Your Local: February 2023

EDITORIAL / ADVERTISING

Janet Webb

hello@yourlocallifestyle.com.au

0400 168 191

Lil Staff news@yourlocallifestyle.com.au

0417 778 662

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Alan Lander

Matt Golinski

Andrea Taylor

Tony Wellington

Andy Flanagan

Erin Yarwood Hayley Saunders

Margie Wegener

www.yourlocallifestyle.com.au

Published by Little Planet Media Pty Ltd

100% locally owned and independent PO Box 125, Cooroy Qld 4563

Disclaimer: All information in Your Local Lifestyle (YLL) has been published in good faith based on material provided by contributors and advertisers. YLL is not obliged to publish every item received and those submitted may be subject to change. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information in this publication, YLL accepts no responsibility for errors and omissions. The views expressed therein are not necessarily those of YLL. Any submissions received, including photographs, to YLL are accepted on the basis that approval has been given for publication by the contributor. Advertisers upon approving the publication of any material indemnify the publisher against all liability, claims or proceedings whatsoever. All material is copyright to Little Planet Media Pty Ltd and may not be reproduced without permission.

Distributed in Noosa Hinterland & surrounding areas

Y LL respectfully acknowledge the Gubbi Gubbi Traditional Custodians of the land on which we live and work, and to their Elders past and present.

Community House welcomes Social Worker to the Hinterland Community

2023 kicks off with exciting news for community. Pomona & District Community House welcomes social worker Miatta to the team.

A long-time hinterland local Miatta believes in strong connected communities. Coming on board as part of a community response to the recent natural disasters that have affected our local communities, Miatta will be working out of the Pomona & District Community House, the Cooroy Library (Tuesdays 9am-1pm), Kin Kin Community House and other locations in our hinterland villages. She will provide support for individuals and families and

contribute to providing activities and opportunities for people to come together. Appointments can be made for help with access to services, or assistance to navigate systems such as housing, health or welfare systems. Drop in to say hello on Mondays and Fridays, or appointments can be made via Community House. The Social Worker position is funded through the Community Disaster Response and Recovery Grant supported by Noosa Shire Council and Primary Health Network.

Sunny Street Pomona Clinic will continue running out of Community House in 2023. Providing healthcare

FABULOUS FINDS IN COORAN

SITUATED in the Sunshine Coast hinterland is Cooran’s best-kept secret – Fabulous Finds. Located at 28 King Street in the heritage-listed Alfredson’s joinery (below the Hinterland Brewing Company) the shop boasts a gallery of handcrafted and upcycled items for sale. Come and browse the locally made items, an eclectic mix of upcycled homewares, vintage jewellery and clothing, plants and so much more. There’s also a wide range of wooden wares crafted onsite in the joinery. Looking for a bargain or a gift? Fabulous Finds has something for everyone. Open every Saturday and Sunday from 11.30am to 3.30pm.

to those vulnerable, the Clinic runs fortnightly Wednesdays from 9:30am to 1:30pm. Bookings are made directly through Sunny Street 5313 7778. Drop ins on the day are also accepted. Next Clinic February 8.

Pomona & District Community House is a not-for-profit neighbourhood centre supporting the communities of Pomona and surrounding areas. Community members are always welcome to drop by. Keep an eye out for the Feb/Mar PCH What’s On newsletter or check out www.pomonacommunityhouse. com.au. Located at 1 Memorial Avenue, Pomona. Open Monday to Friday 9am-4pm. Phone 5485 2427.

$25.99kg

and let rest on board 20-25 minutes or if you enjoy crispy flavoursome fat, turn the heat up to finish to a crisp golden colour.

Susan Schiotz, Coordinator welcomes new Social Worker Miatta to Community House.

Your Mates have hit town

JANUARY 6, 2023 was a big day in Cooroy. That’s when the Your Mates Brewery company opened the doors of its brand new Your Mates BowlsPub to an enthusiastic reception from folks in Cooroy and surrounds.

Based on the hugely successful model in Warana, the BowlsPub has taken over the Cooroy Sports Club premises which also housed the Saw and Mill Restaurant.

“[The opening] was better than expected,” Your Mates director of operations and culture spokesman Brent Colautti said.

“We had overwhelming support. Bookings were very solid; on a recent Sunday we had 170 booked in for lunch, and more than 350 people through the door.”

Brent said Your Mates, which started as a micro-brewery in Warana and is now a full-on family friendly restaurant and bar in addition, had been looking for a new location in the northern coast to expand to, and the Cooroy business coming on the market was timely. (There are no plans to expand the brewery here.)

“There was a good feeling about this [place] from the start,” he said. He said the BowlsPub will follow the

family friendly model with its range of “12-hour smoked meats, fresh share plates for mates, loaded parmies, juicy burgers and vegan treats”.

“And we will keep the bowls going – it’s a huge component and a big feature. It plays into our vision plan of bringing families and community together,” he said.

Brent acknowledges the big initial numbers are partly due to “a bit of excitement” about a new venue, but he reckons it will do well.

“We are extremely excited due to the different liquor licence we are able to work with and sell other local producers’

products as well as our own, including Australia’s most popular voted pale ale Larry,” he said.

“We’re already working with some of them.” The overall aim is a family friendly atmosphere, good food and drinks, and

bowls games with live music entertainment. The BowlsPub is located in Opal St, Cooroy, open Wed-Sun lunch and dinner. Visit www.yourmatesbrewing.com for menus and online bookings, and www.facebook.com/ yourmatesbrewing for further enquiries.

Specialising in local, organic produce and serving great gluten free, vegan and vegetarian options

OPENING HOURS

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday - 6:30am to 3pm

Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday - 6:30am to 8pm

Treat yourself and your furry friend or just enjoy our great outdoor garden seating area

CHAMBER GROWING STRONG AFTER TWO YEARS

group of people in our hinterland and very dynamic, dedicated and resilient business leaders,” he said.

“I am very appreciative of our small business. Not only do they provide great service, but they provide meaningful employment to many of our kids and not-so-kids too.”

In setting the agenda for 2022, Phil said the Chamber would advocate for issues identified in a member survey conducted last year.

TURNING A PADDOCK INTO AN

HERE’S a sneak peak at what is going on at the Cooroy RV Stopover on Mary River Road!

Managed by the Cooroy Chamber of Commerce, the stopover has been the recipient of a grant from Tourism Noosa, made possible by funds from events being cancelled during COVID Extensive tree planting, a community garden, solar power for lighting and wi-fi and a recycled council bus shelter that has been stylishly reborn as a travellers information booth.

The project should be completed next month with the launch of the new Cooroy Map which will feature in the information booth.

INCORPORATED just over two years ago, and with more than 50 members across the hinterland, the Pomona and District Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual general meeting at the Rural Futures Centre, Pomona, on Wednesday February 15.

The group formed just as the COVID pandemic took hold, sparking economic uncertainty and the district was hit by floods regarded as the worst in a generation.

Chamber president Phil Moran praised the efforts of local businesses during this difficult time. “This is due to having a great

The top priority of members from the towns and villages of the Northern Hinterland was the ‘look and feel’ of communities – a reference to the standard of streetscapes, paths, public amenities and civic infrastructure. The next concern was ‘getting about’, referencing parking, pathways and connectivity.

The Chamber will also work with Tourism Noosa to explore business opportunities that can benefit from the $1.6m upgrade of the Noosa Biosphere Trails Network.

Trailforks - an on-line platform for outdoor enthusiasts, recently rated the Cooroora Trail between Cooran and Pomona as Noosa’s No.1 mountain bike adventure trail.

Surf Safe Noosa ALL YEAR ROUND!

THE Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation (NBRF) has launched the Surf Safe Noosa campaign in collaboration with Noosa World Surfing Reserve and the Queensland Government Shark Control Program.

This innovative shark safety campaign includes an interactive spinning seasonal calendar and key safety messages developed from a series of local workshops held in August last year, facilitated by shark behaviour expert, Dr Andrew Chin of James Cook University.

“We worked with knowledgeable Noosa locals to build a picture of the conditions that affect shark behaviour in Noosa, giving both local surfers and tourists alike the information they need to make their own judgements before going out in the surf.

“While the risk of being bitten by a shark is extremely low, they share our waters too, alongside other iconic marine species such as whales, dolphins and rays. It’s up to all of us to make informed decisions about how we use these areas and interact with our marine species,”Dr Chin said.

Noosa World Surfing Reserve (NWSR) Steering Committee President Kirra

Molnar said these resources support the NWSR Surfing Code which teaches all water users the importance of sharing and respecting others while in the surf.

“The seasonal calendar game is designed to be a fun activity to help our young surfers learn how to read the local conditions,” said Ms Molnar.

NBRF Executive Coordinator, Sharon Wright, said the campaign is a result of NBRF’s Marine Species Protection symposium held in 2021 which was attended by representatives from state and local government, national marine conservation groups, local surfers, Noosa Heads Surf Lifesaving Club, Surf Lifesaving Queensland and international shark experts.

“Of the four recommendations put forward to the Queensland Government, public education was the highest priority identified by symposium participants.

“Our aim is to preserve all marine species while ensuring public safety is paramount. We hope this campaign will help locals and tourists alike to assess the risks before going out into the surf and other waterways in Noosa,” said Ms Wright.

In response to the recommendations

of the NBRF Marine Symposium, the Queensland Government, in partnership with SLSQ, has also commenced SharkSmart drone trials in Noosa this summer. SLSQ drone operators have undertaken 274 flights flying a total of 110km along Main Beach. Three small sharks (<2m) have been sighted between 06/11/22-19/01/22.

Copies of the seasonal calendar and game wheel can be found at the Hastings St Visitor Information Centre adjacent to the Surf Club and selected surf shops next month.

To find out more about the NBRF Marine Symposium and to get your copy of the seasonal calendar poster, go to https:// noosabiosphere.org.au/projects/surf-safenoosa/

NEWS IN BRIEF

HINTERLAND ROADWORKS BEGIN

Roadworks are set to start on Middle Creek Road, Federal. Widening and sealing of the shoulders, regrading of the table drains, new line-marking and signage will help boost safety and improve Middle Creek Road, between Federal State School and Andersons Road. Traffic control will be in place as required.

STOP BY THE LIBRARY WITH QUESTIONS ON TUESDAYS

Have questions about local social services or need help to find volunteering opportunities? Visit Cooroy Library every Tuesday from 9am to 2pm to have a chat with the Community Development staff and enjoy a coffee.

GROOVIN THE MOO HEADING TO THE SUNSHINE COAST!

This all-ages touring festival, presented by Triple J, has added a Sunshine Coast date at Kawana Sports Western Precinct, Bokarina on Sunday April 30(Long Weekend).

Superfish

By Alan Lander

THIS is a story about not one hero, but two. And in a sense, so many others.

Our first hero is right now swimming laps at Noosa Aquatic Centre, raising funds for the Starlight Foundation, an organisation that brings joy to kids in hospital, helping restore them back to health.

He’s known as the Cooroy Superfish, and swimming nine or 10km a day is a breeze to this fellow, who started competitive swimming aged 17, and who has since won a swathe of world, national and local swimming titles.

He’s an accomplished tennis player, can swing a reasonable golf club, and has an impeccable 17-year record as a volunteer lifeguard at Sunshine Beach.

When he’s not working one of his parttime jobs at Joe’s Waterhole in Eumundi, or Wimmers (now Noosa Beverages) at Lake Macdonald, or pulling people out of ocean rips at Sunshine, he’ll be pumping iron at the gym, or improving his skills with the camera.

Or he might be at home with his housemate in Tewantin, throwing a meal together and keeping the place tidy.

He’s a small ‘fish’ at 4 foot 10 (143cm)and heading for his 47th birthday in June.

To some, all this may be a picture of an everyday, if very active, bloke.

back in the water

But a significant decision by our second hero saved him from likely being very different to the fellow described above.

Many if not most locals will know the Cooroy Superfish as Clinton Stanley and his astonishing achievements – and know he’s anything but everyday.

Those who don’t know him, should know that in June 1976, Clinton was born a Down Syndrome child to his mum Sue, and dad, Chris, in a Sydney hospital.

And there and then, Sue unhesitatingly made a lifelong, heroic decision.

“It came as a shock when I was told - I didn’t know what Down Syndrome was,” she said.

“I had to ask what it was; they said ‘mongolism’.

“That was day two - I was just coming to terms with it, then they told me he had a heart condition.

“That was the thing that broke my heart because I didn’t think I’d be taking him home.”

The heart surgeon said Clinton had “a big hole in his heart” but it would be rectified.

“But then they came in again and said: ‘you don’t have to take him home; there’s places where we can put Clinton’.

“We were devastated – and I said: ‘no, that’s not going to happen’.”

When they finally got Clinton home, Sue set about communicating with the local council and a health centre to organise weekly morning teas with mums and their kids with disabilities.

“That became huge.

This was new at the time in the seventies.

“I read everything I could [about raising Down children].”

Such children have a variety of issues to deal with, not least intellectual and speech difficulties, and building up weak musculature through physio.

“I went to Bankstown council and asked if we could do this in a playgroup and get occupational and physiotherapists to help kids and parents. That’s how it started.

“Then I heard about Nambour Special

School on the Sunshine Coast, so we came up to look at it and were very taken with the school as they had individual programs [unlike Sydney at the time]; every child is different.

“We packed and moved up, building a home in Black Mountain. Clinton went really well at school.

“He entered a swimming carnival. Ron James, the principal said we’ve got to get Clinton coached.

“He said Clinton was ‘an amazing swimmer; a natural’. But he didn’t start swimming competitively until he was 17.

“When he was 16, we’d joined him in the Special Olympics. Clinton was selected on his seventeenth birthday for the first SO nationals to go to Perth.”

Sue, meanwhile, was becoming quite the expert in forming sports movements, not to mention coaching, for disabled kids and decided to form a tennis group in Nambour, then Eumundi, which allowed Clinton to become proficient in tennis.

Disappointingly, she found the International Paralympic Committee would not recognise and give access to Down swimmers.

“But we have the International Down Syndrome Swimming Association,” she said.

“Intellectually disabled kids have very low learning ability but can sw im.”

I am the lucky one, even though I have an intellectual disability: I am fit and healthy and live my dream, while every day a sick child is admitted to hospital in Australia.

Clinton became an older brother in 1979, when Ben came into the world, disability-free.

“Ben learned as much from his older brother as they were growing up than Clinton learned from Ben,” Sue said.

“A few years ago for a publication, Ben said of Clinton: ‘Growing up with [him] taught me to be humble, patient, compassionate and resilient’.

“‘Clinton was different – but not to me. We did everything together. He taught me more than anyone else I know. Every day growing up with Clint I learned that life can be tough, people can be obnoxious, and obstacles are daily.

“I also learned life is a gift and some … obstacles become achievements and blessings. Having Clint as my brother has made me a better person, a better dad, and made me understand and respect the differences in abilities people are given regardless of choice.

“‘Clinton is my brother, my hero and my mate – and he can swim pretty quick, too.’”

Ben has been living in Sydney but will be returning back to the Sunshine Coast to purchase an investment property, so Clinton never has to move again.

Clinton, with his part-time jobs and his pension, despite paying substantial rent in Tewantin, is helping Ben put the house deposit together.

Sue became involved with Special Olympics Qld in 1993, holding nearly all officer positions including Chair, also Qld Director of Tennis.

She became aware of the Down Syndrome International Swimming Organisation in the UK, formed for DS swimmers to compete internationally, resulting in her taking teams including Clinton to South Africa, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Taiwan, setting multiple world records throughout.

In 2005 the Down Syndrome Down Under Swimming Organisation was formed with Sue as chair, and former Olympians Hayden Kenny as patron and Jessicah Shipper as ambassador.

Sue retired from her multiple volunteering efforts in 2017 and lives with Chris at a Cooroy resort, with Clinton frequently visiting along with his housemate Shane.

On a very sad note, Sue said husband Chris has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease.

“Clinton has always talked very, very fast, and he’s not always easy to understand without practice, but Chris and Clinton had developed a good level of communication.

“Since Christmas [2022], Chris no longer understands Clinton at all.

“The last month has been the hardest; there just wasn’t that connection with Clinton anymore.

“There had been a big bond before that.”

Clinton is a hero. Sue is a hero. Chris and Ben are heroes.

But if that’s true, then every Down Syndrome child, parent, sibling and helper is, at least to some extent, a hero too.

All up in 29 years of swimming, Clinton has represented his country seven times and notched up 79 world records in his class, with his specialities being 800m and 1500m races.

After being re-invited as a member of the Noosa Masters swim club since 2003, he intends to better the monies raised this year for the Starlight Foundation’s Starlight Super Swim Challenge.

“This is the second time I have supported Starlight Foundation,” Clinton said.

“Last year I raised $5465 and swam 57.1 kilometres.

“I am the lucky one, even though I have an intellectual disability: I am fit and healthy and live my dream, while every day a sick child is admitted to hospital in Australia.

“My challenge is to swim as far as I can over the 28 days in February and raise lots of money for as many sick kids as I can.”

In typical style, Clinton started early, knocking up more than $1000 in donations before February even got under way.

Take a trip to Noosa Aquatic Centre and you’ll likely catch him doing what he does best, and following his own rule: Never ever give up.

Or if you’re down at Sunshine Beach for a swim, you’ll be safe - look for the smallest lifeguard, who has another saying for that role: ‘No-one drowns on my beach’.

If you want to donate to Clinton’s swim challenge, visit www.superswim.org.au/ clinton-stanley.

Pomona

Clinton and his mum, Sue with the 2013 Australia Day Award Clinton on patrol

I find it remarkable that small, ground-dwelling birds such as quail continue to survive in a landscape so dominated by dogs, cats, foxes and native predators. Nevertheless, there are places I frequent where these secretive little birds regularly startle me as they burst out of the undergrowth.

Brown Quail are the most common type of local quail, although I have also photographed Painted Button-quail. All such birds rely on their speckled camouflage to remain hidden.

Brown Quail generally travel in small groups, feeding on grasses, seeds and small insects. Because they prefer to hide rather than fly, it’s not until a lumbering hiker is almost treading on them that a flock will suddenly explode into the air, scattering in all directions. The birds will regroup when the danger has passed, signalling one another’s whereabouts with their questioning, ascending two-note call.

Perhaps one reason for their successful survival locally is the amount of former forested land we humans have converted to grassed pasture. Another may be the birds’ ability to breed, nesting multiple times during a long breeding season. “Nest” is rather a grand word for what is just a shallow scrape on the ground screened by overhanging foliage. The hen lays one egg each day until she has achieved a clutch of eight to twelve eggs. On hatching, the tiny babies are unable to fly, but leave the nest immediately to begin pecking for food. Around half will not survive their first two weeks. Thankfully, there are plenty more where they came from.

By Alan Lander

Imbil rocketing up the foodie chain

LAST year, the bucolic Mary Valley town of Imbil lost its two main street cafes.

And while there were still other outlets for the caffeine-addicted, the simple pleasures of sitting outside, sipping a cappuccino and reading Your Local Lifestyle or chatting to friends and watching tourists go by on the main drag were lost.

But all has thankfully changed in more recent times, with both café premises now taken over and revived – and offering a new take on café/restaurant styles in Imbil, which will start to challenge the competition in other hinterland tourist towns.

Driving in from Noosa’s hinterland, the first you will see is A Taste of Croatia, offering breakfast and lunch with a distinct Mediterranean menu, as well as other more traditional goodies.

“We moved from Brisbane south; we stayed in Carters Ridge for nearly two years, kept an eye open for a business,” owner Sandra Racji (pronounced ‘Racy’) said.

“Then we were sitting in the Imbil pub and someone told me a restaurant was coming up – the next day we paid the lease on it.”

Sandra was born in Croatia, arriving in Australia aged two, and her husband is “a true Aussie larrikin”, while she also has family members helping out.

Most of the meals and sweets here are Croatian, but we also have old-school items like pecan pie, which is one of the few things we don’t make here,” Sandra said.

Lunch meals, accompanied by genuine Croatian breads, include such items as ouzo lamb shanks and Tuscan chicken salad – “anything Croatian, Italian, Maltese, sometimes something Asian as a special”.

Two weeks ago, Sandra said a satisfied Croatian customer had said so in a Noosa social media post, “and we had three full tables each day all speaking Croatian but all speaking to each other”.

Just a few doors up you’ll find the bright

and airy new Wild Vine café/restaurant, run by three experienced and enthusiastic ex-Noosa hospitality experts Nathan Cox, Jessica Puttick and chef Daryl Moffat.

“We worked together at Season Restaurant in Hastings Street,” Nathan said.

They started in July, with Nathan already selling coffees to locals “before the front counter was even finished”, laughed Jessica.

The trio are already bringing a range of locally produced, organically inclined breakfast and lunch items with many influenced by their Season fine dining experience, along with plenty of traditional fare.

“We are also opening in the evenings Wednesday to Saturday,” Nathan said.

“And we’ve got our liquor licence happening very soon.

“We really want to be a destination for the coast people coming out here for the day trip and still get all the things they’re used to having on the coast in this country town.”

Jessica said they also wanted to “make sure we’re caring for the locals as well”.

“It’s not all about bringing the tourists out here; that’s important and makes them happy.

“But we are also community-minded - we had our first rodeo recently; it was a good learning experience for next time.”

The two businesses are working hand in hand with the local baker and pub to ensure a broad spread of choice is on offer for locals and tourist alike.

Centrally placed Imbil has turned a big corner, offering a bright new culinary start for locals and the many tourists who day-trip the Valley’s many attractions from Kenilworth to Gympie’s south.

A Taste of Croatia: Open Wed-Sun 6.30-2pm, 2/122 Yabba Creek Rd, 0425 226 709, Facebook/Imbil’s A Taste of Croatia for menus. The Wild Vine Café/Restaurant: Open 7 days 6.30-3pm (to 8pm Wed-Sat), 116 Yabba Creek Rd, 5239 8978, Facebook/The Wild Vine Café for menus.

The Wild Vine Cafe - Nathan Cox, Jessica Puttick and Daryl Moffat

Taste of Croatia - Owner Sandra Racji and assistant/cousin Mira Berdi

Photos: Alan Lander

Beds R Us is a locally-owned family business supporting local sports clubs and school sports. Owner Brad and his team will ensure you are given the best advice and the best price when purchasing your new bed from Beds R Us.

An adjustable bed might be right for you as it can assist in pain relief from conditions such as arthritis and sciatica. It can reduce back pain, help eliminate snoring and assist with asthma.

We have a great range of adjustable beds and are proud to support local manufacturers, Sleepmaker and Sleepyhead, who supply us with leading technology mattresses.

Brad and the Beds R Us guys look forward to meeting you, please see a couple of customer reviews below.

Awesome experience the guys there really know their stuff....

Highly recommend.”

“Great staff, very professional and helpful, a very good range of beds and mattresses.”

“Finally, friendly non-pushy sales people. Very helpful and great prices.”

SHE IS KNOWN AS THE SMILING ASSASSIN. A FITTING MONIKER FOR ERIN YARWOOD, PERSONAL TRAINER AND OWNER OF POMONA BASED, E FITNESS.

E is for Erin

By Margie Wegener

SHE is known as the Smiling Assassin. A fitting moniker for Erin Yarwood, personal trainer and owner of Pomona based, E Fitness.

“The smiling assassin comes from way back when I first started out in Noosa and I have been called it on and off over the years by so many people. It’s quite funny really! Everyone comments on how smiley I am all the time, yet I can pack a sneaky secret punch during my classes or PT sessions. Especially when I say please,” Erin says laughing. “How can they refuse?”

So I can hardly refuse when Erin asks me to join her 5:30 am high intensity training class. The only way to catch up with this busy woman is to book one of her fitness classes held in the historic Cooroora Masonic Lodge building in Pomona, the permanent studio of E Fitness. Built in 1923 and adorned internally with elaborate wall murals, it is the perfect location for Erin’s unique style of warm, neighbourly fitness classes.

“I’ve been running my studio from the amazing, historic hall for four years now. Before this I had two different studios in Cooroy but where I am now is the best vibe, and also the busiest! I manifested being here.” Years before, Erin would cut across the block while walking her dog and peer into the windows of the old timber building, imagining her sunlit studio with rows of cars parked along the road outside.

I arrive for my dawn class with a few minutes to spare and find the parking almost full, just as Erin had manifested. Inside the vibe is upbeat and friendly, almost electric. Do these people know what time it is? But the energy is contagious and I am hooked before the music starts. Faces smile at me and the people next to me introduce themselves. If Erin feels the early morning starts, it doesn’t show as she straps baby number two to her back to begin class, with her five year old offsider, standing by to lend a hand.

It’s been 10 years since Erin Yarwood bravely stepped out on her own. In that time along with her partner, local chef Matt Golinski, they have had two daughters and recently started a new adventure moving to a Kin Kin farm.

“I started E Fitness in 2013. I was working full time at Eden Rehab (Eden

Private Rehabilitation Hospital) at the time, but had been on and off in the fitness industry for years in all different gyms around the place and I thought - you know what? I think it’s time I actually branch out and start my own thing. It was daunting, but also exciting! Matt was an amazing support, my rock, trusting in my decision and helping to push me out of my comfort zone. I’m so proud of myself for giving it a go, and sticking with it for all these years! The fitness industry can be tough.”

Erin is a born and bred local, who enjoyed an idyllic Queensland childhood, “I grew up on acreage in Cooroy. It was the best place to grow up and an amazing childhood. Land to run around on. Heaps of animals. A rainforest on our property. Cool parents. Best memories!” She

travelled overseas as a young woman, exploring a lot on her own and worked for a year, living in Dubai. “I was the only female trainer in a gym for a business mens hotel. I helped get the health club up and running. I travelled overseas a lot when I was younger, always by myself. Loved it!”

These days her and Matt juggle work commitments and family life. Both are devoted parents to five year old Aluna and baby Tillie and they work hard to make it all fit, on their terms. “I am quite lucky really with my girls. One, running my own business allows me to make up my own

Erin’s overseas travels as a young woman

rules, so I have been bringing both Aluna and Tillie with me since they were six weeks old. I always joke that they started working for me then! And two, I have scored two amazing and rather easy kids, who just go with the flow. I leave my home in Kin Kin at 4.45am every morning, with both girls in tow. And there’s very rarely any complaints. I’m very lucky! I’m also very

Photos: Margie Wegener or supplied

Erin & girls - Mum to Aluna and Tillie outside the historic Masonic lodge

fortunate that everyone who comes to me understands and appreciates that I am a mum, teaching classes with two little ones at my feet.”

Despite the obvious demands of bringing two small children to a fitness class, Erin is a relaxed and present mother. She fires off instructions, with baby Tillie strapped to her back snoozing through the boisterous class. Aluna is invited to help out, confident and comfortable with the familiar routine and the group she knows so well.

Erin has designed the Pomona studio as a home away from home, to match not only her needs, but those of her fitness community. There is no shortage of high tech training stations, fitness equipment and plenty of torturing apparatus, but equally there are homely touches; a play room, kitchen and bathroom, all lovingly decorated. Words of inspiration, splashes of colour (green is her favourite) flowers, artworks and the feint smell of incense, all powerful symbols of Erin.

“I seriously love my job to bits! I love the energy that is created in my amazing space and that is due to each and every individual that walks through the doors. I love that people feel so comfortable at my studio and with me. It’s more of a home than a gym.

And the friendships made within the walls (are) just so beautiful. My aim at the studio has always been simply to move, and to have fun while doing so. And it makes me so happy that I am able to help

class. I have a real mix of ages, levels and abilities at my studio and I love that people trust my guidance in helping them to focus on their health and well-being journey.”

With the ten year milestone of her business to celebrate, it is also time to take stock of where she is headed next and to plan more time with her growing family.

“I am 10 years in, running my own show! Yippee! So definitely a birthday party at some stage I think. I want to plan more fun things with the family this year. And if the house needs to be cleaned for example, it can wait! I am loving creating our beautiful paradise in the hills of Kin Kin. It really is something special. I’m looking forward to living more ‘off the land’. We’re getting there! And I can’t wait to see Aluna absolutely bloom in Prep. She is so ready!”

motivate, guide and support everyone who comes to me. It’s such a rewarding job.”

Erin has a zest for life that is obvious. Not only is she physically energetic, her energy radiates from somewhere deeper and touches those around her. Her energy is inspiring and easily transferable to those around her especially when she is leading a class. “I care very much about the health and wellbeing of men, women and children. All of whom come to me at the studio. And I also love that all walks of life attend each

Erin has dreams for taking E Fitness forward, throwing around ideas inspired by her creative passions; holistic classes, sound healing, outdoor activities. “Watch this space”, she says.

“My mind is always ticking over with ideas! I want to start doing a bit more for ‘me’. Whether that’s joining in on other fitness classes around the area, climbing the mountain more, bush walks. Maybe even enter some trail runs! I like a challenge.”

After the early class, Erin and the girls

join me for a coffee and I am treated to a guided walk of Pomona with Aluna, as she happily picks flowers and greets the early morning shop keepers. Everyone stops to talk to her and she cheerfully bubbles away. I ask Erin about the Smiling Assassin nickname and she laughs. I tell her that I saw the Smiling Assassin this morningand tomorrow I will be feeling it - and that makes her happy.

“It still cracks me up to this day that I can have 20 people in a class, all doing everything I tell them too. For a whole hour! Oh, the control I have!” She says laughing, and flashing that beautiful big smile.

Erin has a zest for life that is obvious. Not only is she physically energetic, her energy radiates from somewhere deeper and touches those around her.

Humans of the Hinterland - Buzz

By Gemma Guest

‘HUMANS of the Hinterland’ is a human interest photography and storytelling project, based in the Noosa hinterland towns of Pomona, Cooran and surrounds. We continue this series introducing you to Buzz the Vet. I started out doing large animal vet work - my first job was super high pressure doing cattle in Gippsland Victoria. I wasn’t brought up in the country - so when you go to a little country town and you’re the new graduate vet, people don’t want to see you - they’re horrified. And the first cow you see needs a caesarean and it’s their $10,000 embryo transfer cow... really high pressure. It was a bit of a baptism of fire, to be honest it couldn’t have gotten any worse. There were days I would come home and I’d be in tears. I thought if this is what being a vet is like I don’t want a bar of it.

Then the next job I had was on the Gold Coast, a small animal practice, it couldn’t have been better. One vet was really into his medicine, another was a young orthopedic vet who I used to go surfing with - they just took us under their wing and you know, taught you, rather than criticized you. It was really good, I really started to enjoy it. I love the variety in my job. It’s interesting, you never feel like you’re an expert, and you never know what you’re going to get each day.

A lot of people go ‘oh I couldn’t be a vet - you have to put animals down’... but it’s the way that you look at it you know. I see that as providing a service. It’s about the human animal bond. That’s what affects me the most about euthanasia. When it’s dogs that you’ve known and owners that you’ve known awhile. You know how much that owner loves that animal, and you’re aware of what that feels like yourself.

I’ve had this property about 14 years, and been working on the long house for about 11 years. It’s a ‘labour of love’, but it’s like my relaxation if you know what I mean? I couldn’t care less if it takes me a couple of years to finish it. The barracks came from Wacol Army Base. I think it was after World War II, they made these barracks… they were ‘N10’. After the war they had migrant settlers in them, and then the Army Reserve in them over the years. A developer bought the site and got rid of the lot. I bought the barracks off the ‘Weekend Shopper’ one Easter, just a two-line ad, it said ‘ex-army cabin $200’, so I rung the guy up, he was in demo work and I went out there and got them. I’ve connected the barracks together with the decking boards from all the bridges I’ve been collecting over the years. The timber in the window frames is the rails from the Dalby cattle sale yards. See the numbers, that’s the yard number. The timber beams are from three local bridges when they were pulled down... Kenilworth, Imbil and Jimna bridges. I went and asked for them because they were getting rid of them... I have a

few contacts, and I knew a guy. I’ve been dragging that stuff around for almost 20 years.

This is an awesome spot, only takes about 20 minutes to get to the beach. I’ve got no intention of leaving here, it’s like ‘why would I?’ My mum and dad aren’t getting any younger and they’re only an hour down the road, and my brother’s kids are growing up... Sometimes I have these romantic ideas of building a little cabin on the beach on Flinders Island in Bass Strait, looking at the massive swells, with a little fireplace... and that would be cool but I’d be starting again you know. And it’s not that I couldn’t make new friends, but it’s not the same as that organic thing that happens naturally over 15 years or so, like I’ve been here 20 years. It’s important to value that I think. Mental health in the veterinary industry is in crisis. Absolute crisis.

We have built our business on saying yes, helping everyone. I’ve had my moments when my mental health has struggled in this job, you’re trying to deal with so many different things.

People think veterinary work is ‘so expensive’, but they never see the true bill. With human medicine, you’ve got Medicare and private health insurance. That’s where the stress is, you might have something that is fixable, but it’s fixable if you’ve got the money. And sometimes people expect you to be able to absorb that cost, but what they don’t realize is that if you make that

little exception for them, and then make that exception again and again every time someone is in trouble... next thing you know, your business goes under because you’re carrying $100,000 debt.

And we’ve been there - we nearly lost our business for helping people out.

We do all the wildlife work for free, we do two or three wildlife cases a day, that we’re paying wages on, anaesthetic costs etc… a lot of what we do to help goes unseen. At the end of the day though, the clients that we have are awesome, we get alot of appreciation for what we do. Pomona is the best place I’ve ever worked, the mix of people here is great.

If I was driving around Australia, this is the sort of place I’d go to and think ‘hey that’s a cool area, that’s not far from the beach, there’s a lake just down the road…’ I was at Noosa National Park the other morning, sitting there reading the paper with a coffee, little waves coming past, looking out at Double Island, heaps of spare carparks... thinking… man, how good is this?

Follow Gemma’s series on facebook and instagram @ humansofthehinterland

Photos: Gemma Guest

Young Buzz - animal lover

We do all the wildlife work for free, we do 2 or 3 wildlife cases a day

what’s on

FULL MOON DANCE

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 4

VERRIERDALE HALL, 460 VERRIERDALE

RD - 7 to 12pm, $35

GET groovy to some of Australia’s hottest live acts at the Full Moon Dance! Pre-sale tickets are $35 + bf or online at Oztix. Fully licenced event, 18+. www.facebook.com/verrierdalefullmoondance/

MUSIC IN THE GARDENS

NOOSA HINTERLAND BREWING CO. 2ND BIRTHDAY

NOOSA SUMMER SWIM

BALLROOM DANCING POMONA

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 18

NOOSA HINTERLAND BREWING CO. KING ST, COORAN, 5-8pm

Birthday celebrations with the crew - enjoy ive music and birthday give aways!

www.noosabotanicgardensfriends.com

VW CAR SHOW

SATURDAY & SUNDAY FEBRUARY 18/19

HASTINGS STREET, NOOSA

FREE - Starting from 10am

THE Noosa Summer Swim celebrates its 10th birthday in 2023 with festival events all weekend and a super Sunday of ocean swims. Ocean swims range from the 300m Junior Giants to the big one, the Noosa 5.0. https://worldseriesswims.com.au/noosa-summer-swim/

EVERY TUESDAY EVENING

POMONA MEMORIAL SCHOOL OF ARTS HALL

$4 - 7 to 9.30pm

ENJOY an evening of New Vogue and Old Time Dancing with Pat and Norm. Everyone welcome.

Phone 0407 456 939 for more info

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 5

NOOSA BOTANIC GARDENS

FREE - Starting from 10am

EXPLORE the Shade Garden, musicians

Jay Bishoff, Andrew Higgins and friends to entertain, guided walk through the gardens plus coffee & snacks. Bring a chair, rug and picnic. www.noosabotanicgardensfriends.com

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 18

NOOSA MARINA, 2 PARKYN COURT, TEWANTIN, Starting from 7am COME and show off your VW pride and joy for all to see and check out some classic VWs. Every VW is welcome to enter. loveyadub.com.au/

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 19

KENILWORTH SHOWGROUNDS 10am to 3pm, $10

DYNO shootout, show & shine, trophies for Best in Category, food & drinks, bad ideas apparel, trade stalls, exclusive VIP

EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT

YOUR MATES BOWLSPUB COOROY

FREE - Starting from 4pm FREE bowls under lights, live tunes, lawn games, meat boards and of course cracking craft beer and food. Explore a range of special cocktails and there’s also free pool. https://yourmatesbrewing.com/pages/bowlspub

MUSOS’ JAM SESSIONS

save the date

NOOSA

OFFBEAT MUSIC FESTIVAL

JP’s Now Available signing at the KANDANGA POST OFFICE

Thursdays between 10am & 12 midday. No Appointment necessary 45 Main St, Kandanga

BINGO - EVERY THURSDAY

EVERY THURSDAY @ 9.00am

COOROY RSL - www.cooroyrsl.com.au

SCONE TIME

EVERY FORTNIGHT: WEDNESDAY

12-4PM & FRIDAY 6-10PM

APOLLONIAN HOTEL, BOREEN POINT

Drag your old instruments out of the wardrobe and come and play with us. A drum kit, P.A., and bass amp will be provided, and old style blackboard system. B.Y.O. instruments.

https://apollonianhotel.com.au

Tuesday February 14, 10 to 11.30 am

Set to be a fun Valentine’s Day!

Cooroy Memorial Hall, $8 Tickets can be purchased online www.trybooking.com/CDVCU

Scone Time is a community connector where seniors in our community come together with family and business owners over fresh hot scones loaded with home-made jam and loads of freshly whipped cream!

Happy Valentine’s Day

MARCH 3-12

NOOSA - Join

Heads points. www.noosafestivalofsurfing.com

COLLECTORAMA

SATURDAY MARCH 4

NAMBOUR - 7am - Cost: $6 - Kids Free IT’S vast and vintage. Loads of cool stuff. www.facebook.com/CollectoramaFair

COOROY SUNDAY CRUIZE

SATURDAY MARCH 18-19

MAPLE ST, COOROY.

Hosted by the Roadrunner Car Club. Open to all car clubs and car enthusiasts to attend. Held in the Car park - library side of RSL.

SATURDAY MARCH 25

IMPERIAL HOTEL, EUMUNDI, 7am. $95. Boutique Festival with a killer line up. offbeatmusicfestivaleumundi

NOOSA ULTRA-TRAIL

MARCH 23 - 26, COORAN

Noosa Ultra-Trail tackles diverse and challenging trails through the Noosa hinterland. noosaultratrail.com.au/

IMBIL BULL BRONC BARRELLS

SATURDAY APRIL 29, FROM 2.45PM

IMBIL - MARY VALLEY STATE COLLEGE

Rodeo, fireworks, band, kids zone - all rides are free. Bar, market & food stalls. General Enquiries 07 5484 5178

YOUR SEASONAL PRODUCE WATCH with Matt Golinski

TOMATOES AND PARSLEY

TWO ingredients I seem to have endless amounts of in my garden at the moment are cherry tomatoes and flat parsley, and the first thing that always springs to mind to use them up is tabouleh - that tangy, bright and healthy Middle Eastern salad that goes with just about anything.

Soaked bourghal (cracked wheat) gives tabouleh its volume and adds a carbohydrate element, but if you’d like to keep it gluten free I find cooked quinoa to be a good substitute. Using good quality olive oil and plenty of lemon juice is as important as sourcing nice ripe tomatoes for the success of this dish.

We’re lucky enough to have a couple of great free range chicken producers in the region – Moya Valley, available through many of our local IGA supermarkets, and Bendele Farm, available at Yandina and Noosa Farmers Markets and good butchers across the coast, including Eumundi Meats and Cottontree Meats. I won’t use anything but these two poultry growers, not just from an ethical point of view but for the marked difference in quality compared to a battery chicken.

Chermoula is a north African marinade that makes anything taste good – fish, chicken, lamb, even tossed through vegetables before roasting or used as a dip or sauce. Using a nutri-bullet or similar is a good way to get the paste fine, just be sure to wash it out well before you make your next smoothie! Chermoula will keep in the fridge for a couple of weeks, so make a double recipe so you can slather it onto everything.

The Yoghurt Tahini Sauce is a favourite of mine because it is so simple and once again goes with anything. Add lemon juice or diced preserved lemon if you want it to be more acidic or blend it up with coriander if you want a green sauce.

CHERMOULA ROASTED CHICKEN WITH TABOULEH AND YOGHURT TAHINI SAUCE

INGREDIENTS:

1 whole free-range chicken (size 14 – 17) Chermoula:

1 golden shallot or small red onion, peeled

1 clove garlic, peeled

1 small red chilli

1 tbs fresh ginger, grated

1 tsp fresh turmeric, grated

2 tbs ground cumin

1 tbs ground coriander

1 tsp paprika

½ cup coriander leaves, chopped

2 tbs olive oil

1 tsp salt

½ tsp black pepper

Tabouleh:

250 gm cherry tomatoes, halved

1 cup chopped flat parsley

½ cup chopped mint

1 small red onion, finely diced

½ cup bourghul wheat, soaked in hot water for 30 minutes

75 ml lemon juice

50 ml olive oil

salt and pepper

Yoghurt and Tahini Sauce:

¾ cup natural Greek yoghurt

¼ cup tahini

salt and pepper

METHOD: Blend the chermoula ingredients to a paste in a food processor or small blender. Rub all over the chicken inside and out, place on a roasting tray and roast for about 1 hour at 180°C. If you have a meat thermometer the internal temperature of the thickest part of the leg should reach around 75°C.

Mix together the tomatoes, parsley, mint and onion.

Squeeze out any excess water from the soaked bourghal and mix through with the lemon juice, olive oil and seasoning. Taste to make sure its nice and lemony and salty and adjust if necessary.

Stir the tahini through the yoghurt and season with salt and pepper.

Serve with warm flatbread.

Serves 4

BOOKS with Hayley Saunders

THE LAST LOVE NOTE – EMMA GREY

KATE and Cam had a beautiful love story. They met at university when Cam passed a note to Kate during a lecture. They fell in love, they travelled, they had a gorgeous baby boy Charlie. They were happy and madly in love. But then Cam received a devastating diagnosis and passed away quite quickly. It’s been two years and Kate is doing the best she can to cope. Her home is still covered with the post-it notes that Cam used to remember the names of things as his memory began to fail.

People tell her that she is still young, she can meet someone else, but for Kate, while “the sharpest angles of early grief softened, and blurry glimpses of a new life without him began to come into focus”, her love for Cam intensified exponentially.

However, when handsome, motorbike-riding Justin moves in across the road from Kate, she starts to feel conflicted.

When Kate and her boss Hugh head to Cairns for a business meeting, wild weather diverts their plane to Byron Bay. Kate’s mum and her best friend Grace conspire to rent them a house for the weekend, hoping that Kate will be able to rest and unwind.

Hugh has been a source of comfort and friendship over the past four years, both to Kate and to Cam, but he is also hiding some secrets, one relating to a conversation between he and Cam that he promised never to tell Kate about. Despite always knowing exactly what to say to Kate to comfort her, this secret begins to divide them.

It isn’t until Kate finds some long forgotten post-it notes from Cam, that Kate realises just what she might be letting go - the chance for another beautiful love story.

BERKELOUW BOOKS EUMUNDI ARE GIVING AWAY A COPY OF THE LAST LOVE NOTE BY EMMA GREY Email hello@yourlocallifestyle.com.au to enter. You will need to collect from the Eumundi store. 87 Memorial Dr, Eumundi. FB @BerkelouwBooksEumundi

Our December winner was L. Wilkin.

LOCAL AUTHOR RELEASES SECOND NOVEL

Following the success of his first novel, Crucial Step, Sunshine Coast fiction writer, Ian Laver, has just published his second novel, Uneasy.

This fast-paced detective crime novel, set in the late 1990’s, is about Queensland Detective Sergeant Rodney FitzMichael, who has been demoted due to heavy handed interrogation practices and now finds his previous working partner, Lerlene Diplock, is his boss. They must put aside their differences as they investigate the attempted abduction of a child and another case involving the theft of rare orchids. What they uncover has the potential to shake the hierarchy.

Ian has won numerous writing awards and was president of the Sunshine Literary Association. At present he convenes a Haiku study group at Noosa Arts and Crafts, Wallace House, Noosaville.

Uneasy is available online and locally from Berkelouw Books, Eumundi, The BookShop at Caloundra and The Noosa Arts and Crafts gift shop at Wallace House, Noosaville.

LIBRARY ‘BOOKSHELF’ KIOSK OPENS IN THE HINTERLAND

Pomona & District Community House Inc. is home to the shire’s second ‘BookShelf’ – a selfservice book-vending library kiosk packed with more than 200 items available for borrowing.

Borrowers can browse and make their selection via a touchscreen which guides them through the borrowing and returns process.

The kiosk is open for borrowing 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday. It’s free to borrow - all you need is a Noosa library card

Top shelf artists announced

OFFBEAT music festival has released a cracker second artist announcement, with the inclusion of King Stingray, Queen P, Moreton, Greatest Hits, DJ Rolplay and the Gubbi Gubbi Dancers in the lineup for the Saturday March 25 festival at The Imperial Hotel Eumundi.

The artists join the first announcement line-up that boasts Thelma Plum, Gretta Ray, Electric Fields, Clews, Clea, Blues Arcadia, Playlunch, Eastbound Buzz and Tommy Gun.

Festival Director Alice Jones says the exciting lineup brings some of Australia’s best acts to Eumundi for the first time and showcases the diversity of fresh talent that is blazing a path through the Australian music scene.

“It’s a pretty huge line-up for a boutique festival, so for music-lovers it is a rare opportunity to see these bands in a really relaxed setting, and we love that tickets

are limited – it makes the experience really special,” Alice says.

“Having big name artists like Thelma Plum, King Stingray and Electric Fields, alongside quiet achievers like Moreton and Clea is such a thrill and one of best things about OFFBEAT,” she says. “It’s the artists you didn’t know that grab your heart and pull it from your chest, or make you lose

Those Folk

yourself in the crowd dancing, arms in the air.”

“OFFBEAT is like a house party in a pub with a killer line up ... and your new mates are all coming,” she says.

OFFBEAT will announce further side events in the coming weeks that will form part of the Offbeat Music Festival weekend, with celebrations running from Friday March 24 through to Sunday March 26 throughout the village.

The 2023 Offbeat Music Festival is proudly supported by the Restart investment to Sustain and Expand Fund (RISE)an Australian Government initiative and is an 18+, COVID safe event.

For the festival full line-up and more info, head to www.offbeatmusicfestival.com.au.

Tickets: $95 + booking fee via Oztix. https:// bit.ly/3DuTKZP

LIBRARY LOVERS’ LIVE MUSIC COOROY

HELP us celebrate libraries.

Enjoy the sweet sounds of classical guitar and Shakuhachi (Japanese bamboo flute) played by local musician Tracey O’Brien.

February 14, 10 to 11am, Cooroy Library. Free. No need to book.

King Stingray

Sublime sounds for February

TWO big acts headline Sublime Farm and Brewery’s February live music line-up.

On Friday February 10, get set for the first Sublime Full Moon Harvest, featuring rockers Sweaty Palms

Old, new, borrowed and blues describes the band that has been rocking most of the major car and bike shows around Australia since 1983. Still a high energy, hard-working unit, Sweaty Palms know how to rock.

Front-man and guitarist Chris Webbe wrote the Summernat Song and has been with the band since its inception.

They have toured and played all states and most major cities in the country. With a nod to Australian blues roots and rock music, they are always keen to play early Oz rock from our great artists.

If you like your rock and roll more on the wild side and just a li’l bit cheeky then put this on your list for a big night out.

The following Friday 17, Gold Coast band Hinterland hits the stage. They made a huge impression debuting on the Australian country music scene in 2020.

Hinterland’s sound is an eclectic blend of The Corrs, Fleetwood Mac, The Chicks, Brad Paisley and Zac Brown Band.

The band features Rachel Bostock on violin and vocals, her brother Robbie Bostock (lead guitar/vocals) and Jesse Emmanuel (rhythm guitar/vocals).

Together they are an unstoppable team: masters of their instruments, perfectionists with their craft and years of industry and onstage experience under their belts.

With catchy melodies, clever lyricism, dreamy harmonies and showstopping guitar and violin riffs and solos – there is no one doing it like Hinterland. This is going to be something special so don’t miss out. Tickets for both performances at www.sublimefarm.com.au. Camping available onsite (bookings via Hipcamp). For more information visit www.sublimefarm.com.au

Sublime Farm & Brewery

33 Priddy Road, Kia Ora (halfway between Gympie and Tin Can Bay)

NOOSA JAZZ TO CONTINUE

GOOD news for jazz lovers! Noosa Heads Jazz Club has announced that it will continue to stage its monthly concerts at The Majestic Theatre Pomona in 2023. Jazz musicians and audiences rate The Majestic as the best live music venue on the Sunshine Coast.

The concerts will be staged on the fourth Thursday of the month except for August, when The Majestic hosts the opening

Noosa Heads

concert of the 2023 Noosa Jazz Festival on Sunday afternoon, August 27 and for the annual Christmas Crackers concert on December 21.

The Noosa Jazz Club’s website is an excellent source of information for what’s on in the jazz scene in Noosa and the Sunshine Coast, or you can email info@noosajazzclub.com. www.noosajazzclub.com.

Gold Coast visitors Hinterland

Weaving a concert of light and shade

TRULY authentic, naturally charismatic, and delightfully entertaining, Lawrence Menard (USA) and Clare Quinn (AUS) are the transpacific troubadours known as Those Folk. With Lawrence’s Cajun beginnings and Californian upbringing melding with Clare’s grounding in Australian folk music, their musical inspiration is diverse and ever expanding.

Their worlds collided on the streets of Edinburgh, Scotland and the pair have been an inseparable duo ever since.

Their intimate stage show is constantly evolving with the introduction of new instruments and dynamic songwriting. Vocal harmonies are featured alongside guitar, accordion, banjo, tenor guitar, harmonicas and percussion. Their heartfelt lyrics tell tales of travels, love, nostalgia and hope. Their musical talent and compassionate view of life shines through in each and every original composition. Their genuine stage presence and joyful melodies will have you smiling right from the start and all the way through to the encore!

Clare says, “The culturally rich community of the Sunshine Coast is something we’re proud to be a part of

and our hearts are overflowing with all of the good times we’ve had lately! We’re honoured to have a part in bringing people together, cultivating community, and feeling and healing through music. For our South East Queensland tour we’ll be performing in some of the best venues in the region. We’re going to dive deep into

our original songs and the stories behind them, and weave a concert of light and shade.”

A partnership forged in the fires of folk music, their songwriting explores love, hope, belonging, and the human condition. Breathtaking vocal harmonies are featured alongside rich instrumental work

performed on guitar, piano, accordion, mandolin and banjo.

With a sound inspired by iconic duos such as Simon & Garfunkel. Those Folk make not just folk music, but music for all sorts of folk.

The Those Folk Sunshine Coast tour is presented by local performing arts company Red Chair with the support of the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.

This initiative was supported through the Creative Industries Investment Program and is jointly funded by ArtsCoast through Sunshine Coast Council’s Art and Heritage Levy and the Regional Arts Development Fund in partnership with Queensland Government. Sunshine Coast Performance Dates –February/March 2023

Friday February 11: The Majestic Theatre (Pomona)

Saturday February 18: Coolum Civic Centre

Sunday February 19: Eudlo Hall

Thursday March 2: Maleny Community Centre

Full Event Details: www.redchair.com.au

Photo: Markus Ziegler

NOOSA ARTS SHORTS ON STAGE 2023

NOOSA Arts Theatre’s popular Shorts on Stage will be on again next month for three shows only this February.

As is the normal custom Sunday’s performance we will have an adjudicatorthis year it will be Rachel and Howie from Maverick Musicals and Plays, and they will give an award to the Best Play and also an award to The Best of Anything. This could be for a particular performer or director.

The Shorts program is on a little earlier this year due to a jam packed schedule of great plays lined up at the theatre for 2023. The Shorts program will have around 8 plays, each with a 10 minute running time. It’s a wonderful opportunity for emerging artists, writers, performers and directors to showcase their works.

A brief overview of some of the Shorts are outlined here:

• What does a 42 year old accountant living in England suddenly do when he realises life should be a tad more interesting?

• We retrace Biblical times to see what happens to young Moses when placed in the river. We hear the conversation Mum has with his older sister explaining!

• A policeman is coming to terms with a domestic violence incident that he witnessed the previous evening.

• What happens when a counsellor is way too invested in herself and not you?

• Imagine this, an actress suffers a brain haemorrhage during a performance. How does she regain her health? Believe it or not this is a true story!

• Can modern mankind live without the internet?

Excitingly Little Seed Theatre Company

have entered two plays again this year. They won last year’s festival with The Secret Origin of Mojo Man starring Callum Johnston, Jack Miller and Naire McDonald. Callum also brought home the adjudicator award. A brief overview of one of their entries this year is: Two roommates Daniel and Liam who are bored with their existence decide to spice things up a bit. Daniel decides to become a clown in more ways than one!

Saturday February 18, 2pm and 7.30pm plus Sunday February 19 at 2pm. Noosa Arts Theatre, 163 Weyba Rd, Noosaville.

Tickets are now on sale and available at www.noosaaartstheatre.org.au.

ART THIS MONTH AT THE BENDIGO BANK COOROY

JENNIE Smith is a local Cooroy based artist who uses layering and a negative painting method to achieve her vibrant, abstract floral paintings. Her love of nature is at the heart of all her work which which evokes feelings of joy and happiness. Her mixed media works show a quirky twist.

Jennie’s interest in art started with a career in dress design moving on to a long period as a

ceramicist running a teaching studio. A change of direction saw an art based business evolve and then on to where she stands today, a full time artist. Her work shows a love of nature which shines through in her vibrant, abstract, floral paintings. This exhibition, A Walk Down Nature’s Path, is a collection of floral and landscape paintings. Running until Friday February 24. Instagram – jennie.smith.art

NOOSA’S ONLY LOCALLY GROWN COFFEE

NOOSA’S ONLY COFFEE PLANTATION

Noosa Black is a family owned and run coffee plantation nestled at the head of a picturesque valley near Kin Kin in the Noosa hinterland. We are the only commercial coffee grower in Noosa Shire.

We first planted our 6,000 coffee trees in 2005, nurturing them until we produced the award-winning coffee that we proudly offer today.

@

NOOSA’S ONLY LOCALLY GROWN COFFEE

100% Arabica No Pesticides Sun-dried Locally roasted

WHERE TO BUY: IGA Cooroy, IGA Noosa Junction, IGA Pomona, Kin Kin General Store, Cooroy Harvest Fresh, Cooloola Berries, Farmer & Sun Gympie, Tewantin Market Garden, Pomona Little Pantry

NOOSA’S ONLY COFFEE PLANTATION

BUY ONLINE: Get your Noosa Black Coffee direct from the farmer

WWW.NOOSABLACK.COM

Noosa Black is a family owned and run coffee plantation nestled at the head of a picturesque valley near Kin Kin in the Noosa hinterland. We are the only commercial coffee grower in Noosa Shire.

2022 Winners from Little Seed Theatre Company

New Homes for Old Art

HOW often do you get a chance to see and buy an original KISS pinball machine and a rare lithographic prison print by Nelson Mandela? These are just two of the rich array of items for sale in the Cooroy Butter Factory Art Centre (CBFAC) fundraising exhibition titled New Homes for Old Art.

The CBFAC has been overwhelmed with artworks offered by the community for resale. Some come from a deceased estate, others from downsizing homeowners and others inherited from family. The response to the call out has meant opening early the CBFAC new upstairs exhibition space with brand new lighting and walls. Don’t miss this exhibition and the chance to buy a great work. In addition to a great Sidney Nolan print and Norman Lindsay etchings there are an array of contemporary aboriginal

paintings, Australian bush scenes, American folk art, Chinese silk painting, a midcentury tea set and much more.

If you need a rest from the dizzying collection of resale works, then head into the Butter Factory’s large space to enjoy a playful exhibition of abstract works that explore geometry and form. 3 Squared features local artists Michael Ciavarella, Andrew Dixon, Petalia Humphreys and June Sartracom, each of whom have been given a 3 metre square wall to work with.

Finally, if you like what you see in the CBFAC Artisan store, a select number of store artisans will be showing some new works in our Creamery gallery.

The exhibition runs until February 19 at the Cooroy Butter Factory Arts Centre, 11A Maple Street Cooroy.

ARTS FEST CELEBRATES ITS JUBILEE

MANY arts festivals come and go – and some stay the distance.

In Kenilworth, they know how things really work, and are now gearing up for their jubilee 25th Arts Festival, which starts on May 26, running to May 28. And with a $5000 prize for the coveted Kenilworth Art Award, the standard of work will as always be high.

The festival rose from humble beginnings, with borrowed display boards and makeshift plinths – now

it is acknowledged as one of the principal art shows on the Sunshine Coast arts circuit.

The festival will feature visual art, 3D art with a special category for works made from recycled materials, poetry and music.

The Kenilworth Art Festival is held at Kenilworth Public Hall, 7 Maleny Kenilworth Rd, Kenilworth. Visit www.kenilwortharts.org.au/kenilworth-arts-fest for more details.

Merv Moriarty Untitled Pastel

The Kenilworth Art Award Winner James Stickland (Golden Thoughts)

BOTANICAL ART IN THE MARY VALLEY

A huge program for The Majestic Theatre Pomona in 2023

THE Majestic Theatre Pomona is revving up with a great entertainment program in 2023. It kicked off in January with indi movie Franklin, Sunday jazz with Girl Friday and Leonard Cohen which were all well received.

Arts group Mary Valley Artslink kicks off 2023 with botanical art on show at the Imbil fine art gallery

Art on Yabba, hosting the opening of the Nature’s Beauty exhibition on Saturday February 4. The exhibition showcases works by Gympie Botanical Artists and guest artists

Jan Lawnikanis and Marilyn Rose. Bookings https://rb.gy/np58tt

Ms Lawnikanis will also host a full-day workshop in her watercolour technique on Saturday February 25, from 9am. Bookings https://rb.gy/omwngi Artslink’s annual general meeting will be held at the Imbil RSL Hall on Thursday February 16. A great way to join the creative community and find out what the group offers the Mary Valley. Art on Yabba, 116 Yabba Road, Imbil. Thursday-Sunday, 10am-3pm. The not-for-profit art space is an exciting initiative from Mary Valley Artslink.

Treats for the ears confirmed for this year are the return of The Noosa Jazz Club who will perform at the theatre on the fourth Thursday of every month.

Red Chair Events return in 2023 with some great shows including Those Folk on February 11. The Babushka Book Club return March 17 with a brand-new show Happy Ever After.

Jaleos Flamenco will be back plus Estampa World Music in June, and later in the year Ella, Etta, Ertha.

Wild Goat Entertainment will showcase several shows including Good Morning Vietnam Vol 2, Soul Town and Albums

Turning 50

In March we have young up and coming Sunshine Coast performer Roland Munyard hitting the stage and continuing our support of community organisations in 2023. The ever-popular Rocky Horror Picture Show will be screened on March 25 with all proceeds going to Noosa FM. Other confirmed shows for the year are, Andy Cowan, Issi Dye and Barry Charles celebrating 50 years performing on the Sunshine coast.

better

EOI FOR A GUBBI GUBBI FIRST NATIONS’ ARTIST

Noosa Library Service is seeking an image (new or existing) created by a Gubbi Gubbi First Nations’ artist to be used in the collateral materials that will be created as part of the library’s 50th birthday celebrations. Showcasing a Gubbi Gubbi image on the Library Service’s 50th birthday memorabilia will provide an opportunity for the Library Service to show respect to the traditional custodians of the land. It will acknowledge the important connection of traditional custodians to country and raise awareness that the Noosa Library Service branches are located on Gubbi Gubbi traditional lands.

Comedy with Karen from Marketing and Eddie Ray with Silence of the Jams and local content will come from the everpopular Majestic Comedy Nights due to be performed in August. And the Blues Bros show will be heading to the theatre in July.

We will continue to screen silent films every Saturday at 12 noon. They are bigger and more popular than ever.

We can’t reveal all here and there are plenty more shows in the wings so keep an eye on our website themajestictheatre.com.au so you don’t miss out. Team Majestic look forward to entertaining you throughout 2023.

The theme of community, connection, learning or storytelling has been chosen as these have strong First Nation’s links that are central to libraries as well. Noosa Library Service aspires to promote the importance of First Nation’s peoples’ knowledge and cultures to the diverse Noosa community and beyond. Submissions close Friday March 3. More information scan the QR code.

Witch hunt in Salem

LITTLE Seed Theatre Company invites your company at the Eumundi School of Arts this February as a witch hunt begins in Salem.

The setting is 1692, Salem, Massachusetts. The Puritan purge of witchcraft in old Salem is both a gripping historical play and a timely parable of our contemporary society.

The story tells how small lies – children’s lies – build and build until the suspicions of a whole town get aroused. Set in a small tight-knit community, personal grievances collide with lust and superstition, fuelling widespread hysteria. Arthur Miller’s timeless parable attacks the evils of mindless persecution and the terrifying power of false accusations.

Little Seed has a reputation for staging quality theatrical productions. Well, known for both their annual Shakespeare at the Lake event and the musicals they stage at the J, Little Seed has developed a following for

their rich, diverse and exciting work. Amongst the cast of the Crucible are Ava Banks who captivated audiences last May

as Jacques in Shakespeare’s As You Like It in the role of Abigail Williams, the young woman who’s accusations against many in her Salem community of witchery sets of a chilling chain of events. Jack Miller plays John Proctor an honest, upright and blunt-spoken farmer with a fatal flaw.

Proctor’s lust for Abigail Williams leads to Abigail’s jealousy of his wife and sets the entire witch hysteria in motion. Jack is powerful in his role of Proctor and has immersed himself fully in his final role for Little Seed.

This February audiences can expect striking costumes from local costume designer Leona Seib, atmospheric lighting from Travis MacFarlane and intense performances as Little Seed Theatre Company brings the story of the Salem witch hunts to life onstage.

Playing February 17 and 18, tickets for The Crucible

WHIMSY AND IMAGINATION AT POMONA GALLERY

YOUNG Sunshine Coast artist Frances Anschutz is exhibiting her artworks of whimsy and imagination at the Pomona Railway Station Gallery during February.

Frances’s show Memories of Imaginary Friends explores and reinterprets the characters and experiences of the Winnie the Pooh stories. These stories resonate throughout our culture with an enduring mystery and enchantment that still touches many.

She is an individual on the autism spectrum and is firmly established in her art practice, having exhibited solo at the Cooroy Butter Factory Arts Centre in September 2017.

Running February 4 until March 1. Pomona Railway Station Gallery, 10 Station Street Pomona.

Photo: Travis Macfarlane

Jack Miller as John Proctor and Lily Faulks as Elizabeth Proctor

AMAMOOR

EVERY SATURDAY - 7am - 11.30am

EVERY WEDNESDAY - 9am - 12noon

Amamoor Train Station

EUMUNDI

THE ORIGINAL EUMUNDI MARKETS

EVERY WEDNESDAY 8am - 2pm

EVERY SATURDAY 7am - 2pm

THE Original Eumundi Markets is the biggest artisan market in Australia. www.eumundimarkets.com.au

GOOMBOORIAN MEMORIAL HALL MARKETS

EVERY 2ND SATURDAY 8am - 12noon

Goomboorian Memorial Hall

IMBIL

IMBIL SUNDAY MARKET

FARMERS & CRAFT MARKET

EVERY SUNDAY 8am - 1pm

Yabba Creek Road

www.maryvalleychamberofcommerce.com.au

@ImbilMarkets

KENILWORTH

KENILWORTH MARKET

EVERY SATURDAY 8am - 1.30pm

Art, crafts, food, music,fashion etc. kenilworthmarketssecretary@gmail.com

MARKETS

POMONA

KIN KIN

KIN KIN MARKET - NOOSA HINTERLAND

1ST SUNDAY OF EVERY MONTH

8am - 12noon

KIN KIN Creations Market is a market for all people who have made their own products, or grown their own produce. www.inkinkin.net/Markets

NOOSA

FARMERS MARKET

EVERY SUNDAY 6am - 12noon

Weyba Road Noosa Heads www.noosafarmersmarket.com.au

MARINA MARKETS

EVERY SUNDAY 8am - 1.30pm

2 Parkyn Court Noosa www.noosamarina.com.au

POMONA COUNTRY MARKETS

EVERY SATURDAY 7am - 11.30am

LOTS of great stalls, food and music. pomonamarketsqld@gmail.com.

YANDINA

YANDINA COUNTRY MARKETS

EVERY SATURDAY 6am - 12 noon Plants, local produce, secondhand items. @YandinaMarkets· Flea market

DOODLED CARDS OF LOVE @ THE ORIGINAL EUMUNDI MARKETS

LISA Bowes is one very busy lady. Her days are filled manifesting all her childhood dreams as she spends many hours doodling, drawing, sticking, stacking, and sorting. She also juggles life around her 30 year banking career. It was this passion in Lisa’s life that called to her to get more creative and in do so, she has become the brainchild behind ‘Banana Leaf Noosa’. The Unique hand crafted gift card stall at the Original Eumundi Markets.

Lisa has two sons, Billy and Charlie. As a mother raising boys who are now both strapping young men, her sons became the inspiration of many of the Banana Leaf Noosa card designs.

The ‘Charlie Giraffe’ collection – sprang to mind as little Charlie is now 6 foot 3 inches tall. The ‘Band-aide Billy’ collection was inspired by the many bumps and bruises her footy loving son Billy has had to endure to excel in his sporting passion. Lisa’s quirky card designs spring from many of her life scenarios: ‘Lady with a Wine Glass’ Collection; ‘The Noosa Cockatoo’ Collection; ‘The Noosa Koala’ Collection, and the ‘Little Rabbit Collection’ inspired by an adorable illustration on a t-shirt a little girl was wearing who come to visit Lisa’s stall. The array of Banana Leaf Noosa designs engages her customers in a fun, simple and playful way and consistently proves to be the exact fit for the individuals card intention.

Lisa gives particular attention to each card creation, which makes them so unique. Her card portfolio has a variety of colours, patterns and themes with lots of colour. Each card is a mixture of hand cut paper and drawing. These wonderful artistic craft cards are sold individually or in

packs at affordable prices that will perfectly compliment even the most lavish of gifts. The cards are blank inside allowing her customers to fashion their own tailored words. Each of the one-of-a-kind cards come with its own individual envelope.

Stallholders at the Original Eumundi Markets become family. It is that desire to pursue and turn an interest or hobby into a small business that is the family connection they all have. Like so many Original Eumundi Market stallholders, Lisa has been a regular face and stallholder for the last 16 years since leaving her banking career to launch her card business in October 2008.

Creating original cards for friends and family was always a hobby that provided this very busy lady the chance to spread a little love with her gift giving talents. It then organically evolved into a small business and a very popular stall as demand for her cards reached national proportions. With her customers being locals, visitors, day trippers and international travellers, Banana Leaf Noosa cards can now be found in homes

all over the world thanks to the innovation and passion of this very talented lady.

Lisa Bowes is the stallholder of Banana Leaf Noosa. This is another of the fabulous stories just waiting to be discovered at the Original Eumundi Markets, Wednesday and Saturday, rain, hail, or sunshine. eumundimarkets.com.au

A New Exhibition at Eumundi Museum

EUMUNDI Museum is currently hosting an exhibition titled 50 Years after the Vietnam War.

Australia had troops on the ground in the war between 1962 and 1973, although the overall war theatre lasted from 19551975.

Nearly 60,000 Australians served, with 521 deaths and more than 3000 serious casualties.

But apart from Australian authors, few even mention Australia’s involvement, risking our nation’s history being forgotten.

Eumundi Museum interviewed a number of local veterans from the war and asked them to reflect on their experience and their thoughts and feelings now.

HERE ARE A COUPLE OF ABRIDGED SAMPLES:

PETER MCDONALD served with the Army in 1969. He recalls being unwelcome at the RSL in Adelaide in the 1970s and being scorned by much of the general public. He disassociated himself with the war and his service up until 2006 when he joined Tewantin Noosa RSL. Peter has since volunteered in Cambodia building houses, toilets and a school, while conducting fundraising back here in Australia.

DOUG PAGE was a forward scout with D company, 5th Battalion, negotiating a minefield in the dark to rescue his group commander and fellow soldiers. Doug led the way for half of the distance, stepping safely over six mines. But then a mine was tripped, leaving Doug bleeding from the head and legs, and finally rescued by a medevac team. His sergeant and corporal did not survive.

You can visit the museum and listen to more stories while looking at a cache

of objects on loan from Tewantin-Noosa RSL, or you can visit Eumundi Museum’s YouTube channel.

The museum is also home to displays of the town’s fascinating history with large photos illustrating its story. Eumundi Museum is located opposite the market, in the old church at 73 Memorial Drive. Entry is free. Open TuesdaySaturday, 10am-3pm.

WELCOME ADDITIONS @ LIVE LIFE PHARMACY

NATUROPATH - COOROY

Kelsey has a wealth of knowledge and clinical experience. Her lovely, caring nature will welcome you in to discuss your natural health care needs and priorities for 2023.

NUTRITIONIST - POMONA

Thomas is a friendly local to this community. Having many years experience in the health industry, Thomas has a clear desire to improve the health of others through education and wellbeing.

Available Monday to Friday at Live Life Cooroy, 26 Maple Street, Cooroy or Live Life Pomona 6 Memorial Ave, Pomona.

Peter McDonald

Doug Page

LLEW O’BRIEN Federal Member for Wide Bay

IT’S a new year and already we are all facing many new challenges. This time last year much of Queensland was dealing with devastating flood events. Unfortunately, we have seen this happen again in 2023 in the northern parts of the state and in Western Australia.

One of the challenges during emergencies and natural disasters is keeping the internet, mobile phones, and landlines operating. Telecommunications infrastructure is reliant on power, and communications can go down quickly.

Telecommunications are vital during these times of disaster, to ensure people can call for assistance and stay connected and informed.

I know that there are also still some parts of Wide Bay where mobile phone coverage is patchy and unreliable all year round. Extending and reforming the Universal Service Guarantee that applies to landlines to include mobile phones and introducing mandated mobile roaming is essential to grow our region and protect lives. Mandating roaming in regional and remote areas would share all the towers between all the telcos, which would maintain and improve coverage and competition.

The former Coalition Government funded more than 1200 new or upgraded mobile base stations under the Mobile Phone Black Spot Program, including sites at Kin Kin, Boreen Point, Cootharaba and Pomona. There now

needs to be regulatory guidelines to make sure they could be used by all Australians, no matter what telco they are with.

Telcos should also be forced to maintain mobile towers, not just landlines. Unfortunately, the October 2022 Budget also revealed cuts to regional telecommunications despite the urgent need for improvements.

In March 2022, the Liberal National Government announced that it had directed the ACCC to conduct an inquiry into towers used in the supply of mobile telecommunications and other radio communications services in regional areas.

This inquiry is also looking into the technical feasibility of providing mobile roaming during natural disasters or other emergencies.

The ACCC will deliver a draft report on or before April 14, 2023 which will provide an evidence base to the Government to support future policy decisions.

Individuals and stakeholders are invited to share their experiences with the inquiry, either by email to rmii@accc.gov.au or submissions can be made via the consumer survey which will be open until March 12, 2023.

The survey, and further information regarding the inquiry can be found at https:// consultation.accc.gov.au and I hope your input will be used by the Government to help improve communications in Wide Bay.

SANDY BOLTON State Member for Noosa

FIRSTLY, a massive ‘Happy new year’ to our hinterland, aka ‘Country Noosa’ residents, I hope you have enjoyed the break!

Secondly, with issues over the holidays impacting our community including car theft, our Noosa MP Annual Community Survey has been extended until 30 January to ensure your thoughts on this and any other issues are captured. Head to www. sandybolton.com under the ‘Connect’ tab to ‘Have Your Say’, or if you need assistance or prefer a paper copy, please call our office on 5319 3100. Keep an eye on Noosa 360 where we will soon be posting an update on the youth justice situation shortly.

Our much-loved volunteer organisations fulfill many vital functions in our community, including our local Pomona Men’s Shed! After years of uncertainty, they are now one step closer to ongoing tenure at their current location, and we are excited about what the future holds for them. For new residents now calling Noosa ‘home’, consider joining or volunteering for any of our wonderful organisations as it is a great way to meet new friends and become a part of this vibrant community. Remember that Noosa is a Shire and an Electorate, rather than a town, and includes the incredible diversity of both beach and bush communities!

Speed reductions are never popular unless you’re someone who has been directly impacted by the higher speeds. As our traffic volumes increase and a

greater emphasis is placed on the safe use of our roads, speed limit reviews are conducted to ensure the needs of all are being considered, including those who may have had driveways along these routes since way before traffic volumes reached today’s levels. In response to a recent review by the Department of Transport & Main Roads and considered by the Speed Management Committee which includes local Police and Noosa Council, Louis Bazzo Drive has been reduced to 80kph. Further information on the review process is available at www.sandybolton.com/ noosa360 where you will also find updates on many other local matters.

A big thank you to residents for your ongoing patience with road upgrades and maintenance underway in multiple locations including the long fought for Six Mile Creek Bridge #7. How exciting it is to see this historical, notorious one-lane bridge finally being replaced with a wider, 2-lane concrete structure that will also improve flood immunity!

Remember this storm season, that vital information is available to assist your readiness for all extreme weather events at www.getready.qld.gov.au

As always, Noosa State Electorate residents needing assistance with state government matters can contact my office via 5319 3100 or noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au

Happy 2023 everyone. We have a big year ahead and I look forward to seeing you shortly! Sandy x

IT’S great to be in the new year, and my office has hit the ground running delivering outcomes for the Nicklin community and the State of Queensland.

I am proud to announce that our government has taken another step into a greener future, with the recent announcement that West Cooroy State Forest will be transferred early to Queensland’s protected areas. This decision will conserve crucial habitat for native species, including koalas.

The early transfer also includes parts of state forests like Deer Reserve, Beerwah Forest Reserve and Ferny Forest, delivering on a Palaszczuk Labor election commitment to transfer 20,000 hectares of state forest to Queensland’s protected areas.

I was delighted to host Meaghan Scanlon, the Minister for the Environment, for her visit to Nicklin last month. Aside from our visit to West Cooroy State Forest, we also met up with Robyn and Pat from the Yandina Community Gardens to show off their successful Food Waste Loop program, which turns

food waste from local businesses into nutrient-rich compost to sell to the public.

I am proud to have supported them in their successful application for the recent Community Sustainability Grant.

Finally, I am pleased to announce that the $100k Super Round of the Gambling Community Benefit Fund is now open for applications. If your community organisation could use a new vehicle, new equipment, or just some building upgrades, then we encourage you to apply! My office can supplement your application with a letter of support upon request.

As always, if you have any concerns or issues to raise with me, please do not hesitate to contact my electorate office on 5406 4103, or via email at Nicklin@ parliament.qld.gov.au.

CLARE STEWART Noosa Mayor

2023 is underway and just like the previous three years at Council it is shaping up as a big one.

The Trail 5 upgrade is advancing and is due to be completed early this year. Trail 5 works, including upgrading the trailhead facilities in both Pomona and Cooran will improve the trail experience and town connectivity. Works include realignment and widening of the trail, drainage upgrades and new wayfinding and interpretative signage. In Cooroora Mountain Park Pomona works include sealing of existing gravel car parks, pavement rehabilitation and drainage works, a new filtered water station and a new shelter, table and chairs and in Pioneer Park Cooran, works include the installation of new concrete car parks, installation of bollards and new hitching rails. To assist our trail users, new wayfinding and interpretative signage will be installed at Pioneer Park Cooran, Stan Topper Park and Cooroora Mountain Park, Pomona. This $1.68m project has been made possible via funding from the Australian and Qld Governments’ Local Economic Recovery Program.

Roadworks are set to get underway on Middle Creek in Federal this week. In a boost for the hinterland, the roadworks will improve safety and road conditions

on Middle Creek Road, Federal between Federal State School, and Andersons Road. Middle Creek will remain open during the works and traffic control will be in place where needed. Council is conscious of the additional traffic using Middle Creek Road while the Black Mountain landslide is being repaired. The upgrade of Middle Creek Road will provide a safer route for vehicles, once completed and all efforts will be made to minimise the disruptions during the upgrade works. Council is hopeful works will be completed in three months, weather permitting, and we thank residents and motorists for their patience while work is under way.

Finally, Council will be tackling various projects and there will be several opportunities for the community to have a say. Progress and implementation of projects and plans cannot be achieved without hearing from you, our community. As we move forward and provide real tangible outcomes for our community, through our Corporate Plan, our Waste Strategy, our Foreshore Management plan, our Destination Management Plan and of course our budget we would love to hear from you. Please keep a look out on Noosa Council’s Facebook page throughout the year for updates.

Until next month, stay safe, Clare.

ROB SKELTON State Member for Nicklin

NEW YEAR OPPORTUNITIES

ARE you up for a new challenge in the new year?

Are you recently retired and looking for a worthwhile cause to support?

Are the kids going back to school soon and you’d like something new to try?

Do you have specific skills to share or just some spare time?

Then we have the answers for you!

Sunshine Coast Riding for the Disabled (RDA) is a fast growing, fast moving volunteer organisation and we are looking for motivated and reliable people to assist. There are so many opportunities in a variety of areas for people to help.

You don’t have to have horse experience or even like horses!!

At the end of January and the beginning of February, we are offering Orientation and Induction for new Volunteers.

Come along on any morning until Friday February 3 and meet our team, see our growing Centre and decide if this is a perfect fit for you!

You might even make a new friend like Iceman and Clue!

All welcome from 9 am – 12 noon. Wear sun-smart clothing, sensible closed in footwear and your big smile behind your mask! Morning tea will be provided.

RSVP to admin@scrda.org.au

See you at 2 Monak Rd, North Arm! www.scrda.org.au or phone 5472 7280.

SPRING TO IT!

MAKE YOUR YEAR SHINE

2023 is already scooting along!

Where did January go?

This is that time of year where you’re usually feeling inspired.

You might have some new year’s resolutions you’re working on. And in general, you’re feeling pretty good!

Try to bottle up all that motivation you’re feeling and save it up to be sprinkled around sparingly throughout your year!

Don’t empty that bottle all at once!

There’s something about starting a new year. It brings with it a feeling of change, excitement and inspiration to get things done, or begin new things. And most often than not, some form of ‘self-care’ is usually on the agenda.

Try to set yourself realistic goals and targets to reach when it comes to exercise. Don’t be too hard on yourself as you find your feet and try to enjoy the process. And be proud of each achievement and milestone you reach along the way. We are more inclined to stick with something when we are enjoying it, so make sure you choose something that makes your heart sing.

In regard to exercise, especially if it is foreign to you, prepare yourself that you might get a little sore to begin with. It’s completely normal, and a process you must go through in order to get results. Just don’t be scared off by having sore muscles – it’s

a good thing, and proof that you’ve done something!!!!

Just ensure that along with exercising your body, you are also mindfully stretching your muscles too.

And remember that it takes a while to see results and to get into a rhythm and routine too. So, challenge yourself to stick with it, even though it will be tough physically and mentally at times.

And then the magic will happen – I promise. You will see and feel the results you have worked hard for. And be so proud of yourself.

So start off small… and enjoy the journey. Happy 2023 – you’ve got this! E x

Planning for success

WHEN anyone mentions the word ‘planning’, I tend to switch off. In my Strengths Profile, planning sits firmly among my weaknesses. I’m not alone in that. It is something many of my clients avoid. Yet it is well known that planning is a requirement for success.

I want 2023 to be different and I knew I needed help. So I booked in with my mentor, having no idea what would happen. For the first time, I have an annual planner on my wall, full of the things I want to do this year. It’s bright and colourful, and when I look at it, I know what action to take next. I also have a weekly planner and a diary to keep me on track.

Mapping out my year meant including

holidays, tournaments I wanted to play in, business plans, and even date nights. I now look at 2023 with excitement! As my best friend said, when we finally organised that girls’ weekend, “planning fun future stuff and then being able to look forward to it is one of my favourite sources of happiness!”

How did it happen? I dedicated some time and resources to the process. I printed annual planners, scribbled, rubbed things out and moved things around. I permitted myself to dream bigger. Then, I ordered a full-colour, laminated A2 version for my wall and used colourful sticky tabs to map out the things I wanted.

It has become a form of goal-setting with timelines. With such a strong visual cue, I know what actions to take to bring those plans to life. I’m also discovering fun ways to plan those actions, like using colourful sticky notes. Somehow, planning has become fun. What is it that you would like to plan in 2023?

Margit Cruice is The Athlete’s Life Coach based in Tewantin. For more information head to margitcruice.com.

KICKING GOALS with Margit Cruice www.margitcruice.com

with Sarah Gray

SLOW DOWN!

WHAT the! It’s the beginning of a new year, now is the time to go whole hog. Right? Wrong!

Just to be clear, I am not suggesting to take another vacation to recover from end of year celebrations. What I am suggesting is that to live, to really live and not just exist you need to be present and listen to your body.

You have just survived another silly season. Excessive drinking, excessive eating all take their toll, on both body and mind. Now comes the hard yards of trying to recover ground on lost fitness, weight gained and overall health and well-being. True?

You are only human and although we start of the year with good intentions and new year’s resolutions, success stories are rare.

Soooo SLOW DOWN mentally. Listen to how you speak to yourself and be kind. We all have the same amount of time in a day and to use it wisely, you need focus. So

where is your focus? Sadly, while we are focusing on tasks at hand for the day, we lose sight of how we are treating our body and our view of self.

How many of us racing around in the morning, shoving a piece of toast in our mouth while we are answering messages, dressing the kids, doing a load of washing, and worrying about being late for work? That’s what I thought. This is when your health suffers the most. You cannot nourish your body in this state.

Rushing, does not give you any more time. In fact, it robs you of it.

For those of you that may be thinking that I am speaking out of my proverbial, and that I don’t know what I am talking about. Think again! Try raising three children, one of which had severe intellectual and physical impairment while running two Auto Body Shop’s.

So Slow down and love your food! www.foodtrition.com.au, @foodtrition1

TAKE

A HIKE IN THE HINTERLAND with Andrea Taylor

Cooran to Pomona: Noosa Trail Network No:5

WELCOME back to another year of exploring the great outdoors. I am really excited to bring you this hike as I’ve been waiting for the trail to be upgraded. I must say I’m very impressed at the progress being made with lovely wide trails. I’m not sure how much more work needs to be done, but personally there are a couple more spots that need work due to erosion, so fingers crossed the whole trail will be attended to. I’ll keep you updated! You can start this 18km return trail at either Cooran or Pomona following Noosa Trail Network No.5. Give yourself a good four to five hours - this is allowing rest time at Pomona.

I start from my home town Cooran entering behind the General Store where you get a lovely view of Mt Cooran. This is the prettiest part of the trail with a couple of lily covered ponds and the sense of adventure passing through gates and meeting a couple of the local horses. You will come out at the entrance to Ridges Estate and walk along Coles Creek Rd for 200m before entering Tuchekoi National Park. There you’ll notice the trail splits giving you an Easy and Moderate trail. The moderate trail has a very steep incline at the start - it is undulating but manageable. The Easy trail will take you up Coles Creek Rd veering left alongside Jampot Creek Rd. Both Moderate and Easy trails joining at the same spot. I enjoy taking one trail in and the other on the way home. When you reach where the two trails meet you start heading to Pomona and as you drift off in your own little world all of a sudden Mt Cooroora appears on the left through the trees, it is really quite amazing! Also this time of year the Eucalyptus propinqua, commonly known as the grey gum, starts decorticating showing off their spectacular orange trunks.

Remember to look up as koalas are regularly spotted as well as goannas, king parrots, echidnas and if you go early kangaroos. I have been walking through early mornings and the sound of the cicadas is deafening.

You can also climb Mt Cooroora if you feel energetic, or just sit back at Mount Cooroora Park and enjoy the view. They have just put in a new covered picnic table, there is a wood BBQ and drinking water but unfortunately no toilets. There are plenty of facilities at both Cooran and Pomona townships including toilets, coffee shops, brewery’s, and restaurants (please check for opening hours) This hike is suitable for all ages with a good level of fitness.

If you decide to start at Pomona you can enter in behind the men’s shed or at Mt Cooroora Park. Once you get to Cooran you can extend your hike and walk through to Tablelands Lookout - all trails are well signed.

Remember to take plenty of water, hat and sunscreen.

Happy Hiking

Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation new directors

THE Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation (NBRF) appointed three new directors at their annual general meeting held on 2nd December 2022.

Chair, Fiona Berkin, is delighted to welcome Dr John Glaister, Dr Richard Brown and Bill Allan, to the NBRF Board, joining current Directors Cr Tom Wegener, Dr Jan Green, Linda Venables and Jennifer Black.

John Glaister has held senior leadership roles as Director General National Parks, where he worked with the Federal Department and GBRMPA in managing the Great Barrier Reef Field Management Programme.

Richard Brown is currently Honorary Associate Professor in Economics, in the

Faculty of Business, Economics and Law, and, in the Institute for Social Sciences Research, University of Queensland.

Bill Allan is the current CFO for Destiny Rescue and comes with over 50 years of governance, IT and financial expertise.

NBRF also welcomes new Board Advisor, Sonia Shillington, former Head of Marketing and Events for Tourism Noosa who was instrumental in launching the highly successful Enter the Biosphere campaign in 2020.

The full range of activities over the past financial year have been published in the NBRF’s Annual Report which can be found on their website www.noosabiosphere.org.au under Governance.

Hi, I’m TREENIE

Breed: English Staffordshire

Bull Terrier / Bull Arab (Mixed)

Gender: Female

Age: 12 weeks

Young self-starter looking for an inspirational coach to take us to the top. I’ve got the whole packagebrains, good looks, and loads of raw talent - and I’m ready to use them.

Breed:

Gender: Male

Age:

L-R: Linda Venables, Fiona Berkin, Sharon Wright, Jan Green, Richard Brown, Sonia Shillington and Jen Black.

Pavilion project is almost a reality!

AFTER three years of fundraising, including grants from Bendigo Bank and Noosa Council and generous donations from the local community, the building has commenced.

But our work is not done! The pavilion project has been hindered by the pandemic and the spiraling costs of construction. We need a bit more money and volunteering tradies to complete the project.

A skillion-roofed structure was designed utilising Spotted Gum and Iron Bark for the building. The walls will be made from local clay and will be created at future cob-building workshops. The vision is to provide a pavilion that will complement and enhance the amenity of the Cooroy

township and deliver a purpose-built, multi-use space to the community.

Our goal is to provide a place where people can meet, work and share the gardens, pick crops, cook, and prepare food in the pavilion, and then leave with seedlings for their own gardens! The vision is to create a hub for building climate change resilience, promoting education and awareness and encouraging community cohesion through the joy of gardening. It is designed to accommodate all age groups and activities with a focus on inclusion for the elderly and gardeners who live with a disability.

Cooroy Community Garden is in the heart of the town, a vibrant hinterland village in the Noosa Shire. In 2017 Permaculture

Noosa Inc (PN) took over the lease of the gardens and established a permanent base.

PN has been active in the community for over 30 years, cultivating permaculture legends like Geoff Lawton, Leonie Shanahan and Morag Gamble. Members soon realized that the gardens were perfectly situated for an education centre and in 2018 the pavilion project was born.

We encourage you to check out the progress of the building and be part of this exciting community facility.

Tom Wegener, Permaculture Noosa President. Enquiries please email admin@ permaculturenoosa.com.au

OUTDOORS IN BRIEF

A WHOLESOME START TO 2023?

Join Peta Hood from Permaculture Noosa for an interactive exploration of the Ethics and Principles of Permaculture. Learn how the inherent wisdom and practical guide-posts contained within this life-affirming design system for ecological and sustainable living can be applied not only to your garden, but to many facets of life. Take away some simple steps for living in right-relationship with our Earth and each other.

February 14 - 9 to 11am. Cooroy Community Gardens, 26 Emerald Street, Cooroy. Free, bookings required.

MEDICINE FROM YOUR KITCHEN CUPBOARD

Find out how you can use herbs, spices, and food ingredients to help fight a cold and alleviate other symptoms. With over 20 years of clinical experience as a Medical Herbalist, Connie Page will share tips to use at home. Join her as she shares her knowledge to help you feel confident and empowered using simple, yet effective, natural remedies at home. Cooroy - February 6, 10 to 11.30am. Noosaville - February 9, 1 to 2.30pm. Free. Bookings required.

grow landscape yard

Attracting wildlife to your garden

AS Lois Crisler once said, “Wilderness without wildlife is just scenery.”

When creating your wildlife garden, take the time to plan. Having an array of different colours, shapes and heights in your garden will give it a beautiful aesthetic while providing a rich diversity of habitat and feed choices for local wildlife.

When providing for wildlife there are four main elements you want to cater for:

1. Shelter- Include as many natural habitat features as possible. Adding some rocks and logs will provide shelter and resting spots for ground critters. Spikey plants provide safe nooks and crannies for birds.

2. Forage (food)- Bees and nectar feeding birds will feed from flowering species

such as grevilleas, banksias, callistemons while insectivorous birds love dense grasses that house a plethora of insects and other delectable morsels.

3. Nesting- Depending on the space you have available you may consider planting some larger trees that can be utilised by larger bird species. Erecting a nest box (or 2) will provide valuable housing for many birds, micro bats and gliders.

4. Water- Provide birds with a regular space for bathing and drinking, but keep it shallow. Keeping sticks and other “selfrescue” devices in the bird bath can be a sweet addition. Placing the bird bath near a small shrub gives the birds some added protection from above while they bathe and drink. Water features can create a beautiful centre point in the garden, especially when backdropped and colour matched with some beautiful native plants. Voila!

Happy gardening, Jacinta

YOU CAN HELP PROTECT YOUNG TURTLES

NOOSA residents can help ensure local turtle hatchlings have a fighting chance of survival as they make their way from the dunes to the ocean during February.

“It’s easy to get involved in helping a threatened species – join us in taking part in the Clean-Up For Hatchlings beach clean-up morning on February 4,” Mayor Clare Stewart said.

This is Noosa Council’s first year taking part in the annual event, run by Sunshine Coast Council in partnership with TurtleCare Sunshine Coast, Reef Check Australia, Unitywater and SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast Aquarium.

“It’s a long running and successful event – now in its ninth year - and we’re thrilled to become part of it,” Mayor Stewart said.

“It’s an incredibly important cause. Ensuring the beach is free of litter helps to give turtle hatchlings a clear passage as they make their way from the dunes to the water after hatching during February.

“By taking part, volunteers are helping to ensure the little hatchlings have the best possible chance of survival,” Cr Stewart added.

The dunes near Beach Access 50 at Peregian Beach – a known turtle nesting area – will be this year’s Noosa clean-up site (northern end of Peregian Esplanade, opposite Lowry Street).

Volunteers can register now, via Eventbrite, to take part in the clean-up at

the Noosa site between 6am and 7.30am on February 4.

Noosa Council Environment Officer, Melissa Coyle, said participants should bring gloves, as well as enclosed footwear, and sun protection.

Noosa volunteers are invited to join the combined Clean-Up For Turtle Hatchlings celebrations at Coopers Lookout Park, south of the Kawana Surf Club, from 8am.

“There will be a free barbecue breakfast, a prize draw and other fun activities, plus an opportunity to weigh and sort the collected debris,” Ms Coyle said. Register at Eventbrite.com. Search ‘CleanUp For Hatchlings - Peregian Beach’ (Direct link: https://www.eventbrite.com. au/e/clean-up-for-hatchlings-peregianbeach-tickets-516374208157)

THE BACKYARD BANDICOOT

HAVE you ever noticed small conical holes and diggings on your property? These are likely the tell-tale signs of bandicoot diggings. You may have been lucky enough to encounter one of these small nocturnal mammals digging around in the leaf litter or walking through the undergrowth at night.

Bandicoots are typically solitary mammals that have sensitive noses which they use to seek out insects, insect larvae, lizards, mice, snails, fungi, grass and fruits.

Although there are seven species of bandicoots known to inhabit Australia, there are only two on the Sunshine Coast. Firstly, the northern brown bandicoot (Isoodon macrourus), which translates as long-tailed equal-tooth; and secondly the long-nosed bandicoot (Perameles nasuta), which translates to the notably nosed pouched-badger.

MOUNTAIN BIKING with Andy Flanagan

I can jump puddles - MTB 101.2

ONE of the skills that most riders want to get a handle on in mountain biking is jumping, so let’s take a look at what’s involved.

First and most importantly, jumping is a skill that requires building up to by first mastering the basics. Things like cornering, riding rough terrain with confidence, weighting the bike correctly, lifting the front wheel, and riding drops are essential skills to master before jumping.

These will come with time and practice. Watching more experienced riders and getting some coaching will help a lot. There are many good coaches out there and if you are serious about improving fast this is definitely the way to go.

I’ve had a couple of sessions with one of downhill mountain biking’s legends, Chris Kovarik, and the biggest take away I got from him regarding learning to jump was to

master bunny hops with flat pedals first (not clipin pedals). Once you have this, then practice timing by hopping over puddles and sticks and off small drops. Then with your hopping and timing dialled in start hitting some small jumps and build up gradually. I learnt a huge amount from Chris in just two sessions and I’m sure I use these skills every time I ride, 10 years down the track! So the take away I’d like to leave you with is don’t just follow your mate over that big jump, just because he or she can land it safely doesn’t mean you can.

Work up to it, gaining the skills either by watching and listening or taking a couple of lessons from an accredited instructor. Stay safe, enjoy the ride.

All the best, Andy Flanagan. Outdoor enthusiast, Mountain Biker, Unicyclist, Hiker, Coach and Bike mechanic at Spoke N Trail.

IMPACT HIT

THE GROUND RUNNING IN 2023

START THE NEW YEAR ON A POSITIVE NOTE WITH TAI CHI

Are you wanting to make a positive start to the new year in 2023? To do something that calms and clears the mind, so you are ready to handle any daily challenges? And that gives you a powerful, health-giving workout for body and mind?

Then tai chi may be just the thing for you. New tai chi sessions are starting soon on the Sunshine Coast, including Eumundi. These sessions are designed for brand new beginners.

THE crew at Impact Boxing have well and truly hit the ground running in 2023. All classes are back in full swing. The amateur boxers are already well and truly into their preparation for their upcoming bouts.

Professional boxer Bryce Hegarty is preparing for his first bout on Feb 18 on the Gold Coast. Our Pee Wee boxing program has also kicked off for the year with some great numbers in those classes.

This year the crew at Impact Boxing and Fitness Centre will be hosting the Sunshine Coast’s very first ‘Sunshine Coast Regional Boxing Titles’ on March 25 at the ‘Stadium’ at Noosa District High School. “We have

been hosting the Young Guns tournaments for the last 10 years in Cooroy, so this year I wanted to do something a little different. The Sunshine Coast Titles will attract boxers from all over the Coast and boxers from all over Australia that will be challenging some of our Coast’s best boxers. This event will be a little more prestigious than any previous shows held here. With title belts up for grabs this will be a great event.”

To be part of this great club please call Mark Evans 0403 264 048 or Kylie on 0418 723 143

Yours in Sports

Mark Evans

The ancient art of tai chi involves a sequence of slow continuous movements which improve balance, flexibility, and well-being. Tai chi works as a moving meditation that helps body and mind to become supple and strong. The Harvard Medical School has said that tai chi is ‘one of the best exercises you can ever do’.

A new introductory course in tai chi is starting at the Eumundi State School Hall on Wednesday March 1 at 6:30pm. New

sessions are also starting in Buderim and Maroochydore; check the web site for details.

Pre-registration is essential: register today for an obligation-free introductory session by visiting www.taoisttaichi.org , email sunshinecoast@taoisttaichi.org or phone 1800 108 801.

These sessions are offered by the Taoist Tai Chi Society, a not-for-profit, charitable and volunteer organisation founded by Master Moy Lin Shin.

SOCIAL TENNIS COOROY

Cooroy Tennis Club play social tennis on Tuesday and Thursday mornings 7.30-9.30am and Sunday evening 6-8pm. All level of players welcome. Members $4, Non-members $7, balls provided. For more information contact Ian Garvey 0409 581 870, Dorelle Goldsworthy 0403 737 183 or Lyn Barker 0439 648 407.

HORSE RIDING WITH SCATER

SUNSHINE Coast Area Trail and Endurance Riders Inc (SCATER) has been organising Competitive Trail Rides and other horse events on the Sunshine Coast for 32 years. Events planned for this year include three Competitive Trail Rides, two Navigation rides (always great fun!), a Judge Point Training Clinic, Walk Only Trail Rides and other events to be confirmed.

Competitive Trail Riding (CTR’s) involves a horse and rider following a marked trail, distance around 18 kilometres, through beautiful forests, completing 10 judge points along the way. CTR’s are one of the only sports in which rider and horse are judged separately. As well as riding as an individual at CTR’s riders can ride in a team of two.

You don’t require a special type of horse or gear for SCATER events. SCATER is a relaxed friendly club, keen to encourage riders of all ages and experience to have a good time, socialise and improve their horsemanship skills.

Following the Meet N Greet Walk Only Trail Ride on February 12 is the Judge Point Training Clinic on March 12, an educational day for riders wishing to try Competitive Trail Riding. The clinic commences with a Horse Health demonstration then riders practise and learn how to perform a wide variety of judge points and challenges in preparation for the first Competitive Trail Ride on May 21.

Consider renewing your membership or joining SCATER for the first time before the Meet N Greet Ride on February 12 to go in the draw for a red SCATER shirt. Membership details on the SCATER website.

Review the SCATER website calendar for events, like us on SCATER Facebook for updates or ask to receive updates directly to your inbox. Information about SCATER and Competitive Trail Riding is on the website at www.scater.com.au

Immaculate home, 2 acres, so very close to Noosa

THIS wonderful property ticks many boxes. Whether working from home or just for pure convenience it suits so many different lifestyles. Recently fully refurbished to perfection, no cost has been spared to create perfect open plan living including a kitchen that would delight any budding Chef.

This single level home is an entertainer’s dream. Opening the bi-fold doors blends the indoors with the outdoors to accommodate large gatherings.

This truly is a special home, high ceilings, gorgeous Spotted Gum solid timber floors and carpeted bedrooms for a touch of

luxury. Cedar windows throughout the home create picture perfect views from every angle. Three of the four bedrooms including the huge master open onto covered patios.

The large undercover deck overlooks the fully refurbished saltwater pool with its stylish glass quartz finish. The family will enjoy this 2 + acre property, grow your own vegies, you might like some chickens, there’s plenty of room for it all.

The three car garage is huge, there’s lots of storage and work space, even a wash up area, outdoor shower, orchid house and it’s connected by an undercover walkway.

Gardens are exceptional, beautiful mature trees and low maintenance, well established shrubs abound. Everything you need to do for business or pleasure is literally at the end of the street. Ten minutes to Noosa Main Beach and cosmopolitan Hasting Street. 5 minutes to the Noosa River and the fashionable Gympie Terrace, which is home to restaurants, cafes, shopping, hair and beauty parlours, and entertainment. This is the spot to join Noosa’s locals in a walk along the river and a morning coffee, join a Tai Chi class or just people watch.

Noosa private/public Hospital, radiology

and medical centres are a mere 4 minutes’ drive. An abundance of schools to choose from, some within 600 metres from the front gate, and the local bus stop’s just around the corner.

How convenient is this acreage property?? But wait there’s more. It’s only 25 minutes to Sunshine Coast international airport and 90 minutes to Brisbane City.

41 Beckmans Road, Tewantin

BED: 4 BATH: 2 CAR: 3

PRICE: Price By Negotiation

AGENT: David Berns Real Estate David Berns

PHONE: 0408 629 438

CHARMING HOME, 6 ACRES, MINUTES TO TOWN!

THIS charming highset home on a parklike 6 acres is tucked away in a dress-circle neighbourhood just a few minutes’ drive into town, offering peaceful, picturesque acreage living with uncompromising convenience.

The home is older-style, post-war in look and ambience; the upper level comprises three bedrooms, new bathroom, new kitchen, and lounge – downstairs is the laundry, second toilet, storage/workshop space and covered patio - the perfect space for a BBQ and a few drinks.

The current owners have comprehensively renovated the home whilst maintaining its warmth and character; features include high ceilings, casement windows, louvres, new timber-look flooring, and ceiling fans.

Infrastructure on the property includes a new 10x8m

powered colorbond shed with two bays, an annex and 3-metre high clearance, outdoor shower, 2 x water tanks, partial fencing, and septic system.

20 Curry Court, Cooroy

BED: 3 BATH: 1 CAR: 4

PRICE: $989,000

AGENT: Countryside Realty Noosa Stacey Hitch

PHONE: 0411 429 499

The land immediately around the home has been cleared creating expansive open, flat grassy space for outdoor activities; a delightful seasonal creek runs through the property, and there is a lovely outlook over the neighbouring dam from the rear of the property.

A once in a lifetime opportunity

ONE of the best 10 acres you will find in the shire, all completely cleared, usable with the perfect gentle slope. In fact, in the 80’s this property hosted the picnic country horse races. Positioned overlooking the expansive land, is the Hamptons inspired home featuring 6-bedrooms, 3-bathrooms. Including a guest wing, complete with its own kitchen, lounge room, dining and separate entry. There are so many options for multi-generational living on this property.

Entertaining will be an absolute delight with a covered verandah running the full length of the home and a massive, covered entertainment area overlooking the resort-style pool, outdoor TV, BBQ area, and magnificent land that surrounds.

Space is in no shortage on this country estate, all the land is cleared and usable presenting the perfect opportunity to keep horses. The home is fully surrounded with secure fencing and is equipped with the ultimate man cave. Including a fully functioning vehicle hoist and workshop, fireplace, TV entertainment space, as well as its own bathroom.

Water is abundant on the property with a spring-fed bore and dam. The property also features an immaculate 2-bay shed, a large 4-car carport, plus a caravan carport. This perfect piece of paradise offers complete privacy, tranquillity, and space. Located on sought-after Cooroy Mountain Rd, only a short 5-minute drive to Cooroy CBD and 15-minutes from Noosa.

Spectacular 5 acre lifestyle property

79 Pearsons Road, Lake Macdonald

BED: 5 BATH: 2 CAR: 6

PRICE: $1,895,000

VIEW: By Appointment

AGENT: Hinternoosa

Jeanette Catalano

PHONE: 0422 923 851

Mario Catalano

PHONE: 0400 613 879

HOW rare to find a 2 hectare (5 acre) property that is situated within walking distance to the thriving town of Cooroy, yet with that feeling of peace and privacy. Set well back from the road is the spacious modern residence featuring five good size bedrooms, high ceilings, and timber floors in the open plan living area. This home caters for all the family with a dedicated lounge/media room, home office, and huge covered outdoor entertaining area. The fabulous kitchen is at the heart of the home with a superb outlook over the land and to the sparkling salt water in ground pool. There’s gas/electric cooking, Caesarstone breakfast island bar, and a splendid walk in pantry. Great for family and friends gathering together, the living area also includes a projector and screen plus surround sound is already in place.

The near level acreage has great separation from neighbours, plus post and rail gated entry, is all cleared and usable with dog fencing on the boundary. The large shed is 15m x 9m with four bays, power and lights, plus a mezzanine level inside. Excellent for parking all manner of vehicles plus room for a boat, caravan, horse float, or maybe a motorhome too. Other features of this impressive property include 5kW solar panels, solar hot water, large picturesque dam, and 5 rainwater tanks.

Ideal for horses or simply those looking for a usable acreage to enjoy, this property has it all including a spectacular location in the Noosa hinterland with the Coast under 30 minutes away.

Cooroy Mountain Road, Lake Macdonald

BED: 6 BATH: 4 CAR: 6

PRICE: Offers Over $2,950,000

AGENT: Wythes Real Estate

Alisa Wythes

PHONE: 0415 111 350

As new modern home on large easy-care block

BEEN looking for somewhere to create a peaceful rural lifestyle, with the conveniences you’d expect in a contemporary residence – minus the hard work of acreage? This fabulous property ticks all the boxes. Set on a lovely, fully useable 1,596m2 block in a quiet street, it boasts a stylish as-new home, constructed in 2018 by local builder Michael Williams.

Enter via a covered front verandah, the home has a welcoming ambience courtesy of ultramodern styling and easy care finishings. Comfortable modern living is achieved through features like hybrid flooring, fans, and air-conditioning.

The centrally located open plan living zone is perfect for families and entertainers, with spaces for dining and lounging. These are serviced by a sleek, state-of-the-art modern kitchen, which boasts a large walk-in pantry, double oven, dishwasher, and island bench with breakfast bar. Large glass slider doors frame the lovely outlook over the property, and open onto a wide, covered and elevated deck. This is the ideal spot to relax with loved ones while taking in the fresh air and views across the hinterland to Mount Cooran.

At one end of the home is an enviable master suite, comprising a spacious, airconditioned bedroom, walk-in robe, plus an elegant ensuite with twin vanities. Also

53

Brewers Road, Cooran

BED: 3 BATH: 2 CAR: 3

PRICE: Offers Over $950,000

AGENT: Hinternoosa

Kess Prior

PHONE: 0404 344 399

Dannielle Preston

PHONE: 0435 405 656

at this end is a generous study/home office with a built-in desk. The opposite end of the home incorporates two bedrooms, the main bathroom (with separate shower and bathtub), and the family-sized laundry.

The home is complemented by lovely, low maintenance lawns and landscaped garden beds. Fully fenced, there’s also a single lock up garage and double carport including side access and ample underhouse storage. Solar power (5.5kw) and there’s established vegetable garden beds and an enclosed chicken pen)

Despite its quiet location, this property is within walking distance of Cooran village’s primary school and general store. Arrange your inspection without delay.

163

Tranquil and elevated setting

THIS is the country lifestyle at its best. A beautiful 3-bedroom home with 8 car storage and two road frontages, set on 5 fabulous acres of useable land, with creek and bore located in Traveston on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.

The property offers a perfect start with this very large residence, well built and designed with open plan living, reverse air-conditioning and areas that flow out to the undercover entertainment area. A great kitchen with gas cooking and timber benchtops that serves the living areas. Sit outside amongst the stars with the custom built firepit – just so relaxing enjoying what country life has to offer.

There are 3 good size bedrooms – light and bright and close to the bathroom. The place has been freshly painted and cleaned up – great for living in while you build your dream home. There is loads of car and caravan or boat storage under cover with easy access and power.

There is a second entrance to the property and options over looking this great block of land with a natural setting to consider if you choose to build further. Additionally there are two 24 foot

25 Lehman Road, Traveston

BED: 3 BATH: 1 CAR: 8

PRICE: Offers Over $799,000

AGENT: Wythes Real Estate

Warren Berry

PHONE: 0407 730 987

shipping containers – ideal for storage.

The land has a beautiful running creek plus bore and large freshwater tanks. Room for horses, small livestock or great for small crops. Positioned high and dry, set on a quiet country road in Traveston.

A wonderful central position, only 5 minutes away from the Bruce Highway and Traveston Service centre with easy access to travel north or south. Brisbane is only 1.5 hours away or 7 minutes to Cooran with schools and shops.

NEW TO PROPERTY PROVIDORE, PROFESSIONAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SERVICES

PROPERTY Providore is a boutique agency priding itself on local knowledge and integrity. After building a reputation of being one of the area’s leading property sales specialists, who truly go above and beyond the rest, Property Providore is now offering an additional service to their repertoire.

Property Providore welcomes Louise McGrath to the team who will take charge of the property management service. Lou has lived in Noosa most of her life coming back to live in Noosa to complete her high school years at Noosa High (the ONLY high school in Noosa at the time), after 9 years living in Port Moresby PNG.

Lou is a real ‘hands on’ operator and has been combining property management with hospitality and a sprinkle of personal development over that last 30 years. Lou operates foremost on integrity, reliability and communication and is well known and respected in the Noosa community. A perfect fit to the team at Property Providore, joining Brendan Weatherill and Adam Trist, because everyone who works here has grown up in Noosa and has a highly sought after local knowledge expertise and professional reputation.

Lou says, “By engaging us to professionally manage your investment you will enjoy a ‘STRESS FREE’ property experience. We take pride in what we do, operate with integrity and care about

our reputation. Our way of operating in business is to do everything we can to ensure complete satisfaction for all stakeholders on all fronts, delivering exceptional unsurpassed service in the marketplace. Our major point of difference is that we work to accommodate our client’s needs and consider diligent service and open communication to be key.”

Property Providore also offer property management and maintenance with a personal difference and have a broad community network available with local trades and services found on the website in the Connections tab. Lou operates by the book, the ‘RTRA Act 2008’ book. Every t is crossed and every i is dotted!

Lou is always happy for to chat so please if you have an enquiry or need some obligation free advice, please give her a call.

While navigating life our bodies hold stress in our nervous system like kinks in a hose. These blockages accumulate causing dysfunction, leading to illness and increasingly debilitating disease.

wisdom with this powerful technique.