When you think of a rural property.. waht do you think of when it comes to day to day operations?

Teresa Allen has been runnig Aubigny Downs 80 ks south of Mitchell with her husband for decades.

To say it's been improved in that time is probably an understatement.

One of the more recent management decisions has been to fence off 17 dams on the property. 

It's cut down on pest numbers dramatically.

I caught up with Teresa Allen at her home to talk about fencing and managing Aubiny Downs.

Fencing out pests

School chaplains, do you have one at your child's state school?

What exactly do they do during the day?

"Chappy Kev" or Kevin Murray works half the week at Gabbinbah State School and the other half at Toowoomba East State School.

He once was a banker, insurance saleman, trainer .. even taxi driver.

Mr Murray has twelve granchildren so has plenty of experience with the dramas of childhood.

The ABC's Belinda Sanders went to find out about a chaplains day and discovered a story not unlike the movie "Love Actually".

The Primary School Boy With a Broken Heart

You've decided what you want to do after school, so now is the time to work towards that career goal.

In this case it is a Diploma of Agriculture so you can be part of the family farm business.

To finish that course you need to be able to work online, but access is an hour away.

It's the story of Kane Mason, a teenager who finished year 11 last year at Downlands to go back to the family property between Mitchell and St George.

He's studying from home this year... but that is a lot harder for him than a teen living in a regional town as Belinda Sanders discovered.

She's speaking to Kane and his Mum Petra.

Studying agriculture and working on the family farm isn't as easy as you might think!

A southern Queensland opera singer is hoping to open Australia's first regionally based opera company.

Calista Walters grew up in Nanango and studied in Sydney before moving back to the Darling Downs.

She told Belinda Sanders finding work after graduation was frustrating and so she is now focussed on setting up a company of her own in Toowoomba

Opera Company Earmarked for Toowoomba

It's been 25 years since the endangered Black Breasted Button Quail has been sighted on the Toowoomba range, pushed out by weeds and habitat destruction.

But after seven years of literal blood sweat and tears from a small group of volunteers.. the button qual is back.

The endangered Black Breasted Button Quail has been recorded using sensor cameras at Redwood Park for the first time since the 1990's.

President of Friends of the Escarpment Park, Hugh Krenski spoke to Belinda Sanders about the discovery.

#Exclusive - Endangered Bird Returns to Range Rainforest

Bad news from the weather gods.. 

A drier-than-average spring is expected to ensure drought conditions continue across Queensland. 

Right now, 57.4 per cent of Queensland is drought-declared, including 23 councils and four part-council areas.

There are also 85 individually droughted properties in a further 11 shires.

When it comes to city dwellers you might only understand the drought by following the news .. but it's boarding schools that are on the front line.

At Fairholme College in Toowoomba, there are just over 180 boarders.. 175 of them are from rural properties.

So how are fees being paid?

The girls school has a limited budget that covers the cost of scholarships and crisis fee assistance.. .. right now demand for crisis assistance is at exceptional levels.

Belinda Sanders sat down with Principal Linda Evans to talk about the drought experience.

Fairholme Boarding School experiencing extreme demand for fee assistance

Did you see the news on a study a little while ago that claimed in 2018 it costs more to hire a removalist than any other trades-person or household service?

Of course a removalist is not a trade, but it soon could be!

The director of a Southern Queensland removalist company says she believes apprenticeships are needed.

Melissa Taylor, CEO of Taylors Removals, says removalist staff finish certificates through TAFE, but she’d like to see a formalised apprenticeship program. 

The Australian Furniture Removers Association will trial the idea in New South Wales later this year.

She's speaking to Belinda Sanders

A brand new trade on the horizon?

On the afternoon of 29 May 2017, Acting Sergeant Scott Hill, Senior Constables Stephen Barlow and Catherine Nielsen, and Constable Brittany Poulton were involved in an incident with an armed offender at Ringwood, Queensland.

A police officer was shot dead - Brett Forte.

Yesterday the four other police officer who were showered with gunfire while trying to get everyone out of danger,  were given national recognition for bravery.

They were given Australian Bravery Decorations at Government house.

While you've heard a lot about the events of that tragic day... you probably haven't heard that much about the officers involved and what's happened since.. why they are still police officers.

Acting Sgt Scott Hill spoke to me just before getting his kids ready for school this morning.

National Bravery Medals Awards to Local Police

A negotiator, what image pops into your mind when you hear that word?

I would think a hostage situation.. a public place where police have surrounded the building and negotiators are called in to encourage the offender to stand down and surrender.

But in reality... one of the most common forms of negotiation today .. is in the event of a suicide attempt.

Two Toowoomba police officers have just been given an award for notable action.. bravery.. after attending a house in Cabarlah to check on a man who told his ex partner he was planning to kill himself.

Senior Constable Sharny O'Brien and Constable Scott Nolan.

This interview has some confronting content if you have young children around.

It was early last year.. after police arrived the man got hold of a 12 guage shotgun.. and then put into the mix his parents in a distraught state.. and you have a potentially deadly situation.

The two police officers were incredible brave in very difficult circumstances.. the young man's life was saved.

Belinda Sanders is speaking to Senior Constable Sharny O'Brien.

Police Stop Suicide: Awarded for Bravery

In Australia, it's a relatively new celebration that is slowly growing in popularity.

Thousands of children hit the pavement last night, dressed head to toe, to go door-to-door asking for treats.

 THe fact is children love dressing up.. so it's tough to deny them that joy.

You can dress up in any costume.. it doesn't need to be scary.

Well in a neighbourhood near Toowoomba, there were 50 children under supervision stalking the neighbourhood for a couple of hours.

Belinda Sanders spoke to a couple of the parents about why they get involved.

Peta Sorrenson, Ines Suhr and Rett Cullinan and Alison Kennedy.

So why do Australian parents submit to the Halloween tradition?

Condamine Alliance, South West NRM and the QMDC have officially formed a new regional organisation to support community-based natural resource management.

The new organisation, Southern Queensland NRM, operates across southern Queensland from Toowoomba to Quilpie in the north and south to cover the granite belt, border rivers and St George flood plains.

The first meeting was held in Roma late yesterday.
 
The Chair of the new Southern Queensland NRM Board is Bruce Scott

He's speaking to Belinda Sanders

Condamine Alliance, SW NRM & QMDC have formed a new organisation.

Belinda Sanders

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