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Why Australia’s First Gold at Tokyo Olympics is Not Just a Stroke of Luck

Team Australia has won its first gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics after swimmers and Kenmore State High School alumnae Cate Campbell and Bronte Campbell, along with teammates Meg Harris and Emma McKeon, set a new world record for the 4×100-m freestyle relay. Like all worthy endeavours, this historic Olympic win against a sea of world-class swimmers is definitely much more than just a stroke of luck.

Cate, Bronte, Meg and Emma clocked the fastest time at 3 minutes, 29.78 seconds, beating Canada (3:32.78) and USA (3:32:81), as well Team Australia’s 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games record.

In an impressive display of teamwork, Australia’s relay team showed the world how it’s done.

Bronte opened for Team Australia and inched seconds behind Sweden. She was followed by Meg, the Olympic first-timer who secured the girls’ lead early on. Emma was third in the handover with Cate closing the relay with the determination (and experience!) to seal the win.

Highlights

Sisters Cate and Bronte Campbell won Team Australia’s first gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics 4×100-m freestyle relay with fellow swimmers Meg Harris and Emma McKeon.
The sisters both went to Kenmore State High School and have been representing Team Australia since 2008 (Cate) and 2012 (Bronte).
Cate advocates for early detection and prevention of melanoma cancer, after her diagnosis in 2018.
Both sisters want to be part of the 2032 Olympics in Brisbane.

This isn’t the first Olympic competition for the Kenmore State High alums. Thirteen years ago, Cate swam for Team Australia at the 2008 Beijing Games at 16 years old and went home with two bronze medals. She has since competed at four Olympics and was also in Tokyo for the 2018 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships.

Bronte joined her sister at the 2012 London Olympics and made history with Cate as the first Australian sisters to compete in the same swimming event: Women’s 50-m Freestyle.

Early Life & Challenges

The Campbell sisters were born in Malawi to South African parents, Eric and Jenny. Cate is the oldest of five siblings whilst Bronte is the second child. Their mother was a synchronised swimmer who taught her girls to swim.

The family moved to Australia in 2001, where Cate and Bronte joined the Indooroopilly Swimming Club. While the Campbells have remained in Kenmore Hills, Bronte currently resides in Sydney.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Bronte Campbell (@bronte_campbell)

In 2018, Cate was diagnosed with stage 1 melanoma following a routine skin check-up. Her dermatologist recommended surgery for a mole in her arm and she was fortunate to get an all-clear after going through the procedure.

Since her diagnosis and surgery, the Kenmore local has been advocating for early detection and prevention of stage 1 melanoma before serious health consequences develop.

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A post shared by Cate Campbell (@cate_campbell)

Future Plans

Cate, now 29, plans to compete in the 2024 Paris Games or perhaps take a spot at the International Swimming League.

However, Bronte, 27, told AP News that she might retire after Tokyo Olympics due to a five-year struggle with a body injury. To manage her condition, Bronte does yoga, Pilates, acupuncture, float tanks, and frequent consultations with her doctor. Her rehabilitation and prevention routines take as much time as her swim training.

Both sisters expressed that they would like to help in the organisation of the 2032 Olympics in Brisbane, even if they just have to show the audience their seats at the stadium.

Historic Sugars Cottage In Anstead To Be Moved To Sunshine Coast

Photo credit: Moggill Historical Society/Facebook

A historic cottage in Anstead, also known as the “Sugars Cottage” has been sold and will be relocated to the Sunshine Coast by its new owners.

Read: Plan Hatched for a Community Hub at Historic Hawbryn House Site

One of Brisbane’s pioneer cottages, Sugars Cottage was allegedly quietly sold by the Brisbane City Council even before its public consultation had ended in June 2021, leaving some Moggill heritage experts enraged.

The 1930s house was so resilient that it was the only structure that survived a devastating fire on the 506 Hawkesbury Rd in October 2020.

The Council acquired the site in 2017 via the Bushland Acquisition Program with plans to connect two adjoining bushland blocks. However, Councillor Greg Adermann announced last year that they will come up with a masterplan for the site.

The Hawbryn House, which used to be located right next to the Sugars Cottage, was damaged by fire last year. Council already announced plans to turn it to something useful, such a community hub. Cr Adermann said they did not want Sugars Cottage to become a regular target for vandals, just like what happened to the Hawbryn House.

Photo credit: Moggill Historical Society/Facebook

Moggill Historical Society is asking BCC to reconsider its current plan to remove the cottage and sell it to a private owner elsewhere in Queensland.

“By keeping the cottage in Anstead, Brisbane City Council will secure the legacy of preserving and modernising this building ensuring a better outcome for the local community,” MHS wrote in a petition via Change.org.

Cr Adermann said Moggill Historical Society’s plans to relocate and retain the cottage as a working building was not financially viable. He’s hoping society and locals would participate in discussions on how to recognise the contribution of the Sugars family to the area.

The Sugars Family

The Sugars Cottage during the early days (Photo credit: Moggill Historical Society/Facebook)

The Sugars family are among the earliest pioneer families in Anstead. In 1860, Thomas Sugars came from Ampthill in Bedfordshire and opened a big basalt quarry in Moggill. His grandson, Harold Gordon Sugars, built the cottage in the 1930s.

When Harold died in 1978, it became part of the Hawbryn property, which was owned by the Burton-Jones family. It was sold to new owners in 2013 before Council brought it back four years ago.

Pullenvale State School Receives Grants For New Books

Photo credit: pullenvaless.eq.edu.au

Pullenvale State School was chosen as one of the recipients of Brisbane Airport Corporation’s Community Giving Fund in 2021. The school will use the BAC grant to buy graphic novels for use as visual cues for children with dyslexia, ADS, and other reading challenges.

Read: Extended! Bellbowrie & Moggill Personalised Public Transport Service to Continue

According to the Understood For All, graphic novels are a good choice for struggling readers because they look and feel more approachable. Many kids with reading difficulties are also visual learners so having images alongside words provides a bridge for understanding the text.

This year, BAC has provided over $18,000 in grants to 19 charitable organisations and community groups through the community giving fund.

Aside from Pullenvale State School, other school recipients for this year include Upper Mount Gravatt Kindergarten, Hercules Road State School- Rothwell, Carina Kindergarten, Ascot State School, and Rocklea State School.

About Community Giving Fund

BAC established the Community Giving Fund in 2015. Ever since, the corporation has donated nearly $300,000 to help smaller charities continue the fantastic work they do within the community. BAC also spent $1 million sponsorship support to a wide range of community-focused corporations each year.

Extended! Bellbowrie & Moggill Personalised Public Transport Service to Continue

Following a six-month trial in late 2020, the Personalised Public Transport Service from Bellbowrie to Moggill has been extended and will still be available for commuters from Monday to Friday for the next six months.

Beginning 1 July 2021, the Personalised Public Transport Service has been realigned to include and remove some routes. Per Councillor Greg Adermann, the $1 ride with 12 services will run on the following locations and take about 18 minutes per trip:

from Bellbowrie Shopping Plaza to Weekes Road (at Bloomsbury Crescent)
to Livesay Road (at Beaufort Crescent)
to Moggill Village Shopping Centre
to Moggill Road bus stop near Montanus Drive (to connect to the 444 bus service)
back to Bellbowrie Shopping Plaza

Mr Adermann said that the new six-month trial will be funded by the 2021/22 Council budget but some realignments were necessary based on the allocation.

“We had to make some tough decisions around the realignment of the route and the number of daily services, based on the funding allocation we received to extend the trial for 6 months,” he wrote.

“To include the new shopping centre and school, we had to lose a section of the old route and our data indicated the section cut had the lowest number of users. If we can make this trial work, it will give me something to work with to expand the service and hopefully make it permanent.”

The Personalised Public Transport Service is separate from the Council Cabs service and runs on a fixed route or loop. The vehicle may only carry up to 10 passengers.

To learn more about this service, visit the Council’s official site.

It’s Free! Fun Programs and Activities For Kids At Kenmore Village Shopping Centre

Photo credit: kenmorevillage.com.au

Thinking of free activities to help your kids beat the boredom during the school holidays? One of your best bets is signing them up for workshops. If you’re in Kenmore or nearby, you might want to enrol your little ones in the School Holiday Winter Wonderland Craft Workshops at Kenmore Village Shopping Centre.

Each session will only last 30 minutes per day, but would be enough to do fun and educational activities, such as making lanterns and building a snow dome. Activities are suitable for children aged 3 years and older.

Here are the list of the workshops, which will be held starting Monday 28 June until Friday 2 July 2021, from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm daily:

Monday – 28/06	Create Marshmallow Snowmen
Tuesday – 29/06	Craft Beaded Snowflakes
Wednesday – 30/06	Build a Snow Dome
Thursday – 01/07	Create Winter Suncatchers
Friday – 02/07	Craft Snowmen Lanterns

Those who are interested in joining should book through Eventbrite. Do note that to secure a booking, tickets must be obtained to reserve your slot. Simply the correct event day selection first, then the correct session for the chosen day.

Kerbside Collection: When Will Pick-Up Resume in Kenmore & Surrounding Suburbs?

After more than a year’s hiatus, kerbside collection service will be restarting in July 2021. Here’s what residents of Kenmore, Kenmore Hills, Brookfield, Pullenvale and Fig Tree Pocket can expect.

After releasing the budget for the 2021-2022 financial year, Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner confirmed that kerbside collection will be back one year earlier than planned.

In April 2020, Mr Schrinner suspended the operations for at least two years, or until July 2022, to direct the service’s expenses to Council’s other initiatives. Despite the unpopular decision, Council used the funds to help struggling small businesses and community groups as a result of the pandemic lockdowns.

“We will start with the suburbs where it was paused…we’ll go back there and then start again in the normal way,” Mr Schinner said in announcing the service’s return.

Here’s the updated kerbside collection schedules for the following suburbs:

DATE	SUBURB
Kenmore Kenmore Hills	26 July 2021
Brookfield Fig Tree Pocket Pullenvale	02 Aug 2021

* Schedules are updated continuously as needed.

SEE UPDATED KERBSIDE COLLECTION SCHEDULE

Prior to the updates, some residents informed Pullenvale Ward Councillor Greg Adermann that Kenmore, Kenmore Hills and Brookfield should be among the first suburbs to restart the service after they saw Council’s page showing a different date.

Photo Credit: Screengrabbed from Council’s official site

“[Kerbside collection] was paused on 3rd of April 2020, not May,” said a local, Ben Ponting, on Mr Adermann’s Facebook page. “Brookfield, Chapel Hill, Kenmore and Kenmore Hills were due to start 27th April 2020.”

“Kenmore was supposed to have their kerbside collection in April 2020 yet the new schedule says Kenmore is only getting kerbside collection in June 2022,” Melinda Waldeck said. “Since kerbside collection was paused in March 2020, if the statement about the starting in July with the suburbs where it was paused is correct then Kenmore should be scheduled to have kerbside collection in August 2021. Kenmore’s last kerbside collection was April 2019, so if we aren’t scheduled until June 2022 it will be over 3 years between collections!”

Cr Adermann was quick to reassure concerned locals and updated them about the situation.

“After receiving a large number of enquiries from local residents, I made enquiries which confirmed that the scheduled services to these areas were postponed just before they were due in April 2020, meaning they should have been among the first to receive a collection upon the resumption of kerbside collection,” he pointed out.

“To Council’s credit, they acknowledged this oversight and today agreed to my request to amend the collection schedule … Council’s website has been amended to reflect these changes,” he added.

Meanwhile, Brisbane residents are encouraged to check the list of items that are acceptable and not acceptable for kerbside collection so that nothing will be left behind by their kerb. Uncollected and improper disposal of household wastes could lead to an illegal dumping fine.

Notorious Kenmore Rd Intersection to Increase Safety With New Upgrades

The notoriously problematic intersection of Kenmore Rd and Fig Tree Pocket Rd is due to receive some new upgrades that can minimise danger and increase capacity.

In May 2021, Brisbane City Council announced the successful allocation of funds to upgrade the notorious Kenmore Rd Intersection, an area that has seen two significant crashes between 2013 and 2018. Both of these crashes involved motorists turning right out of Fig Tree Pocket Rd and failing to give way to westbound traffic on Kenmore Rd.

As a result of these crashes and local clamor for improvement, Council has opted to draft designs to improve the safety of the intersection. These drafts entail the realignment of the south of Fig Tree Pocket Rd to create a new four-way intersection with Errogie Place, as well as the construction of new traffic lights. Pedestrian crossings will also be installed at the traffic lights, and the footpaths in the area are due to receive some improvements.

Further updates revealed that the new design and layout of the upgraded intersection and the new traffic lights have been designed to forecast future traffic volumes to guarantee that these upgrades help the intersection operate safely, efficiently, and within capacity. These will be accomplished with the addition of new turning lanes on Kenmore Rd and both legs of Fig Tree Pocket Rd.

Six months after these upgrades have been implemented, a post-construction survey will be released to check if the intersection is operating as predicted.

A new 4-lane bypass has also been proposed that will reconfigure the Centenary Motorway and the Fig Tree Pocket interchange, linking the former directly to Moggill Rd. The project also entails the reconfiguration of Gem Rd to pass under the bypass, linking it directly to Sunset Rd. A shared off-road pedestrian and cyclist path will also be provided along the entire bypass route, connected to the Centenary Bikeway.

This proposal aims to increase safety, capacity, network efficiency, and traffic flow while simultaneously reducing congestion during peak hours and travel time. Though the proposal to build the new Kenmore bypass currently lacks funding. Those interested in learning more about the proposal can read about it here.

Engineers Australia Honours Brookfield Retiree Colin O’Connor

Engineers Australia in Queensland has honoured one of its exemplary members by dedicating a room in his name. Colin O’Connor, a Brookfield retiree, is proud to see the special meeting room bearing his prestigious name at the Brisbane headquarters of the organisation.

Mr O’Connor, 93, has been recognised for his outstanding contribution as a former civil engineer. He worked for Queensland Public Service for five years before becoming a lecturer at the University of Queensland (UQ), his alma mater.

In the 1970s, Mr O’Connor became UQ’s Dean of the Faculty of Engineering. He also authored several books, including “Design of Bridge Superstructures” (1971), “Register of Australian Historic Bridges” (1983) and “Spanning Two Centuries: Historic Bridges of Australia” (1985).

The Colin O’Connor meeting room is the second special honour bestowed to the expert. In 2003, Engineers Australia also awarded him with the John Monash Medal for Engineering Heritage. Established in 1919, Engineers Australia has over 100,000 members working as professionals and leaders in various engineering fields in over 120 countries.

Photo Credit: Carinity Brookfield Green/Facebook

Mr O’Connor is currently a resident of Carinity Brookfield Green and supported by Carinity Home Care. The organisation, established in 1949 as an outreach for the Queensland Baptist, has been providing a caring home for the vulnerable sectors of society, especially the seniors.

For more about Carinity Brookfield Green, visit the facilities at 139 Gold Creek Road or phone (07) 3374 7111 for your enquiries.

Airgarden: New Gardening System Revolutionises Urban Farming in Brookfield

What do the Manly Boathouse and the Wild Canary restaurant in Brookfield have in common? They both use Airgarden, a revolutionary gardening technology that enables restaurants to give diners an authentic garden-to-table experience. Simple, sustainable, zero-waste.

Airgarden, one of the latest and most advanced gardening systems in the industry, is a vertical and soil-less system that can grow up to five times as many produce at three times the speed, using 95 percent less water than the average patch of vegetables.

The system was introduced by Brisbane entrepreneurs Prue and Tom Bauer, making use of ‘aeroponics,’ technology that scientists at the National Aeronautics Space Administration in the United States use to grow crops in space.

Aeroponics revolves around growing plants in an environment laden with mist and air rich with nutrients. No soil is necessary, as the seeds are planted in pieces of foam or pots exposed to light and mist.

Photo credit: Richard Stoner II/Wikimedia Commons

What gives it an edge over other systems is how it only takes up one square metre of space, making it the perfect size for someone’s balcony, patio, and other small and tight-fitting outdoor spaces.

Airgarden first launched amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Because it enables people to grow large numbers of crops in such a short span of time, Airgarden has become the perfect system for restaurants such as Brookfield’s Wild Canary to grow food for their restaurant’s use, revolutionising the urban gardening scene and giving diners a true urban farm-to-fork experience..

At Wild Canary, people are free to pick only what they need without harming the environment in any way, creating zero-waste recipes that deliver food straight from the garden and onto the dining table. The cafe’s naturalistic focus lets customers unwind in a botanical bistro with a beautiful garden setting, with ingredients grown using Airgarden.

Despite the system’s use across the country, it still requires additional funding if it is to develop and grow to become a household name in the industry. Those interested in learning more about Airgarden and assisting with their crowdfunding campaign can do so via their website.

Wild Canary can be found at 2371 Moggill Rd, Brookfield, open seven days a week from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on weekdays and 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on weekends. For more information, visit their website here. Follow their social media pages on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates and announcements concerning the restaurant.

Good Grace: The Latest All-Day Breakfast Cafe in Kenmore

Tired and wanting to go out, yet in the mood for some peace and quiet? Good Grace, Kenmore’s newest all-day breakfast cafe and restaurant, offers drinks, meals and pastries in a calm and idyllic venue for a relaxing meal out.

Good Grace, one of the latest cafe-restaurant hotspots in Kenmore, offers the local community some delicious breakfast meals on top of some piping-hot fresh cups of coffee — all in one nice, cosy and quiet venue away from Moggill Rd. The restaurant opened in late March 2021 and continues to provide Brisbane with a cosy dining experience from morning until late in the afternoon.

Their menu offers a slew of all-day breakfast options as well as a lunch menu available from 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. One of their signature dishes, their Mushroom Breakfast, consists of locally grown Little Acre mushrooms and sauteed kale partnered with tomato salsa verde, crunchy chickpeas, and toasted rye. Sides are also available at the restaurant, including bacon, miso cured salmon, hollandaise, chorizo, and egg which is available poached or fried.

Breakfast meals aren’t the only thing available at this restaurant, however, as customers can also indulge themselves with baked goods such as cookies and sweet pastries as well as their coffee. Those with dietary restrictions can complement their coffee with specialty milk, with options such as soy, macadamia, coconut, oat, and lactose-free.

Good Grace can be found at 7a Princeton St, Kenmore, open Tuesday to Sunday from 6:00 a.m. onwards. For more information, visit their website here. Follow their social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates on meals, deals, and other special announcements concerning the restaurant.