Welcome to FKG's quarterly newsletter "Right Angles".

There is always plenty happening at FK Gardner & Sons and we are excited to have the opportunity to provide you with a quarterly newsletter.  "Right Angles" will provide you with a snapshot of what our team have been working on over the past three months, from project work, new staff through to our community involvement our aim is to keep you updated.

Gary Gardner

Homeworld Oxenford is a massive multi million dollar master planned retail showroom and bulky goods complex, positioned within one of Australia's fastest growing regions...the beautiful Gold Coast.

The complex itself will provide for 27,000m2 of retail showroom and bulky goods space incorporating over 1000 onsite carparks.  The facility will cater for the shopping needs and requirements of the under serviced north Gold Coast Community which consists of over 400,000 people. 

Macpro Properties engaged FKG to complete stages one and two of this impressive and exciting development.  Construction commenced in June 2007; the initial stages of the project included the clearing of over 20 hectares of trees from the property which originally housed a racecourse that had been stagnant for over 20 years.

Being a design and construct project FKG had the flexibility to change and sculpt the design of the facility to better suit the needs of not only the client but also the tenants and customers that would be regularly utilizing Homeworld.  These design changes enabled us to create a state of the art, first class centre that the client will use as their blue print for future upcoming projects.

There have been over one hundred and twenty men working on site at the one time which has allowed us to progress the project efficiently.  The new facilities will be completed by mid July 2008 and will add another impressive complex to the ever-changing Gold Coast development portfolio.

If you would like further information regarding this project please refer to www.macprop.com

FK Gardner and Sons are the proud sponsor of up and coming boxer Shane McConville.  Shane is an apprentice carpenter with FKG but also has a keen interest in the sport of boxing.

Shane has been amateur boxing since he was 9 years old and has won numerous titles including:

• South East Queensland Title
• Wide Bay Burnett Title
• Two Queensland Golden Gloves Titles
• National Golden Gloves Title
• Three Queensland Titles
• Two Australian Titles.

Currently training under Dick Schubert in Roma, 23 year old Shane is currently the Queensland and Australian Cruiser Weight Champion and the Queensland and Australian Heavy Weight Champion.

When Shane approached FKG for sponsorship it was easy to see his passion and determination for his sport.  While he has already achieved so much in his career his goal is to turn professional by the end of 2008, a goal which FKG thoroughly supports.

Once he turns professional he will be aiming for the Australian Professional Title and hopes to achieve this within 18 months.  FKG wish Shane all the best with his future endeavours and we will continue to share his exciting journey with you along the way.

Toowoomba community group Spiritus was established in 1992 and provides the local community with a Bereavement Support Network.  Spiritus Hall also houses Depression Network another free service that is offered to the community suffering with depression.  Most of us would have experienced or know someone who has experienced the pain of losing someone close.

Spiritus volunteer Win Adcock spends most of her day providing vital support to those who have lost a loved one and need comforting while dealing with their grief.  Win recently made her own plea for help in an article in the Toowoomba Chronicle.  In the article Win explained that while the premises they worked out of was warm and welcoming it currently didn't have a ceiling which allowed external influences to interfere with their counselling sessions.

FKG Business Development Manager Heather Gardner was at an appointment in the city and was in a waiting room, when she read the article on volunteer Win Adcock and the Spritus plight.  She thought their volunteer work is a strain enough, endeavouring to offer comfort and support to those who have lost a loved one and trying to do that in a room with no ceiling and the noise coming in from the outside– its just not the sort of thing you like to see. When you have people in the community giving of their time, Heather just felt it was a project that FKG would be able to assist with. 

Since the article FKG have donated labour and materials to construct a ceiling in the premises.  The business community in Toowoomba and surrounding areas are extremely generous towards the community/charities and fund raising activities.  FK Gardner receive countless requests for assistance, and they are usually all very good causes, however you can’t do them all, but if all business’s do what they can then everyone benefits.

Spiritus is open to the local community and are situated in Ruthven Street behind the Shamrock Hotel.

FK Gardner & Sons are involved with the construction of the new three million dollar Automotive Training Centre at the Toowoomba TAFE in Lindsay Street.

Construction of the new automotive facility commenced in January and will be ready for students to use by second semester this year.  While the TAFE have been running Automotive programs from the Hume Street Campus this new workshop will provide more space and state of the art equipment for students to study light vehicle automotive.

Member for Toowoomba North, Kerry Shine recently visited the new facility and gave his seal of approval.  He was joined by SQIT Director John Elich and Director of Education and Training Kylie Lee.  FKG Project Manager Mike Turner and Site Foreman James Lunn gave the group a tour of the new facility explaining some of the new benefits that were going to be offered to the students.

The centre itself will  contain a workshop area with two hoists plus classrooms that will be fully equipped with computers, there is also a sophisticated simulator, Megatech which will assist the students with their learning program.  The building is 743 sq metres with a 20,000 gallon underground water tank.

This new building will add to the TAFE’S already extensive learning development programs and will assist local students who wish to continue their study in Toowoomba.

Photo: (left to right) FKG Site Foreman James Lunn, SQIT Institute Director John Elich, Director of Education and Training Kylie Lee, Member for Toowoomba North Kerry Shine and FKG Project Manager Mike Turner.

We value your opinion, if you have any feedback regarding our newsletter please feel free to call Lauren Flint on 0746 200 500 or e-mail lauren.flint@fkg.com.au