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Yeronga State High School to Install a Dignity Vending Machine

Yeronga State High School will be in the first batch of schools to receive the Dignity Vending Machine, a move that will provide free sanitary products to young students, providing much-needed support to female students who may otherwise be reluctant to seek help.

Share the Dignity will provide the free period packs (6 tampons and 2 pads) for schools to re-stock DVMs for the duration of the 3-year partnership.

The Dignity Vending Machine is an investment between the State Government and the charity, Share the Dignity. Sixty-two schools, including Yeronga State High School, have been listed for the first batch. The aim is to deliver these machines across 120 schools in Queensland.

“We want all students to be confident to attend school every day,” said Education Minister Grace Grace. “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.

“This initiative supports Share the Dignity’s aim to distribute period products to women, girls, and anyone who menstruates who needs support.”

Alongside the access to free products, plans are in place to conduct a Period Talk education program for Year 5 to 8 students.

Rochelle Courtenay, the founder of Share the Dignity, said she’s eager to start with the Period Talk program “to educate boys and girls on menstruation, which will help us create long-term change and guide us towards a future where period is not a taboo word.”

The second batch of Dignity Vending Machine recipients will be announced after the EOI selection process.

Apply for Dignity Vending Machine

Meanwhile, Share the Dignity is encouraging students to share their story of how much these Dignity Vending Machines have impacted their lives.

“By sharing your unique story and messages, we are able to raise awareness of the importance of giving to those who need support.

Whether you choose to remain anonymous or not, sharing your experience with Share the Dignity will remind our community why their contributions are so important and special.”

Puma Dutton Park Has Cheapest Fuel Price in Southeast Brisbane

In the coming weeks, fuel price in Brisbane is predicted to surpass the $2-mark for the first time due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. For now, however, Puma Dutton Park on Annerley Road offers the cheapest fuel prices in southeast Brisbane.

Per RACQ, fuel prices have been climbing to a new high in the last few weeks and will likely peak at $2.10 per liter as traders have shunned Russian oil, which has driven up the price competitions to secure barrels from other sources.

Combined with the geopolitical tensions, the price increase has been brought on by international supply and demand issues.

Despite this, Brisbane still has the cheapest price cycle in the region, with an average unleaded fuel price of 175.9 cpl.

As of 7 March 2022, Puma Dutton Park has the best deal:

	Average Price Brisbane	Puma Dutton Park
Unleaded	175.9 cpl	174.4 cpl
E10 Unleaded	173.9 cpl	172.4 cpl
Premium Unleaded 98	197.6 cpl	195.4 cpl
Diesel	183.9 cpl	182.7 cpl

Also offering cheap fuel prices in the southeast are 7 Eleven in Greenslopes and Caltex or United in Woolloongabba.

According to the Australian Institute of Petroleum, the impact of rising international oil prices takes two weeks to flow through the supply chain. Thus, it’s advisable to fill up as soon as possible before retail prices increase in the middle of March.

However, the U.S. is working to convince countries like Japan and China to release their oil reserves and help the global market. The OPEC nations are also negotiating with the Middle East to increase its oil production by 400,000 barrels per day.

To find the cheapest fuel rates where you live, download the Fair Fuel Finder app from RACQ, and fill up before the price increase.

‘The Great Brown LemonAID’: Fundraising Event for the Breweries Badly Affected by Brisbane Floods

Photo Credit: Range Brewing / Instagram

As breweries that have been badly impacted by the recent flooding begin to get back on their feet, Brisbane’s brewing industry will join forces to raise much-needed funds to help these businesses recover via “The Great Brown LemonAID”. The event happens this 12th March at Easy Times Brewing Co.

Funds raised through ‘The Great Brown LemonAID’ event will go to the breweries and venues that suffered the worst damage brought by the extreme weather event including Milton Common, Newstead Brewing Co, Range Brewing, Parched, BrewTide, Granddad Jack’s and Fonzie Abbott.

“With the help of our crew, Milton is on the up. There’s been a fair whack of damage and we’re waiting on power, but we’re taking it a day at a time,” Newstead Brewing Co. wrote on their social media.

Photo Credit: Newstead Brewing Co / Instagram

“For those asking, the best way to help us recover as soon as possible is to support the community more broadly. We know that there are heaps of Newstead fans doing it tough right now, so we won’t be back fully until Brisbane is back fully.”

View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Fonzie Abbott (@fonzieabbott)

“ As most would know our brewery is located in a lower area of Newstead and as such we’ve been affected by the recent flooding. On Monday 28th Feb we undertook heavy preparations internally and externally but unfortunately, we still had approximately 300mm of water throughout our taproom and warehouse at the peak of yesterday’s high tide,” read Range Brewing’s social media post.

“Thankfully, our early start allowed us to move all stock, raw materials and the majority of our equipment off the ground. We’re fortunate to have been able to save our stock and materials and all the beers in our fermenters are happy and healthy.”

“This past week has been absolutely devastating. It’s hard to comprehend the current situation we all face as we start to clean up, recover and rebuild after the floods. They’ve affected so many people, and the devastation is far from over for many of our neighbours & communities down south,” Granddad Jack’s social media post reads

Photo Credit: Granddad Jack’s Craft Distillery Brisbane / Facebook

“As some may already know, our Brisbane distillery was completely underwater by Monday, despite our best efforts to save it. We are fortunate that our team and family are safe, but the reality is tough to swallow.

“When the good weather returns, to lift spirits and move forward as a community, we will be parking up the Granddad Jack’s horse float at Fonzie Abbott and kicking off one hell of an Albion street party. We’ll keep you posted on social media, so if you’re around, please come on down and support the local businesses like ourselves who have been affected &, for some time, will be unable to reopen their venues as usual.”

Photo Credit: Easy Times Brewing Co / Instagram

Help these businesses get back on their feet and enjoy a slew of brews on tap and kegs courtesy of each flooded brewery plus donated kegs. Moreover, limited-edition growlers designed by Thirsty Merchants will be available for pre-order and purchase on the day of the event through BeerTeez, along with 10 limited edition, numbered Golden Growlers and other merchandise.

The fundraising event will include an online and live auction with a prize pool consisting of 8 Hotlap with Todd Hazelwood, Brisbane Lions VIP Tickets, Maleny Accommodation, a “win your height in beer” from Stone & Wood and more.

Head on out to Easy Times Brewing Co at 20 Logan Rd, Woolloongabba this coming 12th March from 11.30 am for “The Great Brown LemonAid” free event.

Easy Times Brewing Co | 20 Logan Rd, Woolloongabba QLD 4102

Help Needed! Brisbane Mobilises Mud Army 2.0 for Massive Clean-Up

Brisbane is all set to form Mud Army 2.0 to tackle the massive clean-up in the coming days after days of extreme weather and floods. A call is out for emergency volunteers for Fairfield and many areas in southeast Brisbane.

More than a decade after the formation of the first Mud Army during the 2011 floods, Brisbane’s intrepid clean up crew is once again going to battle, dealing with waterlogged locations and flood waste.

This clean-up will focus on locations across the city, helping residents and businesses inundated by floodwater.

Council has set up registration for this community endeavor in partnership with Volunteering Queensland.

If you want to take part as a member of the Mud Army, register as an emergency volunteer. If you or your neighbours have been impacted by floodwaters, the Mud Army 2.0 will be deployed in your location. You should also register to get help.

MUD ARMY 2.0 Registration

You may also sign up with Volunteering Queensland.

All volunteers will get glasses, gloves, and bottled water on site. Volunteers are encouraged to check in with the homeowners first and listen to their instructions, if any, before starting the clean-up.

Sign up Sheets for Areas Still With Flood Warnings

Meanwhile, local communities in postcodes 4103, 4101, 4102, 4169 have also opened a volunteer sign-up sheet as Mud Army 2.0’s clean-up start date has not yet been scheduled since flood warnings are still in place.

Rising to the Occasion

According to LM Adrian Schrinner, about 2,000 people have registered within the first few hours of the Mud Army 2.0 sign-up. Efforts are underway to link up the army with sites that have asked for help.

“There’s no denying the resilience and mateship in our local community. We’re seeing friends, neighbours, and even strangers pulling together to aid in our city’s recovery,” the mayor said.

“From the moment we faced this terrible event residents from across Brisbane have been reaching out to me to ask how they can lend a hand to help the city recover.”

Police: Annerley Residents, Check Your Garage Door Even When at Home

Photo Credit: Erik Mclean / Unsplash

In light of the recent spate of break-ins, the Centenary Crime Prevention Unit is asking Annerley, Forest Lake and Capalaba residents, “When was the last time you checked your garage door?”

The past days have seen offenders using garage doors as their point of entry, the police said. These garage doors were either left unlocked, unsecured or forced open to gain entry and steal valuables.

On Taunton Street in Annerley, an offender used a still to be determined tool to pick the lock, open the garage door of one of the residences and take a road bike. Another incident of break-in happened at Catalina Circuit, Forest Lake where a garage door was forced open to gain entry into the house and steal the vehicle using the owner’s car keys left lying on a bench.

Meanwhile, an unsuccessful break-in attempt at a home in Platypus Court, Capalaba left the garage door damaged when the offenders tried to force it open. Police are still investigating these incidents.

Police are reminding residents that offenders will take every opportunity to gain access into houses and vehicles and steal belongings. Conducting regular home security checks will help keep such incidents from occurring.

Particularly, doors and windows should always be locked with a key, even when at home. Also, all external doors, including garage doors, should be fitted with quality deadlocks. And when parking, garage remotes should be removed from the vehicle.

Lastly, it won’t hurt if you get into the habit of locking and checking again to ensure that the vehicle or home is already locked.
If you happen to have information for the police, you may contact Policelink immediately and provide the information using the online suspicious activity form. Or you may report crime information anonymously via Crime Stoppers or call 1800 333 000.

Parkside Yeronga Community Centre Proposed

Parkside Yeronga community centre (Photo credit: State of Queensland - State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning)

Did you know that a two-storey community centre has been proposed as part of ‘Parkside Yeronga,’ a new mixed-use community development that will be completed in four stages?

Read: Parkside Yeronga Mixed-Use Community Development Proposed

A project of the Economic Development Queensland (EDQ), the new centre designed by Archipelago will provide a range of community-based uses and activities, meeting rooms, associated amenities, storage space and a lobby space.

The lower ground storey will include a meeting room, associated amenities, storage space and the lobby space whilst the upper ground storey will provide a mix of multipurpose, meeting and staff rooms, as well as an outdoor space.

parkside yeronga — Plans (Photo credit: State of Queensland/State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning)

The upper ground storey will also serve as a ‘welcome hub’ to the community centre, accessed directly from the Public Plaza via an open and identifiable pedestrian entrance.

It will feature 16 car parking spaces and a pedestrian link between Villa Street and the proposed Green Spine that will adjoin East Road. It will have a maximum building height (approximately 8.75 AHD high) and will front the adjoining Public Plaza between the Yerong Commercial Building.

The subject site is on a part of land at 70 Park Road, Yeronga, which is within the Yeronga Priority Development Area (Yeronga PDA). The site was formerly the Queensland TAFE campus and has been vacant for over a decade.

The vision for Yeronga PDA is to transform the land on the corner of Park Road and Villa Street, Yeronga into an inviting, sustainable, connected and integrated place. Yeronga PDA was approved by the Queensland Government and came into effect on 9 August 2019.

“The proposal provides an integrated, multi-purpose community centre, capable of facilitating an array of community activities that will directly benefit the Yeronga and Brisbane community, providing enhanced facilitates accessible to an array of established community originations and groups, as well as the future Parkside Yeronga residents,” the planning document reads.

Further details can be viewed at the Queensland Government’s State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning website, with the reference number DEV2021/1221.

Ekibin Among Most Expensive Areas For Childcare in QLD

Photo credit: pasja1000/Pixabay

Did you know that Ekibin is among the areas of Brisbane with the largest fee increases for childcare in 2021?

Read: Brisbane Catholic Education Welcomes New Executive Director

Based on data from Care for Kids between February and December 2021, childcare fees in Ekibin amount to $138.50/day on average, quite close to Annerley which averages $139.17 per day.

Ekibin, part of Tarragindi, is one of eight areas in Brisbane with soaring fees for childcare. Brisbane CBD came in first with an average rate of $143.40 per day whilst Ashgrove comes with a daily average rate of $138.25.

One childcare centre off Ipswich Road, which charges an average of $139 per day, boasts a large playground, modern resources, and a nutritious menu.

Both Ekibin and Annerley’s rates are higher than the average cost of child care in Australia, which is at $117.38 per day before subsidies.

The Australian Government will make changes to the Child Care Subsidy (CCS). Starting March 2022, the government will pay a higher subsidy to families with more than one child in care and remove the annual cap for all families who get CCS.

Through the Child Care Subsidy (CCS), eligible families currently receive up to $3,086 per eligible child per year for kindergarten services and up to $1,822 per eligible child per year for long day care services.

Care for Kids is a comparison website that is known for providing comprehensive childcare resources throughout Australia.

The information from them highlighted that the increase in prices is a reflection of the growing demand for education and care staff in outer suburbs and regional areas, following a stream of families moving away from inner-city suburbs because of the pandemic.

Boggo Road Bridge Design Unveiled, Up For Naming

Photo credit: Queensland Government / crossriverrail.qld.gov.au

The design concept of the new Boggo Road Bridge is out and the public is being invited to name the massive structure that is slated to commence construction in March 2022.

Once completed in late 2023, weather and construction conditions permitting, the 480-metre-long cable-stay bridge will link the new underground Cross River Rail Boggo Road station and the Park Road train station with nearby Princess Alexandra Hospital precinct and the South East Busway.

Photo credit: Queensland Government / crossriverrail.qld.gov.au

“This bridge will be a unifier for the local community as it soars over the railway junction and will make active travel safer, quicker and easier for local workers, residents and students,” Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Mark Bailey, said. He describes the bridge as “a feat of engineering and a standout signature element.”

He added that the bridge will serve as an extension of the local cycling network, providing a faster and more convenient walking and cycling network and improved connectivity.

“We’re building Cross River Rail – the largest infrastructure project in Queensland’s history – not just to create jobs, but to make it easier for locals to travel throughout the southeast,” Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said.

“Linking our public transport system with the hospital, new high school and the new science and education precinct will make it easier for many locals to get to work and access essential services.”

“We’re calling on the local community to give us their suggestions – the bridge could be named after somebody local, who has a track record of service and creating community connections, even someone linked to health, science and education or take a name that honours local First Nations culture.

Boggo Road bridge project overview:

The bridge will span 480 metres with its cable stay spire to be approximately 45m high.
Its main span will consist of five steel girders weighing up to 133 tonnes each and will be lifted into place by crane, forming the main deck.
The main deck level will rise approximately 20m above the ground whilst the western and eastern approach ramps will be 4.65m and the main span will be 6.25m wide.
Some of the features include: lifts on the eastern and western sides, grade separation at Peter Doherty Street, dedicated cycling and walking paths, seating and rest stops, shade and amenity planting and rail corridor security mesh.
Construction is slated to commence March 2022 and target completion is in late 2023.

The public is invited to submit name ideas for the bridge. Watch out for further details that will be posted on the Council’s website and social media channels.

Brisbane Catholic Education Welcomes New Executive Director

Dr Sally Towns (Photo credit: Archdiocese of Brisbane)

Woolloongabba-based Brisbane Catholic Education welcomes Dr Sally Towns as its new executive director, following the retirement of Ms Pam Betts, who spent over three decades teaching and leading Catholic schools.

Read: Save the Trees! Some Dutton Park Residents React to Planned Charging Station

Dr Sally Towns will replace Ms Betts as head of Brisbane Catholic Education (BCE) starting May 2022. Dr Towns is currently director of Catholic Schools and Chief Executive Officer of Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools Limited.

Dr Towns holds two Master’s Degrees, in Education and Educational Administration, and a Graduate Certificate in Theological Studies.

She started her professional career in the Canberra-Goulburn Diocese and has taught in a number of schools in the Diocese of Lismore.

BCE went through an extensive national recruitment process in finding a new person to fill the role. The appointment of the new executive director was chaired by Bishop Ken Howell, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of Brisbane, supported by Jenny Parker, chair of the Brisbane Catholic Education Council.

First Woman Executive Director of BCE

On her retirement in December 2021, Ms Betts expressed her optimism for the crop of students at Catholic schools. She has great faith and hope in the young people in the schools today, because they are ‘articulate, intelligent, and are real about the world they live in.’

Prior to retiring, Ms Pam Betts spent the last nine years of her professional life as the first woman Executive Director of BCE. She was the fourth person appointed to the role, following Fr Bernard O’Shea, Vince O’Rourke and David Hutton.

Before taking the role as a director for Administrative Services at Brisbane Catholic Education in 2010 and as executive director in 2013, she worked with the Christian Brothers schools in Queensland.

Ms Pam Betts (Photo credit: Archdiocese of Brisbane/Facebook)

Ms Betts has completed a science degree at Griffith University and a Diploma of Education at the University of Queensland.

The community wished Ms Betts all the best and congratulated her for a well-deserved retirement.

Read: New Park Fencing To Be Installed At Jessica Andrews Place In Annerley

About Brisbane Catholic Education

Brisbane Catholic Education (BCE) is an agency of the Archdiocese of Brisbane. It is committed to high-quality teaching and learning for almost 75,000 young people from Prep to Year 12 enrolled in over 144 schools and colleges.

The BCE office in Queensland is located at 2A Burke Street, Woolloongabba.

Save the Trees! Some Dutton Park Residents React to Planned Charging Station

Photo credit: Google Maps

Some Dutton Park residents are concerned about how plans to install vehicle charging infrastructure within the Dutton Park Recreation Reserve could impact the parkland and its established native trees.

As part of the Brisbane Metro project, a vehicle charging infrastructure to be situated in an area near Eleanor Schonell Bridge and TJ Doyle Memorial Drive will be installed in Dutton Park. The infrastructure will service electric vehicles stopping at the UQ Lakes station.

Proposed location for the charging containers | Photo credit: Jonathan Sri / .jonathansri.com

Ideally, the charging station should be located near the UQ Lakes bus stop, However, UQ.seemed to have refused the idea to host the structure within the campus. As a result, the Council opted to use a location within the parkland instead.

The charging infrastructure will consist of three large containers (12m x 3m x 3m) that will contain the converters, the power source for Metro buses. The plan does not sit well with the locals because the project will require removal of established native trees to accommodate such a large structure.

Locals are also frustrated with the lack of consultation and little information available regarding the plan. They wanted to know why the Council opted for a location that’s hundreds of metres away from the UQ Lakes station and how it will impact the cost of construction and maintenance of the project.

Proposed access for the charging containers | Photo credit: Jonathan Sri / .jonathansri.com

“It seems that rather than negotiating with UQ to get charging infrastructure installed close to the bus stop, council has instead gone for the easy option of cutting down trees and taking away parkland, even though the Dutton Park location is quite a long way from where the charging actually occurs,” Gabba Ward Councillor Jonathan Sri said in echoing the locals’ concerns.

“So far, we have very little information from the Council about exactly why BCC failed to get UQ to agree to host the charging infrastructure on the university’s side of the river. We also don’t know exactly which trees would be removed, but we have a rough idea based on the indicative location the council has nominated.”

For his part, Member for Maiwar, Michael Berkman said that he proposed the structure to be located in UQ’s multi-storey car park situated on Thynne Road, but this idea was rejected by UQ as well.

On its website, Council stated that whilst it understands the “value and importance of our green spaces” and despite considering several other locations within Dutton Park, the identified location appears to be the most appropriate location for the charging structure “to minimise impacts to residents, park users and vegetation”.