FIRST Service Inc

16/06/2026

Welcome back once again supporting GRIND with prizes for our art competition.

Our go to art supplier and in our local area, with amazing efficient and friendly service we wouldn't go anywhere else.

14/06/2026

HUGE NEWS!! We have secured a live skate demo from our friends for the exhibition on Saturday 25th July, 5pm - 9pm

We have already introduced the legend as a judge this year so let's now introduce Jesse!

Jesse is the founder of Skate advantage an adaptive skateboarding program for all ages and abilities. A major focus of Jesse’s is to make skateboarding accessible for everyone. Running regular free skate clinics on the gold coast, Jesse and the team take out their skate frame for everyone to have a go, there is always a place on the skate park when Skate advantage is involved.

Jesse and co will be bringing some action to the art by hosting a live skate demo at our Exhibition on Saturday 25th July, exhibition opening from 5pm onwards. Jesse will also be bringing along the skate frame to show everyone what inclusive skating is all about.

This event is going to be huge, with over 120 Artists entering, food trucks and now a live skate demo the only thing left is YOU!!

Mark it in your calendars, tell your friends come and enjoy this free event for the whole family. Incredible art work by artists of all ages and abilities.

FIRST service inc
Saturday 25th July, 5pm-9pm
38/17 Cairns St Loganholme, Qld 4129

13/06/2026

Another amazing business who has supported GRIND from the start is
They always come through with amazing prize packs filled with goodies.

"In The Waste Land Of The Valley
Far Beyond Where Brisbane Punters Should Dare Explore…
…lies the Netherworld – a drinking hole, diner and collection of gaming relics from decades past. Lurking in the shadows beyond, the corner bar crouches over forgotten treasures from the 70’s until present day including 15 pinball machines, 25 arcade machines, classic consoles and countless board games. The bar wields 24 taps of local beer, cider and mixed elixirs. The diner serves up a diverse and otherworldly selection of bites, buns and bowls. Mind the hell mouth and welcome to the other side."

Thank you to Ben and the entire Netherworld team for offering an amazing place for all to come. What Netherworld does for the community is unreal and we've been lucky enough to be part of that community for 3 years in a row.

12/06/2026

Look what we have here … Lovingly known to us as the croissant monster …

Welcoming all ages and abilities we are running our first ever GRIND colouring in competition!!!

And it's FREE to enter!

Winners announced at our official opening on Saturday 25th July, 5pm-9pm

How does it work:

1. Download our colouring in page (on our website or in our linktree)
https://firstserviceinc.net/pages/grind

2. Colour the monster in, put your name on it (first name only)

3. Send it back to us, either in the post or scan it in and email it. Make sure you let us know your full name, age and contact details so we can let you know if you’ve won. (personal information will not be displayed on the artwork) All entries must be returned by Monday 20th July

4. We will display the winners at the exhibition

Prizes will be given away for the chosen winners

10/06/2026

We are very excited to announce that is returning this year as a prize sponsor!

What an incredible feeling to have sponsors of GRIND come back each year to make our exhibition all the more special!

"Iconic decks was created with the intention of bringing a new level of artistry to the world of skate deck art.

With bold colours and striking designs, the slim dimensions of these Iconic timber canvasses can fit virtually anywhere, increasing the visual aesthetics of your favourite places.

ICONIC DECKS are produced in Australia on the highest quality 8 inch maple timber decks to ensure every deck is high strength and has great pop.

Thank you Brett

Check out these amazing pieces or head to the website to see the full range https://www.iconicdecks.com/

09/06/2026

An opportunity to connect as a community and have your voice heard. See details to register attendance.

This is my son Riley, and he is autistic.

I've never publicly named one of my kids before, but this issue is too important not to.

When I talk about neurodivergence and the NDIS, I'm often thinking about Riley.

If these issues matter to you too, I'd like to invite you to a community forum we're hosting at Bethania Community Centre next Tuesday, 16 June.

More about that in a moment.

Like many neurodivergent people, Riley's autism is both a strength and a challenge.

It makes him who he is. Bright, funny and interesting.

And it creates obstacles that don't exist for most people.

Riley is also why I think so much about the NDIS.

One of the reasons we never tried to get support for Riley through the NDIS is because I've seen too many people go through too much anguish trying to navigate it.

Frankly, we thought the very limited supports he would get wouldn't be worth the heartache.

Another reason is that I never really thought the NDIS was meant for Riley.

But these days, I'm not sure where the line should be drawn, and that's part of the problem.

And now, any supports outside the NDIS have disappeared, so that families like ours feel we have no choice but to try to get onto it.

The NDIS has become the last lifeboat in the ocean.

Here in Forde, around 4,000 people on the NDIS have autism as their primary disability.

So if 4,000 autistic people are receiving support through the NDIS, how many more people need help but aren't getting it?

And even for people on the NDIS, the level of support varies enormously, even between people with very similar circumstances.

We've got to do better.

The reforms to the NDIS are a chance to do better.

We can make the NDIS work properly for the people it was originally designed to support.

And we can build up supports outside the NDIS for those who don't access it.

There is a lot of anxiety in the neurodivergent community about these changes.

I want to reassure people these reforms are not about removing anyone from the NDIS simply because they are autistic.

The goal is to make sure people get the support they need.

For some people that will be through the NDIS.

For others, it may be through supports outside the NDIS.

What matters is that people aren't left without support.

The neurodivergent community is also one of the least heard communities in our country.

That's why we're hosting this forum.

Not because I have the answers.

Because I want to hear from people who live this every day.

Autistic people.

Parents.

Carers.

Advocates.

Friends.

We'll be joined by advocates from QAI (Queensland Advocacy for Inclusion), LAQ (Legal Aid Queensland) and ADA (Aged and Disability Advocacy), who can help navigate the system.

If you're neurodivergent, or care about someone who is, I'd love to see you there.

Bethania Community Centre
Tuesday, 16 June
Informal catch-up from 12:30pm
Forum from 1:00pm to 2:00pm

The forum will:

Bring people together in a safe and welcoming environment.

Focus on what supports should be available both through and outside the NDIS.

Highlight advocacy services available to assist people navigating the system.

Most importantly, it will give people with lived experience a chance to shape where we go next.

If you're neurodivergent or care about someone who is, I'd love to see you there.

Please see the comments for the link to RSVP.

06/06/2026

Welcome back Brett Cliffton!

We met Brett in 2024 when he entered into GRIND as an artist, with 4 of his original pieces. Brett has been an amazing supporter of our inclusive art events ever since.

Brett has dabbled in many art mediums from a young age. Acrylic paints, clay sculpting, charcoal, pastels and even special effects for film.

Having a very successful careers as a professional tattoo artist for over 25 years, and now branching out doing skate deck art using coloured pencils.

We are very pleased to have Brett support another year of GRIND as a judge and a sponsor.

30/05/2026

Welcome back Colleen Lavendar as a judge for GRIND 26!

Colleen has been a massive supporter of GRIND from the very beginning and we are so grateful to have her join again as a Judge!

Colleen is a steel sculptor with a passion for horses and plasma-cut cars, uses her art to delve into the human condition. Beyond the workshop, she's a strong advocate for women's rights, working to get more women activated on the tools.

Through her creations and community engagement, Colleen sparks conversations about empowerment and gender equality in the male-dominated world of metalwork. Her art is not just about steel; it's a call to action, inviting us to reflect on the evolving narratives of the human experience and the role of women in craftsmanship.

29/05/2026

That's it! Our entries for GRIND 26 are now closed! What an incredible response we've had this year. We are so excited to host the biggest GRIND exhibition we have done.

To all our artists, you have until July 3rd to complete and submit your artwork, please contact us if you have any questions or need support. We are always happy to help. If you are posting back your artwork please make sure you use the PO BOX address listed on the entry form and let us know it's on it's way.

Watch this space for updates on the exhibition, prize sponsors, judges and collaborations along the way.

To everyone else please mark in your calendars the dates for the skate deck exhibition!!! Details on our website or in our bio.

You can also register your interest on Eventbrite

28/05/2026

We recently had the opportunity to create a special order for in Logan central. Creating two kids tool benches for their outdoor play areas.

This project was a collaboration between our Woodwork crew and Brush & Beyond. Tahli and Brodie were two of the team that worked on these pieces. Well done to all those that created these awesome benches and thank you to Rebecca for reaching out and supporting FIRST.