IT’s often said that charity begins at home. For Jaylan Knapp, it is those without homes who need his charity the most. The 10-year-old Toowoomba student spent the past two months gathering and packing 48 bags of personal-care items, which he has now given to his local homeless community. When asked why this was important to him, Jaylan replied: “because ... Read More »

By Mark Bowling QUEENSLAND Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and her cabinet meeting in Toowoomba have been met by pro-life protesters this week voicing opposition to the Government’s proposed bill to legalise abortion. Chanting “life, life, life”, more than 600 people joined a lunchtime rally outside the city hall on September 26, where the Premier and her cabinet colleagues were meeting. Rally ... Read More »

YOUNG Roma religious education teacher Ryan Baines delivered an inspiring talk at the University of Southern Queensland recently with the simple message, “Do what gives you life”. That was a theme in his hour-long tale on second chances, faith and discovering new horizons. He was delivering the annual Concannon Oration, organised by Concannon College. About 200 people gathered to hear ... Read More »

RAIN across parts of southern Queensland has lifted spirits in many dry farming regions – but no more so than in the south-east town of Esk, where a Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving for Rural Communities and Rain has been cause for galvanising and jubilant celebration. In Esk, 100km north-west of Brisbane, last Sunday’s ecumenical event, initiated by the St ... Read More »

MACKILLOP Catholic College is celebrating the completion of the second stage of its development at Mount Peter, having tripled its enrolment since opening in 2016. College principal Luke Reed said the people of Queensland through the State Government had provided extensive funds for the first stages of the college. “We thank our fellow Queenslanders for their partnership and confidence in ... Read More »

TOWNSVILLE Bishop Tim Harris joined the Preps and Year 1s of St Anthony’s Catholic College, Deeragun, to bless their new early-learning centre. Parish priest Fr Giles Setter, Townsville Catholic Education executive director Jacqui Francis, director of leadership and school development Ross Horner and State Member for Townsville Scott Stewart were among guests attending. The new facilities, known as the Primi ... Read More »

RESIDENTS in a small central Queensland town where women are being forced to travel hundreds of kilometres to give birth are battling to have their local hospital maternity ward reopened. The people of Theodore raised more than $70,000 to help repair the maternity ward, part of a $2 million government overhaul, after the hospital was ravaged by floodwaters; only to ... Read More »

A PROFESSIONAL photographer with a keen eye for the outback is working with volunteers in one of Queensland’s hardest hit drought regions on a project showcasing their resilience during hard times. Anne Smith, from Airlie Beach, is working with volunteer photographers in the Barcaldine region – locals capturing their own images of the drought, these volunteers are participating in a ... Read More »

DOROTHY and Toto were a long way from Kansas for the sold-out production of The Wizard of Oz at Emmaus College, Rockhampton. More than 100 Emmaus students were involved in the cast, crew, orchestra and costumes in a 14-week preparation for the production on July 27-29 at the Pilbeam Theatre. But one role was decidedly recruited from outside the school ... Read More »