Homepage Latest News Archives - Page 28 of 42

Iconic Brand Reels Out After More Than a Century

Photo Credit: Alvey Reels Australia / Facebook

They have been in the business of selling fishing reels for more than a century, but all good things eventually come to an end and iconic brand Alvey Reels will close its Carole Park facility by the end of June 2022.

Alvey Reels marked its 100th anniversary in 2020 with bright prospects for the company’s future. The quality of their products is undeniably top-notch which made them an angler’s best friend.

Alvey Reels, however, ceases manufacturing for good as announced last May 2022.The company cited drastically rising costs and growing domestic and global supply chain issues as well as disruptive staff shortages due to COVD-19 restrictions as the reasons to close down the Carole Park manufacturing facility.

A “structure sell down” of all of their stock is also expected in the coming weeks.

“We anticipate running with Warehouse/Dispatch and Administration staff with current stock on hand, which will carry us through to January/February 2023, but we will not be able to remain open after this time. Effective immediately to assist our administration team, the Alvey phones will be diverted to an answering service and all calls will be monitored and returned during each day,” their announcement reads.

Customers may order Alvey products and parts online at www.alvey.com.au whilst all queries will be entertained via email at info@alvey.com.au.

All authorised retailers, on the other hand, may still order stocks whilst they last but spare parts can only be purchased through the Alvey website or preferably from the following merchants: Tackle Land, Charltons Fishing, Bayside Bait & Tackle or Gardiner Fisheries Rainbow Beach.

“We at Alvey Reels deeply regret this difficult decision, and whilst we commit to supplying as many of our products as we can for as long as we can, our immediate priorities are our loyal staff, our dedicated retailers and passionate supporters and customers.

“On behalf of the Alvey Team, we thank you all for your 102 years of support.”

They first announced that the company will close down back in 2017 amidst decreasing sales. The announcement stirred an outpouring of support and orders kept coming, giving them enough boost in revenue to keep the company alive.

Entering into its centenary, Alvey Reels’ expanded its product range which including a line of apparel | Photo Credit: Alvey Reels Australia / Facebook

Alvey also attracted investors that enabled them to expand its product range, including a line of apparel, as well as a venture into the US market.

Alvey Reels closes effective 30 June 2022.

Six New and Permanent Pallara Bus Stops Ready By December 2022

The commute for residents in the south will be easier by December 2022 when six new, disability-compliant, permanent Pallara bus stops will be constructed and installed in the suburb.

Initially, two of these bus stops are going to be installed along Brookbent Rd and Ritchie Rd near the old site of the Pallara State School. A third bus stop will be installed at the new Pallara State School’s site.

These installations will compound on the 803 Pallara school bus service whilst bus 126 will be rerouted to take Main Rd and extend towards the south of Ritchie Rd. This will enable Pallara residents to get to Sunnybank Plaza and connect to their other destinations, including the CBD.

The other three new Pallara bus stops will still undergo a route mapping to determine the best locations.

Cr Angela Owen said she has lobbied for these buses amidst funding delays from the State Government. She has requested Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner “to fast track delivery of some permanent bus stops” after Translink agreed to the business case.

A Council spokesperson said that they previously submitted four business cases that were rejected by the State Government.

MP for Algester Leeanne Enoch also confirmed that buses will be built in Pallara in the next few months after many of the residents, especially school children, were forced to take an Uber to school.

Pallara resident Sam Spaliviero started a petition for the bus services nearly a year ago, which has received nearly900 supporters. She stated that buses were included in the plans when the new Pallara estates were launched in 2016. Pallara has been growing with new residents and businesses since then.

“Residents, business hubs, commuters and family/friends have no way of connecting in and out of our suburb unless you walk 7 plus kilometres through terrain of unpathed streets and main connecting road heavily under construction with road closures, trucks, work vehicles, workers and road which has been patch worked. This is not a safe journey for people of Pallara to endure,” Spaliviero said.

15 Teams to Compete at the Dragon Boat Festival in Forest Lake

The Hakka Association of Queensland is hosting the 2022 Parkinson Multicultural and Dragon Boat Festival, an exhilarating family-friendly event in Forest Lake where 15 teams are set to compete for the top prize.

The competition takes place on Sunday, June 5, at The Lake Parklands where there will be an area with plenty of shade sails and the stage. The event will run from 9:00 to 5:00 p.m.

There will be races every 15 minutes, starting at 9:45 a.m. Spectators may watch and cheer for their favourite teams, as well as enjoy the food and drink stalls. There will be performances on the main stage and plenty of green space for the kids to enjoy at The Lake Parklands.

The Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner will be opening the festival, whilst MP Leeanne Enoch and Leanne Linard are also expected.

Photo Credit: Hakka Association of Queensland

Per the Hakka Association of Queensland, dragon boat racing is an ancient sport dating back to 2500 years ago in China. This year’s races will include both professional and non-professional dragon boat teams.

Established in 2010, the Hakka Association of Queensland is a non-profit organisation composed of Australian families whose heritage belongs to the Hakka people, a Chinese ethnic group. This organisation, now with over 200 members, was established to reconnect with each other as they raise their kids in different parts of Queensland.

Follow the organisation on Facebook for updates on their activities.

Locals Call For Public Bus Service In Pallara

Change.org petition to get the basic services they need.

Supermarket Giant Unveils New Distribution Centre in Heathwood

Photo Credit: Cr Angela Owen - Councillor for Calamvale Ward / Facebook

Supermarket giant Woolworths has unveiled its new Heathwood Distribution Centre, which provided 200 local jobs during its construction and has now added 300 ongoing jobs to the local employment market.

The $184-million, 42,000 sqm temperature-controlled facility is about the size of three Suncorp Stadium playing fields with sustainable features including 4,000 solar panels that can fully supply the facility’s power needs during peak periods. There is also a discharge rainwater tank that can collect 3 million litres of rainwater and a provision for electric cars and trucks.

With these features in place, Heathwood Distribution Centre targets a 5 Star Green Star certification for sustainability which will make it Woolworths Group’s first 5 Green Star certified Distribution Centre in Queensland.

Constructed by Woolworths supply chain arm, Primary Connect, the Heathwood Distribution Centre will distribute 4,000 frozen and chilled products coming from 400 different suppliers to the supermarket chain’s more than 260 Queensland and northern New South Wales locations.

The building is also co-located and connected with its meat supplier, Hilton Foods Australia, through an automated air bridge, allowing the distribution facility to remove up to 390 truck movements from Brisbane roads each week.

“The importance of a strong, responsive and resilient supply chain has come into sharp focus during the pandemic and the most recent extreme weather events,” Brad Banducci, Woolworths Group CEO said.

“As well as strengthening our network capability, this new state-of-the-art facility is an important part of our ongoing commitment to investing in Brisbane – and across broader Queensland – to support jobs growth and help us deliver high-quality products to our customers fresher, faster and more efficiently than ever before.”

Heathwood Distribution Centre will expand the supermarket giant’s Queensland distribution network that is now servicing 280 Woolworths stores across Qld and northern NSW.

Forest Lake Men’s Shed Art and Craft Exhibition Returns to Inala Art Gallery

Photo Credit: Inala Art Gallery / inalaarts.com.au

The annual Forest Lake Men’s Shed Art and Craft Exhibition at the Inala Art Gallery is back this May 2022.

Another year, another opportunity to check out some of the amazing art and crafts by Forest Lake Men’s Shed which is on display at the Inala Art Gallery starting 3 May 2022. The exhibit will showcase some of the Shed’s impressive artistic projects including paintings, wood crafts, toy soldiers and photography.

About Forest Lake Men’s Shed

Forest Lake Men’s Shed had their inaugural exhibition at the Inala Art Gallery in 2020. Members of the Forest Lake Men’s Shed mostly do woodworking which in turn is sold to raise funds to support the local community.

Forest Lake Men’s Shed Art and Craft Exhibition — Photo Credit: Inala Art Gallery / inalaarts.com.au

The men’s shed provides local men with a place to do something worthwhile, make social connections and improve their health and wellbeing whilst contributing to the community.

“Most men have learned from our culture that they don’t talk about feelings and emotions; many do not take an interest in their own health and well-being. Unlike women, most men are reluctant to talk about their emotions and that means that they usually don’t ask for help.”
“Becoming a member of a Men’s Shed provides a safe and busy environment where men can find many of these things in an atmosphere of old-fashioned mate-ship. And, importantly, there is no pressure. Men can just come and have a yarn and a cuppa if that is all they’re looking for. “
Forest Lake Men’s Shed

According to one study on the effects of men’s shed on the health and wellbeing of its members, many of the men who come to their local Shed look for a way to adapt to a change including retirement or job loss; loss of a spouse or divorce; health issues and relocation.

The findings say that men in the Shed group score statistically significantly higher than the less socially active non-Shed group on:

Physical Functioning – the extent to which a person is limited by their health in performing a range of physical activities.
Role Physical – the effects of physical health on a person’s performance of their work or other activities they are able to do
General Health – Self-assessed health status
Vitality – a person’s energy levels
Mental Health – the amount of time a person experienced feelings of depression or happiness

About Inala Art Gallery

The Inala Art Gallery is a not-for-profit organisation that provides communities with a space where everyone can get involved in creative activities and display their artworks and crafts. The Gallery opened in 1977 by a group of volunteers and Les Bryant who was a local council member at the time and was its patron until 2018.

“The Year of the Outback” which was held in 2002, was one of the Gallery’s most outstanding exhibitions so far. The exhibition was hailed as one which had not been seen before in Brisbane suburbs due to the high quality of content and presentation.

The Forest Lake Men’s Shed Art and Craft Exhibition runs until 27 May 2022. Opening hours are from 10 am to 3 pm, Tuesday to Friday and from 10 am to 2 pm, Saturdays.

Inala Art Gallery | 37 Corsair Avenue, Inala

Tributes Pour In For The Saints’ Frontman Chris Bailey

The Saints’ frontman Chris Bailey, who lived in Inala, is remembered for his influence in punk music, having formed one of the first and most influential punk groups in Australia.

Read: How Mater Volunteers Like Kevin Kelly Make a Difference in Cancer Patients

The band announced the news of his demise on Monday 11 April 2022, on their official Facebook page.

“It is with great pain in our hearts that we have to inform you about the passing of Chris Bailey, singer and songwriter of The Saints, on April the 9th 2022,” the statement reads.

Fans of the iconic punk band paid tribute to the late frontman, remembering him for his passion for poetry and music.

“Condolences to family, enjoyed his music and saw live many times. As a Brissie boy this was very much a part of the soundtrack of my adolescence,” commented one of his fans on the band’s Facebook announcement.

Legend Down!
One of the pioneers of Aussie Punk.✊🏼#RIPChrisBailey pic.twitter.com/YhCquKjBNK
— Joel (@JoelBrown_JB) April 10, 2022

Watching Stranded on @DocPlayNow. Farewell to an original & a great. #RIPChrisBailey pic.twitter.com/GwysEMaKp3
— Tony Wilson (@byTonyWilson) April 12, 2022

I listened to Chris Bailey sing and I knew he meant every single word.

Every yeah, alright and c’mon was conviction.#RIPChrisBailey
— Impala Laguda (@impalalah) April 11, 2022

Bailey, 65, was born in Nayuki, a town in Kenya in 1957 to Irish parents. Before moving to Inala in Brisbane, he spent his early years in Northern Ireland until the age of seven.

He and his sister Margaret attended Inala State High School, Oxley State High School, and Corinda State High School where Ed Kuepper and Ivor Hay were also students.

Kuepper, who joined Hay and Bailey in forming the band in 1973 after they met at school, expressed his sadness over Bailey’s death. They initially called themselves the Kid Galahad and The Eternals.

In 1974, they renamed themselves The Saints, inspired by the nickname of the fictional character Simon Templar, featured in a series of novels and short stories by Leslie Charteris.

The Saints first made headlines in the UK after releasing (I’m) Stranded, their debut single.

Bailey also released a number of solo albums, such as Casablanca, Demons, Savage Entertainment, and 54 Days at Sea, Encore, and Bone Box.

After going solo for a few years, he revived The Saints by releasing Howling in 1996. It was followed by a number of recordings and the band has remained active ever since.

Forest Lake State High Selected To Get Dignity Vending Machine

charity to provide 120 schools across Queensland with a Dignity Vending Machine (DVM).

In addition to free sanitary products, all Queensland schools will have access to the Period Talk education program, which is designed to educate students in Year 5 to Year 8 about menstruation and the impact of periods.

Education Minister Grace Grace said access to sanitary products and misplaced stigma around periods should never be barriers to learning.

“We want all students to be confident to attend school every day. Giving students access to free sanitary products can make a real difference, especially for students whose families are doing it tough, have unstable accommodation or are fleeing domestic and family violence,” said Ms Grace.

Share the Dignity is a women’s charity in Australia, that works to make a real difference in the lives of those experiencing homelessness, fleeing domestic violence, or doing it tough.

They distribute period products to women, girls, and anyone who menstruates who needs support. Through collection drives and campaigns, they get to collect hundreds of thousands of period products each year, which they also distribute directly to charities across Australia.

So far, they have installed around 282 DVMS across Australia, providing free period packs containing two pads and six tampons, to those who need them most.

Ms Grace said they received so much interest from schools, with over 200 applying for the machine. However, the schools were selected based on identification of a suitable location in their school for the DVM, and their level of need to supply free sanitary products to students.

“From that we have selected 62: 53 state, 5 Catholic, and 4 Independent schools,” Ms Grace said.

“For those schools that missed out this time around, or didn’t get an EOI in, there will be another opportunity to apply for a further 58 machines later this year,” she said.

An additional 58 schools will be selected for the DVM on the second expressions of interest process in the second semester of 2022.

Inala, Durack, and Richland Conduct Anti-Mosquito Spraying Blitz Due to Japanese Encephalitis Threat

Over 70 suburbs in Brisbane, including Inala, Durack, and Richland, have had an anti-mosquito spraying blitz to ward off threats of the mosquito-borne virus, Japanese encephalitis.

The spraying blitz happened in early March following reports of the first confirmed case in Queensland since 1998, who was treated at the Prince Charles Hospital.

Per Brisbane City Council, the following locations have been targeted for the spraying blitz whilst experts continued to monitor the mosquito traps across the city. Clinicians in the region have been on high on alert as well since the infections of the mosquito-borne virus do not usually present any symptoms.

Albion Alderley Anstead Ashgrove Bald Hills Balmoral Banyo Bardon Beachmere Bellbowrie Belmont Brighton Brisbane Airport Brisbane City Council Bulimba Burbank Camp Hill	Cannon Hill Carina Carindale Carseldine Chelmer Clayfield Clontarf Corinda Darra Deagon Deception Bay Durack Enoggera Everton Park Ferny Grove Fitzgibbon Gaythorne
Graceville Grange Gumdale Hemmant Hendra Holland Park Holland Park West Inala Karana Downs Keperra Kippa-Ring Kuraby Macgregor	Mackenzie Mango Hill Manly West Milton Mitchelton Moggill Moreton Bay Council Morningside Mt Crosby Mt Gravatt East Murarrie Ningi Norman Park
Oxley Pinjarra Hills Pinkenba Port of Brisbane Redland Council Richlands Rothwell Sandgate Sandstone Point Seven Hills Seventeen Mile Rocks Sherwood	Shorncliffe St Lucia Taringa The Gap Tingalpa Toorbul Toowong Upper Mt Gravatt Victoria Point Wellington Point Wynnum Wynnum West

What is Japanese Encephalitis?

Japanese encephalitis presents as an inflammation of the brain but most of the infected usually suffer from mild symptoms only, such as headache or fever. In rare or extreme cases, the infected might experience high fever and chills, vomiting, sensitivity to light, neck stiffness and severe headache.

The virus is transmitted only through an infected mosquito bite that may manifest symptoms within 5 to 15 days of the infection. Claims that the Japanese encephalitis outbreak in Austalia may be due to the Pfizer vaccine has been debunked by the RMIT FactLab. University of Queensland virologist Jody Peters reiterated that humans may only contract the virus from a “Japanese encephalitis virus-infected mosquito.”

Protecting Yourself

Nonetheless, health agencies are encouraging people to take extra measures to reduce their risks. The Australian Department of Health advice the following:

applying and regularly reapplying an effective insect repellent on exposed skin
wearing long, loose fitting clothing when outside
ensuring accommodation, including tents, are properly fitted with mosquito nettings or screens
using insecticide sprays, vapour dispensing units (indoors) and mosquito coils (outdoors) to clear rooms and repel mosquitoes from an area
covering all windows, doors, vents and other entrances with insect screens
removing any water-holding containers where mosquitoes may breed

The best mosquito repellents to use must contain diethyltoluamide (DEET), picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus.

Subsequently, locals may be immunised against JE. Distribution and administration of the vaccines will be focused on at-risk groups, such as workers in piggeries, pork abattoirs, or pork-processing plants, laboratory workers who could be exposed to the virus, environmental health workers, and people who reside in locations with confirmed cases.

The vaccines are expected to be available from late March to April through the Communicable Diseases Network Australia.

DOWNLOAD CDNA ADVISE

How Mater Volunteers Like Kevin Kelly Make a Difference in Cancer Patients

Cancer patients too sick to drive for their medical appointments at Brisbane’s Mater Cancer Centre from their residences in Eagleby, Carole Park, and Goodna can rely on Mater volunteers like Kevin Kelly.

The former police officer signed up as a Mater volunteer driver less than six months ago and has already formed strong friendships with patients.

“I am a good listener and that’s important,” he said. “I really admire them sharing their stories with me and I enjoy seeing their health progress.”

Mr Kelly, 71, resides in Thornlands and has been “in and out” of hospitals with several cancer patients as he ensures they get to their treatments and check-ups safely. He is no stranger to the process as he lost his wife to cancer more than three years ago after a couple of years of fighting the disease. Being a Mater volunteer is his way of giving back to the community.

Mater Volunteer Senior Manager Judy Johnson said that Mr Kelly exemplifies the passion and dedication they need to make a difference.

“When you help others, you end up feeling really good,” Ms Johnson said.

“Kevin is a great driver, and not only does he drive patients, some who are chronically ill, to where they need to be, but he also helps reduce their stress and takes time to make a difference to their lives.”

Other volunteers provide a variety of roles depending on their skills and professional background. Student volunteers above 18 years old are also encouraged to sign up.

Learn About Volunteering