An enormous fire on Monmouth St in Morningside has left a house without its roof and stopped the firefighters from doing a secondary check on the premises because of the risks.
The fire started at about 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, 21 January 2023. It took the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services nearly an hour to contain the fire.
Monmouth Street and Thynne Road were closed to traffic as the firemen worked on the hot spots. Witnesses said that at least seven fire trucks rushed to the site whilst there Queensland Ambulance reported no injuries.
Alii, a Cannon Hill-based start-up, recently raised $2.5 million in a pre-Series A capital round, bringing its total valuation to $10.25 million. The company offers secure business software solutions to schools and other organisations, a must in order to protect sensitive student and financial data, in light of recent instances of cyber attacks and data breaches.
The software company offers web-based accounts payable and business process automation software that caters to schools, legal and other organisations.
Alii was founded in 2018 as an end-to-end accounts payable solution with a fraud detection feature to help schools and other organisations combat cyber-attacks. Throughout 2022, the company added about eight to 10 new schools per month into its client base. The boost comes as several Australian private and independent schools falling victim to cyber hacking, compromising sensitive student and financial data.
In November 2022, Xavier College and Kilvington Grammar School experienced a data security breach that resulted in dozens of sensitive information being stolen by hackers.
At present, Alli’s clientele increased by 240 per cent over the past 12 months which now includes Maurice Blackburn Lawyers, Newington College, Mentone Grammar School, All Saints Anglican School and Brisbane Boys’ College. Likewise, its post-funding valuation is now up to $10.25 million, as the company realised a 300 per cent increase in revenue.
Alii chairman Gordon Tan said the company targets to penetrate about 60 per cent of the private and independent school market in three to five years. This is not counting the projected growth in other target sectors including legal services and not-for-profit organisations.
“It’s an exciting time for us at Alii and as an organisation, we are delighted to share our success and growth with our clients. As schools, firms and businesses of all kinds work towards streamlining their operational priorities, Alii clients continue to stay ahead of operational inefficiencies and fraud-related threats that come from legacy software and processes,” CEO of Alii, Chamil Fernando said.
The company intends to use the latest capital injection to boost its staff by 18 across customer engagement, sales, marketing and product development teams. The funding package comes as Alii plans to expand throughout Australia and New Zealand as well as other regions and sectors.
Brisbane lost quite a number of its historic theatres through the years including the Astra Theatre. This 300-seat building was originally opened in 1924 as the Morningside Picture Theatre.
Originally built as The Morningside Picture Theatre in 1924 for Schodel Bros. The theatre was located at 98 Lawson Road on the corner of present-day Wynnum Road in Morningside and has a seating capacity of 300 people.
By 1928, the building reportedly underwent some renovations costing about £1,500 and was executed by Warendorp and Pipe.
In 1930, the building sustained fire damage valued at £785 after a lit cigarette caused the screen to catch fire which spread to the rafters. Although the property was insured for £1,200, only £685 was paid out by the insurance company as some Morningside Athletic Club items were not covered by the insurance.
The theatre hall was used by the local Air Raid Precautions committee during World War II to hold meetings and fundraising concerts. Then circa 1941, Morningside Picture Theatre was renamed Astra Theatre before it was sold in 1965.
Astra Theatre remained open until 1977 when it was acquired by Stipan (Stjepan, Steve, Steven or Stefan) Došen and Pero Vidaković for the Croatian Community. The building was later destroyed by fire.
Wintergarden Theatre
Wintergarden Theatre opened in 1924. The theatre housed the biggest organ in Australia and was dubbed as the one of “most modern theatres” at the time.
Closed in 1973, the Wintergarden Theatre’s foyer was turned into a retail space then later a bank. And by 1981, the auditorium was demolished followed by the rest of the building to facilitate the construction of a shopping centre.
Her Majesty’s Theatre
Facade of Her Majestys Theatre Brisbane circa 1898 | Photo credit: Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Adjacent to the Wintergarden Theatre was His Majesty’s Theatre which opened in 1888 as Her Imperial Majesty’s Opera House. It was renamed His Majesty’s Theatre (1901-1952) following the death of Queen Victoria but again changed its name to Her Majesty’s Theatre.
The largest theatre in Brisbane during its time, Her Majesty’s theatre was renowned for its facade that combined Italian Renaissance architecture and Corinthian styles. It was demolished in 1983 to make way for the Hilton Hotel despite community opposition.
Other historic theatres Brisbane lost through the years include the Albert Hall (replaced by Suncorp building) and The Tivoli Theatre – Brisbane (1914 – 1963).
The viral video of a young woman walking across the path of a train in Murarrie Station back in May 2022 was among the footage shown by Queensland Rail as part of its new safety campaign.
The young woman almost faced death as she walked across the path to hand something to a man who was on the other side of a platform. This incident, captured by CCTV, contributes to the rising cases of railway trespassing incidents in the State, which led Queensland Rail to release the footage.
The new safety campaign called A Hole Lot Of Regret, targets all trespassers, but particularly teenagers.
Video screenshot of railway trespassing incident in Murarrie Station (Photo credit: Queensland Rail/Vimeo)
Queensland Rail Senior Manager Security and Emergency Preparedness Drew Brock revealed that the common motives for trespassing include taking short-cuts across railway tracks and between station platforms as well anti-social behaviour such as vandalism.
Mr Brock said there were nearly three thousand trespassing incidents (2913) on the Queensland Rail network in the last financial year (2021/2022).
Photo credit: Queensland Rail/Vimeo
“Our message is clear: Stay off the tracks! Trespassing is not worth risking your life,” Mr Brock said in a media statement.
“The number of people who trespass on the network is extremely concerning and has increased from last year, which is why Queensland Rail is urging customers to keep safety at the forefront of their minds.”
Mr Brock revealed that in the last financial year, trespassing incidents resulted in 3,006 delays to their train services in South East Queensland.
Captured in Altandi station (Photo credit: Queensland Rail/Vimeo)
Trains on the network can travel at speeds of up to 160 kilometres per hour, can take up to two kilometres to stop, and can’t swerve to avoid cars or people.
“Please think not only about yourself but about the impact your behaviour is having on others who need to get to work, school and appointments on time,” he said.
Queensland Rail hoped the campaign would serve as a stark reminder of the dangers of the unsafe behaviour, which not only puts lives at risk but causes thousands of delays to train passengers each year.
Bring the whole family to the fun and exciting BMX Skills Open Day at the Murarrie Skate Park to witness and interact with Australian Olympian Natalya Diehm and other BMX champions.
The BMX Skills Open Day will take place on Saturday, 17 December 2022, with slots for kids between six to 17 years old to learn and train from the best!
If you have BMX enthusiasts at home, the open day is a chance for them to develop some new skills as Natalya and the BMX experts will be conducting workshops and demonstrations at different sessions throughout the day. The workshops will also include a “girls only” session, as well as free bike safety checks from Traction.
Eager participants to the workshops are asked to bring a safe and suitable BMX bike, helmet, closed-in footwear, water bottle and if possible knee pads, elbow pads and gloves. However, there will also be limited BMX bikes for loan, thanks to the Council’s Cycling Brisbane Program.
Aside from the BMX workshops, attendees may also try out the ninja course or enjoy various foods whilst watching the activities. Someone may also get the chance to win a brand-new BMX bike during the raffle draw.
Booking is essential or email RampFest at Chris@rampfest.com.au to learn more about this event.
A date finally has been set for the long-awaited opening of Total Fusion Morningside, two years after a court battle with Australian Country Choice. Not only that, they’re recruiting 100 new staff members!
Advertisements for job openings have started running as Total Fusion Morningside, the largest and most highly advanced gym in East Brisbane, plans to hire 100 staff members to serve its clientele beginning the 1st of February 2023.
The gym was granted the approval to open in August 2022, after Judge Nicole Kefford dismissed the appeal of Australian Country Choice (ACC), to stop the gym’s operation at the transformed Rivermakers precinct.
Photo Credit: TotalFusion Morningside/Facebook
ACC was against having a gym close to its manufacturing facility, citing that there could be frequent complaints from gym members about the noise and odour from its neighbouring meat manufacturing plant. ACC was also concerned about the size of the gym in an industrial precinct.
However, Total Fusion head Leon McNiece said that the plant is not even visible from the carpark at Rivermakers. Thus, gym goers are likely not going to complain about the meatworks.
Mr McNiece said that the court decision has reaffirmed that the community wants to have a premium fitness and wellness facility in Morningside. In preparation for the opening, tours to the facility will be underway in the coming weeks.
Photo Credit: TotalFusion Morningside/Facebook
Aside from the fitness areas for yoga, pilates and other group workouts, the wellness site will also have saunas, compression booths and massage areas, a cryotherapy section (cold temperature therapy), recovery tools, and an on-site nutritionist.
Photo Credit: Total Fusion Morningside/Facebook
The gym is set to operate daily from 5:00 a.m. to late evening.
Did you know that the Hologram Zoo is now open, on a limited run until Christmas Eve? Featuring more than 50 laser-generated lifelike animals such as dinosaurs and whales, plus the latest in smell technology, this exhibit is a must-not-miss treat!
The Hologram Zoo will feature more than 50 laser-generated 3-D animals on display that visitors could view using special glasses instead of Virtual Reality (VR) headsets.
The zoo will also incorporate smell technology of rain, flowers, waterfalls, and the desert so that visitors will enjoy a full experience. Axiom Holographics has tapped Luxaroma, another Australian company, for the smell technology.
Photo Credit: Hologram Zoo/Facebook
Axiom Holographics is launching the unique zoo for a limited run at the Cannon Hill Plaza on Wynnum Road. It will be trialled from the 10th until the 24th of December but could become a permanent destination for families.
Axiom Holographics founder Bruce Dell — who has done holograms for science organisations, the government and military — is thrilled to be launching his first Hologram Zoo after years of learning about the technology’s development.
Holograms are notoriously expensive and operational expenses for a hologram zoo could easily run up to an exorbitant amount but Mr Dell has developed a cost-effective way to use the technology, earning himself a tech award in Silicon Valley, California in 2019.
After the trial run in Brisbane, Mr Dell might also take the Hologram Zoo on a roadshow to the U.S., Japan, and Europe.
Tickets to the Cannon Hill run are now up for grabs and selling fast. Check the official site for more info.
Get ready for a holly, jolly Christmas this December at the Rivermakers Heritage Quarter as the lifestyle hub lights up with festive cheer, beer and entertainment for the entire family to enjoy.
On 3 December 2022, the Rivermakers HQ will be brimming with Christmas magic and loads of fun and entertainment for the whole family, and of course, overflowing beer. Makers and creators Revel Brewing, and Low n Slow will be joining the family fun plus pop-up bars from Margarita Margarita and Hohly Water for the parents.
Bavay Distillery will likewise pour in some Christmas cheer with festive cocktails, distillery tours, a live mural painting and gift packs for purchase from their very own “ginmas tree”.
Meanwhile, Christmas carols will fill the air to keep the festive spirit going as eventgoers browse through all the gift items on offer at the Christmas Market stalls onsite.
And Santa Claus will be dropping by too to join in the fun from 2 pm to 4 pm, so be ready to get a free photo with him.
Those who want to try pottery making can participate in a two-hour Pottery Wheel Workshop at the site, hosted by Mas & Miek. This fun and relaxed workshop welcomes all levels, and is perfect for those who have never tried the pottery wheel and would like to give it a go.
You can try your hand at the wheel after a brief demonstration by one of the organiser’s experienced throwing teachers. If you make something you like, they will fire and glaze it for you ready to collect a few weeks later; there is a limit of one piece per person.
The studio will then glaze your work in your colour of choice and fire your bowl for you, ready for you to collect a few weeks later. The price to book a spot is $110 – all-inclusive of clay, materials, glaze & firing.
They do not offer cash refunds on any classes, courses or workshops in the studio, so participants are advised to choose carefully.
Amanda Martin of Morningside and four other young Queenslanders have been honoured to receive the 2022 Jack Cranstoun Scholarship for their passion and skills in mediation and dispute resolution.
During a ceremony held at the Brisbane Supreme and District Court, the five awardees received scholarships worth $3,500 each. Amanda was named among the scholarship recipients under the First Nation’s People’s category.
As a young student, Amanda struggled with public speaking. Whenever she was given an opportunity to face her fears, however, she gladly accepted the challenge. She has participated in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Moot Court competition where despite her misgivings about public speaking, she placed second.
Amanda is described as a proud Gadigal woman who is driven and passionate about community service and embodies the spirit of giving back through her extensive volunteer commitments
The Jack Cranstoun scholarship recipients for 2022. Photo credit: Facebook / Shannon Fentiman MP
The winners were congratulated by Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Shannon Fentiman who said that the judges were so impressed with the calibre of applicants, they awarded an extra scholarship in the CALD category.
“Since its establishment in 2015, the Jack Cranstoun scholarships have attracted exceptional young candidates with diverse backgrounds from across our State and our 2022 winners are no exception,” Minister Fentiman said.
“This year, in addition to regional and general scholarships, two new categories were introduced for First Nations Peoples and for people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds.
The rest of the 2022 scholarship recipients include Letticia Gooroovadoo (regional category), Nana Makatema (Culturally and Linguistically Diverse category), Nadia Saeed (Culturally and Linguistically Diverse category), and Gemma Sampson (general category).
“I applaud Amanda, Nana, Nadia, Letticia and Gemma for their achievements to date and wish them every success with their mediation training.”
The Jack Cranstoun memorial scholarship is an initiative funded by the Queensland Government in honour of the memory of Jack Cranston, a talented young mediator within the Department of Justice and Attorney-General who sadly lost his life in 2014.
“Mr Cranstoun’s colleagues recognised that offering opportunities to young people in his name would be a fitting tribute for someone who was a gifted problem solver in his own right,” Minister Fentiman said.
“They are no doubt proud of the talent the program has attracted.”
Applicants for the scholarship undergo assessment for merit and interview by a panel regarding relevant criteria as well as their passion for mediation. The lucky recipients will receive mediation and dispute resolution skills enhancement training conducted by experienced mediators from Queensland’s Dispute Resolution Branch. They would have the opportunity to be assessed for National Mediator Accreditation.
“Mediators provide an invaluable service to the community, helping people resolve their differences without the need to go to court,” Minister Fentiman said.
“With a high rate of success, mediators save time, legal fees and court costs for the people involved – and the community at large – and help to free up the court system.”
More information about mediation training and the Dispute Resolution Branch can be found here.
From its humble beginnings distributing cakes in Morningside in 1995, Priestley’s Gourmet Delights has now grown into one of Australia’s leading suppliers of sweet and savoury treats, picking up an ecoBiz Star along the way, all whilst upholding their advocacy for environmental sustainability.
For over two decades now, this family-owned business has been an over-achiever, known for supplying cafes with a range of delicious treats, including cheesecakes, slices, muffins, loaves, lamingtons, pavlovas, quiches, and gourmet cakes.
All the products are manufactured in their purpose-built plants in Morningside, and more recently, in Tauranga and Blenheim in New Zealand. Everything for the international and domestic markets is supplied frozen for optimum quality control.
Some of their creations include Choc Berry Tart, a tangy blueberry and creamy baked cheesecake; Mississippi Mud Cake, their version of mud cake; and the Choc and Raspberry Lamingtons.
Beyond creating high-quality and show-stopping treats, they support local businesses by sourcing their ingredients, packaging, and equipment from fellow Australian manufacturers.
Around a decade ago, the business started its journey to sustainability by reducing its carbon emissions by 38 percent and water usage by 31 percent.
Despite increasing the number of cakes they bake, they have also managed to reduce their energy consumption by 6.4 percent since 2016, attributing it all to their effective implementation of energy-saving initiatives.
The business is all about sustainability and has set production initiatives, such as recycling bins introduced in the factory and reducing water consumption, with that in mind. They have also installed solar lighting in their bin area, as well as installed motion sensors in the toilets and locker rooms.
In recognition of their resource efficiency improvements, the Queensland government has given them an ecoBiz star rating, which is being given to businesses with excellent practice measures in places, verified by experts.
Their core value is to consistently improve, not just for their customers, but also for their staff and the planet. Some of their goals include eliminating plastics from packaging by 2022, and using recyclable packaging by 2025.
The Christophersen and Jones families will celebrate 27 years in the business in December 2022.
