Graceville residents are set to welcome a new family-run eatery on Honour Avenue that transforms a mother’s long-term dream into a fresh destination for authentic Vietnamese street food.
The upcoming launch of Oli’s Banh Mi marks a significant milestone for local resident Stephanie Tran, who developed the business as a way to contribute to the neighbourhood she loves. Inspired by her son, the shop serves as a bridge between her heritage and the local community, offering a space that feels both personal and welcoming.
The design of the shop focuses on a calm atmosphere, using soft green colours, curved walls, and plenty of indoor plants to create a peaceful environment for customers to visit.
Fresh Flavours and Traditional Techniques
The menu focuses on simple, high-quality ingredients that highlight the bold tastes of Vietnam. Located within walking distance of the Graceville train station, the kitchen prepares classic baguettes daily, ensuring every sandwich has the perfect crunch. Customers can choose from several traditional fillings, such as crispy roast pork with crackling, lemongrass-marinated chicken, or cold cuts served with rich pâté.
Every order is put together on the spot, allowing people to choose their preferred level of fresh chilli alongside the standard mix of pickled carrots, daikon, cucumber, and coriander.
While the signature baguettes are the main draw, the shop also offers a variety of other traditional meals and specialty drinks. For those looking for lighter options, the menu includes fresh rice paper rolls and vermicelli bowls topped with grilled meats.
Traditional snacks like skewers and seasoned fries are also available for a quick bite. To wash it down, the cafe serves a wide range of drinks, from modern iced matcha and hojicha lattes to traditional Vietnamese coffee made with condensed milk or a unique salted-cream topping.
Although the business is designed for quick service to suit busy commuters and locals on the move, there is a small area for those who wish to sit and eat. The shop typically operates from mid-morning through the afternoon, but the kitchen stays open only as long as the fresh bread lasts for the day. As the business grows, there are future goals to expand the seating area and add even more variety to the food selection.
An unrenovated 1920s bungalow in Graceville has shown the pull of large inner-west blocks, selling for $2.525 million after four bidders competed for the chance to reshape a character home on 810sqm.
A Graceville Auction Built Around Land And Potential
The two-bedroom home at 27 Verney Road West drew interest from both local and interstate buyers, with its value tied closely to its land size, position and future possibilities.
Bidding opened at $1.7 million before moving quickly to $2 million, setting up a contest that continued through a mix of $100,000 rises and smaller increases of $5000 and $1000.
The final stage narrowed to a local family and a Sydney couple after bidding paused at $2.5 million. Negotiations followed before the interstate buyers secured the property.
The buyers have ties to the suburb and plan to transform the bungalow into a retirement home.
Photo Credit: Ray White Sherwood
Character Home On A Double Lot
The house was marketed as a 1920s bungalow with two bedrooms, one bathroom, a central living and dining area, a kitchen and single car accommodation.
Set on an elevated, flood-free 810sqm double lot with a 20-metre frontage, the property retains original character details including VJ walls, high ceilings and traditional decorative features.
Its current condition left clear scope for work, with the listing identifying potential to renovate, raise, extend or subdivide, subject to approval.
The block also has a wide, level front lawn, leafy outlooks and river glimpses to the rear, adding to the appeal of a site positioned among established homes.
Photo Credit: Ray White Sherwood
A Strong Return Since 2021
The property last sold in 2021 for $1.8 million after being bought as a renovation project. Its owners later kept it as a rental before choosing to sell.
The $2.525 million auction result delivered a 40 per cent gain and was recorded as the highest auction sale across south-east Queensland for the week.
The campaign was handled by Ray White Sherwood, with Cameron Crouch and Shay Watene listed on the sale.
Photo Credit: Ray White Sherwood
Why The Graceville Address Stood Out
The Graceville address placed the home close to local amenities, including cafes, restaurants and Regent Cinemas. Indooroopilly Shopping Centre is 2.5km away, while the Brisbane CBD is 9.5km from the property.
Graceville train station is about 600m away. The home is also near parks and playgrounds, 900m from Christ the King Primary School, and within the Sherwood State School and Indooroopilly State High School catchments.
For buyers weighing up older homes with renovation demands, the Graceville sale showed how strongly land, location and future use can shape value. In this case, the home’s unrenovated state did not stop four bidders from competing for a large block in a tightly held inner-west street.
A new development proposal outlines plans for a modern amenities building at Faulkner Park in Graceville. The project aims to deliver long-overdue change rooms, umpire facilities, and improved access for the 51-year-old Western Districts Netball Association (WDNA) and its 13 member clubs.
Jost Architects prepared the plans, which detail a single-storey, 257.99-square-metre building beside the existing clubhouse on Waratah Avenue. To ensure flood resilience within the broader Sherwood-Graceville area, designers set the finished floor level at 4.2 metres above height datum.
For the hundreds of players, coaches, umpires, and families who fill Faulkner Park every Saturday and throughout the week across four seasons a year, the proposal addresses a practical need that the association has targeted for some time.
A club outgrowing its infrastructure
WDNA has called Faulkner Park home for 51 years, growing from a local community initiative into one of the region’s most active sporting associations. Established in 1974, the association now serves 13 member clubs spanning suburbs from Forest Lake to Kenmore, Jindalee, and beyond, running competitive and social netball across junior, senior, and representative grades.
The association runs four seasons annually, featuring night competitions on Mondays and day competitions on Saturdays for players ranging from six-year-olds to senior adults. WDNA also operates an umpire development programme that regularly feeds officials into higher levels of the sport.
Despite this high volume of activity, the existing facilities have not kept pace with player participation, and the new building directly targets that gap.
Exactly what is proposed
The proposed layout comprises unisex toilets, change rooms, a first aid room, a storeroom, and a dedicated umpires room. The project also introduces 96.6 square metres of new concrete pathways to streamline access between the building and the netball courts.
The single-storey structure ranges in height from 3.3 to 4.1 metres. Constructing the building pad requires minor earthworks involving 16 cubic metres of cut and 125 cubic metres of fill, resulting in a net fill increase of 109 cubic metres. The design fully accounts for the flood resilience requirements of the local area.
Along the northern boundary, a landscaped buffer will provide privacy, acoustic screening, and visual softening for nearby homes, acknowledging that the site directly adjoins residential properties.
Baybrook managed the planning for the proposal, while Jost Architects oversaw the design. The application reference number is A006972113.
While change rooms and dedicated umpire facilities are standard expectations at modern sporting venues, smaller community associations often operate for decades without them, relying instead on makeshift arrangements. Securing purpose-built facilities will bring the physical infrastructure at Faulkner Park in line with the high standards WDNA sets on the court.
The proposed building also supports WDNA’s umpire development programme, which secures the association’s long-term capacity to run matches independently.
A dedicated umpires room gives match officials a proper space to prepare, debrief, and hone their skills, boosting the pipeline of accredited local umpires.
The application remains under assessment. For enquiries about the Western Districts Netball Association, visit their site, email admin@westsnetball.org, or call (07) 3379 7481. More information about the application can be viewed here.
Decades ago, Ula and Elizabeth’s daughters attended Graceville State School together, and the two mothers formed a close friendship along the way. From that shared corner of suburban Brisbane, they forged a bond that would stretch across the years and, as it turns out, prove remarkably difficult to extinguish.
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.
Photo credit: Google Maps/Regis Chelmer
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.
Photo credit: Google Street View
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.
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.
A well-used stretch of riverside in Graceville is set for a major overhaul, with a multi-million-dollar upgrade to Graceville Riverside Parklands expected to reshape how locals use the space — from weekend picnics to community events and nature play.
Construction is scheduled to begin at the end of April 2026, with works expected to wrap up by late 2026, weather permitting, according to Sustainable Brisbane.
From local park to key gateway along Oxley Creek
The upgrade forms part of the long-term Oxley Creek Transformation, a major project led by Brisbane City Council and delivered by the Brisbane Sustainability Agency to improve access to green space and restore the creek corridor.
Planning documents show the Graceville site is intended to act as a key entry point where the Brisbane River meets Oxley Creek, linking locals and visitors to a wider network of trails and recreation areas. The concept has been in development for several years, following community consultation and planning work captured in the Graceville Riverside Parklands Precinct Plan.
This outlines a shift from a traditional neighbourhood park to a larger destination space designed to support a wider range of activities.
Photo Credti: Sustainable Brisbane
New play areas, gathering spaces and picnic facilities
Stage 1 works will focus on updating ageing infrastructure while adding new features designed for everyday use.
Plans include a nature-based play space built around the existing boat-themed playground, alongside a larger open lawn designed to host local events and informal recreation. Picnic areas will also be upgraded with new shelters, seating and electric barbecues.
The project will replace older equipment and structures, while adding new amenities such as bike racks, water bubblers and improved pathways to make the park easier to access.
Environmental work to strengthen river and creek habitat
Alongside recreation upgrades, the project includes environmental works aimed at improving the health of the riverbank.
This involves planting native vegetation and managing weeds to widen the riparian corridor along both the Brisbane River and Oxley Creek. These changes are intended to stabilise the banks and improve habitat for local wildlife while keeping views and access for park users.
The broader transformation project has been described as a long-term effort to restore the environmental condition of Oxley Creek and open up areas that were previously less accessible to the public.
Temporary closures expected during construction
Parts of the park will be closed at different stages while construction is underway, affecting access to some paths, playground areas and picnic spots.
Project updates shared via Facebook note that nearby green spaces such as Sherwood Arboretum and Ken Fletcher Park can be used while work continues.
Brisbane Sustainability Agency has stated it will aim to limit disruption where possible and provide clear signage around work zones to maintain safe access.
Photo Credit: Sustainable Brisbane
Joint funding supports $3 million upgrade
The project is jointly funded, with support from the Australian Government through the Thriving Suburbs Program alongside investment from the Brisbane Sustainability Agency under the Oxley Creek Transformation.
The Sherwood Community Festival returns to the Arboretum on Saturday 16 May 2026, marking its 30th year, and the all-volunteer committee is calling on locals to give an hour or two of their time to help bring the 4075’s biggest free community day back to life.
After the 2025 festival was cancelled due to poor ground conditions at the Arboretum, the return this May carries extra significance for a community that has rallied around this event for three decades. The festival draws up to 10,000 visitors to Sherwood Arboretum each year and runs entirely on volunteer effort, from the committee that spends twelve months planning it down to the people who set up gazebos at dawn and pack the last chair away at the end of the day.
Without enough hands on deck, an event of this scale simply cannot happen, and with 16 May now just weeks away, the team is actively looking for day-of volunteers across a range of roles.
Find Your Role on the Day
There are five volunteer roles, each suited to different interests and energy levels.
The Production Team is the crew that transforms an empty arboretum into a festival. They arrive early, put up gazebos, set out chairs, hang signage and get the whole site ready before the gates open. If you like being active and want to see an event come together from the ground up, this one is for you.
The Info Tent is the community’s first point of contact during the day. Volunteers there hand out programs, help visitors find food stalls and stages, and keep people informed about what’s on next. It is a prime viewing spot, and it suits anyone who enjoys a conversation and wants to make visitors feel genuinely welcome.
Workshop Helpers work in the Arts Hub, setting out materials for painting and hands-on crafts, giving a hand to anyone who needs it, and keeping tables tidy between sessions. It is a relaxed role well suited to anyone who enjoys a creative atmosphere and wants to help local families get into making things together.
Stage Runners are the link between performers and the stage, making sure musicians and speakers get where they need to be on time. The Arbor Green and Fig Tree stages both host local bands, schools and performing arts groups across the day, and this role puts you right in the middle of that energy.
Stewards move around the full festival site, helping people find their way and making sure the grounds stay safe and tidy for the thousands of families, children and visitors coming through. It lets you experience the whole festival atmosphere while playing a genuinely useful role.
Thirty Years of Showing Up for Each Other
The Sherwood Community Festival traces its origins to 1995, when a small group of Sherwood Road traders organised a pavement event to bring people to the shopping strip as banks and businesses began to close. That first event had a handful of stalls and a straightforward purpose: keep the community connected to its local street.
Over the following three decades it grew into a full street festival with road closures, then shifted to its current home at Sherwood Arboretum where it has expanded to more than 100 stalls, four performance spaces, free rides and face painting, an Arts Hub, food trucks and a sausage sizzle, all free to attend.
The festival has always run off the same foundation: the generosity of people willing to give a bit of their Saturday to something bigger than themselves. The committee is made up entirely of volunteers, many of whom give a few hours a week across the year to handle everything from grant applications and sponsor relationships to site logistics and entertainment programming.
On the day itself, those roles multiply and the event lives or dies on how many extra pairs of hands show up.
How to Put Your Hand Up
Volunteer registration for the Sherwood Community Festival on Saturday 16 May 2026 is open now. You can sign up for as little as an hour or two, in whichever role suits you best. To register, click here and fill out the expression of interest form. The committee will be in touch to confirm details.
The Sherwood Arboretum is at 87 Jolimont Street, Sherwood. The train station sits at the end of the street, making it easy to get to without a car.
In Graceville, Botellón sits on a leafy stretch of Honour Avenue where Valentine’s Day can be kept pleasantly low-key. It’s the sort of place that rewards lingering — shared plates, passing forks, and conversation that outlasts the first round.
The venue sits within the Central Buildings, a row of shops designed and built around 1924 by builder and designer Walter Taylor. It’s the sort of place that anchors a neighbourhood. It’s recognisable, well-worn, and still doing what it was made for: bringing people in off the footpath.
Botellón leans into that intimacy rather than fighting it, with a cosy indoor dining room and alfresco seating that suits long, light-strung evenings. The restaurant itself is relatively young by Graceville standards, opening in 2019 and quickly becoming a western-suburbs favourite for Spanish-inspired dining.
That mix — a new restaurant inside an old building — gives it a particular character. The food feels celebratory, but the room still feels like the neighbourhood.
This Valentine’s Day (Saturday, 14 February), Botellón is keeping things straightforward: lunch runs à la carte, while the evening shifts into a set menu ($95 per person). It’s an approach that suits the day’s many versions. Some people want a date-night ritual; others want a catch-up with friends; plenty will come as families, because a shared meal is one of the easiest ways to keep everyone talking.
At lunch, the restaurant’s à la carte format lends itself naturally to seasonal, shareable dishes. In its Valentine’s promotion, the venue features starters such as burrata with smoky escalivada and baked saganaki finished with salsa agridulce and oregano, alongside paella as the centrepiece.
The mariscos paella is described in the same promotion as a generous mix of prawns, scallops, octopus and chorizo, brought together with saffron aioli — the kind of dish that does what good food should do on a day like Valentine’s: it gives the table something to gather around.
Dinner is more structured. It begins with a choice of oysters with mignonette or manchego cheese with caperberries and quince, followed by bread — sourdough with garlic chive butter or a gluten-free house-made loaf — alongside whipped ricotta with chilli honey, walnut and oregano. From there, the menu moves into king prawn with brown butter, soy sauce, paprika oil, parsley, capers and guindillas, plus eggplant chips with lime honey.
For mains, diners choose between paella (chicken and chorizo, prawn and chorizo, or vegetarian) with chimichurri, or a 250 g striploin served with spicy XO sauce or chimichurri. Dessert offers two distinct finishes: chocolate cremeux, or churros with dulce de leche.
What makes the night feel like Botellón, though, isn’t just the sequence of courses. It’s the way the whole format encourages lingering. The venue’s Valentine’s promotion also mentions cava as the celebratory thread, from classic sparkling pours to a playful cava sangria with fruit and brandy. If you’re not marking an occasion with bubbles, you can keep it quieter: a glass of something Spanish and chilled, a long chat, and the kind of evening that doesn’t need a grand gesture to feel special.
In a suburb that prizes its local rituals — cafés you return to, walking routes you can do without thinking, shopfronts that don’t change much even when the businesses inside them do — Botellón has slipped into place with ease.
On Valentine’s Day, it’s less about “the perfect night” and more about a very Graceville idea: good food in a familiar spot, shared with whoever you’re lucky enough to have on the other side of the table.
We’ve combed Corinda, Graceville, Graceville East, Oxley, and Sherwood for the best reviewed restaurants in the area where people waxed lyrical about their dining experience and what they love most about it. Here’s our list!
Peter Bill ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I went to watch the test cricket at the tavern. I had spaghetti Bolognese, which was a lunch special. Good lunch sized portion, very nicely cooked with garlic bread on the side. The garlic bread was incredibly soft and tasty. The staff were very professional and friendly and very helpful. I hardly drink alcohol, but I thought I would have a drink. I asked one of the staff for a drink recommendation. I took up her suggestion. I asked for extra lemon, which I got. I went and watched the cricket on the massive screen they have and I left after a few hours. I’m not good to be around when I’ve had a few drinks, so I left before the truth serum set in. I highly recommend Oxley tavern. It was going to become one of my go to places for food and drink, however my circumstances have changed.
Craig Riley ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The girl who served us was AMAZING (wish I remembered her name). Friendly, personable and always with a smile. I raved about her exceptional customer service and was just blown away by her everything. Nice work to her. She said she usually works Mondays so lucky for us she was working on a Tuesday as well. I gave her a nice little tip $$$. Food was alright (we all had burgers for dinner). Couldn’t finish it I was that full. Chips and gravy and onion rings were very nice.
Sue Folliott ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ We had a very impromptu family dinner last night for my Nephews birthday. We had a lovely time. Great food, and staff very helpful. Even the music playing was great. Pity for such a great menu that it was a small bistro area, It was a bit overshadowed by the “sports bar” section and the pokies at the end. Compliments to the chef and the team.. to the novice coffee maker, it was great. 🙂
Dede boon ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I ordered 3 dishes. Pad Kee Mao is my favorite dish or so-called Dunken Noodle. It’s really great. This dish is really full of flavor. If you like Thai spicy food, I recommend it. I’ll try the iced tea today. I like that the shop opens during the day.
Filippo ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Have been to Bann Sian Thai restaurant numerous times. This Thai never fails when eating here. Their food is absolutely delicious! Chicken Penang is my favourite dish. My wife loves the Drunken Noodles! This family business never is wavering with true values of what food and service is about! The service is always so good, with a genuine welcome when we arrive. Can’t recommend this Thai any stronger!
Lilian Nguyen ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Hosted dad’s bday dinner here and every dish we ordered was flavourful and delicious, super well seasoned and authentic flavours in the dishes. Would definitely recommend the massaman curry, pineapple rice, pad thai and the satay chicken entree. Every staff that helped us was so lovely and kind!
Louraine Monedero ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ We came in like 7mins before kitchen closes but they still accommodated us 🥹🙏🏻 Staff are so friendly and food was amazing! Cheese katsu is the best! We’ll definitely be back and recommend to friends! 🤩🤩🤩🤩
Noppamas Sutthanun ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Second time visiting this place and the taste is just as great as the first time. Fresh, high-quality ingredients and excellent tonkatsu at a very reasonable price. Highly recommended! Easy to get to — only a 1-minute walk from Sherwood Station if you’re not driving.
laura kwon ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great food and excellent service! Not only is the food always delicious, but the staff go above and beyond. We didn’t even know we left our baby’s pacifier once, but they kept it safe and remembered to return it to us on our next visit. Truly thoughtful!
Kirsten Olyott ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Went for lunch, beautiful Xmas decorations and great atmosphere. Had Sunday roast and Chicken Parmi and both were delicious. Coffee and lemon meringue and brownie to finish and served beautifully and fast service. Friendly staff and a great meal. Thanks all.
Jaida Wienert ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Took the family for their Mothers Day buffet and what a truly beautiful experience! The absolute love and care poured into the set up was incredible, the tables where stunning with beautiful fresh flowers, candles and nametags, obviously not a regular day but the effort of it all was outstanding! The staff were charming and so lovely, they even had little tea gifts for the mothers of the day! If the atmosphere and staff are even half as amazing on other days this place is absolutely worth a visit! The food was amazing, all of it was kept wonderfully warm and was absolutely delicious! The mini Sausages were particularly delightful! I truly can’t wait to come back for a dinner experience and hope to update my review then!
Donna Bake ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Had a group for dinner the food was great. Had pizza and cheese bread, lamb shanks, and steak. All served in good time and was really good food. Lots of kids for a Wednesday night so don’t site next to the kids play area is you don’t want to hear loud kids all night.
Anceliana Maria Ramos ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I recently visited Roma Roma Pasta Bar and was thoroughly impressed with their fun and satisfying pasta concept. The ordering system is simple but effective — pick your protein, veggies, pasta style, sauce, and cheese, then watch it all come together in a generous bowl. Everything arrived fresh and steaming hot, with bold flavours that hit the spot. The pricing is excellent for the portion size—around $18.90 for a fully loaded bowl, which felt like great value given the quantity and quality. Their sauces ranged from creamy Alfredo to zesty tomato and spicy arrabbiata, with vegan options readily available. Service was friendly and efficient, and the atmosphere was casual and welcoming—perfect for a quick lunch, dinner, or even pick-up.
Silvana Sparkles ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Love this incredible Pasta Bar with delicious Italian inspired pasta you can customise anyway you like woth a variety of sauces, toppings and cheeses. Enjoyed the delicious gnochi with chorizo, green goddess pasta, linguini with prawns. We also ordered the delicious truffle fries made with flavour filled truffle and parmeson cheese and the delicious truffle arancini balls which melt in your mouth. So much variety to choose from and fun way to get together with family and friends to create and enjoy a delicious meal. 10/10. Will be back 🍝😋
Thomas Copp ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The suburbs have been needing something like this place for so long. A make your own pasta bar, so cool. Lovely fresh pasta that you can make to your liking. Great prices too. A liquor licence would really take this place to another level as well. Will be back!
The Mini Vinnies team at Christ the King School in Graceville has been baking up kindness this festive season, making and selling home-made biscuits to raise funds for the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal. The student-led effort is a simple, hands-on way for young people to contribute to others in need and to learn about community service.
Their biscuit drive comes amid a wider swell of generosity across Brisbane Catholic Education’s 146 schools. Staff and students are taking part in programs and activities that reflect the season’s focus on care, support, and connection.
Photo credit: Facebook/Christ the King School, Graceville
At BCE’s Woolloongabba office, staff again supported the long-running Adopt-a-Family initiative. Now in its 21st year, the program offers relief to families facing hardship, including unemployment, homelessness, family breakdown or those seeking asylum. This year the team prepared 91 wrapped boxes of gifts and non-perishable food items for 20 families.
BCE’s Woolloongabba office (Photo supplied)
The program involves staff, program founder and former recipient Sue Treweek, Father Wally Dethlefs and Life Without Barriers National Immigration Services. Helen Hartwig, BCE Officer Services Team Leader, said the program builds hope and brings joy to those who need it most. Father Dethlefs and his helpers are delivering the boxes to families ahead of Christmas.
Students across BCE are also contributing in varied and practical ways. At Mt Maria College Petrie, pupils placed donations for the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal beneath the school’s Giving Tree during a special Christmas liturgy. Jared Press, Assistant Principal Formation and Identity, said donations have grown for the second year running, and staff at the college raised more than $700 in food vouchers to support local families.
Prep classes at Mater Dei Catholic Primary School, Ashgrove West, brought the Nativity story to life for their school community, offering a straightforward retelling of the Christmas story that connected children, families and staff.
At St Ambrose’s Primary School, Newmarket, students returned for a third year to sing carols, do crafts and spend time with residents at Mercy Community Aged Care. The visits help students build meaningful intergenerational relationships while providing companionship and seasonal cheer to aged-care residents.
Photo credit: Facebook/Christ the King School, Graceville
Back in Graceville, Mini Vinnies members at Christ the King have turned baking into a charitable activity, selling biscuits with the proceeds donated to St Vincent de Paul. It is a small-scale enterprise with a clear purpose: to teach students that practical acts of service, whether a cake stall, a donation or a visit, can make a real difference for people doing it tough.
Across Brisbane, these coordinated efforts by BCE schools and staff demonstrate a focus on community and generosity. In the lead-up to Christmas, hampers are packed, trees become donation points and children practise giving — all simple actions that together send a message of care and solidarity.
Graceville State School parents have been called on to help curb a wave of illness sweeping through their children’s school, with staff urging families to keep unwell students at home for rest and recovery before sending them back to school.
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.
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.
