What’s on in and Around Bardon

Looking for things to do in Bardon for the coming days? Check your schedules because here’s the list of what’s on in Bardon for the month of July.

Bardon Community Markets

Sunday, 15, 22, and 29 July 2018 (6:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.)

Photo credit: Facebook/Bardon Market

Open every Sunday, the Bardon Community Markets let locals and visitors browse stalls and support the local community. Visit the market and grab a bite to eat for breakfast, pick up some fresh fruits and vegetables, or find a gift for your loved ones.

For more information visit Bardon Community Markets.

If you want to become a stallholder or sell some things at the car boot sale which takes place every third Sunday, you’ll need to register by either emailing bardonmarket@gmail.com or by calling 0421289207.

Venue: Norman Buchan Park, Bardon


Low Impact Fitness and Pilates

Tuesday, 17, 24, and 31 July 2018 (9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.)

Get moving with this low impact fitness activity that involves easy movement and exercises including a warm-up, strength exercises, pilates, and warm down.

Bookings essential. To book call Jen’s Outdoor Gym on 0410 010 316.

Participants are required to bring a yoga mat. You may also bring small weights if you want. Meeting point is under the trees near the picnic shelter.

Venue: Rainworth Park, 67 Main Avenue, Bardon


Circuits and Intervals

Wednesday, 18 and 25 July 2018 (9:15 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.)

Photo credit: Brisbane City Council

This low impact body conditioning program is designed to target strength and improve overall endurance and fitness.

Circuits and Intervals is suitable for both men and women at all fitness levels.

Bookings essential. To book call Christine from Fitness with a Twist on 0406 425 561. Participants are asked to meet near the half basketball court.

Venue: Bowman Park, 247 Simpsons Road, Bardon


Boxing and Fitness Circuit

Wednesday, 18 and 25 July 2018 (9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.)

The program involves boot camp type exercises including boxing warm-up followed by body weight exercises and aerobic movement. This is a fast way to fitness and weight loss.

Bookings essential. To book call Jen’s Outdoor Gym on 0410 010 316.

Participants are required to bring white cotton boxing glove liners and meet in the gym equipment area.

Venue: Norman Buchan Park, 53 Rainworth Road, Bardon


Tai Chi for Balance, Stability, and Healthy Ageing

Thursday, 19 July 2018 (8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.)

Photo credit: Brisbane City Council

This is a fitness and well-being program suitable for seniors.

Teaching good balance through mental and physical fitness, this proven falls-prevention program is adapted for all levels of ability. This dynamic mind and body activity will invigorate you and help you feel relaxed, refreshed, and calm.

Program costs $5 and bookings not required. For more information visit the Australian Academy of Tai Chi or call 0414 569 492.

Participants are asked to meet near the playground of Fletcher Parade Park.

Venue: Fletcher Parade Park (nos.161-231), 219 Fletcher Parade, Bardon


Tabata and Core

Saturday, 21and 28 July 2018 (7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.)

This program is a combination of interval training to improve cardiovascular fitness and specific core strength and stability exercises. Exercises are suitable for men and women at all fitness levels.

Bookings essential. To book call Christine from Fitness with a Twist on 0406 425 561. Participants are asked to meet near the cricket hut.

Venue: Jubilee Park, 52 Crown Street, Bardon

Get Active at the Picturesque Mt Coot-tha Summit Trail

Staying active while connecting with nature is made possible by the Mt Coot-tha Summit Trail.

Photo credit: Brisbane City Council

Enjoy having a walk with your family in the 1.9 km, 30-minute-walk Summit Trail that starts from JC Slaughter Falls picnic  area going to the Mt Coot-tha Lookout.

Finding the Mt Coot-tha Summit Trail is simple as the JC Slaughter Falls Road is right off Sir Samuel Griffiths Drive. You can even drive to the top along Sir Samuel Griffiths Drive.

Photo credit: Brisbane City Council

If you want a different scenery as you return to the Falls, Mt Coot-tha Forest offers an alternate route. The Mahogany Trail provides city views as you descend from the Mt Coot-tha Lookout. This route offers access to a scenic open eucalyptus forest as you go back to the trail’s starting point which is the JC Slaughter Falls picnic area.

Photo credit: Brisbane City Council

When combined with the Summit Walking Trail, the  Mahogany and Summit Trails form a 4.5-km circuit with access to the Citriodora Trail which connects through to the beautiful Brisbane Botanic Gardens in Mt Coot-tha. Take note that the gardens can be accessed from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily.

Easy Walk for the Family

The Summit Track provides an easy grade paved walk with clusters of stairs along the way making it an ideal trail for all ages. It is also a great place for walking your dog.

Photo credit: Brisbane City Council

Aside from the walking trails, Mt Coot-tha Forest also offers access to bike trails, picnic facilities, dog park, and the lookout’s cafe, restaurant, and gift shop.

Friendly Reminders

To help in protecting the bushland, here are a few things to remember:

  • Stay on the walking tracks.
  • Use bicycles only on designated trails.
  • Horse-riding should also be on designated trails only.
  • If you are out with your dog, keep them on a leash.

To learn more about the Mt Coot-tha Forest Track and access the map, click here.

Go Deeper Into Mt Coot-tha Forest Through The Simpsons Falls Track

Go on a scenic walk through the Simpsons Falls track, which kicks off at the picnic area that will take you deep into the Mt Coot-tha forest. During the late winter and spring, beautiful surroundings are even more expected due to the abundance of wildflowers along the path.

If you’re up for some adventure, you definitely should try the Simpsons Falls track as you will be taking on rock obstacles that both challenging and fun. The 2.8km trail is one of the most popular walking trails in west Brisbane. If coming from Bardon, the track begins at the picnic area. From the track, you will be led to the Eugenia Trail which leads to the falls.

Walk a bit further and you will get to the Eugenia Circuit which is thick with eucalypt woodland and vine forest just across the falls. The beauty of nature doesn’t stop here. Take a few more steps and this will lead you to the Simpson Falls viewing deck. A wonderful view awaits on top of a natural haven that sets contrast to the concrete jungle that you will see here.

Whether you’re looking for a way to just disconnect or do some walking as part of your exercise, the Simpsons Falls track is definitely something that is worth a go.

Bushwalking Guidelines

The Brisbane City Council continues to maintain and preserve 9,500 hectares of bushland and wetland reserves for the animals, plants, and for the entire community to enjoy. The council also wants your bushwalking to be a safe and an enjoyable experience hence their guidelines that must always be taken into consideration:

  • Don’t go alone
  • Wear a hat
  • Apply sunscreen
  • Always bring water
  • Make someone know where you’re going
  • Exercise caution on tracks
  • Always take a track map or you can also download the map here
  • Always carry your mobile phone with you

Happy walking!

Great Food At The Bardon Bowls Club For The First Half Of June

A variety of dishes is coming at the Bardon Bowls Club this month. So, if you’re looking for great eats around the area, you might want to drop by.

That BBQ Joint

(8 June – 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.)

Photo credit: That BBQ Joint / Facebook

If you’re hungry for American BBQ, and other delicious smoked meats, you won’t want to miss this food truck. They’ll be parked at the bowls club to serve you three hours of tender, smoked, and juicy meat that will keep you full the rest of the night. Don’t forget to try their 12-hour smoked beef brisket!

How We Rolls

(9 June – 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.)

The perfect stop on a weekend night if you’re up for some delicious rolls stuffed with juicy cuts of meat. You might want to try the newest addition to their menu – the Smoked Fish rolls.

Rolls Pho Mi

(10 June – 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.)

Photo credit: Rolls Pho Mi / Facebook

End the weekend with some tasty and authentic Vietnamese street food! Cap off your Sunday with the whole fam whilst you enjoy pho and banh mi!

Na Meche Place

(16 June – 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.)

In the mood for some empanadas? This food truck will take care of your Venezuelan street food cravings. Try their national dish, the Pabellón Criollo and Colombian. For first timers, the Bandeja Paisa is also highly recommended!

Rolling Stone Pizza

(17 June – 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.)

Before you plop on the grass at the club, make sure that you have a slice (or a box) of pizza with you to make the whole experience worthwhile. They offer pizza sizes from nine to 11 inches and they are all cooked over wood fire!

Address: 69 Bowman Parade, Bardon QLD 4065

Spend Your Sunday At The Bardon State School Mayfair 2018

Come celebrate the Bardon State School Mayfair on 10 June from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The family-friendly event has something in store for people of all ages.

Photo credit: Bardon Mayfair / Facebook

The event will showcase non-stop entertainment and fun rides for kids and adults. There will also be interesting activities such as the petting zoo along with other fair favourites.

Rows and rows of stalls will be present at the event selling delicious food, home trinkets, and just about anything! Unique finds are in store for you here.

You also might want to join the silent auction this year because it’s going to be bigger and better. Big prizes await such as QPAC tickets, bikes, and weekend getaways.

Spend your Sunday here with your family and have an awesome time!

The funds accumulated at this event will go directly to the school to improve the facilities.

Entrance to the event is FREE.

Address: 330 Simpsons Rd, Bardon QLD 4065, AU

A New Refined Fresh Market Opens in Bardon

The Bardon Shed is a refined fresh market that has recently opened its doors at 8 Runic Street, Bardon.

More than just a specialty grocery store, The Bardon Shed offers fresh produce, bread, and flowers, as well as a gourmet deli and an espresso and juice bar all in one place.

Photo credit: www.thebardonshed.com.au

Since their opening this May, locals have been impressed by their delicious coffee and selection of fresh juices.

Photo credit: www.thebardonshed.com.au

They also offer an array of tasty bites which includes light meals, wraps, and cakes.

Photo credit: www.thebardonshed.com.au

Looking for a specialty ingredient for your gourmet cooking? Their gourmet grocery boasts a range of high-quality specialist food brands from jams, oils, pasta, sauces, coffees, teas, and more. The store also houses an extensive Gluten free and Organic section.

Photo credit: www.thebardonshed.com.au

The Bardon Shed’s fresh produce is filled with locally grown fruits and vegetables that are sourced daily from Australian growers.

Photo credit: www.thebardonshed.com.au

Their gourmet deli offers a vast selection of local, national, and international delights from antipasti, olives, hams, and cheeses, to salamis, prosciuttos and dips. The deli serves handmade sandwiches and wraps guaranteed to be made with the finest ingredients from their fresh produce in the store.

Photo credit: www.thebardonshed.com.au

Need a quick way to brighten up your (or someone else’s) day? The Bardon Shed also sells fresh flowers that are hand selected and wrapped daily. All their flowers are sourced directly from local growers and suppliers. Their staff can customize your order to make your gift extra special.

Photo credit: www.thebardonshed.com.au

Whether you need a quick caffeine fix or restocking your pantry, The Bardon Shed could be the new go-to place, ready to satisfy you with the freshest produce and gourmet delights.

The Bardon Shed is open from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. daily. Check out their website or Facebook page to learn more.

 

Frolicking Goat At The New Bardon Market

With the newly revamped Bardon Market comes the addition of new stallholders as well. Frolicking Goat is one of the market’s newbies delivering cheesy goodness every Sunday.

The couple Peter Schwenke and Lyndall Josey established Frolicking Goat in 2016. It was Mr Schwenke who really delved into the world of cheese, whilst Ms Josey took a fascination with goats. It took four years of travelling before they learned what they needed to know about cheese and cheesemaking.

Impressively, just following their launch, they were able to receive a gold medal for Bûche and Bûche Noir from the national Dairy Industry Association of Australia (DIAA) awards.

Signature Cheeses

Bûche & Bûche Noir

Photo credit: Frolicking Goat

This award-winning cheese is a classic French-style goat cheese with a complex taste and some lingering acidity. It won a gold medal at the national Dairy Industry Association of Australia Awards in 2016 and the Cheetham Salt Award for being the highest scoring non-bovine product. It also won bronze at the 2017 Royal Queensland Food & Wine Show (EKKA).

The Bûche Noir, on the other hand, comes in the colour black.

Jessie

Photo credit: Frolicking Goat

Named after their goat, Jessy-Joy, this is a cylindrical-shaped cheese that delivers a more acidic flavour and has a more crumbly texture. It won a silver medal at the 2017 Royal Queensland Food & Wine Show (Ekka).

Liesel

Photo credit: Frolicking Goat

This is the ashed version of Jessie and is also named after their goal, Liesel. It has less flavour development than the Jessie. It also won a silver medal at the Ekka in 2017.

Mount Cotton

Photo credit: Frolicking Goat

Also an award-winning cheese that delivers a bolder and stronger tasting goat cheese. It won the 2017 DIAA Awards of Excellence and also gained an award at the 2017 Ekka.

Mount Gravatt

Photo credit: Frolicking Goat

Similar to their Mount Cotton, this cheese comes with less strength. Ideal for those seeking stronger tasting goats that is not as bold as the Mount Cotton. It also won an award at the Ekka in 2017.

Frolicking Goat also takes pride at being incredibly close to their goats because they believe that keeping them happy helps them produce good cheese.

In 2016, they sold their home to move into a bigger area to accommodate their cheese production.

These days, you can catch them at the Bardon markets.


Also read: A Revamped Bardon Community Market Is Coming


Address: Baroona and Rainworth Roads, next to Norm Buchan Park

Bardon Soon To Welcome Pata Negra

Bardon locals, brush up on your Spanish because a new Spanish restaurant is coming to town. Think tapas and paella! Pata Negra will be taking over Woodblock Cheese on MacGregor Terrace.

The restaurant is a physical addition to the online business Spanish Deli. Owners Steve and Tatiana Boge entered the food industry in the city by setting up this online store which sells Spanish food items such as Jamon Iberico de Bellota, Manchego cheese, chorizo, and many more.

Now, they are ready to serve authentic Spanish cuisine to the locals of Brisbane. The enterprising couple is aiming for alfresco dining whilst offering an extensive menu of Spanish selections that promises a festive Spanish vibe to both the mood and palate of its diners.

Aussie food options will also be available for brunch.

The restaurant will also be a great place to have coffee in and a great spot to unwind after a stressful day at work as they will be serving alcoholic beverages.

Products from their online store will also be available onsite. Now, locals can quickly get their jamon by simply dropping by at their physical store.

Pata Negra is set to open in May.

Seal Your Favourite Memories Of Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium In A Time-Capsule

The Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium in Mt Coot-tha will be celebrating its 40th anniversary on 26 May. To celebrate this milestone, a time-capsule will be built beneath a new display in the Planetarium.

The Brisbane City Council is asking everyone to share their favourite memories of the Planetarium through a 150-word essay or an image. The best ones will be included in the time-capsule.

On July 2037, the time-capsule will be opened whilst the city gets enveloped in darkness for its first total solar eclipse in more than 200 years.

Make sure you submit your favourite memories on or before 14 May. To do so, fill up the form here.

On the Planetarium’s actual 40th anniversary, expect a lot of fun activities as Dr Carter Emmart from the American Museum of Natural History will be there for a free public lecture of Astrovisualisation.

There will also be new shows to enjoy plus 40% off on tickets. There will also be a historical photographic display of the early days of the Planetarium.

Address: 152 Mt Coot-tha Road

Bardon Ranks Second in Western Suburbs with Greatest Education Advantage

Children living in Queensland’s western suburbs were found to have the best educational advantage in the state, with Bardon hailed as the second best area with the greatest educational advantage in Queensland.

The Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre‘s Educate Australia Fair  report published in July 2017 shows that Fig Tree Pocket enjoyed the greatest educational advantage in the state. Bardon ranked second followed by St Lucia, Chelmer – Graceville, Pullenvale – Pinjarra Hills, Sherwood, Brookfield – Kenmore Hills, East Brisbane, and Ashgrove as 10th best. The educational advantage were based on family background, demographic characteristics, and geography.

Heat Map of Educational Disadvantage in Queensland Source: Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre

Children in the western suburbs of the state were found to have better educational achievement and access than any other place in Queensland. The report includes analyses of years of NAPLAN results, school attendance rates, census information about family make-up, and even internet access, as well as unemployment figures and data from the National Early Childhood Education and Care Collection .

As stated in the report, “Children living in the least disadvantaged areas will achieve on average double the score in reading, writing and numeracy tests than those living in the most disadvantaged areas.”


Source: Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre

The report also revealed the areas that scored in the bottom ten on the educational disadvantage index are most likely located in the remote and very remote regions across the State. A number of these areas are also Indigenous communities.

Interestingly, whilst areas at the bottom 10 are most disadvantaged, preschool attendance in some of these areas are still higher on average than national figures. This suggests that for a number of areas across Queensland, such early investment in children will eventually pay off in the coming years.

Photo credit: www.mychild.gov.au

The average NAPLAN scores of the disadvantaged areas may be lower than the overall national average, but they are relatively higher than the most disadvantaged areas located across other regions of Australia.

This report from the Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre’s Focus on the States series aims to better understand the education journey taken by children; to explore the degree to which improvements in education outcomes are evenly distributed across the full range of equity groups; and to support effective policy development on an issue of central importance to Australia.