NEWS
An appeal against the Supreme Court decision back in May that ordered the reopening of the Waltons walkway has many nearby Fortitude Valley traders once again wondering if they have a commercial future.
Mount Cathay Pty Ltd, owner of the Waltons building that houses a 20-metre stretch of the vital walkway that links Valley Metro and the Brunswick Street railway station to McWhirters and beyond, is appealing against the court’s ruling on 19 March that it was responsible for the upkeep of its section of the walkway and that the walkway was safe to use. The court ordered the company to reopen the fire doors immediately and awarded court costs to Lend Lease, owners of the adjoining Valley Metro centre, who brought the legal action that ended the three-and-a-half months’ long impasse.
Pedestrian traffic through to the McWhirters retail space and beyond slowed to a trickle after the walkway closed on Sunday night 10 December 2011 and The Independent understands that walkthrough figures have never recovered fully and are still 20 to 25 per cent down on pre-closure levels.
In recent months, a number of McWhirters traders have closed their doors. Perhaps the biggest blow was the closure of long-term tenant Bakers Crust that supplied many other local outlets with their bakery needs. Others to shut up shop have included 000 Look Shiny pop art collectables, Bewitching Blooms florists and an Indian food takeaway. At least three other tenants have told The Independent they are counting down the months to current leases expire so they too can walk away.
After the Waltons walkway doors were reopened, remedial work was undertaken on that section, with a smooth industrial vinyl flooring replacing the tiled surface that had a number of tiles broken or missing.
Hearing of the appeal has reportedly been adjourned until 11 September.
Monday, September 3, 2012
Eleven long years!
The staff at the iconic Fat Boys eatery in the Valley mall were almost delirious with joy when they heard the news that this edition marks the eleventh birthday of the Indie, as Dan at left points out digitally along with Emily, Daniel and Lorin.
Not sure how it started, but it has been a tradition this past decade to use the sassy, hippily flipperty, happily wacky crew at Fat Boys to mark each loss-leading anniversary of publishing this rag.
Eleven long years! You only get four more for murder!
OUR SAY!
We’re sticking with our copycat cleat campaign for one simple reason:
THEY'LL CLEAT CHEAT AGAIN!
The gloves are now off in our campaign to force Graham Quirk and the LNP to never again use the council “copycat cleat” that blighted the recent council election campaign and seriously tainted their victory.
We now declare a simple truth: they cheated. It’s that plain. And this paper believes the vast majority of our readers would agree.
We’ve been asking the Lord Mayor a simple question for months: why did he and his Team Quirk candidates use what to most people is a pattern of the yellow and blue blocks indistinguishable from the official city council cleat that must not be used for political purposes. The Lord Mayor hasn’t provided an answer to why his party did that because there simply is not a logical and reasonable answer to give.
It was mean and tricky politics and by their actions, the Lord Mayor and his candidates thumbed their noses at the ratepayers they are supposed to serve. Their message: you might have to follow both the spirit and letter of council rules, but if there’s a vote to be had, we can do what we bloody well like! And by their ongoing silence on this issue, they clearly don’t give a toss about fairness and playing by the rules.
And it’s why we can make this fearless prediction: they’ll do it again in 2016 because it’s too damned effective not to!
We’ve been asking the Lord Mayor a simple question for months: why did he and his Team Quirk candidates use what to most people is a pattern of the yellow and blue blocks indistinguishable from the official city council cleat that must not be used for political purposes. The Lord Mayor hasn’t provided an answer to why his party did that because there simply is not a logical and reasonable answer to give.
It was mean and tricky politics and by their actions, the Lord Mayor and his candidates thumbed their noses at the ratepayers they are supposed to serve. Their message: you might have to follow both the spirit and letter of council rules, but if there’s a vote to be had, we can do what we bloody well like! And by their ongoing silence on this issue, they clearly don’t give a toss about fairness and playing by the rules.
And it’s why we can make this fearless prediction: they’ll do it again in 2016 because it’s too damned effective not to!
The Independent understands that regardless of which party controls City Hall, the council itself has a high public-rating approval – somewhere in the vicinity of 70 to 80 per cent. Someone in the LNP ruthlessly decided to exploit that by using a design in LNP political propaganda so similar to the official cleat as it’s called that they simply cannot offer any reasonable explanation as to how it differs from the official design. The reality is that it differs very little at all, if that. And that’s exactly why the LNP designed it that way and that’s why it was used so extensively in campaign material, as shown above. And it’s why they’ll have no compunction whatsoever to do it again. The ALP will presumably – and in our view very stupidly – do the right thing and steer clear of any such image trickery and deceit. They could pay a heavy price for such honesty: when the council poll comes around and if the competition for City Hall is a much closer affair than it was this time, then there’s a very good chance that Team Quirk could get over the line via its disgraceful manipulation of such imagery and its thumbing of the nose at council rules.
That’s right: Quirk and Co will happily win the next poll not on their record, but on a ruse and a rort if that’s what it takes.
And that’s why this newspaper runs this campaign. We have a Lord Mayor who expects ratepayers to do the right thing but he can bend the rules shamelessly if there’s an extra vote to be had from it.
We believe ratepayers everywhere should view with absolute distain any politician at any level who adheres to the warped philosophy that the end justifies the means. That only makes for very, very bad politicians.
The Lord Mayor could put a stop to this right now by simply declaring that the LNP and his Team Quirk candidates will never again use a design in political material that even remotely looks like the council’s intellectual property. Sadly, he’s not going to. It’s unethical, it’s sneaky, it’s deceitful, it’s too tricky by half – but it’s also a winner for him and, sadly, he knows it.
What the Lord Mayor answered ... and what he didn’tEmail sent on 13 April:
Preface: In a letter to Chairman of Council Councillor Krista Adams on 28 October last year, the council’s CEO Colin Jensen said in response to a question as to whether the council’s cleat could be used in political material: “No. MC026 Marketing, Communications and Advertising Policy states that Council’s logo and cleat are used to indicate council program association and activity. These design elements as set out in council’s Visual Style Guide must not be used on material that is of a political nature.”
We therefore ask:
1. Was the CEO’s take on council policy correct then?
Answer: Yes
That’s right: Quirk and Co will happily win the next poll not on their record, but on a ruse and a rort if that’s what it takes.
And that’s why this newspaper runs this campaign. We have a Lord Mayor who expects ratepayers to do the right thing but he can bend the rules shamelessly if there’s an extra vote to be had from it.
We believe ratepayers everywhere should view with absolute distain any politician at any level who adheres to the warped philosophy that the end justifies the means. That only makes for very, very bad politicians.
The Lord Mayor could put a stop to this right now by simply declaring that the LNP and his Team Quirk candidates will never again use a design in political material that even remotely looks like the council’s intellectual property. Sadly, he’s not going to. It’s unethical, it’s sneaky, it’s deceitful, it’s too tricky by half – but it’s also a winner for him and, sadly, he knows it.
What the Lord Mayor answered ... and what he didn’tEmail sent on 13 April:
Preface: In a letter to Chairman of Council Councillor Krista Adams on 28 October last year, the council’s CEO Colin Jensen said in response to a question as to whether the council’s cleat could be used in political material: “No. MC026 Marketing, Communications and Advertising Policy states that Council’s logo and cleat are used to indicate council program association and activity. These design elements as set out in council’s Visual Style Guide must not be used on material that is of a political nature.”
We therefore ask:
1. Was the CEO’s take on council policy correct then?
Answer: Yes
2. Does that policy still apply, or have the rules changed?
Answer: This policy still applies. It has not changed.
3. If so, when?
Answer: N/A
4. If the rules have not changed, why are you and some of your LNP candidates using the council cleat, or a design so similar to it that any reasonable person could think they are one and the same, in political advertising material?
Answer: LNP political advertising material does not use the Council cleat or the Council logo.
Our followup questions in April
1. Do you accept that the pattern of blue and yellow blocks down the left hand side of roadside hoardings, footpath signs, candidate pamphlets, business cards and even a campaign car is so similar in look and location to the council cleat used on official council documents that any reasonable person could be mistaken for believing they are one and the same?
2. Given that the electorate has proven time and time again that it is opposed to parties that resort to tricky or sneaky campaign techniques, would you like to offer the ratepayers of Brisbane an unconditional apology for the use of a design that can be so easily mistaken by any reasonable person to be in fact the council's intellectual property?
3. If as I suspect, the answers to both of the above are going to be a blunt “no”, please explain the difference between the council cleat and the design used in LNP advertising and state why you believe there’s no likelihood at all that any reasonable ratepayer could confuse the two?
No answers provided despite repeated requests
Answer: This policy still applies. It has not changed.
3. If so, when?
Answer: N/A
4. If the rules have not changed, why are you and some of your LNP candidates using the council cleat, or a design so similar to it that any reasonable person could think they are one and the same, in political advertising material?
Answer: LNP political advertising material does not use the Council cleat or the Council logo.
Our followup questions in April
1. Do you accept that the pattern of blue and yellow blocks down the left hand side of roadside hoardings, footpath signs, candidate pamphlets, business cards and even a campaign car is so similar in look and location to the council cleat used on official council documents that any reasonable person could be mistaken for believing they are one and the same?
2. Given that the electorate has proven time and time again that it is opposed to parties that resort to tricky or sneaky campaign techniques, would you like to offer the ratepayers of Brisbane an unconditional apology for the use of a design that can be so easily mistaken by any reasonable person to be in fact the council's intellectual property?
3. If as I suspect, the answers to both of the above are going to be a blunt “no”, please explain the difference between the council cleat and the design used in LNP advertising and state why you believe there’s no likelihood at all that any reasonable ratepayer could confuse the two?
No answers provided despite repeated requests
Time to get ready for storms, Quirk urges
NEWS
Brisbane’s residents are being urged to prepare for the summer storm season – especially after feeling the brunt of south-east Queensland’s unpredictable summer weather over recent years.
Lord Mayor Graham Quirk (pictured) said council invested millions of dollars each year into getting the city ready for severe weather and it was vital for residents to prepare too.
“This financial year, council will invest more than $15 million to mitigate the effects of flooding, with major upgrades to Brisbane’s stormwater drainage network and the design and construction of backflow prevention devices around the city,” Cr Quirk said. “Council is also helping residents to prepare for storm season by offering free disposal of green waste weekends at any council transfer station on 8 to 9 and 22 to 23, September and 6 to 7, October.
“The devastating 2011 floods and the 2008 Gap storms offer a stark reminder of just how severe the weather can get, and why we cannot afford to become complacent about the dangers of winds, hail, heavy rains and flash flooding.
“Severe storms can result in property damage, flooding, power outages and isolation due to floodwaters and debris, so preparing for severe weather is crucial for residents’ safety and damage prevention.”
Cr Quirk said a further $1.5 million wouold be put towards a new SES depot to be built at Anstead.
“Residents can also take a number of simple low -cost steps to reduce their risk this season, such as, signing up to council’s free Early Warning Alert Service,” he said.
“More than 60,000 households have already signed up for the service which alerts them when severe weather may affect their residential address.”
Cr Quirk also encouraged homeowners and residents to get storm-prepared by:
• Preparing an emergency kit containing a torch, portable radio, spare batteries, first aid kit, emergency contact numbers and important documents such as insurance papers.
• Cleaning up the yard, triming tree branches clear of the house, cleaning gutters and downpipes of leaf litter, and checking their roof and skylights are in good condition.
• Putting away or tying down loose items in the yard, such as kids’ toys and outdoor furniture
• Sheltering and securing pets, and puttingvehicles under cover if possible or covering with blankets.
• Understanding flood risk using council tools, which they can find through the ‘Be Prepared’ website – www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/beprepared
•Ensuring valuables are stored up high if flooding is likely to affect your property.
Residents who sign up to the Early Warning Alert Service between September and March will also go into the draw to win a free Emergency Kit, courtesy of Council and Energex, with two emergency kits be given away each month.
“The devastating 2011 floods and the 2008 Gap storms offer a stark reminder of just how severe the weather can get, and why we cannot afford to become complacent about the dangers of winds, hail, heavy rains and flash flooding.
“Severe storms can result in property damage, flooding, power outages and isolation due to floodwaters and debris, so preparing for severe weather is crucial for residents’ safety and damage prevention.”
Cr Quirk said a further $1.5 million wouold be put towards a new SES depot to be built at Anstead.
“Residents can also take a number of simple low -cost steps to reduce their risk this season, such as, signing up to council’s free Early Warning Alert Service,” he said.
“More than 60,000 households have already signed up for the service which alerts them when severe weather may affect their residential address.”
Cr Quirk also encouraged homeowners and residents to get storm-prepared by:
• Preparing an emergency kit containing a torch, portable radio, spare batteries, first aid kit, emergency contact numbers and important documents such as insurance papers.
• Cleaning up the yard, triming tree branches clear of the house, cleaning gutters and downpipes of leaf litter, and checking their roof and skylights are in good condition.
• Putting away or tying down loose items in the yard, such as kids’ toys and outdoor furniture
• Sheltering and securing pets, and puttingvehicles under cover if possible or covering with blankets.
• Understanding flood risk using council tools, which they can find through the ‘Be Prepared’ website – www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/beprepared
•Ensuring valuables are stored up high if flooding is likely to affect your property.
Residents who sign up to the Early Warning Alert Service between September and March will also go into the draw to win a free Emergency Kit, courtesy of Council and Energex, with two emergency kits be given away each month.
Plaza set to transform The Ekka in 2013
NEWS
Next year’s Ekka is set to be transformed by the RNA’s new $7.5 million plaza which will provide an exciting open plan flexible exhibition space which can be used by the public all year round.
The 7,000 square metre plaza forms part of stage one of Australia’s largest Brownfield development and the most significant urban renewal project in Brisbane since Southbank – the $2.9 billion 15 year RNA Showgrounds Regeneration Project.
The plaza’s design and plans were unveiled at the Ekka Media Launch in Brisbane today with construction set to start following completion of this year’s Ekka in August.
RNA President David Thomas said the new plaza would be located in front of the Royal International Convention Centre with works expected to take about six months and be completed by mid-February.
“Construction will be undertaken by Lend Lease and includes the removal of several buildings, including the RNA Administration Office, which is planned to occur after the Ekka is over. The new plaza will feature state of the art Wi- Fi and fibre optic facilities; upper and lower terrace areas; more than 5,000 small to medium shrubs, plus almost 50 eight metre high trees providing immediate shade.”
Mr Thomas said the RNA designed the plaza to incorporate the rich history of the showgrounds and the Ekka by linking the heritage elements in a flexible space which flowed to the convention centre.
“We are thrilled the ground floor of the convention centre will be in use for the show this year and will house our largest competition – The Royal Queensland Dog Show – plus our popular Agricultural Hall and horticulture exhibits,” he said.
“Next year visitors to the Ekka will be able to enjoy this brand new plaza area and the convention centre in its entirety. This is why the RNA embarked on our legacy setting regeneration project, as it ensures the Ekka remains here at the showgrounds – its rightful birthplace - for future generations to enjoy. The regeneration will also provide state of the art facilities for our competitors, exhibitors, visitors and animals to enjoy at the Ekka each year.”
Lend Lease Project Director Glen Steedman said this was the most significant public area yet unveiled as part of the RNA Showgrounds Regeneration Project.
“We are proud to partner with the RNA in delivering what will be a valuable space in the heart of the precinct.”
Valley Fiesta goes back to its roots
NEWS
The line up for the 2012 Valley Fiesta in late October has been announced – and it’s being touted as a return to the event’s original roots, with the focus purely on music.
The headline act will be US hip hop icon and two time Grammy Award winners Arrested Development
Announcing the line-up, Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said the fiesta would boast top international, national and local acts and would see the streets and 35 venues transform into a bustling hub of music and live entertainment from Friday 26 to Sunday 28 October.
“I’m about boosting economic development for Brisbane and events like Valley Fiesta which attract around 50,000 attendees is one example of how I am making this happen,” Cr Quirk said.
“It’s great to watch the Valley transform into a hub of music and live entertainment when thousands gather together over three days for Brisbane’s biggest street party.”
Cr Quirk said that as one of Brisbane’s most-loved annual festivals, Valley Fiesta 2012 would have something to suit every musical taste, from live music, dance and electronic beats to indie-rock, hip hop and everything in between.
Among the national acts headlining this year’s fiesta will be Sydney duo, The Aston Shuffle, who will be bringing their big-dance-floor vibes and strikingly visually productions to the Valley streets. Flying the flag for Queensland will be locals Wolf & Club who, fresh from their performance at Splendour, will be rocking the crowd at Fiesta.
Other acts on the Valley Fiesta 2012 line-up include Young Men Dead, Mitzi , Flume, Aydos, Palindromes, Andrew Lynch, Glass Towers, Belligerents, Hey Geronimo, LL Cool James, Cub Scouts, Midnight Tango, Elizabeth Rose, The Medics, Op-Thomas Prime, Tim Fuchs, Muscles, Sweepless, Jeremy Neale, Danny Cool, Kate Martin, Founds, Baby Making Djs, Royal Blood, James Wright, Gung Ho, The Pretures, The Ladyboyvalley fie, Violent Soho and Deep Sea Arcade
Valley Fiesta 2012 is proudly presented by Brisbane City Council, working in partnership with local Fortitude Valley venues.
• For further information, keep an eye on the festival website www.valleyfiesta.com or become a Fan of Valley Fiesta on Facebook.com/valleyfiesta.
The line up for the 2012 Valley Fiesta in late October has been announced – and it’s being touted as a return to the event’s original roots, with the focus purely on music.
The headline act will be US hip hop icon and two time Grammy Award winners Arrested Development
Announcing the line-up, Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said the fiesta would boast top international, national and local acts and would see the streets and 35 venues transform into a bustling hub of music and live entertainment from Friday 26 to Sunday 28 October.
“I’m about boosting economic development for Brisbane and events like Valley Fiesta which attract around 50,000 attendees is one example of how I am making this happen,” Cr Quirk said.
“It’s great to watch the Valley transform into a hub of music and live entertainment when thousands gather together over three days for Brisbane’s biggest street party.”
Cr Quirk said that as one of Brisbane’s most-loved annual festivals, Valley Fiesta 2012 would have something to suit every musical taste, from live music, dance and electronic beats to indie-rock, hip hop and everything in between.
Among the national acts headlining this year’s fiesta will be Sydney duo, The Aston Shuffle, who will be bringing their big-dance-floor vibes and strikingly visually productions to the Valley streets. Flying the flag for Queensland will be locals Wolf & Club who, fresh from their performance at Splendour, will be rocking the crowd at Fiesta.
Other acts on the Valley Fiesta 2012 line-up include Young Men Dead, Mitzi , Flume, Aydos, Palindromes, Andrew Lynch, Glass Towers, Belligerents, Hey Geronimo, LL Cool James, Cub Scouts, Midnight Tango, Elizabeth Rose, The Medics, Op-Thomas Prime, Tim Fuchs, Muscles, Sweepless, Jeremy Neale, Danny Cool, Kate Martin, Founds, Baby Making Djs, Royal Blood, James Wright, Gung Ho, The Pretures, The Ladyboyvalley fie, Violent Soho and Deep Sea Arcade
Valley Fiesta 2012 is proudly presented by Brisbane City Council, working in partnership with local Fortitude Valley venues.
• For further information, keep an eye on the festival website www.valleyfiesta.com or become a Fan of Valley Fiesta on Facebook.com/valleyfiesta.
Wilston Grange .... peerless and spotless
NEWS
Brisbane’s Spotless Suburbs and Spotless Schools competition winners have been announced. Now in its fourth year the competition – an initiative of Keep Australia Beautiful Queensland in partnership with the Brisbane City Council and SITA Australia – aims to encourage a clean, green and litter-free Brisbane.
The annual awards recognise local community groups and individuals’ efforts and commitment to a clean, green local environment.
The winners are selected from the Brisbane city’s 26 council Wards after expert judging in seven categories. This year schools – both primary and secondary– were also eligible to enter in each category.
The overall Brisbane Spotless Suburb 2012 winners were:
• Brisbane spotless primary school – Algester State School (Parkinson Ward
• Brisbane spotless secondary school – Mount Gravatt High School (Wishart Ward)
• Brisbane’s spotless suburb – Wilston (Central Ward).
Lord Mayor Graham Quirk praised all the winners for their excellence in community pride.
More details on each of the category winners are available on the Keep Australia Beautiful Queensland website www.kabq.org.au
• Contact your local councillor or ward office to enter next year’s competition or visit www.brisbane.gov.au for my details.
Pictured at top with Lord Mayor Graham Quirk and Central Ward councillor Vicki Howard (right) are Rehanna Gayn from Wilston Grange State School and Wilston Grange resident Rachel Bradhurst
The winners are selected from the Brisbane city’s 26 council Wards after expert judging in seven categories. This year schools – both primary and secondary– were also eligible to enter in each category.
The overall Brisbane Spotless Suburb 2012 winners were:
• Brisbane spotless primary school – Algester State School (Parkinson Ward
• Brisbane spotless secondary school – Mount Gravatt High School (Wishart Ward)
• Brisbane’s spotless suburb – Wilston (Central Ward).
Lord Mayor Graham Quirk praised all the winners for their excellence in community pride.
More details on each of the category winners are available on the Keep Australia Beautiful Queensland website www.kabq.org.au
• Contact your local councillor or ward office to enter next year’s competition or visit www.brisbane.gov.au for my details.
Pictured at top with Lord Mayor Graham Quirk and Central Ward councillor Vicki Howard (right) are Rehanna Gayn from Wilston Grange State School and Wilston Grange resident Rachel Bradhurst
House prices hold their ground: REIQ
PROPERTY NEWS
Queensland home buyers retreated from the property market in the June quarter as they waited for the return of stamp duty concessions but house prices held their ground, according to the latest Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ) data.
The REIQ June quarter median house price report shows house prices remaining steady in the face of lower sales activity across the State.
REIQ CEO Anton Kardash said there was a noticeable slow-down in activity from May to June.
“The State Government introduced legislation into parliament in mid-May to reinstate the Principal Place of Residence concession on stamp duty from 1 July this year,” he said. “The return of the concession meant home buyers, who were not first-timers or investors, could save up to $7000 from 1 July, so it is little wonder that many decided to delay their purchases until after that date.
“Even though sales activity was lower in the month of June in particular, our June quarter data found no significant variations on median prices which means our market is still holding up well. The four rate cuts since November are also starting to have a positive effect on the market.”
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the number of homes financed to non-first home buyers in Queensland decreased 12.8 per cent between May and June this year. The median house price in Brisbane decreased 1 per cent to an even $500,000 over the June quarter.
The top performing major region over the June quarter was Moreton Bay which recorded median house price growth of 5.3 per cent to $379,000. Moreton Bay, which is part of Greater Brisbane, has a variety of more affordable suburbs which are still within commuting distance of the CBD. Its location and supply of affordable housing is therefore attractive to first home buyers and investors.
Outside of the state’s south-east, Townsville recorded median house price growth of 4.2 per cent to $375,000 over the June quarter. Townsville’s economy continues to fair well due its mix of industries.
“Townsville is in the enviable position of having a number of different industries to underpin its economy,” REIQ chairman Pamela Bennett said.
“Therefore, unlike other regional areas it is not reliant on one particular industry, which is why its economy has continued to perform solidly. Also as Townsville is a garrison city, sales activity from defence force personnel continues to provide some added buoyancy to its property market.”
Median house price growth appears to have plateaued in Gladstone for the second consecutive quarter however the region still posted an increase of 14.6 per cent over the year ending June.
Toowoomba posted its second quarter of positive results with its median house price increasing 3.8 per cent to $299,000.
Mr Kardash said the fundamentals of the Queensland property market remained positive however it was important to remember that real estate was predominantly a confidence industry.
“We had improving confidence levels at the start of the June quarter, but the continued economic uncertainty here and overseas has had an impact on confidence levels generally,” he said.
“We believe the market will eventually start to hit its stride in a more vigorous manner due to pent-up demand, population growth and the ongoing mining boom putting pressure on the real estate market.
“But this may take longer than we originally believed because of the ongoing uncertainty about our State’s finances. Once this has been addressed, we should see the gates of confidence open once more.
Queensland home buyers retreated from the property market in the June quarter as they waited for the return of stamp duty concessions but house prices held their ground, according to the latest Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ) data.
The REIQ June quarter median house price report shows house prices remaining steady in the face of lower sales activity across the State.
REIQ CEO Anton Kardash said there was a noticeable slow-down in activity from May to June.
“The State Government introduced legislation into parliament in mid-May to reinstate the Principal Place of Residence concession on stamp duty from 1 July this year,” he said. “The return of the concession meant home buyers, who were not first-timers or investors, could save up to $7000 from 1 July, so it is little wonder that many decided to delay their purchases until after that date.
“Even though sales activity was lower in the month of June in particular, our June quarter data found no significant variations on median prices which means our market is still holding up well. The four rate cuts since November are also starting to have a positive effect on the market.”
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the number of homes financed to non-first home buyers in Queensland decreased 12.8 per cent between May and June this year. The median house price in Brisbane decreased 1 per cent to an even $500,000 over the June quarter.
The top performing major region over the June quarter was Moreton Bay which recorded median house price growth of 5.3 per cent to $379,000. Moreton Bay, which is part of Greater Brisbane, has a variety of more affordable suburbs which are still within commuting distance of the CBD. Its location and supply of affordable housing is therefore attractive to first home buyers and investors.
Outside of the state’s south-east, Townsville recorded median house price growth of 4.2 per cent to $375,000 over the June quarter. Townsville’s economy continues to fair well due its mix of industries.
“Townsville is in the enviable position of having a number of different industries to underpin its economy,” REIQ chairman Pamela Bennett said.
“Therefore, unlike other regional areas it is not reliant on one particular industry, which is why its economy has continued to perform solidly. Also as Townsville is a garrison city, sales activity from defence force personnel continues to provide some added buoyancy to its property market.”
Median house price growth appears to have plateaued in Gladstone for the second consecutive quarter however the region still posted an increase of 14.6 per cent over the year ending June.
Toowoomba posted its second quarter of positive results with its median house price increasing 3.8 per cent to $299,000.
Mr Kardash said the fundamentals of the Queensland property market remained positive however it was important to remember that real estate was predominantly a confidence industry.
“We had improving confidence levels at the start of the June quarter, but the continued economic uncertainty here and overseas has had an impact on confidence levels generally,” he said.
“We believe the market will eventually start to hit its stride in a more vigorous manner due to pent-up demand, population growth and the ongoing mining boom putting pressure on the real estate market.
“But this may take longer than we originally believed because of the ongoing uncertainty about our State’s finances. Once this has been addressed, we should see the gates of confidence open once more.
Not the Ekka I remember!
FROM MY CORNER .... with Ann Brunswick
Your Ann made her way out to the showgrounds on the final day of the Ekka last Saturday – and, boy or girl, was I far from impressed! My high heels were killing me after wandering around the artwork display – where, by the way, I just love to shake my pretty little head in disagreement with whatever has won each section – so about 5.15pm I decided to hobble up to the main show ring and take in the entertainment for an hour or so.
Well, halfway across the oval towards Machinery Hill, some kids were having a game of cricket. The couple of blokes in charge of this rivetting spectacle looked like they hadn’t chased down a well-struck cover drive for a decade or three. The kids tried their hardest but no-one appeared capable of sending a ball anywhere near the batter.
Now don’t get me wrong here. Your Ann is the nation’s second worst cricket tragic, a title I hold only because John Howard is unfortunately still alive. I was a well-performed member of both my high school’s boys and girls teams and I love the game to bits. So much so that my trusty RangeRover will instinctively lurch sideways on a Saturday morning to find a park and take in a half-hour of any cricket match being played at any level on one of our city’s suburban parks.
But that doesn’t cost me anything, When I’ve paid $27 or so to get into the Ekka, I’d like to think something of interest is always going on in the main ring. Or at least that’s the way I remembered it when my foster parents and I used to take to the hard seats in the aforementioned machinery hill about mid-afternoon and stayed there until after the crackers.
To sit there last Saturday and watch these handful of kids in an almost silent, slow-motion pantomime was not my idea of money well spent.
And here’s where the problem lay. The only other thing going on in the main ring was a promotion for some new-fangled cricket organisation called cricket legends or some such thing. I guess it must be the flannelled fools’ answer to rugby league’s Origin Legends, and way across the oval to my left, some famous former Aussie cricketers were in a marquee signing autographs for kids.
Very exciting, I’m sure, for the kids that got the likes of Glenn McGrath and Ian Healy and someone called Adam (Gilchrist, I guessed) to sign something for them but here’s a tip for Ekka organisers – watching a line of kids snake their way into a tent for a half-hour is not top-shelf entertainment by any stretch of the imagination,
The ringside announcer did ask that children be moved off the outside dirt track in case something exciting was to take place there – but it never did.
The PA prattled on about how Suncorp was the main sponsor for this new venture but we in the crowd already had that one figured out: the entire signage available to Suncorp from the greater Brisbane area had been set up around the marquee.
Maybe the bank demanded that this boring and lengthy process take place on the main ring? But it should have been held on the second oval or somewhere else. Oh, that’s right ... I forgot. When you start slicing off the best part of a third of the Ekka grounds for private residential development, there’s probably nowhere else for it to go!
Anyway, after about 40minutes of non-activity, the PA did declare that the teams were starting to set up for the Queensland/NSW woodchop competition. After watching a marquee doing nothing for half an hour, a few tractors driving around with hardwood poles was rather mentally stimulating, I must admit.
I left when the announcer explained that the woodchop would take place after the national anthem at 6pm. The strains of Advance Australia Fair reached my pretty little ears as I hobbled past the old poultry sheds on my way out. I guess they’ll be on their way out soon as well.
Your Ann made her way out to the showgrounds on the final day of the Ekka last Saturday – and, boy or girl, was I far from impressed! My high heels were killing me after wandering around the artwork display – where, by the way, I just love to shake my pretty little head in disagreement with whatever has won each section – so about 5.15pm I decided to hobble up to the main show ring and take in the entertainment for an hour or so.
Well, halfway across the oval towards Machinery Hill, some kids were having a game of cricket. The couple of blokes in charge of this rivetting spectacle looked like they hadn’t chased down a well-struck cover drive for a decade or three. The kids tried their hardest but no-one appeared capable of sending a ball anywhere near the batter.
Now don’t get me wrong here. Your Ann is the nation’s second worst cricket tragic, a title I hold only because John Howard is unfortunately still alive. I was a well-performed member of both my high school’s boys and girls teams and I love the game to bits. So much so that my trusty RangeRover will instinctively lurch sideways on a Saturday morning to find a park and take in a half-hour of any cricket match being played at any level on one of our city’s suburban parks.
But that doesn’t cost me anything, When I’ve paid $27 or so to get into the Ekka, I’d like to think something of interest is always going on in the main ring. Or at least that’s the way I remembered it when my foster parents and I used to take to the hard seats in the aforementioned machinery hill about mid-afternoon and stayed there until after the crackers.
To sit there last Saturday and watch these handful of kids in an almost silent, slow-motion pantomime was not my idea of money well spent.
And here’s where the problem lay. The only other thing going on in the main ring was a promotion for some new-fangled cricket organisation called cricket legends or some such thing. I guess it must be the flannelled fools’ answer to rugby league’s Origin Legends, and way across the oval to my left, some famous former Aussie cricketers were in a marquee signing autographs for kids.
Very exciting, I’m sure, for the kids that got the likes of Glenn McGrath and Ian Healy and someone called Adam (Gilchrist, I guessed) to sign something for them but here’s a tip for Ekka organisers – watching a line of kids snake their way into a tent for a half-hour is not top-shelf entertainment by any stretch of the imagination,
The ringside announcer did ask that children be moved off the outside dirt track in case something exciting was to take place there – but it never did.
The PA prattled on about how Suncorp was the main sponsor for this new venture but we in the crowd already had that one figured out: the entire signage available to Suncorp from the greater Brisbane area had been set up around the marquee.
Maybe the bank demanded that this boring and lengthy process take place on the main ring? But it should have been held on the second oval or somewhere else. Oh, that’s right ... I forgot. When you start slicing off the best part of a third of the Ekka grounds for private residential development, there’s probably nowhere else for it to go!
Anyway, after about 40minutes of non-activity, the PA did declare that the teams were starting to set up for the Queensland/NSW woodchop competition. After watching a marquee doing nothing for half an hour, a few tractors driving around with hardwood poles was rather mentally stimulating, I must admit.
I left when the announcer explained that the woodchop would take place after the national anthem at 6pm. The strains of Advance Australia Fair reached my pretty little ears as I hobbled past the old poultry sheds on my way out. I guess they’ll be on their way out soon as well.
Boats will keep coming; Oz will keep blaming Gillard
POLITICS .... with Mungo MacCalum
Forget last week’s hysteria about breakthroughs and putting people before politics – reopening detention centres on Nauru and Manus Island will not stop the boats, and nobody really believes that it will. The asylum seekers don’t; they say they will continue to risk the trip because even indefinite detention under Australian protection has to be better than the camps of Malaysia or Indonesia, and there is at least a chance of eventually making it to the mainland.
Julia Gillard’s government doesn’t; all their advice, on which they have relied in the past, is that Nauru was a trick that might have worked once, but won’t work a second time – the smugglers and their customers have woken up to it.
Tony Abbott and Scott Morrison don’t; they say Nauru is just one part of the solution, the others being temporary protection visas and, most crucially, turning back the boats and without the other two policies in place failure is assured.
And Angus Houston and his fellow panellists don’t; Nauru and Manus Island is only intended as a stop gap, a short-term circuit breaker while the real answer is a regional arrangement for which an improved version of the Malaysian solution would form a good starting point. In practice all we have done is committed to spending vast amounts of money in what may well be a vain attempt to make Nauru and Manus Island simultaneously habitable and repulsive, but we are still just as far from solving the problem as we were a fortnight ago.
And even in political terms nothing much has changed. Our breathless media have, of course, portrayed it as a giant backdown for Julia Gillard and a spectacular triumph for Tony Abbott: but just hang on a minute. The fact is that Gillard put Nauru on the table last December, as subject to which we shall return. But Abbott refused to touch her compromise deal because it did not include TPVs and turning back the boats, and it did include the Malaysian solution. Now he has flip-flopped; he has embraced Nauru, although his other measure have been firmly rejected by both the Houston committee and the government. And Malaysia, as we have seen, is still very much part of the ongoing policy.
Abbott, of course, can be expected to continue to reject any attempt to include Malaysia, although the panel has made it very clear that without it, the whole thing will fall apart; simply cherry-picking the bit Abbott likes (Nauru) will solve absolutely nothing. Which is, presumably Abbott’s aim: when the boats keep coming, as they will, he will announce that the government has failed yet again and that he, and only he, has the magic formula.
And he will be vastly encouraged by his allies in the media, especially (of course) in The Australian. While some of its commentators expressed reservations and even doubts about the efficacy of his slogans to actually achieve results in the real world, none had the slightest hesitation in acclaiming his complete vindication as a political tactician, and they were unanimous in blaming Gillard for everything.
The most unpleasant and absurd instance of this rewriting of history came in the Tuesday Australian under the headline: “The 338 who died as cabinet wavered”. In what was billed as the “inside story” Dennis Shanahan (who else?) and Joe Kelly revealed that on October 13 last year the immigration minister Chris Bowen had put a proposal to cabinet that Labor should offer to reopen Nauru and lift the humanitarian refugee intake to 20,000 a year if Abbott would pass its offshore processing bill, which would also have allowed the Malaysian solution.
Cabinet, however rejected the scheme. And since then 123 boats carrying 9777 asylum seekers have arrived in Australian waters, and an estimated 338 have drowned. The implication, of course, is that it is all Gillard’s fault; if she had agreed to Bowen’s proposal, Abbott would of course have immediately acquiesced and all the tragedies could have been averted.
What Shanahan and Kelly do not bother to report is that after another ship foundered a few weeks later, on December 22 cabinet reversed its decision and Bowen was told to put his proposal to Abbott; and Abbott knocked it back flat. No ifs, no buts, no further negotiations, although Nauru has remained part of the government’s deal ever since. And of course in June this year Abbott treated Rob Oakeshott’s attempt at a compromise bill in parliament with the same contempt. There could be no compromise: it was his way or no way.
But in the fantasy world of Shanahan and Kelly, he is utterly without blame or fault: it was and is Gillard who must take the sole responsibility for those 338 deaths. Downright dishonest and frankly grubby journalism. But hey, it was an exclusive.
So, where to now? Presumably Gillard and Bowen will go back to Malaysia and Indonesia to pursue the ideas of the Houston panel and attempt to open talks about regional processing. It will not be easy because both countries are already miffed at having been demonised in Australia as serial mistreaters of asylum seekers confining them to hell-holes and beating them with bulls’ pizzles. This is certainly the impression Abbott has fostered to justify his rejection of the Malaysian solution.
And in any case there appears to be little point in making the effort since even if an agreement could be reached, Abbott would certainly knock back any legislation needed to implement it. And the Greens remain unwaveringly opposed to offshore processing in any form. Back to point A.
At least if the polls are correct, Gillard’s ordeal has only another year or so to run, and then Abbott will inherit it. I’ll bet any money he can’t fix it either. But of course it will still all be Labor’s fault. Just ask The Australian.
Forget last week’s hysteria about breakthroughs and putting people before politics – reopening detention centres on Nauru and Manus Island will not stop the boats, and nobody really believes that it will. The asylum seekers don’t; they say they will continue to risk the trip because even indefinite detention under Australian protection has to be better than the camps of Malaysia or Indonesia, and there is at least a chance of eventually making it to the mainland.
Julia Gillard’s government doesn’t; all their advice, on which they have relied in the past, is that Nauru was a trick that might have worked once, but won’t work a second time – the smugglers and their customers have woken up to it.
Tony Abbott and Scott Morrison don’t; they say Nauru is just one part of the solution, the others being temporary protection visas and, most crucially, turning back the boats and without the other two policies in place failure is assured.
And Angus Houston and his fellow panellists don’t; Nauru and Manus Island is only intended as a stop gap, a short-term circuit breaker while the real answer is a regional arrangement for which an improved version of the Malaysian solution would form a good starting point. In practice all we have done is committed to spending vast amounts of money in what may well be a vain attempt to make Nauru and Manus Island simultaneously habitable and repulsive, but we are still just as far from solving the problem as we were a fortnight ago.
And even in political terms nothing much has changed. Our breathless media have, of course, portrayed it as a giant backdown for Julia Gillard and a spectacular triumph for Tony Abbott: but just hang on a minute. The fact is that Gillard put Nauru on the table last December, as subject to which we shall return. But Abbott refused to touch her compromise deal because it did not include TPVs and turning back the boats, and it did include the Malaysian solution. Now he has flip-flopped; he has embraced Nauru, although his other measure have been firmly rejected by both the Houston committee and the government. And Malaysia, as we have seen, is still very much part of the ongoing policy.
Abbott, of course, can be expected to continue to reject any attempt to include Malaysia, although the panel has made it very clear that without it, the whole thing will fall apart; simply cherry-picking the bit Abbott likes (Nauru) will solve absolutely nothing. Which is, presumably Abbott’s aim: when the boats keep coming, as they will, he will announce that the government has failed yet again and that he, and only he, has the magic formula.
And he will be vastly encouraged by his allies in the media, especially (of course) in The Australian. While some of its commentators expressed reservations and even doubts about the efficacy of his slogans to actually achieve results in the real world, none had the slightest hesitation in acclaiming his complete vindication as a political tactician, and they were unanimous in blaming Gillard for everything.
The most unpleasant and absurd instance of this rewriting of history came in the Tuesday Australian under the headline: “The 338 who died as cabinet wavered”. In what was billed as the “inside story” Dennis Shanahan (who else?) and Joe Kelly revealed that on October 13 last year the immigration minister Chris Bowen had put a proposal to cabinet that Labor should offer to reopen Nauru and lift the humanitarian refugee intake to 20,000 a year if Abbott would pass its offshore processing bill, which would also have allowed the Malaysian solution.
Cabinet, however rejected the scheme. And since then 123 boats carrying 9777 asylum seekers have arrived in Australian waters, and an estimated 338 have drowned. The implication, of course, is that it is all Gillard’s fault; if she had agreed to Bowen’s proposal, Abbott would of course have immediately acquiesced and all the tragedies could have been averted.
What Shanahan and Kelly do not bother to report is that after another ship foundered a few weeks later, on December 22 cabinet reversed its decision and Bowen was told to put his proposal to Abbott; and Abbott knocked it back flat. No ifs, no buts, no further negotiations, although Nauru has remained part of the government’s deal ever since. And of course in June this year Abbott treated Rob Oakeshott’s attempt at a compromise bill in parliament with the same contempt. There could be no compromise: it was his way or no way.
But in the fantasy world of Shanahan and Kelly, he is utterly without blame or fault: it was and is Gillard who must take the sole responsibility for those 338 deaths. Downright dishonest and frankly grubby journalism. But hey, it was an exclusive.
So, where to now? Presumably Gillard and Bowen will go back to Malaysia and Indonesia to pursue the ideas of the Houston panel and attempt to open talks about regional processing. It will not be easy because both countries are already miffed at having been demonised in Australia as serial mistreaters of asylum seekers confining them to hell-holes and beating them with bulls’ pizzles. This is certainly the impression Abbott has fostered to justify his rejection of the Malaysian solution.
And in any case there appears to be little point in making the effort since even if an agreement could be reached, Abbott would certainly knock back any legislation needed to implement it. And the Greens remain unwaveringly opposed to offshore processing in any form. Back to point A.
At least if the polls are correct, Gillard’s ordeal has only another year or so to run, and then Abbott will inherit it. I’ll bet any money he can’t fix it either. But of course it will still all be Labor’s fault. Just ask The Australian.
Darin delivers a special dish
FILM ... with Tim Milfull
Chinese Takeaway (M)
Writer/director: Sebastián Borensztein
Stars: Ricardo Darin, Ignacio Huang
Stars: 4/5
93-minutes, screening from 30 August
Writer/director: Sebastián Borensztein
Stars: Ricardo Darin, Ignacio Huang
Stars: 4/5
93-minutes, screening from 30 August
In the small, but vibrant Argentinean film industry, Ricardo DarÃn must be close to attaining the status of a god; after all, he seems to be the face of Argentinean cinema – and what an oddly compelling and strangely endearing face.
With almost 60 credits to his name on television and the silver screen, DarÃn is one of the most talented and successful South American actors.
His latest film, Chinese Takeaway (above) , continues what is almost typecasting, with DarÃn playing yet another loner. This time, he has been cast as a cranky hardware store owner, of all things, and a misanthrope at that. Roberto is the kind of proprietor who could do without customers.
His latest film, Chinese Takeaway (above) , continues what is almost typecasting, with DarÃn playing yet another loner. This time, he has been cast as a cranky hardware store owner, of all things, and a misanthrope at that. Roberto is the kind of proprietor who could do without customers.
In fact, there are a several moments in writer-director Sebastián Borensztein’s film when Roberto chases a fearful customer from his store demanding that they never return.
After one particularly irksome afternoon, Roberto makes his regular escape to the local airport to watch planes land and drink beer, when he notices an irate cab-driver ejecting his passenger from the car before speeding off.
After one particularly irksome afternoon, Roberto makes his regular escape to the local airport to watch planes land and drink beer, when he notices an irate cab-driver ejecting his passenger from the car before speeding off.
The flustered passenger, Chinese tourist, Jun (Ignacio Huang) cannot speak a word of Spanish, and against his better judgement, Roberto takes Jun under his wing. After a sustained comedy of miscommunication, Roberto grudgingly decides to help Jun in his quest to track down a long-lost uncle.
This simple premise hides a much more complex story about two men coming to terms with loss and re-engaging with society, and Borensztein’s subtle script delivers a sweetly subtle resolution to both of their heartaches.
Chinese Takeaway was one of the favourites at the 2012 Spanish Film Festival, so it’s nice to see a wider theatrical release for such a special film.
This simple premise hides a much more complex story about two men coming to terms with loss and re-engaging with society, and Borensztein’s subtle script delivers a sweetly subtle resolution to both of their heartaches.
Chinese Takeaway was one of the favourites at the 2012 Spanish Film Festival, so it’s nice to see a wider theatrical release for such a special film.
Israel on show at Palace
The Australia Israel Cultural Exchange is touring the Israeli Film Festival around Australia, and will visit Brisbane’s Palace Centro Cinemas from the end of August through the first week of September. I was fortunate to preview a number of the 20 films on offer.
Lorraine Levy’s touching film The Other Son asks what might happen if two babies – one Israeli and one Palestinian – were inadvertently switched at birth. Almost 20 years later, a routine blood test reveals the mistake, and the families of Joseph (Jules Sitruk) and Yacine (Mehdi Dehbi) are forced to complete re-evaluate their lives and how they consider each other’s culture.
A similar dilemma is addressed in My Australia, from writer-director Ami Drozd, who recounts his own very personal story of growing up in a viciously anti-Semitic Polish ghetto in the sixties, and discovering the Jews that he despises are actually his own people. Featuring an outstanding performance from young Jakob Wróblewski as the main character, Tadek, this is a surprisingly confronting and touching story.
Also very emotionally exhausting is Dolphin Boy, a documentary about post-traumatic stress made by Dani Menkin and Yonatan Nir. Documenting the recovery of Arab teenager Morad after being kidnapped and tortured, Menkin and Nir follow the therapy recommended by psychiatrist Dr Ilan Kutz, who has regularly sent patients to a dolphin sanctuary in southern Israel. Watching Morad’s gradual healing process is remarkable.
But my favourite preview was an occasionally very unsettling ghost story called My Lovely Sister in which the very bitter matriarch Rahma (Evelin Hagoel) can only find a resolution to two decades of heartache after her estranged sister Marie (Reymond Amsalem) succumbs to cancer. Blending the real and the surreal, Marco Carmel’s film is a wonderful story of forgiveness and reunion beyond the grave.• For more information about these and other films screening at the AICE Israeli Film Festival 2012, please visit: http://www.aice.com.au/iff-s-welcome.php
THE BINGE
A frenetic celebration of violence
The Raid (MA15+) now available through Madman
Bad Ass (MA15+) available through Pinnacle from 5 September
Café de Flore (MA15+) available through Icon from 12 September
The Hunger Games (M) now available through Roadshow
If you get the chance, search YouTube for Lee Hardcastle’s three-minute ClayCats homage to Welsh ex-pat filmmaker Gareth Evans’s martial arts epic The Raid. It’s surprising how accurately little piles of plasticine can evoke such bloodshed. Of course, nothing beats the real thing – and Evan’s film is a frenetic celebration of violence and the boundaries of what the human body can withstand.
While Bad Ass might not be as well made – actually, Craig Moss’s film is unforgivably awful at times – it’s entertaining to see veteran Hollywood character Danny Trejo step into the shoes of another lead role as the eponymous Bad Ass. Nicknamed for his performance in a YouTube video filmed on an LA Transit Authority bus, Trejo’s senior citizen Frank Vega becomes a folk hero in a city overrun by violence. This movie is only really for the hard-core Trejo fans.
I found Jean-Marc Vallée’s puzzle film Café de Flore a wonderful distraction a few months back, and welcomed the chance to unravel its complex strands on DVD. Set on two continents in two different decades, the film tells two apparently disparate stories about a famous DJ and a struggling single mother. The delight in this film comes in connecting the carefully placed clues throughout the text.
And riding on the success of a series of young adult novels, the latest film from Gary Ross (Seabiscuit & Pleasantville) brings The Hunger Games to the big screen. In post-apocalyptic near-future, a despotic government demands tribute from its provinces in the form of teenagers who must fight to the death in a gladiatorial battle. Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) is now the latest in a long line of refreshingly confident female role models, and it will be interesting to see where her adventures battling fascism might take her.
Anyone see where I put my glass of cab sav?
WINE .... with David Bray
What you have to do, she said, is 10 things. One is to drink cabernet sauvignon. My informant, a life-long good friend, had been to a lecture about Alzheimer’s disease. A subject that will interest all of you as you age.
Important precautionary elements, she said, quoting a learned professor’s talk at the Brain Institute, Queensland University, last month, are: being in love, sleep, black chocolate, cabernet sauvignon, travel, exercise, crosswords (especially cryptic), puzzles such as Sudoku, tea and coffee, and taking different routes to travel to the same destination.
I have no problems at all with nine of them. But I did wonder why cabernet sauvignon, to the exclusion of shiraz, merlot, and all the other reds?
After hunting around the usual “research” sources I think I’m on the right track and the clue is resveratrol.
Resveratrol is a natural antioxidant found in red wine, known to protect against a range of illnesses and diseases including neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s or other dementias, cancer and heart disease and more recently documented for its role in extending lifespan. It is also found in peanuts.
Red wines usually enjoy extended contact time with the skin of grapes during fermentation so they have higher levels of resveratrol. It’s these elevated resveratrol levels in red wine that are causing much of the buzz in many studies suggesting red wine consumption may have a variety of health benefits.
Recent reports from the USA tell us of one study in which patients from one hospital are to make 10 visits over the next year to Georgetown University Medical Centre in Washington, DC, one of 26 sites nationwide affiliated with the Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Study.
“Participants will be given either a placebo or capsules of pure resveratrol, found in the skin of red grapes, tomatoes, dark chocolate and nuts. Studies on non-humans have shown it activates a gene that protects the body and brain from aging. The greatest risk factor for Alzheimer’s is aging. Researchers will do baseline tests to identify biological markers of the disease and then other tests to determine if it is progressing,” says Laurie Ryan, program director for the National Institute on Aging’s Alzheimer’s Disease Clinical Trials program.
“Alzheimer’s is not an overnight process. Symptoms don’t appear until years after the disease has started. So the thought is if we can delay it from starting or progressing, we can add quality years to the end of life.”
By the end of the study, participants receiving the resveratrol will be given 1000 mg twice daily. That’s a level of dosing that can’t be duplicated by sipping wine or eating bits of chocolate.
“We’ll be testing levels equivalent to drinking 1000 bottles of wine a day,” says Georgetown’s R. Scott Turner, the study’s director. “We’re trying mostly to determine the safety of that level, but I think it will be safe. Once we determine that, other studies would still have to be done before anything could be developed for the consumer, but this is a big step.”
Thirsty work, this. Now what were we talking about?
What you have to do, she said, is 10 things. One is to drink cabernet sauvignon. My informant, a life-long good friend, had been to a lecture about Alzheimer’s disease. A subject that will interest all of you as you age.
Important precautionary elements, she said, quoting a learned professor’s talk at the Brain Institute, Queensland University, last month, are: being in love, sleep, black chocolate, cabernet sauvignon, travel, exercise, crosswords (especially cryptic), puzzles such as Sudoku, tea and coffee, and taking different routes to travel to the same destination.
I have no problems at all with nine of them. But I did wonder why cabernet sauvignon, to the exclusion of shiraz, merlot, and all the other reds?
After hunting around the usual “research” sources I think I’m on the right track and the clue is resveratrol.
Resveratrol is a natural antioxidant found in red wine, known to protect against a range of illnesses and diseases including neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s or other dementias, cancer and heart disease and more recently documented for its role in extending lifespan. It is also found in peanuts.
Red wines usually enjoy extended contact time with the skin of grapes during fermentation so they have higher levels of resveratrol. It’s these elevated resveratrol levels in red wine that are causing much of the buzz in many studies suggesting red wine consumption may have a variety of health benefits.
Recent reports from the USA tell us of one study in which patients from one hospital are to make 10 visits over the next year to Georgetown University Medical Centre in Washington, DC, one of 26 sites nationwide affiliated with the Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Study.
“Participants will be given either a placebo or capsules of pure resveratrol, found in the skin of red grapes, tomatoes, dark chocolate and nuts. Studies on non-humans have shown it activates a gene that protects the body and brain from aging. The greatest risk factor for Alzheimer’s is aging. Researchers will do baseline tests to identify biological markers of the disease and then other tests to determine if it is progressing,” says Laurie Ryan, program director for the National Institute on Aging’s Alzheimer’s Disease Clinical Trials program.
“Alzheimer’s is not an overnight process. Symptoms don’t appear until years after the disease has started. So the thought is if we can delay it from starting or progressing, we can add quality years to the end of life.”
By the end of the study, participants receiving the resveratrol will be given 1000 mg twice daily. That’s a level of dosing that can’t be duplicated by sipping wine or eating bits of chocolate.
“We’ll be testing levels equivalent to drinking 1000 bottles of wine a day,” says Georgetown’s R. Scott Turner, the study’s director. “We’re trying mostly to determine the safety of that level, but I think it will be safe. Once we determine that, other studies would still have to be done before anything could be developed for the consumer, but this is a big step.”
Thirsty work, this. Now what were we talking about?
Snatching excellence
Top: Sophie Schoenknect as Hood and Alex Lanham as Grey Above: Liam Gillespie as Arthur Fettes. Photos by Kris Anderson
The Body Snatcher
By Scott Barsott
Brisbane Arts Theatre
Petrie Terrace
Until 8 September
Bookings: 3369 2344 or via email to bookings@artstheatre.com.au or online at www.artstheatre.com.au
It takes a very brave playhouse to perform this gory drama. But it is gory in the sense of its topic, certainly not in its performance.
Those people who have read Robert Louis Stevenson’s story set in 1884 will find that they will be satisfied in this interpretation. – it has all the dramatic elements and then some.
Dr Wolf MacFarlane (Stephen Smith) appoints a new medical student, Arthur Fettes (Liam Gillespie) into the role of accepting cadavers each night for the following day’s lectures and research.
Therefore it has to be “fresh meat”. Malcolm Grey (Alex Lanham) and his accomplice Moira (Sophie Schoenknecht) are the providers, firstly from graveyards, then resorting to creating corpses to keep up to the demand.
The Body Snatcher
By Scott Barsott
Brisbane Arts Theatre
Petrie Terrace
Until 8 September
Bookings: 3369 2344 or via email to bookings@artstheatre.com.au or online at www.artstheatre.com.au
It takes a very brave playhouse to perform this gory drama. But it is gory in the sense of its topic, certainly not in its performance.
Those people who have read Robert Louis Stevenson’s story set in 1884 will find that they will be satisfied in this interpretation. – it has all the dramatic elements and then some.
Dr Wolf MacFarlane (Stephen Smith) appoints a new medical student, Arthur Fettes (Liam Gillespie) into the role of accepting cadavers each night for the following day’s lectures and research.
Therefore it has to be “fresh meat”. Malcolm Grey (Alex Lanham) and his accomplice Moira (Sophie Schoenknecht) are the providers, firstly from graveyards, then resorting to creating corpses to keep up to the demand.
There is a twist involving Wolf’s mistress Kate, (Libby Glasson) and Jane (Samantha Yeates) adding to the drama of the climax and resolution.
I think that this play was made for Alex Lanham as Grey, who relished his role. His unrelenting performance is so convincing it makes you shiver. All the cast responds to his energy to provide us with a very absorbing horror story and a satisfactory ending. But whatever did happen to the baby?
Extremely good Edinburgh accents and superb costumes (Caitlin Rowe) put the finishing touch to this excellent performance directed by Gregory Rowbotham.
Shakespeare goes west .. and it works
The Two Gentlemen of Verona
By William Shakespeare
Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble
Roma Street Parkland
Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun 15 August – 2 September 2012
Director Ron Pensalfini has a penchant for Shakespeare plays that are rarely performed. I remember well his interpretation of Coriolanus, his energy and vitality transforming an otherwise long and convoluted play.
The Two Gentlemen of Verona certainly has this energetic and vital direction which thoroughly entertained the packed house.
Valentine (Nick James) sets off for adventure to Milanleaving behind his best friend Proteus (Colin Smith) who is in love with Julia (Rebecca Murphy). Valentine meets and falls in love with Silvia (Ruby Drewery) the Dukes’ daughter who is betrothed to marry a rich man, Thurio (Chris Vaag). Proteus, sent off to Milan later falls in love with Silvia too.
When Julia disguises herself as a man to go to Milan and check up on her lover, the comedy really begins with elopements, treachery and bandits thrown in. Did I mention it was a comedy? It was very funny, with the best lines and clowning given to the two servants, Speed (Claire Pearson) and Launce (Rob Pensalfini).
These two actors were outstanding in their delivery and pace and made a funny play even more hilarious. If you wanted another reason to see this event, see how Ron has created this play within the Western genre.
I didn’t think it would work, but it does. Yes you do have to sit out in the open to view this extremely likable play. But imagine nice padded comfortable seats on the stage, under the lights and so close to the actors and the action, you never notice the cold – you’re having too much fun!
I think that this play was made for Alex Lanham as Grey, who relished his role. His unrelenting performance is so convincing it makes you shiver. All the cast responds to his energy to provide us with a very absorbing horror story and a satisfactory ending. But whatever did happen to the baby?
Extremely good Edinburgh accents and superb costumes (Caitlin Rowe) put the finishing touch to this excellent performance directed by Gregory Rowbotham.
Shakespeare goes west .. and it works
The Two Gentlemen of Verona
By William Shakespeare
Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble
Roma Street Parkland
Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun 15 August – 2 September 2012
Director Ron Pensalfini has a penchant for Shakespeare plays that are rarely performed. I remember well his interpretation of Coriolanus, his energy and vitality transforming an otherwise long and convoluted play.
The Two Gentlemen of Verona certainly has this energetic and vital direction which thoroughly entertained the packed house.
Valentine (Nick James) sets off for adventure to Milanleaving behind his best friend Proteus (Colin Smith) who is in love with Julia (Rebecca Murphy). Valentine meets and falls in love with Silvia (Ruby Drewery) the Dukes’ daughter who is betrothed to marry a rich man, Thurio (Chris Vaag). Proteus, sent off to Milan later falls in love with Silvia too.
When Julia disguises herself as a man to go to Milan and check up on her lover, the comedy really begins with elopements, treachery and bandits thrown in. Did I mention it was a comedy? It was very funny, with the best lines and clowning given to the two servants, Speed (Claire Pearson) and Launce (Rob Pensalfini).
These two actors were outstanding in their delivery and pace and made a funny play even more hilarious. If you wanted another reason to see this event, see how Ron has created this play within the Western genre.
I didn’t think it would work, but it does. Yes you do have to sit out in the open to view this extremely likable play. But imagine nice padded comfortable seats on the stage, under the lights and so close to the actors and the action, you never notice the cold – you’re having too much fun!
Friday, July 27, 2012
Business award nominations extended
NEWS
The deadline for nominations for Lord Mayor’s Business Awards has now been extended until 3 August, giving more Brisbane businesses the opportunity to be involved in this prestigious event.
Now in its seventh successive year the LMBA celebrates the achievements and exceptional contributions of businesses and individuals to Brisbane, Australia’s new world city.
Brisbane businesses wishing to nominate for the awards must have their entries in by the extended deadline of Friday 3 August at 5pm. To nominate, visit http://www.lmba.com.au/.
Lord Mayor Graham Quirk together with Brisbane Marketing will host the seventh annual Lord Mayor’s Business Awards (LMBA) and Gala Dinner on 31 October at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre.
Nominations are sought for the following award categories:
§ Australia TradeCoast Award for Business Growth
§ Award for Employer of Choice
§ Award for Young Business Person of the Year
§ Optus Business Platinum Award
Brisbane business owners can also now purchase individual tickets or tables to attend the awards dinner.
Visit http://www.lmba.com.au/ or contact Brisbane Marketing on 07 3006 6200 for more information.
Community Noticeboard
Handball, anyone?
The inaugural New Farm Community Handball Festival will be held at the Brisbane Powerhouse, New Farm, on Saturday 18 August between 1pm and 4pm. All ages are welcome and it’s open to all members of the community. So join in for a fun free afternoon of schoolyard handball, competitions and giveaways and live entertainment! It’s touted as a day to bring back memories of the great schoolyard game we all loved.
Puppy raisers needed
Guide Dogs Queensland (GDQ) is looking for volunteers to raise its puppies in their homes for 12 months. Foster parents teach pups basic obedience and good manners. All equipment, vet care and food is supplied. Volunteers need to only work part time or not at all, have a secure yard and a driver's licence. To apply go to http://www.guidedogsqld.com.au/ or call 3261 7555.
Newstead House Birthday Bash
Historic Newstead House invites you to celebrate its 166th birthday on Sunday 19 August at 2pm. It’s free, there’s complimentary birthday cake and Brisbane Brass will put on a free concert, Music Magic, that continues the band’s recent theme of movies in the park with a repertoire of contemporary brass arrangements for ballet and opera with a few light-hearted moments of sheer movie fun. It’s all at Newstead House, Newstead Park, corner Breakfast Creek Rd and Newstead Ave, Newstead. Inquiries to 3369 2507 or 3216 1846. Newstead House is open Sundays 2-5pm and Mondays to Thursdays 10am to 4pm. It is closed Fridays and Saturdays. The entry fee to inspect the house interior is: Adult $6; Concession $5; Child $4; Family $15. Devonshire teas are served on the eastern and northern verandahs of Newsead House on Sunday afternoons from early March to late November. Teas are available from 2pm to 4.30pm with last orders taken at 4pm.
Puppy raisers needed
Guide Dogs Queensland (GDQ) is looking for volunteers to raise its puppies in their homes for 12 months. Foster parents teach pups basic obedience and good manners. All equipment, vet care and food is supplied. Volunteers need to only work part time or not at all, have a secure yard and a driver's licence. To apply go to http://www.guidedogsqld.com.au/ or call 3261 7555.
Supplies needed urgently
The Red Cross store in the McWhirters Centre in Fortitude Valley is short of all sorts of goods across their range - men and women's clothing, shoes, handbags, music records, CDs, etc. If you have anything that you really could do without and in the process help towards the great works of Red Cross, please drop them into store manager Jenny Buse or one of her friendly volunteers.
Speaking from the heart
Do you want to know more about living longer and healthier: have you ever wondered how to do something about it - and in the process change your lifestyle for the better? Heart, stroke and blood vessel disease is the major public health problem in Australia, causing more then 35 per cent of all deaths annually. The Heart Foundation has a network of local volunteer speakers available to visit your club, community group or organisation to speak about general heart health focusing on the benefits of lifestyle change and practical information on how to go about it. To invite a volunteer speaker to your organisation to help raise awareness of heart health throughout the community, or if you would like to volunteer as such a speaker, please contact Margaret Richards at the Heart Foundation on (07) 3872 2507.
Wildlife carers needed NOW!
Wildlife carers needed NOW!
Demand for carers is on the increase. State wildlife coordinator Janet Gamble says wildlife carers are finding themselves swamped with too many patients to look after and too much compassion to say no.
“In the last 12 months, in south-east Queensland alone, the big wildlife hospitals have seen over 20,000 sick, injured and orphaned wildlife patients. We are using the same people and they are burning out."
Chairperson of QWRC Ms Annie Saunders is urging people across the State to get involved.
“All you need to do to help is calculate how much time you can spare. Could you help with young birds, or injured birds or perhaps pre-release birds, mammals or reptiles? Can you offer your local group assistance to free a trained carer from food collecting, cage building, daily maintenance and fundraising?”"
Anyone caring for native wildlife must hold a permit issued by the Department of Environment and Resource Management). Membership of your local group may offer this permit or training to assist persons to apply. At www.qwrc.org.au/grouplist.html you can find a contact list of registered wildlife groups in Qld. These groups can provide you with support and training, as these are essential tools for meeting patient welfare needs.
Wildlife caring is on a volunteer basis and receives no government funding.
If you can't help personally then local wildlife carers and RSPCA Qld are always in need of aviaries and other assistance.
“In the last 12 months, in south-east Queensland alone, the big wildlife hospitals have seen over 20,000 sick, injured and orphaned wildlife patients. We are using the same people and they are burning out."
Chairperson of QWRC Ms Annie Saunders is urging people across the State to get involved.
“All you need to do to help is calculate how much time you can spare. Could you help with young birds, or injured birds or perhaps pre-release birds, mammals or reptiles? Can you offer your local group assistance to free a trained carer from food collecting, cage building, daily maintenance and fundraising?”"
Anyone caring for native wildlife must hold a permit issued by the Department of Environment and Resource Management). Membership of your local group may offer this permit or training to assist persons to apply. At www.qwrc.org.au/grouplist.html you can find a contact list of registered wildlife groups in Qld. These groups can provide you with support and training, as these are essential tools for meeting patient welfare needs.
Wildlife caring is on a volunteer basis and receives no government funding.
If you can't help personally then local wildlife carers and RSPCA Qld are always in need of aviaries and other assistance.
Beautiful begonias
The Queensland Begonia Society Inc holds meetings on the third Saturday of each month – January to November, in the Uniting Church hall at 52 Merthyr Road, New Farm, commencing at 1pm. Visitors are most welcome. Free entry and free afternoon tea. Contact Peter on 3359 4319. Our website address is http://queenslandbegonia.wordpress.com
Quiet time needed?
Looking for some peace and quiet?
Take an hour out of your busy schedule for quiet group meditation. Sessions begin with a small amount of skills/spiritual input but are mostly in silence. We meet at 6 pm on Wednesdays at Merthyr Road Uniting Church. Everyone welcome. No fee.
Contact Atholl on 0410 565 081 for more information.
Take an hour out of your busy schedule for quiet group meditation. Sessions begin with a small amount of skills/spiritual input but are mostly in silence. We meet at 6 pm on Wednesdays at Merthyr Road Uniting Church. Everyone welcome. No fee.
Contact Atholl on 0410 565 081 for more information.
Computer training
Brisbane Seniors OnLine (BSOL) provides affordable computer training for over 50s in the Brisbane area and is seeking new learners who would like to receive one-on-one lessons in their own homes or in our city training centre. By arrangement, we can also provide training in other venues such as community centres or public libraries. BSOL teaches both Windows and Apple Mac. New volunteer mentors are always welcome. The cost to learners is $40 a year plus a one-off $20 joining fee. For this, learners receive approximately 12 one-hour lessons and ongoing support for the balance of the membership year. Membership is free to mentors. Contact BSOL on 3210 6983 or at http://www.bsol.asn.au/
Bags needed please!
The St Vinnies store on the corner of Brunswick and Alfred streets in the Valley urgently needs plastic bags to pop those great bargain buys into.
Corker of an idea
The Queensland branch of the Huntington's Disease Association is seeking bottle corks as part of its fundraising efforts. The association sells disused corks to a recycler. Corks can be dropped off at the association's office at 385 Ipswich Road, Annerley. For details ring 3391 8833.
AA meetings
The New Farm Group of Alcoholics Anonymous meets at the HADS unit of the Royal Brisbane Hospital on Mondays at 7pm. It also meets every Thursday and Friday from 7pm to 8.30pm and on Saturdays from 6.30pm to 7.30pm at 505 Bowen Terrace New Farm. The 24-hour helpline number is 3255 9162.
Emotional help needed?
Emotions Anonymous (EA) is a non-profit 12-step organisation that has helped many people learn to live with unsolved problems as diverse as depression, anger, acrophobia, broken or strained relationships, grief, anxiety, low self-esteem, panic, abnormal fears, resentment, jealousy, guilt, despair, fatigue, tension, boredom, loneliness, withdrawal, obsessive and negative thinking, worry, compulsive behaviour and a variety of other emotional issues. Emotions Anonymous meets on Saturdays at 10:45am at the Community Health Centre, Biala, Level 3, 270 Roma Street, Brisbane (opposite the Fire and Rescue Station). No membership fee is required, only a desire to get well. For further information go to their website: http://www.emotionsanonymous.org/
Potted plants
The Society for Growing Potted Plants hold meeting on the second Saturday of each month in the Uniting Church Hall at 52 Merthyr Road, New Farm, commencing at 1.15pm. There are interesting guest speakers and plants for sale. Visitors are most welcome at a friendly and informative afternoon. Contact Ann on 3276 7223.
Quilters meet
A small group of non-profit quilters who meet at 10am on the first Saturday of each month at Trinity Place, Church Street, Fortitude Valley, is are looking for new members. Experienced or beginners are welcome. For more information contact Barbara on 5496 1195.
Jigsaws solved
Jigsaw Queensland, a non-profit, post-adoption resource service, holds support meetings as follows: Open support group: Anyone touched by adoption is welcome - first Tuesday of each month (except January) 7pm to 9pm; adoptee support group: for adoptees only - third Wednesday of each month 7pm to 9pm; birthmother support group: for Birthmothers only - third Saturday of each month 1.30pm to 4pm except for December. All meetings are held at SANDS House, 505 Bowen Terrace, New Farm. Further information is available online at: http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/
Golden gurus wanted
Volunteering Queensland is looking for people aged 50 and over with business skills to join its Golden Gurus initiative. The group wants the gurus to help pass on their skills and experience to others. People interested in becoming a Golden Guru can register by contacting Volunteering Queensland on 3002 7600 or by visiting http://www.volqld.org.au/
Got a not-for-profit community noticeboard item for us to consider, space permitting?
Then please email it to us at: editor@theindependent.com.au
Then please email it to us at: editor@theindependent.com.au
Funding announced for community groups
LOCAL NEWS
Seventeen local community organisations and groups in the Brisbane Central state electorate have been awarded more than $300,000 in the latest round of State Government funding. State MP for Brisbane Central Robert Cavallucci said the State Government had provided over $10 million across Queensland through the Gambling Community Benefit Fund and the Jupiters Casino Community Benefit fund.
“I am even more thrilled that by working closely with ministers, over $300,000 in state funding has been secured for the Brisbane Central electorate,” Mr Cavallucci said.
“This vital State Government funding that we have been able to secure means community groups will be able to continue to provide facilities, resources and actives which make our local area a better place.”
The 17 groups across the Brisbane Central Electorate were allocated $308,743.80 as follows:
• Cancer Council Queensland: $31,818.18 to install a 10KW solar system at the premises
• Independent Living Centre Association of Queensland: $29,090.91 for a website upgrade.
• Jigsaw Queensland Inc: $11,746.37 to purchase new training equipment.
• Newmarket Soccer Football Club Inc. $35,000.00 to repair and revitalise the damaged floor of the
club house.
• Queensland Youth Choir: $27,976.36 to purchase audio visual and IT equipment for performances
• The Corporation of the Order of the Canossian Sisters: $56,720.73 to construct shade structures
at the premises.
• Dvconnect Limited: $27,090.91 to develop a new website for the organisation's anniversary on September 12, 2012
• Jugglers Art Space Inc: $29,070.00 to purchase paint filtrations system for use by the organisation.
• Qld Conservation Council: $10,658.82 to purchase IT equipment and install blinds at the Council offices.
• St John Ambulance Australia (Queensland Division) $4,054.55 to install shelving and
storage racks at the Queensland Division Office.
• Youth Advocacy Centre Inc: $24,990.00 develop long-term fundraising initiatives for the Advocacy
Centre.
• Oxpol Management: $4,470.91 through a Solar Sport and Community Group Grant.
• Windsor Croquet Club Inc: $17,373.15 through a Solar Sport and Community Group Grant.
• Vulcana Women’s Circus Inc: $13,371.82 to conduct mental health workshops.
• The Asthma Foundation of Queensland: $34,289.09 to purchase a new van.
• Council of the Ageing Queensland Inc: $4500.00 towards a new printer and scanner for the Council.
• 'Family Planning Queensland: $24,0000 to purchase a vehicle.
Information on the State Government grants can be found at: http://www.qld.gov.au/services/grants/ or by contacting the Brisbane Central Electorate Office.
Seventeen local community organisations and groups in the Brisbane Central state electorate have been awarded more than $300,000 in the latest round of State Government funding. State MP for Brisbane Central Robert Cavallucci said the State Government had provided over $10 million across Queensland through the Gambling Community Benefit Fund and the Jupiters Casino Community Benefit fund.
“I am even more thrilled that by working closely with ministers, over $300,000 in state funding has been secured for the Brisbane Central electorate,” Mr Cavallucci said.
“This vital State Government funding that we have been able to secure means community groups will be able to continue to provide facilities, resources and actives which make our local area a better place.”
The 17 groups across the Brisbane Central Electorate were allocated $308,743.80 as follows:
• Cancer Council Queensland: $31,818.18 to install a 10KW solar system at the premises
• Independent Living Centre Association of Queensland: $29,090.91 for a website upgrade.
• Jigsaw Queensland Inc: $11,746.37 to purchase new training equipment.
• Newmarket Soccer Football Club Inc. $35,000.00 to repair and revitalise the damaged floor of the
club house.
• Queensland Youth Choir: $27,976.36 to purchase audio visual and IT equipment for performances
• The Corporation of the Order of the Canossian Sisters: $56,720.73 to construct shade structures
at the premises.
• Dvconnect Limited: $27,090.91 to develop a new website for the organisation's anniversary on September 12, 2012
• Jugglers Art Space Inc: $29,070.00 to purchase paint filtrations system for use by the organisation.
• Qld Conservation Council: $10,658.82 to purchase IT equipment and install blinds at the Council offices.
• St John Ambulance Australia (Queensland Division) $4,054.55 to install shelving and
storage racks at the Queensland Division Office.
• Youth Advocacy Centre Inc: $24,990.00 develop long-term fundraising initiatives for the Advocacy
Centre.
• Oxpol Management: $4,470.91 through a Solar Sport and Community Group Grant.
• Windsor Croquet Club Inc: $17,373.15 through a Solar Sport and Community Group Grant.
• Vulcana Women’s Circus Inc: $13,371.82 to conduct mental health workshops.
• The Asthma Foundation of Queensland: $34,289.09 to purchase a new van.
• Council of the Ageing Queensland Inc: $4500.00 towards a new printer and scanner for the Council.
• 'Family Planning Queensland: $24,0000 to purchase a vehicle.
Information on the State Government grants can be found at: http://www.qld.gov.au/services/grants/ or by contacting the Brisbane Central Electorate Office.
Vandals couldn't stop community garden from flourishing
NEWS
The new Red Cross Community Garden at Jeays Street in Bowen Hills has been officially opened by Robert Cavallucci, Queensland’s Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs (above), and Brisbane City Councillor Vicki Howard.
Red Cross Executive Director for Queensland, Kevin Keeffe said: “I hope everyone will now come together as a community to celebrate the transformation of the Jeays Street Community Garden after the unfortunate attack by vandals earlier this year.
“Brisbane City Council initially kick-started the project last year by providing and installing a 5000 litre water tank, putting extra taps in the garden, installing raised garden beds and donating seedlings for the first planting but the destruction of much of the garden in April was a big set-back.
“Thanks to the hard work of the local community, a donation from the Commonwealth Bank and a very generous neighbour the garden has now been completely rebuilt.
“Council has also since cleaned up the BBQ area, re-painted a garden bench and rails, and installed a new rubbish bin and extra water taps.
“Right from the start the vision was for a shared edible garden where you give what you can and take what you need.
“The Community Garden also decided on a drug, alcohol and violence free culture where we help each other and treat and listen to each other with respect.
“The garden now boasts six raised garden beds, two compost bins and a trellis for gardeners to a start a vertical garden for growing climbing beans, cucumbers and snow peas.
“Over 30 people are now involved in the community garden group and new members are always welcome."
The official opening of the garden was followed with a performance by the Transformers choir, a cooking demonstration, a tai chi demonstration, street jam performance and a community tug of war.
The new Red Cross Community Garden at Jeays Street in Bowen Hills has been officially opened by Robert Cavallucci, Queensland’s Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs (above), and Brisbane City Councillor Vicki Howard.
Red Cross Executive Director for Queensland, Kevin Keeffe said: “I hope everyone will now come together as a community to celebrate the transformation of the Jeays Street Community Garden after the unfortunate attack by vandals earlier this year.
“Brisbane City Council initially kick-started the project last year by providing and installing a 5000 litre water tank, putting extra taps in the garden, installing raised garden beds and donating seedlings for the first planting but the destruction of much of the garden in April was a big set-back.
“Thanks to the hard work of the local community, a donation from the Commonwealth Bank and a very generous neighbour the garden has now been completely rebuilt.
“Council has also since cleaned up the BBQ area, re-painted a garden bench and rails, and installed a new rubbish bin and extra water taps.
“Right from the start the vision was for a shared edible garden where you give what you can and take what you need.
“The Community Garden also decided on a drug, alcohol and violence free culture where we help each other and treat and listen to each other with respect.
“The garden now boasts six raised garden beds, two compost bins and a trellis for gardeners to a start a vertical garden for growing climbing beans, cucumbers and snow peas.
“Over 30 people are now involved in the community garden group and new members are always welcome."
The official opening of the garden was followed with a performance by the Transformers choir, a cooking demonstration, a tai chi demonstration, street jam performance and a community tug of war.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Traders cool on Valley mall makeover plan
NEWS
Traders close to the main Fortitude Valley mall have given the thumbs down to Lord Mayor Graham Quirk’s $5 million resurfacing plan for the mall. The LNP civic leader during the recent council poll committed the funds to resurface the mall with a smooth concrete surface but businesses think it’s the wrong plan – for a number of reasons.
Some traders still struggling to recover from the lengthy closure of the Waltons walkway connecting the McWhirters Building to Valley Metro say any mall makeover is not what they need right now. Others believe that the mall definitely needs major work done on it – but that it should be a complete overhaul that fixes unseen problems.
A number of traders believe there are major structural problems beneath the surface of the mall and that a “facelift” would be a waste of ratepayers’ money.
Pat Hutchison, co-owner of the pop art collectables store Ooo Look Shiny in McWhirters told The Independent: “When there is a breeze running through the mall, the chevron drains smell like a sewer system or an outback dunny.
“Unless you work near the mall or have a market stall there, you’d never know that it happens regularly.”
Mr Hutchison said he believed the mall needed a major upgrade of all utilities – water, sewerage, gas, electricity, etc– so that it was no longer a century-old system.
“A facelift is not what is needed, nor a patch up job.
“Local traders probably could not afford any disruption that would occur regardless of what’s done, but if it’s got to be done, let it be done properly so it does not have to be redone in 10 years’ time.”
Another McWhirters trader who asked not to be named also complained about the smells that sometimes permeated the centre when the wind was blowing in the wrong direction. He also questioned the quality of the mall’s drainage system to handle heavy rain, after noticing that stormwater drains on Brunswick Street West just across from the western end of the mall often bubbled up after downpours.
He suspected that a major overhaul of the mall’s drainage system could overcome a problem that has inconvenienced pedestrians and local business owners alike.
Mr Joseph Origlassio, who runs Pronto Expresso Cafe Bar in McWhirters, said even a facelift for the mall would create difficulties for local traders still trying to recover from the lengthy Waltons walkway closure.
“Local traders simply cannot afford any disruptions at the moment,” he said. “Besides, a new pavement on the mall will make no difference to the daytime economy in the Valley whatsoever.”
He supported Mr Hutchison’s view that what the mall needed was a major and complete overhaul to draw people to it, but “simply not any time soon”.
Any real makeover of the main mall should investigate the possibility of 24-hour staffed public toilets under the mall proper.
Another trader said he had heard that the Lord Mayor’s election promise to cement over the mall had an ulterior motive – it was rumoured that the fancy new pavement cleaning machines – the green goblins – did not work properly on the mall’s existing paved surface.
Those expensive machines were the subject of two expensive PR exercises just before the council poll that left struggling local traders fuming.
• In our next issue, we’ll develop this story further by asking the Lord Mayor for a time frame for his mall plans, and seek input from the Fortitude Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Valley Malls Advisory Committee.
Lord Mayor Quirk finally clears up copycat cleat claims
MADE-UP NEWS
Brisbane’s Lord Mayor Graham Quirk has finally addressed this newspaper’s concerns that his party used electoral material so close in look to official Brisbane City Council documents that it suggested the LNP had official council status, thereby creating an unfair advantage at the recent council elections.
As reported, Brisbane City Council rules prohibit the use of the council’s distinct livery – a series of blue and yellow blocks down the left handside of publications that they call their “cleat” – for political purposes. Council has a history of being very, very particular about the use of its cleat and its use is very strictly monitored.
Cr Quirk has admitted its use is forbidden for political purposes, but stated that “LNP political advertising material does not use the council cleat”. In follow-up questions to that blunt denial, we have been asking the Lord Mayor for months to explain the difference in the two designs used, and why any reasonable person would not have mistaken one for the other. And earlier this week, Cr Quirk eschewed his PR media team and answered those criticisms personally, adding that he would be absolutely gobsmacked if any reasonable person could have mistaken the two designs.
“If you look at the posters and pamphlets and what not that the LNP and my Team Quirk members used for a long time before and then during the recent council elections, we always started that design feature with a yellow block at the top left of the page.
“The council cleat, of course, starts at the top with a blue block. That’s the exact opposite, isn’t it? So I’d be absolutely gobsmacked if Brisbane’s ratepayers did not pick up on that basic difference.”
The Lord Mayor also responded to our requests to explain why the colours on two glossy documents in our possession – one using the official cleat and one the LNP copycat – looked exactly the same, i.e. the yellow was indistinguishable from the yellow, as was the blue from the blue.
“To be perfectly honest, I would be absolutely gobsmacked if the people of Brisbane could not tell the difference.
“The cyan percentage in the official City Council cleat is 66 per cent of the total CMYK makeup of that process colour. The one the LNP used is 68 per cent.
“In settling on the CMYK makeup of the blue blocks we used in campaign material, the per cent of black used – that’s the K in CMYK, by the way – was a good 2 per cent different.
“You know people love their colours and surely they could tell that those blocks were different.
“It’s funny, though, isn’t it, that when the printing and publishing industries came up with the initials CMYK, all the other colours start with their first letter – cyan, magenta and yellow – but the black uses the K, the last letter. I wonder why they just didn’t call the process CMYB? Go figure, anyway.”
The Lord Mayor also addressed our claims that there was barely a difference between the design patterns if projected to the same size.
Well, that’s really quite silly,” Cr Quirk said. “Look at the use of the council cleat on the back of buses, and the design used by my new Central Ward councillor Vicki Howard on her campaign car (both pictured at top).
“I’d be absolutely gobsmacked if there was a single ratepayer in Brisbane who even at the quickest of glances could not tell a council bus from a small sedan. Further more...”
Okay, enough with the dripping sarcasm already! How long did it take for you to realise that we’ve made up all of the Lord Mayor’s comments? What gave it away? The idea that he wanted to clear the air with us all? Address an issue rather than just pushing some political barrow to his advantage?
So we decided to come up with the explanations you’ve been reading – pathetic and ludicrous as they might be – to explain how the LNP came to the decision to run a series of blue and yellow blocks down the lefthand side of documents, just as the City Council itself does. If it was not done intentionally to garner advantage by proclaiming some degree of official status with council, then let’s hear the reasons for it.
Yet it’s now some months since we asked the Lord Mayor to explain the use of his party’s copycat cleat. As we’ve said before, we’ll keep using the phrase “copycat cleat” and we’ll keep running this campaign until he does. You’d think that a civic leader who expects ratepayers to obey both the spirit and letter of council rules and by-laws would be going out of his way to show us he does too.
But sadly, to date, he does not appear at all eager to put to rest what we are entitled to believe were – in the absence of any rebuttal – underhanded and sneaky tactics that should not have been used and must never be repeated.
But if the Lord Mayor ever wants to dissuade us of that view with some straightforward and compelling arguments that convince us and more importantly, you, our readers, otherwise, then we’ll run them.
But to be perfectly honest, we will be absolutely gobsmacked if he can.
What the Lord Mayor answered ... and what he didn’t, way back when
Email sent on 13 April:
Preface: In a letter to Chairman of Council Councillor Krista Adams on 28 October last year, the council’s CEO Colin Jensen said in response to a question as to whether the council’s cleat could be used in political material: “No. MC026 Marketing, Communications and Advertising Policy states that Council’s logo and cleat are used to indicate council program association and activity. These design elements as set out in council’s Visual Style Guide must not be used on material that is of a political nature.”
We therefore ask:
1. Was the CEO’s take on council policy correct then?
Answer: Yes
2. Does that policy still apply, or have the rules changed?
Answer: This policy still applies. It has not changed.
3. If so, when?
Answer: N/A
4. If the rules have not changed, why are you and some of your LNP candidates using the council cleat, or a design so similar to it that any reasonable person could think they are one and the same, in political advertising material?
Answer: LNP political advertising material does not use the Council cleat or the Council logo.
So Lord Mayor, let’s reshape our questions ...
1. Please explain fully to our readers how the blue and yellow block design you used on various political documents before and during the recent council poll differed from the official City Council cleat, a design that you accept cannot be used for political purposes?
2. Please explain why you believe these differences were sufficient that any reasonable person could not have possibly mistaken one for the other.
3. For those who might form the view that you have deliberately bent council rules to your own advantage – namely to create the impression that LNP candidates had some form of official council backing – please explain why they are wrong.
Just about everyone flocked off to Teneriffe!
NEWS
Thousands of people flocked to the Teneriffe Festival last weekend, cementing itself in only its third year as one of Brisbane’s premier free community events.
Festival coordinator Nicole Ogilvie said: “We were lucky with the weather; it threatened to rain a few times, but that did not keep the crowds away.”
“Expectations from local businesses were far exceeded when most restaurants and food stalls started running out of stock in the afternoon. Sourced Grocer said that they sold 750 lamb burgers and ran out of food at 4:30pm.
“Other traders recorded record sales which is a healthy injection to the local economy.”
Leafy Teneriffe became a suburb in its own right over three years ago – a move that prompted the first festival there. And it was a hive of activity on Saturday– so much so that the only thing that spoiled the day was a lack of legal street parking anywhere near the event.
“Parking at the festival was an issue,” Nicole admitted, “but we did remind people on our promotional material to catch public transport to the event. The CityCat was one of the main forms of public transport to the event now that the new Teneriffe Festival terminal is in place. The ferries delivered thousands of people from throughout Brisbane to Teneriffe on the day.”
Nicole said the day’s highlights included:
• Sheep shearing on the riverfront that kept the kids intrigued.
• A turbo boosted kidzone that kept the little ones happy while the parents were able to sip on a caffeine nipple and keep their energy up for the day long activities.
• The Golden Pig Food and Wine School demonstrated how to cook with lamb and was very popular with the punters.
• Music on the main stage that had the crowd dancing in the streets, with Lachy Doley from Sydney entertained the crowds with his soulful antics and local band Kooii represented their melodic treasures that had the crowd swaying to their brand of reggae. The music continued into the night with big brassy band Bullhorn playing covers and originals finishing off the night with Cuban Latin dance band Chukale.
• The Youth Music Industries stage also pumped out music from bands that will be ‘the next big things’
• The Jazz stage in the DoubleOne 3 Laneway was also heaving as patrons listened to great jazz while drinking cocktails in jars provided by Alfred and Constance.
• The White Label Noba Fashion parade had a bevy of VIPS and fashionistas crammed into the DoubleOne 3 Laneway
Nicole said the crowds were very well behaved and everyone appeared to enjoy all the activities on offer.
“We could not have put this festival on without the generous support of local business. There are too many to mention but special thanks to Brisbane City Council, Hamilton Ward, Westpac, Merthyr Village, Mirvac and DoubleOne 3 for supporting the event this year,” she said.
“The Teneriffe Festival committee is especially happy with the festival outcomes and are looking forward to steering the event next year to make sure that the Festival continues to grow and serve the community of Teneriffe.”
Nicole also thanked the New Farm Historical Society for creating such informative history plaques about Teneriffe and for helping to create the festival’s historical component.
• Did you go to the Teneriffe Festival ? Send in your comments and photos to the Teneriffe Festival facebook page. They would love to hear from you.
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