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Mt Gravatt Fun Fair: First COVID Safe Mini EKKA Gets Underway

Bummed about EKKA’s cancellation in this pandemic? There’s still fun to be had at the Mt Gravatt Fun Fair, which has all the trappings of a massive amusement show but with COVID-19 safety precautions firmly set in place.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented changes with the cancellations and disruptions of many events and activities. However, seeking out fun may be just the thing you need to get through this crisis.

Queensland Amusement Hire is bringing the Mt Gravatt Fun Fair at the Logan Road showgrounds from 13 to 16 Aug and 20 to 23 Aug 2020.

Featured rides include:

Teacups
Helicopters
Jumbo Slide
Bungy Trampolines
Ferris Wheel for children
Dodgem Cars
Wave Swinger
Hurricane
Alien Abduction
Let’s Dance
Two Storey Fun House

The Mt Gravatt Fun Fair will also feature sideshow attractions and COVID safe competitions, aside from giveaway show bags and heaps of food truck choices.

Unfortunately, there will be no animal petting corners and crafts for this mini EKKA.

This is the first Brisbane amusement show with a COVID safe business model. The following compulsory safety conditions will be implemented at the showgrounds:

Entry is wrapped up into three-hour sessions each day
400 person maximum capacity per session
1.5 metres social distancing with an allowance of 4 sqm per person in lines
Sanitiser stations will be on-site and available at entry, exit and at every ride and attraction
Dedicated exit and entry points
Temperature checks
Contactless payment options (EFTPOS and other cashless options)

All guests are required to make a prior booking online for the general admission ($2) and the unlimited rides wristband ($35). Ride tickets of approximately $5 per ride may be purchased on-site as well for guests who prefer not to get the wristband.

Guests are requested to pick a schedule and stick with the time and date set:

DATE	TIME
Thu, 13 Aug	5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Fri, 14 Aug	10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Sat, 15 Aug	10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Sun, 16 Aug	10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Thu, 20 Aug	5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Fri, 21 Aug	5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Sat, 22 Aug	10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Sun, 23 Aug	10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

COVID marshalls will make their rounds to check if guests are adhering to the safety protocols and the staff is frequently cleaning surfaces. The number of customers will be constantly monitored while every guest will be required to provide their full name and contact numbers upon entrance for contact tracing.

With the safety precautions and rules set in place, the team behind Mt Gravatt Fun Fair can ensure a great time for everyone!

Community Attempts to Save Seton College from Closing

Special needs school Seton College will be shutting down for good by 2024, after 60 years of operation, but the community is attempting to save the school from closing.

Parents of Seton College’s over-200 student body have formed the Save Seton College committee to fight Brisbane Catholic Education’s (BCE) plans. Mom Kylie Jensen said that they want the school to remain open because Seton College provides a “real sense of community” compared to other schools, where kids with learning difficulty have a hard time coping because of the student to teacher ratio.

A student started an online petition as well, which has received more than 3,000 signatures as of press time.

“Seton College is the most welcoming, helping, accepting and the best school I’ve ever been to. Education is taught in many different fun ways to help students not only enjoy their classes but take in more from what they are learning about,” Tayhlia Shaw wrote.

“My time at Seton College has been the best I could have ever imagine,” she added. “It has taught me resilience, understanding my emotions, understanding people, how to keep happy friendships, what to do in certain situations and most importantly it has taught me to treat others kindly and with respect.”

Speech and Language Development Australia (SALDA) is reportedly interested in stepping up and taking over Seton College. Chairman Peter Seldon said that they are studying the expansion.

SALDA has a holistic approach to education and therapy. They operate The Glenleighden School in Fig Tree Pocket.

Meanwhile, BCE said that it will remain committed to provide the highest standard of learning to students who will be staying on.

“Families can expect a personalised approach which addresses the specific needs of their son or daughter. We are planning for Seton College to remain fully operational until the end of 2024,” a spokesperson for the BCE said.

Maa Kinn Authentic Thai Food Reopens In Mt Gravatt With Discounts And A Cause

Dine-in business has restarted for Maa Kinn Bangkok Street Food since mid-May but under the “new normal,” this Upper Mt Gravatt restaurant has been serving up more than just authentic Thai dishes for its patrons.

Maa Kinn is also giving discounts for customers who will choose to shop online and pick up their food from the store on Logan Road in a bid to promote social distancing and no-contact transactions amidst this pandemic.

For July, customers who place orders on their online website and pick the items up themselves will get a 10% discount from the full-priced menu.

The list of food includes a budget-friendly selection of spring rolls, puffs, wontons, curries, stir fry dishes, noodles and noodle soup, and house specials like Som Tum (papaya salad with tomatoes and peanuts), Red Duck Curry with a range of sauces, Kanaa Moo Grob (crispy pork belly with Asian vegetables), and Garlic Prawns.

Photo Credit: Maa Kinn Bangkok Street Food/Facebook

This month, Maa Kinn has also picked Micah Projects as its beneficiary for Charity of the Month. Micah Projects is a not-for-profit organisation that provides support for children and families who have been affected by social injustice.

Customers of Maa Kinn have the option to donate to the cause when they place their orders and it will be matched by the restaurant’s owners.

“Here at Maa Kinn, we believe that charity starts at home,” Maa Kinn’s statement read. “Therefore with the help of our customers, family and friends, we are accepting monetary donations to go towards purchasing dry and canned goods to go into Emergency Relief packs that are given out to individuals and families that are doing it tough during these unprecedented times.”

If you’re keen to support Maa Kinn Bangkok Street Food check their store online or visit their Facebook page for the store’s trading hours.

I have been looking for a great Thai restaurant on the Southside for sometime. There have been a few that are good and I ordered a couple times from them, but still kept looking for a really great one. There have been a couple that have been down right disappointing or they have changed hands. Last night we tried Maa Kinn for the first time, OMG! we have found it, the best Thai food on the Southside. The dishes were packed full of flavour, perfect protein:vege ratio, and we tried a dish we haven’t seen elsewhere, Ginger Stir fry we added prawns….. oh my goodness, it was delicious! My husband isn’t normally a ginger fan, but he was willing to arm wrestle me for the leftovers. Highly recommend Maa Kinn.
Trudy Radenovic, Google Reviews

“I popped in with a friend today for lunch. I had Thai green curry and it was fantastic. The people that served us were lovely – very friendly. If the rest of the food is as nice as what had today I’ll be a regular – thankyou!”
Peter Charles Dominic Shirres, Facebook

BIG W Calamvale Closes; Deploys Displaced Workers to Upper Mt Gravatt and Other Stores

BIG W Calamvale has ceased operations, as the retailer trims its network portfolio, cutting out outlets identified as consistently underperforming.

“We regret the short notice it gives to our team and community,” the company spokesperson said.

Explaining the reason for the sudden, overnight timing of the closure, the company explained that under the terms of the Calamvale lease, the store is obliged to cease trading immediately after handing in its notice to terminate.

Nevertheless, the company has guaranteed redeployment of all displaced workers at neighbouring BIG W stores. The closest locations are in Upper Mount Gravatt, Browns Plains, and Underwood.

BIG W in Upper Mount Gravatt.
Photo Credit: Google Maps/Motion Blue Media

Around 70 staff, composed of full-time, part-time and casual workers, have been displaced by the closure.

In February 2020, the beleaguered chain shuttered three NSW stores located in Auburn, Chullora, and Fairfield. It had previously announced that closure of around 30 stores will be forthcoming although specific stores and other details are not yet available, after the four outlets that have already ceased to operate.

“We do not anticipate that any future store closures would be subject to such tight time frames,” BIG W assured.

Read : Stage One of Mt Gravatt Outlook Reserve Project Now Complete

Upper Mount Gravatt Ranks Among the Brisbane Suburbs With the Most Food Safety Complaints 2019

Upper Mount Gravatt is among the Brisbane suburbs with the most food safety complaints, according to the Council’s food safety complaints 2019 report.

In 2019, there have been more than 800 food safety complaints — food premises and unsafe food/infection — recorded by the Brisbane City Council, with Brisbane CBD topping the over-all list. (96). Meanwhile, Upper Mount Gravatt had 30 food safety complaints; 15 food premises and 15 unsafe food/infection complaints.

Top Brisbane suburbs for most food safety complaints based on Brisbane City Council data from January – December 2019

The top suburbs for food safety complaints include: Brisbane City – 96; Fortitude Valley – 40; Upper Mount Gravatt – 30; Sunnybank – 28; South Brisbane, West End – 20; Woolloongabba – 19; Indooroopilly – 18; Chermside – 17; Sunnybank Hills – 16; Calamvale, Inala – 15; Nundah, Paddington – 14; Clayfield -12; Carindale – 11; Coorparoo, and Eight Mile Plains – 10.

The State Government suggest to do the following If you suspect that you may have become ill from food:

consult a doctor
refrigerate any remaining food for testing and keep the packaging if possible
advise the food business of the illness, including the type of food eaten, so they can deal with any remaining suspected food
report the issue to 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84), particularly if another person has similar symptoms after eating the same food.

Brisbane City Council Environmental Health Officers audit and assess all food safety risks and the food safety practices and procedures of food business operators in Brisbane and calculate their star rating. This ensures that they meet their responsibilities under the Food Act 2006 and the Food Safety Standards.

You may search the Council’s website to find out what food safety star rating a restaurant, cafe, or takeaway in your area has.

8 New Stores to Visit At Westfield Garden City

There are more options to taste, shop and play with at Westfield Garden City. The centre recently added eight new retailers to cater to the growing needs of Mt Gravatt locals. If you’re looking for new food to try, a wardrobe update, or great new experience, here are the places to visit in the revitalised precinct.

TASTE

Cinnabon
Level 2, outside Michael Hill

The rumors are true! America’s famous cinnamon roll bakery, Cinnabon, is now at Westfield Garden City. The store had its grand opening last 15th of Feb, baking a fresh batch of sweet doughy goodness every 30 minutes.

*Photo Credit: Cinnabon Australia/Facebook*

Chengdu Taste
Level 2, outdoor dining precinct

This restaurant’s specialty is Sichuan cuisine, which has bold and spicy flavours. Chengdu Taste has a hot pot, dumplings and buns. Its servings are perfect for sharing with a friend and the food is priced affordably.

*Photo Credit: Westfield Garden City/Facebook*

Sugar Puff
Level 2, near Timezone

For every sweet tooth hankering for a new dessert or sweet drink to try, there’s Sugar Puff. Featuring Japanese desserts, the food served at this cafe is satisfying and flavourful as well as ornate and Instagrammable.

*Photo Credit: Sugar Puff Cafe Garden City/Facebook*

Momo Chicken & Beer
Level 2, near Timezone

This Korean street food-inspired restaurant has been in Queensland since 2014 and opened its doors in Westfield Garden City just before summer in 2019. Momo is open late nights for diners who enjoy a cheerful drink and feast with their friends. The store has takeaways and deliveries.

*Photo Credit: Momo Chicken & Beer/Facebook*

The Moo
Level 1, near 8 Street

The Moo serves thirst-quenching yoghurt and rice smoothies. This beverage shop is originally from Sydney and its drink selections are Chinese-inspired.

SHOP

Dangerfield
Level 1, opposite Jay Jays

Melbourne’s alternative fashion hive is now in Mt Gravatt. Dangerfield, which opened in Westfield Garden City in December 2019, features street-style clothes and accessories that cater to the young and carefree generation.

Pavement
Level 2, near ZARA

Pavement caters to young fashionistas in the ages of eight through 16. The store has a wide array of girls’ clothes, including swimwear, bags, wallets, shoes, sunglasses and accessories. Pavement’s items are ethically-sourced.

PLAY

Cloud 8 Karaoke
Level 2, beside Timezone

Cloud 8 Karaoke is the very first themed karaoke bar in Brisbane. It has 14 different rooms to accommodate parties both small (maximum of eight people) or large (maximum of 40 people).

The karaoke song list has a diverse music library so guests can sing their heart out to their favourites. The bar also offers a wide range of drinks, including Japanese wine, Korean soju and other popular drinks around the world.

*Photo Credit: Cloud 8 Karaoke/Facebook*

More shops are set to open in the coming months. Check the Westfield Garden City official site for the announcements and updates.

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Mt Gravatt Kerbside Collection: 4 Simple Ways to Stay Clutter-Free

Here’s your chance to get rid of clutter at home as the next kerbside collection in Mt Gravatt and Mt Gravatt East is set for Monday, the 9th of March 2020. Time to get moving and gather up items the weekend before the scheduled collection.

Take note to bring out only acceptable items, such as sporting equipment, bath and laundry tubs, carpets and rugs, electronic waste, white goods, furniture, small household appliances and wood products less than 1.5 metres in size. If you need to get rid of bottles, glass, mirrors, hazardous wastes and other unacceptable items for kerbside collection day, you can make arrangements with resource recovery centres instead.

Whilst kerbside collection helps reduce the clutter in your home, you can stay clutter-free by adopting these simple ways.

1. Have a proper filing, organisation, and storage system.

Where does all your clutter come from? In most homes, the most common clutter sources are:

Bills, lists and documents
Children’s items
Clothes
Tools (kitchen, gardening, related hardware)
Electronic devices and chargers
Decorative stuff and knickknacks

If you are able to identify the source, you will be able to see what needs a filing, organisation, or storage solution. For instance, if you’ve got piles of paperwork at the kitchen counter, you might need a filing rack in that space to keep documents orderly. If you have gardening items, you might need a console or cabinet in the backyard so that these are not all over the place.

2. Chuck out things you “might” use one day.

Professional organisers have one rule of thumb: give items away if you haven’t been using it for more than a year. So, that bread maker sitting inside its box at the back of your pantry, which you only used once in three years, could be of a better use for someone else. Maybe a relative or a friend will want this unexpected gift.

3. Essential items should have space in your house.

As soon as you walk in your front door, where do you put keys, phones, wallet? Where do you hang your coat, jacket or scarf? These are basic essentials that you always need when you leave the house so these must have an accessible and organised space in your house, such as a table, shelving or cubby hole by the door.

In the same way, your kitchen pantry or cabinet must have a special space for essential ingredients. If you use certain items more often than others, it must be stored and placed where you can easily see and reach out to it, rather than putting these all the way to the back of the storage.

4. Get rid of old items if you bring home a new one.

Cycling through your items regularly greatly reduces the clutter. If you’ve got a new mop, there’s no use to keep the old one since you won’t use it anymore. You also don’t need to dump old items in the garage. Why not have a garage sale or donate your old stuff at tip shops?

A Mount Gravatt Site With Approved DA for a 7-Storey Tower Is Now Under Offer

A Mount Gravatt site with a development approval for a seven-storey tower is now under offer.

The site located at 1484 Logan Road, Mount Gravatt was offered by Expression of Interest, which closed last 31 October 2019. According to the Knight Frank site, the property is already under offer.

The 6,128sqm site is currently occupied by a two-storey freestanding building with 3,013 sqm NLA with onsite parking of 90 vehicles available. The property is fully leased with a passing income of $982,971 per annum.

Anchored by major tenants such as Anytime Fitness, The Salvation Army, and St Vincent de Paul, the site has an approved development application for a seven-storey tower comprising 46 apartments and 2,185 sqm of commercial office space.

Mount Gravatt Site With Approved DA for a 7-Storey Tower Is Now Under Offer — *Photo credit: Brisbane City Council / pdonline.brisbane.qld.gov.au*

According to the proposal, the redevelopment will involve the rear half of the site currently used as an outdoor parking with existing front retail uses. The residential tower will contain 46 apartments with a ground floor cafe and healthcare premise off a public plaza thoroughfare.

A shop to be located partially below ground and fronting onto Bothwell street is also included in the plan. A total of 134 car parking spaces over three levels will be provided for the two towers, the other tower (not part of the approved DA) being a commercial tower for office use.

Mouthwatering Cinnabon Opens New Brisbane Store in Mt Gravatt

Sugar and spice and everything nice. Southside residents, you’re in for a fantastic Valentine’s Day treat! Cinnabon Australia is opening its second Brisbane store at Westfield Garden City on Friday, the 14th of February 2020.

You can finally grab a fresh ‘bon in the oven at the Cinnabon store on the second level of the shopping centre opposite Stefan as early as 8:00 a.m. The U.S. bakery chain is famous for making a fresh batch of its ooey-gooey cinnamon rolls every half-hour so customers always get ’em hot and soft.

To avoid the long lines on opening day, you may pre-order a CinnaPack online to be picked up at its Westfield Garden City outlet. This pick-up option will be operational any day of the week so you’re free to choose a convenient date beginning 14 Feb.

CinnaPacks come in a box of four or nine (MiniBons) and you can choose from the following flavours:

Cinnabon Classics
Caramel PecanBon
Mixed Cinnabon
ChocoBon

Queensland company Bansai Group is responsible for bringing the famous cinnamon buns to Australia. The company opened its first Brisbane store at the Toombul Shopping Centre in Nundah just before Christmas in 2019. It plans to open 50 more stores all over Australia in the next five years.

As with its first Brisbane store, Cinnabon Westfield Garden City offers coffee, frappes and heaps of sinfully sweet drinks to pair with the food. Check the official site for its trading hours.

TASTE

Cinnabon Level 2, outside Michael Hill

Chengdu Taste Level 2, outdoor dining precinct

Sugar Puff Level 2, near Timezone

Momo Chicken & Beer Level 2, near Timezone

The Moo Level 1, near 8 Street The Moo serves thirst-quenching yoghurt and rice smoothies. This beverage shop is originally from Sydney and its drink selections are Chinese-inspired.

SHOP

Dangerfield Level 1, opposite Jay Jays

Pavement Level 2, near ZARA

PLAY

Cloud 8 Karaoke Level 2, beside Timezone

1. Have a proper filing, organisation, and storage system.

2. Chuck out things you “might” use one day.

3. Essential items should have space in your house.

4. Get rid of old items if you bring home a new one.

Cinnabon
Level 2, outside Michael Hill

Chengdu Taste
Level 2, outdoor dining precinct

Sugar Puff
Level 2, near Timezone

Momo Chicken & Beer
Level 2, near Timezone

The Moo
Level 1, near 8 Street

The Moo serves thirst-quenching yoghurt and rice smoothies. This beverage shop is originally from Sydney and its drink selections are Chinese-inspired.

Dangerfield
Level 1, opposite Jay Jays

Pavement
Level 2, near ZARA

Cloud 8 Karaoke
Level 2, beside Timezone