Monthly Archives: March 2013

Snapshot: 2 April 2013


March 28, 2013

Free library activities

Meet local author Charlotte Nash
Charlotte grew up riding horses in the Redlands, but her eclectic life experiences have seen her building rockets, traversing the Pilbara mines and scrambling over ship loaders in Newcastle. These days, she is an editor, writer and researcher.  Join Charlotte to discuss her novel RYDERS RIDGE at this free event.
When: 11am – 12pm, Thursday 18 April
Where: Victoria Point Library
Bookings on 3884 4011
This event is presented in partnership with Angus & Robertson Victoria Point.

Magic Show with Chico the Chimp and Glen Rhodes
Come and meet Magic Glen & Chico the cheeky chimp in a funny magical show
When: Wednesday, 10 April
Where: Cleveland Library 10 – 10.45am; Victoria Point Library 1 – 1.45pm
Who:  Kids aged four years and over
No bookings required

New Redland Art Gallery exhibition
Youth: in Transit. Celebrates National Youth Week with a collection of works from Redland Art Gallery collection-curator Dominique Macedo.
When:  Monday 8 April – Wednesday 5 June
Floor Talk: 5pm, 2 May
Free youth drop in night: 6pm, 11 April, local band Rawr Vanity perform
Where: Redland Art Gallery, Capalaba
For more information phone: 3829 8899 or visit: www.more2redlands.com.au/ArtGallery. No bookings required.

Redland Home Assist Secure
Only working smoke alarms save lives…
It is the time of year when all residents are reminded to check and change their smoke alarm batteries.
If you are a Redland resident over 60 years of age or living with a disability, you may be eligible for financial assistance toward the labour cost of repairs and maintenance around your home under the Redland Home Assist Secure program. More information: phone 3383 7075

National Youth Week – Redlands: 5-14 April
Be Active, be healthy, be you! Join the largest national celebration of young people in Australia.
FREE activities in Redlands include:

  • Youth: In Transit art exhibition and drop in night
  • Skateboarding workshops
  • Beading workshops
  • Quandamooka leadership day
  • Fun day @ the Hut
  • Q-Crew hip hop extravaganza
  • The happy you! Activities @ the Cage
  • The big Youth Week beach party…and more

For more information visit: www.facebook.com/RedlandsYouth or www.redland.qld.gov.au
Phone: 3829 8233
e-mail: kara.mansley@redland.qld.gov.au
Redlands Youth Week- a partnership between Redland City Council and Redlands Youth Network.

Have your say
Have your say online – SMBI emergency management and preparedness
It’s not too late to share your views on how Council and other agencies can work with Southern Moreton Bay Island (SMBI) residents and businesses to better prepare for emergencies and build the resilience of island communities.
The online survey will close on Wednesday 3 April.
Council will use your feedback to provide tailored emergency plans across the individual islands before the next storm and fire seasons. Visit: www.redland.qld.gov.au/Haveyoursay/Engagements

2013 Redlands Koala Fun Run
Register now!
Enjoy a range of entertainment, fun activities and great prizes for the whole family.
When:  Sunday 26 May
Where:  Norm Price Park – Redland Showgrounds, Cleveland
Details:  Three circuit lengths available, catering for all ages – 3.5km, 5km and 10km.
To register visit www.redland.qld.gov.au or www.koalacentral.com.au.  Registration forms are also available at Council’s Customer Service Centres or (insert phone symbol) 3829 8288.

Open Meetings:
Wednesday 17 April, 10.30am – General Meeting​ (incorporates Coordination Committee Meeting)
Thursday 18 April, 9.00am – Cleveland CBD Revitalisation Special Committee

Get Ready for Redlands Youth Week 2013


March 28, 2013

With Youth Week 2013 just around the corner, Redland City Council is encouraging young people to take advantage of the free activities on offer.

National Youth Week, from 5-14 April, is Australia’s largest celebration of young people and Redlands has a full calendar of events.

Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said Youth Week was an opportunity for young people to get involved in the community, express their ideas and make new connections.

“Youth Week’s 2013 theme is to ‘be active, be healthy, be you’ and we have a host of activities that reflect the diverse talents and interests of Redlands’ young people,” Cr Williams said.

“From art exhibitions with live music to outdoor events, our goal is to promote opportunities for young people to express who they are and have fun being themselves.

“We are proud to have a full calendar of events in Redland City, presented in partnership with the Redland Youth Network – a team of community organisations all helping the Redlands to be a wonderful place to grow up.”

Free events schedule

  • 3 April: Q-Crew Hip Hop Dance Extravaganza, dance workshop 1.30pm -3.30pm, family performance 5.30pm – 6pm, Dunwich Hall, North Stradbroke Island. For information: 3415 2816.
  • 4 April: Youth Week Fun Day @ The Hut, 11am-3pm, The Hut Youth Space, Jackson Road, Russell Island. For information: 3409 1177.
  • 5 April: Quandamooka Youth Leadership Program, 10-11.30am for 9-12 years, 1.30-3.30pm for 13-17 years, 7 Stradbroke Place, Dunwich. For information: 3415 2816.
  • 8 April: Skateboarding Workshop, 10am – 1pm, Mt Cotton Skate Park, Valley Way Mount Cotton. Bookings required ph: 3829 8233.
  • 9 April: Skateboarding Workshop, 10am – 1pm, Thornlands Skate Park, William Stewart Park, Cleveland Redland Bay Road. Bookings required ph: 3829 8233.
  • 9-12 April: The Happy Active You, various activities and times, The Cage Youth Space, Dollery Road, Capalaba. For information: 3823 2224.
  • 11 April: Youth: In Transit Exhibition Youth Drop, 6pm (exhibition 8 April- 5 June), Redland Art Gallery Capalaba, Capalaba Place, Capalaba (in the library building). For information: 3829 8899.
  • 10 April: Beading Workshops, 10-11.30am, Macleay Island Community Hall, 2-3.30pm, Russell Island Hut Youth Space, Jackson Road Russell Island. For information: 3488 2533.
  • 12 April: Skateboarding workshop, 10am – 1pm, William Taylor Memorial Sports Fields, Mooroondu Rd, Thorneside. Bookings required ph: 3829 8233.
  • 12 April: The Big Youth Week Beach Party, 10am – 2pm, Raby Bay Foreshore, Masthead Drive, Raby Bay. For information: 3829 8233.
  • 27 April: Youthlink Annual Skate Event, Youthlink, 11am – 4pm, Point Lookout Skate Park, East Coast Road, Point Lookout. For information: 0418 301 000

For full details contact Council’s Community Development Team on 3829 8233, email kara.mansley@redland.qld.gov.au or visit www.facebook.com/RedlandsYouth.

Unless otherwise stated, all activities are free and open to all young people aged 12 to 25 years.

All events and activities are drug and alcohol free and are proudly supported by Redland City Council and the Redlands Youth Network.

Asia Pacific art activities come to Redland City


March 28, 2013

Exciting drop-in art activities for kids and families will come to Redland City when the Kids’ 7th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art Tour (Kids’ APT7 on Tour) visits Redland Art Gallery, Capalaba from 10am – 2pm on Wednesday 10 April 2013 at the Capalaba Library Artspace.

Redland City Council spokesperson for Arts, Culture and Innovation Cr Paul Bishop said the Kids’ APT7 tour was a great opportunity for families to experience contemporary art from the Asia Pacific region and interact with the artists’ activities.

“I encourage any parents looking for school holiday activities to come along to the free Kids APT7 event at Capalaba and give their kids a unique chance to view, and participate in, multicultural art projects,” Cr Bishop said.

“There will be a range of activities for kids to enjoy including drawing, mask-making and other interactive displays.

“We are delighted to be participating in the Kids APT7 tour, and it’s a great example of the fun activities happening in Redlands during Youth Week 2013, which runs from 5-14 April 2013.

‘It’s exciting to see our libraries and galleries being used as vibrant community spaces and learning places.”

Additional free workshops in cartooning with Phil Judd will also be offered on Friday 12 April 2013, featuring the comic art of APT7 artist, Hahan.  Numbers are limited and booking is required.

Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) Acting Director Suhanya Raffel said Kids’ APT7 on Tour, part of the Gallery’s flagship exhibition ‘The 7th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art’ (APT7), would be held at a record 75 venues throughout regional and remote Queensland in 2013.

“This exciting holiday program of artist projects and activities has been developed by QAGOMA’s Children’s Art Centre in collaboration with APT7 artists,” Ms Raffel said.

“The projects include a multimedia interactive that allows users to reveal information from a concealed image via screens of dots, a recipe shared by a Malaysian artist, a drawing activity using Farsi script, a mask-making project, and a short film in which lights and appliances come to life at night to hold parties.”

Artists represented in Kids’ APT7 on Tour are Daniel Boyd (Australia), Tromarama (Indonesia), Roslisham Ismail (aka Ise) (Malaysia), Parastou Forouhar (Iran), Uji Handoko Eko Saputro (aka Hahan) (Indonesia).

With the assistance of Principal Benefactor the Tim Fairfax Family Foundation, GOMA will provide Redland Art Gallery, Capalaba with a free activity booklet that guides children through artist Hahan’s creative processes, drawn from the Children’s Art Centre publication Hahan and friends which was developed in partnership with the artist.

For more detail on Kids’ APT7 on Tour please see qagoma.qld.gov.au/kidsontour

Redland Art Gallery, Capalaba is located at Capalaba Place, Noeleen Street, Capalaba. For workshop bookings and more information on activities and exhibitions, call 3829 8899 or go to www.more2redlands.com.au/ArtGallery

New organisational structure for Council


March 28, 2013

Redland City Council is restructuring at the top level to be more efficient and responsive to the needs of its customers.

Chief Executive Officer Bill Lyon said the restructure, approved at a General Council meeting today, would align like-areas and reduce the number of General Managers and departments from five to three.

There will now be three General Managers heading up three newly named departments:

  • Infrastructure and Operations, under Gary Soutar
  • Community and Customer, under Louise Rusan
  • Organisational Services, under Nick Clarke.

Mr Lyon said the new model built on the natural synergies between Council groups.

“The new Infrastructure and Operations department brings most outdoor staff into one group, while the Community and Customer department creates an area dedicated to the customer from the ‘planners’ to the ‘doers’,” he said.

“And, aligning organisational support services into a single department is a natural fit.

“With like-areas together, the new alignment aims to reduce the need to ‘bounce’ matters between different areas to find solutions.

Mr Lyon said increased efficiencies meant reduced costs, assisting Council to meet financial targets set in our financial strategy.

“Council is committed to continual improvement and has asked staff to bring forward their ideas on further efficiencies or synergies. This may result in refining where some work groups best fit under the new structure.”

Mayor of Redland City Karen Williams said she made a commitment during her campaign for Mayor to deliver a more streamlined and efficient Council.

“This restructure was not a decision taken lightly; we can no longer afford to have a top-heavy organisation while Council faces increased costs and residents face increased costs of living,” she said.

“We looked closely at what we do and how we can do it better, and more cheaply, and the restructure is the result.

“We now have the opportunity to deliver Redland City its most efficient, most effective and most responsive Council ever.”

Redland City Council staff were informed of the decision on Wednesday afternoon (27 March 2013).

Weed of the Week: Easter cassia


March 27, 2013

Name: Easter cassia

Scientific name: Senna pendula

How to identify the weed: A woody, multi-branched shrub growing 2-4m in height.  Compound leaves borne alternately along stems, with 3-6 soft, oval leaflets on each leaf.  Bright yellow five-petalled flowers are borne in leafy clusters at the tips of the branches.  Cylindrical, pendulous seed pods form shortly after, approximately 10-20cm in length.  They contain 5-40 black seeds.

Why is the weed a problem: Easter Cassia produces dense thickets in the understorey, rapidly outcompeting native vegetation and inhibiting access.  It is listed as a priority environmental weed in two NRM regions and is actively managed in Queensland.  It is a significant weed, spreading quickly by seed that is moved by water, dumped garden waste and contaminated soil.

How to manage the weed:Chemical treatment is the most effective method to eradicate this weed. After treatment, dispose of all seed and be prepared to treat regrowth for up to 18 months. For more information, please contact IndigiScapes on 3824 8611.

Any other interesting facts: Easter Cassia produces masses of yellow flowers around Easter time, which is how it came about it’s name!

Senna pendula

Senna pendula

Senna pendula - flowers and pods

Senna pendula – flowers and pods

Senna-pendula---flower-bud

April exhibitions celebrate young and emerging artists


March 26, 2013

Two new exhibitions opening at Redland Art Gallery, Cleveland in April celebrate young and emerging artists.

Redland City Council spokesperson for Arts, Culture and Innovation Cr Paul Bishop said the exhibitions Unorthodox Aphorism: Yavuz Erkan and How Yesterday Remembers Tomorrow highlighted the experiences of young and emerging artists.

“Both exhibitions take a unique approach to showing how human experiences are reflected in an artist’s work,” Cr Bishop said.

“How Yesterday Remembers Tomorrow demonstrates artists’ styles changing over time as they experience life, whereas Unorthodox Aphorisms by Yavuz Erkan takes common human behaviour and makes it art.”

Both exhibitions will run from Wednesday 10 April to Sunday 19 May 2013 at the Cleveland Gallery, Cnr Middle and Bloomfield Streets, Cleveland.

How Yesterday Remembers Tomorrow from Artspace, Sydney features work by Lauren Brincat, Sean Cordeiro & Claire Healy, Todd McMillan, Ms&Mr, Tony Schwensen and Sam Smith, all past recipients of the Helen Lempriere Travelling Art Scholarship for emerging artists.

This exhibition places early works of each artist or art partnership with more recent works, showing the journey an artist takes in their creative career- how the challenges they face, and techniques they learn, affect the artistic process.

The exhibition encourages viewers to rediscover the past to look to the future and ranges across photography, drawing, digital video and installation.

A How Yesterday Remembers Tomorrow floor talk will be held 12 noon Sunday 14 April 2013, where curator Mark Feary will speak about the exhibition. Everyone is welcome to attend, bookings not required.

In Unorthodox Aphorisms: Yavuz Erkan the viewers are invited to distance themselves from their conventional routines. Artist Yavuz Erkan seeks to encourage empathy for minority voices in society and celebrates diversity and nonconformity.

To create works in this exhibition Yavuz Erkan has performed impulsively against a bare wall in front of the camera, capturing a unique perspective on humanity and masculinity.

Yavuz Erkan’s works have featured in exhibitions throughout Australia and the United States and he was the winner of Queensland Centre for Photography’s 2011 Youngblood Editions award.

Yavuz will conduct a floor talk for Unorthodox Aphorisms 2pm Tuesday 16 April 2013 via Skype from Istanbul, Turkey. Everyone is welcome to attend, bookings not required.

Official opening event for both exhibitions:
To celebrate the opening of How Yesterday Remembers Tomorrow and Unorthodox Aphorisms: Yavuz Erkan, there will be an official opening 11am Sunday 14 April 2013 at Redland Art Gallery, Cleveland.

RSVP acceptances by Thursday 11 April 2013 to RSVP line: (07) 3030 4163 or email: gallery@redland.qld.gov.au.

Redland Art Gallery, Cleveland is open 9am-4pm Monday to Friday and 9am-2pm on Sundays.

How Yesterday Remembers Tomorrow is supported by the NSW Government through Arts NSW as a result of the Visual Arts and Craft Strategy. An Artspace exhibition toured by Museums and Galleries NSW.

For more information on these, and other upcoming exhibitions, call 3829 8899 or go to www.more2redlands.com.au/ArtGallery

Yavuz Erkan, Bubble Gum 2011, archival pigment print. Courtesy of the artist.

Yavuz Erkan, Bubble Gum 2011, archival pigment print. Courtesy of the artist.

Sam Smith, Video Camera [HDW-F900/3] 2007. Installation view, Artspace, Sydney. Courtesy of the artist. Photo by silversalt photography

Sam Smith, Video Camera [HDW-F900/3] 2007. Installation view, Artspace, Sydney. Courtesy of the artist. Photo by silversalt photography

Redland Art Gallery, Capalaba celebrates National Youth Week


March 26, 2013

To celebrate National Youth Week 2013, Redland Art Gallery has created a special exhibition Youth: in Transit to promote young and emerging artists.

National Youth Week 2013 runs from 5-14 April and encourages young people around Australia to participate and “Be Active, Be Happy, Be You!”

To coincide with national celebrations, Youth: in Transit will run from Monday 8 April – Wednesday 5 June 2013 at Redland Art Gallery, Capalaba.

The exhibition includes works in the Redland Art Gallery Collection and has been created by emerging young curator Dominique Macedo.

Featured artists include Simone Eisler, Julie Reeves and Joachim Froese, among others, with themes drawing on youth, reinvention and immortality.

Young people from Tania’s Arthouse, a local art studio, have also responded to create their own interpretation of the Redland Art Gallery Collection art works. These works vary in size and medium and echo the students’ artistic ability and understanding of the exhibition’s theme. They also serve to highlight the artistic talent of the area.

On Thursday 11 April 2013, all young people are invited to a Youth Drop-in at 6pm at the Redland Art Gallery, Capalaba to view the exhibition and enjoy live entertainment by local band Rawr Vanity.
Redland City Council spokesperson for Arts, Culture and Innovation Cr Paul Bishop said National Youth Week was the perfect opportunity to celebrate the creativity and vitality young people bring to the arts.

“Youth Week is the largest celebration of young people in Australia and Council, through Redland Art Gallery, is delighted to be able to contribute such a positive and uplifting exhibition to the national calendar of events,” Cr Bishop said.

“Youth: in Transit shows the depth of talent our young people possess, while also highlighting the political and social issues that affect them.”

“I encourage young and old alike to support this exhibition and celebrate how the young artists and curator have brought this wonderful collection to life.”

On Thursday 2 May 2013 at 5pm emerging curator Dominique Macedo and selected Tania’s Arthouse students will speak about works in the exhibition. All welcome.

Youth: in Transit is supported by Redland City Council, Redland Libraries and Youth Arts Queensland.

For more information on this exhibition, and other upcoming exhibitions, call 3829 8899 or go to www.more2redlands.com.au/ArtGallery

Redland Art Gallery, Capalaba is located at Capalaba Place, Noeleen Street, Capalaba with opening hours:

  • Monday, Tuesday and Friday: 8.30am-5pm
  • Wednesday: 9am-5pm
  • Thursday: 8.30am-7.30pm
  • Saturday: 9am-4pm.
Julie Reeves, Dark Garden 4 2007, oil on canvas. Redland Art Gallery Collection. Donated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program by Julie Reeves, 2012. Courtesy of the artist. Photography by Carl Warner.

Julie Reeves, Dark Garden 4 2007, oil on canvas. Redland Art Gallery Collection. Donated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program by Julie Reeves, 2012. Courtesy of the artist. Photography by Carl Warner.

School sports precinct pilot a step closer


March 25, 2013

A pilot partnership to provide top-flight sporting facilities for community use at Victoria Point State High School has moved a step closer with news of a state government grant.

Redland City Council Open Space, Sport and Recreation Councillor Lance Hewlett welcomed government funding of $100,000 for the proposed community sporting precinct partnership.

“This innovative partnership between the Council, state, school and the local sporting community has moved a step closer with news of the grant under the Department of National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing’s Get Playing program to Redlands Junior Rugby League Club Inc,” Cr Hewlett, the local Division 4 Councillor, said.

“It comes on top of a $20,000 seed funding commitment from Council to help light the high school oval.

“Under the pilot, the school oval and sports facilities would be significantly upgraded, to enhance rugby league, AFL, cricket, soccer, hockey, athletics and recreation activities at the school site.

“Stage 1 involves lighting of the school ovals for night training and activities, with future stages to deliver further enhancements.

“This pilot is a priority sporting project for Redland City Council and will serve as a model for other communities in the future.”

Cr Hewlett said the city was facing a shortage of quality sporting facilities and maximising use of existing public facilities was sensible.

“Rather than embark on costly land searches and acquisitions and then starting sporting projects from scratch, it makes good sense for us to consider how we can enhance our existing sporting assets,” he said.

“We established a sports reference group headed by Raymond Adams from the school and have been working for months to turn this dream into a reality.

“Council and the school have backed this approach right from the start and the school and local sporting communities will be the winners.

“This is not only a good use of existing facilities but an investment in the future that Council is happy to make.”

A total of $8,129 has also been approved for the North Stradbroke Island Golf Club at Dunwich to install an automated irrigation system to support golf on the Island.

Further to the infrastructure funding received under the Get Playing Program, the State Government also announced that the city will receive participation funding grants for 15 clubs across the Redlands, under the State’s Get Going program.

Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said the participation funding is a huge win for the community because it aims to support initiatives and activities that create opportunities for people to get active.

“This combined funding total of $116,163 is support at the grass-roots level, which includes providing equipment, coaching and training for these clubs,” Cr Williams said.

‘Council will continue to work hard to identify opportunities to partner with schools and sporting clubs and organisations within the City, to optimise community use of these facilities.”

Organisation Name Project Description Location Approved $
North Stradbroke Island Rugby League and All Sports Club Inc Conduct training and accreditation, deliver a

promotional campaign and purchase equipment to support rugby league at Dunwich

 Dunwich $9,972
The Bay Islands Golf Club Inc Develop a coach mentoring program to support multi sports on Macleay Island Macleay Island $9,957
The Russell Island Bowls Club Inc Provide a participation program and coach

accreditation to support multi-sports on Russell Island

 Russell Island $9,502
Bayside Basketball Association Inc

 

 Provide a referee and coaching mentor program and purchase equipment to support basketball at Victoria Point Victoria Point $9,445

 
Cleveland Air Magic Association Inc Purchase skipping equipment and providing first aid accreditation for volunteers to support skipping at Cleveland Cleveland $5,619
Redland Bay Golf Club Incorporated Purchase of cardio golf equipment to support golf at Redland Bay Redland Bay $8,610
Redland Softball Association Incorporated purchase equipment, provide volunteer accreditation and conduct a membership drive to support softball at Redlands Ormiston $9,725
Redlands Athletics Inc Provide coach and first aid accreditation and volunteer training to support little athletics at Cleveland Cleveland $9,760
Redlands B.M.X. Club

Incorporated

 Purchase lap scoring and timing equipment to

support BMX at Redlands

 Capalaba $8,760
Redlands Cricket Inc Purchase equipment and conduct coach

accreditation and training to support cricket at

Redlands

 Wellington Point $5,989
Redlands Rugby Union and Recreation Club Inc Purchase equipment to support rugby union at

Birkdale

 Birkdale $5,140
Redlands Swim Club Inc Purchase equipment and deliver a youth

development program and conduct coach

accreditation to support swimming at Cleveland

 Cleveland $2,616
Redlands Touch Association Inc Conduct referee accreditation for volunteers and conduct membership drives to support touch football at Redlands Cleveland $10,000
Victoria Point Sharks Sporting Club Inc Purchase of equipment and training and

accreditation to support multi-sports at Victoria Point

 Victoria Point $7,495
Wellington Point Bowls Club Inc Purchase equipment to support lawn bowls at

Wellington Point

 Wellington Point $3,546
    TOTAL $116,163

 

Victoria Point pontoon early Easter gift for boaties


March 22, 2013

Work by Redland City Council to replace the Victoria Point boat ramp pontoon is now complete in time for the Easter holiday period.

Division 4 Councillor Lance Hewlett said the major project is a boon for local and visiting boaties wanting to get on the water over Easter and in future.

“The new pontoon replaces the previous one that broke away from the Victoria Point Boat Ramp during the cyclonic winds recently over the Australia Day holiday weekend in the Redlands,” Cr Hewlett said.

“There has obviously been some disruption caused by the work but we were able to keep the ramp open without the pontoon for recreational boating during the construction period.

“We had to install four new piles to secure the new pontoon.”

Cr Hewlett said Council workers had helped secure the runaway pontoon during the storm.

“Four of them threw caution to the wind and bravely entered the water to secure the pontoon at the height of the storms,” he said.

“Council knows how popular the ramp and pontoon are at weekends and holiday time and made a concerted effort to have the work completed in plenty of time for the Easter long weekend.”

Cr Lance Hewlett at the Victoria Point Pontoon

Cr Lance Hewlett at the Victoria Point Pontoon

Mayor joins crusade for domestic violence service


March 22, 2013

Redland City Mayor Karen Williams has joined the crusade for the city to have its own domestic and family violence service.

Cr Williams said she had spoken to members of various women’s organisations including the Redlands Centre for Women to assist in lobbying the State Government to fund a Redlands’ centre.

“This year domestic violence was the International Women’s Day focus of the United Nations but we need to look closer to home for solutions,” she told Zonta Club of Wynnum Redlands Inc, Soroptimist International Bayside and Redland Women in Business members and their guests attending International Women’s Day functions.

“The Redlands is perceived to be a place of good fortune, which often camouflages the scourge of domestic violence and those in need of assistance.

“Women and children are being abused and they need the support that can come from a locally-based domestic and family violence service.”

Cr Williams said Redlands’ victims of domestic violence currently had to travel to Logan or to Brisbane to seek help.

“The Cleveland and Wynnum magistrates courts together in 2010–11 issued 4 per cent of Queensland’s domestic violence orders – more than the Caboolture, Cairns, Maroochydore, Toowoomba, Mackay, Roma and Emerald magistrates courts that are all supported by regional domestic and family violence centres,” she said.

“The unique geography of our city – including our island communities – strengthens the need for a dedicated local service.

“We have organisations such as Maybanke Association that do great work in referring victims to services outside the city.

“We are also fortunate that the Queensland Government through the Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services, provide funding for a court support service to Cleveland Magistrates Court.

“While these initiatives help, we need a dedicated service that delivers, coordinates or provides referrals for community education and information; court support and legal advice; advocacy; counselling; crisis support for women and children; perpetrator counselling and programs; supplementary support services; bay islands specific response mechanisms; safe crisis accommodation; and culturally appropriate support services.

“Everyone agrees on the need for a dedicated local service, so let’s make it happen.

“I know I will have the support of my council colleagues, I know I will have the support of local MPs, and I know I have the support of women’s groups to make it happen.

“I have written to the Minister for Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services, Tracy Davis, to push our case.”