For Gordon Park singer-songwriter Ethan Dahl, the release of Stay For The Sunrise marks more than a second single. It is another step in a transition that has taken the 15-year-old from performing characters and songs written by others to putting his own stories into the spotlight.
The Brisbane northside musician releases the independently funded track on Friday, 14 August, following his debut single Wrong Girl in June. Both were produced by Australian producer Stuart Stuart, whose credits include Sheppard and The Veronicas.
Behind those releases is an unusual investment. Ethan has used savings earned through years of professional stage and screen work to fully fund his independent music releases — money he could otherwise have kept towards his first car.
“I’ve been saving the money I earned from musicals and acting for several years,” Ethan said.
“I knew I could keep it for a car, but investing in my music is more important to me right now. It’s a big investment, especially at my age, but earning the money through performing and then putting it into songs of my own makes releasing my own music mean even more.”
A New Story After Years on Stage
Ethan began musical theatre classes at six and started working professionally at 11, building experience across musical theatre, television and film before beginning to release music under his own name.
In 2022, he played Benji in Matt Ward Entertainment’s professional production of Priscilla Queen of the Desert at The Star Gold Coast. The following year, aged 12, he became one of three young Queensland performers selected to share the title role in the professional Gold Coast production of Billy Elliot the Musical.
The role demanded a new skill set. Ethan had no previous ballet training and began lessons only six months before the audition after learning the opportunity was approaching.
He committed himself to the challenge, developed the skills required and successfully earned the role.
His screen experience has included numerous background roles as well as speaking roles in a television episode and a film. Those professional jobs not only built his performance experience but also allowed him to begin saving for his future.
Rather than keeping those savings for a car, Ethan has redirected the money into writing, recording and independently releasing songs of his own.
The shift is a natural extension of the storytelling skills he developed on stage, but it has also given him something his earlier roles could not: ownership of the words and stories he performs.
“Musical theatre and acting taught me how to tell a story and connect with an audience,” Ethan said.
“Writing my own songs lets me do that in a different way because now the story and the words are coming from me.”
Much of Ethan’s early professional work involved performing established characters and material. His developing career as a singer-songwriter now places his own words and ideas at the centre.
‘Stay For The Sunrise’ Holds Onto the Moment
Ethan’s second single continues that move into original songwriting with an energetic contemporary indie-pop sound.
At its heart, Stay For The Sunrise is about escaping the pressures of everyday life for a night and wanting that feeling of freedom to continue.
“‘Stay For The Sunrise’ is about that feeling where you decide to have a night off from the day-to-day pressure and be free,” Ethan said.
“You know the night has to end eventually, but you want to stay there and make that feeling last for as long as you can. I think that’s something people of any age can relate to.”
The track follows Wrong Girl, Ethan’s independently funded debut single released in June 2026. Both were produced by Stuart Stuart and chart Ethan’s development from young professional stage performer into an independent singer-songwriter.
Live Stages Shape His Next Move
Ethan’s move into original music has developed alongside regular live performances across Brisbane and South East Queensland.
In October 2025, he opened for Australian singer-songwriter Pete Murray at Eatons Hill Hotel. He was also a finalist in the 2025 Ekka Country Music Showdown, finished runner-up in the 2025 Noosa STARS alive! competition and returned as a finalist in 2026.
He has also performed at community events including Redcliffe’s KiteFest, the Pine Rivers Show and the Mother’s Day Classic, as well as regular open mic nights around Brisbane.
Another step came with Ethan’s selection for the 2026 Vermilion High program, an initiative of QUT’s student-run record label, Vermilion Records.
The program works with selected high-school artists, giving them opportunities to develop, record and release original music with support from QUT student mentors and creative collaborators.
Northside Crowds Next in Line
For all the movement between theatre, recording and live music, Ethan’s next performances bring the story back close to home.
He will perform at WindsorFest in Windsor on Saturday, 29 August, followed by the Nundah Festival on Sunday, 13 September.
On Sunday, 11 October, Ethan is also scheduled to perform at the Move Over Mama Luxe Lunch at The Star Gold Coast, returning to the venue where he previously appeared in Priscilla Queen of the Desert and Billy Elliot the Musical.
At 15, Ethan’s professional performance history already stretches across theatre, screen and live music. What has changed is who is writing the material.
The money earned performing other people’s stories is now helping him put his own into the world.
Brisbane has released a draft 20-year vision to revitalise the Kedron Brook catchment, setting out a long-term direction for a healthier, more resilient waterway and a stronger lifestyle and recreation corridor.
The Kedron Brook Revitalisation Draft Vision follows an initial stage of community engagement in 2025, with the feedback received helping shape the latest proposal alongside detailed technical investigations.
The draft is now back before the community, with residents and visitors being invited to comment on how the waterway and surrounding areas could evolve over the next two decades.
Paths, Crossings, And A More Resilient Brook
Photo credit: BCC
For residents who regularly walk, run or cycle beside the Brook, the draft includes several proposed changes to the pathway network. Kedron Brook has about 20km of pathways used by more than 600,000 cyclists and pedestrians each year. The vision proposes upgrades and widening to improve walking, running and cycling connections through the catchment.
Flood-prone sections of bikeway are proposed to be relocated, while safer crossings, more resilient bridges and flood-resilient lighting are among the measures identified for the corridor. The proposals extend beyond paths and transport links. At Grinstead Park, concrete drains are proposed to be replaced with natural waterways, while opportunities have been identified to widen waterway pinch points along Kedron Brook.
The draft also identifies opportunities to strengthen wildlife habitat, improve water quality and restore natural systems, alongside measures aimed at improving the catchment’s resilience to flooding. More shade, seating, drinking fountains, lookouts and additional trees are also included in the vision.
Photo credit: BCC
Cr Adrian Schrinner said the proposal was intended to make Kedron Brook an even stronger nature-based destination.
“Our vision is for Kedron Brook to become an even better nature-based destination, with well-lit paths, safer crossings and more resilient bridges, more shade, seating and drinking fountains, new lookouts, and more trees to help create cooler, leafier neighbourhoods.
“While we cannot prevent flooding, we can plan for it. This draft vision will improve flood resilience, restore the natural function of the Brook where possible and protect the natural environment that makes it so special.”
The draft vision describes Kedron Brook as a place where people can walk, ride, play sport, connect with nature and enjoy their local community, while planning for a more flood-resilient landscape.
The proposed measures cover movement and recreation along the waterway, as well as environmental restoration and flood resilience. Any changes would form part of a long-term approach rather than a single construction project.
Have Your Say
Photo credit: BCC
Community members can provide feedback on the draft vision through an online survey or by attending one of nine information kiosks being held at locations throughout the catchment.
An upcoming session will be held at Hickey Park in Stafford on Saturday, August 15, from 9am to 11am. Other sessions are scheduled at Teralba Park, Kalinga Park, Dash Street Park, Shaw Estate Park and Grinstead Park throughout August and early September.
Community engagement closes at 11.59pm on Sunday, September 6, 2026.
The consultation page states that community input will help shape the final Vision. The draft vision and consultation details can be viewed through Brisbane’s Kedron Brook Revitalisation consultation page.
A concrete-lined section of Downfall Creek in Stafford Heights is being reshaped into a more natural waterway, with Grey Gum Park remaining accessible where possible as construction changes part of the local park.
For pedestrians, cyclists and dog park users, the project will mean construction activity around a space that will continue to be used while the work is carried out. Temporary fencing, machinery, increased noise and managed access are expected in parts of Grey Gum Park, while the dog park will remain open throughout construction.
Work on the Downfall Creek channel naturalisation project was scheduled to begin from Monday, 27 July 2026, with the project now listed as in progress.
Access through Grey Gum Park will be maintained where possible, although pedestrians and cyclists may encounter traffic control and temporary detours around the work area.
Some tree removal and vegetation trimming will also be required to safely deliver the project. Machinery will operate within sections of the park during standard work hours, bringing additional activity and noise while construction continues.
Despite those temporary changes, maintaining usable community space is one of the stated aims of the project.
The works focus on a 115-metre section of Downfall Creek, replacing part of the existing concrete-lined channel with a more natural creek form.
A Different Look for Downfall Creek
Sections of concrete will be removed before excavation and reshaping of the creek. Rocks, logs, sandstone boulders, rock pools, native vegetation and other habitat elements are planned for the new creek environment.
Landscaping and revegetation will extend along the creek and surrounding areas, with the project intended to improve water quality, provide habitat for native species and strengthen ecological connections along the waterway.
The work is also intended to support the long-term health of Downfall Creek, which flows through Brisbane suburbs before reaching Moreton Bay.
Nearly $2.7 million is supporting the project through the Australian Government’s Urban Rivers and Catchments Program.
North Brisbane Catchments has said it proposed the project. Community responses posted with its announcement included support for the planned changes, while one commenter expressed hope that the work would be carried out well.
Grey Gum Park Works Continue Into 2027
Initial site works include fencing, surveys and access track construction before the project progresses through concrete removal, excavation, rock placement, creek restoration and extensive revegetation.
Construction is expected to continue into 2027, subject to site and weather conditions. During that period, temporary controls will remain around the work area while access through Grey Gum Park is maintained where possible.
The dog park will remain open throughout construction.
Gordon Park photographer Tyler Sharman has won the Open Category of the 2026 Lord Mayor’s Photographic Awards with an image capturing people trying to stay dry during a Brisbane downpour.
His winning photograph, Rush Hour, earned the top prize of $5,000 after being selected from more than 2,200 entries in this year’s competition. Taken on a rainy day at the corner of Edward and Adelaide streets in Brisbane City, the photograph shows a lone pedestrian hurrying through the wet streets to stay dry.
The image reflects this year’s theme, Everyday Brisbane, which focused on genuine moments, people and places across the city.
A Brisbane Downpour Frozen in Time
“I captured this photograph on a very rainy day on the corner of Edward and Adelaide Streets. People were in a rush to stay dry,” Sharman said in his official awards entry.
The photograph went on to win the Open Category, with its subject reflecting the rainy conditions described in Sharman’s entry.
Rather than focusing on a landmark, Rush Hour captures people responding to the rainy conditions on a Brisbane street. The photograph captures a moment from a rainy day in Brisbane City.
2026 Lord Mayor’s Photographic Awards
Photo credit: BCC
This year’s competition invited people who live, work or study in Brisbane to photograph the people, places and moments that make up everyday life in the city.
More than 2,200 entries were submitted for the 2026 awards, covering scenes ranging from city streets and riverside views to wildlife, family life and cultural experiences.
Sharman’s Rush Hour led the Open Category, with Wynnum photographer Nigel Wesley taking second place for Shooting the Breeze. Wesley’s photograph captured neighbours enjoying an afternoon chat and earned a $2,000 prize.
Bulimba photographer Jonathan Wood placed third with Australia, an image showing a child enjoying a sprinkler and trampoline on a summer day. Other category winners included Maria Pena, who took the Student Category with Quiet Mornings, and Lewis Bin Doraho, who received the Lavonne Bobongie Award for Flying Low, featuring a Super Hornet during a Riverfire practice run.
The Green Heart Category went to Nicolas Willemsen for Council of the “Crest” Fallen Choir, while Alex Harding won the Social Media Category with When the Fountains Sleep. Three photographs were also selected for the new Brisbane Postcards Collection.
The winning photographs and People’s Choice finalists can also be viewed at free exhibitions across Brisbane. The exhibition at the Museum of Brisbane runs from August 1 to November 1, while Brisbane Square is hosting the display from August 3 to 28 and the Brisbane Airport Domestic Terminal from August 3 to 31.
Did you know that Queensland’s oldest continuously performing male choir has been singing for more than 140 years? Established in 1884, the Brisbane Apollo Male Choir has continued performing through changing eras, including both World Wars, while remaining active in Brisbane.
Today, that musical heritage continues in Stafford, where the choir has rehearsed at St Clements on the Hill Anglican Church Hall in Eudunda Street since 2018. The move followed a decade at St James Anglican Church Hall in nearby Newmarket after increasing traffic noise prompted the search for a quieter rehearsal venue.
From Brisbane Liedertafel to Brisbane Apollo
Audience photograph of a ‘Liedertafel smoke concert’ held in the Exhibition Concert Hall, Bowen Hills, 1901 (Photo credit: John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland)
The choir’s story began after an appeal in 1884 invited interested gentlemen to form a male choir in Brisbane. Sixteen men answered the call, leading to the formation of the Brisbane Liedertafel on 16 July 1884.
Early rehearsals were held in Messrs Pollard and Co’s warehouse at 120 Queen Street under the direction of H. J. Pollard, with W. A. Calfisch as accompanist. The choir presented its first public concert at the original Brisbane Town Hall in Queen Street on 16 July 1885.
“Liedertafel,” a German term meaning “song table”, reflected a tradition of men gathering around a table to sing together in harmony. During World War I, patriotic sentiment led the choir to adopt the name Brisbane Apollo Club in 1916. The name honoured Apollo, the Greek god associated with music, song and poetry. In 1993, the organisation was officially registered as Brisbane Apollo Male Choir Inc.
More Than a Century of Song
The 1930 Brisbane Apollo Club with conductor Leonard Francis (Fourth from left; front row) Photo credit: Clare Faragher via brisbaneapollochoir.com
The choir built a strong reputation for its performances, particularly under conductors Leonard Francis, who led from 1913 to 1936, and Percy Brier, who directed the ensemble from 1936 to 1939. Contemporary newspaper reports praised the choir’s musical standards and performances.
In 1985, the choir celebrated its centenary with a commemorative concert at Brisbane City Hall. Proceeds from the event were donated to St Vincent’s Hostel at South Brisbane.
Over the years, the choir has rehearsed at several Brisbane venues, including the Shaftsbury Centre in Spring Hill and St James Anglican Church Hall in Newmarket before relocating to Stafford in 2018.
Continuing the Tradition in Stafford
Photo credit: Brisbane Apollo Male Choir
The choir is currently led by musical director Guillaume Lemay-Yates, an experienced conductor, singer, instrumentalist and arranger who is also an accomplished saxophonist and pianist.
Rehearsals are held every Monday from 1.00 pm to 3.30 pm at St Clements on the Hill Anglican Church Hall. Men interested in singing are encouraged to enquire about joining the choir.
Today, the Brisbane Apollo Male Choir continues its weekly rehearsals in Stafford, carrying forward a tradition that began in Brisbane in 1884.
Lutwyche is home to a historic church that has anchored the local community for over 160 years, with St Andrew’sAnglican Church reaching its 100th year of service this week.
The story of the parish began when Judge Alfred Lutwyche, the inaugural Supreme Court Judge for the Moreton Bay district, provided the land for a place of worship in the 1860s. After residents voiced a collective need for a local church near Kedron Brook, the judge stepped forward to secure the site.
The original building, a timber construction designed in the Gothic style, stood on the property as an English-style village church. Remarkably, the community managed to build it entirely through public subscription, ensuring the site was free of debt from its first day of operation.
Evolution of a Landmark
As the population grew in the early 1920s, the original wooden building proved too small for the expanding congregation. The parish commissioned architect Louis Williams to design a more substantial replacement, leading to the construction of the iconic brick building still found on Lutwyche Road today. When the doors finally welcomed the public in 1926, the structure made history as the first Anglican church in Brisbane to feature a tower and spire.
The site later received significant upgrades in 1960. During this period, the older timber sections were removed to make way for a new sanctuary that incorporated ancient stonework from South Wales. The church also became well-known for its collection of 13 bells, which were cast in England and installed in the late 1920s to mark the church’s unique presence in the landscape.
The church grounds hold deep personal significance for many, including the current Priest-in-Charge, Jenny Simson. Having been baptised and confirmed at the church as a child, she now oversees the parish where her own history began. She notes that the church has served as a consistent backdrop for the milestones of local lives, witnessing families return over decades for weddings and the baptisms of their own children.
Beyond the Sunday services, the parish maintains a long tradition of forward-thinking involvement. Records from the 1890s reveal that the church’s Parochial Council was one of the first in the region to invite women to take seats as elected members.
Visitors to the grounds can still see the resting place of Judge Lutwyche, whose grave is marked by a distinctive Celtic cross. Inside, the building preserves history through stained glass windows saved from the original 1866 structure, which continue to depict various saints and figures.
To mark the centenary, Bishop Sarah Plowman led a special service, followed by morning tea and guided tours of the grounds. The Windsor Historical Society provided a detailed timeline and a collection of vintage photographs, allowing guests to trace the path from the site’s humble timber beginnings to its present-day role. It was a day for both long-term parishioners and new residents to explore the layers of history that define this corner of Brisbane.
The police are investigating a string of suspicious fires after a Lutwyche tattoo studio was targeted three times in just over a week, shutting down a major Brisbane commuter corridor and leaving local traders on edge.
Emergency services were called to CB Ink Tattoo Studio on Lutwyche Road shortly after 6:00 a.m. on Monday, 3 August. Firefighters quickly brought the blaze under control, but the damage was done.
Police immediately cordoned off the shop, establishing a crime scene at the venue, which houses over 25 artists.
Targeted arson sprees caught on camera
Monday’s early-morning fire marks the third attack on the business in eight days. Emergency crews previously responded to back-to-back blazes at 2:30 a.m. on Monday, 27 July, and 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday, 28 July.
CCTV footage from the earlier incidents captured a grey vehicle stopping outside the shop before a man smashed a front window and attempted to ignite the interior. Separate footage showed two masked men pouring accelerant near the storefront before fleeing in a silver Audi.
While no injuries have been reported, the repeated strikes have caused chaos for staff and clients, forcing the studio to scramble to reschedule appointments and manage significant property damage.
Photo Credit: Google Maps screengrab
Commuters delayed as police appeal for leads
Monday’s emergency response also severely disrupted peak-hour traffic, with QldTraffic closing an inbound lane on Lutwyche Road and causing heavy delays before the road was cleared.
Queensland Police are treating all three blazes as linked, targeted arson attacks. However, no arrests have been made and a motive remains unclear.
Detectives are urging anyone with dashcam footage or information regarding suspicious activity along Lutwyche Road during the early-morning periods of 27 & 28 July, or 3 August to contact Policelink on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Kedron recorded 922 offences in the past year, with theft leading the local figures by a clear margin, according to the crime dashboard in the attached images.
The biggest category was other theft, which accounted for 389 offences. After that came drug offences with 141, traffic and related offences with 83, and unlawful entry with 68. The dashboard also shows assault, property damage, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, fraud, handling stolen goods, weapons offences, trespassing and vagrancy, misdemeanour offences and a smaller number of robberies.
For a suburb like Kedron, these numbers show the kind of issues residents may notice around shopping strips, transport corridors and local streets. The data also shows crime was spread across the day rather than limited to one time block.
Evening hours carry the highest offence count
The busiest period was 2pm to 10pm, when 406 offences were recorded. That was well ahead of the 10pm to 6am period, which had 277 offences, and the 6am to 2pm period, which recorded 239.
In the afternoon and evening window, other theft again topped the list with 158 offences. There were also 65 drug offences, 46 traffic and related offences, 27 assaults, 20 property damage offences and 17 unlawful entry offences.
The overnight period also stands out in the data. Between 10pm and 6am, the suburb recorded 96 other thefts, 60 drug offences and 39 unlawful entry offences. That suggests Kedron’s offence pattern is not limited to daylight hours and remains active late into the night.
Crime Stoppers warns of money traps
The local figures come as Crime Stoppers Queensland launches a new national awareness campaign warning people about organised crime “money traps”.
Photo Credit: Crime Stoppers Queensland
The campaign is designed to help people spot recruitment tactics used by criminal networks, including fake job offers, social media messages and promises of easy money. People may be asked to move money through their bank account, share banking details or let someone else use their account.
Crime Stoppers says the warning is aimed especially at international students and temporary visa holders, but the message applies to everyone. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
A timely reminder for Kedron residents
For Kedron residents, the message is a simple one: stay alert to theft, fraud and suspicious online offers, and do not be rushed into sharing personal banking details.
The suburb’s offence data shows crime can take many forms, from property offences to drug-related incidents and traffic offences. Combined with the new Crime Stoppers campaign, it is a reminder that a careful eye and a quick report can help protect the community.
Ask the kids at Kedron State School about their discipline policy, and you might hear them call it the “school with no rules”. Ask the state’s annual survey, and you’ll find one of the most successful behaviour records in the city.
The annual survey measures community confidence rather than tallying up playground incidents or suspension counts. At Kedron State School, that confidence comes from a bold strategy: ditching exhaustive lists of banned behaviours in favour of teaching kids how to manage themselves.
Trading rulebooks for responsibility
Principal Susie Randel-Kneipp says the school made a deliberate decision to step away from long lists of minor infractions framed around what students can’t do. Instead, teachers guide children to understand how their choices impact others and what responsibility looks like in practice.
While Kedron still enforces a formal Student Code of Conduct, day-to-day culture relies on positive frameworks. Tools like the Kedron Cross, STRIVE expectations, and the Connecting4Success wellbeing program replace rigid policing with core values: respect, responsibility, safety, and self-regulation.
The goal is to teach children to recognise their emotions and adjust their own actions, rather than waiting for an adult to step in.
Emotional toolkit starts in Prep
This focus on self-regulation starts the moment students enter prep. Using the Zones of Regulation framework, teachers help four- and five-year-olds identify their emotional triggers and understand how their mood affects their classmates. By the time students reach upper primary, they are working directly with teachers to set personal STRIVE learning goals.
A 2025 school review found the strategy pays off. Reviewers noted that Connecting4Success actively builds student independence and self-belief, creating a caring environment where children and staff share a common language for handling tricky moments.
Photo Credit: Google Maps screengrab
No isolated teachers in the staffroom
Kedron’s perfect score among staff reflects a workplace culture built on heavy collaboration. The 2025 review highlighted deep trust among the teaching team, noting that staff felt comfortable seeking advice and that newer teachers felt strongly supported by leadership.
When staff feels backed by colleagues, discipline ceases to be a solo battle. For students, it creates a seamless culture where expectations remain rock-solid, no matter which classroom they walk into.
Kedron actively opens its gates to families through class reps, regular catch-ups, and active volunteer networks. But when it comes to discipline, the boundaries are drawn with laser precision.
The school’s 2025 Parent Community Volunteer Handbook instructs helpers to model positive habits and offer encouraging choices, while leaving discipline and redirection strictly to professional staff.
The handbook also embeds the school’s core philosophy into volunteering: adults are advised to give students time to respond when making a choice, giving children the breathing room needed to think, settle, and take ownership of their next move.
Confidence over perfection
Kedron’s survey results don’t suggest a school without classroom disruptions or childhood mistakes. What they show is absolute confidence in the system when challenges do surface.
By prioritising emotional maturity over rigid rulebooks, Kedron has built a culture where students take ownership of their choices—and proved why a school dubbed “rule-free” by its kids is pulling in some of the highest discipline marks in Brisbane.
