Fitzgibbon Community Centre is at the heart of Fitzgibbon and offers space for activities and programs for everyone.

Fitzgibbon Community Newsletter

No. 11  (April 2026)

Welcome to our monthly community newsletter! It aims to help foster a sense of belonging and connection by sharing local-interest items and celebrating the people and places that make Fitzgibbon special. Disclaimer: The content does not necessarily reflect the views of the management of Fitzgibbon Community Centre.

This month in your newsletter:

Cleaning Up, Coming Together

Pick up other people’s rubbish? “No way—that sounds gross! And I’ve got a bad back, so I can’t bend down much.”

Yet dozens of volunteers showed up on the morning of Sunday 1 March to join in Clean Up Australia, targeting Hidden World, the Bill Brown Reserve and nearby areas. Scouts from Bald Hills and Bracken Ridge were there, alongside Lions members from both suburbs (who handled the sausage sizzle) and about a dozen Fitzgibbon residents who attend the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Hindu temple in Kingston. Many other volunteers signed up online, and fifty-two registered on the spot at Hidden World alone. Luckily, the forecast rain held off.

Richard arrived bright and early with his four-year-old daughter Scarlett and five-year-old son Hudson. Eleven-year-old Auric from Taigum was busy picking up litter near the dog park at Hidden World. Auric said he was there because “I wanted to help out with cleaning up the Australian grounds, because most people don’t really pick up after themselves. They just don’t care if they drop it onto the ground. And it never goes away. It’s always there. Plastic doesn’t break down. I like to learn about how animals work and how they live without plastic. It’s better if they don’t have plastic here, or they might choke.”

Auric’s mum Emma added that “We’re just here to help out and volunteer and be part of the community. It’s lovely.”

Five-year-old Jacob and his mum Jess came with the Lions. Scout leader Adam Robertson was there with the Bracken Ridge Scouts, probably Queensland’s third-largest Scout group. One of the Scouts’ main focuses is community service, so this was a chance to come out and serve by joining the event (again). Adam also mentioned that they were there to support Cr Landers, who has been a big help to the Scouts. Most participants were Joeys and Cubs, along with a few Scouts, as most Venturers were still at home asleep. Adam commented that most Scouts at the event were “into it”, though some were disappointed there wasn’t more large rubbish to pick up. This was because the park had been recently mowed, which chopped most of the rubbish into tiny bits. Learn more about Bracken Ridge Scouts at https://brscouts.com/about-us/. Cubs and Joeys meet on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and Scouts on Thursday and Friday nights. Venturers meet on Friday nights, and there is also a Rover unit.

Eight-year-old Alex, a Cub Scout from Bracken Ridge, was on the hunt for rubbish along the Bill Brown Reserve shared path with his dad, Edward. Alex said he wanted to “help our environment” in order to “keep animals alive so they don’t go to extinction”. He added that he’s learning about these issues at school. Also tackling this path was a colourful group from BAPS.

 

The newsletter editor’s haul for the morning featured a large part from a car, heaps of fast-food trash (Maccas wrappers, drink bottles, chip packets, lolly wrappers and more) and general rubbish. Hidden World showed relatively little visible rubbish. As Cr Landers (sponsor of the sausage sizzle for volunteers) remarked, “Most of our areas are predominantly clean, and that’s great. But what we do find is a lot of micro-litter—things like straws, cigarette butts, band-aids and all those little things that aren’t obvious. It’s fantastic when people come down and we can clear our areas of that, because we don’t want it going in our waterways. We’re so close to so many waterways here that it will easily wash down into them when it rains.”

Cr Landers added that “Those two sites are very important to us. So we want them to be nice and clean. Both areas are near waterways, so we felt it was important to collect all that micro-litter. Young people are normally playing in both these areas. When you’ve got particularly young people like our Bracken Ridge Scouts and Bald Hill Scouts, it’s important for them to take the time to actually focus on that and see what litter does get into those areas. They’re really good kids, but sometimes they might leave a chip packet or a water bottle. They get disappointed when they can’t find much rubbish, because they want to make a difference and help.”

“We still have people dumping things illegally, which is really a shame,” commented Cr Landers. “When people move, they sometimes dump TVs or couches in the bush because they just didn’t want to take it to the dump, which is sad. Council has a kerbside collection to try and help with all those things, but people will still do that. It’s important that people who see things like that contact us by ringing my office ((07) 3667 6000) or the 24/7 rubbish and waste management call centre ((07) 3403 8888) and let them know. Council workers will come and take the rubbish away.”

Cr Landers wrapped up by saying that “Days like this are also great community days. I have seen people come to this day over the years and join up with Scouts or Lions as a result. We’ve got a lady cooking the BBQ there who did exactly that. It’s just a small part of your day, and it’s fantastic.”

The skip bin brought in for this occasion held larger items, including some that had been thoughtlessly tossed away in our beautiful Fitzgibbon Bushlands.

 

Awesome work, volunteers! Special kudos to Monica Brown, who scored an impressive haul from her own cleanup of the bush path from Azalea Crescent to Beams Road the day before—and then came back for more on the official Clean Up day, tackling Beams Rd and the first section of Carselgrove Ave. Thanks also to everyone who picks up rubbish they spot on footpaths or in gutters whenever they’re out walking around Fitzgibbon.

P.S. Along with cool collection bags with handles, the organisers handed out sturdy gloves and trash pick-up grabbers. No ickiness involved, and volunteers didn’t have to bend down if they used a grabber. So no excuses next year! Of course, the best thing would be if everyone simply stopped littering.

Sweet and Spicy: A Romance Writer’s Journey

Romance writer Estelle Pettersen has always been a northside girl. Although now living in Norway with her husband and children, she regularly visits her mum Ayhwa Currie (see Newsletter No. 4) in Fitzgibbon and feels like she never really left. Estelle is currently in Brisbane to visit family and speak at the Australian Romance Readers Association Convention.

Ever since she was a teenager, Estelle has been reading romance novels. Her mother had a big impact on her love for reading and writing, and Estelle hopes to write her mum’s story one day. Estelle’s passion for writing led her to earn a journalism degree, and at university she and some friends often shared feedback on each other’s stories. Her degree sharpened her writing and editing skills, but journalistic writing is very different from romance writing.

After graduating, Estelle worked at what was then called Australian Provincial Newspapers. For a while, life got in the way, and Estelle stopped writing romances. Then in 2018, an old friend asked why she had stopped writing fun stories. So Estelle went back to writing, this time on Wattpad, an online storytelling platform with over eighty million readers and writers.

After several months, the website curators and editors started showcasing Estelle’s stories on the home page. She began with sweet college romances, but readers wanted spicier works like Fifty Shades of Grey. Although Estelle felt a bit uncomfortable, she was told this genre would help her get her foot in the door. Beta readers helped Estelle understand what they wanted.

One story became Estelle’s first book. She sent the manuscript to Black Velvet Seductions, a publisher known for its pretty high rejection rate. They were tough and wanted  minor changes, but they were interested, and Estelle signed a contract with them for Lessons on Seduction, which won a Literary Titan Award (gold).

 After that, Estelle planned to stop writing steamy novels, but some readers had already seen a beta version of Book 2 in the Seduction series, and they complained when she took it down from the Wattpad platform. Eileen Troemel, a USA Today bestselling author, reached out to Estelle and encouraged her to get this published four years later. Eileen, who is also an editor, asked to look at the manuscript. After six months of editing and another six months before Estelle finally bit the bullet, she decided to self-publish Her Wicked Seduction. It ended up as a bestseller (ranking in the top 100) across all its categories during release week.

Self-publishing is costly, since the writer has to cover the costs of book design, formatting and editing. Estelle strongly recommends having your manuscript edited before submitting it to a publisher. Self-publishing gives you autonomy and control, and you don’t have to split the royalties with anyone—except for roughly thirty per cent that goes to Amazon, for example. Unlike self-published books, publishers set prices for traditionally published books. But Estelle doesn’t write to make money. She just wants people to enjoy her work without having to pay as much as other authors might charge.

Estelle was still keen to dive back into the sweeter small-town romances. An American publisher named Dusty Saddle Publishing accepted her manuscript titled Elizabeth, the prequel to the Starling sisters’ series, because the editors were intrigued by the Aussie outback setting. This book and Her Wicked Seduction—two very different stories—came out during the same week. Despite the close publishing dates, Estelle dove into the release of Wrangling Ryan, the latest book in the Starling sisters’ series, emotional romances with some spicy moments and a strong Aussie vibe. In 2023, the series’ prequel novella, Elizabeth, snagged the Independent Press Award’s Judges’ Distinguished Favorite (romance) in New York. A year later, the series’ next instalment, Forgiving Liam, a full novel, won the Firebird Book Awards’ romance category. Estelle had a story in Cowboy Desire, a Literary Titan Book Awards Gold Winner in 2022. So far, she has published four novels, a novella and three short stories.

Estelle believes successful writers need discipline, so she sets aside a couple of quiet hours each weekend morning while her family sleeps in. When creativity or inspiration strikes, she journals or jots down ideas until she can start writing. She also creates vision boards to show what the characters look like. Estelle starts with a plot idea but also pulls ideas from various resources. The Wattpad platform provides its creators with resources on how to plot a story and build characters. Some publishers require writers to stick to a formula, insisting on a happily-ever-after or a happily-for-now ending.

“Sometimes the characters come to me with a voice,” says Estelle. “The Starling sisters were very noisy, like birds waking me up in the morning, so the dialogue flowed naturally. But sometimes they’d go completely silent, leaving me with writer’s block for days. Then I’d listen to music, which reopened that world of creativity. Then the dialogue would flow. I keep editing and re-editing until it sounds less mechanical and more natural. That means reading aloud.” Estelle aimed for authentically Australian dialogue, but the American publishers were challenged by some of the jargon, so they re-edited and sometimes changed the meaning, which Estelle then rectified with the editorial team.  

Estelle approaches writing sex scenes by reading a lot. For example, she reads Anne Rice, who has written many steamy romances under the pen name A.N. Roquelaure. Other romance authors—and readers—have shared helpful feedback about what works and what doesn’t. After Estelle became published, she connected with a community of authors through her publishers and on Facebook, and they’ve become friends. When someone has a book coming out, Estelle is usually one of the first to know and receives an advance copy.

Estelle contributed a story to Rainbow Desire, an LGBTQ+ anthology. Writing a queer romance was a new challenge beyond her experience, but she received plenty of advice from the publisher, different communities and beta readers. Estelle enjoyed stepping into the characters’ shoes.

Eileen Troemel tells Estelle to ignore any bad reviews and just keep writing for the love of it. At Eileen’s invitation, Estelle is currently working on a short story for an anthology of supernatural romances featuring characters with superpowers. Estelle was specifically asked to make her character Norwegian, which could boost the story’s appeal in Norway.

Nowadays, AI can churn out romance novels, but Estelle doesn’t see this as a threat. Although AI might mimic the style of major authors like Stephen King, it can’t generate ideas rooted in Estelle’s personal world and experiences.

On 17 March, Estelle and her mum attended the Book Club at the Fitzgibbon Community Centre, where Estelle spoke about her experiences as a writer.

The Club meets on the third Tuesday of each month from 6.30 p.m., and all are welcome.

Exploring What a Stronger Future Could Look Like in Fitzgibbon 

Ashleigh Black (Community Coordinator Qld, The Resilience Canopy)

A few months ago, I had the chance to meet with members of the Fitzgibbon Community Centre and share a bit about the work we do at The Resilience Canopy. 

At its heart, the work is quite simple. 

Every community faces challenges—whether that’s social pressures, natural disasters, or just the day-to-day realities of keeping people connected. The Resilience Canopy is about supporting communities to come together and explore what a stronger future might look like, in a way that is led by the community itself.  

It’s really about starting where you are, with the people, relationships and ideas that already exist, and building from there. 

Guided by our Six-Step Future-Ready Communities engagement model, we help bring people together around a shared vision, strengthening connections between neighbours and local groups, and identify meaningful, practical ways to help you better support one another. 

When I visited Fitzgibbon Community Centre, I was blown away by its strong foundations—a committed group of people who care about the community and are working hard to keep things running and connected. 

There’s absolutely no pressure for Fitzgibbon to take on anything new. But if there’s ever curiosity, whether from the Community Centre, local groups, or residents, this approach can help you explore what matters most to your community in an empowering, community-led way and what tangible actions might help Fitzgibbon thrive. 

If this sparks your interest and you’d like to learn more, you’re always welcome to reach out: ashleigh@resiliencecanopy.com.au. Or head to: https://www.resiliencecanopy.com.au/

Preparing for Severe Weather

Brisbane City Council’s Community Recovery and Resilience Officer has shared the following information about preparing for severe weather: Be Prepared YouTube playlist. Topics include:

A specific, two-part explainer video is also available covering the How to read a FloodWise Property Report.

Message from Sandy Landers, Bracken Ridge Ward Councillor

With the school holidays just around the corner, I’d like to wish everyone in our community a safe and happy Easter. I hope the break provides an opportunity to spend time with family and friends and enjoy some well-earned rest.

April is shaping up to be another busy month across our community, with several opportunities for residents to come together and get involved. School’s Out on the Green returns on Thursday 2 April at the Bracken Ridge Library Green, celebrating Youth Week and showcasing the incredible talent of our local young people. This alcohol-free event is organised by young volunteers and will run from 5pm to 9pm and feature performances from emerging local musicians, creating a great atmosphere for our young people to enjoy. Food trucks will also be on site with a range of options available for purchase.

As we move through April, we will also pause to honour those who have served our country. I will be laying wreaths on behalf of our community at ANZAC Day services being held across our community on Saturday 25 April. These services provide an opportunity for us to reflect, remember and pay our respects. I encourage residents to attend a local service if they are able. A full list of services is available on my website at https://sandy.landers.com.au.

With the school holidays approaching, there will also be plenty happening across Brisbane to keep young people active and entertained. Our school holiday program includes a wide range of activities, from BMX workshops and outdoor recreation sessions to creative art activities and library programs. To see the full list of activities happening across the city, visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au and search school holiday activities.

Message from Bisma Asif, MP for Sandgate

One of the most valuable parts of my role in representing the Sandgate Electorate is hearing directly from the people who live and work here.

Recently, I’ve had a number of residents reach out to me about local transport—specifically around the routes and frequency of buses servicing our area. The concerns raised have been that some routes are not running often enough, and in certain parts of the electorate there is a lack of connections.

These are legitimate issues and ones I am taking seriously, which is why in the 2026 Sandgate Electorate Budget Submission, I have called for the State Government to work with Brisbane City Council and look at how these services can be better delivered for our community.

Previously, when this issue was raised with the State Government and Brisbane City Council, we were informed that a Northside Bus Review would be undertaken. I am now concerned to learn that Brisbane City Council has confirmed this review will not commence until after the Metro expansion to Carseldine—pushing it well beyond 2028.

This is simply not good enough for people in our community who rely on these services now. If difficulties with local bus routes and frequency are something you have experienced, I want to hear from you. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with my office at Sandgate@parliament.qld.gov.au or 07 3639 9100.

Message from Emma Comer, MP for Petrie

Labor is helping low-income Australians retire with more superannuation and greater financial security.

The Albanese Government is boosting superannuation savings for around 1.3 million Australians, ensuring workers on lower incomes keep more of their hard-earned money when they retire.

Under these changes, low-income workers will pay less tax on their super and receive a bigger refund through the Low-Income Super Tax Offset. This means more money staying in people’s retirement savings instead of being lost to tax.

Importantly, this reform will also help make the super system fairer for women. Women make up more than half of low-income workers, and boosting their super balances will help close the retirement savings gap.

Emma Comer with Fitzgibbon resident Fran Ross

Superannuation is helping generations of Australians retire with dignity. By strengthening support for low-income workers today, Labor is helping ensure more Australians can look forward to a secure and comfortable retirement in the future.

Blast from the Past

Last month’s Newsletter introduced one of the first thirteen local landowners. This issue features another of the first thirteen—Alexander Norris (1824–1905), who hailed from Glasgow. Alexander, his wife Mary and their two sons migrated to the United States for twelve years until about 1860 before returning to Scotland. Then on 16 April 1862 they set off for Brisbane. On 26 April 1865–one hundred and sixty-one years ago—Alexander selected the twenty-acre Portion 190 just south of what is now Telegraph Road.

The Norris family name lives on in Fitzgibbon history as Norris Road. Originally, this was called Simpson (or Simpson’s) Road after another early settler who was prominent in Bald Hills. When local municipal councils merged into Greater Brisbane in 1925, it was renamed because it contravened the new Council’s policy of not duplicating street names within a certain distance. And that’s how the name Norris Road came into being, though it took locals a while to embrace the new name.

For more about the Norris family, see the book by Stephen James Norris (Alexander’s great-great-grandson), From Norie to Norris: The Story of the Travels of the Norris Family from Scotland to Australia via the U.S.A., which is available at Bracken Ridge Library.

Alexander Norris and his wife Mary (photos courtesy of Stephen Norris)

We Want to Hear from You!

If you wish to contribute information, an article or pictures to the newsletters or have ideas for an article, drop us a line through the Community Centre’s Facebook page or website.

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