Change And Challenge…

Billy J Fox

Billy J. was born the son of a tin miner in north Qld. He was encouraged to leave school (by the teaching committee) when aged 14 so he found fulfilment working as a 'Cleaner of Transportable Cattle Crates'. After mastering this, the world was his oyster and over the next decade or two he worked as a Spray Painter, Photographer, Chef, Truck Driver and Motor Cycle builder. Eventually he too fell under the spell of a music career and ended up broke and hairless, not a good look for a rock star. After eight years of study including a degree in counselling he now works at Lifeline Coral Coast Capricorn as a clinical councillor and Project Officer.He has written (and presents) a series of Lifeskill Workshops including "Laughter Fun and Play". Ironically Billy J. still plays in a Blues Band (with Alex Johnson!) which is why he can still laugh at himself!!

After graduating with a Music Degree from the ANU in Canberra, I was a professional musician and music teacher for several years. I soon realised that unless a got a ‘real job’ I’d end of starving myself (and family) to death!! I went back to University and completed a Graduate Diploma in Counselling, and have been working as a professional Clinical Counsellor every since. I’m currently employed by Lifeline Coral Coast Capricorn, based in beautiful Bundaberg.

My areas of professional interest are Domestic and Family Violence prevention and therapeutic engagement with violent men.

When I’m not Counselling, I enjoy playing in my band, spending time with my family and jumping off of large cliffs (attached to a hang glider).


SILVER SPONSORS	The Venue
beyondblue: the national depression initiative	The venue for the two day conference was the Bundaberg Baptist Centre at 14 Fitzgerald Street, Bundaberg. Set in beautiful and quiet gardens, it provided wonderful surroundings for the conference.
BRONZE SPONSORS OTHER SPONSORS
BRONZE SPONSORS OTHER SPONSORS	Our Key-Note Speakers This year we endeavored to bring together a group of speakers who provide you with different perspectives and challenge you to reflect on your own lives and changes that you might be able to make. Sandy Blackburn-Wright What began as a three month visit soon turned into a decision to move to South Africa permanently, ill-prepared as she was for the political violence and turmoil of the late 80’s. But that decision allowed her to take part in the most extraordinary transformation in modern history. Her book ‘Holding Up the Sky’ describes in detail the events that followed. After ten years Sandy returned to Australia and went to work with PricewaterhouseCoopers as an HR Director, and was responsible for the firm’s Learning and Development programme. She later went on to Westpac to take on the role of Head of Learning and Culture. Jasen Barrie Jasen Barrie is the owner and director of Sexie Coffie, located on the Bruce Highway just north of Maryborough. Jasen has developed Sexie Coffie into a multi-dimensional, award winning operation encompassing café, merchandise and wholesale operations as well as an online shopping facility. Sexie Coffie is now one of Queensland’s most successful and professional coffee operations. Liz Caffery Liz Caffery has a personal history deeply embedded in ‘life on the land’ through her practical involvement as a dairy farmer. Liz has always been an advocate for positive change and prepared to meet the challenges in making change effective and sustainable. Her conference presentation will reflect on change and challenge in her life’s work, difficult personal decisions, overcoming obstacles encountered along the way and making transitions at the various stages of life.



Workshop Presenters As usual we have put together a variety of workshops from book readings by authors through to bushtucker cooking! We have the technology workshops and back by popular demand— the Working with Media Workshop led by one of our local heroes, Georgie Somerset. The question this year isn’t which workshop you are going to choose, but how are you going to fit it all in? Some of our presenters included:

	Enjoy a book reading of Farm Woman by author Ray Tyndale
	Meet the author and hear her read passage from her recently released book FarmWoman. FarmWoman is the intimate and inspiring story of a young woman who marries into the enclosed world of a fourth-generation farming family and struggles to gain her independence while the face of rural Australia changes around them. Author, Ray Tyndale’s rich life experience, and more, informs her poetry. Ray has been awarded a doctorate in Creative Writing

	"Advance Australia Fair" Wild foods and bush tucker are becoming increasingly popular! The Dilly Bag's -Dale Chapman is a qualified chef who has run small businesses for over a twenty-five years including catering, training ("Grow It, Cook It, Eat It" Programme) through TAFE as well as Indigenous product retail stores in Eumundi and Redcliffe. Her catering service "The Dilly Bag" could not meet demand for catering orders placed by State Government agencies and Queensland's Parliament House functions! As part of this workshop Dale will be showing you how to prepare Bush Tomato Dip with a Native Cheese Platter, Char Grilled Kangaroo Fillet With Sweet Potato, Red Pepper and Zucchini stack with Roasted Macadamia Nuts and Native Honey Drizzle, followed by Lemon Myrtle and Macadamia Nut Biscuits with Kangaroo Chai Tea. Only limited places for this workshop so you will need to book quickly!!

	Bronwyn Bisley "Dreams In The Dust - Take A Breath, Refocus and Explore The Journey Of Wealth" Bronwyn has lived most of her life in rural Australia from remote cattle stations in the NT through to a dairy farm in Victoria. Throughout the many periods of her life as a career hungry single onto a time hungry single mum of 3, there have been some consistent financial understandings she has lived by. They are simple and better yet, tried and tested. Like any good cook, her mandate is to keep it simple, use fresh ingredients and enjoy it with friends! Bronwyn has a Masters Degree, is a self employed communications consultant, small business owner and has delivered financial workshops over the years.

	Cynthia Hoogstraten Cynthia Hoogstraten developed her own deportment and grooming courses on the Sunshine coast fifteen years ago, after working in related fields since the early seventies. Currently her work has taken her into many of the schools in the region where her focus is in teaching girls that "True beauty comes from the inside and shines on the outside". It is about having a positive attitude and teaching women to believe in themselves. Her motto is not "I Can't" but "How can I?"

	Leatherwork - Beading - Scrapbooking - Fascinating Fascinaters!! Craft workshops will be held with each session throughout the conference. We have Colleen Zillman this year who will be holding a scrapbooking workshop during Day 2 of the conference. Attendees will be able to make this lovely little photo album as seen in this photo. The cost of attending any craft workshops is $10 per workshop. The Barambah Branch of the QRWN are subsidising each of the workshops and keeping the costs down to $10 per workshop for attendees. Other workshops include leatherwork and back by popular demand from last year – Fascinating Fascinaters with Linda Silburn and Beading With Judy Gray. All of our craft workshops have limited numbers this year so you need to book early to make sure that you don’t miss out!

	“Laughter – The Best Medicine!” Billy J Fox Billy J. was born the son of a tin miner in north Qld. He was encouraged to leave school (by the teaching committee) when aged 14 so he found fulfilment working as a 'Cleaner of Transportable Cattle Crates'. After mastering this, the world was his oyster and over the next decade or two he worked as a Spray Painter, Photographer, Chef, Truck Driver and Motor Cycle builder. Eventually he too fell under the spell of a music career and ended up broke and hairless, not a good look for a rock star. After eight years of study including a degree in counselling he now works at Lifeline Coral Coast Capricorn as a clinical councillor and Project Officer.He has written (and presents) a series of Lifeskill Workshops including "Laughter Fun and Play". Ironically Billy J. still plays in a Blues Band (with Alex Johnson!) which is why he can still laugh at himself!! Alex Johnson After graduating with a Music Degree from the ANU in Canberra, I was a professional musician and music teacher for several years. I soon realised that unless a got a ‘real job’ I’d end of starving myself (and family) to death!! I went back to University and completed a Graduate Diploma in Counselling, and have been working as a professional Clinical Counsellor every since. I’m currently employed by Lifeline Coral Coast Capricorn, based in beautiful Bundaberg. My areas of professional interest are Domestic and Family Violence prevention and therapeutic engagement with violent men. When I’m not Counselling, I enjoy playing in my band, spending time with my family and jumping off of large cliffs (attached to a hang glider).

	Sustainable Farming – Sustainable Communities – South East Burnett Landcare Group Tracy Rockemer and Penny Kennedy For the past twelve months the South East Burnett Landcare Group has had as its theme Sustainable Farming – Sustainable Communities. This program has aimed to promote the adoption of sustainable management practices throughout the grazing and fodder cropping industries which constitutes the major form of land use throughout our area. To date our emphasis has been on providing landholders with information and knowledge on various aspects of sustainable management. The program addresses a number of issues related to sustainable farming and grazing. Various aspects of the program will provide information, demonstrate alternative practices, monitor the resource base and provide financial assistance, so that landholders can manage their land in a sustainable way. As education is provided, ideas shared, demonstrated and implemented & financial assistance provided for on ground works the entire rural community will benefit, though most importantly the sustainable use of the land and the precious resources will see a renewed energy from landholders, leading to positive outcomes socially, environmentally and financially. We believe that farming in an environmentally sustainable manner is the key to ensuring the future of agriculture in this region and therefore the communities and towns supported by the rural sector. Come and speak with Tracy & Penny about how the program works and how you as a member of a rural community can get involved.

	Media Workshop Georgie Somerset Learn how you can maximise your efforts in dealing with the media. Georgie has been liaising with media for over 20 years and her tips are practical, everyday ideas that have generated publicity in a wide range of media. Bring along (in your head or physically) what you are wanting to promote and any questions or stumbling blocks you have encountered. We’ll have fun helping you!

	Succession Workshop Karen Harper Karen has a background and passion for working with people. Based in SE Queensland Karen works throughout rural and regional Australia. Karen has specialised in the area of succession planning over the past 10 years, and promotes a process of succession planning that starts as early as possible in the business, is inclusive of all family members and inclusive of other professionals including the families/business accountant, solicitor and financial planner. Having sat and talked with families who have struggled and succeeded with succession Karen hopes to pass on tips learnt from others so that every family business has the best chance of success when moving into or out of a family business


AGM Agenda 2008 Conference Photos 2007 Conference Photos We would like to thank the following sponsors for their support: GOLD SPONSORS	The Barambah Branch was proud to host this year’s gathering in beautiful Bundaberg! The Conference was an amazing experience for all who attended. 100+ QRWN members attended the Conference this year. QRWN would like to thank everyone who attended and everyone who helped make this year's Conference a success! - Lesley Thun and the Barambah QRWN Branch Cultural Competition Winners! Click here to find out who's entries won in the 2008 QRWN Cultural Competition.



Entertainment
Banana Joe For our main conference dinner on Thursday night the calypso band “Banana Joe” performed. Banana Joe was a delight on the senses, with the enchanting sounds of steel drums.