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

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.

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. 

Photo credit: The Gift Shop Food & Drink/Facebook

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.

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 (Photo supplied)

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

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

Photo credit: slavoljubovski/Pixabay

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

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.

Free Skateboarding Lessons Held Monthly at PCYC Mount Gravatt

As part of the Forging Unique Skills and Experiences (FUSE) program, PCYC Mt Gravatt conducts FREE skateboarding lessons every month for young people between the ages of 12 to 25 years old.



The skateboarding workshops are held every second Monday and fifth Monday, if there is one for the month, under the expertise of coaches Claudia from Olliesonny. The sessions, which run from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., are open to all skill levels and the coaches also teach new tricks to the more experienced skateboarders.

For the rest of the year, here are the confirmed F.U.S.E. skateboarding workshop schedules at PCYC Mount Gravatt

26 July 
9 Aug
30 Aug
13 Sept
27 Sept
11 Oct
25 Oct
8 Nov
29 Nov

Skateboarding may seem hard and dangerous but once you start learning the skills and develop balance, it could be a healthy form of exercise. Skateboarding for hours allows the body to burn tons of calories and strengthen the legs and core. 

In older kids, it’s could be a great means for getting around town. In young children, skateboarding builds up confidence as they attempt to master what seemed to be scary in the beginning. 

In Australia, some 21 percent of young people engage in skateboarding as a form of recreation, exercise, or sport. It was integrated into the F.U.S.E. program of Brisbane City Council to help the youth learn new skills. 

Photo Credit: PCYC Mt Gravatt/Facebook

Bookings are required to participate in the skateboarding workshop. Phone 07 3420 4655 for more information. 



Wishart Travel Buff Joins Exclusive 100 Club

At 100 years old, one could say that Dorothy Sharrock has been living her life to the fullest, travelling across Australia and overseas, including a once-in-a-lifetime visit to Antarctica.



The newest member of the exclusive centenarian club within the Carinity Wishart Gardens celebrated her birthday on 1 July. Turning 100 years old has been another milestone in Dot’s life of adventure.

Born in Hughenden in north-west Queensland, Dot loved playing basketball and vigoro as an active child and was a member of the Salvation Army youth group in her community. Working since she was 14 years old, Dot moved to Brisbane in her young adult years and worked at the Brisbane Girls Grammar School for 25 years. Older students of the Spring Hill school will likely remember Dot as she also lived inside the campus.

When Dot retired in her mid-60s, she spent her time travelling around the country and also visited New Zealand, China and Japan. She also spent an unforgettable day flight over Antarctica. 

Now a resident of the Carinity Wishart Gardens since 2014, Dot still keeps active by playing indoor bowls. She also enjoys watching games of cricket and tennis on television. During her downtimes, Dot loves sewing, crafting, reading a good book, painting her nails or lounging in the garden where she listens to the native birds sing.

Photo Credit: Google Maps

Her nephew Rod Schafferius said that longevity runs in the genes as Dot’s four other sisters ar, between the ages of 88 to 97, are still alive. Rod said that her aunts embrace “a strong constitution, a healthy diet and everything in moderation.”



Dot has been the second person to celebrate her 100th birthday at the Carinity Wishart Gardens after Bessie Conomos OAM in April.

Mt Gravatt State School Receives Grant For New Greenhouse

Mt Gravatt State School recently received funds to convert unused cricket nets into a Shade House.


Read: Bessie Conomos OAM: Beloved Community Worker Turns 100


This new greenhouse will serve as the newest addition to the student gardens in the school, which also has a Bush Tucker Garden and a Gardening Club.

On 5 June 2021, in time for World Environment Day, Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP personally came to congratulate the students, hoping that the funding from the Stronger Communities Program would help in teaching them practical habits to better take care of the environment. 

“Thanks to the Morrison Government’s Stronger Communities Program, we have delivered an incredible $8,058 to Mt Gravatt State School to aid their valuable work in educating students on gardening and how to leave a green mark on our environment,” Mr Vasta said.

Ross Vasta
From left to right: Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta, Head of Curriculum Bill Hazlewood, Master Teacher Mrs Kelly Reynolds and Principal Jenny Watson
Photo credit: https://www.rossvasta.com.au

Ms Jenny Watson, school principal at Mt Gravatt State School shared that they have been able to convert the old cricket nets into a wonderful shade house where the kids can get really involved in gardening. 

“Through the help of our grounds person we’ve been able to get the kids involved planting, which has really helped our school community,” Ms Watson said.

Upper Mt Gravatt Quadriplegic Gains Independence

Not too long ago, quadriplegic Nikki Dorling had been relying on her son, Damien, to help her get through the day. The Upper Mt Gravatt local needed her son’s assistance from sun up to sun down to do basic chores and activities.



Nikki was also self-funding her disability-related supplies, including the assistive device she uses to do simple tasks. Her condition has limited her independence and freedom but Nikki was determined not to burden Damien or to lose their financial stability because of the many expenses needed by a quadriplegic. 

The mom got in touch with the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) for assistance. She noted that she had an easy process filing her forms by mail. 

“My Local Area Coordinator (LAC), Maika, was truly knowledgeable, caring and talked me through every step; the support was amazing,” Nikki said. 

After going through the interview and assessment process, she soon had an NDIS support staff working with her and received the necessary funding for her disability needs. 

“My NDIS plan allows me the opportunity to hire assistance for everyday chores that I would have had to patiently wait for family members to assist with,” the relieved mother said. “It’s nice to know that if Damien was busy with his studies I have the backing to get assistance to get going, do chores and even shopping or going to the movies.” 

Photo Credit: Supplied

Nikki also said that she’s no longer hindered by financial constraints because of her plan. She is enjoying her independence and self-reliance. 

“I am truly very grateful and sometimes feel, how did I deserve this gift?” she exclaimed.



To learn more about this disability benefit, contact Carers Queensland at 1300 999 636 or cq.enquiries@ndis.gov.au. 

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

Did you know that Los Tacos, a special taqueria concept created by the people behind the Cali-Mex eatery Baja, is now available every Saturday at the Mt Gravatt Street Food Market? 



From the minds behind the popular Cali-Mex eatery Baja is Los Tacos, a taco-centric concept that opens at the Mt Gravatt Street Food Festival every Saturday. It pays homage to the classic Mexican meal with a special menu that serves up four specific types of taco: pork carnitas, fried chicken tacos, beef barbacoa, and vegetarian tres frijoles. 

Photo credit: Instagram/lostacos_bybaja

Tacos won’t be the only meals available , however, as their menu also offers classic Cali-Mex snacks such as street corn, fresh ceviche, and guacamole to cater to those looking to help themselves to some authentic Mexican food. Also available on-site are their margaritas, allowing people to wash down their meals with an indulgent and alcoholic kick.

Photo credit: Instagram/bajabrisbane

The concept first emerged in Fortitude Valley, popping up at the Baja venue every Tuesday to test the waters and see if these specially-made tacos sold enough to warrant the creation of a stand-alone taqueria. 

Eventually, Los Tacos launched at the Mt Gravatt Street Food Market to see if the concept is well-received in other suburbs. Plans are in the works to find the taqueria a permanent hope, and judging by its popularity, it’s likely that it won’t remain a mere concept for long.

Photo credit: Instagram/mtgravatt_streetfood

Those interested in reserving a spot can do so via Baja’s booking system, however Los Tacos also caters to walk-in customers.

Los Tacos can be found at the Mt Gravatt Street Food Market, which is hosted at the Mt Gravatt Showgrounds at 1644 Logan Rd, Mt Gravatt every Saturday from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. For more information on Los Tacos, follow their Instagram page here. To learn more about the Mt Gravatt Street Food Market, visit their website here, and follow their social media pages on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates and announcements concerning the weekly event.