This small, clean takeaway store is located in the Burwood Heights Shopping Centre on Vienna Road. Whilst there are no tables for dining there is seating as you wait for your order. Although the selection of drinks is somewhat limited the menu is extensive.

Hamburgers start from $5.70 and include Plain, Works, Hawaiian, Kids, Chicken, Steak, Steak Works, Bacon & Egg, and Fish Burger. Cheese, Egg, Bacon and Pineapple are charged extra for. Other hot foods include Hotdogs, Battered Savs, Pluto Pups, Dim Sims, Chicko rolls, Spring Rolls (both large and small), Fish Cakes, Pineapple Fritters, Kabana, Chicken Nuggets, Port Riblets, Potato Scallops, Crumbed Sausages, Corn Jacks, Chicken Garlic Balls, Mexi Bites and Lasagna Toppers.

Fresh or Toasted Sandwiches are available at very reasonable prices, starting from as low as $2.00 for a Vegemite sandwich. Other varieties include Ham; Ham & Cheese; Ham, Cheese & Tomato; Ham & Salad; Chicken; Chicken and Salad; Cheese, Tomato and Onions; Cheese & Tomato; and Cheese. Chicken & Gravy Rolls, Chips and Gravy/Sauce Rolls, and BBQ Pork Rib Rolls are also available. Salads are $4.00 each.

Fish and Seafood available includes the Barramundi, Cod (small, medium or large), Dory, Snapper, Whiting, Fish Cocktails, Calamari, Prawn Cutlets, Seafood Bites, Seafood Sticks and Sea Scallops. Naturally, hot chips are also sold.

Approximate cost: $From $2.00.

With a reasonably small resident population Russell Island's shops are almost, without exception, purveyors of essential (and not so essential) goods such as groceries, take-away food, newspapers, hardware, alcohol and the like. It's for that reason that Art Stuff And Nonsense Art Shop is such a rare treat. A specialized art supply store and gallery where you'd least expect to find one!

Located less than a hundred metres from the jetty this art shop sells paints, canvases, brushes and other required items for both the budding and expert artist alike. The store claims to be competitively priced with the mainland. Art classes are also offered. Perhaps most enticingly, however, are the the dozens and dozens of paintings that adorn the walls of the shop. All produced by talented local artists, they are for sale and offer a brilliant opportunity to pick up both some fine art and also support local artists. Whether you're a local or a visitor to Russell Island, Art Stuff and Nonsense Art Shop is a "must do".

Macleay on the Bay is the only dedicated Tourist Information office on the Southern Moreton Bay Islands (SMBI). The four islands of Russell, Lamb, Macleay and Karragarra are often said to be the best kept secret in Queensland. Not only have they remarkable scenery and natural features, but also have just about the cheapest land prices in all of Queensland. All of this, incredibly, is within 30km of the Brisbane CBD!

Macleay on the Bay is a very small shop but absolutely packed full of visitor information, gifts and island related souvenirs. They offer not only a lovely assortment of items made by locals including paintings and jewellery, but also a fine collection of hats, shirts, scarves and shoes. There are plenty of reasonably priced gift items to choose from and even fishing gear for those who arrive on the island unprepared. The staff are friendly and obliging and happy to answer any questions asked. Maps of the SMBI and associated attractions are free and in good supply. Macleay On The Bay is conveniently located close to the jetty and opposite the SPAR supermarket.

Until our families recent move to Russell Island, Carina Medical & Specialist Centre were our local doctors. In an easy to find location at the corner of busy Creek and Stanley Roads, this doctor's surgery has ample off street parking at the front of the practice. As a reasonably sized practice with six doctors you can usually obtain a same day appointment.

My family ordinarily saw Dr Phillip Wuth who is not to be confused with his father, Dr Greg Wuth, who is at the same practice. We could not have been more pleased with Dr Phillip's professionalism and on three specific occasions he provided exceptional care to my youngest son in most urgent circumstances. One incident involved a quite serious boiling water burn to his stomach which Dr Phillip dealt with immediately. On another occasion my son had a sinus infection and Dr Phillip instructed us that he immediately needed to go to the Mater Hospital. I didn't imagine that hospitalization was required as we had only seen another doctor, for the same problem, the previous day. Thank goodness for Dr Phillip's excellent diagnosis because my son was immediately admitted to hospital where he remained, on an antibiotic drip, for four days.

When last I went for a long walk on Macleay Island I was astounded to come upon a market stall in the lush grounds of the Emerald Isle Shopping Centre. Located in the complex that includes The Naked Fisherman, Truly Scrumptious Foods and the video shop, I subsequently learnt that this business is an ongoing concern and trades at this location every Friday and Saturday. On Thursday the business operates from the complex a few kilometres down the road where Bay Island Meats and Cash N Save Furniture are. Huong Fashion also operate an eBay Store and can be found at http://stores.ebay.com.au/A-Shirleah

Huong Fashion offers a delightful assortment of men's, women's and children's clothing at exceptionally good prices. Many of the clothes have a hippy chick feel about them. Also sold is a large variety of hats, bags, scarves, ornaments and very cool jewellery. I only wish that Huong Fashion was on Russell Island as we are totally bereft of new clothing stores here.

Notwithstanding its name, Russell Island Scoot and Car Hire now only hire cars. As to what happened to the scoots I'm unsure, although they certainly still had them when the Channel 7 Brisbane programme, The Great South East, did a segment on Russell Island in November 2010. Here's a link to the article - http://www.greatsoutheast.com.au/gsec2cqw/story.asp?weekID=742&storyID=3523

Because Russell Island does not have a bridge to the mainland, visitors to the island must travel by passenger ferry, or if they're well heeled can take their car on the relatively expensive vehicular barge. It's for that reason that a care hire service in Russell Island is so essential. The island is around 8.5 km long and 3 km wide so walking the whole of the island is not really practical, unless you're into hiking and prepared to forsake a whole day. The alternative to car hire is using the Russell Island Taxi Service which is also available for charter.

The cars available for hire at Russell Island Scoot and Care Hire are what we locals call "Island bashers". They aren't fancy or pretty, and are small and second hand. For $20.00 per hour, or 3 hours for $40.00, who would complain? The proprietor is easy going and there's no complicated paperwork or deposits to worry about. After all, it's pretty difficult to steal a car from an island :) The car I've used is a manual so I'd suggest that you ensure that at least one member of your party is able to drive one.

Approximate cost: $20.00

Living on an island that has no bridge to the mainland means that residents are almost totally dependent on the services of couriers for the transport of large, heavy, or difficult to carry items. The passenger ferries have limits on the size and type of goods that can be transported, and barge costs are pretty much prohibitive in respect of carrying the goods yourself by car.

Bay Island Carriers is one of several companies that transport goods from the mainland to the four Southern Moreton Bay Islands (SMBI) of Russell, Lamb, Macleay and Karragarra. They also appear to be the preferred sub-contractor for nation wide carriers which courier goods from interstate. These large firms are naturally reticent to complete the final part of the journey by barge.

I've had Bay Island Carriers deliver me several large white goods that I had purchased through oo.com.au. The goods arrived in perfect condition, however the delivery schedule left much to be desired. Firstly, Bay Island Carriers only deliver to Russell Island three times per week. Secondly, they only advise you of the day, rather than the time, of delivery. In both cases the goods weren't delivered until after 5.15 p.m. Thank goodness that I hadn't waited at home all day for them to arrive!

I'm a sucker for a good kebab and from my experience you can't get much better than Caspian Kebab. Located at the entrance to the K Mart Centre (at the K Mart end) you are immediately enticed by the familiar kebab smell as you enter the complex. This kebab shop is very popular and you'll usually find a queue of people waiting to be served. Once attended to, however, service is usually quick.

The lettuce, tomato, tabouli and other salads that go into the kebabs are always ultra fresh and of excellent quality. The meat is cooked to perfection every time. In addition to kebabs they also sell a nice assortment of Lebanese and Turkish sweets, together with the ever important ice cold drinks. Unfortunately there are few tables and chairs available in the K-Mart Centre to eat at, however if you nick out the centre's door, turn left and then immediately left again at the dry cleaners you'll find a bench table and seats that are rarely used by anyone other than the Centre's employees.

Approximate cost: $10.00

Choice Variety Store is one of the many cheap stores that litter our shopping complexes these days. The store is large and literally crammed full of a plethora of different products ranging from faux flowers and brightly decorated gift boxes, to candles and stationery. Choice Variety has a particularly large range of homeware products many of which are of reasonable quality. During festive seasons and Halloween the store is resplendent with decorations, costumes and all manner of paraphernalia.

Also sold at Choice Variety is a nice selection of chimes and hanging mobiles; pet products such as beds, toys and leads; and many toys of questionable quality. You'll also find your fair share of "As seen on TV" products and plastic storage tubs.

I have a long standing fascination with anything art deco, whether it be furniture and appliances, residential shops or picture theatres. One of my favourite places is Napier, NZ, which was almost entirely rebuilt in art deco style following an early 1930s earthquake.

Whilst picture palaces were perhaps the most commonly constructed buildings to utilize the art deco style, in Sydney and elsewhere throughout Australia, there are relatively few genuinely intact examples still remaining. It's for that reason that I've always adored the Enmore Theatre. It's interior, whilst beautifully maintained, is essentially the same as it would have been in the 1930s. Whilst no longer showing movies, the Enmore claims the title of the longest running live music venue in Sydney. With a seating capacity of 1,600 it's the perfect size for a more intimate concert experience. It would be for that reason that the Enmore is so exceptionally popular with both international and local artists and there is rarely a night when a band or artist of note is not performing there.

I've been to many concerts at the Enmore over the years, both when I lived in Sydney and country NSW, but also whilst residing in Qld. By far my most memorable experience was during last year's Gimme That Guitar tribute concert for the late Harvey James. Sherbet performed for the first time in 4 years, and most probably for the last time ever, and the crowd went wild. I'm glad I wasn't employed by the Enmore because the confetti that exploded from the stage at the end would've taken days to clean up :)