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Upper Mount Gravatt State School Opens New Learning Centre to Replace Fire-Damaged Building

The Upper Mount Gravatt State School has officially opened a new two-storey learning centre more than two years after a devastating fire destroyed the very old, historical E Block building.

In August 2021, students in Prep, Year 1, and Year 2 moved into the new $9.21-million facility but the school community only celebrated the re-opening with a program with special guests like Education Minister Grace Grace and Corinne McMillan MP in early November.

The new Junior Learning Block includes “The Fairway,” a garden open space for outdoor learning. It has six learning spaces for the older kids, four rooms for the prep students, two breakout spaces for students, a staff room, and an undercroft for more learning spaces, as needed.

Upper Mount Gravatt SS Principal Derek Brady said that these purpose-built facilities are a great addition to the school. Construction for the the Junior Learning Block was completed around July.

“While it was a heartbreaking experience, the entire school community pulled together and even had temporary classrooms ready for the children to learn in just a few days later,” Ms McMillian said. “I know the Upper Mount Gravatt SS community really felt the loss of their beautiful old building.”

“While the new facility will never replace the look and feel of a lovely old building, the new building has provided the school with some fresh, modern and state-of-the-art learning spaces, Ms McMillian added. “I am just so proud of everyone and couldn’t be happier to officially open this new state-of-the-art facility today.”

Mount Gravatt Mazda Holds 3rd Annual Toy Drive for Kids with Cancer, DV Victims

Did you know that Mount Gravatt Mazda runs a Christmas toy drive for children affected by cancer and domestic violence? Now in its third year, the toy drive upholds the goal of making a difference in a child’s life.

Whilst the Christmas season is the most wonderful time of the year, it can be the most difficult time for families of kids with cancer and those seeking refuge from domestic violence. Thus, Mount Gravatt Mazda came up with the toy drive to bring some festive cheer to those who may be scared and lonely during this season.

So, until the 18th of December 2021, Mount Gravatt Mazda will accept gift donations, especially new toys, for the children to unwrap on Christmas Day. The dealership is hoping to fill up the Mazda BT-50 sleigh, currently on display at the showroom floor, with heaps of gifts that will be distributed to various paediatric oncology patients who will be at the Childhood Cancer Support annual Christmas party.

Two organisations will also benefit from the donations: Childhood Cancer Support and Beyond DV.

Childhood Cancer Support is non-profit established by a group of parents and has been around for 45 years. Through their help, families affected by childhood cancer receive treatment and care at the Queensland Children’s Hospital.

Beyond DV, established by mom and Holland Park teacher Carolyn Robinson, offers recovery and support programs for women and children of domestic violence. The organisation provides hands-on guidance as they rebuild their lives after a traumatic experience.

“At Mount Gravatt Mazda, we strongly believe that we have a responsibility to give something back to the community in which we do business. To act on this belief, we created our annual Festive Community Drive which is dedicated to supporting our local community at Christmas.”

To donate to this cause, please take note of the guidelines below:

Reminder: Mobile Phone Detection Cameras Are Watching You Drive

Photo credit: Roman Pohorecki/Pexels

Now that Queensland has officially rolled out its mobile phone and seatbelt detection cameras across the state, motorists are expected to be more mindful when driving. The cameras are widely expected to reduce accidents and fatalities caused by non-compliance with the relevant laws in accident hotspots like Logan Rd in Mount Gravatt.

Read: Mt Gravatt Used Car Yard Transformation Gets Underway

On 1 November 2021, Queensland officially commenced its Camera Detected Offence Program following several months of trial. Under this new law, motorists not wearing a seatbelt or holding a mobile phone shall be fined.

During the trial, the Department of Transport and Main Roads monitored more than 4.8 million vehicles. Among these, there were more than 15,000 mobile phone offences and 2,200 seatbelt offences detected.

How the Cameras Work

Photo credit: Mobile Phone camera detection finder/Facebook

Through Artificial Intelligence (AI), the cameras detect front seat occupants committing mobile phone and seatbelt offences.

The cameras are either fixed or portable and are capable of taking multiple images of every vehicle that passes, including the registration number plate, and images of the front seats of the vehicle.

If a possible offence is suspected, the image is put through a rigorous adjudication process by an authorised officer, who determines if a penalty should be issued. If no possible offence is detected by the AI, those images are automatically excluded and deleted.

The Penalties

From 1 November 2021, the following camera related penalties will apply. Roadside enforcement by police continues as normal.

$1,033 and four demerit points for illegal mobile phone use while driving
$413 and three demerit points for failing to wear a seatbelt. Drivers can also be fined a further $413 and three demerit points for each passenger not properly restrained.
Double demerit points apply for repeat mobile phone and seatbelt offences committed within a 12-month period. This means anyone persisting in these dangerous behaviours can lose their licence.

Transport and Main Roads reminds drivers to make sure to put their phones away and that they and their passengers are wearing seat belts properly.

“It’s important to remember that fines are only issued to people doing the wrong thing. Remember, drivers will be fined for each passenger not properly restrained. The easiest way to avoid a fine is to obey the law and drive safely,” the department stated.

BWC Unites to Launch Red Bench Project in Mt Gravatt

The Brisbane Women’s Club (BWC) has unveiled the Red Bench Project outside the Lovewell Café in Mt Gravatt to raise awareness about domestic violence.

Read: Median House Price Rises As Demand Grows for Homes in Mt Gravatt

Brisbane Women’s Club Chair of the Board, Leah Stangle said BWC was delighted to support the Red Bench Project that aligned closely with the club’s ethos, to make Brisbane a better place for women to live and work.

“The BWC board has worked hard with our partners to send a strong message to the community that we want to end the silence around domestic violence,” Ms Stangle said.

Between July 2020 and March 2021, Queensland Police has responded to 113,779 domestic violence cases throughout the state.

Ms Stangle said the bench was installed outside the Lovewell Café, run by the Lovewell Foundation, which works with women who are rebuilding their lives to retake their place in the community.

The initiative is part of the Red Rose Foundation’s commitment to end domestic and family violence-related deaths in Australia.

Red Rose Foundation, Chief Executive Officer, Betty Taylor said they hoped the daring red colour would keep the issue of domestic violence at the forefront of people’s minds generating the much needed, yet often taboo, discussions in our community.

“The benches will encourage people to stop, sit, read the plaques and bring the issue of domestic violence to people of all walks of life, whether they have been affected by DV or not,” she said.

red-bench-project — L to R: Jim Boden, Red Rose Foundation, Lady Mayoress Nina Schrinner, Annie Stonehouse, Lovewell Foundation, Leah Stangle, Brisbane Women’s Club and Councillor Krista Adams, Deputy Mayor (Photo supplied)

Lord Mayoress Nina Schrinner graced the ribbon-cutting ceremony with Deputy Mayor Krista Adams. To date, around 270 red benches have been installed mostly in Queensland with eight in New South Wales, two in South Australia, and 30 within Brisbane.

Mt Gravatt Used Car Yard Transformation Gets Underway

Construction is set to begin in one of the busiest sites in Mt Gravatt, where a used car yard will be transformed into a service station with a few fast-food restaurants with drive-thru service.

The development, which has been three years in the making and also impacts High Street and Creighton Street, is finally pushing through by the end of October. Once completed, the former car yard will boast of a new Hungry Jack restaurant, a Zaraffas Coffee Shop, and a 7-Eleven service station. These establishments are expected to open 24 hours a day.

A bus stop along Logan Road will be moved a few metres northward to make way for the new development, which was largely uncontested by the residents. Prior to the filing of the DA, the developers had pre-lodgement meetings in 2016 with members of the Council.

The transformation will provide 36 car parking spaces for all of the tenants and their customers. Approval for this development (DA A005030044) was decided in August 2019.

It comes as Hungry Jack has just opened a new outlet at the Rochedale Village whilst a KFC fast food outlet with drive-thru also opened on Logan Road towards the Eight Mile Plains section in April. Another KFC outlet, taking over Mt Gravatt Montezuma, is also awaiting development approval.

Why Business Owners Must Join the Brisbane Southside CCIQ Breakfast in Mt Gravatt

Are you a Brisbane business owner who would like to know how the preparations for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics could impact your establishment? Learn what’s in store as the Brisbane Southside Chamber of Commerce (CCIQ) hosts its monthly breakfast with a special guest who can shed light on the programs and policies for the business community.

Happening on Wednesday, 20 October 2021, the Brisbane Southside Chamber of Commerce breakfast will take place from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. at the Mount Gravatt Bowls Club on Logan Road.

The Brisbane Southside CCIQ has invited Deputy Mayor Krista Adams as the speaker, who was appointed the Civic Cabinet Chair for Economic Development and the Chair of Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games Committee.

With these significant roles, Ms Adams will help Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner steer the planning and strategising of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, with her focus on small business and international relations.

“Krista will work closely with me to guide the delivery of game-changing infrastructure and a lasting legacy for our city and region,” Mr Schrinner said.

“Anyone who knows Krista will attest that she’s an avid sports fan and her experience managing some of Civic Cabinet’s most complex and challenging roles makes her the perfect choice to lead our Games responsibilities.”

Ms Adams and Mr Schrinner are charting a detailed road map to make Brisbane Olympic-ready and this won’t be possible without consulting business owners. This will also open up more opportunities for local businesses to bid on upcoming projects.

Get Your Ticket – October Breakfast with Deputy Mayor Krista Adams

A COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic is Popping Up at Bunnings Mt Gravatt

A COVID-19 jab with free sausage sizzles? Bunnings customers will be able to get both as the store rolls out its pop-up vaccination clinics in Mt Gravatt and more than two dozen Bunning sites across Queensland.

Beginning Saturday, 16 October 2021, Bunnings shoppers may walk in for their COVID-19 vaccination at the Mt Gravatt location or the following outlets:

BUNNINGS STORE	LOCATION
Smithfield	Cairns and Hinterland
Atherton	Cairns and Hinterland
Rockhampton	Central Queensland
Yeppoon	Central Queensland
Gladstone	Central Queensland
Kingaroy	Darling Downs
Dalby	Darling Downs
Oxenford	Gold Coast
Pimpama	Gold Coast
Nerang	Gold Coast
Robina	Gold Coast
Arundel	Gold Coast
Burleigh Waters	Gold Coast
Airlie Beach	Mackay
Mackay North	Mackay
Paget Mackay	Mackay
Morayfield	Metro North
North Lakes	Metro North
Stafford	Metro North
Brendale	Metro North
Browns Plains	Metro South
Bethania	Metro South
Mt Gravatt	Metro South
Underwood	Metro South
Victoria Point	Metro South
Gympie	Sunshine Coast
Fairfield Waters	Townsville
Townsville	Townsville
Townsville North	Townsville
Plainland	West Moreton
Bundaberg	Wide Bay
Hervey Bay	Wide Bay
Maryborough	Wide Bay

“We’re really pleased to be helping Queensland Health with the rollout of community vaccinations across South East Queensland by hosting pop-up vaccination clinics in around 30 of our store carparks. We hope it makes accessing vaccinations as easy and convenient as picking up an item for a weekend DIY project,” Bunnings Managing Director Mike Schneider said during the announcement.

“We’ve always tried to play an active role supporting the local communities where we operate, so providing space to QLD Health to accelerate the vaccination rollout just makes sense.

“Like everyone, we can’t wait to see the whole community protected so we can all get back to doing the things we love.”

Queensland Health will run the pop-up clinics at the Bunnings shops to boost the vaccination drive, which has been lagging behind other Australian states. There are currently less than 33 active cases in the region, which were mostly acquired overseas and there are no locally acquired cases.

BREAKING: Pop-up vaccination clinics are coming to Bunnings. From this Saturday, you can get a Bunnings sausage and vaccine dose at several sites across Queensland 💪 #GetVaccinated pic.twitter.com/NfaZ6nXDxO
— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) October 11, 2021

“Now is the critical time to get vaccinated – we have the supply, we have the capacity, and we want people to come and get vaccinated now,“ the Minister said.

“The Pfizer vaccine is available at Queensland Health vaccination sites, the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines are available at participating GPs, and the AstraZeneca and Moderna vaccines are available at participating community pharmacies.”

Over 70 per cent of eligible Queenslanders have had their first dose, while nearly 53 per cent are fully vaccinated.

Median House Price Rises As Demand Grows for Homes in Mt Gravatt

Investing in a house in Mt Gravatt remains a good decision for those looking to cash in on a spacious but affordable property close to the Brisbane CBD, with a strong potential to continue the upward trend in value over the next few years.

From July 2020 to June 2021, Mt Gravatt’s property market has shown an uptick and the median house price rose by 13.64 percent, as buyers from interstate consider leaving congested Sydney or Melbourne to move to Brisbane’s suburbs.

In Mt Gravatt, the cost of buying a family home close to the CBD is a sound investment as residents could live in a beautiful detached home to raise a family near the best schools, enjoy a comfortable lifestyle with heaps of employment options, and still have savings in the bank.

The median house price for this suburb sits at $750,000, higher than the Queensland median. Homes in Mt Gravatt can be had for a reasonable budget for many buyers looking for a location with good access to the Gateway Motorway and other transport infrastructure; lifestyle and retail centres like Westfield Garden City; and schools such as Griffith University; and medical facilities.

During this 12-month period, 60 properties, listed at an average of 28 days on market, were sold in Mt Gravatt, indicating a tight market with such high demand, per data from Property Market Updates.

Unit Price Growth

Off the back of a resilient housing market, Mt Gravatt’s unit market has also improved in the same time period with an 8.60 percent growth on the median unit price. Listings were on the market for an average of 48 days, fetching a median unit price of $505,000.

Mt Gravatt’s apartment market attracts downsizing households who need access to good transportation and recreation, as well as young families who want a good education and employment opportunities.

Biggest Inflatable Park In Brisbane Returns To Mt Gravatt Showgrounds

Photo credit: The Inflatable Factory/Facebook

Mt Gravatt Showgrounds has been turned into the ultimate amusement park as The Inflatable Factory returns to the venue this September 2021, offering a whole month of school holiday fun for the young ones.

Read: TAFE Officially Opens New Fashion Centre of Excellence in Mt Gravatt

Known as Brisbane’s biggest inflatable fun park, The Inflatable Factory offers two hours of unlimited family fun with a hive of activity, from the brightly coloured jumping castles to the inflatable obstacles and slides.

Photo credit: The Inflatable Factory/Facebook

Please note that it’s an under-18 event only but parents need not worry, because there will be friendly staff who will supervise the kids. All children under 12 years must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

The Inflatable Factory is a high-energy, maximum-activity zone, where kids will most likely get hot and sweaty, so it’s recommended that they wear loose, comfortable clothing. Everyone playing on the inflatables must also wear socks.

There is no weight restriction on the inflatables, but the Zorb balls are only fit for participants under 100 kilograms. They don’t require bookings and you can purchase the tickets at the entry or online. It’s open 9:00 am – 4:00 pm daily until 3 October 2021. Visit The Inflatable Factory’s website for more information.

TAFE Officially Opens New Fashion Centre of Excellence in Mt Gravatt

Budding fashion designers and talented creatives will benefit from TAFE Queensland’s new and upgraded Fashion Centre of Excellence building in Mt Gravatt. The $6.5 million training facility was officially opened on 8 Sept 2021.

In 2019, TAFE Queensland completed the first stage of the Fashion Centre of Excellence development, where students learn and develop skills that could support a livelihood or put them on the map as one of the world’s best fashion designers.

The second stage of the project invested in expanding and creating “modern, vibrant and inspiring learning spaces” where the designers can make use of industry-standard equipment and modern tools for learning.

“There are rooms for pattern making, millinery, sewing, stretch wear and screen printing, all with industry-standard machinery and equipment giving us everything we need to successfully bring our ideas to life,” TAFE Queensland announced.

“Couple that with the amazing teachers who break down the subject matter and guide us through it step by step and it’s a recipe for success.”

With more than 6,000 fashion, industrial and jewellery designers across the state, this industry has been building half a million jobs and contributing $27 billion dollars a year to Queensland’s economy.

Since the centre’s first stage completion, TAFE Mt Gravatt doubled its number of students to 294. The majority of the students are enrolled in the Diploma of Applied Fashion Design and Merchandising, one of the more popular courses at the Mt Gravatt facility.

“Investing in skills and training for young people to enter the workforce and strengthen industries is a key part of the COVID recovery,” Member for Greenslopes Joe Kelly said.

“We are taking the future of fashion and textile creatives seriously and supporting young Queenslanders to get a start in the industry.”