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Bayside Photographers Shine in Prestigious Brisbane Competition

Photo Credit: Councillor Alex Givney/Facebook

Four Bayside locals have secured spots in the Top 25 of Brisbane’s Lord Mayor’s Photographic Awards, standing out from more than 1,700 entries across the city, with public voting open until 27 August.

Exhibition and Voting Details

Their works, celebrating the region’s landscapes, wildlife and community spirit, are now on public display in the CBD. The finalist photographs can be viewed until Wednesday, 27 August at the Brisbane Square Library foyer on George Street and Brisbane City Hall on Adelaide Street.

*Photo Credit: Councillor Alex Givney/Facebook*

The public can also cast their vote in the People’s Choice Award via the Brisbane City Council website during the exhibition period.

Local Talent in the Spotlight

Wynnum is proudly represented by four photographers whose images each tell a unique Bayside story. Kaspar Wood’s “Wynnum Crossroad” offers an aerial perspective of the Wynnum Jetty, highlighting its striking symmetry against the water. Ron Hook’s “Osprey Sunrise” captures morning light behind an osprey nest at Sandy Camp Road Wetlands Reserve in Wynnum West.

Sonny Wesley’s “A Stroll Towards Tranquility” shows two friends walking together at daybreak, while Martin Phoenix’s “Catching a Sunrise” frames the morning sun through one of the Wynnum Jetty shelters as early risers fish nearby.

Award-Winning Images Across Brisbane

This year’s winners include Alberto Omar Perera Perez, who won the Open Category with “Witnesses,” a sunrise scene at Mt Coot-tha Summit. Vincent McLachlan placed second for “A Nostalgic Walk in the Park,” and Thomas Howell came third with “Reflections of Time” showing Brisbane City Hall’s clock tower.

Other winners were Hai Chih Huang (Student), Zheng Wang (Social Media), Mark Higgins (Green Heart) and Daniel Fewquandie (LaVonne Bobongie Award). All winning and finalist photographs are on display at the Brisbane Square foyer and Brisbane City Hall until 27 August.

Celebrating Brisbane Through Photography

The annual competition invites Brisbane residents, workers and students to showcase the city’s character through photography. This year’s theme celebrates the 100th anniversary of Greater Brisbane, inspiring images of its places, experiences and events.

vote here

Multiple Bayside finalists have sparked community pride and highlighted the region’s creative growth. Visitors can view the exhibitions and vote in the People’s Choice Award.

Published 13-August-2025

Chandler’s Lincoln Wearing Sets New Marks in 800m and 1500m Freestyle

Photo Credit: SwimmingWorld

Chandler swimmer Lincoln Wearing has delivered a record-breaking run across state, national, and international meets, setting new Australian age records in the 800m and 1500m freestyle.

Record Performance at Queensland Short Course Championships

At the 2025 Hancock Prospecting Queensland Short Course Championships, Lincoln Wearing set a new Australian 15 years age and All-Comers record in the men’s 800m freestyle. His time of 7:50.88 was more than four seconds faster than the previous mark set by Sam Short in 2019. He also broke the Queensland record in the 200m backstroke at the same meet.

His medal haul at the championships included gold in the 800m freestyle, 200m backstroke, 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 200m freestyle, 400m freestyle, and 200m individual medley, silver in the 100m butterfly, and bronze in the 200m butterfly.

Australian swimming records — *Photo Credit: Chandler Swimming Club/Instagram*

National Success at Australian Age Championships

In April 2025, Wearing broke Mack Horton’s 2011 national 15 years record in the 800m freestyle, finishing in 8:03.73. He also secured gold in the 200m backstroke, 400m freestyle, 200m freestyle, and 1500m freestyle, as well as a silver in the 4x50m freestyle relay.

The 1500m victory came in 15:26.14, while his 200m freestyle win was in 1:51.51, just ahead of twin brother Isaac Wearing.

Lincoln Wearing — *Photo Credit: SwimmingQLD/Facebook*

Breaking Long-Standing Queensland Record

At the 2024 Hancock Prospecting Queensland Long Course Championships, Wearing broke Grant Hackett’s 28-year-old Queensland 15 years 1500m record, setting a new time of 15:28.90. This performance was more than 52 seconds faster than his result at the 2024 Australian Age Championships earlier that year.

Chandler swimming — *Photo Credit: Chandler Swimming Club/Instagram*

Early International Impact

Wearing’s record-breaking run began at the 2024 New Zealand Short Course Championships, where he claimed seven gold medals, one silver, and one bronze. In the 800m freestyle, he set an Australian 14 years age record of 8:04.72, surpassing Sam Short’s 2018 mark.

Selection for National Development Program

In July 2025, Wearing was selected for Swimming Australia’s Next Wave Invitational Competition Camp at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, alongside Ava Gaske and Isaac Wearing. The program is designed to prepare athletes for future international competition and potential Olympic representation.

Published 13-Aug-2025

Moreton Bay Fatalities Off Manly Cited in 2024 Safety Findings

Photo Credit: Pexels

A state marine safety report and subsequent media coverage have pointed to the Boxing Day 2023 boating tragedy off Manly as a reminder that serious incidents can occur even in calm Queensland waters.

Marine Safety Report and Manly Connection

The Marine Incidents in Queensland 2024 report, tabled in Parliament in August 2025, found that about a third of last year’s boating incidents occurred in calm waters and good weather. While the report’s regional breakdown does not list “Moreton Bay” separately, media coverage noted no boating fatalities recorded in the bay in 2024 — a contrast to the Boxing Day 2023 incident off Manly, used as an example of past dangers.

Queensland marine safety — *Photo Credit: Pexels*

Details of the 2023 Manly Tragedy

On 26 December 2023, a 12-metre motorised pleasure craft carrying 11 men on an annual fishing trip capsized during a violent storm in Moreton Bay. Eight men were rescued and brought to Manly Marina, while three — identified as Robert Holden, Stephen Tait, and David “Mario” Logan — died in the incident.

The vessel overturned amid winds of about 100 kilometres per hour, with survivors found clinging to the hull. Search teams recovered one body on the day, a second later that night, and the third the following morning.

Wider Storm Impacts

The Manly capsizing was part of a severe weather system over the Christmas period that caused multiple fatalities across south-east Queensland. In total, seven people died in separate incidents linked to the storms, which brought winds exceeding 150 kilometres per hour in some areas and left extensive damage.

Manly boating tragedy — *Photo Credit: Pexels*

Findings from the 2024 Report

The marine safety report recorded 312 incidents in 2024, resulting in eight fatalities, 45 hospital admissions, and 57 other injuries. Almost 64 per cent of incidents occurred in smooth waters, and human error was the most frequently cited factor.

Investigators found that in seven of the eight fatal cases last year, the victims drowned or were presumed to have drowned. Three of the eight fatalities were known to be wearing lifejackets; among the seven who drowned, two were wearing one. Several victims were boating alone in small or open vessels.

Ongoing Safety Measures

Maritime Safety Queensland has introduced measures to improve safety compliance, including updated registration and licensing processes, a review of safety equipment rules, and statewide waterways management plans. New lifejacket regulations for heightened-risk activities came into effect in December 2024, with enforcement beginning in July 2025.

Published 11-Aug-2025

Bayside Residents Push Back Against Proposed Night-Time Flight Path Trial

Bayside residents are rallying against a proposed 2026 night-time flight path from Brisbane Airport, warning it will increase aircraft noise, harm quality of life, and impact the environment.

Read: Housing Supply Stalls in Wakerley, Other Suburbs, as Empty Nesters Stay Put

A petition on Change.org, signed by residents of Wynnum North, West, and Central, Manly, Manly West, Hemmant, and wider Bayside communities, has called for Airservices Australia to withdraw its “tight left turn” departure route, which would operate during night-time runway maintenance.

Opponents said the change could expose about 50,000 more people to noise, disrupt sleep, worsen mental health, and lower property values. They also fear it will set a precedent for lifting restrictions on the airport’s second runway at night, potentially paving the way for more flight paths and increased air traffic.

flight path — Photo credit: Brisbane Airport/Google Maps

A similar 2023 plan was abandoned after safety and environmental risks were identified, but residents claim the new proposal is even tighter and has not undergone a proper Environmental Impact Assessment despite crossing the Moreton Bay Ramsar Wetlands.

Airservices Australia maintains the trial aims to reduce aircraft noise in other parts of Brisbane and says the design has been shaped by industry and community engagement. The agency says the new route is one of several options considered and believes it offers a balance between noise mitigation and operational efficiency.

Flight Path Details

Under the proposal, which is part of Airservices Australia’s Noise Action Plan for Brisbane, departing aircraft would use the airport’s second runway and execute a tight left-hand turn immediately after take-off, flying over industrial and airport land before heading out across Moreton Bay. Once over water and at higher altitudes, planes would join their regular flight paths.

The trial, scheduled during upcoming runway maintenance next year, would see aircraft pass at altitudes as low as 549 metres over parts of Wynnum North, Wynnum West, Manly, Hemmant and Lytton, as well as the Caltex refinery, Port of Brisbane, and sections of the Moreton Bay Marine Park.

Read: Street Spotlight: Manly Rd, Manly West

Airservices stated that the option was selected for testing because it may deliver overall noise benefits across the wider Brisbane region, though Bayside locals argue it shifts the burden onto new communities.

Published 11-August-2025

Over 1,400 People Have Their Say on Manly and Lota Master Plan

Photo Credit: BCC

More than 1,400 people have contributed ideas for the future of the Wynnum, Manly and Lota foreshores as authorities develop a 20-year master plan.

Community Engagement Draws Strong Local Response

Brisbane City officials have completed the first stage of community consultation for the Wynnum, Manly, and Lota Foreshores Master Plan. The process drew more than 1,400 survey responses, with 87 per cent coming from residents within the area.

The initial engagement period has now closed, and feedback will be used to prepare a draft master plan scheduled for release in 2026.

Popular Activities and Key Themes

Survey results show the foreshores are primarily visited for walking, picnicking, socialising, and enjoying the natural surroundings. Respondents highlighted the need to maintain the area’s environmental character while improving facilities for public use.

Suggestions covered a range of priorities, including upgraded parking, revitalisation of the Wynnum Wading Pool, and increased amenities for sports, recreation, and tourism.

community engagement — *Photo Credit: BCC*

Specific Community Suggestions

Ideas submitted through the consultation included:

New pedestrian and cycling connections, such as a footbridge between Wynnum North and Lota.
Redevelopment of underused sites into hospitality and community spaces.
Upgrades to boat ramps, playgrounds, and sporting facilities, particularly netball courts and clubhouses.
Expanded shaded areas, native tree planting, and better drainage in parks.
Initiatives to protect local wetlands and mangroves, as well as improved fishing, kayaking, and walking opportunities.

Other feedback addressed safety measures, more public seating, water bottle refill stations, and infrastructure for both active sports and passive recreation.

Environmental Considerations

Several submissions emphasised protecting the Ramsar-listed wetlands and preserving habitats for migratory shorebirds. Calls were also made for more sustainable operations for local vendors, such as solar-powered facilities and reduced use of chemical weed control.

Next Steps

BCC will incorporate the feedback into the draft Wynnum, Manly and Lota Foreshores Master Plan, which will be released for further community comment in 2026. Residents will have another opportunity to provide input before the plan is finalised.

Published 10-Aug-2025

Beat the Summer Rush: How Manly Families Can Get $150 for Kids’ Swim Lessons Now

Photo Credit: QueenslandGovernment

In a community where life revolves around the water, a programme is helping Manly’s youngest residents learn to swim by providing their families with $150 vouchers for lessons at local swim centres.

Relief for Rising Family Costs

As local families continue to manage rising living expenses, a Queensland government initiative is providing direct financial support to help cover a key childhood activity. The SwimStart programme offers vouchers of up to $150 per child to pay for swimming lessons, aimed at youngsters aged four and under.

This financial assistance is designed to ensure that cost is not a barrier for children to learn critical survival skills in the water, a fundamental part of the Queensland lifestyle. The support allows parents to invest in their child’s safety without adding another strain to their budget.

A Smart Time for Safety

The programme’s latest round of applications comes at a strategic time for parents. Learning to swim during the cooler months is an ideal way to prepare children for the beaches, pools, and waterways that are central to community life in the Moreton Bay region come summertime.

State officials, including Minister for Sport Tim Mander, have highlighted that swimming is one of Queensland’s most popular activities for children and that lessons from a young age are a crucial introduction to physical activity and water safety.

The programme works with a diverse range of organisations across Queensland, including community-based groups like the Moreton Bay Colleges Swimming Association and specialised businesses such as Just Sports N Fitness and Millumby Pty Ltd. To find a specific swim school in the Manly community that accepts the vouchers, parents are advised to use the provider directory on the government’s official programme page.

How to Access the Programme

The third round of the SwimStart programme is now active, having commenced on 28 July 2025. Parents and carers of eligible children are encouraged to apply for the vouchers as soon as possible to secure a spot with their preferred local swim school.

Once received, families will have plenty of time to use the support, with the vouchers remaining valid for redemption until June 2026. The programme is part of a wider government investment in grassroots sport, intended to build a foundation of healthy and safe activity for the state’s youngest residents.

Published Date 04-August-2025

Man Critical Following Motorcycle Collision On Old Cleveland Road

Photo Credit: Google Maps

A Belmont man in his 60s remains in critical condition at Princess Alexandra Hospital after his Harley Davidson motorcycle collided with a Ford Ranger at Old Cleveland Road and Mount Petrie Road, one of the suburb’s busiest intersections.

The serious crash occurred at approximately 1:58pm on Wednesday, July 16. The motorcyclist sustained life-threatening injuries in the collision and required immediate critical care from paramedics before being rushed to hospital.

The driver of the Ford Ranger, a man in his 50s, was not physically injured in the incident but would have been shaken by the traumatic event.

Queensland Police cordoned off the intersection following the crash, with traffic diversions likely affecting local commuters during the afternoon peak. The Forensic Crash Unit has taken over the investigation and is examining multiple factors that may have contributed to the collision.

Investigators are focusing their enquiries on the sequence of events leading up to the crash, including traffic signal compliance, road conditions at the time, and visibility factors for both vehicles involved. The intersection of Old Cleveland Road and Mount Petrie Road is known to local residents as a particularly busy junction during afternoon traffic.

The intersection has previously been identified as problematic for road users, with concerns raised about vehicles turning right into Mount Petrie Road having to navigate across multiple lanes of traffic.

Police have assigned reference number QP2501245490 to the case and are appealing to the local community for assistance. Investigators are particularly interested in speaking with anyone who may have dashcam footage or CCTV recordings from the area between 1:45pm and 2:15pm on July 16.

The incident serves as a sobering reminder for Belmont motorists to exercise extra caution around motorcyclists, particularly during the current winter months when clear conditions often see increased numbers of riders on local roads.

Community members with information about the crash are urged to contact Policelink at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting, call 131 444, or provide anonymous information to Crime Stoppers Queensland on 1800 333 000 or through www.crimestoppersqld.com.au.

The motorcyclist’s condition remains critical, with his family undoubtedly facing an anxious wait as medical teams work to treat his injuries.

Published 16-July-2025

Belmont Shooting Centre Hosts Inclusive BISC Open and Para Development Camp

Photo Credit: Brisbane International Shooting Centre/Facebook

At the Brisbane International Shooting Centre in Belmont, Australia’s only shooter-run international venue hosted a week of competition that brought together Olympic hopefuls, new athletes and Para-shooters training side by side. Competitors from all over Australia and New Zealand came together for a first-of-its-kind camp and national selection event that placed inclusivity at the centre of high-performance sport.

Shooting Centre Grows Beyond Elite Sport

Built in 1968 and significantly upgraded in preparation for the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, the Brisbane International Shooting Centre (BISC) now features four international-level ranges for pistol, air rifle and small-bore rifle events. Managed jointly by Pistol Shooting Queensland and Queensland Target Sports through Brisbane International Shooting Centre Ltd, the venue has evolved into a hub for Olympic, Commonwealth and Paralympic pathway athletes.

While the facility is used for high-level training and competition, it also serves local and regional shooters, including those who are just starting out in the sport. From weekly club meets to national selection events, the Belmont-based complex maintains a small club atmosphere while delivering top-tier competitive infrastructure.

Inclusive Para Camp Launches in Belmont

In early July 2025, Shooting Australia hosted its inaugural Trans-Tasman Para-shooting development camp at BISC, gathering 15 athletes from Australia and New Zealand. The camp included high-performance athletes, national squad members and new shooters transitioning from other elite sports into target disciplines. The program focused on practical development, team integration and familiarisation with competition processes.

*Photo Credit: Brisbane International Shooting Centre/Facebook*

The event marked the formal start of Shooting Australia’s “Precision with Purpose” program, which aims to provide structured pathways for Para-athletes and increase inclusion in domestic events. Coaches and support staff from both countries contributed to the sessions, which offered participants access to mentoring, training facilities, and feedback from national-level experts.

BISC Open Offers Real-Time Experience

Running in parallel with the camp was the BISC Open, a Tier 1 national competition recognised by Shooting Australia and Pistol Shooting Queensland. Held from July 4 to 6, the competition included ISSF-sanctioned events in pistol and rifle disciplines. The event also served as the third World Championship selection trial, with results contributing to international team selection.

Finals included the 25-metre rapid fire pistol event, featuring seasoned competitors such as Bruce Quick, Paul Eskaf and Bruce Dimond. These matches were held in the centre’s custom-designed Finals Hall, where spectators viewed live scoring on large digital displays—a feature that enhances accessibility and engagement for those attending or supporting athletes on site.

Club and Community at the Core

The Brisbane International Pistol Club (BIPC), one of the primary resident clubs at the venue, continues to provide regular shooting experiences for locals. Newcomers are invited to attend Thursday night sessions, with the option to join the club and progress through the licensing and training process. Members receive guidance on equipment, safety, and the sport’s competitive pathways, and the club ensures accessibility with wheelchair-friendly facilities and structured entry points for people with different levels of experience.

This shared focus on high performance and community involvement helps make Belmont’s shooting complex unique. For the Para-athletes involved in this year’s development camp and competition, it offered a rare opportunity to train and compete under the same conditions as their able-bodied peers—something increasingly seen as essential for the growth of inclusive sport in Australia.

Published 14-July-2025

Laggan House: Gumdale’s Old Tin House Tells Story of Family Survival

Photo Credit: Wynnum Manly Historical Society Inc/Facebook

Tucked away in the quiet Brisbane suburb of Gumdale sits a humble tin-shingle shed that once gave one family hope when times were at their hardest. What started as a simple storage shed on Green Camp Road became a lifeline for Constantine Laggan, his wife Margaret, and their four children as they faced the harsh reality of the Great Depression.

A Shed That Became a Home

In 1927, long before Gumdale was the leafy suburb locals know today, Constantine Laggan gathered discarded tins from the Hargreaves Cannery on Manly Road. With limited money and no easy options, he flattened the tins and turned them into the walls of his family’s home. This first house stood in Tingalpa, now known as Arenga Street, Wakerley.

Laggan House — *Photo Credit: Wynnum Manly Historical Society Inc/Facebook*

When the family later moved to Green Camp Road, they turned another tin shed into their next home — the same building now cared for as the Gumdale Historical Museum.

Locals say the shed has served many roles over the years: storage for farm gear, a hay shed, a small garage and even a place to process animals. But for the Laggan family, it was a roof when many families had none.

A Piece of Gumdale’s Past

Decades later, local volunteers stepped in to save the old tin house from disappearing altogether. Piece by piece, they pulled it apart, numbered every plank and iron sheet, then rebuilt it beside the Gumdale Progress Hall on New Cleveland Road. Today, visitors can view items from the Depression era, including a handmade kerosene tin watering can crafted by a gold miner in the 1870s.

Inside Laggan House, shelves and tables show the kinds of household tools, clothing and kitchen items people used when money was tight. Outside, there’s a tool shed, a simple laundry with an old copper, and even a thunderbox toilet that reminds families how far daily life has come.

Local Stories Kept Alive

Local history groups, such as the Friends of Laggan House, keep the memories alive with special open days. Volunteers share stories of how the shed evolved with each new use and how the Laggan family, like many others, made do with whatever they could find. There is even a children’s quiz to help younger visitors spot the old tools and everyday items that older generations might still remember from their grandparents’ homes.

Several times a year, the museum runs themed displays that tie in with the shed’s era, such as wartime memorabilia or vintage clothing. A small book called From Saplings and Kero Tins: A Peek at Gumdale’s Past tells more about how the area changed from bushland and farms to a growing community.

A Place for Locals to Connect

Laggan House now stands as a simple reminder that even a tin shed can have deep meaning. For Gumdale locals, it is proof that a community’s history is not just found in big mansions or grand buildings but also in the small, clever ways families found to survive and stick together.

Visitors can see Laggan House at 737 New Cleveland Road on the first Saturday of each month (except December and January) from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Entry is $2 for adults, $1 for children or concessions and $5 for a family.

Published 11-July-2025

Manly Pool Makes a Splash with Fresh Energy Upgrades

Manly Pool is now swimming ahead with major energy upgrades and a renewed focus on keeping locals active and connected along the Wynnum-Manly Foreshore.

Upgrades Complete After Recent Closures

With funding from the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program, the upgrades finished a series of energy efficiency works at Manly Pool. The improvements include a new heat pump that helps cut energy use, an upgraded electrical system and the installation of an energy monitoring system to keep everything running smarter and more cost-effective for years to come.

The works wrapped up after a few brief closures in late June 2025, when the pool shut its gates for urgent maintenance. Council said crews worked hard behind the scenes to reopen the venue quickly, ensuring the community could get back to their regular swims and lessons with minimal fuss.

A Hub for Local Families and Fitness

Manly Pool remains a favourite spot for families and fitness lovers alike. Visitors can dive into the heated 25-metre outdoor pool, join group fitness classes or sign up for learn-to-swim lessons and triathlon training. Little ones enjoy the fenced splash pool, wading pool and waterslide, although the waterslide and toddler pool are closed during winter.

For a coffee or snack after a swim, the outdoor café offers extra space for parents and groups. The pool’s operating hours stretch from early mornings on weekdays to mid-morning finishes on weekends. Locals can check the Manly Pool website or ring the team on 07 3396 2578 to confirm lane availability, activities and booking details.

Keeping the Community Sustainable

Council says these upgrades mean lower running costs and a more sustainable future for one of the bayside’s most popular community venues. The improved systems will help keep the pool open and in top shape for generations of swimmers, families and fitness groups to come.

Manly Pool is located at 1 Fairlead Crescent, Manly. Opening hours are Monday to Thursday, 5:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Friday, 5:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Saturday, 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.; and Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The pool is closed on public holidays, Christmas Day and Good Friday.

Published 10-July-2025