Homepage Latest News Archives - Page 34 of 45

Albany Creek Brumbies Set Up New Girls Rugby Academy

The Albany Creek Brumbies have set up the all-new Girls Rugby Academy, which launched in April 2021, to provide girls with the opportunity to enhance their performance in rugby.

With the rising number of female rugby players in schools throughout the district, the Albany Creek Brumbies is providing new avenues for training and skills development through this program at the South Pine Sporting Complex in Brendale.

Training at the Girls Rugby Academy, which began on the 20th of April 2021, is set to run for a total of 20 weeks, and girls between the ages of 6-16 are free to join at any time all throughout the program for the price of $80 per player, per annum. Training will be carried out by accredited coaches who will visit throughout the year to instruct members of the academy.

The academy aims to create an environment that maximises the development of the girls’ foundation skills as well as give them confidence in the sport in the 7’s, 10’s, or 15’s comps. They take great pride in their ability to provide and intend to support the influx of newer female rugby players.

Photo credit: Facebook/Albany Creek Brumbies GPS Junior Rugby Club

Numbers have been increasing ever since 2018, where the number of girls at the Brumbies steadily rose. In fact, new entries have tripled in 2021 in comparison to the previous year, and the sport is quickly becoming more popular with the younger generations. Currently, girls make up 10 per cent of registered players at the rugby club.

Each session runs from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. every Tuesday for 20 weeks, with the exception of school holidays. Those interested in registering can learn more about the process here.

The Albany Creek Brumbies can be found at the South Pine Sports Complex in 620 South Pine Road, Brendale. For more information, visit their website here. Follow their Facebook page for the latest updates and special announcements concerning the club and other related activities.

Le Bon Choix Moving Its Bakery and Warehouse to Brendale

Le Bon Choix, a French-renaissance-style boulangerie and patisserie, has closed a 10-year lease to establish a bakery and warehouse in Brendale.

Ben Jeffries, a representative of the property developer JLL, confirmed that Le Bon Choix will move into a new 1,379-square-metre building on Leitchs Road, within Brendale’s industrial precinct, from their Geebung warehouse. Mr Jeffries said that the location appealed to the owners of the boulangerie as it “provided more efficiencies within the bakery.”

Apart from the warehouse kitchen to service all of the bakery’s shop across Brisbane, the Brendale will site will also include a small cafe to service the precinct’s industrial workers.

JLL’s Nick Bandiera also said that this deal compounds on Brendale as the new favoured site for industries considering establishing operations in north Brisbane instead of going to traditional industrial suburbs. Since the start of 2021, Brendale has seen a spike in demand for lease opportunities.

Meanwhile, Savico Basset-Rouge, the owner of Le Bon Choix, trained under the legendary Laurent Boillon, one of the best pastry chefs in Australia and the world. After more than 10 years of training, Mr Basset-Rouge opened his bakery in 2004 with the goal of taking French pastry, cake, and bread creation to new heights.

Le Bon Choix has retail outlets in Edward and Queen Streets in Brisbane CBD, Ascot, Carindale, Chermside, North Lakes, Upper Mt Gravatt, and Broadbeach. Follow the bakery on Instagram.

Eatons Hill Hotel Celebrates 10 Years as an International Entertainment Hub

Eatons Hill Hotel on South Pins Road is 10 years old this April but the entertainment and leisure site, developed and managed by the Comiskey Group, has plenty more to celebrate this month.

The hotel hosted a fabulous party for its 10th year anniversary last 16 April 2021 at its nightclub. The event was a huge success with the young crowd, especially with guest DJs like Brooklyn & Tenzin.

The party also served as the launch of the newly renovated nightclub, with its new dancing lights and dance floor for guests who enjoy romping and tapping to the beat.

Eatons Hill Hotel‘s 10th birthday also coincides with the establishment’s nomination as the Metro Venue of the Year at the QMusic People’s Choice Award.

According to the Comiskey Group’s Rob Comiskey, no one could have predicted that the Eatons Hill Hotel would become a premier entertainment venue within a decade as it was first planned as an unassuming Australian hotel and pub. But the establishment’s success was driven by bringing international acts like Rita Ora, Jessy J, Post Malone, even the late Prince.

From a mega-pub, the Comiskey Group expanded the hotel with an outdoor entertainment area spanning three hectares where many unique activities have been hosted, such as the annual rodeo and the packed concerts.

Mr Comiskey said that it still feels surreal to have thrived in 10 years.

“When you see how much we have achieved and how much we have grown over that time, it becomes a great legacy over 10 years.”

From 2017 to 2018, the Comiskey Group further expanded the Eatons Hill Hotel with a shopping complex with 25 retail stores and a Woolworths just below the hotel.

The group also acknowledged its strong ties to the surrounding communities of Brendale, Albany Creek, Samford, Dayboro, Warner, Cashmere, Boondall, Chermside and Enogger, as the hotel has been a favoured venue for hosting events or by sponsoring sports activities and fundraisers.

Follow the hotel’s Facebook or Instagram page for updates and events.

Brendale Hyundai Wins a Platinum Award

Brendale Hyundai has been named one of 2020’s top-performing car dealers at the annual Platinum Dealer Program Awards of theHyundai Motor Company Australia (HMCA) in April.

HMCA announced the winners of numerous Hyundai awards during the event. Brendale Hyundai was Queensland’s winner of the regional Hyundai Platinum Award, and according to a Facebook post made following the announcement of the winners, receiving such an award is considered a great honor as it shows that the business is revered by the Hyundai network.

Hyundai, the world-famous South Korean multinational automobile manufacturer, has been a part of Australia’s automotive landscape for 25 years. It is currently the 5th largest automotive group in the world, as well as the fastest growing automotive brand in Australia.

Raw materials such as ore and coal gathered within the country are transported to South Korea, where they are then refined and used to create vehicles. An estimated 60% of Hyundai’s raw materials come from Australian soil, making it the businesses’ largest supplier of materials.

Brendale Hyundai can be found at 66 Southpine Road, Brendale, open Monday to Saturday from 8:30 a.m. onwards with the exception of Saturday, in which the business opens at 9:00 a.m. For more information, visit their website. Follow their Facebook page for the latest updates concerning cars, deals, and other special announcements.

Suburbs Near Albany Creek Where Buying A Home Is Better Than Renting

Photo credit: nattanan23/Pixabay

In Brisbane, there are suburbs where it would be more cost-effective to buy a home rather than rent. If you’re looking for places near or around Albany Creek where the median house price (currently at $645,000) is slightly higher than Queensland’s current median house price, you’ll be glad to know that five suburbs located north and east of the suburb are on the list.

The latest data provided by PRD Research shows Lawnton is the most affordable suburb near Albany Creek, with a median price of $250,000. Located around eight kilometres north of the suburb, Lawnton is great for public transport, childcare, schools, park and recreation.

Suburb near Albany Creek	Median Price	20% deposit	Monthly repayment	Weekly repayment	Median weekly rent 2020	Mortgage vs rent difference
Bald Hills	$485,000	$97,000	$1,690	$423	$420	0.6%
Bracken Ridge	$329,000	$65,800	$1,132	$283	$380	-25.5%
Brendale	$275,000	$55,000	$946	$237	$350	-32.4%
Lawnton	$250,000	$50,000	$860	$215	$300	-28.3%
Strathpine	$465,000	$93,000	$1,614	$404	$400	0.9%

Whilst Bald Hills came with a $485,000 median price, slightly more expensive than the other suburbs on the list, it’s still less than the current median value for houses which is at $593,232 as of 2021.

Strathpine, which is a 14-minute drive from Albany Creek, is a great option for public transport and eating out, and for people who prefer suburbs with many shopping options and proximity to medical facilities.

Five minutes from Strathpine will lead you to Brendale, which is by far the most affordable suburb near Albany Creek. Brendale may be the perfect option for families with kids because of the many childcare services, clean and green areas, and low-cost living.

For many, renting a house is way more convenient than buying one. Renting a home is the best choice for people who aren’t prepared yet for the large financial responsibility of owning one.

But that doesn’t mean renting does not come with disadvantages. The Bank of Queensland says that due to the regular changes in the property market, property managers and landlords are within their rights to change the rent amount once a lease ends.

“In some cases, this might force renters to move out and find a cheaper place, which can be a highly stressful time, especially if you weren’t ready to go yet. Additionally, rent never stops – home owners can pay off a mortgage, but renting means you will need to make those rental payments forever,” BOQ added.

Renting or buying a unit or an apartment in Brisbane is a different story. The latest data reveals the median value for units is at $396,183. The lower rate does not come as a surprise, since the Brisbane Unit market has been experiencing oversupply since the construction of units boomed in 2016.

Oversupply of units in the city, particularly in the CBD, can affect capital growth that there have been moderate declines in prices of units over recent years. Because of this, there are lenders who decline applications for loaning money for unit purchases in some areas of Brisbane. Other lenders require higher deposits.

Despite the oversupply, buying a unit in Brisbane can still be a good choice if the fund is limited. They are mostly located near major employment centres and other amenities, not to mention that they often achieve higher rental returns compared to houses and townhouses.

Albany Creek Woman With Dementia Struggles to Find Vaccination

An elderly woman resident of Aveo Freedom Care Albany Creek, who is suffering from severe dementia, was forced to arrange her own COVID-19 vaccination, much to the dismay of her family.

The woman, who will remain anonymous, lives in her own apartment but requires a lot of support from the care community watching over her. Her dementia has progressed to the point where she cannot even recognise her own family.

However, Aveo’s call for its residents to get vaccinated despite their own lack of a supply means she and many other elderly people will have to venture outside to receive their vaccinations. This will cause great fear in residents with dementia as they will be taken out of comfortable and familiar spaces.

Though four of Aveo’s Commonwealth-funded facilities fall under Phase 1A of the CDC’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout recommendations, their Freedom Care Communities such as the one in Albany Creek fall under Phase 1B which means they are not currently eligible to receive vaccines.

It will allegedly take the anonymous woman six weeks to go through the necessary steps required to arrange a clinic appointment for vaccination, according to her family. Her regular clinic does not administer vaccines. Given the current state of the woman’s dementia, it would be difficult to change her environment and she would be unable to do so alone.

Albany Creek Barber First to Undergo Training in Spotting Abuse Victims

Did you know that the first Australian barber to undergo training in spotting victims of domestic violence or elderly abuse comes from Albany Creek? Arren Heeley, the owner and head barber at Hairologist has been in the business for 23 years and he has completed the Hairdressers with Hearts (HWH) training course, which taught him to identify which clients might need a life-saving intervention as victims of abuse.

Working at Hairologist at Albany Square gives Mr Heeley access to his client’s personal stories as many surprisingly open up to him about their life and their struggles. They tell him stuff they won’t normally tell even their closest friends.

Mr Heeley said that a lot of his elderly male clients feel safe talking to him on the barber’s chair. During the pandemic, he noticed that many of these men were telling him stories that hinted of abuse and their anecdotes commonly involved the elderly and their children’s inheritance.

The barber felt that his clients didn’t seem to understand their rights. Realising that they needed sound advice and guidance, Mr Heeley signed up for the nine-module training at Hairdressers with Hearts (HWH).

He said that his training provided him the ability to inform his clients on the best approach to their predicament, eventually connecting them with the right people who could deliver a positive outcome.

HWH was founded by hairdresser Sonia Colvin in 2018 and her initiative has since helped 200 victims. The organisation has ties to the Centre Against Domestic Abuse, Red Rose Foundation and the Caxton Legal Centre.

Ms Colvin sees barber and hairdressers as the “link” to caseworkers or lawyers. They are the “frontline” workers who regularly have conversations with victims of abuse in a community since everyone needs to go to the salon or barber for a haircut.

HWH’s training modules were carefully developed by domestic or elderly abuse experts and partly covers subjects like conducting the right conversations with potential abuse victims, identifying victims, violence against men, as well as a self-care module for the barbers and hairdressers.

The Sistahood: New Eco-Friendly Online Store in Bald Hills

The Sistahood, an Australian-based online store founded by two Bald Hills women, delivers a variety of eco-friendly products to customers all across the country. The store was created to support local businesses and inspire other people to use eco-friendly and sustainable products.

Nella and Shelley founded the all-women company in October 2020, after a series of sisterly chats.

Among the company’s core beliefs is self-care and good health for the body, mind, and soul. As The Sistahood grows, the Bald Hills duo also supports various initiatives and organisations, such as a foundation that supports Women’s Health.

Nella and Shelley, founders of The Sistahood
Photo credit: The Sistahood

One of the products available at their online store is tea from the local brand Life of Cha. The tea comes in six different variants: the herbal Heal, Crystal and Zzz teas, and the caffeinated Balance, Spiced and Le Grey teas. Each tea variant provides various health benefits, is calorie-free, and full of nutrients, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

Another popular product is Seagull Milk, a locally-produced and family-owned sunscreen created for users with particularly sensitive skin types such as those with eczema or psoriasis. The sunscreen itself is a scented, non-slip, non-greasy Mineral formulation suitable for people of all ages. Part of the proceeds for each tube of Seagull Milk is donated to Take3, an advocacy group against ocean plastic pollution.

The Sistahood is currently having a special sale of their travel mugs. Customers can buy two mugs and receive the third at 50% off at checkout. Among their mugs is the ChaBottle from Life of Cha, a portable tea bottle with a built-in, 2-in-1 infuser and double-wall glass insulation. The ChaBottle is made from eco-friendly materials like borosilicate glass and bamboo.

For more information on The Sistahood and their products, visit their website. Follow their social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates on special deals, dates, and other important announcements.

Caution: Resurfacing Works Commence on Burnett Road

Photo credit: ivypanda.com

Resurfacing works will be undertaken this month in Bunya, between Avoca and Haly Street, and Kumbia township as part of the multimillion-dollar Burnett Road work project.

The works will involve removing and resurfacing the road pavement to waterproof the layers beneath and provide smoother travelling conditions.

As per South Burnett Regional Council, works in Kingaroy township will be completed at night when traffic volumes are lower and will generally be between 7:00 pm and 5:00 am and other sites will be completed during daylight hours, generally between 6:00 am and 6:00 pm.

Road users are encouraged to plan their journeys in advance because this will involve the closure of some lanes and reduced speed limits. Motorists are also urged to follow traffic controller directions

Assistant Minister for Regional Roads Bruce Saunders believes these types of projects play an important part in supporting our industries right across the region, in particular, those industries that rely on our regional roads to transport goods

Mr Saunders added that the works will give new opportunities for road workers as we continue to recover from COVID-19 and spark more jobs in industries like construction, traffic management and engineering.

Depending on weather conditions, the resurfacing works are expected to be completed by the end of March.

For more information about the resurfacing works in Bunya, you may contact South Burnett Regional Council on 1300 728 390 during business hours or email bundaberg.office@tmr.qld.gov.au.

NBN To Begin Fiber Rollout In Selected Albany Creek Homes

Photo credit: NBN Australia/Facebook

Albany Creek is one of seven Queensland suburbs to benefit from NBN Co’s plan of extending its fiber premises to pass 200,000 premises in FTTN footprint across Australia.

In October 2020, the network began work on the initial program to design and construct new fibre into communities currently served by Fibre to the Node (FTTN) technology.

“The extension of fibre deeper into communities will ultimately enable customers living and working in affected premises to place an order for a higher speed service, which is likely to trigger the construction of a fibre lead-in direct to individual customers’ premises,” NBN said in a media statement.

Aside from Albany Creek, other Queensland suburbs included in NBN’s rollout are Ashgrove, Bald Hills, Ferny Hills, Robina, Burleigh Heads and Townsville.

NBN’s $4.5 billion network investment is part of its 2021 corporate plan, that includes an allocation of about $300 million for the provision of higher speed wholesale broadband services, under a collaboration with state and territory governments and local councils.

In a separate media statement, NBN Co said more households than ever before are opting for higher speed nbn plans to support their needs for online work, learning, entertainment and connected life.

“The number of Australians choosing broadband plans with peak download speeds of 100 Mbps and above1,2,4 more than doubled in the 12 months to January 2021, while average household data downloads grew by almost 20 per cent in the same period.”

To find out if the NBN network is available at your home or business, check NBN’s rollout map.