Latest news with #Bailie
Courier-Mail
7 days ago
- Business
- Courier-Mail
Qld's top-selling suburbs revealed
More houses changed hands in the growth suburb of Springfield Lakes than anywhere else across the state over the past quarter, latest data reveals. The Ipswich suburb where family homes are still available for under $1m recorded the highest number of house sales among top performers ranked by prop tech firm, InfoTrack. InfoTrack's Property Market Update showed Springfield Lakes claimed the top spot after coming second to Caboolture last quarter. 'Springfield Lakes is a suburb that continues to gain traction due to its blend of lifestyle, community, and affordability,' said InfoTrack's head of property Australia Lee Bailie. 'Nearby Redbank Plains also made the top 10, in at number four. Both suburbs offer their own unique character but are also well within commuting distance to central Ipswich and the Brisbane CBD.' The most expensive listing in Springfield Lakes this week was a five-bedroom, three-bathroom house on a 640 sqm lot at 22 Corfu Street, priced at offers over $1.45m. Local agent Julian Gale, of Gale and Co, noted a shift in buyer demographic over the last three months, with investors dominating. 'We are definitely seeing a lot of interest from interstate again, while anything under $750,000 is also very popular with first home buyers and getting snapped up very quickly,' Mr Gale said. He said the higher end of the market was also firing, with buyers upgrading from smaller properties to newer or larger homes priced over $1m. 'A lot of people came into this area because they were priced out of the Centenary suburbs in Brisbane's southwest. 'These buyers planned to stay temporarily then move closer to the city, but 5, 6 years on they may have started a family and decided to stay for the community here,' he said. Recent sales included a renovated four-bedroom house on Shangrila Cres for $1.193m. PropTrack data shows house prices in Springfield Lakes were up 8.8 per cent over the past 12 months, to a median of $830,000. For Brisbane, inner-city demand strongly influenced residential units, with Newstead appearing back in the top 10 for the first time since Q2 2024. 'The inclusion of Newstead, alongside sustained interest in neighbouring suburbs Fortitude Valley and Brisbane City, reflects strong demand from buyers seeking an inner-city apartment lifestyle,' Mr Bailie said. 'Newstead, a highly sought-after suburb just 3km from the Brisbane CBD, has several significant strata projects underway which are attracting more buyers to the area who seek the benefits of vibrant inner-city living.' On the Gold Coast, Surfers Paradise reclaimed the number one location for residential units last quarter. 'Surfers Paradise clawed back into top position, after falling to second place for the previous two quarters, behind Southport and Brisbane City,' Mr Bailie said. 'Half the top 10 suburbs for apartment sales are now in the Gold Coast, with Burleigh Heads making the list for the first time since Q1 2023, in at eighth spot.' Townsville's Kirwan was the only suburb on either list located outside Southeast Queensland. The data found houses continued to dominate in Queensland, taking 60.96 per cent of the market last quarter. This represented a steady increase of 0.5 per cent quarter-on-quarter. TOP 10 QLD SUBURBS House sales 1. Springfield Lakes 2. Caboolture 3. Ormeau 4. Redbank Plains 5. Morayfield 6. Burpengary 7. Narangba 8. Kirwan 9. Pimpama 10. Yarabilba Unit sales 1. Surfers Paradise 2. Newstead 3. Brisbane City 4. Southport 5. Fortitude Valley 6. Hope Island 7. South Brisbane 8. Burleigh Heads 9. Maroochydore 10. Broadbeach * source: InfoTrack
Newsweek
13-06-2025
- General
- Newsweek
Shelter Dog Looks At Woman With 'So Much Trust', Unaware What Visit Means
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A rescue dog reacted with delight to a visit from a shelter worker, unaware that she came bearing bad news. Aileen Betancourt, an adoption specialist at Laurie P. Andrews Adoption Center in Edinburg, Texas, shared footage showing how Bailie greeted her with "so much trust" as she posted a sign on his kennel informing visitors that her time was running out. By that point, Bailie had already spent a considerable amount of time at the shelter. Betancourt told Newsweek: "Bailie was picked up as a stray by animal control on April 12, 2023, and she spent every day since then at the shelter over 750 days." In truth, from day one the odds were stacked against Bailie being adopted. "She came in as an adult Pit bull mix, which unfortunately tends to work against dogs in the shelter system," Betancourt said. "Despite being fully vaccinated, spayed, and incredibly sweet, Bailie was continuously overlooked." Aileen Betancourt visited Bailie with heartbreaking news. Aileen Betancourt visited Bailie with heartbreaking news. TikTok/lifesavingpixie Sadly, the words "pit bull" are often enough to put people off giving these dogs a chance. In 2021, a study published in the journal Animals saw researchers attempt to identify the most common traits seen among long-term shelter dogs. Being a so-called "dangerous breed" like a pit bull, was chief among them. Betancourt is well aware of the "stigma" surrounding the breed. "Many potential adopters are hesitant because of misconceptions about temperament or because of housing restrictions," she said. Betancourt suspects Bailie's age is also likely to have hindered her chances of being adopted. "People often gravitate toward puppies, small breeds, or even cats leaving adult dogs like Bailie behind," she said. The shelter offers field trips with dogs and even "Pajwama Parties," where their canine residents can spend a day or weekend outside the shelter. None of it was working though. Read more 10 hours into flight, millennial's heart stops 10 hours into flight, millennial's heart stops "Bailie was never chosen," Betancourt said. "She just kept getting passed by." The lack of progress was a source of personal frustration to Betancourt who, having got to know Bailie, knew she was a more than viable candidate for adoption. "She needed someone who could look past her breed label and simply see her as a dog," Betancourt said. "A dog who wanted nothing more than to love and be loved. She didn't require anything fancy, just a family willing to break the stigma and offer her the safety, patience, and kindness she had been waiting for." But after over two years in the kennel, it looked like Bailie would become just another statistic. In 2024 alone, the ASPCA estimates 334,000 dogs were euthanized in the U.S. Betancourt posted the video of her heartbreaking visit to Bailie's kennel to her TikTok @lifesavingpixie to raise awareness of the stark reality many shelter dogs face. But then something magical happened. The video went viral, racking up 2.4 million views and sparking a flurry of responses from viewers eager to come to Bailie's rescue. The end result was everything Betancourt and everyone at the Laurie P. Andrews Adoption Center was hoping for. "Bailie got adopted," Betancourt said. "Someone drove down 8 hours to adopt her." Now Bailie has the life that, until recently, few would have thought possible. It's testament to the power of social media and the fighting spirit of a dog who seemingly never lost trust in those caring for her.
Belfast Telegraph
21-05-2025
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
McDonald's opens its 35th restaurant in Northern Ireland after £4m investment
Fast food giant McDonald's has opened its 35th restaurant in Northern Ireland in a £4m investment adding 120 new jobs. McDonald's franchisee Bruce Bailie is the operator of the new 80-seater restaurant in Coleraine, its second in the Co Londonderry town. Each of the 35 McDonald's restaurants in Northern Ireland are owned and managed by eight franchisees, who are all businesspeople from here. Mr Bailie, who owns and operate both units in Coleraine, said he was pleased to build on community links he had developed in the town since first opening 30 years ago. 'McDonald's has been an important part of the local Coleraine community over the last 30 years and the opening of a second restaurant in the town is an indication of our commitment to the communities in which we serve here,' he added. 'Feeding and fostering local communities is at the heart and centre of the McDonald's business operation. 'With a lot of our crew at the restaurant hailing from the local area, we have a team that are passionate and looking forward to continuing our partnerships with neighbouring community groups, sports clubs and businesses.' McDonald's said customers can order their food in store, at the drive-thru or via the MyMcDonald's app. The new restaurant has 39 car parking spaces They will also be able to use McDelivery through McDonald's delivery partners, it added. An economic impact report from McDonald's launched last year said that in 2023, McDonald's supported over 6,600 jobs both directly and indirectly in Northern Ireland. It also said that the company contributed £322m of economic output (GVA) and spent almost £184m with Northern Irish businesses from its supply chain.
Daily Record
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
Candidates to lead Labour on Glasgow council revealed as party veteran stands down
Two Labour councillors are in the running to become their party's next leader on Glasgow council. Rashid Hussain and Jill Pidgeon are the contenders to succeed party veteran George Redmond who is standing down. It means the Labour group will elect their first female leader in decades or their first BAME leader. But it is understood there were no nominations for the posts of Chair or Business Manager , landing the victor a potential headache in running the party in the city chambers. Hussain, a Bailie , is a data analyst for an aerospace company and sits on the council's Net Zero and Climate Progress Monitoring committee. Pidgeon, Labour 's education spokesperson on the council, is a company director and works for MP Zubir Ahmed. She would be Labour's first female group leader on the council in Glasgow since Jean McFadden in the 1990s. Two sources told the Record the contest is too close to call. In a statement to colleagues, Redmond revealed he would not stand for re-election: "After a great deal of thought and reflection, I've decided that I will not be seeking nomination for group leader at the forthcoming AGM . "It has been an immense honour to serve as Labour's leader. I want to thank each and every one of you for your support, your trust, and your friendship over the years. We've faced challenges head-on, stood firm in our values, and worked tirelessly for the people we represent. I'm incredibly proud of what we've achieved together. Redmond, who was first elected in 1999, was a key player in exposing the scandal of golden goodbyes to former senior figures at the council. Labour ran Glasgow council for decades before they were toppled by the SNP in 2017. To sign up to the Daily Record Politics newsletter, click here
Winnipeg Free Press
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Final show of WCD 60th anniversary season explores power dynamics
When Montreal choreographer Lina Cruz saw the artist call from Winnipeg's Contemporary Dancers soliciting pieces for the final show of the company's 60th season, she wasn't convinced she would make the cut. The WCD was looking for pieces about the future. 'I am 68 years old so I thought, well, I don't think I'm the future,' the Colombian-born artist says with a hearty laugh. 'I mean, I would like for people to consider older people as part of the future. EMILIE BLAND PHOTO by means of each other Vancouver dancers/choreographers Sarah Hutton and Aiden Cass, a.k.a. Generous Mess 'So, when I got the news, I was really very happy.' Cruz's Tomato Blues is one of two works that will be performed at the Rachel Browne Theatre this weekend, selected from a pool of 30 applicants by a panel that included choreographer/dancer Jera Wolfe, past WCD guest artist in residence Ralph Escamillan and company artistic director Jolene Bailie. If you ask Bailie, 68-year-old women and their work are certainly part of the future. 'Lina's work is really super interesting — it's kind of a juggernaut, because it's about power,' Bailie says. In particular, it's about the shifting dynamics of power and 'how easily we can shift from one side to the other depending on how much power we have,' per the artist's statement. The power dynamic Cruz explores in this cabaret-flavoured work is between a human character and a tomato. A tomato, after all, is ripe with imagery. 'The tomato begins as the vulnerable, the tender, the simple, the authentic. The human character is an explorer that feels superior to the tomato. And then they just start exchanging points of view,' Cruz says. 'Both the tomato and the human character can each become the abuser and the abused.' Cruz originally choreographed Tomato Blues on dancer Geneviève Robitaille in 2018, who has performed it several times. But when Cruz had the chance to participate in Older and Reckless, a Toronto showcase for artists who are 45-plus, last year, she decided to perform it herself. 'I had to train a lot,' she says. But she's patient, a quality she brings to her choreography. 'I'm more patient than they are,' she says of the dancers she works on. 'I know things will come. I'm very confident and patient. So I did the same thing with myself.' And sure enough, it came. 'I'm lucky I can still, more or less, move in all directions,' she says with another big laugh. 'But it's exciting. It's really exciting because it's still rare. I mean, there's more and more older performers, yes, but it's still very rare.' The other show on this double bill is by means of each other, from Vancouver dancers/choreographers (and couple) Sarah Hutton and Aiden Cass, a.k.a. Generous Mess. SUPPLIED Lina Cruz in Tomato Blues 'I was really excited about this one because they had this little bit of text about how, in their personal relationships, they're often being challenged and drawn away from personal connections and into technology,' Bailie says. Hutton, 30, and Cass, 27, were excited about the opportunity to perform in Winnipeg. 'We're emerging creators right now, so open calls are pretty rare, actually,' Hutton says. Not only that, but the pair has been trying to première this duet since 2020. The piece pulls from their own lives as romantic and creative partners, exploring communication, coexistence and, like Cruz's work, conflict. The opening scene of by means of each other deals with shorthand all couples use and how easily communication breakdowns can occur. 'It's a mundane task that we're doing, where it's like talking about picking up the groceries. Did you drop off this? Or did my mom call? And because we're using these shorthand abbreviations, like how you would like through text, we do not communicate anything effectively to each other,' Cass says. During Elections Get campaign news, insight, analysis and commentary delivered to your inbox during Canada's 2025 election. 'It's funny because as a couple who makes dance together, there's this weird thing that happens where I often feel like creating dance together actually really grounds our relationship. Like performing on stage and being together in the studio, you have to be really present,' Hutton says. It's the other tech-based parts of their work — the social media, the promotion, the emails and filling out applications — that cause static. 'You're trying to do this good work together, whether it's creatively or inside of your relationship, and then the technology or the admin kind of gets in the way of that again,' Hutton says. 'As we've worked on the piece, we're just trying to let that in, because that's what it's about.' Jen ZorattiColumnist Jen Zoratti is a columnist and feature writer working in the Arts & Life department, as well as the author of the weekly newsletter NEXT. A National Newspaper Award finalist for arts and entertainment writing, Jen is a graduate of the Creative Communications program at RRC Polytech and was a music writer before joining the Free Press in 2013. Read more about Jen. Every piece of reporting Jen produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print – part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. 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