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Community Noticeboard

Book March 25 in your diary

Have you ever wanted to own the favourite, autographed, book of Gough Whitlam, Nigella Lawson, Andrew Denton, Kevin Rudd, or Rampaging Roy Slaven?
You can on Thursday March 25 at a Celebrity Book Auction being organised by the Queensland Chapter of the Don Dunstan Foundation.
Almost 100 authors, actors, politicians and other well-known Australians have donated their favourite or most inspirational book for auction through the DDF's Book Lovers Project to raise funds for the Indigenous Literacy Program and the Brisbane Youth Service.
Each book carries an inscription by its donor explaining why they love it, how it inspired them, or why they recommend it to others. Donors include Kate Grenville, Terri Irwin, Phillip Adams, Robert Dessaix, Peter Garrett, Therese Rein, Don Watson, Di Morrissey, Quentin Bryce, Bob Hawke, Graham Freudenberg, Anna Bligh, and Senator Bob Brown.
This is a chance to invest in a unique keepsake and help build a brighter future for disadvantaged Australians.
The auction takes pace on Thursday March 25 at 5.30pm for a 6pm start. The venue is the Queensland Terrace of the State Library of Queensland at South Bank.
Tickets cost $30 or $20 for Dunstan Foundation members, students, and concessions. Entry includes wine, canapes, and entertainment by Katie Noonan.
Tickets can be booked online by visiting www.mybookingmanager.com/bookauction.
For further information send an email to: km_mayes@yahoo.com.au.

Talk on early architecture

Guest speaker architect Margaret Lawrence-Drew will talk on the topic "Historical Houses and Buildings: Diversity in New Farm in the 1890s" at the Queensland Women's Historical Association's Miegunyah at 35 Jordan Terrace, Bowen Hills on March 11. There will be a morning tea at 10.30am, followed by the talk at 11am. Cost is $8 for members and $10 for non-members, including the morning tea. For more information or to book, phone 3252 2979 or email qwha@miegunyah.org. The associations website is www.miegunyah.org

Serenade in brass

Bring a picnic rug or folding chair and spend a relaxing afternoon in the grounds of beautiful Newstead House while the Salvos in their own inimitable style entertain you with the vibrant and intoxicating sounds of brass music. It’s free and it starts at 2.30pm on Sunday February 21 in Newstead Park on the corner of Breakfast Creek Road and Newstead Terrace, Newstead. For more details, phone Pam on 3369 2507.

Celebrating that Apology

Brisbane residents will take a twilight walk in Brisbane on Saturday February 13 to commemorate the second anniversary of the National Apology. Organised by Reconciliation Queensland Incorporated, the walk will follow a route from Boundary Street in Spring Hill to Boundary Street in West End, and will commence at St James College, 201 Boundary Street Spring Hill at 5pm. A free barbecue and music at Kurilpa Park will follow the walk.

Volunteers needed

The MS Readathon is gearing up for the 2010 Great Reading Adventure and is looking for volunteers from Brisbane to help inspire children to read and raise funds for multiple sclerosis (MS).The MS Readathon is Australia's premier reading-based fundraiser which encourages Australians to read books, learn about multiple sclerosis (MS) and raise funds to help people living with MS. Interested in volunteering? Then please contact the MS Readathon office in Queensland on 1300 677 323 or via email to msreadathon@msqld.org.au

Come a cropper

The Crop, the New Farm Writers Group, meets the first Wednesday of each month at the Merthyr Bowls Club Oxlade Drive, New Farm at 6.30 for a 7pm start.

Quiet time needed?

Are you needing a quiet space in your week? You can find that at the Meditation Hour at Merthyr Road Uniting Church (52 Merthyr Road, New Farm) every Friday night at 7 pm. Time for refreshments and conversation to follow. Call Chris on 0410 835 320 for more information.

Focus on religion

Father Peter Kennedy, well-known priest from St Mary’s Community in Exile and Dr Val Webb, theologian, artist and microbiologist, will lead a group discussion on the topic, Does Life need a Renewed Understanding of Religion? on Saturday March 6 at the Merthyr Road Uniting Church Centre.Val’s book, Like Catching Water in a Net: Imagining the Divine won the general religion' category of the USA Best Books 2007 awards and her topic for the morning will be Does God Create Religion or Religion Create God? In the afternoon, Fr Peter will lead the thinking on Divisions Created by Religion. Cost is $50 including morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea. Contact 0409 498 402 for more information or email drgarn@bigpond.net.au for a registration form

Volunteers also needed to phone elderly

Every day of the year hundreds of dedicated Red Cross Telecross volunteers make an early morning phone call to an elderly or frail person, just to make sure they are safe and well.
Greg Goebel, executive director for Red Cross in Queensland, says the daily phone calls from Telecross help provide peace of mind to older people and their families.
“It breaks down the sense of isolation many elderly people feel and allows them to maintain their independence for as long as possible. “
“Becoming a volunteer is an opportunity to make a difference in your community, by providing vital support for some of our most vulnerable citizens” Mr Goebe said.
To register as a Telecross client or volunteer, ring the toll free number 1300 885 698 or email qldagedcare@redcross.org.au.
Telecross volunteersare provided with ongoing training and support.

Speaking from the heart

Do you want to know more about living longer and healthier: have you ever wondered how to do something about it - and in the process change your lifestyle for the better? Heart, stroke and blood vessel disease is the major public health problem in Australia, causing more then 35 per cent of all deaths annually. The Heart Foundation has a network of local volunteer speakers available to visit your club, community group or organisation to speak about general heart health focusing on the benefits of lifestyle change and practical information on how to go about it. To invite a volunteer speaker to your organisation to help raise awareness of heart health throughout the community, or if you would like to volunteer as such a speaker, please contact Margaret Richards at the Heart Foundation on (07) 3872 2507.

Computer training

Brisbane Seniors OnLine (BSOL) provides affordable computer training for over 50s in the Brisbane area and is seeking new learners who would like to receive one-on-one lessons in their own homes or in our city training centre. By arrangement, we can also provide training in other venues such as community centres or public libraries. BSOL teaches both Windows and Apple Mac. New volunteer mentors are always welcome. The cost to learners is $40 a year plus a one-off $20 joining fee. For this, learners receive approximately 12 one-hour lessons and ongoing support for the balance of the membership year. Membership is free to mentors. Contact BSOL on 3210 6983 or at www.bsol.asn.au

Bags needed please!

The St Vinnies store on the corner of Brunswick and Alfred streets in the Valley urgently needs plastic bags to pop those great bargain buys into.

Corker of an idea

The Queensland branch of the Huntington's Disease Association is seeking bottle corks as part of its fundraising efforts. The association sells disused corks to a recycler. Corks can be dropped off at the association's office at 385 Ipswich Road, Annerley. For details ring 3391 8833.

AA meetings

The New Farm Group of Alcoholics Anonymous meets at the HADS unit of the Royal Brisbane Hospital on Mondays at 7pm. It also meets every Thursday and Friday from 7pm to 8.30pm and on Saturdays from 6.30pm to 7.30pm at 505 Bowen Terrace New Farm. The 24-hour helpline number is 3255 9162.

Emotional help needed?

Emotions Anonymous (EA) is a non-profit 12-step organisation that has helped many people learn to live with unsolved problems as diverse as depression, anger, acrophobia, broken or strained relationships, grief, anxiety, low self-esteem, panic, abnormal fears, resentment, jealousy, guilt, despair, fatigue, tension, boredom, loneliness, withdrawal, obsessive and negative thinking, worry, compulsive behaviour and a variety of other emotional issues. Emotions Anonymous meets on Saturdays at 10:45am at the Community Health Centre, Biala, Level 3, 270 Roma Street, Brisbane (opposite the Fire and Rescue Station). No membership fee is required, only a desire to get well. For further information go to their website: www.emotionsanonymous.org

Potted plants

The Society for Growing Potted Plants hold meeting on the second Saturday of each month in the Uniting Church Hall at 52 Merthyr Road, New Farm, commencing at 1.15pm. There are interesting guest speakers and plants for sale. Visitors are most welcome at a friendly and informative afternoon. Contact Ann on 3276 7223.

Quilters meet

A small group of non-profit quilters who meet at 10am on the first Saturday of each month at Trinity Place, Church Street, Fortitude Valley, is are looking for new members. Experienced or beginners are welcome. For more information contact Barbara on 5496 1195.

Jigsaws solved

Jigsaw Queensland, a non-profit, post-adoption resource service, holds support meetings as follows: Open support group: Anyone touched by adoption is welcome - first Tuesday of each month (except January) 7pm to 9pm; adoptee support group: for adoptees only - third Wednesday of each month 7pm to 9pm; birthmother support group: for Birthmothers only - third Saturday of each month 1.30pm to 4pm except for December. All meetings are held at SANDS House, 505 Bowen Terrace, New Farm. Further information is available online at: www.jigsawqueensland.com

Golden gurus wanted

Volunteering Queensland is looking for people aged 50 and over with business skills to join its Golden Gurus initiative. The group wants the gurus to help pass on their skills and experience to others. People interested in becoming a Golden Guru can register by contacting Volunteering Queensland on 3002 7600 or by visiting www.volqld.org.au

Unclaimed bonds

The Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA) is asking people to check if they are entitled to unclaimed rental bonds. The RTA is holding $4.5million in unclaimed bonds from 22,000 people and businesses. Bonds can be checked on the RTA website www.rta.qld.gov.au

BEAN THERE, DONE THAT!

Red Cross might be better known for its tea and scone making skills, but Red Cross Training Services in Brisbane is now running one-day courses on how to prepare and serve the perfect cup of coffee. A recent course in barista and coffee making at Bowen Hills included a brief history on coffee, how to prepare espresso coffees, cappuccinos and café lattes, how to texture milk, how to present coffee, and the cleaning and maintenance of espresso machines.

Red Cross trainer David Charles said: “Having the skills to make various coffees is almost a pre-requisite these days for any hospitality job. Our course is primarily designed for people looking to gain basic skills in coffee making such as café attendants, restaurant staff, and bar and gaming workers; but is also caters for home entertainers.”

Coffee making courses are run by Red Cross throughout the year and funds raised are used to support Red Cross services in Queensland such as personal support during disasters and emergencies, aged care, hospital visits and daily phone calls to the elderly. Bookings are essential. To inquire about next year’s training dates or to request a registration form contact Red Cross Training Services on 3620 7000 or email dcharles@redcross.org.au