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Queensland Police’s Corey Allen Recognised for Community Safety Work in Fig Tree Pocket

Corey Allen, a senior officer with the Queensland Police Service, has been nominated for the Neighbourhood Watch Australasia (NHWA) Police Officer of the Year award, in recognition of his service to local neighbourhood safety—including the Fig Tree Pocket area.

Read: Police Solve Kenmore Shoe Theft: 53 Right Boots Recovered, Man Faces Court

The annual NHWA award honours policing professionals whose efforts help make communities safer, more connected, and inclusive.

Allen extended his thanks for the nomination in a Facebook post: “Just want to say thank you for the nomination for the Neighbourhood Watch Police Officer of the Year Award — the real reward has been seeing the improvement in safety and comfort in the Fig Tree Pocket area resulting from the community looking out for each other. I sincerely appreciate your friendship and support.”

Professional Role and Community Service

Allen joined the Queensland Police Service in November 1986 and graduated second in his squad. Over many years he has held a variety of operational and leadership roles, including Officer in Charge of Brisbane City Station (Queensland’s largest station), Officer in Charge at Fortitude Valley and Indooroopilly, operations tactician for Brisbane West District, team leader in the Tactical Crime Squad, and team leader with the Public Safety Response Team.

He also lectured at the Queensland Police Academy and now manages Field Training at the Academy, overseeing the professional development of more than 500 first‑year constables and approximately 2,800 in‑service officers.

Allen’s approach to policing emphasises community engagement and supporting vulnerable persons. Among his initiatives: the City Police Vulnerable Persons Strategy; “Joined Up Street Team Patrols”, which pair police and youth workers in outreach to at‑risk young people; and Project Aegis, a police‑community partnership targeting pharmaceutical drug diversion and misuse. His career highlights include receipt of multiple National Crime and Violence Prevention Awards.

Photo credit: Facebook/Governor of Queensland

Outside formal policing duties, Allen and his wife Tracey have been foster parents to more than 25 young children in emergent situations, and they have three children of their own. He was a Queensland finalist in the Local Hero category of the Australian of the Year awards and was made a Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary Brisbane Mid City in recognition of his community service and leadership.

For residents of Fig Tree Pocket, Kenmore and neighbouring suburbs, Allen’s nomination serves as a reminder of the value of sustained collaboration between police and community. Allen himself underlines that the improvement in local safety has been the reward: he emphasises the importance of neighbours looking out for each other, and of police listening to community concerns rather than simply responding.

Read: Welfare Check Leads to Tragic Discovery in Kenmore Hills Home

While final results of the NHWA Police Officer of the Year award are still pending, the nomination itself acknowledges the positive outcomes of his work in the community. For Allen, the nomination is not just a personal acknowledgement, but an affirmation of collective effort—of residents and police working together to build a safer, more connected local environment.

Published 13-November-2025

Young Kenmore Artist Does it Again! Jensen Dean Sells Painting to The Kid LAROI

This young Kenmore artist has done it again! The works of art of talented Jensen Dean now hang on the walls of the homes of two celebrities, who both love this rising artist’s quirky and colourful creations.

Logan Paul

In February 2022, Jensen was elated to know that his Pokemon painting now hangs at the mansion of his first celebrity client, YouTube vlogger and boxing celebrity Logan Paul. He had no way of connecting to Logan apart from tapping the right “people who knew people” on social media.

It took some months but he was able to close his deal with the celebrity vlogger. Soon after, Jensen was closing another deal with a popular star.

The Kid LAROI

Jensen painted on a skateboard deck for The Kid LAROI and personally delivered the completed piece backstage at the superstar’s recent Brisbane concert. He wanted to meet the Kenmore artist personally.

The Kid LAROI, also known as Charlton Kenneth Jeffrey Howard, has collaborated with big names like Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus, Post Malone, Juice WRLD, Machine Gun Kelly, and Marshmellow. The Australian rapper, who grew up in Waterloo, New South Wales, has over 45 million Spotify listeners.

“It was crazy. It felt like something out of a movie with his bodyguards escorting me into the concert,” Jensen said on dealing with the rapper.

“Laroi is the biggest inspiration for me and he’s the only reason I’m doing my art, as an Australian kid he showed me anything is possible if you have a goal and work hard towards it.

“He kept on saying how much he loved the skateboard and he asked me questions about how I made it, how long it took to paint, and the best way to get it home”.

“I painted it on a quality skateboard deck so he can actually skate on it if he wants to,” Jensen said but apparently, the superstar said he will never skate on the painting. He said it will be framed and will go up on the wall of his home in Los Angeles.

The Kenmore artist is on his way to securing a third major deal with another celebrity.

“I don’t like to disclose who they are until I have achieved my goal because people don’t believe me, so all I can say right now is that it’s going to be another celebrity as famous as Logan Paul and Kid Laroi.”

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Updated 9-Nov-2025

Kenmore Hills Cardiologist Dr Rolf Gomes Named QLD Nominee for 2026 Australian of the Year Awards

Kenmore Hills’ Dr Rolf Gomes, a cardiologist who founded Heart of Australia, has been named one of Queensland’s nominees for the 2026 Australian of the Year Awards. Dr Gomes established mobile specialist clinics to improve access to diagnostic and cardiology services for people living in rural and remote communities.

Read: Kenmore State High School Student Wins Queensland Senior Short Story Prize

Bringing heart care to outback Australia

Dr Gomes launched the first Heart of Australia mobile clinic, known as a Heart Truck, in 2014. The initial clinic was an 18-wheel semi-trailer that he personally helped design to operate in long-distance outback conditions. Each Heart Truck is purpose-built and self-sufficient, with private consulting rooms, diagnostic equipment, tech support space and a reception area.

Heart of Australia describes all Heart Trucks as wheelchair accessible and fully air-conditioned. The program’s trucks regularly visit regional towns to deliver specialist cardiology clinics and early diagnostic testing that would otherwise require long travel to city hospitals. Heart of Australia reports that its clinics have treated more than 20,000 patients since the first truck began operating.

Dr Rolf Gomes — Photo credit: australianoftheyear.org.au

The model has evolved over time to include additional diagnostic capabilities. Heart of Australia is expanding nationally, with several new trucks being added to the fleet as part of a roll-out that will increase capacity to deliver services across multiple states. The organisation says the fleet will grow to 11 trucks by 2027 and that some of the new units will include mobile radiology equipment to support the National Lung Cancer Screening Program.

For Dr Gomes, designing clinics that can be transported to communities has been a practical response to unequal access to specialist care. Heart of Australia works in regional and First Nations communities with the stated aim of reducing geographic barriers to early diagnosis and specialist treatment.

Queensland’s 2026 Australian of the Year nominees

Dr Rolf Gomes is one of 18 Queensland nominees for the 2026 Australian of the Year Awards. The state list recognises people from a broad range of fields, including education, health, research and community service. Other nominees named in the Queensland list include Nicole Dyson, an educator from Teneriffe; Mark and Gayle Forbes, advocates for eating disorder recovery on the Sunshine Coast; and Distinguished Professor Ben Mathews from New Farm.

The Queensland recipients will be announced at a ceremony in Brisbane on 12 November 2025, which will be available to watch online via the Australian of the Year website. State winners will join recipients from other states and territories as finalists for the national awards announcement on 25 January 2026 in Canberra.

Read: Kenmore and Pinjarra Hills Girls Chosen to Represent Australia in Archery Showdown

For the Kenmore Hills community, Dr Gomes’s nomination recognises years of practical work to bring specialist health services to people who are geographically distant from metropolitan hospitals. Heart of Australia continues to expand its fleet and programs, with the stated aim of providing more early-detection services to rural and remote communities.

Published 5-November-2025

Brisbane Urged to Stay Storm-ready as Severe Weather Looms This Weekend

Image from Bureau of Meteorology video

Brisbane residents are being urged to prepare for possible severe thunderstorms this weekend, with forecasters warning that the first weekend of November could bring another burst of damaging weather across South East Queensland. The western suburbs, badly hit by a hailstorm a few days ago, are once again on alert for another bout of bad weather.

According to the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM), Saturday, 1 November, is expected to be humid, unsettled and potentially dangerous. There’s a very high chance of rain (around 90%) and a risk of severe thunderstorms from late morning through to the evening. These storms could produce damaging winds, heavy rain and hail, and the BoM has cautioned that flash flooding is possible in some areas.

Conditions are forecast to ease on Sunday, though showers and the chance of thunderstorms remain in the outlook.

Storm chasers flag “high potential” for intense cells

Independent weather pages CyclonesOZ and Higgins Storm Chasing have highlighted a potentially volatile setup for Saturday, especially for inland parts of southern Queensland stretching from the Darling Downs through to the South Burnett and Scenic Rim.

CyclonesOZ notes that a “potent mix” of instability, humidity and wind shear could lead to widespread thunderstorm activity, beginning inland after midday and spreading towards the coast through the afternoon. While the group mentions the possibility of supercell storms capable of large hail, destructive winds and isolated tornadoes, these remain low-probability but high-impact scenarios.

Higgins Storm Chasing’s forecast map shows a similar corridor of potential severe activity from Rockhampton to the Gold Coast, warning of large hail, damaging winds and heavy rain. Both forecasters stress that not all areas will be affected, but that any storm that does form could become dangerous quickly.

What the Bureau of Meteorology says

The BofM has issued a very dangerous thunderstorm warning for parts of South East Queensland, including Brisbane, as several storm cells continue to develop across the region. The bureau’s latest alert covers areas stretching from the coast through to the Wide Bay, Burnett, Darling Downs and Granite Belt regions, where conditions are favourable for large to possibly giant hailstones, destructive winds and heavy rainfall that could lead to flash flooding.

Locations identified as being at risk include Toowoomba, Brisbane, Ipswich, Cleveland, Maroochydore, Gympie, Kingaroy, Gatton, Jimboomba and Caboolture.

By late Friday, the BoM had issued multiple severe storm warnings as several systems swept across South East Queensland, cutting power to around 8,000 homes and prompting alerts for parts of the coast, Wide Bay, Burnett, Darling Downs and Granite Belt.

Large hailstones and damaging winds were reported in Toowoomba, Gatton and parts of the Sunshine Coast, while destructive gusts and giant hail up to 7 cm in diameter were detected near Laidley, Mulgowie, Redcliffe and Grandchester. Brisbane, Ipswich, Cleveland, Maroochydore and Caboolture were also named among areas that could be affected as storms track eastward.

BoM meteorologists said the weekend would remain unstable, with Saturday likely to see the most severe conditions as multiple systems converge over the southeast.

BoM meteorologist Jordi Cairol said Saturday is shaping up to be “the most dangerous day” of the weekend, warning of a continued risk of heavy rainfall, large to giant hail and destructive winds across a broad swathe of the region. He added that some areas could receive up to 40 mm of rain, with isolated pockets seeing totals as high as 100 mm.

While the risk of supercells and isolated tornadoes cannot be completely ruled out, the bureau is focused on the more widespread threats of hail, flash flooding and damaging winds. Rainfall totals of up to 40 mm are expected across much of the region, with isolated pockets potentially reaching up to 100 mm.

In short, while the storm chasers’ outlooks point to a stronger-than-usual outbreak, the BoM emphasises uncertainty — advising residents to remain alert for potential severe storm impacts, but not alarmed.

Be ready, just in case

Following the hailstorm that hit western Brisbane earlier this week, emergency services are reminding households to take simple precautions now rather than wait for warnings.

Secure outdoor items like furniture and trampolines before Saturday afternoon.
Park cars under cover to protect against hail.
Clean gutters and drains to reduce local flooding risk.
Prepare an emergency kit with essentials in case of power outages.
Stay up to date by checking BoM’s warnings page or the BoM Weather app, and tuning in to local news and radio.

Outlook summary

Friday (31 Oct): Storms possible from central to southern Queensland, increasing in intensity inland.
Saturday (1 Nov): Most active day for storm development — high humidity, heat and instability could trigger severe thunderstorms.
Sunday (2 Nov): Showers and a few lingering storms, easing through the evening.

While not every suburb will see severe weather, the combination of heat, moisture and instability means that conditions are ripe for sudden, powerful storms. Authorities are urging residents to take the forecasts seriously, prepare early, and stay weather-aware across the weekend.

Published 31-October-2025

Liquorland On Tour Hits Kenmore with Pop‑Up Double‑Decker Bar

Kenmore locals are set to welcome the latest activation of the Liquorland On Tour series this Friday, when a double‑decker bar on wheels stops by Kenmore Liquorland Warehouse. The event forms part of a wider celebration of the unification of Vintage Cellars and First Choice Liquor Market under the Liquorland brand.

Read: Lasagna Love Volunteers Support Families in Kenmore

The Kenmore stop will take place at Kenmore Liquorland Warehouse on Friday, 31 October, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Guests aged 18 and over are invited to attend free of charge.

Queensland is the launch state of the tour: it begins in Maroochydore on 30 October, then moves to Capalaba on 1 November, Browns Plains on 2 November, before travelling into New South Wales and Victoria, with the journey concluding at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 30 December.

The tour offers a curated drinks menu that includes Chateau Marmalade Australian wines, White Claw seltzers, Kentucky bourbons, Nomikai mixers, Tinnies beer and Sodasmith non‑alcoholic sodas. Complimentary grazing boxes will be provided by Coles. Visitors may choose to order from the lower deck of the bus at bar‑prices, or head to the upstairs deck where dedicated bar seating is available.

Coles Liquor Chief Executive Claire Lauber said the bus was the perfect way to help customers celebrate the new‑look Liquorland stores. “Liquorland has always been about more than what’s on our shelves, it’s about creating memorable moments wherever our customers are. That’s why we are thrilled to take this experience on the road, bringing the excitement of Liquorland directly to our loyal Queenslanders,” she said.

Lauber added that the majority of Queensland stores are now part of the Liquorland brand and that customers are enjoying the expanded range, the ability to earn Flybuys points and the Liquorland Price Match Promise, while maintaining the same service and choice.

Each stop in the series features a wheel of prizes, including limited‐edition merchandise and Liquorland gift cards. Liquorland supports the responsible consumption of alcohol and backs the work of DrinkWise.

Read: Kenmore Favourite iFruit Fresh Changes Hands After 8 Years

With more than 990 stores nationwide, Liquorland first launched in Australia in 1971. The On Tour pop‑up series marks the largest transformation in Coles Liquor’s history, with some 160 stores across the country being converted into Liquorland Warehouse and Liquorland Cellars formats ahead of Christmas. The Kenmore stop offers locals an opportunity to raise a glass in celebration of the brand’s evolution.

Published 30-October-2025

Kenmore Residents to Benefit from Food Waste Bin Rollout

Photo Credit: CrGregAdermann/Facebook

Kenmore residents are among the first to receive temporary food waste bins after last week’s widespread power outages left fridges full of spoiled food.

The Brisbane City Council responded swiftly to community concerns by setting up collection points at key suburban parks, helping families safely dispose of their waste and reduce pressure on household bins.

Council Response to Widespread Food Spoilage

According to Cr Greg Adermann, residents in several suburbs, including Kenmore, Chapel Hill, Brookfield and Moggill, experienced prolonged electricity disruptions that caused significant food spoilage. Council has now rolled out temporary food waste bins at convenient local sites, including Kingfisher Park on Gem Road in Kenmore, to make household cleanup easier.

Other suburbs benefiting from the initiative include Kenmore Hills, Chapel Hill, Mount Coot-tha, Brookfield, Pinjarra Hills, Anstead, Moggill, Bellbowrie, Karana Downs, and Mount Crosby. The Council’s initiative aims to prevent health hazards, odours, and pests by ensuring spoiled food is promptly and safely collected.

Additional Disposal Options for Residents

Residents who are unable to reach the temporary bins are encouraged to use their regular red-top bins for food waste collection or visit one of Brisbane’s Resource Recovery Centres, also known as Waste Resource Centres. These facilities, located in Chandler, Ferny Grove, Nudgee, and Willawong, accept household waste and recyclables every day of the year.

Council provides 10 free waste vouchers annually to all Brisbane households, which can be used to dispose of general or green waste at these centres. For details about accepted materials, fees, and operating hours, residents can visit the Brisbane City Council’s official website.

Brisbane Hailstorm: 4069 Locals Unite After Wild Weather Event

In the midst of violent storm tearing through Kenmore and the wider 4069 community — including Chapel Hill, Brookfield, Fig Tree Pocket, and Kenmore Hills — residents began assisting one another while official crews mobilised. As trees crashed through roofs and powerlines fell across roads, locals rallied — as shown in community posts offering chainsaws, four-wheel drives, and spare rooms to neighbours.

Read: Johnathan Thurston Launches Disaster Readiness Week in Kenmore

Warnings That Came True

Just a week earlier, meteorologists had sounded the alarm. Weather presenter Tony Auden warned South East Queenslanders that the same mix of wind shear and coastal air patterns behind the 2008 Gap Storm and 2014 supercell was reforming over the region.

“We could potentially have the right mix of ingredients to trigger some dangerous cells,” he wrote on his Facebook page, cautioning that timing and wind changes could turn ordinary thunderstorms into something “really nasty.”

His forecast proved correct. On Sunday, October 26, Brisbane was battered by wind gusts up to 96 km/h and hail up to five centimetres, with heavy rain affecting suburbs from Ipswich to Brisbane’s west.

Powerless but Not Helpless

The storm’s fury was immediate and far-reaching. Nearly 70,000 homes lost electricity across South East Queensland, including almost 40,000 in Brisbane and 15,000 in Ipswich. By dawn Monday, more than 17,000 properties were still without power, with Brisbane’s western suburbs among the hardest hit.

Energex said the storm caused significant damage, and safety concerns were slowing restoration.

Even so, many locals took matters into their own hands — safely. Roads were littered with branches and tangled wires. Local posts reported Kenmore Road between Sunset Road and Spinkabrae Street was impassable due to fallen trees. Residents warned others on social media to steer clear while waiting for Council crews.

Photo Credit: Mark Williams/4069 Community/Facebook

Photo Credit: Lisa Shaw/4069 Community/Facebook

Good Samaritans Step Forward

While Energex and SES worked around the clock, the Kenmore community didn’t stand by. Alessio Cooper, a local small-business owner, posted to the 4069 Community Facebook group, offering help to anyone who needed it.

Photo Credit: 4069 Community/Facebook

Photo Credit: 4069 Community/Facebook

Armed with two chainsaws, a pole saw, and a 4WD, Alessio and his mates Cole and Liam spent the day clearing fallen trees from driveways and roads. “We just want to make sure everyone’s safe,” he wrote — a message that drew strong engagement and comments of gratitude in the group.

For some residents, the help couldn’t come soon enough.

Neighbours Coming Together

Group comments show neighbours offering accommodation and assistance; volunteers reported checking on vulnerable residents. With prolonged outages, some families reported difficulty contacting emergency services.

In the age of social media, the 4069 Community Facebook group functioned as an impromptu hub for local updates and offers of help. Members shared outage information and local damage photos to warn others. The group became a living record of resilience — people offering tarps, generators, or even just reassurance.

Elsewhere online, a Reddit thread about Kenmore captured the city’s anger after footage appeared to show someone interfering with power lines during the chaos, allegedly worsening the blackout. “You’re literally taught ‘look up and live’,” one commenter wrote. “How he didn’t get 415 volts to the heart is beyond me.”

Across the Western Suburbs

The storm didn’t spare the surrounding suburbs. Hail up to five or six centimetres was reported in parts of the western suburbs, including Pullenvale. In Goodna and Ipswich, fallen trees blocked railway lines and caused significant transport delays.

Widely shared footage showed the storm front sweeping across Brisbane with frequent lightning. The images were hauntingly familiar to those who remembered The Gap Storm of 2008, which destroyed dozens of homes, many of them in the same corridor between Kenmore and Arana Hills.

After the Storm: The Cleanup, the Forecast, and the Heat

Thunderstorms are still possible across Queensland’s central and south east regions this week as a cool change moves through, although Brisbane and the Gold Coast may be spared the worst conditions. Temperatures in Brisbane will climb to around 37°C before dropping sharply to 21°C on Tuesday, while a Bureau of Meteorology heatwave warning remains in place for central and northern parts of the state where highs could reach the mid-40s, prompting total fire bans and heightened bushfire danger until early next week.

Meanwhile, Energex crews continued restorations across affected zones. The outage map showed widespread outages across Brisbane’s west, with staggered restoration times. For some customers, restoration was expected to take longer than a day due to safety and access constraints.

ENERGEX OUTAGE FINDER

BOM Warning & ALerts

For many, power may not return until midweek. But in true 4069 fashion, the lights of community spirit never dimmed. As the community often proves, when the lights go out, people switch on for each other.

Read: From Koala Refuge to Sustainability Pioneer: A Fig Tree Pocket Icon’s Enduring Legacy

Where to Get Updates and Help

• Power and outages: Energex Outage Finder

• Emergency assistance: SES (132 500), Triple Zero (000) for life-threatening emergencies

• Brisbane City Council Hotline: 3403 8888

• School closures: Queensland Government School Alerts

• Community updates: 4069 Community Facebook Group

Published 27-Oct-2025

Johnathan Thurston Launches Disaster Readiness Week in Kenmore

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons CC BY 2.0/ Flickr by CityLibraries Townsville

Kenmore is preparing to take centre stage as NRL legend Johnathan Thurston joins local students to launch Get Ready Queensland Week 2025 at Kenmore State High School, urging residents to get ahead of the coming storm season.

Read: Brisbane Broncos Deliver Yet Another Massive Second Half To Become 2025

The event is expected to bring together emergency services, the Bureau of Meteorology, and government representatives, all united by a shared message — readiness begins in every household and school.

The launch will take place on Tuesday, 7 October 2025, beginning at 9:00 a.m. at Kenmore State High School in Brisbane.

Community at the Heart of Preparedness

The Queensland Reconstruction Authority is coordinating the event with support from Suncorp, the Bureau of Meteorology, and local emergency services. Students and teachers will explore hands-on displays showing how to prepare for floods, storms, and bushfires.

The Bureau is also expected to release its 2025–26 severe weather outlook, offering the latest insights on Queensland’s summer climate patterns and potential risks.

Thurston, who continues his long-standing role as ambassador for the Get Ready Queensland program, will encourage residents to review their emergency plans, discuss safe evacuation routes with family members, and take practical steps — such as clearing gutters or securing outdoor furniture — before the wet season arrives.

A Week of Learning and Local Action

Throughout Get Ready Queensland Week (6–12 October), communities across the state are hosting activities to strengthen disaster awareness and resilience. At Kenmore, the launch will be followed by an emergency services expo and a friendly footy match featuring Thurston and students, combining education with community spirit.

Read: From Koala Refuge to Sustainability Pioneer: A Fig Tree Pocket Icon’s Enduring Legacy

The Get Ready Queensland program, managed by the Queensland Reconstruction Authority, operates year-round as part of the state’s resilience and preparedness initiative. The program encourages Queenslanders to “know your risks, make a plan, and pack an emergency kit,” promoting simple but effective steps to stay safe during natural disasters.

Published 6-Oct-2025

From Koala Refuge to Sustainability Pioneer: A Fig Tree Pocket Icon’s Enduring Legacy

Photo Credit: Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary/ Facebook

Nearly a century after it was established to save koalas from the fur trade, the historic Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Fig Tree Pocket is now being honoured as a leader in modern environmentalism, earning a nomination for a top business award for its trailblazing sustainability practices.

Read: Kenmore and Pinjarra Hills Girls Chosen to Represent Australia in Archery Showdown

An Honour for a New Generation

Photo Credit: Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary/ Facebook

The world-renowned sanctuary is a finalist in the 2025 Brisbane Lord Mayor’s Business Awards, a program that highlights organisations building the foundations of the city as it looks toward welcoming the world in 2032. Lone Pine is specifically nominated for the Dentsu Environmental Sustainability in Business Award, placing it among the city’s most forward-thinking enterprises. This recognition celebrates the sanctuary’s evolution from a simple animal refuge into a global model for innovative environmental management.

A Foundation in Conservation

Photo Credit: Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary/ Facebook

The sanctuary’s deep commitment to wildlife is not a recent development. The institution was originally founded by Claude Reid in 1927 during a grim period when koalas were being culled extensively for the fur trade. Beginning with just two koalas named Jack and Jill, Reid created a safe place for the species.

The sanctuary’s name itself is a nod to local history, originating from a single, towering hoop pine planted in 1867. This tree acted as a landmark for visitors arriving by boat along the Brisbane River, mooring at the ‘lone pine’. This long history of conservation has provided the groundwork for the sanctuary’s modern mission.

Pioneering a Sustainable Future

Photo Credit: Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary/ Facebook

Today, that mission has expanded to address modern environmental challenges with remarkable creativity. The team at Lone Pine has implemented a series of initiatives that set global standards for sustainability. They have developed a closed-loop system for harvesting eucalyptus, ensuring zero waste.

The property has been made more resilient to drought through advanced water reuse systems, and old materials are regularly upcycled to build new infrastructure like fences and picnic tables. In a particularly creative partnership, the sanctuary provides its unused eucalyptus leaves to local Brisbane distiller BY.ARTISANS, which transforms them into a premium botanical gin, turning a waste product into a celebrated local creation.

Read: Locals Invited to Celebrate Kenmore Community Centre’s Official Opening

A Mission to Inspire

These innovative practices are guided by a clear and enduring philosophy. The sanctuary’s leadership believes that to make people care about the environment, they must first experience it directly. This principle, that connection fosters conservation, is the driving force behind its interactive visitor experiences.

Internally, the entire team operates by a set of core values summarised as CATER: Communication, Accountability, Teamwork, Education, and Respect. This framework ensures that every aspect of the sanctuary, from animal care to guest services, is aligned with its vision of inspiring communities to live in balance with the natural world, honouring a legacy that began almost 100 years ago.

Published Date 02-October-2025

Welfare Check Leads to Tragic Discovery in Kenmore Hills Home

Editor’s Note: This is a developing story.

Two people have been found dead inside a family home in Tinarra Crescent, Kenmore Hills, leaving the quiet Brisbane suburb in shock and prompting an urgent police investigation into the tragedy.

The deceased were Norman Park local Dr Tiffany Wilkes, 54, an anaesthetist who had worked at the Princess Alexandra Hospital and The Wesley, and her eight-year-old daughter, Clementine. Apparently, Dr Wilkes had scheduled an email to a colleague outlining her intentions, which led to the welfare check at Tinarra Crescent.

Police respond to welfare check

According to Queensland Police, officers were called to a property in Kenmore Hills just after 12:40 p.m. on Monday, 29 Sept, following concerns for the occupants’ well-being.

Read: Locals Invited to Celebrate Kenmore Community Centre’s Official Opening

Upon entering the property, police and emergency crews discovered the bodies of the mother and child. It’s believed they were found outside the house.

Photo Credit: Plum Property

A crime scene was declared shortly after, with detectives and forensic teams remaining at the house throughout the day.

Authorities have confirmed there is no ongoing threat to the public, but details surrounding the deaths remain under investigation. The property, described in reports as a large family residence, is listed on Airbnb.

Early Investigations

Police have not laid charges or named any suspects at this stage. Several outlets reported the deaths are being treated as a suspected murder–suicide, though authorities have not confirmed the circumstances publicly. Officers are preparing a report for the coroner, who will determine the exact cause of death.

Detectives have been speaking with residents in the area and are gathering information to piece together what led to the discovery. Police urged the community to remain patient as the investigation continues.

Kenmore Hills is known for its leafy streets and family-friendly environment, and residents at the tightly held suburb expressed their shock at the heavy police presence in their normally quiet neighbourhood.

If you, or someone you know, needs support you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.

Read: Investigation Works Continue on Mount Crosby Road Overpass

Published 30-Sept-2025

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