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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.”

New Queensland CHEP Service Centre Rising in Rochedale

Work has commenced for the construction of a 16,870-square metre purpose-built facility in Rochedale for CHEP, a global leader in packaging solutions. The project is a joint venture between Goodman and Brickworks and has been dubbed as one of Goodman’s most sustainable developments in the region.

The new facility, located in the Rochedale Motorway Estate, will feature a 450kw solar system projected to generate 700MWh a year. LED lighting will be used across the office and warehouse, which will also have its own fully integrated wastewater treatment plant, rainwater reticulation, solar hot water, and movement sensor lighting.

CHEP regional operations director Queensland Jason Collins said that they chose Rochedale as the site of the new CHEP for its strategic location, excellent road connectivity, and sustainability benefits.

“Sustainability is embedded into our culture at CHEP and is part of our global strategy,” Mr Collins said. “Creating a more environmentally efficient supply chain benefits our customers, the community and our business.”

Photo Credit: Spaceframe Buildings/Facebook

CHEP, short for Commonwealth Handling Equipment Pool, supplies wooden and plastic pallets, small display pallets, crates, and IBC containers that are easily recognisable for the blue color. During the war, CHEP provided the defence supplies of the Australian government under the Allied Materials Handling Standing Committee. The organisation was later acquired by Brambles, which currently operates in 45 countries.

Goodman Group general manager Australia Jason Little said that Rochedale Motorway Estate has been raising the bar “for greening Brisbane’s industrial sector.” Among the tenants of the estate include Smart Furniture, Japanese Food Corporation, and Beaumont tiles. Woolworths will also set up a warehouse in the area.

The new CHEP site will deliver 120 jobs during construction and 90 more jobs upon completion, which will be sometime in mid-2022.

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

The Golden Egg (Photo credit: The Gift Shop Food & Drink/Facebook)

When Jordan Iovenitti opened The Gift Shop Food & Drink in Upper Mount Gravatt in 2018, his goal was to focus on espresso and offer simple eats. Today, more than three years later, the cafe has become very popular for their food, particularly an Instagram-worthy poached egg dish called the ‘Golden Egg.’

Read: Free Skateboarding Lessons Held Monthly at PCYC Mount Gravatt

The Gift Shop’s Golden Egg –poached egg with avocado, huevos rancheros, enoki mushrooms and Swiss cheese, stacked on a potato gem waffle, with chipotle mayo and sumac –is a runaway hit on Instagram for its beautiful and cooked-to-perfection appearance.

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A post shared by Danni 🌱 (@mysticalcandy)

But there’s more to the Golden Egg than the visual appeal. The Swiss cheese and red and black beans give the dish a much-needed saltiness whilst mayo adds a tingle of heat. The smashed avo gives it an earthy and almost buttery taste and the enoki mushroom adds some crunch and delicate flavour to the poached egg.

“The Golden Eggs were scrumptious, I was particularly fond of the crunchy potato waffle it was served on. 10/10 will be back with some friends in no time,” shared one customer.

The team at Mt Gravatt’s The Gift Shop cafe (Photo credit: The Gift Shop Food & Drink/Facebook)

Tucked away in a complex of shops along Newnham Road, The Gift Shop Food & Drink serves breakfast and lunch seven days a week. Other than their signature Golden Egg, it’s worth checking out their toasties, crispy avo tacos, and the housemade beetroot gnocchi.

Photo credit: The Gift Shop Food & Drink/Facebook

As The Gift Shop says on the drinks menu, they “like to make coffee for the people who like to drink it.” They offer a rotating single-origin and a guest roast, along with hot and cold brews, teas, and cocktails.

The interior of this charming little cafe is as Instagrammable as the items on the menu. Wood dominates the cafe and there is plenty of natural light, making it the perfect place when you’re looking for a laid-back place to chill away on a lazy afternoon.

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A post shared by The Gift Shop (@thegiftshopfd)

For trading hours and more information, visit The Gift Shop Food & Drink’s website or follow them on social media.

The Gift Shop Food & Drink

Phone: 0422152422

Facebook: www.facebook.com/The-Gift-Shop-Food-Drink

Instagram: @thegiftshopfd

Redland’s Callum Slater In Classic Australian Play For Charity Event

Redland actor Callum Slater will be part of a special online reading of Nick Enright’s St James Infirmary which will be held to raise funds for actors.

Read: Free Skateboarding Lessons Held Monthly at PCYC Mount Gravatt

The special lockdown online charity reading via Zoom will be on Saturday, 21 August from 7.30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Enright’s St James Infirmary is a story about a young teenage firebrand obsessed with Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War. Trapped in the confines of a Catholic school hospital infirmary, his friendship with the new matron and a dedicated priest draw out a deeply affecting story.

Callum Slater will be joined by some of the country’s most successful young actors, including Rachel Marley of Bexley, Samson Alston (Wyong), Tom Kelly (Copacabana) as well as veterans Norah George (Cronulla) and Matt Young (Yeerongpilly). St James Infirmary will be narrated by Samuel Welsh.

All proceeds will go to the Actors Benevolent Fund, a charitable organisation providing assistance to entertainment professionals throughout New South Wales to help maintain their health, dignity and ability to work.

It will be presented by Lambert House Enterprises, who gave Sydney so many acclaimed productions in the last two years, including Jasper Jones, The Credeaux Canvas, Shape of Things, Fag/Stag, The One Day of the Year and Three Winters Green. The evening is sponsored by that equally great supporter of the arts and actors – the Seaborn, Broughton, Walford (SBW) Foundation.

“The Actors Benevolent Fund is doing amazing work right now through this long and difficult period for actors, helping those out of work or those stood down by the lockdown. So an evening to benefit this wonderful organisation seems very appropriate,” said producer-director Les Solomon.

To book, visit www.trybooking.com/BTIZQ. The link to the online event to be provided by the event organiser.

Dental Health Week 2021 In Mt Gravatt: What’s Up and When

Photo credit: Cedric Fauntleroy/Pexels

A lot of people underestimate the importance of dental health. Promoting awareness and educating everyone on the importance of oral hygiene and overall preventative dental care is the focus of the Australian Dental Association’s Dental Health Week in 2021.

Read: Griffith University Embarks on New Way to Detect Early Stage of Cancer

Dental Health Week runs from 2-8 August 2021 across the country. It serves as a great reminder for people to stop and think about whether they have seen a dentist during the year. It’s an annual awareness campaign aimed at promoting better oral health practices. This year’s campaign focuses on four key messages:

Brush teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
Clean between your teeth daily using floss or interdental brushes.
Eat a healthy, balanced diet and limit added sugar intake.
Visit the dentist regularly for check-ups and preventive care.

Dr Cathryn Madden, Head Dentist at Bupa Dental Corporation said it’s vital that locals of all ages visit the dentist regularly to protect their oral and general health with data suggesting less than half of all Australians saying they have had a check-up in the last year.

“There is no doubt that looking after your teeth and gums enhances your general health with chronic issues such as diabetes and heart disease both being linked to gum inflammation and periodontal disease. Your dentist will also carry out an oral cancer screening at your check-up,” said Dr Madden.

Aside from setting regular appointments with their local dentists, Dr Madden also encouraged Mt Gravatt residents to focus on maintaining positive oral health practices at home such as brushing twice a day, flossing, and eating a healthy diet.

Oral Health and the Pandemic

It’s understood that the Covid-19 pandemic takes a toll on people’s dental health. As many parts of Queensland come out in and out of lockdown, dental check-ups have been interrupted over the past year for many people.

A 2020 progress report from the Australian Dental Association discovered that one in five adults brush only once per day. The latest findings also revealed the following:

Around 75% adults rarely or never floss or clean between their teeth.
39% of parents report their children drink 2 – 5 soft drinks per week.
2 in 3 adults usually visit the dentist for a problem rather than a regular check-up.
47% of adults (18+ years) consume too much sugar.

“If like many people, you have been consuming more alcohol or junk food during the COVID-19 pandemic now is a good time to make a resolution to make some healthy diet changes that will help you keep your smile for life!” said Dr Madden.

Bupa Dental Mt Gravatt is located at Level 2 Westfield Garden City, Cnr Logan Rd and, Kessels Rd, Upper Mount Gravatt.

As part of health and safety protocols, Bupa requires appointments, wearing a mask, and temperature check. You can learn more about their services by visiting https://www.bupadental.com.au/.

Griffith University Embarks on New Way to Detect Early Stage of Cancer

PhD candidate Zennia Jean Gonzaga and Professor Bernd Rehm, next to the bio-reactor which grows cell factories to make functional polymer particles. (Photo credit: Griffith University)

A team of researchers from Griffith University has developed a new way to detect cancer and eventually help diagnose the disease in its early stages.

Read: Wishart Travel Buff Joins Exclusive 100 Club

Professor Bernd Rehm, Director of the Centre for Cell Factories and Biopolymers at the Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery took the lead along with Queensland Micro and Nanotechnology Centre Associate Professor Muhammad Shiddiky.

The team used a new class of superparamagnetic nanomaterials to detect ovarian cancer and other diseases in an expensive and sensitive way.

The process involves bioengineering cell factories to assemble nanobeads with magnetic properties that bind to specific target antibodies. Then the magnetised nanobeads were added to ovarian cancer cells to capture methylated DNA and exosomes (cells) to detect cancer.

“The two-step strategy uses nanobeads to magnetically isolate the cancer biomarkers, such as methylated DNA or exosomes, from blood or tissue samples collected from cancer patients,” Professor Shiddiky said.

According to Professor Rehm, the demand for point-of-care diagnostics and monitoring was rapidly increasing with the increase in the prevalence of chronic diseases, healthcare costs and unmet healthcare needs.

“Huge research efforts have been devoted towards the development of technologies that can detect cancer at early stages,’’ he said.

Professor Rehm said these nanomaterials could provide a way to overcome some of the challenges in many health systems, such as looking for a method that is cheap, rapid and accurate.

“Early diagnosis of cancer is critical for more effective treatment strongly improving prognosis of patients so it is important to develop versatile diagnostic platform technologies that are specific and sensitive to detect cancer,” Professor Rehm said.