Thanks to the generosity of the Bonner community, more than $5000 was raised through the Ross Vasta Christmas Appeal for Stanthorpe to help bring some Christmas cheer to the drought and bushfire affected region.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP said Team Vasta and representatives from GIVIT online charity visited the region on Tuesday to distribute the donations, and the community response was both overwhelming and humbling.

“We joined GIVIT CEO Sarah Tennant to help buy goods and vouchers for people in need, and the response from the community was just outstanding,” Mr Vasta said.

“Stanthorpe’s St Vincent de Paul Society branch identified a number of families needing support, so we went to work purchasing good and vouchers from IGA, some toys to ensure these kids would be visited by Santa, as well as vouchers to buy school uniforms.

“Thank you to everyone who donated to this appeal. You have helped bring so much joy and relief to those who really need it.”

GIVIT CEO Sarah Tennant said all funds received were spent at local businesses to further support the regional community.

“We purchased hair dressing vouchers from Stanthorpe salons, and gift cards from a local family-operated service station to provide some relief to drought-affected farmers,” Ms Tennant said.

“Hampers of household essentials, children’s toys, gift vouchers and festive mince pies we also donated to lighten the financial pressures on families celebrating what’s been an extremely testing year.

“As well as visiting St Vincent de Paul, we gave festive items for Christmas care packages to Granite Belt Drought Assist’s facility where people across the region can access vital donations of water.”

Ms Tennant said they had barely driven out of the city when Lee Stroud from St Vincent de Paul – Stanthorpe called to say she had already given some donations to a local family in need.

“The mum was so overwhelmed. She was nearly speechless and so grateful,” Ms Tennant said.

“We were so happy to partner with Ross Vasta to help bring some Christmas cheer to the Stanthorpe community during such a tough time.

“GIVIT is here for the long-term for the Southern Darling Downs region, as well as all communities in need across Queensland.”

Mr Vasta said he was pleased they had already received some heart-warming responses from the community.

“Sally Orreal from Stanthorpe Sport and Camping said she had goosebumps and was holding back tears when we came in to shop up a storm for toys for local kids,” Mr Vasta said.

“She thanked Team Vasta and GIVIT with a big hug for buying locally.”

Items donated are listed below:

Lee Stroud, St Vincent de Paul – Stanthorpe

4 x $50 Stanthorpe Quality Meats butcher
2x $40 haircut vouchers
4 x $50 Howard & Son’s Mitre 10
$400 worth of Spano’s IGA Stanthorpe $20 vouchers
20 Toys purchased from local sports shop
100 groceries including cleaning products and hygiene products
12 Chrisco hampers
Pack of bonds singlets baby
1 baby skirt
5 x $80 fuel from Stanthorpe Fuel & Services
19 Christmas cards/decorations

Glenda Riles – Granite Belt Drought Assist

4 x $100 Gleesons Mercery, school uniform vouchers
2 x $40 hair cut vouchers
4 x $50 Howard & Son’s Mitre 10
4 x $50 Stanthorpe Quality Meats butcher
4 x $80 fuel from Stanthorpe Fuel & Services
$620 worth of Spano’s IGA Stanthorpe $20 vouchers
25 toys
Large Box of hanes underwear
10 Chrisco hampers

Sandra Head – Southern Downs Emergency Relief

10x $50 BP Fuel vouchers
10x $50 Spano’s IGA Warwick
10x $50 Woolworths wish cards – donated from Queensland Rail

It’s time to get snapping and test out your photography skills with the Bonner Summer Photo Competition.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP said with the Christmas break and school holidays, summer was the best time of year to get out and enjoy the outdoor lifestyle that makes our region such a great part of the world.

“People love Queensland and particularly our nature reserves and beautiful Moreton Bay,” Mr Vasta said.

“To encourage residents to get outdoors and explore everything Bonner has to offer, we’re running the Bonner Summer Photo Competition.”

Mr Vasta said residents can take a snap that best displays what summer in Bonner means to them.

“Is it fishing off the pier, swimming at Wynnum Wading Pool, barbecuing with friends at Carindale Recreation Reserve, or picnicking with family at Mt Gravatt Lookout?

“Take your best summer snaps and upload it to Facebook or Instagram with the hashtag #BonnerSummerSnap.”

Entries open Friday, December 20 and close 5pm Thursday January 23, 2020.  For more information visit www.rossvasta.com.au

A greenhouse, LED lighting and a library refurbishment are among some of the exciting new projects for schools in Bonner who received funding under the Morrison Government’s Local School Community Fund program.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP said students would be the big winners in this funding program, which supports small but vital projects in local schools.

“These are the small projects that make a big difference to providing better learning outcomes and learning experiences for students in my electorate of Bonner,” Mr Vasta said.

“School communities nominated the projects they most wanted and the Morrison Government stepped up with funding support through our $30.2 million Local School Community Fund.

“This is an additional investment on top of our record funding of $310 billion for schools.”

Schools in Bonner to recieve funding include:

• Belmont State School $20,000 to refurbish their multi-purpose centre
• Holland Park State High School $19,995 to install energy efficient LED lighting
• Mount Gravatt State School $8058 to construct a Greenhouse
• Mount Gravatt State High School $12,500 for the installation of musical instrument bag racks
• Rochedale State High School $19,909 for Library refurbishment and upgrades
• St Peter’s Primary School at Rochedale $20,000 for a nature based interactive learning project
• Mackenzie State Special School $4944 to expand their Thrift Shop
• Guardian Angels’ Primary School $20,000 for the installation of synthetic grass for the P2 playground
• Murarrie State School $20,000 to install air-conditioning
• Tingalpa State School $20,000 to install ceiling fans in the Assembly Hall
• Darling Point Special School $20,000 to upgrade playground equipment
• Wynnum State School $14,594 to upgrade senior laptop and robotics devices

Mr Vasta said these projects would go a long way to supporting students when completed in 2020.

Local road maintenance in the Bonner electorate will receive a boost thanks to funding under the Australian Government’s Roads to Recovery Program.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP said the program would help deliver a much-needed upgrade to Player Street in Upper Mount Gravatt.

“This project will extend Player Street to provide a connection with Kessels Road, with the Morrison Government committing $3.8 million to the project,” Mr Vasta said.

“Work will involve constructing the new road link from the existing intersection of Kessels Road and MacGregor Street through to Player Street.

“The work will also include removing the existing traffic signals at the Kessels Road and Cremin Street intersection, and providing left-in only access to Cremin Street.”

Mr Vasta said in total the Australian Government would deliver over $139.6 million to 310 local government authorities nationwide for safer and better-maintained roads.

“The Roads to Recovery funding will allow councils across the area to progress a number of high-priority projects, using local knowledge to deliver the best local roads,” Mr Vasta said.

MacGregor Ward Councillor Steven Huang said this jointly funded Australian Government and Brisbane City Council project would improve local roads and reduce congestion for residents.

“It’s great to see a joint approach to this road project which will improve safety, reduce queue lengths and delays and provide better access to and from the residential catchment north of Kessels Road,” Cr Huang said.

“Every day Council works with local residents and other levels of government to deliver the infrastructure our growing city needs, and the Player Street upgrade is a great example of this.”

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack MP said the Australian Government had committed an additional $100 million per year to the Roads to Recovery Program from 2019–20, as part of the Local and State Government Road Safety Package announced in the 2019–20 Budget.

“From 2013–14 to 2023–24, the Government will provide $6.2 billion under the Roads to Recovery Program, with an ongoing commitment of $500 million each year following,” Mr McCormack said.

Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister Andrew Gee MP said the Australian Government was committed to getting Australians home sooner and safer, no matter where they lived.

“Our Roads to Recovery investments will deliver safer roads in local government areas throughout the country,” Mr Gee said.

The Australian Government supports local governments to provide vital infrastructure and services through Financial Assistance Grants, and the Bridges Renewal, Black Spot, Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity and Roads to Recovery programs.

More information on these programs is available at www.infrastructure.gov.au.

Families with children attending child care during the school holidays will find it easier to re-enrol for the following year after the Morrison Government passed legislation to amend the Child Care Package.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP said the updated legislation meant families and providers would generally not have to re-enrol children unless they are away from care for more than 14 weeks at a time.

“This means children stay enrolled for the duration of the school term, avoiding additional paperwork when the holidays start and families need to access child care again,” Mr Vasta said.

Minister for Education Dan Tehan said the Government’s Child Care Package was assisting more than 900,000 families to access child care.

“We have cut red tape for families using child care during the school holidays,” Mr Tehan said.

“Our Government is making life easier for parents who are working, looking for work, studying or volunteering.

“We have also removed the 50 per cent limit on the number of children that a child care provider can self-certify to receive the Additional Child Care Subsidy (child wellbeing) due to the risk of serious abuse or neglect.

“This will further reduce barriers to vulnerable children and disadvantaged families accessing quality early learning and child care.”

Mr Vasta said the amendments passed by the Senate were a result of the Government listening to parents and child care providers and acting on their feedback.

“We are delivering the reforms the economy needs to support jobs and growth,” Mr Vasta said.

Australia’s 135 Men’s Sheds will share in $500,000 funding under the Morrison Government National Shed Development Programme.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP said the grant would support Men’s Sheds to buy tools and equipment, maintain their infrastructure, coordinate training events and host community activities about men’s health issues.

“Grant rounds are held twice a year and eligible Men’s Sheds, including the five in my electorate of Bonner, are able to apply for grants of up to $10,000, with priority given to sheds in disadvantaged areas,” Mr Vasta said.

“Men’s Sheds are places where men can find social support and camaraderie while engaged in meaningful projects. “Since 2013, the government has provided $4.92 million to support Men’s Sheds through this programme.”

In this year’s budget the Morrison Government announced continued and expanded funding to support the Men’s Shed movement. Funding includes:

• Funding to Men’s Sheds through the National Shed Development Programme will be continued, and increased to $1 million per year for four years ·
• $1.5 million to fund regional coordinators at the grassroots level in each state and territory which aims to provide direct assistance in Men’s Shed;·
• $3.6 million to the Australian Men’s Shed Association to support Men’s Shed at a national level;

Mount Gravatt-East State School (MGESS) is looking for volunteers to help provide breakfast through their morning Top-Up Station to ensure kids have the brain food they need to start their day of learning.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP said volunteers were the lifeblood of local communities and what MGESS needs to keep this great initiative going.

“The idea of the Top-Up station is to provide a breakfast based snack for kids who may have missed breakfast or need an extra snack to fill them up before they start school,” Mr Vasta said

“It’s a judgement-free zone which means all kids feel welcome and have food in their bellies so they can concentrate on their lessons rather than a rumbling belly.”

Mr Vasta said MGESS would love more volunteers to get involved or alternatively, donations of food were also welcome to keep this initiative going.

“Without volunteers, well-meaning initiatives like this are limited in how they operate and how many people they can help,” Mr Vasta said.

“I am proud to have my office team volunteer on a regular basis at MGESS and witness the positive impact they’re having on students.”

“If you are a local business in the food industry or have staff free for the first part of the morning, why not donate some of your time and resources by giving back to the local community.”

If you want to know how to become a volunteer or to donate, please contact my office on 3893 3488 or email ross.vasta.mp@aph.gov.au

The Morrison Government’s $19.6 million Driving Social Inclusion through Sport and Physical Activity grants program is open now.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP said it was a great opportunity for local organisations to apply for the grant and run programs which aim to break down barriers that stop people getting active, and bring communities together.

“Australia is one of the world’s great sporting nations but not all Aussies come from sporting backgrounds,” Mr Vasta said.

“Playing sport is a great way to be a part of the community and promote social inclusion so it’s important we provide a helping hand for people to get involved, particularly people with disabilities, new migrants and Indigenous Australians.

“These grants will also help build on the fantastic participation boom our government is supporting in women’s and girl’s sport.”

Minister for Youth and Sport, Richard Colbeck said the grants are part of the Morrison Government’s plan to make Australia the world’s most active sporting nation.

“Our Government’s national Sport 2030 plan is to make Australia the world’s most active sporting nation, and to do that we need everyone joining in,” Mr Colbeck said.

“We invested $190 million to grassroots sporting infrastructure to encourage female participation, because everyone should feel welcome at their local sporting club.”

Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs, David Coleman said the program was part of the Government’s $71 million investment in social cohesion initiatives to build stronger communities.

The grants are open to applications from not-for-profit organisations including local community organisations, sporting organisations and local government entities and are available assist the following community groups get involved in sport and recreational activities:

• newly arrived migrants and refugees
• people with a physical or mental disability
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people; and
• women;

Eligible activities include, but are not limited to:

• engaging with community organisations to deliver sport and physical activity projects;
• coaching clinics to teach sports skills and techniques;
• participation in local sports competitions;
• instruction in exercise and physical activity classes delivered by qualified instructors;
• research and data collection; and
• recruitment and engagement of translators required to deliver the activities.

Further information about the Driving Social Inclusion through Sport and Physical Activity Grant Opportunity (GO2645) is available from the GrantConnect website.

The Ross Vasta Christmas Appeal for Stanthorpe has attracted generous community support, including from eight-year-old Charlotte Mews who recently donated $123 she raised though a bake sale.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP said he was so proud of Charlotte who wanted to donate the money she raised through Moreton Bay Girl Guides to the appeal.

“Charlotte’s mum Sarah contacted our office to let us know her daughter had baked cookies, slices and cupcakes and sold them to her fellow Brownies and Girl Guide leaders to raise funds for drought affected farmers,” Mr Vasta said.

“As well as fundraising through a bake sale, Charlotte presented a poster gave and short talk at Brownies about the drought and fires in Stanthorpe.

“When she heard about our Christmas appeal, she wanted to present us with the funds she raised, and GIVIT CEO Sarah Tennant was more than happy to accept it on my behalf.”

GIVIT CEO Sarah Tennant said the online charity had so far received cash donations from dozens of individuals and families in the east Brisbane electorate.

“We’re incredibly heartened by the generous response from the people of Bonner, and especially by the amazing individual donation from Charlotte from what sounded like a very delicious bake sale,” Ms Tennant said.

“100 per cent of donations GIVIT receives through the Ross Vasta Christmas Appeal will go towards purchasing items from Stanthorpe businesses for bushfire-affected households. Whether it be five or 200 dollars, every donation helps give Christmas cheer to a devastated community.”

Charlotte’s mum Sarah Mews said her daughter was inspired to help the drought affected community following a recent trip to Stanthorpe to visit her grandparents.

“We are very proud of what she has achieved at such a young age,” Ms Mews said.

Mr Vasta said so far the Christmas Appeal for Stanthorpe had raised more than $2700.

“We’re more than halfway through the appeal so a big thank you to the generous people of Bonner,” Mr Vasta said.

“Thanks to our partnership with GIVIT, 100 per cent of funds will be supporting the drought and bushfire affected Stanthorpe region to bring them some Christmas cheer.”

For more information or to donate, visit www.rossvasta.com.au/community/grants

Women with or suspected of having breast cancer will be able to claim Medicare benefits for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, from 1 November 2019.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP said approximately 14,000 patients each year, predominantly women, wouldbenefit from these services.

“The Morrison Government has added these new MRI services to the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) to ensure women vulnerable to breast cancer have affordable access to MRI,” Mr Vasta said.

Medicare rebates will be available for MRI scans for:

·         Diagnosis of breast cancer in patients where other imaging was inconclusive and a biopsy has not been possible; and

·         Pre-surgical planning for patients diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, where there is discrepancy between clinical assessment and conventional imaging assessment.

Mr Vasta said the new items for breast MRI would reduce the out-of-pocket costs faced by breast cancer patients.

“The Morrison’s Government commitment to Medicare is rock solid, with an additional $6 billion committed to Medicare benefits in the 2019-20 Budget,” Mr Vasta said.

The Government will provide $32.6 million for Medicare benefits for the services.