Cr Danita Potter - Community and The Arts Portfolio Report - 16 August 2017

South Burnett Libraries

The partnership between child health and South Burnett Libraries has again strengthened with the proposal of weekly drop in clinics to be held at the Murgon and Wondai Libraries.  These clinics are already run on a weekly basis at the Nanango Library with fantastic attendance.

On Tuesday 8 August staff from the Kingaroy Library hosted another successful First 5 Forever pop-up morning at the Child Health Clinic in Glendon Street. These visits, which now occur every three (3) months, aim to introduce new parents to the programs and services provided by their local library.  By reading stories and singing rhymes with families in attendance at the clinic, they are given an insight into the concepts and messages behind the First 5 Forever initiative, including the over-arching message that parents are their child’s first, and most important teacher. 

To celebrate NAIDOC 2017 the Kingaroy Library invited the Kingaroy Art Gallery to choose works from the Council collection to be displayed in the library.  This display was complimented by a collection of photographs, some of which featured Wakka Wakka dancers who were present at Kingaroy’s NAIDOC Week celebration on July 6.  Upon hearing that their photos were on display, they were thrilled and posed for photos with their photographs.

During July the Kingaroy Library displayed three large banners from the State Library QANZAC100 collection. The display was arranged so it would be on view when the Electronic Warfare Wing, School of Signals, accompanied by the Brisbane Army Band was granted Freedom of Entry to the town of Kingaroy on July 8.

The Libraries’ mini put-put course once again proved a hit at the Proston Library on 1 August for a very special rhyme time event.  It is reported that although the children found the co-ordination a little difficult and the smaller ones kept disrupting the entire course, there were quite a few balls that made it through the course and to the hole.

Also at the Proston Library, nineteen (19) people attended the library on Wednesday 26 July to listen to the three (3) representatives from Cherbourg State School, Heather Carfoot, who co-ordinated the event, Uncle Bully and Aunty Sylvia.  The guests spoke about the issues related to educating the young people of Cherbourg.  They were asked a considerable amount of questions and both Uncle Bully and Aunty Sylvia displayed a wicked humour which had the audience in fits of laughter.  This information session was very well received, with each of the guests saying they would like to return with some of their elders to meet with the community again.

Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF) Information Sessions

During this month arts crossed over into our libraries where the RADF Management Advisory Committee held public information sessions across the region to advise interested local artists of the RADF funding available for 2017/2018 and how to apply for such assistance.  The information sessions were held in Blackbutt, Nanango, Kingaroy, Proston, Wondai and Murgon with Maidenwell to be held tomorrow.  Whilst the attendance was low with eight (8) attending the sessions to date, it has been a valuable exercise for the committee to get out into the community to promote the funding opportunity and meet local artists.

Community Grants Program Round One (1) for 2017/18

As announced last month the Community Grants Program Round One (1) is open for applications during the month of August.  There is still time for local not-for-profit community organisations to consider projects or events they would like Council to support during 2017/2018.  Applications close 31 August and I look forward to announcing the successful applications next month in my portfolio report. For information, application forms and contact details, please check out Council’s website or give Council a call.