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Helmet Hair Co. Apprentice Wins National Honour at Australia’s Biggest Hair Awards

Helmet Hair Co. apprentice Jake Pafumi has been named Apprentice of the Year at the 2026 Australian Hair Fashion Awards, taking the national title at Sydney Town Hall on 19 April against a field of finalists from some of Australia’s most recognised salons.

Pafumi beat a competitive national shortlist that included apprentices from Joey Scandizzo Salon, Stevie English Hair, TONI&GUY and Tsiknaris Hair, presented by Aveda, to claim the award. Producing a national Apprentice of the Year from Nundah sends a signal that local training is operating at the highest level in the country.

The win adds to a successful night for the group, which operates Helmet Hair Co. alongside Fruition Hair in Wilston and Red Hill.

Fruition was named Australian Salon of the Year, Louise Graham of Fruition took Queensland Hairdresser of the Year, and Helmet Hair Co.’s Max Cooper was a national finalist for Australian Hairdresser of the Year. Three major titles and two further finalist positions across a single ceremony.

Inside Helmet Hair Co.

Helmet Hair Co. sits in Nundah in Brisbane’s inner north, and from the outside it does not look like the kind of place that produces national award winners. That is precisely the point.

Described by its owners as motorcycle chic meets editorial edge, the salon is industrial yet warm, built for individuality and self-expression, and deliberately positioned as the more rebellious counterpart to the refined Fruition salons.

The salon was built by Craig Smith, an AHFA Australian Hairdresser of the Year alumni who opened his first Fruition salon in Brisbane’s CBD in 1996 and has spent three decades developing some of Brisbane’s most awarded hair talent. Smith co-owns Helmet Hair Co. alongside his Fruition salons, and the group’s approach to developing apprentices has now produced its most significant result at the national level.

The AHFA Apprentice of the Year title is not given for potential. It is given for demonstrated work, judged by an international panel of industry experts who assess the full body of craft that an apprentice brings. For Jake Pafumi to win it reflects both his own talent and the quality of the environment in which he has been developing.

Helmet Hair Co. stylist Max Cooper was also a finalist for Australian Hairdresser of the Year,, the national title that represents the pinnacle of individual recognition in Australian hairdressing. The two nominations from the same Nundah salon reflect a culture of sustained high performance, not a single lucky year.

Significance of the AHFA

The Australian Hair Fashion Awards, established in 1992, is the longest-running and most prestigious independent hairdressing awards programme operating across Australia and New Zealand.

It is judged by international experts and covers the full spectrum of the profession, from individual creative categories to state titles, salon business performance and, through the Apprentice of the Year category, the pipeline of talent entering the industry.

For apprentices, the title is particularly significant because it places their work in direct comparison with the best emerging talent in the country at any given year.

Visit Helmet Hair Co.

Helmet Hair Co. is in Nundah, Brisbane. For bookings and enquiries, click this link or follow the salon on Instagram.

Published 26-April-2026

St Kevin’s Takes Part in World’s Greatest Shave Campaign

Photo Credit: St Kevin's Primary School, Geebung/Facebook

A group of students and teachers at St Kevin’s Catholic Primary School in Geebung will lose their hair this Easter, all in the name of supporting Australians living with blood cancer

The school is set to host its Shave for a Cure event on Thursday, 2 April, where 12 students and three staff members will either shave or cut their hair. The initiative is part of the Leukaemia Foundation’s World’s Greatest Shave campaign, which raises funds for research and support services for people diagnosed with blood cancer.

The event is also personal for the school community. Organisers have confirmed the fundraiser is being held in support of families affected by cancer, including one family connected to the school who has recently experienced the impact of the disease.

Students Stepping Up

Participants have volunteered to take part as a show of support and solidarity with those undergoing treatment. The act of shaving or cutting hair is often linked to raising awareness about the physical effects of cancer therapies, particularly hair loss.

The school’s leadership has shared that the event aims to encourage empathy among students while giving them a practical way to contribute to a wider cause. Assistant Principal Religious Education Kristin Byrne is expected to speak about the purpose of the fundraiser, highlighting its role in building compassion and community engagement.

Students will also share their perspectives during the event, explaining why they chose to take part and what the cause means to them.

Supporting Research and Care

Funds raised through the event will go towards the Leukaemia Foundation’s programs, which include funding medical research and providing practical and emotional support to patients and their families.

The World’s Greatest Shave campaign has been running for more than two decades and continues to be one of Australia’s largest fundraising efforts for blood cancer. Donations collected through school events like this contribute to ongoing research into treatments and help fund services such as accommodation, transport assistance and counselling.

The St Kevin’s fundraiser will take place on school grounds, with the community invited to attend and support participants as they take part in the head-shaving activity.

St Kevin’s School joins thousands of Australians who continue to support efforts to improve outcomes for people affected by blood cancer.

Published 1-April-2026

Robinson Farmhouse Comes to Market, Offering a Rare Piece of Brisbane History

Ray White Banyo

Robinson Farmhouse at 302 Saint Vincents Road in Banyo, the oldest surviving residence in Banyo and the Nudgee area, has come to market for the first time in nearly five years, giving buyers a rare chance to own a piece of Brisbane history that has been standing since 1882.

The four-room cottage is a recognised local heritage place under the Brisbane City Plan 2014, listed as the earliest surviving residence in the Banyo and Nudgee area and the oldest nineteenth-century residence in Banyo. There are two nineteenth century farmhouses left in the entire suburb; the Robinson Farmhouse is the older of the two. For Nundah and Banyo residents, seeing this address come up for sale is the kind of thing that stops people mid-scroll.

A Cottage With a Story Older Than the Suburb Itself

William Bulcock Robinson built this modest cottage around 1882 along the road to St. Vincent’s Orphanage, on an 18-acre block he had purchased in August 1880. The style of the cottage, with its very steep gable-ended roof, is typical of houses built earlier than the 1880s, suggesting the structure may have been relocated to the property from elsewhere in Brisbane.

The oldest house in Banyo — *Photo Credit: BCC*

The house stumps were cut from local trees, and rough-edged timber hewn by axe, adze or saw was used to construct the four-roomed cottage. The roof trusses were made from tea tree timber, and the roof was originally covered with timber shingles before being replaced with galvanised iron sheeting. It is the kind of construction detail that makes you appreciate both the craftsmen who built it and the people who have kept it standing ever since.

William B. Robinson first appears as a resident in the Nudgee District in the 1889 edition of the Queensland Post Office Directories. The Robinson family held farms throughout Banyo, Virginia, Geebung and Aspley, and Robinson Roads East and West in Banyo are named after the family. The land around the farmhouse remained sparsely settled for decades, with the area only beginning to urbanise in earnest after the Robinson family created the Robinson’s Paddock Estate in 1928, which opened up Paradise and Langdon Streets and Redhill Road to residential buyers.

What the Home Is Today

The current owners, Katherine Young and Brett Advocaat, purchased the property in August 2021 for $735,000 and have spent their time there maintaining its heritage character while integrating contemporary comforts. The three-bedroom, one-bathroom home now features landscaped surrounds and a newly installed pool on the 647-square-metre block, which backs onto parkland.

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“We fell in love with the rich history and the unique soul of the house,” Brett Advocaat said. “It’s been a privilege to maintain a landmark where locals still stop by to share stories of the house from their childhood.”

That last detail says something important about what this address means to the people who grew up near it. Robinson Farmhouse is not just old; it is remembered. Locals carry it in their personal histories, and the current owners have found themselves the custodians of those memories as much as the building itself.

“Being so central and near the park, we have experienced the growth of Banyo, watched birthday parties, and observed the locals playing volleyball or pickleball,” Advocaat said. “These are all things that we can take in from our kitchen window or while tending to the garden.”

The Last of Its Kind

There are only two nineteenth century houses remaining in Banyo. Robinson Farmhouse at 302 St Vincent’s Road is one, and the Blinzinger Farmhouse former at 274 Tufnell Road is the other. While both are former farmhouses, each represents a different period in Banyo’s development and a different nineteenth century architectural style. Losing either to neglect or unsympathetic redevelopment would remove something irreplaceable from the suburb’s physical record.

In 2000, a group of community members comprising the BANGEE Festival Committee identified 302 St Vincent’s Road as a local heritage place and listed it as Location 22 in the Banyo-Nudgee Heritage Trail publication. That community recognition, driven not by planners but by local residents who understood what they had, says more about the house’s place in the suburb’s identity than any formal listing could.

A Home That Belongs in the Right Hands

For anyone who has walked past Robinson Farmhouse and felt the pull of it, this is one of those listings that does not come around often. It is heritage-listed, which means future owners take on the responsibility of stewardship that comes with that designation, but it is also a genuinely liveable, renovated family home in one of Brisbane’s most accessible northern suburbs, a short walk from Banyo Station and adjacent to parkland that the current owners have watched come alive with community life for the past four years.

Properties like this do not simply sell; they find their next keeper. Enquiries for Robinson Farmhouse at 302 Saint Vincents Road, Banyo can be directed to the listing agent.

Published 30-March-2026

Shark Reports Near Former Toombul Shopping Centre Prompt Safety Reminder

Photo Credit: Dorsal

Shark sightings in Kedron Brook near the former Toombul Shopping Centre have renewed awareness after small sharks were recently reported moving through the waterway.

Recent Activity Near Toombul Draws Attention

Small sharks have recently been reported in Kedron Brook near the former Toombul Shopping Centre, placing activity within a well-used stretch of the creek.

The sightings occurred along a connected section of the waterway that runs through several northern Brisbane suburbs.

Natural Flow Through A Connected Creek System

Kedron Brook is part of a tidal waterway system, allowing marine species to move through during changing water levels. Sightings of smaller sharks in these environments are linked to this natural movement.

The creek connects to larger river systems, creating pathways for species typically found in coastal areas.

Kedron Brook sharks — *Photo Credit: LMAdrianSchrinner/Facebook*

Earlier Reports Along The Same Waterway

Sightings were also recorded along Kedron Brook in February 2026, including areas near Kalinga Park. Those earlier observations involved shallow sections of the creek and led to precautionary advice at the time.

The recent sightings near the Toombul Shopping Centre in March indicate that shark activity has continued within the same waterway.

Awareness Encouraged, Not Alarm

The recent reports have not been described as an emergency. Instead, they serve as a reminder for people to remain aware when near waterways.

Caution is encouraged in areas where access to the creek is possible, particularly along open sections of Kedron Brook.

Toombul shark sightings — *Photo Credit: LMAdrianSchrinner/Facebook*

Mixed Public Response To Sightings

Public discussion reflects both familiarity and concern. Some have noted that sharks have been observed in the waterway over many years, suggesting the presence is not new.

Others have raised concerns about safety, especially for pets or individuals entering the water.

Busy Creek Corridor Continues Daily Use

Kedron Brook remains a commonly used outdoor corridor, with walking paths and open spaces running alongside the creek.

The recent sightings have added to general awareness for those using the area, particularly near the former Toombul Shopping Centre.

Published 30-Mar-2026

Oxenham Park in Nundah to Lead Major Wave of Suburban Facility Upgrades

Nundah will become home to a more inclusive sporting environment as Oxenham Park undergoes a significant transformation to install specialised change rooms and accessible facilities for local cricket, AFL, and croquet players.

The upcoming works at Oxenham Park are scheduled to begin next month and will stretch over a two-year period to ensure the site remains a modern hub for the Toombul District Cricket Club, Mayne Tigers Junior AFL, and the Toombul Croquet Club.

This project features the construction of two new change rooms and a dedicated toilet block designed specifically for those with mobility needs. To further improve ease of movement around the grounds, a new covered walkway will connect these facilities to the croquet club, complemented by a fresh pathway leading directly to the accessible parking area near the cricket club.

Strengthening Community Connections in Wynnum

While the focus remains on the northern suburbs, the broader regional investment is also reaching the bayside to protect long-standing volunteer groups. The Waterloo Bay Leisure Centre in Wynnum is preparing for structural reinforcements and a partial roof replacement in its main hall starting next month.

Local representative Alex Givney noted that the centre has served as a vital spot for residents of all backgrounds for over four decades. These repairs are intended to ensure the hall stays in good condition so that the volunteers can continue running their social classes and events for older residents.

Upgrades for Zillmere and Runcorn Facilities

Other parts of the city are seeing similar improvements to keep grassroots sports thriving for the hundreds of families who use them each week. At the North Star Football Club in Zillmere, which supports over 800 members from juniors to masters teams, work is starting this month to replace the roof and modernise the existing change rooms.

Further south, Runcorn Pool is also undergoing a refresh starting this month to install new bathroom fittings and updated walls. While the indoor section at Runcorn will close for about two months to allow for these upgrades, temporary bathrooms will be provided so that swimmers can still use the pool during the construction phase.

A Focus on Suburban Infrastructure

These projects represent a wider effort to direct a large portion of the municipal budget back into local neighbourhoods rather than just the city centre. Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner stated that more than 80 per cent of the current budget is being spent on suburban projects to help local clubs keep their reputations as great places for people to meet.

By focusing on essential maintenance like roofs and accessible toilets, the council aims to support the volunteers and families who make these sporting hubs successful. These upgrades are designed to make sure that the pools, fields, and halls remain safe and functional for the community for many years.

Published Date 26-March-2026

Charcoal Chicken Comes to Banyo as Charco & Co Opens Its Doors on Nudgee Road

Photo Credit: Facebook / Charco & Co.

A new eatery is putting charcoal chicken Banyo locals on the map, with Charco & Co now open at Shop 3/1022 Nudgee Road and ready to serve the northside community seven days a week.

The restaurant launched with a clear point of difference in mind — offering the speed and affordability of fast food alongside ingredients and cooking methods more commonly associated with sit-down dining. At the centre of the menu is charcoal-cooked chicken, served with the restaurant’s own Charco Chilli sauce, a blend of olive oil, Portuguese chillies and a house herb mix. The result is a smoky, boldly seasoned bird that the team behind the concept says has quickly become a signature of the brand.

Alongside the chicken, Charco & Co rounds out its menu with Wagyu beef burgers, including the Beef Chilli Burger and the Legend Burger — options designed to give diners a bit of variety while keeping the overall offer tightly focused on quality over quantity.

The business was founded by Neil Martin, who says the idea grew from a straightforward but hard-to-execute goal: close the gap between the convenience people expect from fast food and the kind of flavour they’d usually have to sit down somewhere nicer to find.

For Banyo, a suburb that has quietly been gaining new businesses and residents in recent years, it’s the sort of local addition that fills a genuine gap in the dining options along Nudgee Road.

Charco & Co is currently trading from 10am to 3pm daily.

Published 24-March-2026

Harrison Gomez Builds Strong Junior Record In Nudgee

Photo Credit: Golf Australia

Nudgee golfer Harrison Gomez nears end of junior career with major wins and strong amateur results across Australia and early 2026 competitions.

Major Titles Mark 2025 Season

Harrison Gomez, a member of Nudgee Golf Club, recorded two key junior victories in late 2025 with wins at the Jack Newton International Junior Classic and the Greg Norman Junior Masters.

At the Jack Newton event in October 2025, he finished at 14-under par and secured a five-shot win, producing rounds of 66 in both the opening and final stages of the tournament.

He followed this result in December 2025 by winning the Greg Norman Junior Masters after finishing level at two-under and prevailing in a playoff.

Harrison Gomez — *Photo Credit: Nudgee Golf Club Incorporated/Facebook*

Consistent Results Across The Year

Across 2025, Gomez added further results at junior level. He won the Maroochy River Junior Open and tied with Chase Oberle in the Queensland Junior Championship.

He was also part of Queensland’s junior squad in the Interstate Teams Matches series.

In July 2025, he won the Coolangatta-Tweed Heads leg of the Next Gen Amateur Tour. He later finished fifth at the tour’s World Final at Moonah Links in November.

Club Performances In Nudgee

At club level, Gomez has maintained consistent form in Nudgee. He won the Nudgee Golf Club men’s club championship in both 2024 and 2025.

In the 2025 championship, he secured the title with a final round score of 64.

Early 2026 Amateur Results

In early 2026, Gomez continued to compete in higher-level events. He finished fifth in both the South Australia Junior Amateur and South Australia Junior Masters.

He also placed runner-up at the Kooralbyn Junior Masters.

At the SA Classic in Adelaide, he shared the lead after the opening round with a score of 68, four under par.

Pathway And Next Steps

Gomez began playing golf at the age of six and moved from Melbourne to Brisbane in mid-2020. He later became a junior member at Royal Pines before joining Nudgee Golf Club in 2023.

He is part of the Queensland high performance squad and plans to continue competing in leading amateur events, including the Australian Amateur Championship and the Riversdale Cup. He has also identified amateur tournaments in Asia as part of his development.

He has chosen to remain in Australia rather than pursue the United States collegiate pathway, with the aim of progressing towards professional golf.

Outlook

Gomez is closing out his junior career with results across both club and national competitions, while continuing to compete in amateur events in 2026.

His recent performances reflect ongoing participation at higher levels of competition, with further events scheduled.

Published 20-Mar-2026

Nundah Village Flagged for More Apartments Under Brisbane’s Anti-Sprawl Housing Plan

Brisbane has announced the next stage of its anti-sprawl housing strategy, with Nundah Village named as one of three suburban centres earmarked for increased residential density.

Read: Work Set to Begin on Danby Lane Development in Nundah Village

The plan is designed to address the city’s housing shortage by directing new homes toward established, well-serviced locations rather than pushing growth into lower-density neighbourhoods.

Nundah joins Indooroopilly Shopping Centre and Carindale Shopping Centre as the focus of the latest round of planning changes. The three centres were selected because of their strong public transport connections. Nundah and Indooroopilly each have train stations, while Carindale is served by a bus interchange.

The Proposal

anti-sprawl — Photo credit: Google Street View

For Nundah Village, the plan covers the area within the boundaries of the rail line, Robinson Road, Ryans Road, Nundah Street, Eton Street, Sandgate Road and Donkin Street.

The proposed changes include a height increase from 12 to 15 storeys in the major centre zone, as well as an increase to 10 storeys in surrounding mixed-use zones, up from the current five-to-eight storey settings. The proposed height increases in Nundah are smaller in scale than those put forward for Indooroopilly and Carindale. Indooroopilly could see heights climb to 25 storeys, up from a current allowable 20, while Carindale is proposed to reach up to 30 storeys in and to the north of the shopping centre, compared to the current 10.

Rather than simply allowing taller buildings, the focus in Nundah is on greater flexibility to deliver more residential homes within mixed-use buildings. To give effect to the changes across all three centres, Brisbane City Plan 2014 will be updated.

The Rationale

Cr Adrian Schrinner said Brisbane was growing rapidly and that the city needed to respond. He noted that more than 600 people move to Brisbane every week, and that the city urgently needs more homes while also resisting sprawl that impacts bushland and adds to traffic congestion. He said the anti-sprawl housing plan was aimed at putting homes where the jobs, transport and services already are, and that Indooroopilly, Carindale and Nundah were the right places for that growth. By 2046, Brisbane is projected to need around 210,800 new homes to support its growing population.

Committee for Brisbane CEO Jen Williams said that one of the biggest challenges facing a growing Brisbane was traffic congestion and car dependency. She said there was no better way to reduce congestion than by ensuring new homes were built close to services and in locations well-served by public transport.

Better Suburbs Initiative Chair Ross Elliott said suburban centres had been evolving for decades, having originally been planned as places people drove to primarily for shopping, but since expanded to include entertainment, medical and a range of other uses. He said allowing more diversity of housing choices within walking distance of these centres made sense for downsizers, essential workers and others, and that the renewal process would be delivered by private capital.

The anti-sprawl housing plan sits alongside Brisbane’s wider Suburban Renewal Precincts program, which began in 2022 and is aimed at transforming underutilised land into mixed-use communities. Work is currently underway or planned across a number of suburbs including Alderley, Stones Corner, Wynnum, Sandgate, Mt Gravatt, Upper Mt Gravatt and Chermside.

Read: New Retirement Village Planned for Nundah

Community consultation on the Nundah Village proposal, along with the Indooroopilly and Carindale changes, is scheduled to open on 24 April, after the end of the school holidays.

Published 19-March-2026

Nundah Queenslander Sells for $2M, Draws 12 Written Offers

Photo Credit: Place

A beloved Nundah Queenslander has sold for $2 million after drawing twelve written offers in just six days — a campaign that laid bare just how fiercely competitive the local property market has become.

The home at 21 Carew Street became a talking point even before buyers stepped through the front door, thanks to a duck sculpted from a hedge that greets visitors at the gate. It was a small detail that left a big impression, but agents say the real draw was the property itself.

Place Ascot agents Olivia Charlton and Drew Davies marketed the home together, and Ms Charlton said the duck had a way of breaking the ice during inspections. The quirky topiary became something of a mascot for the campaign — earning smiles and more than a few photos — but buyers, she noted, were ultimately there for the character and quality of the Queenslander behind it.

The campaign moved at a pace well ahead of the broader Brisbane market. Written offers began arriving within 24 hours of the listing going live — before a single open home had been held. When the first inspection did take place, more than 100 people came through the door.

Mr Davies said the result came down to a combination of factors that, when they align, tend to send buyers into a frenzy. The home sits on a 501 square metre corner block, blends original character features with modern updates, and is positioned close to parkland — the kind of lifestyle package that is increasingly difficult to find.

Adding to the urgency was the property’s ownership history. The home had been held by the same family for close to three decades, and Ms Charlton said that generational turnover is becoming a significant driver of competition across the market. When a home has been off the market for thirty years or more, buyers understand they may not get another chance at something comparable.

The $2 million sale price sits well above Nundah’s current median house price. According to PropTrack data, the suburb’s median sits at $1.5 million — itself up 25 per cent over the past twelve months. Separate data from CoreLogic, cited by Your Investment Property Magazine, puts Nundah’s median house price at $1.25 million as of late 2025, with annual capital growth of around 20 per cent. Across multiple data sources, the direction is the same: values in the suburb are moving sharply upward.

That trend is consistent with what analysts have been saying about Nundah more broadly. Property experts have identified Nundah as a likely outperformer in 2026, pointing to its excellent connectivity — including rail access and proximity to the airport — strong rental demand, and low vacancy rates. As of September 2025, Nundah’s rental vacancy rate sat at just 0.7 per cent, well below the Real Estate Institute of Australia’s healthy benchmark of 3 per cent.

With no new standalone houses in the development pipeline and high sales volumes in recent months, analysts have flagged that the current undersupply in Nundah is likely to persist — and that prices could rise further as a result.

For now, the Carew Street campaign offers a vivid snapshot of where the Nundah market stands. Homes like it — character-filled, tightly held, and in lifestyle locations — are not coming to market often. When they do, it seems all of Brisbane takes notice.

Published 6-March-2026

Nundah Man Secures $200,000 Windfall on His Birthday

A local man from Nundah has received the ultimate birthday gift in the form of a $200,000 windfall that will fund a long-awaited medical procedure.

The local man received the news of his luck through a phone call on Friday, 13 February 2026. The timing was particularly special as the announcement coincided exactly with his birthday. The North Brisbane resident had purchased an entry into the Lucky Lotteries Mega Jackpot 1767, which resulted in a first-place win of $200,000. Upon hearing the news, the winner expressed total shock and noted that his heart was racing from the excitement.

He mentioned that he had originally intended to have a very quiet evening at home, but the unexpected financial boost meant those plans would likely change to something more celebratory.

While many might look toward luxury cars or overseas holidays, this winner has a very specific and practical goal for his windfall. He shared that he has wanted to undergo a major dental procedure for a long time but had been held back by the potential expense. With the $200,000 now secured, he intends to finally book the work to get a new set of teeth.

He explained that being able to afford the dental work without any financial stress was a dream come true. The man described the situation as a beautiful way to mark his birthday and expressed deep gratitude for the win.

Published Date 27-February-2026