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Soon to Open! New Craft Brewery and Taproom at The Sheds

Did you know that Hip Hops Brewers, a craft brewery and taproom with a landscaped beer garden, will open at The Sheds in Brendale in late 2022?

The Sheds, the latest dining destination in Brendale, is home to My Oh My and The Coffee Hut. And soon, the Brendale-based precinct will be welcoming start-up Hip Hops Brewers at the Shed 3.

Additional Exteriors | Photo Credit: supplied

Hip Hops head brewer Adam Gibb reveals that he developed a love of beer when he was just 18 and he admits that ever since then, it has always been “intertwined with his life.” Whilst he would do home brewing every now and then, it was not until 2012 that he took brewing seriously and started volunteering within the beer community.

He would eventually establish his own microbrewery, White Brick Brewing, in 2017 which had a successful run until COVID-19 lockdowns hit hard on the start-up business and forced it to close after three years.

Shaun Reeves and Adam Gibb | Photo Credit: supplied

With the help of Accountant Shaun Reeves and a group of “mates”, Adam was able to raise enough funds to restart the business with a new brand, mantra and logo.

“Good things come to those who wait. Your patience will be rewarded. With huge thanks to a local business identity, investors have been found and committed to a resurrection. Watch out this year for Hip Hops Brewers, Mr Gibbs’ social media post reads.

“Forgive the move from North Lakes, but we are still in Moreton Bay. We will be located at The-Sheds At Brendale. We plan to be open second half of the year. 18 taps of liquid gold will pour White Brick Brewing heritage range beers, plus some exciting new releases by Hip Hops Brewers.”

Shaun Reeves, Accountant and co-owner said Hip Hops Brewers’ mantra was to brew local beer that people will not only enjoy but love as well.

“We hope to experiment with wild ferments and to collaborate with other regional breweries and producers to bring Brendale quality and balanced brews,” he said.

“You may not always notice a bad beer, but you will really appreciate a balanced beer when the malt and hops are in harmony, the flavour dances across your taste buds, the smile on your face has come from your stomach and you can’t help but say “life is good”.

Shed 3 soon to be Hip Hops Brewery home | Photo Credit: supplied

“While Brendale has traditionally been very industrial, we believe it is about to come of age as the next emerging entertainment area.

“The Sheds are the perfect spot for a busy brewery with a taproom, outdoor canopy area and landscaped gardens creating the ideal place for a drink with family and friends.”

To house, the new brewery is Shed 3 which Wattle Run is now redeveloping. The new premises will include a large canopy for outdoor seating and an interior that will sport a rustic look with concrete floors and Big Ass Fans to make the venue a more comfortable place for friends and family to enjoy.

“The Hip Hops Brewers are the perfect fit for Shed 3 and we’re excited to welcome them to The Sheds and our local community,” Jenny Fisher, Director of Wattle Run said.

Shaun said Hip Hops intends to add a cider to their menu on top of some classic White Brick brews that craft beer aficionados have grown to love. As a preview of what’s coming, Shaun said that they have created a mid-strength Australian Pale Ale with wild rosella in collaboration with Little Tree Bake and Brew in Samford.

“You’ll just have to wait till we open and see what surprises we have on tap,” Shaun said.

Couple Reunited With Cat They Lost in Murrumba Downs 10 Years Ago

A former Murrumba Downs local received the most surprising news of her life when someone from RSPCA Dakabin called to inform her that they found Simba, her cat who slipped out of their house and disappeared 10 years ago!

Back then, Kaitlin Thrupp lived in Murrumba Downs with her partner Shaun and two-year-old Simba, when he escaped their home. The local RSPCA helped Kaitlin and Shaun track Simba down as he was microchipped. They also distributed flyers and knocked on neighbours’ doors.

A few years later, the couple then moved to Narangba 15 minutes away but Kaitlin never lost any hope of finding Simba. She would usually drive to Murrumba Downs in case she spots the cat on the streets. Kaitlin also kept the microchip records updated as local rescue groups have been monitoring the ginger cat as well.

In December 2021, Kaitlin finally got the unexpected call from RSPCA Dakabin informing the family that they picked up their orange cat as a stray and scanned for a microchip.

The Thrupps do not have any idea where Simba has been for the last 10 years but he definitely remembered his family. He came over to them and did his usual greeting when Kaitlin arched her hands so he could bump his head.

Kaitlin said that she has been a big advocate for microchipping since it became a legal requirement for pet owners in Brisbane. Her reunion with Simba reiterates just how important this is for families with pets.

Learn more about responsible cat ownership here.

Back-To-School Vaccination to be Conducted at these Moreton Bay Schools

Three schools in the Moreton Bay region have set up pop-up back-to-school vaccination clinics before the start of the new school term as part of the program to improve the vaccination rates of school-aged kids in Queensland.

Albany Creek State School, Eatons Hill State School, and Norris Road State School in Bracken Ridge (Brisbane) will open the clinics on campus from Saturday, 29 January until Sunday, 6 February.

“With the start of the school year locked in for Monday 7 February to avoid the peak of the Omicron wave, parents can take advantage of the opportunity to get their kids vaccinated,” Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said in announcing the Back-to-School vaccination blitz.

“There is widespread community transmission of the virus reaching all corners of this state. Adding a vaccination to the back-to-school list for your child is the best defence.”

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said that the first dose would add a layer of protection for the children against the virus that could land them in hospitals if they were unvaccinated.

Back-to-school vaccination — Photo Credit: 14995841/Pixabay

“We have already seen an excellent uptake of the vaccination for our kids aged 5 and over, but with school going back in February we want to see every child have the opportunity to get vaccinated,” Ms D’Ath said.

“Whether you are heading to a pop-up vaccination clinic at your local school, a Queensland Health hub, your GP or local pharmacy – please come forward and get yourself and your kids vaccinated if you haven’t already.

Albany Creek State School, Eatons Hill State School, and Norris Road State School join 47 other schools across the Queensland region participating in the program. To check for more Queensland Health vaccination locations visit the official site.

YFG Shopping Centres Expands With Its Latest Acquisition of Strathpine

Photo credit: Strathpine Centre / Facebook

YFG Shopping Centres expands its Queensland portfolio with the recent off-market acquisition of Strathpine Centre for $267 million.

Built in 1983, Strathpine Centre is a major convenience-based, sub-regional shopping centre situated on a 17.47-ha site anchored by supermarket chains Woolworths, Coles and Aldi; discount department stores Big W and Target, and Birch Carroll and Coyle cinema complex. Its convenience, food and service tenant base represents 84 per cent of the Centre’s 45,304-sqm gross lettable area (GLA) and 83 per cent of the total gross passing rental income.

Photo credit: Strathpine Centre / Facebook

Blackstone Group was the prior owner of the Centre who acquired it from Scentre Group in 2015 for $285 million before unloading the property late last year. CBRE’s Head of Retail Capital Markets – Pacific, Simon Rooney, negotiated the deal on behalf of YFG Shopping Centre.

YFG Shopping Centre currently owns and operates more than 20 shopping centres across South East Queensland. Its last acquisition was the Mt Ommaney Centre, where they initially had a 25% stake from Vicinity Centres for $94.5 million, before taking full ownership by acquiring the remaining 75% stake from Nuveen Real Estate for $285 million.

Mr Rooney said that Queensland’s retail deals transacted year to date has totaled $3.7 billion, making it the clear standout in 2021. The deal demonstrates the significant confidence in the state’s retail market amid the pandemic.

“Investor interest has been underpinned by robust retail expenditure and forecast population growth, coupled with the fact that shopping centres in Queensland have been significantly less impacted by COVID than other major eastern seaboard markets,” Mr Rooney said.

“Following the strong momentum shift in the retail investment market in the second half of 2021, we expect transaction activity, sales volumes and pricing to continue to increase moving into 2022 across all national retail investment markets.”

Award-Winning Family Business in North Brisbane Cited for Excellence

AC Plumbing QLD, the award-winning family business in North Brisbane, closed a productive year with two recognitions from the Master Plumbers Association of Queensland, the peak industry body representing plumbing contractors across the state.

In November 2021, AC Plumbing QLD received the BUSSQ Service Excellence Award and Managing Director Corey Stevens, the son of George Stevens, was named the RWC Businessperson of the Year.

Corey has been at the forefront of the operations since he completed his apprenticeship in 2006. Spinning off from his father’s legacy, Corey formed the Albany Creek Gas Fitting and Plumbing with just two staff. Today, the company has expanded to more than a dozen workers.

Per Master Plumbers Association of Queensland, this North Brisbane plumbing business has honest and reliable workers who are “great at what they do.” Because of their commitment to their work, AC Plumbing QLD has thrived for the last two decades with their repeat customers.

“With a respectful and considerate team, they ensure every single customer receives the best plumbing service possible from the office to the field, and they back their work with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. AC Plumbing QLD cares about their customers, their team, and their community, offering a membership program that gives their customers peace of mind that they will always receive the highest quality service and provides them with access to additional benefits.”

Corey has not forgotten to thank the staff for their contribution to the team.

“This is a representation of your commitment to delivering excellence to our customers. To each and every one of you, thank you for being a part of AC Plumbing QLD and for all of your hard work,” the manager said.

He also recognized the feedback and support of the customers who have motivated them to constantly improve their services. Together with his wife, Naomi, Corey said that AC Plumbing QLD will only improve and grow one job at a time.

Meanwhile, AC Plumbing QLD was also named as one of the Top 3 Plumbers in Brisbane by Three Best Rated.

To learn more about AC Plumbing QLD and its services, check their Facebook page or visit the official site.

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Year 5 Team of All Saints Primary School Wins STEM MAD Award

Photo credit: All Saints Primary School - Albany Creek / Facebook

The Year 5 Team of All Saints Primary School – Albany Creek bagged the “Best Engineered Product” Award at the STEM MAD Showcase.

More than 50 student teams from Catholic schools across Australia have participated in the STEM Making a Difference (MAD) National Showcase which was hosted in Melbourne last 16 November 2021. The initiative aims to encourage students to make a difference using their STEM learning and find innovative solutions to real-world problems.

Year 3 to 12 students presented their projects along with a video pitch of their work explaining how their idea could positively impact the community. The students competed in four categories: Primary, Secondary, Future is STEAM and Executive Director Award.

All Saints Primary School – Albany Creek team, composed of Year 5 students, took home the Primary School Award for their The Multi-Bin project. Their prototype is a motorised trash bin comprising three compartments that allows it to segregate plastics for recycling.

Their mentor and STEM teacher Sarah Campbell said that the students learned about the concerning amount of waste materials like e-waste and soft plastics that are not being recycled and were concerned about their environmental impact. They thought of finding a way to help people recycle this rubbish in an easy and convenient way, right from their homes.

Photo credit: All Saints Primary School – Albany Creek / Facebook

“The girls built the prototype entirely from Lego, with robotic mechanisms inside that allows you to select the type of rubbish for categorisation and correct placement as you insert it,” she said.

Brisbane Catholic Education (BCE) Deputy Executive Director Dr Doug Ashleigh said that BCE is extremely proud of the five STEM teams who represented Brisbane at the national showcase and won several recognitions.

“…the empathy shown by the students towards societal and environmental issues and the people affected or potentially affected was heart-warming,” Dr Ashleigh said.

Dr Ashleigh added that initiatives like STEM MAD gives students “perspective and a deeper meaning into what they’re learning, why and how they might apply this in the real-world.”

He said that to truly engage students is to have them look deeply into some of the social issues that the country is facing and use their design thinking process to develop creative solutions to these issues. Then consult with real-world specialists to help investigate the viability of their solutions.

Photo credit: Brisbane Catholic Education / Facebook

Other Brisbane STEM Teams that took home recognitions were:

St Vincent’s Primary School, Clear Island Waters with their Vision Buddy project: Best Assistive Device Award Primary Winner and STEM MAD National Award – The Future is STEM Primary National Winner
St Eugene College, Burpengary with BeachMate: Communications Award Secondary Winner, Best Integration of Technology Secondary Finalist, and STEM MAD National Award – Secondary National Winner
St Teresa’s Catholic College, Noosaville, with Check-in App: Catholic Ethos Finalist and Wellbeing Award Secondary Winner

Truant Turned Teacher: How Unconditional Love Saved This Bald Hills Youth

Corey Gieskens, a self-confessed ‘frustrated naughty kid,’ was kicked out of home when he was just 12 years old. With the help of youth workers from the Carinity Orana shelter for homeless youth in Bald Hills, Corey turned his life around and became a teacher at the very school where he was once a disengaged truant.

Read: Brendale Company Aims To Reboot Local Vehicle Manufacturing Industry

It all started when Corey wagged school for a few weeks straight, thinking he would get his father’s attention by doing so. To his surprise, his father, who was disappointed about what he did, packed his things and took him to the local police station.

“He told a policeman he would drive the car until the petrol tank was half empty and that’s where he was going to leave me, unless the police found somewhere for me to stay,” he said.

That’s when he ended up moving into Carinity Orana, a house at Bald Hills in North Brisbane which is celebrating 40 years of supporting homeless youth and those at risk of homelessness. Corey spent just over a year living there.

Corey recalled that it was a bit scary at first, because a lot of the other kids that were there were a lot more hardened and older. However, it helped that the youth workers there were very encouraging that he attended his school the whole time he’s there.

“I was very happy there as I was getting the attention that I was craving. I felt loved and I felt really supported there. Up until then I hadn’t felt that in my life. That unconditional love was very foreign to me,” Corey said.

Carinity Orana indeed helped Corey have a more positive future and helped him start a relationship with God. He worshipped at the former Lawnton Baptist Church, which helped established Carinity Orana as Pine Rivers Youth Service’s ‘Hassall House’ in 1981, and ended up moving in with people from a local church.

Later on, Corey became a teacher at Pine Rivers State High School where he was once a ‘troublesome disengaged truant.’ Some of the staff who taught him were still there and Corey quipped that some of them were surprised he did not end up in prison.

Besides being a school teacher, Corey has been very active helping young people outside of school and I’ve helped many, many homeless kids through youth groups.

“Often someone who’s estranged from their parents and homeless has been rejected, so I think it’s very important for young people to know that God hasn’t rejected them,” he said.

About Carinity Orana

Carinity Orana can cater for up to five residents aged 16 to 21 years at any one time, offering a maximum stay of six months. Orana operates like a family home and youth workers provide emotional and practical support to assist young people to access education, training, employment, counselling services, recreational activities, new social networks and permanent accommodation.

Brendale Company Aims To Reboot Local Vehicle Manufacturing Industry

Photo credit: SCD Remanufactured Vehicles

A Brendale-based company is thriving by converting US cars for locals who prefer bigger rigs. Through their ‘leaner and more adaptive’ approach, they aim to rebuild Australia’s defunct national car manufacturing sector.

Read: Construction Now Underway At Albany Creek Intersections

SCD Remanufactured Vehicles, founded by Steven Davison and Eddie Kocwa, is the first and only company to obtain full-volume manufacturer approval from the Australian Government for the new Ram 1500 DT and Ram 2500/3500 DJ. This means they can convert and sell as many of these vehicles in Australia as they want.

From a small, two-man import operation, the company has grown to a 100+ team of highly qualified experts ranging from engineers to accountants. The duo’s factory in Brendale now boasts its own upholstery department and paint shop.

Mr Davison and Mr Kocwa have also established their own dealership network where they would sell powerful pickups to tradies and grey nomads through luxury caravans.

Car manufacturing in Australia came to an end in 2017. Holden, the country’s last manufacturing plant which operated for more than 100 years, shut its doors and left around 2,500 people without a job.

Beyond reviving the local vehicle manufacturing industry, SCD is looking forward to creating new jobs for Australians. According to the company’s about page, each vehicle generates 200 hours of Aussie labour.

Mr Kocwa believes the government needs to support Australian manufacturing, especially now that people are starting to turn back to local products. At their business, they either make the products themselves or obtain them from local suppliers.

He also revealed the company’s expansion plans, which involve making electric pickups in a partnership with an international company.

With plans to produce 30 cars per week or 1,500 cars per year, it’s not impossible that this Brendale-based company, from its humble beginnings, would soon see its goal turning into reality.

Construction Now Underway At Albany Creek Intersections

Old Northern Road, Albany Creek (Photo credit: Google Street View)

Construction is now underway to improve safety at three Albany Creek intersections located on Albany Forest Drive, Folkstone Avenue, and Janice Street.

Read: Albany Creek Intersection Among Most Dangerous in the Region

Aside from improving safety at these intersections, the improvements could increase capacity, and traffic flow in the area. It can also reduce peak-hour congestion and interchange queuing, the Department of Transport and Main Roads announced.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the upgrades would reduce the risk of crashes, particularly for drivers turning right from Old Northern Road into Albany Forest Drive.

To provide for additional vehicles queuing to turn into Albany Forest Drive, the southbound right-turn lane past Folkstone Avenue will be extended. Existing traffic signals will also be modified, by adding green arrows to regulate right-turns.

Meanwhile, there will be new traffic signals, signalised pedestrian crossing, and extended northbound right-turn lane on Janice St to cater for additional vehicles queuing to turn.

The new traffic signals at the Janice St intersection will provide a safe U-turn to Folkstone Avenue and reduce the risk of accidents by controlling right turns.

“These changes will reduce the risk for motorists trying to judge safe gaps in traffic on Old Northern Road to access these side streets,” Mr Bailey said. He added that traffic lights will be programmed to better manage peak traffic periods in the area.

These local safety upgrades are part of the State Government’s $2.75 billion investment in roads and transport projects helping to support Queensland’s Covid-19 economic recovery.

Works are expected to be completed by early 2022, weather and construction conditions permitting. Transport and Main Roads will provide updates to the community before major works start and assured to minimise disruptions as much as possible.

Albany Creek Property Growth Driven By Investors Looking For Affordability and Space

Young interstate families are finding their dream homes in Albany Creek, charging up another property boom in this south Moreton Bay area. Due to its affordability and space, the former “retirement” suburb has been attracting professionals who were once tied to work in the inner-cities but now see the benefits of acreage properties.

House Price Growth

Property growth in Albany Creek between July 2020 to June 2021 continued its stable upward trend by 10.35 per cent, putting the house median price at $685,000, per data from Property Market Updates.

Buyer activity was definitely competitive and energetic in the 12-month period with 258 houses sold within an astonishing 24 days on the market. Most of the houses sold were four-bedroom homes but the fastest sales to close in less than 10 to 18 days of negotiations, have been three-bedroom properties.

A six-bedroom private haven on Havenwood Court, which has its own secured oasis surrounded by bushlands, sold at the highest price for the period. With a breezy indoor to outdoor layout, this house has a large family lounge that offers ample space for entertaining and relaxation.

Unit Price Growth

While house price growth has been strong, Apartment property sales in Albany Creek had minimal growth at 2.94 per cent in the period ending June 2021.

Sales remained stable, with 59 units sold during this time period, with inventory staying on market for 45 days. Most four-bedroom units remained listed for 261 days, indicating an oversupply.

About Albany Creek

Established on a hilly section near the South Pine River, Albany Creek is a quiet, family-friendly northern suburb some 17 kilometres off Brisbane CBD. Home to many professionals who work in the city, nearly half of the residents fully own their three to four-bedroom homes to raise a family. Most houses have their own pools and are situated in a cul-de-sac block.

A former rural area, Albany Creek’s development as a suburban town began in the 1960s primarily featuring brick homes, when the metropolis expanded to open more schools in the north, such as the Albany Hills State School, the Albany Creek State High School, and the All Saints Primary School. Though the closes train to the city is a few kilometres drive to the neighbouring suburb of Strathpine, there are plenty of buses servicing commuters regularly that takes residents to shopping centres in Chermside or Aspley.

For leisure and recreation, this town has the Albany Creek Leisure Centre hosting various sports clubs and community activities. Families enjoy plenty of green spaces at the Tom Simpson Park and the Jaracanda Park. Tight-knit community engagements are high in this peaceful suburban locale and there are limited high-rise developments.

“We’ve lived here for 15 years now and absolutely love it, It’s superb for kids of all ages, great state school and 3 excellent primary schools. Virtually no crime at all, we thoroughly enjoy life here.”
Markj13

“Having lived in the Albany Creek area for 16 years and had our children grow up in the area we would find it hard to move to anywhere else. There are all the local type shops that are necessary but not the impersonal hype of the city or other central locales. Being anywhere in 10 minutes is a great bonus, as you can go to larger shopping centers and then leave the hustle and bustle behind. Our street is filled with caring neighbors in a wide range of ages, which is great for family living. We have a total of 5 primary schools within 2 minutes of us, both private and public and the High school is 1 minute away.”
HappyinAC

“Quiet, clean suburb with leafy streets and lovely locals. We hunted around the whole of Brisbane looking for a place to settle and came across Albany Creek on the off chance. The suburb gives you that Quiet, Safe and Clean feel for your family to live happily.”
Taff