A wide cross-section of the community attended St Stephen’s Cathedral yesterday for the funeral of former District Court Chief Judge Pat Shanahan who died last Sunday aged 82. Among the mourners were members of the judiciary, legal profession, Indigenous community, police and military, reflecting the many public-spirited activities of Judge Shanahan (pictured left) over the [...]

“Not Campbell Newman” (@Can_Do_Campbell) was a mystery guest at the Lord Mayor’s Forum in Brisbane yesterday. @Can_Do describes (pictured left) himself on Twitter as “the Qld Premier of Parody. Ex-Fake Lord Mayor, but am still so very fake.” @Can_Do began tweeting as the fake Lord Mayor two years ago after receiving a car-parking fine which [...]

Three of Brisbane’s five Lord Mayoral candidates faced off in a live forum and debate at the ABC Brisbane studios yesterday. Independent candidate Chris Carlton arrived late and Australian Sex Party Rory Killen failed to show. Pictured left to right: Andrew Bartlett (Greens), Ray Smith (Labor), Graham Quirk (LNP). ABC drive presenter Tim Cox questioned [...]

It can be an advantage to be a female journalist in war zones, according to war correspondent Sally Sara. People are often more willing to speak to women journalists, especially other women, she said. In particular it was possible to have access to homes and speak to women, something often denied to men in traditional [...]

It was a life-changing experience to be a hostage without knowing whether he’d live or die or ever be released, Australian photojournalist Nigel Brennan said in Brisbane this week. Brennan and Canadian journalist Amanda Lindhout were kidnapped in 2008 just outside the Somalian capital Mogadishu. He told his story to a group of aspiring journalists, [...]

Tens of thousands of people lined the streets of Brisbane to view the 2012 Anzac Day parade and applaud the marching veterans. Along every street of the parade all vantage points were taken. In places people were packed six-deep and bus seats turned into sought-after high ground for photographers. “Every year you see a thickening [...]

About 4000 people gathered at Tweed Heads for a moving Anzac day dawn service. Local MP Geoff Provest made special mention of two local young men who had recently paid the ultimate price in serving their country. Private Nathan Bewes from Murwillumbah and former Kingscliffe High School student Sapper Rowan Robinson (pictured) were killed in [...]

An estimated 8000 people gathered in Brisbane’s ANZAC Square for today’s dawn service. The service began at 4:28am at the Shrine of Remembrance for a memorable 97th anniversary of the Anzac Cove landings at Gallipoli in Turkey. Queensland Governor Penelope Wensley referred to the changing light of dawn and shifting shadows as a poignant reminder [...]

Soldiers were out in force on Brisbane streets today selling badges for the welfare charity, Legacy, which helps more than 100,000 widows, 1900 children and disabled dependants of combat veterans. Badge-sellers said Anzac Day was an opportunity for serving members of the defence forces to take part in preserving the memory of soldiers, sailors and [...]

Wednesday’s Anzac Day celebrations in Australia will be the first without a World War I veteran. The last surviving digger, Claude Choules, died last year aged 110. British-born Mr Choules served in the Royal Navy in World War I and the Royal Australian Navy in World War II. He will be remembered tomorrow along with [...]

Those looking to get into the spirit of Anzac Day in Brisbane on 25 April will have a variety of options. Public transport will run on a Sunday timetable, with extra bus and train services in the early hours to get people to the dawn service. Translink will also provide free public transport for veterans [...]

Brisbane Roar fans used today’s ticker tape parade to plead – in vain – with coach Ange Postecoglou to stay with the club for a shot at a third straight championship. Premier Campbell Newman and Lord Mayor Graham Quirk presented players with a special certificate in a ceremony at King George Square following the parade [...]

Natural disasters proved the importance of public broadcasting, Queensland Governor Penelope Wensley said in Brisbane last night. Opening the Media Leadership in Crisis, Disaster and Emergency Conference, Ms Wensley said Queensland’s 2011 disasters proved the critical role of public media, when the Australian Broadcasting Corporation played a major part in informing people of flood and [...]

The Brisbane Lions stormed to an exhilarating 65 point win over the Gold Coast Suns in the season’s first AFL QClash at the Gabba last night. The 21,000-strong home crowd also saw Lions captain Jonathan Brown finally kick his 500th career goal in the 17-9-111 to 6-10-46 win. After managing just three disposals last week [...]

Shrieking fans greeted a brief appearance of touring band One Direction outside the Sofitel Hotel in Brisbane this week. Girls camped out overnight to catch a glimpse of the British-Irish boy band before they set off for their Brisbane debut at the Convention Centre. Hordes of hysterical young women were barricaded from the hotel this [...]

Big budget savings and a freeze on water rates were two of the promises made by Gold Coast candidates at ABC local radio’s mayoral debate this week. With only a week to go until local council elections, more than a hundred Gold Coast residents turned up to hear candidates address key local issues and outline [...]

Queensland’s critically underfunded mental health sector will receive $51.5 million from the Federal Government as part of the new National Partnership Agreement. Under the agreement funding will be provided for a coordinated accommodation and support project which includes long-term social housing and support services. Queensland Alliance for Mental Health CEO Richard Nelson (pictured) said massive [...]

Six years ago Sam Cawthorn was pronounced dead on the scene of a major car accident. Now he is on stage at the Brisbane Convention Centre, talking with some of the world’s most promising minds about his experiences overcoming adversity. You could say Sam bounced back from the dead, but he prefers to call it [...]

South-east Queensland’s fire-fighters are ablaze this weekend at the regional fire-fighters championships at Mount Tamborine showgrounds. Twenty-two teams are competing in 10 events to find a winning team that best displays the skills and drills of everyday fire-fighting. Events include ladder skills and working with hoses of small or large diameter. Winners of the regional [...]

About 40 protestors held a candlelight vigil and gathered signatures in King George Square last week to draw attention to reported live organ harvesting of political prisoners in China. The Falun Gong group, a banned organisation in China, says 45,000 of its members have had organs harvested against their will. Falun Gong Queensland spokesman John [...]