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A COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic is Popping Up at Bunnings Mt Gravatt

A COVID-19 jab with free sausage sizzles? Bunnings customers will be able to get both as the store rolls out its pop-up vaccination clinics in Mt Gravatt and more than two dozen Bunning sites across Queensland.

Beginning Saturday, 16 October 2021, Bunnings shoppers may walk in for their COVID-19 vaccination at the Mt Gravatt location or the following outlets:

BUNNINGS STORE	LOCATION
Smithfield	Cairns and Hinterland
Atherton	Cairns and Hinterland
Rockhampton	Central Queensland
Yeppoon	Central Queensland
Gladstone	Central Queensland
Kingaroy	Darling Downs
Dalby	Darling Downs
Oxenford	Gold Coast
Pimpama	Gold Coast
Nerang	Gold Coast
Robina	Gold Coast
Arundel	Gold Coast
Burleigh Waters	Gold Coast
Airlie Beach	Mackay
Mackay North	Mackay
Paget Mackay	Mackay
Morayfield	Metro North
North Lakes	Metro North
Stafford	Metro North
Brendale	Metro North
Browns Plains	Metro South
Bethania	Metro South
Mt Gravatt	Metro South
Underwood	Metro South
Victoria Point	Metro South
Gympie	Sunshine Coast
Fairfield Waters	Townsville
Townsville	Townsville
Townsville North	Townsville
Plainland	West Moreton
Bundaberg	Wide Bay
Hervey Bay	Wide Bay
Maryborough	Wide Bay

“We’re really pleased to be helping Queensland Health with the rollout of community vaccinations across South East Queensland by hosting pop-up vaccination clinics in around 30 of our store carparks. We hope it makes accessing vaccinations as easy and convenient as picking up an item for a weekend DIY project,” Bunnings Managing Director Mike Schneider said during the announcement.

“We’ve always tried to play an active role supporting the local communities where we operate, so providing space to QLD Health to accelerate the vaccination rollout just makes sense.

“Like everyone, we can’t wait to see the whole community protected so we can all get back to doing the things we love.”

Queensland Health will run the pop-up clinics at the Bunnings shops to boost the vaccination drive, which has been lagging behind other Australian states. There are currently less than 33 active cases in the region, which were mostly acquired overseas and there are no locally acquired cases.

BREAKING: Pop-up vaccination clinics are coming to Bunnings. From this Saturday, you can get a Bunnings sausage and vaccine dose at several sites across Queensland 💪 #GetVaccinated pic.twitter.com/NfaZ6nXDxO
— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) October 11, 2021

“Now is the critical time to get vaccinated – we have the supply, we have the capacity, and we want people to come and get vaccinated now,“ the Minister said.

“The Pfizer vaccine is available at Queensland Health vaccination sites, the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines are available at participating GPs, and the AstraZeneca and Moderna vaccines are available at participating community pharmacies.”

Over 70 per cent of eligible Queenslanders have had their first dose, while nearly 53 per cent are fully vaccinated.

Median House Price Rises As Demand Grows for Homes in Mt Gravatt

Investing in a house in Mt Gravatt remains a good decision for those looking to cash in on a spacious but affordable property close to the Brisbane CBD, with a strong potential to continue the upward trend in value over the next few years.

From July 2020 to June 2021, Mt Gravatt’s property market has shown an uptick and the median house price rose by 13.64 percent, as buyers from interstate consider leaving congested Sydney or Melbourne to move to Brisbane’s suburbs.

In Mt Gravatt, the cost of buying a family home close to the CBD is a sound investment as residents could live in a beautiful detached home to raise a family near the best schools, enjoy a comfortable lifestyle with heaps of employment options, and still have savings in the bank.

The median house price for this suburb sits at $750,000, higher than the Queensland median. Homes in Mt Gravatt can be had for a reasonable budget for many buyers looking for a location with good access to the Gateway Motorway and other transport infrastructure; lifestyle and retail centres like Westfield Garden City; and schools such as Griffith University; and medical facilities.

During this 12-month period, 60 properties, listed at an average of 28 days on market, were sold in Mt Gravatt, indicating a tight market with such high demand, per data from Property Market Updates.

Unit Price Growth

Off the back of a resilient housing market, Mt Gravatt’s unit market has also improved in the same time period with an 8.60 percent growth on the median unit price. Listings were on the market for an average of 48 days, fetching a median unit price of $505,000.

Mt Gravatt’s apartment market attracts downsizing households who need access to good transportation and recreation, as well as young families who want a good education and employment opportunities.

TAFE Officially Opens New Fashion Centre of Excellence in Mt Gravatt

Budding fashion designers and talented creatives will benefit from TAFE Queensland’s new and upgraded Fashion Centre of Excellence building in Mt Gravatt. The $6.5 million training facility was officially opened on 8 Sept 2021.

In 2019, TAFE Queensland completed the first stage of the Fashion Centre of Excellence development, where students learn and develop skills that could support a livelihood or put them on the map as one of the world’s best fashion designers.

The second stage of the project invested in expanding and creating “modern, vibrant and inspiring learning spaces” where the designers can make use of industry-standard equipment and modern tools for learning.

“There are rooms for pattern making, millinery, sewing, stretch wear and screen printing, all with industry-standard machinery and equipment giving us everything we need to successfully bring our ideas to life,” TAFE Queensland announced.

“Couple that with the amazing teachers who break down the subject matter and guide us through it step by step and it’s a recipe for success.”

With more than 6,000 fashion, industrial and jewellery designers across the state, this industry has been building half a million jobs and contributing $27 billion dollars a year to Queensland’s economy.

Since the centre’s first stage completion, TAFE Mt Gravatt doubled its number of students to 294. The majority of the students are enrolled in the Diploma of Applied Fashion Design and Merchandising, one of the more popular courses at the Mt Gravatt facility.

“Investing in skills and training for young people to enter the workforce and strengthen industries is a key part of the COVID recovery,” Member for Greenslopes Joe Kelly said.

“We are taking the future of fashion and textile creatives seriously and supporting young Queenslanders to get a start in the industry.”

Free Skateboarding Lessons Held Monthly at PCYC Mount Gravatt

As part of the Forging Unique Skills and Experiences (FUSE) program, PCYC Mt Gravatt conducts FREE skateboarding lessons every month for young people between the ages of 12 to 25 years old.

The skateboarding workshops are held every second Monday and fifth Monday, if there is one for the month, under the expertise of coaches Claudia from Olliesonny. The sessions, which run from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., are open to all skill levels and the coaches also teach new tricks to the more experienced skateboarders.

For the rest of the year, here are the confirmed F.U.S.E. skateboarding workshop schedules at PCYC Mount Gravatt.

26 July
9 Aug
30 Aug

13 Sept
27 Sept
11 Oct

25 Oct
8 Nov
29 Nov

Skateboarding may seem hard and dangerous but once you start learning the skills and develop balance, it could be a healthy form of exercise. Skateboarding for hours allows the body to burn tons of calories and strengthen the legs and core.

In older kids, it’s could be a great means for getting around town. In young children, skateboarding builds up confidence as they attempt to master what seemed to be scary in the beginning.

In Australia, some 21 percent of young people engage in skateboarding as a form of recreation, exercise, or sport. It was integrated into the F.U.S.E. program of Brisbane City Council to help the youth learn new skills.

Bookings are required to participate in the skateboarding workshop. Phone 07 3420 4655 for more information.

Mt Gravatt, Nathan Have Highest Childcare Fees in Queensland

Did you know that families in Nathan and Mt Gravatt are spending more on childcare fees compared to families in the other suburbs of Brisbane?

According to the Federal Government’s latest report on Child Care in Australia, Nathan and Mt Gravatt residents are shelling out over $16,000 a year per child left with childminders. For families availing of the subsidies, the cost is reduced to 50 percent ($8,000/year) or 85 percent ($2,400), depending on the subsidy.

Families in Carindale, Holland Park, Indooroopilly, Kenmore, Sherwood and Yeronga are paying $15,000 a year for childcare (without subsidies). Elsewhere, families in Gympie, Ipswich and Jimboomba spend $10,000 to $12,000 a year.

In December 2020, Queensland’s average childcare cost per hour rose to 3.7 percent at $9.80, whilst the national average is at $10.50 despite a price freeze imposed by the Federal Government as part of the COVID-19 economic measures.

“Generally, the highest rates of growth have been in areas with lower fees. Many of the regions with the high average fee growth were in regional Queensland and other parts of regional Australia,” the report cited.

However, after subsidies, the average childcare cost per hour in Queensland should be at $3.28, deemed the lowest in the country. Federal Education Minister Alan Tudge said that a third of parents in Queensland are enjoying these lowered childcare fees.

The report comes as Prime Minister Scott Morrison signed the Family Assistance Legislation Amendment (Early Childhood Education and Care Coronavirus Response and Other Measures) Bill 2021 that will allow 99 percent of child care services to remain open during emergencies and disasters. This means that the facilities will continue to receive payments in case of massive emergencies, such as a pandemic.

“This legislation will give us the flexibility to respond with similar support during future crises,” Mr Tudge said. “We are investing a record $10.3 billion in child care this year, including $9 billion to subsidise fees for parents.”

Mt Gravatt Pie King Turns Over Piefection to Newcomers

A popular piemaker in Mt Gravatt is turning over his 12-year-old business, Piefection, to two dynamic newcomers seeking to expand the gourmet pie business.

Matt Roman — regarded as Brisbane’s pastry king for supplying gourmet pies to various restaurants, grocery shops, and butchers — has sold Piefection to Pierre de Villiers and David Rogers. The newcomers are planning to expand this pie business, which currently has two outlets: Mt Gravatt and Coorparoo.

Mr de Villiers and Mr Rogers are eyeing a northside expansion but the details are still under wraps. The business partners also said that they want to learn what the customers want as they grow Piefection and offer new flavours.

Mr Roman turned his pie business into a legendary staple, offering mouthwatering flavours like Jack Daniels BBQ Pork, the Guinness Beef and Mushroom Pie, or the Death by Chocolate pies.

Piefection became popular through word of mouth, as anyone who has tried his tasty treats can’t get enough of it. In fact, lines of customers are a common sight at his stores even after all these years. The pies are made fresh on the site every day using high-quality and locally-sourced ingredients.

With Piefection’s sale, Mr Roman is redirecting his focus on Iris, the new Mediterranean rooftop restaurant at Fortitude Valley’s Hotel X. He is also preparing to lead the kitchen of Willow, a new cafe in Balmoral from Stone’s Corner restaurateur Adam Dartnell.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Chef MATT ROMAN (@mattromanchef)

Meanwhile, pie lovers may follow Piefection on Facebook for updates on the latest developments, including store opening hours.

Upper Mount Gravatt State School: New Building Nears Completion

Construction of a new general learning facility at the Upper Mount Gravatt State School, which has been underway since October, is estimated to finish in May 2021.

In October 2020, Upper Mount Gravatt State School announced that a new facility was in the works, setting itself up to provide the school with 10 new classrooms on top of shaded learning and play areas.

The construction of the new facility, a general learning centre that would serve as an extension of the main campus, will be spearheaded by the project delivery company Wiley, who have been working on site since October. Completion of the project is expected to finish in May 2021.

This new facility came about to replace the temporary classrooms the school had brought in using a crane following a fire on the 14th of June 2019 which ravaged the campus, destroying the books, possessions, and artwork of over 200 students.

Through the combined efforts of six fire crews, the fire was under control in 90 minutes. Despite the swift response, much of the building had been destroyed, which led to the implementation of the aforementioned temporary classrooms to replace what had been lost in the fire.

It only took the school two days to get classes up and running again. To this day, the cause of the fire remains a mystery, and both the police and the fire investigators have deemed it suspicious.

The Upper Mount Gravatt State School is located at 1899 Logan Rd. For more information, visit their website here. Likewise, learn more about the project manager Wiley here. Follow the Facebook pages of both the school and Wiley for the latest updates and announcements concerning the new building.

Mt Gravatt Vultures Club Receives New Mouthguards for Upcoming Season

The Mt Gravatt Vultures Football Club has received all-new custom-fitted mouthguards from Bupa Dental Garden City, to enhance their health and safety for the coming 2021 season.

Dr Greg Thomas, the Principal Dentist at Bupa Dental Garden City, explained that providing mouthguards is the most direct and effective way they could support their local sports club.

“AFL is a physical sport and players can be at risk from dental trauma as a result of collisions or other mishaps. A custom-made mouthguard is an essential piece of personal protective equipment that can safeguard against unforeseen dental injuries incurred while playing the game.” says Dr Thomas.

Mouthguards play an important role in the safety of all football players, acting as shock absorbers for their mouths and teeth. If a player is hit in the face with a ball or through colliding with another player, the blow sends shockwaves through their teeth, jaw, and skull. A mouthguard effectively minimises the damage by capturing those shockwaves, diffusing them, and then dispersing them.

The Bupa Dental team, which has sponsored the Mt Gravatt Vultures Football Club for three years, has also taken this opportunity to inform and educate its players and members of staff on some of the dental issues caused by sports drinks. These drinks have the potential to cause tooth decay, which in turn influences sporting performance and general health.

With their new mouthguards, the Mt Gravatt Vultures will be able to protect themselves from potential injuries such as broken teeth, or mouth and tongue injuries.

The Mt Gravatt Vultures Football Club can be found in Dittmer Park, 40 Klumpp Rd, Upper Mt Gravatt. To learn more about Bupa Dental Garden City, visit their website or follow their social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates and announcements.

Just Cuts Mt. Gravatt Moves to New Location After 10 Years of Business

To celebrate their reopening on the 11th of March, 2021, barbershop Just Cuts Mt. Gravatt is offering free haircuts to 30 of their inaugural customers as they open their new venue on the ground floor of Westfield Garden City.

Following the drastic changes to the business landscape brought about by the pandemic, the Mt. Gravatt branch of Just Cuts salon has decided to relocate.

“We’re moving to a premium site right next to the food court,” says Michael Mercer, owner of the Just Cuts franchise. “It’s more attractive to me because our no appointments, just walk in business model suits higher foot traffic locations.”

COVID-19 has been particularly problematic for local businesses based in shopping centres such as Westfield Garden City as people are keen to spend less time in public indoor areas.

“Thursday night business has dropped 50% and weekends have dropped overall,” adds Mr. Mercer.

Despite Just Cuts’ apparent decline in customers, their weekdays have also become busier as customers would prefer to get in and out of salons as quickly as possible to follow COVID-19 guidelines and safety measures. In order to adapt to the new environment, a change of venues was necessary to increase engagement with the Mt. Gravatt community.

For the first time since the salon first set up ten years ago, Just Cuts Mt. Gravatt will change venues in order to adapt while the Queensland economy recovers. There will be no shutdown period between salon transfers, and Just Cuts’ priority will remain on hygiene and delivering quality haircuts to their customers.

“We want to maintain the confidence our clients have in our salon,” adds Mr. Mercer.

With a team of eight local artists, Just Cuts Mt. Gravatt is expected to reopen on Thursday, March 11, 2021, at 9:00AM. The new shop will be located at Westfield Garden City’s ground floor opposite Boost & Kathmandu, near the southern food court.

Follow their Facebook page for the latest news on deals, dates, and general updates.

KFC to Rise at Site of Mexican Eatery Montezuma

Montezuma, Mount Gravatt’s popular Mexican eatery found on the corner of Logan Road and Lumley Street, could soon close to make way for a new KFC outlet following the filing of a development application with Council.

According to the plan (DA A005637253), Montezuma’s fitout will not be torn down. Instead, the structures will undergo refacing, modifications and installations as it rebrands into a KFC, the popular American fried chicken fast-food chain.

Collins Property Development Pty Ltd filed the application in mid-January 2021. The plan also includes a drive-through section via Lumley Street.

Per the application, parts of the car park area will be reduced from 55 to 31 to accommodate a pedestrian pathway and a dedicated loading bay.

KFC — Photo Credit: PD Online/Brisbane City Council

KFC — Photo Credit: PD Online/Brisbane City Council

Meanwhile, a spokesperson from Mesa Australia Pty Ltd, which owns Montezuma, said that it’s still business as usual in their Mount Gravatt outlet, as they await the arrival of a new CEO by February.

The spokesperson didn’t reveal any relocation plans for Mount Gravatt. Montezuma has other outlets in Albany Creek, Capalaba, Taringa, and North Ipswich.

Montezuma has been a restaurant franchise since the late 1970s. As with other businesses in the food industry, the restaurant has scaled-down dine-in operations and has been offering takeaway options.