Construction is set to begin on a new $17.5 million Police-Citizens Youth Club (PCYC) facility in Caboolture. The project, awarded to FKG Group, marks a major upgrade from the existing club built in the early 1980s.
Located adjacent to the new police station on King St, the facility is scheduled to open in mid-2025. It will feature a dedicated youth space, multipurpose sport and recreation areas, a gymnastics facility, 24/7 gym, and an outdoor basketball court.
PCYC Queensland CEO Phil Schultz emphasised the importance of the new club for Caboolture.
“This club will be the real heart of the community — accessible to all, welcoming everyone in and addressing a range of community needs,” Schultz stated. He highlighted that the facility will continue to host vital youth programs such as Braking the Cycle, After Dark, and Drop In programs.
Local impact is expected to be significant, with the current PCYC boasting around 1,000 members.
Police Minister and Member for Morayfield Mark Ryan expressed enthusiasm for the project, stating, “It’s great that our local community will have a brand new PCYC facility, but it’s even better that the new facility will help support the delivery of PCYC’s grassroots, community focused programs.”
The new PCYC is designed with sustainability in mind, featuring solar panels and batteries to achieve a five-star green rating. It will also be fully insulated for heating, cooling, and sound, setting a new standard for community facilities in the region.
The project has garnered support from all levels of government. The Federal Government has contributed $10 million, with an additional $5 million from the State Government and $2.5 million from the City of Moreton Bay.
In the early hours of September 9, 2024, residents of Condamine Street in Caboolture were jolted awake by a caravan explosion in the driveway of a local home.
CCTV footage captured the terrifying moment when the caravan ignited, sending flames dangerously close to neighbouring properties. The blast was so powerful that residents in nearby Morayfield reported hearing the explosion.
Local fire crews responded swiftly to the scene, arriving at the Condamine Street address shortly after 2 am. However, the incident had begun to unfold even earlier. Police were already en route to the location following reports of a disturbance.
While the investigation is still in its preliminary stages, authorities suspect that gas bottles inside the caravan may have been the cause of the powerful blast.
The burnt-out shell of the caravan remains in the driveway. The property owner returned to the scene later in the morning to find his home cordoned off as a crime scene.
On Saturday, 5 October 2024, the event will begin with a briefing at 8:30 a.m. at the BP Caboolture Northbound truck stop car park and aim to raise awareness and funds for cancer research.
The Ride for Red is a well-established tradition in the area, known for drawing significant community support. This year’s ride is organised with Cancer Council Queensland, with all proceeds going to cancer research. Since its inception in 2016, the Gronks Social Riders Club, which founded the event, has raised nearly $60,000 for this vital cause.
Participants are encouraged to wear red, a symbol of solidarity against domestic violence. The ride will include several stops, offering opportunities for community engagement, raffles, and learning more about domestic violence prevention and support services.
First Stop: Kilcoy Yowie Park at 10:00 AM for a raffle.
Second Stop: Dag Hotel, D’Aguilar at noon for lunch and another raffle.
Final Stop: Bribie Hotel for dinner, raffles, and auctions. Participants are invited to stay overnight.
At the last stop, BBW Boat Hire Bribie Island and Bribie Hotel will donate prizes for a sizable raffle.
For further details about the event or to register, contact Blakey at 0407 570 651. The Ride for Red promises a day of community, compassion, and crucial fundraising for cancer research.
Heavy rain in South East Queensland has wreaked havoc on strawberry farms, with millions of dollars worth of fruit lost. Bellmere’s Taste ‘n’ See Strawberries, a family-run farm near Caboolture, has taken a brutal hit.
Grim images shared by the farm reveal the scale of the devastation, with four semi-trailer loads and two skip bins full of waterlogged strawberries—the equivalent of 216,000 punnets—sent to other farmers for livestock feed.
This catastrophe is crucial for growers, who typically recoup the costs of establishing their production systems for the winter-spring season. Co-owner Laura Wells estimates the damage equates to a million dollars in lost revenue, as the strawberries were destined for Coles supermarkets. Despite the financial blow, Ms Wells remains optimistic, focusing on her farm’s future and resilience.
Two blocks of land have been abandoned for the remainder of the season, a testament to the severity of the damage. Ms Wells acknowledges that few households could withstand such a loss but emphasises that their business has always planned for the long term, working on a seven-year average. Selling second-grade fruit was not a viable option due to the sheer scale of the damage and the additional costs involved in sorting and grading.
The impact of the unseasonal rain extends beyond Taste ‘n’ See. The coming weeks will reveal the extent of plant diseases and flower damage across south-east Queensland, where the bulk of Australia’s winter strawberries are produced.
Queensland Strawberry Growers’ president Adrian Schultz, says it’s too early to determine the full extent of the losses or the effect on retail prices. While an influx of second-grade fruit could drive prices down, the scarcity of high-quality strawberries could lead to price increases.
In the meantime, produce shops and pick-your-own farms are selling second-grade fruit for jams and smoothies. Gary Norris, ‘The Mango Man’ in Noosaville, selling seconds for a small farm, laments the financial toll on farmers, highlighting the disconnect between consumers who complain about produce prices and the harsh realities of farming.
The rain’s impact isn’t limited to strawberries. Raspberries, blueberries, and lettuce grown in the Moreton Bay and Sunshine Coast regions have also been affected. Businesses like Rural Earthworms work with packing sheds to utilise the waste generated.
Back at Taste ‘n’ See, Laura Wells finds a silver lining amidst the devastation, expressing gratitude for full dams and the prospect of lush grass. Her focus remains on the future and the farm’s recovery.
Caboolture residents are waking up to ongoing flood warnings this morning, as heavy rainfall from yesterday continues to impact the region. As of 6:58 AM on August 15, 2024, several roads across the City of Moreton Bay remain closed due to flash flooding.
The Caboolture River catchment is under a Flood Watch Warning, with local authorities closely monitoring water levels. While the intense rain has eased to showers, meteorologists predict further easing throughout the day. However, residents are advised to remain vigilant due to saturated ground and the potential for renewed flooding.
Of particular concern to Caboolture locals is the closure of Old Gympie Road at Six Mile Creek in nearby Elimbah. This key route, crucial for many Caboolture residents commuting south, was reported flooded at 1:32 PM yesterday and remains closed this morning.
In the wider area, Old Cove Road in Woodford is flooded at Blackrock Creek, while the Goat Track in Highvale has been affected by a landslip due to flood damage. These closures may impact Caboolture residents travelling to these areas.
Moreton Bay City Council’s disaster dashboard is providing real-time updates on road closures. Caboolture residents are strongly encouraged to check this resource before travelling and to avoid any flooded areas.
On Saturday, 24 August, the Caboolture Rugby Union will host a star-studded luncheon, uniting rugby enthusiasts and community supporters for an inspiring afternoon of fundraising. Join them from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. as they rally behind their under-16 team’s transformative 2025 trip to New Zealand.
Caboolture Rugby Union U16’s journey of a lifetime
The planned six-night excursion to New Zealand offers the young athletes a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in rugby culture, compete against local college teams, and gain invaluable exposure to professional training environments.
Beyond just competition, the trip includes a tour of the renowned Blues facility, where the team will witness firsthand the rigours of professional rugby training.
Star-studded fundraising luncheon
To turn this dream into reality, the Caboolture Rugby Union is hosting an exclusive fundraising luncheon on Saturday, August 24. This event features an impressive lineup of rugby luminaries: Wallabies legend George Smith, All Black Hosea Gear, and Caboolture Snakes’ very own Ryan Smith.
These rugby icons will share insights from their illustrious careers and offer attendees a unique opportunity to engage with the sport’s elite.
For $105pp, guests will enjoy not only the company of rugby royalty but also a comprehensive experience including a drinks package, delectable canapes, and the chance to participate in a silent auction. Lucky attendees might even walk away with a door prize, adding another layer of excitement to the afternoon.
Caboolture-educated Kaylee McKeown cements her place in Olympic history as she becomes the first Australian swimmer to win four individual gold medals. At the Paris Olympics, McKeown successfully defended her 200m backstroke title, adding to her earlier victory in the 100m backstroke.
McKeown’s latest triumph elevates her above other Australian Olympic greats. With four individual golds, she surpasses the likes of Ian Thorpe, Dawn Fraser, and Betty Cuthbert, who each hold three. This feat places McKeown in a league of her own among Australian Olympians.
The 23-year-old Queenslander’s victory in the 200m backstroke comes in an Olympic record time of 2:03.73. McKeown’s win matches Hungarian legend Krisztina Egerszegi’s record of four Olympic backstroke gold medals, solidifying her status as one of the greatest backstrokers in history.
McKeown’s historic swim caps off a successful night for Australia in the pool. Veteran Cameron McEvoy, 30, claims gold in the men’s 50m freestyle with a time of 21.25, marking Australia’s first-ever medal in this event at the Olympics.
Despite her exhaustion, McKeown qualified for the 200m individual medley final just minutes after her golden performance. With potential medals in two medley relays and the individual medley event still to come, McKeown’s record-breaking run may not be over yet.
Keep your eyes peeled for two local sprinters—Burpengary’s Ella Connolly and Caboolture’s Calab Law—as the athletics portion of the Paris Olympics gets underway and they aim to stake their claim among the world’s fastest.
Ella Connolly in the women’s 100m and 4x100m relay
The 100m dash holds a special place in the world of athletics. As the shortest common outdoor running distance, it is perhaps the most popular and prestigious event in track and field. The winner of this event at the Olympics or World Championships often earns the unofficial title of “the fastest person in the world.”
The 5’9” trackstar faces a tight schedule in her quest for Olympic glory: Preliminary Round: 2 August, 6:35 p.m. Round 1: 2 August , 7:50 p.m. Semifinals: 3 August, 3:50 a.m. Finals: 3 August, 5:20 a.m.
This compressed timeline will test not only Connolly’s speed but also her endurance and recovery abilities. She enters the event facing stiff competition that includes the current women’s world champion, USA’s Sha’Carri Richardson.
Almost a week after her individual event, the 24-year-old will join her teammates for the 4x100m relay: Round 1: 8 August, 7:10 p.m. Finals: 10 August, 3:30 a.m.
Calab Law in the men’s 200m
The 200m dash is a challenging event that attracts world class runners from various disciplines, particularly those who compete in the 100m. It requires a combination of explosive speed and sustained power, making it a true test of an athlete’s capabilities.
This schedule allows for more recovery time between rounds compared to the 100m event, but demands peak performance over multiple days.
Law enters a field of fierce competitors that include the reigning Olympic champion Andre De Grasse from Canada and current World Champion Noah Lyles of the USA. At just 20 years old and standing 6’1”, Law brings youth and promising talent to the competition.
As the Paris Olympics sprinting events approach, Ella Connolly and Calab Law prepare to represent a country itching for athletics glory on the Olympic stage.
Featured Image Photo Credit: Ella Connolly, Calab Law/Instagram
Born in Redcliffe and educated in Caboolture, 23-year-old Kaylee McKeown defied the bookies by beating American Regan Smith and the rest of the 100m backstroke field in 57.33 seconds.
Kaylee turned in 4th with a 28.08 split but powered past Kylie Masse of Canada, and Regan Smith and Katherine Berkoff of the USA. Current world record holder Regan Smith was considered the favourite in the event.
Having won Olympic gold Number 4, Kaylee’s medal prospects continue to look promising, with the 200m backstroke (arguably her strongest event) coming up, and the 200m individual medley as well.
It has been an eventful series of competitions so far for elite swimmers competing in the Paris Olympics pool, which athletes have pointed out to be shallower than what they’re used to in training and other competitions, a detail they believe to be causing slower swim times overall.
At 2.15m, the Paris pool is above the minimum standard of 2m approved for the Paris Olympics but is now below the new World Aquatics recommended minimum of 2.5m. Experts believe deeper pools maximise performance and result in faster times by minimising the turbulence caused by water displaced by swimmers bouncing off the bottom of the pool.
Road to Greatness
The talented swimmer’s world-class performance has been honed from a junior at Australian Crawl in Burpengary under coach Jodie Morgan. Chris Mooney also worked with her for many years until she joined the Griffith University Swim Club under Michael Bohl.
It was her sister, Taylor, however, that inspired her to greatness.
Taylor began competitive swimming at the age of nine and by 15 years old, she had won the national 100m and 200m breaststroke titles. Two years later, she won gold in the 2014 Commonwealth Games 200m breaststroke final, beating fellow Aussie Sally Hunter in Glasgow.
In 2015, Taylor helped the 4x100m medley relay team to win a World Championship bronze. By 2016, they went one better in the Rio Olympics where Taylor and the team finished second in the 4x100m medley relay.
2016 was a big year for the McKeown sisters. While Taylor performed and won a silver in the biggest stage of all, Kaylee was in Hawaii at the Pan Pacific Junior Championships, her first major international competition representing Australia. She won the 200m backstroke; finished 3rd in the 100m; and 17th in the 200m medley.
Within a year, Kaylee made the jump to senior competition and helped secure a silver medal in the World Championships in Budapest for the 4x100m mixed medley relay. She also finished 4th in the 200m backstroke, as well as 16th in the 400m medley.
Her coach, Chris Mooney, had a long term plan for Kaylee. Rather than push her too hard during her final year at St Paul’s Lutheran in Caboolture, he gave her room to complete her studies by setting a weekly routine of five training schedules rather than the standard ten.
This meant 2018 saw limited improvement for a while. Even by 2019 Kaylee’s performances were similar to 2017, though silver in the 2019 World Championship 200m backstroke was a major breakthrough.
In August 2020, Kaylee’s dad, Sholto, died after fighting brain cancer for two years. “I’ll always be with you” was tattooed on her foot as a permanent reminder of her dad. It became her biggest motivator.
The delayed Tokyo Olympics did not suit most athletes but for Kaylee, it seemed to have been an extra year of training and growth.
She absolutely nailed Tokyo, winning the 100m backstroke in a new Olympic record, becoming the first Australian female gold medalist in backstroke. She then won the 200m backstroke and then completed her hat-trick of gold medals by swimming the backstroke leg of the 4x100m medley relay.
Three Olympic medals at the age of 20; now four at the age of 23. Could that become five or six in 2024?
Get ready for an unforgettable journey through time as the Caboolture Historical Village flings open its gates for the much-anticipated Heritage Day extravaganza! This is your chance to step back in time and experience the sights, sounds, and stories that shaped the region’s vibrant past.
On Sunday, 4 August 2024, the village will transform into a bustling activity hub, showcasing yesteryear’s skills and traditions. Reenactors will bring the past to life while local artisans demonstrate their crafts and offer hands-on workshops for all ages. Visitors can wander through the village’s charming buildings, ride the heritage train, and marvel at the collection of vintage cars, tractors, and machinery on display.
Saskia Huismans, Events Manager for the Caboolture Historical Village, promises a day filled with fun, education, and nostalgia. “This is an opportunity to connect with Caboolture’s past and experience what life was like all those years ago,” she says. “There will be something for everyone, from demonstrations of traditional crafts to lively music performances and old-fashioned games.”
One of the highlights of Heritage Day will be the demonstrations by skilled craftspeople, who will share their knowledge of quilting, lacemaking, spinning, weaving, and blacksmithing—Huismans emphasises the importance of preserving these niche skills, which are in danger of disappearing. “We hope that by showcasing these crafts, we can inspire a new generation to learn and carry on these traditions,” she says.
Heritage Day promises a vibrant and diverse programme of events. Visitors can enjoy performances by Dance Kaleidoscope Queensland, listen to classic Aussie songs by the Blarney Stone Celtic and Irish Folk Band, and appreciate the art of bush poetry with readings by the North Pine Bush Poets. The Redcliffe Scottish Pipe-Band will also be on hand to entertain, and Flash Mac, the village’s beloved Clydesdale horse, will appear.
The event features various demonstrations and displays, including those by the Antique Machinery Restoration Society Inc., local blacksmiths, and the Northside Doll Circle. Visitors can enjoy leather crafting demonstrations by the Leathercrafters Association of Queensland Inc. and browse unique wares by Nautipunk in the Vintage Market.
For those seeking nostalgia, there will be penny-farthing rides by the Queensland Penny Farthing and Historical Cycle Club, weaving demonstrations by the Redcliffe Spinners Weavers and Dyers, and lacemaking demonstrations by the Queensland Lacemakers Guild. For a full schedule and to purchase tickets, Entry is $10 for adults, $5 for children aged 6-16, and free for children under 5.
The Caboolture Historical Village is a sprawling complex with over 70 buildings and 110,000 museum pieces. It is home to numerous special interest groups that work tirelessly to preserve and share the region’s history. Heritage Day is a testament to their dedication and a fantastic opportunity to experience the living history of Caboolture.
Let the Caboolture Historical Village transport you back in time for a day of discovery, entertainment, and celebration.
