Official Magazine of Queensland’s Former Origin Greats editiOn 22 SUMMeR 2013 QUEENSLANDER MaGazine Picture courtesy: News Queensland READY FOR TAKE-OFF Why Aidan Guerra and Generation Next won’t be stopped MANY THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS AND SUPPORTERS FOUNDING CHAIRMAN RSA Turner EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN Gene Miles DEPUTY CHAIRMEN Rod Morris John Ribot-De-Bresac DIRECTORS Wally Lewis, Gavin Allen, Chris Close, Mike McLean, Trevor Gillmeister, Mal Meninga, Greg Oliphant, Don Jackson, Shane Webcke, Andrew Gee Sci-Fleet Toyota. Totally Toyota. CONTACT US Australia’sFOGS LTD largest selling Toyota dealer. Being theLocked biggest BagToyota 3, Milton,dealer inQld Australia 4064 means that we have the largest range of Toyotas.Ph: In 1300 fact, QUEENSLANDER 1 in every 3 Toyotas (783 sold 367) in Brisbane come from Sci-Fleet Toyota. And, because we’re the largest selling Toyota dealer, you’re more likely to Fax: (07) 3331 5051 get the new Toyota you want in the colour you like at the most competitive price. Email: [email protected] Why not visit us today? Twitter: www.twitter.com/QLD_FOGS Queenslander Magazine, the official Facebook: magazine of the Former Origin www.facebook.com/FOGSQueensland Greats, is proudly printed by: Website: www.fogs.com.au SPONSORSHIP AND ADVERTISING: John Crane 0411 249 325 [email protected] [email protected] T 07 3356 0788 : : F 07 3356 0507 unit 7 / 36 Windorah Street Stafford : : Q : : 4053 SCI-FLEET TOYOTA PROUDLY SUPPORTING Visit www.scifleet.com.au 167 Sandgate Road, Albion 07 3862 0999 [email protected] MANY THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS AND SUPPORTERS IT IS hard to believe we As well, more than 300 This is what we call the ripple effect, have reached the end of leading employment, and you will read about that among other another year. education and training ARTIE Academy success stories inside this But as always, the providers this year used edition. Christmas break does allow to the FOGS Expos to Of course a big part of the success that us that small window where showcase the opportunities we have enjoyed with the FOGS Expos we can catch our breath, they had available, dealing and the ARTIE Academy comes from look back at what we have directly and personally the inspiration young Queenslander draw achieved over the past 12 with the workforce’s next from the example of their Origin heroes. months, and peer over the generation. While attending an Expo or talking to horizon at what the new year But numbers are easy students about staying in school may seem may bring. to wash over. It is the personal stories, like a small gesture to you, we have seen Christmas is also a time of celebration – and putting a smiling face to those job time and time again what a difference it both for the things we have achieved, and opportunities that drive home the good makes to these children who, just like us, the good fortune we are lucky enough to work that the FOGS Expos are doing. hold the Queensland jersey and the values enjoy. As always, in this edition of it represents so dearly. At the FOGS, we are celebrating Queenslander Magazine, we will visit My sincere thanks to all of the FOGS, another year of tremendous success some of the many success stories to have and current NRL players, who have and growth in 2013 that has helped us come out of the Expos. provided that spark of inspiration for these maintain the ideals set by our Founding These stories are not there as some kids with their presence and leadership at Chairman Tosser Turner, and our sort of bragging or chest-beating. They the FOGS Expos and ARTIE Academy Founding Ambassador Arthur Beetson is are real stories about real people who during the year. making a better life for all Queenslanders, lives have been changed for the better An extra special thank you to our and to make a positive change in the lives because of the hard work done by wonderful staff for working so hard to make of Indigenous kids. everyone at FOGS and our event partner the FOGS and what we do such a success. At the forefront of the FOGS work this the Department of Community Safety The incredible efforts and the year was our wonderful ARTIE Academy and event sponsor Construction Skills commitment of our ARTIE Academy program, and our annual FOGS Queensland. team and the girls behind our FOGS Indigenous Employment and Careers Similarly, tremendous strides continue Expos are what make these programs so Expo series. to be made with our ARTIE (Achieving successful. The Expos started from humble Results Through Indigenous Education) I would also like to thank all of our Picture: Courtesy News Queensland Picture: beginnings in Brisbane six years ago, and Academy. board members for their guidance, and since then they have grown to the point This time of year is particularly particularly John Ribot and Rod Morris now where in 2013, we visited seven pleasing, because it is when the students for their ongoing support and knowledge. regions around the state bringing together involved in the ARTIE Academy get to I think both Tosser and Arthur would school-leavers and job-seekers with celebrate and enjoy the rewards for their be very proud of the work we are employers and educators. hard work. doing, the example we are setting, and As you can imagine, the sheer logistics As you will read in this edition, the the leadership we are providing for all of organizing these events take an ARTIE Academy’s success in improving Queenslanders, but particularly those that incredible amount of hard work from all education standards and attendance levels most need our help.Junior School involved, and we should all be particularly among Indigenous kids is as inspiring as it To everyone – our members, staff, proud of the amazing work of the FOGS is impressive. sponsors and supporters – my best wishes staff in making the Expos such a success. By reinforcing the need for importance of for Christmas and the new year, and I look Because of their efforts, nearly 16,000 a good education, we are helping to change forward to more highlights and milestones May you have a wonderful and Queenslanders visited the FOGS Expos the course of young lives for the better.Celebfor 2014 andr theation years to come. in 2013 – nearly 4000 of them at the Theseblessed students Christma ins! turn act as the final Expo in Brisbane alone, which is an inspiration for younger students, and they GENE MILES 20102009 incredible result. in turn for the next generation. Executive ChairmanNight FOGS wish all our members, staff, sponsors and supporters all the very best for a wonderful Thank you to everyone who contributed to the success of our Christmas and excitingCelebration Night. New Year! www.fogs.com.au 3 THE CLOCK’S TICKING… After eight straight series wins, Queensland’s State of Origin team is not getting any younger. Maroons coach Mal Meninga explains why the time for some tough decisions is just around the corner. IF YOU thought the Queensland selectors There is no doubt that we are at the be the need to look at the make-up of the had a tough enough task picking the State stage where we need to freshen things up, team. It is an inescapable fact that our of Origin team every year, things will not just to prevent things going stale. roster is getting older. get any easier when it comes to picking A part of that will be a change to the We have a number of guys in the team the next Emerging Origin squad. staff. We are still working through all around that 30-years of age mark. One of the truly great things out of the of that at the moment, but certainly we We have been very lucky with our season just finished was how many young have been talking to Kevin Walters about senior players in that we haven’t lost too Queenslanders continue to develop and coming on board. many of them to serious injuries. grow into Maroons of the future. He would be very well suited for the They have been a pretty resilient mob A handful of them have been lucky role and he understands Origin. over the past few years, and they always enough to continue their rugby league Another big factor is that he is “current” seem to be available. education at the Rugby League World – as in he has been working in the NRL So that transition period is probably Cup – either with Australia, or one of the club system, and is up to date with all of something that we need to manage other nations. the modern trends and techniques. intelligently, rather than just relying on It is very pleasing to see that our future He understands the program that we fate to make decisions for us. Maroons are developing so well because, have implemented because he was a part if we’re being honest, we are of the structure from the very beginning. going to be calling on But there are other areas where we them to do a job probably need to make some changes too. for Queensland It will freshen the place up a bit, and is an sooner rather important part of our progression. than later. An unavoidable part of that change will Pictures: Courtesy News Queensland Pictures: 4 www.fogs.com.au But the performance of the young seasons, and they will rightly be banging the past eight Origin series, and the players this season makes me think the on the door for selection next season.