The
Febuary 2022 ISSN 1327-676X
Western Echo Western
Published by: Hot Metal Publications Phone: 3300 1846 - Email: hotmetal@aussiebroadband.com.au Over 15,700 Copies delivered each month to homes, businesses and clubs in the Western Suburbs
Aussie! Aussie! Aussie! Oi! Oi! Oi!
At the Australia Day Citizenship Ceremony 2022, brilliantly organised and run by the Rotary Club of Ashgrove/The Gap and Officiating Officer Cr. Steven Toomey, 74 new Aussies received their citizenship.Pictured at the ceremony, Julian Simmonds; Licila Cuneo; new Aussie Bruno Silva; Jossue Esquivel; Irina Cuneo (all from Peru); Jonty Bush; Greg Grimmer (Switzerland) and front: Leonardo and Mateo Grimmer (Australia) Story Page 3
website: http://www.westernecho.com.au
The Western Echo February 2022 Page 1
ADVERTISER’S DIRECTORY ACCOUNTANT
Phone: 3351 0323 pg 21
R G Goodman Phone: 3289 1700 pg 12
MORTGAGE ADVISOR
AUTO AIR CONDITIONING Wyatt Automotive Phone: 3300 2077
pg 8
BATHROOMS Steve Froggatt Phone: 0402 730 177 pg 10
BEAUTY
Mortgage Choice Ashgrove P h o n e : 3 4 6 3 0 5 0 0 p g 11
MUSIC TUITION The Gap Piano Studio Phone: 3166 8353 pg 23
ORGANIC PRODUCE The Gap LOCO thegaploco.com.au
pg 20
PLUMBER
VETERINARIAN
Pandanus Contractors Phone: 3300 3934 pg 12 Plumbers We Are Phone: 3351 0016 pg 12
The Gap Veterinary Clinic Phone: 3300 1533 pg 15
POLITICAL/GOVERNMENT Jonty Bush Phone: 3554 9100
pg 5
Peter Cossar - Labor for Ryan www.queenslandlabor.org pg 4
REAL ESTATE Harcourts Inner West Phone: 3511 0666 pg 7 & 11
The Gap Day & Night Pharmacy Phone: 3300 1555 pg 32
PHARMACY
RESTAURANT
BLINDS/SHUTTERS
The Gap Day & Night Pharmacy Phone: 3300 1555 pg 32
La Belle Vie Phone:0435 200 282 pg 15
KB Security Phone: 3200 9152 pg 13
BRICKLAYING PAVING Inness Green Phone: 3300 1555 pg 12
PHYSIOTHERAPY Physiologix Phone: 3511 1112
pg 21
TYRE & MECHANICAL Wyatt Automotive Phone: 3300 2077 pg 9
CHOIR Queensland Choir Phone: 0491 682 552 pg 23 Serenata Singers serenatasingers.org.au pg 25 Voices of Birralee Phone: 3367 1001 pg 22
CLUBS/GROUPS Taylor Range Country Club Phone:3366 1560 pg 9
COMMUNITY SERVICES Communify Phone: 3368 3723
pg 18
COMPOUNDING PHARMACY Keperra Compounding Pharm. Phone: 3355 3905 pg 19
GUTTER VACUUM Big Boys Gutter Vacuum Phone: 0407 737 400 pg 8
LAWYERS Hollingworth & Spencer Phone: 3123 5700 pg 14
MASSAGE Bernard Evens Remedial & Sports Phone: 3366 9997 pg 18
MEDICAL CENTRE Keperra Family Practice
ASHGROVE
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Meals on Wheels North West Div Phone: 3354 3919 pg 6 Picabeen Community Ctr Phone: 3354 2555 pg 24
The Western Echo is produced monthly by
Hot Metal Publications
PO Box 270 The Gap
Ph: 3300 1846
http://www.westernecho.com.au editor@westernecho.com.au
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VOLUNTEER DRIVERS MAY BE NEEDED SHORTLY We are anticipating a need for more volunteer drivers. It can be for as little as a few hours each month. We deliver each morning: Monday to Friday, from around 9.30am until noon.
Can you help us? If you are interested, please phone Carolyn on 3366 4299 between the hours of 8.00am and noon.
Ashgrove Meals on Wheels 524 Waterworks Road
Ph 3366 4299
NOTICE TO READERS
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 Village, The Friendly Grocer The Gap, Wyatt's bp The Gap, Ashgrove Golf Club & Great Western Super Centre Management.
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Deadline for March 2022 5pm Tuesday 22nd Feb. 2022
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, The Western 2022The Page website:Keperra http://www.westernecho.com.au Ashgrove West, St.Echo JohnsFebruary Wood, Dorrington, Gap,2and selected areas of Bardon, Red Hill, Enoggera, and Mitchelton
The Gap Celebrates with new Aussies on Australia Day The Rotary Club of Ashgrove/The Gap welcomed 74 new citizens at an Australia Day citizenship ceremony on Australia Day. This was the 30th consecutive year that this local club has hosted such a ceremony; indeed this club originated the whole idea of community ceremonies. Our new citizens came from 25 countries in all, from five continents, with ages from 7 to 64. COVID-19 guidelines on hotspot restrictions, gathering sizes and social distancing resulted in fewer citizenship ceremonies than usual in 2021, leading to a backlog of demand and higher numbers than last year. Numbers at this ceremony were still limited by the maximum number the hall could legally accommodate. The club strives for an informal, relaxed atmosphere, as far as possible in a serious legal event, and this was achieved in spite of the need to follow strict Covid-safe guidelines. Unvaccinated candidates c o u l d n o t , b y l a w, b e admitted to the hall for the main ceremony, but a HomeAffairs-approved contingency plan allowed them to receive their citizenships in separate mini-ceremonies under the shelter of an outdoor area. On Australia day almost every member of the club, and many partners, pitched in to host the club’s 30th consecutive Australia Day C i t i z e n s h i p C e r e m o n y. After MC Ritchie Callaghan opened the proceedings, Club President Peter Kamau welcomed all. Councillor Steven Toomey was the presiding officer, and he, the member for Cooper Jonty Bush, and the federal member for Ryan Julian Simmonds gave short elegant speeches. Then the candidates, family by family, recited
their pledges of allegiance, thereby became citizens, and received their certificates – official ones and Rotary Club souvenir ones. Convenor Tim Boyd thanked the High School for the use of the hall, and said that despite some challenges, 79 conferees were all welcomed as new citizens, and they were vocal in praise of the club’s way of conducting the ceremony. The Royal Bounty Bush Band contributed mightily to the relaxed atmosphere in which this serious business was carried out, he said. Morning tea, in most years a variety of “Aussie tucker” was, due to those annoying Covid restrictions, limited to nice safe pre-wrapped Tim Tams, albeit with tea and coffee. Brisbane City Council provided a native plant for each new citizen from their Aspley nursery. The Paten Park Native Nursery kindly lent plants to decorate the stage, further adding to the atmosphere. Dr Matthew Edwards, spoke eloquently in response of the new Aussie citizens: “Good morning everybody and what a day it is! I’m Matt Edwards from England, here today with my wife Sandra from Ireland and daughters Lily and Erin. We've been in this lucky country for eight years now and dreamt of this day for much longer than that. We ’ r e d e l i g h t e d t o become new Australians. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all the people of Australia from the first for accepting us and welcoming us to this great country. I wish everybody in this room and everybody in this nation the very very best for the future. Thankyou.” More photos pages 26 & 27
website: http://www.westernecho.com.au
Among the new 74 Aussies were Dr Matthew Edwards, wife Sandra Ryan and daughters Lily and Erin Edwards. Matt also gave a vote of thanks on behalf of all the new Aussies following the ceremony
Inside the February Issue... Amnesty International..................................................................16 Arana VIEW Club..................................................................................16 Art in Bark Association......................................................................25 Ashgrove Forum.........................................................................10 Ashgrove Historical Society..............................................................8 Ashgrove Rangers......................................................................12 Ashgrove/The Gap Lions Club....................................................11 Brisbane Tramway Museum...........................................................31 Chess T’Minit.......................................................................31 Enoggera Historical Society.......................................................24 Enoggera Reservoir /Barnes Dedication..........................14 Ithaca Probus Club....................................................................31 Meals on Wheels North West Division.....................................................6 Mitchelton Garden Club..........................................................28 Neighbourhood Watch The Gap..................................................4 Newmarket VIEW Club.........................................................................31 Northern Suburbs Hockey Club...................................................13 Older Women's Network Mitchelton...........................................25 Paten Park Native Nursery (PPNN).............................................28 Picabeen Community Association..............................................24 Principal’s Points....................................................................22 Queensland Choir................................................................................23 Rotary Club of Ashgrove/The Gap Australia Day Citizenship Ceremony..3 Seranata Singers.....................................................................25 SOWN (Save Our Waterways Now)...........................................29 State Update - Jonty Bush - Member for Cooper.........................5 The Gap Garden Club..............................................................29 The Gap Historical Society......................................................18 The Gap Probus Club.................................................................16 The Gap RSL Sub Branch...........................................................9 Voices of Birralee................................................................................22 The Western Echo February 2022 Page 3
Neighbourhood Watch The Gap 4061 Back to School 2022 The Safety Bag Tag Initiative A partnership of Neighbourhood Watch The Gap and The Rotary Club of Ashgrove/ The Gap. You can now get your child a FREE Safety Bag Tag or Wallet Card and you only pay the POSTAGE! Primary School Keep your kids even safer by giving them fast, easy access to age appropriate welfare, well-being and safety phone numbers, web chat services and a reminder of their network of trusted people so they know they are NEVER alone, no matter what they are experiencing in their life. A durable long lasting Bag Tag with an insert as pictured. High School Aged Kids As life gets more complex, so too does the support network for young adults. Help yours navigate with our Safety Wallet Cards giving your High Schooler access to many hotline numbers offering support across various teenage challenges. Add to that the option of asking for help/support in other ways such as Web Chat services and templates for those young adults who’d prefer to write instead of talking it out. Follow the QR code below to see what they will see.
ORDER now and these will be posted to you asap! www.safetybags.org.au Your Suburb, Your Home, Your Family, Your Community 4061 www.fb.com/neighbourhoodwatchthegap neighbourhoodwatchthegap@yahoo.com.au www.nhwq4061.com
COMMUNITY SOLAR BATTERY FOR ASHGROVE & THE GAP If elected, Peter Cossar and Labor will deliver a community battery for Ashgrove and The Gap that will collect energy from local households with solar panels. This community battery will reduce the pressure on our electricity grid, lower emissions and cut power bills. It will also mean that households that can’t install solar – like apartment owners and renters – will be able to draw from excess electricity stored in this community battery. Labor’s Chris Bowen and Peter Cossar announcing this great local plan.
Only a vote for Labor at this Federal Election will deliver real action on climate change and lower power bills.
PETER COSSAR FOR RYAN Authorised by Julie-Ann Campbell, Australian Labor Party (Queensland Branch), 16 Peel Street, South Brisbane QLD 4101.
The Western Echo February 2022 Page 4
website: http://www.westernecho.com.au
State Update
Jonty Bush MP
Member for Cooper
Happy New Year!
Small Business Spotlight
Welcome back to a new year. We can’t wait to work with you on a bunch of exciting events and projects in 2022, including Clean Up Australia Day (February), Anzac Day services (April), and our Eco-Forum (July). Our office is open, and you can contact us through email or phone in the first instance - cooper@parliament.qld.gov.au and 07 3554 9100.
Our continued support of small businesses through this time makes a real difference. Local café and restaurant owners have suggested a number really helpful tips, including: 1. If you’re well, pop in to your local and order a coffee, cake or meal. 2. If you are working from home, in isolation or limiting your movement, most places n o w offer delivery through apps like Uber Eats, who can do contactless orders. 3. Share posts from your favourite places, tag your friends and family and book ahead if you’re hoping to pop in. 4. If you’re planning events, consider booking local establishments who would love to look after you, whatever the occasion. If you’d like me to visit and do a spotlight on your business, please call out.
Welcome to Shadow Minister for Climate Change & Energy, Chris Bowen MP
This month we welcomed Chris Bowen MP to The Gap, where we spoke about the benefits of community battery schemes. Chris was blown away by our uptake of solar with nearly half of all freestanding homes in The Gap having rooftop solar panels. Local groups Climate Action 4061 and The Gap Sustainability Initiative joined local solar experts in speaking directly with the Shadow Minister about the benefits of investing in solar battery infrastructure.
COVID-19 Boosters The Omicron strain has spread quickly over the past month and keeping up with our COVID vaccines is the best way for us to stay protected. We’ve done a great job in doing this! If it has been three months since your second dose, you are now eligible for your booster shot. You can book in at your pharmacist or GP and walk in at Queensland Health Hubs. You can find a vaccination location near you at www.health. qld.gov.au/vaccinelocations
Queensland’s First Carbon Neutral Kindy is right here in Ashgrove West!
Shout out to the team at Ashgrove West Kindy who worked with Climate Active throughout 2021 to achieve their carbon neutral status last September. The team at Ashgrove West is doing an incredible job reducing emissions - through rooftop solar, carbon neutral products and services, natural lighting and ventilation, and much more. It was great to pop out and see the work they’ve done – another local group that we can all be so proud of.
Shop 2/230 Waterworks Road, Ashgrove Q 4060 t 3554 9100 e cooper@parliament.qld.gov.au f www.facebook.com/jontyforcooper
Jonty Bush - working hard for us website: http://www.westernecho.com.au
The Western Echo February 2022 Page 5
Can you spare a few hours a week ?
Meals on Wheels North West, incorporating the Mitchelton Meals on Wheels branch, isa not-for-profit, community-driven service that delivers fresh, nutritious meals to vulnerable clients, is feeling the pinch of the surge in COVID-19 cases. While Meals on Wheels services are available to anyone who needs them, the majority of clients are elderly, disabled, or recovering from illness or hospitalisation. Throughout the pandemic, this has placed many clients at greater risk, resulting in many people isolating themselves in their own homes. This practice of self-isolation amongst vulnerable members of society is widespread and as a result, Meals on Wheels have seen an increase in clients needing their service.
Though Meals on Wheels services receive some assistance from Federal and State Government funding, it is sadly not enough to meet the growing needs of their client base. Because of this, they rely on the ongoing generosity and commitment of dedicated volunteers. Michelle Duncan, Community Development Officer at Meals on Wheels North West, said “Throughout the lockdowns of 2020 and 2021, we were blown away by how the community stepped up to assist. But what we’re seeing now, with the reopening of borders and businesses in an attempt to ‘live with the virus’, is that vulnerable folks in our community are being left behind. We’ve seen an increase in people needing
The Western Echo February 2022 Page 6
our service, and unfortunately we’re struggling to maintain the number of volunteers required to continue delivering exceptional service. We don’t just drop meals off at the door. Our volunteers take the time to check in on the clients. This is especially important when, sadly, many of our clients report feeling extremely isolated and lonely. Often our volunteers are the only people our clients see on a regular basis”. Michelle stated “We’re desperately seeking new volunteers. It can take just a few hours each week, fortnight or month. Just those few hours can make a huge difference to the lives of vulnerable people living in our neighbourhood”. Frank Cardillo, a long time volunteer with Meals on Wheels, said “I really enjoy
helping out some great people. I realised fairly quickly that Meals on Wheels isn’t just about the food. For some, it’s also about seeing a friendly face at the door, which has been especially important during the pandemic. It’s been really rewarding to have a chat and a laugh with people. Hopefully we make them feel they haven’t been forgotten”. Michaela Sargent, a Meals on Wheels volunteer for two years, said “It breaks my heart that people living in my community experience such social isolation but by volunteering with Meals on Wheels, I know that I can help combat the severity of it”. Anybody interested in volunteering with Meals on Wheels, or anyone who’d like to learn more, are encouraged to contact us on (07) 3354 3919 or services@ mownorthwest.org.au.
website: http://www.westernecho.com.au
YOURHOME OUR DEDICATION
FIND OUT WHAT YOUR PROPERTY’S WORTH. Call Carmen and Ben today, your market leaders in The Gap. 3505 4444 | harcourtssolutions.com.au
website: http://www.westernecho.com.au
The Western Echo February 2022 Page 7
Ashgrove Historical Society
Devoy residence on Three Mile Scrub Road (Ashgrove Avenue) circa 1908
Are your GUTTERS ready for the storm season? Don’t risk your safety by climbing on your roof!
Call Maurie on 0407
737 400
The Ashgrove Historical Society meets at the Ashgrove Library on the first Saturday of the month. All meetings are bound by Queensland Government COVID-19 regulations. Bookings are essential. Please be aware you may go on a waiting list depending upon how many people are allowed in the meeting rooms. Bookings are made through the AHS secretary, Julie, by emailing her at: ahs.secretary@bigpond. com or phoning 3366 4621. On Saturday 5 March at 10 am, Morris Moorhouse will present his research on the Devoy family residence, originally located at 53 Ashgrove Avenue, Ashgrove. The house was built in 1885 for John Devoy, son of Patrick and Annie Devoy who arrived in Brisbane in early 1865. Morris will tell the story of John Devoy’s ‘Villa Residence’, its design and layout and some of John’s life from an 8-year-old to an important member of Castlemaine Brewery. Speakers and topics for 2022 will be posted on the society’s website and Facebook page as they come to hand. Members will be notified first via the newsletter and/or email. If you would like to become a member, please contact the secretary (see above) and she will send you a membership form and EFT details. The fees are $10 single per annum, or $15 couple/ family. Income from memberships and book sales assist the society in its aims of researching, preserving, recording and publishing Ashgrove’s history. Books can be viewed on our website and purchased at meetings or by contacting the secretary. PayPal is no longer active on the website. To protect our volunteers, our stalls outside Woolworths Ashgrove are in recess until COVID-19 infection rates are resolved.
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The Western Echo February 2022 Page 8
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Trading Hours: Monday to Friday 7am to 5.30pm website: http://www.westernecho.com.au
The Gap RSL Sub-Branch Inc.
34 School Road THE GAP QLD 4061 postal address: P.O. Box 122 THE GAP QLD 4061 Mobile: 0434 555 618 Email:gap__rsl@bigpond.com Now that our community is reaching high levels of vaccination and the prevalent strain of Covid-19 , Omicron appears less dangerous , our expert authorities agree it is time to relax the restrictions which we have endured for so long and shielded us from the disease while the vaccination rates rose to an effective level. It appears that Omicron is also more contagious. Queensland’s Chief Medical Officer has bluntly warned us that more of us, many more of us , are going to contract Covid , in the thousands, even “ hundreds of thousands “. Many of us by now have family, friends, associates and contacts who have or have had Covid , some mild ,some much more debilitating . As in the general population, so in our own small SubBranch community . Some have recovered from it, some have it as this goes to print. One of the Objects of RSL Queensland is to provide welfare to the sick ,the vulnerable and the needy which means our Welfare Team is busy looking after those within our ranks who need help and protection. Authorities constantly urge us to be alert for signs of mental stress in our family members and friends which reminds us of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide .It has completed its first public hearing in Queensland which saw a surge in written submissions and requests for private sessions with a Commissioner. The Commission appears to be treating all submissions and people appearing before it with great sensitivity . HMAS Adelaide
Memberships available! Quality Family Recreation in a Safe, Relaxed Environment 3 Swimming Pools
2 Floodlit Tennis Courts
4 Glass-Backed Squash Courts
Numerous Gas Barbecue Areas
Meanwhile members of the Australian Defence Force continue doing what they do best - helping others, especially our Pacific neighbours. Following the Tongan earthquake, the RAAF quickly deployed a P-8A Poseidon Maritime Patrol Aircraft and a Lockheed C- 130 Hercules to assess and assist. Following up, the Royal Australian Navy’s Canberra Class Amphibious Assault Ship, HMAS Adelaide has arrived in Tonga laden with critical aid. A RAAF C-17A Globemaster has landed carrying personnel and equipment from our very own 23 ( City of Brisbane ) Squadron. We are grateful for their service Lest We Forget website: http://www.westernecho.com.au
Don't Miss Out! Contact the Club today trcclub@bigpond.net.au (07) 3366 1560 www.taylorrangecountryclub.com.au 28 Greenlanes Road, Ashgrove
We Look Forward to Hearing from You! The Western Echo February 2022 Page 9
Steve Froggatt Bathroom Renovation Specialists
• All work completed by Qualified Tradesmen • 40 Years Experience
Ph: 3863 3089 or
0402 730 177 QBCC Lic No. 1177107
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Carmen BRIGGS
Real Estate Agent | Justice of the Peace M 0418 742 511 P 3505 4444 carmen.briggs@harcourtssolutions.com.au
Ashgrove Ashgrove Forum has just received some exciting news. Louise Quinn, a former Ashgrove Forum President and Former State Forum President has been awarded an OAM in the Australia Day Order of Australia honours list for her services to the community through a range of roles, one of which was as President of Ashgrove Forum. Congratulations Louise!! The first meeting of the Ashgrove Forum Club for 2022, the 969th General Meeting, was held at 6.30pm on Wednesday 19th January via Zoom. Hopefully, the next meeting at 6.30pm on 16th February will see us return to the Ashgrove Library, 87 Amarina Avenue, Ashgrove. As always visitors and prospective members are welcome to attend without obligation. For enquiries, please ring the Secretary, Ronda Nix, on 0409 615 514. Forum Communicators is a self-improvement organisation Louise Quinn OAM speaking at Ashgrove Forum for people needing knowledge, 60th Dinner support and confidence to fulfil their speaking roles in their work or in the community. Members have opportunities to build their public speaking skills in a supportive environment. Instead of just ‘winging it’ when speaking, Forum Communicators provides members the opportunity to learn, practise and perfect their speaking and presentation skills so they can speak with authority, clarity and confidence. Remember: If you can speak well, you can influence. If you can influence, you can change lives. As well as providing training and experience in public speaking, Forum meetings are a lot of fun too. The rules of our speaking club, Forum Demand we all show some decorum, Our speeches should be, Educational you see, Inform, inspire, but don’t bore ’em Do yourself a favour join Ashgrove Forum Club in 2022!!! For more information on Forum Communicators public speaking association, please visit the website www. beconfident.org.au
Quote of the Day Louise Quinn OAM Cutting 60th Cake with Ronda Nix OAM
The Western Echo February 2022 Page 10
The price of greatness is responsibility. - Winston Churchill
website: http://www.westernecho.com.au
Ashgrove/The Gap Lions Club Welcome to 2022! …and so another year begins. No doubt we all have some level of optimism that 2022 will finally see the official end of the covid pandemic, allowing everyone to feel safer and more willing and able to get back to a life we once knew! Ashgrove/The Gap Lions club has enjoyed a well-earned break over the Christmas holidays. Last year ended with an amazing Christmas party “Crusin’ into Christmas’’. This gave all Lions members and their partners a chance to dust off their holiday gear and get into the spirit of Christmas and fun times. Also present were our local government members and others who had supported our club throughout the year. It was a great way to say goodbye to a somewhat challenging but successful year for our club. Now the executive is busy arranging events for this year and some are already in place. We have a sausage sizzle taking place at Keperra Bunnings and we are also supporting two important charitable organisations based in our local area.
One is the All Abilities Cricket program. This free program is open to all children between the ages of 5 and 19 who have an intellectual disability, most of whom have been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. It offers these young people the opportunity to be part of a team as well as the chance to develop their skills in cricket. The other is Trek2health. This is an organisation based in The Gap that supports those who work in the frontline, such as defence workers, police, ambulance personnel or firefighters, by offering exercise plus companionship. Two worthwhile causes we regularly support. Another annual event for Ashgrove/ The Gap Lions club that will be happening very soon is the Youth of the Year program. This is run in conjunction with our local high schools and aims to encourage our young people to develop their skills to assist them to become the leaders of tomorrow. It is always a very positive experience to see evidence that our future is in good hands! So 2022 is shaping up to be yet another busy but exciting year for our club; however this is always balanced
website: http://www.westernecho.com.au
Ashgrove/The Gap Lions Club President Peter and Catherine Cooper at the 2021 Club's Christmas party
with good fellowship and fun times for our members. If you would like more information about Ashgrove/ The Gap Lions club please look us up on Facebook or email lionatg19@gmail. com
The Western Echo February 2022 Page 11
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The Western Echo February 2022 Page 12
Ashgrove Rangers Athletics Club has had a successful summer Track and Field season
The club has been well represented with good turnouts of athletes across a wide range of disciplines. Of particular note, Tiana Solley won silver in the Open Women’s Heptathlon, a silver went to Connor Duggan in the U20 Men’s Decathlon and Chloe Griffin achieved a sixth placing in the U16 Girl’s Heptathlon. Other age group wins were claimed by April Laurikaanen (Under 20 Shot Put), Jonah Miles (Under 16 Javelin), Joel Drew (Open 200m Hurdles) and Elliott Aldridge (Under 16 400 metres). Laura Bray ran a personal best (PB) time of 11:32 in the 3km race at the Jai Taurima Shield event. Also running PBs were Andrew Pfeffer (400m 57.34 and Zel Van Loggerenberg 1500m 5.09.82). In the cross-country discipline, Ashgrove Rangers field two teams in the annual Mount Tambourine Cross Country Relays in late January. That of Montana Mitchell-Lepper, Katherine Jackman, Elliott Bowker, Peter Lepper, Mark Lepper and Tony Usher finished second overall while that of Craig Preston, Jo Preston, Lynda Bateson, David Hughes, Stavros Konstantinos and Ken Hastie finished sixth. Upcoming events: Ashgrove Rangers hosts its monthly Flying 4 race at Ashgrove Sports Ground, Yoku Road, Ashgrove. The next race is 20 March. Normally, the Flying 4 is open to all comers but the March event is a special one in commemoration of a long-time club stalwart and Flying 4 participant, Lincoln Winch. The open event is a handicap and participants must have run the Flying 4 at least once in the past year so that a handicap time can be calculated. The race starts at 8am and is always on a Sunday. The Flying 4 itself is run on the oval, the bikepath which encloses it and along the reserve bordering Royal Parade. Two other races are conducted simultaneously though on a different course. They are a 1km event for under 10 year old boys and girls and a 2km event for under 14 girls and boys. Entry is $2 per person with a maximum of $10 for a family. On the May long weekend, Ashgrove Rangers will be organising a cross country relay along the Rail Trail leading from Kingaroy to Wondai and back. Watch out for further information as the event gets closer. Details of all our events and of training times at The Gap High School Oval can be found at our website: www. ashgroverangers.org. website: http://www.westernecho.com.au
Play hockey – a sport for the whole family
Not only did Adam Day find fun, fitness and new friends at Northern Suburbs Hockey Club, he also found his future wife there. Adam is excited to tackle his 20th season of hockey with Norths in 2022 and share experiences at the Ashgrovebased club with his wife, Tanya. “I like the supportive community-minded attitude of the club and how it provides a great, fun atmosphere in which to get some exercise,” Adam says. Adam plays hockey alongside his adult son, with his teenage daughter also at Norths. He says hockey is for the whole family including parents who take up the sport after being inspired by their children. “ We h a v e s o m a n y members that have taken up hockey in their 40s with
great success due to the great support from experienced players, just like the club does for our juniors,” Adam says. Norths is a social, inclusive and family-oriented club where people of all ages and experience can play in a friendly atmosphere and with competitive spirit. Tanya says Norths has teams for girls, boys, men and women from Under 7 to Masters age, for social and elite-level players. “It’s great that everyone can play hockey at all ages to keep fit, engaged in the community and have fun,” she says. “There is a team to suit all ages, fitness and skill group. That’s the amazing thing about hockey – you can play from the age of five to 85.” Norths is the only Brisbane hockey club with its own artificial turf practice pitch, grass fields and
website: http://www.westernecho.com.au
Husband and wife Adam and Tanya Day met through playing hockey at the Northern Suburbs club in Ashgrove
clubhouse, with a bar and canteen facilities for social functions. Whether you are interested in a social sporting experience or the competition of high-level hockey, there is a Norths team for you. Norths will hold its sign-
on day for new and returning players at Dorrington Park, Mirrabooka Road, Ashgrove on Saturday February 5 from 10am to 2pm. For more information phone 0403 587 587, visit www.northshockey.org.au or search for Norths Hockey on Facebook.
The Western Echo February 2022 Page 13
— A Well-Deserved Commemoration —
Saturday 15th January was the occasion of a special dedication ceremony here in The Gap. It not only commemorated the man himself but also his devotion to duty. The occasion was the unveiling of a plaque at what had been the residence of the Caretaker of Enoggera Reservoir to commemorate the life and contribution of James Barnes – Caretaker and Officer in Charge of the reservoir from 1919 to 1950 – a span of 31 years. During that time, he and his wife, Bridget, raised a family of 8 children. In his role, James was not only responsible for the operation of the reservoir itself but also for maintaining the pipeline carrying the water into the city. It was a 24/7 job – he could be called out at any hour, in all weather conditions, to check on breaks, leaks etc in the pipeline. This often meant walking for miles to find the problem. He spent many hours travelling first by horse and sulky and later by motor car (from about 1925) delivering water samples from the reservoir to the City Hall for quality testing. M a r k i n g t h e commemoration, the family was well represented by grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. The ceremony
Descendants of James Barnes on the steps of the Caretaker's Cottage - now a Heritage Listed property
was organised by Bruce Barker - CEO of Trek2Health (which now occupies the house) with help from granddaughters, Desleigh and Julie, and grandson Neville, also playing his part. The family expressed their heartfelt thanks to Bruce, without whose efforts this event would not have come to fruition so quickly. Official guests included Jonty Bush – State Member for Cooper and Steven To o m e y – C o u n c i l l o r for The Gap Ward. Jonty Bush and Steven Toomey jointly provided the plaque, Rockworx kindly donated the granite rock on which the plaque is mounted, and
Hollingworth & Spencer B D L
Parks and Wildlife assisted in locating the memorial on site. Heritage Queensland kindly permitted the hanging of various photos inside the dwelling. In their various speeches, family members drew attention largely to recollections of family life in the home and mentioned that several descendants had not moved far from The Gap once they left home. They recalled well-known Gap families including the Fursmans, Twists, Curtis’s, Proctors, Poulters, and several others including Richard Speechley. The culmination of the ceremony was the unveiling of the plaque, conducted jointly by Jonty Bush and Steven Toomey, with James’
James and Bridget Barnes 22 December 1950
grandchildren in close attendance. Morning Tea followed the commemoration. Truly, a family of which The Gap should be very proud.
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The Western Echo February 2022 Page 14
website: http://www.westernecho.com.au
Slowing down and gaining weight - is your dog just getting old or is this treatable? I must confess that this is a cautionary tale, inspired by my complacency as a dog owner. The family dog, an adorable and dopey Irish Setter, had become more sedate in her demeanour, and less rambunctious in her daily pursuit of a dropped crumb. The kids weren't knocked over quite so often, the barking at passing scrub turkeys had subsided, and the rumbling of paws on the wooden floor didn't end with a thud or crash quite so often. As time went on, the rumbling was replaced with a steady plodding that ended with a weary head placed in lap. My initial feeling was relief - after eight years, mental maturity had been reached and the days of "turkey tantrums" were over. My wife, however, insisted something was wrong. She refused to believe that ageing could be such a powerful calming force, despite my protestations and assurances that this was a very natural part of the process. When our dog's weight started to balloon despite a very regular diet, I had to admit that something may be amiss. A blood test was all it took to diagnose hypothyroidism, and within days of treatment the crumb-seeking, kid-knocking dog we all knew and loved was back. Many dogs diagnosed with hypothyroidism have a similar history. As the disease results in slow metabolism, the effects are wide-ranging. You may notice weight gain - despite your best efforts to stop this. They may lose hair and have a dull coat, even without a change in their diet or washing regime. They may have a variety of ear, eye and skin issues that were not present before. Fortunately, the disease is comparatively straightforward to diagnose and treat when compared with other endocrine disorders. A blood test for screening, a blood test for diagnosis and daily tablets for treatment. There is no cure, but management improves their quality of life significantly. If this story resonated with you even a little, listen to your gut (or your partner) and discuss your (their) concerns with your vet. You too could have "turkey tantrums" make a triumphant and embarrassing return on your morning walk.
Regards, Scott, Rob, Luken and the team
Services we offer :• Veterinary treatments, surgery and hospitalisation • Small animal Dentistry • Veterinary diagnostic pathology and radiology • Sales of Pet products, food and accessories • PennHIP scheme accreditation • Loads of friendly advice!
www.thegapvet.com.au www.facebook.com/thegapvet
Phone: 3300 1533 website: http://www.westernecho.com.au
The Western Echo February 2022 Page 15
The Probus Club of The Gap
What is Amnesty International All About? So many people ask this question. Many people want to know more, some are confused about the aims of the organisation, some are even misled into thinking that Amnesty is a political movement. Far from it! Amnesty International is a growing, global movement of 10 million people who care about social justice, freedom and equality, working to free people unjustly jailed, bringing torturers to justice and changing oppressive laws. Amnesty shines a light on great wrongs by exposing the facts others try to suppress. The organisation lobbies governments, and the powerful to make sure they keep their promises and respect international law. Together, Amnesty’s voices challenge injustice and are powerful enough to change the world. But we can’t do everything alone and every voice counts. If you would like to know more take a look on this website at Amnesty’s concerns and achievements: www.amnesty.org.au or consider joining a local group. We are ordinary people doing what little we can to make a difference – because we care. The Helen Black Amnesty International group meet 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.
Quote of the Day
It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are. - e. e. cummings The Western Echo February 2022 Page 16
It seems such a long time ago now, but memories linger of the Christmas lunch that members enjoyed at the Arana Leagues Club. Apart from the usual festivities, we heard a most affecting talk by Sara-Jane Dean, of the Institute for Molecular Bioscience, our chosen cause for 2021. While Probus is not a service club, we do choose one charity each year at Christmas, and last year members were delighted to support the Institute by way of individual donations (not out of club funds) to the tune of $690, to go to medical research. Meanwhile we thoroughly enjoyed our own meals and a wonderful “Yobbo Santa” skit delivering some of the worst acting for many years. The inflatable Santa suit was a howling success – thanks, Bob Adams! The renewed Covid issue, with the emergence of highly infectious Omicron variant, has put a dent in our face-to-face activities for a while, but we have plans ready to go as soon as we are released. Dine-outs and lunches will resume, with outings to follow. Social isolation is a serious issue, especially for the older demographic of the typical Probus member, so the club is exerting every effort to keep members connected and linked to each other and the wider world. If you are interested in joining Probus, or just giving it a try, we would welcome your enquiry. Just call our secretary Jan on 0448 965 459. Places are available – no waiting list – and we’d love to put you on the mailing list and include you in the clubbishness!
Arana VIEW Club Our next meeting is on March 2nd at the Arana Leagues Club, 10.30 for 11.00am start. We all have our fingers and toes crossed that this meeting goes ahead. The committee decided to cancel the February meeting and we hope that the Omicron Peak will have settled by our March meeting. This means that the March meeting will be our Annual General Meeting and annual memberships will definitely need to be paid before this meeting. Cost for the 2-course lunch and tea or coffee is $30.00. Please save any stationery supplies that have been collected and were being brought along to our February meeting. The guest speakers have been rescheduled for later in the year. The guest speaker for March will be Barbara Laidlow who had a very interesting childhood when she was in a World War POW Camp with her mother. Each month we have lucky door prizes and sell raffle tickets to help with our fund-raising to support our Smith Family Learning for Life students. Our VIEW Club supports 14 of these students. The Smith Family is celebrating 100 years of assisting students in need in 2022 and VIEW Australia has been part of this process for over 60 years. As well as our monthly meetings and lunch we hold many social activities and always welcome new members. Phone Carol on 3355 5349 by midday on Monday 28th February if you wish to attend what is certain to be an interesting meeting. website: http://www.westernecho.com.au
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The Western Echo February 2022 Page 17
The Gap Historical Society Inc. by President George Stoddart
This article on Senior Citizens taken from the archives of the Russell Museum typifies the actual experiences of the membership of The Gap Historical Society whose ages range from mid-seventies to mid-nineties. WHAT ARE SENIOR CITIZENS? Senior Citizens are those persons who were around before the pill and the population explosion. They were here before television, penicillin, antibiotics and
microwave ovens, frozen food, radar and credit cards. Ti m e - s h a r i n g m e a n t togetherness – not a holiday apartment; hardware was hardware and software wasn’t even a word. They were here before men had long hair and earrings and being stoned meant having rocks thrown at you. Senior Citizens were before yoghurt, the forty-hour week and the minimum wage. They got married before they lived together – how quaint can one be? Closets were for clothes – not coming out of;
ANTA Member
gay meant merry and aids were for assisting. Senior Citizens were before pizza, McDonalds, instant coffee and decaffeinated anything. They thought that fast food was what you ate during Lent. They were before FM Radio, compact discs, word processors and the post pink period. Senior Citizens remember the days when cigarette smoking was fashionable, grass was for mowing and pot was something you cooked in. If you asked Senior Citizens to explain DSW, CIA, UFO, MOW, ET, MS
Established 2000 and IUD, they’d say it was alphabet soup. We must congratulate today’s Senior Citizens. They are indeed a hardy bunch when you consider how the world has changed and the adjustments they’ve had to make. However – they are blessed to mostly live in The Gap – a suburb they can love and mind. GOD BLESS ALL SENIOR CITIZENS
NOTICE TO READERS
We wish to advise that delivery of the Western Echo can not be legally made to letterboxes displaying Australia Post Only or Authorised Mail Only. For those residents who wish to collect a free copy, we have newstands located at:
MASSAGE THERAPY POSTURAL DYNAMICS Shop 1/ 489 Waterworks Road Ashgrove West T: 3366 9997 www.ntpages.com.au/bernardevens
The Western Echo February 2022 Page 18
• Night Owl- Samford Rd & Wardell St • Stewart Road News Ashgrove • Brumby's Bakery, 974 Waterworks Road, The Gap
Copies are also available at The Gap Village, The Gap Ward Office, Ashgrove Electorate Office, Ashgrove Library, The Gap Australia Post, Red Hill Australia Post, Ashgrove West Australia Post, The Friendly Grocer The Gap & bp The Gap.
website: http://www.westernecho.com.au
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The Western Echo February 2022 Page 19
The Gap LOCO Now Pperating a Pop Up Shop every Monday at High Street, Ashgrove
The Gap Local Organic Co-operative (The Gap LOCO) has a new pop up shop providing certified organic fruit and veggies. The pop up shop operates every Monday between 10 and 3 in the spacious treed car park of Oakleigh Scouts Group at 15 High Street Ashgrove. The beautiful site is tucked in behind the High Street houses and accessed down a narrow easement opening up to a big flat area for parking. This makes it great for parents with kids and people with mobility issues. The Gap LOCO sets up underneath several gazebos in the car park to offer a full range of certified organic fresh fruit and veggies. They also have a small range of grocery items which they plan to expand upon this year. They continue to provide home delivery of
certified organic fruit and veg produce on Mondays, filling the shopping lists of about 35 households. Lesley Williams, who has worked in the Co-op for almost 2 years, says that the Co-op is very lucky to have the support of the local scout group. “ We w e r e o p e r a t i n g underneath the home of two of our workers but it is much better to be part of a community facility where we can have this pop up shop. As a small communityowned social enterprise it is great to partner with another community organisation.” The Gap LOCO is almost 10 years old. It began with a wish to try to find a way of doing business that was based on co-operation and community rather than
Lesley with Sue and Mal some new supporters of the LOCO
competition and self-interest. The LOCO is a workers co-op where the workers make the decisions using a consensus model. On Monday mornings they have six workers busily preparing boxes for home delivery and serving customers. While worker run, the Co-op is owned by the community, if they close down all the money and physical assets of the co-op have to be given to another community group. The Co-op has about 45
regular customers, some have been with the Co-op since the very beginning. Others have only recently discovered the Co-op as they live near the new pop up shop. One of the co-ops dreams is to grow enough to create a full time job for one of the workers. If you would like to support this very unique co-operative or if you are wanting to buy certified organic produce please visit their web site thegaploco.com or email thegaploco@gmail.com
Supplying great tasting, fresh, Certified 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 3pm on Mondays at 15 High St Ashgrove (in the Oakleigh Scouts car park) * Advertisement proudly sponsored by COOEEE - ( COOEEE.com.au)
The Western Echo February 2022 Page 20
website: http://www.westernecho.com.au
The Physiologix Corner Do you suffer from a tendon injury? Are you a runner? Gabriel Fernandes has joined the team at Physiologix, upstairs at The Gap Health and Racquet club. He is currently completing his PhD at QUT into tendons and runners so is definitely the man to see. He has already published papers into Achilles tendinopathy and, as part of his research, he has also developed a strong interest in runners, running technique and the association between technique, strength, fitness and neuromuscular control and injury. Gabriel is also a Titled Sports Physiotherapist in Brazil and has been working in private practice and with sports for many years. He has been in Australia for over 4 years and is on his way to gaining his citizenship. You can read more about him below. It is a privilege to have Gabriel joining our Physiologix team. He adds yet more to an already incredibly highly skilled and experienced group of Physios. 2 of our staff, Maria and Gena will be away for most of January involved with the Australian Tennis Open. At Physiologix you will be looked after by expert leaders in the management, treatment and prevention of injury. Gabriel is a physiotherapist from Brazil, with over 10 years experience in Musculoskeletal & Sports physiotherapy, having worked with elite athletes from a range of sports throughout his career as a physiotherapist, from beach volleyball, running and triathlon, rowing, rugby union, soccer to all sorts of weekend warriors athletes. Between 2011-2016 Gabe worked as physio for the Italian Women’s Beach Volleyball team in preparation for the London 2012 Olympic Games, through several tournaments including The Rio 2016 Grand Slam until the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Just after the Rio Olympic Games, Gabe moved to Australia to work as a physio in private practice. A highlight of his time here as a sports physio was to have worked at GC2018 Commonwealth Games, at the Beach Volleyball arena in Coolangatta. Gabe has specialised in running injuries and uses running analysis, amongst other tests, to assist you during the transition from injury to return to running. Another special interests of his are tendon issues such as Achilles tendinopathy, rotator cuff, gluteal and patellar tendinopathy. Combining both areas of interest, Gabe is finishing his PhD at QUT, investigating runners with Achilles tendinopathy. While Gabe has specialised in treating elite athletes, he is very active in managing all manner of musculoskeletal conditions in athletes and non-athletes alike. His work as allies manual therapy and exercise prescription to give his patients the best research-based treatment and help them achieve their goals regardless of their level of activity. You can make a booking to see Gabe, or with any of the Physiologix team by calling (07) 3511 1112 or booking online at Physiologix.com.au
website: http://www.westernecho.com.au
PILATES at The PHYSIOLOGIX studio space has expanded! Our bigger and well equipped pilates studio offers custom programs for individuals or small group classes, with all sessions run by a highly qualified physiotherapist. See you there! We offer a variety of classes including:
Pilates equipment classes Group classes Individual sessions
Pregnancy classes Sports specific programs Custom Physi-app home program
Workcover/Insurance/DVA/EPC accepted Hicaps on site for immediate rebate
(07) 3511 1112 admin@physiologix.com.au www.physiologix.com.au
At The Gap Health & Racquet Club 200 Settlement Rd, The Gap
BECAUSE YOUR FAMILY’S HEALTH IS VITAL
...it matters where you go FAMILY PRACTICE & SKIN CANCER CLINIC
Our team of doctors and health professionals provide you with ongoing and comprehensive medical care.
Childhood Immunisation now available • Same day appointment guaranteed • Open 7 days • Online bookings on our website • Bulk billing for children & concession card holders
Cnr Settlement & Samford Roads,
Keperra Phone: 3351 0323
www.keperrafamilypractice.com.au The Western Echo February 2022 Page 21
.....Principal's Points.......Principal's Points...... Payne Road State School Our school works intentionally toward successfully transitioning kindergarten students into their new Prep year. We collaborate with cluster kindergartens and the Mt Coot-tha Early Childhood Network. Survey data shows that our parents are very happy with the transition experiences for children and adults! Enrolments from across the community are open in February 2022! We begin the transition journey in term 1 with personalised visits to the neighbouring kindies and invite them for Under 8s Week activities. Our Prep Teachers offer a ‘Peek into Prep’ experience across terms 2 and 3, with follow-up ‘Take a Walk’ sessions offered
through our library, tuckshop, playground and more! Our signature VIP tours for prospective families each term, provide a more intimate way to meet our families, walk through a Prep classroom and become familiar with our school grounds and artefacts. Our P&C support us through their partnership and dedication of time to these tours – Uniform Shop, OSHC, parent information, wellbeing strategies and the ‘plenty of opportunities’ on offer at PRSS! Prep Enrolment interviews occur in early term 4 with our Prep Teachers and Deputy Principal. This provides us with key background information for our future Preps and we then access Transitions Statements from Kindies. Prep Orientation days in classrooms in term 4 always
prove to be very exciting for the children, and they were proudly supported by our experienced Prep students. They join in with hands-on creative activities, shared stories, asked curious questions and played together – very age appropriate, very supportive and an experience that made them feel very connected! During these days our new Prep parents came together for a welcome morning tea hosted by our P&C ladies and hence they start to make their very own connections – play dates, Facebook page, social chit chat. Many of our parents and friends also engage with our Tykes Playgroup – all year! (Commencing Feb 8, 2022). This strategy has provides an immense opportunity for new connections to be forged between young mothers, caregivers, and grandparents i n o u r c o m m u n i t y. A dedicated teacher provides leadership in her explicit use of the language based and age appropriate Abecedarian Approach (3a) – the only one on offer in the Gap vicinity! So come and join our community as we journey across the year to establish successful transitions into Prep – building strength in belonging, confidence and readiness in the whole child! Nicky Brazzale – Principal
The Gap State High School
school year was delayed due to COVID-19, students had an extra two weeks holiday. On Monday 7 February we welcomed over 1720 new and returning students back to school. It’s always great to see students reconnecting with their friends after the holiday break. A special welcome to all our new students and teachers joining us in our flourishing learning community here at The Gap SHS The Gap State High School community celebrates all the achievements of the graduating class of 2021. Our students have proven that they are Learners Who Flourish. The year 12s stepped up in 2021 in another unusual and challenging year. Every graduate should be proud of what they have achieved academically and what they learned about themselves and how they prevailed during their final year of High School. Our school acknowledges the outstanding achievements of our school duxes Ethan Marsden and Daniel Quill, these two students achieved outstanding results. For interesting news on what is happening at The Gap State High School please like our facebook page https:// www.facebook.com/tgshs and follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ thegapshs. Anne McLauchlan Principal
H a p p y N e w Ye a r . Unfortunately our start to the
SPEED LIMIT 40Kmh 7am to 9am & NEAR SCHOOLS 2pm to 4pm The Western Echo February 2022 Page 22
website: http://www.westernecho.com.au
Qld Choir’s 150th Anniversary Call for Singers As it gears up for its 150th anniversary this year, one of Australia’s longest-established choirs, the Queensland Choir, is calling for singers to join in its celebratory concert season. “Every year since it was established in 1872, the Queensland Choir has issued an annual call for new choristers to join the choir, and this year is no exception, with three major concerts planned to celebrate the anniversary,” the Queensland Choir’s artistic director Kevin Power says. “Concert details are still being finalised but the first performance for the year – a light-hearted Choral Celebration of the choir’s history, will be held in Brisbane City Hall on Sunday May 8 as the opening concert of this year’s 4MBS Festival of Classics. The Queensland Choir are this year’s 4MBS Artists in Residence. “A Choral Celebration will present highlights of the choir’s history and some amusing anecdotes from its past and will feature some music that is rarely heard these days, along with more familiar pieces by Handel, Haydn, Grainger and others, all accompanied by the Brisbane Symphony Orchestra. “The Queensland Choir has made a significant contribution to Queensland’s cultural life since its foundation in prefederation days, when Queensland was a remote colony and the only way audiences could hear music was to attend live performances, as there was no radio or recordings, let alone TV or TikTok. “The Queensland Choir has provided enjoyment and education for a wide range of audiences throughout its existence, employment for orchestras and Brisbane-based soloists who’ve performed with the choir in concert, and encouragement for young singers by giving them the opportunity to sing solo and in the choir,” Mr Power says. “We’ve entertained audiences in venues ranging from suburban town halls and community centres to Brisbane’s major concert halls, and the choir has sung at the opening of many of them, including Brisbane City Hall, QPAC, St Stephen’s Cathedral and the Old Museum Building. It has also performed at many significant historic events over the years, including fundraising concerts for the war effort and for disaster relief, Royal visits, thanksgiving services at the end of WW1 and WW2 and at Anzac Day services. “Singing in a choir is serious but also great fun, and as well as improving your musical and vocal skills, it boosts your social life, helps beat the blues by releasing endorphins which lower stress and anxiety levels, and beats going to the gym by increasing energy levels and working out muscles in the upper body. “The choir would welcome additional singers in all sections for this year’s special anniversary program. Anyone interested in singing with the choir should contact us ASAP as auditions will be held at the end of January and early February. Auditions are by appointment only, and full details are available on the Choir’s website, www.qldchoir.com. or by contacting the Choir at enquiriesqldchoir.com or ph: 0491 682 552. website: http://www.westernecho.com.au
Help us celebrate our anniversary
Join the Choir NOW! Perform in our Anniversary Concerts in Brisbane City Hall and QPAC. Auditions are held in January and February. FOR AUDITION DETAILS Ring 0491 682 552 email enquiries@qldchoir.com visit www.qldchoir.com
Individual piano tuition Mariella Farrugia MTAQ (prof) LLCM, ALCM, 30 years teaching experience
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more info on: www.thegappianostudio.com
The Western Echo February 2022 Page 23
Enoggera & Districts Historical Society Here’s to 2022 being a BIG year The Enoggera & Districts Historical Society Inc. (EDHS) has had a tough few years. ? We have had to cut back on a number of our usual community activities due to the impacts of COVID-19 and key members of the Society passing away, moving out of the district or no longer able to assist. But as the saying goes, the only way is UP! ? We are looking at re-booting our association and coming back in a big way in 2022. Our Annual General Meeting (AGM) is scheduled for 27 March. If you want to get involved with the Society, and perhaps join the management committee, please get in touch by phoning 0475 353 550. With COVID-19 restrictions easing, we are looking at bringing back our annual ‘Open Day’ in July after a three year absence. We have volunteers at the Enoggera Memorial Hall each Thursday from 9.30am to 1pm to host our public history display. Please drop in and say ‘hello’.
Upper Kedron Hall circa 1900
And remember to follow our news and updates on our Facebook page (Likes and Comments welcome!) or view information on our website www.enoggerahistory.org Of great importance, if you have any historical photos or memorabilia of Enoggera, North West Brisbane or the Hills District you’d like to donate to the Society … we’d love to hear from you! Drop in to the Enoggera Memorial Hall any Thursday morning or email enoggerahistory@gmail.com You may have something like the attached photo of the Upper Kedron Hall in Cedar Creek Road, taken circa 1900. Happy New Year to all and take care, everyone. Andrew McMicking - President
Picabeen has had a cautious start to the year. With the current health situation, we have not restarted any of our in-centre activities. We are eager for the groups return when it is safe to do so and will be posting on our social media and website when the time is right. We a r e o p e n f o r emergency food relief; we ask that people entering the grounds wear a mask and sanitise. Please stay home if you are unwell. We a r e a l s o s t i l l conducting No Interest Loan applications. These can be used for back-toschool items like uniforms and laptops. Please call our office to eligibility criteria and document requirements. The Change Room Op shop at 65 Gilston St Keperra is open. We are seeking volunteers to help keep the shop open, Monday-Friday The Western Echo February 2022 Page 24
9-4pm and Saturday 10-1pm. All training is provided for new volunteers, we require our volunteers and staff to be vaccinated and hold a current blue card. Volunteering at the shop is an excellent way to build skills for a resume, meet people and connect in your local community. To contact Picabeen please call 07 3354 2555, or email on info@picabeen. org.au You can follow us on Facebook: Picabeen Community C e n t r e : h t t p s : / / w w w. facebook.com/Picabeen Picabeen Change Room: https://www.facebook.com/ PicabeenChangeRoom Picabeen Youth Team Instagram: https://www. instagram.com/picabeen_ youth_team/ Picabeen Website: https:// picabeen.org.au/
website: http://www.westernecho.com.au
Sing with Serenata in 2022! Make 2022 the year you take your singing beyond the confines of the driving seat of your car or your shower. The Serenata Singers, a community choir based in The Gap, is holding an Open Night at 7.30pm on Monday 07 March in the auditorium of The Gap Uniting Church, 1050 Waterworks Road. This is an excellent, COVID-safe opportunity to learn more about the choir, observe and join in a rehearsal, and meet the choir members. Can’t make the open night? Don’t worry, the choir welcomes new members at any time. After a rough couple of years, which saw the choir cancelling most performances, the choir is looking to bounce back strongly in 2022. The choir, which sings a variety of popular, traditional, spiritual and show tunes, had entered 2022 with exciting plans and high expectations. The Serenata Singers were particularly careful as a significant number of choir members are in the “high risk” category due to their age. The choir generally performs for people in retirement and aged care facilities – visits to which were, of course, curtailed. But you can’t keep a good choir down. Choir members have performed in five concerts towards the end of 2021, much to the enjoyment of residents and a few Christmas concerts in Samford and The Gap. The choir is looking forward to the future and expects to build in 2022 stronger than ever. If you can hold a tune and are interested in joining us, you would be most welcome. For more information, you can check out our website https://serenatasingers.org.au/ , or drop us an email at serenatasingersthegap@gmail.com. What: Serenata Singers Open Night When: Monday, 7 March 2022, 7.30pm Where: The Gap Uniting Church Hall, 1050 Waterworks Road
Art in Bark Workshops At the moment City Hall 50+ will not be opening in January and maybe February also. They are closed, and will let us know when they will be opening. Same for Skylarkers Inala, maybe – hopefully - in February. Nundah Apostolic Church Hall 43 Robinson Road Nundah will be open on Saturday 5th February for the Monthly Meeting and Workshop afterwards at 12 pm. For more information: Joy 0407 178 064, Barbara 3275 2130, or Hazel 0408 157 117.
Quote of the Day I attribute my success to this I never gave or took any excuse. - Florence Nightingale website: http://www.westernecho.com.au
Love to Sing? Serenata Singers Open Night
The Serenata Singers, a friendly community choir based in The Gap, is looking for new members in 2022. Our “open evening” on Monday 7th March is a chance to meet choir members and observe and participate in a rehearsal. No audition is necessary. An ability to read music is helpful, but not required. If you can hold a tune and love to sing, the Serenata Singers may be for you!
Check us out at: https://serenatasingers.org.au/
OWNQ NEWS The Mitchelton Branch of the Older Womens Network Qld Inc (OWNQ) meets regularly throughout the month and you are welcome to join us for any or all of our get togethers. All of our events are being held outdoors until further notice. Our upcoming events are: Tuesday 8th Feb 10am - Casual Coffee - Cafe Lagarto, Samford Valley Tuesday 15th Feb 10am - Coffee/Techno Morning at Arana Leagues Club Saturday 19th Feb 10am - Casual Coffee - Birds & Bees, Everton Hills Wednesday 23rd Feb 10am to 11.30am Monthly Meeting (COVID_19 Pending) Tuesday 1st Mar 10am - Coffee/Techno Morning at Arana Leagues Club Tuesday 8th Mar 10am - Casual Coffee - Cafe Lagarto, Samford Valley The aim of our group is to provide information to women relating to a healthy outlook on ageing and to meet in a friendly, social atmosphere. OWNQ Mitchelton is part of a state-wide organisation with groups in 3 states of Australia, as well as a National Branch. There are also Older Women’s Networks in the UK and the USA among other countries. We are a part of a great organisation. For more information about Mitchelton OWNQ ring Judith on 0434 811 566. The Western Echo February 2022 Page 25
2022 Australia Day Citizenship Ceremony
Akkaranong Romruen Chantel Lennox
Andrew Guerin
Andre Sinclair Chun-hao Lee
Thara Phi Zaw
The Western Echo February 2022 Page 26
Dr Hannah Brown
Errol Morris
Harsha Surapaneni
website: http://www.westernecho.com.au
@ J.A. Robertson Hall, The Gap State High School
Fengde and Junzhi Zhou
Ahlam J I Zaqout Daniel O'Neill
Victoria Faure-Evrard
Anubha Paliwal
website: http://www.westernecho.com.au
Sanjeet Singh
Thi Kim Nhu Hoang
Sandra, Hendrik, Bart and Iris van Veen
The Western Echo February 2022 Page 27
Koala Bells 3300 6304
www.ppnn.org.au
Most gardeners seek plants that are attractive, require relatively little attention and bring in beneficial insects. These insects help to deter the harmful ones, whilst playing a significant role as plant pollinators. With house yards becoming smaller in size, herbs and shrubs are in demand. Koala bells (Artanema fimbriatum) is an attractive herb growing to about half a metre tall that is believed to provide food for butterflies, blue-banded native bees, hoverflies and moths. In this role they help to maintain a natural balance in the garden and so reduce the need for harmful chemicals such as insecticides. Naturally found in wet eucalypt forests and disturbed
areas from coastal north Queensland to the Brunswick River in NSW, this plant prefers to grow in semishaded areas in a variety of soil types but where moisture levels are maintained. Both the long, soft green leaves with their serrated margins and large, bell-shaped purple/ blue flowers provide an attractive display either as a mass planting under trees or clump planted in rockeries, pots or hanging baskets. The period of copious flowering is long – from spring through to autumn. When flowering is completed, the plants can be cut back and a bushier specimen will result. If left, the plants will self-seed and so create an ongoing display.
Have you visited Yoorala St Community Garden?
What we love about our garden: Grow your own fresh produce Make new friends An active community group Enjoy family-time outdoors Learn gardening skills & tips No gardening experience required Access-friendly raised garden beds Social events & on-site workshops Private plots available for lease
It's a place we really dig!
Community open times: Please come and see our garden for yourself. You are welcome to visit us during the following community times: Dec-Mar: Sundays, 4.00-6pm Apr-Nov: Sundays, 8.00-10am Just turn up, bring your hat, water bottle & gloves. One of our members will meet you, show you around, and provide information if you'd like to get involved. And join us for a cuppa afterwards. Hope to see you soon!
Visitors welcome! 98 Yoorala St, The Gap www.yscg.com.au yscgsecretary@gmail.com www.facebook.com/yooralastreetcommunitygarden
The Western Echo February 2022 Page 28
Mitchelton & Districts Garden Club All being well, the next meeting of the Mitchelton & Districts Garden Club will be on Thursday, 3rd March, at the Enoggera Memorial Hall in Trundle Street. The guest speaker, Geoff Robinson, will talk about native plants. It is regretted that the February meeting had to be cancelled due to the extension of school holidays and the intensity of Covid 19 infection. If you prefer to grow your vegetables, don’t delay with preparation for the winter ones such as beetroot, carrot, turnip, parsnip, celery, silver beet, zucchini, egg plant, cauliflower, broccoli and pumpkin, to mention a few. There’s no need to have a particular area for each one, They can be grown in the same garden, even with flowers, and this confuses the insects that lay eggs on the vegetable leaves. Humid conditions and lots of rain make it necessary for gardeners to spend time mowing and weeding which is a never ending job. Meetings commence about 10am after morning tea which is served at 9.45am Visitors and new members are most welcome. The hall is close to public transport and accessible by wheelchair. For more information, please phone Pat, the president, on 3356 1256.
Catholic Bushwalkers Join the Catholic Bushwalkers in all varieties of walks – city, local bush, mountains, rainforest, and creeks. Some areas are seasonal depending on the weather and time of year. The Club also programmes “beginner’s walks” to let visitors find out if they like walking distances – a bit more than the morning fitness walk around the block. For the beginners, we try to stay near the city. For more information ring Greg on Ph: 3351 4092. website: http://www.westernecho.com.au
Many hands make a difference Many people get hooked on bushcare and can spend almost a lifetime regenerating the bush around our catchments. That’s what happened to Athol Brown at Yoorala Street West in The Gap. Back around 1996 Athol Brown caught the ‘love of bushcare’ bug and set to work on Enoggera Creek in the first section downstream from Enoggera Dam. The incredible and laborious years of effort left that section of creek with healthy vegetation along the creek banks. Athol set the stage for new group leaders, Ed Bennett and Renée McGlashan to take over in late 2020. Working around COVID restrictions, small teams of volunteers helped to remove weed vines that were smothering the native vegetation. While the task seemed initially daunting, these small teams put in 665 hours in 2021. Garnering public support, the group hosted two public
Yoorala Street West Bushcare Group at Fursman Crossing Park. PHOTO: Renée McGlashan
planting events and a volunteer corporate working day, continuing to transform the area with over 800 plants. The pandemic has been challenging and the impacts of our changing climate can feel overwhelming. Bushcare volunteering presents something positive that is within our reach. It not only brings benefits for our health, but also for
our planet. The work allows our native vegetation to thrive, reduces bank erosion, enhances water quality, sequesters carbon, increases biodiversity and reduces the ‘heat island effect’ in our urban areas. Anthropologist Margaret Mead once said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed
The Gap Garden Club Unfortunately a couple of our planned activities have had to be cancelled this year
but The Gap Garden Club will be going ahead with its first meeting of the year
website: http://www.westernecho.com.au
citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Save Our Waterways Now (SOWN) welcomes new and returning volunteers, whether you come regularly or just once in a while. You can volunteer at the SOWN nursery or at one of our 30 bushcare sites. For more information go to sown. com.au.
Established 1963
on Tuesday 22 February at The River City Church , 59 Settlement Rd, The Gap. We commence at 9.30am. Our guest speaker will be sharing information about Rocky Point products. He will not have products for sale. Our annual subscription of $30 is due at the February meeting. After our long break hoping lots of members will be looking forward to the commencement of our Garden Club year and able to attend. Members are reminded that our Annual General meeting is on Tuesday 22 March.
Please bring your own tea/coffee cup to all meetings, check in with QR code and wear a mask indoors. For further information about our club visit our website www.thegapgardenclub.org. au “ The more one gardens, the more one learns. And the more one learns, the more one realizes how little one knows.“ - Vita Sackville-West
The Western Echo February 2022 Page 29
Contact us Ph: 0432 967 829 walkingfootballbrisbane.com.au info@walkingfootballbrisbane.com.au
A cautious start to 2022 for Ithaca Probus Club Members of Ithaca Probus Club are looking forward to actually being able to undertake activities planned for an action-packed year ahead. But there is still need for caution, at least at first. A quiet start to the year saw just 33 members come along to the traditional Aussie Day BBQ at the Red Hill Community centre, and were well entertained by the local Veranda Band. If the COVID situation permits, our first general meeting for the year in February will have club member Geoff Crane giving a talk on “The Changes in Technology over a halfcentury career in Meteorology.” A little later in the year we will be able to resume our regular bus trips. First up - a day out to Bribie Island is planned for March, then finally the bus trip to the Lockyer Valley in April or May, which had to be postponed three times this year. The cards group and the poetry group are each holding monthly meetings in members’ homes, and the book exchange table is back in full swing at our monthly general meetings. Our monthly newsletters continue keeping members connected. We are delighted that we will be welcoming new members in coming months. New members are always most welcome at our meetings on the 2nd Thursday each month at the Red Hill Community Sports Club in Fulcher Road, Red Hill, and 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 VIEW Club ‘Voice, Interests and Education of Women’ Venue – Alderley Arms Hotel Again, the first meeting of the Newmarket VIEW Club for 2022 was postponed because of the current pandemic but we are hoping to start up in February. The AGM has now been planned for Tuesday, 22nd February, 2022 at the Alderley Arms Hotel, Samford Road, Alderley. The Newmarket VIEW Club is part of a network of over 300 clubs and 15,000 women throughout Australia. Our members used raffles and donations to raise funds to continue to support the six students following The Smith Family’s Learning for Life Program, by sponsoring their school activities. These children were among the hardest hit during school shutdowns, as many didn’t have the right tools they needed to learn from home. OUR STUDENTS ARE: Auyen (21), Roudwan (13), Jesse (13), Abbee (17), Tony (11), Mitchell (7) If you wish to know more about the Newmarket VIEW Club, email us on newmarketview@gmail.com or ring Heather on 0437 343 163 or Jean on 0438 177 176 The Western Echo February 2022 Page 30
website: http://www.westernecho.com.au
Brisbane Tramway Museum I move in the groove and Kindy Capers clang when I Can-Can.” News and views from a Tramway Museum Tragic - David Fryer
D. F. When Reverend W. Awdry, OBE, created Thomas the Tank Engine in the middle of World-War Two, many people thought it was in poor taste. While hundreds were dying every night from indiscriminate Nazi bombing and deadly London smogs, here was a man playing with his toy trains and writing books for children. No-one ever thought his creation would eventually spin into a multi-million pound industry. Today, Thomas may be a tad naff or even sexist for some, but he still managed to become a household name around the world. And who would have thought a public competition to name a £200 million polar research vessel would make prime TV news on the opposite side of the globe? Boaty McBoatface was jokingly suggested by a former BBC radio presenter, but the public loved the idea
and it quickly became the most popular choice. The name has been described as a homage to Hooty McOwlface, an owl named through an ‘Adopt-a-Bird’ program that became extremely popular on the internet in 2012. Unfortunately, Boaty McBoatface was deemed too frivolous for a serious research vessel by those at the top, but it was too good to waste and it’s now the name of the lead boat in a fleet of autonomous battery–powered mini-submarines. Sadly, Brisbane lacks an equivalent to Thomas the Tank Engine or Boaty McBoatface. However, there are some wonderful vintage trams at the Tramway Museum in Ferny Grove. None have names or faces, but they are well endowed with charm and character and most know how to shake, rattle and roll. The directors are always open to suggestions and eager to
www.guidesqld.org
Quote of the Day
The most wasted day of all is that on which we have not laughed. - Nicolas Chamfort website: http://www.westernecho.com.au
please visitors, especially children. So, why not ‘take on a tram’ for your next kindy project? The kids could paint a tram mural with themselves at the windows. What name would they choose for their people parcel? Maybe they could make a clip-on face for the horse-drawn tram, or
even a giant traffic-jam tart in red, orange and green for the group visit. Now that would be a visual feast......... © D a v i d F r y e r. maximalist@bigpond.com The Brisbane Tramway Museum is proudly sponsored by the Brisbane City Council
CHESS T'MINIT Unfortunately the Omicron variant has led to a delay in the start of over the board chess at The Gap until at least the middle of February. When these restrictions are relaxed, physical tournament and social play will recommence with Covid-safe play rules in place. Game night starts 7.30 pm on Friday nights at Room B6, The Gap State High School. The club has a web page, https://www. thegapchessclub.org.au/ with updates on club play, local chess news and puzzles. Rounding off 2021, the Martin Laizans Cup winners were Andrew Robinson and Ian Li who tied with 4 ½ points from 5 games played. Tim Beard was 2 points back in 3rd place. The chess year will conclude with the Marcus Porter memorial tournament. After a short break over the Christmas period, chess will recommence in mid-January. The 2021 Marcus Porter Memorial was held over one evening at Marist college. A strong field 29 players competed, with 4 players having Australian Chess
Federation ratings over 2000. After 6 rounds of play, Jacob Edwards and Tom Maguire tied with 5 points, Jacob winning on a countback. Bruce Williams was 3rd with 4 ½ points. This month’s problem comes from an interesting source – a desk calendar with one puzzle a day, an excellent Christmas present for any chess enthusiast. This puzzle was devised by Whitner in 1822. White to move and checkmate in 2 moves. Solution to last month’s puzzle. After 1. Rd8+ Kf7 2. Bc5 black has to lose their rook by Rf7 to avoid Rf8 checkmate.
Solution. 1. Qg3 and d e p e n d i n g o n B l a c k ’s move, Qc7 or Qa3 will be checkmate.
The Western Echo February 2022 Page 31
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The Western Echo February 2022 Page 32
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