Sport & Recreation Community Grant Program
The next round opens on 1 February 2019 and closes 1 March 2019. Get in touch with one of Council’s friendly Sport and Recreation Officers to discuss your project ahead of applying for the grant to ensure your project meets the criteria.
For more information about council grants program click here or contact a Sport and Recreation Officer on 131 872.
Booking Reminder
Council is continuing to improve their processes to better manage facilities across the Region, and to ensure consistency in the parks booking process. All users of Council’s sporting facilities across the Toowoomba Region are required to hold a current booking with Parks and Recreation Services.
Any group wishing to use a Council facility must hold either a Seasonal or Casual User Permit. Failing to do so may result in public liability insurance being deemed as void, and is in breach of local laws. The current seasonal user (winter or summer) has priority, though not exclusive use of the facility.
Accurate booking information allows Council to undertake necessary facility maintenance with minimal impact on user groups. This accurate information will allow Council to plan for better facilities into the future and helps provide evidence when requesting future facility upgrades or maintenance including opportunities that arise through grants.
All bookings must be directed to Council’s park bookings team at parkbookings@tr.qld.gov.au.
For more information about booking a sports field click here or contact Council 131 872
Other Initiatives
Good Sports Program
What does your club have in place to manage smoking?
Good Sports is here to help with putting in place strategies to manage smoking in your community sporting clubs.
We have dedicated Community Development Officers who assist clubs with implementing a Smoking Management Policy that aims to set clear expectations within the club environment around tobacco smoking.
Additionally, we also provide physical resources such as ‘No Smoking’ signs that support the implementation of the Smoking Management Policy.
Did you know that 69 clubs in Toowoomba are Good Sports Clubs? Is your club a Good Sports Club?
For more information on how to become a Good Sports Club, please click here
Wellness Seminar
Darling Downs Health recently held a Wellness Seminar, which hosted Nutritionist Anthony Power with ‘Please, just tell me what to eat’ and Endocrinologist Dr Sheila Cook with ‘Now just tell me what to do’.
The seminar focused on the benefits of a low carbohydrate diet and other simple approaches that can be used as an option to preventative health.
Darling Downs Health have made these seminars available to all community members by clicking here.
Keep an eye out for future Wellness Seminars hosted by Darling Downs Health in 2019!
Gambling Community Benefit Fund (GCBF)
Not-for-profit groups operating in Queensland can apply for grants from $500 to $35,000 through the Gambling Community Benefit Fund (GCBF). This fund is Queensland’s largest one-off grants program, distributing approximately $54 million per year.
The fund allocates grants to not-for-profit community groups, to enhance their capacity to provide services, leisure activities and opportunities for Queensland communities.
The Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation (OLGR) Community Benefit Funds Unit (CBFU) administers the GCBF. The next round closes 28 February 2019.
To find out more about the Gambling Community Benefit Fund click here.
Queensland Walking Strategy 2019-2029
Department of Transport and Main Roads are asking for your input around what needs to change to make it easier for you to choose walking over other forms of transport? You are invited to help shape Queenland's first walking strategy.
Be sure to include jogging, running and moving with the aid of a mobility device (such as a wheelchair or walking frame).
You are encouraged to share your walking story or photos of your favourite walking spots on their Queensland Walking Strategy Ideas Wall by clicking here and using #wewalkqld.
To complete the online Queensland Walking Strategy survey click here or provide a written submission to further inform the strategy by sending your mail submission to:
Cycling and Programs team
Department of Transport and Main Roads
PO Box 213
Brisbane QLD 4001
Your responses are required by 3 February 2019 at 11.59pm
You can also be kept up to date by clicking here
Healthy Living Program
AH Diabetes have sourced funding from Darling Downs and West Moreton PHN through the Australian Government PHN Program to bring you a Healthy Living Program.
If you want to be healthier, please come and join this FREE 6 week program that will cover:
- healthy eating
- cooking demo
- vegetable garden
- goal setting and motivation
- physical activities
- supermarket shopping
- budgeting
There are only a limited number of places available so if you are interested please call AH Diabetes 07 4646 2530 or
admin@ahdiabetes.com.au
10 Tips to Surviving Christmas by Celia Innerarity APD
You’ve made it through the year and you’ve managed to stick to your nutrition plan so far – or maybe not. If it’s the former, then good on you! High five! If you’re in the ‘maybe nots’, all is still not lost.
Everyday gives us another opportunity to start fresh, turn over a new leaf and all that. There is still time. So you’re probably dreading (or really looking forward to) the gastronomic assault that Christmas presents. Diets come and diets go, and as a dietitian I have come to realise that the ‘best diet’ is the one that you can stick to.
We all wish for the magic wand that will make our nutrition perfect and melt off the extra kilos that we find ourselves carrying. But alas… it’s still elusive. The thing is, our diet and those extra kilos did not come overnight and are often as a result of habits we developed over time. It stands to reason therefore, that addressing these issues will also have to be done over time. That said, many adults gain at least half a kilo over this season and once it’s on, for many, it’s hard to lose.
So, as the most wonderful time of the year approaches, there are ways to still maintain our good eating habits and not completely undo all that you have achieved without being anti-social. Similarly, there are ways to create some good habits so there is less to work off and to get you ready for what 2019 will bring.
Here are 10 things that you can put into your survival kit to start immediately:
- Use soda water to wind down over Christmas. No one has to know there’s no alcohol in there. Drop in your lemon or olive like everyone else (wink wink).
- Sip your drink and eat slowly. That way you’ll always have a drink in hand and you don’t have to refill a plate that’s not yet empty.
- Hide your 5 veg – put your veggies in zucchini brownies, sweet potato pie, pumpkin scones – get creative. Google has tons of delicious recipes!
- Healthy BBQs – put the prawns and everything else on the barbie. That’s a good way to remove some of the unhealthy fats and extra energy in what you eat… plus less to clean up.
- Eat before you go to the party – have a high protein snack and / or a lovely salad beforehand so you are less likely to overeat. You’ll still feel full and make better food choices.
- Do you really need the appetizers? – move the bread basket; don’t stand in front of the nuts or the dip; just order the entrée and leave space for dessert!
- Plan ahead – most of these functions are planned in advance so you know what’s coming. You can plan your exercise, your sleep and even what you will eat. Check if the menu is online if you’re meeting at a restaurant.
- Stay hydrated – have a glass of water in between each alcoholic beverage, or use sugar free sodas to reduce how much alcohol you have; and try to increase your activity the day after if you can.
- Catch up outside versus inside – meet family and friends at the park or the beach. That way you can walk with your coffee; swim before or after the feast. And again, less to clean up too!
- Dance like no-one’s watching! – this is a fabulous way to increase your activity levels and burn some extra calories. And it is a party after all.
Christmas is really all about creating lovely memories and enjoying your time with loved ones. Whatever is going on, remember the reason for the season.
Enjoy Christmas day!
To read other blogs similar to this click here
Recipe of the Season - Basil and Lemon Dip
Ingredients
½ teaspoon lemon rind (finely grated)
1 small clove garlic
3 tsp pine nuts (toasted)
½ cup basil leaves
125 grams cream cheese
Serve with crackers or fresh vegetables
Ground black pepper to taste
Method
1. Place cheese, basil, nuts, garlic, rind and pepper in a food processor and process until smooth and combined. Transfer to a serving bowl, cover and refrigerate until required.
2. Serve dip with crackers and fresh vegetables.
Recipe sourced from Nutrition Australia Website
From the Sport, Recreation and Healthy Living Team,
we wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Toowoomba Regional Council is developing a Sport, Active Recreation and Healthy Living Plan for the Toowoomba Region and we want to hear from you. The Plan will be in place from 2019 until 2026 to help create healthier and more active communities by encouraging people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities to eat well and live well. 
A circuit-style session comprising low impact, cardio, strength/resistance exercises. Suitable for all ages and stages of fitness.
Where: Captain Cook Reserve (Near Moran St entry)
There are a number of FREE Heart Foundation Walking Groups across the Toowoomba Region led by fantastic volunteers making for the perfect way to meet new people while exercising and improving your health!
YWCA Australia, in partnership with Council, have developed the new Shine Through Sport program to create easy, fun and free ways to participate in sport. 
