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Council Wraps Up Works at Shaw Road Rugby Fields

Brisbane City Council finally completed its landfill remediation and lighting replacement project for Shaw Road rugby fields. This is expected to provide safer and improved facilities for the sporting and local community in Wavell Heights.

Works involved compacting and capping the existing closed landfill, regrading the rugby field, reinstating the existing public address system, and constructing a ramp to the car park that is in line with the Disability Discrimination Act 1992.

In February 2019, Council replaced the field lighting to meet the basic standard required for night practice, with capacity for further improvements in the future.

Upgrades also included installing irrigation, drainage, topsoil and sports field grade turf and collapsible goal posts.

This upgrade was part of the Council’s ongoing Landfill Remediation and Maintenance Program under the Restoration for Recreation program.

The completed project is on par with Council’s projected completion date which is mid-2019. Construction began in September 2018, with works taken place from Monday to Saturday.

For more information, view the Shaw Road landfill remediation and lighting replacement project page.

Kerbside Collection Etiquette: Why It’s Important to Ask Neighbours Before Scavenging their Pile

Another round of kerbside collection will take place in North Brisbane in the coming days. Following Virginia and Boondall’s schedule (29 July), the next ones in line are Banyo and Geebung (5 August) and Wavell Heights (19 August).

In line with this annual service, it pays to observe some kerbside collection etiquette. While most residents dispose of unwanted old items for kerbside collection, others take the opportunity to scavenge their neighbours’ pile to find stuff to recycle and reuse.

Technically, it is not illegal to take items from people’s kerbside junk.

“Residents are welcome to recycle kerbside collection goods, however, they should ensure that leftover items are stacked tidily and not creating any obstructions to the footpath or roadway,” a spokesperson from the Brisbane City Council said.

As a matter of courtesy, however, it would be a good idea to ask your neighbours first before digging on to their pile. Let them know that you are interested in some of the items and get their permission to check the items closely.

While checking the items, be respectful and careful that you don’t break anything. These might be trash for your neighbours but they still own these things.

Besides, if you break their mirror, for example, the collectors won’t pick up the item. As part of the policy, anything broken or with loose materials will be left by the kerbside. If you do find a broken item, inform your neighbour so that they can dispose of this properly and avoid being cited for illegal dumping.

Put back anything you’ve checked where you found these items if you are not planning on taking these home with you.

When you’re done, inform the neighbours what you took and thank them for allowing you to look at their kerbside pile.

To learn more about the Do’s and Don’ts of kerbside collection in Brisbane, as well as check your suburb’s schedule, visit the Council’s website.

Wavell State High Teacher Attends Prestigious CERN Program

Wavell State High School teacher Rachel Schnitzerling was one of the three teachers chosen to attend the International High School Teacher Program at CERN.

Held at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Geneva, Switzerland, the program brought together teachers from across the globe to discuss and explore various ways to bring physics into the classroom.

CONGRATULATIONS!!! – to Wavell SHS Science teacher- Ms Schnitzerling who is headed to CERN in July. An amazing…
Posted by Wavell State High School on Wednesday, March 27, 2019

The once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is also a dream come true for the Wavell State High physics enthusiast. Other teachers that were also selected by Australia’s Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) for the program include Sydney teacher, Paul Looyen and Coffs Harbour’s Chris Bormann.

Along with the two teachers, Ms Schnitzerling immersed in a two-week program to participate in lectures and see the works of scientists and engineers at CERN.

CERN is a world-class facility leading nuclear physics research. It also happens to be the home of the popular particle accelerator, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). Travelling to such a remarkable place and meeting brilliant minds in science surely is a trip to remember for the chosen teachers.

Who is Rachel Schnitzerling?

Credit: Rachel Schnitzerling/YouTube

Ms Schnitzerling has been a Maths, Physics, and Engineering teacher for over 12 years. Before being a teacher, she worked as an engineer for almost seven years.

In her application for the CERN program, she mentioned how she intended to share her learnings and experiences. She will be sharing her knowledge not only to students but to her fellow teachers as well.

Her passion for physics, maths, and engineering reflect on her work. In fact, she was able to inspire one of her former students to pursue studies in maths education.

Today, I got a message from a former maths student. She told me she is studying mathematics education. I have taught students who go on to be engineers, physicists, mathematicians, many other amazing things. But never a teacher of the subject I taught them- today is a special day
— Rachel Schnitzerling (@rachel_schnitz) June 6, 2018

According to ANSTO CEO, Dr Adi Paterson, the three teachers should be very proud to get into the program. Participation in the said high school teacher program will benefit Australia’s science classrooms given the knowledge and experience that the teachers will gain during their trip to CERN.

Right, so a tweet a day, at least for a while… CERN high school teacher program, you are the most rewarding professional development I have ever done. Thank you #hst2019 #particlephysics pic.twitter.com/6mDdUu2w4p
— Rachel Schnitzerling (@rachel_schnitz) July 23, 2019

Given her undeniable drive in teaching physics and sharing the science of how the universe works to other people, Wavell State High School is certainly lucky to have Ms Schnitzerling around.

State Government Funds Train Station Upgrades at Boondall, Geebung, and Virginia

The State Government will be investing billions of dollars for rail and passenger transport infrastructure, including train station upgrades at Boondall, Geebung, and Virginia.

More than $6 million has been allocated towards train station upgrade projects at Boondall, Geebung, and Virginia. A total of $5,626,000 in funding will go towards the design and construction of station accessibility upgrades at Boondall train station.

On the other hand, Park “n” Ride facilities will be constructed at Geebung train station (additional 70 car parking spaces) and at Virginia train station (additional 47 car parking space) with budget values of $427,000 and $370,000, respectively.

Queensland Transport and Roads Investment Program

Regional Queensland will benefit immensely from the State Government’s investment on infrastructure projects under the Queensland Transport and Roads Investment Program (QTRIP) 2019-20 to 2022-23.

The State Government has allocated billions of dollars for rail and passenger transport infrastructure projects, Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said, including $160.8 million from the Queensland Government for the North Coast Line as well as train station upgrades and other network improvements.

“A centrepiece of that work will be the $250 million high-capacity underground interchange for the Inner Northern Busway to the Cross River Rail Project, a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reshape the Roma Street Station precinct,” he said.

The government will also invest in bus stops and train stations to make stations more accessible and upgrade key commuter roads to create priority bus lanes.

A total of $21 million has been set aside to deliver 600 new car parking spaces at Greenbank bus park ‘n’ ride and $4.5 million to expand the Eight Mile Plains bus station park ‘n’ ride, adding 340 extra car spaces.

train station upgrades at Boondall, Geebung, and Virginia. — Photo Credit: The State of Queensland (Department of Transport and Main Roads) 2010–2019 / tmr.qld.gov.au

New Generation Rollingstock

Minister Mark Bailey said that the government will continue to deliver the New Generation Rollingstock project. The largest single investment by Queensland, the $4.15-billion project aims to increase SEQ’s fleet of passenger trains to meet growing demand.

The project involves the design, construction, and maintenance of 75 new trains for SEQ. The purpose-built Wulkuraka Maintenance Centre was already completed in 2016 whilst accessibility upgrade works on the first NGR train will commence late 2019.

“All 75 six car sets are expected to be available for service in the 2019-20 financial year, and Maryborough rail workers will start work in the coming months to ensure the new trains comply with national disability standards.”

Job-creating projects

The State Government will continue its focus on job-creating infrastructure project investments, Mr Bailey said. Queensland government will spend a record $23 billion investment in roads and transport projects, supporting 21,500 jobs.

“More than $14.5 billion of this record QTRIP will be spent outside the Brisbane City, Ipswich City and Redland City local government areas.”

“Our investment will make the Bruce Highway safer and more flood-resilient between Brisbane and Cairns,” he said.

The Queensland Budget for Brisbane and Redlands region alone include infrastructure spending of $3.9 billion, which is estimated to generate around 11,500 jobs.

Virginia’s Versace Timbers, Elliott Australia Receive Philanthropists of the Year Award

Two Virginia-based small to medium enterprises received a prestigious honor from the Queensland Community Foundation (QFC) last June. Versace Timbers and Elliott Australia were named as Philanthropists of the Year for its social consciousness and positive impact on the community.

A long-established family-owned business, Versace Timbers was nominated by the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia. The charity organization has benefited from Versace Timbers’ various fund-raising activities. The timber company has specifically chosen to support this cause because it belongs to an industry dominated by men.

“We are humbled to have played a small part in raising vital funds into the research of Prostate Cancer and raise awareness that this terrible disease is curable if detected early and the importance of being proactive rather than reactive, particularly if there is a family history,” Versace Timbers managing director Graham Leddy said.

Composed of less than 200 employees, Versace Timbers was established in Queensland in 1956 as a supplier of flooring, fences, doors, hardwood, roof trusses, decking material, and other construction needs. The company also specializes in home building, renovation and extensions.

*Photo Credit: Versace Timbers/Facebook*

Elliot Australia, on the other hand, was nominated by the S J Hill Foundation and Bryan Foundation. Founder and managing director Anthony Elliot devised a Modified Rugby Program (MRP) to help children with disabilities experience the sport through their GingerCloud Foundation.

*Photo Credit: GingerCloud Foundation/Facebook*

“Fourteen per cent of school-age kids can’t participate in sport (because of disabilities) and that is very very sad – for us to see some of those kids now grow and progress through our programs is just such a highlight – it is one of the most rewarding things of my life,” Mr Elliot told the press.

When Mr Elliot started devoting his time to the GingerCloud Foundation in 2014, there were only 16 beneficiaries playing rugby. To date, there are 24 teams within the MRP across Queensland and ACT.

Versace Timbers has a hardware store and warehouse at 33 Vauxhall Street in Virginia. Elliot Australia’s operation is on 23 Vauxhall Street.

Get Your Fish and Chips Fix at Spotted Cod

For anyone craving for some fish and chips, Spotted Cod on Hamilton Road, Wavell Heights is the ultimate joint for seafood lovers out there!

Located at Shop 5, 159 Hamilton Road in Wavell Heights, Spotted Cod has been serving up local fresh seafood along with handmade burgers, chips, and fresh salads for over four years now.

Satisfy your hunger with any of these mouth-watering burgers such as the all-time favourite Hamburger made of grilled beef, grilled onions, lettuce, tomato, beetroot, choice of sauce (tomato, BBQ, aioli, relish, mustard, or hot chilli).

Other similarly satisfying options include: Steak Burger (rump steak, grilled onions, lettuce, tomato, beetroot, choice of sauce), Chicken Burger (grilled chicken, lettuce, tomato, beetroot, aioli), Firebreather (grilled chicken, lettuce, bacon, cheese, pineapple, chipotle chilli sauce), and Fish Burger (crumbed cod, lettuce, tomato, house made tartare).

Spotted Cod also offers value packs for families and friends to share and enjoy like the Family Banquet (four cod, eight calamari, four seafood bites, chips for four, and large tartare sauce).

How about a Dinner for Two? A serving of two house fish fillets, six calamari, one small salad, two pineapple fritters, and chips for two. Other options include Seafood Frenzy (2 whiting, 2 prawn cutlets, 2 sea scallops, 6 calamari, 2 seafood sticks, Chips for two), and Fish and Chip Pack (1 cod, 3 calamari, 1 potato scallop, Chips for one).

For snacks, must try treats are Pork Spring Rolls, Pineapple Fritter, and their famous homemade ice cream sandwich, Pat and Stick’s Ice Cream Sandwich.

Spotted Cod is open Monday to Thursday 10am – 7:30pm, Friday 10am – 8:30, Saturday 11am – 8pm, and Sunday 11am – 7:30pm. For home delivery, you may click here to order online.

159 Hamilton Rd Wavell Heights

VEND Market Place Holds Huge One Day Plant Sale in Virginia

A big opportunity is coming your way if you’re looking to fill your garden with greens or decorate your home with indoor plants, as the VEND Market Place on Sandgate Road holds its One Day Plant Sale.

Turn up at this urban greenhouse at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, the 15th of June, to bag a bargain of lush and lovely plants. This store will be stacked like a jungle with its wide selection, which will include some rare species.

Most plants on sale will start from $12. As an exciting bonus, there will be hidden animal figures around the store and if you find one, you’ll get to bring home a plant for FREE!

*Photo Credit: VEND Market Place, Greenhouse and Cafe/Facebook*

This is a dog-friendly event so go ahead and bring your furry friends when you shop. Food trucks will be parked at the venue so you can grab some bite or drinks in between hauling your purchases.

The One Day Plant Sale will remain open until 4:00 p.m. so there’s plenty of time to find what you like for your garden or home.

Why Buying or Dropping Off Used Goods at the Geebung Tip Shop is a Rewarding Experience

Do you know what Geebung locals do to help save the Earth? If you drop by Prosperity Place during the weekend, you’ll find a crowd either buying used goods or dropping off their second-hand items to donate at the Geebung Tip Shop.

This charity recycling discount store has an enormous selection of books, artworks, houseware, furnishing, old clothes and shoes, children’s items and toys, sporting equipment and other tools, and decent collectibles that have no more use for other people.

But as they say, someone’s trash can be someone else’s treasure, and there are heaps of these at this huge warehouse.

Items sold at the Geebung Tip Shop might be second-hand but these are still in good working condition. The store also ensures that the donations are clean and still useful. Instead of going to the landfills to rot and waste away, these things can still benefit a lot of families, especially those looking for a bargain.

*Photo Credit: Geebung Tip Shop/Facebook*

Open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday, Geebung Tip Shop is managed by the Endeavour Foundation, a long-standing organisation that supports people with intellectual disability.

So, when you buy stuff at the Tip Shop, you’re not just helping reduce landfill waste where many second-hand items go. Essentially, you’re also supporting a group that cares for the health and well-being of disadvantaged individuals. The profit from the store funds the services the foundation renders for its beneficiaries like life skills training and therapy.

Thus, shopping or donating at the Geebung Tip Shop can be rewarding in three ways:

You’re helping reduce clutter in your home and at the landfills.
You’re helping individuals with a disability.
You’re scoring a bargain and saving money.

Get Brisbane’s Best Babycino at This Cafe in Wavell Heights

Photo Credit: Cafe Noma/Facebook

Want some 10 minutes of peace and quiet whilst dining with your kids? Bring your little ones to a kid-friendly cafe like the Cafe Noma at Wavell Heights, where they can enjoy their own cup of babycino.

Cafe Noma, one of the best child-friendly cafes in Brisbane, serves the best babycinos in town.

A babycino sounds like espresso shots for tots, but there’s nothing to worry about any of its content or ingredient since it’s just basically frothy milk sprinkled with powdered chocolate.

The cafe’s babycino is best paired with a freshly made muffin or a serving of warm bacon and egg wrap. Or when you need the extra energy to beat ‘mum burnout,’ try their eggs Benedict with crispy bacon and homemade tasty hash browns.

Their vegetarian and gluten-free menu includes options like the avocado spread over Turkish bread with feta, Spanish onion, fresh lime and dukkah. Then for kids, they serve churros, fruit salad and yoghurt, and pancakes with ice cream.

In addition to being kid-friendly, this cafe is also pet-friendly so your buddies are always welcome to dine with you. Enjoy your coffee whilst your pet waits for some in-house doggy treats. Water bowls will also be provided at the cafe.

Cafe Noma is located at 159 Hamilton Road, Wavell Heights and serves breakfast and lunch seven days a week. They are open from 6:00 am to 2:30 pm on weekdays and 7:00 am to 2:00 pm on weekends.

For more information about Cafe Noma, check out their website or follow them on Facebook.

Unwind at Retroespresso, a Red-and-Black-Themed Cafe in Wavell Heights

At the corner of Edinburgh Castle Road in Wavell Heights is this attractive red-and-black-themed cafe called Retrospresso. Located just 12 kilometres from Brisbane CBD, this coffee house is not just a local favourite but also a convenient dining place for many commuters.

Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, Retroespresso baristas start their day early at 5:00 in the morning. Locals easily fill up the tables to order coffee with their usual and always satiating brekkie choices like banana bread, avocado on sourdough, or toast filled with gourmet fruit while other people drop in to order their takeaway wraps along with their preferred beverage.

The cafe and bar also serve vegetarian meals and gluten-free beer options.

The place has both indoor and outdoor seating so there’s plenty of room for its diners but Retroespresso also has a lovely courtyard seating on its second floor, which makes unwinding even more pleasurable.

This is a dog-friendly cafe and there are water bowls outside and at the courtyard.

“What a little gem! Great light breakfast options for a quick, cheap and easy meal! The bagel was light and freshly made. The huge mug of coffee was exactly what I needed! There are also heaps of lunch options available as well! Thanks for the nice surprise, I certainly recommend this joint.”
~ Melinda Jenny May Salter, via Zomato

“Been going to this coffee shop for the last few months, service has been excellent, and the staff always friendly. Have always enjoyed the coffee. They have a good selection of cafe style food and today I had one of their brownies which was possibly one of the best I’ve had in a long time. Access and parking is easy. Opening hours are awesome to especially for myself who does shift work in the area.”
~ Go657753, via Tripadvisor

We had a 21st Birthday party on the weekend at Retroespresso and it was the perfect venue. The court yard upstairs is covered and the area is very private and cosy. We were able to decorate the space with lights and balloons.Serena was so helpful during all of the planning process and on the night of the party. Everything was so well organised and our party goers had a wonderful time. The food was also of a high standard. A big Thank you to Serena and her team. We were 100% satisfied with every aspect of of our party. We would highly recommend a party at this venue.
~ Claire Bell, via Facebook