Read: Graceville State School Joins Active School Travel Program

The pair lost touch nearly a decade ago, as life so often dictates. But recently, an unexpected discovery in an aged care home newsletter quietly undid all that lost time.

Ula, a resident at Regis Chelmer, was flicking through her home’s monthly resident newsletter when a familiar face stopped her cold. There, in print, was her long-lost friend Elizabeth, living at Regis Holland Park, just a 20-minute drive away.

It is the kind of coincidence that feels almost engineered. Two women, whose friendship was forged in a Graceville schoolyard, had each found their way to neighbouring Regis aged care homes, and neither had known it.

Once Ula flagged her discovery with staff at Regis Chelmer, the wheels were set in motion. Employees at Regis Chelmer arranged a reunion, and the two friends were brought back together for what, by all accounts, was an emotional morning.

For Elizabeth, the moment of seeing her friend again carried a weight that is hard to put into words.

“It was just wonderful, seeing my lovely friend Ula again,” she said. “When we said goodbye, I didn’t want to let her go.”

Ula felt it too, that rare and quietly astonishing sensation of a friendship simply resuming, as though the intervening years were little more than a long weekend.

“Our friendship has truly been a happy story,” she said. “It feels like no time has passed at all, we just picked up right where we left off.”

There is something particular about the friendships formed in the parenthood years, standing at school fences, sharing the quiet pride of watching your children find their footing in the world. Those bonds, built on the ordinary rhythms of school drop-offs and afternoon pickups, can run surprisingly deep. For Ula and Elizabeth, a friendship born in Graceville clearly did.

Regis, the proudly Australian-owned aged care provider that operates both Chelmer and Holland Park homes, has facilities across the country and has built its reputation on person-centred care, shaping services around the individual rather than the other way around. In this case, that ethos extended to recognising the importance of a resident’s social and emotional world, and acting on it.

The reunion, it turns out, is just the beginning. The geographical closeness of the two homes has opened the door to regular inter-home visits, and the next catch-up is already in the diary. Ula and Elizabeth are set to attend a high tea together on 19 May, a fitting occasion for two women whose friendship has endured the test of time.

For families with elderly loved ones, stories like this one carry a gentle but important reminder: meaningful connection does not have an expiry date. The simple act of reconnecting a resident with a lost friend, sparked here by nothing more than a newsletter photograph, can make an outsized difference to a person’s sense of belonging and joy.

Read: Graceville Volunteer Katie McCord Recognised as Youth Award Finalist

In Graceville and its surrounding suburbs, community ties can run long and deep. Perhaps it is not so surprising that a school friendship from years gone by found its way back to the surface. Some connections, it seems, simply wait.

Published 30-April-2026

The post From Graceville State School to Neighbouring Aged Care Homes: A Friendship Finds Its Way Back appeared first on Over The Walter Taylor Bridge.

Read: Historic Graceville Homes Sells for $1.8M after Stunning Renovation

The warning comes as schools across Queensland report a rise in influenza, gastroenteritis, and COVID-19 cases during Term 3. According to education officials, this seasonal increase in sickness is common at this time of year, but the impact is being felt strongly in Graceville where absences have already disrupted classrooms.

Staff at Graceville State School said families should not send children to school if they are displaying symptoms. They reminded parents that illnesses spread more easily in colder months, and that confirmed cases of notifiable diseases such as influenza should be reported to the school community.

Protocols and exclusion rules

Under Queensland Health guidelines, students who are unwell must remain home until fully recovered. Children with chickenpox must stay away until blisters have dried and at least five days after symptoms appear. Those with diarrhoea or vomiting need to be symptom-free for at least 24 hours, extended to 48 hours in confirmed norovirus cases. Conditions including tuberculosis and typhoid require medical clearance before a student can return to class.

Not all health concerns result in absences. Students with head lice, glandular fever, or cold sores are permitted to attend school once treatment has started and hygiene measures are maintained. These rules are designed to reduce the speed at which infections spread in classrooms where close contact is common.

Health officials’ response

The Queensland Education Department confirmed that illnesses are being reported in schools across the state. A spokesperson said that while the current pattern is consistent with previous years, staff and student wellbeing remains the department’s top priority. Schools are following strict health protocols, with children who become ill during the school day sent home immediately.

Local principals have been advised to consult their nearest Public Health Unit if outbreaks are suspected or if families raise concerns about specific conditions. The department said monitoring will continue, with daily updates from schools used to track attendance and illness levels.

Broader community impact

Recent health data shows that the state has already recorded more than 200 hospital admissions for flu in a single week and dozens of flu-related deaths this year. Vaccination rates among children remain below average despite free access, and health experts continue to encourage families to consider flu shots as a preventative step.

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Graceville’s warning reflects the broader challenges faced by schools during winter. Officials said community cooperation—particularly keeping children at home when they are unwell—remains the most effective way to protect classmates, staff, and vulnerable family members.

Published 27-Aug-2025

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The issue on the sports uniform change emerged during a P&C meeting earlier this year when the P&C approved the removal of house names like Cook, Flinders, and Kennedy from the sports uniforms.

This decision triggered a wave of backlash, leaving some locals feeling sidelined and disheartened. Concerned parents claim they were caught off guard, with their opinions seemingly brushed aside.

Some have voiced disappointment, citing concerns of erasing history and diminishing national pride. Others, however, perceive it as a step towards fostering inclusivity.

Controversies surrounding school uniforms are not uncommon in the area, with previous debates revolving around matters such as appropriate footwear and uniform styles. Many parents now feel that their views are disregarded, exacerbating the frustration over the current issue.

Adding to the dissatisfaction, parents claim they were only informed about the sports uniform change through a uniform shop newsletter, without prior notification or an opportunity to vote on the matter.

This alleged lack of transparency has fueled more resentment, adding to the perception that the decision was made behind closed doors without considering the wider community’s input.

Concerned at what was perceived to be the imminent removal of the old sports shirts, parents scrambled to secure the outdated versions before they disappeared from the shelves. Affected parents claim that the limited availability of the new house shirts compounded the urgency to act swiftly.

Read: Relocation of Oxley Police Academy and Dog Squad Included in Billion-Dollar Annual QPS Budget

The current controversy has ignited broader conversations about cultural representation and historical appreciation within schools.

The Department of Education assured parents that their concerns had been heard and pledged to engage in discussions about uniform matters. Currently, there is no official directive requiring schools to eliminate house names or logos from their uniforms.

Published 25-June-2023

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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.

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.

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.

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

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The Active School Travel (AST) program encourages primary school students and their families to keep an active and healthy lifestyle by actively travelling to school.

AST is not just about letting the kids walk to school for healthier and more active students, but the program also promotes road safety and sustainable travel modes via cycling, walking, carpooling, scootering, or public transport. This will also help reduce traffic congestion on busy streets and school zones.

The program is tailored to each school with a dedicated officer, passports, rewards, active maps, and many more.

Schools under the program will have direct access to a range of free resources, tools and incursions. To help students joining the program, GSS offers an Active Travel Map that students and parents can easily see the active travel routes here.

The map provides detailed public transport routes, walking, and cycle paths. It also highlights public facilities that are useful for program participants.

It also allows parents and students to know the distance from their house to the school through the measuring scale. This is also a great way to discover nearby bikeways and walking paths for those who plan to walk around during the weekend.

The pink polygon or the “no excuses zone” on the program map shows homes that are within a ten-minute walk from the school, challenging residents of that zone to stay active and walk to school.

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