Official opening of Geitz Bennet Park
The Geitz Bennet Park will officially be opened on 16 July in Allora.
Laura Geitz and Wayne Bennet will be in attendance, and will be inducted as Allora Sports Museum’s “first sporting immortals”.
Laura will officially unveil her statue outside the museum at around 11:30 am, followed by a public BBQ at the Railway Hotel.
Perry Cronin from Allora Sports Museum has also confirmed that the Melbourne Cup is scheduled to arrive in town on 14 September.
Queensland wins the first State of Origin round
Queensland won the first game of this year’s State of Origin series, beating New South Wales 10 – 16.
The 2022 State of Origin series is the 41st annual best-of-three series between the Queensland and New South Wales rugby league teams.
Prior to this year’s series, Queensland has won 22 times, New South Wales has won 16 times, and two series have been drawn.
Game two will be played on Sunday, 26 June 2022 at 7:50 pm, while game three will be played on Wednesday, 13 July 2022 at 8:10 pm.
Southern Downs rolls out the Welcome Mat for Queensland Maroons
Fresh off their first State of Origin win against the Blues, and hopefully a second win too, the Queensland Maroons will visit the region next month and the Southern Downs community and surrounds will have the opportunity to meet their heroes and put them through the paces in the lead up to the third game.
Maroons coach Billy Slater and his team have set aside two days from their Origin campaign to meet with local fans for the upcoming annual regional fan tour on Tuesday 5 July and Wednesday 6 July 2022.
Newly appointed coach Billy Slater was excited about the impact the event would have on both his team and the community.
Southern Downs Mayor Vic Pennisi said it would be an honour to host the Maroons, particularly amid their Origins campaign preparations.
Investing in Queensland women grant recipients revealed
A further 34 community organisations have been successful in receiving an Investing in Queensland Women grant to deliver initiatives that advance gender equality and empower Queensland women.
Minister for Women and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Shannon Fentiman said the organisations would share in $270,000 in funding.
Among the funded initiatives to begin within the next six months are:
• A new mentoring program organised by Women in Technology that will see 30 young women from regional areas mentored to develop skills in the STEM industry and leadership.
• A collaboration between Children by Choice Association and WWILD to create resources for women with intellectual or learning disabilities to consider pregnancy options, contraception, consent and to recognise the signs of reproductive coercion and abuse.
• Workshops on mental health resilience delivered by the Carers Foundation for female teenage carers.
• A new ‘words of survivors’ social media campaign developed by the Queensland Sexual Assault Network, which will be presented during Sexual Violence Prevention Month in October.
