Fitzgibbon Community Newsletter

No. 12  (May 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:

“It Gives Me Motivation To Be Creative”

 Linda Hygate

The Fitzgibbon Craft Group has been going on for nearly a year. Everyone is welcome to come along, whatever your crafty interest. This week, our crafters were knitting, crocheting, mosaicking and collaging. There are all sorts of craft that take place.

In 2025, the Community Centre launched a new website. With the announcement on Facebook came a request for the Centre to host a “craft group”. The Committee members decided that we could “make it happen”. One in particular (me) has an interest in craft, and I wanted to learn new tricks and crafts and meet like-minded people.

There was an opportunity available in the Centre on Tuesday afternoons. Tuesday at 1 p.m. it was! We put out a call to Facebook for people to come and join us, all crafters welcome, it doesn’t matter the type of craft. On that first day, I turned up and set up a couple of tables with a few chairs, not too many. Sandy was also there. I felt like it was my party, everything was ready and now I was waiting for the first guests to turn up. I had a nervous few minutes waiting. Then people started coming along. Slowly, but surely, we had about 15–20 people, doing all sorts of craft. Sandy was teaching mosaic to a couple of people. Barb was crocheting her crafty Critters, and I was doing some Japanese embroidery.

Since then, we continue to meet on Tuesdays at 1 p.m. Each week our numbers change, depending on who is available and their commitments. This week, I asked our group why they come along to craft. Here’s what they had to say:

• “There’s more fun doing craft with others.”
• “It gets me out of the house and if I don’t come, I don’t see other people.”
• “I’m new to the community and I’ve done mosaics before. When I saw this opportunity to do mosaics with others closer to home, I came along. I can meet new people in the area.”
• “It’s good to have people to talk to and to learn from others.”
• “I like the company.”
• “It’s a way to meet new friends, as I’m new to the community.”
• “It’s good for my mental health.”
• “My husband works from home and if I stay there, all I hear is “computer speak”, it’s good to chat about something else.”
• “At least here, I can focus on my craft, if I’m at home, I get distracted.”
• “I get inspired by doing things with other people.”
• “There’s stimulating talk and it gives me motivation to be creative.”

So, our craft group provides friendship with shared interests in creativity, good conversation and motivation to start and finish new projects with no pressure. For me, I’ve met some lovely local friends. I have learnt new ways of doing things and I’ve grown in confidence with my crochet and it has increased my motivation to try new crafts and actually finish them.

The Details:

We meet in Halls 1 and 2 at the Centre from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. every Tuesday. We pay $2 a session into an ‘honesty box’, and the money is donated to the Fitzgibbon Community Centre.

We also have a Facebook group, which you can join provided that you answer the questions. The questions are there so that we can securely chat about our work and what we’ve completed, and to share tricks and tools. (We don’t want bots and AI commenting on our work).

Blast from the Past

The Bill Brown Sports Reserve is a vibrant community space that has undergone a remarkable transformation since its beginnings as the site of a “manure depôt” for human waste from Sandgate. This depot (the origin of the name Depot Road) was established in 1885 as a fifty-six-acre area reserved for sewage disposal. At first, Sandgate residents paid threepence per service to have their earth closet emptied and garbage taken away, but the following year the rate fell to tuppence. Horse-drawn wagons hauled the night soil to the site, where it was buried three feet deep and the pans were steam-cleaned. In 1948 the wagons were replaced by motorised vehicles. Sewage did not reach Sandgate until 1968.

The Emily Seebohm Aquatic Centre officially opened on this site on Valentine’s Day ten years ago after the Warra Rehoming Centre was moved back from the road to make space for it. The Centre is named after Bracken Ridge’s own Olympic swimmer, Emily Seebohm. The adjacent BMX facility opened in September 2018.

If you want to know more about this location and its history, click here to head over to the Fitzgibbon Trail.

Ready, Set, Ride! Kids Learn BMX Skills During School Holidays

On a hot Friday morning in the April school holidays, a BMX skills workshop was held at the Bill Brown Sports Reserve as part of the Council’s Cycling Brisbane program. About a dozen kids wearing colourful helmets for protection attended the one-hour workshop, which was mostly for beginners of primary school age.

BMX bikes are usually smaller, lighter and cheaper than mountain bikes. The lack of suspension makes them easier to manoeuvre, so they are better suited for doing tricks and jumping ramps.

The instructor was Chris Bierton, one of three or four BMX coaches contracted by the Brisbane City Council to provide workshops around Brisbane almost every day during the school holidays. Notably, Chris also designed this track. While stressing the importance of building confidence, riding safely and standing up on the pedals, Chris encouraged participants to “Keep trying to get faster and faster” and not to worry about minor crashes.

Claire from Northgate was there to watch her sons seven-year-old Hamish and five-year-old Harrison, who were both attending a BMX workshop for the first time. Claire’s friend Amy told them about the workshop, and they came because the boys wanted to learn new skills. Amy was there with seven-year-old Tyler and five-year-old Lechy, who had both attended several earlier workshops. Amy believes it’s good for kids to learn proper BMX skills, and she commented that the workshops are also a great way to spend time with friends.

Roger Smith came all the way from Logan with his ten-year-old son Jack, who started riding a BMX bike only last year but already has his sights set on competing in the 2032 Brisbane Olympics. Even though this workshop did not teach advanced skills, Roger stressed that the basics are very important, which is why they made the long trip. Jack trains for 1.5 hours a week at Yatala with his coach, Chris James, one of the best BMX riders in Australia. On top of that, Jack practices for twenty to thirty hours each week, as it’s all about “time on the bike”. He says he doesn’t get sick of practising. Jack admitted that big gaps are scary, but “once I do it, I just do it again.” Jack’s worst “stack” was when he was hit by another bike at Beenleigh. Because a mix of beginners and more experienced riders share the track, the kids need good situational awareness. But as Roger commented, “If you’re not stacking it, you’re not pushing yourself hard enough!” 

When one kid’s bike needed repairs, Roger brought his impressive toolbox from his car and quickly did the job, helping out a family he had met only moments earlier.

Thirteen-year-old Tommy was at the track simply to have fun on his mountain bike, and he was not part of the workshop. He comes to this track every month, and he sometimes rides his bike off-road or on roads, though he avoids major roads. Tommy’s mum taught him how to fix punctures himself.

One dad was guiding his daughter as she navigated the bumps on her scooter.

Parents and grandparents patiently and proudly watched and waited. After an hour of intense workshopping, the kids had pretty much run out of puff.

Next door to the BMX facility is the skate plaza, where scooting and skateboarding were the focus.

Diving into Our Aquatic Centre: A Gathering Place for All Ages and Abilities

 Perhaps you’ve passed the Emily Seebohm Aquatic Centre and wondered what it’s like inside. The newsletter editor recently dropped in to find out.

Visitors are greeted by the smell of chlorine and a sign outside the change rooms:

Pool visitors ranged from babies to seniors. Children up to the age of five must be accompanied in the water at all times. Between the ages of six and ten, children require active supervision by a responsible person, and between eleven and fourteen they must be constantly monitored. On Tuesdays, there is a one-hour playgroup from 9 a.m. for just $5 (call 3269 8906).

Both pools offer ramp access. The heated indoor pool is 1.1 metres deep. Not everyone in the water was swimming. Many were simply soaking or pacing up and down the pool, while others dived for colourful blocks.

The twenty-five-metre outdoor pool offers recreation and leisure swimming, with two slow, two medium and two fast lanes. It’s 1.35 metres deep at the shallow end and 1.5 metres at the deep end. The swimmers were often just walking or chatting, with little intense swimming at that time of day. Goggles, hats and vibrant swimsuits and rashies were much in evidence.

Around the outdoor pool, picnic tables and a barbecue create a leisurely, laid-back vibe. The kiosk sells snacks, ice creams, drinks, kickboards and more.

Seventeen Learn to Swim instructors are available to teach learners of all ages and abilities—from the Tadpoles class for three- to six-month-old babies to sessions for older learners. On this day, a small class had babies splashing in the water and lying on a large mat while their mums gently poured water over them. Adult Learn to Swim classes take place every Tuesday from 11 a.m.

From 3 p.m. on weekdays, the outdoor pool is exclusively for squad classes of various levels. Additional squad sessions are offered on Saturday mornings. Adult squad classes run from 6 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and every other Friday.

The Centre features specialised accessibility equipment, including a submersible wheelchair, a ceiling-mounted patient hoist, and accessible changing facilities. The pools are a favourite spot for people with a disability to enjoy water therapy with a carer or therapist. They can switch from their own wheelchair to a special one designed to glide down the ramp into the water.

Fees range from free admission for children under two to $6.90 for anyone fifteen or older, with a discounted rate of $5.75 for Concession cardholders. Family passes are available. On 19 April, the Centre switched to a winter timetable, opening from 5.30 a.m. to 7 p.m. If you haven’t experienced this great local asset yet, now’s the time to check it out!

Low-impact, High-energy Aqua Aerobics Making a Splash

The Aquatic Centre’s aqua aerobics class, which costs $17 with a Senior concession, runs from 12.15 p.m. every weekday except Wednesday. On a recent Friday, there were about twenty-two bodies (mostly women) of all shapes and sizes in the pool, but not so many as to make it feel crowded. Most were senior citizens.

One participant, who’s in her eighties and finds it difficult to walk much, calls this the best workout she can do. She commented that Paula, the super-fit and energetic instructor, is an “absolute character” whose humour helps. Standing poolside, Paula uses a mic to give instructions while demonstrating the moves.

The class kicked off with warm-up exercises set to infectious Caribbean music. These exercises included, for example, running on the spot, passing your hands under your legs, touching your toes, kicking your legs back, hopping from one leg to the other, moving up and down, and swinging and swaying. There were many upper-body movements, and no doubt much was also happening out of sight underwater.

After the warm-up, everyone walked the pool’s length to grab pool noodles, which were the focus for the rest of the class. Participants pushed the noodle away from their body or up and down behind their back, waved it in the air, wielded it as a “sword”, stirred it in the water, and slapped the water with it. There were exercises to engage the core, side-to-side body twists, leg raises and a gamut of other moves. The movement was nonstop. Although Paula did “kick butt” a little when needed, everyone moved at their own pace and clearly enjoyed the class. This was a great full-body workout, yet nobody looked wiped out at the end.

Paula switches up the music, routine and equipment from class to class, so it’s never boring. Sometimes the class features special dumbbells for use in the water, and at other times the focus is on kickboards.

Aqua aerobics offers a range of health benefits and is a safe, low-impact activity that’s perfect for older adults. It boosts oxygen uptake, muscle strength and body composition, strengthens the heart muscles and improves circulation, builds strong bones and lean muscle (or slows muscle loss) and can speed up metabolism. Water supports the body’s weight and reduces the risk of injury and the impact on joints, making aqua aerobics great for people with arthritis. Water-based exercises also benefit balance, coordination, flexibility, mobility and endurance—not to mention the bonus of making new friends in the pool!

One participant who’s been attending aqua aerobics classes for the past forty years remarked that “It has kept me mobile for many years. I can’t recommend it enough for people with injuries. It protects you from getting hurt.” And you don’t even have to get your hair wet!

As the class began to wind down, the pace eased, with slower music, stretching, ankle rotations and other cool-down exercises. It wrapped up with a final resounding noodle slap on the water.

Message from Sandy Landers, Bracken Ridge Ward Councillor

Want to do your bit for a cleaner, greener Brisbane? The Schrinner Council’s free kitchen compost caddies are a brilliant place to start! You can collect one from my ward office next to the Bracken Ridge Library and drop your food scraps at local hubs like the Kingfisher Recycling Centre or Fitzgibbon Community Garden.

Rather compost at home? Our Compost Rebate Program offers rebates of up to $100 on composting equipment to help take the cost out of setting up your own system. Whether you’re a backyard veteran or just starting out, there’s support available to get you going. Visit Council’s website at www.brisbane.qld.gov.au for full details.

Council is also delivering a great series of free business workshops covering everything from visual merchandising and AI strategy to inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs. For further information on these sessions, head to Council’s website, search ‘Business Workshops’ and register early as places are limited.

Backyard Bonanza is returning to McPherson Park, Denham Street, Bracken Ridge on Sunday 23 August! Planning is well underway and stallholder expressions of interest are open now. Email the Bracken Ridge Lions Club at brackenridgebyb@gmail.com before spots fill up.

Stay connected for more local updates via Facebook.com/Cr.Sandy.Landers or Instagram @crsandylanders.

Message from Bisma Asif, MP for Sandgate

Sandgate Electorate 2026 Small Business Awards are open!

These awards are a way to celebrate and recognise the fantastic businesses in our local community.

Our local businesses create jobs, foster connections and give Sandgate its unique character. I encourage you to vote for your favourite business using the QR code, plus you’ll go in the draw to win $100 to spend at your favourite business.

If you’re a local business located in Bracken Ridge, Sandgate, Brighton, Deagon, Taigum, Shorncliffe, Fitzgibbon or Bald Hills and want to get involved, get in touch with my office for your poster.

The government is making significant changes to train station staffing and the working hours of up to 700 Queensland Rail workers across the network.

From May, Deagon station will only be staffed until 1 pm on weekdays, with no staff on weekends, while Shorncliffe will lose staff on Sundays entirely, with Saturday coverage ending at 4 pm.

These changes will impact our community. Elderly residents and people with disabilities may struggle to access trains, station toilets will be locked, and students travelling after school or on weekends will have no supervision.

It also has a significant impact on the wages of Queensland Rail workers, some of whom are facing a loss of up to $30,000 a year. Over the last few months, I have been advocating against these changes impacting our local community and workers—and will continue to do so.

If you’ve been impacted by these changes or would like to address an issue that is impacting you, please don’t hesitate to contact me on 07 3639 9100 or Sandgate@parliament.qld.gov.au

Message from Emma Comer, MP for Petrie

The war in the Middle East has caused the biggest spike in petrol and diesel prices in history. Cost of living is at the front of everyone’s minds, and I understand the pressures this is putting on people, families and businesses across the electorate of Petrie. That’s why the Albanese Labor Government is firmly focused on helping Australians as fuel prices spike due to the current conflict. Already, we’ve halved the fuel excise and cut the Heavy Road User Charge to zero for three months. We’re also cracking down on petrol companies’ price gouging, so Australians aren’t taken advantage of at the pump. Our Fuel Supply Taskforce is working with states and territories to help get fuel where it’s needed most, especially in regional Queensland.  

Locals across the Northside are feeling the pinch from rising costs. That’s why cost of living relief is at the centre of what our government is delivering. On top of action on fuel, we’ve delivered a reduction of 20% on student debt, made free TAFE more accessible, reduced the cost of medicine by capping PBS prescriptions to $25, and invested in more free Medicare services at our Redcliffe Medicare Mental Health Centre and Deception Bay Urgent Care Clinic. 

I am pleased to announce that, following extensive consultation with local schools, youth groups, parents and sporting organisations, I will be establishing the Petrie Youth Advisory Committee (YAC).

The Petrie Youth Advisory Committee will provide a dedicated forum for young people aged 16 to 22 years to engage directly with their Federal Member of Parliament on the issues that matter most to them. It is designed to ensure that the voices of young people across our electorate are heard, valued and reflected in policy discussions.

The Committee will meet bi‑monthly at my electorate office, creating an ongoing opportunity for meaningful dialogue between young people and their local representative.

The first meeting will focus on:

• Key issues currently facing young people
• Policy areas young people are most passionate about
• How government can better represent and engage with youth
• How I, as the Federal Member for Petrie, can work more closely with young people in our community
• What members hope to gain from participating in the Youth Advisory Committee

I am very much looking forward to working across the Petrie electorate to bring together young people from diverse backgrounds and communities to help advocate for, inform and shape policy that supports the next generation.

You can express your interest here or in the link in my Instagram bio: https://form.jotform.com/261073996162059

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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