After an accident that left him with a severe spinal cord injury, Donny withdrew from interacting with other people for eight long years. Getting his very own mobility scooter has made a world of difference to this Corinda father.
Donny knew that he was missing out on life. Worse, he knew that his son, who would also just stay home to help him, was missing out on life too.
Things changed in February 2021 when through National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) plan, he was able to access a support worker who regularly took him to the gym and to his physiotherapist.
“Every few days I go to the gym and do weights for my legs, and afterwards I go for a swim at the pool as it helps relax my muscles in the water,” the dad said.
“I am always looking at anything that could help me; everything I have access to is what I need for now, but I am always asking my physio if there is any more extensive exercise.”
Shortly after working with NDIS support, Donny received his mobility scooter and it has changed his life in the best way possible.
“Now I can go for a walk with my son, go to the shops and to the local creek with the scooter, Donny said. “I can also go to Coles by myself – no need to wait for anybody, and pick up my son from school with my scooter.”
Photo Credit: Supplied
“What has happened to me in the last six to eight months – wow! My whole life has changed and I am so grateful.”
Donny reached out to Carers Queensland’s NDIS Local Area Coordination Partner in the Community Program for the Brisbane region. Those interested to receive similar benefits as Donny may contact 1300 999 636, or cq.enquiries@ndis.gov.au
Queensland Police Service is now training its largest batch of recruits ever at the Oxley Academy. These 280 individuals will form part of the QPS’s goal to add 2,025 police personnel to its roster across the state.
The new recruits are expected to graduate from Oxley Academy in early 2022. Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said that she’s pleased to see so many recruits and she looks forward to more Queenslanders joining the service in the future.
“Policing offers an incredibly diverse range of opportunities, whether it be general duties policing, or the wide range of specialist units we have ranging from the dog squad and water police to forensics or the stock squad,” Ms Carroll said.
Recruiting and Constable Training Superintendent Josef Jaramazovic said that they are particularly looking for applicants driven by purpose and have a sense of direction and meaning in their chosen careers. He also said that the increase in recruits will ensure that QPS will meet the challenges and demands of police work.
Photo Credit: QPS/Facebook
Meanwhile, the Honourable Mark Ryan MP, the Minister for Police and Corrective Services and Minister for Fire and Emergency Services, said the latest round of recruits is an “investment in policing unrivalled by any government this century.”
“This is in keeping with the Queensland Government’s commitment to keep Queenslanders safe now, and well into the future. More than ever, Queenslanders have witnessed throughout the pandemic, the extraordinary commitment of police to keeping the community safe.
“Queenslanders are fortunate to have a police service that is so totally committed to serving the community.
“And what we have seen demonstrates how a career with the Queensland Police Service is synonymous with a life devoted to serving your fellow Queenslanders.”
Brisbane’s Saturday Fresh Market will be CLOSED for Christmas 2021 as the organisers prepare to move to their new location on Sherwood Road in Rocklea in February 2022.
Starting 12 February 2022, Brisbane Markets will be permanently located on the Covered Unloading Area of the Brisbane Produce Market at 385 Sherwood Road, Rocklea. It’s located just across the road from the market’s current location.
The last Saturday Fresh Market at the existing location will be on 18 December 2021 whilst the last Sunday Fresh Market will be on 19 December 2021.
Photo credit: Brisbane Markets/Facebook
The new location will be spacious and can operate regardless of the weather. Besides being weatherproof, the new venue comes with an adjacent multi-level car park that offers free covered parking spaces.
Compared to the existing site, the new venue is more accessible for stallholders because of the multiple vehicle entry points to the Market footprint for faster and smoother set-up and pack down.
Photo credit: Brisbane Markets/Facebook
According to the organisers, the relocation of the markets would allow for the future development of Brisbane Markets’ expanding wholesale operations, which supply fresh fruit and vegetables to consumers right across Queensland, the Northern Territory and northern New South Wales, and contribute billions of dollars to Queensland’s economy annually.
Photo credit: Brisbane Markets/Facebook
“This expansion is great news for Queensland’s horticulture industry, strengthening the supply chain for Market wholesalers, growers, logistics operators, retail small businesses, the fresh produce stallholders at the Saturday Fresh Market and, in turn, consumers,” Brisbane Markets stated on the website.
Meanwhile, Brisbane Markets is currently investigating options for a site to host the Sunday Discovery Market and will announce the new location and opening date in due course.
The Graceville property market exhibited a remarkable 36% growth, bringing the median house price up to over a million, whilst properties in Chelmer continued their steady upward trend, showing 10% growth and fast movement for the 12-month period ending September 2021.
Highlights
Chelmer’s property market rose by 10.42 per cent, setting the median house price at $1,325,000.
Graceville’s property market is up by an astonishing 35.50 per cent, pulling the median house price to the million-dollar mark at $1,255,000.
Buyer activity in both suburbs was steady and brisk, with average days on the market of 61 days for Chelmer and 32 days for Graceville.
House Price Growth in Chelmer
Over the Walter Taylor Bridge is Chelmer, the suburb seating on the south side of the river bend, where house price growth has scaled up by 10.42 per cent between October 2020 to September 2021. Per figures from Property Market Updates, the current median price for this period is now at a cushy $1,325,000.
Buyer activity in this lovely suburb 20 minutes away from the CBD has generated 76 sales within an average of 61 days on the market. Properties with four or five bedrooms were more favoured by established professionals with children, who are on to their second or third homes.
A luxury five-bedroom riverfront house on the Jacaranda-lined streets of Longman Terrace sold the highest price for $8,000,000. Just 600 metres away from the train station and a short walk to the Indooroopilly Shoppingtown, this house has easy access to Brisbane Boy’s College, St Aidan’s, and the University of Queensland.
House Price Growth in Graceville
Chelmer’s neighbour, Graceville, offers a similar vibe for families who want schools, parks, and shops so close to home. In the last decade, many Queenslanders in this suburb have been turned into dining spots with a mix of old and modern interiors. The increasing improvements have added to Graceville’s charm and appeal as a family-friendly location and it has also driven house prices up by an outstanding 35.50 per cent.
From October 2020 to September 2021, Graceville’s median house price has crossed over the million-dollar mark at $1,255,00 from $925,000 in the previous year, per figures from Property Market Updates. A total of 86 houses were sold during this period with an average listing of just 32 days on the market.
The historic Molonga estate along Molonga Terrace, which was built at the turn of the 20th century alongside Graceville’s very exclusive high side, sold the highest price at $3,680,000 for this period. The house, with plenty of spacious and elegant living spaces, is minutes away from some of the best schools in the state like the Graceville State School, St Peter’s Lutheran College, and St Aidan’s Girls’ School.
About Chelmer
The relaxing lifestyle in Chelmer has definitely risen up from the devastating 2011 Brisbane flooding that has had such a significant effect on the properties. However, in the last few years, buyers have seen value in the Chelmer property market as evidenced in the yearly increase of its house median prices.
Photo Credit: Google Maps
Invariably, investors look to Chelmer because it has some of the most beautiful Queenslanders in the city, characterised by its verandahs and wide staircases, which could be rebuilt or renovated into their dream homes. In fact, some of the houses have been modernised into brick builts and other urban architecture but Chelmer is still primarily zoned as a low-density residential area.
The most appealing properties are on Laurel Avenue, which is lined by 100-year-old Camphor Laurel trees. Honour Avenue, on the other hand, is Chelmer’s busiest precinct since it is close to the train line. On the weekends, families can be seen spending their downtimes with nature at the Taylor Bridge Reserve or Gordon Thomson Park.
“A lovely leafy suburb with residents who take pride in maintaining their properties. It is perfect if you want to be close to town, with great transport, but not in the city itself. A mix of old Queenslanders and new builds. Lots of green park spaces, sporting facilities including netball courts, and close to Graceville shops and shopping centre of Indooroopilly. Great walking and biking too. We are new to Brisbane and were instantly attracted to the area, and purchased here. Loving it”
Melanie
About Graceville
A major drawcard for those who live in Graceville is its reliable transport system, with two train lines running through the suburb, which brings kids to school or their part-time jobs and parents to their place of work.
Photo Credit: Google Maps
Since it is one of Brisbane’s oldest suburb, buyers can find plenty of Queenslanders and post-war homes in this area. However, Graceville has had some gentrification and renovation in the last decade with commercial centres and small businesses thriving near the transport hubs. Modern homes have also replaced some of the old houses, which have driven the house median house prices up.
Graceville is a quiet neighbourhood close to the CBD. In the mornings, it’s common to find early risers strolling along the river or the park or going for their coffee run on Honour Avenue.
“Situated under 8km from the Brisbane CBD, Graceville is a quiet, leafy residential suburb bordering the Brisbane River. One of the city’s older suburbs, Graceville has some fine old Colonials, Queenslanders, post-war, and grand modern homes with many opportunities for renovation and growth. With its own train station situated along the city line, along with a great bus system, transportation to the rest of Brisbane is fast and convenient.”
Jamie Robinson, Queensland’s current Youth Tenpin Bowling Champion with back-to-back wins, has dreamt of striking it big at national competitions since he was a young boy. This Oxley local recently represented QLD at the Australian championships in Tasmania, where he displayed championship caliber skills and bagged 5th place.
The young Oxley local, who is a league member of Zone Bowling Richlands, performed impressively well at the national competition. Jamie immediately ranked in the top 20 after playing three games on the first day of the tournament held in August 2021. On the second day of the tough competition, Jamie played eight games and was in the Top 15. He made it to the final cut of 12 players, where he nabbed 5th place.
“As much as he would loved to be higher, 5th place was awesome,” mum Sheen Robinson said. “And he’s still Queensland state youth champion, so [that’s] something to be proud of.”
During the state championship in March 2021, Jamie finished with the highest record of the day at 248 and averaged 207. Since joining tournaments in 2012, Jamie has won the following titles:
2019 South East QLD All-Star Champion
2019 East Coast Challenge Under 21’s Masters Champion
2019 World Plate Runner Up
2019 Queensland State Youth champion
2020 National Youth Masters Challenge Winners
2020 South Queensland Zone Masters Winner
2021 South East QLD All-Star Champion and South East QLD Team Winners
2021 East Coast Challenge 1st place with a perfect 300 game and East Coast Challenge Captain
2021 Queensland State Youth Champion with back to back wins
Photo Credit: Supplied
His mum said his love for tenpin bowling started in 2008 after the mother and son went to a pop-up stand in Mount Ommaney offering a tenpin bowling trial in Richlands. Jamie loved the trial and joined the league the following week.
Photo Credit: SuppliedPhoto Credit: Supplied
“At the moment I consider myself a decent bowler with a few titles to my name. I have 10 perfect games of 300 so far and hope to achieve more,” Jamie said.
“There is always much more to learn and room for improvement in my game. I’m lucky that I also work at Zone Nowling Richlands so I also learn about the oil patterns and how they affect the ball when playing.”
Photo Credit: SuppliedPhoto Credit: Supplied
“In the coming years I would like to represent Australia and long term travel to America and compete on the professional tour with the world number one bowler, Jason Belmonte, from Orange, New South Wales, who I have met and hope to one day play against.”
“Jamie has done amazing in his chosen sport of tenpin bowling,” his mother said. “He has great support not only from his family but his manager Sue Long, and the whole team at Zone Bowling Richlands.”
“With all the tournament wins and achievements to date, I’m sure before long Jamie Robinson will get to represent Australia alongside others who have worked so hard to get there.”
House sales in the Corinda property market are flourishing, riding on the back of the Brisbane boom, as families flock to riverside homes near some of Brisbane’s elite schools.
For the 12-month period from July 2020 to June 2021, Corinda’s property market showed a modest 4.87 per cent growth, with the median house price settling at $905,000.
For the same period, the median unit price went down by 10.11 per cent.
A flurry of sales activity in Q2 2021 resulted in a 53 per cent increase in median house price over the previous quarter.
House Price Growth
Between July 2020 to June 2021, Corinda’s median house price growth stayed just below the million-dollar mark at $905,000, ending the 12-month period with a modest 4.87 per cent increase. Houses stayed an average of 50 days on market with 84 properties sold for this time period, per figures from Property Market Updates.
In the first half of 2021, the median house price in Corinda hit an astounding 52.53 per cent growth, comparing Q2 to Q1 2021, putting the median house price at $1,205,000. Sales during this period closed shorter at just 30 days on the market with a higher concentration of four-bedroom properties sold compared to the first quarter, where cheaper two-bedroom homes dragged the median down.
A charming hilltop riverfront estate sold the highest at $4,200,000 for this period. Located at Dewar Terrace, this was one of the last remaining grand acreage estates in Brisbane’s southwest. Spanning two acres, this property has a beautiful cottage-style mansion built in the 1940s with a modern and updated layout.
The home has several living spaces for entertaining and lifestyle amenities like a gym, spa, and a pool surrounded by a stylish garden. The house also provides easy access to St Aidan’s Anglican Girls School, the cafes and shopping district in Corinda, and the railway to the CBD.
Unit Price Growth
The median price for unit properties in Corinda dropped by 10.11 per cent for July 2020 to June 2021. The movement of apartment property sales was at an average of 54 days on the market. Whilst there were 60 units sold during this time period, especially from the new apartment block developments near the railway precinct, the bulk of the sales were for small and more affordable two-bedroom apartments, thus pulling the unit median price at $413,500.
Corinda is a vibrant and green location in the southwest of Brisbane. Found some 14 kilometres away from the CBD, this tree-filled, family-friendly the neighborhood has some elevated streets, offering a beautiful view of the city. Here, families have stayed in their character homes for generations, with some homeowners deciding to sell or downsize only after two decades.
Photo Credit: Google Maps
With good public transport, Corinda offers convenience for the residents who want to live in larger blocks of homes in a quiet suburb. There are plenty of good schools in the area, such as the Corinda State School or elite private institutions like St Aidan’s Anglican Girls School or St Peters Lutheran College.
Honour Avenue is a favourite outdoor hangout for many families during their weekend recreational activities, whilst Oxley Road thrives as the retail precinct for many small business owners who are still on a first-name basis with heaps of the locals. However, in recent years, the community has had a spate of younger families coming in.
“We love living in high side Corinda, plenty of great walking paths and a well maintained dog park. We are close to public transport and within walking distance to one of Brisbane’s most affluent schools, St Aidans. Prima Vera is great for breakfast and we look forward to future gentrification and growth of the cafe culture!”
KJH
“Offers luxury class living in high side Corinda along the river (west). Shops and restaurants are lively day and night. I recommend this suburb for those that like to escape the urban feel for a green, leafy feel yet so close to the CBD.”
The spring harvest season is in full swing with the abundance of seasonal fruit favourites in the market, according to the latest report from Brisbane Produce Market in Rocklea.
Supplies of strawberries or blueberries are now readily available, as well as creamy bananas from Innisfail for that delicious and healthy breakfast smoothie. Seedless watermelon and rockmelons from Gumlu are also slowly flooding the market. These refreshing fruits are great additions to salads, along with apples, pears, avocados, mandarins, and oranges.
Juicy, irresistible Kensington Pride mangoes from the Northern Territory are perfect for pairing with chicken or prawns as families spend summer afternoons on the barbie. Sweet pineapples from the Sunshine Coast are heavy in supply.
Photo Credit: Igor Ovsyannykov/Pixabay
As for vegetables, Brisbane Produce Market said that shelves are filled with supplies of cauliflower, broccoli, green beans, and bok choy — all coming from farms in Gatton and the Lockyer Valley. Salad lovers will be thrilled to include celeries, iceberg lettuce, Aussie asparagus on their shopping baskets as well.
There are also some selections of pumpkins, sweet potatoes from Bundaberg, and small-sized red washed potatoes. Zucchinis from Bowen — for salads, baking doughnuts, and frying — are plenty as well.
Stocks running low on supply, however, include passion fruit, raspberries, corn, and green capsicum.
These fruits and vegetables in season may be purchased online at A Better Choice, the first national initiative helping over 500 fruit and vegetable growers across the country to help consumers eat healthily.
Brisbane Produce Market, found on Sherwood Road in Rocklea, is Queensland’s only central fruit and vegetable market trading over 600 million kilograms of produce a year. Under Brisbane Markets Limited, this initiative provides infrastructure and services to help growers and vendors market their products.
Sr Monique Singh, who recently made her final vow as a full member of the Canossian Daughters Of Charity in Oxley, once had her heart set on becoming a world-class ballerina. Everything changed when she realised she had a higher calling to serve God.
To Sr Monique, dancing was not just a dream. It was her first love. In fact, after high school, she studied dance full-time at a school in Sydney. The only daughter of Barbara and Graham Singh from Taree in New South Wales, Sr Monique once dreamed of traveling the world as a ballerina.
One day, whilst she was 16 years old, God spoke to her through a small book she was reading. It was at that moment when she first sensed a calling to religious life. At the time however, she could not picture how that would become a reality.
Eager to pursue her dream to dance, the young Monique moved to Brisbane to further her dance studies. Whilst studying choreography in a Brisbane university, she saw a flyer about a retreat organised by the Canossian Daughters of Charity.
Photo credit: Canossians Australia/Facebook
That’s when she met the Canossian Sisters, whose joy profoundly moved her. Even though she subsequently explored other orders, Sr Monique felt that with the Canossians, her heart was at home. Eventually, she felt torn between pursuing dance and staying in touch with the Sisters.
“I surrendered the desire to control and allowed the Spirit to gently guide me to new possibilities and opportunities for growth that were beyond all of my imaginings. I was amazed at the journey and how, in letting God take the lead in this dance of life, a new perspective of the world unfolded,” Sr Monique shared.
Photo credit: Canossians Australia/Facebook
At 27, she entered postulancy in the Philippines, where she studied with other young women discerning religious life. Then finally, in July 2021, she made her final vows inside the Canossa chapel in Oxley led by Bishop Ken Howell.
“It has been quite the adventure so far – and the journey is just beginning. I am so very grateful for the people who were placed on my path, as God’s instruments, to help light the way,” Sr Monique said.
Faithful, well-trained dogs and horses deployed from Oxley to help fight crime and protect the community will have more protection following the proposal to establish new measures aimed at individuals who harm or kill these animals.
The State Government plans to create new laws that will make it a crime to injure or kill Police Dogs and Police Horses. If signed, the offence will be punishable by up to five years in prison.
The Queensland Police Service will also create a new meritorious service award for Police Dogs to recognise their hard work for the community.
“Queensland has some of the strongest laws in the nation in relation to dangerous sex offenders, Organised Crime and Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs and hoons,” Police Minister Mark Ryan said.
“Now we are moving to add another layer of support to the faithful servants, our Police Dogs and Police Horses, who help police do their critically important work.”
Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers, alongside Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Guy Ford and Sergeant Kerrie Haines, was instrumental in the drive to create new laws for the animals’ protection. The Queensland Police Union also acknowledges the work of Sergeant Shayne Treasure, who helped develop the Police Dog meritorious service award.
Photo Credit: QPS
Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll supports this plan, knowing that these animals work as hard as their handlers and the police officers.
“The bond between a Police Dog and their handler is particularly special and together the crime-fighting partnership is extremely valuable to the entire Service,” Ms Carroll said.
“Anyone who tries to hurt our Police Dogs or Police Horses should, as the Queensland Police Union have proposed, be held accountable and face serious consequences.
“We are grateful for the commitment of the Queensland Police Union and the Government in pursuing the new offence to further protect our invaluable four-legged members of the Service.”
To meet the demand for retirement villages in Brisbane’s southwest, developer Aura Holdings is moving forward with the construction of Kingsford Terrace Corinda’s fifth stage building, dubbed as ‘Lingrove.’
According to Aura Holdings, they received keen interest from retirees after launching its fourth-stage building ‘Francis’ that they decided to move forward on the construction of both buildings in June 2021.
Lingrove is one of six buildings planned for Kingsford Terrace Corinda, which will have a total of 250 independent living apartments. Stages 1 and 2 were completed in 2016 and 2018 whilst Stage 3 was completed in December 2020. The original plan was to develop the village in subsequent stages over the next two to three years.
Lingrove will offer 30 apartments in one-bedroom, two-bedroom with study, or three-bedroom options, whilst Francis will provide 18 two and three-bedroom apartments. The pet-friendly village offers residents facilities including a heated indoor pool, café, gym, hairdresser, a stunning cellar to store and enjoy wine, a billiards room, library, dining and functions room and consulting areas for allied health professionals.
Photo credit: Aura Holdings
Aura Holdings’ director Mark Taylor said since the start of 2021, the demand for independent-living apartments at Kingsford Terrace has been at a record high.
“In the past two months alone, we have sold 16 apartments – it seems everyone wants to retire to Kingsford Terrace! We believe this unprecedented demand is the result of the excellent reputation the village has established in the local area,” he said.
“So many of our buyers are word-of-mouth referrals from our happy residents. Our community of retirees has flourished and as their friends and family visit and experience the lifestyle too, word is out about Kingsford Terrace,’’ Mr Taylor added.
The construction of Francis and Lingrove buildings is expected to be completed by the second half of 2022, weather and construction conditions permitting. The apartments that remain for sale range from $590,000 to $980,000.
