Big Girls Don’t Cry Anymore, a plus-sized brand that owner Karen Mason set up in 1992, has enlisted the help of a liquidator, Jarvis Archer.
On the online website, Ms Mason informed the customers of closing down her business, which has become an iconic brand in Australia.
According to Mr Archer, Big Girls Don’t Cry Anymore has over 100,000 customers in its database and earned $6 million this year. The company was planning to release the very first lingerie business app in Australia, which includes a virtual fitting room among other sophisticated features.
Photo Credit: Instagram
The liquidator also said that despite Ms Mason’s efforts to innovate and attract new customers, the business experienced challenges in the delays of overseas supplies due to COVID-19.
In May, Ms Mason lost her husband, Keith, further impacting her ability to maintain the business’s profitability and cash flow.
Big Girls Don’t Cry Anymore has 20 full-time workers and 33 casual staff who are hoping to keep their jobs if another entrepreneur takes over.
Mr Archer said that the business would be an attractive venture for the right buyer with its loyal customers, a knowledgeable team and a strong sales growth potential.
A Virginia lingerie store has 15 new jobs and has gone weeks without any takers. Owner Karen Edbrooke said that she has been looking for unpackers, order fillers and responders to enquires but she hasn’t had any luck because the applicants say they can get more money just by not working.
Ms Edbrooke runs the lingerie and swimsuit store Big Girls Don’t Cry Anymore on Sandgate Rd. She said that they currently have loads of product shipments and deliveries on hold. In the last few weeks, the shop owner said that she could not cope with the demands because she could not get applicants to stay or keep working.
Despite advertising for the job openings more than a month ago, Ms Edbrooke said many of the applicants actually do not want a job or prefer shorter work hours. She believes that many people have been demotivated to find work because of the government’s JobSeeker and JobKeeper payments amid this coronavirus crisis.
One applicant told the shop owner, “I can just get more [money] by not working,” referring to the government’s stimulus.
Photo Credit: Big Girls Don’t Cry Anymore/Facebook
Big Girls Don’t Cry Anymore is not the only retail store struggling to find staff.
“I have a friend in the same situation, his staff won’t come back to work. It’s ridiculous,” a follower of the store said on Facebook.
According to senior industrial relations specialist, Michael O’Brien, it is the retail and service industries struggling the most during this COVID-19 crisis. He said that those with junior roles work fewer hours but may also benefit from JobSeeker or JobKeeper for their second or third jobs.
“We are offering casual positions at the retail award rate, which can be accessed online to anyone. Hours vary on what you can offer us – anything from 16 hours to 38 hours,” Ms Edbrooke said.
But Ms Edbrooke said they received an overwhelming response even from outside Brisbane hours after her story broke in the media on 2 Aug 2020.
Photo Credit: Big Girls Don’t Cry Anymore/Facebook
Big Girls Don’t Cry Anymore has been in business since 1992 and caters to well-endowed women. Most of the products are imported from America and this Virginia lingerie store also sells maternity bras, posture bras and bridal wear exclusively for big girls.
They claim to have the “largest range of fuller figured bras in Australia.”
A popular but dead pompom tree, marked for cutting down by the Brisbane CityCouncil, has been saved from removal on the beachside stretch of Shorncliffe Parade, thanks to an inspiring community spirit.
Despite its appearance, the tree has been a favourite local landmark during this COVID-19 lockdown. In the last few months, teens and kids have been hanging handmade colourful pompoms on the branches.
According to Councillor Jared Cassidy, the locals have likely been decorating the tree because it looked so bare and dull without its leaves. As the number of pompoms increased, the tiny tree soon became a whimsical decorative fixture on the street.
But a day after announcing that it will be gone in a few months, the Council took back its original plan and decided to leave the tree up with all of its handmade pompoms intact.
“We’ve taken another look at it and because there’s such great community spirit around this it will stay longer,” Mr Cassidy said. “There’s no threat to public safety and it won’t come down anytime soon.”
Photo Credit: David Holden/Sandgate QLD Area/Facebook
Mr Cassidy said that the pompom tree has been a silver lining amid the pandemic. Not only did it spark community spirit and love for life in the suburbs but it also brought out the creative side of the locals.
The councillor also said that there will be a new tree planted nearby at Moora park. Once it grows and matures, it will be the only time the dead tree will be chopped down.
If you’ve been to the revitalised Kingsford Smith Drive riverside in Hamilton, you might have seen a number of brightly coloured public artwork around the area. These are the art beacons created by Nundah artist Kenji Uranishi, who was commissioned by the Council to beautify one of Brisbane’s most significant routes.
Who Is Kenji Uranishi?
Mr Uranishi was born in Japan and trained as an artist using stoneware clay as a medium at the Nara College of Fine Arts. He moved to Australia in 2004 and expanded his practice to porcelain.
The artist eventually established himself in the Australian art world by holding a series of workshops and exhibits in universities and galleries, not just in Brisbane but also in Sydney, Cairns, Canberra, Adelaide, Victoria, England, Sweden, New York and Japan.
Photo Credit: Facebook/Kenji Uranishi
“In some ways, moving to Australia represented a fresh phase in my
life that provided me with the energy to explore new materials, without
cultural expectations,” Mr Uranishi said.
He has other public artworks on display at the Ipswich Courthouse and at 400 George Street.
In mid-2017, the Council tapped Uranishi to prepare his concept designs for the beacons, alongside another artist, for public consultation.
Mr Uranishi dubbed his creation as the “Magnificent Flying Machines,” which consists of 10 sculptured beacons that also double as a lightning path for Kingsford Smith Drive at night. Two of these beacons have been installed at Cameron Rocks Reserve in April 2019, whilst the rest will be located at Bretts Wharf and the Riverwalk.
These beacons were inspired by Hamilton aviators Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, the first pilot to fly trans-Pacific from Australia to the United States, and Maude “Lores” Bonney, the first female Australian aviator to fly solo from Australia to England.
Featured with an aerodynamic design, the intertwining curves of the beacons represent the pioneering spirit of these aviators, which also resembles the wings of an orchard swallowtail butterfly, the most common butterfly species in Brisbane.
“The art beacons are designed to maximise public access to the river and create way-finding markers to encourage exploration and make it easier for visitors to move around the local area,” the Council press release stated.
Lendlease manufactured the beacons made of 3mm aluminium. Mr Uranishi hand-decorated every piece with 300 white polyethylene discs and added white LED lights at the base.
Changes are coming to the Nundah Activity Centre, which “… remains closed until further notice, excepting essential services delivering food,” due to the coronavirus public health emergency. In an earlier announcement, Aurous, the centre’s main lessee, also revealed that it will be cutting back some of its free services and vacating the building by the end of June due to a shortage of funds.
Aurous’ Chief Executive Officer Rachael Cook posted a notice on Facebook to inform the public of this operational update.
6 April 2020 Aurous Ltd continues to closely monitor the developments regarding the COVID-19 virus and as per…
Earlier in February, she also confirmed that the non-profit will shift its operations in Nundah to “only a small core” of its Community Visitor Scheme (CVS) program.
“If these programs continue, there is a risk of Aurous being placed into receivership and it is unlawful to operate if the business is insolvent,” Ms Cook wrote.
“Over the last 4 months, the staff and volunteers have worked together to review our services and ways of working and I have been in discussions with our grant providers and worked closely with the Board to consider all options. The choices came down to closing the business or identifying what, if any, activity had potential to be revised and continue.”
Here’s what you need to know about the changes at the Nundah Activity Centre:
1. Queensland Meals on Wheels
Queensland Meals on Wheels has found new providers to continue to serve all of its clients, including those in Chermside and Geebung These providers are local and will serve fresh meals compared to reheating frozen food. This was confirmed by Jen Ulichny, the Chairperson of the Aurous Board of Directors.
” Meals on Wheels clients will continue to receive their meals and will soon be fully transferred to their new supplier,” Ms Ulichny assured the public.
Photo Credit: Google Maps
2. Queensland Men’s Shed
Queensland Men’s Shed has opted to leave the centre, along with all of the equipment donated to the service provider.
“We have been working with Men’s Shed Association Qld for possible solutions. There are several other Men’s Shed locations in our surrounding communities, and we are investigating all options,” Ms Ulichny said.
3. Faith City Worship Centre
The church group is also looking for a new location or organisation that may help continue its services at the centre. Faith City Worship Centre provides weekly meals, laundry and shower servicers to the needy under its Compassion for Community program.
4. Demolition of the Nundah Activity Centre
Councillor Adam Allan dispelled speculations that the centre will be demolished and replaced with a high rise. Brisbane City Council owns the property.
“The land is zoned as Sport and Recreation and it will stay that way. The focus of the facility is to support community activities,” Mr Allan said.
Photo Credit: Councillor Adam Allan/Facebook
5. Community groups support
The Council has not asked community groups to leave the centre. Mr Allan assured large or small groups will receive support from the Council. This transition will give everyone a chance to review what should be changed or addressed to sustain the activities.
“As we wind back and transition programs over the coming months, we will continue to provide you with regular updates and as many options as possible,” said Ms Cook.
“When reviewing member activities in particular, we did consider if there were other community suppliers that offered the same or similar services, and if you would receive specialised or a better offering if you transferred elsewhere.”
Other organisations will also benefit from donations once the Nundah operations wind down. “We are pleased to announce we will also donate supplies to Qld Centre for Digital Inclusion (QCDI) and to the local Men’s Shed who are now successfully incorporated. Both organisations are in contact with BCC to identify location opportunities once the COVID-19 closures are past.”
Finally, Ms Ulichny also assured its members that services will not be interrupted during the transition, despite the current limited operations. Those opting to make changes to their membership may do so before the 30th of June for the fees refund.
For questions and clarifications, phone 1800 AUROUS (1800 287 687) or email Jen.Ulichny@aurous.org.au
Brisbane Airport Corporation has released the fly-through video of the future BNE Auto Mall. The video shows how motorists would be able to test drive vehicles on the Mark Skaife (Skaife Racing) and iEDM-designed 2.3-kilometre performance track.
Fly-through the future BNE Auto Mall Video Credit: Brisbane Airport / YouTube
The $300 million BNE Auto Mall development is located next to the International Terminal and will be delivered in three major stages between 2021 and 2022. Once complete, the BNE Auto Mall will be Australia’s only automotive precinct that will operate with next to no noise restrictions.
The development will cover 51.3 hectares and will bring together in one place automotive dealerships, 2.3-kilometre Mark Skaife designed performance track, wet/dry skid pan, 4WD track, brand exclusive and multi-use experience centres, exhibition and conference facilities, commercial offices, dining, and hotel.
Anchoring the development is the world-class 2.3-kilometre performance track envisaged to serve a range of purposes such as manufacturer launch events, media driving events, driver training, vehicle engineering and development, corporate events and general test driving.
Features of the track, designed by motor racing champ Mark Skaife in partnership with iEDM, include a skid pan, manoeuvring course, dedicated slalom area, 4WD demo course, kick platek, and low-friction handling circuit.
“The test track will be located within the development of an automotive precinct and offers a safe environment for driver training, education programs, car club activities and most significantly for the Brands that will occupy these facilities, access to a circuit direct from the showroom,” iEDM said.
“This will be the benchmark in Australia for a safe test drive experience and will truly cater for a first drive P-plater through to a CAMS licence holder in a Ferrari or Porsche.”
Kalinga Park, the site of many picnics, family activities and sporting events, was a huge part of Zanthea Chulio’s childhood. So, when the Nundah urban planner heard about the murder in the park in 2019, it strengthened her resolve to finish an app to help track the safest routes around Brisbane.
Ms Chulio’s initiative aims to boost public safety and, hopefully, prevent another tragedy in her neighbourhood. She is developing an app called Way Safer, in collaboration with Social Pinpoint, to capture the safest routes with CCTV camera locations so that pedestrians and commuters are aware of the conditions in the streets.
Way Safer is designed to work like Google Maps to provide travel directions but with identified safest routes. The app will have an option for users to choose directions with CCTV cameras installed only.
Though Ms Chulio said her project is not going to stop the crimes, she hopes that the app will help vulnerable people or women like her who take the train station near the site of the incident in Kalinga Park. She also hopes that the app will help police in their investigations to find the perpetrators and attackers of other crimes.
Ms Chulio has been working with communities across Brisbane and Logan City to improve the app. She recently came from a government-funded trip in Southeast Asia to gather ideas from flourishing tech start-ups.
The Nundah local has been developing Way Safer for months but needs more help from IT professionals to complete the project. The initiative does not have a projected release date, as of press time.
Way Safer is not endorsed by the Queensland Police Service (QPS) but a spokesperson said it’s not against initiatives that can matter to public safety.
The QPS assures the public, however, that the CCTV systems are routinely downloaded and viewed by members of the police force to identify offenders. The QPS also releases some data from the CCTV on their social media to tap the public’s help in their investigations.
Have you ever thought about adding some plants into your space? They are not only aesthetically pleasing but they also come with health benefits such as fostering positive vibes and purifying the air. If you are new to owning plants and would love to learn more about it, The Plant Lounge in Nundah can help.
Run by local plant enthusiast Rhiannon Campbell, The Plant Lounge specialises in indoor plants, workshops, botanical wares, and ceramics as well as designer pots that will add a little zen to any living space. Whether you’re looking for small potted plants for your home office or some hanging plants for your garden, The Plant Lounge has it in store for you.
This boutique nursery located in Station Street has a heap of gorgeous and locally grown indoor plants, like caladiums, heartleaf philodendron, peperomia, Scindapsus pictus or satin pothos, and monstera. They source new plants each week with the help of local suppliers, to help customers get beautiful plants for their homes.
Australian-made planters and accessories of different sizes can also be found at the nursery. Here you’ll find pots made by local ceramicists and artists, as well as some beautiful Australian made ceramic brands such as Angus & Celeste and Jones & Co. You can choose from loads of pots for your plants to live in, from sophisticated pots to quirky ones that are great as gifts.
The workshops, which are done every Thursday, Friday and Sunday, range from candle making and coil basket weaving to hand pottery. They also hold a workshop on Kokedama, an age-old Japanese art form transforming plants into ornamental pieces by wrapping their root ball in moss and twine. Ms Campbell regularly hosts workshops for budding and seasoned plant lovers who might want to branch out into making a terrarium or learning pottery for personalised pots.
The Plant Lounge is open daily, except on Mondays. See below for trading hours. Those who can’t make it out to their physical shop may also order plants online and have them shipped to their homes.
A full-service childcare centre with an on-site general practitioner and a chef is holding its Open Day in Nundah on Saturday, the 4th of Jan 2020. Habitat Early Learning at 79 Bage Street is giving parents and their kids the chance to experience the difference of this facility, which promises to go beyond childminding.
The Open Day will run from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Aside from a tour of the centre and a chance to ask the staff questions about their services, parents and children may also join the yoga session at 10:30 a.m. and receive food samples from the in-house kitchen.
Photo Credit: Habitat Early Learning Nundah/Facebook
The Nundah site, with its beautifully designed amenities, is the second for Habitat Early Learning. The inaugural facility was established in Ferny Grove in 2009.
The centre provides various educational programs to support a child’s learning and development, such as:
As mentioned, the centre has its own kitchen, where a chef serves freshly prepared food for the children and its staff in the al fresco dining area. Parents may also order packaged meals if they do not have time to cook at home.
Come March, the facility will have a GP and a nurse to tend to sick children and give parents peace of mind.
Murray and Toni Thornton had the vision to build an early childhood facility that will enhance the learning experience of children between three to five years old. After listening to feedback from parents and staff, the Thortons developed a full-service model for Habitat Early Learning
In 2016, National Quality Standards recognised Habitat Early Learning for its building design. A similar design has been carried over to its Nundah site, which has five classrooms for its Emergent Curriculum and three for its Montessori and Kindergarten programs.
Habitat Early Learning in Nundah will welcome 40 kids as it begins its classes on Monday, the 6th of Jan 2020.
Brisbane City Council has officially adopted an amendment to Brisbane City Plan 2014 to include the Banyo-Northgate Neighbourhood Plan, which will take effect on 28 February 2020.
The Banyo-Northgate Neighbourhood Plan will serve to guide development and coordinate land use in the areas covered by the neighbourhood plan, including Banyo, Northgate, and parts of Nudgee, Nundah, Virginia and Hendra.
The boundaries of the Banyo-Northgate plan area include: Nundah Creek and the Virginia Golf Club to the north; the East-West Arterial Road to the south; Southern Cross Way and the Gateway Motorway to the east; and Sandgate Road and the Toombul-Nundah Neighbourhood Plan to the west.
Photo credit: Brisbane City Council / brisbane.qld.gov.au
The amendment package includes a new neighbourhood plan code for the neighbourhood plan area, revised precinct, zone and overlay mapping, and consequential amendments to City Plan.
The six precincts under the Banyo-Northgate Neighbourhood Plan:
Northgate Station precinct
Bindha Station precinct
Bindha Station north sub-precinct
Bindha Station south sub-precinct
Banyo Station precinct
Nudgee Station precinct
Nudgee north precinct
Blinzinger Road precinct
Key highlights of the Banyo-Northgate Neighbourhood Plan:
extending protections to 119 additional properties to maintain traditional building character
protecting five additional heritage, four additional pre-1911 and nine additional commercial character buildings
creating more space for businesses to expand and host up to 5,000 new jobs, and support two future employment precincts at Northgate and Virginia (around Bindha station)
ensuring that industrial activities important for Brisbane’s jobs and economy can continue to thrive in the area
allowing the Banyo centre to expand and provide more local services
increasing opportunities to provide housing diversity.
Timeline
In late 2016, the neighbourhood planning process commenced with the launch of an online survey, information kiosks, and the formation of a CPT, which met four times between April 2017 and October 2017.
The Banyo-Northgate Neighbourhood Plan strategy was released for public consultation, from 27 October 2017 to 8 December 2017. The public consultation had nine submissions sent by email, letter, or submitted in person; 64 online survey responses including a mix of “ratings” and comments; and 18 survey responses including satisfaction ratings.
In early mid-2018, the first draft of the neighbourhood plan was prepared which the Queensland Government reviewed and approved for public notification and final community submissions.
From 2 November to 17 December 208, the draft neighbourhood plan was released for final community submissions which had received 85 submissions. The community feedback were instrumental in the number of changes to the draft plan which was then submitted for a second review by the State Government.
Council adopted the amendments in late November, to take effect beginning 28 February 2020.
