HS23_WINTER 2026

Local Expertise. Global Reach. Trusted Advice.

For David and Jodie Hedley-Ward, real estate has never simply been about property.

It’s about people, relationships and helping clients make confident decisions at every stage of their property journey.

As Principals of McGrath Coast & Hinterland, David and Jodie bring together more than four decades of combined real estate experience, leading a team of over 30 property professionals across the Sunshine Coast and Hinterland. Their reputation has been built on exceptional service, honest advice and a commitment to delivering outstanding results while ensuring clients feel supported throughout the process.

Together, they offer a depth of knowledge, refined judgement and a proven track record that comes from decades spent working across every facet of the industry. Their approach is thoughtful and strategic, shaped by a genuine understanding of both the market and the people within it.

Jodie is widely recognised as one of the region’s most accomplished real estate professionals, having been awarded the prestigious REIQ Residential Salesperson of the Year and Sunshine Coast Corporate Businesswoman of the Year. Known for her calm, considered approach and exceptional negotiation skills, she is passionate about helping clients achieve premium outcomes while making the experience as seamless and stress-free as possible.

David’s career has spanned sales, leadership and business ownership. A former McGrath National Sales Manager of the Year, he has trained and mentored many of the Sunshine Coast’s leading agents and brings a wealth of experience to every client relationship. His focus remains simple: providing clear advice, strong advocacy and a level of service that exceeds expectations.

Local Agents,

Global Reach

What truly sets David and Jodie apart is their connection to the community they serve.

As local residents themselves, they understand the lifestyle, opportunities and unique appeal of the Sunshine Coast and Hinterland. This local insight enables them to provide advice that extends beyond market statistics, helping clients make informed decisions with confidence.

Their commitment to community is equally important. Together with their team, they have contributed more than $300,000 to almost 200 local charities and not-for-profit organisations, reflecting their belief that success should create positive outcomes beyond property transactions alone.

While proudly local, David and Jodie are backed by the strength of one of Australia’s most respected property brands.

As part of McGrath Estate Agents, their clients benefit from national brand recognition, sophisticated marketing and an extensive buyer network. Through McGrath’s strategic partnerships with Knight Frank and Bayleys New Zealand, properties gain exposure to interstate and international buyers, extending the reach of every campaign well beyond the Sunshine Coast.

Whether assisting a family with their next move, guiding an investor through a strategic decision or helping a homeowner understand the current value of their property, David and Jodie remain committed to delivering the same principles that have defined their careers: integrity, expertise, communication and exceptional service.

Because great real estate isn’t just about achieving a result.

It’s about helping people move forward with confidence.

Behind the Sale: How Sunshine Coast Luxury Records are Made

Exceptional sales do not happen by chance.

They are the result of considered preparation, intelligent positioning and disciplined negotiation - long before the first buyer walks through the door.

In the new podcast, SunshineCoastLuxury: BehindtheSceneswithSotheby’sInternational Realty, listeners are taken inside the strategy and psychology behind premium property campaigns across the Sunshine Coast.

At Queensland Sotheby’s International Realty Maroochydore, Lead Agents and Directors

Melissa Schembri and Daniel Rees have delivered record-setting outcomes throughout their careers, including sales in Chevallum at $11 million, Tanawha at $5.7 million, Mount Mee at $4.75 million, Bli Bli at $3.6 million, Rosemount at $3.4 million and Buderim at $20.5 million.

But luxury is not just a price point. Melissa and Daniel bring the same level of care, presentation, strategy and service to every property they represent - because every seller deserves a premium approach.

WANT TO KNOW WHAT REALLY HAPPENS BEHIND A PREMIUM SALE?

Listen to Sunshine CoastLuxury: Behind the Scenes withSotheby’s InternationalRealty for an inside look at how thoughtful strategy, buyer psychology and expert negotiation can elevate every sale.

IF YOUR GOAL IS A PREMIUM RESULT, IT STARTS WITH THE RIGHT STRATEGY.

Talk to us about the sales strategy for your property.

SALES EXECUTIVES/CO-DIRECTORS

Melissa Schembri 0403 327 792

melissa.schembri@qldsir.com

Daniel Rees 0456 456 753 daniel.rees@qldsir.com

The Corso - Shop 1, 6 Sunshine Coast Parade, Maroochydore

Plus read more about Melissa and Daniel on page 134 >>

Editor’s Note

HELLO! Over the past six weeks, I’ve moved through this new routine, leaving behind the fast pace of a newsroom for a different kind of storytelling. One where every detail matters in a way it hasn’t before and with a surge of nerves mixed with anticipation, I alongside our team deliver to you, our winter issue.

To present this edition, we stepped inside businesses, toured offices, and shared tea (sometimes a glass of wine) with local business owners, because pulling together a magazine is more than just research, it’s collaboration.

We learnt where the stories started, what thought provoking ideas helped shape these concepts and how they were brought to life.

I hope this issue inspires you to support local, explore a little further and connect with people who make our region such a vibrant place to call home.

I’m looking forward to continuing this journey, meeting more of the faces behind the businesses and sharing their ventures with you.

We have some special offers for locals and readers too.

Keep up to date on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIN, and subscribe to our free weekly e-news to see what’s on this winter.

THE TEAM

DEB CARUSO

PUBLISHER + EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Deb has more than 30 years’ experience providing strategic communications and brand reputation advice to clients in the government, business and not-for-profit sectors. She started IN Publishing to connect the community through storytelling and is passionate about local businesses, the Brisbane Lions and hanging out with John and Max.

ALI SMITH

CONTENT + CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Ali is our go-to girl when it comes to design, deadlines and digital. An experienced graphic designer and creative with over 20 years’ experience in advertising, magazines and publishing, she brings creativity and efficiency to the team. When she’s not at her computer, you can find her on the water, on her bike, running or in the gym with her husband.

NICOLE MAY ASSISTANT EDITOR

With a communication degree majoring in journalism and public relations, and over a decade in print media, Nicole loves the art of storytelling and the people power of journalism. When she’s not creating, you’ll find Nicole reading, at Pilates, or by the ocean with her husband, two children and two border collies.

PAUL BIRD PUBLISHER

Paul is the Publisher and co-Director of IN Publishing. He has enjoyed a successful career spanning almost 40 years working in media and corporate communications industries and more recently, in the profit-forpurpose charity and business sector as an Independent Director and Corporate Advisor.

JAKKI GOODALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

With 30 years’ experience in Marketing, Advertising, Sales and Promotions as well as an MBA, Jakki loves to connect with and develop local businesses which can be seen through her position on the Executive of the Maroochydore Chamber of Commerce as well as other local networks.

JODIE CAMERON

WRITER

Jodie is a city-turned-countryturned-coastal chick with a degree in Journalism & PR and a passion for events. Her 15+ years’ experience is diverse, including launching a macadamia nut farm.In her spare time, she’s beachside with her two treasures and furry love Staffy x Red Cattle dog, Rudi.

JOHN CARUSO

WRITER + PODCASTER + MC + DISTRIBUTION

After 30 years in radio, John now runs the Everyone Has a Story: Conversations from the Sunshine Coast and Noosa podcast and in between being our writer, delivery driver and event MC; he can be found watching the Formula One, walking the beach track at Buddina and raising his son Max.

PIP CASEY

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Pip has 30 years’ experience in magazine advertising and sales in both print and the digital space. She loves working with local businesses and being outdoors walking or running in the Noosa National Park or being at the beach with Dave the dog, her hubby and twin kids.

MICHELLE TAIT ACCOUNTS + ADMINISTRATION

Michelle has a Bachelor of Business plus 30+ years’ Administration experience in both private and government sectors. She loves all things local, has a creative flair as a handbag designer and is passionate about sustainable fashion. She loves exploring the region with hubby Ian and puppo Daisy aka ‘Pocket Rocket’.

Nicole May Assistant Editor

FIND US

@hellosunshinemag

Keep in touch with our e-newsletter: www.hellosunshinemag.com.au

SPRING DEADLINES

Bookings close: 17 August 2026

Art Deadline: 24 August 2026

hello@hellosunshinemag.com.au www.hellosunshinemag.com.au

CHARLIE SHELLEY

WRITER

Charlie graduated from UniSC in Communications (Journalism) and was awarded the University Medal for Academic Excellence, 2025. He has a passion for telling local stories and enjoys going to the gym, strolling along the Coast’s beaches, and curling up on the couch to indulge in a good book, movie or TV series.

CARLIE WACKER

FASHION EDITOR + WRITER + MC

Carlie has spent the last 30 years in the media and entertainment industry. She is our Fashion Editor, writer and a professional event MC. She keeps busy designing the next range for her own fashion label, Wacker Clothing Company. Anyone who knows Carlie, knows that she is also obsessed with dogs.

CONTRIBUTORS

MATT GOLINSKI FOOD

A highly regarded chef with a passion for simple, produce-driven cuisine based on seasonal, fresh local ingredients. Matt is an active member of the Slow Food movement, a champion of artisan producers and a generous mentor to keen young chefs. When he’s not cooking up stories and recipes for our readers, you’ll find him at food festivals and giving back to the many charities he supports.

HELEN FLANAGAN TRAVEL + LIFESTYLE

Noosa’s sophisticated charm, vibrant food culture and the magnetism of a subtropical paradise surrounded by national parks, inveigled Helen’s manic world and flipped it on its side. She pursues the good life with gusto, instinctively understanding the joys of travel, the art of story-telling, a candid review and surviving another reno whilst thriving on the motto: Live Laugh Love!

REBECCA JAMIESON DWYER CONTRIBUTOR

Rebecca is a writer, editor and communications consultant with a passion for connecting people and brands through storytelling. When she’s not writing or reading, you might find her moseying around cute hinterland towns, stomping along a forest track, or hanging out at the beach with her husband, two small kids and rascally sheepdog. While Bex has stepped back from her role as Editor to pursue a corporate career, we’re delighted that she continues to use her skills to bring you stories from the region.

IDA FINK GUNDTOFT CONTRIBUTOR

A graduate Communications student at UniSC, majoring in Journalism and Graphic Design, Ida has a passion for storytelling, exploring her creative side through content creation. She has recently returned home to Denmark and we miss her already! We wish her all the best and hope to see her return soon.

KATHY SUNDSTROM CONTRIBUTOR

With nearly 25 years in media across two countries, Kathy is an awardwinning journalist and former breakfast radio producer who has also led a national award-winning cybersecurity education program. She brings her community spirit to roles on the Coolum Business and Tourism board and as a dedicated lifesaver of more than 15 years.

PHOTOGRAPHERS

MORE THAN A MAGAZINE

Keep in touch with our e-newsletter: www.hellosunshinemag.com.au

FOUNDER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/PUBLISHER:

Deb Caruso, 0428 853 224 deb@inpublishing.com.au

PUBLISHER: Paul Bird

ADVERTISING:

Jakki Goodall advertising@inpublishing.com.au

Pip Casey sales@inpublishing.com.au

SUBSCRIPTIONS, EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS & DISTRIBUTION ENQUIRIES: hello@inpublishing.com.au

Unit 12/ 2-6 Focal Avenue, Coolum Beach PO Box 542, Noosa Heads Q 4567 www.hellosunshinemag.com.au

DISTRIBUTION: 20,000 printed copies available throughout the Sunshine Coast: Peregian to Caloundra and the hinterland, in locally designed and handcrafted magazine stands. Hello Sunshine Magazine is also supplied to local businesses and visitors through its tailored distribution process, including placement in key resorts.

Hello Sunshine Magazine is a free publication (subscriptions available) published four times per year by IN Publishing, a business of IN Noosa Magazine Pty Ltd (The Publisher). All rights are reserved and the contents are copyright and may not be reprinted without the express permission of The Publisher. IN Noosa Magazine Pty Ltd ATF Hello Sunshine Magazine, their related companies and officers hereby disclaim, to the full extent permitted by law, all liability, damages, costs and expenses whatsoever arising from or in connection with copy information or other material in this magazine, any negligence of The Publisher, or any persons actions in reliance thereon.

Any dispute or complaint regarding placed advertisements must be made within seven days of publication. Inclusion of any copy must not be taken as any endorsement by The Publisher. Views expressed by contributions are personal views and they are not necessarily endorsed by The Publisher.

ON THE COVER

Caloundra Lighthouse by Glenda

and David

Read their story on page 12.

WIN!!

Scan the QR code to WIN a limited edition print of Sunshine Coast Board Rider by David Hughes.

We would like to acknowledge and pay respects to the traditional owners, the Gubbi Gubbi/Kabi Kabi & Jinibara peoples, whose country we create on and we would like to extend our respect to their elders, both past, present and emerging.

HELLO SUNSHINE Magazine is printed on 100% recyclable paper. Made with love. Please enjoy!

Find out why actor Noni Hazelhurst is coming to Caloundra.

IN appreciation! Our sister publication, IN Noosa Magazine is celebrating 10+ years of connecting the community through storytelling. We would like to thank all the local businesses that have supported us, the people who have shared their stories with us and the team members who have helped us grow.

Borchard

Hughes.

Event: Hello Sunshine Autumn Launch #22

Venue: Funlab Maroochydore

We bowled, we played pool, we puttputted, played the arcade games, sang karaoke and raided the Lolly Bar - we definitely had fun at Strike Bowling, Holey Moley and Archie Brothers Arcade.

It was definitely an event to remember with superb food, lots of family-friendly laughs and the friendliest service from Wayne and team of Funstars! Holey Moley - this launch party was a hole-in-one, ten-pin Strike!

RIBBON CUTTING

Event: Launch of Studio Calia

Location: Studio Calia Hair Artistry, Maroochydore

Clients, suppliers and supporters joined owner Alicia DaviesCrampton and stylists Claire and Peri to celebrate the revamp and launch of Studio Calia Hair Artistry in Sunshine Cove, Maroochydore. The refreshed space including a new name and lighter, brighter fitout also features stunning wallpaper from Alicia's other business, The Wallpaper People. Find out more on page 95.

PHOTOS: MEGAN GILL

PHOTOS: MEGAN GILL

Peri, Alicia and Claire

BE GOOD

Event: BE Launch

Venue: Mooloolaba Surf Club

Visit Sunshine Coast Business Events (BE) team launched its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Initiative. Through partnerships with SunnyKids, LifeFlight, Smart Pups, Wishlist, Wildlife Warriors and Lookout 07, the CSR Initiative enables business events held on the Sunshine Coast to create genuine social, environmental and community impact. Much more than a community program, this initiative aims to attract conferences and events that are seeking meaningful engagement and legacy outcomes.

SURF'S UP!

Event: IN Noosa Magazine Autumn

Edition launch + Fashion Parade

Venue: Noosa Festival of Surfing

It was feet in the sand, drinks in hand to toast the Autumn edition of IN Noosa Magazine #47!

The Noosa Festival of Surfing crowd were treated to a fashion parade of the latest looks from local boutiques on the seaside catwalk, including a special surprise showcasing outfits from the Australian Wearable Art Festival.

Scan the QR code to discover the Fashion Parade Lookbook!

TOPS NIGHT

Event: Avani Mooloolaba Beach Hotel Official Opening

Venue: Sully's Rooftop

Celebrating the opening of the 180-room Avani Mooloolaba Beach Hotel and its signature rooftop venue, Sully’s, was always going to be big!

KPAT Hotels team members, industry partners, government representatives and key stakeholders enjoyed cocktails inspired by KPAT Hotels from across Queensland and danced the night away with a showstopping performance by Australian music star Jessica Mauboy.

PHOTOS: THE COMMS PEOPLE

PHOTOS: MEGAN GILL

PHOTOS: YOUR BRAND CREW

HELLO SAY

TO...

Meet the newest spaces, stories and superstars lighting up the Sunshine Coast. From the clever and the quirky to the cool, this is your first look at the things we’re excited about.

CAFE FAVOURITES

At Cafe 63 Sunshine Plaza, they believe coffee is more than a drink. It is part of the rhythm of your day. So, whether you’re stopping for a latte, smoothie or a legendary breakfast before a long shop, discover what sets Cafe 63 Sunshine Plaza apart. The friendly staff are serving breakfast, lunch and dinner daily with an expansive menu that is sure to entice everyone’s taste buds.

It’s the perfect place for a casual catch-up or a weekend family gathering. You can also pick up a floral bouquet for that special occasion on your way out.

Make a booking or walk on in and grab a bite to eat with the whole family.

CHECK OUT THE MENU

Ground floor, Sunshine Plaza, Amaroo Street, Maroochydore www.cafe63.com.au

BRING ITALY HOME

READ ALL ABOUT IT!

There’s a fresh story unfolding in Peregian Beach. The much-loved Annie’s Books has relocated just a few doors down to a larger space in Peregian Village, bringing more shelves, more stories and even more reasons to visit. Locals and visitors can explore the welcoming new space with seating and time to browse, an expanded range of carefully curated books, a dedicated children’s area, and a new program of author events. While the address has changed, the warmth, character and sense of belonging that readers love remains at the heart of Annie’s Books

Whether you’re a lifelong reader, a holidaymaker seeking a great beach read, or introducing a child to the joy of books, there’s something new to discover at Annie’s Books

2 Kingfisher Drive, Peregian Beach

www.anniesbooks.com.au

@anniesbooksonperegian 5448 2053

From Sardinia, Tuscany, and Sicily to Italy’s farthest corners, Dolce Italia brings classic kitchen staples and exceptional regional treasures, to you.

Shop a vast range of Italian ingredients including pasta and rice, breads, antipasto, oil and vinegar, stock cubes as well as classic biscotti, chocolates and special delights. Plus Italian cookbooks, skincare, gift cards, the Felce Azzurra range and more! Explore the range of hampers

and corporate gifting with a refined selection of Italian flavours and treats. Order online, pick up from the warehouse or enjoy free delivery to the Sunshine Coast

9/59 Dacmar Road, Coolum Beach

www.dolceitalia.com.au

@dolceitalia.store 0484 920 918

A PUNCH OF FLAVOUR

The Ka-Pao family are an Australian-owned and family run business delivering the extra punch of flavour you didn’t know you needed. It all started with the legendary Ka-Pao Korean Sauce, a little bit sweet, spicy and a sticky flavour bomb born in The Boat Shed kitchen that somehow found its way onto everything. Now there are three sauces, all with three completely different flavours. Try out the Smokin Joes Chipotle Salsa, this one is a BBQ game changer. It’s smoky, punchy and built for burgers, tacos, grilled meats and those backyard cook-ups. Plus, the Ka-Pao Tamarind Sauce, this is a quiet achiever with serious versatility. All sauces are available in various IGA stores.

Scan the QR CODE to connect and find out more. @kapaokoreansauce www.facebook.com/kapaokoreansauce

WEARABLE ART SET TO WOW!

Prepare to be ‘wowed’ at the Australian Wearable Art Festival! Now entering its sixth year, the Sunshine Coast event has evolved from a grassroots creative experiment into Australia’s premier wearable art festival - helping put the region on the map as an unexpected leader in artistic innovation, sustainability and contemporary culture. Experience more than 40 national and international artists, immersive activations, collection showcases, artist demonstrations and expanded hospitality experiences as AWAF enters a bold new era at Novotel Sunshine Coast Resort. Held at Novotel Sunshine Coast with a Saturday 11 July, Matinee and Gala events

BOOK NOW!

USE CODE: INCREDIBLE FOR 15% OFF GALLERY SEATING!

*LIMITED TICKETS AVAILABLE BE QUICK!

Novotel Sunshine Coast Resort

www.australianwearableart.com.au

WHERE CURIOSITY LEADS LEARNING

At The River School, barefoot children gather beneath heavy canopies or meander on rocks that line the beautiful creek, journals in hand, observing the patterns of nature that morph into words or art.

A place that nurtures children’s curiosities and deepens their connection to the natural world and each other.

From the Early Childhood Centre to Year 6, the multi-age classrooms, inquiry-based education and small class sizes allow children to develop academic confidence, resilience and a lifelong love of learning.

Rather than purely academic, and continued assessments, a holistic education focuses on interconnectedness between intellectual, emotional, social, creative, ethical, spiritual, and physical growth, prioritising essential 21st century life skills and overall well-being.

The teaching staff are relationship focused, to empower confidence and curiosity, with parents encouraged to help guide mutually respectful relationships.

The River School are preparing students to be rational, resilient, empathetic and conscious contributors to a more sustainable and compassionate world.

Nature is not a backdrop, but an active part of daily life.

251 Bridge Creek Road Maleny

www.riverschool.com.au | @riverschoolmaleny

Primary School: 5494 3559 ECC: 5499 9359

Love POSTER

First it was a painting, then it became a poster and now it’s our Winter Cover. Jodie Cameron meets the artist who brought a lighthouse to life and the designer who gave it a story…

Interviewing our cover artists is my favourite part of the job. There are interviews where you discover something new, and interviews that make you wonder if you’re enjoying yourself too much to call it a job, then there are the ones that simply make your heart sing. This was one of those.

I arrived at the Yandina Creek home of graphic designer and retro poster artist David Hughes and his wife, fine artist Glenda Borchard – her work graces the front cover of our sister publication IN Noosa Magazine. I was expecting to talk all things art but sitting in their sundrenched studio, I caught a glimpse of a world quietly built on second chances.

Glenda paints the world she remembers, sees and feels. David researches, adds narratives, illustrates and layers timeless typography to bring nostalgic moments to life.

A typography aficionado with 40 years of graphic design experience, David is a man who has never been idle, and never wants to be.

He owned a multimedia company, held design consultancies in tourism, publishing and fashion and still contracts to Sydney University. Whether he’s restoring an ornate piece of antique furniture or crafting the design for a poster – in David’s mind working with form and shape is sheer delight.

“I fell in love with decorative fonts from the cursive script handwriting books in primary school” he says.

“Those swashes and ligatures were art to me.”

Growing up in an antique-restoration family, David developed an appreciation

for craftsmanship from an era when things were built to last – rare woods, hand-carved detail, beautiful objects that held stories from previous lives.

In recent years, David and Glenda individually navigated widowhood before finding each other online during COVID.

What followed was a courtship that could have belonged to another era entirely. Emails first, then Zoom and within months Glenda had said “yes” to his proposal.

“When you know, you know,” David says. “At the time, neither of us had a handle on the extent of each other’s art backgrounds. It blew my mind when I saw just how good Glenda’s art is, she was extremely modest about it.”

Marrying in Brisbane and honeymooning on the Sunshine Coast, fate intervened in the form of a house not yet on the market, a motivated seller and a tip from a real estate agent’s son. Their tree change was decided almost

Caloundra Lighthouse

Dicky Beach

There has to be joy in what you create…

overnight; a fresh start on new ground, for two people ready to love again.

“Our first creative collaboration was in textile design,” Glenda says. “I painted chinoiserie designs, a fusion of East and West, that David printed onto fabric to reupholster antique furniture.”

It was the beginning of something neither had foreseen, and the springboard for David’s poster work. Glenda’s imagery and his design skills created a fresh opportunity. The Caloundra Lighthouse on our cover is an example of Glenda’s painted image, and David’s graphic eye with its carefully researched narrative layered to match its nostalgic presence.

“We have great compositional conversations, and enjoy collaborating occasionally” Glenda says.

The penny drop moment came during a European holiday – retro travel posters were everywhere.

“Seeing the posters in Europe made me wonder why we were labouring over textiles when paper was so much more immediate, and made the most of the lifetime of skills that we’d both acquired.”

A lover of poster design, David’s art heroes include Toulouse-Lautrec, Alphonse Mucha and Bauhaus designers.

“Art fused with text resonates with me,” David says.

Retro travel posters has become the perfect passion for a man who’d spent decades in antiques, printing and design.

“I have 100 years to play with, from 1880 to 1980,” he says. “Every era has its own design language; art deco, psychedelia, the atomic age. I love it all.”

For David, the research is the essential part of realising the design. His Dicky Beach poster regales the story of the SS Dicky shipwreck of 1893 – the dances held on the wreck, a kerosene lantern that started a fire, and a permanent wreck that remains to this day.

“I research the whole story to make the finished piece potentially authentic,” he says. “With tourism destinations, there’s usually a backstory somewhere and people love a good narrative. It’s a real memento from that time, and our customers often ask if it’s actually an old poster. I call it ‘contemporary retro’.”

David disappears into the print room

and returns with a giant poster of Caloundra Lighthouse – a gift for our office. David explained why he deliberately chose the older, more characterful lighthouse over the modern one.

“The older lighthouses are majestic objects that people are drawn to, they speak of the excitement and adventure of being on the high seas,” he says.

“The newer ones lack a bit of romantic tension.”

In a time where AI can generate a retro poster in seconds, David draws on technical knowledge – silk screen printing, lithography, stippling – while deliberately introducing imperfections that AI simply hasn’t thought of yet.

“I’ll simulate a misregistered screen print so the text sits slightly outside where it should, which is exactly the way it would have been printed back then,”

he says. “I want people to be entertained by the artistry, as well as nostalgic memories.”

For all his passion and prolific output, David is clear about where the real legacy lies.

“There has to be joy in what you create,” David says. The ‘posters period’ as he calls it, is his time to “do what he wants to do when he grows up”.

But the big picture he says, is helping Glenda to realise a body of highly professional, original work.

“That’s the legacy. And that is the journey we’re on together,” he says.

And no doubt, somewhere in the world, this couple will realise a dream of seeing Glenda’s paintings in a gallery and on beautifully restored, functional furniture reimagined and brought back to life much like the artists themselves.

Two artists, two bodies of work, one extraordinary life, and they’re just getting started.

WIN!

David is giving away a

of

from his collection valued at $260 to one lucky reader! Simply scan the QR code and subscribe for your chance to win!

framed poster

Sunshine Coast Boardrider Girl

Sunshine Coast Boardrider Girl

David Hughes and Glenda Borchard

Service LIFE OF

From service stations to serving the community. John Caruso sits down with a remarkable individual.

Jocelyn Walker was alone in the house when the letter arrived. She read it at lunchtime, sat with it for a few hours, then drove to her son’s place after dinner and put the envelope on the table without a word.

He picked it up, read it, and said: “Mum, that’s pretty special.” He’s not one to overstate things. But then, neither is she.

The letter was from the Australian Government. It informed Jocelyn that she had been awarded the Order of Australia Medal, King’s Birthday 2024 - for services to the community of the Sunshine Coast. The ceremony was held later at Parliament House in Brisbane, with The Governor Dr Jeanette Young presenting.

Jocelyn Walker AM, in her own words, counts it among the most memorable days of her life. Those who know her well would say it was overdue.

She was born in Allora, a small town on the Darling Downs between Warwick and Toowoomba, and left at 19 to take a job at the Ipswich Post Office, working the telephone exchange. From there she moved to work the reception desk at the Ford Motor Company in Brisbane, which is where a friend’s brother brought Vic Walker into the picture.

He was area manager for Townsville at the time. The distance was considerable, the relationship required effort, and they made it work. That combinationdistance, effort, result - would come to define much of what followed.

In 1980, after Vic had spent years in the corporate machinery of Mobil Oil and decided he’d rather own something than manage it for someone else, the Walkers opened the first 24-hour self-serve service station in Queensland - on the old Bruce Highway at Glenview.

There were no fuel stops at all between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast at that

...I’ve had the most extraordinary experiences.

point. They filled the gap, literally, and discounted heavily to bring drivers around to the idea of filling their own tanks, which was a novelty that not everyone embraced. Jocelyn recalls more than a few motorists winding up their windows and moving on.

“We had the least expensive fuel on the Sunshine Coast and even in Brisbane, and we were providing a supply where there’d been none,” she says.

They operated the Glenview site until 1989, eventually adding both sides of the new Bruce Highway as it opened, timing their northbound launch to coincide with World Expo ‘88 - a decision that proved

as astute as it sounds. Jocelyn also worked at the Australian Pavilion during Expo ‘88 - three days a week, four or five hours a shift, in uniform, walking the floor as one of Lorraine Martin’s Expo hostesses. She had two children at home and a husband who in those early years barely slept. His mother lived across the road. The family managed.

The afternoons were Jocelyn’s preferred shift. She’d take the kids to the beach in the morning, drop them at her mother-in-law’s, then drive out to the site. At the end of the night, she’d count the cash - and in those days it was a great deal of cash - roll it into a leather clip bag and drive home through Caloundra alone to deposit it in an afterhours safe. Different times.

Vic Walker passed away in 1996. Jocelyn was, as she puts it, reasonably young. The business years were behind her, the children older, and the shape of what came next was not yet clear.

Professor Paul Thomas invited her to

join the foundation board at the University of the Sunshine Coast from its earliest days, and she accepted. She would stay for 23 years.

“After my husband passed away, I built a wall of friendships,” she says. “And being involved with the university was an opportunity for me to make a difference and get out of bed every day.”

That phrase - a wall of friendships - is worth pausing on. It’s not the language of someone who drifted into philanthropy through comfortable circumstance. It’s the language of someone who, faced with loss, chose to build. The wall metaphor is exact: deliberate, structural, constructed piece by piece over time. It is also, it turns out, an apt description of everything Jocelyn has done since.

The Jocelyn and Vic Walker Legacy Scholarship at UniSC is ongoing, managed by the university, and now available to students as far north as Gympie. It is a two-year scholarship, chosen and administered by the institution, funded by Jocelyn. It keeps Vic’s name in the building long after his passing.

Then there’s LifeFlight. Jocelyn has been connected to the organisation for around 30 years, initially through the founders - Bill Freeman, Hayden Kenny, Jim Campbell - attending small fundraisers and charity balls. Nine years ago, she was invited to chair the Regional Advisory Committee for the Sunshine Coast base, with a first order of business to secure funding for a new hangar.

The $18.5 million hangar was funded by the Queensland Government and was the most significant infrastructure project delivered in LifeFlight’s 46-year history on the Sunshine Coast. The base features crew accommodation for six, a patient transfer room, new training rooms and simulators to assist with doctor training and seminars onsite.

Jocelyn chaired that committee for three years before being appointed Vice Regional Patron for LifeFlight Sunshine Coast and South Burnett - a role that took her to every base in Queensland, from maintenance centres at Archerfield, to training academies in Brisbane, and to the Roma base, Mount Isa, Toowoomba.

“That role has provided so many opportunities to me around all of Queensland. Until then, I hadn’t realised the magnitude of it and it’s been a privilege,” she says.

In 2025, the impact of LifeFlight in the Sunshine Coast and South Burnett showed 672 people helped, 990 hours flown and 174 of the most frequent

mission type: trauma. A significant impact on the region it serves.

The Lifeflight Jocelyn Walker Visitor Experience and Education Centre at Sunshine Coast Airport - named in her honour - officially opens on 29 June. Another wall. Another piece of built legacy that will carry her name long after the hard hats come off and the ribbon is cut.

Her diary, she admits, stays full. Her son lives 15 minutes away at Point Cartwright; her daughter is at Yandina, where she runs Fraser Isle Spanner Crab, supplying high-level restaurants along the coast and across Australia. The grandchildren are close. She has, to use her own metaphor, built well.

She has also travelled widely, mostly in pursuit of golf - Augusta, Pebble Beach, courses through Europe and America. She has one place left on the list: the Maldives, where she intends not to play a round but to swim in a lagoon. It is a good goal for a woman who has spent the better part of six decades in motion.

“I’ve lived a magical life,” Jocelyn

EXPERIENCE & EDUCATION

The LifeFlight Jocelyn Walker Visitor Experience and Education Centre is an immersive experience for the community and visitors to learn about LifeFlight’s history in the region and its impact. The Centre will officially open Monday 29 June. Scan the QR code to find out more about LifeFlight and to donate or visit www.lifeflight.org.au

says. “The first part was a lot of hard work, and once I was in the position to be able to travel, I’ve had the most extraordinary experiences.”

When I told her, at the end of our conversation, that her story was remarkable, she said she felt like crying. She explained that compliments of that kind tend to have that effect on her.

Given everything she’s built since 1996 - the scholarship, the committee, the centre, the wall of friendships – it’s not hard to understand why recognition still lands with such force. She has spent nearly three decades giving without making much noise about it.

The wall holds. The name endures. The diary stays full.

Thank you Jocelyn for all you have done and all you have given to our community. We are at your service.

The official opening of the new $18.5 million LifeFlight Sunshine Coast base, March 2026.

WANT MORE? Listen to the full interview with Jocelyn from our podcast.

The Hello Sunshine crew test drove the Funlab exclusive experience for our Autumn launch. Jodie Cameron shares everything you need to know to do the same…

STRICTLY

Fun Times

When you find yourself inside Funlab Maroochydore – home of Strike, Holey Moley Mini Golf and Archie Brothers Arcade plus an escape room and a karaoke machine that doesn't judge, self-restraint goes right out the neon-lit door.

Whether you’re chasing something a little bit different for a corporate event or Christmas party, team building, post-formal shindig, or you just want to go all out and hire the whole venue for an all-weather proof wedding reception – Funlab knows how to throw a party.

The bowling gets competitive, putt putt sorts out the pros from the amateurs, and the arcade games make you feel like you’re ten again.

But let’s talk about the sustenance – because you need fuel to knock down those pins and get you puttin’ like a pro! Food packages cater to all dietary needs and include all the party classics: like cheeseburger sliders, char siu glazed pork belly, and for the vegetarians and vegans – the corn ribs, soy glazed cauliflower and mixed pizzas will have you fighting for the final bites!

For the sweet tooths, prepare to turn into a kid in a candy shop at their nostalgic lolly bar. The 'real' bar is stocked with every imaginable spirit, and the team can help build a drinks menu to rival any top night out.

Treat your team, family or crew to something they'll be talking about –bowling shoes, cocktails and a karaoke showdown nobody planned but everyone needed.

Get planning your own shindig and start making Funlabs memories.

Because every great party needs a little healthy competition, a lot of belly laughs and moments worth talking about long after the last pin drops. Book your next party, function or exclusive hire with the Funlabs team, scan the QR code, visit www.fun-lab.com or call 1300 787 453.

PHOTOS: MEGAN GILL

Moreton! HAPPY BIRTHDAY,

Move over Thomas, there’s another train celebrating a milestone birthday and everyone is invited to the party. Jodie Cameron joins in the fun with a big hip hip hooray!

A visit to the Sunshine Coast isn’t complete without a stop at The Ginger Factory. For generations, families have made their way through its gates drawn by the scent of ginger treats, the charm of the gardens, and of course, the unforgettable experience of climbing aboard Moreton, the much-loved Ginger Train. For many, it’s a tradition passed down through the years; for others, it’s the beginning of a brand-new memory.

But Moreton is more than just a train ride, he’s a piece of Queensland’s living history.

Built in 1901 by Locomotivfabrik Krauss & Co in Munich, Germany, Moreton began his journey on the other side of the world. Just a few years later, in 1905, he made the long voyage to Australia, where he was purchased by the Moreton Central Mill in Nambour.

As the mill’s very first steam locomotive, Moreton quickly became a hardworking part of the region’s thriving sugar industry, hauling heavy loads of sugar cane through the fields day after day. For decades, he played an essential role in keeping the industry moving reliable, resilient, and steadfast in his

duty. Moreton continued to serve faithfully until the end of the 1968 crushing season, when he was officially retired from active service.

Even then, his story wasn’t quite finished; he remained on standby, a trusted backup should the mill’s newer diesel engines falter.

It wasn’t until the early 1990s that Moreton’s next chapter truly began. Carefully restored with great care and craftsmanship, he was given new life and a new purpose. Today, at the Ginger Factory Moreton delights in carrying passengers through the gardens and around the grounds. And as he celebrates his milestone birthday on 26 August 2026, one thing is certain, Moreton isn’t slowing down anytime soon.

The iconic Ginger Factory is an agri-tourism destination like no other, offering free entry and welcoming visitors seven days a week, making it an easy addition to any Sunshine Coast itinerary.

Set amongst lush tropical gardens, the park invites guests to slow down and explore at their own pace. Wander along winding rainforest walks, browse the

charming boutique stores, or settle in for a relaxed meal at The Ginger Kitchen

For something sweet, a stop at Gingerlatis is a must, where the handcrafted gelato provides the perfect treat. Whether you’re visiting for the first time or returning to relive a favourite experience, there’s always something new to discover.

The story of Buderim Ginger and The Ginger Factory is pure Queensland, shaped by chance, resilience, and a handful of determined farmers. What began in the early 1900s as a few pieces of ginger planted in Buderim’s rich volcanic soil quietly grew into something far greater.

Everything changed during the Second World War, when imported ginger supplies were cut off and five local farmers came together in 1941 to form the Buderim Ginger Growers Cooperative. Working from an abandoned blacksmiths cottage, they began processing ginger commercially, creating what would become their signature product crystallised ginger and laying the foundations for an enduring local industry.

As the business grew, so too did its story. By 1979, a new factory had opened in Yandina to support increasing demand and welcome curious visitors, evolving into the vibrant destination we know today. It was here, in 1983, that Prince Charles and Princess Diana famously toured the site - just one moment in a long history that continues to unfold.

Today, that history isn’t just told, it’s experienced. Visitors can step beyond the gardens and into the story itself through the Taste of Ginger Tour, a behind-thescenes journey that brings the process to life, from raw rhizome to finished treat.

It’s a chance to see how tradition, innovation, and craftsmanship come together offering a deeper appreciation of

an industry that has shaped the region. That sense of discovery is everywhere. Turn a corner and suddenly you’re beneath the Rainbrella Project, hundreds of rainbow umbrellas suspended overhead in a vibrant canopy of colour. Created in collaboration with Sunshine Coast artist Sophy Blake, this public art installation is inspired by themes of hope and renewal. “Walking beneath it brings great joy,” says Kim the Ginger Factory Marketing Manager “It’s easily the most Instagrammable spot in the park.”

Winding through these same gardens is the newly launched Native Tree Trail, a free, self-guided experience that invites visitors to slow down and take a closer look. Set along the Zog Trail, the walk

showcases more than 75 native tree species, each marked with a numbered blue tag. With a simple checklist brochure in hand, it becomes part nature walk, part treasure hunt perfect for curious minds of all ages. “It’s designed to help you slowdown in the best possible way,” Kim explains.

And there’s always something new to enjoy. These school holidays, guests can experience Fluffy Highland Cow Kisses and Colour Splash Face Painting, which are free activities that add another layer of fun to the day. With free entry to the park, it’s easy to settle in, grab a warm ginger scone, let the kids explore, and climb aboard Moreton the Ginger Train

“We want families, grandparents and visitors to experience the magic of The Ginger Factory at their own pace,” Kim says. “There really is no place like it.”

SCHOOL HOLIDAY FUN!

27 June – 12 July

Week 1: Highland Cow Kisses

Week 2: Colour Splash Face Painting

Moreton The Ginger Train’s Birthday Party: 26 August, 10am-2pm

Scan the QR code or visit www.gingerfactory.com.au for more information.

THE ROAD TO Laughter

Nicole May discovers how a homegrown circuit has transformed the Sunshine Coast region into a must-stop destination for the world’s best comedians.

For Mick Neven and Nicky Wilkinson, ‘working from home’ is a bit of a relative term. As professional comedians and the creative forces behind Funny Coast Comedy, their office changes with every sunset - one night it’s an intimate scene in Caloundra or a club in Mooloolaba, and the next it’s a major stage at the Adelaide Fringe Festival, or a global tour.

While these two are frequently on the wing as part of the Australian comedy circuit, they still proudly call the Sunshine Coast home, and their mission is to bring the best comedians in the country and around the world to our local stages, ensuring that a world-class belly laugh is never more than a short drive away.

Established in October 2020, the business was born out of a unique moment in time. With international and state borders closed due to the pandemic, Mick and Nicky found themselves grounded.

“Generally, we travel for work and we couldn’t leave Queensland to do gigs,” Mick recalls.

Seeing a void in the local entertainment scene, they decided to produce their own shows, starting with their first gig at Solbar.

Before Funny Coast Comedy, the region’s options were limited to travelling to Brisbane or beyond or paying top dollar to see a household name in a large venue.

Mick and Nicky’s vision was different; they wanted to bring the intimate, electric comedy circuit culture of London, New York and Melbourne to the Sunshine Coast

“Our vision was to bring world-class comedy shows to our community in smaller, more intimate settings,” Nicky reflected.

Today, that vision has manifested into a regular monthly four-night run that hits Caloundra, Mooloolaba, Nambour, and Cooroy, with one-off shows at other venues all over the coast.

The pair’s chemistry is the secret behind the brand, though their paths to the stage couldn’t have been more

different. Mick’s journey began in regional Australia in 2003, when he entered a Legends of Laughter competition on the Gold Coast on a whim. He won his first two heats and placed third in the final, pocketing $300.

“Twenty-three years later, I have no other skills,” he jokes.

Nicky, meanwhile, arrived via the prestigious drama schools of London. After years of acting and working behind the scenes at a comedy club in Covent Garden, she took the plunge into standup in 2013.

“It’s quite a vulnerable genre. You’re standing there alone, going, ‘this is me; this is what I find funny’,” Nicky says.

“I’ll never forget my first gig. I was shaking with nerves, and my mouth was so dry that my lips were stuck to my teeth.”

The two crossed paths at the Adelaide Fringe Festival in 2018, and by 2020, they were not only a couple but roaring to go as business partners.

Now in its sixth year, Funny Coast Comedy has produced hundreds of shows and even launched the Funny Coast Comedy BIG Weekend, a five-day festival featuring stars like Troy Kinne and Bron Lewis.

But it isn’t just about the big names. Mick and Nicky are dedicated to bridging the gap for locals who share their passion. Twice a year, they run beginner stand-up workshops, teaching everything from how to write jokes and stagecraft to the practicalities of how to hold a microphone.

PHOTOS: CRAIG EGAN

PHOTO: CHARLIE SHELLEY

Mick Neven

Nicky Wilkinson

“We do three, four-hour sessions across two weekends,” Nicky explains.

“A major focus is on how to overcome the fear of getting on stage and the fear of performing in general, and the idea is they’re working towards writing their first-ever three-to-five-minute original comedy set.”

The workshops culminate in a graduation performance at the Black Box Theatre, Nambour.

“I act as the MC to introduce each graduate, and it’s a really nice and supportive environment,” Nicky says.

“You get a buzz when you see them up

there, and they have that first performance feeling.”

From those workshops, Nicky and Mick have witnessed the local scene flourish. Funny Coast Comedy provide a pathway via open mic nights, allowing new comics to practice their craft alongside seasoned pros.

The region is now a legitimate stop on the national comedy map, with touring acts choosing the Sunshine Coast alongside other traditional hubs like Newcastle and Brisbane.

Their regular monthly runs have featured acclaimed headliners such as

GIGS FOR GIGGLES

Ready for a night of world-class laughs? Catch these incredible acts performing across the Sunshine Coast soon!

JULY:

• Lou Conran (UK)

• Eddy Brimson (UK)

AUGUST:

• Nick Cody (Melbourne)

• Dave Thornton (Melbourne)

• Ellen Briggs (Northern NSW)

SEPTEMBER:

• Daniel Townes (Sydney)

• Gordon Southern (UK)

For tickets and details, scan the QR code or visit www.funnycoastcomedy.com.au

Stephen K. Amos, Larry Dean, Mel Buttle, and Georgie Carroll, with a diverse roster of international acts and Australian favourites in line for the coming months.

Whether they are performing in Canada, at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, or in a packed room in Nambour, Mick and Nicky remain serious about laughter.

For them, it’s about more than just a punchline; it’s about building a culture.

As Mick puts it, “Making people laugh is pretty cool.”

Indeed! Check out upcoming gigs at www.funnycoastcomedy.com.au

Stand-Up Comedy Beginner’s Workshop Graduates May 2026

LAST MAN

Original music is disappearing

from the places it used to call home. Not if Liam Norton has anything to say about it. Words

by John Caruso

Australia has been losing live music venues at a rate that should alarm anyone who cares about where the next generation of musicians is supposed to learn their trade. It doesn’t alarm enough people. That’s the problem.

The economics are brutal. Licensing is complex. Streaming has pulled casual listeners away from spending a Friday night discovering the artistry of a band they’ve never heard of.

On the Coast, the numbers are there to prove it. Solbar is gone. The Station before it. What remains is a handful of venues that have, by and large, made a commercial decision: book the artists who already have a following, avoid the risk of the unknown.

I spent more than thirty years in commercial radio. I know how that logic works because I lived it. A publicly listed media company has obligations to shareholders, not to emerging artists.

STANDING

You’d get a local band into the studio, stand them behind a microphone with an acoustic guitar, make a bit of noise about supporting local music, and then they’d walk out the door and that was that.

Tokenistic is the word. No follow-up, no rotation, no real investment. The band got a story they could tell. The station got to say it was doing something. Nobody pretended otherwise.

Liam Norton watched the same dynamic from the other side. He spent money with local radio drumming up support for his venue and counted on one hand the people it brought through the door. He’s had artists tell him they lost bookings at hotel-group venues because they played his room first. These things happen. He filed it and moved on.

“I’ve accepted it as part of what we have to do,” he says.

What Liam does is run a live music

venue out of a concrete shed on Bronwyn Street, Caloundra West, alongside an electrical contracting business and a custom guitar workshop. The three things coexist in the same space, which was never the plan but has turned out to be the point. The electrical business keeps the lights on - literally - which means the music side doesn’t have to make decisions based purely on the ledger.

Liam grew up in Townsville and Charters Towers, played in original bands, learned early that if you wanted to get paid you played cover songs. That frustration has a long shelf life.

“We had to play covers to get gigs so we could try and play our original music and there were very few places for us to perform and get the exposure,” he says.

It’s different now, not necessarily easier. The young artists coming through must be social media strategists and

PHOTOS: MEGAN GILL AND CHRIS C

Liam Norton

Shannon Sol Carrol

Taylor Moss

...original music and the creativity that comes out of original artists - especially in music - is one of the last forms of magic for me.

content producers on top of everything else. The craft - the actual performing - can get lost in the noise. And AI is circling the edges of that too; Liam has watched songs chart that were assembled from stolen voices and borrowed phrases, and it bothers him in a way that is hard to articulate without sounding like the old man at the back of the room.

He doesn’t sound like that, for what it’s worth.

“I feel original music and the creativity that comes out of original artists - especially in music - is one of the last forms of magic for me,” he says. “If venues like our place don’t exist, which is happening to a lot of venues, then where are musicians going to create that magic?”

The shows at Norton Music Factory run wide - heavy metal, country, blues, tribute acts, original bands still figuring out who they are. The wider music industry has taken notice. Norton Music Factory was a finalist in the 2026 Sunshine Coast Music Awards for Venue of the Year and was a finalist in the Regional Venue of the Year category at the 2025 Queensland Music Awards, judged by a panel of more than a hundred national and international industry professionals, and decided in part by public vote. For a concrete shed in a Caloundra industrial estate to be mentioned in the same breath as established hotel venues from across the state is, by any measure, the point. Liam missed the ceremony; he was overseas for work and had booked the trip eight months earlier. He is not the sort of person who reorganises his life around trophies.

The charitable arm - running profits from every show through to Strong Women Talking, Inclusive Kids and Pro Purpose - was covered in a previous issue of this magazine and it’s still happening. Every show.

The corporate venue groups are not villains; they’re businesses making sensible decisions. A three-hundredseat pub owned by a hospitality conglomerate has no structural incentive to book an original act with a following of eighty people. The incentive structure points elsewhere, and the acts that don’t fit get squeezed out. Liam knows this. He’s not interested in grievance - he’s interested in the gap, and what it takes to fill it.

The man who keeps the lights on for a living spends his Friday nights making sure a different kind of light stays on. In his shed in Caloundra West, a young band is working out who they are in front of a crowd that showed up because someone told them it was worth the drive. That’s the whole thing, really. That’s what Liam Norton is protecting.

WHAT’S ON

To peruse upcoming gigs and purchase tickets, scan the QR code to go to the OzTix page or visit www.nortonmusicfactory.com.au to find out more about Norton Music Factory.

MUSIC

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Take Me to Funky Town Tour

LAST Drinks

Some theatre makes you sit back and watch, some makes you lean in and feel. Jodie Cameron meets a woman giving a voice to place, loss and what it means to remain…

“You can’t stop progress.” Bill Heslop famously said in the movie Muriel’s Wedding, and it’s always stayed with me. He’s right, no one can stop progress, but you can stop and ask what do we stand to lose along the way?

That’s exactly the question Noni Hazlehurst’s character Rose Grey is faced with in The Lark, coming to The Events Centre, Caloundra this September.

A derelict Melbourne pub. One woman. Seventy-five minutes. And chatting to her felt just like the familiar face I adored tuning into every day as a child.

Growing up in the eighties, Play School was the epitome of my childhood. Of all the familiar faces on the screen, Noni’s was the one that felt most relatable, real and fun – her cheeky glint always made me smile.

Those same warm and candid qualities shine through the moment we start talking about her character in The Lark, Rose.

With a career spanning more than 40 years, Noni is a national treasure who’s spent her career inhabiting places from Play School sets to theatre stages. The Lark is set in a dying inner-city Melbourne pub, but the Australian pub has always been more than a quintessential watering hole.

It’s where communities form, grieve, celebrate and argue.

And Rose is grieving.

Closed for six months, the pub will be demolished as the suburb gentrifies, but for Rose she’s saying goodbye to a building that holds her whole life, while the world around her calls it progress.

“Things will evolve, whether you like the way they evolve or not,” Noni says. “I think it’s sad when you see certain things aren’t part of life anymore.

“We make choices, but what are the consequences of those choices; in life and in the world?”

Written by Daniel Keene, who also wrote Noni’s other one-woman show Mother, his characters speak like poets but live like ordinary people.

It’s Noni’s job to stop the poetry from floating above the audience while keeping Rose’s feet firmly on the pub floor - and in a one-woman show there’s nowhere to hide.

Rose speaks directly to the audience the entire time, essentially making every single person in the room her confidant.

“Daniel’s writing takes you there – you could literally hear a pin drop,” she says. “It’s like playing a symphony, you know all the notes, but you want to get the feeling behind the notes.”

It’s a responsibility Noni takes seriously every single night as the entire focus is on her character.

All characters want to be understood. All of us want to be understood.

“My challenge is to take the audience where they can relate to what’s being said,” she says. “My job is to hold the focus.”

Rose has spent her whole life behind the bar at The Lark, finally taking over from her father – yet she’s never felt more alone and wanting to escape.

“She’s been a very lonely person all her life,” Noni says. “I hope the audience can understand why she’s made the choices she’s made. All characters want to be understood. All of us want to be understood.”

Saying yes to a project starts with one simple question – would she pay to see it herself?

“The great writers write to serve humanity, and your job as an actor is to serve the great writers,” she says.

“I always want to be in something I can be proud of.”

It’s that standard of writing that draws writer and actor back to each other – his knack for weaving vulnerability, black humour, grief and regret into something

PHOTOS: CAMERON GRANT

Noni Hazlehurst

deeply human.

“As all good arts do, they remind us that we’re not alone,” she says.

With only three performances, when The Lark is gone, it’s gone – the good news is you don’t need to leave the Sunshine Coast to experience theatre of this calibre. It’s coming to you, arriving at exactly the right moment when regional towns are thriving as major cities are losing their sense of community.

“Regional audiences are often less blasé,” she says. “They’re generally a little more receptive and a bit hungrier for something like this.”

And it’s not hard to understand why. It’s a feeling that extends well beyond the walls of The Lark

“Development is alienation from each other,” Noni says. “Instead of being a place where everyone knows each other, we’re all very transient. Cities are a lot less collegial than they used to be.”

As for what Noni hopes lingers long after the curtain falls, she doesn’t hesitate.

“I hope it gives them pause for thought and reflection on their own lives. It’s a play about an old woman, but it’s also about choices, and maybe a caution as well,” she says.

This September, if you’re going to lean in and feel something real, make it The Lark – and let one of Australia’s greatest performers remind you to cherish life, community, loss of place and what it means to remain.

BOOK NOW! THE LARK

Presented by Arts Centre Melbourne, Hey Dowling & The Events Centre, Caloundra

• Friday 4 September at 7pm

• Saturday 5 September, at 2pm & 7pm TICKETS*

• $65 - Full Price

• $60 - Concession

• $60 - Group 6+

*A booking fee of $6.45 may apply

Suitable for audiences 12 years and over. The Events Centre 20 Minchinton Street, Caloundra Contact the Box Office on 5491 4240 for group bookings or enquiries. For more information on this and other upcoming events and to book pre-dinner dining or to purchase tickets, scan the QR code or visit www.theeventscentre.com.au

The Events Centre, Caloundra are giving away two tickets to The Lark performance on Friday 4 September at 7pm, to one lucky reader! Simply scan the QR code for your chance to WIN!

Charlie Shelley meets a woman who discovers that it’s never too late to design your own future.

TURN Creative

Clare Patrick had already had a long and varied career before enrolling at TAFE Queensland in 2024.

The British expat and mum of two had been a homeschool teacher for over a decade and had spent years working as a recruitment consultant for various big-name banks and private recruitment agencies across Australia and the UK.

But throughout it all, bubbling away in the background, was a quite passion for the arts.

“I’ve always drawn and painted –I write as well – and my dad is actually an artist, although not professionally,” Clare says.

Graphic design, in particular, piqued her interest.

“I’ve always been fascinated with graphic design, from the visual and artistic point of view but also from the psychological point of view: how we communicate things visually through colours, styles, topography –everything,” she explains.

Completing higher education had been a long-time goal of Clare’s, and with her children’s educational journeys coming to an end, she felt that it was finally time to see it through.

So when she found out that TAFE Queensland was offering a Certificate III in Visual Arts (Graphic Design) – now called a Certificate III in Design Fundamentals – it seemed like the perfect opportunity.

The course was based at the Sunshine Coast campus, but Clare lives south of Brisbane, so she chose to take advantage of TAFE’s flexible study options and study online.

With some educational providers, e-learning can feel isolating. But due to the weekly Zoom classes that

were incorporated into her course, Clare felt connected to her teachers and peers throughout.

“You’re able to discuss things in real time, show your work and get feedback – you’ve got that interaction which is nice,” she says.

“But if you couldn’t make a class, you’ve got the recordings so you can go back and catch up.”

Completing the six-month Certificate III equipped Clare with a host of essential design skills and convinced her that a career in graphic design was something she really wanted to pursue.

“It gave me confidence to continue on, and doing the

diploma was just a natural progression because I thought, well, if I do want to do a degree, then it’s a great pathway,” she says.

The Diploma of Graphic Design gave Clare the chance to build on her existing knowledge and delve deeper into the different niches of graphic design, from packaging and editorial branding to typography, motion graphics, user interfaces and more.

“It was great because it gave me the opportunity to try things and discover what I enjoyed doing,” Clare says.

“Like sometimes you’ll realise that it’s not really your thing or you’ll find something that you absolutely love, so you get to figure out what you want to focus on in your career.”

During her diploma, Clare created a multimedia marketing campaign for a fictional event (Venice Carnival) and also had the opportunity to work with

Digital illustration created for International Women’s Day 2026.

... I would not be able to do the level of work I’m producing now if I hadn’t have studied there.

a real client, submitting billboard and social media designs for Re:act, a peer-to-peer road safety program for people between the ages of 17 and 25.

“The campaign was all about the importance of wearing seatbelts,” Clare says.“You had to pitch your ideas, then work on your concept and come back and do a full presentation. You got a taste of working with a real client but without the pressure and with the support of your teachers.”

Clare is now studying a Bachelor of Digital Design at university and is loving every second of it. Thanks to her studies at TAFE Queensland, she was able to get 12 months of university study credited, meaning she was able to jump straight

into the second year of her degree.

She says the skills she picked up through her Certificate III and Diploma have helped smooth her transition to university.

“TAFE does go into the more practical teaching – you learn to use industry software, like InDesign – which you don’t get at uni,” she said. “There’s an expectation that you know it, or that you’ve got to just learn it yourself.

“I really value what I learned at TAFE, because I would not be able to do the level of work I’m producing now if I hadn’t have studied there.”

Looking to the future, Clare is

With an education support course

teacher at TAFE while taking on her own graphic design gigs on the side.

Her advice to other mature-age students is simple and heartfelt.

“It’s never too late to follow your dreams,” she says. “Even if you’re in your 40s or 50s, you could still have another 30 odd years doing what you love, so why not?”

MAKE GREAT HAPPEN

Choose from over 400 practical, industryrelevant courses when you enrol at TAFE Queensland – Queensland’s largest and most experienced training provider. Scan the QR code or

Clare Patrick

A billboard for a fictional event, including original mask illustration

Classroom A SEVEN-ACRE

Nicole May discovers the journey of a former deputy principal who swapped his tie for high-vis and built a seven-acre training site in Coolum to safeguard quality in the civil construction workforce.

If you had told the Deputy Principal of Buddina State School, a young Richard Burke, that he would one day be at the helm of Queensland’s premier civil construction training organisation, he might have laughed.

But 23 years ago, driven by a desire for change, Richard stepped away from the whiteboard and bought his first truck and a small skid steer.

“I had no idea what I was doing; I just sort of winged it,” Richard recalls of those early days operating from his home. Yet, his background in education proved to be his secret to success. The skills he honed managing staff, budgets, and communication with parents and students became the great grounding for what would eventually become Diggerman Training.

What started as a one-man residential earthmoving business supporting local builders and private residental works - soon evolved into a major movement in the civil construction industry. Richard’s persistence led to a breakthrough with civil contractors 19 years ago, giving him the confidence to scale.

As the business grew, however, Richard identified a critical gap: the difficulty of finding quality, skilled operators who fit a professional culture. True to his nature, he decided to train them himself.

Today, the Diggerman Training brand

has transformed and Richard has transitioned from running a substantial earthmoving fleet to focusing solely on Diggerman Training, a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) that processes over 5,000 students annually.

What truly sets Diggerman apart isn’t just the name; it’s the seven-acre purpose-built facility in Coolum Beach. This isn’t a classroom of desks and textbooks; it is a sprawling, realistic simulated work site where students learn by doing.

“We value the quality of the training,” Richard explains, noting that Diggerman ensures students get maximum time in the seat. The site is meticulously designed to mimic real-world conditions, including a dedicated high-risk area and night training facilities for those who are time-poor during the day or need to experience working under lights.

From excavators and telehandlers to rollers, loaders, and haul trucks, the Coolum site is a machinery enthusiast’s dream. Students aren’t just driving in circles; they are performing site specific activities as they would be on a normal civil site. For the high risk courses, activities like blind lifts - where a crane operator and dogger must communicate via whistle or radio without being able to see one another - creating the confidence needed for a live site.

The core of Diggerman lies in its

people. Richard’s team of 17 trainers each boasts over 20 years of industry experience. Many are former operators from Richard’s own earthmoving division - men who transitioned from the field to the training ground.

This depth of experience allows for a unique teaching style that prioritises rapport. Richard understands that many people entering the trades may not have had the best experience in traditional schooling and recognises that the more they feel relaxed, the more they’re going to learn.

“Building rapport is really important, and we’ve constructed these classrooms, all named after the Sunshine Coast mountains, to help each person feel comfortable and confident in where and what they are learning,” he says.

This commitment extends beyond the Coolum gates. Diggerman offers a mobile training service, sending trainers to work sites across the coast and regional Queensland to assess workers on their own equipment and with their own crews. This flexibility is essential for businesses that cannot afford to have their staff off-site but need to ensure they are compliant and skilled.

Diggerman has become a vital networking hub for the industry and employers often reach out to Richard, looking for talented students who have been screened through Diggerman’s

PHOTOS: NICOLE MAY

rigorous star-level system.

“It’s a real nursery for potential operators,” Richard says. By connecting students with labour-hire companies and civil contractors, Diggerman doesn’t just provide a qualification; it provides a career pathway.

The courses at Diggerman are as detailed as they are diverse. While many know the brand for its yellow logo and machines, the high-risk training is where the intricate details of safety come to the fore.

Dogging and Rigging, often misunderstood, are the backbone of high-rise construction, bridge building and commercial developments. A five-day Dogging course is the entry point, teaching students how to safely connect loads to cranes using chains and slings. From there, they can progress to Rigging (Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced), where they learn to construct structures at height, use winches, and even build tower cranes.

“These two go hand in hand, because a rigger needs to know how to safely put a lift together before they can construct structures at height,” Richard said.

Then there’s the machinery. Whether it’s an Excavator, Dozer, or Grader, each machine requires a specific course. By

ensuring students are competent, the training acts as a quality assurance for employers, giving them confidence that a Diggerman-trained operator is safe and skilled.

For those looking for a trade equivalent, Diggerman offers traineeships like the Certificate III in Civil Construction Plant Operations. These comprehensive programs cover up to 26 units, from road maintenance to pipe laying, ensuring a well-rounded expertise.

Every student starts with the White Card, a mandatory safety induction for any construction site. Diggerman also provides Verification of Competency, reassessing experienced operators to ensure they haven’t lost their skills.

Richard foresees a skills shortage - the likes of which we have never seen, with

the infrastructure boom expected between 2027 and the 2032 Olympics. By focusing on quality, realistic training, and genuine industry connections, Diggerman Training is building the foundations of our future on the Sunshine Coast and the nation.

Diggerman Training prides itself on establishing an environment with as much focus on safety as ensuring an enjoyable experience and fostering camaraderie between students and instructors. With all the equipment and coffee and smoko vans on-site, it offers a great opportunity to get valuable, hands-on experience in a welcoming environment.

You can even give the gift of a brighter future by purchasing an experience package for someone who has always dreamed of experiencing life behind the controls of a Tower Crane or and Excavator - or book Diggerman for a corporate event or team training. It’s the ultimate bucket list experience for the big kid in all of us! To find out more, scan the QR code or visit www.diggermantraining.com.au

DIGGERMAN TRAINING

Lisa Day, Bradley Thomson and Richard Burke

John Caruso learns that the best businesses are built on an idea so strong it outlasts the industry that created it.

Thread THE LONG

I’ve been a satisfied Toyota customer for fourteen years, and I never knew the history of where Toyota came from.

Most people have never heard of Sakichi Toyoda. They’ve heard of his son Kiichiro, who founded Toyota Motor Corporation, but the old man is a different story.

In the early twentieth century, Sakichi built automatic looms, machines that wove textiles and stopped themselves the moment a thread broke. Embedded in that invention was a philosophy that would outlast the looms themselves: the idea that quality is not a destination, it is a discipline. You build the defect out at the source rather than catching it at the end of the line.

It is a long way from a textile factory in Kosai to a car dealership on the Sunshine Coast, but the thinking is the same.

Eamon Viner, COO of Mills Motor Group, mentions Sakichi Toyoda early in our conversation.

The words he reaches for are not sales targets or market share. Eamon talks about long-term decisions, respect for people, a commitment to the community and discipline as an integral part of a business that’s served locals across two generations.

“Working in a family business brings a different level of accountability and care,” he says. “Decisions are made with a long-term mindset, focused on people,

reputation and relationships, rather than a short-term sugar hit.”

Eamon grew up on the Sunshine Coast, left for Melbourne in 2013 to start his career with Toyota Motor Company, and returned to join Mills Motor Group just over five years ago.

He holds the title of COO, which in the context of a privately owned, multi-site dealership means something more than the acronym suggests.

He’s responsible for the operational performance of every branch, for the strategy that connects them, and ultimately for ensuring the business stays true to what the Mills family has built.

He chose Toyota straight out of university, and the reason was uncomplicated.

“I chose to work for them purely for their reputation as the number one car company in the world,” he said. “The real point of difference is its foundation

of values, which encompasses the idea of continuous improvement and respect for people.

“When you’re solving problems and making decisions that align with those two things, the brand wins every time.”

That foundation traces directly back to the looms. The same principles that governed how Sakichi Toyoda approached a broken thread are the ones Eamon absorbed during his years with Toyota Motor Company in Melbourne and carried back to the Sunshine State when Brett Mills asked him to join the group.

Brett is the Dealer Principal and former chairman of the National Toyota Dealer Association, and he’s been the public face of the brand on the Coast for years.

What’s evident in every exchange I’ve ever had with Ken Mills Toyota is a clarity of expectation that runs deeper than corporate policy. It is the standard you set when your name is above the door.

That attitude runs through the business from the top down. Eamon describes it plainly.

“Spending time with Ken and working with Brett closely for a number of years now, you really see the difference in how they think, never settling for ‘just ok’,” he says. “They’re high-performing, no-nonsense, and very accountable to the result themselves. They’re the difference that’s driven the business over the years and made it what it is today.”

His day-to-day role is largely about communication, keeping the moving parts of a multi-site operation aligned around a common standard. KPIs are part of it, data is part of it, but the metric that matters most is harder to quantify.

“A lot of what I do is process alignment, making sure departments are working together to get the best outcome for our customers. I keep it as factual as possible and the buck stops with me,” Eamon says.

That standard is reflected across the branches. Blake Noffke, Branch Manager at Maroochydore, sees it as fundamental to how problems get solved. Grant Morris, workshop manager, frames it differently but means the same thing.

“We never play the blame game here,” Blake says. “It’s about how we fix problems and make sure they don’t happen again.”

“Culture doesn’t come from leadership, it comes from everyone pulling in the same direction,” Grant adds.

Staff are not just employees here. In a family business, the investment is personal and the expectation of the people who work within it reflects that.

“Customers and staff are dealing with people who are personally invested in the success of the business and we’re very invested in our local communities,” Eamon says.

There is a generation of car buyers who

grew up watching Japanese automakers transition from market entrants to industry leaders.

Toyota’s shift to a premium brand in the Australian market didn’t happen through advertising alone.

It happened through Land Cruisers with half a million kilometres on the clock and Corollas and Camrys like mine that simply keep going.

The thread that runs from a textile factory in Kosai to the Sunshine Coast is long, but it has never broken.

GET THE FEELING

Discover the latest Toyota models at your nearest Ken Mills Toyota dealership. Scan the QR code to explore the range of new and used vehicles, from SUVs to sedans, and enjoy exceptional deals. With dealership locations in both Nambour and Maroochydore, Ken Mills Toyota Sunshine Coast is the #1 choice for locals from the Coast to the Hinterland. Since opening their Toyota Nambour and Toyota Maroochydore locations, Brett and Caroline Mills have been proudly serving their local community for nearly two decades.

Business BACKING

Business leaders from across the region gathered at the Maroochy RSL for breakfast to celebrate the launch of the 2026 Sunshine Coast Business Awards and the start of Small Business Month.

Judo Bank’s Chief Economic Advisor Warren Hogan provided powerful insights into the current economic climate and the highs and lows of being a small business owner.

A panel of leading business owners shared their story and real-world experience including Teneille Newton of Noosa Black Garlic, the 2025 Sunshine Coast Business of the Year; The Beach Bars’ Jonny Giles; and Tim Kelly from Manufacturing Excellence Forum.

Sunshine Coast Business Awards Chair Jennifer Swaine said the event provided a timely opportunity for businesses to step back and engage with the bigger economic picture.

The Sunshine Coast Business Awards are back to empower local businesses with a platform to shine, writes Charlie Shelley

Entries are open until August, so there’s still time to get involved. Nominate an outstanding local business or enter your business in this important initiative.

As a previous winner and now proud sponsor, we can vouch for the benefits of being involved and going through the process. Celebrate a local business today. sunshinecoastbusinessawards.com.au

PHOTOS:

KEY DATES

SUNSHINE COAST BUSINESS AWARDS:

Online Information Session

Wed 29 July, 6-7pm

Applications/Nominations Close Mon 17 August, 5pm

Masterclass Ticketing Opens

Thurs 17 September

Finalist’s Masterclass & Cocktail Event

Thurs 22 October, from 3.30pm, Noosa Springs Golf and Spa Resort, Noosa Gala Dinner & Awards Ceremony Sat 28 November, 5.30pm-midnight, Sunshine Coast Convention Centre, Twin Waters.

Scan the QR code for the latest news, galleries of previous events, how to enter or to nominate an outstanding local business or lodge your application.

ELEVATED Occasions

Looking to celebrate, dine and unwind all in the one location? Jodie Cameron discovers the Sunshine Coast’s best kept secret venue that has it all...

As a Sunny Coast local for over five years, I’ll be honest, I’ve driven past Novotel Sunshine Coast Resort more times than I can count – I’m kicking myself for not discovering this place sooner.

Perfectly perched between Caloundra and Noosa, it’s the ideal venue for celebrating all occasions, but the resort doesn’t just host events – it creates the ones people are still talking about.

From the perfectly styled table to the first canapé and the final toast, every detail has been thought through by a team that genuinely cares how your night unfolds. For the Coast community, that experience just got even better following a significant renovation of the resort’s event and dining spaces that has brought fresh interiors, upgraded AV and a renewed energy to every room.

Whether you’re planning a milestone birthday, graduation dinner, or Christmas function your team will actually look forward to, a networking breakfast or a small business workshop – the expertise, the setting and the attention to detail are all already here, just elevated.

Novotel Sunshine Coast Resort is that rare thing – a world-class event

destination that also happens to be your neighbour, with everything you need in the one property. Their professional team is on hand to make every element seamless, from styling and entertainment through to accommodation for those who want to make a night of it.

Director of Sales Jenifer Dwyer Slee says the secret is all in the detail and creating an event that deserves more than a standard restaurant booking.

“We understand our clients’ vision, from attention to detail, effective handover to our operations teams and follow up post event,” she says. “Our internal processes are the same for all events regardless of size.”

A significant renovation has reinvigorated every room, with beautifully styled private dining spaces and menus that are thoughtfully presented, and cater to all dietary requirements, all you have to do is walk in and enjoy every moment.

Looking to celebrate years of hard work? A graduation dinner in the Mudjimba Room – pillarless, versatile and stunning – is the standout option. Flexible enough to host an intimate gathering or a standing event of 300.

The rooms are lighter while the technology has modernised the entire experience.

Backing it all up is newly partnered in-house AV team, Encore Event Technologies, who have invested nearly $3 million in the latest technology across the resort.

“The rooms are lighter while the technology has modernised the entire

PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

experience,” says Jenifer.

The Ohana Room offers the perfect space for a networking breakfast, with natural light, lagoon views and in-house catering – simple to plan and impressive to attend. Whether you’re building connections or launching something new, this is the setting that does half the work before anyone’s even sat down.

Perhaps you’re hosting a small business workshop or meeting with a polished, professional setting without the stuffy corporate feel. The Ninderry Room or Lily’s On The Lagoon, freshly relaunched menus showcasing local producers – everything you need to make an impression.

Did someone say Christmas? Yes, the free fall has commenced so get planning!

Taking it up a notch this year is the new Christmas Package – a curated end-ofyear package designed for teams and groups who want something special without building it from scratch. Choose from Intimate Gatherings, Christmas Dinners, Cocktails or Buffet options, with upgrade options including dessert stations and themed cocktails.

“Let our experienced team guide you on creating a memorable event or meeting that your team will talk about all year,” Jenifer says.

And if you’re looking for something a little extra special, the Champagne & Caviar High Tea as part of The Curated Plate on the open-air SOLA deck is unlike anything else on the Sunshine Coast – trust us, book it or miss out!

Every occasion deserves to feel special, with every detail, every room, every menu – elevated.

And the best part? You don’t have to travel far to find it. Novotel Sunshine Coast Resort is right in our backyard. Whether it’s ten people or two hundred, an intimate dinner or a fullscale Christmas gala, everything has been thought of so you don’t have to. All you need to do is show up and raise your glass. Do yourself a favour and discover it before everyone else does.

SOLA SENSATIONAL!

Discover an elevated à la carte dining experience at SOLA Restaurant, inspired by Mediterranean flavours and modern Italian technique. From house-made sourdough and delicate seafood crudo to handmade pastas and indulgent desserts – every dish celebrates exceptional local produce with thoughtful simplicity.

Friday & Saturday, 5.30pm – 8.30pm. Bookings essential.

Novotel Sunshine Coast Resort 270 Ocean Drive, Twin Waters Scan the QR code or book online at: www.novotelsunshinecoast.com.au

Grow WHERE GOOD THINGS

One of the jewels in the Sunshine Coast’s agritourism crown, Rebecca Jamieson Dwyer discovers how a dream, a passionate team, and a whole lot of heart and soul are the secret behind Alsahwa Estate’s first year.

Sipping a botanical spritz under the green-and-white striped umbrellas outside ēthos restaurant at Alsahwa Estate, it’s hard to believe the transformation that’s taken place here in the past year.

When I first visited Alsahwa’s Palmwoods location after it moved from Verrierdale, the team spoke of their vision to create an immersive, welcoming place where people could gather, learn, feast and connect – both with each other and the natural world.

Fast-forward 12 months and Alsahwa Estate has become one of the Sunshine Coast’s most exciting destinations, with a Mediterranean-inspired restaurant, flourishing gardens, and conscious living and events space rolled into one very beautiful package.

General Manager Michelle Clark has been at the helm from the early days, and said the first birthday on 27 June was a chance to pause and acknowledge all they’ve achieved.

“A year ago, Alsahwa was a vision and a paddock. Today it’s a working farm, a restaurant with a real soul, and a gathering place for our community,” she says. “Our first year has taught us that regenerative hospitality isn’t a trend – it’s slow, generous work, and it’s only just beginning.

“Every guest, grower, and team member has shaped this first chapter. We’re proud of where we are, and clear-eyed about how much room there is to grow.”

There’s plenty on the horizon over the next few months, including some not-to-be-missed culinary experiences.

First up, Alsahwa will be hosting the sold-out opening event for The Curated Plate 2026 – a special collaboration between Festival Culinary Director Peter Kuruvita and Alsahwa Head Chef Mal Meiers, combining storytelling, culture and food.

Set amongst Alsahwa’s tranquil gardens, Island Fire will feature cocktails, traditional dance, live drumming, a theatrical kottu roti demonstration with a shared Sri Lankan-inspired feast.

Every good farm needs pollinator pals, and Alsahwa’s apiary produces fresh honey that is spun and bottled onsite. The return of the popular Bees & Brunch workshop will see guests donning Alsahwa’s iconic hot-pink bee suits for beekeeping, food and education.

Ēthos has now been established as a must-visit farm-to-plate destination restaurant, with a hyper-seasonal menu shaped by the spray-free produce growing in the estate’s own gardens, alongside partnerships with like-minded local producers.

Beyond the plate, Alsahwa Estate is flourishing, with more than 1,100 plants and trees added to boost biodiversity, improve soil health and encourage a deeper connection to nature. A multilayered food forest is also in the works, while the installation of an incinerator toilet is a step towards the dream of being a fully regenerative property.

Inspiring the next generation will see the return of Honey Heroes workshop in July school holidays and a Kids Eco Day Out is planned for 24 September.

Wellness remains a key part of their philosophy, with the Wellness in Nature series recently relaunched beneath a tipi with a sound immersion by Kelly Landry.

Farm tours and free composting workshops are on offer too, with more agritourism experiences to come.

And given the dreamy gardens and magical atmosphere, it’s no surprise that Alsahwa is one of the most in-demand wedding locations around.

“Weddings at Alsahwa are bespoke at every scale – from full-Estate celebrations to intimate gatherings,” Michelle says.

This place belongs to everyone who has shared a table, a season, or a story with us here.

Just as wellness starts in the soil, Alsahwa started with a vision – and for founder, Jo Walker, it was always about connection.

“When I first dreamed of Alsahwa Estate at Palmwoods, I imagined a community gathered around spray-free food, where every meal brings us closer to the land and to one another,” she recalls. “I imagined families wandering around our botanic-style gardens and learning new things through our workshops and events.

“That only comes to life through an extraordinary team, and ours has poured itself into every seed, every plate, every gathering. This place belongs to everyone who has shared a table, a season, or a story with us here.”

Gazing around on this sun-dappled afternoon, it’s hard to imagine the Sunshine Coast without Alsahwa Estate. Cheers to their inspiring first year – and all the growth and goodness to come.

DON’T MISS

First Birthday Celebration – 27 June

Honey Heroes - 9 July

Bees & Brunch as part of The Curated Plate – 1 August Kids Eco Day Out - 24 September Scan the QR code to sign up to the Alsahwa Estate enewsletter for more. www.alsahwa.com

PHOTO: @IROLA

CHEF MEL ALAFACI presents PLATED: SUNSHINE COAST.

A COOKING CLASS

Join Chef Mel, The Happy Chef, for an interactive masterclass that blends elite culinary technique with high-octane entertainment. Learn new “cheffy” skills to produce a four-course feast, then enjoy it together.

Friday 24 July, 11am-2pm

$155pp Booking fees may apply The Studio Cooking School, Junction Drive, Coolum Beach

GREEN VALLEY FINGERLIMES presents TWILIGHT SOIRÉE

A unique fingerlime farm experience, with a fingerlime tour, gin tasting from Dalcelo Distillery and your own private teepee picnic in the orchard, complete with a hamper filled with locally sourced produce.

Saturday 25 July, 3-7pm

$110pp Booking fees may apply 114 Stirling Road, Peachester

SPICERS TAMARIND RETREAT presents SUNSHINE COAST ASIAN FOOD FESTIVAL

Bring a picnic blanket and indulge in vibrant Asian flavours from the star-studded chef lineup amongst the 18 acre rainforest property of Spicers Tamarind Retreat. Your ticket includes, five dishes, two drinks and live entertainment.

Saturday 1 August, 12-5pm From $165pp Booking fees may apply

Spicers Tamarind Retreat, Obi Lane South, Maleny

BEACHES!

Classic French cuisine reimagined for the Sunshine Coast. This five-course dining experience brings together elegance, technique and bold flavour, pairing timeless French artistry with unmistakable ocean breeze.

Friday 24 July, 5.30-9pm

$179pp Booking fees may apply The Esplanade, Maroochydore

MAPLETON PUBLIC HOUSE presents GOOD SOIL: FARM. TABLE. BEAST.

Good Soil is built on two ideas: supporting local producers, and honouring the whole ingredient from root to tip, and nose to tail. Gather round an open fire to watch the feast be prepared with music from Intercooler and Double Talk.

Sunday 26 July, 11am-5pm

Free entry; Lunch $30/kids $15, $25/kids $10 with pre-registration 2 Flaxton Drive, Mapleton

FAIRHILL GARDENS presents THE BUSH HARVEST MORNING TEA

Discover a generous, whimsical, beautifully presented menu with sweets & savouries from Peter Kuruvita & Fairhill’s renowned kitchen. Plus live music & flower-garlanded goats. Not to be missed.

Sunday 2 August, 11am-2pm

$50-$75 Booking fees may apply Fairhill Gardens, 114 Fairhill Road, Ninderry

YOUR MATES BREWING CO presents TOAST N

ROAST

Winter is built for dark beer, low n slow cooking and proper chats over a table. This tasting experience, hosted by the founders of Your Mates Brewing Co, celebrates local produce, bold winter beers and the craft behind both.

Saturday 25 July, 3-5pm $55pp Booking fees may apply 41 Technology Drive, Warana

SPICERS CLOVELLY ESTATE presents HINTERLAND PRODUCERS LUNCH

Fresh, blended with the Provencial French style of The Long Apron.

Friday 31 July, 12-4pm $135pp Booking fees may apply 38-68 Balmoral Road, Montville

BOTTARGA BY DA BIUSO presents DA BIUSO BUS

Join us for a unique experience on board our mobile fine dining restaurant, Da Biuso. Chefs Biagio and Joseph and Sommelier Sarah will be serving a five course degustation experience with carefully curated wines to match.

Sunday 2 August, 11am-8pm $250pp Booking fees may apply Happy Valley, Esplanade, Bulcock Beach, Caloundra

Head Chef Geoff Abel presents a four-course lunch with wine pairings, using local produce from The Falls Farm, Maleny Buffalo, Maleny Dairies & Peachester

From open-flamed feasts to hinterland harvests, Jennifer Swaine discovers The Curated Plate’s biggest program yet…

THE CURATED

Plate

Winter on the Sunshine Coast has its own kind of magic. The days are crisp, the hinterland glows and long lunches stretch effortlessly into the afternoon. It’s the season made for gathering, lingering a little longer and discovering the incredible food culture this region has become renowned for.

That spirit unfolds when The Curated Plate returns from 24 July to 2 August, transforming the Sunshine Coast into a celebration of flavour, community and great dining.

Leading the program is Island Fire by Culinary Director Peter Kuruvita at Alsahwa Estate – a spectacular event inspired by the sights, sounds and flavours of Sri Lanka. Expect traditional dancers, drummers and a bold threecourse feast celebrating spice, rhythm and storytelling. It sets the tone for an extraordinary 10 days.

The first weekend alone makes it worth extending your stay. Head inland

to Kenilworth where the Ember & Harvest Weekend delivers country hospitality at its finest. Friday night’s Smokin’ Boot Scoot brings live music, dancing and farm-fresh dining, while Saturday’s Wildfire & Wine gathers guests around fire pits beneath the stars for an open-flame feast paired with exceptional wines and acoustic music.

Along the coastline, seafood takes centre stage throughout the festival, culminating in the ever-popular Mooloolaba Seafood Market Day. Head to the wharf as local fisheries serve fresh plates, musicians perform beside the trawlers and visitors get a rare look into the local seafood industry that defines this stretch of coast.

For hinterland lovers, Tasting in the Treetops at Kondalilla offers a breakfast degustation above the rainforest canopy, while The Rocks Curated Plate Long Lunch in Yandina combines riverside dining with rustic charm. Elsewhere, guests can

Curated Plate Returns

24 July – 2 August

50+ curated food and drink experiences across the Sunshine Coast

tour working farms, learn about bees before brunch at Alsahwa Estate, enjoy French-inspired coastal dining at Bonjour, Beaches!, or share a Sicilian-style feast at Bottarga in Maroochydore.

The Sunshine Coast Asian Food Festival at Spicers Tamarind Retreat remains a festival highlight – guests wander between food stations, enjoy live music and graze through Asian-inspired dishes from some of the region’s best chefs, all set among lush rainforest.

What makes The Curated Plate so special is not simply the food – it’s the way the festival captures the personality of the Sunshine Coast.

Relaxed yet refined, welcoming yet world-class, it celebrates local people, local produce and the joy of coming together around a table. Whether you come for a weekend or stay for the ten days, you’ll leave already planning your return.

Peter Kuruvita

1. Kenilworth Ember & Harvest 2. Mooloolaba Seafood Day 3. Sunshine Coast Asian Food Festival 4. Island Fire with Peter Kuruvita 5. Picnic on Kings featuring Bluey & Bingo

Nicole May trades the hum of the Coast for the hushed whispers of the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, to discover the ultimate romantic revival..

RAINFOREST Revival

There is a specific kind of alchemy that happens somewhere along Narrows Road as the road winds deeper into the lush embrace of the Montville rainforest.

By the time you pull into the driveway of Secrets on the Lake, the to-do lists have vanished, replaced by clear air and the anticipation of something truly special.

For many, a romantic getaway is a chance to escape the noise and reconnect with the one you love. But for those who find their way here, it’s finding a sense of mental and physical renewal in the heart of the hinterland – a space to breathe together again.

Owner Aldy Johnston, the matriarch of this iconic retreat, has seen it happen a thousand times.

“Guests will arrive a little tired and sometimes stressed only to be completely relaxed a very short time later,” she says. “This is the magic of Secrets on the Lake. You don’t need to wait days to feel the benefit. The rainforest soothes the soul practically straight away.”

The story of Secrets is, at its core, a love story - not just between the couples who visit, but between the Johnston family and the land they’ve nurtured since 1984. What they created is a world-class destination that feels less like a hotel and more like a living, breathing gallery of artisan craftsmanship.

“People don’t understand until they see it,” Aldy explains, reflecting on the reaction of first-time visitors who often stand in the doorway and simply say,

‘wow’. That sense of wonder comes from the intricate level of detail. These aren’t just cabins; they are handcrafted masterpieces. The front doors - the first ever done by local artisan Jack Williams - feature intricate carvings, like the amazing frill-necked lizard on the entrance to Lizards Lair.

Inside, the artistry continues. Much of the timber carving throughout the property was done by George and Aldy’s son, including the whimsical Wishing Chair and the stunning reception desk. Even the window frames tell a story.

When George was told he’d have to wait months for standard frames, he took ‘flitches’ - the raw edges of timber - and crafted them himself. The result?

“They actually look like picture frames rather than windows,” Aldy notes. “The background of the trees is coming through as part of the art.”

Each treehouse is a private universe, perched high in the canopy or nestled against ancient rock ledges. Whether you’re staying in Possums, which sits a spectacular nine metres above the forest floor, or the honeymoon-ready Secrets Cabin with its private waterfall, the feeling is one of total seclusion.

The interiors are designed for connection. Think suspended fireplaces, sunken spa baths while you gaze out at nature and swing seats on the deck to watch a kookaburra land or the morning mist burn off the lake. It’s a space where the world softens.

“Guests settle back on their swing seat and breathe while enjoying each other’s

company,” Aldy says.

It’s about noticing the small things: the new growth on a golden palm or the intricate blacksmith work by local artisan Ralph that elevates the experience.

Aldy says this environment has a profound effect on the health of any relationship and it’s not unusual for the sheer beauty and intention of the space to move guests to tears.

“Within half an hour of arriving, we’ll see them wandering around hand in hand... they’re straight into having a wonderful time together,” she says.

While the temptation to never leave your treehouse is real, the sense of immersion extends to the water’s edge. Guests are invited to take out canoesfree of charge - to glide across the glass-like surface of Lake Baroon.

“This is the difference here at Secrets on the Lake,” said Aldy. “Once you’re here, you can escape to the great outdoors to fish, rock hop up the creek, or swim in the rock pools.”

For those who prefer to keep their feet dry, the property borders the Great Walk, with trails leading to rock pools and the

PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

George & Aldy Johnston

stunning Obi Obi Gorge lookout.

And then, there is the food. Dining on the Deck is an award-winning experience that feels as though you’re dining in the treetops. Whether it’s a gourmet breakfast delivered to your door (muffins and croissants, anyone?) or a long lunch overlooking the water, the focus is on refined dining and breathtaking views.

For the active couple, the Walkers Package provides a gourmet picnic tucked into a convenient backpack, perfect for exploring the Great Walk or a trek to Kondalilla Falls. For a more intentional romantic gesture, the Boho Picnic or Lakeside Interlude transforms a quiet corner of the manicured gardens into a private sanctuary with stylised décor and panoramic views of Lake Baroon.

If a more intimate and private setting is desired, the Ultimate Romance Package can be tailored to include a dreamy massage – the ultimate love letter to relaxation, paired with curated food choices. And if you want to make the ultimate romantic gesture, why not arrange a helicopter to whisk you away for an anniversary celebration – possibly the centrepiece for a romantic proposal. You have the creative freedom to tailor your stay exactly as you desire it.

Secrets on the Lake isn’t just a

one-time visit; it’s the kind of place that Aldy says quickly becomes a couple’s special place. Many of whom return year after year to celebrate anniversaries or simply to reconnect. It is a testament to the vision George and Aldy had decades ago - a place built by hand, from the heart, “designed to give people a holiday in two days,” Aldy explains.

As you leave, you realise you’re carrying a bit of that romantic rainforest back with you. You’re revived, you’re reconnected, and you’ve discovered the best-kept secret in the hinterland.

As Aldy says, “It is the perfect place to celebrate any occasion or just to be.”

And sometimes, just being together is the greatest romance of all.

THE ESCAPE MENU

Because no two love stories are written the same way, Secrets on the Lake gives you the creative freedom to design a stay that fits perfectly. Whether you want to be pampered and just relax or you’re ready to lace up your boots and explore, there’s a curated way to make the magic happen. Be inspired by:

• The Ultimate Romance Package

• The Walkers Package

• The Lakeside Interlude

• A Boho Picnic

Expert Tip: Tailoring an experience to the time you have, takes a little forward thinking, so book ahead.

EXPLORE SECRETS

Tucked away in the lush Sunshine Coast Hinterland, Secrets on the Lake is more than just a getaway—it’s an experience. Our handcrafted treehouses, perched high in the rainforest, offer breathtaking views over Lake Baroon, complete with crackling fireplaces, indulgent spa baths, and the perfect setting to reconnect.

Enjoy a dining experience like no other at our award-winning café, where delicious, locally sourced meals are served on the deck with stunning views over tranquil Lake Baroon. Whether you're joining us for breakfast, lunch, or a special gathering with family and friends, every meal is a moment to savor.

For couples seeking a truly magical wedding day, Secrets on the Lake offers a breathtaking lakeside venue surrounded by rainforest and panoramic views. With exclusive ceremony locations, elegant reception spaces, and luxury accommodation, we create intimate, unforgettable celebrations designed to reflect your unique love story.

Good! SO BERRY

If you’re going to commit to one big road trip this year, make it a northwester to Mundubbera. Jodie Cameron discovers why this journey is ripe for the picking…

Did you know ‘town-envy’ is a real thing? As a former macadamia nut producer, I spent years traversing regional roads riding the festival circuit sharing the macadamia love, but every two years, one festival always stole my heart – the Mundubbera Blueberry Festival. With its rolling orchards, big blue skies and genuine country hospitality, it’s the kind of town that makes you think ‘geez they really have it going on here’.

Mundubbera might be known as the citrus capital of Queensland but come spring, blueberries take centre stage and the town quite literally turns blue for the occasion. Set in Queensland’s North Burnett region just a three-and-a-halfhour drive northwest from Noosa, the biennial celebration from 25 to 27 September is the best country festival you haven’t discovered yet.

The region is home to the largest undercover blueberry farm in the Southern Hemisphere, so it’s safe to say they know their berries well. This might be a small town, but they bring big energy so instead of a hurried dash, make it a slow weekend by staying a few nights – there’s plenty to explore beyond the festival gates.

Festival Coordinator Lisa Wain says while the berries are spectacular enough for a day trip, a weekend stay is a sure

...the real magic comes from slowing down enough to appreciate the country charm.

way to welcome the change of season while supporting a regional town that feeds the national supply chain.

“After a few tough years, the festival always brings our tight-knit community to life,” Lisa says. “It’s a celebration of local food, music, and good-old fashioned fun.”

The 2026 program is packed tighter than a punnet of premium blues and it’s big, bold and bursting with flavour!

The Marquee Muster kicks off the

weekend – a relaxed festival welcome with street food, music and that unmistakable hum of a town gearing up for a big event. For the foodies, the Locavore 4626 dinner is a long-table experience under the stars, showcasing the best regional produce by celebrity chef Matt Golinski. Held in a mystery location, this gastronomical affair is over 80% sold so be quick!

On Saturday, the Berry Big Day Out takes over Bicentennial Park along the Burnett River. Expect more than 80 stalls, blueberry-inspired treats (there will be pie and yes, it’s worth the drive alone), local makers, superstars and winners from the local talent show, Spotlight North Burnett, and a relaxed, sun-soaked vibe that makes it berry easy to lose track of time.

“There will be a jumping castle for the kids, live performances throughout the day, and plenty of space to roll out a picnic rug,” Lisa says. “It’s the kind of event where locals, visitors, growers and creatives all come together and you’re instantly part of it.”

For those keen to dig a little deeper, the Berry Bonza Bus Tour is an essential add-on. Hosted by Central Burnett Landcare, this guided experience offers a behind-the-scenes look at the region’s agricultural backbone – from citrus and mangoes to cattle, pecans and timber. Local producers often hop on board to share their stories, and you’ll finish with a curated goody bag. For a literal bird’s-eye view, Heli Tours can be booked to see the winding rivers, and that endless stretch of countryside that defines this part of Queensland.

If you’re a fan of live music, the icing

on the cake is the Blueberry Jam Sesh where live music rolls into the night under a canopy of stars. The legendary Tex Perkins and Matt Walker of The Cruel Sea, alongside 19-Twenty, Bourbon Street and Australian Idol alum Keely Ellen will be kicking off the jams.

When you aren’t elbow-deep eating berries, the region offers plenty of soul-soothing detours so pack the hiking boots for Cania Gorge National Park with its ancient sandstone cliffs and hidden caves or visit the Mundubbera Heritage for a time-capsule look of early

1900s life. For a slower pace, swing by the Three Moon Silos in Monto –the towering artwork is a literal head-turner.

The real magic comes from slowing down enough to appreciate the country charm. So, start a playlist and head north-west this September – come for the blueberries, stay for the community, and leave with that unmistakable feeling of having stumbled upon something special.

You’ll understand exactly what I mean by town-envy. Blue skies ahead!

BLUEBERRY BLISS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS!

For festival info + tickets, scan the QR code and follow the fun on social media @mundubberablueberryfestival

Enter HELLOSUNSHINE to receive two free drink tickets when you book your festival passes.

26 September

FEATURING Tex Perkins & Matt Walker, 19 Twenty, Bourbon Street, Keely Ellen, Anderson Lane & more.

FAMILY FUN AT THE

26 September

- 2pm

SIPS BITES AND

The coast is cooking - and we are absolutely here for it...

NEW FLAVOURS

The Mooloolaba Esplanade just got a whole lot livelier with the opening of Foxy Malone’s (former O’Malley’s Irish Pub). Grab a Guinness and enjoy live music and a whole new level of craic!

From the team behind Jericho Moffat Beach, Torque has arrived in Golden Beach – a quirky motorsport-themed café with a fullylicenced bar and New York style sandos.

Avani Mooloolaba Beach Hotel is the first internationally branded new-build hotel on the Sunshine Coast in over 40 years! The real drawcard? Sully’s Rooftop, perched 12 storeys above the beach with modern Australian dining, sunset cocktails and sweeping ocean views. Chef Marky Godbeer was previously at The Calile Hotel Brisbane and sets the culinary vision for drawing inspiration from local producers and artisans.

Motto Motto has opened at Kawana Shoppingworld –a casual Japanese kitchen, delivering premium wagyu donburi, ramen and poke bowls made to order. Fast, fresh and absolutely worth the detour.

The team behind The Boat Shed at Cotton Tree have opened River Bar & Dining on

the Mooloolah River, Kawana. The Mooloolaba Prawn Cocktail Brioche Sando is a standout on the tapas menu and the BBQ Lamb Belly is the staff’s favourite. Dive in!

Also out of The Boat Shed kitchen is Ka-Pao which has just added a Tamarind Sauce and Smokin Joes Chipotle Salsa to its original Korean Sauce

Brisbane’s 3 Black Bears Pizza is opening in Caloundra bringing large pizzas at one great price ($16.90) to the region!

Aura Fresh Twilight Market is on the first Friday of every month from 4-8pm with food trucks and vendors, fresh produce, local artisans and makers, plus a craft beer bar pouring Brouhaha, Moffat Beach Brewing Co and Your Mates Brewing, live local music, kids entertainment and activities.

Local charity The Everyday Foundation will open the doors to a low-cost grocery store, emergency relief program, meal-support kitchen, cafe, and Hope Hampers Christmas initiative in Nambour in September. You can support by purchasing items to help the Fit Out Fund. Visit the facebook page for more.

Panwa Thai has relocated from Ocean Street to Parklakes,

Bli Bli with traditional Thai cuisine as well as fish and chips.

WEEKLY WINNERS

Sola Bar & Restaurant at Novotel Sunshine Coast Resort is serving up weekly specials from 12pm. Start the week with a classic 250g chicken parmi on Mondays; a 36-hour slow-cooked lamb shank with truffle jus on Wednesdays; chargrilled half chook on Fridays or a weekend roast with Yorkshire pudding. The Pickled Pelican on Ocean Street is drawing in the crowds with a special offer every day they’re open - book in for Treat yourself Tuesday, Wagyu Wednesday, Wellington & Wine Thursday, Fry-yay Friday, Good Vibes Saturday or finish the week with a Sunday Roast! See page 66 for all the delicious details.

Monday night is Wine Night at Stavros, buy two mains and receive a bottle of house wine on the house; on Tuesdays, enjoy two courses and a beverage for $49; enjoy Souvlaki for $29 on Wednesday; and Steak Night on Thursdays with Wagyu Rostbiff, Greek fries and jus, also $29. Sunday lunch is all about sharing with slow-cooked lamb shoulder with all the trimmings (see page 68) and on Sunday

night, choose any three Mezze for $39. TASTE OF ITALY

Cotton Tree wine bar, Breeze of Italy just got better with the arrival of the Breeze of Italy Experiencea four-course sharing menu Italian-style! Choose from some of its greatest hits with a glass of house wine for just $49 per person MondayThursday from 4pm until late. Be sure to book! See page 64 for more.

Get your Italian goods direct from Dolce Italia - shop online for free delivery to the Sunshine Coast for orders over $50 or pick up from the Coolum warehouse.

Cicchetti Street Food has opened in Alexandra Headland, bringing an edge to regional Italian street food – no pizza, no pasta, think beef cheek ragu-stuffed olives, whole baby squid braised in red wine, and dishes sourced straight from the regions of Italy.

SLOW FOOD FAST

Winter dinners just got healthier with Greensmith Grocers in Birtinya joining Uber Eats. Grab nourishing bowls, ready-to-heat meals, kombucha and smoothies, delivered. See page 76.

SUNSHINE EATS

Zeus Street Greek has opened its 50th restaurant at Sunshine Plaza –a major milestone for the GreekMediterranean chain. Dine on flame-grilled pitas, Spartan Bowls, fresh salads and loukoumades. Also in Sunshine Plaza, Joe’s Deli brings a slice of New York and Grill’d has had a fresh facelift. See page 72 for more.

HOMEGROWN CHANGES HANDS

Homegrown Café in Palmwoods has new owners from close to home - Matt and Jordan. Both are long-time customers and Jordan started working there when he was 13! Same soul, exciting new energy.

WINE DINNER

Fish House Steak & Grill will host Nicholas Goss of Hentley Farm for an unforgettable 6-course degustation with matching wines, including the Clos Otto Shiraz. Thursday 16 July. 6pm-9pm $249pp. Book now!

WINTER WARMERS

Flo’s Crêperie have two new winter dishes to tickle your Francey. – see page 62!

Peregian Beach Hotel bring the grooves with Vinyl Nights every second Saturday, with guest DJs spinning the tunes plus tapas and bar specials at Il Porto from 5.30pm. Plus the Massaman lamb shank pot pie and Donburi Bowls are back for winter!

DO YOU YUZU?

Sunshine & Sons

Premium Spirits have released the small batch, limited-edition Yuzu Gin - bright, bold and bursting with citrus flavour! Also try, Biosphere Gin with elderflower and native black myrtledivine! Buy 2 bottles and get 50% off your 3rd! Open from 10am daily or buy online.

DINE ON THE DECK

Slow mornings taste better Dining on the Deck at Secrets on the Lake. Whether staying overnight or just stopping by, discover the new menu, and enjoy breakfast with a view of Lake Baroon.

SUSTAINABLE SIPS

Alsahwa Estate’s ēthos restaurant at Palmwoods has Happy Hour Wed-Sat from 2.30-5pmdivine cocktails, antipasto platters and golden sunsets. Don’t miss the monthly Test Kitchen for culinary creativity on show.

SUNSHINE BRUNCH

Sunshine Beach Surf Club and Sunshine & Sons will host a Bottomless Gin Brunch on Sunday 2 August with two hours of bottomless gin cocktails paired with a delicious menu. Plus on the last Sunday of every month, enjoy a Singles Long Lunch for singles aged 40-60.

CROWD CLASSICS

All your faves are making a comeback at The Beach Bars See which dishes made the list on page 50.

DON’T MISS!!

The Curated Plate 10-day food festival returns from 24 July to 2 August.

Hungry for more? Scan the QR code and subscribe to our weekly e-newsletter.

Breeze of Italy

Flo’s Crêperie

Beach Bar

FLAVOURS WINTER

RECIPES

BY

MATT GOLINSKI

This winter we’re reheating some of our favourite recipes created by Matt Golinski over the past several years. You can find a library of recipes and stories from Matt and other leading local chefs on our website www.hellosunshinemag.com.au

Scan the QR code and get cooking!

Black Garlic is made by keeping whole bulbs at a constant level of heat and humidity for about 4–6 weeks. The result is coal-black cloves that lose their normal pungency through the breakdown of enzymes, and the development of sweet, balsamic vinegar characteristics that give an addictive umami hit to whatever you add them to.

STICKY OXTAIL WITH CUMQUATS, GARLIC AND CHILLI

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 kg oxtail, cut into 2.5cm pieces

• 50 gm rice flour

• 50 ml vegetable oil

• 100 gm cumquats, halved

• 50 gm ginger, sliced

• 4 dried red chillies

• 4 whole star anise

• 100 ml light soy sauce

• 75 ml black vinegar or rice vinegar

• 75 gm brown sugar

• 100 ml shao xing wine or dry sherry

• ½ cup coriander leaves

• 2 shallots, finely sliced

• 1 red chilli, julienned

• 30 gm black garlic, sliced

METHOD:

• Dry the oxtail on paper towel, dust in the rice flour and fry in the vegetable oil until coloured on all sides.

• Transfer to a casserole dish.

• Scatter over the cumquats, ginger, dried chillies and star anise.

• Whisk together the soy, vinegar, sugar and shao xing and pour over the oxtail.

• Cover tightly and cook for 12 hours at 100°C.

• Remove the oxtail to a serving dish with a slotted spoon and skim off any fat from the cooking liquid. Transfer liquid to a small saucepan and reduce by half.

• Pour over the oxtail, garnish with the coriander, shallots, chilli and slices of black garlic.

• Serve with steamed rice and pickled cucumber slices.

SAUERKRAUT, SMOKED BACON AND WHITE BEAN SOUP WITH SOURDOUGH CROUTONS

The nights are getting colder so it’s time to snuggle up with Matt Golinski’s sauerkraut, smoked bacon and white bean soup with sourdough croutons. Try this soup, your gut will thank you!

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 onion, finely diced

• 1 clove garlic, sliced

• 1 carrot, diced

• 1 stick celery, diced

• 200gm smoked bacon, diced

• 30gm butter

• 30gm plain flour

• 1lt Boneafide Chicken Stock

• 250gm cooked cannellini beans

• 1tbs chopped rosemary

• 1 cup Nourishing Wholefoods Happykraut

• 250gm Lust for Crust sourdough, cut into 1cm dice

• 50ml olive oil

• salt and pepper

SERVES 4

METHOD:

• Sauté the onion, garlic, carrot, celery and bacon in the butter until soft and starting to colour.

• Stir in flour and cook for 2 minutes.

• Slowly add the hot chicken stock, bring to a simmer and add the cannellini beans.

TAMARILLO CLAFOUTIS

• Simmer gently for 10 minutes.

• Toss the sourdough cubes in the olive oil and bake in a 180°C oven for 10 minutes or until golden and crunchy.

• Stir the sauerkraut into the soup and divide between 4 bowls.

• Sprinkle with chopped rosemary and top with croutons.

Clafoutis is a baked custard and fruit dessert from the Limousin Region in France. It is traditionally made with whole, unpitted black cherries but can be made with any fruit. Plums, apricots, quince and berries all work well; tamarillo adds an interesting texture and an acidity to cut through the richness of the custard. Clafoutis is a handy “go to” recipe for a last minute winter warmer dessert.

INGREDIENTS:

• 4 tamarillos, halved lengthwise

• 75gm honey

• 100gm castor sugar

• 75gm plain flour

• pinch salt

• 4 eggs

• 2 yolks

• 500ml warm milk

• 60gm butter, melted

• pinch nutmeg

• 1 tsp orange zest, finely grated

• 2tbs icing sugar

• 150ml double cream

METHOD:

• Place the tamarillo halves cut side down on a baking tray lined with baking paper and drizzle with the honey.

• Roast for 15 minutes at 200°C. Leave on tray to cool down, then pull off the skins and cut each half into four. Scatter over the bottom of a greased l ltr capacity baking dish.

• Sift together the castor sugar, flour and salt.

• Whisk together the eggs, yolks and warm milk.

• Slowly whisk into the flour and sugar mixture and beat until smooth.

• Whisk in the butter, nutmeg and orange zest.

• Pour the batter over the tamarillo pieces and bake in a preheated 180°C oven for 35 – 40 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes.

• Dust liberally with icing sugar and serve warm with double cream or ice cream

HOME

Ground

John Caruso discovers that five years in, Piggyback has figured out something most restaurants never do - how to make itself indispensable.

The car park at Piggyback was busy on a Wednesday. Not a Friday night, not a long weekend - a Wednesday lunch. It’s the kind of detail that tells you more about a restaurant than any review.

Piggyback is the third venue in Tony Kelly’s Asian street food story, which began at Rice Boi on the Mooloolaba Wharf and extended to Giddy Geisha in the Maroochydore City Centre before Tony bought the freehold on the Palmwoods site and made a calculated bet on the hinterland.

The logic was personal as much as commercial. He lives in the area, believed it was underserved, and had a template he trusted. What he couldn’t have fully predicted was how the local community would use the restaurant once it opened.

“Run a ring a couple of kilometres out from Rice Boi, then do the same at Piggyback, you’ll be surprised at the number of people that live in the catchment. You have Palmwoods, Woombye, Nambour, Mons, Keel Mountain, Chevallum - it’s densely populated,” Tony explains.

The hinterland, he adds, also has a tolerance for short drives and a shortage of late options.

“A lot of restaurants here don’t trade late at night. We’ve cemented ourselves as the place that never closes - lunch and dinner, seven days a week, 364 days a year. The only day we’re shut is Christmas and people have grabbed onto that,” he says. “They trust that they’ll always get a feed at Piggyback.”

Head chef Nick Blake arrived following four and a half years at Rice Boi, having been with the Tony Kelly group for almost seven years. He’s built the kitchen around a Nonya foundationthe culinary tradition that runs through Balinese, Malay, and broader Southeast Asian cooking.

Thai curries, wok-fired dishes, char siu pork, tamarind-glazed beef ribs, a smoked ocean trout that sits alongside the small plates that disappear before the mains arrive. It’s adjacent to what the group’s other restaurants do, but it’s not a copy.

“Rice Boi does pan-Asian, leaning on mixed cuisine; Giddy Geisha skews Japanese and Korean; we focus more on the Nonya - Balinese, Malay. Each venue has its own lane,” Nick explains.

The distinction matters more at Piggyback than it might at a restaurant that turns over its crowd nightly. Here, the diners’ faces are largely the same.

“We see some families two or three times a week, 50 weeks of the year, so we want to make sure we keep the menu interesting and creative, so our clientele don’t get bored,” Tony says.

That’s pressure that a tourist-facing kitchen rarely has to solve. It demands genuine invention, not just good execution.

Nick’s answer is the Hawker Stall series - a monthly activation that brings a live cooking station into the garden and puts the kitchen in front of the customers in a way the back-of-house

layout normally prevents.

Each Hawker Stall event will take a different Southeast Asian tradition and work it into three or four dishes cooked and served outdoors. The rotation includes Indonesian, Korean, Filipino, Thai and, most recently, Laotian.

“I write the menus and recipe test the dishes at home on weekends, it’s a lot of fun and I love it,” Nick says.

The research goes deeper than recipe development. For the Laotian edition, he spent time on a Jaew Bong - a chilli jam ground with roasted rice and sesame seeds - at home.

“Your traditional Thai version with tamarind and lemongrass doesn’t have those flavours at all,” Nick says. “But the rice and sesame add aroma and oiliness - something uniquely Lao.”

That instinct to find what makes one

PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

regional tradition distinct from its neighbours is what stops the series from becoming a parade of similar plates with different flags.

Tony, a chef by trade, sees the events as more than customer entertainment.

“We’ve got some of the best chefs in Australia working here and if you take the creative away from chefs, sometimes they get a bit stale,” he says.

The Hawker Stall also functions as a low-risk development kitchen. Dishes that land well with the regulars become candidates for the permanent menu.

“We can see the response to dishes that we know will go well on the menu,” he says. The regulars aren’t just the audience. They’re the feedback loop.

There’s a staff development dimension

They trust that they’ll always get a feed at Piggyback...

too. Piggyback’s kitchen doesn’t have an open pass or line of sight to the dining room. The Hawker Stall changes that.

“It’s the opportunity to put the chefs up front and sometimes, a dish becomes more important when you’re the person putting it on the plate and giving it to the customer,” Tony says.

For the apprentices, it’s direct education. Nick will hand one a recipe, taste the result, and season it alongside them. Collaborative, practical, and more instructive than repeating a service section indefinitely.

Then there’s the element neither Tony nor Nick fully anticipated: the takeaway trade. From mid-morning, orders begin arriving for 5pm and 5.30pm pickups.

Tradies, dual-income families, people

who’ve worked a long day and want dinner handled without a second conversation.

“The menu’s very affordable, people can grab a takeaway meal one or two nights a week and it’s not going to break the bank,” says Tony.

A new car park currently under construction will make the pickup process smoother, however the habit for locals, is already well established.

“I never anticipated how strong the demand would be here. We’ve been very pleasantly surprised,” he says.

It reframes what Piggyback is. Not simply a local restaurant - a reliable weekly fixture for an entire community. Open every day, cooking everything from Laotian chilli jam to char siu pork, feeding the same families on a Tuesday night with takeaway and then seating them for a Saturday lunch.

JUMP ON!

Piggyback’s Hawker Stall happens the first Sunday of every month from 11.30am. OPEN everyday, 11.30am-9pm

No bookings, walk-ins only.

Scan the QR code for menus and more or follow them on social media @piggyback_sc

asian street food

THE LEGACY OF THE RICEBOI & GIDDY GEISHA EMPIRE.

THE GREAT CULINARY DYNASTY OF THE SUNSHINE COAST REGION.

SCAN THE QR CODE FOR TAKEAWAY ORDERS

1 Koorawatha Lane, Palmwoods Open 7 Days from 11.30am until 9pm piggyb.com.au

One of the Sunshine Coast’s best-loved hospitality brands is giving their greatest hits a much-requested encore, Charlie Shelley discovers.

Classics CROWD

There is a special kind of satisfaction that comes from ordering an old favourite off a menu. It’s the comfort of knowing exactly what you’re in for, combined with the thrill of a first bite that tastes just as good as you remembered.

That feeling sits right at the heart of The Beach Bar’s Crowd Classics campaign, a wonderful new menu of old hits available across all three Beach Bars locations in Kings Beach, Cotton Tree and Coolum Beach.

The premise underpinning the campaign is simple. Over the past decade, the brilliant minds behind The Beach Bars have crafted a menu that’s moved with the seasons and evolved over time. Along the way, certain dishes have stood out and become iconic in their own right. These are the plates people remember, request and return for – the ones that have helped shape the story of these remarkable beachside venues.

Managing Director Jonny Giles says the decision to bring back The Beach Bars’ greatest hits was an easy one.

“Crowd Classics is all about celebrating the dishes our guests have loved most over the years,” Jonny says. “We’re constantly asked when certain favourites are coming back, so this winter we decided to bring them together on one menu.

“It’s a nostalgic nod to our journey so far and a way of saying thank you to the guests who’ve supported us along the way.”

The lineup of returning dishes covers

Pulled Brisket Burger

a lot of ground – from good oldfashioned winter staples to more modern comfort foods with a coastal twist.

...all about celebrating the dishes our guests have loved most over the years.

Breakfast enthusiasts will be pleased to know that The Beach Bars have answered the calls to create a Coast classic Breakfast Wrap. Packed full of delicious produce guaranteed to give you the energy you need to tackle the day ahead. Think eggs, bacon and all the usual morning favourites folded together into one soft, satisfying package that works just as well after a beach walk as it does before one.

Then there’s Boston Beans, a New England-inspired dish with a long and storied history stretching back to the early 1600s. Slow-cooked beans, smoky bacon, soft onion and a rich molassesbased sauce come together to create something warm, hearty and slightly sweet – perfect for keeping the cold at bay on a chilly winters’ day.

Those who crave umami deliciousness, know that you’ve not been forgotten. The Beach Bar’s Pork & Ginger Dumplings – juicy, fragrant and filled to the brim with tender minced pork, punchy ginger and fresh spring onion – are an absolute must-try.

PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

So too is the Karaage Enoki Mushroom, a crispy Japanese appetiser where earthy enoki mushroom clusters are marinated in a savoury soy sauce, coated in starch, and deep-fried until crunchy. It’s got all the appeal of potato chips plus some extra umami punch.

Also on the menu is Okonomiyaki, a scrumptious savoury pancake hailing from Hiroshima Prefecture and the Kansai region of Japan. Crisp around the edges and soft in the middle, it’s filled with light shredded cabbage and topped with pickled chilli, smoky bacon and soft, just-set egg before being finished with creamy mayo and mouthwatering tonkatsu sauce.

Other delectable dishes making a comeback include The Beach Bar’s rich, slightly spicy Japanese Chicken Curry; decadent Baked Brie, drizzled with local honey and paired with toasted bread; loaded Chicken Parmigiana complete with rich tomato sauce, delicate mozzarella and well-cooked bacon; creamy seared salmon risotto finished with fresh herbs and lemon; and the beautiful Beach Bar Beef Burger, stuffed with bacon jam, Swiss cheese, onion rings and more.

Ultimately, what makes Crowd Classics so special – beyond the obvious joy of getting your favourite dish back – is what it says about the relationship The Beach Bars have built with their community.

Across three locations and several years, these venues have accumulated something that many hospitality spots are still working towards: genuine regulars.

People who have table preferences and know the staff by name, who have marked birthdays and first dates in the venues and spent countless mornings and afternoons indulging in the menus. Crowd Classics is a love letter to those people – and an open invitation to others to come on in and see what all the fuss is about.

CROWD CLASSICS, COMPILED

Indulge in these delectable dishes by The Beach Bars this winter:

• Okonomiyaki

• Boston Beans

• Breakfast Wrap

• Pork & Ginger Dumplings

• Karaage Enoki Mushroom

• Baked Brie

• Japanese Chicken Curry

• Chicken Parmigiana

• Seared Salmon Risotto

• Beach Bar Beef Burger

Visit thebeachbars.com.au for menus, bookings and more.

Okonomiyaki

INTIMATE

Italian Indulgence

The most Italian thing about winter isn’t the food – it’s the time you take to savour it. Ida Fink Gundtoft visits a multiaward-winning Italian gem.

Winter brings a seasonal recalibration that extends beyond wardrobes and menus. It reaches into the way we socialise. Summer is for spontaneity, for open doors and crowded tables that last into the night. Winter, however, invites something else entirely. It asks us to choose our company more carefully. To seek out spaces that feel enclosed, atmospheric, and quietly removed from the outside world. To sit, not among everyone, but among the right ones.

At Bella Venezia in Mooloolaba, this instinct finds its most literal expression behind a shimmering divide – a sparkling metallic curtain that marks the threshold between the everyday and something altogether more intimate.

Step through it, and the entire pace of dining out begins to change.

The murmur of the main dining room softens into the background. The space becomes yours. Not metaphorically, but entirely. A single long table extends through the centre of the room, set for up to 30 guests, inviting not just a meal, but a shared experience – one that unfolds slowly, deliberately, and with a sense of occasion that feels almost cinematic.

“Guests really embrace that sense of exclusivity,” says co-owner of Bella Venezia Kristine Young. “There’s something special about having your own private space within a fine dining setting – it feels like you could be anywhere in the world, yet you’re right here in the heart of Mooloolaba.”

It is this collection of luxuries – escape and proximity, intimacy and indulgence – that defines the experience. And in

winter, it resonates even more deeply. Because winter, in its very own subtle way, is a season of closeness. Of stepping away from the external and into something more personal. Of closing the curtain, both literally and figuratively, on the noise of the outside world.

Anchoring the experience is, of course, the food. Think, a shared charcuterie board, designed to be passed, tasted, and savoured. Then move into dishes that balance both brightness and richness in equal measure: Burrata with heirloom tomatoes; delicate tuna tartare; or a deeply layered beef carpaccio. All of which will pave the way to winterwarming mains: from confit pork belly to slow-cooked Angus beef cheek ragout folded through tagliatelle. It is food made for enjoying, entertaining – less about the individual plate, and more about a shared moment.

And just when the evening feels as though it has reached its peak, dessert arrives as the final finesse. A baked lemon tart topped with Italian meringue; a rich chocolate torte layered with burnt Peachester honey and whipped vanilla

mascarpone; or a delicate vanilla bean panna cotta with Glasshouse Mountains strawberries and basil. It is Italian flavours, grounded in local excellence.

Then there is the table itself. Long, singular, and deliberately communal, it is a configuration that draws directly from Italian dining tradition, where meals are less about courses and more about connection.

Plates are shared. Stories are exchanged. Time is not measured, but lived. There is something inherently balanced about a single long table.

No one is tucked away in a corner. No one is distanced from the conversation. Everyone is part of the same unfolding narrative. It is, in many ways, the antithesis of the fragmented, fast-paced way we often dine. And perhaps that’s why private dining is starting to feel less like an indulgence and more like something necessary.

A luxurious space for connection if you will, where we, for once, don’t have to rush.

“Italian dining has always been about

PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

coming together,” Kristine explains. “A long table naturally encourages sharing: food, conversation, and connection. It creates an environment where guests can truly relax while we take care of everything.”

It is this blend of heartfelt hospitality and authentic Italian cuisine that truly sets Bella Venezia apart on the Coast.

“The space is incredibly versatile,” Kristine says. “Whatever the occasion, we aim to deliver it with style and attention to detail.”

We are quick to find a reason to celebrate, even the smallest moments. And at Bella Venezia, a birthday is never just a booking, but a moment to curate. An anniversary is not simply marked, but truly experienced. Engagements, family reunions, long-overdue catch-ups… no matter the occasion, the private dining room lends itself effortlessly to these moments, deserving both privacy and presence in true Mediterranean spirit.

And in winter, indulgences like these take on a sensory richness all their own.

“Winter is all about warmth – both in atmosphere and experience,” Kristine says. “It’s where hospitality really shines. Guests can expect attentive, welcoming service, a beautifully luxurious setting, and comforting,

chef-hatted Italian cuisine paired with an award-winning wine list that suits any occasion.”

It is, perhaps, the season where dining becomes most complete. The interplay of rich Italian flavours, generous pours, an intimate setting, and attentive service creates a kind of cocoon. One that feels both grounding and elevated. Outside, the air cools. Inside, everything warms.

BELLA VENEZIA’S EXCLUSIVE PRIVATE DINING EXPERIENCE

Looking for a space that feels as considered as the moment itself? Behind the curtain at Bella Venezia, private dining transforms any gathering into something truly memorable. From milestone birthdays and engagements to long lunches, business dinners and intimate wedding celebrations, the exclusive dining room offers a beautifully secluded setting for up to 30 guests – centred around one shared table, designed for connection. Scan the QR code to find out more and to enquire about hosting a private dining experience or visit www.bellavenezia.com.au/private-dining

Winter, in this sense, is not a season to endure. It is a season to lean into. A season to embrace as an opportunity to retreat, refine, and reconnect. And sometimes, all it takes is a stunning, intimate setting with beautiful food and your favourite people. Because in winter, the most memorable tables aren’t the busiest ones – they’re the ones that make you feel at home.

HOME FEELS LIKE

Deb Caruso discovers a hidden gem that really dishes up the goods when it comes to winter warmth, comfort dishes and old-fashioned, friendly service.

There is a common misconception about Harry’s on Buderim. Because the graceful Queenslander is perched on Buderim Forest Park surrounded by towering trees, people assume it is exposed to the weather, open to the elements and best saved for a fairer day. Wrong. Wonderfully, deliciously wrong.

The truth is that winter might just be the best time to visit one of the Sunshine Coast’s most celebrated restaurants. Harry’s is as warm and welcoming in winter as it is in any other season.

The verandah is fully enclosed, heated and framed by views over Buderim Forest Park; the Fire Room offers an intimate dining space, warmed by a fire and walls lined with vintage photographs and historical tales of old Buderim; and the Art Room can adjoin the Fire Room or operate as its own round-table private space.

Harry’s is the sort of place where lunch stretches a little longer than planned, the wine glass is never far away and the outside world fades away. On a cool day or night, it’s exactly where you want to be.

Built in 1880 by carpenter and coffee grower Harry Broad, the Queenslander was the suburb’s first guesthouse and was relocated from the top of Buderim to Buderim Forest Park just off Lindsay Road in the early nineties. It stands on Harry’s Lane in recognition of its historical significance.

Harry’s has an easy charm that comes from its history, but it is the atmosphere inside that gives it its character.

It feels discovered rather than visited, like a place you are pleased to have found and even more pleased to return to.

The setting may be elegant, but the mood is relaxed, with plenty of room for

...imagine Christmas in July with all the trimmings.

long lunches, good conversation and a comforting winter feed.

Owner-chef Stuart Bell, a two-hatted chef with more than 30 years’ experience, including in Michelin-starred kitchens across Europe, purchased the business seven years ago and has been building its reputation ever since.

Stuart and the team have created a venue that suits everything from intimate catch-ups to larger celebrations. It works as a lunch spot, a dinner destination and a very handy choice for private functions, weddings and celebrations, corporate events and end-of-year gatherings.

For those looking for a place where people can actually hear each other, Harry’s delivers. It is polished without being showy, with dedicated rooms ideal for meetings, group bookings and celebrations that need a little more attention.

The team bring extra warmth to the experience. They feel like family and, just like the building, they have history. Stuart and front-of-house host Anton crossed paths at the prestigious Windsor Hotel in Melbourne, while sommelier Wes and Stuart both spent time at 10 Minutes by Tractor in the Mornington Peninsula wine region.

Stuart is finalising the winter menu as this edition goes to print but the early details are enough to make you reach for a reservation. Beef cheeks – slowbraised, rich, served with Paris mash and glazed heirloom carrots – are a winter certainty.

Rabbit is also in his sights – deboned, braised, possibly arriving as ravioli or cannelloni with mushrooms and mustard.

Vegetables and sides reflect the season with heirloom beetroots, glazed carrots, goat’s cheese - the kind of winter produce that earns its place.

Save room for dessert with the return of the Tarte Tatin. A chocolate soufflé is

in development. And then there’s the kumquat soufflé – a surprise success after Anton brought in a bag of organic kumquats from his garden.

“We’ve had customers say they had to force themselves to slow down because they just wanted to keep eating,” Anton says.

That reaction – the almost involuntary joy of a great meal in a beautiful space

Weddings

– is what Harry’s does best.

It’s open for lunch Wednesday through Sunday and dinner Thursday to Saturday with an a la carte menu, and something extra when the timing is right.

The Degustation menu is hard to refuse and bespoke menus can be created specifically for private functionsimagine Christmas in July with all the trimmings!

Getting there is simple and parking is plentiful. Harry’s is just off the Sunshine Motorway – no winding through Buderim. Twenty minutes from most of the coast, though it feels like you’ve arrived somewhere entirely its own.

“I think a lot of people just don’t realise we’re here,” Stuart says. “And then when they find us, they wonder why it took them so long.”

Tarte Tatin

The Fire Room

Wagyu FROM SEA TO

Sourced from Queensland’s renowned Darling Downs region, the cattle are grain-fed for over 400 days, a commitment that translates directly into flavour, texture, and consistency.

With an exceptionally high marbling score, the Wagyu presents with a delicate, lace-like distribution of intramuscular fat – an intricate pattern that defines both its visual appeal and its eating experience.

“This cut delivers a signature melt-inthe-mouth texture,” Kristine said. “It has that intense richness and balance.”

As the steak meets the heat of the grill, that marbling begins to render, basting the meat from within.

The result is a texture that is at once silky and structured, rich yet balanced –a rare harmony that elevates the experience beyond expectation.

And this calibre of Wagyu has not gone unnoticed.

deeper, and altogether more indulgent. Co-owner of Fish House Steak & Grill, Kristine Young wants people to understand that Fish House Steak & Grill is more than just seafood!

Coastal ease meets winter indulgence at Fish House Steak & Grill with award-winning Wagyu on the menu. Ida Fink Gundtoft digs in. Winter on the Sunshine Coast doesn’t quite surrender to the season. The air sharpens, yes. Mornings carry a gentle cool. Chilly evenings invite a second glass of red.

The light still dances on the water, and the ocean never really loses its glow. It’s this in-between mood that makes winter dining here so compelling: a time for warmth and indulgence, without giving up the coastal ease we cling to all year round.

Perched on the Mooloolaba Spit, Fish House Steak & Grill understands this duality instinctively.

Celebrated for its pristine seafood and laid-back coastal setting, the restaurant continues to evolve – and this winter, the spotlight shifts to something richer,

It’s a statement that feels particularly fitting as the cooler months roll in, bringing with them a craving for warmth, depth, and slow, considered dining.

At the centre of this winter offering is a cut of beef that speaks to precision, patience, and craftsmanship: the Sanchoku Pure Wagyu Rib Fillet MB10+.

Described by Kristine as “the pinnacle of Australian Wagyu craftsmanship” this is not simply a premium steak, it’s the result of meticulous processes that begin long before it reaches the plate.

In 2025, it earned the Grand Champion title at the Wagyu Branded Beef Competition – Australia’s leading Wagyu specific award, hosted by the Australian Wagyu Association with more than 90 entries.

“Each entry is rigorously judged on marbling, aroma, flavour, juiciness, and overall eating quality to determine the nation’s best Wagyu beef,” Kristine said.

The judges’ feedback reads like a sensory journey in itself – one that captures the essence of what makes this Wagyu so distinctive. They praised the winning entry for its “caramelised grilled aroma, deep umami flavour, silky tenderness, and distinctive buttery popcorn notes - qualities that together define an ‘unparalleled Wagyu experience’.”

PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

Served with confidence, the Wagyu is allowed to speak for itself. There’s no need for excess, just careful preparation, considered accompaniments, and an understanding that when the product is this good, simplicity becomes the ultimate luxury.

Available as part of a curated tasting experience or from the grill in 200g and 400g cuts, it invites diners to savour it at their own pace – whether as a refined introduction or a full indulgence.

And perhaps this is where Fish House Steak & Grill finds its winter rhythm.

For many, the restaurant has been synonymous with the freshest catch. A place where seafood defines the menu and the setting. That identity remains, anchored in quality and consistency.

Add in the award-winning, high quality Wagyu offering, and the experience is quickly expanded.

More than that, it speaks directly to the season. Picture a premium cut of beef paired with a glass of red from their extensive wine list – more than 350 labels, with over 40 available by the glass – offering the freedom to match each pour perfectly to every course.

...a texture that is at once silky and structured, rich yet balanced – a rare harmony that elevates the experience beyond expectation.

Because winter here isn’t about retreating from the Coast – it’s about experiencing it differently.

It’s oysters followed by Wagyu. It’s a glass of red in hand, the faint touch of the sea in the air. It’s that balance between freshness and richness, light and depth, that makes dining on the Sunshine Coast feel so uniquely its own.

Outside, the Mooloolaba Spit continues its usual flow. The horizon holding onto the last of the light as people gather for dinner. Inside, a mix of indulgence and winter warmers. You’re still by the water, still immersed in that coastal ease, but now there’s warmth layered into the experience.

This is where Fish House Steak & Grill excels – not by changing what it is, but by expanding what it can be.

A place for long lunches that stretch into evening. For winter dinners that feel both relaxed and refined. For moments where the setting remains unmistakably coastal, but the plate offers something with a bit more umami.

And in that sense, the Wagyu becomes more than just a feature – it becomes a reason to return. Not instead of seafood, but alongside it. Because even in a place defined by the ocean, there’s something undeniably satisfying about turning, just briefly, toward the richness of the land – and finding it done this well.

DON’T MISS!

Land or Sea Tasting Menu – a Curated Plate Event, Sat 25 July | 11.30am–3pm. This exceptional dining experience invites guests to choose between the richness of premium land-based local produce or the pristine flavours of the Sunshine Coast’s finest seafood and be guided through each curated course by Executive Chef Ben Achurch, Scan the QR code to book.

Greek

An Ocean Street icon is bringing a Mediterranean twist to one of the Coast’s premier culinary celebrations, Charlie Shelley discovers.

The best dinners are more than just a feast for the senses: they’re immersive experiences where friendships are formed, lasting memories are made and everyone leaves feeling happy and full.

Lyra, on Ocean Street, specialises in creating these kinds of joyful gatherings – and this winter they’re bringing three fantastic Greek-inspired events to The Curated Plate, the Sunshine Coast’s beloved home-grown food and drink festival on from 24 July to 2 August.

First up is OPA! Smashing Supper on Friday 24 and Friday 31 July, 6pm-9pm, an entertaining night out centred around a playful Greek tradition. All four courses are served on plaster plates and, when the final bite is taken, the instruction is simple: collect your plates, throw them at the ground and shout “Opa!” to attract good luck and ward off bad spirits. It’s safe and guaranteed to be oodles of fun for all involved.

Live bouzouki music and traditional sirtaki dancing will set the mood for a menu that showcases everything Lyra does best. Crispy fried whitebait with lemon and oregano leads the way, followed by chargrilled lamb chops –ethically sourced by premium local butcher Fresh Meats – with lemon garlic cream, smoky cauliflower purée, salsa

verde and tzatziki alongside.

A watermelon and grilled halloumi salad offers a cool, bright counterpoint, and the whole evening wraps up with a Portokalopita, that gorgeous, syrupsoaked orange cake that tastes like a sweet summer afternoon.

Also worth clearing your calendar for is the Suncoast Ladolemono Lunch on Sunday 26 July, 12pm-3pm. Ladolemono – a vibrant, silky lemon dressing that Greeks pour over everything from fish to salad greens – is the star of the show, and this event turns it into something eminently accessible for experienced cooks and novices alike. Guests are invited to create their own ladolemono at an interactive bar with help from chefs, using fruity and peppery olive oils, tangy lemon and lime juices, and tart vinegar. Optional add-ons like garlic, oregano or capers can also be thrown in the mix for different flavour profiles. Plus, there’s bottomless warm pita and fresh vegetables for testing your creation, which is exactly as delicious as it sounds.

The four-course menu flows from grilled halloumi with ladolemono and honey-thyme drizzle to a classic horiatiki salad, before the main event: fresh fish of the day from Suncoast Seafoods, grilled and served alongside

brussel sprouts and roasted lemon potatoes. Dessert is Loukoumades –traditional Greek doughnuts soaked in honey, topped with chocolate and pistachio crumbs.

The lunch will also feature some good old-fashioned fun in the form of a fastest lemon squeezer contest, where guests can show off their lemon squeezing skills and compete to win Lyra Food Vouchers valued up to $100. Those who wear lemon print on the day will also be treated to a free ouzo, an iconic Greek liqueur with a sweet, liquorice-like flavour.

And finally, save something for Sunday 2 August, because the final Lyra event of the festival – the Fresh Meats Feast, on from 12pm-3pm – will be giving The Curated Plate a perfect send-off. This lunch is built around a partnership with Fresh Meats butcher shop, whose reputation for providing only the finest free-range, ethically-sourced produce puts the provenance question firmly to rest before a single plate hits the table.

Lyra’s expert chefs have crafted an eight-course grill-centric banquet that moves from bottomless pita and tzatziki through to cheese saganaki accompanied by Attiki honey and fig jam, before arriving at the twin centrepieces: charcoal-grilled pork souvlaki and a 12-hour slow-cooked lamb shoulder –pull-apart tender, served with skordalia, tzatziki, lemon potatoes and kale.

There’s a secret main dish too, because a good feast always has something surprising up its sleeve. The lunch is rounded out with a mouthwatering Greek watermelon salad and charred broccolini with crumbled fetta, followed by a dessert of Portokalopita – a traditional Greek orange cake; or galaktoboureko (a traditional custard pie). Bouzouki music and Greek community games will be played throughout for a truly immersive dining experience designed to make you feel like you’ve stepped straight into the

heart of Greece.

What Lyra has pulled together for The Curated Plate isn’t a handful of events bolted onto an existing menu. It’s a considered, layered program that uses food as a way into something bigger – culture, connection, the particular kind of joy that only comes from breaking bread (or plates!) with friends old and new.

Secure your tickets to these events and more – visit thecuratedplate.com.au

SCRUMPTIOUS SEAFOOD AT SOKA

Hungry for more exciting culinary experiences? You won’t want to miss Walker’s Seafood & Soka’s Tuna Cutting Show – an unforgettable Japanese dining event where food, theatre and flavour collide.

Witness an expert chef carve a mammoth 70kg yellowfin tuna at Lyra’s sister restaurant, Soka, then indulge in an exclusive tasting menu featuring sashimi, nigiri and cooked tuna cuts from the carving.

Plus, learn how to make your own delectable nigiri at home and take part in a spirited live auction for your favourite premium tuna cuts.

PRICE: $115 per person

WHEN: Saturday 25 July and Saturday 1 August, 12pm-3pm Visit thecuratedplate.com.au to secure your seat today!

The Best of Both Worlds

Nicole May discovers the art of the Thai banquet, where curated shared menus and authentic ingredients become the centrepiece of conversation at the table.

Thailand A TASTE OF

Siam Samrarn on Duporth Avenue, Maroochydore prides itself on the art of the banquet - encouraging guests to share and explore flavours, and ultimately, trust the chef to guide them through an abundance of authentic Thai flavours.

The restaurant’s name itself offers a clue to the experience - Samrarn translates to ‘happiness’.

This happiness, according to co-owner and chef Teera Tangwuthipong, is best found through the shared Thai culture and the menu offers more than just a taste of Thailand; it is an invitation to embrace the beauty of the banquet.

This experience is designed to bring family and friends together, allowing guests to enjoy the social element of dining where the food becomes the centrepiece of the conversation.

“In Thailand, sharing meals is a part of our culture,” Teera explains. “By choosing to dine in and share in a banquet, our guests can truly understand what Thai culture dining is like.”

To make it easy to indulge, Siam Samrarn structure their banquet offerings into two distinct classifications.

Firstly, the Introduction Banquet which is focused on simplifying the dishes for those who may not have experienced Thai cuisine before.

“It is more of a classic style,” said Teera. “A selection that I know everyone will enjoy.”

Typically beginning with a mixed entrée, think starters like chicken satay served with a signature peanut sauce; and vegetarian spring rolls, the meal

transitions to the main courses as the table is filled with aromatic staples. A Yellow Curry Chicken that brings a sweet and mild introduction to Thai spices with its turmeric-based paste blended with lemongrass and coconut milk; and paired with Pad Thai Chicken, an iconic stirfried thin rice noodles with ground peanuts and bean sprouts; plus Seafood Basil Stir-fry for those who want a hint of chilli.

For more adventurous diners, there is the Explorer Banquet which Teera says is for guests who really want to travel through Thailand.

“Here we will explore spice, and even serve a whole fish,” Teera says.

Here, the table can also delve into the taste of Tom Yum Chicken or Tom Yum Prawn Soup, a spicy and sour family recipe that includes a blend of herbs and homemade paste.

The centrepiece of the Explorer Banquet is often the delivery of a whole Barramundi to the table. Diners can choose from a variety of preparations, such as the best-selling Steamed Fish with lemon, garlic, chilli, and coriander, or the authentic Deep-fried Fish with crispy basil. For many Western diners, a whole fish with the head intact can be a daring experience, but it is an essential part of the authentic Thai table- and an invitation to explore!

The banquet can also include delicious local seafood, such as Moreton Bay Bugs prepared with salt and pepper, and the deeply comforting Massaman Beef. This slow-cooked curry has authentic Thai flavours, including a complex paste of red dried chilli, cumin, cinnamon, and

...for guests who really want to travel through Thailand.

nutmeg, resulting in a mild, rich sauce that melts off the bone.

Siam Samrarn’s flavours extend to those seeking plant-based meals where the feast begins with a unique Leek Pancake and vegan Som Tum (green paw paw salad) for a zesty, fresh crunch. The menu also includes Mild Green Curry and Deep-fried Tofu with basil stir-fry, showcasing how traditional Thai techniques can elevate humble ingredients into cultural dishes.

What sets these banquets apart from standard fare is an uncompromising commitment to authenticity. While fresh vegetables and meats are sourced from growers at the Rocklea markets, 90% of the primary ingredients are imported

PHOTOS: MEGAN GILL

Teera Tangwuthipong

directly from Thailand, including palm sugar and high-grade coconut milk to ensure the flavours remain true to the original cuisine.

“This is how we can deliver each guest with an authentic taste of Thailand,” said Teera.

Every dish is prepared without MSG and follows traditional methods that often lead Thai visitors to remark that the taste is ‘better than back home’.

Teera shared that the banquet experience is enriched by the immersive environment of the restaurant’s three locations.

“In Maroochydore, the theme is a

forest cave inspired by the Thai myth of the Naga,” said Teera. “Meanwhile, West End in Brisbane opens with a focus on the joy of the meal.

“When people visit West End, they will see the restaurant is decorated with different instruments. And in Graceville, Brisbane, it is a theatrical theme, based on Thai traditional dance.”

No banquet, Teera explains, is complete without a transition to dessert.

The shared menu at Siam Samrarn concludes with a Coconut Sundae or Coconut Sorbet, but for those looking for a surprising finish, they can explore the Lod Chong (Cendol) with coconut ice

PERFECT PAIRINGS

Enjoy the true taste of Thailand with these authentic Thai tipples:

• Mekhong “The Spirit of Thailand” – Thailand’s first domestically produced golden spirit.

• SangSom – Thai Rum distilled from sugarcane and barrelled for five years before bottling.

• ROR for 158 – A Thai-style superior blended whisky.

Scan the QR code for menus. bookings, takeaway and to make a reservation or visit www.siamsamrarnthai.com.au

cream or the Black Sticky Rice with coconut cream and sorbet, which provides a warm, textural end to the banquet.

As winter sets in, the restaurant is preparing to launch new seasonal additions, including the Khao Soi - a northern-style noodle soup; and a Duck Herb Salad which Teera says serves as a warm dish.”

Siam Samrarn is more than the menu; it is a reminder that the best meals feature authentic flavours with timeless traditions shared with loved ones.

As Teera says, “Samrarn translates to happiness, so be happy and joyful.”

SIMPLY TRÈS ET

Flo’s

Looking for a winter warmer with a whole lot of Francey flair?

Jodie Cameron discovers the ticket to bon appétit, no long-haul flight required…

Taking my two young boys out for a midweek dinner and getting home before bedtime, without any whinging, is something close to a miracle.

But Flo’s Crêperie has a way of pulling it off. Sitting across from two chocolatesmeared faces, a gorgeous galette in front of me and a glass of pinot in hand, listening to our waitress rattle off the specials in a beautiful French accent –I feel like I’ve been transported to France.

With its relaxed atmosphere, familyfriendly vibe and a dinner menu that won’t break the bank, Flo’s delivers a little slice of France right here in Mooloolaba.

The menu offers something for everyone so I found the perfect excuse to invite Mum and Dad along, which also meant I could enjoy another cheeky glass of wine.

And the best part? The service is friendly and efficient, our meals landed on the table before the kids had time to finish their crosswords, let alone muck up. Très bien, boys!

Co-founder Michelle Guillemard says every dish was thoughtfully crafted by Executive Chef, François Poulard, using seasonal ingredients and classic French techniques that have been the heartbeat of the kitchen since day one.

“Winter dinners call for something a little more heartwarming and we love creating the classic hearty, comfort dishes that have been on French tables for generations – slow-cooked, rich, and authentic,” Michelle said.

The new winter additions are ooh la la, designed to complement Flo’s beloved menu of crêpes and galettes, and they do

so beautifully.

As a long-time galette girl, I was spoiled for choice on the savoury front. Dad and I are blue cheese fiends so our eyes and belly landed on the chef’s special of blue cheese, pear, caramelised onions and walnuts, with Dad adding prosciutto for a delicious, salty pop.

Mum opted for a smoked chicken, avocado and mushroom galette, while my little carnivores got stuck into the House-made Toulouse sausage & Paris mash with baby cos lettuce and onion mustard jus.

And as the boeuf bourguignon drifted past with its slow-cooked beef cheeks, mushrooms and lardons in a rich red wine sauce – it genuinely smelt like winter in Paris.

“We’re always guided by the seasons in France, so it felt natural to bring that

same philosophy here,” Michelle says.

“Our winter dishes are the kind of meals that make you want to pull up a chair and stay a little while.”

As a six year old, I remember my mum pouring the crêpe batter onto the special pan, studying the tiny bubbles forming and wondering why they were smaller than pancake bubbles. That mystery remains unsolved, but watching my own boys experience that same first-crêpe wonder made me joyeux!

We all finished, naturally, with Nutella crêpes and vanilla milkshakes all round.

The boys asked to lick their plates and I wasn’t quick enough to stop them.

Oh well, as they say, go with the Flo.

“We want people to walk in feeling like they’ve left the Coast for just a little while and feel that warmth, that ease,

Boeuf Bourguignon

...comfort dishes that have been on French tables for generations –slow-cooked, rich, and authentic.

and that very French sense of taking pleasure in a good meal,” Michelle says. “It doesn’t matter if you’re on a date night or wrangling kids at the table, we want everyone to leave feeling looked after, properly fed, and maybe a little bit closer to being French.”

Open seven days for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Flo’s is the real deal. First opening in Noosa in 2021, founders Flo and Michelle expanded to the Mooloolaba Wharf in 2022 and haven’t stopped since.

Their latest venture, Envie French Bakery in Alexandra Headland, is the next exciting chapter for the team who clearly have so much more to give.

So if you’re after something a little bit Francey this winter, make Flo’s your midweek go-to.

Let the French flavours whisk you away to somewhere magical, and leave you with a full belly and a warm heart. Merci beaucoup!

MIDWEEK COMFORT

Enjoy French comfort during winter with these new dishes: Toulouse sausage & Paris mash Boeuf bourguignon

Subject to availability. Scan the QR code to book.

French comfort at FLO'S

Bringing more French classics to the table with our latest dishes

House-made Toulouse sausage & Paris mash

Pork sausage, creamy mashed potatoes, baby cos lettuce and onion–mustard jus

Boeuf bourguignon

Slow-cooked beef cheeks with mushrooms and lardons in a rich red wine sauce, served with creamy mashed potatoes

FLO'S CRÊPERIE

John Caruso learns a word most Australians can’t pronounce and meets a couple rewriting what a night out on the Coast looks like.

Richer &

For POURER

There’s a word you see everywhere in Italy - above doorways in Rome, on handwritten signs in Emilia-Romagna, chalked onto walls in Milan - and if you are like most tourists, you probably never stopped to find out what it meant.

Bryan Gerlini leans over the wellstocked bar at Breeze of Italy, the wine bar he and partner Izabela Ogonek opened on Sixth Avenue in Maroochydore and explains the word with the confidence of a man who learned what it was before he learned anything else.

“Osteria,” he says, “Italian for ‘host’.”

Historically, these establishments were humble inns that served wine first and food second; nowadays they are small, seasonal, unpretentious, focused on wine and traditional food governed entirely by what is good that day rather than what is printed on a menu. If truffle is in season; you’re having truffle; if the lasagna sold out an hour ago; you miss out. The wine list changes weekly. The menu, displayed on a large blackboard, is best photographed on your phone with choices made over a glass or two of wine.

“Breeze of Italy is like coming into our living room,” Izabela says. “You can breeze in, and breeze out.”

It is not a tagline. It captures the place.

Bryan (his mum was a Bryan Adams fan) was born and raised in Cattolica, a coastal town in the Rimini province of Emilia-Romagna - the region he describes, without any ego, as ‘the beating heart of Italy’. Ferrari, Maserati,

Parmigiano-Reggiano, prosciutto di Parma, balsamic vinegar, mortadella: the list of things the world associates with Italy and Emilia-Romagna is long.

He grew up inside his grandfather’s pasticceria - part bakery, part café, part community hub. He started working in a kitchen at 14, enrolled in a five-year culinary diploma, and was effectively already a chef by the time he graduated. He moved to Australia in 2009, working in high-profile kitchens in Melbourne and Sydney before heading north.

“I grew up in the business. It’s always been what I do,” he explains.

Izabela’s trajectory was less linear. She grew up in Kozienice, a small, forested town about 80 kilometres south-east of Warsaw, the kind of place you spend your youth wanting to escape and your adulthood missing. She moved to Warsaw and built a career in advertising at Saatchi & Saatchi, then took six months of unpaid leave to come to Australia to learn English, and see a little of the world. That was 15 years ago.

“I didn’t speak any English at all but needed to work - wash dishes, whatever it took,” she says.

What it took was a phone call from a friend who needed staff for a function at Royal Sydney Golf Club. Izabela showed up, worked hard and rose up the ranks. She is one of those rare people

who makes every person in the room feel like the most welcome guest at the table and that sets the tone for Breeze of Italy.

She and Bryan met in Sydney‘partying’ they both say, without elaborating. They made their way to the Coast and opened Breeze of Italy, ironically, just before Cyclone Alfred.

The wine is the point. The selection draws heavily from Italian producers, with a philosophy so simple it is almost disarming: would we want to finish the bottle?

“We don’t want to be too philosophical about wine; we want wine that people are happy to drink more than one glass of. That’s where we stand,” Bryan says.

Which is not to say there is no wine education happening. Izabela describes guests arriving with a fixed ideaChardonnay, Shiraz, something familiar - and leaving having tried a skin-contact orange wine or a variety they had never heard of, because she listened and offered them a sip first and let them decide. The extensive wine list is updated weekly and features mostly Italian wines by the bottle and by the glass using the Coravin system. The bar stocks a curated selection of Italian amari, grappas, beer and soda alongside.

“People now trust us to take them somewhere new,” Izabela says. “To offer new experiences and recommendations.

Bryan Gerlini and Izabela Ogonek

“That trust took time, but it’s what makes this place what it is.”

The food is Bryan’s doing and operates on the same logic as everything else: it exists within the constraints of the space - an oven or two under the bar and a chef who knows how to use them.

The menu ranges from charcuterie, olives, Italian cheeses, warm bread with an addictive parmesan and garlic butter - food that belongs in a wine bar; alongside in-house specials: lasagna, chicken cacciatora, bruschetta, roasted prawn cutlets, parmigiana. All made for sharing and once they’re gone, that’s it.

“First in, best dressed,” Bryan says, with the smile of a man who’s had to deliver this news before. It is exactly how a small osteria in Cattolica operates.

A host’s place, built around wine, run

on instinct, with a menu that reflects whatever Bryan found compelling that week - and a front-of-house presence in Izabela that turns strangers into friends.

“We’re a wine bar; however, people love the food too. What can you do?” Izabela asks.

To help overcome this, the Breeze of Italy Experience offers a four-course sharing menu for a minimum of two people for $49 per person, including a glass of house wine. This cosy Italian degustation is available Monday to Thursday and is designed for slow evenings, shared plates and good wine and allows Bryan to manage the pace and expectations of the small kitchen while you explore the wines and amari.

Breeze of Italy opens at 4pm until late Monday- Saturday. Come for a drink and

aperitif before a night out; make it your night out and stay for wine and share plates - or end the night with good wine and great company. Breeze in, breeze out - or book ahead to avoid disappointment.

Osterias have existed in Italy for centuries, and now finally, the Sunshine Coast has one.

CATCH THE BREEZE

Breeze of Italy can be the place where the night begins, where it ends or anything in between...

Open Mon-Sat from 4pm, licenced until 10pm Mon-Thurs; 11pm Fri-Sat.

Breeze of Italy Experience: Mon-Thurs from 4pm. A 4-course sharing menu with glass of house wine for $49 per person. Call or text 0405 567 831 to book. Scan the QR code or follow @breeze_of_italy

Feeds FAMILY

Jodie Cameron discovers a heartwarming restaurant with family, flavour and fun at its soul.

Pickled Pelican Restaurant and Bar on Ocean Street, Maroochydore is a story that only began a short time ago, yet is built on two decades of hard work, one very dramatic resignation, and a name that came to life over a few wines.

With a relaxed Parisian restaurant vibe, it’s built on the strength of family ties, resilience and the belief that flavour should come before fuss.

Brother and sister co-owners Scott and Stacey Dinic grew up in Portland, a coastal town between Adelaide and Melbourne, with a population around 12,000. It’s the kind of place where everyone knows your order at the local pub, where the seafood is fresh and the hospitality is genuine. It shaped them both in ways they are still discovering.

For Scott, the Sunshine Coast was ‘his place’ before it became home. A regular visitor, the pull eventually became too much – resigning from a job on the spot when his leave request to come to the Coast for a holiday was refused. And, once his son hit 19 and found his own feet, he made the move for good.

“It just felt more like me,” he says. “The coast, the fresh produce, the warmth – all of it. It felt like what I’d always been looking for.”

That pull only grew stronger over time, and eventually the siblings made the decision together to sell up, move north, and build something of their own.

For Stacey, the move meant leaving behind a 14-year career and a role she thrived in, but when the business was sold to a large corporation, she knew it was time for a change.

“I didn’t really leave anything behind,” she says, “Everything I learned there gave me exactly the skills I needed for this new adventure. I gained far more than I ever left behind.”

Toowoomba was the first stop with a pub/bistro they rescued from neardemolition rising from ten meals a week to over 1,700 under their watch. It slid

straight back the moment they left which tells you everything you need to know about what’s on the plate here.

That experience, resilience, problemsolving, and sheer stamina of turning nothing into something – is baked into every corner of the Pickled Pelican.

Scott’s training spans French cuisine, Italian cooking and modern Australian, and the menu is a natural extension of all three.

“I want to go back to when fine dining was all about flavour,” he says. “Every mouthful should reveal something.”

The menu features elevated pub classics with a section dedicated to steaks - from a 1400g Black Onyx Tomahawk for 1-3 people; to a 350g Sanchoku pure Wagyu Rump with a marble score of 9+ - and cuts in between, all served with a choice of pommes - galette, frites or purée, broccolini and choice of sauce.

Scott renders his own beef tallow, adding it back to the dish and also into the deep fryer, even on the bread.

Nothing is wasted and everything is considered. All their seafood is sourced locally to ensure ultimate freshness.

“When you’ve got fresh seafood on

your doorstep, there’s simply no excuse for frozen,” Scott says.

Their winter menu feels like winter was made for exactly this.

Wagyu Wednesday serves a 300g pure Wagyu Rump MB10 with hand cut frites and winter greens at $35. Wellington & Wine Thursday pairs the kitchen’s finest 200g Eye Fillet with spinach, duxelle, brie wrapped in flakey pastry and pommes purée, broccolini, beetroot and red wine jus with a glass of Pinot Noir for $60. Fry-yay Friday is about easy, comfort food - Beer Battered Fish with frites and salad or Lemon Myrtle Calamari with black garlic aioli for just $20 each!

Good Vibes Saturday offers drink specials from 12.30pm to 4.30pm to pair perfectly with the a la carte menu; and the Sunday Roast with tallow-roasted potatoes, pumpkin, carrot and pan demi is the easiest decision to make at just $30.

Or order off the menu and try to resist starting with Cognac & Dijon glazed Beef Skewers delivering a skewer of wagyu rump MB10, Black Onyx Rib Fillet MB3 and Diamantina Angus Eye Fillet MB2 with Sauce Diane; or Duck Rillettes with crisps, marinated banana chilli and blackberry gel before moving onto

Four-point Lamb Rack

Every mouthful should reveal something.

Four-point Lamb Rack with truffle pommes purée, winter vegetables, pea purée and red wine jus; or the Kangaroo Fillet with pommes galette, broccolini, honey carrot purée and juniper berry jus.

For the pescatarians, the Market Fish of the Day on roast tomato coulis with potato galette, or Pan-seared Scallops on parsnip purée with lemon myrtle pearls, are worth every visit on their own.

The menu changes seasonally and is peppered with native ingredients such as wattle seed, lemon myrtle, bush tomato.

I tend to look at the dessert menu first and theirs is made for people like me.

“Sticky date is always a winner,” Scott says. “People love it, but it has to be the right size.”

The Sticky Date Toffee Madeleines with whiskey butterscotch sauce and toffee ice-cream competes with the likes of Mille-feuille, Crêpes Suzette, or a Crème Brûlée with burnt fig, brown butter ganache and wattleseed meringue.

For me, the Chocolate Crémeux Tart

TREAT YOURSELF

TUESDAY

$10 dessert with any main meal

WAGYU WEDNESDAY

300g pure Wagyu rump MB10, hand cut frites, winter greens and choice of sauce $35

WELLINGTON & WINE

THURSDAY

Same as on the menu but matched with a glass of Pinot $60

FRY-YAY FRIDAY

$20 beer battered fish, frites and salad

PHOTOS: MEGAN GILL

Scott and Stacey Dinic

with blackberry gel, Bailey’s chantilly and crumble that changes with the season is reason enough to visit, especially on Tuesdays when there’s $10 off desserts with any main meal.

The wine selection is curated to the menu alongside cocktails, local and imported beers and housemade soft drinks.

Scott isn’t stuck for time, he’s stuck for space, so every inch of the menu earns its place.

“We want people to leave feeling fulfilled,” Scott says. “Not stuffed. Not underwhelmed. Just that feeling of

a really good meal, a nice wine, and a warm walk home.”

Ocean Street is finding its feet again after a tough season. Scott and Stacey are adapting, and evolving with the community they’re feeding.

And the name?

“Someone called me a ‘pickled pelican’ while I may have been feeling rather merry one night,” Stacey laughed.

It stuck – and it suits perfectly. It’s warm, friendly and a little bit cheeky.

The venue feels like home – where good food and good company do the rest.

These are not people who stumbled into hospitality, they have lived it and they bring steak, soul, a French twist and an understanding that great hospitality is about more than what’s on your plate.

“We want people to feel comfortable enough to come back,” Stacey says. “To feel like this place is theirs as much as it is our second home.”

So the next time you’re craving Wagyu, seasonal desserts or a glass of something good on a winter’s night, let the Pickled Pelican be your answer.

If the whiskey butterscotch sauce doesn’t convince you that the best has been saved for last – well, there’s always the Bailey’s chantilly to finish the job.

$20 lemon myrtle calamari, black garlic aioli

GOOD VIBES SATURDAY

Beers from $8, $15 selected cocktails, $12 selected wines 12:30–4:30pm

SUNDAY ROAST

Roast meat, beef tallow roast potato, pumpkin, carrot, seasonal greens, pan demi $30

Phone 5356 9441

OPEN from 11am Tue-Sun 11/13 Ocean Street, Maroochydore

Pickled Pelican

Sunday lunch: Slow-cooked lamb

shoulder with Greek potatoes, Greek salad, rice pilaf, tzatziki, pita, veloute sauce

GREEK MEATS

Magnificence

Deb Caruso discovers the local serving up more than bold Greek flavours, generous share plates and a ready-made setting for celebrations of all sizes.

Stavros Restaurant & Bar is welcoming winter with a traditional Greek menu that invites you to linger a little longer, order another glass of wine and make room for dessert.

Located on the outside corner of Kawana Shoppingworld with plenty of parking, this is a venue that knows exactly what people want when the weather cools down: food that is warm, generous and built for sharing.

With friendly service and bold Greek flavours, Stavros is a destination for a casual catch-up as well as for special occasions and celebrations.

Whether you seek a fast, flavourdriven fix or are settling in for something more meaningful, Stavros offers plenty of options to create your own Greek Odyssey.

The menu opens with Yia Yia’s Dips with warm pita bread before moving to the more traditional Mezze packed with dishes that get people talking as soon as they arrive: Flaming Saganaki Cheese; Chargrilled Fremantle Octopus; Keftedes (Yia Yia’s Greek meatballs) Spanakopita Arancini; Sticky Lamb Ribs and more. These are the plates that set the tone for the table, with plenty of colour, theatre and flavour.

For lunch, the range of Yiros is in high demand alongside Greek Burgers and homemade desserts but it’s the new Winter Sunday lunch that is ready to steal the spotlight.

Imagine, a 1.2-kilo Sovereign lamb shoulder, slow-roasted to succulent perfection and served on the bone with Greek salad, Greek potatoes and all the

trimmings that invites you to slow down and savour the artistry of the kitchen.

Paired with a Kir-Yianni Paranga Red, a medium-bodied Greek wine, and you’re reminded why Sundays should be a day of worship.

Open seven days from 11am until late, and dinner is just as delicious with the Signature Souvla of Crispy Skin Boneless Chicken Maryland or Slow Roast Sovereign Lamb Shoulder competes with Local Red Snapper, BBQ Lamb Cutlets; Mussels & Fries; and Vegetarian Moussaka. But it’s the Pastitsio, a Greek-style lasagna, that is hard to resist.

Salads & Sides are almost a meal unto themselves and the line-up of signature cocktails, comprehensive wine and beer list with some Greek gems, keep the

PHOTOS: IAN WALDIE

good times flowing. Can’t decide? Choose from one of three Feast Menus, sit back and let the food do the talking.

Stavros’ homemade desserts and cakes - from Greek Shortbread Biscuits to Baklava, cakes and a Sticky Fig & Walnut Pudding with toffee sauce, strawberries and fresh cream - are perfect any time of day or night. The Dessert Platter delivers the greatest hits on one plate.

Stavros is also perfectly positioned for functions and celebrations with no venue hire fee and flexible areas that can be adapted for different group sizes and styles from two to 400. The terrace, a high-bar section and a main-entry area

that suits larger table-style seating make it practical for everything from dinner with a handful of friends, to business meetings or a larger gathering that needs more room to move, the option is on the table to book out the whole venue.

With the menu already built around sharing and a drinks list that suits a celebratory mood, the restaurant has the kind of setup that takes some of the pressure out of organising an event.

Stavros Restaurant and Bar offers the sort of Greek hospitality that invites you to eat well, stay awhile and leave already planning the next visit - whether that is for a quick fix, Sunday lunch, a long

dinner with friends or a function that deserves to be fun and memorable.

The food is the kind people come back for: bold, satisfying, rooted in tradition but delivered with enough personality to feel current. Winter is made for this.

Pull up a chair, order the lamb shoulder, open a bottle of Kir-Yianni and let the Greek adventure begin.

Yiamas! Cheers to winter at Stavros Restaurant & Bar.

WINTER WINNERS

Warm up your winter with these winners: Sunday Slow Roast Lunch - a 1.2kg lamb shoulder on the bone with all the trimmings. Available weekly.

Feast Menus three options plus a Dessert Platter of homemade Greek treats from two people upwards.

Fun Functions - for small to medium groups up to 45 guests, consider the terrace, the high bar area or the large dining table; or opt for the full venue with seating up to 250; standing up to 400 guests. No venue hire fee.

Stavros Restaurant & Bar, 7 days, 11am-late. Kawana Shoppingworld. Phone: 5234 8030

Scan the QR code for menus, bookings and functions. www.stavrosrestaurant.com.au

Adrian Chrisanthou Flaming Saganaki

Copperhead HEAD TO

five reasons why

Cooroy is just a scenic ten minute drive from Eumundi and just over thirty minutes from Maroochydore. In practice, for a lot of people, it might as well be two hundred.

That’s their loss. Because at the corner of Kauri Street and Tewantin Road, Copperhead Restaurant and Brewery has been building one of the more complete hospitality offerings in the region – with the year-end function season closing in faster than most people are ready for, it’s worth the drive.

If your mental file on this venue is a few years old, you may remember it as the place the Bennett brothers bought because they loved the food and the beer.

Or perhaps you know it as the place where head chef Mark Potter has been running the kitchen for eight years with a passion for local produce and dishes that you won’t find on menus elsewhere.

Maybe you love that head brewer Simon Grasby keeps the taps humming across a core range of fourteen beers, all brewed onsite with meticulous attention to the craft from Cerveza to Detroit Red and a Hazy IPA. For fun, one tap is dedicated to a monthly experiment.

What Copperhead has assembled across the years is one of the more considered, consistent, and genuinely cool hospitality

offerings in the region.

The building sets the scene - cement floor, exposed timber, old brick, industrial-style lights, comfortable furnishings, and floor-to-ceiling glass looking out to a sea of green. There’s a long, open bar; a view to the kitchen and standing proud in the corner, stainless steel tanks where the magic happens –it’s a room with character that didn’t arrive out of a catalogue.

In summer it’s cool and unfussy. In winter it earns a different quality entirely, the kind of warmth that comes from materials and mass rather than from mood lighting and music.

The restaurant can also cater to large groups, and with ample parking it handles the full range of occasions and celebrations: Christmas parties, end-ofyear dinners, wedding receptions, birthday gatherings, group lunches.

Restaurant manager Jimmy Van Den Bremer oversees the detail, and he’s passionate about what sets Copperhead Restaurant and Brewery apart.

“We run a dedicated and experienced events team,” Jimmy says. “Our menus are fully adjustable to our guests’ needs, and we are located away from the hustle and bustle while still offering a prime dining experience.”

Here are just five reasons to head to Copperhead this winter…

1. SUNDAY SESSIONS

Make the most of the winter sun, with two-for-one cocktails and $8 schooners every Sunday from 3pm–5.30pm. Throw in a mixed sharing plate of scallop and pork belly, arancini and halloumi chips at $18 for one or $35 for two - and don’t forget the Pipe Clay Lagoon oysters at $4 each. That’s a Sunday well spent!

2. EVERYONE LOVES A LUNCH SPECIAL

From Wednesday to Friday between 11.30am and 3pm, enjoy two courses and a drink for just $49 – one of the best value lunch specials you’ll find on the coast. Entrées include San Francisco fish cakes with mascarpone tartare, or house-made duck liver pâté with croutons and pickled grapes. For mains, take your pick of a 200g Black Angus rump with hand-cut chips, house salad and jus, or house-made linguine with chorizo, tomatoes, parsley and peas, and your choice of schooner or house wine is included. Decisions, decisions!

3. BRILLIANT BURGERS & LOCAL BEER

Fancy a burger, frothing local beer and cheap kid’s meals to get through to the weekend? From Wednesday to Friday from 3pm–5.30pm, grab any burger –wagyu, palmi, snapper or vegetarian

John Caruso discovers

Copperhead Brewery is the Coast’s best kept secret this winter…

opinion on the monthly experimental brew, Thursday evening is a reasonable excuse to act on it. Copperhead’s 1L Squealer refills are $10 or $25 if you are new to the squealer game. Plus enjoy a half-price beer while you wait.

5. FUNCTIONS & CHRISTMAS PARTIES

genuine warmth and soul.

– with chips and a schooner, for $29. Children’s meals are $15 and include a soft drink and ice cream. Everyone’s happy and your bank account will love you for it too.

4. THIRSTY THURSDAYS

For anyone who’s developed a preference for Simon’s work on those fourteen taps or are keen to offer their

Parking can be a blood sport on a good day, but not at Copperhead. Easy parking means they are equipped to accommodate your next special occasion from Christmas parties, end-of-year dinners, wedding receptions, birthday gatherings or group lunches with seating for up to 130 guests. Their industrial open bar, contemporary furnishings and sleek design make it a space with

Copperhead Restaurant and Brewery is the kind of place you come for the beers, but end up staying for everything else.

The friendly team knows what they’re doing - and they love doing it. The kitchen punches well above its weight, and the brewery is the real deal.

Head to Cooroy to discover some hinterland gold – Copperhead has the character, and the menu to make the drive worthwhile.

FOOD

TASTE THE GOOD LIFE

From sunrise coffees to sunset cocktails, the Riverwalk serves up over 25 dining and entertainment experiences. Authentic Mediterranean flavours, bold South African spices, mouthwatering NYC sangas, and sweet treatsyour next favourite is here.

Visit us at Horton Parade, Maroochydore or sunshineplaza.com

Sunshine Plaza is reaffirming its place as the Coast’s premier shopping destination and bringing a fresh new rhythm to its riverfront precinct, Charlie Shelley discovers.

RIVERFRONT Refresh

Sunshine Plaza’s riverfront dining scene has had a lively refresh, and the result is a line-up that is perfect for easy lunches, spontaneous catch-ups and those grab-and-go moments when you need to refuel on the run.

Three fantastic new eateries – and one revamped favourite – are helping shape the Centre’s next chapter, each bringing its own flavour, pace and personality to the table. Here’s the rundown on everything you need to know about these excellent additions.

Succulent Sangas at Joe’s Deli Sandwich lovers are in for a treat at Joe’s Deli, a modern take on a classic American corner deli that’s bringing a slice of New York City to the Sunshine Coast.

Be immersed in the nostalgic Hollywood appeal of an 80’s-inspired diner as you explore the extensive menu featuring stacked sangas, smoky hot dogs and clean salads.

Their fresh Original Deli sanga is the perfect pick for people who can’t get enough of delicious cold cuts. Featuring layers of spicy salami, smoked peppercorn mortadella and double smoked leg ham draped over crunchy iceberg lettuce, buttery provolone cheese, pickled cucumber and red onion – plus, Joe’s signature mustard mayo – it delivers a flavour-packed punch that will have you coming back again and again.

The deli’s relaxed vibe and waterfront views make it an ideal spot to pause, sit down and refuel during a shopping trip with takeaway and delivery options also available for when you’re short on time.

Plus, those of us who are regularly saddled with catering duties will be pleased to know that Joe’s Deli offers sanga boxes filled with up to 14 scrumptious sandwiches perfect for office lunches, family gatherings and weekend get-togethers.

Peri-Peri Perfection at Nando’s

There are some restaurants whose names instantly spark appetite, and Nando’s is one of them. The South African icon has landed at Sunshine Plaza, bringing its signature flame-grilled Peri-Peri punch to the Riverwalk and adding yet another reason to linger by the water.

The Nando’s appeal is simple: bold flavours, easy choices and a menu that works for everyone, whether you like your spice levels mild, hot or extra hot.

All the classic, crowd-pleasing menu items are available, including the PERinaise Classic Pack, which offers your choice of burger, wrap or pita bread with a side of chips and a soft drink for just $19.90.

While the eats are affordable, the atmosphere is decidedly classy. The restaurant offers both indoor and outdoor seating, and has been decked out with original artwork, custom-designed banquette and booth seating, pendant lighting and authentic African tiles.

The result is a space that feels welcoming, cosy and intimate – the perfect place for laid-back lunches with friends or a cheeky late-night snack.

Fabulous Flavours at Zeus Street Greek

Another banger addition to the Riverwalk is Zeus Street Greek, a contemporary Greek-Australian brand that has built its reputation around serving up family recipes with a modern twist. Opening in June, its menu will feature a range of familiar Hellenic favourites, including fresh, pillowy pitas, protein-packed Spartan bowls, golden, crispy chips and melt-in-your-mouth loukoumades.

The ability to dine in or order takeaway or delivery makes it easy to slot a meal at Zeus Street Greek into your day, whether you’re in need of a simple, sit-down lunch with friends or a quick snack to takeaway and enjoy later.

Their signature Tzimmy pita, which can be customised with beef brisket, falafel or 100% Australian, RSPCA Approved chargrilled chicken, is an absolute must-try for fans of wholesome (and authentic) Greek food.

Be sure to keep an eye on @sunshineplazaofficial on Instagram for opening updates.

Brilliant Burgers at Grill’d

Sometimes a refresh is just as exciting as something brand new – and that is very much the case with Grill’d. One of the Sunshine Plaza’s favourite destinations for mouthwatering burgers is back with a fresh look and feel. Vibrant new artworks and neon signs adorn the walls, plus bright tiles have been added to invite the light in. Also, banquette seating is now available indoors –meaning that your favourite comfort food destination just got that little bit comfier.

Grill’d has always leaned into quality, with fresh ingredients and a made-withcare approach that gives its burgers an edge and leaves you feeling good long after you’ve eaten. All the beef and chicken is locally sourced and is free from antibiotics, hormones, chemicals and preservatives.

And, in keeping with their ‘burgers for every body’ philosophy, they also cater for people with special dietary requirements – including those who are gluten and lactose intolerant or have nut, egg or seafood allergies. It does not matter who you are, if you’re in the mood for guilt-free, healthy burgers, be sure to stop by Grill’d the next time you’re strolling the Riverwalk. Here’s to good food and great times with more than 25 dining and entertainment options, undercover parking and so much more at Sunshine Plaza! www.sunshineplaza.com

Nando’s

OH LÀ LÀ Bonjour

Envie

The team behind Flo’s Crêperie has a new obsession that has one very lucky street in Alexandra Headland smelling incredibly French. Jodie Cameron investigates…

If you’ve ever lingered over a galette at Flo’s Crêperie in Mooloolaba or Noosa, you’ll already know that co-founders Flo and Michelle Guillemard have a knack for making you feel like you’ve somehow ended up in France.

Now, the duo behind these much loved eateries have added a delicious new chapter to their French love affair –Envie French Bakery in Alexandra Headland.

Not to be confused with the English word envy, the French word, Envie, is all about desire and craving – that very French feeling of walking past a bakery window that could be mistaken for an art gallery and instantly thinking, ‘I need that’. And trust me, you will.

Popping in on a weekday morning, the vibe is warm, French accents and funky tunes float through the air, the coffee beans are locally roasted and the staff bonjouring here, there and everywhere

…if it’s just for ten minutes before work, we want it to feel like a small moment of pleasure in someone’s day.

can’t help but make you smile.

I couldn’t keep my eyes off other customers’ pastries while my brain tried to compute what my stomach was asking for. But it’s the kind of place where in that moment you realise everything looks and smells so good so choosing may actually be impossible. Comme si! Not with my rumbling tummy.

Located on Alexandra Parade with easy

parking, there’s plenty of space inside and out, or take your order across to the beach and soak up the winter sun.

Envie Co-Founder Michelle Guillemard and husband Flo always knew there was something special about the space.

“It wasn’t about completely changing what existed,” Michelle says. “We wanted to build on that foundation, but with our own approach to French artisan baking and hospitality, while keeping the warm community feel.”

For Michelle and Flo, the move into pâtisserie isn’t a departure – it’s a natural progression. Where Flo’s has always been about the rustic, savoury soul of French home cooking, Envie opens a more refined door into the world of edible artistry, precision and meticulous detail. Everything at Envie is made on-site, and Michelle is clear about why that matters.

“In France, when a bakery describes itself as artisan, it means the products are genuinely made in-house using traditional techniques rather than brought in frozen or mass-produced,” she says. “Creativity is exciting, and this kind of standard matters to us.”

Overcome by the sheer aroma and indecision, I order the smoked salmon pain viennois but instantly second guess myself as the roasted vegetable quiche comes out of the warmer. The line is out the door so I quickly add a chocolate hazelnut brownie and tap my card before I change my mind again.

Vienna bread layered with goat’s cheese curd, cream, lemon juice, smoked salmon, cherry tomatoes and alfalfa. Divine!

I also grabbed some ham and cheese

Alexis Belmas, Head Pastry Chef and Flo Guillemard, Owner

croissants and raspberry macarons for my boys which were devoured before I could even try any.

The cabinet alone deserves its own pedestal. On the savoury side: croissants, baguettes and an assortment of quiches. On the sweet side, things get seriously out of hand – mini danishes, chocolate almond and cookie croissants, lemon tarts, summer berry tarts, raspberry macarons, chocolate and praline, tropical pistachio cakes, and a gluten free lychee and raspberry cake.

Made-to-order options are also available for those who like to plan ahead, or simply can’t commit on the spot (no judgement).

“We wanted to create warmth, comfort and a sense of escape,” Michelle says.

“Even if it’s just for ten minutes before work, we want it to feel like a small moment of pleasure in someone’s day.”

The two businesses are already beginning to talk to each other – pastries developed at Envie are inspiring specials at Flo’s; while Flo’s savoury philosophy

is feeding new ideas back into the bakery.

“We share the same idea around quality ingredients and traditional French techniques, so the two businesses influence each other creatively all the time,” she says. “We will be expanding on this in future.”

That creative conversation between the two is only just beginning.

So when the smell of fresh pastry wafts onto the pavement and your willpower folds, don’t fight it – embrace the French way, something savoury in one hand and something sweet in the other.

On the Sunshine Coast in winter, a little slice of France is exactly what we all need. Bon appétit Envie, the Sunshine Coast has been waiting for you.

FOOD ENVIE

Visit Envie French Bakery in Alexandra Headland. Open daily from 6am to 2pm.

Scan the QR code for more or visit www.enviefrenchbakery.com

Find Flo’s Crêperie in Noosa and Mooloolaba at www.floscreperie.com

Browse our full range of pastries and cakes at enviefrenchbakery.com

Order online for everyday indulgence, birthdays and special occasions.

105/98-110 Alexandra Parade, Alexandra Headland. 5338 8821.

FAST SLOW FOOD

Get wholesome goodness delivered to your door. Jodie Cameron discovers how a local organic grocer is changing food habits, one Uber Eats at a time…

It’s 6pm, you’re tired and the kids are circling like sharks, and the path of least resistance is whatever gets food to your door fastest. But is there even such a thing as wholesome takeaway that isn’t fast food and full of who knows what?

Slow food and fast delivery generally don’t belong in the same sentence as each other, but at Greensmith Grocers in Birtinya, your Uber Eats order can now be organic produce, bone broth rice, and absolutely zero seed oils. It’s not a wellness fantasy – it’s already on the menu.

There’s something almost rebellious about a wholefoods grocer going onto a platform built for burgers and pizza and listing a Wild Salmon Bowl with pickled ginger and carrot turmeric dressing.

As a long-time pescatarian I couldn’t be more excited because co-owners Jess Holdsworth and Uwe Wullfen have made it happen – joining Uber Eats’ long list of fast food options. Except this time, the food is actually good for you.

Jess says the goal was always to offer something that stood apart, and didn’t just tick a box.

“We wanted to create a menu that appealed to everyone, so people could taste the difference between eating organic, without paying extra,” she says.

Everything on the Greensmith Grocers Uber Eats menu is certified organic, made with local meat, flavoured with herbs and spices from their own house brand Love My Earth, and the coffees –yes, you can order coffee – are made on Mount Beerwah spring water with organic beans. Even the hot chocolate is a house-made Spiced Cacao, they’re not cutting corners anywhere.

The drinks menu is just as considered – take your pick from Iced Mochas, Happy Hippie bottled smoothies to go, Bobby Soft Drinks, Wild Organic Iced Teas and Isotonic Hydration and coconut water.

A few things set the Greensmith Grocers menu firmly apart from anything else you’ll scroll past, like no seed oils, refined sugar, or farmed fish - and for the coeliacs, everything is gluten free.

The beef in the Bolognese is certified organic Beach Farm mince, slowsimmered with herbs, while the chicken is certified organic Queensland. And the salmon? Wild caught – these aren’t shortcuts, they’re simply a good cook’s instincts and bestsellers for a reason. For anyone who’s ever squinted at a delivery menu wondering exactly what’s in that sauce, you don’t need to worry when you order from Greensmith.

Slow food, fast delivery – turns out you really can have both.

“The organic shopper knows what they want and will seek it out,” Jess says. “Once people try our bowls, they keep coming back because they know the quality and freshness they are receiving, whether they purchased it in-store or have it delivered.”

That appeal is spreading – the Uber Eaters tasting the power kraut in their Roast Chicken Bowl or quinoa salad, are showing up in-store wanting to buy the ingredients themselves. The delivery menu has become a gateway to conscious eating and a tasty tease for a whole different way of thinking about what goes in your trolley.

“Uber Eats has essentially become a front door to people who may never have walked into our store,” Jess says. “The more people eating local and organic the better. We’re all about sharing that love so everyone can afford healthy and nourishing food.”

Their delivery range now includes a range of frozen ready-made meals – also

PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

available in-store – using produce from the shop and flavours from the Love My Earth range. For the nights when even Uber Eats feels like too much effort, you can pull a Greensmith meal from your own freezer.

For anyone thinking organic is too expensive and fast food is still cheaper, think again.

Greensmith’s bowls sit around the $20-$22 mark. That’s not far from what you’d pay for a standard bowl at plenty of mainstream delivery spots – except here, you’re getting certified organic chicken, wild-caught salmon, and a meal that was made with care rather than reheated mystery protein.

“Our pre-made organic bowls are no more expensive than other bowls on the market,” Jess says. “When you factor in what you’re getting, you’ll be surprised at the value you are receiving.”

If all of this wholesome eats talk has you wanting to experience Greensmith Grocers in person, the good news is Jess and Uwe are working toward opening the Greensmith Kitchen – a new kiosk located outside the Birtinya store. It’s been a labour of love so watch this space, it will be worth the wait.

In the meantime, don’t miss their

regular market nights where you can meet the maker and sample their wares.

Greensmith Grocers has always been about knowing where your food comes from – the farmers, the producers, the whole story behind the shelf.

Now, it turns out you really can have both – slow food and fast delivery. Give it a go, I know what my next weeknight takeaway will be.

www.greensmithgrocers.com.au

JOIN THE JOURNEY

Exciting times ahead for Greensmith Grocers! The Greensmith Kitchen is on the way and they want to know what you want to see in the new food space! Scan the QR code or follow @greensmithgrocers on instagram for updates and feedback opportunities as well as free recipes and information on Market Nights and other events.

Good HONESTLY

Charlie Shelley discovers how a beloved local brand is defying trends and revolutionising the chocolate industry, one slab at a time

Crafting world-class chocolate is as much a science as it is an art. Nailing the delectable dessert’s universally beloved traits – from its smooth glossy surface to its deep consistent colour and rich creamy taste – requires craft, care and a steady refusal to cut corners.

At Noosa Chocolate Factory, that approach has shaped the business from the very beginning, and it remains the reason this homegrown brand still feels so distinctly local, even as it has grown well beyond its humble beginnings.

The story began back in 2009, when founders Pam and Gordon Thomson established a compact kitchen in Noosaville.

Their ambition was simple: to make extraordinary chocolate using the finest ingredients.

What started as a small operation not too far from where the large-scale factory now stands has blossomed into a thriving business, supported by more than 100 team members and a network of retail stores across Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.

Yet, even in the midst of so much growth and change, the original mission of the founders – to create small-batch, hand-crafted chocolate, made with pride and sold fresh – remains.

Noosa Chocolate Factory CEO Marcus Raward chalks up the success to this enduring commitment to quality, even in the face of adversity.

Since the 2024 price spike, when the cost of cocoa reached an all-time high, some mass-market producers have lowered cocoa solids in pursuit of profit.

Noosa Chocolate Factory has chosen a different path. Its dark chocolate

contains a whopping 70 per cent cocoa solids, while its milk chocolate contains no less than 36 per cent.

By contrast, other brands of dark chocolate currently seen on supermarket shelves can sometimes contain as little as 45 per cent cocoa solids, while milk chocolate can go as low at 20 per cent - the legal minimum for something to be called ‘chocolate’ in Australia and New Zealand.

For consumers, this distinction matters. Chocolates with lower cocoa content rely more heavily on sugar, milk and flavourings to achieve its taste. Meanwhile, chocolates with higher cocoa content, like those produced by

Noosa Chocolate Factory, offer a richer, more intense, and more complex flavour while containing less sugar and other unnecessary fillings.

Plus, higher cocoa content comes with the added benefit of increased antioxidants.

Research has shown that the antioxidants in cocoa have a number of positive health effects and can lower your risk of stroke and heart disease, balance your immune system and improve brain function.

Not that we need an excuse, but clearly chocolate rich in cocoa solids is an ideal choice for health-conscious people who still want to indulge.

Noosa Chocolate Factory’s products are also 100 per cent palm and vegetable oil free and contain no artificial preservatives.

They go out of their way to incorporate local produce like ginger and pineapples as well as decadent Australian-grown nuts such as macadamias, almonds and hazelnuts whenever possible – and most ingredients, like the marshmallows contained in their famous rocky road, are made in house right here in Noosa.

On top of ensuring that raw ingredients are sourced from organic and sustainable farms and suppliers, they also actively work to promote fair trade agreements, ensuring that farmers and workers are treated with dignity and respect and are fairly paid.

Plus, they continue to invest in

energy-efficient solar powered production methods so as to minimise their impact on the environment and ensure that future generations can enjoy a better, greener future.

This commitment to quality and sustainability which lies at the heart of the Noosa Chocolate Factory brand is why it continues to resonate so strongly with chocolate lovers across South East Queensland.

This brilliant local business offers

more than just sweet treats; it offers reassurance that something as simple as chocolate can still be made with integrity, using ingredients that are thoughtfully sourced and methods that respect the craft.

There is comfort in that, and pleasure too – the sort that comes from a slab broken in two, or a piece of chocolate that tastes exactly as it should.

In the end, Noosa Chocolate Factory is a story about family, flavour and the

enduring value of doing things properly. It is a business built on old-fashioned care and modern consistency, with a clear sense of who it is and what it stands for.

And in a world that often asks brands to be louder, faster and cheaper, there is something especially appealing about a company that still believes the best chocolate is the kind made with patience, pride and a proper amount of cocoa. Plus, it honestly tastes delicious!

GLORY GAELIC

The luck of the Irish returns to Mooloolaba Esplanade with a $2 million transformation.

Nicole May bares the old-world charm of Foxy Malone’s - from its hidden fireplaces and hearty Guinness pies to the rhythm of live music - to find the coast’s newest place to gather.

If only these walls could talk, they’d speak in a thick Gaelic accent and hum with the sound of a thousand fiddle tunes. For decades, the site on the corner of the Mooloolaba Esplanade has been a gathering place for locals and visitors, with Irish hospitality at its heart - and now a new chapter is beginning.

The time has come, and the Irish traditions will return, but in the form of Foxy Malone’s - a reinvigoration of the Irish pub concept, backed by a 25-year lease that proves the new owners’ devotion to the Sunshine Coast.

The team behind the transformation know the art of the perfect pour, Hallmark Hospitality - are the group behind more than 15 venues across South East Queensland - the directors bring a wealth of experience from iconic spots like Finn McCool’s Irish Bar and Lefty’s Music Hall.

It was the runaway success of Finn McCool’s in Brisbane and the Gold Coast that convinced them that the Irish pub spirit was exactly what the area needed.

Hallmark Hospitality Director Cade Hopman said the Sunshine Coast was one of the most exciting lifestyle destinations in Australia, noting the region’s growth trajectory as a major drawcard.

“We saw a real opportunity to create something that locals could genuinely make their own but also become a destination pub for visitors,” he said.

Beyond dining and live entertainment, Foxy Malone’s is also set to become one of Mooloolaba’s leading late-night venues, embracing the Irish tradition of gathering, storytelling and celebrating well into the early hours.

While the name Foxy Malone’s carries

that traditional Celtic lilt, the venue itself is designed to marry old-world charm with 21st-century hospitality.

The remodel blends a traditional Irish feel and leans heavily into traditional Celtic materials and intricate woodwork. An illuminated ceiling adorned with golden Celtic knot patterns will bathe the dark wood floors and stone accents in a warm, amber light. The ornate bar will be a focal point (as it should be!) with back-lit quatrefoil motifs and a meticulously stocked back-bar with traditional spirits, ales, and wines.

Expect a space that feels both familiar and entirely new. The fit-out includes the quintessential fireplace - perfect for those cooler winter nights on the coast - and traditional pool tables with the social experience of interactive darts.

This isn’t your grandfather’s dartboard; it’s a high-tech, screen-based experience designed for communal interaction.

The owners explained that it’s a real draw point.

“People don’t always want to just come down for a pint; they can come and have an interactive experience, bond with friends, and really immerse themselves in a comfortable social environment,” Cade said.

You can’t have an Irish pub without a menu that earns your heart and sticks to your ribs. Expect the mandatory pub classics that Australians demand - think premium steaks sourced from around the region, crispy chicken schnitzels, and the ever-popular parmigiana - the Irish influence is the distinction.

Signature dishes will include the Irish Guinness Pie, where the rich, dark stout meets tender beef under a flaky crust,

and traditional bangers and mash.

For those looking for something lighter, the menu will also feature wings, share trays, and fresh salads, ensuring that families visiting during the day find something for everyone.

Perhaps the most exciting news for the Mooloolaba nightlife is the return of live music. While you might catch a Celtic band or some traditional Irish tunes from time to time to keep the atmosphere authentic, the focus is squarely on supporting the local music scene.

“We want to reinvigorate the live music scene in Mooloolaba,” Cade says. “We’re finding local acts, bands and artists to give people more of an opportunity within the region.”

Live music will feature throughout the week, with a mix of solo artists, bands and DJs until late Thursday to Sunday, further cementing its position as one of Mooloolaba’s premier late-night destinations.

The decision to bring Foxy Malone’s to life wasn’t just about business; it was about restoring the Irish tradition on the coast. Through their investment in Foxy Malone’s, the owners are creating local jobs and contributing to the ongoing evolution of the local hospitality scene.

“We welcome anyone from any walk of life to have a good time and celebrate,” says Cade.

Whether it’s a milestone birthday, a corporate function, or just a Sunday afternoon pint after a swim, Foxy Malone’s is ready to be the new chapter Mooloolaba has been waiting for.

Follow the Craic on social media @foxymalones

Cade Hopman

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Glass RAISE A

There’s nothing better than kicking back at your local surf club and enjoying a relaxing drink whilst studying the waves. Tony Cox discovers the perfect drops to accompany the view.

What better place to enjoy a quality beverage than the stunning Sunshine Beach Surf Club? The views are stunning, the service friendly and, as an active patrol member for Surf Lifesaving, I can vouch for the fact that the beverages consumed in Sunshine Beach Surf Club helps ensure the patrols are well equipped.

So, let’s raise a glass to some of the top tipples on offer to see if we can whet your appetite to do your bit to contribute...

Let’s start with vino.

The composition of the wine list is well thought out with a great range of quality wines for very fair prices. Consisting mostly of some of Australia’s best vineyards with a smattering of French and Italian and of course, the cool climes of New Zealand for Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot of both shades.

The chardonnay selection includes the full spectrum from the rich and rounded Fat Bastard Chardonnay from California (under $10) to Yarra Valley’s Rob Dolan Chardonnay which is vegan friendly and low in sugar (just over $10); or the fresh, citrus-driven 10 Minutes by Tractor 10X Chardonnay from the Mornington Peninsula starting at $13 a glass or $60 for a bottle. I certainly know what wine my wife will be consuming next time we frequent the Surf Club.

Continuing in the same vein is a strong representation of sparkling wine from prosecco through to champagne.

Particularly appealing if you’re on a budget is the fact there are several wines available under $10 per glass, a huge

selection under $50 per bottle, with budgets for those wishing to spend less than $40 per bottle, particularly in the prosecco department.

The top end of town is also looked after with vintage champagnes from Laurent-Perrier and representations from the houses of Tattinger, Moët & Chandon, Duval-Leroy and more.

Similarly, the pinot gris/grigio selection covers key areas such as Adelaide Hills, the Veneto region of Italy, Victoria’s King Valley and Tasmania’s Derwent Valley.

These range in style from the fresh and light-bodied Italian wines from the Veneto region – Monte Zovo Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie and a Talis Pinot Grigio - I’ll also include the Villa Fresco from Victoria’s King Valley at that fresher end of the spectrum given that King Valley grew from Italian migrant families turning to grapes after being involved in tobacco cultivation.

Riper, fuller styles are epitomised by the Stefano Lubiana Pinot Gris from Tasmania’s Derwent Valley.

Sauvignon Blanc is well represented with the mandatory options from Marlborough region of New Zealand as well as some nice drops from Lambrook Seed in the Adelaide Hills and a Hunter Valley Tulloch Semillon Sauvignon Blanc

As expected, there are several Provence rosés on offer with Lambrook Seed Pinot Noir Rosé from Adelaide Hills offering a slightly more red fruited alternative and Yarra Valley’s Medhurst Rosé, being a blend of cabernet sauvignon and shiraz, offering a little more tannin and structure, delivering more than just bright acidity on the back palate.

In the Reds pinot noir from Yarra Valley, Central Otago, Tasmania’s Coal River Valley and Mornington Peninsula are all available, with Rob Dolan’s True Colours Pinot Noir from the Yarra Valley shining through. Peninsula Panorama

Pinot Noir from the Mornington Peninsula and Rabbit Ranch from Central Otago New Zealand all priced below $60 per bottle, which is great value for good pinot noir.

The Riversdale Scorpio Pinot Noir, from the latest vinous hotspot, Tasmania’s Coal River Valley, is also under $60. One only needs to look at the number of significant mainland players sourcing from this area to see the shift taking

place – Tolpuddle was established as a standalone brand by the Shaw & Smith Team from Adelaide Hills and Yabby Lake on the Mornington Peninsula is also producing wines from a Coal River site.

If you prefer a bigger red Mollydooker’s The Boxer shiraz from McLaren Vale brings a soft mouthfeel with well measured tannins and slightly toasted oak – great with a steak on a Sunday afternoon.

Continuing the King Valley theme, the Dal Zotto Sangiovese offers a juicy, medium bodied alternative, great for kicking back and sharing a pizza or two with friends.

There’s a smattering of other reds with the classic Hollick Coonawarra Cabernet available and the slightly bigger-styled, Smokin’ Barrels Cabernet Sauvignon from Barossa Valley also on offer.

The fair pricing strategy also extends to the extensive range of quality spirits with gin, whiskey in all its guises, rum, tequila and vodka all supported by quality Strange Love mixers.

The cocktail section has all your favourite spritzers as well as classics such as margaritas, cosmopolitans and mojitos as well as twists on those cocktails utilising fruit and juices to keep

it interesting, the passionfruit mojito has certainly aroused the interest of your scribe. For those who like to spice things up you may find the Chilli Margarita or the Mango Habanero Tommy’s Margarita more to your liking. If wanting to spark up the ever-present Espresso Martini is also on offer.

The non-drinkers are well catered for and one of the best things is the commitment to local producers with Heads of Noosa and Boiling Pot breweries both being well represented as well as our good mates at Sunshine & Sons Premium Distillery.

All up, Sunshine Beach Surf Club has plenty of fantastic beverage options, in a spectacular setting overlooking the break, and at incredibly fair prices.

Next time you’re looking to catch up with friends or for a sly beverage or two with a stunning view, put it front and centre of your places to go. The lifesavers will be glad you did.

CHEERS TO THE CLUB

Book ahead to secure your favourite table. Scan the QR code for menus, events and bookings and download the App for special deals, offers and more!

SIP SMARTER

As consumers are more deliberate and discerning about what goes out of their wallet and onto their palate, John Caruso discovers this aligns perfectly with what’s on offer at one local distillery.

With a more discerning customer choosing to invest in quality sips and special experiences, Sunshine & Sons Premium Spirits are perfectly poised to deliver what the market needs.

For co-founder Matt Hobson, premium quality and unique experiences have been a core part of their DNA since day one.

“We are seeing people still enjoying a drink, but what is interesting, and where we love being part of the solution, is what people are being more deliberate about what they choose to invest in,” Matt says.

“We’ve seen great growth in immersive and interactive experiences such as a tasting tour where people can learn a little more about our globally-recognised and award winning range.”

It is a vindication of the philosophy that Sunshine & Sons Premium Spirits and Nil Desperandum Rum quietly building its reputation on for years: drink better. The line is disarmingly simple. The logic, right now, is close to irresistible.

Matt says the cocktail masterclasses have also taken on a life of their own.

“It’s booming! Lots of people are enjoying a fun afternoon out with friends and family,” he says. “We love that. And also, some simply want to savour a premium spirit in a setting that makes the trip worthwhile.

“We have what we think is the best view of any venue on the Coast, a view that rivals any other. It’s a great place to enjoy a lovingly-crafted drink in a relaxed, safe and calm environment surrounded by birdsong.”

Perched in the lush hinterland of Woombye with views north-west, it’s

no wonder it was crowned Best Queensland Distillery for two years running at the Royal Queensland Distilled Spirits Awards - along with three other gongs to add to the burgeoning trophy cabinet.

They also have entries for awards in the United Kingdom, San Francisco and Melbourne. Not bad for a distillery that began with a fairly straightforward premise: make something worth drinking and let the product do the talking.

The distillery’s reach into the local community runs deeper than most people realise. The Biosphere Gin, infused with locally-harvested elderflower and native black myrtle is a collaboration with the Sunshine Coast Biosphere and the University of the Sunshine Coast, while Lightning Bolt is a partnership with the Sunshine Coast Lightning netball team with a special edition blackcurrant gin and tonic poured at home games.

The story of this winter, though, belongs to something altogether more unusual: the Japanese citrus, Yuzu.

Think of a lemon, then strip away the ordinary and replace it with something considerably more complex: heavily perfumed, intensely aromatic, the kind of scent that stops a room in its tracks.

It grows in negligible quantities in Australia, which makes Sunshine & Sons’ relationship with one of the country’s few producers all the more special. The grower operates a small plot in the Mary Valley, most of his fruit goes to fine dining restaurants in Noosa and Brisbane; the remainder heads south to Sydney and Melbourne. Sunshine & Sons secures an allocation each year, and each year they turn it into something seasonal and finite.

Co-owner Michael Conrad describes the process with deadpan humour.

“We’ve just had the fun job of zesting and juicing 100 kilos of Yuzu, so that’s a good day to not be at work,” he jokes.

The gin is sitting in a tank now, working toward a release in late June, which is perfect timing as winter is when citrus peaks in this part of the world, and yuzu is no exception. It is produced once a year, in quantities dictated entirely by what the grower can supply. Similar to other small-batch, special edition gins such as Mum’s Rose Bouquet and Love Dragon infused with dragonflower, once it’s gone, it’s gone.

Then there’s the Nil Desperandum Rum range and for followers of the 1871 Club, the single barrel rum series, there is also the matter of the Tropical Temptress, which arrived 5 May and is the kind of rum that makes the case for itself on the first pour. Michael describes it as one of the most fruit forward expressions the series has produced: rich with tropical notes are immediate and unapologetic.

When most consumers are thinking twice about where they spend and why, Sunshine & Sons Premium Spirits is offering the kind of considered experience that makes the decision feel easy.

Matt Hobson says it can be a tough environment however they were very grateful for the huge level of support they have from locals and around Australia.

Loyalty has to be earned and the distillery appears to have worked out exactly how to earn it. Drink less surebut when you do, make it count.

Distillery doors open every day from 10am for tours and tastings.

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Pack JOIN THE

A cheeky Queensland drinks brand with a real story to tell is looking for investors and distributors who can help take its bold brews from local curiosity to wider pour. Deb Caruso explores the backstory, the current range and the flavours still in the lab.

There are beverage brands that play it safe, and then there is Slab God - a name that turns heads before the can even hits the esky. Built around an unmistakably Australian sense of humour, the drinks company is calling for more stockists and a savvy investor to help put cans in hands, sips on lips and a bit of mischief into the market.

The story begins with a native fruit and a couple of curious drink-makers who were watching Bush Tucker Man and kept coming back to one particular plant: Grewia latifolia, commonly known as dog’s balls. That discovery by Dearne and Alastair Downes set off a chain of backyard experimentation, seedling hunting and home brewing, before the team worked with a local brewery to bring two beers and a stunning Apple Cider to market.

The name, naturally, needed a rethink. ‘Dog’s Balls’ may be memorable, but it was always a leap too far for the mainstream, so after a few drinks one night the team simply flipped it backwards and landed on Slab God.

It is the sort of brand move that says

everything about the tone here: bold, a little irreverent and not remotely interested in blending in.

That attitude carries through the brand personality, which leans into cheeky, colourful and proudly Australian. Slab God is designed for people who enjoy a laugh, a cracking drink and a label with enough swagger to spark a conversation at the barbecue, the pub or the beach.

Slab God was ABAC-approved, launched under the tagline ‘Brewed with Balls,’ and proceeded to win Best in Show at its very first Sunshine Coast Agricultural Show. Not bad for the new kids on the block.

The current lineup already gives the concept a proper footing in the market. There is a Premium Lager built for easy drinking, pub sessions and long afternoons in the sun, plus a Coastal Ale that aims for a refreshing, flavourforward profile inspired by laid-back summer drinking. Rounding out the existing range is an Apple Cider positioned as a clean, approachable option for just about any occasion.

These are not drinks being sold on

gimmick alone, either. Each brew is made on the Sunshine Coast with native-infused character and carefully selected hops and malts, giving the range a distinct point of difference in a crowded craft market. The message is simple enough: yes, it is fun, but it still needs to taste the part.

For investors and distributors, that distinction matters. Slab God is not pitching itself as just an all-natural brew with a pretty label; it is aiming to build a recognisable brand with room to grow across retail, hospitality and broader distribution. Currently stocked from Coolangatta to Sunshine Beach, there is a thirst for more.

In a category where shelf space is hard won, the company is banking on personality doing some of the heavy lifting, backed by drinks that people will actually want to buy again.

There is also a healthy pipeline of products waiting in the wings. Ginger Balls is in development as a bold ginger beer, while Salty Balls is being shaped as a native-inspired margarita-style blend with finger lime and karkalla. Hard Balls,

a hard lemon style mixer with lemon myrtle, and Hairy Pear, a pear cider with attitude, are also on the horizon.

That pipeline suggests the brand is thinking beyond the first pour. Instead of relying on one hero product, Slab God is planning to build a family of drinks that can cover different occasions, from casual afternoons to more social, mixer-friendly moments.

For distributors, that breadth offers more than one way into the market; for

investors, it offers a platform with some runway.

The branding itself is part of the selling point. Slab God talks in a relaxed, larrikin register that feels at home in a lifestyle magazine and on a bottle shop shelf, with an identity that celebrates being loud, colourful, natural and unapologetically itself. It is a look and voice that should appeal to buyers who want something fresh enough to stand out without losing the easygoing

THE BEER

Australian sensibility that makes the concept work.

There is also a certain practical logic underneath the cheek. Native ingredients, a clear origin story and an expanding product range give the brand a framework that is more substantial than a joke name and a flashy label.

Distribution enquiries are open.

Investment conversations are on the table. There’s genuine scope to grow both nationally and beyond, and the groundwork is already laid.

For those who like their business ventures a little less beige – or who simply want to put good cans in more hands – this one’s worth a closer look. The opportunity is not just to back a quirky drinks business, but to get behind a brand with the potential to carve out a memorable place in the market.

THIRSTY FOR MORE?

SUPPORT THE SLAB GOD

If you’d like to know more about distributing or stocking Slab God or wanting to find out more about the investment opportunity, contact Dearne.

Phone: 0438 432 844

Email: dearne@slabgod.com.au

Scan the QR code or visit www.slabgod.com.au

THAT STANDS OUT

Not only do we use unique Australian ingredients in our brews, but we pride ourselves on being unapologetically bold, cheeky, and full of flavour.

The traditional hair appointment has evolved into a hub for holistic wellness. Nicole May gets to the root of what’s on offer.

BEYOND THE blow wave

A visit to your hairdresser is much more than a touch of colour or a bouncy blow wave; it’s an experience designed to make you feel confident and empowered. While a fresh look remains the ultimate mood booster, Ellie has dedicated herself to elevating that salon shine by transforming her boutique space into a comprehensive day spa.

Usually, a well overdue visit might begin with a consultation and hair colour. But the ultimate indulgence is found in the transition from a week of functional ponytails to the serenity of a deep scalp scrub. Ellie’s Japanese Head Spa is something you truly must experience for yourself. You can simply lie back in the massage chair, listen to soothing background music and Ninderry birdsong, and let Ellie work her magic.

As Ellie walks through the serene space, she explains how she has curated an environment where hair health meets holistic wellness. The expanded layout now features enclosed treatment rooms designed for pure relaxation.

Welcoming two experts to the fold, her recruitment process was refreshingly personal.

“I embraced Martin and Sandy because I actually get treated by them myself,” Ellie reveals. “I just think they’re amazing therapists, and I wanted to work with them.”

First, meet Martin. More than just a practitioner, Martin targets the body’s

internal systems. He is a master of reflexology, but with a unique focus on hormone rebalancing.

For those who feel the weight of a busy lifestyle and need to prioritise their health, Martin also offers lymphatic drainage treatments, designed to detoxify and revitalise the body from the inside out. His treatments are designed to go beyond surface-level relaxation, targeting the body’s systems to promote deep, clinical healing.

Joining him is Sandy, a spa therapist for those looking to melt away tension with massages, bespoke facials, and luxurious pedicures. A beautiful pickme-up to help you feel revived.

“These guys are just outstanding at what they do,” says Ellie. “You’re in safe hands. I invited Sandy into Ellie Frankie Hair Spa because I trust her techniques and love her work – you’ll find yourself immersed in her treatments.”

Whether Sandy is in the treatment room or Martin is in the middle room, the atmosphere is kept intentionally quiet with a soothing soundtrack to ensure your Zen remains undisturbed.

While the spa side is flourishing, Ellie’s heart remains firmly centred in pioneering hair techniques that go beyond the surface. She is particularly passionate about her range of all-natural smoothing treatments that offer a kinder alternative to harsh chemicals.

One of the standout offerings is the

Charcoal Relaxing Treatment, which is an advanced smoothing, anti-frizz and repairing mask that smooths the hair without damaging it or changing the texture.

“It’s semi-permanent, so it doesn’t stay forever like a chemical straightener, but it relaxes the hair and de-frizzes using natural ingredients,” Ellie explains. “The process is meticulous. The hair is cleansed, the product is applied and left to process based on your specific hair type, then rinsed, dried, and ironed to seal it in.”

For those with more damaged strands, Ellie recommends Guava Latino Keratin with a brilliant analogy to explain why this treatment is a game-changer.

“If you can imagine each strand of hair has potholes in it, and you’re filling those potholes with keratin, and then you’re sealing them in – it’s a deluxe treatment for your hair,” she says.

“You’re repairing the hair, and the application helps to seal the cuticle again and de-frizz the hair, leaving it smooth

PHOTOS:

Sandy, Ellie and Martin

and manageable for up to four months – depending on your hair.”

This commitment to restorative treatments is paired with a dedication to cleaner products. Ellie ensures that all her styling products are free from the big nasties MIT, Parabens, Phthalate, Propylene glycol, Sulphates, Triclosan.

“I love using the O&M (Original & Mineral) range during any appointment, they’re kind to your hair, your body, and the environment,” Ellie explains.

“By using these ranges and treatments, I’m ensuring that even intensive hair repair remains grounded in all-natural ingredients.”

Looking to the sky as the sun sets over the private property, Ellie isn’t slowing down. The second half of this year promises an even more exciting evolution for the salon.

“The spa and stay packages will be available in the second half of this year,” Ellie teases, along with plans for even more treatment rooms and expanded services.

For now, the focus is on the incredible synergy between Ellie, Martin, and Sandy. It’s a team built on mutual respect and a shared purpose of making every client feel like the best version of themselves.

Whether you’re there to freshen up

your colour, a charcoal-based de-frizz, a lymphatic flush, or a quiet

Ellie Frankie Hair Spa is more than a beauty appointment; it’s a restorative ritual you’ll find yourself returning to time and again.

TOP-TO-TOE TREATMENTS

• Reflexology & Endocrine Balance: For hormonal harmony; maternity or lymphatic support.

• Lymphatic Drainage: A detoxifying treatment.

• Massage: Choose from custom, aromatherapy, recovery and restore.

• Facials & Pedicures: From express to Luxury and Radiance plus eyelash and eyebrow tinting and dry body brushing.

• Charcoal Relaxant: The all-natural way to say goodbye to frizz.

• Guava Latina Keratin: The natural filler for damaged or porous hair.

• Head Spa Services: The ultimate scalp health and relaxation experience.

• Coming Soon: Spa and Stay packages for the ultimate Ninderry getaway.

WINTER SPECIAL

Book a colour, cut, and blow-dry over winter, and receive 50% off a one-hour facial.

*Not to be redeemed with any other special and must be used during winter.

RESTORING

Nicole May discovers how to weave self-care rituals into her daily life, learning that bringing the spa experience home is more than a luxury, but essential for overall well-being.

In the beautiful hinterland town of Montville, amongst the picturesque village that feels as though you’ve stepped back in time, is Jata Holistic, a peaceful space that smells divine and offers guidance on how to deeply look after our mind, body and spirit for long-term health.

Founded by Bec Powne, a woman who remarkably holds degrees in both Ayurvedic Studies and Dermal Therapies, Jata Holistic is more than just a skin clinic - it is a haven for what Bec calls ‘sacred interconnectedness’. A space where ancient wisdom meets modern dermal science.

“Here in Montville, it’s all about beautiful human connection, and this place that I was drawn to when I first arrived on the Sunshine Coast is definitely an authentic reflection of me and my values,” Bec explains. Her presence is as grounding as the earthy, organic space she has created.

“I’m thrilled that I can offer a unique fusion of the things I’m passionate about,” she says.

Self-care at Jata Holistic begins with a ritual that is as much about internal warmth as it is about skin health, and this is where herbal tea comes in. Bec

Radiance

isn’t just a curator; she is the founder of Ayurveda Traditions, a brand she created to bring balance back to our busy lives.

In the Ayurvedic tradition, winter is a time to focus on our doshas - the unique energies that govern our bodies. To stay resilient this season, Bec recommends focusing on Vata and Kapha organic herbal tea blends.

“The Vata Tea is a calming blend if your mind is going a hundred miles an hour and you feel all over the place,” Bec explains. “This is your grounding cord, featuring liquorice and cinnamon. It also includes Tulsi - Holy Basil to calm the air energy that often leaves us feeling unmoored in the winter wind.”

The Kapha Tea is another Ayurveda Traditions, created by Bec, for those mornings when the cold makes you feel sedentary or sluggish.

“This blend is a winter warrior,” she says. “Formulated for immunity.”

The boutique also stocks Better Tea Co Blooming Tea. Watching a hand-tied bulb of Peony or Jasmine unfurl in a glass teapot is a visual meditation.

“They’re really popular,” Bec says. “They’re such a lovely gift.”

When it comes to the ultimate act of self-care, sleep, Bec takes a characteristically thoughtful approach.

You won’t find traditional silk here. Instead, Jata Holistic stocks Copper Oxide Infused Pillowcases and Eye Masks. Reflecting her ethical and sustainable values, Bec says copper is antibacterial and anti-ageing. An element of self-care

easily introduced to protect your skin and hair while you dream, ensuring you wake up refreshed.

Winter skin requires a different kind of love, and Bec encourages the practice of Abhyanga, or self-massage, to nourish the body and calm the nervous system.

The Ayurveda Traditions Detoxifying Body Oil is a powerhouse for this ritual. Infused with Haritaki and Gotu Kola, it’s designed to target fluid retention and cellulite while deeply hydrating the skin.

“For the most restorative results, massage the oil into your skin and allow it to penetrate for twenty minutes before washing it off in the shower,” Bec explains. A practice that can be further enhanced by dry brushing beforehand.

You can strengthen this experience by incorporating magnesium salts into a warm bath, creating a dedicated space for a deep biological reset. Through these home rituals, you are not just caring for your skin; you are actively circulating blood flow, calming your nervous system and restoring your inner balance.

But the real winter holy grail is the Kumkumadi Balm. Based on a traditional Indian recipe involving over 20 herbs, including Saffron and Manjistha.

“This balm is a lifesaver for sensitive areas and stubborn dry patches, such as the delicate skin on elbows or even eczema around the eyes,” Bec notes.

“I’ve had people use it wherever they get a little bit of dryness, and it has been amazing.”

While the retail space is a treasure trove for self-care, including robes, dry

Bec Powne

True beauty is nurtured through balance...

brushes, and Gua sha stone tools for facial sculpting, the treatment room is something else, with scenic views scanning the hinterland.

Experienced therapists Trish Hoskin and Safron McGibbon offer a tiered menu ranging from a 30-minute Indian Head Massage with facial massage, to a 90-minute AWE ritual facial with sculptural facial massage.

The standout remains the Qi Beauty Magnetic Facial, where gold-plated magnetic spheres are placed on the skin to activate energy pathways, enhance circulation and support the skin’s natural healing process, all while delivering a magnetic glow.

In conversation with Bec, she reiterates that we often treat self-care as an afterthought, when in fact we should think of our skin as the primary sensory organ, directly connected to our nervous system.

“By focusing on a little self-care daily, you’re improving your overall wellbeing,” she says.

So, this winter, take the drive to Montville. Sip on a warming Vata tea and remember what it feels like to look after your own wellbeing. As Bec reminds us, “true beauty is nurtured through balance - supporting the skin, body, and mind as one.”

RESET RITUALS

If you’re craving a moment to exhale, the Winter Special - a 45-minute facial for $129 - is the ultimate self-care remedy.

• Boost your immunity with Ayurveda Traditions Kapha Tea.

• Treat stubborn winter dryness with the Kumkumadi Balm.

• Restore youthful volume with the Qi Beauty Magnetic Facial.

• Finish your day with a Copper Oxide Eye Mask.

Bookings via the website or scan the QR code

PHOTOS: MEGAN GILL

Safron McGibbon

Relief WAVES OF

Can lying on a bed bring deep rest and restoration, and potentially address chronic illness? Deb Caruso discovers the revolutionary act of dry floating, and takes ten years off her biological age.

I used to float. Not literally, but in the salty, sensory-deprivation kind of way. Back when life felt a little less busy, I would carve out an hour or two, slip into the stillness of a float tank, and let the world fall away. It was my reset.

Like many women in their early 50s, the idea of switching off feels… optimistic. Between deadlines, disrupted sleep, and the joy of perimenopause, stress has a way of settling in and making itself at home. And yes hubby, I just need to stop and rest. Red rag to a time-poor bull.

So when I heard about Entle’s dry floating therapy opening in Maroochy Private Hospital, I was curious. I’ve tried enough wellness modalities over the years to know the difference between something that sounds impressive and something that actually shifts the dial. This, it turns out, does.

The Entle premise looks deceptively simple. You lie down fully clothed, supported on what resembles a waterbed, and that’s about it. No water immersion, no effort, no sensory deprivation pod. Just the support of a specially-designed water bed carrying carefully designed sound patterns - vibrations that travel through the body in a way you don’t hear, but unmistakably feel. Interesting.

Within minutes, I notice a gentle wave-like sensation moving through my body. Not intrusive, not intense -just a subtle, rhythmic presence that overtook the usual mental chatter. It wasn’t like floating, exactly. It was deeper. More integrated, a higher frequency.

What struck me most after 20 minutes was how quickly my system responded not just in how I felt – but in the data.

Entle Founder and CEO, Austrian-born Thomas Staudacher has spent decades working at the intersection of natural

for a while, that’s pretty big.

...sound vibration and water as a conductor to support the body back into balance.

medicine and vibrational science. Trained as an acupuncturist, homeopath, naturopath, nutritionist and herbalist, he developed Entle after a personal health crisis - a leukaemia diagnosis fifteen years ago that pushed him deeper into ancient healing traditions and emerging quantum biology. The Entle Bed, his patented creation, is the result of that long inquiry and journey.

The premise behind Entle is surprisingly simple: using sound vibration and water as a conductor to support the body back into balance. You don’t have to understand the mechanics to feel the effects, but the idea that the cells in our bodies can respond to gentle vibrational input makes intuitive sense.

What makes Entle different is that it doesn’t push, force or overstimulate. There’s no pressure to ‘fix’ anything. Instead, it creates the conditions for your nervous system to settle, recalibrate and, in many cases, finally exhale.

When you’ve been running on empty

Because sound travels roughly five times faster through water than through air, Thomas’ precision-encoded acoustic patterns move efficiently into a body that is itself sixty to seventy per cent water - travelling through your cells, your fascia, your bones. The body becomes, as Thomas puts it, ‘a tuning fork’.

He calls it Acoustic Restoration Therapy Where traditional floating works through sensory deprivation, Entle works through what he describes as cell awakening, not forcing the body toward a particular state, but creating the resonant conditions in which it can find its own way back to balance. The name itself reflects Aristotle’s concept of entelechy: the idea that the body already holds the blueprint for its own restoration. Entle doesn’t do the work, it reminds your system how.

To fully understand where any issues may be and to measure the results, there is the option to undertake a wellness assessment to measure and map how your autonomic nervous system is functioning, through tools such as your energy field and Heart Rate Variability (HRV). Similar to the smart watch – but much smarter. Our heart is connected to our nervous, immune, digestive and hormonal system, HRV reacts to even small changes to indicate how the body’s autonomic nervous system is functioning

PHOTOS: MEGAN GILL

and adapting to various demands and stresses. It also helps inform the soundtrack that Thomas can deploy.

I had a before-and-after reading taken and the shift was hard to ignore. In just 20 minutes, my body moved out of a heightened stress state into a far more relaxed mode. My results showed an increase in Total Power, Energy Reserves, and my brain frequencies shifted from ‘in the red’ nervous overstrain and accumulated tiredness into a more ‘blue’ stable condition. Plus, I knocked ten years of my Biological Age!

I felt more energetic, yet calmer; my

mind was clearer and I could almost feel my cells buzzing. The weight of too many nights at the computer and too many words in my head, was lifting. I felt a similar ‘high’ to what I’d experience after a traditional float, with less time and effort. It wasn’t dramatic but it was real.

While many people come for stress, anxiety or that familiar sense of overwhelm, what’s compelling is who else is finding their way onto the bed. People living with chronic pain, autoimmune conditions and ongoing inflammation. Those navigating the physical and emotional toll of chemotherapy or radiation. Individuals who simply don’t have the capacity for invasive or demanding treatments, but still need support.

Entle meets them where they are – and doesn’t ask anything of you. There’s no discomfort. You don’t have to ‘perform’. You just lie there and let the body do what it’s designed to do when given the chance. In a world that constantly demands more effort, more output, more resilience, that feels revolutionary.

The noise had softened. The edges had eased and I had the most restful sleep I have had in ages. This feels like the beginning of something.

A circuit breaker. A way to access a deeper level of rest that I didn’t think possible. It’s less about escaping stress and more about building a better relationship with it.

Lying on that bed, feeling those subtle waves move through my body, I realised that sometimes, the most powerful shift doesn’t come from doing more. It comes from allowing the body to remember how to do less.

TUNE IN

What it is: Acoustic Dry Floating - fully clothed, zero-pressure sessions using sound vibration delivered through water to support nervous system regulation. Who it’s for: Stress, anxiety, inflammation, perimenopause, chronic pain, inflammation, autoimmune conditions, ADHD, PTSD and those seeking gentle support during and after cancer treatment.

How long: Approximately 60 minute Relaxation Dry Floating Session

Where: Maroochy Private Hospital, Maroochydore or Geebung, Brisbane.

SPECIAL OFFER: Mention HELLO SUNSHINE for a 3 x 60-minute relaxation dry float pack for just $240 (normally $360). Phone 5211 0436 and book before 1 September. Scan the QR code for more or visit www.entle.com.au

Thomas Staudacher

A fresh name, a fresh start and she’s just getting started. Jodie Cameron meets a local business owner doing things her way…

New Space SAME FACES

Sometimes reinvention doesn’t mean starting from scratch. Sometimes it means taking everything you already are and rearranging it into something that fits better. For Alicia Davies-Crampton, owner of Studio Calia Hair Artistry in Sunshine Cove Maroochydore, that moment arrived and she didn’t flinch. What followed was equal parts intention, grace, and some stunning wallpaper.

A hair salon is an intimate space –we come in carrying the week on our shoulders, yet somehow always leave feeling like ourselves again. We tell our hairdressers everything, well at least I do! So it’s important it feels like a safe space. This is exactly the kind of vibe Studio Calia delivers. Previously known as Clay & Co, the salon has been rebranded and refitted from the ground up. Lighter, brighter and with a warmth that welcomes all.

Studio Calia is a space that has been deliberately reimagined. But the story behind the name is perhaps the most telling detail of all.

Calia is an anagram of Alicia. The same letters, rearranged into something entirely new.

“I didn’t want my name on the door,” Alicia says. “But when we started playing with the letters, this word kept coming back to us. And when we looked into it, in Greek mythology ‘Calia’ means ‘beautiful’. It just felt right.”

That detail speaks volumes – pardon the pun – and says everything about the woman behind it. Someone who didn’t set out to make it about herself, but ultimately created something that reflects her completely.

And if the name is personal, the refit is a tribute to her team. Alicia is quick to redirect any credit, pointing firmly toward the two senior stylists who have been with her from the very beginning.

“This was never about me, it’s always been about the team,” she says. “These two ladies have been here for six years – from day one, from the moment this salon was originally built. So when we did the rebrand and refit, it was based on what they wanted it to look like, because they’re in here every day. I’m not.”

Claire was one of the first to come knocking when the salon was still a grass patch and a sign out front. The other stylist, Peri, was Alicia’s next-door neighbour – and when Alicia decided to take the salon fully under her wing, Peri packed up her life, and her son, and moved back to be part of it.

“They’re both mums, both incredibly experienced, award-winning stylists,” Alicia says. “They’re two of the best.”

It’s that loyalty – fierce, mutual, and the kind you hold on to when you find it – that pulses through Studio Calia, and the space reflects it. Gone is the previous dark, industrial aesthetic. In its place, something warm and accommodating, designed so that every client walks in and immediately feels at ease.

Working exclusively with L’Oréal, Studio Calia offers a full menu of hair services – from cuts and colour to balayage, foils and blowouts – alongside

beard and edge trims for the men who have quickly become regulars since the refit. Behind the chair are two awardwinning stylists who between them bring decades of experience to every appointment. And with wallpaper from Alicia’s other business, The Wallpaper People – chosen by the team – the walls are a reflection of the vision

Studio Calia sits alongside The Wallpaper People, and an aged care service that Alicia runs with her daughter and thirty staff. Running three very different enterprises requires clarity, strategy, and an unshakeable belief in the people around you.

“I wasn’t a wallpaper expert when I purchased my wallpaper company,” she says. “But I surround myself with good people. The best team, accountant, lawyer, and I think anyone can do that.”

It’s the kind of confidence that comes not from having everything figured out, but from having weathered enough to know you will figure it out. Asked what success looks like for Studio Calia in three years, Alicia doesn’t hesitate.

“Still having this amazing team and growing together, maybe a barber one day,” she says. “But mostly – still here, still doing this, just bigger.”

When the old walls don’t fit anymore, strip them back and build something more beautiful. Alicia Davies-Crampton has done exactly that – and she’s not looking back.

PHOTO: MEGAN GILL

Claire, Alicia and Peri

a

different kind of fitness space was being built. John Caruso discovers a Performance Showroom that might just change how you think about the spaces we train in.

Cast your mind back to the last time you trained at a commercial gym. Not the idea of it, the actual experience. The car park scramble; the machine that’s always out of order; loud music; the content creators occupying prime equipmentand somewhere in the middle of all that theatre, there you are, trying to train.

Something has shifted. What was once a straightforward arrangement - you paid a membership and got on with it - has become more complicated. Personal trainers now compete for floor space with phone calls conducted at full volume. Gyms that once ran at comfortable capacity through the middle of the day are operating at full tilt the moment they open. The fitness industry has boomed. The experience, for many serious trainers, has not kept pace.

It was that accumulated frustration, felt across a whole generation of serious trainers, that became the foundation of something genuinely different. Not another gym with a fresh coat of paint but a rethink from the ground up. The answer is LuxGym, and it is not a gym in any sense the word usually implies.

Located in Cooroy, LuxGym operates as a performance showroom, available by appointment and not open to the public for general use. Nobody drops in unannounced. There are no membership

cards, no queues for the squat rack. What there is instead is a meticulously fitted private training and demonstration space, engineered with performance and aesthetics in equal measure.

Step inside and the contrast with a commercial facility is striking from the first moment. The fit out is considered and purposeful. The flooring is premium. The equipment has been sourced from brands regarded as the best in the business - pieces that look the part and move the way they should. Solid. No rocking, no breaking down. It is the kind of space that makes you pause at the door before it pulls you in.

“It has to perform as a high-level space,” says co-owner Jason Robertson, a veteran strength and conditioning coach with decades of experience training elite athletes and bodybuilders. “I won’t include anything I’m not happy with myself. I’ve picked my brands, my flooring, everything. It’s a solid marriage between performance and quality.”

For architects, school administrators, facility managers, and homeowners planning training spaces of their own, LuxGym functions as a fully operational demonstration environment. Flooring samples, locker systems, equipment options - everything can be seen, touched, and tested in a real, functioning

space rather than imagined from a catalogue or website.

This is the critical difference. Specifying a fitness space from a brochure is one thing. Walking through a space that has been built to the standard you are aiming for, picking up the equipment, standing on the flooring, understanding how it all feels when it is working together, that is something else entirely.

“They can come and see exactly what we do, use the equipment, feel the quality, see the whole thing working,” says Jason. “We offer the real experience of a properly set up performance space.”

For schools exploring how to invest in their athletic facilities, the showroom provides a benchmark. For architects and interior designers working on premium residential projects or boutique commercial developments, it offers a tangible reference point for quality, finish, and spatial planning. For facility managers assessing their next upgrade, it removes the guesswork entirely.

Beyond its role as a showroom, LuxGym is available for private hire and the range of people who have found a use for it is broader than you might expect.

Elite and travelling sporting teams can book the space for dedicated sessions, bringing their own strength and conditioning coaches if they prefer, and using the facility as their base. Jason has seen this model succeed before at

premium hotels where teams have chosen accommodation specifically for the standard of the training space available to them.

“Teams can book the space for a week or a couple of hours,” he says. “Spend the morning here, the afternoon at the beach; our clients hopefully like what they see and ask us to fit out their own facility.”

For individuals who want to train without an audience, the noise, distractions, and performance anxiety that commercial gyms can produce, the private hire model offers something the fitness industry rarely does: genuine privacy, in a genuinely exceptional space.

There is also a growing demand from content creators and fitness professionals who need a high-quality training environment for filming. Exercise videos, brand campaigns, social content, and instructional programming all benefit from a space that looks as good on camera as it performs in person. LuxGym provides a controlled, well-lit, premium environment available by appointment.

For those starting on their fitness journey, the experience carries particular weight. The privacy of the setting removes any awkwardness or anxiety and creates an environment where the

We offer the real experience of a properly set up performance space.

focus can be entirely on the work.

LuxGym’s work extends well beyond Cooroy. The team designs, supplies, and installs premium fitness environments nationally for schools, hotels, residential developments, boutique gyms, corporate facilities, aged care villages, defence bases, and private homeowners.

Every project begins with a conversation about how the space needs to perform. From there, the LuxGym team develops full floor plans, 3D renders of the finished environment, and a product specification built around quality brands and proven performance. Installation is handled by experienced teams across the country.

The showroom in Cooroy is the best

single demonstration of what that process produces.

It is an invitation to come and see the standard LuxGym holds itself to before committing to anything at all and in today’s world, that bears a lot of weight.

MAKE IT YOURS

Experience the flooring, equipment and locker solutions in person. Book the space privately for training, filming, or team sessions or commission a complete turnkey fitness environment - from concept through to supply and installation. Scan the QR code for more or contact Jason. Phone: 0417 77 44 88 Email: jr@luxgym.com.au www.luxgym.com.au

Di and Jason Robertson

PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

ROUND OF

Ap-Paws FOR ELVIS

When it comes to a hound dog with burning love, Helen Flanagan says it’s time to unleash the ruff stuff.

In the late nineteenth century a proud Scotsman cross-bred flat-coated Retrievers with Tweed Water Spaniels, resulting in the medium-to-large Golden Retriever breed, characterised by a gentle and affectionate nature and a striking golden coat.

Golden Retrievers are commonly kept as a companion dog, compete in dog shows and obedience trials, and work as Guide Dogs. These days they are in varying colours from dark red, shades of russet to white as in English White retrievers - like Elvis, a local superstar.

“We have had retrievers before,” recalls doting ‘parents’ Lyndall and David Pitchford.

“Gorgeous Bentley who looked remarkably like Elvis, was with us for 18 wonderful years when the children were young,” Lyndall says. “He was also very naughty and liked nothing better than escaping and wandering down the main street being fed by people in the cafés.

“It was a no brainer when it came to getting another retriever, a COVID puppy from a caring breeder in country NSW.

“As for the name? I don’t really know why but it suited him in a ‘nothing like Elvis’ way. He is a delight, everyone loves him and unusually for retrievers, he doesn’t steal shoes or socks.

“They are quiet dogs as in minimal barkers, except when being a watchdog, when someone appears at the gate. Then he sounds like a Rottweiler, catching the courier by surprise and then just quietly wandering off. So much for being a dutiful guard dog!”

Elvis has a beautiful temperament, loves babies and children, and shows it with an affectionate lick! Luckily, he doesn’t scoff food like many retrievers.

“Not saying he doesn’t like his food,

he eats everything, but isn’t too keen on lettuce or tomato, more a meat and three veg type, with favourite treat a dried kangaroo tail,” Lyndall says.

“He has been on a diet to lose those extra kilos. The vet said ‘no pellets’, so he has a varying menu from cooked veg, homemade chicken stock, an egg, tinned tuna or salmon to rice and cooked chicken. He loves yoghurt on fruit in the mornings.

“His acute hearing means knowing the exact time of his dinner by the sound of wine being poured into our glasses, also the scent of Twisties which he adores as a tiny entree.”

Elvis has a knack of seeking out water holes, running straight to it, the muddier the better, even more so, just after a groom.

His big passion is the beach and swimming in the ocean.

“He would stay in all day if he could, chasing birds, finding seaweed and fetching sticks,” Lyndall says. “Well, fetching can be okay but as for bringing it back - he has no idea, or maybe he’s tired after all the seaside action.”

When it comes to dreamtime and counting sheep, Elvis seems to be fussy with his choice of several beds and not really attached to any.

Except when he’s on staycation at Aunty Kate and Uncle Tony’s house, where he has a beautiful bed and water bowl, special food, tussles and walkies.

At home he’s chosen a rug outside Lyndall and David’s bedroom, ostensibly protecting them.

With winter upon us guess Elvis will surely be expecting a big fluffy bed as his good luck charm, and follow that dream, of one day wearing blue suede shoes. How Pawsome would that be!

PHOTO: MEGAN GILL

Doggy STYLE

Indie Boho Indoor Dog Bed in Sunset Cockatoo pattern.

Fuzzyard Dreameazzzy Snuggler Bed

Fuzzyard Turtle Teddy 24 Dog Sweater

Native Magic Lemon Myrtle & Hemp Pet Balm

All available from Peticular, 5471 3418

Fuzzyard Aviator Dog Jacket

Etnia Barcelona Gevinson frames, Etnia Barcelona Mixura frames, Matttew Bailaor frames, Albert I’mStein Eclipse frames from Hammond Optometry, 5476 2333.

Humidity Va Va Velour coat and stitched pants, Neutrals shirt from Belle Collective and Co, 0407 762 436.

Flableus Imelda shoes from Sara Leonardi, www.itsafad.com

Marilyn shirt embroidery Anglaise and Kiki dress in Chocolate from Wacker Clothing Company, wackerclothingcompany.com. Shoes, model’s own.

14k Yellow Gold and Diamond pendant featuring 6.99ct Queensland Boulder Opal with 9K Yellow Gold Omega Chain; 18k Yellow old and Diamond Ring featuring a 4.2ct Andamooka Crystal Opal; 14k Yellow Gold Ring featuring a 2.9ct Queensland Boulder Opal; 14k Yellow Gold Bracelet featuring Coober Pedy Crystal Opals; 9k Yellow Gold Drop Earrings featuring Coober Pedy Doublet Opals. All from Opals Down Under, 5494 5400

9k Yellow Gold Drop Earrings featuring Coober Pedy Doublet Opals

14k Yellow Gold Bracelet featuring Coober Pedy Crystal Opals

Yellow Gold and Diamond pendant featuring

14k Yellow Gold Ring featuring a 2.9ct Queensland Boulder Opal

18k Yellow Gold and Diamond Ring featuring a 4.2ct Andamooka Crystal Opal

Bella Carina Miracle Jogger, Leopard Dream Check shirt and Oriel shoes and bag from Elmari Boutique, 0457 931 473.

Lookbook

See something you like? Shop the HOTTEST looks and local labels online!

Simply scan the QR code to access the Winter 2026 Lookbook with shoppable links to take you from curious to catwalk-ready!

the team

Fashion Editor: Carlie Wacker @worldofwacker

Creative Direction: Ali Smith @graphicalidesign

Photographer: Ian Waldie @ianwaldiephotography

HMUA: Craig and Lara Argent @pony_beauty_bar_noosa

Model: Jessica Rigg @jessica_kate_rigg Chic Management @chic-brisbane

Shot on Location at: The Kin Kin Hotel @kinkinhotel

Making THEIR MARK

NAIDOC Week is a celebration of the world’s oldest living culture. Jodie Cameron explores two exhibitions sharing the stories that matter…

Two exhibitions on the Sunshine Coast speak to a shared conversation, one that honours a living culture that has never ceased to communicate.

At the Maroochydore Library Artspace, Old Ways, New Marks runs until 11 July, featuring a collective of First Nations emerging artists sharing bold, vibrant screenprinted works that pulse with stories of culture, identity, resilience, and resistance.

A few kilometres south, at the Caloundra Regional Gallery, LORE and LAND runs from 3 July to 16 August –asking audiences to sit with a deeper question: what does it really mean to belong to Country?

The two exhibitions stand alone, each complete and compelling in their own right, but for a handful of weeks in July, they exist side by side.

In that overlap, there’s a dialogue between generations, between collection and creation, between what has always

been known and what is still being made.

Old Ways, New Marks came together following a Mob Only session during last year’s From the Sea, the Land and the Mountains exhibition at the Caloundra Regional Gallery. The session brought First Nations creatives together in the same room including Jinibara artist Jennifer Kent, who gave an artist talk about her screenprinted works printed onto tea towels – and something sparked.

Cholena Hughes, Sunshine Coast Council’s, First Nations Creative Development Officer, said a number of creatives present expressed their desire to learn screen printing, which led to a three-day workshop with Jennifer at Light Industry in Kunda Park, and supported funding from the Sunshine Coast Council Arts and Heritage Levy.

“The collective formed naturally through the artists who kept showing up and working together,” Cholena says.

After those three days, the artists kept showing up at the First Nations Studio at Lantana Space in Moffat Beach, working alongside one another, developing their prints and their practice. The Old Ways, New Marks Screenprinting Collective was born.

In the art world, screenprinting is one of the most accessible and versatile art forms and its appeal for First Nations artists is practical as much as it is creative. It allows work to be replicated multiple times, in multiple ways, keeping the cost and making the artworks affordable to more people.

“Artists can vary colour, surface, and layering to tell different stories from the same original design,” Caloundra Regional Gallery Director, Jo Duke explained. “The work can travel further, reach more people, and generate sustainable income.”

But beyond the practical, there’s something in the act of pressing culture into a surface and making a mark that can be made again, that speaks to First Nations ways of passing knowledge forward. The works in Old Ways, New Marks are an invitation to connect with living culture, engage in meaningful conversation, and witness the strength and vision of creatives working right now, right here, on Kabi Kabi and Jinibara Country.

Cholena has worked with the collective from its earliest workshops through to her role on the curatorial team for LORE and LAND giving her a clear view of how

Installation shot of Old Ways, New Marks on show at Maroochydore Library Artspace Image courtesy of the artists and Caloundra Regional Gallery.

Jennifer Kent | Shield of Faith |2025| print | Image courtesy of the artist and Caloundra Regional Gallery

these two exhibitions speak to each other.

“Through Creation stories, cultural knowledge, and the ongoing transmission of stories about place, food, and medicine, both exhibitions explore the enduring connection First Nations people have to Country,” she says. “They also acknowledge the impacts of colonisation, including loss and disconnection, while highlighting resilience and the emergence of contemporary cultural voices.”

Where Old Ways, New Marks centres local, emerging voices, LORE and LAND expands that dialogue nationally, drawing together both traditional and contemporary perspectives from across Country.

“Both exhibitions are in strong conversation through cultural sharing.” Cholena says, “Which is vital for passing on knowledge within communities and educating broader audiences about the world’s oldest living cultures.”

LORE and LAND draws on artworks from the Sunshine Coast Art Collection to something that goes well beyond storytelling. Lore is an enduring system of knowledge, responsibility, kinship, and custodianship – one that has bound people to Country across generations, and that continues to shape the work of contemporary artists, storytellers, and Elders today.

“Country remains central to First Nations peoples and holding deep, ongoing connections and experiences of loss,” Cholena says, “This living relationship continues to shape the work being made today. Walking through this exhibition is an enriching and powerful

Country as something cared for rather than owned....

experience – offering insight into First Nations perspectives on Country as something cared for rather than owned.”

The Maroochydore Library and the Caloundra Regional Gallery are everyday community spaces that are free to visit, open and familiar. Cholena believes that’s precisely why they matter as homes for this kind of work.

“Regional galleries play a vital role in holding and sharing these stories, connecting local and national voices through education and dialogue,” she says. “First Nations creatives value these spaces as platforms to share cultural expression, enabling their work to connect with audiences in layered and meaningful ways.”

For the emerging artists of Old Ways, New Marks – Kelly Garrett, Jennifer Kent, Therese Murphy, Fran Little, Lynda Page-Bickley and Dimitie Smith – the opportunity represents a meaningful step, and at the launch at Maroochydore Library Artspace, that feeling was clear.

Each artist spoke of their gratitude for coming together to learn, share, and create. The connections made in the workshops, and that continued in the studio, were valued as much as the chance to share their work publicly. That, perhaps, says everything about what this collective has become.

This winter, retreat inside, go on a journey and soak up the thriving energy in these two spaces. The works are here – made on and off this Country, by First Nations artists for all of us who are lucky enough to share in it.

CHECK IT OUT!

Old Ways, New Marks Until 11 July. Free entry. Mon–Sat, 9am–5pm.

Maroochydore Library Artspace 44 Sixth Avenue, Cotton Tree Phone: 5475 8989

LORE and LAND

3 July to 16 August. Free entry

Opening launch: Thursday 2 July, 6-8pm $15 per person

Caloundra Regional Gallery 22 Omrah Avenue, Caloundra

For upcoming exhibitions and tickets to the opening launch, scan the QR code or visit www.gallery.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au

FINALISTS EXHIBITION

Friday 21 August –Sunday 11 October 2026

Running since 2006, the Sunshine Coast National Art Prize is the region’s premier contemporary art award, celebrating outstanding 2D and new media works from across Australia. As an acquisitive prize, it supports the Sunshine Coast Council’s cultural legacy, with 40 finalists selected nationwide to showcase diverse artistic interpretations through a range of mediums. The exhibition opens in August with winners announced at a public winners announcement in September.

Image: David Wells | Dream house with galah | 2025 | acrylic on canvas | 50 x 100cm. Sunshine Coast National Art Prize 2024 Major Prize winner. Sunshine Coast Art Collection. Image courtesy of the artist.

See what’s on at gallery.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au

Tues to Fri 10am-4pm, Sat to Sun 10am-2pm 22 Omrah Ave, Caloundra

Coastline BMW

Fran Little | Whispers of Language | 2026 print | Image courtesy of the artist and Caloundra Regional Gallery

FOLLOW THE

Trail

Ever wanted to catch an artist in their element? Jodie Cameron discovers how to make the most of Open Studios Sunshine Coast…

The Sunshine Coast is home to one of the largest creative communities in Australia. Drawn to the natural beauty of the region, makers specialising in everything from painting and pottery to sculpting and glasswork live and work across the area.

This Winter, from 17 to 26 July the artists of Open Studios Sunshine Coast are opening their creative spaces to the public giving visitors rare behind-thescenes access.

There is a particular kind of magic that happens when you step across the threshold of an artist’s studio. The paint may still be drying, tools rest where they were last used, and works in progress lay bare on the journey towards a finished piece. It’s an intimacy that a gallery rarely offers – a window into the world of imagination, skill and dedication that thrives throughout our region.

Set across six distinct art trails spanning 47 studios and galleries – from the base of the Glass House Mountains through to Kenilworth at Gheerulla Hall – this self-guided event is one of the region’s most beloved creative traditions.

Organised by Arts Connect Inc, Vice President Jen Braithwaite said Open Studios Sunshine Coast offered a reason to visit our stunning region and discover the immense talent that calls it home.

“Follow a trail through coastal villages and hinterland communities, stop for lunch at a local café, discover a hidden gallery, meet the makers, and experience the Sunshine Coast in a way that visitors rarely do,” she says.

The trails are structured across two weekends, with the three Coastal Trails running over one weekend and the three Hinterland Trails over the other – which means with a little planning, you can experience the full breadth of the region’s creative scene.

“Every year, visitors say ‘I wish we’d booked a whole weekend,’” she laughed. “So, we’re saying – make 2026 the year you do it.”

Kicking off the Coastal Weekend are the seaside studios on the Coastal Caloundra trail including the workshop of painter, sculptor and woodworker Trevor Irvine; and Margaret Ellen Turner – a practicing artist of over 30 years with national and international teaching credits – opens her studio alongside the 30th anniversary celebrations at Seaview Artists Gallery

Heading north, the Coastal Central Trail takes you through the creative heart of Buderim and surrounds. Don’t miss Magali Feuga, a French Australian

sculptor and painter whose work centres on the human form; or Jennie Rutz (who graced the front cover of Hello Sunshine Magazine in 2021), who’s intriguing subjects of women and the beach capture something elusive and utterly coastal.

The Buderim Fibre Art and Surface Design Group presents Curated Colour –a striking exhibition of large-scale 2D and 3D textile works – while Denise Gee Ceramics & Mosaics invites you into a joyful tangle of colour, texture and nature. For something with purpose, Equity Works Gallery showcases artists and makers with a disability, a reminder that creativity belongs to everyone.

Further north, the Coastal Northern Trail runs from Mudjimba up through Coolum and beyond. Carlie Johnston of Seajay Art has spent eight years mastering resin – her fluid, ocean-inspired works are as mesmerising as the sea itself. Louise Bastos (Solshine Arts), a Brazilian-born muralist who brings warmth and colour to everything she touches. And don’t miss the studio of Glenda Borchard who contributed to this edition’s front cover.

Asia Images Gallery is the newest gallery on the Sunshine Coast. At Marcoola, they specialise in large-scale Fine Art Photography from Asia. These are powerful works that capture the spirit of a fascinating place and ignite

Nicky Carey

Magali Feuga

Experience the Sunshine Coast in a way that visitors rarely do.

the sense of adventure and exploration often felt when travelling in Asia.

Away from the salt and sand, the Hinterland Weekend offers winding roads, creative worlds and studios with a view. Pack an overnight bag, and book a night in Maleny or Montville, and let the mountain air calm your soul.

The Hinterland Foothills Trail is an intimate introduction to the landscape between coast and range. Marcel Desbiens – who began his artistic journey in northern Canada before settling here – brings a distinctive eye to his studio-gallery. Annie McIntosh’s contemporary abstract landscapes are meditative works exploring the quiet strength and emotion embedded in the Australian bush. Judith Tompkins of Studio Palimpsest challenges visitors to see the world differently through her distinctive, tactile, interactive mixedmedia works.

Up through the rolling green country of Hinterland Maleny, Heather Gall paints Australian birds and landscapes in oils and watercolours, while Jacky Lowry’s printmaking practice uses real plant collagraph plates to create works as earthy and alive as the Maleny countryside. Discover Irish-born painter and printmaker Nicky Carey; Bodo Muche’s foundry which celebrates 19th century French naturalist sculpture through contemporary bronze; and Pinch and Spin Pottery’s Fleur Colgan will throw ceramics in a newly established studio well worth discovering while Lara J. Cooper paints everyday moments with

a depth that rewards careful consideration.

The grandest trail of all may be Hinterland Montville, which winds from Palmwoods to Woombye to Nambour and beyond, with 16 studios and galleries to discover. Wolfgang Engel blows glass in his Red Door Studio in Montville in collaboration with acclaimed glass artist Tina Cooper – watching molten glass transform in their hands is reason enough to visit.

Julia Peddie, a painter, printmaker and art therapist working from her Woombye permaculture farm, brings beauty and intentionality to her practice; Sarah Sculley’s mural-scale nature-inspired canvases stop you in your tracks (a Hello Sunshine Magazine cover artist from 2023); and Rogues Gallery’s Ali Atkinson offers one of the trail’s most joyfully unexpected experiences. At the far reach, the Kenilworth Arts Council brings the creative spirit all the way to the valley.

“Some artists have spent decades refining their practice and exhibiting nationally and internationally,” Jen says.

“Others are opening their studio doors for the very first time. Each brings a unique perspective, and together they create a rich tapestry of creativity that reflects the character of our region.”

Every conversation encourages an artist, and every artwork purchased directly from its creator supports the continuation of creative practice on the Sunshine Coast. These exchanges are more than transactions – they are connections between people, stories and place. This Winter, take the scenic route. You won’t regret it.

Pick up a free Art Trail Guide at visitor information centres, cafés and galleries, or download the Art Trail Planner www.openstudiossunshinecoast.com.au

Trevor Irvine

BEHIND THE

Studio Door

Get ready to be inspired by Queensland’s largest open studios event, where the route is yours to choose and every stop offers a creative burst. Charlie Shelley explores what this year’s Noosa Open Studios has in store.

Art holds a special place in our lives. It brings us joy, contemplation and inspiration, and it can add a splash of colour and intrigue to the spaces in which we live, work and play. But while we regularly enjoy the effects of art, few of us have had the chance to peek behind the curtain to see where the work begins – in the studio, at the workbench, on the wall, in the quiet hours where an idea - a spark - slowly turns into something real.

Noosa Open Studios is here to change that. Now in its 11th year, the annual event sees artists open the doors to their creative spaces for ten days, giving art lovers the chance to meet the makers, ask questions and follow a trail that stretches from the coastline to the hinterland.

It is a choose-your-own-adventure style experience, where visitors can shape their own route, linger where something catches their eye and discover new favourites along the way.

The event runs on the days nominated by each participating artist, with studios open from 10am to 4pm, making it easy

to plan a day or string together a few visits across the region.

This year, the event returns to August to take advantage of the final throes of winter and, the participating artists have been carefully curated to a more sustainable number to allow for more time to linger, talk and take in each space without feeling rushed.

Wallace House remains as the starting point with an exhibition representing each artist’s work as well as maps, artist information and advice from the friendly volunteers to help you plan your journey.

To truly make the most of the experience, download the Noosa Open Studios Trail App before heading out. Search, filter and browse the full list of participating artists, then build your own itinerary visiting the creative spaces and artists you most want to see. Plus, it links with Google Maps, making navigating the trail an effortless experience.

Variety is the spice of life so tailor the day around new experiences or your own

interests – whether that means visiting painters, ceramicists, sculptors, artisans, printmakers - or a little of everything.

One visit might lead to a conversation about light and landscape, the next to a discussion about texture, form or the stubborn unpredictability of making art by hand.

The beauty of the event is that there is no single way to do it. Some people will set out with a plan and tick off a handful of studios in a neat line. Others will wander a little more freely, allowing one visit to lead to another as the day unfolds - perhaps stopping into a café, restaurant or bar along the way... Either way, the quest of creative

curiosity is bound to be rewarding. There is also more to this year’s program than the studio trail itself.

A luncheon on 31 July at Sunshine Beach Surf Club will serve as both a fundraiser and a cracking way to spend a Friday with stunning ocean views, a fabulous feast and online auction featuring art and a mix of other donations including beauty products, accommodation, jewellery and tickets to the Broncos.

Studio One Noosa will be hosting an exhibition of artworks in its gallery for two weeks ahead of the auction, giving potential buyers the chance to view the

pieces in person before bidding with funds also going towards McGrath Foundation.

Internationally renowned Australian artist Michael Zavros will be the guest speaker to add another layer of interest to the month’s celebrations of creativity.

The result is a trail of discovery - a road trip through the region’s artistic heart. It’s a chance to enter the creative sanctuaries of some of our most talented residents to better understand and appreciate how living in Noosa influences and inspires their artistic pursuit.

Advert-Luncheon Page.pdf 1 21/5/2026 10:26 am

And you might just find a special piece that captures your heart.

ART EXTRAVAGANZA

14-23 August 2026

10-Day Art Extravaganza Noosa Open Studios Art Trail

Witness Noosa’s creative spirit come alive this August, as more than 80 artists throw open the doors to their creative spaces and invite the public in to learn about methods (and the madness!) that underpins their work.

For artist profiles, workshop bookings, or to download the Noosa Open Studios App or the official Art Trail Guide, visit www.noosaopenstudios.com.au

NOOSA O PE N STUDI OS FUNDRAIS ING AR T AUCT ION LUNCHE ON

YO U ARE INV I TED..

.

Join us for a fabulous celebration of art, community, and giving at this year’s Noosa Open Studios event. Enjoy a delicious long lunch with a welcome drink in the stunning Ocean View Room at Sunshine Beach Surf Club, while exploring an exciting online auction featuring artworks, accommodation, jewellery, beauty experiences, and more.

Special guest speaker Michael Zavros, internationally renowned Australian artist and seven-time , will join us for an exclusive Conversation in Person

This special event proudly supports the McGrath Foundation, helping cancer patients and their families access vital care and support

Seats are limited. Book now and be part of an unforgettable afternoon celebrating creativity, connection, and community.

ANDREW HILLHOUSE.

PHOTO: MEGAN GILL

JO COOK. PHOTO: IAN WALDIE

Into Dreams TURNING CREATIVE IDEAS

The Sunshine Coast Arts Foundation (SCAF) is proving that philanthropy is more than a gift. Nicole May uncovers how SCAF enables artists explore experimental new territories.

In the creative space of Alsahwa Estate’s ēthos restaurant, Emeritus Professor Jennifer Radbourne, Chair of Sunshine Coast Arts Foundation (SCAF), spoke to the transformative power of the arts for the Business in the Arts Lunch

Her message was clear: “In a region as gifted as the Sunshine Coast, our artists are our greatest assets.”

“SCAF believes a gift is an investment,” Professor Radbourne explained to the guests. “Our artists foster creativity, critical thinking, and innovation - skills essential to a productive society”.

It is this philosophy that drives SCAF’s Gifted Program, a direct-funding initiative designed to bridge the gap between an artist’s pipeline dream and professional fruition.

For Libby Derham, a fourth-generation watercolourist based in Palmwoods, this support was the catalyst for a project that redefined her practice. Libby doesn’t just paint landscapes; she captures the very air around her.

“I begin by transcribing birdsong,” Libby says, her voice reflecting the quiet focus of her plein-air work. “I use a pencil and listen to their sounds and transcribe that into a line.”

This deeply personal process - rooted in her grandfather’s traditional English watercolour techniques but pushed into the contemporary forefront - took an experimental leap thanks to SCAF philanthropic funding.

Through the Gifted Program, Libby was able to collaborate with sound engineers to explore cymatics: the visualisation of sound.

“If you can picture this, we laid a subwoofer speaker on its back and were able to bring the sounds of Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve into the speaker and allow the specific sounds to then vibrate on the membrane,” Libby explains.

Using a petri dish with liquid and

The Sunshine Coast currently boasts one of the highest concentrations of artists in Australia...

watercolour paper, Libby then ‘live painted’ the vibrations of the birdsong, capturing the reaction of pigment to sound.

“Something you would normally just dream of but not actually see come to life,” Libby shares.

For Libby, whose journey has been shaped by understanding the sensory profiles of her children, this ability to lose oneself in the visual and auditory world is vital for mental health and connection to nature.

The Sunshine Coast currently boasts one of the highest concentrations of artists in Australia, and Professor Radbourne said the Foundation holds a significant leadership role in the arts on the Sunshine Coast.

“Art achieves its highest moment when it is valued by the beholder,” she says.

“So, peace, beauty, inspiration, connection, wonder and even challenge emerge.”

Through professional development, mentoring, and entrepreneurship, SCAF supports everyone from visual artists and filmmakers to Indigenous craft workers and musicians.

Professor Radbourne’s call to action isn’t just for big business; it is for anyone who values the cultural heartbeat of the Coast.

Whether it’s bringing murals into a workspace or office, donating directly for a tax deduction, every bit of support helps an emerging artist reach their pipeline dream.

For local artists, Libby’s success serves as a roadmap. She now acts as a mentor and advocate, encouraging her peers to engage with the Foundation.

“It’s great to see the network within the Sunshine Coast really develop and become a strong advocate for visual arts,” she notes.

The work of SCAF ensures that the stories, sounds, and colours of our region aren’t just passing whispers, but an artistic legacy for future generations.

Whether an artist or an art lover, scan the QR code to donate or find out more about SCAF’s programs and upcoming events or visit www.scartsfoundation.com

Libby Derham

Emeritus Professor Jennifer Radbourne and Alsahwa Estate Founder Jo Walker

Arts RADAR

This season’s exciting new exhibitions at the Sunshine Coast’s galleries, studios and arts centres.

MAROOCHY LIBRARY

ARTSPACE

UNTIL 11 JULY

OLD WAYS, NEW MARKS: FIRST NATIONS SCREENPRINT COLLECTIVE

Celebrating the creativity of First Nations emerging artists through contemporary screen-printed works. See page 116. 44 Sixth Avenue, Cotton Tree | 5475 8989 www.gallery.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au

SUNSHINE COAST ART AND FRAMING GALLERY

UNTIL 13 JULY

MULTIPLE ARTISTS: SIDE HUSTLE

A celebration of the art and photography from the team.

24 JULY – 7 AUGUST

MULTIPLE ARTISTS: TRUE COLOURSHOME

An inclusive and empowering exhibition of works from young adults with disabilities and high functional needs.

26 SEPTEMBER – 10 OCTOBER

MULTIPLE ARTISTS: HIDDEN HEARTS

Explore local works where every $100 art piece comes framed with a surprise at the end, with proceeds going to Give Me 5 for Kids and Wishlist.

Shop E/3 Longwood St, Minyama 5444 0009 | www.artframes.com.au

UNISC ART GALLERY

UNTIL 18 JULY

NATALYA HUGHES: THE INTERIOR

Works that invites audiences into an exaggerated consultation room, playfully furnished for psychoanalysis, and asking the question: can we use the talking cure to solve society’s ‘problem’ with women?

AMANDA BENNETTS: FRAGMENTED, DIVIDED – YET WHOLE

Works that use time as both material and metric for understanding the body.

1 AUGUST – 17 OCTOBER

MULTIPLE ARTISTS: CORAL FUTURES

A range of poetic and speculative responses to coral.

90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs 5459 4645 | www.usc.edu.au/art-gallery

OPEN STUDIOS

SUNSHINE COAST

17 JULY - 26 JULY

An unforgettable ten days of creativity and discovery, when artists and galleries from across the region open their studios to the public. Read more on page 110. www.openstudiossunshinecoast.com.au

BUDERIM CRAFT COTTAGE

17 - 26 JULY

THE FIBRE ART & SURFACE DESIGN GROUP: CURATED COLOUR

A collection of two-and-threedimensional works exploring colour through diverse fibre techniques.

8 - 16 AUGUST, 9AM – 3PM

OPENING NIGHT: 7 AUGUST, 5PM - 7PM

MULTIPLE ARTISTS: ANNUAL ART EXPO

The Painting Group comprises of 50 members comprising a collection of original and local works.

5 Main Street, Buderim | 5450 1714 www.buderimcraftcottage.com.au

BENDIGO COMMUNITY BANK MARCOOLA

2 JULY - 13 AUGUST

POET AND WALU

Works from the children of renowned Indigenous artist Kurun Warun – Poet is a self-taught abstract artist using acrylics to capture the flow, movement, and natural beauty of the Australian landscape. While Walu is an emerging artist known for expressive, culturally rich paintings exploring connections to Country, waterholes, and healing.

13 AUGUST - 6 OCTOBER

SIMONE WOLOWIEC

Digital pop art and illustrations inspired by the Sunshine Coast. 1/930 David Low Way, Marcoola | 5448 8582

NOOSA OPEN STUDIOS

14-23 AUGUST

Explore the creative spaces of local artists and galleries in the Noosa region. See more on page 112 www.noosaopenstudios.com.au

CALOUNDRA REGIONAL GALLERY

3 JULY – 16 AUGUST

LORE AND LAND

An exhibition grounded in the deep cultural knowledge, ancestral connections, and sovereign rights of Australian First Nations peoples. See page 116 for more.

21 AUGUST – 11 OCTOBER

SUNSHINE COAST NATIONAL ART PRIZE 2026 FINALISTS EXHIBITION

Explore the 40 finalists’ artworks and vote in the People’s Choice Award

22 Omrah Avenue, Caloundra | 5420 8299 www.gallery.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au

COOLUM ART COLLECTIVE

ARTIST OF THE MONTH

JULY: SHARON MCCARTHY: ON THE TOWN

Works that celebrate the beauty in local landscapes and lifestyles.

AUGUST: JOHN N MASON: TURTLE 2

A collection of underwater works.

SEPTEMBER: CJ LUCUS: COASTAL SILENCE

WoRks inspired by nature, architecture and life experiences.

Coolum Civic Centre

2-4 Park Street, Coolum Beach www.coolumart.com.au

Tony Albert, Notorious B.E.L.L. 2006 LORE and LAND, Caloundra Regional Gallery

MOOD, TONE

and Texture

Design is a visual language, and with the introduction of Mocka to Maroochydoore Homemaker, Nicole May shows how to design your comfort zone with less noise and more intention.

We tend to trust our creative instincts when it comes to designing, and while our winters remain mild, there is an undeniable shift in the way we inhabit our homes. We move away from the airy, white-on-white aesthetics of summer and begin to crave comfort zones - by introducing a warmer colour palette, such as walnut, plum, and blush, and mastering the art of tonal layering, you can build significant depth in a room where every element feels carefully considered.

This winter, something new is coming to Maroochydore Homemaker to help you do that. That feeling of quality style in the home is being redefined with the grand opening of Australia’s first Mocka store. For years, Mocka has been an online destination, providing modern, affordable furniture to homes across the

country. However, the decision to open in Maroochydore marks a significant evolution for the brand.

Mocka CEO Catherine Williamson said Maroochydore Homemaker felt like the right place to begin this next chapter.

“The Sunshine Coast is home to so many young families, and there’s a relaxed, welcoming lifestyle here that feels very aligned with how we think about home,” she said. “We’ve spent years helping customers create spaces

So many people have been waiting to move beyond the digital screen and finally see for themselves the quality and design that has made Mocka such an online favourite.

they love online, so we’re excited to finally give them the chance to walk through those spaces in person – to see, touch and experience Mocka in a whole new way.”

The arrival of a physical Mocka store addresses a long-standing desire from Coast residents to visualise and feel the quality of pieces before they buy.

This is particularly important when it comes to the tactile nature of winter styling.

Mocka

Domayne Maroochydore

This season incorporates a depth of colour that resonates with the shorter days and cooler nights. We are even seeing a shift toward palettes of deep browns and rich greens - colours that ground a room and provide a sense of warmth.

Beyond the standard living and dining options, the store will feature funky nursery furniture and dedicated ranges for teens and tweens.

For parents looking to update a child’s bedroom into a cosy winter retreat, having these pieces available to view in person will help them re-evaluate their current layout with a few intentional pieces.

In-store, Mocka will offer a comprehensive selection of its most popular items, ranging from sculptural armchairs and plush sofas to functional buffets, cots, and stylish office desks.

For those ready for an interior change, a new sideboard, couch, or coffee table in rich walnut can serve as an elegant anchor for the room’s new tonal layers.

Maroochydore Homemaker is a visual gallery for any consumer. For those looking to create a literal focal point of warmth, Remarkable Outdoor Living offers unique gas heaters and fireplaces that can transform a patio or an indooroutdoor space into a year-round entertaining hub.

The seasonal shift doesn’t always mean more styling; rather, it means conscious styling. As the experts at Bed Bath N’ Table suggest, soft furnishings are the most effective way to change the feeling of a room. By swapping out lightweight summer linens for textured cushions, heavy-knit throws, and

For a complete home overhaul, Harvey Norman, Domayne, and Joyce Mayne are the beloved in-store names. Whether it’s a luxe new sofa from Domayne that invites movie-marathon Sundays, or the latest in heating technology and small appliances from Joyce Mayne and Harvey Norman to ensure the practicalities of winter living are met with high-end design.

Harvey Norman and Joyce Mayne are the perfect destinations for the small appliances that make a winter kitchenthink slow cookers and coffee machines that provide warmth from the inside.

Ultimately, the goal for this season is to create a home that supports how you want to feel each day. It is about making sure all the palettes work together - the deep greens of a new Mocka armchair complementing the rich textures of a Bed Bath N’ Table throw.

It’s about creating a space where the family can gather, whether that’s around a new fireplace from Remarkable Outdoor Living or a new dining set from Harvey Norman.

With Mocka joining the impressive lineup at Maroochydore Homemaker this July, the Sunshine Coast community has more resources than ever to design their

The ability to see these online favourites in person, combined with the extensive range across the existing twenty stores, means that this winter, you can design your home with confidence, incorporating rich textures and earthy tones, all layered with intention and a memorable in-store experience.

AN AUSTRALIAN FIRST

Mocka Grand Opening

Date: Saturday 18 July

Location: Maroochydore Homemaker

What it offers: Mocka’s first physical store on the Sunshine Coast provides an in-person service experience for a brand previously only available online. It fills a niche in the centre by offering:

• Unique Ranges: Dedicated furniture for younger teens and tweens, and funky nursery pieces.

• Trend-Driven Design: A focus on modern, affordable furniture that complements existing retailers like Domayne and Harvey Norman.

• In-Person Experience: The chance for customers to see the quality and textures in person before purchasing. Scan the QR code to explore Maroochydore Homemaker or visit Maroochydore Homemaker with free undercover parking at 11-55 Maroochy Boulevard, Maroochydore.

flannelette bedding, you not only drift off in comfort but also ensure your space feels cosy.

interior.

Mocka

Mocka

PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

In an era of endless scrolling and digital shopping carts, Nicole May finds out why visiting a showroom is the perfect way to bring your design to life.

FASHIONABLE & Functional

Tracy Wilkins

We have all been there. You are three hours deep into a late-night Pinterest spiral, your digital mood board is overflowing with minimalist chic and Hamptons farmhouse, and you are reasonably certain that a matte black tap is the answer to all your life’s problems. But then comes the doubt: Will that freestanding bath actually fit my frame? Is that stone-look basin actually durable, or just a clever filter?

According to one of the region’s longest-serving plumbing businesses, NCP, the ‘fashionisation’ of the home is a real phenomenon.

Gone are the days when a bathroom was merely a functional white box with six standard toilet options. Today, our homes - specifically the wet zones of kitchens, laundries, and bathrooms - are high-stakes design statements and major financial drivers for property value. Yet, as options become infinite, the process has become increasingly overwhelming.

“People are just drowning in choice,” says NCP’s Tracy Wilkins. “You can literally spend the next three months of your life trying to work out what vanity to use.”

This is where the legacy of a familyowned icon comes into play.

The NCP Group isn’t just another plumbing supplier; it is a foundational piece of the Sunshine Coast’s business history. Founded over 75 years ago by

the McDonald family, the company has evolved from a traditional plumbing supplier into a regional name with showrooms in Caloundra, Nambour, Maroochydore, Noosaville, and Gympie.

Tracy Wilkins, one of five siblings working for the business their father founded in Maroochydore in 1953, oversees a team of nearly 50 retail and plumbing experts, many of whom have been with the company for decades.

This isn’t just about plumbing as a trade; it’s about a wealth of industry knowledge that an algorithm can’t replicate.

“We can work with trades or DIY customers,” Tracy explains, dispelling the myth that high-end design is only for the elite. “We honestly work in all budgets.”

The core of NCP is its expansive showrooms, allowing clients to see, touch, and feel the texture and quality of the products before they buy, which is crucial for decision-making when designing a home. The physical item together with personalised service and advice – is something the digital world can’t replace.

“There is still some information that you just can’t find out online,” Tracy says. “For instance, looking at a bathtub, and wondering if you’re going to physically fit into it?

...the sensory details that dictate how a home feels to live in, not just how it looks in a photo.

“Well, in the showroom, you can climb in there and say, ‘yes, do I like the angle that the backrest is on? Does this toilet have a soft-close lid? What’s the texture like on that basin?’

“These are the sensory details that dictate how a home feels to live in, not just how it looks in a photo.”

In the showroom, the light reflects differently off a matte finish versus a shiny one, and the thickness of a basin’s rim becomes a tangible detail rather than a spec on a screen.

This tactile reassurance is vital because, unlike a feature wall you can repaint tomorrow, getting your plumbing fixtures wrong is an expensive, longterm mistake.

When it comes to trends, the staff at NCP are across the ever-changing movement of interior design, so yes, the showrooms are constantly evolving.

One of the most significant postpandemic shifts has been the rise of the electronic bidet toilet - a trend driven by

PHOTOS: IAN WALDIE

hygiene concerns and memories of travel experiences overseas.

“We would sell at least one a day now,” Tracy shares, noting that previously, they were a rarity. These high-end fixtures offer everything from heated seats to integrated drying systems, proving that the modern bathroom is becoming a sanctuary of technology and comfort.

Other must-have trends currently gracing the NCP showrooms include the laundry glow-up. No longer relegated to a dark corner, the laundry is now a much-deserved selling point, featuring pull-out clothes baskets, pop-out ironing boards, and cabinetry that matches the rest of the house and makes household chores feel extra luxe.

Then, there’s the butler’s pantry.

“Plumbing has moved into the pantry, with secondary sinks and dishwashers

now seen as standard for the modern entertainer,” Tracy says. “Plus, the new and notable pot filler, an Americaninspired luxury tap that sits over the stove to fill pots, blending industrial practicality with high-end style.”

The showroom also stages smart mirrors, including illuminated mirrors with integrated Bluetooth connectivity for music and built-in zoom for makeup application.

This is where the NCP in-person service is highly valuable, whether you are embarking on a restoration of a French Provincial farmhouse in the hinterland or a sleek minimalist new build in a beachfront apartment, the NCP team can work alongside architects and interior designers to ensure every doorknob and cabinetry handle matches your chosen tapware.

The process of a build can be inherently stressful, but the NCP approach is designed to provide reassurance. By walking through the showroom, you’ll be able to see and feel an abundance of international brands like Villeroy & Boch and local Australian favourites like Caroma, and this can help homeowners narrow down their choices.

“It’s about bringing that dream to life and getting it right for the next 10

years,” Tracy explained.

NCP showrooms aren’t just retail spaces; they are design hubs where family values meet international style, ensuring that every element of your restoration or build is perfectly paired and built to last.

NCP AT A GLANCE

Family-owned and operated on the Sunshine Coast since 1953.

• Five locations: Caloundra | Gympie | Maroochydore | Nambour | Noosaville

• Bathroom | Kitchen | Laundry | Trade

• From DIY to contractors, the team provides professional plumbing solutions and the latest international design trends. Expert advice with no pressure.

Scan the QR code to find your nearest showroom.

Bathrooms BEAUTIFUL

Say hello to your new favourite room in the house. Whether seeking bold or barely-there, bathrooms are part-sanctuary, part-showpiece - steamy, stylish and superb.

Tiles,

vanity and tapware are a winning trifecta to create the perfect space.

Apaiser Tembo round basin, NCP, ncpgroup.com.au

Babylon Crema Tumbled Marble Mosaic tile, Sunshine Living Tile & Stone, 5309 3936

The Rose + Rejuven8 Ritual Bath Tea is a therapeutic and serene experience, Ivory Collective Haus, Maleny. 0458 821 804.

Let the light in with

Argent Grace 2.0 Vessel Basin Mixer in Gun Metal, Grace Neu Vessel Basin in Stone White, NCP, ncpgroup.com.au

Sheer curtains by Peregian Curtains and Blinds, 0430 127 944

BATHROOM

Glacier All Drawers Skim Vanity, NCP,

Monte Carlo Honed Travertine tile, Sunshine Living Tile & Stone, 5309 3936

Bathroom design by Iziko Designs, 0435 068 565

Calatheas naturally grow in the shade of larger plants, making them great for bathrooms where they have plenty of indirect light, and regular steamy showers provide the high humidity levels they need to stay vibrant.

Other great plants to include in the bathroom are; Devil’s Ivy (Pothos), Peace Lily, Snake Plant and Zanzibar Gem (ZZ Plant)

The home was designed to embrace the natural light, including the bathroom spaces.

EXPLORE OUR FAMILY OWNED GARDEN CENTRE IN THE HEART OF BUDERIM

OPEN 7 DAYS

MONDAY - SATURDAY 8AM TO 5PM SUNDAY 9AM TO 4PM

Where plants are pleasure

GARDEN CENTRE & GIFT

Eumundi Hempcrete House bathroom design by Ecolibrium, 5442 8155

Fire

BY DESIGN

On the Sunshine Coast, winter is less about bracing against the cold and more about choosing to create warmth. Ida Fink Gundtoft turns to the experts at BBQ and Fireplace Centre.

There is something deceptive about winter on the Sunshine Coast. It doesn’t arrive with a cold snap or a sudden drop in temperature. Instead, it drifts in slowly, like an exhale after the long, salty days of summer. Mornings are crisp but golden, afternoons paint sunset stunners across the winter skies. And then, almost without warning, the light fades earlier and the thermostat drops–inviting us to gather, to slow, and to settle in around the fire.

Across the Coast, that expression looks different depending on where you reside. By the water, in the suburbs, or tucked into the hills of the hinterland, the season reveals itself through lifestyle as much as climate – and increasingly, through the presence of fire.

Along the coastline, where the ocean still holds the memory of summer beach days and the architecture leans into the clean and contemporary, fireplaces have

taken on a new form. Electric and gas designs are becoming a natural extension of modern homes – streamlined, architectural, and effortlessly ambient.

For Renee from BBQ and Fireplace Centre, fireplace choice reflects both place and lifestyle. There is no stacking of wood, no smoke curling into the night air, just the quiet flicker of flame set into stone or tile, often as much a design feature as a source of warmth.

“Coastal homes lean towards clean, architectural solutions designed for ambience without the need for wood or smoke,” she says.

This is a shift that local specialists like BBQ and Fireplace Centre have seen evolve in real time. With more than two decades of experience servicing the region, they’ve watched homeowners move toward solutions that prioritise both aesthetic and efficiency – electric, gas,

ethanol – each offering a different way to create warmth without compromising the relaxed, coastal lifestyle.

In these homes, winter evenings unfold with the doors still slightly ajar, the sound of the ocean not far off, and a glass of wine catching the last of the light.

The flicker of flames is not there out of necessity, but intention. It anchors the space, draws people in, and creates that subtle shift from day to evening that defines this special time of year.

In the hinterland, where suburban life meets generous backyards and open decks, the story becomes more social. Outdoor fireplaces and built-in features are extending the way people use their homes – turning terraces and gardens into year-round gathering spaces.

It’s no coincidence that outdoor living has become such a strong focus across the region. From built-in firepits to full outdoor kitchens, there’s a growing desire to blur the line between inside and out – something reflected in the expanding ranges of heating and outdoor solutions offered locally. Spaces are no longer designed just for summer entertaining, but for evenings that stretch deep into winter, shaped by firelight and conversation.

There is a particular kind of evening that feels unique to the Sunshine Coast –friends arriving barefoot, children moving between indoors and out, food prepared over the barbeque as the air cools. The fire becomes the centrepiece, not just visually, but socially. It stretches the night, encourages conversation and allows outdoor living to continue well beyond summer, shaped not by temperature but by ambience.

Here, the season finds a more traditional rhythm. Mornings can arrive wrapped in clouds, and the sun, when it breaks through, feels earned. This is where wood-burning fireplaces are not just aesthetic choices; they are part of daily life. They warm homes in a way that is steady and grounding, cutting through the damp, cool air.

There is a practicality to them too. Wood-burning fireplaces and cookers offer an efficiency that speaks to the realities of rising energy costs, while also helping to keep homes dry – an important consideration in regions where moisture lasts a little longer than wanted.

“Wood burning fireplaces and cookers are highly efficient over other fuels,” Renee says.

Beyond that, they hold something less tangible. A wood fire changes the pace of

a home. It asks you to tend to it, to build it, to sit with it. It becomes a ritual as much as a resource.

For me, this way of living with fire feels deeply familiar. Growing up in Denmark, fireplaces were part of everyday life. Lit on summer evenings as much as in winter, creating a sense of comfort and connection that went beyond temperature. The fire was always the centre of the room, a place people naturally gravitated towards. Some of my fondest memories are framed by that glow. Conversations that lasted late into the night, the quiet crackle of wood, the feeling of being held in a space that was both warm and calm. That sense of cosiness, of atmosphere, of presence, is something echoed here on the Sunshine Coast, just in a different language. Winter, in this part of the world, is not about retreating indoors or enduring the elements.

It’s about enhancing the way we already live. It’s about recognising that as the evenings cool, there is an opportunity to slow down, to gather, and to create spaces that feel intentional.

Whether it’s the clean line of an electric fireplace in a coastal living room, the open invitation of an outdoor fire, or the steady warmth of a wood-burning stove, each expression reflects not just a climate, but a way of life.

A Sunshine Coast winter doesn’t ask much of us. It doesn’t demand heavy coats or long hibernation. Instead, it offers something quieter – cooler nights, lingering days, and the chance to shape our own sense of warmth.

And more often than not, it begins with a spark of energy, thoughtfully chosen, beautifully placed, and brought to life with the guidance of the local experts at BBQ and Fireplace Centre.

LIGHT MY FIRE!

However you experience winter on the Sunshine Coast, there’s a fireplace to match your lifestyle. From designled solutions for inside the home to outdoor entertaining and hinterland living, BBQ and Fireplace Centre offers a curated range of heating solutions to suit every space.

Wood – Traditional, powerful and grounding. Ideal for hinterland homes, offering efficient heat, reduced moisture, and that unmistakable crackle and glow.

Gas – Instant warmth at the touch of a button. Clean-burning and convenient, perfect for effortless indoor comfort.

Electric – Sleek, modern and low-maintenance. A design-forward solution delivering ambience without smoke or installation complexity.

Ethanol – Flexible and flue-free. A stylish option for adding warmth and atmosphere in spaces where traditional fireplaces aren’t possible. Shop the full range with expert advice at BBQ and Fireplace Centre. www.bbqandfireplace.com

Magic

MADE-TO-MEASURE

From cruise ships and grand hotels to Coolum’s industrial estate, Melanie Moore has stitched together a Sunshine Coast success story that proves skilled craftsmanship and collaboration will always be in style, writes Deb Caruso

Step through the doors of Peregian Curtains and Blinds and you’re greeted by the possibility of what could be to the soundtrack of a soft rustle of fabric, the hum of sewing machines and the low murmur of ideas being brought to life.

Bolts of fabrics and textiles line the walls, rug designs beckon and sample books brim with prints and textures sourced from around the world. This is where window dressings and soft furnishings stop being an afterthought and start to shape how a space looks, feels and functions.

At the centre is Creative Director Melanie Moore, who still measures, designs and – when needed – jumps on the workroom floor to demonstrate the kind of meticulous stitching she learned

decades ago in London.

“There’s no formal training for soft furnishings anymore,” she said. “I’ve had to train my own team from scratch because what we do is a dying trade –but the demand for handmade, longlasting curtains and blinds has never been stronger.”

Melanie’s introduction to high-end textiles came via a British company that specialised in refits for cruise ships and iconic London hotels such as The Savoy and The Ritz. There, she mastered interlined silk curtains, hand-stitched hems and the sort of invisible detail that makes fabric fall just so. Those skills travelled with her as family life and her husband’s work took them from England to Holland, Belgium, New Zealand and Melbourne before finally landing on the Sunshine Coast.

“Wherever we went, I found ways to keep sewing, keep learning and keep creating,” she said.

Today, Peregian Curtains and Blinds is very much a family affair. Melanie’s husband Steve lends entrepreneurial flair behind the scenes and two of their four daughters have learned the craft, with one forging her own path as an interior designer whose award submissions proudly feature pieces made in the Coolum workroom.

If there’s a common thread through Melanie’s story, it’s a refusal to compromise on craftsmanship. While many window furnishings are now churned out overseas, every curtain, blind and cushion that bears the Peregian Curtains and Blinds name is cut, sewn and finished in-house by a tight-knit team of seamstresses.

“We’re not pressing a button on a

If you can dream it, we can make it...

robot machine,” she said. “We’re working with our hands, one stitch at a time, so our clients know exactly who made their pieces and how.”

That focus on quality doesn’t mean the showroom is only for those with limitless budgets. Melanie is adamant that good design should be accessible, so alongside artisan wallpapers and hand-carved Armadillo rugs in silk and wool, you’ll find reliable, well-priced sheers and Warwick’s Weave rug collection to help deliver the look without blowing the budget. Sometimes a client will invest in a hero rug or statement fabric, then build the rest of the scheme around more affordable options that still look and feel beautiful.

The product range is broad: custom curtains; Roman and roller blinds; plantation shutters; awnings; and marine-grade outdoor solutions that can stand up to Sunshine Coast sun and salt, plus cushions, bespoke upholstery, wallpapers and rugs. The team can even help you design and order sun umbrellas from coastal brand Three Beaches, choosing everything from fabric and trim to scallop detail for a personalised poolside moment.

Where the experience really comes alive is in the way clients are guided through the process. You can book an in-home visit where Melanie or a team member will assess your space, check fabric options against your walls and lighting, and take the time to understand how you live – pets, kids, privacy needs,

Melanie & Steve Moore

room orientation, all of it.

“I’m always thinking about practicality,” Melanie said. “Washable fabrics for busy families, wipe-down wallpapers for high-traffic areas, insulated curtains or UV blockout blinds if energy efficiency is a priority.”

Those who love to see and touch everything can make an appointment at the Coolum showroom – a design playground where interior designers, builders and homeowners alike can spread samples across large workbenches to build their schemes from the ground up. Collaboration is strong with tiles and stone samples from neighbouring businesses, kitchen finishes, carpet swatches and paint chips all laid out alongside fabric and wallpaper options so that it all works together from day one.

Behind the scenes, Melanie keeps a close eye on international trends, particularly the annual Déco Off design event in Paris, which she describes as an art trail for interiors. Right now, the future looks richly textured and warmly coloured, with bold patterns, large-scale prints and wallpapers that double as artwork; decorative trims, frills and tassels; and deep shades of brown and mulberry emerging alongside neutrals.

“People are moving away from flat, all-white spaces and embracing layers – pattern, texture, depth,” she says.

Sustainability is another focus. Beyond choosing durable, high-performance fabrics that stand the test of time, the workroom avoids single-use plastic; instead, offcuts are sewn into sturdy fabric bags and wraps used to transport curtains, tracks and other pieces, which are then reused.

On the energy front, clients can choose motorised blinds and curtain tracks that link to a smart hub and sync with voice assistants to automate daily routines – opening in winter to welcome the morning sun, closing in summer before the heat hits, or lowering at dusk when no one is home.

For Melanie, teaching is as important as making. She has formal training and assessment qualifications and brings a structured approach into the workroom. New staff start with the basics, gradually building their skills and responsibilities under her watchful eye, keeping traditional techniques alive while giving the next generation of makers a future in the industry.

From a single room refresh to a whole-house fitout or a commercial project with serious design credentials, Peregian Curtains and Blinds offers a rare combination of old-school skill, contemporary design smarts and genuine care for how people live in their spaces.

As Melanie puts it: “If you can dream it, we can make it –beautifully, thoughtfully and built to last.”

PATTERNS, TEXTURE, TECH: WHAT’S IN FOR 2026

• Patterns are back: From statement wallpapers to patterned sheers, large-scale prints and mural-style designs are turning walls and windows into artwork.

• Deep, earthy colour: Think browns and mulberry teamed with greens, stone and marble-inspired neutrals for depth without overwhelming the room.

• Details that delight: Frills, trims and tassels on cushions, curtains and upholstery, adding personality and movement.

• Tactile textiles: Heavy embossing, textured weaves and handcarved rugs create layers you can see and feel - ideal for relaxed living zones and bedrooms.

• Smart shade solutions: Motorised blinds, linked to a smart hub and your phone, make it easy to manage light, privacy and temperature with a tap or voice command.

Email Melanie at info@peregiancurtainsandblinds.com.au or call 0430 127 944 to book a showroom appointment!

Custom Curtains, Blinds, Shutters and Furnishings

Our team create hand-crafted soft furnishing right here on the Sunshine Coast. Browse our extensive collections in our beautiful showroom. Peregian Curtains and Blinds will infuse luxury and quality into your home and commercial projects.

Elodie Rose Interiors

Elevated Living HIGH FREQUENCY

There is a lifestyle movement reshaping fashion, interiors, travel and wellness culture and Carlie Wacker discovers a local brand that is leading the charge.

Welcome to the world of high-frequency living where luxury is no longer just about how something looks; it is about how it feels.

The spaces we create, the clothing we wear and the rituals we surround ourselves with are increasingly designed to elevate mood, energy and wellbeing.

Once considered niche or alternative wellness language, ‘high frequency’ has become part of the modern wellness conversation and I am here for it.

The idea centres around embracing environments, habits and products that encourage feelings of calm, joy, clarity and emotional balance.

In a world overloaded with noise, stress and digital fatigue, people are searching for experiences that feel grounding, restorative and intentional.

It is why fashion is softening. Why homes are becoming sanctuaries. Why travel is more mindful - and why fragrance has evolved beyond perfume and into a soulful ritual.

At the forefront of this shift are Luxe Candle Co and The Frequency Collection, a Sunshine Coast brand embracing the idea that scent, space and energy are deeply connected.

Led by Founder Meagen Kwiatkowski the brand’s philosophy is rooted in the belief that luxury should not only look beautiful but also enhance the emotional atmosphere of a home.

Candles, mists, teas and crystalinfused products are designed to transform everyday moments into grounding rituals.

The rise of high-frequency living reflects a broader cultural shift

replacing purely aesthetic decorating trends.

High-frequency living taps into all of these ideas. It blends beauty with feeling. Style with atmosphere. Wellness with design.

happening across industries.

In fashion, consumers are gravitating towards tactile fabrics, earthy palettes and pieces that feel emotionally comforting rather than performative.

Soft tailoring, flowing silhouettes, natural fibres and sensory textures like boucle, silk and linen have replaced rigid glamour. In interiors, homes are evolving into personal wellness retreats.

Minimal clutter, layered textures, warm lighting and fragrance rituals are

Consumers are no longer styling homes purely for appearance, they are curating emotional environments.

A fragrance can energise a space, create calm, inspire focus or evoke nostalgia within seconds.

This is where brands like Luxe Candle Co and The Frequency Collection are resonating with modern consumers. Their products sit at the intersection of wellness, design and sensory living.

I have long practiced the ritual of lighting a scented candle each evening as a signal to sign off and unwind.

I think that is the appeal of highfrequency luxury philosophy, it celebrates the conscious rituals like lighting that candle at the end of the day, preparing herbal tea or resetting a room with fragrance.

These small conscious acts create moments of pause within busy lives.

This shift has been accelerated by the wellness movement, the rise of nervous system awareness and a growing desire for homes and wardrobes that feel nurturing.

Even in fashion editorials and lifestyle campaigns, there is a noticeable move towards softness, nature, grounding colours and sensory storytelling.

High-frequency living taps into all of these ideas. It blends beauty with feeling. Style with atmosphere. Wellness with design.

For Luxe Candle Co and The Frequency Collection, this philosophy is woven through every detail in products from crystal-inspired candles to fragrances designed to shift mood and energy within a space.

The brand reflects a new era of luxury where emotional and energetic connection matters just as much as craftsmanship.

To create the highest frequency sanctuary at home, start with Luxe Candle Co and The Frequency Collection products. Grande, Uniqueness and Opulence are absolute best sellers!

The Nurture tea made with organic herbs of lavender, rosehip, peppermint, brahmi, black cohosh, cinnamon and vibrational flower essence calm the nervous system; and any one of the gorgeous individually handcrafted candles with crystals infused with the highest frequency will transform any space.

Add to the list of winter essentials for a calming abode the Ritual bath teas and Magnesium premium bath salts to soak into a warm bliss and Hemp seed concentrate to rehydrate your skin.

Take a deep breath and sink into a slower more intentional way of living with Luxe Candle Co and The Frequency Collection.

Find your frequency and more at Ivory Collective Haus in Maple Street, Maleny or discover more online at www.thefrequencycollection.com

Beauty

FROM EVERY ANGLE

Beachside land on the Sunshine Coast is scarce, and the few new estates that do appear often sit on steep, sloping blocks that send nervous buyers scrambling, worried about budget blow-outs before they’ve even begun.

But for Iziko Designs, a boutique custom building design studio owned by building designer Rustin Obery and his wife Bernadette, tricky blocks aren’t a deterrent, they’re an invitation.

“People are often put off from buying sloping land because they’re afraid of the unknown and extra costs,” Bernadette says. “But sloping sites aren’t a problem. They’re an opportunity. You just need the right team from the start.”

Iziko Designs has carved out a niche where many building designers and architects hesitate. Rustin and Bernadette view sloping blocks as a chance to design homes that feel anchored to the land, capturing views and breezes flat sites simply can’t offer.

Equally important is keeping a homeowner’s dream grounded in reality and in budget. Too often, clients abandon projects or leave them halffinished because costs spiralled out of control.

“So many clients come to us after having a beautiful but unrealistic design done somewhere else,” Bernadette says. “They loved the look, but no one could build it. And no one spoke about budget

Sloping sites aren’t a problem. They’re an opportunity. You just need the right team from the start.

upfront. That is why we bring the builder in early to discuss what’s possible, it avoids disappointment later.”

Simply, Iziko Designs doesn’t produce extravagant concepts that look good on paper but never get built. They design homes that will be built and built well.

And they work with their clients to ensure their dream matches the reality.

“We work closely with our clients to ensure every detail is tailored to their needs,” Rustin says.

The couple have focused on developing a deep understanding of local building codes, regulations and construction costs, allowing them to create homes without hassles.

Many builds can blow budgets before construction ends, but Iziko Designs ensure that designs are aligned with real costs from day one.

To achieve this, they work closely with a select group of trusted builders,

especially for sloping blocks.

“These builders understand the complexities of excavation, retaining, drainage and access long before construction begins,” Bernadette explains.

This early collaboration allows Iziko Designs to give clients clarity fast.

“People want to know what they’re in for,” Bernadette says.

“We can quickly establish a budget with about 95% accuracy because we’re working with builders who know the process inside out.”

One of the few housing estates close to the beach still offering new builds is Coolum Horizons, just minutes from Coolum Beach and the vibe of Coolum village.

The estate includes level and sloping homesites, but it’s the slopes that particularly excite Rustin.

“They create opportunities for splitlevel homes, better layouts, and more interesting design,” he says.

The couple love the estate and the potential of its sloping sites so much, they’re building their own family home there.

For each design, Rustin takes time to walk the block first, understanding its unique orientation, breezes, access, and the natural features that will enhance a home before committing to a concept.

PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

Steep blocks don’t have to spell disaster. Kathy Sundstrom meets a couple turning challenging slopes into stunning, custom designed homes perfectly shaped to the land.

To help clients then visualise what’s possible and see it through Rustin’s experienced eyes, Iziko Designs uses detailed 3D renders that show exactly how a home will sit within the slope and capture its outlook.

Their approach is always grounded in practicality so that clients can build what they design, not just dream about it.

It is this simple, practical, and holistic philosophy that is earning Iziko Designs a loyal following across the Sunshine Coast with design projects on the go in

Noosa, Tewantin, Coolum, the hinterland, and beyond.

Coast for more than 30 years, and Rustin for nearly a decade.

Their clients range from those with multimillion-dollar budgets to far more modest means, all looking to use expertise in shaping a property that is personal.

“We treat everyone the same,” Rustin says. “We help people create homes that suit their land, lifestyle, and budget.

“With sloping sites, this does not have to be scary. It can be spectacular.”

Bernadette has lived on the Sunshine

Their connection to the region is personal, and it shows in their work.

“We love this place,” Bernadette says. “Designing homes that belong here is what drives us.”

As the Sunshine Coast continues to grow, sloping blocks will become more common.

For Iziko Designs, that is not a challenge. It is an opportunity ready to be explored.

Bernadette and Rustin Obery

What if your home could be kinder on the planet – and feel better to live in? Charlie Shelley explores the benefits of sustainable building.

SUSTAINABLE

Sanctuaries

There’s a particular feeling Brett Grimley is chasing with every home he designs. It’s the moment a client walks through their front door after a long day, takes a breath, and thinks: “It’s so good to be home.”

For Brett, that moment is the whole point. And for the past 20 years, his Eumundi-based practice, Ecolibrium Designs, has been quietly making it happen – one considered, sustainablybuilt home at a time.

Brett’s passion for sustainability started in the rainforests of Far North Queensland, where childhood days spent outdoors fostered a bone-deep connection to the natural world.

After school, he spent a decade in Brisbane working as a freelance draftsperson on multi-residential, developer-driven projects across some of South East Queensland’s fastest-growing corridors. It paid the bills, but something nagged at him.

“I became more and more frustrated with it,” Brett says. “Working for architects on bigger commercial and multi-residential projects, it just didn’t have any soul to it for me.”

Needing a change, he headed back up north and completed a science degree at James Cook University.

It was a turning point. Steeped in research on what human activity was doing to the planet, Brett found himself at once alarmed and galvanised into action.

“I was exposed to the urgency of it,” he says. “We were seriously heading in a very bad direction, and I felt a really strong need to try and be part of the solution.”

Realising scientific research wasn’t his calling, he pivoted back to design – this

time working alongside multi-awardwinning house designer Chris Vandyke in Cairns, whose holistic approach to residential architecture reignited Brett’s love of the craft.

When Brett eventually relocated to the Sunshine Coast hinterland with his family, he felt the need to continue pursuing his passion for sustainable, climate-responsive design – and just like that, Ecolibrium Designs was born.

So what does a sustainably designed home look like in practice?

From the outside, it might surprise you. There’s no singular aesthetic, no obligatory rammed-earth wall or green roof overflowing with vegetation.

What Ecolibrium homes have in common is something less visible but far more valuable: they’re designed to perform.

Orientation is the first and most critical design decision – positioning your home so that it blocks out the sweltering summer sun while still allowing winter sun in for warmth.

Then natural ventilation – capturing prevailing breezes and drawing them through the home. And then materials – choosing environmentally-friendly products that create what Brett calls “the esky effect”, a well-insulated, well-sealed building envelope that holds a stable internal temperature without the need for air conditioning.

“The better you make the actual structure of the building, the less solar you need, the less air conditioning you need,” Brett says. “The higher the thermal performance, the more comfortable it is for people to live in, and the cheaper it is to run.”

He recalls one of his early designs at the Currumbin Eco Village. The clients’ only complaint? That he’d installed ceiling fans. The home was so well insulated it stayed comfortable yearround – meaning they never once switched them on.

Brett’s test for any building material is refreshingly straightforward: what happens if you threw it in the bush? What does it look like in a year? In five years? In 100? If it dissolves into microplastics, that’s a hard no. But if it eventually becomes soil, then it might just be the sort of thing he’s looking for.

The design process itself goes deep. Before a single line is drawn, Ecolibrium clients engage in an extensive briefing process that Brett describes as being built around the idea of “enoughness”.

The goal is to build exactly what the client needs in order to achieve the lifestyle they desire; no more and no less. Learning what clients hold dear is essential.

“We ask them how they want to feel in the kitchen, how they want to feel in different spaces,” Brett says.

“It’s a values-led process rather than a prescriptive one.

“Because the bigger the building, the higher the cost. Often, that means working harder to pay for the home and having less time to enjoy the fulfilling lifestyle it was intended to enable.”

It’s an approach that demands honesty from both designer and client. But the results speak for themselves. Job number 380-something is currently on the books.

Brett jokes that he doesn’t get repeat customers, but he does get lifelong ones: the kind who’d welcome him in for a cup of tea and happily talk about how much they love their home.

For those eager to expand their knowledge of sustainable building, Ecolibrium Designs now offers small-

group talks and workshops to raise awareness about the options available.

“I only have 15 or so clients a year, which is maybe 30 people,” Brett says.

“But I’ve got 35 years of knowledge –20 years of intensive, sustainabilitybased knowledge – and I have an enormous feeling of responsibility to share it.

“I want to inspire people and help them see that sustainable building is within their reach – it’s not too hard or too expensive, it’s truly achievable and affordable.”

Asked what he’d say to someone who’s unsure whether they should invest in building sustainably, Brett doesn’t reach for statistics or scare tactics.

Instead, he poses a simple question:

if you were living in the house you decided to build in five years’ time, and you could look back and choose between the sustainable path and the conventional one, which route would you wish you’d taken?

“You only get one chance to get the bones of a house right,” he says.

“You can change floor tiles, you can change kitchens – but you can’t change how it’s fundamentally built without enormous expense.

“Get that right, and in five years’ time you’ll be grateful. Because that’s what gives you a comfortable home. And that’s what it’s all about, really – human comfort.”

Ultimately, the story of Ecolibrium Designs is about choosing better, from the ground up.

After 20 years in business, the practice is still finding new and exciting ways to answer the same question: how do we make homes that people love now, and that still make sense for the world they will live in later?

Visit www.ecolibrium.com.au to learn more about how Brett and his team can help you build your dream home, and follow Ecolibrium Designs on Facebook and Instagram for information on upcoming talks, workshops and more.

Multi-award winning Sustainable Building Design

Team FINELY TUNED

John Caruso meets a couple who aren’t just selling property - they’re building a team designed to make moving feel calmer, clearer and more rewarding. In the world of Formula One, the driver is the face on the billboard. But he doesn’t change his own tyres or monitor the telemetry. He drives.

Around him are the engineers, strategists and pit crew who make the performance possible. Take one away, and the whole thing slows down, or stops.

Melissa Schembri and Daniel Rees know this better than most. The pair behind Queensland Sotheby’s International Realty Maroochydore are devoted F1 fans, and it’s more than a weekend habit. When they sat down with their business coach late last year to map out an ambitious plan for 2026 and beyond, the language they reached for came straight from the pit lane.

“We wanted a high-performing team, like a Formula One team. You can have the best driver in the world, but if there isn’t an amazing team behind them, none of it matters,” says Dan.

The analogy has a practical origin. In 1999, doctors at London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital studied Ferrari’s pit crew to improve patient handovers from theatre to ICU.

The lesson was not speed, but clarity: defined roles, sequenced movements and calm communication under pressure.

Mel and Dan heard the story at a conference, and it stayed with them. Real estate does not carry the stakes of neonatal surgery, but sellers and buyers are still under pressure. Vendors are balancing major financial decisions, family, deadlines and the emotion of leaving a home. Buyers are trying to make confident decisions in a market that is constantly changing.

That care often begins before a home is even listed. For Mel and Dan, the first conversation is rarely just about price.

So many homeowners reach a point where the home they once loved no longer fits the way they live. Mel and Dan’s role is to help sellers understand what is possible, and to show them that

the next chapter can be carefully planned, not rushed.

Once a seller is ready to take that next step, Molly Bellemore becomes central to the experience. Her title - Client Experience Manager - doesn’t fully capture the role.

Molly’s background is executive assistance, and it shows. From the moment a property is appraised, she becomes the point of contact between the vendor and everyone else - trades, photographers, stylists, removalists. She coordinates quotes, manages timelines, and turns what can feel like an overwhelming list into a clear plan.

Mel and Dan have built a trusted network of tradespeople; Molly is the one who gets them coordinated and working.

“People don’t have the time to book the trades, or they want someone else to handle it. It’s like having your own Executive Assistant to guide the process along,” says Molly.

“A real estate agent’s job is not one job. There are so many moving parts. The clearer the process is behind the scenes, the more supported the client feels at every stage,” says Mel.

The service runs deeper than logistics. Mel and Dan have built their reputation on a straightforward premise: a premium product, presented with a premium service, will achieve a premium result.

That means properties arrive at market with maintenance resolved, cosmetics upgraded, and obvious buyer objections already answered.

“We show vendors the case studies time and time again. You spend $10,000 or $20,000, you’ll get back $50,000 to $150,000,” Dan explains.

But the value is not only in the numbers. It is in the confidence a seller feels when their home is ready. The hesitation often disappears once vendors understand they are not being left to chase a painter, source quotes or manage the preparation alone.

A real estate agent’s job is not one job. There are so many moving parts. The clearer the process is behind the scenes, the more supported the client feels at every stage.

“Clients walk into their own house after the work’s done and say, ‘I wish we’d lived like this the whole time.’

“When they say that, we know we’ve nailed it,” says Mel.

On the buyer side, Tammy Rilstone supports Mel and Dan with one of the biggest parts of the process: managing buyer enquiry and helping buyers move with confidence. A former accountant with 20 years’ experience across real estate, accounting and financial services, Tammy brings both commercial insight and calm follow-up to the role. Her title of Sales Executive and Buyer’s Advocate reflects the dual nature of the role: part trusted adviser, part guide, helping buyers move from hesitation to confidence.

Buyer behaviour has changed too. Mel

Back Row: Teena Barker, Molly Bellemore. Front Row: Alana Boulton, Daniel Rees, Melissa Schembri, Tammy Rilstone.

and Dan will tell you buyers browse online, they’re wary of giving out their number, and they want to move at their own pace. But they still need guidance, and every enquiry matters.

Together, Tammy, Mel and Dan make sure buyers are followed up, understood and supported through the decisionmaking process. They ask the right qualifying questions, listen for what buyers want - which is sometimes different from what they think they want - and help them work through hesitation so they can put forward an offer with confidence.

“A property might be 95% of what they’re looking for but there might be one thing that bothers them,” Tammy explains. “We can usually fix that. A buyer who may have talked themselves

out of it often comes around.”

The word Mel uses for this is ‘dissolving’ - dissolving the resistance that buyers build up when they can’t see past a flaw.

For buyers, that can mean recognising possibility instead of walking away. For sellers, it means the right buyer is not lost because of a hesitation that could have been resolved.

Together, with Molly Bellemore, Tammy Rilstone, Teena Barker and Alana Boulton, the team operates in the way the pit crew analogy suggests a highperforming team should: clear roles and shared focus on the result.

Mel and Dan lead the strategy, negotiations with buyers and sellers, relationships and the standard of service

on every listing to ensure the best result. The team around them simply means every client receives more care, more attention and more clarity at each stage.

For Mel and Dan, the point is to make real estate feel held: sellers supported, buyers guided, and every move easier, calmer and handled with the care it deserves. With a local team and the strength of a global network, Queensland Sotheby’s International Realty Maroochydore puts their sellers in the strongest possible position to sell well.

FIND OUT MORE

Visit the team at “The Corso” Shop 1/6 Sunshine Coast Parade, Maroochydore, phone 5222 4222 or scan the QR code to find out more.

John Caruso discovers the magic in building a brand-new coastal community from scratch.

Start A FRESH

It’s a special feeling to be part of something before the story has been told and the narrative established; to literally build a community from the ground up.

At Sunrise Beach Village that means the paint is still fresh, daily life is still establishing a rhythm, nobody’s claimed a favourite seat in the communal lounge and that fresh ‘new car’ smell lingers. Everything is ready for new experiences and memories to be made.

As Village Manager at Keyton’s newest community, Sunrise Beach Village, Carrie Woods is in the middle of it all.

“Opening a new location along with those foundation residents mean you grow it together, you’re not just stepping into an established community,” she explains.

‘Growing it together’ is a phrase that sits at the centre of what makes Sunrise Beach Village’s current chapter exciting.

becomes for the future.

That thread of being part of something from the very beginning is one Carrie keeps returning to. It’s not hard to understand why. There’s a belonging that comes from having been there when something started. Foundation residents here aren’t arriving to join someone else’s story. They’re writing their own.

She didn’t arrive to maintain something another person had spent years establishing. She arrived to a fresh start. For her, it’s a meaningfully different job, and one she chose deliberately.

“There’s a very relaxed coastal resort feel about this place, that’s the first thing you notice,” she says. “Then the wonder and excitement of discovering and defining what we want the community to be.”

It’s an observation echoed by the first residents who agree that Sunrise Beach Village offers new beginnings, full of possibility - somewhere you choose to be, rather than somewhere you land due to circumstance.

The residents living at Grasstree Court haven’t arrived at a community with its habits already formed and friendships already cemented. They’ve come in alongside a team that’s also finding its footing, learning the building, working out the ropes in real time.

This is the part that rarely gets told. We hear about what retirement living can look like once it’s humming - the social clubs, the morning teas, the rhythms of a community that’s had years to settle.

We hear less about the blank canvas stage: where new discoveries are made en masse and the relationships and rhythm that will define the place are still in their first steps.

At Sunrise Beach Village, that canvas is taking shape quickly. A residents’ committee has formed and meets monthly, something Carrie speaks about with genuine enthusiasm.

What tends to get overlooked in conversations about retirement villages is that the staff are on the same foundational journey. Carrie didn’t just arrive to open a building. She arrived to build an operations team from scratch, a group of people charged with running a location that was still working out, day by day, what running it looked like.

“Building the team is a journey in itself because we’ve all come in fresh to establish processes and procedures and put everything in place,” Carrie says.

“You need to know and understand the differences between village designs. How do we conduct a fire evacuation? How does the lift work? How does the key system work? There’s a lot of things to plan, discover and tune.”

Everyone is writing the reference points in real time and fit-for-purpose.

For Carrie, that atmosphere isn’t just a backdrop, it’s a foundation to build on.

Before arriving at Sunrise Beach Village, Carrie was managing an already established community at a Keyton Village in Brisbane, complete with all the processes, rhythms and rituals that years of settled life bring.

The contrast between stepping into something that has already found its stride and stepping into a brand-new village was a fundamentally different experience.

“We assisted them with getting that underway and developing that, which is exciting,” she says. “I also meet with them to talk about village life, things that are happening and things we can work on together.”

Week by week, the village is growing. The arrival of new residents is a nearweekly occurrence, and with Stage 3 yet to launch, the community is still very much in its opening chapter.

The friendships forming now, the habits taking root, the small rituals being established, these are the things that will define what Sunrise Beach Village

This is what a legacy looks like in its earliest days. Not a plaque on a wall or a name above a door.

A group of people, staff and residents alike, who will one day be able to say they were there when it all started. When the first friendships were struck. When the residents’ committee held its first meetings. When the team learned the building and the building began, slowly, to feel like home.

At Sunrise Beach Village, the paint is still fresh, the lawns are green and gardens are blooming, and the story is well and truly underway.

PHOTO: IAN WALDIE

Carrie Woods talks with a resident

SCOUTING THE

Dream

Navigating the property market can feel overwhelming. Jodie Cameron chats with a local duo making buying easier, smarter and far more successful…

We’ve all been there – the endless scroll of online listings, the heartbreak of missing out, and the inspections that turn an exciting milestone into a second job. But what if buying your dream home or next investment could actually be enjoyable?

Bronwen Stacey, Founder of boutique buyers’ agency Home Scouts gives buyers clarity, confidence and an insider’s edge. Whether the move is imminent or years away, Bron helps clients turn ‘what ifs’ into smart investments and take the plunge sooner than they thought possible.

“Most people are familiar with real estate agents who work for the seller,” Bron says. “A buyers agent works exclusively for you. In a market where the best properties often sell before they even hit the internet, we’re the difference between scrolling old listings and getting the keys to an off-market gem.”

Home Scouts operates across the Sunshine Coast and in Brisbane, built on a partnership that cannot be manufactured.

Bron and colleague Sandra Connors have been friends for over 35 years – a bond forged in the schoolyard at Somerville House. That lifetime of shared

...we’re the difference between scrolling old listings and getting the keys to an off-market gem.

values and mutual trust is precisely what puts their clients in safe hands. Bron brings deep local knowledge of the Coast; while Sandra holds an expert pulse on the Brisbane market.

Together, they offer a dual perspective that demystifies the entire process. They aren’t just finding houses – they’re scouting a future that fits.

That instinct is rooted in lived experience on both sides. Bron grew up in Brisbane with a mother who worked as a town planner – afternoons spent among development plans at city council offices gave her an early, intuitive feel for how places grow and change.

After relocating to the Sunshine Coast 15 years ago, she gained something equally valuable: a first-hand understanding of how priorities shift once the holiday glow fades and real life begins.

“Moving to the Coast showed me how expectations translate – or don’t – once people make the move,” she says. “That lived experience helps our clients buy with clarity, not just excitement.”

Sandra brings a complementary lens. Having grown up renovating and moving homes with her family, she understands how property decisions shape lifestyle across decades, and the realities buyers are leaving behind – career pressures and long commutes.

Together, they help clients look beyond the obvious.

While many buyers focus on beach proximity, views, and how a property feels during a short stay, Home Scouts encourages a broader view – one that considers how a home functions yearround and across different life stages.

“Storage, layout, privacy, maintenance, community feel, and long-term resale appeal all matter,” Sandra says. “Those less glamorous details are often what protect both lifestyle and value over time.”

It’s a more grounded approach than most buyers expect. I’ve built and bought several properties over the years, but I’ll admit: I always assumed buyers agents were for high-flying interstate investors

PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

or the ultra-wealthy. It’s a common myth Bron and Sandra are determined to dismantle.

“A buyers agent is for anyone who wants to buy well,” Bron says. “Whether you’re a local looking for an investment property, or a visitor chasing a holiday home, we provide the technical due diligence and negotiation power that levels the playing field.”

For the holidaymaker reading this over a morning coffee; three days in – salt still in your hair, pausing in front of a real estate agent’s window – it might start as a whim. But in a market this fast-moving, turning that feeling into reality requires an edge.

While you enjoy your holiday, Home Scouts does the legwork; filtering the noise, attending inspections, and making sure you don’t pay a premium fuelled by holiday emotion.

It’s that grounded thinking that underpins one of Home Scouts’ most useful tools: the ‘Tuesday Test’.

Rather than assessing a property on the high of a sunny weekend inspection, Bron and Sandra stress-test every opportunity against the reality of an ordinary Tuesday in August – asking whether the location, layout, and

liveability hold up when the café is quiet and the beach is empty.

“We examine long-term scarcity, infrastructure trajectory, and the fundamentals that drive genuine growth, Sandra says. “The things emotion tends to gloss over, and the things that matter most when it’s time to sell.”

If you’re overwhelmed by the where and how, think of a buyers agent as your professional shield. Trusted locally and accredited by Australia’s peak buyer’s agent associations REBAA and PIPA –Bron and Sandra offer the continuity, care, and insider’s knowledge that turns a daunting search into a supported journey.

The moment you stop white-knuckling the process and hand it to someone who knows exactly what to do, something shifts. The relief of that handover and not having to decode contracts, secondguess offers, or wonder what they might be missing – is, for many, as valuable as the property itself.

As you enjoy the Coast this winter, ask yourself: is it time to stop dreaming and start securing? Your next investment might be closer than you think.

Visit www.homescouts.com.au or follow @home_scouts to start your search.

READY TO START?

Think you’re ready to start the journey to buying your next property? Home Scouts offers expert advice and insights and has developed a Buy Like a Local 5-Point Framework that helps you understand how ready you are to purchase property in Brisbane or on the Sunshine Coast. Scan the QR code to take the Buyer Readiness Check.

Scan to get started with your free Home Buyers Checklist Remote property purchases can be overwhelming. We're your local edge on the ground, helping you avoid costly mistakes and find the home or investment that feels like it was made for you.

444 864

SOLD ON Soul

What if the person selling your home actually cared as much about it as you do? Jodie Cameron meets a local agent bringing her heart first to the property market…

As someone who made the move here with her young family – drawn by the lifestyle, the community and that unmistakable coastal pull – Rebecca Westman from Beach Girls Realty gets it on a deeply personal level. It’s more than just bricks and mortar, but a lot went into her and the family choosing this stretch of coastline as home.

“On the Sunshine Coast, people are not simply buying and selling houses, they are choosing a way of life,” Rebecca says. “Where children will grow up, how close they are to the beach, the cafés, the schools, and the pace they want their life to have, all need to be carefully factored in.”

Before planting roots here, she spent years working in property overseas, navigating different markets, cultures

and client expectations – experience that gave her a breadth of perspective most local agents simply don’t have.

In between cheeky coastal holidays, Maroochydore kept calling her back. The lifestyle, the community, the pace of life. In late 2025, she and her husband finally made it permanent, moving to Cotton Tree with their two pre-teen boys.

That journey, from country living to coastal life, from international property markets to a boutique Sunshine Coast agency – is exactly what makes Rebecca different. She is not reciting a script. She is speaking from lived experience.

“Moving from the country to the coast is not just a change of address,” Rebecca says. “It is a change in lifestyle, community and identity.”

That innate understanding translates directly into how she works with her clients. Where some agents lead with listings and contracts, Rebecca leads with questions: What does life look like beyond the sale price? What do the next five or ten years look like for your family? Are you making this decision from pressure, or from a clear strategy?

“I want to understand what matters most,” she says. “Whether that is schooling, lifestyle, financial security, timing, or simply feeling like they have made the right move for their family.”

It is a refreshingly calm approach in an industry that can feel anything but. Property decisions carry real weight –affecting where children go to school, how much time families have together, how financially secure people feel, and how connected they are to their community.

“As a mother, I understand that property decisions often carry much more weight than people realise,” she says.

Beach Girls Realty works with people who are selling, buying, investing or in need of property management support across the Sunshine Coast. Whatever the goal, their approach is always tailored to individual circumstances and the property – never a one-size-fits-all

solution. It’s boutique by design, and personal by nature.

“My hope is that clients feel the difference from the very first conversation, and every conversation after that,” Rebecca says.

Having navigated her fair share of agents over the years, she knows exactly the type of agent she refuses to be. No rushing. No overpromising. No vanishing act after contracts are signed. Just honest, considered guidance from the first

Rebecca Westman

conversation to well beyond settlement.

“The way you treat people always matters more than the speed of the deal,” she says. “I never want my clients to feel like a number. Sure, the market can create urgency, and sometimes urgency is real, but pressure should never replace good advice.”

Juggling two businesses while raising two boys and settling into a brand new community is no small feat – and when I asked what she hopes her sons take

from watching her do it all, Rebecca doesn’t miss a beat.

“I want them to see that starting again is not something to fear,” she says. “That you can be ambitious and still be caring and that success doesn’t have to come at the expense of your values.”

It’s that same philosophy – strategy and heart, in equal measure – that runs through everything Beach Girls Realty stands for. This is a boutique agency built for people who want to feel genuinely supported, not processed. Where presentation and communication are taken seriously, but where the human side of real estate is never lost.

Whether you are selling the family home, searching for your first slice of coastal life, investing for the future, or simply exploring what is possible on the Sunshine Coast, Beach Girls Realty’s door – much like Cotton Tree itself – is warm, welcoming, and well worth a visit.

EXPERIENCE THE DIFFERENCE

Request an appraisal or get in touch to take charge of a next lifestyle change or investment. Scan the QR code or visit www.beachgirlsrealty.com.au

Honest, considered real estate for Sunshine Coast sellers, buyers and investors.

Beach Girls Realty was created for people who want real estate to feel more personal, more thoughtful and more human.

We believe a home is more than a listing. It is lifestyle, family, timing, memories and the future you are building.

WINTER SELLING OFFER

Book a complimentary appraisal before 31 August 2026 and, if you choose to sell with Beach Girls Realty, enjoy a reduced commission rate of 2%*

Plus, go in the draw to win a two-night Maleny winter escape.

*Offer available for new listings secured before 31 August 2026. Terms and conditions apply.

beach girls realty

Rebecca Westman | Director 0434 326 866

Scan to start a conversation

Buying or selling property is one of the biggest decisions most of us will ever make. Deb Caruso meets the team of agents making sure clients never have to navigate it alone.

STRAIGHT

Shooters

At du Preez & Co, real estate is approached with clarity, structure, and intent. No unnecessary noise, no onesize-fits-all process, just the right strategy applied at the right time.

Led by Steven du Preez, the team is known for delivering a well-managed experience from start to finish. Clients know where they stand, what’s happening next and why, with clear communication at every stage.

“Houses are people’s biggest assets, so when we work hard to get a great result on someone’s sale, that genuinely makes me feel good,” Steven said.

Three and a half years into real estate, the results speak for themselves. Steven has more than 100 glowing client reviews on Realestate.com.au and was named one of only three national finalists of its Rising Star Award; and was a top-10 finalist for Real Estate Business (REB) Regional Sales Agent of the Year

What his clients consistently value is not flash or fanfare, but the practical

stuff: being reachable when it matters, getting honest feedback after open homes and always knowing where their property stands.

“Communication is everything,” he said. “You have to give people a balanced view - tell them what they need to hear, not just what sounds good. If vendors have all the information, they can make good decisions. That’s the job.”

His accounting background advising on business mergers, sales and complex financial deals, gives him an edge when it comes to pricing, market positioning and negotiation, but he is quick to point out that numbers are only part of the equation.

“You need to know when to rely on the numbers,” he said, “and when to read the room.”

That thinking shapes the way du Preez & Co operates as a boutique agency with a hands-on team structure. Steven is joined by General Manager Jenna du Preez, licensed agents Fabiana

Papahatzis, Jay Cohen and Lily Mower, and sales agent Tracey Kay.

It’s a deliberately diverse team, with the right people matched to the right properties, so each campaign benefits from strong attention to detail and a coordinated approach.

As locals who have chosen to live, invest, and raise their families on the Sunshine Coast, the team brings genuine insight into both the market and the lifestyle.

That connection translates into campaigns that resonate with results worth repeating. The agency lists properties across the region, specialising in the 4575 postcode areas of Bokarina, Wurtulla and Warana whilst also holding the Top Agent Award for Little Mountain in 4551.

A boutique, high-touch service built on long-term relationships, du Preez & Co offers considered, expert advice and the kind of straight-talking that actually moves things forward.

Lily Mower, Fabiana Papahatzis, Steven and Jenna du Preez, Tracey Kay and Jay Cohen.

Nicole May discovers that the quality difference in a property manager is truly worth looking for. It is the distinction in the quality of care and how a proactive approach - rather than a reactive one - protects a client’s most valuable asset.

Care Factor

THE REDEFINING PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

At McGrath Coast and Hinterland, communication isn’t simply a part of their service; it’s the foundation of it.

With a portfolio of over 850 properties spanning from the northern reaches of the Sunshine Coast to the Hinterland and down toward North Brisbane, they have quietly built one of the largest operations in the region. Yet for Jodie and David Hedley-Ward, the goal isn’t a large rent roll; it is the quality of the relationship.

“An investment property is often a client’s most valuable asset and represents their future,” Jodie explains. “It deserves proactive asset management rather than just reactive monitoring.”

Together, Jodie and David lead a team backed by more than 120 years of combined industry experience, operating out of two key locations in Caloundra and Beerwah to ensure every corner of

their territory is covered by someone who knows the local areas personally.

A positive culture of teamwork and support is immediately clear when stepping into the McGrath Coast and Hinterland office in Caloundra.

While many agencies see sales and rentals as separate brigades, Jodie and David have integrated them and believe it is what differentiates them.

“Our property management team and our sales team sit together, and we’re all connected,” Jodie notes.

This teamwork is reinforced by the principals’ direct involvement; unlike many agencies, Jodie and David attend every weekly property management meeting to review feedback, celebrate wins of the week, and ensure the team is thriving.

They agreed that a happy, supported team is the key to exceptional service.

“We hear all too often in property management that calls weren’t returned, emails were left unanswered, maintenance issues were left unresolved and important updates arrive too late,” said Jodie. “And this is why we are so passionate about looking after our team, we want to ensure that they are happy in their positions, so that they can provide the best possible care to our clients.”

Property owners deserve to know what is happening with their investment at all times.

Whether it’s a routine inspection, maintenance recommendation, tenancy update or rental review, the clients at McGrath Coast and Hinterland receive frequent communication designed to keep them informed and confident that

the team are working in their best interest.

Jodie and David invest heavily in prioritising support and mental health for their staff. This includes having two dedicated Operations Managers who provide support to assist the team through challenging situations and legislative changes. They also facilitate regular team-building events, such as a recent crystal candle-making class, to connect the team and ensure they’re working in a positive environment.

Something unique about the property management at the McGrath office is that the property management roles are divided to provide a dedicated service that goes beyond the standard; the team utilises a hybrid model of specialist roles, which is quite rare in real estate. This ensures that properties are managed efficiently and effectively with a friendly level of service.

Deb Fleming, the team’s New Client Consultant, is the first point of contact for new landlords, focusing on a transparent and welcoming onboarding process; and Lara Kavanagh is the Leasing Consultant who works closely with Deb to find wonderful tenants.

“By having Lara focus specifically on leasing and meeting prospective tenants, the senior property managers are freed from being out and about constantly, and this allows them to build better relationships and be there for their clients,” Jodie explains.

Katie Mocker then delivers routine inspections and, according to Jodie, she delivers an exceptional level of care to all her clients.

“She doesn’t just inspect; she builds relationships,” Jodie said.

Katie is known for leaving behind cards and little treats - like lollies or flowers - for tenants to show appreciation for how they maintain the home.

This is the difference, because a successful investment property strategy is about much more than rent collection. It is about protecting the physical condition of the property, ensuring legislative compliance, identifying opportunities to improve returns, reducing risk and preserving long-term asset value.

“We don’t wait for problems to occur,” Jodie says. “We work to identify opportunities and potential issues before they impact our clients, and this proactive mindset helps minimise costly surprises while ensuring our landlords remain well-positioned in an ever-

Exceptional property management isn’t just about managing properties. It’s about helping people achieve their goals with confidence.

changing market.”

In today’s market, successful property ownership requires much more than simply securing a tenant and hoping for the best. Statutory requirements continue to evolve, maintenance costs are increasing, tenant expectations are changing, and every decision made throughout a tenancy can have a significant impact on the long-term performance of an investment.

That is why, while their service at McGrath is personal, their backend is high-tech. Technology has transformed property management, providing greater transparency, efficiency and accessibility than ever before. Jodie explains that at McGrath, the team embrace innovation and the team utilises leading technology platforms to streamline processes, improve reporting and provide owners with greater visibility over their property.

The greatest benefit for landlords is the instant rent disbursement. Instead of waiting for fortnightly or end-of-month payments, landlords are paid as soon as the tenant’s rent lands - usually within 24 hours.

“If someone has a mortgage and associated costs, they can pay that money into their mortgage weekly and have funds sitting there for emergencies...it makes a big difference,” David explains. This technology also

automates daily reconciliations, removing a major source of stress for property managers, allowing them to focus entirely on client communication.

“But technology should never replace relationships,” he says. “When important decisions need to be made, our clients don’t want to speak to an automated system. They want advice from an experienced professional who understands their circumstances and can provide genuine guidance.”

Expert training and local accountability are also at the forefront for Jodie and David, especially in an era where many companies are sending their services offshore to cut costs, McGrath Coast and Hinterland remain proudly local.

This means every person managing a property has actually been there and knows the local market.

To keep their team at the forefront of the industry, Jodie and David provide comprehensive training, such as full-day Professional Development sessions to ensure every staff member is upskilled on legislative changes in Queensland, providing landlords with the confidence that their assets are in expert hands.

Ultimately, Jodie and David view property management as a partnership built for the long term. Whether it is a beachside residence or a hinterland acreage, they offer an exceptional level of care and accountability - treating every investment as if it were their own.

MEET DEB FLEMING

As New Client Consultant at McGrath Coast & Hinterland, Deb Fleming combines almost a decade of industry experience with specialist property management expertise. Passionate about protecting her clients’ investments, Deb stays at the forefront of legislative changes, compliance requirements and best-practice asset management strategies. Her proactive approach, attention to detail and commitment to outstanding service provide landlords with the reassurance that their investment is being professionally managed and carefully protected at every stage. If you are ready to switch to McGrath or want to know more, reach out to Deb today.

Mobile: 0488 771 626 Email: debfleming@mcgrath.com.au

Local Expertise. Global Reach. Trusted Advice.

For David and Jodie Hedley-Ward, real estate has never simply been about property.

It’s about people, relationships and helping clients make confident decisions at every stage of their property journey.

As Principals of McGrath Coast & Hinterland, David and Jodie bring together more than four decades of combined real estate experience, leading a team of over 30 property professionals across the Sunshine Coast and Hinterland. Their reputation has been built on exceptional service, honest advice and a commitment to delivering outstanding results while ensuring clients feel supported throughout the process.

Together, they offer a depth of knowledge, refined judgement and a proven track record that comes from decades spent working across every facet of the industry. Their approach is thoughtful and strategic, shaped by a genuine understanding of both the market and the people within it.

Jodie is widely recognised as one of the region’s most accomplished real estate professionals, having been awarded the prestigious REIQ Residential Salesperson of the Year and Sunshine Coast Corporate Businesswoman of the Year. Known for her calm, considered approach and exceptional negotiation skills, she is passionate about helping clients achieve premium outcomes while making the experience as seamless and stress-free as possible.

David’s career has spanned sales, leadership and business ownership. A former McGrath National Sales Manager of the Year, he has trained and mentored many of the Sunshine Coast’s leading agents and brings a wealth of experience to every client relationship. His focus remains simple: providing clear advice, strong advocacy and a level of service that exceeds expectations.

Local Agents,

Global Reach

What truly sets David and Jodie apart is their connection to the community they serve.

As local residents themselves, they understand the lifestyle, opportunities and unique appeal of the Sunshine Coast and Hinterland. This local insight enables them to provide advice that extends beyond market statistics, helping clients make informed decisions with confidence.

Their commitment to community is equally important. Together with their team, they have contributed more than $300,000 to almost 200 local charities and not-for-profit organisations, reflecting their belief that success should create positive outcomes beyond property transactions alone.

While proudly local, David and Jodie are backed by the strength of one of Australia’s most respected property brands.

As part of McGrath Estate Agents, their clients benefit from national brand recognition, sophisticated marketing and an extensive buyer network. Through McGrath’s strategic partnerships with Knight Frank and Bayleys New Zealand, properties gain exposure to interstate and international buyers, extending the reach of every campaign well beyond the Sunshine Coast.

Whether assisting a family with their next move, guiding an investor through a strategic decision or helping a homeowner understand the current value of their property, David and Jodie remain committed to delivering the same principles that have defined their careers: integrity, expertise, communication and exceptional service.

Because great real estate isn’t just about achieving a result.

It’s about helping people move forward with confidence.

Curious To Know What Your Home Is Worth?

Whether you’re considering selling, buying, investing or simply planning ahead, David and Jodie welcome the opportunity to provide complimentary, obligation-free advice tailored to your circumstances.

Scan the QR code for an instant property estimate

Melissa Schembri 0403 327 792

melissa.schembri@qldsir.com

Or contact David and Jodie HedleyWard for a confidential discussion about your property goals.

David Hedley-Ward Principal | Sales Agent 0406 011 123 | davidhedley-ward@mcgrath.com.au

The Corso - Shop 1, 6 Sunshine Coast Parade, Maroochydore Daniel Rees 0456 456 753 daniel.rees@qldsir.com

Plus read more about Melissa and Daniel on page 134 >>

Jodie Hedley-Ward Principal | Sales Agent 0424 842 837 | jodiehedley-ward@mcgrath.com.au

Image supplied by Mocka.