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Nundah Family Reunites With Stowaway Pet Galah

The story of how Harri, a Nundah family’s beloved pet cockatoo, stowed away aboard a luxury cruise ship to New Zealand has continued to amuse many people around the world. The story took an emotional turn when the galah was finally reunited with her owners early this February.

Nundah couple Michelle and Brett Cozzi thought they had lost Harri forever when they found her gone on the 20th of January. They tried all available means to find her, even resorting to social media, where they shared her photos across all platforms in hopes of reaching someone who may have seen her.

Their four-year-old daughter Georgia, who regularly sings to Harri, had been missing the cockatoo terribly. Two weeks passed, and the family braced themselves to expect the worst. It looked like Harri was gone for good.

Michelle and Brett Cozzi Credit: Brett Cozzi Facebook

As it turned out, Harri was having the time of her life aboard the Sea Princess, a luxury cruise ship. Harri had flown out of her Nundah coop, hitched a ride on the ship, and was enjoying the beautiful views of New Zealand!

She even had her own private cabin next to the ship’s captain, Giuseppe Romano. The captain had also been trying to teach him to speak in Italian, something that Mr Romano revealed in media interviews. He also shared that he has been at sea for 47 years, but it was the first time that a bird ended up on his ship and stayed. Birds would usually land on the ship and almost immediately fly away.

Mr Romano and his crew used Harri’s microchip to look for her owners.

Early in February, Harri was finally reunited with the Cozzi family. In a twist, the family was about to board another cruise ship to take their own trip to New Zealand when they received the news that Harri had beat them to it with her own trip to NZ, and has been found.

Bret and Georgia with Captain Romano Credit: P&O Cruises Australia Facebook

The captain and his crew were all sad to see Harri go but were happier to be instrumental to a sentimental reunion with Harri’s relieved humans.

The Cozzis were very delighted to have Harri back, Brett told various media. He said that the galah was an indispensable member of their family. Having her back is the best news they received in the two weeks that they have been searching for her.

Nundah Library Welcomes Thai Food Lovers to Free World Kitchen Workshop

Thai food is one of the most popular cuisines in the world. Many describe it as exotic because of its singular flavours and the combination of ingredients that make it distinctly delicious.

But more than being exotic, Thai cuisine is also healthy. Herbs and green vegetables are staples of Thai dishes.

The “World Kitchen: Thailand, paradise of food lovers” workshop, to be held at the Nundah Library on 17th February at 2:00 p.m., will introduce participants to Kai Tom Kamin, a Thai dish composed of a chicken stew flavoured with turmeric.

Turmeric is a yellow root crop which is commonly used in curries because of its distinct but subtle zing. This spice is known to be medicinal because of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It is famously known to prevent arthritis but some studies suggest it can also prevent cancer.

The Thai “World Kitchen: Thailand, paradise of food lovers” workshop will also feature a selection of Thai desserts.

The workshop is part of the BrisAsia Festival 2018 brought by the Brisbane City Council. The festival runs from 10th February until 4th March 2018 with more than 80 events across the city.

Phone Nundah Library at 07 3407 8701 to reserve your slot to this FREE workshop.

Fitz+Potts in Danger of Closing Due to Nundah Development; Petition Launched, Assurances Given

Fitz + Potts has captured the hearts of the local Nundah community since it opened its doors in 2015. For the past three years, it has become the home for locals who are fond of catching up over a few rounds of beer.

The much-loved bar, however, is in danger of demolition.

If a proposed project pushes through, a new eight-storey retail and apartment building will soon rise, right at the corner of Chapel St and Sandgate Rd, the very spot where Fitz + Potts is currently situated.

The proposed project will see 72 medium-sized apartments rise, above 12 retail tenancies. Mondo Architects, the firm in-charge for its design, intends to integrate the facade of the Henry Thomas building in the overall design of the planned building.

Artist’s rendition of proposed development
Credit: BCC DA

Fitz + Potts has the best of Australian craft beers, wines and spirits from local brewers, aside from the grazing menu available every day. The bar is constructed with colourful, retro-inspired interiors. Its balcony has become known to be a perfect spot for having their delicious mojitos.

Many of Nundah’s residents believe that such a development will change Nundah’s village vibe, a suburban atmosphere which they have come to love. For some, Fitz + Potts’ new-age vibe will be sorely missed.

Rachelle Willington, a Nundah resident, recognised that the looming development will have a negative impact to the aesthetic and economic value of Nundah. She believes that Nundah does not need the project, particularly that there are existing unoccupied apartment buildings similar to the slated project.

Ms. Willington has started a petition addressed to the Brisbane City Council to stop the development. As of writing, there are already more than 2,000 Nundah residents who have signed the petition.

“It will negatively impact the Nundah community and its ‘village lifestyle’. This lifestyle is a large part of what makes this suburb so unique – including residents supporting local businesses. We must protect and preserve our suburb and continue to support small businesses,” Ms. Willington asserts.

In media interviews, FTTOA spokesman Jack Jameson has explained that the company approached Fitz + Potts and other businesses with tenancy proposals for the new building. FTTOA, the company at the helm of the project, assured everyone that it also want to retain the village feel of the suburb. He said that the 72 apartments will be leased on a long-term basis, not sold, and that all the present retail tenants will be retained. Mr. Jameson said that discussions with some of the 20 tenants have already started and that they are in no rush for the development.

Bookshop in Nundah Awarded the Ted Tremayne Award

Nundah’s community second hand bookshop, the CFQ Bookshop, received the Ted Tremayne Award, a recognition presented to a non-profit organisation that has made an important contribution to its own members of the community.

The Ted Tremayne Award is part of the Lilley Australia Day Awards which was established to recognise the generous contributions made by volunteers to the local community.

The CFQ Bookshop accepted the award at a ceremony at Kedron-Wavell Services Club on Australia Day.

For the last nine years, this humble bookshop in Nundah has been integral in helping children and adults with cystic fibrosis (CF).

Each time someone buys a book from the quaint little place on Ryan’s Road, he or she is supporting the services of the Cystic Fibrosis Queensland, an institution that funds research on the ultimate cure for the condition. According to a 2017 Queensland survey report, there is 838 people in the state who is living with CF, 56 of them are children.

“Raising money to make short lives big!” – CFQ Bookshop.

The bookshop has selections for different readers, may it be adult fiction and non-fiction, kids fiction and non-fiction, magazines and Mangas, even the Mills & Boons type. These books are donated which the bookshop sells at very low prices. Proceeds go directly to Cystic Fibrosis Queensland and a portion goes to the Lord Mayor’s Community Trust.

Australia Day Eve Sees Don Burrows Tribute Show at The Lounge in Nundah

Australian jazz legend Don Burrows will be honoured in a tribute show at The Lounge in Nundah on the 25th of January at 7:00 p.m. The Art Deco Swing Band and Mark Pradella, a talented jazz player who was influenced by Burrows, will be performing the shows in Burrows’ honour.

The Lounge is a European-inspired bar and restaurant inside The Royal Hotel. It boasts of a cosy ambience with its sophisticated furnishings and classy interiors. The bar is located just 200 metres from Nundah Village Shopping Centre. It has been a favourite place for locals who are fond of drinking exquisite wine selections and cocktail drinks. The Lounge’s menu includes Italian cuisine which includes antipastos and pizzas.

Burrows is the first Aussie to receive a gold record for his Australian jazz recording, “Just The Beginning”. He also pioneered the first jazz course at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. He has been named Australia’s living national treasures twice. In 2016, the 87-year-old jazz legend was diagnosed with dementia. Today, he stays in a nursing home in Sydney. According to reports, he has continued to play the flute despite his condition. James Morrison, a jazz musician, whom he has mentored, and his wife are Burrows legal guardians.

Credit: pclorikeet1 YouTube

The Art Deco Swing Band, who will perform the tribute for Burrows at the Lounge, is a group composed of 16 fabulous musicians. They are famous for performing dance music of different genre like quicksteps, foxtrots, waltz, swing, cha-cha, tango, bolero, lindy hops, and charlestons.

Another musician that will be performing is Mark Pradella whose music was influenced by Burrows. He has also performed with Burrows’ popular prodigies like Morrison and Andy Firth. Pradella started his professional music career at sixteen years old and won the ABC Young Performer of the Year.

The Lounge is located at 1259 Sandgate Road Nundah

ABC Radio’s Annette McFarlane Talks Gardening at Nundah Library

ABC Radio gardening presenter Annette McFarlane will be facilitating a workshop titled “Year in the Garden” at the Nundah Library on the 13th of January from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. She will discuss how to effectively set priorities to ensure success in home gardening. She will teach participants on how to set goals for themselves and their gardens for the whole year round.

By the end of the session, attendees will learn what to plant when, when the timely pruning is and when fertilizer and pest control needs to happen. Ms McFarlane will share the significance of planning ahead and how it is almost a requirement to be equipped with a gardening calendar for the summer, autumn, winter, and spring.

Ms McFarlane personally makes use of a gardening calendar to know what flowers and vegetables are best to plant for each season. She has actually designed a calendar that can help gardeners successfully plant during the cool temperatures, in the subtropical and tropical areas of Queensland.

Ms McFarlane studied horticulture and environmental education and is a former lecturer at TAFE Queensland. She is personally interested in organic fruit and vegetable growing, and heirloom seed saving, as well as rare breeds of poultry animals and pigs.

“Community education and creating edible gardens within cities and suburbs excites me. I am a teacher, garden writer, author and broadcaster, but first and foremost I am and always have been a gardener”. – Ms MacFarlane

Ms McFarlane has been a household name because of her ongoing stint with ABC Gardening Talkback and her stories and posts written for the Sunday Mail, Gardening Australia Magazine, and Live for Less website. She is also a published author and her books include “Successful Gardening in Warm Climates”, “Organic Vegetable Gardening”, “Organic Fruit Growing”, and Gardening Australia’s “Love Your Garden”.

“Year in the Garden” workshop at Nundah Library is free but reservations are essential. Please call the library at 0734078701 to reserve a slot.

In case you miss the workshop at Nundah Library, Ms McFarlane can be invited for presentations for industry seminars, gardening related shows, field days, nursery promotions, and staff training days. The requirements to book her for events can be found here.

Nundah Library is at 1 Bage Street, Nundah

All is Set for the 2nd Annual Nundah Film Festival 2018

The second annual Nundah Film Festival is going ahead on the 6th of February as the committee closed the deadline for entry officially last December. All chosen entries have been notified already as of the end of December.

The first ever festival held in early 2017, formerly called as North Brisbane Film Festival, was a success and organisers are expecting the same for this year. Both participants and audience have given good reviews about the previous festival.

“Although I was unable to attend the festival, a friend went along on my behalf and … said it was a joy to attend and it felt like stepping back in time to a friendly country event. He loved the festival night – the friendly folk taking the entry fee (a modest donation to the local Meals on Wheels), chatting about the festival with the enthusiastic organisers and some of the film makers, the volunteers taking drink orders and the aroma of the freshly popped (and yummy) popcorn. A good cross section of attendees watched the films which represented a diverse range of topics. This festival has all the ingredients for continued growth and success in future years” – Michael Barnett
“Thank you North Brisbane Film Festival for accepting our film. We’d also like to thank you for your marvellous communication and hope the festival gets bigger and better each year”. – Michael Rasso

NFF offers young and emerging filmmakers from all over Australia a platform where they can showcase their films, subsequently gain a following, and hopefully penetrate the mainstream film industry. The committee even welcomes film aspirants as young as high school students. Ultimately, the goal of NFF is to position Nundah as Australia’s local creative hub.

All films to be screened are family-friendly and rated PG+ or M. There are only three film categories:

Short documentary which should last a maximum of 15 minutes
Short Narrative which should last a maximum of 15 minutes
Music clips which should only last a maximum of four minutes

The festival will be held at Birch Carroll & Coyle Cinema in Toombul. Tickets can be purchased at $10 and it is highly advised to get them as early as now. Please click here.

All proceeds from ticket sales will go to the Rotary Club of Nundah to support its local, national, and international projects. The club takes pride in having members who are dedicated to community service, who are passionate about enriching the lives of others, and who have the vision to raise awareness about Nundah. It welcomes new members and regularly meets at the Prince of Wales Hotel at 1154 Sandgate Road.

NFF is also proudly sponsored by the Lord Mayor’s Suburban Initiative Fund and Cr Adam Allan, Councillor for Northgate Ward.

Prince of Wales Hotel Hosts ‘Superhero & Villains NYE Party’

Anyone can be their favourite superhero or super villain, even comic book or manga character, when they attend the Prince of Wales Hotel “Superhero & Villains NYE Party” from 8:00 p.m. until 1:00 a.m. on the 31st of December. Ring in 2018 as your alter egos whilst The Grin provides the music all through the night.

The Grin will be playing hits from the 80’s along the genre of rock, pop, and soft rock. The band’s influences are Pearl Jam, Hoodoo Gurus, Live, and the Collective Soul.

The Prince of Wales Hotel, which a lot of locals call POW, has always come up with the most interesting, out-of-the-ordinary, and upbeat events. Just take a look at their previous event called the Santa Sack Fest:

So you better be sure that you are prepared.

Here are some DIY and affordable superhero/super villain costume ideas! Enjoy!

A fleece mask

Buy a fleece cloth of which colour is the same to your desired superhero or villain outfit. Cut into eye mask pattern, tie at the back of your head and match with a shirt with plain colour that matches another part of your desired costume.

Credit: vandorwolf YouTube

Cape from an Old Shirt

Pick an old shirt with hue similar to the majority of the colour of your desired character. Cut some paper out to make the insignia of the superhero or super villain of your choosing and voila! You’re ready, as easy as 1, 2, 3.

Credit: Kidspot YouTube

The Tutu Skirt for Women

The key is always choosing the primary colour of the character you are aiming for. In this case, buy tulle of at least 15 yards in those colours. Take your waist measurement and buy elastic based on your waist’s dimension. Measure the length from your waist to the part of your leg where the tutu skirt should end. Cut the tulle in 4-inch strips based on this size. Tie each tulle stripes to the elastic and you have a costume before you even know it.

Credit: Pappi and Cat YouTube

Nundah Cafes Partake in Responsible Cafes Movement

Espresso Train and Coffee Club are two Nundah cafes that are both part of the Responsible Cafes movement, a group of coffee owners and coffee drinkers who aim to reduce or ideally eliminate the use of disposable coffee cups. Both cafes offer discounts to customers who bring their own cups with them when buying coffee or tea.

According to Responsible Cafes, Australians are wasting more than three billion takeaway coffee cups and lids yearly and most are never recycled. Hence, the people behind the movement are working hand in hand with the Brisbane City Council which, for its part, has unveiled its Reusable Cup Campaign in September 2017.

As part of the council’s campaign, it will provide 20 high-quality reusable “KeepCup” coffee cups to each of the 100 Brisbane cafes that accept the Business Recycling Challenge. These cups are to be given as a gift to loyal customers who regularly buy coffee in reusable cups. Such customers will also be given free coffee on their tenth visit.

Espresso Train Cafe and Catering

Participating in the Responsible Cafes movement is something that is expected from the staff at the Espresso Train Cafe. To begin with, the establishment’s mission is to provide meaningful employment for people with disability. It is also a not-for-profit registered charity which is not owned by any single person, but rather run by members of the cooperative.

Being conscientious about the environment is also something ingrained with the Espresso Train. The cafe is solar-powered and has been working on installing more panels so they can be energy-neutral by 2020.

Additionally, the cafe mindfully conserves water by not washing on the sink but rather filling buckets when rinsing. It recycles cardboard, hard plastic, and paper and has in fact been encouraging patrons to bring with them papers with prints on one side. Instead of throwing them away, they write orders on the unprinted side.

Another great thing about the cafe is that it has been implementing a system called “suspending coffees” since May 2013. This is a practice where anyone can purchase two serving of coffees with one held “in suspension” for the homeless and less fortunate to claim.

Espresso Train Cafe and Catering is located at 46 Station Street, Nundah, Brisbane

The Coffee Club Nundah

The Coffee Club Nundah is a member of The Coffee Club, Australia’s largest home-grown cafe group with approximately 400 stores in nine countries and an estimated 40 million customers.

Sustainability is also fully embedded in the establishment’s consciousness, as it supports sustainable farming where natural resources are protected, where coffee is grown responsibly and farmers are assured to generate income.

The Coffee Club Nundah is located at 179 Sandgate Rd, Nundah QLD 4012, Australia

If you are a cafe owner and interested to join the Responsible Cafes movement, you can register your business here.

For those who are in other suburbs, you can find a participating cafe in your area here.

Nundah Resident Tends Her Growing Business, Sits and Watches Her Idea Bloom

This is a story about harnessing one’s passion and growing a business from it.

Linda Watson of Nundah is becoming a household name for pioneering the first ever Houseplant Hotel in Brisbane. The place services clients who are travelling but want to make sure that their beloved plants are well-taken cared of while they are away for the holidays, business trips abroad, or while the whole family is on their getaway.

Ms Watson’s company is called Brisbane Plant Sitting and its Houseplant Hotel provides temporary abode to indoor and outdoor plants while their owners are unavailable to care for them. Plants will be tended according to their owners’ specific instructions, and will receive tender-loving-care from Ms Watson herself. The hotel is usually chosen by those who are not comfortable having other people in their home.

Brisbane Plant Sitting also offers the Home Service arrangement for those who, on the other hand, are not comfortable having their dear plants transferred from one place to another and back again. This service is like having a baby sitter or house sitter at home at an agreed time and schedule. The same arrangement applies for those who want to have their plants at the offices, cafes, salons, etc to be tended regularly.

About Linda Watson

Ms Watson is passionate about gardening; in fact, she owns more than 100 plants herself. She also has an expansive outdoor garden which she has been taking care of for 20 years now. She knows plants through hands-on experience. She realises the need for a plant sitting service because of her personal attachment and bond with her own plants.

She is now looking forward to grow her client base and hopefully grow the business. In fact, she has been contacted by a woman in New York in the hopes that there is a similar service being offered in the U.S. so she sees the big potential in her business idea.

In one media interview, Ms Watson shares that her patrons are usually those who invested hundreds of dollars for their plants and do not want to see them just wither and die. Some are those who own exotic plants that are so rare and could be irreplaceable.

If interested in having a “sitter” for your plants or have them stay at the hotel, please click here.