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Changing landscape
BAY SWIM
Redcliffe’s
By Nick Crockford
One Redcliffe
One Redcliffe Gardner Vaughan Group’s (GVG) debut project in the Moreton Bay region will have 214 waterfront apartments on the corner of Anzac Ave and Redcliffe Pde.
One Redcliffe will be a mixed-use precinct combining residential living, 11 tenancies for dining and retail, as well as social spaces.
GVG hopes One Redcliffe will be a “catalyst” for economic activity, support small business and attract new investment.
“This project reflects our vision to deliver spaces that not only offer stunning homes but also enhance the identity and livability of the communities we serve,” GVG director Sam Gardner says.
"One Redcliffe represents more than just a new development; it’s a commitment to the growth and vibrancy of the Redcliffe community."
Tydal Sands, Woody Point
Traders in Purple say Stage 1 is 75 per cent sold. Bulk excavation work is well underway with about 10,000sqm of soil removed. Excavation for the basement carpark is 40 per cent done, shotcrete work to start soon. Stage 2, Tydal Oceana, is coming early 2025 with twoand-three-bedroom apartments from $749,000 (correct as at December 31, 2024).
Orilla, Woody Point
External work, such as rendering and balustrades, is advancing and scaffold is being progressively removed. Traders in Purple says construction has started on recreational spaces for residents expected to move into the three and four-bedroom apartments mid-2025.
Marin, Scarborough
Balustrades are complete and scaffolding is being removed to show Marin’s facade.
The barbecue pavilion roof structure is complete and internal apartment finishes well underway. Traders In Purple hosted a meet-your-neighbour event at The Belvedere Hotel with residents to move in early to mid-2025.
Newport apartments
Traders in Purple has development approval for 132 apartments, townhouses and villas designed with architect Rothelowman and landscape architect Urbis. Each stage will have a mix of lakeview apartments, two-storey townhouses and garden villas. The complex will have a pool, lounge deck, barbeques and residents’ lounge. Launching mid-2025.
Suttons Beach Pavilion
$19.6 million funding has been secured and (at the time of writing) a development application was being finalised for lodgement with Moreton Bay City Council. Construction is slated to start mid-2025 and take 12 months, weather permitting. This will replace the 86-year-old pavilion, which was removed on safety grounds.
The Oscar, Scarborough
The Oscar was completed in August last year and at the time of writing, a limited selection of three-bedroom apartments were available from $1.35m. The new nine-storey 45-apartment development is at 71 Landsborough Ave, Scarborough.
Essence on Sutton, Redcliffe
Construction is underway at 4-8 Sutton St with original plans to finish late this year. There are two, three and four-bedroom designs with open-plan kitchen, balcony and views. It was more than 70 per cent sold before construction started.
Rothwell Homemaker Centre
Construction is expected to start in March 2025 and finish in mid-2026 on the 3.7ha site at 463 Anzac Ave, which also backs onto Buchanan St. It will include a showroom, service station, nine tenancies and two food and drink outlets with drive-thus.
Retirement Village, Rothwell Plans for a retirement village, on the former Frawleys Tennis Courts at Rothwell, were approved last July. The 9825sqm site, at 56 Coman St South, will have 97 units – 63 two bedrooms, 21 three bedrooms, 13 one bedroom – up to three storeys high, with 147 car parking spaces.
Hornibrook Pde, Clontarf Plans have been submitted to Council for 102 residential units – 68 two-bedroom, 34 threebedroom – on 2773sqm of land at 88-90 Hornibrook Esp and 20-24 Lane St. If approved, the 10-storey development would also have three levels of basement parking for 148 vehicles.
Marine Pde, Redcliffe Plans have been submitted to Council for a seven-storey apartment building on a 554sqm block at 25 Marine Pde, Redcliffe. If approved, there would be five apartments – one on each floor – and ground level parking.
Please note: Details correct at time of writing.
Newport
Tydal Sands
Marin
Peninsula primed for hotel development
Redcliffe is at the forefront of Moreton Bay's drive to become “Australia’s next hotel hotspot”.
With tourism growing and the 2032 Brisbane’s Olympic Games on the horizon, the race is on for eight (and possibly 10) new hotels in the region.
Mayor Peter Flannery said, in 2023, the City of Moreton Bay needed an additional eight hotels with 1035 rooms by the time of the 2032 Olympics.
Invest Moreton Bay, which makes the “hotspot” claim, says on its website: “demand could support an additional 10 hotels and more than 1500 rooms right now”.
When asked about progress and possible sites, a Council spokeswoman said: “The opportunity to attract hotel investment into City of Moreton Bay is ongoing and progressing well”.
However, Council’s Tourism Opportunity (TOP) report identifies eight short/medium and long-term “opportunities” for new-build hotels. But where?
Bluewater Square: Eleanor Investment Group’s plans for an eight-storey, 142-room hotel above the shopping centre, at the corner of Sutton St and Anzac Ave, have been approved.
Kippa-Ring: The Dolphins have released a masterplan, which includes 300-400 beds in about 200 rooms at its headquarters
at the corner of Klingner and Ashmole roads.
Redcliffe: The TOP report says, short-term, there is a “clear market opportunity” for a 225-room hotel and by 2031 “enough demand” for a 250-room internationallybranded conference and convention hotel. There has been speculation one might find a home in Irene St on Council’s administration centre site.
Mango Hill: The green light has been given for a $72 million fivestorey, 112-room hotel with an eco-lifestyle precinct at the corner of Anzac Ave and Diamond Jubilee Way. Work has yet to start.
North Lakes: Tenders are being processed for a 4–5-star hotel at 28-40 North Lakes Drive.
Eatons Hill: The TOP report has identified an opportunity for a 180-room hotel at South Pine Sports Complex. There has been speculation this could be on the site of the 10-hole Albany Links Golf Course, which closed in 2019.
The Mill: The UniSC site at Petrie will host Olympic events in a new $205 million sports centre. The TOP report says there’s an opportunity and, by 2029, sufficient demand for two 200room hotels as well.
Caboolture: There is opportunity for a 100-room hotel in Caboolture,
says the TOP report, if Redcliffe’s conference/convention hotel is downscaled. Council is looking to use around 7.6ha of land bordered by the highway and Lower King St. Hinterland and Bribie: The TOP report says there is opportunity for two “luxury boutique properties” of 20-40 suites - one in Moreton Bay’s hinterland and another on Bribie – as well as group accommodation close to sports/entertainment venues.
Dakabin/Strathpine: Hotels are also part of two Comiskey Group developments. Work is advanced on the Dakabin Hotel at Alma Rd and starting on the Country Club Hotel at Strathpine.
Nick Crockford
Top priorities revealed for 2025 Will OPTO return to Redcliffe?
Nick Crockford
Starting construction of the new Suttons Beach pavilion and helping the homeless are among the priorities for Redcliffe’s elected representatives this year.
Sporting and transport infrastructure, “liveability projects” and the new Garden Organics (GO) bins also make the top three.
For Councillor Sandra Ruck (Div 5) securing funding for the Nathan Road Sports Complex and Nathan Rd is high on her list for 2025.
Continuing work on a clubhouse for Redcliffe Padres Baseball and working with the State Government to tackle homelessness are also key.
Cr Karl Winchester (Div 6) says starting the new Suttons Beach pavilion is a priority to “breathe renewed life into the foreshore as soon as possible” – a priority shared by Mayor Peter Flannery.
Also, on the list, are “liveability projects” such as accessible toilets for Pender Riding for the Disabled, renewing playgrounds at Dalton Park and new seawalls at Charlish Park, Redcliffe, and Crockatt Park, Woody Point.
Cr Winchester says he will continue calling for more affordable and social housing and an established emergency camping site for people sleeping rough.
Homelessness and housing are also among Mayor Peter Flannery’s priorities this year, working with the State
Government on more social and affordable homes.
“We are doing all we can in this area, but it continues to be a growing issue that needs addressing,” he says.
The Moreton Bay ferry service (Bay Cats), along Redcliffe’s coastline, is also a priority along with working on the Buchanan Rd overpass at Morayfield and Moreton Connector at Griffin.
Mayor Flannery is also hoping to see residents “enthusiastically and correctly” using Council’s new kerbside GO collection of garden organics.
“This service is essential for all modern, sustainable and environmentally focused cities,” he says.
Kylie Knight
OPTO, the giant spinning rings artwork which overlooked the Redcliffe foreshore for 12 years before it was removed for ‘refurbishment’ last May has still not returned.
In May 2023 the entire structure, which had stood opposite Bee Gees Way, was taken down and the void concreted-in.
In November 2023, a council spokeswoman said the sculpture was in secure storage. She said it had been exposed to all kinds of weather conditions, including major storms and torrential rain in recent years, but was in 'reasonable condition'.
“Council is currently preparing the tender for specialist maintenance and refurbishment to be undertaken. The timelines for the tender process and the refurbishment mean that OPTO will likely be offsite for at least another six months.”
With the six-month timeline now long passed, we asked council if OPTO would be returning soon.
The spokeswoman said the artwork was removed due to deterioration and ‘further assessments on the sculpture are underway’. She could not provide a timeline for this work or news on OPTO’s return.
Bold vision for sport, tourism hub
The Dolphins has always been a club with great vision, a fact which propelled it into the NRL and is now driving a masterplan for its Redcliffe home.
The club has created a bold plan for the site, at the corner of Klingner and Ashmole roads, which it hopes will be realised in the run-up to the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games.
Dolphins Group CEO Tony Murphy shared the club’s vision with The Redcliffe Peninsula magazine. It includes a beefedup stadium to seat 22,00024,000 people, one or two towers of hotel accommodation, re-positioning the club building and constructing a 1000-seat conference centre with meeting rooms and a link to the stadium.
Tony says the club’s plans to increase Kayo Stadium’s capacity include building a grandstand at the southern end of the field and increasing seating on the Des Webb Stand, adding another tier.
The hotel accommodation would provide 300-400 beds in about 200 rooms. There is also potential for the adjacent Dolphins Central shopping centre to expand skywards, with a second storey added.
Tony says the plans aim to create a hub for tourism, entertainment and sport on the Peninsula.
“The whole point is not to build anything that wouldn’t be used often,” he explains.
“People can come and visit to go to a conference or go to a game.”
Packages could be created for
Bid for centre of excellence
P art of the Dolphins NRL club’s vision for its Redcliffe base is a centre of excellence, which would enable it to field an NRLW side and provide a facility offering allied health and education opportunities.
Dolphins NRL CEO Terry Reader says the three-level centre would be built on vacant land beside the training field at the northern end of the stadium.
The unisex facilities would include a gym, physio and treatment spaces, NRL and NRLW club office space, and one
level of space to be leased.
“We’re working with UniSC on them taking up space there, as well as allied health and services that are relevant to the community and education that links to elite sport,” Terry says.
There would also be an indoor multipurpose basketball court.
“It will cost about $40 million to build, so we’ll need cocontributions from us, the State and Federal Governments to bring it to life,” Terry says.
“We can’t have an NRLW side until we have the building, so
a tailored, personal experience.
Tony says the masterplan aims to capitalise on the club’s expertise in food and beverage, rugby league and tourism attraction.
Visitors would have easy access to Moreton Bay, Moreton Island and attractions on the Redcliffe Peninsula and in the broader City of Moreton Bay.
“It makes a lot of sense,” he says.
The club is hoping to partner with government to turn its vision into reality, as it did to build the existing stadium.
Tony says new LNP State Member for Redcliffe Kerri-Anne Dooley understands the project and the club has already met with Premier David Crisafulli.
“We would love to help them solve issues with the Olympic Games for displaced sports,” he explains.
These could include the Reds, Broncos, Dolphins and Roar, when existing stadiums needed for the Games are unavailable for an extended period in the lead-up to the event, during and afterwards.
Tony says the club has a strong case for funding and is ‘in there fighting’.
He would love to see the masterplan realised by 2032, if not before.
Stage one - the stadium upgrade and new club would cost about $60 million.
“We are not for profit. We put anything we make back into the sport and making the sporting facilities better,” Tony says.
we can fit everyone in. We essentially don’t have room for our current set-up let alone adding another professional team in.”
Terry says the club is speaking with the Federal Government and Opposition and hopes both
will commit to funding before the next Federal Election.
“Our goal is to get both sides of politics to support contributing to the building, so we can make NRLW a reality and the other community benefits in allied health,” he says.
footy fans wanting to watch the team train, tour the facilities and meet the players in
Kylie Knight
Raise it for Redcliffe Hospital hits milestone
Four years after launching Raise it for Redcliffe Hospital, the RBWH Foundation initiative has raised $1 million to fund life-changing health research, staff wellbeing and patient care projects that fall outside the scope of government funding.
RBWH Foundation CEO Simone Garske says the Moreton Bay region community deserved high praise, especially annual Giving Day Impact Partners who lay the foundation through philanthropic leadership.
“When we launched Raise it for Redcliffe Hospital, our goal was to fund a Senior Researcher position to lead local research efforts and to add a touch of home to pivotal hospital units and wards,” Simone says.
“Exceeding expectations has allowed us to renovate common areas in the Rehabilitation and Stroke Unit, soon begin similar work in the Palliative Care Unit and Children’s Ward, and essentially make an impact across every stage of a patient’s life.”
News of the million-dollar milestone was shared at the annual Raise it for Redcliffe Hospital Celebration event with supporters including Impact Partners such as Lewis Land, owner of The Belvedere and The Komo hotels.
“Our hotels provide the setting for some of the best moments of our local community’s lives: weddings, birthdays and christenings,” Lewis Land
New cost for Council rates notices
Residents who get their Moreton Bay City Council rates notices by post will –with some exceptions – now have to pay for them.
Council will apply a quarterly charge of $2.50 (including GST) to rates notices issued by post from January 1.
Those who receive a Council pensioner rebate or self-funded retiree rebate will not be charged for postal receipt of rates notices, nor will those who opt to receive their rates bills electronically.
On its website, Council says the fee was introduced in “response to the ongoing increases to the cost of producing and delivering a paper notice”.
The figure is based on the costs incurred by Council and revenue raised will be used to “offset the costs incurred”.
Council says the fee was “benchmarked against other organisations including utilities and banks who also charge paper notice delivery fees”.
For those who do not wish to receive a notice by email or pay the fee, Council says an alternative is to register for BPayView with your bank. By using BPayView, residents will not be charged the $2.50 fee.
Queensland Regional Manager Chris Allison says.
“To then think of those same people, in hospital, experiencing need; meant it was really important for us to ease their burden through support of this campaign.”
Since its launch in late 2020, Raise it for Redcliffe Hospital supporters have funded more than 50 projects at Redcliffe Hospital. These include equipment to help babies and children; research internships for breast cancer, breast feeding and intensive care; wishlist grants
for projects such as gazebos, wellbeing activities and blanket warmers; and urology research to help men with prostate cancer.
“Having the support of corporate leaders, such as Lewis Land, makes such a difference in this wonderful community,” Simone says.
“The impact of that generosity is felt each and every day through access to vital important equipment, transformative research and those small comforts that make difficult times easier to bear.”
To register for eRates visit the website moretonbay. qld.gov.au/Services/ Property-Ownership/ Rates/Electronic-Rates
Celebrating our 2025 Strategic Partners
The Redcliffe Peninsula is proud to announce our 2025 Strategic Partners, a group of exceptional local businesses and organisations that are passionate about supporting the local community and championing independent, highquality local news outlets such as The Redcliffe Peninsula and Moreton Daily
These Strategic Partners are at the forefront of local business leadership, ensuring we can continue delivering free, reliable, and engaging publications to the people of Redcliffe and Moreton Bay. During the next 12 months, they will work alongside our editorial, marketing and partnerships teams to support the growth and impact of our publications, helping us inform and inspire our readers.
Editor-in-Chief Kylie Knight expressed her gratitude, saying: “We’re incredibly fortunate to have the support of our Strategic Partners. Their commitment to community-driven journalism allows us to continue sharing the stories that matter most to our readers, while showcasing the very best of Redcliffe and Moreton Bay. It’s partnerships like these that truly strengthen the fabric of our community”.
Partnerships Manager Lyndsay Lawler highlighted the impact of these partnerships: “Our 2025 Strategic Partners are not just sponsors; they are collaborators and champions of everything The Redcliffe Peninsula and Moreton Daily stand for. We are so grateful for their support and look forward to working closely with them to bring even more value to the community”.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to each of these businesses and organisations for their unwavering support. Together, we’re making 2025 a year to remember for the Redcliffe Peninsula community.
Peninsula property, perfected
Integrity | Consistency | Honesty
A familiar face with a wealth of industry knowledge and bold ideas for her new brand, Heather Murray offers a boutique, personal real estate experience.
Heather is an award-winning sales agent covering Margate, Redcliffe, Scarborough, Woody Point, Clontarf, Rothwell, Deception Bay, and Kippa-Ring and has a longstanding bond with the Redcliffe Peninsula and surrounds.
Unpretentious and with clear and transparent communication at the heart of her approach, Heather is your partner in property.
Throughout her extensive real estate career, Heather has established a solid network of repeat clientele and a robust reputation for her consistency and authentic client interactions.
Grounded, and with a mature grasp of the current real estate environment, she’s as inspirational and genuine as she is professional.
Heather is highly invested in understanding every client’s circumstances and is an unwavering advocate for the mental and financial well-being of those more mature.
In addition to her exclusive marketing benefits for seniors, Heather’s committed to providing clear, well-researched advice to ensure clients make well informed decisions are made.
She believes there’s nothing more rewarding than seeing her clients thrive after they’ve moved in to new surroundings or on to new beginnings and is dedicated to delivering a wholesome client experience from beginning to end.
To find out more or to volunteer, contact Tribe Social Belonging Founder Ryan Elson on 0422 232 437 or via email at ryan@tribebelonging.com.au
Drive to help learners succeed
TheTribe Drive program is changing lives by helping learner drivers attain the hours and skills they need to secure a driver’s license.
The program is offered by Tribe Social Belonging, a Redcliffe charity which provides opportunity through connection.
Tribe Drive will be officially launched in February after a soft launch last year, and early success.
Lachlan Spark, 19, and Madison Mueller, 17, are two young people who have already benefited from the program which connected them with a volunteer supervisor driver.
Lachlan had just 13 hours when he started with Tribe Drive and has now completed the required 100 hours and passed his driving test.
Madison says she had clocked up about 20 hours when she started with Tribe Drive, and it had been helpful to complete her hours with someone who
understood the road rules and could teach her how to drive correctly.
Both say they would not have attained the hours of supervised driving required to sit the driving test without Tribe Drive.
Lachlan has secured a job as a labourer since getting his license and is planning to study at TAFE, so he can get an apprenticeship as a plumber.
Madison is now finding it easier to travel to her retail job at North Lakes.
“Tribe’s done an awesome job for young people. I’ll forever be grateful for what they’ve done,”
Lachlan says.
Tribe Drive’s Mick Snell started as a volunteer driving supervisor and has since completed a course, making him a qualified driving instructor.
“I found I really enjoyed teaching these kids and watching them learn,” Mick says.
He says the training he completed was comprehensive, so he is now qualified to pass on the skills and knowledge learner drivers need to pass the test.
Mick helped Lachlan attain his hours, and helped Madison finetune her skills before her exam.
He believes attaining a driver’s license gives people independence, the ability to secure work and confidence. Helping people achieve this makes him and the volunteer supervisor drivers feel good.
Tribe Social Belonging Founder Ryan Elson says his team of volunteers is making a significant difference to the lives of young people.
“Many kids don't have family support to get 100 hours and they fall through the cracks. If someone can spare an hour a week, they can change a young person's life. We couldn't do this without our volunteers,” he says.
With runs already on the board, Tribe Drive is expanding.
It will continue to offer free access to volunteer supervisors and a vehicle for those struggling
to attain 100 hours and needing to refine their skills, but will also offer low-cost driving instructor lessons for those who qualify and need help before they sit their driving test. Criteria will apply.
There will also be a driving instructor service for people on the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
Ryan says Tribe will also offer businesses the chance to support the program.
“We’re about to release a prospectus explaining opportunities to sponsor a learner driver at a cost of $10 a week or $500 for one year,” Ryan explains.
This would cover learner’s permit preparation, exam, hazard perception and driver’s license test, plus a driver’s license for five years. Sponsorship is tax deductible because Tribe Social Belonging is a registered charity.
“ If you can afford $10 a week, you’re giving a local kid an opportunity for freedom and employment.”
Kylie Knight
Countdown to opening
Nick Crockford
Anew soft play café is due to open in Redcliffe early this year, at the site of a former supermarket.
Area 51, which runs “Australia’s largest indoor family entertainment centre” at Underwood, is proposing to open a new venue in Redcliffe. It will be at 82-98 Anzac Ave,
replacing the IGA supermarket which closed last year.
Area 51 Operations Manager Michael Affleck says plans are to open the new Anzac Ave venue in February.
It will “offer the community a great hub to get together, have a coffee and let the kids have fun”, he says.
“One of the biggest points for us is to provide more families
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with indoor play centres at which children can be energetic, engaged and have an opportunity to meet likeminded people.”
The 1000sqm Redcliffe site will differ from Area 51’s Underwood venue, as it is smaller than the 8000sqm southside centre.
Area 51 won a Best of Queensland Experience Award 2024 and is also building a new
indoor entertainment centre at Bundamba in Ipswich.
Attractions at Underwood include climbing walls, a trampoline park, high ropes course, air coaster, ninja park, multi-storey Gizmo’s Galaxy playground, giant inflatables, Galacticity for under 4s, Astrotots fun park for under 2s, Carnival Mega Slides and a multi-purpose sports Court.
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Peni n s u l a ' s Past Treasured landmark
The Redcliffe Jetty has been a landmark on the foreshore for the past 140 years, with three different structures providing a vital link for visitors but also a meeting place where countless memories have been made.
In the late 1870s, the need for jetties was mooted as a way of improving access to the Peninsula and overcoming isolation.
The easiest way to visit Redcliffe, at that time, was via boat because the inland journey by horse or coach was long and relied on an unsealed road.
Woody Point Jetty was the first built on the Peninsula in 1881 and the area went ahead as a result. Redcliffe residents were keen to see the same thing
happen there, petitioning the Caboolture Divisional Board for a second jetty.
In 1881, Rev John Sutton and other landowners requested a jetty be built at Redcliffe Point and presented petitions to the Caboolture Divisional Board.
As a result, the first Redcliffe Jetty was completed in 1885 but it was only accessible at certain tide times. In 1889, the jetty was extended to a length of 700 feet to solve this problem.
There were rail tracks on the jetty, so goods and luggage could be placed in trolleys and rolled down the structure to the shore.
In 1917, plans were drawn up for the construction of a seawall but this was not completed until 1919.
RLPC-000\000001
By 1921, the jetty was declared unsafe and closed to the public.
The new Redcliffe Jetty was completed in 1922, north of the original, and stood parallel to it until the old jetty was demolished in September 1923. The second jetty was officially opened by then Queensland Governor Sir Matthew Nathan.
The first pavilion, at the jetty’s entrance, was a timber structure, built in 1923. It was replaced by the present brick structure in 1937. In 1924, the Council imposed a toll of one penny per person to walk onto the jetty, which was abolished three months later and reinstated nine months after that.
In 1928, electricity was switched
on in Redcliffe and by 1930 six lights were installed on the jetty. The original halfway house was a waiting shed with stairs down to landings on each side.
Harry Pearson, who was the proprietor from 1938-52, was given permission to enclose each section and turn it into an amusement arcade which operated for 34 years. Jerry and Vera Woodhead ran it from 1952. It was demolished by council in 1973. Time and several cyclones took their toll on the second jetty and, by 1995, plans went on display for a third version. The second
IMAGES: Courtesy of City of Moreton Bay Reference number
SOURCES: History Redcliffe; Jetty Memories (1999).
Brad Flynn
Michelle Payne headlines 2025 luncheon
Small niche, big profits ...
“I don’t know the secret to success, but I do know the secret to failure is trying to please everyone”.
I recently reconnected with a former client. We had worked together to identify a niche for her business, which she was initially sceptical about.
I was thrilled to learn that she eventually embraced the niche idea, and it has led to remarkable success and significant revenue and market position for her.
The funny thing about niches is that they are usually sitting right under the business owner’s nose but can’t see it until I point it out.
They get stuck in the ‘trying to please everyone’ mantra at the start of this article.
So how do business owners find their niche?
Firstly, I look at the numbers.
The numbers don’t lie. Eighty per cent of your sales will come from 20 per cent of your customers.
Secondly, interview (i.e. a tax-deductible lunch) your top customers in the 20 per cent, the ones that you would love to be able to cut and paste them to create a new customer.
Finally look for the trends. What are the repeating themes or common factors?
Then scale those themes and common factors up in your marketing and own your niche.
TO FIND our niche to make big profits book a chat at businessmentored.com
Trailblazing jockey Michelle Payne, the first woman to win the Melbourne Cup, will headline the inspiring 2025 International Women’s Day luncheon in the City of Moreton Bay.
Hosted by Moreton Bay Region Industry & Tourism (MBRIT) and Principal Sponsor Moreton Bay Food + Wine Festival, the event will take place at Eatons Hill Hotel, bringing together community leaders, professionals, and advocates to honour the achievements of women and ignite action toward gender equality.
The theme for 2025, Accelerate Action, underscores the importance of driving meaningful progress and fostering a culture of opportunity and inclusion for women across all industries.
MBRIT Acting CEO Luke Edwards says the luncheon is a chance to reflect on the remarkable contributions of women and inspire the next generation of leaders.
“This luncheon is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women who have broken barriers and paved the way for others, like Michelle Payne, whose courage and determination continue to inspire us all,” he says.
Michelle Payne’s story is one of resilience, grit, and breaking stereotypes.
She will share her journey from overcoming challenges in a male-dominated sport to becoming a beacon of inspiration for women and girls everywhere.
DETAILS
What: International Women’s Day Luncheon
Date: Thursday, March 6
Time: noon-3pm
Location: Eatons Hill Hotel
Tickets: From $184.90 (general admission)
AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE HERE
Festival CEO Shane Newcombe says he’s proud to sponsor an event which shines a light on gender equality and the impact of inspirational women such as Michelle Payne.
“Michelle overcame enormous obstacles just to get a start in racing before going on to win the Melbourne Cup. Hers is a story of grit and determination, and I can’t wait to hear her tell it at the International Women’s Day luncheon,” he says.
Secure your spot to be part of this empowering event and join the movement to accelerate action for women everywhere.
Tickets are on sale now.
A cast of more than 40 young performers from ROAR Academy will bring the beloved story and music of Mary Poppins to life in February.
The practically perfect junior Broadway musical, Mary Poppins Jr, will be performed by Redcliffe Musical Theatre (RMT) Youth and ROAR Academy at Redcliffe Entertainment Centre on February 1 and 2 at 11am and 3pm.
RMT President Madeleine Johns says the cast is eager to show audiences what they can do on stage.
“We are looking forward to this production as Mary Poppins is one of the most popular family-friendly musicals of all time. The junior version is true to the original, keeping all the well-loved songs and dance numbers such as Supercali…, Feed the Birds, Step in Time and A Spoonful of Sugar,” Madeleine says.
“At its heart, Mary Poppins is about family, love, and finding balance between work and play. These themes resonate universally, with the story showing how the Banks family overcomes their struggles through kindness, creativity, and understanding.
“This universal message of hope and joy is at the core of Mary Poppins, which encourages audiences to look beyond the ordinary, embrace life’s joys, and find magic in everyday moments.
“This optimism and positivity are part of its lasting charm. Because of these reasons, productions of Mary Poppins—whether Broadway-calibre or local Jr. adaptations like ROAR Academy’s upcoming show—continue to capture hearts worldwide.”
WHERE: Redcliffe Entertainment Centre WHEN: Feb 1 and 2 at 11am and 3pm FOR MORE DETAILS VISIT redcliffeentertainmentcentre.com.au/ Events/RMT-Mary-Poppins
Madeleine says the cast will bring humor, wisdom, and a touch of whimsy to the stage as they entertain children and adults in the audience.
“From the practically perfect Mary Poppinsplayed by Zoe Hitcock alternating with Tamsyn Doyle - to the charming chimney sweep Bert (Toby Bailey), the eccentric cast of characters is lovable and multidimensional,” she says.
“While Tamsyn is new to ROAR Academy this year, Zoe has been performing with ROAR Academy and RMT since 2018 recently playing Anna in Frozen Jr (2023) and Fiona in Shrek Jr (2024) as well as Dory in Finding Nemo Jr (2024) and Kathryn in Newsies Jr (2024).
“Toby has played a number of lead roles with RMT and ROAR Academy having played the title role of Oliver in Oliver (2022), Friedrich in The Sound of Music (2023) and Marlin in Finding Nemo Jr (2024) as well as Davy in Newsies Jr (2024).”
Award-winning Director Madeleine Johns, Musical Director Rhonda DavidsonIrwin (VIVA LA MUSICA) and co-choreographers Meredith Johns and Mike Lapot are working with the cast to create a magical performance.
“We are working on the physical aspects of Mary’s character to bring her to life in this production - through accent work and physical elements such as walking and talking in the same manner that made Julie Andrews famous - right down to replicating costumes and props to create the right atmosphere,” Madeleine explains.
Toby Bailey - Bert
Mia Dacey - Winifred
Ruby Marriott - Winifred
Joshua Darcy - George
Zoe Hitcock
Tamsyn Doyle
PHOTOGRAPHY by Alan Burchill
Building kids up for success
reminded that self-esteem and confidence play a key role in a child’s academic, social, and emotional success, and are protective factors against anxiety and depression.
Triple P International Country Director Carol Markie-Dadds says with two in five Australian families experiencing school refusal, and many more facing cost-of-living pressures, the start of a new school year is adding an extra layer of parental stress and worry.
“Children and young people may have mixed emotions in the lead-up to school, from
excitement to dread – this is normal. They may be worried about fitting in or coping with workloads, or they might have friendship concerns, are worried about starting a new year level or going to a new school,” Carol says.
“A practical way parents and carers can help their children positively transition into a new school year and help them face any challenges that come their way is to focus on boosting their self-esteem, confidence, and coping skills.
“Research shows children and teens who have healthy self-esteem are likely to experience a range of lifelong benefits. This includes being
more eager to learn, having more success at school, being more cooperative, having stronger social skills, and most importantly, improved mental and physical health.
“Children aren’t born with a sense of confidence and not all children develop it at the same rate or age, or with the same level of success.
“The great news is that parents and carers can help children by modelling and teaching these skills and giving their child opportunities to practise them at home, school and in the community.”
Parents can help boost their children’s self-esteem and confidence by praising
Slow down for school zones
The school year begins on January 28 and that means school zone speed limits will be enforced from that date.
School zones are signed and are 40km/h on roads where the normal speed limit is 50/60/70km/h and 60km/h on roads where the normal speed limit is 80km/h or above.
The most common school zone speed limit is 40km/h.
School zone times for each school are listed on the sign. Generally, the standard times
their efforts, being a positive role model, guiding them to solve their own problems, allowing them to complete tasks themselves, telling them it’s OK to make mistakes and encouraging them.
“Children with low selfesteem are at risk of more serious emotional concerns such as anxiety or depression,” Carols says.
“If low self-esteem or a lack of confidence is impacting your child’s day-to-day life, it may be time to chat with your GP, seek professional health advice, or check out the evidence-based parenting support program Fear-Less Triple P Online.”
that most school zones apply in Queensland are 7-9am and 2-4pm.
If you are entering a school zone that operates outside of the standard times, you will see the flashing light school sign in operation.
A school that has a split campus, with students needing to cross the road during the day, will operate from 7am-4pm.
Fines and demerit points are issued to those who fail to slow down in a school zone.
Roadways Behaviour Monitoring System speed cameras (RBMS) have been activated in higher risk Queensland school zones since August 2023.
PARENTING POINTERS
School is nearly back! The start of a new school year is often exciting, but it can also mean added stress and worries about new friends, teachers, or workloads. Parents and carers may see their happy-go-lucky child go from being relaxed to being more clingy or teary or experiencing separation anxiety.
To help families positively navigate the transition, here are Triple P’s top tips for beating the back-to-school ‘wobbles’:
1. Prepare ahead of time. Establish routines, have regular bedtimes, and break down the practical steps of returning to school, like organising lunchboxes, school bags, and uniforms, so your
child will feel confident and know what to expect.
2. Build your child’s resilience around uncertainty. This can include teaching problemsolving skills, showing how to embrace and learn from mistakes, and having a positive outlook. Helping your child learn how to manage change, such as having a new teacher, classroom, or schedule, will strengthen their coping skills and prepare them for future transitions.
3. Be open and honest in answering your child’s questions about returning to school. Actively listen and validate their emotions. Spending time helping
your child understand their feelings, and identifying what makes them anxious, will reassure them and let them know you care.
4. Be a positive role model. Children learn how to respond to different situations simply by watching you. Being positive in new situations, showing kindness to others, and being curious about those around you, will encourage your child to do the same.
5. Stay calm and be optimistic about the year ahead. Focus on all the good things that will happen in your child’s day. Don’t forget to praise your child’s efforts when they demonstrate positivity and coping skills.
Triple P has a variety of free online parenting courses to help parents and carers confidently handle challenges this school year and beyond.
Register now at triplep-parenting.net.au
Asbestos & Silica Related
property Feature
Ultimate waterfront lifestyle
Thisstunning lakefront home, nestled in an exclusive pocket of Newport, offers unmatched luxury and serenity.
Completed in 2024, the 597sqm architectural masterpiece spans two levels of elegant indoor and outdoor living, designed to maximise its picturesque surroundings.
Inside, 6m high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows fill the home with natural light, framing breathtaking lake views.
The kitchen features a fiveburner gas cooktop, high-end appliances, butler’s pantry, and natural stone benchtops
The master suite is a private retreat with sweeping water views, a freestanding tub, dual
showers, his-and-hers basins, and a private balcony. Highend finishes include electronic blinds, plantation shutters, and floor-to-ceiling bathroom tiles.
Outdoor living shines with a heated pool, an overwater deck with built-in seating, and a pontoon for direct lake access.
Additional luxuries include a home theatre with Sonos sound, ducted airconditioning, ceiling fans, and skylights.
The home’s clever design and many features are complemented by engineered timber floors and wool carpets.
This exceptional property offers the ultimate waterfront lifestyle and is listed with Place Redcliffe Peninsula.
Plant tips to avoid pipe blockages
Unitywater is urging residents to pause before they plant, with more than 30 per cent of wastewater pipe blockages and overflows caused by tree roots.
In the past six months, Unitywater crews have attended more than 1300 blockage or wastewater overflow jobs, 439 of which were caused by tree roots.
Unitywater Executive Manager Customer Delivery Rhett Duncan says the numbers speak for themselves.
“It’s clear from our data that one in every three blockages in our network is caused by tree roots and these jobs are unpleasant for our crews and the community,” Rhett says.
“Tree roots find their way into pipes to access the water and continue growing in there, effectively blocking the pipe or becoming a mass that other debris can attach to. They are then more difficult to remove and take our crews away from other jobs.
“Pipe blockages cause wastewater overflows in our infrastructure that can flow into and damage the environment, and in people’s homes, up
through toilets and shower recesses, causing a smelly mess and potential health risks or property damage.
“We know how stressful it can be for our customers who experience overflows on their property, as well as the costs associated with replacing private pipes.
“We’re asking the community to pause before they plant, consider the types of trees they’re planting and plant them away from pipes.”
Unitywater has a free online mapping tool to locate its water and wastewater pipes.
“Input your address to check if there are any Unitywater pipes on your property. It’s good to know where your private pipes run too. We also have a planting guide to know what to plant and how far away to plant to protect your pipes,” Rhett says.
He says local nurseries can provide advice about plant suitability and recommend those with short root systems.
WHAT TO PLANT:
Directly above or up to 1.5m away from water supply and wastewater pipes
Between 1.5m and 3m away from water supply and wastewater pipes
More than 3m away from water supply and wastewater pipes
Blue flax lily, Tall sedge, Spiny-headed mat-rush, Common tussock grass, Kangaroo grass
Golden cane palm, Gum tree (large species), Common fig, Lilly pilly (large species), Umbrella tree, West African tulip, Pine tree, Poinciana, Jacaranda, Broad–leafed paperbark, Weeping paperbark, Mango tree, Coral tree, Willow (all types), Camphor Laurel, Wisteria, Black bean
How to get your hands on free native plants
City of Moreton Bay residential property owners can apply for a free native plant voucher via Moreton Bay City Council.
The city’s community nurseries grow local flora to plant in reserves, parks, schools, and public spaces. They are open to the public, with an array of native plants for sale.
Council provides one free native plant voucher to residential property owners each financial year.
They can use their voucher to claim a choice of four tube stock pot plants, two plants in medium-sized pots or one plant in a large pot.
Pot sizes and the types of plants available vary at each nursery and staff help residents select plants when they redeem their voucher.
Community and environment groups, schools and childcare centres can also apply.
The closest nursery on the Redcliffe Peninsula is at Redcliffe Botanic Gardens, Henzell St. From October 1 to April 30, it is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 8-10am.
It is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 8.30-10.30am from May 1 to September 30.
Public holidays may affect
opening hours. To confirm stock and public holiday trading hours contact the nursery via the Friends of the Redcliffe Botanic Gardens Facebook page.
TO APPLY FOR A VOUCHER, SCAN THIS QR CODE
Blueberry ash, Plum myrtle, Peanut tree
TOP TIPS FOR FITNESS SUCCESS
• CONSISTENCY –make being active part of your weekly routine
• FIND ACTIVITY you enjoy, so you’re more likely to stick to it
• SEEK HELP from a personal trainer or a class/studio
• BE ACCOUNTABLE
• REWARD YOURSELF for progress
• BE PREPARED – lay your clothes out the night before, do meal preparation to support healthy eating
• TRY ACTIVITY that challenges you, so you see and feel progress
• GET ACTIVE with a friend
• EAT WELL – learn about food labelling, try to ‘eat a rainbow’ (healthy food with at least five colours) each main meal and embrace healthy snacking
Fitness journey starts now
Kylie Knight
For many, the start of a new year heralds the beginning of a new fitness journey as they embrace a resolution for change.
We spoke to Angie Barth and Sami Fisher from The Active Sisters about how to create habits that will become part of your long-term weekly routine.
They say scheduling exercise into your calendar each week is the easiest way to ensure it’s something you continue, when life gets busy.
“Consistency is key, whether that’s 15 minutes, 30 minutes or an hour a day, by consistently moving your body and showing up you will progress, you will get results,” Angie says.
“You will also feel good which is important as well.
“I think you need to meet yourself where you are on your journey, so if you are currently doing absolutely nothing incorporating 15 minutes into your day is going to make the biggest difference.
“A lot of the time people underestimate short workouts, but again it’s that consistency. You are better off doing 15 minutes a day rather than one hour workout a week. You’ll get better benefits from doing it daily rather than once a week.”
Sami agrees saying any activity which gets your heart rate up is beneficial.
“Schedule it like you would a doctors’ appointment,” she says. It can be difficult to know how to get started and what exercise you will enjoy doing. Seeking help from a personal trainer, joining a studio and taking part in a group class can help.
“We’re big believers in strength training and cardio training, but it’s also finding exercises you enjoy doing. It’s really hard to not know that at the beginning, so joining a studio where you can try a variety, hiring a personal trainer who can help you learn and know what you want to work on … that’s really important,” Angie says.
Sami adds: “The power of a
group fitness class is a big tip – showing up, having someone lead the way. You work out, you dance, you laugh, you’re in a community of likeminded women in our studio”.
Another top tip is to set realistic expectations.
“Create that really strong, healthy routine around it, be consistent, and don’t have unrealistic expectations. Help and support is huge. There are so many free workouts, you can create a program yourself,” Angie says.
“Another thing is finding out why you’re doing it. Writing it down, doing some goal setting … what it actually means for you and why you’re needing to do it.”
Making fitness a priority and working out how it can best fit into your life will set you up for success.
“We have the best intentions of doing things, but it gets really busy. We believe if you can get your workouts done in the morning, and that works for your lifestyle, we think that’s one of the
best things you can do,” she says.
“I know myself, if I don’t, I get caught up in my day and I’ll end up saying ‘it’s not a priority at the moment’.”
In January, most of us have new calendars and journals so it’s a great time to carve that time out.
“Make your fitness calendar part of your work and life calendar,” Sami says.
Angie says it is important not to take on too much.
“If you are trying to get better at eating, or you’re trying to exercise, focus on one because I think it can become so overwhelming,” she says.
“If you really need help with food, then get the help that you need with food. If you really need to focus on moving, then get help with movement and the rest will then follow.”
“Don’t overwhelm yourself in January,” Sami adds.
Digital marketing matters
In today’s fast-paced, techdriven world, digital marketing is no longer optional—it’s essential. It allows businesses of all sizes to compete on a level playing field, reach a global audience, and adapt quickly to changing trends. Unlike traditional marketing, digital marketing offers measurable results, so you know exactly what’s working and where to improve.
By combining strong branding, a robust online presence, and strategic digital marketing, businesses can build trust, increase visibility, and achieve sustainable growth in a competitive marketplace.
Every business has a unique story to tell, and your branding is how you communicate it—visually, emotionally, and consistently. A strong brand identity helps your audience
understand who you are, what you stand for, and why they should choose you. From logos and colour palettes to tone of voice, every element should reflect your business’s core values and vision, creating a lasting impression.
• Strong presence builds trust Your website and social media are often the first interactions customers have with your business. A well-designed website and engaging digital content establish credibility and build trust with your audience. Customers expect to find you online, and the quality of your online presence can make or break their decision to engage with you.
• Be found where it matters Even the most compelling brand won’t succeed if no
one can find it. This is where digital marketing comes in. Strategies like search engine optimization (SEO), payper-click (PPC) advertising, and targeted social media campaigns ensure your business is visible where it matters most—on search engines, social platforms, and online directories. Digital marketing helps you connect with the right audience at the right time, making it an essential tool for growth.
• Consistency is key In the digital world, your audience interacts with your business across various touchpoints—your website, Instagram feed, emails, and ads, to name a few. Consistency across all these platforms reinforces your
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brand identity, builds trust, and ensures your business remains recognisable. A cohesive online presence creates a seamless experience for customers, increasing their confidence in your business.
• Turning clicks into customers Your online presence isn’t just about looking good—it’s about achieving results. Digital marketing bridges the gap between awareness and action. Through data-driven strategies, you can transform website visitors into paying customers and social media engagement into meaningful conversions. Tools like analytics and customer behaviour tracking help you refine your efforts and maximize your return on investment.
Bag's the best thing since sliced bread
Nick Crockford
Five years ago, Dominic Elliott knew little about bread, but today that family staple is taking this Scarborough resident around the world.
The 24-year-old’s reusable bread bags, made from recycled plastic bottles, are being sold in the US, Mexico, Canada and Australia.
He plans to launch in Germany and hopefully the United Kingdon this year - and is negotiating with Bakers Delight to expand a trial in Queensland, NSW and Victoria.
Under the brand Think4earth, Dominic now does business in four continents and has sold more than 150,000 bread bags, bringing in more than $3 million.
That achievement was recognised in last year’s Redcliffe Peninsula Chamber of Commerce Business Awards, when he received the Retail Business category’s top prize.
The Southern Cross Catholic College graduate is “surprised” by the success but says it has made his “commitment to creating a sustainable future even stronger”.
After leaving school Dominic, then just 18, started Elliott Importing with a mission to “reduce single-use plastics and offer sustainable alternatives”.
Determined to “make a meaningful impact on the environment” he started product research, completed business courses and went to events.
It was during the research he spotted bread bags “you could literally see through”.
“I wondered, how are these keeping bread fresh?” he said.
“We looked through bread bags on the market, redesigned them and launched in the US, then expanded to Canada, Mexico and now Australia - all selling online.
“I knew very little about bread when this started, but it has been a really interesting journey – a lot of learning and a real eyeopener.
“Bread is a real science, especially here in Australia,
where you need bread to be able to breathe a little bit, otherwise it goes mouldy really fast.
“If you get a paper bag from a bakery it breathes too much and goes stale. These bags are a happy medium to keep bread fresh.”
Dominic has expanded into bread boards made from plastic bottle tops and is at Redcliffe Markets each week, “engaging directly with customers”.
He was also at last year’s Moreton Bay Food and Wine Festival, the Ekka and Brisbane Food and Wine Show, as well as Christmas markets at West End, the Powerhouse and Rocklea.
Plans this year include launching a new bread bag design with a valve to adjust the
airflow depending on the type of bread and climate conditions.
Dominic is also developing a reusable coffee bag with a degassing valve to keep beans fresh. He hopes to launch it at Neli Coffee, Clontarf, before selling online and overseas.
He will also be at the East Sydney Show, Big Design Show and Little Food Market in Sydney and Melbourne.
More market stalls are planned and further wholesale deals, particularly with bakeries and coffee shops.
He would also “love” to collaborate with Bakers Delight on themed bags for such as Easter or initiatives like Breast Cancer Awareness.
Big afternoon of Music in the Park
Scarborough Beach Park is the place to be this Australia Day, with a Music in the Park event offering an afternoon of sun-soaked family fun.
The event will be held from 1-6pm on January 26. Entry is free.
Music in the Park Scarborough is a chance to immerse yourself in the Australia Day vibe with your mates.
Grab your picnic rug, fold-
up chairs, and snag the ideal spot to relax and groove to live entertainment.
There will also be children’s activities and food trucks. It is an alcohol-free event.
Remember to bring along water, sunscreen, seating, and shade to ensure a top-notch experience.
Big crowds are expected, so get there early to reserve your spot.
There’s no better place to enjoy the public holiday, with views out to Moreton Bay and plenty of ways to entertain the kids including a jumping pillow, giant chess, playground equipment, basketball court and trees perfect for climbing.
Bring your swimmers and cool off in the water!
Dogs are welcome but must be kept on a leash at all times.
MUSIC PARK IN THE
SCARBOROUGH
WHERE: Scarborough Beach Park, 52 Landsborough Ave
WHEN: January 26, 1-6pm
COST: Free
SCAN HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION
A similar event will be held at Bribie Island’s Brennan Park from 1-5pm, with live entertainment, children's activities and food trucks overlooking Pumicestone Passage.
Music in the Park Scarborough is presented by the City of Moreton Bay and delivered by Moreton Bay Region Industry & Tourism.
with Sondra Grainger
The simple act of gifting a little posy of fresh or dried flowers is seen as a sweet gesture of friendship and caring… a pretty combination of blooms in a petite vase to be admired and enjoyed.
Posies, also once known as a nosegay or tussie-mussie, were incredibly popular during the Victorian age when they were used as a form of communication. Social etiquette dictated what was considered ‘appropriate’ for good folk to verbalise, so they embraced the language of flowers or ‘floriography’ to get the message across. The flower species, placement of them within the posy, even the way a posy was handed over conveyed a different meaning. Right hand for yes, left hand for no!
A woman in the Victorian era could tell a man she wasn't interested in him with a posy of candytuft and yellow carnations, which famously
A friend, who was moving away, would receive a bunch of forgetme-nots and goldenrod to remind them they'd be missed.
Doctors were known to carry ‘a pocket full of posies,’ normally a bunch of lavender, to disinfect their hands and face after visiting a sick patient and using the aroma to mask the odour of the deceased.
Some posy traditions have carried through the ages… a posy of red roses represented love and devotion and remains the symbol for Valentine’s and true love now. However, a posy of pink roses would merely imply a fleeting crush.
Modern day flower giving still holds onto some of these traditions, although it’s the colour of the blooms that represents the meaning…
Red flowers: love, desire and passion
White flowers: purity, innocence, reverence and humility
Pink flowers: grace, admiration and joy
Yellow flowers: friendship, joy and new beginnings
Orange flowers: excitement and energy
Green flowers: health, good luck and abundance
Purple flowers: admiration, respect, royalty and dignity
Blue flowers: trust, faith and wisdom
Some of my favourites for growing and picking in summer are the boldly colourful zinnia and chamomile, in spring it’s a posy of sweet peas, stock and delphiniums – a sensational combination of colour and fragrance, in autumn you can’t go past daisies and in winter a cheery mix of violas and pansy.
A delicious posy of herbs (known as a bouquet garni) is often called for in winter recipes, tied up with string and popped in the top of a slow cooked meal to add aroma and flavour, but are just as lovely in a small vase in the kitchen.
Rosemary, sage, parsley (especially the flower heads), rocket flowers and feathery coriander blooms are wonderful teamed with lavender, thyme and native violets for a herbaceous blend.
Pop some repeat flowering snapdragons, nasturtium, geranium, seaside daisy and everlasting daisy in the garden and you’ll have something to pick year-round.
TOP TIPS: let herbs go to flower, once you’ve finished with them in your posy, save the seeds to repeat sow.
Happy gardening!
What's ON
January 15
Messy Play
Drop in and play with PlayDoh, paint, craft and more at Redcliffe Library from 9-10am. Dress for getting messy. This free activity is for children under five years of age. Bookings are not required. Another workshop will be held on January 22 from 9-10am. Visit moretonbay.qld.gov.au/ libraries/Events/Messy-Play/ Redcliffe
Songwriting workshop
Discover the secrets of writing a great song with musician Aaron Shanahan from Imagine Music during this free workshop at Redcliffe Library from 2-4pm. Bookings are required for this activity, which is for children aged 12-17 years.
To book, visit moretonbay. qld.gov.au/libraries/Events/ Songwriting-For-Teens/ Redcliffe
January 22
Craft workshop
Use wax resist and watercolour to illustrate the beautiful waterways of Moreton Bay during this workshop for children aged 5-12 years at Redcliffe Art Gallery from
10.30am-12.30pm. Cost is $5. All materials are supplied.
To book, visit moretonbay. qld.gov.au/GalleriesMuseums/Events/RAG/WaxResist-Waterways
Daytime concert
Acclaimed entertainer, director and theatre performer Thomas Armstrong-Robley will bring his show Bublé, Broadway & Beyond to Redcliffe Entertainment Centre from 11am. He will perform songs from Michael Bublé, The Righteous Brothers and The Bee Gees during the intimate cabaret show. Visit redcliffeentertainment centre.com.au/Events/BubléThomas-2025
January 24
Stand-up comedy
Comedian Joe Avati will bring his show, When I was Your Age, to Redcliffe Entertainment Centre from 7.30pm. The audience will be asked to leave political correctness at the door, as he shares insights on how things have changed since he grew up in the ‘80s.
The Beggars Sing The Seekers tribute show follows The Seekers’ story from the Melbourne cafe scene in 1962 to London. Enjoy the group’s biggest hits during this show which starts at 2.30pm.
Gather your family and mates for Music in the Park Scarborough at Scarborough Beach Park from 1-6pm. Enjoy an afternoon of live music, children's activities, food trucks and free family fun. Visit whatsonmoretonbay. com/events/music-in-thepark-scarborough
February 7
Cash tribute
The Johnny Cash and The Outlaws tribute show will pay homage to the ‘legends of outlaw country music’ during a two-hour show at Redcliffe Entertainment Centre at 7.30pm. Visit redcliffeentertainment centre.com.au/Events/ Leaving-Jackson-2025
Until February 9
Red, Red, Red
This exhibition showcases red objects from Moreton Bay City Council’s heritage collection and reveals the stories of why red was the chosen colour. Take a look at the display at Redcliffe Museum until February 9. Entry is free. Visit moretonbay.qld.gov.au/ Galleries-Museums/Events/ RM/Red-Red-Red
Red Heart of Australia
Enjoy an exhibition of eight paintings created by Aboriginal artists from across central Australia until February 9 at Redcliffe Museum. Entry is free. The exhibition is open now. Visit moretonbay.qld.gov.au/ Galleries-Museums/Events/ RM/Red-Heart-of-Australia
Until February 15
Art with purpose Artspace’s acclaimed 52 ACTIONS exhibition will stop at Redcliffe Art Gallery, until February 15, as part of its national tour. It features work from 52 Australian artists and collectives from each state and territory, and is grounded in art as action. Visit moretonbay.qld.gov.au/ Galleries-Museums/Events/ RAG/52-ACTIONS
FISHING TIPS
Dr Dazza with
Ihope everyone had a fantastic Christmas break, ate lots of seafood and caught plenty themselves.
Inshore reefs and bay waters
The inshore reefs provide fantastic opportunity for those with a small boat or a kayak. The shallow inshore reefs around the Peninsula will have grass sweetlip, snapper, Moses Perch, bream and estuary cod. Fishing light is always the key to catching these fish and they will be most active at dawn and dusk and during the night.
Crabbing and prawning
The crab most caught by recreational fishers in Moreton Bay is the blue swimmer crab and these are abundant in Bramble and Deception Bays and off the Redcliffe Peninsula during January. If you are land based, Woody Point Jetty and the fishing platforms on the Ted Smout bridge are great spots. It has been a long-standing management arrangement that recreational and commercial fishers must only retain male blue swimmer and mud crabs. Male blue swimmer crabs are bright blue in colour with white patches, longer claws and a narrow abdomen.
Females on the other hand are duller in colour with shorter claws and a much wider abdomen. Generally, with more rain you should expect to catch more mud crabs, particularly in the downstream reaches of our rivers and creeks.
For the cast netters, banana prawns will be starting to be more active too. It is very early in the season for them and exactly where they will be is impacted by rainfall. The deeper parts of the Pine and Caboolture rivers are the best place to look this month. Estuary and land based Bream are active throughout our estuary systems and canals this time of year. While they take most baits, always have a variety on hand as the larger fish can change their preference from day to day. Small hard body and soft plastic lures will also produce bream, particularly when fished near structure. Although the exact locations are always closely guarded, if you put in the effort working live bait such as herring or mullet or a well-presented lure close to structure, you can find Mangrove jacks. This method will also produce estuary
Offshore and Pelagics
This is often not the best time of the year weatherwise to fish offshore, but if you can safely venture out, expect a big mix of potential reef species. Pearl perch, teraglin, venus tuskfish, various cods and Moses perch will be the mainstays, but depending on where you are fishing, offshore there will be more tropical species including hussar and green jobfish. Shallower areas of coffee rock
cod. Live baits and lures can also produce various species of trevally including golden trevally and bigeye trevally. For flathead, Hays Inlet and the Pine River are some of my favourite places to target these species. The Ted Smout Memorial Bridge is a good land-based spot for them. In my experience January is not the best month locally for them, but a few are still around. Yellowfin and sand whiting will still be on the shallow bank and their edges in the Pine and Caboolture rivers, Burpengary Creek and Hays Inlet.
will hold snapper, particularly around Cape Moreton.
Cobia and yellowtail kingfish will also be around offshore as well as in parts of Moreton Bay itself such as around the Bulwer Ledge and the shipping channel beacons. School and spotted mackerel will be active in January as well within the bay and any of the good quality chrome lures on the market should do the trick with them.
Beaches
If you are heading to Moreton Island, swallowtail dart will be prolific at times during the day on the northern beach between Comboyuro Point and North Point. It is a great location to fish in southeasterly winds. January is the peak of the spawning period for swallowtail dart which extends from October to April and this coincides with the peak of their activity along the northern beaches of Moreton Island.
Daryl McPhee is an associate professor of environmental science at Bond University
Coffee catch-up
Locals and visitors enjoyed coffee, a bite to eat and the view at cafes along the Redcliffe foreshore.
Discover your next favourite wine, beer or spirit while exploring the Sunshine Coast, Scenic Rim and Moreton Bay region.
Mountain Wine Tours showcases South East Queensland best boutique breweries, distilleries and wineries.
Choice of three buses, catering to guests of all abilities with accessible options.
1. Tina Olive and Allyssa and Sophia Wimpenny 2. Justine, Jack and Lucy McKee 3. Adam and Poet Night 4. Jason Eyre 5. Annette White and Teresa Eising 6. Luke and Amelia Pedersen
PHOTOS DOMINIKA LIS
with Patsy
Aquarius
JAN 20 - FEB 19
This is a year of great change for you, largely in line with developments already introduced or considered early in 2024. The full moon on January 14 will spotlight your personal life and will encourage you to deepen some relationships - and also to distance yourself from others.
Pisces
FEB 20 - MAR 20
Venus in your sign from the 3rd brings the chance to boost both your love life and your finances in January especially around the 3rd and 19th. However much of your focus this month will also be squarely on finances, so it will be important that you find a way to devise a sound budget.
Aries
MAR 21 - APR 19
Get set to turn some corners in 2025! First, a retrospective flavour in January will bring focus to your home life, a property or a change of environment and you may be drawn to re-think some domestic matters. The new moon on the 29th will provide some much-needed perspective.
Taurus
APR 20 - MAY 20
A creative and productive start to the year will also bring a sociable phase. Your attention is likely to turn to your home and environment as well and developments mid-month will ask that you are adaptable. You’ll enjoy an uptick in your love life especially towards the 23rd, 26th and 30th.
Gemini
MAY 21 - JUN 20
Communications are set to improve in January, and this will help you to boost your circumstances both at work and financially. You’ll discover new ways to configure work or to use various skillsets. A shared domestic matter will merit consideration especially at the end of the month.
Capricorn DEC 22 - JAN 19
A fresh approach to your relationships will appeal early in the year, and you’ll be drawn to ask: how can you be more supportive of others and yourself? Mars will motivate you to be more outgoing in 2025, and the full moon on the 14th spotlights the importance of nurturing relationships.
Cancer
JUN 21 - JUL 22
Relationships will be a focus, with the 8th to the 27th being an outgoing time. Be sure to look after your energy levels and communications, especially on the 3rd and 16th to avoid fatigue and misunderstandings. Mid-month, finances will benefit from care or even a little expert advice.
Leo
JUL 23 - AUG 22
You’ll appreciate the chance to put in motion ideas you contemplated earlier in 2024. January is an excellent time to boost your health and wellbeing, as it’s an adventurous time, especially in your love life and financially. Consider new ventures that lead to fresh success in 2025.
Virgo
AUG 23 - SEP 22
Venus will put the focus on your work and health earlier in the month and on your love life towards the 31st. Saturn and Neptune will help you to reach relationship goals, although the full moon on the 14th will spotlight particular ties, some of which you may be ready to leave behind.
Libra
SEP 23 - OCT 22
January is excellent for kick-starting fresh ventures. You’ll appreciate the chance to explore new options in your career and direction. Be brave, but also realistic. It’s important also to direct attention to your health and happiness, as otherwise these could come low on your to-do list.
Scorpio
OCT 23 - NOV 21
Venus will put your mind to love, fun and romance, although you must be practical too, as Mars retrograde may induce a little fatigue. You’ll nevertheless enjoy focusing on your relationships and reorganising areas you share such as duties and finances. Just be sure to avoid overspending.
Sagittarius
NOV 22 - DEC 21
The good news is that the sun and Mercury will boost communications and January will be ideal for a break. Be sure to organise short trips and failing that, fun events. However, Jupiter retrograde may bring a slower pace than you prefer in your relationships and ventures, so be patient.
Today ’s Aim:
Using the nine letters in the grid, how many words of four letters or more can you list? The centre letter must be included and each letter may only be used once. No colloquial or foreign words. No capitalised nouns, apostrophes or plural words ending in “s”. E N H U G R D A A
14 word s: G ood 21 word s: Ver y good
word s: Excellent
1 Alcohol-serving establishments
Heaps (1,3)
Label; title
Chew
1 W hat is the chemic
2 True or f alse: a cutlas s is a t ype of telescope?
3 The herb coriander is c alled by what other name in Americ a?
4 World War I ended with the signing of which treat y?
5 W hich T V series s t arred Meghan Markle for seven seasons?
Complete the list by changing one letter at a time to create a new word at each step. There may be more than one possible answer
To solve a Sudoku puzzle, every number from 1 to 9 must appear in: each of the nine vertical columns, each of the nine horizontal rows and each of the nine 3 x 3 boxes. Remember no number can occur more than once in any row, column or box. 2 3 2 8 4 1 3 2 45 3 1 8 3 7 5 8 1 6 5 9 1 5 8 1 59 7
Taking social media by storm
Kylie Knight
Barry Eames admits he’s no spring chicken, but the Dolphins NRL club’s newest ‘intern’ has no shortage of youthful enthusiasm.
The 85-year-old Bally Cara retirement village resident has become a social media sensation since taking on the role and appearing in several videos, including one in which he had some fun announcing the 2025 NRL Draw with Sam Tagataese.
Barry has also starred alongside winger Jack Bostock in a Bossy Cooks with Bally Cara cooking video, sampling the mixture and home baking along the way.
The born performer made butterfly cakes with Bostock, showing the 21-year-old how to use old-fashioned cooking utensils such as a hand-beater, having plenty of fun in the process.
“He’s a great fellow,” Barry says.
Bostock is now one of Barry’s favourite players alongside
fellow winger Jamayne Isaako.
“I just love watching them. We love to go to the games and I’ve been to Suncorp Stadium and watched a game,” Barry says.
He jumped on the Dolphins bandwagon, as excitement about the club grew ahead of its first season in the NRL in 2023, splitting his loyalty between the Phins and Cowboys.
Having previously lived in Townsville for 30 years, the Cowboys had been his team but Barry’s heart is big enough for two.
“I was at the Cowboys’ first game in 1995 and so I’ve been a Cowboys’ supporter ever since but since the Dolphins have come along … I’ve supported both,” he says.
“Bally Cara has a sponsorship with them and we’ve had a couple of big open days here.”
Barry has two supporter flags, one for each club, which he flies from his balcony when each team wins.
“If they keep winning, they stay out,” Barry explains.
When they lose, he drags the flag inside quick smart … sometimes when he’s still in his pyjamas.
So, what happens when they play each other?
“Well, I hope it’s a draw,” he says laughing.
The Dolphins’ star intern has made a bold prediction for the 2025 season …
“The Dolphins will be in the final eight and, hopefully, the Cowboys and the Dolphins will play in the Grand Final. That would be absolutely perfect,” Barry says.
As for his newfound career, the former architect laughs when asked if he’s still struggling to work out what he wants to do with his life, taking on an internship at the age of 85.
“There’s always a resurrection of a new life,” he says.
And wife Frances agrees his second career suits him.
“I think it’s great for him. I said to him the other day, fancy at 85 doing all of this sort of thing,” she says.
Blockbuster round one for Redcliffe dolphins
The Redcliffe Dolphins will face Norths Devils in a Grand Final rematch during the opening round of the 2025 Hostplus Cup season.
The round one clash, at Bishop Park, will be hotly contested as Redcliffe look to avenge their 34-20 Grand Final defeat.
The game will also mark the start of a new era for the Dolphins, who will be guided by Eric Smith for the first time following Ben Te’o’s move to the Brisbane Broncos.
The QRL Hostplus Cup draw was released on December 9. The Redcliffe Dolphins’ first home game is against bayside rivals Wynnum Manly Seagulls on March 22 (1.45pm).
Fans will have eight chances to see their team at Kayo Stadium throughout the 23-round season.
Country Week is locked in for the weekend of July 26-27,
with Redcliffe poised to take on the Jets at a venue yet to be announced.
Week one of the 2025 finals series will be played across the weekend of September 6-7, with Kayo Stadium to host the Grand Final on Saturday, September 27.
QRL competitions manager Dave Maiden says: “We have so much to be excited about in 2025. There are rivalry derbies and blockbuster match-ups everywhere you look, particularly in the opening rounds.
“Every week we witness how much this competition means to our clubs and the many communities across Queensland, just by the pure effort alone that our players, coaches and support staff put in on the training paddock and on game day.
“We look forward to supporting the journey of those with NRL aspirations, while also watching the most consistent teams lock horns in the 2025 finals series.”
See the Redcliffe Dolphins’ 2025 Hostplus Cup Draw here
Kristian Woolf with One-on-one
Kristian Woolf has been instrumental in creating a culture of hard work and tenacity at the Dolphins since they made their NRL debut two years ago. He spoke with The Redcliffe Peninsula about taking his squad to the top eight, the 2025 draw and who will lead the team as they hit the ground running at preseason training.
“It (preseason training) is about getting fitter and it’s a really good opportunity for our staff to work on the players with their bodies … increase their fitness, increase their strength and help them be slightly better as athletes,” Woolf says.
“We also want to make sure we’re developing how we want to play as a team, trying to allow some opportunities to develop more skills and improve as individuals.”
The Dolphins were looking to the future, when they appointed Woolf as Assistant Coach to Wayne Bennett for the club’s first two years intending to elevate him to the top job for the 2025 season. His resume is impressive, but his reputation for fostering a culture of hard work and improvement were just as important when the club made the decision they believed would set the Dolphins up for the future.
Woolf, a former Assistant Coach at the Cowboys, Broncos and Knights, has also been Head Coach of the Townsville Blackhawks in the Queensland
Cup, winning a Grand Final in 2015.
He was at the helm of St Helens when they won two English Super League Grand Finals, the 2022 Minor Premiership and the 2021 Challenge Cup Final.
Notably, he’s led the Tongan revolution in international rugby league for the past 10 years, with the side playing the Kangaroos in the Pacific Championships final in November.
“It (Head Coach of the Dolphins) is a role or position I’m really comfortable with. I’ve done it at different times, at different levels … obviously most recently in England,” he explains.
“When I came back from England, I was very clear in my head as to what the role looked like in terms of the first two years … my role was to support Wayne (Bennett) and make sure it was his team … and do that to the best of my ability.
“I learnt a hell of a lot from Wayne. It was really enjoyable working under Wayne. He’s a straight-up kind of guy and that’s what I deal with best. There’s a lot of things that I’ve seen that will certainly be part of my coaching going forward.
“What I really like about the group and the club is … it was a big task coming together with everything being new and every person being new … I like the trajectory we’re on. My job is to make sure we continue that.”
Woolf has assembled a coaching team to help him
achieve his goals.
Nathan Fien, who has been an assistant coach since the club’s formation, has been joined by Rory Kostjasyn (Newcastle Knights) and Ben Woolf (St George Illawarra).
The club’s ‘DNA’ has been defined during the past two years and is built on hard work, tenacity and a desire to play at a high level for each other.
Woolf says it’s something that drives the existing squad and will be embraced by newcomers Daniel Saifiti, Junior Tupou, Max Feagai and Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, as well as younger players joining the extended squad.
So, what will it take to make finals this year?
“I think we can be a little bit fitter as a team. If you look at the fact that we faded a little bit the back end of the last two years … I think that comes down a bit to our fitness and ... also making sure we’ve got our best players on the field,” Woolf says.
He is looking forward to seeing Tom Gilbert back at full strength
and playing in the 2025 season.
“He’s a guy that I think everyone involved with the team would say is right at the core of who we want to be and what we want to look like as a team.
“He’s extremely good because he’s got such high standards himself. Having him back around the group, you can see he’s a big part of starting to drive those standards and he’s going to continue to do that going forward.”
When asked if he could give us a clue on who will be captaining the side in 2025, Woolf declines.
“No. No clues at all. What I will say there is we’ve obviously got a leadership group who’s been a strong group that I’ve been really happy with the last couple of years,” he says.
“We’re going to stick with that leadership group and that’s something that will probably be added to over the course of the next few months. We’ve got a long preseason ahead ... I think who’s the leader of our group will emerge over that time.”
Big field to battle for swim glory
Greater Brisbane’s only ocean swim will be back along Redcliffe’s foreshore next month.
Hundreds of entrants are expected to line up on Suttons Beach for the annual Moreton Bay Swim on Sunday, February 2.
The event, now in its sixth year, has three distances –4km, 2km and 1km, as well as a family friendly inflatable race.
It makes the Moreton Bay Swim, which is organised by SSG Multisports, “enough to challenge the new and the experienced ocean swimmer”.
The exact course had,
Calling time on national career
Nick Crockford
Shane Kenny, who spent seven years playing at Redcliffe, has brought the curtain down on his national league hockey career.
The 35-year-old, bowed out after helping Brisbane Blaze win bronze medals by beating Perth 4-3 at the national finals in Hobart last month.
It was Kenny’s 101st match for Queensland Blades in the Australian Hockey League (AHL)
at the time of writing, to be confirmed but Greg McMurray, SSG Multisports President, says: “Historically, it is from Suttons Beach to Scotts Point and back”.
Event swim caps will be sold on the day to raise money for Rotary's Global Water Safety and Drowning Prevention programs.
The Moreton Bay Swim started in 2020 with just nine swimmers, followed by 60 in 2021 and in 2022 around 400 lined up.
Entries were scaled back to 120 in 2023 and it was just a club event last year but, with extra organising support, the aim for 2025 is to hit 400 again.
and then Brisbane in Hockey One, which replaced the AHL.
His hopes of finishing with a sixth national title were dashed by Canberra Chill who beat Brisbane 3-2 in the previous day's semi-final.
Kenny decided early last year it was time to step down from the national stage. However, he will still be playing for Pine Rivers St Andrews and chasing Brisbane League premierships.
“I’m pretty happy with my career in the national league,” says the defender, who is married to former Australian Hockeyroos star Jodie Kenny.
“It wasn’t an easy decision, but I think it’s time - we have
It will be a far cry from the day in 2017 when Greg and Mal Wessener sat on Suttons Beach dreaming of becoming ocean swimmers.
Both wanted to do triathlons but were “scared of the ocean”. However, they took the plunge swimming on Fridays and were soon joined by friends.
Word spread and dozens more took part. Suttons Swim Group (SSG) was formed with Wednesday and Sunday dips added to the original Friday swims.
“We really weren’t expecting it to take off,” Greg recalls, “the group steam rollered and a good portion were people
getting out for the first time.” SSG Multisports now has more than 130 members, with the oldest being 72 and youngest a 13-year-old Queensland champion.
Runs and cycle rides were started and in 2020 SSG Multisports became a triathlon club aligned with Triathlon Australia.
In 2023, it won the Queensland Triathlon Series Medium Sized Club Championship and followed up with second place last year.
For more information visit ssgmultisports.com.au
children and a business … and hopefully now more spare time.”
Kenny says his favourite memories include winning the 2015 AHL title with Queensland in Darwin when he scored his only national league goal. And clinching Brisbane Blaze's first Hockey One title last season.
Kenny had 13 years at national
level with Queensland 20112018 and Brisbane 2019, 20222024. He won AHL titles with Queensland in 2012, 2013, 2015, 2018 and a Hockey One crown with Brisbane in 2023.
He also played almost 350 games in the Brisbane league with Pine Rivers St Andrews, Redcliffe and Commercial.
