The new North Lakes Hotel is a ‘must visit’ for every local!

North Lakes is now a true satellite city with the completion and opening of the much anticipated hotel by Lake Eden, the Best Western Plus North Lakes Hotel. Boasting intimate 46 room accommodation, Boardwalk Restaurant & Bar, outdoor café, and conference/function spaces with a view, guests are assured personalised service in serene surroundings and accessibility to North Lakes town centre!

The Boardwalk Restaurant & Bar is open to the public and presents a great spot to enjoy drinks and nibbles with friends or colleagues as the sun sets over the lake. Dine into the night and treat yourselves to the hospitality and atmosphere hotel guests enjoy.

Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the Boardwalk Restaurant and Café offers the upmarket alternative that North Lakes locals  have been craving. There are nine multi-purpose conference rooms available and plenty of catering options to suit your group.

Getting married? With several bookings already taken, it seems that Lake Eden and the North Lakes Hotel will be the venue of choice, with the perfect ceremony location, reception for up to two hundred guests and boutique accommodation.

2017 was one of the worst flu seasons on record in Queensland, with more than 56,000 people contracting the flu.

Specialists working in our emergency rooms have stated the flu is already affecting the region’s hospital emergency rooms.

Influenza is caused by influenza viruses, which are highly contagious via respiratory droplet transmission. Influenza type A and B cause the majority of disease in humans. Genetic changes to proteins on the viruses result in different strains each season, which is why influenza immunisation is recommended every year.

This year there are two new funded vaccines, one specifically for people aged sixty-five years and older, as their immune systems respond less effectively to vaccines.

Australian studies have estimated vaccine effectiveness is between 38% and 86%. The variation depends on age, whether a person is immunocompromised and how good the match is between influenza strains in the vaccine and those circulating in the community. Protection was thought to persist up to one year, but recent evidence suggests protection may wane from three to four months after vaccination. May/June are the ideal months to have the vaccination, as the flu season extends to the end of August.

TIPS TO REMEMBER:
• The more people who are vaccinated, the less likely the flu will spread in the community
• If you get symptoms of influenza you will need to have a diagnosis confirmed via laboratory tests
• Don’t forget your cough etiquette
• Wash your hands regularly
• Staying at home can prevent transmission

Protect yourself, book an appointment with Doctor Donna today on (07) 3886 5400.

Local business owner, Helen Paddon, will take part in the Vinnies CEO Sleepout charity event this year, for the second year running.

The one-night event takes place on the Winter Solstice, which falls on the 21st of June and will see hundreds of CEOs, business owners and community and government leaders sleep outdoors in order to raise funds to assist Vinnies to provide essential services to people doing it tough.

Homelessness can affect anyone – but it disproportionately affects people living with disability or mental illness, and people who have experienced abuse. Through events like the CEO Sleepout, Vinnies are raising public awareness and helping Queenslanders break the cycle of poverty for good.

At the event last year, the Vinnies CEO Sleepout raised 5.6 million dollars for people experiencing homelessness. The Brisbane and Gold Coast 2017 events raised more than $1 million, which went towards housing and other support for people facing homelessness. This year, they are hoping they can make an even bigger impact.

At the event, Vinnies CEO Peter Maher announced the purchase of over six million dollars of housing in Queensland. The housing, located in Cairns, Mackay, Toowoomba and Brisbane, is used to provide safe, secure and affordable accommodation for individuals and families who would otherwise have no place to call home.

Vinnies Queensland has been involved in providing housing to the homeless for over forty years and has recently established the Vinnies Housing Company to manage their properties. Since 2008, when the Society owned just forty-two properties, Vinnies has made it a priority to invest in housing for people facing homelessness or who are at risk. The Society now owns more than four hundred and fifty properties across Queensland, that people experiencing severe disadvantage call home. Vinnies Queensland provides support, helping people transition to independent tenancies in the private or public housing sector, providing them with a hand up, not just a hand out.

Last year, as a first time CEO Sleepout volunteer, Helen braved the cold winds under Brisbanes’Story Bridge. She was reminded of her past and of her own experiences of homelessness.

Helen first experienced homelessness when she was 8. “As a child, we lived in a caravan park for about 18 months and moved around quite a lot because my parents didn’t have the financial stability to rent a property on a long-term basis. There were a few nights when we slept in the family car because we didn’t have anywhere to live. It was freezing and I didn’t get more than two hours sleep all night.”

“It’s heartbreaking to know that there are over 105,000 Australians experiencing homelessness each and every night, with many more at risk. Many are sleeping on the street with less than I had,” said Helen.

Now, CEO of Tradettes Plumbing, Helen has a goal of raising over $5000 this year to fight homelessness. As at the time of writing, she has successfully raised $1,172.00.

Can you help? If you would like to donate please visit – www.ceosleepout.org.au/fundraisers/helen-yost

Clarification from Queensland Police Service:

Please be advised that the alleged threat made against a North Lakes school in which a teenage boy was charged last night occurred on Monday evening.

The boy was charged with one count each of use carriage service to make a threat to cause harm, and threatening violence.

This alleged incident does not relate to the initial on-line non-specific threats posted on the week-end, or a threat at a North Lakes school yesterday afternoon, with police investigations continuing into these incidents.

While there is no credible information to indicate any direct threat to any individual or school, the Queensland Police Service takes all threats seriously with public safety paramount.

Parents are advised that all schools remain open and children can attend safely, with police conducting regular patrols of the North Lakes catchment.

Police will continue to work with Education Queensland and service providers to track down the source of the initial posts.

Queensland Police would like to remind the community that making threats, regardless of the forum, are treated seriously and offenders face serious criminal charges with significant penalties.

Anyone with any information which could assist with these investigations is urged to contact police.

If you have information for police, contact Policelink on 131 444 or provide information using the online form 24hrs per day.

You can report information about crime anonymously to Crime Stoppers, a registered charity and community volunteer organisation, by calling 1800 333 000 or via crimestoppersqld.com.au 24hrs per day.

The keys to a new ambulance were handed over at the North Lakes Ambulance Station by Chris Whiting MP, Member for Bancroft.

“The vehicle has been built locally in Bancroft by Varley, who are located in the Narangba Innovation Precinct,” Mr Whiting said.

“The vehicle can carry two patients and is staffed by a specialised mixture of drivers and paramedics depending on the needs of the patients.

“It carries state of art equipment for patients, but also to ensure the safety of Queensland Ambulance staff and other road users.

“These features include lane sensors, rear sensors and the Emergency Vehicle Priority system, which triggers a green light at compatible intersections.

“This is yet another example of the Palaszczuk Government’s commitment to growing Queensland jobs. This specialised patient transport van is a $230,000 investment by the Palaszczuk Government in the region.

“What a pleasure it is to deliver this new resource to our hardworking ambulance officers and to our station at North Lakes,” Mr Whiting said.

The North Lakes Ambulance Station, opened in 2012, is the largest Ambulance station in Queensland with a fleet of 11 vehicles and 34 staff.

North Lakes Sports Club is set to celebrate its first birthday this weekend, with a huge line-up of gifts for members and guests including free entertainment, special member discounts, giveaways and of course birthday cake.

Since opening its doors to members and the public in May last year, General Manager Chris Sartori said the club has welcomed over 30,000 new members.

‘The response from the community has been outstanding,” Mr Sartori said.

“Our initial forecast was for 12,000 members in the first 12 months. We reached that total within two weeks!

In addition to its 30,000 strong membership base, the club has also recorded some impressive numbers during its first twelve months of operation:

• Over 100,000 visits to the club from members and guests
• 171,000 meals freshly prepared at Banyan Restaurant & Deck
• 38,500 barista made coffees sold at Crave Café & Bar
• 722 Explorers Kids Club members

“We’re also really proud of the contributions that the club has made to the community, by creating employment for over 120 full-time, part-time and casual roles and our community donations which have totalled over $72,000.

Mr Sartori said members and guests should get ready for a weekend of celebrations.

“Our birthday weekend kicks off this Saturday night with the free Killer Queen tribute show.

“The show is one of Australia’s best tribute acts with front man Johnny Blunt covering all your favourite Queen songs such as Bohemian Rhapsody, We will Rock You, Under Pressure & We Are The Champions.

“Entry is free and there is no reserved seating in the Discovery Lounge, so we’re encouraging members and guests to arrive early as seating is limited.

“We’ll be offering a special express dinner menu through the Discovery lounge with a choice of two dinner specials for just $15 for members or $17 for members, plus Banyan Restaurant & Crave Café will be open as usual.”

Then on Sunday, the official first birthday celebrations will take place.

“There will be free live entertainment all-day from 11am to 9pm, a balloon artists from 12pm to 3pm, mega raffles from 1.30pm and of course free birthday cake at 2pm.

Members will also enjoy a $4,000 cash giveaway, 10% of the already discounted members prices throughout the day, while a $10 members express lunch special will also be available at the Discovery Lounge.

For more information on the North Lakes Sports Club’s 1^st Birthday Celebrations visit www.northlakessports.com.au/birthday or call 1300 006 572.