Homepage Latest News - Page 19 of 39

Free Native Plants for Newly Built Homes in Sinnamon Park, Other Suburbs

Wonga wonga vine | Photo Credit: John Tann from Sydney, Australia, CC BY 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons

How would you like to receive four, free native plants to jumpstart your garden? If you’ve just purchased a newly-built home or recently moved into an owner-built home in Sinnamon Park, you may be eligible for just that.

Property-owners listed in several targeted suburbs such as Sinnamon Park may be eligible to receive the green gifts from Brisbane City Council, if they happen to own a newly-built home within the past 12 months.

Interest is high and not all species are available at every nursery, so interested residents are urged to email the Free Native Plants team right away, to put in a request for their vouchers. Some plants are subject to seasonal availability.

Thyme Honey-myrtle flower | Photo Credit: John Tann from Sydney, Australia, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>/Wikimedia Commons

List of Suburbs

North	South	East	West
Bracken Ridge	Calamvale	Bulimba	Bellbowrie
Bridgeman Downs	Doolandella	Carindale	Chapel Hill
Carseldine	Durack	Hemmant	Ferny Grove
Everton Park	Eight Mile Plains	Mackenzie	Fig Tree Pocket
Fitzgibbon	Ellen Grove	Manly West	Karana Downs
Hendra	Heathwood	Rochedale	Kenmore
McDowall	Kuraby	Tingalpa	Mitchelton
Nudgee	Oxley	Wakerley	Moggill
Taigum	Pallara	Wynnum	Upper Kedron
	Runcorn	Wynnum West
	Sinnamon Park
	Sunnybank Hills

LIST OF PLANTS

To claim your free plants from any of the participating nurseries, you just need to present your Free Native Plants voucher which you can collect at any Council Regional Business Centre, library or ward office by showing your paid rates notice from the current financial year.

Tea tree - Leptospermum sp — Tea tree – Leptospermum sp | Tatiana Gerus from Brisbane, Australia, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

List of participating nurseries:

Region	Nursery	Address	Contact number
North	City Farm Nursery (open Tuesday-Sunday)	Northey Street City Farm, 16 Victoria Street, Windsor	07 3857 8774
South	Oxley Nursery	174 Dowding Street, Oxley	07 3375 5390
East	B4C Sustainability Centre (open Monday-Friday)	Corner of Wright Street and 1358 Old Cleveland Road, Carindale (access via 21 Wright Street)	07 3398 8003
East	Daly’s Native Plants (open Monday-Saturday)	57 Weedon Street West, Mansfield	07 3349 0807
West	Paten Park Native Nursery (open Tuesday-Sunday)	57 Paten Road, The Gap	07 3300 6304

Other residents and entities including residential ratepayers, residential tenants, residential body corporates, schools, registered community groups, clubs on Council-leased land, and official citizenship ceremonies may also request free native plants.

For residential ratepayers, residential tenants, public housing and Defence Housing residents, two free native plants may be claimed each financial year (July to June).

KNOW MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAM

‘Music Over The Green’ Is Happening At McLeod Country Golf Club

McLeod Country Golf Club is bringing Music Over The Green to Middle Park, with live music from Matthew Barnes and a delicious assortment of goodies from food trucks and the resident bar and bistro at the clubhouse.

Read: Late Real Estate Businessman’s Family Opens New Italian Restaurant at Metro Middle Park in His Honour

Happening on Sunday, 9 October 2022, the golf club’s Music Over The Green will take place from 2:00- p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Photo credit: McLeod Country Golf Club/Facebook

Music Over The Green is one of the monthly events of the country club, aside from their food trucks fest. This event is open to all ages. Besides their superb greens and fairways, the golf course is supported by an outstanding clubhouse with a fully licensed bar and bistro.

To register your interest and learn more about Music Over the Green, visit the club’s Events Page.

About McLeod Country Golf Club

Located at the base of Mt Ommaney only 15 km southwest from the centre of Brisbane (a 20-minute short drive from the city centre), the country club is an 18-hole golf course established in 1968.

The club’s facilities include a Par 71 (men), Par 74 (women), 18 hole Championship golf course, together with a range of practice facilities including, driving range, chip and bunker facilities and putting green.

The club remained an all-women’s club until late 2019, when the constitution was changed to allow men to become full members for the first time.

Read: Middle Park Shoppers in the Top Five of Most Active Fundraisers for MND Research

Members at the club enjoy competitions and events all year round, free social games, and their immaculately presented championship golf course.

They also have motorised carts, pull carts and clubs available for hire.

Over-50s Expo Invites Seventeen Mile Rocks Seniors to Connect

Photo Credit: Queensland Seniors Month / Facebook

If you are over 50, make sure you don’t miss this event! In celebration of Queensland Seniors month, Centenary Volunteers in Policing will be presenting a fun and friendly connect fest: the Over-50s Expo.

The Over 50s Expo will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on the 5th of October 2022 at Riverlife Baptist Church on Jennifer Street, Seventeen Mile Rocks. The event is held annually to celebrate Queensland’s seniors over morning tea, lunch and some refreshments along with some displays and guest speakers.

Organised by Centenary Police Beat – QPS, this year’s event will have five speakers from Queensland Police Service and other organisations attending to provide participants with some practical advice on how Over 50s can protect themselves from crime and fraud as well as how you can make yourself ready to enjoy the rest of your retirement and senior years.

There will be more than 50 displays from government departments, community organisations and commercial providers at the site. But the event has limited spaces, so you need to hurry and register by 28 September 2022 to confirm your slot.

Don’t forget to bring your old pair of eyeglasses at the event so you could donate them to the Lions Club.

To inquire or for more information, you may email centenarybeat@police.qld.gov.au or phone the Centenary North Police Beat on 3737 6811.

Other events are also happening this coming Queensland Seniors Month across the state including:

Happy Birthday Olivia Newton-John on 27 September at St John’s Hall 32 Roderick St, Ipswich
Organic Hand Scrub on 1 October at Burnie Brae Centre 60 Kuran St, Chermside
LACA QLD Cultural and Artistic Festival for Seniors 2022 on 1 October at The Clubhouse Moorooka 76 Koala Rd, Moorooka
LGBTIQ+ Elders Dance Club on 2 October at Grange Community Hall 185 Wilston Rd, Newmarket

Check what else is on this Seniors month by visiting their website here.

Riverlife Baptist Church | 47 Jennifer St, Seventeen Mile Rocks QLD 4073

Two Local Legends Join the Amazons Family Fresh Markets Team in Jindalee

Amazons Family Fresh Markets at DFO Jindalee, the biggest fruit-and-vegetable market in the western suburbs, is bringing out the big guns, with the recent addition of two powerhouse talents to their team: the “Banana King of the West” and one of the best butchers in Brisbane.

Mel Habchi

After many years trading at the Mt Ommaney Fruit Market, Mel Habchi and his staff have now joined the team at Amazons Family Fresh Markets.

As the door closed on his lease at the Mount Ommaney Shopping Centre, a new door opened enabling Mel to continue sourcing and offering the freshest and best value fruit and veg in the Centenary area.

Mel has been called the “Banana King of the West.” Frankly, who can question his clout or buying prowess at the Brisbane fruit and veg markets when he’s able to offer fresh Cavendish bananas at $1.98 per kg when $4/kg is common at the major supermarkets (prices as of publishing date)?

Huge boxes of Honey Murcott mandarins for $14.90. Broccoli at $2.98/Kg. All these make the big chain supermarkets look extremely expensive.

Rodney Gaddes

Along with Mel, another local legend who has joined the team is Rodney Gaddes, a butcher with over 30 years’ experience.

“I have been a butcher for more than 31 years, I was born on the farm and this is something I really love doing,” Rodney said, adding that he is happy to be joining the Amazons Family Fresh Markets team.

Amazons Family Fresh meat — Photo Credit: Facebook/Amazon Family Fresh Markets DFO Jindalee

Rodney has been filling the cabinets with quality meats that have shoppers making a beeline for his choice cuts.

Photo Credit: Facebook/Amazon Family Fresh Markets DFO Jindalee

Amazons Family Fresh Market Reviews

“Beautiful fruit and veggies and always cheaper than Coles, I’m obsessed with this place. Plus you can pick up a hot chicken for $8 – how good.”
Alexandra Grunwald

“Great selection of fruit and other produce. The store is well laid out with easy access. Prices are really good.”
John Westwood

“Have stopped going to Rocklea markets since these guys have opened, just as fresh and similar value.”
Wilfred Mak

Amazon Family Fresh — Photo Credit: Supplied

You can follow their Facebook page for more updates.

Centenary Bridge Upgrades In Jindalee Will Be Delayed

Plans to upgrade Centenary Bridge are still a bit far from reality, after it has been announced that the three-year project is not expected to commence until 2023, instead of starting in 2022.

Read: Congested Section Of Centenary Motorway To Receive Much-needed Upgrades

Based on the original projected timeline, the project is supposed to commence in 2022 and will be complete by late 2026, weather and construction conditions permitting.

However, Transport Minister Mark Bailey announced that there is an alternate bid being submitted for the project and that thorough due diligence is needed before construction could finally get underway.

The budget for the project has remained at $244 million ($132 million from the Queensland Government and $112 million from the Australian Government), however, planners are still closely monitoring global inflation of construction materials.

Whilst it’s an ‘unfortunate’ situation, Mr Bailey assured it’s not going to be a huge delay which means the upgrades will be built as soon as possible.

Benefits of upgrading the bridge includes improving safety to reduce the frequency and severity of crashes on the Centenary Bridge and increasing capacity to improve travel-time reliability and cater for current and future traffic needs.

Artist’s impression of Centenary bridge (Photo credit: www.tmr.qld.gov.au)

Works for Centenary Motorway’s upgrades include remediation of the existing bridges to create three southbound lanes and a new three-lane bridge travelling northbound.

Active transport facilities will also be upgraded for pedestrians and people who ride bikes, with improved connections to the Western Freeway Bikeway and local destinations, including retention of the Jindalee Skate Park.

“While the Centenary Bridge upgrade does not include dedicated transit lanes, capacity and traffic flow will be improved by providing 3 lanes in each direction over the Brisbane River. This will increase efficiency and travel time reliability for public transport including buses travelling on the Centenary Bridge,” TMR said.

At present, around 85,000 vehicles cross the Centenary Motorway a day. But Transport and Main Roads’ current traffic modelling shows that by 2036, around 152,000 vehicles per day will want to cross the bridge.

Visit Queensland Government’s website for further updates on the project.

Construction And Mining Equipment Manufacturing Giant Steps Up Recruitment Drive

Photo Credit: Komatsu / komatsu.com.au

Months after unveiling its $48-million Wacol Distribution Centre, construction and mining equipment manufacturing giant Komatsu is stepping up its statewide recruitment drive for apprentices.

Already at 1,200 strong, Komatsu is looking into expanding its workforce as it opened more apprenticeship positions last month. In early 2022, some 50 positions were filled for its Wacol distribution facility which opened in March.

The company is looking into filling thousands of apprentices and technicians positions over the next ten years as the company is set to make further investments in technological advancements in heavy equipment manufacturing, further boosting job creation in the Australian mining sector.

This August 2022, four upgraded Komatsu 930E haul trucks began their autonomous operations at South Flank iron ore mine in Western Australia. These trucks are part of a fleet of autonomous-ready haul trucks that are in the process of being upgraded and are expected to be completed in September next year.

“Komatsu’s autonomous technology helps drive job creation, with a focus on safety, diversity, upskilling and an innovative flexible workforce that meets the needs of people and communities with business goals,” Sean Taylor, CEO & Managing Director, Komatsu Australia said.

Late last year, the state government announced that the minerals and exploration sectors have recorded impressive growth in 2021 with a four-quarter average of jobs in exploration in Qld rising almost 70 per cent to more than 22,600.

Moreover, jobs in minerals mining and quarrying in Queensland also reached a record high with its four-quarter average rocketing to more than 24,100 or 28.4 per cent year-on-year.

Australian mineral exploration spending reached $1.90 billion or an increase of 38.8 per cent year-on-year in 2021, eclipsing the average global budget growth rate of 35 per cent, according to S&P Global data.

The Australian mining and energy sector is poised for another record-breaking growth this year amid the global energy crisis. Export earnings are projected to reach $425 billion this financial year or a lift of 33 per cent from 2020-21, according to the Australian Government’s Resources and Energy Quarterly Report March 2022.

Funding Boost For RSPCA QLD’s Pets In Crisis Program

RSPCA Queensland, which has an animal care campus in Wacol, has received $200,000 in funding for the expansion of its Pets in Crisis program.

Read: Late Real Estate Businessman’s Family Opens New Italian Restaurant at Metro Middle Park in His Honour

The support will provide places for more than 240 additional pets, almost doubling the capacity of the program, which already cares for around 300 animals each year.

The Pets in Crisis Program is a partnership between RSPCA and DVConnect. It was established in 2005 to provide a safe house for the pets of individuals at serious risk of domestic violence.

RSPCA and DVConnect both welcome the additional funding as it will allow them to continue to offer pets a safe haven and provide their owners with reassurance their beloved companions will be well cared for during their time of need.

RSPCA QLD CEO Darren Maier said on average animals in the Pets in Crisis program will stay about a month with RSPCA staff or carers, which can equate to 4,000 care days annually, plus veterinary expenses.

Beck O’Connor, CEO of DV Connect, said their aim is to make sure victims of violence are supported across a range of services that enables them to safely leave their situation.

“No-one should have to choose between escaping abuse or leaving their pets behind in an unsafe home. The expansion of this program will help us support more Queenslanders to safety,” said Ms O’Connor.

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Minister for Women, and Minister for Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, Shannon Fentiman, said the program was vital in protecting women and children.

rspca wacol — Photo credit: RSPCA QLD/Facebook

“Pets are often used as part of coercive and controlling behaviour, with perpetrators threatening pets to control and intimidate their partner and children,” Minister Fentiman said.

Minister Fentiman added that providing safe and emergency accommodation for pets, gives victims greater comfort that they can leave the dangerous situation they are facing.

“It’s incredibly sad that not only are families inflicted with fear, intimidation and harm, but their pets are also subjected to violence,” Minister Fentiman said.

In 2021, Minister Fentiman visited the RSPCA animal care campus in Wacol and saw first-hand the quality of the program.

pets in crisis — Photo credit: RSPCA QLD/Facebook

Minister Fentiman said victims can reach out to DVConnect which liaises with the RSPCA to find temporary accommodation for pets at either an RSPCA shelter or with trained foster carers.

Women who need to seek refuge but who are unable to find care for their pets can contact the DVConnect 24 hour crisis line on 1800 811 811.

DVConnect will work directly with RSPCA Qld to find temporary care for their pets at either an RSPCA Animal Care Centre across the State or with trained RSPCA foster carers.

Late Real Estate Businessman’s Family Opens New Italian Restaurant at Metro Middle Park in His Honour

Photo Credit: Ronnie’s Clubhouse / Instagram

A new Italian restaurant opens at Metro Middle Park (formerly Park Village Shopping Centre), the same centre where the owner’s late father used to run his real estate business. The new dining spot is called ‘Ronnie’s Clubhouse’ in honour of his memory.

The late Ronald “Ronnie” Lowthian was a well-known real estate businessman who ran his agency for three decades and had long wished for his daughter, Claire Parviz, to open an Italian restaurant at the centre.

When the family patriarch passed in 2021, Claire reached out to the management of Metro Middle Park to discuss her plans of turning the bench outside her father’s former office into a memorial.

It was also around that time that the idea of fulfilling her father’s wish of opening the restaurant at the centre came to mind. And so, Ronnie’s Clubhouse was born.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ronnie’s (@ronnies_clubhouse)

Ronnie’s Clubhouse will offer Italian dishes and pizza in its 30-seater venue. The Pizza menu features four white-based and four red-based options including a Bianche pizza topped with Fior di latte, spinach, ricotta, roasted garlic, broccoli, bell peppers, olives and chilli. Mini cheesy pizza and rigatoni with sugo are available as well.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ronnie’s (@ronnies_clubhouse)

For a light snack, the Cicchetti menu offers house-made focaccia with extra virgin olive oil; three cheese arancini with romesco sauce; and Affettati Misti with a Chef’s selection of salami and salumi by Saison Salumi served with warm olives and grissini.

Primi include mouthwatering options such as Rigatoni served with slow braised pork shoulder and ham hock, green olive and fennel ragu. There’s also Tagliatelle with pancetta, mushrooms, spinach, white wine and creamed pecorino.

For the Secondi portion of the menu, options include Chicken Involtini filled with pistachio, pancetta, mortadella, with potato and truffle puree; Bistecca of Angus rib fillet with, rosemary and garlic potatoes, field mushrooms with aged balsamic, sautéed cavolo nero; and Snapper with creamed beetroot, fried polenta, anchovy dust and roasted Brussel sprouts.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ronnie’s (@ronnies_clubhouse)

And to satisfy one’s sweet cravings, there’s White chocolate semifreddo served with macerated figs, dulce de leche and caramelized chocolate crumb. Tiramisu and Granita Campari which is made with crispy coconut, candied orange and wild rice.

A curated list consisting of ten cocktails named after Mr Lowthian and his nine great-grandchildren is on offer. Classic Italian cocktails, beers, wines and non-alcoholic beverages complete Ronnie’s Clubhouse’s drinks offering.

Ronnie’s Clubhouse is located at Metro Middle Park, 94 Horizon Drive, Middle Park.

Jindalee Local To Represent Country In Para-powerlifting At Commonwealth Games

Jindalee local Hani Watson is set to break Australia’s 16-year medal drought in para-powerlifting, after being named as one of the country’s representatives at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Read: Jindalee Siblings Recognised For Work on Raising Awareness About Childhood Stroke

Watson’s effort to lift 120kg in the 86kg+ class, on her first trip away from Australia, was considered outstanding given her relative inexperience in powerlifting. Watson has only been competing for less than a year and being ranked high is such a pat on the back for her.

Watson, 39, set a new Oceania record at the World Para-powerlifting Championships in Georgia in October 2021.

“I just want to keep competing and lifting my ranking until the rest of the world knows that there’s this female Aussie they should watch out for,” she said.

Watson’s rise through the powerlifting ranks is a reward for the resilience she has shown after being born with bilateral metaphyseal dysplasia, which bowed her tibia and femur bones.

She underwent several surgeries in a bid to correct the problem and turned to weightlifting with the encouragement of her father, who was a bodybuilder, to build up their strength. But the condition eventually stopped Watson from being able to complete squats.

hani watson — Hani Watson with Coach Simon Bergner (Photo credit: Hani Watson/Facebook)

She was then approached by Australian Para-powerlifting coach Simon Bergner, who steered Watson towards a new goal.

“My Dad always told me, ‘Focus on your superpower’,” she said. “Bench pressing has made me feel empowered, especially as a woman.”

The last medal for Australia was given back in 2006, when Darren Gardiener took the bronze at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games.

Watson will be competing with Ben Wright, 35, from Perth. He is an Oceania record holder in two divisions, and will become just the second Australian after Leigh Skinner to compete in Para-powerlifting at three Commonwealth Games when he goes to Birmingham.

The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games will be held from Thursday 28 July to Monday 8 August 2022 with the Para-powerlifting competition to be conducted on Thursday 4 August at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC).

Middle Park Shoppers in the Top Five of Most Active Fundraisers for MND Research

Did you know that Middle Park shoppers raised more than $4,000 in under six weeks for FightMND’s Big Freeze 8 campaign to find a cure for Motor Neurone Disease?

Coles Middle Park finished among the top five fundraising stores in the state of Queensland. Shoppers bought beanies and Coles Brand pork, aside from making a monetary donation.

The Big Freeze Beanies
Photo Credit: Supplied

The money raised by Middle Park shoppers contributes to the $8.6 million raised across Australia in Coles FightMND drive, which has also increased the current tally of the Big Freeze 8 campaign by $19.8 million.

Many Australian farmers are afflicted with Motor Neurone Disease and FightMND is invested in cutting-edge research projects focused on fast- tracking new MND treatments and driving discoveries towards a cure.

“I’m incredibly proud of my team and our customers with the way they’ve gotten behind FightMND this year and to finish as one of the top fundraising stores in Queensland,” Coles Middle Park Store Manager Darren Hutchison said.

“We love getting behind community partners and fundraising campaigns, and our passion for FightMND continues to grow every year. I can’t thank the community enough for supporting this worthy cause as it brings us one step closer to finding a cure for this debilitating disease.”

“We are so grateful to every single Coles team member and customer who joined us in the fight against the Beast this year and helped raise vital funds for MND research,” FightMND Campaign Director Bec Daniher said.

“From selling and purchasing Big Freeze beanies and Coles Aussie Pork products, to hosting their own DIY Big Freeze events, the impact of Coles and their customers has been tremendous and we can’t thank them enough.

“And of course, a big thank you to our FightMND Army around Australia for buying their Big Freeze beanies at Coles and Coles Express stores.”