Wednesday, 19 June, 2024
12676229-AI12-24
Lockyer Growers’ Expo
Lowood Show pictures
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Phone: 4574 5200 Trades and Classifieds: 1300 666 808
FREE 12693054-FR23-24
Better calls Communities across the Somerset Region and Ipswich will have a more resilient mobile phone network following the allocation of new funding to the Queensland Government’s Mobile Network Hardening Program. The program aims to reduce the risk of service outages during natural disasters and throughout the response and recovery period. Round 2 of the program is providing $1.61 million in grant funding for 40 projects across Queensland. This includes the following 12 locations in Ipswich and Somerset in the federal electorate of Blair. STORY PAGE 4
50c options
Fair buzzing The Valley of the Lakes Garden Club scored a home run with its massive Esk Garden Fair on Saturday. President Kerri Melville of Toogoolawah thanked the 100 stall holders, saying the fair was the best ever. “It’s an amazing turn-out,” she said. STORY, PICS PAGE 12
Enthusiastic members of the Valley of the Lakes Garden Club were everywhere, including Treasurer, Nicolee Ditchfield (left), with pals Pat Webster, Maria Hope and best of all, young Frankie Hope.
While most of the region misses out on the State Government’s 50c transport fares in the six month trial beginning August 5, there are a few service benefits. The State Transport Department said routes included in the 50c trial were Route 529 Toogoolawah to Ipswich, Route 539 Rosewood and Helidon, Route 895 Woodford to Morayfield/Caboolture, Route 896 Kilcoy to Morayfield/Caboolture and Route 897 Woodford to Caboolture schools. “The 50c fares initiative only applies to the Translink public transport network, which includes buses servicing the Lockyer Valley and Somerset regions,” the spokesperson said. STORY PAGE 8
Victims find storm damage isn’t all the same...
Hail of injustice On 23 and 24 December, 2023, a terrifying hailstorm tore through Gatton properties leaving many with busted roofs and unlivable homes. Shortly after, Gold Coast, Logan and Scenic Rim residents experienced similar hardships from another weather event.
Unlike the Lockyer Valley, residents of those council areas were eligible for $1,000 payments per eligible adult through the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment. Gatton resident June Whitehouse believes she and many othes should have been eligible for similar support.
“We were bombarded with a hail storm, with hail that was not only the size of a cricket ball or bigger, but each ball had jagged pieces of sharp ice sticking out,” Mrs Whitehouse said. “As my husband and I sat having a coffee in our lounge room, the water suddenly started
pouring through our ceiling fan. “As the minutes went by we watched our lounge ceiling change colour. Water poured down inside the cavities of some of our walls and out through the skirting boards at the bottom.” STORY PAGE 3
We pride ourselves your irrigation needs 12676239-MP12-24
By Jacob Hayden