Dingoes Being Kept as Pets in Bardon & Nearby Suburbs

Although dingoes in the west Brisbane aren’t new anymore, keeping one as a pet is something else. In Bardon, there is a dingo in a residential property that has a permit based on the Brisbane City Council’s dog registration data, which was dated 18 October 2017.

It’s not only in Bardon, though, as the data revealed six Australian dingoes had current dog registration permits in Murarrie, Chelmer, Ashgrove, Tingalpa and Bald Hills.

Ongoing Investigation

Dingoes aren’t meant to be kept as animals and they are considered restrictive invasive animals in Queensland. A spokesman for Lord Mayor Graham Quirk’s office said that there were seven owners who attempted to register their dog’s breed as a dingo last year but there was no comment regarding the “current” ones in the council’s own data.

On the other hand, the council has already begun their investigation to find out if the registered dogs were Australian dingoes or another breed of domestic dog. Should the dogs be confirmed as dingoes, they will be seized by the council and will be transferred to wildlife sanctuaries or other jurisdictions.

Under the Biosecurity Act, illegal possession of dingoes could face a fine of up to $63,075. Only licensed zoos, wildlife parks or for research or educational purposes are allowed to keep a dingo. Here in the west, Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Fig Tree Pocket is the only place with a permitted dingo.

Wild Attacks

Dingoes are known to attack wildlife, cause havoc, and even attack people. In 2015, a pack of hybrid dingoes invaded Upper Brookfield terrorising pets and killing wildlife. At first, the pack was spotted feeding on mangoes whilst seeking shade under the trees until a resident complained about their dead goat, which was killed by the dingoes.

In Fraser Island in 2014, two women were attacked by dingoes whilst jogging on the beach when they were bitten by two dingoes.

Where Did Dingoes Come From?

The exact origin of dingoes is still unsure until today. They are related to wolves and can grow up to 60 cm tall and weigh up to 25kg.

Report a Wild Dog

The council has guidelines for wild dogs and that you can view here. If you see a wild dog, remain calm and walk away, never run away from the dog. Report it at 07 3403 8888 or you can fill up this online form.

A Revamped Bardon Community Market Is Coming

On 18 February, a bigger Bardon Community Market will be available for the locals. The last Bardon Community Market took place in December last year. This year, the market will be under new management and will showcase new stalls.

What’s going to make it bigger and better is that some stallholders from the now defunct The Gap Farmers Market will be joining the 30 vendors at this community market.

Sara Ashmore-Smith, who runs the farmers market in The Gap, said she handpicked two of the best coffee people and a good breakfast stall from the previous market, The Stanthorpe apples and the butcher from The Gap markets will also be there.

Make sure that you drop by Parrydise stall for that delicious antipasto platter. They have tasty duck eggs, duck egg pasta, marinated Olives, feta and Backas small goods.

Photo credit: Bardon Market / Facebook

For those looking for a sugar fix, don’t miss out on J’Adore Les Crepes.

Photo credit: Bardon Market / Facebook

Delicious coffee and farm fresh breakfast from Amalua farm will be here as well. Feast on delicious omelettes and breakfast wraps!

Photo credit: Bardon Market / Facebook

The new Bardon Markets will be held every Sunday from 6:00 a.m. You will find it at the corner of Baroona and Rainworth Roads, next to Norm Buchan Park.

Beans on the Green in Bardon Keeps the Community Closer Than Ever

Just beside the Bardon Bowls Club, what looks like a tin shed will capture your attention. This shed is actually a cafe called Beans on the Green, which is a local favourite. Locals are very much invested in the community here, which makes this place a great spot for everybody to get together a couple of times a week.

The cafe was established in 2012. Boasting of a green and lime exterior with a relaxed indie vibe will lure you in. Vintage pieces adorn the inside of the cafe.

Photo credit: Beans on the Green / Facebook

There is indoor and outdoor seating. The seats outside has overhead fans and potted plants for cooling during the hot summer days. If you want to soak in some vitamin D, you can sit on the seats further away on the synthetic grass with outdoor umbrellas.

This is also a great place for you to bring your kids; not only does it have a wide green space but it also has many toys to keep them entertained.

Bring your pups with you as well! You can sit down on the grass with a blanket whilst your pups run around or socialise with other pups.

Photo credit: Beans on the Green / Facebook

When it comes to their food, their menu is pretty simple offering some sandwiches and biscuits. Of course, most of the people who come here grabs a cup of joe – they serve Establishment coffee.

Just by the side of the cafe, you will notice mortals that are hand-painted, making the cafe a standout. This is also a perfect backdrop for your Instagram photos.

Photo credit: Beans on the Green / Facebook

Address: 69 Bowman Parade

UnitingCare Facility in Bardon Plans to Expand, Neighbours Oppose

A Bardon facility to provide an emergency home for girls aged 12 to 17, UnitingCare in Bardon, has been the site of a ruckus lately, as news about the potential expansion of the facility caused an uproar among the residents who live nearby.

Established in 1960, UnitingCare is a leading provider of community services across Queensland. In Bardon, neighbours have been enduring the chaos brought on by some troubled girls living at the facility. Reports of vandalism, stone-throwing, and foul language are some of the things that the neighbours say they have had to put up with for years.

Most of the neighbours endured such problems only because they believe in the initiative of the organisation. However, things changed upon learning that the facility has a new plan to expand and accommodate more troubled youth, including teenage boys. It seems that such a development is the last straw for the affected residents.

On the 22nd of November, they called for a meeting with the facility along with officials from the Department of Communities and Child Safety. They were upset to find out that there is nothing that they could do to stop the possible expansion from happening. A spokeswoman for the organisation said that they have responded promptly to issues raised by the neighbours and they will work on a number of solutions to change how they care for the children, thus hopefully changing their behaviours as well.

The organisation also made it clear that the improvement of the site isn’t just about the youth that they care for; rather, they have also considered the welfare of the neighbours before they set things in motion.

‘Meat’ Your Heart Out at Mundo Churrasco in Bardon

Feeling carnivorous? There’s no better place to satisfy that hunger but at Mundo Churrasco in Bardon.

Opened in 2010, this restaurant and bar provides Brazilian barbecue that utilises the Churrasco tradition that dates back over 300 years. The restaurant is also one of Brisbane’s largest employers of Brazilian nationals. There are 14 types of meats available for you to try here and you don’t have to go to Brazil for the experience.

Each type of meat is brought to your table on a large skewer, which will be cut by an experienced and knowledgeable waiter who will explain to you everything you need to know for that full dining experience.

Photo credit: Mundo Churrasco / Facebook

One of the best things about the place is that you get to see how the meats are grilled, thanks to its open kitchen enclosed in glass.

Photo credit: Mundo Churrasco / Facebook

Some of the meats being offered is the Coxinha de asa de fringe, which is a platter of chicken drumsticks marinated with sesame oil, soy sauce, cumin, honey, ginger and garlic. There is also the Barriga De Proco, which is pork belly with pawpaw sauce.

Photo credit: Mundo Churrasco / Facebook

Don’t miss out on the Acem, a Wagyu Bollar Blade coated with red capsicum jam.

To complement the meat dishes, there are side dishes such as cheese bread, Brazilian potato salad, tomato and onion salsa and many more.

Photo credit: Mundo Churrasco / Facebook

One of the best ways to fully get the best out of the meats is if you pair with wine. The restaurant has an extensive wine list that you can choose from.

Photo credit: Mundo Churrasco / Facebook

After a sumptuous meal, you might be craving for something sweet. Try their Churros sprinkled with cinnamon sugar served with spiced dark chocolate or caramel dip.

Photo credit: Mundo Churrasco / Facebook

Cheese & Wine Tasting Night in Bardon

If you love cheese and wine, then you shouldn’t miss the Cheese and Wine Tasting Night happening on 23rd November at the Woodblock Cheese in Bardon.

The event will start at 6:00 p.m. and it’s not just about indulging yourself in delicious cheese and rich wines, but you will also learn more about cheese. There are four varieties of cheese and wines that you are going to taste, so make sure that you’re ready for some booze in your system.

You will also have the chance to talk to the cheesemaker as well as the people from Cush & Cush. At the end of the night, you can purchase cheese and wine products at a discounted price.

This is a great place to spend your Thursday night! If interested, you can book and pay here.

LNP Candidate Pushes For Upgrades To Jubilee Terrace in Bardon

Bardon residents have long been complaining about Metroad 5 and the traffic delays on the corridor. The biggest culprits are the intersections of Jubilee Tce and Coopers Camp Road and Jubilee Tce and Waterworks Rd. This corridor is known as the slowest stretch of road in southeast Queensland, something that an LNP candidate is keen to help change.

Robert Shearman, LNP candidate for Cooper has said that if he wins the election, fixing this Bardon road would be his top priority. He also said that upgrades to the road are strongly supported by LNP transport spokesman Andrew Powell, adding that he will make sure that this also becomes his top priority in the LNP budget.

Mr Shearman has also uploaded a video on his Facebook page showing the congestion on the road.

Mr Shearman also said that the State Government has all the requirements already to pursue road upgrades. Cr Steve Toomey for The Gap supports the upgrade as well.

Morning commutes on Metroad 5 are the worst, and in the evenings, the road is the second slowest road corridor in Brisbane.

Despite the obvious congestion on this road, RACQ spokeswoman Lauren Ritchie said that although Metroad 5 obviously needs an upgrade, prioritising the South Pine Rd/Stafford Rd intersection seems to be more significant as of now.

For the residents of all the affected areas, hopes run high that whatever improvements happen sooner, rather than later.

Are Bardon Roads Getting More Dangerous Due To Speeding Motorists? Locals Call For Safety Improvements

It seems that some roads in Bardon that require the attention of the Brisbane City Council. A local is requesting that the council reduce the speed limit on Simpsons Road to 50km/h for pedestrian safety.

This isn’t the first time that residents have called for a drop in speed on that road. In 2015, a former Mt Coot-tha councillor Ms Saxon Rice has already written a proposal to reduce the speed limit on the road following feedback from the public.

Councillor Adrian Schrinner responded to Ms. Rice’s successor, Labor MP Steven Miles that an independent review was made and the council thinks that a 60km/h speed is deemed appropriate.

However, residents aren’t satisfied with the speed limit as there have been numerous accidents on the road. According to the residents, the street isn’t designed for such speed hence reducing it to 50km/h is more ideal. The council responds that it is up to the Queensland Police Service to enforce correct drive behaviour. It seems that the council remains firm in their decision of a 60km/h speed on the road.

A pedestrian crossing on Rouen Rd near the roundabout on Boundary Road has also called for improvement in the suburb when a local spoke up about her observations of speeding motorists making it unsafe for pedestrian crossing. The Department of Transport and Main Roads has reviewed the road and said that only one incident was recorded on the road hence there is no need yet for additional safety improvement plans.

Local Mum Calls For Improvements on Boundary Road in Bardon

A pedestrian crossing in Bardon may cause accidents in the future, according to a local mum who expressed her concern over the crossing saying that it should be more visible. The crossing is on Rouen Rd near the roundabout on Boundary Rd.

According to Georgine Hristovska-Gofton, she has noticed motorists speeding up on the road. She claims that because of the obscure crossing, it would be easily missed by motorist, and even by passersby.

The Department of Transport and Main Roads, on the other hand, reviewed the road and said that the accident history on the road from 2011 to 2017 only shows one incident. Hence, there are no additional safety improvement plans yet for the road.

Mrs Gofton compares the crossing to the ones in Sydney where she came from, and she said that the crossings there were raised so that motorists won’t have a hard time seeing them.

For now, it is important to remain alert on this road and review the guidelines by the TMR to ensure safety whilst crossing the streets. You can view the guidelines here.

Bardon’s Rainworth State School’s One-to-One Laptop Program for Year 4 Students & Above Draws Concerns From Parents

Photo credit: https://eatdrinkandbekerry.blogspot.com/

Parents in Bardon’s Rainworth State School are being asked to pay $1,200 for laptops for their kids. Programs requiring students to bring their own tablets and laptops have been implemented over the past two years, with the Queensland Education Department leaving it up to each school to implement their own school policy on the matter.

 

Parents Relay Their Concerns

At Rainworth State School, students in Year 4 and above will now be required to have individual laptops; however, some parents have been quick to express lingering concerns on this development. According to some, there has been little consultation with parents about the program. Others are concerned that children, having their own laptops, may spend most of their time online. Concerns about effects on children’s cognitive development have been raised as well.

It seems that the school hasn’t addressed all of the details yet, as parents have plenty of questions and concerns. Some of them include what would happen if the laptops broke, got lost or stolen.

 

The School Responds

Photo credit: http://epublisher.net.au/

The school has responded to the issue through their newsletter, which acknowledged that the laptop program did not kick off well. They said that they will be setting up opportunities for further consultation.

Since the school has received mixed feedback about the one-to-one laptop program that is to be implemented next year, with some on-board whilst others not, they are considering a Pilot Program with an option for parents to opt-in. The Pilot Program, which comes with a participation fee, includes laptop devices, full software, and three years’ worth of insurance and tech support.

Education Queensland, which firmly supports learning in the digital age, has provided a framework for schools under the BYOx (Bring Your Own) device initiative.

The same issue was raised two years ago when Milton State School started implementing their own BYOx program. Many parents were concerned about the cost that this entails and the possible effects of having their children own a digital device. It looks like this educational evolvement, despite the digital age, still remains a hot topic for parents all across Queensland.

Discussion with the school community is ongoing.