A Burpengary family’s yearly holiday trip ended in tragedy when nine-year-old Kaison Greaves died after becoming trapped between rocks during a visit to South West Rocks on the NSW Mid North Coast.
The incident occurred on Easter Sunday afternoon when Kaison, known as Kai, slipped and wedged between rocks off the shore at South West Rocks, north of Port Macquarie. The location is popular with locals and visitors for activities like fishing and playing. Desperate rescue efforts followed, involving Kaison’s father, lifeguards, firefighters, and police.
Responders battled difficult conditions for several hours, including neck-deep water and rising tides. Despite these frantic attempts, Kaison could not be saved and died at the scene. Witnesses described the father trying his best alongside emergency crews while the family watched. Authorities are investigating the exact circumstances, believing the rising tide and waves may have contributed.
Mid North Coast Police District Inspector Peter Walton described the event as a “tragic misadventure,” noting that many children likely play on those same rocks daily. A report is being prepared for the Coroner.
Kaison’s parents, Brook and David Greaves, remembered their son fondly. Ms Greaves described Kaison as an explorer and adventurer who loved being outside and chasing waterfalls. Mr Greaves shared that Kaison was like himself, an outdoor person who copied him in many ways, and felt he had lost his best friend.
He also stated Kaison was an amazing big brother, adding that Kaison’s younger brother Eli remarked it must be raining because the angels were crying for Kaison. The Brisbane-based family considered South West Rocks, where Mr Greaves grew up, a special place they visited yearly, ending this trip in heartbreak.
The tragedy prompted a large community response. Hundreds of people gathered for a candlelit vigil at South West Rocks’ Main Beach on Tuesday evening to honour Kaison and support his family. Kaison’s parents expressed they were overwhelmed by the huge turnout and deeply grateful for the community’s support.
They also thanked the rescuers, including bystanders who jumped into the water, for their efforts and for ensuring Kaison was not alone. One witness stated they hoped the family could find peace knowing Kaison was cared for and fought for until the end. A close family friend started a GoFundMe page to help the Greaves family cover the costs of bringing Kaison home to Queensland and assist them during their time of grief.
Kaison’s death occurred during what Surf Life Saving NSW described as the worst Easter weekend on record for ocean drownings. Across the country, seven people lost their lives in coastal waters over the holiday period, with one person still missing at the time of the report.
A 30-year-old Burpengary East man faces serious charges after allegedly secretly filming people using a public toilet within a busy Morayfield shopping centre over several months.
Police allege the man recorded people without their knowledge inside the public toilets on multiple occasions. These incidents are said to have happened between July and December last year.
Detectives from Argos and the Redcliffe Child Protection Investigation Unit searched a home in Burpengary East on 12 April this year as part of their investigation. During the search, officers seized several digital devices.
Forensic experts then looked closely at these devices. Police stated that they allegedly found numerous video recordings showing people inside the public bathroom. It is also alleged that child exploitation material, which had been downloaded, was located on the devices.
Following the investigation and examination of the devices, the 30-year-old Burpengary East resident was arrested. He has now been charged with several offences.
These include three counts of possessing or controlling child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage service. He also faces one count of using a carriage service to access child abuse material and one count of making observations or recordings in breach of privacy.
The man’s first court appearance regarding these charges was set for 17 April at Caboolture Magistrates Court.
A large-scale over-50s community is set to take shape in Elimbah, following development approval for GemLife Elimbah, a $428 million lifestyle resort backed by Thakral Corporation Ltd’s Australian associate, GemLife.
The Elimbah development marks the third GemLife resort within the Moreton Bay region, joining previous projects at Bribie Island and Moreton Bay. The 26-hectare site at 38 Atherton Road will deliver 404 homes, each featuring two bedrooms and a multipurpose room. The site sits nine kilometres north of Caboolture, near the Glass House Mountains and D’Aguilar Ranges.
Previous developments by the company include the $349 million GemLife Bribie Island, released in 2016, and the $340 million GemLife Moreton Bay, launched in 2023. Together, the three sites will bring GemLife’s total footprint in the region to more than 1,350 homes.
Photo Credit: DA/2022/4064
Development Details and Facilities
The Elimbah resort will include 8.2 hectares of green space. It is the part of the area designated as a conservation zone. This area borders an existing natural reserve. The homes will be built to a 7-star energy-efficient design and include features such as indoor-outdoor living, landscaped front gardens, European kitchen appliances, ducted air-conditioning, and integrated solar systems linked to a virtual power plant.
The resort will also include $20 million worth of resident facilities. These include a two-level Country Club with a ballroom, virtual golf, wellness room, and a Summer House with a resort-style pool. Additional amenities will feature a bar, crafts studio, commercial kitchen, library, cinema, and multiple sports and recreation areas.
GemLife anticipates demand from downsizers across Moreton Bay, Brisbane, and the Sunshine Coast. The site’s proximity to retail, healthcare, and transport services, along with access to the Bruce Highway, positions it as a connected yet semi-rural living option.
Data shows nearly 40 per cent of Elimbah’s population is aged over 50. The development is targeting this demographic with a land lease model, where residents own their homes and lease the land. There are no entry or exit fees. Residents retain any capital gains on resale.
The project received formal approval from Moreton Bay Regional Council. Construction and the release of stage one homes are expected to begin mid-2025, with the project to be delivered in seven stages.
The Caboolture community will honour its Anzac heritage with a distinctive family-focused parade and memorial service organised by the local RSL Sub-Branch. The event will bring veterans, relatives, schools, and community groups together.
The Anzac Day procession in Caboolture North Brisbane is set to be a significant local event, led by the Caboolture RSL Sub-Branch president. Participants are asked to assemble ready for the march at 8:30 am on Friday, 25 April The march itself will commence at 9:30 am. It will proceed down King Street, moving past the town’s memorial, where a salute will occur, before concluding at the Caboolture RSL Club.
A notable aspect of this parade is that it encourages children to march alongside their veteran family members. Organisers also welcome loved ones who wish to march in honour of fallen Anzac diggers, joining veterans, their families, local schools, and various community organisations in the procession.
The community will gather for the Main Service after the march’s conclusion. This formal commemoration will take place in the Caboolture Memorial Hall, located in the Town Square on King Street. The service is scheduled to run from 10:15 a.m. until approximately 11:00 a.m.
After the formalities this year, the Caboolture RSL Club plans to reopen its doors to the general public at 11:00 am. The club will host traditional Anzac Day activities, including games of ‘Two-Up’ in the Banksia Room, providing a space for reflection and camaraderie. It should be noted that poker machines will not be operational until 1:00 pm.
In addition to the main march and service, the RSL often coordinates other commemorative activities. For instance, last year’s Anzac Day included an early start with a Dawn Service held at 4:50 am at the Bolton & Clarke Retirement Village. This was followed immediately by a Gunfire Breakfast, which required entry tickets and was held at the Bolton & Clarke Cafe and Auditorium. While these specific early-morning events are noted from last year, the confirmed schedule provided for 2025 focuses on the main march and service beginning later in the morning.
Caboolture residents experiencing mental health struggles will soon be able to walk into a dedicated support centre without needing an appointment, referral or even a Medicare card.
By July 2025, Caboolture will be home to one of four new Medicare Mental Health Centres planned for North Brisbane and Moreton Bay. The centres will also be located in Redcliffe, Strathpine and Brisbane’s inner north.
These services are designed to give people immediate mental health care, without the common barriers that stop them from seeking help.
How the Centres Will Work
The Caboolture centre, run by Stride, will offer face-to-face support from nurses, social workers and peer workers, with extended hours to ensure easier access to help.
Anyone aged 18 and over can walk in without a GP referral or Medicare card to get support for anxiety, depression, stress or other mental health challenges. The focus is on early care to prevent conditions from escalating.
Federal and State Backing
The Federal and Queensland Governments are jointly funding the centres with $8.5 million, while $29.9 million will support nationwide access to on-call specialist care.
As part of the national Medicare Mental Health Centre program, 61 centres will be rolled out across Australia, including 19 in Queensland. The focus is on areas with the greatest need, especially communities facing high levels of disadvantage, housing stress and unemployment.
Focus on Community Needs
The Caboolture centre removes barriers like referrals or appointments, making early support easier. It offers a safe space to talk and access ongoing care.
People can find out more about the program by visiting health.gov.au/medicare-mental-health or calling 1800 595 212, Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm.
Did you know that Caboolture Historical Village has Australia’s only dedicated war pigeon memorial, honouring the remarkable carrier pigeons whose wartime message-carrying saved countless soldiers’ lives during World War I and II?
The special bronze plaque commemorating these feathered heroes was formally presented in 2014 September during an event attended by around 1500 people at the Caboolture Historical Village. This site also hosts the South Pacific Rim’s only war pigeon museum. The Australian War Animal Memorial Organisation (AWAMO), led by President Nigel Allsopp, played a key role in establishing the memorial.
During the presentation, Mr Allsopp highlighted war pigeons’ incredible achievements and life-saving missions. AWAMO also provided a plaque honouring all war animals and donated posters for the museum’s display, reinforcing the community’s recognition of animal contributions to defence efforts. National Day for War Animals, observed each year on 24 February, further marks the deeds and sacrifices of these animals.
Homing pigeons possess an amazing natural ability to find their way back to their home loft over vast distances, a skill vital in wartime. While not fully understood, scientists believe they might use the Earth’s magnetic field, keen eyesight and memory for landmarks to navigate. However, they struggled to fly in darkness or heavy fog. In conflict situations, pigeons offered numerous advantages.
They were small, easy to transport, required little food, and flew quickly, averaging speeds around 90 kilometres per hour over moderate distances. Unlike human messengers or dogs, they were less likely to be distracted and, if captured, offered no clues about their origin or destination. Messages were typically carried in small containers attached to their legs or in pouches on their backs.
Carrier pigeons were used extensively during World War One, proving especially useful for sending messages from front-line trenches back to headquarters when other communication methods failed or were unavailable. The British Expeditionary Force managed a Carrier Pigeon Service, keeping birds in fixed lofts built in sheds or houses or in mobile, vehicle-drawn lofts that could be moved with the troops.
Handlers followed strict feeding and training routines. Important messages were often sent using two separate birds released a minute apart to increase the chances of success. Highly secret information was written in code, as pigeons faced dangers, including being shot down by enemy soldiers, getting lost in bad weather, or succumbing to exhaustion.
Although advancements in technology like radar and wireless existed by World War II, the military soon realised these systems could fail, especially in difficult conditions. This led to the reinstatement of message-carrying pigeons. Facing a potential invasion threat, Australia established the Australian Corps of Signals Pigeon Service in 1942 after successful trials showed pigeons could provide reliable alternative communication.
Civilian pigeon fanciers largely staffed the service. A nationwide appeal resulted in patriotic Australians donating over 13,500 homing pigeons. Initially used for communication between Australia’s coastal defences and observation posts, the service expanded significantly.
Pigeon sections were sent to support operations overseas, including the 8th Australian Pigeon Section, which was dispatched to Port Moresby in December 1942 for the Kokoda Trail campaign. They proved valuable in the challenging jungles of New Guinea, operating in areas like Tarakan, Bougainville, and New Britain.
Army lofts were established locally to breed pigeons suited to the difficult tropical environment, which included mountainous terrain, heavy rain, mist, and feather lice. Pigeons were fed a specific diet and regularly treated with DDT pesticide to combat lice. Personnel across different units, including infantry and water transport schools, were trained in pigeon care.
The bravery shown by war animals was formally recognised through the PDSA Dickin Medal, established in the United Kingdom in 1943 by Maria Dickin. Often called the “animals’ Victoria Cross,” this bronze medal honours “conspicuous gallantry or devotion to duty.” Between 1943 and 1949, an impressive 32 pigeons received this award, more than any other animal group (compared to 18 dogs, 3 horses, and one cat).
Two Australian pigeons were among the Dickin Medal recipients. Blue Bar Cock Pigeon No. 139 earned the award for a flight during a severe tropical storm near Madang, New Guinea, on 12 July 1945. It carried a crucial message from a sinking army boat carrying valuable supplies and flew 64 kilometres in just 50 minutes.
The message, “Engine Failed. Wash on to beach… Send help immediately,” allowed a rescue ship to salvage the vessel and its cargo. This pigeon had already completed 23 operational flights. The bodies of the two Australian Dickin Medal winners were later returned to Australia for display at the Australian War Memorial.
Other pigeons also performed heroically without receiving the medal. In another incident on Bougainville in July 1945, Captain Stuart McDonald’s company was cut off by enemy forces with communication lines severed. On the third day, they released two pigeons carrying a message requesting artillery support.
The pigeons successfully delivered the message, leading to the crucial shelling of the enemy position and enabling the company’s survival. Captain McDonald was subsequently awarded the Military Cross for his actions during this engagement. These stories demonstrate the vital communication link pigeons provided, often under extreme danger.
A new community health and support centre in Caboolture is helping locals connect with vital services through hands-on programs, support networks and inclusive activities. The centre, run by Wholesome Solutions Pty Ltd, a disability services provider, is focused on building strong, everyday support for people with disability and their families in the Moreton Bay region.
The official opening is on Saturday, 12 April, at 2 Industry Drive. The event will bring community members, families, and carers for a day of free activities, a sausage sizzle, and a lucky door prize.
Photo Credit: Wholesome Solutions/Facebook
Focus on Practical Support
Wholesome Solutions is a registered NDIS provider offering individualised services such as community nursing, high-intensity support, and clinical coordination. Their new Caboolture location includes a purpose-built space that allows clients to participate in skill-building programs like cooking, gardening, creative arts, and social groups. These activities are designed for people aged 13 and over, encouraging independence and community participation.
According to the organisation, the goal is to support people in building confidence and life skills while staying closely connected to their local area. Staff work closely with clients and families to ensure services are tailored to personal needs.
An Event Rooted in Community
The Open Day is not just about celebrating the new space. It also gives residents a chance to learn more about the organisation and meet the team behind the services. Volunteers and staff will speak with attendees about what’s on offer, while others can enjoy the community activities.
This will be a hub for locals, shaped by the people who use it. Wholesome Solutions’ expansion into Caboolture marks a step forward in making disability support more accessible in the northern corridor of Moreton Bay. The organisation’s emphasis on capacity-building reflects a growing interest in proactive, community-based support rather than reactive care.
A devastating crash at a Caboolture intersection Sunday evening has left two women dead and a one-year-old boy fighting for his life, sending shockwaves through the local community.
The catastrophic crash occurred around 6:40pm at the intersection of King Street and Bellmere Road when a Hyundai i20 collided with a Coles delivery truck. The impact was so severe that the car was propelled 15 meters from the point of collision, according to police reports.
Tragically, two female passengers in the Hyundai, aged 35 and 50, were pronounced dead at the scene. A child’s car seat was ejected onto the roadway during the collision, and the one-year-old boy who had been secured in it was rushed to hospital with serious injuries.
Local residents described the collision as being like “a bomb exploding,” with many reporting that the impact physically shook their homes. CCTV footage captured from a nearby residence shows what appears to be a vehicle travelling at high speed moments before the devastating crash.
One couple living near the intersection stated: “It literally shook the house. It was like an explosion and we heard a scream. It was horrific, it was very brutal and confronting. This is honestly the worst possible outcome.”
Neighbour Minish Pillay, who was watching television when the crash occurred, described the sound as “like a bomb exploding.” He noted that while accidents at the intersection are not uncommon, this was “the worst one I’ve seen.”
Pillay expressed concern about ongoing traffic issues in the area, saying: “There are a lot of near misses, and you get people doing burnouts here as well. Something has to be done about it.”
The 26-year-old driver of the Hyundai reportedly escaped with minor injuries, while the 42-year-old truck driver was uninjured but taken to hospital as a precaution. The collision caused significant damage to the delivery truck, including a dislodged front tire and items scattered across the roadway from its cargo area.
Coles has confirmed they are providing support to staff involved in the incident.The Forensic Crash Unit is now investigating the circumstances of the collision. Police have issued an appeal for witnesses or anyone with dashcam or CCTV footage to come forward as they work to determine the cause of this tragic accident.
The Morayfield Sport and Events Centre will host the Hobby Horse Holiday Classic this Sunday, drawing riders from across the country for a unique equestrian-style event.
Hobby Horses Take Over Morayfield in Family-Friendly School Holiday Event
A quirky and fast-growing sport is taking centre stage in Morayfield as the Hobby Horse Holiday Classic arrives at the Morayfield Sport and Events Centre. This Sunday, riders from across Australia will compete using handmade stick horses in events inspired by traditional equestrian disciplines.
A New Spin on Horse Riding
The event is hosted by Queensland Hobby Horse Riders, run by Matty Sormani from Belli Park and Coralie Kedzlie from Mothar Mountain, who helped grow the sport nationally. Hobby horse riding blends creativity, fitness, and performance, with competitors using decorated stick horses in routines like showjumping and dressage.
While playful in concept, many riders train seriously, young competitors from Murgon and One Mile, NSW, will be among those taking part.
Something for the Whole Family
The event, hosted by Queensland Hobby Horse Riders and led by Matty Sormani and Coralie Kedzlie, celebrates the growing sport of hobby horse riding. Young riders from places like Murgon and One Mile, NSW, will compete in showjumping-style routines.
Families can get in on the fun with an obstacle course and a record-breaking attempt at the largest hobby horse parade. Bring your own horse (no broomsticks!) for free entry, or hire a trained one on the day.
Growing Sport, Growing Community
Hobby horse riding began in Finland and has grown across Europe, the US, and now Australia. It offers young riders without real horses a fun way into traditional horse sports. Supported by the City of Moreton Bay, the Hobby Horse Holiday Classic celebrates movement, creativity, and community for all ages.
A remarkable property in Caboolture featuring its own motocross track has captured the attention of Queensland homebuyers, becoming the most-viewed listing on realestate.com.au this week.
The 19.59-hectare estate at 1-59 Spratt Road combines luxury living with rural enterprise, featuring three separate dwellings and a working berry farm that’s currently leased until August 2025.
While no price guide has been provided by listing agents Melissa Brooker and Tahlia McCosh of Harcourts Connections, records show the property last changed hands for $1.54 million in 2020 – significantly above Caboolture’s current median house price of $726,000, which itself has risen 14.3% over the past year.
The standout feature visible from aerial photographs is an extensive motocross track with specialized dirt paths, challenging turns, and varied elevation changes carved into the landscape.
The main residence boasts four bedrooms, two bathrooms, and premium finishes throughout. It features an award-winning 25-meter lap pool, recognized as Queensland’s best in both 2023 and 2024. Entertainment options include a state-of-the-art media room and a striking games lounge complete with sandstone bar and distinctive trophy head decorations.
Two additional dwellings – a two-bedroom granny flat and a separate two-bedroom cottage – offer versatile accommodation options for extended family or potential rental income.
The property’s commercial potential is enhanced by two large sheds, a spring-fed dam, and rainwater storage facilities supporting the operational berry farm.
This Caboolture property exemplifies the growing appeal of the Moreton Bay region, which continues to attract buyers seeking spacious rural properties with proximity to Brisbane.
