Residents in Mount Crosby and surrounding suburbs can now access income-tested disaster hardship assistance to help households recover from the hailstorms that swept through Brisbane in November 2025.
The assistance is available for uninsured residents who experienced property damage and disruptions to essential services following the severe weather event. Alongside Mount Crosby, the 15 suburbs included in the assistance program are Ashgrove, Bardon, Boondall, Ferny Grove, Gumdale, Keperra, Lota, Manly, Manly West, Ransome, The Gap, Wakerley, Wynnum, and Wynnum West.
The assistance package is designed to help cover recovery costs and support residents in returning their homes to safe and habitable conditions.
Three assistance measures are available to eligible residents:
Structural Assistance Grants – up to $80,000 for uninsured, income-tested owner-occupiers towards the repair or replacement of a disaster-damaged dwelling to return it to a safe and habitable condition.
Essential Household Contents Grants – income-tested assistance for uninsured residents, up to $1,765 for individuals and up to $5,300 for couples or families to replace destroyed essential household contents such as whitegoods.
Essential Services Safety and Reconnection Scheme – income-tested grants up to $5,000 per household for uninsured homeowners needing to reconnect services like electricity, gas, water or sewerage.
Residents can apply for these grants to assist with rebuilding and replacing damaged property. Eligibility for the grants is income-tested, and applicants must be uninsured and able to demonstrate damage caused by the hailstorms.
Information about eligibility requirements, supporting documents, and how to apply is available through the Queensland disaster recovery website. Assistance is also available via the 24/7 Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349, where residents can speak with staff about available support options.
The support is aimed at helping households affected by the November storms access financial assistance for repairs, replacement of essential items, and reconnection of services. Residents in Mount Crosby and the other activated suburbs can now begin applying for grants to help restore their homes and essential services following the severe weather event.
Kenmore, Moggill, and Karana Downs Scouts and Girl Guides are set to enjoy upgraded facilities, thanks to a $1.7 million investment that will refresh and modernise local halls and camps.
Young members of Scouts and Girl Guides in Kenmore, Moggill, and Karana Downs are in for a big lift, with funding earmarked for the refurbishment of their local facilities. The investment, part of the Games On! grassroots infrastructure program will also support six Scout groups, three Girl Guides groups, and camps across Queensland, including Seeonee Park Scout Camp in Rockhampton.
Photo credit: Facebook/Karana Scout Group
The upgrades will modernise kitchens, refresh meeting spaces, and implement accessibility improvements to ensure every young person can take part in activities. At camps like Seeonee Park, new machinery and infrastructure enhancements will support outdoor programs, a central part of the Scouts’ and Guides’ experiential learning.
Minister for Sport and Racing and Minister for Olympic and Paralympic Games Tim Mander said the funding would benefit current members while encouraging more young Queenslanders to join. “Scouts and Girl Guides have a wonderful presence within our communities, and the skills they learn are carried with them through life,” he said.
“By upgrading infrastructure and facilities, current local Scouts and Guides stand to benefit, and future generations will be inspired to join,” Mr Mander added. He also highlighted the role of these organisations in helping young people develop leadership, teamwork, and confidence. “The works will enable these terrific young Queenslanders to continue contributing to their communities as well as being more active,” he said.
Local volunteers describe the halls as more than just meeting spaces—they are community hubs where young people learn practical skills, develop friendships, and take part in outdoor adventures. Refurbished kitchens, updated meeting areas, and improved accessibility will help these centres remain vibrant and welcoming for years to come.
The funding follows a period of limited investment in community facilities and has been welcomed by families and leaders. Modern, safe, and accessible environments not only support current members but also attract new participants, helping to keep Scouts and Girl Guides a strong presence in the community.
Scouts and Guides also help build resilience and social skills, while encouraging active participation through community service and leadership opportunities. The upgrades will ensure these programs continue to thrive and remain relevant in the 21st century.
In Kenmore, Moggill, and Karana Downs, Scouts and Guides groups are already looking forward to the improvements. Volunteers expect the refreshed halls and enhanced camp facilities to strengthen local networks, provide a safer environment, and allow activities to continue without disruption.
For families, the funding represents a commitment to creating spaces where children and young people can learn, grow, and enjoy meaningful experiences with their peers. As work progresses, Scouts and Guides members, leaders, and families will watch eagerly, knowing that the halls and camps that have hosted generations of young Queenslanders will continue to be a cornerstone of community life.
Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary has earned a Highly Commended award in the Major Tourist Attractions category at the 40th Queensland Tourism Awards. The accolade acknowledges the Fig Tree Pocket sanctuary’s ongoing importance in Brisbane’s tourism landscape.
The 40th Queensland Tourism Awards drew more than 900 industry representatives to celebrate outstanding tourism businesses across the state. According to the Queensland Tourism Industry Council, the awards process includes mentoring, capability‑building and detailed assessments for all entrants. From those, Lone Pine was named Highly Commended in the Major Tourist Attractions category.
In the same category, GC Aqua Park (Gold Coast) won Gold, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary (Gold Coast) won Silver, and SkyPoint (Gold Coast) won Bronze. The Major Tourist Attractions category was sponsored by Queensland Airports Limited.
About the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is located on 18 hectares in the Brisbane suburb of Fig Tree Pocket. It was founded in 1927, making it the oldest and largest koala sanctuary of its type in the world, and it houses approximately 80 species of Australian wildlife.
Photo credit: Facebook/Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
The sanctuary’s name comes from a large hoop pine that still stands at the ticket entrance. That tree was planted in 1867 by Daniel Clarkson, before the site became a wildlife sanctuary — at the time, it was a cotton farm. It is said that early visitors travelling by boat along the Brisbane River used the tree as a mooring point, which may be how the name “Lone Pine” was chosen.
Photo credit: Facebook/Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
Lone Pine was opened by Claude Reid. Over the decades, it has grown into a centre for wildlife conservation and education. The sanctuary hosts a variety of native animals and maintains a focus on caring for sick, injured or orphaned wildlife.
Because of its age, size, and dedication to native species, Lone Pine is recognised both locally and more broadly as a significant wildlife attraction.
Locals are banding together to help track down Luna, a rare British Cream Dachshund who slipped away from her home in Fig Tree Pocket during a violent hailstorm and has not been seen since.
Neighbours, volunteers, and specialised teams have joined the effort, turning the quiet riverside suburb into the centre of a determined community push to bring the dog home.
Community Rallies Behind Massive Search Effort
After Luna ran from Kiriwina Street in Fig Tree Pocket during the hailstorm on 27 October, her owner, Pru Gillett, took time off work and began an intensive hunt. She has spent thousands of dollars on search tools and support, and residents have boosted her efforts by walking tracks, checking yards, and sharing updates online.
Pru has explained in social media groups that Luna is timid and fast, which makes sightings difficult. Investigators now believe the dog may be hiding in scrub and creek corridors that run through the western suburbs.
Specialist Tools Deployed Across Western Suburbs
Advanced search technology has become a key part of the operation. Industrial Drone Services Australia has used high-end thermal drones capable of scanning bushland up to 3.5 kilometres from the search base. The equipment can distinguish small animals in thick vegetation by temperature, helping searchers narrow down possible movements.
A pet detective, described as a former police officer, is also assisting Pru and believes Luna is more likely hiding than stolen.
A GoFundMe campaign supporting these efforts has raised additional funds to keep aerial searches going, and volunteers continue to work through mornings and evenings when thermal imaging is most effective.
Hope Builds as Community Shares Sightings and Support
Pru continues to monitor online listings and checks regularly with the RSPCA and councils in case Luna has been found. Volunteers are also responding to reported sightings, including one along a Chapel Hill creekline, and the owner has offered a reward for Luna’s safe return to encourage more residents to keep watch.
Earlier cases, such as another dachshund found after more than a year in the wild, have encouraged the community to persist. For any pet owner, the goal is clear: they simply want their dog home and safe.
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.
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
Photo credit: Facebook/Corey Allen
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.
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.
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.
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.
Photo Credit: Supplied
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Photo credit: Jeremy Piper
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.
Photo credit: Jeremy Piper
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.
Photo credit: Jeremy Piper
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.
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.
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.
