BAYLISS Megan (The Junk Wave)

Anna Rogers picture

 Megan Bayliss turns recycled items into art at The Junk Wave

By Daniel Bateman, Wednesday, August 10, 2011
© The Cairns Post

SHE'S the woman who is turning trash into treasure - literally. Megan Bayliss is the mastermind behind The Junk Wave.

The students work with waste products such as used milk bottles, egg cartons, cans, newspapers, magazines, ex-factory materials and defunct machinery. The items are cleaned and turned into colourful works of art.

So far, students have turned milk containers into flowers and useable handbags; and aluminium cans and upholstery into reef fish and sharks.

It is hoped the students will one day turn a profit from their artwork at markets.

The Junk Wave is also working on a float for the Cairns Festival.

"I can get eight useful craft items just from one milk bottle," Ms Bayliss said.

The social worker was inspired by a documentary on oceanic garbage patches, which have gathered floating plastic, chemical sludge and other debris.

"For us, living next to the Great Barrier Reef, it is almost our civic duty to make sure none of this garbage enters the ocean."

The program is at My Other Mum Training College in Manunda but so much junk has been donated Ms Bayliss is in danger of an avalanche of craft products.

While the The Junk Wave always welcomes materials, it is also in need of volunteers to help with the program, and is looking for a bigger location to work in.

Reference: http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2011/08/10/177671_local-news.html  Downloaded 28 May 2012

Compiler's Note: To date, 16 June 2012, Megan Bayliss has been nominated for:

• AusMumpreneur Awards, 
• Telstra Business Women's Awards 
• Pride of Australia Medal (Environmental)

Reference: A Megan Bayliss status on  https://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=hp#!/junk4u2day made Thursday, 14 June 2012 at 15:04.

AIR QUEENSLAND / BUSH PILOTS

AIR QUEENSLAND / BUSH PILOTS Bush Pilots Airways was formed in 1951 and operated in Queensland, Australia until 1988. One of its first aircraft was a De Haviland DH-90 "Dragonfly" registered as VH-AAD. This was purchased from Adastra Airways Ltd in Sydney in 1951 and flown to Cairns, Queensland by Bush Pilots founder Bob Norman. In May 1972 Bush Pilots absorbed Queensland Pacific Airways Ltd, taking over its Douglas DC-3 aircraft. In 1978 Bush Pilots Airways changed their name to BPA. BPA operated Douglas DC-3 aircraft, Britten-Norman Trislanders and Swearingen Metroliners. Operations were largely in Queensland, Australia. The services north from Brisbane (and return) were very popular with business travellers and tourists alike. A typical run involved stops in regional cities between Brisbane and Townsville, such as Maroochydore, Maryborough, Bundaberg, Gladstone, Rockhampton, and Mackay. Short distance services operated from Cairns to inland and coastal locations such as Cooktown, Karumba and Normanton. With such frequent stops a high altitude was never achieved, offering good views of this scenic part of the state. On 1 December 1981 BPA became Air Queensland. Air Queensland was the last airline in Australia to use Douglas DC-3s on regular scheduled services, the last being withdrawn on 7 April 1988. The Air Queensland name ceased to exist on 30 April 1988 when the airline was absorbed into Australian Airlines (formerly Trans Australia Airlines, later absorbed into Qantas). The last General Manager was Ron Entsch. A Douglas DC-3 formerly operated by Bush Pilots Airways was on display at Cairns International Airport from 1984 until 2008, when it was removed due to concerns over its structural integrity. Reference/s: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Queensland Downloaded 10 May 2012