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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.

Wavell Heights Property Market Tipped for 4-Year Growth Amidst Infrastructure Projects

A number of middle ring suburbs, including Wavell Heights, are going to benefit from the Cross River Rail and the Brisbane Metro infrastructure projects in the next four years, according to industry experts.

Whilst Albion, Woolloongabba, Yeronga, Nundah and Clayfield stand to gain the most from the ripple effect of these projects, Wavell Heights and Virginia have also been seen as potential hotspots because of the increased infrastructure and access to train lines.

CoreLogic property research director Tim Lawless said that the appeal of detached houses in these suburbs bolstered a strong performance in the market in recent months, compared to apartments, because its land value has “development potential.”

The transport improvements are expected to spark soaring house prices as the liveability in these sleepy pockets will increase as well. By 2025, homeowners and investors should reap the full benefits of the market’s growth.

Currently, Wavell Heights has been enjoying an active auction market with record-breaking sales and more clamour for supplies.

The biggest sale, so far, has been a five-bedroom designer house with an amazing view on Zeehan Street, which went for $1.88 million at a January 2021 auction. This broke the suburb’s sales record of a house sold in July 2020 for $1.78 million.

Analysts said that Brisbane is on its way to a major property boom. Demand for houses in the middle ring has been underpinned by factors like relative affordability, low-interest rates, favourable rental returns, and migration from Sydney or Melbourne.

Make Your Hair Happy At Beloved Wavell Heights Salon

Photo credit: Cameo Rose Hair Boutique/Facebook

Looking to get your post-lockdown trim? You might have learnt to trim or colour your hair during the lockdown, but admit it, nothing compares to the feeling of walking out of the salon with your hair done. If you’re in Wavell Heights or nearby, head to Cameo Rose Hair Boutique for a trendy haircut or hair colour.

A mainstay at Rode Rd since 2009, Cameo Rose’s customer base grew through word of mouth. Customers are returning and recommending the salon for a style cut and specialized colours, such as ombre and balayage. Aside from cuts and colour for ladies, they also offer haircuts for gents and kids.

Photo credit: Cameo Rose Hair Boutique/Facebook

“If you want to be treated like absolutely royalty the second you walk through the doors, you have chosen the perfect place. Cara and her team of girls are just fantastic and I always walk out feeling a million bucks. From the scalp massages, to the wine and choccies and the never ending compliments on my hair, I know I have chosen my favourite salon,” said one of the salon’s regulars.

Another happy customer said: “Cara also cut my 5 yr old sons hair and she did an amazing job! My son also loved the experience. I won’t be going anywhere else.”

Photo credit: Cameo Rose Hair Boutique/Facebook Photo credit: Cameo Rose Hair Boutique/Facebook

Following the lockdown, they are back in January 2021, with new regulations to ensure the safety of their guests. In addition to the basics, such as wearing a mask and sanitising hands upon arrival, they ask guests to complete contact tracing on QR code form located on the front door and stations. They highly encourage guests to come alone to their appointment.

It’s owned by Cara Barrett who has over 10 years experience as a stylist. She has one goal and that is to pamper her guests. With its welcoming atmosphere, this salon will indeed make you feel at home.

More than a salon, the Cameo Rose Hair Boutique in Wavell Heights is an establishment that gives back to the community. The salon spreads some love by raising funds for those in need and by hosting random giveaways.

Cameo Rose is open daily (with varied business hours) except on Sundays. They offer a complimentary consultation and quote for new guests. For questions or online booking, check out their Facebook page or follow them on Instagram @cameorosehair.

Locals Petition Speed Limit Change for Main Avenue in Wavell Heights

A group of concerned families in Wavell Heights have lodged a petition to change the speed limit on Main Avenue, as well as implement “proper traffic calming measures” to keep the neighbourhood safe.

The petition, shared on both the Council’s e-petitions page and on Change.org, was initiated by Tunui Tuahiva Ote Tonohiti, who explained that non-residents use Main Avenue to speed up and cut through the traffic building up on Hamilton Road. However, Main Avenue is not a wide street and has plenty of vehicles parked on both sides.

As a result of the speeding, Mr Tonohiti said that cars parked on the streets, owned by families who live there, have had some damages. But it’s not just vehicles that are at risk as many residents have almost been victims of hit and run, and some are caught on video.

“Numerous residents have nearly been hit while crossing the road with a pram or a dog and trying to access parked cars on the street has become a nightmare. We have footage of vehicles during school pick-up and drop-off hours doing 80km/h, if not more down Main Avenue. It is rampant and daily.”

Main Avenue’s speed limit is at 60km/h and the signs are located in just two streets, along the intersection of Bilsen Road and Newman Road.

“The former is hidden and attached to an electrical pole high up behind a tree. Using a 24/7 security camera, we have thousands of hours of recordings of the street and we have observed at least two-thirds of the vehicles travelling Main Avenue do well over the 60km/h speed limit. Some vehicles reaching speeds of 80km/h.”

The petition calls for a speed reduction to 50km/h and the installation of speed bumps in critical areas. Mr Tonohiti also hopes that the Council will put up a pedestrian crossing near the playground on Main Avenue so that children and families walking their dogs can cross safely.

“The footpath on Main Avenue starting from Newman Road travels on one side then stops at the children’s playground and continues on the opposite side of the street with no safe way of crossing over.”

To monitor this development, residents may join the local Facebook group.

Locals Express Concern Over Worsening School Drop-Off at Wavell State High School

School drop-offs in Wavell State High School have changed in recent years, according to the parents of the students or the residents living nearby. Frustration has been mounting as both children and adults display inconsiderate behaviour, making the regular drive to this area such a stressful experience.

The most dangerous time to be on the road is from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., according to an official from the Transport and Main Roads (TMR), because that’s when most school kids are out.

In Wavell Heights, concerned locals said that they’ve experienced a rise in speeding, congestion and other traffic inconveniences at busy intersections near the state high school.

Driver behaviour has gone downhill as well with more rude and entitled people at the wheel, prompting some to fear that they might be involved in a tiff.

To make matters worse, some school children do not seem to have the sense to exercise care and caution when walking on busy streets. It’s an accident waiting to happen, according to the locals.

Brisbane has over 2,000 crossing supervisors at school zones but they, too, have had rude encounters with drivers. However, only serious incidents are reported to TMR.

An official said that they have relied on the help of the Queensland Police Service (QPS) for proper traffic enforcement, which regularly monitors speed camera trailers installed at school zones. In 2020, TMR have sent out 4,500 speeding fines within the school zones of suburbs like Wavell Heights, Eatons Hill, Mansfield, Mount Gravatt and Wishart.

The QPS reminded motorists to be mindful, attentive and patient, especially if they are near school zones.

Kim Marx, the chair of the Brisbane City Council Community Health and Safety, said that the incidents on the road can happen within a “split-second” and a small number of errant drivers or misguided students can cause unnecessary risks to the public.

Ms Marx encouraged locals to report what they deem unsafe either to the QPS or the Council as this will also help with enforcement and prevention.

Metagenics: Northgate Health Products Factory Expands With More Jobs, New Facility

Metagenics, an established vitamins and supplements producer, is expanding its production line and facilities in Northgate, creating more job opportunities for Queensland.

The manufacturing company, known for health products like Metagenics, Inner Health and Ethical Nutrients, recently received $1.1 million through the Advance Queensland Industry Attraction Fund, which will be used to improve its tableting production and coating facility at its Nudgee Road site.

The expansion is projected for completion in April 2021 and will open 24 new jobs once it’s up and running.

“Metagenics has been producing health products here in Queensland for 35 years and this funding will help them expand – building a state-of-the-art tablet coating production line to create local jobs,” Acting Premier and Minister for State Development Steven Miles said.

“The vitamin, minerals and supplements sector has grown by $2 billion over the past five years. This is a growth industry. We want to partner with the private sector to tap into this huge potential for growth in this industry in years to come.”

Metagenics has 365 staff in Australia and New Zealand with 80 percent of its workforce employed at the Northgate facility.

“Currently our operation primarily uses external contract manufacturers for our tableted product, and this funding will help us to remove that reliance and decrease our company’s risk,” Managing Director Paula Hann said. “It will give us more control over our operations and bring more manufacturing capabilities to Queensland.”

Hundreds Sign Petition to Bring Back Nudgee Beach Off-Leash Privilege

Dog owners who regularly let their pooches play and exercise off-leash at the foreshore of Nudgee Beach are still challenging the Council order that brought the site back to an on-leash area in November 2020.

Northgate resident Clare Murray lodged a petition for the Council to reverse the cancellation, citing that “a large number of Brisbane dog owners who were unaware of the ‘trial’ nature of the off-leash dog area at Nudgee Beach and are now extremely upset by the change.”

Ms Murray’s petition, which will run until 28 Feb 2021, has gained nearly 400 signatures from local dog owners and even those from Coorparoo and Eight Mile Plains.

Photo Credit: Suzanne Andrews/Google Maps

But another resident also opened a petition to keep the on-leash rule and has nearly 50 signatures.

“[Off-leash] would be very destructive for these shorebirds as they need a safe place to feed and rest. Otherwise, these birds would have nowhere to go which would result in a decline in species population,” the petitioner, Jessica Shipley, wrote.

Brisbane City Council discontinued Nudgee Beach’s off-leash dog trial, whilst retaining Manly and Sandgate’s status. In a statement, the Council said that there are alternative off-leash sites at the Kedron Broo, the Tuckeroo Park on Nudgee Road and the Sandgate foreshore.

A spokesperson acknowledged that Nudgee Beach was a popular destination for dog owners and their pets but the decision was precipitated by an increase in the disturbance of migratory shorebirds in the area, as backed by scientific evidence.

Northgate Ventilator Manufacturer to Deliver Large Volumes to Help Fight COVID-19

Olitek, a manufacturer based in Northgate, has committed to deliver large volumes of high-quality, functional, TGA-accredited OzVader ventilators in the fight against COVID-19.

The company is one of three other Queensland businesses to receive part of the $50 million funding to boost the manufacturing capabilities of the country.

The money will allow Olitek to prioritise and expand OzVader ventilation production to meet the demands at various healthcare facilities, as well as create more jobs in the midst of a crisis.

“As part of the Queensland Government’s strategy to Unite and Recover for Queensland jobs, we’re continuing to support Queensland businesses and manufacturers to expand their production capacity, especially in the area of health PPE and medical devices,” Acting Premier and Minister for State Development Steven Miles said.

“By continuing to back our mighty manufacturing sector, we’re further boosting Queensland’s ability to respond quickly at a State level and to also join the global pandemic response.”

Prior to the pandemic, Olitek concentrated on robotics engineering for the mining industry. Realising that long supply chains from across the world could break down, as seen in this pandemic, the company partnered with a team of intensive care specialists at the Queensland University Technology (QUT) Medical Engineering Research Facility (MERF) to make more affordable locally-made ventilators at a rapid pace.

“The response from manufacturers and medical experts in this state to the COVID-19 crisis has been magnificent,” Minister for State Development and Manufacturing Cameron Dick said. “We’re continually impressed with the innovative way Queensland’s best minds in tech, engineering and medicine have risen to the challenge to tackle COVID-19.”

OzVader ventilators will be distributed to ICU wards, Australian hospitals and even remote field hospitals across the world.