The Million Paws Walk event, which was organised by the RSPCA, involved a series of walks for dogs and their owners around Australia. Dog lovers in North Lakes were able to take part in a ramble around Lake Eden on Sunday.

Walkers got to choose between a 1.5km stroll and a 3km course around the water in Lakefield Drive. To maintain order, dogs were kept on leashes and owners had to comply with a host of other regulations.

The event also involved a number of competitions, with prizes awarded to the best dressed dog, the fastest dog and the dog and owner which look most alike. Games, market stalls, a coffee van and a barbecue all kept spectators entertained while the walkers completed the course. People who don't own dogs were also welcome to attend.

While there was an entry fee, participants were encouraged to donate or raise extra funds for the cause. Each person or group who registered did get an online fundraising page, but poster printing was also used by many to spread the word around the local community.

The money raised will help RSPCA Queensland provide vital services in the community and go to help staff look after the animals in their care at the group’s animal care centres and veterinary clinics.

The total raised is yet to be revealed but animal lovers can still make donations. For more information, visit the Million Paws Walk website.

Osborne Park

Husband and wife researchers, Boris Baer and Barbara Baer-Imhoff, are studying bee ecology, immunity and reproduction. The scientists, originally from Switzerland, arrived in Perth almost a decade ago, inspired by the healthy state of bee populations in Australia.

Barbara said:

“After 13 years studying bees, we are still excited to get into our suits and open a colony to interact with these animals – and they really talk to us.”

Barbara notes that the humming of happy bees is distinctive, and a healthier hive colony emits an attractive sweet smell, whereas a sick population smells differently. The complex society somewhat resembles a human workforce, with some notable differences – comparable to living with 2,000 brothers, 50,000 sisters, smelling with feet, and interacting with dance in an entirely dark environment.

The documentary, directed by Marcus Imhoff, will highlight diminishing bee populations that could push the world toward an environmental disaster. Ultimately, it is simply a matter of understanding that a large percentage of fruit trees and food crops are pollinated by bees. Without our insect workforce to help, the cost of food would skyrocket beyond the means of the average Australian.

Barbara and Boris are hopeful the movie will educate moviegoers in gaining respect for bees as creatures vitally important for food production. Urban beekeeping is also becoming an increasingly popular pastime. Promotion of the film and other bee-related information can be broadcast with the expert assistance of Osborne Park printing companies.

Jupiters Hotel, a short drive away in Broadbeach, is hosting a morning tea as part of the Cancer Council's Biggest Morning Tea campaign. The annual nationwide event has been held for 20 years and special tea meetings, like the one at Jupiters, are being held to mark the anniversary.

Last year the event raised more than $12million nationwide, and during the two decades the event has been running around $110million has been donated. The money is used for cancer research and treatment, and to educate and support people with cancer and their families.

The tea party will feature a garden picnic with entertainment, outdoor games and a menu designed especially for the event. It will be hosted by the hotel's executive chef Uday Huja, who also works as a regional ambassador for the Biggest Morning Tea initiative.

The menu will feature a range of sweet treats and teas served on the hotel's Pavilion Lawn. The regional fundraising co-ordinator for Cancer Council Queensland, Shannan Walker, said the event would be a fun experience to share with family, friends or work colleagues. Poster printing would be a good way of advertising a workplace outing to one of the morning teas.

The event takes place tomorrow and runs from 9.30am until midday. Tickets are $29 and $15 from every ticket goes to Cancer Council Queensland.

Melbourne

Narre Warren

Bureau of Statistics estimates reveal five of Australia’s fastest growing municipalities are in Melbourne. In 2011-12, the Melbourne population increased by 77,242 people, to reach just under 4.25 million.

Sydney has been overtaken by Perth as Australia’s second fastest growing city. Perth population has swelled to almost 1.9 million, an increase of 3.6 per cent. The Bureau estimates that the Australian population reached 23 million at the beginning of May 2013.

For 11 years Melbourne has led national growth, during which time the population of the city grew by almost a quarter. The challenge lies in dealing with an overburdened infrastructure designed to support a much smaller population. Suburbs such as Narre Warren are feeling the strain, as the council attempts to balance population growth, economic opportunity, transport and public facility.

On the plus side, it is an exciting time for service industries, such as print companies, as they cater to an increasingly diverse and multicultural population made up of new arrivals from all corners of the globe.

Many of the problems faced in urban areas can be overcome by forward thinking and planning with population growth in mind. The challenge can be met by individuals, government and focus groups. Banner printing, flyer printing and other related print company advertising materials are great ways to draw attention to the important future needs of the local area.

The space ship centrepiece will stand 3.3 metres tall and be illuminated by LED lights. It is hoped the project will boost council coffers by drawing interest to the famous UFO sighting in the area in 1966, known around the world as the Westall sighting. At that time, 100 people reportedly saw mysterious objects fly above Westall Primary and Secondary School. The objects then landed nearby.

The Mayor of Kingston, Ron Brownlees, believes the community is behind the novel theme park. The council ultimately approved the idea as it is a significant local folklore event. Mr Brownlees said:

“We wanted to reduce the fear and trepidation that some people felt toward the park because of what happened…we treated the project light-heartedly so people wouldn’t be afraid of it.”

Opinion is divided as to the identity of the space craft sighted in 1966. UFO researcher Richard Wilson believes they were experimental aircraft which have become part of a cover up. He hopes the park won’t trivialise the encounter, but admits it could become a tourist attraction – Australia’s rival to Roswell in the United States.

Dr Steve Roberts, of Australia Skeptics, is himself certain that the playground idea is a lot more concrete than the “embellished” original sighting.

The novel park venture could well be a boon to Moorabbin printing companies, as tourists are drawn toward collecting memorabilia, such as postcards and business cards related to the Westall UFO incident.

Decades of development have resulted in Darra slowly growing into a green oasis, with the proliferation of garden centres and landscape suppliers evident. Rather than seeing all those odd jobs as chores to be put aside for another day, Darra residents are increasingly appreciating gardening as healthy exercise. Cooler autumn weather has been the catalyst for many to shed excess kilos.

A typical 80kg man working for 30 minutes burns 162 calories just by raking, 202 calories will be shed by digging, and pushing a mower will burn 243 calories. Other benefits include relaxation, nutrition, avoidance of paying gym fees and a sense of achievement.

Newcomers to Darra, especially migrants from Asia, have also highlighted the benefits of growing backyard food crops. A regular size house block can support a large percentage of vegetable needs when expertly managed. Many even use gardening calendars to track their progress.

Gardening involves all muscle groups. Those just starting their assault on that overgrown tangle of bushes and brambles are advised to dress appropriately and stretch before proceeding. Beginners generally start with light weeding and watering. Tangible health benefits often spur gardeners on to the next steps of digging, pruning, or pushing a wheelbarrow.

Gardening is an avenue to develop a rapport with neighbours. Darra printing companies can also help by providing flyer printing and related materials for the promotion of community gardening projects.

Mooloolaba

Surf clubs on the Sunshine Coast have been represented by 3,603 lifesavers since September 22, 2012, and regardless of the conditions, they have once again triumphed over adversity. Lifeguards have encountered cyclonic winds, collapsing towers, sharks, huge swells, and beach closures.

Temperatures reached a sweltering 42 degrees in December, and this was soon followed by Cyclone Oswald. To put the busy season in perspective, lifesavers performed 797 rescues and dedicated a combined 124,709 hours to provide a safe swimming environment. Sunshine Coast regional manager Aaron Purchase considered it a very challenging season. He said:

“It has been a tough slog with the weather events we have had, and the difficulties impacted surf lifesaving clubs across the coast.”

Lifeguards saved the Mooloolaba tower, which almost crumbled into the ocean. There were many triumphs amidst the adversity, with lifesavers even assisting with the Bundaberg flood recovery. A $20,000 Council project was also very timely, delivering sand to a rock-strewn Maroochydore beach prior to the Queensland Surf Life Saving Titles.

An increase of 13,000 preventative actions to beachgoers this season highlights the importance of educating the community and visiting beach users about dangers. Print companies providing banner printing and flyer printing in Mooloolaba are the first port of call for anyone wanting to promote awareness of beach safety.

Melbourne

The note is symbolic of an important period of Australia’s history, with the Commonwealth of Australia being established in 1901. The note, serial M000001, was numbered by hand at the original Melbourne Government Printing House. It was then presented to Judith Denman, the Governor General’s young daughter, by Australian Prime Minister Andrew Fisher. It was found amongst her belongings after she died in 1987.

The note has since changed hands twice: first in 2000 for $1 million, and then in 2008 for $1.9 million.

Prior to official banknote printing in Australia, colonists utilised makeshift currencies and valuables, including rum, as bartering tools. In 1851, gold was discovered, which stimulated development, with banks issuing notes backed up by gold stocks. Unfortunately, many of those banks failed in 1893.

In 1910, the issue of banknotes was formerly passed on to the Commonwealth Treasury, thereby withdrawing the authority of separate states to produce their own legal tender.

The original printing works of Australia was situated in Melbourne’s Flinders Street. The fascinating history of Australia’s banknotes is now big business. Melbourne print companies can create quality displays for banknotes and collectable documents, and even provide poster or brochure printers’ expertise for the advertising or sale of iconic Australian treasures.

Melbourne

The idea is a simple one: when paying for one coffee, another ‘suspended’ beverage is paid for, which means a person without the funds to purchase their own can have a coffee made available.

Declan Jacobs, a telecom company manager, established the Suspended Coffee Society in Melbourne, before printing hundreds of window stickers to display in cafes wishing to take part. He said:

“It only takes one person to start something…you don’t need a corporation on board.”

Jacobs is also coordinating the initiative with the help of welfare agencies such as the Society of St Vincent De Paul and the Sacred Heart Mission. He is hoping they can provide clients with information of participating cafes. Cathy Humphrey, from the Sacred Heart Mission, believes St Kida cafes are welcoming the idea. She said:

“There’s goodwill in the community to take this up…it will be important to engage café proprietors. Some could be challenged by dealing with people who are experiencing homelessness.”

Steve Taylor of valley Xpresso is already taking part, and has donated suspended coffees to coffee carts in Melbourne’s east. He has noted that many locals live in housing commission residences and caravan parks, and can’t easily afford luxuries.

Participating cafes can easily keep track of available suspended coffees with the help of tickets or coupons acquired from the area’s printing services.

Fremantle

The outside gallery wall had been getting vandalised on a weekly basis, and police were understaffed and unable to help.

Owner Conrad Oma said:

“Every Sunday night the council was out there painting the wall black.”

That was before urban artists Jackson Harvey, Jerome Davenport, and Luke O’Donohoe offered to create a mural on the wall. As a gesture of respect, graffiti vandals have left the wall untouched since. Oma believes artists respect the artwork of others.

His view is shared by Mayor Brad Pettitt. He had been suggesting that graffiti vandalism could be thwarted by graffiti art, when the artists approached him. The council contributed the cost of spray paint and the artists worked for free.

It is hoped that the art gallery wall is just the beginning, and that more prominent walls around Perth can be beautified. According to Jerome Davenport, it is important to promote aerosol art as a genuine form of expression, especially in the public forum. His ideals run contrary to illegal vandalism, and he believes the nautical theme exemplified on the art gallery wall is a fitting work for the Fremantle community.

In fact, genuine graffiti art is at the cutting edge of modern art form, and is a great way to divert vandalism and get young people involved. Many books of fantastic graffiti art have been published, and with the assistance of Fremantle printing services, the works can be transformed into decorative pieces for the adornment of homes and offices.