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Helios in Yeerongpilly Up for Lord Mayor Business Awards

Helios, the brewing company based in Yeerongpilly, is vying for the highest recognition for businesses in Brisbane as a finalist in the Lord Mayor’s Business Awards under the Environmental Sustainability category.

Since its inception, Helios Brewing Company founder Scott Shomer has always had sustainability in mind with his background as an environmental scientist. Applying his expertise and experience, Mr Shomer was able to develop a sustainable craft beer production using solar power energy.

Although many businesses utilise solar power, this technology has not been harnessed well in beer manufacture. So, Mr Shomer worked hand-in-hand with solar manufacturers to come up with an innovative and effective sustainable brewing system.

In addition to going solar, Helios is also using an electric van for deliveries and has been repurposing grain waste from brewing as livestock feeds. Some of these feeds are also prepared as dog treats offered at its bar and brewery along Palomar Road.

Mr Schomer’s initiative has driven Helios to reduce its carbon footprint by 98,807kg or the equivalent of planting 1,831 trees or saving 572,800 litres of water.

“Harnessing the power of the Aussie sun to make our craft beer was just the start of our sustainability goals,” he said. “From minimising waste, reducing our carbon emissions and investing in eco-friendly initiatives, we are continuously pushing our sustainability ambition; we see it as a journey not a destination.”

The Lord Mayor Business Awards recognise the most enterprising and innovative businesses that drive Brisbane’s economy. For 2021, 32 companies have been named as finalists in 11 categories.

The Urban Utilities Award for Environmental Sustainability in Business honours “companies operating in Brisbane which demonstrate excellence in clean business practices and sustainable resource use, including energy, waste, water and recycling.”

The awards ceremony will be on Friday, 22 October 2021, at the City Hall.

Parkside Yeronga Mixed-Use Community Development Proposed

Did you know that a former TAFE site in Yeronga could be transformed into ‘Parkside Yeronga,’ a new mixed-use community development that will be carried over in four stages if approved?

Four private companies form part of the development, located on the corner of Park Road and Villa Street, which will provide residential, commercial and, recreational precincts to form the master-planned community under the Yeronga Priority Development Area.

The 3.3-hectare site will be divided among Brisbane Housing Company, JGL Properties, Children Health Queensland, and Retire Australia. Each consortium will then submit separate dedicated plans for Parkside Yeronga.

Photo Credit: Development Application/EDQ

The residential development consists of at least five separate blocks of multiple dwellings with a retirement and residential care facility. The commercial sites will have a childcare centre connected to a public plaza filled with shaded trees and vegetation, alongside the rest of the community facilities that may include a place of worship, offices, and healthcare establishments.

The plans also include a new home for the Yeronga Community Centre. Provisions for several pedestrian paths have also been considered in the proposal.

“The proposal guides future development within the YPDA by prescribing various controls and subdividing the site to make it ‘construction ready’ for future developers,” as per the detailed plan submitted to the State Government in September 2021. (Application #DEV2021/1221)

“This involves establishing, four (4) precincts to spatially organise development and set land use expectations for a range of stakeholders, including MEDQ (the asset owner) and the community (the end users). This process ensures only primary land uses, and some secondary land uses (generally at a lower scale) are located consistently with the intent of the Development Scheme.”

Shoppers At Woolworths Annerley Impressed With Store’s New Self-service Feature

Photo credit: https://www.woolworthsgroup.com.au/

Have you tried using the Scan&Go scales at Woolworths Annerley? This new self-service feature has got some shoppers raving, as it allows them to skip the queues and spend less time shopping for groceries.

Read: Former Jones Corner Shop in Annerley to Undergo a Transformation

Scotty McDonald, a shopper from Woolies Annerley, uploaded a video on TikTok, showing how the scale works. He placed a sweet potato on it, selected the loose item on the screen, and scanned the barcode using the Woolworths app.

“The pay and go scale at Woolies Annerley can work out what fruit or veg you put on it,” he wrote. The video has received over 60,000 views since he first uploaded it in September 2021.

“I was so impressed when I first saw it. Now I always use Scan&Go because it saves so much time doing groceries,” said one of the commenters on McDonald’s video.

Woolies Annerley is one of the 36 stores nationwide that has this Scan&Go system. The giant retail company has expanded this new technology after receiving positive feedback from its first trial in Double Bay in 2018. This buy-and-walk-out feature is the first of its kind in Australia.

@scotty_mcdonald
Organise yourself a day trip to Annerley for this one! ##brisbane ##australia ##ai ##woolies @woolworths_au ##queensland ##robot ##brisbaneanyday
♬ original sound – Scotty McDonald

How Scan&Go Works

The AI-enabled scales can automatically detect the type of fruit or vegetable weighed. It’s reserved for Scan&Go checkouts, which allow customers to use their smartphones to scan and pay for items.

Please note that this feature is only available for Everyday Rewards members, who need to upload an accepted credit or debit card within the app.

Former Jones Corner Shop in Annerley to Undergo a Transformation

Did you know that a new cafe and ice creamery, along with some office spaces, will soon occupy the former Jones Corner Shop along Stephens and Waldheim Streets in Annerley? Whilst the shop has been closed for years, a development application seeking to revive the business site has been filed on behalf of the current landowner.

Per DA A005834241, sections of the property, which has a house on the back and the shop on the front, will be knocked down to make way for the new cafe and ice cream shop. The proposal includes plans to expand the floor space with a second level whilst the backside will be redeveloped as a two-storey commercial occupancy. A parking space for 13 vehicles will also be set up on Waldheim Street.

Prior to the lodging of the application, the developers met with Brisbane City Council in March to discuss the size and bulk of the building. The initial plan exceeded the allowed conditions under the Commercial Character Building Activity Overlay, which has been amended in the DA.

Jones Corner Shop was an old family-run store, owned by William Bond Jones and Winifred Nancy Ethel Jones, whose main customers were the students of the Junction Park State School right across the street.

Per Mapping Brisbane History, the store, established in the 1920s, was the “unofficial off-site school tuckshop” where the students could find many basic needs, and food favourites like toffee apples, doughnuts and meat pies.

The property was sold to the new owners in early 2021.

Excerpts from “No Regrets in the Evening of Life”

Women Of Stephens To Be Featured At Local History Conference In Annerley

Ivy May Hassard, ca. 1935, who will be one of the topics at Annerley-Stephens History Group’s 4th local history conference (Photo credit: State Library of Queensland)

Join the Annerley-Stephens History Group as they shine light on the contributions of women in the Stephens area at their fourth local history conference in Annerley.

Read: Circle of Men Aims to Build Volunteer Support in Yeronga

To be held on Saturday, 16 October 2021 at the Mary Mac Community Centre, the conference will feature stories of women from all walks of life and background who lived and worked in the Stephens area.

The event will start with Katharine Wiltshire’s recollection of the lives of Queen Kitty and her daughter Topsy and other Chépara headwomen. Wiltshire, who is assistant to the Yugara-yugarapul Aboriginal Corporation, will be the speaker for “The headwomen of the Chépara People.”

Among the topics in the conference is the two maiden Neil Aunts of Annerley and their multi-generational legacies. It will be held by Rose Broe and Liza Neil, who will share how their respective aunts were highly respected in the community as doctors and teachers.

Photo credit: Annerley-Stephens History Group Inc.

A number of speakers will address the careers of women from all walks of life, from well-known high flying professional women like Ivy May Hassard to business women such as Yeronga’s Maude Summerlin.

Annerley’s Gwyneth Richardson, the first woman pharmacist in the Australian Defence Force, will also be one of the topics at the conference, to be led by Former Queensland senator, Dr Michael Macklin.

Born in 1917 in Brisbane, Richardson attended the Annerley State School and the Brisbane Girls’ Grammar School. She was trained by her father, John Richardson, a pharmacist at the family pharmacy at Ipswich Road, Annerley after completing her secondary education.

Richardson’s Chemist Shop (far left) where Gwyneth Richardson trained as a pharmacist under her father’s tutelage, photo taken circa 1960s (Photo credit: Annerley-Stephens History Group Inc/Facebook)

She graduated as a pharmacist in her final examinations in 1940 and was registered with the Pharmacy Board of Queensland in 1941. Unknown to many, she’s also an artist whose works can be found at the Queensland Art Gallery.

You can get to know more about Annerley’s Gwyneth Richardson and other women of Stephens during Annerley-Stephens History Group’s full-day local history conference which will start from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Registration starts at 8:30 a.m. You can book your place at the event via Eventbrite.

Circle of Men Aims to Build Volunteer Support in Yeronga

Circle of Men is a not-for-profit charity that runs weekly companionship sessions for men in aged care facilities in Yeronga and other Brisbane sites. The initiative is trying to build its volunteer support so that more men, especially those with limited mobility, will feel less isolated.

Formed by Washuntara Roberts in Queensland nearly two decades ago, Circle of Men does 90-minute sessions at different care facilities, where the men share their life experiences and talk about simple and complex issues. Spearheaded by volunteer facilitators, the circle has helped the men deal with depression, grief, anger, loss, boredom, or fear.

Sessions begin with the men forming into a circle, where they are warmly welcomed by volunteers. Often this is by touch, be it a handshake or a hand on the shoulder, or sometimes through voice and eye contact. The meetings close with everyone having a great time cracking jokes, reminiscing & singing songs.

Kevin James experienced the challenges of recreating social connections after his retirement at 52 years old due to a chronic condition. After meeting Mr Roberts and learning about the circle, Mr James realised that isolation is an all-too-common problem faced by elderly men in aged care facilities around Australia.

“The work of Circle of Men is not only rewarding, but it is also synergistic, in that volunteers get back in return as much as they give, with huge mental health benefits for Residents & volunteers alike,” Mr James, who now heads the volunteer program, said.

“Many men enter an aged care facility as a last resort, after they’ve lost their health, mobility and final network of support, & for 90 minutes each week, Circle of Men volunteers break through that wall of isolation.”

In Yeronga, the circle is held every Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Regis Yeronga on 5 Cansdale St.

LEARN ABOUT BECOMING A VOLUNTEER

Annerley House from ZUZANA&NICHOLAS Wins at the 2021 Houses Awards

Annerley House, created by accomplished architectural practice ZUZANA&NICHOLAS, has won one of the six major categories in House Magazine’s 2021 House Awards.

ZUZANA&NICHOLAS took on a renovation project of the Annerley House, which has been recognised for its effective use of space and design for a dwelling under 200 square metres.

The team turned a small timbre cottage into a family home that also incorporated the homeowner’s love for gardening and outdoor play with the children. The work entailed extending the back of the house to create a bespoke space with a reconfigured kitchen, a lovely garden view, and a playroom that doubles as a guest bedroom.

Photo Credit: Christopher Frederick Jones/ArchDaily

ZUZANA&NICHOLAS opened up the small house with interconnecting spaces between the indoors and the outdoor garden, with plenty of hidden storage and large windows. Prior to the renovation, the Annerley House was a dark and compartmentalized home that didn’t look inviting for a young family.

“Annerley House is a renovation and extension to an existing cottage that suffered from a poor connection to the backyard and introverted public rooms. The new extension was conceived as an outdoor room that when open, would become part of the garden and connect the house to its setting.”

Winners of the 2021 House Awards were announced in July 2021 and received cash prizes. Meanwhile, Zuzana and Nicholas also worked on the Bardon House, which was shortlisted for New House of the Year over 200sqm Category in 2012, and the Royal Adelaide Hospital Site, which was recognised at an International Design Competition.

PA Giving Day Brings Back ‘We’re all 4 the Heroes’ Initiative

Did you know that more than 700,000 patients have been healed and cared for at The Princess Alexandra Hospital in Woolloongabba, widely considered as one of Australia’s world-class health centres? Now you can support the research and medical people behind its success, through their PA Giving Day: We’re all 4 the Heroes initiative.

In recognition of the work of its local healthcare heroes, who have worked tirelessly to deliver the best care possible to each and every patient, the PA Research Foundation is bringing back the fundraiser to raise $500,000.

The funds collected at this event, which will run on Thursday, 2 Sept 2021, will go to medical research, staff education, and purchase of state of the art equipment that will allow the staff to provide the highest quality of patient support in Queensland.

All donations on PA Giving Day will be quadrupled by generous donors, giving supporters the chance to have four times the impact.

“The PA Hospital is renowned for the care of its patients as well as the medical research undertaken on the campus, and PA Giving Day gives people the chance to quadruple the impact of their donation towards a health-related cause they are passionate about,” PA Research Foundation Chief Executive Officer Damian Topp said.

“That could be to further research into leading causes of death among Australians like breast cancer, prostate cancer, and melanoma, or to help patients with brain and spinal injuries or people in need of a liver or kidney transplant and much more.

“It’s also a chance to stop and reflect on the dedication and commitment of our healthcare heroes and thank them by donating directly to their work.”

In 2020, donations to the campaign, totalling $654,000, funded research projects like the management of kidney disease, which affects over 600,000 Queenslanders, research into mammographic density for breast cancer patients, genetic testing of melanoma patients and their families, and the profiling of lung tissues of COVID-19 patients to find better treatment outcomes.

PA Giving Day also facilitated improvements at the radiation treatment therapy centre, where patients are now more comfortable in their treatment bunkers directly under new skylights. Physiotherapy patients are also using brand new equipment for their rehabilitation after surgery, cancer treatment, and other serious health challenges.

There are numerous ways to support PA Giving Day including donating, raising funds in a team or individually, volunteering on the day, or even sharing the campaign with family and friends on social media.

“Healthcare budgets can only go so far, donating to PA Giving Day ensures every Queenslander treated at the PA benefits from the exceptional healthcare that the PA is known for, now and for years to come,” Mr Topp said.

We’re all 4 the Heroes PA Giving Day campaign can be viewed online at pagivingday.org.au.

Asbestos Found In Brisbane South State Secondary College

Photo credit: Brisbane South State Secondary College/Facebook

Certain areas of the Brisbane South State Secondary College have been closed to protect students and staff from the potential risks of materials with asbestos found in the premises in August 2021.

Read: Study Finds Alarming Levels of Toxic Soil in Yeronga Vegetable Gardens

At present, there are already more than 200 Year 7 students enrolled at the state school but significant works have yet to be done in some of the buildings. After workers spotted potential asbestos material within a crushed fill, a test was performed on the same day, which confirmed the presence of the hazardous material.

Because of this, workers refused to carry on with the job until assurances were made that no other materials were contaminated.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral and can typically be found in rock, sediment or soil. Because it’s either ‘non-friable or ‘friable’, asbestos was seen as very useful for building products. However, the substance becomes a health risk when its fibres are released into the air and inhaled by those around it.

According to Safe Work Australia, breathing in asbestos fibres can cause asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma and those who develop health problems from inhaling the substance may have been exposed to high levels of asbestos for a long time. Symptoms don’t usually appear until 20 to 30 years after initial exposure.

Regarding the matter, the Department of Education confirmed that the material was in a construction area where students and staff could not access. They also conducted airborne testing to assure that there was no airborne asbestos that could risk the health of students, staff, and visitors.

Read: New Memorial Wall to Mark Centenary of WW1 Cenotaph at Yeronga Memorial Park

In April 2021, Education Minister Grace Grace revealed that the state government has spent more than $6.5 million to extract the hazardous material from over 100 state schools across Queensland.

For the safety and well-being of students and staff, the Department has launched the asbestos policy and plan, which aims to manage risks relating to asbestos-containing material (ACM).

Condition of ACM in department-owned facilities is managed through:

an extensive awareness program amongst staff and the school community
maintenance condition assessments
3-yearly asbestos audits conducted by industry professionals

If you have any concerns about asbestos in department-owned facilities or require any further information, please contact the facility school principal or early childhood education centre director.

Billykart Kitchen Annerley Has New Owners

Photo credit: Billykart Kitchen/ Facebook

Billykart Kitchen in Annerley will now be under new management after owners celebrity chef Ben O’Donoghue and wife De-Arne Wicks (Dee) agreed to sell their beloved restaurant to focus on their family.

Read: Annerley’s Billykart Kitchen Is Chosen among Brisbane’s Top Cafés

Loyal customers of Billykart Kitchen Annerley need not worry because nothing much will change with the restaurant except for the days of operation. The new owners, a young couple from Victoria, want to open the restaurant on Sundays but close on Friday nights.

It may be hard for Chef Ben to say goodbye to his Annerley restaurant, after almost eight years of running it. But juggling business and family during the pandemic wasn’t an easy feat. He and wife Dee realised the past year highlighted the importance of family. They also thought about the sacrifices they had been making to run the business.

The couple opened Billykart Kitchen in 2013, with hopes of transforming Annerley into a “foodie hub”, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Now, the celebrity chef is planning to focus on rebranding Billykart West End, with thoughts of moving away from breakfasts and into a bistro-style lunch and dinner offering.

Chef Ben O’Donoghue (Photo credit: Billykart Kitchen/ Facebook)

Whilst Chef Ben will be busy rebranding the West End location, Dee will take on a part-time admin and events coordinator role with local neuroprotective developmental care business Possums & Co, an organisation that specialises in postpartum care.

Billykart Kitchen in Annerley will remain open for both dine-in and takeaway. Starting 8 August 2021, they will reopen Sunday service and will stop Friday night dinner to focus on providing the best weekend services. Follow them on Facebook for further updates.