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Proposed Early Learning Centre and Fast Food Restaurant in Albany Creek Now in Decision Phase

Moreton Bay Regional Council approved a development application for a child care centre and a fast food restaurant at Albany Creek Road and 12-16 Keong Road. Consult Planning, a company specializing in town planning consultancy, lodged the development application on behalf of the Smithfield Property Group.

Smithfield is a Brisbane-based firm that specialises in property development, funds management, and development management. They largely focus on niche projects involving suburban retail, residential, and child care projects in Brisbane.

Photo credit: Reference No. 2017 / 34041 / V234C, Moreton Bay Regional Council

The plan includes the subdivision of land into Lot 1 and Lot 2, with an easement for access between the lots. Bennett and Bennett, a company of surveyors and planners, prepared the division. The northern portion of the site is Lot 1 that will accommodate a fast food restaurant, while the southern portion of the site is Lot 2 that will accommodate a child care centre.

Subdivision

Lot 1 – 1,446 square metres
Lot 2 – 1,202 square metres
Easement for access – 243 square metres

Child Care Centre

The child care centre will be a part of the “Green Leaves Learning Centres”. Green Leaves is a privately-owned company that provides solutions for early learning centre acquisition, development, and operation. For the record, they already have 11 centres that are now open, 13 centres that will be opening soon, and eight more centres in the pipeline including the Albany Creek site.

Opus Architecture, a firm that services the public, commercial, health, leisure, and education sectors, designed the plans for the centre. The plan seeks a facility with a maximum building height of two to three storeys that is designed to accommodate 109 children.

The centre will also feature three external play areas with acoustic fence surrounding the whole outdoor play area. The car parking spaces will be provided on both ground floor and basement floor. A shared driveway will also be constructed for levels and vehicles access from the site to the Keong and Albany Creek roads.

Development Details

Two storey building below 9 metres in height
781 square metres GFA
Three external play areas
32 car park spaces
One disabled car park area

Fast Food Restaurant

The other part of the development is dedicated to “Hungry Jack’s”, a long-running fast food chain serving generous beef and chicken burgers. It is a franchise of the international Burger King Corporation that started its operation in Australia since 1971.

Kass & Associates, a Philadelphia-based architecture and design firm, designed the plans for Hungry Jack’s. The plans propose a single-storey fast food facility with an 11-car capacity “Drive Thru.”

Car park spaces will be positioned on the ground floor. A new shared driveway will provide vehicle access to the fast food restaurant from Keong and Albany Creek roads, while there will be a pedestrian access from Albany Creek Road.

Development Details

One storey building with a maximum height of 8 metres
223 square metres GFA
1.2 metre high solid fence
Landscaping
12 car park spaces
1 disabled car park space

Once completed, Hungry Jack’s will operate 24/7.

Check out the application details on the Moreton Bay Regional Council PD Online page.

Holiday Classes in Albany Creek to Keep your Kids Busy this Spring Break

Great news for Albany Creek Library regulars and those who are looking for holiday activities for their kids. Albany Creek Library will kick off their spring holiday classes starting Monday, the 18th of September. The library will be hosting different programs that will match children’s ages, interests, skills, and maturity levels.

Do note that these programs are free for library members only. Becoming a member should be a breeze because joining the library only requires one valid ID with your current address. Registration is free and open for all ages. Join the library here.

Program Registrations

Bookings are required because slots are limited. You can book a class by visiting or calling the Albany Creek Library. However, the easiest way to book is through online registration. It will save you from the inconvenience of being held up in the queue. You can pre-register via Eventbrite by logging in or signing up for an account. Online registration perks include receiving booking information and event reminders.

Should the programs reach the booking capacity, you can still register your children for the program and their names will be added on the waitlist. However, this does not guarantee a slot. If a ticket becomes available, the library will contact the names on the waitlist and give information on how to officially register for the event.

Here are some of the holiday programs and activities in Albany Creek Library that you might want to check out. Children under 12 years of age are required to have a guardian throughout the class.

Giraffes Can’t Dance

Date: Monday, 18 September

Time: 10:30 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.

Age: 3 years – Prep

FREE

Photo credit: Moreton Bay Regional Libraries/Eventbrite

Little kids will discover an exciting way to enjoy stories. Library facilitators will show how to bring this picture book to life with the magic of dancing. Reading stories is an essential tool in learning, especially for kids at this age bracket. This story will encourage children to ask question and explore. Reading, combined with social interaction, will foster a fun, learning environment.

Creating Awesome Stories

Date: Wednesday, 20 September

Time: 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Age: Grades 4-6

FREE

Unleash your kids’ inner writer. This workshop will help them turn their small ideas into huge concepts that are needed in creative writing. They will learn how to write fun and engaging stories as their imaginations explore the possibilities with their facilitators’ guidance. This is a fully interactive workshop that will not only improve their writing skills and vocabulary, but will also improve their social interaction skills.

Where’s Wally Pizza Party

Date: Friday, 22 September

Time: 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Age: Grades 1-6

FREE

It’s time to celebrate the 30th anniversary of “Where’s Wally”. Look for Wally in a day full of journey hunts and activities that will stimulate the children’s attentiveness and cognitive development. Of course, this will not be a party without pizza. There will be different pizzas for different appetites on this day.

The Cat in the Hat

Date: Thursday, 28 September

Time: 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Age: Grades 1-3

FREE

It has been 60 years since Dr. Seuss created and illustrated “The Cat in the Hat”. This workshop is all about this Dr. Seuss classic and will also explore Dr. Seuss’ creative illustrations. As they journey through these creative illustrations, the children will be given the chance to paint their own “Cat in the Hat”. It’s a great workshop that will activate their creativity and imagination.

Plasticine Stop Motion Animation

Date: Friday, 29 September

Time: 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Age: Grades 7-12

FREE

Albany Creek Library will host a workshop where teens can explore their artistic side as they perform sculpture and photography arts. The teens will create a plasticine character. After sculpting the character, they will film it using stop motion techniques. They’ll be able to make an animation in just two hours.

Hype Pizza Party

Date: Friday, 29 September

Time: 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Age: Grades 7-12

FREE

Let your “teens” party at the library. Right after the Plasticine Stop Motion Animation class, the library will host a Hype Pizza Party that will be filled with activities and free pizza. This is a socialization activity that will help these adolescents to interact with each other and overcome their barriers of communication.

There are other activities and programs that the Moreton Bay Regional Libraries are hosting this spring holiday. Learn more about these classes on their official website.

Unleash Your Superpowers with the Albany Creek and Windsor Girls Team at Miss Muddy

Attention, ladies! It’s time to unleash your super strength and your super speed. Anytime Fitness Albany Creek owner Jessica Peake and Personal Trainer Lorna Dent is inviting every girl in Albany Creek and Windsor to join their team as they challenge themselves at the Miss Muddy on Saturday, 9th of September.

What is Miss Muddy?

Miss Muddy is a friendly and non-competitive 5-kilometre female fun run that is designed to suit all fitness level for participants aged 13 years and above. The obstacles have easy and hard options. As an “all for fun” race, you can even skip the obstacles without incurring any penalty if you feel you can’t do it or you just feel like not doing it. There will be inflatables, foams, colours, and, of course mud.

Miss Muddy is not just a ladies day-out, but it’s also a proud supporter of the Tour de Cure. It is a series of fundraising cycling events across Australia that raise funds for cancer studies. Although they are not linked with any cancer group, they already funded 266 cancer projects since 2007. They are dedicated in “building momentum” — to find the cure for cancer.

When & Where?

There are several dates and locations for Miss Muddy. This weekend, 9th and 10th of September, it’s happening in Sirromet Wines, Mount Cotton. The Sunday event is now sold out. Luckily, the Saturday slots where the Anytime Fitness Albany Creek Team is included, are still open for registration. However, slots are limited.

Registration

The event’s online registration costs $90 per Miss Muddy participant. To be organised, the event has been divided into different waves or sessions, from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., in 30-minute intervals. Select the “Brisbane – 9th of September” event and choose a wave or time you would like to participate in.

You can either run with a team or on your own. If you want to join the Albany Creek and Windsor Girls team, select the 8:30 a.m. wave and their team name. Do visit their event page here.

There is an onsite registration on the day that will only be available for waves that are not full. The price of the registration will be $100. Remember to arrive an hour before your preferred wave commences.

Finalise your registration onsite at the Check-In Zone. Do not forget your IDs and the QR barcodes sent via email if registered online.

Parking

Sirromet Winery has limited parking spaces. Come early, considering that Albany Creek is an hour ride to the site. There is a car parking fee of $10 per car. To save on space and charges, you can arrive with your team. Carpooling with your team is a great way to hang out.

Check out Miss Muddy website and Facebook page for updates.

Vertica Capital Director to Swim the English Channel for Youngcare Albany Creek

The 48 year old businessman Cameron Noble is set to cross the English Channel in August to raise funds for the newly opened Youngcare Albany Creek. Mr. Noble is now in his 16 week-long training under swim coach Trent Grimsey, who swam the English Channel in 2012 with a record of seven hours.

Photo credit: www.camswimsthechannel.com

The English Channel is the body of water (a part of the Atlantic ocean) that is separating the Southern England from the Northern France. Its 500 kilometers length entices swimmers and athletes all around the globe to take the swimming challenge.

Who is Cameron Noble?

Cameron Noble is the Director of Vertica Capital. It is an advisory firm that specialises in structuring debt and equity for both commercial and investment structure, based at Fortitude Valley. Throughout the years, Vertica is a proud supporter of Youngcare.

Although Mr. Noble is already a father of three, he has still been able to complete several physical challenges. He has already walked the Kokoda Track twice, completed the 1,200-kilometre bike ride for the 2012 Ride West, and the 1,000-kilometre bike ride for the 2015 Chain Reaction.

Among the fitness challenges that he has undertaken, swimming the English Channel will be the toughest challenge so far, an event that, like the others, requires rigorous physical and mental preparation.

Youngcare Australia

Mr. Noble believes that swimming the English Channel for Youngcare will probably be one of the best things that he will do in his life. He believes in what Youngcare does for the young people with high care needs.

Youngcare is a non-profit organisation established in 2005 to provide personal support, health care, and accommodation to young people with high care needs and teach them how to be independent while living in these facilities.

Shevaune’s achievement of being independent
(Photo credit: www.youngcare.com)

The foundation of Youngcare was inspired by the story of Shevaune Conry and her husband David. Shevaune was a multiple sclerosis patient in an aged care facility, but failed to receive the proper care she needs. David, together with his colleagues, formed Youngcare to provide extensive care to Shevaune and other young Aussies in an aged care facility with similar conditions.

The newest Youngcare facility recently opened in Albany Creek at 1 Leitchs Road. It is now the home of eight young people with high care needs, built through a partnership with MS Queensland, an organisation providing support to multiple sclerosis patients.

Mr. Noble is now on a quest to raise $500,000 for Youngcare Albany Creek’s finishing touches and its residents’ needs. If this goal is reached, there will be enough funds to build another much-needed Youngcare home in Wooloowin.

To support Mr. Noble’s “noble” cause, visit his Everyday Hero Fundraising page or his website.

Step Up and Run for Suicide Prevention @ Anytime Fitness Albany Creek

Anytime Fitness Albany Creek will keep the treadmills spinning for 24 hours on Friday, 28th of July. Step Up and Run: Anytime Fitness PPP4SPA is an initiative to raise awareness and donations to the Suicide Prevention Australia.

Step Up & Run

Photo credit: Anytime Fitness Albany Creek/Facebook

Anytime Fitness has a goal to raise $500,000 for suicide prevention. To make this happen, everyone is invited to walk, jog, and run to keep the treadmills moving, starting at 6:00 p.m. on Friday until 6:00 p.m. on Saturday.

This is also a family-friendly event with activities that will keep the kids busy and entertained. There will be face painting and jumping castle for kids and free BBQs for everyone.

To participate, you can book your 15-minute treadmill slot for $15 here. Other Anytime Fitness clubs and members across Australia will also be participating in this treadmill challenge.

Suicide in Australia

Photo credit: Australian Bureau of Statistics

According to the latest numbers released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), there were 3,027 people, mostly males, that lost their lives from intentional harm. It may be the 13th leading cause of death in Australia, but it is the leading cause of death among people at 15 – 44 years of age.

Queensland has the third highest suicide rate accounting to 15.7% of the total suicide rate in Australia. Just late last year, an Albany Creek teenager took his own life because of the constant bullying he received about his sexuality.

“I feel like these people who were bullying … are the cause of why he is not here any more. They pushed him to the edge,” the mother said.

Suicide Prevention Australia (SPA)

Photo credit: Suicide Prevention Australia/Facebook

SPA is the lead agency of the National Coalition for Suicide Prevention that is working collaboratively to develop a helping community. SPA has a goal of halving the suicide rate in Australia in 10 years. Apart from the research they are conducting, they are running different projects.

The “Lived Experience Network (LEN)” is a program that aims to amplify the voices of people with lived experiences of suicide. SPA believes that the wisdom gained by these people should be used to inform suicide prevention.

Visit the SPA website on how to get involved.

“Are you ok?” — These are the three important words that could change a person’s perspective in committing suicide. They just need a friend.

Albany Creek Retiree is Happy to “Clearly” Help the Guide Dogs Queensland

Albany Creek’s Max Sunley, a retired carpenter, has found happiness in donating his time and skills to help charities. After retiring, he has been helping Guide Dogs Queensland (GDQ) for three years now. He is using his carpentry skills to help keep GDQ’s Bald Hills headquarters in top shape.

“I’ve been retired for about five years now, and after coming to one of the open days with my wife I picked up some paperwork on volunteering and thought why not give it a go? … I do all the odd building jobs around the place like fixing gates, installing cupboards, or replacing light bulbs, and I enjoy that. Every day is different here,” Mr. Sunley said.

What is Guide Dogs Queensland?

Photo credit: Guide Dogs Queensland/Facebook

GDQ was established in 1960 as an organisation that helps blind and vision-impaired Queenslanders gain freedom, independence, and mobility. It is the only service provider in Queensland that offers a complete range of rehab service to help the Queenslanders live full and active lives.

Guide Dogs QLD is known for providing free Guide Dogs services to the people they help. Guide dogs are assistance dogs that have been trained to lead blind people around obstacles. These therapy animals offer positive effects on psychological, social, and physiological aspects of the people they guide, along with confidence, friendship, and security.

Actually, that’s just a part of what they do. Here are some of the other things that GDQ can do.

Guide Dog training and placement;
White Cane training;
Electronic Travel Aid training;
Community and professional education workshops;
Special mobility programs for children; and
Counselling by their own staff psychologists.

Support Group for Vision Impaired People – Albany Creek

Mr. Sunley directly volunteers at the GDQ headquarters in Bald Hills. There is no regional office located in Albany Creek, but the Albany Creek Support Group Vision for Impaired People is affiliated with GDQ. This is a self-help group for the blind and vision impaired people in the Albany Creek community that provides support, shares useful and vital info, and organises activities.

Max Sunley (Photo credit: Guide Dogs Queensland/Facebook)

“Guide Dogs is a very valuable organisation and there’s a really nice bunch of people that work here …” Mr. Sunley said.

Learn more about how you can volunteer by visiting the Guide Dogs QLD official website.

First FC Barcelona School in Australia Set to Kick Off in Bunya

Global soccer giant FC Barcelona is giving talented Brisbane kids a chance to learn from one of the top soccer clubs in the world.

This year, Brisbane will be the home of the first FC Barcelona soccer school in Australia when the Spanish club officially opens FCB Escola in Bunya in July 2017.

At the academy, kids ages 6 to 16 years will have an exclusive opportunity to learn the Barça way of playing soccer. A technical director from FC Barcelona will move to Brisbane full time to oversee the weekly training and to impart the club’s techniques, methodology and values.

FC Barcelona’s youth academy is considered as one of the top soccer youth schools in the world. Barcelona is continuously looking for talented soccer players and its Escola programs worldwide offer a way for the club to find unique and outstanding talents in the sport.

There is a chance that players from FCB Escola could get into the fabled La Masia, which trained the likes of superstars Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez. La Masia was founded by Barcelona legend Johan Cruyff to be the youth academy that will feed the club’s senior team.

Andres Iniesta, Xavi and 5-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi are among the most decorated graduates of FC Barcelona’s youth academy. (Photo credit: FC Barcelona/Facebook)

Cruyff created the philosophy that now runs within the veins of every Barcelona player. The emphasis on possession and position allow Barcelona to delight fans of the beautiful game as they control the game at will.

With the help of its youth academy, Barcelona managed to win numerous titles for the team and its individual players. Aside from five-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi, other notable graduates of FC Barcelona youth academy include Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Gerard Pique, Cesc Fabregas, Sergio Busquets and Carles Puyol.

FC Barcelona Escola will officially open its winter season on 10 July 2017, which will run until 17 September 2017. The summer season will begin on 3 October 2017 and will run until 10 December 2017.

Screening

Not all players can join FCB Escola. To be accepted into Barça’s youth school, the player must have the talent. Every player is assessed and screened to see if they are qualified to join the academy.

Players can be selected through the official FCB soccer camps or at set trial sessions. The technical director will assess and accept eligible players.

To join FC Barcelona Escola, the player must pre-register for a trial. Visit the Brisbane FCBEscola website for more details on pre-registration.

FCBEscola Brisbane will be based at Pine Hills Football Club, James Drysdale Reserve in Bunya.

Moreton Bay Motor Show Coming Up Soon; Car Enthusiasts in Albany Creek and Nearby Suburbs Gear Up to Attend

On the 17th and 18th of June, the gates of Pine Rivers Park in Strathpine will open at 9:00 a.m for the two-day Moreton Bay Motor Show. Entry is $10 for adults 16 years old and above, $5 for children, and $25 for a family pass with two adults and two kids. Tickets are available for pre-purchase on their website and on the exact event.

Thrills and Skills Park

The Thrills and Skills Park will be the highlight of the 2017 Moreton Bay Motor Show, featuring stunts and thrills from the ATV FMX show. There will be a full ATV track and demonstrations for all guests.

Australia’s leading ATV FMX stunt team, All4FMX, will be showing bigger tricks using the BAGJUMP, the same one used by Nitro Circus. Meanwhile, the Mike Hatchers Quads and Karts will show off their skills with bike race demonstrations.

Unique Car Displays

There will be incredible and remarkable cars on display. Beyond getting some serious eye candy, participants can listen to the experts share their stories and the secrets behind these custom cars.

Bat Mobile

The “Bat Mobile” will be at the show. This is the replica of the Batman movie car that was used in 1989. This car took almost 18 months to build. Find out more about it during the show.

100 Years of Triumph

This is a display of motorbikes from 1907 to 2017. The Historic Motorcycle Club of Queensland (HMCCQ) will host this display which aims to encourage proper restoration and preservation of the bikes. The motorcycles that could be seen on display are:

Veteran — constructed until 1918
Vintage — constructed between 1919 and 1930
Post-Vintage — constructed between 1931 and 1945
Post-War — constructed between 1946 and 1960
Historic — constructed between 1961 and 1986

Monkee Car

The replica of the Monkeemobile, a modified Pontiac GTO, will also be on display at the show. The original monkee car was built by Dean Jeffries for the TV program “The Monkees” in 1966.

Optimus Prime

This is the display that kids and teens should not miss! The huge vehicle was imported from USA and has now been converted to right hand drive. Construction took nine months. See its unique dashboard which was signed by Peter Cullen, Optimus Prime’s voice.

AusGarage Show N Shine

The AusGarage Show N Shine will commence on both days with custom, import, and muscle car displays on Saturday, and vintage car displays on Sunday. To enter a vehicle, apply online. Participants can also enter their cars to the show before 8:00 a.m. on the day.

View the prizes and download the application form here.

Car Lovers Unite

Car enthusiasts will enjoy different programs at the event. The Show Room and the Unique Car Displays are not just the highlights of this two-day run. There will also be informative discussions in the Motor Talks Pavilion.

TAFE Queensland SkillsTech has organised a talk on Sunday, featuring V8 Supercar Legend Marcos Ambrose. He will stick around for signings after the show.

On Saturday, the talk will be hosted by Molly Taylor, the youngest and the first female driver to win the Australian Rally Championship.

After the show, it’s also a great time to grab some of the best beers and draughts at the Triple M Man Cave. Triple M. Craft beers from Chevy Bar is organising this side of the event, which also features fun time on the free V8 Supercar Simulator, arcade games, and free haircuts by Jimmy Rods.

Kid-friendly event

Ride-on mini jeep
(Photo credit: Moreton Bay Motor Show)

The show is not just for men and women who wants to check out the cars, but also for kids who want to play. Little Greasers will allow kids to enjoy several activities including face-painting, jumping castle, PCYC games truck, and ride-on mini jeeps for toddlers. Kids will also learn new skills in the free motor craft workshop.

Live Music

The “Cleanaway Main Stage” is a live music event featuring “Diesel,” who will perform his greatest hits on Saturday; the Whotta Lotta ACDC Show; and INEXCESS, who will pay tribute to classic Aussie rock on Sunday.

Other performers and schedules can be viewed here.

Trip to Kingston Park Raceway

Tickets that are purchased online will automatically be eligible for a draw to win the Triple M Prize Pack, including a family pass to Kingston Park Raceway.

Kingston is the biggest go-karting attraction in Queensland, with over 100 go-karts and three outdoor tracks, suitable for both kids and adults. This is the only go-kart track in Brisbane that can provide an adrenaline-rush racing experience through their European-style Monte Carlo track.

There’s also a kid’s zone, where kids can ride karts. There are also mini rides within a safe and organised environment. More amusement rides and computer games can also be found next to the track for kids.

Further info about the Kingston Park Raceway, its trading hours and facilities, can be viewed through their website.

Family-friendly, but not pet-friendly

The Moreton Bay Motor Show is a family-friendly event. However, pets are not allowed to enter the event due to high volume of expected guests and the potentially unhealthy environment it might pose to the precious fur babies. Please make arrangements to leave your pets at home or with a sitter.

To get updates and info of the event, visit their website or their Facebook page. You can also see the programme details and map here.

Albany Creek’s High Needs Young People Get New Rehab Home

Despite a number of delays, Albany Creek’s Youngcare rehabilitation homes didn’t let anything stand in the way of its Opening Day on 16th of May. The new facility is located at 1 Leitchs Road. Built through a partnership with MS Queensland, an organisation providing support to people living with multiple sclerosis, the newly constructed Youngcare units will be the home of eight young people with mid- to high-care needs. During Opening Day, visitors enjoyed breakfast together and were given a sneak peek of the new facility.

Homes in Albany Creek

The Youngcare construction was first proposed in November 2014, but began in 2016 after planning and discussions between Youngcare, MS Queensland, and the government concluded.

The State Government provided the lot at Leitchs Road. The initial plan was to construct eight apartments, plus three open-market units for rentals to cover for maintenance costs of the accommodation. The two-bedroom apartments were designed for the residents to feel free in accepting their own guests. To help them be independent while living in the apartments, each unit is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities including lighting, automated doors, entertainment systems, beds, and fingertip-controlled blinds.

Students of Albany Creek SS raised $910
(Photo credit: Albany Creek SS/Twitter)

Helping people with high care needs included more than just fixing their accommodations. State MP for Everton and former NRL Referee, Tim Mander, led a group of walkers, from volunteers to prominent figures, on a fundraising walk during Youngcare’s opening day. The walk started at the Youngcare facility and went through three different schools, including Albany Creek State School, garnering funds to help the Youngcare Albany Creek purchase a motor vehicle for its residents.

The Youngcare Story

The birth of Youngcare was inspired by the touching story of Shevaune Conry, a multiple sclerosis patient. Shevaune was terminally ill at age 33, and needed special care which was not attainable by just staying at home.

Multiple sclerosis is an unpredictable disease that attacks the central nervous system, brain, spinal cord, and nerve cells, resulting to impaired speech and vision, walking difficulties, muscle stiffness and numbness, and brain activity problems.

Youngcare’s founders
(Photo credit: Jake Myers15/Wikimedia Commons)

Shevaune and her husband David couldn’t find a place that could accommodate Shevaune’s needs. They tried an aged care facility, but she did not receive the proper care. David, seeing his wife in this situation, established Youngcare together with his colleagues — Matthew Lawson, Nick Bonifant, and Simon Lockyer, with a common goal to create a “bright future” and provide extensive care to Shevaune and other Aussies with similar conditions.

Sinammon Park, Brisbane’s facility
(Photo credit: www.youngcare.com)

Youngcare Wesley Mission Brisbane Apartments, the first Youngcare facility at Brisbane’s Sinnamon Park, was soon constructed. Shevaune became its very first resident. When David and Shevaune shared their story in a television documentary, support came pouring in, and patients who needed the same care as Shevaune applied for a place to stay. Since then, Youngcare has continuously expanded in Brisbane and now to Albany Creek.

Shevaune passed away in 2012, at 40 years old. Her legacy and her story lives on, not just in David’s heart, but through the various Youngcare programs that now brings extensive care to young people with conditions that have high care needs.

Youngcare’s doors for support and donations are always open to give a better life for young people battling chronic illness that require a high level of care. For more info on the programs and how to donate, please check their website.

Albany Creek’s Ella Giammichele Dances Her Way to World Championship

She first learned Irish dancing at the age of five. At 13 years of age, Ella Giammichele of Albany Creek is representing the country in the 2017 World Irish Dancing Championships.

Ella is joining some 5,000 participants from around the globe, including dancers from the United States, England, Scotland, Europe, the UAE, Japan and Russia.

Dream Come True

It is a dream come true for Ella to represent the country and compete against the best in Irish dancing from all over the world.

At her young age, Ella, who attends school at Mt Maria College in Mitchelton, has already made several achievements in Irish dancing. Last year, she came third at the Queensland State Irish Championships and placed ninth at the Australian Irish Dancing Championships.

Irish dancing is a huge part of Ella’s life as it helped her overcome shyness when she was younger. Her aunt and dance instructor Clare Michelsen took Ella under her tutelage. That allowed her to become better in her craft.

To enhance her skills, Ella practises around 90 minutes four days a week after school and spends four hours every Saturday.

Ella will be coming on April 11. The competition runs from April 9 to 16 and features competitors 8 to 30 years old. They will perform and compete in different categories including solo performances, choreographed team dance, dance drama, and ceili, which is a type of Celtic square dance.