All Things Townsville

Tobruk Memorial Baths Re-Open

The Tobruk Memorial Baths on The Strand have re-opened following an $11.3 million redevelopment.

Acting Mayor Mark Molachino said the redeveloped complex included new 50-metre, learn-to-swim and toddler pools as well as an updated filtration system, new shade structures, and refurbished facilities.

“The re-opening of the baths is great news for swimming enthusiasts as well as the wider Townsville community,” Cr Molachino said.

“Since the project kicked off in August last year, the community has watched as this much-loved piece of community infrastructure has been re-born.

“The baths have served our community since the 1950s and now they’re ready to serve for another 50 years.”

The project was undertaken by local contractor Jackson+Semler and supported more than 120 jobs.

An additional focus of the project was to enhance access to the facilities for people with disabilities.

Division 3 councillor Ann-Maree Greaney said the new 50-meter and learn-to-swim pools include disability ramps and a new disability change room is the first adult change facility of its kind in the region.

“The disability change room includes a mobility hoist and an adult-sized adjustable change table,” Cr Greaney said.

“It also has a central toilet and an automatic door so it is easily accessible for people who need wheelchairs, walkers or walking sticks and carers, which is a great enhancement to the facility.

“Like so many others in the community, I have watched with keen interest as the project was undertaken and it’s so exciting to finally get the facility re-opened again.

“The re-opening was made all the more special with Chris Bell swimming the ceremonial first lap.

“Chris trained for the 1956 Melbourne Olympics at Tobruk Pool. He also taught a lot of locals to swim so I was thrilled to organize for him to be involved in the re-opening.” #ends

Last call to showcase Townsville’s hidden gems

There is just one week left for locals to submit a video of their favourite Townsville destination to go in the running to win a $500 staycation or a $100 gift card to spend at a local business.

Residents are being encouraged to make the most of the beautiful winter days (and nights) and take videos of their favourite spots across the region.

Community and Cultural Development Committee Chair Cr Ann-Maree Greaney encouraged residents to be creative and get involved.

“So far, Council has had over 80 submissions to the competition, and they showcase some unique and diverse parts of our region,” Cr Greaney said.

“The competition closes on 31 July so there is still some time for anyone wanting to participate to take a video of whatever part of the region you decide to visit before the closing date.

“I’d love to see more people showcasing how gorgeous this part of the world is in winter so that we can share that with the rest of Australia.

“We have a very passionate and creative community so I’m sure we will see some more fantastic entries before then.”

Entries will be used to create a Townsville Tourism show reel to market the unique facets of the Townsville region and attract tourist and holidaymakers into the city as we recover from the impacts of COVID-19.

For more information and to enter the competition, visit: www.townsville.qld.gov.au/shines

 

Care Army Journey Begins in Townsville

Here at YWAM Townsville, we are helping to extend the reach of Queensland’s Care Army across the state’s north by coordinating our local volunteers to provide much-needed support to seniors through the pandemic. The Minister for Communities and Minister for Disability Services and Seniors and Member for
Mundingburra Coralee O’Rourke visited us today to see first-hand the role we are playing in rolling out the Care Army in Townsville.

The Care Army was announced on April 1 by Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, as a way to look out for those most at risk from COVID-19. Mrs O’Rourke said the Care Army’s main aim was to help seniors stay home and stay safe.

“We know that people who are aged over 70, 65 years and older with a chronic health condition or over 50 if they’re of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent are particularly at risk of serious complications from this virus,” she said. “The Care Army plays a crucial role in making sure older Queenslanders have enough food, access to all their medication needs, and are able to stay socially connected while isolating in their homes.

Here at YWAM we play a key role in coordinating the Care Army in Townsville, working with local community groups to pinpoint the greatest need for volunteers. We will connect vulnerable Queenslanders to the volunteers and community groups that can deliver the requested support.

For more information, visit:  https://www.covid19.qld.gov.au/carearmy

Interview with Coralee O’Rourke Final .wav

Church Teams Allowed to Meet Next Weekend, to Conduct Full Easter Services by Live Streaming

Churches will be allowed to conduct the Easter services they’re accustomed to next weekend, complete with musicians, worship teams and those in other ministry roles—but worshippers will still have to stay home and watch the services by live-streaming.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison made the announcement this afternoon in his daily COVID-19 briefing, saying the government agreed today to allow churches and other faith groups to operate as though they are an essential-service workplace, over Easter.

The same social distancing rules will apply to staff and volunteers involved in the services, such as the minimum floorspace requirement of four square metres per person.

“The places where the broadcasts and the streaming is taking place from, will be considered as workplaces… That way [services] can be faithfully relayed to faith communities around the country.”

But Mr Morrison stressed that congregations are still not allowed to go to their services to gather and worship in person.

“Churches are not open. Places of worship are not open,” he said. “I want to be very clear about that.”

traditional church service

Mr Morrison said the government had received a lot of feedback from religious groups requesting special allowances over Easter to conduct their services according to tradition, as the current ban on church gatherings mean pastors are having to deliver their online messages solo.

“Particularly for Orthodox religions… when it comes up around Easter, there are additional cantors and… other religious ecclesiastical roles that are played in those services… the priests and the others formally involved in the conducting of the ceremonies,” Mr Morrison said.

Above: All family members watching their church service from home; A limited worship team at C3 present a live-streamed service. Pictures: Facebook

He said the allowance for the Easter weekend would enable people of faith to worship and engage in services they are familiar with – from their homes.

“The places where the broadcasts and the streaming is taking place from, usually in a place of worship, they will be considered as workplaces,” Mr Morrison said.

“What does that mean? It means the same rules that apply to a workplace for those who are participating in presenting the service, conducting the service, will apply as they do in other places of work.

“That way [the services] can be faithfully relayed to the faith communities around the country.”

Some churches which already operate as places of employment, have been able to record and stream services with stripped-back teams already; the allowance for Easter weekend will now extend that privilege to all places of worship.

Watch video of Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s briefing: from 07:20 to 08:48.

10 Tips for Working From Home

Okay, so we’ve got to be bunkered down into our homes for the next little while – which means that the nature of work is radically changing.

For the best part of a decade I was helping to establish new churches – which means I’ve spent a LOT of time working from home! So here are some of the best-practice tips I learnt, to help you get the most out of the experience.

1 – Flannel will start to feel like failure

The first couple of days of working from home, the novelty of working in your pyjamas is really great—but, it’ll quickly wear off. Trying to set a world record for longest time in PJs is not a good idea. Somewhere in the middle of day three, your outfit will start to feel like failure. Trust me, each morning you need to keep up your regular get-ready-for-work routine. Shower, get changed, put on some proper work attire, and gear up for a proper day of working.

2 – Don’t mix your work space with your fun space

photo of father and son working together on the same desk

You want to have your work area designated clearly. This should be a zone that doesn’t sit in the middle of a fun zone. If you can avoid it, don’t use your bedroom! It honestly can be the WORST place to work from. If possible, bedrooms should remain dedicated to relaxation and rest, not work and stress.

For parents with kids, or flatmates who have no other quiet spots in the house, do your best to set up a corner with a small desk and chair, and keep it tidy. Otherwise, set up in the spare room, or carve out a spot in a part of the house with no major foot traffic. If you can, position yourself so you’re facing away from any general living areas. You’ll be less distracted, and the rest of the family won’t have to tiptoe around you. Do work when you are in your workspace, then move out into other areas when you need to chill out. And, if you have kids doing homework, craft or playing at the same table, try to make it a ‘quiet play only’ zone.

You can definitely make your workspace feel enjoyable – you’ll be using it awhile – but don’t turn your fun space into a workplace!

3 – Inject some comfort and colour into your work space

photo of a laptop and coffee on a desk

Make your mini work space as pleasant as you can, and add some touches of colour and familiarity. Even if your table or desk is only one metre square, you can still set it up neatly. Try some of the following:

  • Add a favourite mug to house your pens and stationery
  • Blu Tack a couple of favourite photos to the wall
  • Relocate a small lamp or plotpant to add some cheer
  • Add a cushion to your chair if it’s a little hard and uncomfortable
  • Keep a water bottle handy to keep hydrated
  • Have *healthy* snacks ready to go for in-between meals: fruit, nuts, yoghurt, cheese and rice crackers, whatever works for you!
  • Pay attention to ergonomics: if you’re starting to get a sore back or arms, it’s time to adjust your posture and position (see infographic at the bottom of this page)
  • Get up and stretch every half hour or so
  • Tidy your power cords and computer cables – invest in extra powerboards or extension leads to make your space a little nicer, and avoid trip hazards

And when you finish working each day, tidy up so you have an organised space to come back to, instead of a dump. It’s amazing how much a little tidiness can make you feel better about your work.

4 – Have a ‘stop’ signal

If you are living with other people it really helps to have some sort of signal or sign that tells people, “please don’t talk to me, I’m working and not available for any interruptions”. This sign needs to be clear and obvious, and everyone who is in the house needs to know what this means. When the sign is up—“Strictly no interruptions, I don’t have to apologise, this is a work zone and I’m locked in”. When the sign is down, “I’m available for a chat and can be interrupted”.

It could be a reversible “Stop-Go” sign with green on one side and red on the other, hanging on the door handle, or taped to the back of your laptop. If you get the kids to help make it, they’ll be even more invested in following its instructions!

5 – Headphones are your friend…

Photo of a young man with headphones on working on a laptop

Can you get your hands on some of those big over-ear headphones? If so, use them! Nothing communicates ‘don’t interrupt me, I’m working’, better than those headphones. If you need to get some proper quiet, invest in a pair of the noise-cancelling ones (shop online!).

In the office, ‘headphones on’ generally means ‘busy’; so start to communicate that in the same way around the house. They’re gold for productivity; trust me, the bigger and more obvious your headphones the better.

6 …But the kitchen isn’t…

The kitchen is the worst spot for working from home – it is the nosiest and busiest place in the house; also food is there. Try and limit your kitchen time to only snacks and lunch, tea and coffee. It really doesn’t help when you are trying to be productive to hang out near the fridge. Minimise your time in the kitchen!

7 …And a list is your *best* friend!

photo of a hand writing on a notebook

I one-hundred-percent love a list. It gives me a clear target for what I need to accomplish each day. I divide my lists into three sections. The first is the things that I ‘Must’ get done; these are the highest importance items. The second section is things that I “Should’ get done; these aren’t as serious and if I get to them today, I’ll have an easier schedule later on. Finally I have the ‘Play’ section; those items that need to happen but aren’t urgent. If I crack the ‘Must’ column, I’ve had a GREAT day! If I hit a ‘Should’ item, then I’m KILLING it!

If I smash both of those and then hit the fun stuff, well, I’ve probably got a pretty chilled-out day tomorrow.

8 – Have clear work hours

You have to over-communicate regularly when you are working from home. When you set your office hours, you need to make it clear that you aren’t available to put on the washing or vacuum the house during that time. If you do actually happen to get things finished early, announce to everyone that you are “Home from Work!”, so people know that you are now available to help out with things.

Early on in the process of working from home, I got frustrated with the chores that were coming in while I was working. This conversation helps to alleviate the tension.

9 – Zoom, Skype or Facetime: Video call your colleagues

photo of a man waving at the screen of his laptop

 

It is important to maintain face-to-face time with people, check-in about projects you’re working on together, and have the occasional water-cooler chat. It’s good for office morale, and helps you work as a team. Now that many of us are working in isolation at home, it shouldn’t stop the conversation – just do it on a screen!

Text messaging and online chat options are great too – keep using those – but add into the mix a regular face-to-face chat.

10 – Go for a walk or a run – regularly

photo of two people walking beside the water

If you are finding that your productivity is dipping a little, then remember you can always take a stroll. Maintaining the appropriate distance from other people, of course, make sure you get out at least for a short time each day. Exercise is one of the permitted outdoor activities, and it’s going to be essential for your mental and physical health in this season of social isolation. Pop in your earbuds, hit ‘go’ on your favourite playlist, and go for a brisk walk or a run. If you have kids, a partner or a pet, take them with you!

Do whatever you need do to take your mind off things for a little bit. Working from home does make life a little more flexible, so why not take advantage of the fact that you can process stuff on a nice walk.