IT CAN happen in an instant but lead to a lifetime of pain.

Drink-spiking is common and women attending the World’s Greatest Pub Fest on Sunday are urged to beware and take care so the crawl remains a safe and happy experience.

Counsellors from the Wide Bay Sexual Assault Support Service visited every participating crawl pub this week to distribute coasters, brochures and wrist bands warning of the dangers and advising people how to stay safe. … click here to learn more (image & info from The Fraser Coast Chronicle).

What to do if you think your drink has been spiked.
It is important to tell someone you can trust, a friend, security staff, the police and go to a doctor or hospital. Your doctor or a medical practitioner can test for the presence of traces of certain drugs through urine or blood tests within 24 hours.

Report the Crime 000 – Seek Medical HELP!
Statewide Sexual Assault Helpline  1800 010 120
Wide Bay Sexual Assault Service   07 4121 5999

Design House is nominated for the Fraser Coast Business Awards 2010 by Emma from Spraytanz .
Thanks heaps Emma, professional clients like yourself make my work enjoyable, exciting and a pleasure!

Full story here: Fraser Coast Chronicle

It’s not hard going green …. why not follow my SIMPLE cost effective, time enhancing practices and make your business environmentally friendly while saving money … it’s important we all do our part.

The Design House environmental and sustainability business achievements are used as an example of what can be easily and quickly realised by industry to save energy through the adoption of effective practices.
The Queensland Government Department of Environment and Resource Management (derm) Sustainable Business Info Sheet Design House - 
Heating and Cooling & The ‘paperless’ office

More info here!

Design House is the Major Sponsor of the Salsa Group and is also sponsoring and providing advertising and media assistance to Latin Fantasy “Lolita’s Story’ & The Vida Latina Dance Co.

I feel the Fraser Coast needs more fun social alternative’s for all age groups and being able to attract such friendly and professional performers to our area through the Salsa Group and promote them utilising Design House is just an amazing opportunity. 

Latest News: Salsa Party # 5 @ the Bayswater

Saturday night was the hugest Salsa Party to date with over 200 people dancing up a Salsa storm @ the Bayswater…… please click here to read the more and view the photos.

A big Thank You to the Vida Latina Dance Troupe, I Harte Latin, the Bayswater Hotel, Design House, Fraser Coast Chronicle & the Salsa Group and all those who attended making these nights possible!!!!

As many of you may be unaware I’m on a personal ‘Get Fit Campaign’ so last month’s challenge was a 24km run across Fraser Island! I found a group of fun & fit ladies who were also interested in completing this challenge. I then sponsored print for out t-shirts stating “No Excuses” and had our Finishers medals made. I had total faith we could make the distance even though four of us had not run more than 10km before! Starting at Kingfisher we ran through bush and soft sand past Lake McKenzie then through rainforest, finishing at Central Station. It was awesome to sponsor a ‘Design House team’ and be a part of this motivated group of women who are now the face of traQ (Trail Running Association of Queensland) …… click here to find out more!

Recently I graduated with more than 130 former students of the Fraser Coast University of Southern Queensland at the 2009 graduation ceremony held at the Brolga Theatre in Maryborough. This was the largest number of graduands in the 11 year history of the Campus.

I was in the first group of students to ever graduate for the Masters of Professional Studies in Australia. This work place based post graduate degree was established on the Fraser Coast.

A big thank you to Graham Young (Campus Coordinator Faculty of Business) my tutor / mentor, I couldn’t have done it without you. Your guidance, knowledge and support was inspirational. Thanks for turning my light bulb on!!!

I would also like to thank Chris Foley (State Member for Maryborough) for taking the time to see me and explain some issues I had with my study more clearly to me. That was really appreciated, a big help and got me back on track!

The staff at USQ did a wonderful job of organising the event and making sure we all were in order and our correct positions throughout the ceremony.

This course is tailored to mature age student entry with  the RPL  (Recognition of Prior Learning) of four units available based on the writing of a Portfolio of your life experiences and knowledge to date……

Master of Professional Studies

Program focus

The Master of Professional Studies is designed to enable professionals to engage in the highest form of authentic learning: to study as they engage in real world, real time activity; and to combine their work and study in ways that lead to benefits for both the individual and the organisation.

Accordingly, the program aims to provide opportunities for professionals with the appropriate entry qualifications to gain post-graduate qualifications and enable them to critically review literature to address theoretical and practical questions and issues in their workplace field, and to design and implement projects to further investigate these questions and issues.

Hats off to USQ graduates (News; Fraser Coast Chronicle)…… click here to read more.

When Hervey Bay’s Jeanette Maynes was made redundant in 2004 as marketing manager of a hospitality establishment, she had no idea it would be the best thing that had ever happened to her.

Forced to consider a new career path, Jeanette decided it was the right time to start her own business.

Now a 2008 Telstra Business Young Business Woman of the Year Finalist, Jeanette owes a part of her success to the team at Mission Australia’s New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS) …….. click here to read more.

Thanks to Mission Employment Toowoomba especially David Rozynski!