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Oxley Man Excited to Retire Early and Live a Nomadic Life

An Oxley man is thanking his lucky stars as an unexpected $1.8-million windfall now means he can retire early, buy a caravan, and pursue the nomadic lifestyle of his dreams.

The man said he had been going through a tough time lately and is grateful that his challenges have seemingly come to an end. “Now all those worries have just disappeared,” the winner said. “This is magic!”

With his $1,818,181.82 Gold Lotto win, the Oxley resident said he plans to pay off his mortgage and then set the course for his early retirement. He’s also planning to buy a caravan to travel around Australia with his wife.

“This means retirement is going to be a lot more enjoyable too and I can be a grey nomad!”

The Brisbane local bought his winning ticket at the Oxley Newsagency at The Station Shopping Centre. Owner, Ray Betson, immediately informed his customers that the division one winner’s ticket came from his store but it took a while for The Lott to locate him.

Mr Betson said it was such a great feeling to know that another division one winner come from Oxley Newsagency. As someone who has operated the store for 18 years, Mr Betson has come across a handful of winners in his business.

The ticket was one of 11 division one winners for the Saturday Gold Lotto draw 4153. Since 2020, there have been 122 Gold Lotto millionaires in Australia.

Iconic Chelmer ‘Doll House’ Sells for $2.265 Million

A Chelmer “doll house,” once an old and dingy property on Honour Avenue, has broken sales record when it sold for $2.265 million after going through a beautiful renovation.

The house, owned by the Finlayson family, was the first golf clubhouse in Brisbane, which was frequented by the city’s most prominent people in the 1890s. Standing on a 1,070 square metre site, the property is within walking distance to the Chelmer train station.

Anna and Michael Finlayson moved into this Chelmer doll house around 2013, buying the property for $613,000 with the knowledge that it will have to go through a major renovation due to structural concerns.

The couple was bent on making the house liveable again but for this project to be underway, they built a mini-house as their temporary dwelling next to the iconic property. The mini-house has since been incorporated into the main house.

After the renovation, the couple enjoyed their beautiful home in between two pregnancies and a serious health concern for their eldest child, Billie, who had to undergo surgery and chemotherapy in 2019. Their heritage-listed house became a haven for their children, especially with the addition of a heated pool in the backyard during the COVID-19 lockdowns.

The couple said that even if the house was not heritage-listed, they had always planned on restoring it to its old character, especially with its historical significance to Chelmer. People who drive by their house have always admired it for its remarkable structure and design.

They have met many people who have their own stories about their character house. However, the Finlaysons had to say goodbye to the doll house as it was time to move on. Michael believes that they could give some love and devote their time to refurbish a new character house somewhere in Brisbane.

Inala Skate Rink Development Application Now Approved

Did you know that the Inala Skate Rink in Serviceton Ave will soon become an all-new sports, recreation and commercial complex?

Lodged by the Ann & Bros Pty Ltd in 2018, the plans concerning the Inala Skate Rink proposes that the site be renovated, and turned into a three-storey sports and commercial centre complete with recreational facilities. These facilities could potentially include a cafe, a grocery, medical and health-based services, and even a fresh produce store.

Photo credit: Brisbane City Council/Development.i

The ground level would house a total of 16 tenancies, and the floor above it would contain a World Gym. Also part of the proposal is the implementation of a new outdoor swimming pool — a decision that will make the new site easy to compare to the original complex set up over 60 years ago given the fact that it also had its own pool.

The Inala Skate Rink was once an incredibly popular site amongst Inala locals, first established in 1959. During its heyday in the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s, it was a treasured landmark and hotspot for young people that spanned generations. In recent times, however, it has fallen into a state of disrepair and dereliction brought about by years of disuse.

Though the project was approved in 2019, details on construction have yet to be fully released. Construction on the site is expected to begin soon. The site of the upcoming development can be found at 54 Serviceton Ave, Inala.

Plans Lodged for Stage 1 of Archerfield Wetlands Parkland

A plan to turn the former Durack wastewater treatment plant into the Archerfield Wetlands Parkland and Interpretive Centre has been submitted to Council. Once approved, it will see the site’s transformation into play area for children, sports and educational centre for the youth, and events centre for the families.

The proposal (DA A005681203), lodged in March 2021, is part of the long-term planning for the Oxley Creek Transformation project and will cover 8.65 hectares of recreational space. The community site will also include provisions to support school workshops, an outdoor cinema, as well as barbecues and picnics sites for groups.

Its most exciting feature is the water play area with its rotating spray arm, sequenced inground spray jets, and rain curtains. The facility will also have its own nursery and potting shed.

Photo Credit: Oxley Creek Transformation

Residents had mixed reactions to the project when it was initially announced in 2019. While many looked forward to the improvements in this suburb, to benefit residents of all ages, some have raised concerns over the potential destruction of the wetlands and the animals that inhabit the site.

The Oxley Creek Transformation project has been set for 20 years with the Archerfield Wetlands Parkland and Interpretive Centre projected for completion by 2026.

However, around 65 percent of the wetlands will be focused on “conservation and vegetation management,” per the official site. This will allow for the community to enjoy the recreational facilities whilst a significant portion of the site will be an open green space.

Stage 1 of the construction could start in early 2022.

Malia Knox: 9-Year-Old Fights for New Female Monuments in Queensland

After a trip to the Sherwood Arboretum, nine-year-old girl Malia Knox urged the Queensland Government to provide proper representation for women and girls across the State via public statues, pictures and plaques.

During a visit to the Sherwood Arboretum with her mother, Kelley Knox, Malia questioned why all the plaques at the central promenade were dedicated to men. With her curiosity piqued, she sought out to see if there were any public monuments within the area dedicated to women.

Malia’s research has revealed that there are currently only three statues of women in Brisbane: the suffragette Emma Miller, Lady Diamantina Bowen, and Laura Geitz, the captain of the Australian Diamonds. This revelation, combined with the fact that there were six statues of men at Suncorp Stadium alone, prompted Malia to begin her project: #femalefaces4publicplaces.

Following Malia’s efforts, the Palaszczuk Government has shown its willingness and support. Shannon Fentiman, Attorney-General and Minister for Women, stands with Malia and applauds her for her work towards gender equality.

Malia Knox is just 9 years old, but she's already creating change 🙌 pic.twitter.com/O61qDnIfHL
— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) March 10, 2021

“It’s fantastic to see young Queenslanders like Malia are passionate about gender equality,” says Ms. Fentiman. “Speaking out and calling for change. We know there is a huge disparity between male and female representation across our public monuments thanks to Malia’s work on her #femalefaces4publicplaces project.”

The project revolved around the creation of a Parliamentary Petition. This petition vied for the creation of a law that requires 50 per cent of statues, pictures and plaques in public spaces in Queensland to depict real women.

Malia’s project managed to gain almost 800 signatures total. According to Ms. Fentiman, the Palaszczuk Government is committed to making sure the public monuments in Queensland reflect contemporary views as well as the communities people live in.

“By doing all we can to increase the representation of real women and girls in memorials and monuments in Queensland, we are continuing to make a positive difference to the lives of women and girls in Queensland, such as Malia,” Ms. Fentiman concludes.

The park and heritage site that started Malia’s project, the Sherwood Arboretum, can be found at 57 Dewar Terrace, Sherwood.

Fire Pit Complaints Slightly Increase One Year After Council Lifts Ban

Fire pit complaints across Brisbane’s suburbs have had a slight increase nearly one year since the Council overturned the ban and following a trial that came about because of an incident involving an Oxley mum.

In September 2020, Brisbane City Council amended the order on brazier and fire pit use in residential areas.

Under the new law, backyard fire pits are now allowed provided it’s safe, compliant, monitored at all times, and at least 2.5 metres away from the property. The smoke shouldn’t be burned overnight or impact the neighbours, especially those who have respiratory issues. or be burned overnight.

According to Councillor Kim Marx, the Community Health and Safety Chairperson, Council had 487 complaints pertaining to backyard fire pits and 136 complaints about smoke nuisance since June 2020.

Yet Ms Marx said most of the residents have been following the safety practices as the ban has been lifted after the three-month trial.

In contrast, before the trial and the amended order, an Oxley mother’s backyard fire pit party for her kids in April 2020 received 158 complaints and 11 smoke nuisance complaints. The following month, the complaints increased to 203 and 40 for backyard burning and smoke, respectively.

The Oxley mother’s experience raised awareness for the Council’s laws on brazier and fire pit use, which many residents said they were not aware of until this incident. Ms Marx said that the law has been existing since 2000 under the Health, Safety and Amenity Local Law.

Backyard fire pits became popular in 2020 due to the lockdowns as families tried to find other activities with their children.

Luina Bio Confident They Can Help Make New Generation mRNA Vaccines Against COVID-19

Darra-based biotech startup company Luina Bio believes they have the ingredients and the expertise necessary to help produce a new generation of mRNA vaccines to help in the fight against COVID-19.

mRNA vaccines, like the one produced by pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, are at the forefront of the worldwide efforts to contain the coronavirus pandemic.

At the present moment, Luina Bio helps prepare vaccines and proteins for researchers and companies worldwide, with more than 90 per cent of its business coming from overseas clients.

“As a microbial fermentation company, Luina Bio has all the capacity to produce the API – the active pharmaceutical – for mRNA vaccines,” Max Rosetto, Luina’s General Manager (Business Development) explained at a BioMelbourne Network event recently.

Their current capacity allows them to produce 1.4 million doses of the active drug for the vaccines — a number which can be increased to 20 million doses with some investment.

The federal government began discussing the production of the vaccines with numerous local manufacturers, Luina Bio included, in 2020. Government plans are already in place for a COVID-19 vaccine roll-out, with smaller startups volunteering to partake in the creation of mRNA vaccines in the future.

However, Karen Andrews, Minister for Industry, Science and Technology, reiterated that the production of mRNA products at scale is challenging and will take time to develop.

About Luina Bio

Luina Bio, founded and based in Brisbane, has served pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and veterinary industries across the globe for over 20 years by supplying them with manufacturing solutions for biological drugs.

Their primary clients consist of research institutes, universities, and biopharmaceutical development companies. Luina Bio’s manufacturing includes, but is not limited to, recombinant proteins and vaccines, live biotherapeutics, plasmid DNA, and human and veterinary products.
For more information, visit their website.

Graceville Realtor Takes Buyers on a Chopper Ride Over their New Home

Luke Moody, a Graceville real estate agent, is a familiar sight at Archerfield Airport, where he delivers a unique settlement gift for successful property buyers. He takes them on a special flyover to their new home and the view from above is always spectacular.

Having obtained his helicopter licence in the United Kingdom at 16 years old, or before he could get a driver’s licence, Luke has been combining both his passions for flying as a former helicopter instructor and the property market, where he gets to negotiate and deal with all kinds of people.

The idea of taking his clients on a chopper ride has generated a positive response. Instead of a bottle of wine, beautiful flower arrangements or scented candles for their new house, the real estate agent gives buyers a unique and exciting incentive to see Brisbane from a new perspective.

The flyover usually takes 20 minutes from the Archerfield Airport and as a bonus, Luke also shows the clients Brisbane’s remarkable landmarks and the CBD.

Meanwhile, at Hauss Realty, Luke specialises in prestige and waterfront properties as well as new developments. As someone who has been in the industry for some time, he also gives fellow real estate agents advice on preparation and styling and has an extensive contact list of buyers and industry experts.

The negotiator values honest advice and constantly communicates with his clients during the process of helping them obtain their dream house or investments.

AntiWave Supplies Yeronga Memorial Park With New Pool Equipment

Yeronga Memorial Park has received new aquatics equipment in the form of a state-of-the-art net and an innovative pool lane perfect for training.

World cups and tournaments such as FINA World Cup events and the South East Asian Games competitions all make use of the aquatics equipment supplier AntiWave’s tried-and-tested nets. The Commonwealth Games deploys their equipment during water polo matches, as does the Yeronga Park Memorial Swimming pool in Ipswich Road, which is home to the FINA-compliant, AntiWave Global Anti Goal (GAG).

AntiWave’s new Global Anti Goal, which can be found in the Yeronga Memorial Park Swimming Pool
Photo credit: Youtube/AntiWave

On top of the GAG, Yeronga Park Memorial houses one of AntiWave’s recent innovations — the Ultimate Swimming Lane, which features a high-floating and extremely durable lane rope fashioned from high density structural foam. This protective piece of equipment has a soft-touch finish that makes it suitable for training and general aquatics lane division and use.

AntiWave pool lane
Photo credit: AntiWave

A Brief History of AntiWave

Starting this year, AntiWave, founded by Anti Kajlich, celebrates 50 years of distributing equipment to pools in over 150 countries, including ones in Australia, with sturdy water polo nets and other high-grade pool equipment.

Anti Kajlich, who was once a professional Water polo goalie and now reigns as the current 2017 FINA Masters 70+ Goalie, first founded the aquatic equipment company AntiWave in 1971. The company’s equipment first came into the limelight when they were used for the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, on top of the 1st World Aquatics Championship in Cali, Colombia in 1975.

To this day, Anti continues to play water polo well into his 70’s in the FINA Masters Competitions. His son, Anton Kajlich, works as AntiWave’s General Manager. Like his father, Anton also plays water polo, taking on the position of goalie. Together, father and son have worked to maintain AntiWave’s status as a world-leading and innovative aquatic equipment designer and supplier.

Sherwood Bus Depot: Why Council Spent $132 Million to Buy Back Property

Brisbane City Council spent $132 million to buy back the Sherwood Bus Depot after selling the block to private owners for $21 million in 2009.

Council made the purchase in December 2020, prompting a debate among the councillors during a recent deliberation of the quarterly financial documents. However, Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the decision was “financially responsible.”

Mr Schrinner said that Council sold a vacant land 12 years ago, which is now the home to a strategical and significant world-class facility. The mayor said that the Sherwood Bus Depot is an important asset for Brisbane’s bus networks.

Photo Credit: Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner/Facebook

But this wasn’t the first mistake Council made on the same property, according to Councillor Jared Cassidy and Councillor Nicole Johnston.

Ms Johnston said that her ward could use the $132 million for “every project I’ve ever wanted to do.”

After Council sold the land, the owners, Morstem No.1 Pty Ltd, built the bus depot, which was leased to the government in 2012 for 25 years. The latest financial documents showed that rental fees for the depot in 2020 cost Council $6.3 million.

Ms Johson said that this decision was not in the ratepayer’s best interest. In another Facebook post, Mr Cassidy said this was a “strange deal.”

“We can only assume that this means the bus depot will be on-sold to the Council’s private development company, City of Brisbane Investment Corporation (CBIC). That will mean there will still be ongoing rent costs for ratepayers and then some of that rent is paid back to council as a ‘dividend,'” Mr Cassidy wrote.