2024 Mayoral Prayer Breakfast to support Safer Toowoomba Regional Partnerships’ program at May 14 fu…

A new program designed by Safer Toowoomba Regional Partnerships Inc. (STRP) to strengthen neighbourhood connections will receive funds raised at the 30th Toowoomba Mayoral Prayer Breakfast, which will be held at Rumours International on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, from 6am.

Toowoomba Region Mayor Geoff McDonald said a series of Community Connect events was being organised by STRP to help residents meet their neighbours and forge stronger community ties.

“Building connections and creating a stronger sense of belonging is the aim behind the events,” Mayor McDonald said.

“The idea for the Community Connect events was devised by STRP’s Crime and Violence Prevention Focus Group, which sees great merit in encouraging residents to meet each other in a casual setting.

“More frequent and personable contact can lead to residents feeling comfortable to raise issues, offering or seeking help in different circumstances.

“It is also a way to break down barriers, overcome loneliness and promote wellbeing across our communities.”

STRP executive committee member Lindsay Hornery, who is the Acting District Manager, Toowoomba Community Corrections, Queensland Corrective Services, said the group was delighted to be chosen as the beneficiary for this year’s Toowoomba Mayoral Prayer Breakfast.

“We intend to allocate the funds to the Community Connect initiative, which is an initiative borne out of the ongoing work of the Crime and Violence Prevention Focus Group, a subset of STRP,” Mrs Hornery said.

“Through forums and community engagement, it was highlighted that building on the social connections in our local communities can generate improved outcomes in health and wellbeing, increase safety and help people better respond to challenges and opportunities.

“We aim to hold a series of small-scale events in neighbourhoods across Toowoomba to promote the idea of community connection, with the first one planned for May 19, 2024.”

This year’s Toowoomba Mayoral Prayer Breakfast guest speaker is global sports chaplain Cameron Butler, pictured below, from Melbourne.

While serving as the Melbourne Australian Football Club chaplain for more than 15 years, Mr Butler was appointed CEO of the fledgling Sports and Leisure Ministries (SLM). He helped to expand the organisation to a membership of more than 800 in Australia over 10 years that included associations with the AFL, National Rugby League, Australian Institute of Sport, V8 Supercars and its governing body, horse racing and Football Australia.

SLM was rebranded as Sports Chaplaincy Australia, after which Mr Butler assisted in the rapid growth of Sports Chaplaincy globally. This work has included training thousands of chaplains across Asia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Prices are $27 for adult tickets and $17 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: Toowoomba Region Mayor Geoff McDonald with STRP executive committee member Lindsay Hornery, who is a representative of the Community Connect initiative, which will receive funds from the 2024 Mayoral Prayer Breakfast.