Toowoomba Mayoral Prayer Breakfast to support Winter Shelter charity at May 24 fundraiser

Winter Shelter Toowoomba, a charity offering accommodation and support services to the city’s homeless people, is the beneficiary of the 28th Toowoomba Mayoral Prayer Breakfast, which will be held at Rumours International on Tuesday, May 24, 2022.

At today’s (April 26) event launch at Futures Restaurant at TAFE Queensland South West, Toowoomba Region Mayor Paul Antonio said he was pleased to see the charity breakfast return after COVID-19 restrictions forced the event to be cancelled in 2020 and 2021.

Mayor Antonio also announced Mr Greg Sheridan, foreign editor at The Australian, as the 2022 guest speaker.

Tickets are now on sale. (see full details below).

“Winter Shelter Toowoomba is backed by Lifeline Darling Downs and South West Queensland in conjunction with seven church organisations and support services to house up to 10 homeless people a night over winter,” Mayor Antonio said. (Participating churches include: Toowoomba West Anglican Parish, St Stephen’s Uniting Church, HumeRidge Church of Christ, South Toowoomba Baptist Church, Belong Church, Toowoomba City Church partnering with Reform Church and the Rangeville Community Church)

“This collective is entering its second year of operations, based on a parent program run by Stable One, that has been operating in Victoria for six years.

“Our Region is fortunate to have numerous support services that assist people who are experiencing difficulties in different aspects of their lives.

“I look forward to hearing about how they deliver their services and how other residents might be able to offer assistance in some way.

“The Toowoomba Mayoral Prayer Breakfast has the distinction of being one of the few events of its kind in Australia that is completely supported by its home businesses and organisations with proceeds delivered back to a chosen charity.

“I’m especially heartened that our suppliers and supporters are back on board to stage the function despite challenging business conditions during the pandemic. This typifies the community spirit behind the Breakfast.

“Many supporters, such as TAFE Queensland South West (with their hospitality and cooking students and teachers), Rumours, generous food suppliers and service groups have been loyal and valuable backers from the first function.

“I again thank all business people and volunteers for contributing to the function, which has raised around $300, 000 for more than 30 charities in this Region.”

“As a foundation partner of the event, TAFE Queensland is excited to collaborate with local industry and businesses, and offer our students the hands-on learning and practical experience, that our involvement with the 2022 Mayoral Prayer Breakfast brings,” Jenni Butler, Acting General Manager of TAFE Queensland, South West Region said.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for our TAFE Queensland students to gain practical experience in preparing, cooking and serving a 600 cover service, and for such a worthwhile cause.

“TAFE Queensland’s highly experienced workforce are closely connected with their industries, and it’s these partnerships that enables the delivery of high-quality, industry-standard training that provides employers with skilled and job-ready workers.”

Mayor Antonio said he was looking forward to hearing from Mr Sheridan, pictured right, who is one of Australia’s foremost international affairs writers and commentators.

“Mr Sheridan will draw on his extensive knowledge of world affairs, plus share his views on religion and Christianity, which have appeared in several books,” he said.

Residents are invited to join the community breakfast at Rumours International, 323 Ruthven Street, Toowoomba from 6am on Tuesday, May 24.

Prices are $25 for adult tickets and $15 for school-age children.

Tickets can be purchased at Council’s Little Street Customer Service Centre in Toowoomba from 8.30am to 5pm on weekdays.

Tickets also can be bought by calling 131 872 or via Council’s website by visiting www.tr.qld.gov.au/breakfast 

All credit cards, except Diners Club and American Express, can be used.

Caption: TAFE Queensland, South West Region Acting General Manager Jenni Butler (left), Rev. Pauline Harley, Priest-in-Charge, Toowoomba West Anglican Parish and Lifeline Darling Downs and South West Queensland Chief Operations Officer (Partnerships and Business Development) Rodney Watton, both representing the 2022 charity recipient Winter Shelter Toowoomba, Toowoomba Region Mayor Paul Antonio and TAFE Queensland, South West Region leading vocational teacher Hospitality and Cookery Nev Siebenhausen at the 2022 Mayoral Prayer Breakfast launch.