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Genevieve Robey

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Gen is Editor and Founder of Carindale Connect (started in 2007). She has a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Queensland University of Technology and an internship from ABC Online. She's involved in a number of web projects, was the Website Manager for Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland and the Editor of Wotnews (the Australian news aggregator and search engine). She's interested in the combination/crossover of technology and community. Born in Hobart, Tasmania, Gen now lives in Carindale. She likes cycling (but doesn't take it seriously), music and trying her hand at arty pursuits.

Carindale the calendar

 Causes and fundraising  No Responses »  Tagged with: , ,
Nov 122013
 

rotary-calendarCarindale Rotary has produced a fantastic 2014 calendar showcasing some great features of Carindale and Carina.

By purchasing this calendar you’re assisting the Rotary Club of Carindale to continue their work helping very worthy groups, projects and people. You’re also supporting local businesses who are advertising within it.

It’s just $10 and will make a great Christmas gift – especially to one of your neighbours! What a fantastic way to show some local love – with an attractive and colourful calendar!

How about giving this calendar instead of a Christmas card? It fits into an A4 envelope and it will be the gift that keeps on giving throughout 2014! And the pictures are worth holding on to once the year is up. It’s got a lovely section of light blue sky inside the front cover where you can write a personalised message.

It’s great to see that Bulimba Creek Catchment Coordinating Committee’s Sustainability Centre featured so prominently – their centre is an important and special part of the region and too many people still don’t know about!

I’m also very chuffed it includes some some photos taken by me in it! A photo of a man in uniform next to a scarecrow is surely a massive selling point!

You can purchase a Rotary Club of Carindale calendar from:

Also available at:

If you would like a large quantity to sell at your organisation or event (and we can add you to the above list), please contact Carindale Rotary on 0457 095 457.

Go and get your calendar today!

Urgent financial help received to help the homeless

 Uncategorized  No Responses »  Tagged with: , , ,
Sep 262013
 
Children are among those living rough and seeking food.

Children are among those living rough and seeking food in Brisbane. Photo courtesy: John Dowell.

Local charity Mama Rene’s has received a much needed gift helping them to continue their work feeding Brisbane’s most needy.

Carindale Rotary have chosen this Carindale-based charity as one of their major projects this year.

They are providing financial assistance via an Art Union raffle. Tickets are $50 each and there are only 200 tickets available.  This will raise $10,000 with  $5,000 being prize money and $5,000 going to Mama Rene’s.

Mama Rene’s is led by Pastor John and Diane Dowell. With very little money coming in, they have been worried as to how they will continue their work. With volunteers, John takes his food vans to a large queue of Brisbane’s homeless and most vulnerable on Tuesday and Friday nights. One of the major costs they have been struggling to meet is the electricity to run the refrigerated vans.

Some of the Carindale Rotary members chatting to the Carindale Community Forum about their club.

Some Carindale Rotary members chatting to the Carindale Community Forum about how they want to help with local causes and activities.

Being aware of the dire situation, Carindale Rotary decided to provide the $5,000 to Mama Renes now, rather than waiting till ticket sales end.

John says the money and the gesture of Rotary mean a great deal to him and he cried when he received the cheque.

“It’s very good, it will help us keep running for several more months, it sure was a surprise,” John said.

The raffle will be drawn on Melbourne Cup eve at a Carindale Rotary event at Pacific Golf Club where the whole community is invited to attend.

Buy raffle tickets for the chance to win $5,000!

To buy tickets in the raffle contact any Carindale Rotary member or George Kambouris – mobile 0411 797 500 or george@teamkambo.com.au. Tickets are $50 each. There are only 200 tickets!
Why not share the ticket cost with your family or workplace (and split the prize money accordingly).

melbournecup-rotaryMelbourne Cup ‘Eve’ Function (where the $5000 prize money will be drawn)

When: Monday 4th November 2013, 6pm for 6.30pm start
What: Carindale Rotary Melbourne Cup themed event
Meet some the sponsors from this year’s Billycart Festival, take part in raffles, sweeps and Calcutta horse races. Prizes will be awarded for best dressed male, female, couple and best hat. Everyone welcome.
Where: Pacific Golf Club, Carindale.
Cost: $40 per person includes cocktail food. Cash bar available on the night.
Contact: RSVP by 25th October. Lenore 0411 425 748 / lenores@remax.com.au

Related article: Gabby gets a helping hand from Carindale Rotary.

Mayfield State School gets grants for new playground

 Education & learning, local business  No Responses »  Tagged with: , , ,
Sep 222013
 

We went along to a special assembly at Mayfield State School this week to see the school presented with two lots of funding – one from a Queensland Government grant and one from a CUA grant.

Mayfield State Schools get cheque from CUA
GCBF-mayfieldschoolThe monies will go towards installing a new playground at the school.

Steve Minnikin MP, Member for Chatsworth presented a cheque for $31,818 that the school obtained from Gambling Community Benefit Fund (GCBF).

The GCBF was established in 1994 by the Queensland Government to provide funding to community groups in Queensland. The fund receives money from gambling taxes and distributes these funds to not-for-profit community groups.

“Thanks must go to the school’s dedicated P&C Association for their role in securing this funding,” Mr Minnikin said.

Mayfield State School also won $5,000 from CUA, after its nominated school project received more community votes than seven other schools across Carindale in the CUA Community Care 2013 program.

The community was asked to vote with CUA Community Care on the nominated projects at local schools.

Emma Hinchcliffe, Customer Service Specialist at CUA Carindale, said the response to their Community Care program this year has been incredible.

“We are delighted to present the $5,000 grant to Mayfield State School to go towards the development of their project and hope the children get value and enjoyment out of the new playground equipment for many years to come,” Ms Hinchcliffe said.

Head of the schools P&C, Dan Glass, acknowledged the role of social media in getting the community behind the campaign. He said one of the mums, Samara Phillips, was a key part of driving the campaign.

This is the third year of CUA Community Care, a program linked to CUA’s sponsorship of the national adidas School Fun Run program – a long-standing healthy initiative designed to raise funds for school while making fitness fun.

Lend Lease greening up Belmont State School

 Education & learning, Environment  2 Responses »  Tagged with: , , ,
Sep 222013
 

Lend Lease at Belmont State School
A group of Lend Lease employees spent Wednesday 19th September at Belmont State School, planting trees and tidying up to beautify the grounds.

Carindale’s Belmont State School was just one of the organisations helped during Lend Lease’s 18th annual Community Day.

Lend Lease beautifying the grounds at Belmont State SchoolLend Lease Community Day encourages all employees around the world to give something back to local communities.

The initiative helps to develop strong community partnerships, giving employees a chance to apply skills where they are most needed. It also helps to build strong camaraderie and teamwork.

Employees are invited to nominate a project and create small teams to work with the community group or cause.

Activities can include helping senior citizens, homeless people, people with disabilities, the environment, working with children/youth and animals.

Lend Lease employees at Belmont State SchoolWhen I arrived at the school I saw the Lend Lease team undertaking all sorts of tasks. It was a hot day but there was plenty of friendly chatter and laughs. They were moving soil, dressing up the gardens with mulch, planting,  tidying up and more. The plants were Mock Orange for the hedges and Red grass.

Mandy Morrison, team leader of this particular group said the Belmont State School project was chosen because, as an independent Public School, the school places a strong emphasis on establishing and furthering community links.

“This project allows Lend Lease to help establish the local community partnerships by giving back to the local school community, with the manpower and assistance to beautify the grounds,” Mandy said.

Belmont State School is one of the first schools in Queensland to be selected as an Independent Public School. School Principal Noel Seawright says that this provides more autonomy to make decisions locally through the school council. We wrote more about what this means here.

Gabby gets a helping hand from Carindale Rotary

 Causes and fundraising  No Responses »  Tagged with: , ,
Sep 172013
 
Mum Johanna with daughters Sofia and Gabby. With Arch Downie of Carindale Rotary

Mum Johanna with daughters Sofia and Gabby with Arch Downie of Carindale Rotary.

Carindale Rotary has made a $2000 donation to Carindale’s Caldwell family.

The money will help provide much needed assistance with the therapy and related expenses of seven-year-old Gabriela (Gabby) Caldwell. When Gabby was three she had a four-day seizure which left her with a severe brain injury. She is unable to walk or talk and requires dedicated assistance eating. She is slowly developing her communication skills.

Carindale Rotary recognises that this local family desperately requires assistance from the community. Arch Downie, the Community Service Project Director of Carindale Rotary, today surprised Gabby’s mum, Johanna Caldwell, with the $2000 cheque. Continue reading »

Carindale locals helping to feed the homeless

 Food & dining  No Responses »  Tagged with: , , , ,
Sep 122013
 

mamarenesvansMama Rene’s is a Carindale-based charity which takes its vans of food into the city to feed some of Brisbane’s most needy and disadvantaged people.

They desperately require financial help to be able to run their vans – for registration, fuel, electricity, maintenance and the like.

Mama Rene’s also welcomes members of the community to join them to assist feeding the homeless on Tuesday and Friday nights.

I asked two supporters of Mama Rene’s to share their experiences of volunteering with this important charity.

Arch DownieArch Downie (Carindale Rotary Club)

Arriving at the site, we were not sure of what to expect. As the Mama Rene’s vehicles arrived the people who had been patiently waiting moved aside to allow them in. The vans were unpacked and the food laid out on tables.

We didn’t know any of the other volunteers but that didn’t matter. The fact that we were there to help was enough for them to welcome us with open arms. Once we were ready, the people filed passed collecting their food – there was no rush, no haste and no rudeness, just an orderly line that kept moving until everybody had been past to collect their food. Once the food was all gone, we packed up and were on our way home. The who process took less than an hour – the organisation and the system were incredibly efficient.

These people should be proud of what they do for others in the community as they are some of many who do so much. They receive no funding and even less recognition but they do it anyway.

Glenn MillarGlenn Millar (Remax United Vision & Camp Hill – Carindale Lions Club)

If you want to see an amazing charity in action go with Mama Rene’s on a Tuesday or Friday night in Spring Hill and see how efficiently they feed and support the homeless and needy.

For those who are nervous of what to expect, I have taken my two children there and they love helping out. The volunteers are friendly and fun and the homeless are so grateful and friendly. They start at about 6.30pm and are finished by 7.15pm – it’s incredible to watch and to be involved.

Your eyes will be opened at how our affluent Brisbane has so many people who need help. Get involved and make a difference.

 

The two clubs that Arch and Glenn are members of are also supporters of Mama Rene’s. Carindale Rotary are running a major raffle to raise funds for them. The Lions Club of Camp Hill – Carindale have included Mama Rene’s as one of the recipients of their fundraising for several years now.

Find out more about Mama Rene’s including donating and volunteering.

New outdoor markets in Carindale

 events, Shopping  No Responses »
Sep 022013
 

[The next Carindale Car Boot Market is being held Saturday 7th December and is a "Twilight Market". It starts at 4pm]

carboot marketI went to chat to the organisers behind the new Carindale Car Boot Market to see how their initiative is going and what future plans for it are. I discovered that there was far more to it there, than simply a car boot sale.  I will write about some of their other projects and activities in future posts as there’s so much to cover. Continue reading »

Bonner candidates address locals at Carindale forum

 Politics  No Responses »  Tagged with: , , , , ,
Aug 292013
 

Locals got direct access to Bonner candidates at Pacific Golf Club last night.

Bonner forum in Carindale

Dave Nelson (Greens), Laura Fraser Hardy (Labor), Glenn Millar (forum host) & Ross Vasta (LNP)

Ross Vasta the member for Bonner, Laura Fraser Hardy the Labor candidate for Bonner and Dave Nelson the Greens candidate for Bonner spoke at the Carindale & Eastern Suburbs Community Forum.

Each candidate was given equal time to address the audience. Then, rather than questions from the floor, candidates were made available at allocated tables for guests to go and ask any or all of them questions and address concerns directly and one-on-one. Continue reading »

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