From Kedron to Glasgow: Locals Power Australia’s 2026 Gymnastics Team

Three Australian artistic gymnasts selected for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games trained within Brisbane’s gymnastics pathway, with Ruby Pass, Georgia Godwin and James Hardy each trained at Delta Gymnastics Kedron at different stages of their development.



Kedron Threads Through Australia’s Glasgow Squad

The Australian artistic gymnastics team for Glasgow 2026 was announced on 11 June 2026, bringing together experienced Commonwealth Games medallists and first-time Games athletes.

Among those selected are athletes whose pathways have intersected with Delta Gymnastics Kedron at 60 Boothby Street, a venue equipped with international-standard apparatus for high-performance training.

Ruby Pass and Georgia Godwin both spent formative years training through Delta Gymnastics, while James Hardy’s introduction to the sport began there before he progressed through other elite programs.

Ruby Pass: Rising Talent With A Delta Base

Ruby Pass will make her Commonwealth Games debut in Glasgow as part of Australia’s women’s artistic gymnastics team.

The 19-year-old Queensland gymnast has already competed on the Olympic stage. She was the youngest member of Australia’s women’s artistic team for the Paris Olympic Games and has been recognised as a Paris 2024 Olympic finalist.

Ruby Pass on uneven bars
Photo Credit: Gymnastics Queensland/Facebook

Pass was born in Shellharbour and later moved to Brisbane after her 13th birthday to join Delta Gymnastics. She trained as a Junior International gymnast for around 30 hours per week, with uneven bars as her preferred apparatus.

Her senior results include All-Around, Vault, Uneven Bars and Floor titles at the Australian Gymnastics Championships before Paris. She had also won back-to-back Australian All-Around titles in 2021 and 2022.

Glasgow will be her first Commonwealth Games appearance, placing her among the debutants in an Australian women’s team that also includes Georgia Godwin, Emily Whitehead, Breanna Scott and Kate McDonald.

Georgia Godwin: Senior Figure Returning For Glasgow

Georgia Godwin will return for her third Commonwealth Games after missing the Paris 2024 Olympic Games because of an Achilles injury.

Godwin enters the Glasgow team with one of the strongest Commonwealth Games records in the squad. Her medal record includes silver and two bronze medals at Gold Coast 2018, followed by two gold and three silver medals at Birmingham 2022.

She is a Senior International gymnast training 28 hours a week, born on the Gold Coast, with floor as her favourite apparatus.

Georgia Godwin competing on floor
Photo Credit: Gymnastics Queensland/Facebook

Godwin’s career also includes qualification for the Tokyo Olympic Games, seven Australian All-Around titles and a named skill in the International Gymnastics Federation Code of Points.

The uneven bars skill, known as “The Godwin”, was added after she performed it at international events in 2023. She is one of a small group of Australian women’s artistic gymnasts to have a named move in the Code of Points.

James Hardy: Early Delta Start Before Glasgow Debut

James Hardy will make his Commonwealth Games debut in Glasgow as part of Australia’s men’s artistic gymnastics team.

The 23-year-old Queensland gymnast first tried gymnastics at age two and began taking lessons a year later at Delta Gymnastics in Brisbane. He later moved to Brisbane Boys Grammar Gymnastics Club and then trained at the Queensland High Performance Centre in Chandler.

James Hardy during vault routine
Photo Credit: Gymnastics Queensland/Facebook

Hardy has already competed at World Championships level. During his debut World Championships campaign in Antwerp, he established himself among the top 20 vaulters in men’s artistic gymnastics.

He was born in Auchenflower and competes in men’s artistic gymnastics. He had previously identified the 2026 Commonwealth Games and the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games among his long-term goals.

In Glasgow, Hardy will join Jesse Moore, Benjamin Foster, Tru Hagens and Ritam Malik in Australia’s men’s artistic gymnastics team.

Glasgow Gymnastics Schedule

The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games will run from 23 July to 2 August.

Artistic gymnastics events are scheduled from 24 to 28 July at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome and Arena.



Australia’s women’s artistic gymnastics team includes Georgia Godwin, Emily Whitehead, Breanna Scott, Kate McDonald and Ruby Pass. The men’s artistic gymnastics team includes Jesse Moore, Benjamin Foster, Tru Hagens, James Hardy and Ritam Malik.

Published 2-July-2026

Future of Gympie Road Tunnel Remains Unclear as Questions Grow Over Delivery Timeline

Motorists hoping for relief from congestion along Gympie Road may face a longer wait, with comments made during Brisbane’s latest budget suggesting the proposed bypass tunnel could remain in the planning phase until after the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.


Read: $335-M Earmarked for Gympie Road Bypass Tunnel, Surface Upgrades


The proposed project would create a nine-kilometre bypass linking Kedron and Carseldine, including a seven-kilometre tunnel intended to provide an alternative route to the congested Gympie Road corridor.

Discussion about the project’s timeline intensified after Cr Adrian Schrinner indicated in his budget speech that the tunnel would be among the first major infrastructure projects to get underway after the 2032 Games. While no formal construction schedule has been released, the remarks have prompted renewed debate about when the project might move beyond the planning stage.

Timeline in focus

Photo credit: Sandy Landers

The proposed tunnel was a key transport commitment ahead of the 2024 state election and has been promoted as a way to ease congestion along one of Brisbane’s busiest arterial roads.

Opposition Leader Steven Miles argued the comments suggested northside motorists could face years of additional traffic delays before any major construction begins.

Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg did not provide a specific timeframe for the project when responding to questions about the remarks. Instead, he said planning work was continuing.

Labor transport spokesman Bart Mellish also questioned the project’s future delivery schedule, pointing to planning and pre-construction funding allocated in previous budgets that is due to reach the end of its current funding period.

In response, Cr Schrinner’s office said the comments reflected the reality that major underground infrastructure projects often require lengthy planning and construction timeframes before they can be delivered.

Proposed route from Kedron to Carseldine

Photo credit: Google Street View

The Gympie Road Bypass Tunnel would be a two-lane tolled bypass extending between Kedron and Carseldine. The project was announced in June 2024 and has been progressed by North Brisbane Infrastructure, a subsidiary of Queensland Investment Corporation.

The bypass has been proposed as a way of reducing congestion along Gympie Road, one of Queensland’s busiest road corridors. Traffic bottlenecks are particularly common around intersections including Stafford Road, Rode Road, Hamilton Road and Beams Road.

The project could affect communities along the corridor, including Kedron, Chermside, Aspley and Carseldine, depending on its final design and delivery.


Read: Public Consultation Opens on Proposed Gympie Road Bypass Tunnel


Planning review continues

Transport and Main Roads is currently reviewing planning work previously undertaken by Queensland Investment Corporation after responsibility for the project transferred on 1 July 2025.

The department has not yet announced a construction timetable and says the review process is continuing. With planning still underway and no construction timetable announced, the project’s next stages remain subject to the ongoing review process.

Published 24-June-2026

The Epitome of a Maroon : Lindsay Collins

For a bloke that relishes the state of his dental work, one thing you really don’t want to see is Lindsay Collins galloping towards you with his high knee lift and contorted face IN A MAROONS JERSEY.



His dental work are now featured on a Channel 9 advert where a local neighbourhood topiary features his gapped front teeth, with Cam Munster commenting, “Nice Choppers, Lindsay.”

Lindsay Collins, Padua College alumni, epitomises the Maroon jersey.

The ridiculous bunker decision in Origin 2 to not pay out the Captain’s Challenge on a loose carry by Collins when it was clearly a shoulder charge, as well as noggin on noggin with no arms wrapped, could have been vital.

At the time the Maroons were in the ascendency but soon after the bunker’s decision, Mark Nawaqanitawase went over to put the Blues back in with a shout.

The last laugh was with Collins, who barnstormed through from a beautiful Harry Grant break and well-timed pass, to dive over the white chalk for the Maroons try that put them well out of reach, and setup a thriller at Suncorp on July 8.

“The genes of a speed machine with the physique of a warrior and the bravery of a lion.”

Lindsay’s grandfather, Lionel Williamson, was known as the “Innisfail Flyer,” a speed machine on the wing representing the Innisfail club, 50 years before Billy Slater scorched the Innisfail touchlines.

For a massive unit, Lindsay can create some serious heat off the back fence.

Williamson went on to play first grade for the Newtown Jets in Sydney and represented Queensland and Australia, including scoring two tries in the 1968 World Cup final win over France.

Padua College in Kedron has developed several State of Origin players, including Paul Vautin, Dave Shillington, Dane Carlaw, David Stagg and Paul McCabe as well as other NRL players, including Rohan Ahern, David Bouveng, Shane Perry and Brad Watts.

Harris Andrews, co-captain at the Lions was also a Padua boy, as was Qld Red and Wallaby, Dominic Maguire.

A Broncos junior, Collins played for the under-20s before heading south to the Roosters, though an ACL injury in 2021 forced him to learn how to run again.

Who can forget him outjumping his Roosters teammate, James Tedesco to create a crucial Maroons try in Origin 2023?



Lindsay’s appearance at Suncorp on July 8 barring injury for Origin 3, the decider, is surely guaranteed — because when you x-ray his entire body, it is maroon.

Published 18-June-2026

Kedron Café and Stafford Heights Butcher Share A Local Food Success Story 

Kedron and Stafford Heights have more than two award wins to celebrate, with Farmhouse and Rode Meats recognised as Queensland favourites after years of building their names around local produce, loyal customers and the kind of everyday service that keeps communities coming back.



Kedron And Stafford Heights Winners Reflect Local Loyalty

Farmhouse in Kedron and Rode Meats in Stafford Heights have been named among Queensland’s All the Best winners, with the two businesses recognised in separate food categories after a record 74,630 votes were cast across the 2026 campaign.

Farmhouse, located at 9 Somerset Road in Kedron, was named Best Café, while Rode Meats, at 269 Appleby Road in Stafford Heights, was named Best Butcher. The awards covered 15 categories, including cafés, butchers, bakeries, burger shops, fish and chip shops, pizzerias, pubs, gyms, florists, tourism attractions and other local favourites.

While the titles mark a public vote result, the story behind the two winners is also about consistency. Both businesses have built their identities around food, produce and repeat local support. Their connection is also practical, with Farmhouse noting that Rode Meats already supplies it with produce.

Rode Meats
Photo Credit: Rode Meats/Facebook

That link gives the recognition a stronger local thread. One winner serves meals from a Kedron café grounded in regional produce, while the other has spent decades trading as a Stafford Heights butcher. Together, their wins show how local food businesses can grow through daily trust, steady service and a clear sense of place.

Farmhouse Kedron Carries A Produce-Focused Story

Farmhouse’s story is tied to the memory of Farmer Joe’s, a family-owned produce store that closed in 2009 to make way for a new road. Farmer Joe’s had been remembered as a community hub, and Farmhouse has shaped its own identity around fresh food producers, family farms and local and regional supply.

The café presents itself as a tribute to dairy farmers, local farms and fresh food producers. It says it buys from many local and regional producers and aims to add more farmers to its list each season. That focus gives the Kedron café a clear point of difference beyond its Best Café title.

Its approach is simple but effective: bring food from farms to plates with as little fuss as possible. That idea sits at the centre of the café’s public story and helps explain why its win carries weight with customers who value local food connections.

Farmhouse operates from 6:30am to 2:30pm, seven days a week, and offers food, drinks, catering and bookings. After being named Best Café in Queensland, the business marked Queensland Day with lunch and drink specials and acknowledged its team and supporters.

Rode Meats Builds On More Than Four Decades In Stafford Heights

Rode Meats has been part of Stafford Heights since 1980. The family-owned butcher operates from Rode Road Shopping Centre and lists beef, chicken, lamb, pork, roasts, sausages, low-and-slow meats and ready-to-go items among its products.

Its Best Butcher recognition adds to earlier honours listed by the business, including a 2020 Brisbane butcher title and a 2020 Australia’s Best Continental Sausage award. Those earlier achievements help give context to the latest win, showing that the All the Best result is not a sudden appearance but part of a longer record of recognition.

Before the winners were announced, Rode Meats had already been leading the butcher category leaderboard. The public vote put the Stafford Heights shop ahead in a competitive field and drew attention to the strong support behind the business.

The butcher’s profile has also grown online, helped by apprentice butcher Ethan Johns and sausage-making content that attracted wide attention. One video received more than 5.8 million views, showing how a traditional local trade can reach far beyond the shopfront while still being rooted in everyday craft.

A Shared Food Story With A Local Connection

The recognition of Farmhouse and Rode Meats stands out because the two businesses are connected beyond the winners list. Farmhouse has publicly noted that Rode Meats already supplies it with produce, giving the awards a direct local supply link.

That connection makes the story more than a simple list of winners. It shows one local business supporting another, with the café and butcher each playing a role in the area’s food scene.

For Farmhouse, the Best Café title reflects a business shaped around farmers, producers and community support. For Rode Meats, the Best Butcher title adds to decades of Stafford Heights trading, earlier awards and growing public attention.



The All the Best winners were announced on Wednesday, 3 June, ahead of Queensland Day on Saturday, 6 June. For Kedron and Stafford Heights, the result places two local food names on a Queensland-wide winners list while highlighting the value of steady support, trusted supply and businesses that continue to grow from their local base.

Published 4-June-2026

Kedron Community Shaken After Wrong-Way Driver Causes Multi-Vehicle Crash

A wrong-way collision in Kedron has left a local motorcyclist fighting serious injuries after a multi-vehicle pileup disrupted a major suburban intersection.



The incident unfolded around 8:30 a.m. on 3 June when emergency responders rushed to Gympie Road at the junction of Kedron Street. Early police investigations point to a white Volkswagen T-Roc crossing over onto the incorrect side of the road. 

This sudden movement forced an immediate and unavoidable collision with a white Hyundai i30, turning a routine morning drive into a scene of chaos for local residents.

Multi-Vehicle
Photo Credit: Queensland Police

The force of the initial crash created a dangerous chain reaction. The Hyundai was pushed directly into the path of a grey Honda motorcycle, severely impacting the rider. Emergency medical crews quickly treated the 46-year-old Albany Creek man at the scene before transporting him to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital. 

Authorities confirmed his condition as serious but stable, while noting that no other drivers or passengers involved required medical treatment for physical injuries.



Local law enforcement is now turning to the public to piece together the exact cause of the crash. Officers stated that any bystanders or passing drivers who might have captured the event on dashcam video should come forward to share their recordings with police. Community cooperation remains essential for the ongoing investigation to ensure local road safety measures are properly addressed moving forward.

Published Date 04-June-2026

Stafford Heights Butcher Leads Queensland-Wide Vote For Best Butcher

A Stafford Heights butcher shop is leading a Queensland-wide public vote to name the best butcher in the All The Best competition, with Rode Meats sitting first on the latest leaderboard as local food businesses compete for community support.



Rode Meats Tops The Butcher Leaderboard

Rode Meats, based on Appleby Road in Stafford Heights, is currently listed in first place in the butcher category. The Bellmere Butcher on Bellmere Road is ranked second, while The Butcher Shoppe on Wynnum Road in Cannon Hill is third.

The competition asks Queenslanders to vote for their favourite businesses, food outlets and destinations across 15 categories. These include butcher, bakery, cafe, burger joint, fish and chip shop, florist, gym, hairdresser or barber, ice cream shop, pizzeria, pub, beach, camping and 4WD spot, bánh mì place and tourism attraction.

For the butcher category, the contest has become a friendly race among local shops, with public voting, social media attention and creative sausage-making helping draw interest.

Rode Meats
Photo Credit: Rode Meats/Facebook

Stafford Heights Shop Builds On Decades Of Trade

Rode Meats describes itself as a family-owned and operated butcher shop in Stafford Heights. The business has been operating since 1980 and is located at the Rode Road Shopping Centre.

The shop supplies beef, chicken, lamb, pork, roasts, sausages, low-and-slow meats and ready-to-go items. It also lists past recognition, including a 2020 Brisbane butcher title and a 2020 Australia’s Best Continental Sausage award.

Its current position in the All The Best butcher category adds to a period of wider attention for the business. Apprentice butcher Ethan Johns has helped Rode Meats build a large online following, with one sausage-making video receiving more than 5.8 million views.

Queensland butcher
Photo Credit: Rode Meats/Facebook

Social Media Adds Flavour To The Contest

The butcher vote has also highlighted how Queensland shops are using social media to show how their products are made. The Bellmere Butcher has drawn attention for unusual sausage combinations, including hot chips with rump steak and pepper gravy, slow-cooked brisket with mac and cheese, and spicy ramen.

Rode Meats has been noted for its growing following, team focus and planned expansion, with two more sister stores expected to open in Brisbane within the next year.

All The Best
Photo Credit: Rode Meats/Facebook

Although the competition has been described as a battle among butchers, the tone remains friendly. The contest is centred on local support, customer loyalty and the public vote rather than direct rivalry.

Voting closes on Thursday, 28 May. Each vote gives the voter one entry into a prize draw for a Queensland Day prize pack valued at more than $1,800, including All World Annual passes, a Skypoint dining experience and a Flight Centre travel voucher.



Winners will be announced on Wednesday, 3 June, ahead of Queensland Day on Saturday, 6 June. Rode Meats remains the Stafford Heights name at the top of the butcher leaderboard.

Published 25-May-2026

Kedron Brook tops Microplastic Count in QUT Study of Brisbane Creeks

Kedron Brook, which flows east through Enoggera, Stafford, Grange and Lutwyche before reaching Moreton Bay, carries the highest load of microplastic particles in its sediment of any of the Brisbane creeks examined in a new Queensland University of Technology study. 


Read: Stafford’s Next Chapter: A Suburban Shift Along Kedron Brook


The research, published in the journal Environmental Pollution, found a median abundance of roughly 4,400 microplastic items per kilogram of dry sediment in the brook.

The study analysed sediment samples from Kedron Brook, Bulimba Creek, and Enoggera Creek, taking samples at six sites along each waterway, from the upstream headwaters right down to estuarine level, across four sampling periods over the course of a year.

What is driving the load in Kedron Brook?

Photo credit: CC BY-SA 4.0/Q8682/Wikimedia Commons

Lead researcher and QUT PhD candidate Heshani Mudalige, from QUT’s School of Chemistry and Physics, said the brook’s passage through commercial and industrial areas played a central role in driving the microplastic figure up. 

Construction activity, single-use plastic disposal, food packaging waste and nearby recreational areas all contribute to elevated levels of polyethylene — the most abundant plastic type found in the brook’s sediment. Stormwater runoff from residential households, sports fields and parks adds further to the load.

The brook’s extensive flat areas, surrounded by impervious surfaces such as roads and car parks, create conditions where microplastics carried by runoff are deposited and retained.

Microplastic levels in Kedron Brook peaked in March, which Ms Mudalige attributed to high-flow conditions during the summer wet season pushing plastic particles into the sediment.

The dominant plastic types found across all three creeks were polyethylene (PE), used widely in packaging, bottles and pipes; polypropylene (PP), common in food containers and sportswear; and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). Polystyrene (PS) was also present in Kedron Brook’s sediment.

How did the other creeks compare?

Bulimba Creek recorded the second-highest microplastic abundance at approximately 4,100 items per kilogram of dry sediment, with its load peaking in November. Ms Mudalige said Bulimba Creek flows through predominantly residential and commercial areas, with construction and maintenance sites contributing high amounts of PE as well as PP and PMMA, likely sourced from food and consumer packaging, textiles, industrial raw materials and household plastics.

Enoggera Creek recorded the lowest load of the three at approximately 2,800 items per kilogram. The presence of Enoggera Dam was identified as a key factor, with the dam regulating streamflow from upstream and trapping a significant portion of microplastics before they can travel further downstream.


Read: Kedron Brook Set for Major Transformation in Olympic Lead-up


A first step toward quantifying Moreton Bay’s microplastic inputs

Associate Professor Prasanna Egodawatta, Heshani Mudalige, and Professor Godwin Ayoko (Photo credit: qut.edu.au)

Associate Professor Prasanna Egodawatta, from QUT’s School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, described the study as a first step towards quantifying how much plastic pollution reaches Moreton Bay from land via the stormwater pathway. He said heavily urbanised catchments in South East Queensland are significant contributors to that pollution, and that the physical characteristics of a creek, its shape, slope and flow behaviour, determine how microplastics move through it.

Ms Mudalige said the overall findings indicate that seasonal variability exerts a dominant influence on microplastic abundance, while land use and the intensity of human activity in each catchment also shape how much plastic accumulates in the sediment.

Published 25-May-2026

A Passport, Three Stamps and a Reason to Revisit Wilston Village

If you live anywhere near Wilston, chances are you already have your usual rotation.

Maybe it’s pizza at Antica, recently named Best Italian Restaurant in Brisbane’s northern suburbs for 2025, which probably didn’t surprise many locals. Maybe it’s a Friday schnitzel or a Wednesday Black Angus rump to get over the midweek hump at Frankie Brown.

Maybe you’ve ducked into Parade for a gift and somehow left with three things you didn’t know you needed. Maybe you’ve told yourself you should properly check out Mumbleberry one day.

Or perhaps a salon appointment at Fruition, fresh off being named both Australian Salon of the Year and Queensland Hairdresser of the Year for 2026, is more your speed.

That’s the thing about Wilston Village. Even locals who know it well tend to experience it in fragments. A dinner spot here. A quick coffee there. A post office run when something needs sending.

But the village along Kedron Brook Road has become far more than a convenient collection of familiar stops. Now there’s a fresh reason to look at it differently.

Shop, Stamp & Win

Supported through Brisbane City Council’s Growing Precincts Together program, Shop, Stamp & Win is a Wilston Village promotion designed to reward locals for exploring participating businesses across the precinct.

From now until June 10, you can pick up a Wilston Village passport, collect stamps as you shop, dine or visit participating businesses, and you’ll join a raffle draw to win one of ten $100 Wilston Village vouchers.

Click through the mechanics to find out how:

The most interesting part isn’t the prize. It’s the excuse to break routine.

And because a passport challenge only works if the destinations are worth the detour, we’ve grouped the participating businesses by mood, appetite and mission.

So where should those stamps take you? That depends whether you’re chasing a long lunch, a practical errand, a little retail therapy or a proper reset.

The Food & Wine Trail

For many locals, Wilston Village starts with food. Whether you’re planning a proper sit-down meal, a casual catch-up or simply figuring out what’s for dinner, this stretch of the passport is arguably the easiest to fill.

The Shopping Expedition

Not every Wilston Village outing starts with a shopping list. Sometimes it starts with “just a quick look” and ends with the perfect gift, something unexpected, or a few purchases you’ll happily justify later.

“Me” Time

Some Wilston Village visits are less about discovery and more about self-care, whether that means a little pampering, a proper reset or finally making time for yourself.

Quick Stops

A good village isn’t just about long lunches and little indulgences. It’s also about the practical places that quietly make life easier — the post office run, the newspaper or magazine pick-up, or the travel experts you’re grateful to have nearby when a trip needs more than a quick online search.

After you’ve had your fill of the Village, don’t forget: once you’ve collected your three stamps and submitted your passport, there are ten $100 dining and retail vouchers up for grabs.

For those who know it well, Wilston Village hardly needs an introduction; but familiar places are often the easiest to overlook. Shop, Stamp & Win is a good excuse to revisit an old favourite, try somewhere new, and perhaps discover your next regular — with a shot at $100 along the way!

Published 22-May-2026

Shop, Stamp & Win is a Proud Promotional Partner of Brisbane Suburbs Online News. This is an advertorial.

Rare New Mexican Flavours Arrive in Stafford Through a Three-Generation Family Love Story

The trusted hospitality team behind local favourites Farmhouse and Oh Boy, Bok Choy is bringing a culinary experience rarely seen in Australia to Stafford by launching a 90-seat authentic New Mexican taqueria rooted in a deep family history.



A Family Legacy 

mexican
Photo Credit: Sancho’s Taqueria

Sancho Taqueria & Tequileria is slated to launch at Stafford Central in early to mid-June 2026. Rather than simply chasing the latest dining trends, owner Amanda Scott has built the venue around her family’s personal connection to the American Southwest. Her father moved to New Mexico as a child, where he fell in love with the local culture and language. He later married Scott’s mother in Albuquerque and honeymooned in Santa Fe, making the region’s food a staple in their household.

Scott shared that her parents’ affection for the region shaped their family history, and now her own children are the third generation to embrace this heritage. She explained that her father’s passion for the area led him to learn Spanish, study in Madrid, and develop a deep appreciation for Hispanic literature. The restaurant actually takes its name from Sancho Panza, the famously loyal sidekick in her father’s favourite Spanish novel, Don Quixote.

The Red or Green Question

mexican
Photo Credit: Sancho’s Taqueria

Diners will find a menu that steps away from standard contemporary Mexican fare. Instead, the kitchen focuses on the landlocked cuisine of New Mexico, which blends Native American Pueblo, Spanish, Mexican, and American frontier influences. Developed alongside consultant chef Julius Villamor, the taco-heavy menu is largely gluten-free and relies on the traditional Indigenous agricultural staples of corn, beans, and squash.

Visitors will also get to experience New Mexico’s official state question regarding their chilli sauce preference: red or green. Guests can choose a rich and earthy red sauce, a savoury and herbaceous green sauce, or simply ask for “Christmas” to get a portion of both. Everything is made from scratch, favouring deeply charred and smoked flavours. 

mexican
Photo Credit: Sancho’s Taqueria

Traditional regional baked goods will also make an appearance, including pillow-shaped fried pastries known as sopapillas and anise-spiced shortbreads called bizcochitos, which hold the title of New Mexico’s official state cookie. Scott noted that the new location draws heavily on her family’s past cultural connections, local produce, and the expertise of her staff.



Sunset Aesthetic and Curated Spirits

The drink selection focuses heavily on a carefully chosen range of tequila and mezcal. Signature cocktails are named after various New Mexican towns to complement the food. The Pueblo Margarita, for example, mixes reposado tequila with prickly pear syrup, fresh lime, orange bitters, and a chilli-tajin rim to create a colour that looks just like a mountain sunset. Drinkers will even find a map on the back of the beverage menu to help them locate the towns that inspired their drinks.

The design of the space completely avoids common visual clichés like hanging sombreros or chillies. Instead, the bright, understated dining room, bar, laneway, and al fresco areas are decorated in burnt oranges, hot pinks, and ochre undertones to mimic golden hour in the Sandia Mountains. Scott mentioned that the venue will feel like an unexpected escape on an ordinary street, allowing guests to forget their location, and will sprawl out much like their previous restaurant concepts.

Published Date 22-May-2026

Labor Retains Stafford After Kedron Voters Drive Sharp LNP Surge


Labor retained Stafford after voters across Kedron and Brisbane’s inner north delivered a strong swing towards the Liberal National Party in one of the closest contests seen in the electorate in recent years.



The Stafford by-election, held on 16 May, saw Labor candidate Luke Richmond edge ahead of LNP challenger Fiona Hammond after preference flows pushed him past the line following a tense night of counting. 

While Labor retained the seat once held by late MP Jimmy Sullivan, the result reflected shifting voter sentiment in suburbs including Kedron, Stafford Heights and Gordon Park.

The LNP secured more than 40 per cent of the primary vote, recording a swing towards the governing party in an electorate that has traditionally leaned Labor. The final result remained uncertain late into election night as postal votes and preferences continued to be counted.

Kedron Booths Show Stronger Support for the LNP

Results across Kedron polling booths showed stronger support for the LNP than in previous elections. Voters raised concerns about housing affordability, traffic congestion, rising household costs and pressure on local infrastructure as both major parties fought to win over undecided residents.

Labor’s primary vote dropped significantly compared with the last state election, while the LNP improved its position in several booths across the electorate. An election analyst noted the swing against Labor was significant compared with previous results in Brisbane’s inner north.

The Greens also played a major role in the outcome. Unlike previous elections, the party issued an open how-to-vote position rather than directing preferences to Labor. Despite that, a large share of Greens preferences still flowed back to Richmond during the final count.

Steven Miles Under Pressure After Close Stafford Result

The result has intensified scrutiny on Queensland Opposition Leader Steven Miles, who campaigned heavily throughout Kedron and surrounding suburbs during the short by-election campaign.

Speaking after the count, Mr Miles said Labor had expected a difficult contest given the large number of candidates and Ms Hammond’s profile as a former Brisbane city councillor. He maintained that holding the seat showed the party was rebuilding after its defeat at the 2024 state election.

However, senior figures within the LNP quickly framed the outcome as a political setback for Labor. Premier David Crisafulli described the swing towards the government as unexpected, while Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie argued the result showed dissatisfaction with Miles’ leadership.

Housing and Cost Pressures Shape Local Debate

Campaign discussions frequently focused on local issues including housing and transport. Residents across Kedron and Stafford pointed to rising rents, overcrowded roads and concerns about future development in established neighbourhoods.

Ms Hammond centred much of her campaign on long-term planning and cost-of-living pressure, while Mr Richmond focused on health services, schools and maintaining investment in local facilities.

At campaign events and polling booths, voter concerns frequently centred on local economic pressures rather than broader party messaging. Several reports linked the swing to concerns about mortgage repayments and housing affordability.

The by-election was triggered after Mr Sullivan’s passing in April. Mr Sullivan, who represented Stafford since 2015, was known for his local campaigning work across the electorate. His passing influenced the tone of the campaign across the electorate.

Preferences Decide the Final Outcome

As counting continued into Sunday, Labor’s lead remained dependent on preference distributions rather than first-choice votes alone. Postal voting heavily favoured the LNP, while Greens and minor-party preferences helped Mr Richmond move ahead in the final tally.

The outcome means Labor keeps the Stafford seat, while the swing recorded in Kedron and nearby suburbs is expected to draw attention from both major parties ahead of the 2028 Queensland election.



Published 19-May-2026