Latest news with #Ekka
Sydney Morning Herald
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Game-changer': Construction finishes on upgraded Exhibition station
People catching the train to the Caravan and Camping Supershow on Wednesday will be the first to experience the much-anticipated revamp of the train station at Brisbane's RNA Showgrounds. The upgrade of the Exhibition station after years of construction brings new lifts, wider platforms, better shading and accessibility features such as hearing aid loops. But the station will operate only for major events, including Brisbane's annual agricultural show, the Ekka, and this week's caravan and camping show, until Cross River Rail opens in 2029. RNA chief executive Brendan Christou said the facilities would be a 'game-changer' for his organisation and the events precinct around Bowen Hills, which was set to host an athletes village for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2032. The station was still under construction during last year's Ekka, but would be operational for this year's event, in about 10 weeks. 'It's been a tough couple of years and we've worked really well with Translink in particular and QR on the alternative plans, but there's nothing like coming to the show on a train,' Christou said. 'We look forward to everyone coming and enjoying the experience of this new station. I'm sure they'll see what we see, which is this fantastic, much more accessible, easy to access, station for all of those patrons of the show.' Queensland Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg said the station would be open year-round when Cross River Rail opened to passengers in 2029.
The Age
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
‘Game-changer': Construction finishes on upgraded Exhibition station
People catching the train to the Caravan and Camping Supershow on Wednesday will be the first to experience the much-anticipated revamp of the train station at Brisbane's RNA Showgrounds. The upgrade of the Exhibition station after years of construction brings new lifts, wider platforms, better shading and accessibility features such as hearing aid loops. But the station will operate only for major events, including Brisbane's annual agricultural show, the Ekka, and this week's caravan and camping show, until Cross River Rail opens in 2029. RNA chief executive Brendan Christou said the facilities would be a 'game-changer' for his organisation and the events precinct around Bowen Hills, which was set to host an athletes village for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2032. The station was still under construction during last year's Ekka, but would be operational for this year's event, in about 10 weeks. 'It's been a tough couple of years and we've worked really well with Translink in particular and QR on the alternative plans, but there's nothing like coming to the show on a train,' Christou said. 'We look forward to everyone coming and enjoying the experience of this new station. I'm sure they'll see what we see, which is this fantastic, much more accessible, easy to access, station for all of those patrons of the show.' Queensland Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg said the station would be open year-round when Cross River Rail opened to passengers in 2029.
ABC News
02-06-2025
- General
- ABC News
Brisbane's Exhibition train station to reopen for major events ahead of Cross River Rail
Brisbane's Exhibition train station will soon reopen for major events at the city's showgrounds, including the Ekka, before operating year-round from 2029. The station at Bowen Hills has been closed in recent years while it underwent a significant upgrade as part of the Cross River Rail project. The first event the station will service is this week's camping and caravan show, which kicks off from Wednesday and goes through to Sunday. It will then be used in August for the Ekka – making it the first time the station has been open for the Royal Queensland Show since 2022. The Brisbane showgrounds are set to undergo a major refresh ahead of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. It will be used to host the main athletes village, while the main arena at the grounds will be upgraded to include 20,000 seats. Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg said commuters using the station would be able to take advantage of 50 cent public transport fares. "Back in 2022, catching a train to and from the Ekka from Ipswich would have cost a family of four using a Go Card more than $38 in peak hour," he said. "Now it'll be $4 return, no matter when you travel." During last year's Ekka, free dedicated shuttles ran between the Woolloongabba and Herston busway stations to get patrons to the showgrounds. Exhibition station will be available for year-round services when Cross River Rail is ready for passengers from 2029. The extensive upgrade at the station includes new lifts and a revamped entry plaza. RNA chief executive Brendan Christou said the reopening was "great news". "It's just fantastic that people can arrive and depart from inside the Ekka for the first time since 2022," he said. "It also offers an exciting glimpse of what is to come for the showgrounds."
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Time of India
Cons posing as bank officials dupe man of 26.7L ‘for KYC'
Raipur: The Bilaspur Range Cyber Police arrested three inter-state cyber criminals from a Naxal-affected area in Odisha, busting a major fraud. The accused allegedly duped a Sakri resident of Rs 26.74 lakh by posing as bank officials and obtaining OTPs for KYC updates. According to the police, the victim, Johnson Ekka, a resident of Sakri, Bilaspur, received a call from an individual claiming to be a bank official. The fraudster tricked Ekka into providing banking details and an OTP under the pretext of an online KYC update. The accused then allegedly took out various loans from Ekka's bank account and transferred the funds to their own accounts. Following a complaint filed at Sakri police station, the case was transferred to the Range Cyber Police Station, Bilaspur, for further investigation. Based on bank statements and cybercrime portal reports, the police identified the account holders and mobile numbers involved. Technical analysis of online transactions and bank account details linked to the fraud led the police team to Odisha. With the help of local police in Ulunda, the team apprehended Krishna Luha in a Naxal-affected area. During interrogation, Luha confessed to the crime, revealing the involvement of Gulekh Kumhar and Pankaj Kumar Khaitan. The accused admitted to colluding with others in Rourkela and using fake SIM cards and bank accounts to commit the fraud. The three accused were brought to Bilaspur on transit remand. They were produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Bilaspur, and subsequently sent to judicial custody. The arrested individuals are Krishna Luha (42) and Gulekh Kumhar (40), both residents of Dipapalli, Ulunda police station, Sonepur district, and Pankaj Kumar Khaitan (44), a resident of Sundergarh district, Odisha.
7NEWS
22-05-2025
- Business
- 7NEWS
Ekka's sweet surprise: mega strawberry sundae stand and job opportunities
For decades, the beloved strawberry sundae has been an Ekka favourite — and in 2025, it's making a grand return. 'This year we're expecting over 180,000 strawberry sundaes to be sold,' Ekka event manager Brendan Christou told 7NEWS. With demand sky-high, a new mega stall has been set up to ease the crowd. 'We've got a mega outlet, so it's a super-sized outlet to make sure that the queueing is better,' Christou said. 'Everyone can get their strawberry sundae really easily.' A sweet, local favourite And the good news? There'll be plenty to go around. 'We are producing 34,000 litres,' said Lick Ice Cream CEO Simon West, explaining the scale of this year's operation. 'We will never sell out,' Christou added. The recipe for the Ekka icon is still kept under lock and key at Seventeen Mile Rocks, a suburb just a 30-minute drive south of Brisbane's city centre. 'This is our 15th year… so we've had fairly good practise at getting the formula right,' West confirmed. And, wherever they can, they use Queensland p roduce. 'We try as best we can to use as much Queensland produce as possible,' he said. This year, proceeds from the strawberry sundae sales will go towards funding future Ekka events, ensuring the show continues to thrive for years to come. Ever dreamt of working at the Ekka? But organisers say they need your help to make it all happen. More than 300 paid roles and 1000 volunteer positions are on offer — and for some, no experience is needed. 'Everything from food and beverage roles to chefs… to animal attendants… to ushers… there's something for everyone,' said Christou. Information on how to apply for the roles will be available on the official Ekka website about 7pm on Thursday, May 22. The Ekka is Queensland's biggest annual event, bringing the country to the city with agriculture, food, and family fun. This year, it will be running from August 9 to August 16. Stream free on
