Heart Foundation Walking Groups Recommencing this Month
As restrictions continue to ease across the country, Heart Foundation walking has decided that walking groups can recommence from Saturday 20 June 2020.
The Heart Foundation encourages walkers to:
- download the COVIDSAFE app and use it at all times;
- get the annual flu (influenza) vaccination; and
- talk to their doctor about whether rejoining the walks at this stage is appropriate for them, particularly if participants are vulnerable. This includes older walkers, and those with chronic health conditions.
For more information on the recommencement of Heart Foundation walking groups, visit our
website or reach out to your local volunteer Walk Organiser.
Sport & Recreation COVID SAFE Restart Plan
As part of their
Return to Play initiative, the State Government has released a Restart Package to help community sport, recreation and fitness organisations to get back on their feet. This involves the contribution of $51.3 million worth of funding and grants. There are four types of grants available aimed to assist Clubs to be COVID Safe and support return to play. Applications for round 1 of the funding are open now and close 17/06/20.
For more information, and to apply for a grant, access the State Government website
here.
Sport & Recreation Community Grants Program
Round two applications for Council's Sport and Recreation Community Grants Program open 1 July.
Eligible organisations may apply for a grant of up to 50% of the funding gap (total project cost excluding GST less other grant sources) up to a maximum of $150,000. Funding is allocated on a dollar-for-dollar, matched funding basis. The main priority for this grant program is infrastructure projects that increase participation and assist volunteers. Applications close 1 August 2020.
For more information and advice please contact Daniel (Daniel.York@tr.qld.gov.au) or Sherridan (Sherridan.Cluff@tr.qld.gov.au), or phone 131 872. Application eligibility and guidelines can be found on the Sport and Recreation community grants program webpage
here.
What Does Your Club Need to Survive?
Coronavirus has had a huge impact on sporting clubs across Australia- particularly community and club sports that reply on memberships, registrations and local sponsorship to keep the lights on.
The Australian Sports Foundation has launched a national campaign to help community clubs and organisations access funds to recover, and they are asking for your input. They have created a survey to better understand the impact of Coronavirus on your club, and the funding needed to help it recover. Their goal is to gather as much information as possible so that they can use this to generate a proportionate level of support from philanthropic trusts, private and corporate donors and governments, and distribute funds to clubs in need.
To complete the survey, or for more information, access the Australian Sports Foundation Website
here.
The Good Sports Program
Sporting clubs play an important role in preventing and reducing harms associated with alcohol and other drugs. Whether the game is in play or not, how a club models healthy behaviours can have a huge impact on club members and the entire community.
Good Sports works together with local sporting clubs to build a healthier sporting nation. They recognise that sport supports the development of healthy individuals and communities. The Good Sports program has helped more than 9,500 clubs across Australia to promote healthier, safer and more family-friendly environments where everyone can get involved.
If you’d like your club to join the Good Sports in preparation for reopening, or for more information on the program, click
here.
Free Crowdfunding Training for Sport
Crowdfunder are holding a number of online Crowdfunding courses and workshops for those in the sporting community. Courses run regularly over the next few months and include:
For more information and dates, visit the Crowdfunder website
here.
Free Webinar- Tune In and Tune Up
Join Australian Red Cross in a five-part series of free webinars exploring drought and wellbeing. They have invited expert speakers along to share their insights so that we can better support our own communities, ourselves and our loved ones in these tough times.
- Maintaining wellbeing through drought & prolonged stress (10-11am Wednesday 17 June) Register here.
- The drought cycle; adaptation and strengthening resilience (10-11am Wednesday 1July Register here.
- Wellbeing after the rains (10-11.15am Wednesday 15 July) Register here
- Family wellbeing in the face of ongoing stress (10-11.15am Wednesday 29 July) Register here
- Preparing for tough times (10-11.15am Wednesday 12 August) Register here
Recordings of the webinars will be made available at https://www.redcross.org.au/drought-resilience-program
Free on a Tree Toowoomba
Last week saw the launch of Free on a Tree Toowoomba, an initiative which allows residents to leave jackets on the trees in Gallery Park (beside the Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery), which are then given to those in need. This is a practical way for residents to support those without a home in our community who need some extra warmth during these cooler months.
There is also a drop off point for donations at the 2nd Shot Cafe.
For more information about the initiative, visit the Free on a Tree Facebook page
here.
Annual Volunteer Survey
Every year, Council's Volunteer Management seeks feedback from Council volunteers to guide future decision making and identify areas for improvement. This year, they are also seeking insights into volunteer's COVID-19 experience. If you are a Council volunteer, we are seeking your response! It is estimate that the survey will take about 10 minutes to complete.
To access the survey,
click this link.
Your City Centre- Beyond 2020
Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) has launched a ten-year review of the Toowoomba City Centre Master Plan. Council is urging residents to get involved in the conversation that will help understand community priorities for the remaining ten years of the plan.
'Your City Centre Beyond 2020' celebrates the progress made in implementing projects in the Toowoomba CBD and seeks community feedback on priorities over the next ten years.
Community responses will show current aspirations for our city heart and will guide future development as part of an updated 10-year implementation plan.
Engagement focusses on the following themes and everyone across the region is encouraged to get involved
- Activated: Creative ideas for the City Centre
- Connected: Better ways to move around (by foot, bike or vehicle) in the City Centre?
- Greener: More trees in the City Centre?
- Liveable: Want to live in the City Centre?
- Post COVID-19: What's your City Centre post COVID-19?
Community Gardening
Community gardens are great for all aspects of our health. It increases physical activity, promotes healthy eating, encourages connectedness and exposure to nature. The Toowoomba Community Organic Gardens on Gogg Street is still operating and they are currently harvesting plenty of delicious fruit and vegetables. Have you considered becoming a member to see what you can grow?
Check out the Community Garden on Facebook by accessing this
link.
Boredom Busters- Free Activities for Children, Young People and Families
Toowoomba Regional Council's Youth Connect service have joined forces with the CHANGE Project, Toowoomba Regional Libraries and other youth agencies to create Boredom Busters – a free series of activity booklets for children, young people and families.
Click this
link to access the booklets.
They also have the YouthConnect Program which works with young people in our region and delivers classes, programs and events. Where possible, events are provided free of charge and include a wide range of activities such as: skateboarding, art, music, pool parties, basketball and more.
Visit YouthConnect's webpage
here to learn more.
The Home Project- Backyard Patterns
Toowoomba Regional Council and Youth Connect have partnered with SWQ Regional Arts and local artists to create The Home Project – a free online arts program to help young people and their families get creating and making at home.
Their first workshop, Backyard Patterns, is now available on:
Join wonderful local artist Alex Stalling to create a mini-masterpiece from objects found in your backyard.
Free Quit Smoking Program
Queensland Health is providing all residents who smoke, access to a FREE quit smoking program that combines specialised support with 12 weeks of nicotine replacement products (patches, gum, lozenges).
To join, call Quitline on 13 7848 or visit the Quit HQ Website
here.
QCWA Cook at Home Challenge
We all know that now more than ever it's important to stay active and eat well. To encourage Queenslander's to cook a healthy meal at home, Health and Wellbeing Queensland and the Queensland Country Women's Association have joined forces and have just launched the QCWA Cook at Home Challenge!
All you need to do is cook a healthy meal, take a photo of it and then share it with the team on the Boost your Healthy website! All entries go into the draw to WIN one of eight weekly QCWA prize packs or the grand prize of a KitchenAid Stand Mixer!
Entries close Monday, 27 July. For more information, visit the Boost Your Healthy page
here.
CHANGE Project Update
Jamie's Ministry of Food is BACK! 
Brooke from The Redface Way is starting a brand new class in South Toowoomba. Designed specifically for beginners, this class combines boxing with circuit exercises to get you moving, red in the face and feeling great. 
Hort Innovation has launched a new campaign that encourages everyone to shake off their COVID-19 isolation lows and naturally boost their mood with Aussie fruit, veg and nuts.The campaign aims to shine a light on not just the physical benefit of eating well, but also the emotional benefits. This is even more relevant as the country deals with the impacts of isolation on emotional wellbeing and mood. 
Are you pregnant or a new Mum and looking for new ways to stay active? This Mum Moves is an initiative aimed at supporting women to exercise and live healthily during their pregnancy and beyond. It provides information on the benefits of being physically active and also offers tips and tricks on the best way to increase your activity. 
If you are still isolating at home, there is no reason that you need to sit down all day. Exercise has been shown to lower your risk of developing some diseases, reduce your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar, and decrease pain levels. It has even been shown to improve how well your immune system works! Therefore, while you are self-isolating, it is important to remain as physically active as possible. The University of Queensland has put together a resource that gives suggestion of ways to keep active at home. Suggestions include:
Nature Play's Passports to An Amazing Childhood inspire children to reconnect with nature through unstructured play and outdoor learning, with incentives.
Mind to Walk Podcast
Smiling Mind- Mindful Month
