Your Local Lifestyle: July 2024

Photo: Ilsa Wynne-Hoelscher

Celebrating

Culture and Results

Here is to everyone who paved the way before us. Here is to the positive impact our current team is making, the professional service network that supports us so well, and to our clients who ultimately allow us to shine by choosing us. Thank you for being a part of our journey.

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Little Planet Media Pty Ltd

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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 Erin Yarwood Hayley Saunders Margie Wegener Andy Flanagan

www.yourlocallifestyle.com.au

PO Box 125, Cooroy Qld 4563

PUBLISHED MONTHLY

Distributed in Noosa Hinterland & surrounding areas

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.

Y LL respectfully acknowledge the sacrifices of all who have gone before us who help to make our country great.

LAST month, Cooroy RSL was buzzing with activity as the community gathered for their bi-annual donations night on June 17. The club generously distributed over $44,000 to 30 local organisations, supporting a wide array of causes and projects.

Beneficiaries included the Noosa Shire Museum, which received funds for restoration works, and the Cooroora Netball Club, which secured financing for clinics and training equipment.

The Cooroora Woodworkers Club was supported for their annual Woodcraft Show, while the Cooroy Charity Knitters received funds for yarn.

Significant contributions were also made to the Cooroy Horse & Pony Club for their

$44,000 Community Donations WRIGHT

Preventing further short-term accommodation from popping up in residential areas is a key focus of the Noosa planning scheme amendments, now out for comment.

Strategy and Environment Director Kim Rawlings said the amendments will ensure new housing in medium and high-density residential areas is for permanent residents, and not visitors.

annual Gymkhana and the Cooroy Local Ambulance Committee for their CPR Awareness Van. The Cooroy Pomona Lions Club received a donation for the Pomona Family Fun Day, and the Cooroy Scouts were funded for new tents.

Additional funds were allocated for a new sound system for Dance on Maple, an indigenous yarning circle at Federal State School, and netball expenses for Ella Ruster in the Under 18 Suncoast Premier League. Katie Rose Cottage Hospice, Kin Kin State School, and Noosa Christian College were also among the recipients.

Notable donations included support for Nathan Garvey’s participation in the World Championships Long Distance Triathlon, a defibrillator for Just 4 Kids, and the Pink

Mind Body Education

Up Cooroy fundraiser for the McGrath Foundation.

Pomona Pony Club, Pomona State School P&C, Pomona Tennis Club, QCWA Eumundi Branch, Ridgewood Community Hall Committee, Roadrunner Car Club, Smart Pups Assistance Dogs, Tall Trees Art Inc, and The Bush Circle also received significant donations for their various initiatives.

This was one of the largest rounds of donations from Cooroy RSL, highlighting their commitment to supporting local organizations. Another round of donations is planned for later in the year, with information available on the Cooroy RSL website.

“These changes seek to further help protect neighbourhoods from the impacts of short-stay properties,” Ms Rawlings said. Unless already approved, new short-term accommodation of whole dwellings will no longer be permitted in residential zones under the proposed changes to the Noosa Plan.

NOOSAVILLE FORESHORE PLAN SURVEY

There’s still time to review and have a say on a draft masterplan to guide the renewal of the Noosaville foreshore over the next 20+ years. It focuses on amenity and ageing infrastructure upgrades and improvements, retention of shade trees, enhanced landscaping and more shade. Complete the survey by July 7.

HOSTED by the Kin Kin Community Group (KKCG) and Noosa Council, the Kin Kin Neighbour Day held on Wednesday June 19 was a wonderful afternoon of community bonding, enhancing the resilience and strength of our hinterland areas. The event was postponed due to the rains in March, however resilience prevailed and it was a gathering to be remembered!

Over 130 local residents gathered to

Kin Kin’s Neighbour Day

enjoy a delicious free sausage sizzle and nourishing soup, live music by Brenton Keen, and engaging games and sports activities for the kids. The local Kin Kin Volunteer Rural Fire Brigade attended, along with our Disaster Resilience team. The SCHHS Mental Health - Disaster Recovery team were also in attendance with the SCHHS providing a free ice cream van and a captivating birdie story time for the kids.

Also supported by the Kin Kin Youth program the local youths enjoyed and tested out the new outdoor games equipment including connect 4 and community basketball ring, funded by Health and Wellbeing QLD and Noosa Council.

Fun and happy memories have been made for the Kin Kin Community with great thanks to all the helpers and KKCG volunteers.

COURT UPHOLDS NOOSA COUNCIL DECISION

The Planning and Environment Court has upheld a 2021 Noosa Council decision to refuse a 246-unit retirement village on land next to the golf course at Cooroy. The proposal would have resulted in a high-density residential development on land set aside as green space.

TOW-AWAY ZONE TO TACKLE CAMPING

Parking bays at the Mitti Street / Park Road junction, Noosa Heads, have become a tow-away zone between 10pm and 4am - the latest tool deployed in an effort to curb illegal camping. It follows the introduction of the 10pm to 4am no-parking zone through Noosa Woods.

EUMUNDI NOOSA RD PROJECT

TMR has begun improvements to Eumundi Noosa Road between Lenehans Lane, Doonan, and Beckmans Road, Noosaville. TMR says the work includes road widening and resurfacing, sealed shoulders for bike riders and wide centre line treatment. Completion is expected early 2025.

BIG SHOUT OUT!

BIG SHOUT OUT to Owner Peter Kendall and his team who have done a remarkable job bringing our local icon ‘The Big Pineapple’ back to life for the enjoyment of local families and visitors to our area. Exciting things ahead. Marty Hunt joined Mayor Rosanna Natoli at the official re-opening.

CONGRATULATIONS to Kin Kin-ite Peter Bradow - a recipient of the Australian Fire Service Medal in the King’s Birthday Honours List. Superintendent Peter Bradow, started his career as an auxiliary in 1986. He is the current Director of Regional Development in the Southern Region, and was honoured for his contributions to research and development in road crash rescue operations and training.

CONGRATULATIONS to local Joel’s Journey owner, operator, founder, and tour guide, Joel (left), who was selected as a finalist for the 2024 Queensland Top Tour Guide Awardbringing home the Bronze - WOOHOO!!

BIG SHOUT OUT to Noosa District SHS Cattle Show Team for another successful show! Six students headed to the Sunshine Coast Show last weekend and performed amazingly. Oscar came away with a first in poultry judging, first in cattle handling and is off to Woodford this weekend to compete in the regional championships, also qualifying for the Ekka in poultry judging. Saskia came 3rd in poultry judging and Hailey made it to the finals in cattle handling. Our cattle received champion cow/calf (Quick step and Ubeaut), 3rd in cow/calf (Sunflower and VB) and reserve champion heifer (Unique).

This year’s Wombats Winter Scooter Rally is being held on July 26-28 at the Apollonian Hotel , Boreen Point.

This rally is open to all types and makes of Scooters and Postie bikes. All Scooter Clubs welcome and no limit on how many can attend.

Great for spectators to pop into the pub on Saturday afternoon for a look! This year’s event will be sponsored by Scooter Style Noosa.

BUTTERCUPS CUPCAKES

Traditional hearing aids amplify sounds but often miss the mark when it comes to focusing on what you actually want to hear.

This is particularly challenging in noisy environments, where discerning speech can be nearly impossible for those with hearing loss.

Think about how difficult it is trying to chat in a bustling restaurant or while the TV is on in the background.

Meet Oticon Intent™ — a revolutionary hearing aid designed to tackle this exact issue.

While our ears collect sounds, it’s

our brain that interprets them.

That’s why Oticon creates hearing aids like Intent™, specifically engineered to support brain function.

In conversations, you might keep your head still to focus on a single person or move your head to engage with multiple people in a group setting.

When you’re struggling to hear, you might lean in to better catch what’s being said.

Oticon Intent™ takes these natural movements into account, helping the device understand your listening intentions and providing personalised

support.

This allows you to interact with the world on your terms.

Oticon Intent™ is now available at Acoustic Hearing Clinics, where we offer a wide range of hearing technology brands along with comprehensive hearing testing. As a local, independent audiology clinic, we always provide the latest advancements in hearing technology without being tied to any single brand. Call 5443 6633 today to discover how Oticon Intent™ can enhance your listening experience.

ROTARY WELCOMES

NEW PRESIDENT

THE Rotary Club of Cooroy celebrated Changeover Night at the Cooroy RSL on Monday, June 26.

Following a highly successful year led by Chris Durie, members, along with family, friends, and distinguished guests, gathered to welcome Bob McCrossin as the new President for 2024-2025.

The event highlighted the Club’s commitment to fostering leadership and service in the community.

WAR, BABIES AND ‘NURSE EMILY’

MANY may not be aware, but once upon a time the clubhouse at the Eumundi Showgrounds and Sports Complex had a very different – and special – purpose.

It was a Private Hospital that helped women of Eumundi and surrounds give birth safely. From 1924 to 1958, local resident Emily Luke, known simply as ‘Nurse’ ran the facility.

She oversaw the delivery of a generation of babies, minor surgery and the treatment of injuries.

While visiting her family home in Sunny Brae in 1923, Nurse Emily was approached by a local doctor who asked her to establish the nursing home. In a gracious gesture,

Emily’s parents donated the beautiful Queenslander to be used for this purpose.

When it opened in January 1924, the nursing home focused on supporting soldiers returning from the Great War. But in the years following, Sunny Brae catered more for maternity patients and eventually it became a maternity hospital.

Eumundi Museum will host the 100year celebration of the hospital on July 20, welcoming families and community members to tour the space, share their Eumundi stories and revisit Sunny Brae’s unique history. Visit their Facebook page for more details.

Sunshine Coast Libraries have conserved,

rehoused, indexed and partially digitised the Sunny Brae Private Hospital Collection, made possible thanks to a generous donation by the family of Fay Miller (nee Peachey), niece of Nurse Emily.

More than 1,500 images, documents, patient logs, maternity case records and more are in the collection. Digitised images from the collection can be accessed via sunshinecoast.recollect.net.au

To access or learn more about the hospital or its history, you can contact the Sunshine Coast Heritage Library via heritage.library@sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au.

Sunny Brae Private Hospital

Nurse Emily

New vehicle ferry operator to boost capacity

ENTRADA Travel Group will begin operating Council’s Noosa North Shore ferry from mid-July with new payment options and greater carrying capacity to reduce queueing.

The company has built two new ferries to service the river crossing – a 27-vehicle ferry and a 12-vehicle ferry.

Noosa Council’s Acting CEO Larry Sengstock said the 27-vehicle ferry alone will substantially improve the current carrying capacity.

“This will help ease the queuing of vehicles waiting to cross the river at peak times, reducing wait times and traffic congestion in surrounding streets,” Mr Sengstock said.

Entrada Travel Group has a strong track record in ferry operations, running two vehicle ferries and a passenger ferry in New Zealand, plus the Daintree River vehicle ferry for Douglas Shire Council in Queensland.

“It has been exciting to begin working alongside the council to implement electronic ticketing and the launch of the two new vessels,” said Genevieve Wardleworth, Chief Operating Officer

Councillors awarded the company a 20-year contract for the management of the ferry in October 2022.

Existing Operator, Noosa North Shore Ferries, has provided the service since 1999.

Mr Sengstock thanked the outgoing

operator for many years of reliable service.

Mr Sengstock said there may be some service impacts during a two-week changeover period in July.

Tugboats will tow the new ferries up from Brisbane to Laguna Bay in the coming weeks and smaller pilot boats will then take them up the river to temporary moorings.

Entrada will offer cashless payments –which the community has been calling for - as well as online ticketing options via their website.

Mr Sengstock said fares won’t change for Teewah and Noosa North Shore residents.

Sunday music with added bush tucker

THE next Sunday in the Gardens event at Noosa Botanic Gardens on Sunday, July 7, will feature something extra – and a bit special.

A Guided Bush Tucker Walk has been organised, led by Gubbi Gubbi elder Lisa Powell, who will take participants to all corners of the gardens on a journey of discovery to identify bush tucker plants and divulge their secrets.

The walk is to help celebrate NAIDOC Week. Bookings are essential for this walk, and can be made via www. trybooking.com/CSFMK. Price is $15 for non-members and $10 for members of Friends of Noosa Botanic Gardens.

The walk is one hour long, starting at

8.30am and good walking shoes.

And once you have completed the walk, you can grab a coffee, walk through the Shade Garden and enjoy the music of Jay Bishoff and musical friends.

BRUCE HIGHWAY NIGHT WORKS SCHEDULED

NIGHT works will be undertaken on the Bruce Highway on Sunday June 30, as construction continues to progress the completion of the $1 billion Gympie Bypass, Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien has advised today.

“From 6pm to 6am on Sunday June 30, southbound motorists will be detoured onto the Old Bruce Highway between the Woondum and Traveston interchanges to allow for line marking and signage installation to take place,” Mr O’Brien said.

“Intermittent lane closures will also be in place for northbound highway traffic,

and motorists are advised to drive to the changed conditions, follow the directional signage, and allow extra travel time.”

Section D, the four lane 26km realignment of the Bruce Highway between Cooroy and Curra is set to open later this year.

“While these works may cause temporary inconvenience for motorists and nearby residents, once the bypass is completed the realignment of the Bruce Highway will reduce travel times, improve safety, and increase freight efficiency,” Mr O’Brien said.

YOUR LOCAL’S Business Spotlight

MEET MICHAEL AGIUS FROM LIGHTHOUSE HYDROPONICS

HYDROPONICS is mainly the technique of growing plants using a water-based nutrient solution rather than soil, sometimes in an artificial environment but not always. The liquid solution contains all the necessary nutrients plants need to grow, flower or fruit and is added directly to the hydroponic water reservoir. This method makes it easier to ensure proper nutrient content, when compared to traditional soil farming.

In 1980 Michael Agius was working alongside his father Joe, when they began pioneering hydroponic farming around Byron Bay. At the time hydroponic methods and technology were largely unheard of in traditional farming. They conducted their own research and development and became respected consultants, helping farmers around the world establish hydroponic farming methods. Michael is still making nutrients for farmers all around the world, matching nutrients to meet very specific needs of water and crop requirements that vary from region to region.

In 1999 Michael opened his first hydroponic supplies store and soon after he developed Byron Bay Gold, a nutrient system formulated to take out the complexity in managing hydroponics.

Michael discovered an easier, cheaper and better way to grow.

After years of travelling as an expert in his field, Michael settled in Noosa and opened Lighthouse Hydroponics, stockists of his famous Bryon Bay Gold.

“For 30 years I have visited and loved the Noosa area and two years ago I decided to move here. Best move ever,” he said.

From the Noosaville store, supported by a super informative website, you can learn all about growing with hydroponics. Michael

has everything you need in one place and he loves to share his passion and knowledge.

“One of the best things about my business is helping people control the environment of their plants, utilising specialised nutrients in water, to obtain the best outcome for the plants. This supports growing the perfect plant,” he says. Lighthouse Hydroponics are open to the public and ready to help a small grower with a kitchen garden or the farmer looking to grow commercial crops.

“The biggest challenge is the rising costs of products but we endeavour to keep costs down for our growers, even though it can be a challenge sometimes.”

Hydroponics can be completely organic and spray free. Produce can be certified organic and farms can be set up in non fertile areas. They use less water than conventional farming and don’t need the use of pesticides. For more information get in touch with Michael at Lighthouse Hydroponics and keep your eye out for great specials advertised on the inside back cover of YLL. www.lighthousehydro.com.au

Michael Agius from HydroponicsLighthouse

Father and son Joe and Michael Agius began growing a range of different crops using Hydroponics around Bryon Bay in 1980

Pumpkin contest for Cooroy

IT’S that time of year where competitions for the heaviest pumpkin grab news headlines around the nation. From backyard farmers battling it over the neighbourhood fence, to the Ekka’s Champion Heaviest Pumpkin of Show award, every pumpkin grower dreams of acclaim for their pumpkin growing skills. In Cooroy the competition is underway to beat Tania Gannon, Practice Manager at Maple Street Surgery, whose Japanese pumpkin weighed in at 6.825 kg beating the next closest effort from Rob Noy, a hybrid variety at 5.340 kg.

Tania and Rob from the Other Bus Stop Espresso cafe, began a friendly rivalry this winter to see who could grow the biggest pumpkin. A bit of light-hearted banter soon developed into a keen competition with Tania taking the honours at a recent weigh-in.

Now, in the spirit of sharing the fun, they have invited the community to try and beat Tania’s winning pumpkin. They are offering a $50 voucher each to any backyard grower who has a heavier pumpkin than Tania’s. Drop it off at the cafe and Rob will organise a weigh-in.

The Other Bus Stop Espresso, downstairs from Cooroy’s only privately owned medical practice, is open to the public and provides a great meeting place.

Tania says, “It’s lovely to see local businesses working together, forming a bond. It makes people feel part of a broader community when we all interact as local friends. We are hoping to make our pumpkin competition famous all around Cooroy!”

Join the pumpkin contest in Cooroy, who knows where it will end!

WHAT TO DO WITH USED BATTERIES

DID you know used batteries can cause fires in rubbish trucks if not disposed of the right way?

Never bin your batteries – it only takes one to spark a fire.

Luckily, it’s easy to dispose of batteries safely, with free drop off at more than 40 Sunshine Coast locations.

Sunshine Coast Council’s Environment and Liveability Portfolio Councillor Maria Suarez said it was good for our community and our environment to recycle batteries.

“The improper disposal of batteries and battery-powered devices in kerbside bins

WARMERS

poses significant environmental and safety hazards,” Cr Suarez said.

It’s easy to safely dispose of your batteries – use an old glass jar to store your used batteries in, fill it with your used batteries, and then once a month, return the used batteries to a drop off location near you.

Cr Suarez said batteries could cause fires in the rubbish trucks putting the driver, truck and our community at risk.

“There have been 15 truck fires on the Sunshine Coast over the past two years.

Cr Suarez said batteries contained valuable metals that could be recovered

and reused again and again.

“Up to 95 per cent of a battery is recovered when taken to a drop off location,” Cr Suarez said.

“Batteries are made of finite resources so it’s good for our environment to reuse these resources in the circular economy.”

Whatever the battery or device, using Recycle Mate is the easiest option to find out where to take your battery or battery powered device. Simply search your item and you’ll be given information on the best disposal option that’s nearest to you. Visit recyclemate.com.au to begin your search.

NOOSA CAME TOGETHER - FESTIVAL A HUGE SUCCESS!

By Cheryl Neylan

THANKS to the Noosa community, sponsors and volunteers, this year’s Noosa Come2gether festival has been hailed a huge success.

Run by Events 4 Greater Good and held in conjunction with the National Busking Championships, the free weekend attracted huge crowds and raised a ton of much needed funding for the Noosa Sailability program, Riding for the Disabled and for

an emergency fund for Domestic violence and homelessness.

The weekend opened with the Australian National Busking Championships where almost 60 musicians entertained the local community and visitors, with contestants coming from as far as New Zealand to compete.

Sunday, the action continued with the festival attracting thousands, all eager to get amongst the three stages of live music while enjoying the international food court, kid’s field, gaff race and one of the big draw cards, the ‘RJS Accounting laser show’.

Event organiser Oz Bayldon said “The

generosity of locals, sponsors and community attendance has been overwhelming.”

Events 4 Greater Good are still finalizing the results of how much will be given to beneficiaries, which they hope to settle in the next few weeks.

They would like to thank their generous sponsors without whose support the festival could not have gone ahead: RJS Accounting, Bryant Construction, Appoint Recruitment, Joos Digital, Your Local Lifestyle, Australian National Busking Championships, Property Providore, Bendigo Bank, Noosa Yacht and Rowing

Club, Noosa FM, Tewantin & Cooroy RSL, Parer and Co Printing, Mode Screen Printing, Kennards, Cleanaway, Suncoast Energy and of course the biggest thank you going to the volunteers who gave their time to bring everyone Together.

To become a sponsor for next year’s event visit noosacometogether.com.au or e-mail cheryl.neylan@e4gg.com

WILD ABOUT NOOSA

IN 1743, the British naturalist George Edwards described the Emerald Dove from a captive bird, calling it the Green Wing’d Dove, and writing “I think it is the most beautiful of all the dove kind I have hitherto seen.”

These quiet, medium-sized pigeons are mostly found as individuals or in pairs, rarely in groups. In fact, the largest cluster recorded in one place was just 12 birds. They prefer dense tropical rainforests or wet woodlands, flying low through the lower branches, manoeuvring expertly between trees. Unfortunately, they also have a habit of flying into house windows.

Although naturally shy, these gentle birds can become reasonably tame around rural properties. In Asia, they have long been kept as cage birds.

Emerald Doves eat leaves, seeds and fruit from a variety of plants, plus the odd insect. They do all their foraging on the ground and are quite indolent about it. One study noted that they only take food that they don’t have to stretch to reach.

Other observations suggest that they spend an equal amount of time in active behaviour, such as grooming and feeding, as they do in passive behaviour. In other words, they spend half their time simply sitting on a tree branch and thinking about the universe. Plainly, these are birds that enjoy a leisurely lifestyle. There are times when I envy them.

with Tony Wellington

Emerald Dove

PLAY - FOR THE YOUNG & young at heart

KENDAMA , A HAND HELD TOY BASED ON A TRADITIONAL JAPANESE GAME USING A SPIKE AND A BALL, IS SO MUCH MORE THAN A NOVELTY PLAYTHING. FOR ONE LOCAL FAMILY, A PASSION FOR KENDAMA HAS HAD A TRANSFORMATIVE EFFECT ON THEIR LIFE, CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR BUSINESS, TRAVEL, PERSONAL GROWTH AND CONNECTION.

FORMER primary school teacher, Luke Cox and his teenage son Elijah discovered kendama via a love of juggling and a curiosity for play, that was light hearted, fun and challenging.

Translated as ken, meaning sword and tama meaning ball with a slight change of spelling the name is now Kendama and it has had a place in Japanese culture since its original adoption from the French. A similar game known as bilboque (cup and ball) was very popular in France around the 16th century. It was famously played by King Henry III and although it has been recorded in the halls of royalty it was also played by children in the street. The skill was even used to advantage by some who gambled wagers placed on the players ability. However, for the Japanese the kendama toy was practiced like a Zen tool, cultivating presence of mind.

It is thought that around the 17th century one such bilboque arrived in Japan on a ship from France and roughly 120 years ago the Japanese added a third piece, called a sarado, like a pair of cups. This version has grown in popularity and is now found all over the world. These days with kendama the possibilities are infinite: tricks, stalls, catches, throws, spikes. A quick Youtube search will reveal the incredible level of skilful play. Kendama has been described as “easy to play, but a challenge to master” and

that is a big part of the attraction.

In Australia modern kendama has a keen following, supported by an international online kendama community that follows the professional scene and the big brand producers of kendama toys. Luke and Elijah are part of that scene, as players and competitors, national sales distributors and now craftsmen, making their own kendamas by hand.

When Elijah was just a three year old toddler, Luke and his wife Luella hit the road and followed their dream to travel around Australia. They travelled for two years before returning home to have a second child, but adventure soon called again and they left to explore Tasmania.

“We started ‘Lulu and the Gnome’. Lulu is Luella and I was the gnome, that’s my nickname. We were looking for unique things to add to our stock and one day I was wandering around the markets with Elijah and we found a second hand toy one (a kendama) for five bucks,” Luke explains. Unaware of what they had or what it could do, they took it home and became addicted to the toy.

For the Japanese the kendama toy was practiced like a Zen tool, cultivating presence of mind

“We took off with a plan. I wanted to do something different when we returned, so the plan was to dream something up while we were away. On the road we started juggling and doing different things like that,” Luke laughs looking back on that time.

The young family returned home with an idea to start a juggling business at the Eumundi Markets, teaching juggling and selling what they could.

“We didn’t even know what it was! We found out there is this whole world of people. It was starting to become popularised in the US and people were getting a hold of it around the world. We started getting some of our own made and having our own range of kendamas and it became our biggest seller immediately.”

Luke quickly developed his own brand and began adding workshops and events. There was a small scene in Australia which helped build the business and he discovered a handful of serious players.

As a primary teacher Luke had noticed over time a decline in the basic coordination skills of some children to do simple things like throw and catch a ball.

The market stall and workshops gave him the opportunity to apply his teaching skills to a new audience. Luke says because the practice is about perseverance it has the potential to build resilience and change a mind set.

“I’ve done it with a lot of kids over the years now and even boys who will not engage with anything else, will just zone in on this thing for the whole hour lesson. It is so challenging but also so rewarding when you land the trick that you are going for. It is quite satisfying.”

Luke developed ‘Kendama Incursions’ enabling him to take the skill into Queensland schools alongside the Japanese language curriculum. He created a program based on the basics of kendama, suitable for students from years 3-12.

“I was lucky enough to have a teacher in Brisbane who loved what we were doing and she added me to the Japanese teachers Facebook group and from there it has snowballed. The kids love it. It’s such a great match for learning the language and it’s good for the teachers because it’s hard to engage young kids with language. You bring a kendama out in your lesson and you’ve got them. We had one school that linked it to their rewards program for their whole school.” Luke says there are many benefits for school-aged children, “Primarily it’s handeye coordination as well as all the other things that come with that, reflexes for

example. It sharpens reflexes and perseverance. We try and teach a ‘growth mindset’, so you do tricks but there is always more, you keep learning and persevering. In Japan they have a whole system, it’s called Kentei, with levels and colours like karate and they even have kendama dojos.”

Elijah, now a year 10 student, has grown up with the kendama business and Luke is immensely proud of the opportunities that the kendama community is providing for him.

“Elijah was at the markets with me all the time, selling them and teaching people. He naturally connected with it. He learns Japanese at school, he speaks Japanese and he’s going to go over to Japan soon. He has friends all over the world,” Luke explains.

“He’s got a friend in Canada that is a pro (professional player) and he is teaching him Japanese online and setting him up for when he goes to Japan. He knows all of these people through kendama. There is a whole community for him.”

Elijah says, “I’m extremely excited to travel and compete around the world, but even more excited to make my mark on the kendama community!”

Both Luke and Elijah have played professionally, with competitions hosted online. There are a few other competitors in Australia and they often meet at the AKO championships (Australian Kendama Open) but it is a small scene in Australia and a micro-industry.

Luke is now perfecting his own kendamas from his home-based workshop and Elijah is biting at his heels, learning to make his own. Luke explains the finesse of the handcrafted toy and the unforgiving lathe, “It is difficult to get things

right, there is no room for error,” he says. Elijah adds, “Kendama has done heaps for me and one thing I have learnt is my appreciation for anyone who takes the time and dedication to hone in on a craft as both my dad and I have done.”

Luke and Elijah are passionate about growing the Australian community and developing the skill level. Luke is focused on making boutique style, handmade kendamas.

“We are trying to develop our own shape. It has to conform to a certain box size to be considered legitimate for competition. Japan is very strict on sizes, there is still a standard. I’m trying to develop a shape and work out that playability and it’s a very fine line with balance,” he says.

Discovering a mysterious, second-hand wooden toy at the markets has taken Luke on a journey of self discovery and changed his life.

For Elijah he is at the beginning of his journey, but he has a crystal clear vision of where it’s taking him and how it has shaped him already.

“Kendama has taught me so much, from teaching me a whole new level of persistence to a second language. It has already taken me across Australia and soon the world. The advice I would give to anyone taking up a new craft is to find the passion in what you love and do it every day!” Spoken like a true pro.

Kendama sparks the imagination of the young and also the young at heart. For Luke kendama has turned from a passion into a destiny, “I feel like I found my thing when I found kendama,” he says.

by MARGIE WEGENER

Experience the thrill at FREE Pomona family fun day!

THE Cooroy Pomona Lions Club welcomes you to our upcoming Pomona Family Fun Day, where admission is absolutely free! Nestled in the picturesque Stan Topper Park Pomona, this event promises an electrifying day for families and friends of all ages.

On July 28, from 9am – 4pm, get ready for non-stop excitement and entertainment! Feel the adrenaline rush at the Livelife Pharmacy Pomona Bungee Trampoline, get transformed with fantastic face painting, and be mesmerised by captivating live performances throughout the day.

Calling all adventurers! Dive into the action with a thrilling Cooroy RSL Reptile Encounter, where you can get up close and personal with fascinating creatures. Don’t miss the Raine & Horne Animal Farm and pony rides, offering delightful interactions with friendly farm animals. Plus, enjoy an exhilarating line up of free rides including bumper cars, a merry-go-round, a giant slide, super fly and more, ensuring endless fun for everyone. A big thank you to Noosa Council and Bendigo Community Bank Cooroy for supporting free rides at this year’s event.

For the food enthusiasts, indulge in delicious treats from local vendors. Discover unique crafts and treasures at the

True Value Hardware arts and crafts market, and groove to the beats of the Humbuckin’ Pickups on the Pomona IGA Mainstage.

Join Andrew and Damian from Clicking Bricks, seasoned LEGO Masters, at free 1-hour ‘Holidays’ themed Lego build workshops supported by Pomona & District Community House. Bring your family and friends for a creative session! Book at pomonacommunityhouse.org.au.

Join us as we create a vibrant community celebration where families can forge unforgettable memories. Bring your enthusiasm, invite your neighbours, and spread the word about this epic event!

See you at the Pomona Family Fun Day—where thrills are free, memories are priceless, and every moment counts!

The Pomona Family Fun Day sponsors and supporters include Noosa Council, Bendigo Bank, Zinc 96.1, Raine & Horne Noosa Hinterland, Pomona True Value Hardware, Pomona IGA, Pomona LiveLife Pharmacy, Cooroy Rag, Pomona & District Community House, Cooroy RSL, Gympie Skips, Wide Bay Historical Machinery Club, Gympie Historical Machinery Club, and Design Divaz. For more details, follow us on social media. See you there!

THE YANDINA STREET FAIR RETURNS!

THE renowned Yandina Street Fair will make a huge return again this year on Sunday August 18 for its 44th year.

Central Yandina across Stevens and Railway Streets and the eastern end of Low Street will be awash with some 5000 people who will come to savour the food and beverage, art and craft, amusements, rides, and the stage entertainment.

The Fair will open to the public at 11am and the day will conclude with a Grand Finale show on Main Stage at 7.30pm.

There will be some 80 stalls across the precinct, three entertainment stages covering everybody’s musical preferences, children’s rides and amusements, stilt

walkers, magic shows, an appearance by ‘Silver Steve’, roving puppeteers, face painting, a petting zoo, pony rides and a mechanical bull – including the mechanical bull Competition! Custom and classic cars and a display of art by Sunshine Coast En Plein Air Painters, urban sketchers and photographers. Look out for the En Plein Air Painters and sketchers presence in Yandina and districts in the week leading up to the Fair. Local specialty shops and restaurants/cafes/hotel are open too!

The event showcases community and talent and is supported by local groups including Business Yandina, RSL, Men’s

Shed, Baptist Church, CWA, YADCA, various schools, Rural Fire Brigade and Yandina Raiders.

Many local businesses and the Sunshine Coast Regional Council have generously provided the much needed sponsorship and ‘in kind’ support for this year’s Fair. It will once again be a huge day of celebration for Yandina and districts and will no doubt draw visitors from the nearby Sunshine Coast tourist hotspots.

Keep updated on news and information related to the Yandina Street Fair 2024 on Facebook/Instagram.

Pomona

MEET MAGGIE BEER

ENJOY an evening with Australia’s favourite cook Maggie Beer on Friday August 2 at Venue 114, Bokarina. This exclusive event is presented by Sunshine Coast Libraries and Venue 114 for The Curated Plate Festival. Maggie will talk about her new book ‘Maggie’s Recipe for Life’ with popular radio personality Caroline Hutchinson. Includes live music from Innessa, as well as an opportunity to get your book signed after the event.

PAINTING THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT WITH LIZZIE CONNOR Sunday July 7

Forget the brushes, step away from strictly controlled architectural paintings and work with palette knives to create loose, fast and free images of our local township and buildings.

MONSTER MAYHEM WITH FIONA GROOM

Saturday July 13 and 27

A workshop for children of all ages, from ten to one hundred and ten. Design and make your very own

Doors open at 6pm for a 7pm event start. Tickets $25 plus booking fee. library.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/whats-on

friendly monster out of clay and lovely fuzzy bits. Great family fun with your crew on a Saturday!

SCULPTING A BIRD’S HEAD WITH ELLEN TERRELL Sunday July 14 and August 11

Create the head of an Australian bird in clay, learning essential sculptural skills and techniques to achieve all the realistic features and characteristics of one of our magnificent native birds. Led by our residency teacher, master potter, ornithologist and nature guide Ellen Terrell.

Robo-mania to light up the Sunshine Coast

EXCITEMENT is building as the Sunshine Coast prepares to host the RoboRAVE World Championships on July 13-14 at USC. This global robotics competition is making its Australian debut, attracting over 4000 participants and boosting the local economy by an estimated $1.3 million. Teams from China, Egypt, Japan, Mexico, Poland, and Taiwan are confirmed. Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli expressed pride in supporting the event

Batteries cause fires

through the Major Events Sponsorship Program, emphasising its role in fostering youth innovation and STEM careers. Register your team or volunteer at RoboRAVE Australia.

Monster Mayhem with Fiona Groom

YANDINA STREET FAIR

What's ON!

JULY 4-7

NAMBOUR SHOWGROUNDS

QUEENSLAND Garden Expo is a ‘must see’ in 2024 for green thumbs and novice gardeners alike. This four-day expo is Queensland’s premier gardening event. Some of Australia’s leading gardening experts will take part in lectures, demonstrations, and workshops. qldgardenexpo.com.au

PRESENTING a diverse range of events and entertainment, offering a wide selection of performances, with ticket prices to suit all budgets. Don’t miss these ‘must experience’ events. www.noosaalive.com.au

SUNDAY JULY 21

ACMA 'HALL OF FAME' - 12noon-4pm 24 Steggalls Road, YANDINA - Entry $10

BE entertained with popular country, including more diverse, crowd-pleasing favourites. Guest artists the Sunshine Cobbers. Raffle and door prizes, byo lunch, free tea and coffee. Enjoy a great afternoon! @FB Yandina Country Music Hall of fame YANDINA COUNTRY MUSIC

The

The

NOOSAVILLE VIEW CLUB ON the 2ND THURSDAY OF EACH MONTH this warm and welcoming women’s club gathers at a popular venue for our ‘Friendship Day’ lunch and camaraderie. On the 4th Thursday of each month we have our club meeting at the Tewantin RSL at 11:30am with a guest speaker and update on our twelve Learning for Life students, followed by lunch. Information call Wendy Brooks 0417 267 281

NOOSA BARTER TRIBE

WE meet EVERY SUNDAY FROM 11AM1PM at the Lawson Shed Pomona (next to Pomona Community House) to connect with the community and barter our home grown produce, homemade goods, plants, skills and services etc. Everyone has something unique to offer whether it be technical skill, labour, knowledge, produce, networking etc.

@FB Noosa Barter Tribe

SCONETIME

See you all TUESDAY AUGUST 13 Cooroy Hall - 10am - Tickets $8 www.trybooking.com/COSKG

SAVE the Date!

GYMPIE SHOWGROUNDS www.offgridexpo.com.au OFF GRID LIFESTYLE EXPO

SATURDAY-SUNDAY AUGUST 3-4

KILCOY RODEO

SATURDAY AUGUST 3

KILCOY SHOWGROUNDS @FB Kilcoy Rodeo 2024

THE CURATED PLATE FOOD & DRINK FESTIVAL

SATURDAY AUGUST 3 www.providoreprivee.com

COOLOOLA FARMERS TRAIL

SATURDAY-SUNDAY AUGUST 10-11

@FB Cooloola Farmers Trail

GYMPIE MUSIC MUSTER

AUGUST 22-25 muster.com.au

KENILWORTH SHOW & RODEO

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 21

KENILWORTH SHOWGROUNDS @FB Kenilworth Show & Rodeo

7TH ANNUAL WOLVI STOMP

18-20 OCTOBER

WOLVI HALL www.events.humanitix.com/the-wolvi-stomp-2024

½ PRICE KIDS MEALS

Thursdays & Sundays

Don’t feel like cooking? Come to the Cooroy Hotel and get a half price kids meal with any main meal purchase! Let the kids play in our great tech free space while you relax. Kids ice-cream included when dining in. Also available for takeaway

Cooroy Hotel’s New Click & Collect Service is in full swing. Don’t miss out on specials. Fast shopping in the comfort of your home.

• In store specials available

• Cellarbrations catalogue specials

• Access exclusive online only offers

• Pickup from 1.5hrs, 7 days per week

• Available from both the Drive Thru and Diamond Street Cellarbrations www.cellarbrations.com.au

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

CONGRATULATIONS

RAILWAY HOTEL

Sarah Arch & Cody Broomhall finally married after 10 years of dating! They created the most perfect wedding at their home in Black Mountain Married by celebrant Margie Wegener

Happy 90th Birthday June Petersen love your family & friends xxx

Tom Fischer & Lauryn Webb recently got engaged at the top of Mount Wellington in Tasmania

Mark Purcell, Anne Kennedy, Jordan Vance, Meghan Halverson, Anthony Wynne-Hoelscher at the recent Green Drinks networking event, hosted by CleanTech Network

YOUR SEASONAL PRODUCE WATCH with Matt Golinski RHUBARB

RHUBARB has long, bright red stalks that grow from a rhizome and look similar to celery but the two are not related. The leaves contain large amounts of oxalic acid and are highly poisonous to both humans and animals.

It requires a period of quite cold weather to bring it out of its dormancy, so in Queensland it’s generally grown commercially in places like Toowoomba and Stanthorpe.

Rhubarb is very tart and is usually balanced with sugar and used in pies and pastries, but is also good in savoury dishes when roasted or pickled to go with meats like pork or duck.

The stems are stringy so it’s always good to slice them into roughly 1cm pieces before you cook them.

It marries really well with other fruits like apples and strawberries, and spices like cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves.

Look for stalks that are about 30 –40cm long, as thick as your thumb, and bright red and shiny with no bruising.

APPLE AND RHUBARB CRUMBLE WITH VANILLA CREAM

Ingredients:

400gm rhubarb, diced

500gm Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and diced

½ cup brown sugar

¼ tsp ground cinnamon

½ cup self-raising flour

75gm butter

½ cup rolled oats

¼ cup brown sugar

200ml thickened cream

1 tsp vanilla paste

Method:

Mix the rhubarb, apple, cinnamon and half cup of brown sugar together and spread out in a baking dish.

Cover and bake for 40 minutes at 180oC, remove from the oven and keep covered for 10 minutes.

Rub the butter into the flour until it resembles coarse breadcrumbs, then mix in the oats and brown sugar. Spread out on a baking tray and bake for 10 minutes.

Whip the cream and vanilla until thick.

Divide the rhubarb and apple mix between 4 serving glasses and spoon the crumble on top.

Serve each with a good dollop of whipped cream.

Serves 4

YOUR NOOSA

Bonds forged through clay

Local ceramic artist Tess Miller says clay has a unique ability to facilitate self-expression and forge bonds between individuals.

“I love watching youth expressing themselves with clay; they always make creations that I have never thought about,” she says.

In her school holiday Kids Clay Club workshops, Miller emphasises fostering connection and community through clay to help youth build resilience.

Meanwhile, Chiggy’s Skateboarding sessions teach skills that can be applied to everyday life, offering opportunities for youth to learn and grow.

The Skate and Clay into Resilience workshops at Cooroy Skate Park on Friday, July 5, offer a unique school holiday experience for youth. The event runs from 10am to 3pm, featuring creative and sporty activities designed to build resilience and new skills, with a free sausage sizzle from 12pm to 2pm.

Community Programs Officer Josiah Tharps said, “We are always excited about introducing new and engaging activities to the hinterland, giving young people the opportunity to explore new interests and discover new passions.”

For more information, visit noosa.qld.gov.au.

Last days to comment on plan to improve housing choice

Noosa Council is seeking to improve housing choice and diversity through a suite of planning scheme amendments, now open for public consultation.

The proposed amendments to Noosa Plan 2020 will assist Council to implement key recommendations of both the Noosa Housing Strategy – developed with input from the community in 2022 – and the Shortterm Accommodation Monitoring Report 2022. The proposed amendments also seek

to enhance economic development and tighten controls on short-term accommodation within medium and high-density residential zones and key centre zones to prioritise permanent residents.

Some Tourist Accommodation zone areas in Noosaville, Noosa Heads and Sunshine Beach are also proposed

for rezoning to prioritise permanent residents and provide for a broader range of local business uses.

Find all the details, including factsheets, FAQs, maps, and 3D fly-through imagery, at yoursay.noosa.qld.gov.au.

Electronic copies of the amendments can also be viewed at Council’s offices and Noosaville and Cooroy libraries.

Submissions on the amendments can be made until Sunday, July 14 via yoursay.noosa.qld.gov.au, by email to NP2020amendments@noosa.qld.gov.au, or by post to Noosa Plan 2020, PO Box 141, Tewantin Qld 4565. Submissions must include the submitter’s name and address.

Tess Miller says clay is a great medium for encouraging kids’ self-expression.

Customer Service branches out

Extending Council’s reach to the hinterland with remote help desk

Whether it’s to pay dog rego, log a pothole in need of patching or update their contact details, residents are making use of Council’s satellite customer service desk being trialled at Cooroy.

Council is committed to improving hinterland residents’ access to services and this trial will tell if adding a local

hinterland point of contact helps.

“We’ll be gathering data during the six-month trial as to what areas of the shire people are coming from to visit the Cooroy service desk and the types of enquiries they have,” Community Services Director Kerri Contini said.

“Ultimately it will enable us to make an informed decision as to whether we

establish a permanent customer service presence in the hinterland.”

Residents can make payments at the Cooroy customer service desk via credit card, eftpos and cheque initially.

“Although we don’t have secure cash storage at the library currently, if the trial is successful, we will install the infrastructure needed to safely accept and store cash in future.

“In the meantime, the 3% of payments that are made to Council in cash, continue to be accepted at our main Tewantin Customer Service counter,” Ms Contini said.

The hinterland customer service desk trial builds on efforts to extend the reach of Council’s services, including last year’s launch of Library BookShelf Kiosks at Pomona and Peregian Beach.

“They are providing residents in those areas easier access to library services, which has been a success, and this trial is another way we hope to extend our reach,” Ms Contini said.

The hinterland customer service desk operates out of Cooroy Library, Maple Steet, Cooroy, 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.

Reconstruction progress in hinterland

Fine weather has helped crews across the hinterland finish key flood reconstruction works.

Shaun Walsh, Acting Director for Infrastructure Services, said the completion of these projects helped restore the local road network, which was damaged in early 2022.

“Reconstruction at Happy Jack Creek Road, Bakers Road, Old Ceylon Road, and near 490 Cooroy-Belli Creek Road was completed in early June,” Mr Walsh said.

“We’ve also just completed Simpsons Road, Cootharaba Road, and near 705 Cooroy-Belli Creek Road.

“These roads are now operating normally, and we appreciate residents’ patience and co-operation while these works were underway.

“Reconstruction is ongoing at Black Pinch Road, Musa Vale Road, and near 179 Cooroy-Belli Creek Road, as well as at the Black Mountain Road landslip,” he said.

“Works have also started on Upper Pinbarren Road, Pinbarren.

“Most reconstruction works will be finished by the end of the year.”

The flood recovery effort for Noosa Council is being delivered with assistance provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

In Brief

Revamped wedding chapel opens

The Noosa Botanic Gardens Wedding Chapel has been beautifully renewed and is now open for ceremonies. After serving as a wedding destination for over 20 years, the chapel now features a new courtyard pavement, a wedding gazebo, and an arbour walk in eight hectares of native and exotic plants, home to diverse wildlife. To book this enchanting location, visit noosa.qld. gov.au.

Empowering preparedness for all

Community safety is paramount, and Noosa Council is stepping up with the Person-Centred Emergency Preparedness Plan (P-CEP) at Cooroy Library. This initiative supports vulnerable residents, focusing on inclusivity and resilience. Led by trained professionals, P-CEP equips individuals - especially those with disabilities - with essential emergency preparedness tools. Appointments are essential and can be made by emailing angela.romanowski@noosa.qld.gov.au or contacting Julia at 0474 578 320. The program runs until July 31, 2024. Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your preparedness!

Kenzo (right) of Council’s customer service team is on hand at Cooroy Library to assist hinterland residents with general Council enquiries, information and payments.

Completed works on Cooroy-Belli Creek Road.

BOOKS with Hayley Saunders

WHAT I WOULD DO TO YOU – GEORGIA HARPER

IN a near future Australia, the climate crisis has taken hold. Farming has largely been taken over by big corporations, and there are only a few struggling landowners left. And the death penalty has been reintroduced. With one catch, “if a victim’s family wants the perpetrator to die, they have to do it themselves. Twenty-four hours alone in a room with the condemned. No cameras. No microphones.”

Psychologist Octavia Tate has been appointed to support and assess a family, after their 10-year-old daughter Lucy was brutally murdered. Mothers Stella and Matisse, and their now adult children, Sebastian and Hannah must decide whether they will enact the sentence. Octavia’s role is to help them consider their decision, and to ensure that if they proceed with the execution, that they won’t be irrevocably harmed by their choice. Stella is determined to seek revenge, but she has been withdrawn and emotionally unavailable since Lucy’s death. Sebastian doesn’t want to participate, Matisse is struggling with events from her past and Hannah is not allowed to participate as she was still a minor at the time of the murder. Octavia seeks to connect with the family members among a backdrop of harsh landscapes, wildlife and climate disaster. She struggles to determine whether she should intervene and try to dissuade Stella before grief and pain tears the family further apart, or is her role is simply to observe and support.

Australian author and psychologist Georgia Harper has written a gripping novel, allowing us to explore the depths of her character’s psyches and emotions, while simultaneously crafting a gripping thriller. I was hooked from the opening chapter and highly recommend this as a book club pick – its likely to spark a lot of discussion

BERKELOUW BOOKS EUMUNDI ARE GIVING AWAY A COPY OF WHAT I WOULD DO TO YOU BY GEORGIA HARPER Email hello@yourlocallifestyle.com.au to enter. You will need to collect from the Eumundi store. 87 Memorial Dr, Eumundi. FB @BerkelouwBooksEumundi

There’s

no place like home

THE yellow brick road has never sparkled brighter now that it has led Dorothy, the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion, and Toto to the incredible J Theatre in Noosa Heads. Come and join the cast of Little Seed Theatre Company in our production of The Wizard of Oz, one of the highest acclaimed shows of all time. Adapted from the legendary 1939 film staring Judy Garland, The Wizard of Oz is a timeless tale about a girl and her dog who were whisked by a cyclone off to the land of Oz where they encounter a wicked witch who’s terrorising a land occupied by innocent munchkins.

With the help of Glinda the Good, Dorothy and her newfound friends seek out the ‘all-powerful’ Wizard who may

not be everything that he seems.

This latest rendition of ‘The Wizard of Oz’ remains respectful of the original tale, while making bold new choices in its direction. Directed by local director Johanna Wallace whose credits include Wicked, The Crucible, and the annual Shakespeare in the Botanical Gardens, this rendition was adapted and directed with the heart and soul of Noosa in mind. Little Seed Theatre Company knows what the community wants and has crafted this piece of theatre with Noosa in mind. This production will speak to you and touch you in a way you’ve never felt before. Playing Friday July 5 and Saturday July 6. Tickets on sale now via www.little-seed.com.au

SpectacularAcoustic Guitar

EUDLO HALL FRI 19 JULY, 7PM

COOLUM CIVIC CENTRE SAT 20 JULY, 7PM

MAJESTIC THEATRE, POMONA FRI 26 JULY, 7PM

MALENY COMMUNITY CENTRE SAT 27 JULY, 7PM

Photo:

Ilsa Wynne-Hoelscher

BRENDAN RADFORD MICHAEL FIX MARCUS CHURCH

WINTER ARTS AT CBFAC

WHAT better time to enjoy the arts than winter and The Cooroy Butter Factory Arts Centre (CBFAC) is stepping up its arts offering.

The new NAIDOC exhibition Connections and the CBFAC Yarning Circle are already getting a great response. Wellknown local potter Rowley Drysdale also presents in the front gallery a beautiful exhibition titled Austral Mingei

The concept of ‘Mingei’, long associated with North Asian ceramics, can be partly summarized as ‘the beauty of handmade art for everyday use’. It was developed by Yanagi Soetsu who employed evocative haunting phrases such as ‘the beauty of sadness’ and ‘the art of unconscious intelligence’. Drysdale feels an affinity for Mingei’s celebration of traditional methods, natural materials, country, and as Yanagi

states ‘the other power’. The NAIDOC and Rowley Drysdale exhibitions run to July 21

A new multi-disciplinary Tuesday after school wheel throwing and hand building 10-week course is now on offer for ages 7yrs and up. Book on the CBFAC website. The icing on the learning cake is the wide variety of masterclasses offered on weekends.

Coming up in July we offer a diverse program comprising ceramics, art and artisan workshops. One of which is the multi-media workshop ‘Embodying your Strengths’ with art therapist Cate Savant. It will see you create a pottery wall hanging using all natural materials imprinted with your own words which symbolise your strengths. See other workshop details on page 19 or go to the Cooroy Butter Factory Arts Centre website to learn more about these workshops and to book.

NEW ART HUB EXHIBITION

ART enthusiasts, mark your calendars for an exciting new exhibition at THE ART HUB Cooroy from July 19 to August 23. The exhibition features the works of Jessica Hanselmann and the dynamic duo Cathie and Ron Twaddle.

Jessica Hanselmann, from Studio Jessica Rose, is an accomplished painter, illustrator, and surface design artist based on the Sunshine Coast. Inspired by her background in floristry and love of nature, Jessica’s work includes intricate pen, ink, and gouache pieces on cotton rag paper, and bold palette knife paintings with oil and acrylic on canvas. Jessica, who completed a Diploma in Fine Art in 2012, has been a creative force since childhood. Her art is available globally through Print-on-Demand partners

and locally on her website. Additionally, she curates a collection of floral-inspired greeting cards available in select Australian retailers and online.

Cathie & Ron Twaddle are renowned wicker workers with a legacy spanning over four decades. After retiring to Tanawha from Brisbane, Ron began creating stunning wicker sculptures from deadfall found in the bush around their home. Their work includes cane furniture renovation and unique wicker art pieces, along with conducting workshops.

This exhibition at THE ART HUB Cooroy offers a great opportunity to view and purchase unique artworks, perfect for gifts or personal collections.

The First Midden by Zartisha Davis

Surfing world comes to Noosa

NOOSA, CENTRE OF THE INTERNATIONAL SURFING WORLD, TO HOST THE INAUGURAL NOOSA INTERNATIONAL SURFILM FESTIVAL

THE Noosa International Surfilm Festival, coming this August, is a communitydriven event initiated by Festival founder and director, Jesca Maas. Over 40 film submissions from Australia and around the world were received by the festival team before final selections were made.

The festival program includes shorts and feature films from Argentina, Indonesia, France, Portugal, Iceland, Costa Rica and the United Kingdom. Several Australian films also made the final cut.

Supported by a dedicated team of surf culture enthusiasts and respected judges, Jesca sees the four day festival as an opportunity for surfers and film lovers to re-connect and share the experience of big screen cinema together.

The program includes Q&A discussion time and opportunities to mingle with the surfers and film makers. The Noosa Junction precinct, from BCC Cinemas Noosa to festival hub New York Minute, will bring surf culture to the forefront. As head of events company, The Event

Artisan, Jesca has called Noosa home for the past decade. Renowned for founding the Yallingup Film Festival (WA) in 2010 and 2012, regarded as one of the most highly successful festival platforms of its time, Jesca has now brought this concept to Noosa.

“It seemed the obvious place to have the festival. Noosa is iconic in the surfing world, such a beautiful place, great surf and being a World Surfing Reserve only made it more relevant,” she says.

Much has changed in surfing, and society in general, since those Yallingup days. Surfing has exploded in popularity and how we consume our surf culture has changed to hand-held devices. Opportunities to share cultural experiences are rare and exciting events.

Jesca explains her motivation, “It’s easy to become individualistic in our digital world and with the busy line up in the surf, to lose connection with others when fighting for the next wave. In the past surfers would get together regularly to watch surf films,

have a couple of drinks, hang out and share stories. Since watching all kinds of surf media on our phones and laptops has become the norm, there have been less opportunities to connect. We want to bring the surf community together.”

The festival program runs Thursday night to Sunday night (August 8-11) and includes a Film Makers Forum on Saturday afternoon and Surf Culture Forum on Sunday morning. Both events will be held at the Noosa Surf Museum. All films will be screened at BCC Cinemas Noosa with the festival hub at New York Minute.

The films are high quality productions, representative of surf culture but varied in story, style and setting. From adventures in Africa and sailing through the islands of Indonesia to personal bio-epics and celebrations of natural beauty and friendship, the program is a true representation of modern surfing complexities.

Jesca hopes the festival will have wide appeal.

The four day festival is an opportunity for surfers and film lovers to re-connect

“They’re all great films. The filmmakers and judges will be attending too and there’s so much to see! It’s a whirlwind of roundthe-world surf travel experiences and stories and the suspense of who will win the Awards for best short, best feature and best cinematography, announced Sunday night. It will make a great event.”

For more details and tickets head to www. noosaisff.com.au

by MARGIE WEGENER

FESTIVAL OF SMALL HALLS ANNOUNCES WINTER TOUR

FESTIVAL of Small Halls has announced that Canadian duo Quote The Raven and Australian songwriter Hailey Calvert will feature on their upcoming Winter Tour 2024: Coastal Queensland.

Presented by the world-renowned team behind Woodford Folk Festival (Woodfordia Inc), the Festival of Small Halls is Australia’s largest regional music tour. With 38 tours under their belts, this will be first time the Queensland tour heads out in Winter.

Award-winning Canadian duo Quote The Raven seamlessly merge AmericanaFolk Music with East Coast storytelling, sharing tales of a small-town touring band experiencing the world. Returning to Australia after a debut at Port Fairy Folk Festival in March 2024, the duo are thrilled to come back.

“We are so excited to be returning to Australia... We thought it would be at least another year before we had the chance to come back. We’ve performed at Small Halls here in Canada several times, so we can’t wait to do it in Australia!”

Hailey Calvert is a much-loved player in the Australian and international music scene. The independent performer makes a lasting impression with her achingly honest folks tunes and relatable presence.

“I’m so excited to get to perform for lovely audiences in little towns you usually might not get to stop in on tour. Every time I drive through a small town I see the most amazing potential venues and am thrilled to get to play in them this time!” said Hailey.

Playing July 19 at Rainbow Beach Community Hall and July 21 at Eudlo Hall. Tickets on sale at www.festivalofsmallhalls.com

Musical mastery

THE highly anticipated Acoustic Guitar Spectacular is set to captivate Sunshine Coast audiences once again this July. This series of intimate concerts, hosted by renowned Brisbane guitarist Michael Fix, will feature a trio of Queensland’s finest musicians, including Marcus Church and Brendan Radford.

Michael Fix, celebrated for his brilliant fingerstyle guitar playing and captivating compositions, has released numerous albums and won multiple awards, including three CMAA Golden Guitar Awards. Having toured extensively throughout Australia and the world, Fix’s performances are a testament to his exceptional talent and dedication to his craft.

Joining Michael Fix on stage are Marcus Church and Brendan Radford. Marcus Church is rapidly gaining recognition in the Australian bluegrass scene. He is a regular performer with local bands such as Haystack

JULY

Mountain Hermits, the Shining Hour, and the Inadequates. Marcus brings his exceptional talent back home just in time for the Acoustic Guitar Spectacular tour.

Brendan Radford, a gifted guitarist and vocalist, has performed and recorded with many leading Australian and international artists. He was part of Lee Kernaghan’s touring band for over a decade and has been a key member of the house band for the Country Music Awards of Australia for the past eleven years.

Complete with solo and ensemble pieces traversing a wide range of genres from country to rock and classical to bluegrass, this concert series offers a rare opportunity to witness an abundance of musical talent on one stage. Presented by local performing arts company Red Chair. Playing the Majestic Theatre, Pomona Friday July 26, 7pm plus Eudlo Hall, Coolum Civic Centre and Maleny Community Centre. www.redchair.com.au

MAJESTIC THEATRE POMONA WINTER SEASON –

5th – Stand up Comedy Gold - Anthony Lamond & Friends. 12th – Golden Evenings – Heart of Gold Film preview.

14th – Gentlemen Prefer Blonds – Marilyn Monroe & Jane Russel on the big screen. Noosa Museum Fundraiser

20th – Little Seed Theatre - Mary Poppins – Show & Movie.

26th – Acoustic Guitar Spectacular – Guitar maestros.

AUGUST

2nd – Movie – “Rachels Farm” Rachel Ward’s enviro movie

3rd – Majestic Comedy Nite – Raw local talent on the stage. 10th – The Finn Tribute Band – Relive the great music of Crowded House & Split Enz

18th – The Cherry Show – “Better than a Chook Raffle”Musical Comedy with Cherry Bright

23rd – Sparrows of Kabul – Fred Smith performs compelling story telling blended with live music performance.

25th – Noosa Jazz Festival – A Swingin’ Cruzie Sunday

SEPTEEMBER

1ST – Animals Are Beautiful People – Movie – Fundraiser 6th – “The Shining” Brisbane based Bluegrass band 14th – Albums turning 50 – Relive the music of 1974

MAINSTAYS

Silent Films – Every Saturday at 12 noon

Noosa Jazz Club – 4th Thursday of every Month in 2024

MAINSTAYS

Photo: David Kelly

Quote The Raven

Hailey Calvert

Judges announced for Mary Valley Art Festival

THE Sunshine Coast - and particularly its hinterland - has more artists per capita than any other region in Australia.

That’s according to former gallery director Tony Gill, who will join fellow curator Kevin Wilson as judges of the 2024 Mary Valley Art Festival in Imbil next month.

Mr Gill and his partner Jane Caraffi were directors of Art on Cairncross, a commercial gallery on the outskirts of Maleny in the Sunshine Coast hinterland.

Tony has been involved with the Sunshine Coast art sector for more than 26 years and started developing art gallery trails early in his business life.

While he and Jane have retired from their gallery, they still play an active role in the

visual arts scene on the Sunshine Coast; Tony was one of the founders of the now prestigious Sunshine Coast Art Prize.

He will be tasked with judging the popular Mary Valley Art Festival entries with Kevin Wilson, coordinator of the Cooroy Butter Factory Arts Centre.

Kevin is an experienced curator, gallery director, and practising artist and is known for breaking new ground with events and programs that respond to audience interests and broad community direction.

He started the Postcard show in St Kilda, Melbourne 25 years ago, an exhibition that continues to thrive today, as well as the Floating Land art and environment project in Noosa.

He has been a curator at QUT Art Museum,

the State Library and at artisan in Brisbane. He has also developed new facilities including the Linden Art Centre in Victoria and the Albury Library Museum in New South Wales.

Organiser of the Mary Valley Art Festival, Heinke Butt said artists had until July 8 to get their entries in for the competition which offers $11,500 in prizes, including the RJR Property Best in Show award of $3000, and $1500 for the Open winner from Gympie’s Bendigo Bank.

There are 10 sections in the show being held at the Imbil Public Hall, Imbil from July 25-28. Tickets are available now on Eventbrite for the gala awards presentation on Friday July 26 from 6pm. The weekend includes a poets’ breakfast on Saturday July 27 from 8am, followed by the Masondale People’s Choice Awards at 3pm.

NOOSA REGIONAL GALLERY TRANSFORMS INTO A SWEET PASTEL WONDERLAND

STEP into the magical world of Sunshine Daydream, a fantastical world created by Australian artists Pip & Pop!

Inspired by the beautiful flora found in Noosa’s Biosphere Reserve, Imaginate: Sunshine Daydream provides an exciting opportunity for visitors to become immersed within a fantastical landscape where imagination and joy rule.

“Australian artist Tanya Schultz and her team create colour-saturated installations from an eclectic array of everyday materials including candy, modelling

clay, crystals, and beads,” explains Noosa Regional Gallery’s Education Public Programs Officer Brooke Bowtell.

Under the pseudonym of Pip & Pop, Tanya draws inspiration from fictional geographies and paradise mythologies described in folktales, literature, and cinema.

“For Sunshine Daydream however,” says Brooke, who has curated this year’s third iteration of the popular children’s biennale at the Gallery “we wanted to reflect upon the beautiful flora found in Noosa’s own Biosphere Reserve and celebrate its

incredible uniqueness.”

Pip & Pop’s sensational artworks are internationally renowned, their installations appearing in galleries and museums all over the world, including Australia, New Zealand, Asia, USA, UAE, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, UK, and Mexico.

IMAGINATE: SUNSHINE DAYDREAM will run until July 7. Entry to the exhibition and creative-making spaces is free. Visit: www.noosaregionalgallery.com.au to book your free entry tickets.

Tony Gill

Kevin Wilson

NOOSA OPEN STUDIOS 2024 Explore Artists’ Worlds

NOOSA Open Studios is excited to share information on this year’s event which is coming around quickly.

Noosa Open Studios is an Art Trail where Noosa artists open their studios to visitors, and which runs for 10 days from Friday August 30 to Sunday September 8 this year. In its ninth year, everyone involved is excited once again, and looking forward to a fabulous event.

The event is held throughout Noosa Shire, where artists open their creative spaces to visitors, and this year, we have 93 participating artists, with 28 of them new to the event.

A beautiful Art Trail Guide is produced profiling all participating artists and these guides can be picked up at galleries, art suppliers, cafes and more. It should be ready from the printers by mid July.

The Noosa Open Studios website www. noosaopenstudios.com.au also has information, and there is a digital trail guide version that can be viewed through the website.

All studios are accessible by car and there is a free Trail Guide Navigation App that

can be downloaded from the website, and from the app stores for both Apple and Google, which will direct visitors to studios. Participating artists are divided into four trails, and all trails are open to visitors on Friday, Saturday and Sunday each weekend. During the week there is a dedicated day for visitors to individual trails.

Visitors can experience a personal and intimate experience through meeting artists in their studios, observing them at work, and gaining insight into the inspiration behind their artworks.

Noosa Open Studios features a diverse range of artists working in different mediums and styles, from painting and sculpture to photography, ceramics, textiles, and beyond. Noosa Open Studios provides a platform for emerging artists to showcase their work alongside more established names. This variety appeals to a broad audience, with visitors often discovering talented local artists and unique artworks that they wouldn’t have encountered otherwise. Exploring these spaces adds an element of adventure and discovery to the art trail experience, as many artists’

studios are located in interesting or unusual settings, such as historic buildings, industrial warehouses, and rural residential areas, not often visited. By purchasing artwork directly from artists, visitors can directly support local creatives and contribute to the vibrancy of the local arts scene. Some artists present workshops during the period and this connection between artists and patrons enhances the value and significance of the artwork.

Overall, the open studios art trail offers a dynamic and immersive experience that engages visitors on multiple levels, from aesthetic appreciation and discovery to community connection and artistic inspiration.

Noosa Open Studios is a not for profit, incorporated association, funded by artist registrations and by our valued Sponsors and Partners: Noosa Council, Tourism

and Your

The management committee all volunteer their time, and some participating artists also volunteer on sub committees, to keep the event running successfully.

We have an Event Launch/Fundraiser Auction each year, this year to be held on Friday August 2 from 5.30pm to 8pm at the Cooroy Butter Factory Arts Centre. This year, artworks donated by participating artists will be auctioned to raise funds to go towards marketing this year’s and subsequent years’ events. Pictured above are some of the items that will be going under the hammer.

To attend the auction, tickets are $65 ($45 for participating artists), and can be purchased by visiting https://events.humanitix.com/ noosa-open-studios-2024-official-launchand-auction-event.

We look forward to seeing you on the Noosa Open Studios 2024 Art Trail.

Noosa, Noosa Arts & Crafts, Matso’s Sunshine Coast, HinterNoosa Real Estate, Bendigo Bank, Studio One Noosa

Local Lifestyle.

Acting Group for Mature Women

DR Sharon Hogan, former drama lecturer at QUT Brisbane and now the creative director of Perseverance Street Theatre Company in Gympie, has founded an exciting new group for older women on the Sunshine Coast. Mature Woman’s Acting (MWA) celebrates theatre, women, and wisdom, specifically honoring actors aged 55+.

This initiative by the regional theatre powerhouse, Perseverance Street Theatre Company, aims to become a leader in creating performances that build pathways between mature non-professional actors and professional theatre makers. MWA will produce high-quality productions for local, national, and global audiences in both traditional and non-traditional performance spaces.

MWA plans to create one unique full-length work each year. Additionally, they will offer

weekly drama and acting classes for mature individuals in an encouraging, supportive, and artistically inspiring environment. These classes will focus on improvisation, physical theatre, voice, and acting.

Performance projects will emerge from the weekly workshops, allowing MWA members to hone their skills and support their peers. MWA aims to produce highquality original performances, connect mature artists through participation, and ambitiously redefine the mature body and voice onstage and in other creative spaces.

Workshops will commence in June with the ensemble based in Cooran. There is currently an open call for members of this new ensemble. sharon@perseverancestreet.com.au

The ARTS in brief

SUPPORT THE KEEPER PROJECT

Local performing arts organisation Red Chair has launched a fundraising campaign to pay artists and deliver The Keeper Project free to the community. The Keeper Project is a live public art initiative embedded in local communities and this year makes its home in Nambour. Eleven local artists have been selected to explore, collect, and create within the community. They become the archaeologists of local stories, uncovering the uniqueness of a place and making visible the things that go unseen. Learn more about how you can engage with the project and lend your support to their campaign. www.keeperproject.com.au/support

INTRO TO WATERCOLOURS

Dive into the world of watercolour in a workshop with Nita Clare Lester. Try a variety of painting methods and brush techniques. Create your first watercolour masterpiece to take home. Tickets $10. 7 sessions - July 9-20. Register library.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/whats-on POMONA RAILWAY STATION GALLERY

Sunshine Coast members of Arts Alliance Australia (aaaart.online) will exhibit their works in both the Carriage Room and Banana Shed at the Pomona Railway Station Gallery from June 28 to July 31. 3D and 2D artworks in oil, acrylic, watercolour, mixed media and paper machë will feature in the exhibition, Artful Moods.

“Art is an expression of the soul, whether the artwork is realistic, impressionistic, stylised or abstract,” says aaaart.online Sunshine Coast coordinator Karan Gerard.

“The artist depicts the mood of the piece, and often their own mood when

creating the work.”

This exhibition will contain works by six of the 30 Sunshine Coast aaaart.online artists, all selecting works that they feel express a mood. The participating artists are: Felicity Rutherford, Molly Galpin, Jan Murphy, Jenny Newbound, Sue Osborne and Nedra Purnell.

The volunteer-run Pomona Railway Station Gallery is at 10 Station St, Pomona. Opening hours are 10am to 4pm Tuesday to Friday; 10am to 2pm Saturday and Sunday.

TINBEERWAH ART GROUP

August will be a huge month for members of the Tinbeerwah Art Group (TAG) who have met at the Tinbeerwah Hall for the past 30 years. This year TAG’s Art Show is at the Tinbeerwah Hall over the weekend August 16-18.

TAG artists will present an art exhibition with the theme, ‘The Joy of Music’ at The J from August 1-31.

COLOURING & CONVERSATION

Come along and enjoy a morning of calming adult colouring and pleasant

conversation. BYO colouring and pencils or enjoy using the materials provided. First and third Monday of the month at Noosaville Library. 10am - 12noon, free, no bookings required.

FLOATING LAND ARTIST CAMP EOI

The Floating Land Artist Camp is a five-night creative and professional development program for artists interested in developing a project for consideration for the Floating Land 2025 artistic program. The camp will take place from Sunday 20 to Friday October 24 at Habitat Noosa Everglades Eco Camp on the edge of picturesque Lake Cootharaba. Applications close Monday July 15.

The inaugural brainstorming meeting

FREE CORE BALANCE YOGA CLASS

A NEW Core Balance Yoga Class joins the Living Well Noosa program. The gentle new class focuses on improving overall stability by energising the body and calming the mind.

Move through a series of postures and pranayama breathing techniques that will cultivate core well-being, strength and tranquillity. This gentle yet effective class focuses on improving overall stability by energising the body and calming the mind, guiding you to find your centre and radiate vitality.

Living Well Noosa is a free and lowcost initiative to improve locals’ health and wellbeing.

Join in Monday morning for this FREE community yoga at Cooroy Memorial Hall. Running weekly until August 26 at Cooroy Memorial Hall, 9 to 10am. All ages and abilities are welcome. No bookings required.

A POSITIVE MINDSET

IT’S so good to see that positive mindset has become much more of a focus these days with all kinds of everyday things.

More workplaces are focusing on keeping their staffs’ minds fit and healthy.

And more and more people are realising the benefits and importance of the balance between exercising the body and the mind.

But as aware of this as we are becoming, sometimes it’s easy to fall behind and get back on the negative train. Both with exercise, and a healthy eating pattern. And I find that wintertime can unfortunately be the perfect time and ‘perfect excuse’ for some people to slip backwards a little.

We are very lucky around here, especially lately. Our days are full of blue skies and sunshine, and although it’s getting rather fresh, the magic days help to make up for the chilly vibes. These days just make you feel good!

Yet many people use the excuse and ‘mindset’ of it being fresh as ‘I can’t go and do that, it’s too cold’, and instead opt out of their usual positive and good routine. And go into hermit mode. Which then turns their positive mindset and mood to a drearier one.

And the cycle keeps spiralling and spiralling throughout winter (which, let’s face it, isn’t even very long or cold here compared to many places!) falling further behind with their wellness routine. And

when the warmer and longer days return, gradually so does their inspiration. But then it is like starting over again.

To avoid feeling dreary and unmotivated to do things over winter, instead try to focus on the positive things in your life. Set yourself achievable goals to be reaching. Mix up your usual routine maybe, but make sure you’re remaining active.

Your food choices may change a little over the cooler months, but try to keep them nourishing, fuelling, wholesome and enjoyable.

Maintaining a healthy and positive mindset during winter is going to be so beneficial to you in so many ways. Inspire yourself… help inspire others and get through these cooler months with good intentions and positive results. Layer up. Get in the zone. Take a deep breath and… GO! You’ve got this! E x

GENERAL SERVICES:

• Men’s Health,

• Women’s Health,

• Children’s Health,

• Skin Cancer Checks/ Excisions,

• Vaccinations,

• Pre-employment Medicals,

• Preventative and Chronic Disease Health Care,

• Iron Infusions

SPECIAL SERVICES:

• Contraception services including Implanon, copper IUD, Mirena insertions and removals

• Aesthetic medicine and the application of stem cell therapies

• Drug and alcohol testing - no appointment necessary

with ERIN YARWOOD

Health in brief

LEARN ABOUT MEDICINAL CANNABIS

Find out about therapeutic medicinal cannabis with local hemp specialist Stephen Parka. Take a closer look at the nutritional benefits of hemp and how it is being used in modern medicine. Book in now https://library.sunshinecoast. qld.gov.au/whats-on/at-the-library/ medicinal-cannabis

EMPOWER & EXPRESS

A 10-week educational and support journey for parents and caregivers of neurodivergent youth through creative arts workshops. The objective of this program is to provide an empowering and supportive space for parents and caregivers of young people facing the challenges of ADD/ADHD/ASD, particularly those struggling with school related difficulties, such as school refusal or ‘school can’t.’

The program aims to empower participants to show up stronger, wiser,

and more empowered for their young people by fostering a sense of community connection, support and self-discovery of inner resources through expressive arts therapy.

Book for one session, or multiple dates. Free. Bookings required. Noosaville Library, July 9 to September 17, 10 -12noon.

GET

IT TOGETHER BY BETTER TOGETHER HOUSING

Better Together Housing is a program designed for women over 55 to bring women together in a safe and secure way to find shared accommodation. If you would like to meet other like minded women who are seeking to share housing, please join in for a free tea or coffee and a chat.

Noosaville Library, July 18, 9.30 to 11am. To RSVP please email info@ bettertogetherhousing.com.au or head to www.bettertogetherhousing.com.au/events

NUTRITION with Sarah Gray

BREAKFAST ANYONE?

“I DON’T eat breakfast” and “Is breakfast the most important meal of the day?” are two of the most repeated statements I hear, regardless of if I am in a group setting or a private consult. Interestingly, people seem very adamant that they don’t need breakfast. Yet, on the other hand, they need reassurance that they are not doing any harm to their body. Your body is very resilient and if you have not been a breakfast eater for an extended period of time, it will well and truly be used to functioning without. Sadly, the most common reason I hear for not consuming breakfast is that it makes them hungrier through the day. Of course, there is a method to the madness. If they

eat breakfast, they get hungrier, if they get hungrier, they eat more and if they eat more they put on weight.

News flash, you are supposed to get hungry and you are supposed to eat. Food is what our body uses to heal, grow, and ward off disease.

Is breakfast the most important meal of the day? All our meals are important. Food in general is important. Breakfast, breaksthe-fast. It gives our gut a kick start. It gives our brain the glucose it needs to function at optimum. It can help to level out blood sugars. It can balance hormones that are naturally higher first thing in the morning. Your energy level improves as does your decision making. Inevitably, if you are not having breakfast due to fear of weight gain, then maybe you need to look at what kind of relationship you have with food. Food is not evil, there are no good or bad foods. All food is beneficial when moderation and variety rule the day.

You will find that for most of us, eating breakfast consistently, does not lead to weight gain. But it does lead to better health and vitality because the body is getting what it needs and what it deserves. You are what you eat! www.foodtrition.com.au, @foodtrition1

Friday, September 27th, 2024 at Cooroy Memorial Hall

We’re on the hunt for passionate professionals to showcase their expertise at the Hinterland Health Expo! This exciting event brings together the local community with a wide range of healthcare, wellness, fitness, and beauty providers. It’s your chance to:

• Connect with potential clients: Boost your brand awareness and attract new customers

• Network with fellow professionals: Build valuable connections and collaborations.

• Promote your services and products: Showcase your unique offerings in a vibrant and interactive setting.

Are you a: • Doctor, dentist, or other healthcare practitioner?

• Nutritionist, naturopath, personal trainer, yoga instructor, or massage therapist?

• Chiropractor, carer, natural therapist, aesthetician, cosmetologist, or beauty therapist?

• Representing a health & wellness organisation, fitness centre, zumba, yoga, pilates instructor, beauty salon? If so, we want to hear from you! Express your interest by August 30th: Scan the QR Code to register your interest or write to us email: cooroy@livelifepharmacy.com

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to connect with the thriving Hinterland community!

MOUNT NINDERRY WALKING TRACK

JUST down the road from Cooroy is beautiful Mount Ninderry. This conservation reserve covers approximately 150 hectares and peaks at 304 meters above sea level. Although the track is short at 1.7km one way, it certainly gets your heart rate going. At this time of year those jumpers come off pretty quick.

Aboriginal Dreaming tells the story of a beautiful young aboriginal girl named Maroochy who was stolen by a mighty warrior named Ninderry. Beeral, the spirit god had been watching this foul deed and Ninderry was struck down and turned into stone, and today is known as Mt Ninderry.

To read the full story I just Googled, Indigenous History/Yandina Sunshine Coast.

The start of this trail is nice and wide, before you start your ascent to the summit. It is an easy uphill hike suitable for all ages and dog friendly. It’s quite rocky so be careful of your footing.

The track loops around at the top with two observation decks to the east and west. To the east you look out over Mt Coolum and on a recent visit the weather was spot on with crystal clear views over the Maroochy River all the way to the Glass House Mountain’s.

I have also been up on crisp winter mornings for sunrise, it’s just breathtaking. The walk over to the west is very pretty and sunset would be amazing.

Unfortunately I still haven’t ticked this one off my bucket list, but am looking forward to it. I am yet to see any wild

life on the trail, although I have seen kangaroos on my early morning drive in. There are no toilets or drinking water, but there is a sheltered picnic table and parking. I highly recommend this for families. I recently went up with my son and grandbabies. “Yes,” I had to carry nearly three year old Bonnie but that’s OK!

We enjoyed snacks at both lookouts and Bonnie walked most of the way down.

Located at Ninderry Road take the Yandina Coolum exit. If you google map directions put in ‘Mt Ninderry walking track’

This is definitely one of my fav’s for an early morning hike, and one I loved doing with Bella.

Always remember sunscreen, snacks and water.

Happy Hiking - Andrea

TAKE A HIKE IN THE HINTERLAND with Andrea Taylor

The Off-Grid Expo is back and bigger than ever!

THE Off-Grid Expo is back and bigger than ever! Join us at the Gympie Showgrounds on August 3 and 4 for a weekend filled with activities for all ages, from children to seniors. With over 80 exhibitors already confirmed, this year’s event is set to be our best yet, focusing on practical off-grid living and selfsufficiency.

The Expo’s dual focus is on teaching attendees how to live off-grid and be selfsufficient, while also demonstrating how to create a lifestyle that allows for independence and abundance through crafting and creating. Visitors can look forward to a wide range of workshops, activities, and a stellar lineup of speakers across both days.

This year introduces many new exhibitors, including Challenger 4x4, Kookaburra Tiny Homes, Off Grid NOW, All Safe Habitats, Lucas Mills, and Adventure Concepts. Returning favorites such as Rain Again Tanks, Mobile Power Solutions, Cornerstone Hemp, and Corella Native Nursery will also be present. Food vendors will offer a variety of delicious options, from tacos and curries to ice cream and hotdogs.

Community groups like Fraser Coast Microbats, Qld Frogs, Gympie Permaculture, and Koala Action Gympie Region will be well-represented, and the Expo welcomes additional groups, especially wildlife organizations, to join the event.

Tickets for entry, workshops, and activities are available online. While pre-booking helps with catering for food vendors, tickets will also be available on the day. Admission is $10 per adult per day or $15 for the weekend, with free entry for those under 16. Attendees are encouraged to bring small notes and gold coins as there are no ATMs on site.

The event is dog-friendly, welcoming wellbehaved dogs. For more information, visit www.offgridexpo.com.au or facebook. Ph: Di, 0419 224 628 or Dee, 0434 630 510.

HI MY NAME IS POE

Breed: English Staffordshire Bull Terrier Poodle Miniature (Mixed)

Gender: Female

Age: 2 years

I will suit a fun active family with kids and a doggy friend prefer male, no cats or small pets. I will need a fenced yard to keep me safe, and I also love the beach and going for long walks. I will need someone home during the day.

Could you be the one for me PLEASE!

RSPCA NOOSA

Cnr Hollett & Eumundi Rd, Noosaville QLD 4562

Phone: 5449 1371

HI MY NAME IS COLT

Breed: Australian Cattle Dog

Gender: Male

Age: 3 years and 1 month

I’m a very happy, fun and adventure filled boy cattle dog cross 3 years old. Could you have the right home for me? I will best suit a family who love to include me. I’m soft, affectionate and very smart. Unsure about cats or small pets. Kids are great and a female dog in the home.

OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE NEW TRAILS FOR LEGENDARY MOUNTAIN

A NEW plan is offering an incredible opportunity to explore a previously inaccessible area of a much-loved mountain.

Mount Ninderry Environment Reserve, on Kabi Kabi country, is a place favoured by many and Sunshine Coast Council has developed a draft landscape plan to share more of it with people of all abilities – in a way that conserves its ecological and cultural values. It has been prepared in partnership

with the Kabi Kabi First Nations people and through targeted workshops with Councillors, reserve neighbours, key stakeholders and community groups.

Now, our community can participate in planning for the mountain’s future by sharing their Mount Ninderry experience at haveyoursay.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au before July 15.

Kabi Kabi man Kerry Jones said Mount Ninderry was very important to the Kabi Kabi people.

“It’s a part of our story line, our legend that is connected to all these significant mountains and rivers around here,” Mr Jones said.

“Kabi Kabi has been working with Council and we have the opportunity to look at new trails and share the stories of the Kabi Kabi peoples.”

Following recommendations from a 2021 management plan, the draft landscape plan addresses Mount Ninderry’s growing popularity, currently limited to one trail. New walking trails will offer diverse experiences and scenic views. A proposed cultural and education node to the east of the peak will share the Kabi Kabi people’s stories, environmental facts, trail information, and artwork.

Additionally, a new workshop shed is proposed as a base for Kabi Kabi training and landcare volunteers, providing space for tools, workshops, and training activities to support community land care efforts. These new experiences will offer sustainable and culturally sensitive access for the community to appreciate and enjoy the mountain and its beautiful natural environment.

Share your story of Mount Ninderry at haveyoursay.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au before July 15 or drop in and speak to an officer at the Mount Ninderry trail head between 9am and 12noon on July 7 at Ninderry Road, Ninderry.

HANDS-ON WORK EXPERIENCE PROGRAM

A HANDS-ON work experience program is cultivating bright career opportunities for Sunshine Coast high school students.

A five-day work experience program is open to students in Years 10, 11, and 12 looking to obtain on-the job skills and experience with the Sunshine Coast Council Parks and Gardens Branch across six fields: horticulture, arboriculture, turf and irrigation, nursery operations, infrastructure maintenance, and administration.

Sunshine Coast Council Environment and Liveability Portfolio Councillor Tim Burns said the unique program would provide students the opportunity to experience basic technical skills within their chosen field while gaining insight into the various parks and gardensrelated careers.

“The work experience program provides young people an opportunity to explore potential careers and connect with the community and council,” Cr Burns said.

For more information check out the Work Experience video on council’s YouTube channel, or visit the careers page on council’s website.

RUFOUS BETTONG ‘RUSTY’ RESCUED AND THRIVING

ALL native animals are special, but occasionally a more unusual species comes through the WILVOS 5441 6200 Hotline. This means referring to old notes and studying new research. Wildlife caring is an ever-learning commitment.

It has been thirty years since having a Bettong in care, so it was surprising to get a call about a Rufous Bettong Aepyprymnus rufescens. Initially, I thought I’d monitor overnight and pass onto another carer, but it isn’t that easy. These little creatures are so vulnerable on arrival, and they need to bond and relax to prevent stress. Of course, it was also ‘love at first sight’ with ‘Rusty’!

‘Rusty’ had been taken to the Eumundi Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, thoroughly

NATURE HAS NO BOUNDARIES

THIRTEEN Queensland councils have worked together to bring about big change for our environment.

For the past 25 years, under the banner of Land for Wildlife South East Queensland, these councils have harnessed the collective power for good, bringing 5600 private properties together for a common goal of preserving and improving our environment.

Now, the program has been recognised for its achievements, winning the 2024 Local Government Managers Australia (Qld) Awards for Excellence in the Collaboration category. Fully funded and led by councils including Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Noosa, Gympie, and others, the program offers free services to private landholders, supporting conservation efforts with training, resources, and on-ground advice. For more information, visit https://www.lfwseq.org.au/

checked and cleared for care. Found near the road, his mother had most likely been killed by a car. His fur, just coming through, was more like hair than the soft fur of others in the macropod family. This very chilly night would have been freezing without his mother’s warm pouch.

Rufous Bettongs have only one young at a time, but may produce up to three young a year. This should mean the species is abundant but sadly the IUCN status of the five Bettong species ranges from ‘Critically Endangered’ and ‘Near Threatened’ to the Rufous Bettong, listed as ‘Least Concern’. This too is deceiving, as the big killer of our wildlife, habitat destruction, is happening faster than assessment of species. As animals

GARDEN EXPO’S CROWING SUCCESS

THE Queensland Garden Expo, the state’s premier gardening event, is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a unique surprise; Australia’s first-ever rooster crowing competition. Set to take place from July 4-7 at Nambour Showgrounds, the event features over 360 exhibitors and 50,000 plants for sale each day.

Event Manager Marion Beazley announced the expanded four-day program, which includes the ‘Crowing Competition’ where participants can showcase their best rooster impressions. The Poultry Spectacular will also return, offering expert advice on backyard chicken keeping.

With 150 free lectures and demonstrations, attendees can learn from gardening experts like Jerry Coleby-Williams and Costa Georgiadis. The Kid’s Garden Patch and various family activities ensure fun for all ages.

For tickets and information, visit www.qldgardenexpo.com.au.

are pushed into pockets of habitat, a natural disaster such as fire or flood can wipe out a population instantly. Foxes and cats are everpresent killers for these small marsupials. Meanwhile, ‘Rusty’ is thriving and will be returned home when mature and displaying his natural skills. They are diligent foragers, digging up fungi and roots with their long front claws. They may build a few grassy nests on their nocturnal wanderings. Given the right environment wildlife naturally develop these instincts and once this happens they need to return to the wild.

YOUR LOCAL WILDLIFE with Donna Brennan Wilvos Hotline 5441 6200

www.wilvos.org.au

FIRE ANT ALERT: HOW TO SPOT THEM

HIGHLY invasive fire ants have been detected in Nirimba (Bells Creek) on the Sunshine Coast. Known for their painful sting and devastating impacts, it’s crucial to identify and report fire ant nests to keep your yard safe.

Fire ants are copper brown in color with a darker abdomen and range from 2–6 mm in length, with varying sizes in each nest. Their nests appear as mounds or patches of loose soil without clear entry or exit holes. If you suspect fire ants, take a close-up image of the ants or nest and report it on the National Fire Ant Eradication Program website or call 13 25 23 immediately.

Fire ants are attracted to disturbed soil and can spread through human movement of such materials. Fire ants were last detected on the Sunshine Coast in Beerwah in 2017 and declared eradicated in 2020.

For more information, visit fireants.org.au.

Rusty the Rufous Bettong

OUTDOOR ADVENTURES with Andy Flanagan

Yul-Yan-Man and some

WOW, what a great adventure trail this one is and with many variations! Set in the heart of the Glass House Mountains it provides fantastic views and some nice easy rock scrambling plus some advanced for the experienced scrambler.

Our plan was for a 15km walk and climb that would take 6-7 hours. We started from the Beerburrum car park and headed up the Mt Beerburrum summit trail on nice windy single trail for about 1 km. At this point we turned right at the trail juncture onto the Yul-Yan-Man trail. The trail starts off traversing the side of Mt Beerburrum. This is a fun section that will require some basic scrambling skills, nothing dangerous just fun stuff. Note that there has been some minor trail damage with a small land slip and a few trees down, so if you find yourself off the formed trail, back track a little and get back on track.

The trail gets easier from here, it heads NW across two rises that have nice spots on their summits to take a rest and enjoy the view. There are some loose rocky sections that could easily cause a rolled ankle, so take some care on these. The trail is mostly well formed and easy to find but there are a few places that are open rock slab sections where the trail isn’t so obvious. Once again, if you find yourself off the well formed trail, back track a little and you will be OK.

You will eventually join the Trachyte Circuit, a T-intersection; we went left to keep with our clockwise loop. The Jack Ferris lookout trail is about 200m on the right, a short diversion with magnificent views to Tibrogargon. Only another 2km and you will be at the Tibrogargon day use area. You may feel like you have walked 10km but in reality it’s only 7km. This is a good option for a pickup or car shuttle if you have littlies with you. At this point you are spoilt for choice. You can do the full clockwise Tibro circuit, with or without a summit climb, our plan but be warned it’s for experienced scramblers only. The lookout at the turn off

to the summit climb has great views of Mt Beerwah. If you take a right onto the Tibro circuit it is approx 1km to the turn off onto the Trachyte trail and if you take the left its about 2km. At this point the shortest and flattest way back is to take the Soldiers Settlers Trail, approx 5.5km, or you could continue past the Soldiers Settlers trail for 500m and you will come to the Yul-YanMan trail on your left, our option, and yes we were totally shattered at the finish. Remember to take plenty of water and wear sunscreen as this walk is fairly exposed.

Happy Hiking & please join us at Save Our Summits inc to help us campaign for continued access to these magnificent places.

Andy Flanagan www.SaveOurSummits.org

2024 Noosa Gaff Rig Regatta

THE 2024 Noosa Gaff Rig Regatta was held on June 8 and 9 in perfect Noosa winter weather, 23 degrees air temperature, 23 degrees water temperature.

The Saturday morning briefing prior to the race commenced at 12 noon, it was clear and concise with some local knowledge, course and buoy information. A fall back plan was also discussed should wind conditions, direction and strength alter.

Most importantly the regatta prizes were on display. The most sort after being the range of excellent Ronstan products and the Bundaberg Rum Barrels

At the start line for Saturday’s first race there were 20 Gaff or similar rigged yachts

Some of them ranged from a 50 plus year old 10 foot timber Gaff Rigged skiff replica ‘Merle’ with a crew of three and a healthy spread of sail, to a recently impeccably refurbished Couta Boat ‘Crystal’.

There were a number of classic Gaff and similar rigged wooden dinghies, trailable wooden and glass Gaff yachts as well as modern Carbon Gaff rigged trailer sailors, Cygnet 20’s ‘Bacchus, Dolphin and Dreamkumtrue’.

To add to the mix, we had the now classic Gunter rigged dinghies, Herons and Mirrors.

To keep such a mixed fleet of classic boats handicapped competitively there were 2 divisions. Division 1 boats over 18 ft LOA and Division 2 open boats under 18 ft LOA

The conditions were challenging both Saturday and Sunday, being medium to very light westerlies to South westerlies and strong run out tides.

Despite this the sailing committee managed to conduct two races each day.

The boats on the river displayed a wonderful spectacle with the background of the Noosa Come Together Festival in the

adjacent Lions Park on Sunday.

The Classic 10ft skiff ‘Merle’ took Division 2 overall and ‘Petit Bateau’ a converted Gaff Rigged O’Day Mariner took Division 1 overall. The Cygnet class was won by ‘Cygnet’ and the Mirror class ‘Jumbuck’.

All funds raised from the Gaff Rigged yacht entry fees and our raffles go directly to NYRC Sailability for charity.

Next year’s Noosa Yacht and Rowing Gaff rig regatta will be conducted on June 7 and 8, 2025. This event is growing each year and our expectation for 2025 is to have more Gaff Rigged or similar yachts that are in classes participate for Class prizes as well as overall. It would be great to have further Historic Gaff Rigged skiffs and classic dingy classes racing.

For more information on the 2025 event ring Valere on 0434 879 861.

Looking for something newHOW ABOUT JIU JITSU

WELL call into Caza Hinterland Jiu-Jitsu, situated on Mary River Road, opposite the tennis club. Learn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with classes catering for men, women and children. With a trio of highly skilled instructors newcomers can be confident of first-rate instruction in a friendly atmosphere. There are many classes offered throughout the week and private lessons are also available. Whether you are a newcomer or already trained in the sport, Cheyne, Marc and Katie welcome you to come along and have a go. Caza is looking for more women to join the ranks, and welcome all to come along and try out this exciting martial art. Gain confidence and learn selfdefense skills in a welcoming and encouraging environment, along with the opportunity to compete. Check online at www.cazahinterlandbjj.com.au to view the class timetable and for any enquiries email info@cazahinterlandbjj.com.au

Superstars prepare for Australian Championships

IT’S been a busy few weeks at the Impact Boxing and Fitness Centre as some of the amateur superstars prepare for the Australian Championships to be held in Perth from July 3-6.

Currently, Cohen Robinson and Ciara Storch are abroad attending a high-performance training camp in the Philippines in preparation for the Australian Titles. This year’s Australian Titles event is a pathway event and a selection event to represent Australia at the World Championships in Colorado Springs, USA, at the end of October.

Among our professional boxers, Mick

Whitehead is preparing for a title fight in Melbourne at the end of July.

Additionally, our amateurs are gearing up for the Ipswich Regional Titles on Saturday, July 1, with 13 of our amateur superstars competing in those titles.

So, to say that Impact Boxing and Fitness Centre has been busy is an understatement.

I’m very proud of all the work going on in the gym. All boxers are working hard to reach their individual goals. We thank you all for your continued support.

Yours in Sports Mark Evans 0403 264 048

LLEW O’BRIEN Federal Member for Wide Bay

ACCESS to reliable telecommunication services is essential to the growth and development of all our regional communities, and it’s also critical for peace of mind, safety, and responding to emergencies.

I and my Coalition colleagues have been working together to call on the Federal Government to improve mobile communication coverage across regional Australia. We have been pushing for the continuation of the former Coalition Government’s very successful Mobile Black Spot Program, which provided funding for the installation of 19 new mobile phone towers throughout Wide Bay.

There are still many locations across the 14,227sq km Wide Bay electorate that need coverage, and it is vitally important for the Government to work with the telcos to keep on extending and improving the telecommunications network in Wide Bay as soon as possible.

The 2024 Regional Telecommunications Review is currently underway and accepting submissions. The Committee wants to hear about your experiences in accessing and using telecommunications services, and it is crucial that our region’s voices are heard and reflected in the review.

The Regional Telecommunications

ALL I can say is how fabulous after such a long journey to replace Six Mile Bridge #7 that we finally did the official opening! This made special by having some of the residents who stood with me at this dangerous and flood prone bridge back when first elected as your MP and I committed to getting this historical issue addressed. Thank you to all who contributed to this journey including longtime residents Phil Moran, Stephen Hilditch, Brian O’Connor, Ron Green, Anita Poteri, Mia Hacker, Nathanael Ford among so many others!

The need to create greater safety on Kin Kin Road continues and a total of $37 million was allocated in the State Budget for this. That these sums have been required due to inappropriate levels of heavy haulage through our villages is another example of our system’s failing, and that I continue to fight to see remedied. One of the ‘unacceptable’ missing items in the budget was for a pedestrian crossing on Factory St, Pomona which due to line-of-sight issues will cost approximately one million dollars. This must be addressed due to the heavy haulage, and I have requested the Minister to urgently include this.

In the budget was $500,000 from the Tourism Experience Development Fund for eco cottages at Kin Kin, and we congratulate Mayan Farms on their successful application and look forward to seeing these on completion!

It was wonderful to celebrate the new $11.9 million hall at the Noosa District State High School, Pomona Campus. What started as

Review occurs every three years and is an opportunity to examine the existing and future telecommunication needs in regional, rural, and remote communities across Australia.

Sharing your views and experiences will help the Committee gauge the adequacy of telecommunications services and determine current and future needs. The Committee would also like to hear your innovative ideas about how to improve telecommunications services in Wide Bay.

The Review is a great opportunity for people in regional Australia to have your say and contribute to shaping the way that telecommunications operate in our part of the country. You can provide a written submission or share your thoughts by completing a short survey.

Submissions will be open until July 31, 2024, with the Committee to present its findings to the Government by December 31, 2024.

Please visit https://www.infrastructure. gov.au/have-your-say/2024-regionaltelecommunications-review to contribute a submission, access the survey, or find out more about the Regional Telecommunications Review.

for Noosa

a conversation with the previous Head of Campus Michael Small four years ago has now become a reality! Special thanks to Ministers Grace Grace and Di Farmer and their Departments, Principal Stacy Wilmore and the P & C and most of all our students. You are our future, and I hope you love this hall as much as we do.

On our Rural Fire Service, debating four bills in Parliament at once is inappropriate, especially when you can only vote ‘aye’ or ‘nay’ to the bundle instead of voting on each individual bill! The Emergency Services Reform, Marine Rescue Queensland and State Emergency Service Bills I was firmly supportive of, as they ‘formalised’ what we had been advocating for on behalf of our local heroes including our volunteer Coastguard QF5. However, the fourth bill, Disaster Management, I could not as it stood given the concerns raised by our rural fire brigades. These are essential to be addressed given the example we gave from Victoria, with more information available at www.bit.ly/ RuralUpdateMAY2024.

With so much to share and not much space, please stay ’in the loop’ via Noosa 360 (www. SandyBolton.com/Noosa360) with updates on a range of important issues we are working on. In addition, follow ‘Sandy Bolton MP’ on Facebook to receive information as soon as available, and subscribe to our e-newsletter at www.SandyBolton.com/Newsletters which also ensures you are advised when Noosa specific surveys are held. Always, if you have any questions or require assistance regarding state-related matters, do not hesitate to contact my office on 53193100. Sandy x

TED O’BRIEN Federal Member for Fairfax

HAVE YOUR SAY ON COST-OF-LIVING

Our community is struggling with cost-of-living pressures. Over the past two years, food prices have shot up 10%, housing 12%, insurance 26% and electricity prices are up to 36% higher. I know from the conversations I’m having with Sunshine Coast locals on a daily basis that they’re doing it tougher than ever, and I want their lived experience to help shape policy to tackle this cost-of-living crisis.

We cannot underestimate the importance of public input because with the help of Sunshine Coast locals, as a community we’ve been successful in changing

government policy before. Due to input and advice from Sunshine Coast locals, we succeeded in reforming tax law when it came to Men’s Sheds, our community’s submission to the Royal Commission into Aged Care informed reforms in that sector and some of the design features of JobKeeper was a direct consequence of me hearing from locals. We must now work together to tackle cost-of-living.

How is the cost-of-living crisis impacting you and your family, and what do you think the Federal Government should be doing to help?

Head to tedobrien.com.au to have your say.

FROM the perspective of our electorate and the wider Sunshine Coast region, the State Budget was a massive disappointment. Other than some much needed short-term cost of living relief, there was no funding for longterm economic security or long overdue infrastructure upgrades. While there was some funding for some important local road projects, it falls short of what is actually needed to address congestion and keep up with population growth.

The most exciting news is an additional $5million for the construction of the active pedestrian bridge on Seib Road. We recently had confirmation that this long overdue project was due to commence later this year, but it wasn’t until we read through the Budget papers that we realized the project, which when announced in 2020 was a $1.1million project, has now ballooned out to $6million.

Fortunately though, this cost blowout has been funded, thanks in part to a $3million contribution from our Federal Member.

And the best news of all is that as a community, we are now only months away from construction on this vital infrastructure project.

You can watch my full speech at https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=yar_tn5WeU0 or you can find the link on my socials.

With the State Labor government only

focused on securing their fortunes ahead of the election, the LNP used Budget Week to unveil our bold housing plans, Securing Our Housing Foundations.

This ambitious plan has six key policy areas designed to boost home ownership, unleash the community housing sector, turbocharge new housing and drive rental affordability, by abolishing stamp duty for first home buyers and raising the stamp duty concession threshold for first home buyers.

Other features include a new shared equity home ownership program, new regional plans to unlock one million new homes by 2044, removing restrictions on first home buyer grant recipients from renting out rooms, plans for 10,000 new social and community homes on church and charity-owned land, and fast-tracking development approvals.

It’s only by harnessing the power of our community housing sector and delivering social housing on-time and on-budget that we’ll be able to finally end Labor’s downward spiral of false hope and broken housing promises.

In other positive news, congratulations to The Doonan, which took out Best Family Dining award at the recent QHA Awards for Excellence. These annual awards celebrate the best of the best hotels across the state, so it’s great recognition for this popular local venue.

SANDY BOLTON State Member

DAN PURDIE State Member for Ninderry

EXECUTIVE STYLE FAMILY HOME ON 2.52 HECTARES

THIS expansive 2013-built designer residence is perfectly positioned on its 2.52-hectare parcel of land to maximise elevation, privacy, and outlook showcasing sweeping country views to distant mountain ranges; the acreage is fully fenced, fully useable, and horse-friendly, just more boxes ticked!

Across approximately 350sqm the home itself comprises elegant formal entry, five bedrooms, three bathrooms (two ensuites), multiple living areas, well-appointed kitchen, rear covered terrace to relax and savour the delightful rural vista, separate laundry, and double lock-up garage.

Everything about this home exudes quality from the workmanship through to the fixtures and fittings, and the floor plan is well designed to facilitate excellent separation of living with the parents retreat in the western wing and the remaining bedrooms in the eastern wing.

Features include a sparkling chandelier - a stunning centrepiece at entry, ducted air-conditioning, 3-metre high ceilings, ducted vacuum, security screens, luxury spa bath and dual vanities in master ensuite, dual vanities also in guest ensuite, stone benches, stainless steel appliances, gas cooktop,

walk-in pantry, ceiling fans, security screens, roll-down blinds on terrace, 3-phase power, and 13.6kW solar system.

Infrastructure on the property includes full 4 strand barb fencing around boundary, dog fencing around house yard (approximately 2-acres), farm-gate style entry, driveway, 3 x

22,000-litre water tanks, and a 20x7m powered 4-bay air-conditioned shed (with soundproof music studio).

The land itself is gently undulating and there is a picturesque dam onsite, also some mature fruit trees including citrus and banana.

The pasture is lush, and the soil is rich and fertile - suitable for grazing

and growing; and it is certainly a property that could offer selfsustainable living for those seeking a more eco-friendly, self-sufficient offthe-grid lifestyle.

Located with quick easy access to both the Old Bruce Highway and the M1, only five minutes to Amamoor with village amenities including a primary school, 15 minutes to Gympie’s major amenities, and 45 minutes to Noosa Main Beach - you can access all the necessary services as well as the fun stuff within a convenient proximity of home.

Price: On Application

5 3 4

Address: 115 Traveston Crossing Road, Kybong

Agent: Stacey Hitch Countryside Realty Noosa

Phone: 0411 429 499

SECLUDED ELEGANCE IN DOONAN’S PREMIER ENCLAVE

NESTLED amidst the serene landscapes of Doonan’s prestigious enclave, this expansive single-level residence embodies the essence of tranquillity on a sprawling one-acre estate. Surrounded by lush lawns and gracefully bordered by majestic trees, this home offers unparalleled privacy and a sense of peaceful seclusion.

Step inside to discover a spacious interior adorned with high ceilings and generously proportioned separate living areas. Each room is thoughtfully designed to offer both comfort and elegance, creating a seamless flow that invites relaxation and effortless entertaining. The heart of the home is the

LARGE AUCTION

SATURDAY 13th JULY at 9am

A huge Auction of hundreds of items including 3 Holden Colorado Diesel (4x4) Dual Cab Utes registered (2017, 2015 and 2013). Holden Colorado Diesel (4x4) Single Cab Ute (registered), 2010 Sumitono (SH 240) 24 tonne Excavator, 2013 Sumitono (SH145) 14 tonne Excavator. Ali Loading Ramps 3450mm to 3700mm (6 tonne to 9 tonne), 2 x 20ft Shipping Containers, Qty of Timber for Concrete Formwork, Power Tools, Workshop Tools, Welders, Smooth Cut 80 Plasma Cutter, Large Qty Tool Boxes, Box Trailer (registered), Concrete Manhole Components, Steel Manhole Outer Forms, Dicel Concrete Line Water Pipes, 2 on site Offices (3.6m x 2.4m and 3m x 2.4m), Excavator Bog Mats, Trencher, Rockhammers 12 tonne to 30 tonne, Auger HDD 300mm x 6 metres, Qty of Road Signs, plus much more, yes hundred of items for Auction.

This large Auction is approximately 8 km from Tewantin

For sale items enquiries phone or text TOM GRADY AUCTIONS on 0419 646 109 OR Miguel Grima (Pivotal Alliance) on 0427 197 969

Terms: Payment on day of sale. Cash or Direct Bank Payment or Cheques by arrangement. (No Cards) (I.D. Required)

Modern conveniences abound, including reverse cycle airconditioning for year-round comfort and a substantial 13.2 kW solar system, ensuring sustainability and efficiency. For hobbyists and storage enthusiasts, a nearly new two-bay shed with 4.2m clearance stands ready, complemented by a convenient two-car garage with an automatic door.

Embrace the opportunity to own a piece of Noosa’s exclusive hinterlandan oasis, and where every day feels like a retreat. Welcome home to your perfect haven in Doonan, where life unfolds amidst the beauty of nature and the comfort of elegant living.

Price: Offers Considered

4 2 4

well-appointed kitchen, strategically positioned to overlook the covered entertainment area and expansive timber deck that wraps around three sides of the residence. Here, culinary adventures await amidst the backdrop of serene outdoor vistas, making every meal a delightful experience.

Address: 65 Pheasant Lane, Doonan

Agent: Alisa Wythes Hinternoosa

Phone: 0415 111 370

Agent: Caroline Johnston Hinternoosa Phone: 0409 953 311

HOME FOR NOW OR DEVELOP

SITUATED just a hop, skip and a jump to the business centre of Pomona, this western red cedar home sits on a huge 1012sqm block that is zoned for medium density residential housing. Live in the 3 bedroom home as is, with air conditioned open plan lounge/ dining area and a full length verandah to relax or entertain and enjoy the winter sun. The level land has plenty of room for a pool or a second dwelling. The large 4 bay shed at the rear is ideal for storing vehicles, boats, or caravans. There’s also a built-in bar and pool table that will stay with the sale. Walking distance to schools, shops, cafes, the fortnightly markets, professional services, and more plus

there’s a 20 acre walking park right across the road. The zoning allows for it to be further developed either now or in the future. Inspections at the open homes or call for your private appointment.

Price: Offers Over $899,000

3 1 4

Address: 21 Hill Street, POMONA

Agent: Jeanette Catalano Hinternoosa

Phone: 0422 923 851

Agent: Mario Catalano Hinternoosa

Phone: 0400 613 879

ARCHITECTURALLY DESIGNED

NESTLED in the serene enclave of Doonan, this architecturally designed masterpiece by Gareth Cole epitomizes harmonious living with its unique octagonal layout.

Radiating from a central hub, the home seamlessly blends indoor and outdoor spaces, accentuated by a sweeping raked ceiling that extends over the sitting rooms and expansive decks. This design ethos not only enhances natural light and airflow but also invites nature into every corner.

Spanning three levels, the property boasts a host of amenities including a 12.5m pool, a versatile workshop, central meditation tower, and a spacious rumpus room ideal for conversion into a studio. Its energy-efficient design ensures comfort throughout the seasons, perfectly complementing our subtropical climate. Thoughtfully positioned for privacy, each area is meticulously crafted for effortless family living.

Originally two separate blocks, the property now features a sprawling, level expanse adorned with a picturesque dam, mature fruit trees, and a tranquil section of rainforest. This merger of land has created a sanctuary that blends natural beauty with architectural ingenuity, offering a rare opportunity to own a slice of paradise in Doonan.

The Property:

• Designed for maximum energy efficiency and built to endure for generations

• 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, powder room, 4 car garage, workshop, pool & more

• Architecturally designed over three

levels with north facing covered decks and patios

• First level has 2 bedrooms, kitchenette, wine cellar, sewing cupboard and rumpus

• These rooms lead to a covered patio through private doors that connect with nature

• Second entry level has 2 bedrooms, powder room, ensuited master, kitchen and living

• The pebble driveway leads to ample parking spaces and large workshop

• A meditation room is set in the tower, a perfect retreat or 5th bedroom/guest room

• The kitchen is equipped with Bosch

gas

and

• Adjoining breakfast room opens to the deck with a built-in office desk below the servery

• The living room adjoins the verandah with a vaulted ceiling above allowing ample light in

• 12.5m x 4m pool with terracotta tiles and timber decks with three access points

• Road access around the property connects the lower section of the block

• Level usable land, established fruit trees, spring fed dam with pump, and irrigation

• Sections of rainforest, abundant wildlife and room for a large shed

- 1.4ha Address: 55 Wust Road, Doonan Agent: Brendan Weatherill Property Providore Phone: 0466 248 345

ovens,

cook top,

butler’s pantry

0408 629 438

0419 818 418

0447 778 951

David Berns Real Estate is a premier Agency representing many of the Noosa Hinterland’s spectacular properties. Offering our clients exceptional and professional service, we strive to not only meet your expectations but to exceed them and ensure that your experience is both profitable and totally satisfying.