A local man in his twenties was taken to hospital following a dramatic single-vehicle crash that left a car engulfed in flames at a busy Wavell Heights intersection early Saturday morning.
Emergency crews were called to the corner of Bilsen Road and Edinburgh Castle Road just before 6:30am on 26 July, where they discovered a vehicle that had rolled over and caught fire after colliding with a parked car.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services worked to extinguish the blaze while paramedics assessed the driver, who sustained minor injuries in the incident. The man was transported to Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital in a stable condition.
The early morning timing meant fewer people were around to witness the dramatic scene, though the vehicle fire would have been visible to residents in the surrounding streets.
Queensland Ambulance Service confirmed they responded to the incident along with fire crews, ensuring the injured driver received prompt medical attention despite the challenging circumstances presented by the vehicle fire.
The crash serves as a reminder for local motorists to exercise caution, particularly during the quieter early morning hours when visibility may be reduced and roads less busy.
A pedestrian bridge on Cressey Street in Wavell Heights has been officially named the Eileen Green Crossing, following Brisbane City officials’ approval and strong community support.
In the early 1970s, Eileen Jean Green began advocating for a pedestrian bridge to connect the two sections of Cressey Street in Wavell Heights. Despite being initially declined, she continued her efforts with different officials until the authorities approved and built a wooden footbridge in 1973.
This bridge served the community for over four decades before being replaced with a steel and concrete structure in 2017, now regularly used by local residents.
A petition was launched in 2025 to officially name the bridge after Eileen Green, recognising her role in its creation and her contributions to the Wavell Heights community over 60 years. BCC approved the request on 12 June 2025, with installation of the new signage scheduled to be completed within two months. The petition, supported by 171 signatures, highlighted Eileen’s lasting legacy and community involvement.
Ceremony Held to Unveil Signage
On 5 July 2025, a naming ceremony was held on the western side of the bridge. The event was attended by family, friends, residents, and local representatives. The official signage reading Eileen Green Crossing was unveiled by her husband, Alan Green, and son, Daryl Green, in front of attendees.
Lasting Community Tribute
The crossing now bears the name of a long-standing Wavell Heights resident who passed away in August 2016 at age 81. Eileen Green is remembered for her active role in local community matters and is survived by her husband, two sons, and grandchildren.
Two students from Wavell Heights have earned their place in Queensland’s elite 16–18 years schoolboys rugby league squad, selected to represent the state at the national championships in Coffs Harbour.
Wavell State High School is again proving to be a key nursery for Queensland rugby league talent. Senior players Jared Horne and Sangstar-Saulala Figota were selected in the final squad after strong showings during the state championships held in May.
Although Horne was later ruled out of the competition, his initial selection alongside Figota highlights the continued impact of Wavell SHS’s rugby league program.
Both players have been part of the high-performance Langer Trophy school competition, widely recognised as one of the most competitive rugby league school leagues in the country. Figota, now signed to the Dolphins after previously being in the Roosters academy, has been one of Wavell SHS’s standout leaders this year. Known for his footwork and composure, the 18-year-old continues to grow as a versatile outside back.
Jared Horne, a highly regarded forward and Broncos-contracted player, was a core part of the Wavell SHS side during the Langer Trophy season and was also named in the initial Queensland squad. Despite being unavailable for this week’s tournament, his development through the Wavell system remains a talking point for school and club rugby circles.
Big Stage for the Next Generation
Wavell State High School’s rugby league program has a long tradition of developing players for the next level, with more than 40 former students progressing to the NRL or NRLW ranks. Its role in preparing students for representative honours, like the Australian Secondary Schools Rugby League (ASSRL) National Championships, reflects the sporting culture embedded in Wavell Heights.
Queensland’s squad — made up of the top-performing players from schools across the state — kicked off their ASSRL National Championship campaign on Saturday, July 12 at Coffs Harbour International Stadium. The tournament brought together the best schoolboy talent from across Australia, offering many players a springboard into future NRL careers.
With live matches streamed through KommunityTV, families and supporters in Brisbane were able to follow the action closely, including Wavell Heights locals eager to see homegrown talent compete on a national stage.
Our Lady of the Angels’ School in Wavell Heights has emerged as one of the top performers at the 2025 Brisbane Catholic Education (BCE) Rugby 7s Carnival, finishing the season with strong results across two key divisions.
The school claimed the Under 10 Boys Division 2 title, showcasing impressive skill and teamwork from its youngest players. In the Under 12 Girls Division 2, the Wavell Heights students secured a joint runner-up finish alongside St William’s School, Grovely, capping off a solid performance in this year’s expanded carnival.
Photo credit: Our Lady of the Angels’ School, Wavell Heights/Facebook
The annual BCE Rugby 7s Carnival, which wrapped up recently, was the biggest yet, with more than 1,600 students from across 146 Catholic schools participating in regional competitions throughout south-east Queensland.
“We’ve also seen a surge in female players bringing new energy and skill to the field,” said BCE School Operations and Programs Lead Greg Casey said.
“A huge congratulations to every school, student, and coach involved and we hope to see you all back on the field in 2026,” Mr Casey added.
Photo credit: Our Lady of the Angels’ School, Wavell Heights/Facebook
He adds “I would like to thank Queensland Rugby Union for their support”.
“None of this would be possible without the Queensland Rugby Union who have supported BCE to bring this carnival to life since 2019,” he said.
“I would also like to thank our five regional co-ordinators for the organisation of these events.”
The Brisbane North regional matches were hotly contested, and Our Lady of the Angels’ results reflect a growing culture of sport and school spirit at the Wavell Heights campus.
The carnival, which has been running since 2019 with the support of Queensland Rugby Union, is set to return in 2026, continuing its mission to develop young talent and foster sportsmanship across Catholic schools.
Wavell Heights played host to a full day of school rugby league on 3 June 2025, as Wavell State High School faced Ipswich State High School in six matches during its annual Homecoming celebration.
The event featured six matches across key schoolboy divisions: Brisbane Broncos Old Boys Shield (Year 7), Renouf Shield (Year 8), Hancock Cup (Year 9), Walters Cup (Year 10), Langer Reserves, and Langer Trophy. Students, families and alumni filled the sidelines at Wavell Heights to support the teams.
Each match provided a strong contest, with Ipswich SHS — the first Langer school to compete across all Broncos-backed divisions — offering a serious challenge.
Kauri Pene was outstanding in defence and effort areas. Fullback Lachlan Duggan was a constant threat with darting runs. Roman Tetevano created a try and scored one himself. Ryda Roberts finished a clean backline movement. Noah Rawenata powered through a 15m effort to score. Elijah Unasa carried strongly before being met with a heavy front-on tackle. Strickland Rutene featured in the sweeping backline set that led to a try.
Renouf Shield (Year 8)
Wavell fell to Ipswich in a high-scoring contest.
Will Liku fought hard in the middle, especially late. Hudson Elliott helped steer the side from halfback. D Cherry and P Faafua both crossed for tries. M Shephard landed a goal.
Hancock Cup (Year 9)
Wavell secured a 22–4 win with a strong forward effort.
Kalani Ford-Stevens led with post-contact metres. Murphy Ballin and Hayden Watts were physical and consistent. Tala Lui scored a key try before halftime. J Bell crossed as well. J Hotere added three conversions. The back five — Lui, Nagas, Beazley, Martin and Soutar — supported through defence and carries. Martin and Soutar also stopped a late Ipswich try.
Walters Cup (Year 10)
Wavell dominated 30–6.
Cruz Molo was explosive through the ruck. Aki Tupouniua added structure and control at five-eighth. Lennox Fakatani delivered intensity and high involvement. Mikaere Cleave opened the scoring with a grubber kick try. Bensen Manu muscled over with a powerful run. Maihi Pene threw a well-timed pass to set up a try. Silas Tohilima-Gardner scored twice on the wing. Ruben Webb made a key break that helped shift momentum.
Langer Reserves
Wavell narrowed a 20-point deficit late in the match.
Jai Pattinson was effective in defence and contact. Hayden Madders guided the team’s attack and almost scored late before injury. Isaac Lui was consistent across both halves. Darius Andrews scored as part of Wavell’s second-half resurgence.
Langer Trophy
Wavell opened their campaign with a 36–18 win.
Fullback Timahna Tandy posted 20 points from two tries and six goals. Charlie Webb defended bravely on debut. Dallas Davidson made impact through the middle. Captain Sangstar Figota led the squad on the day.
Wavell SHS’s depth across all year levels was evident throughout Homecoming. With 50 players recognised for their individual efforts, the school demonstrated strong development across its rugby league program. The results and performances set a solid tone for the remainder of the Langer Trophy season.
Junior athletes in Wavell Heights are set to benefit directly from a significant boost to their sporting resources, with the North Brisbane Junior Rugby Club Inc receiving approximately $4,100.00 specifically for new equipment.
This local injection of funds is part of a larger, state-wide initiative that has seen junior sporting clubs across Queensland share in a treasure chest worth over $160,000 for uniforms and equipment.
This broader program, a partnership between The Dickinson Foundation and the Australian Sports Foundation, has provided an average of around $3,000 to more than 50 clubs from Cairns to Longreach to the Gold Coast.
The funding aims to foster physical and mental well-being in children while easing financial pressures on families. David Dickinson, of The Dickinson Foundation, highlighted that their family’s donation, with about a third allocated to Queensland clubs, helps local clubs provide the necessary uniforms and equipment, ensuring young Australians feel included, stay active, and thrive in sport.
Sue Hunt, chief executive of the Australian Sports Foundation, emphasised the vital role of grassroots clubs in building healthier, happier communities.
She noted that these clubs are often under-resourced and expressed the foundation’s pride in working with partners and donors to offer practical support like uniforms and equipment, as well as tools for clubs to fundraise independently.
The North Brisbane Junior Rugby Club Inc, whose main assets and clubhouse are at Hugh Courtney Sports Ground in Wooloowin, is a family-oriented club dedicated to growing junior boy and girl participation and skills in rugby union.
The club trains children aged six to 18, striving to instil virtues of Strength, Courage, and Respect. In 2019, the club experienced a successful year, with 575 registered players across 43 teams, and notably won all four Division 1 Junior premierships.
The club depends on various fundraising efforts, including the North Brisbane Rugby Club Foundation, and grants for capital upgrades and improvements to its facilities and coaching programs. The recent grant for equipment will directly support their mission to provide a strong foundation for young rugby players in the community.
After a completed improvement project, Northgate residents can now enjoy a safer and more durable road verge on Cambage Road that addresses minor bonded asbestos fragments.
The project involved removing approximately 200mm of gravel and rocks from the verge that contained the asbestos material. The area has since been compacted and smoothed, and Council installed a new asphalt layer to enhance safety and durability.
Why the Work Was Needed
Photo Credits; Google Maps
The upgrade was necessary to ensure the long-term safety and quality of the road verge, specifically due to the minor asbestos contamination found. The site was treated as Class B asbestos contaminated, and strict measures were taken to minimise potential health risks.
Safety Measures in Place
Photo Credits; Google Maps
To ensure community and worker safety, a licensed asbestos contractor was on-site during the project’s first week to manage the asbestos material securely. Air quality monitors were also installed to check for any release of asbestos fibres during the work. Council has stated that the health risk to workers was considered extremely low, with no risk posed to nearby residents or anyone outside the designated work zone.
Completing these works means a significantly improved and safer road verge for the Northgate community. Council has thanked residents for their understanding and cooperation throughout the project. If the community has any further questions or concerns, they are encouraged to contact Council directly.
In Brisbane’s wealthiest postcodes, parents are learning that high property values and disposable income don’t always translate into high-quality early education. A recent review of 50 childcare centres across the city’s most affluent suburbs revealed a surprising disconnect between postcode prestige and childcare performance — but one suburb, Wavell Heights, is quietly setting a different standard.
Situated just north of Brisbane’s CBD, Wavell Heights has long been admired for its leafy streets, family-friendly vibe, and strong community spirit. Now, it’s making headlines for another reason: the exceptional quality of its childcare services.
While many high-income areas struggled to deliver top-tier ratings, Wavell Heights stood out, with three centres—Wavell Heights Kindergarten, Penola Casa, and Building Futures Montessori securing an Excellent rating — one of the highest possible under the KindiCare Quality Index.
Our daughter spent her Kindy year at WHK and we couldn’t have made a better decision sending her to WHK. The staff is very friendly, open and extremely caring for the kids. The education and play they are doing was always enjoyable and well organized. The children in her class room bonded very nicely and we are still in touch with them. We can 100% recommend this Kindy
Janett G
Penola Casa
Photo credit: Google Street View
91 Rode Rd, Wavell Heights KindiCare rating: 9.0
Of all the parenting decisions so far, putting our daughter into Penola has been the best one. It is an outstanding centre with a very big heart (and a HUGE new playground). The management and educators have been terrific, and they have very good staff longevity. It has been four wonderful years and we will greatly miss the Penola chapter in our lives!
A wonderful centre that has a ‘home away from home’ feel. The staff are very kind and nurturing, and deliver high quality Montessori educational programs. Our child is thriving at the centre and we are delighted to be part of the Building Futures Montessori community.
Samantha Dando
This independent national ranking draws on official government assessments and parent feedback, offering a snapshot of how well childcare providers are meeting the needs of young families.
In contrast to suburbs like Clayfield, where only one centre reached Excellent while others lagged behind, Wavell Heights is showing what’s possible when strong leadership, community engagement, and consistent quality standards come together.
These ratings don’t just reflect compliance with regulations; they signal environments where children are thriving, staff are supported, and families feel confident in their choice of care. It’s a notable achievement in a city where even premium suburbs aren’t guaranteed top performance.
Still, the suburb isn’t without its challenges. One of its services did receive the lowest possible rating of Fair, underscoring that even in top-performing areas, there’s room for improvement and vigilance is required.
Overall, Wavell Heights’ strong showing serves as a quiet reminder that quality doesn’t always follow the money and that communities investing in early education can deliver real value for their youngest residents, regardless of postcode prestige.
As Brisbane families weigh up their childcare options, Wavell Heights is proving that excellence is less about affluence, and more about getting the fundamentals right.
A 20-year-old Wavell Heights man was caught carrying a steak knife at a Chermside bus stop during a targeted police operation last week, raising concern among locals about the rise in weapons offences across Brisbane’s northern suburbs.
On Thursday, 8 May, Queensland Police ran Operation Xray Calculus, targeting property crime, weapons offences and antisocial behaviour across North Brisbane. Officers from multiple units patrolled busy spots like train stations and shopping centres.
Officers spoke with hundreds during the sweep, including a Wavell Heights man found with a concealed steak knife at a Chermside bus stop and he was charged. More than 500 vehicles were also checked at train stations to help prevent theft.
At a Stafford Heights home, police found $1,500 in stolen goods tied to retail thefts. An 18-year-old man and 19-year-old woman were charged over the shoplifting.
Police say operations like Xray Calculus keep pressure on offenders and maintain a strong presence in crime-prone areas. They aim to make public spaces safer and boost community confidence.
Brisbane Safe Patrols City Centre
The next night, 9 May, police hit the CBD with Operation Brisbane Safe. On Edward Street, foot and bike patrols found a Kangaroo Point man carrying a knife and a stolen bank card.
A total of seven people were charged during the city patrols, with offences ranging from possession of weapons to handling stolen property. Police said the initiative helped disrupt unwanted behaviour and reminded the public that high-visibility patrols are active across the city.
Police Say Visibility Helps Prevent Crime
Acting Chief Superintendent Simon Tayler said the recent operations reflect a broader effort to keep communities safe. He noted that police presence in public areas like shopping centres and train stations helps deter crime and gives residents reassurance.
He said local partnerships and community awareness help prevent repeat offences and spot at-risk individuals. More operations are planned based on crime trends and public feedback.
The 2025 Langer Trophy season is nearly here, and Wavell State High School is entering the competition with serious momentum. Known for producing top-tier rugby league talent, Wavell’s current crop is no exception—stacked with players who have thrived in elite junior systems and are ready to turn promise into performance.
With a blend of experience, emerging stars, and schoolboy rep pedigree, they are shaping up as one of the most well-rounded teams in the competition.
Photo credit: Wavell State High Rugby League/Facebook
Hayden Polson
A pillar of the Norths Devils Connell Cup side, Hayden Polson brings grunt and reliability to Wavell’s forward pack. Known for his high work rate and no-nonsense approach, Polson will be the Warriors’ go-to in the tough moments through the middle.
Timahna Tandy
The crafty half from the southern Darling Downs is one of Wavell’s most important players. After guiding Norths in the Connell Cup, Timahna Tandy returns as a composed playmaker with smart kicking, crisp passing, and outstanding goal-kicking accuracy.
Photo credit: Wavell State High Rugby League/Facebook
Hayden Madders
Madders will partner Tandy in the halves, bringing speed, vision, and a calm head. Having developed alongside his older brother Fynn—now a Norths hooker and Wavell alumni—Hayden has quietly built a strong all-round game and will be central to linking Wavell’s forwards and backs.
Billo Wotton
Year 11 centre Billo Wotton is ready to break through. A product of Palm Island and a Charters Towers Miners junior, Wotton’s development at Wynnum Manly under coach Jon Buchanan has refined his power, fitness, and aggression. Expect explosive runs and big defensive plays from this exciting young gun.
Devine Timu
Quick-footed and agile, Devine Timu showed his class for Wynnum Manly in the Connell Cup. The Year 12 outside back offers reliable finishing on the edge and can break games open with his pace. He’ll be a valuable asset in Wavell’s attacking arsenal.
Saia Papani
A 2024 Walters Cup Team of the Season second-rower, Papani has impressed with his boundless energy and work rate. His stint with Redcliffe during the Connell Cup gave him valuable experience, and whether starting or off the bench, he’s guaranteed to bring impact.
Boston Nau
Only in Year 11, Boston Nau is already well known in rugby league circles. After a strong Connell Cup campaign with Norths and a Queensland schoolboys rep season in 2024, Nau enters the Langer Trophy with confidence and strong backing. Elusive, quick, and smart, he’s a handful for any defence and will light up the backline for Wavell.
Ruben Webb
Rounding out Wavell’s deep squad is Ruben Webb, another dependable contributor who adds balance and maturity. While others may grab headlines, Webb’s consistent presence will be crucial over the long haul of the season.
With a balanced mix of flair, experience, and emerging talent, Wavell SHS looks well-equipped for a strong run in this year’s Langer Trophy. Keep an eye on the Warriors—there’s every chance they’ll be marching deep into finals territory.
