Monthly Archives: May 2014

Redlands’ Indigenous showcase


May 19, 2014

National Reconciliation Week will be celebrated in the Redlands with an entertaining short-film festival at the Cleveland library.

The free showcase of indigenous culture will run daily at 10am, noon and 2pm throughout National Reconciliation Week from Tuesday 27 May to Tuesday 3 June.

Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said the week was a reminder of the important role Aboriginal culture played in the Redlands.

“The Quandamooka people are the original inhabitants of what we today call the Redlands and it is incumbent on us all to recognise that and respect their culture, traditions and contributions,’’ Cr Williams said.

“This is something we should reflect on throughout the year, not just during our National Reconciliation Week celebrations.

“The week, however, offers a great opportunity to learn more about indigenous life and culture and I hope our short-film festival will help residents do that in an entertaining and interesting way.’’

A festival highlight will be Dennis Simmons’ Ace of Spades, based on an Aboriginal folklore story that is known throughout West Australia’s Nyoongar country.

In this contemporary retelling of the tale, two young filmmakers travel to a rural mission town to discover the truth behind the story of the Ace of Spades.

For some song and dance, check out Blackbuster, a delightful romance centred on a bashful teenage boy and a publican’s daughter. Written and directed by S. F. Tusa, a filmmaker of Torres Strait Islander/Samoan descent, it is set in a crazy Queensland pub.

The festival also includes Yolngu Guya Djamamirr, The Caretaker, Who Paintin’ dis Wandjina? and Aunty Maggie and the Womba Wakgun.

All the films are rated G or PG.  Call the library on 3829 8770 for more details.

You also can join Quandamooka Dreaming’s Sandra Delaney from 11.30am on Sunday 1 June at Redland Art Gallery, Cleveland, for a talk about her new book, which is loaded with Dreamtime tales and stunning art.

Dates to celebrate

26 May

National Sorry Day: This day is commemorated each year since 1998 to acknowledge the Stolen Generations, indigenous Australians who were forcibly removed from their families and communities. Information: www.nsdc.org.au.

27 May – National Reconciliation Week: National Reconciliation Week, which continues to 3 June, celebrates the rich culture and history of the first Australians. Information: www.reconciliation.org.au. The opening day on 27 May also marks the anniversary of the 1967 referendum where Australians voted overwhelmingly to amend the Constitution to include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
3 June – Mabo Day: The High Court, in a historic judgement delivered on June 3, 1992, accepted the claim from Eddie Mabo and the other claimants that their people had occupied the island of Mer before the arrival of the British. Information: www.mabonativetitle.com

4 July – Native Title: The anniversary of the rulings giving the Quandamooka people land rights over more than 98 per cent of North Stradbroke Island. The native title agreement acknowledges the Quandamooka people as traditional owners of North Stradbroke, Peel, Goat, Bird, Stingaree and Crab islands and surrounding waters of Moreton Bay.

Community fundraising efforts provide liberty


May 16, 2014

Local resident and motoring enthusiast Stephen Whittam has combined with Redland City Council, Variety Queensland and Ormiston College to add fun to the lives of disabled kids in the Redlands.

Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said Mr Whittam was driving a fund raising effort with Ormiston College to help raise $25,000 for a Liberty Swing to be installed at Raby Bay Foreshore Park.

“This is a fantastic initiative that will bring a smile to the faces of kids with a disability within the Redlands, as well as their families,” she said.

“In addition to providing a location for the new Liberty Swing, Council will also undertake $62,000 of other upgrades of the park, including improving disability access to toilets. 

“We will also provide new disability car parking and install new footpaths and fencing around the Liberty Swing.

“The Raby Bay Foreshore Park is a fantastic area with a stunning view, so Council is pleased to be able to support this initiative and help provide an all abilities area for children to enjoy.”

The Liberty Swing allows children in wheelchairs or afflicted by a physical impairment the chance to enjoy the exhilaration of swinging.

Mr Whittman, who is a long-term participant in the XXX Gold Variety Variety Bash and describes himself as a motoring enthusiast, came up with the idea of raising money for the Liberty Swing to give something back to the community.

“I have taken part in the Bash for the past five years and Variety Queensland have installed over 40 Liberty Swings across Queensland, so I really wanted to help out closer to home and this is a great way to do it,” he said.

“This is 100 per cent a local effort. We have some great long term corpoarte sponsors, and this year to raise such a large amount, I thought it would be good for a local school to get behind the cause and Ormiston College were more than happy to assist through their Social Justice committee.

Mr Whittam said the XXXX Gold Variety Bash was a great way to provide for kids who are sick, disadvantaged or have special needs.

“Variety Queensland does such a great job and when we are on the Bash we actually see the work they do with our special kids, so this is a great opportunity to bring that into the Redlands,” he said.

“There are no losers in this.  As a car lover I get to drive in the Bash, kids who really need it get help and the community gets to be involved and support the cause – everyone’s a winner,” he said.

Ormiston College Principal Brett Webster said the students were excited about the fundraising effort.

“The students of Ormiston College are very keen to be a part of this wonderful initiative that will see local children who are in a wheelchair experience the joy of a swing,” he said.

The Liberty Swing and Raby Bay Foreshore Park upgrade are expected to be opened in August.

Planned hazard reduction burns – Point Lookout


May 14, 2014

Planned burns assist in reducing fire danger and provide conditions essential for native plant species regeneration. They are necessary to reduce the volume of forest litter fuel and assist with hazard reduction.

The following burns are scheduled for May:

  • Tuesday 20 May, 1pm – 12am
    BA18NSI – North of Tramican Street, Point Lookout
  • Wednesday 21 May, day time
    BA16NSI – Grant Street, Point Lookout
    BA17NSI – Between Baker Court and Grant Street, Point Lookout
  • Wednesday 21 May, night time
    BA19NSI – North of Tramican Street, Point Lookout
  • Thursday 22 May, day time
    BA15NSI – North of Tamican Street, Point Lookout

It is appreciated that these burns may cause some inconvenience, however all attempts are made to limit any smoke hazards from the work.

If you require further details of planned burns, phone Council on 3829 8999.

hazard-reduction-burn

Snapshot – 13 May 2014


May 13, 2014

North Stradbroke Island

Bushfire debrief Thursday 15 May

Bushfire debrief Thursday 15 May Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) is inviting North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah) residents to attend a formal debrief on the January 2014 bushfire emergency event.

  • When: Thursday 15 May 2014, 9.30am – 11.30am
  • Where: Dunwich Community Hall, Cnr Ballow Road and Junner Street, Dunwich
  • No RSVP necessary

QFES and other stakeholders, including Council, will attend to discuss the fire and future island fire management, as well as answer residents’ questions. For more information please call QFES Zone Office on 3635 1607.

 

Koala Fun Run 2014

Sunday 25 May

Get training! Redlands 2014 Koala Fun Run is on from 7am on Sunday 25 May with two course options – a 6km run/walk and a 12km run.

The Koala Fun Run is being organised by the Bayside Runners and Walkers Group with sponsorship from Redland City Council, as part of the RUN for REDLANDS 48hr Charity Festival, to be held from Friday 23 May to Sunday 25 May 2014 at Main Oval, Sharks Sporting Complex, Victoria Point.

You can register for this year’s Koala Fun Run by visiting the RUN for REDLANDS website
www.runforredlands.org.au

 

Connect to your Creek Week

Saturday 17 May – Sunday 25 May 2014

Join in one of the local activities during ‘Connect to your Creek Week’ and celebrate the beauty and diversity of our waterways. Connect to your Creek Week is a Healthy Waterways initiative, supported by Redland City Council.

Activities include a water monitoring information session, dragonflies and waterbugs display, guided walk along Eprapah Creek and a kayak tour (there is a cost for this activity).

For more information: visit www.indigiscapes.com.au or phone: 3824 8611

Ribbon to be cut on Macleay Island Skate Park


May 10, 2014

The ribbon will be cut on the $500,000 Macleay Island community skate park on Saturday 31 May and everyone is invited.

The event will include skaters, showing what the new facility is capable of, as well as live music and give-aways.

New Image

The opening event kicks off at 10am at the skate park on the corner of High Central Road and Scarborough Terrace.

The skate park is designed for beginner, intermediate and advanced users and features ramps, steps and grind walls for skaters, scooter and BMX riders.

Event details:

Saturday 31 May 2014, 10am – 2pm
Corner High Central Road and Scarborough Terrace, Macleay Island
Skaters, scooter and BMX riders, live music and jams.

 

Local laws update


May 10, 2014

Council has proposed to base its local laws on a model developed by the State Government for all Queensland councils.

While expressed in a new format, the draft laws essentially cover Council’s existing laws, with most provisions unchanged. You can view the draft laws on our website.

At this stage, they are still with the State Government for review. We expect to receive this input within the next few weeks after which the laws, with any revisions, will be returned to Council seeking approval to begin the official community engagement process.

Following the consideration of community input, the new local laws are then expected to come back to Council for adoption early in 2015.

To be part of the process you can register your interest online.

Upgrade for Headland Park


May 10, 2014

Headland Park on North Stradbroke Island will get a $500,000 upgrade with work set to start next week.

The project will include new barbeque and picnic facilities, which will give residents and visitors even more to enjoy about the area.

The natural layout of the area will also be used to create an amphitheatre, including a platform and seating area that can be used for weddings and other ceremonies.

Six new formalised car-parks will be constructed along with a designated over-flow car parking area that can accommodate a further 32 cars.

Access to the popular North Gorge Walk will be enhanced as part of the project, which also allows for new playground equipment in the future.

The project is expected to be completed by the end of August weather permitting and while there will be some minor disruptions to vehicle access to the area, pedestrian access will be maintained throughout the project.

headland-park

Priority projects to go to market


May 10, 2014

Investors will soon be invited to submit their plans for two of the city’s key transit hubs at Toondah Harbour and Weinam Creek.

Council’s changes to the two proposed development schemes, recommended as a result of community feedback, will be reflected in the final planning framework now being finalised by Economic Development Queensland.

The final schemes are due for approval by the Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney at the end of May. Following the formal adoption of the final schemes, the Expressions of Interest (EoI) will be released in June and the final development plans for the Toondah Harbour and Weinam Creek PDAs will be marketed both nationally and internationally.

For more information visit our website.

Artists impressions of Weinam Creek

4438_RBM_VIEW_04_120516   Weinam_Revised_Perspective1

Artists impressions of Toondah Harbour

Toondah_Revised_Perspective1   EOI

Redlands Indigenous showcase


May 10, 2014

National Reconciliation Week will be celebrated in the Redlands with an entertaining short-film festival at the Cleveland library.

The free showcase of indigenous culture will run daily at 10am, noon and 2pm throughout National Reconciliation Week from Tuesday 27 May to Tuesday 3 June.

Blackbuster

The week offers a great opportunity to learn more about indigenous life and culture and I hope our short-film festival will help residents do that in an entertaining and interesting way.

A festival highlight will be Dennis Simmons’ Ace of Spades, based on an Aboriginal folklore story that is known throughout West Australia’s Nyoongar country.

For some song and dance, check out Blackbuster, a delightful romance centred on a bashful teenage boy and a publican’s daughter.

The festival also includes Yolngu Guya Djamamirr, The Caretaker, Who Paintin’ dis Wandjina? and Aunty Maggie and the Womba Wakgun.

All the films are rated G or PG. Call the library on 3829 8770 for more details.

You also can join Quandamooka Dreaming’s Sandra Delaney from 11.30am on Sunday 1 June at Redland Art Gallery, Cleveland, for a talk about her new book, which is loaded with Dreamtime tales and stunning art.

Dates to celebrate

26 May – National Sorry Day: This day is commemorated each year since 1998 to acknowledge the Stolen Generations, indigenous Australians who were forcibly removed from their families and communities. Information: www.nsdc.org.au.

27 May – National Reconciliation Week: National Reconciliation Week, which continues to 3 June, celebrates the rich culture and history of the first Australians. Information: www.reconciliation.org.au. The opening day on 27 May also marks the anniversary of the 1967 referendum where Australians voted overwhelmingly to amend the Constitution to include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

3 June – Mabo Day: The High Court, in a historic judgement delivered on June 3, 1992, accepted the claim from Eddie Mabo and the other claimants that their people had occupied the island of Mer before the arrival of the British. Information: www.mabonativetitle.com

4 July – Native Title: The anniversary of the rulings giving the Quandamooka people land rights over more than 98 per cent of North Stradbroke Island. The native title agreement acknowledges the Quandamooka people as traditional owners of North Stradbroke, Peel, Goat, Bird, Stingaree and Crab islands and surrounding waters of Moreton Bay.

Get connected to nature


May 10, 2014

Redlanders can discover the unique flora, fauna and fish of the Redlands’ creeks during a special Healthy Waterways celebration in May.

Connect to your Creek Week from 17-25 May provides a chance to learn more about the wonderfully wild diversity of the City’s diverse waterways.

From helping to check water quality to guided walks and displays, you are sure to find something new and interesting. And best of all, they are mostly free with no need to book.

Youngsters will love the dragonflies and water bugs display from on until Sunday 25 May at IndigiScapes Centre. It opens from 10am-4pm daily.

Visitors can learn more about the life and habits of dragonflies from the centre’s display wall and see whether they can spot the waterbugs in their enclosure. There will be fun craft activities for kids each day.

For more information on Connect to your Creek Week, call IndigiScapes on 3824 8611.