January 2012
Traditional European-style Deli makes a comeback Page 23
Cover Photo by Vanessa Fang
new farm | fortitude valley | teneriffe | newstead | kangaroo point | spring hill | petrie bight
Wishing everyone a safe and Happy New Year Your Central Ward candidate for the upcoming Brisbane City Council elections GETTING THE PRIORITIES RIGHT RIvERWalk
Must be rebuilt urgently.
BaCkflOW valvES
Must be installed on our storm water drains now to protect our homes from needless flooding.
NEW faRM PaRk’S SUMMER HOUSE CafE
The cafe must be rebuilt, to its original heritage design, for the enjoyment of current and future generations.
OvER-DEvElOPMENT Of THE INNER SUBURBS
Planning laws must be overhauled to give the community greater input into, and objection powers over, development applications.
her
D
PROTECTING TREES
Council must protect our beautiful trees and public vegetation and also regularly maintain them.
Paul Crowther Part of Ray Smith’s Team
ght
CENTRAL WARD Call me personally today on 0411 516635 Paul Crowther Email: paul@raysmith.com.au Post: PO Box 1072 Fortitude Valley 4006
www.raysmith.com.au
Authorised by A Chisholm, 16 Peel St, South Brisbane 4101
CITYCYClE
Newman and Quirk’s ill-planned, obtrusive and costly ($10 million and growing) bicycle/advertising billboard scheme needs to be reviewed and the money saved used on bikeways and other community facilities and grants.
HOWaRD SMITH WHaRvES
Must be kept as open public space for everyone’s enjoyment, with cafes and playground facilities. Plans to build a private hotel must be rejected.
PaRkING
No more parking meters in the suburbs.
fOOTPaTHS aND POTHOlES
Fix - urgently - the kilometers of local footpaths and hundreds of potholes, which are being neglected by this Council.
COMMUNITY faCIlITIES
Council needs to approve more childcare centres in suburbs like New Farm, Teneriffe and Fortitude Valley.
PROTECTING OUR HERITaGE
We must vigorously ensure the heritage value of our buildings and the character of our suburbs are protected.
Call me to discuss any local government issues that impact on you
villagenews
CityCat terminal set to open Photo by Vanessa Fang
Photo by Craig Scarr
In this issue, we remember the flood of 2011 and visit those affected to see how they are coping today. See pages 18 and 19.
US submariners remembered The new Teneriffe CityCat terminal is expected to be in operation in two weeks Brisbane City Council is putting the finishing touches on the new $5 million dual-berth Teneriffe CityCat terminal, with the stop expected to receive its first CityCat sometime this month. The terminal is being constructed next to the existing CityFerry terminal at the end of Commercial Road. Along with the new terminal comes a new timetable which was introduced following the January flood event last year. Council said the timetable offered more services at a greater frequency. CityCats are to depart every 12-13 minutes at most times during the day and at least every 25 minutes at night from most terminals.
About the Village News
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PART of the Macquarie Steps Park at Teneriffe is to be named Submariners Walk to honour the American submarine sailors who were based in the suburb during World War II. This comes after the American Legion Auxiliary approached Central Ward councillor David Hinchliffe recently. Cr Hinchliffe said that, although people living in the area indicated they did not want the name of the park changed, they were “very supportive” of having part of the park named in honour of the US submariners. “The American Legion will assist in developing an interpretive walk,” Cr Hinchliffe said. Several plaques already around Teneriffe recognise local history, including mention of the US Submarine base. “This will be a very useful addition to the depiction of local history,” Cr Hinchliffe said.
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A monthly magazine for the residents, workers and visitors of New Farm, Fortitude Valley, Teneriffe, Newstead, Kangaroo Point, Spring Hill and Petrie Bight. The Village News is personally hand-delivered to all homes, apartments and businesses in those areas.
February Advertising Deadlines: Advertising: Jan 27th Artwork: Feb 1st Distributed: Feb 6th Distribution: 20,000 Published by: New Farm - Fortitude Valley Village News ABN 8833 0509 542
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I thought you may find this photograph interesting. I took it one morning a few days ago. The bird sat quite happily on our balcony while I took photos. I first thought it was a kingfisher but, not being a bird expert, I was wrong. A family search of our bird book identified the bird as an immature female blue-winged kookaburra. It seems this bird is not often seen. Brisbane is on the outer edge of its usual territory (so the book says). Anyway it’s nice to know the bluewinged kookaburra visits the Brisbane River and New Farm. Len Chapman
Christmas wish choked
LUKE Turner (Have Your Say, VN Dec, 2011) will get his Christmas wish and welcome with open arms the several thousand new people who will be moving into the New Farm/Teneriffe area in 2012. I will leave the “meet and greet” to Mr Turner. Unfortunately, I will be circling the Coles car park looking for a spare parking space. Fred Ropp
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IF the Lord Mayor (Cr Graham Quirk) is suggesting for one minute that some thin coat of paint on the derelict Walton’s building in Fortitude Valley will cover up the infinite problems in the Valley, he is more out of touch than I had previously thought. The Valley is in serious need of a plan not a thin coat of paint. Opposition lord mayoral candidate Ray Smith has released his plan and vision for the Valley, “Revaluing the Valley” – which I support and endorse – that is a detailed plan to solve the problems in the Valley and create a sustainable day time economy and community in the Valley. The Walton’s building is still a dump and an eyesore. No coat of paint can hide that. Day traders in the Valley are going broke. They need serious help to solve the problems in the Valley not a cheap paint job. Traders and residents in the Valley deserve a better deal from the council. Paul Crowther Candidate for Central Ward
HAVE YOUR SAY editor@newfarmvillagenews.com.au
La Nina spooks locals
BRISBANE City Council’s reaction to the flooding of parts of New Farm and other areas of Brisbane last January is to be generally applauded. Events of this nature are difficult to foresee, especially when there is an unexpected man-made element exacerbating the problem. I refer, of course, to the poor management practices pertaining to Wivenhoe Dam. One wonders though, whether council officers should have ensured that stormwater systems were keeping pace with development. Cleaning and expanding stormwater infrastructure during the past 12 months is welcome but the impact of the backflow floods that occurred in New Farm and other areas may have been somewhat less had these works been undertaken contemporaneously with major developments along the river, preemption usually being better than cure. In regards to pre-emption, it is surprising and disappointing that council has not yet installed the modern backflow valves in those areas where the recent independent report by Max Winders concluded they could have a definite mitigation effect. Central Ward candidate Vicki Howard in a letterbox drop referred to another public meeting to be held in November to bring residents up to date regarding installation. This meeting has not taken place and here we are on the verge of another La Nina season. It seems that council is placing a heavy reliance on the hope that the Wivenhoe Dam operators will get it right this time. John McCormack, Mountford Rd. New Farm The Village News asked the LNP’s Vicki Howard for a response and she provided: Lord Mayor Graham Quirk has directed council officers to finalise the detailed engineering design to confirm the most appropriate locations for backflow devices and hopes to have one implemented in the New Farm area soon. Plans are being finalised for other locations. Backflow prevention devices are one of many flood mitigation tools and strategies that council is applying to help protect Brisbane from the impact of flooding. Cr Quirk has committed $129 million this financial year to manage the impact of flooding including initiatives such as constructing, upgrading and maintaining stormwater drainage, enhancing public flood information and implementing his Flood Action Plan.
The editor reserves the right to edit and cut letters due to space and other production issues.
Or visit out our new website: www.newfarmvillagenews.com.au
villagenews
Fixed Riverwalk an eyesore, easily damaged: resident
By Vanessa Fang BRISBANE City Council’s proposal to reconstruct the section of its Riverwalk washed away in last year’s Brisbane River flood will be an eyesore and at greater risk of damage in other floods. Eileen Collins, who lives on the edge of the river at New Farm, said there had been no official inquiry into the failure of the original design – a floating structure which rose and fell with the tide and general river movement – and that the chosen fixed structure would increase the risk of greater damage during future floods. “I’ve heard engineers say: ‘Why would they do that?’ because it doesn’t ride with the tide. All the debris is going to be locked inside it,” Eileen said. “Our concern is that it’s going to be another eyesore, not an icon. Many waterfront residents received letters from the Brisbane City Council in August last year, outlining five concepts for the new Riverwalk – two floating, two fixed and one retaining wall – before announcing in November its preferred option, which would be anchored into the riverbed. Eileen said she was concerned for the river and that a concrete eyesore would not make a good replacement for the original floating design. “From what I could make out, they (the couplings joining the platforms together) would still be there if they
weren’t jutting out into the river from one particular area and if they had gotten better linkage between the different platforms,” Eileen said. She said the original walkway was more attractive and her research showed many floating structures around the world had withstood natural disasters. “To the committee who put the last design in, my question is: ‘Who are they and what are their qualifications?’ because they were the ones who put the (failed) design in last time,” Eileen said. Central Ward councillor David Hinchliffe fully supports the new Riverwalk. He said he told council Infrastructure Committee chairman councillor Margaret De Wit that he would do “all he could” to see that a “sound, safe and feasible” Riverwalk was constructed as soon as possible. “The advice I’ve received is that it has been totally drafted by engineers and to take account of flooding. I do not think that the current project constitutes as rushing at all,” Cr Hinchliffe said. Cr De Wit declined an invitation to comment but a council media representative said council had consulted structural engineering firm Arup to conduct a full review of the
Artist impression of the proposed new Riverwalk cause of failure of the last design in April 2011. They concluded the main cause of the failure was “debris becoming trapped in the opening span” which placed a heavy load on the structure, causing it to break away. “A hydraulic modelling report determined the impacts that each Riverwalk option would have on the Brisbane River flood behaviour,” he said. “This report demonstrated there was no significant difference between the fixed option the original floating Riverwalk.”
He said the chosen fixed structure scored well in terms of capital and maintenance cost, flood resilience, security and privacy. Construction on the new $70 million section of Riverwalk is expected to begin early next year and be completed by mid-2014.
HAVE YOUR SAY editor@newfarmvillagenews.com.au
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Help improves for victims of crime Volunteers needed for ‘stranded’ seniors
I HOPE you have all had a good start to 2012 and are looking forward to a great year ahead. My first column of the year is about an initiative to help those Queenslanders who are victims of violent crime.
seniorsvoice by Tony Townsend Anyone injured as the result of an act of violence, has suffered physical or psychological abuse in Queensland can take advantage of a new program from the Department of Justice. Victims Assist Queensland replaces the previous criminal injury compensation scheme and provides access to specialised support services and financial assistance to help victims of crime recover and get their lives back on track. There are a number of support services available, including financial assistance to cover items such as counselling, medical and dental expenses, loss of earnings and some help with legal expenses. The primary victim also may be
eligible for a specialised financial assistance payment between $130 and $10,000 in acknowledgement of the act of violence committed against them. People in that unfortunate position, whatever age, can find out more by telephoning 1300 546 587 between 8.30am and 5pm weekdays (not public holidays) to speak to an information officer, email victimslink@justice.qld. gov.au, write to Victim Assist Queensland, GPO Box 149 Brisbane Q4001 or go to the Department of Justice website. +++ The New Farm branch of the National Seniors Association is in recess this month apart from a picnic to be held in New Farm Park on Wednesday January 25, to celebrate Australia Day. People attending are invited to take lunch and a chair and $5 for drinks and nibbles to the southern end of the park near the CityCat terminal at about 11.30 – if it’s raining, stay at home. The branch’s first general meeting of the year is to be on Wednesday, February 1, with Peta Nagle to give a talk on the Kokoda Track. For further information on NSA or the New Farm branch, telephone Tony Townsend on 3315 2523.
VOLUNTEERS are being Photo by Vanessa Fang sought to help a group of residents in a Bowen Terrace high-rise at New Farm who are to be without a lift in the building for three weeks this month. The residents, many of them elderly, were told the only lift in the building was to be reconditioned and that it was a three-week project. That means they are forced to use the stairs to go to and from their apartments. Retiring Central Ward councillor David Hinchliffe and the man seeking to succeed him, ALP candidate Paul Crowther, have joined forces to co-ordinate a team of volunteers to help the residents out. The duo is hoping people living in the area would contact them to join a roster. They said they were looking for people fit enough to walk up a number of Paul Crowther with residents Dan Tranberg storeys if necessary to assist and Glenda Schofield in getting fresh fruit and vegetables and other food, pharmacy requirements and essentials to residents on at least a weekly basis. Anyone interested should contact Cr Hinchliffe’s ward office on 3403 0254 or telephone Mr Crowther on 0411 516 635.
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Photo by Vanessa Fang
Plenty of froth on brewery
By Vanessa Fang HELEN Street at Teneriffe is fast becoming an all-residential precinct, apart a few old warehouses. For the Green Beacon Brewing Company, that’s an attractive location for a boutique brewery and, as such, has applied for a liquor licence in order to operate a brewery and wholesale business. The application says its beer could be sold or consumed “on or off the premises to the general public”. GBBC is keen to set up shop as quickly as possible, with objectors given a relatively short space of time to write submissions or get petitions and has managed to muscle out the current tenant who has been there for seven years. Universal Fans director George Kahan said he was told “out of the blue” – by fax from the landlord - to pack up his shop and move out . . . by the end of next month. George said he was “disappointed” with the situation after having been told just before Christmas to make way for the brewery. “We thought we had a friendly relationship with landlord and it (the tenancy) would be discussed but they haven’t given us any warning,” George said. “The notice indicated end of February (to move) but, because of the time of
year, it was virtually until January (that you could start looking). You try and get a hold of anybody at this time of year. People are hard to reach.” What is spooking the residents in the area would be potential trading hours. According to the sign posted at 26 Helen Street three days before Christmas, Green Beacon listed its proposed opening hours as from10am until midnight, Monday to Sunday. Jill Butler and partner Murray Webb, who have lived and run a landscape architecture business across the street for 20 years, said they were concerned about the “incredible noise bounce” and parking issues the brewery could bring. “The problem is if we end up having some type of establishment that can sell alcohol on the premises until midnight, we’ll most likely have a lot of rowdy people going home (and) we’re already under siege for parking on the street,” Jill said. “The service access has to come off the front street because there’s no back lane and there’s buses doing at least 75 trips up and down this street a day.” Traditionally, Helen Street functioned well with existing businesses with many having 6am starts but they were closed by 6pm. Jill and Murray said the liquor licence “just couldn’t be accepted as it stood”
26 Helen Street, Teneriffe is the proposed site for a boutique brewery because of the “unsettling” lack of advisement with residents and traders of what would be happening into the late hours of the evening. “We don’t know if they’re serving food or creating a bar. We don’t know if it’s just a distillery. It (the licence application) only says ‘consuming and selling alcohol (on and off the premises)’,” Jill said. A petition to oppose the liquor licence, set up by Jill and Murray’s neighbours, has been circulated on Helen and surrounding streets. Neighbours Catherine and Elodie said they were insulted that the “last-minute” notice, which had given people until January 12 to object, was served right before a holiday period – effectively “diminishing” the ability to
formulate a credible written submission. “In our building, there’s younger families moving in. I don’t think it’s appropriate to have that kind of business (on this street). It’s not on one level, it’s many different levels that it’s not the place,” Catherine said, worried about the potential smell and increased noise. Anyone wanting information on what is being proposed by the applicant should telephone David Grundy at Liquor and Gaming Specialists on 3252 4066 or email david@lgs.net.au
HAVE YOUR SAY editor@newfarmvillagenews.com.au
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villagenews Association launches website
THE recently formed Teneriffe Progress Association has introduced a website to help the community keep up with what it is doing. The site address is www.teneriffeprogress.org.au Teneriffe residents are encouraged to log on and sign up as a member. It is $20 for non-corporate members or $50 for corporate memberships. The site also gives information on the association’s first official meeting to be held in next month. Full details about the meeting are to be posted on the site in coming weeks.
Protesters keep Amity development plans in spotlight By Darryl Whitecross RESIDENTS and other concerned stakeholders around New Farm are keeping up the pressure on everyone involved in considering a plan to build an apartment complex on the grounds of one of Brisbane’s most historic properties. There is growing belief among protesters that prominent Brisbane architect Tony Dempsey, who lives in Amity House at 101 Welsby Street, will be successful in being allowed to build a significant apartment block on the back yard of the property. The campaign against the development is being led by Denise Buckby, from the Freshwater Apartments next door. Several public meetings have been held which have been attended by various politicians – even Mr Dempsey and his wife – to keep the people informed as to the latest developments in the process, the most recent being early last month to which members of the New Farm & Districts Historical Society were specifically invited. Ms Buckby said the process began in 2006 when Mr Dempsey submitted a development application to Brisbane City Council for a six-storey apartment block. In March 2008, that application was rejected. Mr Dempsey then appealed that decision and the application is still being considered by the Planning and
Environment Court. Ms Buckby said the appeal is next set down for mention in the court on January 27. Amity House is a heritage-listed home
The first public meeting was poorly attended but the most recent, convened by a group calling itself the Cherish Our History Action Group, held at the
Some of the very large crowd concerned with the size of the proposed developement at Amity House and the former home of another iconic Brisbane developer Thomas Welsby. Ms Buckby and her supporters are concerned that Amity House and its history be preserved for future generations. She said the meetings were designed to “show visibly to our leaders and send a strong message that we value our history, particularly heritage-listed homes that are as culturally significant as Amity House”.
Arbor Space where Gray and Welsby streets intersect attracted more than 80 people. Mr Dempsey and his wife attended the meeting but did not address the gathering.
HAVE YOUR SAY editor@newfarmvillagenews.com.au
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Council’s bike scheme pedalling city into cycle of debt By Darryl Whitecross ONYA bike, Spike. That’s the message the public is sending to Brisbane City Council about its controversial CityCycle bicycle hire scheme as subscription figures continue to spiral down. The Village News distribution area – from New Farm to Bowen Hills; Teneriffe to Petrie Bight – has one of the highest concentrations of the scheme’s spacehungry stations. Lord mayoral candidate Ray Smith and his team, should they win power at this year’s council elections, have promised to sit down with the company running the scheme to renegotiate the deal which they say is “haemorrhaging ratepayers’ money”. “If I am elected as Lord Mayor, I’ll sit down with JCDecaux to stop the waste and renegotiate this contract, because it’s clearly not working under the current arrangements, Mr Smith said. “My council team has always supported the idea of a bike hire scheme but the LNP has completely botched the implementation of CityCycle and, like ratepayers, we just want to see the waste stopped,” Mr Smith said. Peninsula residents and businesses have always been against the scheme. Ray Smith said “just 0.001%” of Brisbane residents supported the scheme. “A recent $18,000 package of initiatives was supposed to increase usage numbers but instead annual subscriptions have gone backwards during the trial and 250 helmets vanished,” Mr Smith said. The ALP’s Central Ward candidate for this year’s council election, Paul Crowther, said the LNP administration’s CityCycle deal needed thorough investigation as Brisbane was losing up to $38,000 per week on idle bikes and underwrites the operating company’s losses. Mr Crowther said the “beleaguered” scheme had cost ratepayers $10 million in 12 months. “Everyone who walks past a CityCycle bike station can see the scheme is a failure,” Mr Crowther said. He questioned why the council did a deal with JCDecaux, outdoor advertising company, rather than a transport specialist to run the scheme and has called on Lord Mayor Graham Quirk to give an explanation. He said ratepayers should be told why council signed the deal for the estimated contract sum of about $15 million over 20 years on a contribution and revenue-sharing basis which allowed JCD keep the revenue up to a present amount of about 200 advertising panels and signs it installed
around the city. The deal is believed to see council pay JCD “the difference between forecast and actual” if scheme revenue did not reach the forecast. Mr Crowther said council could also face some other potentially expensive scenarios when the contract with JCD expired which included dismantling the scheme. He said council’s 2011-12 budget anticipated CityCycle’s to cost $2.46 million for an expected revenue of $450,000 – “a net cost to ratepayers of $2.01 million or just over $38,000 per week”. That was “a scandalous waste of money” for a one-sided deal, he said, for a city with a budget of about $3 billion. Mr Crowther said that, because the CityCycle scheme was such a blunder, frontline council employees were being laid off, community grants had been postponed and a range of other programs, including maintenance and capital works, cut back. “There should be a full independent audit or inquiry into this contract and the viability of the whole CityCycle scheme, Mr Crowther said. Ray Smith said CityCycle was at least 5000 annual subscribers short, even after recent measures to boost usage. “This scheme was supposed to pay for itself but it’s now costing ratepayers over $2.4 million per year, just to have bikes sitting on the side of the road gathering rust and dust,” he said. “The CEO of CityCycle operator JC Decaux is on record saying the scheme will need 15,000-20,000 full-time subscribers in the first two years for it to be successful so, with around annual 2000 subscribers, the scheme is still at least 5000 short of where it needs to be. “Brisbane ratepayers are saying loud and clear that they don’t want to see any more of their hard-earned money wasted on this scheme. In his September 2011 Living in Brisbane newsletter the Cr Quirk said there were 1950 annual subscribers to the scheme but recently revealed a further 105 had dropped out of the scheme and the figure was now 1845. The Village News sought responses from the Lord Mayor’s office, Hamilton Ward councillor, David McLachlan and Central Ward candidate Vicki Howard but none were received by the time this issue went to press.
Everyone who walks past a CityCycle bike station can see the scheme is a failure.
HAVE YOUR SAY editor@newfarmvillagenews.com.au
Photo by Vanessa Fang
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Asa escapes the daily grind to paint coffee evolution mural By Vanessa Fang TENERIFFE artist Asa Boardman has spread his creativity on the wall of the new Grinders Coffeestate headquarters at Newstead. The 32-year-old owner of Pony Cat cafe, at New Farm, was commissioned to spray-paint a mural on the back wall of the retail showroom and boutique coffee shop, which he completed in three days. “I came up with the idea of the evolution of coffee. We started at the coffee in its natural state, then the Ethiopian goat herder who discovered it, to the East Indian tradesman, then the Italian monks who were roasting it,” Asa said. “Then, off to when it goes to the barista machine with different French lattes, onto the little guy on a bike with his takeaway coffee.” The new headquarters, which opened last month, is in an iconic warehouse once home to Sol Breads. Asa said he liked the freedom of graffiti art, which could carry him away, even with no professional art training, with bringing his creativity to life. “It’s kind of like once you get on a roll, you keep going,” he said. “You have an idea of what you want to do in your head and let it flow. You don’t have a set picture and you just do it.” Asa is one of eight artists
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villagenews January 2012
Photos by Vanessa Fang
Love Love artist Asa Boardman with his larger than life mural done by spray can at the new Grinders Coffee headquarters in Teneriffe occupying a sizeable gallery and studio space at Love, Love Studios on Florence Street. Grinders Coffee is on the corner of Florence Street and Commercial Road, Newstead. Telephone 3257 4829 or log on to www. grinderscoffee.com.au for wholesale inquiries.
TENERIFFE artist Asa Boardman said the three-year-old Love, Love Studios was growing from “strength to strength”, with exhibition bookings filling most of this year and more artists moving in. The Newstead studio was transformed from an old Queenslander and boasts three separate viewing rooms. Love, Love Studios is at 27 Florence Street, Teneriffe. For further information, log on to www.lovelovestudio.blogspot.com
Happy berthday for Ben
By Darryl Whitcross MOST 16-year-olds would be happy enough just to get their learner’s licence but, for Ben Seymour, he jagged the top three – his learner’s licence his jet ski licence and his boat licence, While Ben has not been overly eager to get behind the wheel of a car, nothing could stop him from getting behind the wheel of his grandfather’s boat. It is not just any old boat. The boat happens to be owned by multimillionaire property developer Kevin Seymour and is one of Australia’s largest luxury cruisers – worth a cool $10 million. The icing on Ben’s 16th birthday cake – which he celebrated in November – was that the cruiser was virtually all his own making – from the waterline up. While many boys develop a stereotypical love of trains, Ben has had a love of boats virtually since he could walk. He studies all the best boating magazines, learning all that there was to know about them. So when his Pop gave him a blank piece of paper and said “build me a boat”, Ben knew exactly what to do. The result is the 100ft Euphoria which is to be moored in the Brisbane River at a specially-built jetty in the shadows of Kevin Seymour’s top-floor penthouse at One Macquarie at Teneriffe. The christening of the boat was held with a small gathering of family, friends and movers and shakers from the business and boating world. Kevin’s wife Kay and other members of the family were on board for the moment. Speaker of the House in the Queensland parliament, Judy Spence, christened the boat by popping a bottle of champagne and pouring some of the contents down over the port side of the boat. Kay Seymour poured the remaining champagne over the starboard side. John Lu, the chairman of Horizon, the Taiwanese company which made the one-off boat, flew in especially for the event. “For a 16-year-old, this is a remarkable achievement,” John said. “I met Ben when he was 10 years old and I was impressed then with his
boat knowledge.” He said he flew out to Australia for the christening of the Seymours’ last boat in 1984 which followed on from a Monte Fino and Sunseeker designs. Kevin said that craft was meant to be a temporary boat but “it lasted longer than we planned”. He said that boat was a “fast boat”; capable of reaching speads of 30 knots. “Euphoria is a proper cruiser.” Kevin said Horizon’s factory in Taiwan was the equal of any of the more prominent boat builders of Europe. “It is as well mechanised as any in Europe,” Kevin said. “I’ve been to the best shipyards in Europe and the quality and technology at Horizon is better.” John said each of the boats he builds were “different”. He said Euphoria was the biggest cruiser he had delivered to Australia. “It is one of the most luxurious cruisers in the world.” It is one of 600 craft of various shapes and sizes – “10 of this size” – his company had tailor-made over the past 25 years that are moored around the world. Pointing to the oak timber carpentry of the cupboards and walls, John said his company boasted top craftsmen – “very skilful”. He said his company, which was one of the top 10 of the world’s best boat builders, was also building a boat for Mitchell Drilling and one of Kevin Seymour’s rival developers, David Devine. Kevin said his family had been “six months without a boat” but the wait was worth it. Ben said he had always loved the word “euphoria” so the luxury cruiser was destined to bear that name. Euphoria, which took 18 months to build, arrived in Brisbane on the back of another ship about four weeks before Christmas. The boat’s first open water run was from Brisbane to Sydney. The Seymours took a plane to the harbour city and let Ben and “his” crew take Euphoria down the coast where they went aboard to watch the start of the annual blue water
Above: Ben Seymour (right) with his grandfather Kevin and John Lu classic, the Sydney to Hobart yacht race, and the New Year’s Eve fireworks on the harbour. It was then up the river for a holiday before cruising back to Brisbane and the reality of day-to-day life. Euphoria has four bedrooms plus the crew quarters below decks. There is a spa, jet ski, barbecue, formal dining area, casual dining area and any number of casual “snack” areas, as Kevin calls them. There is a laundry below decks next to the engine room – home to the two 1650 caterpillar
engines. Kevin said the boat can stock enough supplies for a month-long stay on board. He said Euphoria could make the five-day trip to Vanuatu or the Solomon Islands on one tank of fuel. With a bit of “arm twisting”, Ben hopes Pop will say yes to allow him to design his next boat – a 120-footer. One imagines there won’t be too much of a stern look from Kevin when the question “can I have the keys to the boat” comes.
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villagenews
Presenter Patrick turns off the television to let the spin begin
By Darryl Whitecross IT pays to have a career change. Just ask Teneriffe’s Patrick MacDonald. The Winchcombe Carson wool store resident recently edged out a list of nominees with up to eight years’ more experience to be named first runner-up as Queensland’s Emerging PR Professional of the Year by the Public Relations Institute of Australia. The former Puzzle Play, Giddy Goanna and Picnic in the Park host did away with a career in television presenting to join become a public relations professional just over six months ago. From the applicants across Queensland, Patrick was one of two candidates shortlisted for a round of in-person interviews with a panel of PRIA fellows with the ultimate nod going to Rowland consultant Sarah Golding, who also is from Brisbane. Patrick has developed a niche area of expertise in media and crisis management at Brisbane consultancy Cole Lawson Communications, the firm which hit the headlines in 2009 for having represented the United Motorcycle Council in its campaign against anti-association laws. Patrick, who has mix of qualifications in television, journalism and law, said he only discovered the PRIA awards less than 24 hours
before submissions were due. “I had just one night to write something that would stack up
worth the effort,” he said. Missing out on the major prize of a trip to New York City to work with
The former Puzzle Play, Giddy Goanna and Picnic in the Park, Patrick MacDonald against professionals who had been in the business for eight years,” Patrick said. “I stayed up all night to get it done and had meetings all day the next day but, as it turns out, it was well
a prominent PR agency has made Patrick more determined to go one better next year. “I have plenty of time to hone my craft and revisit an opportunity like this in the near future,” Patrick said.
“I’m at that stage where everything in my career is falling into place. “It just goes to show that it doesn’t matter what your background is, you should always follow your instincts and trust yourself. Patrick worked as a children’s television host for five years after having graduated from high school before being admitted as a solicitor. He now combines his television and legal backgrounds to assist clients who are dealing with legal, regulatory and reputational issues in the media. Patrick moved to Teneriffe from Fortitude Valley in 2010 and he, his partner and their nine-month old miniature dachshund, Aspen, are set to move into a new townhouse which is to settles soon. “Teneriffe to me isn’t just a suburb. It’s a lifestyle,” Patrick said. “I love the area because it has everything to offer that Europe would – fine dining, leafy streets and pet-friendly places.”
Centre has three roles to fill
PENINSULA residents have been encouraged to apply for the three part-time community development positions vacant at the New Farm Neighbourhood Centre. The roles of open house worker, outreach community development worker and green square project worker operate in different ways to engage and support the marginalised and disadvantaged in society. The centre, on Brunswick Street, has helped the inner-north Brisbane community in issues of social inclusion, diversity and justice for 26 years. For further information and application pack, log on to www. newfarmneighbourhood.org or search Community Development Workers on Seek.com.au. Applications close on January 16.
Or visit out our new website: www.newfarmvillagenews.com.au
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Visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/ beprepared or call Council on (07) 3403 8888.
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villagenews January 2012
villagenews
Magazine’s online presence refreshed
WITH the beginning of a new year comes a fresh online approach to the Village News magazine website and a new year’s resolution is to take the magazine’s online approach more seriously. The 20,000 copies of the print issue are personally hand delivered to all homes, apartments and business from Bowen Hills to New Farm and Teneriffe to Kangaroo Point every month. Readers can now flick through the current issue of the magazine online as well as past issues, download all the media forms and comment on big articles. The address for the site is www.newfarmvillagenews.com.au The online savvy can also “Like” the magazine on the social media site Facebook to keep up to date on when the latest issues are released, deadlines for advertising and events happening in the area. The fresh new look has been created by the print version designer, Sarah Mino of Mino Design. Anyone looking to give their online presence a fresh new look, Sarah can do that too. Sarah said she would be happy to design a website that will “rejevenate your brand at a budget that suits your business”. To contact Sarah, phone 0404 388 152 or log on to minodesign.com.au
Signatures sought for shave REGISTRATIONS are being taken for this year’s World’s Greatest Shave, which is the Leukaemia Foundation’s biggest annual fundraiser. The campaign again is being accompanied by the popular “chin characters” that have become synonymous with the fundraiser, which is to run from March 15-17. To sign up, log on to www.worldsgreatestshave.com People can keep updated with the progress of the campaign on the social network site Facebook at www.facebook.com/ LeukaemiaFoundationWorldsGreatestShave where tips for fundraising are also provided. People can either shave their head or colour their hair – or even wax some body hair – by starting a team in their workplace, club or school. Each day, five Queenslanders are told they have a blood cancer and undergo intensive medical treatment in Brisbane or Townsville. The foundation’s Queensland acting chief SIGN UP NOW! executive officer Keiran Mylrea said some of the money raised would be used to provide more home-away-from-home 15-17 Marcstyle h 2012 apartments available to patients in Brisbane and Townsville this year which would worlds greate stshav e.com reduce the need for patients to stay in motels and other accommodation while 1800 500 088 undergoing treatment; “a situation that is far from ideal”. The foundation said that, although survival rates were improving, blood cancers were the second biggest cause of cancer death in Australia. The foundation is aiming to raise $4 million in Queensland.
Swimming club stages first meet in awhile THE Commercial Swimming Club, which is based in the Valley Pool, is to stage its first club meet in nine years. The event, to be held on January 15, is the first since its centenary meet. Club spokesman John McGuinness said it would be “a fun day with medals, ribbons and lucky lane draws. Events for all fitness levels over distances 50m-800m are to be held. Mr McGuinness said the event was aimed at the up-and-coming junior swimmers who are chasing qualifying times for the Brisbane Junior Metropolitan Championships next month.
Taken by club’s new underwater camera which is to be used as a training aid for stroke analysis, stroke correction and swimmer development.
Or visit out our new website: www.newfarmvillagenews.com.au
Chamber parties up a storm for Chinese New Year THE Valley Chamber of Commerce is to continue Chinese New Year festivities with three A-list dining functions at Chinatown Mall on February 2. VCC executive director Carol Gordon said the annual events were a not-tomiss opportunity for business owners, visitors and residents to mingle and sample a delicious taste of traditional Asian fare. She said a business lunch at Some of the festivities in the Valley Cloudland would kick off celebrations, before moving onto the cocktail party at the Chinatown Airbridge where guests would be treated to a lively show of traditional firecrackers and lion dancing. The night is to culminate in an opulent celebration banquet at Golden Palace restaurant at the top of the mall. For one month between January 20 and February 20, the Chinese Information Centre at the TCB Building is to host a display featuring Chinese Community Organisations’ history in Brisbane and the Brisbane City Council’s International Sister Cities program in China. The Brisbane City Council is to hold several free celebrations and activities around Chinatown Mall from January 20-22, before the actual New Year’s Day on the January 23. To make a reservation for the three chamber event or for more information on prices and times, telephone 3854 0860 or log on to www.valleychamber.com.au
THE Dalai Lama’s sister, Ama Jetsun Pema, stayed in New Farm recently at Edward Lodge Guest House in Sydney Street. Ama, who is based in India, was in Brisbane for a short visit to be the guest speaker for the Tibetan Festival at the Powerhouse. Pictured is Edward Lodge manager Noel Parmenter with Ama Jetsun Pema
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Duo brings language, culture back to life THE lively Italian culture for which New Farm is known has been brought back to life through education courses on the love of language and food. Brisbane adult education centre, Bright Learning, has offered an “Italian culture through the love of food” course, where Nadine Grinzo students learn basic Italian by knowing how to read a menu, how to order at restaurants, typical ingredients in Italian meals and from where produce comes. Bright Learning director Nadine Grinzo said the class was popular because of the fun factor and relaxed learning environment. “Italian culture is just one of those kinds of countries that you just fall in love with. You love language, people and fashion,” Nadine said. She said the centre’s course, which is taught throughout informal Brisbane locations such as cafes and learning facilities, embraced learning things “for the fun of learning” and meeting likeminded people. “We try and encourage people to be more creative and again have a bit of a social aspect,” Nadine said. “People have work and family commitments and serious things that happen in life and people still want to learn a language or something you’re passionate about.” For further information, telephone 3103 2413 or log on to www. brightlearning. com.au
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villagenews January 2012
Robert gets out among the people
By Darryl Whitcross WITH a State Government election around the corner, “The Labor party members, for over 20 years, have LNP candidate for the seat of Brisbane Central represented this area at the council, state and federal Robert Cavallucci is getting out among his potential level and failed to deliver effective policy,” Robert constituents. said. He aims to unseat sitting member, the ALP’s Grace “The area needs someone who has new ideas and Grace who has represented the area since 2007 after a fresh approach so that a reinvigorated mall will act having won the seat in a by-election when former as a catalyst for a true Valley renaissance which will Queensland premier Peter Beattie retired. Anne return the area to its glorious past,” he said. Boccabella is the candidate for the Greens. While people in the electorate struggle daily with He is stepping up cost of living his campaign as there pressures, adding The imminent state election will see the incumbent Grace is a strong feeling in to that is the rising Grace (ALP) face off against Robert Cavallucci (LNP) and Anne cost of public the community that Boccabella (Greens) in the seat of Brisbane Central. the state election transport. All three candidates have strong links with the local could be called for “Public transport next month. community. There are expected to be independent costs have Robert said he had increased 45 candidates but, at time of publication, they were not known. door knocked the percent over the The Village News looks forward to ensuring the issues that entire electorate – last three years are important to readers are raised. Have your say now that’s about 10,000 which is making it to editor@newfarmvillagenews.com.au homes – and had unaffordable when gained “a fairly good combined with the feel” for the specific issues of people in the area. high costs of living,” Robert said. Robert and his brothers are the first generation “This is resulting in reduced numbers and more of Cavallucci’s born in Australia. Their parents and reliance on vehicles. Expensive public transport grandparents migrated from Italy. coupled with poorly planned infrastructure is making Robert said the top five issues most people getting around the electorate time consuming and expressed concern to him were drug, alcohol and expensive,” he said. violence in the Valley Entertainment Precinct, the cost Robert is a lifelong resident of the electorate and is of living, the substandard condition of the Valley Mall, a successful family construction business. He and his poor planning and management of public housing and wife, Carlyn, have two young children. public transport. Anyone wanting to discuss some of Robert’s top The substandard condition and decreased five issues or to raise any others can contact him by functionality of the Valley Mall was failing retailers and telephoning 0488 933 447, or logging on to commercial business, he said. www.cavallucciforbrisbane.com.au
tonyjones
Ben’s barbecue brings in New Year with almighty blast SUNLIGHT streams through a break the barbecue. At least he had the in the curtains. It falls unhindered foresight to move Hebe’s George III across Ben’s face and naked torso. dining table out to the back veranda He stirs and buries his head further and unearth the ancient barbecue into the snow-white pillow in a futile from beneath the house before he attempt to escape the suns intrusive went clubbing the previous night. rays. Hebe stands back to admire the Slowly, oblivion gives way to table: A symphony of starched white consciousness. Ben groans. He tries to ignore the dull throb www.caterinalay.com behind his eyes and the uncomfortable feeling in his groin; pressure from a full bladder. Suddenly, his bloodshot eyes snap open: “What time is it?” He frantically fumbles on the night table for his iPhone. 8.45am gleams back in digital white. Relief courses through his aching body: “Plenty of time yet before Hebe’s lunch,” he sighs and falls back into the soft, yielding pillows. Hebe has been awake for hours. She had heard Ben come in at 5am; his drunken stumbling in the hallway making sleep impossible. She heard him engage in nonsensical conversation with Tom, her aging Jack Russell terrier: “Happy New Year, mate!” Ben says to the yawning dog. Tom, none too impressed at being woken so unceremoniously, stretches and farts loudly. “Geezuz, Tom. You stink,” Ben protests as he retreats hastily napery, gleaming silver and flowers to his room. Hebe knows, now that stolen from Mrs Brand’s rose garden. Tom is awake, further sleep will be “Perhaps a bit much for barbecued impossible but she waits until she lamb chops and pork sausages but hears Ben noisily close his bedroom what the hell, it’s New Year’s Day,” door before she pushes aside the bed she thinks defiantly. Hebe hears a linen and slides her feet into a pair lavatory flush. “Oh good. Ben is at of Jimmy Choo mules. The day has last on the move.” When she had begun. “A good thing,” Hebe thinks. looked in on Ben an hour earlier, the “With 10 people coming to lunch, I’ve situation hadn’t looked promising. lots to do”. The room was foetid with the sickly I too am awake. Beau and I walk sweet smell of rum and cola. Ben beside the Brisbane River; its water lay spread-eagled across the bed, a mysterious and still as a mill pond; pillow over his face, naked except for a beautiful morning. While the air his jocks and the one muscular leg is cool, the sunlight gilding the lush still encased in blue jeans. A fallen foliage of New Farm Park carries Adonis. Hebe quietly closed the door. considerable warmth; a promise of a I’m in the courtyard, dead heading hot summer day to come. “A perfect geraniums when Hebe telephones. day for Hebe’s barbecue lunch,” I “Darling. Can you come early? Ben think, smiling in happy anticipation. is at the mercy of the mother of all Meanwhile, at Hebe’s, the need for hangovers. He saw the New Year in bladder relief finally forces Ben to full with a vengeance and I need help with wakefulness. It is now 11am and he lighting the barbecue.” I can hear the can hear Hebe moving purposefully tension in Hebe’s voice and the clunk about the house. The chink of china of ice in a glass suggests she already and the rattle of cutlery suggest is reaching for the vodka to sooth her she is in full preparation mode for exacerbated nerves. Hebe, despite the imminent lunch. A wave of guilt of all her wonderful attributes – her assails Ben. He remembers his humour, generosity, sophistication, promise to help Hebe set up and man beauty and intelligence – is,
surprisingly, a very nervous host. I promise to be there within the hour. Meanwhile, Ben has showered, cleaned his teeth and now deliberates the need to shave. “Nah. I’ll leave it,” he decides and quickly pulls on a pair of faded yellow chinos, the cuffs of which are rolled to the ankle in the European mode – an affectation encouraged by Hebe. He thrusts his feet into a pair of tan loafers and finally pulls on a rumpled white shirt. Satisfied with his appearance, Ben leaves his room in search of Hebe and, more importantly, paracetamol. Hebe has everything under control: salads are made and sit waiting in the refrigerator; the wheel of brie is being bought to room temperature; several
tonyjonesdiary by Tony Jones bottles of champagne lie submerged in crushed ice in an enormous ice bucket. Her only concern is the barbecue itself. It’s old and not the most reliable of appliances. Ben has installed a new gas bottle and also given the hotplates a good clean so, hopefully, it will perform adequately if not well. Hebe makes her way from the veranda down to the edge of the pool where Ben has positioned the barbecue. She feels a test run is in order and determinedly presses the ignite button. Nothing happens. She tries again but still nothing happens. On the third try, she holds down the button with some conviction and it’s only when the slightly acrid smell of gas begins to permeate the surrounding air does she reluctantly release it. “Perhaps I should leave it to Ben,” thinks Hebe, moving with some alacrity away and back to the veranda. It’s there I find her. Hebe looks coolly elegant in a watermeloncoloured silk shift. “Hello Hebe. You look wonderful.” I kiss the air either side her cheeks. “Thank you, Darling. We’re having awful difficulty firing up the barbecue. I had a go and now Ben’s taken over,” she says, gesturing towards the pool. It’s then I see Ben kneeling in front of a truly decrepit piece of equipment. We watch as Ben struggles. He repeatedly punches the starter button but, to no avail, the barbecue remains defiantly and stubbornly unignited. Ben grows increasingly frustrated. “Perhaps I can help” but, before I can move towards the veranda steps, Hebe takes my arm in a vice-like grip. “Best you stay here, Darling. I don’t have a good feeling about this.” No sooner had those words left Hebe’s lips than there was an almighty explosion. Hebe and I
watched transfixed as the barbecue shoots skywards, seemingly jetpropelled. So violent is its trajectory, it manages to clear the pool fence and land with awful precision in the middle of the swimming pool, causing a tsunami-like wave of water to flood the immediate surrounds. For a moment, there is absolute silence or it may have just been that our eardrums were temporarily stunned by the vehemence of the explosion. Suddenly, the cacophonous sounds of frightened dogs barking and terrified neighbours calling urgently to each other for an explanation, fill the air. Mrs Brand appears at the fence and shrieks hysterically: “It’s Armageddon. The end of the world. The Mayans predicted it would end in 2012”. So strong is her belief, she surrenders completely to her agitation and faints dead away. Hebe was later heard to have remarked: “Probably more likely the effects of hard liquor, the cause of her indisposition than a genuine belief in the demise of the world.” Meanwhile, Ben remains kneeling, his back to us, unmoving: “Ben, Darling. Are you all right?” cries Hebe. Moments pass and, just when we’re about to go to him, he moves, slowly getting to his feet then turning to face us. The devastation is horrible. Ben’s face is completely blackened as is his shirt front with a greasy and viscous soot. His eyebrows look like singed caterpillars and his luxuriant fringe is completely gone exposing a forehead of astonishing, almost Elizabethan, proportions. With mouth in a rictus of startled alarm, his teeth so white against stygian skin, Ben possesses an uncanny resemblance to Al Jolson in full black face make-up. Indeed, so close is the likeness, it wouldn’t have been at all surprising if he suddenly burst into a rousing rendition of “Swanee”. Hebe and I studiously avoid each other’s eye. I have an almost uncontrollable urge to burst into laughter and I sense Hebe is battling the same dreadful compulsion. “Darling. You look like a demented golliwog.” Hebe’s unkind but pertinent observation is too much and we both suddenly explode, helplessly, into laughter. Moments later, Ben’s sense of humour compels him to abandon his affronted silence and join unstintingly in our hilarity. “Thank God you weren’t seriously hurt,” Hebe says. “No I’m all right but a bugger of a way to cure a hangover,” opines the stoic Ben.
SEND TONY YOUR FEEDBACK tonyjones@newfarmvillagenews.com.au January 2012 villagenews
17
flood2011 We remember
Charl puts polish on his restored furniture store
In the carpark of the Merthyr Village shopping centre. Photos by Mitchell McClennan
Victims bank on CBA staff support MITCHELL McClennan works at the Commonwealth Bank branch at Merthyr Village. He took a series of photographs of the office which was forced to close when the waters from the January flood event last year inundated the building. While his workplace was boarded up in the aftermath of the flood, he joined with other CBA bank staff to help out where possible in the cleanup operation. “It was good to be part of the community which all came together to help those affected,” Mitchell said.
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• 25% Early Bird discount on all registrations completed and paid for on either Official Sign-On day. • New players to the Club will require proof of age (birth certificate or passport). Location: new Farm Park Clubhouse, Cnr Sydney and • All players (new and returning) must be Brunswick Sts, new Farm Park accompanied by parent or legal guardian to sign on. New Farm United Junior Soccer Club will be signing on new and • Free pre-season training sessions for returning players aged between 5 newcomers to the game aged 7 to 12. and 18 years of age to play in the • Payment options - Cash, Cheque or 2012 season competition. Eftpos
For Further inFormation: email: secretary@newfarmsoccer.com.au or phone Barry on 0423 868 986 (all ages) or Sam on 0400169149 (ages u6 - u8) www.newfarmsoccer.com.au 18
villagenews January 2012
Charl & Andrea van heerden remaining optimistic THE 2011 January Brisbane River floods have not destroyed the will of Newstead furniture store, Uniqwa Furniture Imports. Owner Charl van Heerden said it had been the most challenging and emotional 12 months he had experienced in business, after flood waters washed through his original Albion warehouse, destroying one third of stock a week before his first international trade show. “We knew we were going under and a check with our insurance broker made it clear Uniqwa was not covered for rising river water,” Charl said. “It’s a foreboding feeling so many Brisbane business owners and residents know too well.” While one third of his stock went under, an “army” of friends, neighbours, employees and acquaintances managed to move four truckloads to safer ground. Charl and wife Andrea restored and French polished the remaining stock for an “unforgettable” flood sale in a temporary space at Murarrie on Brisbane’s southside.
Locals hard at work during the floods, while cars, homes and shops went under water
“Brisbane locals are such generous and amazing people. They came to our sale there in droves. It was just so moving,” Charl said. “Without their support, we would not be in business today,” Charl said. “To be given a second chance by so many strangers has been a very humbling experience and I will always be grateful.” He said the flood brought new opportunities, which had taken Uniqwa to heights he did not think were possible. “I found an inner strength and I know no water can put this fire out,” Charl said. “Uniqwa is more than a furniture business and a livelihood; it’s the vehicle for a vision to change the way people live through our collections.” Uniqwa Furniture Factory Outlet is at 14 Stratton Street, Newstead. For further information, telephone 0434 546 867.
flood2011 We remember
Efrat relishing return of ‘simple necessities of life’ By Vanessa Fang
Photo by Vanessa Fang
Pictures taken at New Farm during the floods
Efrat Sudai enjoying her new kitchen NEW Farm’s Efrat Sudai is relishing the simple necessities of life again, 12 months after the Brisbane River floods devastated her Merthyr Road apartment in January last year. Efrat said she missed “normal life” while her and partner Andrew lived on their doorstep in a caravan during extensive, six-month kitchen renovations. “We were so sleep-deprived for six months, we didn’t have a proper bed, had to walk to the toilet and back and the (the flood relief) grant from the (Federal) Government didn’t come until seven months later,” Efrat said. “We didn’t know what was going to happen and we couldn’t afford to fix much.” The flood damage was so severe that the kitchen required retiling, replacement of all appliances and power outlets due to rust. The lack of basic amenities forced the couple to wash their dishes in the car park and simple tasks, such as making a cup of tea, to take 20 minutes. Their social life also diminished, as each day revolved around dealing with builders, plumbers and running errands. “We thought in the beginning if we cleaned, it would be fine but there was a lot of sludge and everything stuck underneath the cupboards and we were getting water underneath the wood (which) became really bouncy,” Efrat said. “The smell just wouldn’t go for months so we had to rip it (the floor up) but, when we did, we discovered more things. Once we got through all the (building) approvals, it took a long time.” She felt “at home” again for the
Travel agency forwarned and forearmed first time when work was finally completed in September - eight months after the disaster – and she had a floor to walk on. “I just felt normal and that’s what we just wanted to feel,” she said. “We wanted to cook, to have warm food every night (and) we wanted to have a bed that was comfortable. All my clothes were in boxes. It was great to put your clothes in the cupboard.” Despite the “awful time”, “amazing help” poured in from caring friends, who helped clean up and the New Farm Neighbour Centre, which funded the retiling, offered clean products and food vouchers. “I contacted (Central Ward councillor) David Hinchliffe and he came around and said ‘I can’t believe you’re living like this for so long’ and he got me in contact with Robyn from the neighbourhood centre,” Efrat said. “That was the first time someone was listening to us.” A microwave oven and stove cook top donated by Banyo hardship service Connected made daily life easier. Efrat said readjustment to comfort came “very quickly”, with little things such as chopping an onion after six months, making her feel at ease again. “We’re really happy and, in the end, my partner and I got engaged,” she beamed. “He said that if we got through the floods, we could go through anything.”
JORGE Noval, from Harvey World Travel at New Farm, remembers well the feeling in the village as the flood waters gushed towards Brisbane. It was Tuesday afternoon, he said. The command had been given by Brisbane City Council to “evacuate flood prone areas” and he had seen on the television what had happened in Toowoomba. Here is his account of the day before the Brisbane River burst its banks on the peninsula. We (Harvey World Travel) have two offices in the Merthyr Village: one right in front of Café Cibo and a second one on the first floor above Flerenze Shoes. We established a ‘remote virtual office’ at my home and diverted all telephone lines there (thank God for technology). We were able
to look after all our clients and no one was left unattended during the whole ordeal. The decision was made to unplug and take all computer equipment to the first floor. Anything that could be damaged and was of value was taken upstairs. We even had an airline’s sales person coming to the office to help carrying the stuff (great attitude). In the midst of it all, we became aware that some of the shops had nowhere to take their stuff so First VIA VAI and then New Farm Editions joined the up-and-down transport of goods and stuff to Unit 5. Thus the unit (used as our corporate office), became fuller and fuller and fuller, until you could not walk in.
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Shane’s enjoying keeping eye on view from the stairs THERE’S a saying in the restaurant industry that one should be careful about buying a restaurant that has a stairway entry going up. In fact, the lovely singer Beyonce once wore a dress so tight she needed two friends to assist her up the entry stairway. Going Down to a restaurant is
people ask locals for horse racing tips, while others ask their hotel concierge for a tip on where to go for good food. King received a good recommendation for Verve’s pumpkin soup and he ended up a very happy diner.” Shane has lived at New Farm for much of his life, almost 10 years of which he has also “lived” working in Verve in the city. I related to Shane of my own experiences in hospitality, and how “cluey” hotel residential guests ask their concierge for the whereabouts of venues featuring good Chinese or Italian or seafood or Indian curry or even a particular dish as in King’s case. I told him that, during Brisbane’s
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better, as there’s an air of mystery about what the intending diner sees first and what the owner chef/ maitre’d sees first of the customer. Departing up a stairway, one feels rather light on their feet anyway, for several reasons but, particularly, if the food, the aura and company were all uplifting experiences. From where restaurateur Shane Hansen stands in his popular Edward Street eatery Verve Restaurant, Bar and Cider House, he keeps an eye on the stairs coming down. One night, he saw renowned author Stephen King enter: “He told me he came to us for the pumpkin soup. You see, some
World Expo ’88, Mick Jagger came to my Expo seafood venue with a small entourage. I was away that night and I asked staff the next day what seafood dish he chose, expecting the choice to be Moreton Bay bugs or blackened barramundi. “Oh no,” they said. “He ordered a child’s serve of sausages and chips.” Shane laughed heartily. He has a signature laugh, like his signature dish, which at Verve is blue cheese, chicken and pancetta risotto. I like his pescatore linguini, which is an upmarket seafood pasta. “Another hit dish I had for a while was my duck salad with a chilli chocolate dressing,” Shane said. “I spotted this guy walking down the stairs and something clicked. I knew the band Guns and Roses was in town for a concert and I recognised “Duff” McKagen as he hit the floor. I knew it must have been him. I spotted the tattoos. He wanted a takeaway duck salad. He’d heard raves about it. I love it. This “theatre”
Shane and his dad Tony Hansen at the New Farm Deli we can create in restaurants. We made a fuss of him and we later heard he loved the salad as well as the reception.” “Theatre” is a term Shane Hansen constantly uses when talking hospitality and it’s true. People dine out not just for the good food but for the experience. It’s a lot of fun when an owner/chefs such as Shane weave their magic in their own little theatre. Shane’s theatre cast enjoys it too, be they kitchen hands, waiters or chefs and one can tell that they revel in playing their respective roles. Shane and his father Tony Hansen, who heads up the commercial division of The Professionals New Farm, are great mates and both have bright personalities to shore up business and keep their customers happy. Shane was educated at St Joseph’s College, Gregory Terrace, and the Terrace boy’s first job was at Pasta Joke on Commercial Road in 1986-88: “I come from a family of passionate foodies and great cooks and Dad helped me gain my first restaurant experience in the early days.” “My ‘big break’ came on meeting John Donnelly who ran Top of the State in the 1980s and later invited me to be his business partner,” Shane said. “I first worked with John at the Italian restaurant Amicis at South Bank 15 years ago. I have worked at many eateries since – the Viva
Italia chain, my own Elco’s on the Wharf at Newstead, and with Daniel Magnus in the first of the internet cafes in Brisbane, at Indooroopilly Shoppingtown, just outside the cinema. “It was all very exciting for me and Brisbane was making its mark in Australian hospitality. “I think my personal track to success is by leading the way in my own restaurant, by jumping in to wash the dishes, showing the staff that nothing was below me and that it is all about teamwork; about loving what we do. “I take great pride that most of my staff have been here with me for over five years, some as long as 10 years,” he said. Shane also has the catering business Viva. “I have worked at Roseville, Bonapartes, James Street Bistro, Baguette, Rosatis on the Park and my work in hospitality has seen me travel around Australia,” Shane said. “Brisbane is a great place. It’s my kind of town. I grew up in Beeston Street, New Farm, and have now lived in Heal Street for many years. There’s still a strong Italian influence in New Farm and families, like the Barbis and the Laudaris, are included,” he said. Shane said he did not have many other interests besides cooking although he has a new trail bike he goes dirt track riding on on the outskirts of town. Music is another love. January 2012 villagenews
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villagedining
Smartphones take wine shopping to new levels
Pintxo Spanish Taperia
By Vanessa Fang
Photo by Vanessa Fang
GLUTEN-FREE & DAIRY-FREE DINING
Pintxo (pron. pin-cho) now has a range of tapas dishes including gluten-free, dairy-free and vegetarian options. The menu features modern tapas like slow-cooked tender pork ribs and prawns wrapped in jamon (cured ham) through to more traditional tapas of meatballs, garlic mushrooms and croquetas. Visit Pintxo’s website for the full menu including images at www.pintxo.com or www.tapastrain.com DINNER: Tuesday to Sunday from 5.30pm LUNCH: Saturday & Sunday from 12 noon ADDRESS: 561 Brunswick Street New Farm PHONE: 3333 2231 WEBSITE: www.pintxo.com
Restaurant & Tapas Train Pintxo Spanish Taperia
561 Brunswick Street, New Farm ph: 3333 2231
Introducing our NEW DINNER MENU from 3pm to 9pm Phone 3358 6511 Merthyr Village, 83 Merthyr Road, New Farm
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New Farm’s Tamryn Bengtson tests the barcode at Chalk & Cheese in Teneriffe BRISBANE Master of Wine Peter Scudamore-Smith and business partner Nirdosh Puri have launched Mynextwine, which is a smartphone camera system to help decide which wine to buy at Teneriffe bottle shop Chalk and Cheese. Peter said making a good decision with wine was as easy as scanning the Quick Response barcode on the bottle neck tag with a smartphone application and seeing what reviews others had given “It is quick, simple and designed for the average punter. We won’t baffle you with fancy wine jargon and scores,” Peter said. QR codes traditionally are scanned with a smartphone application to take a piece of information from a transitory media which will link the phone to a business website or promotion. Scanning a Mynextwine QR code took the guesswork out of buying wine by sorting “the best from the rest” as the easily accessible mobile site enabled people to make a decision on personal taste, budget, food and occasion. The website catered to 15 red and
white varietal wines, highlighting the best ones to “Enjoy” (up to $15), to “Share” (up to $20) and to “Savour” ($20+). Users are encouraged to instantly post their feedback on the site with a “like” thumbs up or “dislike” thumbs down – simple interaction and social rating that is easily recognised across other online communities. The system was a first-of-its-kind trial at the Florence Street bottle shop which is the shopper’s own “good taste guide”. Mynextwine codes can be distinguished by a red wine colour and are encircled with a themed wine stain. To join or locate Mynextwine’s list of wines, log on to www.mynextwine. com.au The site accepts participants over 18 years old. IPhone users can select their free QR Code reader automatically from Connect Me (www.connectmeqr. com) and Android users from Qr Droid (QRDroid.com) Older versions of smartphones may not be compatible with the application.
villagedining
The New Farm Deli back to continues to be what it is By Vanessa Fang
THE ownership of Brisbane’s oldest Italian deli, New Farm Deli and Cafe or “The Deli”, has returned to its original owners, Vince and Maria Anello after seven years. The Deli was sold in 2004, where Vince then held various stints in the cafe industry, but he returned to the place that “had always been a part of him” last November. “I don’t want to get sentimental about it (but) The Deli is who I am. We created it,” Vince said. “We needed a break but to get a chance to come back was once in a lifetime.” The Deli was opened by the Picernos (Maria’s family) on Merthyr Road, where it had a strong Italian presence, in 1977, before Vince and Maria bought it outright and relocated in 1991 to the Merthyr Village. Vince said the standalone European delicatessen was a “dying race” but promised to restore The Deli “to its former glory”. “We want to put it back on the map as ‘the’ place. The name, The Deli, dates back to the 70s. It is what it is,” Vince said. The love required to run an authentic Italian deli was likened to an “art” which supermarkets could never emulate: things such as cutting the prosciutto thin enough, layering
it properly or being able to advise on products that sets them apart. The new blend of Camardo coffee, roasted outside Naples in southern Italy, has also been a talking point. “We’re the first in the state to carry this coffee. Importers tell me about 50 cafes in Melbourne carry it and up here we are the only ones,” Vince said. “I think it’s more rounded, fuller bodied, stronger and creamier. It works well with short blacks and extremely well for milky coffee.” Many changes occurred at The Deli, including the introduction of “higher quality yet cheaper” produce including cheeses and Spanish hams. Vince’s sister and original deli manager Barbara Falcomer said she believed her family’s authentic Italian upbringing made the changes “bigger, brighter and more resourceful”. “To a certain extent, you grow up with those kinds of products (European pastas, olives and sauces). There are some values that probably have stemmed back from our childhood,” Barbara said. She said it was “nice to work for family again” after having previously worked for Vince and Maria for 14 years. “It’s like we never left. It’s wonderful being back and we’re
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Wine tasting and canapés from 6–8pm ~ $50 p/person Bookings essential ~ Pre-payment required Call Chewie or Lili for bookings (07) 3257 0402 or email info@clarethouse.com.au
Photo by Vanessa Fang
The Deli manager Barbara Falcomer and cheese specialist Peter Mulvey hoping that all our past customers will come back as well,” Barbara said, glad to see many regulars return with their own families still speaking to her in Italian. Cheese specialist and accredited cheese judge, Peter Mulvey, a new addition to The Deli crew, said it was important to advise customers so they could walk away with “something individual”. The former chef and cheese/fine food wholesaler said food had always been his passion, noting career highlights which included presenting Australian cheeses at a prestigious food fair in Torino, Italy. “Vince was an old customer that I dealt with 18 years ago and I’ve come on board to head up the (cheese) department, being on a retail end now is a new chapter for me,” Peter said. He recommended several “really special” new cheeses, including Italian peccorinos infused with truffle
or pear, French cheese imported specifically for Christmas, gorgonzolas and more top-branded local and international imported cheeses. Vince pondered the idea of bringing back The Deli’s “Funk ‘n’ Foccacia” festival, where the village car park was transformed into a dance floor with a band while visitors sampled some authentic, Italian fare, once everything ran “smoothly” again. He thanked everyone for the “great comments” about how he and Maria had been missed in the past seven years. “We’ve just got to make sure we focus now on upholding what we’re promising: we endeavour to get The Deli back to its peak with good service, good quality and fun,” he said. The New Farm Deli and Cafe is at Merthyr Village, 900 Brunswick Street. For further information, telephone 3358 2634 or log on to www.newfarmdeli.com.au
Home of the famous pot-roast panini Fresh fruit straight from the market, homemade meals, Blackstar Coffee, classic deli rolls including the ever popular pot roast, superb cakes such as the renowned carrot cake and some of the best brownies in Brisbane. We are proud to say that our lunch items are made from quality ingredients such as those from Maleny Dairies, Eumundi Smokehouse, Barambah Organics and Borgo Smallgoods. We also offer catering, so keep us in mind for your functions, workplace parties and any other events that you care to name. T 3161 3031 E yum@springhilldeli.com Shop 2, 537 Boundary St, Spring Hill
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villageentertainment Second chic French series
HAILED as a modern Bob Marley by BBC Music, Nigerian singer/songwriter Asa is to perform with the five-piece Moriarty in a night of French-inspired music at the Brisbane Powerhouse on Friday, January 20, from 7.30pm. The performance is part of the Powerhouse’s So Frenchy So Chic 2012 program. Asa, who was born in Paris and raised in Nigeria, has produced three albums and toured Europe, North America, Africa and Japan. Her music is inspired by funk, soul and reggae after a childhood spent listening to Marley as well as Marvin Gaye, Sunny Ade and Ebenezer Obey. The music of Moriarty is described as a blend of folk country, blues jazz and Americana. Moriarty, also from Paris, includes kazoo, thumb piano, xylophone, scotchtape trumpet, electric and resonator guitars as well as the odd drilling machine to achieve its mix of Depression era American folk and European cabaret. So Frenchy So Chic began as a compilation CD 2005 of quality French music and later became a touring event with artists such as Camille, Nouvelle Vague and Cocoon on the bill. Last year, SBS and Cartell Music created a So Frenchy So Chic three-part French music series and Asa and Moriaty form part of the second in the series. Tickets are $59 and bookings can be made by telephoning 3358 8600 or by logging on to www.brisbanepowerhouse. org
Metro releases rundown
METRO Arts, in Edward Street, has unveiled its program for 2012 which is to have performances, exhibitions and ongoing projects supporting more than 60 independent artists across a myriad of art forms. The program was announced at a special function attended by more than 100 invited guests and signals 36 years since the centre opened as a haven for artists in the heart of Brisbane. Along with the announcement of the program comes the unveiling of the new artwork to promote the centre, produced by Matt Dabrowski. The photography was by Sean Young and features Tak Hoyoung. For further information, log on to www.metroarts.com.au Metro Arts chief executive officer, Liz Burcham, congratulated the artists who took part in the 2011 program and welcomed those who would be part of the new schedule. They are to be new graduates through to established senior practitioners such as Brian Lucas, Margi Brown Ash, Sandro Collarelli, Stephen Carleton and David Fenton. The program is to engage local, national and international artists. Within The Independents, which celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2012, Metro is to present He’s Seeing Other People Now by Anna McGahan, who recently starred in Underbelly Razor, as one of five productions in the season.
Metro’s Galleries Program is to expands to 10 exhibitions this year which is see Jan Manton Art present new work by international artists Alfredo and Isabel Aquilizan. As part of the Promise Program, Metro is to join with Queensland College of Arts and the University of Southern Queensland to exhibit the work of 10 graduates. Metro Arts’ 2012 season of The Independents begins in March with The Raven, where Laura Kwaitkowski and Thomas Quirk create an intimate and sensory theatre experience inspired by the literary work of Edgar Allen Poe, the ghosts that haunted his dreams and the fears that riddled his writing. In April, stop-motion animation, movement and puppetry combine to unpack a humorous and tender story of addition drawn from the experiences of the LGBTIQ communities lead by Sunny Drake. FreeRange, Metro Arts’ month-long creative development program, begins its seventh year in June. With additional Australia Council for the Arts funding, FreeRange’s CROSS-STITCH is to be able to provide more opportunities for emerging artistic directors.
Festival just for laughs
ROLLING in the aisles is an age-old stereotypical mind-picture of what happens at comedy festivals but, in today’s politically correct world, it’s a workplace health and safety issue. Somehow, that probably won’t worry the organisers of the 2012 Brisbane Comedy Festival which is to run from
Tuesday, February 28-Sunday, March 25. The publicity blurb says the fourth annual festival is to have Brisbane “giggling, chuckling, cackling and chortling” when 54 international and Australian comedians perform. Tickets are $15-$46. Bookings can be made by telephoning 3358 8600 or by logging on to www.briscomfest.com.au
Best in packed program
THE Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts aims to present its audiences with another packed program this year. New program manager Lewis Jones is scouting for “the best and brightest” from across the spectrum of circus, music, dance, cabaret and street culture. One event already locked in is Flickerfest which is to be staged at the centre for the first time – from Thursday, February 9, to Saturday, February 11. The three-night Flickerfest is a program of award-winning short films from Australia and around the world. It is Australia’s only Academy accredited and BAFTA-recognised short film festival. The films to be screened have been handpicked from the record number of 2200 entries for the 21st Flickerfest. The program is to run nightly from 7.30-9.10 with 20-minute intervals Tickets for the opening night, including the post-screening function are $20. Tickets for the remaining program are $16 and $14 with a season pass to cost $42 and $38. For full program details or to book tickets, telephone 3872 9000 or log on to www.judithwrightcentre.com
news We have launched our new and improved website to keep you up to date with latest issues, stories and whats happening on the peninsula. Log on at: www.newfarmvillagenews.com.au
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SummerDance fun for holidays with Expressions Dance Company BRISBANE’S Expressions Dance Company is to run two three-day school holiday dance programs for young people aged 12-14 and 1516 years this month. SummerDance is to run from January 16-18 and 18-20 at the Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts, 420 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley. Expressions Dance Company’s Riannon McLean, of New Farm, said classes were designed for young people who did not necessarily have a lot of dance experience but who were eager to try something new or looking for a fun way to spend a part of their school holidays. She said participants could expect to learn three different styles of dance each day, including contemporary dance, jazz, hip-hop, ballet, break dance and more. Classes are taught by EDC’s professional dancers, all of whom are experienced in teaching classes to young people, and some guest artists. “I teach a lot of workshops in schools and have also taught in all
Excitement builds for 20th Tropfest
of EDC’s Brisbane Contemporary Dance Intensives,” Riannon said. “I’m really looking forward to SummerDance. I think it will be a challenge and also a lot of fun for the participants,” she said. For further information, telephone 3257 4222 or log on to log on to www.expressionsdancecompany. org.au
THE deadline for entries to the 20th annual Tropfest short film festival is almost up but the excitement is building around the industry in eager anticipation for the weekend festival when the spotlight is shone on the talent of Australian short filmmakers. This year the traditional one-day event, which began at the Tropicana Cafe in 1993, is to be extended to “a full Tropfest weekend”. There will be parties, screenings of Tropfest from the past and special industry events. Finalist’s films are to be screened to a live audience at events across the country on Sunday, February 19, and on subscription television. Tropfest founder and director John Polson said the festival had a tradition of uncovering films made on big budgets and small, shot in an afternoon or over several weeks on hi-tech equipment and mobile telephones. The work of the finalists is to be judged by industry heavyweights. Past judges have included Nicole Kidman, Toni Collette, Geoffrey Rush, Russell Crowe,
Perceptions change but stay same 1Q84 by HARUKI MURAKAMI Review by Carolyn Ride for Mary Ryan’s New Farm Murakami is one of the few writers whose dreamlike, haunting novels are as beloved by millions of fans worldwide as by literary critics. The trilogy 1Q84 – already a bestseller in his native Japan – will not disappoint. In 1984 in Tokyo, Aomame – a highly skilled assassin of men who are brutal to women – is late for an assignment, having been stuck in traffic. On the advice of the cab driver, she takes a shortcut through a maintenance tunnel and emerges into a world that seems exactly the same, initially, but then slowly starts to unravel in ways only she notices. Meanwhile, talented writer Tengo has the misfortune to not yet have a book published. His agent makes a proposal: rewrite a manuscript written by a mysterious 17-year old girl named Fuka-Eri. The writing is appalling but the story so compelling Tengo
overcomes his ethical qualms and, with Fuka-Eri’s seemingly indifferent permission, agrees to rewrite it and submit it for a literary prize under her name. These characters exist in separate, lonely worlds but are destined to affect each other’s lives. In Murakami world, this is never straightforward but always fascinating and he tackles big themes such as religious extremism, violence, history and its distortions and relationships. He can make the reader feel the unease in the mundane and then inject flashes of deadpan humour. 1Q84 is a doorstop at 944 pages for the trilogy – and he demands concentration – but it’s worth it when you lift your head above the book, look around and find your perceptions have been altered for ever by the imaginative genius of Murakami world.
Samuel L. Jackson, Baz Luhrmann, Ewan McGregor and Elijah Wood. This year’s judges have not yet been announced. More than 700 entries are expected from Australia and overseas. 2010 Tropfest winner Damon Gameau said he shot his winning film over a fortnight with his mother and girlfriend. “The rewards that Tropfest offer make it all the more worthwhile. I’ve had the best year of my life.” Films must be no longer than seven minutes long and, in Tropfest tradition, must contain the signature item – this year a light bulb, chosen because of the importance of the central idea in film. Finalists compete for cash prizes, equipment and international travel valued around $100,000. The Tropfest website (tropfest.com) has a “20 Years of Tropfest” interactive timeline which includes newly released photographs and event footage, which includes Ms Kidman, Ms Collette Will Smith and Keanu Reeves, media reports and Tropfest films.
THE YEAR OF THE DRAGON CeLeBrate tHe HSBC CHineSe new Year witH uS Important 2012 Chinese New Year dates:
In Brisbane’s own CHINATOWN in the Heart of Fortitude Valley
20 -22 January BCC Chinese New Year celebrations www.chinesenewyear.com.au
Invitation to all: business owners, residents and visitor to attend & enjoy Chinese New Year
20 Jan – 20 February Check out the Chinese Information Centre displays @ TCB Building, Chinatown. Monday 23 January Chinese New Year’s Day book now at – over 20 Chinese Restaurants in the Valley. Book for 2 & 3 February events now: www.valleychamber.com.au book & pay on line, direct debit or cheque Enquiries: admin@valleychamber.com.au PH 38540 860 M 0417 623 189
HSBC CHineSe new Year BuSineSS LunCHeon 12.30pm – 2pm Thursday 2 February 2012 at Alice Room, Cloudland, 641 Ann St Fortitude Valley $75 for members or $80 for non members. HSBC CHineSe new Year CoCktaiL PartY 6pm – 8 pm Thursday 2 February 2012 $68 per head for Valley Chamber members & $73 for non members. HSBC CHineSe new Year CeLeBration Banquet 7pm for 7.30pm – 10pm Friday Thursday 2 February 3 February 2012Golden Palace Restaurant cnr of Ann St & Duncan St Chinatown Mall. $74 per head for members & $79 per head for non members.
Enjoy traditional Lion Dancing, a visit from the God of Wealth, door prizes, gift bags and special guest speakers.
ON
BRUNSWICK
January 2012 villagenews
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villagesocialite www.facebook.com/socialitebrisbane
Aqua Linea
AQUA Linea restaurant at Teneriffe played host to the Christmas party and introduction to the Teneriffe Progress Association. The first official meeting is to be held next month. Log on to Teneriffeprogress.org. au for dates and times.
Philip Anthony & Rob Murdoch
Murray Sutherfie ld & Richard Bo dley
say i love you with exquisite jewellery from Bruce Robinson, Brisbane’s original diamond master. Every piece of jewellery we make is totally original, so no matter what your preference for style, colour, setting or stone, you can be assured it has been made just for you.
Jill Butler, Murray Webb & Lynn Thompson
Come in and talk to Bruce or Cameron today about that unique piece of jewellery, and discover the Bruce Robinson difference.
Gillian Carter & Ben Pritchard
Est
David Banks & Jen Barrkman
1969
Shop 15 Merthyr Village 83 Merthyr Road New Farm Phone 3254 4444 www.ageniuswithgems.com.au BRD3540B
Shane Mclvar & Vicki Howard
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villagenews January 2012
Lorna Dor Wald & Barbera Banks
villagesocials
s ’ h a r Saof New Farm
Sarah’s at New Farm Photos by caterinalay.com Sarah’s of New Farm in the Merthyr Village held a private viewing and Christmas party for some of its customers.
SuMMeR CLeARANCe SALe
Meg Copeland & Una Cambers
uPhas tonow 50 %arrived oFF at merthyr joining Fashion & Accessoriesvillage - Retail our other quality brand menswear Sarah’s of New Farm caterers for a wide range of ages and lifestyles in a relaxed atmosphere while offering expert fashion advice. The store stocks a large range of fashion styles from young QLD designers such as Sacha Drake and Australian labels plus imports.
Hearts Dress in Blush Black
Trading Hours Monday 9:00am - 6:00pm, Tuesday 9:00am - 6:00pm Wednesday 9:00am - 6:00pm,Thursday 9:00am - 7:00pm Friday 9:00am - 6:00pm, Saturday 9:00am - 5:00pm Sunday 10:00am - 4:00pm
Ph: 07 3358 6466 Location: Shop 16, Merthyr Village, New Farm
Susan Hewerr & Cheryl Capman
THE COLONY HALF YEARLY CLEARANCE
IS ON NOW
UPXTG TO 50% OFF Tamsin Buckley & Wendy Protheroe
Penny Kourra & Linds Stein
SELECTED ITEMS come and see the stunning new spring/summer designs and the latest fashion stories hand chosen by mark
the colony menswear shop (new farm) shop 11 / merthyr village / 85 merthyr road / new farm qld 4005 ph 07 3254 4456 / fax 07 3254 1465 / colonynf@bigpond.net.au Marion Lowell, Paula Fairon and Pamela Gunn January 2012 villagenews
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Acreage blocks at affordable prices
• Positioned in the western corridor at Plainland 1 hr from Brisbane CBD • Within minutes from the new Woolworths Shopping Complex • Easy to build blocks surrounded by new homes • 4 x 1 acre blocks available to purchase from $119,000
Call Darryl Muckert for more info 0407692600 sales@elderslaidley.net www.elderslaidley.com.au
villagenews
peninsulaproperty Duo pre-sales strong as work nears end THE first major multi-unit development seen at New Farm for some time has generated considerable excitement with pre-sales proving an appetite continues for quality apartments in the area. Construction on the four-storey DUO, which is a Butterfield Projects development, began early last year and is expected to be completed in March. It is adjacent to New Farm Park. The two residential buildings include 42 apartments. Trident sales and marketing manager Dallas Harry said DUO had attracted strong interest from people in the area looking to buy an apartment in what was one of Brisbane’s most desirable locations. “We’re seeing a lot of property-savvy buyers recognising the future investment potential of the development,” Mr Harry said.
Duo Apartments, adjacent to New Farm Park
“DUO will be connected to, and benefit from, its vibrant New Farm Park location, providing residents with a quiet lifestyle yet only two minutes walk to the Merthyr Village convenience. “Understandably with prices from $435,000-$1,400,000, we have received more than 100 phone calls from interested parties wanting to be the first in line to inspect once completed,” Mr Harry said. DUO, which is between Dixon and Sydney streets, incorporates two three-storey buildings, with large openplanned one, two and threebedroom apartments giving a feeling of privacy and space. The ground-floor apartments have large courtyard areas while levels two, three and four have wide open balcony spaces. For further information, telephone Dallas Harry on 0414 487 086.
LANDLORDS – NEW YEAR SPECIAL! Transferring Agencies is easy, what we will do for you…. • We will match your current rate for the first 6 months. • We will manage the transfer process. • We will provide you with a service guarantee.
Why not put your property in the hands of a market leader. Contact Sonya Pascoe to find out more on m|0405 004 833 or e|sonya@professionalsnewfarm.com.au Sonya Pascoe Business Development Manager 0405 004 833
George McAteer Leasing Consultant
Rebekah McNeilly Leasing Consultant
p. 07 3358 4099 | e. leasing@professionalsnewfarm.com.au | w. professionalsnewfarm.com.au | a. 629 Brunswick St New Farm January 2012 villagenews
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