Mount Gravatt Archives - Page 5 of 6

Advocates Pick Legal Representation To Save Seton College

“It is only a small school but it is making a big difference,” so goes the battle cry of the advocates to save Seton College in Mount Gravatt, following the announcement that they have hired legal representation in the fight to prevent the school’s closure in 2024.

The group, Save Our Seton College (SOS) Inc., has picked the legal team from Elliot & Harvey to help them win this fight.

It comes as a former staff member, who resigned in 2020, warned that the closure will have a long-term outcome on its remaining students who will have to move to a mainstream school and could likely struggle with the curriculum and the new environment.

The staff said that there’s nothing like Seton in terms of adjusting to the children’s abilities and needs, as assessed by their teachers, especially among those with developmental challenges. For many of these kids, Seton is not just an educational centre but it’s also a home where they can “have a place in society” and never have to fear expulsion from school.

In early 2020, Brisbane Catholic Education (BCE) confirmed the closure of Seton College due to the dwindling number of enrollees. But concerned parents and students have challenged this decision by claiming that it is the school that hasn’t accepted new students.

BCE appointed representatives to assist parents and students in the transition. One parent said that a representative told them there are more than 140 schools in Brisbane’s southeast that could be suitable for special needs students from Seton. However, based on their experience, four of the five potential schools approached by BCE representatives turned down their child.

In the meantime, SOS is holding Zoom meetings regularly to update each other on the progress of their fight to save the school. For more information about the group, follow the Facebook page or visit the official site.

“The impending closure of Seton College by 2024, will leave an enormous gap in the schooling options available to Brisbane families. There will no longer be a contemporary Catholic, coeducational Secondary College purpose-built for personalised learning on the south side of Brisbane,” the group said.

Concerned Stakeholders Launch Petition, Pledges to Save Seton College

A group of concerned stakeholders has launched a petition to Save Seton College from permanent closure in Mount Gravatt in 2024. The petition has received over 6,500 signatures whilst pledges to help reverse the proposal have reached more than 1,000.

Brisbane Catholic Education (BCE) announced late this year that Seton College will cease accepting new enrollees in 2021, claiming that enrolments have been dwindling in recent years.

The stakeholders are challenging BCE’s claims after learning that the school actually turned away 60 students in 2020. In 2019, the school apparently sent emails to parents that it reached maximum capacity “with a waiting list already in place.”

“It appears that BCE is orchestrating the decline in enrolments by enrolling less than 25% of applicants for year seven 2020, and, furthermore, stopping ALL and ANY future enrolments, regardless of year level,” the stakeholders said in a statement. “It appears BCE are winding things up much quicker than originally anticipated, with an exodus of teaching and support staff and the shocking redundancy of the school’s IT manager, who was recently applauded for his work in developing an effective online classroom platform during the COVID shutdown.”

The group has been holding Save Our Seton (SOS) meetings on the Zoom platform. The first meeting for next year is scheduled for 17 Jan 2021.

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Seton College is a typical co-educational Secondary College that offers personalised learning. It’s described as “the school that fills the gap between mainstream schools and special schools” for including individual student support, pastoral care and personality development that aren’t found in a mainstream school’s curriculum.

“Seton College is the most welcoming, helping, accepting and the best school I’ve ever been to,” a former student, Tayhlia Shaw, said when she launched the petition. “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.”

For updates on the activities of the SOS, follow their Facebook page or become a member on their official site.

Old Scurr Bros Site Transformation as a New Health Hub Set for 2021

The former site of Scurr Bros, a familiar southside Brisbane landmark for over 100 years, will soon be a health and wellness facility. Plans are underway to redevelop the property for 2021.

P3 Projects Pty Ltd will handle the project development for the property owner, the Pigozzo Group. The commercial and retail site on Logan Road received Council approval in 2019 and it’s expected to bring in new business and jobs once completed.

Health practitioners and members of the fitness and wellness industry are currently in discussions with the developer for possible tenancies. Construction of the new building is set for early 2021 and should open by the end of the year.

Parts of the old Scurr Bros building will be retained but the structure will get an updated look and features. It will include multi-level offices with its individual entrances. The parking area will have improvements as well, whist a telecommunications tower at the south end of the car park will be redesigned as an architectural landmark.

The site will also retain the Scurr Bros’ name to honor an integral part of the history of Mt Gravatt.

A Look Back at the Old Scurr Bros Site

The Scurr Bros hardware store started as a small, family-run business over 100 years ago. They were originally blacksmith forgers who shifted to motor body work and then to hardware and timbre.

William Scurr built the first building on Logan Road in 1913, whilst his brother Edward established a blacksmith shop on the site in 1928. By 1931, two more brothers joined the business to focus on motor body building.

Photo Credit: Friends of Scurr Bros Hardware Mt Gravatt/Facebook

The Scurr brothers shifted to the hardware business in the 1950s and became a founding member of the Mitre 10 chain. Three decades later, the site was redeveloped into what is currently the iconic yellow-brick building.

By 1995, the business was sold after three generations of the Scurr family management.

Southeast Brisbane Welcomes the Health Hub

Residents in Brisbane’s southeast side like the idea of turning the Scurr Bros building into a health hub, whilst retaining parts of its history. Thousands of people could benefit from the services to be offered at the hub and it will bring in more jobs and businesses to the suburb.

A descendant of the Scurr family is also happy knowing that the building’s structure will be retained. In 2015, the Pigozzo Group received Council approval to redevelop the site as a 110-unit residential area. They ditched this plan for the health hub after realizing that this is what Mt Gravatt needs.

Brisbane Small Business Expo: Learn From Professionals at the Biggest Networking Event in Upper Mt Gravatt

Photo Credit: Small Business Expo/Facebook

The biggest networking event in Brisbane is happening on the 4th of April 2019 in Upper Mt Gravatt! Some 1,600 local business professionals are expected to be at the Hibiscus Sports Complex on Klumpp Road for the Brisbane Small Business Expo.

The event, mounted by Paula Brand Small Business Expos, will feature more than 200 exhibitors. It’s set up to be a great opportunity to find sales leads or reliable suppliers, as well as exchange business cards with different professionals.

From 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., guests may participate in a flurry of activities:

catch four speaker sessions
speak with the employees of the Office of the Small Business, Brisbane City Council
listen to eight TINAx Talks (for women in business)
get free headshots for their business profile
take advantage of a free massage and brow waxing
Speed Networking (from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.)

Exhibitors and sponsors of the Brisbane Small Business Expo will also be giving away several prizes with a combined worth over $20,000.

Entrance to this event is free for all businesspeople, but you have to register your attendance online. To keep things livelier, there will be food trucks on site while Jodie Joy will provide the entertainment.

*Photo Credit:* *Small Business Expo/Facebook*

If this will be your first time to attend the event, take a look at what happened at the Brisbane Small Business Expo in 2018 in the video below:

Turn Your Creativity Into Beautiful Works Of Glass Art In Mount Gravatt

Unleash your creative side by making glass art. The Rocketfrog Stained Glass Studios in Mount Gravatt East offers an array of workshops that you can participate in to hone your glass art-making skills.

Photo credit: Rocketfrog Stained Glass and Mosaic Studios / Facebook

The studio is owned by glass art expert Jet Carroll who has a BA in Architectural Glass. Since 1991, she has been following her passion and now she has opened her studio to teach other individuals interested in making such art.

From 8-10 June, she will be holding glass fusing classes that will teach all the basic skills to put creative ideas into a magnificent piece of glass.

The glass fusing classes are as follows:

8 June – 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
9 June – 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
10 June – 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

This is the ideal workshop for beginners and is also a great date idea if you’re looking for fun and creative activities to do.

During these classes, you will be able to make your own coasters, sun catchers and many more. Your artworks will be kiln-fired and will be ready for collection the following week.

The fee for the classes per person is $110. Call 0421 063 369 to book.

Address: Ginahgulla St., Mount Gravatt East, Brisbane Queensland, Australia 4122

Wishart Maori Swimmer Out to Impress in Gold Coast 2018

Attention, Wishart residents. Swimmer Leticia Transom, or Tishe as her friends call her, is ready to once again make her suburb, and the whole of Australia and New Zealand proud on the most awaited Gold Coast 2018 happening this April.

This multi-talented 16-year-old, a New Zealander turned Wishart local, has also been named as 2017’s Junior Maori Sportswoman of the Year.

Already adept in athletics, netball, and triathlon, Tishe swam her way to try yet another field of sports and has turned out to be exceptionally good at it. Just into her first year as a competitive swimmer, she had already struck gold in the 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games’ 200m freestyle.

“The first 100 I just took it easy and the last 100 I just kept building,” Tishe said. “The last 25 metres I gave it all and it worked out well.”

According to her, “standing on the podium, there’s nothing like it, the feeling you get was so uplifting, it was great.”

Recently, Tishe successfully proved her mettle in the recent New Zealand Commonwealth Games Trials, representing NZ in the 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 4x100m freestyle relay, and 4x100m medley relay. “It’s always an honour to compete for New Zealand and to be recognised for the hard work you put in as an athlete is very humbling and makes the 4:30 alarms a little more worthwhile,” she said.

Whilst being based in Brisbane certainly has its challenges, Tishe is not in the least bit bothered. “New Zealand will always be ‘home’ but the opportunities are here in Australia, so if that means travelling back and forth, it’s just what you have to do,” she said.

Witness how Tishe will attempt to swim her way to another triumph during the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Details regarding the games schedules are found here. You can also download the official app here.

Love Food Hate Waste: Mt Gravatt to Host Jamie Oliver-Inspired Cooking Workshops

Brisbane residents can learn to cook like Jamie Oliver at the Jamie’s Ministry of Food 5-week cooking course at Mount Gravatt.

Starting Thursday 16 November 2017, Jamie’s Ministry of Food will come in a mobile kitchen purpose-built for the cooking workshops. Participants will join a 90-minute cooking class at the same time every week for five weeks.

Each class will be limited to a small group of up to 12 participants and will be completely hands on. At the end of each class, participants will get to enjoy the food prepared by the demonstrator. They will get to bring home the food they cooked to share with family and friends.

The cooking workshops are suitable for anyone aged 12 years and above. Participants under 16 years of age must come with a guardian.

There will be two cycles, with the first one starting on 16 November 2017. Cycle 2 will start on 15 January 2018. Bookings for the January 2018 workshops will open on Monday 6 November 2017.

What:	Jamie’s Ministry of Food Cooking Courses
When:	Cycle 1: From Thursday 16th November 2017 – Wednesday 20th December 2017 Cycle 2: From Monday 15th January 2018 – Saturday 17th February 2018
Where:	Mt Gravatt Showgrounds 1644 Logan Rd, Mount Gravatt
Cost:	Full Fee: $100 Student: $75 Concession: $50 Price includes ingredients for the hands-on cooking sessions. Book Now

What to Learn

The five-week cooking course is perfect for beginners and intermediate cooks. Cooks with ample experience can still join the workshops as they can still learn some new skills and techniques from the sessions.

Photo credit: www.jamiesministryoffood.com.au

The workshops are based on Jamie Oliver’s recipes and cooking philosophy. The celebrity chef is known for his advocacy of preparing nutritious food to help people stay healthy and lower instances of obesity and Type 2 diabetes.

Participants will not only learn to cook but will also know more about selecting and shopping for ingredients that will help them save money. They will learn the basics of baking, sautéing, grilling, boiling and roasting. They will also get access to Jamie’s tips and shortcuts in food preparation and planning.

By the end of the classes, participants should be more confident preparing food in the kitchen.

Love Food Hate Waste

The cooking workshop is part of Brisbane City Council’s Love Food Hate Waste campaign. The campaign aims to raise awareness about waste reduction and minimising food wastage.

The council has lined up various events and activities to educate Brisbane locals who are interested in creating a cleaner and greener community with less landfill.

Find out tips and green events related to the Love Food Hate Waste movement.

Get directions to the event venue.

Business Continues for Toys “R” Us Mt Gravatt Despite Parent Company’s Bankruptcy Filing

Employees and customers of Toys “R” Us Mount Gravatt need not worry after the retailer’s parent company filed for bankruptcy in the United States.

Toys “R” Us Australia assured that it is business as usual at its local stores, including Mount Gravatt and 39 other stores spread across the country.

“The company’s operations outside of the US and Canada, including its operations in Europe and Australia and its approximately 255 licensed stores and joint venture partnership in Asia, which are separate entities, are not part of the Chapter 11 filing,” said a statement from the parent company.

Pressure from Debt

The recent move by Toys “R” Us to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy came as the company gave in to pressure from debt of more than $US5 billion. Under Chapter 11, the company hopes to restructure $US400 million in debt that is due next year.

Some analysts believe that the largest toy retail chain in America is just one of the growing number of retailers that fell victim to the rise of e-commerce. However, some put the blame on its inability to innovate to improve its competitiveness.

Toys “R” Us posted net loss of $US164 million in the quarter ending 29 April. The company has not reported annual profits since 2013.

The Australian stores are doing much better as it reported net sales of $US207 million in the year ending January 2017.

The bankruptcy filing will also not deter the plan of Toys “R” Us Australia to open four new stores in the country by Christmas 2017. One of the new stores will be in the greater Brisbane area in North Lakes.

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

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.