The Western Echo February 2023

ACCOUNTANT

RGA Business & Tax

Phone: 3289 1700 pg 9

AUTO AIR CONDITIONING

Wyatt Automotive

Phone: 3300 2077 pg 1

BATHROOMS

Steve Froggatt

Phone: 0402 730 177 pg 13

BEAUTY

The Gap Day & Night Pharmacy

Phone: 3300 1555 pg 32

BRICKLAYING PAVING

Inness Green

Phone: 3300 1555 pg 21

CHOIR

Queensland Choir

Phone:3257 0489 pg 23

CLUBS/GROUPS

Taylor Range Country Club

Phone:3366 1560 pg 16

COMMUNITY MOVIE

BCC Wittonga Park, The Gap

11 February 2023 pg 10

CLUBS/GROUPS

VDCC Cricket Blast

m.walter@valleycricket.org.au pg 26

GARDENING

Good Deal Mowing

Phone:0439 734 142 pg 21

KITCHENS

Kitchen Design Qld

Phone: 0419 020 121 pg 13

LAWYERS

Hollingworth & Spencer

Phone: 3123 5700 pg 9

MUSIC TUITION

The Gap Piano Studio

Phone: 3166 8353 pg 23

ORGANIC PRODUCE

The Gap LOCO

www.thegaploco.com pg 15

PHARMACY

The Gap Day & Night Pharmacy

Phone: 3300 1555 pg 32

PLUMBER

Pandanus Contractors

Phone: 3300 3934 pg 21

Plumbers We Are

Phone: 3351 0016 pg 20

Same Day Trades

Phone: 3062 2339 pg 13

PHYSIOTHERAPY

Physiologix

Phone: 3511 1112 pg 19

Keep Moving Pilates

Phone: 0405 425 400 pg 19

PODIATRIST

ProHealth Podiatry

Phone: 3076 7306 pg 19

POLITICAL/GOVERNMENT

Elizabeth Watson-Brown

Phone: 3378 1599 pg 7

Jonty Bush

Phone: 3554 9100 pg 5

Cr. Steven Toomey

Phone: 3407 1900 pg 10

VOLUNTEER DRIVERS NEEDED

We urgently need 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 our office 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 APO, The Gap Village, The Friendly Grocer The Gap, Wyatt's bp The Gap, & Ashgrove Golf Club

REAL ESTATE

Harcourts Inner West

Phone: 3511 0666 pg 9

Team Dangerfield

Phone: 0422 564 007 pg 11

SPORT CLUBS/GROUPS

The Gap Dragons JAFL

Phone:0438 077 667 pg 26

TYRE & MECHANICAL

Wyatt Automotive

Phone: 3300 2077 pg 1

WALKING FOOTBALL

Walking Football Brisbane

Phone: 0432 967 829 pg 26

Advertisers/contributors please note:

Deadline for March 2023 5pm Tuesday 21st February

www.facebook.com/pages/

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

New Aussies Welcomed at Local Ceremony

The sun shone brightly and gave us true Brisbane summer weather as 58 “conferees” from 21 countries became new Australian citizens at The Gap State High School’s J. A. Robertson Hall on Australia Day, in a ceremony hosted by the Rotary Club of Ashgrove/ The Gap.

Official guests, including the Presiding Officer The Gap Ward Councillor Steven Toomey, were the Member for Cooper, Ms Jonty Bush MLA, the Principal of the High School Mrs Anne McLaughlan, the Rotary District Governor Tim Keeler AM, Lions President Peter Cooper, Probus President John Pitman AM, and Mrs Philippa Wightman OAM, publisher of The Western Echo.

After a flag raising ceremony conducted by six former Rotary Club Presidents – Dianne O’Malley, John Donaldson, Francine Hinton, Conrad Almeida, Padma Lal and Russ O’Malley and a welcome by current Club President Tim Boyd, Councillor Toomey opened the formal proceedings by reading the message from the Federal Minister Andrew Giles, as required by the Act.

Cr. Toomey then gave a short speech in which he related the Aboriginal story of Mirrabooka, who was asked to look after all the tribes, and was rewarded for good service by being placed in the heavens with eternal life, his head, hands and feet being seen as the stars on the constellation also known as the Southern Cross. He said we should look at the Southern Cross in the sky or on the flag in this light.

Ms. Jonty Bush MLA, member for Cooper, welcomed the conferees and emphasized the importance of community – a community which, as new citizens, they would be joining.

One thing that makes this Rotary ceremony different is that conferees are called upon to say their pledges of allegiance to Australia one family, or individual, at a time, rather than in the mass as at big Council ceremonies. So Cr. Toomey duly welcomed the families, we all heard the pledges, and on descending from the stage each family received souvenir Rotary certificates, and a native plant each courtesy of Brisbane City Council.

After the heart-felt singing of “We Are Australian” and the Australian National Anthem there was a massed group photo followed by a morning tea of traditional “Aussie tucker” – vegemite sandwiches, lamingtons, Tim Tams and some fruit to make it all healthy! The Gap Citizenship ceremony was once again emceed by the charismatic Ritchie Callaghan who, again as in previous years, brought his own inimitable style to a wonderful ceremony –concluding with his signature welcome of “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie.... OI! OI! OI!

A sad point: after decades of brilliant music-making at these local ceremonies, giving pleasure to thousands of new citizens and their guests, the “Royal Bounty Bush Band” have decided to hang up their instruments, retiring from public events gracefully. All who have heard them enliven these formalities will wish to thank them for cheering everyone on at what can be a daunting, significant and very emotional time. They will be a very hard act to follow and emulate.

Well done, a huge Cooee to Bob and all the Rotary crew who made the day run smoothly and without any hiccups – a job exceedingly well done and thoroughly enjoyed by all!

Australia Day Citizenship Ceremony Flag PartyDianne O'Malley, John Donaldson, Francine Hinton, Conrad Almeida, Padma Lal and Russ O'Malley

— Ashgrove/Bardon RSL Sub Branch —

ANZAC Day 2022 saw another group of younger veterans join the newly merged Sub Branch.

It has been an interesting, refreshing and thought provoking time of many for us older members, questioning what we do, how we do it and just what is our purpose.

By mid 2022, a Subcommittee had been formed

Strategic Plan 2023 - 2025

led by one of those young veterans Tim Coulter. Tim’s Committee is composed largely of the new members, and was tasked with the Strategic Review of the newly merged Ashgrove Bardon Sub Branch and the development of a “Strategic Plan 2023-25”.

The initiative will take the Sub Branch into an expanded role of support

and camaraderie, reaching out to serving and former ADF members and their families as well as the older generation of the services community.

Some introspection and a lot of hard work has produced some interesting challenges and some lesser recognized emerging issues, particularly for the younger generation of veterans. An implementation

Who we are

Our purpose

Our vision

Our strategic priorities

Caring For Veterans and their Families

Sustain and develop wellbeing support for veterans of all ages

• Sustain and develop support for war widows

• Support local veterans with transitioning from the ADF

Fostering Camaraderie

• Evaluate the feasibility of a permanent premises for the Sub-Branch

• Conduct engaging events that improve attendance of members and the community

Build the connection with the community by participating in local events

Commemorating Service and Our Past

• Deliver engaging commemoration services in support of the community, ADF and other veterans’ organisations

• Support education programs in local schools and organisations

Promote our local military heritage

Organisational Operations

• Sustain and develop sub-branch governance

Develop a sustainable business model to sustainably deliver sub-branch services

• Sustain and develop the sub-branch’s volunteer support structure

Plan is currently underway addressing those issues and projecting an expanded presence for the RSL in the local community.

The Sub Branch will be increasing its profile, contribution, and involvement in a range of events in 2023 including ANZAC Day but recognizing other days of reflection for the Ex Service community. Regular social events for members and War Widows are restarting after two years of Covid restrictions and will again become a part of our celebration of service.

The Management Committee is excited and enthusiastic about the future of a much reinvigorated Sub Branch. The whole process has certainly showcased to all of us, the outcomes of some very high quality leadership and management training being delivered to our young service personnel.

Local veterans and their families who are interested in supporting and participating are encouraged to reach out us through either the Sub Branch web site or by email to: paul.prince@ashgrove. rslqld.net.au

Finally a sad Vale to Major General Andrew James Molan, AO, DSC., soldier statesman and a very fine Australian.

The Ashgrove Bardon RSL Sub-Branch provides support and camaraderie to all local current and former Australian Defence Force members and their families.

This Strategic Plan outlines the future direction of the Ashgrove Bardon RSL Sub-Branch, to ensure that our past is commemorated, and that our future is both sustainable and relevant for the next generation of local veterans.

Welcome back!

Can you believe the school holidays are over? I hope everyone had a chance to (re)connect with loved ones, and have a few adventures. It was really special to personally welcome back students, Teachers and staff and parents at Petrie Terrace State School on their first day back. Watching those little preppies carry in their boxes bought back some great memories. Speaking of our little ones, the Queensland government is making a massive investment in making sure all kids have access to quality kindy programs. Starting in January 2023, eligible families can take advantage of new savings to make kindy more affordable. This is a game-changer for Queensland families and will give every child the chance to get a great start in their education.

Congratulations to our newest Citizens

It was great to attend our local Citizenship ceremony in The Gap last month, where we welcomed 59 new citizens from 21 countries. The decision to becoming an Australian citizen is not one taken lightly, and I’m so happy they’ve chosen our community to call home.

Calling all green thumbs

We want to make Queensland the community garden capital of Australia, and we’ve backed it up with funding to transform unused and underutilised urban spaces. Grants of up to $50,000 are on offer for communities across the state to build community gardens, install composting and recycling infrastructure and restore native habitats. It was great to meet up with Paul Anderson, lead volunteer at Ashgrove’s Community Garden to throw about ideas for how this funding could transform their community garden. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, this is a chance to make a real difference in your community and bring people together through the joy of gardening. If you’d like to get involved (or would like help connecting with a local group on your idea) contact our office.

Parliament resumes this month

In a few weeks Queensland Parliament will resume, the first area of reform will be amendments to the Youth Justice Act. All Queenslanders have the right to be safe and feel safe, and following some fairly disturbing acts of violence recently the Premier is responding with amendments to the Youth Justice Act. Let’s keep in mind that last year just 1.7% of Queensland’s young people (aged 10-17) were charged with a crime. The majority of young people are in school, engaged in their communities and contributing to their families. These young people are also really impacted by conversations in our area that stigmatise them generally, and I’m mindful of speaking positively about, and supporting them through these very public discussions.

Infrastructure for Sporting Clubs

Our Government’s Minor Infrastructure funding for community sporting clubs opens on January 31, and will see $14.67 million invested for sports infrastructure. Grants start from $50,000 for projects including:

• For new, upgraded and end-of-life replacement projects.

• Lighting, cycling trails, pathways, ramps, skateparks, fixed exercise equipment, change rooms.

• For upgrading tennis, netball, bowls or indoor court surfaces

This is an excellent opportunity for community sporting clubs, contact my office for further information.

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

Jonty Bush MP Member for Cooper

Jonty and Petrie Terrace Principal Mr Reed

Jonty and Paul Anderson, Ashgrove Green Corner

Neighbourhood Watch The Gap 4061

4061: Did you know 2022 vs 2021 we together enacted a 7% reduction in offences across our wonderful suburb??!!!

Total 2022- 282 offences, down from 302 in 2021.

What’s even better, this is the lowest number of total offences for our suburb since the data goes back to 2018!

Massive effort Neigbhours!

Check out “LOVE THE GAP” http://nhwq4061.com/ love-the-gap/

The unofficial tourism bureau of 4061!

Lot’s of great info on places to enjoy, eat, play surrounded by a wonderful safe community created by NHW The Gap!

Check out the merchandise too and get your hands on it which supports our NHW The Gap fundraising -> which is reinvested into local campaigns.

Good HOME SECURITY can be achieved by following these key principles:

1. Make it easy for an offender to be seen

2. Make it difficult for an offender to gain entry

3. Make it difficult for an offender to exit with your property

4. Make it difficult for an offender to gain benefit from your property.

• Harder for thieves to get in (LOCK everything even when you are at home)

• Harder to get out (if they do get in, make sure it’s difficult for them to have an easier way out by making sure windows are locked/ doors deadbolted

• Harder to get rid of your property (photograph valuables, engrave with your personal ID number - your initials/your full birthdate/ Q for Queensland, use UV pen, mirodots)

• Install reliable security screen doors on main external entrances

• Remember to actually key lock your security doors and remove the key from the lock

• Fit deadlocks on all external doors

• When moving in to your home or apartment, install

new locks on entrance doors

• Never leave notes that indicate your absence

• Always take your door key with you, do not hide it, and never put your name and address on your key ring

• Get to know your Neighbours

• Observe and report suspicious activity

• Keep foliage trimmed back around your property so others can view suspicious activity

• Consider installing an alarm system and security

camera system that covers all external doors, windows and garage. Ensure the system is installed to Australian Standards for domestic applications.

• Always ensure car and house keys, mobile phones, handbags and wallets are stored out of sight.

• Lock away items of value such as bikes, lawn mowers and garden implements such as ladders. Always keep your garage or shed door closed and locked with a key

• Consider installing perimeter security lighting including sensor lights.

Dear neighbours,

Can you believe we are already a month into 2023? I’m back in Canberra this week for the first sittings of Parliament, to keep fighting for what matters to you.

Last month I offered some small cash grants to Ryan families to help with back-to-school costs. I offered them because I know families are doing it tough, but the response - which saw the grants fully subscribed in a matter of hours - highlighted the impact the cost-of-living crisis is having. It also highlights the ridiculous situation where public schools are forced to make parents pay for resources because they are underfunded. Schools in Ryan are underfunded by over $30 million each year. Imagine what a difference that money could make to our community!

On the topic of cost-of-living, the average mortgage payment in Ryan has increased by around $1300 a month, and more increases have been flagged. Rents have spiked by more than 13%. I know families that are having to choose between buying fuel or buying food. That’s not good enough, especially when corporations are getting billions in handouts.

I was horrified to see Labor cut the mental health provisions in Medicare just before Christmas. The Greens would fully fund Medicare, and include dental and mental health care, because your ability to pay for care should not determine your ability to access care. I’ve kicked off a petition to put pressure on the federal Health Minister to reinstate the extra 10 sessions a year that were cut. Look for it in the Community Newsletter.

The results of my Ryan Transport Survey (now on the website) have inspired me to hold a forum to explore the case for free, frequent public transport. Public transport is already subsidised between 70-80% in Australia by State governments. If the federal government stumped up the extra 20% or so, transport authorities could focus on moving people around, instead of collecting and policing fares. The forum will be held in April - I’ll share more details soon.

I can’t wait to get back out into our community to meet you and hear about the issues that matter to you. Here are a couple of upcoming opportunities to chat with me in person:

Ferny Grove Pop-up Office : 11am-1pm Monday 20 February - Ferny’s Cafe & Espresso Bar Flight Noise Meet-Up : 12-2pm Saturday 25 February - Cicada Park, Chapel Hill

Visit elizabethwatsonbrown.com/events

My team and I are committed to helping you in whatever way we can; whether it is navigating the bureaucracy, organising in the community or advocating on a policy issue, so please get in touch!

Until next month, Libby

— The Gap RSL Sub Branch —

We hope all our friends had an enjoyable Christmas . Our Australian Defence Force “boys and girls “ were out and about .

Over Christmas, the Royal Australian Navy welcomed home more than 1000 personnel and six ships from maritime training exercises with regional partners.

The ships and their crews have conducted port visits to more than 16 countries throughout the Indo-Pacific region.

We can feel justifiably proud of their contribution protecting Australia’s national interests.

Guided missile destroyer HMAS Hobart returned to Fleet Base East in Sydney after more than three months away. In the previous week, HMA Ships Stalwart, Anzac, Arunta and Adelaide returned to their respective homeports following similar integrated regional deployments.

RAAF personal participated in Operation

Christmas Drop involving five nations and eight Hercules transport aircraft flying from Guam to 57 communities in the West Pacific, airdropping 209 bundle boxes.

Inside each bundle box was fishing and boating equipment, food containers and rice, first-aid kits and life preservers, toys, books, soccer balls and colouring pencils which made for a happy Christmas for many of the locals.

Meanwhile our ADF personnel are still out and about doing invaluable community service. Roads in WA have been cut off by severe flooding that occurred in the aftermath of Ex-Tropical Cyclone Ellie, resulting in food supplies being critically low. As well as a RAAF C-130J Hercules and C-27J Spartan aircraft delivering food stores, three Army MRH-90 Taipan and two CH-47 Chinook helicopters were also using the tarmac, while a C-17A Globemaster landed to deliver equipment to Broome.

It would be interesting to estimate in monetary terms the AFD’s contribution to the local communities in the recent severe weather events we are experiencing.

Santa and his offsider delivering presents to remote Micronesian atolls from his airborn sleigh, a Royal Australian Air Force C-130J Hercules, in the biggest Operation Christmas Drop to date

COMMUNITY NEWS: JANUARY 2023

TGSI held a working group meeting on the 24th of January discussing multiple grant opportunities ranging between $5000 and $500,000 in value. Some of these are highly relevant to each of our three working group topics of Elevating the awareness and impact of local sustainability activities and volunteer organisations; The Platypus project; and Energy independence.

It was fantastic to see many new faces especially student leaders from The Gap High School and volunteers of Bushcare groups attend. Also, a very big thank you must go to Jonty Bush, MP, Member for Cooper, who came equipped with printed versions of the grant guidelines and suggestions for essential stakeholder contacts for each of the grants.

We discussed each grant’s eligibility criteria, decided what project would be competitive for each and then started to consider the grant application sections on the night. This was followed by formation of writing groups to continue each of the applications ready for submission in February.

It’s great to report that The Gap High School will accommodate us for our evening seminars and working groups. We thank the Principal Anne McLauchlan for offering to host our future events at the school, which will allow us to forge deeper links with the school community.

NEXT EVENTS:

On the 21th of February, TGSI will hold a community seminar on the topic of Platypus conservation. We are very excited that Dr Tamielle Brunt will be our guest speaker. Tamille recommends that on the path to the Platypus rewilding, we identify the monitoring targets such as water quality and invertebrate availability, and consistently assess them over a 3-to-5-year plan and within different seasons/climatic events. Once there is sufficient evidence of sustained suitable resources over that time, then can then think of reintroducing platypus! It’s great to hear that SOWN is already collecting water quality measurements, and that The Gap High School students are also doing water quality measurement as part of the biology curriculum. We hope to report on these data on our website soon.

On the 20th March we will then hold our next working group meeting.

MEMBERSHIP:

If you have not yet done so, pls consider becoming a TGSI member - we just need another 15 members to join to allow us to apply for charitable staus. The membership fee is $5 per annum to cover costs such as insurance, website hosting fee, room hire and facilitated meetings. Please use our Bank Account Name: The Gap Sustainability BSB124001 Account No: 23277186 and send us your name, DOB, and address to thegapsustainability@gmail.com for the membership registry.

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Please stay updated about our activities by visiting our website www.thegapsustainability.org. We now also have an active presence on Facebook. Yours sincerely,

The Gap Sustainability Initiative Management Committee

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

Volunteers give back to support local community

Was your New Year’s resolution to give back to your local community?

Volunteering is a meaningful way to support others in your neighbourhood. You can make a real difference to the lives of others, simply by using your existing experience and skills.

Gaythorne-based community services provider Carinity is welcoming prospective volunteers to support seniors and young people in Brisbane.

By providing practical and social assistance, volunteers have a positive impact on the lives of elderly or vulnerable people in Carinity’s residential aged care, school, chaplaincy, and community and disability services.

Volunteers in aged care provide additional

opportunities for social connection and activities by giving support to personal care workers, nurses and diversional therapists.

This includes making social visits to residents, assisting with games, group pursuits and outings, and provide entertainment such as reading and live music.

Linda Sivyer, a volunteer chaplain at the Carinity Hilltop aged care community in Kelvin Grove, finds that the simple act of stopping in for a chat goes a long way to brightening someone’s day.

“Some residents who don’t get out to activities really enjoy chatting. I love it. I’m here as a sounding board, to listen and to help,” Linda said.

Darryl Tippett understands how his presence benefits the residents of the

Carinity Clifford House aged care community in Wooloowin, where he assists with activities, functions and helps out on regular bus trips.

“You see the smile on the residents’ faces and the enjoyment they get from having a visitor. They’re just like family,” Darryl said.

Volunteer chaplains support people in aged care,

hospitals and prisons, while volunteers can provide assistance at Carinity Education schools and disability and community services.

After realising that she “had spare time and wanted to do something to help others”, Dee Watt began volunteering at Carinity Education Southside in Sunnybank.

“I was a bit nervous volunteering at first. Fortunately, everyone was very welcoming and made me feel comfortable. They included me in their activities; I felt part of the team,” Dee said.

Anyone interested in volunteering to assist the people Carinity support can visit www.carinity.org.au/ volunteer or phone 3550 3737.

Outdoor Cinema in The Gap!

On Saturday 11 Feb, come on down to Wittonga Park to watch the cult classic film, The Princess Bride.

Free popcorn and fairy floss (as well as the food trucks) will start serving from 5pm with the screening starting at 6pm.

Hope to see you all there!

Proudly brought to you by The Lord Mayor’s Community Fund and Cr Steven Toomey.

Darryl Tippett and Gay Loveday outside the Carinity Clifford House aged care community

Ashgrove Rangers

Summer is track and field season and Ashgrove Rangers have been competing with much success. We have fielded some of our largest ever teams in the weekly Queensland Athletics meets.

There are too many fine performances to list them all but one stands out. Adrian Keen has set Queensland over50 records in the throws pentathlon. There are four throws events: discuss, javelin, hammer and shot put. The fifth event is incorporated by introducing a hammer event with a heavier hammer.

Congratulations to all who competed; those who turn up week after week just to be part of the team as well as those who set personal bests or win medals.

Set a date for April 30. It is the May Day long weekend and, once again, Ashgrove Rangers will be hosting the South Burnett Rail-Trail relay out at Kingroy. This will be the third year of its running. We had two local teams last year and, this year, we hope to have more.

This year will be an extra special event as Queensland Athletics have announced that it will be the Queensland Road Relay Championship.

Details can be found at:

www.southburnettexpress.run

As usual, details of Ashgrove Rangers events and training can be found at: www.ashgroverangers.org

Wittonga Park Bushcare

Group - The Gap

Calling all nature lovers! Wittonga Park Bushcare will be hosting the first working bee for 2023 on February 19th from 8am to 10am.

Join us in making a difference by helping to preserve and protect the natural beauty of Wittonga Park. Together, we can make a positive impact to our local area. Please bring (or wear) sturdy shoes and a hat. We will supply gloves and tools.

See you there! The Wittonga Park Bushcare Group meet at the Belclare Street side of the Wittonga Park.

Team Dangerfield has over 55+ years of combined local experience. If you would like to have advise from a dynamic, forward-thinking and local team, we are here to assist.

For a completely confidential and free appraisal, please scan the QR code or contact us directly.

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

Stephen Dangerfield, Jack Dangerfield and Riley Lucashenko

Enrolments

Great start to the new year at Ithaca Probus Club

After Ithaca Probus Club members again enjoyed their traditional Christmas lunch at the Paddo Tavern they got the new year under way with a very successful Aussie Day BBQ at the Red Hill Bowls and Sporting Club. A great meal then we all entered into an Aussie song singalong with much enthusiasm. Unfortunately, technical problems in November caused the scheduled talk by Club member Judy Blaney on their experiences with donkeys on their small farm to be postponed, but will now take place at the February general meeting. Guest speaker at that meeting will be Loan Chow, telling us about Estate Planning.

Most of the wide range of interesting activities - talks, outings, and other socially engaging events, such as the cards group and the poetry group, will be resuming again after the summer break. Meanwhile our monthly newsletters have continued 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 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, 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.

Ashgrove Historical Society

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 4 March will be Civilising Brisbane presented by author and historian, Duncan Richardson.

Precis: In the second half of the 19th century, Diamantina Bowen, Sister Ellen Whitty and Eliza O’Connell battled indifference and prejudice to improve health care, the arts and education in Brisbane. Crossing the sectarian divide, they often worked together, and their letters and diaries reveal a fascinating story of struggle to improve lives in a rapidly growing town.

Duncan is author of two other historical publications: 1864 - The Year of Disaster (2017) about the fires, cyclone, flood and typhoid outbreak that befell Brisbane that year and Captives of the Spanish Lady (2019) about the flu quarantine in 1919. He has also written junior fiction and short stories. Books will be available for purchase on the day.

There will be a shared morning tea following the presentation which will provide the opportunity to chat with Duncan and other people interested in local history.

AHS publications will also be available for purchase: Local Government in Ashgrove: A History by John Laverty (2022) $30 for Ashgrove Historical Society members and $35 for non-members. Other books include Lost Ashgrove, an easyto-read pictorial record of Ashgrove then and now (members $20, non-members $25); the revised Ashgrove Heritage Tour 2nd ed. (2019) $10; Ashgrove 150 Timeline ($6) provides added information on the plaques that are in place along the Enoggera Creek bikeway (Ashgrove Sportsground section); Brisbane: People and Places of Ashgrove (2010) $15. If you would like to make a purchase, come along to a meeting or contact the secretary, Julie by email: ahs.secretary@bigpond. com or phone on 3366 4621 and she will make arrangements for you to collect your order or receive it by post.

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 and the quarterly newsletter, Tram Stops. 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.

http://www.westernecho.com.au

At St Peter Chanel School, we make a difference.

We value our teachers and invest in their professional learning

We nurture our students to be active and engaged confident owners of their learning

We focus on every student maximising their progress

We make a difference and we enable and inspire our students to go out and make a difference

open for 2023 & 2024

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

Forum Communicators is a public speaking organisation with local, friendly groups who meet regularly to help each other become confident, effective communicators in their professional and personal lives.

You too can be a confident communicator. All you need is practice, persistence and positive people around you. Forum can help you to speak confidently in public, write and deliver a compelling speech, lead effective meetings and network with poise and confidence

The 979th General Meeting of the Ashgrove Forum Club was held at 6.30pm on Wednesday18th January at the Ashgrove Library.

To begin the year, the meeting first meeting of Ashgrove Forum took a varied format in the form of a short speaking section to the title “A Touch of Drama”, a fun segment of Theatre Sports (Forum Style) and a group discussion on the question “Has politics become unnecessarily complicated in the 21st Century”. We were pleased to welcome two prospective members who both participated in all segments. Dinner at Zegatos Restaurant at the Ashgrove Golf Club following the meeting completed a very pleasant and informative evening for all.

At the next meeting on 15th February all members will be asked to speak for 7 minutes to address the question “What is the Most Serious Issue Facing Women in 2023?”. This should provide much thought-provoking content.

Ashgrove Forum holds meetings in the Ashgrove Library Meeting Room at 6.30pm, on the 3rd Wednesday of each month. Visitors are always most welcome to attend without obligation.

For enquiries and more information, ring Secretary Pat on 0458 696 267.

Mitchelton News

The Mitchelton Branch of the Older Women’s Network Qld Inc (OWNQ) meets formally and informally throughout the month and you are welcome to join us for any or all of our get togethers.

We get together each week and we enjoy ourselves. February dates are:

Tues 7th February Kakawan Coffee, Cnr Bunya Road & Jinker Track, Bunya 10am

Sat 11th February Lunch Gaythorne RSL 12pm

Tues 14th February Coffee Cafe Lagarto Samford Valley 10am

Sat 18th February Coffee Birds & Bees Cafe, Everton Hills 10am

Wed 22nd February Monthly Meeting Panther’s Den Arana Leagues Club 10am Guest speaker Caxton Legal Service Helen Wallace/Sun-lyn Lee (EPOA) followed by Coffee/Lunch

Tues 28th February Techno Coffee Arana Leagues Club 10am

Tues 7th March Kakawan Coffee Cnr Bunya Road & Jinker Track, Bunya 10am

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 0431 159 921.

Quote of the Day

To all our readers– Happy New Year. The local Amnesty International groups hope that 2023 will be a positive and healthy year for you all.

During 2022 Amnesty International has achieved, worldwide, a great deal in advocating for numerous human rights defenders who have paid a great price for speaking truth against power. As always, Amnesty has challenged injustice, ensuring the release of numerous individuals who were unfairly imprisoned. The organisation has been active in improving outcomes for large numbers of people seeking safety from such countries as Afghanistan, Myanmar and Ukraine.

Domestically Amnesty has also worked towards achieving commitments in Tasmania to raise the age of criminal responsibility in both Tasmania and Northern Territory. The appalling use of spit hoods has been banned in both Queensland and northern Territory. Amnesty was instrumental in persuading the Australian government to accept the offer to allow many refugees in offshore detention to resettle in New Zealand. The list is long and impressive – and the ongoing needs to protect human rights are constant.

If you are interested to learn more about Amnesty International, the Helen Black Amnesty International group meets between 9-11am on the second Monday morning of the month in The Gap and would be happy to hear from anyone interested in joining. Please contact Di on 3300 1861. 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.

Arana VIEW Club

February News

Arana View Club March meeting is on Wednesday 1st March, 10.30 for 11.00am start at the Arana Leagues Club, Dawson Parade, Keperra. The cost for lunch is $30.00 for the 2-course meal and tea and coffee.

We will have our regular raffles and lucky door prizes with the proceeds going towards supporting our Learning for Life students.

Our guest speaker in March will be our Zone Councillor, Lyall Aldridge. Lyall will give us an insight into VIEW Clubs and the successes of the Smith family in assisting struggling students.

The March Meeting will also see our first “Make, Bake and Grow” for the year. The generosity of members supporting this activity means we have more funds to support our learning for life students. It is always great to buy some of the home baked goodies to enjoy.

Our club has different social activities each month, so members have a chance to make new friends. Please phone Carol on 3355 5349 by midday Monday 27th February if you are attending the March meeting or if you are interested in coming along to see what VIEW is about.

The fairest thing in nature - a flower - still has its roots in earth and manure. — D.H. Lawrence

The Gap Loco is a hub for local ethical business

Having supported organic farmers for the past decade, The Gap Local Organic Cooperative also stocks a variety of grocery items from small values-driven enterprises like Self-Managed Soap and Kin Kin Naturals detergent.

“While our first priority is supplying quality, affordable organic foods with a smile- and that will always be the case,” says worker Frida Nielsen, “we also love to support businesses that share our values of environmentalism, cooperation and social good. Our recent inclusion of Self-Managed Soap from the Brisbane Catholic Worker into our product range is thrilling because we are supporting an organic small business with a powerful social drive.”

“The sales from Self-Managed Soap go to support our house in Greenslopes where we offer community-run emergency accommodation,” says Michael, who makes the soap out of the garage at the house. “At Dorothy Day House we offer short-term pay-what-you-can room and board to asylum seekers and others who find themselves outside of the housing system. We also support social activism, dinners and street kitchens, host a free shop, and keep a vegetable garden. Self-Managed Soap Co-op was started in the 1980s and we’ve been making local environmentally-conscious vegan soap since that time. Our soap is palm-oil free, made with organic coconut oil and essential oils.”

The house was inspired by Dorothy Day, a mid-20th century American journalist and peace activist. Dorothy Day started a decentralised movement of community houses around the world, united by the belief that everyone should have a place to live. The name they use, Catholic Worker, comes from the paper Dorothy Day wrote for.

Kin Kin Naturals founder, Felix, is passionate about making local, all natural cleaning products that actually work.

Felix (with his past experience as a formulator for OMO), his partner, Sandy, pictured above (and even children, Marijn and Pippa, at times) work together to formulate, produce and design the packaging, for the products which are now widely used in eastern Australia. He states, “formulating a detergent is a bit of an art. We’re skilled in this art due to our experience”. The combination of using these skills and 100% natural ingredients, has created great local cleaning products that really work.

“We’re building networks of ethical businesses,” says Loco co-founder Colin Peile. “The vision for a world based on cooperation and environmental values is broader than just The Gap Loco and requires the collaboration of all kinds of ethical enterprises and community initiatives. We are always happy to connect with other groups who share our values.”

The Gap Loco is a local, organic food delivery service run by a workers collective. Drop down to their pop up shop each Monday from 10-3 at 15 High St, Ashgrove or visit their website www.thegaploco.com to make an order.

Supplying

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)

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)

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

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

YOUR LOCAL BUSHLAND RETREAT

Taylor Range is a family recreational Club which offers leisure and recreation in the western suburbs for 12 months of the year.

As well as a gas-heated swimming pool for use in the cooler months the Club also has numerous gas barbecue areas that you can relax at during these beautiful clear days. Instead of spending a fortune on a gym membership that you rarely use why not join a Club that encourages a healthy lifestyle for the whole family whilst creating lifelong memories?

Facilities include 3 swimming pools, 2 day/night tennis courts, 4 glass-backed squash courts, function hall, kiosk, half-basketball court and barbecue areas.

Taylor Range also offers squash for all ages. “We have a junior academy run in conjunction with Squash Australia and this gives boys and girls the opportunity to join one of our junior teams”, said Club manager Michael Wilson.

Ashgrove/The Gap

On behalf of Ashgrove-The Gap Lions Club we would like to take this opportunity to wish all of our community a successful and healthy 2023

In December 2022 our club was very busy selling Christmas Cakes and Puddings in our community as well as 2 hospitals including those that wanted cakes and puddings. Thank you most sincerely for your support.

“We have squash players aged from 5 to 75 years of age at the Club, so whatever your standard there are opportunities here to play socially and or competitively,” added Michael.

This is the ideal time to join a Club that offers you and your family healthy outdoor leisure opportunities, in a safe relaxed environment. Don’t miss out - contact the Club today!

Selling Christmas Cakes at Bunnings

As well, leading up to the end of December, our club supported Ray White The Gap Christmas “Little Ray of Giving” where members of the community donated gifts to those in need which were distributed by our club to the Communify Christmas Market.

Also in December, we conducted a number of BBQ’s for Trek2health, attended the Bardon Christmas Market where we had a stall and finally our very busy year culminated with our

Ideal for birthday parties and barbecues

Junior Squash Academy

Two Day/Night tennis courts

Swimming pools for year-round enjoyment

Lions at the Bardon Christmas Markets

Lions News

Christmas celebration at Ashgrove Golf Club where we said goodbye to one of our long standing members who is joining another club

Upcoming Events

February each year in Australia heralds the start of our premier Lions Youth Project. Youth of the Year is designed to encourage student interest in leadership and the qualities required to take an active and constructive role in the community. A high level of academic, leadership, sporting, public speaking and citizenship achievement is sought in its potential winners.

Our club has an entrant from 4 different schools in our region which commences on Saturday 25th February where they will be interviewed by a panel of judges, culminating in a dinner at Ashgrove Golf Club on Tuesday 28th February where they will again be judged on their speech presentation skills. The winner will progress through various finals at different levels to reach the grand final in May on the Gold Coast in 2023

On 26th February, Ashgrove-The Gap Lions Club will be conducting a Fundraising BBQ at Bunning’s in Keperra, we look forward to seeing everyone there.

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

Lions enjoying the 2022 Christmas break-up

Farewell to Lion's Angela

Ray White The Gap Christmas “Little Ray of Giving” for Communify Christmas Market

Ashgrove/The Gap Lions cooking up a storm and helping at the Trek2health BBQ

Newmarket VIEW Club

The Newmarket View Club enjoyed an outstanding Christmas lunch at Albany Creek Aveo Complex on 14th December, 2023. We thank Albany Creek Aveo very much for this. During 2022, the Aveo Group donated over $500 which we used to obtain Christmas Gift Cards for our Learning for Life students.

OUR STUDENTS ARE: Abbee (19), Roudwan (15), Jesse (14), Tony (13), Mitchell (9), Abigail (8), Amy (10). i.e. one tertiary, three secondary and three primary students.

OUR FUNDRAISING PROJECT FOR 2023:

Internet access is vital for children to keep up with their learning in the 21st century – but unfortunately, there are still many families who can’t afford it. This means many children miss out on a world of knowledge. An Internet Access Pack will ensure a child living with disadvantage can connect to the internet and access the crucial resources they need to complete their school projects and homework. An Internet Access Pack will provide access to the internet for one, two, three or four terms and enable families to participate in The Smith Family’s digital programs and access to key services online.

To commemorate The Smith Family centenary in 2022, the Mint has struck a $1 uncirculated coin as a collectors’ item only. The coin is now on sale in Australia Post offices nationally.

Wonderful Support for Santa Sleigh!

Thank you to the residents of The Gap and St John's Wood who generously donated to the Rotary Santa Sleigh in the first week of December last year.

We are thrilled to announce we slightly exceeded our target of $5,000. Not only did we raise much needed funds to use on Rotary and local Community Projects but we also had fun. Santa and his helpers enjoyed seeing all those happy excited faces of all ages and having the opportunity to wish you all a Merry Christmas.

This success is not possible without the help of many people. Our deepest thanks go to:

• Eagers Nissan Newstead for the use of a tow vehicle;

• Subway, The Gap for the generous donation of supper to all our volunteers each night;

• Mick Duggan, Altas Traffic, for ensuring the safety of the Santa Sleigh volunteers and the residents of The Gap and St John’s Wood;

• Cr Steven Toomey, The Hon Jonty Bush, Member for Cooper and Elizabeth Watson-Brown, MP, Member of Ryan for their assistance as collectors;

• Clare Dover for updating our maps every year;

• Amanda Ahmet and Jon Williams for the loan of their trailer;

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

Meetings commenced on 23rd January, 2023, with our AGM and election of Committee members. This year we will again be having a lunch meeting at the Alderley Arms Hotelthe meeting commencing at 11.00 am and continuing to lunch at 12 noon. Visitors are welcome to attend and “view” how VIEW works. Our President will be only too pleased to hear from you. Roslyn can be contacted on 0417 569 547.

If you wish to know more about the Newmarket VIEW Club, you can also email us on newmarketview@gmail.com.

• St Johns Wood Rovers for volunteering their time as collectors each night

A big thank you goes to all the Rotarians and friends who have helped in someone to ensure the week was a success.

It takes a team to ensure something like Santa Sleigh can happen and we have been lucky to have a great team behind us every year. Francine Hinton - Santa Sleigh Co-ordinator

Lynnette Harrington and Jean Robinson, ready to enjoy the Christmas lunch provided by the Albany Creek Aveo Complex

The Physiologix Corner Remedial Massage Therapist

Emma Caccianiga Returns!

Your chance to see one of the very best remedial massage therapists.

One of Australia’s most highly experienced remedial massage therapists is returning to The Gap. Emma Caccianiga moved interstate several years ago, but is now back in Brisbane. She is returning to Physiologix, upstairs at The Gap Health and Racquet Club on Settlement Rd this January.

Emma has worked with so many of the best sporting teams, both in Australia and Internationally. She has worked within the rehab setting, together with other health professionals for over 10 years.

She loves working with all sorts of remedial issues from chronic, complex pain, with multiple co-existing issues, right through to elite level sport. She taught massage for years. She is trained in most adjunct massage techniques including cupping and needling.

Many people see massage as a luxury. We need to change this view. Remedial Massage is one of the best ways to nip issues in the bud, helping to prevent them from building into more serious problems or an injury. It is more an essential maintenance!

Actually, affording yourself an hour of time and coming in and lying still, focusing only on your body is another component helping us step away from the chaos of life and all that it throws up around us.

Emma has such of wealth of knowledge and training, she will also help you understand why you may have any issues and different things you might benefit from doing to help prevent these issues. When needed, she works together with the other extremely highly qualified staff of Physiologix, be it the Physios or the Pilates instructors to ensure you gain the outcomes you need.

To book an appointment with Emma, call Physiologix on (07) 3511 1112 or book online at Physiologix.com.au

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

™

Enoggera & Districts Historical Society Inc.

Annual General Meeting coming up

The Enoggera & Districts Historical Society Inc. (EDHS) will host its 2023 AGM on Sunday, 26 March from 2pm. Venue is the Enoggera Memorial Hall – access via Trundle Street. Refreshments will be served after the AGM.

Members and the local community are warmly invited to attend.

And for members, annual renewal payments are now due. Email enoggerahistory@gmail.com for any enquiries.

The Society’s local history display is again open for (free) public viewing every Thursday morning from 9.30am at the Enoggera Memorial Hall. Please feel free to drop in ?

And keep those photos and memories coming in!

Just like this one of the Alderley Arms Hotel (pictured above) – taken in 1889!

Finally, don’t forget to check out our Facebook page or visit our website www.enoggerahistory.org

Take care everyone and every good wish for 2023, Andrew McMicking - President

Rotary Carols by Candlelight Concert 2022

singers tested positive to COVID which meant the whole Team harmony was lost. But no doubt Tessitura will be back next year.

The Carols presentation by the Queensland Wind Orchestra and Ignite Choir and the support artists certainly lived up to the reputation our Rotary Club has assembled with these wonderful artists over fourteen years.

Amazing range of thanks go to so many involved from the huge local community support from businesses and organisations and which included the video work of David Pawsey of Queensland Live Streaming and the sound system by Adrian Carroll of SAE, Sound and Engineering Creative Media Institute.

What a cracker of a night provided by the Rotary Carols by Candlelight Concert 2022.

General attendance was between 5,500 and 6,000 people of all ages. Thank you all you wonderful people in our community.

Everybody appeared to have a great night. The audience was full of superlatives for the Rotary Club of Ashgrove/The Gap and we received a number of rave emails thanking our Club.

Our direct line to BOM through MC Jenny Woodward worked an absolute treat, and the weather remained fine throughout. The fireworks finale was the best ACE Fireworks has done for the event.

Our support artists of National Serviceman’s Memorial Pipe Band and Rocus Big Band were great. But unfortunately, we lost one of the main Concert support items shortly before the program commenced when one of the Tessitura A Capella

This event could not proceed without the funding assistance from Brisbane City Council. Our thanks to the Lord Mayor and local Councillors Andrew Wines and Steve Toomey.

But the icing on the Carols by Candlelight Concert cake was the Gallipoli Barracks Army Engineers voluntary involvement under Lieutenant Colonel Jon Pollard. The Army Personnel were superbly effective over the whole four days from the collection and return of a vast array of borrowed items to the set up and later pack up of the concert structure and even assisting in the “emu parade” on Sunday morning. An unbelievable lucky strike for our Rotary Club. Our sincere thanks to our Army friends.

The spectacular results speak for themselves and as the song says and as the Carols Concert showed, the night was “BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS”.

Our sincere thanks to Philippa Wightman and Western Echo for the continuous great job to bring the news and events of The Gap and Ashgrove to our homes.

John Giles - Rotary Club of Ashgrove/The Gap

— VALE — Kenneth Arthur Mcmullin

8 APRIL 1937 – 18 DECEMBER 2022

It is with deepest sympathy and a broken heart I have to acknowledge the passing of my darling husband and soul mate Ken. Ken was born at Camp Hill and with parents Artie and Florence, brother Colin and sister Adele moved to The Gap at the age 8 years.

The western suburbs had been the home to Ken for over 75 years and his life was deeply ingrained in the history of the local area and surrounding suburbs, Ken and Bev married on September 26th, 1959 by District Methodist Minister Reverend Ivan Alcorn at the West Ashgrove Methodist Church.Both were lifetime members of The Gap Historical Society and inaugural members of The Gap Past Time Club

The home they built together in leafy Riaweena Street once formed part of a 365-acre land holding owned by Ken’s grandmother and generous benefactor, Bertha McMullinAlthouse. Regarded as an astute business woman, successful in share cropping and dairy farming, Bertha at one point owned all of the land on the south side of Waterworks Road, from the Uniting Church to the Pre-School and was honoured by The Gap Historical Society naming the bridge in School Road, the Bertha McMullin/Althouse Bridge in August 2008

Ken worked at four companies in his life time and these were an apprenticeship with Accurate Welding Works at South Brisbane, then onto McGrath Trailers at Rocklea and after the Company closed down he then went on to Freighter Trailers , Rocklea for a brief period and finished his working days with ACI Blowpack also at Rocklea. His working life totalled some 60 years.

Not having any family both formed loving relationships with animals, Ken bringing home unwanted dogs and Bev relocating cats.

Ken received in 2005 A Ryan Recognition Award which he accepted not only for his, but for his Father’s contribution to The Gap Community.

Ken reflected on the main changes to the suburb in his lifetime, noting the growth from a quiet rural farming district to the surge in high-density housing and population growth. His fondest memories of living in The Gap were the relationships of community, family and lifelong friendships of neighbours.

With 63 wonderful years married they lived for 53 years in Riaweena Street The Gap until age and health problems made down sizing necessary to the beautiful Fig Tree village at Murrumba Downs where he enjoyed the wonderful environment and the friendship of a first rate respected community.

Poor health necessitated Ken’s admission into Bolton Clarke Nursing Home at Murrumba Downs for six / seven months of last year. The care and dedication of the staff and doctors acknowledged.

The internment of Ken’s ashes into the Memorial Wall at The Gap Uniting Church to be arranged possibly late February and if anyone would like to attend please call Bev on 0404 330 196.

Rest in Peace now my darling –“Until we are together again”. Beverley McMullin

.....Principal's Points.......Principal's Points......

St Peter Chanel School

An Amazing Start for 2023 as St Peter Chanel welcomes all their students back to school, especially our newest students.

What an amazing start to the year! It has been wonderful to see so many happy smiling faces as we settle back in to learning. This year we also welcome many new students to our school.

Paul McGlone - Acting Principal

The Gap State High School

As we begin the 2023 school year, we have the pleasure of welcoming back approx. 1730 students and their families to our school. We would like to offer an especially warm welcome to the families who will be joining our community this year for the first time.

Launching in Term 1 we have a calendar packed full of events and celebrations to share with students, caregivers, parents and the wider community. In the coming weeks we will be promoting social events and various information nights. These events not only allow us the opportunity to connect but offer a chance for you to hear and ask questions about the many important aspects of student and family life at our school.

If you are looking at The Gap State High School as a future school, we encourage you to join us at our upcoming Open day on Thursday 20 April 2023 to learn more about what we can offer you and your young person.

We would also like to take the opportunity to congratulate our class of 2022 on their outstanding ATAR

results. We are so proud of the efforts of our hard-working students, inspirational teachers, supportive parents and family members that resulted in such outstanding achievements for our school community in 2022.

We look forward to continued success in 2023 as we forge partnerships with our families to achieve outstanding excellence in education.

Anne McLauchlan –Principal

The Gap State School

Welcome back to another school year. I would like to extend a welcome to all 593 students who started this year at The Gap State School. Along with our returning students we welcome to the school, 69 Prep students and 35 new students in Years 1-6.

During our Pupil Free Days in January, staff participated and contributed

looking into the future

to three very successful days. Dedicated time was given to introducing the Department of Education’s new Strategic Plan – Equity and Excellence – Realising the potential of every student and revisiting our school’s Strategic Plan. Time was also allocated to outline the priorities for this year in our Explicit Improvement Agenda – English.

My key note message was about attributes required for high performing teams. Our work is complex and operating within high functioning teams supports positive wellbeing and brings energy to each staff member to be able to do their best each day. Teachers who work in high performing teams are also best placed to improve outcomes for students. Messages from our Head of Special Education Services remained focused on all staff being inclusion teachers. Inclusion and equity are everyone’s business and we

are all committed to ensuring all students are successful and making progress at school. Student handover meetings from one teacher to the next were also prioritised during the pupil free days and these meetings continue to contribute to the seamless transition into new classes each year.

I am proud of the calm and focused start to 2023, with all children settled and engaged in learning from Day One.

2023 School Captains

It is my pleasure to acknowledge our school captains for 2023. Congratulations to Elsa, Liam, Harry and Sophie who are committed to making a difference in our school community. The presentation of leadership badges to all of our 2023 school leaders will take place at our student investiture ceremony on 21 February this year.

(Continued on page 23)

Prep B at St Peter Chanel,

with their teacher Mrs Conor Pomeroy

Principal's Points......

The Gap State School (Contd.)

(Continued from page 22)

Swimming Representatives

Congratulations to the 10 students from Years 5 and 6 who have been selected to represent our school at the North West District Swimming Trials to be held in February - Madeline, Mollie, Charlie, Rory, Andrew, Camille, William, Mindi, Jessica and Ayla.

Met North Aquathlon Representative

Year 6 student, Faye will represent Met North at the State Aquathlon Trials to be held in Hervey Bay early in February. Faye earned her place in the Met North Aquathlon team at trials held in Term 4 last year and we wish her great success at this next stage of competition.

Warm Regards, Joanne Nicholls - Principal

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 is starting the new year under the directorship of Guillaume Lemay-Yates with new music and our usual enthusiasm. We will be rehearsing every Monday in 2023 starting at 7.00 pm 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: https:// serenatasingers.org.au/

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

2023 Australia Day Citizenship Ceremony

President Tim Boyd with Aimee & Vincent Schouppe Diana-Gabriela, Lara-Antonia, Riana-Maria, and George-Adrian Voicu

Rotary President Tim Boyd with Mrs Jacqueline Denovan

Rotary President Tim Boyd with Ashley Bondad

Mrs Rohini Rajkumar Bansode, Reyaan and Amit Dhoke

Mrs Agatha Yena Kwon, Mackenzie Rose and Daniel Thompson

@ J.A. Robertson Hall, The Gap State High School

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

Martina Rodrigues dos Anjos Lima, Lavinia and Isabela (front) Rodrigues Dourado Lima and Wilson Dourado Lima Filho

Edwin Ossa Moncada

President Tim Boyd with Dr. Anne Goldsack, Alexander and Evelyn (front) Murphy. Dr Goldsack gave the Vote of Thanks on behalf of all the new Australian Citizens

President Tim Boyd with Frederic Boin and Candice Soulisse

President Tim Boyd with Dr. Timothy Coles

President Tim Boyd with David Buckett and Kirsty Howell

Play hockey – the family sport – at Norths Eagles

Hockey is a sport for the whole family. The Neocleous family is proof of that.

Barry Neocleous started playing hockey as a young man in England and has been a member of Norths Hockey Club at Ashgrove for almost 20 years.

His eldest son Lewis started with Norths Eagles in his early primary school years, while younger brother Callum began playing hockey “as soon as I could”.

Motivated by watching her sons and husband play, mum Rebecca finally picked

up a hockey stick last year and thoroughly enjoyed her first season playing the sport.

She is part of a growing trend of ‘hockey parents’ who, after years watching from the sideline, have been inspired to take up hockey at Norths.

Based at Dorrington Park, the social, inclusive and family-oriented club has teams for men, women, boys and girls of all ages and skill levels, including beginners and returning players.

Eagles members – aged from five to 72 years –play hockey in a friendly atmosphere and with competitive spirit.

Norths is the only Brisbane hockey club with

its own grass fields, artificial turf practice pitch, and 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 Eagles team for you.

Norths will hold its signon day for the 2023 season at Dorrington Park, Mirrabooka Road, Ashgrove on Saturday February 4 from 10am to 2pm.

For more information phone 0419 145 307 or visit www.facebook.com/ NorthsHockeyBrisbane or register online at www. northshockey.org.au.

The Neocleous family – Lewis, Rebecca, Callum and Barry – are set for another exciting season playing hockey for the Norths Eagles at Ashgrove

Sign Up for Clean Up Australia Day 2023

As our world faces unprecedented environmental challenges, Australians are being encouraged to join together to take positive action.

Pip Kiernan, Chair of Clean Up Australia said, “Our environment is facing pressure unlike ever before. As all Australians know, over the past two years, we’ve seen severe bushfires, cyclones and floods, pressures on our biodiversity and an evergrowing volume of waste which leaks into our natural and marine environment. Australians tell us every day that they are concerned about the world we live in but often feel frustrated and unsure how to make a positive impact.

“Clean Up Australia Day is a great opportunity to work together and take practical action. We seek the support of all Australians. Together we can all make a real difference,” Pip continued.

After the death of her father Ian Kiernan AO in 2018, Pip was appointed Chair of Clean Up Australia, the iconic Australian charity

he founded over 30 years earlier.

Registration is free, and participants receive a free Clean Up kit, containing gloves and bags and other resources, with packs for individuals, families and community groups available (businesses are asked to pay a small fee to cover costs). Anyone who signs up before December 31, 2022 is automatically in the running to win one of three Coles gift cards valued at $1000.

“Signing up now means you’re making a pledge to improve and protect Australia’s environment. Whether you are 9 or 90, participating in a Clean Up Australia event changes the way you think about your everyday habits and the practical changes each of us can make. Everyone who gets involved tells us how rewarding the day is and how it has made a lasting impact.” Pip said.

If you can’t join in

Australians are encouraged to make a donation to Clean Up Australia. 100% of funds raised through donations go directly to empowering Australians to take positive action for the environment.

To register or donate, please visit cleanup.org.au

Clean Up Australia Day –Sunday 5 March, 2023

Schools Clean Up Day –Friday March 3, 2023

Business Clean Up Day – Tuesday February 28, 2023

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

Chair of Clean Up Australia Pip Kiernan (centre front) with Clean up Australia Day volunteers

When conjuring an image of the rainforest, tall trees with high, dense canopies come to mind – trees that are too large to contemplate growing in the average suburban garden. Fortunately, there is an abundance of small to medium sized trees with a compact growth habit that are also found in our rainforest and are suitable for the home garden. The snow wood (Parachidendron pruniosum) belongs in this category. Growing from 6 to 10m tall, it has dense, glossy foliage of compound leaves, each with up to eleven lanceolate leaflets whose tips taper to a point. In summer, it produces green-white flowers that are

arranged in a fluffy ball shape on the end of a long stalk. As the flowers age they turn orange/yellow. These attract bees and the tailed emperor butterfly. The flowers are followed by flattened, highly twisted orange pods which split to expose black seeds. These pods are very decorative and have given rise to an alternative common name – monkey’s earrings. It is a beautiful feature tree, and, because of its habit, it is good in narrow areas as well as fence planting and street planting. It grows well as an indoor potted plant.

Snow wood is closely related to the wattles as seen by the seed pods and the

way they split to release the seeds. Like the wattles, they have bacteria living in close relationship in their roots. The bacteria are protected and supplied with carbohydrates by the plant whilst extracting nitrogen from the air which they covert to nitrates the plant needs for protein production. As a result of this relationship, snow wood can grow in nutrient poor soils although its best growth is

achieved in well composted, free-draining soil. It will grow in clay soils and is frost-tolerant. Its straight, cylindrical, 35cm diameter trunk provides a decorative, general-purpose timber.

Mitchelton & Districts Garden Club

When the Mitchelton and Districts Garden Club meets on Thursday, 2nd March, J.A.’s Herbs and Salvias will be the subject matter of guest speaker, Sally Moore.

Many herbs are drought tolerant and easy to grow. They are not prone to disease or insect attack. Nowadays herbs and spices play a prominent part in creating delicious flavours in our food and early history records compliment herbs for their medicinal qualities as well. Salvias are ideal plants for cottage gardens. They have long flowering spikes and add much colour to where they grow. If you would like to hear Sally Moore’s talk, come for morning tea at 9.45 a.m.

The meeting commences immediately after that. (This club observes precautions in connection with Covid-19.)

This month give priority to gardening activities such as watering, mowing and mulching to help create weed

control. To have seedlings ready to plant in April, it is not too soon to sow spring annuals and winter vegetables such as celery, cabbage and cauliflower. It would be a good idea to do this in containers that can be moved to a sheltered area should adverse weather occur. Sweet corn and beetroot should be able to survive if sown directly into the garden bed.

Shrubs showing good growth after earlier spring pruning, may be tip pruned this month. Have you tried propagating shrubs by layering?

This simple method produces plants ready to go into the ground or pots. Just look for a pliable branch at the base of a shrub. Bend it down so it touches the ground. Where it does, scrape away some of the bark and a bit of the woody branch. Cover the raw part with hormone cutting powder, and push it into the soil. Use a rock or

wire bent in a U shape to hold it in place. Keep that part of the soil moist.

After four to six weeks, roots will have formed. More growth should be showing on the end of the cutting which should be ready to cut away from the trunk side of the original plant. You’ll now have another plant to be potted or planted somewhere else.

The Mitchelton and Districts Garden Club Inc.

meets on the first Thursday of the calendar month except January at the Enoggera Memorial Hall. The entrance is at 36 Trundle Street. The hall is close to public transport and accessible by wheelchair. There is a lucky door prize, a continuous raffle and a plant exchange table.

Visitors and new members are most welcome. For more information please phone the president, Trish, on 0438 268 212.

Happy New Year from Save Our Waterways Now (SOWN) Enoggera Catchment Bushcare!

SOWN's home is Enoggera Creek and its tributaries Ithaca and Fish Creeks. Enoggera creek runs from Mt Nebo to the Brisbane River, at the Albion rail bridge it changes name to Breakfast Creek. Ithaca Creek flows from below the TV towers on Mt. Coot-tha to merge with Enoggera Creek not far from Bancroft Park in Kelvin Grove. Fish Creek is spring fed arising in the Gap and joining Enoggera Creek near Walton Bridge. Sown is active in many sites throughout the catchment with regular bushcare activities, which you can participate in, our activities restore the environment and help fight climate change.

SOWN activities are listed on our webpage (SaveOurWaterwaysNow. com.au), or simply type SOWN into your webpage browser and go to our home page. You may only be able to help-out for a few hours once in a while, or make bushcare a regular activity, we are happy to have you in our site groups.

You can contact the site organiser or simply turn up at the place and time advertised. We are a friendly lot and will welcome your participation. You can expect a variety of tasks from tree planting, ground preparation or site maintenance and most importantly a great social outing.

SOWN has participated in the restoration of Enoggera Creek for over twentyfive years, from Mt Nebo through The Gap, Ashgrove, Newmarket to Breakfast Creek. Fish Creek runs through The Gap and Ithaca Creek, runs from Mt Coot-tha through Bardon, Red Hill, Ashgrove to Kelvin Grove with a site close to you.

You can help develop wildlife corridors linking

The Probus Club of The Gap

Well, the year got off to a flying start for the Probus Club of The Gap, with an informal drop-in-drop-out lunch at the Bronco’s on Australia Day. Catching up on the news after the holiday break, plotting and planning for the coming year, swapping photos and stories – the hours of lunch passed very quickly and pleasantly.

Slightly more structured was the February 2nd meeting, all about members’ varied interests. And how varied they are! A survey elicited 39 separate hobbies and interests of our members – and at an average of 3 ½ topics each it’s clear they are an active lot. Which is the whole point of Probus of course: “An Active Retirement”.

The club is encouraging and facilitating interest

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

groups, to help people who are interested in, say, genealogy, can find each other, get together, share techniques, data sources, software recommendations etc. There’ll be no committee interference in the running of these member groups: the club will just help to set them up where wanted.

Interests fell into seven main groups, with others too hard to classify. The big ones were travelling, reading, gardening, hand skills (especially needlecraft), many forms of physical recreation, Art/Culture and

Pastimes such as various card games. But if you’re interested in cars or horses or birdwatching or the environment or … many more … you wouldn’t be lone in our club.

The program for the year is taking shape, with a mouth-watering selection of speakers, trips, coffee mornings, evening dinners, the occasional cocktail expedition, picnics – enough to keep the mind active.

If you are interested in joining Probus, or just giving it a try, we would welcome your enquiry. Just call Rhoda on 0409 484 219. We are getting lots of applications for membership but places are still available – no waiting list – and we’d love to put you on the mailing list and include you in the clubbishness!

reserves, parks and our creeks by planting native trees in your backyard, providing habitat for wildlife. Check

the benefits by becoming a member of SOWN.

Save Our Waterways Now's Annual General Meeting Hurrah 2022!

Newmarket Bocce Club News

by Mario De Marco. Secretary of the Newmarket Bocce Club

Another new year: another adventure of opportunities for our club. January is a quite month for bocce, as members are still getting over Christmas and holidays. I thought I might give you an

idea of how many types of bocce games there are.

There is the social backyard bocce, where you see enthusiasts play anywhere where there is room enough to play. The rules are simple,

Calling all amateur musicians!

you have to get your bocce ball as close as you can to the jack or kitty. The bocce balls could be the petanque, hard plastic, composite balls or maybe even wooden balls, as long as you have a great time.

Then there is the game I play. Bocce volo. You can only use steel balls between 900 and 1200grams in weight and must be 90mm to about 100mm in width. Rule is similar, as close to the jack or kitty as you can. But you can’t drive the ball down to get rid of your opponent: you must take a run off, lob the ball in the air and hit the target ball, but wait there is more. There are rules in this game, too many to mention here.

Ok, what about Raffa. Similar again, must get as close as possible to jack or kitty. The playing area is slightly modified. Balls are bigger, about 110mm in diameter and are a composite structure. Rules are slightly different and there are two way of striking your opponents ball out.

If you love playing your orchestral instrument or want to dust it off, and would like to join a fun group of people to play a wide range of orchestral repertoire, then The Westside Orchestra is for you!

The orchestra is also hoping school leavers who now don’t have an ensemble to play with will come along.

There are no auditions, but the ability to sight read and about 5th grade AMEB standard is recommended.

The orchestra has a large age range from students to retirees.

‘We are excited to be led by Queensland Symohony Orchestra violinist Helentherese Good for our first term this year,’ said Westside Orchestra President Caroline Morrissey.

‘For our first concert on 26

March, we will be performing pieces by female Australian composers, which are both beautiful and delightful,’ she said.

‘We are also looking forward to performing for residents of Regis Ferny Grove and The Gap throughout the year.

‘We would really welcome new members and particularly woodwind players.’

Venue: St Paul’s Anglican Church, corner of Waterworks Road and Jubilee Terrace, Ashgrove

Day & Time: Tuesdays at 7.30pm

‘Just turn up, enjoy playing music together, as well as a good chin wag over a cuppa and cake.’

Now there is Beach bocce, not the type you play social but a more structured game. The play area is smaller than a traditional bocce court. Its 10m long and has a width of 2.5/3m. Balls are of a composite make, 100mm in diameter and weighing 700g. A plastic ring 500mm is placed at one end, where you throw from. The other end at 6m a 500mm ring: 7m a 400mm ring: 8m a 30mm ring and at 9m a 200mm ring. The idea is to lob your bocce ball into the rings and be clear of the ring. You get points awarded to you. There are some rules to this game but it is a recognised bocce game. Well that’s a wrap for now. Remember there are no losers in bocce, we are all winners.

If you require more information or would like to come to the bocce courts for a try out, call me on 0403257325 or Tony on 0418731423.

www.guidesqld.org

Quote of the Day

Enquiries: Caroline Morrissey 0429 550 646. Wise sayings often fall on barren ground, but a kind word is never thrown away. — Arthur Helps

Brisbane Tramway Museum

Fifty Shades of Grey

News and Views from a Tramway Muse

It’s a familiar problem –historic clubs and societies everywhere are struggling to attract younger members and volunteers in a rapidly changing world. The Tramway Museum is no exception and it’s difficult to imagine an improvement any time soon.

To be fair, young people have different interests and priorities. The last Brisbane tram was withdrawn in 1969, so anyone under the age of 54 would never have ridden one on a Brisbane street and hardly anyone under 60 would remember the experience anyway. Not surprisingly, the vast majority of tram museum volunteers are over retirement.

Of course, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with a senior workforce. Older volunteers come with a life time of experience, so they invariably have a lot to contribute. The problem is the average age increases year-

by-year and with little or no top-up of younger members at the entry end the pool is at risk of drying up altogether.

Gender is also an issue. Sadly, there are no female restorers or operators at the museum despite societal demands for greater female engagement in traditionally male-dominated activities. Anyone who has wrestled with a heavy and greasy undercarriage parts will not be surprised by this fact, but there is surely an argument for other important activities like painting and tram operation. Queensland has never seen a female tram driver, so there is definitely scope for a newsmaking first there.

This month’s historic black-and-white photo shows tram 47 on opening day in 1983. It highlights a younger and more gender-balanced workforce at the time. Fast forward 40-years and a recent photo of the same tram shows an all-male mostly grey

workforce.

If you know any sub-60 candidates for volunteering, the museum would love to hear from you. Meanwhile, please be kind to your trammie who will almost certainly sport an over-fifty shade of grey and a tightfitting uniform. If he catches you looking (it will be a he), just congratulate him on how

well the vintage buttons are anchored…

© David Fryer. maximalist@bigpond.com

Thanks to the Brisbane Council Archives for the 1983 photo.

The Brisbane Tramway Museum is proudly sponsored by the Brisbane City Council.

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

Workers with Tram 47, 2022

Brisbane Tramway Museum Open Day 1983