On the hunt for budget-friendly but top-quality grocery items? Did you know that the popular discount store, The Golden Circle Pineapple Pantry, has re-opened in Northgate?
Several years ago, mums frequented The Golden Circle Pineapple Pantry for good deals on a range of non-perishable goods.
With its return at Brisbane’s northside, families will again be able to shop for surplus products, pulled-out goods from larger retailers, or items that may be nearing their “best before date”.
Items on offer vary every week but budget-conscious shoppers can definitely score bargains like $2 for a dozen yoghurt pouches or 50c for a large juice box. All foods sold at the pantry are guaranteed safe to consume.
Photo Credit: The Pineapple Pantry/Facebook
“Golden Circle has been a major employer and training company in Banyo for decades. There are employees there who are third generation and some who have spent their whole career at the company,” Cr Adam Allan said.
The Golden Circle Pineapple Pantry will be open at limited times only but the store is exploring changes to its trading day or time.
Wednesday and Thursday from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Currently, there are no plans to open a restaurant on-site similar to the one they used to have.
Golden Circle recently celebrated its 75th anniversary. Follow the Facebook page for updates.
A decade ago, the bowls clubs of Wavell Heights and Clayfield were merged, forming the Northern Suburbs Bowls Club, which is now considered as one of the most active sporting clubs north of Brisbane.
Northern Suburbs Bowls Club celebrated its 10th anniversary in October 2022, with three games of bowls, lunch, and a $4,000 in prize to be won for attendees.
Gracing the event were State Member for Nudgee Leanne Linnard and Councillor for Northgate Ward Adam Allan.
“The club has gone from strength to strength over the last 10 years with lots of improvements and upgrades,” said Cr Allan, who wishes the success of the club in the next years to come.
“It is a terrific community club with a great committee and management team who are growing membership and putting the club on the map with the local community,” said Cr Allan.
Wavell Heights and Clayfield Bowls Club
Photo credit: Google Street View
Clayfield Bowls Club was founded in 1909 and used to occupy a 5,985 sqm block along Adelaide Street in Clayfield. However, in 2012, Clayfield Bowls Club’s home was sold for $3.5 million.
In 2013, Clayfield Bowls amalgamated with the Wavell Heights Bowls Club, which has been around since 1958.
Since its formation a decade ago, the Northern Suburbs Bowls Club has been hosting different types of community events, such as fundraisers, social club gatherings, and sports club awards nights.
Locals can also hire the venue for birthdays and special occasions, weddings, and corporate functions.
Wavell Heights Kerbside Collection is just around the corner. If you have items for the collection that others can still use, you may consider donating them to any of these not-for-profit organisations.
First off, Kerbside Collection will be coming to Wavell Heights on 7 November 2022. If you haven’t yet done so, you may start gathering up your acceptable items for collection including bath and laundry tubs, bicycles and sporting equipment, carpet and rugs, electronic waste* (e.g. televisions and computers), furniture and white goods (e.g. fridges and stoves), small household appliances (e.g. fans and toasters) and wood products less than 1.5 metres.
Residents are advised to place all acceptable materials for collection on the kerbside the weekend before the collection starts. These items should be on the kerbside in front of your home by 6 am at the start of the collection period.
However, if any of your items can still be fixed or upcycled but you don’t have the skills or time for it, you can donate them instead to any of these not-for-profit organisations that can find other uses for them.
This not-for-profit organisation serves as a link between the communities in urgent need of essential items and those who have and are willing to donate. GIVIT was established in 2019 by Juliette Wright. Their platform allows charities to make potential donors aware of what items are currently needed by the individuals they support.
Charitable Recycling Australia proudly supports the circular economy transition through charitable reuse and recycling. With the help of member enterprises who provide their decades of expertise in collecting and selling donated goods, the organisation has been extending the life of about 285 million products each year and pioneering the concept of circularity even before it was officially named.
Council currently operates two second-hand shops which sell donated items for Brisbane residents. The items come from BCC’s resource recovery centres.
Brisbane City Council’s Treasure Troves are open from 8 am to 4 pm every weekend (excluding Easter Sunday, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day when these days fall on a weekend.
These shops are located at 46 Colebard Street West in Acacia Ridge and at 27A Prosperity Place in Geebung.
The resource recovery centres are located here:
Chandler Resource Recovery Centre, 728 Tilley Road, Chandler
Ferny Grove Resource Recovery Centre, 101 Upper Kedron Road, Ferny Grove
Nudgee Resource Recovery Centre, 1372 Nudgee Road, Nudgee Beach
Willawong Resource Recovery Centre, 360 Sherbrooke Road, Willawong
Originally built for the first judge in the QLD Supreme Court, The Kedron Lodge is one of the grandest houses ever built in Brisbane. Found on Nelson Street in Kalinga, the magnificent residence was also the first Gothic-style dwelling designed by Brisbane architect Christopher Potter.
Originally built with at least 20 rooms in the 1860s, the house was built of solid sandstone by John Petrie. The residence, built for Alfred James Lutwychem the first judge in the Queensland Supreme Court, remains intact even today.
Photo Credit: State Library of Queensland
Mr Lutwyche not only had a grand house but also tended to a viable farm and a beautiful orchard on his property. He also maintained stables for horses as a racing enthusiast.
Judge Alfred Lutwyche and Thomas Claybourn, inspecting a horse at Kedron Lodge, ca. 1871 Photo Credit: State Library of Queensland
Eventually, he donated a block of his property to build St Andrew’s, a new Anglican church, where he was an active member. A decade after his death in 1880, John King, a local shopkeeper and postman, adopted “Kedron” for a burgeoning locality.
His estate was further subdivided and sold at auctions from which the locality of Kalinga emerged. Subsequently, Kedron Lodge was rented out for many years from the 1930s to 1989, when the Catholic Church owned the property as a convent and refuge for troubled young people.
Today, the house is four-bedroom four-bath private home and has been off the market since 2004. It was entered into the State Heritage Listing in 1992.
Who was Alfred James Lutwyche?
Alfred James Lutwyche was born in 1810 in the West Midlands of England and established his practice as a barrister in Oxford, London. He immigrated to Australia in 1853 due to poor health and he almost didn’t make it as the ship bound for Melbourne was wrecked in the Indian Ocean. It was a miracle that most of those aboard the ship survived for 12 days before they were rescued. After the incident, Mr Lutwyche then boarded the Emma Colvin to arrive in Melbourne in December 1853.
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
A few years later, Mr Lutwyche became a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council and was appointed the Representative of the Government in the Legislative Council. In 1858, he became the Attorney General and was named the Queen’s Counsel. However, in 1959, Mr Lutwyche left his job in favor of a judicial appointment in Moreton Bay.
Two years after his judicial appointment, Mr Lutwyche was appointed the only judge of the new Supreme Court in Queensland until Sir James Cockle, the first Chief Justice, arrived in 1863.
Mr Lutwyche died at his house after suffering from gout and was buried in St Andrew’s. The suburb of Lutwyche as well as the Lutwyche Cemetery was named in his honour.
Brett Dascombe from Wavell State High School bested other state nominees and received the QUT Showcase Award of Excellence in Teaching, during a Principals’ Conference Gala Dinner which saw South East Queensland win a majority of the awards categories.
Aside from winning the QUT Showcase Award of Excellence in Teaching for 2022, Mr Dascombe also won an innovation in teaching award at the Schoolzine Merline Muldoon Awards in 2021 for his use of geospatial technology in his classroom, something that he started in 2001 to enhance the teaching and learning experience of students.
Mr Dascombe is one of Queensland’s first teachers to include geospatial mapping in his teaching assessment, combining it with drone flying to help students create university-level assignments that tackle environmental and social issues.
He is currently a Senior Experienced Teacher at Wavell State High School.
South East Queensland was strongly represented at the 2022 Showcase Awards for Excellence in Schools where individual educators, schools and school clusters from the region won seven out of ten award categories.
Another individual award went to Mango Hill State School Principal Tracy Egan who was named Griffith University Jack Pizzey Awardee for Excellence in School Leadership.
Tracy Egan, Mango Hill SS – Griffith University Jack Pizzey Award for Excellence in School Leadership | Photo credit: Queensland Government / statements.qld.gov.au
Moreover, the Pine Rivers South Primary Cluster – Bray Park, Strathpine, Strathpine West and Lawnton State Schools – bagged the RemServ Showcase Award for Excellence in Parent and Community Engagement.
Pine Rivers South Primary cluster – RemServ Showcase Award for Excellence in Parent and Community Engagement | Photo credit: Queensland Government / statements.qld.gov.au
The North Coast Cluster, comprising Moreton Downs State School, Burpengary State School, Caboolture East State School, Elimbah State School, Jinibara State School, Mango Hill State School and Narangba Valley State School, on the other hand, took home the Network 10 Showcase Award for Excellence in the Early and Primary Years for their “Critical friends network” entry.
North Coast cluster – Network 10 Showcase Award for Excellence in the Early & Primary Years | Photo credit: Queensland Government / statements.qld.gov.au
Likewise, the Whites Hill State College Cluster, which includes Indooroopilly State High School, Kelvin Grove State College, Sunnybank State High School, Coolum State High School, Mount Gravatt State High School, Centenary Heights State High School, North Lakes State College and Springfield Central State High School, is the year’s The Education Queensland International Showcase Award for Excellence in Global Engagement thanks to their “Blended/hybrid virtual high school preparation”.
Whites Hill State College cluster – Education Qld International Showcase Award for Excellence in Global Engagement | Photo credit: Queensland Government / statements.qld.gov.au
Meanwhile, Moreton Bay Environmental Education Centre’s entry “Building cultural understanding and capabilities on Quandamooka Country” won them the QTU Showcase Award for Excellence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education.
Moreton Bay EEC – QTU Showcase Award for Excellence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education | Photo credit: Queensland Government / statements.qld.gov.au
Lastly, Lawnton State School shared honours with Western Cape College for the Bevan Brennan ‘Every Child Needs a Champion’ Award with their “We grow leaders” submission.
Lawnton SS – Bevan Brennan ‘Every Child Needs a Champion’ Award | Photo credit: Queensland Government / statements.qld.gov.au
“The Showcase Awards allow us to recognise and celebrate the great work our educators are doing every day to ensure that students in Queensland state schools are getting a world-class education,” Education Minister Grace Grace said.
“That there were so many high-quality entries to this year’s awards shows the hard work, dedication and expertise of Queensland school staff.
The Network 10 Showcase Award for Excellence in the Early and Primary Years
North Coast Cluster (Moreton Downs State School, Burpengary State School, Caboolture East State School, Elimbah State School, Jinibara State School, Mango Hill State School and Narangba Valley State School), Critical friends network
The QSuper Showcase Award for Excellence in the Secondary Years
Urangan State High School, CAPIP – time for the right work
The TUH Health Fund Showcase Award for Excellence in Inclusive Education
Tinana State School, Everyone’s welcome in the room – whatever it takes
The RemServ Showcase Award for Excellence in Parent and Community Engagement
Pine Rivers South Primary Cluster (Lawnton State School, Bray Park State School, Strathpine State School and Strathpine West State School), Engagement and attendance matters – The more you go the more you know
The Showcase Award for Excellence in Global Engagement
Whites Hill State College Cluster (Indooroopilly State High School, Kelvin Grove State College, Sunnybank State High School, Coolum State High School, Mount Gravatt State High School, Centenary Heights State High School, North Lakes State College and Springfield Central State High School), Blended/hybrid virtual high school preparation
The Queensland Teachers’ Union Showcase Award for Excellence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education
Moreton Bay Environmental Education Centre, Building cultural understanding and capabilities on Quandamooka Country
The Showcase Award for Excellence in Rural and Remote Education
Happy Valley State School, Leading from the classroom: a model of distributive leadership
The QUT Showcase Award for Excellence in Teaching
Brett Dascombe, Wavell State High School
The Griffith University Jack Pizzey Award for Excellence in School Leadership
Tracy Egan, Mango Hill State School
The Bevan Brennan Every Child Needs a Champion Award
Lawnton State School, We grow leaders
The 2022 Showcase Awards for Excellence in Schools saw 86 submissions representing 220 state schools vying. Each state award group category winner will receive $10,000 development grants with two individuals to each receive a $5,000 development grant.
“Educators have benefitted from a total of $166,000 in grant support from this year’s Showcase Awards for Excellence in Schools, including regional winners who received $1,000 each and regional commendations receiving $500 each,” Ms Grace said.
The event was held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on the 11th of October 2022.
New research revealed that the reporting of minor crimes on social media community pages make people feel their neighbourhood is less safe, even when statistics show actual crime is low.
Based on the Online Crime Map, there were around 42 offences reported between 11 September and 10 October 2022 in Wavell Heights. The top three types of offences in the suburb are drug offences, traffic-related offences, and unlawful entry.
Photo credit: QLD Police Service Online Crime Map
In the same period, nearby suburbs recorded far more total number of offences. Virginia had a total of 43, Zillmere had 71, Nundah had 69, and Chermside had a total of 195 offences.
Wavell Heights happens to be one of the city’s blue-chip suburbs, which are regarded as one of the most in-demand locations across Brisbane.
The research team at University of Queensland’s School of Social Science, led by Dr Renee Zahnow, surveyed a cross-section of Brisbane residents about their perceptions of crime in their suburb and compared it with crime data.
Dr Zahnow said the type of behaviours commonly mentioned are people loitering, littering, tipping over rubbish bins and not picking up dog waste.
Other common community online posts were calls to ‘watch out’ for a particular group of people.
“It can be passively racist, insinuating certain people are linked to crime when all they might be doing is walking down a street,” she said.
It’s a case of digital vigilantism, a process where citizens are collectively offended by other citizen activity, and coordinate retaliation on mobile devices and social platforms.
Dr Zahnow revealed the same thing happens with posts about young people, or someone wearing a cap or hoodie.
Photo credit: Wokandapix from Pixabay
“It means we become more and more suspicious and intolerant of particular groups in society and this can affect people’s real-life interactions with them.”
Dr Zahnow said the chatter on these pages can create an impression of criminal or deviant behaviours that really are reports of minor incidents.”
“If they’re intervening offline that’s probably good for crime prevention and community cohesion, but if they’re just venting online and creating a sense of panic then there’s no benefit for the community.”
Dr Zahnow is planning to expand her research, after receiving a UQ Foundation Research Excellence Award, which recognises excellence and the promise of future success in research for UQ’s early to mid-career researchers.
Wavell Heights residents are being reminded byauthorities about the importance of securing their homes and vehicles following cases of recent theft from vehicles and burglary in the suburb.
Between 1 July and 31 August 2022, there were 33 property-related offences reported in Wavell Heights, which included 11 burglaries and 10 steal-from-vehicle offences.
A review of these burglary offences revealed the majority occurred during the overnight period from 4:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m., with six out of the 11 offences involving access via unlocked or unsecured doors. Three offences involved the offender forcing, jemmying or smashing their way in.
According to North Brisbane District Crime Prevention Coordinator Sergeant Jodie Murray, main items targeted during the burglary offences were wallets and vehicle keys.
Photo credit: Bich Tran/Pexels
“In all cases where vehicle keys were stolen (four), vehicles were also stolen from the address. In all cases where jewellery was stolen (two), the entry was forced,” Sgt Murray stated.
Authorities have reminded residents to keep their keys safe, such as keeping them out of sight, and more importantly, keeping their homes safe, by keeping their doors and windows locked.
“No matter who’s home or what time of the day it is, it’s important to continue these security measures when it comes to your keys,” Sgt Murray added.
“Thieves stealing cars aren’t always those with hot-wiring skills. Opportunistic thieves will take any opportunity to steal cars, including walking into your home and grabbing them right off your bench.”
Police have greatly increased their marked and covert patrols at the peak times, and have called in specialist units such as tactical crime squad, specialist property crime squads, and police dog squads.
Residents can report crime information anonymously via Crime Stoppers, or by calling 1800 333 000 and reporting online at www.crimestoppersqld.com.au.
This comes after a ‘fast food outlet with drive-thru,’ presented as Starbucks in the planning documents, was given the green light by Council in early 2022.
Plans indicate that the Starbucks restaurant will measure 200 sqm. The establishment will be housed in a single-storey building with an alfresco area, provision for single-lane drive-through, and boundary landscaping.
Photo credit: Brisbane City Council
In addition to a pedestrian pathway to Holland Rd, the developers are planning to provide shared car parking spaces and a shared loading bay.
The upcoming establishment in Northgate forms part of a bigger plan which includes an existing service station, and two more buildings earmarked for the research and technology industry.
Photo credit: Brisbane City Council
Planners stated in the application that the placement of the approved Starbucks venue, which will be on the northeast corner of the site, is in accordance with traffic advice. It will ensure safe pedestrian and vehicle manoeuvring is achieved, whilst maximising efficiency for the development.
Proposed floor plan (Photo credit: Brisbane City Council)
In 2020, developers applied for a material change of use and reconfiguration of one lot into two at 185 Toombul Rd, Northgate. The reconfiguration of the lot, however, was not carried out.
Based on the amended proposal, the applicant is seeking a reconfiguration of one lot into two, to separate the Service Station with its associated reciprocal easements.
Upgrades have been confirmed for the Hamilton Road and Bilsen Road in Wavell Heights, which is considered as one of the accident-prone intersections in the suburb.
Between 2015 and 2021 there were nine reported crashes at the Hamilton Rd and Bilsen Rd intersection, all of which resulted in medical treatment or hospitalisation.
Works, which are set to commence in late 2022, involves the creation of new red arrows to control movements through the intersection, and upgrading crossings to better protect pedestrians.
Authorities will also update the signal phasing, signage and line marking to suit new signals, and relocate bus stops to the departure side of the intersection.
The Australian Government has committed $1.1 million for the project, under the Black Spot program.
Hamilton Road and Bilsen Road Black Spot Project plan (Photo credit: Brisbane City Council)
Other Brisbane roads set to benefit from the program this year include:
Adelaide Street and Creek Street, Brisbane City
Rosemary Street and Biota Street, Inala
Forest Lake Boulevard and Rudyard Street, Forest Lake
The Black Spot program is a road safety program run by the Australian Government to fix dangerous roads by treating road locations where a large number of motor vehicle accidents have occurred.
Black Spot sites are those with a proven history of crashes. An intersection will be eligible for upgrades if it has recorded at least three casualty crashes over a five-year period.
Since 2010, Brisbane City Council has completed improvements in over 50 locations across the city.
Gaza Rd, Holland Park West (Photo credit: Google Street View)
One of the city’s successful upgrades is the one at Fison Ave and Southern Cross Way off-ramp in Eagle Farm back in 2015. Prior to the upgrades, it recorded 34 recorded crashes for five years but not one has occurred since the upgrade.
In Holland Park, there’s only one recorded incident to date, from 24 crashes at the Gaza Rd and Messines Ridge Rd prior to the works done in 2016.
Meanwhile, upgrades at the Wavell Heights intersection are expected to be complete by May 2023, weather and site conditions permitting.
Have you visited Wavell Heights Gourmet Meats on Shaw Road lately? If you haven’t, then you need to check out their newly renovated shop to find out what’s new.
Since its launch in late 2016, Wavell Heights Gourmet Meats has become the go-to shop among the locals for five-star restaurant quality beef, lamb, chicken, and pork products.
After a brief hiatus and some renovations, this multi-award-winning family-owned butcher shop at Shaw Road Shopping Village reopened in mid-July 2022 with a special BBQ treat courtesy of Stockyard Beef.
Wavell Heights Gourmet Meats boasts a range of locally sourced meat products that are ethically raised and prepared by seasoned staff. From mouth-watering gourmet burgers to hams, bacon, sausages and pizza, the choices are wide and plentiful. And count on their knowledgeable staff when you need tips on how to prepare, cook and serve your meals.
“Always the best meat and friendly staff. I went to buy a meat tray from there, and explained what it was for, and Pat the owner asked if he could donate it. All the staff are legends!! Everyone I talk to who has visited the butcher have all said the same thing. I head there every Sunday to get supplies for our family bbq. Best butcher in Brisbane.” – Andrew S.
“Best meat around. If you want excellent quality meat with real flavour, then go and visit Pat and the rest of the team. Super friendly and knowledgeable staff.” – Louise G.
“The chilli sausages are amazing; slow cooked meatballs a winner and burgers the bestest!” – Russell H.
On a side note, owner Pat Saumani and his version of Ballot Banger made headlines ahead of the federal election day, with no less than Federal Member for Lilley, Anika Wells MP giving a stamp of approval to his creation. His special smoky chorizo, honey pork and beef snag was described as having that little bit of spice that’s often found in election campaigns.
“Pat Saumani from Wavell Heights Gourmet Meats has got my vote for the Best Ballot Banger! Pat created his smoky chorizo and honey pork and beef snag especially for the election – and I appreciate it.” writes Anika Wells MP on her social media.
Pat Saumani from Wavell Heights Gourmet Meats has got my vote for the Best Ballot Banger! Pat created his smoky chorizo and honey pork and beef snag especially for the election – and I appreciate it #shoplocalpic.twitter.com/kSG6wA7kwd
Wavell Heights Gourmet Meats is located at Shop 9 / 216 Shaw Rd, Wavell Heights. You may visit their website and social media for updated trading hours or for ordering online.
