The Western Echo December 2023 by The Western Echo

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DECEMBER 2023

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WELCOME TO SUMMER! TOP SPOTS TO COOL OFF THIS SUMMER

STORY PAGE 3

Serving the community since 1988 E:

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Located at BP The Gap, 850 Waterworks Road, The Gap 4061

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The Western Echo December 2023 | Page 1

Advertiser'sDirectory DecemberEcho BUILDING, TRADES & SERVICES

A&C Property Detailing | P: 0401 210 038........................... 17 Inness Green | P: 0414 564 520......................................... 19 Lone Star Hire | P: 0418 238 005....................................... 27

COMMUNITY

Australia Day Citizenship Ceremony.................................... 11 Centenary Memorial Gardens | P: 07 3271 1222.................. 14 Taylor Range Club | P: 3366 1560...................................... 17 The Gap LOCO | www.thegaploco.com............................... 19 TriCare Ashgrove | Ph: 1300 874 2273................................ 20

LAWYERS

Hollingworth & Spencer | P: 3123 5700.............................. 22

MECHANICS & AUTOMOTIVE

Wyatt Automotive | P: 3300 2077......................................... 1

MEDICAL, HEALTH & WELL-BEING

Physiologix | P: 3511 1112................................................. 19 The Gap Day & Night Pharmacy | P: 3300 1555.................. 32 Wenatex | Ph: 07 3667 7800.............................................. 14 Zen Acupuncture | P: 0478 694 310................................... 27

POLITICAL/GOVERNMENT

Cr. Steven Toomey | P: 3407 1900.................................... 4-5 Jonty Bush MP | P: 3554 9100............................................. 7 Elizabeth Watson-Brown MP | P: 3378 1599.......................... 9

REAL ESTATE

Harcourts Solutions - Carmen Briggs | P: 0418 742 511....... 11 Ray White - Jack & Stephen Dangerfield............................. 16

SCHOOLS, EDUCATION & FAMILY

Arana Touch Football | P: 0413 660 216.............................. 12 Fish n Flips Swim School.................................................... 11

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Published by: Meglara Pty Ltd PO Box 669, the Gap Q 4061 | 0409 440 501 www.westernecho.com.au | editor@westernecho.com.au facebook.com/TheWesternEcho instagram.com/thewesternecho Editor: Melanie Grevis-James | Designer: Kym Bierenbroodspot Printed by: Printcraft | Distribution: IVE Distribution

Welcome to Summer..................................................3 News from The Gap Ward........................................4-5 From The Editor.........................................................6 Col's Chat..................................................................6 State Government Update...........................................7 Rotary Santa Sleigh 2023............................................8 Libby's Latest.............................................................9 Rotary Club of Ashgrove The Gap.............................. 10 The Gap Probus Club................................................10 Ashgrove The Gap Lions Club....................................12 Ashgrove Rangers....................................................13 Paten Park Native Nursery........................................13 Ashgrove Forum.......................................................15 The Gap She Shed...................................................15 Brisbane Art in Bark.................................................15 Reservoir Frogs Theatre Company............................. 16 Brisbane North Cake Decorators.................................16 The Gap Sustainability Initiative................................ 17 Carinity....................................................................18 Picabeen..................................................................18 Ithaca Probus Club...................................................19 TriCare....................................................................21 For the love of Books................................................22 Local Sporting Success.............................................22 Ashgrove Historical Society.......................................23 Enoggera & Districts Historical Society....................... 23 The Gap Repair Cafe................................................23 Mitchelton & Districts Garden Club............................. 24 SOWN.....................................................................24 Newmarket Bocce Club.............................................25 Balaangala Community Group................................... 25 Red Hill Bowls Sports & Community Club................... 26 Brisbane Tramway Museum.......................................26 Paddington Then and Now........................................27 The Gap Pioneer & History Group Inc........................ 28 The Pyjama Foundation............................................28 Serenata Singers Community Group.......................... 29 Trek2Health.............................................................29 Amnesty International..............................................29 Principal's Points................................................. 30-31

You can read The Western Echo online at: www.westernecho.com.au Enjoy the read! Links included online – for more information about our advertisers and editorial contributors.

The Western Echo December 2023 | Page 2

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Welcome to

Summer

can paddle, fish, or canoe. Although it’s not advisable to swim at Colleges Crossing due to the fast-flowing current, kids can paddle on the edges and have a splash about. Centenary Aquatic Centre, Spring Hill A public swimming pool with multiple pools, slides, and shaded areas. Perfect for both serious swimmers and those seeking a fun day out. Entry

TOP SPOTS TO COOL OFF THIS SUMMER Spend time this summer outdoors with family and friends. These summer fun options for families provide a diverse range of swimming experiences and cooling-off spots across the western suburb areas of Brisbane. Always check the latest information on facilities and opening hours before planning your visit. And remember to swim safe! Enoggera Reservoir (Walkabout Creek), The Gap This popular summer spot is nestled in D'Aguilar National Park. The reservoir (‘The Resi’ to locals) offers a scenic escape with swimming and picnicking facilities. Enjoy the natural surroundings, take a dip in the clear waters, go for a paddle, or enjoy a walk along the track around the reservoir. Newmarket Olympic Pool, Newmarket Newmarket Olympic Pool offers a 50m outdoor pool, a covered learn-to-swim pool, a shaded wading pool for kids, and slides. With a familyfriendly atmosphere, it's a great place for both serious swimmers and those looking to relax. Entry fees apply. Ferny Hills Aquatic Centre, Ferny Hills Ferny Hills Aquatic Centre features a heated 50m outdoor lap pool, a 15m learners' pool, a free form toddlers pool and playground, and shaded areas. BBQs also available. Entry fees apply. Cedar Creek Rock Pools, Samford A natural rock pool and creek to swim and splash around in. Andy Williams Park and Cedar Creek Rock Pools are located just past Samford, along Cedar Creek Road. The shallow rock pools are ideal for children. Andy Williams Park has toilets, picnic and BBQ facilities. Ferny Grove Aqua Park, Keperra The aqua park is ideal for young children – with a zero-depth single level water play area, including water sprinklers, ground sprays, and tipping-buckets. Seating, BBQ and picnic facilities also available. Colleges Crossing Recreation Reserve, Chuwar Colleges Crossing Recreation Reserve is a popular picnic spot on the Brisbane River at Chuwar near Ipswich. The reserve has temporary partial access due to flood damage. Here you

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fees apply.

Chermside Aquatic Centre, Chermside A public pool and Brisbane’s largest water park with six waterslides and lagoon play area. There is a separate entrance and entry fee for the water park and it is open in summer only. Entry fees apply. Taylor Range Club, The Gap A membership-based not-for-profit recreation club based in The Gap – a perfect oasis to spend time with the family, with 3 pools, BBQ and picnic facilities, kids playground, kiosk, ½ basketball court, tennis and squash courts. Members fees apply. Rocks Riverside Park, Seventeen Mile Rocks Situated along the Brisbane River, this park features a large water play area with fountains and shallow pools, large grassed area and playground, making it an excellent spot for families with kids. Bunya Crossing Reserve Swimming Hole, Bunya This reserve features a natural swimming hole located at the junction of Bergin Creek and South Pine River, just 25mins from Brisbane CBD. It's a serene location with opportunities for bushwalking, picnicking, BBQ, and swimming – with shallow areas especially suitable your younger children. Ithaca Pool, Paddington Ithaca Pool has a 25m pool, and a learn-to-swim pool. Facilities include shaded and grassed areas, and a café. Entry fees apply. Located next to a large children’s playground area, and enclosed dog park. Extra Tip: from a Helpful Local “Take a visit to Dan Murphy’s The Gap – and hang out in the cold room for a while. It’s a pretty well know spot already.” Images credits: Brisbane City Council, Moreton Bay Regional Council, Colin Bushell, Melanie Grevis-James. Cover image: Ferny Grove Aqua Park, Melanie Grevis-James.

$2 Summer Dips at Brisbane City Council Pools! From 1 December 2023 to 29 February 2024, general entry fees for Council's 22 pools will be discounted to $2 per entry.

The Western Echo December 2023 | Page 3

Cr Steven Toomey

More playg

Councillor for The Gap Ward

It’s all about parks this summer! Alfred & Lucina Best Park, The Gap on Payne Road has reopened! Stage 1 of the upgrade includes: A brand new Multi-Use Games Arena. A Learn-to-Ride track custom to this area. 2 x additional shelters New pathways for better user connectivity.

Ferny G Kings Pa part of t Due to afternoo effective carefully the end

It was great to see the new design celebrated at the opening with the Lord Mayor and myself. The new playground at Selkirk Crescent Park, Upper Kedron is here! A priority for me as your local Councillor is ensuring that green spaces and parks in this area are accessible and cater for all.

Congrat the late Club, As on Whee of our commun compreh

With the existing BBQ and picnic facilities, the new playground is already a big hit with locals. So good to see families outdoors and enjoying our suburbs! Honeyeater Park, Upper Kedron is an one of its kind adventure park. Being one of the largest open spaces in The Gap Ward, the new tower with climbing and interactive panels adds an element of height to the playground ready for a flying fox to be added. Plenty of shade shelters and BBQ facilities, a bird nest swing, and lots more, this park is one to watch. Toilets and additional facilities are planned for this space. Movilla Street Park, Ferny Grove is set to undergo a revamp over a series of stages. This will include shelters, BBQ facilities, and additional seating. A new wide concrete footpath will connect Movilla Street to Bantry Place to connect the area. Get ready for a vibrant and modern park experience! The Western Echo December 2023 | Page 4

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The Gap Ward | Cr Steven Toomey

More trees to shade our playgrounds! Ferny Grove Picnic Ground Park, Ferny Grove and Kings Park, Keperra will be receiving shade trees as part of the Sun Safe Suburban Playgrounds Program. Due to the angle of the sun in the mornings and afternoons, the new trees will add an extra layer of effective shade. These parks will receive a number of carefully selected native trees and will be planted by the end of this financial year.

Want to know more about the projects being delivered in your local area? Check out the interactive map of upgrades that have been delivered in The Gap Ward.

Lord Mayor’s Better Suburbs Grant Recipients 2023 Congratulations to the four community groups in The Gap Ward who are the recipients of the latest rounds of the Lord Mayor’s Better Suburbs Grant. They are The Gap Football Club, Ashgrove/The Gap Men’s Shed, Westside Grovely Football Club, and Ashgrove Meals on Wheels. From upgrading aircon units for hardworking volunteers to improving the field of our local sports clubs, these grants are vital to help continue the great work of community groups in our suburbs. Search Brisbane City Council Funding Finder for a comprehensive list of grant and funding opportunities available for your community group.

The Gap Ward Office will be closed Friday 22 December to Monday 8 January. If the matter is urgent, please contact the Brisbane City Council Contact Centre on 3403 8888 which is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. WWW.WESTERNECHO.COM.AU

The Western Echo December 2023 | Page 5

From theEditor Dear Readers,

Welcome to our December edition!

COL’S CHAT

Locals through my Lens

We made it to the end of the year! We had our celebration event on 21 November. Thanks so much to everyone who attended – and a big thanks to Richard from Home Café in Ashgrove for hosting us and spoiling us with such gloriously delicious food.

John McNamara Few people who live in Brisbane’s west would have failed to recognise the stunning topiary on display in Ashgrove Avenue. A creative wonder that turns heads and inspires backyard gardeners to greater heights. It’s a work of passion, and it was created by Ashgrove native, and all-round intriguing guy, John McNamara. John explains, “It’s taken me 14 years to get to this stage, starting with small bends of wire to nurture the growth of the first shoots and then frequent adjustments and trimming. The kangaroo’s tail was a challenge, because you had to get it out there about six foot”. Happy reading! We won’t be publishing a January edition, so our next edition will be February 2024. In the meantime, we wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a happy and successful New Year! A big THANK YOU to all our advertisers, supporters, and community groups who keep this publication alive for our community to receive monthly – so please support them wherever possible and buy local. A reminder please, if you miss getting your hands on a hard copy, remember you can easily read it online and download a copy from our website.

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All the best, Mel & Kym Facebook.com/TheWesternEcho Instagram.com/thewesternecho Melanie: 0409 440 501 | editor@westernecho.com.au or melanie@planetmarketing.com.au Kym: 0402 450 568 | spotart@spotart.com.au COPYRIGHT: All advertisements appearing in The Western Echo are subject to copyright and may not be reproduced except with the written consent of the owner of the copyright. No guarantee is given to the positioning of the advertisements and the publisher takes no responsibility for errors or omissions or the accuracy of articles published. The Western Echo is delivered, by private letterbox distribution, to homes in: Ashgrove, Ashgrove West, St. Johns Wood, Dorrington, The Gap, and selected areas of Bardon, Red Hill, Enoggera, Keperra and Mitchelton.

The Western Echo December 2023 | Page 6

The trees are Moreton Bay Figs, and the subject matter was an easy one for John. “We are in the greatest country in the world. I wanted something that reflects how we are proud Australians first. We have so much to offer, and I wanted something living; something that physically reflected the personality of our country, not just a flag, which is neither stimulating nor attractive if it hangs limp with no wind.” The kangaroo and emu - Chosen to symbolise a nation moving forward, (since neither animal can move backwards easily) - tower over John and myself as we chat, and they attract locals and visitors alike. John says, “It’s wonderful to see kids playing around them. It’s certainly become iconic, and I get a lot of satisfaction in providing something tangible that reflects Australia’s embrace.” Having spent a career in hospitality management (just ask him about how proud he was when he met David Attenborough!), John worked up until the age of 81, and is now an active member of the local Lions Club. Next time you are about halfway down Ashgrove Avenue, [safely] cast a glance to the side and marvel at the passion and effort that he has put into this distinctly local icon.

Author and photographer: Colin Bushell / Colin Bushell Photography

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state government update What's happening this month locally and within State Parliament

Have a safe and peaceful christmas you're invited

Thank you again for another wonderful year in our suburbs. I’ve had the opportunity to get along to so many events, over 1000 events actually that I’ve attended in the past year - so yes we are a VERY busy and active area. There’s been many local highlights but I will highlight a few - thankyou to the P&C’s who work around the clock to help our schools, you’ve run some wonderful events again this year from long lunches to fete’s and information nights - you’ve smashed it out of the park. In my past three years in this role I’m proud that I’ve helped secure over $37m in funding for our local schools, ensuring they are first-class and well resourced learning centers. Our local sporting and community groups continue to power on. I’ve loved spending time with you, from playing Scrabble at Cafe Tara, to trophy presentations and fun runs. Our office has provided fifty hampers this year to local groups to assist in their fundraising efforts, and we’ve helped community groups with printing, covering about 20,000 copies in twelve months. Sunlit Sounds was another highlight, again I was proud to fund the Auslan Interpreting, delivering on the Committee’s vision to make this a more accessible event for all. Collectively this year I’ve helped secure over $15m for our local clubs and community groups - money well spent! I’ve proudly advocated on issues I and you care about. I’ve consistently made representations on your behalf this year relating to Lake Eyre Basin and the need to protect our vital channel country, I’ve been a strong voice for victims of crime, which has helped lead the establishment of Queensland’s first Victims’ Commissioner, and an increase in assistance to victims of crime. We of course held another Eco Forum providing our local environmental groups a platform to showcase their fantastic work and hosted bi-monthly Coffee with a Cop events. And in Queensland Parliament, well... there’s been a lot off work going on with reform to criminalise hate crime, address coercive control, restrict sunset clauses, introducing free kindy, remove gill-net fishing in the Great Barrier Reef, expand our containers for change program and hand back over100,000 hectares of land to Traditional Owners. Our office will be taking a break from Friday 22 December to Friday 5 January. We look forward to working with you in 2024. Have a wonderful festive season.

Jonty bush MP

Working hard for us

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(07) 3554 9100 Cooper@parliament.qld.gov.au Shop 2, 230 Waterworks road, ASHGROVE qld 4060 Www.Jontybush.com

The Western Echo December 2023 | Page 7

Rotary Santa Sleigh 2023 Santa Claus is Coming to The Gap! Rotary Ashgrove The Gap is pleased to be able to announce that Santa and all his helpers will be visiting The Gap again this year. He will be with us from Thursday, 30 November till Wednesday 6 December.

Fund Raising Every year the residents of The Gap give generously to our collectors and we hope you are able to do so again this year. All money collected goes towards a variety of Rotary Programs, such as Rotary Health (which conducts research into preventing youth mental health issues), Polio elimination globally, assistance to victims of natural disasters in Australia. We also assist local community organisations such as Meals on Wheels and Domestic Violence initiatives. If you do not have cash, we are able to take cards.

Please Be Aware Sadly, Santa is unable to travel up all streets but we try to cover a wide a range of streets as we can. The tow vehicle and the sleigh are long and heavy and the increasing numbers of cars and other vehicles parked on the side of the road has made it increasingly dangerous to go down these streets. Sometimes the weather does not allow Santa and his helpers

to go out. Or he has to finish his run early. Last year storms had a serious impact on our ability to finish our nightly run. We hope this will not happen again this year. You will understand we can not have Santa, his helpers or you taking any risks during heavy rain and storms. Your safety and the safety of our volunteers comes first.

Photos and Goodies Don’t forget to have your photo taken with Santa. Santa’s helpers will help you find a suitable place to stand near the sleigh. Please be patient while you wait your turn. Santa will still have wrapped lollies and other goodies for all children.

Watch Our Facebook Page We will be publishing daily maps on our Facebook page. Keep an eye out for these maps and find the closest place for you and your family to see Santa. We wish to thank everyone who has helped Santa visit The Gap each year. We could not do this without your help. Santa and all his helpers will have a friendly smile and Christmas greeting for all of you.

For more details & map: www.facebook.com/ashgrovethegap Website: www.rotaryashgrovethegap.org.au Santa Sleigh Route Map 2023 Scale 1�12500

Thursday 30th November - Wednesday 6th December

Data Source: Open Source Map, Oct 2020 © Clare Drover 2023

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The Western Echo December 2023 | Page 9

The Gap Probus Rotary Club of Club News Ashgrove The Gap This month we learnt, from one of our own members, how to make moisturising cream, essential oils, hydrosols, perfume and even whisky – within the law!

It’s always a pleasure to welcome a new member, so we were very happy to induct Helen Cole as our newest Probian this month. Helen has travelled much in the world, and is now happily settled in our lovely neighbourhood.

In a live, and lively, demonstration Club Director Bob Newey brought along three generations of his equipment, starting with the simple Coke-bottle oil extractor shown here. Put some flowers in the top, with ice to cool it, put some pure alcohol in the bottom, and stand it on a heat pad. Up goes the alcohol vapour, it condenses, and down comes a solution of the flower oil in the alcohol. Voilá! The basis of a perfume. Later generations progressed though laboratory glassware to a small stainless steel still.

We ask members, from time to time, to tell the club a little about themselves. This month Malcolm Philpott gave us his personal profile: he has been a dentist in the UK, in Germany and in Australia, during a life in which his main interest outside work and family has been flying.

The club is looking forward to an extremely busy month. Ten local primary schools have participated in the Rotary Best All-Rounder award scheme. The well-deserving winners will each receive a medallion and a book voucher, to be publicly awarded at the school speech day celebration. The teachers at each school make the selection, looking for at above-average academic achievement (not necessarily top-of-the-form), sporting achievement, leadership, and evidence of contribution to the life of the school. The Rotary Santa Sleigh will once again be touring the streets of The Gap, area by area from the 30 November to the 6 December. See article on this page.

Our guest speaker was Paul Hobbs of Caring Cuisine, an organisation that used to known as Meals on Wheels Mitchelton. The aims of Caring Cuisine include building connections with local communities, providing social interaction with people who have difficulty living in the community because of age or disability, the provision of freshly cooked nourishing and nutritious meals prepared by professional chefs and delivered by volunteers. While still providing home-delivered meals, it has changes its organisational structure and its methods, having combined with the St Lucia operation and introduced innovations such as online ordering. If all the meals are as good as the sample muffins that Paul brought us, everyone will be happy! The big social event was of course the Melbourne Cup lunch at the Gap Tavern. A large contingent of members celebrated what is more a cultural event than just a horse race, with conversation being more important than speculation. For the first time in some years no member won “best dressed” or “best hat” – the latter having been won last year by a gentleman wearing a hat borrowed from a lady!

The grand climax will be the Carols By Candlelight at Dorrington Park on 9 December. Thousands are expected to celebrate the season with local choirs and orchestras, with food vans, and of course a superb fireworks display to close the evening.

We continue our support of local businesses by eating and drinking at them: this time it is La Belle Vie in Bardon whose name “The Beautiful Life” just about sums up Probus’ ambition for its members.

We encourage people to visit our meetings, even if it is only from vague curiosity. We don’t charge and we don’t bite. You can contact our club by calling or texting Tim Boyd at 0411 141 304. Come and visit a meeting some time – no charge, no obligation. Second and fourth Wednesdays of the month from 6:30 to 8:00pm at the Ashgrove Golf Club. For more: www.rotaryashgrovethegap.org.au

If you are interested finding out more without commitment, we would be delighted to talk with you, and invite you to our meetings (first Thursday of every month, 2pm, at the Baptist Church, corner of Waterworks and Settlement Roads). Just call Rhoda on 0409 484 219.

In the interests of “an active retirement” we are planning further events, such as a soirée at the Ashgrove Golf Club and of course a Christmas party lunch.

Reminder for Advertisers / Contributors please: Deadline for February 2024 Edition: All due by Monday, 15 January Please send to: editor@westernecho.com.au | Any questions? Call Melanie on: 0409 440 501 The Western Echo December 2023 | Page 10

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AUSTRALIA DAY

CITIZENSHIP CEREMONY

Discover what your home is worth in today’s market with Carmen Briggs

The Rotary Club of Ashgrove/The Gap invites you to:

Welcome new Citizens

Reaffirm your Australian Citizenship Enjoy: Music of the Band O’Coots Bush Band Morning tea from 11:00am before the ceremony Candidates register from 11:00 Ceremony at 12 noon Friday, 26 January 2024 J A Robertson Hall, The Gap State High School 1020 Waterworks Rd, The Gap For further information please contact: Tim Boyd 0411 141 304

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Carmen Briggs

Real Estate Agent & Justice of the Peace

0418 742 511

The Western Echo December 2023 | Page 11

Ashgrove The Gap Lions Club We have Cakes & Puddings which are available for sale in our community. Please call 0400 210 357 or visit the following outlets to purchase Cakes and Puddings: Voices of Birralee Bardon, Bardon Chemist, Bardon Shed, Red Hill Pharmacy & Red Hill Bowls Club, Ashgrove Fresh & George The Barber in Ashgrove, Jonty Bush Office, All Abilities at Valleys Cricket Club in Ashgrove, Cartridge World in Ashgrove, Star Discount Chemist at Gap Village, BOQ at Ashgrove & The Gap, The Gap Day & Night Pharmacy, and West Ashgrove Pharmacy. At our Partners & Friends meeting at the Golf Club in late October, we welcomed CEO of EWaste Connection Monique to present on reduction of EWaste into landfill. Our club will be conducting a project with EWaste Connection in March next year. Our club attended The Gap State High School Senior Excellence Evening where we presented our Lions Public Speaking Award to student Richelle Lal. In November, we sold Trifecta Tickets in the Melbourne Cup, we would like to thank members of our community for supporting this annual project. We also sponsored and assisted The Gap Uniting Church with “Celebrating The Gap Festival”; assisted the Paddington Ward by conducting a BBQ and selling Christmas Cakes and Puddings in support of the Movie Night; a BBQ, Plant Sale at the Art Space Christmas Markets in Quinn Park; a BBQ and plant stall at the She Shed Twilight Christmas Market; and attended the Junior Excellence Awards at The Gap State High School where we presented our Public Speaking Award. On 1 December, we are selling Christmas Cakes & Puddings outside the offices of the Paddington Ward Office and a fundraising BBQ at Paddington Hardware to celebrate the Paddington Christmas Markets.

On behalf of Ashgrove The Gap Lions Club, we would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the community for your support of our club throughout the year and to wish you a very Happy Christmas and a safe and enjoyable New Year.

Save The Date “Little Ray of Giving”: the community can drop off Christmas gifts to Ray White in the Gap and our club will distribute them to Communify for the Bardon Christmas Markets. 9 December: Frew Park in Milton Christmas Carols where our club will be selling Christmas Cakes & Puddings Sale of Christmas Cake and Puddings at PA Hospital and Wesley Hospital through till the end of December. BBQ at Bunning’s in Keperra on 30 December.

If you would like to find out more about Lions and the involvement we have in our community or if you would consider joining Lions or become a Friend of Lions, please email Allan Turner at lionatg19@gmail.com or call 0400 210 357 Ashgrove Lions The Gap –Wednesday Lions Club from Australia 4.15pm (ashgrovethegaplions.org.au) Saturday wet weather days if needed www.facebook.com/AshgroveTheGapLionsClub/ ___

ARANA TOUCH

ARANA TOUCH FOOTBALL

___ Administrator or Registrations: 0413 660 216 ___ Email: harpo08@bigpond.com ___ Webpage: www.aranatouch.com

2024 SEASON 1 Competition

SIGN ON @ aranatouch.com

___

WEST Facebook: MITCHELTON https://facebook.com/ Rugby AranaTouch League Fields Cnr Samford Road & Prospect Street, Mitchelton

7th February to Contact Us: 20th March 0413 660 216 Under 8, 10, 12, 14

AranaTouch@outlook.com

& 15-20 Boys & Girls

www.AranaTouch.com

• Wednesday from 4.15pm

ARANA TOUCH - A5 LEAFLET 2024 - SEASON 1.indd 1

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U8 to U18 Boys & Girls Individual & Team Nominations

facebook.com/AranaTouch

23/10/2023 4:51 pm

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AshgroveRangers Monthly wrap up There was action aplenty in November 2023 for the Ashgrove Rangers Athletic Club. Our athletes brought home 17 medals from the Queensland All Schools Athletics Championships which were held on 2 to 5 November. We were so proud to have many more athletes make the finals and run their own personal bests. A summary of medals for our athletes: Gold x 6 Tate Van Camp x 3 medals - Under 14 400m/800m/1500m; Connor Campbell - Under 15 200m Hurdles; Hayden Lockhart - Under 14 Triple Jump; Lee Martin - Under 18 Shot Put. Silver x 5 Katie Bray - Under 16 3k Walk; Connor Campbell - Under 15 100m Hurdles; Hayden Lockhart - Under 14 Long Jump; Isaiah Burgess - Under 17 Shot Put; Joel Drew - Under 18 110m Hurdles. Bronze x 6 Zel Van Loggerenberg x 2 medals - Under 14 800m/1500m; Cooper Lofts - Under 15 Javelin; Cristian Kuenzel - Under 18 High Jump; Aidan Dallinger - Under 18 Triple Jump; Charlie Campion - Under 14 90m Hurdles. Our athletes also pulled off some impressive performances on 11 November at the Benita Willis Shield and Queensland 5000m Championships at UQ. The November Flying Four was all about fun! It was fantastic to see so many families participating. Laura Bray and Blake Cooper were the individual 4km winners. The next Flying Four will be held on Sunday 17 December. With races including 1km, 2km and 4km options, there is something for everyone.

Please see our website www.ashgroverangers.org for information about the Ashgrove Rangers, training sessions and upcoming events.

3300 6304 | www.ppnn.org.au

Native wisteria

Native wisteria is a common name for several different climbers in the pea family (a reason botanists use scientific names) but usually refers to that vine which most closely resembles the Japanese and Chinese wisterias commonly grown in gardens around the word. This species, Austrocallerya megasperma, has undergone a few scientific name changes over time as botanists developed a better understanding of its relationships – originally Wistaria megasperma, then Milletia megasperma and Callerya megasperma. It is a fast-growing vine of the rainforests of the coast and adjoining ranges of south-eastern Queensland and north-eastern New South Wales. Unlike its exotic counterparts, the native wisteria is evergreen and highly attractive throughout the year. This robust climbing plant has glossy compound leaves, each having about 20 elliptical leaflets. In late winter and spring pea flowers, ranging in colour from soft lavender to purple, are produced in large terminal clusters. These are followed by a woody, velvety pod containing about 4 large, orange seeds. It is from this feature that the specific name (megasperma – large seed) is derived. In the wild the woody stem can grow to 20m to reach the top of trees. In the garden, however, the vine can be controlled by pruning after flowering. This hardy plant is spectacular growing on a trellis or pergola with a structure strong enough to support its weight. It grows well in moist, well-drained, loamy soils with an acid to neutral pH in full sun or light shade. The native wisteria can tolerate light frosts. The flowers of the native wisteria attract bees, butterflies and other insects. It is a food plant for the caterpillars of the pencilled blue (Candalides absimilis) and narrow-banded awl (Hasora khoda) butterflies.

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The Western Echo December 2023 | Page 13

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07 3667 7800 www.wenatex.com.au

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AshgroveForum Ashgrove Forum Club held its 989th General Meeting at 6.30pm on Wednesday 18th October 2023 at the Ashgrove Library. The Speaking Topic for the evening was “Lost and Found”. The main speaker for the evening was Helen Spencer who delivered a fascinating 10-minute speech titled Ötzi about a 5,300-year-old Copper Age mummy with an arrow in his back who was found frozen in the Alps near the Austrian/ Italian border by a group German hikers in 1991. Amazingly Ötzi was sufficiently preserved for archaeologists and scientists to determine his appearance, clothing, tools, weapons and even his health and diet. Other members then gave five-minute following speeches to the topic "Lost and Found" on a variety of subjects including: •

the remarkable recovery of a tiny radioactive capsule lost off a truck in transit from a Rio Tinto mine to Perth, 1,400km away

•

the story of a pair of toddlers, a boy and his cousin, who wandered off on a camping trip near a river, who were eventually found, but only after some heart-rending moments for his parents

•

the rediscovered early 20th Century books of Alice DuncanKemp whose descriptions and stories of the Channel Country have been referenced by many writers, the accuracy of which are now disputed by anthropologists

•

the tendency of one member to frequently lose her keys and her efforts, both successful and unsuccessful, to locate them

The speaking topic for November will be "An Australian Poet or Artist whose Work has had an Impact on Australia". Ashgrove Forum Club meets in the Ashgrove Library Meeting Room at 6.30pm, on the 3rd Wednesday of each month except December. Visitors are always welcome to attend and observe without obligation to speak, though they may do so if they wish. For more information, contact Secretary Pat on 0458 696 267.

For information on Forum Communicators public speaking association, please visit the website www.beconfident.org.au WWW.WESTERNECHO.COM.AU

The Gap She Shed would like to thank our members and supporters for a very successful 2023. This year has seen the group grow to more than 1700 members. Much needed funds have been raised for charities such as Cancer Council Qld, The Forgotten Women, RizeUp and Beyond Blue. Women from all walks of life have enjoyed regular social activities or attended one of our major events. We have been supported by local businesses and politicians. Thank you to: Bunnings Keperra, The Western Echo, Castella Boutique Mitchelton, Jonty Bush MP, BOQ The Gap, Woody Pear The Gap, Café Tara, Planet Marketing, Star Discount Chemist The Gap, Evil Barbee PT Ferny Grove, Elizabeth Watson-Brown MP, The Gap Health & Racquet, The Blind Tiger The Gap, City Chicks Samford, BWS The Gap, News Express The Gap, Think Aesthetics The Gap, Cr Steve Toomey, South Family Jewellers The Gap, Frescos The Gap, Element Boutique The Gap, That Yarn Place Samford, Our Sunroom Ashgrove, Loyle Real Estate, Harmony Beauty The Gap, Lifestyle Centre Samford, The Gap Day & Night Pharmacy, and Ziba Hair The Gap. To our members, and particularly the women who volunteer their time to ensure the success of The Gap She Shed, we thank you. We wish each of you a Happy Christmas and look forward to sharing next year’s program with you early in the New Year.

Email: hello@thegapsheshed.au Website: www.thegapsheshed.wixsite.com/home Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/thegapsheshed

Brisbane Art In Bark Assoc. Are you looking for something new to do? Come and join us, and learn how to do a bark picture from the bark of the Melaleuca tree (paper bark) for Christmas. Art in Bark Association, Brisbane holds classes at City Hall on the Adelaide St side in the basement. Closing Mon December 6th 2023 and re-opens Mon 29th Jan 2024. Mondays 9 am -12 pm. Includes: Lesson $10, Kits $10 - we supply board, bark, glue, etc. We also have a class on a Saturday at Apostolic Church Hall, 43 Robinson Rd, Nundah. Nundah closes Saturday 2nd December 2023 and re-opens Saturday 3rd February 2024.

For more info: call Barbara 3271 2130, Dipti 0468 548 600, or Hazel 0408 157 117. Please call us to make a booking. The Western Echo December 2023 | Page 15

Reservoir Frogs Brisbane North Theatre Company Cake Decorators Reservoir Frogs Theatre Company is a new local community group, which aims to provide a performing arts community focus. The not-for-profit was formed in August and held its first very successful fundraising function, a Halloween themed Trivia Night, on 27 October at the Gap Football Club. With Quizmaster Andrew McMicking as MC it was easy to see that the group has an enthusiastic following, and most were fully in the spirit of the night with many great costumes to be seen. The objective of the Reservoir Frogs Theatre Company is to provide community theatre in The Gap and surrounding suburbs. They hope to stimulate community involvement and enthusiasm for live theatre and to provide an entertaining and enjoyable experience for all involved, whether acting on stage, working behind the scenes or simply as a member of the audience. A diverse range of theatre experience is planned, including plays, new and old, musicals and theatre targeting young people and children. Their first production is to be Neil Simon’s The Odd Couple, but it is now the updated version, where women are the main characters. The Director is Laraine Griffiths a very experienced Director/Stage Manager and also a long-term Gap local.

Brisbane North Cake Decorators is a branch of the Queensland Cake Decorators Association Inc., and we meet monthly on the third Saturday of the month (except December) at the Arana Hills Community Centre, 291 Dawson Parade, Arana Hills at 1.00pm. Our aim is to encourage the love of cake decorating in all its aspects and we love to share our knowledge with everyone. Christmas is rushing towards us at present and with it comes busy times for cake decorators. By the time this article is read our Meals on Wheels small cakes will be almost finished and our family Christmas cakes being completed. We don’t have a meeting in December so our next meeting will be in January when we will be planning our activities for 2024. We have some exciting activities planned for next year so watch this space to stay informed. Our members would like to wish everyone a safe, happy and peaceful time over the Christmas period.

We love to see new members and can be contacted on our Facebook page, Brisbane North Cake Decorators Association QCDA or via email brisbanenorthcakedecorators@gmail.com

PROUDLY SUPPORTING OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY

To be held at the Payne Road State School, the play starts on 24 February 2024 and will run until 10 March. Other planned productions include an old fashioned pantomime (Cinderella), a musical and Shakespeare in the Park (As You Like It). Workshops, information sessions and other training options in all aspects of theatre productions open to members and to the wider community are also key objectives. The first such workshop especially for beginners is planned for 19th November at the RSL Hall in School Road. This has been so popular that another is planned for the near future.

Contact Reservoir Frogs: Email: gapcommunitytheatregroup@gmail.com Janet Angel (President): 0403 397 684 www.facebook.com/groups/6331191847001908 (Private Group) www.facebook.com/reservoirfrogstheatrecompany (Public Group) Our website is still under development.

The Western Echo December 2023 | Page 16

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ABILITY IN THE GAP

THE GAP SUSTAINABILITY th May 2023, 7.30pm INITIATIVE

ap State HighThe School Library Gap Sustainability Initiative has achieved a lot in 2023. We

t groups woheld rkingfive mecommunity eting seminars, with speakers covering important

topics in line with out three major aims: The Platypus project; Community Energy; and Enhancing Existing Capabilities. We Community energy indeEnhancing existing capaa Climate Fresk with more than 20 participants, pendencehosted : bilitiesworkshop : including several students from The Gap State High School. aims to provide sustainaims to strengthen and

y progress three major projects:

able energy to all resisupport all environmental community in The withgroups Walkabout dents We partnered Gap

Creek Discovery Centre and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Services to host a Platypus Stakeholder workshop. The attendees discussed the present status of Platypus populations in Southeast Queensland and how they might be reintroduced to Enoggera Creek.

Through the award of two grants (Stronger Communities Programme Round 8; 2022-23 Volunteer Grants) from the Federal Government supported hese three projects, please join us. Everyone welcome!by Member for Ryan, Elizabeth Watson-Brown, ocation of the High School’s library we and successfully best parking. revamped our website and logo, established a new community event calendar for The Gap, and @gmail.com acquired essential equipment and volunteer resources to keep us going strongly into 2024. We were also very excited to be selected ting ebook.com/ as one of only 10 out of numerous volunteer organisations across Australia for mentoring by Rewiring Australia. We participated in ty multiple workshops where we learned about Rewiring’s approach, and networked with likeminded community organisations across the various Australian States and Territories. We support activities of others too e.g. SOWN’s bushcare, and 150 years Uniting Church celebrations. Looking forward to 2024, we will continue our educational seminars, and our diverse activities to support the reduction in energy costs for households, rewild platypus in our creek system, and enhance the wellbeing and protection of the environmental assets of The Gap. Our AGM will be held on the 2nd of December, 4pm, at The Lion’s Shelter, Walton Bridge Park, please come along and share some drinks and nibbles, and a good laugh with us.

Please visit our website: www.TheGapSustainability.org or email us: thegapsustainability@gmail.com

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We look Forward to hearing from you! The Western Echo December 2023 | Page 17

Picabeen Helping to get broken lives back on track The unprecedented times we have experienced in recent years has seen the need for services provided by local community support organisation Carinity increase dramatically. With the season of giving upon us, the Gaythorne-based not-for-profit has launched its annual Christmas Appeal to make life a little easier for Queenslanders living with disadvantage. Sophie* and Theresa* arrived at Carinity’s specialist domestic and family violence counselling service, Talera, six months after escaping an abusive home. Through long-term, trauma-informed counselling, both Sophie and her mother made significant improvements in their abilities to cope with overwhelming emotions and to trust in their own capabilities. Carinity services such as Talera provide crucial assistance to the community. “There are alarmingly high rates of domestic and family in Australia, and a real need for long-term therapy to help people process and heal from complex trauma,” a Carinity Talera senior practitioner said. “We are one of the only services funded to provide long-term, free trauma therapy to vulnerable children, young people and their protective caregivers.” The financial support of kind donors has never been more vital to ensuring that Carinity can continue to support vulnerable people. Donations from the Carinity Christmas Appeal will allow us to purchase fuel vouchers and food hampers to further help our families in times of need. This will have a direct and positive impact, and we are so thankful for the support.”

Donate online at www.carinity.org.au/donations or phone 3550 3737. All donations are tax deductible.

Picabeen Community Association would like to thank the community and wonderful organisations for all of the kind donations we have received in the lead up to our annual Christmas Event. We would also like to applaud the efforts of many volunteers who have contributed their time in many activities and events throughout the year and of course their help to facilitate the Christmas Event. Our community Christmas Event will be held on Tuesday the 12th of December at 22 Hoben Street Mitchelton, there will be a delicious BBQ lunch and Christmas activities for everyone to enjoy. Picabeen Community Centre will be closed over Christmas from Friday the 22nd of December and will reopen on Wednesday the 3rd of January. The Picabeen Change Room located at Keperra will be closing at 12pm on Saturday the 23rd of December and reopening on Tuesday 2nd of January. Wishing everyone a safe a well festive season, we are looking forward to seeing everyone in the New Year! From the Picabeen Team

Contact: Phone: 07 3354 2555. Email:info@picabeen.org.au | Web: www.picabeen.org.au

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Enjoy the read! Links included online – for more information about our advertisers and editorial contributors. The Western Echo December 2023 | Page 18

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Ithaca Probus Club News Reaching out at Ithaca Probus Club Numbers continue to decline at Ithaca Probus Club. Sadly, we have had five members pass away this year, and several others have medical issues severely limiting their ability to participate in club activities. So, we are looking to stem the decline by reaching out to seniors across the inner North-West suburbs – Ashgrove, The Gap, Bardon, Red Hill, Paddington and Rainworth in particular, to welcome into our club. We have upgraded our website to provide more information about us – where we are and what we do. Future activities and an entertaining program of guest speakers are all listed. Just type Ithaca Probus Club into your browser to see what we have to offer. We strongly encourage the themes of Probus – Friendship, Fellowship and Fun. Our various activities groups – cards, poetry and walking, continue bringing us together to keep our minds and bodies active. And our book exchange table keeps all the avid readers busy.

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Denis Wayper has become our regular November guest speaker in recent years, this time giving an excellent talk about the life and times of Banjo Paterson. Club member Judy Blaney assisted, reciting The Banjo’s poem “The Geebung Polo Club.” We enjoyed a Christmas themed morning tea at our regular meeting and a very convivial lunch at the Litse Lounge in Keperra. New members are always most welcome at Ithaca Probus Club. We meet at 9.30am on the 2nd Thursday each month except December and January at the Red Hill Bowls and Community Club in Fulcher Road, Red Hill, or come on any of our outings.

If you would like to give us a try, please phone either of our Club Membership Officers Sue Vivian on 0413 544 202 or Janelle Rhodes on 0412 628 646.

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The Western Echo December 2023 | Page 19

The Western Echo December 2023 | Page 20

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How to handle dementia-related wandering in your loved one For families and caregivers of dementia patients, wandering episodes can be worrying. The unpredictable nature of this behaviour, coupled sometimes with an inability for the person to remember where they’ve been or why, can add to the anxiety of an already challenging situation. Dementia-related wandering is a common symptom in people living with dementia or Alzheimer's disease. Dementia Australia reports that over 400,000 Australians are diagnosed with dementia, and around 1.5 million Australians help to take care of them. This tendency to wander can mean that dementia sufferers may be exposed to a variety of risks, including:

“Recognising early warning signs and taking preventative steps before the wandering starts can help significantly. This buys time for families to seek a more permanent solution in residential aged care if they think they need it." Marjory recommends caregivers of people with dementia who are still living at home: 1.

Establish a safe environment free from hazards.

Create routine and familiarity to help reduce anxiety and restlessness.

Provide reassurance, staying calm and helping your loved one to settle.

Provide opportunities for engagement, with meaningful activities throughout the day.

Make identification and communication easy, with a wearable bracelet or pendant with your contact information.

•

becoming lost, confused, or disoriented

•

having an increased risk of accidents, injuries, or falls

•

being in dangerous situations, such as crossing busy roads or entering unfamiliar homes or buildings

Identify ‘challenging’ times of the day, and schedule activities to keep your loved one busy at that time.

•

being exposed to nutritional deficiencies, exhaustion, dehydration, and exposure to extreme weather conditions.

Ensure basic needs are being met, including easy access to a toilet, food and drink.

Provide supervision and support, especially during periods of increased agitation or confusion.

Marjory Davie, Facility Manager at TriCare’s new Ashgrove Aged Care Residence, says there is hope, however, and we can take measure to try to minimise wandering and keep our loved ones safe, "Understanding the way dementia works and why people act the way they do, especially the wandering, is the first step towards ensuring safety,” she says.

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By understanding and addressing dementia-related wandering, we can help to create a safer, more supportive environment for both people with dementia, and their caregivers and families.

For more information on dementia care and memory support for seniors, you can contact TriCare on 1300 874 2273. The Western Echo December 2023 | Page 21

Local Sporting For the love Success Of Books

Are you stuck for Christmas gift ideas? I bet you can guess what I’ll suggest, and here’s why… Top 5 reasons books make the best gifts: 1. They can last many lifetimes. 2. If selected carefully they show the recipient that you ‘know’ them and were truly thinking of them. 3. They can open new worlds, entice new hobbies or interests. 4. People can learn about others or places totally new to them, which encourages empathy and understanding, And 5. They can help with literacy. With 18 nieces and nephews (and 5 kids of my own), Christmas is HUGE! For a number of years I was the ‘Book Auntie’ and gave every child a book carefully selected for their age and interests. I like to think it was appreciated and I always enjoyed the process.

People have such a wide array of tastes so its tricky to offer specific suggestions, but your local bookshop worker would love to help you, or speak to a local librarian about your recipients tastes and I bet they’ll have some wonderful ideas. I’d be happy to help too if you contact me via Instagram.

Where are they now? 10 years ago some talented local boys played Rugby League for the West Panthers U10’s and Ashgrove State School. The Panthers became the 1st Brisbane team to win the coveted Gordon Tallis Cup in Townsville and their school team won the Primary Schools Championship 66-0. Players have all headed in different directions but a few have continued in their quest to play their chosen sport at the highest level.

You can also purchase bookish gifts such as book lights, bookmarks, book cosies, kindle stickers, subscription book boxes, audiobook subscriptions, book gift vouchers, book ends – there really is no end of options. A carefully curated box with a specially chosen book and some bookish items would be every book lovers dream – or you might just create a new little book lover!

Merry Christmas! Author: @sarahsbookchat

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The Western Echo December 2023 | Page 22

Angus Hinchey. Angus is currently living and working as a Surveying Assistant in Melbourne. He is a member of the Melbourne Storm Academy. This year he played in the Qld U19 State of Origin Side and is hoping to crack the Storm’s top 30 squad. Angus attended Ashgrove State School and The Gap State High School. Nick Harper. Nick recently represented the U19 Reds in the National Rugby Championships. Nick went to Marist College after graduating from Ashgrove State School and is currently studying nursing at QUT. Nick plays colts at GPS Rugby and this year he made his A grade debut.

Max Nielsen. Max has hung up the footy boots for golf clubs and is currently playing golf for West Texas Junior College and caddying in Scotland during summer break. In the NJCCA National Championships he was in contention at even par after 3 rounds until a poor last round dropped him down the leaderboard.

Angus Tolhurst. Angus has been selected in the Qld U19 cricket side. Angus is currently studying commerce and working as a cricket coach. He is pictured here with Hugh Weibgen, the Ashgrove fullback and now the Australian U19 Cricket Captain (see story September edition) They are hoping to team up again in the Australian U19 team playing in Sri Lanka in January.

If you have any local sporting stories you’d like me to share – please email John Nielsen: johnnielsen2@optusnet. com.au

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Ashgrove Historical Society Visitors are encouraged and very welcome to attend the Ashgrove Historical Society meetings held at the Ashgrove Library on the first Saturday of the month (except January) from 10am-noon. Topics and guest speakers can be found on the Society’s website under ‘Meetings’. The topic on 4 February 2024 will be The Foundation of Early Childhood Education in Ashgrove presented by former teacher and AHS foundation member, Lindy Sugars. The stories behind the establishment of early childhood centres in Ashgrove 1930-1960 provide a fascinating insight into our suburb’s social history. Long before European colonisation, First Nations children the world over learnt Important skills whilst playing. These skills enabled them to participate in their tribe’s activities from a very early age. Fast forward to Germany in the 1800s. An educator named Frederick Fröebel was promoting the radical idea of children learning through play! He is known as the Father of Kindergarten (children’s garden). Fröbel was “using nature as the model of perfection to educate children”. In 1891, in Brisbane, his philosophy was being embraced by the Department of Public Instruction. Twenty years later, the Kindergarten Training College was established in 1911 by the Creche and Kindergarten Association. Ashgrove’s first kindergarten was established on the verandah of a resident’s home in 1930. Four years later, the St Finbarr’s

Kindergarten children were taught on the verandah of Grantuly, now the administration centre for Mt St Michael’s College. The kindy at West Ashgrove opened in 1939 in a timber building that came from Ashgrove State School. The Ashgrove (War) Memorial kindy committee met with opposition initially but the centre eventually opened in 1950. Eleven years later, a kindy was established at Mater Dei Convent. A shared morning tea will follow the presentation which will provide the opportunity to chat with the guest speaker and other people interested in local history. A pre-Christmas stall will be outside Woolworths on Friday 8 December 10am-4pm. Our various publications including the very popular Lost Ashgrove will be available for purchase. If you would like to become an AHS member or purchase membership as a gift for someone, fees are $10 single per annum (1 July - 30 June), or $15 couple/family. Membership includes the quarterly newsletter and discount on our publications. Please contact the secretary, Julie, (ahs.secretary@bigpond.com) and she will let you know the EFT details or join at a meeting. Funds raised from memberships, raffles and sale of our publications supports the research, preservation and recording of Ashgrove’s history. "In the 1930s, youngsters from Bardon and Ashgrove were collected in the 'children's coach' to attend the St Finbarr's Convent kindergarten.

Enoggera & Districts Historical Society The Enoggera & District Historical Society will be selling the limited edition of 2024 Calendar, featuring photographs drawn from the society collection, at Brookside Shopping Centre on Saturday and Sunday 9 and 10 December, from outside the Pharmacy. Cost $10. Copies will also be available from the society rooms on Thursday 7 and 14 December between the hours 9 30am to 1pm.

The Enoggera and District Historical Society is located at the Hall of Memory, Trundle St, Enoggera. Contact / President is Kym Hyson: kym.hyson61@gmail.com WWW.WESTERNECHO.COM.AU

The Western Echo December 2023 | Page 23

Mitchelton & Districts SOWN Garden Club As Summer holiday plans call, tending to your potted plants can become a challenge. Fortunately, with a little preparation and care, your plants can continue to thrive while you're away. Group Pots Strategically: Grouping potted plants can create a microclimate that helps conserve moisture and provides shade. Position your pots close together to reduce water evaporation and protect them from the harsh afternoon sun. Mulch for Moisture Retention: Apply a layer of mulch, such as straw or wood chips, to the top of the soil in your potted plants to help retain moisture. Self-Watering Systems: These devices slowly release water into the soil over an extended period, ensuring that your plants receive a consistent water supply while you're on holiday. Hydrate Before You Go: Thoroughly water your potted plants before leaving for your trip. Deep watering will help the plants establish a reserve of moisture that they can draw upon during your absence. Find a Plant-Sitter: Ask a friend or neighbour to look after your garden while you're away. They can water your plants and check for signs of distress. Shade and Shelter: Consider moving your potted plants to a shaded or sheltered area. This might be a covered patio or a friend's house.

Since 2010 SOWN has been operating a partnership with Queensland Corrective Services (QCS) to propagate and grow high demand native species of plants. Originally operating through the Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre, in 2022 the program was transferred to Borallon Training and Correctional Centre (BTCC). The seed is supplied by the SOWN volunteers, as well as some seedlings ready to be potted on. Each month the SOWN volunteers will visit the centre and return with more native plants ready to go into our many bush care regeneration projects or backyard gardens as part of urban native regeneration. This partnership perfectly supplements the work already undertaken by our nursery volunteers to produce local native plants. Indeed, many of the lomandra species used by our members have come solely from QCS. Through this partnership we can make bush regen more affordable. This project was run for a decade by long-serving member Dick Harding until he recently handed over this task to both past and current SOWN Presidents John Abbott and Leo Lee who have invested much time into the BTCC stage of this project. Before handing over the reins, Dicks’ efforts and collaboration with the staff and inmates provided almost a million plants for distribution to the community. To use our nursery you need to be a member (you can join through the website) and then you can take the plants you need. There is no limit to the numbers you can take, just make sure that you can get them into the ground within two weeks and that in this dry weather you are able to maintain / water them. Thank you to the Queensland State Government, Jonty Bush MP, and Cr Toomey of the Gap Ward, for your support with this and our many other projects.

With these tips, you can head off on your holiday with peace of mind, knowing your plants will be well taken care of in your absence. At our December meeting, Members and invited guests will enjoy a Christmas lunch and awards presentation ceremony, when the Champion Exhibitor for 2023 will be announced. Season’s Greetings to all, with our best wishes for a bright and peaceful 2024.

Email us at mitcheltongc@gmail.com or find us on Facebook @mitcheltongardenclub

Wishing all our members and bushcare groups a Merry Christmas and all the best for the New Year!

You will be able to find it on our website at www.sown.com.au.

Reminder for Advertisers / Contributors please:

Deadline for February 2024 Edition: All due by Monday, 15 January Please send to: editor@westernecho.com.au | Any questions? Call Melanie on: 0409 440 501 The Western Echo December 2023 | Page 24

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Newmarket BocceClub News

Well it was not our last event for the year, but it was our last competition. Sunday 5 November was the Redlands Bocce club sponsor Norm Haupt cup at Redlands. Twelve players from each club played 4 games of triples. Again, it came down to last game and what a game it was for my team of me, Bruno and John M. “I tell you what - there must have been divine intervention at the last two ends of the game. I mean you need to concentrate with every shot, be determined that you are going to bowl your best bowl and maybe at times a little luck comes into play. But I tell you this was the forty fish and loafs of bread situation. It was amazing and I need to tell the story. We were up 6-5. We played all our bocce and we were holding the point our ball was on the jack and only about 100mm from the line. There were balls all around. Luz from Redlands with 1 ball left bowled her

Balaangala Community Group Balaangala Restoration Fund Following the Referendum some local people may be wondering about they can do at a personal level to support First Nations people. One option would be to support a local reconciliation group like Balaangala, in particular, their “Pay the Rent” fund called the “Restoration Fund”. Balaangala is a local community group that has been going for over 15 years. Its objectives are: to build relationships between First Nations people and non-Indigenous people; to help educate people about the shared history of colonization; and to build understanding of First Nations culture. Most of the workshops, talks and events take place in the demonstration garden located at 98 Yoorala St.

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ball. I mean it was like a traffic jam down there and yet she managed to touch our ball and the jack rolled out. No points to anyone. With 33 seconds on the clock we had time to throw the jack down for another end. Again, all bocce bowled. We were holding point about 100mm from the jack and had another two bocce balls in front. Redlands had a ball just behind and all other balls were in close proximity. Again, Luz bowled. She hit our front ball too fast which resulted in too much travel so everything had to be restored. Last bocce, remember we are holding point and 6-5 in front. She bowled wide, about 300mm to the left….. yes, we won the game! The bocce ball rolled up and just nicked one of their bocce balls at an acute angle just enough for it to roll in between the jack and our ball. Unbelievable. The rest is history. We tied. That gave us 2.5 games each but because on addition of for/against points they took second place honors. Redlands first and second. Newmarket in third. But it was a fantastic day. Great camaraderie, food was good, and we had a bit of fun as well.” – Mario. We also stayed back for the QBF AGM. Some photos to enjoy and remember there are no losers in bocce only winners.

So come on down and have a peek and maybe play some bocce. Please contact: Mario 0403 257 325; Tony 0418 731 423; or Bill 0431 458 481. 1st Photo. Newmarket Team. 2nd Photo. John, Sponsor, Mario and Bruno. 3rd Photo. Barbara, Sponsor Norm Haupt, Mario and Lewis

The Fund has been developed in partnership with Elders. It aims to restore some of what was taken from First Nations people through the process of colonization. Governments are often slow or fail to act, but individuals and communities can choose to do the right thing and develop their own responses. Since being launched by Aunty Flo Watson in 2019 the Fund has distributed $60,000 to First Nations Groups. Currently 30 households make contributions to the fund. The fund has been gradually growing. This year it will have over $25,000 to distribute to groups which are 100% owned, run or managed by First Nations people and where the aims of these groups are about cultural restoration, wealth creation and cultural and social resilience. The decisions about which groups get funds are made by a panel of First Nations Elders. In March 2024 Balaangala will host an event in the garden, so contributors and recipients groups can meet each other and hear what the groups are doing. The picture is of this event in 2020.

For more about the fund email: ptrbalaangala2019@gmail.com For more general information about Balaangala email: balaangalathegap@gmail.com The Western Echo December 2023 | Page 25

Red Hill Bowls Sports & Community Club Bowls News

& Community Club. The dog friendly café is open Tuesday to Sunday from 6am to 12noon - please call in and have a coffee and something to eat. On behalf of our Club we would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a happy and joyous New Year.

The Queensland State Final of Fours Competition was held in Mackay in late October where our team of Benny Walsh, Greg Rolls, Steve Hayden & Troy Lorimer represented our club. In the qualifying stages, Paul Mclean was part of the team but unfortunately due to commitments was not available for the State Final. Our team went through to the final and won the State Fours Championship and a gold medal which was wonderful for the players and Red Hill Bowls Sports & Community Club. In November our club Christmas Bowling Carnival was held at Red Hill with over 100 bowlers playing in a fours format. We would like to thank all the sponsors and supporters that helped to make a carnival a great day.

Dog Friendly Café After 18 months of not being open due to extensive renovations, we are very proud to announce that the café has reopened. To all of the patrons that used to frequent the café when walking the dog, or participating bowlers, it’s exciting to welcome you and all other patrons back. The café is operated by Richard from the Home Café in Ashgrove which is a huge benefit as the reputation now extends to the “Home on the Green” at Red Hill Bowls Sports

The Brisbane Tramway Museum In the last few weeks the museum has been the recipient of a kind donation from The Gap Historical Society on its closure. The Society decided to pass on its remaining assets, mainly its funds, to the museum. The photo shows Historical Society President George Stoddart (L) handing the cheque to Tramway Museum President John Micklewright.

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We welcome all community members to our Club to utilise our facilities either socially or to play bowls which can be done during daylight hours by making a booking with the Club. On the 1st Sunday of each month we play Turkey Triples commencing at 9.30am where all bowlers and nonbowlers are welcome to come along and enjoy a fun morning including lunch and prizes. Our Club also has a 100-seat entertainment hall with full AV equipment and an attached full commercial kitchen which can be booked for parties, receptions, corporate functions and other meetings for community groups.

For further details contact secretary@redhillbowls.org.au or ring 0412 765 805. The funds will be directed to the museum’s 1950’s Streetscape Project which is all about re-creating a typical Brisbane street of the 50’s when the trams were the backbone of the city’s public transport system. It is intended that when visitors arrive at the museum, they will walk along Fifties St and get the ambience of the 50’s before they board the trams. Artifacts such as parking meters, fire hydrants, power switching boxes and other tram/bus related items are being placed as time and funds become available. Soon to be added are a red telephone box and various signage of that era. The photo shows some of the existing items in place. The museum will be open as a static display only for the next few weeks to enable an upgrade of our sub-station to be carried out.

The Brisbane Tramway Museum is proudly supported by the Brisbane City Council. For details: www.brisbanetramwaymuseum.org WWW.WESTERNECHO.COM.AU

Paddington Then and Now The construction of the Paddington Water Tower in 1927 marked a significant milestone in addressing the water supply challenges faced by residents in the elevated areas of Paddington. Prior to the tower's completion, supplying water to these neighbourhoods had been a persistent difficulty. The tower, fed by Enoggera Dam, brought much-needed relief to the community and was heralded as a masterpiece of engineering, setting a new standard for architectural excellence among structures erected by local authorities. At the time of its construction, it stood as the most expensive single structure ever built within the Town of Ithaca.

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During the opening ceremony, President Manchester emphasized the Water Board's unwavering commitment to providing a comprehensive water supply to all residents, particularly those living in elevated areas. He expressed his aspiration to see water towers grace every elevated landscape in the future. I lived under the Paddington Water Tower for 15 years. During my teenage years and more, my Dad was the Turncock for the Brisbane City Council, responsible for looking after that big tower in our yard. The Turncock is a waterworks official responsible for turning on water at the mains. A cottage had been erected alongside the tank on the vacant piece of ground shortly after the tower was opened in 1927 so that the turncock could live on the premises and give every attention to see that the tank was constantly well filled with water. We were known as the 'Council kids' because we were surrounded by powerful and wealthy neighbours. One memory I have is of my mother banning the 'millionaire's son' from our yard, because he swore and used bad language at the ripe old age of eight years old! Consequently, when that boy would run past our house waving $20 notes to buy lollies at the shop, we were never allowed to join him. We missed out on a lot of lollies! Lorelle Ward (nee Ryan)

For more: www.paddingtonthenandnow.com.au WWW.WESTERNECHO.COM.AU

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The Gap Pioneer & History Group Inc VALE Kevin John Badrick 1944-2023 A POPULAR GAP MILKO Written by Jeff Hilder November 2023 Kevin Badrick hung up his hat as one of The Gap’s long serving milko’s in 2014 at the age of 70 years. Self- considered as super fit from running up and down driveways under the cover of darkness making deliveries for most of his working life, his retirement years were far from his dreams of living a normal life with normal sleeping habits. As Kevin’s retirement years unfolded at their new residence at

The Pyjama Foundation Give your love to Kids in care this Christmas The Pyjama Foundation’s Christmas Appeal provides children and young people in foster care the opportunity to change the direction of their lives with learning, life skills and confidence. At just six years old, Jack* has experienced more than an average child. If you look back on your own childhood, at six years old, you most likely would have been playing freely, without a care in the world. But that’s not Jack’s reality. His childhood consists of moving to different homes and different schools. His childhood has been marked in ways that leaves him with nightmares.

Zillmere, so did the onset of Parkinson’s Disease which had a major impact on his daily life and that of his wife Loyes. Kevin had lost that impish sparkle and on 2nd October 2023 at the age of 79 years he closed his eyes in the comfort of his home and quietly passed into eternal sleep. Kevin and his twin sister Merle were born in 1944 at the Women’s Hospital, Brisbane and for the next 70 years to his retirement in 2014, Kevin was considered one of just four Gap residents who could claim continuous lengthy occupation and residency of more than 50 years since birth. Kevin’s friendly demeanor is still remembered by many of today’s Gap residents who were his customers as far back as the 1960’s. In October 2004 Kevin and his wife Loyes joined The Gap Pioneer and History Group Inc. which led to the publication of “The Milky Way”. As members of The Gap Pioneer Group, Kevin and Loyes were active participants in our monthly presentations for the residents of Regis Aged Care, The Gap. Two of Kevin’s memorable acting achievements and comedy routines at Regis were as the storekeeper at “The Corner Store” and when he dressed as Grandma for the presentation on “Grandma’s life”.

Enquiries: jeffhilder@outlook.com The Pyjama Angel will be Jack’s companion, his friend and offer him the stability he needs. It will be someone he will grow to trust and will be able to turn to safely when he needs to talk to someone or needs help with his homework. The link to donate or find out more about our Christmas Appeal is: https://fundraise.thepyjamafoundation.com/christmas-appeal

The Pyjama Foundation The Pyjama Foundation provide children and young people in foster care the opportunity to change the direction of their lives with learning, life skills and confidence. Through the Love of Learning program, volunteers called 'Pyjama Angels' are recruited, screened, trained and then matched with a child in care and spend time with them once a week, focusing on learning-based activities. Pyjama Angels read books aloud with their child, play educational games and help children with their homework. Most importantly, the volunteers give foster children a chance to reach their life potential, despite a fragile start. Children in care have the lowest education outcomes nationally. By improving their learning skills, we are making a positive, lifelong impact.

For more: www.thepyjamafoundation.com *not his real name.

All children need stability, they need consistency, support, and most of all, they need love. You can give Jack the gift of a Pyjama Angel, someone who will visit him every week and provide him the care, support and love he needs, on your behalf.

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Serenata Singers Trek2Health Commuity Choir

Launching Trek Shed: A Legacy of Care

On Saturday 28 October, Serenata Singers presented their annual Gala Concert in partnership with the Ashgrove/ The Gap Lions Club. This has been a very successful partnership with audiences enjoying a broad repertoire of songs we have been practicing for months, along with a refreshing afternoon tea. All proceeds are shared with Serenata Singers and the Lions Medical Research Foundation. This year we had a theme of “Music from the Heart” and covered some classics with medleys from “Phantom of the Opera”, “Les Misérables” and Cole Porter’s “True Love”. To open the concert, we sang a couple of church classics in Vivaldi’s “Gloria In Excelsis” and Bach’s “Joy to Man’s Desiring” followed by two foreign language tunes in “Harere Ra” (a Maori favourite) and “Siyahamba” (a Zulu song of freedom and rejoicing). Our two guest performers were Alison Siemon playing the theme from “On Golder Pond” and Ray Wiseman who engaged the audience in a rousing round of “Wandering the King’s Highway”. We concluded with Rutter’s “For the Beauty of the Earth” and a crowd pleasing “I Am Australian” which always goes down well. Enormous thanks to the organising Committee, helpers and Lions volunteers for all the work necessary to bring the whole event together.

In 2019, Trek2Health, a local Brisbanebased charity, embarked on a mission to enhance mental health, with a focus on frontline heroes like police, ambulance personnel, firefighters and veterans. Over the years, the organisation has made significant progress. In 2023, Trek2Health positively impacted 700 individuals through a four-hour day program, with an additional 103 completing a sixweek wellness program. What sets Trek2Health apart is its commitment to providing these services at no cost, benefiting local frontline workers and their communities. A remarkable initiative is the launch of Trek Shed, an initiative founded to support the work of Trek2Health, while enriching the lives of retired police officers and frontline workers.

At the core of Trek Shed are Aussie Eco Boards, crafted by retired police officers who are trained by surfboard master craftsmen. Each board is handcrafted from responsibly sourced Paulownia wood. The wooden construction not only makes these boards eco-friendly but also enhances their performance and aesthetic appeal.

Pre-order an Aussie Eco Board at www.trek2health.org.au/trek-shed. You'll acquire a unique piece of Australian craftsmanship and support frontline heroes' mental well-being and community strength.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank the residents of our wonderful community for their continued support over these last forty years. The Helen Black Amnesty International group has been meeting in The Gap since 1984. Over the past forty years our members have undertaken countless fundraising activities, letter writing campaigns and events to raise public awareness about important human rights issues. We are very proud of our group’s remarkable achievements and the hard work put in by our dedicated members and supporters. However, while we all continue to be interested and engaged with human rights, due to a variety of issues, we have decided that we will no longer continue as an Amnesty International group.

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We would also like to take this opportunity to emphasize to anyone interested in joining Amnesty International that the Ashgrove

Amnesty International group is always keen to welcome new members. They meet on the first and third Thursday evenings of the month and can be contacted by calling Sally on 3366 2046 or 0476 006 990. Once again, thanks to everyone and best wishes for the festive season. The Western Echo December 2023 | Page 29

Principal'sPoints... Principal'sPoints... Hilder Road State School Term 4 at Hilder Road State School has been filled with fun activities for our students. Grandparents' day was thoroughly enjoyed by all classes, and students had fun playing games and showing their grandparents their school life. Their grandparents also enjoyed a delicious morning tea whilst being entertained by our String ensembles and Choir.

Students across the school worked hard in Band, Strings, Drama and Choir to perform at our Arts Showcase night. The Year 5 and 6 students also displayed some of their stunning art pieces.

The Halloween Disco was a huge hit! The students all had fun dancing to the latest tunes while dressed in spooky costumes, and eating pizza and ice blocks. The Hilder Road State School Soccer Squad completed their final Futsal tournament for the year on the 16th of November. Congratulations on a very successful season! Thanks to Mr Dwyer and Coach Lea - we have improved our skills a lot through your leadership. Trials for next year’s Soccer Squad have been underway and there have been a lot of super keen soccer players trying out to be a member of our Soccer Development Squad for 2024.

We also held our annual Teddy Bears Picnic where next year’s Prep students visited our school to meet current Prep students and Teachers and have a fun picnic and lots of activities with their teddy bears. Throughout the year, the Hilder Road State School Student Council has raised an amazing $3078.65, This money will be going towards sand pit toys, sports equipment, and games for the library to use at lunchtime. What an eventful month it has been! Heidi & Belu (Student Leaders)

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Payne Road State School On Wednesday 8 November, Payne Road State School showcased an exciting celebration of creativity in the Arts presenting its annual Kaleidoscope evening. This colourful celebration showcased amazing art displays from every class at our wonderful school which was then followed by a concert that featured performances by the Choirs, Strings, Band and Drama Club students.

Supporter group. Students and staff worked very hard to prepare for this showcase and were super excited to show family and friends of our PRSS community just how creative we are. It was a fantastic night, we loved seeing everybody there and we look forward to seeing you all again next year. Big congratulations and thanks to everyone involved from Katherine Sergeyeva, Music Teacher, Shannon Gibbs, Arts Teacher and Sarah Towns, Drama Teacher. ........................................

St Peter Chanel

Each year our Kaleidoscope Arts showcase provides important opportunities for our many Payne Road State School artists, musicians and performers to demonstrate their awesome talents and to share just how far they have come since the beginning of the year! This year we were treated to guest performances from two of our class teachers, Mr Milne and Mr Fay as well as the Band teacher, Mrs Elliott. The evening started with a social BBQ dinner, organised by the fabulous P&C Arts

In a blink, we have come to the end of another year of growth and learning at St Peter Chanel, however there is no slowing down until the very last day of term on Friday, 1 December. This term we have welcomed our 2024 Prep students into our school for their orientation and storytelling. Orientation days are designed for our youngest incoming students to meet other new Prep buddies, familiarise themselves with their classroom and teacher, and to help create a sense of connection and belonging to our school. These days allow for a smoother transition at the start of the Prep year.

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Principal'sPoints... Principal'sPoints... 2024 Prep students have also been visiting our library for storytelling sessions. Students are immersed in age-appropriate storytelling and parents have the opportunity to borrow books from our library to read over the summer holidays. It is hoped that the combination of orientation activities for both students and parents leads to the best possible start to the school year. With one of our seven school virtues being ‘Charity’ this has been front of mind for all staff and students as they support the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal leading up to Christmas. In these tough times, each class has been given specific details to support a family in our community. Support of staff and students will help provide food for these vulnerable people who have been struggling with the current cost -of-living crisis. We are proud of our students and their giving hearts. St Peter Chanel heads into 2024 welcoming new Principal Ms Bec O’Connor. Bec is excited to come to the St Peter Chanel family after recently being Principal at Gayndah. We are going to miss Mr Paul McGlone who has done a wonderful job in the Acting Principal role over the past two years. We look forward to introducing Bec to our community in the new year. Our 2025 Prep enrolments are currently open with interviews taking place in Term 1 of 2024. If you have a child commencing Prep in 2025, 2026 or even 2027 we would love to hear from you. Contact the school or visit the website

to submit an application – www.spcthegap.qld.edu.au ........................................

The Gap State School

In Music news, six choral students from Year 6 recently participated in the Metropolitan Choral Honours Program held at The Old Museum Building in Bowen Hills. Students were selected by the Department of Education's Music Resource Centre to participate in this three-day workshop that is designed to cater for advanced choral students. Students auditioned at school and were nominated for selection based on their ability to sing with good tone and intonation, their ability to read music, ability to learn quickly and their genuine love of singing and performing. Congratulations to Sophie, Erin, Liam, Lucy, Cadence and Sophia! Senior Band led by Mrs Carmen Forgan, recently competed in the Music Fest competition. The ensemble performed beautifully together and were presented with a Gold Award at the event. Congratulations to Senior Band students, Mrs Forgan and the music team. Our whole school came together in the MPB on 10 October, to celebrate music at our “Together Sing! Assembly. This nationwide event aligns with mental health week, recognising the importance of supporting wellbeing through positive social activities, such as singing, and was co-created by our very own music teacher, Mrs Debbie O'Shea! Congratulations to students who participated this year in

website: http://www.westernecho.com.au WWW.WESTERNECHO.COM.AU

ICAS tests and the Australian Mathematics Competition (AMC). Distinction certificates were awarded to the following students for their outstanding results: Year 3 - Catherine (AMC, ICAS Maths / Science), Bethany (AMC); Year 4 Jasper (AMC), Nicholas (AMC, ICAS Maths / ICAS Science), Tenyu (AMC, ICAS Digital Technologies / Maths / Science); Year 5 - Jason (ICAS Maths); Year 6 - Sophie (AMC, ICAS Digital Technologies / Maths), Liam (ICAS English / ICAS Science), William (AMC, ICAS Science), Alex (AMC). Well done students. Warm regards, Joanne Nicholls, Principal ........................................

The Gap State High School

Teachers and students at The Gap State High School have a weekly meeting every Monday afternoon called Time4. Instead of a typical ‘period four’ lesson, every teacher meets in a learning team as part of ongoing Action Research to enhance student outcomes through intentional collaboration. At the same time, students can choose from a wide selection of enrichment programs and activities. Time4 teachers, and Time4 students, is a valuable and innovative way to enrich and enhance learning in our community. Research into high-performing school systems identifies effective teaching as a key factor in lifting student learning outcomes. By making time within the school day, teachers at The Gap have an opportunity to share practice,

learn new strategies, and work systematically through an inquiry cycle to support every learner to flourish. The schools’ pedagogical framework, (locally known as the Teaching for Innovative Learning and Engagement, or TILE), supports alignment between and across classrooms. When asked, teachers note things like time to focus on effective classroom pedagogical strategies, or the gift of time to intentionally collaborate with fellow teachers to address common areas of practice. By engaging in Time4 teachers, collegial relationships are forged and consistent expectations are shared across the faculties. Student results are showing improvement across the school, with some students lifting one or even two levels of achievement. During Monday afternoon Time4 students, almost 30 students have engaged in a range of enrichment and extension activities. Popular activities include Clay Club, Climbing Club, Chess Mates, and the very popular LAUNCH (studentled, for students). Later in the year we introduced some sporting options including volleyball and group fitness, and Dungeons and Dragons became overwhelmingly popular. Our Time4 offerings will no doubt expand in 2024, so watch this space for future information about collaboration and collegial engagement at The Gap State High School. Warm regards, Anne McLauchlan, Principal

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The Gap Day & Night Pharmacy For all your pharmaceutical needs OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK

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Our extensive range of gifts are suitable for all ages, including quality children’s toys and games. Open daily 8.30am to 8.00pm. Book boosters and vaccines online: www.thegappharmacy.com.au 974 WATERWORKS ROAD, THE GAP

Ph 3300 1555 + thegap@thegappharmacy.com.au + thegappharmacy.com.au The Western Echo December 2023 | Page 32