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Eagle Farm Season Extended for Acrobatic Spectacle Featuring Local Star

Eagle Farm residents are securing seats for an extraordinary season of KOOZA as Cirque du Soleil extends its Brisbane run through October.

A Dream Returns to Queensland

Who would have thought a teen watching a recorded show in a Brisbane dance studio could end up running the entire spectacle a decade later? Local artist Mitch Wynter turned that exact fantasy into reality. After years of touring the globe as The Trickster, the Gold Coast and Brisbane native is bringing his signature character back to familiar territory.

High demand has already pushed the production at 465 Curtin Avenue well past its initial run, extending performance dates from 1 August 2026 straight through to 4 October 2026. For Wynter, stepping onto that local stage means performing directly in front of the family, friends, and early mentors who watched his journey begin.

High-Flying Artistry Under the Big Top

What actually happens when classic slapstick comedy collides with heart-stopping acrobatics? The production builds its world around that balance, blending physical danger with pure laughter while exploring themes of identity, fear, and power.

Originating from the Sanskrit word “koza”—meaning box or treasure—the performance acts as a literal treasure chest of live performance. Ever since its Montréal launch in April 2007, the show has gathered serious momentum across the globe. More than 10 million spectators in 71 cities have sat on the edge of their seats across 5,500 total stagings.

Massive Setup and Local Impact

Pulling off a traveling spectacle of this size requires a massive operation behind the scenes. The canvas Big Top towers 56 feet high, seating 2,500 guests across a sprawling 17,000-square-metre site. Behind the curtain, a touring team of 120 crew members supports 53 international artists from 25 countries.

Even the soundscape is strictly live; six musicians and two singers deliver a nightly mix of 1970s funk, heavy orchestral arrangements, and traditional Indian rhythms. Add 175 detailed costumes and 160 custom hats into the mix, and the logistical puzzle becomes clear. Tickets are currently available for all dates, with general admission alongside VIP packages that offer private lounge access and gourmet catering.

Published Date 15-July-2026

Ascot Station Has Lowest Patronage; Its Story Is Much Bigger

Photo Credit: Wikipedia/CC BY-SA 4.0

Ascot Station recorded the lowest number of passenger boardings among Brisbane stations in the published 2024–25 patronage figures, with 25,566 boardings over the financial year.

To put that into perspective, Brisbane’s bustling heartbeat, Central Station, pulled in more than 9.8 million boardings in the same period. While Central buzzed with thousands of commuters every hour, Ascot averaged a sleepy 70 boardings a day.

But raw numbers make for a dry story. Look past the sleepy platforms and empty ticket barriers, and you will find a station that remains a beloved piece of local history, still delivering residents straight into the Brisbane CBD.

A Quiet Platform with a Steady Pulse

Tucked away on the Doomben line, Ascot Station serves Brisbane’s leafy inner-north-east. It might not have the frantic rush of other hubs, but it is far from abandoned.

According to current Translink timetables, trains still roll through Ascot every weekday, generally arriving every 30 minutes. It is part of a tight-knit trio of local stops; Hendra is a mere 900-metre stroll down the road, and Doomben sits just 1.2 kilometres away, giving locals plenty of options to catch a ride.

While it might sit at the bottom of the patronage ladder, Ascot remains a reliable, clockwork part of Brisbane’s daily commute.

Built for the Sport of Kings

Ascot’s railway story began long before the era of modern tap-on cards and morning grinds.

The tracks first reached the suburb in 1882, born out of a passionate push by the Brisbane Turf Club to ferry eager punters to the nearby Eagle Farm Racecourse. Originally christened “Racecourse Railway Station,” it was renamed Ascot in 1897—the very same year the line pushed further down the track to Pinkenba.

Walk onto the platform today, and that rich history is written in the timber and steel. The precinct is a living museum, boasting historic railway buildings and vintage signalling gear that span more than a century of Brisbane’s rail evolution.

Photo Credit: Wikipedia/Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

A Heritage Jewel in Brisbane’s Crown

Ascot is much more than a quiet spot to wait for the train—it is a protected piece of Queensland’s soul.

In 2004, both Ascot Station and the adjacent Eagle Farm Racecourse earned a proud spot on the Queensland Heritage Register, cementing their roles in the state’s transport and racing folklore.

Step onto the platform and you will spot:

Charming historic station buildings that feel a world away from modern concrete platforms.
Classic semaphore signals standing tall against the sky.
A mechanically interlocked signal cabin—a beautifully complex piece of old-school engineering that the Queensland Heritage Register notes was once the backbone of the network, but is now an incredibly rare sight.

This heritage listing does not just look back at the past; it ensures that any future upgrades will respect and protect the station’s unique character.

Passenger Numbers Tell Only One Part of the Story

Passenger statistics are great for spreadsheets, but they do not capture the soul of a suburb.

Ascot Station might have officially recorded the quietest year on Brisbane’s rail network, but its value is not measured in turnstile clicks. It represents a 140-year-old link to the city’s past, a gorgeous local landmark, and a reliable connection for the locals who call the suburb home.

In the end, Ascot proves that some stations are worth far more than the sum of their passengers.

Published 14-July-2026

Albion Development Proposes 28-Storey Avela Tower At Breakfast Creek

Photo Credit: DA/A007058743

An Albion development proposed for 60 Kingsford Smith Drive would rise to 28 storeys across three stepped tower forms, with 166 apartments above retail, hospitality and recreation uses.

Plans have been lodged for Avela on an approximately 2,433-square-metre site incorporating 60 Kingsford Smith Drive and 9–11 Amy Street, beside the Breakfast Creek Hotel.

Frank Developments is identified as the developer, while 60 KSD Pty Ltd ATF 60 KSD Property Trust is listed as the primary applicant. Town Planning Alliance is the consultant and Kennon designed the proposed building.

BCC lists 1 July 2026 as the submission date for development application A007058743. The application covers building work and a material change of use for multiple dwellings, a shop, a food and drink outlet, and indoor sport and recreation.

The impact-assessable application remains in progress and is listed as being with the customer.

Frank Developments — Photo Credit: DA/A007058743

Albion Development Seeks Height Above Neighbourhood Plan

Avela would comprise three tower elements that step down across the site. The tallest would reach 28 storeys at the main corner, followed by a 19-storey element to the east and a 17-storey section to the north.

At its highest point, the proposal would reach approximately 98 metres above ground, with a rooftop level of about RL 99.8.

The land has an acceptable height of 10 storeys under the Albion neighbourhood plan. The application seeks assessment through a performance-based approach for the proposed additional height.

The planning case refers to taller projects already approved along the surrounding corridor. These include the 28-storey Breakfast Creek Quarter, a 19-storey development at 92 Kingsford Smith Drive and a 17-storey development at 11 Sandgate Road.

Kingsford Smith Drive — Photo Credit: DA/A007058743

Apartment Mix Includes One Rooftop Penthouse

The 166 proposed apartments comprise 105 two-bedroom homes, 16 two-bedroom homes with multipurpose rooms and 44 three-bedroom residences.

One four-bedroom penthouse would occupy the upper section of the tallest tower and include a private rooftop garden on Level 26.

Single-loaded circulation is proposed to support natural airflow through the apartments. Lobbies and corridors would remain open to the outside rather than being enclosed and mechanically cooled.

Other passive design measures include building orientation, solar-responsive shading and deep western eaves intended to reduce reliance on mechanical cooling.

Landscaping would extend through ground-level planting, podium planters and rooftop gardens on Levels 16, 18 and 26. The plans identify approximately 2,571 square metres of deep planting, planters and landscaped areas, including 343 square metres of deep planting at ground level.

Albion development — Photo Credit: DA/A007058743

Public Pickleball Court Planned Within Podium

The publicly accessible podium would contain a 290-square-metre retail tenancy intended for a boutique grocer and a 74-square-metre café facing Amy Street.

A 437-square-metre indoor pickleball court on Level 1 would be available to both residents and the public.

About 1,945 square metres of communal recreation space is proposed across Levels 1, 16 and 18. The Level 1 facilities would include a gym, yoga room, sauna, spa, cold plunge, hydrotherapy pool, therapy rooms and resident co-working space.

North-facing terraces on Levels 16 and 18 would each provide a swimming pool, pool lounge, outdoor seating and landscaping.

Access Consolidated Through Amy Street

One vehicle crossover on Amy Street would replace four existing crossovers across the three combined properties.

Parking would be provided through a ground-level area and four basement levels, with 226 resident spaces and 26 visitor spaces. The proposal also includes four motorcycle spaces and 108 bicycle spaces.

New 1.8-metre footpaths are planned along all street frontages. The site is near the Lores Bonney Riverwalk, Yowoggera Green Bridge and the future Golden Glider bus service along Kingsford Smith Drive.

Four lifts would serve the building. Three would operate within the main residential core, including one combined passenger and loading lift, while another would serve the northern lobby.

Dates for public notification and a council decision have not been listed. Properly made submissions may be lodged during the formal public notification period once it begins.

Published 14-July-2026

Mayo Arts Festival Returns to Celebrate Creative Talent in Ascot

Photo Credit: St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School/Facebook

The sprawling grounds of St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School in Ascot will soon shift into a massive, living gallery as students prepare to host a biennial creative takeover of the campus.

A Festival of Local Flair

Every two years, the school grounds shed their academic routine to become an immersive hub for the arts. The event invites the wider Brisbane community to wander through a curated landscape where the air fills with the sounds of live orchestras, choral groups, and contemporary bands.

How often do you get the chance to witness an entire school’s creative soul laid bare in such an interactive way? From modern jazz dance routines to gripping dramatic monologues, the day serves as a lively, non-stop showcase of raw talent, proving that art is best experienced in person.

The Exhibition Space

Moving beyond the stage, the school’s main halls will transform into a formal gallery. Here, visitors can explore a diverse collection of student work, ranging from intricate sculptures and photography to experimental digital art. Rather than staying behind closed doors, these creative projects are displayed to bridge the gap between the school and the neighbourhood, grounding the event in a shared local experience.

Plan Your Visit

Mark your calendars for Saturday, 1 August 2026. The gates will be wide for visitors from 11:00 AM until 7:00 PM, with no cost for entry. If you are heading to Petrie Street, consider the popularity of the event; street parking often reaches capacity quickly, making public transport a much smarter bet for a stress-free arrival.

Keeping an eye on the official school website for the performance timetable will ensure you don’t miss your favourite act. Given the mix of indoor gallery spaces and outdoor performance zones, a quick check of the local Ascot forecast before leaving the house is highly recommended.

The name of the event—the Mayo Arts Festival—is a deliberate tribute to the Mayo family. Their historical influence remains deeply woven into the fabric of both the school’s land and the surrounding Ascot area. By hosting this festival, the school preserves a legacy that links yesterday’s local history with the creative expressions of the next generation.

Published Date 13-July-2026

Eagle Farm Grandstand To Be Demolished After Final Winter Carnival

Photo Credit: MID-0524-0842

The Eagle Farm grandstand long known as the John Power Stand is set for demolition from August, ending nearly seven decades of use at the Ascot racecourse as plans progress for its replacement, The Terraces.

John Power Stand Nears Closure At Eagle Farm

The John Power Stand at Eagle Farm Racecourse is preparing to come down after nearly 70 years as part of a major change to the Ascot racing precinct.

The final winter carnival meeting at Eagle Farm marked the end of a long chapter for the ageing stand, which was built in 1957 and has capacity for about 4,000 people.

Engineers have determined the structure presents health and safety concerns for patrons, with the stand scheduled to be decommissioned in August 2026. Demolition is expected to begin from August and take between four and six months.

Named after former Queensland Turf Club president Dr John Power, the stand has long formed part of the spectator precinct at Eagle Farm Racecourse, Queensland’s premier thoroughbred racing venue.

Eagle Farm Racecourse spectator stand — Photo Credit: MID-0524-0842

The Terraces Planned For Ascot Precinct

The Eagle Farm grandstand will be replaced by The Terraces, a four-level facility planned with updated safety, accessibility and race-day amenities.

The proposed new stand will include bars, a restaurant with tiered seating and five private suites that can be reconfigured into a larger function room. Planning for the facility has also included public and patron areas, a ground-floor plaza and a rooftop restaurant and bar.

Hassell and RWA Sports Architecture have been linked to the design, which is planned around racecourse views, hospitality spaces and improved facilities for spectators.

Construction of the replacement stand is not expected to start until the new year at the earliest.

The Terraces grandstand concept — Photo Credit: MID-0524-0842

Funding Still Being Finalised

An initial $25 million has been secured to start the first phase of the redevelopment.

The broader project has been placed at $100 million, with Brisbane Racing Club continuing negotiations for the remaining $75 million.

The new spectator facilities are being delivered through a partnership between Racing Queensland and Brisbane Racing Club.

John Power Stand at Eagle Farm — Photo Credit: MID-0524-0842

Racing To Continue During Redevelopment

Eagle Farm is expected to operate under a different model while the redevelopment proceeds.

Both the John Power Stand and the adjoining heritage stand will be closed to the public, with the heritage stand also due for upgrades. The racecourse is scheduled to host its next Saturday meeting on 25 July.

Planning has included exclusion zones to keep race meetings operating during the works. Brisbane Racing Club has spent months preparing for the transition and has said maintaining racing continuity remains a priority.

A members’ information night is scheduled at Eagle Farm on 14 July to address questions about the changes ahead.

Published 30-June-2026

Local Theatre Stars Return From Albion To Lead Huge Mamma Mia! Musical

A musical theatre star who honed her craft in an Albion dance studio is bringing her international experience home to headline a massive new production of Mamma Mia! at The Star Gold Coast.

A Homecoming for Queensland Talent

The upcoming season of the beloved ABBA musical will showcase a strong lineup of performers with deep ties to South East Queensland. Taylor, who spent her early training days at the Australian Dance Performance Institute historically based in Albion, is taking on the principal role of Tanya.

She is joined in the production by fellow Queensland Conservatorium graduate Laura Garrick. Both women studied at the Conservatorium’s South Bank campus before launching successful careers that have taken them across the country and overseas.

Bringing Broad Experience to the Local Stage

Both performers are bringing significant industry experience to the Gold Coast stage. Taylor is a triple-threat artist who has toured the United Kingdom in major productions of Beauty and the Beast and Cinderella. Alongside her theatre work, she performs with the vocal group The 7 Sopranos and has directed and toured a national award-nominated theatre show.

Garrick has also built an impressive resume, securing a major industry award for her supporting performance in Kinky Boots and singing the national anthem for major Australian sporting teams like the Matildas. She will make her Mamma Mia! debut as part of the electric ensemble.

Building the Island Dream

The Very Popular Theatre Company is producing the show, featuring a cast of 31 stage performers from around Australia. Set on a Greek island, the story explores the lives of a mother, her daughter, and three possible fathers, all driven by 22 popular ABBA songs. Erin Cornell leads the cast as Donna Sheridan, making up the iconic band Donna and the Dynamos alongside Taylor’s Tanya and Gold Coast local Jo-Anne Jackson as Rosie.

Emily Monsma will play Donna’s daughter, Sophie. Monsma noted her enthusiasm about returning to the Gold Coast to perform in a show she feels deeply connected to, recalling childhood memories of singing the group’s songs with her family and watching a tribute act at the exact same venue.

A Powerhouse Creative Team

The production begins its limited season on 4 September, followed by a blue carpet premiere event on September 8. Director Erin James leads an acclaimed creative team with combined experience working on massive international hits like Wicked and Billy Elliot. The original stage show has reached more than 70 million people worldwide since it first opened in London, and tickets for this new Queensland run are already selling quickly.

Published Date 30-June-2026

What Makes Dunaverty One of Albion’s Most Fascinating Heritage Homes?

Long before Albion became the established inner-city suburb it is today, Dunaverty stood on the corner of Birkbeck and Hudson roads as the home of Scottish migrant Archibald McNish Fraser. More than 130 years later, the heritage-listed residence continues to preserve many of the architectural details that made it distinctive when it was built in 1887.

Read: Redevelopment Aims to Preserve Heritage of Paddock and Members Stands at Eagle Farm Racecourse

From its decorative timberwork to fanlights bearing the names of Fraser’s family members, the house reflects Brisbane’s boom-era development and the career of nineteenth-century real estate entrepreneur Archibald McNish Fraser.

A reflection of Brisbane’s growth

Sketch of Archibald McNish Fraser (Photo credit: John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Image number: 167284)

Fraser arrived in Brisbane from Argyllshire, Scotland, in 1880 after completing his apprenticeship as a builder. He established himself as a contractor working in Brisbane and Cleveland before expanding into real estate during the mid-1880s.

After purchasing the Albion site from his father-in-law, John Barclay, in 1885, Fraser established the Onward Real Property Mart in 1887, the same year Dunaverty was completed.

Contemporary publications recognised Fraser’s achievements during the late 1880s. They described him as one of the city’s successful young businessmen, while the Queensland Heritage Register suggests Dunaverty may have been built to showcase his business.

Scottish influences throughout the home

Decorative detailing on Dunaverty (Photo credit: BCC)

Dunaverty reflects Fraser’s Scottish background through a range of decorative features incorporated into the house. Scottish thistle motifs appear in the cast iron lacework, timber brackets, ceiling roses and fanlights throughout the residence.

Among the home’s most distinctive features are the fanlights above the doors, which display the names and nicknames Nellie, Charlie, Mima and Katie. The inscriptions refer to Fraser’s wife, Jemima, and members of the Fraser family, adding a personal element to the home’s design.

These details remain among the property’s defining heritage features.

Part of the Albion Heritage Trail

Albion Heritage Trail map (Photo credit: BCC)

Today, Dunaverty is included on Brisbane City’s Albion Heritage Trail, which highlights places associated with the suburb’s development and history.

Occupying a prominent corner site, the residence makes what the Queensland Heritage Register describes as a picturesque contribution to the streetscape. Its decorative verandahs, chamferboard construction and hipped corrugated iron roof continue to reflect its late nineteenth-century origins.

More than a century of preservation

Dunaverty (2009); Photo credit: Heritage Branch staff/Queensland Heritage Register

The Fraser family moved to West End during the economic downturn of the early 1890s, although they retained ownership of Dunaverty until 1912. Over the following years, the property was occupied by tenants before being sold to William McGregor, who renamed it Carvarmore.

The house later changed hands several times and underwent additions, including alterations to the rear of the building. Despite these changes, much of the original structure and decorative detailing has been retained.

Read: Tattersalls Lodge: A Heritage-Listed Ascot Asset With Ties to Queensland Racing

Heritage records also note that some original cedar joinery and ironmongery were stolen while the property was vacant in 1998.

Today, Dunaverty remains a heritage-listed boom-era residence, retaining architectural features and personalised details associated with Archibald McNish Fraser and his family.

Published 29-June-2026

Where Healing Meets Harmony: Maggie James Celebrated at Ascot for Transforming Hospital Care Through Music

Photo Credit: St Margaret's Old Girls' Network

St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School Old Girl Maggie James has been recognised by the school for a career shaped by music, clinical care and service to critically ill children at Queensland Children’s Hospital.

Ascot Past Student Honoured at Awards Dinner

Maggie James, nee Leung, from the Class of ’97, was named the 2026 Spirit of Service Past Student Award recipient at the school’s Past Student Awards Dinner in March.

The award was introduced in 2024 to recognise alumni whose work demonstrates servant leadership, contribution and service to others. James was honoured alongside Professor Catherine Greenhill from the class of 1987, who received the Distinguished Past Student Award, and Natalie Charlton from the class of 2012, who received the Young Past Student of Distinction Award.

The evening brought together Old Girls, current students and members of the St Margaret’s community. Music also formed part of the event, with performances by the Sculthorpe String Quartet and Year 7 student Minh, who performed a solo cello piece accompanied by Mr Ng.

For James, the award recognised a career that has taken music from the school environment into hospital rooms, where it forms part of care for children and families facing serious illness.

St Margaret’s awards dinner in Ascot — *Photo Credit:* *St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School*/Facebook

From St Margaret’s Music Rooms to Hospital Care

James is a Paediatric Music Therapist and Clinical Lead of the Music Therapy Department at Queensland Children’s Hospital. She has spent 23 years with Children’s Health Queensland.

Her work centres on children who are seriously unwell, including patients in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit and some receiving palliative care. In that setting, music therapy is used to support pain management, rehabilitation, emotional expression and regulation of heart rate and breathing.

James’ pathway into the field began with a long-standing connection to music. She began playing piano at the age of two and later studied Music Therapy at The University of Queensland. Her interest developed into a specialised clinical career focused on how music can support sick children and their families during treatment and recovery.

Her work includes singing, music listening, songwriting, music-making and the use of instruments. Sessions are adapted to the needs and condition of each child.

In one example from her clinical work, James used percussion instruments and a rearranged children’s song as part of therapy for a toddler recovering from an acquired brain injury. The therapy supported movement goals for the child’s right arm and hand alongside physiotherapy.

Maggie James at Past Student Awards — *Photo Credit: St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School*/Facebook

Music Therapy Work Beyond Brisbane

James’ work has also extended beyond Queensland Children’s Hospital.

Her specialisation in neurologic music therapy in paediatric intensive care has taken her into volunteer roles in critical-care orphanages in China, involvement with the Board of the Butterfly Children’s Hospice, and participation in the International Conference on Children’s Music Therapy in Norway.

She has also completed an MBA at The University of Queensland, extending her leadership work in the field. Her focus includes developing sustainable and equitable music therapy services for children and families.

St Margaret’s Connection Continues

The Ascot past student’s connection with St Margaret’s has continued through family and music.

James’ daughters began their own time at St Margaret’s this year. A collaboration has also begun between the school and Queensland Children’s Hospital, with the St Margaret’s Primary Choir and String Quartet set to perform for children and families in hospital care.

The recognition places James among the school’s past students whose careers have continued into service-focused work beyond the school gates.

Published 25-June-2026

From St Margaret’s to The Lion King: Ascot Graduate Lands Dream Role in Disney Musical

St Margaret's Anglican Girls School/Facebook

Akari Komoto, a graduate of St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School, has landed the role of Music Associate on Disney’s Australian production of The Lion King, currently playing at the Capitol Theatre in Sydney.

It is the kind of career milestone that tends to feel both earned and surprising at once, but for those who watched Akari move through St Margaret’s music programme between 2017 and 2021, the trajectory makes complete sense. She arrived at school not particularly fond of musical theatre. She left bound for one of the most celebrated stage productions in the world.

A teacher’s suggestion that changed everything

Akari credits a pivotal conversation in her final year of school for setting her on the path to musical directing. Her music teacher, Mr Ng, suggested she look into the field, a career direction she had never previously considered. After researching it herself, she realised musical directing combined everything she loved about music into a viable profession.

Before that conversation, her school years had already been building something. Akari performed in three St Margaret’s school productions, and by her own account, the experience transformed her relationship with musical theatre entirely.

“The school musicals were life-changing experiences,” Akari said. “I didn’t really like musical theatre at first, but I had the chance to play in three school productions, and with each one, I felt my love for the art form grow more and more. In the end, I went from disliking musical theatre to wanting to live and breathe it, and that’s when I knew I wanted to pursue it as a career.”

From Ascot, Akari went on to study at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA), graduating with a Bachelor of Music Honours in Composition and Sonic Arts, before landing her role on The Lion King.

Sitting in the pit at the Capitol Theatre

The Music Associate role places Akari directly inside the production’s musical operation, and her first show as Keyboard 1 in front of a live audience was an experience she has described in vivid terms.

“It’s such a surreal and overwhelming feeling being part of this show,” Akari said. “From the very first note of ‘Circle of Life’, you can feel the audience shift as they’re taken back to the film and their childhood.”

“A moment that made it feel real was playing my first show as Keyboard 1 in front of an audience. I don’t think I’ve been that nervous in a long time — my arms and legs were shaking during the first song but by halfway through Act 1 I started to relax and really felt present with the rest of the band and cast. That was the moment when it really hit me.”

The production she is now part of has reached more than 124 million people worldwide across its decades-long run. The Australian season brings the full scale of that production to the Capitol Theatre, with the visual artistry, costume design and live musicianship that have made it one of the most recognised stage shows in history.

The show’s themes land differently from inside the pit

Working on The Lion King has given Akari an unexpected personal resonance with the story she helps tell every night.

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“In the short time I’ve been working on the show, it has made me more aware and prouder of my Japanese heritage,” she said. “That idea of understanding who we are because of the people who came before us is such a powerful message that should be constantly retold, and it’s something that resonates with me. To be able to play even a small part in sharing that legacy story with so many people is incredibly special and something I’m so grateful to be a part of.”

That reflection extends to how she thinks about the arts more broadly, and about the role that school communities play in shaping what young people believe is possible.

“The arts is truly a unique and powerful community,” Akari said. “It’s provided me with a sense of purpose and direction. It also fosters empathy and understanding in a world that should strive more towards those qualities.”

Experience the production live

Disney’s The Lion King is currently in a strictly limited season at the Capitol Theatre in Sydney. The production runs approximately two hours and thirty minutes including a 20-minute interval and is recommended for ages six and up. Accessible performances including Auslan-interpreted, audio-described and relaxed sessions are available during August.

Tickets and session information are available here.

Published 25-June-2026

Champion Performances Continue for St Margaret’s Girls in Pool and Water Polo Arenas

Students at St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School in Ascot are marking a series of sporting achievements, including success at the Royal Life Saving Society Queensland Secondary School State Lifesaving Championships and Australian squad selection for Year 12 student Bless Daly.

Read: Music Journeys: How St Margaret’s Old Girls Are Inspiring the Next Generation

The achievements span both lifesaving and water polo, with students earning recognition at state and international levels.

Lifesaving Team Continues Championship Legacy

Photo credit: Facebook/St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School

A team of 42 St Margaret’s students travelled to Sunshine Coast Grammar School on 2 June to compete in the Royal Life Saving Society Queensland (RLSSQ) 2026 Secondary School State Lifesaving Championships.

The students retained the Sheena Dyason Shield for Champion School Female while also securing the Judith Beal Shield as the overall champion school. The result continues a long tradition of success for the school’s lifesaving program.

The pool lifesaving competition is run by the Royal Life Saving Society and includes a range of events for both individuals and teams. The school’s lifesaving program has enjoyed sustained success over many years, with St Margaret’s claiming the Sheena Dyason Shield for Champion School Female at the Queensland Secondary Schools Life Saving Championships for more than 20 years.

In its Facebook post, the school said the result reflected the students’ hard work and commitment and congratulated every student who competed.

Water Polo Star Earns National Selection

Photo credit: Facebook/St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School

Adding to the celebrations, Year 12 student Bless Daly has been selected in Australia’s 15-player squad for the 2026 World Aquatics Water Polo World Cup Finals, which will be held in Sydney next month.

The selection marks another milestone for Daly, who recently made her debut as an Aussie Stinger, representing Australia at the World Aquatics World Cup Division 1 competition in the Netherlands.

During the tournament, Daly was named player of the match. St Margaret’s congratulated Daly on her selection. Her inclusion in the Australian squad brings her a step closer to her long-term ambition of representing Australia at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Read: St Margaret’s Ascot Educator Named Among Australia’s Most Influential 2025

Sporting Success Across Multiple Disciplines

The recent achievements span two of the school’s sporting programs, lifesaving and water polo.

From its long-running success in lifesaving competition to Daly’s selection for an Australian representative team, the achievements mark a significant period for the school’s sporting programs.

The results add to a growing list of sporting achievements by St Margaret’s students during 2026.

Published 24-June-2026