Sun, May 31, 2026 (Nissan Arena) – HART Premier Netball League (HPNL) – Women – Round 4 • Moreton Bay City Pulse Ruby 52 | Brisbane South Wildcats Ruby 94
Sun, May 31, 2026 (Nissan Arena) – HART Premier Netball League (HPNL) – Women – Round 4 • Redlands Coast Eagles Ruby 54 | Kedron-Wavell Cougars Ruby 76
Devastating for the Maroons at Accor Stadium in Origin I.
Kalyn Ponga’s sending off in a decision that immediately sparked controversy proved an enormous turning point. Andrew Johns was critical of the decision during commentary. It swung hard-fought momentum against Queensland, and the Blues produced an extraordinary final-minute play, with James Tedesco catching, juggling and grounding Nathan Cleary’s bomb.
For much of the night, Queensland looked in control.
Not just ahead on the scoreboard — in control of the contest itself. Their line speed was sharp, their middle forwards were winning collisions, Harry Grant was asking questions around the ruck, and Sam Walker, on debut in the most pressurised arena the game can offer, looked remarkably composed.
Then Origin did what Origin does.
It twisted.
A night that had looked set to become a major statement for Billy Slater instead became a brutal lesson in how quickly interstate football can turn when momentum shifts and belief takes hold.
Queensland led 20-0 after 20 minutes. They were still 20-6 ahead deep into the second half. And yet somehow, they walked away beaten 22-20.
That is the sort of loss that lingers.
Queensland Landed Every Early Blow
If there were doubts about Ponga getting the nod over Reece Walsh, or whether Walker was ready for this level, Queensland answered them quickly.
Robert Toia struck first in the ninth minute after early pressure forced the Blues into errors, and Walker converted.
It got worse for New South Wales from there.
Thomas Flegler, all aggression and direct running, punched through in the 14th minute after Queensland had started owning the middle. Selwyn Cobbo had already done damage with a strong carry in the lead-up, and the Blues suddenly looked rattled.
A few minutes later, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow crossed as Queensland continued to punish sloppy New South Wales football.
Walker never missed.
By the time he added a penalty goal in the 20th minute, the Maroons were 20-0 up, and Accor Stadium had gone from loud to uneasy.
Queensland weren’t just scoring. They were dictating the terms.
Munster was playing direct. Grant was probing. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and Flegler were bending the line. Even defensively, the Maroons looked connected and aggressive.
At that point, it genuinely felt like the Blues were in serious trouble.
New South Wales Hang Around
Origin, though, rarely gives you a clean night.
Hudson Young’s try in the 27th minute finally gave the Blues something tangible to work with, trimming the margin to 20-6 after Cleary’s conversion.
Even then, Queensland still looked the more settled side.
They defended repeat pressure well enough and took that lead into half-time without looking especially rattled. But if you were watching closely, there were hints the game was changing shape.
The Blues had started to spend more time in Queensland territory. Their attack still lacked polish, but the game had become less comfortable than the scoreboard suggested.
And once that happens in Origin, strange things tend to follow.
The Turning Point That Changed Everything
The defining moment came just before the hour mark.
Ponga was sent off for a shoulder charge in a decision that immediately lit up debate.
Whether you agreed with it or not, the practical effect was obvious. Queensland suddenly had to survive a critical passage under enormous pressure, a man short, against a side that had finally found some rhythm.
The Blues took advantage.
Ethan Strange crossed in the 62nd minute after Stephen Crichton’s break opened the Maroons up, although Cleary’s missed conversion meant Queensland still had breathing room at 20-10.
But the feel of the match had changed completely.
The crowd sensed it. The Blues sensed it. Queensland, perhaps, sensed it too.
Cleary’s 40/20 in the 70th minute was the moment the pressure became suffocating. It was a champion’s play, the kind that flips field position and emotional momentum in one strike.
Seconds later, he backed it up by slicing through himself.
20-16.
Now the Maroons were no longer managing a lead. They were trying to survive.
Queensland Let The Game Slip
The temptation will be to make this all about the Ponga send-off.
It was enormous. Lose a player in Origin, against a side with Nathan Cleary pulling the strings, and the pressure changes instantly.
But Queensland still had chances to steady themselves.
Instead, just when composure mattered most, the mistakes crept in.
Robert Toia lost the ball. Harry Grant conceded a costly penalty. Selwyn Cobbo came up with an error. Jojo Fifita spilled possession.
None of those moments, on their own, decide a match.
Together, though, they handed New South Wales exactly what it needed — territory, repeat sets, and belief.
That’s how these games can turn. Not always in one dramatic flash, but in small moments where control slips away and suddenly the team chasing starts to smell something.
By the time Cleary launched that final bomb, Queensland no longer looked like a side closing out a win. They looked like a side trying desperately to survive.
And when Tedesco somehow came down with it — juggling, regathering, grounding — it felt like the kind of moment Origin keeps in its vault for years.
Queensland will argue the turning point. They’ll replay the send-off. They’ll point to what might have been.
But the harder truth is this: they had this game.
And they let it get away.
MATCH PREVIEW
Published 26-May-2026
Origin Opener Set For Sydney Showdown As New-Look Maroons Eye Early Blow
The first round of Origin is here.
For 2026, State of Origin starts at Accor Stadium in Sydney, before heading to the MCG for Game II and Suncorp Stadium for the decider.
The 2026 State of Origin series is the 45th edition of the men’s interstate best-of-three rivalry, with Queensland entering the campaign holding the historical edge — 25 series wins to New South Wales’ 17, with two series drawn.
For the Maroons, Kalyn Ponga has been selected over Reece Walsh by Billy Slater, while Sam Walker makes his Origin debut in place of the injured Tom Dearden. Max Plath debuts, with Jojo Fifita and Briton Nikora earning their first Maroons selections.
For the Blues, James Tedesco keeps Dylan Edwards out at fullback, while Laurie Daly has opted for Tolutau Koula out of position on the wing ahead of Zac Lomax and Jacob Kiraz. Injury to Mitchell Moses means Ethan Strange will start, while Addin Fonua-Blake finally gets his Origin debut.
The Maroons have won only two of their past 10 Origin games in Sydney, although one of those victories came last year.
Can Queensland pressure Strange enough to cut off quality ball to Nathan Cleary?
New South Wales appears to hold the upper hand through the middle, but Pat Carrigan and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui will relish that challenge.
Cleary versus Walker. Strange versus Munster.
Can Harry Grant put the Maroons on the front foot with his creativity around the ruck?
Can Max Plath and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow reproduce their Dolphin’s NRL form on the Origin stage?
This shapes as a classic Origin arm wrestle, with Queensland having won six of the past 10 series.
The game will be broadcast live on 9Now, with kick-off at 8.05pm.
Sandgate Golf Club will receive $14,700 for a shed roofing project aimed at protecting machinery and creating more room for motorised carts at its Shorncliffe course.
The funding is part of more than $400,000 distributed to 15 golf clubs across Queensland through the Gambling Community Benefit Fund, with projects ranging from cart paths and amenities upgrades to clubhouse works, solar installation, outdoor shade and shed roofing.
Sandgate Golf Club To Cover Exposed Machinery Area
At Sandgate Golf Club, the grant will help fund a roof over an existing machinery shed area that is currently exposed to heat and weather. The work will allow machinery to be stored under cover, improving how the club uses its available shed space.
The change will also free up the current shed so it can accommodate more motorised carts. That added capacity is expected to help more players access the course while supporting participation and club revenue.
The Sandgate project was one of nine successful applications assisted through Golf Australia’s Grant Writing Assistance Program, which helped secure $232,100 for affiliated clubs. Another six clubs received a combined $207,500 through independent applications.
Other assisted projects included amenities works at Mt Coolum, clubhouse renovations at North Rockhampton and Millmerran, cart paths at Kingaroy and Stanthorpe, outdoor shade at Middlemount, shed roofing at Home Hill and a furniture upgrade at Emerald.
Additional affiliated clubs also received funding for projects across Queensland, including amenities improvements, facilities upgrades, a tractor purchase and solar installation.
The funding delivers a targeted upgrade to a working area of the club rather than a large-scale redevelopment. The focus is on protecting equipment, improving storage and making better use of existing space.
Long-Running Shorncliffe Course Gets Practical Support
Established in 1921, Sandgate Golf Club is one of Queensland’s oldest nine-hole golf courses. The club is located at Allpass Parade in Shorncliffe, about 16 kilometres from Brisbane’s CBD and close to Shorncliffe Railway station.
The club operates as a community golf club and offers access to social golfers at selected times, with course bookings required. Its waterside setting and long history give the funding a local significance beyond the dollar amount, with the project directed at everyday operations that support members, social players and course use.
Brighton Road in Sandgate is beginning to look different as safety and accessibility works reshape two key pedestrian crossings and change how traffic moves around Fourth Avenue.
The works focus on the stretch of Brighton Road near Fourth Avenue and Fifth Avenue, where existing zebra crossings are being upgraded to make the area safer and easier to move through.
The changes are intended to encourage slower vehicle movements, improve visibility between pedestrians and approaching traffic, and support people crossing the road with prams or mobility aids.
Construction is scheduled from mid-May to late June 2026, depending on weather and site conditions. Work is being carried out at night between 7pm and 5am from Sunday to Thursday, when traffic volumes are lower.
Photo Credit: CrJaredCassidy/Instagram
Fourth Avenue Crossing To Be Reworked
Near Fourth Avenue, the existing crossing will be changed into a staggered two-stage refuge zebra crossing.
The new layout will allow pedestrians to cross Brighton Road in two parts, using a central refuge area between traffic lanes. The crossings will be slightly offset, guiding pedestrians to turn towards oncoming traffic before crossing the next section of the road.
Fencing will also be added to the refuge area, creating a more protected waiting space and improving visibility for both pedestrians and drivers.
The design responds to the width of Brighton Road, where the current straight two-stage crossing can lead some pedestrians to cross both sections in one movement. The staggered layout is intended to encourage people to pause, check traffic and continue only when it is safe.
A traffic island will also be installed on the north-eastern side of the two-stage crossing.
Raised Crossing Planned Near Fifth Avenue
The zebra crossing near Fifth Avenue will also be upgraded, but with a different design.
That crossing will be converted into a raised zebra crossing to encourage drivers to slow down as they approach. A staggered two-stage crossing is not being installed there because the road is not wide enough for that layout.
The raised platform is intended to give pedestrians and drivers more time to see each other before vehicles reach the crossing.
Photo Credit: CrJaredCassidy/Instagram
Fourth Avenue Access Will Change
Traffic movements at Fourth Avenue will also change as part of the Brighton Road works.
The right turn from Fourth Avenue into Brighton Road will be removed by extending the centre median on Brighton Road. Once in place, Fourth Avenue will operate as left-in and left-out access only.
The change is aimed at reducing a potential conflict point where drivers turning right must navigate traffic from several directions while also watching for pedestrians at the nearby crossing.
The crossing near Fourth Avenue will remain in its current general location because high volumes of people cross there. Moving it slightly north was examined, but was not feasible because bus stops and significant underground services would need to be relocated.
Trees, Parking And Night Works
Two Poinciana trees near the Fourth Avenue crossing will be removed to improve visibility and allow the new crossing to be built. One Poinciana tree and one Delonix tree will be planted nearby, with additional vegetation also planned for the area.
Two on-street parking spaces on the northern side of the two-stage crossing will also be removed so pedestrians and drivers can see each other more clearly.
During construction, people living in or travelling through the area may notice noise, dust, vibration, increased vehicle movements and changed traffic conditions. Minor delays, lane closures, detours, reduced speed limits, traffic controllers and signage may also be in place.
The global film-inspired restaurant phenomenon Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. is launching its first Australian venture in the seaside suburb of Sandgate to bring a mix of American nostalgia and fresh seafood to the Brisbane community.
The arrival of the famous chain later this year marks a significant addition to the local dining scene in the coastal suburb. Chosen for its strong connection to the water and local interest in seafood, the Sandgate site will serve as the brand’s entry point into the country.
The project is led by Adam Greer, the Operations General Manager at SKJ Capital, who stated the venue will provide a fresh and energetic atmosphere that offers something genuinely new to the area. By blending a world-renowned brand with a local touch, the organisers aim to build a space where families can gather for both a meal and a shared experience.
Bringing Hollywood to the Coast
The restaurant is unique because it is the only global dining chain based entirely on a motion picture property. Since its start in 1996 in California, it has focused on recreating the charm of the movie Forrest Gump. The Sandgate location will feature specific nods to the film, such as the famous ping pong tables and a replica of the “Jenny” boat.
Visitors can take part in movie trivia at their tables or visit an on-site shop to pick up branded clothing and keepsakes. This focus on entertainment is designed to turn a simple lunch or dinner into an immersive activity for fans of the classic story.
While the brand has American roots, the Brisbane kitchen will adapt its offerings to suit Australian tastes. The menu features southern-style comfort food made from scratch, with a heavy emphasis on various shrimp dishes like scampi, coconut shrimp, and fried options. Aside from seafood, the kitchen will also prepare what the company describes as its award-winning ribs and burgers.
The drink selection will include a variety of colourful cocktails, often served in special glasses that guests can purchase to take home. This mix of traditional American recipes and local Australian influence aims to appeal to those looking for a different dining option in their neighbourhood.
Focus on Community and Service
Beyond the themed decorations, the company brings a focus on community involvement through an internal group known as the Shrimpossibles. This team is made up of employees who volunteer their time to support local causes and charities.
In other locations, these teams have worked to support the Special Olympics and improve literacy through local events. The goal for the new Brisbane site is to maintain this tradition of giving back, ensuring the business acts as a helpful neighbour to the Sandgate public.
The timing of this opening coincides with a broader trend of nostalgic brands returning to the Australian market. Following the recent popularity of other international chains and the return of local icons like Sizzler, there is a clear public interest in dining experiences that feel familiar yet exciting. With its combination of movie history and family-friendly dining, the new venue is expected to attract significant attention from both locals and visitors to the Brisbane coast.
A string of stolen number plates across North Brisbane has pushed police to warn drivers that a small piece of metal on the back of a car can quickly become a tool for bigger crimes. In just 24 hours, officers received seven reports of registration plates being taken from parked vehicles in suburbs stretching from Sandgate to Hamilton, raising concerns among residents already dealing with vehicle break-ins and theft across the city.
The warning was issued on May 8 by Sgt Jodie Murray through the Queensland Police Service after thefts were reported in Kedron, Hamilton, Northgate, Wilston and Sandgate.
Police said stolen registration plates are often attached to other vehicles to avoid detection during criminal activity, including fuel theft, traffic offences and the use of stolen cars. The practice can also leave innocent drivers dealing with toll notices, fines and police inquiries linked to offences they did not commit.
North Brisbane suburbs see sharp increase in plate thefts
Officers from the Gateway District Crime Prevention Unit said the recent cases appeared opportunistic, with thieves targeting vehicles parked on streets and in open areas where screws could be removed quickly.
Police are now encouraging drivers to replace standard screws with anti-theft fittings designed to make number plates harder to remove. The special one-way screws can only be taken out using equipment carried by police.
The crime prevention unit has been distributing free anti-theft screw packs to North Brisbane residents through an online request program first introduced several years ago. The packs include screws and vehicle security information aimed at reducing repeat offences.
Photo Credit: QPS
Residents urged to rethink where vehicles are parked overnight
Police are also advising residents to use locked garages, gated driveways or off-street parking whenever possible, particularly overnight.
Vehicle-related theft has remained a concern across parts of Brisbane, with registration plates often targeted because they can be removed in less than a minute using common tools.
Authorities are asking anyone who notices suspicious behaviour around parked vehicles to report it through Policelink or anonymously through Crime Stoppers Queensland.
Photo Credit: QPS
Community concern grows as stolen plates linked to wider offences
For many drivers, the theft of a number plate may appear minor compared with car theft, but police say the impact can spread far beyond the original crime scene.
Once stolen plates are attached to another vehicle, they can complicate investigations and create stress for vehicle owners who later receive notices connected to offences committed by someone else.
The Sunday morning show provides a fantastic journey around Australia and the world to hear stories and insights from real people that you won’t hear in the mass media.
Here are five nuggets that we’ve dug out from the goldmine that is Macca’s Australia All Over show.
Lawson’s Story
On March 22, we heard the story of a 10 year old boy called Lawson, from the persepctive of a first responder.
The first responder who rang was Mark, a paramedic. He had been called out in an ambulance to a rural property at Mcdouall Peak Station in remote South Australia.
McDouall Peak is known for its arid desert landscape and historic links to explorer John McDouall Stuart. The area is known for its harsh conditions, hardy desert vegetation, and remains part of South Australia’s vast, sparsely populated interior.
Mark related that a 10-year-old boy named Lawson and his dad, a farmer, went out on motorbikes to build some fencing on the station. Lawson’s dad told the boy that he was just going to check some fencing a few kilometres away and then set off on his motorbike down the fenceline.
He didn’t come back.
After a while, Lawson got on his motorbike to go and look for him, but couldn’t find him. So he got his mum to drive over in the car and together they searched and found him. The dad was very badly injured having crashed on his bike at speed.
By the time emergency crews arrived, Lawson had already spent more than an hour talking with medical staff and waiting for help to reach them.
Mark the paramedic related that on arrival on the main road, he encountered young Lawson, who calmly then got in a ute and drove ahead of the ambulance for several kilometres to guide the medics to where his dad was.
Mark was blown away with the maturity and initiative of Lawson. He had seen many unusual situations in his job but this was a major outlier.
It turned out Lawson’s father had broken a leg, hip and collarbone.
Mark said Lawson carried medical gear; helped responders where needed; and stayed composed through the entire rescue until his father was flown out by the RFDS for treatment.
Amazingly, a neighbour who knew young Lawson was listening to Macca, and rang Lawson’s family to tell him about the call on the show.
Soon after, Lawson rang in and told Macca all about what happened first-hand.
“He was going like 90 or 100 or something,” Lawson told Macca, when recounting his father’s crash.
At one point, Macca asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up.
“A helicopter pilot,” Lawson replied.
It sounded less like a dream and more like a plan.
Out on stations like McDouall Peak, childhood looks different.
Distances are measured in hours, not suburbs. Fence lines run for kilometres. If something goes wrong, help is rarely close.
Lawson studies through the Port Augusta School of the Air, originally built around two-way radio lessons for children living in isolated parts of the country. These days, classes are mostly online, but the principle is still the same — students learning from station houses and remote properties hundreds of kilometres apart.
Kids in those areas tend to grow up fast and early. They learn vehicles young, help with fencing and stock work, and get used to solving problems without immediate backup.
Here’s a video about Clair, who tells a story remarkably similar to that of Lawson, giving us a glimpse of the world they inhabit — a long way from city life, and built around a different kind of independence.
Food Labels – Does “Australian Made” have loopholes?
Judy, a soybean farmer from Bundaberg, rang in to the show on the April 5 program.
She had a very interesting story to put people straight about Australian made loopholes.
She said that supermarket food labels can be very misleading.
Soy milk can be sold as “Australian Made” even when the beans are imported — because the bulk of what’s in the carton is Australian water.
That’s enough to be considered “Australian Made” soy milk, she said.
Meanwhile, she’s growing soy locally, rotating it with sugarcane — a system that quietly does its job, improving soil and keeping things sustainable over time.
“It’s a practical system,” she said.
But that work — and those crops — aren’t always what ends up on the shelf.
It’s not just soy milk.
More broadly, Australia’s labelling rules are based on where a product is made or substantially transformed, not always where its key ingredients are grown.
That’s how you end up with:
fruit juice blended locally from imported concentrate
seafood processed here but caught overseas
packaged foods made in Australia using global ingredients.
The label is technically right, but it doesn’t always tell the full story. For producers like Judy, that gap matters.
Are these technical loopholes hurting Australian food producers?
“Six days. 1,200 feral pigs.” The scale most people don’t see
On the April 19 program, Peter called in from Wangaratta, talking about his new feral pig shoot record.
Feral pigs can make an enormous mess of farmer’s crops as well as gardens and any piece of grassland as they can dig up hundreds of metres of land overnight looking for worms and roots.
Peter projected that there could be over a million feral pigs in Australia and that there were signs of them entering the edge of urban areas.
It sounded like Peter was part of a system that pairs landholders with vetted recreational shooters. His previous best was 1,100 shot but this time he covered 1,200.
Scientific evidence ranks pigs among the most intelligent animals—often cited as the fifth smartest species—possessing cognitive abilities that rival dogs and young human toddlers.
Feral pigs have been part of the landscape for a long time. What’s easy to miss is how quickly things escalate once numbers build.
They move in groups, breed fast, and don’t take long to undo a paddock. Crops gone overnight, fences pushed through, water turned.
Control efforts don’t stop — trapping, baiting, culling — but it’s not static.
Six days near Warren. About 1,200 feral pigs. At that point, you’re dealing with something that doesn’t scale down easily.
Corals, Reefs and the Arguments Around What We’re Seeing
Three separate calls across April ended up circling the same uneasy question: what is happening to the reefs?
What made it interesting was that the callers did not entirely agree.
The Scientist Trying to Cool the Water
On the April 5 program, oceanographer Dan Harrison from the National Marine Science Centre spoke about the science side of the problem — and how researchers are now exploring increasingly complex ways to protect coral systems from extreme heat.
One idea he discussed was marine cloud brightening.
In simple terms, increasing low cloud cover over parts of the ocean so more sunlight is reflected away and water temperatures stay lower during dangerous heat periods.
But Harrison was careful not to present the reef as a simple story of decline or rescue.
Cyclones can damage reefs badly — but sometimes also cool overheated water and reduce bleaching pressure. Floods can smother coral systems with runoff, but under different conditions can shift temperatures or nutrients in ways that change outcomes entirely.
The impression left was less about certainty than complexity.
Nothing in reef systems happens in isolation.
Returning to Fiji After Three Decades
Two weeks later on the April 19 show, Kieran Kelly rang from Fiji with something far more personal and emotional.
After returning to diving for the first time in more than 30 years, he said he was stunned by what he saw underwater.
“The reefs were devastated — brown, lifeless.”
What stayed with listeners was the way he described it.
“All the little houses are still there, but there’s no one in them.”
He said the coral structure itself often remained, but the colour, fish life and movement felt diminished from what he remembered decades earlier.
At the same time, he reflected on how Fiji itself had changed — from what he described as a quieter, more remote place into one increasingly built around tourism, boats and constant movement.
“The very thing that attracts people ends up spoiling it.”
It wasn’t framed as activism or politics. More the observations of someone returning to a place after a very long absence and confronting how much both nature and people had changed.
The Ecologist Who Warned Against Generalisations
A week later again, on the April 26 program, another listener pushed back.
James Hawes, a retired CSIRO ecologist from the Sunshine Coast, wrote to Macca after hearing Kieran’s comments.
He argued that broad claims about “dead and dying reefs” risked missing important context.
Hawes said many reefs he had snorkelled recently — including parts of the Great Barrier Reef and reefs around Fiji — appeared healthy and actively growing. He acknowledged localised storm and cyclone damage, but warned against sweeping conclusions drawn from isolated experiences.
“Reports on coral reef damage must have context.”
Why reef conversations have become so complicated
Part of the reason reef discussions now feel so contested is because people are often talking about different parts of the same system.
Some reefs recover after bleaching events. Others don’t. One section can be badly damaged by heat or cyclones while another nearby remains comparatively healthy.
That sat underneath all three calls.
Dan Harrison spoke about intervention research already underway in Australia. Kieran Kelly described reefs in Fiji that felt emptier and less alive than he remembered decades earlier. James Hawes warned against broad conclusions drawn from isolated experiences.
All three perspectives can exist at once.
The Great Barrier Reef stretches across more than 2,000 kilometres, with thousands of reef systems responding differently to temperature, storms, runoff, tourism pressure and crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks.
At the same time, Australia has become a major centre for reef intervention research.
Marine cloud brightening — the concept Harrison discussed — is now being trialled as researchers investigate whether brighter low cloud cover could temporarily cool reef waters during marine heatwaves.
Other projects include:
heat-tolerant coral breeding
coral seeding and restoration programs
satellite, drone and robotic reef monitoring
crown-of-thorns starfish control efforts
Researchers are also studying how runoff, water quality and tourism pressure interact with warming oceans and cyclone damage over time.
None of it is straightforward.
Some reefs are recovering strongly. Others are under heavy stress. Some intervention ideas remain experimental, while others are already being rolled out more broadly.
Which is why reef conversations now tend to sound less certain than they once did.
The science is still moving.
The war where bullets overtook disease — and what changed after that
On the April 26 program, the conversation drifted from Gallipoli’s cliffs and cemeteries into something less often talked about — what war looked like from the medical side.
In studio, hand surgeon David Dilley spoke about the conditions doctors and medics faced during the First World War, particularly during Gallipoli.
“The planning was appalling,” he said, referring to findings from the Dardanelles Commission.
There were shortages everywhere. Limited supplies. Primitive field conditions. Little understanding of how to deal with the scale of injuries arriving at once.
“They had bandages… a bit of chloroform… and not much else.”
Earlier in the program, callers had been describing the cemeteries at Gallipoli — the closeness of the ridgelines, the tiny distances between trenches, the sheer number of names.
Dilley’s contribution added another layer to that picture.
For centuries before World War I, disease often killed more soldiers than combat itself. Dysentery, typhoid, infected wounds and poor sanitation spread quickly through camps and battlefields long before antibiotics existed.
But by Gallipoli and the Western Front, warfare itself had changed. Machine guns, artillery and industrial-scale combat produced catastrophic injuries on a scale medicine had never really faced before.
“It was the first war where more died from enemy action than disease,” Dilley said.
The conversation moved easily between medicine, history and memory — less like a lecture and more like someone trying to explain how one era forced the next one to change.
The shift didn’t happen all at once, but the pressure to improve was constant.
In earlier wars, many soldiers didn’t die from wounds themselves, but from what followed — infection, poor sanitation, limited understanding of how to treat trauma once it set in. Dysentery, typhoid and septic wounds were often more lethal than the battlefield.
By the time of Gallipoli, that balance had started to change, even if the systems around it hadn’t caught up.
Since then, each conflict has pushed medicine further.
Today, soldiers carry trauma kits designed to deal with the first and most critical problem — bleeding. Tourniquets, clotting agents and airway tools are standard, with the aim of stabilising someone long enough to get them to surgical care.
From there, evacuation is faster, and treatment is more specialised, with trauma teams trained specifically for those injuries.
None of that removes the brutality of war. But it does mean more people survive the part they wouldn’t have before.
One conversation at a time
Five calls.
Different states, different lives, different subjects.
A 10-year-old on a remote cattle station. A soybean farmer in Bundaberg. Pig shooters near Warren. Scientists arguing over reefs. A surgeon reframing Gallipoli.
None of them sounded like they were trying to make a point bigger than it was.
That’s probably why the calls stayed with people after the radio switched off.
Sandgate train passengers will need to allow more time for travel as Queensland Rail cuts services across South East Queensland during ongoing protected industrial action.
The TransLink service update says weekday trains will run on a reduced timetable, from Tuesday, 5 May, with extra services added in the morning and afternoon peaks on some lines. For the Shorncliffe line, the change is simpler but still disruptive: trains will run every 30 minutes all day.
That means Sandgate residents using Sandgate station should expect longer waits than usual, especially during the morning and afternoon rush. Nearby passengers at Shorncliffe, Deagon, North Boondall, Boondall and Nudgee will also be affected, according to the Queensland Rail network map.
Maintenance backlog leaves fewer trains ready for service
Queensland Rail said the timetable cuts are linked to a shortage of available trains caused by maintenance delays. A Queensland Rail service statement cited protected industrial action had reduced train availability and left the network unable to run its full timetable.
The dispute involves Queensland Rail and several transport unions, including the Electrical Trades Union, the Rail, Tram and Bus Union and the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union. The groups have been involved in enterprise bargaining talks with Queensland Rail.
Queensland Rail has said some trains are waiting on work linked to electrical, door and signalling issues. Union representatives have argued that the reduced timetable could have been avoided if workers had been allowed to keep doing partial duties while talks continued.
Sandgate passengers may feel crowding before the city
The Shorncliffe line is one of Brisbane’s shorter suburban rail lines, but it is still a key route for bayside commuters heading towards Northgate, Bowen Hills, Fortitude Valley, Central and Roma Street.
For Sandgate passengers, a 30-minute gap between services can make missed trains more costly. A late arrival at the station may mean a long wait before the next city-bound train. Crowding may also build earlier in the trip because passengers from Shorncliffe and Sandgate board before the train reaches Deagon, North Boondall and Boondall.
Queensland Rail has warned passengers across the network to expect busier trains, slower boarding and possible delays while the reduced timetable remains in place. TransLink is advising commuters to check the journey planner before leaving home.
Airtrain not affected, but other rail services are changing
Airtrain services are not included in the reduced timetable changes, according to Queensland Rail’s public advice. However, several other suburban lines will run less often, with some routes moving to 15-minute peak services and 30-minute off-peak services.
The cuts are also expected to put pressure on travel around major events later in May, including NRL Magic Round in Brisbane. Queensland Rail and transport agencies have said planning is underway for extra support during busy periods, including buses where needed.
St Patrick’s College enters the 2026 AIC rugby season with one of the youngest and most reshaped First XV line-ups in the competition — and plenty of intrigue around what that could produce.
Eleven players are set to make their First XV debuts in Round 1, underscoring a clear shift toward youth as the Shorncliffe-based side prepares to face St Peters.
It’s not just the number of new faces — it’s how young they are. A large portion of the squad sits in Years 10 and 11, placing immediate responsibility on players still early in their senior rugby journey.
The changes run across the entire park. In the forwards, Lucas Poole, Seturo Nanai, Luke Thirgood, Jett Walker, Kahu Davis-Raeli and Peeter Sheppard all step into the starting side for the first time, forming a new-look pack tasked with handling the physical demands of AIC rugby from the outset.
The backline mirrors that turnover. Halfback Bryce Murray and flyhalf Kingston Rarere take on the key playmaking roles, while Oliver Potts and Alex Petrellis add pace out wide. At the back, Max Speedy rounds out a spine built almost entirely from debutants.
There are early signs of what this group could bring. Potts arrives with a reputation as a sharp goal kicker, Thirgood offers mobility through the second row, and Petrellis brings energy on the edge — traits that hint at a side built on movement and intent rather than pure experience.
Preparation has also carried a lift. The squad recently spent time with Queensland Reds winger Tim Ryan, a former St Patrick’s student whose rise to Super Rugby has provided both inspiration and a glimpse of what’s possible from the Shorncliffe pathway.
Round 1 against St Peters shapes as a genuine test. With so many players adjusting to First XV rugby, cohesion under pressure will be key, particularly in the early exchanges.
For St Patrick’s, the equation is clear: a young side, a steep learning curve, and an immediate opportunity. The experience may be limited, but the upside is real — and this group now gets its chance to define the season from the first whistle.
If you’ve left Mother’s Day plans a little late, Sandgate has you covered — from bayfront dining and hands-on workshops to last-minute gifts and spa sessions that don’t feel like an afterthought.
With Sunday, 10 May fast approaching, here’s a streamlined guide to what’s actually worth booking — and where you’ll need to move quickly.
If you want flexibility, this is the safest bet. The Full Moon is running a full-day Mother’s Day service, meaning you can lock in anything from a casual breakfast to a longer lunch or dinner without being boxed into a single sitting.
The drawcard here is the setting — overlooking the bay near Shorncliffe Pier — with live music kicking off from 2pm. It’s the kind of option that works for bigger family groups or those planning to linger.
For a more structured start to the day, Sands Social is offering a dedicated Mother’s Day breakfast buffet at its Songbirds Restaurant.
Expect a broad spread — hot breakfast staples alongside dumplings, buns and a full dessert lineup — making it one of the more comprehensive offerings locally. This is a set-session experience, so early booking is key.
📍 50 Keogh Street, Sandgate 💲 From $60 (members)
Something different: make your own gift
Pottery workshop (Saturday) | Street Clay & Ceramics
For those looking beyond food, this pre-Mother’s Day workshop offers a hands-on alternative. Participants create two functional ceramic pieces — including a herb stripper and grater — in a beginner-friendly session.
Finished items are fired and ready for pickup a few weeks later, turning the experience into a lasting keepsake rather than a one-day outing.
If your plan is simple — good coffee, good food, good view — Baaia remains one of the most reliable picks on the Sandgate foreshore.
The menu leans seasonal with options across dietary needs, backed by local produce and uninterrupted water views. Ideal for smaller groups or a more relaxed start to the day.
If you’ve left the gift to the last minute, this is your safety net. The store stocks curated cards, clothing, homewares and ready-made gift packs that don’t feel rushed.
📍 Shop 3/11 Bowser Parade, Sandgate
Boutique option: something she wouldn’t buy herself
If the goal is proper downtime, Iremia Recovery offers a full suite of wellness options — including magnesium pools, sauna, cold plunge and compression therapy.
It’s a higher-end option, but one that leans into experience over material gifts.
📍 131 Rainbow Street, Sandgate
Plan early — or keep it simple
Mother’s Day in Sandgate tends to book out quickly, particularly for structured dining sessions and waterfront venues. If reservations are gone, cafés, takeaway brunch and a well-timed walk along the foreshore remain a reliable fallback.
