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Clayfield Students Mark Arts Day With Creativity and House Spirit

Photo Credit: Foundry Media/Clayfield College/Facebook

Clayfield Arts Day brought Years 6 to 12 students together for House performances, hands-on workshops and a day of activities shaped by the theme Be Strong, Strive for the Stars.

Arts Day was held on Wednesday, 17 June, the final Wednesday of Term 2, after Houses spent the lead-up choosing songs and dances for the event.

The day gave students a program built around performance, practical activities and House involvement. Each House prepared a song and dance, with students taking part in workshops and performances as part of the competition for the Arts Day Cup.

The theme, Be Strong, Strive for the Stars, shaped a program that combined rehearsed House items with a broader set of creative activities across the day.

Clayfield students performing on Arts Day — Photo Credit: Foundry Media/Clayfield College/Facebook

House Competitions Take The Stage

The House Choral Competition formed a key part of the program, with Campbell House recognised for its performance of Man in the Mirror.

The House Dance Competition also brought Houses to the stage, with Youngman House recognised for a creative and high-energy dance.

The choral and dance competitions gave students a shared focus for the day, with each House contributing performances prepared ahead of the event. The format placed singing, movement and House participation at the centre of the program.

House dance performance at Clayfield — Photo Credit: Foundry Media/Clayfield College/Facebook

Workshops Broaden The Clayfield Program

Students also joined hands-on workshops throughout Arts Day, adding activities beyond the House competitions.

The workshop program included stage combat, musical theatre, robotics, visual arts, Zumba and fondant cake decorating. The mix gave students opportunities to take part in theatre, movement, technology, visual work and practical creative activities.

The range of workshops helped shape Arts Day as more than a performance program, with students able to try different activities while taking part in the end-of-term event.

Students joining Arts Day workshops — Photo Credit: Foundry Media/Clayfield College/Facebook

Semester Ends With Arts Focus

Arts Day closed Semester 1 with a program centred on participation, confidence and connection through the arts.

For Clayfield students in Years 6 to 12, the event brought together competition, workshops and House performances in one end-of-term program. Campbell House and Youngman House were among the Houses recognised for their choral and dance contributions, while the wider day gave students several ways to take part.

Published 23-June-2026

Case of Clayfield Businessman’s Death Moves to Supreme Court

Wikipedia/CC BY-SA 4.0

A teenager accused of the murder of Brisbane businessman Greg Josephson has been committed to stand trial in the Supreme Court of Queensland, marking a significant development in a case that has drawn widespread public interest.

The accused, who was 15 years old at the time of the alleged offence in June 2025, appeared in the court via video link for a committal hearing. He did not enter a plea and remains in custody while the matter progresses through the court system.

Matter Formally Committed for Trial

The hearing was held to determine whether the prosecution’s case is sufficient to proceed to a higher court.

During proceedings, the court was told that the brief of evidence includes 104 witness statements. The matter was formally committed to the Supreme Court for trial at a future date. No trial date has yet been publicly announced.

When asked by the magistrate whether he wished to present evidence or say anything in answer to the charge, the teenager declined. He also chose not to enter a plea at this stage.

High-Profile Business Figure

Mr Josephson, 58, was found deceased at a Clayfield residence in June 2025.

Emergency services were originally called to the property following reports of a serious incident during a gathering. Police later arrested and charged a teenage boy with murder.

Mr Josephson was a prominent and well-known figure in Queensland’s retail sector, recognized nationally as a co-founder of the youth fashion retailer Universal Store.

As the case has not yet been heard by a jury at trial, the allegations against the accused remain untested in court.

Published 19-June-2026

Enderley Road Home Changes Hands After Nearly Six Decades in One Family

For nearly six decades, the home at 14 Enderley Road in Clayfield remained in the hands of the same Clayfield family.

Read: Enderley Road Heritage Precinct: From Pineapple Farms to Clayfield’s Best Street

Now, after 57 years of ownership, the property has entered a new chapter, selling under the hammer for $4.55 million. The four-bedroom home, set on a 1,062-square-metre block, attracted strong interest when it went to auction, drawing multiple registered bidders and a large crowd of onlookers.

A New Chapter for a Long-Held Family Home

The property was the longtime family residence of renowned Brisbane endocrinologist Dr Brian Hirschfeld, who lived there for decades.

Following his passing almost two years ago, the family prepared the home for sale, sorting through furniture, documents and possessions accumulated over more than half a century.

Situated on one of Clayfield’s most prestigious and tightly held streets, the home offered buyers a rare opportunity to secure a large parcel of land in an established inner-north suburb.

According to Ray White Collective, the property occupies two lots with dual street frontage and retains many original character features, including high ceilings, VJ walls, French doors and hardwood flooring.

The home had remained largely untouched and was described as the last unrenovated house on Enderley Road.

Competitive Auction Draws Strong Interest

Dozens of neighbours and interested buyers gathered for the on-site auction to watch the sale unfold. Bidding opened at $3 million and competition came from five of the 10 registered bidders before narrowing to two parties in the final stages. At $4.5 million the property was declared on the market before selling for $4.55 million.

The successful purchasers, a family of six, secured the home after a search that had reportedly lasted three years. The buyers are understood to be planning a restoration of the property, having engaged an architect shortly after first inspecting the home.

The result came amid a softer auction market, with clearance rates and buyer inspections reported to have declined in recent months across South East Queensland.

Rare Land Holdings Continue to Attract Buyers

The strong result suggests large landholdings in established suburbs continue to attract buyer interest. Properties of this scale rarely become available on Enderley Road, where sales are infrequent and ownership is tightly held.

The property’s large block size, character features and location were key elements highlighted during the sales campaign. Ray White’s campaign described the property as an opportunity to renovate the existing residence into a substantial family estate or explore future development possibilities, subject to the necessary approvals.

The listing also highlighted the elevated site’s north-south orientation, district outlook and dual street frontage.

Read: Street Spotlight: Enderley Rd, Clayfield

End of an Era, Beginning of Another

The sale closes a chapter for a property that had remained in the same family for 57 years.

After nearly six decades under the care of one family, the home is set to begin a new phase with owners who intend to restore and reinvest in the property.

In a suburb where opportunities of this scale are uncommon, the $4.55 million result reflects the strong buyer interest generated by the property’s size, history and potential.

Published 18-June-2026

Queensland Wagyu and a Japanese Curry Bun? Brisbane’s Newest Food Stall Says It Works

@okooko_eatstreet/Instagram

OKO OKO, a new Japanese micro-restaurant that has just opened at Eat Street Northshore, is serving what its founders describe as the world’s first wagyu kare pan — and for Clayfield residents, it is a quick 10-minute drive to one of the more interesting new food concepts this year.

The kare pan, Japan’s deep-fried curry bun with origins in Tokyo dating back to 1927, has never been made with wagyu as the primary filling anywhere in the world, according to OKO OKO.

The Brisbane version uses Darling Downs wagyu from Sandalwood Feedlot, three hours west of Brisbane and one of Australia’s most awarded producers, combined with a cheesy curry filling, panko-crusted and fried to order at the counter.

Behind the dish is a global head chef whose career spans Nobu London and Yoko Brisbane. The broader menu extends into okonomiyaki, yakisoba and other Japanese street food classics at the same elevated standard.

Why the precinct is worth the trip

Eat Street Northshore has 60-plus micro-restaurants across neon-lit laneways, four live music stages and five themed bars, making OKO OKO one addition to a precinct that already draws Brisbane’s inner north for Friday and Saturday nights.

The new Shinjuku-styled pagoda facade that frames the OKO OKO space is one of the more visually striking fit-outs the precinct has seen.

Founder Michael Otway is straightforward about what took eighteen months to develop. “The dough, the curry, the wagyu, the cheese, the fry. Queensland wagyu changes the dish. What comes out of the fryer at OKO OKO is something Brisbane hasn’t tasted before.”

Eat Street Northshore is at 221D MacArthur Avenue, Hamilton. Open Friday and Saturday 4pm to 10pm and Sunday 4pm to 9pm. Entry $6 per person. Free parking on site or CityCat to Northshore Hamilton.

Published 14-June-2026

Midweek Offences Peak Prompts Police Warning to Clayfield Residents

An analysis of local crime statistics has prompted law enforcement to reinforce security warnings for Clayfield residents, following more than 500 total offences recorded in the region over a 12-month period.

Tracking the Local Trends

The recorded timeline of property and personal violations has prompted community safety leaders to look closely at when these incidents take place. Data compiled over a 12-month period between late May 2025 and late May 2026 shows that the region experienced 563 total offences.

Local authorities noticed a major escalation in unlawful behaviour during November 2025, a month that saw a significant spike of 72 reported incidents. While the initial tracking period started quietly with just four offences in May 2025, subsequent months consistently recorded steady numbers, generally fluctuating between 31 and 53 monthly reports.

Peak Times for Criminal Activity

Analysis of the weekly patterns reveals that local offences occur more frequently during the middle of the week rather than the weekend. Wednesdays emerged as the peak day for recorded offences, accounting for 101 separate incidents, followed closely by Fridays with 93 and Saturdays with 91. In contrast, Sundays proved to be the quietest day for the area, dropping to 58 recorded reports.

Daily shifts also show a distinct pattern, with standard daylight hours tracking fewer incidents than the late afternoon and evening. A total of 224 offences took place during a single eight-hour block between 2:00 PM and 10:00 PM, which data shows as the most vulnerable time for households.

Breakdown of Regional Offences

A closer look at the types of illegal activity shows that theft and property violations make up a major portion of the local landscape. Standard theft led the statistics with 143 individual incidents, while unlawful entry into homes and businesses accounted for 75 reports. Property damage added another 44 cases to the total, and 31 vehicles were taken without permission.

Drug-related violations were also prominent, with 92 incidents recorded across the year. The remaining cases involved 42 traffic violations, 33 physical assaults, 23 incidents of trespassing, and 23 breaches of public order, alongside 19 instances of fraud and 38 unclassified offences.

Strengthening Neighbourhood Defences

In response to the troubling numbers, the Queensland Police Service is urging the public to adopt stronger security habits to deter opportunistic thieves. Officers state that many home break-ins happen because offenders find unlocked cars parked outside residences, steal the garage door openers or house keys left inside, and use them to gain easy entry into the home. Safety experts advise everyone to lock all doors, standard windows, and louvers before leaving their property or going to bed for the night.

Residents should also remove all electronics, wallets, and bags from plain sight inside their vehicles. For active emergencies, locals must always call triple zero, while non-urgent matters should be directed to the Policelink phone line or submitted anonymously through the state crime intelligence network

Published Date 28-May-2026

Brisbane Airport Brings Back Its Beloved Therapy Dogs for School Holidays

Photo Credit: Brisbane Airport/Facebook

Long before boarding calls echo across the terminal, another crowd starts forming at Brisbane Airport. Travellers crouch beside fluffy puppies and stop mid-suitcase to pull for a quick pat, while the flight crew wander over between shifts, hoping for a cuddle before take-off. This started as a small therapy dog trial in 2023 and has grown into one of the airport’s most loved holiday traditions, with more than 7,500 passengers already stopping to meet the dogs.

The therapy dogs will return to Brisbane Airport during the June and July 2026 school holidays, bringing another round of wagging tails and puppy cuddles to both the Domestic and International terminals.

Sessions at the Domestic Terminal will run from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. on selected Tuesdays and Thursdays, while International Terminal visits are scheduled from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on selected Fridays.

Where Airport Stress Meets Puppy Cuddles

Holiday travel can turn even the calmest traveller into a bundle of nerves. There are crowded check-in queues, delayed flights, teary goodbyes, and children running low on patience before the plane even leaves the ground. It’s exactly the kind of environment Therapy & Support Animals Australia had in mind when the organisation partnered with Brisbane Airport to launch the country’s first airport therapy dog program.

Since then, the dogs have become a familiar sight during busy travel periods. Labradoodles, cavoodles, groodles and labradors now spend their school holiday shifts moving through the terminals with handlers, greeting travellers looking for a lighter moment before boarding.

Photos and videos shared across Brisbane Airport’s Facebook and Instagram pages show passengers lining up for photos, puppies sprawled across terminal floors and airport workers stopping by for a quick visit during shifts.

The Dogs Travellers Remember After the Flight

The therapy dogs may only work two-hour sessions, but for many travellers, the interaction stays with them long after take-off. Over the past three years, the dogs have comforted nervous children afraid of flying, grieving families travelling for funerals, and FIFO workers missing their own pets after weeks away from home.

Brisbane Airport Corporation communications executive Sarah Whyte previously said the airport expected the dogs to be popular, but the response quickly grew beyond what staff had imagined. Airline crews, retail workers and airport staff now regularly stop by the therapy dog areas alongside passengers.

The program also includes puppies in training, some just over 10 weeks old, giving young dogs early socialisation in a busy public setting filled with rolling luggage, loud announcements and constant movement.

A Holiday Tradition Taking Over the Terminal

The airport’s first therapy dog sessions were introduced as a short trial in the Domestic Terminal back in July 2023. Within months, the program expanded into the International Terminal after receiving strong feedback from travellers and staff.

Now, many passengers actively look forward to the dogs returning during school holiday periods. According to Brisbane Airport’s own travel advice page, the dogs are there specifically for public interaction under handler supervision. Unlike assistance dogs travelling with passengers, these therapy dogs are brought into the airport to mingle with the public and help ease stress during busy travel periods.

And in an airport handling tens of millions of passengers each year, those few minutes of connection seem to be leaving a lasting impression.

Published 28-May-2026

The Hidden Pollution Trapped in the Sediment of Wooloowin’s Favourite Creek

Photo Credit: QUT

A quiet walk along the popular Kedron Brook in Wooloowin hides a heavily reality of pollution with a new Queensland University of Technology study revealing the waterway contains the highest concentration of microplastics in Brisbane.

Over a year-long testing period, researchers sampled sediment from multiple locations along the city’s waterways to understand the scale of the pollution problem. The research team collected samples four times throughout the year, travelling from the upstream headwaters all the way down to the estuarine levels. They discovered that the sand and dirt sitting at the bottom of these familiar neighbourhood creeks are packed with tiny plastic fragments from everyday household and industrial items.

The Plastic Makeup of Local Creeks

pollution — *Photo Credit:* *Science Direct*

Lead researcher Heshani Mudalige reported that Kedron Brook averaged around 4,400 plastic items for every kilogram of dry sediment tested. The primary culprit found in the waterbed was polyethylene, a very common material used in packaging, soft drink bottles, toys, and agricultural materials. Other major pollutants included polypropylene, frequently used for food containers and car parts, and polymethyl methacrylate.

The heavy concentration of microplastics in Kedron Brook is largely driven by its surrounding environment. Mudalige explained that the creek runs through major commercial and industrial zones, including the busy Brisbane Airport precinct. These areas generate significant single-use plastic waste, food packaging, and construction debris.

Additionally, the flat terrain and paved surfaces around the Wooloowin area and surrounding suburbs create heavy stormwater runoff. This runoff easily sweeps loose plastics from residential streets, local sports fields, and parks directly into the water, where the flat landscape allows the debris to settle into the sediment.

Comparing the Catchments

The study also examined two other major waterways, finding that while they were slightly cleaner, they still carried significant pollution loads. Bulimba Creek ranked second, holding about 4,100 plastic items per kilogram of sediment. Mudalige noted that pollution in Bulimba Creek comes mostly from the residential and commercial areas it flows through, picking up consumer packaging, textile fibres, and household plastics along the way.

Enoggera Creek recorded the lowest levels of the three, with roughly 2,800 items per kilogram. The researchers attributed this lower count to the Enoggera Dam. The dam acts as a physical barrier that regulates water flow and traps a large portion of the microplastics before they can travel further downstream.

Seasonal Shifts and the Journey to the Bay

The amount of plastic in these waterways does not stay the same all year. The research team found that weather and seasons play a massive role in how much pollution accumulates. Mudalige highlighted that microplastic levels in Kedron Brook spiked sharply during March, following the heavy summer rains that washed large amounts of urban debris into the creek. By contrast, Bulimba Creek saw its highest pollution levels in November.

This creek pollution is not just a localised issue, as these waterways serve as direct transport routes to the ocean. Associate Professor Prasanna Egodawatta explained that highly urbanised catchments across Southeast Queensland are a major source of the microplastics ending up in Moreton Bay. He pointed out that understanding how these local creeks move water and sediment is the crucial first step in measuring the total volume of land-based plastics washing into the bay through the city’s stormwater systems.

Published Date 26-May-2026

Eagle Junction State School Hosts Launch of Queensland’s 2027 Farm Safety Calendar Competition

Students at Eagle Junction State School in Clayfield were front and centre on 19 May when the 2027 Farm Safety Calendar competition was officially launched, calling on primary school students across the state to submit artwork and help spread a vital safety message.

Read: New Eagle Junction State School Early Years Precinct Officially Opened

The competition, run by Workplace Health and Safety Queensland, is open to students from Prep to Year 6 and invites them to submit artworks that reflect real farm and rural safety themes. Twelve winning entries will be selected and featured in a calendar distributed to more than 40,000 recipients statewide. Each winning student receives a $250 gift card, with an additional $500 going to their school.

Photo credit: Facebook/Jarrod Bleijie MP

Member for Clayfield Tim Nicholls noted that the farm safety message was just as relevant for city-based families as for those living regionally. “Queenslanders regularly travel to regional areas, visit farms or interact with rural environments, so knowing how to stay safe can make a real difference,” Mr Nicholls said. “Building awareness early helps ensure all young Queenslanders can recognise risks and stay safe, wherever they go.”

Helping kick things off was Riana Crehan, the V8 Supercar and sport presenter who grew up on a farm and was recently appointed as Workplace Health and Safety Queensland’s Safety Ambassador. Drawing on her own upbringing, she explained why the competition matters.

“This competition helps kids understand those risks early and encourages them to think about safety in their everyday lives, covering important topics like electrical safety, animal handling, overhead powerlines and hygiene after contact with animals,” Ms Crehan said.

The stakes behind the competition are real. According to figures cited at the launch, 22 Queenslanders lost their lives in workplace incidents between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2025. Of those, five deaths occurred in the rural sector, an industry that consistently accounts for a disproportionate share of Queensland’s workplace fatalities.

Read: From Rail Line to Schoolyard: How Eagle Junction State School Took Shape in Clayfield

The competition is an established annual event that has grown considerably. The 2026 round drew a record number of entries, with more than 2,500 submissions from over 140 Queensland schools.

The competition is open until 31 August 2026. Teachers and students can find entry guidelines and downloadable resources at WorkSafe.qld.gov.au.

Published 22-May-2026

St Rita’s Longest Lunch Is Back for 2026 — and the Centenary Makes It One Worth Attending

St Rita's College/Facebook

Rita’s Longest Lunch returns to the grounds of St Rita’s College, with doors opening at 12:30pm for an afternoon of long table dining, live music and community fundraising that runs through to 4:30pm.

The annual event that will take place on 14 June 2026, hosted by the St Rita’s College Music Support Group, is one of the inner-north’s most relaxed and sociable school fundraisers, and 2026 carries extra significance: the college marks its centenary this year, having been founded by the Presentation Sisters in 1926. The Centenary Hat, available to pre-order or purchase on the day, will give the occasion its own keepsake moment.

Tickets are still available, but they sell in tables of six, so the sooner your group gets organised, the better.

Planning your long lunch

Rita’s Longest Lunch is modelled on the traditional European long lunch, where the emphasis is on good food, good company and no rush. Grand tables are set up on the Hogan Place grounds with full table settings including plate, cutlery, glassware and water provided at every seat.

Photo Credit: St Rita’s College/Facebook

The food part is entirely in your hands. This is a BYO food event, which means you can pack a picnic basket, order a gourmet box from Say Cheese, a local Brisbane catering business, or be as creative as your table wants to be. Say Cheese is offering a range of gourmet boxes specifically for the event, available to pre-order via their website, with the deadline for orders set at 10 June.

Orders will be delivered to Hogan Place for collection on the day, with $10 from every box donated to the Music Support Group. There are no heating or cooking facilities at the venue, and food cannot be purchased on the day, so planning ahead matters.

Beverages work differently. A bar will be on-site offering sparkling wine, wine and beer by EFTPOS. BYO beverages of any kind, including non-alcoholic drinks, are not permitted. Two champagne options, Piper Heidsieck NV and Veuve Clicquot, are available exclusively as pre-purchased add-ons and will not be sold at the event. The pre-order deadline for champagne is 10am on Monday 8 June.

Live music from First Summer will carry the afternoon.

Booking the table

Tickets are sold as tables of six, and full payment along with contact details for all six guests is required at the time of booking. If your group has fewer than six, you can book a table and fill it by inviting additional guests, or coordinate with other attendees to make up a complete table.

Individual add-ons including champagne and Centenary Hats can be purchased without a full ticket booking by selecting the add-ons option at checkout. All ticket and champagne purchases are non-refundable.

The event is 18+ only.

A college with a century behind it

St Rita’s officially opened on 27 September 1926, when the Presentation Sisters purchased Stanley Hall, a landmark Clayfield residence, to establish the college. Today, the college educates around 1,200 girls from Years 5 to 12 and maintains a strong tradition of community events, with Rita’s Longest Lunch among the most anticipated on the annual calendar.

Proceeds from the lunch support the Music Support Group, which funds music education, instruments, performance opportunities and events for students at the college.

Tickets are available here. For enquiries, contact the college at communications@stritas.qld.edu.au.

Published 20-May-2026

Wooloowin Nurse Recalls Life During Final Years of Polio

When Marjorie Davidson began nursing in 1959, the hospital staff still reused needles, scrubbed infected linen by hand and cared for patients inside iron lungs. Now living at Carinity Clifford House in Wooloowin, the former nurse has reflected on nearly six decades in healthcare as modern aged care workers mark International Nurses Day.

International Nurses Day is held annually on May 12.

Davidson started her career in Bendigo before moving into maternity nursing during the final years of Australia’s polio epidemic. Hospitals at the time had limited diagnostic equipment and far fewer treatment options for heart disease, infections and respiratory illness than today.

She remembered working in infectious disease wards where patients with tuberculosis and meningitis were still regularly admitted. One of the first jobs during afternoon shifts involved cleaning a large copper container used for infected hospital linen.

The work later took her far from Australia.

From Brisbane hospitals to remote Papua New Guinea

Davidson spent 13 years nursing in Papua New Guinea, treating patients suffering from malaria, chest infections, skin diseases and severe leg ulcers in isolated communities surrounded by mosquitoes and crocodile-filled waterways.

Medical supplies were basic, and disposable equipment was not yet standard. Needles were sterilised over boiling water heated by wood stoves, while her husband sharpened them by hand for reuse.

The former nurse said death was a regular part of life in remote clinics, with some shifts ending after multiple patients had died.

Her stories now form part of daily conversations at Carinity Clifford House, where younger nurses and carers work in a healthcare system transformed by technology.

Digital charts replace paper records

Among them is clinical nurse Swasti Gurung, who began her nursing career in Nepal before moving to Australia and joining the Wooloowin aged care home.

Unlike Davidson’s early years in nursing, Gurung works in a system driven by digital medical records, ongoing technology training, and modern lifting equipment designed to reduce injuries among staff and residents.

She previously worked in hospital wards assisting with endoscopy and colonoscopy procedures before retraining for aged care work in Australia.

Gurung said aged care nursing allowed staff to build stronger connections with older residents and their families while hearing stories from earlier generations.

The contrast between the two nurses’ experiences has become difficult for many younger healthcare workers to imagine.

Wooloowin stories preserving Brisbane’s nursing history

Davidson later became involved in disability support and rehabilitation services in Queensland before retiring at 75 after almost 60 years in healthcare.

Her memories now offer a rare look into nursing practices many Brisbane residents would struggle to recognise today.

Inside the Wooloowin aged care home, conversations about reusable needles, copper sterilising tubs, and tropical clinics sit alongside discussions about digital charts and modern medical training.

On International Nurses Day, staff and residents at the northside facility are reflecting on how quickly healthcare has changed across a single lifetime.

Published 12-May-2026