Stories that our melted hearts
A look at the good news stories from the year that was
OFTEN the news focuses on the negative, but there is a lot to be said of Toowoomba’s community spirit.
To start the new year off on the right note, we take a look back at some of the heartwarming moments from 2018.
Miracle baby prepares for high school
Dubbed as the “miracle baby”, Deegan Beard was born 13 weeks premature, weighing a mere 486 grams.
This year, his proud parents Sam Paterick and Josh Beard watched on as he finished primary school on a high - receiving a Mayoral School Achievement Medal for his hard work at St Saviour’s Primary School.
This achievement was no small feat - the 12-year-old had come a long way since his first few months of life, which were spent in the intensive care unit of the Mater Hospital in Brisbane.
He is now looking forward to his high school experience.
Singer cheats death to perform again
In August, 2017, Toowoomba singer April Hitzke was struck down with a mysterious lung illness that left her fighting for life.
After a miracle lung transplant this May, Mrs Hitzke was invited to sing once more at the 2018 Carnival of Flowers.
“Music is one of my loves, and to be able to sing again is indescribable,” she said of the experience.
Donations pour in for Mosque destroyed by arson
Years after an arson attack burnt it to the ground, support is flooding in for the rebuild of the Garden City Mosque.
The Sydney Islamic community donated close to $200,000 for the rebuild during a week long fundraiser, and many Toowoomba residents have put their weight behind the project.
Community responds after Christmas present robbery
Residents rallied around a Harristown family who were robbed of their presents just days before Christmas.
More than $520 was donated to the family on GoFundMe, with others in the community offering to donate their own presents to the family.
The thieves had smashed through the front door, taking a phone, a set of beats headphones, two Garmin fit watches and some larger items from under the family tree.
Toowoomba Melissa Mogg said she was grateful for all the kind gestures.
Charity pushes to provide dignity to Toowoomba MS sufferers
A project to provide dignity to Toowoomba residents living with Multiple Sclerosis neared its final phase in November an 1800sq m block of land the final piece of the puzzle.
MSQ, the charity behind Project Dignity 120, called for $250,000 to reach the $1 million seed funding to get the project to the next stage in March, and Toowoomba answered the call.
Now it needs a suitable block of land for the apartments to build brighter futures.
War medal returned to widow
AN Australian Service Medal from World War II that went missing in a burglary 22 years ago was returned to its rightful owner in August.
The medal, that belonged to Flying Officer Clarence Reginald
Douglas Wenck, had been taken during a burglary in 1996 and was rediscovered this year by a driver for the Royal Hotel.
He handed the medal in to the Toowoomba United RSL Sub Branch while making an alcohol delivery. It was returned to Mr Wenck’s widow days after leading to a very emotional moment.
Community rallies for mauled ponies
A mystery donor put up $20,000 to help the Highfields Pioneer Village keep its animals safe after its miniature pony Clementine was mauled, taking its total to $25,000.
The fundraiser began after Highfields Pioneer Village’s miniature pony Clementine and her friend Charlie the Clydesdale were mauled by two escaped dogs on November 5.
Father and son’s inspiring fight for life
Corrie Mischlewski may only have had weeks to live, but his priority was the life of his son.
Despite going through an intense round of chemotherapy, Mr Mischlewski’s wish was to ensure his son Lachlan Barclay got the overseas treatment he needed for multiple sclerosis. Mr Mischlewski’s efforts to get his son treatment in Russia or Sweden raised over $6000.
Funding helps father work to overcome incident
Just two weeks after welcoming son Hudson into the world, Kenneth Allan was struck by a car while standing outside his Lockyer Valley home.
He suffered serious head injuries,
two broken legs, a broken arm and fractures to his ribs and face. He has been in a coma at Princess Alexandra Hospital ever since.
Community fundraising efforts from across the Darling Downs and Lockyer Valley raised $4835 for the young family.
Help flows for little Harvey
The community rushed to the aid of a young family, whose son Harvey was diagnosed with a malfunctioning pituitary gland, a condition only picked up after he turned yellow and stopped putting on weight. The family were overwhelmed by support from loved ones and strangers, who donated nearly $5000 as part of the GoFundMe campaign towards Harvey’s care.