It's been a flying start to 2013 for BRAKE meaning that this is my first blog for the year.

A lot has happened since my last blog and over the next few weeks we will publish articles about what is happening with BRAKE and what we believe 2013 will bring for BRAKE, secondary schools, students, parents/carers and the wider community.

We were successful in applying for and receiving a grant from the Jupiter's Casino Community Benefit Fund (JCCBF) to update our web-engine. This is excting news for BRAKE - and our schools - as will streamline administration requirements and enhance delivery of the program.  In fact it will allow us to provide BRAKE to a far wider school community, geographically speaking. Articles will be posted in the coming weeks about this development.

We welcome back our continuing schools for 2013 and look forward to working with them, their staff, students and communities once again. We also welcome over 15 new schools across Queensland to BRAKE, we equally look forward to...

BRAKE held it's AGM on July 26 2012.

At the AGM current Board members Belinda Duncan, Michael Pattinson and myself were re-elected.  Joining the Board is Craig Panagiris, who was also appointed the Company Secretary and Richard Ponsonby who was also elected as the BRAKE Chair.

I welcome both Craig and Richard to BRAKE.  This is an exciting phase for BRAKE as Craig and Richard bring a wealth of experience to us.  I am excited about the future for BRAKE and that we may be able to offer BRAKE to more of our young people and communities.

Also passed at the AGM were amendments to our Constitution to seek Dedecuctible Gift Recipient (DGR) status.  Jocelynne Berry from ACS Legal Solutions has been providing assistance and knolwedge in this regard.  Her hard work is incredible and we are hopeful that we are successful in seeking DGR status.

We also welcome Jocelynne to our Finance Committee and are ecited with jocelynnes acceptance to join the committee.  We look forward to working with Jocelynne...

On Tuesday 10 July 2012 I was invited to the meeting of Jimboomba Rotary where BRAKE was presented with funding to print car stickers for the community.  This support is gratefully received and we look forward to seeing the stickers on cars in the area.

Jimboomba Rotary are the current International Rotary Club of the year, quite a prestigious award when one considers the number of Rotary Clubs around the world.

Jimboomba Rotary have had a massive input into the local area over a number of years and are well deserving of this award.

Their support to BRAKE and to our community further supports the reasons for this award.

We look forward to a working relationship and partnership into the future with such a wonderful and proactive community organisation such as Jimboomba Rotary.

Steve has decided to update the program after 18 months of the current one.  There is a lot of work going into the update with people volunteering time, energy and knowledge into the update.