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Our World Art Fest 2018 Event in Graceville

On 7-9 September, Graceville Uniting Church and Milpera State High School will present Our World Art Fest 2018. The second annual major art exhibition by Milpera students is a three-day community event and programme of art and cultural activities.

One of Our World Art Fest 2018 highlights will be a showcase of local music talents through the “Calling Local Musos for Sounds of Our World” competition.  Performers with 1-5 musicians will perform acoustic music acts or performance with just basic sound requirements (bringing their own instrument).

Visitors will get to vote for their favourite act. The artist or band with the most votes will win $100 and one voter will win $50. There will be seven time-slots, with 10-15 minutes each, available for hourly performances.

Photo credit: Graceville Uniting Church/Facebook

Our World Art Fest Featured Activities

  • Own the art, a silent auction with art bid starting at $25 per item.
  • “Sounds of Our World” opening concert on 7 September. This will be a public concert featuring local and indigenous talents. Key community representatives will be gracing the event as well.
  • “Sounds of Our World” Music Fest featuring local and indigenous talents performing in the church hourly. The winner stands to receive a $100 prize.
  • First Nation’s Indigenous Cultural activities. Fun activities of learning and experiencing for all ages, around the big tree on the corner of Oxley Rd and Verney Rd East. Activities include storytelling, music, dance, ochre painting.
  • Help Asylum Seekers Resource Centre with a gold coin donation on entry.
Photo credit: Graceville Uniting Church/Facebook
Photo credit: Graceville Uniting Church/Facebook

Read:  Queensland Multicultural Month Features Global Adventures Inala

Graceville Uniting Church is a heritage listed Cathedral located on Oxley Rd, Graceville. Milpera State High School, on the hand, offers education to newly arrived migrants and refugees who need to develop their English language skills.

Our World Art Fest is a cultural experience celebrating diversity and fostering unity among members of the community through art and music.

For information about this event, check out Graceville Uniting Church website, Facebook page, or call (07) 3379-6372.

215 Oxley Rd Graceville

Graceville State School Fete Is Almost Here!

Graceville State School’s Fete is almost here. Their biggest fundraiser event is happening on 25 August from 6:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Each year, the school aims to maximise fun for the kids whilst minimising the efforts of the parents. This fun-filled event will feature fun performances, delicious food, interesting activities, and many more!

Students will perform at the event along with other local performers. You can view the program schedule here.

Photo credit: Graceville State School Fete / Facebook

Kids will have fun at the petting zoo or riding the ponies in the adventure playground. There will also be a Geckos Wildlife demonstration in the afternoon.

Entertaining rides will also be present at the event such as the Giant Slide, Ferris Wheel, Speed Racer and many more. You can purchase your tickets here.

Photo credit: Graceville State School Fete / Facebook

Don’t miss out on the grand bazaar! This is the perfect place to be if you want to some shopping. There is a wide range of products here from books, toys, and many more.

There will also be food stalls and a coffee shop. Adults can also enjoy the art show showcasing the works of Prep, Year 1 and Year 2 students. Their artworks will be put on sale at the event.

Photo credit: Graceville State School Fete / Facebook

A live auction and a Cent sale will definitely keep the adults preoccupied at the event. While you’re at it, you also might want to get a booze or two from the bar.

And then end the night with a magnificent display of fireworks.

Entrance to the event is FREE.

Address: 23 Acacia Avenue, Graceville

Former Oxley Secondary College Site Declared as Priority Development Area

Development work at the former Oxley Secondary College site will be accelerated following its declaration as a Priority Development Area (PDA) on 10 August 2018.

As part of the state government’s Advancing our cities and regions strategy, the Oxley site was identified as an exemplary urban renewal precinct.

Aerial View of Former Oxley Secondary College Site Photo credit: haveyoursay.dsdmip.qld.gov.au

Plans for the development of the old Oxley Secondary College site include the construction of a new residential community within a bushland setting, aged care facility, integrated community facilities, and the relocation of the existing C&K Yuingi child care centre.

Read: Oxley’s Abandoned School Might Be Turned Into An Aged Care Facility, Locals Encouraged To Attend Information Sessions This Month

What is a Priority Development Area (PDA)?

A Priority Development Area (PDA) is a parcel of land identified for specific development that facilitates economic development and development for community purposes.

The declaration of the Oxley PDA provides an opportunity for the speedy delivery of innovative and best practice urban design on the site.

Currently, an Interim Land Use Plan (ILUP) is in effect and will remain in place for up to 12 months while the development scheme is being prepared by the Economic Development Queensland (EDQ). The Oxley ILUP provides the planning framework to allow early works to begin including the demolition of existing buildings.

Transformation of the Former Oxley Secondary College Site

Photo credit: www.dsdmip.qld.gov.au

Following the community consultation on the plans for the derelict site, a total of 146 responses were received and considered by the EDQ in the preparation of the ILUP.

Feedback from the community included key areas of support focusing on the overall development outcome, the principles to encourage visual amenity, and the provision of community uses including the relocation of the Yuingi C&K child care centre out of the location that flooded in 2011.

Areas of concern that were raised by the community in relation to the initial concept included the impact the proposed development on traffic conditions, the height and density of the buildings to be constructed, community purposes of the development, and the extent of the development footprint.

ILUP Precinct Plan Photo credit: www.dsdmip.qld.gov.au

With the careful consideration of these issues, EDQ promises to preserve high-value vegetation on the site, remediate and protect the landslip prone area, build detached houses only on average 800-sqm lots, and provide a flood free child care centre and aged care/retirement precinct.

Moreover, 80% of the site will be dedicated to total open space incorporating endangered vegetation, roads, revegetated zones, public open space, and private vegetation. The development will have a 20% building footprint that will include new buildings, houses, child care centre, and aged care/retirement.

Next Steps for the Development

Community feedback will still be reflected in the development scheme that is being prepared by the EDQ. Once the development scheme is ready, it will be made publicly available for community consultation.

Community engagement events will be undertaken as part of this process which is expected to occur in early 2019.

After the public notification period, any necessary amendments will be made before the final development scheme is approved.

Project Timeline

August 2018 – PDA declaration
Late 2018 – Demolition of existing  school buildings
Early 2019 – Public notification of  development scheme
Mid 2019 – Development scheme approval and construction commences

For more information, you may visit the official page of the Oxley Priority Development Area.

 

Darrell Lea Soon to Serve Ice Cream, Muffins and Rocklea Road Flavours

Darrell Lea is expanding and will be adding ice cream and muffins into its line up of popular sweet treats along with chocolate, liquorice and other confectioneries.  Darrell Lea today has multiple branches across Australia, including Sherwood, Chelmer, and Oxley.

Photo credit: Darrell Lea/Facebook

Big Come Back

It was back in 2012 when the financially struggling company was acquired by Tony and Christina Quinn who resuscitated Darrell Lea back in business from its voluntary administration. That meant cutting the product line, closing down stores, and expanding the list of retailers carrying the Darrell Lea products.

The changes seemed to have worked their magic as the company saw its revenue growing since 2013. In 2017 alone, Darrell Lea’s revenue totalled $81.2 million.

From the Quinn family, Quadrant Private Equity purchased Darrell Lea in January 2018 for about $200 million. Tony and Christina Quinn, however, retains a significant number of shares in the company.

Photo credit: Darrell Lea/Facebook

Partnerships with Famous Food Brands

In 2018, Darrell Lea is getting bigger and better, offering a wider range of sweet treats Australians will go crazy about. First off is their partnership with Everest Ice Cream to sell Darrell Lea variants such as Rocklea Road, peppermint nougat, and peanut brittle.

Darrell Lea has also acquired from Nestle its Lifesavers brand bringing the manufacturing of our best-loved lolly back to Australian shores. The Rocklea Road flavours will also be launched based on Adriano Zumbo’s macaron range as well as a partnership with Muffin Break for new muffin products.

It looks like more things are coming our way from our beloved and one of the oldest original Australian brands.

Queensland Multicultural Month Features Global Adventures Inala

This August, Queensland celebrates its annual Multicultural Month, the state’s largest multicultural celebration. Included in this month’s celebration is the Global Adventures Inala, which is organised by the Inala Youth Service.

Queensland Multicultural Month is an opportunity for people from across the state to come together, celebrate and appreciate our diversity through performance, art, food, and sharing stories.

This 2018, each week in the Queensland Multicultural Month will have the following theme:

  • Move (1st – 5th August) – Sport, recreation and the arts
  • Connect (6th – 12th August) – Relax, socialize, and reflect on our unique heritage and history
  • Speak (13th – 19th August) – Speak up and share your languages, your culture and your journey with your fellow Queenslanders
  • Grow (20th – 26th August) – State’s business sector’s opportunity to grow a more diverse workforce and support structured career paths for new Queenslanders

“Queensland is a wonderful diverse state, with more than 1 of 5 of us born overseas,” Multicultural Development Australia (MDA) CEO Kerrin Benson said.

“Events like Global Adventures help us to get to know our neighbours and build strong communities where diversity of experiences and perspective is a strength,” Ms Benson said.

Photo credit:Multicultural Affairs Queensland/Facebook

 

The festival is aimed at showcasing the finest food, art, performance, and fashion unique to the community. “We are extending the invitation to everybody in the Greater Brisbane region who would like to come celebrate our strong, diverse and proud community,” Inala Youth Service CEO Lisa Evans said

Inala is considered a melting pot of people with half of its population born overseas. “While there are many cultural groups with a large presence in Inala there are also many emerging cultural communities who will be given the opportunity to publicly showcase their culture at the festival,” Ms Evan further said.

 

Photos from Queensland Multicultural Month 2017

Photo credit: Yeronga State High School/Facebook
Photo credit:David Sparks Photography/Facebook
Photo credit:David Sparks Photography/Facebook
Photo credit: Brisbane Multicultural Arts Centre (BEMAC)/Facebook
Photo credit: Multicultural Affairs Queensland/Facebook

Some of the must see places that will be showcased to Inala visitors:

  • Cultural Hub – a gastronomic experience of Inala’s culturally diverse culinary specialties at the Civic Centre, Kittyhawk Ave.
  • Park Life – highlighting our beautiful parks including one of the biggest, the DJ Sherrington Park.
  • Independent Grocers – fresh herbs, exotic produce, and other hard-to-find ingredients.
  • Bakeries –  spotlights Vietnamese bakeries specialties like the Banh Mi of Minh Tan Bakery.

Global Adventures Inala is happening on August 17, 2018, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the DJ Sherrington Park, 601 Blunder Rd, Inala.

Walking Netball Sessions For Women In Graceville

Every Sunday afternoons, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., women are invited to come and play Walking Netball in Graceville.

Consider this activity a “less strenuous” version of the sport. Walking Netball does not involve any running or jumping, which means it can cater to all fitness levels. This is a great way to keep active and try netball with less stress.

The sessions are held at Western Districts Netball Association at Faulkner Park and facilitated by Nitro Netball. Nitro delivers fun and progressive Netball sessions. For more details, click here.

Nitro believes that Netball is for all people of all sizes and the sport itself has a place for everyone regardless of their size, speed, agility, and height. With this program happening at the park, it’s a great way to stay active and appreciate netball.

New Service Road Connections at Oxley Added To The Ipswich Motorway Upgrade

The Ipswich Motorway Upgrade will have extra works, including a new extension to Boundary Road to add new service road connections across the Oxley Creek floodplains.

With the design finalised in March 2018 for the $400 million upgrade from Rocklea to Darra, the extra works were recently announced to further improve safety and reduce traffic congestion on the motorway.

“The inclusion of the Boundary Road connection will deliver even more benefits to the 85,000 motorists who use the Ipswich Motorway daily by providing a critical link to improve safety and local connectivity,” according to Federal Minister for Urban Infrastructure and Cities Paul Fletcher.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk sees the addition of the new service roads as a step forward in reducing congestion.

“Adding new service roads means there is an alternative for motorists and truckies other than using the motorway for that section,” the Premier said.

“As I’ve said before, this project will not only improve safety and travel times for motorists, it will support 470 direct jobs which is great news for local workers and business.”

Stage 1 of the Rocklea to Darra Upgrade will involve the following:

  • Additional four to six lanes
  • Higher bridges over Oxley creek, including seven new bridges
  • New southern service road connection from Rocklea industrial precinct to the Oxley commercial and retail areas
  • New northern service road connection over Oxley Creek floodplain
  • New traffic signals at the Suscatand Street intersection

This major upgrade is set to be completed in late 2020.

View project details here

Vinnies Oxley Opens, Looking For Volunteers

Vinnies, by now a valuable part of Australian communities, has over 500 charity stores in the country. The most recent one to open in Brisbane is its Oxley store.

Vinnies Oxley opened on the 21st of June at the corner of the Factory Road loop. It offers plenty of items that you can browse through, from clothing such as men’s shirts, ladies’ items, and even children clothes, to wedding gowns, to books, to homewares, and many more.

The best thing about it? You can find unique items here for a very affordable price and you get to help others in need as well.

Photo credit: Vinnies QLD / Facebook

The St Vincent de Paul Society has 40,000 members and volunteers. In each charity shop, all the profits from the sale are used to provide resources and support to people in need.

By being a volunteer, whether a regular or not, you can make a huge difference. Most of the volunteers take this opportunity to use their skills and experience to make a difference in the lives of people whilst others use this chance to learn new skills and acquire experience in a supportive environment.

Currently, this new branch is looking for volunteers. You can contact Naomi at oxley.shop@svdpqld.org.au

Address: 63 Factory Road, Oxley, QLD

Get Fresh Organic Produce Delivered to Your Doorstep with Farm Fresh Organics

With a mission to promote organic farming in Australia, Farm Fresh Organics makes organic produce more accessible with the help of their home delivery service.

Farm Fresh Organics promises to deliver organic food that is better for your health and the environment by growing, researching, and selling locally sourced organic produce.

Photo credit: Facebook/Farm Fresh Organics

Inspired by their years of experience in travelling to the world’s best organic farms for ten years, owners Shane and Cath Heaton discovered the importance of organic farming in helping people have better health. The business also encourages farmers to adopt sustainable farming practices to reduce the impact on the environment for the benefit of this and future generations.

Each of the organic products they sell comes from certified organic growers that they are supporting around Australia. Farm Fresh Organics allows you to eat healthy, support organic growers in the country, and encourage sustainable farming for the benefit of the next generation.

Photo credit: Facebook/Farm Fresh Organics

The store offers set boxes which include a combination of different fruits and vegetables as well as seasonal ones. You can specify up to three exclusions of things you don’t want, however, you can’t request for produce to be included since their custom boxes depend on the availability of the produce. If you want to order specific fruits and vegetables, you can order them in addition to the set box. Check out the store’s FAQs to learn more about the product that comes in their set boxes.

To learn more about Farm Fresh Organics and place your order, visit their official website.

Celebrate the Peaks to Points Festival 2018 in Rocklea & Nearby Suburbs

The Peaks to Points Festival 2018, supported by the Brisbane City Council, will run for 16 days this month from 14-29 July. There will be over 35 family events across the city, in places such as Rocklea, Corinda, and many more. There will also be events happening in the Redlands and Ipswich as part of the festival.

Here in the west, these are some of the events that you shouldn’t miss.

14 July

Birdwalk at Granard Wetlands
(7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.)

Hosted by the Oxley Creek Catchment Association (OCCA) and Birds Queensland, go on a bird walk with your family and catch sight of the most beautiful birds along with other reptiles and amphibians.

Booking is essential. Book via 3354 5541 or info@oxleycreekcatchment.org.au

Address: Granard Wetlands at Marshall Rd, Rocklea

Twilight Tour of Cliveden Pocket
(3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.)

Photo credit: Department of Environment and Heritage Protection

Another event hosted by the OCCA in partnership with Cliveden Avenue Reserve Bushcare Group, see many species of plants. You also get to see the endangered Angle Stemmed Mrytle here. The tour ends with a light supper.

Booking is essential. Book via 3354 5541 or info@oxleycreekcatchment.org.au

Address: Meet at 430 Cliveden Ave Reserve, Corinda

18 July

Family Day
(10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.)

This is the main festival family event! Have fun with the whole family with so many activities to enjoy. Kids will love the face painting booth and the farm animals.

Whilst you’re there, good live entertainment will keep you on that festive mood. There will also be a line-up of food and drink stalls.

You can also catch a lot of sustainability exhibitors at the event.

Address: Oxley Creek Common, 428 Sherwood Road, Rocklea

Greenbank Military Training Area Tour
(9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.)

Photo credit: Weekend Notes

It’s not every day you get to tour the Greenbank Military Training Area and now here’s a chance to do so! Here you can see one of the only five remaining vine forests south of the Brisbane River.

BYO lunch, snacks and water.

For OCCA members, the tour is free. Non-members will have to pay $20 each.

Booking is essential. Book via 3354 5541 or info@oxleycreekcatchment.org.au

Address: Bus pick up and drop off from Browne Street, Corinda Railway Station

21 July

Learning While Managing Native Flora & Fauna Habitats
(6:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.)

Hosted by Pennywort Creek Bushcare Group, this is an event that will have you digging, planting, and watering plants. There will also be an Identify & Control Problem Weeds demonstration.

After the activities, you will be taken on a walk to see the angle-stemmed myrtle and finish it off with a morning tea.

Address: George Scarlett Park, Cnr Cliveden Ave & Pratten St, Corinda

Bird Spotting at the Oxley Creek Common
(7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.)

Hosted by Birds QLD, this is a 4.5km walk around the Oxley Common. You get to observe the many species of birds that can be found here.

BYO snacks and drinks and there will be binoculars available.

RSVP to Paul Marty – 0418 899 967 (phone/text)

Address: Oxley Creek Common, 428 Sherwood Rd, Rocklea