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Worst Tick Season Puts Manly Pets at High Risk Amidst Tick Serum Shortage

Photo Credit: Tzuwen Su/Pixabay

Heads up, Manly pet owners. Pets in the suburb have a high risk of tick infestation amidst a nationwide shortage of tick serum during what is being considered the worst tick season in Queensland.

Manly Road 24hr Veterinary Hospital has been witnessing a rise in tick infestation in pets at risk of paralysis following months of heavy rains. Tick season is particularly dangerous from September to November when flower gardens come alive but could be a hotbed for ticks.

“If you think Halloween is scary, it is NOTHING compared to tick paralysis,” the veterinary hospital warned.

“Tick prevention is not a suggestion it is an absolute must do! Even just toileting in your back yard your dog or cat can pick up a tick.”

It comes as supplies of tick serums to prevent an infestation, such as Bravecto, Nexgard and Simparica, are currently low and new stocks are not anticipated to arrive until December.

Brisbane Pet Surgery in Eagle Farm and UQVet in Saint Lucia confirmed they have been having a difficult time gathering supplies.

According to reports, the production of tick serums has been impacted by the flooding in northern NSW and the closure of locally-based manufacturers. Currently, Australian Veterinary Serum Laboratories in Lismore is the lone major bulk manufacturer for the whole country.

Manly Road 24hr Veterinary Hospital has these suggestions for pet owners as ticks can be prevented:

Monthly Tick Prevention
Keep your garden & lawns trimmed.
Physically check your little soldier daily by rubbing your hands all over them. Pay close attention to their head & neck areas. (They will love all this attention)
On their walks try to stick to paths & tracks & out of long grass & bushes.
Bandicoots & rats can drop paralysis ticks in your yard so even in the safety of your little soldiers bunker they can be under threat.

“Tick paralysis is a major battle to fight on its own, but combine that with secondary complications like aspiration pneumonia then sometimes it is a battle that not even the strongest, smartest army of veterinarians can win,” the animal hospital stated.

European-style Mobile Restaurant to Roll Out Soon

Photo for illustration purposes only | Photo credit: Egor Litvinov on Unsplash

Get ready to hop onto this mobile restaurant-on-wheels that’s all set to roll down to Brisbane in late November, with New Farm Park as its first stop, before rolling into Manly, the Kangaroo Point, and other areas to offer European-inspired fine dining on the move.

The Biuso family – Biagio and Sarah and their son Joseph – will be making their way to New Farm soon aboard their converted 12.5-m school bus to deliver a European-style fine dining experience on wheels.

Da Biuso as a concept is a first for the Brisbane dining scene and is expected to serve a produce-driven degustation menu, along with a carefully curated wine list, within a fit-out that’s reminiscent of the city’s historic trams.

Van Demons Vans is in charge of bringing to life Da Biuso’s look. It will sport an exquisite interior featuring a four-metre kitchen, upholstered seats, elegant curtains, wood and subdued ambient lighting. The bespoke mobile restaurant can accommodate 14 diners at a mixed two and four-seater table, or up to 18 diners when hired for a group function.

The couple has operated several restaurants across Brisbane, Sydney and Cairns including Marina Paradiso which closed in 2019 and Fortitude Valley’s Casa Nostra Ristorante. In fact, the idea of Da Biuso came when the family was trying to keep Casa Nostra afloat during the pandemic’s early stages with a limited seating capacity, which they realised worked very well for them.

Da Biuso’s seasonal contemporary European menu with a touch of Sicily may be akin to brick-and-mortar sister venue, Casa Nostra Ristorante| Photo credit: Casa Nostra / casanostraristorante.com.au

Head Chef Biago and son will be preparing seasonal modern-European dishes with a touch of Sicilian influences featuring fresh catches and locally sourced meats along with pasta to be paired with vino specially curated by Sarah. Her wine list will focus on Italian selections plus cocktails, beers and digestifs.

Da Biuso is planned to be open five days a week serving lunch and dinner and will also be available to book for special events and functions. It will have its first stop at New Farm and hopefully before December this year, the mobile restaurant could later move on a rotating basis at Kangaroo Point Cliffs and Manly.

Residents Encouraged to Dob in Short-term Accommodation Properties in Manly, Other Brisbane Areas

Photo Credit: InstagramFOTOGRAFIN / Pixabay

Residents of Manly and other areas of Brisbane are being encouraged to dob in properties that they believe are being used as short-term accommodation.

This comes after Council recently introduced a new rating category that charges property owners who are renting out properties through short-stay platforms with 50 per cent higher rates.

In early October 2022, Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner announced that residents will receive a letter along with their next rates bill, asking them to provide information on residential properties that are being rented out through platforms such as Airbnb, Bookings.com, and Stayz.

Manly and Wynnum, both popular bayside destinations, have a number of properties listed on such platforms. Those who own short-term rentals are likewise encouraged to voluntarily register their property on the Council website.

short-term accommodation — Photo Credit: Max Vakhtbovych / Pexels

Cr Schrinner said that Brisbane is currently experiencing a severe housing shortage due to the scarcity of new homes being built to answer the rising demand and he hopes that the new rating category, which was introduced beginning 1 July 2022, will convince owners to return their properties to the long-term rental market.

Council will also be utilising online technology to sift through the listing sites’ inventory of properties and identify those that have been made available on the short-term accommodation market for more than 60 days a year.

The 50 per cent rate increase would mean that for an average short-term rental, the property owner will pay about $985 additional per year. However, owner-occupiers who rent out a spare room for short-term accommodation are excluded from the new rating category.

Moreover, Cr Schrinner said that the popularity of these short-term accommodation platforms has created problems for residents living next to the short-stay properties whilst the owners are reaping commercial returns for renting their property out. And so it’s “only fair,” he said, that they are charged with a commercial level of rates.

AirDNA data shows that there were 22 active short-term rentals in Manly for Q3 of 2022 from 16 in the previous period. Eighty-eight per cent of listed properties were on Airbnb whilst the rest are either listed on Vrbo or both.

Inside Shucks Bar, One Of Brisbane’s Leading Oyster Restaurants

For freshly shucked oysters straight on the half-shell, Shucks Bar, a neighbourhood oyster bar and seafood restaurant at the Manly Esplanade is the place to be.

Read: European-style Mobile Restaurant to Roll Out Soon

Options change with the seasons but Shucks is the go-to for fresh oysters all year ’round, sourced from different regions in Australia – from the famous Coffin Bay oysters to St Helens in Tasmania; to the Sydney rocks in Port Stephens and even Stradbroke Island.

Open since 2017, this nautical-themed seafood spot was the brainchild of restaurateur Belinda Ho, who spent over a decade in the design agency industry in London and in Brisbane, before venturing into food business.

Shucks Bar — Photo credit: Ethel/ethelladame/Google Maps

Ms Ho decided to take her love for oysters to the next level after seeing a need for an oyster bar in the bayside neighbourhood. Also hoping to see a bit of change in Manly’s food scene, Ms Ho finally gave it a go and launched her oyster bar half a decade ago.

At first, there were customers who would look for some steak or burgers and even coffee. But through the years, they eventually received a cult following, with seafood lovers coming over for dressed, grilled, or natural oysters.

Diners would dig into comforting seafood dishes like sardine toast with agrodolce, whipped buffalo curd or local prawns with charred tomato sambal. For the spring menu, they have added grilled zucchini or grilled broccoli as options.

Wash it all down with a glass of wine or choose from their extensive drinks menu that includes beers, spirits, cocktails, and non-boozy drinks.

Meanwhile, bargain hunters should try the Sunday Happy Hour: half-price natural oysters freshly shucked to order, available every Sunday lunch from noon until 3:00 p.m.

Read: Ransome Couple Grows Play Mat Business from Home into a Million-Dollar Empire

Shucks Bar is located at 459 Esplanade, Manly. You can follow them on Facebook for more details.

Wynnum-Manly Primary Care Centre Goes Digital

Photo Credit: Google Maps

Did you know that the Wynnum-Manly Primary Care Centre has now gone digital, with patients’ medical records now accessible electronically?

After 12 weeks of digital training, workers at the Wynnum-Manly Primary Care Centre have done their first documentation of the patients’ integrated electronic medical records (ieMR), allowing the facility to finally go live on the digital platform.

With the new ieMR, Wynnum-Manly Primary Care Centre would be able to access the patients’ records electronically, thus bridging any gaps in the delivery of their needed healthcare.

“Sometimes it can be difficult accessing our patients’ medical information as a small community site,” Nurse Unit Manager Eric Ford said. “Having immediate access to electronic patient medical records will now be a great support for when a patient presents at the facility.”

The ieMR has been customised for Wynnum-Manly Primary Care Centre patients and whilst it was not an easy transition, the workers have welcomed the changes.

Project Manager Karen Davies and the staff have been actively involved with the customisation, collaborating with the Project Team and Cerner, the software developers.

“It’s great to see Wynnum-Manly PCC join the clinical community of Digital Hospitals in Metro South Health and across the state,” Ms Davies said.

“Clinicians will have access to instant, real-time patient information from across Metro South, as well as from digital facilities around Queensland with each patient’s electronic record now travelling with them.

“That means no need to obtain charts from Medical Records and better collaboration between clinicians, and more linked-up care for patients.

“Clinicians also have access to early warning alerts in a medical emergency and improved patient safety with patients accurately identified through wristbands with unique barcodes.”

Long-delayed 43-Unit Apartment Development on Stratton Terrace Now Underway

Photo credit: DeMartini Fletcher Property / demartini.com.au

After months of delay, construction of the $50-million 43-unit apartment and retail development on Stratton Terrace is now underway, scheduled for completion in mid-2024.

The project at 191 Stratton Terrace in Manly is strategically located near shops, Bayside Park and the Manly Harbour Village. Originally planned for construction in 2020, the DeMartini Fletcher Property project had to be put on pause due when some locals appealed the Council’s decision to give the project the green light.

The developer then agreed to make changes to the project including the reduction of buildings’ height and the number of apartment units to 43 from the originally approved 49 as well as the retail component of the development from 900sqm to 140sqm.

The project again was delayed due to pandemic-induced supply chain issues that drove construction costs up. Initially projected to be completed in late 2022, total construction cost increased tremendously because of the shortage in construction materials prompting the developer to halt the project to give them time to work things out.

With these issues behind them and the project already 50 per cent sold, construction of 191 Stratton Terrace has recently resumed and is now well underway.

Once complete, the Stratton Terrace development will deliver a total of 43 apartments of one-, two-, and three-bedroom configurations across two buildings plus a retail area, a rooftop recreation deck, a pool, barbecue area, and a gym.

Artist impression of pool at Stratton Terrace development — Photo credit: DeMartini Fletcher Property / demartini.com.au

Artist impression of rooftop area — Photo credit: DeMartini Fletcher Property / demartini.com.au

Artist impression of wellness gym — Photo credit: DeMartini Fletcher Property / demartini.com.au

De Martini Fletcher was established in 1980 as a collaboration between John De Martini Properties and the John Fletcher Group. Apart from Stratton Terrace, De Martini Fletcher’s other residential projects include V Apartments on Victoria Parade, Enclave Apartments on Bride Street in Wynnum and Pama Casuarina on Casuarina Beach, NSW.

191 Stratton Terrace, Manly QLD 4179, Australia

Wyvernleigh: One of the First Houses in the Manly District

Wyvernleigh, 1890. Photo Credit: Brisbane City Council. Brisbane Images. BCC-MAN-261 / Mapping Brisbane History / mappingbrisbanehistory.com.au

Built sometime before 1862, Wyvernleigh is believed to have been the first house to be built in the area we know today to be the intersection of Oceana Terrace and Kooralgin Street in the Manly District. The site is now home to a Catholic primary school.

Early settlement in the Manly area began in 1859 when the area was surveyed and subdivided including a 200-acre land obtained through a grant by Thomas Jones. At the time, the land where a sugar plantation was also established was known as Wyvernleigh.

Joseph Lewthwaite bought the land and built a homestead in the area carrying the estate’s name. The homestead was later named Tingalpa House and is believed to be the first house to be built in the area.

In 1882, the land was auctioned off for the Manly Beach estate, believed to have been named after Manly in Sydney. Seven years later, the railway line was extended from Brisbane, passing through Wynnum and Manly to Cleveland.

In 1892, the Estate was subdivided and renamed Manly.

Between 1910 and 1920, the Manly Amateur Swimming Club was established whilst a primary school was opened in 1910. In 1926, tidal baths were built and became popular attractions until they were damaged by a cyclone in 1959.

Wyvernleigh House on the corner of present-day Oceana Terrace and Kooralgin Street | Photo Credit: St John Vianney’s Catholic Parish / manlycatholicparish.org.au

Also in 1926, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane purchased one of the allotments, where the homestead stands, for church purposes. Mass was said in the Wyvernleigh house until it was demolished the following year.

The homestead was replaced by a Parish Hall which was later consecrated as a Church. The site, located on the corner of present-day Oceana Terrace and Kooralgin Street, is now occupied by St John Vianney’s Catholic Primary School.

St John Vianney’s Catholic Primary School was founded by the Presentation Sisters. It opened on Australia Day 1941 as St Philomina’s and was previously situated across the road from where it is now. In 1953, the school was moved to its present location where the Wyvernleigh House used to stand.

Iona College Prepares To Welcome Students From Darling Point Special School

Students from Darling Point Special School will be relocated to Iona College, as the construction of its new learning facilities gets underway.

Read: Darling Point Special School To Get a Major Makeover

At the start of Term 4 2022 (3 October 2022), more than 70 students from the special school will hold classes in portable classrooms, multipurpose rooms and amenities within the premises of Iona College.

The temporary campus, to be provided by the Queensland Government, will be fenced and will include a play area, a car park, and a separate drop off and pick up area.

The buildings will be located near the Iona College multi-purpose basketball courts adjacent to the bus turnaround.

Iona College Manager Corporate Services, Mrs Susan Boban, confirmed that when construction is completed at the special school, the temporary buildings will be removed, and the College site will be regenerated.

The redevelopment, which has been supported by the Department of Education to keep up with the school’s rising enrolment, is estimated to be complete in 18 months.

Plans for Darling Point Special School

darlnt special school — Concept design of new Darling Point Special School learning centre (Photo credit: Queensland Government)

The school has partnered with the Queensland Government and Department of Education for the $15.86 million for the major transformation of the school. The redevelopment is known as the biggest revamp in the school’s 35-year history.

The works will include a new 15-classroom learning centre, a manual arts room, a multipurpose room, a staff collaboration room, and amenities and storage spaces.

“In recognition of a strong and longstanding relationship that exists between the two schools, Iona College will support the much-needed upgrade by providing the green space required for the temporary relocation,” Iona College announced.

Read: How St John Vianney’s Principal Challenges Community To Raise Funds For Student Needing Help

“This relocation is necessary as the Darling Point Special School site is not large enough to accommodate temporary buildings.”

In respose, Darling Point Special School principal Charmaine Driver acknowledged the insight and generosity of Iona College rector Fr Michael Twigg, the college principal Trevor Goodwin, and the college board.

Manly Company To Bring ‘Game-Changing’ EasyNAT COVID-19 Test Kit To Australia

A handheld COVID-19 self-test kit that’s considered a game-changer in virus detection will be publicly available in Australia before 2022 ends, thanks to Manly-based Elamaan Health, supplier of the EasyNAT COVID-19 RNA test.

Read: How St John Vianney’s Principal Challenges Community To Raise Funds For Student Needing Help

EasyNAT COVID-19 RNA test is a single-use molecular test available for home use and is deemed 99 percent accurate compared to PCR tests.

The test is capable of identifying all known Covid-19 variants, including Omicron, which is the most easily-spread strain to date.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration has approved the testing kit and it is expected to be available for sale starting 1 November 2022.

self test covid test — Photo credit: Ustar Biotechnologies

An EasyNAT kit contains disposable sampling swab, a sealed plastic tube for the sample, dripper, buffer, test cassette, zip-lock bag, and instruction for use. Aside from reading the instructions, users can watch a video, by scanning the QR code on the package.

It’s manufactured by Ustar Biotechnologies, based in Hangzhou, China, a company dedicated to developing and manufacturing rapid nucleic acid diagnostic products.

How EasyNAT Differs from Rapid Antigen Tests

Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) and RinoNucleic Acid Test (RNA) are the two primary types of tests being used to test patients for COVID-19.

Antigen test looks for specific proteins found on the surface of the virus whereas RNA detects the nucleic acid component of the virus. Between the two, the latter is believed to be more accurate, considering that they are ‘more sensitive and specific.’

Ustar Biotechnologies said most antigen tests detect the protein of virus particle and if the viral load is not at a measurable level, infection cannot be identified timely, which means that antigen tests may lead to a higher false negative rate, such as, more missed infections, especially among newly-infected, asymptomatic patients.

EasyNAT, which is a molecular test, measures the virus’ individual genome. Elamaan Health claimed it’s much faster than laboratory results, as it only takes 55 minutes to see the results.

The EasyNAT self-testing kit is so far the only nucleic acid test approved by TGA in Australia. The rest are all rapid antigen tests, which are done by collecting oral fluid, saliva, or nasal swab.

Meet the Wynnum Manly Seagulls Players on the QLD Under-19 Women’s Team

Video Still credit: YouTube / NZ RugbyLeagueVids

Get to know the five Wynnum Manly Seagulls players who saw action for the Queensland Under 19 women’s team, going against New South Wales Blues during the 2022 Representative Round of the State of Origin Games.

The Queensland Under 19 men’s and women’s squads took centre stage on the 23rd of June at the Leichhardt Oval as they went against the New South Wales Blues at the State of Origin Games.

The matches were considered significant milestones in the transition to the return of international play following the suspension of these fixtures throughout the past two seasons.

Of the 22 members of the Under 19 women’s team that saw action at the State of Origin Games, five were Wynnum Manly Seagulls players.

Video Credit: YouTube / NZ RugbyLeagueVids

Jacinta Carter – Prop | Photo credit: National Rugby League / nrl.com

Jayde Herdegen – Five-Eight | Photo credit: National Rugby League / nrl.com

Felila Kia – Centre | Photo credit: National Rugby League / nrl.com

Helen Uitualgi – Winger | Photo credit: National Rugby League / nrl.com

Ellie Williamson – Winger | Photo credit: National Rugby League / nrl.com

The action-packed double-header, however, saw both of NSW’s under-19s men’s and women’s squads dominating their respective matches:

Under 19s women’s full-time: Blues 22 (Andie Robinson 3, Jada Taylor 2 tries; Rueben Cherrington goal) def Maroons 6 (Jada Ferguson try; Chantay Kiria-Ratu goal) at Leicchardt Oval

Under 19s men’s full-time: Blues 32 (Utuloa Asomua 2, Paul Alamoti, Jack Bostock, Thomas Weaver tries; Thomas Weaver 4 goals) def Maroons 4 (Jacob Mene 1 try) at Leichhardt Oval

The Queensland Under 19 women’s team:

Player	Club
Chantay Kiria-Ratu	Tweed Seagulls
Jetaya Faifua	Tweed Seagulls
Jasmine Peters	North Queensland Gold Stars
Emma Paki	Central Queensland Capra
Helen Uitualgi	Wynnum Manly_Seagulls
Jada Ferguson	Tweed Seagulls
Jayde Herdegen	Wynnum Manly Seagulls
April Ngatupuna	North Queensland Gold Stars
Lily-Rose Kolc	Burleigh Bears
Fiona Jahnke	West Brisbane Panthers
Otesa Pule	Central Coast Roosters
Hannah Larsson	West Brisbane Panthers
Georgina Tuitaalili	Redcliffe Dolphins
Montana Mook	Northern Pride
Lavinia Kitai	Brisbane Tigers
Felila Kia	Wynnum Manly Seagulls
Jacinta Carter	Wynnum Manly Seagulls
Ellie Williamson	Wynnum Manly Seagulls
Sunny Gerrard	Burleigh Bears
Tahlia Marshall	Brisbane Tigers
Dannii Perese	Burleigh Bears
Lillian Yarrow	Central Queensland Capras