The proposed creation of a Wessel Petroleum service station in Brookfield could have potentially disastrous consequences for the platypus population in Moggill Creek.
Despite the concerns raised by locals, Wessel Petroleum explained that the service station in the works will actually be beneficial for the site as it plans to raise the ecological value of the surrounding areas, revegetating the nearby creeks. People did not respond well.
Many locals objected to the plan, believing that run-off chemicals produced by the station would flow into the creek and cause harm to the platypuses that call it home. In order to prevent that, Storm Water Consulting (SWC) issued a report that suggests the damage could be mitigated with on-site wastewater treatment, sediment fences, and chemicals could be guided to small holding ponds to avoid disturbing the wildlife in Moggill Creek.
The reception of Wessel Petroleum’s station-to-be has not been positive, with many residents doubting the ecological measures proposed by SWC. The presence of other petroleum stations within the surrounding area, such as the ones in Kenmore, Bellbowie, Karana Downs, and many other suburbs also dissuaded locals as there was no need for more stations — especially not one that could bring harm to the neighbouring platypuses.
Platypus numbers have already been dwindled in recent years as uninhabitable waterways have forced them to disperse, and travelling on land is when they are at their most vulnerable to predators.
Generations of Fig Tree Pocket State School (FTPSS) alumni will come together to celebrate a major milestone in September 2021, the school’s 150th founding anniversary, and preparations have started for this special event.
On Facebook, parents of the current students have set up the group Fig Tree Pocket State School 150 Birthday Celebrations in anticipation of this momentous occasion whilst they mobilize online efforts in planning activities and disseminating updates for students old and new, parents, educators and the wider community.
The group is also collecting photos, videos, stories and anecdotes of their best memories at the FTPSS for a special 150th Birthday Book.
Photo Credit: Sonya Mizzi for the Fig Tree Pocket State School 150th Birthday Celebrations Group Page / Facebook
“My earliest memory at FTP was from Year 1,” Vanessa Rualini shared to the group, who said she’s still best friends with her school mate, Sonja Gustafson.
“I had a baby brother who I desperately wanted to come to our classroom so he could see our pet mice. As he wasn’t allowed to, one afternoon I carefully put one of the mice into my lunchbox (with some grass) and took it home. You can imagine the strife I got into. The poor mouse survived thank god.
“I was lucky enough to have three years with Mrs Cox. I loved our walks to see the Tawny Frogmouth Owls. I loved our story writing lessons, and even won some awards under Mrs Cox’s guidance. She was amazing, my favourite teacher.
And I loved the swamp. I loved making pathways through the middle with planks of wood as mentioned by Tara Sanderson.”
A commemorative T-shirt design was already announced after student Tiah won the design contest, giving the best interpretation of the school’s motto, “Learning for a better world.” Tiah’s design had the school colors blue and white and the symbolic emblem of the Fig Tree.
Photo Credit: Julie Jelley for the Fig Tree Pocket State School 150th Birthday Celebrations Group Page / Facebook
Where is Fig Tree Pocket State School?
Nestled on five hectares of this lush expanse in the western suburbs of Brisbane, this institution has come a long way since September 1871 when it was established as a government primary school that provides quality education to children from Prep to Year 6 in Fig Tree Pocket, in the Queensland, Brisbane City Central & Northern Suburbs region.
From the colonial curriculum of teaching basic reading, writing, and arithmetic until 1905 when major changes were made to the syllabus — the focus shifted to the child (rather than the teacher) as the centre of the learning process.
To date, Fig Tree Pocket State School is a very highly rated primary school that has a minimum capacity of 500 students with a student-to-teacher ratio of 1 to 13.
Meanwhile, due to the impact of the coronavirus crisis, details to the event are yet to be finalised as activities will be made in compliance with the necessary health protocols.
The alumni and those who served in FTPSS can send in their stories to the school’s email ftpsspandc@gmail.com or connect through the Facebook group.
The 11th of February 2021, mere days before the Lunar New Year and Valentine’s Day, has proven auspicious to one lucky winner, who managed to walk away with $100,000 after purchasing a $5 Instant Scratch-Its ticket from the local newsXpress in Kenmore Plaza.
Though the winner has chosen to remain anonymous, their good fortune goes to show that just about anyone can make it big and walk home with a heftier wallet. How the recipient intends to celebrate their newfound fortune remains a mystery, though it isn’t difficult to imagine the look on their face after learning about their win.
Instant Scratch-Its spokesperson Ally Ramsamy chimes in, sharing how previous winners spent their money. “Other winners have told us they use their windfall to upgrade their car, go on a holiday, or shout their family to a great celebratory dinner,” says Ms. Ramsamy.
Photo credit: mediacentre.thelott.com
What are Instant Scratch-Its?
Like most lotteries, Instant Scratch-Its offers players the chance to win a large amount of money after paying a small sum. Rewards vary depending on the cost of the ticket, and in the case of one lucky Kenmore local, a $5 ticket can land you the top prize of $100,000. However, what distinguishes this game from other lotteries lies in its name. Rather than waiting for the lucky draw, players will know if they’ve purchased a winning ticket in an instant after scratching the panels off.
Ticket prices range from $1 to $20, and the different games offered by Instant Scratch-Its vary depending on the scratch card purchased. The instructions on how each game is played can be found at the back of each ticket. Customers can buy tickets at licensed lottery outlets such as newsXpress Kenmore Plaza, Shop 4, 841 Moggill Road, Kenmore.
For years, dog owners using the off-leash area within Booker Place Park in Bellbowrie have been asking for the installation of additional lights for their beloved pets to play and exercise at night. Council has finally signed off on the project, which was announced at the beginning of 2021.
Once the lights are working, fur parents may enjoy extended hours at Booker Place Park with their dogs without worrying about accessibility and safety. The lights will work to automatically switch off by 9:00 p.m., which is more than enough for the locals since the park’s peak hours for dog activities are usually from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Councillor Greg Aldermann confirmed the lighting project in a Facebook post to inform pet owners of a possible temporary closure of the dog off-leash area (DOLA) to “facilitate the work.”
“Signage will be installed on site to advise of this if the temporary closure is required,” Mr Aldermann said. “Every effort will be made to minimise disruption to the local community and Council thanks residents for their patience and understanding while the work is being undertaken.”
Work on the park will take place Monday to Saturday from 6:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. The site has existing light provisions like cables and conduits.
Residents said that the DOLA is not convenient for dog play and exercise after 5:30 p.m. during the winter months of June and July since the days are shorter. The lack of lighting has also raised concerns over owners who have been unable to clean after their pets since they couldn’t see where the dog has defecated.
“I work full time so during the week the only time I can get down there is after dark mostly. Lights would be fantastic for my safety and my dogs,” a resident said.
Plans are underway to make the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Fig Tree Pocket into more than just an animal park. The popular koala sanctuary will be developed into a culinary hub and dining destination as well.
Yianni Passaris, who owns Ping Pong restaurant in Newstead and the Morning After cafe in West End, has been tapped as the food and beverage advisor. Mr Passaris will work with the sanctuary management in developing the park as a foodie precinct.
The initial plan is to transform the front cafe near the park entrance to make it more accessible to the general public. Diners won’t need to purchase a ticket to the sanctuary for this main eatery.
Lone Pine Sanctuary cafe’s menu will also undergo a revamp, foregoing the frozen lasagnas and quiches selections in favor of tastier but affordable gourmet options.
Photo Credit: Facebook
The next plan is to build a restaurant and another cafe inside the park. Passaris said that since Fig Tree Pocket hardly has good cafes, so locals would likely be encouraged to visit the park to dine and enjoy the surrounding.
Alex Derlot from the Derlot Studio has been drawing up the redesign of the sanctuary and will choose the furnishing and decorations that will be incorporated in the restaurants. Mr Derlot will also create a space for the park’s new gift shop.
Visitors to the park should notice that renovations to the front cafe is currently underway and will be completed by January 2021. It will boast of 120 seats and recycled or sustainable furniture from Mr Derlot’s LesBasic collection.
Eager for a wonderful night of music? On two Sundays this December, the internationally acclaimed chamber ensemble, Southern Cross Soloists (SXS), will hold a concert series at the Church of Christ on Brookfield Road in Kenmore as top-billed by eight emerging musicians with impressive abilities.
Expect a delightful night listening to classical music as played by the Sunrise String Quartet, clarinetist Dario Scalabrini and flautist Katya Willett.
But joining them are the next generation of solo artists who will present their fresh and energetic interpretations of music from the Baroque period and compositions from J.S. Bach, Mozart and Mendelssohn, as well as some contemporary original Australian works.
They are Helena Wang, Dario Scalabrini, Julia Hill, Rory Smith, Liam Mallinson, Ann Carew, Jemima Drews, Francis Atkins and Katya Willett.
Photo Credit: Facebook
These rising stars are mentored by Southern Cross Soloists flutist Jonathan Henderson, who also heads the SXS Next Gen Artist program.
“The Next Gen Artists is a platform for young emerging musicians, many of whom will go on to establish orchestral, chamber, and soloist careers both in Australia and abroad,” Mr Henderson said.
“This will be one of the first concerts this year for many of them. With performances put on pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Next Gen artists are very much looking forward to playing for a live audience.
“Beyond playing high level chamber music, their responsibilities extend to the production side of the series. They are heavily involved and have the opportunity to experience planning these events from both back and front of stage. It’s an enormous learning curve for most and they will come away with real-world skills that will serve their musical careers beyond university life.”
Tickets reservations to this two-part concert are via Event Brite:
DATE and TIME
MUSICIANS
BUY TICKET
Sun., 13 December 2020 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm AEST
Featuring Julia Hill, violin / Liam Mallinson, viola / Jemima Drews, flute / Rory Smith, cello
The pandemic crisis might have kept people indoors but it won’t stop bridge players from organising their socials. Since the restrictions, some 200 members of the Kenmore Bridge Club reshuffled their bridge activities to the online platform, building more challenges and bringing more excitement among the players who have never played online before.
Whether it’s to avoid boredom or to reconnect with friends, enjoying a bridge game online has been a fun learning experience. Kenmore Bridge Club members in their 80s or 90s patiently learned and got comfortable using technology like the BridgeBase Online (BBO) platform and Zoom, and the response has been overwhelming.
Tournaments online started to double as the members’ family or friends, some of whom live interstate, also joined the bridge games. Former members, who have stopped playing months before the lockdown due to immobility or sickness, have returned as well.
For a lot of these members, the weekly bridge games are a much-needed reward, escape, or distraction as they sit and concentrate on their strategy for two hours.
The club is also conducting online bridge lessons with eight 2.5 hours sessions followed by supervised bridge games. Some members also get help for setting up their computers and other gadgets.
For more details about the online bridge games, email anne@russellsynergies.com.au for your inquiries.
Brisbane City Council could turn the former site of the historic Hawbryn House into a community hub if plans come together and once investigations are complete.
Hawbryn House was gutted by a suspicious fire on 17 Oct 2020.
Since none of the house’s magnificent structure could be saved, Council is considering drawing up a new masterplan that will turn the site into a useful community space.
Councillor Greg Adermann confirmed the plans in a message to his constituents.
“Council is developing a concept plan for the site and will soon be undertaking consultation with key stakeholders and the general public,” he wrote.
The Hawbryn House, a classic Federation house with bells in each room, was originally built in Kangaroo Point for Sir John Pidgeon. It was a prominent site in Brisbane’s social scene for many years and was also once the home of Brisbane’s first solicitors, Maldwyn Montgomery Edwards.
In 1981, the Burton-Jones family bought the house from Mr Pidgeon. According to Joan Burton-Jones, Mr Pidgeon agreed to the sale since Council would not allow him to make further developments on his riverside property.
The Burton-Jones family moved Hawbryn House in set pieces to Anstead on 506 Hawkesbury Road. It was next to the cottage of Harold Gordon Sugars.
Mr Sugars lived in Sugars Cottage since the 1920s. After his death, the cottage became part of the Hawbryn site.
Photo Credit: Domain.Com.Au
The Hawbryn House was integral to the Australian Open Garden Scheme to help the Australian Koala Foundation that protects the bushlands in the western part of Queensland.
In 2013, Stefan and Lisa Dopkin bought and refurbished the property. The ownership would once again change hands in 2017 after the Council acquired the property as part of its Bushland Acquisition Programme.
The Council deemed the site of ecological importance, connecting two bushland blocks.
However, over the years, the house became a regular target for vandals, according to the preliminary police reports after the fire. Ms Burton-Jones, who now resides in England, was devastated to see the house crumble in the fire as she watched the news. Investigations are still on-going.
“The one good thing to come from the fire is that the original Sugars Cottage appears to have survived and I know the Moggill Historical Society is keen to provide their input about the future of the cottage as part of that consultation,” Mr Adermann said.
Year 12 students of Kenmore State High School are petitioning for the traditional Uniform Swap to be reinstated.
Students of Kenmore State High School are petitioning for the reinstatement of Uniform Swap — a traditional celebration where male and female students swap school uniforms. The petition says that the Uniform Swap Day, which they say is an innocent celebration, was banned because of a claim that the celebration teases and ridicules boys who want to wear skirts.
However, the Uniform Swap was not the first to be “taken away” from them, the petition says. Other celebrations they are no longer able to take part in include the 100-day celebration, the mural, the last free dress day as character initials, muck up day and the official Schoolies 2020 celebration.
“The Year 12 Uniform Swap is not performed by students with a satirical and insensitive intention, rather it is a representation of the cohorts’ unity and friendship,” the petition said.
“The normalisation of boys wearing skirts will not be a value within Kenmore State High School unless its admin grants students the opportunity of doing so as a tradition and as a promotion to younger grades (who see us as role models).”
The petition, which has gathered 753 signatures so far, likewise stated that students were told that the school formal will be cancelled if they choose to participate in the said tradition. It is a plan of action that they say is “insensitive and harsh” and will leave students feeling helpless and disappointed.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Education said that the school will put in place a program instead to acknowledge the conclusion of the students’ formal schooling so they can stay focused on the exam preparation. Activities that will be part of the program include a senior formal, a parade, a farewell BBQ organised by their teachers, a special Valedictory celebration, a full day at a theme park.
Displaced workers at the Lewis Bros Mitre 10 in South Brisbane will start working at the Kenmore site, located at the Kenmore Village Shopping Centre, after the 23-year-old Cordelia Street outlet closed down for good on Sunday, 6 Sept 2020.
Deliveries from the shuttered store will now come from the inner west site as well, which means there will be no job losses or halting of services from the former outlet.
Brett Richardson, the manager at the handyman store on Cordelia St, said that the rents were “unrealistically high” thus they decided not to renew the lease. Warwick Lewis independently owns both the South Brisbane site and the Kenmore store under the Mitre 10 brand.
Photo Credit: Lewis Bros Mitre 10 Kenmore/Google Maps
Currently, the Cordelia St site has no existing development application. With the current public health crisis, the building might remain closed for a long time.
“Sadly this is a common phenomenon in the inner-city… Even when a property owner has no immediate plans to redevelop a site, they often prefer to keep properties empty because they can claim it as a tax write-off. They advertise it for lease at an unreasonably high rent, and when they can’t find any takers, they leave it vacant and declare it as a loss for tax purposes,” Councillor Jonathan Sri posted on Facebook following the business closure.
“The loss of retailers like this means that residents have to drive further away if they need hardware supplies, which in turn generates more traffic, and makes it harder for people to live a car-free lifestyle.”
Photo Credit: Lewis Bros Mitre 10 Kenmore/Google Maps
Kenmore’s Mitre 10 outlet is 12 km off South Brisbane or a 21-minute drive on Milton Rd. The Elizabeth St outlet is closer but it’s owned by a different independent entrepreneur.
