Kedron State High School’s Nicholas “Nick” Coupland has earned a place in Queensland’s under-18 lawn bowls team after playing the sport for less than a year, whilst also claiming a silver medal at the state championships representing his local club in Brisbane’s north.
The achievement was recognised in early 2026, following the 2026 Junior State Championships run by Bowls Queensland, where junior players from across the state competed in multiple formats.
Nick has quickly become known within the school community for his progress in lawn bowls. He is also a member of Northern Suburbs Bowls Club in Wavell Heights, where he competes in junior competitions.
Nick’s selection places him among a group of young athletes chosen to represent Queensland in lawn bowls, following performances at sanctioned events and championships.
Northern Suburbs Bowls Club has indicated through its posts that it supports junior development and welcomes new players, with Nick’s progress offering a clear example of how quickly young athletes can move through the ranks when given access to coaching and competition.
According to Bowls Queensland, junior state squads are selected based on results and development within the sport’s competitive structure. His runner-up finish in the under-18 singles event reflects the standard of competition at the state level, where players progress through qualifying rounds before reaching finals.
Nick’s achievement has drawn attention within the Kedron community to junior lawn bowls, a sport that continues to build participation among younger players in Brisbane.
Sancho Taqueria & Tequileria, a New Mexican restaurant opening on Stafford Road in Stafford in early June, is the latest venture from the team behind Farmhouse Kedron and Oh Boy, Bok Choy!, and it is built entirely around a cuisine that most Australians have never encountered, let alone tasted.
It’s easy to confuse New Mexico with Mexico, but they’re not the same, and that distinction sits at the heart of what Amanda Scott is building at Sancho. The landlocked American state sandwiched between Texas and Arizona carries one of the most layered culinary histories in the Western Hemisphere, shaped over centuries by Pueblo Native American traditions, Spanish colonisation, Mexican influence and the American frontier.
The result is a cuisine with its own vocabulary, its own official state question and its own deeply regional soul, and almost none of it has made it to Brisbane until now.
“We’re not doing a Mexican restaurant because it’s on trend,” Scott said. “We’re doing a New Mexican restaurant because it’s part of our family story. Every venue we do has a connection with our family story.”
A Family Connection to Albuquerque and Santa Fe
The connection runs deep. Scott’s father moved to New Mexico as a child and it was there that he fell in love with the Spanish language and culture. Her parents married in Albuquerque and honeymooned in Santa Fe. New Mexican food has been part of the Scott family table for her entire life.
That personal history shapes the entire premise of Sancho. Rather than chasing a dining trend, Scott is translating lived memory into a neighbourhood restaurant, the same instinct that drove Farmhouse Kedron, which has won Restaurant and Catering Australia’s Best Breakfast Restaurant in South East Queensland and consistently features among Brisbane’s most celebrated cafés, and Oh Boy, Bok Choy!, the Southeast Asian kitchen that opened next door on Stafford Road in June 2021.
Sancho will occupy the space previously held by King of the Wings, right alongside Oh Boy, Bok Choy!. It seats approximately 90 people, designed for both drop-in dinners and larger celebrations.
A Cuisine Brisbane Hasn’t Seen Before
New Mexican cuisine traces its roots back to what food historians call the three sisters: the companion planting of corn, beans and squash that formed the backbone of Indigenous American agriculture for thousands of years. Spanish colonisation brought wheat, rice, beef and new cooking techniques that blended with those Indigenous foundations.
An illustration of Maize, climbing beans, and winter squash planted together. Photo Credit: Wikipedia
Cross-pollination with Mexico added further layers over generations. The result has less in common with the Tex-Mex most Australians know than it does with something altogether older and more regional.
The defining ingredient is chile, and New Mexico’s official state question, “Red or green?”, tells you everything about how central it is. Red chiles are fully ripened, dried and pureed into a mellow, earthy sauce. Green chiles are harvested earlier, roasted and chopped into a brighter, spicier sauce. Every meal comes down to that choice, or “Christmas” if you want both.
Scott is working with consultant chef Julius Villamor, formerly of Baja, to shape a taco-driven menu where salsas take centre stage. The Fiesta banquet will open with sopapillas, the hollow, pillow-shaped fried bread that has been a table staple in New Mexican homes and restaurants for generations, traditionally served with honey.
It will close with bizcochitos, the anise and cinnamon shortbread cookies that have held the title of New Mexico’s official state cookie since 1989.
“As far as the menu, tacos will be the main thing,” Scott said. “But our Fiesta banquet will start with sopapillas and will end with an excellent bizcochito.”
Pink, Orange and No Sombreros
The look of the place is as considered as the food. Scott has ruled out the visual clichés entirely.
“There’ll be no sombreros, no chilies hanging from the ceiling,” she said. “The colour scheme I’m going with, the pinks and oranges, reflects the colours of the Sandia Mountains in New Mexico. The sunsets there are spectacular.”
A feature mural in hot pink and tangerine orange will anchor the interior, drawing on the mountain range that frames Albuquerque to the east, one of New Mexico’s most recognisable landscapes. The fit-out is understated beyond that, letting the food and the story do the work.
The drinks list follows the same logic: a focused selection of tequila and mezcal alongside signature cocktails named after New Mexico towns, with a map of the state printed on the back of the menu so drinkers can locate the places that inspired each drink.
Planning Your Visit
Sancho Taqueria & Tequileria is on track to open in early June 2026 at 264 Stafford Road, Stafford, next door to Oh Boy, Bok Choy! Free parking is available at the rear of Stafford Central. Keep an eye on future updates.
Family, friends, and community members gathered at a Kedron church to farewell Stafford MP Jimmy Sullivan, who was found dead at his unit on 9 April at the age of 44.
The Little Flower Catholic Church in Kedron hosted the funeral service yesterday, 22 April. Students from the adjacent Padua College, where Mr Sullivan had attended school and served as school captain in his final year, lined the entrance to the church and helped guide mourners inside.
Mr Sullivan’s brother Daniel described him as essentially three different people: an energetic and ambitious young man, a respected community leader, and a person who struggled with significant personal difficulties in his later years. Daniel said it would be wrong to gloss over that final version of his brother, acknowledging he had battled his demons and that those struggles were the reason the family was together that day, forty years too early. He said the family had been heartened by messages from the community thanking Mr Sullivan for his service.
His best friend Jacob remembered Mr Sullivan as great fun and a seasoned karaoke performer. Others who spoke at the service described him as diligent, trustworthy, empathetic and a confident advocate. Jacob added that while teenagers could often be an unkind bunch, Mr Sullivan had been the antidote.
Mr Sullivan’s mother Trish acknowledged that her son’s journey had not been an easy one and had become complicated in ways that were painful to those closest to him. She said she would remember him from his earlier years, full of potential, while also holding compassion for the struggles he faced later. She described him as someone who was, and remained, a person who mattered.
Mr Sullivan is survived by a daughter who will turn two this year.
Career and community service
Photo credit: Facebook/Jimmy Sullivan MP
Mr Sullivan was a local through and through, having grown up and attended school in the Stafford electorate. His father, Terry Sullivan, had represented the same seat in state parliament from 2001 to 2006.
Before entering parliament, Mr Sullivan worked as a lawyer and judge’s associate in Queensland’s District Court. He went on to work in policy and government roles across Brisbane, Canberra and Washington DC, including a stint in the office of Democratic senator Ron Wyden. He later served as chief of staff to former attorney-general Yvette D’Ath.
He was first elected to the Queensland Legislative Assembly in October 2020 as the Labor member for Stafford, and was appointed Assistant Minister for Justice and Veterans’ Affairs in December 2023 under then-premier Steven Miles.
He was re-elected in 2024, holding his seat despite a 5.5 per cent swing against him. He was placed on leave to attend to medical and legal issues before being disendorsed by Labor in May 2025. No charges were ever laid in relation to an alleged domestic incident that occurred after the election. He moved to the crossbench as an independent and continued to represent Stafford until his death.
In his first address to parliament as an independent, Mr Sullivan spoke openly about his mental health, telling MPs he had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder connected to the death of his first daughter. He said he had spiralled, recognised it, and sought healthcare.
By-election set for 16 May
Mr Sullivan’s death has triggered a by-election for the seat of Stafford, to be held on 16 May. Premier David Crisafulli confirmed that Governor Jeanette Young had issued the writs, formally launching the campaign. Mr Crisafulli said it was vital the community have representation ahead of the June state budget.
The electorate, which takes in Brisbane’s northern suburbs including Stafford, Chermside, and Kedron, has been won by Labor in nine of the past ten elections. Neither major party had confirmed a candidate at the time of publication.
If this story has raised concerns for you or someone you know, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.
A Lutwyche-based rescue group, formerly a cat cafe, shared an appeal that led to a new home for an elderly cat left alone in an Aspley house after her owner passed away.
A social media appeal shared by Cat Cuddle Cafe Brisbane in Lutwyche described the situation of Penny, a 17-year-old cat who was left on her own following the death of her elderly owner. While their physical cafe closed in 2022, Cat Cuddle Cafe continues to operate and raise funds through its online shop.
Penny had been living in the Aspley rental property for close to a month while the home was being cleared.
Photo credit: Facebook/Cat Cuddle Cafe Brisbane
The situation was brought to the cafe’s attention by a neighbour, Emily, who reached out in early April in the hope of finding the shy cat a safe place to go. In her message, Emily said Penny was affectionate towards her owner, who referred to her as his “lucky Penny.”
Penny has been described as a very shy cat, fearful of unfamiliar people and prone to hiding. With unfamiliar visitors coming in and out of the home, Penny remained frightened and largely out of sight. Emily and her husband visited daily to feed her, but the cat would only come out when the house was quiet to eat and use her litter tray.
Emily also noted that Penny, a former rescue cat, had not lived with other pets or children to her knowledge. She said a calm, quiet household where Penny could be the only animal would likely suit her best, adding that she was concerned the cat’s age and temperament might make it difficult to find the right home.
The post received a strong response online, with many people sharing it. Within two weeks, an update confirmed Penny had been rehomed, and she has since moved into a new household with two other rescue cats, Lilly and Norah.
Photo credit: Facebook/Cat Cuddle Cafe Brisbane
“Penny now lives with Lilly and Norah, her new fur sisters. Both rescued so they are a mishmash of girls living in a quiet home. She will be able to live her best life with her new family. They have lots of love to share with her,” Cat Cuddle Cafe Brisbane wrote.
Penny is still settling in and remains anxious. She remains in her own space for the time being as she adjusts to her new environment. The group noted the response from the community, stating that shares and engagement with the post helped connect Penny with her new family.
For Brisbane dog owners seeking a real escape from fenced-in parks, a two-kilometre off-leash track along the Kedron Brook Floodway offers unparalleled freedom for well-trained pets.
More popular than a fresh bone, this stretch of green space has become a go-to spot for local pet owners. It provides a rare opportunity for dogs to do what they love best: run at full speed, explore new smells, and even enjoy a playful splash in the bubbling brook.
The sheer size of the area means there is plenty of room for everyone, allowing dogs to burn off their energy and socialise in a natural environment.
Navigating the Brook
Photo Credit: Google Maps
Regular visitors suggest the best way to experience the walk is to start at Gilbert Road and head north along the water towards Thistle Street. This path covers the main off-leash section.
However, owners should be aware that the area is not fenced. This freedom comes with the responsibility of ensuring your dog has a strong recall and will return when called, which is essential for their safety and the comfort of others using the park.
The success of this shared space relies on considerate behaviour from all its users. For the safety and comfort of every person and pet, it is recommended that dogs that are not overly sociable remain on their lead. To help keep the area clean and beautiful for everyone to enjoy, Brisbane City Council provides plenty of poo bags and bins along the pathway, and visitors are encouraged to make good use of them.
Published Date 2-October-2025 Updated 2-April-2026
Keith Payne VC Park in Stafford has been upgraded with new playground equipment, added shade, and improved amenities, providing an updated outdoor space for local families on Lutana Street.
Keith Payne VC Park in Stafford has undergone a significant upgrade, introducing new play equipment, shade elements, improved amenities, and a newly built toilet block. The changes aim to improve everyday use of the park for families, carers, and children.
The park remains an important outdoor space for nearby residents, particularly those living in apartments who rely on accessible recreational areas. The updated layout includes additional seating positioned closer to the playground, making supervision easier for parents and carers.
The upgrade followed community feedback about the need to improve the playground and provide better seating and facilities. Input gathered through a planning process, including a community session and an online survey, informed the final design.
Construction commenced in 2025 and has now been completed. The park is set to officially open in March 2026, marking the completion of the works.
Residents have indicated that the upgrades have improved how the park is used, with families continuing to visit after school and throughout the day.
New Features Now In Place In Stafford
The upgraded site includes a new playground, added shade, improved amenities, and a toilet block. These additions were introduced to make the park more practical and accessible for regular users.
The improvements focus on functionality, ensuring the space can better support families and daily community use.
A Park With Historical Significance
Keith Payne VC Park in Stafford is named after a Victoria Cross recipient and former local resident. The site also includes a memorial recognising his service and legacy.
Memorial records show the park features dedication plaques and commemorative elements honouring Victoria Cross recipients across multiple conflicts, including the Boer War, World War I and World War II.
Plaque details indicate the park was officially named on 10 January 1971. Separate memorial records list an opening date of 25 May 1997.
Details of the official opening are expected to be shared locally. With the upgrade now complete, the park continues to function as both a recreational area and a commemorative site within Stafford.
Construction has begun on a $70 million aged care facility in Kedron, with Rockpool Residential Aged Care progressing a new 143-bed development in Brisbane’s north.
Work is underway at the Rockpool Kedron site following a sod-turning event held in March 2026, marking the start of the build.
The Kedron project forms part of a pipeline of three aged care facilities scheduled to open across 2026 and 2027, as the organisation continues its expansion across south-east Queensland.
The Kedron development will include landscaped gardens, a veggie patch and a hobby shed as part of its outdoor spaces.
Additional amenities planned for the site include communal domestic kitchens, walking tracks, an on-site laundry, outdoor barbecue facilities, a café, a hair and beauty salon, and a wellness and vitality centre.
The project has also been designed as a gas-free site powered by renewable energy.
Builder And Expansion Activity
Construction firm McNab has been appointed to deliver Rockpool Kedron, marking the sixth project completed in partnership between the two organisations.
Rockpool Residential Aged Care was established in 2016 by Bill Summers and Michael Watson. In 2025, four operating homes were acquired by Regis for $135.5 million.
The Kedron development represents one of several projects scheduled for completion over the next two years, contributing to additional aged care capacity in Brisbane and surrounding areas.
A children’s cupcake and lemonade stand in Stafford Heights became the subject of a food licensing complaint, prompting an investigation before BCC confirmed the matter would not proceed further.
A small cupcake and lemonade stall organised by neighbourhood children in Stafford Heights, on Brisbane’s northside, prompted a complaint regarding food licensing requirements.
The complaint was submitted through Queensland Health, alleging that food was being manufactured and sold from a residential address without a food business licence. The matter was referred to Brisbane City Council for review.
A letter was later issued to the household advising that records suggested a food business may have been operating without the required licence. The notice also outlined that operating a licensable food business without approval may result in penalties under section 49 of the Food Act 2006.
The stall was organised by several children from the neighbourhood and was held as a weekend activity. Items available included cupcakes, mini cupcakes, brownies, jam drops, vanilla slice and lemonade.
The children prepared the baked goods and organised the stand as a way to raise pocket money. A similar stall had reportedly been held three years earlier.
The activity involved several children working together to prepare and sell the items from outside a residential property in the area.
Food Safety Rules For Temporary Stalls
Queensland’s Food Act 2006 regulates the sale of food and generally requires businesses selling food to hold an appropriate licence.
The legislation also applies to temporary stalls and roadside sales. Health authorities note that some non-profit fundraising activities involving low-risk foods may be exempt from licensing requirements depending on the circumstances.
The complaint that triggered the investigation was submitted anonymously through an online reporting channel. After reviewing the situation, BCC confirmed that it would not pursue the matter further.
The outcome means no enforcement action will be taken regarding the children’s bake stall in Stafford Heights.
The family involved indicated that if a similar activity is organised in the future, alternative items such as plants or handmade crafts may be considered instead.
Two men are facing charges after a string of alleged early morning incidents impacting Kedron and Lutwyche, including reported vehicle collisions and theft allegations across North Brisbane.
Police allege that between 4:50 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. on 1 March 2026, a silver Holden Rodeo utility was driven in a dangerous manner through several suburbs within the Brisbane region, striking a number of vehicles.
An earlier call was received at approximately 4:42 a.m. regarding a vehicle stopped on Gympie Road at the Hamilton Road intersection in Chermside, where a man was reportedly attempting to halt passing traffic.
At about 4:53 a.m., officers received reports that the utility had collided with two vehicles on Lutwyche Road near Grantson Street at Windsor.
Around 4:55 a.m., another report was made that a vehicle had been struck on Lutwyche Road near Fuller Street at Lutwyche.
At roughly 5:03 a.m., police were advised that a vehicle had been hit on Gympie Road opposite Mellor Street at Kedron.
Further Incidents Reported
At about 5:10 a.m., a report was received alleging that property had been taken from a pedestrian at the intersection of Albert Street with Roma Street and Turbot Street in Brisbane City.
Another report followed at approximately 5:15 a.m., alleging property had been taken from a pedestrian on Webster Road near Taggan Street at Chermside West.
Police confirmed no injuries were reported in connection with these incidents.
The Holden Rodeo was later found abandoned at about 5:35 a.m. on the Gateway Motorway near the Wyampa Road overpass at Bald Hills.
Shortly before 6 a.m., officers located a 30-year-old man from Mooloolaba in nearby bushland and took him into custody. A 38-year-old Mooloolaba man was also taken into custody in relation to the investigation.
Both men have been charged with five counts each of acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm and five counts each of failing to comply with duties required of a driver involved in a crash. Each has also been charged with one count of dangerous operation of a vehicle while allegedly adversely affected by an intoxicating substance.
Police have asked anyone affected by the Kedron and Lutwyche incidents, or anyone with relevant information, CCTV or dashcam footage, to contact authorities.a
Stafford has honoured one of its most beloved community figures with the official naming of Jack Pool Place, a lasting tribute to a man who spent nearly 30 years volunteering at Stafford and District Meals on Wheels and became one of the most recognised volunteers in Queensland.
The unveiling ceremony took place on what would have been Jack’s birthday, with his daughters Bronwyn and Gayle present to witness their father’s name permanently woven into the fabric of the suburb he devoted so much of his life to serving. For the hundreds of volunteers, staff and clients whose lives Jack touched across nearly three decades at Stafford and District Meals on Wheels, the naming of a place in his honour is a recognition long overdue and entirely fitting.
Jack Pool passed away in March 2025. He was in his nineties.
A Life Devoted to Others
Jack Pool began volunteering with Stafford Meals on Wheels as a delivery driver in 1998 and quickly stepped into leadership, serving as Vice-President and President from 2001 to 2021, and later as Patron of the organisation. He also contributed at the state level, serving as a Board Member of Meals on Wheels Queensland from 2011 to 2018.
The role of a Meals on Wheels delivery driver is, on its surface, a straightforward one: pick up freshly prepared meals from the kitchen and deliver them to clients who cannot cook or shop for themselves. But Jack Pool understood from early in his involvement that the meal was never really the point. The daily visit, the joke shared at the door, the few minutes of genuine human contact with someone who might otherwise go an entire day without seeing another face: that was the service Meals on Wheels actually delivered. Jack loved to share a joke with his clients and other volunteers and was always happy to help with an odd job, embodying the Meals on Wheels philosophy that the service is more than just a meal.
Stafford and District Meals on Wheels operates across north-west Brisbane, with more than 90 volunteers delivering approximately 100 freshly prepared meals each weekday to elderly, disabled and infirm residents who need support to remain living independently in their own homes. Jack’s three decades of involvement spanned the organisation’s growth into one of Brisbane’s most respected community services.
What He Built
During his time as committee president, Jack worked to build contacts with other agencies, which led to younger people with disabilities helping to deliver meals alongside their carers, strengthening social connection for both the volunteers and the clients they served. He also organised for Year 10 hospitality students from the local high school to work alongside the Meals on Wheels chef, giving young people meaningful community experience while building the organisation’s capacity.
One of his most significant contributions was helping to secure much-needed repairs to the Stafford Meals on Wheels facility, a project that spanned nearly a decade of persistent advocacy and effort. Even as he moved into his nineties, Jack remained actively present at the organisation, fostering the welcoming environment for volunteers and staff that had always defined the culture he helped build, and representing Stafford Meals on Wheels at community events and expos across Brisbane’s north.
The awards that came his way across those decades reflected a community and a profession that saw clearly what Jack was doing. He was recognised as a Westfield Local Hero in 2020, with the associated $10,000 grant directed to Stafford Meals on Wheels to fund groceries, equipment and running costs. In 2024, he received the Mary Lowe Living Legend Award from Meals on Wheels Queensland, the sector’s highest recognition for volunteers who have shaped the organisation’s foundations. He was also a finalist in the Queensland Volunteering Awards in 2025, recognised posthumously for the remarkable impact of a life spent in service.
A Name That Will Last
The naming of Jack Pool Place ensures that every person who passes through Stafford carries a reminder that ordinary people, choosing consistently to show up for their neighbours, leave marks on a community that outlast them by generations. Jack’s daughters Bronwyn and Gayle were there to see it made permanent on what would have been their father’s birthday: a detail that turned a civic ceremony into something genuinely moving.
Stafford and District Meals on Wheels welcomes new volunteers at any time. Roles include meal delivery driving, driver’s aide assistance, fundraising and community events. Anyone interested in volunteering can visit staffordmealsonwheels.org.au or call the kitchen directly to find out more.
