Homepage Latest News Archives - Page 34 of 41

Chermside Shoppers: Take Care And Be Calm When Parking At Shopping Centres, Suggests Report

Chermside holiday shoppers, take note. It pays to stay calm and extra careful when parking at shopping centres such as Westfield Chermside, advises the State’s peak motoring body, RACQ. So, don’t let any untoward incident at the carpark ruin all the fun in shopping, especially during the summer holidays.

November to December are the months with the most number of theft, vandalism and crash incidents happening in shopping centre car parks, according to insurance claims data gathered by RACQ. In the past three years, insurance claims from shopping centres have cost more than $72 million.

“Crashes and scrapes are common in shopping centre car parks year-round, but our data shows December and November are by far the worst months as people try to finalise their Christmas shopping, or just escape the heat,” RACQ spokesperson Lucinda Ross said.

Among the five shopping centres with most insurance claims, Indooroopilly Shopping Centre topped the list with 349 total claims over the past three years, from 1 November 2015 to 31 October 2018.

Westfield Chermside and Westfield Carindale came in second and third, respectively.

Photo Credit *Photo Credit: freestocks.org / Unsplash*

It is important, therefore, to reduce the risk of getting involved in theft or vehicle damage when in carparks which, Ms Ross said, can be done by doing a few simple things.

“With an expected influx of Christmas shoppers over the coming weeks we’re urging drivers to exercise simple courtesy and always obey carpark signage and normal road rules,” Ms Ross said.

“It’s important for people to take the time to completely secure their vehicles and make sure there are no bags or other valuables left in sight to tempt passing thieves.

“Treat your keys like cash, always keeping them in a safe, secure place on you when you’re out and about,” she said.

Top five shopping centres for insurance claims (1 November 2015 – 31 October 2018):

Indooroopilly Shopping Centre – 349 claims
Westfield Chermside – 342 claims
Westfield Carindale – 335 claims
Westfield Garden City – 261 claims
Sunnybank Plaza – 181 claims

BCC Christmas Lights Bus Tours to Commence for Northern Suburbs Route

Brisbane’s much-anticipated annual competition — 4KQ Christmas Lights™ — is back. So, make sure that you and your family gets to hop on any of the Brisbane City Council buses for the Christmas Lights Bus Tours, beginning 17 December to 21 December 2018.

Dazzling christmas lights are back on to add sparkle and cheer to this wonderful time of the year. Who wouldn’t want to spend a few hours just navigating the neighborhood and admiring the elaborate christmas light displays that lit-up the homes and establishments? Certainly not the kids and the child in all of us.

Whilst touring the neighborhood to see these amazing colorful christmas lights can be exciting and fun, it can be tiring as well if you have super excited and energetic kids with you.

Thankfully, we have the Council bus tours on hand to take the entire family around the northern suburbs. The Council bus christmas lights tour is a more comfortable way to enjoy the sights whilst keeping an eye on the kids and sharing the experience with other patrons in the tour.

The Council bus tours are scheduled to leave at exactly 6:45 P.M. from the bus interchanges and will travel Brisbane suburbs for about three hours (includes refreshment stops). Those who are interested are required to book their seats; tickets are now on sale.

The tours will depart from the following stops:

Chermside Shopping Centre (Stop D) to northern suburbs
City to northern suburbs (Ann Street, Anzac Square Stop 7)
Carindale Shopping Centre to eastern suburbs (Stop H)
Garden City Shopping Centre to southern suburbs (Stop J & K)
Indooroopilly Shopping Centre to western suburbs (Stop C)

*Photo Credit: James Baldwin / Unsplash*

About 4KQ Christmas Lights™ Competition

The 4KQ Christmas Lights™ Competition is an annual competition for Brisbane residents and business owners to put up their best christmas lights display and have a chance to win a share of cash and prizes worth over $20,000.
From December 6th – 24th December 2018, all displays must be on between 7.00 P.M. and 10.00 P.M. for the public viewing evenings.

Christmas Lights Bus Tours ticket details:

Adults: $22
Adult Admit + 1 Free Child under 4 years (Admit 2): $22
Adult Admit + 2 Free Children under 4 years (Admit 3): $22
Adult Admit + 3 Free Children under 4 years (Admit 4): $22
Adult Admit + 4 Free Children under 4 years (Admit 5): $22
Pensioners: $11
Children (4 to 14 years): $11
Full time students: $11.
Children under 4: free
Family ticket (2 adults + 2 children): $50

The two children’s tickets in the family rate can be substituted for any two patrons entitled to a concession fare. Transaction fees will apply for ticket purchases.

Buy Tickets

Westfield Chermside bus interchange, Stop D, Corner Gympie and Hamilton Roads, Chermside

New $27-Million Facility at Chermside’s The Prince Charles Hospital to Support Young People with Mental Health Illness

Work has begun on a $27-million mental health facility at The Prince Charles Hospital in Chermside to support young people suffering from mental health issues.

According to the Queensland Government, the new centre is their response to the closure of the Barrett Adolescent Centre. Until its closure in 2014, the Barrett Adolescent Centre was the state’s only youth mental health centre that provided accommodation for patients.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said that the project is part of the government’s $68.2-million investment to rebuild and expand mental health services for young people.

“My government is committed to making sure Queensland’s most vulnerable young people have access to highly specialised healthcare services to help them recover and return to their family, friends and communities,” the Premier said.

“We are delivering for young people experiencing mental health issues who were abandoned by the LNP.

“I want to thank the patients of the former Barrett Adolescent Centre and their families, and other young people with a lived experience of mental health services for their invaluable input which will ensure that this facility and its services will be safe and effective.”

The new facility will include 12 beds, a full-time daily school, a common space as well as space for training and classes.

Minister for Health Steven Miles thinks the construction of the new facility ushers in a new era in the treatment of teens aged 13-18 years with severe and complex mental illness.

“The centre will provide assessment, treatment and rehabilitation that fully integrates mental health services with educational programs delivered by teachers from the Department of Education.

“It will also provide a structured environment with a focus on improving the overall function of young people to increase their capacity and confidence to successfully transition back to their community.”

The mental health centre is expected to start operation in 2020.

Gympie Road Top Car Crash Hot Spot: Data Revealed

Motorists driving down Gympie Road beware! The said road that runs through Chermside, Aspley, and Kedron ranks as the top car crash hot spot, latest insurance claims data revealed.

RACQ revealed the list of 20 most accident-prone areas based on insurance claims data from 1 January 2015 – 31 October 2018. Many are not surprised with the list, RACQ spokesperson Kirsty Clinton said.

“Unfortunately, the top 20 list is made up of a lot of the usual suspects. Gympie Road took out the top three spots, with Mains Road at Sunnybank and Logan Road at Eight Mile Plains rounding out the top five,” Ms Clinton said.

“These roads are typically heavily congested, high volume, multi-lane roads with many intersections and locations for interactions between multiple vehicles,” Ms Clinton said.

“A large portion of the crashes will be rear-end crashes which happen during congestion and at traffic lights and sideswipes and crashes where drivers have failed to give way properly.”

“As always when behind the wheel, but even more so on busy roads, drivers need to avoid distraction, obey traffic signals, give way correctly, travel at a safe following distance and carefully check blind spots and indicate when merging or change lanes,” Ms Clinton concluded.

Here are some road rules for everyday driving according to the Queensland Government website:

Changing Lanes

Give way to any vehicle in the lane you are moving into, even if your lane is ending and you have to cross a lane line.
Before you change lanes, you must indicate for long enough to give warning to other road users
You must turn off your indicator after you have changed lanes or merged.

Merging

On roads where there are lanes marked on the road—if your lane comes to an end, you must give way to traffic already in the lane you are moving to.
On roads where there are no lanes marked on the road—when lines of traffic merge, you must give way to any vehicle that is ahead of you.

Queensland Road Rules – merging

Video Credit: TMRQld/YouTube

Giving way

You need to give way if:

the rules say that you must
there’s a give way or stop sign
there are stop or give way lines on the road
you’re turning right across the path of an oncoming vehicle at an intersection
you’re turning left or right at a T-intersection
you’re moving onto a road from a driveway or land next to a road
you’re moving off from being stopped on the side of the road
you’re doing a U-turn
you’re turning left at an intersection with a ‘left turn on red after stopping’ sign.

Queensland Road Rules – giving way

Video Credit: TMRQld/YouTube

Safe Following Distance

Drive at least 2 seconds behind the vehicle in front during ideal conditions.
When driving a vehicle towing a trailer or caravan, you should add 1 second extra for each 3m of trailer length.

Queensland Road Rules – safe following distances

Video Credit: TMRQld/YouTube

The top 20 most accident-prone locations in Brisbane:

Gympie Road, Chermside
Gympie Road, Aspley
Gympie Road, Kedron
Mains Road, Sunnybank
Logan Road, Eight Mile Plains
Moggill Road, Indooroopilly
Sandgate Road, Clayfield
Ipswich Road, Annerley
Anzac Avenue, Kippa-Ring
Anzac Avenue, Rothwell
Sandgate Road, Virginia
Milton Road, Milton
Pacific Motorway, Greenslopes
Logan Road, Mt Gravatt
Hamilton Road, Chermside
Coronation Drive, Milton
Beaudesert Road, Calamvale
Ipswich Motorway, Oxley
Old Cleveland Road, Carindale
Ipswich Motorway, Darra and Gateway Motorway, Nudgee.

Tramway Museum Tour to Reminisce Chermside and Other Northside Tram Routes

History buffs are in for a treat as the Brisbane Tramway Museum commemorates the closure of the Adelaide Street Tram with a bus tour of tram routes including the Chermside Tram Route.

It will be a nostalgic day on Sunday 2 December 2018, when Leyland Panther buses from Queensland Omnibus & Coach Society (QOCS) travel along some of the old tram routes in Brisbane’s northside.

This year marks the 50th year since the last tram service was completely terminated to make way for bus services.

Brisbane tram — Photo credit: brisbanetramwaymuseum.org

Event Details:

What:	Brisbane Tramway Bus Tour
When:	Sunday, 2 December 2018 12:15 p.m. departure
Where:	Buses depart from Brisbane Police HQ, 200 Roma Street, Brisbane
Fare:	$45 per person

The buses will travel along the Rainworth, Bardon, Chermside, Stafford, Grange and the Enoggera tram routes. Throughout the tour, a Tram Museum member will point passengers to interesting spots with historical significance.

Once the tour bus arrives at the Old Enoggera tram terminus, the bus will continue on to the Brisbane Tramway Museum for some afternoon tea and a tour of the museum. There will also be free tram rides up to 4:50 p.m. before the bus heads back to Roma Street Transit Centre at 5:00 p.m.

Last day of booking will be at 11:00 p.m. 28 November 2018.

Find out more about this nostalgic tour of the old tram at brisbanetramwaymuseum.org.

Chermside: One of the Brisbane Suburbs You Are More Likely to Get a Flat Tyre

Chermside is one of the suburbs in Brisbane where you are more likely to get a flat tyre, roadside assistance data revealed.

A total of 12,128 flat tyre incidents across Brisbane during the first six months of 2018 have been reported by RACQ Roadside Assistance patrols. The Queensland’s peak motoring body has identified the top five locations where there is a greater risk of encountering a flat tyre, with Eight Mile Plains claiming the top spot.

Regardless of your location, however, preventing this incident from happening in the first place could save you from the hassles and dangers arising from attempting to change the tyre yourself.

“Getting a flat tyre can be dangerous if you’re stopped on a busy road,” RACQ spokesperson Kirsty Clinton said.

“While we’ll be there to come to your rescue when you need us, it’s always better to try to prevent the issue from occurring in the first place.”

“Drivers should regularly check their tyres’ condition and pressure – that way they’ll have the best chance to avoid getting a flat,” she said.

“Look out for signs of wear and tear or damage to your tyres, foreign objects such as screws or nails in the tread, any regular drops in tyre pressure or unusual vibrations in your car. If any of these occur then you should see a tyre dealer as soon as possible,” concludes Ms Clinton.

Top five suburbs for flat tyres in Brisbane for the period 1 January – June 2018:

Eight Mile Plains – 159
Brisbane CBD – 148
Chermside – 147
Coorparoo – 144
Greenslopes – 143

Major causes of flat tyre include potholes and road debris. As much as possible, when you get a flat on a busy road, do not attempt to change the punctured tyre yourself. Pull over in a safer place and get help from a professional.

Rhys Greedy from QAS Chermside Received QBANK Everyday Hero Award for Achievement

Thirty-year-old paramedic at the QAS Chermside Station and cancer survivor Rhys Greedy was recently awarded the QBANK Everyday Hero Award for Achievement.

“Rhys is praised by his colleagues for being a consistently high achiever and contributing to a positive and enjoyable workplace. He also supports several charities, which stems from his own battle with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma,” QBANK said in their Facebook post.

Rhys Greedy is an Advanced Care Paramedic II at the Chermside Station. Following his discharge out of the army in 2015 and after battling Hodgkin Lymphoma, Rhys decided to embark on long-term career with emergency services as way of giving back to the community.

October 13th marked his nine years in remission from cancer and he has so far raised over $60,000 participating in overseas fundraising challenges. Beginning in 2014, he has overcome physical challenges trekking the French and Swiss Alps, the Himalayas, and Mount Kilimanjaro among others to raise funds for individuals undergoing cancer and other treatments.

2018 QBANK Everyday Heroes Awards

Video credit: QBANK/YouTube

The QBANK Everyday Heroes Awards were launched as part of QBANK’s 50th Anniversary celebrations in 2014. The Everyday Heroes Awards are given to the unsung heroes who went above and beyond their call of duty to contribute to their community. Nominees for the six award categories can be government employees or volunteer (Local/State/Federal) residing in Queensland, or employees whose job is principally concerned with administration of justice and protection of life/property.

Winners are chosen based on the following categories: Dedication, Ownership, Excellence, Working Together, Achievement, and Young Hero Award.

Everyday Hero Award for Achievement recognises a passionate individual who has:

Delivered outstanding performance and high achievement in their workplace or community
Inspired and encouraged optimism, enjoyment and fun in those around them.

Each winner receives $1,000 cash deposited into a QBANK account as well as $1,000 donated to their charity of choice. The Young Everyday Heroes Award winner receives a $500 bursary to assist with training and development.

Police Conducting a Free Seminar on Staying safe at Schoolies in Chermside

Schoolies is almost here again. Time for school leavers to have their well-deserved week-long holidays after completing Year 12. Whilst this is a great time for students to have fun and celebrate with their mates, preparing for a safe Schoolies is both the parents and the students’ responsibility.

If you have a student who is attending the Schoolies in 2018 or 2019, North Brisbane Crime Prevention Unit is having a free seminar for parents and students. The seminar aims to help school leavers experience a safe Schoolies.

Event Details

What: Free seminar on staying safe at Schoolies.

When: Wednesday, October 17, 2018 (7:00 p.m.)

Where: Sky Lounge Kedron Wavell RSL, Hamilton Road, Chermside

Schoolies parents evening at Kedron Wavell RSL – 2017 Photo credit: mypolice.qld.gov.au

Conversations regarding the Schoolies always spark interesting conversations between parents and students. This event is a great venue for discussing personal safety tips for students attending Schoolies. The seminar will also have guest speakers who will provide a wide variety of information and answer any questions.

Bookings are essential due to limited spots. To book or for further information call the North Brisbane District Crime Prevention Unit on 07 3364 3313 or email gateway.dcpc@police.qld.gov.au.

Staying Safe at Schoolies

To make the most of Schoolies, students must learn how to keep themselves as well as their mates safe. Apart from the free seminar from the police, the government has a dedicated site where parents, carers, and leavers can access more information about Schoolies.

Whitsundays Schoolies and Gold Coast Schoolies will be held from Saturday, 17 November to Friday, 23 November 2018.

Westfield Chermside Wins QLD Retail Property of the Year

Westfield Chermside emerges victorious as it earns the 2018 Queensland Retail Property of the Year award.

The Property Council of Australia‘s Retail Property of the Year Awards recognise and publicly reward exceptional retail properties and precincts in Queensland.

Judges choose retail properties or precincts based on their scores in the design, marketing, presentation, and food retailing criteria. Those that are selected in more than one category vie for the title of Queensland Retail Property of the Year – the state’s most prestigious retail award.

Westfield Chermside’s Impressive Expansion

Photo credit: Westfield Chermside/Facebook

For 2018, judges for the prestigious retail award were certainly impressed by Westfield Chermside’s second level expansion. Moreover, judges describe it as a compelling attraction that takes full advantage of Queensland’s sub-tropical climate, reflecting the highest standards of excellence in retail property.

Westfield Chermside is also lauded for its combination of beautiful design, excellent food and dining options, abundance of fashion retailers, and fantastic entertainment opportunities.

Apart from being Queensland’s Retail Property of the Year, Westfield Chermside also received the ‘Excellence in Food Retailing’ award.

Retail Property of the Year Awards 2018 Winners

Photo credit: Kawana Shoppingworld/Facebook

This year, the first ever Retail Innovation Award was given to Kawana Shoppingworld. The shopping precinct won the new category because of its cost-neutral, closed loop Organics Project. In fact, the project was able to recycle 71% of all waste on the site.

Excellence in Design

The Excellence in Design Awards acknowledge retail properties and precincts that demonstrate outstanding and creative design, material selection, social interface, and innovation. Following is the list for this year’s winners:

Boutique Retail : Allgas Building – Munich Brauhaus, South Bank
Neighbourhood Centres : Parkside Plaza Mackay
Sub Regional Centres : Town Square Redbank Plains
Super/Major Regional Centres : Westfield Chermside

Excellence in Marketing

Lunar New Year and Year Of The Dog celebrations are in full swing at the International Terminal.

🎁 You can collect a small gift from the wishing tree on the Village Green until 2 March. pic.twitter.com/dOXt1MfVOT

— Brisbane Airport ✈️ (@BrisbaneAirport) February 14, 2018

The Excellence in Marketing Awards recognise innovative events and campaigns that deliver outstanding results for the retail property or precinct as well as the community. Following is the list for this year’s winners:

Boutique Retail : Brisbane International Terminal – Lunar New Year
Neighbourhood Centres : Chatswood Central – $40K Giveaway
Sub Regional Centres : Kawana Shoppingworld – Meet Your Local
Regional Centres : Grand Plaza – Marsden State High Partnership
Judges’ Commendation : Toombul – Reinventing An Icon
Super/Major Regional Centres : Grand Central Shopping Centre – Spring Festival

Excellence in Presentation

Robina Town Centre’s new kids play space. Photo credit: Robina Town Centre/Facebook

The Excellence in Presentation Awards are presented to the property or precinct that shows an exceptional commitment to the highest standards of maintenance, cleaning, and customer experience. Following is the list for this year’s winners:

Boutique Retail : City Arcade and City Lane
Neighbourhood Centres : River Quay
Sub Regional Centres : Taigum Square
Regional Centres : Toowong Village
Super/Major Regional Centres : Robina Town Centre
Judges’ Commendation : Stockland Rockhampton

Excellence in Food Retailing

Credit: King Street/Facebook

The Excellence in Food Retailing Awards acknowledge food retail properties and precincts that have demonstrated outstanding design, tenant mix and innovation while exhibiting a return on investment for the retail property or precinct. Westfield Chermside is also named as this year’s winner. King Street, on the other hand, received the Judges’ Commendation.

Other winners for this year include:

Retail Property of the Year

Runner Up : King Street

Community Engagement Award

Grand Central Shopping Centre – Grand Central & TAFE Partnership

Boudoir Bazaar Fashion Market Returns to Chermside Bowls Club

On Sunday, 7 October 2018, Boudoir Bazaar Fashion Market will be back at the Chermside Bowls Club with a fresh rendition of the Super Summer Market.

If you want to overhaul your wardrobe without breaking the bank, this is the place to be. Great deals and fantastic finds abound! From 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., fashionistas can enjoy shopping in one of Brisbane’s most exciting pre-loved garment and accessory exchange.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Boudoir Bazaar Fashion Market (@boudoirbazaarfashion) on Sep 7, 2018 at 2:24pm PDT

Brands that will be up for grabs include Camilla, Sasha Drake, sass & bide, Ginger and Smart, Alannah Hill, Zimmermann, Leona Edmiston, Monsoon, Escada, Marc Jacobs, Calvin Klein, Ted Baker, and more.

Sustainable Fashion

Boudoir Bazaar Fashion Market says no to fast fashion and loves to recycle, upcycle, and see beautiful pieces, loved again with their Super Summer Market.

Photo credit: Boudoir Bazaar Fashion Market/Facebook

Want to stay stylish sustainably? Head over to the Chermside Bowls Club on Sunday and scan through a selection of fresh and colourful clothes, shoes, and accessories with low prices. Be summer-ready whilst saving the environment by giving pre-loved items a new home.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Boudoir Bazaar Fashion Market (@boudoirbazaarfashion) on Sep 19, 2018 at 1:59pm PDT

Entry to the market costs $2 per person and children may enter for free. Onsite parking are also available for free.

Fees collected at the entrance will be donated to a women’s charity.

Selling at the Super Summer Market

If you have clothing or dresses that you no longer wear but are too good to toss out, take advantage of this event and make money out of them. Boudoir Bazaar Fashion Market provides a great venue for fashionistas to sell their pre-loved items where customers are ready to buy them.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Boudoir Bazaar Fashion Market (@boudoirbazaarfashion) on Aug 26, 2018 at 1:58pm PDT

A stallholder fee of $60 comes with a trestle table (1.8 x .8m), a chair, and approximately 2 x 2.5m of space. You can also hire one commercial-grade clothing rack with wheels for $10.

Just remember that when selling, your garments must be priced and in a clean, undamaged, and wearable condition. You should also be flexible with your prices and be prepared to negotiate with buyers.

To be a seller or to apply for a stall, you may fill out their contact form online.