Nestled in the holds of the New Creation Christian Church at Burpengary you’ll find a small group of volunteers busily prepping the food pantry for others in the community. Fruit and vegetables, bread and other staple items are available for those who need a little bit of a helping hand, especially in these tough times. Page 4
Not everyone is a storyteller, yet according to the Caboolture Writers Link (C.W.L) members, there are many reasons why people begin to write. Page 10
Kim Lewis wanted another avenue to explore and have a bit of “me time” to look forward to. It was by chance she discovered the Moreton Bay Women’s Shed on Facebook earlier this year and decided to see what it was all about. Page 14
Traversing the entirety of Burpengary west to east, the 2.2 km stretch of bitumen known as Pitt road has a 67 year association with a Burpengary family who came to Australia in the 1950’s. Page 28
QUEENSLAND STUDENTS ASPIRING to represent Australia at the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games are a step closer to achieving their dream, with the first round of the $100 million Go for Gold schools fund now open for applications.
The fund is a targeted strategy to improve sports performance preparation for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The Queensland Government has committed $100 million over four years to build and upgrade school sport infrastructure and provide school sport equipment aimed at increasing student activity and participation in sport across all Queensland schools.
The benefits of the Go for Gold Fund will be spread across schools including primary, high, middle, special education, outdoor and distance education schools.
Delivered through an application process for schools, the initiative provides opportunities for investment in projects such as:
• sports equipment to increase student activity, participation in sports or active engagement in learning at schools
• five-sport marking for indoor or outdoor sports facilities
• multi-purpose courts
• synthetic pitches to facilitate athletics and field sports
• refurbishment of outdoor court surfaces
• upgrades to ovals
• investment opportunities for emerging sports.
The first round of funding is for sports goods. From athletics to basketball, sport climbing to skateboarding, the Go for Gold Fund is offering up to $5,000 equipment grants for sports from traditional to emerging.
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This round is focused on providing sporting equipment that encourages active play and increases participation in sports, resulting in the more effective use of existing infrastructure.
Only one sports equipment application per school will be accepted. with applications closing Friday 31 March, 2023 at 5pm and successful applications announced by May 2023.
More information on Go for Gold Fund Round One, including details of how to apply, can be found at https://qed.qld.gov.au/programsinitiatives/department/building-education/major-projects/schoolupgrades/go-for-gold
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Nestled in the holds of the New Creation Christian Church at Burpengary you’ll find a small group of volunteers busily prepping the food pantry for others in the community. Fruit and vegetables, bread and other staple items are available for those who need a little bit of a helping hand, especially in these tough times. Helping and giving to others in the community is just part of what Pastor John and the team of volunteers do to make a difference where they can.
If you aren’t familiar with the New Creation Christian Church, they used to spend their time in the Burpengary Community Hall on a Sunday before the opportunity came up to take an available space in North Shore Drive. While they’re still in the developing stages, the centre is often a hive of activity between the church, the food pantry and other community organisations utilising the space.
“At the moment, the food pantry is up and running, the church is most definitely functioning here and we have a few community groups making the most of the space as well,” Pastor John explains. “We’re in the process of getting things in line for next year in regard to furthering the community side of everything for things like the first steps, where there will be opportunities to help people get back on their feet. We will have someone here who can offer support with financial paperwork and others who can assist with filling out forms for Centrelink and dealing with other legal documents.
“In the future, we’re hoping to become a bit more specialised in the counselling side of things, helping people through issues where we can refer them on to someone more specialised in the field if need be. That’s just the way we’re developing.”
After originally moving into the building in March 2022, it’s taken time for everything to come together but Pastor John says all the pieces are finally falling into place.
“Everything to this point has been predominantly done by volunteers,” he says. “We’ve also had a few tradies help us out with free labour and we’ve just covered the cost of materials, so we are extremely grateful for that. It feels good to know it’s finally coming together and that we’re able to assist those in the community who need it.”
A big focus at this point in time is the food pantry, with a consistent flow of people coming through the door across the three days it’s open (Wednesday and Thursday 11am-1pm and Saturday 9am-12pm).
“We are noticing a lot of people coming in for help, on some occasions there’s a line up and other days it’s fairly consistent,” Pastor John says. “And the comments that you get, just recently a lady said ‘I don’t know what I would do without this, I wouldn’t be able to support my budget otherwise, don’t you go closing on me’.
“It makes you feel sad for the community that that’s where we’re getting to. But it also says to us that we need to do our best to help where we can.”
While they happily help the community as much as possible, Pastor John says they would also be extremely grateful for any help they could receive from others who can assist the cause.
“We network with Food Bank and Second Bite (connected with Coles and Aldi) but Food Bank is our main supplier,” he says. “We’re looking for more resources if we can, because it can be a bit hit and miss with what you get. Sometimes we get potatoes and sometimes we can’t. In the mix of that, so that nobody misses out, we have to source elsewhere and at times, we even have to pay for that ourselves, which we’re more than happy to do of course.”
The group also uses a van to collect items for the food pantry and it’s not as reliable as it used to be. So far, they have been unsuccessful in obtaining a grant to help their venture and would appreciate any assistance anyone in the community may be able to give on this path on sourcing a van or light truck that can take pallets.
While they busily prepare for what 2023 may send their way, the centre is also anticipating a busy time at Christmas.
“Our church will have a Christmas Eve service but on Christmas Day, we’ll be putting on a free dinner for anyone that’s on their own or whatever else is happening in their lives, they can come in and enjoy a meal,” Pastor John says. You’ll find the food pantry as part of the New Creation Christian Church located at Unit 2, 9 North Shore Drive, Burpengary. If you would like to offer donations or assistance of any kind, please email johnn3c@gmail.com.
Words: myPolice
POLICE ARE ENCOURAGING members of the public to report suspicious activity that may be linked to metal theft.
From electrical wiring to sporting equipment, thieves are stealing metal from a range of locations that have a huge impact on our communities.
Metal theft exposes thieves, legitimate workers and the wider community to significant risk of serious injury or death.
Keep a look out for suspicious activity: Metal thieves may hide in plain sight and look like legitimate by wearing high visibility clothing and driving construction vehicles like utilities, vans and trucks.
Look out for discarded cable insulation, open access to utilities and removal of materials from construction or public sites including:
• Construction sites
• Sporting fields
• Energy and water supplies
• Community venues (eg: community halls).
Report the signs of metal theft: If you spot suspicious activity or the signs on metal theft, don’t stay static. If it looks out of place, report it. Every scrap of information helps.
Think Policelink and report activity online or by calling 131 444. Report anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www. crimestoppersqld.com.au.
If a crime is happening now or someone is in immediate danger call Triple Zero (000) and ask for police.
UNITYWATER HAS ANNOUNCED an $8m Caboolture River Nutrient Offset Project that will rehabilitate 2.4 kms of eroding shoreline along the Caboolture River.
The project, which includes collaboration with Healthy Landy and Water as construction partner, will repair nine riverbank sites to offset nutrients discharged to the river from Unitywater’s nearby Burpengary East Sewage Treatment Plant (STP).
Unitywater Executive Manager Sustainable Infrastructure Services Daniel Lambert said the project would increase biodiversity and fish habitat while stabilising sections of riverbank.
“We’re planting 30,000 seedlings and the project will provide an estimated carbon sequestration of 34 tonnes of CO2 per year,” he said.
Mr Lambert said the works would reduce the amount of nutrients entering waterways, which offset the nutrients that were discharged following the sewage treatment process.
“The population growth in this area will place a lot of extra pressure on both the environment and on our sewerage infrastructure and this project will provide offsets for the equivalent of an additional load on our Burpengary East STP of 5,500 people,” he said.
“Nutrient offsetting here is a more cost-effective option that provides flexibility in upgrading STPs. It enables us to make a positive contribution to our environment and community spaces by doing what we can to preserve the health of local waterways.
“Apart from being the right thing to do, this is also a condition of our licence to operate and it helps us meet the challenges of population growth and climate change. We look forward to seeing and sharing the results of this exciting project.”
Mr Lambert said the project would also help Unitywater achieve its sustainability goals of net zero carbon emissions by 2050, net zero biosolid waste to landfill and net zero nutrients to waterways by 2050.
Unitywater has carried out other nutrient offsetting projects at its Yandina Creek Wetland and the Caboolture River at Bellmere.
CHRIS WHITING MP has urged local residents to be aware of ‘claim farmers’ and that claim farming is now illegal in Queensland.
“Claim farmers are scammers that target people who have suffered personal injury or abuse,” said Chris Whiting MP.
They use many different tactics, through phone, social media, email or even in person.
Claim farmers may also imply they act on behalf of government agencies or insurers.
They induce or harass individuals to make a claim with a promise of quick, easy and significant compensation, or even offering to help with medical treatment or other services.
These scammers do not work in the best interests of those they approach.
They try to profit off the claimant’s misfortune by on-selling claims and individual information to a lawyer or claim management company.
If you have got one of these calls, bear in mind claim farming is now a crime in Queensland, and you should report any suspected claim farming to the appropriate regulator.
“These regulators are the Office of Industrial Relations for workers’ compensation claims, the Motor Accident Insurance Commission for motor accident insurance claims and the Legal Service Commission for all other personal injury claims,” said Chris Whiting MP.
TWO GROUPS OF UniSC Moreton Bay students won national awards last month for their creative solutions to some of the problems facing Australia’s freight industry as part of the annual GovHack competition.
Every year GovHack challenges bright, analytical minds to access open government data and identify how it could be used to improve our society. UniSC’s Dr Erica Mealy, the Moreton Bay Regional Lead for GovHack, says she was impressed with the quality of this year’s entries.
“It’s very exciting to see so many of our teams in both the national and regional awards. Especially for our engineers who are almost ready to graduate – it speaks to the quality of our engineering and technology curriculums and the employability of our students and graduates,” Dr Mealy said
While there were innovative ideas spanning everything from water supply to biodiversity, it was the UniSC teams tackling the transport system that gained national attention, taking out first-place in GovHack’s two freight categories.
From keeping supermarket shelves stocked, to making sure regretful online shopping purchases arrive on time – freight plays a hand in every facet of our lives. However as the pandemic, floods and fires over the past four years have shown – Australia’s supply lines can be susceptible to shutting down in the face of adversity.
Fires remain a challenge, but one of UniSC’s teams think they might have come up with a solution to the problem presented by floods. Enter Flood Freight Assist.
“The concept of our application is to create a map that will help freight carriers navigate safer routes and complete their routes more efficiently by indicating travel routes at risk of flooding,” said Airah Flores, a member of the winning team.
Combining data sets mapping freight routes, with topographical data of flood plains, drainage basins and at-risk areas, the concept aims to provide up-to-date information on roads that are in danger of being flooded straight to the phones of Australia’s transport industry workers.
“Our goal is to connect transport planners with freight data and real-time data to assist with their planning. If we see that there is a high density of freight carriers travelling on areas with high risk of flooding, transport planners can help by creating alternative routes. This may also assist in road improvement/development plans,” she said.
UniSC’s other national award-winning entry took a similar approach, but instead focused on combining BOM rainfall data in a bid to predict what freight routes around the Ipswich region were most likely at risk with a phone app called Australian Freight Road Planner.
These ideas aren’t just pipedreams either, Dr Mealy believes they have real-world potential.
“Over the years, GovHack concepts have been further developed across Australia. For 2022, Moreton Bay Regional Council is already speaking with award winning teams from UniSC, and looking at how they might further develop them.”
Moreton Bay Regional Council Mayor Peter Flannery said GovHack provided an opportunity to develop and support entrepreneurial capabilities for the region’s young innovators to generate real-world solutions for both local and national issues affecting communities.
“Knowledge, innovation and entrepreneurship is one of the four pillars of our Regional Economic Development Strategy. Our aim is to make our region one of the top 10 regional knowledge and innovation hubs in Australia – a goal we can achieve by focusing on growing our region’s talent,” Mayor Flannery said.
UniSC’s Computer Science and Engineering had four winners, three runner ups and four honourable mentions across the state and national levels of the competition. Moreton Bay Regional Council was also recognised with a national award.
SINCE THE GROUP’S formation in 2006, budding writers and authors of all genres have been mentored to find their writing ‘voice.’ The Caboolture-based group is celebrating their 16th anniversary by publishing a new collection of members’ works in an anthology entitled “Reflections of a Writers Pallet.” Their first three self-published anthologies sold out, so this writers’ group is clearly doing something right.
C.W.L. aims to encourage writers to write at their own pace, regardless of skill level, age or ability. Emerging writers connect with published and unpublished writers at monthly meetings, giving them more confidence to explore and develop their skills.
Writing can be a solitary pursuit, but part of the group’s success can be attributed to the discussion-style format employed at meetings. Knowledge is freely given, and questions on editing, publishing and marketing challenges are welcome.
One member discovered that writing her family history was helpful after her husband passed away. Group members assisted her in organizing and transforming her notes ready for publication. Bakti Ross, who writes and illustrates children’s stories, agrees that C.W.L. is a valuable resource, “especially in learning about editing and publishing options.”
New members often begin their writing journey as they approach retirement, explains long-time member Janet Bestmann. “They know they would like to write something but are not sure quite what. Some want to write a memoir or a legacy to leave to family, in words that come from them. If they do want to publish something, it’s a big part of one’s soul they put out there. This is the one place they can bring their words and ideas and feel safe.”
The writing process can be therapeutic in itself. John Nolan suffered amnesia following a car accident. He began writing poetry to express himself and circulate ideas to
“A formal education in creative writing helps but is in no way essential,” shared Martin Kari, a member who has published 24 books. His recommendation to aspiring writers is to read as much as possible. He has always had an inner drive to write, saying that today’s authors face different challenges in getting their work to publication. They must be diverse and creative to appeal to a new audience of readers who access audiobooks and e-books.
For any writers looking to publish, Peter Carseldine considers it vital their topic is thoroughly researched and fact-checked. He explains that originality, finding a formula that works, and professional editing is crucial to a book’s success. However, presenting a good cover design, title, and catchy blurb will definitely help.
“Since the advent of self-publishing, the availability of relatively inexpensive books online has exploded,” said Peter.
Not everyone is a storyteller, yet according to the Caboolture Writers Link (C.W.L) members, there are many reasons why people begin to write.Group members Rosalie Enstrom and Russell Perry holding a group anthology and magazine
The Bruce Highway opened in 1934, and the varied travellers’ stories of adventure and delay on the Bruce have varied ever since. But the road north from Brisbane was a wild ride before the Bruce existed.
In 1931, the RACQ advised motorists to take a swerve and avoid the main road north. In those days, the owner of a Model A Ford or an Austin Seven would take a pick and shovel and an axe on such a trip, as well as a set of spanners and various spare parts. Mechanics were few, and cars were unreliable by modern standards. The roads were often flooded, blocked with fallen trees, or littered with washouts and potholes. Few roads were sealed.
But many motorists in Brisbane, population 130,000 in 1931, aspired to a short motoring adventure, perhaps through the mountains to Landsborough and back. The return trip might take two or three days, depending on road conditions. Maybe it was even possible to squeeze in the journey over a weekend. Imagine the tall stories for smoko time in the tea room on Monday morning.
The RACQ published a regular motoring report in the Brisbane Courier and went to air on ABC’s Brisbane station 4QG, with motoring advice for those weekend warriors.
Consider this excerpt published in the Brisbane Courier on Saturday, 25th July 1931. “With the great improvement which has been made lately to the Mount Pleasant road between Dayboro and Mt Mee, and also the road from Mt Mee to D’Aguilar, a new route has come under the consideration of motorists going up the North Coast and wishing to avoid some of the bad roads between Petrie and Landsborough. The route suggested is as follows: Via Petrie to Dayboro, and from there via the Mt Pleasant road to Mt Mee. Then on through D’Aguilar, Woodford, Peachester to Beerwah. The roads this way are for the most part in good
condition, but it is certainly somewhat further, and there is some very steep climbing over the ranges between Dayboro and D’Aguilar.”
The road to Caboolture was bitumen, but “north of Caboolture continues to be very rough, with only a few short stretches of road to relieve the motorist, to as far as Palmwoods, where the road becomes very fair…”
The RACQ also published advice about suitable day trips from Brisbane. Day trippers enjoyed trips out to Redland Bay, Pullenvale, Fig Tree Pocket and Lone Pine Sanctuary, which had been open for about four years back in 1931. Adventurous picnickers might venture further out of town to Mount Glorious or Mount Crosby.
The Brisbane Courier article also suggested a motoring trip out “to the various crossings of the Pine River (except Cash’s Crossing, where the bridge is still down): to Enoggera Reservoir, and out along the new road which is being constructed to Mt Nebo.”
“On Sunday, RACQ patrols will be in attendance for members on the following roads… Sandgate, Redcliffe, Woody Point and Scarborough… Upper Brookfield, Figtree Pocket and Lone Pine. (messages may be left at Lone Pine Kiosk).”
Safety when reversing was a feature of the messaging from the RACQ at the time. “Make sure the way is clear before you attempt to reverse…A little trouble may save a great deal of damage to property, or injury to persons.”
While the 21st-century Brisbane motorist contends with glitches in their GPS mapping, or perhaps an ill-fitting cup-holder in their SUV, while they sit stationary looking at six lanes of banked-up holiday traffic on the Bruce, the hardy local adventurers in the early 20th century had many different hurdles to overcome.
Burke Cres, North Lakes
Ph: 0425 444 733
Come for the artisan-roasted coffee, and stay for the mouth-watering modern Asian cuisine that has foodies raving. With a Rottie on their logo, doggies are welcome to indulge in a puppacino (on request) while you enjoy breakfast or lunch. There is a cosy ambient lighting atmosphere and a mix of lounges, bench seats and undercover outdoor seating. The menu includes traditional Aussie breakfasts and burgers. Bao buns, New York-style Reuben sandwiches, authentic Okonomiyaki and Banh mi, are popular choices, especially for the surrounding workplaces. Call or text to reserve a table for lunch.
Open Mon-Sun 7am – 2 pm
For Kim Lewis, the Moreton Bay Women’s Shed came into her life at a time when she was looking for something more for herself. As a working woman with grown up children, Kim wanted another avenue to explore and have a bit of “me time” to look forward to. It was by chance she discovered the Moreton Bay Women’s Shed on Facebook earlier this year and decided to see what it was all about.
NOW, KIM HAS unearthed newfound interests, gone down paths she never thought she would, become a part of the group’s committee and made friendships that will last a lifetime.
Nestled in the back of the Pine Rivers Showground at Lawnton, the Moreton Bay Women’s Shed home base can be found. It’s a space that has been designed for women of all ages to come together in a supportive environment and have the opportunity to meet other likeminded women, make new friends, learn new things and share their own experiences and skillsets with those looking for something similar in a no-pressure environment.
“It was a concept discovered by a lady who found there was this niche with Covid - a lot of ladies during lockdowns felt isolated, whether they had lost partners or friendships, it was just like a whole perfect storm of things happened around that,” Kim says. “It was uncovered that maybe the ladies needed something to reform friendships, meet new people, find new experiences and go from there. That’s how it was born and it’s gone from strength to strength.”
While it may not seem like a perfect fit for everyone, Kim admits that it depends on what you want to get out of it.
“Some ladies want the social aspect which is great - they have met people,” Kim says. “We’ve got quite a few ladies at the moment that just want that social aspect, it’s important for them to reconnect with others.
“Then there’s some who suffer from anxiety and aren’t sure how they’ll fit in. Well they’re out there, they’re doing stuff, they’re going for it, it’s good to see that everyone is getting what they need out of it.”
From Scrabble to reading groups, carving and acrylic pouring workshops along with sewing and even paint and sip sessions, there is so much happening, but you can do as little or as much as you want.
“There’s absolutely no pressure in our organisation, if women want to go they can but they don’t have to if they don’t want to attend anything,” Kim says. “We have some ladies that go to everything and others that only go to a few things. We also have ladies that meet up outside the shed which is what we’re trying to encourage as well.
“With the age range of ladies we have (from mid 30’s into their 80’s), there is so much knowledge between them all. There’s world experience and
there’s so much life experience.”
Although they have only been in operation for a short time and with a full program running, Kim, who works in accounts, says next year there will be more focus on holding events for those ladies who also work.
“We’re going to put a call out shortly for the new year on what working ladies want, what they want to get out of the shed, what they want to see and what we can do for them,” Kim says. “Personally, I’d like more activities geared towards working women held on a weekend. Night time isn’t always great, especially if we have to get up early for work and that kind of thing. My job can be full on and I just want that something else that I can go and either have some time out or learn new skills.”
Kim talks openly about her life experiences and what she’s been through. It was through her own personal experiences that Kim felt the loss of friendships and even some of her own identity. Kim is a self-confessed introvert who is more than happy to sit at home, but with some gentle encouragement from her partner, she started hunting through her options.
“Between us we have six kids and 11 grandkids and life gets very messy,” she says. “It was about just doing something for me. I tried contacting the CWA because my family were big with the CWA down in New South Wales, but I never got an answer here.
“This (Moreton Bay Women’s Shed) came up and I went okay that looks really good and I dived in head first. I haven’t looked back and I’ve learnt I definitely can’t paint!
“But I definitely encourage others to join. Come and have a look and see if it’s for you.”
Along with their shed in the showground (757 Gympie Road, Lawnton), the ladies also make the most of opportunities to gather in the “outside” world with regular lunches, brunches, workshops and even coffee catch ups.
There is an annual membership fee of $60, concession is $40 and a family of two or more is $100. For more information about the Moreton Bay Women’s Shed, you can follow them on Facebook. You can also contact the group via email secretary@moretonbaywomensshed.org.
“I had been trying for years and years to win the top prize and it is so amazing to have something so special,” Astrid said.
Astrid (pictured above) has always bought her jewellery from Jade Jewellers and said the staff were always friendly and were happy to find what she was looking for.
“You ask for certain things and they will do their best to get them in,” Astrid said. “Jade Jewellers will always go above and beyond and it has been a privilege to be part of the Jade Jewellers journey.”
Jewellery lover, Fiona Lester went into Jade Jewellers in 2019 with a plan to pick the winning diamond after she had a dream the night before.
“I cracked the bon bon and there was a piece of paper, I could tell from the staff faces that I had won,” Fiona said.
“I was so excited. My husband was getting a haircut and I rushed over to him to tell him I had won the ring and he could hardly believe it.”
Fiona regularly buys jewellery from Jade Jewellers and said Gary and Laurene Coates greet her as a friend rather than a customer.
“We really have formed a friendship over the years which is lovely,” Fiona said.
“I always buy my Mum’s birthday present from Jade Jewellers and I have some lovely pieces that include pearls, aquamarines and white gold and blue stones. But my diamond ring remains one of my favourites.”
Past winner Debbie Biancucci said when she saw she had a certificate with a ribbon in her bon bon, the staff were so excited and acted like they had won the diamond ring.
“I won my beautiful diamond ring three years ago and I come back every year to see if I have the same luck again,” Debbie said.
Debbie not only buys her jewellery from Jade Jewellers but has had custom jewellery designed and made for her as well.
“I needed to replace my engagement ring and Gary designed a beautiful ring which was exactly what I wanted,” Debbie said.
“Jade Jewellers is a beautiful shop and you don’t get the same service at other stores.”
This year is the ninth year, the family-run business has given away a diamond ring along with other jewellery prizes as a way of giving back to the community who have supported them for more than 22 years.
“Moreton Bay Region is a fantastic place to have a business and to grow a dedicated local customer base,” Gary said.
“We value our relationship with the community and for the nine years we have been running our annual Christmas Bon Bon promotion.
“This is our way of giving back to our customers and the community so they might have something extra under their Christmas tree.”
Jade Jewellers is located in the Burpengary Plaza and is open six days a week. For further information visit Jade Jewellers Facebook page.
Heather Joy Campbell is a living example of how laughter really is the best medicine. She is the principal of The Happydemic, an accredited laughter yoga teacher, who helps others find balance and well-being in their lives at work, in the community and even those who are living in aged care –using laughter exercises. It was a path she came across by chance in her previous life as a journalist, covering a story about laughter yoga and finding herself intrigued by the concept.
"Learning laughter yoga initially was for me a tool for my life but as I became more proficient, I realised many more people could
The idea of laughter yoga seems like a foreign one to those of us who aren’t in the know. This was exactly how Heather Joy felt when she was assigned to write a magazine feature on a woman in Geelong who did laughter yoga.
“It was the days before video conferencing for which I am eternally grateful because when the person I was interviewing said ‘you must experience this’, I did the whole eye roll/face pull,” Heather Joy recalls. “I said ‘yeah sure, but thought no way, I’ll be filing this story and on to the next one’.
“But I actually found I was intrigued by what she had spoken about and what could happen. So, I started to google to see if there was something like this happening in Brisbane and there was one club in South east Queensland, possibly even the whole of Queensland, at the time. That was at New Farm.”
Heather Joy decided to head along and give it a go. Despite her initial reservations, she found herself being encouraged and coaxed into the session.
“I immersed myself - lost myself - and I felt really really good afterwards, so much so that I wanted to do it again and again,” Heather Joy says. “I hadn’t realised how stressed I was. Long story short, I kept going and then I did my leader training so that I could help bring some joy into the neighbourhood as well.
“I did that for 18 months before I travelled to India, a quick trip between deadlines, to train further with the medical doctor who developed laughter yoga.
“Learning laughter yoga initially was for me – a tool for my life – but as I became more proficient, I realised many more people could benefit too and I wanted to share that.”
Heather Joy is certainly no stranger to dealing with the tougher aspects of life. She has juggled life as a single mum and the challenges of self-employment, paying all the bills, as well as caring for her own terminally ill mother for her last four years. While admitting life has thrown a few lemons her way, she tries not to dwell on what was, preferring to focus on the good in life. In 2018, Heather Joy closed the chapter on her media career and threw herself fulltime into laughter yoga, a practice that blends playful movement, intentional laughter and yogic breathwork, not jokes and humour.
“I really wanted to be able to focus and see how far I could go with it. I dealt with headlines and deadlines for a long time and there weren’t a lot of laughter lines in there: I’ve got great laughter lines on my face now,” she says laughing.
Covering stories about social issues that weren’t being talked about at the time was journalist Heather Joy’s way of raising people’s awareness. She continues to do that laughter yoga.
“Now, it’s about raising people’s awareness about what we have within ourselves,” Heather Joy says. “If you can
breathe unassisted, you have the ability to laugh, if you so choose and laughing provides us with a great stress relief.
“It’s like a valve releasing tension. It’s a flick switch for positivity. You can’t be angry or anxious and laugh at the same time, you just cannot do it. Laughter yoga gives the mind a break, a mini vacation. So, the monkey mind that people who are very busy and very anxious have, can be switched off.”
Heather Joy is all for undertaking research and furthering her knowledge on this great passion in her life.
“I’ve done studies through the University of California, Berkeley in the science of happiness,” she says. “I’ve recently completed more on happiness in the workplace which are all evidence based, science-based, units. I’ve completed lots of units in dementia, workplace wellness and mental health. I’m a mental health advocate.”
The Happydemic’s laughter yoga classes are not in a studio with a set timetable. Heather Joy runs two free sessions a month on Thursday evenings in the North Lakes Library and is part of council’s Healthy Active Moreton program, delivering laughter yoga in a park at Woody Point on Wednesday mornings.
“My week after that is peppered with a number of sessions in workplaces, neighbourhood centres, schools and aged care, working with small groups of residents mostly living with dementia,” she says. “Every session, every setting is different, yet they boil down to some common themes: reducing stress, feeling connected with others and feeling better, mentally stronger.”
Heather Joy, appointed as a global ambassador by Laughter Yoga International, for regional outreach work, hopes to spread more wellbeing through laughter across Queensland. Pre-Covid, she had travelled to places including Roma and Cairns and many towns inbetween running sessions and training workshops.
“I’m hopeful that more organisations – neighbourhood centres and aged care, for example – will be encouraged to train their staff in the basic practices for everyday incorporation, rather than one-off ‘feel good’ sessions.
“Laughter yoga promotes connected communities, something we all naturally want. We want to feel like we belong, that we’re connected and respected, understood and supported.”
There are days when Heather Joy misses the buzz of a deadline. She lived and breathed that life just as much as she does life now.
“When you work with your passion, it’s not work, that’s so true,” she says. “Work with what you love, love what you do.”
To find out more about laughter yoga visit www. thehappydemic.com.au.
From the centre pass through to shooting goals, it’s time for the next generation of netballers to find their groove with a Netball Queensland two-day holiday camp. Held at the Morayfield Sport and Events Centre (December 12 and 13).
The netball holiday camp is the perfect opportunity for kids to experience everything the sport has to offer from a team of talented coaches. With skill development, match play and even team-building exercises, participants will come away with a greater knowledge of the game and even score a few netball friends along the way.
Whether your child is a big fan of the sport or just has a budding interest, the upcoming school holiday camp is the perfect opportunity to further their skills, their interest or even develop a passion for a new sport in their lives. As the program coordinator and a keen netballer herself, Netball Queensland’s Georgia Elliot is looking forward to bringing the camp to Morayfield for the first time.
“We wanted to bring our camps to participants on both the north and south side of Brisbane and Morayfield had the perfect facilities for us,” she says. “We do have a few associations local to Morayfield and we are really excited to be able to bring this holiday camp to them.”
Netball is very much a sport for everyone to play and boys are also encouraged to join in the fun. The holiday camps have previously catered for up to 100 participants (depending on venue capacity) for both boys and girls every school holidays since 2019.
“We have seen a rise in participants in netball for both boys and girls,” Georgia says. “Our participants get to learn new skills and netball techniques from coaches that they normally wouldn’t get to learn from. “Those who come along also get the chance to try the sport with their friends or even make new friends and those who may be a first timer find a love for the game and transition into a local club!”
It seems it’s never too early to start getting into the game and you may just find you have a future Queensland or Australian champion on your hands.
“Our camps are for anyone aged five-plus, so we see a huge range in skill levels,” Georgia says. “We have a few different types of camps - our
Melinda was angry. She would gladly have punched Gemma in the face had she not been so tall and solid. Every day at school, she had to endure seeing her best friend Sophie’s tear-stained face and red-rimmed eyes due to Gemma’s relentless bullying. They didn’t bring it to their teacher’s attention fearing reprisal from Gemma, but Melinda dreamed of payback for Sophie. The class next door was having a live frog in a glass jar for their biology lesson, and she remembered that Gemma was terrified of frogs. “Borrowing” the frog, she quietly plonked it on Gemma’s desk. The bully, raising her head from her work and seeing it, ran screaming from the classroom, accompanied by loud laughter from her classmates. Gemma never bothered Sophie again.
general holiday camps are open for all skill levels but we also have rep ready camps for those who are trying to get to the next level, as well as rep camps for those who are at the next level and are looking to hone their skills over the holidays.”
Participants will be put through their paces with attack, defence, ball skills and footwork sessions lead by Netball Queensland community development officers and coaches. There will also be off-court sessions talking about healthy eating, goal setting or the importance of recovery. As well as making sure everyone has a great time, Georgia is looking forward to seeing what the region’s up and coming netballers have up their sleeves.
“Our team is passionate about the sport and giving everyone a chance to be involved from grassroots to high-performance and everything in between,” she says. “I have played netball for 17 years and I remember attending netball camps as a kid and the different skills I learnt. It’s very rewarding knowing that I can bring the experience to the next generation of netballers.”
The Netball Queensland two-day camp will be held at the Morayfield Sport and Events Centre (298 Morayfield Road, Morayfield) on December 12 and 13 from 9am-3pm. It will feature the Woolworths NetSetGo for kids aged 5-10 years old as well as a full program for kids aged 11 and up. The camp costs $150 per person. For further information or to book a spot, visit https://qld.netball.com.au/Camps.
At Oak Tree you’ll be surrounded by people who are all at the same stage of life with common interests.
As 2022 draws to a close, it’s important to reflect and think about what you’d like your next chapter to look like. A move to an Oak Tree Retirement village in 2023 can provide you with a relaxed, carefree retirement lifestyle that puts you first.
With less to worry about, you can spend your time focused on enjoying the good things in life and fi lling your days with whatever it is that brings you happiness – make the most of travelling and seeing the world again, spending precious quality time with family, and connecting with friends. Your retirement is your chance to do the things you want to do, not the things you have to do.
If you’re still living in a large family home, you may have found that maintaining the house and yard was costly and time consuming this year, and you might be considering beginning the process of downsizing. With our simple weekly
fee, you’ll have budget certainty over your everyday living expenses. While we take care of your home and village maintenance, there’s no need to worry about unexpected costs or relying on family to help with the upkeep.
At Oak Tree you’ll be surrounded by people who are all at the same stage of life with common interests. The boutique size of our villages fosters a tight-knit community where everyone is familiar and looks out for one another.
Our facilities and activities encourage you to foster companionships with both new and old friends. All the while, you’ll have
an active village manager who supports the community atmosphere through a calendar of regular social activities.
If simplicity and certainty are part of your resolution for 2023, then take the opportunity this holiday season to visit our village and experience the Oak Tree difference for yourself. We understand the importance of including family in these decisions, so feel free to bring them too – we’d love to see you all.
Make your next chapter one fi lled with more fun and less worry.
Visit our Village Manager to learn more about making Oak Tree Retirement Village Burpengary your home.
In addition to their 63 unique hotel rooms, Best Western Plus North Lakes Hotel has just finished the build of 18 brand new apartment style suites for those guests wanting a longer stay in the North Lakes area.
[North Lakes, November, 22, 2022]— [Best Western Plus North Lakes Hotel, Short and Long-stay accommodation offering in the Moreton Bay Region] announced today that the 18 self-contained apartments will be available for booking from 25 November 2022.
The hotel has attracted many short stay visitors to the 63 hotel rooms since the opening in 2018 with some long-stay guests in their existing 2 apartments. With the launch of the brand-new (fully furnished) apartments, however, we are able to offer flexibility for those guests wishing to have their own cooking facilities and laundries, said Jeremy Kreft, General Manager of the hotel.
The new apartments are fully self-contained and comprise of:
• 8 x 1-bedroom, 1 bathroom, kitchen, lounge, laundry
• 6 x 2-bedroom, 1 bathroom, kitchen, lounge, laundry
• 4 x 2-bedroom, 2 bathrooms, kitchen, lounge, laundry
All apartments are equipped with cooking and laundry facilities and come with access to the swimming pool and a 24-hour gym just a short 300m walk from the hotel. Two of the 1-bedroom apartments are easy access.
The apartments share the same beautiful views of Lake Eden as the other hotel rooms and access to the hotel’s Boardwalk Café and Functions Centre and are just a short walk from the local Westfield Shopping Centre, the main North Lakes strip and Health Precinct.
For more information visit www.northlakeshotel.com.au , via email at info@northlakeshotel.com.au or via phone on 07 3180 2888
Last month, police took part in Exercise Novus, a joint training exercise with Moreton Bay Regional Council at their Strathpine office.
The purpose of the training exercise was to prepare for the upcoming high-risk weather season. These exercises are imperative and are conducted regularly to ensure that we are ready and able to provide assistance, support, communications and response to disasters.
It takes many working parts and strategic co-ordination between many agencies to provide a timely response to our community and we want to make sure that we are ready.
Police officers head up the District Disaster Coordination centres which plan, oversee and co-ordinate the QPS operational activities in their local areas.
“We cannot stress enough how important it is to get ready and plan for high-risk weather events,” Senior Sergeant Gavin Marsh said.
“Keep up to date with what is happening in your local area and make informed decisions during an event that keep you and your family safe.”
Emergency services along with Moreton Bay Regional Council urge residents to be prepared for disasters. One way you can do this is to register with the Moreton Alert warning system.
Moreton Alert is a telephone warning system that the council use to send alerts to communities via landline telephones based on the location of the handset, and to mobile phones, based on the service address of the phone.
In the case of an emergency, you may receive a voice message on your landline or a text message on your mobile phone.
Other ways to stay informed of possible disasters is to tune into our local radio stations being ABC 612AM, 101.5FM or 99.7FM, or to connect with the Moreton Bay Regional Council Facebook page or Mypolice Moreton Facebook page.
For more information on preparing your family and home for disasters go to the Moreton Bay Regional Council Disaster Portal.
If you have a classic car on club rego (SIVS) the distance you can travel to test and tune you vehicle has been increased from a radius of 15km to a radius of 30km. This allows classic vehicles to warm up properly during a road test.
Shane King MP provided the clause from the Guidelines below:
"...road testing within a 30km radius from the place where the vehicle is garaged or is being repaired. The purpose of the travel must be to road test the vehicle following repair or restoration, or for general vehicle maintenance and not for any other purpose. This does not include use as an everyday means of transport. A passenger may travel in your vehicle to assist with road testing - only if your vehicle can legally carry passengers."
> Transport and Motoring > Registration > Registration Costs and How to Pay > Concession Registration > Special Interest Vehicle Concession Scheme guide
Find more information at www.qld.gov.au
ONCE THE DOMAIN of older generations, DanceSport is quickly gaining popularity with young adults and children for its many physical, mental and social benefits. On Sunday, December 4, over 300 dancers will trip the light fantastic at the inaugural Queensland Ultimate Challenge at the Morayfield Sports and Events Centre.
Ranging in age from five to 65 years and over, dancers will compete in a day of dancing where three different styles of DanceSports are showcased: Ballroom, Latin American and New Vogue Dancing. New Vogue is a form of sequenced dancing, practised predominantly in Australia and New Zealand and includes Merrilyn, Gypsy Tap and Swing Waltz.
Commenting on DanceSports’ growing appeal, one of the event organizers’, Natalie Perry, who has been teaching DanceSport at her studio in Stafford for 15 years, says it’s a fun way to keep fit, prepare for formal events or weddings and can enhance relationships, as it is something you can do with your partner.
“In DanceSport, you use your brain in coordination with your body, in time with the music, so it ticks all the boxes for health and wellbeing.”
According to Natalie, DanceSport can help anxious children develop confidence in public performances. “It is excellent for improving coordination and can boost success in other sports, such as football and cricket.” Natalie emphasizes the social benefits too. “The children form nice friendships in the group they’re in and they learn to respect others.”
Not having a regular dancing partner is no longer an impediment to
entering competitive dance events and Natalie says, in this respect, Queensland is leading the way.
The Morayfield DanceSport event will have a variety of competition divisions, including divisions for those who do not have a regular dance partner or wish to perform with their dance teacher. With pop music tunes to dance to and more competition categories on offer, the entire family has an opportunity to dance if they so wish.
Dancers competing in the under 13 years age category no longer require expensive costumes, and there are restrictions with heavy makeup and hairstyles. “You don’t have to spend a fortune to get started,” assures Natalie. “Anyone can do it.”
There is no upper age limit for competitive DanceSport and the event on December 4 will offer masters’ categories designed for ages 35 to 65 years and up, for the young at heart.
All dancers competing at Morayfield will be judged on their steps, leg and footwork, posture, and whether they are consistently moving together in harmony with their partner and the music.
With many competitors using this event as a warm-up and preparation for the Australian Championships held the following weekend in Melbourne, it is sure to be a spectacular day of glitz and glamour.
The 2022 Queensland Ultimate Challenge DanceSport event is open to the public. Doors open at 9.30 am. For further details and tickets visit dancesport.org.au/dancesport_links.php?cmp=523 or email qldultim8@gmail.com
a community
In the bad old days, a common unkind phrase abounded: `Scratch an Aussie and you will find a racist`. Whilst that was and is an unfair judgement of most Australians, it can represent the feelings of a minority in our community. “But that is still no excuse for members of our police force to behave in a manner reflecting that credo!” I hear you say.
But let us go further; today’s police forces face a very different work environment than their predecessors, say 30 years ago. Domestic Violence, now a significant crime statistic, did not figure as such 30 years ago. It certainly was as prevalent in the community. Still, unfortunately, it was not within the bounds of policing at the time. A law identifying it as a crime was enacted in 2006. Youth crime is now rampant, hardly rated 30 years ago, due no doubt to stricter discipline in the home.
Criminals now have more sophisticated methods of operation. Highly potent, dangerous drugs are endemic in our society, which presents a new and alarming escalation of violence.
In their duties, our police can expect to be shot at, rundown, stabbed, punched, bitten and spat upon. In court, they often see their attackers receiving light sentences or, worse, walking free due to flawed and populist politically motivated decision-making. All this they endure whilst preventing vicious criminals, many habitual violent drug users from committing crimes against our community, such as murder, rape, home invasion, robbery and a host of other heinous crimes.
Yes, the community should invest more funding into updating our training of police to match this rapidly changing crime environment. But most importantly, the force needs our support and understanding while they carry out this demanding job that few in the community would volunteer to do! Our police represent our first and only line of defence against those whose motives are not in the public interest. Media banner headlines, white-anting the force often initiated by those with hidden agendas, should be viewed carefully.
WHEN MARY CORVER became president of the Artisans Guild of Caboolture and District in August this year, one crucial decision had already been made. The guild had already decided not to be a casualty of the Pandemic.
The arts and crafts group, established in 1988, had opted in March 2022 to plan for the most important event on their calendar, the Members Exhibition. A working group was formed, which included Mary and Peter Loose, to ensure the event was carried out. Mary and Peter Loose were later elected President and Vice President, respectively.
The annual Members Exhibition, a signature event, had last been held in May 2021, and there had been little opportunity in 2022 due to the Pandemic's effects.
The exhibition wasn't the only item on the schedule to be affected by the limits and restrictions that came with Covid 19. Every activity on the Artisans Guild list had been heavily impacted.
Like many other community organisations throughout Australia, the guild was fighting to survive.
"Numbers from all our regular activities were at an all-time low," Mary says. "We struggled, like all organisations with restrictions during the pandemic."
As the lockdowns and restrictions eased, Mary, her Vice president Peter Loose, Secretary Anne Crossley, Craft Co-ordinator Marg Hogbin, and member Nev Parmenter formed the working group and went into battle. Decisions were made and the troops readied. The guild would make the 2022 Members Exhibition as fresh and expansive as possible.
"We felt our members needed a boost, giving us all an incentive to achieve our best possible art and craft," Mary says.
The month-long exhibition was a raging success and was just the medicine the ailing Artisans needed.
Long-time sponsors came to the party with prizes. On October 7th, 2022, over 100 people attended the opening Friday night event, filling the gallery to capacity.
"Quite a large number of paintings were sold on the night. It was great to see our car park full and everyone enjoying themselves and having a wonderful time," Mary said.
While the annual exhibition is important for the Artisans, it is only one event of many on a packed annual calendar that is back on track after the Pandemic.
"We have a variety of Work
Together Groups (WTG) at the guild, a weekly Tuesday Craft group, Wednesday Watercolours group, Thursday Painters Group, and Quilting and Machine Embroidery and Gather to Sew once a month.
"We are happy to report that the numbers are increasing for all these different groups," Mary says.
In addition, the artisans organise morning teas at the gallery for various organisations, retirement villages, seniors bus trips, Probus, and other community groups.
Lessons and workshops with qualified tutors are regularly held at the comfortable airconditioned gallery at the corner of Old Bay road and Maitland road, Burpengary East.
Mary revealed to Feature Magazine plans for a special event, a 'Meet the Artisans Night', to be held Friday evening, 5th May 2023. "This will give everybody the chance to see how our members create their favourite art or craft," she said. Further details will be published in Feature Magazine and on the Artisans Facebook closer to the date.
The Artisans are out and about in the community all year round. They look forward to manning their regular art and craft stalls at Morayfield and Caboolture Square shopping centres in the new year.
"We also have a small outlet at Caboolture Square Shopping Centre where we display our craft all year round," Mary says.
Mary and her executives are relieved that the group is thriving again and pay credit to all the members and sponsors who have stayed true over the quiet times. The group is also grateful for the support of the Moreton Bay Regional Council and their Patron, Councillor Mark Booth.
The Artisans work closely with other local arts and crafts groups, raising funds and donating to various charitable organisations.
After 34 years of operation, the Artisans are pleased to be busy planning for the future. Mary's team is now looking forward with confidence.
The Artisans Guild will be closed for the Christmas break from 17th December till 17th January, but welcome your enquiry in the meantime.
The guild always looks forward to hearing from supporters and potential members and can be contacted via phone on 3888 6333 or by email at gallery@ artisansguild.org.au
For serious sports competitors, representing their country and establishing a successful sporting career is a popular dream which is one step closer to reality for sixteen-year-old Narangba Valley High student Mihaylia Howell after she was selected for the Australian National Hockey Team, Under 18 Futures Squad, in the position of Striker.
In October 2022, Mihaylia attended the Australian Institute of Sport’s high-performance program as an ‘Australian Identified Athlete’ and feels this experience has enhanced her hockey gameplay and technical skills allowing her to shoot even faster at the goal. She is now considered a “promising prospect for the Brisbane 2032 Olympics and possibly the Melbourne Commonwealth Games.”
When she was eight years old and looking around for a team sport, Mihaylia’s mother introduced her to hockey for the first time. After playing midfield and centre-half positions, she quickly moved into representative hockey. She soon played in the position of Striker for the Kedron Wavell team. Fast forward eight years and Mihaylia is now one of only four sixteen-yearolds, across the country, who have been selected for the Australian National Hockey Team, Under 18 Futures Squad, an achievement she considers her greatest so far.
“Hockey is definitely something I want to make a career out of. I take a lot of pride in representing my region, state and country,” she says.
While her passion for hockey is clearly evident, the Year 11 student remains mindful of the importance of schoolwork. She hopes to graduate from school, attend University and ultimately gain employment in the health industry. Although she admits managing sporting and training commitments while trying to achieve her QCE requires strict adherence to deadlines and schedules, insisting, “organisation, time management and work ethic are key in order to be able to pursue these dreams.”
Furthermore, Mihaylia insists that playing sports at an elite level requires hard work, dedication and compliance with a relentless training regime. In addition to playing three games every weekend in Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, Mihaylia completes a fitness gym or a hockey-skill training session every day.
“Throughout the week, I have training for both club teams, and depending on which representative side I am preparing for, I will have between 1-2 sessions for that each week, as well.”
She stresses that physical fitness and careful tournament preparation are fundamental to her sporting success. According to Mihaylia, pre-season workouts, running, strength and agility training are integral to sustaining the high level of physical fitness required.
She explains that rolling out and stretching sessions aiding muscle recovery are equally as important as mental preparation for big matches. “I am a very superstitious person, so mentally, this helps to take many of my nerves or anxiousness away.”
For young hockey players aiming for a career playing sport, Mihaylia has this advice: “Be willing to work hard in order to achieve success; have a high work ethic to practice your skills on a regular basis, and work on your weaknesses as well as your strengths.”
Jake Whetton, Jaime Dwyer and Australian field hockey captain Mark Knowles are among the athletes who’ve considerably influenced Mihaylia’s style and career. She says, “Playing alongside former Hockeroo Captain Jodie Kenny allowed me to gain extensive knowledge of the game and inspired me to try and play at the highest level possible.”
With the Junior World Cup and National Development Squad already in her sights, Mihaylia’s dreams of representing Australia in the Hockeyroos, at the World Cup or Olympic Games, seem more than likely to be realised.
Words: Marnie Birch Photo: Annettes Action Shots
Traversing the entirety of Burpengary west to east, the 2.2 km stretch of bitumen known as Pitt road has a 67 year association with a Burpengary family who came to Australia in the 1950’s.
IMMIGRANTS FROM SOUTH Africa, via New Zealand, Richard (Dick) and Ivy Pitt settled a couple of miles out of Burpengary township in 1955. At that time Burpengary, (named in the late 1800’s for Burpengary Creek, (place of the green wattle) had a population of less than 300 people.
Dick and Ivy raised their 10 children (3 boys, 7 girls) on a treed block around 5 acres in size located perhaps a kilometre from the junction with Station road.
Heather Pitt, now aged 70, is the youngest of Dick and Ivy’s offspring, and remembers those early days. Back in the 1950’s and 60’s Pitt road was not yet named. It was a humble and anonymous track entering
the scrubby bushland off station road. The track ended as a cul de sac and extended only perhaps one third of its current length, beginning in the west at station road and, dodging around large gum trees and meandering east, meeting a gentle rise near it’s end. The surrounding landscape was a mix of cleared farmland, regrowth and some old growth eucalypt forest, and the access into the Pitt family’s place was no more than a rough bush track.
Heather says that her Dad was “very keen on cars,” and being a mechanic, would repair and service the family’s vehicles. Heather remembers various cars including early model Fords and Holdens, and in particular an old British-built Ford Anglia.
There were several families living near where Pitt Road runs today and various winding tracks snaked through the bushland across to the tiny township. It was along one of these narrow tracks that Heather and her siblings walked to Burpengary State School (founded 1876). The Pitt kids exited through the back of their property and walked a track that eventually came out on Station road, near the railway.
In those days any traffic passing over the level crossing was controlled manually, with a large timber gate painted white. Railway staff would walk down and close the gate to vehicular traffic whenever the train was due.
As they walked to school, Heather and her siblings would sometimes stop at the shop located over the road from the railway station, and occasionally buy lollies from a big glass jar positioned atop the shop counter.
“You could get quite a big bag of lollies for a couple of pennies,” Heather says.
The shop also sold groceries and some gift lines. Heather recalls the year that she partnered with her older brother Bryan to lay-by a gift for their mum on mothers day. They successfully paid off the lay-by and on the big day were able to present Mum with a beautiful silver-plated spoon with an animal design adorning the handle.
The schoolhouse, (built in 1928 to replace the original lowset structure) boasted 2 classrooms, with a connecting door in the centre. Years One to Three used one room while the older students years Four to Seven were in the other. At times the connecting door would be opened, and the older students helped the younger ones with their work. Heather remembers that the original building (pictured) had been extended to include a modest-sized office and library.
Heather says that numbers attending the school were too small to field a complete team for the Inter-school sports-days in the early 1960’s. But they competed nonetheless, making up a team by combining with the Narangba and Morayfield State Schools, who were in a similar situation.
Heather remembers traveling to Caboolture for a special shopping trip occasionally.
“But driving up to Caboolture took time. Although the road was bitumen, it was narrow with quite a few curves,” she says.
Heather recalls mostly crudely graded dirt roads around Burpengary, no bitumen, not even gravel. She says there were a lot of big potholes, and the council grader was rarely seen.
As Heather grew up she got a job in Brisbane, as did many of her 9 siblings. They commuted by car, often with Dad, who also worked in Brisbane. But travel times were never a certainty. “When it rained we were often late getting home in the evening after getting bogged somewhere along the road’” Heather says.
Heather’s Mum Ivy often missed out on all this excitement, as she had her hands full at home with a large and widely-spaced family. As youngest daughter Heather turned three back in 1955, Ivy's eldest was 25.
Heather, who now resides in Brisbane, told FEATURE MAGAZINE that her childhood living on what is now Pitt Road was a happy and carefree time for her and her family, and she has fond memories of the old place.
If you are finding it difficult to make your mortgage repayments on time but have not missed any payments and are not in arrears yet, you may be under mortgage stress. This means you may be in danger of falling in arrears or defaulting by completely missing a repayment.
• You know you are under mortgage stress or will be facing it soon if:
• There has been a change in your financial situation due to a loss of job or loss of income.
• The portion of your income that goes towards repaying your mortgage is increasing.
• You cannot make timely repayments on your other bills, such as for utilities and credit cards.
• You cannot budget for unexpected expenses like medical bills.
• You are using your credit cards to the limit.
• You are taking out personal loans to cover repayments.
It is better to take action when you’re under mortgage stress, before you fall into arrears or default. A default will lower your credit score.
To relieve yourself from mortgage stress, you need to either increase your income or decrease your repayments.
Here are some ways to manage mortgage stress:
• Cut living expenses now and cut more than you think is necessary.
• Look for ways to increase your income, like getting a second job
• Move out of your home and rent it out to earn extra income.
• Consolidate debts like credit cards and personal loans into your home loan.
• Refinance your home loan to a lower rate.
• Switch to interest-only repayments (note: this increases the total cost of the loan).
• If unable to make the repayments, immediately contact your lender or mortgage broker to discuss hardship options. Lenders are generally more reasonable when a borrower works with them prior to defaulting.
It’s important to seek advice before doing any of these things.
• Be realistic about how much you can afford. Ensure potential repayments when borrowing fits into your budget.
• Revise your budget as needed, as your financial situation will change over the life of the loan. Make sure to set aside buffer funds for emergency expenses.
• Check on your home loan every two years to ensure the rates are competitive and the loan is working for you.
• Weed out expenses you can do without. You might be paying for a service that you’re no longer using.
• Lower the limit on your credit cards or cancel them to reduce the temptation to overspend.
• Choose a home loan that is right for you. Determine whether a fixed-rate or variable-rate home loan is the right option.
If you feel you are under mortgage stress, get in touch with your local broker to discuss options.
With substantial increases in interest rates, rising costs of living due to inflation and stagnant wage growth many homeowners are feeling the pinch.
AT THE ART So Lively Art Academy, we enjoy looking into the personal lives behind the professional presentation of famous visual artists. Pablo Picasso has featured prominently as there is so much to know on many intriguing levels about this fascinating artist and his family. But more about that a little later.
Pablo Picasso was one of the most influential artists of the 20th century, co-founding the cubist movement, reinventing and naming the use of collage and breaking the art rules using nearly every medium. When he died in 1973, aged 92 years, he was already world-famous, with works selling in excess of USD 100 million. He remains the top-grossing artist at auctions worldwide. This is not surprising but what we discovered about Picasso in a 2015 newspaper article highlighting art and design in Cuba was very surprising!!
Although Spanish by birth, Picasso spent most of his life in France, so to find a Cuban connection to the artist was intriguing. It was revealed that Pablo’s grandfather, Francesco Picasso Guardeno, left behind one life in Spain in the late 1800s seeking fame and fortune
in Cuba. This he did not find, but he did find love with an AfroCuban woman and their love produced four children. So it was that the Cuban branch of the Picasso family was established.
Among the forty living Picasso relatives in Cuba is a self-taught painter named Juan Antonio Picasso. Unlike his famous relative, he is reserved, preferring a low public profile. Juan regards his Picasso name as both blessing and a burden. He has no website, only a Facebook page which is not used for his work. He often shuns interviews with journalists who appear eager to compare his work to that of his famous relative and to refer to Juan as “the black Picasso”.
Although successful, his first solo exhibition in 2005 attracted only local interest. Though Juan admires and is inspired by his famous ancestor, he prefers to be recognised as an individual artist. His work differs from Pablo’s, concentrating on Afro-Cuban history and cultural identity. He harnesses painting to express and reflect who he really is. The prediction is that this Picasso will not take the art world by storm but is comfortable with his `ripple`.
Some of the issues that may arise during or after childbearing usually involve a dysfunction of the pelvic floor muscles. The pelvic floor is a complex network of muscle and fascia tissue that forms a ‘sling’ underneath the pelvis. This structure acts like a hammock to hold up the pelvic organs and maintain closure of the openings. This is one of the main structures involved with maintaining the position of the pelvic organs and maintaining continence.
With time, the pelvic floor can become stretched and weak. This can be aggravated by childbearing and birth due to the extra strain on the pelvic floor. Hormones also can exacerbate pelvic floor issues, particularly due to low oestrogen levels (i.e. when breastfeeding and post-menopause).
However, women who haven’t had children can also experience pelvic floor dysfunction. Activities such as repetitive heavy lifting, chronic lung conditions with repetitive coughing and even chronic constipation can eventually lead to lengthening and weakness of the pelvic floor.
Weakness and dysfunction of the pelvic floor muscles can lead to issues with bladder and
bowel function. These issues can include:
Stress incontinence: the leakage of urine when performing high pressure activities such as coughing, sneezing, lifting and laughing.
Urgency: the sudden onset of a strong urge to go to the bathroom - an urge that you cannot delay.
Constipation: normal frequency of passing a bowel motion can range anywhere from 3 times a day to once every 3 days. However, strain should be minimal.
Faecal/wind incontinence: this is the inability to control when you pass a bowel motion or wind. This is the issue that people feel least comfortable with explaining to their health practitioner, but it is a common problem that can be managed effectively with strengthening exercises.
Prolapse: this is when the pelvic floor is unable to hold up the weight of the pelvic organs.
These problems that women may experience can be prevented and managed with
physiotherapy.
If you would like to speak to a Women’s Health Physiotherapist, please call us at Moreton All Body Care on 07 3888 6699 to book an appointment today. Appointments are available Tuesday’s at our Narangba clinic.
Just like any muscle, the pelvic floor muscles need to have adequate power and endurance-strength to do their job probably. A physiotherapist trained in Women’s health will take a thorough history of your symptoms and perform an examination to assess the strength and tone of your pelvic floor muscles. They will then prescribe an exercise program that is tailored to address issues you may be having. Your physiotherapist will also provide lifestyle advice on good bladder and bowel habits to manage pelvic floor dysfunction.
Women can experience many issues associated with childbearing and birth - some of which don’t become apparent until years after the children have left the nest. But, did you know that physiotherapy may be able to help?
IS MAINSTREAM MEDIA STARTING TO GRATE ON YOUR NERVES?
ARE YOU STARTING TO GET A BIT OVERWHELMED WITH CHRISTMAS APPROACHING SO QUICKLY?
ARE YOU READY TO BE “ZEN-POWERED”?
We want to invite you to feel less stress, reduce burnout and overwhelm by taking 5 minutes for yourself every day as we approach Christmas. Some research has demonstrated that just 5 minutes of mindfulness every day can help clear the mind, improve mood, reduce stress, boost focus and brain function and even slow down the ageing process.
Our 5-minute daily practice suggestions to get you Zen-Powered:
Deep Breathing: Taking a few deep breathes is a great way to reset your nervous system. Try a breathing practice known as Square Breathing for 5 minutes every day.
Make a gratitude list: People who practice gratitude experience positive emotions and tend to lead a happy and resilient lifestyle. Try spending 5 minutes before you go to bed each night writing down things you are grateful for from your day.
Self-Massage: break out your favourite massage oil or body butter or any skin care products and consciously apply it. Not only will you hydrate your skin but you will improve circulation, stimulate your organs and feel a sense of connection on all levels.
Stretch: Basic leg, arm and neck stretches are as effective as any yoga pose. Take five minutes to use some of the stretches your massage therapist has demonstrated in the past.
You can book a treatment online or by giving us a call on 07 3482 2549.
Words: The Team at Zen Chi, North Lakes
This spectacular small gum tree displays decorative blood red flowers in large bunches which contrast vividly with the deep green leathery leaves to provide excellent long lasting colour impacts for Christmas decor.
Words: Lawrie Smith AM, Landscape Architect
Christmas time means enjoying spending time together as a family often in the outdoors. Be sure not to miss Brisbane’s annual light spectacular, “The Enchanted Garden” at Roma Street Parkland from November 25 to December 21. Be dazzled by this celebration of nature, with stunning displays of holograms, lasers, projections, lights and soundscapes - this year’s event is not to be missed.
This innovative light experience showcases Roma Street Parkland’s smallest resident – the Eastern Water Dragon. By day, the Dragons guard and patrol the park. However, by night, these Guardians of the Park transform into their true magical selves, taking on the colours and characteristics of the park’s natural elements: water, trees, rocks and flowers. The Guardians appear as giant holograms, revealing the secrets and stories of The Enchanted Garden as visitors explore the stunning illuminated and immersive experience. The four Guardians then unite in a spectacular Shadow Sculpture in a fitting finale that will delight all ages:
Water Guardian: embodies its calm aquatic wonderland, brought to life by rippling sheets of lasers that emulate the ebb and flow of water.
Rock Guardian: presides over dazzling textural lighting and projections that bathe its rocky realm in warm, earthy tones.
Tree Guardian: under his watchful eye, the magnificent trees that line the Parkland’s Weeping Fig Avenue take on a new canvas of colour.
Flower Guardian: welcomes visitors to its realm in Spectacle Garden with thousands of delicate lights and illuminated sculptures.
Be aware that tickets for the “Enchanted Garden” sell out quickly, for all the information go online to https://enchantedgarden. com.au/. If you miss out, the gardens also look great by day, so still plan a Christmas visit to the Parkland and take a guided tour of the Rainforest or the Spectacle Garden.
Our native flora takes on the mantle of Christmas too, with many plants celebrating the season in dramatic contrasting tones of red and green. Other plants pretend that snow has fallen by providing a mantle of fluffy white flowers over the canopy. Why not bring some of these to your garden this Christmas?
Riberry makes an excellent tall screen with several flushes of red new leaves through the year, masses of white flowers, followed by bunches of edible red berries to decorate the Christmas table.
A tall shrub ideal for Christmas; the massed white flowers look like a snow fall, the leaves add a zesty lemon flavour to punches and stir fries, and crushed leaves rubbed on skin keeps the mozzies away.
This tufting plant is one of many cultivars in a range of warm colours that make excellent cut flowers for decoration. ‘Big Red’ particularly enhances with its a dramatic red / green Christmas colours.
Church restoration would now account for half of the restorations that Murphy’s Antiques and Restorations perform on an annual basis. Even though it has been a lot of blood, sweat and tears, I’ve always found it challenging and rewarding.
I VERY MUCH doubt that there is another highly skilled tradesman that has bled as much as I’ve done over the decades that I’ve been “God’s Tradie”.
In 2015 I walked up to the altar on a job I was working on and asked God if he could send me my soul mate and asked God for a female me – someone who is a workaholic during the week and likes to have a drink and a fish on the weekends. In 2016 I met her, the extreme me, you could say. After six years, it became apparent that we wouldn’t burn out one another, so I popped the question, and it was time to get married.
I rang St Augustine in Hamilton, the Church I was working on when I asked God for my soul mate, and spoke with a young priest Father Patrick. He said the Church was free, and he would happily marry Leanne and me in my Anglican masterpiece.
I call the Church ‘my Anglican masterpiece’ because of its fascinating history.
At the end of World War One, the last two leadlight windows arrived at the Brisbane wharves from Germany to complete St Augustine’s magnificent windows. However, the wharfies refused to unload them, transferring the windows onto a ship bound for
New Zealand instead. The windows were never to be seen in this country again. To complete St Augustine a sizeable English oak wall panel was built with a large light pelmet to cover up the back windows.
Precisely 100 years later, in 2015, I received a call to come and help finally finish this Church. It was now called the St Augustine War Memorial Church with the Government and the R.S.L chipping in to finish it. It was difficult to remove the hefty oak panel and fix it to the left side of the sacristy. Then I had to make the back wall panels in Queensland maple to match the maple altar in front and polish it.
We also made the two missing wall finials, extended the sacristy, restored the altar rails and fully restored all the sacristy furniture. It took months for all six of us Murphys, which spanned three generations of restorers, to complete. Christopher Johns from Red Phoenix Glass made the two missing leadlight windows representing the cost of war. Mrs Quentin Bryce and t
I remember all this as I’m standing in front of a priest who looks like Ed Sheeran, entertaining all my family and friends before my bride walks down the aisle. I realise that this is a wedding present from God.
BUT BEFORE WE go further, neither species is the smartest of all the domesticated animals.
The unlikely winner in the intelligence stakes is the domestic pig, which displays the largest number of intelligence traits, according to most scientific research. But that's another story.
Science tells us that dogs have twice the number of neurons in their cerebral cortexes as cats have, which could suggest that dogs are twice as intelligent as cats. Dogs follow directions and are brilliant readers of human body language. They can understand subtle gestures, facial expressions and even human moods, equivalent to a twoyear-old child determining if you are sad or happy. Our canine companions are capable of understanding nearly 250 words and are
able to count to five! In tests, they have even been able to perform simple mathematical calculations.
With more than 220 million olfactory receptors in their noses, a dog's nose is one million times more effective than the human nose, which only has five million receptors. Therefore dogs are being taught to detect cancer in humans and identify explosives, drugs and other noxious substances, even hunting down escaped criminals. Some have also been trained to withdraw money from ATMs for their disabled owners.
Dogs can detect the sex and age, and condition of other dogs by simply smelling their urine. Instead of sweating as humans do, their noses evaporate fluid from them,
which helps them keep cool.
Their hearing is vastly superior to that of humans, and by rotating their ears, they can maximise and pick up sound waves that we humans cannot. Dogs also have three eyelids. The third acts as a windscreen wiper for clearing away dirt from the eye.
How have dogs become so smart? 10,000 years of domestication has given the dog a unique opportunity to become adept at reading human instructions and moods.
That makes them canine psychologists!
between cat and dog owners as to which species of the two is the smartest will never end well; such is the passion of these respective pet owners.
Time m 0216 1.42 0757 0.84 1450 2.00 2156 0.83 0342 1.46 0915 0.88 1555 2.00 2256 0.74 0457 1.59 1033 0.85 1655 2.03 2347 0.64 0554 1.76 1142 0.78 1748 2.07
0033 0.52 0643 1.95 1243 0.70 1837 2.10 0115 0.41 0728 2.13 1338 0.62 1923 2.10 0156 0.33 0812 2.29 1431 0.55 2008 2.07 0235 0.26 0855 2.42 1523 0.50 2053 2.01 0314 0.23 0940 2.53 1615 0.48 2140 1.94
TH
FR
DECEMBER Time m 0345 1.70 0927 0.71 1557 2.23 2254 0.52
0455 1.83 1044 0.73 1658 2.15 2346 0.46 3 SA
0556 1.98 1155 0.72 1755 2.08 4 SU
0034 0.41 0649 2.14 1259 0.69 1846 2.01 5 MO
0117 0.37 0736 2.27 1355 0.67 1933 1.94 6 TU
0156 0.34 0819 2.36 1445 0.64 2016 1.87 7 WE
0230 0.33 0859 2.42 1530 0.63 2057 1.81 8 TH
0303 0.34 0935 2.44 1613 0.63 2135 1.76 9 FR
Time m 0242 1.59 0826 0.85 1454 2.07 2147 0.71 17 SA
16 FR
0354 1.67 0938 0.89 1551 2.02 2242 0.64 18 SU
0503 1.81 1053 0.88 1650 1.99 2335 0.55 19 MO
0603 1.99 1205 0.82 1749 1.96 20 TU
0027 0.46 0657 2.19 1313 0.74 1845 1.94 21 WE
0115 0.37 0747 2.37 1415 0.64 1940 1.91 22 TH
0202 0.31 0837 2.52 1514 0.56 2035 1.89 23 FR
0249 0.26 0926 2.63 1609 0.49 2130 1.87 24 SA
2104 2.59 10 SA
0345 0.27 0924 2.03 1530 0.24 2145 2.57 11 SU
2045 2.33 25 SU
HERE'S ONE FOR your fishing bucket list. Trolling in a 62ft fibreglass cruiser for large pelagic fish with a handline in the Maldives. So let us go back to when this adventure started.
0424 0.26 1006 2.11 1615 0.27 2224 2.48 12 MO
0459 0.27 1047 2.15 1657 0.34 2300 2.34 13 TU
0318 0.41 0904 2.00 1514 0.39 2119 2.34 26 MO
0351 0.36 0942 2.09 1554 0.38 2152 2.31 27 TU
2116 2.35 10 MO
0346 0.24 0943 2.25 1559 0.37 2152 2.24 11 TU
2043 2.22 25 TU
0423 0.32 1019 2.16 1634 0.41 2226 2.24 28 WE
0417 0.26 1020 2.30 1639 0.44 2226 2.10 12 WE
0313 0.28 0917 2.27 1538 0.44 2120 2.17 26 WE
2156 1.89 10 TH
0404 0.31 1031 2.40 1702 0.60 2230 1.79 11 FR
25 FR
0352 0.23 1025 2.58 1706 0.48 2228 1.86
0335 0.36 1012 2.44 1651 0.65 2211 1.72 10 SA
0335 0.24 1015 2.70 1703 0.45 2223 1.85 25 SU
0530 0.31 1127 2.17 1737 0.46 2333 2.16 14 WE
0558 0.36 1205 2.15 1817 0.60 15 TH
0005 1.96 0626 0.43 1245 2.11 1859 0.75
On Christmas Eve 2021, I attached a ring to my partner of six years' Christmas present, a fully restored Len Butterworth whiting rod. The rod being such a sweetener, she said yes! Actually, I knew on our third date she was a keeper when she leapt out of my Haines fishing boat with a yabby pump at "The Pin" and pumped out a quick 30 yabbies before I could front and back anchor the boat. She caught 16 whiting that afternoon and winched the boat onto the trailer. Then all the Queensland fishing and snorkelling trips during Covid made me realise she was the female version of me.
0453 0.31 1058 2.21 1715 0.47 2300 2.12 29 TH
0554 0.38 1221 2.21 1845 0.66
0523 0.33 1138 2.22 1758 0.56 2336 1.97 30 FR
So I let Leanne pick our honeymoon/fishing and snorkelling destination, and wouldn't you know, she chose the Maldives! I've often wondered about a country in which 80% is barely a metre above sea level and is part of one of the flattest countries in the world. So after the wedding, we flew eight hours to Singapore, then seven hours to Malé ending in Gan, another one and a half hours flying time. After a 20-minute boat ride, we arrived at our destination, South Palm Resort, the most southern island resort in the Maldives.
0445 0.29 1058 2.31 1718 0.54 2258 1.95 13 TH
0511 0.34 1133 2.28 1757 0.64 2330 1.79 14 FR
0538 0.42 1210 2.22 1836 0.75 15 SA
0346 0.25 0958 2.36 1623 0.45 2200 2.08 27 TH
0419 0.25 1040 2.41 1709 0.48 2240 1.96 28 FR
0453 0.29 1123 2.42 1758 0.55 2323 1.82 29 SA
0432 0.36 1107 2.36 1740 0.67 2303 1.69 12 SA
0501 0.44 1142 2.30 1817 0.73 2338 1.59 13 SU
50% of the world's coral reefs have already been lost. If the global temperatures rise by 1.5°C, 90% of all coral reefs will be lost. The coral reefs form a barrier around the low-lying islands – they absorb wave energy and reduce coastal erosion. The sad thing about this reef ecosystem, which is the seventh largest in the world, is the material footprint per person. In the Maldives, it is 14.5 tonnes per person per annum due to the large diesel generators that power the islands – the world average is 12.3 tonnes per person per annum.
0432 0.26 1113 2.59 1800 0.51 2320 1.76 27 SU
26 SA
0406 0.40 1046 2.41 1727 0.68 2245 1.68 11 SU
0438 0.45 1121 2.36 1801 0.71 2321 1.65 12 MO
0422 0.24 1104 2.72 1757 0.44 2317 1.84 26 MO
0515 0.33 1202 2.56 1858 0.54 28 MO
0002 1.63 0607 0.52 1249 2.13 1920 0.84
0529 0.35 1210 2.39 1852 0.63 30 SU
0533 0.53 1219 2.22 1859 0.79 14 MO
0017 1.51 0610 0.64 1301 2.13 1947 0.84 15 TU
0016 1.68 0604 0.43 1256 2.48 1959 0.57 29 TU
0513 0.51 1157 2.31 1837 0.75 13 TU
0511 0.29 1153 2.69 1848 0.45 27 TU
0011 1.82 0600 0.37 1242 2.60 1938 0.48 28 WE
0014 1.67 0611 0.45 1303 2.33 1959 0.69 31 MO
0116 1.55 0704 0.57 1406 2.26 2115 0.70
0108 1.45 0656 0.75 1351 2.05 2048 0.86
0119 1.63 0700 0.54 1353 2.40 2059 0.58 30 WE
After an hour of trolling, I finally got a good strike on my line and "I was on". The captain stopped the cruiser immediately. Holding onto the sash cord, I was dragged to the back of the transom and played tug of war with the fish. After 15 minutes, I managed to land a 12.7kg wahoo. Leanne had two strikes but missed them both.
0230 1.63 0810 0.64 1454 2.31 2158 0.56
0000 1.62 0550 0.59 1235 2.25 1916 0.77 14 WE
0044 1.59 0632 0.68 1315 2.18 2001 0.78 15 TH
0137 1.58 0724 0.77 1401 2.12 2053 0.76
0106 1.81 0655 0.48 1330 2.48 2027 0.51 29 TH
0205 1.81 0753 0.62 1421 2.32 2115 0.53 30 FR
0309 1.85 0858 0.75 1514 2.16 2204 0.54 31 SA
0415 1.92 1010 0.84 1611 2.00 2255 0.53
Copyright Commonwealth of Australia 2021, Bureau of Meteorology
of Predictions is Lowest Astronomical Tide
are in local standard time (Time Zone UTC +10:00) Moon Phase Symbols
The next morning we arrived on the resort cruise boat. I noticed that there weren't any fishing chairs or rods, just a cord rope tied to two hand lines with 100 metres of 200lb on it, then three metres of 150lb line for a trace. I could not see how we could land a yellow-fin tuna, marlin or sailfish on a handline. So, we chose the small lure and started to troll 200 metres offshore in over 100 metres of water. Speaking to the two deckhands, I now know why the 569,000 living in the Maldives face extinction threat.
That afternoon and the following day, we snorkelled the reef. We made a boat trip to the outer coral reef atoll to find some reasonable coral reefs with some small fish and marine life.
Moon Last Quarter New Moon First Quarter
After a week in the Maldives, it was time to fly home to Australia, the lucky country. If you want to see a great coral reef and incredible marine life, fly to Lady Elliot Island from Redcliffe Aerodrome and snorkel the island's north side – it is the best green zone in the world.
Stay warm and safe out on the water.
The Bureau of Meteorology gives no warranty of any kind whether express, implied, statutory or otherwise in respect to the availability, accuracy, currency, completeness, quality or reliability of the information or that the information will be fit for any particular purpose or will not infringe any third party Intellectual Property rights.
The Bureau's liability for any loss, damage, cost or expense resulting from use of, or reliance on, the information is entirely excluded.
Copyright of the tidal prediction tables is vested in the Commonwealth of Australia represented by the National Tidal Centre, Bureau of Meteorology.
Tough, rugged, indestructible. Nothing will stand in your way in the Quintrex 610 Territory Legend. Originally designed for the Northern Territory these hard as nails boats have quickly become the most desirable fishing boat on the market. Anyone looking for a larger offshore fishing boat should take a look at these Bluewater battlers. The 610 model features a unique optional raised front casting platform and has all the depth you could ever need internally.
The Territory Legend as tested rides on the amazing Trident 610 hull. The biggest selling 6m plus aluminium boats on the market. It’s soft and dry, essential for a console-style fishing boat. Owners can choose to have a side console or a centre console which is pushed back in the hull. This serves two purposes. Firstly, it opens up the rest of the boat and provides massive amounts of space. Secondly, you are riding in the back of the boat where it is smoother and more comfortable.
For me, it’s the space that appeals the most, and it’s hard to imagine a boat with more fishing room in this category. I could chase reef fish, or troll for larger game fish and always know that the 610 Territory Legend will handle the job.
As far as fishing platforms go, the Territory Legend will be at home chasing barra or offshore chasing game fish and reef species. The space in the boat and the depth offered is like nothing else on the water. The console is pushed well back in the 610 Territory Legend meaning the front 2/3rds is almost entirely fishing space. The floor is flat throughout, making for a stable experience while wetting a line. The console is purposefully small too. It won’t provide much protection, but it adds to the cavernous appearance of the interior. That’s a trade-off I’d be happy to make.
The test boat as supplied by Brisbane Yamaha was fitted with an optional raised casting platform at the bow taking up the front third of the cockpit space. Anglers with a heavy offshore bias may choose to omit this upgrade. Anyone wanting to fish flats will definitely want it. Not only does it get you up high for sight casting, it also doubles to create a massive storage cavity underneath. It is fully accessible with lidded access, allowing you room to get to every corner. A boat without it may leave some wondering where they will put their equipment to keep it out of the way.
Another option is an additional fuel tank bringing the capacity to 240 litres or two by 120. This opens up a vast range for this boat, fitted with a Yamaha F150 outboard. The 610 Territory Legend cruises at 43 km/h using 23.4 litres per hour. That gives a range over 450 kilometres. Combined with the optional bow mount for an electric and you’d be hardpressed running out of either fuel or battery power.
Deep side pockets provide extra storage along either side of the cockpit. They are large enough for the general bits and pieces you seem to acquire on any boat. Three pedestal seats are mounted across the transom with plenty of legroom. One can be moved to an additional mount located on the raised front casting platform.
Behind the pedestal seats on the port side, is a plumbed live bait tank large enough for any sized bait. On the starboard side, a transom door provides quick and easy access back into the boat from the rear platform.
Brisbane Yamaha has fitted a Yamaha F150 Four Stroke outboard engine to the 610 Territory Legend. It can accommodate a
200hp maximum. We are sure that with a Yamaha F200, the performance would be exemplary. That is if all you’re looking for is speed. As it is, the Yamaha F150 offers more than enough acceleration and power on this platform.
The 610 Territory Legend will sit comfortably on a speed of 46 kilometres per hour, using 23.4 litres per hour at 4,000 revs per minute. That’s certainly a lot of fishing.
Yamaha has built a reputation around having the most reliable engines available anywhere. Reliable doesn’t mean slouchy performance either. The F150 was the first outboard Yamaha produced in the fourcylinder category, and it has outstanding responsiveness and exceptional fuel economy.
The 610 Territory Legend is a big boat at over 6 metres in length, and it rides on the legendary Quintrex Blade Hull. With a heavy-duty 5mm bottom panel, the Territory Legend still manages to skip over small waves and chop. With all the seats located down the back, the ride is very comfortable and soft, with little to no separation between
the seat and the occupant.
With weight distributed towards the rear, water exits well down the hull while the bow entry does a great job of slicing oncoming waves. The Territory Legend has a sharp entry with a well-executed chine, keeping spray deflected downwards.
The hull flattens out at the transom and has all the stability Quintrex Blade Hulls are known for. Given most owners will spend their time fishing, either running or drifting, you can always find a safe and comfortable position in the boat, without the ridiculous tipping and rolling other hulls can be guilty of.
The 610 Territory Legend comes on a Quintrex tandem plate series multi-roller trailer. The dual axle set up will tow easily enough behind most medium and large SUVs. It includes hydraulic brakes and submersible LED lights. The 610 Territory Legend has been fitted with a quick catch and release by Brisbane Yamaha for fuss-free launching and retrieval.
• Price: Mid to high $60,000’s
• Construction: Aluminium
• Length Overall: 6.26m
• Beam: 2.40m
• Max hp: 200hp
• Construction: Topsides 3.0mm, bottom 5.0mm
• Capacity: 7 people
• Weight on trailer: approx 1400kgs
• Engine as tested: Yamaha F150hp Four Stroke
• Fuel Capacity: 240L as tested
IF YOU INTEND to grow your business past yourself, then dealing with staff is non-negotiable.
This can be enough to scare any trade business owners pants off, dealing with staff is tricky!
Anyone can be a boss, hiring, praising, disciplining, firing… but it takes a good leader to invest in their staff, and deal with the tough bits the right way.
Where trade business owners go wrong is…
They treat everyone the same
You might be thinking “why wouldn’t you? Equal playing field!”
Whilst this is true for the most part, the reality is every person in your team has a different personality. Everyone is motivated by different things, unmotivated by different things, likes to be praised certain ways, and likes to be disciplined certain ways.
Understanding each of your team members at a different level will help your individual connections and help you form a tighter bond. Consider completing DISC profiling with your team at your next Toolbox meeting. This way, you can understand exactly what type of personality they are, and how to treat them!
For example, those with D(ominant) personalities may have trouble understanding other people’s viewpoints especially if they are ‘feelings’ focused and without facts to back them up. So, if someone in your team with a D personality isn’t performing, consider using KPIs to show them exactly what’s happening.
They’re too strict OR the opposite… they’re a pushover
These trade business owners simply haven’t found the balance between dictatorship and a ‘free-for-all’, which is where you get the best out of your team.
Words: lifestyletradie.com
In the case of a dictator, they can often think it’s their way or the highway. So, they can start acting like a bully.
In the case of a pushover, they perhaps don’t care, or don’t have the knowledge on how to communicate. Either way, they give no leadership, no guidance, and no one in the team knows what’s expected of them.
Both styles of leadership run the risk of having your team up-and-leave. Find the balance between the two, your team will be set up to succeed under your mentorship and guidance, you’ve struck gold!
They constantly give up
With the trade shortage so prevalent right now in Australia, no one wants to lose their staff.
So what do they do? They dance around tricky situations in the hopes they don’t upset or anger their team.
For example, if you’re trying to implement systems within your business but the team are adamant they won’t follow them, they’re not interested, and you’re the worst thing since sliced bread… do not give in or try and appease them.
Find the leader amongst the pack, whether that’s literally your leading hand or just someone who has influence amongst the team and sit them down for a one-on-one chat. During this chat, explain what’s going to change, why it needs to change, how it benefits them, and why you need them on board with the change. This information gradually filters through the team and because it’s coming from their peers, they are more open to the idea.
It’s all about baby steps, and not giving in out of fear.
Becoming a good leader that can handle the difficult situations, is what will take you, your team, and your business from D-grade to Superstars. What are you waiting for? It’s time to deal with the tricky stuff.
