Gotta Love Logan Edition 8 eNews

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Gotta Love Logan eNews

December 2015 MERRY CHRISTMAS LOGAN CITY

PHOTOGRAPHER DONNA LOWE

Features

IN THIS EDITION

A Spectacular Christmas on the hill Greenbank Scouts Award Skull Emporium Beenleigh’s Theatre Wonderland Night Bird Dreaming Rockabilly Riders bring Christmas Joy

Welcome to our eighth edition of the Gotta Love Logan e-Newsletter! We are so excited about our community based eNewsletter which is written by the community, about the community for the community! How good is that! If you have an idea for a story, please let us know! It can be about the history of a local business, community group, sports club or it could be about achievements or someone who has done something extraordinary in Logan!

Passionate Volunteers Hamper Visitors

Monthly Logan Pets for rehoming Garden Clippings Logan Look Back Councillors Corner Shannon Fentiman MP In My Opinion Community Snap Shots 2015

Gotta Love Logan would like to wish everyone in the City of Logan a very Merry Christmas and an exciting Happy New Year. Thank you all so much for your support and participation throughout 2015 and we look forward to working with you all again in 2016.

Take care and stay safe this holiday period.

WELCOME!

KEEP UPDATED

Our Community

Photograph: Donna Lowe and Kathleen de Leon

GOTTA LOVE LOGAN ENEWSLETTER | Issue 8

A Spectacular Christmas on the hill!

Themed in a dual Christmas perspective of a Winter Wonderland and an Aussie Bush Christmas, CityNet’s Christmas Spectacular, six weeks in the making, was the fourth event planned and created as part of the current work for the dole program run by the church.

By Stacey McIntosh

City Net Church at Holmview, brought Christmas to life with an Aussie Winter Wonderland Christmas Spectacular on Saturday 12th December, an event created and produced by the Church’s Work for the Dole (WFD) team.

Originally, an outdoor event, the team created and built a stage and amphitheater on the hill across the road, however continuing rain meant the evening had to be relocated back to the Church with the hall being transformed by the team, allowing the community to still come together and share the spirit of Christmas.

The afternoon kicked off at 2pm with fun activities for the family, including a jumping castle, animal farm, snow zone, face painting and Christmas craft activities and led into the evening with a Christmas Carol stage show and finishing with a fireworks display.

“Planning for these events empowers us, we learn a lot and it allows us to find a purpose and start to dream again. We start with a creative plan, everyone puts forward their ideas, a proposal is put to the church, our ideas are approved and then we put the plan in place”, explained JJ, a WFD participant.

“Where most events start with logistics, we took the team back to the creative process, allowing them to think out their ideas, for this event there was some wanting a Winter Wonderland Christmas theme and others wanting a Aussie theme, they had to put together their proposals and present to us, in the end it was too hard to decide so we combined the themes and have what you see before us tonight. They thought it, planned it, built it and here we are”, said Damien Hobson from CityNet. The next event for the WFD team will be a Valentine’s Day event.

The Church’s Christmas service will be held at 8am on Christmas Day for anyone wanting to attend.

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GOTTA LOVE LOGAN ENEWSLETTER | Issue 8

Community Snapshots

4 found all but one of the ones we set out to find! Logan has some of the best well maintained caches with many different ones to find! For further information email: logangeocaching@gmail.com

Citynet Church Winter wonderland Carols!

Crestmead Dog Park Friends Christmas Party!

What a wonderful community event. We went along to soak in some Christmas Spirit and thoroughly enjoyed the awesome activities including the baby animals and bouncing castle. The wonderful show/carols was very entertaining, particularly their version of the 12 days of Christmas!.

Fantastic effort. Congratulations Citynet Church.

Our second annual Crestmead Puppies Christmas party was once again a huge success! We have great communities in Logan City so for some fulfilling and fun social activities, get out and be part of your community!

Geocaching in Logan City!

Geocaching is alive and well in Logan City! We even have our own group who meet regularly at the Marsden Library.

On the Edge CafĂŠ On The Edge Charity want to thank Windaroo Primary School for donating Christmas hampers that have been distributed to our community. The On the Edge Cafe also feed the homeless and much more and run the Cafe to help support the community. So please drop in to the cafe located in George St Beenleigh (opposite McDonalds) and help support this community group. 100% profit goes back into the community. Find them on Facebook or their website. Check them out! They are still taking donations for Christmas which would be muchly appreciated.

So what is Geocaching.. Geocaching is a fun filled worldwide treasure hunt for the whole family. If you have a smart phone.. then you will be able to easily participate. My daughter chose to take her friends geocaching in Logan for her birthday.. and we had such a great time looking for the hidden treasure.. and we

Photographs: Kathleen de Leon

GOTTA LOVE LOGAN ENEWSLETTER | Issue 8

Along with these achievement badges, the Cubs must achieve 1 Special Interest Badge.

These Special Interest badges are in such areas as Water Wise, Local History or Landcare for example. The Cubs also need to develop and present a resource to the Pack for future use based on their understanding of the Jungle Book.

Greenbank Cub Scouts earns the Grey Wolf!

Recently, the Greenbank Tuesday Cub Scout Pack held a Grey Wolf celebration. What is a Grey Wolf Award? The Grey Wolf award is the highest award that a Cub Scout can achieve in the Cub Scout section. Achievement of this award is the culmination of 12 months of hard work. Cubs need to have achieved their Gold Boomerang, at least 4 Level 2 achievement badges in 4 different categories which helps extend their knowledge and experience across such areas as Art and Literature, Nature, Science and Technology, Sports and Recreation and Our World.

Finally, the Cubs have to Plan and Lead a bush walk of at least 2 hours duration with a Leader and a group of 3-6 fellow Cub Scouts. They need to ensure everyone has appropriate equipment, clothing, food and personal first aid kit. Our Grey Wolf hikes covered such areas as Tambourine Mountain rainforest walks and White Rock Conservation park.

Reese Laws, Lauren Wilcockson, Rebecca Hood and Max Murdock all worked extremely hard over the past 12 months to achieve this

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award and were very pleased to be presented their Badges in front of their fellow Cubs, Parents, Grandparents and Logan City Division 7 Councillor Laurie Smith.

Greenbank Scouts is the largest Scout Group in Queensland by Youth Member and run all Sections from the Greenbank Scout Den behind the Community Centre on Teviot Road. Youth are welcome from age 6 to 26 into the Youth sections. Interested Adults are welcome to join as Leaders. Please contact Gill Hall, Group Leader 0417 522 805

GOTTA LOVE LOGAN ENEWSLETTER | Issue 8

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Images supplied by Skull Emporium

Skull Emporium is a new shop that I have recently opened in Beenleigh. I have loved skulls formany years now. However, I noticed that there were 2 distinct types of skull camp.

One is the Halloween side, which can get very cartoonish at times, and the second is the gothic side which can get too dark and bloody at times. My tastes were somewhere in between, a touch of silly, a touch of darkness, and a whole lot of skulls.

I noticed that most stores only carried a small range of skull items. Once in a while you would be lucky enough to come across something unique in an unexpected place.

What was needed was someplace to go for all your skull needs at one location. And so, Skull Emporium was born. What started out as a Facebook store, blossomed into a webpage, weekend markets and now finally a retail store.

I wanted to stay in the Logan area because I love it here. The people are warm and inviting and the area offes so many great avenues for lovers of nature, sports, shopping, dining, theatre, and so much more.

I chose Beenleigh for the shop because I felt it was a true up and coming area. They have invested a lot of time and money renovating and improving the town centre and there is a vibe of great things to come and I want to be a part of it. The local businesses are all very supportive of each other and there is a real sense of community here.

The store offers you a one stop location for all your skull desires. There are clothes,

jewellery, purses, watches, handbags, cups, pillows, dishes, cards, knick-knacks, and soooo much more.

If you can put a skull on it, chances are I have it. I have recently added a line of bats and bugs that have been mounted by a professional taxidermist.

something truly unique and made with love and care.

I am very lucky to have a good support group of minions around me to help me in this endeavour and our aim is build a truly unique, one stop shop to help you become skulltastically fantastic.

MORE INFORMATION

I want to be able to encourage local artists and craftspeople as well, so I have things in the shop that are hand made by a few people as well as myself. You know you will find

Shop 3/ 1 Lae Street 4207 Beenleigh Ph: 0730677999 skullemporium.com.au

GOTTA LOVE LOGAN ENEWSLETTER | Issue 8

Logan Look Back

By Royce Wilson

A brief history of Logan Village

Prior to 1842, free settlers were prohibited from living within 50 miles (about 80km) of the colony, but as soon as that prohibition was lifted, timber-getters were making their way to the Logan region in search of cedar and other woods.

Gazetted as the Town of Logan, the earliest European settlers are known to have established themselves in the area about 1862 and the names of many of the early pioneers’ descendants and families are still familiar parts of the community today.

Logan Village School 1917 (Trove)

The town is named after the Logan River upon which it sits, which is itself named after Captain Patrick Logan, Commandant of the Moreton Bay Penal Colony and intrepid explorer who passed through Logan Village area in about 1826.

LOGAN Village is well-known for its local heritage, but it’s not always appreciated just how unique that heritage actually is.

While today the town is often passed through by travellers heading from Waterford to Mt Tamborine, perhaps drawing their attention long enough to enjoy lunch at the Logan Village Hotel, refuel the car at the BP petrol station, or buy supplies from Woolworths, the town was originally one of the more important settlements in what is now the greater Brisbane area Logan Village is the site of the earliest European settlement in Logan City, and one of the earliest European settlements in the Brisbane area outside the Moreton Bay penal colony.

Logging Logan Village (Trove)

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One of the early cedar cutters, William Drynan, soon established a hotel in town in 1864; the Brisbane Courier newspaper reported of horse racing there set for New Year’s Day 1865 with refreshments organised

by Mr Drynan, and in 1867 there were also reports of kangaroo hunting trips being organised by him from the same establishment.

Mr Drynan was by all accounts an enterprising chap, as by 1870 he was also running the local post office.

By 1875 the town had continued to grow, with a primary school and the members of several useful professions residing in town including an architect, two blacksmiths and a vet.

Timbergetting, farming, dairying, various agricultural industries and servicing the riverboats were the major industries of the town, which had no road access towards Brisbane until 1880 when one was constructed to Waterford.

Five years later the railway came to town, amidst much celebration, allowing the area’s goods to make their way to Brisbane in a couple of hours instead of the day or two it had taken previously.

Logan Village was founded on the river trade.

In an era when roads were paths hewn from the forest and horses were the main form of land transport, the Logan River provided a vital link to the outside world.

Logan River Pool – a natural place in the river allowing boats and vessels to turn around – provided an ideal place for a settlement and as the navigable reach of the river, a wharf and a small storage warehouse were built about 1862 on the riverfront - near the modern bridge on Anzac Ave - to service the Townsvale plantation in what is now Veresdale.

More than a century later, stones from the wharf and store were salvaged and made into a Pioneer Wall on Logan Village Green to honour the town’s ancestors; the wall was controversially dismantled, relocated and then reconstructed in 2013 as part of a redevelopment of the green.

Logan Village Railway Station 1930’s (Trove)

The railway line contributed to the success of the town, so they by 1892 the town (population c.61) had a hotel and a railway station (both opposite each other), a school, a blacksmith, a butcher, a bootmaker and a general store.

A bridge across the river was built in 1897, but washed away in 1903 later in serious floods – it was not rebuilt until the 1990s.

One of the things Logan Village is best known for, however, is The Crocodile. Prior to 1905 there had been reports of “something in the

GOTTA LOVE LOGAN ENEWSLETTER | Issue 8 water” between Waterford and Logan Village.

The sightings were put down to mistaken identity or witnesses who had drunken too much of something decidedly stronger than water, but in the end the rumours turned out to be true.

The “something” turned out to be a rather large crocodile, and when it surfaced along the river somewhere north of Logan Village in late June 1905, a resident by the name of Charlie Goetsch shot it with his rifle. Aerated water maker William Hammell had also reported seeing a crocodile on the banks of the river earlier that year, shooting and wounding it with a rifle before it escaped.

The Crocodile returned to the water again after Charlie Goetsch shot it and it was eventually spotted, dead, by Logan Village resident Alf Hinds on June 22, 1905, at which point he and his brother Jack Hinds, as well as publican Charles Rumpf, dragged it out of the river and had it measured at 3.83m.

decades since it was built, the hall has hosted countless dances, awards nights, events and social gatherings and is now under the care of the Logan Village Lions.

Several heritage buildings including the old school and some pioneer-era cottages have been established on Logan Village Green, across the road from the hall, and now host several community groups including the Logan Village Museum, the Craft Cottage, and the Logan Village Community Centre.

During World War II, Logan Village played an important part in the Allied war effort, with the Camp Cable Military base occupying the site of what is now Yarrabilba and beyond.

American and Australian soldiers and vehicles were stationed there from 1942, with extensive facilities on the site including a hospital, movie theatre and rifle ranges; General Douglas MacArthur and US First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt are known to have visited as well.

About 5,000 soldiers were stationed at Camp Cable at one point and following the Allied victory in the war in 1945, the base was decommissioned.

A definitive explanation as to what a crocodile was doing that far south has never been found; one local story suggests an unwanted or escaped pet belonging to a prominent turn of the century Brisbane couple may have had something to do with it.

In World War I most of the town’s adult male residents enlisted to serve their country and Empire; a disturbingly high proportion of them did not return and their names are recorded on the town’s Roll of Honour in the Old School.

Logan Village’s important Town Hall was built in 1934 using locally harvested timber, with local residents contributing their time and skills. A focal point of the community in the

A short-lived attempt to run heritage rail services on the now-disused Beaudesert Railway line was started in 2002 and defunct by 2005.

In 2008 Logan Village was incorporated into Logan City during council amalgamations, and the town celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2013 with a hugely successful Settler’s Day event which has since become an annual feature on the town’s calendar.

That year a modern supermarket also opened in Logan Village after a redevelopment of the town’s shopping centre, and the Forest Of Memories was also established next to the remains of the railway station.

The development at Yarrabilba also continues to grow and expand, welcoming many more residents to the area.

So the next time you’re driving through Logan Village, why not stop and take a moment to wander around the Village Green, visit the Forest of Memories, or imagine what it would have been like getting the train from the railway station (still visible on Albert St, opposite the shopping centre) to Brisbane, hauled by a puffing steam locomotive?

Image source Trove The crocodile was skinned, with its hide being displayed in the school for many years until it vanished, and the contents of The Crocodile’s stomach were found to include turtles, ducks and corn. Its discovery caused something of a minor sensation at the time – indeed, to this day it’s one the things Logan Village is best known for.

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Americans Camp Cable (Trove)

Most of its fixtures were sold off just after the war; a huge bushfire which tore through the area in August 1946 destroyed much of what was left of the base. It then became a pine plantation until 2012 when part of the area was turned into the Yarrabilba residential development.

Things appeared fairly quiet in Logan Village after the war until 1961 when passenger services on the railway line ceased due to declining passenger numbers; the town’s post office closed in 1968 and has (to date) not been re-opened.

Logan Village State School moved to its present site in 1981 and in 1996, a bridge across the Logan River was officially opened for the first time in nearly a century; it was named after Beaudesert Shire’s chief engineer Geoff Philp.

There is, you’ll doubtless agree, plenty more to the Town of Logan Village than meets the eye; and you won’t have to look very far to find it.

MORE INFORMATION The best place to learn more about the town’s history is the museum, open every day in a former railway fettler’s cottage on the Logan Village Green, off River St; phone curator Coralyn Cowin on 0418 738 468 for more information.

GOTTA LOVE LOGAN ENEWSLETTER | Issue 8

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Logan’s Pets looking for their “forever” homes!

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Photographs: Supplied by Animal Welfare League Qld Zeus

Animal ID: 43000 Name: Zeus Age: 4 Years 11 Months 4 Weeks Breed: Bull Arab Zeus is a loveable character who can't wait to find his forever family. He is deaf so he will need to be trained using hand signals. He already knows the one for sit, and he can't wait to learn some other ones!! He is great with other dogs and loves his people.

Eddie is a happy-go-lucky young dog who absolutely loves to play. Being young, he has a lot of energy and would love daily training and exercise to keep him stimulated. Eddie will require secure fencing. He gets along well with other dogs and is very playful with them. He would prefer to go to a home with a second dog to keep him entertained!

Stories If you have a story that must be told and is solely about/in/around/of Logan City… we want to hear from you! Stories are to be no longer the 350 words and be accompanied with a picture. Sports, Teams, Clubs, Missions, History.. anything!

E-NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTION

Eddie

Animal ID: 42746 Name: Eddie Age: 6 Months 2 Weeks Breed: Border collie / Australian Kelpie

http://fundraising.cancer.org.au/sit e/TR/RelayforLife/CCQLD?team_id =42612&pg=team&fr_id=3777 Logan Directory. Gotta Love Logan has created a local business directory in response to so many local business asking what it was that we could do to help them.

Register on the Directory and be part of our Shop Local initiatives. http://gottalovelogan.com.au/index. php/logan-directory Christmas Light registry. If you have gone to so much trouble putting up your light display… then make sure we see it.. register on our Christmas Light registry. http://gottalovelogan.com.au/inde x.php/search I have been asked to remain a Community Correspondent with the 612ABC team. Of course I accepted! This year I hope to dedicate more time to this great opportunity and get some great Logan Stories on the airwaves!

What else is GLL doing?

Gotta Love Logan also have many other projects going on! If you are keen to help out, let us know! *

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Promoting Logan City and strengthening our community though Facebook, Instagram, Storify, Twitter, Google + , 612 ABC, FM101 and Local Media Relay for life! 5th and 6th of November 2016. This is a fabulous worthy cause and Logan is known for our big hearts and ability to raise funds to fight cancer and this of course will be another event that Logan will pull together to raise much needed funds. Come and join the Gotta Love Logan team or make a donation of any size :

Get our e-newsletter emailed directly to your email box each month hot of the press. Just follow the link: Subscribe here KATHLEEN DELEON

0438201166

Bus Petition Do the inadequate times, services, locations affect you, your friends or your family?

Please sign and share our petition to have the needs of Logan City met.

Do you know someone who uses our Logan Buses?

Do you use our Logan buses?

Please sign and share if you want to improve the Logan City Bus services. http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/work-ofassembly/petitions/e-petition?PetNum=2397

GOTTA LOVE LOGAN ENEWSLETTER | Issue 8

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Garden Clippings

By Nicole Gardner

growers are able to "bring" on flowering by controlling light levels. Decreasing amounts of light will increase flowering and bract growth and colour intensity.

When thinking about Christmas, one plant that comes to mind is the Red Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) with the white, red and green adding instant festive cheer to many Christmas table settings.

Traditionally flowering in colder climates at this time of year and in winter here for us,

The white flowers of the Poinsettia are tiny and quite insignificant with the bright colour coming from its bracts that are basically modified leaves.

There are many colours and varieties of the plant available and even a "dwarf" variety.

Please don't be fooled by this variety as there is essentially no such thing. These are artificially treated with a hormone that controls growth and once it is planted out in your garden, it will revert back to normal growth of around 3.5 metres !!. In the garden, they can get very leggy so a decent prune will be tolerated and a good feed with high phosphorous, low nitrogen fertiliser will really make the bract colour pop.

When cutting or pruning a Poinsettia, you will notice a thick, white sticky latex type sap that can cause allergies

in some people. Cuttings for propagation are very successful with 15-30cm stems having to be dried out for around 2 weeks before being placed in potting medium to ensure cuttings don't rot. If you are wanting to use the stems as part of your table setting, it is advised to first place the stems into hot water to stop the sap from seeping.

Leave stems in the water until it has cooled and do not allow the ends of the stems to come into contact with food or eating utensils.

An interesting fact about the poinsettia is that when the Brisbane City Council was formed in October in 1925, the flower was a popular choice as the Floral Emblem for Brisbane City, even though it is a plant native to Mexico. Calls for it to be replaced with a native Australian plant over the years has not brought about any inkling of a change.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and New Year !!

Nicole

GOTTA LOVE LOGAN ENEWSLETTER | Issue 8

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a place even worse, so let’s all be consciousness of speed limits, fatigue and traffic, so that no one ends up being a statistic.

Christmas and New Years can also be a lonely time for those doing it tough and I hope that everyone who is able to can donate presents or time to those less fortunate in our community. There are plenty of organisations in Logan helping making Christmas brighter for those struggling and they are appealing for some assistance. My office can help direct you to some of those organisations if need be.

Shannon Fentiman MP As we finish 2015 I also finish my first year as the Member for Waterford. It has been a busy but rewarding year for me and I am so grateful to all the people I have met in Logan who have inspired me each and every day.

By Royce Wilson

As many would have seen Premier Palaszczuk reshuffled the cabinet recently, meaning the Prevention for Domestic and Family Violence is now its own portfolio which the Premier has asked me to lead. If we are serious about combating domestic and family violence a dedicated Minister and portfolio needed to be established and I am glad the Premier has done this. Due to this new portfolio I have had to relinquish being the Minister for Multicultural Affairs, which Grace Grace will now lead. I have thoroughly enjoyed being the Minster for Multicultural Affairs especially as I was able to witness first-hand how diverse and culturally rich Queensland is.

As we end 2015 and enter our summer holiday time, I want to remind everyone to please stay safe these holidays, especially on our roads.

Many of us need to travel to see our family and friends over the Christmas and New Year period and this will mean our highways and streets become busier. The last thing anyone needs over this time is a visit to the hospital or

I do want to wish everyone in Waterford and the greater Logan area a peaceful and happy Christmas and New Year. I hope everyone enjoys their backyard cricket, visits to the beach, family lunch and general relaxation time. It is a great time to recharge the batteries for 2016 and a great time to pause and be grateful for the simple things we are lucky enough to enjoy in Australia.

See you in 2016.

Councillors Corner Jennie Breene: Division 12 I would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful and safe 2016.

There has been so much to celebrate for Division 12 as we look back over the past 12 months, especially with the opening of the Beenleigh Town Square.

Enjoy the precious moments with your family and friends and I look forward to seeing you in 2016.

Graham Able: Division 5 I would like to take this opportunity to wish all the families of Logan a safe and Merry Christmas. All the best over the Holiday season and I hope everyone gets the chance to spend the time with loved ones and family. Safe holidays and a happy new year.

Laurie Smith: Division 7 Please see below re further line marking and cleaning / repainting of traffic islands in Div 7 with a 4th stage to be identified.

Also Council has commissioned the CCTV camera which has been installed at Greenbank recreational park, which was funded through Federal and LCC funding.

The camera is now in operation and the area is being monitored.

Footpaths will be constructed in early 2016 in Baudin street, Hume, Tasman and Dampier courts Boronia heights.

Funding for this has come out of Division 7 Capital improvement funds.

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Cleaning and repainting of islands

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Reinstatement of Line marking

Streets in Boronia Heights include: Parklands Drive, Owens Street, Tovey Road, Baudin Street, Hume Court, Tasman Court, Dampier Court, Macquarie Street, Mitchell Street, Samantha Street Flinders Crescent, Network Drive, Titan Court, Belford Street, Wilton Crescent, Cunningham Drive, Wilkins Court.

A shade sail is currently being installed at Hysten park coronation drive Hillcrest with two others planned for Argule park Hillcrest and Paradise Park in Forestdale.

This continues the roll out of providing shade to park users within Division & with a total of ten parks now having shade sails as well as shade sails included in any redevelopment of parks as well.

All parks that have or are having shade sails installed also get a foreshore drinking fountain where appropriate or can be plumbed in ,which provides water to able bodied ,wheel chair bound people and with a dog drinking bowl at the base.

GOTTA LOVE LOGAN ENEWSLETTER | Issue 8 amazing and I'm sure Kathleen De Leon still finds it hard to believe that one person's desire to lift the Logan image so her daughter could be proud of her home town, was embraced by so many who she didn't know and probably still doesn't.

During this growth stage, GLL has also benefited from many individuals and organisations that have selflessly donated time, ideas and advice to make sure the initial ideals are kept to the fore.

In My Opinion

By Shane Drew

Well, as 2015 comes to an end, it is probably a good time to reflect on the year that was.

Logan City has, like any other city in australia, had it's ups and downs.

We've seen growth in some areas of the community, and declines in others.

In 2015 South West Logan has been the pick with land values there leading the way.

We've seen the tremendous success of the Eats and Beats concept too.

Logan has taken the idea to their hearts and while there were a few teething problems with some venues, it has on a whole been a great concept.

Logan also showcased their talent at the Queensland Music Festival on an arena specially built at the Brothers League Club fields in Wembley Road. A simply stunning opportunity for all those that took part.

Then we had the finishing touches put to the new Beenleigh Town Square. New lights, less roundabout confusion and more green space are the best things to come out of what was a nightmare at most peak times of the day.

Another growth we can't ignore is that of the gottalovelogan (GLL) community. The way the locals have embraced it has been truly

Behind the scenes, Kathleen took advice from several like minded community individuals with years of experience in their own businesses, charities and community groups.

This was developed into a small steering committee that was tasked with community consultation, research and feedback from the local community. The positions were all voluntary and were simply structured so all had equal value for their input.

The group was community focussed and all of the same mind when it came to wanting to bring Logan out from the shadows and be recognised as an equal to any other city in Queensland.

When the GLL community was first getting on it's feet, Kathleen was pretty much a lone voice in spruiking Logan's 'positive' aspects.

Those that have been involved with the GLL community from the early days have noticed that others are starting to defend the Logan community now, and Kathleen is no longer going it solo.

Politicians have started to pick up the batten and have begun promoting Logan in a better light. Bloggers responding to the major news blogs are also openly defending Logan and rebutting anyone that makes a negative comment. Aside from the trolls that delight in making trouble, many have noticed a definite change in attitude within the Logan Community in both the public and private forums.

Logan City 101.1 FM have also been very supportive of the GLL cause, for which the community is very grateful. Being a not-forprofit and driven by volunteers, Logan’s own

12 radio station tries hard to keep the community informed and relevant, especially promoting the concept of buying local. It is also what the gottalovelogan community are keen to promote. Buy local, support a local.

It also gives the local community a tremendous sense of pride when they see the gottalovelogan bumper stickers on cars and shop windows.

Apart from working with the local radio, the GLL community got behind several other Logan groups too. The Beenleigh Relay for Life was one event that every Logan resident should be proud of. GLL won best costume and the team did a great job in both helping the Cancer cause and showing the rest of the community that Logan is also a caring community.

The GLL community has also got behind another local not-for-profit, the Logan House Fire Support Network. It is the first of its type in Australia and it took a Logan City couple to create it from a need borne from tragedy.

Without doubt, Logan is a great community.We are a mixed community, we have our problems like any other growing city, but I'd like to think that the GLL communities continuing efforts to raise the bar and remove the unfair stigma that other communities have given us, will be ongoing and more successful as each year progresses.

We have a few things in the pipeline for 2016 but it will come down to funding and community involvement. Time will see how that progresses in 2016.

Meanwhile, if you are having time off or you are working over the end of year break, please be safe in whatever you do.

Remember to slip slop slap, don't drink and drive, and for added measure, perhaps heed my grandmother's advice and wear clean underwear when you go out. It can't hurt :)

See you in 2016.

GOTTA LOVE LOGAN ENEWSLETTER | Issue 8

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Beenleigh’s Theatre Wonderland!

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By Stacey McIntosh

Beenleigh’s Crete Street Theatre transformed into a Wonderland of fantasy and adventure on Friday 11th December as the Beenleigh Theatre Group’s Senior JETS took to the stage for their end of year show, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

Celebrating the 150th Anniversary of Lewis Carroll’s book, the Senior JETS performed a play written and directed by Trinity College teacher Benjamin Bray adapting the classic tale of Alice’s journey to Wonderland, a fantastical place, where nothing is quite as it seems, to include an element of fear with the horrible Jabberwocky threatening Wonderland.

The group is one of three in the Beenleigh Theatre Groups Junior Entertainers Theatre School (JETS) program, which is run by the community theatre group throughout the year.

craft in preparation for main stage production” said Mr Bray about the program.

“The reason I do theatre is because we all live our day to day lives, we have our routine but at theatre, for a small space of time we can escape and be someone else and have an entirely different personality or persona as that character. In the five years that I have done theatre it still amazes me every time, that I can step on stage and be someone else and act completely differently and enjoy it. Not only this but theatre has boosted my public speaking skills and changed how I act and communicate in social scenarios.

It has given me the confidence to take on the world” expressed JETS actor, Alex Doyle.

JETS runs during the school term with a Junior (5-8 years), Intermediate (9-11 years) and Senior (12-18 years) program at the Crete Street Theatre in Beenleigh. Sign on for the 2016 season will be 2nd February 2016.

The program allows a diverse range of performers to explore their creativity and develop their theatre skills, with each one getting something different from their experience.

“It is a safe environment to fail and build confidence. An inclusive community theatre that develops theatre etiquette and stage

FURTHER INFORMATION For further information, visit their website www.beenleightheatregroup.com or contact Benjamin Bray at info@beenleightheatregroup.com

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Night Bird Dreaming!

By Linda Ottaway

Jingeri (hello) Looking for something out of the box for the kids to do this holiday?

Thursday 17 and Friday 18 December 2015/Thursday 14 and Friday 15 January 2016How about “Night Bird Dreaming,” a live-action traditional local Aboriginal performance bringing to life the story of the wise owl, Karang, and the sneaky night bird, Jinir-Jinir.

The people collectively known as Yukambeh, because they spoke the Yukambeh language, believed to be Gugingin, Bullongin,Kombumerri, Minjingbal, Birinburra, Wangerriburra, Mununjali and Migunberri inhabited the area between the Tweed and Logan Rivers and to the town of Beaudesert for 23,000 years.

The Yugambeh museum, language and heritage research centre, Beenleigh, wants to tell the Yugambeh story of both the spiritual and cultural traditions of the people, in the spirit of a shared history through exhibitions and ceremonies and education programs.

This school holidays, and in the spirit of shared history, the Yugambeh Museum presents ‘Night Bird Dreaming.”The two hour program, held twice a day, includes      

Introduction to Yugambeh Country & language Traditional local Aboriginal story.

Yugambeh song "Biran Yinala", Along with a dance (created by participants) to tell the Night Bird Story.

"Biran Yinala" Craft activity.

Traditional Aboriginal game.

The cost is $12 and for times, venue and bookings ring the museum on 3807 6155.

Bookings close December 18.

Ngaio kingilyarrian nyungai baugull (I wish you a good day)

FURTHER INFORMATION The museum is open to the public on wednesdays - 10am till 2pm office hours tuesday - friday 9am - 4pm visits by appointment only if not visiting on Wednesday.

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Rockabilly Riders brings Christmas Joy!

By Donna

On Saturday, December 12th 2015, the Rockabilly Riders, along with fellow riders, personally delivered presents and food hampers to local needy families and the housebound clients of Ability Care Services.

They also attended Ability Care's Adult Respite house at Calamvale before riding to

Despite the adverse weather conditions on the day, the ride still went ahead as scheduled. “The kids expect to see Santa on a bike and we not letting them down". A few minor accidents caused some delivery delays, however the children & families waited patiently and were overjoyed and thrilled to receive their gifts and hampers from Santa Aagro and his merry band of elves.

the Ability Care children's party at Parkinson.

Children at the party were entertained by local animal petting farm Old McDonald's Farm and a jumping castle along with fairy floss and popcorn whilst awaiting Santa's arrival.

Toy donations had been received from all over Brisbane from families and local businesses with Campbells donating many essential food items towards the hampers. Extra funds were raised by holding auctions and raffles. All the gifts and hampers were individually wrapped and packed by club members and Ability Care.

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Passionate Volunteers Hamper Visitors

By Lee McKenzie McKinnon

Logan City is in abundance with giving volunteers who spend many hours a year working in community centres looking out for the less fortunate and running educational programs. This is often over looked by mainstream media but something the city should be proud of.

One such centre is the Loganlea Community Centre, located at 28-32 Timms Street Loganlea, with a band of friendly and passionate volunteers. Each year this centre collects many items of food that is put into bundles worth well of $30 each week and sell it for only $5.

They offer many courses such as senior’s art, play & stay, homework club, yoga, line dancing, seniors broadband and counselling.

Some have regular times each week while other like the counselling requires an appointment. These services are either free or at a very low cost.

Treasurer Pauline Sheppard getting food ready for hampers.

For Christmas, Treasurer Pauline Sheppard and the team worked hard to collect as much food and goodies as they could for families in need. For just $15, with three months to pay it off, a hamper packed to the brim with products of all kinds, with a value of $60, was on offer.

“It’s great to be able to help the local community in the times when some are struggling,” said Treasurer Pauline Sheppard.

“The centre is here to help everyone in the area with food and counselling and other activities we do.”

This year the program was supported by Bendigo Bank Marsden who donated $1000 and Bert van Manen MP who donated Christmas cakes to go in the hampers.

The Loganlea centre is completely volunteer based and relies on donations and fundraising throughout the year to keep going. With previous support of retiring Councillor Graham Able the team have successfully run the centre for many years making constant improvements as they go.

Logan City is a special place and the residents love taking care of others in the community.

You Gotta Love Logan for the kind hearted people who live here.

NEED MORE INFORMATION? Phone: 07 3805 8260 Fax: 3805 8203 Bookings officer hours: 9 am to 1:30 pm (Mon to Thurs) Postal address: PO Box 588, Marsden QLD 4132 Email: admin@loganleacommunity.org.au Website: www.loganleacommunity.org.au There are opportunities to volunteer at this Community Centre. Please call the centre for further information.

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Events and Fundraisers Event: Eats and Beats Date: 18th December Where: Wembley Rd, Logan Central Time: 5.00pm – 9.00pm

Date: 20th December Where: Beenleigh Neighbourhood Centre, Mansfield Walk; Beenleigh Time 3.00pm to 6.00pm Cost: 10.00

Event: Indigenous Light Horse Memorial Date: 19th December Where: Springwood Park, Cinderella Dve Time: 4.00 – 5.00pm

Event: Santa Visits Hillcrest Date: 20th December Where: see map Time: From 4.00pm

Event: Marsden Neighbourhood Watch Pop up Party Date: 19th December Where: Blue Gum Park on Blue Gum Dve Time: 9.00 am – 11.00am

Event: While Sheppard Watched Date: 20th December Where: Dunamis Church Time: 5.00 – 6.30pm

Event: Live and Local Into the Light Project Concert

Event: Piazza Christmas Concert Date: 23th December Where: Logan Hyperdome Time: 6.30pm

Lucy Crt, Edens Landing. Photographer Donna Lowe

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