Fitzgibbon Community Newsletter

No. 13  (June 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:

The Orange Enigma: Local Mystery Solved!

Keith Heinrich

Questions frequently arise regarding the “misshapen orange circles” seen all over Fitzgibbon Chase. Redditors pondered this question and wondered “is it a drunken stargate?” or maybe “the famous Fitzgibbon potato”, whatever that is. Someone suggested “it’s the shape of the possum/glider hollows”. Other comments linked them to Pokemon Go. Someone observed they are the shape of Flinders Park, which is plausible, although maybe Flinders Park is the shape of these orange circles, rather than the other way round.

The reality is that these are the branding of Economic Development Queensland (EDQ), the organisation which managed the Fitzgibbon Chase development scheme when it was initiated in 2009. Emily Eklund, who works in Strategic Communications at EDQ, managed to track down former colleagues involved in the original Fitzgibbon Chase scheme, and she generously shared the following information.

The site where Fitzgibbon Chase was established used to be very popular with Brisbane’s bird-watching community. When the initial dwellings were developed on the Kuranda Park Open Space, developers wanted to make the address and letterbox locations abundantly clear. To do this, they adopted a vibrant orange-yellow ‘sunshade’ colour (see Fitzgibbon Chase Guidebook pages 6, 16, 18 and 19). The ‘sunshade’ colour was then expanded into the shelter over the BBQ and seating areas in Daintree Park (see Fitzgibbon Chase Guidebook pages 35 and 36).

Emily states that the organic circle shape evokes the striated pardalote (Pardalotus striatus)—both the splash of colour on its head (sunshade orange-yellow) and the shape of the nest where the birds burrow into earth banks. A quick Google search will find images of these birds and their nests.

You can hear the repetitive, high-pitched call of this tiny bird at https://www.ourlocalbirds.com/striated-pardalote.

The orange theme extends to the circles that are on every Fitzgibbon Chase exit and entrance, parks, playground equipment, bus shelters, the community centre, community garden, signage, and likely other things besides. Additionally, there are the orange poles on Norris Road and rows of orange letterboxes about the place.

So now you know. I wonder how many there actually are. Has anyone ever counted them? 

Changing Tracks: Farewell to Station Master Chris

Carseldine Station is an important presence in our suburb. After working there for thirteen years, Station Master Chris will be leaving in a few weeks.

At a young age, Chris grew up watching Thomas the Tank Engine, and he has always been fascinated by large machinery (planes, trains and monster trucks). After exploring a few career options, Chris joined Queensland Rail in 2010, working in the city and the Gold Coast and on the Metropolitan onboard service team before transferring to Carseldine Station.

Most of his training modules focused on safety, the top priority in an active environment. One focused on platform management—ensuring a safe platform, checking carriages for assisted boardings and letting the guard know when it’s clear to go. Other modules covered ticketing, accounting and the skills needed to run a station.

Chris used to arrive at Carseldine Station at quarter to four in the morning, ready for the first train at quarter past four. These days, the first shift kicks off at 5 a.m. on weekdays. As Chris walks up to the station, he checks the surroundings for rubbish or hazards. He opens the office, reviews the previous shift’s diary to see if there were any incidents, and calls his supervisor to confirm he’s on shift. Then he checks that the station is clean, isolates any necessary items, checks and updates station signage, and reports network disruptions or other issues needing attention. Chris also makes sure the busway is clean. Then he treats himself to a well-deserved coffee. After the first train departs, Chris walks around the station, changes all the bins, inspects the surroundings and cleans up any rubbish. There are also office duties and engaging with customers, being the face of the station and pitching in wherever needed.

The second shift runs from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. If a crucial event occurs, the Station Master will make constant announcements to keep everyone updated on delays. Even when he is the only employee on site, he can take comfort in knowing he can call experienced co-workers at other stations who are always happy to help. At the end of the second shift, the person on duty makes sure the station is clean and safe and the toilets are locked.

The shifts are busy, as trains arrive every six minutes during peak times. So it’s all about active platform management, ensuring that anyone who needs assistance gets it. If two trains arrive simultaneously and each has a passenger requiring help, the Station Master notifies the assisted boarding team in the city that the guard on one of the trains will have to assist one of the passengers.

Nearly 700 trains stop at Carseldine Station each week. In terms of passenger numbers, this is one of the busier stations on the Redcliffe Line, since it serves a large local area. Carseldine is a well-established suburb, and a new estate has recently sprung up there. Fitzgibbon keeps growing, and people commute from Taigum. The 340 bus stops at the station, bringing more people through. A city-bound train might pick up over a hundred people at Carseldine Station during a busy morning peak.

Over the years, Chris has spoken to many customers and had long conversations with some. He looks forward to chatting with the regulars. One gentleman on a motorised scooter always arrives early just to chat with Chris before boarding. “I love those moments,” says Chris. “I’m no counsellor by any measure, but it’s nice if they feel trust that they can just talk to you. You’re a constant person in their lives.”

When someone is new to Carseldine Station, Chris asks if they need help with the rail network. If they’re tourists, he likes to provide information on the local area or places to visit, such as South Bank or the Gold and Sunshine Coast. For Chris, these interactions rank among his favourite parts of the job—right alongside the camaraderie he’s built with his teammates over the years.

Knowing the kids who use the station regularly makes it easy to approach them, and Chris has seen many kids grow up over the years. A primary school boy and his sister once needed help setting up their go cards. The boy’s yo-yo got tangled, so Chris untangled it and showed him how to use it. After that little moment, the siblings always came to the window to top up their cards, and the boy would bring other toys along. Chris interacted with him right until he graduated.

Along the way, some funny incidents have occurred. On several occasions, pets have found their way onto the island platform, and chasing them around during the busy morning rush can be “interesting”. Although animals enjoy coming down the stairs, they’re not so keen on going back up. A sausage dog and a Rottweiler once chased each other all over the platform. The moment Chris settled one, the other would take off. Finally, the pound came to collect them. If a dog is on the track and at risk of being hit, Control will be notified and trains can come in at a slower speed. Once there was a turtle on the track, so Chris had to call the RSPCA—even the Station Master isn’t allowed on the track.

Working in a public environment means that Station Masters sometimes have to deal with antisocial behaviour. Maybe someone had a bad day, or something’s going on in their life. Since Chris is in uniform, people might take their anger out on him, even though it’s not directed at him personally. There have been plenty of incidents over the years, but staff are trained in situational awareness, so they often spot trouble before it happens. They’re also trained to handle various situations that arise, and many protocols are in place for their safety. Thanks to Chris’ training and life skills, he’s able to show empathy and nearly always defuse tense moments. If things do escalate, he removes himself from danger.   Railway staff aren’t security personnel, so it’s not their role to become directly involved. Instead, they contact police and security and ask customers to move to a safe spot. If the situation threatens to spill onto the tracks and pose a danger, staff can call Control to stop or slow down trains.

During his years at Carseldine Station, Chris has witnessed some major changes. In earlier times, there wasn’t a car park on the Fitzgibbon side—it was just grass. The car park on the Carseldine side used to be divided into three separate ones. During the COVID-19 pandemic, operational changes were implemented to keep everyone safe. Sanitiser stations dotted the station, and staff constantly wiped down touchpoints and handrails. Social distancing markers showed people where to stand at ticketing facilities.

The overpass that is currently under construction represents a major change. For staff, there was always a sense of urgency whenever the boom gates came down and the alarms went off. They’d check to make sure the gates hadn’t been hit and no impatient drivers or pedestrians had sneaked across. Nowadays, commuters don’t have to wait at the boom gates, allowing railway staff to focus on delivering good customer service. Most importantly, the overpass eliminates the risks.

Chris recently became a dad, and he feels ready to explore new avenues. With Queensland Rail’s different departments, moving around is an option. Over the years, Chris has built a good rapport with train drivers and guards, and now he’s decided to join their team. After a short break, he’ll upskill through an extensive driver’s training course to become a train driver. Chris praises Queensland Rail as a wonderful employer and recommends it to anyone interested in a railway career.

Chris’ last week at Carseldine Station will be at the end of June. The second Station Master, Andrew, will be joined by a new person replacing Chris. “It’s sad to leave”, said Chris. “I’ve watched a lot of people come and go, and I feel like I’ve been the one consistent thing here. But our lives change, and new adventures await.”

If you’re at Carseldine Station in the next few weeks, take a moment to thank Chris for his service and wish him well on his new journey.

Blast from the Past

 In keeping with this focus on Carseldine Station, it seems appropriate to remember the challenges of commuting before the station opened in 1986.

As far back as 1886, there was discussion of a possible railway station between Zillmere and Bald Hills stations. It was needed because between 1911 and 1978 this was “the longest interval between stations in the suburban area” (Kerr 1988: 50). Locals—only about twenty of them at the time—had to walk three miles to Zillmere Station.

This led to a series of proposals in the early twentieth century for a stopping place (not a proper station) for ordinary trains near the Beams Road crossing (Wakabayashi 2025: 48). For cost reasons, however, and the low demand—“only one cream can per day” (Kerr 1998: 51)—the proposals were repeatedly knocked back. It was not until 1950 that suburban trains and “boneshaker” railmotors travelling to Kilcoy via Caboolture stopped at the Beams Road crossing for passengers, although there was just a platform, not a station.

Sources:

• Kerr, John. 1998. Brunswick Street, Bowen Hills and Beyond: The Railways of the Northern Suburbs of Brisbane.
• Wakabayashi, Judy. 2025. Butterflies and Bandicoots: On Becoming Fitzgibbon.

Message from Emma Comer, MP for Petrie

The 2026-27 Budget is delivering more for the Petrie community. The Albanese Labour Government are delivering much-needed cost-of-living relief with tax cuts, a fair go at buying your own home, and strengthening Medicare for all.

In great news for every single Petrie commuter, this budget has delivered $812.5 million for the Bruce Highway Gateway Motorway to Dohles Rocks Road stage 2 upgrade.

From 1 July this year there will be a $1000 instant tax deduction for every Australian taxpayer to help with the cost of living, and from next year an extra $250 off working Australians’ tax bills permanently. That’s on top of cutting fuel taxes to save you money when you fill up. We are also levelling the playing field for more first home buyers entering the market with responsible changes to the Capital Gains Tax.

Labor is making bulk-billed Urgent Care Clinics a permanent part of Medicare, which means that the Deception Bay Medicare Urgent Care Clinic is locked in for good. Labor is also delivering a record funding boost to public hospitals and making more life-changing medicines cheaper.

This is a responsible budget, focused on economic resilience and economic reform. It’s all about getting Australians through the global oil shock and building an economy that works for more people.

Message from Bisma Asif, MP for Sandgate

We’re halfway through the year, and I’ve had many opportunities to connect with our community through school visits, mobile offices, and attending local events. It has been a privilege to hear directly from you about the issues that matter most. These conversations continue to shape my advocacy and ensure I am representing our community’s priorities in Parliament.

Thank you to those of you who contributed to the 2026 Sandgate Electorate Budget Submission earlier this year. The State Government will hand down its Budget later this month, and I wanted to ensure the Treasurer was aware of the needs in our community.

Our submission highlighted local infrastructure gaps and community projects that deserve funding consideration, including the need for better local transport services particularly in Fitzgibbon, Bracken Ridge, Brighton and Deagon. You can find the full submission on my website or contact my office for more information.

June 10 also marks Thank a First Responder Day. I want to say a huge thank you to all the first responders in Sandgate for their dedication and commitment. From responding to emergencies, supporting vulnerable people, and working behind the scenes to keep us safe, we recognise the hard work and sacrifice you and your families make for our community.

If there is anything I can assist you with, please contact my office via sandgate@parliament.qld.gov.au or 07 3639 9100. Keep up to date and hear about what is happening in our community on my socials:

www.facebook.com/sandgatebisma

www.instagram.com/sandgatebisma

Message from Sandy Landers, Bracken Ridge Ward Councillor

With the school holidays just around the corner, now is a great time to explore the free and low-cost activities Brisbane City Council has on offer for families. From outdoor events to library programs, there is plenty to keep the kids entertained.

Some activities book up fast, so plan ahead where possible. For a full list of events, go to www.brisbane.qld.gov.au and search School Holidays.

Stage 1B of the Beams Road Corridor Upgrade is now 50% complete, on time and under budget. This is a significant milestone for a road corridor used by more than 20,000 vehicles each day. The upgrade, which runs from Carselgrove Avenue to Handford Road, is on track for completion later this year. Once complete, attention will turn to the western end of Beams Road and the intersection at Gympie Road.

Finally, a reminder that Council’s Free Native Plants Program is a wonderful opportunity to green up your garden and runs in accordance with the financial year. Visit the Downfall Creek Bushland Centre at Chermside West with your current year’s rates notice or written authority from the property owner or property manager and collect two free native plants before the allocations reset on July 1st. The nursery is open Monday to Thursday, 9 am to 4 pm.

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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