Coinciding with Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Mount Gravatt Mazda’s pink Mazda CX-5 Boobmobile will be hitting the streets of Brisbane to help raise awareness of the need for early detection.
As part of its Wellness Program, Mount Gravatt Mazda will soon be rolling out its eye-catching pink SUV to spark conversations around the importance of early detection and screening.
“As a local family-owned business in Brisbane, we feel very close to this campaign. Our owner and Dealer Principal, Julian Mason has been on his own personal journey with his family,” MGM said.
MGM Dealer Principal Julian Mason’s mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018 but won the battle due to early detection | Photo credit: Mount Gravatt Mazda / mountgravattmazda.com.au
Julian’s mother, Carole, was diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer in 2018. As part of her treatment, she underwent two lumpectomies along with four rounds of chemotherapy and daily radiation. Carole was able to win the battle against the disease owing to early detection.
However, his Aunty Jill who was also diagnosed in 2019 wasn’t as lucky. She had a mastectomy followed by chemotherapy. She lost her three-year battle at the age of 43.
“We all know someone whose life has been affected by breast cancer, and it is our turn to stand up and join the fight. Our goal is to promote awareness and early detection of the disease in our community.” – Julian Mason | Dealer Principal
And in celebration of Breast Cancer Awareness this month of October, MGM will also be supporting Brisbane-based breast cancer charity, Be Uplifted. All funds raised will go towards the charity’s efforts to extend support services and financial assistance to local women and men who are seriously ill with breast cancer and their family.
Australian-owned specialty coffee franchisor, Zarraffa’s Coffee, opened its latest drive-through location in Mt Gravatt. Taking over the space at 3/1329-1339 Logan Road, the store owned by franchisees Melissa Sanagan and Lachlan Sherrington was launched in late September 2022.
Melissa and Lachlan opened their first Zarraffa’s Coffee franchise in 2019 in Tweed Heads South, NSW. Three years later, the couple decided that the time to explore Mt Gravatt for expansion opportunities was ripe.
Photo Credit: Zarraffa’s Coffee / Facebook
“We plan to become more involved in the community, through local schools, businesses and sporting associations,” Mrs Sanagan said.
“Supporting businesses in our backyard has always been a core part of what Zarraffa’s stores do and we’re keen to start forging local relationships through coffee.”
“Opening the Mount Gravatt location is another chapter in our journey with Zarraffa’s. We’re looking forward to serving the local community handcrafted coffee for years to come.”
Melissa added that with their years of experience owning the South Tweed franchise, they “were really pumped to hit the ground running and deliver on the overarching Zarraffa’s experience.”
Photo Credit: Zarraffa’s Coffee / Facebook
“It’s really exciting to be able to open our second store and set our standards early,” she said.
“We’ve been forming our team for the past few months, employing over 30 locals. We believe when our staff are well trained, happy and confident, we can deliver the best possible service for our customers. My teaching experience has really helped build our team’s skills and knowledge. We thrive on having a fantastic culture in our stores.”
The latest drive-through store expansion is part of Zarraffa’s Coffee’s current expansion plans for its 25-year-old specialty coffee company. The company’s CEO, Marnie Sheldon said it’s hugely rewarding to see Melissa and Lachlan take the next step by becoming a multi-site owners within the brand.
“Growing our footprint can only happen with the great operators. Mel and Lachlan have established a thriving local business in South Tweed and now get to enjoy the next phase in their franchising journey with two bustling drive thru locations,” she said.
“As we head into this next phase of store footprint expansion, we are looking for the right operators to join our team and grow beyond our traditional areas. With major expansion planning across Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia, there is plenty of opportunity for commercial growth.”
Zarraffa’s Coffee was established in 1996 by Kenton and Rachel Campbell. Fully Australian-owned and operated, the company has its head office and roastery based in Eagleby.
Originally operating as a roasting house on Southport in Gold Coast, Zarraffa’s Coffee grew into an award-winning enterprise with over 70 locations across Queensland, Western Australia and New South Wales. The Company’s drive-through concept was conceived in 2009 which offered a quality coffee experience paired with added convenience.
Zarraffa’s Coffee Mount Gravatt | 3/1329/1339 Logan Rd, Mount Gravatt QLD 4122, Australia
Based on plans submitted to Brisbane City Council, each of the four levels will have six units to accommodate a total of 24 units whilst the ground floor will be constructed as a suspended structure for car parking.
Photo credit: Brisbane City Council/Red Door Architecture
A total of 49 car parking spaces will be provided on the suspended podium level, where 42 will be for residents, six for visitors and one for shared space.
Photo credit: Brisbane City Council/Red Door Architecture
As part of the application, developers have proposed to establish a new crossover, with direct access to Hertford St, given that the subject site, at 32 Hertford Street, Upper Mount Gravatt does not currently have a crossover to the street.
Photo credit: Brisbane City Council/Red Door Architecture
Designed by Red Door Architecture, it will feature a rooftop level which will have its own communal open spaces, featuring a BBQ area, outdoor alfresco and dining area, enhanced by landscaping.
“The design of the proposed development has had regard to the recently adopted provisions to provide a high quality rooftop communal open space for future residents, incorporating generous landscaping that integrates with the overall built form, and enhances the amenity of the rooftop garden,” planners at Town Planning Alliance wrote.
Photo credit: Brisbane City Council/Red Door Architecture
In the planning documents, it’s stated that the subject site is susceptible to overland flow flooding, and is confirmed to have an overland flow path traverse across the site.
In response, the applicant is planning to construct a wall structure in the undercroft area along the eastern boundary of the site to minimise flood level impacts to neighbouring properties.
“Consequently, the proposed development has been designed to incorporate a suspended podium ground level with an undercroft at an appropriate height to ensure the development does not impact upon the overland flow. A driveway ramp is proposed from the south-eastern part of the site’s frontage to Hertford Street to facilitate access to the site from street level,” planning documents read.
After nearly a year of on-road construction works, the intersection of Newnham Rd and Wecker Rd in Mount Gravatt East is now fully operational for all road users.
A new right-turn lane was constructed on Newnham Rd with a dedicated right-turn arrow to fully control the right turn from Newnham Rd into Wecker Rd.
Brisbane City Council installed an additional right turn lane from Wrecker Rd into Newnham Rd and a signalised pedestrian crossing on the left-turn slip lane on Newnham Rd.
Footpaths, shared paths, and crossing facilities at the traffic lights were also improved as part of the project.
The Newnham Road and Wecker Road intersection is an important junction in Brisbane’s major road network, with approximately 35,000 vehicles, 474 buses, 55 cyclists and 186 pedestrians passing each day.
Councillor Krista Adams, Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner, Bonner MP Ross Vasta, and Cr Ryan Murphy came to see the finishing touches on the upgrade of Newnham & Wecker Rd (Photo credit: Cr Ryan Murphy/Facebook)
The intersection upgrade was jointly funded by the local government through the Better Roads for Brisbane program and the Australian government, which committed $12 million as part of the Urban Congestion Fund.
The project aims to improve connectivity in the area, particularly for pedestrians and cyclists, whilst reducing traffic congestion and improving travel time reliability.
Following these upgrades, Council is preparing for the construction of a new pedestrian and cycle bridge in Graham Lord Park over the next few weeks, which is also part of the project.
Works for the pedestrian and cyclist bridge is expected to be complete in early 202, weather and site conditions permitting, and will be carried out on weekdays between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
To get the latest update about the upcoming works in Graham Lord Park, visit brisbane.qld.gov.au.
Westfield has just renamed its Garden City shopping centre into Westfield Mt Gravatt. An online petition has been launched to convince Westfield to reinstate the centre’s name.
On 8 August 2022, Westfield announced that Westfield Garden City will be renamed Westfield Mt Gravatt to reflect its location in the community.
“The names of our Living Centres across Australia and New Zealand are reflective of the areas and communities in which they are located. We have renamed our centre to Westfield Mt Gravatt after our suburb,” the announcement on its official website reads.
They furthered that apart from physical and digital signage updates, the centre will remain Brisbane’s “cultural hub for dining, shopping and entertainment.”
Some locals, however, are not happy with the decision prompting them to launch the petition “Don’t change the name of Garden City!”
Photo Credit: Change.org
“For a lifetime Westfield Garden City has been a part of our wonderful community in Mt Gravatt (Upper Mt Gravatt to be exact), which also extended to the greater Brisbane area. Memories have been made here for decades,” the petition reads.
“All those first job feels, first date dinners and last minute Christmas shopping trips. Westfield Garden City transcended from just a regular shopping centre to a home for all.
“This strips Garbo of its entire individuality! You can’t just remove such a pillar of our rich society in the 4122! In a time of such uncertainty, there are things we need to hold sacred.”
Some 1,369 individuals have already supported the petition and indicated their reason for signing. Many questioned the need to change their beloved Garbo’s name when it’s not even located in Mt Gravatt. They described the idea as a waste of money and said that there was no proper consultation prior to the name change.
“Garden City is an iconic name and so many fond memories of going there as a kid with my nanna.” – A. Mak
“No need to change name, particularly when not accurately located. Garden City is geographically located Upper Mt Gravatt not Mt Gravatt. Mt Gravatt already has its own small shopping centre.” – A. Newton
“I’m devastated to think that were losing Brisbane history. First Lang Park, Last Cilento Children’s Hospital, now this!!!
It will always be Garden City to many of us anyway so why the the massive amount of money to be spent to change the name. Donate that money for good use elsewhere if they’ve got surplus funds.” -J. Riley
About three new childcare centres in Mt Gravatt are currently under construction whilst a fourth has been granted development approval but will not be built until 2024.
The number of upcoming childcare centres has raised concerns with Jae Fraser, the vice president of the non-profit Australian Childcare Alliance Queensland, who said that the oversupply may bring about problems and create an unsustainable business.
Mr Fraser said that the issue of oversupply has slowly reared its ugly head as currently operating childcare centres cannot even fill up their occupancy. Across the state, most facilities are just over 70 per cent in capacity.
He also said that these centres cannot keep up with the workforce as there are not enough educators and minders to see through the care and development of the children. Thus, these childcare centres could end up delivering sub-par services.
Under Construction: Childcare Centres in Mt Gravatt
Active Kids Learning Centre 54 Morland St 89 to 91 Newnham Rd A005205206 – Approved in October 2020
From a 56-place centre, Active Kids Learning Centre will double its size and have a state-of-art early education facility. The site is due for completion in 2023.
Perfect Beginnings Child Care 53 Klumpp Rd A005967964 – Approved in April 2022
Perfect Beginnings Child Care is also planning a 2023 opening. Pre-pandemic, the centre recognised the need to expand its site after reaching 98 per cent capacity in 2019.
Former Scurrs Hardware Redevelopment 1437 Logad Rd 18 Gowrie St 50, 52 and 54 Tenby St A005722664 – Approved in June 2022
Photo Credit: DA A005722664
The childcare centre will be located on the first level of this mixed-use facility that also includes a convenience store and health care services/medical centre on the ground floor, and an indoor sports and recreation site with a gym and wellness centre on the second floor.
Creek Rd Child Centre 269 Creek Rd 31 Tantallon St A005959235 – Approved in April 2022 but DA extended until March 2024
Photo Credit: Google Maps
This property is owned by the Greek Orthodox Church.
Government Measures Needed
The ACA is hoping that local and state governments establish a measurement for the supply and demand for childcare centres before the development applications are approved in a certain area. The ACA said approvals must be prioritised in communities with a pressing need for facilities.
Property expert Darren Collins of CBRE said that childcare centres in strategic locations are bringing in billions to the economy. Investors also study the location, including its saturation point, before submitting a plan to build a centre.
Collins said that the population of the suburb and the percentage of double-income parents often factor into the decision as these are indicators of high growth areas, thus the high demand for childcare centres.
A multi-lingual florist has recently become Queensland’s newest centenarian. She celebrated her 100th birthday on 14 June 2022 at the Carinity Wishart Gardens aged care community.
Born Kuria Coola Flaskas on 14 June 1922 to parents Chrisoula and Nicholas Flaskas, Coola loved books and fashion magazines as a youngster. She would read one each night by torchlight under bed covers and at an early age showed a talent for styling.
She was just two years old when she and her mother moved from Greece to Australia due to political unrest. They reunited with Nicholas who had already emigrated and acquired two cafes in Queensland, one in Toogoolawah and another in Esk, Queensland.
Coola Velis pictured in her younger years (left) and Coola Velis at Carinity Wishart Gardens aged care community in Brisbane (right) | Photo Credit: supplied
Coola would grow up to be a talented singer and pianist. She regularly performed in the town hall whilst working at the cafe at the same time. Brisbane Radio took notice of her talent and invited her to sing on the radio; she was in her mid-20s then.
She took over bookkeeping duties for their family business and also worked for the local Country Women’s Association where she would later serve as its President. After her father passed away, she opened a florist business. Her venture became a success owing to her colour and design skills in fashion and fabric.
Coola Flaskas and Basili Koutsouvelis on their wedding day in Brisbane in 1958 (left), Basil and Coola Koutsouvelis with their baby daughter, Avra, in the mid-1960s (right) | Photo Credit: supplied
Coola married Basili Koutsouvelis in 1958 wearing a pale pink wedding gown (departing from the traditional white gown) she custom-made herself. She gave birth to her daughter Avra in 1964 and later worked in Coles supermarket’s meat department.
Her daughter said that Cools would often be given complimentary tickets by her friends who ran the nearby Majesty’s Theatre.
“She would stay up very late, working out seating lists for friends and acquaintances who couldn’t normally afford to go. We were always dressed exquisitely, and no one ever guessed she did it all on a shoestring budget.”
Coola Velis with fellow Carinity Wishart Gardens resident Bessie Conomos (age, 101) who was also born on the small Greek island of Kythera | Photo Credit: supplied
Coola taught Modern Greek at an international language school. She was in her 60s when she enrolled at Griffith University to learn Japanese. And when she was in her 70s, decided to fly back to Greece after six decades.
A proud “unofficial historian” on Brisbane Greeks, the centenarian was also an avid gardener until she was in her 90s.
She now just enjoys creating online content with her daughter which has so far generated 18,000 views on social media.
“The videos are about living, spreading love, and accepting ourselves and each other just the way we are,” Avra said.
“Whenever I ask my Mum what she thinks is the reason she’s made it to 100 she says: ‘Because I love you Avra, and you love me. If I didn’t have you, I wouldn’t live a day’.”
In order to meet future in-catchment enrolment demands, Wishart State School will be building eight new classrooms which can accommodate up to 200 extra students.
Four new classrooms will be constructed in late 2022 whilst future in-fill of ground level would create four more classrooms, amenities, breakout spaces, office spaces for staff, one teacher preparation room, and a covered outdoor area.
The future in-fill of the ground floor, however, is still subject to future enrolment demands and availability of funding.
Ground floor in-fill plan (Photo credit: planning.statedevelopment.qld.gov.au)
Also part of the plan is the replacement multipurpose court (also subject to funding), a new covered walkway and a carpark off an existing internal road linking to Morella Street.
The new learning spaces are part of the Department of Education’s Infrastructure Proposal to the Minister for State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning for a two-storey ‘General Learning Centre.’
Artist’s impression of the new general learning centre (Photo credit: planning.statedevelopment.qld.gov.au)
The proposal includes provision of a new car park with capacity for five spaces and landscaped areas in proximity to the new General Learning Centre.
Based on the assessment report for the proposal, the Wishart local area has experienced increased growth in the school-aged population and that the school now requires additional facilities to continue to meet in-catchment enrolment demands.
A spokesperson from the Education department stated that Wishart State School has grown by more than 300 students since 2017, with further growth forecast over the next five years.
Wishart State School (Photo credit: education.qld.gov.au)
Wishart State School can accommodate up to 1,061 students at present and based on records, student enrolment at the school continues to grow each year, from 901 in 2020, to 968 total in August 2021.
Whilst the project is still in the planning and consultation stage, works are anticipated to start later this year, for it to be complete in time for the 2024 school year.
Originally lodged in December 2020 and amended via a revised plan submitted last May 2022, the proposal involves the construction of four buildings with a maximum height of five storeys.
The building will comprise 57 three-bedroom and 15 two-bedroom units at 1572-1578 Logan Road, 14 Broadwater Road and 14-16 Whitley Street, Mount Gravatt. The existing buildings at the site will be knocked down to facilitate the development.
To be called “Salina Towers”, the development will feature private balconies or terraces, a swimming pool, a barbeque area, a gymnasium and a communal recreation area. There will also be 162 car parking spaces, 18 for visitors and 144 for residents.
Driveway access will be provided via a 9m-wide crossover oriented towards the site’s eastern boundary fronting Whitley Street. Also, a 544 sqm of deep planting covering 11.9 per cent of the site area is also planned along with 579 sqm of landscaping at the ground level.
Logan Road View of buildings 2 and 3 | Photo Credit: Brisbane City Council / developmenti.brisbane.qld.gov.au
“Visually, the contemporary building design is consistent with the intent and character of theprecinct. This includes a variety of materials, textures and colours both within the building and between each building,” Tam Dang Planning’s assessment report noted.
Corner of Logan Road and Broadwater Road view of Building 3 | Photo Credit: Brisbane City Council / developmenti.brisbane.qld.gov.au Internal Courtyard looking east of building 2 and 4 | Photo Credit: Brisbane City Council / developmenti.brisbane.qld.gov.au
The proposal, however, met opposition from local residents with submissions expressing concerns over the buildings’ height, bulk and scale; car parking and its impact on the privacy of neighbouring residents.
“With the markets across the street taking place every Sunday and the marketta on a Friday and Saturday night I fear that parking for residents who currently live in the area will go from difficult to impossible.” – Karlee
“I am concerned for the privacy my family and I will be afforded as a residential building of six storeys will be little more than a viewing gallery to our attempts to use our yard to relax and entertain. I fear untethered objects may fall and if not cause damage to my property, to my young family.” – Nicholas
“With a building height of 6 stories, this will significantly reduce access to sunlight for all townhouses in 18 Whitley Place that will border the proposed development. Each of these townhouses have a small area with a clothes line and garden. With a reduction in sunlight, gardens will suffer as well as reducing current residents access to natural sunlight for the drying of laundry and overall ambiance in their back areas.“ – Ainslee
“This proposal for high density development is not suited for this area of Mount Gravatt due to its multiple towers that give the appearance of bulky building design and not aligned with Neighbourhood guidelines for the multi-residential developments in this area.” – Anonymous
Haven’t had a proper eye check-up in the last two years? The Free Sight Support Expo in Mt Gravatt will help locals with their vision issues, detect eye problems, and facilitate early intervention. This is a one-day event so mark your calendars!
Quantum RLV, which has been providing products and services for people with low vision or blindness for more than 35 years, will conduct the community event on Thursday, 8 Sept. 2022 at the Garden City Library within the shopping centre. The Free Sight Support Expo will run from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Anyone with macular disease, glaucoma, stroke, blindness, or any condition which affects their vision is encouraged to come, including those with reading and learning challenges. Carers, family members and health professionals may also drop in and discuss specific low-vision issues with the experts.
Photo Credit: Supplied
Several assistive technologies will also be demonstrated, road tested or trialled at the event, including the latest text-to-speech wearable OrCam technology.
“Low vision is a term used to describe a reduced quality of vision experienced by an individual, where spectacles and contact lenses are no longer enough,” Low Vision Consultant Peter Cracknell said.
“Although low vision is an everyday term, the reality is that every individual is unique and needs a tailored solution to help them retain their independence and function well in their everyday life.”
Aside from Mt Gravatt, other schedules of the free expo will also take place on these dates and venues:
DATE/TIME
LOCATION
Tues 13 September 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Queensland Eye Institute 140 Melbourne StreetSouth Brisbane
