What's On Ipswich: Queensland Model Railway Show @ the Workshops Railway Musuem Ipswich

Be captivated by tiny trains and life-like replicas of farming land, city scenes and exotic locations.Wander through intricate layouts, visit trade stands and talk to Queensland's premier railway modellers about a hobby that fascinates thousands around the world

What's On Ipswich: Queensland Model Railway Show @ the Workshops Railway Musuem Ipswich

Queensland stars in whale documentary to be beamed to 2 million Malaysian viewers

A new whale documentary being filmed in Queensland could reach 2 million Malaysian viewers when it airs later this year. This week one of the largest television networks in Malaysia, TV3 begins filming on the Fraser Coast and other locations.

The humpbacks call Queensland home between July and November when they frolic in our calm, safe waters off the Fraser Coast.

The Fraser Coast has front row seats to some of the best whale action where you can experience humpbacks up close as they breach up out of the water or curiously swim alongside whale-watching boats.

The Malaysia TV3 network is focusing their documentary on the humpbacks which stay and play in Hervey Bay. As part of their filming schedule, the crew will also visit a Sunshine Coast zoo, theme park and markets as well as walk through a national park and taste the delightful local cuisine of the Sunshine Coast hinterland. The crew will be filming interviews with local whale experts, whale watching tour operators and tourism industry representatives, join several whale watching tours and take in the Hervey Bay landscape.

See www.queensland.com/whales or for more on Queensland holiday options go to www.queensland.com.

Brisbane Tourism News: Obama on the Way to Australia

All travel eyes will be on Australia later this year as US President Barack Obama plans a visit down under.

Arriving on 16 November for a two day stay, the White House announced this week that the trip would be make to mark the 60 year anniversary of the Australian and US alliance, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.

Brisbane Tourism News: Obama on the Way to Australia

Queensland Secures Right to Host World's Young Cricket Stars

Queensland will host the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2012 for the first time ever in an event which will see the best young cricket talent in the world playing in Brisbane, on the Sunshine Coast and in Townsville next year, Premier Anna Bligh announced today.

Securing the event, through a partnership with Events Queensland, Cricket Australia and Queensland Cricket, represents a major milestone for cricket in Queensland - and it's only the second time in the event's 24-year history it's been held in Australia.

"This is great news for Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast and Townsville because it will bring the best young cricketers in the world here to play locally," Ms Bligh said.

"This is a first for Queensland and it's the only the second time Australia has hosted the competition - the last time being in 1988 in Melbourne and Adelaide.

"This event will deliver an economic shot in the arm to the host communities and showcase Queensland to the world - attracting 400 players and officials from 16 countries and generating an expected 7,000 bed nights for the local tourism industry."

"In addition, it will be televised into the homes of cricket fans in more than 100 countries including in Asia, the UK and South Africa via broadcaster ESPN STAR Sports."

Sports Minister Phil Reeves said the event - held every two years - had also previously been held in countries including New Zealand, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and South Africa.

"This is a truly international event that further cements Queensland's status as the Australian events state," Mr Reeves said.

"It's particularly exciting to be hosting it in 2012 because Australia is the current defending champion after winning the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup in New Zealand in 2010."

"Having this event here in Queensland as the chosen location in Australia next year is a vote of confidence in our ability to host major sporting events of international significance."

Ms Bligh and Mr Reeves thanked the ICC, Cricket Australia, Queensland Cricket and Events Queensland for their partnership which had delivered the event to Queensland.

Cricket Australia Chief Executive Officer James Sutherland said: "The ICC U19 Cricket World Cup is the showcase event for best young cricketers in the world and is where the next Cameron White or Yuvraj Singh gets their first real taste of top-level international cricket.

"It was only a couple of years ago we saw Mitch Marsh captain the Australia Under-19 team to victory in New Zealand with talents such as Josh Hazlewood, Alister McDermott and Alex Keath alongside him.

"We are very grateful to Queensland Cricket and Events Queensland for their support in hosting this tournament and I think all the teams and supporters will enjoy their time in Australia's sunshine state.

"We are building towards hosting the senior ICC Cricket World Cup in 2015 and this tournament will play a big part in getting ready for that event."

Queensland Cricket CEO, Graham Dixon, said: "Queensland Cricket is thrilled at the decision to bring the ICC U19 World Cup to our State, and especially with the decision to play in two important regional centres, Townsville and the Sunshine Coast, with the resulting positive economic impact on those areas."

"The support of the State Government and Events Queensland will enable Queensland to provide an international showcase around this tournament, which has grown into a significant event on the world cricket stage.

"Queensland Cricket is acutely aware that the ICC World Cup will be staged in Australia and New Zealand in 2015 and so tournaments like the Under-19 World Cup are an important proving ground for us, and for Cricket Australia, as it gets closer to hosting that major event.

"The support of government at all levels will be a vital part of our collective preparations for 2015, but I know that Queensland Cricket is looking forward to working closely with all of our stakeholders to make the Under-19 World Cup a memorable and successful event."

The event will be held in August next year. Further details of venues, ticket sales and match timings will be announced closer to the tournament.

The tournament will be the ninth ICC U19 Cricket World Cup which started in 1988 with the inaugural event in Melbourne.

Australia has won the event three times - taking home the inaugural title in 1988, then again in 2002 and also last year's event in New Zealand.

(Source: www.eventsqld.com.au )

What's On Ipswich: Australian Army Band Brisbane - Coming to Ipswich

Known as one of the finest military bands in Australia, the Australian Army Band Brisbane provides music for regal, vice-regal, state and ceremonial occasions, performs at festivals, gives concerts and presents precision marching displays, as well as fulfilling its military role.

The Australian Army Band Brisbane is coming to Ipswich and will be performing at the Ipswich Civic Centre.

What's On Ipswich: Australian Army Band Brisbane - Coming to Ipswich

Chinese vote Queensland Number One Green Tourism Destination

Queensland has been voted the ‘Green Tourism Destination of the Year’ by more than 4.2 million readers of China’s Travel Weekly tourism trade publication, said Minister for Tourism, Manufacturing and Small Business Jan Jarratt today.

The announcement was made at the 2011 China Travel & Meetings Industry Awards in Beijing overnight. Ms Jarratt said the award was a massive coup for Queensland.

“It’s wonderful to hear Queensland has been chosen as the top green tourism destination in the world by millions of Chinese travel industry members,” Ms Jarratt said.

“This achievement comes less than two months after the Premier’s trade mission to China where she unveiled ‘Project China’; a plan to attract more high-spending Chinese visitors, develop new airline and travel trade partnerships and help Queensland tourism operators cater for Chinese travellers.

“This result shows the hard work of Tourism Queensland is delivering results for Queensland and boosting the state’s profile as an eco-friendly holiday destination.

“Queensland was chosen as one of the top three green tourism destinations in the world by the selection panel and we went head-to-head with Norway and New Zealand before being voted into the number one spot by Travel Weekly China readers in an online poll.

Ms Jarratt said the award win could not have taken place within a more significant international market and was cause for optimistic forecasting.

“China is Queensland’s fourth largest and fastest growing international market with 197,000 Chinese visiting our state in the year ending March 2011, 29 percent more than the year prior,” Ms Jarratt said.

“The Chinese are also big spenders, outlaying $388 million on their trips to Queensland during the same period, a significant $62 million more than during the previous year.

“But with Chinese visitor numbers forecast to continue growing by double digits over the next few years this is no time to rest on our laurels.

“It’s vital that our tourism industry has the skills, products and experiences to make sure our Chinese friends have the best possible Queensland experience, and when they go home they tell their friends and family that Queensland truly is where Australia shines.

“Winning this ‘Green Tourism Destination of the Year’ award will not only put Queensland front-of-mind with our current and potential Chinese trade partners, but hopefully also capture the attention of millions of Chinese holidaymakers.”

Ms Jarratt said the award win was a sweet reward for Queensland’s tourism operators, particularly those who have participated in ‘China Ready’ training and Tourism Queensland’s Sustainable Regions Project.

“The Sustainable Regions Project is Australia’s first state-wide sustainable tourism project which aims to reduce the environmental impact of tourism by working with regional operators to help transform Queensland into a domestically and internationally-recognised sustainable tourism destination,” she said.

“The project has been a resounding success after being piloted in seven Queensland regions including Airlie Beach, Magnetic Island, North Stradbroke Island, Mackay Hinterland, Winton, and after running in Agnes Water/The Town of 1770 and the Capricorn Coast post pilot stage.

“An Eco-Efficiency Sustainable Regions Project is also wrapping up on the Gold Coast in partnership with the Gold Coast City Council and 10 Sunshine Coast event-focused tourism businesses are completing a Sustainable Regions program, funded through the $12 million State and Federal Governments’ tourism recovery package.

“Through the pilot stage of the project nearly 66 businesses across the state committed to reducing their combined carbon footprint by 1,237.76 tonnes of CO2 annually – that’s the equivalent of taking 289 cars of the road for a year!

“Queensland has some of the world’s most amazing natural environments and experiences on the planet, so it’s in the best interest of all to ensure we protect and sustain the natural beauty of our state.”

(Source: tq.com.au)