On 6 March, Inner West Crime Prevention Unit presented their first ThinkUKnow cyber safety presentation at the Brookfield State School to Grades 4 & 5 and 6 & 7 students. It is the first nationally delivered crime prevention program in Australia.
Photo credit: ThinkUKnow
ThinkUKnow provides cyber safety presentations that cover a wide range of topics that include:
Sexting
Cyber bullying
Online child exploitation
Online privacy
What to do when something goes wrong online
The presentations are targeted at parents, teachers, carers, and young people from Kindergarten to Grade 12.
Ongoing Cyberbullying Issues
In January, an urgent roundtable was called by Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to tackle cyberbullying. This was prompted by the death of “Dolly” Amy Jayne Everette who committed suicide at 14 after she was bullied.
The government then announced that they would establish an anti-bullying taskforce for a new anti-bullying framework for Queensland. They will also provide $60,000 to Yourtown, a charity that manages the Kids Helpline and Parentline. The government will also launch an anti-bullying public awareness campaign.
Queensland Schools Take Action
Bullying has been an ongoing issue in the nation. In fact, last year, there have been talks about a crackdown on smartphones in schools to stifle online bullying. Top Queensland schools such as Hillbrook in Enoggera made a decision to ban the use of smartphone this year.
On the other hand, Kelvin Grove State College also banned students in junior and middle schools from using their mobile phones on school grounds last year.
For Rachel Hauenschild of Kenmore State High School, this academic year has certainly been a banner year.
For her outstanding academic achievements, Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) named her as this year’s recipient of the Outstanding Academic Achiever Award, during recognition ceremonies honouring the top-performing senior school students.
When asked about how she balances her studies with other activities, she said that her secret is to “Be selective and then plan your time effectively to fit everything in.”
Rachel also proves the importance of having a supportive family and strong self-motivation.
“I’m inspired by my parents, who have always motivated me and supported me throughout my schooling. I’m motivated by my desire to achieve the best results that I possibly can,” Rachel said.
She also shared that “…the best piece of advice that I’ve received about school is to always pursue subjects that you’re interested in because it will be more enjoyable and it will work out well in the end.”
Things have certainly worked out well for Kenmore State High School’s Outstanding Graduate, who has been accepted in the Bachelor of Mathematics program at the University of Queensland this year.
“I’ve always had a passion for maths, so I decided that I wanted to pursue this at university,” Rachel said.
Photo credit: Facebook/Grace Grace MP
Education Minister Grace Grace lauded the 2017 Year 12 cohort of Kenmore State High School as the largest ever to graduate statewide. From approximately 53,000 Queensland students who completed Year 12, 32 students have been recognised for achieving the highest academic marks. Considering the number of last year’s graduates, Ms Grace said that the QCE Achievement award winners should be very proud of their achievements.
Rachel, being 2017’s overall Outstanding Academic Achiever, received a certificate, trophy, and $5000 prize money.
“She achieved exceptionally highly in all her school subjects, the Queensland Core Skills Test, tertiary entrance ranking, and in two university subjects and will pursue her passion for mathematics at The University of Queensland where she has a scholarship,” Ms Grace said.
“I look forward to hearing Rachel’s name associated with many more achievements in the future,” she added.
Other Awardees
The QCAA hosted the QCE Awards at the State Library in South Bank, where 32 students from 20 state and non-state schools received prizes in six categories.
Category
Awardee/s
School
Outstanding Academic Achiever
Rachel Hauenschild
Kenmore State High School
Highest Achievement by an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Student
Lucinda Colbert
Forest Lake State High School
Highest Result on the Queensland Core Skills Test
Stuart Moss
Brisbane Grammar School
Highest Achievement by an International Student
Cheng Zhang
Brisbane Grammar School
Highest Achievement in the International Baccalaureate
Thomas Wu
Queensland Academy for Science, Mathematics and Technology
Distinguished Academic Achievers
Louis Backstrom
Brisbane Grammar School
Aditya Chilukuri
Brisbane State High School
Esther Cho
Helensvale State High School
Patrick Cummins
St Joseph’s College, Gregory Terrace
Rupert Dwyer
St Peters Lutheran College
James Dyer
Anglican Church Grammar School
Jade Eldridge
Mueller College
Jasmine Elliott
Toolooa State High School
Joshua Grice
Brisbane Grammar School
Daniel Harness
Brisbane Grammar School
Liam Harris
All Saints Anglican School
Rachel Hauenschild
Kenmore State High School
Jina Hong
Somerset College
Phillip Huynh
Brisbane State High School
Kenton Lam
Varsity College
Saki Maehashi
Brisbane State High School
Yan Messoussa
Brisbane State High School
Kelly Park
Somerset College
Joshua Pelach
Smithfield State High School
William Price
Townsville Grammar School
Connor Ryan
St Joseph’s College, Gregory Terrace
Patrick Sharkey
St Joseph’s College, Gregory Terrace
Ryan Taylor
St Laurence’s College
Sophie Tomassen
Varsity College
Ruby Turner
St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School
Callum Waite
St Joseph’s College, Gregory Terrace
Lilia Walsh
Trinity Anglican School
Daniel Walton
Hillbrook Anglican School
For information on the awards criteria and prizes, click here.
The QCE Achievement Awards are sponsored by The University of Queensland, Bond University, Griffith University, Queensland University of Technology, and University of Southern Queensland.
The Brisbane City Council has made some changes to their legislation surrounding animals and it is now restricting residents from keeping any peafowl on properties not classified as rural. Pullenvale has quite a number of peafowls, which have been the subject of numerous complaints to BCC.
As per the council’s current rules, residents can keep up to 20 fowl if their properties are more than 800 square metres. For those who have less than 800 square metres of property size, they are only allowed to keep up to six fowl.
Due to the recent changes, the council will now fine peafowl owners in areas not classified as rural of up to $6,300, which has gotten a mixed reactions. Some residents were appalled whilst others support the change.
In light of this, the council expects residents to get rid of their peafowl and to move it to the rural areas. There are several areas in Pullenvale, Brookfield and Upper Brookfield that are zoned as rural.
This new law is still open for public consultation until 22 February.
On the 23rd of January, the Pullenvale Presbyterian Church called for a meeting to discuss their DA to the Brisbane City Council at the Kenmore Library.
The church has lodged a development application covering 1 Pullenvale Rd, just next to the Pullenvale Reserve, in collaboration with the Mantle Group. The application involves the building of a church, childcare centre, a carpark that can accommodate 118 cars, and a rooming accommodation.
Since 2006, the church congregation has been holding their meetings in school halls and other spaces. The DA reflects their desire to build a church that will be a valuable addition to the community in the future.
Controversial Plans
The now-controversial DA has two stages and stage two may be broken down into parts.
Stage 1 of the project involves the retention of the existing house for use by the church for office/administration and small church-related gatherings and activities.
Stage 2 is divided into two parts.
Photo credit: BCC
Part 1
Main church auditorium with capacity for 300 visitors
Partial construction of 118-slot car park
Part 2
Entry foyer
Multi-purpose building with removable partitions for Sunday School rooms and various other possibilities during the week
Church administration building
Courtyard and outdoor room
Completion of the 118-slot car park, with two handicap-accessible spaces
Site landscaping such as plans for a community garden in the Moggill Road corner
What Locals Have To Say
So far, locals are skeptical about this development. Most of them are concerned about the koalas found at the Reserve, whilst others express their curiosity as to why an international property developer that specialises in entertainment precincts is building a church.
Just last year, the Kenmore Bridge Club announced their plans of turning the Reserve into a 40-space carpark. However, loopholes resurfaced that prevented them from pushing through with their development plans.
Despite the fact that the council has approved the Bridge Club development, the Department of Natural Resources and Mines (DNRM) explained that the council cannot use the standard agreement for a Trustee Lease because, in principle, it doesn’t have the Minister’s consent for issuing a lease. Also, the bridge club doesn’t have tenure for the reserve.
If you’re a fan of live bands and live music, the western suburbs in the city offers a great selection of musicians that will make you groove, rock, and roll.
Red Room
Union complex, Bldg. 21, UQ/Union Rd Level 2
Photo credit: Raconteur Photography
Wednesdays – Catch the Live N Local from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Thursdays – Uni Night happens here from 4:00 p.m. Fridays – acoustic sets from 3:00 p.m.
February Thursdays at the bar will be The Neighbourhood sessions featuring local artists Tim Steward with Skye Stanford, Kellie Lloyd with Luke Peacock, Ben Ely with Seja and Tyler with Adele Pickvance. (1, 8, 15, 22 Feb respectively)
Established in 2016, the Brookfield Markets continues to thrive as it resumes on the 3rd of February this year from 6:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the Brookfield Showgrounds.
The market takes place every first and third Saturday of every month, bringing fresh and quality produce to the locals of the west.
The event is established in support of local farmers and to encourage sustainability and reduce food miles.
What To Expect
It’s not a market without an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables. It’s the perfect place to be on a Saturday morning as stalls are laden with colourful produce that embodies “healthy” and “organic.”
Photo credit: Brookfield Markets / Facebook
You will find exotic and unusual produce at the Brookfield Markets. There are specialist mushrooms, tomato, potato and citrus.
Photo credit: Brookfield Markets / Facebook
There are also dairy and delicatessen stalls, a vendor of cheeses, olives and many more.
Photo credit: Brookfield Markets / Facebook
A wide selection of fresh breads, chutneys and jams also await.
Photo credit: Brookfield Markets / Facebook
Bring the whole family and enjoy a great shopping experience!
A recent explosion in a skip bin in Fig Tree Pocket last December, which injured two men, has prompted calls for locals to be more vigilant in following proper waste disposal procedures.
Three men were filling the bin on McLaren Street when it exploded, which left one with minor burns whilst the other was in shock. They were quickly taken to the hospital. The eruption was so strong that the windows of three nearby houses were shattered.
According to witnesses, the men poured petrol over the pile of rubbish and shrubs in the bin to burn it and reduce it. However, it seems that the vapours have been trapped in the skip bin thus causing the explosion.
It seems like the rubbish found in the bin are mostly garden waste, which easily ignites. The Brisbane City Council has guidelines on where to properly throw your garden wastes:
at a Council transfer station
as compost and mulch in your garden
using Council’s green waste recycling service
There have also been developments in waste collection and reduction over the years to prevent this from happening.
In 2016, Solar Bins Australia developed BigBelly Solar Bins, which are powered by solar panel harnessing the energy of the sun and storing it within the battery. Once it reaches a particular level, the compactor initiates and will compact everything inside that waste basket. It was deployed in 23 areas in Australia.
Photo credit: Solar Bins Australiafig tree
Such innovation has proven to be effective in particular areas in the nation and has significantly reduced garbage collection times and eliminates the need for locals to burn waste in bins.
Oh, the joys of working from home! No wonder an increasing number of Australians choose to work from home. They don’t need to travel to their work and sit in traffic during peak hours, plus they also get to work in their pjs! In Brisbane, Pullenvale is the suburb with the highest percentage of residents who work from home.
Recent census data reveals that most workers-from-homes are 60% women. In Pullenvale, 10.8% of the labour force are workers-from-home; that’s majority in the city. It has also been* observed that the type of job that allows people to work from home are the ones that are highly skilled or highly creative.
Most of these workers from home are bookkeepers, office managers, secretaries, graphic and web designers, advertising and creative professionals, private tutors and teachers, journalists and writers.
Still, with this “gradually” growing number of Australians who work from home, there is still a much larger percentage of Australians who don’t. Some perceive working from home could disrupt their workflow and restrict them from fully collaborating with other professionals to develop ideas and solutions, hence most Australians still choose to take a normal working life.
For now, working from home is more viable for workers who have the skills and workplace to still deliver their work conveniently from the comforts of their own home.
If you’re looking for ways to keep your kids learning and having fun at the same time during this school holiday, then you might want to head on over to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Fig Tree Pocket.
On the 10th of January, you can have your kids be Junior Keeper for a day at the sanctuary. There are three Junior Keeper Programs for your children:
Junior Joeys (5-7 year olds)
Senior Serpents (8-11 year olds)
Teen Keeper (12-17 year olds)
Each program is kept to small groups only to ensure that each child will be able to interact and learn.
Each child will have the chance to experience being a wildlife keeper from preparing food for the animals and feeding down down to cleaning and maintenance as well as training and other enrichment activities.
This program is only available during school holiday periods so make sure that you sign up your kids now! It will be a great experience and one not likely to be repeated until the next holiday break.
Kenmore welcomes a Greek restaurant from Renata Roberts, the owner of other boldly conceptualised restaurants in the western suburbs such as the Sichuan Bang Bangand Pizzeria Violetta.
Stavros, located on Wongabel Street, can accommodate 100 people and will come with a separate 20-seat cocktail bar just beside it, which will be called the Sunset Bar.
Ms Roberts aims to offer simple Greek dishes such as saganaki graver with herbs served with pepper and lemon. She also said that they will be making their own pita bread in the ovens at Pizzeria Violetta. They will also offer four-five souvlaki, slow-cooked lamb shoulder and a wide selection of seasonal salads.
Different kind of dishes from snacks up to a $49 multi-course banquet will be available. The banquet and the menu will change each season. However, guests can expect some delicious slow-cooked lamb shoulder with skordalia to mark the opening of the restaurant.
Sadly, those who are excited to get a few drinks at the bar will have to wait until January of next year due to liquor licensing delays.
They also have a plan to make their Greek-style gelato whilst the Sunset Bar, maintains an intimate and elegant vibe.
Are you excited for these new additions to the Kenmore scene? Official opening will be on 2nd January 2018.
