They also wield BBQ tongs, connect gas hoses to recalcitrant new BBQs (where many others tried) navigate a rental van and coolly manage a mechanical malfunction, bring Christmas cheer and sing ‘all things bright and beautiful’ as the Queensland Show Choir did at Light Up Carols 2023!
Being a Rotarian continues to ‘test the mettle‘. It wasn’t all just all carols and smooth festive cheer on Sunday, 3rd December during set-up in New Farm Park! Rotarian Les achieved genius status when he was able to get the BBQ going after many others had failed to do so! Meanwhile Denise was melting back at her address stuck on a driveway with a broken-down van; waiting for her unexpected visit from RACQ. As they say, ‘RACQ – would not be without it! With that behind us, we managed to get the BBQ sizzling sausages – and this BBQ kindly donated by Bunnings Newstead and get on with the afternoon.
In hindsight, the 2023 ‘Light Up Carols’ could be described as a perfectly festive garden party! Imagine this: an appreciative audience, friends and family relaxing on chairs and blankets, enjoying cold drinks, freezing snow cones courtesy of Cr Vicki Howard and Robert and Rotary New Farm’s sausage sizzle amidst the park’s beautifully manicured roses and palm tree laden gardens, all the while regaled by the voices of Queensland Show Choir including Peter Vance, MC’d by Victoria Carthew. Santa even managed a visit across his hectic schedule!
Carols was great respite to enjoy an afternoon supporting our causes including 3rd Space, The New Farm Neighbourhood Centre New Beginnings Project and New Farm State School’s Little Patch garden projects . We are grateful to receive the donations bucket on the day, coming in at just under $225! Incredibly fortunate, too, that carols was celebrated on a warm evening without the seasonal storms! We know you’ll enjoy looking at Ange Costes Photography pictorial gallery here. And more on our Instagram and Facebook over the coming weeks! Please give our Facebook business page a Like if you not already done so!
Images above: by Ange Costes Photography and include some of the Queensland Show Choir, audience at ‘Light Up Carols’, Cr Vicki Howard’s snow cone stand, MC Victoria Carthew (L) with carols leader and Rotary New Farm member and carols project leader Denise and family and New Farm State School ‘Little Patch’ display and sponsor Merthyr Village.
It was particularly uplifting to see New Farm State School’s ‘Little Patch’ garden project teachers provide a display around the garden workings and invite the community to donate whatever they could small or large to support the garden. ‘Little Patch’ garden project students have made great merchandising that would make wonderful Christmas and all-year-around gifts including seasoned and spiced salt and sugar and greeting cards with original artworks led by various garden ‘artists in residence’.
A sincere thanks to everyone Rotary-wise and other who helped us deliver this flagship event: Gary, Denise (our leader), President Monica, Maryanne, Virginia, Dani, Penny, Albena, Les, Lucia and Dennis, Melinda, Cnr Vicki Howard, Robert, Kate, Julie, Louise and Allison (all from New Farm State School), Mark, Leanne and Christina – Penny’s generous friends. We also want to recognise Monica and Denise for ‘always putting themselves out there’ and talking live on ABC612 on Friday 1st December, around Light Up Carols and other endeavours with announcer Cathie Schnitzerling. Light Up Carols has become a Rotary-driven community legacy. We have Brisbane City Council and Cr Vicki Howard to thank for this!
Building legacies strengthens communities and is vital for overall well-being. Legacies help us remember, recognise and feel value. Sadly, domestic violence and its intervention and prevention serves as a legacy to many. Our club is committed to saying NO to DV. Since 2018, Rotary in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands have been uniting to build awareness and education programmes to help the community identify, reduce and stop physical domestic violence and non-physical coercive control. It was Brisbane’s turn to represent on December, 1st. Rotary New Farm extends a thank you to the people who participated in this peaceful and non-confrontational ‘Walk for Respect’ in Brisbane City, on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. We well recognise that domestic violence has devastating impacts for generations. President Monica, Holstein and baby A represented Rotary New Farm on the walk.
Monica recounted, ‘There were about 30-40 of us and escorted by police and we walked slowly along the pavement. It was a poignant, silent march in hot sun furthering the impact of the devastation of DV. The police horses and riders were beautiful, even if a bit frisky’.
Rotary New Farm extends its recognition and deep appreciation for the tireless work of the Queensland Police Services.
In lighter news, we are not just hard-working volunteers – we are also place-getters in trivia! Joining another evening get-together on Wednesday 6th December we held a social evening at New Farm Bistro. It was a fun night which turned into a surprise trivia night and Monica, Denise, Denise, Lucia and Penny achieved third prize! The food was good and company was great.
We’ve had a great year, but we are REALLY stretched for members and volunteers. Would you like to make a difference? Would you like to contribute to supporting social injustice in the areas around New Farm, Fortitude Valley and Teneriffe? There’s rich rewards for you that money cannot buy. It’s timely during these dire times for so many at local level and ‘worldly’ that we reconnect with Rotary International’s ‘why’ and areas of service.
- Peace and Conflict Prevention / Resolution.
- Disease Prevention and Treatment.
- Water and Sanitation.
- Maternal and Child Health.
- Basic Education and Literacy.
- Economic and Community Development
We recently shared a vocational visit from Member for Brisbane Central MP Stephen Bates and made connections with the areas above. MP Bates discussed:
- Tackling the climate crisis with 100% renewable energy by 2030, rebooting QLD manufacturing with solar panels, wind turbines, and green steel, and investing in public transport and high speed rail.
- Constituency support around the NDIS
- Expanding the health system to fully cover dental and mental healthcare into Medicare.
- Getting corporate money out of politics by banning corporate donations and establishing a gold standard Federal ICAC to hold politicians to account.
- Ensuring that our country puts people before profits, be it in the fight against climate change and developments like Brisbane Airport’s new flight paths, or in the struggle for healthcare access and free education.
- Creating affordable, safe housing for all and enshrining robust renters rights
It is not surprising that homelessness has risen by 8 per cent nationally since 2017, according to University of New South Wales Professor Hal Pawson (2023). “In Queensland, it’s gone up by 22 per cent. In regional Queensland, the increase is “even more dramatic”, up 29 per cent in four years”, he said. “In Brisbane rents are up by well over 30 per cent since the outbreak of COVID,” Professor Pawson explained. In addition, grocery prices seem to have sky-rocketed.
“Rent is one of the pressures that is probably pushing homelessness increases higher in Queensland than in other parts of the country.” In the 2017-18 financial year homelessness services in regional and metro Queensland combined, saw on average 10,477 people a month. In 2021-22 it was 12,739.
Given current trends, Queensland needs 11,000 affordable and social homes each year for the next 20 years, Professor Pawson said. Looking ahead, on16th December we are going to have a presence at New Farm Neighbourhood Centre and provide food to anyone passing. We have another scheduled for 6th January and your help is needed – we are always stretched for volunteers. Please contact President Monica if you can assist or are interested in joining Rotary New Farm.
Data source for the above re homelessness: click here for more read arounds.
Save the date! Fancy an invite to a new bridge opening? On the 27th January we’ll hold a BBQ in Newstead Park 7am to 10am for opening of a new ‘green’ bridge. We do lots of great things with the funds we raise, supporting local service groups and granting scholarships for young people to avail themselves to course in STEM and personal development. Set to span 80 metres, the Breakfast Creek green bridge will feature dedicated pathways for pedestrians and cyclists, all while extending the riverwalk over to Newstead Park. If you are a fan of green bridges – which indeed we are, appearance-wise, arches feature prominently — and the design will be decked out in hues that match the Moreton Bay Fig trees. At its landing point at Newstead Park, it’ll be designed to integrate easily with the park’s heritage look. The bridge will also connect the CBD with Olympics Athletes Village that’s planned for Northshore Hamilton during the 2032 Olympics. Best of all – Rotary New Farm will be there on the day and there might be a few sausages to sizzle! Please join us!
What else is coming up? Would you like to part of our community dinner? Save the date! On the 7th February we have a community dinner, for all service-based groups and similar in New Farm and surrounding areas. This will be an excellent opportunity to collaborate and show that we care.
A wee reminder! Would you like to join our RNF life? We’d love to have you! We meet on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday mornings at 6.45am for 7:00am at the New Farm Neighbourhood Centre. At our morning meetings we alternatively discuss our projects, discuss our RNF club business or host an interesting and topical presenter.
Email President Monica – president.newfarm@rotary9620.org
We’d love to meet you!