Pictures from NHW BBQ in the Park

Christmas BBQ in the park

The River Downs Neighbourhood Watch executive wish to thank all of the residents that made the effort in attending the residents get together Sunday 13th December.

It was great success, new contacts and friendships were established and old ones renewed, which of course was one of the prime objectives of the event.

Your committee are already planning the next event which will be somewhere around the month of May, this event is likely to be a car boot sale/bbq.

These photo's are from our Sunday get together. I think I can say the event was a great success, with people

coming and going throughout the afternoon.

And the final count including children was 83 attendees, very good indeed. The final group of residents arrived at around 5pm and we cleared the park just prior to 6pm, a huge day!!

Left over bits....I have 1 x Directors chair and 1 x green sun hat, these items were left in the park and can be retrieved by contacting riverdownsnhw@email.com

Finally, I would like to thank the committee members for putting in their free time and other contributions, the volunteer cooks, the little name sticker helpers and of course all the residents who attended and supported their Neighbourhood Watch group in making the day a huge success.

John Dignam
Area Coordinator
River Downs Neighbourhood Watch

BBQ IN RIVER DOWNS PARK

COMMUNITY GET TOGETHER:

***SUNDAY 13th DECEMBER FROM 12pm***

Condamine Cres Park.

BBQ supplied by your local Bi Lo supermarket

BYO: chairs, extra shade & drinks

See you there!

***A note from your new NHW Area Coordinator***

Hello to River Downs residents my name is John Dignam and as of the last NHW meeting held on Tuesday 20th October I was elected (unopposed I might add) as the new Area Coordinator for River Downs. I have lived in the area for 9 years now and I consider River Downs to be one of the nicest areas I have lived in, secure, friendly and comfortable. River Downs is certainly an area with a nice feel and well worth looking after. The NHW meeting at the Bowls Club was well “just brilliant”, we had the best turnout of residents ever, I think the number who sat through the meeting was around the 37 mark, truly inspiring. And a hearty thank you to previous committee members now retiring and to our new Queensland Police Liaison Officer Const. Donna Kay, she gave an excellent presentation.

I mentioned during my introduction talk a number of initiatives that the new committee will be undertaking this year, briefly they are:

· Holding 4 quarterly meetings approximately every 3 months, the next being Monday 11th January 2010…. We hope you can make it.
· Organisation of a guest speaker for each meeting
· We intend to hold some kind of bi-annual social type function. This is to help develop the community networking aspect of knowing who we are and information communication amongst the residents. I personally know lots of the residents because of my daily marathon walking but not all can have that luxury so this may be the next best thing. The first event is a sausage sizzle type of thing in River Downs Park at Condamine Cres. scheduled for noon Sunday on the 13th December. The committee will try to secure donations of the goodies from Woolies or Coles…hopefully, and any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
· We intend to create a web page/blog; this will enable residents to view newsletters, security advice and other
announcements more promptly and also enable resident communication to the community through the committee members. (please see the November newsletter for an update on our website).
· We have also commenced collecting residents email addresses etc. We will keep these secure and only use them in communicating important materials and information. Typically this may be when a resident’s property has been unlawfully accessed or there has been a suspicious event occur. Past experience in the area indicates when one home is violated then over a short period of time a few more also become affected. Therefore if the committee is able to get early warning of an event it can broadcast a warning to all networked residents advising them to take extra precautions.

Please consider forwarding your details to the committee through myself on riverdownsnhw@email.com

The NHW committee looks forward to meeting socially with residents on the 13th December at the park in Condamine Cres. Don’t forget your chairs, drinks and shade.


21 October 2009
John Dignam

Newsletter November 2009

(Click on each image to open / or right click and select open link in new window)

THE HEAT IS ON AND FIRE RISK IS STILL STRONG

With hot temperatures continuing around South East, the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service would like to remind you about the importance of taking fire safety seriously all year round.

Did you know that:
• storms and intermittent rainfall do not necessarily lessen the risk of fire. New growth dries out and can increase fuel load.

• urban bushland is just as much at risk as the rural landscape.

• tiny embers can fly long distances. The majority of homes are lost or severely damaged by ember attacks that may hit hours before or even after a fire front.

• sparks from a single cigarette butt can smoulder and eventually start a fire.

In the right conditions, bushfires can move rapidly. Your properties should always be well prepared by:

• clearing overhanging branches from the roof

• removing bushes, grass and weeds from close to your home

• clearing gutters and installing gutter plugs

• keeping hoses at the ready;

• buying a battery-powered radio to listen to updates if electricity fails

In rural areas, you should also:

• keep a clear buffer zone of at least 40 metres around your home and other buildings

• remove bushes, grass and weeds around sheds, fences and gates

• check your water system, pump or generator is working

Remember:
• Always call Triple Zero (000) to report an emergency.

• Be aware of Fire Bans in your Local Government Area.

• If a bushfire is approaching andyou decide to evacuate do so early.

Your local media receive up-to-date Fire Activity and related details direct from the Department of Community Safety.

Advice on Fire Safety, Fire Bans and Daily Fire Activity is also provided on the QFRS Rural Operations website at www.ruralfire.qld.gov.au or on www.fire.qld.gov.au.

                        BE RESPONSIBLE FIRE SAFETY STARTS WITH YOU!

For further information :

Community Liaison Officer Jenny Farrell - 0416 295 963

Department of Community Safety Media Unit - 3247 8186

Website: http://www.fire.qld.gov.au/default.asp