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Revisiting The Life of Thomas Mathewson and His Former Home In Auchenflower

Thomas Mathewson’s historic home in Auchenflower has been given a new lease of life after current owners decided to restore the Queenslander rather than tearing it down, as a way of paying respect to the late photographer.

Read: Beloved Paediatrician from The Wesley Hospital Retires After 50 Years

Who Was Thomas Mathewson?

Thomas Mathewson was a well-known photographer who earned the title “Father of Photography in Queensland,” for starting the business in 1864, less than two decades after photography first arrived in Brisbane.

He was born in Helensburgh, Scotland and arrived in Australia in 1852 when he was only 11 years old. When both of his parents passed away, young Thomas was brought up by the Cribb and Foote families, who were among the wealthy families in Ipswich at the time.

They were known for owning Cribb & Foote, a department store in Ipswich, which operated in the area for around 128 years. In 1971, Walter Reid & Co bought Crib & Foote and changed the store to Reids.

Mr Mathewson got his knowledge in photography from amateur photographer Rev Beazley during his teenage years.

As a photographer, he was known for travelling with his photographic equipment. He also set up his studios at various locations, including Ipswich, Toowoomba, Dalby, Rockhampton, and Bowen.

Photo credit: State Library of Queensland

Mathewson’s Former Home

The historic Queenslander, also known as “Monterey” is located at 18 Aldridge St, Auchenflower. Built in 1912, the house has five bedrooms and three bathrooms. It has the characteristics of a typical Queenslander, with high ceilings, timber floors, and a front verandah with stunning views of the city.

The property was recently developed by Mii and Co, owned by Michelle Cao. The property has been subdivided, with the other half of the block to be the location of Ms Cao’s five apartment units, called The Rise.

Read: Striking Milton Residential Tower Looks Like a Paperbark Tree

Despite the extensive renovations needed for the house, Ms Cao decided to restore “Monterey” to its former glory in honour of its historic roots.

Published 30-March-2023

Sporting Wheelies Brings Back CEO Wheelie Challenge

Sporting Wheelies and Disabled Association, which has a new headquarters in Milton, is bringing back its CEO Wheelie Challenge, raising much-needed funds to help improve the lives of people with a disability.

Read: Sporting Wheelies Para Sports Clubhouse to Open in Milton

Through the Sporting Wheelies’ CEO Wheelie Challenge, leading CEOs and Executives get to experience spending a day on a wheelchair.

This challenge, which also encourages community leaders and Principals to participate, was designed to shine a light on everyday challenges faced by someone living with a disability.

Those who want to register their interest for 2023 can do so, by visiting Sporting Wheelies’ website. The organisation will hold the CEO Wheelie Challenge on 16 June, to be followed by a Thank You evening on Wednesday, 5 July 2023.

About Sporting Wheelies

Sporting Wheelies and Disabled Association is a widely recognised organisation in the field of sport and healthy activity for people with a disability. It’s acknowledged by national bodies such as Sport Australia and Paralympics Australia.

Their mission is to engage, empower and develop people with a disability to live a more healthy, active and fulfilled life of their choosing.

Milton HQ

Artist’s impression of The Sporting Wheelies Para Sports Clubhouse (Photo credit: sportingwheelies.org.au)

The organisation is currently building its new headquarters in Milton, to be called The Sporting Wheelies Para Sports Clubhouse.

Located at 2 Kilroe St in Milton, the new centre is dubbed as Australia’s first Para Sports Clubhouse.

The new sports precinct will be purpose-built for the organisation’s future Paralympians and people living with a disability, serving as an inclusive sports hub supporting para-athletes on the road to Brisbane 2032 and inspiring people with a disability to get active and participate in the community.

Para Sports Clubhouse will feature industry-leading facilities, world-class rehabilitation and support services, bringing together disability experts, allied health specialists, Para Sports coaches, and the world’s best academics to improve the lives of people with a disability through co-design and innovation.

Read: Compassionate Care Volunteers Needed For Vulnerable Patients at The Wesley Hospital in Auchenflower

The new centre received support from the State Government which donated $200,000 for its air conditioning. Tradies, suppliers and people in the community who would like to help build the clubhouse are encouraged to do so.

Published 30-March-2023

Westpac Milton Joins Other Branch Closures Across Various States

Westpac Milton has closed effective 24 March 2023, as part of a controversial move by the bank that reported a profit of nearly $5.7 billion in 2022, to close 20 more of its regional and suburban branches across four states.

This development comes amidst a widespread plea from the public for banks to halt closures until after a Senate enquiry has completed an assessment of the impact that the closures will have on affected communities.

The announcement came earlier in the year, barely a week after the Senate enquiry was announced and on the heels of the closure of over 80 branches since September 2022.

“Now my banking options are to go into the city, Ashgrove or Indooroopilly, or utilise the Milton PO which will act as an agent,” a Milton customer said, expressing her frustration over the move.

“Whilst it is obviously the banking model of today, I feel for pensioners and others who do not drive and now have to travel further to do their banking at a formal branch,” she adds.

Westpac Milton — *Photo Credit: Google Maps Streetview*

Strong Reaction to Westpac Move

Westpac’s decision to implement widespread closures has been met with strong criticism, particularly in light of Westpac’s 2022 profit of nearly $5.7 billion, up 4% from the 2021 figure. The bank cut 2,667 jobs in 2022 and also cut costs by 19 per cent in the process.

“It is simply outrageous that Westpac can continually kill off jobs and close branches and nothing is being done to stop them,” Julia Angrisan, Finance Sector Union national secretary, said.

A spokesperson for Westpac has made assurances that the majority of those affected by the job cuts will be given a new role within the Westpac Group. Those that don’t will have adequate “…financial and tailored career transition support available to help them secure employment elsewhere in the local community.”

The move comes as Westpac shifts its focus to its digital services segment, where the bank has more than five million active customers with what the bank perceives to be “changing expectations.”

“… we’re investing in digital services so our customers can bank with us anywhere, at any time,” a Westpac spokesperson said. In recent years, the bank has noted that customer use of branches has changed and declined, leading to its decision to close their branches in selected areas.

“In these instances, we continue to support our customers by expanding access via Bank@Post, telephone, mobile and virtual banking,” Westpac said.

Bank Closures Affect the Community

Vulnerable segments of the community, such as the elderly, those with disabilities, or the indigenous community, are among those adversely affected by bank closures, a regional banking taskforce has found.

Local economies also face a decline as people travel to other areas to do their banking, potentially deciding to spend their money there as well, to purchase goods and services.

‘A Vital Service’

Senator Matt Canavan, chair of the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport had previously called upon banks to show good faith and halt any planned closures until the Senate can complete its assessment of how the move would affect the various towns and local communities.

“Banks provide a vital service. When a bank leaves town with no way to access banking services, they leave that community behind,” Senator Canavan said in a statement made in February 2023.

The Commonwealth Bank has paused its planned shutdowns for the duration of the Senate enquiry. Westpac, along with other banks like ANZ and NAB, have not followed suit.

Submissions to the Senate enquiry are welcome until the end of March 2023. A Committee Report is expected by the end of the year.

Published 28-March-2023

Beloved Paediatrician from The Wesley Hospital Retires After 50 Years

Dr Bruce Lewis, beloved paediatrician, has cared for children at The Wesley Hospital for the last 50 years. Now it’s time to hang up his stethoscope for a much-deserved retirement.

The good doctor has been with The Wesley Hospital for 35 years but he started his career in Sydney in the 1970s after loving his paediatric work at the Blacktown Hospital. His distinguished career took him worldwide, including New Zealand and the United States where he completed his paediatric training.

Before the birth of his second child, Dr Lewis returned to his hometown of Brisbane and set his sights on creating the Wesley Maternity Services and Special Care Unit. Since opening in January 1988, the world-class unit has welcomed tens of thousands of Brisbane babies into the world.

“The unit has been designed with the utmost care for mothers and babies in mind, we have our Special Care Unit right next to the birth suites for babies born before term or those who need extra care,” Dr Lewis said.

“I am very proud of the service we have built, so much so we are seeing mothers who themselves were born here coming back to have their own babies.

“It’s been wonderful to watch the unit grow over 35 years and a joy and privilege to welcome babies into the world and see them grow over the years.”

Dr Lewis said one of his fondest memories of the Wesley Maternity unit was seeing both his son and grandson born there.

Mother, Nikki Rathbone welcomed triplets Tom, Isla and Louie on 13 July 2015 at just 32 weeks old, the babies stayed in the Special Care Unit under the watchful eye of Dr Lewis for seven weeks.

“The triplets are turning eight years old and absolutely thriving, I credit their good health to Dr Lewis who took such amazing care of them,” Nikki said.

Clinical Nurse Manager of The Wesley Hospital Paediatrics Ward Sonia Broadby said that Dr Lewis was like family and will be missed.

“He is an exceptional man who develops an instant rapport with children, you can see it in his face when he is interacting with a child, I believe this is what makes him an exceptional doctor,” Sonia said.

“We are very sad to see him go but we are so proud of the legacy he has left for our younger paediatricians to follow in.”

Published 25 March 2023

Kokoda Secures Second Site on Crombie Street, Milton

Photo credit: Google Maps

Apartment developer Kokoda Property has acquired a prime 1,640 sqm block of land on Crombie Street for $11 million, its second site in Milton.

Following the completion of its $150-million development on McDougall Street called The Ambrose, Kokoda plans to develop the property at 12-16 Crombie Street in Milton into a 22-level residential tower.

The $160-million project will be designed by Cottee Parker, the same team behind The Ambrose, which will contain 160 apartment units with a rooftop pool, private dining room and health and wellness space and a gym.

Crombie Street will be in addition to the $2.5 billion worth of projects already in the pipeline across Queensland and Victoria including 1,600 apartments already under development. Kokoda Property Founder and Managing Director Mark Stevens said that all indicators are pointing towards a robust market and Brisbane is already primed for growth and rapidly transforming into a new world city.

Its culture, business centre, technology, and lifestyle, he said, is evolving with over $40 billion of infrastructure investment planned, so naturally, there is a “shift occurring with demand now skewed towards sophistication and luxury residential design.”

Kokoda will launch the Crombie Street project later this March through an expression of interest campaign.

“Kokoda’s heritage lies in high-end luxury so this narrative carries through our brand into all our projects,” Stevens added.

“High-end developments with a design-led approach are contributing towards this transformation so we are proud to be actively developing in what is one of the most exciting times in Brisbane’s modern history.”

The Ambrose was launched in early 2021 and has since been over 98 per cent sold. Meanwhile, that same year, Kokoda sold a penthouse in its Chester and Ella project in Newstead for a new price record of $2.8 million.

Published 19-March-2023

Overhauled Peach Cafe in Auchenflower Bigger and Better Than Ever

Photo Credit: Peach Cafe/Facebook

After losing nearly everything after the flooding in Brisbane in 2022, Peach Cafe in Auchenflower has undergone and completed an overhaul that has made the charming neighbourhood favourite bigger and better than before.

The Instagrammable cafe, serving the most beautifully plated dishes and pastries, has more seats in its weather-proof and covered back area, where at least 60 to 80 guests can enjoy their brunch. The Scandinavian-inspired seats provide such a clean and cosy look, matched with picnic tables with cute peach-coloured umbrellas for more communal dining outdoors.

Peach Cafe owner Nick Riccardo said that the overhaul was in the plan, prior to the destructive flood, to align the site’s aesthetics with its attractive and appealing food.

However, Scarlett Spurr, who heads the kitchen, had to overhaul the menu as well to keep with the trends and also create a balance between flavour and comfort that sticks with their customer’s diet preferences. However, favourites like avocado on sourdough or eggs on toast remain on the menu.

Along with the changes, Peach Cafe also introduced a QR code ordering system that streamlines the menu with actual photos to make ordering a lot more convenient for their customers.

Peach Cafe is open for breakfast and lunch from Monday to Sunday. Follow their Instagram page for more updates.

“Fantastic cafe which was busy but still provided fast friendly service and excellent food. Great presentation. And I don’t mind busy as it means the food is fresh. I can’t wait to go back!”
Alison Blythe

“My daughter just had her 15th birthday brunch at Peach Café. I have nothing but good things to say about the food, the atmosphere, the service which was second to none. Nothing was too much trouble for the staff. I would like to thank everyone but especially Emily for personally attending to us. Keep doing what you’re doing. You’re all fantastic.”
Nasrin Amin

“Really lovely Cafe, very pretty and clean. The food was delicious, I had the Auchenflower passionfruit granola, it was so good! The coffee was great. The staff were friendly and welcoming. I will definitely be back soon. Vegetarian options: Great selection of vegetarian options – Kid-friendliness: Children’s play area – Parking: Parked on the street close to the cafe”
Raelene Pasfield

Published 19 March 2023

Compassionate Care Volunteers Needed For Vulnerable Patients at The Wesley Hospital in Auchenflower

The Wesley Hospital in Auchenflower has launched a Vulnerable In-patient (VIP) Service and needs more Compassionate Care volunteers for patients at risk of loneliness, anxiety or require companionship for social engagement due to special needs.

As part of the Compassionate Care team, these volunteers will receive extensive training from both the hospital’s Pastoral Care and clinical teams to provide high-quality clinical care and support the patient’s social and emotional needs during their stay at The Wesley Hospital.

Research has demonstrated that social engagement while in hospital has many benefits for patients including reduced behaviours, decreased length of stay and faster recovery. The vulnerability may look different for each patient and could be caused by a long hospital stay, significant distance from home and support networks, impaired mobility or increased stress and anxiety.

The activities volunteers can do with patients vary but could include, conversations over a cup of tea, going for a walk in the gardens, doing a jigsaw puzzle, playing a board game or sharing a meal together.

“While routines in hospital are focused on providing high-quality clinical care this environment can at times be disruptive and stressful, especially when a patient does not have a support network close to them,” The Wesley Hospital Chaplain Leanne Duncan said.

“We know that social engagement has many benefits for patients and is demonstrated to support recovery and reduce the length of stay in hospital.

“We identify our vulnerable patients as those who may be in hospital for a long period of time, those who come from regional/remote areas, those with no family or friends close by and those with mobility or cognitive impairments.”

The service has been trialled on Nurse Unit Manager Kerrie Blocksidge’s ward which is comprised mostly of older patients.

“We absolutely love the VIP service here and it has made such a positive impact not only with our patients but our nursing staff as well,” Kerrie said.

“You can’t measure happiness but we certainly notice a change in our patients after they have had a visit from a volunteer, I believe it’s a wonderful initiative and we would welcome more volunteers to our ward any day.”

VIP Service Compassionate Care Volunteer Pauline said she jumped at the opportunity to make such a meaningful impact on the patients.

“This feeds my heart, I really enjoy spending time with these people, they get the opportunity to take their minds off their hospital stay and talk about something different,” Pauline said.

“Some of the patients live regionally or remotely and have limited support networks here in Brisbane, having a friendly face to chat with makes a huge impact. I love seeing them at the end of my visit far more animated than when I first walked in, I feel like I made a difference.”

The Wesley Hospital is seeking expressions of interest for Compassionate Companion volunteers to work alongside clinical staff, in four-hour shifts. 10am -2pm in various wards across the hospital.

Published 18 March 2023

Start-Up Helps You Own a Unit in Milton For a $10,000 Deposit

Photo Credit: Goldfields

First-home buyers keen to secure a Milton property could achieve their dreams by signing up with a start-up that allows them to make a $10,000 downpayment on a home purchase.

Coposit is a new platform that has shaken up the homeownership sector. It’s an app that allows a home buyer to make a $10,000 downpayment and enter the property market without any hassle. The free app also helps the homeowner pay off the balance during the construction period.

Goldfields, the development group behind 33 Manning St in Milton, has teamed up with Coposit to give buyers the opportunity to secure a unit in their latest project. So, instead of paying $69,000 upfront for a two-bedroom apartment, buyers may make a $10,000 deposit and then invest in weekly instalments.

33 Manning Milton — *Photo Credit: Goldfields*

The idea behind Coposit is pretty much like a buy now, pay later plan but its CEO Chris Ferris said there are some differences as well.

“With ‘buy now, pay later’ you enter into a transaction and get your product straight away and then pay it off,” Ferris said following the app’s launch in 2021. “With what we’re doing, you secure your property but you don’t actually get it until you’ve paid the full deposit and it’s delivered. Then you have to arrange finance and settle on the property.”

Locking a price before the construction is completed can make a difference between the price of the unit currently versus when the property came into the market.

“Some of the biggest problems that people face is that, in New South Wales and particularly Sydney, the average time that it takes to save for a 10% deposit is 5 to 6 years. When you think of the last 5-6 years, we’ve had two or three property cycles.”

Meanwhile, 33 Manning St is located a few minutes away from the CBD, the suburbs of West End and Paddington, Suncorp Stadium and Milton’s Park Road cafe district. The building provides residents with a range of amenities, including a rooftop pool, lounge, sauna, workspace and zen garden that has a view of the skyline and Mount Coot-tha.

Published 6 March 2023

Corgi Garden: Cutest Theme Cafe Opens in Milton

Photo Credit: Corgi Garden Brisbane/Instagram

Did you know that Milton has a cute secret? Tucked away in the back street on Gardner Close is Corgi Garden, the cutest themed cafe to open in the city.

Corgi Garden, from Stephen Tam and Amy Chung, debuted in February 2023 and was inspired by KitKat, the cafe owners’ 3-year-old Corgi. The pair, who also have a Border Collie named TimTam, decided to open a small restaurant in a quiet area for their beloved pets to chill without having too much stimulation all around them.

The cafe is located next to several office buildings in Milton, thus the location is also ideal for workers to relax during their office breaks. The eatery isn’t just for dog lovers because there are plenty of reasons to try its brunch choices paired with refreshing drinks.

Diners with a sweet tooth will find the corgi butt buns filled with delicious Nutella so irresistible. Corgi Garden also serves French toast with a good helping of condensed milk, ice cream and Oreo cookies. This delightful treat goes so well with cappuccinos.

Famished customers may get their fill of the tasty crispy prawn avo sandwich with eggs benedict and some seaweed flakes for a Japanese-inspired brunch or order a heavy meal of pasta or rice bowls.

KitKat and TimTam, both well-trained, are always around to greet the customers or beg for a pat on the head. Since its opening, dog owners in the area have also brought along their pups in the inviting space, which has been designed with yellow and white striped walls and colourful neon signage with a Corgi. Dogs may be served with puppuccinos as well as meaty tartare treats when available.

As the cafe is newly-opened, some delays might be expected as Corgi Garden has been inundated with bookings and enquiries. For updates and the latest offering, follow their Instagram.

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Very lovely cafe! A decent place for brunch. The quality of food was great, the unique dressing and bacon were better than many other places. The price was affordable and reasonable. The volume of food given were surprising. Environment was clean and tidy.Besides, they are also offering little dog cakes. Would definitely recommend and visit again.
Yijun Chen

This little cafe is a hidden gem. I got a simple Chicken and Avo sandwich, which was delicious. The bread they used was amazingly soft and the container it came in was so convenient for eating. The cafe was very clean and had lots of seating options. Went with my dog and the service was amazing and friendly. They offerred us yoghurt dog treats and a free puppachino which was very much appreciated.
Frank Lowah

Corgi in the shop is super cute and friendly. Very busy on the weekend so there is a bit of wait but definitely worth it!! Food is amazing and very presentable. Even have dog menu for doggy. Definitely coming back again.
AC

Coffee With a Cop in Milton

Photo Credit: Engin Akyurt/Pixabay

Here’s your chance to ask questions or raise concerns about peace, order and safety in the community at a coffee with a cop session in Milton.

Inner West Crime Prevention will be out and about for a cuppa and a chat on Park Road, Milton this Saturday, February 25. This is proudly supported by local State Member for Cooper, Jonty Bush.

When: Saturday the 25th February 2023
Time: 9:30am to 11am
Where: Whisk and Ladle, 20 Railway Terrace, Milton