This tradition has become a favourite for many families in Chelmer and nearby suburbs such as Sherwood, Graceville, and Corinda. The parade is inspired by Germany’s lantern parade held on Saint Martin’s Day when children from community Kindergartens come together to walk with their lanterns after dark.
In Germany, the celebration happens every 11 November, however, in order for the event to be done in the most successful way possible, the date has been tweaked according to the city’s climate and season so participants can fully enjoy the celebration.
Children are invited to create and bring their own lanterns to show off during the parade. It will be a great way to keep children busy and creative.
The event will be on 22 June at the Faulkner Park Netball Courts. It will begin at 4:30 p.m. and end at 7:00 p.m. The actual parade will begin at 6:00 p.m.
There will be delicious German food, music, and drinks available at the event.
Address: Faulkner Park, Waratah Avenue, Leybourne St, Graceville QLD 4075, AU
Brisbane suburbs such as Oxley and Inala are among the top suburbs when it comes to car theft in the state. This is according to data released by The Royal Automobile Club of Queensland (RACQ), ranking the top suburbs with the most number of claims for car theft in Queensland from 2015-2017.
In the past three years, the RACQ received over 50,000 claims for stolen vehicles. The worst place in Queensland for car theft is in Southport.
Top 10 suburbs for stolen cars (1 January 2015 to 31 December 2017)
Southport
Red Hill
Harristown
Caboolture
Inala
Sunnybank Hills
Zillmere
Oxley
Fortitude Valley
Arundel
Source: RACQ
RACQ also noted that Toyota Landcruiser, Ford Falcon and Toyota Corolla are the vehicle models that tend to be appealing to thieves as well.
Police Warning
The number of car theft in the Centenary and south Brisbane areas also grabbed the attention of local police.
According to the Centenary Police, the vehicles that have been targeted over the past contains valuable belongings inside the vehicle.
The alarming number of car theft in Oxley and Inala prompted the Centenary Police to remind residents to always secure their vehicles in a locked garage if possible. For those who park on the street or open areas, always take your valuable with you. Parking in a well-lit spot is highly-recommended as well.
Should you notice any suspicious activity, report it at 131 444.
Brisbane City Council’s Kerbside Collection is coming to Sherwood and its surrounding suburbs including Chelmer, Graceville, Sherwood, Corinda, and Oxley on Monday, 4 June 2018.
The Kerbside Collection may be an annual event, but it still pays to check some of the good old advice on getting ready for the collection day. You can even get the Council’s free Brisbane Bin and Recycling app to help you prepare for the event.
Scavengers are not new to Kerbside Collection since they have been “operational” for years now. As they say, one man’s trash can be another man’s treasure, so who wouldn’t want to get useful stuff for free?
Photo credit: CC-BY/sergejf/Flickr
For creative scavengers, some of the stuff that is thrown out the kerb can easily be repurposed or upcycled into something new. Like this old television that has been upcycled into a fish tank.
Photo credit: CC-BY/Marit & Toomas Hinnosaar/Flickr
Or this fridge that has been transformed into a chic dog house.
Other scavengers also scour piles on the kerbside for copper that they can get from the discarded electronics. This is where some things get really dirty.
Photo credit: CCO Public Domain / Alexas_Fotos / Pixabay
In the past, residents have been complaining about scavengers who pry their discarded electronics open in search for the money-making copper which can be sold for up to $7 per kilo. Whilst there is no problem with people trying to make money out of trash, the problems start when scavengers leave the pile of discarded metal they just opened scattered all over the place.
For scavengers who are ready to go out there for their loot, here are some friendly reminders for you before you hit the kerb.
Know when to go
Check the dates for the Kerbside Collection online so you can be updated with the collection dates for your area.
Come prepared
Take a ute or a truck so you can have room for the awesome stuff you might find.
Be considerate
Even if you’re only scavenging for copper from a pile of electronics and appliances, make sure to leave the pile as tidy as you can. There might be children running around the place and anything that’s broken can pose some serious hazard for them.
Keep other scavengers in mind
You might be inclined to only take what you need and break some stuff, but there are scavengers out there who might be able to repair those stuff and actually use them.
Scavenging can be helpful to a community since it is a great way to recycle unwanted things. Just remember to be mindful of your manners as you go about scavenging and have fun, you’ll never know what surprises could be out there.
Earlier this year, the site of the abandoned Oxley Secondary College caught fire in an accident that later on triggered fears of asbestos inhalation around the neighbourhood. The building has been abandoned for years and locals fear the possibility of asbestos infiltration.
Even before the fire, the building had been under an ongoing debate about what to do with it and now, there finally seems to be some clarity on the fate of the derelict building.
Currently, rectification works are ongoing to resolve critical issues on the site. A huge percentage of the locals want the area to be transformed into an area for public use.
Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning Cameron Dick is psyched about planning and implementing something for the benefit of the locals at the building site.
Previous Plans
In 2016, a panel of eight residents talked to Economic Development Queensland about the best approach for the disposition of the building. The main concern of the residents was that the area is not suitable for a residential property as the site is prone to flooding and landslides. However, they are not entirely averse to the idea of residential development. Should a residential development ensue, they would like to see the land developed safely.
The site was acquired from Education Queensland by the Department of Natural Resources and Mines in 2002. At the time, it was used as a police dog training facility. In 2001, it was declared surplus to government needs. Currently, the site occupies 19.28 hectares of land but the average lot size proposed for the site should the aged care facility pushes through is 800 square metres.
Current Plans
Plans for turning the building into an aged care facility is currently on the discussion table. It will be pitched to the community at various information sessions at the end of May. The information sessions will tackle a combination of residential and community outcomes with the intent to preserve open spaces.
The plans will also involve the relocation of an existing C&K child care centre to the site. Also, 60% of the site will be for public use.
Have your say on 31 May at 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and on 2 June at 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Oxley Bowls Club. Register here.
Brisbane City Council has unveiled the draft master plan that will transform Oxley Creek into a world-class green, lifestyle and leisure open space.
The council has earmarked $100 million for the project, which is expected to bring about environmental, social and economic benefits to the community.
Managing the ambitious project is Oxley Creek Transformation Pty Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary company of the BCC formed specifically to realise the vision for the waterway. For a long time, Oxley Creek has suffered from industrial pollution and contamination. Through the project, the council will revitalise the waterway and resolve existing issues.
The Plan
Under the draft master plan, the Oxley Creek corridor will be turned into a massive parkland complete with leisure and recreational facilities. More importantly, the plan would address environmental issues around the waterway extending from the Brisbane River at Tennyson up to Larapinta.
Photo credit: www.oxleycreek.com.au
The future Oxley Creek parkland will run through the suburbs of Graceville, Sherwood, Rocklea, Corinda, Oxley, Archerfield, Willawong, Acacia Ridge, Pallara and Heathwood.
Several opportunities will be explored under the draft master plan. These include:
improving flood resilience and water quality;
restoring wildlife habitats;
reuse of stormwater and other measures that allow the natural environment to thrive;
creating new open spaces for people to gather, relax, play and connect with others;
improving north-south and cross-corridor pedestrian and cycle connectivity along the creek and its open spaces, and;
supporting and enhancing the local economy through commercial opportunities, new facilities and activation.
Graceville Croquet Club is one of the Building Stronger Communities Grants 2017-18 grant recipients who received funding to help in developing their facilities and improving their governance and long-term organisational sustainability. A total of 69 organisations were granted a total funding of $2,509,597.66.
The Council’s Building Stronger Communities Grants Program focuses on helping community-based, not-for-profit organisations in linking residents to recreation and promoting their wellbeing.
It supports community facilities that promote community sport, recreational, cultural and social activities that help in strengthening the physical, cultural, mental, and social well-being of the community.
Photo credit: www.croquetqld.org
The program has three categories comprised of Community Facility Maintenance, Community Facility Development, and Organisational Development.
The funding granted to Graceville Croquet Club will be used to improve their facilities. Specifically, it will help in replacing the flooring and facilities in the kitchen, toilet, and storage area of the clubhouse to improve safety and accessibility of their facilities. This will also help in increasing the use of the facility at Graceville Memorial Park.
The program is part of the Council’s efforts to achieve Brisbane Vision 2031. Organisations that qualified as recipients under the Building Stronger Communities Grants Program help in creating an active, healthy, safe, and friendly community.
Volunteer groups are calling on the Brisbane City Council to replace the shelter at the Cliveden Avenue Park in Oxley. The groups are the ones maintaining local parks and waterways. However, most of the time, they are left under the rain whilst doing their work at the park.
The park used to have a shelter until it burned down. The council hasn’t replaced it and there is only a new picnic table at the site. Now, the volunteers are demanding for a new shelter that they could use when doing work at the park.
Lord Mayor Graham Quirk responded that the groups would have to make do with a portable shelter provided by the council. The council thinks that the portable shelter is more fitting since the area isn’t frequently used.
Oxley Creek Catchment Association said that it is not only them who go to the area. There are also many groups from the church, the community, as well as schools who go there and would benefit from a proper shelter.
Tennyson councillor Cr Nicole Johnston launched a petition addressed to the council to replace the shelter shed urgently to provide volunteers and other people shade and shelter. Ms Johnston also said that the bush care group deserves this as they are working hard to maintain and enhance the local environment on behalf of the council.
Cr Steve Griffiths(Moorooka Ward) also supports the need for a proper shelter shed at the park.
To commemorate the 35th year of Jump Rope for Heart, a Jump Off Day was held at the school on 28 March 2018. During the event, the kids showed off the skills and knowledge they have learned through the program. Prizes were handed out to participants, with the top fundraisers rewarded with GoPro cameras and Oingo Boingos.
The skipping team is made up of members from the school. For years, they have done numerous demonstrations all around the Brisbane area and beyond. Aside from Brisbane, they have also toured places such as New Zealand and Tasmania.
This year, the members have raised nearly $18,000. The top fundraiser this year is Chelsea with $1,302. You can view the leaderboard here.
About the Program
Any school can participate in the Jump Rope for Heart program. Upon registration, they are given a resource kit explaining how to conduct the program. It runs over a three- to nine-week period, during which, students will collect donations and participate in various activities organised by the school.
The Heart Foundation is dedicated to spread awareness and keep everyone active for heart health. The leading cause of death in the country is heart disease and a major cause is inactivity.
Starting children with physical activity and instilling knowledge about heart health at this age is essential.
Another beloved Oxley shop will be closing in April. In the southwest suburbs, this makes it the third store to close in recent months.
Opened in 2014, Bowerbird is a popular boutique in the suburb. It offers an eclectic mix of handmade and indie designer gifts. The store also has items from well-known Brisbane designers such as Core Jewellery and Each to Own.
The shop is that place where locals go to if they are looking for unique finds.
Sadly, the store announced its closure on its Facebook page. The owner, Jenn Shell, cited health reasons and personal circumstances as the reason behind the decision to close the store. As of now, she chooses to spend more time with her children.
Still, she reminds her loyal customers to continue supporting local goods. Currently, the shop is selling its items at huge discounts until 14 April.
Many are saddened by the news as her post got flooded with comments.
This is the second beloved Oxley store that will be closing. Oxley’s Network Video, Brisbane’s last walk-in video store has also closed its doors earlier this month.
If you want to be a part of the competition, register your name by sending a Facebook message here. You will also be required to bring six hot cross buns to share during the community morning tea after the judging.
Get a chance to win a gold coin entry and generous prizes sponsored by Mr Dick.
The QCWA is the largest women’s organisation in Queensland. It’s an organisation that allows the meeting of women from all over the state to make new friends, learn new skills, and get involved in the community.
