The post Ipswich resident wins $50 million appeared first on LifestyleQld.

Australia’s most iconic ‘voice’, in John Farnham, willl headline the music program at the Heritage Bank Festival of Food & Wine in Queens Park over the opening weekend of this year’s Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers!
On Sunday September 22, John Farnham will close the opening weekend of the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers in what will be an epic music event.
LifeStyleQ in association with Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers are giving away FREE tickets to the Heritage Bank Festival of Food & Wine.
To enter, go to the competition page HERE. Codeword: ‘FARNHAM’.
Entries close September 19. Prize winners may collect their tickets from our office at Unit 4/13 Bell Street. Only one entry per household eligible.

The post John Farnham appeared first on LifestyleQld.

The post Providence, South Ripley. Everything a town should be. appeared first on LifestyleQld.

The post Orchid Spectacular to raise funds for Siblings Group appeared first on LifestyleQld.

The post Construction phase underway in CBD appeared first on LifestyleQld.

The post Heart & Soul Festival September 21 appeared first on LifestyleQld.

Making an offer on a property can be daunting, especially if it’s your first time! It’s a massive financial decision and is one you don’t want to mess up. The actual act of making an offer on a private treaty is quite straightforward and will be easy once you chat to your real estate agent but the tricky part is making sure your offer is the one that they choose.

So how do you make sure you are making an offer that will give you the best chance of securing your home?
Here is a list of tips and tricks you can use to successfully make an offer on your dream property.

ATTEND AN OPEN FOR INSPECTION

If you’re interested enough to be thinking of making an offer on a house you need to make sure you attend an open for inspection. Not only does it give you a good feel for the property and it’s condition, but an open home can help gauge the level of interest.
By judging how many people turn up to the open home (especially the first one), you can get a sense for how well the campaign will run. When walking through the open try to keep an ear out for what buyers are saying and asking. This will give you a good idea of who your competition is and how much they are able to bid on a particular property.

DO YOUR RESEARCH

Don’t fall into the trap of falling head over heels for a property without doing your research! Make sure you have a good chat with the agent and ask questions. Some questions you might want to ask are, have there been any other offers?, How long has the home been on the market? Why is the vendor selling?. By asking these questions, you’ll have a better understanding of the competition and motivation behind the sale. The agent can help you with the process of making an offer, so it’s a good idea to have them on your side and keep up the communication.

Also, make sure you do some research on the area and compare properties. This will give you an idea of how much the property is worth and whether the vendor is asking for market value.

OFFER EARLY AND OFFER YOUR BEST

Don’t be afraid to put your best offer out there early. If you decide to sit and wait in the hope that the vendor might get desperate and lower his price you’ll probably get left behind. The longer the property is on the market, the more time that gives other potential buyers to come into play. It’s okay to put a bit of pressure on the vendor and let them know you want a quick answer; this will not only put you in the best position to negotiate but will let them know you are genuinely interested.

LEARN HOW TO MAKE AN OFFER AT AN AUCTION

Making an offer at an auction is very different from making an offer on a private treaty. Auctions can be competitive and emotionally draining, so you need to be prepared. Have a good chat with your agent about the Auction process. Before the day make sure you’ve done all your inspections, got your finances sorted and understand all the terms and conditions. The main things to remember are that if you buy under the hammer there is no cooling off period and it’s an unconditional contract which means no conditions can be added, i.e. subject to finance. It’s also a good idea to attend a few Auctions to get a feel for how they run and what happens. On the day have a clear game plan. Know your price and stick to it.

The post How to make an offer a vendor can’t refuse appeared first on LifestyleQld.

Resounding public opinion shows that pollution and littering of waterways like the Bremer River and Springfield Lakes creates a negative opinion of the area, so please- don’t litter our waterways. If you see someone doing so, please report it 3810 6666

Photo and Information courtesy Ipswich First.

The post Stop dumping waste in our waterways appeared first on LifestyleQld.

Whether you love country music or loathe it, you can’t deny that you’ve jammed along to some of Troy Cassar-Daley’s greatest hits.

From a small town boy growing up in Grafton to busking at the Tamworth Country Music Festival, Cassar-Daley’s career has seen him clean up numerous accolades – 4 ARIAs, 36 Golden Guitars and 2 APRA Country Song of the Year Awards, just to name a few.

However, his illustrious career has not dulled his enthusiasm for performing or making new music.

“I’m really, really privileged to play at CMC Rocks, I’ve got a great band together for it and because I’m on the Greatest Hits tour it’s going to be a pretty easy set to put together,” Cassar-Daley said.

“Songs I’ve recorded over the years will be part of the set, there’s a couple of new ones that I’ve never really aired before in front of anybody so that’s going to be pretty cool.”
Whilst Troy is excited to play the hits people have come to know and love over the years, there’s one special song he’s excited for fans to hear.

“There’s a song that’s going to be released on the Jimmy Barnes record and it’s not the sort of thing you expect from a country music act I know, but it’s something that just came out of the blue,” he said.

“I read both of his books that I really, really loved and I wrote a poem for him and when he rang looking for songs for a new record I told him I had this poem and he said well, turn it into a song and send it to me so I did.”

As a self-confessed Cold Chisel fan, Troy described this feat as a ‘career highlight’.
“I spent so many times sneaking in under age to see [Cold] Chisel because the town Don Walker comes from is my hometown, so when he came to town he was a hero… so now going from sneaking in underage to see one of my favourite Australian rock bands to getting a song on the lead singers album in May is something I don’t think I’ll ever top this year.”

Speaking of musicians Troy idolises and respects, the singer is more than excited to sing alongside other country music megastars and friends like Luke Combs and Kasey Chambers at this year’s CMC Rocks.

He will also be hosting a songwriting session during the festival with Combs and Thomas Rhett.
“It’ll be loads of fun and it’s just one of those things that will be a highlight other than playing a normal show,” Troy said.

“I urge people to get in early because the songwriting sessions get chock-a-block.. I don’t think I’ve seen any sort of event like this in America but in Australia we take a lot of pride in our songwriters.”

He hopes both the sessions and festival inspire more young Australian country talent, something Troy says is growing rapidly within our country.

He loves inspiring the next generation of country music listeners – particularly his daughter, who is currently on the road alongside him, ensuring he gets to soundcheck on time.

“They still love people like myself and Lee Kernaghan and John Williamson as much as they love all the new acts as well,” he said.

A Brissie boy of more than 30 years, Troy loves visiting our neighbouring city of Ipswich – even owning a farm in Fernvale.

“I’m actually coming back and playing a show later in the year [at the Civic Centre].. I love Ipswich because our farm is in Fernvale,” Cassar-Daley said.

“We know the town pretty intimately and I always love being able to come in.. it’s like a second home.”

Catch Troy Cassar-Daley at CMC Rocks on Saturday, the 16th of March between 4:50-5:50pm on the Rebel Stage. He is also performing at the Civic Centre in July (for tickets, visit www.ipswichciviccentre.com.au.)

Photos Courtesy of troycassardaley.com.au

The post Troy Cassar-Daley to star at CMC Rocks appeared first on LifestyleQld.

Ripley Town Centre’s community hub, Minka Place marks a significant milestone for the Ripley community and further strengthening the infrastructure and economic capability of one of south-east Queensland’s fastest growing regions.

The shared community facility is a joint project from Sekisui House, Ipswich City Council and Economic Development Queensland, ensuring Ripley Town Centre remains the core of the entire Ripley region, which is projected to be home to more than 130,000 new residents by 2036.

State Member for Ipswich Jennifer Howard MP will officially open Minka Place and said the project will provide a space for the community that will encourage a strong connection among all age groups and abilities.

“Minka Place will cater to the varying and growing needs of the local community, and further galvanise the Ripley region’s position as a booming part of south-east Queensland,” she said.

“It will provide an excellent space for locals and promote a sense of inclusiveness in the community by providing a venue and activities for everyone, from school-aged children to our seniors and local community groups.”

Sekisui House CEO and Managing Director, Toru Abe described the opening of Minka Place as a significant milestone in providing necessary social infrastructure to the Ripley community.

“Early delivery of key community infrastructure and ‘place-making’ are significant driving forces in developing a strong and connected community in the Ripley region. Minka Place is testament to this and an important milestone for the community and Ripley Town Centre.

“Minka Place will provide 200 square metres of open space with the inclusion of a kitchenette, flexible office spaces and greenspace, offering a range of activities from playgroups and workshops to fitness classes and social gatherings — a true multifaceted, shared community space,” Mr Abe said.

“The building itself utilises the former Ecco Ripley sales office, reinforcing our commitment to sustainable practices throughout the community,” he said.

The open day, held February 16th saw members of the community participate in a range of free activities, including a jumping castle, giant outdoor games, entertainment, ice-cream and face painting.

Have an event that you would love to host at Minka Place?

You can book a space or the entire facility for a community event, participate in a class, attend a seminar, bring the kids to playgroup or just come along and meet new people.

Their spaces range from small well-equipped conference and meeting rooms to larger indoor and outdoor areas suitable for community activities and classes.

If you’d like to know more please contact community@ripleytowncentre.com.au. For information about Minka Place, including upcoming events visit www.ripleytowncentre.com.au.

Image Courtesy of Ripley Town Centre.

The post House of the People appeared first on LifestyleQld.

You may have cleared the clutter, tidied up the yards and polished the floorboards ready to present your property to the public, but did you know that it is often the smaller details that let you down in the presentation department?

More recently, styling or staging your home during the sale process has become the norm. Statistics show that staging your home has the potential to add 5-10 per cent to the sale price of your home. Real estate agent and home stager Amie Palmer says, “Staging your property not only helps you stand out in the crowd, but it also encourages buyers to fall in love! It is surprising how much more buyers will pay when they are emotionally invested in your product.” With the property market now in overdrive, potential buyers are looking at hundreds of properties each week, so it is extremely important to make your property stand out amongst the crowd.

Here are a few tips and tricks you can try when it comes to staging your property for sale.

KEEP IT SIMPLE AND PRACTICAL

Keeping the indoor colour palette and style relatively neutral will also assist in appealing to a wide range of buyers.  Different people have different tastes, so it is important to factor this in when styling your property. However, it is also okay to incorporate statement pieces to grab buyers attention. When doing this, try to stick to one interior style and make it flow with the rest of the home. It is also a safe bet to stick to on-trend interior items. Amie suggests that you analyse the space and work out the best way to present to room to show off it’s best capacity. It is also important to keep it minimal as it portrays a more purposeful space.

DO NOT SKIMP ON THE DETAILS

It is always the smallest of things that get picked up by buyers. That broken doorknob, wonky floorboard or leaky tap that you have been avoiding for years may distract buyers and cost you a great offer. It is important to assess all these details in preparing your home for sale and address all problems as they arise. It will make everything much easier when the open home day does come around.

DE-PERSONALISE THE SPACE

Try and eliminate personal photos, gym timetables, fridge magnets and any other personal items from your home. They tend to prevent the buyer from visualising themselves in your home. Making the space neutral and depersonalised can help the potential buyer envision themselves in the space, thus aid their interest in the home.

STYLE IT UP

Interior decorating and styling not your strong point? Why not hire a professional! Home stylers and stagers can help transform any space, and show how you can work with the floorplan/layout. Styling can be beneficial at any price point, and according to Amie Palmer, “making your property well-presented never serves as a detriment. We styled a property that was on market for 6 months at $285,000 – after our styling the property sold on the 1st open home for $325,000”.

Information sourced by Real Estate View and realestate.com.au. For more hot property tips, visit www.ithinkproperty.com.au

The post Property presentation tips with iThink Property appeared first on LifestyleQld.

In December 2018, Corporal Natasha Falconer and her colleagues from the RAAF Security and Fire School Breeding Cell tasked the staff and patients with the job of naming Seven Military Working dog puppies.

The chosen names of the Indigo 6 litter are Ivy and Iris (female) as well as Iron, Ippy, Ida Ishhi and Igloo for the male pups.

“We’ve brought the dogs out for a meet and greet so the children can meet the dogs that they’ve named,” CPL Falconer said.

The visit was a welcomed break for the puppies also, who are in the midst of being trained to work in fields such as security patrolling, emergency response and intruder detection and apprehension.

“On a day to day basis, these dogs are normally being taken out and we’re playing games with them, teaching them to chase balls and bring them back, teaching them basic positions like sit and down using food for reward, socialising them and getting them to experience new environments and new things so that they learn to overcome anything.

“These dogs will go on to protect [RAAF] bases, assets and personnel.”

Kirsty Franklin, Nurse Unit Manager of the Children’s Sunshine Ward said the whole experience from naming to seeing the puppies was a delight for the patients, their families and staff at the Children’s Sunshine Ward.

The Children’s Sunshine Ward hosts patients from birth to age sixteen, and has facilities for up to 23 children at a time – currently, there are 17 kids receiving care.

“We were approached to name the litter of puppies and so what we did was involved the patients and the staff here to name all of the [RAAF] puppies.. which was a really amazing experience for our patients because being in hospital is not always fun and is definitely overwhelming for families because they’re away from their normal environment,” Ms Franklin said.

“Having the opportunity to have them [the puppies] visit has been amazing and the kids have loved it.. really lovely to use this as a form of distraction for our kids here.”
Puppies from the Indigo 6 litter that aren’t cut out for ‘RAAF life’ will be sent out on a tender process, meaning some of these cuddly pooches may go onto be household pets or assist in PTSD programs.

The post RAAF Puppies Thrill Sunshine Ward Kiddies appeared first on LifestyleQld.