The Western Echo May 2023

Trek2Health

Continued from cover....

Now in its third year, this annual event is hosted by Trek2Health and consists of a 20km night trek from ANZAC Square, via Brisbane River walkway to Toowong and into the Mt Coot-tha Forest, before descending along fire trails to The Gap. This year’s event was supported by Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner’s Community Fund.

Trek2Health is a non-profit organisation based in Brisbane Forest Park, The Gap. For the last three years they have been improving the mental health and wellbeing of frontline workers and veteran communities by providing complimentary mental wellness services in a stigma-free and supportive environment.

To All Midnight to Dawn Anzac Service trekkers, thank you for your ANZAC spirit, your resilience, your consistent good humour throughout the night and your commitment to the overall group safety and morale.

Your passion and dedication to this cause builds a stronger and more connected community. Thank you for your fundraising, I know your family and friends who supported you were proud of your extraordinary effort in completing a challenging trek under tough conditions. It is the ANZAC spirit that brings us together and ensures the honour and memories of those who have served is never forgotten.

- Bruce Barker, Trek2Health CEO

Complimentary Resilience Training for Frontline Personnel

Trek2Health is an organisation founded to support frontline personnel and veterans, those who have given so much for us, putting their own health and safety on the line to protect others. First responders such as firefighters, EMTs,

paramedics, police officers, search and rescue, and those serving in our defence force – face horrors in their line of work that most of us can’t imagine.

Trek2Health’s innovative approach to mental health services is based on the concept of ‘green exercise’. They take clients outside four walls to remote natural areas for team-orientated nature treks supported by experienced guides and physical trainers. Trek2Health offers an effective action-based program that supports self-management, healthy lifestyle choices, stress reduction strategies and social connections while embracing all that nature has to offer to boost physical and mental resilience.

You can show your support for this important cause and enjoy the benefits of ‘green exercise’ for yourself, by joining a Trek2Health community trek. The next event is: Trek4Life – Extreme Team Challenge, Sunday 18th June 2023, Enoggera Reservoir Circuit, The Gap, Brisbane. Form a team with your work mates, community group or family and friends and enjoy the beautiful forest that’s right on our doorstep.

Learn

website: http://www.westernecho.com.au

Photography Credits: Colin Bushell Photography - www.biggerboat.com.au

Top left: Trek2Health Midnight to Dawn participants

Top right: ANZAC Square, participant start point before the Midnight to Dawn Trek for Trek2Health

Bottom left: Dawn Service - Stewart Place Memorial Reserve

Bottom right: Dawn Service - Walton Bridge Memorial Place

The Ferny Grove Falcons played their ANZAC day round to raise money for 42 for 42. and the maintenance of the memorial garden run by the families of the fallen and veterans.

The Midnight to Dawn ANZAC Service Trek invoked the ANZAC spirit and raised funds for local charity, Trek2Health, an organisation founded to support the physical and mental health of our local frontline workers and veterans. This 20km long trek began at midnight from ANZAC Square in the city and finished at the dawn service at Walton Bridge Memorial Place in The Gap. It was an honour to walk with the trekkers to Mt Coot-tha, the halfway point of their journey.

Above: Ferny Grove Falcons Anzac Round AFL Match on Friday 21 April with charity 42 for 42.

Gap Ward

2023 marks the 108th anniversary of the ill-fated landing of the ANZAC troops at Gallipoli peninsula. Thank you to the Ashgrove Citizens ANZAC Day Commemoration Committee for arranging the honour of having Daniel Keighran VC as guest speaker at the Ashgrove Memorial Park Day Service. This fantastic service wouldn't have been possible without the support from the Ashgrove Memorial Kindergarten and The Gap Police Station.

Left: (From L to R) John Franklin OAM, LTC Khalid El Kaligi, Kevin Humphries DSC, Daniel Keighran VC Below: Ashgrove Memorial Park Day Service

Thank you to The Gap RSL Sub-Branch for organising both the dawn and day services at Walton Bridge Memorial Place, The Gap. It was a testament to their dedication to honouring our veterans.

left: The Gap RSL SubBranch March along Waterworks Road

Middle: The Gap Community Commemorative Service at Walton Bridge Memorial Place

Photography by Colin Bushell and The Gap Ward Office

Far

Top right: Bugle player from The Gap State High School

From theEditor Notice to Readers

Dear Readers, Good news!

We are thrilled to let everyone know The Western Echo will continue to be published monthly, with distribution to homes and key locations across our Western suburbs. Having a free publication available to residents is important to the local community, and as local residents ourselves, we aim to continue providing this service to our community. We look forward to your continued support of the publication. Your editorial and advertising support will keep this publication alive for our community – and keep readers informed about your local business and news.

We would like to acknowledge Philippa Wightman’s dedication and thank her for her long-time commitment to our local community. It is our hope that we will keep Philippa’s tradition going of providing a quality publication for years to come.

Both printing and distribution costs have increased considerably over the last 2+ years. To keep the publication viable, we will be making slight tweaks as we progress, so you will see some changes to style, layout, and features over the next couple of months, along with a stronger online presence with a new website soon and increased social media activity.

WHO ARE WE?

As background, for those that do not know us already, both Melanie Grevis-James (Editor) and Kym Bierenbroodspot (Designer) have extensive experience in publishing, writing, editing, graphic design, and marketing, spanning over 30 years each. We love creative challenges, and we both love our local community – hence why we decided to take over The Western Echo to ensure its future and to continue providing local news relevant to our community. We both run local businesses in The Gap and actively support a number of community groups, offering volunteer assistance where we can. We are excited to be publishing The Western Echo as a joint venture – using our combined skills and continuing our long-time friendship.

We look forward to getting to know our local community even more.

If you have any questions at all, please just ask us.

All the best, Mel & Kym

Melanie: 0409 440 501 | editor@westernecho.com.au or melanie@planetmarketing.com.au

Kym: 0402 450 568 | spotart@spotart.com.au

We wish to advise that distribution of the Western Echo can not be legally made to letterboxes displaying ‘Australia Post Only’ ‘Authorised Mail Only’ or ‘No Junk Mail’.

For those residents who wish to collect a free copy, we have newstands located at:

Night Owl Enoggera Cnr. Samford Rd & Wardell St

Stewart Road News Ashgrove

Ashgrove Library

Jonty Bush’s State Electorate Office Cr. Steven Toomey’s Gap Ward Office

Copies are also available at Red Hill APO, West Ashgrove APO, The Gap APO, The Gap Village, The Friendly Grocer

The Gap, Wyatt's BP The Gap, Ashgrove Golf Club

COPYRIGHT: All advertisements appearing in The Western Echo are subject to copyright and may not be reproduced except with the written consent of the owner of the copyright. No guarantee is given to the positioning of the advertisements and the publisher takes no responsibility for errors or omissions or the accuracy of articles published. The Western Echo is delivered, by private letterbox distribution, to 15,700 homes and businesses in: Ashgrove, Ashgrove West, St. Johns Wood, Dorrington, The Gap, and selected areas of Bardon, Red Hill, Enoggera, Keperra and Mitchelton.

State Update

Here’s to our independent publishers

I want to start my contribution this month by acknowledging the profoundly important role that our independent publishers play in Australia. As more and more of our communication moves away from traditional print and towards digital media, the role of our smaller, local publishers becomes very important.

I want to acknowledge Philippa Wightman who has almost single-handedly run the Western Echo for nearly 29 years. Philippa has been a friendly and familiar face at many of the events I’ve been to over the past two years, and I will certainly miss our chats, I of course wish her all the very best in her next endeavours.

I’d also like to acknowledge and welcome Melanie Grevis-James, as the Western Echo’s new publisher. Melanie is certainly no stranger to locals and certainly wears many hats – from a small business owner to the coordinator of local chamber of commerce group –Westside Business Heart.

Melanie has assumed the reins of the Western Echo from May, together with the talented Kym Bierenbroodspot as the graphic designer, and I very much look forward to working with them to ensure locals have access to relevant and timely information.

Commemorating our brave Service-men and Women

On April 25th we paused for a minute’s silence and reflect on the important contributions towards peacekeeping made by our service men and women. As with previous years it is really touching to see so many locals come out to show their support, particularly the children and you can really see those stories being passed down.

The work that our sub-branches do in coordinating these events is tremendous! These organisations are entirely volunteer driven, and along with other local church and community groups (Scouts, Girl Guides, the Lions and Rotary groups), schools and police we simply wouldn’t be able to attend Anzac Day ceremonies without them.

A special thankyou to Paul Perrier who steps down after a few decades’ worth of work on the AshgroveBardon RSL Sub-Branch. Paul, it has been a real delight working with you my friend – best of luck in your next chapter!

Celebrating our local biodiversity

Raise your hand if you've heard of the Nangur Spiny Skink before...While this skink may be one of our lesser-known species, they play a really important role in our local ecosystem. Nangur spiny skinks are

only found in south east Queensland, and have faced numerous threats since settlement, making them critically endangered.

To conserve both populations of this unique reptile, the Department of Environment and Science (DES) launched a captive breeding program in January 2020 as part of the species recovery plan.

I recently joined with Minister Meaghan Scanlon, and Lisa from DES to catch up on the program's success. The breeding program continues to deliver outstanding results; with 29 skinks born in captivity since the start of the program, and six skinks re-introduced into their natural habitat earlier this year.

I'm pleased to report that the skinks are doing well, with the timelapse cameras capturing them happily feeding, interacting, and basking outside their burrows. The Queensland Government is investing close to $40 million for enhanced action on threatened species and koalas, as well as the biggest commitment in Queensland’s history - $262.5 million – to expand and create new protected areas. It's great to know that these little creatures’ future is far more certain.

Jonty Bush MP Member for Cooper

If there’s anything here you’d like to know more about, or would like to connect with me generally, please reach out.

Hear and SayOpening Worlds

This is a wish for any mother. Eight-year-old Charlie is an all-rounder and is always up for a challenge with a love for hockey, rugby, swimming, soccer, chess and stem activities.

When Charlie was six years old, he had an accident, falling out of a tree and suffering a head injury, with fractures to the bones in his middle and inner ear. This left Charlie with a profound hearing loss on his left side, a diagnosis his family were not expecting.

For Jacqueline, as a mum, it was fair to say they were bewildered and shocked. They had no idea what this diagnosis meant for Charlie or how they would help him. They had no real understanding about the path we were about to travel.

During this time, the family said Hear and Say was pivotal in presenting information, answering their questions, arming them as parents to support Charlie and advocating for him. They said, “Hear and Say made us brave.”

Just months after receiving his cochlear implant, Charlie was able to understand conversational language through the device and was eager to do his listening homework so he could directly stream the TV to his cochlear implant.

At times, it was emotional and daunting but in hindsight so much smoother than the family originally anticipated. Charlie’s love of sport has helped in his recovery and resilience. He throws himself into any sport or challenge that he can, and now this includes his hearing journey. It was important to parents, Jacqueline and Matthew, that their son be connected to the world of sound. They wanted to enable him to be who he was always going to be. They never wanted to take anything away from Charlie. Reconnecting him with the world of bilateral sound allowed

him to continue to engage with friends, to confidently participate in sport and to maintain his passion for learning like he previously has. It gives Charlie the opportunity to be in charge of his learning and where that will take him in the future.

This Mothers Day, Jacqueline plans to enjoy time with the kids who will make breakfast in bed, featuring French toast in the shape of a heart, followed by a day spending time together as family.

Hear and Say, located in Ashgrove

Hear and Say is a local not-for-profit organisation founded over 30 years ago and specialise in supporting families whose child has been diagnosed with a permanent hearing loss. This is through three core service areas; hearing screening, audiology and speech pathology.

Every year, Hear and Say serves over 17,500 people, including 1,500 clients with a permanent hearing loss. They work with families so that their children can become great communicators, confident within themselves and capable of achieving success on their own terms. Hear and Say also provides services that support broader physical, emotional and social development.

Recently, Hear and Say has expanded their service offering to include speech therapy for children who might be experiencing speech and language delays.

To find out more or book an appointment visit hearandsay.org.au or phone 07 3850 2111.

“We wanted to enable him to be who he was always going to be”

AshgroveHistorical Society

the time. Alan will clear the many misconceptions and inaccurate reports of Finnegan’s and his fellow castaways' adventures. It is sure to be a fascinating presentation.

Visitors are encouraged and very welcome at the Ashgrove Historical Society meetings held at the Ashgrove Library on the first Saturday of the month 10am-noon.

The topic for the meeting on 3 June will be The Forgotten Explorer –John Finnegan

presented by Alan Finegan.

Alan has researched and documented the life of convict, castaway and explorer John Finnegan. Finnegan (1789-1853), a survivor of the traumatic Irish Rebellion of 1798, was charged with larceny and transported to the horrors of convict life in the colony of New South Wales. He defied all the odds of incarceration, shipwreck and betrayal. After being shipwrecked, he and two other crew members lived

among the Indigenous peoples of Moreton Bay. He was vastly underestimated for his contribution to the exploration and settlement of what is now Brisbane. He was deliberately ignored by John Oxley who shamelessly stole the credit for the discovery of Brisbane River and the choice of the original settlement site of Brisbane city. His selfish acts have led to many erroneous reports on the events of

There will be morning tea following the presentation which will provide the opportunity to share memories with the guest speaker and other people interested in local history. If you would like to become an AHS member or purchase membership as a gift for someone, fees are $10 single per annum (1 July - 30 June), or $15 couple/family. Membership includes discount on our publications. Please contact the secretary, Julie, (ahs. secretary@bigpond.com) and she will let you know the EFT details or join at a meeting. Funds raised from memberships, raffles and sale of our publications supports the research, preservation and recording of Ashgrove’s history.

Monthly workshops - see our Facebook page for details

Next workshop: 20 May

Facebook: RepairCafeTheGap

Instagram: repaircafethegap

Email: thegaprepaircafe@gmail.com

Enoggera & Districts Historical Society

Norfolk Island History

Few are aware that Norfolk Island is the only place outside the USA where Thanksgiving is celebrated. Why – because many American whaling ships called there in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

The headstone of a man accidentally killed by a whale took my attention followed by a passing glance at another headstone. This stone “Seth Lothrop Peterson (born 1837) Died 31 May 1912 Josephine Edith Peterson Died May 21 193?” stirred a memory relating to early Brisbane history. Seth was the son of Daniel Peterson (1807/1855) and Mary Ann Lothrop (1808/1895) and he was born in the house of his grandmother, at 60 Commercial St, Boston. The family sailed for Australia from London in 1842 aboard the Spartan and arrived in Sydney on 23 October.

The family moved to Brisbane in 1844 where Daniel established a store wharf and residence in Stanley St, South Brisbane. A saw pit stood on the land he had bought and at this he prepared the timbers for a second store. Daniel also had the first Bond Store in Brisbane.

Seth married a cousin Mary Sheppherd in Brisbane in 1859 and then upon her death took a second wife Josephine Edith. After his father’s death Seth continued to manage

the store until 1861. Seth then joined the public Service and became the Deputy Registrar General of Lands and Titles. He lost money in mining ventures and committed forgery and misappropriation of funds. He was sent to prison in 1878 and at the end of his sentence the family moved to Sydney in 1885 hoping to make a new start. What persuaded him to move to Norfolk Island, a place of harsh treatment to criminals? We may never know the answer.

To find out more: visit the Enoggera Historical Society Facebook page or email enohherahistory@gmail.com

Brisbane Art In Bark Assoc.

Are you looking for something new to do?

Come and join us, learn how to do a bark picture. Art in Bark have classes at Brisbane City Hall 50+ in basement. Adelaide Street side of Hall. Mondays 9.30am to 12.00 pm for Workshop. Fee $10 for lesson and $5 for kit. The Kit we supply includes bark, board, glue etc. for the first lesson.

If you can’t get to Brisbane City we have a Workshop for all ages at:-

Nundah Apostolic Church Hall on Saturdays, 43 Robinson Road, Nundah. We would love to see you. Please phone us first to confirm.

For more Info: Barbara 3271 2130; Joy 0407 178 064; or Hazel 0408 157 117.

The Gap CreativeExhibition

Opening night tickets can be booked through Eventbrite - https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/ as-you-like-it-official-opening-16-june-7pmtickets-598168737797

For more information about The Gap Creative: www.thegapcreative.com.au

Facebook: www.facebook.com/thegapcreativeinc

‘As You Like It’ will be an exciting exhibition of the diverse work produced by members of The Gap Creative.

The Gap Creative was formed in 2020 to support, enrich and share the creative heart of our suburb. The Gap is home to an amazing assortment of artisans, from painters and potters to photographers, mosaic artists and sculptors. 2020 and 2021 didn’t present many opportunities to show off our work but our artists utilised the time to create exciting works. Our inaugural exhibition at was held early in 2022 and was followed in September by a hugely successful Open Studios weekend. This year promises to be even more exciting, we are thrilled to have the opportunity to exhibit at the magnificent Tula Art Gallery at The Gap State High School.

The exhibition will run from 16-21 June, with the official opening on the Friday evening. The gallery will be open weekdays from 3-6pm and weekends from 10am-4pm. Artists will be demonstrating at various times throughout.

Sing with Us! Serenata Singers’ Open Invitation to 2023

The Serenata Singers is a friendly community choir based in The Gap. We are celebrating 53 years of singing in 2023 and would welcome new members No audition is necessary. An ability to read music is helpful, but not required. The choir sings a variety of popular and show tunes, spiritual and folk songs.

The choir will be rehearsing every Monday in 2023 starting at 6:45pm for a 7:00pm start at The Gap Uniting Church auditorium, 1050 Waterworks Road, The Gap. You are welcome to meet choir members, find out about the choir, and join in or simply observe a rehearsal.

If you can hold a tune and love to sing, the Serenata Singers may be for you!

For further information, check us out at: www.serenatasingers.org.au

Mitchelton and Districts Garden Club Poly-PolySatinash

The roly-poly satinash (Syzygium unipunctatum) is a small, evergreen tree with a weeping habit and beautiful flushes of pink or red growth. The mature, glossy green, lanceshaped leaves, which are tapered to a point, have a wavy edge. Like so many members of its genus, the leaves of the roly-poly satinash have many oil glands. This tree has a very thin, tan-cream bark that, unusually, has sections which extend into the wood. It’s white, fluffy flowers in summer are followed by blue, discoid fruit that are longitudinally grooved and resemble miniature pumpkins. Given its size, lovely growth habit, colour variation between juvenile and mature leaves and unique fruit, this is an ideal feature tree in any garden and is suitable for planting in large pots. A light pruning encourages new, red leaf growth. This species can also, with heavier pruning, be developed into a hedge. Although it is endemic to tropical Queensland, it grows well in southern, temperate regions in reasonably well-drained soils that have been well composted. Although the roly-poly satinash will tolerate extended dry periods, being a rainforest tree, it grows best when regular water is available.

The next meeting of the Mitchelton and Districts Garden Club is on Thursday, 1 June at the Enoggera Memorial Hall.

When the immediate past president, (Pat Killoran) retired from the position at the end of 2022 after serving almost twelve continuous years as president, end of year functions prevented a farewell celebration for her, so on 1 June a special lunch is being arranged for that purpose. for club members and invited guests. If you would like an invitation, please contact the current president, Trish Parkinson via email. Normal club activities such as lucky door prize, exhibits, trade table, continuous raffle, etc will still take place. If you'll be attending, bring cuttings with samples of your garden problems to find a solution. Morning tea will be served at 9.45am as usual.

The weather is becoming cooler but the garden still requires attention. Cold evening temperatures could cause purple discolouration of the foliage on evergreen plants. Don't worry about this as it is a common reaction. In fact, placing evergreen plants outside at night will refresh them. Azaleas and camellias are coming into full bud. Should the buds start to turn brown and drop off, this could be petal blight fungus. An application of fungicide should control the problem. This month, Geraniums need pruning now. It's a good idea to strike some of the geranium slips to ensure you don't lose the variety. Let each slip dry out for a day or two. A type of scab will form where the slip has been cut. Several slips may be started in just one pot. Don't push the slip into the potting mix, always make a hole for each slip.

The Mitchelton and Districts Garden Club meets at the Enoggera Memorial Hall on the first Thursday of the calendar month except January. Entrance to the hall is at 36 Trundle Street, Enoggera with access for wheelchairs, and public transport close by.

For more information email the president, Trish, on: mitcheltongc@gmail.com or call 0438 268 212.

Ashgrove The Gap Lions Club

Our club would like to offer our special thanks to Philippa for her dedication and commitment to publishing the Western Echo since 1994 to over 15,000 homes and businesses in Ashgrove and The Gap and a number of adjoining suburbs. The Western Echo was a staple read for all community members and was based on the commitment of Philippa to stay closely connected to her community. We would like to sincerely congratulate Melanie from Planet Marketing & Kym from SpotArt who have taken over the publishing and distribution of the Western Echo. Both Melanie & Kym have a wide connection with their community commitment through business interests and being involved with a number of local community organizations. On behalf of our club, congratulations to Melanie & Kym for your dedication to support our local community.

Recently our club financially supported Trek2Health with a significant donation to purchase a commercial treadmill which is used to medically assess participants starting a Trek2Health Program. Our community partnership with Trek2Health has been significant for Ashgrove The Gap Lions Club and it is great that we can support this local organization, which provides such an important service to First Responders, Defence Force & Veterans in our community.

Ashgrove The Gap Lions Club celebrated Anzac Day by organizing a BBQ and Bacon & Egg rolls for Trekkers who participated on the Trek2Health Midnight to Dawn trek from Anzac Square in the City to Anzac Memorial Park at Walton Bridge Park in The Gap via Mt Coot-tha. The trekkers arrived at 5.15am and enjoyed breakfast and a coffee. Our club also laid a wreath in Ashgrove & The Gap in remembrance of those who represented their Country with distinction and honor, LEST WE FORGET.

Upcoming Events in May

We will be conducting a number of BBQ’s for Trek2Health on 16th May, 23rd May, 28th May and 30th May at the Trek House in The Gap.

On 21st May, Meals on Wheels in Ashgrove will be celebrating a significant milestone when they have their 50th year celebration. Our club will be assisting by conducting a BBQ on the day.

On 23rd May Ashgrove The Gap Lions Club will be having their Partners & Friends Dinner meeting, where our Guest Speaker will be Colin Dorber who is the Director of Lockyer Valley Fruit & Vegetable Processing Company.

Did you know that Lions Clubs throughout Australia support a number of their Foundations who do wonderful work in their local community, one such Foundation is the Lions Eye Health Program. The aim is to reduce the incidence and impact of vision loss in the Australian Community through a Lions, community-based awareness, education and screening program. Of particular interest is the Children’s Vision Screening Program where Lions who have been fully trained as screeners will come to a school to screen children for all types of eye disorders including colour blindness. For further information visit the website: www.lehp.org.au

Leading into Christmas in July, we have Christmas Cakes & Puddings for sale if anyone in our community would like to purchase a 1.5kg Cake for $19, 1kg Cake and 900gm Pudding for $15 as well as a 80gm Mini Cake for $2. Enquiries can be made visiting our website or facebook page.

If you would like to find out more about Lions and the involvement we have in our community, or if you would consider joining Lions or become a Friend of Lions please email Allan Turner at lionatg19@gmail.com or call 0400 210 357.

Ashgrove The Gap Lions Club has a brand new website which was launched recently. We would like to thank Kym from SportArt for her generosity in creating and designing our website.

Please visit our website: www.ashgrovethegaplions. org.au Facebook: www.facebook.com/ AshgroveTheGapLionsClub/

Singing forJoy and Wellbeing

Wendy and Kat will be running their new 'Sing and Release Women's Workshop' at St Mark's Anglican Church Hall on Saturday 20th May. The workshop is 3 hours from 10am - 1pm and costs is $70, with a 10% discount for anyone who books from seeing this article. Numbers are limited so you can book with Kat directly on 0478817827 or email kat_mandu@live.com

Since the beginning of recorded time, people have come together to make music with each other.

Singing, in particular creates a sense of connectedness, of belonging and camaraderie, possibly because one is making music from within our own bodies. We sing when we're happy, especially after a few wines and traditionally, we sing when we're sad as in Celtic tradition of keening, funeral dirges and in the blues of the African Americans.

With the worst of the covid pandemic behind us, and people venturing out into their social groups again, there is a need for connection and self-expression for those who felt social isolation. Singing is a fantastic way for people to come together in a non-judgemental way.

The French sang as Notre Dame burned down. During covid isolation, people in Italy and France held little concerts for each other from their balconies. Community singing brings people together.

Kat Mandu, a long-time resident of The Gap and former QUT lecturer in non-classical voice ran the Mozart Free Zone community choir in the area for 10 years before moving to London where she ran several workshops.

“Everyone has that one smart person in life that tells them that they can’t sing, and for some strange reason, we choose to believe them. We then go through our lives believing that we can’t sing” she said.

Research has shown that coming together to sing in a supportive environment can do wonders for the mind and for easing stress, anxiety and depression, stabilising mood and increasing feelings of happiness. Most groups/choirs will teach you how to sing correctly so you can get a good sound coming out.

Wendy Murray is a Conservatorium trained singing teacher and has toured the world with her band Hot Mambo. "If you can speak, you can sing." Wendy said. "It's as simple as that! It’s not rocket science. It’s more a case of being shown how to produce the sound correctly and making the most of your unique gift.”

AshgroveForum

For more information on Forum Communicators public speaking association, please visit the website www.beconfident.org.au

Ashgrove Forum Club held its 982nd General Meeting at the Ashgrove Library at 6.30pm on Wednesday 19th April 2023.

The meeting was well attended, and the speaking session, which consisted of media reviews, produced some excellent and interesting speeches. Speakers gave reviews on the following:

• A Book Review of “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” by Taylor Jenkins Reid

• A Movie Review of “Air” directed by Ben Affleck, starring Ben Affleck and Matt Damon about the Nike Air shoe sponsorship deal with American basketball star Michael Jordan

• A Television Media Review of the coverage of Torville and Dean’s “Bolero” Figure Skating Olympic performance in 1984

• A Book Review on “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald

• A Review of a Live Performance on the Australian Outback Spectacular “Heartland” at the Gold Coast

• A Review of the Television Series “Call the Midwife”

• A Review of the ABC Radio Program “Overnights” with Rod Quinn.

Applications for the Annual Forum Bursary are now open.

The Bursary, offered through the National Council of Women Qld bursary scheme, is valued at $1000.00. It is open to female students enrolled in first or second year of a tertiary course such as university or TAFE, who can demonstrate a record of achievement in the communication field, either through school or tertiary studies, or through involvement in a public speaking or debating group.

To apply visit https://ncwq.org.au/what-we-do/bursary-program

Ashgrove Forum holds meetings in the Ashgrove Library Meeting Room at 6.30pm, on the 3rd Wednesday of each month. Next meeting is 17th May. The speaking topic will be “An event that Changed the Course of History”.

Visitors are always welcome to attend and observe without obligation.

For information, contact Secretary Pat on 0458 696 267.

The Hills & Districts Chamber of Commerce

Senior Committee News~Over the Hills Free Art Class

The Over the Hills Art Class are going very well. They are on each Friday at the PCYC Hills District at Everton Hills, 10am to 12pm. Teacher Julie is ready on hand to assist in our efforts with lessons in a mix of media and styles. Bring along your art supplies or use ours and enjoy learning new skills in a friendly group.

You don’t have to be a senior to join our activities. We enjoy ourselves. Contact: Julie 0408 879 243

Technology Sessions at the Leagues Club

2nd Wednesday of each Month: 14 June 2023, 10.30am-12.30pm, our tutor is Graham McDermott “The Tech Tutor”

The Topic for June is Social Media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter etc & Messaging Applications)

Who is this for: Anyone who has not used these services before and would like to, or perhaps someone that has used one or all of them and would like to know which is better/safer to use.

Cost is $15.00. Book online at the Chamber website: www.hillschamber.org.au.

Places are limited so be quick to book in. Why not stay for coffee or a light lunch at the Club after the session. Contact: Judith 0431 159 921

Twilight Year’s Expo Comes to the Hills PCYC

Friday 26 May, 10am-3pm

A Living, Active and Fun time for all. Free Admission & Raffles

To book for Senior Events: Go to Events at hillschamber.org.au

Click on the Event

Click on the Number of tickets (the + button) Click and then follow the prompts.

For more information about the Senior Committee contact: John 0448 186 115, Carolyn 0448 328 914, or Judith 0431 159 921.

Join our Facebook Group: Senior’s Committee Branching Out

Rotary Club of Ashgrove The Gap

This year marks one hundred years of Rotary in Queensland. Your local club is a mere 54 years old but feels younger. The annual district assembly, held at Brisbane City Hall this year, marked the centenary with a galaxy of star speakers, including Noel Pearson and Sir Peter Cosgrove. Stars indeed!

Launched at the District Conference was Rotary Queensland’s Break Through Project, which is to endow a chair (a professorship) at the Queensland Brain Institute. A sum of $5 million will be needed over the next three years to achieve an endowed chair, which will then become self-funding in perpetuity. The QBI focuses on two of the greatest challenges facing medicine and society: understanding brain function and developing prevention and treatment strategies for disorders like dementia (including Alzheimer’s) and Parkinson’s Disease.

Since the last report to The Western Echo (welcome back, Echo, and long may you thrive!) Rotary in Ashgrove/ The Gap has held a couple of very successful meetings: a Japanese-themed night organised by our Japanese member Yuki, complete with a Koto recital, and an information night for the community which attracted some interest and one of our two new members. We intend to hold more regular information nights in future, so that people with even a vague interest or curiosity regarding Rotary can come along without commitment and learn.

Meanwhile, our Easter Raffle concluded on Maundy Thursday. First prize of a beach trolley full of good things went to Gareth Forde (Bardon), and the second, a basket of goodies, to Alison Wood (The Gap) who told her husband not to buy a ticket “as I have the winning one”. Many a true word spoken in jest!

Future planned talks include a look at a life in the Lutheran educational system, and an analysis of how Australia can transition to renewable energy – opportunities and threats.

We aim to “do good in the World” as our motto says, but also to have as much fun as possible while doing it.

You can find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ ashgrovethegap/ or our website for more information: www.rotaryashgrovethegap.org.au

Brisbane North Cake Decorators

The Easter Saturday Bunnings BBQ was frantic; sausages would have been flying out of the door if we had had a door. Thanks Bunnings – and thanks to the hard-working crew, and to all those who bought sausages and drinks on the day. You can be sure that your contributions will go to good causes.

Brisbane North Cake Decorators is a branch of the Queensland Cake Decorators Association Inc. and we meet monthly on the third Saturday of the month (except December) at the Arana Hills Community Centre, 291 Dawson Parade, Arana Hills at 1.00pm. Our aim is to encourage the love of cake decorating in all its aspects and we love to share our knowledge with everyone. We keep the business side of the club as brief as possible so we can then have a workshop or demonstration by our members or invited guests from other clubs.

We love to see new members come along and can be contacted on our Facebook page, Brisbane North Cake Decorators Association QCDA or via email brisbanenorthcakedecorators@gmail.com

In an era of increasing authoritarianism, organisations like Amnesty International are vitally important in calling out autocratic behavior by states, as well as threats to democracy and human rights. As well as fighting for the protection of international human rights, Amnesty International Australia works to protect the human rights of all Australians by focusing on the following core campaigns: indigenous justice, refugee rights, LGBTQIA+ rights, climate justice, anti-racism and women’s safety. While confronting these many and varied issues can sometimes seem overwhelming, we also need to remind ourselves that we can all do our bit, no matter how small and change can be achieved. An example of this is the support that the Helen Black Amnesty International group has given over the last ten years to a family fleeing from Pakistan due to death threats on religious grounds. After a decade’s precarious existence in a third country with expired visas and passports, and at risk of being rounded up by officials as they lacked appropriate documentation, they have finally been resettled in Canada. While this story has a positive ending, the family is still dealing with the on-going legacy of physical, emotional and financial difficulties.

This time frame is similar to the people who have spent 10 years in Australia’s offshore detention system (in breach

of Australia’s obligations under the Refugee Convention). A spokesperson for Amnesty International Australia recently described the keeping of refugees and people seeking asylum on Nauru and PNG as “a recognised humanitarian emergency requiring urgent intervention.” This is why Amnesty International continues to push for the recognition of people’s right to seek refuge from persecution regardless of how they arrive and also for the humane treatment of those seeking asylum. To this end, Amnesty International Australia has recently made a submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs calling for people still in Nauru and PNG to be allowed to come to live and receive medical care in Australia.

The Helen Black Amnesty International group meets between 9-11am on the second Monday morning of the month in The Gap and would love to hear from anyone interested in joining the group. Please contact Di on 33001861.

The Ashgrove Amnesty International group meets on the first and third evenings of the month and can be contacted by calling Sally on 3366 2046 or 0476 006 990.

fresh, Certified

Supplying great tasting,

Organic Produce to The Gap & Neighbouring Suburbs for 10 years.

For a current price list and details about ordering – email thegaploco@gmail.com or visit thegaploco.com

We are a community owned, local, worker run, registered worker co-operative.

Deliveries are on Mondays and we also run a pop up shop between 10am and 5pm on Mondays at 15 High St Ashgrove (in the Oakleigh Scouts car park)

Deliveries are on Mondays and we also run a pop up shop between 10am and 3pm on Mondays at 15 High St Ashgrove (in the Oakleigh Scouts car park)

* Advertisement proudly sponsored by COOEEE - ( COOEEE.com.au)

Boomerang Bags The Gap and Surrounds

Mother’s Day Gifts that Support our Community

Each May on Mother’s Day, we celebrate our marvelous mums, and often buy gifts to thank them for everything they do for us. The shops are full of mass-produced Mother’s Day merchandise, often manufactured overseas. Why not surprise your mum with a unique, beautiful, practical and environmentally-friendly gift, lovingly made right here in The Gap by our talented volunteers?

Boomerang Bags The Gap and Surrounds (BBTGS) make a range of items from unwanted materials. Our raw materials are all donated, and include unwanted fabric, curtains, tablecloths, doona covers, old uniforms, hessian coffee sacks, animal feed bags, tents, insulated bags from meal kits and medicines, and even old conference banners. We rescue these items that might otherwise have gone to landfill, and lovingly repurpose them into tote bags, shopping bags, produce bags, planter bags, foot stools, coffee caddies and more. Our latest creations are Yoga Bags, designed to carry a yoga or pilates mat, with plenty of room for a towel and water bottle, plus pockets for a phone, keys and glasses.

If you would like to purchase a BBTGS item, our lined tote bags are available at Café Tara in The Gap Village Shopping Centre. We also have two stalls in May, selling our full range:

Saturday 13th May at Brookside Shopping Centre (near Terry White Chemmart), 9am – 3pm

Sunday 21st May at the Community & Craft Market at Yoga Sol, 11 Mawarra Cres, Ferny Hills, 2pm – 6pm

When you purchase a BBTGS item, not only do you get a beautiful gift, you also support our local community via our Community Grants program. Since 2017, BBTGS has returned over $10,000 to around twenty local schools, sporting clubs, Scouts and other community groups to help fund environmental, educational and well-being projects that protect our Earth, support our children and build important connections in our wonderful corner of the world.

Our next round of Community Grants opens on Monday 1st May, offering grants of up to $1000 each. If your school, club or community group has a project that generates either environmental, educational or well-being outcomes, we encourage you to apply. Please email us at bbtgs4061@gmail.com and we’ll send you an application form.

If you’d like to get involved, BBTGS welcomes people of all ages to join us! Our volunteers get joy from not only doing the right thing by the environment, but also from coming together and enjoying each other’s company and learning new skills. We meet each Friday morning during school terms at The Gap Baptist Church. Come and join our fantastic group, increase your local social network and make new friends!

For more information on the grants, events and how to join us, please follow us on Facebook and Instagram, or send us an email.

Facebook: BoomerangBagsTheGapandSurrounds

Instagram: boomerang_bags_the_gap

Email: bbtgs4061@gmail.com

The Gap ProbusClub News

Well, the club had had its Annual General Meeting with the election of office-bearers, and all slots were filled, so it is perfectly safe to come along as a visitor to sample the interesting talks and good company that you will find in the club. Then later you can choose to enjoy the visits, games, cocktails, lunches, overnight trips, walks and other delights which our members are looking forward to. In the last month alone we have gone out to Bellbird Grove for a local picnic, gazed in wonder at the cakes in the competition at the RNA showgrounds, and footled around with the Putt Putt mini-golf at Victoria Park. The weather was fine but extremely windy for the picnic; the brave Probians fastened everything down on the picnic tables in the Council shelter and carried on regardless. Not one person was carried away by the breeze, but it was a close thing. We have used Bellbird Grove before, so we knew to bring drinking water with us. Otherwise there are all the mod cons to enjoy in the fresh air.

Fran Rooney, with her husband Mark, runs a local business centred around bees. She proved a fount of knowledge at our April meeting, with fascinating detail about the running of a honey business, the life-cycle of bees, workers, drones and Queens, their different stings, and their behaviour. Did you know that to move you from a place where they don’t want you to be they will head-butt you? Given that to sting you can be suicidal for the bee, that’s obviously a preferable first move. Bees are immensely important as pollinators, and at the same time threatened by introduced pests, so there is cause for concern. We can help by not

bringing contraband items into Australia when we return from overseas.

The cake show was a real revelation. The things that are possible with building materials made out of food! Whales, dragons, horses, weird portraits – all are within the scope of the icing sculptors. A few members went to

see the show, and far more will be there next year now that we know what wonders are on display.

If you are interested finding out more without commitment, we would be delighted to talk with you, and invite you to our meetings

(first Thursday of every month, 2pm, at The Gap Baptist Church, corner of Waterworks and Settlement Roads).

Just call Rhoda on 0409 484 219.

Newmarket BocceClub News

We have been hard at work at the Newmarket Bocce Club. We have been affected by four floods in recent years, the last and major one, in February 2022. The court’s surface changed that much that we decided to renovate and resurface. Our President Tony D led the way, with the help of myself (Mario), Bill, Carmelo and Tony S. We played our inaugural game on the new surface on 18 April. They look good but it will take some getting used to the new surface.

We are also looking at other renovation adventures. So watch this space!

Here are a couple of photos of the new surface being

undertaken.

The club is situated at 23 Foster St, Newmarket, located at the rear of the Multicultural City Church. We meet on Tuesday mornings 8-11.30am, and Wednesday and Friday nights from 6-9.30pm. Other times which include special events and competitions. Bocce members $100, social $30.

Want to know more?

Please call Mario 0403 257 425; Tony 0418 731 423; or Bill 0431 458 481.

Ithaca ProbusClub News

Plenty to enjoy at Ithaca Probus Club

The new Probus year has set the tone for a very active and entertaining time ahead. Our monthly meetings are now commencing with a spirited singalong of a few old favourites. A diversity of guest speakers are lined up to inform and entertain us each month. In recognition of April being ANZAC month, club member Geoff Crane talked about the unsung heroes of war – the secret services. He covered the code breakers, the code makers and the secret agents that went in behind enemy lines and reported back using these codes. He also covered the unfortunate reality of double agents. Guest speaker in May will be Lorraine Walker from the Stroke Foundation: “Make yourself stroke free.” Then in June the President of the Historical Society of Queensland will tell us about the early days of Queensland.

With recent research showing the benefits to memory of maintaining reading, especially complex novels with lots of characters, it is very pleasing to see such a well-supported book exchange table at our general meetings in recent months.

We have been getting out and about too. Some members

celebrated St Patrick’s Day at the Caloundra RSL. Keen music lovers are attending the Lord Mayor’s free weekly concerts in City Hall. Members enjoyed a very pleasant and relaxing BBQ lunch at Bellbird Grove in April.

Most of the wide range of interesting activities - talks, outings, and other socially engaging events, such as the cards group and the poetry group, are all in full swing. Monthly dine-outs at local pubs, clubs or restaurants add to the range of opportunities for interaction between members. Our monthly newsletters keep members connected with reports on past activities and details of upcoming events.

New members are always most welcome at Ithaca Probus Club. We meet at 9.30am on the 2nd Thursday each month except December and January at the Red Hill Bowls and Community Club in Fulcher Road, Red Hill, or come on any of our outings. If you would like to give us a try, please phone either of our Club Membership Officers Sue Vivian on 0413 544 202 or Janelle Rhodes on 0412 628 646.

Newmarket ViewClub News

using and simpler using of textiles left members feeling that perhaps we should fill our cupboards with natural fibres, etc. such as cotton and wool.

Our February guest speaker, Jane Milburn, OAM, of Textile Beat, shared her Slow Clothing Project: Finding meaning in what we wear: Jane was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for service to fashion sustainability in 2022. Her insight into re-

Newmarket VIEW members work hard to raise funds to sponsor our students: Abbee (19), Roudwan (15), Jesse (14), Tony (13), Mitchell (9), Abigail (8), Amy (10). i.e. one tertiary, three secondary and three primary students.

For its Back to School Appeal, The Smith Family is currently calling on Australians to sponsor children experiencing disadvantage. With new sponsors, the charity can help anther 3,800 students

Australia-wide through its Learning for Life educational support program. Through Learning for Life, children are provided with financial assistance for essential school supplies, access to out of school activities, tutoring and mentoring programs.

Newmarket VIEW Club provides a place for women to connect in the community, enjoy social activities and develop

lasting friendships – all while supporting the work of the children’s educational charity – The Smith Family.

If you wish to know more about the Newmarket VIEW Club, you can email us on newmarketview@ gmail.com or contact our President, Ros Arden on 0417 569 547.

Mitchelton Pre-SchoolingCentre

Mitchelton Pre-Schoolers Honour ANZACS

Children at Mitchelton Pre-Schooling Centre have a big voice in what happens during the day, along with their teachers. Sometimes changes in the environment and community events bring new opportunities for thinking, learning and playing.

Teachers and Families from the Kindy once again took part in the Gaythorne RSL’s ANZAC day March and service. The 3- and 4-year-olds have begun their lifelong learning

about what Anzac Day means to Australians. The young marchers gathered in the early hours of the morning behind their MPC Kindy flag and walked with hundreds of others along Samford Road. Each of the children had an opportunity to carry the flag. Some children were wearing medals of older generations or of serving family members. The children who laid a wreath showed tremendous focus and concentration in helping to commemorate this proud tradition.

Back at Kindy, the children have listened to stories about the ANZACs, looked at ANZAC items hired from the Queensland Museum, made Anzac biscuits, painted poppies, learnt about the significance of poppies and were learnt that first nations people also served to protect our country.

These children are among the next generation to continue the tradition of remembering the Anzacs. The significance of Anzac Day will continue to grow with them each year.

THE GAP SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVE

Our April seminar featured guest speaker Clare Silcock, renewable energy engineer and energy strategist for the Queensland Conservation Council. Clare spoke on the topic of changing the energy production in Queensland from coal and gas-fired production to renewables. Clare started by providing a snapshot of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report which showed that stopping land clearing and increasing use of renewable energy production are two major activities that can reduce the carbon production of developed nations and are highly cost effective. However, Clare also reported that this transition is not straightforward and complex decision need to be made. For example, while wind power has a low carbon footprint, the best positions for wind turbines are often in high ecological value rainforest areas and clearing those for wind energy is clearly not ideal. Clare mentioned lack of an adequate policy framework to properly assess such new projects. Several previous speakers also mentioned lack of adequate protective environmental policies as a major barrier to sustainable action. We will continue to raise this issue of improving energy and sustainability policy frameworks in Queensland with federal, state and local politicians whenever possible. One final point that Clare raised was the opportunity for community energy production as championed for example by C4CE to overcome the challenges of transporting electricity over large distances and Clare highlighted the benefit of reductions in energy use, which will also be the topic of our June seminar when we welcome Sam Mullen from the Brisbane Sustainability Agency as our guest speaker. We thank The Gap High School for once again allowing us to use their library, which has a great set up with air-conditioning and presentation technology.

NEXT EVENTS:

On the 16th of May we will hold our next working group meeting to discuss progress on our three projects: The Platypus; Energy Independence; and Enhancing Existing Capabilities.

On the 20th of June we will have Sam Mullen from the Brisbane Sustainability Agency as our guest speaker who will talk about the Brisbane carbon Challenge. Both events will be at The Gap High School Library at 7.30 pm. All interested residents are welcome to attend.

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Stay updated about our activities by visiting our website www.thegapsustainability.org. We also have an active presence on Facebook.

Yours

YOU’RE INVITED SUSTAINABILITY IN THE GAP

16th May 2023, 7.30pm

At The Gap State High School Library Pr ojec g m

We currently progress three major projects:

RSVP to thegapsustainability@gmail.com for the 16st

sincerely, The Gap Sustainability Initiative Mgt Committee

The Physiologix Corner

despite not using the arm and is felt at night may also include some nerve related component. The neck and upper limb nerves may need to be assessed in this situation

Best treatment for Tennis Elbow: Rest IS NOT best. It is important you continue to use the arm at a level where you don’t aggravate your pain. As your physios, we spend a lot of time ascertaining what you do in the day and the positions you get into. These may be aggravating your pain without you realising. Simply learning how to hold your arm and wrist in the positions where the tendons cannot compress on the bones throughout your daily postures can make a big difference to your pain.

Trial rehabilitation first. Corticosteroid injection is not the best option in the long run although it can provide good relief in the first 6 weeks. Rehabilitation of tennis elbow includes:

Tennis Elbow or Golfers Elbow

Lets start by saying that you can have either of these and not be a golfer or a tennis players.

What is Tennis Elbow? Tennis elbow is the term used for pain felt over the outside of the elbow. Medically this is referred to as “Lateral Epicondylalgia”. This is caused by pain from the tendons of the extensor muscles of the forearm and where they attach to the bone. These are the muscles that run up the back of the forearm and cause the wrist to bend backwards or “extend”.

Causes of Tennis Elbow: The tendons can compress against the bone at the outside of the elbow where they attach eventually resulting in pain. Typical reasons this may happen include:

• A sudden increase in use of the muscles. This may be from heavier use as well as longer use, or more frequent use

• Return to activity after a break

• Doing too much too quick

• Lack of recovery time between use of the muscles

Common symptoms of tennis elbow:

• Pain is felt over the outside of the elbow and can refer into the muscles of the outside of the lower arm.

• Pain is often with use, but eases with rest

• Pain is felt if you push on the injured spot at the outside of the elbow

• Pain can be felt with gripping

• Pain that continues to persist after doing activity

• Education of how to position your arm to best reduce tendon compression

• Education on how much to reduce what you do and how to progress what you do so as to not aggravate your pain

• Specific exercises that strengthen the tendon

• A general exercise program to maintain good upper limb and all over strength

• Advice about possible use of a brace or taping

What is Golfers Elbow: Golfers elbow is the term used for pain felt over the inside of the elbow. Medically this is referred to as “Medial Epicondylalgia”. This is caused by pain from the tendons of the forearm flexor muscles and where they attach to the bone. These are the muscles that run up the front of the forearm and cause the wrist to bend forwards or “flex”.

Causes of golfers elbow: The tendons can compress against the bone on the inside of the elbow where they attach eventually resulting in pain. Typical reasons this may happen are similar to that for tennis elbow and include:

• A sudden increase in use of the muscles.This may be from heavier use as well as longer use, or more frequent use. Typically the activity has an element of gripping or wrist flexion (bend)

• Return to activity after a break

• Doing too much too quick

• Lack of recovery time between use of the muscles

Common symptoms of golfers elbow:

• Pain is felt over the inside of the elbow and can refer

into the muscles on the front lower arm.

• Pain is often with use, but eases with rest

• Pain is felt if you push on the injured spot at the inside of the elbow

• Pain can be felt with gripping or bending the wrist.

• Pain that continues to persist after doing activity despite not using the arm and is felt at night may also include some nerve related component. The neck and upper limb nerves may need to be assessed in this situation

Best treatment for golfers elbow: This is the same as for tennis elbow so please read through the sections above for more information. Although exercises are important it is often the education and advice on how to manage the tendon that will help you make some of the biggest improvements in recovery.

Still stuck?

Please make sure you give Physiologix, upstairs at The Gap Health and Racquet Club or call on 3511 1112 and organise to have a chat to one of our highly skilled physiotherapists.

Alternatively go to our website physiologix.com.au and click on the “book appointment” icon at the top right of this page to make a booking.

Ashgrove DanceStudio

Celebrating our History

The Ashgrove Dance Studio is this year clocking up two major milestones with Judith and Wendy celebrating teaching for 50 years in the Ashgrove area, and a further celebration of its 124th year anniversary. Over the years, hundreds of families and young dancers have received their early dance training at the school. Currently we have approximately 150 students.

The Ashgrove Dance Studio originates from the school founded in 1899 by Nellie Lawrence. This school was originally a member of the Society of Operatic Dancing (which later became the Royal Academy of Dancing). From 1913 to 1922 the school was directed by Katie Cannon before being handed over to Thelma Robertson and Brenda McCulloch in 1922. In 1938, Joy and Fay Bassett took the reins and were joined by their sister Nell in 1945. The Bassetts expanded the school with classes held in inner Brisbane, Camp Hill, Mitchelton, and Southport, as well as in Ashgrove.

In 1973, they handed the studio over to Wendy and Judith Lowe (McCaffrey), who had themselves gained their early dance training with the Bassetts and currently use several church halls in Ashgrove.

Along with their training with the Bassetts, Wendy and Judith Lowe received lessons from Frankie Thompson and Phyllis Danaher. Both are registered teachers with the RAD and have completed all their exams including, for Judith, Solo Seal. Wendy and Judith both danced with the Ballet Theatre of Queensland as well as the Queensland Modern and Contemporary Dance Company. Wendy was appointed ballet mistress in 1977 of the Ballet Theatre of Queensland, and Judith has appeared from time to time with both the Australian Ballet and Opera Australia.

Wendy and Judith are proud of the heritage of their school, possibly the oldest in Queensland. We offer a range of classes from Toddlers to Silver Swans (over 50s). We offer the full RAD ballet syllabus as well as for senior students,

lyrical, contemporary, broadway jazz, tap and hip hop. We also conduct adult classes in ballet, tap and jazz for any age.

Wendy also conducts special movement classes at aged care facilities.

Wendy and Judith say they “recognize that it is a gift to work with our students and take great responsibility in ensuring all students are treated with respect and kindness”.

We are also proud that we have been presented with a beautiful, engraved silver teapot which was originally given to Nellie Lawrence, the founder of the school, by her pupils in 1911. The teapot was gifted by Prue Galley, Nellie Lawrence’s granddaughter in

recognition of the heritage of the original school.

To celebrate our 50 years of teaching and our 124 th anniversary, we will be holding a dinner dance on the 3 rd June at the Gap Football Club, a trivia night on the 9 th September at the Polish Club, and our at Marist Ashgrove on the 1 st and 2 nd December. Watch this space for further details and you may be able to come along and support us.

We are also preparing a booklet of memories over the last 50 years. If anyone has any stories or photos we could include, we would love you to send them to us at: principal@ ashgrovedance.com.au

Balaangala Community Group

Yoorala Street Community Garden

How Green Is Your Thumb?

Do you already have a green thumb? Or would like to develop one? The Yoorala St Community Garden may be just the perfect place for you!

The garden is keen to encourage members of our local community to get involved. We love visitors and welcome the community to come and see what we do. You don’t need any gardening experience to join in. Our friendly green-thumbed members have a wealth of gardening knowledge and experience that they happily share.

Sorry Day Commemoration in The Gap

Since 1998, people across Australia have come together to acknowledge and pay respect to members of the Stolen Generations. This day is called Sorry Day.

Balaangala Community Group invites you to their 2023 commemoration of Sorry Day to be held on Sunday 28th May, commencing at 3pm in the Balaangala Garden, 98 Yoorala St, The Gap.

Everyone is welcome to attend this local event, to remember, reflect and participate in a shared journey of healing.

For more information, please email balaangalathegap@gmail.com

Website: www.balaangala.org.au

The garden provides a family-friendly and welcoming space for our community to come together, enjoy the outdoors, make new friends, and learn about gardening and growing fruit and vegetables.

Yoorala St Community Garden is made up of communal members areas and individually leased plots. The garden operates under organic gardening principles, as required by Brisbane City Council.

We are always keen to welcome new members, and anyone can participate in our activities. Please just bring your hat and a smile. Note: we also have raised garden beds which are access-friendly. Please pop by on any Sunday morning between 8.30 10am (or Sunday afternoon from November March from 4-6pm) and join us after for a cuppa!

Address: 98 Yoorala St, The Gap.

For more information

email: yscgsecretary@gmail.com

Visit our website: www.yscg.com.au or check us out on: www.facebook.com/ yooralastreetcommunitygarden

Principal'sPoints... Principal'sPoints...

Payne Road State School

"I CAN" STATEMENTS

At Payne Road SS our students are working very well with the use of ‘I Can’ statements which help them to identify exactly what they need to have ‘success’ in their writing tasks – this certainly helps their gradual development as ‘Self-Managing’ learners. These important ‘I Can’ statements are visible on the English Learning Walls across all of our classrooms! Students can locate their success criteria on the ‘bump-it-up’ part of their Learning Walls, in order to understand their

personal goals and take the necessary steps to improve or ‘bump up’ their writing. Students also love to use bright highlighters to identify eg the noun groups in their own work, and then work to ‘bump these up’ –always such a fun thing to do!

Combined with descriptive teacher feedback, this is a powerful approach for improved outcomes which our students are accessing every day at Payne Road. Here are some Learning Walls that students are using in Year 2. They are showing how they have used their different coloured paper for different paragraphs in their Tiger

story. They are also sharing the checklist that has been co-constructed with their teacher to ensure that they have included all of the elements in the marking guide. This is essential if we are aiming to achieve an A! Writing is not only fun at Payne Road SS, it is also very successful as students are empowered by actively using their ‘I can’ statements in various ways!

helps students improve their eye/hand and eye/ foot coordination, fitness, balance, locomotion and eye-tracking skills. We had lots of fun playing various games which is a lovely way to develop team spirit and settle into the school year.

The 2023 St Peter Chanel Senior Swimming Carnival and Junior Showcase, both showed great talent and progress made by the students, some of whom went on to represent our school at North West Districts, Met North, State and Zone championships. St Peter Chanel students not only won Division B School at North West Districts, but they earnt more points than the Division A winning team!!!! One student even broke a new zones record in 50m backstroke!!! We are very proud to have such accomplished swimmers at the school.

Nicky Brazzale Principal

St Peter Chanel

We had an extremely busy and successful sporting start to the year at St Peter Chanel, The Gap, with a focus on PMP, Orienteering, Swimming, State Athletic Championships, Cross Country and a Auskick.

Perceptual Motor Program (PMP) is a movementbased program which

We had an Auskick coach visit the school early in the term to teach some skill games and have some fun. An orienteering coach was working with years 3-6 later in the term which linked in nicely with us preparing for the 2023 Cross Country Carnival. We began Term 2 with the school Cross Country where all students ran their

Principal'sPoints... Principal'sPoints...

The Gap State School

PREP OPEN DAY

THURSDAY, 25 MAY 2023

9:00 am - 10:30 am

Enrolment enquiries:

www.thegapss.eq.edu.au/enrolments

little legs off and supported each other beautifully. We can’t wait to see how the students go at North West

The Gap State School

Our annual Year 4-6 Cross Country Carnival was held in the first week of Term 2. Students are congratulated for their comradery and team spirit and their outstanding behaviour on the day. It is my pleasure to announce our 2023 Cross Country Age Champions: 2011 - Archer and Mindi; 2012 - Ellie and Sebastian; 2013 - Flynn and Isabella; 2014 - Abi and Sebastian.

Metropolitan North Regional representative at the Queensland State School Trials.

Basketball - Oliver and Levi, 10-12 Years Boys Basketball, North West District representatives at the Metropolitan North Regional Trials.

Football - Zara, 10-12 Girls Football, North West District representative at the Metropolitan North Regional Trials.

be available for collection. If you have a child eligible to commence Prep in 2024 at The Gap State School and have not yet submitted an expression of interest for enrolment, please visit the 'Enrolling at our school' page on our website to complete the online form. Once submitted, your details will be included on the school's expression of interest list for enrolment communications.

Districts.We also had five very talents sports students participate in the State Athletics Championships in Townsville. Many of them achieving Personal Bests in their events.

We are extremely proud of all the students at St Peter Chanel for getting in and having a go and supporting each other. We can’t wait to see what the next term brings.

With the most points accumulated on the day, congratulations to Dhagun House, the winning house for 2023!

The representative school sport pathways program provides opportunity for students to excel in their chosen sports, competing against students from other schools for a place in the district, regional and state teams.

Congratulations to the following students on their recent sporting successes: Swimming - Charlie, 11 Year Boys 100 Breastroke,

AFL - Harlem, 10-12 Years Boys AFL, North West District representative at the Metropolitan North Regional Trials.

Open Day –

Thursday 25 May 2023

The Gap State School Open Day will be held on Thursday 25 May 2023, from 9am to 10:30am.

Parents and caregivers are invited to attend for the opportunity to hear from and to meet some of the school’s key members of staff. School tours with senior students will be held during the morning and 2024 enrolment packs will

In the lead up to the Open Day, enrolment information will be emailed to families on our 2024 expression of interest list, and parents/ caregivers of children who are automatically entitled to enrolment at The Gap State School, will be invited to book an enrolment interview. Please see the Enrolments section of the school’s website for more information www.thegapss. eq.edu.au.

Warm regards,

Joanne Nicholls Principal

Local business networking group in Ashgrove, The Gap, and Surrounds

Our monthly breakfast meetings are a great opportunity to get to know other local businesses and find out what’s happening in our community, build business relationships and referral business, and share business tips and news. We also work closely to support our local community and NFP groups.

All local businesses are welcome to come along to our networking breakfast events, usually held at a local café on the 2nd Thursday of each month from 7-8.30am. There are no membership fees – just the cost of your breakfast. The purpose of the business group is to achieve the following:

• Create an informal networking opportunity for local Westside businesses

• Build relationships and possible business opportunities between our local businesses

• Promote The Gap/Ashgrove/Westside businesses to the local community; including opportunities for joint promotions and marketing activities

• Share ideas and discuss local business issues

• Learn and support each other – business tips, and occasional guest speakers

• Support local charities and not-for-profit local community groups

To keep updated please follow our Facebook page: www.Facebook.com/WestsideBusinessHeart

BUSINESS NETWORKING EVENTInvitation

WEDNESDAY 24 MAY

For local Western suburbs business owners:

We are hosting our first Westside Business Heart evening network event for the year! This event is open to all local business owners. We will also be launching our first edition as the new publishers of The Western Echo – so please join us. RSVPs are required please for catering purposes!

Event Details:

Date: Wed, 24 May 2023 | Time: 5:30pm - 7:30pm

Venue: Home Cafe Ashgrove - Stewart Rd

RSVP: to Melanie by 22 May pleaseor via the Facebook event www.facebook.com/ events/1357050518413038

Cost: $35 per person (payable on arrival) - for nibbles / platters / and a ‘welcome’ drink (basic beer, wine or soft drink). Additional drinks will be available on a cash bar basis.

Email: melanie@planetmarketing.com.au or 0409 440 501