Friday, 13 November, 2020
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Noosa Tigers to join QAFL
The man who brought Hawaii to Noosa
Trevor talks all things Indian
32-page liftout Property Guide
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INSIDE
Goetz to the rescue By Margaret Maccoll
Goetz Schweinfurth keeps an eye on pelicans on Noosa River. Picture: ROB MACCOLL
Neglected crab pots, discarded fishing lines and hooks and young river hoons are major bugbears for wildlife advocate Goetz Schweinfurth who believes education is key to curbing behaviour damaging to wildlife, but his calls keep falling on deaf ears. As the grandson of Baltic German botanist and African explorer Georg August Schweinfurth, Goetz felt destined to work with nature. The Peregian Beach wildlife advocate spends his days rescuing local wildlife, particularly seabirds, and delivering them to wildlife hospitals and carers for rehabilitation and he says the numbers of victims of human contact are increasing. Seabird rescuers Bridget and Paula Powers, known as the Twinnies are so overwhelmed at their Pelican and Seabird Rescue facility at Landsborough they are urging people to contact Goetz to rescue injured and sick seabirds around Noosa instead of taking them away from their critical rehabilitation work. The Twinners fear they will be further overwhelmed these Christmas holidays as crowds head to the beaches and waterways for holidays. The love of wildlife Goetz shares with the Twinnies has been a lifelong fascination for him. Born in Berlin Goetz moved to Australia with his family as a 10-year-old and immediately signed up for the Boy Scouts and Surf Lifesavers. Continued page 6
Schoolies ready By Abbey Cannan As thousands of school leavers pack their bags and prepare to party in Noosa, resorts across town are beefing up their security. Despite the State Government officially banning end of year celebrations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Tourism Noosa has been advised to expect about 4000 school leavers to stay in the region from 21 to 28 November. Archers the Strata Professionals Partner, Grant Mifsud, said resort managers had reported of a flood of bookings for the designated Queensland Schoolies week, with school leavers ditching the Gold Coast for Noosa.
A Tourism Noosa spokesperson said this was higher than previous years due to interstate and international border closures. “The closure of formal activities at the Gold Coast also seems to have had an effect on where the students have chosen to go,“ the spokesperson said. Mr Mifsud said resort managers were employing security guards for the week and offering Red Frogs volunteers free accommodation to assist. “Red Frogs are working closely with resort managers, the Queensland Police Service, surf lifesaving officials and other services to ensure the safety of young people,” he said.
“The challenge for resort managers will also be to ensure COVID-safe planning requirements are met. “One resort which normally would be at less than 40 per cent capacity at that time of year is almost booked out by mostly teenagers from Brisbane who will be celebrating the end of school.” Schoolies support organisation Red Frogs spokesperson said they would have 150 Red Frogs volunteers in total for the whole Sunshine Coast and 100 in Noosa specifically. “There are no official events planned, so Red Frogs will be focusing our support in the hotels and accommodation by providing safe
walk homes, pancake cookups, and emotional support and assistance. School leavers can get assistance or request pancakes via the Red Frogs App or by calling the Red Frogs Hotline 24/7 during Schoolies Week on 1300 557 123.“ Tourism Noosa is working with key stakeholders to provide a platform so members can hear relevant information and prepare for this period. “Many Resort Managers have taken the initiative of being prepared, informing schoolies of their rules on bookings, registering with Red Frogs and employing a security service,“ a spokesperson said. Continued page 2
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