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Tarragindi’s Moorbell Street Park Is Your Escape From The Summer Heat

One of the best things about living in Brisbane is that there are plenty of green spaces. During this hot summer, one might think that going to a park isn’t a good idea but one particular Tarragindi park remains cool and well-shaded under the glaring sun.

Moorbell Street Park is located at the back streets located behind Marshall Road. It is a small park that is well-tended and offers plenty of shade. Thanks to the trees that surround the area, one can definitely stay cool here while you enjoy the outdoors.

The park is also perfect for kids as there are swings, slide, monkey bars, a rebound wall and a water bubbler. Your kids will definitely be entertained while you lounge around with a good book or with your friends.

You can also have get-togethers here are there is a picnic area and a wood-fired BBQ

It’s the perfect spot to chill this summer!

Tarragindi Residents & Nearby Southwest Suburbs Warned About the Spread of Deadly Paralysis Ticks in the Area

Residents of Tarragindi and nearby suburbs are encouraged to protect their pets from the deadly paralysis tick after Southwest Brisbane has been identified as a hot spot.

This year so far, approximately 17 patients suffering from tick paralysis have been brought to Greencross Vets clinics across the southwest this year.

Early this year, a resident from Spring Mountain found a monster tick insider her home. It turns out, the family had a previous pet die after finding ten ticks on him in one day. Luckily, the resident’s family and pets are safe.

Tick paralysis is one of the most common preventable causes of dog and cat deaths in Australia. Treatments for this are very expensive, and it can range from $5,000 to $10,000. That is why it is crucial that residents take preventive measures to ensure that no ticks will come near their pets.

Ticks paralyse and kill from a neurotoxin secreted in the tick’s saliva as it sucks the blood of mammalian hosts. As it feeds, it secreted holocyclotoxin, most commonly known as tick toxin, into the bloodstream. It usually takes three to four days for the paralysis to take effect in cats, dogs and children.

Last year, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Queensland (RSPCA QLD) has uploaded a video on their Facebook page regarding tick paralysis in light of the beginning of tick season in the nation, which is September.

Along with the video, they have listed down preventive measures to keep your family and pets safe.

  • Check your pets daily for ticks
  • Use tick prevention products such as tick collars, shampoos, Nexgard, etc.
  • If you find a tick on your pet, remove it right away. You can use tweezers or a tick removal system to do so.

Toohey Forest in Tarragindi Continues To Show a Spike in Wildlife Sightings

Toohey Forest in Tarragindi is known for an abundance of wildlife. Just recently, a red necked wallaby was spotted, which has given local bush care groups more life that the wildlife in the urban part of Brisbane is still apparent.

This is not actually the first time that a wallaby was spotted in this part of the city. According to an expert, the wallabies seem to be coming back just like the koalas. In August of this year, the Brisbane City Council has put up warning signs on Toohey Road following a koala sighting, which was seen by a local resident at the northern part of the Toohey Forest Park. The signs give warning to motorists to slow down especially that the mating season for koalas has begun.

With these recent developments, bush care groups are very thrilled to see the return of the wildlife even if Tarragindi is only 8 km from the CBD, it still shows that the area is still fit for wildlife and this makes a lot of locals very happy.

According to Councilor Steve Griffiths of the Moorooka Ward, some council workers were able to take a photo of the red necked wallaby in the northern part of the forest.

The sighting of a red necked wallaby in the forest has reignited the theory of a small colony living in the forest. About 12 months ago, a Griffith University student found a dead red necked wallaby in the forest. This provides encouragement to the locals that the wildlife in the area remains rich.

To make things even better, the council also found ten koalas in the forest just recently when a koala sniffer dog detected six females and four males.

Given these recent sightings, koalas and red necked wallabies seem to have found a home in the forest and it is very likely that they are reproducing. Good news, indeed.

Tarragindi’s The Gindi Cafe Promotes Community Spirit

The Gindi Cafe in Tarragindi is a light and friendly place that offers delicious espresso to power you up through the day, along with some light eats for additional sustenance. Located on Pring Street, this small cafe is very popular on weekdays.

The cafe attracts parents who pick up and drop off their kids in school. Their coffee is brewed fresh on-site using beans by Toby’s Estate. Parents who are waiting for their kids can enjoy a cup of good coffee whilst reading a good book or chatting with friends.

Photo credit: The Gindi Cafe / Facebook

Delicious sweet treats are also available. Check out their homemade caramel tarts, lemon, curd tarts and Kailz coconut ice.

Photo credit: The Gindi Cafe / Facebook

Plenty of kids from the neighbourhood come with their parents to meet new friends over several rounds of fresh smoothies and board games.

Photo credit: The Gindi Cafe / Facebook

The cafe also holds special events for families and their pets. Just recently, they held a dog wash plus a series of free coffee events.

Photo credit: The Gindi Cafe / Facebook

The Gindi Cafe may be small but it creates a huge impact in the community as a place where families and friends can come together.

Esher St Cafe & Deli in Tarragindi is Boosting the Cafe Scene

The coffee scene in Tarragindi is booming, and one rare gem that is boosting this is Esher St Cafe & Deli. Located along Tarragindi’s shopping strip, the cafe was originally the creation of business partners Sep and Fergus. It is the sibling establishment of Alcove Cafe & Deli in Wilson and Samson & Sophie in Teneriffe. Now, the reins have been handed over to new partners, Manuel and Peggy.

One of the things that you will love about the cafe is its interiors. Little details such as the wooden touches and the vintage ladder give you that rustic homely feel. What’s best about this is that some of the materials here are recycled, such as the wooden pallets used in the shop. The cushions in the seating area were made by Nikki, the wife of Jai, the cafe’s coffee distributor. There is also a space with more room that showcases a range of homewares and gifts.

Photo credit: Esher Street Cafe & Deli / Facebook

The cafe serves all-day breakfast. Don’t miss out on their homemade muesli and breakfast wraps. Another must-try is the Esher St Breakfast, composed of poached eggs, bacon, potato apple rosti, grilled haloumi, relish and sourdough toast.

Photo credit: Esher Street Cafe & Deli

You can also have lunch here. Try the Lambsie, with its herbed lamb pattie, onion, mind yoghurt and spinach on sourdough. They also have soft Greek pita wraps and other delicious gourmet sandwiches.

Photo credit: Must Do Brisbane

Their coffee is from West End roasters Veneziano. You can also choose from their wide selection of teas.

Photo credit: Esher Street Cafe & Deli

The cafe is dog- and child-friendly. There is a little play area at the back as well as a spot to secure dogs with a water bowl provided along the footpath.

Koala Warning Signs Up on Toohey Rd as Mating Season Begins

Ahead of the koalas’ mating season, the Brisbane City Council has started putting up warning signs on Toohey Rd. This also follows a photo taken by a local resident of a koala sighting on the northern part of Toohey Forest Park, which was posted by Cr Steve Griffith.

Photo taken by a local resident on the northern side of Toohey Forest.
Photo credit: http://www.stevegriffithsmoorooka.com/

The signs were put up on the northern and southern parts of the Toohey Forest Park. These signs are warning motorists to slow down especially this season when koalas are more active. Koala sighting in the forest are rare, although according to some residents or bushwalkers, you will normally see a koala on the southern part of the forest. Still, there is koala activity in the area and now that the mating season (which will last through March) is about to begin, koala sightings are expected to become more frequent.

Male koalas tend to be more aggressive when they are looking for mates, hence the signs. Motorists may find koalas running around more often as they pass by, which is why it is important to take extra care.

Female koalas only produce a new baby every two or three years. That is why zoos and plenty of organizations are doing everything that they can to protect their habitat, to prevent koalas from extinction.

Another effort undertaken by the BCC in February this year was putting two trained spaniels that were provided by OWAD Environment to be used for five months to hunt down koalas in Brisbane’s bushland to know the exact number of the native marsupials within the city. Keeping track of them and their movement patterns is also another way to protect them.

Photo credit: YouTube

Late last year, they also have signed an agreement with the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary to begin the construction of the world-class koala research centre for koala conservation.

Also read: Upcoming Lone Pine Sanctuary Research Centre in Fig Tree Pocket To Help Save Koalas

Fate of Proposed Tarragindi Bowls Club Still Uncertain

The Tarrigindi Bowls Club has been the subject of redevelopment plans has been the subject of redevelopment plans and protests for the past years. Up until this day, there has been no resolution yet. Residents are still actively voicing out their protests against any redevelopment to be done on the site.

The club has been struggling to survive as the city population grows. For the past years, developers have expressed interest in redeveloping a chunk of the land into unit complexes. However, due to zoning regulations, development proposals have been unsuccessful.

A silver lining has presented itself to developers.

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk announced last year that they would cut down infrastructure charges and relax building height rules for retirement villages to attract retirees to inner suburbs.

According to the Lord Mayor, they can’t just have retirement villages and aged care facilities outside the city. Reports indicate that the aging population in the city has grown, which is significant to developers as it translates into big business.

Such reports have attracted the attention of developers. Retire Australia, a for-profit organisation, started to pursue a plan to build a six-storey senior housing complex in the bowls club. The proposal includes leaving two bowling greens to be retained along with new facilities, in favour of the bowls club.

Photo credit: Marchese Brothers

This has caught the attention of the residents. Tarragindi Residents Alliance has expressed their dismay over the proposal, specifically the project size. The president of the alliance, Liza Wieland, said that the project is too close to their homes. She also mentioned that the entire neighborhood is considered a low density zone under the council’s neighbourhood plan but the property is clearly meant for medium density. An online petition has garnered 1,031 supporters against the development.

Photo credit: http://www.4zzzfm.org.au/

Council has responded to the cries of the residents by reaching out to the developer, who has resubmitted designs and lowered its maximum height to five storeys. Still, a resolution has yet to be seen.

In March this year, Lord Mayor Quirk has said that the next move now lies with Cr Krista Adams as she hasn’t made her submission to the redevelopment of the bowls club public. Mr Quirk said that Cr Adams has been engaging with the local community during the development approval process. Cr Adams has heard what people have to say, which is why it’s now up to Cr Adams to make her submission public.

Cr Adams hasn’t released a comment yet on the bowls club.

Natural Landscape and Great Uphill View at Tarragindi’s Visitor-Friendly Reservoir

In Tarragindi, there’s a certain place hidden in the heart of the suburb where you can have a peaceful, relaxing time with Mother Nature. Natural scenery, beautiful trees, serene hiking trails, cool forest breeze, pet-friendly atmosphere, and a great uphill view – what’s not to like for any nature lover?

The beautiful Tarragindi Reservoir is a gem of a place well-hidden amidst houses of locals. To get there, you’ll have to drive (or walk) through a narrow road. Be wary of quite a few cars parked on the roadside. Because of this, passersby often drive through the opposing lane.

Once you get to the place, you’ll notice that it is surrounded by a one-way road. You won’t miss it because quirky handwritten one-way signs are everywhere. No cemented parking spaces are available. However, you can park anywhere on the wide grassy field without having to worry about your vehicle being a hindrance to other site visitors.

To reach the uppermost part of the area, you’ll have to traverse a few flights of stairs. Don’t worry, the steps are manageable. They’re not very steep and the sections alternate between flat and hilly grounds. On a good note, trails like the ones in the area are very effective for exercising. For those who prefer a consistent flat ground, they can just stroll around the water works area.

As you go up the flights of stairs, you’ll get to notice several more structures. These structures are built for the purpose of managing and balancing the water supply in the suburb. That said, Tarragindi Reservoir is basically a big water facility area. Not to set your hopes up for any visible natural bodies of water, this place is perfect, nonetheless, for a sunny nature stroll.

Camp on the Hill

The adorably hilly suburb of Tarragindi was formerly referred to as “Sandy Creek”, according to the Department of Natural Resources and Mines in Queensland. In the 1890s, Samuel Grimes, an early settler in the suburb, named it “Tarragindi Hill”.

Mr Grimes employed a certain Kanaka man named Tarragindi Tasserone, who was responsible for clearing the property’s timber. When asked by Mr Grimes as to what they “should call the property,” the employee reportedly answered, “Call it Tarragindi, it means ‘camp on the hill’.”

Once a rural area, Tarragindi was eventually urbanized in the inter-war years. In 1922, the service reservoir was established as the first urban structure. It was followed four years later by a primary school in Wellers Hill (formerly Weillers Hill).

Tarragindi’s freely accessible Reservoir is open to people of all ages. It is located in the suburb’s 159 Tarragindi Road. You can bring your pets along, take a stroll, jog, have a picnic, enjoy the uphill view, or do anything else that you like. Once there, do not forget to take Instagram-worthy photos.

Tarragindi’s Most Dog-Friendly Café Offers Coffee for a Cause

Drive down to Tarragindi’s 6/11 Kuring Gai Avenue and you will find Black Lab Coffee. It is, by far, the suburb’s most dog-friendly café. Established in February 2016, the café specialises in high quality “barista-made takeaway coffee”. The café also takes pride in being a champion of animal welfare.

Black Lab Coffee proudly supports the cause of the RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). As Australia’s “oldest, largest, and leading animal welfare charity,” the RSPCA’s mission statement is “helping animals, enlightening people, changing lives.” Black Lab Coffee supports this mission fully. Tarragindi’s dog-friendly hub often hosts pop-up pet adoption events.

Last year, on three separate occasions, the café co-hosted “Coffee for a Cause” events with the RSPCA. One dollar from each coffee sold during the events went to the society’s dog rescue projects. A lot of dog owners and fur babies were seen soaking up the love during these events.

Primarily Designed for Humans… and Pooches, too!

At the café’s front, there are plenty of water bowls with fresh drinking water. There is also a water refill station in case the bowls run out of water. This is to ensure that no visiting dogs at the café would ever go thirsty.

Inside Black Lab Coffee, there is ample seating for the café patrons. Table sizes vary from small to large to accommodate varying groups of people. Astroturf grass covers most of the flooring. Indeed, the café is designed for the comfort of dogs and their humans.

Black Lab Coffee The Boss
Black Lab Coffee’s resident black Lab proudly welcomes visitors to the café’s interior. Photo Credit: Black Lab Coffee/Facebook

Outside of the establishment, just by the roadside, there is an area where people can also order coffee to-go. Outdoor seating is available so customers can be comfortable while waiting for their orders.

Quality Barista-made Takeaway Coffee

Coffee at Tarragindi’s most dog-friendly café is made of locally-roasted Di Bella coffee beans. The beans are brewed to perfection by the establishment’s friendly barista to ensure its high quality. Patrons are given a rewards card which is stamped whenever they purchase some coffee. Collect ten stamps on the card and your 10th coffee is “on the house.”

Aside from their specialty coffee, the café also offers a variety of other delectable treats on the menu. They have milkshakes and freshly blended smoothies that come in flavours like coffee frappe, berry blast, mango lassi, banana nut, and hulk. More choices are available from the cafe’s well-stocked fridge.

The café’s food selections vary daily. At the counter, there are plenty of goodies for takeaway. They have baked desserts, toasties, as well as bacon and egg rolls. They also have an abundant supply of home-baked and hand-made Discuits (dog biscuits), which contain well-selected natural ingredients only. In this café, health is wealth for your pooch and you.

‘The Boss’ of Black Lab Coffee

Tarragindi Black Lab Coffee
‘The Boss’ of Black Lab Coffee, Audrey, adorably sits by the counter. Photo Credit: Black Lab Coffee/Facebook

At Black Lab Coffee, “The Boss” is a black Labrador named Audrey. Patrons often quip that the café is owned and managed by this adorable resident pooch. Actually, her regal, dignified presence at the cafe will convince even the most jaded guest that she is, in fact, “The Boss.”

Audrey makes frequent visits to the café. If you are lucky, you might be able to meet her during your visit. Don’t forget to have some snaps taken with her for that perfect Instagram moment. Feel free to follow her on Instagram, too. She probably has more followers than the average Joe.

Visitors to Black Lab Coffee can check on updates on events through their Facebook page or Instagram gallery. The cafe is open from 5:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Mondays to Saturdays, and 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Sundays.

Tarragindi’s Darren Laarhoven Takes on Bike Challenge for a Cause

Tarragindi accountant Darren Laarhoven is ready to take on the challenge of biking from Sydney to Brisbane to raise funds for children in need.

Mr Laarhoven is a managing partner at UHY Haines Norton Brisbane and is a cycling enthusiast. When not working, he loves going on adventure trips with his wife and two teenage boys.

He will be part of the five-member team of AEIOU Foundation that will join the Chain Reaction ride for a cause on April 29. Mr Laarhoven has worked with AEIOU as their auditor for many years. In February, he was invited by AEIOU chief executive Alan Smith to join their team.

(Photo Credit: Chain Reaction Challenge Foundation / Facebook)

Although he’s a weekend bike cyclist, Mr Laarhoven is only used to 150-km rides per week. The more than 1000 km bike course in seven days would be a true challenge, so he has used the past weeks to prepare for the event.

He will join the AEIOU team composed of Eauan Morton, David Chiang, Terry Van der Velde, and AEIOU Chairman Dr James Morton. The team will reach Brisbane on May 5.

Bike Ride for a Cause

The Chain Reaction Challenge is an annual event that invites senior executives for the physical challenge. The event gives them valuable networking opportunities, but more importantly, they get to help sick children.

Fundraising to benefit AEIOU. (Photo credit: AEIOU Foundation for Children with Autism / Facebook)

Part of the proceeds from charity ride will go to the AEIOU Foundation, which provides support for children with autism.

The charity will also help fund Ronald McDonald House, a home-away-from-home for families who need a place to stay when they seek treatment for their children in a distant hospital. Families of hospitalised children can stay at a Ronald McDonald House at little or no cost.

Since it was started by Berrick Wilson in 2007, Chain Reaction has raised more than $20 million for charity partners. All in all, the group has done 21 rides across Australia and New Zealand.

The Queensland ride will be a stretch of over 1000 km, which the riders will cover from April 29 to May 5. They will have stopovers at Hunter Valley, Forster, Coffs Harbour, Grafton, Byron Bay and the Gold Coast.

Anyone can donate to the charity by heading over to the Chain Reaction website.

 

Photo Credit: Chain Reaction Challenge Foundation / Facebook