Hinterland Times November 2026

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FREE NOVEMBER 2026

Party with Playlunch! A world of music and art at Woodford Folk Festival

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DANCING INTO HER DREAMS From Yandina to London and the English National Ballet School for Makenzee Speak

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PRIVATE THOMAS J. WARK The human story behind a local sheep shearer’s sacrifice in 1944

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FROM THE EDITOR

Once bitten, twice shy?!

Publication date

1st Wednesday of each month

EDITOR

Victoria McGuin 5499 9049 editor@hinterlandtimes.com.au

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W

e had a scare at our place last week. Our eldest son sat down on a patio chair, reached his hand forward on his lap and a snake bit him. His hand flew up and the snake landed on his chest. It was brown. He jumped up and yelled, “Call an ambulance!” Now, I can tell you that the wait for the ambulance was one of the most stressful times of our lives, and yet we had to pretend to be calm for our son. According to Health Direct a snake bite is classed as a ‘Priority Response’ - ambulance services are meant to treat suspected envenomation with high urgency to ensure rapid transport to a hospital with antivenom. However, despite living 18 minutes drive from Nambour, and telling triple 000 our son was bitten by a snake that was brown, it took an hour for an ambulance to reach our door. There are a few factors that seem to have caused this unacceptable delay and, yes, I have lodged a report/complaint, but at our end we managed to do what you’re supposed to do in this situation. Keep the person still and as calm as possible, bandage the bitten limb with a snake bite bandage (we couldn’t splint it), and take a photo of the snake for identification purposes. I sent the picture to Snake Catcher Dan, and he came back almost immediately to alleviate our worries – it wasn’t an Eastern Brown. If it had been, I dread to think what an hourlong wait would have meant for our son. So, I guess the main message I’d like to share is, watch out and keep your eyes peeled, and check around your outdoor furniture! We are definitely in snake season, we’ve already seen them quite regularly on the roads, and the rain is now bringing them closer to our homes for shelter. And maybe do a practicerun of bandaging a family member’s arm or leg, so you know what to do. I know we will be brushing up on our technique! Our Back to Nature section this month has a reminder on what to do when you see a snake nearby, and, from next month, Snake Catcher Dan will share a regular column on different snakes; how to recognise them and be aware of their general temperaments. After all that drama, it felt good to settle down and bring the pages together for the November HT; to read the two ‘Highly Commended’ stories from our HT Young Writer of the Year Award, and to hear about some inspiring locals and businesses.

WRITERS

INSIDE THIS MONTH FEATURES

Local people, local stories

4–9

LET’S TALK BUSINESS

AJ’s Country Meats, Palmwoods

11

COMMUNITY

12, 13

CREATIVE CUTS

Music, shows, events and exhibitions

14 – 15

LETTERS, LEUNIG AND LIGHT RELIEF

Letters, poetry, crosswords, Sudoku

16 – 17

BACK TO NATURE

18 – 19

HOLISTIC/HEALTH

20 – 22

LOCAL MUSINGS

25

REAL ESTATE

26 – 27

On the creative front, we have devoted a whole page to all the fantastic bands, singers and artists appearing at the upcoming Woodford Folk Festival, so check out page 14 for details. Rebecca Mugridge

Travis Earsman

Louise Tasker

100% independently owned: While great care has been taken to ensure the accuracy and contents of the publication, the HT accepts no responsibility for inaccuracies. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent the views held by the HT. All content is copyright and may not be reproduced without permission. The production of this free newspaper is only made possible by you continuing to support our advertisers. 14, 000 papers home delivered and bulk dropped to Maleny, Montville, Mapleton, Flaxton, Nambour, Palmwoods, Woombye, Hunchy, Eudlo, Reeseville, Mooloolah, Glasshouse, Beerwah, Landsborough, Conondale, Kenilworth and Witta.

2 NOVEMBER 2026 HINTERLAND TIMES

I would also like to acknowledge Remembrance Day, November 11, and all those who died or suffered while serving in wars, conflicts and peace operations. To all veterans - thank you for standing tall in the face of challenges and protecting the ideals we hold dear. Enjoy your HT and see you in December, yes, December. Can you believe it? It always brings me back to the Ferris Bueller quote:

COVER STORY Cover photo: The rambunctious and popular band Playlunch will debut at the Woodford Folk Festival this year

“Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” EDITOR

Page 14

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his year marks 40 years of Australia’s community-led response to HIV and AIDS. To recognise this milestone, Maleny IDAHOBIT and Maleny Neighbourhood Centre, with support from a Sunshine Coast Council minor grant, will come together on Saturday December 5 to honour the people in our own community who were impacted by the AIDS pandemic – as advocates, supporters, survivors, friends and family.

UNAIDS Collaborating Centre against HIV Stigma, in partnership with the Global Network of People Living with HIV. He is coincidentally currently vice-President of the Qld Council for LGBTIQ Health (formerly the Qld AIDs Council), and a Director of the federation of Australia’s leading HIV organisations. He and his partner Charoensak have been living in Conondale for the past twenty years.

At the heart of the event are two local pioneers, Brian Day OAM and Dr Bernard Gardiner, whose friendship stretches back to the 1970s, and whose lives became deeply entwined with Australia’s HIV and AIDS response, which is widely acknowledged as a model for other countries to follow, and indeed best practice for response to any epidemic. Brian, who was a collaborator of Dr Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, supported people who were terminally ill with AIDS and their loved ones particularly on the Sunshine Coast. He was also instrumental in the early development of the Queensland AIDS Council, acting as first vice-President and media spokesperson. Brian was awarded the OAM for his contribution to community care, advocacy and his work as a spokesperson. Bernard’s contribution grew from years of volunteer involvement in community responses

Brian’s and Bernard’s stories centre around their friendship, community and the power of people standing together to face an existential threat - particularly for the LGBTIQA+ communities and their loved ones. The 5th December IDAHOBIT and Maleny Neighbourhood Centre event will screen newly commissioned livedexperience videos, followed by the sharing of other local stories of a time that changed countless lives — and the people who stood alongside those affected.

to HIV. During the peak of the AIDS crisis he served as CEO of Victorian AIDS Council, before going overseas for 12 years to lead HIV programs for the Australian Red Cross across East and Southeast Asia and then globally from the Geneva headquarters of Red Cross. His work there included coordinating the

This is an opportunity to remember those who were lost, honour those who were there, and recognise the local people who helped shape the way Australia, and the world, responded to HIV. For further details of the event see the Maleny Neighbourhood Centre and Maleny IDAHOBIT Facebook sites. The making of the documentary has generously been supported with funding from the Sunshine Coast Regional Micro Grants Program.

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Dancing into

From Yandina to London and the highly coveted English National Ballet School, young Makenzee Speak is dancing her way to her dreams.

“B

oth my parents [Colin and Sandy Speak] are local, born in Nambour! Mum is a third generation Yandina/North Arm resident and Dad is fifth generation Palmwoods/Ilkley resident.” said dancer Makenzee Speak.

by REBECCA MUGRIDGE

“My Dad is a mechanic-turned-interstate truck driver and is away all week to be home one-and-a-half days on the weekends to fit as much family time in as we can. Mum also works full time, and up until I moved to London was managing my ballet demands full time. “Home will always be where my heart is,” she said fondly. “Ninderry and Yandina is home and I love our place. Our yard is often occupied by kangaroos and many species of birds. “It’s a world away from how I am now living in London!” For Makenzee the pull to ballet came early. “I was four or five years old when I first started ballet, beginning with just one class a week. But after my first end-of-year concert I kept asking, “when can I do that again?” The artistry and storytelling of ballet is something she loved right away. “The ability to explore a character, a role, and immerse yourself into another world, communicating a story to create a connection with the audience, it’s special. Ballet also requires you to show up for yourself, the continuous process of refining technique and artistry. “Not many people are able to say they are living their childhood dreams, but every day I find that I am.” Makenzee is inspired by Marinela Nunez, Yasmine Naghdi and Benedict Bemet.

refining the details of her artistry. “‘Ballet is about movement not just positions’, is one of my favourite comments of his, because movement and emotion is what makes an audience really feel.” Throughout her years of training Makenzee has many wonderful memories.

Makenzee Speak is dancing her dream in London - Jason Christie Photography 

“Watching their interpretation of characters, the cleanliness of technique and quality of movement always inspires me. And my favourite ballet production would have to be Sleeping Beauty. It was the first production I ever saw, performed by the Australian Ballet. I still have the program and ticket at home! “I have also been so fortunate to have supportive teachers over my years of training in Australia. During my full-time training this has included Grant Aris, Amelia Waller, Georgia Mckean, Claudia Dean, Jessica Cove and Corina Poh. Without their support, time, care and belief in me I would not be the dancer I am today.” Grant Aris has been a driving force behind Makenzee’s success of being accepted into ENBS GAP. Endless hours of teaching her to trust her body and strengthening her technique, to then evolving and

“In the last 18 months I have been working on a classical variation from Giselle for many national and international competitions. It is a hard variation that has a series of single leg hops on pointe travelling from the corner, before finishing with a menage [series of turns travelling in a circle]. “There was one rehearsal where I was working with my teacher, Grant Aris, on the timing of the menage. So, to help me to move and travel faster he ended up following me around the room saying, “anticipate, anticipate, anticipate!”. It had us all laughing as it worked, so then every time mum watched from the corner she would start repeating the ‘anticipate’ chant!” During her journey Makenzee has also been fortunate to perform in some well-loved productions. “When I was younger and performed in The Nutcracker, one of my favourite parts was being a mouse and being wounded in battle. I had to have a very dramatic fall to the ground and get carried off in the stretcher; it was always hard not to laugh under the mouse mask,” she laughed. “Over the years of doing solo competitions, working with props, I learnt how to remain professional onstage and quickly react so that the audience never knew. Whether it was being able to rip paper artwork at the right time, get a clasp shut on a suitcase in two counts, or pull a dress out of a box without it all falling off the table!” Now living and training in London, Makenzee is excited about the possibilities of the future.

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Change end of first paragraph: buyers wonder what is wro “After being in London for the past few months, it is evident that there are so many more opportunities for dancers over here. Most European countries have multiple theatres and companies in each city, and travel between countries is also much more convenient.” With ballet, years of hard work, talent and relentless dedication are only part of it - it’s also very expensive. “The financial toll is ‘a lot’ especially living on the Sunshine Coast once en pointe, and the need for dedicated classical training had me travelling to Brisbane daily,” explained Makenzee.

have ballet’. “Mum and Dad shielded me, initially, from the costs of my dream. But as I got older, we had weekly budget meetings as we would have to factor in tuition fees, transport, 2-3 pairs of pointe shoes a fortnight, gym/recovery, physio, podiatry. No one ever tells you the podiatrist is your best friend for when weekly corn removal is required.

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“Also dedicated private tuition to help work on the finer details of a variation for upcoming international competitions, auditions, RAD ballet exams. Travelling around Australia when a scout or company director from overseas was in.

“When the decision was made to go full-time ballet training, we were lucky to have an uncle travelling daily to the same suburb. Once he retired, I was 16, my mum’s best friend took me in three days of each week. Daily travel was four hours a day.

“Often me travelling solo or with my grandma, so that Mum and Dad could both still work to support me, it’s a full family commitment and I am eternally grateful.”

“My parents have copped some criticism for helping me continue this journey. All I know is, I probably gave them no option to say no to me. I have wanted this since I was four years old. “We do not have a dance history, Mum wanted me to be a tennis player or swimmer…sorry Mum!” she smiled. “My parents would insist on all schoolwork being done each week, and my report card had to be A for effort and behaviour. And chores had to be done each day/week. They’d even try to encourage other extracurricular activities, and it was always ‘no thank you, I

Makenzee has two younger siblings, Johnson, 15, and Lincoln, 13, who have been amazing and patient dance brothers, and are both keen martial artists. “I have enjoyed helping them with their flexibility exercises, when they let me!” Mackenzee laughed. “Once I knew I was accepted into English National Ballet’s Graduate Artist Program, we had a serious discussion on setting a program with my teachers that allowed me the opportunity to also have a couple of part-time/casual jobs. By doing this I was able to save the required funds needed for my UK Youth Mobility Visa. “Dad and Mum are supporting me for this 12-month contract with ENB GAP. Rent and outgoings in London (sharing with another Aussie) is the same as a monthly mortgage payment here in Australia! “They also give me a weekly allowance for groceries, travel and incidentals. My mum’s best friend even set up a Go Fund Me to help me live this dream.” And she is off to a stunning start in her career Makenzee was just selected to perform in the corps de ballet of George Balinchine’s Symphony in Three Movements with the English National Ballet Company. She truly is dancing into her dreams.

Makenzee's family have been her biggest cheer squad. Back: Makenzee, Mum Sandy, Dad Col. Front : Kenz's brothers Johnson and Lincoln

If you want to support Mackenzee, her Go Fund page is: gofund.me/e45afaf40, and her dedicated Instagram page is:_makenzee.speak_

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HT YOUNG WRITER OF THE YEAR 2026

HIGHLY COMMENDED

The Right Side of Wrong by Henry Stevens, age 14

“We’ve found what the Crow-folk were trying to protect!”

The sun was hot. The only noise I could hear was the rattle of armour and weapons, and the tramping march of thousands of boots. There was nothing to see but the dull, grassy plains, the occasional hill, and the broad column of knights that stretched into the distance in front and behind. Silver armour contrasting with the deep purple of the surcoats and cloaks worn by the knights. Above the column flew countless banners, purple with a white hourglass, symbolising the endless life of the Shabaan, Queen of the La’Viiden.

The knights around me started to push towards the shout. I crested the hill, below me I could see a village. About eighty or so stone buildings nestled behind a hill, out of the wind. It wasn’t all that different from a town in La’Viiden, though the houses were taller. Crow-folk went about their business, seeming a little nervous. Their young played in the grass, where horses and yaks grazed. The whole place seemed a bit bleak, with the grey stone and the brownish-green grass of the Far-Plains. But all in all, it seemed quite nice.

My head hurt. I had caught a glancing blow to the head. My helmet had stopped the sword from cutting me, but the sheer force had knocked me to the ground. That was in the battle… the battle. We had been ambushed. It happened so suddenly. Near one hundred Crow-folk came over a ridge and charged us. They are terrifying. I'd heard the stories, that they are much taller than any human, covered in feathers so black that night seems like day in comparison. But to see them with my own eyes… they’re beautiful and monstrous. They wield black-iron longswords with unnatural strength and seem to sing as they fight. One hundred beaks echoing a song both tragic and wrathful.

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Then our General said, “Kill them all.” I was stunned. Before we left for the FarPlanes, the Shabaan herself gave a speech from the balcony of her palas in Lamondiur. She did not shout, but still her voice carried clear to the thousands of knights before her. She told us of the evil that festered beyond our borders; of our duty to rid the world of these monsters, these demons. Many of them rode gargantuan horses; hundreds of La’Viiden died in the first cavalry charge. Then the Crow-folk on foot rushed into the roiling mess of soldiers. Their huge longswords came up and down, over and over again, mowing through our soldiers while their terrifying steeds bucked and reared. Hundreds of our La’Viiden knights fell in the battle. But in the end, our superior numbers won out, and the Crow-folk were defeated. They fought to the death. “Over the hill!” The shout brought my attention back to the present.

Standing there, frozen with indecision, I do not see “feathered demons”. As unquestioning soldiers spilled past me into the village that was fast becoming a butcher’s pen, I saw scared people trying to flee a brutal, unprovoked attack. I always thought I was on the right side, the good side. But now I know that was a lie. This isn’t right. This isn’t noble. This is a massacre. But what can I do?! I’m one knight in an army of thousands! Calmness washes over me as indecision melts away. I can try. It’s foolish and doomed, but damn it, I’m going to! I will help the Crow-folk if it is the last thing I do. I draw my sword and run into the village.

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HIGHLY COMMENDED

HT YOUNG WRITER OF THE YEAR 2026

All Too Well by Cleo Laundy, age 11

The smell of cedar loomed in the air; the pungent smell of New York ash trays flooded my mind. The reign of nightlife was waiting at the door, dazed I sat alone cornered by regret. Distant memories of joy, and guilt of impending failure followed me wherever I went. But it didn't end like this. The clock struck midnight, I retreated as though I was Cinderella leaving the ball. As I left words wrapped around my ankles like snakes, they whispered to me a life that could have been mine. As though the shadows held me back, I trudged out the door, the cold wind pushed me through. I moved through the streets crowded with people. I sat on the concrete stairs of my apartment, my eyes heavy as I watched the lights dance to the thumping uptown heartbeat of people. This world is too excited for such a common person like me. I woke to a stabbing pain in the back of my head. All mornings are indifferent. The same sickness in my stomach, memories repeat themselves and so does this boring life. I found myself pacing my room yet again, clueless I sat on my bed grabbing tightly onto my sheets. I looked across to the small window opposite my bed with a bustling city just outside.

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My thoughts entangled me, trapping me to the likes of my room, pushing me into an eternal spiral I seem to get trapped in. I'm hopeless. A lost cause, scavenging the scraps of my mind that I had very little of. "I need to get out of here." That afternoon I rapidly ran down the almost never-ending stairs of my apartment which led to the streets, gripping the scratchy, metal handrail. I shakily opened the door. The city was resting under a blanket of snow and a sense of twilight in the sky. A current of people paced down the sidewalk leaving little room to join.

As I shuffled into the jazz club people laid their engaged eyes onto the stage. At that moment she sauntered in, a beautiful lady, her dark skin somehow shimmered in the lunar light of a narrow window. Her smile big and cheeks moony, with her proud stride, she was as picturesque and as confident as Aphrodite. Her star-silver dress cried tears of crystal, and her voice soft yet loud enough to override the howling saxophones. Then and there I felt it a click - a light kiss of creativity on my seldomfilled brain. Ideas too bright for the dark and dingy reminisces of a jazz club. I hopped to the streets. The cold, foggy wind relaxed against my stinging lips. Trees bare to the tyrant of

winter; I sat alone my head dangling under grey skies. Central Park was most gloomy at this time of year, but it somehow couldn't keep my hyperactive mind from raining with ideas. Buildings towering above me, I still felt confused." Why here, why now?" I quizzed myself, observing a murder of crows ferociously flap above my head. I felt the rush of concepts; they came too fast for me to understand. A change in the air struck down as a lightning bolt. I plunged my elbow to my thigh and clutched my forehead. I knew writing would be difficult, but the younger me wasn't prepared for what could have happened. Hands almost purple with low oxygen, I knew all I needed to do was get a pen and paper. I had found my joy. Why not celebrate? Life can be misleading, a trick to the mind, every way you go feels as though it's a dead end, a wrong turn. Take me for example, I thought I knew this story all too well.

The team at Baldwin Lawyers are a down-to-earth, easy going, general law prac ce who love assis ng people with their legal requirements. Working from a Nambour base with an addi onal office in Gympie, we love to uncomplicate the legal jargon for our clients. Whether it is explaining in simple language how a Will works or dissec ng a complicated family law ma er. We also make conveyancing as simple as possible. We're here to help and guide you. Our fees are reasonable and fair. We do home visits on request for clients who cannot come into town to meet us at the office. We assist clients with Ÿ Wills, Enduring Power of A orney, and Advance Health Direc ves Ÿ Conveyancing Ÿ Family Law Ÿ Commercial law (leases, sale and purchasing of businesses) It is important to have your Will current and up-todate with your circumstances. If you need help dra�ing your Will to make sure it reflects your wishes, contact us to assist you. It is also very important to make sure you have a valid Enduring Power of A orney and your appointment reflects your wishes. We provide all our clients with a free Advance Health Direc ve in which you determine your medical instruc ons when you cannot verbally provide them. Zasco Van Rooyen, Director

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Remembering MUCH ADO ABOUT EASEMENTS An easement is the right to use another person's land for a stated purpose. It can involve a general or specific portion of the property. An example of where an easement can benefit a property is where John owns a tract of land that borders the national park which is a popular area for bushwalking and fishing. Mary lives next door to John, but her land does not adjoin the national park. To avoid trespassing, she must access the national park by walking or driving to a public entry point. Instead, John grants Mary an easement allowing present and future owners of Mary’s property to cross John’s land to access the national park. How does an easement affect the person who grants it? The landowner who grants an easement usually cannot build structures within an easement area or use fencing that would hinder access. Other activities might also be prohibited. It is therefore important that before you purchase a property you know where all easements are located and what restrictions are associated with them. Easements can affect property values - consider these examples: Ÿ Several easements on one lot of land might seriously limit the choice of building sites. Ÿ High tension power lines running through an easement near an otherwise great building site can be unsightly. Resale values may be affected since many people feel that living too close to power lines is a health risk. Ÿ Buyers may simply not like the idea that others have a right to use the land in some way. Don't assume that because an easement is not currently being used it will never be used. As long as an easement is registered on the title of the property there is always a possibility that the individual who benefits from it will decide to enforce it.

Thomas John Wark Neil Wark shares memories of his great-uncle, sheep shearer Tom, and his tragic death when the Rakuyo Maru was torpedoed by a US submarine.

I

n 1944, in rural New South Wales, the Wark Family and the Ross Family each received a telegram just three weeks apart from the Australian War Office telling them their sons had been killed in action.

by LOUISE TASKER

These two families had joined together when Niel Wark’s grandfather Joe and his grandmother Queenie had married. Allan Ross, the 21-year-old RAF pilot shot down over Romania with four even younger crew men, was Queenie Wark’s (nee Ross) younger brother. For the rest of her life, his photo sat proudly, though lonely, upon the mantlepiece in the best room in their humble worker’s cottage. Thomas John Wark was a 30-year-old sheep shearer when he signed up with the Australian Infantry Force in 1941.

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8 NOVEMBER 2026 HINTERLAND TIMES

He died just short of his 34th birthday, drowned at sea when a US submarine torpedoed the Rakuyo Maru, a Japanese ship carrying surviving labourers of the infamous Burma-Thai Railway to Japan. Niel says, “I have always been interested in knowing what it was like to be Tom, doing what he was doing, living his life of sheep shearing in rural New South Wales and then being thrust into a long and hard war in parts of the world he’d only ever heard about. “Tom worked alongside his brother, my grandfather, Joe. They lived on a very humble property called Nardoo in Coonabarabran, country NSW. It was a tough life.” I ask what Tom was like as a person. Niel says, “I think he was considered to be softer or more gentle than my grandfather. He was just a knockabout bloke. They built a tennis court on their parents’ property to host a group of sisters who lived next door. One of these girls, Queenie, became my grandmother.

“Tennis was a huge part of their social lives. They would all go around the district on Sundays playing tennis. The family story goes that he was attracted to my grandmother but somehow his brother won the day.” Niel thinks the idea of adventure is the reason he joined up. “When Tom went to Singapore, he sent his mother photos of what he was seeing there. My father put great stead in these. “When he joined the AIF he was posted to the 2/19th infantry battalion. After training in NSW, they were deployed to Singapore. From here they were sent to Malaya and when the Japanese invaded, they fought a very hard campaign of retreat all the way down the peninsula back into Singapore. “The Australians felt the full brunt of the Japanese land force invasion before Singapore fell and Tom was captured along with so many others. “There’s a studio photo of Tom with three other men. At least two of them, Kym Stewart and Keith Gough, were killed during that fighting. So, by the time he is captured, he has suffered huge personal loss and hardship.

“Tom then became a POW forced to work on the Burma-Thailand Railway. He was put on to the A Force working party, led by Lieutenant Colonel Anderson, which started building the railway from the northern end in Burma.” Niel made contact with an ex-soldier in the 2/19th named Bob Farrands. He remembered Tom very well. “He described Tom as being ‘a very good soldier’ and that he was ‘what you would call a loner, a shy bush bloke, sandish-reddish hair with very fair skin. The tropical sun was not kind to him and he suffered a lot with prickly heat when we first arrived in Malaya’.” Niel also had contact with Don Wall, who wrote a book about the sinking of the Rakuyo Maru, and he wrote back that he knew Tom well. “Don and Tom jumped into the water together when the Rayuyo Maru was torpedoed, but he did not see him again after that. “The irony of having been through so much and then being on a ship that was sunk by a US submarine. There were no signs on the ship to say it carried POWs. This knowledge has always moved me. “Both families got caught up in the bureaucracy of the Army. There was some compensation paid to ex POWs or their families. It was all cold advice. No chaplain came to the door. You would just receive these letters.” I ask Niel if he could talk to him today, what would he ask him. “I guess I’m intrigued as to what kept them going in the depths of the Burma Thai Railway. Hundreds of thousands

of local people, Burmese and Thai, also died during the building phases. There was such inhumanity, such coldness, terror, fear that all these people experienced for weeks and years.” Niel says, “He lived a life for 33 years and then he left the country to fight on unknown lands – he left behind no wife, no children. So, when he died that was it – there was nothing to go forward with. It all ended in that ocean. But I’d like people to know something about him. He wasn’t just a man who drowned at sea on a particular day. “I wanted to try to tell the human story of someone who fought hard, lost mates alongside him in heavy fighting in Malaya. The whole story of the capture of Singapore is heartbreaking. And then having survived the railway torture, they were packed into trains and sent to a ship that got torpedoed! To drown at the end of it. It’s mind bogglingly sad, isn’t it?” Niel says, “One of the highlights of my career was being the Navy contingent guard commander for the funeral of the Unknown Soldier that took place at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra in 1993.” Now, the Last Post Ceremony is held at 4.30pm every day to commemorate a person whose name is on the Roll of Honour - soldier, airman, sailor, nurse by reading out their biography. In doing this we remember someone who died on that day. In this way, their stories are told because they can no longer tell them themselves. In that sense, they are all unknown soldiers. We have lost so many of their stories, but the stories we can recover are all we have to ensure their sacrifice is not forgotten.

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9 NOVEMBER 2026 HINTERLAND TIMES

Take a step towards better wellbeing M

edicare Mental Health Check In offers free digital support to guide you through life's challenges. No referral or diagnosis needed.

Their free digital programs help you work on your wellbeing whenever and wherever suits you, with tools and guidance at your fingertips. They use a safe, evidencebased approach to help you manage early mental health concerns or symptoms.

You can do the programs on your own or with support from one of their qualified mental health practitioners. It starts with a phone call. If you want to speak to someone now, or want to hear about other services in your area, you can call Medicare Mental Health directly. It's available 8.30am–5pm weekdays (excluding public holidays). Call 1800 595212. You can request a callback directly from the Medicare Mental Health Check In team to find out if the service is right for you.

What happens when you call

Calling Medicare Mental Health is free for anyone seeking support and guidance. Whether for yourself or for someone you care about, experienced professionals are there to listen. Most calls take around 30 minutes, but they can run a little longer depending on your situation. All conversations are private and confidential. Making a phone call to someone you don’t know can feel like a big step, especially if you’re not used to talking about how you’re feeling. But it’s an important step to make sure you get the right kind of support, without wasting your time. The call helps the Medicare Mental Health professional understand which service might be right for you; support your safety and wellbeing, especially if things have been building up; match you to the best support options for what you're experiencing, and recommend other options if Medicare Mental Health Check In isn’t the right fit for you. Remember, you’re always in control. On the call, you can share a much or as little as you want, ask questions, and take a break. You can also end the call at any time. If you've been feeling anxious, down, overwhelmed, or unsure where to start, you're not alone. Medicare Mental Health Check In programs are designed for people who are starting to experience mental health challenges, are aged 16 or older, live and are currently in Australia. Help is also available if you need additional accessibility support, such as interpreting services or assistive tools, or are living with disability.

10 NOVEMBER 2026 HINTERLAND TIMES

Let’s Talk Business

The awards keep coming for AJ's Country Meats!

THE AWARDS KEEP COMING! This month we asked Andrea Beard, from AJ’s Country Meats in Palmwoods, to share what life is like for a local, award-winning, hugely popular butcher’s shop.

By VICTORIA MCGUIN

I

f you haven’t visited AJ’s Country Meats in Palmwoods, I highly recommend you do. Their award-winning kabanas, or their regular ‘Whacky Sausages’ are reason enough! My personal favourite breakfast ‘whacky’ sausage is Vegemite and Cheese, followed by Bacon, Waffle and Maple Syrup, but they constantly experiment with new combinations. Justin and Andrea Beard were both born and raised in the country, in a small town out west called Wandoan. “I grew up on a cattle property, the eldest of five children, while Justin was the youngest in his family, with an older sister,” shared Andrea. “We both attended the same school, and although I knew Justin growing up, it wasn’t until after we’d finished school that our paths crossed again. We’ve been inseparable ever since!” Justin’s passion for butchering started at a young age, having grown up surrounded by generations of butchers and their knowledge of the trade. Combined with Andrea’s upbringing on a cattle property, they shared a genuine passion for quality meat, traditional butchering and everything that comes with it. That passion eventually led to them opening their own butcher shop in Taroom in 2018. “We wanted to create something special — a place where quality mattered, traditional skills were valued, customers felt welcome and we could take pride in everything we produced,” said Andrea. But there’s another part to their story. “For years, our favourite place to escape to on holidays was the Sunshine Coast Hinterland. We spent many holidays at beautiful places like Secrets on the Lake and Narrows Escape Rainforest Retreat. We absolutely fell in love with the area, its natural beauty, the rainforest and the peaceful lifestyle. “We would often dream about how wonderful it would be to live somewhere so beautiful one day. But at the time, it was just that — a dream. Well, they say be careful what you wish for!” Andrea said with a big smile. “After six years of pouring our hearts and souls into our butcher shop in Taroom, we’d grown and expanded the business to what we felt was its full potential. In 2023, we were awarded Queensland Butcher Shop of the Year, along with 13 awards at the Australian Charcuterie Excellence Awards. Those achievements gave us the confidence to dream even bigger.

“And then, almost as though it was meant to be, we discovered that the butcher shop in Palmwoods was for sale. Of all the places it could have been, it was right in the heart of the Hinterland we’d fallen in love with all those years ago.” They took the leap, packed up their lives and their passion, and brought AJ’s Country Meats to Palmwoods. “What we’ve found here is so much more than we ever imagined,” Andrea admitted, “a beautiful community that has welcomed us with open arms, supported our passion and made us feel right at home. “We’ve focused on building a wonderful team of friendly, welcoming ladies who work alongside me out the front, looking after our customers. This allows Justin and the butchers to concentrate on what they do best out the back — cutting quality meat, making sausages, producing our award-winning smallgoods and keeping up with demand. “We’ve learnt that having the right people in the right roles makes an enormous difference, and we’re incredibly grateful for the team we have.”

customers as they tried their luck. Then came that magical moment when a customer actually guessed the exact weight! “Well, you should have heard us! The whole shop erupted in cheers, clapping and excitement. You would have thought we’d all won the lottery! But what made it truly special was the look on our winning customer’s face. That smile was unforgettable!” Andrea and Justin believe life is too short not to enjoy it. “There will always be challenges, setbacks and people who might try to dull your sparkle, but you have to believe in yourself, stay positive and keep shining. “And when things get tough, sometimes the best thing you can do is have a good laugh, dust yourself off and keep going! “Life’s too short not to sparkle and laugh along the way!” AJ’s Country Meats, 2/4 Margaret St, Palmwoods 4555 / Phone: 5445 9006 / Website: ajscountrymeats.com

“Each day, by 6.30am, we are at the shop, ready to get stuck into it! Knives to sharpen, meat to cut, steaks to slice and display cabinets to fill with all the favourites — kebabs, burgers, wing pops, sausages and everything in between.Then the doors open, and we’re off! “Because we make everything ourselves, right here in-store, from our burgers, sausages and kebabs to our award-winning smallgoods, all handcrafted from scratch, it’s a never-ending cycle of production. “Throughout the day, we’re juggling customer orders, serving, preparing meat and keeping those display cabinets looking full and inviting. And just when you think you’re getting ahead, another rush of customers comes through the door! “Before we know it, it’s time to clean, pack everything away and close the doors at 5.30pm. If all goes to plan, we’re heading home around 6pm.” Andrea shared one of her fondest memories since moving to Palmwoods. “Last year we decided to have a bit of fun with our customers — guess the exact weight of the Christmas ham and you win it! “Our whole team got involved, and we had an absolute ball watching, encouraging and cheering on

11 NOVEMBER 2026 HINTERLAND TIMES

COMMUNITY All the workshops will begin with a walk through the Butterfly Garden with a Friends Guide. Plant stalls from Mooloolah River Landcare and Forest Heart Nurseries will be on site from 8am to 1pm to assist with your plant selection. Head to Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Gardens, Palm Creek Road, Tanawha, $10 per person/child, bookings are essential as numbers are limited, via Eventbrite Sunshine Coast. Contact: friendsofmaroochybotanicgardens.org.au

Maleny Pony Club celebrates! Maleny Pony Club President Rebecca (Bec) Elston has been named Pony Club Australia's 2026 Volunteer of the Year, recognising her outstanding dedication to the Club and wider equestrian community. The national award celebrates volunteers whose leadership, commitment and generosity help create safe, welcoming and rewarding experiences for riders. Maleny Pony Club has a proud history of volunteers being recognised for their exceptional contributions. Christine Mumford, a founding member of the Club in 1968, previously received the Maleny Sports and Recreational Club Volunteer Award and remains actively involved today. Bec's contribution spans everything from organising competitions and securing grants to maintaining facilities, supporting families and strengthening Club operations. For Maleny Pony Club, this recognition celebrates something bigger - the extraordinary volunteers who generously give their time to ensure riders of all ages can learn, develop friendships and enjoy their horses. With monthly musters, competitions and learning opportunities, the Club welcomes riders of all ages and abilities, including adults. (Pictured: Rebecca Elston (left) and Christine Mumford (right).) Interested in joining in 2027? Contact malenyponyclub@gmail.com to discover what Maleny Pony Club has to offer.

ALWAYS BUYING and SELLING

Butterfly Workshops The Friends of the Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic gardens are celebrating the opening of the new Butterfly Garden and are hosting two workshops for adults wishing to plant more butterfly attracting native plants, and two workshops for children to help them learn more about our beautiful butterflies. The Children's Workshop 1: from 8.30am to 10am, for 5-7 year olds, is to design and decorate Butterfly Puppets with the Catbird Theatre Group. The Adults Workshop 1: from 8.30am to 10am, showcases native plants for coastal areas, with a talk by Karen Shaw of Forest Heart Nursery. Children's Workshop 2: from 10.30am to 12.30pm, for 8-12 year olds, is to create a short theatrical performance based on the life cycle of the butterfly set to music within the garden, with natural costumes the children will create on the day with the Catbird Theatre Group. Adults Workshop 2: from 11am to 12.30pm, highlights native plants for the Hinterland area with a talk by Cam Burton of Barung Nursery (pictured). At 12.30pm: View a short theatrical performance of the 8-12 year olds showing of their "Life Cycle of the Butterfly" theatre piece.

‘Woodies’ Black Friday Sales Looking for a special Christmas present at a great price? Don’t miss the Blackall Range Woodcrafters Guild Black Friday Special Weekend Sales, on November 28 and 29. Timber slabs and members handmade items for sale, with live demonstrations all weekend, plus four beautiful raffle prizes to win, including a blanket box. A children’s workshop with be held, learning how to put together a stool, as well as taking home a lovely that they make! The children’s workshop will run from 10am – 12pm on November 28. You will also see the impressive display of the wonderful toys made by members, hundreds of which are donated to the Salvation Army each year, for underprivileged families and Christmas toy appeals. Come along to meet the ‘Woodies’ at Montville Sportsground, Montville, open Saturday 9am - 3pm and Sunday 9am - 2pm. There will be signs showing you the way to find them!

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12 NOVEMBER 2026 HINTERLAND TIMES

COMMUNITY follow-up to the walk held in September on the western side of Currie Street which everyone enjoyed immensely. This walk will continue along Howard Street, discussing what buildings used to be there and what is there now using many old photographs and then back via Lowe Street. This will be great way to learn more of the history of Nambour. As numbers are limited, bookings must be made prior to the day. Cost is $10 which can be paid by phoning Genealogy Sunshine Coast on 07-5329-2315 or visiting their premises in Petrie Park Road, opposite the Aquatic Centre. Please bring a hat, water and good walking shoes.

Local businesses are also encouraged to contribute, whether through donated products, gift vouchers, experiences or filling a box together as a team. All donations will be delivered to Maleny Neighbourhood Centre in support of their Christmas Day Brekky. Together, even the smallest acts of kindness can make a big difference. To participate, visit REMAX Hinterland at 32 Maple Street, Maleny, or contact Michelle Soper on 0484 940 616.

Remembrance Day This Remembrance Day, join your local RSL in honouring those who gave their lives in service. Tuesday 11 November 2025 marks the anniversary of the Armistice that ended fighting with Germany in World War I. Every year at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, millions around the world pause in silence to remember the sacrifices many have made so we can enjoy life today. Lest We Forget There will be services across the Sunshine Coast and hinterland, including Nambour, Maleny, Beerwah, Caloundra, Caboolture, Gympie, and Bli Bli. For more details on services, stories, activities and to donate to the Poppy Appeal, head to the website: remembertoremember.com.au

Landsborough Craft Group 20 Days of Giving This Christmas, REMAX Hinterland is joining forces with Maleny Neighbourhood Centre to bring a little extra kindness to the community through a Reverse Advent Calendar initiative. Unlike a traditional Advent Calendar, where you receive a treat each day, a Reverse Advent Calendar is all about giving. From December 1-20, participants add one item daily to a box - non-perishable food, toiletries or Christmas treats - creating a thoughtful collection for those experiencing hardship.

Nambour Historical Walk The historical walk on the eastern side of Currie Street, Nambour, is happening on Thursday November 5, meeting at the library in Bury Street at 9am. This is a

Getting involved is easy! Collect a box from REMAX Hinterland, fill it at home and return it by December 21. Can't commit to a full box? Simply drop individual items into the Maleny office and the team will compile them for you.

The Landsborough Craft Group is launching the Season of Giving. Whether you would like a special Christmas card, a handmade decoration, items of clothing, or one of the many other items on display come explore and enjoy. If you would like a practical or pretty gift, the members have created plenty of suitable choices. Bring your children, the members have also created a range of small affordable gifts for children to choose for parents, grandparents or friends so they can learn that Christmas is a time for sharing. Come, explore and choose a special item for your family members, for your friends or just to help celebrate the season of giving. See you at the Landsborough School of Arts Hall on Old Landsborough Road, Landsborough on Saturday November 18 from 8.30am to 2pm, and any Saturday until Christmas.

HINTERLAND MARKETS YOUR GUIDE TO WHAT'S ON 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

SwimSafe pool care Mobile pool maintenance & repairs Swimming pool safety inspections Locally owned & operated by Lawrence Ziliotto FOR ALL YOUR POOL & SPA NEEDS 0448 793 148 | www.swimsafeqld.com.au

13 NOVEMBER 2026 HINTERLAND TIMES

CREATIVE CUTS

ALMOST TIME FOR THE WOODFORD FOLK FESTIVAL! Charlie Needs Braces

Frank Yamma

Sons of Atticus

The Dreggs

14 NOVEMBER 2026 HINTERLAND TIMES

For six days and nights each December, an almost mythical town rises in a glorious valley an hour north of Brisbane, and becomes Australia's temporary capital of music, art and culture. Woodford Folk Festival has unveiled the programme for its 39th edition; an irresistible invitation to join an annual pilgrimage that lands thousands of Australians in a walkable village to celebrate music, art, crafts and community. Held on Jinibara Country from December 27 to January 1 at Woodfordia, in the City of Moreton Bay, the Festival brings together over 2800 individual artists and presenters, including representatives from 42 Indigenous Nations and 14 countries, across more than 1,500 programmed shows, workshops and presentations. Tickets are on sale now, with admission buying access to the country’s largest all-ages, multi-generational, multi-genre cultural event in a celebration of talent impossible to condense beyond its printed programme book and website. To mention just a few of the artists making their Woodford debut: the rambunctious Playlunch; Kenyan/Australian hiphop chameleon Elsy Wameyo; DEVAURA – described by Urthboy as one of the best artists working in Australia today; party punk band DZ Deathrays; divine songwriter Stella Bridie; cultural powerhouse Jamaica Moana; viral indie-pop trio Birdland; indie-folk act Sons of the East and cabaret superstar, Reuben Kaye with his cheeky show, Hard to Swallow. "Woodford is a town you come to live in and create daily rituals, exploring our village and all its creative offerings," said Festival Director Amanda Jackes. "For six days it becomes a world of music and art, and everyone who walks through the gate helps to make it special. " "It is a beautiful challenge to annually put together a programme that celebrates art, culture and connection in which we can welcome back old friends and introduce fantastic new artists and presenters" said Head of Programming, Chloe Goodyear. "Our whole team works hard to create something that feels fresh, celebratory and immersive with 65% new content each year while still having it recognisably Woodfordian.” This year’s snapshot of the best of contemporary Australia includes Sunshine Coast duo The Dreggs, who’ve had a meteoric rise since they first played the festival in 2019. “We can’t wait to play Woodford, such an amazing festival and just down the road from where we grew up. What a way to round out the year, bring it on!” said The Dreggs. They are joined by national luminaries Peter Garrett & The Alter Egos, who will this year deliver a fantastic sundown set as well as a talk on the AUKUS enquiry. Folk-pop superstars Sons of the East, the always sensational Kate Miller-Heidke, world-travelling folk duo the Pierce Brothers, the fabulous Stiff Gins, living national treasure Frank Yamma, Jem Cassar-Daley, sunny folk/rock traveller Kim Churchill, folk sister duo The Maes, the luminous Georgia Mooney, folk legend Kavisha Mazzella and The Little Stevies are included on this year’s lineup. Vikki Thorn of The Waifs will melt down the Amphigrande as ThornBird, and Australian Idol's Dylan Wright – well-known to Woodfordians as the original frontman of party-starters the Hot Potato Band – plays his own show and another with his country outfit Sons of Atticus, while Hot Potato Band also return. International guests include phenomenal Irish/UK flute and whistle quartet Flook, Aotearoa's trailblazing political alt-pop artist Theia, rising English folk superstar Katherine Priddy, Estonia's mesmerising Duo Ruut, and Scotland's bluegrass duo Rain of Animals. Canada’s contributions include the return of alt-folk powerhouses The East Pointers, alongside powerful roots and soul singer Shakura S'Aida, the remarkable Irish Mythen, newcomer, shredding blues guitarist and songwriter Logan Richard, folk nomad Tennyson King 百城 – and that’s not even everyone. As usual, First Nations voices run through the whole programme. Stiff Gins, Frank Yamma, Jem Cassar-Daley, Jess Hitchcock, Pirritu and Charlie Needs Braces share the bill with Jinibara Dance Group, Jinibara Speaks, Gubbi Gubbi Dance, Badjtala Dancers and Mayi Wunba, and with writers and thinkers including Professor Chelsea Watego, Nardi Simpson, Claire G. Coleman, The Monks of Tibet and Laniyuk among many others. New additions to the programme this year include Stardust Songwriters, a nightly folk club in an alcohol-free precinct. Each night four singer-songwriters share a song circle focused on craft and lyrics, followed by a featured artist, with space available for patrons to bring along crafting projects – a quieter space within evenings often characterised by enormous high energy dance parties. The Spirit of Woodford has been reimagined as the Festival Filmmakers Fast Film Comp, in which patrons aged 10 and up are invited to use their phones to make a 45 to 60 second film during the first two days of the festival, with help on hand for shooting and editing. Audiences will be treated to a dazzling array of comedy, circus and cabaret, and the Tinlids Children's Festival returns with a gorgeous programme of delights for little folk. If new skills are on your to-do list before the end of another year, you can turn the Festival into one big masterclass, with an Arts and Crafts programme, dance workshops and the Music Camp with experienced instructors. You can also follow a path of wellness through the Meditation in Motion programme, with an abundance of various yoga styles, movement and breathwork, meditations, environmental walks and wanders, forest-bathing, Hilltop sunrises and time swimming in Lake Gkula. The Festival builds to New Year's Eve and carries on through New Year's Day, with the Monks of Tibet hosting the annual Sunrise Ceremony on the morning of January 1, and closing that evening with the spectacular Renewal Ceremony. Tickets, including day and season passes with or without camping, are on sale now at woodfordfolkfestival.com. The Woodford Folk Festival is supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland.

Georgia Mooney

Woodfordia - image Marek.Knappe

Woodfordia - image somefx

CREATIVE CUTS

COUNTRY WITH TOM WAGNER  ACMA welcomes acclaimed country artist Tony Wagner to the stage as special guest artist at their concert on Sunday November 15. With over 30 years in Country Music, Tony is a highly respected Australian country artist known for his polished musicianship, distinctive vocals and passionate love of entertaining. Performing classic country, Australian favourites, rock and roll, easy listening and more, Tony delivers a great song, a great sound and a fantastic show! Guaranteed entertainment! You’ll also enjoy popular country music and other upbeat, crowd-pleasing favourites from talented local artists backed by their great house band, Shades of Country. See you at the Hall of Fame, 24 Steggalls Road. Doors open 10am, 11 am start, with a raffle and door prizes, refreshments, sausage sizzle, free tea and coffee. Entry is $15, members $10. ACMA is a not-for-profit organisation and the proceeds will go towards the upkeep of the hall.

OUTSPOKEN PRESENTS On November 19, 6 for 6.30pm at the Maleny Community Centre, Inga Simpson will be speaking about her passion project, A TreeLovers Guide to Australia. Over the last two years she has travelled all over our continent researching the stories of remarkable trees. The result is an exquisite book, a sensational tour of beautiful, historic, rare, trees, lavishly illustrated with her own photographs. Inga is the acclaimed author of seven works of fiction including Mr Wigg, Nest and Willowman, but ​she is also recognised as one of the foremost and strongest voices in Australian Nature writing. Her wonderful book Understory, a Life with Trees, was short-listed for the Adelaide Writers Week non-fiction prize. Inga is also an excellent landscape (and night-sky) photographer. ​​Inga was born in central west NSW. After living in Canberra, Brisbane, and the Sunshine Coast hinterland, she has settled on the far south coast of NSW. She began her career as a professional writer for government before gaining a PhD in creative writing and then, another one (Doctor Doctor in the German parlance) in English Literature, examining the history of nature writing on this continent. Outspoken is very pleased to be able to present a full-day workshop with Inga on the day after the event, Writing Nature. It will focus on techniques for bringing landscape, flora and fauna to life, including discussion and exercises around evocative description, effective use of emotion, and the importance of story. Attendees will also consider writing from an ecological perspective, and the challenges of writing with an environmental message. Outspoken tickets are $30 and $20 for students. Visit: outspokenmaleny.com to book for the talk and workshop.

LOCAL THEATRICAL

TREAT

Closer is Patrick Marber’s powerful, yet darkly humorous, modern masterpiece. It scooped both the Olivier and Tony awards. Perhaps it was best described by Variety magazine in New York as … “bruising and beautiful, shatteringly funny and devastatingly sad. The play’s dialogue has a raw emotionality rarely heard in art or life... cuts like broken glass... full of bitter, intelligent, unvarnished truth.” Closer needs commitment. Commitment from the audience, and especially from the actors. There are only four in the cast and there’s never a moment for any of them to hide! Shane McLennan, Sophie Armstrong, Kenya Geurts and Charlie Harrison are committed, brave and honest performers. Come and share their experience. It’s not pretty, but it’s real. You might even see yourself somewhere in this hot mess. Produced by SRT and directed by Simon Denver. Warning! This play contains sexually explicit language and concepts. Maleny Playhouse, November 13, 14 (matinee and evening); 15 (matinee), and Black Box Theatre Nambour, November 20, 21 (matinee and evening); 21 (matinee). For Maleny tickets, visit events.humanitix.com/closer, for Nambour tickets, visit events. humanitix.com/closer-nambour.

15 NOVEMBER 2026 HINTERLAND TIMES

Letters The problem with big party politics

There are many websites that rate the most successful democracies in the world. While these often use different criteria to rank them, it is perhaps not surprising that many of the same countries appear in the top ten of most lists. What is surprising to me at least is that Australia usually makes the top ten even if it’s towards the bottom of the list, usually just behind New Zealand. Maybe our government is not as terrible as we sometimes despair. Most of the top ten are European democracies usually including Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Ireland and Netherlands. In fact, New Zealand and Australia are often the only non-European countries. However, Australia stands out because it is always the only country that is not governed by a parliament made up of a coalition of small minority parties. It seems that the most successful democracies are those whose governments consist of a coalition of small, special interest parties leading to a more consensus driven debate. In contrast, Australian governments are dominated by big parties that are adversarial in nature as they fight for an outright majority to govern. This often results in “the Tyranny of the Majority” as minority concerns are not addressed. Australia scores heavily because of two key factors – its voting is compulsory and preferential. It is commonly regarded that these result in a more representative government. However, once elected, parliamentarians are expected to follow the agreed party line in debating and voting on matters. This dominance of party control severely limits the quality of parliamentary debate – even at the committee level. In minority, coalition governments, smaller minority parties don’t have fixed policies on everything the parliament considers so members are free to vote on behalf of their constituency or on their own beliefs, as well as on party policy. As a result, the debate becomes more driven in reaching a consensus than achieving a majority decision.

LETTERS, LEUNIG AND LIGHT RELIEF 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.

This means that government is being seen as more representative and less driven by unknown, outside interests. Politicians become more valued by their constituency when they do represent them and are in less danger of being exposed to angry, disenfranchised voters. Needless to say, the biggest democracies entrenched in big party politics do not rate very highly. The USA is usually ranked well below most European democracies, as is the United Kingdom. These countries also experience more political violence and more violence directed at politicians than more successful democracies. Increasing ‘heat’ in Australian politics suggests we need to take stock of our political system. The problem of big party politics is that policies are presented to appeal to so many different interest groups in the electorate that they almost become meaningless. We value public health care but will reduce public spending are plainly opposing policies. We will protect worker’s rights, but limit the power of unions, is likewise contradictory. As big parties ‘tweak’ how they present policies to different interests in the electorate, so their electioneering promises become even more dubious. Perhaps it is time to encourage a greater diversity of political parties and independents to revitalise our tired, divisive political system. Doug Patterson

Clarifying the confrontation Craig Hill has written a rather extraordinary letter (Oct 26 HT) accusing me of threatening behaviour, intimidation and attempting to incite violence outside Queensland Parliament House. There’s just one problem with his account. He has conveniently left out the circumstances that led to the confrontation in the first place. The Legalise Cannabis Queensland Party turned up to hold its own rally immediately following a One Nation event. That’s perfectly fine. They have every right to protest, just as

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Falls back (4) Shrewdly (8) Capital of Ontario (7) State indirectly (5) Annulment (12) Write a music score (6) Small cave (6) Act of reclamation (12) Misplaces (5) Attentive (7) Male comedian (8) Type of highenergy radiation (1-3)

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Tempting (8) Element with atomic number 5 (5) Damages (6) Indifferent to (12) Notable feat (7) Spool-like toy (4) Contagiously (12) Understate (8) Treachery (7) Respiratory condition (6) Conclude; deduce (5) Musical staff sign (4)

everybody else does. What they didn’t have was the right to commandeer a stage that didn’t belong to them, that they hadn’t paid for and that they had no authority to use. And that’s precisely where the problem started. The stage, sound equipment and associated infrastructure had been organised and paid for by the One Nation event organisers. The Legalise Cannabis representatives decided they were entitled to take possession of that equipment and began placing their political signage on the stage without permission. When challenged, rather than respecting the property and arrangements of the people who had actually paid for the event, they became confrontational. I removed their signage from a stage they had no authority to occupy. That’s the dispute in a nutshell. But apparently, according to Craig Hill, defending your own equipment and refusing to allow another political organisation to commandeer it now constitutes intimidation and an attempt to incite violence. What an extraordinary interpretation of events. Hill goes considerably further, accusing me personally of threatening women, attempting to provoke violence and behaving in a manner that supposedly required police intervention. I categorically reject those allegations. And I find it particularly interesting that Hill has chosen to publish these serious accusations in a newspaper rather than provide any independently verifiable evidence supporting them. He wasn’t the person responsible for organising or paying for the stage. Yet he apparently feels qualified to lecture those of us who were about how we should have responded when another political group attempted to take it over. The irony here is remarkable. The Legalise Cannabis representatives wanted to exercise their democratic right to protest, but appeared unwilling to respect the property rights of another organisation exercising exactly the same democratic freedom. They wanted access to equipment they hadn’t paid for, and when that access was refused, the narrative suddenly became one of intimidation and victimhood. Now, weeks later, Craig Hill is continuing that narrative in the local newspaper. If Hill genuinely believes I attempted to incite violence, I invite him to produce the evidence. Not his interpretation, not second-hand allegations and not emotive descriptions designed to portray one side as victims. Actual evidence. Because there is a significant difference between threatening somebody and confronting somebody who is attempting to take possession of equipment they have no right to use. I also reject the suggestion that the women involved should somehow be immune from being challenged over their conduct simply because they are women. Everybody deserves to be treated respectfully, but everybody is equally responsible for respecting the rights and property of others. The attempt to introduce their personal histories into this dispute is particularly inappropriate. Those circumstances have absolutely nothing to do with who owned the stage or who had permission to use it. Craig Hill finishes by lecturing One Nation about its duty of care and controlling its supporters. Perhaps he should start by asking whether the Legalise Cannabis organisers had any right to interfere with another organisation’s event infrastructure in the first place.

Unscramble the letters in the shaded squares to reveal a themed word:

The entire confrontation could have been avoided had they simply respected the boundaries of an event they weren’t organising. Instead, we now have a newspaper letter containing serious personal accusations against me, while the original issue of who had authority over the stage has been almost entirely ignored.

Quick Quote

You don’t get to commandeer somebody else’s stage, become confrontational when you’re challenged, and then rewrite the entire incident to portray yourself as the victim. That’s not democracy. That’s entitlement. And Craig Hill should know the difference.

"To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all." The Picture of Dorian Gray 16 OCTOBER 2026 HINTERLAND TIMES

16 NOVEMBER 2026 HINTERLAND TIMES

— - Oscar Wilde

Happy to provide videos of the incident as it happened, as well as to verify my position here: Craig Hill has defamed me in his letter and a right of reply is only fair. Kind Regards Scott Challen, CEO, The QHI Group

Poets

CORNER

Poets are illustrators of words that create beauty and intensity, and the HT is proud to give them a platform. Please send poems for possible publication to editor@hinterlandtimes.com.au

IN REMEMBRANCE AND IN HOPE

MOTHER EARTH

With the night sky filled with luminous stars, There's a crispness in the air, The day is here to remember them, For the fallen, we'll say a prayer.

With a lump in my throat, and tear in my eye, I see the pain etched in their face, I hope that lessons are learnt here today, And we move forward with harmony and grace.

With respectful anticipation, The crowd gathers patiently around the shrine, The assembly all prepared in readiness, For when dawn breaks, signalling time.

For it's important we learn from our collective past, The mistakes of the human race, For our children and generations to come, To live in a more peaceful place.

Flags slowly lowered to half mast, Hymns are sung, wreaths are laid, Ode of Remembrance recited, Heads lowered, respects are paid.

On this Earth, we were not all born here, To live our lives out in anger and fear, To only see hatred and division, To live in war, year after year.

In time honoured military tradition, The Last Post. Played with patriotism and pride, With honour, the bugle called to many, Even the tough ones are misty eyed.

No. We're here in my humble opinion, With hand on heart I truly believe, To live together in Love and Unity, I don't think I'm blind or naive,

Followed with two minutes of Sacred Silence, And then Reveille, the bugle played, Whilst the flags were raised with purpose, Powerful sentiments conveyed.

For this Earth and life is truly a miracle, We should be thankful for every day, And to honour the gift we've all been given, Temporary custodians in every way,

The Dawn Service, a humbling experience, To witness the brave Diggers, their daughters and sons, Their sacrifices honoured and remembered, Lest We Forget. The fallen ones.

Yes. I have an unwavering truth, a vision, I see with my heart and my minds eye, Of an existence of Love and oneness, Which will enrich us all. Expand and amplify.

Whilst standing there paying my respects, My heart and soul begins to pray, Of No More War and senseless death, Only Love and a peaceful way.

We are now at the fork in the road, the crossroads, In each moment, our choices, big and small, To create the world in which we wish to exist, To live our lives for the better of all. © Bill Tillot

Leunig

If we treat mother earth with more care To cherish her riches and share Her bounty, and stop mining bulldozing and whining Then forever more she'll be there © Mike Foale

Bad Jokes of the Month An elderly couple is in church. The wife leans over and whispers to her husband, "I just let out a long, silent fart. What should I do?" The husband replies, "First off, replace the batteries in your hearing aid!" A: I have the perfect son. B: Does he smoke? A: No, he doesn’t. B: Does he drink alcohol? A: No, he doesn’t. B: Does he ever come home late? A: No, he doesn’t. B: I guess you really do have the perfect son. How old is he? A: He will be six months old next Wednesday.

Maggie

17 NOVEMBER 2026 HINTERLAND TIMES

BACK TO NATURE

Goliath

turns

50! Aldabra giant tortoise Goliath is celebrating a major milestone, turning 50 years old after spending almost 30 years at Australia Zoo.

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orn in 1976, Goliath has been part of the Australia Zoo family since 1997 and has become a much-loved family member, known by generations of keepers who have cared for him throughout his time at the Zoo. Australia Zoo Reptile Keeper Katelyn Dunsmuir said Goliath’s long history at the Zoo has made his 50th birthday particularly special. “Goliath is still relatively young at 50, with Aldabra giant tortoises capable of living up to 200 years. To celebrate his birthday, we prepared a cake with his favourite foods, including watermelon, rockmelon and berries, decorated with carrot love hearts and topped with green beans for candles. He enjoyed his special birthday treat alongside his friend, Jarvis,” said Katelyn. “Goliath loves spending time with his keepers, especially when he gets a good scratch across his shell. Aldabra giant tortoises are incredibly intelligent, so it’s always special to slow down and spend quality time with Goliath,” she said. “Aldabra giant tortoises are classed as a vulnerable species, so Goliath plays an important role as an

In the Wild

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ambassador for his wild counterparts. Having him here at Australia Zoo gives people the chance to connect with these wonderful animals and learn more about why protecting them matters.” Aldabra giant tortoises (Aldabrachelys gigantea) are native to the Aldabra Atoll in the Seychelles. They are among the largest tortoises in the world, with adults capable of weighing more than 200 kilograms and growing to over one metre in length. Their long necks allow them to reach vegetation above ground level, while their powerful legs and large, domed shells help them thrive in the challenging conditions of their island home. Wildlife conservationist Bindi Irwin said, “Goliath is a wonderful ambassador for Aldabra giant tortoises, and turning 50 is such a special milestone. It’s beautiful to see the connection people have with him and the love he inspires for his species.” For the Australia Zoo team, Goliath’s birthday is a celebration of one of our most beloved residents and the special place he holds after almost three decades at the Zoo.

with Spencer Shaw

The Humble Gum Tree

um trees (Angophora, Eucalypt and Corymbia spp.) are iconic Australian trees. They occur in almost all Australian ecosystems from deserts, to rainforests, from beach sides to mountain tops, from the tropics to the Australian Alps.

backyards and although gum trees are a national icon, they are just too big for your average backyard.

So where am I going with this, I hear you say? Am I challenging the iconic status of the great Aussie gum tree, not quiet... just trying to save you a lot of money when it comes to tree management, by suggesting you don’t plant the bigger gum trees in small backyards and near infrastructure.

Too often gum trees are planted as a fast-growing windbreak or privacy barrier, close to houses and fences. Within a few There are a few gum trees that are years the privacy barrier is gone, as the small, such as the Plunkett Mallee - Eucalyptus trees race upwards leaving a bare trunk. curtisii, but the vast majority of gum trees are Also within a decade or so, there starts a However, all the attributes that big, some are very big. The Mountain Ash rain of branches, with the associated hazard make the bigger Gum Trees bad for Eucalyptus regnans – is the tallest flowering of heavy sharp bits of timber plummeting the backyard are their greatest assets in plant in the world, from Victoria and Tasmania earthward in your backyard! the bush and for growing timber, they and recorded historically at over 120 metres, produce some of the finest durable Then there’s the gum leaves clogging timbers in the world. believe it or not the last big ones were cut gutters if planted within 20-40 metres of down to measure... Closer to home we have yours or your neighbour’s house. On the They are fast-growing and hardy Blackbutt - Eucalyptus pilularis and Flooded Blackall Range two non-local gum trees trees, they can live for hundreds of Gums - Eucalyptus grandis, with the latter have also been extensively planted and years and the hollows that form in the recorded as up to 75 metres! they are Gympie Messmate (Eucalyptus trunk and branches are the ultimate Gum trees are big trees for a “Big cloeziana) and White Gum (Eucalyptus in high rise accommodation for many Country”, however most of us don’t live in dunnii), they both grow ridiculously quickly of our unique fauna ... just don’t plant the “Big Country”. Most of us live in small and ridiculously big. them next to your Hills Hoist!

Forest Heart Local Native Plant Nursery 18 NOVEMBER 2026 HINTERLAND TIMES

20 Coral St, Maleny Phone: 5435 2193

BACK TO NATURE

The rain Is here and so are the snakes! U

nless you have been living under a rock, or just arrived from overseas, you will be aware that the snakes are on the move. Our HT Editor’s son was bitten last week by one hiding in their patio furniture! Snakes are known to be active during spring and summer months, so keep your eyes peeled, and keep close to any small pets when they are outside.

The Department of Environment and Heritage Protection (DEHP) reminds everyone that snakes usually prefer to retreat when encountered, but if surprised or threatened they can become defensive. It is also illegal to have them relocated by anyone other than an authorised snake catcher. Most bites are received by people who try to capture or kill a snake. Anyone who has been to the Maleny Show will have enjoyed the snake-handler with his ‘safety with snakes’ talk, sharing what to do when you see a snake nearby. Keep calm, try to stand still and determine what it is doing; slowly move away unless it’s very close, where in this case the advice is to freeze and keep quiet (they detect movement), and leave it alone.

A NEW CHAPTER FOR ESSE

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hree year old Esse is a sweet Chihuahua x Mini Foxie with a gentle nature, a love of cuddles and plenty of affection to give.

loves her walks and as a young, healthy dog, she will need someone who is able to match her energy levels and give her plenty of exercise, playtime and enrichment. She’ll make a loving, affectionate companion and would be happiest in a home without children, either as an only pet or with a compatible, calm and gentle dog.

She came into the care of 4 Paws Animal Rescue after sadly losing her elderly owners. Until then, she’d lived quite a sheltered life, rarely venturing beyond the familiarity of home. Now this lovely little girl is ready for a new chapter, and a chance to discover just how much fun life can be.

Esse is a healthy young dog. She’s been vet checked, desexed, vaccinated and microchipped. All she needs now is the loving home she very much deserves.

Esse adores the company of her people and is happiest when she’s close to you. She needs a calm, secure home where she can explore new experiences at her own pace, with plenty of patience, reassurance and gentle encouragement. She

If you think you could give Esse her happy ever after, please visit the 4pawsanimalrescue.org.au to learn more and submit an adoption application.

Build a resilient food forest with local natives I magine a garden that feeds you while mostly taking care of itself. That’s the promise of a permaculture food forest — and the secret is using local native plants that have already evolved to thrive here.

Our subtropical natives are low-maintenance champions. They need less water, resist many pests, and support the insects and birds that keep a garden balanced. The Sunshine Coast is rich in native species of all sizes, making them ideal for multi-layered food forests. By integrating local native plants into a “guild” — a community of plants that support one another — you create a self-sustaining system rather

than a high-maintenance plot.

While the options are vast, here is a simple starter guild using local plants:

• Feed the Soil: Emu Foot (Cullen tenax) or Bush Peas (Pultenaea spp.) fix nitrogen and enrich the soil. • Manage Pests: Native Mint (Mentha satureioides) or Yellow Buttons (Chrysocephalum apiculatum) attract predatory insects that help keep aphids under control.

in essential native bees and other pollinators.

• The Reward: Finish with hardy, delicious species such as Midyim Berry (Austromyrtus dulcis) or Blue Tongue (Melastoma malabathricum).

Ready to become an ecosystem architect? Visit Barung Nursery in Maleny to find the local native plants you need to grow a resilient, edible landscape • Boost Harvests: Paper Daisies that gives back. (Image - Fabienne (Xerochrysum bracteatum) or Thyme Honey-myrtle (Melaleuca thymifolia) draw Henderson.)

Barung native Plant nursery

Phone 5494 3151

Parkland Drive Nursery opening times: Wednesday to Saturday 9am - 3pm

Snakes do not have good eyesight, they respond to movement, which scares them, and most snakes do not see in colour. If you stand completely still in front of a snake, it can’t tell the difference between you and a rock or tree. (Again, we have seen the snake-handler at the Maleny Show do this with a variety of species.) During the spring/early summer snakes often bask together or travel together during the mating season, so be aware that if you see one, there may be another nearby! Venomous snakes are dangerous when in a defensive position, coiled, reared back, hissing - so stay out of the strike zone of snakes (roughly two-thirds of a snake’s length). And remember, as the Sunshine Coast Council advises on their website, when left alone, snakes present little or no danger to people.

About That Tree

with Tree Surgeon Tony Wootton, our local arborist and author, meeting the Hinterland's tree needs since 1996

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’d like to share a bit of Maleny tree history with you. If you go down the laneway next to Maleny Co-op off Maple Street, towards the public parking area at the back, and you look to the right, you’ll see a shed and next to that shed, you’ll see the stumps in this photo. You can see the Red Cedar stump wrapping around the Silky Oak stump like two lovers in an embrace. These were two beautiful trees. I climbed them around 20 years ago to do some remedial pruning on the Silky Oak, from which it recovered well. The management of the property obviously decided to have somebody remove the trees, leaving these stumps as a reminder. I can understand the decision to remove the trees because they are both species that get very big and they are very close to buildings. They were two stunning trees that were integral to the character of the town, and they will live on in my memory. Speaking of large trees near buildings, we are now at the beginning of the next storm season, when we can see super storm cells rampaging through our region leaving trials of destruction behind them. This usually involves a lot of tree damage. We can also get the tail-end of rogue cyclones that have the impudence to travel this far south. If you have any concerns, please get your trees assessed by a qualified arborist.

Mobile: 0403 467 664 Mobile: 0403 467 664 Landline: 54 944 917 www.twtreesurgeon.com www.twtreesurgeon.com

19 NOVEMBER 2026 HINTERLAND TIMES

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FRAGILE WINGS OF HOPE

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ucy Haslam featured in the HT in May 2021, when she shared the story of her initial 2017 meeting with fellow cannabis-advocate, Olivia Newton-John, to ‘fill her in’ on the plight of Australian cancer patients. In 2021, the duo were due to meet again at the Australian Medicinal Cannabis Symposium on the Sunshine Coast, which we highlighted in our feature story. It’s been a few years since that interview, but Lucy has now written a memoir.

Late spring influenza surge

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ueenslanders are being urged to stay home if they're sick, as the state battles an unusually late flu season. Queensland Health figures show the number of patients hospitalised with flu is the highest since August 2025. Mater's Director of Infectious Diseases Professor Paul Griffin said there has been an unusual level of influenza activity for this time of year, with an uptick in cases in September and October.

Lucy Haslam was a registered nurse, mother and grandmother living in regional New South Wales when her youngest son, Dan, was diagnosed with stage IV bowel cancer at just 20 years of age. What began as one family's devastating cancer journey ultimately became a national story about medicinal cannabis, patient access, medical practice, stigma, regulation and the right of seriously ill patients to have honest conversations about their treatment options. Lucy never set out to become an activist. She set out to help her son.

"It is atypical. Usually, we have the peak of the season much earlier and cases would be declining by now," Professor Griffin said.

Her new memoir, Fragile Wings of Hope: A Mother's Fight for Truth, Compassion, and Medicinal Cannabis, tells the story behind that extraordinary journey.

The main driver of the later season is likely the unusually low level of cases earlier in the season, driven by the record-breaking number of flu cases last year, Prof Griffin said.

Lucy had spent approximately 20 years working as a registered nurse and had also established and operated a successful home nursing agency.

"Last year was such a huge season with so many people infected that it had an impact on reducing the start of this year's season, and as protection is now waning, we're seeing a much later peak,” Prof Griffin said. "There are fewer cases than the large number we saw last year, but it is important to remind people that influenza is still around." Professor Griffin said it was a timely reminder that infection can happen at any time of the year. "That old assumption that it's just something that happens right in the middle of winter just isn't the case,” he said. "Last year we saw unseasonal levels across even summer, this year we're seeing high numbers now and we're not necessarily through the worst of it," he said. While the state's free flu vaccination program has ended, Professor Griffin said people can still get vaccinated and should be prepared to get vaccinated at the beginning of the season next year. Measures to prevent infection include hand hygiene, mask wearing for people at high-risk, getting tested if you have flu-like symptoms and staying at home.

20 NOVEMBER 2026 HINTERLAND TIMES

Her advocacy brought her into contact with patients, families, doctors, researchers, politicians, regulators, lawyers and others involved in Australia's emerging medicinal cannabis sector. The memoir combines: Dan's cancer journey; Lucy's transformation from nurse and mother into advocate; the family's first experience with medicinal cannabis; Australia's changing medicinal cannabis laws; the science behind the endocannabinoid system and cannabinoids; the experiences of patients and families; the politics and public debate surrounding reform; concerns about stigma, regulation and commercialization, and Lucy's reflections on grief, hope, truth and legacy. Retail /purchase information via: authorlucyhaslam.com. (Pictured: Lucy Haslam and Olivia Newton-John at the 2021 Australian Medicinal Cannabis Symposium on the Sunshine Coast.)

Her husband, Lou Haslam, was a career NSW Police officer with approximately 35 years of service, including many years in the NSW Drug Squad. Their family therefore came to the medicinal cannabis debate from an unusual position. They were not cannabis campaigners. They were a family confronting cancer, desperate to find ways of improving their son's quality of life.

BUSY SEASON AHEAD? DON'T FORGET YOU

As the end of the year approaches, make time to look after yourself. Support your everyday wellbeing with the right vitamins and supplements to help maintain normal immune function and support your nutritional needs during life’s busy seasons. Not sure what’s right for you? Our friendly team at Lindner Family Pharmacy can help you choose the right options for your individual needs.

"There's a well-recognised concept of presenteeism where people think they're doing the right thing by turning up to work, university or school and soldiering on," Professor Griffin said. "But it's well established that the impact on productivity by spreading flu is significant, so we really want people to be staying at home until their symptoms end."

Lucy began speaking publicly about what had happened to Dan and about the difficulties faced by patients attempting to access medicinal cannabis.

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HOLISTIC - Health and Wellbeing

Use Your Mental Edge

Who owns your attention?

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e honest: by JAMIE how often do you pick MILNE up your phone without even knowing why? For many of us, it’s 50, 80, even 100+ times a day. We reach for it in a quiet moment, between tasks, during training, while watching TV sometimes almost automatically. There’s even a term associated with anxiety or discomfort when we’re separated from our phones: nomophobia. But the bigger issue may not be the phone itself. It’s attention. Every unnecessary notification, scroll and pickup is another opportunity for something else to decide where your attention goes. And where your attention goes, your energy follows, ultimately influencing what you think about, how you feel and what you experience. So rather than trying to throw your phone in the ocean, build a structure around it. Here’s the 5-Step JMT Phone Protocol. 1. REMOVE — Eliminate the cues. Turn off every non-essential notification and badge. Remove social media, news and YouTube from your home screen or, ideally, delete them from your phone and access them via desktop when required. Consider putting your phone on greyscale. Most importantly, stop carrying it everywhere simply because you can. Give your phone a physical home in your house or workplace. If it’s always within reach, it’s always competing for your attention. 2. SCHEDULE — Create phone work blocks. Stop responding to your phone all day and start batching your phone work, for example: 7.30–8am | 12–12:30pm | 4–4.30pm. Where practical, use these periods for messages, emails, social media, posting and non-urgent calls. Outside those blocks, the phone goes back to its

home. Important people can still be allowed through for calls and emergencies. The goal isn’t disconnection, it's intentional connection. 3. INTENTION — Name the job before you unlock. Every time you reach for your phone, ask yourself: “What specifically am I picking this up to do?” If you don’t have a clear answer, don’t unlock it. If the answer is, “Reply to Dom,” then reply to Dom and put the phone down. This simple pause may be the most powerful behavioural interruption in the entire protocol. You’re breaking the unconscious stimulus response loop and putting yourself back at cause, rather than simply reacting to your environment. 4. FRICTION — Make distraction harder. Human behaviour is heavily influenced by convenience. So make productive behaviour easy and distraction slightly harder. Use Screen Time and app limits. Block entertainment and social apps during working hours. Keep your charger away from your desk and bedroom. If Instagram or Facebook is genuinely required for your work, access it during scheduled content periods rather than leaving an open doorway to endless scrolling. You don’t necessarily need more discipline. Sometimes you simply need a better environment. 5. SCORE — What gets measured gets modified. For the next 14 days, forget perfection. Instead, record just three numbers each evening: Total Screen Time | Social Media Time | Unplanned Pickups. Don’t judge the numbers. Observe them. Awareness gives you data. Data reveals patterns. Patterns give you something you can actually change. Your phone is an incredible tool. The goal isn’t to make it the enemy. The goal is to make sure you are using your phone rather than your phone using you. Your attention is one of your most valuable resources. Get it back.

jamiemilnetraining.com

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The 5-Step JMT Protocol to Take Back Control of Your Phone

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A purposedriven life

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ith this year coming quickly to a close, I thought it was the perfect time to inspire you for the new year that is just around the corner, to begin to give dream and give vision to it. Every purpose-driven life begins with a single step and the most powerful question you can ask yourself is “What if it works?” This simple yet powerful question became a guiding principle in my life, pushing me to pursue the dreams and aspirations that lit a fire in my soul. Something I’ve learned repeatedly throughout my life is to never doubt the beginnings of a dream in your heart, because our hearts always know best. Sure, sometimes it can feel like a never-ending road of challenges and doubts, but I encourage you to not give up because your determination and effort will lead to the pathway of accomplishment and fulfillment. It’s all about embracing vulnerability, discovering purpose and building confidence from within. Every day I wake up with the aim of creating a life I love. Every one of us has a choice to either seize the day ahead or play our life on repeat. I choose to embrace life and visualise possibilities, and challenge myself to step out of my comfort zone to create a purposeful life. And while fear can sometimes loom large, I remind myself that our greatest achievements often come from our greatest risks. Dreams and purpose coincide with transformation of our image, and when we appreciate this, we uncover our unique path and encounter joy in the journey. Pursuing your passion and purpose go together with alignment and accomplishment and our choices ultimately determine our future. What are you going to choose for your next year? Mediocrity or a purpose-driven life? Blessings, Kerrie x

KerrieFriend.com

21 NOVEMBER 2026 HINTERLAND TIMES

HOLISTIC - Health and Wellbeing

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CHIROPRACTORS 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

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HYPNOTHERAPY 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

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FITNESS, PERSONAL TRAINER ,DANCE

MENTAL PERFORMANCE

Get Active Fitness & Personal Training

Jamie Milne 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.

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

results when co-ordinated with diet and lifestyle wisdom. Order or email online at www.eumundimedicineman.com Book directly by scanning Guaranteed Age Old Natural Remedies.

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AYURVEDIC HERBALS Advertise your business in Eumundi Medicine Man the HT isfrom $63.58 Knowledge the greatest medicine. Potent Vedic remedies that give

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Jamie Milne 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.

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

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PHYSIOTHERAPY Range of Motion Physiotherapy Maleny, Mapleton and Imbil

ongoing per month.

Russ, Karl, and Kathryn. Providing the highest quality care to restore & maintain optimal physical function & mobility. Ph: 5478 6600 www.rangeofmotion.com.au

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HOMEOPATHY

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Pauline Ashford - B.H.Sc, Complementary Med & Homeopathy Classical homeopathy; Lymphatic drainage; Dorn spinal, joint and headache therapy; EFT - Emotional Freedom Techniques; Reiki 130 Ansell Rd Witta – Ph: 5494 4101 E: malenyhomeopathy@gmail.com

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Book here >> www.sunnycoastmedia.com.au/product-page/boost-business-listing 22 NOVEMBER 2026 HINTERLAND TIMES

TRADE AND SERVICES CLOCK REPAIR Advertise your business in Montville Clockshop the HT from $63.58

Repairs for Cuckoo, Grandfather, Mantle, Wall Clocks. Antique clock restoration. We can supply quartz movement and parts, and repair quartz Book directly by scanning clocks. P: 07 5442 9409. www.clockshop.com.au enquiries@clockshop.com.au

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LANDSCAPING & DESIGN continue Stone on the Range Landscapes 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

Advertise your business HANDY MAN AND HOMEin MAINTENANCE the HT from $63.58 Montville Handy Man

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30 years building experience. Available now for carpentry, home mainatenance and repairs, Book directly by scanning small concreting jobs, Propt and reliable service. Call Wayne 0434 724 030.

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

PLANT NURSERIES Forest Heart ecoNursery The Little Nursery with Big Diversity. Specialising in SE QLD native plants, cultivar native plants and fruit trees. 20 Coral Street, Maleny Ph: 07 5435 2193 - www.forestheart.com.au

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

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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

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

SwimSafe Mobile pool maintenance & repairs. Swimming pool safety inspections. FREE QUOTES Proudly servicing the Sunshine Coast Ph: 0448 793 148 – www.swimsafeqld.com.au QBCC #101629

ROOFING

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

POOL MAINTENANCE

Roof & Gutter Maintenance Clean gutters, Blocked downpipes, New & repair downpipes, Roof repairs & leaks, Fix leaking gutters, New gutters & fascias, Install & service whirly birds, Skylights & Water Tanks. Free quotes, local bloke, over 20 yrs experience Phone Brad 0419 712 081

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TRANSPORTATION 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 Wednesday Saturday 9am–3pm, Ph: 0429 943 152 E: nursery@barunglandcare.org.au

UltiMate Transfers 18 years offering elite chauffeur services. Private airport transfers (Sunshine Coast & Brisbane), cruise terminals, weddings. Impeccable, discreet, and tailored travel. Reserve your experience at ultimatetransfers.com.au.

TREE SERVICES 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

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

Tony Wootton Tree Surgeon. Dip Hort(Arb) Operating locally since 1996. Tree assessments and advice. Trees and shrubs pruned and detailed. Hazardous trees removed. M: 0403 467 664 Ph: 54 944 917 www.twtreesurgeon.com

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

Advertise your business in the HT from $63.58

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Book directly by scanning

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ongoing per month.

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23 NOVEMBER 2026 HINTERLAND TIMES

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

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LEGAL SERVICES Baker Robinson Lawyers Sophie Paras - Professional, efficient, relaible and friendly. 5494 2665 Suite 7, 43 Maple St Maleny. Email: sophie@brlawyers.com.au www.brlawyers.com.au

LEGAL SERVICES continue Horizon Legal Group formerly Lember & Williams Suite 3, Banksia House, 66 Maple Street, Maleny 07 5495 1499 hello@horizonlegalgroup.com.au www.horizonlegalgroup.com.au Contact Principal, Penny McCreery

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT Sunshine Coast Hinterland Property Sales & Property Management Curated Marketing for Hinterland Homes & Estates Marlene Thomas | 0423 850 473 Hinterland Property Specialist Local Expertise. Trusted Advice.

REAL ESTATE Easton Lawyers Tove Easton Principal Lawyer Your Local Lawyers in Maleny 62 Maple St, Maleny. Ph: 5494 3511 Email: tove@eastonlawyers.com.au

Brant Property 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

REMAX 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 by appointment 7 Myrtle St Maleny Ph: 5499 9077

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To advertise in the HT and reach our 30,000 plus monthly readership contact 5499 9049 or email production@sunnycoastmedia.com.au

NOTICE OF PRECIPE FOR TWO For the record Philip John Clarris(c) and Kaylene Linda Clarris(c) of Wandoan, Queensland, is permanently Domiciled on the Land and Soil of Terra Australis. I am not a voluntary transactor in commerce a and the paramount security interest holder of all estates, property, assets and collateral, both registered and unregistered, and all association copyright protected trade names Philip John Clarris(c) and Kaylene Linda Clarris(c) House of 26 Hamlyn Street, Wandoan, My lawful reconveyance to the Land and Soil jurisdiction of Terra Australis was recorded with Public Recording Number RPP44 639000 05100 34640 62605 and RPP44 63900 05100 28348 00601 Proclamation Date 10/07/2026. All usufruct subjugation ties have been severed with the occupying corporate government of Australia. The corporate Australian kakistocracy and its affiliates are instructed to immediately cease and desist misaddressing Philip John Clarris(c) and Kaylene Linda Clarris(c) in fraudulent debased Dog-Latin, GLOSSA and to cease and desist infringing upon my estate, property, assets, collateral and copyright protected trade names.

24 NOVEMBER 2026 HINTERLAND TIMES

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HT NEWS ONLINE A page dedicated to community news submitted by the people for the Hinterland www.sunnycoastmedia.com.au/news

LOCAL MUSINGS This is a space for the wide community to submit their considered deliberations on news, life and the idiosyncrasies of our times. Email: editor@hinterlandtimes.com.au

Let’s not import the disease

by ‘THE GHERK’

T

he man arrested over the attack on Helen Haines has now been publicly identified as Brendan Nugent, 43, from Tarrawingee. And before everyone immediately reaches for the ideological jersey, can we please resist doing the American thing for a day. Because within hours of the attack, people had already decided who he must be. One Nation cooker. Radical leftist. Pro-Hamas extremist. Anti-Israel activist. Environmental radical. Pick your tribe, select your villain, screenshot accordingly. The emerging picture is messier. Nugent had previously been involved in anti-logging environmental campaigning. His social media history includes hostility towards Labor, support for some positions, increasingly conspiratorial material and some genuinely extreme rhetoric about Israel, Gaza and the Houthis.

We’ve watched this happen in the United States for years. Every shooting, riot, attack or act of political violence becomes an ideological sporting event before investigators have even packed away the evidence markers. Everyone races to identify the perpetrator’s politics because if he belongs to their side, it proves the other side is evil. If he belongs to "our side", suddenly context becomes extremely important. We cannot import that disease here. This bloke does not represent environmentalists. He does not represent ordinary Australians.

He had also, rather inconveniently for anyone hoping for a neat partisan story, previously supported Helen Haines herself, shared her material and praised her position on multiple fronts. Police still have not publicly established a motive. We are becoming so tribal that the first instinct after something horrific happens is no longer: What happened? It’s: Which team gets blamed? And anyone trying to turn this into a partisan victory lap should be ashamed of themselves. A woman has been seriously injured. Police are still working through motive, evidence, online material, witness accounts and everything else that goes into understanding what happened.

Just as the most cooked Facebook uncle does not represent every ordinary Australian. Extremists are unwell. Left-wing cooker. Rightwing cooker. Religious cooker. Nationalist cooker. Anti-government cooker. I’m sure somewhere out there someone has managed to become a centrist cooker and is currently screaming about the Reserve Bank from inside a Mazda CX-5. The ideology changes. The pattern doesn’t.

This is not the moment to rummage through someone’s social media history looking for the perfect ideological label so you can yell: “SEE. THEIR SIDE.”

A person disappears further into a world where every institution is corrupt, every disagreement is existential, every opponent is evil and every algorithm keeps handing them another piece of content confirming that they alone have seen through the matrix.

That instinct is part of the problem. If your first response to political violence is relief that the alleged attacker can be assigned to the opposing tribe, you’re not defending democracy but treating it like State of Origin.

Fear becomes anger > Anger becomes identity > Identity becomes grievance... And eventually somebody decides normal democratic disagreement is no longer enough.

That is where we should be looking. Not at each other. At the people and systems making enormous amounts of money by keeping us frightened, furious and permanently convinced that half the country is our enemy. Political grifters know fear converts into votes and donations. Influencers know telling you the country is being stolen from you performs better than saying your neighbour probably just disagrees about tax policy. And every day the temperature inches upward.

The attack on Helen Haines should not become another excuse for Australians to divide themselves into camps and start hurling collective blame at one another. It should frighten us into doing the opposite. Get angrier at the people monetising division. Get angrier at the algorithms feeding vulnerable people increasingly extreme rubbish. Get angrier at political actors who know exactly what they are doing when they convince followers that opponents are traitors, enemies or existential threats. And spend a little less time hating the person across the fence because they voted differently. Helen Haines is not a prop in anyone’s culture war. Most Australians are not extremists. Most Australians are not cookers. Most Australians are just trying to get through the week, pay the rent / mortgage, get the kids to school and occasionally argue about whether a tram counts as being on the road. That enormous middle is worth protecting. We’ve watched other countries travel down this road, we don’t have to follow them.

The views expressed in the Local Musings column are the writer’s and not necessarily the views of the HT team.

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Email: editor@hinterlandtimes.com.au If the story is about a charity or group making a positive community impact, the HT would like to give a donation to the group/charity once the story is published.

25 NOVEMBER 2026 HINTERLAND TIMES

REAL ESTATE / INVESTMENT

Australian Property Market Update

6 Gibson Avenue, Maleny

by Michael Yardney - Propertyupdate.com.au

A

ustralia's property markets are continuing to soften, and the spring selling season has done little to restore buyer confidence, with falling prices, weaker auction clearance rates and longer selling times pointing to a market where buyers are increasingly in control. Capital city dwelling values have fallen 1.2% over the past month and are now 3.2% lower than a year ago, with Sydney and Melbourne recording particularly significant annual declines of 8.3% and 7.1% respectively. Meanwhile, the latest weekend auction results provide further evidence of subdued conditions, with the national clearance rate falling to just 43.4%, compared with 67.2% at the same time last year. Interestingly, despite fewer new properties coming onto the market, total advertised listings are 19.1% higher than a year ago, suggesting properties are taking longer to sell as buyers become more selective. Of course, Australia's property markets are far from uniform. While Sydney and Melbourne have seen more pronounced price declines so far this year, the rate of fall seems to be slowing, while Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth property

values are starting to weaken but still show overall increases over the last 12 months. In my view, we're moving through a period of adjustment that will ultimately create opportunities for strategic investors. With less competition and greater negotiating power, those with secure finances, adequate buffers and a longterm perspective may be able to purchase quality investment-grade properties on more favourable terms. You can always beat the averages. While the averages point to a flat or softer year ahead, the good news hasn't changed - you can still beat those averages by investing in the right property in the right location. By that I don't mean chasing the next hotspot. I mean buying quality properties in locations that will outperform over the long term, such as gentrifying suburbs with strong owner-occupier demand. Property also offers something the sharemarket doesn't, which is the ability to improve your results through your own time, skills and knowledge. You don't need to settle for average, because you can add value through refurbishment or redevelopment in a way that simply isn't available to a passive investor.

Land for a tree change? he dream of a Hinterland tree change often

More acreage is not automatically a better

to spend more time outdoors can all be part of the appeal. But how much land does a household actually need?

His current listing at 6 Gibson Avenue, Maleny illustrates the alternative. On 3,012m², the renovated home offers productive fruit trees, vegetable gardens, sheds and substantial solar and water infrastructure, approximately two kilometres from town.

with acreage. Rolling lawns, productive lifestyle.” T starts gardens, space for a shed and the freedom

For many buyers, the answer has less to do with hectares and more to do with how they intend to live. A large rural holding offers opportunities, but it also brings responsibilities. Mowing, fencing, water systems, access and ongoing maintenance can quickly become part of the weekly routine. Damian Green from REMAX Hinterland encourages buyers to think about usable space before total land size. “It is worth asking what you want to do with the land.

The right tree change is not necessarily about buying the biggest block. It is about finding land that gives you freedom, enjoyment and a manageable everyday life.

Agency: REMAX Hinterland Contact: Damian Green Phone: 0438 387 274

32 Maple Street, Maleny, Qld 4552

ANNUAL CHRISTMAS FOOD & TOY DRIVE

Lets help the local Chaplains make Christmas brighter for local families & children in need this Christmas Please donate a new unwrapped toy or new non-perishable festive food items and drop them into Brant Property at 2/20 Maple Street, Maleny by the 4th of December together we can make a difference

BRANT PROPERTY www.brantproperty.com.au

26 NOVEMBER 2026 HINTERLAND TIMES

REAL ESTATE

INSTANT PROPERTY REPORT

Want to know the value of your home? The property market is constantly evolving. Understanding where your home sits within it is the first step towards making informed property decisions. Discover how your property compares with recent local sales, explore current listings, track suburb performance and receive an estimated market value, all in one personalised property report. Whether you're considering selling or simply curious about your home's value, Jonny Elston and TOWN put valuable local market insights at your fingertips.

CHECK YOUR VALUE NOW Scan the QR code to receive an instant property price report.

27 NOVEMBER 2026 HINTERLAND TIMES

Thinking of selling? Over 1000 sellers have put their trust in us. Are you next?

DAMIAN GREEN

MICHELLE SOPER

MICHAEL

KATE

RECK

MELISSA

WOOLSTON

CHADDOCK

MARK

CLAYTON

0447 737 737 | hinterland@remax.com.au

JUST SOLD 4

2

6,116m2

$1,000,000 18 Watson Lane, Reesville Set on over 1.5 acres of usable land and positioned on an elevated, no-through road, this solid brick threebedroom home with a self-contained granny flat offers an outstanding opportunity in sought-after Reesville.

FOR SALE 3

2

2

437m2

JUST LISTED

Damian Green 0438 387 274 damian@remax.com.au 32 Maple Street, Maleny QLD 4552 07 5408 4220

Melissa Chaddock 0400 550 035 melissa@remax.com.au

1/2 Morven Place, Maleny Walk to Maleny's Heart, Then Come Home to Easy Living! Purpose built in 2015 and offered to the market for the very first time since completion, it has been cared for in a way you can feel the moment you step inside. Everything is found on one level, so there are no stairs to negotiate, just a comfortable 148m2 of low-maintenance living nothing to spend, nothing to fix and nothing standing between you and the hinterland lifestyle.

View: remax.com.au/hinterland

JUST SOLD 2

2

2

3.41ac

$3,550,000

Damian Green 0438 387 274 damian@remax.com.au

9-27 Manley Drive, Montville Wongawilli offers a rare sense of privacy and maturity, with a strong European influence and connection to its garden setting. Across two adjoining titles, the estate is experienced as a single residential property.

Damian Green 0438 387 274 damian@remax.com.au 32 Maple Street, Maleny QLD 4552 07 5408 4220