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Today we’re introducing SWOOP, our fortnightly-ish local reporting section, with a Goodna Street Life report. We’re also ranking Ipswich’s 22 biggest charities by revenue and stepping inside Colthup on Limestone Street. For events, catch the city Christmas tree lighting on Thursday, Watercress Creek open farm day on Saturday, and Salvos Riverview Farm carols with fireworks and a free BBQ on Sunday. All the details below. Catch ya round. Colthup in 60 seconds
Inside Ipswich’s 22 Biggest Registered CharitiesDid you know... Ipswich’s biggest charities are schools, not soup kitchens or op shops. In law, a charity is simply a not-for-profit that exists only to advance public-benefit purposes like education, health, welfare or religion (12 total purposes). One Ipswich school charity turned over $37.9 million in 2023, with 53% of that from government funding and 45% from school fees. Together the top 22 charities move $245 million through Ipswich every year, and school charities alone sit on more than $316 million in land and buildings. Across the whole list, donations barely reach 3% of income. Introducing SWOOP, a fortnightly-ish local reporting section on Ipswich’s big ideas and stories, with business profiles, owner quotes, local history, and guest pieces from trusted Ipswich reporters. Helen Youngberry, who runs Goodna Street Life, was recently recognised as a 2026 Queensland Local Hero nominee in the Australian of the Year Awards. Off the back of that, I teamed up with journalist Rob Mellett to put together a definitive report on what Goodna Street Life actually does in Goodna – from crisis beds and sleeping pods to the foodbank, health support and leased homes. If you have seen the name but never understood the machinery behind it, this report is for you. Power Your Local NewsletterIpswich Insider is free for everyone and stays proudly independent—no council or corporate funding. If today's edition gave you something fun to do, made local news clearer, or just reminded you why Ipswich is great, consider shouting me a coffee. Your support genuinely helps cover the tools and time I use to pull these together each week. Thanks heaps – Jamey Hands on metal clay workshop with Ipswich artist Rebekah Walkarden at Sketchy Stuff Studios, Churchill. Turn soft clay into real metal jewellery in a relaxed Friday night class. Have a go → 53 CLICKS – Last week the Metal Clay Play link above scored 53 clicks and 4 bookings from a single $30 Bulletin poster. You could be next. Get your poster now → Alex Nichol – The Art of Tailoring, Ipswich high-class tailor in Cameron’s Chambers, Nicholas Street, remembered for suits. Learn more → $1.48m Coalfalls – Architect designed 4 bed, 2 bath home on 3,861m² private rainforest block with heated lap pool, covered entertaining and access to Ipswich schools. See full listing → 🗳️ Vote
🗳️ Last Week's Poll ResultsWhat is/was your favourite organised sport to play in Ipswich?
186 participants - Thank you for voting! 🤔 Trivia
🧩 ScrambleUnscramble your GuessWhere hint📍 GuessWhereHow to play: Look close at the photo, guess where it was taken from in Ipswich. Click the link and drop your pin to see how close you can get. GuessWhere →🤢 Swanbank Odour Health Inquiry Confirms Impacts On Ipswich ResidentsThe Swanbank Public Health Inquiry found odours from the Swanbank and New Chum industrial estates are highly offensive, harm thousands of nearby residents' health and wellbeing, but do not increase cancer risk. The findings confirm community concerns and are being used by the state and council to design measures to cut odours and address residents’ quality-of-life impacts. Local Ipswich News → 🚨 Giant Hail And Storms Cut Power Across IpswichGiant hail, destructive winds and heavy rain lashed south-east Queensland on 24 November, leaving more than 150,000 customers without power and hitting Ipswich, Moreton Bay and the Sunshine Coast hardest. With power outages and storm damage affecting Ipswich, locals need to track power and road updates and heed weather warnings while repairs and cleanup continue. ABC News → 🏛️ Mayor Teresa Harding Reinstated As Ipswich Disaster Management ChairMayor Teresa Harding has announced she will be reinstated as Chair of the Ipswich Local Disaster Management Group from 1 December under new Queensland disaster management laws. Her return means Ipswich’s elected mayor will again chair local disaster planning and response for floods, storms and other emergencies affecting the city. Instagram Announcement → 📈 Ipswich Population Reaches 268,000 As Growth Hits 3.5 Per CentIpswich City Council’s latest quarterly data shows the city’s population has reached 268,186, after 2,331 new residents moved in during the September 2025 quarter, lifting annual growth to 3.5 per cent. Growth in suburbs like Ripley and Spring Mountain is lifting demand on roads, services and housing, so transport upgrades will directly affect Ipswich households. Council Media Release → 🔌 Tivoli Drive-In Switches Off Projectors For Final TimeThe Tivoli Drive-In Theatre in Chuwar has switched off its projectors for the final time, closing after nearly 50 years due to dwindling patronage and looming upgrade costs of about $1 million. Its closure ends a long running, low-cost night out and leaves Yatala as the last remaining drive-in in South East Queensland for Ipswich movie lovers. Local Ipswich News → Quick-fire snippets—local buzz & chatter:
Events Labels:🆓 Free entry Wednesday (26 November)🆓 The Foundry, Brassall - Christmas Pop-Up 8:30am-noon ALL WEEK info 🆓 Ipswich Turf Club - Ipswich race day 12pm info 💵 Ripley Valley State Secondary College Performing Arts Centre - End of Year Concert 6-7:30 PM ($10) tickets 🍻🍽️ Banshees Bar and Artspace - Open Mic 6 PM info 🍻🍽️ General Public - Trivia 6:30 PM info 🆓 Booval Freemasons Centre - Meditation, stress relief 7-8 PM details 🆓 Orion Hotel Springfield - music trivia & music bingo 7-9 PM info Thursday (27 November)🆓 Nicholas St Precinct - Santa and Sirens Christmas 5-7 PM info 🆓 Top of Town, Ipswich - Light up the Town & Markets 5-8pm info 💵 Ipswich Turf Club - River Reindeer Rumble, business networking (Christmas theme) 5-7 PM ($45) tickets 🆓 Studio 188 - Open Mic Night 6-7:30 PM details 🍻🍽️ Club Services Ipswich - Trivia 6:30 PM info 🍻🍽️ Orion Hotel - Trivia 7-10 PM ($1) details 🆓 Ipswich Art Gallery (d'Arcy Doyle Place) - City Christmas Tree Lighting 7 PM info 🍻🍽️ Banshees Bar and Artspace - Karaoke 8 PM info Friday (28 November)🆓 Nicholas St Precinct - International Day of People with Disability 9-11 AM info 🆓 Springfield Lakes YMCA - Thriving Seniors Craft Club 9:30-11:30 AM info 💵 Imbibis Craft Distillery - Distillery tour and tasting 2-3 PM ($15) tickets 🆓 Symphony Park (Binnies Rd, Ripley) - Movie Under the Star (How the Grinch Stole Christmas) 6-8:30 PM RSVP 🆓 Sutton Park - Brassall Christmas in the Park 6-9pm details 💵 Sketchy Stuff Studios, Churchill - Metal clay crafting 6pm ($19) more details 🍻🍽️ Stony Creek Brewing - Live music: Rebecca Lee Nye 6-9 PM info 💵 Banshees Bar & Artspace - WAVING AT CARS, THE STOMPS, THE TRESPASSERS 7-11 PM ($13.50) info Saturday (29 November)💵 Catalyst Church Auditorium - End of Year Concert 8:45 AM-12 PM ($17+) tickets 💵 Goodna Community Centre - Kyudo, Iaido and Jodo classes 10 AM-2 PM ($25) tickets 💵 Camira Courts - Social badminton 1-3 PM ($9.50) tickets 🆓 1st Ipswich Guide Hut - End of Year Awards 3:30-7 PM info 💵 Watercress Creek Olives and Limes - Groovin in the Grove Open Farm Day 5-8 PM ($35+) more details 🍻🍽️ Cafe Providence, South Ripley - Christmas Trivia 5:30pm details 🆓 Ripley Town Centre - Merry Movie Night (The Grinch) 5:30-8:30pm info 💵 Queensland Pioneer Steam Railway, Swanbank Station - The Twilight Santa Train 6-7:15pm info 💵 Camira Basketball Courts - social basketball 6:30-8 PM ($8.50) tickets 💵 Hotel Metropole - stand-up comedy 7:30-9:30 PM ($10-$20) tickets 💵 Ipswich Civic Centre - The UK Rod Stewart Show 7:30-9:45 PM ($59) tickets Sunday (30 November)🍻🍽️ Stony Creek Brewing - The Great Moustache-Off 11:30 AM-3 PM info 💵 The Rusty Nail - cocktail class 2-4 PM tickets 🆓 Salvation Army Riverview Farm - Christmas Carols, Fireworks & Free BBQ 5pm more info Monday (1 December)🆓 New Adventure Walk Weekly - Coffee and free walk w/Kez @thingstodoIpswich 9am follow her page for details Tuesday (2 December)💵 Ipswich Civic Centre - Dancespirations concert 7 PM ($28-$36) tickets 🍻🍽️ Hotel Metropole - Trivia 7pm info 😎 Top 5 Upcoming Events:4 Dec - Bunnings West Ipswich Christmas Family Event info (scroll down) 6 Dec - Enchanted Christmas, Ipswich Showgrounds details 6 Dec - Marburg Christmas Carnival, Marburg Showgrounds info 6 Dec - Handmade Expo Christmas Extravaganza, Nicholas St Precinct details 6 Dec - Xmas Lapz, Top of Town info All upcoming events →🧩 This Week's AnswersScramble Answer: KUNKALARosewood Railway Museum sits at Kunkala, a station on the old Marburg branch near Ashwell. Volunteers restored this railway in the 1980s. Today it is closed to visitors while ARHS Queensland works on plans to repair, staff and reopen it. GuessWhere Answer:📍Taken from Keates Rd, Tallegalla looking at the Rosewood Railway Museum at Kinkala station. This Week's Trivia Answer:b) A major state-level coal producer. Ipswich’s West Moreton coalfield around Goodna and Swanbank grew from 17,000 tonnes a year to over 2 million, Queensland’s main coalfield before today’s Central Queensland Bowen Basin mines took over. 📊 Last Week's ResultsThe Trivia:How many people work for Ipswich City Council?170 participants ❌ A.) About 800 — 9% guessed wrong ✅ B.) About 1,200 — 49% guessed correct ❌ C.) About 1,600 — 42% guessed wrong 📍 GuessWhere:GuessWhere #036
—Jamey (Facebook · Instagram)
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