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Youth Who Stayed at Bald Hills Homeless Shelter Graduates from QUT

Dylia* was 16 years old when she ran away from home. She was fortunate enough to have found refuge at a Bald Hills shelter that provides crisis accommodation and emergency housing for young people. At Carinity Orana, she found a “very positive environment” where she got the support and encouragement to turn her life around.

While at the Bald Hills centre, Dylia was able to complete a course in business studies that led to her acceptance at the Queensland University of Technology, where she has received her dual degree in Social Work and Justice.

Coincidentally, Dylia, now 23, received her diploma during National Homelessness Week.

The young woman still has a vivid recollection of the hand-written letter given to her by the Carinity Orana staff when she moved out to finish a degree.

“We know that you will continue to move forward and we know that you have the determination to make things happen for yourself,” those were some of the encouraging words in the letter.

Dylia was a resident of Carinity Orana for four months. Despite the short period, the staff made her feel that she could achieve something with her life.

“They were never judgemental, and I never felt I had been shamed about my life choices,” said Dylia. “I was trying to figure myself out. I was 16. I had only recently run away from home. They helped me to open up and figure out what I want to do with my life.”

*Photo Credit: Supplied*. Carinity Orana Program Manager Dave McNair with former managers Nikki Brown, Helen Ford and Kim Bertwhistle at the house which has accommodated around 6,000 homeless youths.

“If you can overcome homelessness, you’ve already done something incredibly difficult,” Dylia added. “If you want to take up a passion or become a doctor, you’re no less talented than anyone else. You are no less deserving of working towards a dream or goal than anyone else.”

For 40 years, Carinity Orana has been helping homeless people between 16 to 21 years old through develop new social networks, secure education, counselling, training, employment, or find more permanent accommodation. Residents usually stay a maximum of six months before they moved to long-term accommodation.

For enquiries or to support the shelter through donations phone (07) 3261 3969 or visit their official site.

* Name has been changed for privacy reasons.

How Emily Seebohm Helped Kaylee McKeown Win Gold at the Tokyo Olympics

It’s Kaylee McKeown’s first Olympics game and she went for the gold and got it, clinching the top spot in the women’s 100-metre backstroke final at the Tokyo Olympics. The 20-year-old Redcliffe swimmer was nervous going into the race but four-time Olympian and Bracken Ridge local Emily Seebohm, who finished fifth, helped her fend off the nerves.

Seebohm, 29, has had talks with McKeown about her experience and gave the younger Olympian guidance and advice on how to fend off the nerves. When McKeown won first place, Seebohm swam to her to embrace her in the water.

During the press conference, Seebohm said McKeown did “effing special” whilst the latter said she hopes to reach Seebohm’s standard one day.

Highlights

Kaylee McKeown, 20, won gold at the women’s 100-metre backstroke final at the Tokyo Olympics.
Her idol, four-time Olympian Emily Seebohm, 29, also swam at the race and landed 5th place.
Seebohm, who nurtured the young swimmer, said McKeown did “effing special” at the race.

When McKeown was eight, she watched a 15-year-old Emily Seebohm win two gold medals as a first-timer at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Seebohm is one of her idols, according to her sister, Taylor McKeown, who also swam with Bracken Ridge’s pride at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Taylor also said that Seebohm has been nurturing towards her sister in fulfilling her Olympic dream.

Passing the Baton

In a way, it was as if Seebohm was handing over the baton to McKeown. Tokyo Olympics could be Seebohm’s last.

In 2015, the swimmer had a knee injury from riding a horse and had been struggling with endometriosis before the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. Seebohm has also gone public with her eating disorders.

Her appearance at the Tokyo Olympics surprised some but she was determined to return after missing out at the FINA 2019 World Championships.

Seebohm once said she plans on retiring after her fourth Olympics. Only a handful of Australian Olympians have had opportunities to make four stints. However, since the next one is just three years off, she’s considering her options and asking herself if she would still compete at 32.

Emily Seebohm’s Accomplishments

Emily Jane Seebohm, born in 1992 in Adelaide, moved with her family to Brisbane when she was a toddler. The Bracken Ridge local went to St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School and St John Fisher College.

At age 14, Seebohm demonstrated her backstroke prowess at the 2007 Australian Championships. A year later, she became the one to watch at the Australian Championships, the Commonwealth Games, and the Olympics.

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Following her impressive performance at various international competitions in her teens, Seebohm was given the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2009. In 2016, Brisbane opened the Emily Seebohm Aquatic Centre in Fitzgibbon.

Seebohm continues to collect medals by representing Australia at various international relays. Until McKeown’s latest win, her personal best time for backstroke (58.23) was unbroken by any Australian swimmer.

Residents Thumb Down 5-Storey Developments in Sandgate Neighbourhood Plan

Following the release of the amended Sandgate Neighbourhood Plan draft, residents have united to oppose the proposed construction of five-storey buildings in the bayside village.

If approved, Sandgate residents fear that the tall buildings in a mostly single and double-storey landscape would alter the area completely. Members of the Protect Sandgate’s Character community group have come up with a mock-up scale of the 5-storey buildings against the existing surround.

“These images do not illustrate building design (that’s entirely up to the developers), but instead illustrate the SCALE of the buildings that are allowed for in the draft plan, by showing the space in which buildings could be built,” Neil McCrossin said.

“These images make much clearer to us the building heights in the draft plan for the Lagoon St sub-precinct. Is this good for the historical suburb of Sandgate?”

In a petition on Brisbane City Council’s official site, the residents stated their reasons for rejecting the Sandgate Neighbourhood Plan draft:

To protect the appearance of one of the entry points (Rainbow Street) for residents and visitors to the Historic Sandgate shopping village.
To protect our unique Historic Bayside Village identity and lifestyle of over 100 years of history.
To protect our heritage and character of commercial and residential buildings which are integral to the community village feel of low-level buildings and architecture with 360-degree views, no matter where you stand.
To protect our fragile environment, wildlife, lagoons, wetlands, parklands and waterfront from pollution and overpopulating such a small area.
To protect Residents and visitors alike from overshadowing, while preserving the exceptional views, right to privacy, unobstructed sunlight and natural sea breezes.
To prevent major problems with traffic congestion, parking, public transport, pollution, flooding issues, overfull schools. The safety of residents and children must come first with the problems this would raise in an already built-up Historical village.

Nearly 500 residents have signed the petition as of press time.

Protect Sandgate Character members said that they are not against changes and have mostly agreed that the medical hub included in the plan would benefit the community. However, the group said that they want the changes to “incorporate the history of the area, and enhance the lives of people of Sandgate” by giving value to the suburb’s natural environment and open green spaces.

The plan’s draft is under review with Council and the Queensland Government after submissions for community feedback have been closed on 21 June. Should the plan go ahead, Council expects to adopt the changes by late 2021 or early 2022.

Visit the official site for updates.

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.