Garth Hamilton (Groom, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A quick round-the-grounds from the Groom electorate. I know you and all assembled members will agree the best part of Australia is in our great Darling Downs. We had the Jacaranda Festival back again out at Goombungee. It has been two years, and it was a great day out with thousands of people lining the streets. It was great to see so much attention and money pumping through that local economy to keep those small towns alive. A quick shoutout to Tom at the Pioneer Arms Hotel. I ordered a half-pint and he upgraded me to a full pint—I did pay for it and I didn't ask for it. A quick joke there for Tom and I.

Beef City turns 50! Red meat is such a huge part of our local economy and we went out for the celebrations out there. It's a really great story for Beef City—their first ever account was with the Japanese agricultural department providing red meat to Japan. After the Second World War Japan were keen to make sure they never again had the food shortages they had then, and we've played a key part in that. Japan has been a great investor in our region, in Beef City, Oakey Beef and the Acland coal mine. It was a great day out. Congratulations to everyone who has been involved over a long time.

W Coffee and Co in the Australia Arcade—a little bit too close to my office—had a soft launch of their cocktail evenings on a Friday night. The best espresso martinis in Toowoomba is their claim—I think they're pretty good. Congratulations to Jordy. I'll give a quick shoutout across the arcade for Dead Ringer Records. It's a great little shop that's expanding and has a great selection of records. I picked up the Eurythmics' Touch, a 1983 classic, for 20 bucks. Get in there and support local businesses—it's so important we see those arcades growing.

I went out to the Toowoomba Women's Shed. We often talk about men's sheds, but the women's shed in Toowoomba is absolutely fantastic. I walked in on a slow day and there were 25 women there working all sorts of things that are needed across our community, from school bags to things used in hospitals to give people a bit of extra comfort, Christmas gifts, blankets and wraps for kids. It's fantastic to go in there and see so many women working so hard and enjoying each other's company. It's a great thing.

This week we also farewelled the chancellor Uni SQ—the University of Southern Queensland—John Dornbusch has served three terms as our chancellor and he's been on the council 25 years. He has given so much to our community and we thank him very much for his service.

Also this week, we heard that the Vice-Chancellor, Geraldine Mackenzie, will be moving on. Geraldine, thank you so much for everything that you've done for UniSQ, not just in my electorate but across the broader region. I particularly want to point out the $50 million you got in iLAuNCH funding, the biggest investment that UniSQ has ever had from any level of government. Geraldine, you played a huge part in that. We thank you very much.

Loads of Love starts up this week. To Gus Romero and all the guys involved in that, thank you for that great initiative, which is putting food on the tables of people in need across Christmas.

And the last one I'm going to shout out is Smithy's TGW Gym, which has a big fight. Jackson Griffith, or Stoneleigh as he fights under, is up against Miguel Vazquez. This should be a great fight, a great Friday night out at Rumours International. Be there!