mt gravatt Archives - Mount Gravatt News

Upper Mount Gravatt College Marks 40-Year Story Shaped by Two Catholic Schools

Photo Credit: Brisbane Catholic Education

Clairvaux MacKillop College in Upper Mount Gravatt is marking 40 years as a college in 2026, with a story shaped by earlier Catholic schooling at Holland Park and the eventual joining of two neighbouring secondary schools in Brisbane’s south.

A College Story With Earlier Roots

Clairvaux MacKillop College’s 40-year milestone in 2026 is part of a longer local history.

Now a Year 7 to 12 Catholic secondary school on Klumpp Road, the college was formed from two foundation schools: Clairvaux College and MacKillop Catholic College. Its identity reflects the traditions of the Christian Brothers and the Sisters of St Joseph, which shaped the two schools that came before it.

Although the current college marks four decades, its wider story reaches back to 1918, when a three-acre site at Holland Park was purchased by Archbishop Emeritus James Duhig. That site later became home to Catholic schooling and is now home to St Joachim’s School.

Upper Mount Gravatt Catholic secondary school — Photo Credit: Clairvaux MacKillop College/Facebook

From Holland Park to Upper Mount Gravatt

The Holland Park campus was first associated with a co-educational primary school and later a secondary girls’ school. By 1970, the campus was running short of space for both primary and secondary students.

That led to plans for the secondary girls’ college, then known as St Joseph’s College, to move to the larger Upper Mount Gravatt site. MacKillop College is recorded as opening behind Clairvaux College in 1971, giving girls a Catholic secondary school on the same Upper Mount Gravatt grounds.

Clairvaux College had opened earlier, in 1966, after the need for Catholic secondary schooling in the growing Mount Gravatt area was identified in the early 1960s. Brother Surawski was the first principal of Clairvaux College, while Sister Margaret Mary Campbell was the first principal of MacKillop College.

For years, the two schools operated separately on adjoining grounds. Clairvaux College served boys, while MacKillop College served girls.

How Clairvaux MacKillop College Came Together

A decision to amalgamate the two colleges was made in late 1984. The process began in 1985 under the principalship of Dr Tony Baker.

Clairvaux MacKillop College was established in 1986, retaining the names of both foundation colleges. Full integration was later completed in 1988.

The college’s formation brought together two school communities, two histories and two Catholic education traditions. The result was a co-educational secondary college that continued the academic, sporting, cultural and pastoral care foundations of its predecessors.

Clairvaux MacKillop College Upper Mount Gravatt — Photo Credit: Clairvaux MacKillop College/Facebook

Campus Life and Learning Pathways

The Upper Mount Gravatt campus now includes open spaces, sporting fields, courts, indoor sports facilities and dedicated training areas. Students also use contemporary classrooms, science laboratories, technology centres, a learning centre and an auditorium.

Creative learning is supported through music studios, dance areas and performance spaces. The curriculum includes vocational pathways, STEM programs, engineering, psychology, arts, humanities and science subjects.

The college also runs an Academic Excellence extension program, with 120 students currently taking part. The program covers science, technology, humanities and the arts, with some students undertaking university subjects before finishing school.

Anniversary Year Continues

Clairvaux MacKillop College marked the milestone with a Back to Clairvaux MacKillop College evening on 19 June.

A 40th Anniversary Gala Dinner is scheduled for 11 September for parents, past staff and the broader community. Past student and NRL player Luke Bateman is due to attend, along with other alumni.

The anniversary year also includes Australian Education Awards recognition. STEM and Academic Excellence Coordinator Dr Maynard Victor Erece was nominated for Secondary School Teacher of the Year in the non-government category, while the college was nominated for the Street Science Best STEM Program award. Curriculum Leader Science Katrina Dalglish was also nominated for Department Head of the Year.

Published 1-July-2026

Firefighter-Founded Sandwich Giant Sparks Fast Food Shake-Up In Mt Gravatt

Photo Credit: Firehouse Subs Australia/ Facebook

Shoppers in Mt Gravatt are getting the very first taste of a major sandwich market shake-up as a global chain built by firefighters brings its signature steamed meats to a former Subway site.

The Australian debut is scheduled for early July at Westfield Mt Gravatt in Brisbane. The location, currently hidden behind construction hoardings, is the very first step in an ambitious national expansion plan. Retail Food Group, an ASX-listed company, is leading the local charge to introduce the brand across the country throughout the rest of the year.

A New Style of Sandwich

Firehouse Subs takes a completely different approach to the usual cold cut deli sandwich. Chefs have designed a specific cooking method that relies on exclusive ovens to steam high-quality meats and cheeses. This technique locks in the moisture and creates authentic flavours, resulting in a hot sub served on bread that is toasted to be crispy on the outside while staying soft on the inside.

Deep Community Roots

Despite its massive scale of more than 1,300 locations around the world, the brand started with humble beginnings. Brothers Chris and Robin Sorensen, both former firefighters, founded the company in Florida back in 1994. They built their business on three simple ideas: serving generous portions of tasty food, delivering friendly customer service, and actively supporting the local communities where they operate.

Changing the Local Landscape

The decision to launch in Brisbane highlights the city’s growing reputation for dining. Brand managers noted that the Mt Gravatt shopping centre was selected specifically because of its high foot traffic and a local community that is passionate about trying fresh food concepts. They explained that everything is sliced fresh in the store and steamed to order, aiming to deliver a much bigger flavour profile than Australians are used to.

Backed by Global Giants

While the name might be new to local shoppers, Firehouse Subs comes with serious corporate backing. The sandwich chain is owned by Restaurant Brands International, the same global hospitality heavyweight that operates household names like Burger King, Popeyes, and Tim Hortons. As competition in the Australian fast-food market heats up, the Florida-born brand is ready to carve out its own unique space against established local independents and massive multinational competitors alike.

Published Date 16-June-2026

A Mount Gravatt East Woman Was Among 16 People Allegedly Charged in a Major Brisbane Drug Trafficking Investigation

QPS

A 38-year-old woman was arrested at a Hathaway Street address in Mount Gravatt East during a search warrant on 3 May, as part of a months-long investigation into alleged methamphetamine trafficking that has resulted in 16 people being charged across Brisbane.

The investigation, known as Operation Yankee Rend, was conducted by Brisbane City Criminal Investigation Branch and wrapped up in May after commencing in January. The investigation’s closure resulted in 16 people being charged with more than 90 offences, including trafficking in dangerous drugs, supplying dangerous drugs, possessing proceeds from trafficking and supply, possessing dangerous drugs, and possession of weapons.

The Mount Gravatt East arrest was one of a series of search warrants and interceptions carried out across Brisbane and surrounding areas throughout the operation.

What police allegedly seized

Throughout the investigation, police seized 1.6kg of methamphetamine, 111g of cocaine, a revolver handgun and more than $16,000 of alleged drug cash, in addition to other drugs and drug-related items.

The seizures took place across multiple locations and dates during the five-month investigation. On 7 March, police located a 36-year-old Redbank Plains man on Cedar Road in Redbank Plains.

It will be alleged the man attempted to run from investigators and hide a bag of methamphetamine before he was intercepted and arrested. Investigators further allege a search warrant at a Wivenhoe-Somerset Road address in Somerset on 8 March resulted in the location of a revolver handgun.

The investigation that drove it

Operation Yankee Rend commenced in January following intelligence of methamphetamine being trafficked in Brisbane’s inner north. Brisbane City Criminal Investigation Branch ran the operation, with the City Valley Crime Group coordinating the arrest phase.

North Brisbane District City Valley Crime Group Acting Detective Inspector Sean Webster said the operation had a meaningful impact on local drug supply. “The investigations resulted in the disruption of significant local trafficking and supply of methamphetamine,” he said.

What happens next

The 16 people charged are expected to appear before Brisbane Magistrates Court at various future dates. All charges are alleged and none of the accused have been convicted. Investigations are continuing.

Anyone with information about drug activity in the area can contact Policelink via the online form or by calling 131 444. Anonymous reports can be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at crimestoppersqld.com.au.

Published 9-June-2026

Haigh’s Chocolates Picks Mt Gravatt for First Brisbane Store

South Australian chocolate maker Haigh’s Chocolates has confirmed Westfield Mt Gravatt will be home to its first Brisbane store, marking the company’s long-awaited move into Queensland retail.

The family-owned business, founded in 1915, announced it will launch three stores across Brisbane in 2026, with locations also planned for Chermside and Carindale later in the year. The Mt Gravatt site is scheduled to begin trading in August and will become the first permanent Haigh’s store in Queensland.

For decades, Queensland customers have mainly relied on online shopping or interstate travel to buy the company’s products. Haigh’s said strong support from Brisbane customers helped drive the decision to expand into the state, with Queensland now accounting for 18 per cent of its online sales.

*Photo Credit:* Haigh’s Chocolates/Instagram

Queensland Demand Pushes Haigh’s Into Brisbane

The Brisbane rollout is part of a larger growth plan for the company as it increases its presence along Australia’s eastern seaboard. Chief executive Peter Millard said the company had seen growing interest from Queensland customers for years, making Brisbane the next logical step for expansion.

Haigh’s has built a loyal customer base through its bean-to-bar process, where the company manages every stage of chocolate production from sourcing cocoa beans through to manufacturing. The business also focuses on ethical sourcing and small-batch production, helping it stand apart from larger commercial chocolate brands.

While Haigh’s is widely recognised in cities such as Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra, Brisbane has remained one of the few major capitals without a physical store until now.

*Photo Credit:* *Haigh’s Chocolate/ Facebook*

Production Growth Supports New Brisbane Stores

To prepare for the Brisbane expansion, Haigh’s has significantly increased its manufacturing capacity in South Australia. The company recently lifted production from 1,100 tonnes to 2,000 tonnes each year following the completion of a new production, warehouse and fulfilment facility.

Former managing director Alister Haigh, a fourth-generation member of the founding family, described the expansion as an important milestone as the business continues growing nationally while remaining family-owned.

Once the Brisbane stores are operating, Haigh’s retail network will increase to 26 stores across Australia.

New Jobs Expected Ahead of Mt Gravatt Launch

The Brisbane expansion is also expected to create around 75 jobs during the first stage of operations. Recruitment for retail positions has started in April 2026 as the company prepares for the Mt Gravatt launch and the later openings in Chermside and Carindale.

The Mt Gravatt location is expected to stock the company’s full chocolate range, giving local shoppers easier access to products that were previously harder to find in Queensland.

Published 29-May-2026

Mt Gravatt Selected as Launchpad for Firehouse Subs Australian Debut

Photo Credit: Westfield

Locals in Mt Gravatt will be the first in the country to try the famous hearty sandwiches of Firehouse Subs as the American brand begins its official move into the Australian market.

A New Flavour for Brisbane Southside

*Photo Credit:* *Firehouse Subs/ Facebook*

Retail Food Group reached an agreement with the brand’s parent company in February 2023 to bring the sandwich chain to local shores. The plan involves a major investment of US$4 million every year for the first three years to establish 15 company-owned locations.

This move aims to take advantage of the growing interest in international food brands while offering something different from the usual sandwich shops found in Brisbane.

Photo Credit: LinkedIN/Tom Elliot Retail Food Group

Firehouse Subs is known for its use of the best ingredients: tasty meats, high-quality cheeses, and fresh, delicious breads that are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Firehouse Subs makes their delicious sandwiches in their exclusive ovens, designed to maintain their signature juiciness, flavours and textures.

While the brand is known globally for its hot speciality subs, the Australian menu at Westfield Mt Gravatt will be expanded to include new options specifically designed to suit local tastes and preferences.

Even with the official Mt Gravatt menu still under wraps, Firehouse Subs’ international lineup offers a clear sense of what locals can expect — a mix of hot, loaded specialty subs and fresh, made-to-order salads. Across other international locations, the range typically includes:

Signature subs like Hook & Ladder, Italian, and Turkey Bacon Ranch
Hearty favourites such as Firehouse Meatball, Smokehouse Beef & Cheddar, and Steak & Cheese
Spicier options including Firehouse Captain’s Club and Spicy Cajun Chicken
Classic deli-style builds like New York Steamer and Club on a Sub
Lighter options with a variety of salads, from Italian with Grilled Chicken to Firehouse Salad with Turkey or Ham

It’s a menu built around bold flavours, generous portions, and the brand’s trademark hot subs — with local tweaks expected once it lands in Brisbane.

From Fire Stations to Local Neighbourhoods

The business started in Florida back in 1994 when two brothers, who had served as firefighters, decided to start a restaurant. This history is still a major part of the company today, with many locations using fire station themes and decorations. Beyond the food, the organisation is well known for its charity work through its Public Safety Foundation.

This non-profit group focuses on saving lives and helping local emergency services. Because of these efforts, the chain has been recognised multiple times as a top brand for supporting community activities and local safety initiatives.

Long Term Growth and Community Impact

The expansion into Brisbane is part of a 20-year development plan that could see hundreds of new stores across the country. Following the initial three-year period of building company-owned shops, the focus will shift toward offering franchise opportunities to local business people and veterans starting in 2027.

The brand currently has more than 1,300 locations worldwide, including sites in Canada, Mexico, and the United Arab Emirates. By bringing this model to Mt Gravatt, the creators hope to build a strong business that supports both the local economy and public safety projects.

Published Date 30-April-2026

Haigh’s Chocolates to Open Its First Queensland Store at Westfield Mt Gravatt

Haigh's Chocolates

Haigh’s Chocolates, Australia’s oldest family-owned chocolate maker, will open its first Queensland store at Westfield Mt Gravatt in August 2026, marking the Adelaide brand’s long-awaited retail debut in Brisbane after more than a century in business.

Two further stores at Chermside and Carindale will follow later in the year, bringing Haigh’s total national footprint to 26 stores across Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra and Brisbane. The three-store rollout represents the brand’s most significant expansion since it entered the Sydney market, and for Brisbane chocolate lovers who have spent years relying on online orders or interstate trips to get their hands on Haigh’s product, the arrival of a local store feels genuinely overdue.

A Brand Built on Over a Century of Craft

Haigh’s Chocolates was founded on 1 May 1915 by Alfred E. Haigh in Adelaide, South Australia, making it Australia’s oldest family-owned chocolate maker. What began as a small confectionery shop at the Beehive Corner on King William Street has grown across four generations of family ownership into one of Australia’s most recognisable premium food brands, with a loyal following that stretches well beyond its South Australian home.

Haigh's Chocolates was founded in 1915 — Photo Credit: Haigh’s Chocolates

Haigh’s has maintained its primary manufacturing operations in Adelaide since its founding, where it produces its range of chocolates using a bean-to-bar approach, roasting its own cocoa beans to create its milk and dark chocolate blends from ethically sourced ingredients. That commitment to in-house production from bean to finished product distinguishes Haigh’s from most other chocolate retailers operating in Australia, where the majority of premium brands import finished chocolate rather than manufacturing it locally.

In September 2025, Haigh’s opened a new $120 million state-of-the-art facility in Salisbury South, spanning 18,000 square metres and incorporating advanced European-made equipment for production, warehousing and online fulfilment. The new facility increases Haigh’s production capacity from 1,100 tonnes to 2,000 tonnes of chocolate per year, providing the manufacturing headroom needed to support both the Brisbane expansion and the company’s broader national growth strategy.

Haigh’s Chocolates – Bean to Bar Process:

Haigh’s Chocolates, established in 1915, is Australia’s oldest family-owned chocolate maker focused on premium, small-batch chocolate production.
The process begins with sourcing high-quality, ethically produced cocoa beans from regions like Ghana and Peru, with most coming from Rainforest Alliance certified farms.
The beans are cleaned using sieves, magnets, and airflow systems, then roasted at about 120°C for 30–90 minutes to enhance flavour and remove moisture.
Roasted beans are crushed and winnowed to remove the outer shell, leaving cocoa nibs, which are ground into a bitter liquid cocoa liquor.
The cocoa liquor is mixed with cocoa butter, sugar, vanilla, and sometimes milk powder, then refined through rollers to create a smooth texture.
The chocolate undergoes conching, where it is heated, aerated, and mixed for several hours to develop its flavour and silky consistency.
Tempering follows, where the chocolate is carefully cooled and reheated to achieve a glossy finish and stable structure.
The tempered chocolate is moulded into shapes or hand-dipped to create products like truffles and other specialty chocolates.
Small-batch production methods are used to maintain freshness and ensure high-quality output across a wide range of products.
Finally, chocolates are hand-finished, carefully packaged, and continuously improved through new product development released during special occasions.

Why Brisbane, Why Now

The Brisbane move is driven by clear commercial evidence. Queensland customers currently represent 18 per cent of Haigh’s total online sales, making the state a significant and demonstrable market despite having no physical retail presence to date. For a brand that sells exclusively through its own stores and website, that level of online demand from a market with no bricks-and-mortar outlet signals a substantial untapped opportunity.

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Chief Executive Peter Millard confirmed that the combination of strong Queensland online demand and the newly expanded production capacity at Salisbury South made 2026 the right moment to enter the Brisbane market. The three-store strategy reflects confidence in the city’s appetite for premium chocolate, with Westfield Mt Gravatt anchoring the initial launch before Chermside and Carindale extend the brand’s reach across the northern and eastern suburbs later in the year.

Westfield Mt Gravatt draws shoppers from across a wide catchment spanning the southern and south-eastern suburbs, and the arrival of a Haigh’s store adds a genuinely distinctive retail experience to a centre that already serves as a significant southside anchor.

Haigh’s Chocolates will open at Westfield Mt Gravatt in August 2026, with Chermside and Carindale to follow later in the year. Further information about Haigh’s products and the Brisbane openings is available at haighschocolates.com.au.

Published 27-March-2026.

Upper Mt Gravatt Centre Precinct Plan Opens for Community Consultation

BCC

Residents across Upper Mt Gravatt now have a direct say in what their suburb’s commercial heart looks like in the decades ahead, with community consultation open on a plan that will shape development along the Dawson Road corridor through to Newnham Road.

The Suburban Renewal Precinct Plan for Upper Mt Gravatt covers the stretch of the suburb anchored by Westfield Mt Gravatt and extending through Mt Gravatt-Capalaba Road to Newnham Road, taking in the mix of retail, commercial and residential land that makes up one of southern Brisbane’s busiest suburban centres. What gets built there, how tall, and what kind of neighbourhood it becomes are exactly the questions the plan is designed to settle, and right now, before any draft is written, is the moment when community input carries the most weight.

Feedback gathered during this initial phase goes directly to planners as they prepare the draft plan, which will come back to the community for a second round of input before anything is finalised. Planners expect to put the draft plan back to the community for review in late 2026 or early 2027, with the final version likely to be etched into the city plan by mid-2027.

A Centre Under Growing Pressure

Upper Mt Gravatt already carries a lot of weight for southern Brisbane. It draws shoppers, workers and service-seekers from well beyond its own suburb boundaries, and the infrastructure surrounding the centre, including the Upper Mt Gravatt library, nearby sporting fields, Mt Gravatt Outlook Reserve and Brisbane Metro turn-up-and-go services along the corridor, gives it a foundation that many suburban centres elsewhere in the city simply do not have.

Under current planning settings, landmark sites within the precinct can already reach up to 15 storeys. The precinct plan will work through whether zoning across a wider range of sites should be updated to allow more housing and mixed-use development in the locations best placed to handle it, while protecting the residential streets that surround the commercial core from inappropriate intensification.

Upper Mt Gravatt sits within a broader programme of suburban renewal plans across Brisbane that has already delivered adopted plans at Stones Corner, with work underway at Wynnum, Alderley, Mt Gravatt and Chermside. The approach across all of them centres on finding the best use of underutilised land within established, well-connected centres rather than pushing growth outward into areas that lack the same infrastructure base.

What Residents Are Being Asked

The ideas phase is deliberately open. Residents, business owners and anyone who uses the Upper Mt Gravatt centre can share what matters to them about the area as it stands, what they feel is missing, and what they want the precinct to look and feel like in the future. There are no set options to choose from at this stage. The aim is to hear from the people who actually live and work in and around the centre before planners sit down to draft anything formal.

That covers everything from the types of housing and services the community wants to see near the centre, to the quality of streets and public spaces, to how the plan can protect the character of the established neighbourhoods that border the precinct.

Why This Matters to the Community

Brisbane is growing fast, with around 600 people arriving in the city each week and a projected need for more than 210,000 new homes by 2046. Well-serviced centres like Upper Mt Gravatt, with their transport connections, community facilities and existing employment base, are exactly where that growth is likely to be directed. The precinct plan is not about whether change happens. It is about whether the community shapes it or watches it happen around them.

For residents of Upper Mt Gravatt, Mt Gravatt, Mansfield, Rochedale South and Eight Mile Plains, getting involved now, at the ideas stage rather than the objection stage, gives the best chance of seeing local priorities reflected in whatever is ultimately adopted. Once a precinct plan becomes part of the city plan, it sets the rules for development for years to come.

Residents can share their ideas by clicking this link or by writing to Neighbourhood Planning, Upper Mt Gravatt Centre Suburban Renewal Precinct, Brisbane City Council, GPO Box 1434, Brisbane QLD 4001.

Published 17-March-2026.

A Build-Your-Own Cake Bar Is Coming to Westfield Mt Gravatt on 28 March

The Cake Bar/Facebook

A first-of-its-kind dessert concept called The Cake Bar opens at Westfield Mt Gravatt on Saturday 28 March, giving shoppers at the Upper Mt Gravatt centre the ability to build a fully personalised, freshly assembled cake on the spot rather than ordering one day in advance.

The concept fills a gap that sits between the impulse dessert market — think Yo-Chi, which already operates at Garden City — and the traditional custom cake bakery, where lead times and minimum orders put the experience out of reach for a spontaneous weeknight craving or a last-minute birthday. The Cake Bar plants itself squarely in between: a fresh cake, assembled to order, available in the time it takes to walk from the carpark to the food court.

A Custom Dessert Experience

Customers kick things off by picking a cake base from a solid lineup of flavours. From there, the build branches out across premium fillings, frostings, and toppings, with a menu ranging from decadent chocolate to childhood throwbacks like raspberry jellies, sherbet, and sour straps. Crucially, the range is built for everyone, offering gluten-free and vegan options to ensure those with dietary requirements don’t miss out on the sugar hit. The model is deliberately open-ended—the same counter can whip up a clean, frosted red velvet for the traditionalists or a stacked, sprinkle-covered creation for the kids.

The kitchen assembles the order fresh, on the spot, from premium ingredients. Nothing sits pre-made in a display fridge. That distinction matters operationally: it means the quality of a custom-ordered cake without the custom-order wait.

A Sweet Addition to the Food Scene

Westfield Mt Gravatt is one of Brisbane’s largest shopping centres, located approximately 12 kilometres south of the CBD, with more than 400 retailers, three supermarkets, Event Cinemas, and a food and dining offer that spans two indoor food courts, an outdoor dining precinct and an Asian street food strip called 8 Street. The centre draws shoppers from Mt Gravatt, Macgregor, Wishart, Mansfield, Rochedale South and across Brisbane’s southside.

The dessert category at the centre already includes Yo-Chi, alongside a broader entertainment and dining precinct that includes Timezone, Holey Moley, Cloud 8 Karaoke and Hijinx Hotel. The Cake Bar adds a format that none of the existing operators cover: a made-to-order, whole-cake dessert experience priced and positioned for everyday shoppers rather than special-occasion pre-orders.

For families doing the weekly shop, the model is simple enough to be a spontaneous stop rather than a planned event. For parents with kids in tow — and Garden City’s family-heavy southside catchment means there are plenty of them on any given Saturday — the interactive build-your-own format offers more engagement than a standard dessert counter.

Good News for Sweet Tooths

Brisbane’s dessert and specialty food market has expanded significantly over the past five years, with concepts built around the build-your-own model proving durable in both food courts and high-street locations. The Cake Bar represents the format applied to one of the few categories — fresh cake — that had not yet made the transition from pre-order to impulse. This adds a locally accessible version of an experience that previously required either a custom order from a bakery or a trip into the CBD.

The Cake Bar is at Westfield Mt Gravatt, Logan Road, Upper Mt Gravatt. More information is available here ahead of the 28 March opening.

Published 12-March-2026.

Alleged Refund Machine Misuse Under Investigation In Mt Gravatt

Photo Credit: Containers for Change QLD/Facebook

An alleged attempt to improperly claim container refunds at a Containers for Change site in Mt Gravatt is under investigation following circulation of video footage online.

Alleged Misuse At Mt Gravatt Refund Point

Footage recorded at an Upper Mt Gravatt Containers for Change site shows a man and woman allegedly placing non-eligible fast food packaging into a reverse-vending machine while scanning an eligible drink container.

The video shows the scanner being activated repeatedly while rubbish, including takeaway cups, is fed onto the conveyor belt. The refund mechanism was reportedly triggered 15 times in less than a minute.

A witness who filmed the incident said she was left waiting behind the pair for about half an hour while the machine was in use. The incident is now being examined.

How The Scheme Works Across Queensland

Queensland’s Containers for Change program provides a 10-cent refund for eligible drink containers, including plastic bottles, aluminium cans and certain cartons.

The scheme began in November 2018 and is overseen by the not-for-profit Container Exchange (COEX). COEX has reported 11 billion container returns since launch, equating to $1.1 billion in refunds. The network processes more than 3,000 containers per minute across Queensland.

Reverse-vending machines are intended to prevent misuse through checks that can include barcode scanning and material or shape detection.

Queensland recycling — *Photo Credit: Containers for Change QLD/Facebook*

Investigation And Community Reaction In Mt Gravatt

COEX says allegations of fraud are treated seriously and the Mt Gravatt recycling incident will be investigated. The review will examine whether the matter involved a machine fault.

The footage has prompted a strong response online. Some commenters criticised the behaviour, describing it as taking advantage of a community program. Others expressed sympathy in comments.

Photo Credit: Containers for Change QLD/Facebook

Queensland authorities have not publicly detailed potential penalties in this case.

Members of the public are being encouraged to report suspicious activity through official channels to help protect the integrity of the refund scheme.

Published 22-Feb-2026

2026 College Captains Named At Upper Mount Gravatt School

Clairvaux MacKillop College in Upper Mount Gravatt has announced its 2026 College Captains as part of Brisbane Catholic Education’s broader rollout of student leadership appointments across South East Queensland.

Student Leadership In Mt Gravatt

At Clairvaux MacKillop College, Julieta and Leo have been appointed as College Captains for the 2026 school year.

Their appointment forms part of Brisbane Catholic Education’s confirmation of 86 newly selected College Captains across its 146 schools. The appointments span secondary campuses and Prep to Year 12 colleges throughout the region.

For the Upper Mount Gravatt campus, the focus for 2026 centres on strengthening school connections and reinforcing a supportive environment for students. Julieta and Leo have outlined plans to encourage stronger engagement between students and staff, promote a sense of belonging, and support classmates in their everyday efforts and achievements.

Part Of A Wider Network Announcement

The 2026 appointments were published on 11 February 2026 under Brisbane Catholic Education’s secondary school update. Schools across South East Queensland introduced their newly appointed student leaders at the beginning of the academic year.

College Captains across the network take on responsibilities that include representing the student body, mentoring younger students and upholding the values associated with Catholic education.

School Context In Upper Mount Gravatt

Clairvaux MacKillop College describes its learning community as one focused on student growth and development. The college offers co-curricular opportunities in sport, arts, STEM and service learning alongside classroom programs.

An Academic Excellence Program commenced at the college in 2025, designed to provide an extended learning pathway for students.

The announcement of the 2026 College Captains marks the start of the new student leadership term at the Upper Mount Gravatt campus, placing Mt Gravatt at the centre of this year’s local education leadership update.

Published 16-Feb-2026