representing the Queensland Police Commissioner, said Mr Hilton's excuses were not good enough and accused him of protecting the other accused men, some of whom are dead.


Mr Hilton denied the allegation: "It's not that I don't want to remember, it's just that it's not coming to my brain."


Earlier, Craig Chowdhury, counsel assisting the coroner, asked Mr Hilton whether he inquired about the welfare of the girls who had received the hiding.


Mr Hilton said no. He said he would have been too drunk to care.


The inquest was told Mr Hilton had been diagnosed by his doctor as having "memory issues".


The inquest continues this afternoon before Coroner Michael Barnes, when recently received evidence will be discussed.



Toowoomba Show goes on despite flood woes - ABC Online


By Fidelis Rego


Posted April 11, 2013 11:57:19


The Royal Agricultural Society of Queensland (RASQ) says the January floods disrupted preparations for the Toowoomba Show on the state's Darling Downs.


The three-day event has begun with People's Day today.


RASQ spokesman Damon Phillips says generators have had to be used during preparations after the showgrounds were inundated three months ago.


"It's going to be between $200,000 and $250,000 would be the total cost [of the damage] and we'll start our discussions with insurers once we get over the show," he said.


"We'll be looking at that - it has proven difficult I suppose but a good time of the year I suppose, we're looking forward to a good show."


Mr Phillips says organisers are hoping for 20,000 people to walk through the gates today.


"A number of years ago when the redevelopment of the [Clifford Park] track was going on and they didn't race on Weetwood Day we saw a significant increase, particularly in young families and kids coming through the ground and certainly we're hopeful and expecting that to happen," he said.


Topics: agricultural-shows, floods, toowoomba-4350



Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Toowoomba men preyed on women: inquest - Yahoo!7 News


Suspects in the murders of two Sydney nurses often used to bash and abduct women in the main street of Toowoomba, the southern Queensland city where they lived, a court has been told.


The second inquest into the murders of Lorraine Wilson, 20, and Wendy Evans, 18, has been told key suspects Allan John "Shorty" Laurie and Wayne "Boogie" Hilton and their associates were never challenged by police over their behaviour.


Former friend Darryl Sutton told the Toowoomba Magistrates Court Hilton and his friends used to grab women in the street at night by their hair, "throw them around" and punch them.


"They would try to run, but no one, including police, ever intervened," he said.


"Who was going to stand up to those boys in those days?"


Wayne Hilton's uncle Trevor Hilton told the inquest he often saw Shorty Laurie, his brother Allan Neil Laurie and Wayne Hilton, accompanied by up to three carloads of men driving down the main street of Toowoomba, putting "young sheilas" into their cars or the boots of vehicles.


"I said, you're going to end up in jail one day, and they said, 'If you open your mouth you'll be there,'" Mr Hilton said.


Out of the blue, on one occasion in 1974, Wayne Hilton had told him in tears, "I never meant to hurt those girls."


Mr Sutton asked Shorty Laurie, who was present, what was wrong and he replied: "Don't take any notice of him."


Mr Sutton said the formerly violent Hilton became quiet after that conversation and never seemed the same again.


Earlier, the inquest heard from a witness who believes he saw Wendy Evans arguing with Lorraine Wilson about whether or not to get into a car with two men on the day they disappeared.


Anthony Dougherty, a public servant at the time, told the inquest he came upon two women arguing at Oxley near Brisbane on October 6, 1974.


He said the taller woman who resembled Lorraine Wilson was urging her friend to go with two men in a green and white EH Holden.


When the other girl refused, her friend said, "Well I'm going to whether you come or not."


The girl who resembled Wendy Evans then "reluctantly picked up her bag and hopped in".


The inquest continues.

Violent Toowoomba gang suspected in nurse double-murder 'grabbed girls off ... - The Australian




A GROUP of violent men suspected of murdering two nurses in 1974 were well-known for grabbing girls off the street and stuffing them in the boots of cars, an inquest has heard.



Trevor Hilton has today told a Toowoomba coronial inquest the gang of men - which included some of his relatives and members of the associated Laurie family - were often seen in Toowoomba assaulting women but no one stopped them.


"Everybody in the town knew what was going on," Mr Hilton said.


"I don't know why it wasn't stopped. The nurses would have still been alive."


Sydney-based trainee nurses Wendy Evans, 18, and Lorraine Wilson, 20, disappeared while hitch-hiking in southern Queensland in October 1974.


Their bodies were found in bushland at Murphys Creek near Toowoomba two years later, badly beaten and bound.


Witnesses have this week told a fresh coronial inquest into the unsolved 1974 murders they saw two women struggling with a group of men on the roadside of the Toowoomba range road.


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At least five persons of interest have been identified as being involved in the double-murder and its cover up. Most come from the Hilton and Laurie families. The three men who are still alive are scheduled to give evidence today.


Mr Hilton - who is not a person of interest - said he and other Toowoomba residents regularly saw the group of men scouting the streets of the city in cars, grabbing women, and stuffing them in car boots.


He said the men included Wayne "Boogie" Hilton (a nephew who was raised as Mr Hilton's brother), Allan "Ungie" Laurie, and Allan "Shorty" Laurie, who he said were all violent men. Hilton and Shorty Laurie are dead. Ungie will give evidence today.


Mr Hilton said he knew nothing of the double murder and none of the men made any admissions to him about being involved in the killings. He said he was not involved because he was in jail for drink driving offences in 1974.


The inquest continues.




City author's work becomes steamy 'e-book' - Toowoomba Chronicle



Author Jenny Gilligan has penned a "steamy" e-book. Author Jenny Gilligan has penned a "steamy" e-book.

BY DAY she is a cleaner but at night Toowoomba's Jenny Gilligan stows her broom and mop and writes romance novels.


Ms Gilligan's latest novel, A Man For All Seasons, will be published as an e-book through the publishing house Steam e Reads.


"I consider myself very lucky to be in the industry at the moment," she said.


"The e-book phenomenon is creating lots of new opportunities for writers like me. I feel very fortunate because it is very difficult to get published."


A Man for All Seasons tells the story of an Australian man who travels to England on a business trip.


Toowoomba author Jenny Gilligan has penned a romance novel, A Man For All Season. Published online under the pen name Jenny Brigalow. April 2013 ContributedToowoomba author Jenny Gilligan has penned a romance novel, A Man For All Season. Published online under the pen name Jenny Brigalow. April 2013 Contributed

While there he becomes "distracted" by a very sweet dressage rider.


"The novel is about their journey together," Ms Gilligan said.


The self-confessed "vivacious reader", Ms Gilligan began writing after a back injury left her in traction and bored.


"I never considered writing anything until six years ago," she said.


Ms Gilligan has gone to write "12 or 13" stories using the surrounds of her adopted country as inspiration.


"I came to Australia in 1985 on an impromptu holiday and I never left," the Brit said.


A Man For All Season is published under Ms Gilligan's pen name, Jenny Brigalow, and will be available to download soon from steamereads.com.au.







Monday, April 8, 2013

Brisbane Broncos to visit Dalby for a fan day on Saturday - Toowoomba Chronicle


FAN FAVOURITE: Home-town boy Andrew McCullough mixes with children during a previous trip back to Dalby.FAN FAVOURITE: Home-town boy Andrew McCullough mixes with children during a previous trip back to Dalby. Gen Kennedy / Dalby Herald

FRESH from their battle against the Cowboys in the NRL Queensland derby, the Brisbane Broncos will head to Dalby this Saturday for a fan day.


The Broncos will be recovering from what is likely to be a blockbuster Friday night clash at Suncorp Stadium when they mix with fans at Dalby Leagues Club on Saturday.


It will be the Broncos' only regional fan day for the year and has come about due to the club's relationship with Arrow Energy.


The Broncos visited Dalby last year and the players are keen to get back to the home-town of team mate Andrew McCullough to mix with their fans.


"I know the team is really excited to be coming back to Dalby after such a great visit last year," Broncos captain Sam Thaiday said.


"It gives the players a chance to meet the dedicated fans who might not get to come in and watch us play but are still cheering for us every week.


"It's a fun day out for the whole family and I'd encourage all fans in the region to come along."


The Broncos visit will coincide with the start of the Toowoomba Junior Rugby League season, with the Dalby Devils taking on Souths on Saturday in round one.


The fan day will be held from 9.30-11.30am on Saturday at Dalby Leagues Club.