Catch Up with our First President Michael Attard - Captured in 2015
History
After much preparation, organising and work, on 23 November 2011, the first QUT Big Lift busload departed Brisbane and visited 6 communities in Queensland’s rural and regional heartland. Over 8 days we strengthened our relationship with Australia’s Indigenous people whilst building leadership through community action. We first visited Cherbourg, then Eidsvold, Woorabinda and Biloela before making our way back to Brisbane via Agnes Waters and Bundaberg.
In 2012, lead once again, by a team of inspired and driven students and with the support of their university peers and colleagues, QUT Big Lift achieved a significant milestone: our second trip.
In 2013 QUT Big Lift, went on another amazing adventure journeying to: Murgon, Cherbourg, Eisvold, Moura, Tannum Sands, Bundaberg. See our awesome media memories and our amazing documentary, created by some amazing QUT students.
In 2014, QUT Big Lift had members old and new band together to orchestrate an amazing year of projects and events; culminating in our unforgettable end-of-year volunteer road trip to rural and Indigenous communities.
As far as 2015 goes, the first semester has been a packed one. Much of our time was devoted to planning the logistics for our first ever Mid-Year Road Trip to towns many of us had never even heard of, but wanted to explore under the umbrella of our Big Lift values. Thanks to the efforts of our brilliant team, we had a successful midwinter trip to Dalby, Yuleba, Injune and Chinchilla - we even camped in Carnarvon Gorge.
After the hectic first semester, we rushed into the second. Planning and leading the inaugural End-Of-Year trip of 2015. Coming back to the communities which felt like a second home to many of us such as Murgon, Cherbourg, Eidsvold and to a place which we had visited a long time ago: Theodore. We're glad to have ended the year on such a high note. On a side note, we've been branching out into more Brisbane domestic activities, starting not one but two sports teams. We will be continuing with more of activities throughout the semester.
In 2016, we have been super busy and active within both our local and regional communities in Queensland! This year marks the first ever Mini-Lifts, which are short, weekend-long road trips to volunteer in communities. This year we volunteered at the Cherbourg Ration Shed Run, Dalby Delicious and Delightful Festival and Cherbourg's Yhurri Gurri Arts and Culture Festival. We've also been volunteering with Brisbane-based groups: Balaangala - an not-for-profit organization based at the Gap which holds gardening afternoons and Indigenous cultural events and Bikes For Life in Nudgee - a charity group that repairs bicycles to donate to communities in need.
Alongside this, we ran our second mid-year trip to Dalby, Jandowae (for the first time) and Chinchilla! On the road with 25 wonderful volunteers, we had an absolute blast and were able to take part in really meaningful projects and learning opportunities within the communities. We are thrilled to have returned to Dalby and Chinchilla, and to have made new connections with Jandowae. We are currently gearing up for our End of Year Trip, where we will be visiting Murgon and Cherbourg, Eidsvold, Baralba, Wowan, Agnes Waters and Bundaberg. 2016 has been an amazing year for Big Lift, with many wonderful opportunities to volunteer, branch out with new projects and spread Big Lift love.
In 2012, lead once again, by a team of inspired and driven students and with the support of their university peers and colleagues, QUT Big Lift achieved a significant milestone: our second trip.
In 2013 QUT Big Lift, went on another amazing adventure journeying to: Murgon, Cherbourg, Eisvold, Moura, Tannum Sands, Bundaberg. See our awesome media memories and our amazing documentary, created by some amazing QUT students.
In 2014, QUT Big Lift had members old and new band together to orchestrate an amazing year of projects and events; culminating in our unforgettable end-of-year volunteer road trip to rural and Indigenous communities.
As far as 2015 goes, the first semester has been a packed one. Much of our time was devoted to planning the logistics for our first ever Mid-Year Road Trip to towns many of us had never even heard of, but wanted to explore under the umbrella of our Big Lift values. Thanks to the efforts of our brilliant team, we had a successful midwinter trip to Dalby, Yuleba, Injune and Chinchilla - we even camped in Carnarvon Gorge.
After the hectic first semester, we rushed into the second. Planning and leading the inaugural End-Of-Year trip of 2015. Coming back to the communities which felt like a second home to many of us such as Murgon, Cherbourg, Eidsvold and to a place which we had visited a long time ago: Theodore. We're glad to have ended the year on such a high note. On a side note, we've been branching out into more Brisbane domestic activities, starting not one but two sports teams. We will be continuing with more of activities throughout the semester.
In 2016, we have been super busy and active within both our local and regional communities in Queensland! This year marks the first ever Mini-Lifts, which are short, weekend-long road trips to volunteer in communities. This year we volunteered at the Cherbourg Ration Shed Run, Dalby Delicious and Delightful Festival and Cherbourg's Yhurri Gurri Arts and Culture Festival. We've also been volunteering with Brisbane-based groups: Balaangala - an not-for-profit organization based at the Gap which holds gardening afternoons and Indigenous cultural events and Bikes For Life in Nudgee - a charity group that repairs bicycles to donate to communities in need.
Alongside this, we ran our second mid-year trip to Dalby, Jandowae (for the first time) and Chinchilla! On the road with 25 wonderful volunteers, we had an absolute blast and were able to take part in really meaningful projects and learning opportunities within the communities. We are thrilled to have returned to Dalby and Chinchilla, and to have made new connections with Jandowae. We are currently gearing up for our End of Year Trip, where we will be visiting Murgon and Cherbourg, Eidsvold, Baralba, Wowan, Agnes Waters and Bundaberg. 2016 has been an amazing year for Big Lift, with many wonderful opportunities to volunteer, branch out with new projects and spread Big Lift love.