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Caboolture Abbey Medieval Festival Marks 35 Years of Living History

Caboolture’s Abbey Medieval Festival is preparing to mark 35 years of living history at Abbeystowe, where jousting, re-enactments, markets, music and family activities will again bring the medieval world into view.

Caboolture Festival Marks 35 Years Of Medieval Tradition

For 35 years, the Abbey Medieval Festival has brought the sights, sounds and spectacle of the Middle Ages to Caboolture. In 2026, the long-running event will return to Abbeystowe for another milestone celebration of living history, with re-enactors, jousters, performers, merchants and visitors gathering across the festival grounds.

The festival is scheduled from 10 to 12 July 2026, beginning with Friday Family Fun Day on 10 July before the Weekend Tournament takes place on 11 and 12 July. The event will again centre on medieval life across Europe and the Middle East from 600 to 1600AD, presenting history through performance, craft, combat, food and family activities.

Rather than presenting history behind glass, the Abbey Medieval Festival turns it into a full weekend experience. Visitors can move through encampments, watch combat demonstrations, browse market stalls, see performers and take in the atmosphere of a festival built around pageantry, skill and historical interpretation.

Medieval Life Comes Back To Abbeystowe

The 35th year will bring back many of the elements that have shaped the Abbey Medieval Festival’s identity. Listed activities include jousting, knight combat, Birds of Prey, archery, children’s activities, entertainment, markets, food and drink, and the Stag Inn.

Across the grounds, hundreds of re-enactors from around Australia help recreate aspects of medieval life. Their displays cover combat, arts, crafts and practical skills from across 1,000 years of history, with demonstrations that can include swordsmanship, chivalry, armour, siege weaponry, costuming, weaving, pottery, illumination and music.

The result is a festival that blends performance with learning. Families can watch tournament-style displays, children can take part in activities, and visitors can see how medieval clothing, tools, crafts and traditions are brought to life by people who study and practise them.

*Photo Credit: Abbey Medieval Festival/Facebook*

Museum History Behind The Milestone

Behind the festival is the Abbey Museum of Art and Archaeology, which hosts the event as its largest annual gathering. The festival supports the museum’s operations, the care of its collection and its education programs.

The museum’s collection includes objects from around the world, dating from prehistory to the end of the 19th century. Its medieval and renaissance collection holds more than 200 works of art and artefacts, giving the festival a direct connection to the history it presents outdoors at Abbeystowe.

Festival patrons will have access to the museum during the Tournament Weekend. Wristbands can also be used for museum entry until the end of the calendar year, extending the festival experience beyond the weekend itself.

Abbey Museum — *Photo Credit: Abbey Medieval Festival/Facebook*

Tickets And Festival Support

Accommodation and ticket packages for the tournament weekend have been promoted through Holiday Hub Bribie Island, with weekend tickets included for guests who book eligible accommodation. The limited Royal Suites VIP package is listed as sold out.

The event also relies on volunteers working behind the scenes across many parts of the festival, including gates and ticketing, information support, joust arena support, children’s activities, market support, parking and traffic, program sales, hospitality and general site support. Volunteer applications for 2026 are now closed, while photography and videography applications are handled separately.

As the Abbey Medieval Festival reaches its 35th year, the Caboolture event is set to return with the same mix of history, spectacle and community atmosphere that has made it a fixture at Abbeystowe.

Published 27-May-2026

Photo Credit: Abbey Medieval Festival/Facebook

Bellmere Butcher Shop Surges to Top of Queensland Leaderboard

The Bellmere Butcher has surged to the top of Queensland’s All the Best butcher leaderboard, with owner Jackson Miano now leading the state-wide public vote just hours before the competition closes at midnight tonight.

With voting wrapping up on Thursday 28 May, the Bellmere shop has overtaken early frontrunners to sit in first place, ahead of Stafford Heights’ Rode Meats in second and Cannon Hill’s The Butcher Shoppe in third. The All the Best competition, now in its second year, asks Queenslanders to vote for their favourites across 15 categories spanning everything from bakeries and beaches to burger joints and barbers.

For Miano, the nomination landed as a welcome surprise after years of grinding away to build the business into something the Bellmere and Caboolture community could be proud of.

“We’ve been putting in the hard yards over the last couple of years, trying to build something pretty cool, so we think it’s good to be nominated,” Miano says.

From apprentice to TikTok-famous

Miano started out as an apprentice butcher 11 years ago. He met his now-wife Megan at the Caboolture shop, and the pair took over the business together more than three years ago. What followed has been a quiet revolution in how a local butcher shop can connect with its community.

The shop has built a loyal TikTok following, earning it a place in the broader “ButcherTok” movement, which has seen independent butchers across Australia use short-form video to pull back the curtain on their craft. The Bellmere Butcher’s most viral moment came from a single video made during the COVID-19 pandemic: a sausage stuffed with hot chips, rump steak and pepper gravy that has since racked up more than 700,000 views.

The team’s current project is even more ambitious, working toward a spicy ramen sausage with customer input driving the flavour brief.

“Twelve months ago, I didn’t think we’d be getting photos with customers, that’s for sure,” Miano says. “It’s really good to see a lot of people supporting local again.”

Photo Credit: *The Bellmere Butcher/Facebook*

The shop’s growth has been physical as well as digital. The team is preparing to move into a larger space within the same complex by the end of the year to meet demand.

The competition is friendly, but the stakes are real

Despite the leaderboard, the mood between competing shops is anything but hostile. Miano has been vocal about the sense of community the competition has sparked among Queensland’s independent butchers.

“Everyone is getting on and doing this social presence and really bringing the butchers alive together,” he says. “No matter who takes out first place will be well deserving of it. We’re trying to bring the butchering community back together. There’s definitely enough room for us all.”

Rode Meats owner Patrick “Will” Burgoyne echoes that view. His Stafford Heights shop only found out about its nomination recently and has since launched its own campaign to push up the rankings.

Rode Meats has become a household name across Brisbane partly through the work of teenage apprentice Ethan Johns, whose sausage-making videos have drawn enormous online audiences, including one clip that reached more than 5.8 million views. The shop is also expanding, with two new stores set to open within the next year, taking its network to six locations.

“There’s definitely no rivalry between butcher shops. It’s more small retailers against the big guys,” Burgoyne says. “There will be a lot of bragging rights, whoever comes out on top, but it’ll all be in a friendly manner.”

Both owners have promised one thing in common if they win: a celebratory sausage flavour made especially for the occasion.

How to vote before the window shuts

Voting closes tonight, Thursday 28 May, and every vote also enters the voter into a prize draw worth more than $1,800, including theme park annual passes, a Skypoint Dining experience and a Flight Centre travel voucher. Winners across all 15 categories will be announced on Wednesday 3 June, ahead of Queensland Day on Saturday 6 June.

Bellmere locals and Caboolture region residents can cast their vote through this link. Voters need to register with an email address before casting their ballot.

Published 27-May-2026

Featured Image Credit: The Bellmere Butcher/Facebook

Can a Robotic Hawk Save Moreton Bay Strawberries?

A robotic hawk has been flying above strawberry farms in Moreton Bay as growers in Bellmere battle flocks of lorikeets and corellas that can wipe out thousands of dollars’ worth of fruit in just days.

The drone, known as RoBird, sweeps low across the fields like a bird of prey, sending nuisance birds scattering above one of Australia’s largest strawberry-growing regions.

The trial began in Bellmere in May through a partnership involving Hort Innovation, Canadian drone company AERIUM Analytics and the City of Moreton Bay.

The RoBird drone being trialled in Shepparton, Victoria between November 2025 and May 2026.
Photo Credit: AERIUM Analytics/Supplied

For local growers, the problem has become hard to ignore.

During overcast weather, large flocks of birds descend on ripe strawberry fields and tear through fruit faster than workers can pick it. Farms near trees and bushland are often hit the hardest.

At TSL Family Farms in Bellmere, which operates under the Taste’n’See strawberry brand, growers have spent years trying to protect crops from repeated bird attacks. Some weeks bring losses that climb well into the tens of thousands.

According to the City of Moreton Bay, farms in the region can lose between $50,000 and $200,000 worth of strawberries within a single week during severe bird activity. This pressure lands heavily in a region where strawberries are a major part of the local economy.

Moreton Bay Plays Major Role in Australia’s Strawberry Supply

Moreton Bay produces about one in every four punnets of strawberries sold in Australia, with farms across Bellmere, Caboolture and surrounding districts supplying fruit to supermarkets across the country.

City of Moreton Bay Mayor Peter Flannery with RoBird at Taste’n’See farms in Bellmere, Queensland.
Photo Credit: Supplied

The region’s strawberry industry contributes around $100 million annually and supports growers, seasonal workers, transport operators and local businesses tied to the harvest season. But protecting the fruit has become increasingly difficult.

Growers have long relied on gas cannons, reflective tape and noise deterrents to keep birds away. Many say the methods lose effectiveness once birds become used to them. Some systems have also caused frustration for nearby residents because of the noise during harvesting periods. This has driven interest in newer technology that can protect crops without harming wildlife.

A Drone Designed to Think Like a Predator

Unlike a standard farm drone, the RoBird is built to imitate the movement of a hunting raptor. The aircraft glides, circles and dives above strawberry rows in ways designed to trigger a natural fear response from pest birds. Instead of simply making noise, the drone attempts to convince birds that a predator is actively hunting nearby.

Earlier Australian trials reported by AERIUM Analytics showed strong reductions in bird activity and fruit damage after repeated flights over crops. Researchers involved in the project say the goal is to create a long-term deterrent rather than a short-term scare tactic.

The Bellmere demonstrations drew growers and berry industry representatives from across the region, including members of Berries Australia, who attended field trials to observe how the drone performed above local farms.

Farmers Hope for Relief Before Peak Season

Even small reductions in crop damage could make a major difference during harvest season. Rising labour costs, unpredictable weather and tighter profit margins have already placed pressure on Queensland strawberry farms in recent years. Losing trays of fruit to birds only adds to the challenge.

Drivers travelling through Bellmere during the growing season may now spot the dark-winged drone circling low above the paddocks while workers move through rows beneath it.

The national RoBird project is expected to continue until 2028 as researchers monitor how birds respond over longer periods and across different growing conditions.

A close-up image of the RoBird drone from AERIUM Analytics.
Photo Credit: AERIUM Analytics/Supplied

Whether the robotic hawk becomes a permanent part of farming in Moreton Bay is still unknown. But for growers watching birds descend on valuable crops each season, the trial is giving the region a new option at a time when many say traditional methods are no longer enough.

Published 26-May-2026
Featured Image Credit: AERIUM Analytics/Supplied

Burpengary’s Kangaroo Bus Lines to Transport World’s Top Softball Nations at 2027 World Cup Finals

Kangaroo Bus Lines, a bus company headquartered in Burpengary, has been appointed Official Transport Partner for the WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup Finals 2027.

Read: Burpengary Bus Company Embraces New Seatbelt Warning Systems

Softball Australia and the tournament’s Organising Committee announced the partnership in May 2026, with the event set to take place in Redcliffe from 5 to 11 April 2027.

Under the agreement, KBL will manage transport operations for athletes and officials throughout the tournament, with a focus on delivering safe, reliable and punctual service across every trip.

A Local Business on the World Stage

Photo credit: Google Maps/Kangaroo Bus Lines

It has taken more than 47 years of showing up for southeast Queensland communities to get here, but Kangaroo Bus Lines has earned its place on a genuinely global stage. Softball Australia cited the company’s local knowledge and strong community roots as central to the decision to bring them on as a partner.

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A post shared by Sarah Loh (@softball_australia_ceo)

Softball Australia CEO Sarah Loh was unambiguous about what the appointment represents. Writing on Instagram, she said she was “delighted” to confirm the partnership, calling KBL “a proud, family-owned business with deep roots in the region.” In her view, the company’s team will “play a critical role in ensuring athletes and officials from the world’s top eight softball nations experience Australia at its very best, with every journey safe, reliable, and seamless.”

The ripple effects, Ms Loh suggested, stretch well beyond the final whistle. Each bus on the road, she wrote, “represents local expert drivers, local businesses showcased to an international audience, and local pride on display to the world.”

KBL CEO Darren Webster echoed that sense of pride. Mr Webster said that while KBL has long focused on serving its local communities, being chosen to support elite international sporting teams is a genuine honour, and one that speaks to the standards his staff work hard to uphold every day.

Read: Caboolture Bus Services Get Back-to-School Makeover

The tournament itself carries stakes that go beyond a world title. The Finals will double as the first Olympic qualification event for softball ahead of the LA28 Games in Los Angeles, with one Olympic berth available to the highest-ranked nation at the Finals, excluding the USA as the Games’ host country.

For a Burpengary business that has spent close to five decades keeping this corner of Queensland connected, it is a moment that is hard to overstate.

Featured image credit: softball.org.au

Published 22-May-2026

World Turtle Day Shines Spotlight on Bribie Island Conservation Efforts

Bribie Island’s beaches are becoming one of the few places in Queensland where cooler sand temperatures may still help produce male turtle hatchlings, giving marine experts and local volunteers fresh hope for the future of Australia’s loggerhead turtles as warming conditions reshape nesting beaches further north.

Ahead of World Turtle Day on 23 May, the City of Moreton Bay confirmed that 26 loggerhead turtle nests were recorded on Bribie Island during the latest nesting season. The nests were tracked between November and April by the volunteer group Bribie Island Turtle Trackers, which patrols beaches across the island during breeding months.

The figures may appear small beside Queensland’s major nesting regions near Bundaberg and the Great Barrier Reef. Still, researchers and conservation groups say beaches like Bribie Island are becoming more important as rising temperatures affect turtle breeding patterns across Australia.

Warmer Beaches Are Changing Turtle Hatchling Ratios

Marine turtles do not develop sex in the same way humans do. Instead, the temperature of the sand surrounding the eggs determines whether hatchlings are male or female. Scientists working across Queensland have found that hotter nesting beaches are increasingly producing female hatchlings at much higher rates.

According to information shared by the City of Moreton Bay, sand temperatures on Bribie Island averaged about 27 degrees Celsius during the latest nesting season. That is lower than some northern Queensland beaches where temperatures above 29 degrees have been linked to heavily female hatchling populations.

The issue has become a growing concern for conservation workers monitoring turtle populations across Queensland. Research and conservation programs at places such as Mon Repos near Bundaberg and parts of the Great Barrier Reef continue to track how climate conditions are affecting nesting success.

On the southern Great Barrier Reef, Heron Island has also become a major focus for turtle monitoring, particularly during breeding and hatching season when visitors and researchers gather to observe nesting activity along the shoreline.

Bribie Island Residents Are Taking Part in Turtle Protection

Long before hatchlings begin moving towards the water, local volunteers are already on the beach before sunrise checking dunes, marking nests and recording turtle activity.

The Bribie Island Turtle Trackers work alongside Moreton Bay council officers to monitor nesting sites and help reduce threats around breeding areas. Council teams have installed shade structures near vulnerable nests and adjusted lighting near some beachfront locations to reduce the risk of hatchlings becoming disoriented at night.

Artificial light remains one of the biggest dangers for newly hatched turtles. Hatchlings naturally move towards moonlight reflecting off the ocean, but strong lighting from homes, streets and beachfront areas can pull them inland instead.

Community education campaigns across Queensland have increasingly focused on practical changes residents can make during nesting season. Conservation groups encourage people living near beaches to switch off unnecessary outdoor lighting at night, avoid walking across sand dunes and keep dogs under control near nesting areas.

Volunteer-led programs are also expanding in other parts of the state. The Australian Marine Conservation Society recently highlighted community volunteers in Queensland helping turtle hatchlings safely reach the ocean during breeding season.

Queensland’s Turtle Conservation Efforts Stretch Beyond Bribie Island

Queensland remains home to some of the world’s most important marine turtle nesting sites. Six of the world’s seven marine turtle species have been recorded in Moreton Bay waters, while beaches along the Great Barrier Reef support major nesting populations for loggerhead, green and hawksbill turtles.

Programs run through Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service continue to monitor turtle migration, breeding success and long-term survival rates through tagging and conservation work.

Elsewhere in Queensland, other turtle species are also facing pressure from habitat changes and flooding. Recent reporting examined ongoing efforts to protect the endangered Mary River turtle, which remains one of the state’s most vulnerable freshwater species.

Across coastal communities, conservation workers say local involvement continues to shape the success of turtle protection programs. Beach patrols, responsible boating, reduced light pollution and community awareness campaigns are all playing a role in helping hatchlings survive their first journey to sea.

Small Actions on the Coast Can Shape a Turtle’s Survival

Turtle season has become part of the rhythm of coastal life in Bribe Island. Early morning beach walks now often include checking for turtle tracks in the sand, while volunteers continue sharing nesting updates with local families and visitors.

As World Turtle Day draws attention to turtle conservation around the world, beaches on Bribie Island are showing how local communities can support species that have travelled Australian waters for millions of years.

Each successful nest on the island adds another generation to a species facing growing environmental pressure along the Queensland coast.

Published 22-May-2026
Featured Image Credit: Supplied

Waraba Clubhouse Precinct Begins Taking Shape at Vantage Lilywood

A new centrepiece is beginning to take shape at Vantage Lilywood, where construction has started on a $17 million clubhouse and amenities precinct for the emerging over-50s community in Waraba.

The project marks the next visible stage for Vantage Lilywood, a 296-home community being developed in the area formerly known as Caboolture West. After construction began on the first homes late last year, attention has now turned to the shared spaces planned to support daily life for future residents.

Shared Spaces Planned For Waraba Residents

AVID Property Group marked the start of clubhouse construction with a sod turn on Wednesday, 13 May 2026. Hutchinson Builders has been appointed to deliver the facility, which will sit at the centre of the Vantage Lilywood community.

The clubhouse precinct has been planned around recreation, wellness and social connection. Outdoor and activity spaces are expected to include a resort-style pool and spa, heated lap pool, sauna, gym, tennis and pickleball courts, bowling green, workshop and art studio, yoga area and an off-leash dog park.

Inside the clubhouse, residents are expected to have access to a private cinema, golf simulator, library, games room, residents’ kitchen, bar and lounge, barbecue area, private dining rooms and alfresco dining spaces.

*Photo Credit:* *Hutchies Sunshine Coast*/Instagram

Clubhouse To Follow First Homes

The staged rollout of Vantage Lilywood is set to continue in June 2026, when the sales and information centre and first showcase homes are expected to open. The first residents are also expected to move in during June 2026.

The clubhouse and wider amenity precinct are expected to open in winter 2027, giving the community a central shared facility after the first homes are occupied.

The Waraba project also sits within AVID’s broader Vantage portfolio, which includes clubhouse projects at Vantage Bloomdale in Victoria and Vantage Hervey Bay. The Bloomdale clubhouse has opened, while the Hervey Bay facility is expected to open in the coming months.

AVID Property Group — *Photo Credit:* *Hutchies Sunshine Coast*/Instagram

A Staged Start For Vantage Lilywood

Vantage Lilywood is progressing through a staged timeline, with early housing construction now followed by work on the main resident amenity precinct.

Once complete, the Waraba community is expected to include 296 homes for people aged over 50. The clubhouse will form the central shared space for residents, bringing together recreation, leisure and social facilities within the new Lilywood precinct.

Published 20-May-2026

Photo Credit: AVID Property Group

Pine Rivers Art Gallery Hosts Moreton Bay Art Prize Exhibition

The Moreton Bay Art Prize is returning to Pine Rivers Art Gallery with a free exhibition of shortlisted local artworks, alongside an outdoor display that brings selected pieces into high-traffic locations across Moreton Bay.

Local Art Takes Focus At Pine Rivers Art Gallery

The Moreton Bay Art Prize is back for its 32nd year, bringing together local artists through a free public exhibition at Pine Rivers Art Gallery.

The exhibition will run from 30 May to 18 July and will feature 36 shortlisted artists competing for the 2026 prize pool. The works were selected by a professional panel, with entries assessed on their ideas, technical execution and originality.

The annual prize is open to artists aged 18 and over who live in Moreton Bay, as well as Kabi Kabi, Turrbal and Jinibara First Nations artists living in Australia. There is no fixed theme or category, allowing entrants to submit original works of their choosing, provided they were created within the previous 24 months.

The result is a broad exhibition shaped by individual practice rather than a single subject, giving visitors the chance to see a varied selection of works from artists with local and cultural ties to the region.

Outdoor Art Prize Extends The Moreton Bay Art Prize

The gallery exhibition is accompanied by the Outdoor Art Prize, which places selected works beyond the gallery setting.

Six artists have had their works displayed on banners in high-traffic locations across Moreton Bay. The outdoor display runs from 18 May to 15 June, giving the prize a public presence before and during the early part of the Pine Rivers exhibition.

The outdoor element adds another way for residents and visitors to encounter the shortlisted creative work, with selected pieces appearing in everyday locations as well as inside the gallery.

Pine Rivers Art Gallery — *Photo Credit: Supplied*

Prize Pool And Public Voting

The 2026 prize pool totals $10,000.

The first-place artist will receive a non-acquisitive prize of $5,000. Second place carries $3,000, third place carries $1,500, and the People’s Choice Award carries $500.

The winners will be announced at the awards night on Saturday 11 July. This year’s winning entries will be selected by guest judge Dr Simon Degroot, Program Director of Visual Arts at Queensland College of Art and Design at Griffith University.

Members of the public can also take part by voting for the People’s Choice Award. Voting remains open until the final day of the exhibition on Saturday 18 July.

Pine Rivers Exhibition Open To All Ages

Entry to the Moreton Bay Art Prize exhibition is free, and the display is suitable for all ages.

With the main exhibition at Pine Rivers Art Gallery and outdoor works appearing across Moreton Bay, the 2026 program gives audiences several ways to view the region’s artists before the prize winners are named.

The exhibition continues a long-running local art prize that supports both emerging and established artists, while giving the public access to a wide range of recent original work.

Published 20-May-2026

Photo Credit: Supplied

More Than 16,000 Homes Planned for Waraba Under New Funding Agreement

Waraba is set to become one of Queensland’s biggest housing growth areas after a $2.4 billion infrastructure funding agreement has cleared the way for thousands of new homes in the fast-growing Moreton Bay region.

This will help deliver major road, water and sewerage upgrades needed to support more than 16,000 homes in the Waraba Priority Development Area, where the future population is expected to reach around 70,000 people.

Pressure builds as Moreton Bay population climbs

Families moving into South East Queensland have placed growing pressure on housing supply across Moreton Bay, where new estates have expanded rapidly over the past decade. Local leaders say infrastructure has struggled to keep pace with demand, particularly in outer suburban growth corridors.

Waraba, formerly known as Caboolture West, has been identified as one of the region’s largest future residential communities. The area sits between Caboolture and Wamuran and has been earmarked for large-scale housing development for several years.

The latest package is aimed at speeding up the infrastructure needed before more homes can be built. That includes upgrades to roads, sewerage systems, water services and other essential works linked to new neighbourhoods.

Thousands of homes tied to infrastructure rollout

The City of Moreton Bay said the funding would help support the delivery of more than 16,000 homes by mid-2034 within the Waraba Priority Development Area.

Mayor Peter Flannery said the region’s population growth had made housing infrastructure a major issue for councils across southeast Queensland. He said the funding would help accelerate housing construction in a region expected to continue growing strongly over the next 30 years.

Federal Housing Minister Clare O’Neil stated that the agreement would support more Queenslanders entering the housing market, including future residents in Moreton Bay.

Queensland Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie also linked the project to broader housing supply pressures, saying infrastructure delivery was essential before large-scale home construction could move ahead.

Long-term planning reshapes the Waraba corridor

Waraba has increasingly become a focus for long-term urban planning as southeast Queensland prepares for continued population growth. Planning documents for the area have projected schools, shopping centres, transport links and community facilities alongside future housing estates.

While large sections of the development are still years away from completion, the infrastructure agreement marks one of the biggest funding commitments tied to the project so far.

Construction timelines and detailed delivery schedules for the infrastructure works are expected to be released in later stages by state agencies and development authorities.

Published 20-May-2026

Bongaree Local Shortlisted Among Queensland’s Top Community Champions

A local Bongaree volunteer has achieved state-wide recognition after being named a finalist in the prestigious annual Queensland Volunteering Awards, which celebrated the massive collective impact of nearly fifty thousand community champions across the state.

Janelle Clarke, representing the Bribie Island Church of Christ Op Shop in Bongaree, was named a finalist for the Queensland Volunteer of the Year Award. This recognition places her among the top tier of community contributors across the entire state.

The event highlighted how small, local efforts connect to a massive network of support systems keeping regional communities running. Clarke’s work at the local op shop was thrust into the spotlight alongside other major state groups, showing how crucial neighborhood-level support is to everyday people.

*Photo Credit:* *Volunteering Queensland*

The ceremony acknowledged the massive scale of unpaid help across the state, bringing together representatives for 49,722 individual volunteers who were nominated across six different categories. Out of 275 total nominations submitted this year, only 21 finalists and eight final recipients were chosen.

Among the major individual winners was Carolyn Robinson from Beyond DV, who took home the top Volunteer of the Year honor. Other major individual winners included Jaylyn Rongo for youth volunteering, Phillip Smith for a specialized fundraising campaign, Roger Whyte for lifetime service to rugby league, and Nicole Ashley for excellence in managing volunteer teams.

Organisers noted that the ceremony coincided with the United Nations International Year of Volunteers. Community leaders mentioned that this year’s acknowledgment feels especially important due to the ongoing cost of living pressures that many families face.

As the demand for local services rises across Queensland, unpaid workers are acting as the steady hands holding neighborhoods together. The awards also highlighted organizational impact, giving top marks to Foodbank Queensland for community food relief, Sunshine Coast Health for public sector programs, and Origin Energy for corporate backing.

Published Date 20-May-2026

Photo Credit: Volunteering Queensland

Bellara Home Care Nurse Recognised During International Nurses Day

A Bellara-based home care nurse who once worked in the laundry and dry-cleaning industry has spent the past 17 years helping older Moreton Bay residents stay in their homes instead of moving into aged care facilities, as demand for in-home support continues to grow across the region.

International Nurses Day will be marked on May 12, with Carinity recognising nurses working across Queensland, including Moreton Bay registered nurse Mark Lister. The long-serving nurse now works with Carinity Home Care, supporting seniors living throughout the Bribie Island and Caboolture region.

Lister moved into nursing nearly two decades ago after being inspired by family members already working in healthcare. Since joining Carinity, he has worked in several aged care roles, including frontline infection control during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Today, his work focuses on helping seniors remain independent in their own homes for as long as possible. That includes assessing new clients, developing falls prevention plans and providing clinical care to older residents across the Moreton Bay area.

The Bellara-based service has become part of daily life for many local families caring for ageing parents and relatives at home. Across Queensland, demand for home care services has increased as more older Australians choose to age in familiar surroundings rather than move into residential care.

Long-Term Care Builds Strong Community Connections

Lister’s work regularly brings him into homes where families are managing complex health conditions, mobility challenges and social isolation among elderly relatives.

According to Carinity’s Bribie and Caboolture home care service, nurses and support teams assist seniors with clinical care, daily living support and health management while allowing them to remain connected to their local communities.

Carinity executive manager Heidi Wiebe said aged care nursing required patience, compassion and specialised skills, particularly when supporting older people with changing health needs. She said families and residents regularly expressed appreciation for the work performed by nursing staff across the organisation.

The organisation has operated community services in Queensland since 1949 through aged care, disability support, youth services and chaplaincy programs. Moreton Bay remains one of the growing regions for in-home aged care support due to its large retirement population and expanding senior community.

International Nurses Day Shines Spotlight on Regional Healthcare Workers

International Nurses Day is held each year on the birthday of modern nursing founder Florence Nightingale. The annual event recognises nurses working across hospitals, aged care, disability support and community healthcare services.

While many healthcare workers are seen in hospitals and emergency departments, home care nurses often spend years building relationships with residents inside local neighbourhoods and retirement communities.

In Bellara and the surrounding parts of Moreton Bay, those visits can involve everything from wound care and medication management to helping older residents avoid falls and hospital admissions.

For families balancing work, caregiving and medical appointments, home nursing support has become an important part of keeping elderly relatives safe and connected to the community.

Published 11-May-2026
Featured Image Credit: Supplied