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Film Buff Becomes Newest Centenarian at Carinity Wishart Gardens

Meet Joycelyn Munro, a film buff who once worked at cinemas in her youth. On 31 March 2022, she turned 100 and became the newest member of the Carinity 100 Club at Carinity Wishart Gardens.

Born in West End to parents Diana and Percy Garrick, Joycelyn Munro sang in the choir, along with her sisters Ruby and Audrey, at West End Methodist Church where the family regularly attended services and activities.

Joycelyn enjoyed Scottish dancing, photography, knitting, crocheting, learning the Esperanto language, going out for coffee, and completing a history of her father’s side of the family. But if there is one activity that she loved the most doing, that would be going to the movies.

Joycelyn Munro loved going to movies right up to when she moved to Carinity Wishart Gardens — **Joycelyn Munro** loved going to movies right up to when she moved to Carinity Wishart Gardens
Photo Credit: Aged Care Online

“She loved going to movies right up to when she moved to Carinity Wishart Gardens,” said Joycelyn’s daughter, Elsa Green, who described her as “a marvellous role model for the family.”

Joycelyn loved movies and knew all the actors’ names, but she particularly liked American film actor Randolph Scott. She helped at two Garricks Entertainment cinemas in West End, the Rialto Picture Theatre and Lyric Picture Palace, which also happened to be owned and operated by her grandfather.

Joycelyn celebrated her 100th birthday at Carinity Wishart Gardens — Joycelyn has been looking forward to her 100th birthday since moving into Wishart Gardens 10 years ago
Photo Credit: Carinity / Facebook

Joycelyn recalls that she and her sisters would walk to the Lyric theatre from their home to work as ticket sellers or usherettes for evening and Saturday matinee shows.

A boy, she said, would transport the film spools between Lyric and Rialto by bicycle as these theatres share the films for their two-movie program.

After a four-year engagement, Joycelyn and Navy officer Ken Munro married in January 1945. That’s two months earlier than what they originally planned due to Ken’s leave having been changed at the last minute.

The couple was blessed with three children, six grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren, with the eldest being 17 years old and the youngest, two years old.

Her daughter Elsa said that her mum has been looking forward to her 100th birthday since moving into Wishart Gardens 10 years ago.

“Mum led a full life and had many friends, she valued family life and always loved family gatherings,” Elsa said.

“Like any centenarian, she has witnessed tremendous changes in the world but through all these changes our mum has remained the same kind, loving, generous, hospitable and generally thoughtful person to everyone.”

Joycelyn celebrated her 100th birthday at Carinity Wishart Gardens attended by friends and family members including her daughter Diana, who is now based in New Zealand. A specially arranged Scottish piper played at her birthday celebration.

Three Restaurants at Westfield Garden City Shopping Centre Proposed

Photo Credit: Brisbane City Council / developmenti.brisbane.qld.gov.au

A development application seeking approval to establish three stand-alone restaurants over land in Westfield Garden City Shopping Centre has been submitted.

The application proposes the development of a Slim’s Burger, Starbucks and Guzman Y Gomez restaurant in the northeast car park field of the shopping centre located at 2049 Logan Road, Upper Mount Gravatt. The establishment of the three stand-alone food and drink outlets will result in a net increase in gross floor area within the precinct of 671sqm.

Photo Credit: Brisbane City Council / developmenti.brisbane.qld.gov.au

“The proposed Food and Drink Outlets will activate an area adjacent to the Logan Road and Kessels Road site frontage that has, until now, been used for car parking purposes. The proposal will provide a built form connection between the intersection and the northeast shopping centre entry entertainment and lifestyle precinct and to the commercial and retail precincts adjoining the Logan / Kessels / Mount Gravatt-Capalaba Roads intersection,” the planners at Sinclair Planning said in its assessment report.

The proposed development will be delivered in two stages.

Stage 1 involves the construction of Building 1 (Guzman Y Gomez) and Building 2 (Starbucks) with a drive-through facility comprising 210sqm and 223sqm GFA, respectively. The first stage of the proposal also includes the redesigning of the balance area for at-grade ancillary car parking as well as the relocation of the existing pedestrian pathway through the carpark to the entertainment and lifestyle precinct.

Three Restaurants at Westfield Garden City Shopping Centre Proposed — Photo Credit: Brisbane City Council / developmenti.brisbane.qld.gov.au

Stage 2 will involve the establishment of Building 3 (Slim’s Burger) plus a drive-through facility with a total GFA of 238sqm. Landscaping improvements are also proposed within the development. The landscaping improvements will include:

Setback landscaping improvements to Logan Road, comprising retention of existing trees, new tree planting and low-level shrubs and groundcovers;
Planting between the buildings comprising new tree planting and low-level shrubs and groundcovers;
Retention of existing trees and new tree planting within car parking areas where practicable;
Retention of existing trees and new tree planting and low-level shrubs and groundcovers along the pedestrian access connecting the Logan and Kessels Roads intersection with the main shopping centre building north-east entry.

To accommodate the proposed development, 63 of the 247 car parking spaces in the area will be removed. Hence, the proposal will bring the centre’s current total car parking provision from 5,566 to 5,503 and the total approved provision to 5,500 from 5,563.

2049 Logan Road, Upper Mount Gravatt

Anti-Mosquito Measures to Protect Yourself from Japanese Encephalitis Exposure in Mount Gravatt

Mount Gravatt, Mount Gravatt East, Upper Mount Gravatt, and a number of other Brisbane suburbs have had a spraying blitz following news of South East Queensland’s first case of Japanese encephalitis in 24 years.

As the rains and the devasting flooding event have turned wet spaces into breeding grounds for mosquitoes, here’s what you need to know to protect yourself from JE exposure.

Symptoms of Japanese Encephalitis

Japanese encephalitis is a virus that causes a brain infection. It’s transmitted through an infected mosquito bite that may manifest symptoms within 5 to 15 days of the infection. The experts said that JE cannot be transmitted from person to person and it’s usually not transmitted by the most prevalent mosquito species in Queensland.

However, 99 per cent of JE virus infections will show no symptoms, per Queensland Health. Those who do could develop high fever and chills, severe headache, photophobia, neck stiffness, nausea, or vomiting, which could lead to convulsions or coma. A third of patients whose conditions become severe may develop permanent disabilities or succumb to the disease.

Prevention Measures

As the Council continues to monitor mosquito traps located across the city, residents may reduce their risks by doing the following below, per advice from the Australian Department of Health:

applying and regularly reapplying an effective insect repellent on exposed skin
wearing long, loose fitting clothing when outside
ensuring accommodation, including tents, are properly fitted with mosquito nettings or screens
using insecticide sprays, vapour dispensing units (indoors) and mosquito coils (outdoors) to clear rooms and repel mosquitoes from an area
covering all windows, doors, vents and other entrances with insect screens
removing any water-holding containers where mosquitoes may breed

The best mosquito repellents to use must contain diethyltoluamide (DEET), picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus.

Subsequently, locals may be immunised against JE. Distribution and administration of the vaccines will be focused on at-risk groups, such as workers in piggeries, pork abattoirs, or pork-processing plants, laboratory workers who could be exposed to the virus, environmental health workers, and people who reside in locations with confirmed cases.

The vaccines are expected to be available from late March to April through the Communicable Diseases Network Australia (CDNA).

DOWNLOAD CDNA ADVISE

Meanwhile, Council has sprayed target areas in these suburbs as of 8 March 2022:

Albion Alderley Anstead Ashgrove Bald Hills Balmoral Banyo Bardon Beachmere Bellbowrie Belmont Brighton Brisbane Airport Brisbane City Council Bulimba Burbank Camp Hill	Cannon Hill Carina Carindale Carseldine Chelmer Clayfield Clontarf Corinda Darra Deagon Deception Bay Durack Enoggera Everton Park Ferny Grove Fitzgibbon Gaythorne
Graceville Grange Gumdale Hemmant Hendra Holland Park Holland Park West Inala Karana Downs Keperra Kippa-Ring Kuraby Macgregor	Mackenzie Mango Hill Manly West Milton Mitchelton Moggill Moreton Bay Council Morningside Mt Crosby Mt Gravatt East Murarrie Ningi Norman Park
Oxley Pinjarra Hills Pinkenba Port of Brisbane Redland Council Richlands Rothwell Sandgate Sandstone Point Seven Hills Seventeen Mile Rocks Sherwood	Shorncliffe St Lucia Taringa The Gap Tingalpa Toorbul Toowong Upper Mt Gravatt Victoria Point Wellington Point Wynnum Wynnum West

Mt Gravatt Fruiterer Displays Resilience Amidst Brisbane’s Floods

Lenny Catalano of Spuds and Plums in Mt Gravatt was on the road one early morning on the week of Brisbane’s worst flooding in a decade. With the distribution of fruit and vegetables disrupted by the flooding for at least 48 hours, Mr Catalano wanted to make sure that his customers will not miss out on their essential supplies. Now that’s dedication!

On that day, Mr Catalano and several other independent fruiterers, who also operated as wholesalers at the Brisbane Markets® in Rocklea, worked above and beyond to get everything up and running again.

“We were lucky as we had quite a bit of stock on hand before the floods hit,” Mr Catalano said.

“We were able to manage the situation well, but it took a big effort to make this happen. I was on the road at 4 a.m. to try and source produce and fight the heavy traffic due to flooded streets, but I wanted to make sure my customers could get what they needed.

“With the supermarkets not having much produce at all, we ended up being very busy.”

“The floods are a great example of how local fruit and veg shops and their suppliers did not give up during difficult times. We came together, rolled up our sleeves, and did what we had to do to get the supply chain going and to get stock onto shelves.”

With their efforts, Brisbane Markets® was ready to operate within 24 hours of cleaning up.

Despite the great work done to get trade back up and running, there is much still to do, and consumers can help by buying locally. Supporting independent fruit and veg providers, such as Spuds and Plums in Mt Gravatt, also means supporting the businesses that operate from the Brisbane Markets®, most of which have suffered significant losses from the floods.

Local, independent fruit and veg shops provide customers with a better choice of quality, freshness, and service. They give customers the opportunity to shop as close to home as possible while supporting their local community.

Have Your Say About This Upper Mt Gravatt Village Precinct Project!

Photo Credit: Brisbane City Council / yoursay.brisbane.qld.gov.au

Don’t miss this opportunity to have your say! The Lumley Street, Upper Mt Gravatt Opportunities Plan is aimed at improving this neighbourhood shopping precinct and feedback is welcome until 20 February 2022.

As part of the Village Precinct Projects program, Council is proposing the revitalisation of Lumley Street whose opportunities plan has been released for community feedback beginning 31 January 2022.

The $600,000 Lumley Street, Upper Mt Gravatt Precinct improvement project includes the following considerations and proposed improvements:

sections of footpath upgrade to improve accessibility, safety and amenity
street greening including street tree planting to improve visual and physical amenity, and to reduce the urban heat island effect
groundcover plantings to new and existing garden beds
inclusion of new unique seating and standard Council street furniture
creative placemaking outcomes, including creative lighting.

Photo Credit: Brisbane City Council / https://yoursay.brisbane.qld.gov.au

Council plans to release the final improvement plan and construction information beginning mid to late 2022 with construction slated to commence from early 2023.

The public is invited to have their say through any of the following means:

Online by reading about the proposed improvements below, then completing the short feedback survey by 11:59 pm Sunday 20 February 2022.
Request a call back from the project team to discuss the project further.
Emailing the project team
Phoning Council on 3403 8888.

About the Village Precinct Projects

The $10 million Village Precinct Project is a Council initiative aimed at improving the public realm and revitalising local shopping precincts through tree planting, footpath upgrades, street furniture and groundcover planting, among others.

Some of the precincts that underwent improvements under the VPP program include Ainsdale Street Village, Aspley Village, Biota Street Inala Village, Darra Village Precinct and Gaythorne Village Precinct.

Projects currently in the pipeline include:

Aminya Street Mansfield Village Precinct Project – $1.3M
Ashgrove West Village Precinct Project – $3 million
Coorparoo Junction Village Precinct Project – $1 million
Martha Street Camp Hill Village Precinct Project – $1 million
Paddington Terraces Village Precinct Project – with funding support from the Australian Government
Park Road, Milton Village Precinct Project – $500,000
Sandgate Road Boondall Village Precinct Project – $1 million

Dumpling Alert! New Shanghai Now Open At Westfield Garden City

Photo credit: Marta Dzedyshko/Pexels

New Shanghai is now serving its popular dumplings and xiao long bao at Westfield Garden City in Upper Mount Gravatt.

Read: This Mt Gravatt Cafe’s Poached Eggs Are Made For Instagram

Aside from their fresh dumplings and tasty xiao long bao, customers can expect to find familiar Shanghainese classics, such as, pan fried pork buns, handmade dumplings, and Chinese stir-fry, as well as more elusive dishes like rainbow beef (sweet and sour crispy beef) and braised pork belly.

New Shanghai dishes — Photo credit: New Shanghai/Facebook

New Shanghai Mt Gravatt also launched a brand new skewers-style menu featuring the likes of satay chicken, pork belly, and Wagyu asparagus rolls in addition to their usual menu featured in numerous locations across Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne.

New Shanghai customers — Photo credit: New Shanghai/Facebook

Only a 15-minute drive from the CBD, the new venue can accommodate up to 150 diners. Guests can watch dumplings being made in the live dumpling-making theatre. Like other New Shanghai locations in the city, the one at Garden City is a cosy restaurant with a hip space and rustic-chic Chinese decor.

Read: Los Tacos by Baja Now Available at the Mt Gravatt Street Food Market

New Shanghai interior — Photo credit: New Shanghai/Facebook

They have a lengthy drinks list, from coffee and tea to their signature cold mixed drinks, and ‘mocktails.’ They also have spirits and wines for those who like washing down their meals with alcoholic beverages.

function-room — Photo credit: New Shanghai/Facebook

New Shanghai is open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. They are located on the Level 2 of Westfield Garden City. For bookings and more information, visit their website or follow New Shanghai’s official Facebook page.

Confirmed: New Speed Limit on Mt Gravatt Outlook Drive

Photo credit: Castorly Stock / Pexels

Here’s to a safer road ahead! The speed limit on Mt Gravatt Outlook Drive will be reduced beginning 16 February 2022.

The speed limit on Mt Gravatt Outlook Drive, which has seen numerous serious crashes in recent years, will be reduced to 40km/hr beginning mid-February 2022. The announcement was made by Brisbane City Council Brisbane City Council in mid-December 2021.

Mt Gravatt Outlook Drive currently has a speed limit of 50km/hr. Whilst warning signs are in place to ensure that drivers slow down to 30km/hr when approaching a curve, serious crashes still occur.

RACQ data reveals that between 2013 and 2017, there were about ten serious crashes that occured on Mt Gravatt Outlook Drive, with 12 people reported to have been seriously injured.

While the road is inherently dangerous given its narrow lanes and blind corners, experts and motorists alike agree that driver behaviour, particularly speeding during nighttime, greatly contributes to the crash incidents in the area.

Locals say that many drivers do not drive according to conditions. This not only endangers their lives but the lives of fellow unsuspecting drivers as well. The same could also be said about other drivers across Queensland.

In fact, the 2020 Annual Road Safety Survey by RACQ revealed that in 2019, more than 70 per cent of Queensland drivers admit to at least one instance of speeding. Moreover, speeding was identified as the top fatal driver behaviour that Queensland drivers engaged in that year, regardless of age or location.

Speeding has been largely observed in the 18 – 24 years old (88 per cent), and 25 – 34 years old and 35 – 44 years old (75 per cent) age groups. Also, in 2019, 48 fatalities have resulted in crashes attributed to speeding which represents approximately 22 percent of all Queensland road fatalities.

In the case of Mt Gravatt Outlook Drive, Council is taking action by implementing this speed limit reduction to mitigate the incidence of serious car crashes in the area.

Mansfield Intersection Upgrade Now Underway

Photo credit: Google Street View / google.com/maps

Upgrade works on the Newnham and Wecker Rd intersection in Mansfield are already underway, with expected completion by mid-2022.

Construction on the $13.3-million upgrade project commenced in late November 2021, with the establishment of the site compound in Graham Lord Park and relocation of public utilities.

Part of the initial construction works will also involve the removal of some trees along Newnham Road. Upon completion of the upgrade project, however, some 300 trees, plants, and ground cover vegetation will be planted within the area to replace those that have been removed.

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

To be constructed is a new northbound right turn lane on Newnham Road (northbound) complete with a right turn arrow for a full traffic flow control. Also, an additional lane will be installed for vehicles coming from Wecker Road and making a right turn into Newnham Road (northbound).

There will also be a signalised pedestrian crossing on a left turn slip lane situated on Newnham Road (southbound). Lastly, the two bus stops at Newnham Road will undergo an upgrade as well.

Congestion and Safety Issues

On a daily basis, the Newnham Road and Wecker Road intersection accommodate around 35,000 vehicles, 474 buses, 55 cyclists, and 186 pedestrians, making it one of the busiest in southern Brisbane.

Apart from congestion, safety is another concern in this intersection where a total of 18 crashes were reported between 2014 and 2019. Of these total reported crashes, 13 occurred due to motorists coming from Newnham Road, where there’s a high volume of traffic, were not able to make a right turn into Wecker Road safely.

Once completed, the upgrade project will allow the intersection to accommodate future traffic demands with improved safety and reduced traffic congestion. Meanwhile, footpaths, shared paths, and pedestrian crossing facilities located at traffic lights will improve the intersection’s connectivity.

The project is jointly funded by the Australian Government through its Urban Congestion Fund and the Brisbane City Council through its Better Roads for Brisbane program with each contributing $12 million and $1.3 million, respectively.

Construction hours are between Monday and Saturday beginning 7am until 5 pm. However, some work will occur at night, Sunday to Thursday from 7 pm to 5 am, to reduce the impact on traffic and ensure the safety of both motorists and workers at the construction site.

Moreover, around 12 on-street parking spaces at the intersection will be removed and a full-time “No parking” policy will take effect to replace the peak period clearway.

Mt Gravatt Property Market Enjoying Brisk Sales and 19% Median Growth

Limited inventory and competition among buyers have driven the Mt Gravatt property market upward 19.22% from October 2021 to September 2022, putting the median house price at just under $800,000. Sellers and investors have been enjoying the luxury of making strong offers amid a tight market where transactions are moving at a brisk pace.

Highlights

The Mt Gravatt property market enjoyed a 19.22 per cent growth for October 2020 to September 2021, pulling the median house price at $798,778.
This suburb’s unit market also exhibited an increase at 5.82 per cent with a median unit price of $500,000.
Both houses and unit market listings stayed an average of 20 days on the market although stocks have remained low only 50 sold for houses and 39 for units during this 12-month period.

House Price Growth

Data from Property Market Updates has shown that Mt Gravatt’s property market grew by 19.22 per cent for the period covering October 2020 to September 2021. The median house price in this eastern Brisbane suburb is now sitting at $798,778, up from $670,000 in the previous year.

There were 50 properties sold in Mt Gravatt for the said period with more demand for three-bedroom and four-bedroom homes. House listings stayed an average of 20 days on the market, with fast turnover in a tight market.

According to Property, Research and Development (PRD) Australia, Brisbane’s middle-ring suburbs, which includes Mt Gravatt, have been enjoying significant growth and high demand in the last five years but it has outperformed all inner city and outer rings during the third quarter of 2021 in terms of fast sales and asking prices. Driving the price increase is a perfect combination of low interest rates, better income, and a shift in priorities due to the pandemic.

Unit Price Growth

Mt Gravatt’s unit market has swung upward by 5.82 per cent, with the median unit price settling at half a million. As with houses, units were listed for an average of 20 days on market, with 39 apartments sold for the 12-month period.

Sales of one-bedroom apartments moved the fastest at just 12 days on market. However, most buyers have been looking for two and three-bedroom units.

In early 2020, investors feared that the pandemic would quash the unit market as more buyers sought detached homes with more liveable spaces and the space to work from home. However, Brisbane’s general unit market is expected to trend upward in view of the border reopening.

About Mt Gravatt

Mt Gravatt is a suburb that has a mix of everything that residents need for their convenience and essentials — good schools, great transportation access, thriving dining and shopping scene, wonderful recreational and sports facilities, and proximity to hospitals. Located within the 10- to 15-kilometre radius from the CBD, this area has been flourishing and appealing to families and young professionals who want to live a little further away from the bustling hub of the city.

Given its prime position and the kind of lifestyle Mt Gravatt offers, the suburb is seen to be fairly affordable, compared to other markets, especially for first home buyers. It’s also a viable option for second and even third home buyers who are keen to invest in the property market.

“I have lived in Mt Gravatt for 8 years. Have to say I have hit gold moving here! Have fantastic neighbours and there is a real good community vibe here. If you like nature, greenery, lots of trees and wildlife and community-minded people, this is the place for you! We are within walking distance to all the Mt Gravatt Mountain and Toohey Forest bushwalking trails which we enjoy on a daily basis.”
ShaneTaylor

“Well, what can I say has lots of local restaurants Pizza, pasta, Thai food and coffee club etc local shops have Target and a few specialty shops but just down the road is Westfield Garden City Shopping Centre and we have two Uni’s near us Griffith Mt Gravatt campus and Nathan. The freeway is easily got to for travelling up or down the coast and into the city on the Busway which has Holland Park Busway and Mt Gravatt Busway close by. Bushwalks in the forest. There is plenty of choice for schools in Primary and High schools for Public and Private. Not much more to say really. Enjoy our suburb.”
Sonia

Olympic Champ Visits Mt Gravatt Little Athletics Centre to Help Deliver Good News from Coles

Olympic medallist Kelsey-Lee Barber recently visited the budding athletes at the Mt Gravatt Little Athletics Centre to help the Centre celebrate some good news and provide inspiration to the young, up-and-coming talents at the facility.

Mt Gravatt Little Athletics Centre is one of the grant recipients of the Coles Little Athletics Community Round. The $3,600 grant will be used for the purchase of sports equipment for the centre.

Coles’ allocation of sports equipment grants has been stretched to $2 million, thanks to the incredible sales of reusable community bags designed by Aussie kids. Sales of bananas at Coles supermarkets on National Banana Day in May 2021 also contributed to the fund.

“Our centre has been providing Little Athletics to the community for over 40 years and some of our equipment are well past their use-by date,” Mt Gravatt Little Athletics President Emma Munro said.

“The Coles grant will enable us to upgrade our line marking equipment thus significantly reducing the hours it takes for our volunteers to mark our fields.”

Ms Barber, who is the reigning world javelin champ, said that the funding boost will allow the children of Mt Gravatt Little Athletics Centre to realise their full sporting potential.

“It’s an incredibly exciting time for athletics in Australia off the back of Tokyo 2020 and with Brisbane 2032 on the horizon,” Ms Barber said.

“I know how important it is for athletes like myself to support the next generation so that our sport can continue to grow and thrive. It’s fantastic for Athletics Australia athletes to have a chance to do this through Coles Little Athletics Community Round.”

Statistics demonstrate the importance of having an early interest and involvement in athletics and sports. Seventy-five per cent of the Australian track and field team, who represented the country at the Tokyo Olympics, and 23 per cent of para-athletes in the Paralympics, started their sports training at a Little Athletics facility.

“That’s why support like this from Coles is so important,” Coles Little Athletics Australia President Andrew Pryor said. “The grants will help ensure little athletes of today have all the resources they need to develop into Olympians of the future if that is the pathway they choose.”

Coles State General Manager Jerry Farrell said the supermarket chain is happy to continue the partnership with Little Athletics centres in Queensland.

“Little Athletics centres and their dedicated volunteers play such a vital role in the local community to help kids keep active and healthy. We want to be better together with the community and we’re proud to play our part by providing nearly $370,000 in sports equipment grants to Little Athletics centres in Queensland over the past three years,” Mr Farrell said.