Caboolture, mark your calendars! Chantal Fraser, the renowned Sāmoan-Australian artist, is bringing her latest exhibition, The Ascended, to Caboolture Regional Art Gallery.
The Ascended, a collaboration with Griffith University Art Museum, highlights Fraser’s commitment to challenging the status quo. This exhibition is set to be a landmark event in the contemporary art world, reflecting Fraser’s commitment to challenging and broadening our understanding of art and culture.
Fantômas Gold 2023. Welding helmet, adhesive, acrylic rhinestones, metallic glass shards. Image courtesy of the artist. Photo Credit: Louis Lim/Chantal Fraser
Fraser’s artistry stands out prominently in the contemporary art scene. Her work, a fusion of ritual, adornment, and exchange, exemplifies her unique perspective. From global pop culture to traditional practices, Fraser’s art is a melting pot of influences.
This is a golden opportunity for Caboolture residents to immerse themselves in Fraser’s innovative and thought-provoking artistry.
The exhibition kicks off on 12 June 2024 and runs until 31 August 2024. The gallery welcomes visitors from Tuesday to Saturday, between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
The project replacing the existing PCYC Caboolture will serve as a new space for a safe and positive environment for at-risk or disadvantaged youth to connect with the local police.
With a focus on accessibility and inclusivity for all, it aims to be utilised for a wide range of activities such as group fitness classes, basketball, gymnastics, and boxing.
On Thursday, 11 April 2024, the Albanese Government announced that it will provide $10 million in funding to partner with the Queensland Government ($5 million) and Moreton Bay Regional Council ($2.5 million).
The $17.5-million project aims to provide a purpose-built facility where young people can engage in various activities.
“PCYC Caboolture has more than 1,000 members and local families that participate in its activities […], and this new space will help them to connect the community like never before,” Kristy McBain, the Federal Regional Development and Local Government Minister said.
Beyond that, the new PCYC will also facilitate various community programs and events designed to strengthen community cohesion, social connections and problem-solving skills.
The construction is set to create around 103 direct jobs, with an additional 11 ongoing jobs to be supported.
The new PCYC Caboolture facility is expected to be completed by mid-2025.
On the 15th of February 2024, 16 lucky shoppers at The Local Caboolture South bagged the Division One prize amounting to almost $5 million or $4,907,068.89.
Their luck held as their PowerHit entry also brought several divisional prizes that reached $5,164,871.49, making each ticket holder’s bank account richer by $322,804.47 each.
Sandeep Arora, the owner of the The Local Caboolture South where the winning entries were bought, also expressed her happiness over the windfall.
“It will definitely change each person’s life in different ways […] I just want to wish them all the best for the future and I hope they enjoy celebrating this winning news,” Mr Arora said.
The Powerball number was 20 and the winning numbers were 35, 34, 19, 10, 18, 15 and 5.
James Eddy, spokesman for The Lott, said that they will reach out to the registered winners, to deliver the news about their wins.
“Some of these division one winning syndicate members have already begun celebrating their good fortune knowing their bank account is about to be boosted with more than $300,000,” he said.
“While we’ll be reaching out to those winners who are registered, there are still some unregistered syndicate members who may have yet to discover their good news,” he added, calling on those who purchased a share in a syndicate for the draw to check their tickets to see if they won.
“If you purchased a share in a syndicate for the week’s Powerball draw, today’s the day to check it! If you discover you’re holding a winning share, call The Lott on 131 868 to start the prize claim process,” he said.
In a heartfelt tribute to the aviation legend and World War II hero Wally Dalitz, the team at the Australian Aviation Heritage Centre (AAHC) is determined to see the restoration of a Beaufort bomber aircraft to flying condition.
Mr Dalitz, who passed away on 27 March 2024 at the age of 101, was a beloved figure in the Caboolture flying community and a staunch supporter of the Beaufort restoration project.
A Beaufort bomber pilot during WWII, Mr Dalitz had expressed his desire to see the iconic Australian-built aircraft take to the skies one more time before he died. Sadly, the project, which has been in the works for over 40 years, was not completed before his passing.
However, restoration expert Ralph Cusack and his team are now more committed than ever to honouring Mr Dalitz’s legacy by finishing the restoration.
The AAHC launched a crowdfunding campaign on GoFundMe last year to restore Mr Dalitz’s Beaufort bomber aircraft and get it flying again. The AAHC has set an initial goal of $250,000 to kickstart the Beaufort restoration project, although the ultimate goal was to raise $1 million to see it through to completion.
“Your donation will help get this aircraft restored and flying. It will be the only flying example in the world!” said Jason Hazell, a committee member at the AAHC. “We will keep a record of all donations and everyone will be invited to that special day it takes to the skies.”
Mr Dalitz, who enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force in 1940 when he was 18 years old, learned to fly the Tiger Moth aircraft before transitioning to the Beaufort bomber. He served with the 8th Squadron in Papua New Guinea and the South Pacific, participating in the last operational bombing mission of the Beaufort during the war.
Photo credit: Clayfield-Toombul RSL/Facebook
The Beaufort bomber, designed and produced in Australia, played a crucial role in the country’s defence during WWII. With a workforce of over 30,000 people, a third of whom were women, the Beaufort’s production was a testament to the resilience and ingenuity of the Australian people.
Beaufort (Photo credit: adf-serials.com.au)
In a fitting tribute to the remarkable life of Wally Dalitz, his family will hold his final farewell in June at the Caboolture Airfield.
Mr Dalitz’s ashes will board the very same Tiger Moth aircraft he had flown during a media interview just a year prior, fulfilling his request to have his remains scattered over the Bribie Island passage. As the Tiger Moth takes to the skies, it will serve as a poignant reminder of Mr Dalitz’s enduring passion for aviation and the legacy he leaves behind.
Featured image credit: Australian Aviation Heritage Centre – QLD/Facebook
A realtor in Upper Caboolture was left shaken after a group of three masked teenagers prowled his street last week, stealing from his vehicle and attempting to break into a nearby home.
The footage, captured at 3:57 a.m. on March 25, showed the teens approaching the realtor’s car and quickly snatching a bag from inside before fleeing the scene. Just moments later, the same group can be seen attempting to force entry into a neighbouring house whilst the female resident was in the shower.
The realtor expressed frustration over the incident, stating that it was extremely inconvenient and disappointing after working so hard, only to fall victim to the high rate of youth crime, which gave the impression that absolutely nothing was being done to address it.
Photo credit: Rafael Classen rcphotostock.com/Pexels
Since sharing the story on social media, the realtor has been inundated with messages from others in the area who have fallen victim to similar crimes. One woman’s footage shows the same group of teens approaching her front door and successfully breaking in to steal her handbag.
The brazen acts have left the community on edge, with many calling for increased security measures and a stronger police presence to deter would-be offenders and keep their neighbourhoods safe.
2024 Youth Crime Crackdown
Photo credit: Afta Putta Gunawan/Pexels
As part of a strategy to combat youth crime in 2024, Queensland’s newly appointed Acting Assistant Commissioner for Youth Crime, Andrew Massingham, said earlier this year that identifying and swiftly dealing with the most violent juvenile offenders would be a top priority. However, he acknowledged that arrests alone cannot solve the issue.
Massingham’s comprehensive plan involves early intervention and prevention initiatives, victim support services, and specific measures to prevent repeat offences by young criminals. He hopes to instil confidence in the community that juvenile crime will be brought under control, whilst still utilising diversion programs for at-risk youth who don’t meet the criteria for harsher actions.
Currently, there is a trial underway using GPS monitoring devices on six juvenile offenders across the state. Massingham believes this electronic monitoring, which requires court orders and suitability assessments by Youth Justice, could prove valuable. The technology allows authorities to gather intelligence and receive alerts if public safety is potentially compromised.
Social media usage emerged as a major area of concern discussed by Massingham. He revealed that dozens of analysts are tasked with scrutinising online platforms to track youth crime trends.
As the community awaits the impacts of these measures, ongoing evaluation and adjustments may be necessary to address the complex issue of juvenile offending like what happened in Upper Caboolture recently.
Students at St. Columban’s College in Caboolture have achieved a remarkable feat by inventing the VANS RV 12iS, an aircraft that has defied gravity and soared, showcasing years of dedication and innovative creativity.
After five years of hard work, the two-seat plane was finally unveiled at Caboolture Aerodrome on Friday, 22 March 2024, to cheering crowds. This achievement, planned and built by students working with Flight Youth Engineering, is a major turning point for the school and Australian educational aviation programmes.
The students showed off their skills and hard work by building the VANS RV 12iS, the first of its kind to be built by an Australian school as part of the Flight Youth Engineering programme. It has now been flown for more than 25 hours.
Plans are in place to store the plane at Redcliffe Aerodrome so anyone can use it. On the other hand, Flight Youth Engineering will sell the plane and use the money to fund a trust. These funds will be set away to help St. Columban’s students build planes in the future, keeping education and aviation moving forward.
Photo Credit: Facebook/St. Columban’s College
Flight Youth Engineering was very helpful in getting the aeroplane kit from the U.S. and gave important advice and support throughout the project.
Mentors Paul Reddish, Ashley Miller, Michael Allen, and Richard Raymond played big parts. They helped students figure out how to build aeroplanes and encouraged a culture of learning and creativity.
Photo Credit: Facebook/St. Columban’s College
“We’re trying to turn them into their own manufacturing plant for this kind of product, and along the way, they’re getting experience they would never get,” Paul Reddish said about how the programme had changed his life.
Photo Credit: Facebook/St. Columban’s College
Mr Reddish talked about the successes of similar schemes in the United States, where students who worked on building aeroplanes had better chances of doing well in school and the workplace.
Photo Credit: Facebook/St. Columban’s CollegePhoto Credit: Facebook/St. Columban’s College
Principal Michael Connolly expressed immense pride in the students’ accomplishments, emphasising that their achievements surpassed mere aircraft construction. He highlighted the significance of the project as an educational journey, engaging young minds through practical, hands-on learning experiences.
Mr Connolly emphasized that nurturing students’ skills and knowledge in such a dynamic manner is a powerful educational approach.
Despite the challenges, such as COVID-related delays in supplies from the US and health restrictions in Australia, the St. Columban’s programme persevered. Principal Connolly commended the students and teachers for their resilience, emphasising that the lessons learned from this initial aircraft build will pave the way for smoother future projects.
A simple residential expansion at Connor Crescent in Caboolture has become a prolonged nightmare for locals, particularly for Quinton Reeves and his family.
The alarming incident, amidst an ongoing residential development that has been disrupting local life since 2020, underscores the escalating tensions between residents, the local council, and developers over safety and environmental concerns.
For over four years, the Reeves family has been engulfed in a maelstrom of construction-related chaos, culminating in a harrowing incident on 16th March 2024, when metal shards, propelled at high velocity, invaded their front yard, narrowly missing causing severe injury.
In a moment of alarming negligence, contractors lost control of a pressure hose, causing it to eject metal shrapnel into the Reeves’ property at dangerous speeds. This incident, captured in vivid detail through footage and photos, underscores the family’s peril.
Remarkably, no injuries were reported, but the event has significantly escalated the family’s concerns and their disputes with the Morton Bay Regional Council and the developers responsible for the housing project.
“I have recovered at least five [debris] that are approximately 5 cm in length. I did witness the plumber at the time; he was trying to cover up the incident, so he went around picking it up,” he told Peter Gleeson of 4BC Drive.
“I saw him pick up at least four pieces up his end of the area. And here’s the thing, mate: they didn’t notify workplace health and safety. They tried to cover it up, and there’s been no consequences for it.”
A Community’s Cry for Change
With the challenges of living on disability, Mr Reeves has become an outspoken advocate for public safety and legislative reform. His ordeal since the inception of the adjacent construction project has been marked by blocked driveways, unmonitored heavy machinery perilously close to residential areas, and a general disregard for the community’s well-being.
Photo Credit: Quinton Reeves/YouTube
The incident has only fueled his determination to seek justice and drive changes to prevent similar occurrences.
The response has been tepid despite Mr Reeves’ concerted efforts to engage with local government bodies, the Ombudsman, and the Human Rights Commission over the past three years. In a statement, the Morton Bay Regional Council pointed to the discretionary nature of enforcement action under the Environmental Protection Act (EP Act), revealing a reluctance to intervene decisively.
In the wake of this alarming incident, the call for legislative reform and enhanced accountability from both council and developers has never been louder.
The Caboolture Crime Stoppers is inviting the local community to help turn a plain shipping container, located at the back of the Caboolture Police Station, into a captivating piece of public art.
Previously used only for storage, the container will symbolise unity and creativity in the Moreton Bay area.
The shipping container measures 5.9 meters in length and 2.39 meters in height. Those interested in contributing their artistic vision to this project can submit their designs via email to Moreton.media@police.qld.gov.au, with entries closing on 5 May 2024.
Photo Credit: Caboolture Police
Residents of the Moreton Police District are encouraged to let their imaginations run wild and submit mural designs. The focus is on the side of the container facing the new Caboolture PCYC, which is currently under construction.
The winning design, chosen by a panel of judges, will earn its creator recognition and bragging rights and prizes.
Bunnings Caboolture and Dulux will contribute to this communal project by providing the necessary materials to bring the winning mural to life. This gesture underscores the community spirit and the collaborative effort to enhance the local landscape.
The mural’s theme, “Making our community safer,” reflects the aspirations of the Caboolture community. Participants are encouraged to draw inspiration from the PCYC ethos and its commitment to building safer, healthier communities. Additionally, the roles of Crime Stoppers in crime prevention and community safety are suggested as potential sources of inspiration.
Woodpecker Bar & Grill, a popular watering hole in the fast-growing Burpengary Meadows area between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, has been sold to pub giant Australian Venue Co for $48.6 million as part of a four-property portfolio deal.
Australian Venue Co purchased Woodpecker and three other pubs — Hotel Allen in Townsville, Ball Court Hotel in Melbourne’s Sunbury, and Royal Mail Hotel in Noosa’s Tewantin — from landlord Hotel Property Investments (HPI). The total sale price matched the $48.6 million book value.
The acquisition paves the way for Australian Venue Co to undertake major redevelopment works at Woodpecker and the other venues. With over 200 pubs and $1.1 billion in revenues, AVC has a “proven track record” of enhancing properties through strategic investment, according to CEO Paul Waterson.
“We are confident that the capital investment program announced today with our landlord, HPI, will deliver material operational improvements and transform these venues into modern properties that become the cornerstone of local communities.” Waterson said of the company’s renovation plans.
In the deal with HPI, the landlord agreed to simultaneously reinvest sale proceeds into upgrading several of its retained Queensland and South Australian hotels to the tune of $50 million. This includes $23.7 million being immediately put into properties like The Strand, Berserker Tavern and Brighton Hotel in Queensland.
“Despite challenging capital markets conditions, we remain committed to implementing initiatives to further enhance HPI’s market leading portfolio and drive long-term securityholder returns,” said HPI’s Acting CEO Blair Strik, calling the pricing on the four pubs “attractive.”
For the booming Burpengary Meadows region, the redevelopment of Woodpecker could elevate the area’s dining and entertainment offering. The suburb’s population has swelled in recent years as a key northern growth corridor for Brisbane.
The Woodpecker acquisition comes after private equity firm PAG recently took a controlling stake in Australian Venue Co from KKR earlier this year. It marks AVC’s first major move since that deal.
Settlement on the Woodpecker and Royal Mail Hotel sales are expected within 12 months, while the other two pubs will change hands imminently.
Emergency services were called to the rural town in the Moreton Bay region just before 11:30 p.m. on Monday, March 18.
Queensland Ambulance paramedics found the girl, in her mid-teens, had sustained multiple bites to her foot from an unknown snake species. She was transported to Caboolture Hospital in a stable condition.
Photo credit: Glenn Batten/Google Maps
In a separate incident this week, a man has tragically died after being bitten by a highly venomous snake near Townsville. Reports indicate the snake was likely an eastern brown snake, however the exact species has not been confirmed. The man was rushed to hospital in critical condition but did not survive the venomous bite.
Eastern brown snake (Photo credit: environment.des.qld.gov.au)
Snake bite incidents, whilst relatively rare, can potentially be life-threatening if anti-venom is not administered promptly. Residents in rural and bushland areas are reminded to be cautious and seek immediate medical attention if bitten by a venomous snake.
Snake bites are always considered medical emergencies, prompting the Queensland Ambulance Service to urge calling Triple Zero (000) immediately if one occurs. The Ambulance Service stresses the importance of not delaying medical treatment when snake bite incidents happen.
A staggering 65 percent of these snakes are venomous, including the extremely dangerous front-fanged elapids like brown snakes and taipans, as well as some rear-fanged colubrid varieties.
Red-bellied black snake (Photo credit: Queensland Museum)
The department notes that snakes are frequently drawn into residential areas unintentionally when homeowners provide sources of food and shelter. Brown snakes and taipans, which feed on rodents, may be lured to garden sheds, barns, or other outbuildings inhabited by rats and mice.
Pythons routinely enter chicken coops and aviaries to hunt the birds housed within, and have also been known to take up residence in roof spaces whilst hunting small mammals like possums.
Northern tree snake (Photo credit: Queensland Museum)
The brown tree snake specialises in raiding aviaries after making its way inside to consume caged birds. At night, these arboreal serpents also hunt geckos around windows and other entry points into homes. Even the generally innocuous common tree snake can find its way indoors whilst pursuing frog prey around garden areas.
With such an abundance of venomous serpents found throughout Queensland’s urban and suburban environments, authorities urge residents to exercise extreme vigilance and immediately seek emergency medical treatment if bitten.
Featured image credit: Peter Baskerville/Google Maps
