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From Fries to Franchise, This Macca’s Nudgee Superstar Takes Charge!

Nudgee local Lizzy is a friendly face recognised by many. What started as a part-time job to support herself during university is now a professional milestone for her as she takes on the role of restaurant manager at Macca’s, bringing her infectious warmth and passion for the community to the forefront of her career. Know more about her Macca’s journey here.

Three years ago, Lizzy joined the McDonald’s team in Nudgee, hoping to find a means to support her studies. Little did she know that her experience at Macca’s would be so fulfilling that it would steer her towards pursuing a long-term career with the fast-food giant, even after completing her university degree.

Recently, Lizzy proudly graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Exercise and Sport Science. Whilst she had initially planned to continue her education and pursue a master’s degree, fate had different plans for her. An exciting opportunity arose for Lizzy to step into the role of a restaurant manager, and she eagerly seized it without hesitation.

Lizzy’s genuine love for people and her natural inclination to engage with customers have made her a beloved figure at the Nudgee store.

The location has become a popular pit stop for truck drivers travelling up the Sunshine Coast, and Lizzy has formed lasting friendships with these early-morning regulars. Since her early days at Macca’s, she has greeted them with a friendly smile and a warm conversation, brightening their mornings with her cheerful demeanour.

When asked about her most cherished memories at McDonald’s, Lizzy enthusiastically mentioned her involvement in various charitable endeavours. Last year, she took the initiative to organise a Disney-themed McHappy Day at the Nudgee store, spreading joy among customers whilst raising funds for a good cause.

Additionally, Lizzy has actively supported the work of the Ronald McDonald House Charity (RMHC) by volunteering her time to prepare dinners for families staying at the local Ronald McDonald House.

Lizzy now embarks on a new journey as a restaurant manager at Nudgee’s Macca’s, confident that she will continue to make a difference in the lives of those she encounters.

Published 30-May-2023

Brisbane Willing to Commit $1 Million For Crisis Housing at Pinkenba Quarantine Facility

Brisbane is willing to commit $1 million to help fund a plan to convert the 500-bed Pinkenba quarantine facility into crisis accommodations for the homeless.

A petition for the emergency accommodation has been made at the city level and conversations on the cost-effective use of the facility are expected to move forward in the middle of May 2023.

As the housing crisis escalates, a push to open the 500-bed Pinkenba quarantine facility has been laid out, with discussions expected to start at the national, state, and city levels.

Brisbane has announced its willingness to commit $1 million to this plan to help fund further work that has to be done to change the Pinkenba quarantine facility into a crisis accommodation for the homeless.

“We’re all tired of hearing the excuses about why this can’t happen so I’m putting $1 million on the table as a down payment to help make this happen,” Cr Adrian Schrinner said.

“I know this facility wasn’t purpose-built for crisis housing but it’s a whole lot better than living in a car or a tent – and that’s exactly what’s occurring right across Brisbane right now while this 500-bed facility sits idle.”

Meanwhile, Treasurer Jim Chalmers said that the Federal Government, which owns the Pinkenba quarantine facility, is ready to work with their State and Council counterparts. However, they have yet to see a formal approach to this plan.

Karyn Walsh, the CEO of Micah Projects, a charity for the homeless, said that moving people into the facility has to be clearly outlined given the diversity of the population. The solution should also work out a more permanent outcome that would put an end to the struggles of the homeless or rough sleepers.

It comes as more than 50 people living in tents at Musgrave Park in the inner city have been moved to temporary accommodation in time for the biggest cultural event in Brisbane, the Panyiri Festival, on 20 and 21 May 2023. Fences in some sections of the park are expected to go up on 15 May 2023.

Published 15-May-2023

Nundah Teen Kate Kindleysides Gets Top Prize at Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s Class Clowns

Nundah local Kate Kindleysides has emerged as the winner of the highly anticipated 27th annual Class Clowns National Grand Final, an event held as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2023.

Read: Get To Know the Man Who Lent His Name to Nicholson Place Parkland

At just 16 years old and a student at Northside Christian College in Everton Park, Kindleysides captivated the judges with her impeccable dry wit, commanding stage presence, and unwavering confidence.

As the deserving winner, Kindleysides was bestowed with a substantial cash prize of $1,500, a coveted $1,000 workshop package for her school, and the illustrious Class Clowns trophy.

About the Class Clowns Program

Far beyond a mere competition, the Class Clowns program affords participants in Years 9 to 12 exclusive access to seasoned comedians who serve as mentors.

This unique opportunity allows aspiring young talents to engage in workshops and showcase their comedic prowess before live audiences at local, state, and national levels.

This year’s edition witnessed a staggering turnout of over 150 contenders from all corners of Australia, each vying for a spot in the heats and state finals. Ultimately, 15 finalists comprising 12 acts were selected from across the nation, gracing the stage in front of a captivated audience and a distinguished panel of industry experts.

Their performances encompassed a wide range of comedic styles, including stand-up, sketch, and parody, as they battled it out for the highly coveted title of the funniest teenagers in the country.

The eagerly anticipated 2023 Grand Final event took place at the prestigious Forum Melbourne and was expertly hosted by the talented Lizzy Hoo. The evening was further enlivened by a special guest performance from the acclaimed comedian, Sam Campbell.

Read: A Starbucks Development Is Coming to Northgate

In addition to Kate Kindleysides, the judging panel recognised the exceptional comedic talents of three outstanding runners-up: Kevin Farrell, Jarvis Watson, and Jahrahn Neal-Yeatman (The Wrong Country) from St Teresa’s College Abergowrie; Max Simpfendorfer from Trinity Grammar School in Victoria; and Rebecca Elphicke from Alfred Deakin High School in ACT.

Published 12-May-2023

Nundah’s The Royal Undergoes a Million-Dollar Makeover

Photo credit: Brisbane City Council / heritage.brisbane.qld.gov.au

Nundah’s Royal Hotel is set to receive a million-dollar upgrade, with renovations now underway. The revamp will include the venue’s bistro, terrace, front bar and alfresco area, as well as the introduction of a new first-floor entertainment space.

The Royal, located on Sandgate Road, becomes the latest historic venue to undergo a major revamp with Australian Venue Co overseeing its transformation. Constructed in 1888, the venue has played a key role in the social life of Nundah locals for many years.

The renovations will offer a refreshed bistro and terrace, a new first-floor entertainment space, and a revitalised front bar and alfresco area. The new first-floor entertainment space is where live bands and comedians will take centre stage, performing in front of up to 200 guests. The space will also be available for private events.

Meanwhile, the bistro and terrace are transforming into a family-friendly dining space that can accommodate up to 120 people, complete with marble-look tables, checkerboard floors, and wooden accents. The front bar and al fresco area are being revitalised too, with space for up to 80 patrons and TV screens showing live sports.

Whilst the venue will remain open, patrons planning a visit to The Royal should note that the bistro section is temporarily closed and scheduled to reopen in mid-May. The sports bar section follows and will remain closed until mid-June.

The gaming will then undergo a week-long renovation and will also reopen in mid-June. The upstairs entertainment room is the last to receive the upgrades, however, the exact reopening date is yet to be announced.

The revamped venue will be relaunched as Royal Hotel in mid-July, with an exact date to be announced later.

Published 2-May-2023

Plant Shops Struggle To Survive: Nundah’s The Plant Lounge Among Those Forced To Close

The Plant Lounge, an established plant shop in Nundah, was among the plant shops in Brisbane compelled to shut down permanently despite doing well during the Covid pandemic.

Read: Mirvac Reveals Outcomes of Community Consultation for Its Toombul Renewal Plans

The Plant Lounge, a boutique nursery which opened at Buckland Road in 2019 has announced its closure in social media, leaving some of its patrons feeling disheartened.

“When we started, we were excited to bring indoor plants into your lives, and that enthusiasm is still with us. However, owning a retail business in these times of instability has been challenging,” the post reads.

“We will miss our community dearly, and we hope you will continue to support small businesses. Unless you make use of your locals, they will keep disappearing,” owners Rhiannon and Dave Meertens shared on a Facebook post.

“It pains us to say it, but YOU HAVE TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESS! Otherwise, we will end up with a monopoly on pricing and no point of difference,” they added.

The reasons behind the closure of many plant shops in Brisbane include concerns about interest rate hikes and other issues affecting small businesses.

The Plant Lounge revealed that their current earnings are approximately one-tenth of what they were making two years ago.

The Covid-19 pandemic resulted in a surge of customers for plant shops as people spent more time indoors, had more disposable income, and were motivated to enhance the comfort of their living spaces.

With the closure of their beloved Nundah plant shop, the owners are now shifting their focus to their full-time jobs.

A survey during the Covid-19 pandemic suggests 75 percent of respondents were spending more time in their gardens, with many embarking on new projects.Around 98 percent of all the respondents say spending time in the garden improved their mood.

Read: What’s The Story Behind The World War 2 Ammunition Found Near Nundah Years Ago?

Customers are encouraged to take advantage of their final sale by visiting the store before it closes on 30 April 2023. Gift vouchers will be accepted.

The Plant Lounge is located at 90 Buckland Road, Nundah. They are open daily, except on Mondays.

Published 17-April-2023

Toombul Shopping Centre Update: Mirvac Lodges Plans for Demolition

Mirvac will soon proceed with pulling down the Toombul Shopping Centre more than a year after it was shut down due to severe flooding damage.

In a statement on the Toombul Renewal site, Mirvac announced that it has lodged the development application (DA A006248810) for the demolition. The developer expects the demolition to take place in late 2023 and will span 12 months to complete.

“We will provide updates as our DA progresses, including a demolition start date,” the company announced. “Residents will receive advance notice of the start of works, and ongoing updates thereafter. If you would like to receive direct updates by email about the future demolition program, please register online at toombulrenewal.com/register

Mirvac also said that future plans for the site have yet to be finalised and a masterplan will be out for review by the community at the end of the year. However, speculations point to a possible mixed-use site with a residential precinct.

The company bought Toombul Shopping Centre in 2016 for $223 million and adopted a $35-million upgrade in 2019. The February 2022 flooding, however, brought down the site’s value to $90 million because of the extent of the damage. In May 2022, the company said that the building was beyond repair.

“The Council Planning team will be working closely with Mirvac to assess this application and provide a prompt response. This will allow Mirvac to commence demolition activities as quickly as possible to support renewal of the Toombul site,” Cr Adam Allan, the Council’s City Planning chair said.

Meanwhile, the bus interchange and park and ride will remain open during the demolition, but with safety measures in place.

Published 13-April-2023

What’s The Story Behind The World War 2 Ammunition Found Near Nundah Years Ago?

Did you know that around 20 years ago, some World War 2 ammunition was found buried near Nundah during the early site works for the Airport Drive Roundabout? Here’s a brief history of those ‘hidden weapons.’

Read: Nundah: A Sought-After Suburb for Singles

The pieces of World War 2 ammunition were dug up near the Airport Roundabout off-ramp, located at 18 Navigator Place, Hendra in 2003. Supervising engineer Jason Harley and his team discovered the expended rifle cartridges and mortar rounds packing rings.

The cartridges they found were .303 bullets, which were believed to be used during the Second World War.

The WW2 ammo found at the site (Photo credit: Jason Harley/ozatwar.com)

Interestingly, the Small Arms Ammunition Factory in Rocklea, which operated from 1942 to 1945 is just a 30-minute drive away from the spot where the old weapons were discovered.

At the time, the Australian government ran ammunition manufacturing plants, with nearly all of the production for domestic use by the military, the police forces, and government-appointed agents.

Women bundling ammunition in a Commonwealth Small Arms Ammunition Factory, circa 1944 (Photo credit: Collection Database of the Australian War Memorial, ID Number 043969)

The one in Rocklea, also known as the Small Arms Ammunition Factory No. 5, manufactured .303 rifle ammunition, .380 Enfield and .455 Webley revolver ammunition, .45 ACP submachine gun ammunition, smoke shells for 2-inch mortars and machined 25-Pounder Q.F. gun shell casings.

During the 1940s, the nearby Eagle Farm housed military camps and served as training grounds for the Royal Australian Air Force. During the war, the site became part of the planned airports and fields nationwide, intended to provide a launching pad for the allied military forces back into Asia.

Read: Australia’s Oldest Person Born in Nundah, Dexter Kruger, Dies Peacefully at 111

When the Second World War ended, many unused or unwanted weapons and machinery were buried and scrapped.

Published 30-March-2023

Chemical Leak at Virginia Factory Forced People to Evacuate

Photo credit: Facebook / Queensland Fire and Emergency Services - QFES

Police declared an emergency declaration under the Public Safety and Preservation Act (PSPA) on Thursday afternoon, 9 March 2023, due to a chemical leak at a Virginia factory forcing the evacuation of people within the exclusion zone.

At 2.35 pm, an emergency declaration was declared due to a chemical spill at a factory located on Newton Street in Virginia. People within the exclusion zone were asked to evacuate and police asked the members of the community to avoid the area while emergency services responded to the emergency.

The exclusion zone included the intersections of Newtown Street and Robinson Road, Hadley Street and Robinson Road, Bilsen Road and Robinson Road, Lisgar Street and Pritchard Road and Newtown Street and Pritchard Road.

Eight crews from the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services attended the scene. A QFES spokesman said that a scientific team also conducted air monitoring tests to determine what type of chemical leak it was and what caused it.

The police revoked the PSPA declaration at around 4 pm and declared the emergency situation no longer exists with no injuries reported.

QFES advises people to always call Triple Zero (000) first for any life-threatening emergencies.

Some of the types of emergencies, according to QFES’ guidelines for hazardous industry, include:

Fire (including the generation of toxic combustion products)
Explosion (including BLEVE)
Spill (of hazardous solids and liquids)
Gas leak (flammable, toxic, asphyxiant, pressurised or refrigerated liquid)
Structural failure
Natural events (including floods, earthquake, storms, storm tides, etc)
Impact event (road vehicles, railways, aircraft, ships)
Subversive activities (bomb threat, vandalism, sabotage)
Transport incident

Published 13-March-2023

Wood-fired Barbecues To Be Phased Out From Brisbane Parks

Wood-fired barbecues will be phased out from parks throughout Brisbane, in favour of gas barbecues or electric ones, like the one recently installed at Ross Park on Sandgate Road in Nundah.

Read: Speed Limit Reduction Applied in Sections of Melton Road

In a meeting in February 2023, the LNP majority passed a vote to remove wood-fired barbecues, encouraging the use of electric/gas barbecues because of its convenience for residents.

Tracy Davis, Civic Cabinet Chair of the Environment, Parks and Sustainability Committee, highlighted that many residents now prefer electric/gas barbecues because they don’t need to carry logs around a local park or attempt to keep a fire alight.

According to Brisbane City Council’s website, there are barbecues in over 420 parks and natural areas throughout Brisbane and they are either electric or gas. However, there are only a few wood-fired barbecues left, which can be seen mostly in the western and middle ring suburbs.

Whilst there have been electric replacements, Opposition thought these replacements are not keeping up since the total numbers are reportedly at its lowest since 1973. There have also been claims that it’s killing an Australian tradition.

Labor Councillor for Deagon Ward Jared Cassidy revealed there were more than 300 wood versions removed from Brisbane in less than 10 years and the electric/gas replacements are not keeping up.

From 410 barbecues throughout Brisbane parks in 2014, there were allegedly 288 left as of 2019, according to Cr Cassidy.

Read: Mirvac Reveals Outcomes of Community Consultation for Its Toombul Renewal Plans

In response to the alleged declining numbers of barbecues in parks, Cr Davis claimed there are 734 barbecues throughout the city, some of which are newly installed, including the ones at Nundah’s Ross Park, Alderley’s Grinstead Park and Stones Corner’s Hanlon Park.

Published 4-March-2023

Speed Limit Reduction Applied in Sections of Melton Road

Heads up, North Brisbane motorists! The speed limit on a busy section of Melton Road has been reduced to 50km/h from 60km/h.

Signs along Melton Road, specifically between Toombul Road in Northgate to Buckland Road in Nundah, have been installed informing of the speed limit changes, effected February 2023, so that all motorists can slow down and keep the roads safer.

Cr Adam Allan said that the change was adapted to keep the speed consistent and “suitable for the road and the surrounding usage,” especially following the completion of the Melton and Hows Roads.

Per Council, the said intersection is accessed by over 15,000 vehicles, 35 cylists and hundreds of pedestrians a day. Its volume has been projected to increase, especially during peak hours, by 2031. Thus, the new roundabout had to be built, alongside a new pedestrian crossing and shared paths. It has also prompted a need to change the speed limit.

“This will be consistent with the remaining southern section of Melton Road that is already 50km/h and remove confusion where the speed limit currently varies,” Mr Allan said.

“My request for this change was approved via the Speed Management Committee which is comprised of representatives from the State Department of Transport and Main Roads, the Queensland Police Service and the relevant local council.”