🇦🇺 Redland City's Australia Day Award Winners
Rivers to close | Fire ant outbreak | Redlands Netball sign-on day | World's first trillionaires | Ash Grunwald at the Sands | Australia Day 2025 events and more
Today's newsletter is 1,308 words, a 6.5-minute read.
In today's email:
One Big Thing: Redlands celebrates local heroes with Australia Day awards
U3A Redlands: New centre progresses towards completion
ICYMI: The Appleton Ladies’ Potato Race hits the Redlands
Trending: Illegal rubbish dumpers caught red-handed at Bayview Park
Around the Web (Snippets): Rivers to close, Redlands Netball sign-on dates, The world’s first trillionaires and heaps more!
Upcoming Events
⁉️ Local Fun Fact: Here we were are thinking double demerits only came about around public or school holidays..
However, in Queensland, did you know that they now apply all year round?
Yep.
Double demerit points are now applied for second or subsequent certain offences committed within 1 year of the previous offence.
Including:
offences for speeding more than 20km/h over the speed limit
mobile phone offences
driver seatbelt offences
driver failing to ensure passengers under 16 are appropriately restrained
motorcycle helmet offences.
You don’t have to commit the same offence a second or subsequent time to receive double demerits —the offence simply needs to be within the same offence group 💸
Redlands Weather Forecast and Tides
🚨 Public Holiday Alert: This coming Sunday, January 26, is Australia Day; therefore, Monday, January 27, is a day off.
You beauty 🇦🇺!
Whatever you think of Australia or January 26, and given it feels like there’s a lot of division around the world right now, and also what sometimes feels is creeping in here a bit much the last few years, it’s probably healthy to try and remember that there’s a lot to love about living in this beautiful country that we can enjoy together.
A unifying sporting culture, schools and universities, world-leading technological advancement in agriculture, medicine and science, democracy, natural wonders (probably thousands), sophisticated infrastructure, a common-law system that upholds justice and individual rights, a hospital and public health system, just to name a few.
Anyway, the weather’s looking ideal, so have a ripper weekend, whatever the plan 🙌
Live National Housing Price Index
The Weekly Dream Gig
This week - Got a hard hat and a sharp eye? Fiteni is laying the foundation for a Senior Site Supervisor in Capalaba.
With over 50 years of building beautiful communities, this family-owned developer is looking for someone to oversee custom builds and minor civil works like a boss. You’ll be the right hand to the Construction Manager, managing timelines, safety, and the occasional curveball.
If you’ve got a QBCC Supervisor Licence, carpentry chops, and know how to keep a site running like clockwork, this gig’s for you and paying (according to Seek filters) over $150,000.00+ per year.
Bonus points if construction software doesn’t scare you!
Need to advertise a job? Contact us here👇
1. One Big Thing: Redland City Celebrates Community Heroes with the 2025 Australia Day Awards
What’s Happening: The 2025 Redlands Coast Australia Day Awards honoured exceptional individuals and organisations for their contributions to the community.
Why It Matters: From Citizen of the Year Sandy Smith to nine-year-old Young Citizen of the Year Theo Horvatic, this year’s winners showcased dedication and impact.
These awards celebrate the efforts of those who strengthen the Redlands Coast, inspiring others to contribute and fostering a sense of pride in the community.
By the Numbers
• 20+ years: Senior Citizen of the Year Patricia Ponting’s volunteer work.
• $2,300 raised: Theo Horvatic’s fundraiser for foster care respite camps.
• 200% growth: Junior participation at North Stradbroke Island Rugby League post-COVID.
Local Impact: From advocacy to youth engagement, the winners’ efforts have created lasting benefits for our City.
What to Look for Next: The full list of award winners and more at the button beneath that picture 👇
2. U3A Redlands – New Centre progresses towards completion
What’s Happening: U3A Redlands is set to open its first purpose-built centre at the Redlands Research Facility in Cleveland later this year.
After operating from temporary spaces since 2001, this milestone promises a permanent hub for lifelong learning.
What Even Is U3A? It stands for ‘University of the Third Age’ and offers fitness and lifestyle activities for seniors all close to home.
Why It Matters: The new centre will provide seniors with a dedicated space for classes, events, and community connection, fostering education and engagement in the Redlands.
By the Numbers
• $100,000 secured in 2023 through the Gambling Community Benefit Fund.
• $49,896 in grants matched by U3A Redlands for infrastructure costs.
• Later 2025: Is when the centre is expected to open,
Local Impact: This project has supported local jobs during construction and will create a vibrant learning space for the community.
Looking Ahead: U3A Redlands will temporarily operate from the Department of Primary Industries Administration Block at the Redlands Research Facility, Delancey Street starting January 28.
Once opened later this year, the centre will set a new standard for lifelong learning in Redlands.
3. ICYMI: Appleton Ladies’ Potato Race Hits Town
What’s Happening
From January 24 to February 1, MATES Theatre Genesis will bring Melanie Tait’s “spudtacular” ‘The Appleton Ladies’ Potato Race’ to the Donald Simpson Centre.
Why It Matters
MATES Theatre Genesis, the Redlands Coast’s longest-running community theatre since 1990, is a volunteer-run group that fosters an inclusive performing arts community, offering opportunities for all skill levels to participate on stage, backstage, or front of house.
By the Numbers
There will be only be 6 shows: That run across 9 days
$15-$25: Is the price of tickets
30+ years: The MATES Theatre has fostered the Redlands’ arts community
Zoom In
This comedy follows Dr Penny Anderson’s return to her hometown and her campaign for fair prize money in the annual Potato Race.
Inspired by a true story, the play follows Dr. Penny Anderson, who returns to her childhood home in the rural town of Appleton.
The play delivers an entertaining message about gender equality, community resilience, and the joy of standing up for change, resonating with audiences of all ages.
Local Impact
An inspiring production that strengthens local connections while showcasing home-grown talent, MATES offers opportunities for individuals of all skill levels to participate in theatre.
What To Look For Next
Full event details, including the cast and the range of tickets you can buy, below 👇
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4. Trending
5. Around The Web (Snippets)
136 remaining Rivers stores will: Shut down by mid-April, with 650 employees axed along with the brand
Local MP Henry Pike’s: #operationflagbearer is in full swing around town
Victoria Point Sharks: Netball Club sign-on day has been announced
The world’s very first: Trillionaires are close, with five people set to make the cut soon (How embarrassing to be a billionaire..)
Sunshine Coast is facing: A fire ant outbreak
Sam Altman and Elon Musk take to: Social media to fight over Stargate (the enormous infrastructure project to build data centres for OpenAI across the U.S.)
The Script Satellites World Tour, joined by: Joined by Calum Scott | Montaigne | X Ambassadors | Lotte Gallagher kicks on at Sirromet Wines this weekend
The Tassie Tiger: De-extinction program just achieved mid-gestation marsupial embryo development, enabling at-scale rewilding
The Moon was added to a list of: Threatened cultural sites for the first time
The self-proclaimed: ‘Stable genius’ has spoken... 👇
6. Upcoming Events
🎭 The Appleton Ladies’ Potato Race: January 24 to February 1; a heart-warming Aussie comedy full of colourful characters at Donald Simpson Community Centre
🎸 Ash Grunwald is bringing high energy, vibrant live show with stacks of guitars and foot-stomping blues: February 2 at the Cleveland Sands Hotel
🇦🇺 Australia Day Celebrations 🇦🇺
Australia Day - Bay Islands Family Fun Day 2025: January 26 from 10:30 am to 3 pm; free activities, egg and spoon race, water play, markets, live music, auto club show, Australia Day Awards and more at BIMSARA
Australia Day Social: January 26 from 2 pm to 4 pm; good food, culture and heritage celebration at RSL Cleveland
Australia Day Weekend: January 26; barbecues, market, cocktails and more at Redlands Coast Distillery