Albany Creek Archives - Page 5 of 8

Ben Dack of Albany Creek Nominated for QLD Youth Volunteer of the Year Award

Ben Dack, an Albany Creek local, recently earned a nomination for the Queensland Youth Volunteer of the Year Award through Volunteering Queensland. To highlight Australia’s celebration of National Volunteer Week, here’s his heartwarming and inspiring story as a dedicated volunteer at the Albany Creek ORCA Project.

Despite living with Williams Syndrome, a genetic condition, Ben has overcome personal challenges and turned them into an opportunity to make a positive impact on others’ lives. Ben’s inspiring journey began at the age of 13 when he started volunteering in his local community at his neighbourhood church.

In 2021, Ben approached Alison Cox, the program founder of The ORCA Project under Wesley Mission QLD, as he sought an opportunity to volunteer in Albany Creek.

Wesley Mission QLD played a crucial role in creating The ORCA Project, which has provided countless individuals with disabilities, including Ben, with opportunities they may not have found elsewhere. The inclusive and supportive environment of Wesley Mission QLD has allowed Ben to feel safe and respected, leading him to become an ardent advocate for the organization’s values.

Ben’s passion for helping others, combined with his positive experience with The ORCA Project as a trainee, made him an invaluable addition to the team.

“Volunteering impacts my life every day. It gives me a sense of purpose, and I feel proud to be a volunteer. It gives me confidence and makes me happy,” Ben said, reflecting on the transformative power of his volunteer work.

National Volunteer Week Ben Dack — Photo Credit: Supplied

When asked about advice for individuals with disabilities who may be hesitant to engage in volunteer work, Ben encouraged them to take the leap. He advised finding a supportive and inclusive organization like Wesley Mission QLD. With its diverse range of programs, such as Aged Care, Hummingbird House, Emergency Relief, Art from the Margins, Community Respite, and Headspace, individuals with disabilities can discover meaningful ways to contribute to their communities and lead more fulfilling lives.

“Volunteering helps to open up life. It is more than just an opportunity to ‘give back.’ We have had volunteers who will tell us that volunteering has literally changed their life. That sense of purpose is a gift in itself,” said Ms Cox.

Wesley Mission QLD constantly seeks volunteers to support its various programs. The ORCA Project, for instance, relies on volunteers to facilitate work skills training for its participants. Opportunities can range from onsite training workshops to supporting individuals during work experience placements.

“Our volunteers regularly tell us how much they love being part of the team here. Volunteering with us has changed their lives for the better,” said Lynne Dack, Ben’s mother, who works for Wesley Mission QLD.

To explore volunteering opportunities at Wesley Mission QLD, interested individuals can visit their website at www.wmq.org.au.

Published 22-May-2023

Albany Creek World’s Greatest Shave: A Community Effort for a Good Cause

Photo Credit: Renee Olmstead/Pixabay

The annual Albany Creek World’s Greatest Shave event has been a testament to the spirit of a community coming together to support a worthy cause. The event, launched in 2001, has become a tradition, bringing together groups to raise money and awareness for blood cancer research and patient support services.

This year’s event marked the 25th anniversary of the fundraiser and was a resounding success, with over $7,000 raised.

Held at the Albany Creek Tavern, 10 people braved the clippers to sport new bald heads, and seven individuals coloured their hair to support the cause.

The fundraiser brought in $7,216 for the evening, led by community members like Chris Gilding, Eileen Schofield, Jonah Robinson, Lois Shinners, Pete O’Donoghue, and Arren Heeley. In addition to raising money, the event was also a night of entertainment, laughter, and camaraderie.

The occasion provided the community with a chance to honour those who lost their fight against blood cancer.

The evening served as a time to remember Shae Kennedy, a regular at Albany Creek Tavern, and his 25 years of contributions to the World’s Greatest Shave. Shae passed away recently.

The Albany Creek Leukaemia Branch hosted the event with the support of community groups such as Apex, Lions Club, Leukaemia Foundation Branch, local hairdressers like Arren and Jane from Hairologists and Rachael from Albany Creek Hair Directions, and retailers. Their support and contributions helped make the event a resounding success.

Published 4-April-2023

Did You Know That These Notable Personalities Are From Albany Creek?

Albany Creek is home to some of Brisbane’s most notable personalities. Most are in the field of sports, and some are in the entertainment industry. Get to know more about them here.

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Patrick Rafter

Photo credit: CC BY 2.0/Tourism Victoria/Wikimedia Commons

The former world No. 1 tennis player attended Albany Creek State High School. He was a member of the school’s successful 1988 Tennis Squad. Just three years later, he started his career as a professional tennis player and the rest is history. His breakthrough came in 1997 when he played for the French Open.

Matt Renshaw

Photo credit: CC-BY-SA-4.0/Dave Morton/Wikimedia Commons

His family moved to Albany Creek when he was 10 years old and there he played cricket with his dad in their backyard. He was a player for Albany Creek Hawks from 2006 to 2010 before he became a rising cricket star.

Nelle Lee

notable personalities — Photo credit: shake & stir theatre co/Facebook

Nelle Lee is the artistic director of shake and stir, one of the country’s leading contemporary theatre companies touring Australia and New Zealand since 2006. Before pursuing her passion for acting at the University of Southern Queensland, she grew up and attended school in Albany Creek. Today, as the artistic director of shake and stir, she adapted some of the production company’s hits including A Christmas Carol and Jane Eyre.

Scott Daruda

Whilst he was born in Papua New Guinea, the Super Rugby player grew up and played football in Albany Creek. As a professional rugby player, he was best known for playing the centre/fly-half position.

Jessica and Lisa Origliasso

The identical twin sisters, also known as The Veronicas, were born and raised in Albany Creek. Two of the country’s most notable personalities, they have attended both the Ferny Grove State High School and Wavell State High School. They moved to Los Angeles in 2001 but returned to Queensland in 2019 to be closer to their mum.

Ben Tune

Photo credit: CC BY 2.0/thomasrdotorg/Wikimedia Commons

The former Australian rugby union player grew up in Albany Creek and later attended school at St Paul’s College in Bald Hills. After retiring from the sport in 2007, Tune focused on new ventures, and became the CEO of a sport and talent management company.

Geoff Trapett

Photo credit: CC BY-SA 3.0/Australian Paralympic Committee/Wikimedia Commons

The Australian Paralympic athlete who won three medals over two Paralympics also grew up in the suburb and attended the Queensland Academy of Sport. In 2009, he was one of the first 150 people to be added to the Queensland Sport Hall of Fame.

Lisa Skinner

Photo credit: Australian Sports Commission/YouTube

She studied at Albany Creek Primary School and studied gymnastics at her local gym club when she was six years old. She competed at the 1996, 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games. She was best known for being the first Australian gymnast to qualify for an individual event final at the Olympics.

Robbie Kruse

One of the most notable personalities from the suburb is Robbie Kruse, who played his junior football with Albany Creek in the Pine Rivers district before starting a professional career with A-League side Brisbane Roar and later Melbourne Victory before moving to Germany in 2011.

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Albany Creek Property Market Goes From Strength to Strength with Average 15-Day Listings

With listings spending an average of just 15 days on market in the 12-month period ending March 2022, the Albany Creek property market is going from strength to strength, despite indications of a cooling down trend observed in some property markets in Brisbane.

Albany Creek House Price Growth

According to Property Market Update, the median house price growth for Albany Creek saw a 32.31 per cent increase for the period covering April 2021 to March 2022. With 284 houses sold within an average of 15 days, this suburb’s property market has been busy with very tight competition among investors and buyers.

Albany Creek’s median house price is now at $860,000, up from $650,000 in the previous year. The price increase may be a hurdle for entry-level buyers looking to invest in their first home. Upgrading from a unit to a house is proving to be challenging as well.

Albany Creek House Price Growth — Photo Credit: Property Market Update

Despite the rise in house prices, demand in Albany Creek continues to outstrip supply. Advertised home sales for the year remain low and the volume of choices has been problematic, if not highly competitive for interested buyers.

Albany Creek Unit Price Growth

The unit market in Albany Creek has had slower growth compared to the housing market with just 2.65 per cent for the same period. The median unit price is up at $522,500 from $509,000 last year. However, demand is still elevated and competitive with 62 units sold for an average of 21 days on the market.

With more buyers entering the property market in Queensland since the pandemic, interest has shifted to affordable homes than units. Consequently, most units with tenants also prefer to keep or extend their leases, thus affecting unit supply. However, industry experts see the unit market repositioning with the return of international migrants.

Albany Creek Property Market Post-Flooding

Following the February 2022 rain bombs, Moreton Bay Council prepared a flood check property report for existing flood conditions in certain lots and streets in Albany Creek to appease market confidence. However, industry experts believe that the market will stay resilient and will be boosted by the continued arrival of overseas and interstate buyers.

The downturn post-flooding will be short because even some of the locals will be looking into the Albany Creek Property Market for bargains. Insurance payouts for renovation and rebuilding will make more properties attractive to potential buyers.

Strong Albany Creek Property Market Had 27% Median House Price Growth in 2021

The Albany Creek property market showed a robust 2021 performance, posting a 27 per cent median house price growth as many young families establish their dream homes in what was once considered a retirement suburb.

Albany Creek House Price Growth

From January to December 2021, Albany Creek experienced exceptional growth of 26.71 per cent, putting the median house price at $810,000 from just $639,250 in 2020, according to data from Property Market Updates.

Investors are taking interest in this section of Moreton Bay because of its affordability. Buying activity has been quite busy with 279 houses sold for this period at just an average of 15 days on the market.

Most buyers eyed good-sized three-bedroom homes, which offer a lot of space featured with a backyard and a pool for growing families. The area is also located near good schools. It’s also an easy commute to the city for the workers.

Albany Creek Unit Price Growth

Whilst slower than the housing market, Albany Creek’s unit market has remained steady and stable for January to December 2021. The unit market grew by 3.84 per cent with a median unit price of $514,000.

There were 54 units sold for this period within an average of 25 days of the market listing. Apartments are mostly eyed by downsizers and couples without children, which comprises about a third of the population. However, Albany Creek offers about five to seven per cent of units or semi-detached homes near the suburban centre as most properties are separate houses.

About Albany Creek

Found 30 minutes to the north of Brisbane CBD, Albany Creek is a quiet suburb that appeals to professionals with kids and older couples. With a population of less than 16,000, this suburb was mostly a rural town until its development in the 1960s, when dozens of schools opened to attract more families. The choices of schools have remained the most important factor in moving to Albany Creek. Still, about five per cent of the area is dedicated to rural residential living.

Albany Creek locals need not venture far for essentials because they have Albany Creek Square, which has a good number of retail stores catering to their needs. The suburb also boasts a lot of green spaces for outdoor and sporting activities.

“Albany Creek is very family-friendly and a nicely established suburb. Places like Warner and Cashmere and Eatons Hill are also good but without the library, swimming pool and general shops and facilities that Albany Creek has. Fairly low key feel to it and well established with lots of trees and greenery around the residential housing areas.”
Liam

“We relocated a family to Albany Creek last year and for a suburb close to the city i was pleasantly surprised. The access to the city is great for private or public transport, people seemed friendly and the houses were majority brick built and lovely.”
Cal

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

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

House Price Growth

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

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

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

Unit Price Growth

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

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

About Albany Creek

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

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

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

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

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

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

Albany Creek Mum Warns Pet Parents After Dog Dies from Sago Palm Poisoning

A devastated Albany Creek mum of five is warning pet parents about the risk of a common houseplant, known as Sago Palm, which killed the family’s beautiful Golden Retriever.

Kim Quirk shared that Cooper, their 7-year-old Golden Retriever, was playing in their Albany Creek backyard with Buddy, their 2-year-old Shih Tzu, when the older dog came inside with a funny look on his face and then started shaking violently. Soon, Buddy also exhibited the same symptoms as Cooper.

Kim and her husband, Dennis, immediately brought Cooper and Buddy to the vet, who asked if the pair had been exposed to a poisonous plant. The elderly couple was told to check for anything unusual in their home as they nervously waited for more updates from the vet.

A cousin sent the Quirks a list of toxic plants which had Sago Palm in it. Earlier that day, Dennis was chopping down the plant on their property, which they now believe poisoned both their dogs.

Sago Palm, which originated from Japan nearly 300 years ago, is a popular landscaping plant in Australia. Also known as cycads, a species of this low-level palm became the centrepiece of the expansion of the Brisbane Botanic Gardens a few years ago.

But Sago Palm is not a dog-friendly household plant, according to the experts at James Cook University. This plant has cycasin, an active toxic agent that may be severely harmful to dogs.

“The leaves are apparently quite attractive-smelling to dogs, making accidental ingestion likely, with initial symptoms of poisoning usually being vomiting, dehydration and lethargy,” Dr Philip Judge, a veterinary emergency lecturer said.

“Using appropriate treatment with intravenous fluid therapy and medications, the symptoms often subside within 24 to 48 hours or so – only to be replaced by the development of severe liver damage that could result in liver failure and death within seven to 14 days.”

Households with Sago Palms in their backyards must be careful not to let the dogs roam free near the plants. Pet parents need to immediately remove loose vegetation, as well as fallen seeds or nuts away from the dog’s access.

The Quirks had two cycads at home for the last 14 years. Whilst Cooper did not make it, Buddy has recovered from the poisoning. The family, however, had to pay $10,000 in vet bills to save their dog.

Kim said that locals should be aware of this plant’s hidden danger to prevent heartaches and unexpected medical expenses for their pets.

Albany Creek Shoppers Fund 20,000 Meals Distributed by SecondBite

Hooray for help! Albany Creek shoppers have pulled off an admirable feat by supporting a fundraising initiative that has enabled SecondBite to distribute 20,000 meals for hungry families this winter.

Coles Albany Creek ranked among the top five fundraising Coles stores in Queensland — alongside The Pines, Caloundra, North Shore, and Logan Central — in its annual Winter Appeal to raise funds for the food rescue organisation founded by Ian and Simone Carson. Through the shoppers’ generosity, the store was able to raise $4,000, adding to the more than $1.6 million raised nationally by the initiative.

“We can’t thank our customers in Albany Creek enough for their efforts in supporting the Secondbite Winter Appeal. The funds raised will make a real difference to SecondBite so they can continue to support local charity partners like Reach Out Community & Family Care,” Coles State General Manager Jerry Farrell said.

“It has been incredible to see local shoppers really dig deep and help provide meals to people who might otherwise go without.”

SecondBite collects unsold, edible food from Coles that goes to 1,300 charity partners across Australia, including the Reach Out Community & Family Care in Everton Park. The Winter Appeal comes as three out of four food charities have had a surge in demand for their services in the last 18 months.

“So many people are under pressure at the moment and yet Coles’ customers and team members still dug deep for others and did their bit to ensure Australians aren’t going hungry,” said SecondBite Ambassador and Board Director Matt Preston.

“2021 has been a tremendously challenging year for so many Australians and SecondBite could not have met the resultant increase in demand for food support without the backing of the entire Coles team.”

Coles and SecondBites have been in a partnership for the last 10 years and this long-term collaboration has carried over to Coles’ Together to Zero Hunger Sustainability Strategy.

“We are so grateful for the generosity Coles’ customers and team members have demonstrated for this very worthy appeal especially at a time when so many communities were under tough COVID- 19 restrictions,” Coles CEO Steven Cain said.

“SecondBite’s important work of collecting and redistributing food for vulnerable people aligns powerfully with our purpose to sustainably feed all Australians to help them lead healthier, happier lives.”

Albany Creek State High School Students Aiming for Salute to Excellence Awards

Three students from Albany Creek State High School battled it out with 21 other students from Queensland at the recently concluded 24th annual QTIC Salute to Excellence Awards Skills Test Day to gain the title of the best in the state in three categories: Tourism, Food and Beverage and Cookery.

At the start of 2021, the next generation of tourism and hospitality leaders participated at the Vocational Education and Training (VET) schools.

On 28 June 2021, all 24 competitors successfully completed the Skills Test where they went through a rigorous program comprising a cookery competition in a commercial kitchen, a food and beverage service competition, and a tourism holiday itinerary presentation. The students were also interviewed and assessed by a panel of judges.

The final judging round will close on 8 July and the winners will be announced during a special ceremony on 26 July at the Hilton Hotel.

“After I began my tourism course, working in the tourism industry became a serious consideration for my after-school career options. Salute to Excellence has given me the opportunity to develop my skills and knowledge and expand my experience with tourism,” Georgia Newell, the Albany Creek student said.

“I enjoy the ability to help people achieve and enjoy their dream holiday or experience. Having to push myself to prepare for Salute to Excellence has taught me so much about the tourism industry while also allowing me to expand my career options and passion for tourism.”

Fellow student Linh Nguyen was inspired to join the Salute to Excellence Awards after virtually witnessing the activities in 2020.

“After listening to the guest speakers front QTIC, and Young Tourism Ambassador, I was amazed by the opportunities available in the tourism industry. By entering the competition, I have challenged myself and gained valuable experiences,” Linh said, adding that the experience allowed the student to gain valuable and develop a professional resume.

Leisel Clements believed she could do well in the Salute to Excellence program after getting a nudge from her teacher.

“I read into it and became really interested as its a great opportunity to become a part of the tourism industry,” Leisel said.

“I most enjoy learning about the domestic tourism in Australia, specifically Outback Queensland as not many people hear about it too often. I’m hoping to gain more knowledge and experience that in future I can apply in the tourism industry.”

QTIC Chief Executive Daniel Gschwind said that it was inspiring to watch the students compete with passion.

“With the current skill shortages, it has never been more important to support emerging professionals and equipping them with the skills to take on the opportunities our industry offers,” Mr Gschwind said. “It is important to put a spotlight on the importance of vocational education and training in secondary schools across the state, that is where we will find the next leaders in for industry”.

To learn more about the Salute to Excellence Awards, visit the Queensland Tourism Industry Council website.

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.