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Annual Mt Gravatt Show To Be Held for the 102nd Time

The fun countdown is on with only a week to go until the 102nd Mt Gravatt Show at the Mt Gravatt Showgrounds! The show that reportedly “attracts thousands each year” for just one weekend will be on again this 29th and 30th of July. With competitions, awards, live shows, crafts, fireworks, animal nursery, and many more, it will be a vibrant two-day event for everybody.

More Than a Century of Iconic Tradition

Thousands are expected to come each year at Mt Gravatt’s iconic venue to celebrate this “long-standing tradition” in Brisbane’s southeast district. Since 1918, the Mt Gravatt Show has been livening up the suburb and showcasing the community spirit. The upcoming 102nd show is touted as something that will be bigger, livelier, and cooler.

Saturday highlights include the cattle competition at 9:00 a.m., woodchop competition (10:00 a.m.), Warsong Larp display (5:00 p.m.), educational fireworks display (7:50 p.m.), and monster fireworks (8:00 p.m.). Live evening performances for the day will be brought to you by the Bayside Brass Band at 5:40 p.m., Friesian Performance Troupe (6:20 p.m.), Agro and Ranger Stacey (6:30 p.m.), and Late for Woodstock (7:30 p.m.).

Mt Gravatt Show
The FMX Kaos team will bring you the wildest ride you’ll ever see. Photo Credit: Mt Gravatt Show‎/Facebook

Adrenaline junkies will have fun watching the FMX Kaos team at 7:00 p.m. as they flip, roll, and jump up high with their motorbikes! They’re sure to give a performance guaranteed to give everyone watching an instant adrenaline rush.

Mt Gravatt Show
This event is huge — literally and metaphorically! Photo Credit: Mt Gravatt Show‎/Facebook

The Sunday highlight consists of the Big Rig Truck Show at 10:30 a.m. This year’s Mt Gravatt Show promises to bring you “Trucking Spectacular” with awesome big rigs on centre stage! Watch the exciting showdown of the mates who “Keep Australia Moving” as they compete for the “Rig of the Show” title. Six classes are said to be in the competition. The rigs range from generation masterpieces to today’s modern designs. This highlight purportedly never fails to “attract a huge crowd” each year. Must. Not. Miss!

Mt Gravatt Show
With rides, stalls, and surprises galore, it’s not just an ordinary show! Photo Credit: Mt Gravatt Show/Facebook

Meanwhile, check out the other worthwhile highlights of the upcoming event, too! See the bigger and improved animal nursery where you can help bottle-feed or walk baby animals. Expect to see alpacas, cattle, dogs (working and pedigree), goats, horses, sheep, and much more. There will also be competitions between local artists on cake decorating, quilting, painting, photography, and other crafts. If you’re feeling adventurous, on the other hand, you can go for the rides instead. The choice is yours! It’s going to be an affordably fun day out for the whole family.

RSVP

Mt Gravatt Show
See you there! Photo Credit: Featured image from http://www.mtgravattshow.com.au

Tickets for the upcoming 102nd Mt Gravatt Show can be purchased online or at the door of the venue. Prices of the tickets vary per age at $15 for adults, $10 (students or pensioners), and $5 (children five to 12-years-old). Children under 5-years-old can come in free of charge.

The Mt Gravatt Showgrounds is conveniently situated at 1644 Logan Road. Parking is available for $5 at the gate. Call  (07) 3349 1801 or fax (07) 3849 8121 for inquiries or reservations on the Mt Gravatt Show, or email info@mtgravattshow.org.au for more information.

Buy your tickets now!

What’s On in Mt Gravatt This Week?

Mt Gravatt has a number of events on schedule for this week. From casual discussions to market stalls and live action adventure, check them out below!

Tuesday, 11 July 2017 (7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.)

Supporting Kids with Essential Oils

Mt Gravatt
Photo Credit: Featured image from https://www.aromaweb.com/recipes

This “flu season”, learn of ways to boost your kid’s health and immune system through essential oils.

Venue: Kiah Organic Wholefoods Warehouse

Click here to read more.

 

Tuesday, 11 July 2017

[7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. (Qigong) & 8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. (Wing Chun)]

Wild Goose Qigong

Mt Gravatt
Photo Credit: Featured image from http://www.qigongbrisbane.com

Nurture your health and longevity through special movements and meditation. Qigong is known all over the world to boost energy and calm the mind. It also promotes coordination, flexibility, resilience, strength, and vitality.

Venue: The Community Hall @ Mt Gravatt Showgrounds

Click here to read more.

 

Thursday, 13 July 2017 (10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.)

Online Safety and Security Basics for Seniors

Mt Gravatt
Photo Credit: Featured image from https://www.humanrights.gov.au/file/4953

This “Brisbane Libraries Tech Connect Seniors Workshop” aims to help the silver-haired locals cope up with the digital age. They’ll be taught to learn the basics of secure internet use that includes viruses and malware protection, safe online payments, and strong password creation.

Venue: Garden City Library

Click here to read more.

 

Thursday, 13 July 2017 (6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.)

The Warsong: Chronicles

Mt Gravatt
Photo Credit: The Warsong: Larp Brisbane/Facebook

Join the epic medieval adventure of “The Warsong: Larp Brisbane” in this live action role play game. Everyone aged 18-years-old and up are welcome.

Venue: Mt Gravatt Showgrounds

Click here to read more.

 

Friday, 14 July 2017 (7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.)

Winning with People – The Hub Brisbane

Mt Gravatt
Photo Credit: Featured image from https://www.eventbrite.com.au

Learn a handful of tips from Sue Schoonbeek on “how to relate to others in your workplace in a winning manner.” Ms Schoonbeek is a “friendly, decisive, energetic and logical knowledge specialist” who wants to share what she knows to the community.

Venue: Newnham Hotel & Function Centre

Click here to read more.

 

Saturday, 15 July 2017 (1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.)

FREE Ironlak Graphic Marker Sketchbook Session

Mt Gravatt
Photo Credit: Featured image from http://shop.ironlak.com

Artists and aspiring artists of all ages and any skill level are invited to join a fun afternoon session. The session’s activity consists of drawing and sketching with Ironlak Strikers alcohol-based twin graphic markers.

Venue: Ironlak Art & Design @ Westfield Garden City Shop 1325B

Click here to read more.

 

Saturday, 15 July 2017 (2:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.)

Warsong Kids

Mt Gravatt
Photo Credit: The Warsong Kids/Facebook

This time, the kids will be the ones nailing it in the well-appreciated live action epic adventure role play game brought by “The Warsong: Larp Brisbane”. Kids aged five to 16-years-old are invited to join the fun.

Venue: Mt Gravatt Showgrounds

Click here to read more.

 

Saturday, 15 July 2017 (4:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.)

Mt Gravatt Marketta

Mt Gravatt
Photo Credit: Mt Gravatt Marketta/Facebook

Street Food. Live Music. Wine and cocktails. Art fashion. You would not want to miss those!

Venue: Mt Gravatt Showgrounds

Click here to read more.

 

Sunday, 16 July 2017 (6:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.)

Mt Gravatt Farmers Market

Mt Gravatt
Photo Credit: Featured image from https://theweekendedition.com.au/events/mount-gravatt-showgrounds-markets

Have a colourful Sunday morning along the market stalls at the showgrounds. They’ve got almost everything from fruits, vegetables, delicacies, second-hand goods, to random Bric-a-bracs.

Venue: Mt Gravatt Showgrounds

Click here to read more.

Boredom Busting Music & Dance to Entertain Mount Gravatt Kids for School Holiday 2017

This winter holiday, nothing busts boredom as easily as good music and some energetic dancing. Here are some music and merriment events in Mt Gravatt for those days when the whole family just wants to go out and have fun, fun, fun!

Australian Girls Choir Open Days

With over 5,000 choristers in training across the country, the Australian Girls Choir (AGC) is Australia’s “leading performing arts organisation for girls” at present. This winter break, they are arriving in Mount Gravatt to hold Open Days on the 17th and 24th of June from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. AGC’s Mount Gravatt rehearsal venue will be at Mt Gravatt High School, which is located at Creighton Street. Attendees may enter off Logan Road.

For 30 years, AGC has consistently “encouraged, challenged, and inspired girls” in the field of singing and dancing. If your little ladies are in Prep to Grade 2, AGC invites them to the Open Days so they can “try the fun and inclusive junior@agc program.” Attendance is absolutely free though bookings are essential. Contact AGC Brisbane via phone (07 3256 0207) or toll-free hotline (1 800 338 142).

Click here for AGC’s detailed timetable and other venues.

 

PCYC’s Circus Classes & Kinder Move and Groove for Children

PCYC Kinder Move and Groove Dance Class
Take them to PCYC… because little girls (and boys) just want to have fun. Photo Credit: Pcyc Mt Gravatt/Facebook

If you have kids ages 18 months to 12-years-old, bring them over to the nearby PCYC (Police Citizens Youth Clubs) located in 90 Klumpp Road, Upper Mount Gravatt. PCYC’s “Circus Classes Term 3″ and “Kinder Move and Groove for Children” will help develop your kid’s “coordination, confidence, and social skills through dance, games” and many more. This is a good avenue to get those little feet dancing and socialising this school holiday.

“Circus Classes Term 3” will commence Mondays from 10 July to 11 September. Kids will be under the supervision and instruction of the well-experienced Christine Larsen. Classes vary by age groups, namely: “Circus Buzzy Bees” class for toddlers aged 18 months to 3-years-old at 9:25 a.m. to 10:25 a.m., “Circus Crickets” for those aged 3 to 5-years-old (10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.), and “Circus after School” for kids aged 6 to 12-years-old (3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.).

Each 10-week term costs $112.50 ($100 for siblings). Casual sessions are at $15, depending on availability. Activities in each class are age-appropriate. Parents are “encouraged to join in the fun with their little circus star.”

For the “Kinder Move and Groove for Children”, there are two classes (subject to availability) also varying by age groups. Classes will be held Wednesdays starting 12 July. Toddlers aged 18 months to 3-years-old are scheduled at 9:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. They are to be followed by kids aged 3 to 5-years-old at 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. Each 10-week term costs $90 ($12 for casual session).

For inquiries, reservations, and bookings, contact them on (07) 3420 4655. You may also send an email to mtgravattbao@pcyc.org.au. Each class caps at 10 students. PCYC annual membership fee applies at $20 for children or juniors, $30 (adults 18+), $2 (seniors), and $60 (family). For children enrolled in a 10-week course, there’s a FREE 10-week PCYC membership.

Click here for details on PCYC’s 2017 Weekly Program.

Meanwhile, for youths aged 12 to 18-years-old, PCYC has a Youth Support Program you can join. Check it out by clicking here. You can also follow PCYC Mt Gravatt on Facebook to be updated on their programs and events.

Her Wardrobe Fashion Market Holds Next Shopping Storm in June @ Mt Gravatt

Good news femme fashion shoppers! If you enjoyed the Her Wardrobe Fashion Market event last 21 May, there’s another one coming on 4 June (Sunday). Be prepared to list down all the things you might have missed in the previous event. Without a doubt, Mt Gravatt Showgrounds will once again be taken by an upcoming fashion storm.

Whether you’re into accessories, shoes, vintage or indie clothing, Her Wardrobe Fashion Market will have what you’re looking for within your reach. Scour your way through fashion amidst an array of stalls sized 3m x 3m each. Just like the previous event, pre-loved items will be available this time, too. That, together with local independent brands, is what makes this fashion market a “must-go-to” event.

Items to be sold in the event will come in a variety of sizes and styles to suit your personal shopping needs. Because of this, everyone is guaranteed to find what suits them best. This is an event that fashion-savvy women will surely love. Shopping for both passion and fashion will never be this fun! Great coffee and delicious food can also be bought on site so everyone can shop with ease and comfort.

For makers, creators, or wanna-be sellers of pre-loved items, Her Wardrobe welcomes “all kinds of sellers” to set-up their goods alongside the fashion stalls. This is to make sure shoppers can have all the “fantastic options” they can get during the event. Indoor and Outdoor stalls are sold out at the moment but click here to be put on the waiting list. You’ll be contacted once another stall becomes available.

Don’t miss out on the next Her Wardrobe Fashion Market event. You may enter Mt Gravatt Showgrounds via 1644 Logan Road. There are plenty of parking spaces available. Entry for shoppers is absolutely free. RSVP to the event by clicking here to register as a shopper.

The event will run the same time as the Farmers’ Markets from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Because of this, “plenty of shoppers” are expected to attend. For more details, you may contact event organiser Natalie D’Alessandro on 04 1869 1592.

Follow Her Wardrobe in social media or be an email subscriber to be updated on upcoming events. Enjoy shopping in “passion for fashion” on Sunday 4 June 2017!

Mount Gravatt East Student Launches Passion Project

A Year 6 student at the Belmont State School and a resident of Mount Gravatt East, Kein Sheldrake is a computer whiz who was inspired by the needs of his best friend into launching his passion project. Kein builds computers for other kids, families or groups in the community who do not have one or cannot afford to buy one.

It all started when Kein told his mother, Michelle Sheldrake, that his best friend didn’t have a computer. “He is naturally very helpful. There has always been a natural inclination to look out for other people, but I was still surprised,” his mum said in a recent media interview.

Kein took it upon himself to learn how to build computers from watching YouTube video tutorials so that he could build the units himself and donate them to people in the community. His efforts have attracted attention and support both online and offline. Steve Minnikin, MP for Chatsworth and Shadow Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships and Multicultural Affairs has made a donation for Kein’s project.

Calling upon people to support Kein’s project, MP Minnikin lauded Kein’s efforts and posted an appeal on his Facebook page. He said, “If you have PCs or PC accessories such as monitors, mouse or keyboards that you no longer need, you can contact Kein and his mum, Michelle at fastertech06@gmail.com.”

Kein’s passion project drew messages of support and admiration.

“I think letting children work on a project they feel passionate about can really free up their imagination and creativity. What a wonderful project this boy has come up with. Let’s support him by donating computer parts that we don’t need anymore.” – Breeze Lifecoaching

“…what a great initiative by a lovely young man!” — Stacey Benjamin

To say that ten-year-old Kein Sheldrake is good with his hands would be an understatement. With his project, Kein is proving that he not only has good hands. He is smart, resourceful, and has an immensely good heart too.

As a young man with dreams of working in the IT industry one day, Kein certainly seems to be on the right track. Build on, young man!

Photo Credit : Facebook Page of MP Steve Minnikin

Cheaper to Buy Versus Rent in Mount Gravatt

Here’s an interesting point to ponder for Mount Gravatt residents and would-be residents. Given Mount Gravatt’s excellent location, just eight kilometres away from Brisbane’s CBD, recent research data shows that it is actually cheaper for people looking for property in Mount Gravatt to buy, rather than pay rent to a landlord. At Mount Gravatt, renting a unit costs a median amount of $1,918, while the mortgage repayment of the same unit would only be an estimated $1,364 per month.

RealEstate.com cites research conducted by RP Data which shows the fairly unusual discrepancy, observed in Mount Gravatt, Spring Hill, Brisbane City, and 3,227 other Australian suburbs. Apparently, it would be cheaper to take out a three-year fixed interest rate mortgage (with a 5.15% rate) on a property, than it would be to pay rent on it. Tim Lawless, RP Data’s Research Director, says that the “possible reasons for this change in fortune for potential home buyers includes a decrease of capital city home values (2.9% lower than when they peaked in October 2010), lower mortgage rates and tighter rental markets.”

Results also show that rentals are higher for apartment-style housing, and that houses are better options for those looking to purchase, rather than rent, as one moves away from the CBD. This is certainly good news for residents in 71 Queensland suburbs, including those looking for houses in Goodna, Holmview and Burleigh Waters, where mortgage repayments are also found to be significantly lower than median house rental rates.

To read more about the other places in Australia where it’s cheaper to buy rather than rent, click here.

If you are a renter and want to know how much you can afford to borrow based on your current rental payments, use this Reverse Rent Calculator.

If you want to find out how much you will need to cover your desired mortgage loan, use this Mortgage Calculator.

And if you have absolutely no idea what you can afford to borrow and pay, this Borrowing Power Calculator might be able to help.

Photo Credit: Mount Gravatt Mansfield Lions Club

 

New Oval and Path for Mt Gravatt School Causes Erosion Concerns At Ekibin Creek

The installation of a path adjacent to a new sports oval at Nursery Road State Special School in Mount Gravatt, near the banks of Ekibin Creek has caused concern among two environmental groups in the area.

The Norman Creek Catchment Coordinating Committee (N4C) and the Mt Gravatt Environment Group, citing a lack of coordination by the Department of Education and Training, raised the issues of potential erosion of the Ekibin Creek’s banks and damage to the planned infrastructure of the school, due to the relatively short distance between the creek bank and the path.

Mr. Michael Fox, president of the Mt Gravatt Environment Group, is asking for the release of the Department of Education and Training’s hydrology report. “We’re concerned they didn’t want to talk to us. If what they are doing is not done with proper care, then they could lose the infrastructure they are building.”

For their part, Stephanie Ford, president of N4C, would like to reassure the Nursery Road State Special School of their good intentions. “I want to make it clear that we totally agree with Nursery Road Special School (sic) having more sporting facilities. But it seems what they’re trying to do to the creek won’t work… There is already evidence of erosion and some of the creek banks are not looking too good.”

Ekibin Creek is considered a key wildlife link between the Norman Creek Catchment and the Mount Gravatt Conservation Reserve.

Mount Gravatt School Proves Itself Worthy

What do these high achievers have in common? Erika Yamasaki, weightlifting champion and holder of 23 Queensland, 15 Australian, and one Oceania record. Ross Clark, award-winning poet and recipient of the Centenary Medal. Dean Felton, senior journalist and presenter at Melbourne’s Seven Network.

They are all alumni of Mount Gravatt State High School, who have taken to heart the school’s motto, “Digna Petamus”, and gone on to “seek worthy things”.

A co-educational public secondary school along Loveburn Street with a strong tradition for academic excellence and well-rounded foundation for its graduates, Mount Gravatt State High School ranks ninth in Better Education Australia’s list of the Top Ten Public High Schools for 2016. Better Education Australia’s rankings consider English, Math and overall academic performance. Mount Gravatt State High School has consistently appeared in their Top Ten rankings for public high schools since 2010.

With a population of 1,500 students, the school is actively involved in promoting digital education as part of Queensland’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Industry Project. Currently one of six schools that have been chosen as “Gateway Schools to the ICT Industry”, Mount Gravatt State High School has a curriculum that promotes learning development through the use of appropriate technology in the school setting.

Also, as a Registered Training Organisation under the Australian Qualification Framework, the school is able to issue, deliver and assess associated training and qualifications in vocational education.

Over recent years, the Mount Gravatt area has seen high demand on real estate rentals and sales. Data from realestate.com.au shows a compound annual growth rate of 4.8%, when one considers that the median house sales price for houses in the area increased by 26.3% compared to the same period five years ago.

With access to better schools being one of the main motivations of people who are looking to buy property, proximity to a good public school with a strong, consistent record of excellence, such as Mount Gravatt State High School, certainly looks to boost the Mount Gravatt area’s growth prospects even more.

Photo from YouTube.

Free Immunisations Scheduled for Mount Gravatt Kids

Mount Gravatt children between the ages of six weeks and ten years old now have access to free vaccinations from the childhood immunisation clinic at the Upper Mount Gravatt Progress Hall. A project by the Brisbane City Council, vaccinations are scheduled weekly until the end of June. This comes as a welcome development to parents in the area, as the latest Queensland health data from the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System shows a significant increase for 2016, in cases of pertussis (whooping cough) and varicella zoster (chicken pox, shingles and unspecified cases), annually from the year 2014.

Graph

Paul Bartley, AMA Queensland’s spokesman for infectious diseases, reminds parents about the importance of immunisations, given the rise in these infectious, and potentially fatal, diseases. He said, “The increase is certainly still under review, but it is a timely reminder for parents to ensure their children are appropriately vaccinated for their age.” Bartley also calls on pregnant women to make sure that they have their booster vaccinations.

The Brisbane City Council’s local immunisation clinic is located on 1873 Logan Road in Upper Mount Gravatt. Bookings are not required to organise immunization services; however, parents should have the Medicare number, along with their child’s immunisation records and the required consent forms. The weekly schedule and blank forms can be downloaded below.

January-June 2017 Schedule

Consent Form

Comparison of Effects Form

Photo credit: CCO Public Domain/Amanda Mills/Pixnio

Early Warning Alert System Raises Awareness for Mount Gravatt Residents

After the major drenching that Carindale and Chandler suffered last Sunday, 15 January, Mount Gravatt residents can now breathe a little easier, as the Brisbane City Council has launched a free Early Warning Alert Service. The EWAS will broadcast updates on severe weather from the Bureau of Meterology, and advance information on public safety events for residents and visitors in Brisbane and its suburbs.

Register online for free alerts or download the app for more convenience.

For more information, click here.