Redland City Council is partnering with the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) on a groundbreaking project to train local community organisations to readily identify and report instances of domestic and family violence and help those affected by it.

It is hoped the six-month pilot project will provide councils throughout Queensland with a blueprint for easing the social and personal trauma of domestic and family violence in their communities.

Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said the collaboration centred on providing specialised training and support to “front line” community groups to make it easier for those affected by such violence to get the help and support they needed.

“Local councils are uniquely placed to influence and drive social change and help reduce abuse,” Cr Williams said.

“Redland City Council has been steadfast in our support of those affected by domestic and family violence and we are proud to be the first Council in the State to partner with the LGAQ on this trial.

“We also have developed strong partnerships with amazing local groups such as Redland City Community Champions, our network of chaplains, STAR Community Services, and service providers such as the Centre for Women and Co, which already do so such much great work in our community.

“Through this pilot project and support of groups such as these, we hope to strengthen our efforts to expose domestic and family violence, to educate residents about the terrible toll it takes on communities everywhere and to build stronger partnerships between Council, domestic and family violence service providers and other key stakeholders.”

Cr Williams, a member of the Federal Government Local Government Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Toolkit Project Reference Committee, said both Council and the LGAQ wanted the campaign against violence to become embedded as a key area of focus for local government and to ensure the message that violence was “never, ever OK” was getting through to all sections of the community.

LGAQ domestic and family violence project officer Jim Boden said Redland City was ideal for the project because of Council’s long-standing proactive approach to domestic and family violence issues.

He said the project would initially focus on domestic and family violence awareness, as well as training and equipping local community and support groups to identify and help those affected by it.

“The training – which will be delivered in conjunction with Council’s Community & Economic Development and Disaster Management team as well as the Centre for Women and Co – will seek to both raise awareness of abuse and confidence in managing disclosures about violence,” Mr Boden said.

“We also want to align with existing work being delivered through initiatives such as the Southern Moreton Bay Islands Safe Places Project and Bay Island Community Services’ Can Do Volunteer program to ensure a long-term strategic focus on the issue and the creation of a model of community partnerships and collaboration.

“We will also be looking to work with organisations such as the SES, whose members may benefit from training to recognise and respond to domestic and family violence.

“This recognises that domestic violence so often escalates after natural disasters.

“Ultimately, we want to develop a strategic approach that can be implemented by other councils.”

Tickets are now on sale for the 2020 Redland City Mayoral Prayer Breakfast on 16 October, with the need for community support never greater.

Now in its 18th year, the annual breakfast raises funds for chaplaincy programs in State schools on Redlands Coast, supporting more than 14,500 students who use the service each year.

Mayor Karen Williams said that while the event usually attracted more than 280 people, tickets this year had to be limited due to COVID-19 restrictions.

“Keeping everyone safe during these times is vital so tables have been restricted to comply with social distancing requirements,” Cr Williams said.

“Meanwhile, this fundraising event has taken on even more significance due to the impact of COVID-19, both in terms of the need for chaplaincy out there in our school communities and the fact the widespread financial pressures caused by the pandemic have led to a significant drop in income for our chaplaincy services.

“We need as much support as possible so Council is also looking at other avenues through which you can help our chaplains on the morning, so keep an eye on Council’s website for updates. But if you want tickets, you will need to get in quick,”

This year’s guest speaker will be founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Red Frogs Australia chaplaincy network Andy Gourley, who is also chaplain for the Queensland Reds and Brisbane Bullets teams.

“This chaplaincy network has been looking after young people at Schoolies and festivals, along with universities students, for 23 years now, providing guardian angels for so many young people and no doubt reassurance for their parents,” Cr Williams said.

“Andy, or ‘Boss Frog’ as he has become known, is an inspirational leader and speaker.

“An accountant by day and skateboarding youth worker at night, he saw a need for young people to be safeguarded and did something about it.

“Andy’s Red Frog movement now extends internationally and involves 4000 volunteers around Australia to support festivals, sports and skateboarding events.”

Cr Williams said funds raised by the event offered much-needed support to school chaplains.

“Anxieties have been heightened for many in this year of COVID-19, including our young people, which makes programs such as school chaplaincy even more significant as they provide important social, emotional and spiritual support for Redlands Coast students, staff and families through mentoring, role modelling and pastoral care,” she said.

“There are currently 20 State school chaplains working across Redlands Coast but some local State schools do not have access to chaplaincy services.

“My hope is that through events such as the Mayoral Prayer Breakfast, all our State school students can have equal access to these important programs.”

Cr Williams said sponsorship opportunities were also available and could be found online at redland.qld.gov.au/mpb

DETAILS
Redland City Mayoral Prayer Breakfast
Friday, 16 October 2020
Arrive 6.45am for a 7am start; event concludes 8.45am
Alexandra Hills Conference Centre – Corner of McDonald and Finucane roads, Alexandra Hills

Ticket Prices: book your seat
$60 each including GST
Tickets can be purchased from Redland Performing Arts Centre (RPAC) ticketing by phone, online or in person.
• Phone – during business hours on 3829 8131
• Online – www.rpac.com.au
• In person – RPAC box office, 2-16 Middle Street, Cleveland QLD 4163

Redlands Coast has once again proved itself to be a film-friendly destination as the Australian producers of the hit US reality television series Holey Moley have chosen a Thornlands site for production of its first Australian series.

Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said Eureka Productions’ choice of location for the family friendly entertainment program for its Holey Moley international hub would pave the way for a raft of benefits to the Redlands Coast community.

“Eureka’s decision to film Holey Moley on location here is tremendously exciting and will prove a massive win for Redlands Coast businesses, residents and the community, with benefits that will multiply for potential new series and international franchising,” she said.

“Production of the first Australian series will generate more than 100 local jobs and see significant local economic benefit, of around $20 million, and through opportunities for the construction and tourism industry sectors, including accommodation providers, to local suppliers, including landscaping, security, catering and more.

“I can’t emphasise enough how welcome this news is to our community, which like many others is still reeling and recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Eureka Productions Co CEO, Paul Franklin said: “It is an honour and privilege to bring one of the world’s biggest reality shows to Redlands Coast. Holey Moley is mini golf like you have never seen before, a combination of great putting, big hits and crazy comedy, all in the name of fun filled family entertainment. Eureka Productions looks forward to working in partnership with Redland City Council and the local community to bring this Seven Network show to life”.

Cr Williams said the community would also benefit socially, as Eureka had planned for COVID-safe audiences on each filming day.

“Holey Moley is a fun, family friendly program, and Eureka’s offer of a free-of-charge and unforgettable family friendly experience as an audience member is one that I’m sure many Redlands Coast residents will be keen to take up,” Cr Williams said.

“Film and media students will also appreciate an opportunity to be part of the Holey Moley production, to experience first-hand the world of television production.

“The local film industry will also benefit from this unique opportunity to work on a large-scale production in their local community.”

Holey Moley is scheduled to commence filming soon and will go to air on Channel 7 in 2021.

This production has received support from the Queensland Government through Screen Queensland.

State Government claims that visitors could bypass Redlands Coast by travelling directly from Howard Smith Wharves to North Stradbroke Island/Minjerribah in 40 minutes needs a lot more work and better consultation, Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said.

Cr Williams said while she supported any plans to deliver more visitors to islands such as Minjerribah, she was surprised to see plans announced over the weekend for a pontoon to be open at Howard Smith Wharves by Christmas to allow passengers to bypass Cleveland and Redland Bay and access the islands of Moreton Bay directly from Brisbane City.

“You can’t have fast expresses coming down the river,” Cr Williams said.

“You would be lucky to get to the mouth of the river in 40 minutes let alone to Amity/Pulan on North Stradbroke Island, which doesn’t have a jetty to accommodate that type of tourism operation.

“If this is supposed to happen before Christmas, who is going to pay for the required infrastructure on North Stradbroke Island, and who would maintain it?”

Division 2 Councillor for North Stradbroke Island Peter Mitchell said he was dismayed by the lack of consultation from the State Government regarding Saturday’s announcement of $5.5 million State Government funding for three new pontoons at Howard Smith Wharves, with the first to be completed by the end of the year, for boats to travel to Moreton Bay Islands in 40 minutes.

“Council is not opposed to the concept of a direct link from the Brisbane River to the island but before anyone goes spending $5.5 million in Brisbane city and claiming it will benefit Minjerribah we need to see a full feasibility study,” Cr Mitchell said.

“We need to know how it will impact the island, how it will impact Redlands businesses that currently sell supplies to people travelling to the islands and what will it mean to Redlands ferry companies?”

Cr Williams said there was a great deal of need on North Stradbroke Island and so she wanted to understand the potential benefits and risks of the plan.

“The end of sandmining last year has impacted Straddie businesses greatly and now COVID has made that worse, with a lot of businesses on the island hurting and so we need to know money is being spent in the right areas,” she said.

“When the State announced they were ending sandmining on Straddie the first thing I said is that they need to allow enough time to transition the island and they need to have a clear plan backed by clear engagement.

“This is not how you engage and I ask the State Government to consult with the whole Redlands Coast community to understand their needs and concerns on this plan.

“I have been speaking with the Minister about the need for a Moreton Bay Tourism Strategy to guide the future of our island communities and the infrastructure needed to support it.

“Without a vision for these islands how do we know this is the right sort of infrastructure to support the community and how do we know it won’t hurt business?

“I have asked to speak with the Minister about this announcement and the future of North Stradbroke Island, and on behalf of the community I am asking for more detail and transparent consultation so residents and visitors know what is planned.”