Forty Years of Loretta Ryan: Broadcaster Reflects on Illustrious Radio Career

Speaking about a remarkable radio career spanning forty years, Loretta Ryan opens up about the choices she has made along the way. As she celebrates four decades on the air, Ryan reflects on the impact of those choices throughout her career.



Brisbane Radio’s Constant Companion: Forty Years of Loretta Ryan

A familiar name in Brisbane radio, Loretta Ryan has been a constant presence on the city’s airwaves for 40 years. From her early days at Radio 10 to her current role as co-host of the ABC Breakfast Show, she has witnessed the growth of both her career and the city she calls home. Ryan’s love of the medium shines through as she shares people’s stories with her listeners.

Born and raised in Brisbane, Ryan is proud of her deep connection to the city and its people. Her extensive knowledge of the city has been a huge asset in her radio career — allowing her to connect with listeners on a personal level. While some might have encouraged her to explore opportunities elsewhere, she is proud to have made her mark in her hometown.

A Twist of Fate and a Fresh Start

The sudden termination of Ryan’s role at 4BC in 2015 left her devastated. Uncertain about her future in radio, she found support from friends who helped her transition into a role at ABC. Starting anew, she began as a producer before landing the breakfast show alongside Craig Zonca. Ryan recognises that the unexpected turn of events has led her to where she is today.



Ryan’s Legacy and the Future of Radio

Ryan’s personal life has been a journey of its own. Single and without children of her own, she cherishes her role as an aunt to six nieces and nephews. While reflecting on the absence of her own family, Ryan finds purpose in caring for her ageing mother. She acknowledges that women face societal expectations regarding marriage and motherhood, but asserts that everyone’s path is unique.

As the world rapidly evolves in the digital age, Ryan remains confident in radio’s enduring presence in the community. Reflecting on the changes she has seen — from vinyl records to digital streaming — she believes that radio will always have a place in people’s lives.

With her love of storytelling, Loretta Ryan has certainly left an indelible mark on Brisbane’s airwaves.

Published 14 July 2023

Liam Horne: From Borrowed Boots to 50th Hostplus Cup Appearance

He’s a 26-year-old sparky who’s played five-eighth, hooker and lock for the Norths Devils and his versatility has been a big reason for a remarkable rise that has led to an international call-up for PNG and just last week, his 50th 1st grade game for the Devils.

Born in Port Moresby but raised in Australia, Liam Horne made his first grade debut in 2019 against the Tweed Seagulls; was part of the 2021 Intrust Super Cup Premiership Winners; and last year, ran out in the Pacific Test against Fiji.



It all started when he began playing for the Norths Devils Juniors at the age of 10, collecting trophies with the Colts and the Under 18s on the way to making first grade.

From Borrowed Boots to First Grade

Devils Junior Liam Horne Celebrates Milestone 50th Hostplus Cup Match

Reflecting on his debut against Tweed four years ago, Horne remembers that day as one that took an unexpected turn. Expecting to watch from the bench, Horne lent his boots to former junior teammate David Fauid.

After an injury to Michael Sio during the warm-up, he found himself thrust into action. Borrowing boots from a Colts player, he battled through the relentless rain despite Tweed dominating the game.

Known for his tenacity and powerful running style, Horne gained a reputation as one of the toughest runners in the competition, despite his modest 90-kg frame.

His tireless efforts have resulted in eight tries this season, catching the eye of Papua New Guinea selectors and earning him a crack at the international scene.



Horne also played a pivotal role in the Devils’ 2022 title repeat. Playing a standout game in the Grand Final against Redcliffe, he was a vital part of one of the team’s three tries during their 16-10 victory.

Horne admits that he has also had to cultivate self-belief to establish himself as a regular first-grader. He now aspires to secure a full-time role within an NRL squad, training with the Brisbane Broncos during the previous offseason.

As Devils junior Liam Horne celebrates his half-century, his journey from borrowed boots to a key player on the team is a testament to his determination and passion for his sport.

Expressing gratitude to everyone who has contributed to his development as a player, Horne acknowledged the club’s support and guidance throughout his career.

Published 6 July 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.”



Prepare to be Blown Away! The World’s Greatest Freakshow Comes to Nundah

Get ready to be blown away and watch in awe as The World’s Greatest Freakshow mounts an immersive stage experience in Nundah.



Set for Friday, 23 Sept 2022, The World’s Greatest Freakshow will be staged at The Lounge at The Royal on Sandgate Road. Doors will open at 8:00 p.m. 

The mesmerising production has been inspired by the Hollywood blockbuster, “The Greatest Showman,” starring Australia’s son, Hugh Jackman. 

The stage presentation is made up of an all-Aussie production, performing stunts that defy the imagination. The show is headlined by glass-eating/body stapling certified freak, Aleksandra The Great; the stretchy and slimy, Samora the Squid; the Guinness World Records holder, The Great Gordo Gamsby; former ballerina now nails and glass dancer, Sian Brigid; and formidable satirist Miss Friby. 

The World's Greatest Freakshow
Photo Credit: World’s Greatest Freakshow/Facebook

Artists’ Profiles for Nundah Show

ALEKSANDRA THE GREAT Dubbed ‘gruesome yet oddly sexy’ by The Advertiser, Aleksandra the Great found their feet in the worlds of both Burlesque and Sideshow Circus and from there fashioned this amazing hybrid entertainer who is truly one of a kind. Electrifying audiences all over Australia, this Boss Babe is a Certified Freak and Weirdo for Hire, celebrated for their deadly talents and sensual, captivating striptease.
THE GREAT GORDO GAMSBYFrom the big stage to the little sideshow tent Gordo has done it all. Performing on TV shows around the world and with 11 Guinness World Records under his belt he has left his mark on every audience that he has performed for.
SAMORA SQUIDThis stretchy, slimy and strangely sexy sweet-heart of sideshow, has spent the last fifteen years touring the globe with their unique blend of contortion, sword-swallowing, live body piercing, characterisation, and music. Prepare to be dazzled with their dry wit, exceptional talents and mind-blowing stunts that will leave you questioning the bounds of human dexterity.
SIAN BRIGIDTrading her ballet slippers in for a bed of nails, Sian Brigid’s eloquent performance includes dancing on glass, laying on nails and inserting God knows what into God knows where. Travelling the country performing in a myriad of circus, sideshow, cabaret events, and festivals, Sian is also the title holder for Burlesque Muse Canberra and the Apprentease ACT, combining her refined technique with her reckless sensibilities.
MISS FRIBYMelbourne’s wise-cracking, sequin-clad satirist has been described as a ‘twenty-first century Lucille Ball’ by the Adelaide Theatre Guide, with mile-high kicks and hilarious gags, Miss Friby’s acts and shows have been featured all over Australia. Green Room Award nominee, Fields Award Nominee, and Australia’s Got Talent 2013 Finalist, Miss Friby is sure to lead this evening in style.

The World’s Greatest Freakshow is from Play Nation Events and Big Deal Touring, and follows a sold-out series of shows in Melbourne and an ongoing Las Vegas run residency. 

The World's Greatest Freakshow
Photo Credit: World’s Greatest Freakshow/Facebook

Powerful, enchanting and jaw-dropping, the Nundah show is part of the Queensland and New South Wales tour that started in late August 2022. 



Albert Bishop Park in Nundah Will Host the National Inline Speed Skating Championships

Albert Bishop Park on Hedley Ave will welcome the competitors of the National Inline Speed Skating Championships for exciting road events and marathons to pick the fastest skaters who will represent the country at the World Championships.



On the 4th and 5th of July 2022, Albert Bishop Park will be filled with action as racing representatives from Queensland and other Australian states and territories try to earn a spot at the championships. The marathons, on the other hand, will take place on the 8th of July. 

Indoor track events will be taking place on Thursday 7th of July at the Logan Metro Sports and Events Centre at Crestmead.

These skaters are raring to show their best as the competitions in any national or international events since January 2020 have been on pause. 

The 27-member Queensland team has skaters ranging in age from 6 to 68 with 10 skaters competing at a national level for the first time this year. At speeds of up to 40km per hour, our sprinters are as fast as Usain Bolt!

Photo Credit: Bernadine Geary/Supplied

Those who make the grade will be chosen to represent Australia at the Oceania Championships in September in New Zealand, or the World Skate Games in Argentina in October.

Spectators, especially skating enthusiasts, are welcome and there is no cost for entry at the venues.



Grab Some ‘unbEATable’ Bites at Nundah By Night Markets

Craving for new bites to try? Nundah by Night Markets will feature an unbEATable curation of gourmet eats and craft beers, alongside live music and one-of-a-kind locally made products.



To open Saturday, 11 June 2022, from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m, Nundah by Night Markets will provide wonderful treats for any foodie. So, take your family or tap your group and head to Station Street to partake in gourmet local street eats and decadent desserts.

This event will also have a specialty Stone and Wood Bar serving craft beers and other cheeky refreshments. Here’s your chance to try international taste sensations from over a hundred stalls. We’re talking crusty cob loaves, South American BBQ plates, handmade steamed and fried Tibetan momos, crispy kara-age chicken, no-cheese cheese pulls with decadent vegan pizza, and SO MUCH MORE! 

Nundah by Night Markets
Photo Credit: Supplied

Garnish those tasty bites and bevs with a sprig of live music across TWO STAGES from a range of talented local musicians and buskers to keep the good vibes pumping until late. 

Nundah by Night Markets
Photo Credit: Supplied

Amongst filling up on all that deliciousness, discover our extra special hidden gems within over 120 hand-picked artisan stalls! Watch out for even MORE non-stop entertainment for the kiddies too, with a petting zoo and roving performers to get the whole family buzzing!



About Nundah Markets and Goodwill Projects

The Nundah Fresh Farmer’s Markets is the perfect place on a Sunday to pop in for your freshly roasted coffee and breakfast. Nundah’s Fresh Farmers Markets are free each and every Sunday, located in the Nundah Train station Car Park, tucked just below Nundah Village.

Goodwill Projects is one of Queensland’s most dynamic markets, events and venues companies. Curating flawless events and memorable experiences. 

Photo Credit: Supplied

Active Truth in Nundah Launches Wonder Woman Collection; Sends Relief Package to Flood Victims

Just like Wonder Woman, the star of its recently released line of activewear collection, Active Truth is championing women power and helping those in need. Not all heroes wear capes. Some wear Active Wear!



The Nundah-based business has collaborated with Warner Bros Consumer Products and DC to launch a Wonder Woman-inspired collection to celebrate International Women’s Day. They are also sending relief packages out to flood-affected victims in Brisbane.

The 18-piece collection from sizes 6 to 26 highlights the year’s theme, “Break the Bias,” and shines the spotlight on the power and strength of the modern everyday woman. The collection also encourages women to don 2022’s version of a superhero costume, the activewear, to make a statement mimicking Wonder Woman’s powerful values of “strength, truth, and compassion.” 

“Just like WONDER WOMAN, Active Truth is committed to using our platform to make a difference,” Nadia Tucker, the founder of Active Truth, said.

“We are a brand that actively champions women’s representation, inclusivity and diversity. We know the confidence and power that come when you put on a great pair of tights. With the addition of WONDER WOMAN, the feeling will be amplified.” 

“WONDER WOMAN is iconic in her strength and this partnership with Active Truth further encapsulates the essence of both brands that aims to empower women, promote diversity and equality to people everywhere,” said Andrew Bromell, Executive Director for Warner Bros. Consumer Products ANZ. 

“It feels very fitting that this epic collaboration launches to mark International Women’s Day with WONDER WOMAN at the helm.”



Help for Flood-Affected Brisbane Residents

Meanwhile, Active Truth is sending relief packages worth $50,000 of clothes to flood-affected Brisbane residents. Whilst the Nundah shop and its team members were also affected by the floods, the establishment has committed to helping the local community rise from the natural calamity.

Active Truth is a recipient of the Lord Mayor’s Business Award for Outstanding Small Business. Launch in 2016, the company saw rapid growth with female customers all over the world. 

Follow Active Truth’s Instagram page for updates. 

Toombul Brings Back the Guilt-Free North Brisbane Vegan Markets!

Did you know that the North Brisbane Vegan Markets, a monthly foodie event that started in late 2021, is back at the Toombul Shopping Centre in Nundah? 



If you missed the relaunch in January 2022, you can still mark your calendars for the upcoming  North Brisbane Vegan Markets schedules for two Sundays — 20 February and 20 March!   

Organised by Brisbane Vegan Markets, this monthly Sunday event will feature some 30 stalls for vegan eats, drinkies, shopping, and charities. Seize the chance to sample a variety of healthy choices, guaranteed without animal products, and score some cruelty-free merchandise as well. 

During the relaunch, regular favourites like Vegan Yumm, an all-vegan, dairy-free and egg-free bakehouse based in Everton Park,  and Grass Fed Vegan, a vegan burger and ice cream house from South Brisbane welcomed patrons in long lines. 

The North Brisbane Vegan Markets opens from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. with no entry free. Families may bring their pets as this obviously an animal-friendly event.  To spice up the mood, live music will be playing as patrons do their vegan shopping. 

Photo Credit: BrisbaneVeganMarkets/Facebook

According to research from Roy Morgan, the number of vegan adults in Australia has increased to almost 11.2 per cent of the general population in 2016. Choices of plant-based food sources and meals have been rising as well as more people adopt a healthier lifestyle. 



“The food industry has responded with an increase in the range of products that are available and the labelling of vegan-friendly products as well,” said Queensland Public Health Nutritionist Mathew Dick. 

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas at Nundah Twilight Markets

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas as the Christmas Twilight Markets makes a comeback in Nundah. Get ready for a wonderful time for mingling, dining, and shopping in one of Brisbane’s best Christmas markets.



Happening on the 4th of December, the Nundah Christmas Twilight Markets will feature over 140 stalls and an incredible line-up of live acts. This year, guests may also enjoy a seat at the North Pole bespoke pop-up bar whilst they rock the night away to the beat of the live music.

Partygoers may also expect these exciting offerings:

  • Artisan Handmade Gifts that you won’t just find anywhere
  • Countless Gourmet Eats and Drinks 
  • Spectacular Christmas Cheer and Decorations
  • Snaps with Santa 
  • Pop-Up Bar plus DJ 
  • Kids Activities and Entertainment

Needless to say, Nundah Markets will be bringing together some of the best food trucks, gourmet eats, boutique fashion, rustic homewares, locally designed jeweller and all things Christmas for this year’s edition of the much loved Nundah Christmas Twilight Markets celebrations. 

Doors will open at 4:00 p.m. with a $2 fee at the entrance. The Nundah Christmas Twilight Markets will run until 10:00 p.m. There is plenty of free parking at the venue. 



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

Dexter Kruger, the oldest person in Australia, has died peacefully following a brief illness at age 111 years and 188 days. Born in Nundah, the former outback grazier was living in an aged care facility in Roma until his passing on 20 July 2021.



On May 17, 2021, Dexter entered the Guinness Book of Records after he became the oldest living person in the country when he turned 111 years and 124 days old, overtaking Jack Lockett, a World War 1 veteran, who passed away in 2002 at 111 years and 123 days old.

Dexter Ronald Kruger was born on January 13, 1910, before the invention of the refrigerator. He was one of the pioneers of liveweight cattle selling system and ran a sheep farm with his siblings in Kilcoy. 

He was married to Gladys Beanland for more than 50 years and they had one son, Gregory. Gladys passed away in the 1990s.


Highlights

  • Dexter Ronald Kruger, born in Nundah in 1910, became the oldest person in Australia at 111 years old and 188 days. 
  • He passed away on 20 July 2021.
  • He lived most of his life as a cattle ranch farmer and didn’t retire until his 90s.
  • Dexter once said the secret to his long life was to live close to nature and eat crops from his farm and orchard. 

For much of his life, Dexter was into farming and managed a 5,300-hectare cattle ranch in Maranoa until his 90s. Upon receiving his Guinness in May, Dexter said that his secret to longevity was to live close to nature and ate mostly what he grew in his orchard and farm. 

Surviving two World Wars, the Great Depression, Australia’s droughts and the pandemic, Dexter said that the world today is not a nicer place as people have too much money “to spend on rubbish.” He said that as much as computerised technology delivered marvellous things, life was more relaxed back in the day.   

His son said that his father was happiest around horses and cattle and was always up and with by following a healthy diet and lifestyle. However, longevity also runs in the family as Dexter had cousins and an aunt that lived to be 100. 

Photo Credit: Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk/Facebook

Following his retirement, Dexter Kruger completed writing 12 books, including an autobiography, which were all purchased by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk in 2019 as an addition to the State Library of Queensland.



“His long and fruitful life, including his achievements as a centenarian poet and author, was an inspiration to every Queenslander,” the premier said. “Dexter showed us all that you’re never too old to achieve your goals. 

“It’s fitting that we will have a permanent record of his remarkable life in his books which are now part of the State Library collection. I extend my condolences to his family at this time.”