Friday, 19 January, 2024
Number
ONE of 420 Coast Agencies 12663234-SN04-24
Community festival is back
TAFE incident in-depth
Rain hampers cricket again
28-page lift out Property Guide
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PAGES 18-19
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PR OP ER TY
Regatta fun By Margie Maccoll
Mike Salter gets set for the invitation race on Sunday.
Picture: ROB MACCOLL
A lot of fun and a touch of nostalgia has led to a resurgence in scow and lowrider moth dinghies and the staging this week of the The Scow and Lowrider Moth dinghy National Titles, returning to Lake Cootharaba for the first time in about 50 years. Hosted by the Lake Cootharaba Sailing Club the event kicked off last Sunday with the BalatonDesign Invitation Race as competitors gauged each others skill level before the week-long regatta began on Monday. More than 30 of the historical 11 foot (3.5m) dinghies travelled from as far away as Western Australia to compete at the National Titles, the second national event following last year’s inaugural event in Sydney. The more historic scow and lowriding skiffs has been continuously active for many years but has taken a back seat to the foiling moth fleet which sees competitions with some of the worlds best known sailors participating at national and world titles. The foils which bring the hull or board out of the water reduce drag while increasing efficiency and speed have led to their dominance. But there has recently been a marked revival in the scow and lowrider fleets across Australia and also internationally. Continued pages 6-7
Aus Day heats up As controversy reigns over Australia Day celebrations across the country, Noosa Lions and Rotary are working together to host a festival for the whole community. Both Noosa and Sunshine Coast councils will host citizenship ceremonies on the day. But the decision by Sunshine Coast Council to cancel its Australia Day Awards ceremony has drawn criticism from Fairfax MP Ted O’Brien as both he and Wide Bay MP Llew O’Brien have weighed into the Australia Day debate online. Ted O’Brien is ’fighting back’ with free Australia Day merchandise of his own.
Splashed with the message “Proud of our Country” and “Proud of our Flag”, complimentary bumper stickers are being offered by Mr O’Brien to his constituents as part of his call to “all proud Australians” to celebrate Australia Day with pride and patriotism on 26 January. “Where was the public consultation in my own community about this decision?” queried Mr O’Brien who accused the Sunshine Coast Council of removing Australia Day awards “on the quiet”. “I stand against any attempt to cancel or silence Australian patriotism. “Australia Day is meant to be a day of unity, to celebrate our liberal democracy, our values of freedom and equality, and to give thanks to
our ‘way of life’ which is the envy of the world. “At least citizenship ceremonies are set to proceed here on the Coast, but I’m astounded that councils elsewhere have gone even further by denying new Australians the opportunity to become citizens on our national day.“ This controversy follows a Brisbane Woolworths store being vandalised on Monday 15 January, after their decision to stop stocking specific Australia Day merchandise. Stores that will also not be selling the merchandise in 2024 include Big W and Aldi. Wide Bay MP Llew O’Brien shared on Facebook, “In Wide Bay’s 2023 Community Survey, 81 per cent of respondents said they want to continue to celebrate Australia Day on 26 January and 91 per cent said the cost of living is
putting greater pressure on their household budget.“ “I don’t think Woolworths and Aldi are listening to Wide Bay,“ he said. ABC News reported that Reconciliation Australia, a non-profit that advocates for reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, welcomed Woolworths’ decision. “We are encouraged to see more and more Australians take time to re-evaluate what we want our national day to represent and how we can create a better country — one that all Australians, including First Nations people, are proud to celebrate,“ the group said in a statement.
TEWANTIN NOOSA LIONS CLUB invites you to the 2024
Noosa Community Festival January 26 10am to 4pm Lions Park, Gympie Tce. Rotary Big Breakfast 7am to 10am.
12664163-AA04-24
By Abbey Cannan