COMMUNITY hello hello hello
COMMUNITY A WELCOME NOTE
APRIL
2025 | ISSUE 16
Welcome to the latest edition of Hello Community!
April is buzzing with activity, with school holidays just around the corner to Easter celebrations and ANZAC Day commemorations.
Plus, don’t miss the Annual Easter Egg Hunt in Peregian Springs perfectly timed for the last day of the first school term. Details inside!
Now that the Federal Election has been set for 3 May, expect plenty of campaign activity throughout April. We’ve also included a reminder inside with a link to update your details or register to vote if you’ve turned 18. If you can’t get to a polling booth on voting day you have the option to send in a Postal Vote, see inside for details. Don’t miss your chance to have a say in the future of Australia.
We hope you enjoy this issue with local stories, upcoming events, and community updates
Got a story or event to share? We’d love to hear from you! Email us at info@hellocommunity.com.au
Krys Krys Stedman Hello Community Manager
School Holiday Activity Ideas
Kitchen open 5pm-7.45pm. Bar open to 9pm. Seasonal menu may vary.
This month’s business spotlight is on local business Coolum Hearing Co.
Hi, I’m Matthew Virgen, a proud Queenslander who has lived on the Sunshine Coast for eight years. My wife is a midwife, and we have three energetic sons who keep life busy and exciting We also have a 15-year-old Beagle who spends most of his time napping.
With 20 years of experience in audiology, I recently started my own business, Coolum Hearing Co. Our clinic provides expert hearing care in a relaxed and friendly environment. As an award-winning clinician recipient of the Audika Stars and Charles Holland awards I focus on delivering personalised hearing solutions.
Continuity of care is our priority You’ll see the same clinician at every visit guaranteed. Whether you need a full hearing assessment, hearing aids, or workplace audiometric testing, we’re here to help. The most rewarding part of my job is improving people’s communication and quality of life
We love supporting local businesses. Our go-to for a meal is Coolum Surf Club, and Alley Cat serves the best coffee. First Bay is our favourite spot for swimming, rock pools, and footy on the beach
Weekends are spent outdoors at kids’ sports, the beach, or fishing. I also sponsor Coolum Bowls Club and play social touch footy.
LOCAL STORY
Sunny Coast Showdown 2025. Is It Your Time to Shine?
The celebrated not-for-profit Sunny Coast Showdown is back, and we’re going BIG this time. ShowdownMAX 2025: One Big Project, One Huge Opportunity—$250,000 Up For Grabs!
Over the past few years, Showdown, presented by Bendigo Community Bank Tewantin-Noosa, Cooroy, Marcoola has incubated local talent and ideas, producing over twenty award-winning short films, documentaries, and formats By supporting writers, cast, and crew, Showdown and the Sunshine Coast Screen Collective have helped creatives upskill, connect with their community, and get their work on screen
Now, we’re taking things to the next level. Welcome to ShowdownMAX, a bold, more commercially geared, leap toward making the film industry on the Sunny Coast a reality
What are we looking for? Ideas that can drive our industry forward, employ our crews, use our locations, and bring opportunity and money to Sunshine Coast residents. Given the timeline and budget in question, this year’s ShowdownMAX lends itself more to pilots of serialised, repeatable and returnable content and complete web series for online platforms. ShowdownMAX is also open to receiving pitches for feature-length, and limited scripted and unscripted series content if you believe you have a compelling commercial model
The project must be written and/or owned by a Sunny Coast local, be able to be produced on the Sunshine Coast, and completed by 1 October 2025.
GOVERNMENT UPDATE
Delivering 2032 & Beyond: Let the Games begin
The Queensland Government has unveiled the 2032 Delivery Plan and delivered a clear roadmap towards the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games and beyond.
South East Queensland will see major developments to ensure that it is connected and event-enabled in time for the Games, including:
New Brisbane Stadium to be delivered at Victoria Park, as part of a world-class Games precinct New National Aquatic Centre at Spring Hill to transform the Centenary Pool site.
Transformed RNA Showgrounds with an upgraded Main Arena and Athlete Village, which will be converted to permanent housing after the Games.
Upgraded Queensland Tennis Centre expanded to include a new permanent show court and 12 new match courts.
Upgraded Chandler Sporting Precinct into a dedicated Parasport community facility.
New Athlete Villages to be delivered on the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast
Improved transport network with new rail lines and stations, northern and eastern Brisbane bus corridors, upgrades to the M1, faster rail from Brisbane to the Gold Coast, and The Wave, with a rail line running from Beerwah to Birtinya linking with metro services all the way to the Sunshine Coast Airport, through Maroochydore
ANZAC DAY 2025
Dawn Service at Mooloolaba Beach
Mooloolaba Surf Life Saving Club and The Surf Club Mooloolaba invite the community to its ANZAC Day Dawn Service at 5:00 a.m. on Friday, April 25th, 2025 at Mooloolaba Beach. This deeply moving tribute will honour the sacrifices of Australian and New Zealand service men and women, past and present
As the first light of dawn breaks over the ocean, boat crews will silently paddle out to sea, laying wreaths of native Australian flowers, before raising their oars to the haunting echoes of the Last Post. In a powerful tribute to the ANZACs, a lone horseman from the 2nd Light Horse Regiment, Woombye Troop, will gallop along Mooloolaba Beach.
MSLSC warmly welcomes the community to join in this moment of reflection and gratitude, paying homage to the ANZAC spirit and those who have served. If you can’t attend the service at Mooloolaba Beach, 91.1 Hot FM radio will broadcast the ceremony live across the Sunshine Coast from 5 am. Veterans who wish to march, we invite them to assemble in the southern club car park on Club Lane, ready to step off at 04:55 am.
Event Details:
Event: ANZAC Day Dawn Service
Date: Friday, 25th April 2025
Time: 5:00 am (Attendees are advised to arrive by 4:55 am)
Location: Mooloolaba Beach
Live Broadcast: Hot91.1FM
ANZAC Day Dawn Service Mooloolaba Beach. Photo by: Brian Walsh
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GOVERNMENT UPDATE
AUSTRALIA: GET READY TO VOTE
The Prime Minister has called the 2025 Federal Election for Saturday, 3 May!
This is one of the most important elections in our history. Your vote has the power to shape the future of our country but only if you’re enrolled!
The electoral roll closes soon! That means you have until 4 April to enrol or update your details. If you’ve moved house, changed your name, or turned 18 recently, now is the time to make sure you’re ready to vote.
If you can’t get to a polling booth on Election Day, postal voting is another option.
COUNCIL’S HIGH SCHOOL WORK EXPERIENCE
Sunshine Coast high school students are digging into exciting career opportunities with a hands-on work experience program with Sunshine Coast Council’s Parks and Gardens Branch.
This five-day work experience program is open to students in Years 9, 10, 11, and 12 to cultivate practical skills and explore various career paths in the great outdoors.
Students can gain hands-on experience in several key fields, including: horticulture arboriculture turf and irrigation nursery operations infrastructure
Krys has been a delight to work with She was efficient, v communicative, knowledg and listened to everything I w with our website, which me were so happy with the end Ioannis, Coolum
Cooroy
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PROPERTY hello
Calendar APRIL
Free School Holiday Fun
7, 10 & 12 Apr
Noosa Fair Shopping
It’s Magic Glen
Performing 2 shows
Monday 7, Thursday 10 and Saturday 12 April, 10am and 12 midday
Suncoast Outdoor Expo
Nambour, 4-6 Apr
Discover the latest caravans, campers, hybrids, RV's, 4x4 and caravans, PLUS all the must-have gear for your next adventure.
Full Moon Dance Verrierdale, Sat 12 Apr
A BIG night of LIVE MUSIC coming to Verrierdale Hall! Expect some big funk and roots and bush psychedelia to bring the high energy antics we’ve come to love on the Full Moon dancefloor.
Kids School Holiday Program
Mon 14 Apr
Superhero Adventure Show: Farm Fun, Dance Party & Craft Time!
Don’t miss this action-packed adventure!
Date: April 14th, Time: 9:30am start
Location: Tewantin Noosa RSL
$5 per child
ANZAC Day at Coolum Beach
Hotel, Fri 25 Apr
Join us as we pay respect to all of the men and women who defended our great country The hotel will be open from 11.30am for meals with the main bar open from 1pm. We will be keeping the ANZAC spirit alive with Two-Up in the Beach Bar from 2pm-5pm with the help of our good friends the Coolum Lions Club.
Sunshine Coast Vinyl Record Fair, Coolum, Sun 13 Apr
Wax Expresso is proud to present the Sunshine Coast Record Fair
It’s all happening at Blackflag Brewery in the industrial area of Coolum from 103 on Sunday 13th April.
Easter Weekend Extravaganza, North Arm, 19-20 Apr
Our Easter weekend extravaganza is back bigger & better than ever before!
You do not want to miss the biggest Easter celebration on the coast!
Editor: Email: Web: Krys Stedman - 0427 707 333 info@hellocommunity.com.au hellocommunity.com.au facebook.com/hellocommunitymagazine instagram.com/hellocommunitymagazine
issue: Jun issue: Fri 18/4/25 Fri 23/5/25
COMMUNITY DIRECTORY
ARTS AND CRAFTS
Coolum Harmonies Choir 0403 013 555
The Coolum Women’s Shed thewomensshed.org
Coolum Men’s Shed 5319 3755
Coolum Theatre Players 0415 421 045
CHURCHES
Coolum Beach Baptist Church 5446 1957
Coolum Beach Uniting Church 5446 1815
St Peter’s Catholic Church Coolum 5443 3488
Anglican Church - Peregian 5449 8009
Coolum Christian Family Church 5446 1295
COMMUNITY GROUPS
Peregian Beach Community Assoc. pbcai.org
Coolum & Northshore Coast Care 0478 435 377
Coolum-Peregian RSL Sub Branch 0401 181 016
Coolum Civic Centre 5413 1416 Coolum Meals on Wheels 5446 1000 Quota Coolum Beach 0421 440 058
EMERGENCY CONTACTS
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE
Library (Wed 9am-12noon) 5475 8989
Noosa Civic (Tue 1pm-4pm) & 5440 7900 (Thurs/Fri 9.30am-12.30pm)
SPORT AND RECREATION
Beach Surf Club 0491 640 129 Coolum Boardriders coolumboardriders.com.au
Colts Rugby Leage coolumcolts.com.au
Cricket Club 0417 584 875
Tennis Club 0421 391 505
Beach Bowls 5446 1153