USQ staff member takes out Carnival title

Roxanne and her sister Savannah, mother Marisa (also a USQ employee) and father Gerald celebrate her win

After months of fund raising, event coordinating and community engagement activities Roxanne Parker’s hard work paid off when she was awarded this year’s Carnival of Flowers Young Ambassador.

For more than four months the USQ Student Relationship Officer worked alongside 13 other local Ambassador entrants, with the hope of putting this year’s Carnival on the map.

'When I was announced as the overall winner I could hardly believe it,' Roxanne said.

'I had already been announced as the Ambassador’s Choice winner, an award granted to one member of the Ambassador team as voted by each ambassador. Being chosen by my fellow ambassadors was such a humbling achievement, and then to be recognised by the judges as the overall 2011 Young Ambassador was even more extraordinary.'

Roxanne said she joined the program as a way to further her personal and profession goals.

'I entered the program after it was suggested by one of the Working Group members of the Young Ambassador Program, Claire Ryan. After discussing how I wanted to further my personal and professional goals, Claire recommended I put my name forward.

'After contacting the team in the Office of External Relations I was lucky enough to receive sponsorship from the VC’s office to enter the program.'

Roxanne said the opening weekend of the Carnival was fabulous and she looks forward to this week’s Carnival events.

'I thoroughly enjoyed attending the Ergon Energy Flower, Food and Wine Festival. Wandering through the stalls and seeing the variety of food and wine available here in the Toowoomba community is always such a delight.

Sponsored by USQ, Roxanne said she was proud to represent the University and its community.

'USQ has been fantastic with their support. Right from the start I was offered tips by the brand team to assist me with my advertising and fundraising for our nominated charity, RACQ CareFlight. Working at an organisation that has so many employees, it is so very nice to know that as an individual, I am still important to my employers and that I have their support.'

Roxanne will spend the next 12 months profiling Toowoomba locally and overseas.

Contact Details:
Connie-Louise Rego, USQ Media, +61 7 4631 2977