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Wavell State High School Student Among the Winners of Buy Smart 2021

Photo Credit: Screen Grab from “Buy Smart Competition 2021 virtual ceremony” by FairTradingQLD

A student from Wavell State High School is among the winners of the Office of Fair Trading’s (OFT) Buy Smart 2021.

A total of $15,000 in prize money will be shared among this year’s winners that include students from Years 4 and above. The competition categories were divided into three: Years 4–6; Years 7–9 and Years 10–12.

Two students from Wavell State High School did their school proud this year as Zali Love, a Year 9 student took home the third prize in her category whilst Angelica Baltazar was recognised as “Highly Commended,” also for the Years 7-9 category.

The first prize winner in each category will receive $500 for the winning entry and $2,000 for their school. Whilst the second prize winner will receive $250 and $1,000 for their school and the third prize winner will receive $150 and $500 for their school. Also awarded are ten highly commended prizes, worth $50 per entry, across all categories .

Meanwhile, Mutdapilly State School in the Scenic Rim was awarded with the Fair Trading Commissioner’s School Champion prize of $1,500. Their cohort of Year 4, 5 and 6 students used their coding skills to make interactive games exploring refund rights and the importance of saving.

A creative, fun way of developing savvy consumer habits

Congratulating the students who participated in this year’s competition , Attorney-General, Minister Fentiman said that “making sure our young Queenslanders understand their consumer rights and can spot a scammer is so important.”

He added that last year alone, children under 18 in Australia lost almost half a million dollars to scammers with more than $100,000 from online shopping scams.

“Back in 2002, Buy Smart was started to help young Queenslanders learn about consumer issues and develop savvy consumer habits to carry with them throughout their lives,” he said.

“And with the growing demand for online shopping, Buy Smart is even more important today than it was 20 years ago.

“With more than 7,000 students participating in the program in 2021 and over 750 students submitting entries, this year saw plenty of impressive entries accepted into the competition.

“From boardgames to dioramas, music videos, Instagram posts and animations, the Buy Smart Competition had it all, but most importantly it shows us that students are excited and engaged in understanding consumer issues.”

The OFT Buy Smart Program is an initiative launched in 2002 which has seen Fair Trading officers visiting classrooms across the state to educate students and help them become savvy consumers. However, since last year, several visits were done via streaming into classrooms due to COVID-related restrictions.

The OFT Buy Smart competition allowed students to identify a consumer issue and to make a creative presentation of what they have learned through their research. Their project should identify an important issue related to shopping or money, explain the issue to a target audience of their choice, and give their audience some hints and tips that can help them with this issue.

Ultimately, the competition aims to help the students and their audience become smarter consumers by:

recognising and avoiding scams;
improving one’s financial capability; and
using one’s consumer rights when needed.

The OFT Buy Smart Competition 2021 winners

The Office of Fair Trading’s (OFT) Buy Smart Competition 2021 winners for each category are as follows:

Years 4 to 6

First place: Mitch Graeme, St Mary MacKillop Primary School, Birkdale. (Year 5)

Second place: Josie Dolan and Sasha Glockling, St Dympna’s Catholic Primary School, Aspley. (Year 6)

Third place: Kayden Ross, Forest Lake State School. (Year 4)

Highly commended:

Annabella Collins and Shayla O’Sullivan, Kurwongbah State School, Petrie. (Year 5)
Abigail Wilson, Alice Barr, Inara Mayes, Francesca O’Neil and Eva Wilkinson, Kedron State School. (Year 6)
Cooper Jayo, Mackay North State School. (Year 6)

Years 7 to 9

First place: Lindie van Tonder, Trinity College, Gladstone. (Year 9)

Second place: Ruby Kavanagh and Eliza Luhrs, Wavell State High School. (Year 9)

Third place: Zali Love, Wavell State High School. (Year 9)

Highly commended:

Caleb Harlick, Mitchell Salmon and Nihal Singh, Redeemer Lutheran College, Biloela. (Year 7)
Lauren Stallard, Loreto College Coorparoo. (Year 8)
Sophie Hamilton, Chloe Michell and Indya Anderson, Sheldon College. (Year 9)
Jack Taylor, Sunshine Coast Grammar School. (Year 8)
Angelica Baltazar, Wavell State High School. (Year 9)
Kiki Bell and Emily Ryan, Clayfield College. (Year 9)

Years 10 to 12

First place: Nidhi Kapadia, Adonia Joseph and Sahrish Nouryan, Queensland Academies Health Sciences Campus, Southport. (Year 10)

Second place: Cody Menzies, Nambour State College. (Year 10)

Third place: Braedon O’Brien, Trinity College, Gladstone (Year 10)

Highly commended:

Ewan McFadzen and Om Bhikadiya, Aspley State High School (Year 10)

Commissioner’s School Champion Prize:

Mutdapilly State School

Wavell Heights Property Market Nearing the Million-Dollar Median Price Mark

The volume of properties selling at nearly $1 million has been increasing in Wavell Heights, where the median house price has grown over 20 per cent. Recent years have brought significant evolution and gentrification to this suburb, once off the radar for most investors. It has now become a highly desirable area, spurring a strong performance in Brisbane’s property market.

Highlights

House price growth in Wavell Heights are up by 22 per cent, with the median house price nearly crossing over the million-dollar mark at $915,000 for the period between October 2020 to September 2021.
282 houses were sold for the period in just 38 days on market.
Unit prices dropped by -2.83 per cent because of low inventory.

House Price Growth

Between October 2020 to September 2021, median house prices at Wavell Heights climbed by 22 per cent, pulling the median house price up to $915,000 from just $750,000 in the previous period. Data from Property Market Updates showed that 282 properties were sold during this period for an average of 38 days on market.

The majority of the houses that attracted buyers have been three-bedroom lots, with transactions sold within an average of 35 days. Most houses in Wavell Heights were built and developed after the war; thus, there are no character protections nor restrictions to prevent investors from knocking down and rebuilding their dream homes. These redevelopments have further contributed to the median house price growth.

Dwellings in Wavell Heights are valuable to investors for their convenience and proximity to everything residents need, given its position in Brisbane’s north side. In the coming years, commuting to the north or south will be easier from Wavell Heights as various infrastructure projects impacting nearby road networks, such as the Cross River Rail and the Brisbane Metro, are ongoing.

A newly-built four-bedroom modern home on Benecia Street with an enviable open plan living, opulent kitchen, and low maintenance backyard sold the highest price in this period at $2,437,000. Delivering a private, resort-like feel for its new owners, this home is within a kilometre to the Our Lady of Angels School and close to Aviation High in Clayfield.

Unit Price Growth

This transforming city fringe location has fewer unit properties on stock than most suburbs, resulting in a decrease in unit price growth between October 2020 to September 2021. The median unit price in Wavell Heights dipped, at -2.83 per cent for the period.

While there were only 21 apartments sold for this period, sales have been quick and swift at an average of 34 days on market, with most buyers snapping up two-bedroom apartments. This suggested a high demand for more unit options in Wavell Heights.

About Wavell Heights

Wavell Heights is a leafy, picturesque suburb ideal for raising kids thus attracting buyers looking for a family-friendly vibe. Approximately 12 kilometres to the north of the CBD, this hilly and elevated suburb providing residents spectacular views of Brisbane was commonly called West Nundah before the 1940s until it was renamed Wavell Heights during the Second World War.

An influx of housing developments, as well as constructions of a community centre, sports facilities, and the Wavell Heights State School, followed after the war, drawing more families to live in this location. Today, Wavell Heights has a mix of eye-catching modern houses, charming old post-war homes, and some housing units built on formerly large blocks of properties. Nearly 50 per cent of its residents are renters.

With the Kedron Brook running along the suburb’s south section, as well as heaps of playgrounds, parks, and tracks for walking and biking, Wavell Heights offers fantastic amenities to enjoy the green spaces. On weekends, food trucks usually arrive in the parks where residents play sports and do community activities.

The locale has small corner cafes found all over the suburb, where residents converge after their morning walk. There are also some restaurants along Gympie Road and the Kedron Wavell Services is its go-to community hub.

Whilst there is no shopping centre, Chermside, Nundah and Lutwyche are nearby for retail or dining options. Wavell Heights has easy access to the City Bypass and M1, as well as the Brisbane Airport via The Airport Link tunnel.

“A safe neighborhood. Not many units. Friendly people. I like the way there are 2 suburban cafes near me. One on main Avenue and the other on Bilsen Road. They are cute and not surrounded by a shopping centre. That is unique. Good cycleways. Close to Chermside Mall.”
JessT

“We’ve been living in Wavell for more than 2 years now; we like :1 the quiet, no noise life,2 very nice neighbours; 3 good parks; 4 nature like; 5 there are 2 schools that are quite good: a lot of extra curriculum: drama, chess, sport etc. You don’t need to bring your child far from home. Close to Chermside Shopping centre-the best and many medical facilities.”
Nina M

“If you love a quiet family atmosphere – Wavell Heights has it. There are plenty of parks including access to the Kedron Brook Bikeway and local wetland we call “the pond”. This also creates a beautiful green outlook. Shopping is convenient with Toombul, Stafford, and Chermside all in easy reach. There are also local shops, cafes, and restaurants at neighbouring Nundah. Access to the city and airport are also handy and travel time is less than 20mins. The elevation provides vistas of city and suburbs plus access to cooling breezes in Summer.”
Poodle

Wavell Heights Kerbside Collection 2021: Where To Drop Off Useful Items

Photo credit: Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner/Facebook

Have you been waiting for the next kerbside collection in Wavell Heights? Here’s some good news. After skipping a year, it’s back and you can finally sort and dispose of large, unwanted items before Christmas month.

Read: Wavell Heights Dad Is Philips Community Sports Dad Of The Year

Wavell Heights Kerbside Collection Dates

The kerbside collection across Northgate Ward is scheduled from October to November 2021. Here are the collection dates for Wavell Heights, Northgate, and Virginia.

Suburb	Kerbside collection date
Virginia	11 October 2021
Northgate	18 October 2021
Wavell Heights	1 November 2021

According to Brisbane City Council, residents must place acceptable materials for collection on the kerbside in front of their homes the weekend before collection starts. All items must be on the kerb by 6:00 am at the start of the collection period.

Photo credit: Brisbane City Council Photo credit: Brisbane City Council

Where to Bring Items in Usable Condition

If you have items that are still in working condition, consider dropping them off at Brisbane’s Treasure Troves instead of simply leaving everything to the kerbside for collection.

Treasure Troves are a great place for a bargain, selling items donated through Brisbane City Council’s resource recovery centres. Not only does Treasure Troves help keep the city clean and green, you’re also contributing to a cause by donating your useful items to the tip shop.

Treasure Troves is being managed by the Endeavour Foundation which helps people living with disabilities by providing them with opportunities and improving their well-being, through the profits collected from the shops. At present, there are two Treasure Troves in the city: one in Acacia Ridge and one in Geebung.

How to Donate to Your Local Treasure Trove

Photo credit: Geebung Treasure Trove/Facebook

Those who would like to donate to Treasure Troves must head to one of the Council’s resource recovery centres as donations cannot be made in-store.

From Wavell Heights, the nearest recovery centre is at 1372 Nudgee Road, Nudgee Beach, which is a 15-minute drive via St Vincents Rd. It’s open daily from 6:30 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.

If you only have recyclable items or tip shop donations, go to the free recycling area and sort your materials into the correct collection point. Acceptable Treasure Trove items include:

artwork antiques and sculptures
books
clothing – quality textiles and wearable clothing
furniture and other household items in good working order
kitchen utensils
shoes and bags
sporting equipment including bikes and exercise equipment
toys – good quality only (broken plastic toys must be recycled in the hard plastic bin)

If you have more questions about donating to BCC’s resource centres for the Treasure Troves, visit Brisbane City Council’s website.

Kerbside Collection Resumption

In April 2020, Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner announced that the kerbside collection will be paused until July 2022 so that funds can be reallocated for COVID-19 recovery initiatives. However, in July 2021, Cr Schrinner announced that the kerbside collection has been fast-tracked and included in the 2021-22 Budget so that it can resume a year earlier than planned.

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.