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Stuartholme Staff Face Leave Balance Test in Proposed Catholic Schools Agreement

Access to a proposed reproductive health leave entitlement for staff at Stuartholme School in Toowong would depend partly on the number of personal leave days they have remaining. The Catholic school workplace offer introduces paid leave for specified health conditions but requires employees to meet an accumulated leave threshold, prompting objections from the education union.

Stuartholme is among the schools identified in the Religious Institute bargaining documents released on 8 October 2026. Employees covered by the agreement are scheduled to vote from 19 to 29 October on whether to approve the proposed employment arrangements.

Personal leave balances become part of eligibility

Under the proposal, a full-time employee holding 10 days or more of accrued personal or carer’s leave would not meet the eligibility threshold for the additional reproductive leave. The threshold is reduced proportionately for part-time and term-time employees, adding a separate requirement beyond the qualifying medical condition.

The Independent Education Union wants broader reproductive health leave protections and has criticised the limits in the employers’ offer. Stuartholme employees covered by the agreement will vote on the complete package, which also addresses wages and other conditions of employment.

Five days of leave under restricted conditions

Clause 8.19 of the proposed Catholic school agreements provides up to five days of paid reproductive health leave each calendar year for eligible employees. The entitlement would not accumulate annually, with part-time and term-time staff receiving a proportionate allowance and casual employees excluded.

Eligibility would require an employee to be absent because of chronic symptoms associated with at least one of eight listed conditions or procedures: endometriosis, adenomyosis, dysmenorrhoea, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), hysterectomy, menopause, perimenopause or prostate disease.

A further restriction applies to accumulated personal or carer’s leave. Full-time employees must have fewer than 10 days remaining, while part-time and term-time staff must have less than a proportionately adjusted balance. Employees would also need to meet the agreement’s notification and evidence requirements.

IVF included in public-sector leave provisions

Queensland public-sector employees have had access to up to 10 working days of paid reproductive health leave annually since 30 September 2024. The entitlement includes fertility treatment such as IVF, chronic reproductive health conditions, preventative screening and specified medical procedures, without requiring employees to exhaust other types of leave first.

The Catholic school proposals do not expressly include IVF among the qualifying reasons for the new reproductive leave entitlement. Other existing leave arrangements may remain available for medical treatment or appointments, depending on the circumstances. The proposed agreements also provide for accumulated personal or carer’s leave to be used for preventative medical advice or treatment, including reproductive health screening.

Union raises pay gaps and workload concerns

The Independent Education Union Queensland and Northern Territory has sought reproductive health leave comparable to the public-sector entitlement, alongside improvements in wages and working conditions. Its bargaining claims also cover teacher workloads, school officer classifications and recognition of specialist and leadership roles.

The union says some Queensland Catholic school classroom assistants earn between 10 and 25 per cent less than workers performing comparable jobs in New South Wales Catholic schools. It also argues that the proposed agreement does not adequately address increasing teaching workloads or the working conditions of specialist staff.

Catholic school employers have proposed teacher wage increases of four per cent in 2026, followed by 3.5 per cent in both 2027 and 2028. Their package also includes changes to certain school officer and services staff classifications, along with proposed improvements to leave arrangements. The union maintains that the offer does not sufficiently address its outstanding claims.

More than 22,000 employees covered by ballot

According to Catholic Education Queensland, the bargaining arrangements cover more than 22,000 employees across 313 schools. Separate proposed agreements apply to schools operated by diocesan Catholic education authorities and those under Religious Institutes or Ministerial Public Juridic Persons.

The online ballot will run from 19 to 29 October 2026, with eligible employees able to vote whether or not they belong to a union. An agreement must receive majority support from employees casting valid votes and subsequently obtain approval from the Fair Work Commission before taking effect.

Backpay remains contested as vote approaches

Employers say approval during the October ballot would secure their proposed retrospective wage payments, including backpay from 1 July 2026 for teachers. If the agreement is rejected, existing employment conditions would continue while a replacement is pursued.

Under the employers’ stated approach, backpay following a later successful ballot would begin from the first day of the month in which that vote occurs. The union has criticised the condition, arguing that retrospective wages should remain part of further negotiations rather than depend on approval of the current offer.

Published 9-Oct-2026

Toowong Village Tree Collects Messages of Hope for Cancer Patients

Photo Credit: Toowong Village

Messages of encouragement and gratitude are gathering beneath a tree at Toowong Village, where visitors are writing to people affected by cancer and those who support them. The returning Tree of Hope & Gratitude is collecting handwritten notes for The Wesley Hospital Choices Cancer Support Centre, alongside donations to support its services.

The installation is on Level 1, near Toowong Library, from 21 September to 17 October 2026. Visitors can write on postcards and peg them to ribbons beneath the tree, with Toowong Village donating $5 for every eligible message, up to a maximum of $5,000.

Toowong Village Tree — Photo Credit: Toowong Village/Instagram

Thousands of Messages Brought The Tree Back

The tree returns after thousands of messages were contributed in 2025, helping Toowong Village raise $5,000 for Wesley Choices. Visitors are once again invited to share words of encouragement with people facing cancer or thank the carers, hospital staff, volunteers and loved ones supporting them. The postcards will eventually be delivered to Wesley Choices, allowing the messages to reach people beyond the shopping centre.

Tree of Hope & Gratitude — Photo Credit: Toowong Village/Instagram

Among those who have visited the display are Wesley Acting Director of Clinical Services Jacinta and Wesley Choices Clinical Nurse Consultant Siobhan, who attended alongside Choices clients and volunteers. The group spent time reading the handwritten messages left by members of the public.

The tree’s return has also been warmly received by residents. One welcomed the installation as a way to offer connection and hope, while others expressed excitement about seeing it again. Several people also indicated plans to visit Toowong Village to see the display.

A Little More Than Words

Alongside the postcards, the 2026 installation offers two other ways to support Wesley Choices, including a direct donation option and a small keepsake. A Tap to Donate machine beside the tree accepts financial contributions, separate from Toowong Village’s message-based donation pledge.

The Wesley Hospital — Photo Credit: Toowong Village/Instagram

Visitors can also purchase a $20 Hope Bear, with profits from every sale donated to the cancer support centre. The bears are available from the Centre Management Office on Level 1, along the corridor near the bathrooms. Purchases can be made from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays, while stocks last.

Wesley Choices provides free practical, emotional and wellbeing support to people affected by cancer, including patients, carers and loved ones, regardless of where they receive treatment. The service welcomes people of all ages and genders living with any type of cancer. The Tree of Hope & Gratitude remains open during centre hours until Saturday 17 October. Participation is free, with the display located at Toowong Village, 9 Sherwood Road, Toowong.

Published 8-October-2026

Creative Glass Showcase Brings Colour and Craft to Mt Coot-tha

Photo Credit: IG/CreativeGlassGuildQLD

The Creative Glass Showcase 2026 is set for The Auditorium at Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens on 14 and 15 November. It comes with a Sunburnt Christmas theme, and that alone gives it a bit of charm.

This is the kind of event that asks you to slow down for a moment. You can look through the displays, chat with artists and see how the work comes together. It feels hands-on, personal and refreshingly local.

Glass art in many forms

The showcase will include lampmaking, leadlighting, copper foiling, fused and slumped glass, beadmaking, mosaics and stained glass. That is a decent spread of techniques, and it should keep the weekend interesting.

Visitors will also be able to meet local glass artists and watch live demonstrations across the weekend. That is often the best part of an event like this. You get to see the skill behind the finished piece, not just admire it from a distance.

Handcrafted Christmas decorations will also be on sale. If you are already thinking about gifts, that gives you a chance to find something with a bit more character than the usual last-minute purchase.

A guild with a long history

The Creative Glass Guild of Queensland was founded in 1979 and is based in Red Hill. It also offers classes and workshops, which gives the showcase a purpose beyond the sales tables.

That matters. Events like this are not just about buying and browsing. They are also about keeping a craft active and visible, and about giving people a closer look at how it is done.

Easy to plan, easy to enjoy

The details are simple. Entry is $5. Children 12 and under get in free. Parking is free too. On Saturday, the event runs from 9am to 4pm. On Sunday, it runs from 9am to 3pm.

For locals, that makes it an easy outing. You can pop in for a short visit or take your time and stay awhile.

Either way, the Creative Glass Showcase should offer a good mix of colour, skill and festive spirit. That is not a bad way to spend a November weekend.

Published 30-September-2026

NightGlow at Mt Coot-tha Lights Up Toowong with Art, Food and Garden Magic

Photo Credit: Botanic By Night

Botanic by Night: NightGlow gives Brisbane something rare. It gives the city a night walk that feels calm, clever and a little bit magical. For Toowong readers, it is also close enough to feel easy. Yet it still feels special.

The event runs at Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha until October 10. So, the window is closing. If you have meant to go, this is your reminder.

Lanterns, stories and Country

What lifts NightGlow above a standard school holiday outing is the art. Contemporary First Nations artists Casey Coolwell-Fisher and Nathan Peckham helped shape the works. Ample Projects then brought those ideas to life as lanterns.

That matters. The lanterns are not there just to look pretty. They carry story, culture and connection. The site says the works draw on ecological knowledge and First Nations storytelling. They also reflect totems and shared creative ideas. That gives the whole event a real sense of purpose.

There is also a craft tradition at play here. The lantern form itself comes from Chinese art that has been refined over centuries. So, NightGlow is not one note. It brings different traditions into one evening, and does it with care.

A garden walk that does not hurry you

This is not a loud, high-energy show. It is a slow walk. The route is about 837 metres long and fully paved. It is wheelchair accessible, with some gentle gradients. The organisers also say the trail stays away from sensitive planted areas.

That thoughtful design shows. The lighting glows from within. There are no strobe or laser effects. Instead, the event uses warm, contained light and a gentle soundscape. So, visitors can look around, take their time and settle into the night.

Along the way, they will meet 11 luminous representations of Australian fauna across ten distinct encounters. That gives the trail a local character. It also keeps the focus on the gardens and the story the event wants to tell.

Food, access and a last chance to go

There is food too, which makes the evening even easier to enjoy. A dedicated food truck precinct opens nightly at the Amphitheatre. Visitors can buy from Brazzo Boys, Best of the Wurst, Feel Good Foodie, Oh Waffles and Di Piu Tiramisu.

The practical side is strong as well. Ticketholders can use a complimentary shuttle from Legacy Way carpark. Accessible parking is available, and the route is pram and wheelchair friendly. Brisbane LGA residents can also access locals pricing.

So, the message for Toowong is simple. This is a local night out with a different feel. It is bright, but not brash. Careful, but never dull. And it is only here until October 10.

Published 30-September-2026

Toowong Pub Sites Could Rise to 12 Storeys in Updated Brisbane Hotel Plan

Suitable pub sites in Toowong could accommodate hotel developments of up to 12 storeys under proposed planning changes aimed at increasing visitor accommodation before the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

For eligible pub projects in nominated Major Centre locations, including Toowong, the proposal would provide for an increase from 10 to 12 storeys. The Regatta Hotel on Coronation Drive is among the suburb’s prominent pub sites, although Council announcement did not identify a 12-storey development proposal for the venue. Its owner has separately identified longer-term development potential on vacant land behind the hotel, including a possible four-to-five-level commercial or short-stay project.

Suburban pub sites brought into hotel supply push

Brisbane City Council’s Suburban Pub Stays Strategy is intended to encourage new accommodation and function facilities on large or underused pub sites. Council says planning changes are being considered to make hotel projects on suitable suburban properties easier to deliver.

Around 70 Brisbane pubs occupy sites of at least 2,000 square metres, but only 15 currently provide accommodation, according to council. Industry estimates supplied through the strategy indicate that redevelopment of 20 suburban pub sites could add more than 1,600 rooms to Brisbane’s hotel supply. Council says more than 260 licensed hotels operate across the city.

The latest proposal would use a Temporary Local Planning Instrument to introduce changes including additional height for eligible pub accommodation projects, simpler development applications and revised car-parking requirements. Eligible short-term accommodation developments could also defer infrastructure charges rather than paying them upfront, with the proposed charge deferral extending to hotels elsewhere in Brisbane.

Height increases would extend beyond major centres

The 12-storey provision forms one part of a wider package covering several planning zones. The examples released with the proposal provide for increased heights for eligible pub accommodation developments in Major Centre, Neighbourhood Centre, Mixed Use and some residential zones.

Zone	Current base height cited in proposal	Proposed height for eligible projects
Major Centre	10 storeys	12 storeys
Neighbourhood Centre	3 storeys	4 storeys, or 5 storeys on sites larger than 3,000 sq m
Mixed Use	5 storeys	7 storeys
Low-density residential	2 storeys	4 storeys
Low- to medium-density residential	3–4 storeys	4–6 storeys

The figures are examples attached to the pub-stays proposal rather than universal height limits for every property within those zones. Existing neighbourhood plans, overlays and site-specific planning controls can also affect the development capacity of individual properties.

Room shortage extends across South East Queensland

The strategy follows a prolonged slowdown in hotel development. Council says hotel construction in Brisbane fell by about 90 per cent between 2019 and 2024, while industry estimates indicate hotel-room construction costs rose about 40 per cent over the same period.

A 2026 Property Council and CBRE outlook projects South East Queensland could face a hotel-room shortfall of about 5,200 rooms by the 2032 Games even if the full identified development pipeline is delivered. The gap rises to about 7,400 rooms after accounting for the likelihood that some proposed projects will not proceed.

The same report estimates about 64,800 rooms of Games-period demand will be concentrated across Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast. Council says South East Queensland currently has about 46,000 hotel rooms.

Several suburban pubs already combine hospitality venues with accommodation. Council argues smaller suburban developments can add rooms more quickly than large CBD hotel projects while using land already occupied by commercial hospitality businesses. The strategy also seeks to place more accommodation near family, friends, local centres and suburban destinations rather than concentrating new rooms in the inner city.

Twelve storeys would not amount to automatic approval

A higher planning height would not give a pub owner automatic approval to construct a 12-storey hotel. Individual proposals would remain subject to the planning and assessment requirements applying to their sites.

Council is proposing to introduce the changes through a Temporary Local Planning Instrument, which can temporarily alter the operation of Brisbane City Plan for up to two years. The latest package must still progress through the approval process, including Queensland Government consideration, before the proposed provisions can take effect.

Published 9-Sept-2026

From Toowong to New York: Dane Sweeny Breaks Through at the US Open

Brisbane Boys’ College Old Collegian Dane Sweeny has produced the biggest Grand Slam run of his career, knocking out 13th seed Lorenzo Musetti to reach the third round of the US Open — nearly a decade after BBC was celebrating him as one of Australia’s brightest junior prospects.

For those who followed Sweeny through his school years in Toowong, there is a familiar thread running through his breakthrough in New York. Long before he was taking on some of the world’s best at Flushing Meadows, he was juggling school with national championships and Australian junior duties.

Now 25 and ranked world No.123, Sweeny recovered from dropping the opening set against Italy’s Musetti before taking control of their second-round match, winning 3–6, 6–1, 6–2, 6–2.

It was Sweeny’s first victory over a top-20 player and carried him into the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time.

The BBC Years

Sweeny is a Brisbane Boys’ College Old Collegian from the 2017 cohort, and his rise through Australian junior tennis was being closely followed by the Toowong school well before he finished Year 12.

In December 2016, BBC announced that the Year 10 boarder had been invited to train with the Australian Davis Cup team ahead of Australia’s tie against the United States at Kooyong. By the following year, he had been selected for Australia’s under-16 Davis Cup team, with the school noting that he was the only full-time school student in the Australian side.

His international experience continued at the Junior Davis Cup in Budapest, before 2017 ended with Sweeny winning the Australian U16 singles and doubles titles.

There was plenty happening in school colours, too. BBC’s account of that season records Sweeny as part of its First IV tennis team, which claimed the GPS premiership, State Championship and National Schoolboys title.

Dane Sweeny Through the Years

From Brisbane Boys’ College in Toowong to the Grand Slam stage.

Dane Sweeny during his early tennis years at Brisbane Boys' College — **2016 |** Early BBC competition years. Sweeny defeated the No. 3 seed in the first round of the U16 Australian Tennis Championships.

Photo Credit: Facebook/Brisbane Boys’ College

Dane Sweeny playing tennis during his Brisbane Boys' College years — **2017 |** Year 11 at BBC and selected for Australia’s U16 Davis Cup team. BBC reported he was the only full-time school student in the Australian side.

Photo Credit: Facebook/Brisbane Boys’ College

Dane Sweeny representing Australia in junior tennis — **2017 |** Representing Australia at the Junior Davis Cup in Budapest, where he won his singles match against Hungary.

Photo Credit: Facebook/Brisbane Boys’ College

Dane Sweeny with his Australian under-16 tennis trophy — **2017 |** Australian U16 singles and doubles champion, and part of BBC’s First IV team that claimed the GPS premiership, State Championship and National Schoolboys title.

Photo Credit: Facebook/Brisbane Boys’ College

AI-generated illustration representing Dane Sweeny's 2024 Australian Open breakthrough — **2024 |** Grand Slam breakthrough, qualifying for his first major main draw at the Australian Open.

AI-generated illustration of Dane Sweeny; not an actual photograph.

AI-generated illustration representing Dane Sweeny's 2026 US Open run — **2026 |** Sweeny reaches his first Grand Slam third round after upsetting 13th seed Lorenzo Musetti at the US Open.

AI-generated illustration of Dane Sweeny; not an actual photograph.

From Junior Standout to the Grand Slam Stage

The path from outstanding junior to established professional proved anything but straightforward.

Sweeny's first Grand Slam main-draw appearance didn't come until the 2024 Australian Open, when he fought through three rounds of qualifying to earn his place. Ranked No.257 at the time, he described seeing something he had imagined since childhood become reality as “quite surreal”.

His reward was a daunting first-round assignment against world No.22 Francisco Cerundolo. Sweeny pushed the Argentine to five sets before his debut came to an end.

His career then hit a difficult stretch, and Sweeny later revealed that he stepped away from the tour for about two months in 2024 before deciding to return. Two years later, that decision has taken him further at a Grand Slam than ever before.

An Upset Changes Everything in New York

Sweeny received a wildcard into the 2026 US Open main draw and made the opportunity count from his opening match.

Frenchman Corentin Moutet retired with Sweeny leading 7–6(4), 6–4, 3–0, setting up the considerably tougher assignment against Musetti.

The Italian, ranked world No.14 and seeded 13th, appeared to have the advantage after taking the opening set 6–3. What followed was emphatic: Sweeny conceded only five games across the next three sets as he turned the match around and completed the biggest win of his career by opponent ranking.

His reward is another Italian opponent, 21st seed Luciano Darderi, with a place in the fourth round — the last 16 of the US Open — at stake.

For BBC, there is something particularly satisfying about where the story has reached. The school's old social media posts capture Sweeny before the rankings, Grand Slam draws and packed international courts: a teenager in BBC colours, then an Australian junior representative, gradually working his way towards the game he wanted to play for a living.

Nearly a decade later, the backdrop is New York rather than Toowong and the opponents are among the best players in the world.

Those old photos from the BBC courts now look like the opening pages of a much bigger story — and Sweeny is still writing it.

Published 4-September-2026

River Barge Helps Keep Coronation Drive Open During Culvert Repairs

Photo Credit: Brisbane City Council

Drivers and cyclists travelling between Toowong and the city have been passing a major drainage project at Auchenflower since late June, where a barge on the Brisbane River is allowing crews to repair culverts beneath Coronation Drive without digging up the road.

The works near Land Street involve the rehabilitation of ageing stormwater culverts beneath Coronation Drive, a key connection between Toowong and Brisbane’s CBD.

Brisbane City Council began the project in late June, with completion scheduled for August 2026.

Keeping Coronation Drive Moving

The culverts requiring attention run beneath Coronation Drive, making conventional access from above potentially disruptive.

Instead of excavating the road, crews are installing new structural liners inside the existing culverts. Most of the work is being undertaken from a barge on the Brisbane River, allowing crews to access the drainage infrastructure without closing traffic lanes on Coronation Drive for the rehabilitation.

The culverts have deteriorated due to age and exposure to tidal conditions. The new liners are designed to strengthen the existing structures and extend their operational life.

Bikeway Users May Notice the Works

While Coronation Drive remains open, the project is more noticeable for people travelling between Toowong and the city along the Bicentennial Bikeway.

Temporary pedestrian and cyclist detours may be required around the work area, while short interruptions can occur when workers, equipment or materials need to cross the bikeway.

Council says these pauses are expected to last about five minutes or less.

A small temporary fenced work area has also been established in Moorlands Park, with drain cleaning and limited tree trimming included in the project.

River Tides Set the Work Hours

Working from the Brisbane River means the construction timetable is partly dictated by tidal conditions.

Crews may work at different times across a 24-hour period from Monday to Saturday, meaning activity can begin earlier or finish later on some days.

Nearby residents and people using the bikeway may notice construction noise, lighting and equipment during the works. Council says particularly noisy activities will not take place between 10pm and 6.30am.

Strengthening the Culverts From Within

The project is rehabilitating the existing culverts rather than replacing them.

Installing structural liners inside the culverts is intended to extend their working life and reduce the need for costly future replacements.

For people travelling between Toowong and the city, the construction method means Coronation Drive can remain open while the infrastructure beneath it is strengthened.

The rehabilitation is scheduled to be completed in August 2026.

Published 17-Aug-2026

Toowong Bikeway Design Selected With One-Way Sylvan Road Section

Photo Credit: BCC

The preferred Toowong bikeway design will bring a continuous protected two-way cycling route to Sylvan Road alongside an eastbound-only section, a 40km/h speed limit and changes to parking, crossings and footpaths.

Brisbane City authorities have selected the continuous bi-directional option after community feedback was sought on two designs between 18 May and 14 June 2026. Both received positive feedback, but the continuous two-way option had stronger support and is now being refined.

The project is designed to connect the Western Freeway Bikeway with the Bicentennial Bikeway through Sylvan Road and Land Street. Sylvan Road forms a 1.2-kilometre missing link between the two existing bikeways.

Brisbane transport — *Photo Credit: BCC*

Toowong Bikeway Changes Traffic Flow

The preferred design provides a separated two-way bikeway connecting with the shared path on Milton Road. It would cross from the southern side to the northern side of Sylvan Road before continuing along Land Street towards Patrick Lane.

Sylvan Road between Bates Lane and Croydon Street/Jephson Street would become one-way inbound, or eastbound only. Two-way traffic would remain between Croydon Street/Jephson Street and Coronation Drive and along Land Street.

The speed limit between Milton Road and Croydon Street/Jephson Street would be reduced to 40km/h, with three speed platforms planned. The 50km/h limit would remain between Croydon Street/Jephson Street and Coronation Drive, while Land Street would retain its 60km/h limit.

Turning arrangements would also change at several side streets, including Quinn Street, Kate Street, St Osyth Street and Earle Lane. The left-turn slip lane and left turn from Sylvan Road into Croydon Street would also be removed.

Parking, Footpaths And Crossings Reworked

On-street parking would remain in targeted locations between Milton Road and Croydon Street/Jephson Street, with peak-hour parking restrictions removed. Final parking conditions for this section are still to be determined.

All on-street parking between Croydon Street/Jephson Street and Coronation Drive would be removed under the preferred layout, while parking along Land Street would remain.

Footpaths along Sylvan Road would be widened, a new shared path would be added between Land Street and Coronation Drive, and Land Street footpaths would be reconstructed.

All trees along Toowong Memorial Park are to be retained. Some impacts to other trees are expected, although these would be minimised where possible, with local replanting planned where possible.

Crossing changes include a zebra crossing in the left-turn slip lane from Milton Road onto Croydon Street and new raised priority pedestrian and bikeway crossings. The signalised crossing on Sylvan Road between Quinn Street and Kate Street would also be relocated and upgraded to separate pedestrian and cycling movements.

Additional signalised crossings are planned around the Croydon Street/Jephson Street, Land Street and Patrick Lane intersections. Outbound bus stop 13 on Milton Road at Morley Street would also be upgraded.

Design Moves Towards Construction

Safer crossings and greater separation from traffic were identified as leading priorities during consultation.

Between 2002 and 2023, 43 crashes involving cyclists occurred on Sylvan Road, with 19 cyclists admitted to hospital. A manual count undertaken for council in 2024 found women represented 5 per cent of cyclists using the road.

The final concept is now being refined before detailed design proceeds.

Construction at the Milton Road, Croydon Street and Morley Street intersection began in August 2026 and is expected to be completed in early 2027, subject to weather and site conditions.

Construction of the Sylvan Road bikeway is expected to begin in mid-2027, subject to detailed design progress, with the overall project targeting completion in 2028.

Published 13-August-2026

Planetarium Concert in Toowong Returns with Live Music and Science at the Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium

The Planetarium concert in Toowong is returning to the Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium on Friday, 21 August. It brings live music, planetarium visuals and a night focused on science and critical thinking.

Nate Eggins, who performs as Conspiracy of One, is back with his Planetarium Variety Show for a fourth year. The event will run during National Science Week and will bring a stripped-back set to Mount Coot-tha. It is a local night out with a clear science twist.

Songs under the skydome

Eggins and his band will play songs from his debut album Road to Reason. The set also includes crowd favourites such as We’re All Aliens, Baby and The Sound a Duck Makes. New material will also be part of the show.

The event page says the night will give audiences new perspectives on science and the modern world. It will also include a workshop on critical thinking. Guests will be able to take part and contribute data to an ongoing study.

Special guest Melanie Trecek-King, a science communicator and author, will also feature on the night. Her appearance adds another layer to the Planetarium concert in Toowong, which blends entertainment with ideas about how people think, learn and question information.

A local night with a wider message

The event has a simple appeal for Toowong locals. It offers music in a unique setting, but it also leans into science in a way that feels easy to approach. That mix has helped the show return year after year.

The event page describes it as an ages six and up show. It is also wheelchair accessible. Organisers note it is a space for people who are kind to one another. Auslan interpreters are not available because of the low-light setting.

There are a few practical points for anyone planning to go. Doors open at 6.30pm, and the show starts at 7pm. The venue does not have food or a bar, so an early dinner before heading in is a sensible idea.

Booking ahead for August 21

The Planetarium concert in Toowong has built a following, and organisers say the shows usually sell out. That makes early booking a good move for anyone keen to attend.

For National Science Week, it is a neat fit. The evening gives Toowong a local event with a bit of character. It is also the kind of night that feels both social and thought-provoking.

So, if you are after something a little different, this one may be worth marking in the calendar. The mix of live music, science and planetarium atmosphere should make for a memorable night at Mount Coot-tha.

Published 10-August-2026

Toowong School and Parish Model Proves Community Connection Starts at Home

A pioneering foundation laid at Toowong more than a century ago continues to drive a unique local framework where a primary school and its parish act as a single integrated support system for Brisbane families.

A Legacy Built to Endure

When Archbishop Robert Dunne laid the original foundation stone for a local Catholic school, he called on residents to embrace and nurture the institution as their own. Fast-forward to the present day, and that initial spark has evolved into a cornerstone of suburban stability. St Ignatius School and its partner parish maintain a tight bond that actively shapes daily routines across Toowong.

Why has this relationship lasted so long? School Principal Benedict Campbell explained that both institutions were deliberately designed to operate as a single unit rather than isolated silos. By avoiding separate paths, the partnership offers families a steady source of practical and spiritual support that carries across generations.

Faith and Community Beyond the Classroom

This shared mission regularly reaches beyond Sunday services. To mark International Women’s Day, the school and parish jointly hosted a Fill Your Cup Breakfast for women across Toowong, Auchenflower, and surrounding western suburbs.

Rather than focusing solely on traditional speeches, the morning encouraged participants to share practical wisdom on balancing emotional, physical, and spiritual wellbeing amid hectic modern routines. Principal Campbell noted that the gathering demonstrated how meaningful relationships flourish when faith intersects directly with local neighbourhood life.

Daily Connections Across Suburbs

Connection here is a daily habit, not an annual photo opportunity. From Welcome Masses that bring new families into the fold to student leadership initiatives and joint prayer groups, daily life moves fluidly between the classroom and the altar. The network also maintains close ties with nearby faith centres, including Holy Spirit Church in neighbouring Auchenflower.

School leadership believes this collaborative approach delivers something far broader than standard academic lessons. By linking education with parish care, the community creates a lasting environment where every individual feels known, valued, and supported.

Published Date 21-July-2026