A young Redcliffe woman planning to move out of home has received an unexpected $150,000 boost after buying a scratchie from a local Oxley Avenue newsagency.
The woman, who is in her early 20s and has not been publicly named, won the top prize on a $10 Bingo 10X Instant Scratch-Its ticket purchased from Midway News at 544 Oxley Avenue. She plans to save most of the money and put it towards moving out.
Routine purchase delivers six-figure surprise
The woman bought the ticket on a Monday but did not scratch it until the following day. After using a self-checker and learning the ticket had won a prize, she went back over it to confirm the result.
She initially believed she had won $75 before realising the prize was $150,000. The discovery prompted an emotional call to her mother, and she later told lottery officials the result was still difficult to comprehend.
Scratchies were not entirely unfamiliar to her, with family members having given them as birthday presents in the past. Buying one for herself was an occasional decision, however, and the winning ticket was a spontaneous purchase.
Moving plans move closer
The Redcliffe resident said she intended to put most of the winnings aside and use the money to help her move out. She has not disclosed where she plans to move or whether she intends to rent or buy.
No major spending plans have been announced. The $150,000 prize instead gives her a substantial financial buffer as she prepares for the costs of establishing a home of her own.
Midway News adds another major win
Midway News owner Deepak Rawat said staff were pleased to see another customer secure a significant prize from a ticket sold at the Redcliffe shop.
Rawat said the business had sold a division-one Lotto entry and two top-prize Instant Scratch-Its tickets in recent years, along with other smaller major wins. Staff plan to mark the latest result with posters in the store.
The Oxley Avenue outlet has previously sold other significant winning tickets, including a $1 million Gold Lotto entry claimed by a Redcliffe shopper in 2023 after going unchecked for several weeks.
A mother and daughter also won a $50,000 Instant Scratch-Its top prize from a ticket bought at the store in 2022. Another Redcliffe woman secured a $200,000 Lucky Lotteries first prize from an entry purchased there in 2019.
Redcliffe residents are set to gain more hospital beds, expanded treatment options and improved access to care as the Redcliffe Hospital expansion moves into its next major phase.
Lendlease has been selected as the preferred contractor for the project, which will add 255 overnight beds and increase the hospital’s capacity across maternity, endoscopy and surgical services.
More care closer to home
The first major stage will include a new Clinical Services Building and at least 210 new overnight beds. It will also expand maternity, endoscopy and operating theatre capacity.
Those additions are expected to give local patients more options for diagnosis, treatment and recovery within the Redcliffe area. They should also help the hospital manage rising demand across emergency, surgical and inpatient services.
A 28-bed Transitional Sub-Acute Medical Inpatient Unit is planned for 2027. The unit will support patients who no longer need acute hospital treatment but still require medical care before returning home or moving to another care setting.
The project will also include staged refurbishment of the existing hospital. That work will aim to improve the way patients, staff and services move through the campus.
Photo Credit: QLD Health
Key features of the expansion
The project includes:
255 new overnight beds across the expanded hospital
At least 210 beds in the first major construction stage
A 28-bed Transitional Sub-Acute Medical Inpatient Unit
A new Clinical Services Building
Expanded maternity services
Increased endoscopy capacity
Additional operating theatres
Staged refurbishment of the existing hospital building
Three extra levels on the multi-storey car park
About 530 additional parking spaces
A design focused on patient and staff safety
Protection of the culturally significant tree on the hospital site
Construction planned around patient care
An Early Contractor Involvement agreement is expected to be finalised in August. That process will allow Lendlease to work with the Queensland Government, Health Infrastructure Queensland and Metro North Health on detailed planning before major construction begins.
Early and enabling works are expected to begin in 2026. Construction will be staged so hospital services can continue during the building program.
That will be important for patients, visitors and staff, although access routes, parking arrangements and traffic movements may change as work progresses.
Metro North Health is expected to provide updates as the construction footprint grows. Residents attending appointments will need clear information about temporary entrances, parking changes and transport arrangements.
Local businesses set to benefit
The project is also expected to create work for local contractors, suppliers and apprentices. About 90 per cent of subcontractors are expected to come from the region.
That target could direct a large share of the project’s economic activity back into Redcliffe and surrounding communities. It may also create training opportunities for people entering the construction industry.
The current timetable indicates that the first new beds could become available from late 2027, with the full expansion expected to be completed in 2032.
Kayo Stadium will swap rugby league goalposts for home plates after the Dolphins’ home ground was selected to host the WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup Finals, bringing international teams and global attention to Moreton Bay.
The tournament will run from 5 to 11 April 2027, with organisers confirming the stadium will be converted into a purpose-built softball diamond for the event. The finals will also serve as a qualifying pathway toward the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Organisers have described the tournament as Queensland’s first major international team event linked to the lead-up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Officials from Softball Australia, the City of Moreton Bay, the Dolphins organisation and Softball Queensland gathered at Kayo Stadium this week to confirm the venue announcement alongside members of the Aussie Spirit national team.
Softball Australia chief executive Sarah Loh said the stadium setting would give the sport a larger audience and create stronger connections with young players and families across the country. She said the event was expected to encourage more girls and women to become involved in softball.
Softball Australia CEO Sarah Loh announces the 2027 Softball World Cup Venue at Redcliffe Leagues Club. Photo Credit: Scott Powick Softball Australia Media/Supplied
From Dolphins Territory to International Softball Diamond
Kayo Stadium has long been known as the home of the Dolphins and one of Queensland’s established rugby league venues.
The switch to softball will see the ground temporarily redesigned with an international-standard diamond, enhanced broadcast facilities and upgraded spectator access for the tournament.
Softball Australia Head Coach Kerrie Porter with Team Spirit players Nicole Conacher & Jayme Reddacliff during the 2027 Softball World Cup Venue announcement at Redcliffe Leagues Club. Photo Credit: Scott Powick Softball Australia Media/SUPPLIED
The 10,000-seat venue already features modern player facilities, stadium lighting and transport links through Kippa-Ring station, making it suitable for an event expected to draw teams and supporters from around the world.
For local sports fans, the tournament will mark a rare shift from the stadium’s usual rugby league setup to an international softball layout.
Dolphins Group president Bob Jones joined the announcement in Redcliffe, highlighting the partnership between the rugby league club, Softball Australia and Moreton Bay Council in bringing the event to the area.
Talobilla Park to Host Training and Warm-Up Sessions
While Kayo Stadium will host the main tournament matches, Talobilla Park will continue to play a major role throughout the week.
The Redcliffe softball venue, which had originally been announced as the tournament host site, will instead operate as the official training and warm-up base for competing teams.
That means international players and coaching staff are expected to spend time across multiple parts of the Peninsula during the event.
Photo Credit: Supplied
Mr Peter Flannery said the tournament would help strengthen Moreton Bay’s standing as a destination for major sporting events while also bringing long-term benefits to the community.
He said the partnership between council, Softball Australia and the Dolphins would help keep Redcliffe closely connected to the World Cup experience even with activities spread across different venues.
Local Softball Clubs Prepare for World Cup Spotlight
The arrival of the Women’s Softball World Cup Finals is expected to place fresh attention on grassroots softball across the region.
Representatives from Redcliffe Leagues Softball Association attended the announcement, with organisers pointing to the opportunity for local juniors to watch elite international players compete in their own backyard.
The Aussie Spirit is expected to face seven of the world’s leading softball nations during the tournament, giving local fans a chance to see Olympic-level athletes without leaving southeast Queensland.
Federal Sport Minister Anika Wells said the event would help place women’s sport in front of larger crowds and younger audiences, particularly with matches being staged inside a stadium environment rather than a traditional softball complex.
Queensland Sport Minister Tim Mander also linked the event to the growing focus on participation ahead of Brisbane 2032, saying international tournaments often encourage children to become involved in local sport.
World Cup Event Adds to Redcliffe’s Sporting Schedule
The World Cup announcement adds another major event to Redcliffe’s sporting calendar following the Dolphins’ entry into the NRL and continued investment across Moreton Bay sporting infrastructure.
The tournament is expected to bring teams, officials and supporters to the region during the week-long competition period.
The event will also place Kayo Stadium in front of international television audiences as softball prepares for its return to the Olympic spotlight.
Redcliffe Hospital expansion is set to deliver more than 200 new overnight beds and major service upgrades, giving the community one of its biggest health boosts in years.
The Queensland Government outlined the plan in a recent update. Construction timelines and contractor details were released after the state opened registrations of interest for the main hospital build. The carpark extension works are scheduled to begin early 2026.
Redcliffe residents will see a large increase in care capacity through the project. Plans include at least 210 new overnight beds along with larger maternity, endoscopy and operating theatre spaces. The hospital site design focuses on safe movement for staff and visitors while keeping a culturally significant tree at the centre of the grounds. The project aims to ease pressure on a hospital that serves a rapidly growing local population.
Construction Steps And Timelines
The state called for registrations of interest for the main build, with the lodgement period ending on 21 November 2025. The final masterplan is scheduled for completion by the end of the year. The update signals a shift from concept planning to detailed groundwork.
It sets the stage for contractors to begin the next phase once the government selects the successful applicants.
Carpark Upgrade And Local Access
Richard Crookes Construction received the contract to extend the multi-storey carpark. The upgrade is valued at 36 million dollars and will add about 530 parking spaces. Work will start early 2026.
The state noted that the cost per parking space comes in lower than earlier estimates. The extension aims to improve access for families and staff, especially during peak hospital hours.
Focus On Community Outcomes
Health Minister Tim Nicholls said the plan aims to deliver stronger services for Redcliffe families. Local MP Kerri-Anne Dooley echoed the community need for more space, safer layouts and better access to essential care.
The project sits within a broader health investment program and responds to long-standing pressure on emergency and inpatient areas. The government says it wants Redcliffe residents to feel supported when they seek treatment close to home.
A 29-year-old man was bitten by a shark off Moreton Island, across from Redcliffe in Moreton Bay, marking the second attack in the area this month. The incident occurred near the Wrecks Walking Track, a popular snorkelling site, prompting concerns among marine experts about an increasing “cluster of bites” in the region.
The attack took place around 3 p.m. on Saturday, 22 February 2025, with the victim reportedly snorkelling alone just five metres from shore at the Tangalooma Wrecks. Emergency services treated him for abdominal and leg injuries before he was airlifted to Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane. The man was stable upon arrival and has since been released.
This marks the second shark attack in Moreton Bay in February. The first was the tragic death of 17-year-old Charlize Zmuda, who was fatally bitten by a shark at Woorim Beach, Bribie Island, earlier this month.
Recent Shark Attacks in Queensland Waters
The latest Moreton Bay attack is the fourth shark bite incident in Queensland waters in recent months:
February 2025 – Charlize Zmuda, 17, fatally bitten off Bribie Island
December 2024 – A man hospitalised after a shark bite at Curtis Island
December 2024 – Luke Walford, 40, killed by a shark at Humpy Island
Australia has seen a long-term rise in shark attacks. The experts attribute it to a growing population and increased ocean activity rather than an increase in aggressive shark behaviour.
Shark attack expert Dr Daryl McPhee from Bond University has warned that Moreton Bay is experiencing a “cluster of bites.” It is a pattern of multiple attacks occurring in the same region over a short period.
Clusters like this have previously been recorded in the Whitsundays, northern New South Wales, and Perth. According to Dr McPhee, various factors could be at play, including:
Increased prey presence in the area, attracting large sharks
Dolphin feeding habits, which can draw predators closer to shore
Seasonal changes affecting shark migration and feeding behaviour
While Dr McPhee acknowledges that bad luck plays a role, he notes that Moreton Bay’s waters are currently seeing increased shark activity.
Community Response
Following the latest attack, city official David Crisafulli addressed the state’s shark management program. He stated that the authorities are actively reviewing safety measures. Despite concerns, Tangalooma Island Resort director David James confirmed that tourism had not been significantly impacted by the incident.
What’s Next?
Authorities have yet to identify the species of shark involved in the attack. Fisheries Queensland confirmed that no Shark Control Program measures are in place at the Wrecks site, raising further questions about safety precautions in high-traffic snorkelling and swimming areas.
A government review of shark safety policies is expected to be released soon. Mr Crisafulli reiterated that human safety will take priority over other considerations.
Redcliffe is the third suburb in Moreton with the most number of crashes for the week ending on Sunday, 5 January 2020, as revealed by the latest data compiled by the Deception Bay Road Policing Unit.
According to Moreton Police District statistics, six out of these 37 crashes reported happened in Redcliffe. It is third on the list, tied with Bribie Island also with six reported crashes. They were next to Caboolture with 14 reported crashes and Deception Bay with seven crashes.
“Hit and run” was the leading cause of traffic crashes. The second was public reported minor matters, most were as a result of poor parking in crowded shopping areas. Here are the other causes with the corresponding number of cases:
Senior Sergeant Garth Peake said speed cameras were operated on 34 occasions across the district in areas at Redcliffe, Bribie Island, Caboolture, Deception Bay, Woodford and Kilcoy. A deployment on Klingner Road, Redcliffe detected 14 alleged offences with a high speed recorded at 88km/h in the 60km/h zone.
There were two cases of drink driving as well as two of drug driving in Redcliffe, which includes Moreton Island. Despite this, the police district reported that 2019 finished up on a positive note with a reduction in the recorded number of fatal crashes. In fact, the statistics show this to be the best result in the past ten years.
