A simple idea to bring foster dogs to visit lonely family members has grown into a Wacol-based national charity changing thousands of lives, both human and animal.
Happy Paws Happy Hearts (HPHH) has been honoured for its work, winning the Hutchinson Builders Social Enterprise Award at the 2025 Lord Mayor’s Business Awards. The awards, now in their 20th year, celebrate the visionaries and innovators shaping Brisbane’s $200 billion economy. HPHH was named one of 44 finalists recognised for driving the city’s success.
The organisation was created to find a single solution for two major problems: the 1.1 million Australians experiencing social exclusion and the more than 124,000 animals waiting for adoption in shelters like the RSPCA every year.
Happy Paws Happy Hearts partners with animal shelters to create a safe space for vulnerable people. Participants join programs, both online and inside the shelters, where they share a love of animals, learn new skills, and give back to the community in a powerful way.
The organisation’s unique approach moves participants out of traditional training rooms and gives them “hands-on” opportunities to care for and train the rescue animals. This interaction provides a pathway for people to overcome their own emotional and physical isolation.
According to the organisation’s mission, this method helps rebuild confidence in stages and often results in a new outlook on life. It is a purposeful approach focused on achieving the best possible outcomes for both the people and the animals, helping to prepare the pets for their future adoptive homes.
The national charity started from a simple observation. In 2014, co-founders Zoe and Grame brought their foster dogs to visit socially isolated family members. They witnessed an immediate connection, bringing smiles to faces and wags to tails.
From that first visit, Happy Paws Happy Hearts has expanded across Australia. It continues to craft programs that support both people and animals, backed by partners who help it reach more isolated individuals and provide much-needed human interaction for shelter animals.
With average life expectancy now stretching into the mid-80s, many Australians are realising that the family home—once a symbol of success—can quietly become a source of work and worry.
Nearly three-quarters of over-75s still live in houses larger than they need, while about 30 per cent are considering a move that fits their lifestyle today rather than the one they built decades ago.
Those themes will be be at the heart of Coffee & Conversations on 12 November 2025, where locals can hear about Somerset Indooroopilly—a new village that allows locals to downsize in the area they know and love.
Set beside the Indooroopilly Golf Club, Somerset is a series of light-filled apartments around shared gardens, terraces and a café rather than cul-de-sacs and fences. The aim is to make life simpler without making it smaller.
Designed by Cox Architecture and built by Woollam Constructions, the whole complex is shaped around the concept of rightsizing: a lifestyle that trades maintenance for meaning, routine for connection, and isolation for ease.
The shift speaks to a broader cultural change. Retirement communities are no longer seen as endpoints but as extensions of an active life. Research shows residents in such settings are physically healthier, more socially engaged and report higher overall happiness than those ageing alone. It’s less about giving things up than gaining back time—the chance to travel, volunteer or just enjoy an unhurried morning coffee.
Research shows that residents of well-designed retirement villages are more active, more socially engaged and less likely to need hospital care than peers who continue living alone.
People living in retirement communities can experience a reduction in patterns of hospitalisations, have the potential to reduced need for GP visits, and can stay healthy living independently.
Increasingly, people are choosing communities that give them freedom and flexibility, not just a smaller footprint. In practice, that means more time spent walking, reading, travelling—or simply enjoying a catch-up with friends—without the endless to-do list that comes with a large property.
At Somerset, that philosophy is built into everyday life, capturing that balance through thoughtful design. Apartments open onto gardens and shared terraces; the café hums with conversation; and facilities like the pool, gym, and library encourage activity without pressure.
Each home includes a 24-hour monitored EEVI system for peace of mind, while a Village Manager and Wellness Advisor ensure help is close by but never intrusive. “Knowing the place is managed, looked after and secure—that’s a big factor,” one resident said. “It’s lovely knowing you’re in a safe area, surrounded by good people.”
The community is pet-friendly, the gardens maintained, and the atmosphere quietly sociable. “Moving here gave me freedom,” said another resident. “I can just close the door and go.”
For many, that’s the essence of rightsizing—choosing a space that fits this stage of life as comfortably as the last one did. “When you make the choice sooner rather than later, you give yourself the gift of freedom and the chance to enjoy more of what matters,” Aura Director Mark Taylor said at a recent Somerset event.
And for anyone curious, participating in Coffee & Conversations on 12 November 2025 offers the simplest introduction: a walk through the gardens, a cup of coffee, and a conversation about how less maintenance can make room for more living.
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A number of homes in the Jindalee flood catchment area would be among thousands across Brisbane to be added to a revised flood risk map after new creek catchment studies reshaped hazard zones.
Thousands of residents will soon see their properties listed on Brisbane City Council’s updated flood risk map after new studies identified more homes at risk from creek and waterway flooding. Some households will appear on the overlay for the first time, while others will have their risk category changed.
The update, based on studies of the Jindalee, Breakfast Creek, and Lota Creek catchments, will be added to the City Plan on 19 September 2025. Citywide, 17,246 properties are affected, with 10,129 newly listed, about 2,000 upgraded to higher risk, and more than 400 removed.
The Jindalee flood catchment includes the suburbs of Jindalee, Sinnamon Park, and sections of Middle Park. These suburbs are prone to flooding because they sit within the Brisbane River catchment and its tributaries.
The updated flood overlay covers only creek and waterway flooding, not Brisbane River or overland flow. In the Jindalee catchment, it reflects local creek systems rather than past river flood events, with scenarios ranging from common floods to rare 1-in-2,000-year events.
Council will notify affected property owners before the changes, detailing whether their property is new to the map, has a revised risk, or has been removed. Once live, the online Flood Awareness Map will let residents view their risk and plan for preparation, renovations, or development.
Calls For Fair Treatment From Insurers
Council has urged insurers not to increase premiums unfairly as a result of the updated mapping, especially in cases where the flood event probability is very low.
In previous updates, some residents in other suburbs saw sharp rises in premiums, prompting concern in the community. The city’s message to insurers is to consider the context of the data and apply changes reasonably.
Part Of A Broader Flood Preparedness Program
The Jindalee study is part of a rolling program that has delivered 29 flood studies across Brisbane over the past decade.
Each study feeds into Council’s planning scheme to improve community awareness and resilience. The aim is to provide accurate, location-specific flood risk information so residents can better prepare for the future.
As hail battered Brisbane’s west on Sunday, neighbours rallied online and urged one another to bring injured animals to Wacol, home to the RSPCA Queensland Wildlife Hospital and a lifeline for the city’s wildlife during emergencies.
Residents in suburbs including Brookfield, Karana Downs and Pullenvale reported rescuing lorikeets, possums and an ibis hurt in the storm, wrapping them in towels and contacting wildlife care groups for advice.
The storm on 26 October 2025 brought hailstones up to seven centimetres wide, causing major damage across Brisbane, Ipswich and the Gold Coast. While official reports focused on power outages and property losses, social media filled with calls for help for injured animals.
Locals were urged to take rescued wildlife to the RSPCA Queensland Wildlife Hospital in Wacol, which accepts drop-offs 24 hours a day.
Photo Credit: Katrina Row/4069 Community/Facebook
Locals Mobilise for Wildlife Care
The 4069 region — covering Brookfield, Kenmore and Pullenvale — became an informal command centre for wildlife emergencies. One resident posted about an injured lorikeet found on a deck, while another described an ibis unable to fly near a creek crossing. Offers of help and transport followed within minutes, with residents sharing the Wacol hospital address and hotline number.
Wildlife groups such as Wildcare Australia reminded residents not to attempt feeding injured animals but to keep them in a quiet, dark box until they could reach a professional carer.
Froggy Creek and Other Sanctuaries Feel the Impact
In Karana Downs, the small wildlife refuge Froggy Creek — part of the Land for Wildlife program — reported storm damage to nesting boxes and surrounding vegetation. The caretakers posted online that they were thinking of others with property damage and of displaced wildlife seeking food and shelter.
Further east, the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary at Fig Tree Pocket confirmed on social media that it would remain closed on Monday, 27 October, due to storm damage. The post assured visitors that all animals are safe and well and thanked the public for their patience during cleanup efforts. The closure underscored how even well-established facilities were affected by the same wild weather that disrupted suburban wildlife.
A Reminder from the Past
Queensland has seen the toll severe hail can take on wildlife before. In October 2003, hailstones “the size of cricket balls” killed more than 100 birds and animals — including kangaroos, wallabies, pelicans and ibis — at the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary on the Gold Coast. According to an archived report, sanctuary staff described it as a sombre period as they worked to care for the injured and rebuild damaged enclosures.
That tragedy remains one of Australia’s starkest examples of how extreme weather can devastate native fauna. It serves as a reminder, two decades on, of why community rescue efforts and preparedness still matter.
Getting Help to the Right Place
The RSPCA Queensland Wildlife Hospital in Wacol remained the main drop-off point recommended by wildlife groups and community members. Volunteers reported multiple deliveries of injured birds and small mammals from suburbs affected by the storm.
Carers suggest residents prepare a simple wildlife emergency kit — a towel, gloves and a ventilated box — to safely transport animals after severe weather. Those who find injured wildlife can call 1300 ANIMAL (1300 264 625) for advice.
As cleanup continues, Brisbane’s western suburbs have shown that care for wildlife can be as instinctive as protecting one’s own home. Community posts and small acts of rescue proved that even amid chaos, compassion remains the city’s strongest force.
Radio host Sofie Formica will lead the next leg of her 100 Days of Walking campaign at Rocks Riverside Promenade in Seventeen Mile Rocks on 29 October. The community walk begins at 4:00 p.m., inviting residents to lace up their shoes and enjoy an easy riverside stroll along one of Brisbane’s most scenic pathways.
The walking initiative, supported by 4BC, encourages locals to take part in simple, daily movement while connecting with others in their neighbourhoods. Sofie said the walks are designed to get people away from screens and back into conversation, adding that each route highlights a different part of Brisbane’s natural beauty.
The Rocks Riverside Promenade stop follows successful gatherings at Kedron Brook, Wynnum and Berrinba Wetlands earlier in the series.
Exploring Rocks Riverside Promenade
Situated along the Brisbane River in Seventeen Mile Rocks, Rocks Riverside Promenade is part of the 26-hectare Rocks Riverside Park, a popular green space for walking, cycling and family picnics. The flat, paved trail stretches roughly six kilometres return, running beside landscaped gardens, open lawns and riverside lookouts.
Families often choose the park for its playgrounds, shaded areas and water-play zone, while fitness groups use the promenade for running and cycling.
One popular walking route in the area starts along the Brisbane River, on Turrbal land, commencing at Rocks Riverside Park and ending at Amazons Place Park.
A shared walkway makes up the paved esplanade, where people can take time to view the various flora and fauna along the river. Benches, picnic areas, toilets, and playgrounds share space with the walking path, along with some historical remnants of concreting and iron industrial sites that give people a glimpse of the history of the area.
According to Bicycle Queensland, the route is ideal for all fitness levels and is one of Brisbane’s most accessible riverside tracks. Its wide pathways and gentle gradients make it suitable for prams, wheelchairs and bikes.
People looking for a longer route can walk up the bushland ridge to the south-east of the park towards the Zig Zag trail, passing through eucalypt forest. The trail through the forest is well-formed but unpaved and generally suitable for wheeled transport. This route takes half an hour longer and is more challenging but people find the view worth it.
The Centenary Today local guide describes it as a community favourite for its safe, family-friendly environment and open river views — the perfect match for the welcoming spirit of Sofie’s walking series.
Encouraging Connection Through Movement
Sofie’s 100 Days of Walking project continues to attract growing participation from communities across Brisbane. Each week, new walkers join to share stories, enjoy local parks and rediscover the benefits of regular physical activity.
The Seventeen Mile Rocks event aims to bring together residents from across western Brisbane, reinforcing the campaign’s message that walking together can strengthen social ties and improve wellbeing.
Those wishing to take part in the October 29 event can find updates and information on 4BC’s website or through the station’s Facebook page. Participation is free and open to all ages, with no registration required.
The program was announced in early October 2025 and will be delivered across the 2025–26 financial year. Confirmed recipients include the Scouts Association – West Centenary site in Darra, the Western Districts Baseball Club at Atthows Park on Sumners Road in Darra, and the Taringa Rovers facility operating from a Wacol address on Grindle Road.
Photo Credit: Taringa Rovers/Google Maps
Each will receive new solar infrastructure ranging from around 6 kW to more than 18 kW in size. These upgrades are part of a wider rollout across 26 Brisbane community facilities in the current stage.
Program Aims To Lower Costs For Local Families
Brisbane City Council has stated the initiative is focused on easing cost pressures for families and volunteer-run community groups. Savings generated from lower power bills are expected to be redirected to programs, facility maintenance, and member services.
Photo Credit: Western Districts Baseball Club/Google Maps
Brisbane Sustainability Agency provided statements supporting the program, which aligns with Council’s emissions reduction strategy.
Part Of A Broader Clean Energy Rollout
Council has already installed more than seven megawatts of solar capacity across its facilities, with the total set to reach 7.5 megawatts after this stage is complete. The city has a target of cutting its carbon emissions by 30 per cent by 2031–32.
Photo Credit: Canva / For Illustration Purpose Only
Council has framed the initiative as both an environmental and community cost-of-living measure rather than a political announcement.
Direct Local Relevance To Centenary Residents
With Darra and Wacol sites in the rollout, Centenary-area clubs such as Scouts and local sports will see neighbourhood-level benefits.
These organisations are expected to see immediate improvements in operating costs once the systems are switched on, reinforcing Council’s focus on helping grassroots clubs remain sustainable.
We’ve combed Jamboree Heights, Jindalee, Middle Park, Mount Ommaney, Riverhills, Sumner, Sumner Park BC, and Westlake for the best reviewed restaurants in the area where people waxed lyrical about their dining experience and what they love most about it. Here’s our list!
Travis Chalmers ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Fantastic as always, time and time again. By far the best pizza in Brisbane, and a full menu of cocktails to match. Special shoutout to Kane – he will always go above and beyond to ensure each customer has a fantastic experience, and I consider his service level to be one of the best around. You will not regret coming here. Very reasonably priced as well. Pizza in the photo is a half n half – Paella and Reef n Beef.
S Andrews ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ We ordered for Takeaways! The gorgonzola calzone was cooked perfectly — nice and crunchy, with just the right amount of saltiness and a great hit of blue cheese. The pepperoni pizza was yummm! You could tell the pepperoni was really good quality. Both pastas we ordered were absolutely amazing — honestly, I couldn’t fault them at all. Literally finished every single dish which is unusual for us!
Laura Grace ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The pizzas here are unmatched. They are the standard you find in Venice. The service is from friendly young people. The wait time for food tends to be a little longer than standard however it is well worth the wait as the ingredients are fresh and packed on. It’s a nice deck area I just wish the lighting was a little less stark and more ambient to enhance the vibe, but this is a preference. Would be lovely to have music too. The bar is gorgeous and attention to detail has been put into the overall aesthetics of the venue. The app and website make easy booking and ordering. Overall I recommend this place, thank you for being a valuable restaurant in our community.
Bryan Belcher ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ What an amazing evening! We chose to celebrate my twin boys 22 Birthday at Icarus Greek. We are so glad we did! The service was fantastic, food brilliant, and a lovely relaxing atmosphere. The manager that took our order was brilliant, and the young ladies that were serving were great. The food is truly amazing . There are so many bursting flavours. Thanks to everyone. A small kitchen at the back producing great food. Well done. We will be back . Thank you for helping make my sons 22 birthday memorable ❤️ 💪👍👊🙏.
Angela Kajar ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great greek food, generous serves. We visited Sunday evening to celebrate 3 family birthdays. Recommend the Saganaki, calamari, souvlaki plates, keftedes and pastitsio. Service from the young waitresses was ok. Perhaps as we were seated round the corner we might have been slightly overlooked as entree plates weren’t cleared until they came to deliver the main dishes which was a bit of a juggle. A little bit loud on the deck from the traffic going down the street, but overall a good night.
Chin Keong Yoong ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The food was amazing. My family and friends love every thing we order. The customer service was awesome. Attended our needs very promptly and professionally. Highly recommended to anyone want to try Greek cuisine.
Keith McAuliffe ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Good service. Nice and peaceful on the idyllic Westlake drive, with a really nice out door seating area surrounded by these Mediterraneany arches. Atmosphere is warm, friendly, happy peaceful. Good place to talk with friends of the beaten path.
Inaya Halpin ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Had brunch today and the service was lovely and also our food. Looking forward to see a full menu on our next visit.
Elliott Bledsoe ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ We’ve been here a few times and can say that it is consistently good food. It looks good and tastes good. We’ve had the omelet a few times and it’s always good. The breakfast tacos are also very good, as is the fritters. And there’s often unique little touches, like the lightly pickled fennel with the fritters. Delicious! And the coffee is good too. So the question isn’t to be or not to be, but to go today and tomorrow too!
Albany Yak ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great Burger’s and sides. Service was very good and reasonable price. Can’t wait to come back.
Denis Forbes ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Family recommended this place and wow not disappointed. Value for money is downright amazing, $10 burger is truly something I thought I wouldn’t see outside of chain fast food restaurants. Oh and the chips, I’ve eaten many a chip, even made many a thrice cooked chip, and these are just bloody good. Wish I lived in the area as this place would be a weekly visit location. Thanks for providing a solid feed for the family for a price that isn’t ridiculous!
Tony Robertson ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Always fantastic burgers here, and well worth the drive. Guaranteed you’ll find a few different burgers to your liking here.
Karen Lay-Brew ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ One of our regular local faves for consistently good quality meals. Love that they have “The Wise” option in the menu for … well, those of us who are more wise. The barman introduced me to Pub+ app – a reward system, that has given back a few freebies.
Ishan Sethi ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I recently had the pleasure of organising a function at Centenary Tavern and was assisted by the lovely female manager. She was incredibly helpful, polite, and made the whole booking process so smooth and stress-free. Her friendly attitude and attention to detail really stood out. Highly recommend this place, especially if you’re planning an event, you’re in great hands with the management team. The food was also great and helpful with all our dietary requirements
Cassie Lee ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Visited on ANZAC day for 2 Up. Staff member who ran it did a great job. Had a steak and it was cooked beautifully. Didn’t take long to come out, and all the staff were lovely. Will definitely be back.
Centenary, as it is known today, consists of several suburbs namely, Jindalee, Mount Ommaney, Jamboree Heights, Middle Park, Westlake, Riverhills, Sumner, Sinnamon Park, and Seventeen Mile Rocks.
Do you know how and why Centenary was formed? Let’s take a look back at the historic past of Centenary and the origins of the names of its suburbs.
Photo credit: cshsoc.org.au
In 1959, Queensland’s Centenary Year, a land developer named Hooker Rex planned the Centenary project. The project was a suburban development proposal that included a number of neighbourhoods with their own services and facilities that are capable of providing for all the needs of its residents.
The development started with the purchase of farmland in 1960. The contract for 1,416 hectare-development was agreed upon by the Council in 1961.
Photo credit: Kgbo/Wikimedia Commons
The Centenary Bridge and Highway were among the most important parts of the development as it provided access to and from the city and the northern suburbs. Officially opened on 14 October 1964, the Centenary Bridge was financed by the developers while the Centenary Highway was built by the Brisbane City Council still at the developers’ expense.
The suburbs and industrial estates that were planned to be a part of the Centenary project were Jindalee, Jamboree Heights, Mount Ommaney, Riverhills, Westlake, Middle Park, and Sumner. Meanwhile, Seventeen Mile Rocks and Sinnamon Park were developed separately.
Photo credit: Facebook/Brisbane Retro
The development was under the management of a public company called the Centenary Estates Limited for six years. In October 1967, the private shareholders were bought out by the Hooker Corporation Limited and the entire project was once again owned by the corporation.
The Establishment of the Centenary Suburbs
Jindalee
Photo credit: Twitter/Property Observer
Jindalee is an Aboriginal word which means “bare hills”. The establishment of the suburb in September 1962 brought the first public transport in the area, a bus going to and from Oxley Station.
Among the earliest establishments in the district were the Jindalee Golf Course, Swimming Pool, Bowls Club and the Looranah St. shopping centre. With its well-established golf course, swimming pool, and sporting facilities, it wasn’t long before Jindalee became a centre for sporting activities.
Jamboree Heights
Jamboree Heights was initially a part of Jindalee. When the Boy Scout held it’s Eighth Australian Pan-Pacific Scout Jamboree in Brisbane, Hooker Centenary provided the site. Later on, the place came to be called Jamboree Heights.
The 50th Anniversary of that historic Jamboree was celebrated in Jamboree Heights in January 2018. During that time, the participants learned more about the first Queensland Jamboree in 1967-1968.
Mount Ommaney is considerably larger than Jindalee and Jamboree Heights. Despite the sloping nature of the terrain in the area, Hooker Centenary was able to develop a number of “Private Courts” in Mount Ommaney in January 1970, a feat considered a first in Australia.
Photo credit: www.mcleodgolf.com.au
Each private court contains approximately seven homes, each with their own private entrance and shared private ownership of internal roads and nature strips.
Mount Ommaney became a prestige homesite that offers excellent views of the mountains and the city.
The suburb is also home to the first women’s golf club in Australia, the McLeod Country Golf Club, which was completed in 1969. The original golf club was comprised of 9 holes and a clubhouse. It was later extended to a full complement of 18 holes in 1971.
Riverhills
Photo credit: realestate.com.au
Riverhills is named for its ideal location offering sweeping panoramic views of the Brisbane River. In January 1973, it was mainly marketed by the developer as a suburb for young people with young families, designed with a cul-de-sac concept that focuses on having a quiet environment with lots of privacy. Many of its streets were named after rivers, lakes, and other waterways of the world.
Westlake
Photo credit: raywhitecentenary.com
Westlake was named by the developers in June 1973 for its nine-hectare freshwater lake. The developers maximised the landscape to give most of its homesites a view of the vast lake.
Sumner
Sumner was named after the Sumner family who had been farmers and landholders in the area. Though the name was originally given to a road, the suburb later adapted the name in 1969.
Seventeen Mile Rocks
Photo credit: Google Street View
The Seventeen Mile Rocks suburb used to include Sinnamon Park in 1975 as it extended farther west. With the development of Sinnamon Park, the boundaries of the suburb changed and currently, part of the Edenbrooke Estate is in Seventeen Mile Rocks and part in Sinnamon Park.
Seventeen Mile Rocks have gone through several developments under different estate developers namely ECOSSE Investments Pty Ltd, BMD Constructions, Baldwin-Riverlands, and Verandah.
Middle Park
Middle Park was strategically named by the developers in July 1976 to reflect its location in the middle of the Centenary Suburbs. The area offers northerly views of the McLeod Country Golf Club.
Sinnamon Park
In 1989, Sinnamon Park was developed originating from the suburb Seventeen Mile Rocks. The new suburb was named after the family of James Sinnamon and Margaret, who were the pioneer European settlers in the area.
Photo credit: monumentaustralia.org.au
Today, Sinnamon Park houses a memorial dedicated to Thomas Macleod to celebrate his historic flights on 22 December 1910.
These are the historical origins of the names of the Centenary Suburbs. To have a deeper grasp on the history of Centenary, visit Centenary Suburbs Historical Society Inc.
A Sumner couple has been left traumatised after a violent confrontation with a group of armed youths outside their motorcycle shop in the early hours of Monday morning.
Tony Van Schalkwyk, owner of Hansky Motorcycles on Bullockhead Street, was hospitalised with extensive bruising across his body following the attack, which occurred around 2.30am on 7 October.
His partner, Skye Whyte, told reporters the couple had been working late and were sleeping inside their business premises when she spotted a group wearing masks and hoods carrying metal poles as they entered the vacant car park adjacent to their property.
Ms Whyte said she could hear the group laughing before she opened a window and asked them to leave. The situation quickly escalated, with the group allegedly hurling verbal abuse at her and damaging her vehicle.
When Mr Van Schalkwyk went outside to intervene, he was set upon by approximately seven people who allegedly beat him with metal poles and their fists, leaving him with injuries across his body and face.
Ms Whyte grabbed a pair of bolt cutters and rushed downstairs, managing to frighten the group away. However, the incident has left the couple shaken and fearful for their business.
“We have sunk everything into this business,” Ms Whyte said. “We’re staying here again tonight. I’m worried they’re going to come back and take a bike or burn the place down. We would be left with nothing.”
The business owner expressed frustration with what she described as ongoing targeting of small businesses in the area, saying local operators are “fed up” with repeated incidents.
Ms Whyte also revealed that responding police advised the couple they shouldn’t have confronted the group, despite the attack occurring on their own property.
Queensland Police have confirmed investigations are ongoing and are appealing for anyone with CCTV or dashcam footage from the vicinity of Spine and Neon streets between 1.30am and 3am on Monday morning to come forward.
Ruth Chamberlain from the Centenary Archers Club in Sumner has been selected to represent Australia at the 2025 Trans Tasman Challenge in Christchurch.
Ruth Chamberlain, aged 12, earned selection for the Australian team after placing in the top two of her division at the National Youth Championships. She will compete in the Under 14 Female Compound category at the Trans Tasman Challenge in Christchurch, New Zealand, scheduled for 26 to 29 September 2025.
At the Australian Indoor National Championships in July 2025, Ruth placed first in the Under 14 Female Compound division. She recorded scores of 286 and 292 in Vegas rounds and 557 in the World Archery Indoor round. In training, she recorded a 298 out of a possible 300.
Earlier in 2025, Ruth competed in the Vegas Shoot, finishing fifth in the Female Compound Cub Division. She also achieved a South Queensland Archery Society record with a score of 367(30) in the Compound Under 14 Female Yellow Peg category at the SQAS Field Championships.
Ruth is a member of the Centenary Archers Club, located in Wacol Station Road Park in Sumner. The club was formed in 1984 and operates as a volunteer-run community sports organisation. It provides training, social archery and competitive opportunities, including hosting tournaments at state and national level.
Costs and Fundraising
The estimated costs for Ruth to compete include approximately $980 AUD for entry fees, accommodation, ground transport and meals, as well as between $800 and $1,500 AUD for flights. Archery Australia provides uniforms and travel insurance.
A fundraiser launched in May 2025 has raised $660 from 15 donations towards a target of $5,000 to help cover these costs.
Two other Centenary Archers Club members, Ellen Martini and Liezel-Marie Roux, have also been selected to represent Australia at the Trans Tasman Challenge. The event is held every two years and features youth archers from Australia and New Zealand competing in a team format.
