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Northgate Queensland Rail Station Has Defibrillator that Could Save a Life

Brad Tite is a lucky man. He suffered a heart attack and collapsed on the train. CPR from fellow passengers and the use of a defibrillator by a trained QLD Rail employee saved his life, an incident that underscores the need to have trained personnel and life-saving medical equipment available at key stations like the Northgate station.

Mr Tite was given CPR by dellow passengers for 10 minutes, before Assistant Station Master Charlie Leslie Roberts stepped in with a trained employee to use the defibrillator.

“It was a team effort and our first aid training paid off as we did everything we could to help Mr Tite,” Mr Roberts said.

Through the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS), Mr Tite was brought to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, where he underwent triple bypass surgery. His doctors said that the prompt action, CPR, and defibrillator saved Mr Tite’s life. His doctors were also able to download data from the defibrillator, which they needed for his surgery.

“It just goes to show how important it is to be trained in CPR and for defibrillators to be readily available in public places, Mr Tite said. “You never think it’s going to happen to you, you think you’re indestructible, but you’re not. I now want to learn how to do CPR so I can use my experience to help other people.”

There are twelve busy Queensland Rail stations equipped with defibrillators. These are Central, Fortitude Valley, Bowen Hills, Roma Street, South Brisbane, South Bank, Eagle Junction, Park Road, Northgate, Petrie, Darra, and Beenleigh. The defibrillators are found in long-distance passenger service areas and assigned to trained onboard customer service employees.

“We know seconds count in a cardiac arrest, which is why Queensland Rail had invested in installing Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) at various stations on the rail network,” Queensland Rail General Manager Station Customer Service Ron Degraaf said.

“This situation is a prime example of their life-saving capability. It’s incredible that Mr Tite is here with us today and I’m extremely thankful for the actions of our customers and employees for the role they played.”

Wavell Heights Dad Is Philips Community Sports Dad Of The Year

Wavell Heights local Scott Peeler-Hammond, a father of three, has won the Philips Community Sports Dad of the Year award, the first winner from Brisbane in the program’s eight-year history.

Read: Northgate Engawa House Named 2021 Dulux Colour Awards Finalist

Hammond, who received a $5,000 cheque, will donate his winnings to the Kedron Lions AFL club, where he’s a valued member who carries multiple roles including being senior president and coach of two teams.

“It is an amazing honour to win. I do what I do because I love coaching and our club. To receive an award like this is just an incredible bonus. The fact that I do it all with the kids a part of the community just makes it all the sweeter,” Hammond said of his win.

Known as ‘Spud’ around the club, Hammond was nominated by fellow Kedron AFC member Felicity Rogers for his tireless behind-the-scenes work. Besides his numerous roles in the club, he’s also a devoted dad to 11-year-old Hudson and 18-month-old Gretchen.

“He has built stronger connections between the junior girl’s and senior women’s programs and helped to strengthen the connection between the senior men’s and women’s teams as well as organising gala days,” Felicity said.

Photo credit: Kedron Districts Junior Football Club/Facebook

“Spud just puts his heart and soul into everything at the club and has helped foster an amazing and supportive culture,” he added. To him, Hammond is a father figure to many players at the club and provides support to players beyond just football.

Felicity said the club has also helped Scott through some hard times, after the tragic passing of his newborn daughter Maisie in 2019. Hammond experienced the loss of Maisie just hours after her birth and the female playing group rallied around him and his family during this time, with many players attending Maisie’s funeral.

Aside from the cash prize, Hammond also received some Philips products including the Shaver 9000, and Bodygroom and Multigroom 7000, which he said was handy for “a guy who shaves his head at least twice a week!”

About the Philips Community Sports Dad of the Year

Photo credit: Philips Sports Dad of the Year/Facebook

The annual Community Sports Dad of the Year is designed to reward the contributions and positive impact that Australian dads make to their families and community both on and off the sporting field.

Last year’s Community Sports Dad of the Year is Richard Galea, President of the Blacktown City Swim Club.

Wavell Skate Park to Host a Contemporary Circus for Brisfest 2021

Witness a different kind of entertainment at the Wavell Skate Park, where a cross-pollination of contemporary circus and street dance featuring Casus Circus vs Mad Dance will be underway.

As part of Brisfest 2021’s Street Serenades, a music extravaganza across different locations, two of Brisbane’s powerhouse performance groups will bring Collision at the Wavell Skate Park on Thursday, 16 Sept 2021, from 3:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Collision, which had a successful run at the Metro Arts in West End, will feature jaw-dropping circus acts and impressive hip-hop dance movements with a bit of humour.

Casus Circus, one of Brisbane’s pioneers in contemporary circus, and Mad Dance House, a mover and shaker in the world of urban and street dance, will demonstrate each of their brands of physical art practices.

Photo Credit: Creative Futures Photography/Facebook

It takes a lot of discipline and training to do the acrobatics and power moves. Collision was, in fact, 10 years in the making for Casus Circus director Natano Fa’anana with the help of Ché Pritchard, the choreographer.

Don’t miss your chance to see this entertaining performance for free at the Street Serenade in Wavell Skate Park. The show is for all ages so bring the whole family.

“Collision is first class in its consideration of a distinct and exciting aesthetic to match the on-stage showcase of acrobatic and athletic prowess.”
Blue Curtain Brisbane

“This is excellent and thrilling physical entertainment by dedicated performers.”
Stage Whispers

Wavell Heights Tops Brisbane Suburbs With Strongest Million-Dollar Home Growth in 10 Years

Wavell Heights has emerged as the latest Brisbane suburb crossing the million-dollar property market with strong growth of homes sold for $1 million or more for the past 10 years.

Data from Place Advisory showed that an impressive increase of 379 percent in million-dollar homes were sold in Brisbane in the last decade, with Wavell Heights’ sales growing to 23.67 percent. Holland Park, West End, Gordon Park and Seven Hills round up the top five list.

Brisbane Suburbs with Strong Growth of Homes Sold for $1 Million or More in 10 Years

Suburb	Growth Percentage
Wavell Heights	23.67%
Holland Park	20%
West End	16%
Gordon Park	16%
Seven Hills	14.5%
Carindale	11.14%
Sherwood	10.67%
Chapel Hill	10.25%
Camp Hill	9.82%
Tarragindi	9.8%

The most recent Wavell Heights property that broke the record and sold for $2.227 million was on 87 Benecia Street in July 2021. According to realestate.com.au, the said house sold for $687,000 in 2020. It was worth just $190,000 in May 2001.

Meanwhile, Wavell Heights homeowner and dad-of-three Jason Fenton is hoping to break the next million-dollar sales record as he listed his property on 10 Zeehan Street.

Mr Fenton bought the 670-square metre property in 2020 for $705,000 as it was his family’s desire to live closer to the children’s school in Nudgee, after some years of renting in Gordon Park.

After doing a rebuild and turning the house into a five-bedroom Hamptons-style dwelling, Mr Fenton and his wife are now ready to cash in on the growing market.

In 1999, Mr Fenton had a house in Wavell Heights, when it was still a sleeping giant with heaps of ’50s or ’60s elevated post-war homes. He recalled that there wasn’t a lot of growth in the suburb, describing the locale as the “very affordable poorer cousin to Nundah.”

In recent years, however, the suburb’s property market has ramped up with families who are looking for a place to call home near schools, shopping centres (Toombul or Chermside), public transport (Nundah Train Station or various bus services), or bike trails (Kedron).

Wavell Heights Startup, Vaulta, Scores Huge Federal Grant for Battery Casing Technology

From a shared garage in Wavell Heights, Dominic Spooner, the founder of the startup firm, Vaulta, developed an improved design for battery casing technology for electric vehicles and renewables with his team of engineers. Vaulta recently received a major grant to go commercial with their invention.

In June 2021, Vaulta, under Battery Graphene Corp Pty Ltd, secured a $297,500 Accelerating Commercialisation grant from the Federal Government to develop low-cost and light-weight graphene-enhanced battery modules that could be easily disassembled, reducing the number of battery casing parts from more than 20 to just a handful and setting some of these parts for re-use.

Spooner said that this funding has been a validation of Vaulta’s world-class design, which will improve the efficiency of electric vehicle battery technology.

Highlights

Vaulta, based in Wavell Heights, received a $297,500 Accelerating Commercialisation grant from the Federal Government.
The money will help the startup commercialise their low-cost and light-weight graphene-enhanced battery modules.
Vaulta has also landed a memorandum of understanding with Quickstep, a drone manufacturer, and lithium battery makers in Canada who power cars racing at NASCAR, IndyCar, and Aussie V8 Supercars.

The Vaulta founder has been working with electric vehicles since 2016 and realised the challenges of battery design and commercialisation. He is confident that their technology will extend the life and performance of li-ion batteries.

He also said that the recycling technology for li-ion batteries still needs more development given the rapid growth and demand for electric vehicles and renewable-powered devices or tools. However, their design will pave the way for more alternatives.

Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Christian Porter said that the support for Vaulta to go commercial will also create jobs for Australians and attract more investors to the country, amidst the COVD-19 recovery efforts.

The grant comes as Vaulta has signed a memory of understanding (MOU) with Canadian lithuim battery makers Braille Energy Systems, Grafoid, Focus Graphite. These companies work with some of the fastest cars in the world at NASCAR, IndyCar, and Aussie V8 Supercars.

“I’m excited that our new battery casings will be used to help propel cars at speeds of up to more than 500kmh,” Spooner said.

“Braille is a world leader in the battery space, particularly when it comes to high performance motor vehicles.

“The lightness of our innovative casings, combined with their strength and thermal and electrical conductive qualities, will be a real asset in these batteries.”

Vaulta has also signed an MOU with Quickstep, an aerospace advanced composites manufacturer for drones with renewable technology.

Northgate Engawa House Named 2021 Dulux Colour Awards Finalist

A beautiful house in Northgate, dubbed the Engawa House, has been named a finalist at the 2021 Dulux Colour Award for successfully assimilating two concepts to create an interesting architectural space.

“Engawa” is a Japanese term for a covered communal space fronting the garden and serves as a sitting area or a passageway. For Queenslanders, this design concept applies to a veranda, where families converge in an extended space that seamlessly connects the outdoor area to the indoors.

Matt Kennedy of Arcke, the architectural company behind the Northgate Engawa House, said that they redesigned a typical two-bedroom Queensland home to reflect the desires of its Japan-loving homeowners, who have extensive knowledge and passion for Japanese garden landscapes.

“In this project, we’ve peeled away the rear of this Queenslander to create multiple spaces occupying the edge and expanding the habitable threshold between inside and out.

“This space and its relationship to the garden provides for social interaction between the family, without particular ownership from either upstairs or downstairs.”

Arcke also created a sunken garden, which used to be a bathroom, and opened up the rear side to create a serene green space that the homeowners could look out to and enjoy from the inside.

Photo Credit: Andy MacPherson Studio/Matt Kennedy/Arcke Instagram

Because of its striking exterior, the Engawa House was named one of the nine finalists for the Single Residential Exterior category of the 2021 Dulux Colour Award.

Andrea Lucena-Orr, Dulux Colour communications manager, said that this year’s finalists have not only made excellent use of clour but also improved the designs by using more natural stones and finishes, reflecting a strong return to nature during this challenging pandemic period.

“Thrilled to be a national finalist in the Dulux Colour Awards. Our Engawa House is in the single residential exterior category. Green on the outside, and sustainably green through-out,” Mr Kennedy wrote after the finalists were announced in June 2021.

Winners of the Dulux Colour Awards will be revealed on 31 August.

Wavell School Creates New Donation Drive for Homeless Connect Event

Students from Wavell State High School have set up a donation drive for Brisbane’s homeless population through Homeless Connect.

Students from the Wavell State High School first set up the drive on the 20th of May 2021, striving to connect the homeless as well as those at risk of homelessness with support services. They provided homeless people across Brisbane with donated items gathered from their families, eager to give new or unused tools, clothing, food and other objects for those who really need them.

About Homeless Connect

Homeless Connect is a regular event hosted by the Council, created to improve the quality of life for all Brisbane residents by providing them with a wide range of benefits.

Some of these benefits include receiving free services from volunteer medical and allied health care professionals, or housing support and community support. Those without homes can even receive free haircuts from volunteer barbers, as well as immunisation from the Council’s immunisation team.

Other goods and services provided by the event include personal grooming items for self care such as toothbrushes, shampoo and deodorant, as well as clothing and shoes for both adults and children. Food and entertainment are also given to people without homes, or those at risk of losing their homes.

Homeless Connect has helped over 18,580 people since it first launched in November 2006.

North Brisbane First Nations Service Providers Eligible for DFV Prevention Grants

Service providers that support First Nations families in eligible locations across Queensland, including North Brisbane, may now avail of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Grants 2021.

The State Government has set aside $140,000 to support programs and activities that aim to help First Nation families, especially those who are victims of domestic and family violence. These include education, early intervention, prevention, and identification of various forms of violence within a family unit. It also covers training and initiatives that will promote and motivate a safe community among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.

According to Craig Crawford, the Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, qualified providers may use the grant to deliver the most appropriate support for First Nations individuals or groups whose safety and capacity are disproportionally impacted by their home environment compared to non-Indigenous women.

Apart from Brisbane North service providers, organisations in Caboolture, Cairns, Cherbourg, Ipswich, Logan/Beenleigh, Mackay and Mount Isa may also apply for a grant of up to $10,000 per group.

“Sadly, we know in Queensland First Nation’s women are disproportionately victims of domestic and family violence compared to non-Indigenous women,” Minister for Women and the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Shannon Fentiman said.

“These grants will support our hardworking domestic and family violence services to provide much-needed culturally appropriate support for our First Nation’s women and families,” she said.

The announcement of the grant comes as May is Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month. Grant applications will be accepted until 31 May 2021 via the official site.

Warning Issued as Trailer Thefts Rise in Wavell Heights, North Brisbane

Wavell Heights trailer owners need to implement extra security amidst a rising number of trailer thefts in North Brisbane, the Queensland Police Service (QPS) has warned.

According to the authorities, the following areas were targeted by thieves in the last three weeks, stealing from trailers parked on the streets by unhooking the attachment and running off with the bounty from tradesmen or residents who store their tools and other equipment in the box.

SUBURB	STREET NAME
Ascot	Ascot Street
Bardon	Fletcher Parade
Boondall	Aberdeen Parade
Bowen Hills	Cintra Road
Chermside	Kingsmill Street
Keperra	Marble Street
Paddington	Great George Street
Toowong	Frederick Street
Wavell Heights	Parkham Avenue
Zillmere	Jennings Street

The police said that the trailer owners should make it “as hard as possible” to unhook the attachment with a lock and chain, a wheel clap, or by parking the trailer inside a locked gate or garage to keep it out of sight from the thieves.

Owners should also remove any items inside the trailer so it won’t be an easy target. If possible, owners are also encouraged to invest in anti-theft alarms for storage and boxes or CCTV on their property. It would be wise to have a photograph of serial numbers of the tools and equipment for purposes of identification if lost.

Wavell Heights and North Brisbane locals can help prevent this crime by reporting suspicious activities with QPS Crime Stoppers at 1800 333 000 or at the official site.

Seeing Eye Dogs Australia Need North Brisbane Residents Pet Carers

Are you a dog-loving Wavell Heights or North Brisbane resident with a secured yard? Would you be willing to take in a puppy for training with Seeing Eye Dogs Australia and Vision Australia for at least 15 months?

Seeing Eye Dogs Australia and Vision Australia are in need of pet carers who can become an important part of a puppy’s development and training as an animal who will help vision-impaired individuals once they mature.

The program is open to willing individuals who will temporarily welcome eight-week-old pups in their home and help them learn social skills to prepare them for their huge task ahead. The carers must also be willing to take the pup for basic training or group training, as needed.

Photo Credit: Seeing Eye Dogs Australia/Facebook

Seeing Eye Dogs defines puppy carers as someone who will:

Provide a loving home and to nurture a Seeing Eye Dogs puppy
Help to socialise them
Teach them basic skills such as toilet training, to sit, and to walk nicely on a lead

It would be an advantage for older puppies to have a carer who could take them for long walks and travel on public transport.

Vision Australia will provide pet carers with the puppy’s needs for a full year, such as food, veterinary care, collar, lead, and other essentials. The service company has six-month and modified training programs but slots are currently full.

To join, sign and submit the online form. If you know someone who might want to be a puppy carer but is not living in North Brisbane, they may send an email to Carer.Admin@visionaustralia.org for consideration.

All applications will be evaluated, while properties will be inspected virtually.