Toowoomba Hub: July 2013

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Merriman picks up spot in Australian open softball squad - Toowoomba Chronicle

SELECTION: Dodgers catcher Ryan Merriman has earnt a place in the Australian open men's softball team. Nev Madsen

TOOWOOMBA'S Ryan Merriman has enhanced his standing as one of Australia's top softball prospects.

Merriman has been named in a 30-man Australian open squad long with four other Queenslanders.

It was only earlier this year that the Dodgers catcher was named most valuable player at the Australian Under 19 Men's Championship making it a short time for him to break into the open Australian Steelers squad.

Merriman earned selection by highlighting his talent and potential with strong performances at the South Brisbane Classic tournament at Carina in June.

The selection follows on from Merriman impressing at the 2012 International Youth Cup, where he picked up the Best Batter award.

Bill Bailey, Shaun Goffer and Andy Blackshaw, who have all played in the Toowoomba Softball A grade competition in the past few years are other Queensland players to make the Australian squad along with Julian Jemmott.

Sevens star Cherry back playing touch for South-West - Toowoomba Chronicle

TOUCH TIMES: Emilee Cherry shows her touch skills while playing for Fairholme. Kevin Farmer

EMILEE Cherry will get back to her roots this weekend.

Cherry has had a busy year representing Australia across the world in women's rugby sevens, but this weekend she will get back to the sport where she first rose through the representative ranks.

The dual international will lead the South-West Swans as they defend their open women's title at the Queensland Touch Association State Championships from today.

South-West will take on the best teams from across Queensland at Carrara Sports Grounds on the Gold Coast until Sunday, and Cherry knows she will have to make a quick transition back into the non-contact sport.

"It's a lot easier going from touch to rugby rather than coming back to touch," she said. "Attacking it's the same but defensively it's a bit harder to get back into."

And while the 20-year-old travelled to eight different countries with the sevens series earlier this year, she more than happy to again play with touch team mates she grew up with.

"I'm so lucky to be able to come back and play touch with a great bunch of girls," Cherry said.

South-West may go into the state championships as defending champions but Cherry feels their south-east Queensland rivals will again underestimate the young and talented Swans squad.

"Last year we had the dream year; our touch team from Toowoomba winning the Brisbane competition and then winning the state champs," Cherry said.

"(But) I think the city girls see us as being from the country. I think we're still underdogs."

Sixteen-year-old Alice Rathie will also be part of the South-West squad and she has been touted as a player to watch at the state championships.

The Swans start their campaign tonight against Brisbane City Cobras.

South-West is also sending down men's and women's under 20s teams as well as women's 27-35 years squad.

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Team focus helps Coghlan earn place in Queensland squad - Toowoomba Chronicle

Trent Slatter

31st Jul 2013 5:00 AM

HOCKEY HIGHLIGHT: Toowoomba hockey player Campbell Coghlan was selected in Queensland under 15 team. Dave Noonan

HOCKEY star Campbell Coghlan says he wasn't thinking about individual accolades at the Queensland under 15 championships.

Coghlan helped Toowoomba finish third at the state titles, with the team's only losses coming against the eventual grand finalists.

Toowoomba was narrowly beaten 1-0 by Ipswich in the pool stages before pushing state champions Brisbane all the way in a 4-2 semi-final defeat.

It was an impressive result for Toowoomba and Coghlan's efforts didn't go unnoticed as he earned a place in the Queensland team.

But Coghlan said his only goal was helping Toowoomba finish strong so he wasn't expecting to earn any higher representative honours.

"I wasn't really focused on it at the start," he said.

"We only lost two games to Brisbane and Ipswich … but we did give them a rough time against us so that's always good.

"I really wanted a good finish for the team and then it (state selection) just happened for me."

Coghlan has enjoyed a busy year on the hockey field with the 14-year-old also chosen in the under-16 Queensland team after making the step up with the Darling Downs schoolboys.

He's also aiming to help Newtown win back the Toowoomba men's A1 premiership after the Tigers relinquished the title to Red Lion last season.

And Coghlan has even tried his hand at coaching for the first time this year with a couple of Toowoomba's junior teams.

"I guess coaching helps with my hockey because it makes me think about the technique a bit more," Coghlan said.

"At the moment there's been no training sessions (with the state team). I just do the training with my club so it all helps."

Coghlan admitted he'll need to do plenty of fitness work before he heads away with Queensland for the national under-15 championships with the tournament to be held in Darwin in September.

The hot and humid conditions up north will be in stark contrast to the much cooler conditions Coghlan is used to in Toowoomba.

Coghlan said the conditions will be challenging but he was looking forward to the chance to play for Queensland

"I might have to be a bit more work because I think I'm going to be very fatigued and dehydrated when I get up there," he said.

"We go up to Darwin for four days before the actually carnival and have training sessions up there and basically get acclimatised.

"I think a lot of fitness work has to be done … but it was really good making that team. I worked hard at the state championships."

Laidley police charge four people after drug raids - Toowoomba Chronicle

POLICE raids in the Laidley area have netted four people on a series of drug charges.

Laidley police officer-in-charge Senior Sergeant Jim McDonald said the most recent arrest netted two men in possession of a cannabis growing set up.

He said a raid on a Summerholm property on Monday resulted in police finding a production material, including light boxes.

"They had been propagating seeds," Snr Sgt McDonald said.

A 22-year-old Summerholm man and a 23-year-old Summerholm man were charged with producing dangerous drugs and possessing implements for drug manufacture.

Snr Sgt McDonald said it came after police on Saturday raided a 20-year-old Laidley woman's home to find cannabis and a bong.

He said some white powder, believed to be amphetamine, was also recovered.

A 30-year-old Laidley man was also charged for possession of cannabis as well as a bong during a separate raid on his home on Thursday.

Snr Sgt McDonald said the raids were the result of tip-offs from the public.

"We appreciate information from members of the public."

Monday, July 29, 2013

Gatton's Lejeune lands putt to enjoy win in Pennants final - Toowoomba Chronicle

WINNERS: The Gatton Jubilee Golf Club division one team of (back) Anthony Bauer, Matthew Lejeune, Craig Lee, Craig Brown, Nicholas Berlin, (front) captain John Croker and Ron Weatherby celebrate winning the Darling Downs Pennants Golf grand final. Contributed

VICTORY has just eluded Matthew Lejeune on numerous occasions so that makes Gatton's last-gasp win in the Darling Downs Golf Association Division One Pennants final even more special for the club.

In the first Pennants final not to feature a Toowoomba club, Lejeune holed a tricky seven-foot putt on the par three 18th at Gatton Jubilee Golf Club to beat Goondiwindi's Marty Lynch to claim a thrilling Pennants final.

The decider was locked at three matches a piece before Lejeune and Lynch each had chances to claim their match and the title on the 16th and 17th holes.

Lejeune's success breaks a run of bridesmaid finishes for the Gatton golfer as he has finished just short in a number of club events, including this year's club championship which was won by young Pennants team mate Nicholas Berlin.

Berlin scored a comfortable 7/6 win in his match against Goondiwindi's Allan Sutton before captain Mark Everingham hit back for the visitors.

Goondiwindi's father-son combination of Mark and Joel Stahlhut each enjoyed wins in a beaten team.

Teske earns Australian captaincy after Qld wins nationals - Toowoomba Chronicle

Ben Drewe

30th Jul 2013 5:00 AM

HONOUR: Toowoomba's Lyle Teske will serve as Australian indoor cricket captain. Kevin Farmer

LYLE Teske is thrilled to be taking over a job once held by fellow Toowoomba talent Troy Gurski and revered indoor cricket icon Alan Wilson.

Teske has just steered Queensland to victory at the Australian Indoor Cricket Championships in Brisbane and received the added good news of being selected to in the national team as captain.

"It's a great honour and I (follow on) from the likes of Troy Gurski and Alan Wilson," Teske said.

"I've done Queensland the last two years and this is the first time for Australia so I'm really looking for ward to it."

Teske said the Australian team will tour Sri Lanka later this year.

The Toowoomba talent claimed his second nationals win as Queensland captain on Saturday when the tournament hosts beat Western Australian 116-73 in a three skins to one victory in the open men's final.

Teske starred in the final scoring 17 runs and taking 3-1 in his two overs of bowling, and was only narrowly pipped by team mate Rhys Dearness for player of the final honours.

Queensland made a clean sweep of the open and underage men's and women's age groups.

"You never get sick of winning. It was a really good feeling, a really good effort," Teske said of the win from his young squad which featured fellow Toowoomba player Nathan Story.

Rebecca Cook helped the Queensland open women to 126-82 four skins final win over South Australia, with Toowoomba's Emma Walls and Peta Maloney also part of the squad.

Sunday, July 28, 2013

Kids get into National Tree Day spirit - Toowoomba Chronicle

Tara Miko

29th Jul 2013 6:00 AM

Toowoomba digs in for National Tree Day

AT JUST 10 years old, Cameron Grimmett understands how important it is to look after the environment.

Cameron was one of about 40 people who took part in National Tree Day at the Toowoomba Waterbird Habitat yesterday.

"National Tree Day is all about helping the environment," she said.

"It's important because we need to make sure there are trees and things for the birds and the animals."

She had lost count of how many trees she had planted yesterday, but was pleased with the work she had done.

Cameron Grimmett plants a tree in the Waterbird Habitat for National Tree Day. Kevin Farmer

Toowoomba Landcare Project officer Lorraine Lisle said the drizzling rain did little to dampen the enthusiasm of the volunteers.

"The volunteers that are here are very enthusiastic and not deterred by the weather," she said.

"This is very encouraging and it shows a lot of people care for the environment and are encouraging the younger generation."

About 2500 native trees and shrubs were planted in what Mrs Lisle hopes will become an animal refuge.

The Toowoomba Regional Council donated the trees.

Planting for National Tree Day are (from left) Monique, Abby and Issak Holmes. Kevin Farmer

Saturday, July 27, 2013

Uni records strong win over AFLDD flag rival Coolaroo - Toowoomba Chronicle

ATTACKING KICK: University's Sam Banim gets a kick away despite pressure from Coolaroo defenders. Nev Madsen

UNIVERSITY moved to the top of the AFL Darling Downs ladder with a dominant 43-point win over Coolaroo in the top-of-the-table battle at USQ on Saturday night.

Playing in front of a healthy crowd at its annual Cancer Council Queensland fundraiser, University led at every change to record a confidence-boosting 18.13 (121) to 12.6 (78) win.

The Cougars kicked five goals to three in the first quarter to get on top and built that lead up to five goals at half-time.

Coolaroo out-scored University in the third term to narrow the scores to 90-73 at three-quarter time but the Cougars finished strong restricting the 'Roos to just one goal in the final term to run out 43-point victors.

Josh Timmer and Luke Brumley led the way for the Cougars as experienced Uni forwards Al Reilly, Joel Yosh and Heath Gniel each kicked four goals.

For Coolaroo, Tom Rudolph kicked six majors in a beaten team while Phil Dreise and Michael Casey also had strong games.

The result moves University ahead of Coolaroo on the ladder on percentage and spoiled the 300th game of 'Roos veteran Adam Ottobrino.

Meanwhile, Dalby showed it could do some damage in the finals if it can come from the clouds to secure a top five spot after handing South Toowoomba an 18.10 (118) to 7.9 (51) win at Rockville Park.

The Swans sit seventh on the ladder two wins out of the top five but have knocked off last year's two grand finalists in consecutive weeks.

The youthful and athletic Dalby squad led at every change to post a strong 67-point win.

But in some consolation for Souths, full forward Dan McPhee kicked four goals to pass the 100 mark for the season.

Defending premiers Toowoomba Tigers bounced back from their defeat to Dalby last week with a 95-point victory over Highfields.

Warwick also recorded a big win over Lockyer Valley, while Goondiwindi took four points after a forfeit from Chinchilla.

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Relive your top Clydesdales moment for a chance to win - Toowoomba Chronicle

INTRUST Super Cup action comes to Clive Berghofer Stadium next week and what better way to mark the occasion than by reliving some of the highlights of the Toowoomba Clydesdales in Queensland Cup.

The August 4 match between Ipswich and Wynnum-Manly will be the first time since the demise of the Clydesdales in 2006 that ISC action will be held in the city.

Before that, the Clydesdales had a successful run in Q-Cup and The Chronicle is inviting you to submit your favourite memory of watching the club compete in the state-wide competition.

Two tickets to the catered corporate function at next Sunday's ISC game at Clive Berghofer Stadium will be awarded to a submission selected at random, with the tickets kindly provided by Toowoomba Rugby League.

So for your chance to go in the running for the two corporate tickets valued at $200, email through details of your favourite memory of the Clydesdales playing Q-Cup to ben.drewe@thechronicle.com.au

Include your name, suburb and phone number so you can be contacted should you win the tickets. The competition closes at 2pm Wednesday, July 31, with the winner and submissions to be published in The Chronicle on August 2.

City ready to mark milestone with celebration dinner - Toowoomba Chronicle

Ben Drewe

24th Jul 2013 3:48 PM

MEN’S MEMBER: Denis Healy takes to the mat Wednesday at City Bowls Club. Dave Noonan

THIS Saturday a celebration will be held to mark the 75th anniversary of what has been described as an oasis in the heart of Toowoomba's CBD.

July 27 marks the 75th anniversary of the first City Bowls Club annual general meeting and current members of the club will commemerate that milestone with a dinner at the club on Saturday.

More than 60 of the club's 135 members are expected to attend a night of celebrations for the club.

Initial moves to establish City Bowls Club were made way back in May 1937 before the first recorded game of bowls was held at the Duggan St greens on February 5, 1938.

It wasn't until July 27 that year that the first AGM of the club was held, which paved the way for more than seven decades of bowls at the inner-city club.

Take a walk through the clubhouse and you will see the names of the club's top bowlers over the years adorn the many honour boards hanging on the walls reminding people of the club's past.

Current club secretary Graham Healy, whose father Denis is arguably the second-longest serving member of the club, believes City Bowls Club holds a special place in the landscape of the Toowoomba business district.

"We're not the oldest club in town, but we're the only club in the centre of the city. All of the others are out in the suburbs," he said while the club's main green was busy with regular Wednesday afternoon men's play.

"It's like a little oasis here.

"You've got shopping centres and traffic lights and all of that sort of stuff, yet here are these guys just being able to enjoy a nice afternoon right in the centre of the CBD.

"It's pretty unique really to be able to do this sort of stuff in the middle of the city."

That landscape will soon change though due to the QIC Global redevelopment of the Gardentown and Grand Central shopping centres, with the club hoping to gain further details on how construction will effect the club's two greens and in particular, its northern green.

"We're talking to the developers," Healy said. "We would like to know a little bit more information about how whatever they build over there is going to impact on us.

"One of the main things is that little green over there needs sunlight on it all of the time."

Monday, July 22, 2013

Protestor demands apology from Education Minister - Toowoomba Chronicle

Tara Miko

23rd Jul 2013 3:26 PM

THE grandmother leading the crusade to save Toowoomba South State School has demanded an apology from Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek over comments made at Sunday's protest in Brisbane.

Caroline Bennett said Mr Langbroek's statement that "union-led hysteria is not going to make any difference to our deliberations" was an insult to herself and her grandson, 8.

"I do not belong to a union and neither does (sic) my 8-year-old grandson, and further it is insulting to me on a personal and professional level that you imply that I am not capable of making or conducting autonomous or intellectual actions on any individual level," she said in an email to Mr Langbroek's office.

"I am not dependent upon anyone to make my decisions' (sic) for me, and in regards to 'direction', require no 'guidance'.

"I would like this apology forthwith and in a straightforward, candid manner."

But Mr Langbroek's office yesterday said the unionist comment was not directed at Ms Bennet but rather other protesters in Brisbane on Sunday.

"On Sunday, Minister Langbroek was referring to the protestors holding the Together Union flags outside the LNP Convention," a representative from his office said, adding photo evidence could be supplied.

Ms Bennett has also alleged she was threatened by an Education Queensland employee to "cease and desist" her campaign to keep the school open.

But Mr Langbroek's office said the minister was not aware of any threats to Ms Bennett and "no directives have been issued from Minister Langbroek's office regarding Ms Bennett's social media use".

Sunday, July 21, 2013

Willowburn back on track with big win over Gatton - Toowoomba Chronicle

WILLOWBURN emphatically returned to the Football Toowoomba Premier Men's winner's circle with a 7-0 win over Gatton.

The Magpies had suffered two losses in the lead-up to the latest league round after making an unbeaten start to the season.

They got back on track on Saturday with a 7-0 drubbing of Gatton.

USQ also collected three points at the weekend courtesy of a 3-1 victory over South Toowoomba Hawks.

Meanwhile, Willowburn recorded a 2-0 win over Gatton in Premier Women's action.

Kiama Gray struck twice for the Magpies to get them home over Gatton.

And in other football news, South-West's NPL Queensland under 20s home game against Moreton Bay at Toara Park on Saturday was postponed.

Rollers rally to record two wins at derby double-header - Toowoomba Chronicle

AERIAL ACTION: Ashleigh Jacobsen (front) and Lauren Flohr of Mountain Resistance take on Coastal Assassins at Toowoomba Showgrounds. Kevin Farmer

TOOWOOMBA City Rollers enjoyed twin success in its double-header against Coastal Assassins Roller Derby at Toowoomba Showgrounds on Saturday night.

The night started off with a 258-113 win to the Range Renegades before a gutsy 214-165 victory from the Mountain Resistance.

"We've never done that before so it was really, really exciting," TCR president Ellen Grinham said of winning both home bouts.

The Rollers top team had only seven skaters to rotate through the five places on the track and were reduced to six in the first minute, which meant the squad had to dig deep.

"The Mountain Renegades game was a bit eventful. We only had seven players to start the bout with. You usually start with 14 players," Grinham said.

"And then 22 seconds into the bout one of our blockers was expelled for high contact.

"We played nearly the whole bout with only six players. With six players, you have to play every single jam.

"A lot of other teams with six players would have forfeited."

Mountaineers women climbing towards QBL play-offs - Toowoomba Chronicle

Trent Slatter

21st Jul 2013 7:30 PM

Toowoomba's Krystal Watson looks for an open player against Rockhampton. Kevin Farmer

THE Toowoomba Mountaineers women are charging towards the QBL finals after beating Rockhampton 82-74 at USQ on Friday night.

The Mountaineers grabbed the lead early and never let it go as they shook off the disappointment of last weekend's one-point loss.

Chelsie Schweers was back to her best with 33 points while it was business as usual for Kisha Lee with 24 points and 14 rebounds.

But coach Anthony Corcoran said it had been a great team effort with Chelsie Orbell also contributing 11 points and eight rebounds.

"One of our goals as a team was to get 15 assists and we finished with 19. ... our passing was much better," he said.

"It was more about sharing the ball so we had multiple options in attacking the hoop.

"Chelsie (Schweers) really stepped up in sharing the ball around and her intensity on defence was a lot better."

The Mountaineers now face four weeks of tough road trips heading into the finals.

They are yet to win an away game in 2013 and Corcoran said it was crucial they finish the regular season strongly.

"I don't want to be in a situation where we're relying on other results," he said.

"If we keep building on what we've been working on, then we'll get there."

Meanwhile, the finals hopes of the men's team took a hit as they lost to Rockhampton 98-81.

Toowoomba dominated the opening exchanges but the visitors were able to fight back to draw level at the first break.

But Rockhampton turned up the heat in the second, outscoring the Mountaineers by 21 points to hit the front.

The Mountaineers showed some heart with a blistering 32-21 final quarter but the game was already out of reach.

James Legan was the standout for Toowoomba with 24 points.