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All Roads Lead to Inala Dental Clinic After Jindalee School Dental Clinic Closes

The Jindalee School Dental Clinic has decided to close its doors following the recent maintenance issue involving the air conditioning system in January. Due to the air conditioning failure, the clinic wasn’t able to reopen until the unit was replaced.

According to Metro South Health acting chief executive Robert Mackway-Jones, the maintenance issues caused by the recent air conditioning unit failure as well as the replacement were too costly for a clinic that wasn’t being used at full capacity. In fact, the clinic only opens six months per year.

Since 2015, only a total of 2,337 children had appointments at the dental clinic. It was also recorded that most of the families in the suburb prefer to set appointments at the Inala Dental Clinic because of its better facilities and longer opening hours.

The closure may seem like a sound decision when viewed from a business perspective but some people weren’t happy with this decision. According to Tarnya Smith, a Mt Ommaney state LNP MP, the community wasn’t consulted about this. Ms Smith said that the dental clinic has been providing services for 30 years. It has become an institution in the community. She expressed disappointment that the dental clinic did not consult the local community prior to closure.

However, Mr Mackway-Jones denied that they neglected to consult the community. He said that they have discussions with the school community and patients about the planned closure.

The closing of the dental clinic means that patients from Jindalee, Jamboree, and Middle Park state schools to travel further for their dental appointments. The Inala Dental Clinic seems to be a popular alternative choice. To know if your child if eligible for free dental care at this clinic, you can click here.

Mt Ommaney Centre To Get its Own Cinema; Identity of Operator Still “Top-Secret”

The Mt Ommaney Shopping Centre isn’t new to major extensions. Since it opened in 1979, the mall had undergone major changes such as the 2008 17,700 square metre extension. This time around, it gets a little bit mysterious as it preps for another expansion.

Here is what we know so far. The new entertainment and dining area for the shopping centre has been recently approved by the Brisbane City Council. This new area will be located the south-west part of the centre. It took only a few months for the proposal to be approved. The proposal for the expansion was just submitted in December 2016, laying out plans for a new multiplex cinema, new restaurant, and indoor sport and recreation facilities.

The operator of the new cinema is being kept under wraps. According to the planning chairman of BCC, Julian Simmons, the operator remains “top secret.” The new cinema will be situated across two levels near the Kmart end of the centre.

The proposal shows development would be in two stages:

Stage 1. Construction of roof deck car park to accommodate the expansion
Stage 2. Construction of cinema, restaurant, entertainment tenancy, and parking.

The new entertainment area will revitalise the suburb, providing more entertainment options for the residents of the area.

Music at the Hub is Back to Entertain at Mt Ommaney

It’s time for some relaxing and entertaining music again as Music at the Hub returns at the Centenary Community Hub in Mount Ommaney in June.

Music at the Hub is presenting musicians Jodi Murtha and Angela Toohey on Saturday, 17 June 2017. The event will be from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Jodi is a Brisbane-based folk musician known for her laid back style of acoustic songs. Her music is described to have strong melodies with interesting stories. Jodi performs all over South East Queensland as a soloist, bass player or backing vocalist. She released her first solo EP called “Contents Unknown” in 2016.

Listen to Jodi’s music at Soundcloud.

Visit Jodi’s website at www.jodimurtha.com for more information.

Angela writes emotive ballads exuding love, loss and growth. Her music is rich in imagery and occasional howling at the moon. Angela draws from her musical theatre experience to entertain and captivate the audience. Learn more about Angela’s music at www.angelatoohey.com.au.

(credit: lisaminooli42/YouTube)

Angela’s top notch vocals and strong rhythm guitar amazingly blended with Jodi Murtha’s instinctive bass and harmonies will surely make the mid-year Music at the Hub one enthralling evening.

Event Details:

Date: Saturday, 17 June 2017,
Venue: Centenary Community Hub, 171 Dandenong Rd, Mount Ommaney
Cost: $10 per person. Free entry for those 14 years old and below.

Bookings are appreciated and recommended to help organisers in setting up the venue. Vegetarian and gluten-free choices are also available. There will be light meals such as cheese, nibble platters and snacks. Limited beer, wine, coffee, tea and soft drinks will be sold at affordable prices.

For bookings, email info@ccconnect.asn.au or call 0499 999 772 to secure your table.

Youth Unemployment Hits 17-Year High in Brisbane’s Western Corridor

There are more unemployed young people in Brisbane’s western corridor in March 2017 compared to 12 months ago.

Recently released figures are causing alarm as unemployment among the youth has risen to a 17-year high at 15.7%. This represents an 8.2% increase from the previous year and the second-highest increase in Queensland, next only to Outback.

The information suggests that young people ages 15-24 years are having a difficult time finding a job. Tarnya Smith, State LNP MP for Mt Ommaney, is among those who expressed alarm over the decline in employment opportunities for young residents in the area.

Ms. Smith said that she has received several calls from parents who were frustrated about the lack of work opportunities for their children. She said that the situation worsened due to inaction from the government to ensure that young residents will be able to find work.

According to Ms Smith, the unemployment rate would have been higher if not for the number of young people who simply gave up looking for work.

Young jobseekers exclaimed that there are not a lot of jobs out there for them. It appears that there is a huge number of people graduating, but only a limited number of jobs are available for them.

Ms Smith sees this as a wake-up call to locals who should be calling their local member to seek what needs to be done to address the issue. She calls for a plan to invest in Tools for Tradies, job start incentives and small business incentives to create more jobs for young people in the area.

Learn New Gardening Skills at Rocks Riverside Park

Residents within the Centenary area can learn some gardening skills this Saturday, May 20, at the Rocks Riverside Park in Seventeen Mile Rocks.

Two practical gardening workshops are scheduled at the Rocks Riverside Park as part of Brisbane City Council’s Active Parks program. The program brings free or low-cost activities at over 50 local parks in Brisbane to improve health, fitness and well-being of residents.

Grow Organic Food

Locals can learn to grow organic food through a workshop scheduled at 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm. In this workshop, participants will learn practical skills in gardening, including growing organic food in small spaces. After the workshop, participants can take home the wicking pot that they have made.

This workshop can help locals to grow their own food, ensuring that they are eating healthy, organic veggies and fruits that are devoid of artificial fertilisers and pesticides.

Self-Watering Planter Workshop

Following the organic gardening session, there will be another gardening-related workshop, where participants can learn to make their own self-watering planter box. This workshop is perfect for busy folks who tend to forget or may not have time to water plants daily.

With self-watering planters, gardeners need not worry about their plants drying up when they go on vacation or leave the house for days or weeks. In this workshop, gardeners will learn to make a fruit and vegetable pyramid from self-watering boxes.

This workshop will happen from 3 pm to 5 pm.

Participants must book prior to joining the two events. To book, call Roman at 0434 842 870 or email spurtupia@gmail.com.

Event Details:

Date:	20 May 2017
Venue:	Community Garden, Rocks Riverside Park, 531 Seventeen Mile Rocks Road, Seventeen Mile Rocks
Cost:	$5 per event

Get directions to Rocks Riverside Park

Adopt a Snake – RSPCA Wacol Seeks New Homes for Rescued Snakes

They are usually associated with fear and danger. But snakes can also be an excellent pet to those who are looking for extraordinary animal companions.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) Wacol admits that interest for snake adoption is lacklustre, unlike the clamour for pet dogs and cats. Since the centre started putting snakes for adoption, it has received lukewarm response from the public. RSPCA, however, counters the negative perception about pet snakes.

Unlike regular pets, snakes are fairly low maintenance pets. They do not need a lot of room and don’t make any noise. Snake pets are not messy and owners need not worry about shedding.

The snakes at RSPCA centre were mostly surrendered to them by parents of children who lost interest in their pet snakes. Some of the snakes were taken to the centre after growing beyond the expectation of the owner.

Before Adopting a Snake

Before adopting a snake, the prospective pet owner needs to obtain a Recreational Wildlife License. This license is required for anyone who wishes to take care of certain protected animals. The license holder will not be allowed to use the animals they keep for commercial use.

One of the snakes in RSPCA Wacol up for adoption. *(Photo credit: RSPCA Queensland/Facebook)*

Anyone interested in taking home a snake from RSPCA’s Brisbane Animal Care Campus will have to do their own research to learn about proper care for such type of pet.

Pet owners should know the commitment they have to keep if they adopt a snake. Snakes have different life expectancies, so the potential owner will have to be familiar with the species and how long they are expected to live. Snake pets can be challenging. They can get ill easily if not fed correctly or if not kept warm.

Potential pet owners should also realise that snakes have different temperament and personality. At RSPCA Brisbane, experts are ready to assist prospective snake owners in choosing the right pet to take home.

Interested in adopting a snake for a pet? View all the snakes up for adoption at Brisbane Animal Care.

Visit RSPCA Brisbane Animal Care Campus at Wacol to find a pet for adoption. The centre is located at 139 Wacol Station Rd, Wacol.

Centenary Community Comes Together at 4074 Family Fun Day 2017

Every year, residents from Centenary suburbs get to come together for a family day of fun and games to raise funds for charitable groups.

This year’s 4074 Family Fun Day is happening on the 21st of May, Sunday, at Rocks Riverside Park, Counihan Rd, Seventeen Mile Rocks. This is the third time the annual event is being held. It started in 2013 as a way for locals to get to know other members of the community while raising funds to support charitable organisations.

The event will feature rides, heaps of food and drinks, raffles, market stalls, face painting, animal farm, kids’ games, music and a whole lot more. The annual Just Poppy’s Burger Eating Championship and Centenary’s Next Great Baker Competition are some of the highlights of the weekend event.

Beneficiaries of this year’s event are Montrose Therapy & Respite Services and World Access for the Blind Australia.

Event Details:

What: 4074 Family Fun Day 2017
When: 21 May 2017, 12 noon to 5 pm
Where: Rocks Riverside Park, Counihan Road, Seventeen Mile Rocks
Cost: Admission is free

Just Poppy’s Burger Eating Contest

*(Photo credit: Just Poppy’s/ Facebook)*

Due to the success of the Just Poppy’s Burger Eating Championship last year, organisers are bringing back the contest to the 4074 Family Fun Day event. Contenders will attempt to munch their way to grab the coveted title. Last year, Ben Sickmann won the title after beating all other competitors with his time of 7.30 minutes.

The eating contest is sponsored by Just Poppy’s and Quality Food Services.

Visit the 4074 Community & Beyond website to learn more.

Centenary’s Next Great Baker

The 4074 Family Fun Day will once again host Centenary’s Next Great Baker where talented and skilled amateur bakers will compete in four different categories.

Categories include Cake Art, Chocolate Cake, Slice, and Cupcakes.

The Cupcakes contest is open to junior amateur bakers, 17 years old and below. All the other categories are for participants 18 years and over.

All cakes produced for the contest will be sold. Proceeds from sale and registration fees will go to the designated charities of the 4074 Family Fun Day. Learn more and register here.

Directions to Rocks Riverside Park

Seventeen Mile Rocks Event Puts Seniors Back on Their Bikes Again

Senior residents 50 years and above who wish to start riding their bicycles again are encouraged join the Back on Your Bicycle event at Rocks Riverside Park on May 15th.

The event is a refresher course specifically designed for senior members of the community who want to pursue biking as a regular physical activity. It is part of the Growing Older and Living Dangerously (GOLD) programs of the Brisbane City Council’s Active and Healthy Lifestyle initiative. GOLD events are free or low-cost programs for residents 50 years old and above.

Back on Your Bicycle is free of charge and will teach participants the basics of helmet use, bike safety check, bike handling, biking etiquette and gear use. Attendees will have to bring their own bike, helmet and water.

Event Details:

When: Monday, 15 May 2017, 9:30 am – 11:30 am
Where: Rocks Riverside Park, 531 Seventeen Mile Rocks Road, Seventeen Mile Rocks
Bookings: Call Jan Stevenson at Cycle Away on 0427 431 481

Ideal Physical Exercise

The refresher course should be an excellent opportunity for seniors to start enjoying cycling again. Some people shun the idea of older people taking on cycling for fitness, when in fact, it is one ideal exercise that senior folks will enjoy.

There has been a reawakening in bicycle riding among seniors. Because of the fun in riding the bike, seniors are more likely to stick to the healthy activity.

What makes biking stand out is that it can be a fun physical activity whether the person is riding alone or riding with friends. The city council’s Back on Your Bicycle event should be able to help seniors take on this fitness activity once more.

Jamboree Heights and Mt Ommaney Get Faster Internet

Residents in Jamboree Heights and Mount Ommaney will now get to enjoy and benefit from faster Internet connection from Telstra. This, after Telstra unrolled its 4GX services in the area.

The telecom company recently added Jamboree Heights, Mt Ommaney, Darra, Wacol and Pinjarra Hills to the list of suburbs under its 4GX coverage.

4GX Difference

With 4GX, the Centenary suburbs can enjoy the fastest 4G speeds that can go up to twice the speed of regular 4G connection on a compatible mobile device on a 4GX area. Double the bandwidth means that customers can use more devices without compromising speed.

The faster speed will also mean doing more online, thanks to faster downloads, uninterrupted streaming and fewer slowdowns even in crowded areas. Compared to regular 4G service, 4GX connection provides better coverage inside buildings.

To fully benefit from the upgraded service, users should make sure that they are using compatible mobile devices, tablets and mobile broadband units. The service will be different depending on the capability of the device.

Find out more about the company’s 4GX coverage.

Upgraded Darra Park Boasts Suburb’s First Public Toilet

Residents in Darra and the Centenary suburbs welcome the upgrade of the Ducie Street Park in Darra as it incorporates facilities that the community has been demanding.

While the Darra park has a new playground inaugurated on April 29, the community is much happier about the provision of a public toilet facility, which happens to be the only stand-alone public toilet in Darra.

Councillor Matthew Bourke (Jamboree Ward) had consulted residents in the area to get their wish list for the suburb. One of the top requests of the community is the inclusion of a public toilet block at Ducie St Park.

Locals have been complaining about the lack of public toilets in the suburb. The only toilets for public use were at the train station and the shopping mall on Monier Rd, located more than half km from the park. The distance makes them inconvenient for park users to access. Most of the time, park visitors ended up going home when they needed to use a toilet.

Among the improvements done to the park is the new playground with six new slides, landscaping upgrade and enhanced accessibility.

The park upgrade is part of the various projects to beautify Darra. Aside from Ducie St Park, the reinvigoration of Darra also includes upgrades to Balfour Street Park, adding a new playground and picnic shelter.

Find out more about public parks in Darra at the Brisbane City Council website.