Shopping local keeps your money in your community!
Maleny Music Festival 2025
Surrounded by nature, good people and beautiful energy
The Maleny Music Festival features acts based in Queensland and from overseas, performing over 2 to 4 stages and in the streets of Maleny.
This family friendly festival has become renowned for its relaxed, intimate and casual atmosphere. It is run by Maleny Music & Performing Arts Association Incorporated, a not for profit organisation to promote the enviroment of music.
Maleny Shop Local News is free local Online Newsletter published online on the first and third Friday of each month at:
https://issuu.com/maleny-grapevinecommunity-news
Why not bookmark this site and come back regularly to check out local group’s news and Maleny District Sporting results and news. For Tablet & Phone users download the ISSUU App from your app store and search for Maleny Grapevine
Published by Maleny Paint Supplies Pty. Ltd
Shed 6/14 Lawyer Street, Maleny. 4552 Contact Phone 0754942002
Over the past 30 days there have been 3368 Page Impressions with a read time of 3min 22 secs
Contact for advertising
Email thegrapevine@westnet.com.au or phone Les at Maleny Paint Supplies on 54942002.
Maleny Music Festival on Saturday November 8th
The Maleny Music Festival is run by community volunteers and held in the Maleny Showgrounds. This is the site of the original Maleny Folk Festival. The Festival commenced in 2012 on the 25th anniversary of the first event, which grew and went on to become the Woodford Folk Festival.
This year, the festival will run from 4 p.m. on Friday, 7th November, and continue on Saturday, 8th November, and Sunday, 9th November. On November 7th, the gates of the showgrounds will be manned from 2 p.m.
You can explore the festival line-up and find your way around the seven stages, 70 acts, and 150 concerts, dances, and workshops by downloading the Moment Events APP from either the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.
Sorry, dog lovers! Your pooch isn’t allowed on the unpowered camping oval or inside the festival itself.
Both main stages, Bunya and Platypus, are located inside wheelchair-accessible buildings. There’s also a disability access toilet at the Bunya stage and parking for those with disabilities at the southern ticket gate.
The Maleny Music Festival is on the way to becoming a NO WASTE FESTIVAL, so please bring your own refillable bottle.
Coffee - No More!!
Typical Erickson Home Phones of 1940’s & 1950’s. Not too many homes had their own home phones.
The beloved local coffee shop, The Cubby House on Maple Street has closed down and is
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Around Glass house Electorate with Mr Andrew Powell M.P.
The Crisafulli Government is progressing planning for the Landsborough-Maleny Road and MalenyMontville Road intersection upgrade with the second round of investigations set to commence to support planning for a future upgrade.
Investigations are planned to commence from Monday 27 October 2025, weather and conditions permitting and are expected to be undertaken over two weeks.
The future intersection upgrade will improve safety, ease peak hour congestion, and enhance access into key hinterland towns.
Led by the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR), the investigations will include geotechnical and pavement assessments, which will help inform and refine the future upgrade options, ensuring the design is tailored to the site’s unique conditions and delivers the best outcomes for the community.
The Crisafulli Government committed $7 million in the 2024 election to upgrade the intersection at Landsborough-Maleny and Maleny-Montville Roads.
The upgrade aims to improve safety and network efficiency, as well as reduce peak hour congestion.
Email: sales@conceptsystems.com.au Phone: (07) 5429 6750 Web: https://www.conceptsystems.com.au/
Local Member for Glasshouse
Mr. Powell said; “I know everyone’s keen for these upgrades, but we need to get the planning right: they must improve safety, cut congestion and reflect community expectations.”
“These investigations are crucial to understand local traffic challenges and find a way to enhance connectivity for our Hinterland communities.”
“This is only step one of our full package commitment to upgrade this intersection but it’s an important step, so please bear with me to make sure we get this right for you.”
Motorists may experience minor delays when diversions or temporary lane closures are in place. TMR will keep the community updated as the project progresses.
Trivia Night - Maleny State School
Don’t forget the 90’s TRIVIA NIGHT on the 22nd November at the Maleny State School Hall. This is a fundraiser for the Maleny State School P & C. To book go to: www.malenypandc.com.au/trivianight
Trading Hours
Monday - Friday: 9am to 5pm Saturday: 9am to 1pm Closed Sunday & Public Holidays
Around Division 5 with Cr Winston Johnston
To contact Cr Winston Johnston winston.johnston@sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au
Bushfire Season Is Coming Are You Ready?
Spring marks the start of the Sunshine Coast’s dry season – and bushfire season. Even after a wet winter, just one week of warm weather can dry out the ground and increase the risk of fires.
Now’s the time to prepare your home, family, and business. A well-prepared home is easier to defend and reduces the risk to surrounding properties.
Here’s how you can get ready
Around the Home
✦ Clear gutters and roof debris
✦ Trim branches and mow lawns
✦ Remove flammable items from around the house
✦ Install mesh screens and seal gaps
Access & Safety
Make sure your house number is visible
Ensure fire trucks can access your property
Prepare evacuation and emergency kits
Update your Bushfire Survival Plan
Don’t Forget Your Pets
Have you got your 2026 Heritage Calendar
Sunshine Coast Council 2026 Heritage Calendar is now available and costs just $5.00.
Every page tells a story from happenings from 1950’s to 1980’s from all around the coast.
Most of the photos were from the Bill Robinson collections. Bill Robinson. Bill and his wife Phyllis had photo studios in both Nambour and Caloundra.
Bill and his son Ted worked as a freelance photographers taking photographs for both the Nambour Chronicle newspaper and of crime scenes for Sunshine Coast t Police before Queensland Police employed their own photographers.
Just some local news from Fisher
Mr. Andrew Wallace Federal MP for Fisher
Fisher Community News
ADF Troops in GAZA
On the world stage, the Coalition remains clear. We will not support recognition of a Palestinian state without a real peace process, and we will not support putting Australian troops into Gaza while Hamas remains. Over recent days we have seen Hamas executing Gazans in public.
We do not believe putting our ADF at risk given the situation on the ground is in our national interest. Australia did not participate in the Peace Summit in Egypt so the Albanese Government should be up front with what its intentions are here.
With the cost of living hurting millions of Australians our government needs to focus more on Australia and not on conflicts overseas where we have no role or influence.
Our focus is on responsible economic management, smaller government and intergenerational fairness.
POLITICAL COMMENT MADE BY “KAP Deputy Leader, Shane Knuth when addressing Parliament about a crocodile cull and the upcoming Hinchinbrook by-election.
“A lot of youse will not be here.”
Why Shop Locally?
The Hinterlandgrapevine Online News Maleny Commerce News
Have you got your Local Shopping Gift Card Yet? Maleny Commerce supports local businesses
Maleny Commerce seeks to have working relationships with all local businesses and desires to create an environment of mutual concern for sustainable living and the betterment of our Maleny community.
While it may not be possible to source all our needs from our local retailers and tradesman, here are a few reasons to think twice before you make your next purchase:
It Creates local jobs and it is personal;
Shopping locally helps Australia grow;
Shopping locally gives better consumer choice and better customer service because you are shopping with a friend; Assists local businesses support local community & sporting groups; It reduces your carbon footprint
Will you really support local businesses?
About Maleny Commerce
Maleny and District Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. is an incorporated body representing the business community since 1986. It is now known as Maleny Commerce. The Chamber represents the local Maleny and District business community. Join us at one of our monthly business breakfasts. www.malenycommerce.org.au
One of the major items has been the “Why Leave Town” gift cards, which can be redeemed at many local businesses. The whole idea of the Why Leave Town Gift Card is that it can only be spent in the participating businesses of that town…hence keeping the money local!
To find out where they can be redeemed, visit: https://www.whyleavetown.com/community/maleny/
“ Whitnall’s Store Cr 1950”
Whitnall,s Store was located in Maple Street, Maleny opposite the original police station. Dennis Whitnall was a motor mechanic. At that point of time there were six motor garages with fuel supplies in Maple Street between Myrtle Street and the Obi Creek. Today there are none in that same section.
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Maleny Service Centre
On this day in history November 7 th
On Thursday the 7th November, 1861 –The first Melbourne Cup which had 17 starters was won by by the horse, Archer. His time of 3 minutes 52 seconds remains the slowest on record. However the first prize was a staggering 710 gold sovereigns.
On this day about 4,000 people gathered at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne to watch a horse race that would become one of Australia’s most important sporting events.
Today, the Melbourne Cup is known as ‘the race that stops a nation’, drawing crowds of thousands on the first Tuesday in November every year.
a Roadworthy Certificate?
Maleny Service Centre have a Licenced Roadworthy Inspector on the premises and we know only too well what it takes to make your vehicle safe and roadworthy.
All vehicles (including trucks, motorbikes and trailers) must have a Safety or Roadworthy Certificate (RWC) if being sold, registered for the first time or being re-registered in Queensland. Registered Vehicles cannot be solid without a RWC.
An Old Codger’s Thoughts & Opinions
Australia’s immigration system is working against Australia’s standard of living.
Australia’s migration system used to be built on permanency and citizenship. That is, we invite people to come to our country, and we want them to invest and build a life here: to start businesses, get their kids educated, and to make this country their own. That’s the Australian model.
Unfortunately, over time, this has changed somewhat, and politically, it appears to be more advantageous just to allow large numbers to arrive, and they like to, to the detriment of Aussies who have lived here for decades, that includes many people who migrated to Australia soon after the Second World War.
Unfettered migration—that is, when large numbers of people are allowed to enter the country without proper regulation or control— can cause serious and lasting damage to a nation’s stability, economy, and social fabric.
Presently, it is relatively easy for a low-skill, temporary migrant to come to Australia. It would be better for those low-skilled people if Australia was able to assist them in their own country to raise their standard of living whilst they keep their own customs and families around them.
When border rules are relaxed and immigration systems are poorly managed, the sudden influx of migrants can overwhelm public infrastructure such as housing, healthcare, welfare, and education. Local communities may face shortages and increased costs, while taxpayers shoulder the financial burden of supporting rapid population growth. This is presently readily evident, shown by the present housing crisis throughout Australia and the pressures placed on the health system and roads.
Socially, it can strain cohesion if integration policies are weak or cultural differences are ignored. Rapid demographic change without proper planning can foster resentment, division, and a sense of displacement among citizens.
Security risks also rise when background checks and vetting processes are neglected, allowing criminal elements or extremists to exploit porous borders. Politically, trust in government can erode when citizens feel their leaders no longer control who enters their country.
Migration can greatly benefit a nation—but only when managed responsibly, with clear laws, fair limits, and genuine integration efforts. Without such control, the resulting strain can undermine national unity, safety, and long-term prosperity.
When a person goes outside the norms of Australian law, that person should be immediately returned to their country of origin.
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Truthful Jones says And he swears that it 100% true - No Bulls##t”
Truthful Jones tells us that he watched as an old lady handed her bank card to a bank teller and said, “I would like to withdraw $500” . It couldn’t have happened in Maleny as most banks have now closed here.
The teller told her, “For withdrawals less than $2,000, please use the ATM.”
The old lady wanted to know why.
The teller returned her bank card and irritably told her, “These are the rules. Please leave if there is no other matter. There is a line behind you.”
The old lady remained silent for a few seconds, then handed the card back to the teller and said, “Please help me withdraw all the money I have.”
The teller was astonished when she checked the account balance. She nodded her head, leaned down and respectfully told her, “My apologies Ma'am, you have $35 million in your account and our bank doesn't have so much cash currently. Could you make an appointment and come again tomorrow?
The old lady then asked how much she could withdraw immediately.
The teller told her any amount up to $250,000.
"Well, please let me have $250,000 now", she requested. The teller did so quickly, then handed it very friendly and respectfully to her elderly client.
The old lady put $500 in her bag and asked the teller to deposit the balance of $249,500 back into her account.
Moral of the story is “Don't be difficult with old people, they spent a lifetime learning the skills.”
Maleny Paint Supplies
6/14 Lawyer Street, Maleny. Ph 54942002 www.malenypaintsupplies.com
Australian Owned and made
Stevie’s mate; Cyril the 3m carpet snake is missing!!!
Stevie, the tan dachshund, was not just any ordinary dog. Small in stature but with a heart far larger than his frame, he had always found comfort and courage in the company of his unlikely best friend—Cyril, a three-metre carpet snake. To most, their friendship seemed strange, even impossible, yet the two had been inseparable for years. Wherever Stevie trotted, Cyril glided close behind, and together they formed a bond as tight as any pack or pride. But now, things were different. For the first time, Cyril was gone. One morning Stevie awoke on the porch, stretched his short legs, and looked around expectantly, waiting for the familiar dark coils to appear in the grass. Hours passed, then days, but there was no sign of Cyril.
Indoor Mould & Mildew Remover
Wet & Forget Indoor sanitising cleaner is the easiest way to curb indoor mould and mildew. The convenient spray-and-wipe formula cleans, deodorises and sanitises all at once. Get it at Maleny Paint
Will Cyril ever come back? I miss him a lot
Stevie paced the yard, sniffing the air, barking occasionally, hoping to draw Cyril back. At night, he whined softly before curling up alone, the absence of his companion leaving a hollow ache. Was Cyril simply wandering further than usual, enjoying a secret adventure, or had something gone terribly wrong?
Snakes were stealthy by nature, and Cyril had always had a mysterious streak, slipping into the undergrowth and reappearing at will. But Stevie could not shake his fear: what if Cyril had been injured, caught, or worse—what if he was not returning at all?
In his heart, Stevie clung to loyalty. Every day he waited by the fence line, ears pricked, tail still and steady. Perhaps tomorrow Cyril would slither home, tongue flickering in greeting, ready to coil near his friend once again. Until then, Stevie’s hope burned quietly. For a dachshund as faithful as Stevie, giving up on his friend was never an option.
Maleny Paint Supplies
6/14 Lawyer Street, Maleny. Ph 54942002 www.malenypaintsupplies.com
Hard Wax Oil for your precious woodwork will save the day!
Maleny Paint Supplies is now making stand alone cabinets made to measure
We at Maleny Paint Supplies understands that your kitchen is the heart of your home, and your kitchen cabinetry must not only look stunning but also maximise space, providing ample storage and meeting your specific needs. With over 30 years experience, Brett recognises the importance of exceptional-quality craftsmanship with attention to detail, best quality materials, and innovative design, ensuring that your project is delivered to your specifications. Call in and discuss your cabinet needs.
Need more wardrobe space???
In many of the new homes being built around our area at the moment I bet there is one problem in them all - insufficient wardrobe space!!!
To address insufficient wardrobe shelving in new builds, add extra shelves, install modular shelving or drawer units and Maleny Paint Supplies can make these to measure for just for you.
My Hints:
What are Hard Wax Oils?
Hard Wax Oils are a blend of natural oils and waxes which are designed to protect internal timber surfaces. The wax content keeps the oil suspended in the surface of the wood for longer. Unlike film coatings, the pores of the timber are filled, and the timber pores are ‘saturated’ which will allow no room for anything else.
A timber surface that is treated with Hard Wax Oil is resistant to water and dirt because of the saturation. The wax component forms a hard layer, and this layer gets harder over the years meaning maintenance is required less frequently. In contrast to other finishes such as polyurethane or lacquers, timber surfaces that are finished with Hard Wax Oil can breathe freely and the coat of wax remains elastic so it will not crack, peel, flake, or blister.
Our Hard Wax Oil is extremely easy to spot repair. Mask around the scratched boards with painters’ tape, lightly sand with a fine paper and apply a coat of Hard Wax Oil.
Use Fiddes Cleaning products for Hard Wax oil as they are a non-abrasive, rinse free formulation that require no rinsing and will dry smear free.
Who Gives A Crap? - We Do!
What do we really mean when we say our toilet paper helps build toilets?
We trust that our partner organisations know how to best improve global access to proper sanitation – that means our donation could go to building toilets. To put it into perspective, a child under five dies every two minutes from diarrhoea diseases caused by poor water and sanitation.
Profits from the sale of this toilet paper is used our donation could go to building toilets, but could also mean it supports larger clean water projects.
Are Goods of an ’Acceptable Quality’?? With Tove Easton of Easton Lawyers, Maleny
With Christmas upon us and the trees in Maple Street already adorned with Christmas presents I thought it useful to raise the issue of the quality of the goods that you will purchase for your family – or indeed gifts that you receive at Christmas - and what happens when the goods you have just purchased or received do not meet your expectations.
The Competition and Consumer Act (2010) (Cth) (the Act), and incorporating in its Schedule 2 the Australian Consumer Law, provides uniform legislative protections for all Australians, based on the premise that goods must be of an ‘acceptable quality’.
Prior to the Act’s introduction, rather than considering whether goods were of ‘acceptable quality’ you would consider the good’s ‘merchantable quality’. This generally meant that goods bought only had to be ‘reasonable’ in description and price rather than ‘acceptable’ in description and price. In other words, the new requirement of ‘acceptable quality’ demands a great level of quality than merely that of ‘merchantable quality’.
How then does one establish whether goods are of an ‘acceptable quality’ ? The Supplier guarantees that the goods must be:
fit for the purposes for which goods of that kind are commonly supplied acceptable in appearance and finish free from defects safe and durable.
Therefore, goods that are of ‘merchantable quality’ might not be ’acceptable’ to a consumer if, for instance , there is minor blemish in the appearance. Note, however, that, if the blemish was brought to your attention at the time of purchase it may be regarded as a product of “acceptable quality” as you were made aware of the defect, and elected
to continue with the transaction.
A supplier may have breached this guarantee of ‘acceptable quality’ if: the product would not be acquired by a reasonable consumer fully acquainted with the nature and extent of the failure; or the product did not match a description or a demonstration model; or the product did not meet the standard that is expected of goods of that nature, or the supplier did not disclose that the goods are unfit, or the goods are unsafe.
Depending on the type of guarantee and nature of the breach, there are numerous remedies that a consumer may seek, although most consumers will seek a refund or the replacement of the goods.
Suppliers are required to remedy any defects in a reasonable time, and if they fail to do so, legal action can be initiated
Should you have any questions, please contact our office on 07 5494 3511 Monday to Friday between 08:30 and 17:00 AEST.
Take care everyone!
Easton Lawyers
Easton Lawyers are your Local Lawyers in Maleny, Sunshine Coast Hinterland, Queensland, Australia. Easton Lawyers. 62 Maple Street, Maleny. Qld. 4552 Phone. 0754943511.
P.O. Box 255 Maleny. Qld. 4552.
Email: reception@eastonlawyers.com.au
For the team at Easton Lawyers it is a privilege to help people through tough and stressful times and if the client cannot come to them this is no obstacle as home visits and/or hospital visits are a service they provide. We support many local community Groups
Local Tradespersons
Emergency Phone Numbers
Emergency (POLICE, FIRE, AMBULANCE): 000
Moreton Bay Regional Council – 3205 0555
Sunshine Coast Council – 5475 7272
Crime Stoppers – 1800 333 000
Policelink – 131 444
Energex general enquiries – 131 253
Loss of electricity supply – 13 62 62
Priority emergency (electrical hazards) – 13 19 62
Unitywater – 1300 086 489
Kids Helpline – 1800 55 1800
Lifeline – 131 114
Poison Hotline – 131 126
SES – 132500
Traffic Reports – 131 940
Translink – 131 230 It is always interesting to see what is happening in other parts of the world. It is easy to explore through Online Newspapers https://onlinenewspapers.com/index.shtml
Trying to avoid the heat!!!
A heatwave is when it’s hotter than usual for three days or more. Hot weather caused by a heatwave can make you sick.
Large parts of northern Australia have been sweltering through severe heatwave conditions over the past couple of weeks. Daytime maximum temperatures and overnight minimums were between three to eight degrees above average for this time of year.
This resulted in a spike in heatrelated illnesses. Heat-related illness happens when your body cannot cool itself down. Different people show different signs of heat-related illness It is important to drink water, 2 to 3 litres per day to keep up in the body. Coffee and alcohol does not count as good fluids for the body.
Maleny Community Groups & When they meet!
Community Groups that form the back bone of the Maleny Community
Maleny Rotary Club
Meeting. Times
1st and 3rd Wednesdays. 6-30pm for 7pm
Maleny Hotel, Bunya St. Maleny
Email: secretary.maleny@rotary9600.org president.maleny@rotary9600.org
Maleny
Probus Club Meeting. Times
Maleny Uniting Church, Landsborough Road, Maleny
Meet 10 am on the 4th Wednesday of each month. Feb to November 1300 856 859
Queensland Country Women's Association - Maleny Branch Meetings at
The Verandah Room 23 Maple Street, Maleny 8:00 am - 11:30 am. 4th Monday of Month. Email: qcwa.maleny@gmail.com
The Zonta Club of Blackall Range Meetings at
Various between Montville and Maleny. Dinner meeting 3rd Tuesday of month 6pm. Email: membership@zontablackrange.org.au president@zontablackallrange.org.au
Being a part of a community
Apex Club of Maleny
Meeting. Times
1ST & 3RD MONDAYS, 7.00PM. Email maleny@apex.org.au. Postal PO BOX 39. MALENY, QLD 4552 0487770653
Maleny Senior Citizens Meetings at
The Verandah Room 23 Maple Street, Maleny 8:00 am - 11:30 am. 4th Monday of Month. Activities include card games, meetings and regular bus trips
Email: margarry1@bigpond.com 0409 266 507
The LIONS CLUB OF MALENYBLACKALL RANGE Inc. Meetings at
Maleny Uniting Church Hall
On the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 6.30pm
Monthly Dinner Meeting held at The Orangery, 10 Mountain View Rd, at 6.30pm on 4th Tuesday of month
Email: maleny-blackall-range@lionsq3.org.au
Maleny
Commerce Meetings at
Monthly breakfast networking meetings. 2nd Tuesday of the month. Venues to be advised.
Email: info@malenycommerce.org.au
Andrea & Mark Porter
Maleny Hardware and Rural Supplies is located in the centre of Maleny in the picturesque Sunshine Coast Hinterland. Thy offer good old fashioned service to your car for those heavy items. There is also ample parking at the front and pick up at the rear of the store.
We are independently owned and supply the local community with rural and hardware supplies at competitive prices.
Did you know we can deliver items in surrounding suburbs for a small fee.
Come and browse through our extensive range of products and say hi!
The signs of summer will soon be around us. The days have lengthen and the earth begins is warmer…
Did you know that we also have a large range of animal food?
Mi-Feed is a boutique stock feed mill on the Sunshine Coast at Yandina. In operation since 1979 we were the first to incorporate the micronisation process into the manufacture of stock feed.
There is a Mi Feed product for your animals - be it chooks, beef cattle, dairy cattle, horses, pigs or goats and don't want to handle a different feed for all of them. Mi-Feed has developed a number of lines that have a multi species purpose. Singular micronised grains such as barley or our ever popular Hobby Farm Mix.
Because the micronisation process
gelatinises the starch before it is consumed, the harmful affects of high grain feeding, such as founder, acidosis and overheating are dramatically reduced thus providing a “cool” source of energy to the animal.
Check out the Mi Feed range, including Pasture Boost Pallets at Maleny Rural Traders
To find out more about the range of Mi Feed products visit: https://www.mi-feed.com.au/news/
Radium dials are watch, lock and other instrument dials painted with luminous paint containing radium-226 to produce radioluminescence. Radium dials were produced throughout most of the 20th century before being replaced by safer tritium-based luminous material in the 1970s and finally by non-toxic, non-radioactive strontium aluminate–based photoluminescent material.
Sometimes you read about an incident not having heard about it before and you just wonder how things happen and through a lack of knowledge many lives can be ruined. I found this story fascinating.
I can remember when I was very young the fascination I had for my father’s watch that you could see the dials light up when it was dark. I was known to pull the blankets on my bed up to shut out any light and look at the dial light up.
I can also remember being told that it was caused by a radio active substance called Radium. I had no idea what that meant but later at school I found that it was a highly radioactive element discovered in 1898 by Marie and Pierre Curie while studying the mineral pitchblende.
The most notable property of radium is its intense radioactivity, which causes it to emit alpha, beta, and gamma radiation. This radiation excites certain phosphorescent materials, making them glow in the dark—a phenomenon known as radioluminescence.
In the early 20th century, this glowing property made radium extremely attractive for practical applications. One of the most widespread uses was in luminous paint, created by mixing radium salts with a phosphorescent compound such as zinc sulfide. When applied to clock and watch dials, instrument panels, and even military equipment, the paint allowed the numbers and hands to glow continuously without the need for an external light source. This was especially valuable during World War I, when soldiers needed to read instruments and watches in darkness or low-light conditions.
People even thought that it was healthy, and it was included as an ingredient in many products. Those products even included drinks and creams. Radium had been hailed as a miracle substance at the time, believed to have health benefits and even marketed in tonics, toothpaste, and cosmetics.
In the early 20th century as a powder it became popular with ladies to dust themselves with before attending dances and balls
so that they “sparkled” under the lights.
Radium-based luminous paint became popular in consumer goods as well, marketed as a modern convenience and even a luxury feature. Companies like the United States Radium Corporation produced thousands of such dials, often painted by young women workers who became known as the “Radium Girls.”
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Continued from previous Page
The story of the “Radium Girls” is one of the most haunting and important chapters in the history of workplace safety and industrial regulation. These women were factory workers employed in the United States during the 1910s and 1920s to paint watch dials, instrument panels, and other items with luminous paint that contained the radioactive element radium.
The name “Radium Girls” came from both the substance they worked with and the tragic physical consequences they suffered, as their bodies literally began to glow and deteriorate from radiation poisoning.
The practice began during World War I. Companies employed young women, many barely out of their teens, to paint watch and clock dials so soldiers could read them in the dark.
Safety warnings were virtually nonexistent.
The workers were trained to use a technique known as “lip-pointing,” in which they placed the fine paintbrushes between their lips to achieve a sharp point. This meant they were ingesting small amounts of radium with every stroke. They also handled the luminous paint with bare hands, sometimes playfully painting their nails, teeth, or even dresses with it, unaware of the risks. At night, they would glow faintly, a seemingly magical effect that earned them admiration and, eventually, their grim nickname.
However, the effects of radiation poisoning soon became apparent. The women developed a wide range of devastating illnesses: severe anemia, bone fractures, necrosis of the jaw (later called “radium jaw”), and cancers. One of the earliest and most well-known victims, Mollie Maggia, had her jaw literally disintegrate, and she died in 1922 at just 24 years old. Dozens of others followed similar fates, suffering agonising and disfiguring deaths.
As the death toll grew, the women began to seek justice. Yet, the companies initially denied
responsibility, blaming the illnesses on poor dental hygiene, syphilis, or other unrelated conditions.
Despite their suffering, the women faced resistance from powerful corporations unwilling to admit liability. In 1927, a group of five women, often referred to as the “Radium Girls” in court documents, took legal action against the United States Radium Corporation. Their case gained national attention, particularly as the women were so weak and ill they could barely walk into the courtroom.
The case was eventually settled out of court, with the women receiving compensation and medical coverage.
More importantly, the lawsuits marked a turning point in labor rights. The plight of the Radium Girls led to greater awareness of occupational hazards, stricter regulations on the handling of radioactive materials, and the establishment of legal precedents that allowed workers to sue employers for labor abuses and unsafe conditions.
In the decades that followed, many of the surviving Radium Girls lived shortened and painful lives, though their struggle was not in vain. Their sacrifices forced reforms that improved industrial safety standards, protecting future generations of workers. Today, the Radium Girls are remembered not only for their suffering but for their courage in standing up to powerful corporations and sparking lasting changes in workplace health and safety.
Radium continued to be used until the 1960s. Although radium dials eventually fell out of use— replaced first by safer tritium-based paints and later by non-radioactive phosphorescent materials—their legacy is twofold.
They represent both a milestone in technological innovation and a cautionary tale in occupational health and safety.
Radium dialled watches today are collector’s pieces and remain popular as collectable items, even if not as day to day wear.
The point was brought home when talking to the brother of a person who we had just seen off to heaven’s gate and he said, “We have just got to stop meeting like this.”
We
had met at a number of funerals over the past few weeks when close friends or relatives had passed. It may well be, unfortunately, that we have all reached that age in life together that we are all about to alight from the “train ride of life”.
R.I.P. to them all and thanks for the memories!!
When someone dies, we grieve the loss of the person. There is no timetable for grief. Everyone experiences the death and loss differently. Unfortunately, grief is a part of life, but it is more pronounced when those passing are a continuous line of close friends and relatives.
In many small towns across Australia, elderly residents often face an emotional cost that goes largely unseen — the quiet sorrow of outliving those who have shaped their lives and communities. For people who have spent decades in one place, surrounded by familiar faces, the passing of friends and relatives can leave a deep and lasting ache. These are not just casual acquaintances; they are neighbours, schoolmates, teammates, and confidants — the people who shared every chapter of life’s journey. When those bonds are broken, one by one, the world becomes smaller, lonelier, and far less certain.
For many of these elderly individuals, attending funerals has become a routine part of the week — sometimes two or three services in a matter of days. What
used to be an occasional farewell has turned into a repetitive reminder of mortality. Each funeral brings with it a wave of grief, not only for the person lost but for all the shared memories that die with them — the laughter at community gatherings, the long chats over garden fences, and the small acts of kindness that once filled the days with meaning.
The social fabric that once held the town together begins to fray, leaving those who remain feeling isolated, even in familiar surroundings.
There is also a profound emotional exhaustion that comes with repeated loss. Grieving continuously doesn’t allow time for recovery; sorrow blends into sorrow until it becomes a quiet, constant companion. Some elderly people describe it as living in a shadow world — where every day feels a little emptier, and the places they once loved are now filled with ghosts of memory. They may walk past a friend’s old house and instinctively wave, only to remember that no one lives there anymore.
Yet within this sadness, there is also remarkable resilience. Many older residents find strength in community rituals—bringing food to a grieving family, tending graves, or simply showing up to pay their respects. These gestures, though small, are acts of love and continuity in a world that is slowly slipping away.
The emotional cost is heavy—a mixture of grief, loneliness, and nostalgia. But it also carries a quiet dignity: the awareness that they have lived well, loved deeply, and remain the custodians of memories that no one else can replace. In their sorrow lies the final proof of how much those friendships truly mattered.
Grief is a normal, natural response that follows a significant change or loss, which may affect parts or all of someone's life. Grief is a process of coming to terms with what has changed in life.
Seniors can tackle grief in Queensland through professional support services like Lifeline and Beyond Blue, community-based groups, and by focusing on selfcare like exercise and healthy eating.
https://issuu.com/Maleny-Grapevine-Community-News
News from Witta Recreational Club
Proudly bought to you by David Lowden Excavations
Hire of Club Facilities
The vision of the club is to provide country club services to be enjoyed by the local community and visitors to the area.
The excellent facilities of the Witta Recreation Club are available for hire for events such as weddings, sports days, family gatherings.
The club has a Certified Kitchen/Catering facilities including a stove, pots & pans, dishwasher, crockery and utensils. The Bushman’s Bar is practically fitted out with a large capacity for the cold storage of a range of beverages. The Bushman’s Bar is located at the core of the Witta Recreation Club. Service from the bar can be provided to customers on the covered hard standing overlooking the playing pitches, or directly into the Clubroom.
Inquiries can be made via the internet at: https://wittarec.club/facilities/make-a-booking
You can find out more about the Witta Recreation Club at their web site at: https://wittarec.club/
Sunshine Coast Australia Day Community Awards
The Sunshine Coast Council Australia Day Awards acknowledge the quiet achievers, the passionate volunteers, the creative minds and the community groups who make a real difference to our community.
There are a number of categories for which people may be nominated and details are available onboard the web site listed below.
Nominations close 5pm on Sunday 30 November 2025 with recipients to be announced at a special ceremony on Friday 23 January 2026.
https://www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/living-andcommunity/awards-and-citizenship/sunshine-coastaustralia-day-community-awards
Local Community News
Maleny Senior Citizens Notes
MANAGEMENT MEETINGS ARE NORMALLY THE 3RD
MONDAY AND GENERAL MEETING 4TH MONDAY EACH MONTH.
November 2025
BUSY NEEDLES 6th and 20th
INDOOR BOWLS 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th
DROP IN NO DROP IN NO Drop In 7th, but then 14th, 21st and 28th
COMMITTEE MEETING 17th probably at Marilyns
GENERAL MEETING … 24th at Baroon Pocket Dam
(If the weather is not good we will meet In the Verandah Room) please bring a Plate to share for morning tea then a Sausage sizzle lunch 930am Sausage sizzle … 6th. Movies … 20th 230pm Sausage sizzle …2nd Movies … 16th … 2pm Cost $5
December 2025
BUSY NEEDLES 4th Christmas Party)
INDOOR BOWLS 1 3rd 10th and 17th
DROP IN 5th, 12th and 19th
COMMITTEE MEETING … NONE - maybe a cuppa Somewhere
GENERAL MEETING NONE.
Movies … 21st. - 2p.m. (5.00)
“Most happenings at seniors start at 9am unless otherwise specified. For more information phone Margaret on . 0409 266 507.
Maleny Calendar of Events 2025.
✦ Maleny Small Farm Fest on 22 November 2025 at the Maleny Showgrounds.
✦ Woodford Folk Festival at Woodfonia. - Sat Dec 27th - Thur Jan 1st 2026.
To add your local organisation events to this list simply email details to: thegrapevine@westnet.com.au
Timely Warning for Pets
A timely warning for those with pets.
With the relatively mild winter and the recent wet weather, followed then by warm weather; this is the ideal time for ticks to be out in force.
Whilst the Queensland’s tick season is said to run from August through to March, ticks can be a problem at any time of the year. At the present time ticks are out in droves due to hotter and wetter weather.
Ticks can cause severe illness and, unfortunately, often death. The paralysis tick paralyses pets swallow reflex and their ability to not let their saliva vomit and food go down their windpipe.
Owners should check their pets every day for ticks and ensure they’re using tick preventatives like tick collars, spot on treatments or a monthly tick chew. Simply be sure that your pets are up to date with their tick prevention.
Maleny Bowls Club
Don’t forget the Tuesday Jackpot Pair Bowls EVERY Tuesday 8.30a.m. for 9a.m. start. Pairs. - 2 x 10 ends
You can keep “”Up to Date” with Maleny Club Newsletter at https://malenybowlsclub.com.au/newsletter.html
Witta Recreational Club
Bar Open Wednesday afternoons 4.30pm to 6.30pm. All Welcome
Touch Season has started with the Canteen and Bar operating every FRIDAY Night from 6pm Available for Hire for Private functions – Birthday Celebrations – Weddings etc.
We are always looking for new members and volunteers.
Contact us by email at. - presidentwittarec@gmail.com
Queensland has more extreme weather than any other state or territory in Australia and natural disasters impact thousands of Queenslanders every year.
Severe weather incidents can happen fast and without much warning, which means it's difficult to react to them.
Understand your risk
Your disaster risk can change over time, even if you have been living in the same area for years.
Stay aware of your severe weather risks by talking to your local council, friends, family and neighbours.
If you receive carer assistance, talk with them about emergency procedures. Create an emergency plan.
Find out how you can best stay updated about disaster alerts and weather warnings through local television stations, radio, your mobile phone, computer, neighbours and the local council.
Talk to your neighbours about assisting you in the case of evacuation.
Keep important contacts like your neighbours, friends, family, carers, doctors and council on your fridge.
Ensure your plan includes what you’ll do in the event of an evacuation. Keep contact details of trusted neighbours on your fridge to assist you in an emergency.
If you have a pet, organise for them to stay with a friend or family member out of town if you need to evacuate.
Pack an emergency kit
If your area is impacted by a disaster like flooding, severe storm or cyclone, you may not be able to leave your home or access local shops for several days.
Keep a kit packed with emergency items to keep yourself safe for at least three days.
including:
plenty of non-perishable food and water;
a first-aid kit with at least a week’s supply of prescription medication, syringes, catheters and other medical supplies and essential medical devices for those who need them;
a torch and a battery-operated radio with spare batteries;
a whistle to attract attention;
a list of emergency contacts including your primary physician, pharmacist, assistive equipment supplies, medical supplier and support network member in and out of town; toiletries including hand sanitiser, tissues, and face masks;
supplies for service or companion animals, including food, water, identification, vet contact details and proof of vaccination; and any additional items needed to meet your personal needs.
Check your insurance
Make sure your home and contents insurance cover is up-to-date and provides adequate cover for damage from severe weather and disasters.
Call your insurer if you have any questions about your policy.
For more information on how to prepare for this disaster season, Call your local council or visit https:// www.getready.qld.gov.au/find-your-local-council
Closures and outages
You can check local road and school closures and other outages such as power at the website below. https://disasterhub.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/ #Dashboard
Maleny SES looking for volunteers
Maleny State Emergency Service Group is looking for some volunteers to help get our community through the next disaster season.
You can put your desire to get involved to good use and serve our community. An easy way to do that by becoming a State Emergency Service (SES) volunteer.
Active SES members perform a diverse range of functions to respond to local, state and national disasters and emergencies. By joining the SES you may respond to many different types of activations as a result of disasters and emergencies.
An SES volunteer has an opportunity to participate in and develop a variety of emergency and rescue skills, including chainsaw operations, flood boat operations, road crash rescue and land search.
Not only will you be helping your community, you will make some great mates along the way.
Volunteers are given training to ensure that they have enough skills to be able to handle whatever task you need to do..
Maleny SES Volunteer group
Be
Prepared for severe weather events
What to do if you need assistance
For life threatening emergencies, call Triple Zero (000).For storm and flood related property damage.
Call the State Emergency Service: 132 500. To keep up to date with Emergency Warnings
Tune into warnings and updates from your local ABC radio and TV stations
Important Phone numbers for assistance during or after a major emergency service 132 500
When disaster strikes you need to follow the advice of authorities on staying put or evacuating and follow your emergency plan.
To find out where to find assistance during or after a major emergency service.
https://www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/Living-andCommunity/Community-Safety/Disasters/emergencies
Maleny Visitor Information Centre
The Maleny Visitor Information Centre is a not for profit, long-standing, independent community service, run by volunteers. The Centre is a ticket selling agency for Maleny Film Society movie screenings along with a range of quality souvenirs and postcards, with a distinctively Maleny flavour along with information about places and events around the area.
The Centre is situated at 2/23 Maple Street, Maleny. It is open 7 days a week between 9.30am-4.00pm. Closed only on Good Friday and Christmas Day. If you have lost something on your visit to Maleny check with the centre as often items are handed in there. Phone: 07 5499 9033
To find out more about the Maleny Visitors Information Centre and talk to the volunteers or visit the web site: https://malenyinfocentre.edublogs.org/ In this year
https://www.esafety.gov.au/newsroom/whats-on/safer-internet-day-2023
Local Groups News
There is a Recreational Group in Maleny and Surrounds that will cater for your desires!
WEEKLY COMMUNITY EVENTS!
Maleny Scottish Country Dancing every Monday 7 to 9 pm RSL Hall. Call 0432 251 606.
Social Tennis every Monday 8.00 am Witta Tennis Club. All Welcome.
Mixed Social Tennis every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 6.30am to 8.30am Maleny Showgrounds
Ladies Social Tennis every Thursday at 7.30am Maleny Showgrounds.
Maleny Bowls Club. – TUESDAY AM BOWLS, 8.30am for 9.00am . 2 games + morning tea $12 per player. Rink Winner Prizes. Visitors and players welcome. Call Joe 0401 987 900 to book your place
WEDNESDAY- 6 pm. TWILIGHT BOWLS & BURGER. $17 p.p. Bowls only $12 p.p. Learners welcome, bowls provided. Call Wendy 0438 399 604.
FRIDAY PM play SCROUNGERS ‘BOWLS WITH A MATE ’ 1pm for 1.30pm (winter), 2 pm (from November). Bowls can be provided. Call Wendy 0438 399 604.
Combined Probus Club of Maleny Inc. Meets every 4th Wednesday from February to November at 10.00 am at the Uniting Church, Landsborough Rd, Maleny. Contact malenyprobus@gmail.com or membership enquiries 0408070823
Muzika Maleny local musicians First Thursday of Each Month from 6.30 pm Maleny RSL.
Pattemore House Open House Morning every Friday 10.00 am - 12 noon 15, Porters Lane.
Diggers Dining every Friday evening 4.30 bar opens Maleny RSL.
Tennis Under Lights every Friday Witta Tennis Club. BYO drinks and nibbles Contact. Pauline 0428 253 070.
Hinterland Country Music Day. Second Saturday each month in the big shed at the Maleny Museum Precinct.
Maleny Trail Parkrun every Saturday 7.00 am Maleny District Sport & Rec Club House Maleny Precinct.
Witta Tennis Club Social Tennis every Saturday 1.00 pm. All Welcome.
Witta Wheels every 3rd Sunday each month 8.00 am - 11.00 am Witta Recreation Club
Maleny Markets every Sunday 8am to 2pm Maleny RSL.
Social Table Tennis every Sunday 1 - 5 pm Maleny High School Activity Centre. All welcome!
Combined Probus Club of Maleny Inc. Meets every 4th Wednesday from February to November at 10.00 am at the Uniting Church, Landsborough Rd, Maleny. Contact malenyprobus@gmail.com or membership enquiries 0408070823
Please email your weekly regular event to malenysportspark@gmail.com for inclusion every week
Today’s Thought
"The best way to find happiness is by making others happy."
A Senior’s thoughty!
“I believe that every human mind feels pleasure in doing good to another.”
“Witta Recreation Club Celebrations
Celebrations at the Witta Sports Grounds Pavilion, now Witta Recreation Club, believed to have been to celebrate the end of WW1, however not conclusively known. Anyone who was there. (Ha ha), or knows the year this photo was taken and what the celebrations were for could let us know. Did you know that prior to 1916 the Witta area was known as Teutoberg which was founded in the late 1880s by German immigrants, but had a name change because of anti- German sentiments during of WW1. The new name, Witta, is believed to have been derived from the Kabi Kabi (Gubbi Gubbi) word for “dingo”.
