Speed Awareness Monitors Installed At St Dympna’s Primary School

New speed awareness monitors (SAM) have been installed across Brisbane, including one at St Dympna’s Primary School in Aspley just in time for the start of the 2023 school year. 


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St Dympna’s Primary School has been chosen as one of the 22 locations for the SAM signs as part of the SAM for Schools program, to help create safer environments for students to travel to and from school. 

Like how it works in other locations across the city, the monitors will display a smiley face when vehicles are travelling at or below the speed limit. However, if vehicles are travelling above the posted speed limit, it will display the vehicle’s speed followed by a reminder to “slow down.”

Photo credit: St Dympna’s Primary School/Google Maps

Council considers some factors when assessing if a certain location will be suitable for the speed awareness monitors. Factors include:

  • visual impact on adjacent residents
  • obstructions such as trees and other traffic signs
  • clearance from driveways and infrastructure such as power poles, service pits and pipelines
  • clearance from power lines and lower-hanging communication cables
  • adequate sunlight for the monitor solar panels
  • separation between other traffic signs to ensure drivers have sufficient time to read messagesst 
Photo credit: Brisbane City Council/Facebook

All monitors are individually solar-powered and fitted with a Doppler radar. They are limited to measuring only a single approaching vehicle at a time within its radar range of 3 km/h to 255 km/h. 

At present, there are already 200 monitors in place across Brisbane and around 31 have been installed near schools. Council is planning to install 69 more over the next three years.

“Nothing is more important than kids’ safety and this is just one of the projects we’re investing in as part of our school safety initiatives,” said Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner. 


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The monitors have been placed to alert motorists with their speed and not to issue infringement notices. 

Come to the Fun Family Event at St Dympna’s Fair in Aspley

St Dympna’s Primary School’s annual family event is here again and families are invited to join in the fun, which will also help raise money for the programs of the school’s Parents and Citizens (P&C) Association.

Kicking off at 11:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, the 7th of Sept. 2019, on Robinsons Road,  the St Dympna’s Fair will feature a lineup of food and shopping stalls, carnival rides, sideshow games and attractions, raffle draws, and heaps of entertainment for every member of the family.

The event’s program schedule is as follows:  

11:00 a.m.Welcome
11:05 a.m.Mini Ballroom Dancers
11:15 a.m. St Dympna’s Talent Show Finals
11:45 a.m. First Golden Ticket Draw
12:00 p.m. Wild Encounters Reptile Show
1:00 p.m. Do Dance Academy Dancers
1:30 p.m.Dino Encounters
2:00 p.m. Nudgee College Rock Bands
2:45 p.m.Second Golden Ticket Draw
3:00 p.m.Nathan Kneen & the St Dympna’s School Choirs
3:45 p.m. ART UNION DRAW & Final Golden Ticket Draw
4.00 p.m.FAIR Closes


Whilst all the program is ongoing, Kids can look forward to race with their friends at the Dodgem Cars or challenge themselves at the Cavemen Capers inflatable obstacle course. Adventurous and fearsome children and parents alike can try the Bat Tower drop or Super Slide for a thrilling experience.

A spectacular Video Gaming Truck featured with five HD television, surround sound, and stadium seating will also be set up for 20 players at a time. Those who enjoy classic attractions, however, may ride the Merry-Go-Round or have uninterrupted fun at the Jumping Castle. 

Photo Credit: St Dympna’s Fair/Facebook
Photo Credit: St Dympna’s Fair/Facebook

The St Dympna’s Fair will also feature a cent auction, bookstalls, plant stalls and a second-hand corner shop for mums or dads looking to score a bargain. In between playing and shopping, families can fill-up and re-energise on food and drinks served by the fair’s volunteers, as well as these establishments: 



With so many things going on, you’ll need this map to know where every attraction goes:

Photo Credit: St Dympna’s Fair

To score tickets to this fair, complete the online form and wait for the distribution of the wristbands on Friday, the 6th of Sept. through your children. Or, you may collect your tickets on event day at the designated ticket stands.