Free Edition
Living In Logan January 2021, Issue 28
Magazine
- Emergency Convoy for Santa - Loganlea Community Awards - Community Keeps Giving
Happy New Year, everyone.
Living in Logan
The past 10 months have been a rather interes ng me for all, and while it is not over, we are doing rela vely well with-it all-in Logan. December was a crazy me with so much happening in the City of Logan. It was great to see so many people out giving to others and looking out for each other. While Logan may get a bad rap at mes, the people make this city, and there are so many good people around. I was lucky enough to stop in at the packing day for the Logan Emergency Services Santa Run and chat with volunteers from many different organisa ons from the city. It was beau ful to see and hear what many have planned for 2021. You can read about the actual run in this edi on. We all talk about making a new year the best year we can and while staying posi ve like that is good, just remember not to put too much pressure on yourself. Have goals and plans and work hard to reach them but remember to live your life also. See friends and family and spend me with the people you care about. Life really is short, and you don’t want to miss the good mes.
January 2021 ISSUE 28 Living in Logan Magazine is published monthly and is the City of Logan's dedicated publica on to everything great this city has to offer and lifestyle ar cles. Editor Lee McKenzie McKinnon editor@livinginlogan.com.au Sub Editor Gail McKenzie McKinnon Graphic Design Drew's Sign It Pty Ltd Waterford West Adver sing adver sing@livinginlogan.com.au If you would like to send us a story of something happening in Logan City we would love to see it. DISCLAIMER
Despite the constant care and a en on devoted to the structure of this magazine and the informa on it contains, Living in Logan cannot guarantee the completeness, accuracy of the content of the magazine. The publisher therefore accepts no liability for any direct or indirect damage of any kind whatsoever that arises from, or is in any way related to, the use of this magazine or its accessibility or lack thereof. The asser ons and opinions expressed in ar cles and announcements in this magazine reflect the views of the author(s) and do not (necessarily) reflect the views of the publishers. The publishers can in no way whatsoever be held responsible for the content of such views nor can it be held liable for any direct or indirect damage that may arise from such views. The publishers cannot guarantee that the informa on in this magazine is
Personally, I want to thank you all for your support, and I really hope you enjoy reading all the news and stories from around this city. Our clients who adver se with us every month are so wonderful and if you can support them, be sure you do. We are working on making this year bigger and making some changes all for the be er.
suitable for the purpose for which you consult it. All informa on, products and services are offered in the condi on in which they actually are and without any (implicit) guarantee or warranty in respect of their reliability, suitability for a par cular purpose or otherwise. The publisher neither guarantees nor supports any product or service men oned in this magazine, nor does it warrant any asser ons made by the manufacturers of such products. In light of this, readers of this magazine are always recommended to obtain independent informa on and/or to perform independent research before using the informa on acquired via this magazine. All material in this magazine is protected by copyright laws and may not be reproduced in part or full without the wri en permission of the publisher.
Take care everyone and enjoy the new year and make sure you have some fun in 2021. Living In Logan Magazine
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Loganlea Awards Community Spirit Late last year the team at Loganlea Community Centre decided to create an awards day for people and organiza ons in the area who have shown tremendous amounts of community spirit.
incredibly strong as a community. It's wonderful to be able to come together and recognize and celebrate that a er what has been an incredibly tough year" she said.
With junior awards to follow early this year, three categories were decided: the MyHorizon Adult Award, Ina Pruis Seniors Award and the Parkinson's Queensland Community Organisa on Award.
Member for Forde, Bert van Manen MP said "2020 is the year we'd rather forget. We started the year with bushfires, drought, and we then endured COVID-19. However, it is important to remember that most communi es are s ll recovering from those things.”
State Member for Waterford Shannon Fen man said "I'm delighted to be joining everyone at these very special award celebra ons. What a year and I'm so excited it's ge ng to the end. It's been an incredibly tough year, and one of the things I am incredibly proud of is how our community has come together this year. I really want to take my hat off to everyone and the team here (Loganlea Community Centre).”
“The important thing this year is that the community stood up. It's been so hear ng for me as your Federal representa ve to see the community come together and support each other. The true test of where our community is at, and where we are as a society, is when things get tough. This year our community stood up and supported one another. They have done what is asked to protect those that are vulnerable in the community. They were protected and safe, and that's been incredibly important.” While each category had several nominees, there could only be one winner. Tammy Robinson won the MyHorizon Adult Award category, Pat Buckly took the top spot in the Ina Pruis Seniors Award, while the Parkinson's Queensland Community Organisa on Award Winner was Mission Possible Volunteers.
"The thing I love about Logan is we are a community that knows how to support each other. We know how to dig deep when mes are tough, and we are so
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LECNA: Delivering Hope and Joy at Christmas and Beyond low and no-interest loans (NILS and StepUp) and will undoubtedly be busy taking back to school loan enquiries.
We hope everyone has enjoyed a res ul break with friends and family and ready to start the new year. It was a busy end of the year for the Logan East Community Neighbourhood Associa on. Our Loans team were super busy delivering loans for everything from air condi oners to washing machines.
While most services and programs at LECNA have returned, we are looking forward to the return of Prize Bingo. It is a popular social ac vity, 9.30-12 every Tuesday, star ng in February.
We also delivered 300 Christmas hampers, handbags and kids toys to people we iden fied in the local community in financial hardship. The gradua on of our first block in our second year of Skilling Queenslanders for Work was also conducted. We have also celebrated the end of a challenging year with volunteers and staff.
Our unique, transforma ve Life Skills Educa on program starts every Thursday from 9.30am to 11.30 am from January 27 here at LECNA. We have seen people complete this 10-week program and report significant improvements in communica on and rela onships in their lives.
We want to extend a huge thank you to: Logan City Council, and Logan local businesses such as Motorama Holden, Oldmac Mazda, local kindies, Syd Scanlon from Flex Corpora on, and others who supported our Christmas hamper appeal.
Our Belief Busters program, suppor ng people overcome self-limi ng beliefs holding them back in life, will begin on February 2 and every Tuesday 7-8.30 am.
LECNA is star ng with a bang and launching a new website in January. We will also be launching our mobile coffee cart on Monday, January 18, at the front of our centre. Hours of opera on will be Monday to Wednesday from 10am to 4pm. This coffee cart will be staffed by the lovely Margery, a recent SQW graduate.
LECNA is delighted to be offering 2 more rounds of our Skilling Queenslanders for Work: Cer ficate 2 in Food Processing program from January 25, 2021. This program is no cost to eligible job seekers. It is 12 weeks, 4 days a week, including RSA and Barista cer fica on and work experience. Par cipants enjoy spending half their me in the kitchen, cooking their own lunch and half their me doing theory. Par cipants get the opportunity to do industry site visits and complete our Life Skills Educa on program to prepare for the workplace. They are
Please see more details about her and our program below. January 11 will see our loans team back offering Living In Logan Magazine
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beginning, more confidence and a new vision in life and is more posi ve about being in a work environment."
offered wrap-around support such as counselling, emergency relief, and financial counselling. Included is a Learning Mentor's support to help overcome barriers to employment and find work upon gradua on of the program. This course has an intake on January 25 and another one on April 19. Spaces are limited.
Margery is delighted and excited to start a Cert 3 in Hospitality while working at LECNA in 2021. She will be the resident Barista and caterer, running the new coffee cart which will be opera ng at LECNA Mon-Wed 10-2pm star ng Monday, January 18, 2021.
LECNA opens in the new year on January 11. Please contact Learning Mentor: Karen Doyle to enquire on 3808 4529 or e: karen@lecna.org.au.
SQW par cipants are now working at various cafes and restaurants both locally and on the Gold Coast.
LECNA SQW Spotlight
We have had excellent employment outcomes for par cipants and are very proud of our program. We encourage any eligible jobseeker to get in touch first thing in the new year a er the 11th to register their interest. P: 3808 4529.
When Margery started the LECNA Skilling Queenslanders for Work course, she was depressed and grieving following her husband's death and feeling lost in her life. Margery learned how to communicate well with others, learn new skills, and work hard in and out of the kitchen throughout the course and was a whizz on the coffee machine. Since doing the course, Margery says she "has a new
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Market Supports Logan Sports Early December, 'Our Community Markets' held their Christmas twilight event on Slacks Creek Rugby League Club grounds. The markets were first held at the Loganholme Cricket Club but were moved to Slacks Creek Rugby League Club by organisers Lauren Norris and Shayne Western, a er a clash of dates with the cricket season. With the markets to be held every three months, the ming was perfect for the lead up to Christmas. It gave local micro and small businesses a chance to sell some products before the big day. The Christmas markets featured local produce and ar san stalls and many local food trucks and a visit from Santa.
sport. “We are pleased to announce the first recipient of the Logan's Li le Legends Appeal who is a true inspira on and highly deserving of his selec on," said an event organiser. "Harrison Western, who plays cricket, will use the $400 prize towards a development camp he is a ending this month.”
Proceeds were raised at the markets via dona on buckets around the event. The dona ons were then given to local spor ng clubs or Logan's Li le Legends Appeal, to help a young up and coming child from any
Living In Logan Magazine
“Anyone can nominate a li le legend from Logan. If you know someone that needs help with the cost of uniforms, fees, development camps etc., you can email some details about them and their achievements to president@scrlc.com.au. We are commi ed to helping as many of our local future spor ng legends as possible." 8
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Community Keeps Giving in Tight Times. It was Christmas eve. Most people are running around doing the final shopping for gi s and food to prepare for the big man in red coming the following day and the family. Not Charlie Benne though. He was hanging out the front of First Choice Liquor Market in Waterford West, shaking the ns and giving out a smile while collec ng for Mul ple Sclerosis Queensland. Charlie is an influencer, inspira on, husband, carer, advocate, ambassador and fundraiser for MS Queensland. If he is not on his bike training for the annual Brissie to the Bay, shaking a dona on n and telling people all about MS, he will be at the side of his wife, Jenny. For over 40 years Charlie and Jenny have been together. While Jenny fights MS every day, Charlie has stood beside her every step of the way, focused on living life to the fullest, together. Charlie and a few helpers greeted people as they arrived and le helping lighten their
pockets of any loose change. “A sensa onal day at First Choice Waterford West," said Charlie. "We met some incredibly kind and generous people, and we raised a lot of money for MS. What a great community and I cannot thank Andrew, Cindy and Jordan enough, what a team. Peoples generosity astounds me as we raised $1550 for MS.” This figure from Christmas eve adds to the already colossal amount raised by Team Jenny in 2020 and takes the total to well over $40,000.
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Hottest Day in Logan What has now become an annual event in the City of Logan almost didn't happen last year. The
Held in the Beenleigh Town Square, ChilLogan Lite was packed with everything chilli and spice and saw crowds enjoy taste tes ng, giveaways, ea ng compe ons and more. The infamous Hellfire Alley was popular with the people, and if you were not careful, a few of the tas ngs could catch you out. The Carolina Reaper chilli is a hybrid of the Ghost Pepper and Habanero making it one hot bite. This chilli was a favourite of many of the vendors who travelled far and wide to come to Logan to show off their crea ons. The ea ng compe ons were for the brave as they included Napalm Noodles, Flaming Wings, Fiery Pods, Great Balls of Fire and Burning Burritos.
COVID pandemic almost forced its postponement. However, due to Queensland being in a good posi on, the ChilLogan Chilli Fes val went ahead, albeit on the lite side.
The kids were also able to get involved with a slightly tamer challenge of watermelon ea ng, yet it was s ll just as fun. The event is all about ge ng your "chilli on", and promo ng the City of Logan as a great place to hold events. The organizers also used it as a fundraiser for Cys c Fibrosis Queensland. Event organizer Sandra Beynon said “numbers were down this year, but it was s ll a great event and all who came really enjoyed it.” "Cys c Fibrosis Queensland did raffles and auc ons and with my dona on of 10 per cent of all cket sales we were able to raise around $2500 on the day." she said. Living In Logan Magazine
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Bake Springwood the world Motorama a beer place Grand Re-Opening grand opening of Ironman 4x4, which we call Lifestyle 4x4, is exci ng. “ The Ironman 4x4 fi ng and sales are now all done on-site. "We also con nue to do Holden and HSV servicing on-site in the building behind Mitsubishi and all warranty is s ll covered. Parts and service are also all on-site, and you can purchase all merchandise for Holden, HSV, Mitsubishi and Jeep there" he said. Darren added "This is a new showroom where Holden was and is now the new Mitsubishi showroom moved from across the road. December 2020 made our first 12 months with the Jeep brand, and it was an exci ng step for me having a background with Mitsubishi, and understanding that Jeep is a li le bit different. The vehicles on offer are undoubtedly diverse, but it sits very well with our 4x4xMORE brand. I now personally drive a lot more Jeeps, a li le bit to do with supply, but they are just a fun car. There is nothing else you can say but it is a fun brand."
December saw the grand opening of the new Jeep, Mitsubishi and Ironman 4x4 stores at Springwood, with Motorama showing a strong commitment to these brands and the City of Logan. The Motorama Group has been in Queensland for over 50 years with the humble beginnings in 1960 as a BP service sta on on the Gold Coast. The group has expanded to become one of Queensland's largest family-owned automo ve retailers, with mul -franchise dealerships across the southside of Brisbane and Logan. Logan 101FM was broadcas ng live from the new showroom with special guest country music singer Tania Kernaghan mee ng fans and signing autographs. New dealer principal Darren Johnson said "the opening of the two showrooms, Motorama Jeep and Motorama Mitsubishi, both here at Springwood, and the
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What are School Chappies Really? Today's world is a high-pressure place, and young people are o en the hardest hit with social media issues, school grades, and everything life throws at them. School chaplains, or 'chappies' as they are affec onately called, are trusted, well-trained individuals. They work in school communi es to provide social, emo onal, and spiritual support to students, parents/carers and staff. School chappies work in the preven on and support space. Their goal is to help students find a be er way to deal with issues ranging from family breakdown and loneliness to drug abuse, depression and anxiety. They provide a listening ear for children and young people in crisis and those who just need a friend. Chappies always get parental consent, so parents always know what is happening with their children and can help them in the home environment too. Chappies provide a safe, posi ve influence for children. With more than 67 per cent of Queensland State Schools now with a chappie, the programs, ac vi es, and events to foster inclusivity and a posi ve culture will con nue to grow.
SI Dinner to Learn about Beddown In November, Sorop mist Interna onal Logan (SI Logan) hosted a dinner evening at Penang Palace in Shailer Park. Our guest speaker was Norm McGillivray, the founder of Beddown. Norm helps homeless people in Brisbane by turning undercover car parks (which are empty at night) into homeless shelters. They also offer doctors, den sts, social workers, toiletries and food at no cost, along with a warm, safe place to sleep without worry.
For further informa on on Beddown, visit www.beddown.org.au Please visit our Facebook page at SI Logan and leave us a message to get back to you. You are welcome to a end our social events or join our club and assist people and projects in our community.
Norm requires corporate sponsorship to con nue, and our small club will offer some support as we know this type of program can change lives. Living In Logan Magazine
Merry Christmas to everyone from President Joanna Lee and the ladies from SI Logan. 13
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The Giants are Dreaming Big and Living Large The Eagleby Giants are Eagleby’s very own rugby league club and are se ng their sights high for the new year. With a proud history, the club is looking to make 2021 an even more successful year.
community hub hos ng Grow - a personal growth program, The Shed and Boredom Busters. They also host community events, forums, and holiday programs.
The Eagleby giants were formed in 2012 by two local men named Arthur Joyce and Nicholas Carroll. They started the Giants for two reasons: Ÿ To allow locals to represent their community crea ng pride for their hometown Ÿ To put Eagleby on the map promo ng it as a great community
The Giants con nue to go from strength to strength.
The Giants are more than just a rugby league club as they endeavour to support the community they proudly represent. The Giants aim is to create good people, not just good footballers as they mentor and support their members.
The club is le ng everyone know, to come and join your local club, and be a part of the next exci ng chapter of the Giants story.
Star ng ini ally with 33 players, a hand full of footballs and running the club out of a van. In 2017 they built their facili es at Bishop Street Park and since then have won three grand finals and were named 2019 Rugby League Brisbane Junior Club if the year.
For more informa on, please contact Arthur Joyce: 0422 261 286 and remember to THRIVE where you are.
The Giants have set up their clubhouse as a
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Emergency Convoy for Santa undertaking, with many state members giving a dona on.
Sirens from all emergency vehicles were heard far and wide on Christmas morning as a parade of vehicles le the Woodridge Fire Sta on for the 2020 Logan Emergency Services Santa Run. To prepare for this year's toy run, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) Senior Firefighter Sco Edwards called Louie Naumovski from the Logan House Fire Support Network (LHFSN) charity. He needed a plan to get the most toys and lollies for Logan and the kids in Logan Hospital. Due to QFES and all services under their banner are not being able to accept gi s, LHFSN were called in to accept the gi s on their behalf. Mr Naumovski took on the role with no hesita on. He made sure the Logan government members were aware of this massive
A week before the Christmas run a large group of volunteers gathered at the Woodridge Fire Sta on to pack bags for the day. Toys, games, lollies, teddies and more were all packed into hundreds of bags ready to be given away to kids and big kids on Christmas. Christmas morning, the convoy of fire trucks, police vehicles, ambulances, SES utes, rural fire service vehicles, and the Logan House Fire Support Network van, le the sta on. They took to the back streets of Woodridge where they made as much noise as possible to let the kids know Santa was passing by. The group passed out lollies to kids on the way
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no disasters, no tragedies, just spreading joy and laughter to many children's faces and to the adults as well, on Christmas morning. These are the stories we should be covering, not doom and gloom, we all had a great me sharing this morning with you all, to those who witnessed the convoy, we hope you enjoyed the experience.” to their first stop at ADRA Community Centre on Sta on Road Woodridge. As far as the eye could see, kids were wai ng to see Santa and check out the emergency vehicles in convoy. This included the high li fire truck as it gave a lucky few a bird's eye view of the ac on on the streets below. A er the stop in Woodridge, the convoy con nued through Kingston, Marsden, Crestmead, Loganlea un l their final stop at the Logan Hospital Children's Unit.
Louie added “We thank our many sponsors, donors and supporters for today because it's all of those dona ons that allowed us to do this. Everyone behind the scenes organising this event has worked their bu s off, and we thank them for that."
Louie Naumovski said on the day, "Well, what a morning this has turned out to be. Gathering at Woodridge Fire Sta on with the many women and men from the Emergency Services for a feel-good moment, Living In Logan Magazine
Photos by Bruce Billing
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Tastes of Logan Stellarossa Yarrabilba By Gail McKenzie McKinnon
This being the first edi on for the New Year, I decided to revisit a favourite of mine from Feburay 2019, issue 12, for a second review. I wanted to see how Stellarossa in Yarrabilba was going since my last review. This café has a calming effect on me as I really love the atmosphere and energy. No blaring music or noisy interchange, just people enjoying the company of friends over a meal and coffee. I love the place because no ma er how busy they are, you always get a friendly hello as you walk up to the counter. Stellarossa Yarrabilba has a new summer menu since our last visit, with some inspiring addi ons. There is everything from pizza, burgers, fish and chips, chicken parmigiana, delicious salads plus all-day breakfast (my favourite). There is something for everyone including desserts and cake if you want something to go with your coffee. Everything is available to take away plus a delivery service; all of this is at a very reasonable price. This me I decided to forgo their delicious eggs benny and found my all- me favoured food. Canadian Milk Bun French Toast with bacon, cinnamon rico a caramelised banana and toasted walnuts. This, with a Stellarossa unique 5star blend coffee made my taste buds ngle. Stellarossa cafés are a franchise with several around Logan, all individually owned and operated. I have been to a couple of the other Stellarossa's in the area and found that even as they go under the Stellarossa banner, they all have their own discrete atmosphere. I think this due to management and staff. You will find this fantas c café at 2-24 Waldron Street Yarrabilba. Drop-in say hi to Aaron (franchisee) and his lovely and helpful staff. You won't be disappointed. Living In Logan Magazine
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Today is yr day
and the ugly. I finally seized the day, marched to the beat of my own drum, danced like no one was looking. I climbed my mountain, and I now end each year exhausted. But this is a good thing because being red from hard work is rewarding. There is sa sfac on in striving for your goals.
I remember New Years eve 2009 like it was yesterday. I was si ng with friends celebra ng the end of another year. Listening to people talk about their accomplishments and successes, saying how they can finally relax a er a big year. But as I sat listening, I realised that I hadn't actually done anything. For a whole year, all I did was turn up to work and then go home. I hadn't gone away for a holiday, studied, fixed things around the house, enjoyed a hobby. A er pondering on my mediocre year, I felt a sinking feeling of despair set in. I thought to myself, "What a waste of a year!”
The Grow program teaches a simple formula for living a fulling life: "I can be ordinary. I can do what ordinary good people do and avoid whatever ordinary good people avoid. My special abili es will develop in harmony only if my foremost aim is to be a good ordinary human being.”
It was at this moment that I made a promise to myself, that I would never reach New Year's Eve feeling like I wasted another year. I began a decade long journey of recrea ng myself, the new me would plan, organise, try new things. S ll, most importantly, I would start living and enjoying life.
If you want more out of life but don't know how to start or begin, start by being a good ordinary person. Be someone who does what good ordinary people do and avoid whatever good ordinary people avoid. By living this way, you start uncomplica ng your life by avoiding drama and complica ons, free yourself up, allowing your special abili es to grow.
It's essen al that when one starts a journey to recreate, they make small changes. As they say, Rome wasn't built in a day, but they also say that a journey of a thousand steps starts with a single step.
This new year can become a year of selfdiscovery, where you find the best in life and love and happiness. Remember that, if there is hope for me, then there is hope for you. If there is hope for you, then there is hope for everyone.
My journey began with a simple formula: more reading and less tv. I started reading self-help books and biographies. My journey started inward. I asked myself; Who am I? What are my interests, passions and values? What am I passionate about? As I discovered the answers to my ques ons, I began to forge a new life for myself.
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My journey became like all journeys, full of highs and lows, joy and pain, mes of celebra on, and bi er disappointments. I made mistakes and s ll do, but I learnt from them. I met people that inspired me, and people that would hurt me. But through all this, I started living, and when you start living, you must accept the good, the bad Living In Logan Magazine
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New Year Means New Actions By Je Barnes
And so, here we are crossing the threshold of 2021, the dawn of a new year. We have celebrated the passing of what most call the worst year recorded in many. Yet, we are amongst some of the luckiest in the world because of leadership choices, responsible ac ons and a joint resolve to stay healthy in such uncertain mes. We have waited with bated breath to see this New Year and have the dread of 2020 behind us.
Good inten ons only get us so far. We can plan and prepare for all occasions, and that is really needed, but that is only one part. We need to work toward our goals and dreams; otherwise, all of our ambi ons and poten al are just visions, an illusion of our desires. There is an element of hard work and dedica on that is required to achieve these goals. Please do not think that these words are an a ack on the dreams you may have. They do hold value, but si ng procras na ng and planning for be er mes will only get you be er mes on paper. Yes, we have made it this far with a joyful heart, we have made it through a really tough period. Although it may not have gone according to plan, here we are, ready to endure another year.
But what does this really mean for us? A new year, fresh of beginnings and birthdays to look forward to? Be er health or living standards? Prosperity and abundance of wealth or material possession? New employment or opportuni es? All of these things are possible, but the reality is that the changing of calendar dates does not determine a be er outcome.
I write this as much for myself as I do the beau ful people of Logan reading this. May the oncoming year be full of laughter, wealth and abundance of prosperity for those who choose to work for it. It will not be easy, but hopefully, a damn sight easier than that has passed.
I have found that in my experience, as we navigate through this journey of life, unless you are ac vely applying energy to a situa on, things will not change. Certain elements are needed for things to work. Hoping, wishing or planning will only get you to a certain point of the equa on, but there are many mes where ac ons are just as necessary to get things done. There are many mes where you need to dig in and get your hands dirty.
May 2021 be the year to remember in many good ways for all of us.
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Gamers Corner Patrick Bradley Over the last few decades, the way we perceive and play forms of electric entertainment have changed, improved and adapted with the mes. The science-fic on movies we all saw growing up over the years had inspired many new technologies that, in many cases, had caught up with and even exceeded what would have been considered sci-fi when we were younger.
jumping large distances, or precision aiming with a mouse. Players are forced to pick up, load, aim and fire their weapons, and deal with recoil while a emp ng to avoid taking fire themselves. A er spending a few hours in VR, one gets a serious workout! As we are s ll in an age where social interac ons are more challenging, interac ng with other people is made easier in these virtual worlds. VR chat is another of these games where players can assume an avatar of almost anything they imagine and join others in different servers just to hang out.
While the graphics improved, controls evolved, and immersion via gameplay mechanics and story pulled us into the experience. The idea of really stepping into a world and seeing it with our own eyes like in the Matrix was s ll just a dream.
Similar to the mobile phone when it first came out, adop on rates have been slow but have been escala ng with reduc ons in prices and increases in quality. This has translated to millions of people over the world owning a dedicated VR device and is pushing billions of dollars for investments in the emerging tech in gaming, educa on, video entertainment and even within the military.
A empted in the past, by bol ng screens to a player’s face, actually crea ng the illusion of being in an interac ve world was always just out of reach. This trend, however, started to change only within the last few years. A start-up company called Oculus began to make and sell prototype headsets, which gave very convincing illusions of placing characters in the worlds they were playing in.
While the idea of actually plugging into a computer may s ll be just a dream, I am excited to see what the next few years will bring in this space.
Over the last few years, however, the technology behind VR has advanced to the point where you can actually stand, move and use your own hands to interact within these worlds, pushing the limits to trick your mind into thinking you are even there. Freeing players from the restric on of a keyboard, mouse, or controller has led to more lifelike interac ons between the player and the world around them. One genre, in par cular, has benefited from this, namely shoo ng games. Onward is one game of note, as it pits two teams of four players against each other in a compe ve match. Gone are the days of unrealis c
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New Year's Resolutions: Why We Make and Break Them Is making a New Year’s resolu on on January 1 each year something that excites you? S ll, you find yourself losing enthusiasm as the weeks go by only to give up en rely by late February? If so, you’re not the only one. There is a lot of research out there, and it shows that as many as 50 per cent of adults make New Year’s resolu ons, but fewer than 10 per cent actually keep them for more than a few months. It doesn’t ma er if your goal is to lose weight, get more exercise, quit smoking, save money, or something else en rely. The truth is that there are some common psychology-based reasons why New Year’s resolu ons fall flat. But before you put your goals on the shelf un l next year, here is what you need to know about why we make and break New Year’s resolu ons.
Focusing on specific outcomes and not the process is another reason why these habits are hard to crack. If you want to drop some weight but concentrate only on the number and not the path there, things will be tricky.
As we grow up and when in business, we are taught to set goals, and it is human nature to do so at the start of something new, like a New Year. It is making a clean start and is easy to track if you s ck to it plus your expecta ons are high at this me of year.
Problems with purpose are that you are busy, and me can be a significant factor. Your goal may make you healthier at the end if you can reach it, but it requires a lot of devo on to something that you may not find mo va ng.
There are many reasons why people may not keep a New Year’s resolu on. S ll, instances of New Year’s resolu on burnout can be narrowed down to three psychology-related issues: difficulty breaking old habits, focusing on specific outcomes, and problems with purpose.
If you want to keep your New Year’s resolu on and develop those new habits, you will need to think about those changes. Find your purpose but avoid focusing on a specific outcome. Break your goal into components and set realis c and achievable process goals. Make a public commitment, so you are accountable. Engage with likeminded people who have the same goals as you.
Difficulty breaking old habits and mee ng your new goals means you need to break those old ones. Habits are ingrained in our memory, and they are in our unconscious memory, making it harder to break. These habits can be influenced by lifestyle, people you see, emo onal or physical reasons and to change all of that is not something you will want to do.
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If you can start doing some of these, you will help yourself achieve your New Year’s resolu ons.
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Gardening Gracefully into your Golden Years are a grower of fruit or veggies.
As me passes and you become older, you may feel inclined to put down the gardening tools as physical ac vity becomes more difficult.
Ge ng moving in the garden is an excellent form of physical therapy and exercise. Every movement that you do while gardening builds strength, flexibility, endurance, and aerobic capacity. It’s low impact, too.
Con nuing your love of gardening as you age is be er for you than you might think. With the aid of some helpful tools and ps, you can con nue to garden well into your golden years. While gardening can stock your kitchen
Being out in the sun helps your body produce more vitamin D, which is absolutely vital for bone and immune system health. But just make sure you have your sunblock. Gardening reduces the chance of heart a ack or stroke. In fact, among the 60+ age group, it was shown to reduce the danger of heart a acks or strokes by as much as 30 per cent in one study. As you get older, the strength in your hands and your pinch force lower; however, gardening helps improve both. Gardening is a stress-reliever. One study found that compared to other forms of relaxa on such as reading, gardening was excep onally good at relieving stress.
with delicious vegetables and fruits, the addi onal benefits of gardening become even more cri cal in senior ci zens. First and foremost, gardening is an excellent form of exercise that gets you moving. Plenty of studies show that even small physical ac vity levels in the elderly can extend lifespans drama cally and enhance the overall quality of life.
Being out in the garden regularly is also known to decrease depression and anxiety as the body produces higher serotonin levels. And if all that was not enough, it is rewarding. Not only do you have the pleasure of harves ng your own produce, but you get a li out of watching the plants develop and grow.
It’s not all about living longer. Added benefits includes being fun and financially smart, if you Living In Logan Magazine
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Jeep Gladiator Rubicon Test & Review By Car and Bike News strength steel frame.
Entering the Australian market in May 2020, the Jeep Gladiator Rubicon made Australia the first country to have a right-hand drive variant. The Jeep Gladiator delivers legendary off-road capability courtesy of two advanced 4x4 systems.
It boasts a rugged, dis nguished design aesthe c that is immediately recognisable due to its tradi onal Jeep design cues.
The Rubicon model features the Rock-Trac Ac ve On-Demand 4x4 system, with heavy-duty thirdgenera on Dana 44 front and rear axles with a "4LO" ra o of 4:1. A 4.10 rear axle ra o is standard as are Tru-Lok locking differen als.
The seven-slot grille dons the truck's front, which is wider than other models to increase airflow. Enhancing the aerodynamics, the top of the keystone-shaped grille gently slopes back in the Jeep Gladiator design.
The Rubicon variant also offers improved ar cula on and total suspension travel with help from a segment-exclusive electronic sway-bar disconnect. It boasts an impressive crawl ra o of 77.2:1, making scaling any obstacle on the trail easy.
The Jeep Gladiator Rubicon comes with LED headlamps and fog lamps that project crisp white ligh ng and feature day me running lights with forward turn signals posi oned on the front of the trapezoidal wheel flares. At the rear, tradi onal square tail lamps also feature LED ligh ng as standard, giving way to a wide tailgate opening for unobstructed cargo loading into the bed. Unique to Jeep, a four-bolt design at the top of the windshield's frame allows the windshield to fold down quickly and easily. The header bar connects the A-pillars and stays in place even when the windshield is folded down, allowing the rearview mirror to remain even with the windshield folded.
The Jeep Gladiator u lises various ways to op mise ride, handling and sound characteris cs while op mising fuel economy even while towing and hauling. U lising a body-on-frame design and featuring a superbly engineered five-link suspension system, the Jeep Gladiator delivers on capability, with composed on-road driving dynamics and passenger safety. The Jeep Gladiator Rubicon is a really a truck as it is long, wide and what it cannot move out of its way, it can drive over. The Gladiator's body-onframe design uses advanced materials and engineering to be nimble, yet s ff and durable and features an all-new lightweight, highLiving In Logan Magazine
The Jeep Gladiator's lightweight, high strength aluminium doors feature the Torx bit size stamped directly onto the hinge to eliminate guessing which size bit is needed to remove the doors. An easy-to-use tool kit with the necessary 26
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such as climate and volume control knobs and media connec vity ports.
Torx bits to remove the doors and lower the windshield is provided as standard equipment to ensure door removal is effortless.
On the road, the Jeep Gladiator Rubicon does everything needed. It has enough power for the size, and the transmission is smooth and seems to be smart enough to know which gear to be in at what me.
The three-piece hard top roof can be easily removed in the Jeep Gladiator, providing a segment-exclusive open-air op on. The two Freedom panels and quick-release latches enable fast removal and installa on of the hardtop, all of which feature a manual rearsliding window.
Due to the Rubicon's size, off-road suspension, and tyres, it does feel a li le like a boat when driving on the highway though. It is a bit so and we found it moved around on the road. This is something that the more it is driven, the less it will be felt.
The Gladiator offers the 3.6-litre V6 Pentastar engine across the range. The engine delivers 209kW of horsepower and 347Nm of torque. The 8-speed ZF-Automa c transmission is standard, enabling the vehicle to op mise engine output while on the trails or enjoy smooth, efficient power delivery at highway speeds.
On the other hand, Rubicon off-road is a beast. It did not ma er what was thrown at it; the Jeep did not slow down. The so sand was a breeze, and when on the hard sand and water crossings, it was like it was driving on the road. With all the different controls and op ons, there was something to suit every situa on.
The interior combines authen c Jeep styling, versa lity, comfort and intui ve features, highquality materials found throughout the cabin. The heritage-inspired centre stack features a clean, sculpted form that complements the horizontal dashboard design. Func onal features, including climate and volume control knobs, media charging and connec vity ports, and Engine Stop-Start (ESS) control are all sculpted for quick recogni on. They are easily within reach of the front-seat occupants.
Jeep models are definitely not purchased for their miserly fuel consump on. While highway driving the best number we got was 12-litres per 100km. We won't even talk about off-roading as that is simply crazy. But the fuel use is not what is important here, the fun factor is, and you cannot put a price on fun. Well, I guess you can because Jeep has done it. The Jeep Gladiator Rubicon is priced from $82,701 drive-away.
The instrument cluster features a 7-inch thinfilm transistor (TFT) informa on LED display. The LED display allows the driver to configure informa on in more than 100 ways, including current media being played, tyre pressure, tyre-fill alert or digital speed readout. Integrated bu ons on the steering wheel control audio, voice and speed func ons. An 8.4-inch touchscreen houses Jeep's fourth-genera on Uconnect system and sits prominently atop the centre stack. It has both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. Conveniently directly below the touchscreen are func onal features, Living In Logan Magazine
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Motoring Writer
Lee McKenzie McKinnon
RAV4 Cruiser Hybrid has Style A new 2.5-litre in-line four-cylinder engine features both petrol and hybrid models to meet the demand of responsive, yet fuel-efficient driving. The hybrid version has a Con nuously Variable Transmission (CVT) which is perfectly capable in everyday driving.
It's hard to believe that the current Toyota RAV4 is the fi h-genera on SUV with the first-genera on launched in 1994. The all-new Toyota RAV4 has raised the bar for SUV performance, safety, technology, style and refinement and is the first Toyota hybrid SUV for the Australian market.
As a hybrid, there is plenty of power when the foot goes down. The power is almost instant, and when taking off from a sta onary posi on, it certainly will not leave you wondering what happened. The power delivery is smooth, and if you want to drive to a "greener" standard, the dash will tell you what to do.
With 2WD and AWD's op ons, the powerful and efficient Toyota Hybrid System in the new RAV4 con nues to drive Toyota's spirit of adventure. The new RAV4 has a be er driving posi on and improved dynamics due to its lower centre of gravity and greater torsional rigidity. Adop ng a Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) pla orm results in a longer wheelbase and wider front and rear tracks for stable, confident driving while shorter overhangs enhance new RAV4's ability to overcome rugged terrain.
The new RAV4 features a more rugged exterior with an aggressive grille, fog light surrounds, large over-fenders and unique wheel design. Compared to older versions, the new model has many sharper edges and is more prominent in appearance. It has style and a more modern feel without overdoing the lines.
With these enhancements, the RAV4 is far superior to its predecessor and drives like no model before. It goes, it stops, and it can hold the line on the road. While it doesn't have a decent engine note, the lack of noise inside means you can enjoy your music.
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The black wheels set it apart. While many SUV's can't pull off the black wheels, the RAV4 really can, and it looks spor er than it is. The advanced mul media system with steering wheel controls incorporates full Bluetooth 28
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increase in luggage capacity of up to a classleading 580 litres compared, with the previous model. It features an innova ve twolevel reversible floor for added func onality, but it is not available with full-size spare wheel op on. There are seven airbags, front and rear parking sensors, blind-spot monitor, rear-cross traffic alert, reversing camera, and ABS with vehicle stability control and ac ve cornering assist, further adding to the new RAV4's impressive safety creden als.
connec vity, AM/FM/DAB+ radio, satellite naviga on and voice recogni on with all informa on displayed on an 8-inch touchscreen.
Car and Bike News Opinion The new RAV4 Cruiser Hybrid is a good looking SUV and has even be er fuel efficiency than some smaller hybrids. It goes a lot be er than we were first expec ng, and for the price, the value is definitely there.
The new RAV4 comes standard with new ac vesafety technologies and capabili es that enhance protec on. Its equipment includes a pre-collision system with pedestrian detec on, autonomous emergency braking, all-speed radar cruise control, lane-departure alert with steering assist and automa c high beam.
As an everyday car and one to take on weekends away, the RAV4 Cruiser Hybrid is worth considering.
A 65mm extended rear load space offers an
PURE ZONE® ANTIMICROBIAL SURFACE PROTECTION Pure Zone ® Clear film contains silver ions and is intended for an microbial 24/7 protec on of surfaces in areas that require a high level of hygiene like hospitals, agribusinesses, Transport and food industries, including Touch Screens, Bench Tops, Toilet Doors, Entry/Exit Doors and high traffic areas. This product has been available in Europe since 2013. Ac ve strains (according to ISO 22196): Reducing > 99.99 % of bacteria ascertained for: • Escherichia coli, • Salmonella (Salmonelle enterica), • Listeria (Listeria monocytogenes), • Golden staph (Staphylococcus aureus), • Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), • Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These bacteria are responsible for gastroenteri s, fever, listeriosis, weakened immune defences, urinary tract infec on, skin infec on. An viral ac vity on the Human coronavirus HCoV-229E (common cold) strain (according to the ISO 21702 standard): 94.99 % a er a contact me of 15 min., 99.87 % a er a contact me of 60 min. COVID 19 has not been tested due to legal regula ons in dealing with an infec ous virus, so no claims are made as to the effec veness of this product on this virus in this regard. These an microbial films are a relevant and reliable solu on to meet hygiene and safety requirements 24/7, and are another barrier to prevent the spread of bacteria in the workplace or home.
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COMMUNITY CENTRES Beenleigh Neighbour Centre – Bethania Community Centre – Booran Park Neighbourhood Centre – Caddies Community Centre – Chambers Flat Community Centre – Crestmead Community Centre – Eagleby Community Centre – Gould Adams Community Centre – Greenbank Community Centre – Kingston East Neighbour Centre – Loganlea Community Centre – Logan Central Community Centre – Logan Village Community Centre – Springwood Community Centre – Tudor Park Community Centre –
MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT Headspace Meadowbrook – helps young people with mental health and well-being, drug, alcohol, educa on and employment issues. – 3804 4200
3287 2840 3805 2687 3808 7675 5600 0750 5547 0002 3805 4100 3807 3833 3412 9918 0404 564 014 3808 1684 3805 8260 3290 0088 0438 774 911 3808 4529 3801 7400
YFS - YFS YouthLink program supports 12 to 18 olds who are finding life a bit out of control. Phone – 3826 1500 Grow.org.au - Grow is a community-based organisa on that has helped tens of thousands of Australians recover from mental illness through a unique program of mutual support and personal development. 1800 558 268 1800 RESPECT - A na onal sexual assault and domes c violence counselling service, online support, 24-hour online chat, and phone counselling service. 1800 737 732
CHILDREN KRANK school holiday program - free and low-cost school holiday ac vi es aged 5 to 17 years. For informa on, check https://www.logan.qld.gov.au/krank
HELPFUL NUMBERS
MEN'S PROGRAMS Dads' Group - Browns Plains Early Years Learning Centre, Corner of Wineglass and Middle Road, Hillcrest - 3386 9000 – FREE – 930am – 1130am - first Saturday of the month Dad's Playgroup – The Family Place, 35A North Road, Woodridge – FREE – 10am – 12pm – Saturdays The Logan Men's Network – Various loca ons – Call Glenn – 1pm – 230pm,1st Tuesday of the month.3208 1263 Men's Legal Service - Unit 4, Portal West, 2994 Logan Road, Underwood - Cost-effec ve legal services to men at turning points in their lives. 3429 8874
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EMERGENCY Logan City Council Logan House Fire Support Network RSPCA (Qld) Sick/Injured Pets & Wildlife Logan City Animal Management Centre Logan City Graffi Removal Police Link Crime Stoppers 13 HEALTH Energex General Energex Power Out Energex Emergency RACQ Lifeline Beyond Blue Mensline Australia Kids Helpline
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BUSINESS Beenleigh Yatala Chamber of Commerce Logan Chamber of Commerce Logan Regional Chamber of Commerce
0419 183 451 3208 8080 0407 544 293
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