Community

40 Years of Giving
Carina Leagues Club is proud to be part of the local community and has contributed over $7 million within the last ten years. 

This contribution has assisted our Junior Football Club, various schools, sporting organisations, community funds and individuals via a variety of means from the donation of money, goods or equipment through to free use of our facilities.

With your support we can continue to deliver on the promise to our members and our community.

Creating Silver Memories
The Club is proud to announce it’s support of Silver Memories, a special ‘nostalgia’ radio community service initiative of 4MBS Classic 103.7 FM.

Cooking up a storm at Carina Kindergarten
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Carina Kindergarten could host the season of junior Masterchef after receiving a $10,000 grant from Carina Leagues Club to jump-start their children’s kitchen project.

Co-Director of Carina Kindergarten Debbie Simms said fundraising for the new kitchen had been going on for six years, with the kindergarten attempting to cover the whole amount themselves, when eventually she decided to approach Carina Leagues Club for help.

“Substantial increases in building costs kept pushing the project out of reach.  No matter how much we raised it was still not quite enough,” Ms Simms said.

“A new kitchen will be larger and will allow the children to assist in the preparation of food and learn more about the cooking process.  We are so excited we can finally get this happening, and so grateful to the Club for coming to our rescue,” she said.

In addition to housing a worm farm and compost bin, the kindergarten grows its own vegetables.  Ms Simms said it was important for children to experience the food process first hand.

“Growing our own vegetables at the centre helps us to illustrate the food chain, so children understand where food comes from,” Ms Simms said.

“We want the children to know what they are eating and to instill healthy food practices while they are still young.  We’re teaching them how to make low-fat muffins, quiches, wraps, zucchini slice and other simple easy-to-make healthy items.  

“If children experience the benefits of natural, chemical free food now, when they are older the are more likely to make good choices in the future,” she said.  

Ms Simms said construction on the new kitchen will begin in December.

Mentor program making a difference
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Hundreds of school children across Queensland are making smarter career and life choices thanks to Carina Leagues Club Football and Community Development Manager Michael De Vere.

De Vere is a representative for the Making Smarter Choices program – an initiative that helps to educate children on a range of different topics including goal setting, drugs and alcohol and the importance of a healthy lifestyle. 

“The Smarter Choices sessions are talks for grade seven students aimed at helping them to make smarter choices in their lives,” De Vere said.

“It’s part of Carina Leagues Club’s way of giving back to the community by educating our youth with life skills and helping them to develop the right character,” he said.

De Vere regularly conducts talks at a number of schools across the state including Carina, Belmont, Camp Hill and Norman Park.

The former Brisbane Broncos player, who has been working with Carina Leagues Club for more than five years now, said it was great to be a part of the program.

Using examples and experience from his career as a professional athlete to connect with the children, De Vere discusses how playing sport can make a big difference to confidence levels as well as improving overall health and wellbeing.

“I was lucky when I was younger to have a mentor who taught me the importance of playing sport, having integrity, and being around people who were healthy and focused,” De Vere said.

“This helped me to determine what I wanted to do early on, which was having a successful career in football.  Having a good mentor when you are young is so important. 

“If I can influence one child to turn their life around through playing sport then I’ll be happy,” he said.

Local schools are welcome to request a talk by Michael De Vere as part of the Making Smarter Choices program by contacting Carina Leagues Club on 07 3843 9200.

Good Sports Awards: celebrating our local athletes
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Each year, Carina Leagues Club hosts the Good Sports Awards where we celebrate the achievements of local sporting groups and individual players. 

Mission Queensland Firebirds player Romelda Aiken presented the 2011 awards at a dinner held at the Club last weekend.  Steve Kilburn MP and Councillor John Campbell also attended the event.

We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all our local athletes and trophy recipients.

·  Bulimba Bull’s Men's Hockey Club – Simon Burger, Justin Douglas and
   Kyle Richardson
· Carina Tigers Netball – Karen Beaverson, Kelly Davidson and Dani   
  Oldfield
· Carina Leagues A Grade Netball – Sue Dobson, Janine Margett and
  Kody Packman
· Carina Leagues Fishing Club – Jeff Johnston, Theresa Smith
  and Jessica Taylor
· Carina Leagues Bowls Club - Steve McMillan, Peter Tsoumbaras and 
  Geoff Binnie
· Carina Leagues CJ’s Swim Club – Jack Collins, Jaydison Molony-Bush
  and Lara Wingreen
· Carina Leagues Club Tigers, Brisbane East Tier 1 Netball Team – Helen
  McMurtie, Jacinta Messer and Katie Walker
· Carina Leagues Club Tigers, Brisbane East Tier 2 Netball Team – Tania 
  Hilliery, Alanah Kinross and Britteny Kipnall
· Carina Leagues Club Lady Spartans Basketball Team – Nikki Bairstow,
  Karen Ellis and Shona O’Bree
· Carina Leagues Warriors Water Polo Club Inc – Oliver Chambers,
  Mason Fettell, Austin Gosney and Katelyn Mills
· Eastern Suburbs Hockey Club – Jake Whetton
· Mater Hill Cricket Club – Simon Eggins, Andrew Herbert, Adam
  Higham, and Tristram Jackson
· Natives Rifle Club – Marcia Canty, Col Jones and Wayne Latham
· Thompson Estate Little Athletics Club – Michael Criticos, Luke Kingdon, Katrina Robinson and Samantha Whitting

$10,000 raised for “health by stealth”
A cheque for $10,000 was donated to Men’s Shed Carina at the Carina Leagues Club annual charity golf challenge held on Friday August 26 at Redland Bay Golf Club.

The funds will be used in conjunction with a state government grant to build new premises on the Clem Jones Centre at Carina, which will allow the organisation to increase its membership.

Men’s Sheds provide support and companionship for men through social interaction while they are working at a bench together. 

“It’s basically health by stealth,” Men’s Shed member Mal Weir said.

“Men don’t talk face-to-face, they talk shoulder-to-shoulder.  We provide a place for men to go when they are lonely.  Some of our members are retired or widowed.  They can just sit and have a cup of coffee, or they can get involved with projects involving woodwork, metal work, or photography,” he said.

Recently, Men’s Shed Carina built double-insulated animal homes for the endangered mahogany glider possums after the natural habitat in the Tully region was destroyed by cyclone Yasi.  The organisation hosted a barbeque earlier in the year, which raised more than $3000 for the Premier’s Disaster Relief Appeal.

The shed promotes men's health and well-being; helps overcome isolation, loneliness and depression; helps the disadvantaged and community in general; retrains and passes on traditional skills; helps men learn technical and life skills and make and repair wood products; and develops mateship.

Workshop hours are Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:00am to 12 noon in Carina.  For more information visit the Men’s Shed Carina website at www.mensshedcarina.com.au.

$30,000 to 6 schools
The 2011 Carina Leagues Club School Environmental Project Grants have been awarded to six local schools to support various short and long-term projects.

Mayfield State School acting principal Lesley Jones said the grant would be put toward ground enhancing projects as well as the installation of air-conditioning.

“We appreciate Carina Leagues Club’s contribution immensely,” Ms Jones said.

St Martin’s Catholic Primary School principal Michael Kelleher said they would use the funds to undertake a major upgrade to their sports field, creating an area for students to play football, soccer and hockey.

“We have 700 students from 450 families, so there are a lot of people getting benefits from this grant,” Mr Kelleher said.

A presentation will be made to St Martin’s at the school’s Sunday Funday on September 11.

The schools receiving 2011 Carina Leagues Club School Environmental Project Grants are:

• Belmont State School
• Camp Hill State Infants and Primary School
• Carina State School
• Mayfield State School
• St Martin’s Catholic Primary School
• Whites Hill State College

Clem Jones Centre: for babies to baby boomers
When staff at the Clem Jones Centre tell you to hold your baby under water, don’t be alarmed.  Swimming lessons for babies are part of the weekly class schedule at the indoor pool. 

Opening in 2007, the pool was funded by a Queensland state government grant boosted by a $1 million donation from Carina Leagues Club. 

Clem Jones Centre CEO Steve Heald said the funds enabled the centre to offer an affordable Learn to Swim program for local residents.

“We are here for everyone, from babies right through to adults, with classes that cater for all abilities,” Mr Heald said.

During peak periods, enrolment in the Learn to Swim program reaches 1400 participants. 

Many community groups including seniors and special schools also use the pool for hydrotherapy and rehabilitation.

A motorcycle accident in 2009 left local resident Bill Simpson a paraplegic, with doctors warning he may never walk again.  Resolute that he would overcome the injury, Mr Simpson undertook intensive water rehabilitation, with Clem Jones Centre organising access to the pool at a discounted rate. 

After two years of hard work, Mr Simpson is back on his feet again, and able to walk a short distance unaided.

The Clem Jones Centre will hold its Open Day on Sunday October 9.  Sponsored by Carina Leagues Club, the day will showcase the many sport and recreation opportunities offered by the centre.

For more information on booking Learn to Swim classes, contact the centre on 07 3398 2107 or visit www.clemjonescentre.com.au.

Junior players sport their just rewards
Carina Leagues Club awarded six grants to outstanding junior sports players from the Camp Hill Carina Welfare Association complex at a presentation dinner held at the Club last month. 

The grants, ranging from $500 to $1000, are awarded on an annual basis as an initiative of Carina Leagues Club to assist the young members with their training and competition needs.

Carina Leagues Triathlon Club member Ellie Salthouse, 18-years-old, received a $1000 grant, which meant she will realise her dream of competing overseas in 2012.

“I am so excited to be going to Europe, as it will help get my world rankings up,” Ellie said.

“I am so grateful to Carina Leagues for believing in me.  My next goal is to compete at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.  It will take a lot of determination and commitment to get there, but I just love what I do.”

Ellie is currently the Junior Oceania champion for her age, and is currently the Australian under 20 school-age champion.

Charismatic Eric “the eel” Blair has played for Carina Junior Rugby League Football Club for seven years.  This year his team won the under 16 Cyril Connell Cup grand final, and Eric was awarded “best back” for the match.

Eric has represented the state as a member of the under 16 Queensland Indigenous team, and last year, Eric was a member of the Brisbane Broncos Junior elite player development squad.  Eric, now aged 16, received a $500 grant to further him in his dreams of a professional football career. 

Carina Leagues Club would like to congratulate all the deserving recipients:

• Eric Blair, 16-years-old, Carina Junior Rugby League Football Club, $500 grant
• Melanie Gock, 13-years-old, Carina Leagues CJ’s Swim Club, $500 grant
• Christopher Kacin, 16-years-old, Carina Leagues Redsox Baseball Club, $500 grant
• Tiana Mangakahia, 16-years-old, Southern Districts Basketball Association, $1000 grant
• Ellie Salthouse, 18-years-old, Carina Leagues Triathlon Club, $1000 grant
• Cade Towers, 16-years-old, Southern Districts Basketball Association, $500 grant