Victoria McGuin 5499 9049 editor@hinterlandtimes.com.au
OWNER/ADVERTISING
Neil Coningham 5499 9049 sales@sunnycoastmedia.com.au
Advertising can also be booked directly via our website www.sunnycoastmedia.com.au
ACCOUNTS
accounts@hinterlandtimes.com.au
Please note:
We are often out, writing stories and talking to local businesses –please leave us a message. www.hinterlandtimes.com.au
Social Media:
/Hinterlandtimes /hinterlandtimes
Owned by Sunny Coast Media -100% local and independent hello@sunnycoastmedia.com.au
Happiness Hub
Iam very excited! It’s that time of year when my favourite competition is back – the Hinterland Times Young Writer of the Year! Soon, I and the other HT writers will be lucky enough to read a wealth of imaginative stories from young writers across and down the mountains.
The originality and expressiveness that comes through each year fills me with hope - in a time when it sometimes feels like AI content is encroaching everywhere, it is wonderful to see people using their own ideas and experiences to create fascinating, funny and moving stories.
As I write this, my family is watching the State of Origin in another room – I can guess how things are going from the noise, or lack of it. Having a paper deadline means I can’t join them yet, however, I’m sure I will hear all about it, if we win. But, if no-one comes bounding in here, I will know not to ask… (We have two seasons in our house: rugby league and cricket.)
No sport to report in this month’s HT, but we have Daneyl in Nambour who rebuilt her cooking school business after the devastation caused by Cyclone Alfred; Montville’s Les Gittins who built the steel-framed, three-storey, A-frame house on the road to Kondalilla Falls; doula/artist Kate Bowern who shares her journey through study, loss, fundraising, blogging, and art, and Maleny agronomist John Muir, whose work sees him at the forefront of Australia’s emerging hemp industry.
As ever, I am so impressed by the fortitude, resilience and positive mindsets of so many of the hinterland locals we interview. Their hard work and passion for projects or their businesses is inspiring.
On that note, I would like to say a big congratulations to all the winners of the Glass House Small Business Awards, in particular, the team at The Barn on Flaxton. They truly deserve the Gold Glassie for their welcoming, excellent service, utterly delicious food and strong community commitment – they are, in essence, a valuable and genuine hub for happiness!
I hope our HT is a hub for happiness for you, too.
Enjoy!
Cafe, The Curated Plate and Montville Market 14, 15 CREATIVE CUTS Artist profiles, entertainment news, 16, 17
LOCAL MUSINGS ‘Is this still Australia?’ 28 HOLISTIC/HEALTH Health and wellness 22 – 25 BACK TO NATURE
Cover – Vanessa West plays Columbine and Rod Johnson plays Harlequin in the second act of Pagliacci, performed by The Maleny Singers and the Inspiration Project Choir
Photo: Marsha Fotografie
Arcadia Love Judy Fredriksen
Gay Liddington
We are happy to announce the seventh year of the
HINTERLAND TIMES YOUNG WRITER OF THE YEAR
For 2025, the subject is…. AI or
REALITY?
Fact or fiction, humorous or serious, any genre of prose is acceptable.
Age limit: 10 – 17 years
Word limit: 600 words (a little leeway given)
Please send submissions to editor@hinterlandtimes.com.au with your name, contact details, age and story title on page 1, and the submission on page 2 onwards.
Closing date for entries August 31, winner announced in the October edition.
(The HT writing team’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.)
WINNER
A personal, unique illustration for their story by professional artist Jim Cox
$300 sponsored by Rosetta Books, Maleny
$100 voucher from Forest Heart Nursery
$100 from Celebrating Books Maleny Team
$80 voucher from Homegrown Cafe, Palmwoods
Two open tickets for the spring/summer ‘Outspoken Presents’ season
$75 from the Maleny Arts Council
TWO RUNNERS UP
$250 each, thanks to two anonymous donors
$50 voucher each for The Barn on Flaxton
ALL THREE WILL BE ON THE HT OCTOBER FRONT COVER, HAVE THEIR STORIES PUBLISHED IN THE OCTOBER ISSUE AND RECEIVE A CERTIFICATE
The Hinterland Times would like to say a HUGE thank our generous sponsors for supporting young writers across the Range
Kate’s motherhood messages
by REBECCA MUGRIDGE
The process of becoming a mother is a period of growth involving the physical, psychological and emotional changes that women go through as they transition into motherhood.
Many mums navigate this journey without extended family nearby.
“I want to help rebuild the village, to offer a space where mothers feel held, encouraged, and understood. I love to think of myself as the ‘Village Nanna’, says Kate Bowern.
Kate is a woman of many talents, she glows with joy as she talks with passion.
Kate Bowern shares her journey as a doula, through study, loss, fundraising, blogging, and art.
“My journey to becoming a doula really began in my teens when I worked as a babysitter. After finishing school, I became an early childhood educator and later a nanny in the U.S. After having my own three children, I sadly experienced the loss of three babies through my pregnancies,” she says.
“Those losses gave me a deeper, more empathetic perspective on motherhood, a mix of joy, love, fear, and grief.
“Two years ago, when my youngest turned ten, I finally answered that calling and trained to become a birth and postpartum doula.
“A doula provides physical, emotional, and informational support to mothers during pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. I see my role as helping them feel empowered, seen, and supported during this major life transition.”
Kate supports mothers in other ways too. “I started a weekly group last year for new mothers, especially first-time mums,” she says. “The early months can feel incredibly isolating and overwhelming.”
It has been a career of helping mothers. “I started blogging over 13 years ago. It began as a resource hub for parents and caregivers. That blog evolved into Healthy Fit Kids.
“I had the privilege of interviewing child development experts and even hosted a library talk for parents and educators. As I became a doula, the platform evolved again into the First Year of Motherhood, reflecting my own growth.”
Helping others is in the genes, Kate is also a proud firefighter’s daughter – and wife!
“My dad has served in Victoria’s CFA for over 40 years. Some of my fondest memories growing up include riding in the back of the fire truck for the annual Good Friday Appeal and helping raise money for the Royal Children’s Hospital.
“That emotional journey helped shape the deep calling I felt to support new mothers in a truly nurturing and compassionate way.
“When I moved to Burleigh Heads at 23 years old, I met my next-door neighbour, who was in the process of becoming a fireman. The following year he was my husband.
“A fond memory is when our children were at kindergarten, they loved having their daddy visit their kindy classes for fire safety talks.
“While there are definitely moments of worry, I feel deeply honoured to have two of the most important men in my life serving our communities with such courage and heart.”
Always living life with heart and a sense of adventure, last year Kate did something many think about but never quite do. “We packed up everything we owned and travelled around Australia for eight months in our vintage van, Peaches, with our three kids and three dogs. It was a huge adventure.
Kate Bowern - a featured artist in the recent Open Studios event, at The Joy Collective
“We’ve now returned to our little hobby farm in Maleny, surrounded by chickens, dogs, cockatiels, cows, and a horse - it’s a pretty special life.”
This year, Kate was selected to be an artist in the Open Studios Sunshine Coast event, sharing another skill – her artistic creations – at the Joy Collective. A place Kate describes as ‘magical and full of creativity, warmth and heart’.
“For Open Studios, I launched Mother Moon & Whispers from the Wild. It features air plants, driftwood, coconut shells, shells, pebbles, agate slices and mother-and-baby figurines - creating small, meaningful pieces of art.
“Being part of Open Studios was such a joy, I feel incredibly lucky to be a mother-inspired artisan.”
Kate says this area nurtures those with an artistic heart, “The hinterland seems to grow artists or gently call them in from all directions. There’s such a deep creative energy here, it’s grounding and inspiring all at once.
“When you walk through the galleries and creative spaces in this region, so much of the art reflects our connection to nature, beauty, and spirit. It’s a wonderful place to create and be surrounded by like-minded souls.
“Both Nambour and the hinterland are fantastic places to raise a family, each with their own special charm. Nambour is perfectly placed between the bush
and the beach, with lots of local adventures and hidden gems.”
Kate says a village of women nurtured and inspired her. “The women who raised me, my mum Julie, my nanna Shirley, her mum Hazel, and my dad’s mum Lillian; I had three “nannas” (one of them my greatgrandmother) who all played a huge role in my childhood.
“That experience of being held, loved, and deeply seen shaped everything I do now. I know how powerful it is to grow up in a supportive village. And I know how many mothers today are missing that.
“My work is inspired by them and by the love and strength they poured into me.”
Kate shares, “If you see a new mother, whether she’s a friend, a neighbour, or a stranger on the street, please tell her she’s doing an amazing job.
“You never know how much she might need to hear that. You could be the voice that helps her make it through a tough night or helps her feel a little less alone. Your kindness could change her entire day.”
WHICH BUSINESS STRUCTURE IS RIGHT FOR YOU?
star ting a new business is the type of business struc ture that best suits your needs Issues that you should consider when choosing the suitable struc ture range
f ro m o n
yourself and your business from liability to financial and practical concerns
1. Sole Trader
Assets and liabilities of the business belongs to the owner of the business –you As there is no fire wall between y o u r p e r s o n a l a
personally liable in all aspec ts of your business Some of the advantages are that this is a simple struc ture to set up and maintain; your retain effec tive control and as you are not an employee of your business you don’ have to make compulsor y superannuation contributions, pay payroll tax or workers’compensation for yourself The greatest disadvantage is the unlimited liability which means that your personal assets are at risk should you be sued
2. Par tnerships
A par tnership is not a separate legal entity but rather an a s s o c i a t i o n o f i n
to
ac tivity with a view to mak ing a profit. The assets of the par tnership belong to the individual par tners jointly rather than to a separate legal entit y The greatest advantage is probably that it is relatively easy and cheap to set up But again the main disadvantage is the issue of the joint and several liability of par tners In practical terms this means that should one par tner be unable to pay his or her share of a par tnership debt then the remaining par tner is fully liable for the whole of that debt despite any agreement to the contrar y bet ween the par tners 3. Company
A company is a separate legal entity and capable of owning assets it its own name The main advantages are that this struc ture has limited liability for its shareholders, it is a struc ture which is commercially well understood and accepted and there are many choices as to the distribution of profits and losses to the shareholders The greatest disadvantage is that it is expensive to set up and t o m a i n t a i n a s i t r e q u i r e s g r e a t e r a c c o u n t i n g a n d accountability obligations than say a sole trader Control of the company lies with its direc tors so this may or may not be a disadvantage
As a guideline, the characteristics of a good business struc ture are flexibility so that the struc ture can cope w i t h c h a n g i n g c i r c u m s t a n c e s w i t h m i n i m u m consequences to the business; minimisation of exposure to liability ; minimisation of costs such as tax and the efficient distribution of profits and losses
The Last of a Generation
Les Gittins epitomises the values of generations past where family and community work together.
by DOUG PATTERSON, Montville History Group
Les was born in 1942 to Reg and Molly Gittins, and grew up on the family dairy farm on Harpers Creek, which flows into the upper Mary River outside Conondale. Molly was a retired teacher and home-schooled Les until he was old enough to travel to the Conondale State School. She was a strict teacher.
“I remember getting into strife when I was only two for learning Italian quicker than English,” Les recalls. Reg had been allocated two Italian POWs to help on the farm and Les had spent his toddler years following them around the property and learning Italian from them.
In the early 1950s, Reg built a proper family home. He sourced the right trees and felled and dressed them for posts. A carpenter surveyed/pegged out where they needed to go and Reg set them in the ground. The carpenter came back to level and cap them and between them they built the new home. Les is understandably proud that it is still standing today.
In 1956, Les was off to Brisbane Boys College (BBC) to complete his secondary education. Fortunately for family finances, the Conondale school was short a teacher and Molly was able to go back teaching.
“I accepted BBC as a necessary evil,” Les says, “and when I graduated in 1959, I couldn’t wait to get back to the farm. Then, in 1960, the family moved to Baroon Pocket where I entered into a partnership with Dad in a new dairying venture.”
The farm was just above and west of where the dam wall is now, bordering a state forest. Here Les worked and developed a new interest. “I bought a welder to do basic repairs and modifications to our farm machinery and taught myself welding.”
This led him to seek advice and tips from another self-taught welder, Jim Hooper, who had Hooper’s Engineering at Montville.
Les also joined the Maleny Branch of Rural Youth and met Leonie, the daughter of another dairy farmer.
“Leonie and I married in 1968 and moved into a small worker’s cottage on the farm until a new house could be built for my parents. However, in 1972, our eldest son, Robert, was attacked by a large carpet python while asleep. I was able to pull the snake off but the incident led us to reconsider where we wanted to raise our children.”
At the same time, Les’s relationship with Jim Hooper had developed. He began part-time work with Jim on specific projects which led to being offered a permanent full-time position, eventually becoming a partner in the business.
Les worked with Jim Hooper for the next 18 years, retiring from the business in 1990. Les went on to manage and later purchase a Nambour steel fabrication business, relocating to Kunda Park when the Nambour Sugar Mill site was redeveloped in 2012.
“While I was working at Hoopers, Jim became concerned about the state of the Montville Rural Fire Brigade. He encouraged me to join it and together we designed and built a system to convert the four-wheel drive tractors of Len Gorsch and Des McCulloch into fire fighting vehicles until Montville got its first fire truck. I then worked on improvements to its capabilities and carried out routine maintenance. I admit I was better at keeping everything working than actually fighting fires!”
In 1974, Les and Leonie purchased a double block of land at the top of Kondalilla Falls Road. They chose to build a steel-framed, three storey, A-Frame home of 32 squares, (66ft by 40ft and 35ft high), big enough for their family of seven on one block, and establish a family garden on the other.
“It was very much a hands-on, owner-builder venture,” shares Les. “I only called on professional tradesmen as needed, so it took several years before it was fully finished with the family living in a caravan and shed and moving in in stages as sections were complete.”
All the Gittins’ children attended Montville State School, and Les became an active member of the Montville State School P&C over 16 years. He also joined the Montville Village Association and served as President from 1994 to 1996 and again in 2004/05.
In his first presidency, he worked closely with the President of the Tennis Club to get funding to restore the tennis courts at the Montville Sports and Recreation Grounds.
He was recalled to serve as President in 2004 after members of that executive had failed to declare conflicts of interest in considering community support for a major Country Club/Golf Course development proposal.
Les had a long association with the Montville Sports and Recreation Ground, and by the 1980s the five trustees were Les Gittins, Chris Hooper, Ian Russell, Peter Glover and Des McCulloch. Les recalled that Joe Delaney
TIME TO CHECK YOUR TANKS
POOL SAFETY LEGISL ATION
When selling a propert ith a pool in Q eensland, pool safet la s appl to all residen al proper es incl ding short-term accommoda on.
e
str ct re that:
Ÿ is capable of being filled ith ater to a depth of mm or more.
Ÿ is sed primaril for s imming , ading , paddling or the like.
Ÿ This applies to ading pools (incl ding blop pools) and spas.
As a pool o ner o m st:
Ÿ register o r pool ith QBCC or fines appl
ith self-closing gates
funded a long overdue upgrade to the fence around the tennis courts during his years as trustee.
When his kids wanted to join scouting, Les naturally became involved as Cub Leader of the Maleny Scout Group for nine years and Assistant Cub Leader at the Range Scout Group on Kondalilla Falls Road until it disbanded.
When Les retired, he pursued his life-time interest in agriculture and developed a vegetable garden that incorporated traditional gardening in raised beds and hydroponics as well. He also travelled widely with Leonie, joined Probus and is a member of the Flaxton Walking Group.
Although it is a struggle at times, Les still attends Montville’s Australia Day ceremonies and the Dawn Service on ANZAC Day.
“I can no longer physically attend meetings but I still correspond to voice my concerns about homelessness, the isolation of older Range women and the lack of a public transport system that meets the needs of aging Range residents.”
In volunteering to serve our community through five separate organisations, the MVA, the school P&C, the Sports Ground, the Firies and the Scouts for over 50 years, Les epitomises the values of generations past where family and community work together.
Les Gittins is indeed a worthy Montville Gem.
To keep making Queensland safer, the new Queensland Government is expanding ‘adult crime adult time’ to include 33 serious offences. We’re putting more police on the ground and rapid response for crime hotspots. We’re also taking knives off the street with Jack’s Law and breaking the cycle of youth crime with early intervention programs like Regional Reset. To see how safety is being restored where you live, search Making Queensland Safer.
. m
Ÿ maintain o r pool fence to meet ongoing compliance
Ÿ obtain a pool safet cer ficate (the are onl alid for ears)
Ÿ keep pool gates closed
Ÿ ens re the pool area is al a s keep clear of objects that children co ld se to enter the pool na ended
If there is no Pool Compliance Cer ficate at the me of signing a Contract then the Seller has to iss e a No Pool Safet Cer ficate to the B er prior to the B er signing the Contract. The B er ma se this opport nit prior to signing a Contract to nego ate the costs in ol ed in obtaining a Pool Compliance Cer ficate.
If the B er chooses to b a propert itho t a compliant Pool Safet Cer ficate, then the B er m s t o b t a i n a c e r fi c a t e i t h i n d a s o f Se lement Date.
I recentl had the pleas re of orking ith Monica to sell m home, and I co ldn't be more impressed ith her professionalism and dedica on. Monica possesses an e tensi e kno ledge of the local market, and her nderstanding enabled a realis c price point that a racted the right b ers. Her a en on to detail ens red that m home as sho cased in the best possible a , leading to a s ccessf l sale. What tr l set Monica apart as her n a ering commitment to m best interests. She took the me to nderstand m needs and kept me informed at e er step of the process, making me feel s pported and confident thro gho t Moreo er, she e tended this same le el of care and a en on to the b er, ens ring a smooth and posi e e perience for all par es in ol ed. I co ld not be more gratef l.
I highl recommend her ser ices to an one looking for a kno ledgeable and dedicated real estate agent. Verified b RateM Agent
Leonie and Les Gittins check the plans along with children Maria and Robert
They completed the first floor and lived onsite whilst completing the remainder of the house
Authorised by the Queensland Government, William Street, Brisbane.
Hinterland Property Prices Are Still Rising!
Most of the Sunshine Coast Hinterland suburbs are still experiencing a rise in property values. A couple of areas have had a slight decrease, but this may just be due to one or more lower than normal sale prices in that suburb. Many people are flocking to the Hinterland due to its green rolling hills, laid-back lifestyle, essential services and its true sense of community.
• Maleny median house price is currently $1,205,000. The last twelve months has seen prices in Maleny increase by 26.8%. Median time on market is also going down and is currently at 70 days.
• Montville median house price is currently $1,362,500. The last twelve months has seen prices in Montville increase by 4.8%. Median time on market is currently at 126 days.
• Flaxton median house price is currently $1,270,000. The last twelve months has seen prices in Flaxton increase by 15.5%. Median time on market is currently at 80 days.
• Conondale median house price is currently $1,061,250. The last twelve months has seen prices in Conondale increase by 26%. Median time on market is currently at 118 days.
• Mapleton median house price is currently $1,137,500. The last twelve months has seen prices in Mapleton decrease slightly by 1.6%. Median time on market is currently at 49 days.
• Witta median house price is currently $1,010,000. The last twelve months has seen prices in Witta decrease slightly by 3.8%. Median time on market is currently at 148 days.
There are plenty of new listings coming onto the market after a quiet period leading up to the election. Due to the recent interest rate cut the buyer demand should increase in coming months.
Hemp Hype
From working the rich, fertile plains of the Riverina, to the Philippines, and Cambodia during the dangerous Khmer Rouge era, Maleny agronomist John Muir has ridden a wave of agricultural innovation that has seen him at the forefront of Australia’s emerging hemp industry.
by JUDY FREDRIKSEN
It’s hard to imagine a sailing-loving boy from Manly Harbour, Sydney, going to agricultural college, but John Muir did.
“I went to Hawkesbury Ag College at Richmond, about an hour west of Sydney, and kept heading west. I never came back,” says John.
Initially, the young adventurer spent 12 years working as an agronomist in the Riverina, providing advice to farmers about rice, corn, pastures, saltbush and dryland farming in one of the most productive and agriculturally diverse areas of Australia.
During this time, he met and married Trudi, with inherent curiosity stirring the pair into overseas travel. They then spent two years in Cambodia from 1992–1993, a time marked by turmoil in the post-Pol Pot and Khmer Rouge United Nations era.
When his contract finished, the couple enjoyed more adventure on their way home to Australia.
“When we came back from Cambodia, we backpacked through South-East Asia for six months. Trudi wanted to be nearer to family, so we moved to Queensland.”
The couple eventually settled in Maleny with John working as the manager of Barung Landcare.
“Because Barung was one of the biggest Landcare groups in Australia, the Queensland DPI (Dept of Primary Industries) picked me to go to the Philippines for several years for conservation work on farming on steep land, using the Landcare approach … which is the ‘bottom up approach, the people development process … not the top down, we know what’s good for you’ attitude.”
John’s involvement in this project led to him writing the first FarmCare Code of Practice for sustainable fruit and vegetable production in Queensland. That was in 2000.
Despite the ever-present threat of danger, John found the Cambodian experience rewarding, explaining that the pioneering type of more sustainable rice farming systems was huge on the Mekong. It was his forte, he revelled in it and even learnt to speak Khmer to make it easier for him to communicate with the local farmers.
“So after 30 years of the game in agriculture, overseas and in Cambodia, the Philippines and in Australia, I was approached in Maleny by none other than Phil Warner in 2010 to help him develop the industry of ‘hemp startup’ in Australia.”
John Muir with a hempcrete briquette and hemp stalk
In 1996 Phil had founded Ecofibre Industries, a company that invested US$15 million into research and development of industrial hemp because he could see its multi-purpose value, including its suitability as a building material.
The Romans had used hemp to build aqueducts and bridges 2000 years ago, and some of those are still standing, says John.
Considered the ‘Father of the Hemp Industry’ in Australia, Phil had been directly involved in advising governments and encouraging legislative change for the industry in Australia, New Zealand, Uruguay, Malawi and the United States.
And it just so happened that after living and working all over the world, Phil had also settled in Maleny.
Hemp can be transformed into fibrous, flexible sheeting, or briquettes known as ‘hempcrete’ which can then be used to construct houses and buildings. According to John and Phil – who both have hempcrete buildings – hemp is an effective insulator, making buildings more energy efficient and therefore, needing less electricity for heating and cooling. The product is also more fire-resistant than timber.
Phil went on to grow Australia’s first commercial crop of hemp in Tasmania, defying the likes of the CSIRO which said Australia’s climate was not suitable for growing hemp.
As an agronomist for AgriFutures, John’s expertise lies in the growing of the plant, with him currently overseeing trials at nine sites all around Australia: Katherine; the Ord River; Western Australia; South Australia; Victoria; Tasmania; the University of Queensland, Gatton; and on farms nationally.
Under the right growing conditions, hemp improves the soil fertility, and the biological activity. This in turn improves carbon content which regulates the earth’s temperature and the nutritional makeup of the foods that sustain us.
With such an extensive background in agriculture, John is also involved with several Co-operative Research Centres, a Federal Government program that was established in 1990 to fund industryled collaborations between industry, researchers and end users.
“So there’s now quite a lot of research being thrown at it (hemp) through these different government and industry collaborations to understand this magical, incredible, plant,” says John.
Meanwhile it is interesting to know that the research and development of commercial hemp in Australia all came about when Phil, who grew up in Western and Central Queensland, was travelling out west and saw the desperate need to ‘bring business back to the bush’. This is something he is fiercely passionate about.
In the same way that the government created the post-WWII car industry and supported farmers to develop the cotton industry in a bid to generate employment and promote manufacturing, Phil would like to see more government support around hemp farming – a crop that can be grown in regional Australia, creating employment and boosting small communities.
Phil Warner is considered the ‘Father of the Hemp Industry’ in Australia
Building made of hemp panels, hemp village, Mt Barker, SA
John (centre) at a hemp trial, Sydney University, Narrabri Research Station, NSW
The growing of hemp is a complex value chain, so even though there is still a long way to go before hempcrete will become commonplace in Australian buildings, the industry has an exciting future, says John.
Daneyl’s dream
When she prepared her much-loved cooking school for possible damage from Cyclone Alfred in March this year, local Nambour businesswoman Daneyl Green had no idea that her lifelong dream was about to go under in the flood that followed.
by REBECCA MUGRIDGE
“It was a complete shock; the cyclone, it had been a bit of a fizzler, there was a bit of rain overnight but when I woke the next morning, there was a photo from my landlord.
The building was flooded,” said Nambour businesswoman, Daneyl Green, whose cooking school was lashed by wild weather.
“There were
Daneyl explained how she had been expecting wind damage. “It was more cyclone prep, things away from windows, away from glass doors. Nowhere in my wildest dreams did I think we’d have water coming through the business. We had over a metre of water. It came up to the door handles!”
Thankfully, locals helped Daneyl through the devastating event. “The Nambour Chamber of Commerce and a lot of local businesses were checking in on us. It made the world of difference to me.
“I teach a lot of people in the homeschooling community and the families came with mops and brooms and gurneys to help me clean the mud off, or donated to Go Fund Me. People popped their heads in and said, ‘What can I do?’
“The coming together just made you feel warm and fuzzy, and so, so grateful.
“I’m still looking for things that I realise I no longer have. I was waking up for a week thinking there was mud in my bed; It was really rough and to get through it, for me, I had to move on.”
Daneyl loves Nambour as a home for her business and secured a new location on the main street. “There is really great support in Nambour, a lot of the businesses chat to each other, look out for each other. The community spirit is strong.”
Daneyl at ‘Mix Taste Eat’ with the famous kitchen aides - image Rebecca Mugridge
something I needed to do. I knew that if I gave it a go, and I just knuckled down, I would do it.
“I didn’t want to get to 65 or 70 and think, I wish I’d done that. And if it doesn’t work, I’m not a tree, I can move, and that’s fine. But if I don’t give it a go…”
Daneyl referred to a Mel Robbins quote that helped her keep going when things got hard. “I had in the back of my head, all the time, ‘No one is coming. No one is coming to get you the job of your dreams. You have to do it for you’.”
And she did.
Three years ago, Daneyl opened her own cooking school, Mix Taste Eat in Nambour.
“I’d always imagined, if I had my own little place, people could come in and we would cook all day, they’d learn something fun, we’d create something delicious and they’d go home and might remake that for their kids or their family.
“Now, we even get kids coming in to learn how to make dough or teriyaki sauce from scratch.”
Daneyl said meals and a table bring people together.
“One of my features that I love at the school is our dining table, it has all different chairs around the table representing that we all come from different families, different walks of life and different cultures, but we all sit around the one table.”
While studying she was working at David Jones, when she made a special purchase. “I have these Kitchen Aides I bought on sale, I bought two of them as I just knew one day they would be in my cooking school.
“When I first opened the cooking school, I put them straight in, and thought; this is where they were meant to be! And I still have them. They didn’t drown in the flood!”
Daneyl’s vision includes local produce and supporting other small businesses.
“We use local produce. I shop local, and I like to promote to my students that knowing what we are cooking and where food comes from is really important.”
Through the devastation Daneyl said her students and families have continued to support her, and that one of the best ways people can help any small businesses that go through an ordeal is to stay a customer.
“The best way for people to support me [for example] is to book a class or share what we do. I am really grateful to all the families who have stuck with me, this term a lot of homeschooling families have come back, a lot of inclusive classes and disability support have come.
“I’m so immensely grateful for all of the support I’ve had. Knowing that rebuilding has had a purpose; I know that the business works, and I know that people want to come and cook.”
The team at Bald in La ers are a do n-to-earth, eas going, general la prac ce ho lo e assis ng people ith their legal req irements. Working from a Nambo r base ith an addi onal office in G mpie, e lo e to ncomplicate the legal jargon for o r clients.
Whether it is e plaining in simple lang age ho a Will orks or dissec ng a complicated famil la ma er. We also make con e ancing as simple as possible.
We're here to help and g ide o . O r fees are reasonable and fair. We do home isits on req est for clients ho cannot come into to n to meet s at the office.
We assist clients ith
Ÿ Wills, End ring Po er of A orne , and Ad ance Health Direc es Ÿ Famil La Ÿ Con e ancing
Ÿ Commercial la (leases, sale and p rchasing of b sinesses)
It is important to ha e o r Will c rrent and p-todate ith o r circ mstances. If o need help dra�ing o r Will to make s re it reflects o r ishes, contact s to assist o .
It is also er important to make s re o ha e a alid End ring Po er of A orne and o r appointment reflects o r ishes. We pro ide all o r clients ith a free Ad ance Health Direc e in hich o determine o r medical instr c ons hen o cannot erball pro ide them.
Cooking inspiration, Daneyl with her NDIS cooking group
LINDNER FAMILY PHARMACY
The Lindner Family Pharmacy is a family owned, locally operated and globally minded business based in the beautiful Sunshine Coast Hinterland town of Mapleton. In 2023, the pharmacy welcomed Natalie and Tristan Lindner after merging with Montville Pharmacy. Natalie has not only implemented many progressive changes to the Pharmacy but also brings a fresh approach and additional skills to the town. We recently enjoyed catching up with Natalie for our Let’s Talk Business profile.
Where were you born and raised, and what brought you to the Sunny Coast/Hinterland?
I spent my schooling years in the NT, in Nhulunbuy and Darwin before moving to country NSW to study pharmacy at university. My family moved to the Hinterland in 2013 when we took ownership of the Montville Pharmacy.
Please tell us about your business and when it began?
Lindner Family Pharmacy is a community pharmacy in Mapleton on the Sunshine Coast Hinterland. We formed in 2023 from a merger between the Montville and Mapleton pharmacies.
What do you think sets your business apart from others?
Our genuine and friendly care, professional experience and knowledge in pharmacy. We have a diverse and wonderful team of pharmacists, technicians and assistants with wide backgrounds in pharmacy and health, retail, beauty, farming, business and industry.
Most of us are working parents and understand the healthcare needs of families on the Range. We are locals supporting locals.
What does a 'typical' day entail for you?
A mix of work and family life. Operating a pharmacy and all that that involves - dispensing, patient counselling, giving flu vaccinations, coffee, organising deliveries, stock management, checking Webster packs, staff support, medication profile checks, emails, more coffee.. And at 6pm switching back to the family and household needs!
What is the most useful advice you could give someone thinking of using your business?
We would love to support you and your family with your pharmacy and healthcare needs. Come and introduce yourself and let us help you find the best management solutions to give you peace of mind and confidence.
What do you like about the Sunshine Coast and Hinterland area?
I love the closeness to nature- the rainforests and beaches. The community is so friendly and supportive here too. A beautiful place to work and raise a family.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I like to do some trail running, reading, enjoying coffee with my hubby, catching up with friends and being involved in my local church. Tristan and I are passionate about releasing children from poverty and we support the work of Compassion in its ministry around the world.
Do you have a favourite quote or saying that inspires you?
"In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you" - The Holy Bible
Moonlit Celebration
The Buderim Foundation will host a Moonlit Celebration with humanitarian Rev Tim Costello AO as the special guest to celebrate their 21st Birthday – 21 years of community, generosity and impact.
This will be a formal evening on Saturday August 23, 6.30-10.30pm, with live music, a delicious sit-down meal, a keynote speech from Rev Costello AO and plenty of surprises at the new Buderim Mountain State School Hall.
Buderim Foundation Chair, Rick Woods, said, “As a community, we are very lucky that the founders created the Foundation in 2004 by establishing investment funds to help support the community.
“The idea was simple, invest donations and bequests, and distribute the earnings through grants to community organisations supporting the local community. The original investment is never spent so the fund can continue to support the community in perpetuity.
“Now, 21 years on this idea includes the Buderim community grants program that provide a service and support to residents in the Buderim area as well as the Thompson Charitable Fund, which provides grants to organisations supporting people experiencing homelessness and financial hardship across the entire Sunshine Coast.
“Over $1.8M in total has been distributed back into our communities since inception.”
Tickets available at events.humanitix.com/a moonlitcelebration, and event partnership opportunities are also still available. To find out more email info@ buderimfoundation.org.au
Electrify everything!
Everything you need to electrify your vehicle, home or business will be in one convenient location at the Noosa EV & Electrify Everything Expo on Sunday June 22, from 9am to 1pm.
The Expo will have more than 20 of the latest electric vehicle (EV) brands showcasing, plus e-bikes, e-scooters, and money saving energy solutions for your home or business.
Zero Emissions Noosa (ZEN) chair, Anne Kennedy says this year’s expo will be a one-stop shop to have all your questions answered about owning an electric vehicle and saving on energy bills.
“The Expo will display the largest range of new and recent EV models in cars, vans and trucks than ever before,” said Ms Kennedy.
Platinum sponsor Cricks Maroochydore will display new models from Skoda, VW vans, Zeekr and XPeng. Models from Genesis, Renault, BYD, Leapmotor, Farizon and Volvo trucks will also be on display along with Whipsmart offering financing options.
Influential Australian EV YouTuber, Sam Evans, aka the Electric Viking, will be there to answer your EV questions, along with private owners with their vehicles so you can find out what it is really like to own an EV.
“We will have a large range of e-bikes and e-scooters on show at the Expo and people will be able to test ride a bike or scooter to find the right fit for them,” said Ms Kennedy.
Home and business electrification is another vital way to save on rising energy costs. Switching your home energy to run off solar, using heat pumps and incorporating
battery storage and energy efficiency systems can create significant cost savings.
“You can join an induction cooktop cooking demonstration with Noosa local food ambassador, Matt Golinski,” said Ms Kennedy.
Find out more at noosaevexpo.com.au. (Pictured is a Genesis EV.)
Glassies gold for Flaxton Barn!
Member for Glass House, Andrew Powell MP, joined Member for Caloundra, Kendall Morton MP, Chambers of Commerce and local businesses for the 2025 Glassies Gala – the annual celebration of small business excellence in the Sunshine Coast and Moreton Bay Hinterland.
The gala – where the winners were announced - was held at Woodford Hotel, providing an iconic new backdrop for one of the region’s most anticipated community events.
“The Glassies are about celebrating the people behind our local small businesses – the heart and soul of our community,” Mr Powell said.
While the silver “Glassies” are awarded based on public votes, the bronze awards are selected by the Presidents of the local Chambers of Commerce. The prestigious “Gold Glassies” are handpicked by Mr Powell in consultation with the Chamber Presidents.
The Barn on Flaxton were proud to take home the coveted Gold Glassie after winning bronze in 2024 and 2021, and winning silver for their employees Molly Graves in 2024, and Rachele Coates in 2022. They’re an incredible contributor to their community and regularly open their doors for charity fundraisers and events.
For a full list of the winners of this year’s Glass House Small Business Awards visit andrewpowell.com.au.
Mountain Quilters
The beautiful Peachester Hall, adorned with fantastic quilts and other creative masterpieces, awaits visitors on Friday June 20 and Saturday June 21, 9am-4pm, at the Mountain Quilters “Forty and Fabulous” Quilt Show, entry is $7.
For a seasoned quilter or a beginner, there will be plenty to inspire and enjoy, with many stunning, colourful, intricate, bold (and playful!) quilts to give your eyes a treat.
Whether taking a break to enjoy a home-cooked morning or afternoon tea, or lunch, engaging in the cent sale, or being a spot prize winner, a wonderful time awaits all guests.
Some lucky visitors will head home with one of the fantastic raffle prizes, which include a gorgeous quilt, a Bernina sewing machine or a Japanese-style handmade bag. Beerwah School Chaplaincy is the beneficiary of this raffle.
A number of vendors will be present, offering unique fabrics, patterns, and quilting accessories. Why not bring your scissors to sharpen up!
Don't miss the opportunity to visit this gorgeous rural community, connect with fellow quilting enthusiasts, help to celebrate a remarkable milestone and perhaps find your next quilting project. The Mountain Quilters look forward to welcoming you to this joyous occasion.
Community News
Get ready Sunshine Coast! Buy Local Day is back Join Council in supporting Buy Local Day on Saturday 28 June. This is your chance to give back to the amazing local businesses that make our region shine. From your favourite café to your go-to grocer, retailer and service provider, every dollar spent locally helps our community thrive. Let’s mark our calendars, show up, shop locally and support the people who support us every day.
Protect our waterways: plan your site properly
Our waterways are important to everyone on the Sunshine Coast, from aquatic plants and animals to families enjoying our rivers, creeks and beaches. That's why it's critical for builders, developers, contractors and homeowners to check - Is your site right? Pollution from construction sites is preventable through good planning and appropriate erosion and sediment control. For a range of educational resources, visit Council’s website. Are you 12–24 and live on the Sunshine Coast?
We want to hear from you! Share your ideas in our online survey or chat with us at a local pop-up event. Your voice will help shape the Sunshine Coast Council Youth Plan 2026–2031. Plus, you could win awesome prizes just for taking part! Visit the Have your Say Sunshine Coast website and get involved today. Let’s support youth in creating a brighter, more inclusive future.
Bring family and friends to the Doonan Planting Festival and help plant 6000 trees together This is a National Tree Day event on Saturday 5 July from 8am-noon at Doonan Creek Environment Reserve, Verrierdale. You can plant food and habitat for the Eastern grey kangaroo, Wallum froglet, Brown quail, Australian pipit and Grey-headed flying-foxes. The free community event includes tree plantings, wildlife displays, local native plant stalls, craft activities, live music and more. Book now on Council's Events website.
Watch Council’s next Special and Ordinary Meeting View online on Council's website or at Sunshine Coast City Hall Chambers. The 2025-26 Budget will be considered and adopted on 19 June starting at 9am followed by the Ordinary Meeting.
Food, fire, flavour: book your seat at the table The Curated Plate program is out now, offering 10 days of unique food experiences across the Sunshine Coast, spanning from the lush hinterland to the sparkling coastline, from 25 July to 3 August. Long table lunches are a plenty, from Maleny to the Novotel Sunshine Coast at Twin Waters and Yanalla Farms at Glasshouse Mountains. Look for the food markets at Birtinya, Mooloolaba and Eumundi and picnic style events at Kings Beach Amphitheatre and The Doonan. Go to thecuratedplate.com.au to book. Want to swap screen time for green time?
Come and explore the Maroochy Wetlands Sanctuary in Bli Bli. Nine hundred metres of boardwalk gently winds to the Maroochy River. It is an easy stroll and perfect for families with prams. Spot a crab, listen to the wetlands stories and discover a unique coastal environment this winter. For more details on wetland activities, visit Council’s website. You'll find the Maroochy Wetland Sanctuary at the end of Sports Road in Bli Bli.
Get the latest Council news delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up for the OurSC enewsletter.
Homegrown and
"The program this year features cuisines from South East Asian to Mediterranean, modern Australian to native bush foods – all anchored by local produce like Maleny Buffalo, Woombye Cheese, fresh Noosa greens, and wildcaught Sunshine Coast tuna.
"It’s a celebration of the amazing ingredients grown, raised and caught on the Sunshine Coast."
Homegrown Cafe is part of this event, with a unique ‘Garden-to-Plate’ experience on July 28, 11am - 1pm at their welcoming and popular venue in Little Main Street, Palmwoods.
Already known for their seasonal long-table dinners, with exceptional food and a wonderful ambiance, this is an event not to be missed!
Owner Sarah explains, “When you arrive, you'll have the opportunity to explore our kitchen garden and handpick fresh produce for your lunch. We'll share insights into our closed-loop system, which minimises waste by composting and returning nutrients to the soil - creating a sustainable cycle that supports our cafe.
“After harvesting, we’ll gather for a shared long-table lunch under the trees, featuring the fresh produce we've picked alongside ingredients from some of our valued local growers, including Honeyeater Farm in Woombye and Rangeview Farm in
The menu will showcase Middle Easterninspired share plates, highlighting a variety of leafy greens from the Homegrown garden, as well as leeks, cauliflower, fennel, beetroot, and carrots from Honeyeater Farm, complemented by grass-fed beef from Rangeview Farm.
Accompanying these dishes will be Homegrown’s house-made hummus, labneh crafted from Maleny Dairies yoghurt, and freshly picked herbs from our garden.
A complimentary homemade citrus cordial will be served with the meal, and coffee, tea, and sweet treats will be available for purchase afterward.
“We’ve participated in The Curated Plate for the last two years, and we really appreciate the opportunity to showcase what the Sunshine Coast has to offer visitors in terms of our wonderful food scene,” shares Sarah.
“We look forward to welcoming you for a truly immersive dining experience!”
To book tickets, visit: events.humanitix.com/ homegrown-cafe-closed-loop-garden-to-plate-lunch
The program also features a picnic on the lawn of The Doonan, a night of local flavours and jazz music in the country town of Kenilworth, a ‘Coast to Hinterland’ wine tasting experience at Spill Wine, Maleny, Hinterland Producers Lunch at Spicers Clovelly, High Cheese à la Swiss at Maleny Cheese, a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party at Yanalla Farms, Yandina, and much more!
Plan your festival experience and secure bookings early by visiting the website: thecuratedplate.com.au/ events/program-2025
Sarah from Homegrown Cafe in Palmwoods is thrilled to be part of
Sunshine Coast producers get ready to showcase their products throughout the 10-day festival
Sophie freSh So with
Have you experienced the sweetness and crunch of your own home-grown salad and the enjoyment of eating the freshest of food?
Montville Market can help you get started with some biodynamic seedlings grown by Sophie.Under the name Sophie’s Seedlings, these are grown with love, care and attention to every detail.
You can choose your favourite salad or vegetables individually. If you don’t have a vegetable garden, why
PALMWOODS
A must visit for breakfast, lunch or to enjoy the home made baked goods. Serving locally sourced produce and small batch in-house roasted coffee. Café or garden seating. Seasonal dinner first Saturday of the month. FB: “HomeGrownPalmwoods” Homegrown Cafe 4/6 Little Main St. Palmwoods 0458 270 368
not set up a group of patio pots, ensuring a fresh supply of leaves to pop in a hearty winter soup?
Supplying fresh produce is not easy. Sophie lost her entire crop earlier in the year with severe storms. Yet she is undeterred, working in
EVERY SATURDAY OF THE MONTH
all sorts of weather – lots of rain of late - with a smile on her face.
Sophie joined Montville Market back at the end of 2023, taking over the business previously known as Earthsong Enterprises. She has continued to offer a wide range of herbs, vegetables and flowers and keeps her business low-waste by wrapping seedlings in newspaper rather than plastic pots. This fits in nicely with the Montville Market focus on minimising waste.
“My favourite aspect about running Sophie’s Seedlings is helping people with their gardening questions and encouraging people to grow their own food,” shares Sophie.
“I also love doing the kitchen garden with the kids from Montville State School. So much excitement!”
Sophie has a band of devoted regular customers and publishes a popular newsletter. As well as selling seedlings at markets, she runs pruning workshops, does permaculture designs and guest speaking.
“I have loved gardening for years but started to grow my own food about ten years ago. I would say I have developed my knowledge through a mix of trial and error, Youtube videos, books and study.”
Kenilworth Markets
8:00 am – 1:30 pm
Nestled under shady trees in Kenilworth Town Park, our friendly country market is the perfect way to spend a relaxed Saturday morning. Browse a delightful mix of local arts, crafts, fashion, and homewares. Plus, we are dog-friendly, so bring your pup along for the adventure! Email: kenilworthmarketsqld@gmail.com Ph: 0487 866 948
TO PROMOTE YOUR MARKET OR STALL HERE email sales@sunnycoastmedia.com.au
Sophie is a regular at the monthly Montville Market, where she is joined by a range of local plant and produce stalls. She loves being a stallholder at the market, “The pancakes are delicious and the market vollies are so helpful.”
Come and visit them all at one of our upcoming markets – Saturday June 14, Saturday July 12, and Saturday August 9.
SECOND SATURDAY OF THE MONTH
Montville Growers and Makers Market
7:30am - 12pm
Piping hot pancakes, buskers, genuine locally grown food, handmade craft, barista made coffee, under historic fig trees, profits maintain our Village Hall. Stall holder enquires: Liz 0424 042 376
THIRD SATURDAY OF THE MONTH
Mapleton Country Markets 8am - 12pm
Fresh fluffy waffles, sourdoughs, jams and chutneys, honey, pestos, plants, timber, jewellery, arts and crafts. Hot food, coffee van, live music. Ph 0419 726 603. Located at the Mapleton School Carpark.
Always a big smile from Sophie at Montville Market
Sophie's Seedlings will spruce up your salad
PAGLIACCI - A BLACK COMEDY
The Maleny Singers are very pleased to be joining forces once again with Kim Kirkman’s Inspiration Project Choir in June to perform Leoncavallo’s black comedy Pagliacci, a short opera which includes some very famous and well-known arias. The opera explores themes of jealousy, betrayal and the blurring lines between art and reality.
The curtain opens on the town square of a small rural village. A troupe of travelling players is expected, creating huge excitement among the villagers, who are erecting a small platform when the players arrive.
Tonio rushes to help the glamorous young Nedda down from the cart and is slapped by her jealous husband, Canio, the leader of the troupe.
Nedda sings her “Song to the Birds,” envying their freedom and wishing to escape Canio. Tonio, who fancies Nedda, enters and pours out his feelings. She drives him off with a horsewhip, and he leaves cursing her.
Nedda and a local man, Silvio, are secretly in love. During their soaring duet, Tonio spies on them and, bent on revenge, alerts Canio. Silvio escapes. Canio demands his name from Nedda, who refuses. Distraught, Canio sings the famous aria “Vesti la giubba.”
Act 2 opens with villagers jostling for seats and demanding the play begin. They settle in as Columbine and Harlequin act out their comic romance. Taddeo attempts to woo Columbine with a chicken and is booted offstage by Harlequin, to the crowd’s delight. He rushes back to warn of Pagliaccio’s approach.
Canio tries to stay in character but soon loses control, demanding the name of Nedda’s lover. The villagers don’t know whether to applaud or fear it’s real. It is. Things do not end well.
The Maleny Singers are especially pleased to be working again with Vanessa West, who was stunning in her performance of Santuzza with them two years ago. They also welcome back a great favourite, Kim Kirkman, who will once again conduct. They are also pleased to introduce another guest in the form of Shelden Mathieson, who sings the role of Silvio (the lover). Additionally, local talent comes to the fore thanks to Colin Dunn, who will sing the heroic part of Canio (the tragic clown), Ian Rix singing Tonio (the evil one!) and Rod Johnson, who is enchanting as Beppe the ‘pretend’ lover.
The production is directed by Margaret Taylor, and an orchestra of over 20 players will accompany as usual.
Maleny is lucky to have this opportunity of seeing something of this calibre without having to travel to Brisbane or Sydney. Mark your calendar and be sure to book your seats early – bookings are open now: Pagliacci at the Maleny Community Centre – June 14, 15, 21 and 22 at 3pm, tickets $50, concession $45. Book online now at trybooking.com/DAXTM
HOOVERING ON THE EDGE
Sun, sand, shiraz and storytelling with surreptitious sex. Hooveringonthe Edge, written by Hilary Spiers and directed by Andrew Moon, tells the tale of seven ladies who embark on a writing course and holiday in Bali and get more than they bargained for! Their teacher, Gareth, finds himself outnumbered and outclassed by his students.
This is a character comedy full of surprises, fun and poignancy. Ready for a holiday with a twist?
July 4 - 12, The Lind Lane Theatre, Nambour. To book tickets, visit trybooking. com/events/landing/1401542
MAPLETON CHOIR'S BACK!
Another weekend of lovely music and sweet treats is coming soon to Kureelpa Hall. The Mapleton Choir is putting on a couple of afternoon concerts called Choir Favourites. So mark your calendars for Saturday, June 7 and Sunday June 8, with both shows kicking off at 2.30pm. You can expect to hear a mix of their best-loved songs, both contemporary and traditional - songs like Billy Joel’s Lullabye and The Mamas and Papas California Dreamin’. Perhaps one of your favourites could be in there too!
A complimentary afternoon tea will follow each performance. So with wonderful harmonies from the hinterland choir and a tasty spread of sweet and savoury delights it would be a perfect way to spend an afternoon.
Don’t miss out on seeing these events! Tickets are just $25 and you can pre-purchase yours via trybooking.com/DAYRF
YANDINA COUNTRY MUSIC
Yandina welcomes guest artist Darrell Pearce to the ACMA concert on Sunday June 15 from 11am. With his wide range of upbeat songs and on stage energy, you are guaranteed entertainment!
You’ll also enjoy popular country music and other upbeat, crowd-pleasing favourites from talented local artists backed by a great house band. See you at the Hall of Fame, 24 Steggalls Road - there will be a raffle and door prizes, and its BYO lunch, with free tea and coffee. Entry is $10, members $8, and as this is a not-for-profit organisation the proceeds will go towards the upkeep of the hall. Enquiries 0437 191004.
RUN FOR YOUR WIFE
The Caloundra Chorale and Theatre Company is delighted to present a pinnacle of British farce, Run for Your Wife. This play had audiences in London and New York rolling in the aisles!
Taxi driver, John Smith, gets away with having two wives in different areas of London because of his irregular working schedule. However, after an accident, the deception starts to unravel and complication is piled upon complication as he and his witless friend Stanley brazenly try to keep his double life from being exposed to wives, police, and flamboyant neighbours!
The first of thirteen performances starts at the CCTC on Theatre on Wednesday June 4. Playing at the CCTC Theatre, 3 Piringa St, Wurtulla. Evening shows at 7.30pm, June 6,11,13,19,20,21; matinees 2pm, June 7,8,14,15,21,22. Telephone bookings 0490 329 912 or online with Try Booking, search ‘Run For Your Wife’.
HARD NEW WORLD
Outspoken presents Professor Hugh White AO in conversation about his new quarterly essay, Hard New World - our postAmerican future, at the Maleny Community Centre on Thursday June 19, 6 for 6.30pm.
Hugh White argues that, right now, we confront the world's most dangerous crisis in generations. The old global order faces a direct challenge in at least three crucial regions: Eastern Europe, the Middle East and East Asia.
And then there’s Donald Trump, under whose leadership America's retreat from coherence has been both swift and dramatic.
White examines the dynamics of the US–China rivalry, and the new regional order which is emerging. He addresses the strategic issues driving the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, and where they might lead. He lays out in stark terms the hard choices ahead and explains how we can make our way in the world as it is, not how we might wish it to be.
White is a former Deputy Secretary for Strategy in the Department of Defence, and was the founding Director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. He is now Emeritus Professor of Strategic Studies at the Australian National University in Canberra and is widely regarded as Australia’s preeminent commentator on matters of defence.
Outspoken’s introducing author will be Joanna Jenkins. Joanna’s first novel, How To Kill A Client, became a runaway best-seller. Joanna has proved herself a natural at writing witty, clever, intelligent crime, and she will be speaking about her new novel, The Bluff. Tickets via outspokenmaleny.com or trybooking.com/DAVHS.
Letters
Collaboration is key
Dear Editor
It is sometimes said of election results that “the people always get it right” and so it is with our recent election. Australians reelected a united, hard-working team who are focused on leading us into a better future in an increasingly uncertain world.
Most Australians clearly rejected the Opposition and The Greens who blocked or delayed many of the Albanese government’s sensible progressive proposals.
They rejected those who shamefully sought to divide us with the culture wars, climate change denial, the nuclear power proposal, weaponizing of the Gaza/Israel war, and spreading misinformation and some downright lies.
Hopefully, now that their toxic populist politics of division and mindless negativity are evidently unwanted, they will change their mindset and policies to reflect what the people want in our elected representatives, and Australia can become a nation working together collaboratively towards a better cleaner and safer future for all of us, not just a few.
Sunny regards,
Robyn Deane, Nambour
Crossword
23) Tummy muscles
26) On_ (under tight control)
27) Sister of your father
28) Praying insect
30) They can barely give a hoot
32) No place for a roller skate
33) "Aida" composer
36) Town for cold trolls?
LETTERS, LEUNIG AND LIGHT
Relax, read a few letters, enjoy a crossword and cartoon, and maybe put pen to paper (finger to keyboard) yourself! We would love you to share your thoughts and experiences with us and HT readers. Email: editor@hinterlandtimes.com.au, and please include your name, email/address and location. Letters may be edited a little if space is tight. As we are a monthly, please be aware we are unable to print date-sensitive letters.
Husband habit?
Something more light hearted! I caught a segment this week on the radio about the things husbands do or don’t do that frustrate their wives. At the top of the list were not closing drawers and cupboards and not putting down the toilet seat regularly. Oh no, I thought. I’m guilty of all of these. I stopped to think what else I did that annoyed my wife.
I have a condition, my doctor believes many men share, of not listening actively. I mean I’m not going deaf. I do hear my wife talking, but I often don’t really listen. The result of this inevitably takes the line of “ how was I supposed to know this” followed by an exasperated “I told you yesterday”.
After 40 plus years of marriage, I’m not sure what the solution is to men behaving badly but I would welcome any advice on offer – but only if its not too painful. Everyone knows we men don’t handle pain well.
Doug
Patterson
40) Posts on a ship's deck
41) Dips one's toe in
44) Peninsula comprising Spain and Portugal
48) Knitter's project, sometimes
49) Love potion's number
50) Chinese pork dish
54) Actor Brynner
55) Singer's annoying relative?
58) Textile fiber
59) Aroma synonym
60) Not too much
64) "Me, Myself &_" (Jim Carrey vehicle)
65) Brooklyn ballers
66) Like some losers
67) "Blowin' in the Wind" composer
68)_ en point (heraldic style)
69) "Pro" votes
Down
1) "The Bridge of San Luis_"
2) "Without further_ ... "
3) Put out of sight
4) Like bachelor parties
5) Chronicles
6) "Archie" character
7) "Hello!" or "Goodbye!"
8) "The Natural" hero Roy
9) Berry in some drinks
10) Beach wear
11) Czech capital
“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
- Maya Angelou
Disappointed but hopeful
I was disappointed to hear that Liberal National Party MP Andrew Wallace had claimed victory in the Federal seat of Fisher. However, he needs to take note that a swing to Labor in a traditionally blue-ribbon seat has happened, so there is no guarantee his seat will be safe next time around!
Another positive is that it was inspiring to see Independent Keryn Jones, with her communitydriven politics, build such a following, despite the deliberate smear campaign from other parties.
Let’s hope we are heading to ‘a new kind of politics’, as Keryn herself said. I am tired of the regressive LNP and their lack of vision for the future of this region, in particular their ignorance and lack of concern about the environmental impact of their old-fashioned views - I believe the next voting generation will be feeling the same.
M. Barton, Woombye
12) Concrete kin
13) Bikini Atoll events, briefly 21) Kenya's capital 22) "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" spinoff 23) Early hrs.
24) Winged mammal
25) Obstacle
29) Bronze component
31) Sadly pensive
33) Boxer's physician
34) Finish the course
35) "Treasure Island" monogram
37) Dolphins run here 38) Beer barrel
39) Very pale
42) St. Anthony's cross 43) Skit show, for short 44) Bergman, but not Ingmar 45) Containing two components
46) Tooth part
47) Light-sensitive membrane
48) "I could eat_"
51) Down_ knee
52) Salt Lake City neighbor 53) Rag composer Joplin 56) Sharp-sighted 57) Not a challenge
61) Tot's "little piggy"
62) Constellation near Scorpius
63) "Plaines" leader
Trivia Time
Vale Allan Blackburn, who regularly supplied the HT with his 'Triva TIme'. This is the last one he sent through. Our thoughts are with Allan's family, and we send heartfelt thanks for his contributions to our pages.
1. Who was the Roman gladiator that led the slave revolt of 71 BCE?
2. The Battle of the Coral Sea was part of what war?
3. In old English currency, how much was a farthing worth?
4. What food item is traditionally associated with Shrove Tuesday?
5. What type of plane was the first commercial jet airliner?
6. Phobos is a moon of which planet?
7. What is the sweet sugary liquid produced inside a flower?
8. In which state or territory is Eucla?
9. What does the computer shortcut Ctrl+V do?
10. Who was Premier of Queensland in 2016?
Bad Jokes of the Month
A guy is late for an important meeting, but he can't find a place to park. In desperation, he begins to pray. "Please Lord, if you help me find a parking space right now, I promise to go to church every Sunday and never drink vodka again!" A moment later, he sees a beautiful empty spot right next to the entrance. "Never mind. Found one!"
Poets
GOLDEN ORB
I watched her in the summer months Spin her golden web And lay her golden children Inside their golden beds.
She danced through diamond raindrops By brilliant sunlight lit. She mended, tended tirelessly Bit by tiny bit.
Sometimes, when digging near her tree, I’d look at her and smile. I think she kept watch over me, Though weaving all the while.
Her babies out and on their way, Her work at last was done.
And then, one chilly Autumn day, I noticed she was gone…
Poetry is an arrangement of language, artistic word pictures that attempt to inspire imagination, evoke emotion and provoke humour. Poets are illustrators of words that create beauty and intensity, and the HT is proud to give them a platform. Please note, published poems may be read/recorded for our social pages.
To submit your work for possible publication, email: editor@hinterlandtimes.com.au
Word limit per poem (due to space) is 300 words.
Leunig
CRYSTAL REFLECTIONS
Crystal reflections showered in light Shimmering sensually all through the night Bathed in such beauty in willowy form Wherever they fall will serenely adorn
Their grace brings a presence of untamed perfection As they sensually dance in subtle reflection
They give one a feeling of delicate peace And their mystical beauty will never cease
Oh no! It looks like we could be entering a period of political doldrums. Labour has promised to show constraint and the Greens and the opposition are having identity crises. What can I muse about?
Actually, I think I can identify more with the Greens and opposition right now. I am finding it increasingly unsettling living in a world so alien to the Australia that I grew up in, worked in, married in and raised a family in. I question what the Australia of tomorrow might end up like.
Don’t get me wrong! I’m not preaching that everything was better in the past. Far from it. But it was a different world.
I was born in 1944 so my growing up was through the ‘40s and ‘50s in Townsville as the second eldest of five kids. Dad was a linesman who won a returned soldiers’ scholarship to train as a teacher. For most of this time, Mum was a Mum. (Most married women were housewives.)
They saved for a block of land that they built a shed/ garage on and we lived in that until they had saved a deposit for a home loan with the government bank back then – the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. It was a simple family home and we had a big vege garden and some chooks and lived reasonably comfortably, even if Mum sometimes had to leave an IOU in the milk bottle. (Milk was delivered to the door.)
We lived on a no-through, sealed road two blocks long that we played on – there were only three cars in our street. We rode our bikes to school (and work for Dad), to the Saturday Matinee at the Sun Theatre, and down to the pool at Rose Bay for a swim.
What virtually didn’t exist in the Australia of my childhood were supermarkets, restaurants, take-away fastfood outlets and shops that sold fashion brands. (There were Chinese cafes that would cook and serve in your pot.)
If we caught the bus to town, we might get a milk shake and a toasted sandwich at the Rose Café, if we were lucky, and we almost always got fish and chips on a Friday night. (Baking - biscuits and cakes - was done weekly at home.) For entertainment, we listened to the radio, (no TV
of course), the record player, read and played card and board games. Holidays were either spent at home or with Aunty Tiny in Charters Towers. We considered ourselves well off – in the lucky country.
The world of my early adulthood was certainly different from my childhood but still shared many familiar features.
I was posted to Babinda as a probationary primary teacher in 1963. I bought an old Holden for around $200, boarded, taught, played football and saved like mad. Not for a house but to travel to Europe.
I met an exotic, Dutch woman who was also a teacher and shared that goal. We married and travelled together. Back home we started our family and saved for a home. Our high-set house in Aitkenvale, Townsville, actually wasn’t that different to my childhood home, although it had a third bedroom instead of the more practical sleepout.
While we were there, we welcomed Townsville’s first Pizza Restaurant opened by an American couple from New York. We were gradually doing our home up when we moved to Brisbane.
Education in the ‘70s was undergoing huge change. New approaches to teaching were being introduced and science labs and libraries were being built. Teachers needed to upgrade their skills and I became a consultant for both the Queensland School Library Service and the Australian School’s Commission.
The World Wide Web only existed for academic pursuit. No one predicted the future impact of laptops on business, education and personal communication. The mobile phone was a feature of comic books and science fiction.
Probably the most significant change was the advent of the credit card. Suddenly, access to credit changed from saving for something to just buying it. For us, our Brisbane home was still a modest 3-bedroom house. We still saved to do it up. We would go to the movies – usually the drive-in, and we did get more take-away.
Otherwise, we watched TV, listened to music, played games much the same. Perhaps one difference was that we had more friends over for meals.
In 2025, the basics of Cate’s and my retirement life haven’t changed that much. We still live in a 3- bedroom suburban home. We still have a vege garden and some fruit trees and a big dog which we exercise daily, meeting other dog lovers as we do.
We enjoy social tennis with a group of friends and are members of the Montville History Group. We ride our bikes, canoe, read, write, converse, keep in touch with family, watch TV and listen to music.
However, we actually eat out less because we both enjoy cooking and can beat restaurant and take away prices. We enjoy the slow pace of life and watch with bewilderment an emerging Australia.
Because we are retired, we have to budget carefully and are perplexed at trends like taking out a Visa card to pay off another Visa card debt, or spending your pay before you get it.
We are puzzled that people will spend hundreds of dollars on collectables, take-aways and short-term fashions with a limited life, rather than planning and saving for a more secure future.
I had to go to Myers in the Sunshine Plaza to buy a particular brand of frypan that Cate wanted – only Myer sold it. I couldn’t help but notice that, although there were hundreds of shops, the range of what they were selling was actually quite small.
As you would expect it was very busy with people striding purposefully with the ubiquitous mobile to hand or ear - making no eye contact, conversation or smile. Not at all what I am used to and quite confronting. Not my world.
This world seems full of conspiracy theories that challenge the authority of government, government agencies like the CSIRO and the ABC, and the need for education, law and order and a traditional health system.
It responds to and feeds on misinformation, and promulgates disinformation where self-interest and the greed of rampant materialism appear to dominate forces.
If the values of social order continue to be ignored, social cohesion will collapse and anarchy will reign. Until then, we will treasure the remnants of a passing Australia with our friends and family at our timeless pace. I wish all political parties good luck in leading Australia out of this malaise of indifference and division.
P.S. Two school kids gave me a great smile and wished me a good afternoon while I was walking our dog this afternoon. They made my day!.
The views expressed in the Local Musings column are the writer’s and not necessarily the views of the HT team.
HOLISTIC HEALTH AND WELLBEING
GIVING BACK TO COMMUNITY
RangeCare is thrilled to be launching its first Annual Giving Day on Thursday June 26 2025.
“This is a campaign dedicated to celebrating the strength of our community and the power of giving back to our most vulnerable and isolated,” explains RangeCare Marketing Officer, Toni Hinton.
As a community-based not-for-profit since 1986, RangeCare relies on the generosity of locals to support individuals experiencing financial hardship and social isolation, and to ensure they can continue delivering the full range of services that so many vulnerable community members rely on.
“One of the most valued programs provided by RangeCare are our local Social Centres, as everyone at RangeCare believes social connection is vital to a happy and fulfilling life,” shares Toni.
This Giving Day, RangeCare is seeking support to help purchase an additional transport bus for their Social Centres. Access to safe and reliable transportation is one of the biggest barriers for many clients, and your donation will directly help RangeCare reach more community members who would otherwise be unable to participate in these life changing programs.
“Your donation, big or small, will directly support this initiative,” says Toni. “Every donation brings RangeCare one step closer to providing more people with access to these life-enriching services.”
“These vibrant hubs provide opportunities for people to stay active, build friendships, and remain connected to their community.
“For many of RangeCare’s clients this is often their only social outing and includes transport, entertainment, cooked nutritious meals and activities to improve their mental wellbeing through forming meaningful social connections.”
RangeCare is launching its first Annual Giving Day!
If you would like more information or to contribute to RangeCare’s Giving Day Campaign you can donate online at rangecare.com.au/donate or call 07 5445 7044.
in Wonderland
As a community based not-for-profit, RangeCare relies on donations to support clients experiencing financial hardship, and to support the delivery of RangeCare’s full range of services
One of our most valued programs at RangeCare are our local Social Centres We believe that staying active and making social connections is key to a happy and fulfilling life
This Annual Giving Day, we are seeking donations to assist with funding an additional transport bus for our Social Centres in order to offer access to this service to more community members
How to donate:
If you would like to support our fundraising efforts this Annual Giving Day, donations can be made online via the QR code below or by visiting our website: www rangecare com au/donate You can also donate over the phone by calling 07 5445 7044.
Fend off flu with gut health
As winter approaches and cold and flu season begins to take hold, Australians are being urged to take simple, proactive steps to strengthen their immune system. Dr Vincent, one of Australia's leading health and wellness experts, said that a few daily habits can make all the difference in protecting your body against illness.
Dr Vincent is a highly respected health and wellness expert, clinical nutritionist, food scientist, antioxidant researcher and founder of Renovatio Bioscience, and here he outlines some tips to help people protect themselves this winter.
Prioritise whole foods rich in nutrients
Focus on fruits, vegetables, whole grains and good quality proteins that fuel your body and support immune cell function. "Colourful plant-based foods are loaded with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that reduce inflammation and strengthen your immune response," Dr Vincent said.
Get quality sleep every night
Lack of sleep can lower your immune function and increase susceptibility to illness. "Aim for seven to nine hours of good quality sleep each night. Sleep is when your body restores and regenerates, which is critical to immune strength."
Support your gut health
"Your gut and your immune system are closely connected. Eating fermented foods like yoghurt and kefir, as well as fibre-rich foods, helps feed good bacteria that support immunity," Dr Vincent said. “Reducing processed foods, alcohol and excess sugar also plays a vital role in maintaining a healthy gut environment that promotes better immune function.”
Incorporate antioxidants into your daily routine
Antioxidants help protect cells from damage and reduce inflammation - key factors in immune resilience. "I always recommend activated phenolics as part of daily supplementation because they're
byKERRIE FRIEND
IA Letter of Love
recently took a selflove mastery class and was inspired by an exercise I participated in where I had to write a letter to myself from my 90-year-old self. It was revealing, sobering and motivational and I hope you are persuaded to write your own after reading mine.
I’m writing to you from the peaceful stillness of a life well lived. While it wasn’t perfect, because let’s face it nothing ever is, it was well lived and joyful. You’ll experience laughter, mistakes, adventures and love and I want you to saviour every moment rather than let it slip through your fingers.
Let go of the weight of unnecessary worries because so much of what you will fret over will not matter in the grand scheme of your life. And know that joy doesn’t come from what others consider important but instead embrace what genuinely completes you.
Be present truly present, not halfway, rushing from one task to the next missing the gift and beauty that is now. Taste life in every sense of the word, it is after all a series of moments all strung together to provide your
scientifically proven to be effective, natural and fast acting," Dr Vincent said.
Drink plenty of water throughout the
Hydration is essential for every bodily function, including immunity. "Water helps flush out toxins, supports cellular health and keeps your mucous membranes moist, which is important for defending against viruses. Start your day with a glass of water and sip consistently across the day," Dr Vincent said.
"Prevention is always better than cure. When you look after your body from the inside out, your immune system will
one-of-a-kind life. Don’t miss your moments because life is fleeting and you’ll be 90 before you know it.
Look at people when they speak, take sunset walks, don’t be obsessed with your device, taste your food with pure appreciation, enjoy moving your body and live intentionally knowing you’ll never be as young as you are today.
Find purpose not in grandiose achievements but in everyday choices that align with your values. Nurture relationships, be kind, pursue with curiosity, be adventurous, joyful and make a difference in others’ lives. Forgive quickly, read endlessly, start hobbies and take trips you desire.
And finally, spend more time in nature, dance with abandonment and live abundantly in the present as you can’t reclaim it once it's spent.
Choose wisely as your life doesn’t last forever.
Love Me.
Blessings, Kerrie KerrieFriend.com
Use Your Mental Edge Stress Management
by JAMIE MILNE
Effective stress management helps you break the hold stress has on your life, so you can be happier, healthier, and more productive.
The ultimate goal is a balanced life, with time for work, relationships, relaxation, and fun and the resilience to hold up under pressure and meet challenges head on.
Over the next two articles I will share a 5-step applicable tool to utilise now to manage stress when you find yourself in a stressful environment and or situation, event or moment.
“Stand and fight” - our JMT Motto and logo.
What that means is don’t run from your stress, as it will either facilitate or debilitate you.
Embrace and integrate it, it’s a feedback mechanism and you ultimately get to decide what you make it mean.
There are 2 types of stress: eustress and distress.
Eustress is a positive stress response that can be beneficial, while distress is a negative stress response that can be harmful:
levels of demands, and people feel a sense of control and that they can handle the stressor.
Examples of eustress include: feeling butterflies before a first kiss; participating in a sports event; being promoted at work.
Eustress, also known as "good stress" - eustress is a short-lived stress that can motivate people to take action and achieve goals. It's associated with moderate
Distress is an unhealthy form of stress that can cause physical and mental health issues. It's associated with low and high levels of demands, and people feel a lack of control and that the stressor is a threat.
Examples of distress include:
losing a job; a family member is diagnosed with an illness; work conflicts or insecurity; relationship challenges; bullying; chronic pain. Distress can trigger physiological changes that can pose serious health risks, especially if combined with maladaptive ways of coping.
However, distress is not inherently damaging. In some cases, people who initially feel distressed may become motivated to address a problem, leading to better outcomes in the future.
So in summary stand and fight the stress, don’t run from it, integrate it into your life. Integrate by definition means to form or unite into a whole.
Make stress work for you rather than against you.
jamiemilnetraining.com
ASTROLOGY
Heart Mind Astrology with Ruth Donnelly Explore your life with astrology, bringing you insight at times of turmoil, transition and transformation. Online consultations available. 0409 564 276 astrology@ruthdonnelly.com.au
AUDIOLOGIST
Sunshine Coast Audiology
CHIROPRACTORS
Emryn and Anita are experienced audiologists who have started a new independent audiology clinic to care for all your hearing needs. Conveniently located in Sippy Downs. Ph. 5378 2226. www.sunshinecoastaudiology.com.au
AYURVEDIC HERBALS
Eumundi Medicine Man
Knowledge is the greatest medicine. Potent Vedic remedies that give results when co-ordinated with diet and lifestyle wisdom. Order or email online at www.eumundimedicineman.com
Guaranteed Age Old Natural Remedies.
CHIROPRACTORS
Hinterland Chiropractic
Dr Josephine Sexton. Using gentle, safe and effective techniques to maintain spinal health and wellbeing. Concession rates, Family discounts and HICAPS available. 2/70 Maple Street, Maleny. Ph: 5435 2987
Maple Chiropractic Maleny
Dr. Samuel Lowe, Dr. Catherine Metcalf, Dr. Rebel Hungerford & Nikki Duncan-Exercise Physiologist. Gentle, effective care for the whole family. Concession, family rates & HICAPS available 45 Maple St, Maleny 5494 3322 maplechiropractic.com.au
Sunrise Chiropractic
Dr Damian Treacey Chiropractor & Applied Kinesiologist Gentle hands on Chropractic using Applied Kinesiology. Over 30 years in private practice. Mon and Wed 2-5pm, Fri 9am-12pm 19 Coral Street, Maleny. 0492 949 695
HOMEOPATHY
continue
Sunrise Chiropractic Dr Damian Treacey Chiropractor & Applied Kinesiologist Gentle hands on Chropractic using Applied Kinesiology. Over 30 years in private practice. Mon and Wed 2-5pm, Fri 9am-12pm 19 Coral Street, Maleny. 0492 949 695 Advertise your business in the HT from $63.58 ongoing per month. Book directly by scanning
Advertise your business in the HT from $63.58 ongoing per month. Book directly by scanning
Siobhan Way Gestalt Psychotherapist, EAP Practitioner, and EA coach . Our compassionate approach uses the gentle guidance of horses to foster emotional healing and mental wellbeing. info@ malenyequineassistedtherapy.au Ph. 0438 454 703
FITNESS, PERSONAL TRAINER ,DANCE
Christian Dunham Specialising in Solution Focused Hypnotherapy, a combination of clinical hypnotherapy and psychotherapy used to treat depression, anxiety, PTSD, phobias and other chronic conditions. Free initial consultation. Ph: 0448 303 013 www.christiandunham.net
MASSAGE
Get Active Fitness & Personal Training Beautiful group fitness studio with a variety of classes to suit all ages/fitness levels. A fun supportive environment, fully qualified trainers. Book your first session FREE Ph. 0423 618 945 Bunya St, Maleny.
Maleny Vibes Pilates
Boutique reformer pilates studio. Introductory offer 4 classes $50 to all new clients. Book online www.malenyvibespilates.com Studio 37 Coral St, Maleny. malenyvibespilates@gmail.com Insta @malenyvibespilates
Maleny Rumble Room
Boutique Group Fitness Boxing & HIIT studio. Limited to 8 people per class. Introductory offer 4 classes for $50 to all new clients. Book online @ www.malenyrumbleroom.com.au 37 Coral Street, Maleny. Insta @maleny_rumbleroom
HOME CARE
RangeCare
Offering in-home and respite care services to support independent living. Our tailor-made services are available to everyone in the community. We can deliver your home care package. Ph: 5445 7044
Visit: www.rangecare.com.au
Blue Zen Massage – Sensei Shayne Harris Dip.Remedial Massage & Dip.Reflexology
An integrated therapist shares deep-tissue holistic massages, MET, joint mobilisation, myotherapy. Unwind with Shiatsu, Hawaiian Lomi Lomi, hot stones/cupping. Diamond Valley Treehouse www.bluezenmassage.com 0407 002 567 HF Rebates
MENTAL PERFORMANCE
Jamie Milne Training Jamie Milne is SEQ"S leading Mental Performance Coach. Finding your Mental Edge is Jamie's specialty. His approach is unique in delivery and the results speak for themselves. Contact: jamiemilnetraining.com or call 0431 339 975.
PHYSIOTHERAPY
Range of Motion Physiotherapy Maleny, Mapleton and Imbil Russ, Karl, and Kathryn. Providing the highest quality care to restore & maintain optimal physical function & mobility. Ph: 5478 6600 www.rangeofmotion.com.au
Advertise your business in the HT from $63.58 ongoing per month. Book directly by scanning
CARPENTRY
Window Wizard - Timber Window Specialist Restoration, glazing, repairs, modifications, sash cords, spirals, Queenslander homes and more. Call Rommy 0404 757 552 www.window-wizard.com.au
CLOCK REPAIR
Montville Clockshop Repairs for Cuckoo, Grandfather, Mantle, Wall Clocks. Antique clock restoration. We can supply quartz movement and parts, and repair quartz clocks. P: 07 5442 9409. www.clockshop.com.au enquiries@clockshop.com.au
CONCRETE
Concrete Worx
We do it all! 35+yrs experience. Decorative stamp and stencil, coloured and exposed. Shed slabs and driveways, Bobcat and Tipper hire. QBCC 66649 Call Mick 0417 745 770
GUTTER CLEANING
Gutter Sucker
Gutter Sucker specialises in cleaning your guttering. a unique portable vacuum system for the efficient and effective removal of leaves and rubbish from all types of gutters and roofs. Ph: 1800 558 745 or 0402 456 391
HANDY MAN AND HOME MAINTENANCE
Montville Handy Man
30 years building experience. Available now for carpentry, home mainatenance and repairs, small concreting jobs, Propt and reliable service. CallWayne 0434 724 030.
JEWELLERY - COMMISSIONS AND DESIGN
Wasshausen Gems + Jewels
Fine individually designed and traditional handmade jewellery in a contemporary style with natural Gemstones, Pearls & Opals. Commision & redesign, alteration & repairs. Call Birgit in her Maleny workshop 0490 146 982
LANDSCAPING & DESIGN
Amber Leaf Landscaping
Looking for a landscaper who can deliver?
Tohm Hajncl heads the team that offers you guaranteed quality. Choose from landscaping consultations, designs, construction and planting, pre-sale makeovers and specialised maintenance services. Ph: 5445 9801 www.amberleaf.com.au
LANDSCAPING & DESIGN continue
Handbuilt Stone QBCC 1235589 Licensed, range-based professional. Traditional rock walls, pillars, steps, paving, entrance walls and all garden features. Visit our website to see previous work for inspiration. Phone Chris on 0438 811 975 – www.handbuiltstone.com
Stone on the Range Landscapes
PLUMBING & WASTEWATER
continue
Looking for creative ideas from a professional craftsman-then call Jim! Thirty years experience designing/building all aspects of gardens/stonework. Combining skills that utilize timber/stone and steel, as a designer, landscaper, stonemason. It is my passion to exceed your expectations. 0401 308 824 jimrstoneart@gmail.com
MOWING AND GARDENING
Blueys Garden Services
For all your gardening needs. Jobs include but not limited to: Mowing, Whipping snipping, Clear outs, Hedging, Tip runs, Minor landscaping and Weed management give us a call-0481 106 839
Swede with Speed Slashing
For slashing and mowing, acres or house blocks, hedge trims, whipper snipping, rubbish removal and house maintenance call Birger for a free qoute 0411 591 738.
PLANT NURSERIES
Forest Heart
Your Local Native Plant Nursery. Specialising is the native plants of SE QLD for Revegetation, Gardens, Habitat. 20 Coral Street, Maleny Ph: 07 5435 2193 – www.forestheart.com.au
Barung Landcare Native Plant Nursery
Your local community nursery stocks an extensive range of species indigenous to the Blackall Range and surrounds. Open to the public WednesdaySaturday 9am–3pm, Ph: 0429 943 152 E: nursery@barunglandcare.org.au
PLUMBING & WASTEWATER
Anderson Plumbing & Roofing QBSA1066328
Plumbing, drainage & roofing. New work, renos, maintenance specialists. Septic systems, blocked drains, high pressure ‘sewer jett’ drain cleaner, drain camera, cable locations, tank installations, roof & guttering. Ph: 5494 3340 or 0409 541 4757
Grant Kingston Plumbing & Gas
New construction, gas renovation work, drainage, onsite effluent disposal/septic water tank installing, water filters, solar hot water, roofing/ guttering, maintenance. Call 0402 124 731
Suncoast Liquid Waste Removal
Local owner/operator specialising in commercial / domestic waste water pump outs- septics, treatment plants, grey water, holding tanks, pond/ pool sludge, drains etc. Avoid costly blockages & system failure with prompt, reliable & expert service. Tank assessments available. EPA licensed and fully insured. Call 0439 646 707
POOL MAINTENANCE
SwimSafe
Mobile pool maintenance & repairs. Swimming pool safety inspections. FREE QUOTES
Sophie Paras - Professional, efficient, relaible and friendly. 5494 2665 Suite 7, 43 Maple St Maleny. Email: sophie@brlawyers.com.au www.brlawyers.com.au
Easton Lawyers
Tove Easton Principal Lawyer
Your Local Lawyers in Maleny
62 Maple St, Maleny. Ph: 5494 3511
Email: tove@eastonlawyers.com.au
Horizon Legal Group formerly Lember & Williams
Suite 3, Banksia House, 66 Maple Street, Maleny 07 5495 1499
At Brant Property we understand that it's all in the attention to detail, even the little things matter. Learn how ‘We Can Sell Yours Too!’
Contact Susan Brant on 0428 573 170
REAL ESTATE continue
We dare to be different! Our results speak for themselves, so if you are looking to sell your property DON’T SIGN ANYTHING .. .Call us. Ph: 07 5478 5288 or check out www.rogerloughnanrealestate.com.au
RE/MAX Hinterland
Your property is worth more with us! 07 5408 4220, 0447 737 737 sales@remaxhinterland.com.au remaxhinterland.com.au 32 Maple Street, Maleny
VETERINARY CARE
District Vets Maleny
Veterinarian Susan Portas and her team provide professional, compassionate care for your pets. Hours Mon/Tues/Thurs/Fri 8:30am – 5:30pm Wed 8:30am – 4:30pm Sat
PLANT TREES AND GROW A LEGACY
Our neighbours in the Noosa hinterland invite everyone to bring their family and friends along to help plant 6000 trees, shrubs and ground covers at the Doonan Planting Festival, on Sunday, July 5.
You can also enjoy a wildlife display, live music, face painting, craft activities for all ages and information stalls.
Sunshine Coast Council Environment and Liveability Portfolio Councillor Maria Suarez invited the community to branch out and join Council for National Tree Day.
“No experience is required and it’s easy as the holes are already dug ready for the plants to go in,” Cr Suarez said.
“We have people returning year after year and together we are restoring the Doonan Creek Environment Reserve.”
This will be the 10th year the community has been involved in planting at this site.
“In the past nine years, approximately 23,500 native trees, shrubs and ground covers have been planted and this year’s planting will take us close to 30,000!” Cr Suarez said.
“Each stem planted at this fun-filled National Tree Day event provides essential homes and food for local wildlife like eastern grey kangaroo, wallum froglet, brown quail, Australian pipit, grey-headed flying-foxes and beneficial insects,” Cr Suarez said.
“The reserve is a special place and an important coastal habitat area with vegetation that ranges from iconic coastal heath, scribbly gum forest to melaleuca wetlands.
“It’s home to more than 125 different bird and 24 different mammal species and vulnerable wallum frogs. So come along to explore, laugh and plant together for National Tree Day.”
There will be two sessions, 8-10am and 10-noon to ensure many people can join in.
“All tools, plants, gloves and guidance are provided – however, please bring your own water and wear enclosed shoes and sunsafe clothing. Come together, plant a tree and grow a legacy.
Parking is limited onsite and you must book a spot when you register. Alternatively, book a park-and-ride bus location when registering. There’s no need to worry about getting a park with a free park-and-ride bus running from Landsborough, Palmview, Sippy Downs, Caloundra, Maroochydore and Kawana. There will also be a shuttle bus from Peregian Springs State School.
To redeem your free small espresso coffee (for adults), bring along your own reusable coffee cup. Please remember to bring a water bottle.
Bookings are essential at events.sunshinecoast. qld.gov.au, search ‘doonan planting festival’.
DIn the Wild
Birds of Prey
In his new book, Birds of Prey, Myke Mollard's signature illustrations and engaging text bring kids up close and personal with over 150 of the world’s most powerful, ingenious and charismatic birds of prey.
From ospreys to owls, eagles to condors, there are magnificent representatives from every continent. The birds are not only beautifully drawn and coloured, but the accompanying text also vividly describes their lifestyles and habits.
The wonderment of these stunning creatures, delivered in an engaging cinematic punch, will excite the imaginations of children for life, and fully engage any adult with a love of raptors and other birds of prey.
Myke is a children’s educator, illustrator, author and designer – and a current-day eco-adventurer! He began his career in graphic design, branding management and producing TV commercials. He later found outlets for his passion in educating kids about the world around them, both in person in the classroom and online, and via his books which he writes and illustrates.
Myke's books include: An A-Z of Australian Bush Creatures, Australia's Endangered Bush Creatures, Australia's Dangerous Bush Creatures, Australian Dinosaurs and Mega Beasts, Australian Backyard Birds, Australian Outback Birds, and Wildlife of Australia's Great Barrier Reef.
Myke is a passionate adventurer and environmentalist and his latest book, Birds of Prey, will be available from all good bookstores and from woodslane.com.au from June 25!
Rare but not gone
id you know that it’s not just in the wild places of the Blackall Range, but in the towns and even busy urban streets we can still find rare and threatened plants and animals?
This fact was brought home to us when we found Three-toed Snake-toothed Skink Coeranoscincus reticulatus (it’s not often that a common name is more of a mouthful than the scientific!) at Forest Heart when we’re establishing the gardens.
This amazing little Skink grows to almost 20cm and is distinguished by its colouringthe striking white and brown bands on the juveniles and varying shades of brown to grey on adults (not very helpful ) and also by its very small limbs which only have three toes on each foot (hence the name). Counting three toes on these guys is tricky however, as they are so small that a magnifying lens, steady hand and a good eye are crucial!
This exciting find showed just how resilient and what great survivors some of our native plants and animals can be, if we provide them with the connectivity to move through the landscape and suitable habitat to live in.
In the case of the Three-toed Snaketoothed Skink they require a deep layer of leaf litter to provide them with the humidity, shade, protection and their food sources such as worms, grubs and small insects. The revegetation projects that have returned forest to the banks of the Obi Obi through Maleny have provided both habitat and connectivity for not only the Three-toed Snake-toothed Skink but many other fauna and flora. Given the nature of where they live (in deep leaf litter) don’t expect to see one, other than by good luck. But take comfort in the fact that if you’re providing the habitat, then they could well be there.
To create a deep mulch quickly that is beneficial for our long-named lizard and a whole range of ground-dwelling fauna, mulch your new plantings with a deep mulch between 100-200mm thick . You can use bale mulch or chip mulch just use plenty of it.
Then make sure there are plenty of fast growing pioneers in your plantings such as Bleeding Heart - Homalanthus populifolius Native Mulberry - Pipturus argenteus and Macaranga - Macaranga tanarius
Density and diversity in your plantings will enable the development of a mulch layer to feed the soil and save critters such as the Three-toed Snake-toothed skink from a fate worse than death, extinction...
If you’d like more information on the Three-toed Snake-toothed Skink, checkout the ‘Wildlife of Greater Brisbane’ book available at Forest Heart.
with Spencer Shaw
Frankie Findlay at the 2023 tree planting event
Stop, Check and Save
Members of the HT team have recently seen a tragic increase in dead kangaroos and wallabies across the hinterland roads. On the ‘Welcome to Palmwoods’ community Facebook page just two weeks ago, a community member stopped to check a wallaby on the Hunchy Road early in the morning, and found a joey still alive inside her pouch. Thanks to that person stopping and checking, this joey has a chance at survival, sadly without its mother.
This led to us recalling a valuable article from WIldlife Carer, Rachel Connelly, which featured in the HT a few years ago, and so we thought it timely to reprint her words below:
So many Australians care deeply about our native wildlife and wish there was more they could do to help. Being a wildlife carer can be very time consuming and expensive, and so isn’t for everyone, but there are still so many things that anyone can do to help!
Today I would like to really focus on one of the most valuable services the public can provide to the wildlife care community.
It’s easy to get immune to the sight of roadkill. There’s no getting around the fact that using cars means that sometimes wildlife are going to get hit, and while this is tragic it’s not always a total loss. What you might not think about when passing the body is that there can often still be life in there.
Young joeys can live for up to several days inside the pouch of a dead mother, depending on their size and development.
The first option here is to perform a pouch check yourself. This is, understandably, a difficult task for the squeamish – I don’t love it either, but knowing there are lives I could save is a great motivator.
The second option is to get in touch with me or another wildlife carer and we might be able to investigate ourselves. It’s so lovely when people do stop and find the time to check bodies and discover a little joey that still has a chance.
If you think you’d like to have a go at recovering animals, you could consider preparing a ‘Boot Buddy’ kit in your car –some easily acquired materials to safely rescue and transport animals.
I recently came across a dead Swamp Wallaby that was half on and half off the road. Every driver would have seen this animal, but no one had called, checked the pouch or taken the time to move her body off the road to prevent further roadkill as birds would start to feed off her.
Wildlife carers can’t be everywhere, sadly, so we need your help spotting and checking or calling in whenever possible.
Important considerations when attempting to help wildlife: Never put yourself in danger from animals or traffic; DO NOT EVER ATTEMPT TO PICK UP A BAT OR SNAKE. These animals must only be handled by experienced/vaccinated carers; do not offer food or water unless advised to do so by a vet or rehabilitator; do not remove an animal from the pouch of a live animal, and never remove a joey that is still attached to their deceased mother’s teat. (I sometimes have people bring the body to me to remove the baby safely.)
The Long-nosed Potoroo
In the dense undergrowth of forests across the Blackall, Bellthorpe and Conondale ranges lives a very secretive, tiny member of the kangaroo family that performs critical ecosystem services.
Aptly named for its long pointed snout, the Long-nosed Potoroo (Potorous tridactylus) averages just 30cm in length and one kilogram when fully grown. It has very dense grey/ brown fur apart from its belly which is a pale cream colour. Potoroos move with a distinct hopping motion like other macropods, while bandicoots, which they can sometimes be confused with, display more of a ‘gallop’.
That long snout and their digging behavior while foraging for food is the key to why this species is so important in an ecological sense. The Long-nosed Potoroo feeds primarily on fungi.
An animal may need help if it meets one of the following criteria:
• Can be approached more easily than expected, doesn’t startle or try to escape
• Appears lethargic, lazy and/or tired
• Species usually seen in trees observed on the ground (e.g. koalas, possums, gliders, flying foxes), and
• Nocturnal animals out during the daylight.
A ‘Boot Buddy’ is a simple set of items that can be carried in cars to assist our wildlife:
A towel: to capture the animal/bird and keep it wrapped up in the box
• Pillow case: to contain marsupials
• Elastic band to close the pillow case and keep the animal snug. Small animals like to be kept in small pouches so adjust the location of the band to suit the size of the animal
• Gardening gloves: to handle wildlife safely and hygienically
• Medium-sized cardboard box with air holes for ventilation, and
• A Wildlife Contact Card or number saved on your phone.
About That Tree
with Tree Surgeon Tony Wootton, our local arborist and author, meeting the Hinterland's tree needs since 1996
The icy tendrils of winter are beginning to entwine themselves into the fabric of our mountaintop existence, so now is the perfect time to begin thinking about how best to manage our vegetative surrounds to maximise the warming winter sunlight and minimise the cold southerly breezes.
If you are unsure how to go about this, give me a call and we can organise a tree assessment/property visit.
The net result will be a passive solar garden design that will let you enjoy free natural heating and insulation provided by nature and your surrounding vegetation.
It has been sublimely enjoyable recently to deepen my appreciation of trees and plants as living vital beings. The more I observe and learn about their functions and interactions with the world around them, the more respect and gratitude I have for them.
truffles and other underground fungal fruiting bodies, using their acute sense of smell channeled through their snout.
Their foraging behavior involves systematic digging in the forest floor, creating small conical holes as they search for fungi, roots, tubers, and invertebrates. This digging behavior is so characteristic that researchers often identify Potoroo presence by these distinctive foraging signs before ever seeing the animals themselves.
They have developed a remarkable ability to locate underground fungi, including
Beyond fungi, their diet includes plant roots, tubers, seeds, and small invertebrates. They play a crucial role in forest ecosystems as mycorrhizal spore dispersers.
When they consume fungi, the spores pass through their digestive system and are deposited in their droppings throughout their territory, helping to establish new fungal networks that are essential for forest health. Their digging behavior also contributes to
Barung native Plant nursery
soil aeration and nutrient cycling.
These small marsupials really do serve as ecosystem engineers, modifying their environment in ways that benefit numerous other species.
Listed as a vulnerable species, the primary threats to the Long-nosed Potoroo are loss of habitat and fragmentation, as well as foxes and cats.
Keeping to the dense understorey, particularly bracken fern, and being largely nocturnal means observations are quite rare. There are however some records from the Reesville area as well Bellthorpe and Conondale ranges in recent years.
If you have seen a Long-nosed Potoroo on your property or in the wild or think you may have suitable habitat for them, we’d love for you to come and see us at the Barung Community Nursery for a chat! (Image of Long-nosed Potoroo by Robert Downer.)
It has been a pleasure and an honour to work with the larger older specimens in our landscape, and then observe how they continue to grow and evolve in response to our management strategies.
I invite you to try to connect a little bit more with the trees in your environment. Like other living organisms they respire and exchange gases and have natural systems to create and consume energy and nutrients and defend themselves against pathogens. The only difference is that they are rooted in the one spot and cannot move around. So try to sense and appreciate their supportive steadfast energy.
Mobile: 0403 467 664
Mobile: 0403 467 664
Landline: 54 944 917
Landline: 54 944 917
www.twtreesurgeon.com
www.twtreesurgeon.com
Molly and Woody, two orphaned Red-Necked wallabies who became best friends in Rachel’s care - image Rachel Connelly
Home building to rebound
The number of homes commencing construction in Australia is set to increase over the next few years, driven by strong population growth, low unemployment, and falling interest rates. However, long-term structural issues continue to pose risks to housing affordability and national supply targets, according to the latest outlook from the Housing Industry Association.
HIA Chief Economist Tim Reardon said the sector is showing signs of improved confidence following a period of weak activity, particularly in apartment construction.
“We expect new home commencements to increase steadily through the second half of the decade,” said Mr Reardon.
“Detached house building will lead this recovery, peaking in 2027, with apartment construction set to follow as market conditions and policy settings improve.”
Recent interest rate cuts and historically strong migration are adding to demand for new housing. But ongoing constraints including land shortages, regulations and taxes are increasing the cost of construction and limiting supply. This will continue to drive up the cost of both renting and buying a home.
“The only way to close the growing gap between supply and demand is through meaningful reform—particularly at the state level.”
The HIA report forecasts that home building will fall 20 per cent short of the Australian Government’s target of 1.2 million new homes over the five years.
“We need to unlock land, streamline planning processes, and remove barriers to investment if we are to meet the housing needs of a growing population,” Mr Reardon said.
“Australia has the capacity to deliver, but it will take a coordinated response from all three tiers of government to overcome these constraints.”
While detached housing is showing strong growth in Western Australia, South Australia, and Queensland, activity remains subdued in New South Wales and Victoria. Apartment construction is yet to recover from a collapse in foreign capital caused by punitive state taxes and is expected
270 Reesville Road, Reesville
Why Winter is the Perfect Time to Sell with REMAX Hinterland
inter is one of the best-kept secrets in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland real estate market—and the results speak for themselves. At REMAX Hinterland, we sell 40% more homes over winter than in any other season.
While other regions slow down, our Hinterland shines. Crisp, sunny days and glowing interiors make winter the perfect season to showcase cosy fireplaces, bright natural light, and lush green gardens. With fewer homes on the market, your property stands out—attracting serious, motivated buyers looking to relocate, retire or embrace a lifestyle change.
The ‘tree change’ trend is strong yearround, but winter gives your home a unique edge and with our team’s local expertise and proven track record, we know how to make the most of it.
Thinking of selling? Let’s make this winter your season. Call 0447 737 737 or email sales@remaxhinterland.com.au.
to rebuild gradually towards the end of the decade. This growth will be boosted by ongoing demand from migration and Olympic focused building in Brisbane.
“Housing demand is not going to decline with a rise in interest rates. It is continuing to grow along with the population. Structural reforms are needed now to shape affordability, economic opportunity and living standards for the next generation,” concluded Mr Reardon.
566 Mountain View Road Maleny
Elegance, Class and Style on Prestigious Mountain View Road Maleny!
mpressive, architecturally-designed residence crafted to embrace the breathtaking panorama of the Glass House Mountains.
Features include –
• Soaring ceilings, exposed beams, extra height timber windows and doors to encapsulate the views
• Modern kitchen, generous bench space, quality appliances, split-system air con
• Multiple living areas including two fireplaces plus upstairs study, all with views
• King-sized master with split-system air con, built-in robes, spacious ensuite
• Two guest bedrooms with split system air con plus two guest bathrooms
• One-bay powered shed plus an additional three-bay shed and double garage
• Short walk to Mary Cairncross Café and just 3.4Klm to Maleny
Don't miss the opportunity to make this extraordinary property your own. Contact Susan today on 0428 573 170 to arrange your private inspection.
Agency: Brant Property
Contact: Susan Brant 0428 573 170
2/20 Maple Street, Maleny Qld 4552
Melissa Chaddock Kate Woolston Damian Green Michael Reck Mark Clayton
