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Corinda Teen Rises Through National Ranks With Standout Year Across Football and Futsal

A Year 9 student from Corinda has emerged as one of Queensland’s rising football talents, with Eve Hooper helping her state side reach a national final while earning multiple representative honours across football and futsal.

Eve represented Queensland at the national Emerging Matildas Championships, part of the Football Australia pathway, where the country’s top junior players compete for selection opportunities. Playing in goal for Queensland White, she was part of a side that advanced to the Under 15 girls final after a tight semi-final win from 9-15 April.

National Final Run Puts Corinda Goalkeeper in Spotlight

Queensland’s campaign ended with a runner-up finish after a 3–1 loss to New South Wales Sky in the final, according to Football Australia’s Day 6 report. The match coverage noted Eve’s performance in goal, including a one-on-one save that kept her side in the contest during the first half.

Her selection in the Queensland squad followed her involvement with Lions FC through the Football Queensland academy system, where she was named among the state’s top Under 15 players. The pathway connects club football to state and national representation, giving players exposure at higher levels of competition.

School and Club Pathways Align for State Honours

Back at the school level, Corinda State High School confirmed Hooper has also been selected in the Metropolitan West School Sport football team. She is set to compete at the State Championships in Townsville, adding another layer to a season that has already included national competition in May.

The school community highlighted her steady progress across both school and club systems, with her performances reflecting the link between Corinda’s Football Excellence program and external pathways such as Lions FC and Football Queensland.

Futsal Selection Adds International Recognition

Eve’s form has extended beyond outdoor football. She was also selected in the Australian Allstars Futsal team for the World Championships scheduled in Orlando, Florida later this year. While she will not travel for the event, the selection places her among a group of players identified for international-level futsal competition.

Her dual involvement in football and futsal shows the overlap between the two formats. Within the Corinda community, Eve’s progress has drawn attention as an example of a young athlete moving through multiple representative levels in a short period. Her season reflects a pathway that begins at grassroots level and extends to broader opportunities across the sport.

Published 30-April-2026

The Students at Darra State School Have Something to Say to Veterans This Anzac Day

RSL Queensland

With red crayons and careful words, students at Darra State School are among 190 Queensland primary schools taking part in the RSL’s Postcards of Honour program ahead of Anzac Day, sending handwritten and hand-decorated cards directly to local veterans and serving Defence members.

For Year 5 student Van Reuben, the postcard he is making carries a meaning that goes beyond the classroom. His father served in the Australian Army in Afghanistan, and as Van draws poppies across his card, that personal history sits close to the surface.

“It makes me feel glad that he fought for all the people and for our country,” Van said. “Anzac Day is special to me because I get to commemorate all those people who fought for me and I get to commemorate my dad.”

Van is one of thousands of Queensland children for whom Anzac Day is not a distant chapter in a history book. For him, and for many of his classmates, it is something lived at home, at the dinner table, in the silences between stories. The Postcards of Honour program gives that feeling somewhere to go.

The Story Behind the Postcards

The choice of a postcard as the program’s centrepiece is not incidental. Throughout World War One, postcards were one of the primary means by which soldiers on the Western Front and at Gallipoli stayed connected to the people they had left behind. They carried drawings, brief messages and fragments of everyday life between the trenches and the families waiting at home, often the only tangible evidence that someone was still there.

Students of Darra State High thanks veterans this Anzac Day — Photo Credit: RSL Queensland

The RSL built Postcards of Honour around that history deliberately, asking students to participate in the same act of reaching across distance and uncertainty that defined communication for the Anzacs.

Now in its fourth year, the program has grown from its 2023 launch into one of the most widely adopted Anzac Day educational initiatives in Queensland, at various points reaching more than 270 schools and over 24,000 students across the state. This year, 190 Queensland schools are participating, with each school receiving a visit from a local RSL sub-branch volunteer who delivers a presentation about Anzac Day’s history and significance before students create their postcards.

The veterans then return for a show-and-tell once the cards are finished, and the postcards are hand-distributed to veterans and serving members in the community on or around Anzac Day.

A Soldier from Down the Road

Darra RSL Sub-Branch President Grant Hartigan is the veteran who visited Darra State School this year. He joined the Australian Army as an infantryman in 2014 and later deployed to Iraq, giving him a perspective on service that connects directly to the world Van Reuben and his classmates are learning about. Standing in front of a room of primary school students and explaining what that experience means is something Hartigan takes seriously, and what happens when veterans receive the finished postcards stays with him.

“Seeing some of the veterans’ faces when they receive these postcards is just indescribable,” he said. “Especially when they realise kids from the local school were thankful for older Australians and veteran service. It’s pretty touching.”

For Hartigan, the program does something that formal commemorations alone cannot: it creates a two-way exchange rather than a one-way ceremony. Students do not just observe Anzac Day, they participate in it, in a way that produces something real and personal for the person on the receiving end.

“It really gets engagement from the younger generation where they get an opportunity to show remembrance and also give a tangible token of gratitude to servicemen and women,” he said.

How It Changes the Way Students See Anzac Day

Darra State School Principal Tracy Freeman has watched what happens to students when a veteran like Hartigan walks into the room and speaks plainly about service, sacrifice and the weight of what Anzac Day represents. The shift in how students engage with the history, she says, is genuine.

“Listening to Grant really helps our children to connect with their feelings and empathise how the soldiers may have felt back in the Anzac period,” Freeman said. “The students are able to learn, they’re able to connect and they’re able to show gratitude to the servicemen before us, and it’s just across generations.”

That phrase, across generations, is the thread running through everything the program does. Darra is a suburb that holds multiple generations of families, many of them with direct connections to military service across different conflicts and different countries. In a classroom like Van’s, the history of Anzac Day is not one single story but many, and the Postcards of Honour program makes space for all of them.

Schools and RSL sub-branches interested in taking part in future years of the program can find out more here. Darra’s Anzac Day Dawn Service takes place at the Darra RSL Sub-Branch on 25 April.

Published 24-April-2026

Brisbane Funding Boost Supports Baby Give Back Warehouse Reopening

Photo Credit: Brisbane Airport

A major community funding boost in Brisbane is supporting Baby Give Back, with the Queensland charity set to reopen and upgrade its warehouse to better assist vulnerable families.

Funding Boost Strengthens Community Support

A record round of community funding across Brisbane is delivering practical support to local organisations, with Baby Give Back among 16 recipients.

The latest Community Giving Fund round, delivered by Brisbane Airport, distributed $125,000, marking the largest allocation since the program began. The funding supports grassroots organisations working across education, environment, health, and inclusive community initiatives, alongside a newly introduced community sport category.

Within this broader initiative, Baby Give Back’s inclusion reflects continued demand for essential support services assisting families experiencing hardship.

Baby Give Back Brisbane — Photo Credit: Baby Give Back/Instagram

Warehouse Reopening To Expand Capacity

Baby Give Back will use its grant as a co-contribution to reopen its Brisbane warehouse and upgrade its fitout to hold more supplies. The improvements are expected to increase storage capacity, allowing the organisation to manage and distribute a greater volume of essential items.

The charity focuses on providing material basics such as clothing and nappies to families with young children. By expanding its operational capacity, the organisation is positioned to assist more families in need.

The warehouse plays a central role in these efforts, acting as a key point for receiving, sorting, and preparing donated goods for distribution through its support networks.

Queensland charity — Photo Credit: Baby Give Back/Instagram

Built From Community Need

Baby Give Back began as a small initiative aimed at passing on pre-loved baby items to families who could benefit from them. Starting from a home-based effort, the organisation quickly grew as demand increased, eventually moving into dedicated warehouse spaces to support its expanding operations.

The charity works in partnership with social service agencies and health networks to ensure items reach families during the early stages of a child’s life. This period, often described as the first 2,000 days from conception to school age, plays a significant role in shaping long-term development outcomes.

By providing basic necessities during this time, the organisation helps ease financial pressure on families, allowing limited income to be directed towards other essential needs.

Brisbane community funding — Photo Credit: Baby Give Back/Instagram

Record Fund Supports Grassroots Organisations

The Community Giving Fund continues to support a wide range of organisations delivering frontline services across Brisbane. Alongside Baby Give Back, recipients include programs focused on youth mentorship, creative arts, environmental education, disability support, and community sport.

The 2026 round represents the largest funding pool to date, surpassing previous years and bringing total contributions since the program’s launch in 2015 to more than $655,000.

By directing funding to community-led initiatives, the program strengthens local support networks and helps organisations continue delivering services where they are most needed.

Published 17-Apr-2026

Riverhills Among Brisbane River Sites Inviting Tourism and Leisure Proposals

Photo Credit: Exploring the country with Ruth/YouTube

Riverhills is among several Brisbane River locations now included in an Expressions of Interest process inviting tourism and leisure proposals to activate existing river infrastructure.

EOI Opens Riverhills and 10 Other Sites to Proposals

An Expressions of Interest (EOI) process is underway for 11 sites along the Brisbane River, including the Riverhills Recreation Hub. The process invites commercial operators to submit proposals for new tourism, hospitality and leisure uses across a mix of pontoons, jetties and recreation hubs.

The available locations span the river corridor from Northshore Hamilton through to Riverhills, incorporating two major river hubs, multiple recreation hubs and three pontoons. Submissions for the EOI close at 12 noon on 15 May 2026, marking the first stage of a formal procurement process.

Participation requires registration through the relevant supplier system, with access to the EOI documentation managed through the tender process.

Riverhills EOI — Photo Credit: Exploring the country with Ruth/YouTube

Range of Uses Under Consideration

The EOI seeks proposals that introduce new ways to use riverfront infrastructure while maintaining public access and amenity. Concepts identified during earlier industry engagement include dining experiences, water-based activities, wellness offerings and river tours.

Larger hubs, such as those at New Farm Park and the City Botanic Gardens, are suited to accommodating bigger vessels. Other sites, including Riverhills, were originally designed for short-term activities and are now being considered for broader commercial use.

All proposals are expected to demonstrate environmental performance, accessibility and community benefit.

Brisbane River EOI — Photo Credit: Exploring the country with Ruth/YouTube

Industry Interest Shapes Next Phase

The EOI follows a market sounding process conducted between late 2025 and early 2026, which attracted interest from operators across multiple regions, including interstate and international participants.

This initial stage of the procurement process allows businesses to submit detailed concepts, with shortlisted proposals to progress to a further request for proposal phase.

tourism proposals — Photo Credit: Exploring the country with Ruth/YouTube

Riverhills Included in Wider River Activation

Riverhills forms part of a broader plan to expand activity along the Brisbane River by opening existing infrastructure to new uses. The approach focuses on increasing opportunities for recreation, tourism and local enterprise without requiring entirely new facilities.

By including Riverhills in the EOI process, the site is positioned alongside other river locations being considered for new tourism and leisure activity, contributing to a more active use of the river corridor.

Published 8-Apr-2026

Centenary Bikeway Closure at Jindalee: What Riders Need to Know This Easter Weekend

All Trails

Cyclists and pedestrians using the Centenary Motorway Bikeway at Jindalee need to plan around a 48-hour closure this Easter weekend, with a section of the bikeway shutting from 5am Friday 10 April until 5am Sunday 12 April 2026.

The project team has tied the closure directly to works on the old Centenary Bridge, which crews are currently rehabilitating as part of a major upgrade to the river crossing. Workers need to safely remove concrete bridge deck units from above the bikeway in Amazons Place Park, and the nature of this demolition work prevents them from keeping the path open during those hours.

What’s Happening Overhead

The Centenary Bridge Upgrade has been underway since April 2023 and is one of the largest infrastructure projects in Brisbane’s western corridor. The first stage, a new three-lane northbound bridge, opened to motorists in December 2025. Stage two, which is now underway, involves rehabilitating the original existing bridge into a three-lane southbound road, with full completion of the project targeted for 2027.

Centenary Bridge allows the bikeway to cross the Brisbane River — Photo Credit: TMR Qld

The works this Easter weekend form part of that second stage. Construction crews will saw-cut and demolish concrete deck structures from the first bridge span, crush the concrete on site, transport crushed materials off the motorway, and carry out modifications to sewerage pipes. All of that activity takes place directly above the bikeway in Amazons Place Park, making the closure a practical safety necessity rather than an inconvenience that could be worked around.

Exactly Where and How the Closure Applies

The closure affects the bikeway between Kooringal Drive Bridge and the Centenary Bridge on the southern side of the river. Traffic controllers will intermittently hold and release riders approaching from the north eastern side as they cross the bridge, with access limited to Amazons Place Park only during those windows.

Traffic controllers will be stationed at key locations to guide users safely through the affected area.

Connecting Riders Across Brisbane’s West

The Centenary Motorway Bikeway serves as one of Brisbane’s most heavily used active transport corridors, connecting the western suburbs to the city and linking into the Western Freeway Bikeway at Fig Tree Pocket. Commuters and recreational riders rely on the route through Amazons Place Park as a critical link when travelling between Jindalee, Kenmore, Mount Ommaney and the inner west.

The Centenary Bridge was first opened in 1964, built to service the developing western suburbs including Jindalee, Mount Ommaney and Westlake, and has been part of the daily fabric of the area for more than six decades. When the full upgrade completes in 2027, the bridge precinct will include improved active transport connections, a five-metre wide shared path through Amazons Place Park and better links to the Western Freeway Bikeway, ultimately delivering a significantly better experience for the riders currently navigating the disruption.

Planning Your Ride This Easter

The bikeway closure runs from 5am Friday 10 April to 5am Sunday 12 April 2026, subject to weather and construction conditions. Riders who regularly use this route should plan an alternative for that 48-hour window. For updates on the broader Centenary Bridge Upgrade project and active transport impacts, click here.

Published 03-April-2026

Local Families Flock to Jindalee as Hotel Transforms into a Hub for Free Kids Entertainment

The Jindalee Hotel is leading a movement across Brisbane to give families a break by offering a massive schedule of free school holiday activities that range from interactive science to close encounters with farm animals.

A New Approach to School Holidays

With the cost of living on the rise, local parents are looking for ways to keep their children occupied without spending a fortune. The Jindalee Hotel, located at 130 Sinnamon Road, has responded by turning its traditional pub space into a dedicated zone for youth engagement.

Instead of just being a place for a meal, the venue is focusing on providing high-energy social experiences that allow children to learn and play while adults take a moment to relax in the nearby beer gardens.

Interactive Experiences and Special Guests

The programme is scheduled to run throughout the Easter break, with a heavy focus on the period between 8 April and 19 April. During these dates, the hotel is hosting a rotating calendar of events including face painting and balloon twisting. For those interested in more hands-on learning, there are dedicated sessions for “crazy science” experiments and dinosaur-themed activities.

These sessions are designed to be educational but fast-paced to suit younger audiences. Additionally, the hotel has organised character meet-and-greets where children can interact with popular figures in person.

Celebrating the Festive Spirit

The holiday fun reaches a peak during the Easter weekend itself. The hotel is bringing in a portable animal farm to give suburban children a chance to interact with livestock. Organisers have also confirmed that the Easter Bunny will be making appearances to hand out treats and take photos with local families. By combining these classic holiday traditions with modern entertainment like dance parties and discos, the venue aims to be a central meeting point for the Jindalee community during the school break.

Published Date 01-April-2026

Cyclists Urged to Take Care on Centenary Cycleway Amid Temporary Changes to Jindalee Bridge Route

Cyclists using the Centenary Cycleway are being asked to ride with extra care following temporary changes to the route across the Jindalee Bridge, with local cycling advocates alerting the community to new conditions on the ground.

Read: BUG Calls For Support as New Proposal May Improve Centenary Cycleway Access

Brisbane West BUG (Bicycle User Group), along with Space4CyclingBNE and Bicycle Queensland, raised awareness of the changes in a social media post on 24 March, urging riders to exercise extreme caution on the crossing.

The temporary setup involves three rubber speed bumps, near 90-degree turns, and large wooden barriers at each corner that reduce sight lines for approaching riders. A mirror has been installed at the corners to help cyclists see oncoming path users.

Photo credit: Facebook/Brisbane West BUG

During daylight hours, traffic controllers are managing the flow of cyclists, directing riders through in one direction at a time. Outside of those supervised hours, cyclists will need to navigate the temporary configuration independently, and advocates are urging riders to exercise extreme caution.

Brisbane West BUG reached out to the project team to better understand the changes and to ask whether any adjustments could be made to the layout. The project team advised that the configuration is expected to remain in place for approximately four weeks. A second mirror has since been installed in response to the feedback received.

Riders who have already used the crossing have shared their experiences. One e-bike rider with suspension described the speed bumps as aggressive, and flagged that those on road bikes without suspension should be particularly aware. Another rider acknowledged the situation appeared temporary and tied to the broader works underway, while calling for improved signage in the area.

The Centenary Cycleway is a key active transport route connecting Brisbane’s western suburbs, which is why local cycling groups are keen to ensure riders are aware of the current conditions.

Read: Centenary Motorway to Mark 100 Years with Tunnel Proposal Amidst Congestion Woes

Brisbane West BUG has asked any cyclists who experience difficulties or incidents on the crossing to get in touch with them directly, so they can keep a clear picture of how the temporary arrangements are working in practice.

Until the works are complete, the message from cycling groups is consistent: ride with extreme caution and patience when approaching the Jindalee Bridge crossing.

Published 30-March-2026

Storm-Damaged Home In Jindalee Heads To Auction After Tree Impact

Photo Credit: Ray White Centenary

A storm-damaged family home in Jindalee is set to go to auction after a large gum tree fell through the property, leaving the long-held residence structurally compromised.

A Sudden Storm That Changed Everything In Jindalee

A property at 12 Elinga Street, Jindalee, is being taken to auction following severe damage caused during a major storm on 26 October 2025. During the weather event, a large gum tree fell through the centre of the house, significantly affecting the structure.

The incident occurred while one of the owners was inside the home. No injuries were reported, but the damage altered the condition of a residence that had stood for decades.

Jindalee storm-damaged home — Photo Credit: Ray White Centenary

More Than 50 Years Of Family Ownership

The home has been held by the same family for more than 50 years and was originally designed and built by its owners. Over that time, it served as the setting for family milestones and daily life.

Originally a single-level four-bedroom dwelling, the property is now being presented as a three-bedroom, one-bathroom house with three car spaces following the storm damage.

Repair Challenges Lead To Difficult Decision

After the storm, the owners worked through insurance processes and assessed repair options. However, the scale of work required, combined with personal circumstances, led to the decision not to proceed with restoring the home.

Instead, the property is being offered to the market, providing an opportunity for buyers to repair the structure, rebuild entirely, or redesign the site.

Queensland real estate — Photo Credit: Ray White Centenary

Large Block Draws Buyer Attention

The Jindalee property sits on a 1,153 square metre block at the end of a cul-de-sac within the Centenary suburbs. The land size and location have attracted attention from buyers considering renovation or redevelopment pathways.

Potential buyers include those with building or trade experience, as well as those seeking a site for a new home or investment.

Auction Day Set For 29 March

The property is scheduled for on-site auction on Sunday, 29 March, at 10:00 a.m., with an inspection earlier that morning from 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

The storm that caused the damage was classified as a significant event, with more than 11,000 insurance claims lodged shortly after. The Jindalee home was among the properties affected across Brisbane.

What Comes Next For The Site

The auction outcome will determine the next stage for the property, with buyers expected to weigh options between restoring the existing structure or starting anew.

For the family, the sale marks the conclusion of more than five decades of ownership. For prospective buyers, it presents a chance to secure a large block in an established part of Jindalee.

Published 29-Mar-2026

Oxley Golf Club Future in Focus as New Redevelopment Plans Emerge

Photo Credit: Oxley Golf Club/Facebook

Oxley Golf Club is facing a potential turning point. It’s one of the largest green spaces left along Boundary Road — and now it could be on shaky ground.

New details emerging from inside the club indicate it is weighing significant changes linked to Boundary Road upgrades, placing the future of the site into sharper focus.

Land in the frame

At a Special General Meeting in February, members were told the club is considering options linked to possible road widening works, including whether part of its Boundary Road frontage may need to be sold.

Set along one of Oxley’s busiest corridors, the golf club has operated for decades as both a sporting venue and a large stretch of open green space.

Positioned along a key transport route, the course has long existed at the intersection of recreation and infrastructure pressure — a balance that is now shifting into sharper focus.

Information presented to members outlined a scenario where land on the northern side of the course could be sold if upgrades proceed. A logistics developer, LogiSpace, was identified in member materials as a prospective buyer, though no deal has been confirmed publicly.

A course reworked

Beyond any potential land sale, the discussions point to a broader reshaping of the site.

Members were told the Club is exploring a longer-term plan that could see the course redesigned across a smaller footprint, alongside a new clubhouse and upgraded facilities.

Any changes would be subject to planning approvals and staged over several years. Early indications suggest construction, if it proceeds, could temporarily affect access to parts of the course, though no confirmed timeline has been released.

Photo Credit: ODVGA Newsletter – March 2026

Still early, but moving

At this stage, no formal development application is listed in Brisbane City Council’s public planning system, indicating the proposal remains in its early phases, likely at the pre-lodgement or preliminary planning stage.

A familiar pressure

Oxley Golf Club is not alone in facing these questions.

Across metropolitan areas, large recreational sites — particularly golf courses — are increasingly being drawn into planning conversations as cities look for land to support infrastructure and growth.

The club has already explored ways to evolve its facilities in recent years, including upgrades aimed at broadening how the site is used, reflecting changing expectations around how these spaces are used.

For now, the course remains open and operating as usual, with no public notice indicating confirmed redevelopment or closure.

But with early discussions now underway, attention will turn to what takes shape next — and how the community is brought into decisions that could redefine one of Oxley’s most recognisable landscapes.

Published 26-March-2026

Artist-led Live Music Collective Launches at Seventeen Mile Rocks

A new grassroots live music initiative is launching in Seventeen Mile Rocks, with organisers aiming to rebuild connections between artists, venues and audiences through a collaborative performance platform.

Apollo Sound Collective, founded by local music industry figures Mark of Distortion Nation and Dano from the band Scandal Tree, will begin running regular Friday night shows at White Lies Brewing.

Photo Credit: White Lies Brewing/Facebook

The initiative was established on 4 October 2025 and was created in response to concerns about the changing landscape of the live music scene, including fewer venues hosting performances and increasing economic pressure on musicians and promoters.

The first event organised by the collective is scheduled for 28 March, marking the beginning of a regular series of live shows at the brewery venue. It will feature performances by Black Whiskey, Kentucky Green, Dead Hand Blues and The Royals.

An artist-led approach

Apollo Sound Collective is designed as an artist-run platform that connects original musicians with venues willing to support live performances.

According to the founders, the idea emerged after years working within the industry and observing shifts in how the live music ecosystem operates.

“We’ve both been part of the scene for a long time, and we started noticing something changing,” said Dano.

“There used to be a real sense of fraternity between artists and venues—everyone pulling in the same direction. Over the last few years that feeling has started to disappear.”

The founders say that rising costs, industry changes and broader economic pressures have affected both artists and venues, with some locations reducing their live music programming or closing entirely.

Mark said this has contributed to a growing divide between performers and venues.

“What we’ve seen developing is this unfortunate ‘us and them’ mentality between artists and venues,” he said.

“But the reality is we all need each other. Without venues, artists have nowhere to perform. Without artists, venues don’t have live music. The audience is the final piece of that puzzle.”

Creating performance opportunities

The collective aims to create opportunities for original artists to perform without pay-to-play barriers, while helping venues source performers for live events.

Through direct coordination with venues that support live music, Apollo Sound Collective plans to curate events that bring together artists, audiences and industry connections.

“The idea is simple,” Dano said.

“Artists should be able to perform without being asked to buy their way onto a stage. If the music is good and the event is run properly, everyone benefits—the venue, the band, and the audience.”

The platform also aims to provide musicians with access to established venues and a collaborative network of artists and creatives.

For venues, the initiative offers a consistent pipeline of original acts and support in organising live events.

“It’s not just about putting on gigs,” Mark said.

“It’s about creating a structure where artists and venues actually support each other again. When that happens, the audience feels it. That’s when scenes start to grow.”

Focus on rebuilding community

Organisers say the broader goal of Apollo Sound Collective is to strengthen the sense of community around grassroots music.

Rather than operating solely as a traditional promoter, the collective is intended to function as a collaborative platform linking musicians, venues and audiences.

“Great music scenes don’t happen by accident,” Dano said.

“They happen because people decide to work together instead of competing with each other.”

With its first event scheduled for late March, the collective is currently building relationships with venues and artists as it develops a network of live events for original music.

“If we can help even a small part of the scene reconnect and start building momentum again, that’s a win,” Mark said.

“We want to create something that lasts.”

Published 12-March-2026