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Wakakirri: Grand Avenue State School in Forest Lake Wins Best Diversity Story

Grand Avenue State School impressed the judges at the annual Wakakirri, Australia’s largest performing arts festival for schools. The students won Best Diversity Story with their original, inspirational and well-executed dance routine.

The Wakakirri Head Panel said Grand Avenue State School‘s story-dance had “great performance energy balanced with moments of focus and stillness, to create effective dramatisation.” The routine was commended for its “excellent opening scenes to establish character, context,” and the dancers had “lovely expressive skills.”

The primary school’s presentation also had a fantastic story and a great soundtrack to deliver a strong emotional message: “Whether your disability is invisible like autism, or visible like a wheelchair, everyone needs to be valued for their differences, not seen as less.”

Established 28 years ago, the Wakakirri Challenge traditionally takes place in professional theatres across the country. However, the 2020 festival was restructured into an online-only format due to Covid-19 restrictions.

“In a year like this one, it’s incredible that students and teachers have created such solid stories and performances. Despite all of the unexpected obstacles this year, these Story-Dances are every bit as moving and inspiring as the ones performed in theatres at previous Wakakirri Festivals,” Kat Hoyos of the panel said.

Wakakirri helps the students develop their skills, wellbeing and confidence by participating in performing arts. Every year, schools across the country spend months on their routines to covet that prestigious National Story of the Year Award.

For more about this year’s winners, visit the Wakakirri official site.

Meanwhile, the Wakakirri has opened for 2021’s competition. Details are in the video below:

The Parkrun and Pop Up Library Are Back at the Pallara Parkland

Who’s excited for the return of the community activities at the Pallara Parkland at the corner of Gooderham and Brookbent Roads? This November, the parkrun and the pop-up library are back following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions in Queensland.

Set aside your Saturday mornings beginning 28 Nov 2020 for running at the Pallara Parkland at the corner of Gooderham and Brookbent Roads. The free weekly physical fitness activity will resume after nearly nine months of restriction.

The parkland will look different upon your return because social distancing will be enforced. Participants will need to present their personal barcode for contract tracing.

If you have previously registered for the parkruns, you may update your profile to receive the barcode. If you’re a first-timer, you will need to register your full details in a separate form online.

It will not be hard to comply with the new system when it’s for everyone’s safety and protection. Come earlier before the 7:00 a.m. run for the briefing and refresher from the parkrun volunteers.

Along with this exciting news, the Pop Up Library has also returned to Brookbent Road every Thursday fortnightly with two sessions from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. This is another free service if you have a Council library card.

At the Pop Up Library, locals may:

read books, magazines and newspapers while relaxing in comfortable seating
browse library collections and borrow items to take home, including children’s picture books, adult fiction and FastBack titles
enjoy library programs, including children’s storytime sessions, craft, games, basic coding and robotics workshops.

Both community activities at the Pallara Parkland are COVID-safe but if you have a cough, fever, sore throat and shortness of breath, you are advised not to go to the parkland until you’re well.

Two-Way Access Near 7-Eleven Heathwood Approved

The corner of Stapylton Road and Wadeville Street in Heathwood will be busy with construction work soon as Council has approved plans to build the needed two-way access near the 7-Eleven site.

Residents are advised to expect some impact on the traffic flow in the area once road works and stormwater drainage preparation get underway. The Council, however, will still announce the start date of construction following the approval of the development application on 13 Nov 2020 (DA A005554097).

This Heathwood corner has a shopping centre as well, which has seen traffic problems since its establishment in 2014. Drivers that come in and out of the complex apparently ignore the traffic signs.

“Stapylton Rd wasn’t upgraded to its current level when the shopping centre was originally built,” according to Councillor Angela Owen on Facebook. The two-way access work was also not part of the $18 million Stapylton Road upgrade works in December 2015.

Ms Owen also said that the Council is working with the police to address the issue of erring drivers that visit the shopping site.

In Richlands, You Could Save More by Paying off a Mortgage Rather Than Renting, Latest Research Says

Photo credit: Google Maps

Many Greater Brisbane suburbs, including Richlands, offer more savings if you choose to buy a unit with mortgage rather than paying a monthly rent, the latest research revealed.

The latest research from mortgage broker, Aussie, looked into that gap between median rental cost and monthly mortgage repayments by using discounted variable rate and a three year fixed rate. It also assumed a loan-to-value ratio of 90 per cent with a 10 per cent deposit and the life of the loan set at 30 years.

What the Aussie Core Logic Rent Versus Buy report revealed is that in approximately 70 per cent of the regional Queensland suburbs, it is cheaper to buy than to rent.

In Greater Brisbane, for example, Browns Plains and Oxley offer the greatest savings for unit buyers. In particular, mortgage repayments in these locations are cheaper than renting by more than $500. Other suburbs offering the most savings are Waterford West, Springwood, Richlands, Beenleigh, Murrumba Downs, Eagleby, Logan Central, and Woodridge.

According to realestate.com.au, the median unit rent in Richlands is $370 per week, based on 246 unit listings from 1 Nov 2019 to 06 Nov 2020. The median unit price, on the other hand, is $267,000 based on 27 unit sales from 1 Nov 2019 to 02 Nov 2020.

Meanwhile, Kilcoy is where house buyers could realize the biggest savings, almost $470 cheaper than monthly rent costs. Kilcoy is followed by Woodridge, Kingston, Logan Central, Goodna, Macleay Island, Slacks Creek, Laidley, Russell Island, and Leichhardt.

The report also said that 29.3 per cent of Brisbane suburbs offer families more savings by having a mortgage on a house rather than renting a house. However, if you apply a three-year-fixed rate mortgage, that number could still rise to 63.3 per cent. As for units, families could save more on unit mortgages in 76 per cent of Brisbane suburbs and 97 percent when a three-year-fixed rate mortgage is applied.

Aussie CEO John Symond said the market right now is offering opportunities to save more on buying thanks to record low interest rates and government incentives. He added that regional Queensland house rents have risen by 23.5 per cent since the upturn began in late 2016 through mid-2019 while house values grew only one per cent. The growth was further strengthened when mortgage rates started falling in mid-2019.

WiT Awards: Forest Lake Venom Specialist Wins Young Achiever – Science Award

Venom specialist Samantha Nixon was named the Young Achiever – Science awardee at the recent 2020 Women in Technology WiT Awards. The former arachnophobe, who lives in Forest Lake, was one of 440 nominees in 14 categories.

The prestigious awards panel recognises the talents of women in the field of science and technology.

Ms Nixon is currently doing research on how spider venoms may be viable for new medicines that can work on parasites. She is in the process of completing her PhD at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience at the University of Queensland.

The rising STEM star is also passionate about bridging the inequality in the STEM field through science education and leadership.

This year, the WiT Awards added three new categories, including a special focus on women in the STEM field who are working in Queensland’s rural and remote locations.

“This year has been a year of change for everyone, including WiT, so we decided to create an online celebration to champion the State’s remarkable women in science and technology,” Women in Technology (WiT) President Dr Claudia Giurgiuman said.

“Our virtual 2020 WiT Awards were bigger and better than ever with the ABC’s celebrity scientist Joel Gilmore as the event’s MC, alongside our distinguished keynote Australia’s Chief Defence Scientist Professor Tanya Monro.

“With the devastating economic impact of COVID-19, harnessing our female talent and skill has never been more crucial, so this year, more than ever, the awards show had to go on. Many women are doing amazing work, and these awards and these awards are about giving them the recognition they deserve.”

The 2020 WiT Awards took place virtually due to the pandemic. Check the full list of winners on the official site.

Forest Lake Worker Becomes $150,000 Richer While On Her Lunch Break

A worker from Forest Lake is now $150,000 richer after she decided to swing by the Nextra Forest Lake News shop at the Forest Lake Village Shopping Centre for a quick $10 Jumbo Crossword scratch ticket during her lunch break.

She didn’t expect to win the top prize as she worked on scratching the ticket at the office lunchroom whilst her co-workers watched.

The winner said that she thought she won $15,000, which was already a thrilling surprise.

But her co-workers told her she apparently missed out scratching one of the letters, which eventually turned out to be $150,000!

The woman said that winning in mid-September was “a very big shock” that she could not stop shaking.

She plans to use the money to pay off her car loan.

“Then I will use the rest of my prize to put a deposit down on a house. And I will hopefully be able to help out some family members as well,” the winner said. “It’s all very exciting!”

Nextra Forest Lake News staff Emma Jesberg said it’s great to know that another one customer is going to have such a life-changing experience. The store has sold winning tickets over the years, while the local woman is now one of the over 150 instant scratch top prize winner since July 2019.

Ellume to Open $50-Million Facility in Richlands to Escalate COVID-19 Tests

A medical diagnostics company is set to open its $50 million manufacturing facility in Richlands. The new Ellume site at 19 Macgregor Place will focus on producing 15 million tests a month for COVID-19, flu and tuberculosis.

About 450 jobs will need to be filled, including assembling testing kits, before the facility open in the middle of October. These testing kits will be for export to the United States.

Ellume currently has 100 staff at its main site in East Brisbane. Founder Dr Sean Parsons said that they have been developing and improving their world-class technology “to meet global demands” since the swine flu epidemic in 2009.

Dr Parsons said that the company convinced its American partners that setting up a facility in southeast Queensland was more viable than a manufacturing site in the U.S.

Richlands is close to arterial corridors and connections in airports in Wellcamp and Brisbane. With many local skilled workers, Dr Parsons said that southeast Queensland could become the leading business site when it comes to COVID-19 test productions.

The company developed an Access Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Test, which runs on a portable digital device called Access eHub. This diagnostic tool that promises results in less than 15 minutes or three minutes for strong positive cases.

Access eHub could handle eight samples and process at least 30 samples within an hour, allowing laboratories to run independent tests more efficiently.

“The Access eHub platform offers a new combination of speed and scale that marks an important step towards decentralised mass testing that health authorities all over the world have been urgently seeking,” Dr Parsons said.

New Normal: Here are the 6 Food Truck Pop Ups Coming to Forest Lake

Social distancing, contactless payment and take aways only — these are part of the new normal amidst the pandemic crisis. These safety practices will also be observed as the Food Truck Pop Ups return to Forest Lake on Friday, 14 Aug 2020.

Held at the parking lot opposite the Forest Lake State School in Woogaroo Street, the food trucks will be ready to serve diners from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Visitors may choose from six tasty selections:

Micasa Burger Truck

Serving American-style burger since 2014, the Micasa Burger Truck team has been in the food truck business since the late 1990s. Their menu choices are inspired by the movie Pulp Fiction. The concept is fun and the food is filling!

Photo Credit: Food Truck Pop Ups/Facebook

Rolls Pho Mi

Specializing in Vietnamese street food, Rolls Pho Mi is run by the husband and wife team of Duy and Steph. Their menu is a collection of recipes acquired by Duy’s mum, Dung. Don’t forget to try their signature dish, the 24-hour Pho.

Donut Kitchen

Savor these freshly baked, light and fluffy pillows of sweet dough. Choose from jams, chocolate sauce or custards as fillers. Donut Kitchen has vegan, gluten free and dairy free options.

Rolling Stone Pizza

This small food truck has a mobile authentic wood-fired pizza oven serving 9 to 11 inches of warm pizza goodness. Rolling Stone Pizza has a broad menu of flavourful comfort food, including gluten-free and vegan choices.

Tender Calamari

Tasty and tender calamari, what more is there to ask for? The calamari is freshly cooked on-site so you get only the best. The Tender Calamari food truck has been around Brisbane since 2014.

Ruby the Little Red Ice Cream Van

Ruby the Little Red Ice Cream Van has been serving colourful and flavourful ice creams for 14 years. The food truck is a 1973 ice cream van imported from Southampton, England. The ice cream is churned using an Italian Carpigiani ice cream machine and comes out “fully dairy based, halal certified and gluten free.”

The Food Truck initiative helps small businesses during this pandemic. With the permission of the Council, vendors can reach more markets by setting up shop at temporary Council-controlled sites across Brisbane.

To learn more about this initiative, visit the Council’s website and keep track of where the food trucks are serving via the interactive map.

Forest Lake Shopping Centre: KMart In, Target Out

Kmart is moving into Forest Lake Shopping Centre! The discount shop will replace an existing Target outlet and will open by early 2021.

Forest Lake Shopping Centre confirmed the arrival on social media.

“At this stage, it is still too early to discuss exact details, but we look forward to sharing more information with our community as plans are finalised,” the post stated.

Photo Credit: Forest Lake Shopping Centre/Facebook

It comes as Wesfarmers, Target’s parent company, said it will be closing or converting more than 50 stores across the country.

“Target has struggled for many years and has incurred very significant losses. In its current form, it is not viable,” Wesfarmers said in an official statement. “Its costs are too high, including the cost of operating and supplying a large network of physical stores in regional Australia of varying sizes stocking varying ranges. These problems are not unique to Target.

“Rather than close the business, we considered many options to avoid store closures and retain our people where we can. In regional Australia, about half Target Country stores, 52, are suited to being converted to smaller format Kmart Hub stores.”

Forest Lake Shopping Centre has 70 specialty stores as well as chains like Aldi, Coles and Woolworths.

Mapletree Acquires Inala Logistics Facility, Leases It to Decina

In a move that bolsters confidence in commercial real estate prospects in Brisbane, Mapletree Logistics Trust Management, a Singapore-based, Asia-focused, real estate investment trust (REIT), has acquired a $21.3-million warehouse in Inala.

The newly built, freehold facility is located at 115 Rudd Street. It is Mapletree’s second logistics location in Brisbane and its 11th facility in Australia.

The 9,050-sqm Inala facility sits on freehold land of approximately 18,800 square metres.

Like other Mapletree locations, the warehouse, which was just completed in May 2020, features Grade A building materials and design, a column-less design, seven container-height roller doors, and over 100 metres of side loading dock facilities ideal for trailer truck usage to ensure optimum loading capacity and space utilisation.

The company has chosen Inala because of its strategic location, accessible to the CBD, both Brisbane Port and Brisbane Airport and its proximity to key roads such as Boundary Road, Ipswich Motorway, Centenary Highway, and Logan Motorway that enable easy access for logistics.

“With excellent connectivity to these major arterial routes, the property also provides access to the main population bases in Queensland,” a statement from the firm reads.

In a move that Mapletree says will provide a “stable and growing income stream” from a “strong, quality tenant,” the company also announced that the facility has now been fully leased for 10 years to Australian bath manufacturer Decina Bathroomware Pty Ltd.