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Albany Creek Athlete Heads To Wales For International Powerlifting Event

Photo Credit: Strength and Power/Facebook

Albany Creek athlete Kim Prince is continuing her multi-sport strength career as she prepares to compete internationally in powerlifting following her world title in natural bodybuilding.

Early Foundations And Background

Kim Prince began her training as a child performer with the Flying Fruit Fly Circus, where she learned trapeze, Spanish web and acrobatics under Chinese coaches. This early discipline contributed to her later transition into natural bodybuilding, Strongwoman events, powerlifting and triathlon.

At age 42, she won the 2018 World Championship at the Olympia All Natural event in Las Vegas, only 18 months after entering bodybuilding. Her broader transformation included losing more than 20 kilograms in 12 weeks.

Competition Record Across Multiple Strength Sports

Kim has accumulated national and international results across several sports while competing drug-free.

Her verified achievements include:

2018 Natural Bodybuilding World Champion (Las Vegas)
2020 Beasts of Burden Strongwoman (under-72kg) winner
2022 UK Strongwoman Open (Hartfield) winner
2023 Women’s Masters Division winner, Australia’s Strongest International (Bendigo)
2023 Women’s Masters Division winner, Emirates Strongest International (Dubai)
2024 Third place, Women’s Masters, World Championships Strongwoman (Ireland)
2024 National champion in U67.5kg Masters Women’s Tested Powerlifting and overall Masters heaviest female lifter

She holds the female masters Australian natural deadlift record at 201 kilograms and currently maintains a 200-kilogram deadlift at a body weight of 66 kilograms.

Expansion Into Endurance And Triathlon

Two years ago, Kim added triathlons to her training, including swimming, cycling and running. She has also undertaken group ocean swimming sessions to build confidence in open water conditions.

Albany Creek Athlete Preparing For Wales Event

Kim will compete in the ZEROW Pro 3 powerlifting event in Wales on 16 November, which coincides with her 49th birthday. The competition has no weight or age classes, and she aims to exceed her previous competition lifts, including her natural deadlift record.

Her preparation this year included managing chronic pain and injuries while maintaining daily training with five strength sessions and additional swimming, cycling or walking.

Queensland athlete — Photo Credit: Strength and Power/Facebook

Community Strength Initiatives And Local Impact

Kim contributes to local strength communities by running Strongwoman and Strongman events in Stafford and Kedron, offering free posing sessions at Unique Crew and supporting athletes without trainers.

She co-organised Her Roar to encourage women to participate in strength sports and delivers workshops for Indigenous youth and disadvantaged women through Iron Tracks and the Women’s Sports Academy.

She lectures in cardiac ultrasound at CQU Brisbane and continues to train at facilities in Zillmere, Lutwyche and surrounding areas.

Next Steps For The Albany Creek Competitor

The Wales competition marks another major step in Kim’s ongoing multi-sport strength career, highlighting her continued development across bodybuilding, Strongwoman, powerlifting and triathlon as she represents Albany Creek internationally.

Published 4-Nov-2025

Shellfish Reef Trial Shows Waterway Benefits Near Bridgeman Downs

A long-running shellfish reef trial in the Pine River catchment near Bridgeman Downs is demonstrating measurable nutrient reduction, providing new insights into how nature-based systems can support cleaner waterways.

Background on the Pine River Trial

Unitywater began the shellfish reef project in the Pine River nearly two years ago to assess whether oyster-based reefs could reduce nutrients downstream of the Murrumba Downs Wastewater Treatment Plant. The initiative, delivered with UniSC, OzFish and Healthy Land and Water, forms part of a broader commitment to improve waterways across the region.

The approach tests how recycled oyster shells can be used to support live shellfish, building small reef structures capable of filtering water as they grow. The trial sits within the Pine River catchment, which includes the Albany Creek and Bridgeman Downs area.

Bridgeman Downs shellfish reef — *Photo Credit: Unitywater*

How the Reef System Works

Each reef consists of baskets made by OzFish volunteers and filled with around 18 kilograms of recycled oyster shells. The shells are sun-cured for 12 months to remove impurities and then prepared for oyster spat before installation.

Researchers measure performance by analysing nitrogen in shellfish tissue, nitrogen deposited into surrounding sediment and reductions in the water column. In the first six months of results, monitoring showed a reduction of 7.24 kilograms of nitrogen.

Unitywater’s modelling indicates that approximately 154 reefs, covering an area similar to two rugby league fields and containing about 6,500 baskets, could offset nitrogen discharged from a treatment plant servicing around 10,000 people.

Ecological Findings So Far

UniSC research teams reported that more than 95 per cent of shellfish reefs nationwide have disappeared, making restoration work significant for water quality and ecological recovery. Findings from the Pine River show the reefs are effectively storing nutrients within the living shellfish and the reef structure.

Researchers used multiple techniques, including nitrogen testing in shellfish flesh and surrounding sediment, to understand how nutrients settle and transform within the system.

Expansion of the Trial

Following development approval from the State Assessment Referral Agency, Unitywater will add two more reefs to the North Pine River between Lawnton and Murrumba Downs. These sites will test how different depths, salinity levels and flow conditions influence nutrient removal.

Unitywater’s Environmental Sustainability Plan outlines a wider commitment to divert or offset nutrients from waterways by 2040. The shellfish trial forms part of this broader program, which includes wetland restoration, nutrient offset projects and recycled water schemes.

Relevance to Bridgeman Downs

Bridgeman Downs is located within the Pine River catchment, meaning improvements in water quality upstream contribute to healthier waterways for suburbs connected to this system. The trial’s findings offer data that may guide future restoration activities benefiting the wider northern Brisbane region.

Next Steps

Further monitoring will assess long-term nutrient storage, reef growth and performance in varied conditions. These results will support decisions on whether nature-based systems can be deployed more widely alongside existing wastewater treatment processes.

Published 3-Nov-2025

Business and Innovation Awards Held in Eatons Hill

Photo Credit: Moreton Bay Business Awards

The 2025 Moreton Bay Business and Innovation Awards gathered businesses and community representatives at Eatons Hill for an evening recognising achievements across multiple industry categories.

Awards Ceremony at Eatons Hill Hotel

The 2025 Moreton Bay Business and Innovation Awards were held at Eatons Hill Hotel on 30 October 2025, bringing together 61 finalists from across the region. The event highlighted achievements in innovation, customer service, manufacturing, sustainability, tourism and emerging business sectors.

The program was coordinated by Tourism and Events Moreton Bay in partnership with City of Moreton Bay.

Award Categories and Winners

A total of 16 categories were presented, with results based on assessments from a judging panel of 25 industry representatives. The Business of the Year honour went to Health Focus Manufacturers, recognised for its performance across multiple areas.

Eatons Hill Business Awards — Photo Credit: Moreton Bay Business Awards

Category Winners

Not-For-Profit Excellence: The Nest Community
Corporate Social Responsibility Excellence: Wilko Painting
Exporting Excellence: Solar Bollard Lighting
Employee of the Year: Olivia Tulloch – Gather & Feast Café
Advanced Manufacturing Excellence: Health Focus Manufacturers
Entrepreneur of the Year: Tory Ogden – Kompliance
Tourism Business Excellence: Brisbane Whale Watching
Hall of Fame – Tourism Business Excellence: Brisbane Whale Watching (2023, 2024 and 2025)
Innovation Excellence: RTM Cloud
Businesswoman of the Year: Candice Kiss – Gather & Feast Café, Annie Lane Café, Ruby Tuesday Café
Food and Agribusiness Excellence: Hip Hops Brewers
Environment and Sustainability Excellence: The Nest Community
Customer Service Excellence: Annie Lane Café
New Business Excellence: Hop To It Collective

Photo Credit: Moreton Bay Business Awards

Eatons Hill as the Host Venue

Eatons Hill served as the host location for the awards evening, marking another major regional event held at Eatons Hill Hotel. Businesses and representatives made online acknowledgements following the event, including posts from individual winners expressing appreciation for the program.

Regional Significance

The awards highlighted contributions across a broad range of sectors, reflecting ongoing activity in business development, community service, tourism, and innovation. The achievements recognised during the event demonstrated the range of work undertaken by businesses across the region.

Future Outlook

Recipients are expected to continue expanding their work following the recognition in 2025. The awards program is anticipated to remain a platform for acknowledging regional business achievements in future years.

Published 31-Oct-2025

Strathpine Level Crossing Named Queensland’s Worst for Morning Congestion

Photo Credit: Department of Transport and Main Roads

For almost two hours every weekday morning, traffic on South Pine Road grinds to a halt as boom gates near Strathpine Station stay down to let trains pass, making it the most congested level crossing in south-east Queensland.

Growing Delays in a Growing Community

From 5 am to 10 am, motorists face closures totalling an average of one hour and 50 minutes, according to new Queensland Rail data released in mid-October 2025. The figures show Strathpine has the longest morning downtime of any Brisbane crossing, prompting renewed calls from transport experts and advocacy groups for upgrades to ease congestion.

*Photo Credit: Department of Transport and Main Roads*

Strathpine’s crossing sits at a critical junction where commuters from northern suburbs merge onto South Pine Road to reach Gympie Road or the Bruce Highway. Each train movement halts traffic in both directions, backing up vehicles past shops, schools and bus routes.

Transport experts say the cause is a mix of factors: more passenger trains, added freight services and higher dwell times at nearby stations. Queensland Rail confirmed that 111 weekly services have been added to the timetable over the past year, meaning more frequent gate closures. With new projects like Cross River Rail expected to increase services further, residents fear the wait times could grow even longer.

Plans and Promises

The state government has identified 13 priority level crossings for removal or upgrade across the south-east rail network. Strathpine’s crossing has been highlighted by advocates as needing priority attention, though it is not yet confirmed in the current removal list.

At other locations, such as Beams Road in Carseldine, replacement works are already under way with a new four-lane overpass funded by a $235 million partnership between federal, state and local governments. Similar upgrades are planned along the Logan and Gold Coast lines. Advocacy groups argue that crossings with the longest downtimes, such as Strathpine, should be next in line, given its impact on both local businesses and commuter safety.

Experts Call for Faster Action

Griffith University transport researcher Matthew Burke said when boom gates are closed for more than a third of the peak hour, congestion becomes a serious problem. He noted that if rail frequency continues to rise without parallel upgrades, some crossings could see nearly an hour of closures within a single hour of traffic.

The RACQ echoed those concerns, saying long closures at Strathpine and other sites increase risks for frustrated drivers and pedestrians. The motoring body continues to support grade-separated solutions, such as overpasses or underpasses, as the safest and most efficient long-term fix.

What It Means for Locals

For Strathpine residents, the long delays are now a familiar part of the morning routine. Extended closures cause longer travel times for motorists and buses using South Pine Road. With the region’s population and train network both expanding, the crossing’s limitations are being felt more sharply than ever.

Advocacy groups have urged the government to set clear timelines for future crossing upgrades across the region. Until then, the sound of warning bells and the sight of flashing red lights will remain a familiar frustration for thousands each morning.

Published 20-October-2025

Last-Minute Decision Leads to Life-Changing $2m Win for Eatons Hill Pair

Photo Credit: Pexels

A couple from just down the road in Eatons Hill is grappling with the delightful shock of becoming overnight multimillionaires after a last-minute decision to buy a ticket that secured them a $2 million windfall.

Their ordinary Monday morning was turned on its head when a phone call from an official delivered the extraordinary news. The husband, who answered the phone, was left completely gobsmacked.

“This has to be a gee up! Are you for real right now?” he laughed, struggling to believe his ears.

“Man, what a shock! I’m speechless. I’m flabbergasted. I don’t know what to say.”

He admitted to the official that he almost missed the life-altering call. “When you rang a second time, I thought this could be important. It certainly was! This is an awesome start to my Monday.”

The winning ticket, a 25-game QuickPick, was the result of a happy accident.

“It was a last-minute ticket because my wife couldn’t make it to the newsagency and asked me to get her one online,” he explained.

In a twist many locals will find relatable, he almost talked his wife out of it.

“Normally, we only buy a ticket if it’s a big jackpot, so I actually said to her, ‘Are you sure? It’s only $10 million’. She’s going to be ecstatic!”

While the couple is still processing the monumental win, their thoughts have already turned to family. They confirmed the prize will make a huge difference in their lives and, most importantly, will help them set their kids up for the future.

“This is unbelievable. This is the best call I’ve ever received,” the winner added.

The winning numbers for the draw were 31, 13, 18, 15, 2 and 40, with supplementary numbers 36 and 26. The Eatons Hill couple’s entry was one of two division one wins in Queensland for the draw.

The entire Samford Valley community extends its warmest congratulations to our lucky neighbours on their incredible good fortune.

Published Date 13-October-2025

Meet Local Emergency Services at Eatons Hill Community Open Day

Queensland Ambulance Service will host a Community Open Day at Eatons Hill Ambulance Station on Saturday 11 October. The event runs from 11:00am to 2:00pm at the station on Apex Grove, Eatons Hill.

Read: Kumbartcho Sanctuary Preserves History And Community Spirit In Eatons Hill

The open day will bring together local paramedics, firefighters, Queensland Police Service officers and State Emergency Service volunteers. Residents will be able to speak with staff and learn more about the work of local emergency services.

According to organisers, the event will include giveaways and community activities designed to engage families and encourage locals to visit the station. Families are welcome to attend and can expect a range of things to see and do. Parking is available in the station carpark.

The Albany Creek Lions Club will be running a sausage sizzle as a fundraiser during the open day. The Lions organisation works to empower its clubs, volunteers, and partners to promote health and wellbeing, strengthen communities, and assist people in need through humanitarian projects and grants that make a global difference.

Residents are invited to call in between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. to connect with local emergency workers in a relaxed setting. The event provides a straightforward opportunity to meet crews and ask questions about their work and local services. For many, it’s a simple way to show thanks and learn more about the services that keep Eatons Hill and nearby suburbs safe.

Read: A Career of Commitment: Senior Sergeant Jeff Lansdown Retires After 37 Years

Event details
When: Saturday 11 October, 11:00am–2:00pm
Where: Eatons Hill Ambulance Station, Apex Grove, Eatons Hill
Sausage sizzle fundraiser: Albany Creek Lions Club
Parking: Available in the station carpark

Published 9-October-2025

Albany Creek Hosts Australia’s First Grief Karaoke Event

On 1 November, Albany Creek Memorial Park will host Australia’s first Grief Karaoke, an event inviting people to sing the songs that help them process loss and remember loved ones in a shared and supportive space.

Read: Kumbartcho Sanctuary Preserves History And Community Spirit In Eatons Hill

Running from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, Grief Karaoke: Grief & Good Vibes offers participants a chance to sing in memory of someone or something they have lost, whether that be a person, a pet, a relationship, or even a dream. Organisers describe the event as a way to blend karaoke with emotional expression, creating a community space where people can connect through music.

Photo credit: Facebook/Big Love Ceremonies

The initiative comes from Big Love Ceremonies, led by Jo, a Brisbane-based celebrant and grief counsellor with more than 15 years of experience supporting families through times of loss. “Grief can be isolating,” Jo explained. “People often don’t know how to talk about it, and our society isn’t always great at making space for those feelings. Grief Karaoke helps turn that around, it connects rather than separates.”

While karaoke in a cemetery might sound unusual, the concept draws from deeper traditions. Long before Halloween became about costumes and lollies, it marked Samhain, an ancient Celtic time of remembrance for those who had passed. By holding the event during the Halloween weekend, participants are invited to reflect and reconnect with that older meaning of remembrance.

Guests will be welcomed with a drink on arrival and light refreshments, included in the $25 ticket price. Proceeds will go to Ambulance Wish Queensland, a local charity that grants final wishes for terminally ill Queenslanders, helping them experience something meaningful in their final days. The program, run through Palliative Care Queensland, has fulfilled hundreds of wishes, including beach trips and family gatherings.

Organisers describe the evening as relaxed and supportive, guided by the theme “connection, not perfection.” Participants can sing, listen, or simply be present. The goal, they say, is to create a space where grief can be voiced rather than hidden.

Read: Find Your Inner Peace with New Classes in Albany Creek

They hope the event will offer a meaningful and unconventional way to mark the season, inviting anyone who finds comfort in music to join and share songs that hold special meaning.

Event details:
What: Grief Karaoke – Grief & Good Vibes
When: Saturday, 1 November, 6–8pm
Where: Albany Creek Memorial Park
Tickets: $25 (includes drink and nibbles)
Proceeds: Fundraiser for Ambulance Wish Queensland
Bookings: events.humanitix.com/grief-karaoke

Published 8-October-2025

Unitywater Relining Works Improve Wastewater System in Eatons Hill

Unitywater has relined wastewater pipes in Eatons Hill as part of a major program to improve wastewater systems, reduce odour, and prevent overflows across South East Queensland.

Background and Context

Over two years, Unitywater has renewed 53 kilometres of wastewater pipelines and 317 maintenance holes across Moreton Bay, the Sunshine Coast, and Noosa. The work forms part of a $400 million replacements and renewals program spanning five years.

Within the Moreton Bay region, 26 kilometres of pipes—roughly the distance between Morayfield and Redcliffe—have been relined, with 91 maintenance holes renewed.

Eatons Hill’s section included 29.8 metres of relined wastewater pipe, while nearby Deception Bay saw 74.3 metres completed.

Eatons Hill wastewater relining — *Photo Credit: Unitywater*

How the Relining Works

Instead of replacing ageing pipelines through excavation, Unitywater crews are relining existing pipes using trenchless technology. The process involves spiral PVC lining and a cured-in-place polymer UV liner, which seals the inner surface of pipes without digging.

This approach is more cost-efficient, reduces traffic and noise disruptions, and limits emissions compared to full pipe replacement.

Preventing Corrosion and Overflows

Hydrogen sulphide, a gas produced naturally within wastewater, can cause corrosion over time. The relining program addresses this by reinforcing internal pipe surfaces and renewing affected maintenance holes.

Unitywater’s proactive network management uses CCTV inspections, jet blasting, and tree root removal to detect and resolve issues early. Some maintenance holes are also elevated to prevent stormwater infiltration during heavy rainfall.

Keeping stormwater and wastewater separate reduces the risk of overflows into private properties or the environment.

Benefits for Eatons Hill and the Region

The program helps improve reliability and efficiency while minimising disruption to local residents. By extending the lifespan of existing infrastructure, Unitywater reduces future repair costs and supports environmental protection in Eatons Hill and surrounding areas.

Ongoing Investment

These works are part of Unitywater’s broader $2 billion investment over five years to enhance water and wastewater services for more than 800,000 residents across South East Queensland. The organisation plans to continue its renewal projects to ensure safe, efficient, and sustainable service delivery.

Published 7-Oct-2025

Anastacia’s Eatons Hill Concert Ends With Heartfelt Tribute To BeBe Gunn

Photo Credit: Anastacia/Instagram

Anastacia’s concert at Eatons Hill Hotel became a highlight of her Australian tour when the singer acknowledged Brisbane drag performer BeBe Gunn during her final east-coast show.

Background and Tour Context

Anastacia returned to Australia in 2025 to celebrate 25 years since the release of her debut album Not That Kind. The Not That Kind 25 tour featured shows in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.

Her Brisbane performance on 29 September 2025 at Eatons Hill Hotel concluded the tour’s east-coast run, featuring the pop star’s well-known hits, including I’m Outta Love.

BeBe Gunn’s Connection to the Music

Brisbane drag artist BeBe Gunn attended the Eatons Hill concert in full drag and later described the night as one of the most meaningful experiences of her career. She has long performed Anastacia’s songs, forming a strong personal connection with the artist’s music.

BeBe Gunn recalled growing up in a single-parent household where Anastacia’s cassette played daily on the way to school. Attending the show alongside her mother and sister allowed her to relive those early memories.

Recognition from the Stage

During the concert, Anastacia took a moment to recognise BeBe Gunn from the stage, thanking her for her creativity and contribution to performance culture. The acknowledgement drew applause from the audience and reflected mutual respect between performer and fan.

BeBe Gunn later shared footage from the event on social media, expressing appreciation for the recognition and support from friends who joined her at the venue.

Community and Artistic Impact

The Eatons Hill Hotel concert showcased the connection between international artists and Brisbane’s creative scene. BeBe Gunn reflected on finding comfort and hope in Anastacia’s music, highlighting how messages of resilience continue to resonate with audiences.

For Brisbane’s northside residents, the event also reaffirmed Eatons Hill Hotel’s role as a prominent live-music venue hosting major acts while supporting local artists.

Outlook

Anastacia’s final Australian performance at Eatons Hill Hotel combined nostalgia, artistry and community spirit. Her on-stage tribute to BeBe Gunn provided a fitting close to her anniversary tour and a lasting moment for Brisbane’s live-music audience.

Published 7-Oct-2025

Kumbartcho Sanctuary Preserves History And Community Spirit In Eatons Hill

Kumbartcho Sanctuary holds more than walking tracks and picnic tables. It carries a history tied to Aboriginal culture, colonial settlement, and community efforts to keep a connection with the land in Eatons Hill.

A Name With Deep Roots

The word “Kumbartcho” comes from the Gubbi Gubbi name for the Hoop Pine, a tree once logged heavily for ship masts and farming clearings. Local accounts note the timber was a resource in early Queensland development, linking the sanctuary to a past where forests shaped industry and livelihoods.

*Photo Credit: Kumbartcho Sanctuary & Nursery*

Today, the name serves as a reminder of traditional custodians and the shift from extraction to preservation.

From Wildlife Park To Sanctuary

The site was once part of the old Bunya Wildlife Park, which later gave way to community-led conservation. What was once an attraction for animal viewing evolved into a volunteer-driven sanctuary, blending recreation with local history.

The old reception area now houses an education centre where displays highlight the land’s story, including a diorama tracing ecosystems from mangroves to mountains and exhibits on nocturnal animals.

Community Involvement Over Decades

Local volunteers and Moreton Bay Council have supported the sanctuary’s upkeep for decades. Grants and council partnerships funded upgrades such as air conditioning at the Yuraba Conference Centre, bush house recovery, and education programs.

The sanctuary has remained free to enter, keeping it part of everyday community life rather than a commercialised attraction. Families visit for barbecues and school groups attend for lessons that mix history with environmental education.

Continuing The Legacy

The grounds are open daily from 7 am to 7 pm, while the community nursery and education centre operate on limited weekday hours, depending on volunteers. Trails link to the South Pine River and nearby reserves, making the site a bridge between suburban living and the region’s heritage landscape.

By keeping the focus on shared history and access, Kumbartcho Sanctuary shows how local places hold stories worth passing on.

Published 3-October-2025