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Experience and Celebrate Community Spirit at the 2019 Brookfield Show

Photo Credit: Brookfield Show Society/Facebook

The annual Brookfield Show is back! Experience and celebrate the community spirit by participating in the activities to be held at the Brookfield Showground, located 5.3 kilometres from Kenmore, from Friday, the 17th of May 2019 to Sunday, the 19th.

The event, hosted by the non-profit Brookfield Show Society Inc., will actually mark its opening with the announcement of the winners of the Art, Children’s Art and Crafts, Photography, Sculpture, and Woodwork contest on Thursday night. This competition was participated in early April by students from Brookfield State School.

Sculpture, and Woodwork contest on Thursday night. This competition was participated in early April by students from Brookfield State School.

Then the next morning at 9:00, the pavilion will open its doors to the actual activities of the Brookfield Show with the Equestrian Events. There will be more fanfare in the afternoon, such as:

Rodeo
Sideshow entertainment
Live Music (at the Member’s Bar)

The Brookfield Show will also have a session for riders with disabilities, which will be introduced for the first time at this year’s event.

Saturday and Sunday’s activities, on the other hand, will feature more entertainment and exhibits at the pavilion. Sections will be divided into the different show as well as arts and crafts competitions.

There will also be a dog show at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday.

To know which exhibits you can visit, check out this map from the organizers.

*Photo Credit:* *Brookfield Show Society Inc {Official Page}/Facebook*

The Brookfield Show will end on Sunday at 10:00 p.m. You may get tickets for adults, children and family via the official website.

Kerbside Collection 2019 Coming to Kenmore 29 April

It’s that time of the year again! Dispose of your large household items as the annual Kerbside collection day in Kenmore comes along on 29 April 2019.

The list of acceptable items include: bath and laundry tubs; bicycles and sporting equipment; carpet and rugs; electronic waste such as televisions and computers; furniture and white goods like fridges and stoves; small household appliances including fans and toasters; and wood products that are less than 1.5 metres.

Keep in mind that the following are considered as unacceptable items and illegal dumping fines may apply if these materials are not removed within seven days of the notified collection period:

bricks and concrete
commercial builders waste
car parts and tyres, including car batteries
dirt and stones
garden waste (e.g. trees, grass, potted plants)
gas bottles
general household waste (e.g. food scraps)
glass and mirrors
hazardous wastes (e.g. chemicals, oil, asbestos)
household waste that normally goes into your waste or recycling bin
liquids

Aside from the annual Kerbside Collection, there are other resource recovery options, such as donating to organisations like GIVIT and NACRO for recycling and reuse of your large household items. Alternatively, you may visit any of the council’s resource recovery centres and bring your materials for disposal or recycling.

Repurpose Old Items

You don’t necessarily have to throw away your old furniture or electronic wastes. If you’re feeling creative, why not check out these clever repurposing ideas and start your own upcycling project.

Old television cabinet turned into a lovely doll house.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BvRFGUUgq8C/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Old filing cabinet drawers repurposed as gardening containers.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BwlNVJ2niu8/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

CPU cabinet turned into a planter. Cool!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BWLvVq8l6Aq/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

How about turning your electronic wastes into fashion accessories?

https://www.instagram.com/p/BkkievbH_7S/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/BIsUQQ6jxMh/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Nintendo remote repurposed as an iPhone dock. Very useful, right?

https://www.instagram.com/p/BXTvRYXlQ_s/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

A lovely garden bench made from old bicycle chassis.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BvTJn5YnftK/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

The Council advises residents to place their acceptable items for collection on the kerbside in front of their respective home by 6am at the start of the collection period. Please note that illegal dumping fines may apply if you place your items on the kerb outside the collection period.

Vinnies Thrift Shop Strives to Save Underprivileged School Children

Since its opening on 24 February 2014, Vinnies Thrift Shop in Kenmore, has been raising funds to assist disadvantaged members of the community.

Vinnies Kenmore sells pre-loved, donated goods including men’s, women’s and children’s clothing, accessories, bric-a-brac, furniture, books, and lots more, all at affordable prices.

The shop also accepts good quality items such as books, clothes, furniture and bric-a-brac that other people can still use. Donated items are either given to people in need or sold at the shop. By donating to Vinnies, not only are people helping others, but they are also reducing the amount of items thrown to the landfills.

Proceeds from Vinnies sales help finance various programs of St. Vincent de Paul Society in support of underprivileged Australians.

Vinnies Thrift Shop — *Photo credit: Vinnies QLD / Facebook*

Fighting Social Injustice

St. Vincent de Paul Society is a lay Catholic organisation whose members believe in putting their faith into action by assisting people in need and fighting social injustice across Australia. They feed, clothe, house, and assist fellow Australians who are forced onto the margins of society.

With the increasing number of children living below the poverty line in Australia today, one of Vinnies’ programs seeks to support underprivileged children and their education.

According to the Australian Council of Social Services (ACOSS), one in six children are living in poverty. In 2018, it was found that approximately 739,000 children are living in homes where the income is below the poverty line.

Children living below the poverty line face challenges every single day. Their parents struggle with stretching the daily budget which is why these children can’t afford school items, clothes, bags or even packed lunches. This is unacceptable in a country like Australia.

Used crayons & pencils — *Credit: Image by _Alicja_ from Pixabay*

Support for Disadvantaged Australians

Vinnies recognises the importance of education in breaking the cycle of poverty. As part of its program, Vinnies’ network of members work individually with underprivileged families to make sure that children have the resources they need to get the most out of their education.

Assistance may come in the form of home visits, homework clubs, kids’ camps, mentoring programs, school supplies, food, clothing, household items or medicine.

Vinnies also holds parent education and training programs to teach mums and dads the kind of support they need to give their children’s education besides showing them how to manage their budgets.

Boy walking to school — *Credit: Image by ambermb from Pixabay*

Located at 8 Brookfield Road, Vinnies Thrift Shop is open from 9:00am- 5:00pm on Mondays to Fridays, from 9:00am – 3:00pm on Saturdays, and 10:00am – 3:00pm on Sundays.

Drop by and shop or donate an item to Vinnies and help support an underprivileged child’s education.

For contact details, click here.

New Kenmore Development Application Courts Controversy

A seven-storey development, including a cinema, has been proposed for 22-24 Brookfield Road in Kenmore.

A recent development application has put the cat amongst the pigeons by proposing a mixed-use development on a site bounded by Brookfield Road, Princeton Street and Bingham Street in Kenmore, just across the road from Kenmore Village Shopping Centre.

Location of the proposed multi-use development in Kenmore. (Photo credit: pdonline.brisbane.qld.gov.au)

A five-screen boutique cinema is part of the proposal as well as 150 car parking spaces, 35 serviced apartments, offices and retail in over seven storeys. Restaurant, café and wine bar tenancies are envisioned to occupy the ground floor fronting Brookfield Road.

*View from Brookfield Road (Photo credit: pdonline.brisbane.qld.gov.au)*

*Centre view from Bingham Street (Photo credit: pdonline.brisbane.qld.gov.au)*

Centre activities could include serviced offices, strata-titled offices, educational facilities, which may be a private college, a dance studio or a yoga/Pilates studio. The centre may also be home to a medical facility and community facilities such as meeting rooms.

All in all, a gross floor area of 3,3044 square metres will be dedicated to centre activities.

Controversial Development

The DA submitted in March 2019 is already courting controversy for its size and potential traffic flow impact.

Brookfield Road Kenmore Development Application — *Conceptual pedestrian and vehicular flow going to and coming from the proposed centre. (Photo credit: pdonline.brisbane.qld.gov.au)*

“Brookfield Road has become one of the worst rush hour bottle necks in the Western Suburbs, which then feeds into Moggill Road at the Kenmore Village roundabout, causing huge morning tail-backs for commuters and school drop off,” says Ken Ryan, a local town planner.

“The scale of this proposal greatly exceeds its need and has not included an Economic Needs Analysis.

“To me it’s grossly overdeveloped because of the excessive height, the bulk of the building, and the potential for impact of the 150 additional car parking spaces. This is on congested Brookfield Road and the side streets in Princeton Street are often parked on either side, and it’s my view that it’ll be a major adverse effect on the efficiency of that local area.”

The town planner says that locals interested in the future developments in the area can lodge objections. He also thinks that the council should advise the developer to limit the scale of the project to two or three stories.

It should also be proven that there is an economic need for such a centre development.

Ken has published a podcast episode about this development application. Listen to the discussion here.

Learn more about the Development Application (A005160079).

Pizzeria Violetta in Kenmore Serves Authentic DOC Napoli Pizza

Photo Credit: Pizzeria Violetta/Facebook

If you’re looking for authentic, D.O.C. Napoli-style pizza in Kenmore, one restaurant name always seems to come up. Pizzeria Violetta on Wongabel Street is proud of its reputation as a D.O.C. Napoli pizza establishment, and it has made efforts to maintain this reputation over the years.

The first thing you’ll notice when you step inside Pizzeria Violetta is this big, white tiled oven marked with the words “D.O.C. Napoli” on the front. The restaurant has an open kitchen so diners may actually watch how their orders are prepared.

Now, this custom-built wood-fired oven is what makes every pizza order taste just like the ones served in Naples, Italy.

D.O.C. means “Denominazione di Origine Controllata” and it’s the highest standard for defining the authenticity of Italian food or wine. A D.O.C. Napoli seal of approval means that the pizza prepared in this restaurant passed the strictest Neopolitan standard.

*Photo Credit:* *Pizzeria Violetta/Facebook*

With this wood-fired oven, Pizzeria Violetta can ensure that the temperature stays at 204°C (400°F) to allow for the pizza to cook in 90 seconds. However, it’s not just the specially-designed oven that brings authenticity to the dishes as Pizzeria Violetta also makes use of the best ingredients imported from Italy.

Pizzeria Violetta’s menu consists of mostly pizza, but the restaurant also offers sides and salads, coffee, cocktails, and wine. Guests may also request to make their pizza gluten-free.

“The food here is excellent. Pizzeria Violetta is on a quiet street tuck out of the way so there no rush. Excellent!”
~ Stephen C Grimmett, via Google Reviews

“Best pizza in Brisbane, hands down and our regular go-to place! My american partner says it’s the best pizza he’s had anywhere in Australia in 9 years.”
~ Trish Braithwaite, via Facebook

“This pizza place is one of our favourites. Great pizza…..all Italian staff and wonderful ingredients. Definitely compares to most of the pizzas we’ve had in Italy. Great little place with indoor and outdoor seating. Pizza done the original Italian way. Absolutely recommend this place.”
~ Ausoman, via Trip Advisor

Pizzeria Violetta is open Monday to Sunday at 5:00 p.m. until late night. Advanced reservations are encouraged except for Friday and Saturday.

Kenmore Library to Host Talk from ‘The Kenmore War Memorial’ Author Judy Magub

Photo Credit: Photos Australian War Memorials Queensland : New South Wales : Victoria/Facebook

Judy Magub, President of Kenmore & District Historical Society, is coming to Kenmore Library on Brookfield Road to talk about her book, “The Kenmore War Memorial,” on Friday, the 29th of March at 10:00 p.m. The free event is open to residents young and old who are interested to learn more about the history behind the construction of the monument.

Called the “Digger” and designed by A L Petrie & Sons, the monument originally stood at the center of Moggill and Brookfield Roads until its transfer in 1988 near the former site. It was erected to honor the men from the Shire who fought in the South African War from 1899 to 1902.

The Kenmore War Memorial subsequently included plaques of commemorations for other Australian soldiers who gave up their lives during World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the conflicts in Malaysia, Borneo, and Vietnam.

Ms Magub will be highlighting the stories of 79 soldiers during her visit at Kenmore Library.

*Photo Credit:* Dr Christian Rowan MP/Facebook

Ms Magub served as a Toowong councillor for 13 years. She retired in 2007 and became one of the key figures of the Kenmore & District Historical Society.

She worked on “The Kenmore War Memorial” with journalist and military historian Philip Castle. The book was published in 2018 to coincide with the 100th Year of Armistice Day.

Kenmore Men’s Shed Installs Solar Panels to Cut Power Bill

Installation of solar panels at the Kenmore Men’s Shed have been completed as part of the Brisbane City Council’s Mens’ Shed Grants.

According to Council, the $9,500 grant has enabled the Men’s Shed to reduce its quarterly power bill by more than 60 percent, or about $400. This helps keep costs down for the members, apart from lowering the group’s carbon footprint, thus securing the financial and environmental sustainability of the Men’s Shed.

About Men’s Shed Grants

The Men’s Shed Grant is a BCC initiative that supports Men’s Shed groups across Brisbane. The grant provides funding, ranging from $2,000 to $20,000, for establishments and coordination expenses; facility improvements; and equipment and material purposes.

“This program provides a safe, supportive and friendly environment for men of all ages to gather, volunteer, work and seek fellowship with like-minded people,” the Council website said.

To be eligible for the grant, applicants should be: incorporated not-for-profit organisation; must operate within the Brisbane City Council Local Government Area (LGA); must not have any overdue Council grant acquittals or outstanding debt with the Council.

Unincorporated not-for-profit organisations, however, may also apply under the auspices of an incorporated not-for-profit organisations that is able to accept legal and financial responsibility for the applicant’s project.

Applicants for the grant will be notified of the outcome of their application by mid-May 2019. On 15 July, applications for the grant will once again be opened. Visit the Australian Men’s Shed Association website to locate a Men’s Shed group near you.

A Reason to Thrive For The Thrift & Thrive Shop in Kenmore

With its array of donated items like clothes, books and bric-a-brac, newly opened The Thrift & Thrive Shop on Kingussie Street in Kenmore may look like just another secondhand store, but it stands for a unique and noble purpose.

Officially opened on Friday, 1st March 2019, the new thrift shop aims to serve the community by raising money for Reason to Thrive’s equine-assisted learning programs.

Official opening of Thrift & Thrive — *Official Opening of The Thrift & Thrive Shop*
*Photo credit: Reason to Thrive video/Facebook*

Reason to Thrive is a registered charitable institution. The organisation promotes the wellbeing of disabled and at-risk children or adults experiencing distress and/or mental health problems. It does this through equine-assisted learning (EAL) and therapy.

What is Equine-Assisted Learning?

EAL is an innovative form of experiential learning that encourages disadvantaged or disengaged individuals to gain emotional control. Also, the equine-human interaction helps develop effective communication and body language skills.

This type of therapy is suitable for all ages and no horse knowledge or experience is necessary.

Equine-human interaction — *Photo credit: Alexas_Fotos/Pixabay*

Horses are in tune with human behaviour. They often act as a mirror of people’s internal landscape, so constant interaction with these creatures helps an individual acquire heightened self-awareness.

Interactions with equines also provide opportunities to teach critical life skills such as trust, respect, compassion, honesty, humility, and communication.

Overall, participants gain self-esteem, self-confidence and all critical elements supporting self-growth from relational experiences with horses.

Reason to Thrive develops programs for:

Disengaged youth
Special needs kids
Veterans and their families
Women’s Empowerment
Survivors of domestic violence
People facing mental health challenges

Horses in tune with human behavior — *Photo credit: rihaij/Pixabay*

If you can’t make a donation, you are welcome to visit The Thrift & Thrive Shop and snap up a bargain. It is a fantastic opportunity for a small charity.

For details, click here.

Kenmore Hills Student Receives First Uni eSports $10k Scholarship

A Kenmore Hills student taking up Engineering at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) is one of the first to receive a $10,000 eSports scholarship.

Henri Magisson, also known as “Feint”, has been awarded the privilege as an elite eSports athlete from the QUT Vice-Chancellor’s scholarship program, along with four other students.

Apart from the scholarship, Mr Magisson, 20, will also become a member of the Tigers to train with Coach Simon Earl. He will compete and represent QUT at the “League of Legends” Oceanic Challenger Series (OCS).

Joining Mr Magisson to make up the five-member QUT Tigers are:

Jason Nguyen from Yeerongpilly, also known as “hi and goodbye”, 18 years old, studying Gaming and Design
Zihong Li from Inala, also known as “Unspecialized”, 22 years old, studying Games and Interactive Entertainment
Michael Cornish from Sandgate, also known as “Frogadog”, 22 years old, studying Business, major in Accounting
Justin Tu from Carindale, also known as “Spoil”, 23 years old, studying Engineering, major in Medical Engineering

As an elite eSports athlete, Mr Magisson and his teammates will have to play “League of Legends” 20 hours every week as part of their training. Coach Earl will also see to it that the scholars are physically and mentally in shape through proper diet and psychological stimulation.

QUT is also prepared to send the eSports athletes to a five-day boot camp to prepare them for their first “League of Legends” competition in April.

Mr Magisson was chosen among hundreds of hopeful scholarship recipients. He had to go through a rigid vetting process, where the coordinator assessed his performance and experience.

The athlete was well on his way to finish his final year at QUT when he learned of the scholarship. Mr. Magisson, who was with the Tigers since 2018, plans to play eSports professionally after he leaves the university before pursuing a career in engineering

Meanwhile, as a billion-dollar industry, eSports is estimated to reach over 427 million people viewers from around the world in 2019.

Kenmore, Kenmore Hills Among First Suburbs in Australia to Experience 5G

Photo Credit: janeb13/Pixabay

Optus is launching its 5G Home Broadband service in 60 initial suburbs across Australia. Kenmore, Kenmore Hills and 11 other suburbs in Queensland are included in the initial rollout, which should happen starting mid-2019.

Expression of Interest

Residents from the first 60 suburbs covered by the 50 sites are invited to send their expression of interest to avail of the 5G service. With 5G, subscribers get unlimited data, 50 Mbps satisfaction guaranteed at a rate of $70/month, or a minimum total cost of $1,680 for 24 months.

Interested residents can register their interest at www.optus.com.au/5G. Optus will then check if the resident’s address is serviceable for 5G.

The company also stressed that not all addresses in covered suburbs are guaranteed serviceable for 5G. Initial coverage will be for limited areas within the suburb as serviceability will depend on network coverage, capacity within your suburb, and modem availability.

If the address can be serviced with 5G, Optus will notify the resident. The customer can expect to receive the 5G device starting mid-2019. However, some customers may get the device earlier.

5G is a plug and play self-installation, so there is no need for a visit from a technician.

If at any time during the contract, the subscriber is not satisfied that they are not getting download speeds of at least 50Mbps, they can cancel the contract without cancellation fees.

Future Rollout

Optus Chief Executive Allen Lew considers the initial rollout as a historic event for Optus.

“We will have more 5G sites going live across Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Perth and Sydney over the coming months giving a select group of customers the chance to get their hands on our 5G Home Broadband devices in areas of selected suburbs,” Mr Lew said.

“Whether it’s binging on your favourite series in 4K, taking on a crafty Fortnite opponent, streaming your favourite Party mix on Spotify or live streaming the latest Premier League match – Optus 5G Home Broadband is designed to deliver customers a great, multi-platform experience. And it is only just the start.”

Optus 5G will be initially available in these 13 Queensland suburbs:

Auchenflower
Bellbird Park
Brookwater
Burpengary
Camira
Clayfield
Gailes
Goodna
Kallangur
Kenmore
Kenmore Hills
Macgregor
Newmarket

The telecommunications company plans to have 1,200 5G sites up and running all over the country by March 2020. These sites would anticipate future demand for 5G and will cover residential areas, airports, train stations, sports stadiums and CBD locations.