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Kenmore Hills Residents Experience Slow Internet with NBN, ACCC To Investigate

NBN was rolled out in Kenmore Hills just last month; however, instead of the residents feeling happy with the speed of their internet connection, their reaction was quite the opposite.

Unhappy Residents

Kenmore Hills resident Martin Lack has represented all 31 households on his street in their internet connection speed struggles. Having worked in the computer industry for almost 50 years, Mr. Lack definitely qualifies as their go-to guy for their internet connection woes. Living on a street that houses senior executives and business people, the residents were all using HFC, a pay-TV internet cabling since 2003.

Recently however, they were all forced to connect to the NBN. Six of his neighbours who took the plunge have nothing else to say except how bad their experience is now. He said that their internet connection has become worse compared to the speed they had before.

Mr Lack said that after 6:00 p.m. their connection takes a turn for the worse and becomes erratic. This was unlike their prior internet speed under Telstra HFC. Since availing of the 100MB NBN package through Telstra, his expectations were high. He was very disappointed upon noticing the erratic connection that he started documenting it since 1 June. He has since come to the conclusion that the connection he’s getting is less than a quarter of the plan he’s paying for.

ACCC Takes Action

This is not a new complaint, though. Last month, the ACCC (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission) revealed that they are formally investigating broadband retailers’ speed claims. This investigation will also let them know whether the NBN is to blame for the current issues.

As NBN rolls out in major cities, more Australians are spending a lot of money on fixed-line broadband services. However, plenty of people are complaining when they found out that the speed is far less than what was being advertised. The NBN advertised that it can deliver “lightning fast” speeds.

There has been a recorded 117% rise in official complaints to the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman since last year.

The ACCC’s investigation program will run for four years beginning late 2017. This will help them identify if the NBN is to blame or if the retailers have failed to buy sufficient capacity to accommodate households. They aim to have 4,000 households connected by the fourth year; however, in order to achieve this, they plan to choose a specific mix of users in cities and regions that use different technologies on basic and high-end packages with different retailers.

First Pullen Vale Folk Festival in Moggill Happening in July

Non-stop folk, blues and boots music will fill the air of John Sprent Reserve in Moggill with the inaugural celebration of Pullen Vale Folk Festival on Saturday, 8 July 2017.

Everyone is invited to come to the free event, which promises to be a fun-filled family day of music. From 11:00 a.m. up to 4:00 p.m., some of the finest local musicians from the Western side of Brisbane will perform on stage.

Performers include songwriter Gerry Miller, Caroline Hammond, Mike Barber, Abbie Cardwell, 8 Ball Aitken Band, Silk ‘n’ Oak and The John Fegan Band.

Event Details:

Date: Saturday 8 July, 11am to 4pm
Venue: John Sprent Reserve, Vanwall Road, Moggill
Cost: FREE

Take a listen to the soothing music of Abbie Cardwell, one of the performers at the Pullen Vale Folk Festival.

Family Fun Weekend

Pullen Vale Folk Festival is filled with activities to keep kids entertained. There’s face painting, jumping castle, wall climbing and Pullenvale fire truck. There will be pop up library, pop up litter shop and so much more.

Attendees can enjoy great food courtesy of a great selection of food trucks, including The Bun Mobile, That Greek Truck, Sushi To The Max, Fule FMC Pizza, Spud The Food Truck, Those Food Guys, MEXI HOT DOGS and Queen of Pops.

Photo credit: Pullen Vale Folk Festival/Facebook

The event is supported by the Brisbane City Council, the Rotary Club of Kenmore and Cr Kate Richards.

“My vision for the festival is to honour the sacredness of the past, acknowledge the present, and deepen community connections into the future. Pullen Vale Folk Festival is intended to bring the local folk together, here on common ground – our ground, to celebrate the beauty and significance of each other and our very special part of Brisbane.”

~ Festival Organizer Councillor Kate Richards (Pullenvale Ward)

Free Bus Service

Free public transport will be provided to go directly to the venue. Buses will run from the following pick-up points:

Booker Place Park, Birkin Road
Moggill State School, Moggill Road
Brookfield Recreation Reserve, Brookfield Road

The buses will provide transport beginning 10:00 a.m. up to 5:00 p.m. continuously.

Attendees driving to the venue will not be permitted to park along Vanwall Road, Joseph Avenue and Bloomsbury Crescent as the buses will need to move through these streets.

Visit the Pullen Vale Folk Festival Facebook page for more details.

Recent Hendra Scare in Brookfield Fuels Cry to Have All Horses Vaccinated Against the Virus

The recent Brookfield Show was a success, hampered only by the incidence, albeit well-handled, of a horse that was suspected to be carrying the Hendra virus. Thankfully, a test conducted by Biosecurity Queensland came back negative.

In another case, an infected pony in the Gold Coast hinterland had to be euthanised. These recent events have prompted The Australian Veterinary Association to pursue the administration of the Hendra vaccine for all horses.

In 1994, an outbreak which affected 21 racehorses and two human cases in a Brisbane suburb became the first recognised outbreak in Australia. Since then and up to 2016, over 70 horses have been reported to be carrying the virus.

Presently considered rare, Hendra is classified to have a severe and often fatal effect on horses and humans. Despite its relative rarity, it is considered a cause for alarm as the number of infected horses seems to be growing over the years. Because of this, an effective horse vaccine against the virus was introduced in 2012.

The AVA urges owners to have their horses vaccinated, particularly those who live in high-risk areas. They said that this is the only way to guarantee good health quality of horses whilst protecting humans from contracting the deadly virus as well.

The virus occurs naturally in flying fox populations. According to a recent AVA study, the virus can be passed on to horses through the bats’ urine; in turn, humans can acquire the virus from horses.

For the drive against Hendra, prevention is definitely better than cure. Vaccination is widely regarded to be the best way to prevent an outbreak, as testing for the virus or disease could take a long time. Some small comfort can also be derived from recent reports of a decline in the flying fox population in Queensland.

Kenmore’s The Single Guys Continues to Grow, Second Branch Opening at The CBD

In 2013, Kenmore welcomed a Scandinavian-inspired coffee house run by gentlemen Ben Graham and Scott Wilson, aka “The Single Guys.”

How It All Started

It all started when these guys met at The Valley Cafe where Graham worked as a barista whilst Wilson is one of the cafe’s regulars. The two guys were looking for a new venture and that’s when they discovered their shared passion for high-quality coffee. They settled in the leafy suburb of Kenmore because this is where they grew up. The two guys also spent time volunteering in Africa, which is why they have made it their mission to remain close to the farmers.

The Cafe

The cafe incorporates soft tones of wood with splashes of blacks and blues, perfectly complemented by the Edison bulbs surrounding the cafe. The bar and tables were built by Wilson himself. The delicious and rich aroma of coffee brewing from the bar just simply evokes authenticity of the beans used to concoct delicious coffee the West has never tasted before.

Photo credit: The Single Guys Coffee Co. / Facebook

Their Coffee & Food

Serving a mild house blend, which is a combination of Costa Rican and Ethiopian beans, along with more adventurous feature blends, will surely energise your day. Creamy and sweet brews are available whilst cappuccinos and hot chocolates are even made tweeted with Bunker chocolate.

If you’re feeling hungry, try their delicious homemade muffins and brownies, or if you want something heavier, their baked eggs and mushroom, asparagus and pecorino on toast will surely satisfy that appetite.

Thriving, Expanding, Continuously Brewing

In mid-2016, Wilson and Graham felt the need to sell the cafe, and Janey Guo was able to snatch it. Ever since then, Guo has been looking to expand the legacy of The Single Guys.

Recently, they have announced that their expansion plan has finally come to fruition. The second iteration of the Kenmore cafe brand will be opening at Brisbane’s CBD later this month. It will be at 201 Charlotte Street, formerly Bacano Coffee.

The look and feel of the place will be very similar to the one in Kenmore. In this new location, a Slayer Steam espresso machine will brew delicious coffee from former owner Graham’s Parallel Roasters. There will be other roasters as well, which will come as “guests” to shake up what they have to offer. The breakfast and lunch menu will be the same.

The place will also be a perfect place to wind down after a long day with a glass of red or beer. A licensed bar will be set up to cater to night crawlers.

Kenmore’s Local Community Fights to Rejuvenate Little Gubberly Creek

A local community project in Kenmore is fighting to rehabilitate the upper part of Little Gubberly Creek and transform it into a wildlife corridor and an outdoor learning area. The Kenmore South Creek Care may be new to the local community, but over the months, they have set things in motion as they gather support from more people to help their cause.

The said creek has been forgotten; weeds have grown along with vines, concealing its natural beauty underneath the plants. Situated just below the school oval, the area has become completely inaccessible, yet the local community group sees its potential.

Photo credit: Kenmore South Creek Care / Facebook

In their efforts to make the creek alive again, they have formed a Bush Care group that can work under the guidance of Habitat Brisbane and the local Cubberla Witton Catchment Network.

Brisbane City Council’s Habitat Brisbane helps local community groups bring back life to natural habitats as part of the council’s Community Conservation Partnerships Program. The groups under the program also aim to protect, monitor, and increase native flora and fauna populations. If you wish to join a Habitat group, you can find more information here.

The Cubberla Witton Catchment Network (CWCN) is a volunteer organisation that focuses on the re-establishment and maintenance of ecologically healthy catchments. The network nurtures close relationships with a ride range of local, state, and Commonwealth agencies and community organisations and the Kenmore South Creek Care is proud to be working closely with them.

Just last month, a small group of students from the school has started helping through the Jane Goodall’s ‘Roots and Shoots’ program by spreading the word about their local community’s creek project. The students also collected a sample of weeds from the creek.

Habitat Brisbane will do a formal assessment of the creek. You can visit the local community’s Facebook page for their latest updates on the rehabilitation project.

Pizza Capers in Kenmore to Go Mobile, Opens Another Window of Opportunity for Entrepreneurs

Kenmore’s Pizza Capers will be going mobile as it launches its first gourmet mobile food truck in July.

Part of the Retail Food Group, Pizza Capers opened its doors to the public in 1996 and was the first to market franchise opportunities and they were also the first to promote gourmet pizza. Sherrie Halliwell, the managing director of Pizza Capers said that the food truck will be a fully functioning mobile pizza store that will operate in various areas around Australia.

Photo credit: https://www.pizzacapers.com.au

The mobile food truck also allows franchise partners and will open up a limited time offer to those who wish to own a food business in the food truck industry, “Those interested are now able to purchase a franchise for less than $50,000 start-up cost inclusive of initial franchise fees, comprehensive training and local marketing launch activities,” Ms Sherree said.

Pizza Capers offers various pizza flavours such as Reef & Beef that is loaded with what else? Beef goodness! They also offer pizza wraps, pasta, and wings.

Over the years, the restaurant has received nothing but good reviews from satisfied customers. Because after all, who doesn’t like pizza and it just so happens that this Kenmore original definitely takes one to pizza heaven with just a bite.

A review on Zomato by I Make Food Into Nards says, “Nom nom nom. So who cares if you order pizza after you have had a few beers? Maybe a lot of beers. I don’t judge. But when I do have a few beers I know that I can rely on pizza capers to bring me delicious. Mainstream pizza shops have robots and really bad ‘deal combos’. But capers is always there to sooooth a hard earned hunger. Get the ‘flying pig’ I cannot stress that enough.”

You can check out their menu here and order online as well.

Fig Tree Pocket State School Holds Fete Again

After four years, Fig Tree Pocket State School is at it again! Fete Winterfest is finally happening on the 11th of June.

For the past four years, the school has had quite a struggle involving parents in such a small school for a big event. Luckily this year, many parents and students donated and volunteered, enabling the whole festival happen again.

Starting at 10:00 a.m. there will be a lot of food stalls, games, raffles and a silent auction. There will also be also rides and a number of shows to entertain the guests.

Photo credit: Fig Tree Pocket State School – Winterfest 2017 / Facebook

Aside from the food stalls, there is also going to be a book stall and other stalls with trinkets and novelties for sale. The stalls are assigned to each class in the school. There will also be stalls for other sponsors who signed up for the event. Students are going to be involved in their assigned stalls.

By 3:00 p.m. the fete will be ready to wrap up, although some of the stalls and rides may continue on past that time.

The fete will be a major fundraiser for the school to have better resources and support for the students. Updates and schedules are posted pom their Facebook Page.

Fig Tree Pocket’s Lone Pine Sanctuary Offers Fun Weekends for Everyone

Did you know that there’s so much to do at the Lone Pine Sanctuary in Fig Tree Pocket? Yes, it’s not just about the wildlife and the koalas, there are more exciting activities that kids and adults can definitely enjoy.

Stretch with Yoga

On Fridays (9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.) and Saturdays (8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.), get your yoga mats ready because Alexis Jane of One Natural Therapies is holding yoga classes on the lawn for only $10 each. For Lone Pine members, you get every 5th class for free!

Find inner peace. Meditate and calm your mind on weekend mornings before you start your day. The calmness of Lone Pine Sanctuary is definitely the perfect place for serenity.

Catch a Flick

On Friday nights, the lawn transforms into an outdoor cinema starting at 5:30 p.m. Catch a family movie with your kids. Don’t forget to bring your blankets and food for that perfect movie night with your loved ones under the stars. You can check out this page for their movie schedules.

Photo credit: https://talesofatwinmum.com

Shop at the Farmer’s Market

Every 1st and 3rd Friday of the month from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., an evening market runs in the sanctuary. The market has everything you need, from vegetables to fruits. All of them are fresh and locally produced. The stall owners get their produce from growers and farmers, ensuring a longer shelf life and freshness.

Feeling hungry? Enjoy the wide selection of dishes available for you at the market, choose from French, German, British, Asian, Indian, and so much more. You can also find some beautiful fresh flowers, buy free-range chicken, or score some hard-to-find spices and delectable, sweet treats.

For the Kids

Just right by the Riverside Cafe overlooking the river, there is a new play area for children so you can sit at the cafe whilst your children play. The Farmer’s Market at Lone Pine is packed with goodies that everyone in the family will love.

Photo Credit: Sharon Higson

Kenmore Streets Getting Shared Pedestrian and Cycle Bridge Upgrades

Bridges at Katunga Street and Akuna Street in Kenmore are being upgraded to provide better pathways for cyclists and pedestrians.

The project is part of the shared pathway network which will provide linkages between Moggill Road, the Centenary Bikeway and the Cubberla Creek Reserve sports fields. Once upgraded, bridges will provide pathways that are safer for bikers and pedestrians.

Katunga Street Bridge Upgrade

The Katunga Street bridge upgrade was initiated in early May and should be completed in mid-2017, weather and site conditions permitting. Under the plan, the existing bridge structure will be replaced and a new concrete pedestrian and cycle bridge will be built. Bicycle-friendly handrails will also be installed on the bridge.

After completion, the bridge would be 3 metres wide to meet the existing standard for a pedestrian and cycle bridge.

Akuna Street Bridge Work

Upgrade of the Akuna Street bridge involves building a 3.6-metre wide concrete pedestrian and cycle bridge. Three-metre wide concrete paths will be constructed at both ends of the bridge to link it to the existing pathway.

The Akuna Street bridge project will commence in June and should be done in late 2017. To minimise the impact of the construction, the bridge crossing will remain open during the early phase of the project.

Visit the Brisbane City Council website for more information about the project.

Kenmore’s LYV Kitchen Aims to Provide Delicious But Clean Food

LYV Kitchen in Kenmore, at Kingussie St. is a restaurant right smack in the middle of a park. And it’s not just a park, it’s actually a park meant mainly for children. The restaurant’s name stands for “Live Your Values” and it’s perfect for health-conscious people who are enthusiasts of plant-based food.

LYV Kitchen focuses on serving healthy food made from locally produced ingredients. Formerly known as Misty’s, it is now being run by the new owner, Ashley, who is all about living her values and sharing it to the public. Ashley created a plant-based menu excluding meat and dairy. Ashley is passionate about spreading a healthy lifestyle and environment, thus her food venture.

Try their granola, which is always freshly prepared in the restaurant. For a boost of energy, you can give their acai bowls a shot.

Those that need their caffeine fix can choose from their specialty lattes such as matcha, charcoal and beetroot, and turmeric.

For the kids and the kids-at-heart, there are delicious pancakes and home-made muffins that will surely delight your hearts.

There are also some tasty sweet treats available such as the carrot cake and blueberry cheesecake. You can also choose from their selection of superfood smoothies.

Not just for the health conscious, the place is also perfect for children and pets. The restaurant has an outdoor seating that flows right into the park and playground. You can sip your morning coffee whilst you keep an eye on your kids having fun in the playground.

Family, healthy food, and good, clean fun. LYV certainly makes living your values worth the visit.