Toowoomba and Ipswich health systems to join: Queensland Health at the weekend announced the joining, from September, of the Toowoomba-Darling Downs, Ipswich-West Morton and South Burnett public health administrations. This follows the recommendations of the wide-ranging 2005 Forster Health Systems Review. BUT Mike Horan, MP for Toowoomba South, sees it only as a “a ridiculous socialist bureaucratic Labor takeover. “ He says:” This decision is going to hit Toowoomba & Darling Downs people who need a locally-based health service.” Mr Horan’s comment is in strange contrast to his straight forward statement opposing the Felton Coal Project (see earlier). The Government is, in fact, attempting to achieve better health services, greater economies of scale, reduced and more efficient administration, and the elimination of wasteful duplications. Let’s wait and see.
Q-Ed blocks teachers from reading us: Our newsletter was alerted during the week by readers from the University of Southern Queensland that this newsletter is being blocked by Queensland Education from its internet network. We have protested to the Education Minister and Attorney General and demanded the block be removed. Teachers have nothing to fear from us.
Great Chronicle reporters: Bart Mahoney was the tops as a City Council reporter. He knew both the Local Government Acts and council by-laws and procedures backwards. He would lecture miscreant Councils mercilessly. He outlasted Mayor after Mayor. Jacqui Nightingale who came later was an absolute terrier and she pursued Clive Berghofer’s council relentlessly. Those were the days when father and son editors Bert and Bruce Hinchliffe invested in ”roundsmen” – that is, giving key reporters time to gain specialist knowledge in their fields.
More recently, there was the splendid Kathleen Donaghey, tiny in build who was a reporting giant in the now-discredited waste water purification campaign waged by Snow Manners and Rosemary Morley.
Bart died. Jacqui re-married and left Toowoomba. Kat Donaghey left The Chronicle for the Mackay Mercury and is now on The Gold Coast Bulletin.
One other remarkable young journalist, not so well known but conscientious and smart, is Rebecca Vonhoff , who completed her Master’s Degree at USQ and is now working on her PhD at UQ. Her MA thesis was the life and work of Solzhenitsyn, the great Russian author and idealist. Rebecca now works as a sub-editor at The Courier Mail, and has a scholarship to study full-time. Great people! Great training ground!
Toowoomba and Darling Downs political and social commentary. Print copies of this newsletter may be ordered from Toowoomba's Office Works, phone 4699-5300
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Hugh Bingham
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About Hugh Bingham
Bingham is a career journalist with experience in State and Federal politics. He has been Editor of the Sunday Truth, the Sydney Sunday Mirror, Associate Editor of the Sydney Daily Mirror, and has reported overseas for The Australian.
In retirement he turned farmer in the Felton Valley, near Toowoomba, breeding Appaloosas and winning best foal and filly at the 1992 State championships.
Now 80, Bingham takes a keen interest in current affairs, especially politics and social issues. Bingham has tutored U3A groups as diverse as poetry, memoir writing, and classical music.
In retirement he turned farmer in the Felton Valley, near Toowoomba, breeding Appaloosas and winning best foal and filly at the 1992 State championships.
Now 80, Bingham takes a keen interest in current affairs, especially politics and social issues. Bingham has tutored U3A groups as diverse as poetry, memoir writing, and classical music.
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