Albany Creek Archives - Albany Creek News

Search Begins for Albany Creek’s Next Community Champion

Albany Creek residents are being asked to put forward people whose volunteering, leadership and community work could make them Moreton Bay’s next Citizen of the Year or Mayor’s Community Spirit Award recipient.

Nominations for the City of Moreton Bay’s 2027 Australia Day Awards are open until 31 October 2026. Nominees may have contributed over many years or made an exceptional impact more recently, with volunteers, advocates, mentors, fundraisers and community leaders among those eligible for recognition.

Albany Creek has form

Albany Creek resident Kevin Couch is a previous Moreton Bay Australia Day Community Spirit Award recipient whose efforts to connect neighbours grew from his regular walks around the suburb.

Couch began talking with people he met during twice-daily walks and went on to organise regular morning teas in local parks, with one gathering attracting more than 100 neighbours. He received further recognition as Local Legend of the Year at the 2024 Dickson Community Awards, where fellow Albany Creek residents Graham Turk and Elizabeth Willett received Community Service Awards.

Couch’s contribution also left a permanent mark on the suburb. A pathway through Cowrie Parade Park was named Kevin’s Way after a proposal backed by a 50-signature petition and nine individual letters of recommendation.

Nearby Bunya produced two more Moreton Bay award recipients in 2026. Jan and Alison Schutt, founders of Stationery Aid, received Mayor’s Community Spirit Awards for their work collecting surplus school supplies and turning usable materials into stationery packs for students in need.

Stationery Aid had assisted more than 2,660 students across 185 schools and diverted more than 70 tonnes of waste from landfill.

River work earns top honour

The current Citizen of the Year is Chris Paterson, whose work combines waterway clean-ups with employment and support for people living with disability or mental health challenges.

Paterson founded Bamboo Projects, which uses accessible boats to involve people with disability in cleaning local waterways. His team has removed more than 80 tonnes of debris from the Pine and Caboolture rivers, while Paterson volunteers more than 30 hours each week mentoring community members.

Paterson described receiving the 2026 Citizen of the Year award as a surreal moment. He said the recognition reassured him that the work was heading in the right direction and acknowledged the hard work and volunteer hours behind it.

Two awards, different rules

Citizen of the Year recognises a local resident for outstanding achievement or contribution to the community. The recipient must be an Australian citizen living in the City of Moreton Bay.

The Mayor’s Community Spirit Award recognises significant contributions through service, leadership or community involvement. Recipients do not need to be Australian citizens or City of Moreton Bay residents.

Nominations for the 2027 Australia Day Awards close on 31 October 2026 and can be lodged through the City of Moreton Bay Australia Day Awards page.

Published 29-Sept-2026

Jagora Drive Drainage Upgrade Leads New Round of Albany Creek Road Works

Jagora Drive is in line for drainage and stormwater upgrades as City of Moreton Bay rolls out another round of road and infrastructure works across Albany Creek in 2026–27.

The project is one of the key works identified for Division 10 in Council’s adopted 2026–27 Budget, while road rehabilitation and resurfacing is also planned across Albany Creek through programs covering Divisions 9 and 10.

Council has not yet published a project-specific cost, construction timetable or the precise section of Jagora Drive to be upgraded. Details of any traffic changes or impacts on property access have also not been released.

Drainage Work Planned for Jagora Drive

Council describes the Jagora Drive project as an upgrade to drainage and stormwater infrastructure, putting the focus on how water is managed around the road.

The exact works have not been detailed, including whether existing pipes, pits, culverts or other drainage infrastructure will be replaced or upgraded. There is also no indication in the published budget material that construction has started.

The project comes against a broader backdrop of drainage constraints identified in parts of Albany Creek. Council’s planning material has previously identified areas of the suburb where stormwater and flood-conveyance capacity is limited, although it has not linked those findings directly to the Jagora Drive works.

More Albany Creek Roads in Line for Work

Road rehabilitation and resurfacing will also continue across the suburb this financial year.

In Division 9, more than five kilometres of roads are earmarked for rehabilitation or resurfacing across Albany Creek, Brendale and Cashmere. A separate Division 10 program covers Albany Creek, Arana Hills and Ferny Hills.

The individual Albany Creek streets included in those programs have not been identified on Council’s published 2026–27 budget page, and the allocations have not been broken down by suburb.

The new program follows resurfacing work carried out in Albany Creek during 2025–26. Allawah Street was among the local roads listed as completed under the previous Division 9 program.

Council adopted its 2026–27 Budget on 12 June, with road and transport infrastructure again forming a major part of its capital works program.

For Albany Creek, Jagora Drive is the most clearly identified new local project, with further details on the drainage works and this year’s road resurfacing schedule still to come.

Updated 25-September-2026

Local Athletes Celebrated After Glasgow Commonwealth Games Medal Haul

Moreton Bay athletes have returned from the Glasgow Commonwealth Games with 14 medals between them after strong performances across swimming, para swimming, athletics and boxing. Harrison Turner, Sam Short, Kirralee Hayes and Jye Dixon were among those recognised following the Games, with the city’s seven representatives collecting 12 gold medals, one silver and one bronze.

Their performances drew attention to sporting programs across Brisbane’s north, including Nudgee College, Genesis Aquatics and All Star Boxing Academy in Brendale. The athletes followed different pathways to the international stage but returned from Glasgow as part of the same Moreton Bay contingent.

Success In The Pool

Turner returned with four gold medals and one silver after a Commonwealth Games campaign that continued a strong period in his swimming career. The 22-year-old represents Nudgee College under coach Shaun Crowe and secured his Glasgow place after winning the 200m butterfly at the 2026 Australian Swimming Trials.

*Photo Credit:* *Commonwealth Games Australia*/Instagram

His international results had already included bronze in the 200m butterfly at the 2025 World Championships in Singapore, where he set an Australian record of 1:54.17. Glasgow added another five medals to a career that has developed rapidly since his senior Dolphins debut in 2024.

Glasgow 2026 — *Photo Credit:* *Commonwealth Games Australia*/Facebook

Short also finished Glasgow with four gold medals, winning the 400m, 800m and 1500m freestyle events and contributing to Australia’s victory in the men’s 4x200m freestyle relay. His Commonwealth Games results added to a record that already included a 400m freestyle world title and international medals across middle and long-distance freestyle events.

Hayes contributed another two medals, taking gold in the women’s 50m freestyle S13 and bronze in the 100m freestyle S13. The Brisbane-born para swimmer was a founding member of Genesis Aquatics at Genesis Christian College and continues to work with coach Rick Pendleton when she returns from her Australian Institute of Sport base in Canberra.

Her Glasgow campaign followed a bronze medal in the 50m freestyle S13 at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in 2022. Hayes had earlier represented Australia at the Tokyo Paralympics after taking up competitive swimming at the age of 11.

Brendale Boxer Adds Gold

Dixon returned with gold in the 55kg boxing division after beginning his sporting journey at All Star Boxing Academy in Brendale when he was 12. The 21-year-old grew up in Brendale and has since collected eight Queensland titles and seven Australian titles, along with appearances at major international tournaments.

Commonwealth Games athletes — Photo Credit: CrCathTonks/Facebook

His recent progression has also included selection for a Tier 2 scholarship through the Sport Australia Hall of Fame’s 2026 Scholarship and Mentoring Program. Ms Cath Tonks said Dixon had received an Individual Achievement Grant and recognised him alongside Turner, Short, Hayes and para swimmer Lakeisha Patterson following their return from Glasgow.

City of Moreton Bay formally acknowledged its Commonwealth Games representatives at a council meeting after their return. Mr Peter Flannery described the athletes’ international performances as a source of pride for the city and recognised the work required to reach Commonwealth Games level.

The wider Moreton Bay contingent also included Patterson and athletics competitors Calab Law and Liam Adcock. Across the seven athletes, the city returned from Glasgow with 14 medals from swimming, para swimming, athletics and boxing.

Published 23-September-2026

Albany Creek Gears Up for a Busy September

September is shaping up as a busy month around Albany Creek, with the annual Spring Fair returning, a varied program at the local library and a two-day dance and fitness event coming to Albany Hills State School.

Families looking ahead to the school holidays will have plenty of local options too, including free games and craft, Dungeons & Dragons, junior engineering and a chance for children to try their hand at 3D printing.

Spring Fair Returns to Albany Creek

One of the month’s community gatherings arrives on Saturday, 12 September, when the Albany Creek Uniting Spring Fair returns to 652 Albany Creek Road.

Running from 9:30am to 2pm, the annual fair brings together the church community, local families and school performers. City of Moreton Bay’s event listing includes the fair among its family, market, music and performing arts events, with local school choirs and bands also taking part.

Entry is free.

For Albany Creek residents, the fair provides a local start to the spring event season without the need for a trip further afield.

Plenty Happening at Albany Creek Library

The library at 16 Ferguson Street has activities running throughout September for different age groups, not just during the school holidays.

For families with younger children, Baby Rhyme Time runs on Tuesday mornings and is aimed at babies up to two years old, using rhymes, action songs and finger plays to encourage early communication and literacy. Storytime and Playtime are also part of the library’s regular program for young children and their parents or carers.

Adults have their own regular activities. The library’s Bridge Club meets on Monday mornings for social play, with the second Monday of each month particularly suited to beginners.

There is also a weekly Quiet Hour, when lighting and background noise are reduced to provide a lower-sensory library environment. The sessions are open to all ages.

School Holidays Bring Something Different

Once the holidays begin, the Albany Creek Library program expands considerably.

Fun Factory starts on Saturday, 19 September, offering free drop-in games, craft and family activities. Sessions continue at various times through the holidays and into early October, with no bookings required.

Teenagers aged 12 to 17 can try Dungeons & Dragons on 19 September, with beginners guided through an introductory adventure and no previous experience required.

Younger children get their turn on Thursday, 24 September, when the Junior Engineers: Ramp and Roll workshop will have four-to-eight-year-olds experimenting with balloon cars, rubber-band cars and different ramp surfaces.

The following afternoon, children aged eight to 11 can learn the basics of designing an object for 3D printing, with their finished creation printed for collection after the workshop.

Those three specialist activities are also free, although bookings are required.

Dance and Fitness Weekend Comes to Albany Hills

Albany Hills State School will host a different kind of weekend on 19 and 20 September, when Hong Kong-based Zumba Education Specialist George Iu comes to Albany Creek for the Taste of the Orient dance and fitness weekend.

Four sessions are advertised across the two days. Saturday features a hip-hop workshop from 3pm to 4:30pm, followed by a Zumba session from 6:30pm to 8pm.

Sunday switches to a Strong Nation masterclass from 11am to noon, followed by a Capoeira workshop from 1pm to 2pm.

Unlike the Spring Fair and library activities, the dance and fitness weekend is ticketed. Different ticket options cover individual or multiple sessions.

With the Spring Fair arriving first and school holiday activities following a week later, Albany Creek residents have a varied local calendar ahead as September gets underway.

Published 7-September-2026

PERCEPT Art Installation Brings Forest, Glass and Quiet Wonder to Albany Creek

Photo Credit: Magdalena Marciniak website

Albany Creek has plenty going for it already. But the PERCEPT art installation offers locals something a little unexpected.

Set in the forest around Glass Artistry Studio, the work by glass artist Magdalena Marciniak blends art and science in a very gentle way. It is not loud. It does not try too hard. Instead, it asks people to slow down and really notice what is around them.

That is part of the charm. The trees, the light and the shadows all become part of the experience. So do the gaps between them. In a place like this, even a small shift in light can change the whole mood.

Glass, light and a steady hand

Marciniak works from the edge of Bunyaville Conservation Park, and nature clearly shapes her work. Her glass pieces often explore the link between people and the natural world. PERCEPT keeps that thread running.

The installation draws on glass, colour, space and attention. It asks a simple question: how do we actually see the world?

That might sound a bit abstract at first. Still, the idea lands easily when you are standing in a forest and looking closely. You begin to notice details you may have missed before. A patch of light. A shadow under a branch. The way your own view changes as you move.

More than just an artwork

The event runs on Saturday 22 August from 4.30pm to 6pm, and it is free. It is part of National Science Week, with support from the City of Moreton Bay and Arts Queensland.

Visitors will also hear from Marciniak in an artist talk. She will share the ideas and process behind the installation. A guest researcher will then speak about the links between art and science.

That combination gives the evening a bit more depth than your usual gallery stop. It is part talk, part walk, part pause. And honestly, that sounds like a nice way to spend a winter afternoon.

A local event worth slowing down for

For Albany Creek locals, the PERCEPT art installation should feel close to home in more ways than one. It sits in a familiar kind of setting, but it asks people to look at it differently.

And that is the point, really. Not every event needs to be busy or flashy. Some are better when they invite you to breathe a little, look closer and head home with a fresh thought or two.

PERCEPT seems to do exactly that.

Published 13-August-2026

Albany Creek And Bray Park Swimmers Return To Commonwealth Stage

Albany Creek and Bray Park will both have a place in the Commonwealth Games pool this week, as Moreton Bay swimmers Sam Short and Kirralee Hayes return to race for Australia in Glasgow. Short is a former Albany Creek swimmer, while Hayes was a founding member of Genesis Aquatics at Genesis Christian College in Bray Park.

Short arrives with a crowded freestyle program and medals from some of international swimming’s largest competitions. Hayes returns after stepping away from competitive swimming for two years before rebuilding her place in the Australian team.

Short Takes Albany Creek Connection Into Four Events

Short will contest the men’s 200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m freestyle events, with a possible place in Australia’s 4x200m freestyle relay team.

The 22-year-old is competing at his second Commonwealth Games after winning the 1500m freestyle and taking silver in the 400m at Birmingham 2022.

His results since then include three medals at the 2023 World Championships in Fukuoka. Short won the 400m freestyle in 3 minutes 40.68 seconds, claimed silver in the 800m and finished third in the 1500m.

Sam Short — *Photo Credit:* *Commonwealth Games Australia*/Instagram

His 800m performance also broke the Australian record previously held by Grant Hackett.

Illness affected Short at his next two major international meets. He was recovering from gastroenteritis during the Paris Olympics, where he finished fourth in the 400m freestyle, ninth in the 800m heats and 13th in the 1500m heats.

At the 2025 World Championships in Singapore, he won silver in the 400m before withdrawing from the 800m final because of foodborne illness. He later returned to finish fourth in the 1500m final.

Short recorded 3 minutes 40.67 seconds in the 400m at the Australian trials for Glasgow, placing him close to Ian Thorpe’s Commonwealth record of 3 minutes 40.08 seconds from 2002.

The Glasgow program will also feature the men’s 800m freestyle for the first time.

Bray Park Program Remains Part Of Hayes’ Return

Hayes’ pathway began at Genesis Aquatics, where she was among the program’s founding members.

Vision-impaired since birth, the Brisbane-born swimmer took up competitive swimming at 11 and went on to represent Australia at the Tokyo Paralympics.

Her Commonwealth Games debut followed in Birmingham, where she earned her first international medal by placing third in the women’s 50m freestyle S13 in 28.24 seconds.

Kirralee Hayes — *Photo Credit: Commonwealth Games Australia*

Hayes stepped away from competitive swimming between 2023 and 2025 while dealing with challenges involving her mental health and identity. Her interest in returning developed during 2025, before contact from a former coach helped bring her back to the pool.

The 22-year-old now trains at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra under Yuriy Vdovychenko. She also continues to work with Genesis Aquatics coach Rick Pendleton when she returns to Brisbane.

Glasgow will bring an expanded program for Hayes. Along with returning to the 50m freestyle S13, she will contest the 100m freestyle S13.

When The Moreton Bay Swimmers Race

Hayes will begin with the women’s 100m freestyle S13 heats on Friday, July 24 from 7:30pm AEST. The final is scheduled for early Saturday, July 25.

Her 50m freestyle S13 heats will be held on Tuesday, July 28, followed by the final early on Wednesday, July 29.

Short’s first individual event will be the 400m freestyle, with heats on Saturday, July 25 and the final early the following morning.

The 800m heats and final will follow on July 27 and 28. His 200m and 1500m freestyle heats are both scheduled for Wednesday, July 29, with the finals to be held early on Thursday, July 30.

Published 20-July-2026

Local creativity takes centre stage at Pine Rivers Art Gallery

Photo Credit: City of Moreton Bay Galleries and Museums

Albany Creek and Strathpine locals don’t have to travel far to see some of the region’s best emerging and established artistic talent, with the Moreton Bay Art Prize 2026 now on show at Pine Rivers Art Gallery.

The annual exhibition brings together 36 shortlisted artists from across the City of Moreton Bay, offering a snapshot of the people, places and stories shaping the region’s creative community.

This year’s first prize has been awarded to Elimbah-based artist Rachel South for Sun-Kissed Chestnut (2025), a richly detailed painting that turns something as familiar as hair into a striking and almost landscape-like work.

A closer look at the everyday

South’s painting is part of an ongoing series exploring hair as both a personal detail and a broader visual landscape. In Sun-Kissed Chestnut, warm copper and chestnut tones are used to capture strands of hair in close detail, creating a work that feels both intimate and expansive.

Photo Credit: City of Moreton Bay Galleries and Museums

Judge Dr Simon Degroot praised the painting for the way it transforms an everyday subject into something monumental. He noted South’s technical skill in capturing light, texture and movement, and said the work encourages viewers to slow down and look more closely.

South’s wider practice explores connections between nature, the body and emotion, drawing inspiration from the natural environments of the Moreton Bay and Sunshine Coast regions.

Stories that feel close to home

While the winning work is a highlight, the broader exhibition offers plenty for local visitors to connect with.

Second prize was awarded to Lucie Verhelst for The Dance of Compassion (2026), a textile work that invites people to think about empathy, vulnerability and the quiet strength found in human connection.

Third prize went to Redcliffe artist Blair Garland for Greetings from Redcliffe (2025), a handmade album featuring 19 painted portraits of local homes. The work reflects on the changing face of suburban neighbourhoods and the distinctive houses that can disappear as areas grow and redevelop. For residents in Albany Creek, Strathpine and nearby suburbs, that theme may feel especially familiar.

Highly commended works included Belinda Krumm’s Garland of Beads (2025), a large-scale ceramic installation shaped by 108 community wishes for the future; Shan Michaels’ Narratives We Wear (2026), a textile work exploring identity, connection and belonging; and Mel Brady’s Grasp the sparrow’s tail (2026), a personal reflection on grief, family and memory.

A local outing worth making

Mayor Peter Flannery said the Art Prize highlights the depth of creative talent across Moreton Bay and shows how arts and culture help build connected, vibrant communities.

For Albany Creek and Strathpine residents, the exhibition is a simple way to support local artists and enjoy a cultural outing close to home. Visitors can also have their say by voting in the People’s Choice Award before Saturday 18 July.

The Moreton Bay Art Prize 2026 exhibition is on display at Pine Rivers Art Gallery, 130-134 Gympie Rd, Strathpine QLD 4500, Australia.

Published – 17 July 2026

Moreton Bay Students Invited to Display Art at Albany Creek Exhibition

Photo Credit: City of Moreton Bay

Local schools and young artists have until 1 October 2026 to submit their best work for a chance to feature in a professional-grade gallery exhibition held at the Albany Creek Community Centre.

Albany Creek — *Photo Credit:* *Youth Art Awards 2025 winners*

Photo Credit: Youth Art Awards 2025 winners

The competition aims to bridge the gap between school art rooms and professional exhibition spaces. Students living in or attending schools within the City of Moreton Bay have the chance to submit a wide variety of works, including traditional paintings, drawings, photography, digital art, ceramics, and large-scale installations.

By removing the barrier of entry fees, the program seeks to ensure that every young person, regardless of their background, has an equal opportunity to build their confidence and gain public recognition for their creative efforts.

The awards structure recognises the hard work of students through both individual and collaborative categories. For individual entries, the competition is divided by school year levels and artistic categories, with winners receiving cash prizes, trophies, and certificates.

Schools are also encouraged to enter collaborative projects, which offer a unique chance for groups of three or more students to work together. Winning schools in this category receive a $1000 scholarship, providing them with the funds to host professional art workshops for their students.

Beyond the judging panel, the event invites the public to have a direct say in the outcome through the People’s Choice Award. Visitors to the exhibition are encouraged to browse the gallery, reflect on the different perspectives presented by the students, and vote for their favourite piece. The creator of the most popular work will receive a dedicated trophy, a certificate, and a prize pack of high-quality art materials worth up to $100.

City of Moreton Bay Mayor Peter Flannery noted that the event provides a meaningful way for young people to connect with the local arts scene. He added that the program is an important avenue for students to share their imaginative ideas, explore their own identities, and receive feedback from the broader community, highlighting the depth of talent currently growing across the region.

Published Date 10-July-2026

Albany Creek House Fire on Oakmont Crescent Leaves Home Gutted, Occupants Safe

An Albany Creek house fire on Sunday night left a single-storey home on Oakmont Crescent extensively damaged, with emergency services from multiple agencies responding to the scene.

The blaze broke out just before 8pm on 5 July and quickly drew a significant emergency response. By 8:20pm, three Queensland Fire Department crews were on the ground working to bring the fire under control, with a further three crews making their way to the property.

Queensland Police Service also attended in force, with more than five units at the scene. Officers closed off Oakmont Crescent to through traffic while crews worked, and police later determined the fire was non-suspicious, believed to have started accidentally.

The occupants of the home were evacuated safely, and all were accounted for. Queensland Ambulance Service confirmed one occupant was treated for minor smoke inhalation, though their condition was described as stable. Paramedics remained on standby at the scene to support fire crews as they worked.

The community rallied on social media as images of the blaze circulated locally, with residents expressing relief that those inside had made it out safely.

Published 6-July-2026

Pine Rivers Heritage Museum Among Highlights of Moreton Bay Holiday Program

Families in Albany Creek will have plenty of opportunities to keep children busy during the winter school holidays, with Moreton Bay preparing a wide range of free activities across libraries, museums, galleries and recreation venues.

From farm-themed experiences at Pine Rivers Heritage Museum to visits from alpacas and babydoll lambs, this year’s program offers a mix of hands-on learning, creative workshops and active recreation designed to appeal to children of different ages and interests.

The winter holiday schedule includes dozens of activities aimed at helping young people stay engaged during the school break while giving families affordable options close to home.

Farmyard Family Fun Day returns to Pine Rivers Heritage Museum

One of the standout attractions for families in the Pine Rivers region is the popular Farmyard Family Fun Day at Pine Rivers Heritage Museum.

The event has become a regular feature of school holiday programs and gives children an opportunity to connect with farm-themed experiences while exploring one of the area’s key cultural attractions.

The museum will also host other family-focused activities during the holiday period, helping children learn through hands-on experiences that combine history, creativity and play.

Alpacas and lambs heading to library events

Children will also have the opportunity to learn more about natural fibres and wool production through City of Moreton Bay’s Winter Woollies program. The initiative will bring alpacas and babydoll lambs to selected libraries, where families can discover how wool is processed and used in everyday products.

Live demonstrations of carding and spinning will show how raw fleece is prepared and transformed into yarn, giving children a closer look at traditional fibre-processing techniques.

The educational sessions are designed to encourage curiosity while helping children better understand the connection between farming and the products they use.

Creative workshops encourage curiosity and imagination

Libraries across the city will host a range of activities that encourage children to try something new during the holidays. The program includes beginner 3D printing workshops, improv sessions, magic shows and circus-themed experiences.

These activities provide opportunities for children to explore creativity, develop confidence and build new skills outside the classroom environment. The program aims to cater to different interests while helping young people remain engaged during the break.

Sport and recreation round out the holiday program

For children who enjoy physical activity, City of Moreton Bay’s Active Holidays program includes a broad selection of sporting and recreational experiences. Activities include target archery, hip hop dance, tennis, junior boxing, multicultural games and survival skills sessions.

Mayor Peter Flannery said Council’s school holiday program was designed to help young people stay active, explore new interests, spend time with family and create positive memories during the winter break.

Want to go? Check the full details, locations, and booking information below:

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS – LIBRARIES

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS – GALLERIES & MUSEUMS

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS – ACTIVE PLAY

Published 24-June-2026