Redcliffe’s iconic seaside markets are preparing for a festive Easter weekend, with organisers promising two mornings packed with family fun, local stalls and community fundraising along the Redcliffe Parade foreshore.
The Redcliffe Markets Easter Extravaganza will take place on Good Friday (3 April) and Easter Sunday (5 April) from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., transforming the popular waterfront strip into a lively Easter hub featuring more than 250 stalls, live entertainment and activities for children.
Locals can expect the usual market favourites — handmade crafts, gourmet street food and artisan treats — alongside special Easter-themed attractions, including craft workshops for kids and appearances by the Easter Bunny for family photos.
Photo Credit: Supplied
Market coordinator Mark Power said the event builds on the long-standing tradition of the Redcliffe Markets as a weekend gathering point for locals and visitors.
“Easter is one of those times when families come together, and the markets are the perfect place to soak up the atmosphere by the water,” he said.
The event will also include a community fundraising element, with activities such as a dunk tank and rock wall raising money for Redcliffe Hospital. Every participation fee from the attractions will go towards supporting the hospital’s work in the local community.
Photo Credit: SuppliedPhoto Credit: Supplied
Alongside the fundraising attractions, visitors can expect live music, Easter decorations and plenty of chocolate-themed treats throughout the market precinct.
The Redcliffe Markets are held weekly along the peninsula foreshore and regularly attract hundreds of stallholders selling handmade goods, produce and street food.
Organisers say the Easter edition aims to offer something for everyone — from families with young children to locals simply keen to enjoy a relaxed morning by the bay.
The Redcliffe Markets Easter Extravaganza is free to attend and will run from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday 3 April and Sunday 5 April at Redcliffe Parade.
Visitors are encouraged to bring the family, explore the stalls and enjoy a festive start to the Easter weekend on the Redcliffe waterfront.
It’s here! The Dolphins kick off their 2026 NRL season campaign hosting the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Suncorp Stadium, hoping to get off the starting blocks with a win. The Redcliffe Dolphins QRL team also begin their Hostplus Cup campaign this weekend at Kayo Stadium against the Burleigh Bears.
An opening weekend double header at two separate venues.
Redcliffe Ready: Dolphins Open 2026 with Heavyweight Round One NRL Clash
There is no easing into 2026.
The Dolphins open their season on Sunday at Suncorp Stadium against a South Sydney side loaded with star power but arriving with question marks after a disrupted pre-season.
Tom Flegler and Tom Gilbert return to the starting pack; Selwyn Cobbo makes his club debut; and Redcliffe gets an immediate read on whether this roster is ready to turn two near-misses into a genuine top-eight push.
For Redcliffe, this is not just round one — it is a genuine early test of whether this squad is ready to convert potential into finals football.
Kick-off is at 1:05pm on Sunday, March 8.
Forward Pack Reinforced
The biggest substance in this team list sits up front.
Flegler returns at prop after nearly two years sidelined by a serious shoulder injury. His presence changes the tone of the middle immediately. Alongside him, Gilbert is named to start at prop in his first NRL appearance since Round 11 last season and will captain the side in his comeback game.
Morgan Knowles starts at lock in his first match for the club, adding further steel to a forward rotation that includes Connelly Lemuelu and Kulikefu Finefeuiaki in the back row.
At hooker, reigning 2025 Forward of the Year and Most Consistent Player Kurt Donoghoe gets the nod, with Bradley Schneider, Oryn Keeley, Felise Kaufusi and Trai Fuller on the bench.
After falling agonisingly short of the top eight in each of the past two seasons, this is the strongest middle Redcliffe has taken into a Round One game.
Strike Power Out Wide
If the pack lays the platform, the backline has the capacity to finish.
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow remains at fullback, despite off-season speculation about a positional switch. Coach Kristian Woolf confirmed he would stay at the back, with Trai Fuller named on the bench.
Selwyn Cobbo lines up on the wing for his club debut, opposite Jamayne Isaako. Jake Averillo and Herbie Farnworth combine again in the centres, while Isaiya Katoa partners Kodi Nikorima in the halves.
The Dolphins finished 2025 as the number one attacking team in the NRL. Tabuai-Fidow has scored 16 tries in his past 10 games at Suncorp Stadium. Those numbers are not theoretical — they reflect how quickly this side can turn pressure into points.
Rabbitohs Bring Firepower — and Questions
On paper, South Sydney arrive with serious class.
Latrell Mitchell starts in the centres, Cody Walker at five-eighth and captain Cameron Murray at lock. David Fifita will make his club debut in the second row after a strong pre-season, while Alex Johnston returns fit and sits just two tries short of equalling Ken Irvine’s all-time premiership try-scoring record.
But the Rabbitohs’ preparation has not been smooth.
Hooker Brandon Smith has undergone scans on a calf injury that could sideline him for an extended period, adding to a growing injury list. Halfback Jamie Humphreys is suspended for the opening two rounds, while Jonah Glover was ruled out after breaking his jaw in the Charity Shield. Jayden Sullivan has been working back from surgery to treat an infection and remains a watch heading into the weekend.
That has placed pressure on the halves combination. Ashton Ward has been named at No.7 alongside Walker, stepping into a key organisational role in just his seventh NRL appearance. Wayne Bennett has been forced to manage significant reshuffling during the pre-season and may yet need further adjustments if availability shifts again.
In the forwards, Jai Arrow remains sidelined indefinitely with a shoulder issue. Sean Keppie and Bronson Garlick both failed head injury assessments in a pre-season fixture but are expected to be available following the required concussion protocols.
The result is a Rabbitohs side that has quality across the park but enters round one with moving parts. South Sydney enter Round One after a disrupted pre-season due to injuries and suspensions.
For Redcliffe, that matters.
What It All Means for Redcliffe
The Dolphins have won four of their past six games at Suncorp. South Sydney managed just three wins from 12 away matches in 2025.
Both clubs have spoken openly about top-eight ambitions in 2026. Both have strengthened key areas. But round one is about execution, not projection.
With Flegler and Gilbert back in the engine room, Cobbo bringing fresh edge speed and Katoa now firmly established as the club’s on-field organiser, this is the most balanced Dolphins side Redcliffe has taken into a season opener.
The peninsula has watched this build year by year — from expansion curiosity to genuine contender. Expectations are no longer about competitiveness. They are about progression.
A fast, physical start at Suncorp would not just open the season. It would tell Redcliffe that 2026 is the year the Dolphins move from chasing the eight to belonging in it.
Dolphins v Rabbitohs Sunday, March 8 1:05pm Suncorp Stadium Broadcast on Nine Network, Nine Now, Kayo and Foxtel
Published 4-March-2026
Also happening this weekend at Kayo Stadium…
Redcliffe Dolphins Begin QRL 2026 with September in the Rearview — and Burleigh Bears in the Crosshairs
The QRL Hostplus Cup season opens for the Redcliffe Dolphins exactly where last year ended — against the Burleigh Bears.
An 18–16 preliminary final defeat at UAA Park last September left Redcliffe one step short of a grand final. Not outplayed. Not overwhelmed. Just edged in a contest decided by fine margins.
Now 2026 begins at Kayo Stadium with the same opponent across the line.
The memory is fresh. The response comes first.
Head-to-Head: Margins Define It
Across 22 meetings between the Dolphins and Bears, Redcliffe hold a narrow historical edge:
• 12 wins • 9 losses • 1 draw
Recent clashes underline how little separates the sides.
The most recent meeting — that 18–16 preliminary final — was decided late. Earlier in the 2025 regular season, Burleigh recorded a 30–12 result. These contests are shaped by discipline and execution rather than dominance.
Fortress Kayo
Venue numbers strengthen Redcliffe’s position heading into Round One.
At Kayo Stadium, the Dolphins win 66% of their matches — 79 victories from 120 appearances.
Burleigh’s record at the venue sits at 38% (5 wins from 13 games).
Nearly half of Redcliffe’s 2026 QRL regular season — 11 of 23 matches — will again be played on the peninsula. Early home conversion plays a major role in ladder stability across the 12-team competition.
Round One begins where Redcliffe are statistically strongest.
What Last Season Proved
The Dolphins finished sixth in the 2025 regular season before pushing deep into the finals and falling just two points short of a grand final appearance.
That run confirmed Redcliffe as one of the competition’s most consistent sides. Their late-season form and defensive resilience carried them through the finals and within a single score of the decider.
Rather than rebuilding in 2026, the Dolphins begin the new campaign looking to build directly on that momentum.
Program Strength vs Program Strength
Overall win rates underline how competitive both clubs have been historically:
Declan Dowson anchors the back at fullback. Steven Numbo and Jude Saldanha provide width, with Montel Lisala and Michael McGrath completing the backline. Karl Oloapu and Joshua James combine in the halves.
Through the middle, Jack Johnson, Jordan Plath and Riley Price headline the forward pack alongside Domenico De Stradis, Sam Elliott and lock Sheldon Pitama.
The interchange — Max Plath, Mali Le Pou, Patrice Siolo and Elijah Rasmussen — adds forward depth and defensive stability.
This is not a side searching for combinations. It is a team beginning the season with cohesion already established.
The Moment
Redcliffe do not open 2026 chasing credibility. They open defending momentum.
They hold the historical edge. They dominate at Kayo Stadium. Burleigh hold the most recent victory.
Two points separated them in September.
Now the Redcliffe Dolphins begin their QRL campaign with the chance to answer it — immediately.
Redcliffe Dolphins v Burleigh Bears Round 1 — QRL Hostplus Cup 2026 Venue: Kayo Stadium, Redcliffe Date: Sunday, March 8 Kick-off:1:10pm AEST Competition: Hostplus Cup (QRL)
Construction is now well underway on the $19.5 million Suttons Beach Pavilion, and with bulldozers on site and a 2027 opening date locked in, Redcliffe locals are finally getting a clearer picture of what to expect when the dust settles.
The centrepiece of the development is a striking two-storey coastal structure designed to make the most of its prime beachfront position. The design was selected through a national competition endorsed by the Australian Institute of Architects, and takes cues from the curved forms of the original art deco pavilion that once stood on the site. Think open decks, breezy walkways, a sleek foreshore profile, and a rooftop platform with views stretching across Moreton Bay.
One of the more distinctive design elements is the “reverse rotunda,” an open central space conceived for meeting, hanging out, and enjoying unobstructed water views.
The 1998 rotunda will be relocated to provide shaded seating rather than being removed from the site entirely. Even the bricks from the old demolished pavilion will be reused in the landscaping, a deliberate link to what came before.
Dining Is Back on the Foreshore
Photo credit: City of Moreton Bay
One of the most anticipated elements of the new build is the return of ocean-facing dining to the foreshore. The new pavilion will include multiple indoor and outdoor food and beverage tenancies, with the dynamic mix to be determined through a separate tender process. In practice, that means a range of dining and drinking options, from casual fish and chips overlooking the sand to fresh Moreton Bay seafood and more upmarket offerings.
The return of ocean-facing dining is one of the project’s most anticipated outcomes.
More Than Just a Restaurant Precinct
The pavilion is about more than just somewhere to eat and drink. The broader development includes extensive landscaping designed to connect the building with the surrounding parkland, new public changing rooms and showers for beachgoers, and expanded shade structures. Shaded colonnades will link the precinct to the park, and landscaped spaces are planned with markets and community events in mind.
The adjacent car park is also in line for upgrades, and accessible public amenities are included in the scope, infrastructure designed to support both everyday beachgoers and larger community events.
A New Era for Suttons Beach
Photo credit: City of Moreton Bay
Moreton Bay Mayor Peter Flannery said it was exciting to see work under way. “It’s fantastic that construction has begun on this highly anticipated project that will return the site to an iconic destination the community can enjoy for generations to come,” he said. “With a vibrant hospitality scene and stunning beachfront location, the new Suttons Beach Pavilion will be a popular destination for locals and visitors alike.”
Beachfront developments of this scale are rare, and the project has been deliberately designed to make the most of the site’s natural advantages. The project is backed by funding from all three levels of authority, council, state and federal, reflecting the development’s significance as a long-term investment in the region.
With a 2027 opening on the horizon, for a community that has long waited for this stretch of foreshore to be restored, construction starting is the clearest sign yet that the wait is nearly over.
Hundreds of young people across Moreton Bay are living without stable housing, and this April Chameleon Youth Housing is turning that reality into action through its Couch Surfing campaign, inviting Redcliffe peninsula residents to experience just one night without their own bed.
The Couch Surfing campaign runs from 13 to 19 April, timed to coincide with Youth Week and Youth Homelessness Matters Day on 15 April. Participants swap their bed for a couch or floor at home for one night and collect sponsorship from friends, family or colleagues, with all funds supporting the organisation’s youth shelter and life skills programs at Kippa-Ring. Individuals, families, school groups and workplaces can all register, either solo or as a team.
The Homelessness No One Sees
The young people Chameleon Youth Housing works with are rarely visible in the way most people picture homelessness. They are not sleeping in parks or doorways. They are rotating between a friend’s couch one night, a relative’s floor the next, and sometimes a car when those options run out. Chameleon Youth Housing manager Nicki Kemp estimates between 600 and 1,000 young people across the City of Moreton Bay are living this way right now.
That figure aligns with what national data confirms about the scale of hidden youth homelessness across Australia. Couch surfing has been identified as a precursor to chronic homelessness, occurring in the very early stage when young people are still moving in and out of unstable situations, often while still at school, and young people who couch surf face real risks of sudden eviction from their temporary arrangements as well as physical, financial and other forms of exploitation by those hosting them.
Accurate statistics on couch surfing are difficult to establish because on Census night, a young person staying temporarily with another household may be recorded as a visitor with a usual residence, masking their actual housing situation entirely. The real numbers are almost certainly higher than official counts suggest.
In 2024-25, children and young people receiving homelessness support alone were more likely than any other client group to be couch surfing, at 27 per cent compared with 15 per cent of all clients nationally. Last year alone, Chameleon’s information line handled more than 2,000 contacts from people seeking help. In a region growing as fast as Moreton Bay, the reality is that for every young person offered a bed, there are dozens more still waiting in the shadows, moving between cars and couches.
What Chameleon Youth Housing Does
Chameleon Youth Housing has been supporting young people aged 16 to 25 who are homeless or at risk of homelessness for more than 30 years, providing safe and affordable accommodation on the Redcliffe peninsula and surrounding areas. Its model goes well beyond a bed for the night.
The Youth Housing Program pairs accommodation with practical case management, supporting residents to build cooking, budgeting and household skills while helping them identify personal goals and the steps needed to reach them. Young people also receive assistance reconnecting with education and employment, with the aim of securing long-term independent housing rather than cycling back through crisis accommodation.
Beyond its core youth housing work, Chameleon Youth Housing runs a Transitional Housing Program for young parenting families aged 18 to 25 experiencing accommodation crisis, and an Indigenous housing program called I CaN HOPe, providing culturally appropriate supported housing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families. The organisation also runs a dedicated Queensland Housing Information Platform line, responding to more than 2,000 contacts in the past financial year alone as demand across the region continues to rise.
It costs approximately $70 per night to house a young person at the shelter. The Couch Surfing campaign directly offsets those costs while building the community understanding that sustains longer-term support for the organisation’s work.
Why Community Fundraising Matters
Young people experiencing homelessness face compounding disadvantages: almost half of those seeking specialist homelessness services report a current mental health condition, and many struggle to sustain education, employment or social connection without a stable base. Early intervention, of the kind Chameleon Youth Housing provides, is consistently identified in research as the most effective way to prevent short-term housing instability from becoming long-term disadvantage.
Of the 39,000 young Australians who presented alone to specialist homelessness services in 2022-23, 47 per cent needed long-term accommodation. Only 4.3 per cent received it. Community fundraising campaigns like Couch Surfing fill some of the gap that formal systems leave behind.
How to Register and Get Involved
The Couch Surfing campaign runs from 13 to 19 April 2026. Registrations are open now for individuals, families, school groups and workplaces. Participants can register, set up a fundraising page and collect online sponsorships at chameleonyouthhousing.org.au/couch-surfing. To make a direct donation or enquire about other ways to support the organisation, contact Chameleon Youth Housing at 13 Dorall Street, Kippa-Ring, by phone on (07) 3284 4805 or by email at manager@chameleonhousing.org.au.
Photo Credit: Chameleon Youth Housing
If you need help: Young people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness can contact Chameleon Youth Housing directly via the details above. This article discusses youth homelessness. If you or someone you know is experiencing difficulty, support is also available through the national Youth Homeless Hotline on 1800 882 633.
On Friday, 27 February, a sod-turn ceremony at 50 Marine Parade marks the start of works on a project set to transform one of the peninsula’s most cherished foreshore sites into a modern, multifunctional destination for locals and visitors alike.
The Suttons Beach Pavilion Redevelopment Project
Photo credit: City of Moreton Bay
The project will deliver a brand new pavilion building on the Suttons Beach foreshore, replacing the previous structure that had reached the end of its useful life. Recent investigations confirmed the old building, a function centre originally constructed in 2002, no longer meets modern building standards. Renovation was ruled out after it became clear the remediation works required to bring it up to compliance would be neither practical nor cost-effective.
Photo credit: City of Moreton Bay
The new pavilion is designed with both community use and hospitality in mind. It will feature three separate hospitality spaces, including a rooftop venue complete with a public deck and dedicated event space.
Ample indoor dining and outdoor seating options will cater to everything from a casual coffee to a waterfront function, all designed with Queensland’s sub-tropical climate firmly in mind. A lift and staircase will connect both levels, and improved accessibility will extend throughout the car park, pavilion and surrounding parklands.
Public amenities are also getting a serious upgrade. The redevelopment includes new accessible toilets and showers, as well as a Changing Places facility, an important inclusion for community members with high support needs. Outside, the landscaping plan features native plantings, new shade structures, an upgraded car park, and a circular seating area that can flex for everyday use or community events.
Photo credit: City of Moreton Bay
Funding of $12.1 million was secured in November 2024 through the Liveability Fund under the South East Queensland City Deal. The construction tender was awarded in November 2025, and with works now officially underway, completion is expected by mid-2027, weather permitting. Locals keen to see food and beverage tenants move in will need to wait just a little longer — operators are expected to be on site in the latter half of 2027, subject to the outcome of a separate tender process.
A Site With History
Photo credit: Anna Vanson/Google Maps
For all the excitement around what’s coming, it’s worth pausing on what’s been.
The original pavilion, a bathing pavilion and kiosk for beachgoers, was built in 1937, and the site has changed shape many times since. The rotunda was added in 1998, and the most recent redevelopment took place in 2002. Through all of it, the foreshore has remained a constant in local life: somewhere to swim, somewhere to eat, somewhere to just be.
Students from Caboolture and Redcliffe are the first in Queensland to take part in a new clinical training pathway that places Diploma of Nursing students directly into hospital and community health settings, giving them earlier hands-on experience as they prepare to join the region’s health workforce.
The program was announced on 25 February and involves 26 students studying through TAFE Queensland who are training to become enrolled nurses.
The group forms the first cohort of the Urapun Clinical School of Nursing, a program created through a partnership between Metro North Health, Redcliffe Hospital, Community and Oral Health services and TAFE Queensland.
The initiative allows Diploma of Nursing students to complete several clinical placements within the same health network while studying. According to health leaders involved in the program, this approach helps students build confidence by working with familiar clinical teams and supervisors throughout their training.
Students will complete four placements as part of the program. Two will take place at Redcliffe Hospital, while two others will be carried out through Community and Oral Health services across Moreton Bay and north Brisbane.
Education leaders involved in the project said the arrangement gives students earlier exposure to real patient care environments while strengthening pathways into the public health workforce.
Health educators say experience in different clinical areas is key to building practical skills before graduation.
During their placements, students may work alongside health professionals in services such as wound care, diabetes management, emergency care and specialty outpatient clinics.
Community and Oral Health services play a large role in the training program. The service supports more than 250,000 patient visits each year through home visits, dental clinics, health centres, mobile dental vans and residential aged care facilities across the region.
Program leaders say learning within these varied environments helps students understand how healthcare works both inside hospitals and in community settings.
Meaning Behind the Name Urapun
The clinical school’s name, Urapun, comes from the Torres Strait Kala Lagaw Ya Western Islands language group and means “one”.
Health leaders say the name reflects the partnership between Redcliffe Hospital, Community and Oral Health services and TAFE Queensland as they work together to support nursing education.
The program also aims to encourage inclusion and participation from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in the local healthcare workforce.
Education staff welcomed the first group of students during an afternoon tea and badge ceremony attended by nursing educators and Metro North Health staff.
The launch marked the start of what health leaders say could become a long-term training pathway that supports both students and the region’s healthcare services.
Sat, February 21, 2026 (John Fredericks Park – Capalaba FC – Field 1) – FQPL1 – Men – Round 1 • Capalaba FC 1 | Caboolture Sports FC 3
Fri, February 20, 2026 (Eric Evans Oval – Ipswich Knights Soccer Club – Field 1) – Kappa Pro Series – Women – Regional Round 1 • Ipswich Knights 4 | Samford Rangers 2
Fri, February 20, 2026 (Prentice Park – North Brisbane FC – Field 1) – Kappa Pro Series – Women – Regional Round 1 • North Brisbane 6 | Moggill FC 2
Fri, February 20, 2026 (Lanham Park – Grange Thistle Soccer Club – Field 1) – Kappa Pro Series – Women – Regional Round 1 • Grange Thistle 0 | North Lakes United 4
Fri, February 20, 2026 (Albert Bishop Park – Virginia United FC – Field 1) – Kappa Pro Series – Women – Regional Round 1 • Virginia United 1 | Peninsula Power 0
Sat, February 21, 2026 (Wolter Park – Moreton City Excelsior – Field 1) – NPL – Men – Round 1 • Moreton City Excelsior 4 | Gold Coast Knights 1
Sat, February 21, 2026 (AJ Kelly Park – Peninsula Power FC – Field 1) – NPL – Men – Round 1 • Peninsula Power 1 | Eastern Suburbs 0
Sat, February 14, 2026 & Sat, February 21, 2026 (2 Day – Trevor Hohns Field) – Queensland Premier Cricket – Men 1st Grade – Round 14 • Sandgate-Redcliffe Mens 1st Grade 6-322 | Western Suburbs Mens 1st Grade 3-324
The gentle sea breeze drifting along Redcliffe Parade carries more than just the scent of salt and sunshine — it brings the promise of chocolate, laughter, and a community celebration that locals eagerly await each year.
As the Easter long weekend approaches, Redcliffe’s iconic seaside markets are set to transform into a vibrant festival ground for the much-anticipated Redcliffe Markets Easter Extravaganza, drawing families, visitors, and market lovers to the picturesque peninsula just north of Brisbane.
On Friday, 3 April, and Sunday, 5 April, from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., the foreshore will buzz with energy as more than 250 stalls line the waterfront, offering everything from locally crafted goods to gourmet street eats. Colourful Easter decorations will sway in the coastal breeze, while live music fills the air, setting a lively tone for the festivities.
Photo Credit: Supplied
Children will clutch baskets in anticipation, scanning the crowd for the event’s most beloved guest — the Easter Bunny. With boundless enthusiasm, the fluffy celebrity will bounce through the markets, posing for photos and delighting young visitors with warm hugs and playful antics.
Beyond the chocolate treats and festive cheer, the event also carries a strong sense of community purpose. This year’s celebration introduces family-friendly attractions including a dunk tank and a towering rock wall, with proceeds supporting the vital work of Redcliffe Hospital. Parents are expected to cheer as brave volunteers take the plunge into chilly waters, while others test their strength scaling the climbing wall, all in the spirit of giving back.
Photo Credit: Supplied
Nearby, creative workshops will invite children to express their artistic flair through Easter-themed crafts. Tables scattered with paints, ribbons, and decorations will become hubs of imagination, where small hands carefully create colourful keepsakes to take home.
Food lovers will be spoilt for choice, with the aroma of freshly prepared dishes drifting through the crowd. From savoury delights to indulgent sweets, the market’s celebrated gourmet street eats promise something for every palate. Meanwhile, stalls showcasing locally made goods will highlight the region’s vibrant community of artisans and small businesses.
Photo Credit: Supplied
Throughout the day, live entertainment will keep the atmosphere lively. Musicians are set to perform upbeat sets encouraging visitors to sway along, while performers add a sense of spectacle that captures the joyful spirit of the season.
Set against the stunning backdrop of the Redcliffe Peninsula’s coastline, the Easter Extravaganza promises more than just a market — it offers a celebration of community, creativity, and connection. With free entry and activities for all ages, the event provides a welcoming space for families to gather, explore, and create lasting memories.
Photo Credit: Supplied
Organisers from Goodwill Projects describe the markets as an opportunity to bring people together through shared experiences, combining entertainment with meaningful community support. Their efforts continue to reinforce the event’s growing reputation as one of the region’s most cherished Easter traditions.
A mobile water refill station has been making the rounds at events across Moreton Bay, Sunshine Coast and Noosa, dispensing free drinking water to crowds and tallying up the equivalent of 70,000 reusable bottle fills over the past year. Unitywater’s Drink Tap van has turned up everywhere from beachside holiday hotspots to local sporting matches, including recent stops in Redcliffe.
The van was parked at Kayo Stadium for the Dolphins’ pre-season showdown on 12 February. It’s scheduled to return for the Redcliffe Dolphins versus Sea Eagles match on 2 April, one of 47 community and sporting events the service has attended over the past 12 months.
Photo credit: Unitywater
The 70,000-bottle milestone represents water dispensed at various community gatherings, from sports fixtures to summer holiday events. The service allows people to avoid purchasing single-use plastic bottles of water at public events.
Joshua Zugajev, Unitywater’s Executive Manager Strategic Engagement, said the initiative extends the delivery of clean drinking water beyond homes and businesses and into the community.
“It’s been fantastic to see the community welcoming our drink tap van to so many local events, where they can fill up for free and avoid purchasing single-use plastic bottles of water,” Mr Zugajev said.
Unitywater’s Drink Tap van was stationed at the Noosa Heads Surf Life Saving Club for several weeks during the recent summer school holidays. (Photo supplied)
According to Mr Zugajev, single-use plastics contribute to the seven million tonnes of rubbish entering oceans annually, with Healthy Land and Water figures showing 80 per cent of this waste is plastic.
“By making water more readily available in the community we are supporting people to use their reusable water bottles every day to help reduce the number of single-use plastic bottles that often end up in landfill or our natural environment and waterways,” he said.
Beyond Redcliffe, the van spent several weeks at Noosa Heads Surf Life Saving Club during the summer school holidays. Mr Zugajev cited the example of Tony, a Victorian visitor who used the service daily during his family’s camping trip to stay hydrated while at the beach and Hastings Street.
The 70,000-bottle figure suggests uptake of the service at the events it has attended. For sporting events at venues like Kayo Stadium, the van offers an option for spectators looking to avoid purchasing bottled water.
The Redcliffe-based Dolphins have landed 14-year-old Wylei Parker on a three-year development deal, marking a significant win in the battle for emerging talent against their Brisbane rivals.
Wylei is the son of Brisbane Broncos champion Corey Parker, who played 347 games for the Red Hill club and helped them win the 2006 premiership. The teenager’s signature with the Moreton Bay team represents a notable shift in the local rugby league landscape, with the Dolphins securing a Parker despite his father’s legendary status at Lang Park.
Building Pathways From the Redcliffe Peninsula
The Dolphins beat the Gold Coast Titans and Canterbury Bulldogs to secure Wylei’s signature. The Broncos reportedly did not express interest in the son of their club legend, despite Corey Parker ranking as the second-highest appearance maker in Brisbane’s history behind only Darren Lockyer.
Wylei has transformed from a halfback into a hooker and models his game on Melbourne Storm and Queensland Maroons star Harry Grant. At 14 years old turning 15, he enters the age bracket where clubs can formally contract promising juniors as part of their academy systems.
The development deal involves two training sessions per month, tours and structured pathways designed to nurture young talent while ensuring players can still enjoy their adolescent years. Wylei will be instilled as part of the Dolphins academy system, which operates from Kayo Stadium in Redcliffe alongside the club’s NRL operations.
Redcliffe’s Growing Win for Moreton Bay’s NRL Presence
The signing reinforces the Dolphins’ strategy of building their junior development programs across the Redcliffe Peninsula, northern Brisbane suburbs and the broader Moreton Bay region. Since entering the NRL in 2023, the club has worked to establish pathways that compete directly with the Broncos for local talent.
Corey Parker announced the news on social media, expressing pride in his son’s achievement. The former Broncos captain described the signing as opening the door to an amazing opportunity backed by hard work, commitment and belief.
He also spoke about the signing on SEN radio recently, noting his excitement for his son’s journey while acknowledging the variables that come with teenage development in rugby league.
The former lock forward emphasised that the opportunity allows Wylei to be part of structured development while still maintaining balance as a young person.
The signing follows another high-profile father-son story in recent months, with Andrew Johns’ 16-year-old son Louis signing a development contract with the Sydney Roosters rather than his father’s former club, the Newcastle Knights.
Redcliffe’s Growing Academy System
The Dolphins organisation has invested heavily in development structures since being granted their NRL licence in October 2021. The club’s commitment to pathways was a central pillar of their successful bid over the Brisbane Firehawks and Brisbane Jets for the competition’s 17th licence.
Kayo Stadium serves as both the training and administration base for the NRL team while hosting select home games alongside the club’s primary venue at Suncorp Stadium. The 10,000-capacity stadium underwent significant upgrades between 2015 and 2020 to support the Dolphins’ NRL ambitions and now houses comprehensive academy facilities.
The Redcliffe Dolphins, who continue to compete separately in the Queensland Cup, have produced numerous representative players throughout their 75-year history, including rugby league legends Trevor Harken and Arthur Beetson.
Wylei Parker’s signing represents another step in the Dolphins’ efforts to establish themselves as a legitimate pathway option for emerging talent in South East Queensland, competing directly with the Broncos despite the weight of family legacy pulling in the opposite direction.
