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There’s Something for Everyone at the Einbunpin Festival in Sandgate

Preparations are nearly set for one of the largest community events in North Brisbane, where there’s something for every visitor. It’s all systems go for the Einbunpin Festival to be held at the lagoon and parkland on Brighton Road in Sandgate.

Happening on Sunday, 25 July 2021, the Einbunpin Festival pools the artistic talents of the locals and the vibrancy of the Sandgate community. As with previous events, hundreds of stalls will be lined up at the park, whilst entertaining performances, games and activities will be underway from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The annual event, mounted for the last 28 years with the support of the Sandgate & Bracken Ridge Action Group and the Brisbane City Council, is a wonderful opportunity for discovering good food, treasures and great finds from local artisans and musical talents. It’s also an exciting chance to catch up with the residents.

Eibunpin is based on magical winter creatures that live in the lagoon and come out during winter’s first dark moon and then disappear after August’s first full moon. A German missionary named Christopher Eipper found out about their existence in 1840 among the Aborigines of the Turrbal tribe living around the Sandgate lagoon, where there was an abundance of tuberous roots for food. He claimed that he heard the tribes refer to something in the lagoon as a Bun Yun Pin or Yin Pin Bun.

“Ein in EinBunPin is German and so today we have a word that is part aboriginal and part German that we now broadly interpret as the lagoon where one gathers roots,” local Jeff Cheyne revealed and described the Bunpins as naughty and mischievous creatures that dress up in flower petals and leaves, flying from tree to tree.

Meanwhile, the festival program and the stallholder or food vendor showcase have not yet been revealed but you can follow the updates on the official site or the Facebook page.

Kerbside Collection Returns to Geebung and Others After Hiatus

Mark your calendars! Kerbside collection is returning to Brisbane one year after the service went on hiatus, and Aspley and Geebung are among the suburbs due to receive the service in October and November.

After a yearlong hiatus, kerbside collection is finally returning to Brisbane in a slew of suburbs — two of which includes Aspley and Geebung. The service was brought back early after the Brisbane City Council was able to save $6 million across 2020-2021. Geebung residents can expect to see the service return to the suburb starting the 18th of October 2021, whereas Aspley residents will receive the service on the 22nd of October 2021.

Kerbside collection has been a regular Council service created to help people get rid of large household items that would be difficult to dispose of otherwise. All one has to do is leave the belongings they no longer want on the kerbside at 6:00 a.m.

Acceptable items include bath and laundry tubs, bicycles and sporting equipment, carpets and rugs, furniture, household appliances, and wood products smaller than 1.5 metres among many other things. Conversely, bricks, car parts, garden waste, glass and mirrors, hazardous waste, and liquids will not be collected.

Labor councillors worked to have the popular service return as it was a basic and essential service that many Brisbane residents relied on. However, Lord Mayor Schrinner had commented that he had no regrets putting the service on hold.

The service was paused in 2020 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic in a bid to save $13 million over two years, however it is returning ahead of schedule, starting with the suburbs that were affected by its sudden hiatus.

Of the $6 million saved as a result of Kerbside Collection’s temporary cancellation, half was given to community groups, charities and sporting clubs to recover from the pandemic and prosper. Business fee waivers were also given to small businesses that were negatively affected by the virus.

Kerbside collection is scheduled to return to the following suburbs at the following dates:

Brighton, Deagon, Sandgate and Talgum: September 13, 2021
Shorncliffe: October 4, 2021
Boondall, Zillmere and Virginia: October 11, 2021
Geebung: October 18, 2021
Aspley: November 22, 2021

For more information, read about the service here.

PCYC Sandgate to Host 7th Brisbane Cadet Games

Cadets from all disciplines across Queensland are converging at PCYC Sandgate for the 7th Brisbane Cadet Games, an annual event celebrating the physical skills, problem-solving abilities and camaraderie of the different Police-Citizens Youth Clubs in the region.

Happening on Saturday, 19 June 2021, on Kemper Street, the Brisbane Cadet Games will include participants from the PCYC Queensland Emergency Services Cadets, Rural Fire Service, Surf Life Saving Queensland, Australian Army Cadets, Royal Australian Air Force Cadets, Australian Navy Cadets and Military Cadets. Hundreds of cadets will be competing for the title of the Ultimate Cadet Crew.

A separate Cadet Games will also take place in Townsville on Saturday, 17 July 2021. The competitions expect to welcome 246 cadets at both events, whilst 60 personnel from the emergency and defence services have volunteered to judge the games.

“The Cadet Games represent the ultimate gathering of cadets from all disciplines, many of whom travel from all over Queensland. At this year’s Townsville Games we even have our first all-female team coming from Thursday Island!” PCYC Queensland Emergency Services Cadets Program Manager, Storm Richter, said.

PCYC Emergency Services Cadets (ESC) Wolffdene Coordinator, Suzanne Bernard, said that the cadet program gives young people a safe and inclusive space where they can develop their leadership abilities and life skills.

“A lot of cadets go on to pursue a career in the Emergency Services, so it is really exciting to see them interacting with the very people they aspire to be!” Ms Bernard said.

To learn more bout the cadets program, email PCYC Queensland‘s coordinator Emily Dowling-Mentz at emily.dowlingmentz@pcyc.org.au. Follow the PCYC Facebook page for updates on its activities.

First Slabs Completed at Carseldine Village Terrace Homes

Construction works on Carseldine Village, a 100% solar-powered residential and aged care development in north Brisbane, have begun.

Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development Steven Miles visited the construction site with the home buyers in the last week of May 2021, setting off some excitement for the project’s eventual completion.

“It’s exciting to see the first slabs completed as we build more innovative and affordable homes for Queenslanders,” the minister said. “This will support around 60 construction jobs for the first 53 terrace homes in Stage 1, with more stages and more jobs to come.”

Future Carseldine Village homeowners Aldridge and Miranda Joseph said that they are delighted to see their house taking shape.

“It’s one thing to see the house and land on paper, but another to be able to see it being built,” Aldridge said. “Our daughter bought a home in Fitzgibbon Chase, a previous Economic Development Queensland project, so Carseldine Village sparked our interest.”

Carseldine Village is one of Queensland’s pioneering zero energy emission residential developments, which means that the homeowners will be able to save a lot on their power bills. It’s been estimated that residents could shave off $1,600 a year on their electricity.

Sandgate District Neighbourhood Plan Now Up for Community Feedback

Did you know that the Sandgate District Neighbourhood Plan is currently being updated and community consultation will be open until June? Have your say!

The Sandgate District Neighbourhood Plan, which encompasses suburbs such as Sandgate, Deagon, Shorncliffe and Brighton, is a project dedicated to ensuring that Brisbane residents are close to the services they need to live the lifestyle they want.

The plan, which is currently in the draft phase, was prepared by the Brisbane City Council based on community feedback and technical reviews of the area. Current comments and suggestions as of May 2021 have led to the following plans for improvement:

With the new draft plan, opportunities will be provided for mixed industry and business uses in Rainbow St, and attempts will be made to balance the protection of low-density character properties with providing housing choice close to the Sandgate railway station.

The draft neighbourhood plan proposes modifications to city plan overlays to protect commercial character buildings, heritage buildings, pre-1911 buildings and traditional buildings — all to preserve character and heritage in the area.

One Facebook post by Councillor Jared Cassidy beseeched the Sandgate community to have their say by emailing the project team or attending planner sessions to share their input. He also encouraged locals to make submissions via their website, City Plan Online. Feedback will be closed on Monday the 21st of June 2021.

Those interested in making their submissions and having their voices heard can follow the instructions listed in the Facebook post above. For more information, read about the Sandgate District Neighbourhood Plan via the Brisbane City Council’s website here.

Latest Hallmark Movie ‘Hearts Down Under’ Filmed in Shorncliffe

Did you know that “Hearts Down Under”, one of the latest movies by The Hallmark Channel, was filmed in Shorncliffe and Sandgate?

Originally scheduled for a May release, “Hearts Down Under”, also known as “Romance on the Menu”, served as the debut film of Australian director Rosie Lourde.

The film stars Canadian actress Cindy Busby and Australian actor Tim Ross, who play the characters Caroline and Simon respectively, with the backdrops of Brisbane coastal suburbs Shorncliffe and Sandgate serving as the setting for the film.

The plot of the film kicks off after Caroline, a restauranteur from New York City, moves “down under” to the fictional town of Lemon Myrtle Cove, Australia after discovering she had inherited the quaint and beloved Seagull Cafe from her aunt. She was faced with the choice of selling the cafe or to keep it running, seeing as it was well-loved by the local community.

In time, Caroline finds herself cosying into the idea of settling in town after falling in love with the cafe, the town, and its inhabitants — especially its chef, Simon. Director Rosie Lourde took full advantage of some of the gorgeous backdrops offered by Shorncliffe.

In fact, Lourde had even remarked that seeing photographs of Shorncliffe’s piers was what motivated her to have the film take place in Australia instead. Initial plans were to have filming in America, however after a quick trip to the coastal suburb, she was convinced that Australia was the perfect setting.

Other noteworthy backdrops include The Hamptons in Hendra, which served as the filming location for the fictional Seagull Cafe. Village scenes, on the other hand, were filmed in various sites all throughout Shorncliffe and Sandgate.

Those interested in watching “Hearts Down Under” can catch it on The Hallmark Channel on Tuesday the 1st of June 2021 at 6:00 p.m./5:00p.m.

Wallflower Expands, Opens New Shop in Deagon

The popular Sandgate flower shop Wallflower has recently expanded, opening their second-ever store in Deagon.

On Saturday the 24th of April 2021, Wallflower held a special celebration to commemorate the grand opening of their second store located along Braun St, Deagon. Their new store officially opened its doors to the Brisbane public at 8:00 a.m.

Wallflower provides its customers with flowers and floral decorations, specialising in large installations, bouquets, curtains and corner pieces for weddings, corporate functions, parties, and other commemorative events. The flower shop takes great pride in its wild and whimsical style, however they also offer more traditional decorations.

Flowers aren’t the only products available at Wallflower. The Deagon store also offers a range of potted plants and succulents, and even accessories like earrings with nature or outdoor motifs also available for purchase.

On top of these flowers, the shop sells candles both large and small — hand-poured with natural coconut soy wax, which is non-toxic, eco-friendly and slow burning. A variety of high quality fragrance oils can also be purchased to complement these candles to provide homes with floral scents and aromas.

The new Wallflower store can be found at 132 Braun St, Deagon, open Monday to Saturday from 8:00 a.m. onwards. For more information, visit their website here. Follow their social media pages on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates and other special announcements.

Fitzgibbon Prepares for Opening of New Holy Spirit College in 2022

A new Catholic high school in Fitzgibbon is preparing to welcome its first batch of students for the January 2022 school opening as the construction of Holy Spirit College, located on the site of a former golf driving range, is ongoing.

Stirling Hinchliffe MP announced that Holy Spirit College received $1.3 million in funds from the State Government under the Non-State School Capital Assistance Grants. The money will be used for more construction work on the external infrastructure and to pay for related Council headwork charges.

The new school will consist of several blocks of classrooms in buildings that are one to three floors high. The blocks also have a music and performance hall, a sports centre, a cafe and the campus piazza.

Photo Credit: Brisbane Catholic Education

Some 96 Year 7 co-ed students are expected to attend the school in its inaugural year whilst applications have been opened for the next three years (2023, 2024 and 2025). Enrolments are currently accepted at the school’s temporary office at Unit 2, The Clock Corner 521 Beams Road in Carseldine.

Holy Spirit College will be the 147th school under Brisbane Catholic Education. It was named after the Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters who founded Zillmere’s St Flannan’s School in 1953. The congregation has done various ministries in education, pastoral work and health care in north Brisbane.

“At Holy Spirit College, we aim to educate our students with an appreciation of the spiritual as well as the intellectual and physical aspects of their lives. We strive to work with our parents/carers to produce young people of faith and character,” Stephan le Roux, the school principal said in a statement on the school’s website.

“We strive to create an environment that puts the student at the centre and where that student supported by dedicated teaching staff and tremendous community spirit. As a team, we are looking forward to developing further, the learning and teaching opportunities that will engage our students and build our teaching tools to deliver a dynamic and progressive curriculum.”

For enquires, phone 07 3375 8500 or email the school administration at secondaryfitzgibbon@bne.catholic.edu.au

Rockpool Reveals New Plans for $43-M Carseldine Aged Care Facility

The residential aged care provider Rockpool is currently in the midst of planning an all-new, eco-friendly aged care facility in Carseldine — one that is estimated to cost a total of $43 million.

Rockpool Residential Aged Care aims to create the first 5-star Green Star rated aged care community in Australia by working with the Queensland State Government to set up a new facility in Carseldine Urban Village, a zero energy emission community.

The proposed aged care facility, which will be six storeys high and capable of housing up to 150 residents, can be split into five separate communities optimised for small-scale living. Each of these communities will contain 30 beds for its residents, a lounge area, and a dining area.

Due to the smaller size of each room, in tandem with their separation to create unique communities, they make for environments reminiscent of traditional homes. Though the facility itself will be large, the residents will still be close.

Render of the proposed aged care facility.
Photo credit: Rockpool

The six-storey development, if approved, will be built from the ground up, with costs reaching a total $43 million. Construction alone is estimated to bring in 120 new jobs to the local community, scheduled to begin in May 2021 and finishing sometime in October 2022.

Carseldine Urban Village can be found at 532 Beams Rd, Carseldine. To learn more about Rockpool Residential Aged Care, visit their website. Follow their Facebook page for the latest updates and announcements concerning their proposed facility.

Zillmere Property Market: House Median Price Rises to $500,000

Interstate buyers looking to settle in Brisbane now have Zillmere on their radar, pushing this northern suburb’s house median price to rise to $500,000. Real estate experts have said that the interest in Zillmere has been astounding, with inquiries increasing following the pandemic.

At the end of 2020, Zillmere was one of the last Brisbane suburbs where investors could affordably buy a house for less than half a million dollars. However, the property market boom during the first quarter of 2021 has recently pulled this suburb’s numbers up by $40,000, joining Richlands in the $500,000 threshold.

The remaining suburbs getting to close to the half a million mark are Durack ($490,000), Ellen Grove ($484,750), Fitzgibbon ($469,000), and Forest Lake ($469,000).

Industry experts said that buyers coming from Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney get more for their property investments in Zillmere by first putting up the house for rent, and then eventually moving in. This is great news for homeowners who were not expecting their Zillmere houses, bought nearly a decade ago, would gain in the property market.

A lot has changed in Zillmere in the last 10 years as well, especially in terms of safety and liveability. Per Domain.com.au, this suburb has improved in terms of education, walkability and coastal lifestyle.

Today, it’s very appealing to average families who are looking for charming wood houses with decent space for a nice front lawn or a beautiful garden backyard. The suburb is roughly 16 kilometres away from the CBD, close to businesses for basic necessities.