WORK ON SHOPPING CENTRE
The new owners of the Russell Island Shopping Centre are about to spend significant money on a major upgrade. It is believed $500,000 will be the’ initial spend’, First Asset Management are the new owners, taking over from islanders Ian and Christine Larkman about three months ago. What form the upgrade will take we do not know. However, a spokesperson for First Asset Management indicated that the work would be carried out in the ‘near future’.
IGA MEAT DEALS
We have mentioned the meat department at Supa IGA on Russell Island before, and with good reason. Some of the deals islanders are afforded are way better than anything on the mainland. We know that Jones & Co have their own in-house butchery and that is one of the reasons for the great meat at great prices. Good to see, and long may it continue!
NEW JETTY ‘FLOAT-OUT’ NOW APRIL!
Russell Islanders won’t get a peek at its new terminal now until the end of April. The ‘float-out’ was originally scheduled for the end of March, but delays in superstructure work at Thornlands have necessitated the change in the schedule. The later move to their eventual Russell Island home, will have no effect on the finishing date for the new Russell Island jetty and terminal. It will be open for use probably around the start of Spring. The entire project for all the islands is scheduled to be completed by mid 2023,
FORESHORE WORK STARTS
You will notice that the foreshore area has been fenced off adjacent to the new jetty site on Russell Island. This is because work has already started on the foreshore part of the new jetty and terminal. This work is being carried out by sub-contractors, Pensar, who are well known to islanders for the excellent work they did in building the Macleay Island new foreshore car park. Pensar will be building the entry area to the new jetty and terminal, as well as a toilet block in that location. It will still become very busy in the coming days and weeks as the work reaches a fever pitch, ready for the ‘plug in’ of the pontoons that will happen now in late April.
RSL ISSSUE CONTINUES
The likelihood of the Russell Island RSL Club re-opening soon is still not known. We do know however, that any decision regarding the possibility of re-opening will be the decision of the new RSL Board. The Board was elected in recent days following a long, dormant period as a result of the club closing its doors in mid December last year. A three-man group was appointed to oversee the situation leading up to the latest Board elections. The new Board is now recognised as the correct authority to decide on the club’s future. It will be up to the new Board to enact a review before a decision on re-opening, or otherwise, can be made.
ANZAC DAY ON RUSSELL ISLAND
The Russell Island RSL Sub Branch will be conducting the Dawn Service at the Cenotaph 9 ANZAC Drive Russell Island., at 5.30am. Members and the Public should assemble at the Cenotaph from 5.00am. This will be followed by a Gunfire BBQ at the Cenotaph. The Main Service will commence at 11.00am and the March will start from the corner of Canaipa Rd and Cestrum St at 10.45am. All participating in the march are asked to assemble at 10.30am.
KINGA CANVAS AND GLASS
Well known Russell Island artist Kinga Rypinska will be holding her latest exhibition at the RICARTS The Farm Art House and Gallery starting Friday, May 6. The exhibition will get underway with an official opening at 6pm on Friday May 6 and the exhibition will run until May 22. One thing we know already about this exhibition: It will definitely be ‘colourful’. Kinga loves colour and we know she loves painting the colourful bird wildlife of Australia. The exhibition is called Canvas and Glass; that’s because she will paint on just about any surface. The RICARTS The Farm Art House and Gallery is open Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 12.30pm and on Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 2pm.