Brighten up: Upbeat news from around the Darling Downs region

Here are just some of the things that happened in Toowoomba and the Darling Downs recently to brighten up your day.

BRIGHTEN UP: Here are just some of the things that made us smile in Toowoomba this week. Pictures: Nev Madsen and Kevin Farmer.

Toowoomba is full of positive news and that is something to celebrate, which is why we are bringing you a weekly dose of good news stories from around the region.

Here are just some of the things that happened this week that made us smile.

Garden city’s best kept secret stays

With Toowoomba’s Carnival of Flowers, Food and Wine Festival and school holidays just around the corner, bookings are soaring for accommodation venues in the garden city.

Guests are taking advantage of the sweet cottage stays available in Toowoomba that offer visitors a home away from home.

From Norwood Roses to Isabell Cottage and Elder-flower Cottage, click here to see the full list of 10 beautiful guesthouse hotspots.

Caitlyn Mason at Norwood Roses.

Childcare educator takes out gold for Darling Downs region

Caring for children has always come naturally for educator Georgette Ahfock.

Moving to the Toowoomba region in the mid 80s, Ms Ahfock began looking after her neighbour’s children and eventually opened her own home-based childcare centre.

Now the experienced educator has been recognised for her hard work and commitment to the learning and development of the future generations of Australia.

Nominated by the parents of the children Ms Ahfock looks after, she was recently announced as the Family Day Care Australia Excellence in Family Day Care Award winner for the Darling Downs.

Find out more by clicking here.

Elijah Usher, Georgette Ahfock and Darcy Stepanoff with Scott Paterson in foreground. Georgette Ahfock is recognised for her commitment to excellence in early childhood education and care. Picture: Nev Madsen.

Exciting event hits region, coincides with Carnival

Hundreds of vases in different shapes and sizes will be displayed at an upcoming event.

The Queensland Country Women’s Association (QCWA) is hosting a Vase Extravaganza event this month, to coincide with the Carnival of Flowers.

Featuring a variety of vessels, the display will showcase antique, modern, preloved or handmade vases – some of which have been sourced from across the globe.

From cowboy boots and tulips to shells and fishes, the display items all vary in shape, size and texture and will fall under 11 different categories.

But the vases also hold sentimental value with each one belonging to a member from QCWA.

Take a look at some of the vases that will be on display by clicking here.

Pam Armstrong as the QCWA host a Vase Extravaganza for Carnival of Flowers. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Deaf teenagers set to communicate through paint

Teens who are deaf or hard of hearing will soon be able to express themselves and communicate through art in an upcoming creative workshop.

Not-for-profit organisation Hear For You has organised the event to teach young people who are deaf to communicate through art.

Participant George Storie, 15, has been drawing and painting for as long as he can remember.

The 15-year-old’s dad Dugald Storie said his son was an incredibly talented artist and his work reminded him of something you would see from a Roald Dahl book.

Tinker art studio owner Alex Stalling said participants would be painting patterns and plants on canvases for the workshop.

Along with allowing the teenagers undertaking the session to develop their creativity and self-expression, Ms Stalling said art was therapeutic and calming.

See more by clicking here.

Local artist Alex Stalling shares her passion and expertise with George Storie. Deaf and hard of hearing teenagers will learn how to communicate artistically in a workshop designed to develop their creativity. Picture: Nev Madsen.

‘Meat’ the butcher behind the region’s newest store

Aged butter, barley-fed rib fillets, parmesan crumbed chicken tenderloins and satay chicken parcels are just some of the delicious products on offer at a brand new butcher.

Christian Nicholls has been working in butcher shops since he was just 14-years-old and has been qualified in his trade of choice for more than a decade.

And now the passionate butcher has opened his own shop Highfields Gourmet Meats, much to the satisfaction of locals.

Mr Nicholls said his favourite thing about being a butcher is speaking to customers and helping them find easy or creative meals using some of his unique products.

From Philly cheesesteak stuffed pastries to barley-fed rib fillet that has been coated in butter and aged for three weeks, Mr Nicholls said all items are handmade onsite.

Ready made meals are also available in the form of homemade pies, sausage rolls, lasagne, meatballs and potato bake, among others.

Check out the full story by clicking here.

Christian Nicholls of Highfields Gourmet Meats. Picture: Nev Madsen.