Mayor Melva Hobson and her 10 councillors, along with the council’s chief executive officer and four general managers wore the t-shirts for the meeting, the last for the year.

The mayor said the campaign was timely and reminded teenagers to stay “chilled out” over the festive season.

The foundation’s Paul Stanley thanked the council for putting up the foundation’s posters at three bus stops in Redlands.

Mr Stanley is the father of teenager Matthew, 15, who died after being bashed outside a teenagers’s party in Alexandra Hills in September 2006.

At last night’s meeting, the council also refused to extend planning approval for a power station fuelled by chicken manure.

It adopted its long-awaited SMBI 2030 Community Plan and a decision to give a broader reading to Tree Protection Area laws.

The council also decided to waiver the state government’s newly introduced waste levy fee for charities up to the value of $1000.

Island commercial waste operators using mainland tips would be charged the levy but can get exemption certificates from DERM.

The council also decided to put its Housing Strategy up for public comment until February 8.

The strategy sets out guidelines on how to accommodate an extra 21,000 houses in the Redlands in the next 20 years.

A wish list of redevelopment options for Cleveland’s Toondah Harbour was also approved and will be sent to the state coordinator general in a bid to get government to take on the terminal’s overhaul.

The council also decided to launch an appeal to raise money for a grand piano for the Redland Performing Arts Centre.

New grand pianos cost upwards of $250,000 and a second-hand piano can cost more than $90,000.

The council also unveiled its 10-year financial strategy, which suggests rates will go up 4.5 per cent in the next financial year, contrary to what the strategy predicted in June, when a 7.5 per cent increase was tipped for next year.

THREE bus stops in Redlands are playing their part in keeping kids in the area safe and “chilled out” over the Christmas party season.
The large black-and-red posters, showing a clenched fist with the slogan Walk Away, Chill Out, were the brainchild of Paul Stanley.

Mr Stanley is the father of teenager Matthew, who died after being punched at a birthday party in Alexandra Hills in September 2006.

After his son’s death, Mr Stanley set up the Matthew Stanley Foundation in an effort to teach teenagers how to deal with conflict.

Mr Stanley said he wanted the posters to go at bus stops, where children and tourists would congregate, to get the message out to kids about the dangers of fighting.

He chose one of Matthew’s friends Jordan Rankin, who plays halfback for the Gold Coast Titans, to become a WACO ambassador.

“Jordan is 20 years old and was the second youngest person to play first-grade rugby league at the age of 16,” Mr Stanley said.

“He played touch against Matty and became a good friend.

“Jordy and I have worked closely over the past five years and he is a great role model for our youth,” Mr Stanley said.

Redland City Council had liked Mr Stanley’s idea so much, it bought the signs and got them made up at a Cleveland printers.

The signs were put up at the bus stop opposite Victoria Point State High School on Cleveland Redland Bay Road on Monday.

Another sign was erected in Middle Street, Cleveland, and the third sign is opposite the BP service station on Birkdale Road at Wellington Point.

“I reall wanted kids over the Christmas period to take notice of our WACO slogan, which stands for Walk Away Chill Out,” Mr Stanley said.

“Councillors loved the idea and some even said they would wear a t-shirt with our slogan on it to the last full council meeting of the year.

“Some of the councillors are also going to put our stickers on their cars, so the message is spread as far as possible,” Mr Stanley said.

The signs have been so popular, even Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson has expressed interest in visiting Redlands to check them out.

HELP: News Queensland managing director Jerry Harris gives a donation to Paul Stanley of the Matthew Stanley Foundation. Picture: Peter Bull Source: The Courier-Mail

ARTICLE AS IT APPEARS IN THE COURIER MAIL DECEMBER 18,2010
AUTHOR: ANNA CHISHOLM
Article link here

YOUTH violence is an issue affecting thousands of Australians and one Queensland organisation is campaigning solidly to change this.

The Matthew Stanley Foundation partners with the Queensland Police Service, communities and schools to promote anti-violence initiatives including Party Safe and the One Punch Can Kill campaign.

Yesterday, News Queensland, publisher of The Courier-Mail, donated $15,000 to the charity.

The One Punch Can Kill campaign was set up in 2007 after a recommendation of a youth violence task force, following the death of 15-year-old Matthew Stanley (pictured right) at a party in 2006.

His father Paul Stanley, the founder of the foundation, said the donation would ensure the continued education of young people about the repercussions of violence.

“I speak to 80 school and community groups per year, showing kids there are better ways to avoid a fight and we’ve seen a very good response,” he said.

The Walk Away and Chill Out campaign is now a state-wide initiative aimed at changing the culture of violence among young people.

“I went to 14 schools in four days in Mackay and we’re finding everyone is affected by violent behaviour. I’ve been suitably stunned at the reaction from some of the school kids. My son’s story moved many of the students to tears,” Mr Stanley said.

He said some of the more aggressive students became emotional and expressed remorse for their own behaviour.

News Queensland managing director Jerry Harris said the media company donated to selected charity every year but this one had particular relevance.

” With so much concern about youth violence, this one brings such a powerful message,” he said.

“The money we’d normally spend on Christmas cards we’re giving to the foundation to continue educating young people.”

Article from Bayside Bulletin
18/10/2010

————————————————————————

THE Matthew Stanley Foundation reached another milestone at the weekend when it launched its new Walk Away Chill Out program and raised $19,000 at the inaugural gala dinner.

The WACO program, adopted from the Walk Away Cool Down program, started in north Queensland towns, offers young people an alternative to hanging around and letting a potentially dangerous situation get out of hand.

WACO, to be rolled out in participating schools, was launched at Trade Secret, Alexandra Hills, on Saturday.

Each school will display a banner at the entry point to the grounds and stickers on classroom windows.

The gala dinner on Saturday was held at Easts Leagues Club, Coorparoo, which has donated $22,000 to the cause.

Queensland Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson, one of the guests, said the new move from the Matthew Stanley Foundation was a “very worthwhile endeavour”.

“This is a great credit to all involved. I think unfortunately, it is difficult to measure the extent of the tragedies that have been prevented because of the work of the foundation, but to prevent even one death, makes all of the hard work they do worthwhile,” Com Atkinson said.

The memorabilia auctioned included a signed and framed 2010 State of Origin maroons jersey, which sold for $3000, a 1994 Brisbane Broncos harlequin jersey, which went for $2000 and Cleveland artist Scott Christionson’s painting for $1000.

Paul Stanley said the auction was a chance to assist the foundation to help more youths live without the deep trauma that comes from violence.

“I was also chuffed that a lot of Matty’s friends were there and they were bidding on items as well,” Paul said.

The foundation was established by Paul and his family after son Matthew died in 2006, after being punched at a party.

Desciption:

The Matthew Stanley Foundation

Gala Auction

Saturday October 16^th

6:00 pm

Easts Leagues Club

New Functions Centre

40 Main Avenue
Coorparoo  QLD

$95 per person or $900 for table of ten

Includes three course meal and drinks, live band and prizes

Featuring sporting, variety and silent auctions

Dress – Semi Formal

Download invite here (pdf)

Download RSVP here (pdf)

In a competition held by state police and supported by the Matthew Stanley Foundation and Queensland Homicide Victims Support Group, young adults can submit sound clips, artworks or movies showing where the campaign should go.

Matthew Stanley Foundation director Paul Stanley of Alexandra Hills said adults might not understand the concepts introduced through the competition, meaning a generation gap needs bridging.

“Its a brave but strong concept that breaks the thinking that advertising campaigns are only made by advertising teams,’’ Mr Stanley said.  “With a program made by young people for young people, those like me will say we don’t like it but then again we don’t understand what goes through the mind of a 16 or 17-year-old. If we find it a bit weird, it might be the concept that truly works.’’

The competition idea was born from the campaign’s early days when younger Queenslanders considered the frowning-face logo too neat and created their own edgier design.

The Matthew Stanley Foundation was founded in 2006 after Paul’s son died following an assault.
Police Minister Neil Roberts hopes the competition will encourage youths to take an active role.
“We’re asking them how anti-violence messages should be conveyed to their own generation. They need to see that the consequences of violent behaviour are simply not worth the risk.’’
More info at the website onepunchcankill.qld.gov.au.

An evaluation summary can be found here