Squadron Set to March into Town in $77m Plan

IPSWICH HQ: Officer Commanding 17th Construction Squadron, 6th
Engineer Support Regiment Major Henry Stimson, leads the squadron on
parade

THE army presence at RAAF Base Amberley is set to grow with plans for another squadron to be relocated to Ipswich under a $77 million project.

A defence spokeswoman confirmed yesterday that 17th Construction Squadron would be relocated from Holsworthy Barracks in Sydney to RAAF Amberley in early 2017.

She said about 140 positions would be transferred to Amberley and construction of new facilities at the base was planned to start in the coming months, subject to parliamentary approval.

The move co-locates the 17th Construction Squadron with its parent unit, the 6th Engineer Support Regiment. The headquarters of the 6 ESR and the 21st Construction Squadron are already at Amberley.

The Department of Defence said the relocation of 17th Construction Squadron would provide opportunities to enhance the command and control of engineer units in south-east Queensland and to improve the overall operational and training effectiveness of 6 ESR.

The project being considered by the Federal Government's Public Works Committee proposes to provide both purpose built and adaptively reused facilities for 17th Construction Squadron.

Construction of the squadron headquarters offices, troop buildings, workshop and vehicle and equipment shelters is expected to be completed by late 2016. A public hearing on the project will be held at Metro Hotel Ipswich International tomorrow at 1pm.

Mayor Paul Pisasale welcomed the $77 million investment in the city and said Defence families were a strong part of the community spirit. "We are a defence city," Cr Pisasale said.

"We want to give a loud and clear message to the people of Australia that we are there to support RAAF Base Amberley. We are here not only to support the base but to support the families."

17 Construction Squadron was originally formed in 1949 and based at Kingsford, New South Wales. Operational achievements include the Vietnam War, Operation Slipper in Afghanistan and peacekeeping operations in Namibia and East Timor.

Squadron personnel are trained as plant operators, carpenters, plumbers and electricians.

With more than 600 regular soldiers, 6 ESR is the largest of the Royal Australian Engineer regiments.

A Defence report into the relocation notes that RAAF Base Amberley is one of the largest Defence sites in Australia and is also home to RAAF's C17 strategic airlift fleet, Army's 9th Force Support Battalion and the Joint Logistics Unit.

"As such, relocating 17 Construction Squadron to RAAF Base Amberley will also enable wider Defence gains in operational effectiveness that involve domestic and regional air and land deployments, and operational efficiencies that involve the reliance on force and national level logistics support and sustainment," the report states.

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Blasina Will Help Ipswich People 'Reboot Their Business

Blasina Will Help Ipswich People 'Reboot Their Business

Television's "The Gadget Guy" Peter Blasina will help Ipswich people "reboot their business" at the first Ipswich Region Digital Expo.

The Channel Seven Sunrise Program's regular guest presenter has signed on as guest speaker for the event, held at the Metro Hotel Ipswich International on May 28.

The Ipswich Region Digital Expo will assist small to medium businesses in the region on the benefits of digital technology and 'Cloud' applications for business and technology providers can assist with hands on use of digital devices and technology.

The event will be held on May 28, from 7.30am to 6.30pm. For more details, contact 3810 6938 or ipswichcity@ipswich.qld.gov.au

Meetings and Events at Metro Hotel Ipswich International



Book Accommodation at Metro Hotel Ipswich International



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Dirty Dancing Hotel Hot Deal Brisbane

Metro Hotel Tower Mill Brisbane is offering a sizzling ‘Hot Deal’ to coincide with the opening of the musical, ‘Dirty Dancing’ at the QPAC on May 27th.



Dirty Dancing is a wonderful Australian success story. The stage musical gives audiences the chance to hear songs from the hit film performed live and to experience the breathtaking dance routines. Around the world people have flocked to this stage show smashing all records for a musical performance.



Metro Hotel Tower Mill has a Show Package Hot Deal with prices from $142 for a twin room, hot buffet breakfast for two, complimentary WiFi and extended check-out at 11am. The hotel is conveniently located close to the City’s CBD, opposite one of Brisbane’s most famous landmarks, the old ‘Tower Mill’.

Brisbane show package at Metro Hotel Tower Mill

All guestrooms in the hotel have a balcony with views and secure keycard access. Roma Street station is a five minute walk from the hotel or there is a free city loop bus to the CBD which departs directly from the front of the hotel.









For further information on Metro Hotels Hot Deals and bookings phone 1800 004 321 or visit www.metrohotels.com.au/hot-deals/



See this Press Release at Metro Hotels In The News



See All Metro Hotels News

Vivid Hot Hotel Deals at Metro Hotels

Vivid Sydney will be illuminating the city from May 22nd to June 8th.









Experience this creative and interactive festival with Metro Hotels' Vivid Brilliance Hot Deals.



Stay at Aspire Hotel Sydney, Metro Hotel on Pitt, Metro Hotel Sydney Central or Metro Apartments on Darling Harbour, with Vivid Sydney accommodation packages starting as low as just 144 dollars a night!







Vivid Brilliance Hot Deal at Aspire Hotel Sydney



To get you into the spirit of Vivid Sydney, Aspire Hotel Sydney are offering this Vivid Brilliance Hot Deal



Vivid Family Package at Metro Hotel Sydney Central



To celebrate Vivid Sydney, Metro Hotel Sydney Central is offering this Vivid Family Package



Vivid Sydney Hot Deal at Metro Hotel on Pitt



To celebrate Vivid Sydney, Metro Hotel on Pitt is offering this Vivid Hot Deal



Vivid Brilliance Hot Deal at Metro Apartments on Darling Harbour



To get you into the spirit of Vivid Sydney, Metro Apartments on Darling Harbour are offering this Vivid Brilliance Hot Deal



Experience Vivid with Metro Hotels.



Visit www.MetroHotels.com.au or call 1300 518 179 for more details.



*Deals subject to availability.

Vivid Sydney 2015: Modulations Adds Grace Jones to the Bill

Vivid Sydney 2015: Modulations Adds Grace Jones to the Bill (Photo: Kristian Sibast)

Veteran music and fashion icon, Grace Jones, heads the line-up for Modulations, doing much to redress the lack of female talent on the wider Vivid program.



Modulations, which is staged at Carriageworks from May 31 to June 7, comes under the Vivid umbrella.



"Her ideas around art, music, creativity and light mean she fits the DNA of Modulations," said its creative director, Stephen Pavlovic.



"She has a strong history and she's a strong woman too, and there has been a lack of them in the Vivid program so the opportunity to work with her was a no-brainer.



"Her live sets are duly renowned as nothing short of incredible, moving from disco to funk, from pop to punk, all presented within a visual spectacular as stunning as the musical artistry.



"You can expect lasers, a lot of costume changes and a thumping show with a great band."



Jones was last in Sydney in 2011. She headlined the Sydney Festival bill in 2009 and is now 66.



The fashionable pairing of music and food is again given an offbeat twist at Modulations, with the Italo Dining and Disco Club, which will be held on each day of the festival.



It features music from veteran Italian club DJ Beppe Loda, who pioneered a sound known as "cosmic Afro". Several top Sydney restaurants will cater, including Icebergs Dining Room & Bar, Da Orazio Pizza + Porchetta, Fratelli Paradiso and 10 William Street.



The other previously announced highlights include jazz legend, saxophonist Pharoah Sanders (June 5-6) and Bill Drummond (June 6) of provocative English 1980s pop group the KLF.



Grace Jones plays on May 31 and June 1 at Carriageworks and Modulations runs from May 31 to June 7. For more information go to vividsydney.com and to book tickets visit carriageworks.com.au

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Blur Live in Sydney - July 2015

It has been 18 years since blur, one of the most successful British
bands of the last two decades, has graced our shores. Together, Damon
Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James and Dave Rowntree,  have won a total of
five BRIT Awards, and were twice nominated for the Mercury Music Award.



And now blur  are back with their eighth studio album ‘The Magic Whip’
and in July will make their way to Australia, fresh from headlining
British Summer Time Festival in London’s Hyde Park, to play three huge
arena shows in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.



Joining the band will be very special guest Jamie T, one of the most
distinctive voices to come out of the UK in the past decade.



Event Details:


DATE: Saturday 25 July, 2015


TIME: Start time 7:45pm



More Details about this event and ticket purchasing

Matilda the Musical Lyric Theatre Sydney - Pre Sale Tickets Available Now

Matilda The Musical is the multi-award winning
musical from the Royal Shakespeare Company, inspired by the twisted
genius of Roald Dahl. With book by Dennis Kelly and original songs by
Tim Minchin, Matilda The Musical is the story of an
extraordinary little girl who, armed with a vivid imagination and a
sharp mind, dares to take a stand and change her own destiny.



Winner of 50 major international awards, including 12 for Best Musical, Matilda
continues to delight audiences of all ages both in London and on
Broadway before arriving at the Sydney Lyric Theatre from July 2015.

“ONCE IN A BLUE MOON, A SHOW COMES OUT BLAZING AND RESTORES YOUR FAITH IN BROADWAY. MATILDA THE MUSICAL IS THAT SHOW.” - New York Post



Matilda Cast Announced: 

Stephen Anderson – Sergei / Ensemble

Reece Budin – Doctor / Ensemble

Rachel Cole – Ensemble

Andrew Cook – Ensemble

Danielle Cook – Dance Captain / Swing

Eli Cooper – Ensemble

Cristina D’Agostino – Acrobat / Ensemble

Glenn Hill – Escapologist / Ensemble

Travis Khan – Rudolpho / Ensemble

Nadia Komazec – Ensemble

Zoe Komazec – Assistant Dance Captain / Swing

Leah Lim – Swing

Mitchell Mahony – Swing

Cle Morgan – Mrs Phelps / Ensemble

Daniel Raso – Michael Wormwood / Ensemble

Clay Roberts
– Swing - See more at:
http://au.matildathemusical.com/cast-creative/cast-team/?j=623302&l=86989_HTML&u=26979563&mid=1359293&jb=0#sthash.2Fbtetia.dpuf

Stephen Anderson – Sergei / Ensemble

Reece Budin – Doctor / Ensemble

Rachel Cole – Ensemble

Andrew Cook – Ensemble

Danielle Cook – Dance Captain / Swing

Eli Cooper – Ensemble

Cristina D’Agostino – Acrobat / Ensemble

Glenn Hill – Escapologist / Ensemble

Travis Khan – Rudolpho / Ensemble

Nadia Komazec – Ensemble

Zoe Komazec – Assistant Dance Captain / Swing

Leah Lim – Swing

Mitchell Mahony – Swing

Cle Morgan – Mrs Phelps / Ensemble

Daniel Raso – Michael Wormwood / Ensemble

Clay Roberts – Swing



See full cast information

Stephen Anderson – Sergei / Ensemble

Reece Budin – Doctor / Ensemble

Rachel Cole – Ensemble

Andrew Cook – Ensemble

Danielle Cook – Dance Captain / Swing

Eli Cooper – Ensemble

Cristina D’Agostino – Acrobat / Ensemble

Glenn Hill – Escapologist / Ensemble

Travis Khan – Rudolpho / Ensemble

Nadia Komazec – Ensemble

Zoe Komazec – Assistant Dance Captain / Swing

Leah Lim – Swing

Mitchell Mahony – Swing

Cle Morgan – Mrs Phelps / Ensemble

Daniel Raso – Michael Wormwood / Ensemble

Clay Roberts
– Swing - See more at:
http://au.matildathemusical.com/cast-creative/cast-team/?j=623302&l=86989_HTML&u=26979563&mid=1359293&jb=0#sthash.2Fbtetia.dpuf

Stephen Anderson – Sergei / Ensemble

Reece Budin – Doctor / Ensemble

Rachel Cole – Ensemble

Andrew Cook – Ensemble

Danielle Cook – Dance Captain / Swing

Eli Cooper – Ensemble

Cristina D’Agostino – Acrobat / Ensemble

Glenn Hill – Escapologist / Ensemble

Travis Khan – Rudolpho / Ensemble

Nadia Komazec – Ensemble

Zoe Komazec – Assistant Dance Captain / Swing

Leah Lim – Swing

Mitchell Mahony – Swing

Cle Morgan – Mrs Phelps / Ensemble

Daniel Raso – Michael Wormwood / Ensemble

Clay Roberts
– Swing - See more at:
http://au.matildathemusical.com/cast-creative/cast-team/?j=623302&l=86989_HTML&u=26979563&mid=1359293&jb=0#sthash.2Fbtetia.dpuf

View more information about Matilda at Lyric Theatre Sydney



Club Lyric's Matilda Presale!



As a Club Lyric member, you can access tickets to performances from Wednesday 28 October - Sunday 1 November before they go on sale to the general public! Book now using codeword MINCHIN to access this presale via the link below. 



GET TICKETS