Mount Gravatt Hawks product Marquez Walters’ outstanding form has propelled Moreton City Excelsior to the brink of a historic season as they gear up for their biggest challenge yet: the Australia Cup RO16 clash against giants Perth Glory.
‘Sharky’ Marquez Walters, the 22-year-old striker known for his iconic goal celebration, has become the talisman for Moreton City Excelsior, rising from Mount Gravatt Hawks U11s under his father’s tutelage to the verge of national prominence.
“I’m going to make the ‘Sharky’ go national,” Walters boldly declared to his teammates. His signature celebration, with Walters placing his right hand on his forehead like a shark fin, has become a visual staple of his goal-scoring exploits, aptly symbolising his predatory instinct on the field.
An inside joke turned trademark, his ‘Sharky’ celebration has become synonymous with his goal-scoring prowess. With 19 goals in 20 matches in the current NPL Queensland competition, he’s already surpassed his league-leading tally of 17 goals from the previous season.
This consistent performance has been crucial in propelling Moreton City to consecutive second-place finishes in the league ladder and a grand final appearance in 2023—with immense hope for a better final series this year.
Walters’ impact was most evident during Moreton City’s Australia Cup Round of 32 triumph against Campbelltown City. His second-half brace, showcasing his ability to finish on his weaker foot, was instrumental in the team’s commanding 5-1 victory.
From childhood training to national stage
Walters’ success on the field is no accident. A childhood training session focused solely on left-foot play, insisted upon by his Jamaican-born father, laid the foundation for his current two-footedness.
“He said only the top-class strikers finish, dribble and pass with both of their feet,” Walters spoke about his father’s advice. “Next thing you know, I’m using my left foot like it’s nothing.”
Beyond his goal-scoring, Walters’ leadership, both on and off the field, has galvanised the team, turning previous close matches into dominant victories.
History lies ahead
As Moreton City Excelsior prepares to host two-time Australia Cup finalists Perth Glory, Walters is poised to lead his team to what could be the most significant victory in the club’s recent history.
Lifting the Australia Cup would not only be historic but would also lead to participation in a continental tournament, the AFC Champions League Two.
Before their cup clash, Excelsior will face Rochedale Rovers away at Underwood Park in their final NPLQ game of the league season. Although this match won’t impact seeding, it presents Walters with an opportunity to leap into the top scorer position in the league.
Nathan star and Churchie old Boy Zac Stubblety-Cook secured a silver medal while battling COVID in a thrilling Olympic men’s 200m breaststroke final, narrowly missing out on defending his Olympic title.
French swimming sensation Leon Marchand took the gold, completing a remarkable double victory. Marchand dominated the race, finishing in 2:05.85, nearly a second ahead of Stubblety-Cook’s 2:06.79. The Frenchman’s performance comes just two hours after his triumph in the 200-metre butterfly.
Zac Stubblety-Cook battles the virus
The celebration of Stubblety-Cook’s silver medal is tempered by the revelation of a growing COVID cluster within the Australian Olympic team. Stubblety-Cook disclosed that he competed while battling a coronavirus infection, having completed a five-day course of antivirals on the day of the race.
Stubblety-Cook’s resilience in the face of adversity and his sportsmanship shine through as he commends his rival, Marchand, for his historic performance.
Former Clairvaux MacKillop College student (Class of 2008), Jacob Whetton, will embark on what may be his final Olympics appearance in Paris this week.
Bringing home Silver in Tokyo 2021 but losing the final to Belgium in a shootout, the 33 year old forward will be part of a Kookaburras team with a genuine chance of going one better in Paris.
The bookies have Belgium as very slight favourites to repeat their Tokyo Gold medal over Australia and the Netherlands with Germany the best of the rest.
Whetton quipped that he was introduced to the sport of Hockey because his mum and dad both played and so it was easier bringing him and his sister to games than getting a babysitter.
He currently plays for Brisbane Blaze in the Hockey One League after a three-year stint in the Indian Hockey League with the Punjab Warriors. Though in 2020, he signed a contract to play for Oranje-Rood in the Dutch Hockey League but Covid caused that deal to collapse.
The 2024 Olympics Tournament will be played at the Yves-du-Manoir Stadium. The Kookaburras opening match against Argentina will be at 9:15 p.m. Brisbane time on Saturday night, 27 July.
Their next match will be against Ireland at 6:00 p.m. Brisbane time on Monday, 29 July followed by a rematch of the Tokyo final when they take on Belgium at 3:45 a.m. Brisbane time on Wednesday 31 July. They then take on New Zealand at 6:30 p.m. Brisbane time on Thursday 1 August, with the final pool match against India at 9:15 p.m. on Friday 2 August.
The Top 4 from Pool and Pool B will then embark on the Quarter finals from Sunday 4 August.
Saturday’s highly anticipated QAFL Match of the Round saw the Broadbeach Cats get the better of the Mt Gravatt Vultures in a high-scoring showdown. Vultures vs Cats kicked off last Saturday, June 1, at Southside Toyota Oval.
The Cats seized control early, racing to a commanding lead in the first half. Tasmanian forward Thomas Reeves was unstoppable, booting five of his seven goals before halftime. It finished 1.3 (9) to 18.6 (114) in favour of Broadbeach at the break.
Despite trailing by a daunting 105 points at the halfway mark, Mt Gravatt refused to wave the white flag. Veteran Matthew Hardess and Kaeden Corboy led an inspired fightback after the break, with the Vultures’ pressure making it a more even contest after halftime (26 to 36 in favour of Broadbeach in the third).
While disappointed with the 28.18 (186) to 7.6 (48) loss, Vultures coach Hamish Mitchell took plenty of positives from his young team’s second-half resurgence against their more seasoned opponents. “When going up against a bigger and more experienced side, it’s challenging,” Mitchell said, “The second half was 10 goals to six, much more even than what we played in the first half.”
In other news, Brisbane Lions players Kai Lohmann and Harry Sharp were special guests at Mt Gravatt training during the week. The duo shared valuable advice with the club’s players before dining with them after the session.
Get ready to putt your way through pop culture and puzzle your way out of a quirky hotel—Mount Gravatt is about to unleash a one-of-a-kind entertainment wonderland!
Holey Moley and Hijinx Hotel, two popular entertainment venues, are set to open their doors at Westfield Mt Gravatt Shopping Centre on Friday, 26th of July, 2024.
This 350-person precinct will feature a unique blend of activities, including an 18-hole mini golf course with a pop culture theme, ten themed challenge rooms, karaoke facilities, and two bars serving cocktails and food. This will be Holey Moley’s fourth location in Brisbane and Hijinx Hotel’s second.
Holey Moley is known for its nostalgic, pop-culture-themed mini golf courses and playful cocktails. The Mt Gravatt course promises to be no exception, with themes like 742 Evergreen TCE and Moon & Pars taking players on a trip down memory lane.
Hijinx Hotel, on the other hand, offers an immersive experience with its escape-room-style challenge rooms. Each room is uniquely themed, drawing inspiration from The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Shining’s Overlook Hotel, and Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. The Mt Gravatt location will feature games like Zig-a-Zag ah Ball Pool, Candy Ball Pit, and Poke-the-dot.
Both Holey Moley and Hijinx Hotel are brands under Funlab, a company that specialises in creating entertainment venues. With existing locations across Brisbane and the Gold Coast, the Mt Gravatt precinct marks a continued expansion for both brands.
Funlab has been pairing putt with adult beverages since 2016, creating spaces that appeal to those looking for a fun night out with a touch of nostalgia.
The opening of Holey Moley and Hijinx Hotel in Mt Gravatt is expected to add a new dimension to the area’s entertainment offerings.
With its unique combination of mini golf, challenge rooms, karaoke, and bars, the precinct promises to be a popular destination for groups, parties, and anyone looking for a fun and different night out.
Seton College, a cornerstone school in Mount Gravatt East for students with disabilities, is scheduled to close at the end of 2024, raising concerns about future educational provisions for its current students.
Established in 1964, Seton College has long been a sanctuary for students needing specialised education due to disabilities. However, a 2020 review initiated by Brisbane Catholic Education led to a decision to close the school, citing better outcomes for students with disabilities in inclusive learning environments.
Despite starting the year with 224 students, the school’s enrolment dwindled to just 23 students in its final year, all of whom are in Year 12.
Many parents are grappling with mixed feelings as the school year concludes. While one mum is grateful her son could complete his education at Seton, she is saddened by the loss of such a unique educational institution.
Reflecting on her son’s experiences, the mother highlighted Seton’s transformative impact on him, contrasting it with his challenging times in mainstream schooling.
Another parent echoed these sentiments, praising the school’s tailored approach, which significantly aided her son’s development into a successful artist and soon-to-be-published author.
The closure has not been without controversy or challenge. Parents and advocates formed the Save Our Seton group, leading efforts to contest the decision. Their initiatives included petitions and protests, aiming to reverse the closure.
Frustrations were fueled by perceived shortcomings in the school’s final-year offerings, which some parents felt did not meet the educational needs or expectations of Brisbane Catholic Education. As the school prepares to close, the final batch of students will not receive traditional high school certificates due to insufficient credit points resulting from the reduced curriculum in the transition period, adding to the disappointment of parents.
A spokesperson for Brisbane Catholic Education reiterated that the closure is part of a planned five-year transition strategy to integrate students with disabilities into mainstream educational settings.
They assured that the current Year 12 students would experience a customary graduation, and that staff from Seton College would be offered redeployment within the network, aiming to preserve the community and expertise developed over the school’s long history.
Melbourne-based diversified investment group and property developer, Salter Brothers, is set to make its first development play in the Queensland capital with new apartments right in Upper Mount Gravatt.
The project involves the demolition of the Mercure Brisbane Garden City Hotel in Upper Mount Gravatt and the development of a new 17-level apartment building at 18 Macgregor Street, Upper Mount Gravatt. The 5,356 sqm site is ideally located a mere five-minute walk from Garden City Westfield, one of Brisbane’s largest shopping centres.
Mercure Brisbane Garden City Hotel Photo Credit: Google Maps
The plans for the mixed-use building, created by Bates Smart, a firm with a rich history dating back to the mid-1850s, include 101 apartments above a four-level podium. This podium will house a 90-space childcare centre and parking for 107 cars.
Photo Credit: Bates Smart
The residential apartments, starting from level six and running through to level 17, are designed as “gently undulating petals,” according to Bates Smart’s submission to the Brisbane City Council. The design is inspired by the native indigenous Tea Tree Flower and Wallum Banksia, two species of flora endemic to the region. Each apartment is expressed as an individual ‘petal’ with a curved edge, spatially and visually separated from the adjacent apartment.
Each floor will house eight apartments, six two-bedrooms, and two three-bedrooms. The living rooms and balconies capitalise on the views and solar access.
A rooftop communal terrace, conceived as an extension of the nearby Toohey Forest Park, will span the entirety of level 18. The rooftop will feature a pool, mineral spa, and a landscaped seating area oriented to the north, offering a primary view outlook towards Mount Gravatt. Additional amenities include a resident gym, an amenity room, and a landscaped barbecue area.
Photo Credit: Bates Smart
Bates Smart drew inspiration from the local Turrbal and Jagera Peoples’ name for Mount Gravatt, ‘kaggur-madul’, meaning the ‘Place of the Echidna’, or ‘Where Echidnas Rest’, when designing the external shading system. The design mimics the delicate fine grain repetition of echidna spikes, reminiscent of traditional indigenous jewellery making.
Meanwhile, down in its native Melbourne, Salter is currently developing Candela Ivanhoe, a project comprising 62 one, two, three, and four-bedroom apartments in Melbourne’s northeast.
Mount Gravatt has witnessed an unprecedented surge in house prices, ballooning by $206,605 in the 12 months leading to March 2024, according to the latest CoreLogic report.
The Australian housing market has experienced a robust growth of 8.8% over the past year, a significant indicator of the country’s economic resilience and the real estate sector’s buoyancy. CoreLogic’s monthly housing report, examining the period up to March 2024, has revealed 10 areas that have seen the most considerable increase in house prices by dollar value, highlighting the diversity and potential of the Australian real estate landscape.
The Top 10 Surge
Mount Gravatt in Queensland leads this exceptional growth, marking a pivotal moment for the Brisbane housing market. Below is a table showcasing the top 10 suburbs nationwide, experiencing the highest increase in house prices:
Rank
Area
Location
Price Increase
1
Warringah
Sydney
$254,195
2
Carindale
Brisbane
$236,277
3
Mount Gravatt
Brisbane
$206,605
4
Eastern Suburbs – South
Sydney
$204,715
5
Pennant Hills and Epping
Sydney
$202,600
6
Burnside
Adelaide
$186,868
7
Marrickville, Sydenham and Petersham
Sydney
$186,264
8
Nathan
Brisbane
$179,013
9
Sunnybank
Brisbane
$178,222
10
Canada Bay
Sydney
$174,588
Market Insights
CoreLogic’s Head of Research, Eliza Owen, shared insights into the housing market’s performance, noting significant value growth across various suburbs.
“Some of the best value markets have floated to the top of the league tables when it comes to percentage capital growth,” Ms Owen stated.
Photo Credit: Unsplash
Percentage growth vs. dollar value growth provides a new perspective on markets. Warringah in Sydney saw a 14% increase, resulting in a $254,000 rise in home value. Even small percentage gains can lead to significant dollar gains in high-value areas.
Ms. Owen emphasised the potential of lower-priced markets, which have shown higher rates of capital growth. The “lower quartile” home value index rose by 3.1% in the March quarter, showcasing the vibrancy of more affordable markets.
Market Conditions and Outlook
The real estate market in Australia is constantly changing, which affects investors, homeowners, and analysts. With interest rates rising rapidly, borrowing capacities are adjusting, and demographic shifts are influencing market demand.
Over the past year, the real estate sector in Australia has realized the significance of strategic investment and market awareness. Suburbs like Mount Gravatt in Brisbane have emerged as leaders in this regard. Going forward, the adaptability and resilience of this sector will be tested as economic conditions and consumer preferences evolve.
How did you learn your times tables? Many adults today, recall having learnt all of them ‘off by heart’, through rote memorization, but there is a strong argument to support that a more ‘meaningful’ approach will have greater long-term benefits.
Rote learning is simply a way for the brain to store data short-term and does not require a deep understanding of a concept. In order to commit all 144 times tables to long-term memory, they must be accessed, repeated, and tested frequently.
What we have learnt over the years, is that learning in meaningful ways, is far more effective.
At NumberWorks’nWords, we know that true mastery of a concept (the times tables in this instance), requires a higher order thinking, which in turn leads to the formation of new neural pathways. The brain’s ability to make connections in this way is referred to as neuroplasticity.
A highly effective approach to the teaching
of mathematics is called Cognitive Guided Instruction (CGI). Like Bloom’s
Taxomony (Benjamin Bloom 1956), it focuses on ‘conceptual understanding’ over
‘process’ and suggests learning without understanding, limits a child’s ability
to problem solve and apply what they have learnt to new situations.
So let’s return to the task of learning the
Times Tables and explain how, at NumberWorks’nWords, we do this in a more
meaningful way.
Our program incorporates a range of
strategies when learning the times tables, so children are afforded the
opportunities to make connections in their understanding of number and number
properties, patterns, place value, operations and more.
Our comprehensive visual and interactive resources, used in conjunction with concrete materials, written representations and most importantly, explicit teaching, empower our students to make connections in real and relevant ways.
When something ’clicks’ for a child, it is like it is locked in. Suddenly, the steps make sense and the new piece of information is literally attached or connected to something permanent in the brain.
Recalling and using this information becomes fluid and purposeful, and enables the child to understand the concept, rather than simply following a process that has no meaning.
When teaching the Times Tables, we always
start with the easiest patterns (x1, x2, x10, x5) then move onto the
progressively more difficult (x3, x4, x9, x11, x6, x7, x8, x12). The accepted
standard of fluid recall is to be able to solve each table in 3 seconds or
less.
Photo Credit: Pexels
Below are some strategies that you may find
helpful, as your child masters each of the times tables.
1X
The number always stays the same. Explaining this as ‘one group of’ something, helps the child to see that there is a conservation of number and that the ‘one group’ does not change.
2X
Some children may not initially see that the 2 times table is the same as the addition doubles strategy. Once this connection is made, the 2x process is often understood in a different perspective and it alters the way the brain arranges the numbers.
Using visualisation also helps, eg 2×3 or 2 groups of 3 is like an insect’s legs (3 on each side), 2×4 is a spider’s legs, 2×6 is a carton of 12 eggs in 2 rows.
3X
Children learn to skip count in 3s and also learn an addition strategy called ‘count on’ which means you put the large number in your head and count on up to 3 steps forward, eg if you know 3×3 =9, then 4×3= 9 count on 3 more, hence 9 (big number in your head) count on 10…11…12 (the answer).
4X
Once a child masters the 2X tables, then the 4X is simply double the 2X. eg. 2×7=14, so 4×7= double 14 which is 28. This is particularly easy when there is no need to bridge the tens.
If the child does need to bridge the tens, the connection to place value and partitioning become important eg 2×8 can be considered as 5+3+5+3 which the child could then put the ‘friendly’ numbers together and mentally arrange them as 5+5+3+3 = 10+6.
5X
Children learn to skip count in 5s orally because they can quickly learn the pattern of the words. Reciting the pattern is actually a quick and efficient way to get an answer to a 5X table, so this is an easy connection for children to make.
Photo Credit: Pebels/Ida Bagus Anggarama
X6, X7, and X8
I group these together because it allows children to see that they are not as difficult as they may have first thought. Once the child masters the earlier tables (x1, x2, x3, x4, x5, x9, x10, x11), it means they can turn them all around to solve any table that includes a 6, a 7 or an 8.
Making this connection straight away, means children will more readily apply the learnt strategy, now in a meaningful way to the more ‘difficult’ tables.
I often explain to students who are learning their tables with us, that there is a useful strategy, or pattern to almost all of them.
However, there is a small list of specific tables that I recommend they do commit to memory. When children realise that the list is so small, it makes the overwhelming task of learning (memorising) ‘all’ of the tables, seem very easy indeed.
6×6=36
6×7=42
6×8=48
7×7=49
7×8=56
8×8=64
9X
Not everyone is aware of the many strategies and patterns that exist in the 9 time tables. Firstly, the 2 digit answers in every instance (1-10) always appear as the same combinations of digits ie 2 and 7 go together to make 3×9=27 as well as 8×9=72, 3and 6 go together as 36 and 63 etc. The added clue is that the 2 digit combinations actually add to make 9, so this helps the child to remember which ones go together.
When presented with a 9 times table, eg 9×8 the child can think that 10 x 8 would be 80, so 9×8 will start with a 7 and the number that goes together with 7 is 2. The answer is 72.
Then of course there is always the ‘using the fingers’ strategy. By counting off the 10 fingers 1 to 10, simply curl over the finger represented in the 9x fact. (See image below)
10X
It is important for children to understand why the zero goes on the end of any number that is being multiplied by 10. The pattern of simply ‘adding’ a zero is easy, but again the risk is that children will simply follow a process without really attaching any meaning to it. Using language like ‘adding’ can actually confuse many children with the process of addition and of course that is not what is happening here.
When children make the connection to the changing place value of the digits, they will realise that the original number is now 10 times bigger! When learning to multiply by ten, children need opportunities to manipulate and arrange concrete materials and to see the process visually, before they can understand what is happening.
The learning of concepts such as fractions, decimals will be so much easier once children have this fundamental understanding of the 10 times tables.
Photo Credit: Pexels/August de Richelieu
11X
The obvious pattern in the repeated digit makes the 11s easy to recall, but again, it is important to develop this understanding through cognitive guided instruction (so the child knows the answer is the combination of the already learnt 10x fact plus the 1x fact)
12X
Like the 11s, the 12 times tables are the combination of the already learnt 10x fact and 2x fact.
At NumberWorks’nWords we know that mastery
of the Times Tables is a fundamental core skill. We focus on core skills and
the teaching of meaningful strategies, because it is proven that the more
connections children make as they learn each table, the more readily they will
be able to apply their understanding to each new mathematical problem in the
future.
This competition is proudly sponsored by NumberWorksnWords in Mount Gravatt. Every entrant will receive a free evaluation and a free lesson. All entrants will go into a draw, the winner will receive a whole term’s tuition, worth $650.
TO ENTER: Simply pass the problem below onto your child and ask them to solve it. Then complete the entry form below it. Competition closes on October 8, 2023.
