Salt Magazine Summer 2025-26

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Page 91

KERRY MULGREW

COVER PHOTOGRAPHER

Some of the most amazing skies are captured at dawn when the weather report forecasts rain. I get out every morning regardless and walk with my camera, all senses alert, waiting for stories to unfold. The low tide slick provided the perfect mirror for the rich sky and surfer. This image was taken 30 minutes before sunrise on Coolum Beach. Handheld at 1/60 f.5 ISO 800.

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SUMMER BLISS

I love summer on the Sunshine Coast. It’s my favourite season and it always arrives with that little bit of magic. Longer balmy days and that gentle reminder to slow down and soak it all in.

I can’t believe how fast this year has flown by. Personally, it’s been a big one – busy, beautiful and a bit emotional, too. I turned the big 50, my youngest daughter Paris turned 18 and finished Year 12, and just like that, I no longer have children at school. It has been a true milestone year. A mix of feelings, but I’m excited about the next era and what it holds.

I’m excited to share this beautiful summer edition of salt with you. As always, we’re shining a light on the locals who make our region such a creative and colourful place – artists, jewellers, artisans, authors and more.

PUBLISHERS

ANAR HIGGINS

DARRYL OLSON

MICHAEL KRAMER

NOEL OLSON

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

KATH HAWKINS

MORGAN EARNEY

LEANDA GRAMBOWER

PHOTOGRAPHER

LISA PEARL

WRITERS

ANNIE GROSSMAN

LINDA HOOPER

ABBEY CANNAN

LUCINDA DEAN

MARTIN DUNCAN

STEVE LESZCZYNSKI

JANE STEPHENS

JANINE HILL

SUB-EDITOR

CANDICE HOLZNAGEL

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JANE TODD

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TINA OLSON

SOCIAL MEDIA & DIGITAL

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TAEGEN MENZIES

Our Nosh News pages are packed with a range of great restaurants to try, so consider this your nudge to wander out and discover somewhere new. You’ll also find easy summer fashion, gorgeous homewares and plenty of great reads for lazy afternoons by the pool. And our What’s On guide is full of events happening right across the Coast.

We’ve also taken a nostalgic look back at summers gone by, complete with beautiful old photos that capture the charm of earlier days on the Sunshine Coast.

Writer Candice Holznagel spends a day at Mary Cairncross with her her young sons and shares her own day of discovery – a reminder of the magic that’s right on our doorstep.

As for me, I’m looking forward to long, lazy pool days with a glass of bubbles, a good book and some proper family time over the break.

From the salt family to yours, we wish you a very merry and safe Christmas and a wonderful holiday season over the summer months. Enjoy the read!

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It’s our rich heritage and long standing commitment that sets us apart from other builders.

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Today, DQH continues to design and build homes that suit the distinctive lifestyles of families across the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

AT ONE with nature

WORDS: CANDICE HOLZNAGEL

THERE WAS A light smattering of rain as I drove into the Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve car park. The region had been hit by storms only a few days before and the lingering showers provided much-needed relief to summer’s humidity.

The added bonus, of course, is the cooler environment the towering canopy of trees provides, and as we walked towards the 1.7-kilometre rainforest loop, the earthy scent of wet leaves filled the air.

Our feet crunched along the gravel path, the sound softened by the fallen foliage.

“It smells different. Nicer,” remarked my inquisitive five-year-old. He was right. There is nothing quite like that unmistakable rainforest scent – the one that clears the mind and refreshes your body.

As we made our way along the path, the kids excitedly searched for fairies in their natural habitat. And although we didn’t find any magical creatures, we were lucky enough to see and hear a number of eastern whipbirds. We also spotted pademelon wallabies and the unmistakable Aussie favourite, the bush turkey, strutting across the path as if he owned the place.

It’s no surprise they call this place one of the Sunshine Coast’s ecological treasures. Within its 55 hectares of subtropical rainforest, Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve houses a remarkable diversity of life – 391 plant species, including seven listed as rare, vulnerable or near-threatened; 141 bird species and 68 species of mammals, reptiles and amphibians, eight of which are also considered near-threatened or threatened.

Scientists are still counting the invertebrates and fungi that make the forest their home.

Interestingly, many of the animals and plants that live in this region are found only between southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales. This stretch of the Blackall Range, with its meeting point of climates, has created a unique pocket of biodiversity.

It’s also fragile: more than 88 per cent of subtropical lowland rainforest has been cleared since European settlement, which makes this protected reserve so vital. While some species that once lived here, such as the long-nosed potoroo and rufous bettong, have disappeared locally, conservation efforts

“mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve houses a remarkable diversity of life”

continue to ensure the remaining habitat flourishes.

Fortunately, Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve is well protected. Sunshine Coast Council and the volunteer group Friends of Mary Cairncross work together to monitor threats and preserve this haven for future generations.

If shorter walks are more suited to your needs, the reserve features two other options – the Pademelon and Piccabeen loops. Along all three tracks, wooden viewing platforms give visitors the chance to pause and take in the sights. The Strangler Fig lookout shows off one of the forest’s more dramatic features – this species of tree can grow to a towering 45 metres in height and up to three metres wide. Meanwhile, the Fryer Creek platform gives walkers the chance to spot freshwater crayfish in the shallows below.

A visit to Mary Cairncross isn’t complete without a stroll along the 130-metre Butterfly Walk. The path (which is accessible friendly) opens up to a viewing deck and features information panels about the Richmond Birdwing butterfly’s lifecycle.

While these walks are the reserve’s main attractions, the Rainforest Discovery Centre is at its centre – plonked between the rainforest entry point and the adjoining boardwalk. Opened in 2017, it provides education about the area’s ecology and history. Inside, interactive displays tell the story of how this landscape was formed and how its fragile ecosystems are sustained.

The centre itself is staffed by a team of volunteers who share their knowledge with the steady stream of visitors. Their work, along with that of the association, is a testament to community spirit and the legacy of the reserve.

It is a legacy that stretches back more than 80 years. In 1941, 40 hectares of land were transferred to the former Landsborough Shire Council under a deed of trust. The land was gifted by three sisters – Elizabeth (Bessie), Mabel and Mary Thynne – and the reserve was named in honour of their mother, Mary (nee Cairncross). Their father, Andrew Joseph Thynne, had purchased the property in 1902 as an investment, never imagining it would one day become one of the Coast’s most beloved green spaces.

Turning that “patch of scrub” into a community asset took decades of work. From 1959, members of the Rotary Club of Maleny dedicated countless volunteer hours to transform the site. They carved walking tracks, built bridges, removed weeds and rubbish, erected signs and picnic facilities and catalogued plant species.

In 1960, the reserve was officially opened by the Governor of Queensland, Sir Henry Abel Smith, with donor Bessie Thynne in attendance.

Bessie’s generosity continued: in 1966, she donated another two hectares of land adjoining her home. Sunshine Coast Council has since secured more land to expand the site.

Of course, the connection to this land reaches back far beyond European settlement. In 2012, the Jinibara People were recognised by the Federal Court as the traditional owners of the Blackall, D’Aguilar and Conondale Ranges – an area that includes the Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve. The Jinibara are the mountain, rainforest and freshwater people whose cultural heritage and spiritual connection to Country continue today.

After all that exploring and learning, we rewarded ourselves with a stop at the on-site Mountain View Café. Breakfast is served until 11 am, followed by lunch. The cabinet is filled with tempting sweet treats.

The kids devoured their cakes and then we stopped by the playground, which overlooks a grassy space popular with families for picnics and gatherings.

As the rain began to fall and we coaxed the little ones from their natural playground, our conversation turned to the importance of preserving special places like this.

In 2023, Sunshine Coast Council endorsed the Sunshine Coast Ecological Park Master Plan to protect a further 65 hectares of land adjoining the reserve. The long-term plan aims to restore natural ecosystems, educate and create what has been described as a “living laboratory” for environmental research and cultural storytelling.

Needless to say, it appears our cultural and environmental heritage is in the safe hands of the community. Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve is a living, breathing testament to that.

mary-cairncross.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au

MEMORIES of summer

WORDS CANDICE HOLZNAGEL

IMAGES & HISTORICAL FACTS SOURCED FROM THE HERITAGE LIBRARY AND PICTURE SUNSHINE COAST

EVERY SUNSHINE COAST summer tells a similar story. The crowds grow, the days get longer and the beaches fill with the sounds of people laughing and creating memories.

For more than a century, the ingredients have remained the same – salt, sun and the promise of a good holiday.

Sure, the skyline has changed, the fashion has cycled (hello again ’90s) and umbrellas have given way to cabanas, but those constants remain. There’s the smell of sunscreen and hot chips wafting in the air; teenagers pedalling their bikes, towels slung over their shoulders; and parents, arms weighed down with eskies, beach bags and kids, heading down the sandy paths.

Those first few days in December always take me back.

It was the mid-90s and I was a teen who wanted nothing more than a tan, wavy sun-kissed hair and fun mornings at the beach with my cousins. The sun was shining, the water looked inviting and we were free. School holidays meant five entire weeks of freedom.

Every summer holidays, our family of four would pack up the Holden (so full that it looked like we were moving permanently), hit the Bruce Highway and drive the 12-hour stint south to the Sunshine Coast. For a few weeks, the Pacific Horizons holiday apartments at Alexandra Headland became our home. It was a new building back then and the rooms felt exotic with the cane and rattan furniture and apricot and mint-green colourings – nineties interior design, at its best.

In those days, the Olympia Theme Park was at the heart of Alex, and you could hear the laughter and excited screams of thrill in the distance. We were allowed, like most kids, to visit the park without parental supervision. We would spend hours slipping and sliding on those bright yellow mats.

Then, it was off to the beach as a family, followed by a cousins-only trek to Maccas for the usual cheeseburger and sundae.

This was our day-to-day, a few trips to the newly opened Sunshine Plaza thrown in, and takeaway dinners from Chicken Spot, eaten on the headland overlooking the ocean. The smell of Impulse body spray and strawberry-flavoured Lip Smackers were ever-present; sounds of the Spice Girls and Matchbox Twenty were our soundtrack. Our uniform? Swimmers, denim cut-off shorts, singlets and Masseur thongs.

There’s nothing quite like the good old days, so let’s take a look back as we gear up for this year’s holiday season.

1950s-1960s

Long before high-rise buildings cast their shadow, the region had become a popular holiday destination. Families came by train or rough roads, pitching cotton tarp tents and cooking over open fires. Tripcony Park at Caloundra and the Cotton Tree camping reserve were among the most popular spots.

By 1960, the camping area at the mouth of the Maroochy River was operating under its present name, Cotton Tree Caravan Park. The area was lined with guy ropes, striped annexes and makeshift kitchens. Kids played all day, making new friends with other holidaying families.

At Kings Beach and Bulcock, wooden diving boards attracted brave jumpers, while Maroochydore’s Belle of the Beach and sand-garden contests brought

“a few shillings could buy an ice cream or fish and chips wrapped in paper”

huge crowds. The most glamorous event of all was the annual Sun Girl Quest – beach beauty and surf culture meeting in a summer spectacle.

A few shillings could buy an ice cream or fish and chips wrapped in paper from the local stores, and Milkos, Choo Choo Bars and toffee apples were the lollies of choice.

Local lifesaving clubs were at the heart of the beaches. The Mooloolaba clubhouse, first built in 1939 and extended in the 1950s, was the base for volunteers keeping swimmers safe. At Peregian, the surf lifesaving club formed in 1962 and at Marcoola in 1969, with their nippers training every Saturday in the local pool. Each club helped build the identity of the Coast.

1970s

By the 1970s, the Sunshine Coast had a name of its own, having officially been renamed from Near North Coast. Roads had improved, holiday parks expanded and families began returning year after year to the same camping spots at Cotton Tree, Golden Beach and Moffat. It was the decade of sandcastles, zinc, transistor radios and beach umbrellas.

The Big Pineapple, a 16-metre fibreglass icon, opened in 1971, and it was a must-visit with its pineapple parfaits, banana splits and the little train ride through fields of tropical fruit.

The annual Bathtub Carnival added to the region’s sense of fun. Held at Bulcock Beach during the New Year weekend of 1973-1974, it was hosted by the Caloundra Apex Club in conjunction with a marathon.

In the following year, the event became a largescale carnival, including a street parade. According to Sunshine Coast Council’s Heritage Library, the BathTub Derby was held on Currimundi Lake in 1978 before relocating to Golden Beach the following year. A variety of vessels competed, including powered bathtubs and paddle tubs.

Floods and cyclones throughout the decade

resulted in a different kind of summer memory. In early 1972, two cyclones hit within days of each other. Cyclone Wendy was the first, followed by Daisy, which caused sand dune loss and major flooding. In February 1974, Cyclone Pam sent water surging through Bulcock Beach, closing roads and flooding shops. Then Beth brought gale-force winds in 1976.

As always, the Coast bounced back. By the late 1970s, beach holidays were as strong as ever.

Soft-serve ice cream was a summer staple. In 1978, Dairy Whip opened at Caloundra, and before long, its vans became a familiar sight across the Coast, attracting kids and adults alike.

For Coast resident Amanda Richens, the late ’70s and ’80s conjure up memories of holidays at Coolum Beach. “Growing up in a family that worked long hours, we couldn’t wait for Christmas to arrive,” she says. “Every year, we’d pack up our old Falcon car, filled to the brim with blow-up toys and a canvas tent, while managing to also fit Mum, Dad and four children. We would know we were getting close to Coolum when the sweet smell of sugar cane filled the air. As soon as we arrived at Cool Seas Caravan Park, it felt like coming home.

“In the early mornings, Dad and my three brothers would head down to the flat cliffs to fish for yellowtail bream while Mum and I stayed back at the campsite, ready to cook their fresh catch for breakfast, bones and all. The salty breeze, the sound of waves and the aroma of sizzling fish fried in butter are memories I can still feel, as if they were yesterday.

“Each day, the milko truck’s cheerful horn was our chocolate milk treat and dessert didn’t get better than canned rice cream. The Coolum cinema was another favourite, with its hessian bag chairs and that unmistakable smell that seemed part of the experience. And of course, the 727 local shop was our go-to stop, with the fish and chip shop and the Chinese restaurant pretty much the only shops along the front with the old surf club. Nearly 20 years ago, my childhood dream came true when I moved to the Sunshine Coast with my own family. Now, every familiar scent, every local face and every walk along Coolum Beach brings back the nostalgia of those summer holidays.”

1980s

The 1980s were colourful and fun. The first Kawana Summer Spectacular was held in 1987 by the Kawana Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with Caloundra City Council. It was a community celebration of sport and music with events including a bowls tournament, triathlon, fun run, novelty events, tug of war and a bricklaying championship.

The Wharf at Mooloolaba opened the following year, attracting thousands of people. Families loved the new Underwater World, where the seal stadium and underwater tunnel became instant favourites.

In keeping with the water theme, the Pacific Super Slide opened at Alexandra Headland in 1986, built by the Vizi family after their grandchildren begged for a waterslide. Later sold and renamed Olympia Theme Park, it was demolished in 2006 to make way for apartments. Meanwhile, the Black Hole Waterslide at Currimundi provided hours of fun on the southern end of the Coast from 1982 to 1985. It was one for the brave – the dark, twisting tunnel guaranteed screams all the way down. Then there was Mighty Putt and Water Wonderland, located near the Golden Beach turn-off in Caloundra. It featured Australia’s longest waterslide and 18 holes of mini golf.

As one long-time resident recalls, those ’80s summers were among the best.

“I remember sitting on the hill at Mooloolaba with fish and chips wrapped in newspaper,” she says.

“Cotton Tree was also a fave spot where they had big trampolines in the ground. I thought I was just it in my terry towelling strapless jumpsuit. As much as it is

very naughty nowadays, I used to sit on the handlebars of my bike navigating my girlfriend, as we laughed all the way to the beach.”

1990s

By the 1990s, the Sunshine Coast was well and truly on the world map. Families returned to the same holiday apartments each year and new tourist offerings were popping up.

The Pioneer Village at Pacific Paradise (later renamed Nostalgia Town) offered a quirky take on history with its remote-controlled boats, silent movies and Albert’s Incredible Time Machine. Meanwhile, Queensland’s first drive-through deer park at Forest Glen gave excited kids the chance to feed the animals from the car. The Big Pineapple continued to pull crowds, with Super Bee and Steve Irwin’s Australia Zoo adding to the holiday mix.

In the weeks prior to Christmas, festive parades rolled through the main streets of various towns. Even Nicklin Way was closed off to traffic as hundreds of people gathered to wave the participants by.

Today, our summer holidays look a little different. Tourists arrive on planes that land at the airport regularly, while phones now capture every moment. Caravan parks have power, pools and wifi. As for the Bruce Highway? It’s busier and faster than ever before.

Despite these changes, the essentials have held strong. Kids still run from the water to refill moats around collapsing sandcastles. Fish and chips still taste better eaten overlooking the beach. The laughter during those sunny days is as loud as ever.

And the feeling – that deep, simple joy of summer on the Coast – well, it definitely remains the same.

heritage.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au

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CHECK OUT THESE LOCAL EVENTS

CHRISTMAS EVENTS 2025

Dec 11 Sunshine Coast Celebrates – The Station, Birtinya

Dec 11 A Christmas Carol Sunshine Coast – Suncoast Church, Woombye

Dec 12 Christmas in Cooroy – Emerald Street and Maple Street, Cooroy

Dec 12 Christmas Actually – The Events Centre, Caloundra

Dec 13 Seas the Beat Charity Boat Party – Sun Reef Whale One, Mooloolaba

Dec 14 Mirusia’s Christmas Celebration – The Events Centre, Caloundra

Dec 15 The Greatest Christmas Show – The Events Centre, Caloundra

Dec 17Peregian Beach Christmas Carols – Peregian Park

Dec 20 ABBA & Bee Gees, A night to remember Christmas tribute performance – Banana Bender Pub, Palmview

DEC 31

NEW YEAR’S EVE CELEBRATIONS

Sunshine Coast Council is supporting fireworks displays at three locations this New Year’s Eve – Coolum, Mooloolaba and Caloundra. In Mooloolaba, Council is hosting an 8.30pm and midnight fireworks display from an offshore barge, due to the Mooloolaba revitalisation works. In Coolum, experience roving performers, food trucks, light entertainment and a great family friendly atmosphere from 5pm, with fireworks at 8.30pm. In Caloundra, head to Kings Beach Amphitheatre. From 4pm-10pm you’ll find rides, face painting and roving entertainment, food trucks and fireworks at 9.30pm. when December 31 where various locations visit sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au

JAN 10 & 11

MALENY WEDDING FESTIVAL TRAIL

For those who dream of a Sunshine Coast hinterland wedding, the Maleny wedding festival trail 2026 summer is a must-attend event. This weekend trail brings together a collection of stunning venues from Maleny to Palmwoods, plus a selection of suppliers to explore, including floral and style design, fashion, custom transport options, catering, food trucks, entertainment and more. It’s an opportunity for couples, friends and families scouting for the perfect wedding location to take the time to tour the venues and be inspired by local insights and professional advice.

when January 10 and 11 where various locations visit bit.ly/4hvBrHq

JAN 24

COASTLINE BMW SUNSHINE COAST CUP DAY

With a premium 10-race card, live music, gourmet eats and a buzzing family fun zone, this race day is an intoxicating blend of thrill and relaxation. Whether trackside with friends, watching the kids charge in the Hobby Horse Cup, or sipping a seltzer in The Avenue, this is Sunshine Coast horse racing at its best.

when January 24

where Sunshine Coast Turf Club visit bit.ly/3Jh2kCz

2026 NOOSA SUMMER SWIM FESTIVAL

Each year, more than 2500 swimmers, accompanied by around 5000 enthusiastic supporters, flock to Noosa. Two open-water clinics on Saturday give swimmers a chance to fine-tune technique and gain expert advice from top-level coaches. Ocean swims are on Sunday, ranging from the Junior Giants event to the Noosa 5.0, where swimmers of all abilities take to the water. New in 2026 is the knockout sprint relay. when February 21 and 22 where Noosa Main Beach visit worldseriesswims.com.au/ noosa-summer-swim/

NOOSA FESTIVAL

OF SURFING

From humble beginnings in 1992 as the Noosa Malibu Classic, the Noosa Festival of Surfing has attracted record amounts of competitors each year, as well as thousands of spectators from near and far who come to see the legends of the sport, as well as the now world-famous surfing dogs. Family-friendly and sustainable, it’s the longest-running surf event in the world. It boasts a beach bar, live music, art shows, shaping exhibitions, World Surf Reserve activations and world-class surfing in action.

when March 13 to 22 where Noosa Main Beach visit noosafestivalofsurfing.com

MOOLOOLABA TRIATHLON

A jam-packed weekend of festival fun for the whole family. The second largest triathlon in Australia, this sports event provides a safe and welcoming environment for beginners, while also drawing in competitive athletes to tackle the national age group championships. Athletes not ready to compete in the standard distance triathlon can halve the distance with the sprint triathlon. Whether you’re new to triathlons or a pro, celebrate the sun, the sand and the surf on Mooloolaba’s stunning coastline. when March 14 and 15 where Mooloolaba Beach visit mooloolabatri.com.au

Sunnytimes ahead

‘

TEWANTIN’S HISTORIC PUB returns with a new look, sprawling beer garden and the same local spirit.

After months of anticipation, Tewantin’s much-loved Royal Mail Hotel has reopened its doors and locals are flocking back to see the stunning transformation of this iconic venue. The historic pub, just minutes from Noosa’s beaches, has been reimagined as a vibrant coastal destination where community, comfort and good times come together in one beautiful space.

The Royal Mail’s major renovation has breathed new life into the heritage-listed venue, striking the perfect balance between its classic country pub charm and a modern, coastal feel. The heart of the transformation is the new, light-filled bistro – a warm and inviting space with timber tones, leafy accents and cosy nooks that spill out onto a sprawling north-facing deck and beer garden. With picnic tables, market umbrellas and views over the Noosa River, it’s the kind of spot that invites long, lazy afternoons in the sun.

Locals have been quick to claim their new favourite corners, from the lively Corner Bar, which serves up hearty pub classics and midweek lunches, to the new sports bar that buzzes with energy on game day. Big screens, cold drinks and plenty of atmosphere make it the perfect place to cheer on your team or catch up with mates after work.

Upstairs, the Royal Mail has unveiled 13 boutique accommodation rooms designed for travellers looking to mix coastal comfort with country hospitality. Bright, spacious and thoughtfully styled, each room features plush bedding, private ensuites and contactless check-in – perfect for a weekend getaway or a Noosa escape with a difference.

The new menu has also proven a hit, celebrating modern pub dining with a relaxed, beachside twist. Alongside all the crowd favourites – from juicy burgers and crispy calamari to perfectly cooked steaks – diners are enjoying fresh new dishes like the prawn and lobster roll with citrus aioli on brioche, burrata with blistered grapes and cherry tomatoes, lemon chicken with roast kipfler potatoes and olives, and the oven-baked barramundi with dukkah potatoes and caper beurre blanc. There’s also a tempting selection of woodfired pizzas, plus dedicated menus for kids and seniors.

Behind the bar, spritzes and crisp wines pour as effortlessly as the conversation, supported by a drinks list tailored for sunny afternoons and vibrant evenings.

The Royal Mail keeps the momentum going all week long with a refreshed program of crowd-pleasing specials. Diners can now enjoy $25 steaks on Tuesday lunch or dinner, while Wednesday brings a $25 Parmi special available lunch and dinner. Midweek favourites roll on with trivia Wednesday evenings and family-friendly Thursday nights, where kids eat free (T's & C's apply). As the weekend arrives, the pub shifts into all-day dining on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, complemented by live music, relaxed Sunday sessions, acoustic sets and the always-popular $29 Sunday roast – plus free entertainment for the little ones.

Reopening celebrations drew big crowds, with locals turning out in force to toast the next chapter of their beloved pub.

“The Royal Mail has always been at the heart of Tewantin, and this renovation brings new life to a true local icon,” Venue manager Dan Crooks says.

“We’ve kept the familiar community spirit the locals love, but reimagined the spaces for everyone to come together – from family dinners in the bistro to long afternoons in the beer garden or game-day sessions in the sports bar.”

Steeped in history but made for today, the new-look Royal Mail Hotel has reclaimed its place as the beating heart of Tewantin – a place where locals, tradies, travellers and visitors alike can gather, relax and feel right at home.

royalmailtewantin.com.au

Oceanartist

JUST AFTER 4AM almost every day, the rising sun begins its artistic frenzy and splatters the sky with pinks and yellows, saturating the skyscape like there will be no tomorrow.

Under this riotous canopy, photographer Aamie Cush begins her ritual, a walk of five kilometres that skirts the object of her passion – the beaches of Coolum. As her feet beat out the rhythm of the breaking dawn, her eyes scour the ever-moving waves, looking at the colours, textures and tones of the water and for a shift in light that can, sometimes, create magic.

With her camera, Aamie captures it often and well – so well she was recognised earlier this year at the 2025 Australian Photographic Prize, one of Australia’s most prestigious photography competitions.

The competition attracted more than 2500 entries from 21 countries and celebrated the finest photographic artistry across multiple genres.

Aamie’s distinctive ocean-inspired photos earned her a silver with distinction in the landscape category and highly commended accolades for two additional images.

Entering the competition was a step outside her comfort zone, but Aamie says the experience ultimately felt affirming and encouraging, bringing a sense of belonging in the competitive and demanding industry she is part of.

“Being in the water has always been my calm and my reset,” she says. “To have my work recognised on such a large stage, alongside incredibly talented photographers from around the world, is both humbling and exciting.”

Aamie, 46, is Sunshine Coast born and bred, and Coolum is where her heart and soul reside.

Both she and her father Dave are proud life members of the Coolum Beach Surf Life Saving

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“The ocean never fails to soothe the mind, recharge the soul and bring me back to myself”

Club and she has watched the community flourish and broaden over the course of her life.

“I have only ever lived here, but no matter where I have visited, I am drawn to the water,” she says.

“My original business idea was to share that with others. Not everyone is so lucky, and I consider if I can capture a scene – a moment of chill out time – and share that, it might bring people who are a long way from that some calm.”

It has not always been smooth sailing for the family. When Aamie was in her mid-20s, her older brother died by suicide. The serenity and constancy of the ocean helped to ease some of the initial shock and grief. She says that one terrible incident taught her never to take anything for granted.

“It is true for many people that the ocean has a calming effect, and it is certainly true for me,” she says.

“Even on a shitty day, it offers peace for me to sit near the ocean and have my feet in the sand. To lose my big brother – he was 32 – made me aware of the need for us all to take care of our mental health.

Everyone has struggles sometimes and it is important to pause, appreciate and reset.”

Aamie’s children, aged 14 and 11, share her love of the water, but their passions lie in terrestrial activities such as dancing and football.

She says her husband Cain Tomkins is her biggest fan. It was Cain who set the wheels in motion for Aamie to explore in-water photography, encouraging her to be patient when she first started working with a waterproof casing.

“It was really frustrating at first, because once the camera is in the water housing, it is not as controllable. There are limits on the button access

and adaptability, so it took a little while to get used to it and feel like I was able to capture the images in the way I wanted to. But with time and practice, I got familiar with it and it has become an essential tool in my work.”

The student has become the teacher, with Aamie now delivering workshops in underwater photography to those keen to sample this particular technical skill.

Like many photographers, Aamie has woven her art together with other work. She has a background in childcare, teaching swimming and still works as a teacher’s aide at a local school. She launched her own photography business, My Salty Life, more than a decade ago, but has had a camera in hand much longer than that.

Aamie also produces some land-based photography, albeit with a beachy twist. She captures mothers-to-be waterside in all their blooming glory and loving couples in the wind-swept grey-green dunes. And she says capturing family groups in relaxed, natural moments is deeply satisfying – her calm, candid approach facilitates catching something real with her camera rather than contrived in a frame.

So often, the magic is found in the fleeting, in-between moments. In all her work, Aamie prides herself on keeping it honest.

Sharing her talent with the world in the shape of framed pictures on walls means Aamie’s love of the ocean is displayed and savoured in places far from the Earth’s fringe and her beloved Coolum beaches.

And her love is renewed with each breaking dawn.

“I love to get out there before the world is awake,” she says. “It takes me back to when Coolum was a little town, a quiet beach town.

“A lot has changed, for sure, but its lifeline – the ocean – never fails to soothe the mind, recharge the soul and bring me back to myself.”

mysaltylife.com.au

A LIFE LESS ordinary

THERE’S A SPARK in Margaret Sinclair’s voice; an unmistakable mix of curiosity and confidence found only in people who have truly lived. She may be in her eighties, but Margaret has no plans to slow down.

Her stories are endless – about hospitals and heart transplants, island memories and city lights, business and family. She has so many that, at the age of 81, she decided to record them all on paper and add author to her resume.

Talinga, The House that Dad Built, is a moving tribute to family, place and perseverance. It chronicles Margaret’s 48-year journey across the world and how she remained connected to the heart of her family through the holiday home her father built on the dunes of K’gari (then known as Fraser Island) in 1964.

Margaret didn’t realise it then, but that house would not only become a central storyline in her life, but also create an environmental legacy.

“Talinga was everything,” she tells salt. “Mum and Dad retired there permanently in 1968, and if my father had not built that house, Fraser Island would not be what it is today.”

It was while visiting the family home that Margaret’s brother, world-renowned conservationist Dr John Sinclair, discovered the island was under threat and began his years-long mission to protect K’gari from environmental destruction. Founding the Fraser Island Defenders Organisation, John led the fight against sand

mining and logging, resulting in UNESCO World Heritage Status for the island. He was subsequently named Australian of the Year in 1976.

“If Mum and Dad had not been living there, John wouldn’t have been visiting regularly and seen what was happening. He saw how unique the island was. Talinga really was the anchor for it all.”

Margaret has led a life well-lived. After leaving school, she trained as a nurse in Maryborough before finalising her studies in Brisbane. The work was hard, but great friendships were forged, and the parties, she says, were legendary. “Australian nurses were known as party animals,” she says through laughter.

Nursing gave Margaret a passport to independence, and when she was given the opportunity to move to Dallas in Texas, she didn’t hesitate. It was 1971, and the start of a whirlwind journey that would take her across four countries and through more reinventions than most people ever manage in a lifetime.

While in Dallas, Margaret met a young Greek cardiothoracic surgeon named Dr Peter A. Alivizatos. Peter would later become her husband and one of the first doctors in the world to attempt a human-tohuman heart transplant. Together, they built a life that was anything but ordinary, moving between America, Greece and England, navigating long hospital hours and cultural changes.

In her book, Margaret details one of these moments: her escape from Greece. It was 1974 and the Turkish had invaded Cyprus in response to a coup.

“I was in Syntagma Square getting the bus back to my apartment and had a machine gun stuck in my ribs by a passing soldier,” Margaret writes in her memoir.

“Soon, tanks were in the streets and the airports were closed in anticipation of military action. To keep me safe, Peter suggested it would be the perfect time for me to go back to visit my family in Australia.

“He, on the other hand, planned to stay and fight for his country. The coup was in effect, so we hatched a spontaneous plan for me to drive to Patras, where I could still leave the country by boarding a ferry to Brindisi in Italy. I would find assistance to help me sell the car at my landlord’s, who lived in Rome. After selling the car, I planned to board a plane from Rome to Brisbane.

“When the landlord saw my car papers, he advised me that I owned a stolen car that couldn’t be sold in Italy. He explained that an international ring stole vehicles in Italy and dropped them off at dealers in Athens for foreigners to purchase without paying Greek taxes. I drove to the airport with very little cash left but at least a plane ticket to Australia. I decided it was best to abandon the car, keys and everything else in the parking garage, as I did not want to be caught in possession of a stolen vehicle.”

It was to Talinga she escaped, before reuniting with Peter once it was safe to do so.

As their life together continued, Peter’s name became well-known in medical circles, while Margaret quietly forged her own path. Her background in

“I had been travelling so much in work and business, so I took time to write my book”

nursing gave her an eye for innovation, and while working in a neonatal unit in London, she designed her first invention, The Premie Comfort, which was a positioning device for premature babies.

After returning to Dallas in 1984, she created a full-fledged business, developing, manufacturing and selling a line of patient positioning products to hospitals. Seeing an opportunity for expansion, she moved into the retail market, creating the child-friendly Comfort Products, including the Comfort Tote – a seat that could be used in shopping trolleys – and the Tutti Frutti line. The range was sold to Toys R Us, Disney and Costco.

When that retail chapter came to an end, Margaret did what she had always done: she reinvented herself. “The medical products were boring me so much. It was

time for me to go into creative design,” she says. “I began my fashion label, Masinali Originals. It was going well, and I had the medical products still happening in the background.

“Then, a medical manufacturer copied one of my patents. I gave him the option to be sued or buy me out. He bought me out. One of those products, an elbow splint, is still available today. I really would have been a multi-millionaire, but it doesn’t really bother me,” she adds with a hearty laugh.

Life continued. After Peter and Margaret amicably separated, she later found love with specialised haematologist Alain Marengo-Rowe. By this stage, Margaret had bought a holiday home in Currimundi, and she and Alain retired together, travelling between Europe and Australia.

It was while on one of their three-month summer stints on the Sunshine Coast that Margaret came up with her next invention – Maggies.

“I was getting so darn bored in retirement,” she says. “I had noticed these gorgeous sarongs in beautiful fabrics at the markets and thought there had to be a better way to wear them than tying a big fat knot in the front. We went back to the States that year of 2012 and I started playing around with magnets.”

Soon her magnet clasp was stocked in more than 300 stores across the United States. Margaret was manufacturing and selling Maggies by the pallet load, appearing on the Shopping Network and at various trade shows.

“I dialled back sometime later,” she says. “I came to realise that my family just did not know me. I had been travelling so much in work and business, so I took time to write my book.”

Today, Margaret is happy to call the Sunshine Coast home. She still travels to K’gari regularly, acutely aware of the role the beautiful island and its history played in her life and connection to family. In fact, she held her book launch there.

She could easily rest on her achievements, from nursing and award-winning entrepreneur to inventor and now author, but sitting still really isn’t in Margaret’s DNA. Instead, she’s added one more project to the list. Recently, she travelled to Texas to promote and begin manufacturing her latest venture: a new clothing line.

“I have designed an incredible jacket that can be made out of shawls,” she says. “It is really exciting. It feels like I’m working on unfinished business. I have all these ideas for new products, new designs. These are things I can do from home and enjoy. It is exciting to use my mind that way.

“I don’t believe in slowing down,” she adds with a smile. “I can’t go and play bridge and all this stuff. I can’t go to line dancing classes and chair yoga. It’s not for me. I’ve got to be mobile.

“This is why I’m so happy now. I went to Greece, Boston. Dallas, London, without knowing a soul.

“Each time, I had to build an identity for myself. I had great opportunities, but didn’t have anything handed to me.”

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SET FOR adventure

“THE TRIBE HAS spoken.” These famous words have captivated millions of die-hard Survivor fans worldwide since the first episode was aired by CBS in May 2000.

This popular reality show has also changed the lives of thousands of crew members, including Ty Craine of Coolum, who is the construction manager of the magnificent Survivor US tribal council sets, where the fate of contestants is sealed by fellow players.

Survivor has also opened a whole new world for Ty’s wife, Bree and their children, Elkie (9), Van (7) and Navie (4). Now, Bree and the young ones spend many weeks with Ty at the base camp in the Mamanuca Islands in Fiji, where they have formed a strong bond with local villagers.

Ty has been involved with the American production of Survivor for 10 seasons and loves the family-friendly culture on set, as well as his fantastic crew of fun Fijians. He’s come a long way since working part-time at Kawana’s Rafters Cafe at the age of 13, followed by an apprenticeship as a carpenter with his father.

“Back then, I was more interested in playing sport, especially rugby league for Maroochydore Swans. Thankfully, I finished my apprenticeship and was glad I did, as in 2009, it got me the job of building challenges on Survivor US, which was being filmed in Samoa,” Ty says.

While there have been many romances and marriages between crew members over the years, Ty and Bree met many years prior to Survivor

“I quit the show because I didn’t want to be away from Bree anymore, and went to work at a mine, but it just made me depressed. Then I got a call to work on Survivor in the Philippines, and Bree joined me, getting a job as a dream teamer.”

Dream teamers rehearse the challenges before the contestants perform them.

“At that time, there were 24 contestants who were

each assigned a dream teamer,” Bree explains.

“Apart from testing the challenges, we had to carry the cameras and tripods to the set, which could be a kilometre into the bush. Once your contestant got voted out, we would be put into the art department to do painting or sewing the reveal rugs.”

After working on Survivor in Nicaragua and travelling to Guatemala and Mexico, the couple returned to the Sunshine Coast in 2014 to get married. For 10 years, Ty worked as a site manager on commercial builds, braving the busy commute and dreaming of returning to the Survivor set.

“I wanted to go back because I missed it. It was always in my heart.”

In 2024, a chance meeting at Marcoola Surf Club with Survivor crew member, Simon Ross, changed the family’s life.

“Simon offered me an eight-week gig to get everything ready before the shooting season started. Then the construction manager for the tribal council set left, and I got the job.”

Ty and hundreds of other crew members are housed in a resort on Mana Island, part of the Mamanuca Islands, a stunning archipelago located on the west coast of Fiji. Many of the challenges and tribal camps are on neighbouring islands. Manu Island is closed to the public during filming.

Bree and the children join him for weeks at a time, spending their days swimming in the resort pool or at the beach, doing a bit of homework sent

“the energy that my local crew create on site is amazing – the positivity, the fun we have”

by their teachers at Good Samaritan School in Bli Bli and playing with their Fiji friends in the traditional village adjacent to the resort.

“It’s been really good for the kids to see the contrast between rich and poor,” Bree says. “In the village, people are living in shacks and sleep on the fl oor. The more time we spent in the village, the more we were accepted, and they became our friends.”

They have been able to assist the villagers, taking suitcases of clothing, books and gifts on their last visit. Bree has also helped single mum, Gina, to launch a small business making colourful sarongs, creating an Instagram page – Paneta Sarongs – named after Gina’s two children.

Ty’s typical day has changed dramatically since his stressful time as a site manager on the Sunshine

Coast. The art department sources all the materials he needs to build the tribal council sets and he’s swapped his ute for a pushbike.

“When the family is there, I wake up with the kids and have a coffee on the balcony while Bree goes for a run. I ride my bike to the office at 7am, have a debrief with the art directors and then meet my 29 Fijian crew members on location and start building the sets,” he tells salt

“We have smoko at 10, followed by a lunch break from 1pm to 2pm, when I meet the family for lunch and a swim in the pool with the kids. Then it’s back to work until 6pm. It’s a big day, but I get to see the family more than when I’m home.”

Ty’s eyes light up when he talks about his crew.

“The energy that my local crew create on site is amazing – the positivity, the fun we have, the music. We sing all day long. They even surprised me with a cake for my birthday.”

Ty says a huge staff works on Survivor with around 500 local crew members and 250 international members, including more than 20 from the Sunshine Coast.

“The beautiful thing about the show is that it picks up local crew members in every country it has filmed, and some of them have become international crew members. It’s like a global village.

“The show is a lifeline for many people who have

been able to put their kids through school and send money home,” he adds.

Bree and Ty’s favourite season is the shipwreckinspired season 49, which features a 150-foot beached pirate ship resembling a 17th-century galleon. Built by Ty and his crew, the boat is named HMS Navie Van Elkie after their three children.

Bree acknowledges that their amazing experiences are tempered with some hardships. “Sometimes, we must spend time apart, which is extremely hard, especially for the kids, but it has strengthened our family unit. When we are together, we are so happy.”

In Australia, Survivor US is aired live on 9Go.

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Healing love

THIRTY-FIVE YEARS ago, on October 8, 1990, Gary and Debbie Martin arrived at a weed-covered bean farm in the Noosa Hinterland with a station wagon, three children and a dream to create a sanctuary where people could find healing, hope and a new way to live.

They arrived late that first night. It was dark, the air thick with the scent of nature and the only sounds were the crickets and the rustle of trees. They set up camp in the first cabin they came to – no power, just a torch, a few foam mattresses, three sleepy children and a whole lot of faith. The land was overgrown and wild, the buildings run down and broken, yet in those humble beginnings, a dream was ignited – one that would go on to transform countless lives.

From that seed of faith grew Living Valley Springs Health Retreat, built on service, love and the belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to live well, feel healthy and enjoy a happy life. Within weeks, the Martins welcomed their first guest, and from that moment, their mission took root. In the decades that have followed, more than 30,000 lives have been touched by the family’s vision and the guiding wisdom that remains at the heart of the retreat today: ‘People are our purpose; love is our mission’.

Their daughter, Giselle Martin, grew up within that dream, homeschooled on the retreat and surrounded by guests, gardens and the quiet rhythm of healing. Her childhood was filled with the hum of life being restored. From a young age, she worked alongside her parents, learning every department, from gardening and painting to

working as a receptionist, therapist, and later, as head chef.

It was a childhood steeped in purpose, community and compassion. “I learned early that true wellness isn’t something found in a textbook, it’s something you live through service, simplicity, gratitude and love,” Giselle says.

She went on to train in therapies and natural healing, developing a deep understanding of the mind-body connection and the power of nature to restore balance.

“My belief is that the body is designed to win, that when the right principles are applied and the simple laws of health are followed, the body can heal itself.”

Today, as CEO and managing director of Living Valley, Giselle carries her parents’ vision forward, built on the same foundation of faith, service and love. Over the years, she has witnessed thousands of lives changed, bodies healed and souls restored, an experience she describes as “the greatest privilege of her life”.

Living Valley is now home to a world-class team of 50 dedicated professionals, naturopaths, psychologists, therapists, chefs, fitness instructors and hospitality specialists all devoted to nurturing and guiding guests toward healing.

The retreat features beautifully renovated rooms, hinterland views, the Waterlily Day Spa, Serenity Sundeck, a freshwater lap pool, fitness studio, organic cuisine and advanced wellness therapies, including hyperbaric oxygen therapy, infrared saunas, Finnish steam rooms, ice baths, live blood cell analysis and IV vitamin infusions.

“Guests often describe Living Valley as a place that feels like coming home,” Giselle says. “During their stay, they become part of a family sharing stories, laughter and meals around the same table.”

The retreat’s purpose remains clear. Their vision is a healthier and happier world. “From humble beginnings to one of Australia’s most trusted wellness sanctuaries, Living Valley has evolved with the times, embraced innovation and held fast to its foundation. Because after 35 years, one truth remains unchanged – love still heals.”

Byron bliss

I EXHALE SLOWLY. It is so quiet. And, oh so peaceful – a blissful moment for a working mother of two busy boys.

I take a sip of my gin and tonic, the finger lime and aniseed myrtle shining through, and take in the majestic view. Truly, there is no other word worthy of describing the scene in front of me – a canopy of greenery spreads as far as the eye can see.

The rainforest is singing – there are more than 24 native bird species that call this part of the land home, along with wallabies and koalas (we are lucky enough to spot one lounging in a gum tree later that afternoon).

Cape Byron Distillery sits high above the valley, surrounded by macadamias and regrown forest. You can almost taste the story in the air.

It began back in 1988 when Melbourne couple Martin and Pam Brook – who knew nothing about farming – bought a rundown, barren dairy. In time, they planted more than 40,000 trees in a tribute to the land’s former purpose – it was once home to Australia’s largest subtropical rainforest, the Big Scrub.

Twenty million years ago, a volcanic eruption centred around Mt Warning in northern New South Wales spewed liquid magma over a vast area that stretched from Lismore in the south to the Nightcap Ranges in the north, creating the Big Scrub.

The forest covered 75,000 hectares in the Byron Bay hinterland, with part of its flora and fauna descending from the Gondwana rainforests, which date back 180 million years. Sadly, within 10 years of the first white settlement, the Big Scrub had been destroyed. Only one per cent remains.

Cape Byron Distillery lies within the heart of this once mighty rainforest; its owners on a mission to help preserve what is left.

Today, their son Eddie runs the distillery and the land hums with life again. Seventeen of the botanicals used in their nationally recognised Brookie’s Dry Gin are grown right here – native ginger, cinnamon, aniseed myrtle, Davisonia plum, native raspberries — the rest is sourced from nearby producers.

It’s a place that feels good for the soul. I try a cumquat-infused gin. It’s light and zesty with a citrusy hit, and I find myself thinking that everything

“it’s a place that feels good for the soul”

about Byron seems to taste fresher and more alive.

Our stay at the award-winning, luxury Elements of Byron feeds that sentiment. Spanning 20 hectares of beachfront land, Elements is a couples’ retreat that doubles as a family-friendly resort. I’m not sure exactly how they have achieved it, but the balance is spot on – facilities and activities cater to both demographics and yet the resort remains quiet and calm.

Touted as providing the ultimate ‘barefoot luxury’, Elements delivers with its blend of ocean, rainforest and lagoon-style pools.

Overlooking a large grassy knoll towards the beach, our split-level Dunal Villa feels a world away from everything. The villa itself is made for barefoot living, featuring a sunken lounge with a gas fireplace and an enclosed outdoor bath house, alongside the usual

five-star inclusions you would expect.

We can hear the ocean and birdlife, but not much else. Bliss.

We eagerly welcome sunny days beside the adults-only pool with its luxurious daybeds and staff delivering cocktails and restaurant-worthy tapas.

Food at Elements is another quiet revelation. The menus read like a love letter to the Northern Rivers – native ingredients, including finger limes, foraged beach herbs, Byron Bay mozzarella, heirloom tomatoes, locally smoked burrata, native togarashi and thyme. The dishes are refined but unpretentious, the kind that remind you how much joy there is in fresh food done well.

Keen to make the most of our downtime, we spend an afternoon at Osprey Spa, tucked within the resort’s gardens. My husband is hesitant – it’s his first spa experience– but he relaxes the moment we step into the quiet, leafy courtyard where our treatment begins. We soak our feet in warm water and prepare for indulgence – a massage, facial and a geranium scalp treatment.

When we’re done, hubby admits, “Now, I understand why you like going to these places.”

Outside the resort, Byron moves to its own laidback rhythm. We wander through town one morning and stop by Bayleaf for a late breakfast. The café itself is everything you’d expect from Byron: teal tiles, rough-hewn timber, sunlight spilling in through the windows. They work with local suppliers to shape their organic-based, pared-back menu. The coffee, brewed from Blackboard beans, is rich and balanced – exactly what I need to fuel the next few hours of boutique browsing.

Later, we make our way to The Farm, which is Byron’s famous paddock-to-plate collective. The scent of sourdough and sunflowers greets us.

It’s a working, regenerative farm, with animals, dirt roads, paddocks and gardens to explore.

You can feed the animals, take part in a guided farm tour, shop at the produce store (don’t go past the blueberry jam and local honey) and enjoy delicious food from on-site restaurant, Three Blue Ducks. We choose a couple of pastries and settle in under a tree, watching life go by.

Byron really is the ideal place to just be – to sit, breathe and rejuvenate.

The writer travelled at her own expense.

ALAN RILEY& REBECCA FLETCHER

Directors: Fletcher Riley

ON THE Sunshine Coast, the property market is as competitive as it is vibrant. Yet amid the bustle of buyers, sellers and the constant churn of listings, one boutique agency has managed to stand out.

Fletcher Riley, founded by Alan Riley and Rebecca Fletcher, has quickly become synonymous with trust, authenticity and results-driven real estate. We sat down with the dynamic duo to uncover what makes their partnership and their approach so effective in helping clients achieve life-changing property outcomes.

Alan Riley and Rebecca Fletcher each enjoyed successful individual careers in real estate for many years before joining forces to create Fletcher Riley, a boutique agency that has quickly carved a niche on the Sunshine Coast.

“Before forming Fletcher Riley, we found ourselves working with very similar demographics of buyers and sellers, often crossing paths in our individual businesses,” Alan says.

“It became clear that by joining forces, we could really take flight together. Our combined energy and shared approach create a stronger presence and deliver premium results for our clients.

“In real estate, opportunity never really stops – you’re always on,” Alan continues. “That’s why being in a team is such a strength. Even if one of us takes some downtime, the other is always available, so our clients are consistently supported and connected.

“Rebecca is tenacious, high-energy and simply doesn’t give up. She brings invaluable local knowledge, having grown up right here on the Coast. We both pride ourselves on being genuine, empathetic and respectful not just toward our clients, but also toward each other and our families.”

Rebecca adds, “We pride ourselves on honesty, authenticity and truly understanding each client’s

needs. Nothing came easy for either of us, and that work ethic is a constant thread through everything we do both professionally and personally.

“We have a great team around us, ensuring we are maximising exposure for all our properties, be it sales or rentals.”

Rebecca says although they are not scared of trying new things and leveraging the latest technology, they still value relationships with traditional media here on the Coast more than ever, underpinned by their long-standing network.

But honesty and transparent communication remain the cornerstones of Fletcher Riley’s success.

“We know buyers, sellers, landlords and tenants have busy lives,” Alan says. “Whatever it takes to ease that burden, we do it. This approach fosters trust and often transforms clients into long-term friends.”

Fletcher Riley’s boutique structure ensures that the full team is invested in each client’s journey.

“Our team knows each seller, buyer, landlord and tenant by name,” Rebecca says.

“Everyone rolls up their sleeves and works together, creating a level of personalised service that isn’t commonplace with larger agencies.”

Looking to the future, the agency is expanding its reach across the Sunshine Coast, including a newly launched rental and property management division.

“Our hope is that more buyers and sellers see Fletcher Riley as the obvious choice because of our professionalism, care and relentless pursuit of exceptional results,” Alan says.

“We truly believe every day brings opportunities and new beginnings, and we have our distinct way of helping people with that experience.”

With a blend of integrity, innovation, complementary strengths and a family-focused approach, Fletcher Riley isn’t just helping clients buy and sell homes, they’re shaping the Sunshine Coast property landscape, one satisfied client at a time.

Living by design

RE:SCAPE DESIGN founder Ricky Burgess knows a thing or two about how to level up a backyard. His recent project on Sydney Street in Kedron is one of his finest – transforming a blank canvas into a stylish entertainer’s retreat.

“The clients loved staying at resorts, and the brief was they want to experience a resort lifestyle every day,” Ricky says. “So, for me, it was just about looking at the space they had and thinking outside the box.”

Now 39, the Sunshine Coast family man began mowing lawns as a teen in Cooroy and has since grown his business from the ground up. Today, Re:Scape Design operates across both the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane.

“I’ve got three kids and there’s so much going on all the time, but when we reach the end of a project and the client says it exceeded their expectations – that’s what it’s all about for me.”

Known as a creative problem solver, Ricky refuses to stick to factory standards.

“I’m not in it for the mass production. I believe it is just as much about the journey as the destination,” he says. “I love things that are different and creative and interesting, and I think that the world needs more of that. We do everything custom, and I love the challenge of using design techniques to ensure every part of the outdoors is maximized and considered.”

When it comes to advice for homeowners dreaming of a backyard transformation, Ricky says patience and planning are key.

“There is no more of a perfect time to get planning other than once you think of the idea. The more time the better.”

“My best piece of advice is once you have conceived a thought, just reach out and find the person that you’re going to go on a journey with and be really happy with your choice. When people put their faith in our ability, that’s such an honour.”

With every project, Ricky and his team at Re:Scape Design continue to redefine what’s possible in outdoor living – creating spaces that make every day feel like a holiday.

Recline in your favourite chair with one of these beauties.

GIANTS

Jem Creswell | New South Books | $49.99

Photographer and filmmaker Jem Creswell captured more than 11,000 images of the humpback whale, one of the world’s largest mammals, over a five-year period. Creswell’s stunning black and white photographs were taken during the humpback migration from their summer feeding grounds in the southern ocean to their winter breeding grounds in the Pacific. Creswell spent countless hours swimming with these creatures, and the result is a unique and glorious collection of images. Humpback whales travel extraordinary distances – up to around 5000 kilometres each year, and we are blessed to live on the humpback highway, enjoying annual visits from these majestic creatures as they travel the coast close to our shore. This book opens a window into the lives and personalities of these magnificent giants, illustrating their various personalities, emotions and familial interactions.

Thanks to Annie’s Books on Peregian, we have a copy of GIANTS to give away. For your chance to win this prize, head to saltmagazine.com.au and click on the ‘win’ tab to enter.

IT’S A SCORCHER!

William McInnes | Hachette | $34.99

A collection of nostalgic and hilarious tales of the Australian summer, from one of our most-loved actors and authors and his signature style. William McIness grew up in the beachside suburb of Redcliffe, and these stories feature his family and friends, set against the backdrop of hot and steamy Queensland days, with the soundtrack of ticking sprinklers and screeching cicadas. You will be delighted with this collection, set in the ’60s and ’70s, capturing the essence of the Australian summer culture: family visits to the beach, backyard cricket, barbecues and funny family stories. McInnes has a unique style which draws the reader into his world – taking us back to those simple days full of fun, which celebrate friendships, family and the great Australian outdoors.

NOOSA COAST: COASTAL CUSTODIANS’ GUIDE BOOK

Sharyn Kerrigan and Rochelle Gooch | $30

We are thrilled to present this new locally based book. Those of us fortunate to live here on the Sunshine Coast are custodians of this unique part of Australia. We need to follow some simple rules of nature to help maintain the health and beauty of our region and pass this information on to those visiting our area. This book is compiled by Rochelle Gooch and Sharyn Kerrigan, both long-term Peregian Beach locals, who have actively protected and treasured the ocean and beachside flora and fauna for many years. It is packed with stunning photography, simple text and QR codes directing readers to more comprehensive information. NOOSA COAST is a book about caring for our environment and its creatures, but it is interesting and appealing, as much as it is enlightening and educational. It’s a perfect book for those of us who may be a little complacent about the fragility of this piece of paradise, or those discovering the unique beauty of Noosa Coast for the first time.

ART DESTINATIONS

Lonely Planet | $65

Lonely Planet Publishing books just keep getting better and better! Their range is so broad, and they offer much more than your usual travel guide. ART DESTINATIONS is an extensive tour of unmissable destinations around the world, where art is central to place, culture, identity and history. This book goes much further afield than the works of art to be experienced in Europe, with 70 destinations on every continent of the world (except Antarctica), the best times to travel and ‘how to get there’ information. You will find entries for the galleries and museums in Venice, Rome and Paris – but you can also discover the exciting cosmopolitan art scene of Senegal, or the bold and beautiful artworks from Mozambique. Incan artefacts meet modern art in Lima, Indigenous art thrives in Vancouver, art spans the divide in Cyprus, and there are fresh wonders to be found in the ancient city of Cairo. Australia and Oceania are also featured in this wonderful book. Experience street art in the Wimmera-Mallee, the inimitable art of Tasmania, the rock art of Kakadu and the wonders of sand drawing in Vanuatu.

POEMS & PRAYERS

Matthew McConaughey | Headline | $36.99

Matthew McConaughey is well known to us all as an actor, more interesting and intriguing than most! His memoir Greenlights was an enormous success, and he has followed that with another intimate and profound piece of writing, POEMS & PRAYERS. McConaughey states that he has always relied on logic to steer him through life and facts to understand the world. He says that these days, logic and facts appear to be some kind of deluded currency; the internet is the source of most information, or misinformation, and he is finding the world difficult to navigate. He names himself as an optimist and a believer, a man of strong spirit and great faith, and he believes we should look to faith, belief and dreams for our reality. Prayer is based on worship and religion, but McConaughey says that prayer is really just paying attention – listening and finding some peace in this noisy, busy world. He believes that prayer can realign a person and help them find their purpose and direction in the chaos. McConaughey has written an inspirational introduction to a volume of honest, hopeful and unique poetry.

Book reviews by Annie’s Books on Peregian, 8 Kingfisher Drive, Peregian Beach. 5448 2053 or anniesbooksonperegian.com.au

Wake up and wander, great coffee is closer than you think. From cosy neighbourhood cafés to hidden roasteries around the corner, discover your new favourite cup while supporting local legends. Wherever you’re based, let the coffee lead the way.

coffee takes you WHERE THE

Nestled in the heart of Coolum, COOLUM CORNER is your go-to for wholesome, freshly made food and awesome coffee brewed with locally loved Tim Adams Specialty Coffee beans. Everything is made and baked in-house with care, so you can taste the freshness in every bite. Whether you’re dining in with friends, grabbing something on the go, or relaxing with your doggo in tow, you’ll always be greeted with warm smiles and good vibes. At Coolum Corner, everyone’s welcome – come for the coffee, stay for the community.

COOLUM CORNER, 1a/19 Birtwill Street, Coolum Beach, 5474 5193. coolumcorner.com.au

The team behind the beloved SUNSHINE SOCIAL CAFÉ & ROASTERY in Sunshine Beach has recently opened its second venue, this time in Cotton Tree. From Mooloolaba prawn scrambled eggs to fresh daily salads (and the perfect post-surf feed – a cracking bacon and egg roll), as well as exceptional coffee, the team brings an elevated breakfast and lunch experience. Led by chef Braden Charlesworth, there is a focus on seasonal produce and on-trend dining experiences. It’s more than just good food and coffee – it’s a venue shaped by values, including partnerships with socially conscious organisations.

SUNSHINE SOCIAL – COTTON TREE, 1 King Street, Cotton Tree, 0458 760 308. sunshinesocialco.com.au

SUNSHINE SOCIAL is a café and coffee roastery located in the iconic Sunshine Beach. They take their coffee seriously and have a love for the ocean and surrounds. From sustainable practices to exceptional experiences, the team are leading the charge in having the Sunshine Coast recognised as the coffee capital of Australia. As the winner of the 2024 Noosa Biosphere Business of the Year Award, sustainability is core to everything they do. This includes reducing their carbon footprint by diverting coffee grinds from landfill and converting them into compost.

SUNSHINE SOCIAL – SUNSHINE BEACH, 24 Duke Street, Sunshine Beach, 0458 760 308. sunshinesocialco.com.au

Soak up the relaxed Sunshine Coast atmosphere at RIBA KAI, where exceptional coffee meets fresh, local flavour. Proudly serving Vincenza Coffee – roasted on site at their one-stop retail shop and roastery – every cup is crafted for true coffee lovers. Enjoy your morning brew alfresco or linger over breakfast and lunch, with dinner coming soon. With vegetarian, gluten-free, plant-based and dairy-free options, there’s something for everyone.

Riba Kai’s fully licensed bar, friendly team and easy parking make it the perfect stop. Family and pet-friendly, with catering, functions and takeaway available – plus a loyalty card for locals.

RIBA KAI MAROOCHYDORE, 14 Newspaper Place, Maroochydore, 5443 9098.

Though its name suggests isolation, SOLITUDE COFFEE ROASTERS embodies a gentle paradox. It is a space where individual moments blend effortlessly with community connection. Situated against the backdrop of Coolum Beach’s natural beauty, this small-batch specialty roaster has perfected the harmony between art and science. Each handpicked batch of beans traces a journey from skilled farmers to expert roasting that respects their craft. “We take our coffee seriously, but never at the cost of good times,” explains founder James.

SOLITUDE COFFEE ROASTERS, 4/40 Dacmar Road, Coolum Beach, 0499 482 949. solitude.coffee

Renowned for their signature hot-air roasting process, CUBA ST crafts every cup with precision and passion. This unique method evenly circulates heat through each bean, unlocking clean and consistent flavours in every brew. Cuba St is more than just a coffee stop – it’s a community hub. Enjoy their curated range of house blends and single-origin coffees, perfectly paired with freshly baked sweet and savoury treats. Whether you’re grabbing a quick takeaway, settling in for a cosy catch-up, or joining the iconic Cars & Coffee mornings, you’ll always find good company, great coffee and a warm welcome.

CUBA ST COFFEE ROASTERS, 968 David Low Way, Marcoola, 0409 604 320. cubastcoffee.com.au

Nestled in the heart of Noosa’s bustling Venture Drive precinct, FIRST BATCH COFFEE ROASTERS is a local family-owned business devoted to the craft of exceptional coffee. Using precise fluid bed air-roasting techniques and hands-on methods, they bring out the unique character of every bean, ensuring consistency and flavour. Beyond the cup, First Batch is passionate about specialty coffee education, sharing their expertise through cupping sessions, barista training and roastery tours. Experience the warmth and knowledge that make First Batch a favourite.

FIRST BATCH COFFEE ROASTERS, 2/8 Venture Drive, Noosaville, 1300 253 030. firstbatchcoffee.com.au

This is one team on a mission to create a cosy home on the Sunshine Coast where people can kick back, relax and enjoy heart-to-hearts with their favourite folks. JOHN KYLE’S down-to-earth team and easy-going service make newbies feel like locals and locals feel like family. This is a space to be unapologetically yourself. In their comfy corner, you can show up in your PJs or try something new, because why not? With locally sourced goodies and top-notch suppliers, including great coffee by Slide Coffee Roasters, they bring a distinctive John Kyle touch to your classic café favourites. Come venture out of your comfort zone. They dare you.

JOHN KYLE, 2/9 First Avenue, Maroochydore, 0413 119 945. johnkyleespresso.com.au

Explore the st’s vibrant coffee scene...

Discover the inviting charm of BERKELOUW CAFÉ Eumundi, where great coffee by Flying West Coffee Roasters, delicious food and the love of books come together in one beautiful space. Nestled beside the iconic Berkelouw Bookstore, this delightful café offers the perfect spot to unwind, savour fresh seasonal dishes and enjoy expertly crafted beverages. Relax indoors surrounded by shelves of books or soak up the sunshine in the leafy outdoor seating area. Whether you’re meeting friends, taking a quiet moment for yourself, or exploring Eumundi’s vibrant village atmosphere, Berkelouw Café provides a warm and welcoming experience.

BERKELOUW CAFE, 87 Memorial Drive, Eumundi, 5442 8422. facebook.com/berkelouwcafeeumundi

Discover the vibrant charm of JOHN KYLE ESPRESSO in Buderim, where exceptional coffee by Slide Coffee Roasters, fresh food and a relaxed local vibe come together seamlessly. Located in the heart of Buderim village, this welcoming espresso bar is the perfect place to enjoy expertly locally brewed coffee, tasty seasonal fare and warm, friendly service. Settle into the cosy indoor space or enjoy the sunshine in the inviting outdoor area. Whether you’re catching up with friends, grabbing a quick coffee on the go, or taking a quiet moment for yourself, John Kyle Espresso offers a memorable experience.

JOHN KYLE BUDERIM 1/19 Main Street, Buderim, 0480 197 381. johnkyleespresso.com.au

FLOAT - SAUNA - MASSAGE

RED LIGHT & CONTRAST THERAPY

NOSH news

THE SUNSHINE COAST is bursting with colour, flavour, and sunshine as summer rolls in. From luscious mangoes to crisp cucumbers, this season’s produce is the very definition of freshness. Whether you’re wandering through local markets or packing a picnic by the beach, now is the perfect time to savour everything nature has to offer.

Summer brings an abundance of sun-kissed fruits – juicy lychees, fragrant peaches, nectarines and plums. My favourite summer barbecue finale? Chilled watermelon drizzled with passionfruit. Oh my, yum!

Some of the best summer fruits to feast on include: avocados, bananas, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, cherries, figs, grapes, lychees, mangoes, melons, nectarines, passionfruit, peaches, pineapples and plums, while the summer vegetables include artichokes, asparagus, beans, capsicums, corn, cucumbers, eggplants, tomatoes and zucchini.

So, fill your basket, fire up the barbecue, and enjoy the delicious abundance that summer brings.

Check out our Nosh News pages for restaurants and cafés celebrating the season.

Montville welcomes a touch of France with the arrival of Fiorio & Co, a rustic French bistro offering classic cuisine, fine wines and warm country charm.

Their newly launched baguette sandwich range is crafted entirely in-house – golden, crusty and filled with bold French flavours. Whether you stop in for a quick lunch or linger over a glass of wine, Fiorio & Co is a delicious new reason to visit the hinterland.

Gather, yarn, and celebrate under the stars at the GATHAA First Nations Twilight Market – a vibrant celebration of culture, community and creativity on Saturday, December 13 from 3–7pm at Forest Glen Village.

This free, family-friendly event brings together First Nations businesses, each sharing their stories through handmade art, jewellery, bushfood products and plants, homewares and clothing.

It’s the perfect place to discover unique Christmas gifts while supporting talented local creators.

The afternoon will be filled with live music by Banksia Luna, bushfood demonstrations with Aunty Dale Chapman (My Dilly Bag), and interactive cultural experiences. Join the So You Think You Can Didge competition with Kerry Neil (all cultures welcome) and don’t miss a special visit from Blak Santa, spreading festive cheer and laughter through the crowd.

Families can enjoy Christmas decoration painting with artist Amelia Hughes, while food lovers can savour native-inspired dishes from food trucks serving up delicious bush flavours.

As the sun sets, the market comes alive with music, laughter and the warm glow of community spirit – a true celebration of culture and connection on Gubbi Gubbi Country.

Psst… Look out for GATHAA’s twilight market in February too – another wonderful opportunity to gather, connect and celebrate First Nations creativity under the stars.

Martin Duncan YourstSunshine f die

Martin Duncan AKA the ‘Sunshine Coast Foodie’ has a passion for showcasing the Sunshine Coast’s restaurants, cafés, producers and products. He is a former chef and restaurateur, and a true connector of people in food agribusiness, including the plant nursery and hospitality industries. Martin’s other passion is Sconetime – a wonderful opportunity for older people, along with their carers, companions and family, to establish social connections and come together with other people from the community over scones.

PHOLKLORE is Caloundra’s new home for modern Vietnamese fusion. You’ll find all the favourites from classic pho to fresh rice paper rolls and small plates built for sharing, plus punchy cocktails. Its Bulcock Street location brings a laidback coastal vibe with big communal tables and an easy energy that’s perfect for lunch catch-ups, family dinners or relaxed nights out. If you’re after fresh, fast, flavour-packed Vietnamese with a modern twist, Pholklore Caloundra is ready for you.

Pholklore is located at 110 Bulcock Street, Caloundra. pholklore.com.au

THE COOLUM SOCIAL is where coastal style meets exceptional flavour. Their beautifully presented dishes are crafted from fresh, seasonal ingredients – delicious creations unlike anywhere else around. With a menu updated every three months, there’s always something new to enjoy. Pair your meal with a specialty coffee, expertly made by their passionate baristas. Whether you’re stopping in for brunch, a long lunch, or your morning brew, The Coolum Social delivers food, coffee and atmosphere that keep people coming back. Nestled along the picturesque Coolum Beach, their vision for The Coolum Social is simple yet profound: to create a haven where locals can gather, connect and savour the simple joys of life. From vibrant salad bowls bursting with local produce, to hearty sandwiches and burgers piled high with wholesome ingredients – every dish is crafted with love and a commitment to quality. Owned and operated by a local family, the heart and soul of the establishment beats with the rhythm of familial love and a passion for bringing people together.

The Coolum Social is located at Shop 7, 8-26 Birtwill Street, Coolum Beach. thecoolumsocial.com.au

If you’re craving authentic Italian trattoria-style cuisine, owners Shane and Helen welcome you to step into the warmth of ALL’ ANTICA Italian Restaurant – proudly serving the Sunshine Coast for more than 35 years. A beloved local institution, All’ Antica invites diners to experience a rustic and welcoming atmosphere paired with a menu that celebrates the heart and soul of Italy. From the hearty dishes of the Northern Alps to the sun-drenched seafood flavours of Sicily, the menu showcases the best of Italian tradition, reimagined with local seasonal produce and premium imported ingredients. The aroma of slow-cooked sauces wafting from the kitchen, All’ Antica captures the charm of dining in a traditional Italian trattoria. The newly refined menu features pasta, wood-fired-style pizzas, slow-braised meats and handmade desserts, like their signature white chocolate tiramisu. All’ Antica is fully licensed, offers a thoughtful wine list, with Italian and Australian wines, and caters to all dietary needs, including gluten-free and vegan options. Whether it’s a romantic evening or a family gathering, there’s always a table waiting for you at All’ Antica. So, what are you waiting for? Book your table today and discover why All’ Antica remains one of the Coast’s must-try dining experiences. All’ Antica is located at 3/115a Point Cartwright Drive, Buddina. allantica.com.au

Acqua is Caloundra’s newest and most enticing culinary. Offering a down-to-earth menu with breath-taking water views over the Pumicestone Passage.

Lunch, dinner & drinks every day of the week.

Bulcock Beach, Caloundra 5492 8155 | acquarestaurant.com.au A waterfront destination for good food & great times. A

PERIWINKLE in Noosa is a charming French Mediterranean-inspired bistro that blends coastal elegance with culinary finesse. Located in the relaxed Peregian Beach village, it offers a refined yet unpretentious dining experience. The menu showcases French classics with a fresh, local twist – think duck confit, spanner crab spaghettini and exquisite crème brûlée. Their extensive wine menu offers a collection of French, Australian and European varietals. Warm, attentive service and a light-filled, breezy ambience make it ideal for leisurely lunches or romantic dinners. Whether you’re a local or visiting, Periwinkle is a delightful destination for refined comfort food in a serene seaside setting. A true gem. Periwinkle is located at 2/216 David Low Way, Peregian Beach. periwinklerestaurant.com.au

Tucked away in the lush Sunshine Coast Hinterland, SECRETS ON THE LAKE is a retreat where time slows and nature takes centre stage. Handcrafted treehouses nestle high in the rainforest, while overlooking panoramic views of Lake Baroon. It’s the perfect place to relax, reconnect and celebrate life’s special moments. As the festive season approaches, make your reservation to gather with friends, family, colleagues, or groups and enjoy their Christmas menu, launching in the last week of November and continuing throughout December. Plan a holiday across the summer months, in particular Christmas and New Year, and escape the bustle of everyday life. A stay with Secrets makes a thoughtful gift for someone special, a promise of shared memories and time together in the heart of the hinterland. Whatever you plan, Secrets offers a haven for diners, accommodation guests, wedding couples and their guests, that daily surprises with its unique charm and creativity.

Secrets on the Lake is located at 207 Narrows Road, Montville. secretsonthelake.com.au

Experience the exciting new culinary destination in the heart of Maleny at POCKY Asian Restaurant, where authentic flavours, modern style and warm hospitality come together to create an unforgettable dining experience. Pocky brings a fresh and vibrant twist to Asian cuisine, offering a diverse menu inspired by the rich traditions of Southeast Asia, Japan and beyond. From fragrant stirfries and perfectly balanced curries to delicate handmade dumplings, crispy tempura and crafted sushi and sashimi, every dish is prepared with premium ingredients and exceptional attention to detail.

Pocky is located at Shop 1, 4 Maple Street, Maleny. pockyasianrestaurant.com.au

Experience authentic Italian cuisine in the heart of Noosaville at SARDO. Indulge in traditional dishes crafted from fresh, locally sourced ingredients, all served in a warm and inviting atmosphere. Enjoy handmade pasta, woodfired specialties and a curated selection of exquisite Italian wines that capture the true flavours of Italy. Every dish is prepared with passion, offering a dining experience that feels both genuine and memorable. Perfect for romantic evenings, family gatherings, or leisurely lunches, this charming destination brings a taste of Italy to a beautiful Noosaville setting, for all to enjoy daily.

Sardo is located at 4 Thomas Street, Noosaville. sardonoosa.com.au

Step inside ROSA ITALIAN and let the Sunshine Coast melt into a little slice of the Amalfi. This laidback coastal eatery serves up the kind of Italian food that’s made for sharing and savouring. Think woodfired pizzas, generous share plates and simple, fresh ingredients that speak for themselves. Kick things off with warm woodfired bread sprinkled with parmesan and rosemary salt, or graze your way through prosciutto and rockmelon, truffle arancini or creamy burrata with woodroasted peppers. For mains, you’ll find all the crowd-pleasers, from classic carbonara to Rosa’s playful take on a parmy topped with fior di latte, prosciutto and confit cherry tomatoes. And of course, the woodfired pizza is a must. Round it all out with a Nutella calzone or an affogato, and explore a cocktail list and wine selection designed to suit any mood.

Rosa Italian is located at the corner of Frank Street and Beach Road, Coolum Beach. rosaitalian.com.au

Looking for a stunning venue to host your dream wedding? Let ACQUA RESTAURANT make your special day unforgettable. Nestled in the heart of beautiful Caloundra, Acqua offers a sophisticated, yet relaxed atmosphere with sweeping views of the coastline. It’s the perfect setting for your wedding celebration. Whether you’re planning a small, intimate ceremony or a grand reception, they offer flexible packages tailored to your vision. From personalised menus featuring the freshest local produce to a curated wine selection, your wedding at Acqua Restaurant promises to be a celebration like no other.

Acqua Restaurant is located at the corner of The Esplanade and Otranto Avenue, Bulcock Beach. acquarestaurant.com.au

Strong, supported movement makes every day feel lighter. Whether you’re chasing waves, lifting, walking, or simply staying active, the LUVIN LIFE Joint Support and Muscle Mass Collagens help your body keep up. Each blend uses specialised peptides to support healthy joints, lean muscle and faster recovery. Easy to mix and effortless to enjoy, it’s a daily ritual that fits naturally into your life. Feel the difference in how you move and in how you live. Live better, longer. luvinlife.com.au

Our business development manager Amanda Richens loves this easy recipe. Perfect for a week-night family meal, it’s easy to make and loaded with flavour.

MACARONI BEEF

INGREDIENTS

Meat sauce

600g premium quality mince

1 small onion, finely diced

¾ cup grated carrot

¾ cup grated zucchini

½ cup frozen peas

1 x 420g can tomato soup (undiluted)

2 tsp beef stock powder

2 tbs tomato paste

3 cups cooked macaroni noodles

a pinch of salt (optional)

Topping

1 tbs reduced fat margarine (Flora light)

3 tbs plain flour

1 ½ cups skim milk

¾ cup grated 25 per cent reduced fat cheese

METHOD:

Preheat oven to 180°C fan forced.

Cook mince in a large non-stick saucepan that has been coated with cooking spray. Drain liquid then return mince to pot. Add in carrots, zucchini, onion and peas. Cook for two minutes, stirring continuously. Add soup, stock powder, tomato paste and salt, cook a further five minutes, stirring frequently. Fold in cooked macaroni noodles and mix together well. Pour mixture into a lasagne dish. Melt margarine in saucepan, add flour, cook for 1 minute. Slowly add milk using a whisk to avoid lumps, stir continuously. Pour sauce over the meat. Sprinkle with grated cheese. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until top is golden brown.

TIRAMISU

INGREDIENTS

Cream base:

500ml thickened cream

320g mascarpone cheese

6 large egg yolks

90g sugar

70ml marsala wine

2 gelatine sheets

Coffee syrup:

125ml fresh espresso (4 shots)

104ml water

20g sugar

12ml marsala wine

Assembly:

300g Savoiardi biscuits (Ladyfingers)

300g cocoa powder, for dusting

Optional: chocolate discs, fresh berries

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Prepare the cream mixture

Semi-whip the cream and mascarpone together until soft peaks form.

Gently fold in the marsala wine. Set aside in the fridge.

2. Bloom the gelatine

Soak gelatine in ice-cold water for 5-10 minutes until soft

Drain and melt in the microwave with a splash of water (30-second bursts until fully dissolved).

3. Make the egg yolk base

Whisk egg yolks in a stand mixer or bowl.

In a saucepan, combine sugar with just enough water to cover. Heat until it reaches 112°C (soft boil).

Slowly pour the hot sugar syrup into the yolks while whisking on low speed.

Add the melted gelatine while mixing. Continue whisking until the mixture is pale, thick and forms ribbons (about 5-7 minutes).

4. Combine

Fold the egg yolk mixture into the whipped cream mascarpone base gently until smooth. Chill.

5. Make the coffee syrup

Brew fresh espresso.

Mix with water, sugar and Marsala wine. Let it cool to room temperature.

6. Assemble the tiramisu

Line a rectangular pan with baking paper.

Dip Savoiardi biscuits sugar-side down halfway into the coffee syrup. Flip and place in the pan to form the bottom layer.

Spread half of the cream mixture evenly over the biscuits.

Repeat with another layer of dipped biscuits and remaining cream.

Cover and freeze overnight to set.

7. To serve

Remove from freezer 4 hours before serving.

Cut into 12cm × 4.5cm slices using a hot knife (wipe between cuts).

Dust with cocoa powder. Garnish with chocolate discs and fresh berries.

EASY CHILLI MANGO MARGARITA

Serves one

ITEMS NEEDED

Cocktail shaker and strainer

Jigger (or any measuring cup)

Coupe glass

Plate for salt rim

INGREDIENTS

95ml Margarita Margarita (MM) Chilli Mix

30ml blanco tequila of choice

Swap for non-alcoholic tequila, or soda water

30ml mango nectar (or mango liqueur for extra kick)

Ice

Garnish: chilli salt and mango slice/spear

QUICK CHILLI SALT

Mix on a plate: Two tbs of flaky salt, 1tsp of chilli powder and ½ a tsp of smoked paprika. Optional: a pinch of sugar and a little lemon zest.

METHOD

1. Salt the rim of glass. Run a lime/lemon wedge around half the rim (half-rim is a perfect balance). Dip into your chilli salt; tap off the excess.

2. Load the shaker. Add the liquids.

3. Mocktail: use non-alcoholic tequila or skip it and add 60–90ml soda water after shaking (don’t shake soda).

4. Add ice to the shaker (¾ full with solid cubes).

5. Shake hard for 12-15 seconds

6. Strain into the glass. (Double strain if your nectar is pulpy and you like it silky.)

7. Garnish with a mango slice/spear and a lime (or lemon) wheel.

8. Sip immediately. Lick the chilli rim between sips.

Recipe courtesy of Margarita Margarita.

“this is without a doubt the drink of summer”

Spanninggenerations

FOR THE ROCKLIFF family, fishing isn’t just a job; it’s a way of life that’s been handed down since 1949, when Neville Rockliff’s parents founded their first seafood business.

Today, that legacy continues with Neville and Helen’s four children all involved in the business, each bringing their own strengths to the family enterprise while keeping their connection to the ocean alive.

“I love seeing the next generation coming through and even seeing the grandkids taking interest. It runs in our blood. We live and breathe the sea,” Neville says.

Their daughter Vanessa has grown up surrounded by this devotion to the ocean, with two of her three brothers being fishermen and one in seafood sales and marketing. “If my brothers are in the port for too long, you can see them starting to get the itchy feet to get back out again,” she says.

One of the stars of their operation is the spanner crab – a species that has gone from being widely unknown to sought after by top chefs around the world. Helen says, “When Neville got that first taste of spanner crab, he thought it was better than Tasmanian crayfish because it had a sweeter texture, was much more delicate and is very versatile.

“Previously, most of the product would be sent over to places like China and Hong Kong, so the locals didn’t know much about it. It’s a very sustainable fishery that’s being caught right here on the coast of Queensland.”

Helen says the growth of their retail shop has also helped the family diversify into other quality local wild-caught seafood. “We now offer Mooloolaba’s famous ocean king prawns, Moreton Bay bugs, mud crabs, reef fish and more. One of our most popular products is the sashimi trio trays of salmon, tuna and kingfish – it’s a favourite to take down to the beach and enjoy the coast’s amazing scenery and sunshine.”

Rockliff Seafoods now supplies local favourites such as Alex Surf Club, Mooloolaba Surf Club and Pier 33. “Pier 33 uses all our seafood, which is amazing because you can literally be sitting at Pier 33 and see the boats going past that have caught the seafood you’re eating,” Vanessa says.

The family’s own spanner crab recipes are simple but delicious.

“You can do so many things with it, everything from putting it in pastas, lasagnas, a bisque, or my mum’s even done it in sandwiches,” Vanessa tells salt “We do a garlic butter spanner crab or a very simple spaghetti of angel hair pasta with just the spanner crab, olive oil, and a bit of chilli and parsley.”

Vanessa says everyone should support the local fishing industry.

“When people drive down the Mooloolaba Spit, they might see some old buildings that need fixing up. But we’ve got exporters, wholesalers, fish and chip shops and all these amazing businesses and I think that sometimes the community doesn’t realise what a wonderful port we have here.”

GARLIC & BUTTER SPANNER CRAB RECIPE

(Serves 4)

INGREDIENTS

200g Rockliff raw spanner crab meat

1 small clove garlic

2 stalks of garlic shoots

50g butter

50ml olive oil

15ml soy sauce

15ml mirin

Italian parsley

METHOD

1. Heat olive oil on high, add butter and melt.

2. Add sliced garlic shoots, crab meat and season with soy and mirin.

3. Cook the crab meat quickly. As soon as the meat turns from a translucent texture to white, take it straight off the heat. Garnish with roughly chopped parsley

Serve with crusty bread.

Parkyn Parade, Mooloolaba. 0460 795 083 | rockliff.fish.

Hola

flavour

WHEN REVERED SUNSHINE Coast restaurateur

Tony Kelly opens a new venue, locals take notice. From the cult following of Rice Boi to the elegant buzz of Market Bistro and the coastal charm of Bocca, his restaurants have helped shape the region’s colourful dining scene. His latest venture, Playa, brings something new to the table – a bright, beachside Mexican restaurant at Bokarina with a distinctly Californian edge.

“Playa has been a few years in the making,” Tony says. “We’d had such success with Bocca since opening in 2022, but to be honest, I didn’t know the Bokarina area all that well at first. When co-owner Luke Stringer suggested opening an Italian restaurant there, I remember saying, ‘Really?’ But he was living in the area at the time, knew it inside out, and had a good feel for the community. There’s a real mix of people and a great local energy.”

That local energy became part of the inspiration behind Playa. After Bocca’s success, Tony and his team began talks with the landlords about the vacant space next door. “We couldn’t come to an agreement initially,” he says. “But six months ago, we started negotiating again and managed to close the deal.”

Then came a fateful trip to Los Angeles, where he discovered a fresh take on Mexican cuisine that inspired the flavours behind Playa’s exciting menu.

“Luke Stringer, Harry Lilai and I went to a tradeshow over there in May, and we found ourselves in California, where we ate the most amazing Mexican food. It was so fresh. Most of the dishes have just one or two ingredients that really sing. The protein is the rock star and they treat it with such respect.

“When we were over there, we realised how similar the climate and lifestyle are to the Sunshine Coast,” he adds. “People are outdoors, healthconscious and love fresh, uncomplicated food. The Californian approach to Mexican cooking is light, clean and focused on quality produce, and it felt like such a natural fit for how people on the Coast like to eat. It just made sense to bring that style home.”

Part of the appeal for Tony was simply doing something new. “I’ve never done Mexican before, so

I thought, why not? Let’s do something really interesting,” he says. “To do it with Harry is amazing – his culinary mind is truly unique.”

Head chef Dillon Miettunen, who has worked across all of Tony’s venues, was the natural choice to lead Playa’s kitchen. “He’s worked in every one of my restaurants, so giving him his own stage just made sense,” Tony says.

Playa’s interior, like most of Tony’s venues, was brought to life by Kristen Calle of CAB ROTO.

“It’s hard to give someone a concrete and glass box and make it have character, but he has,” Tony says. “Kristen built a lot of the furniture himself. He has his own woodwork area and is so passionate about his craft. There’s a big feature wall when you walk in that he carved by hand. His passion is inspiring.”

The name of the restaurant came together with the kind of ease that only happens when it’s meant to be.

“Playa means ‘beach’ in Spanish, which felt perfect. Although I thought it sounded cool before I even knew the meaning,” Tony laughs. “Luke actually suggested it, and I loved it straight away.”

Inside, the vibe is coastal and fun, with a focus on tequila, bright flavours and relaxed good times. “We wanted to be famous for amazing tequila and great tacos,” Tony says. “We’ve got a great cocktail list and even a slushy machine with frozen margaritas.”

So, what’s the secret to Tony Kelly’s consistent success? “Before we open any restaurant, we ask one simple question: what do we want to be famous for?” he says. “Market Bistro was wine and great steak, Rice Boi was beer and curry, for Playa it’s tequila and tacos. Every decision we make goes back to that question. Does it stay true to what we want to be famous for?”

It’s a formula that clearly works, but Tony insists it’s about more than just food. “I’ve watched the Sunshine Coast dining scene grow up before my own eyes over the past 25 years,” he says.

“people here know food and wine, and that pushes us to be better”

“We’re seeing the Coast become more refined. Diners are more discerning. People here know food and wine, and that pushes us all to be better.

“I was in New Zealand recently, standing in line to buy my kids a burger, and the people behind me were talking about the amazing restaurant scene on the Sunshine Coast. I thought that was pretty cool.”

He credits much of that growth to the influx of southerners and well-travelled diners who’ve brought new expectations to the table.

“When you have people who know good food and wine, and who demand great service, you’ve got no choice but to lift your game,” he says.

“I’ve had diners at Playa who know more about tequila than I do. That definitely wouldn’t have happened 20 years ago!”

Tony laughs, but he’s serious about how much the local palate has matured. “Now people ask if the beef is grass or grain-fed, where the eggs come from, whether the chicken’s corn-fed or organic, how the pasta’s made,” he says. “If you’d told me that 20 years ago, I wouldn’t have believed you. But that’s the Sunshine Coast now, people care deeply about what they’re eating, and that’s made all of us better.”

Tony also attributes his incredible success to the talented team of co-owners and chefs he works alongside, who he describes as some of the most

talented chefs he’s ever worked with. “When I look at the calibre of people we have – Harry, Mitch Smith, Nick Blake, Dillon – I honestly have to pinch myself,” he says. “They’re world-class chefs, and the Sunshine Coast gives them a great stage to shine on.”

For Tony, success isn’t measured just in full tables or glowing reviews, it’s rooted in the relationship he’s built with the community that continues to champion his venues.

“If you look after the people of the Sunshine Coast, they’ll look after you,” he says.

“My success is purely because of how passionate the Coast community has been toward our restaurants. We’ve always tried to give them what they ask for, to listen and deliver, and they’ve been so good to us in return.”

It’s that mutual loyalty that Tony believes defines the Coast’s dining scene today. “We’re proud to be part of it,” he says with a smile. “At the end of the day, everything we do is for the people who live here. They’re the reason we get to keep doing what we love.”

From a man who has given so much flavour, character and confidence to our dining scene, that’s a recipe worth holding onto.

Mediterranean cooking using locally grown products

Nestled in the beautiful village square of Peregian Beach, Periwinkle restaurant offer a modern French Mediterranean cuisine with delicious seafood, hand crafted sourdough breads, char grill beef and seasonal vegetables.

Enjoy a relaxing breakfast, lunch or dinner in the family friendly village square park.

Monday to Sunday 11am - 8.30pm 2/216 David

Oh, what

a night

AUSTRALIA, 1972, the times they were a-changin’ (to loosely paraphrase folk musician Bob Dylan). Gough Whitlam won the federal election, ending 23 years of Liberal–Country Party rule; the Aboriginal Tent Embassy was set up on the lawns of Parliament House in Canberra, which continues to be an enduring symbol of protest for Indigenous land rights; and national service conscription was abolished after mounting public protest against the Vietnam War.

At this time, the Sunshine Coast was evolving from an agricultural hinterland and holiday destination towards a growing residential and tourism hub. The Big Pineapple, which opened in 1971, literally was a large chunk of the region’s tourism offer by 1972. It was also the year Maroochy RSL officially opened its doors to the public as a licensed venue (the Maroochy RSL Sub-branch was established earlier in 1932).

Fast-forward 53 years, and the club has opened a freshly minted and rebranded sports bar called Lounge Seventy Two, which pays homage to its 1970s roots with its nostalgic yet contemporary vibe. The expansive yet intimate drinking and dining space is much more than a sports bar now. While there’s a large wall-mounted TV screen on the far side of the lounge, it’s somehow not at all obtrusive.

The sleek fit-out could best be described as contemporary chic-meets-1970s retro. It’s dark, cosy and mood-lit. Everything from the velvety midcentury modern lounge chairs to the cosy diner booths and even thick pile carpet, is “borrowed” from a 1970s interior design colour palette. Think warm earthy tones, which have been reimagined as thoroughly modern-looking.

As a child of the 1970s, who’s now a woman in her 50s, I discovered there was much to delight in

these new surroundings. To me, it was a veritable visual and textural feast. I loved the ‘chainmail’ dangling from the track lighting, which curves along the ceiling; I loved the rattan lamp shades hanging above the tables; and I especially loved the lava lamp animation on the LED screen above the shared table centrepiece.

The visuals displayed on this LED lighting panel can be changed depending on the occasion, so, for example, there could be fireworks on New Year’s Eve. Even the quartz marble shared table is a ‘trip’ – you can get lost in this marvellous piece of ancient

“I have to declare that my favourite was the prawn twisters”

history just by examining the different swirls of colour created by nature over hundreds of millions of years. The same stone is used to stunning effect around the bar, where premium spirits are backlit so patrons can see what’s on offer.

My girl friends and I settled into one of the plush booths for cheeky Friday afternoon knock-off drinks and nibbles. There’s nothing like Lounge Seventy Two in the heart of Maroochydore, especially for women my age, who want somewhere to go where we feel safe, comfortable and relaxed. I could imagine it would also be a great space to pop into after dinner at Maroochy RSL Bistro or the local surrounds.

Personally, I feel too old hanging around Ocean Street when it transforms into a nightclub precinct in the late evening, so I’m glad there’s somewhere welcoming I can go for a nightcap and listen to live music on a Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. And if you feel inclined to get down and boogie, there’s a dancefloor right near where the bands play.

Executive chef Gareth Little says the whole concept of Lounge Seventy Two “is this idea of sharing time, sharing food and having a few drinks”.

“The first thing you see when you come through the doors of the RSL is Lounge Seventy Two and it’s a space where we want everybody to feel comfortable to share their time and their company,” Gareth says.

We pored through the impressive wine and cocktail list before deciding to order some signature cocktails, which were created by the club and are exclusive to Lounge Seventy Two. With names like Studio Seventy Two and Sunshine in ‘72, who could resist raising a toast to the era? After all, it was a time of unprecedented cultural change and wild creativity.

In fact, I felt duty-bound to sample three. I started with the “dangerously smooth” Lychee Disco made with Ketel One Vodka, lychee liqueur, prosecco and lemonade.

It’s a deliciously (and deceptively) light cocktail that would go down all too easily on a hot summer day, so I moved on to the Fuego. This delightfully tart and citrusy chilli margarita had just the right degree of afterburn. It’s made with house-infused

chilli tequila and other ingredients typical of a classic margarita – with a twist.

As we’d moved on to seconds, we decided it would be prudent to order some share plates. We had Asian-inspired prawn twisters, crispy chicken bao and a sharing plate.

The plate was piled with all sorts of delicious delicatessen treats: Spanish-style prosciutto, salami, smoked cheddar, Australian olives, olive oil infused with pomegranate molasses, a spicy hummus dip and toasted flat bread to soak it all up.

Between the three of us, it was just the right amount of snacky food to keep the hunger wolf from the door. Each dish had its merits, but I have to declare my favourite was the prawn twisters with pickled vegetables and nam jim dipping sauce.

This finger food had a lovely garlicky taste and mild chilli kick. From first bite of the crispy fried filo pastry exterior to hitting the juicy prawns inside and then savouring the sweet-sourness of the Thai-style dipping sauce and the pickled vegetables – it was very more-ish.

As the afternoon rolled into the evening, how could I resist Jackie’s After Party? This dessert-like cocktail with Frangelico, Kahlua, butterscotch schnapps, cream and chocolate syrup tasted like a superior semifreddo.

And this time to borrow from Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons: oh, what a night.

Indeed, yes. I’m glad to have a space I can call my second loungeroom.

maroochyrsl.com.au

Taste of summer

CRISP CONFIT DUCK WITH GREEN PAPAYA, MANGO, GINGER, LYCHEE SALAD AND TAMARIND CARAMEL

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS

4 large duck legs

500g rock salt

500g duck fat

1 tablespoon Chinese 5 spice

5 cloves garlic

2 x star anise

1 cinnamon stick

Fried shallots

Roasted sesame seeds

Orange peel

For the salad

2 heads baby gem lettuce

50g pickled ginger

1 large mango, skinned and sliced

12 lychees

Half a green papaya, shredded

1 handful each Vietnamese mint, coriander and Thai basil

For the tamarind caramel

200g palm sugar

200g tamarind pulp

1 cup water

1 red onion, sliced

1 red capsicum, sliced

10g ground cumin

1 knob ginger, sliced

8 lime leaves

This recipe is courtesy of Graham Waddell, Relish Restaurant, Noosa Springs Golf & Spa Resort.

1 red chilli

For the duck legs

Cover the duck legs in rock salt and put in the fridges for 3 hours.

Wash the salt off, rub with Chinese five spice and cover in duck fat.

Add the orange peel, star anise, garlic and cinnamon

Cover and cook at 90°C for 12 hours. Leave to chill in the fat until ready to use.

For the tamarind caramel

Sauté off capsicum, red onion, ginger and chilli till softened.

2 red chillies, chopped

4 lime leaves

50g palm sugar

10 coriander stalks, chopped

Bring together in a mortar and pestle.

To finish the dish

Crisp up the duck legs by shallow frying in duck fat.

Toss the salad with the nam jim and arrange on the plate.

Drizzle with the tamarind caramel.

Add cumin, palm sugar, lime leaves, water and tamarind.

Cook out until thickened to jam consistency.

Blend together and pass through a sieve.

Nam jim

½ cup fish sauce

½ cup lime juice

lime leaves, d to s roasted sesame seeds.

Top with fried shallots and roasted sesame seeds. sesame

fried shallots and roasted sesame seeds.

COUNTRY SPIRIT

COONAWARRA IS A slice of paradise. Its fertile terra rossa soils, laced with that signature rustic haze, have given rise to some of Australia’s most sought-after wines. But this region is more than its celebrated earth and treasured vines.

It’s the crimson sunsets sinking over the limestone coast. It’s the crisp evening air that calls for a roaring open fire as you gaze into the night’s sky for a galaxy of entertainment from above. Yet at its core, its people are the beating heart of this stunning place.

There are countless reasons throughout the year to visit this vinous wonderland, sitting a leisurely five-hour drive from either Melbourne or Adelaide, but I find myself in town for the legendary 43rd Annual Coonawarra Vignerons Cup.

This is no average race day. It’s a pilgrimage of sorts for a diverse range of folk, all bound by a love of fine wine and the need to get their fix of this incredible country spirit.

From the moment the gates opened, it was clear why tickets sold out months in advance – insiders will tell you to act fast in October and November of the previous year, not to mention booking the highly sought-after accommodation options. With the mercury at a perfect 26 degrees, you couldn’t script it better.

I met folks from Perth, Cairns, Sydney, Melbourne, Tasmania and every corner of the country, mingling with locals whose lifelines are etched into the region. Some were here for the horses, some for the wine, others for the sheer occasion and never ventured near the track. But we all agreed on one thing – the atmosphere was electric.

Find a better value day out, and for $250 all inclusive, I hasten to guess you won’t. A buffet lunch and a seven-and-a-half-hour drinks package, not to mention snacks and afternoon tea, headline the catering package in the platinum VIP marquee. If this were Flemington, you’d be paying twice as much.

Scouring the room, my eye caught the real treasure – a bar stocked with dozens of wines. Not the one token red, one white affair you find at most events, but a full spectrum of varieties and vintages, ready to be plucked and shared around the table. And share we did, with murmurs of delight about both the range and the remarkable value of the day.

Feeding 730 guests is no small feat, but the caterers delivered with 36° South beef, roasted vegetables, and vibrant salads. Choosing what to drink was a happy dilemma: Yalumba, Wynns, Bowen, Patrick, Penley, Redman, St Hugo, Raidis Estate, Parker, Balnaves, Leconfield, Rymill – the list rolled on.

Some bottles were newly released whites, others were non-vintage sparkling reds. There was shiraz and cabernet with a host of other reds as far as the eye could see, but a closer look revealed treasured back vintages from some of the labels that have put this district on the map. No one went thirsty, yet the crowd remained impeccably well-behaved.

No country race day is complete without fashions

“The embrace of this community’s spirit will be etched in my memory for some time”

Surf Life Saving Supporters Club Qld

Club of the Year Qld: Small

Best Dining, Boutique: Bayview Restaurant

Health & Wellbeing: The Surf Club Mooloolaba Schools Program with Jack Reed

Heart of the Community: Finalist

on the field. With plenty of contenders in the running, some groups even coordinated their outfits in an effort to steal the prize, yet elegance and a focused eye on current trends won out in the end.

The revered Imperial auction always causes a stir and this edition was no different. Eight bottles, each holding six litres of the finest Coonawarra red wine, in a custom-made timber case saw a flurry of excitement and bidding. A few of these went back interstate with a tale to tell, not to mention the most treasured carry-on luggage you’ve ever seen.

Soon enough, it was Cup time. A couple of thousand racegoers lined the track for race seven on the card. Tickets were torn and cheers went up before a quick retreat to the marquee as dessert and savouries made their way around.

Things were only amplifying from this point as the live music cranked up the party vibe, the dance floor was swamped and any number of classic lyrics were belted out before Sweet Caroline closed the show.

At the conclusion of the festivities, buses whisked guests back to the pub for celebrations that stretched well into the night. Despite the day’s events rushing by at the blink of an eye, the bonds forged and the embrace of this community’s spirit will be etched in my memory for some time to come.

coonawarra.org/event/coonawarra-vignerons-cup-2026/

How did you meet?

A love story

It all began around 2012 or 2013 when I was working as a hairstylist and Curtis’ sister, Chelsea, booked him in for a haircut. I remember it being one of the hardest haircuts I had ever done, not because of the style, but because Curtis was so handsome and kind that I struggled to keep my cool. I was in a relationship at the time, so she spent the whole appointment talking about my boyfriend just to play it safe. Years later, fate brought us together again, this time on a dance floor.

Salt spoke with newlyweds Jessi and Curtis, whose Noosa Springs wedding was filled with fun, family, friends and a surprise dance.

I spotted Curtis in a black suit, and sparks instantly flew. Soon after, I confessed to Chelsea that I had a major crush on her brother. The rest is history.

What was the proposal like?

Curtis proposed during a holiday in Agnes Water. We took a walk along the beach, and in the middle of that perfect, peaceful moment, Curtis grabbed my hand and dropped to one knee. “You know I love you very much – will you marry me?” he asked. I dropped to my knees too, overwhelmed with joy, and said yes immediately. Just before it happened, I

noticed the numbers 444 appearing – a sign that a person is going to successfully make a big decision, progress toward their goals and gain more control over their life.

What was the inspiration behind your wedding theme/vibe?

A modern black-tie celebration in timeless black and white. Designed with intention, our day was about shared moments and meaningful details, from the linen signage and monochrome newspapers to the long candlelit tables where we gathered to share a meal. With silver accents, custom wine bottles and the sound of a saxophone in the air, the evening blended classic romance with contemporary elegance.

What was the most memorable moment of your wedding day?

For me, it was the much-anticipated bride-and-groom dance surprise, which we practised for months leading up to the wedding with our amazing friend and dance teacher, Stephanie Manitzky, who owns Glow Pilates. She choreographed a dance that went from slow to show, starting with Luke Combs’ Beautiful Crazy and ending in full party mode – the Conga. It got all the guests up on the dance floor. For Curtis, it was sharing time with friends and family under the shelter during the massive downpour of rain, right as we were about to begin the ceremony. Some guests described it as an icebreaker, bringing everyone together.

Why did you choose Noosa Springs Golf & Spa Resort?

It truly had everything we could have wanted in one beautiful place. From the moment we visited, we knew it was perfect. Being surrounded by lush greenery and a stunning golf course, it offered that relaxed, elegant Noosa feel we love, without having to leave the one venue. Our family and friends could all stay on-site in the resort’s accommodation, which made the whole weekend feel like a getaway together. Between events, everyone could unwind at the spa, play a round of golf, or enjoy a long lunch overlooking the fairways. It felt intimate, luxurious, and effortless all at once.

Having everything in one spot meant we could focus on celebrating and soaking up every moment, surrounded by our loved ones.

What was the highlight of your day?

One highlight was riding around in the golf carts with our bridal party during our sunset photos and having a moment to process the ceremony, high on life. And riding back to the reception with our ‘just married’ sign and ‘wedding cans’, seeing all our guests at the Sunset Bar waving at us.

Did you incorporate any personal touches or traditions into your wedding?

Every part of the wedding was thoughtful. We wanted our guests to be a part of the wedding as much as possible. We created custom newspapers for all guests with timetables, word search, bridal party information and honeymoon information. This helped the guests feel informed and entertained, while we took photos during cocktail hour. Our ‘guest book’ was a custom deck of cards with our engagement photos on one side and a place to write a message on the other.

What was your favourite part of the reception?

music, food and photography. The things that brought people together and helped us relive the magic of the day.

If you are like us and don’t want to leave the dance floor, lock in a band that gets everyone on their feet and makes the night unforgettable. The best moments often happen when the music takes over.

How do you feel now that the big day is behind you and you are officially married?

Looking out at all our favourite people in the one place, sitting next to each other with our maid of honour and best man. And of course, dancing the night away with the Hamilton Band.

What advice would you give to couples currently planning their wedding?

Spend where it matters most to you. For us, that was

As we said in our vows, we both share the belief that family is the most important thing. And we cannot wait to start our new family together as Mr and Mrs Hyne.

One year after our wedding, we are excited to have recently welcomed our firstborn child!

CEREMONY & RECEPTION VENUE: @NOOSASPRINGSWEDDINGS, CELEBRANT: @HITCHEDBYHULM – TIFFANY DUNCAN, RINGS: @ REDCLOUDJEWELS – CUSTOM MADE BY WAYNE DOYLE IN AGNES WATER, FLORIST: @WILLOWBUDFLOWERS, FURNITURE HIRE: @ SPLASHEVENTS, MAKE UP: @LAURENMONTGOMERYMAKEUP, HAIR: @EVALYNPARSONSWEDDINGS,, PHOTOGRAPHER & VIDEOGRAPHER: @ MEARSPRODUCTIONS, MUSICIAN: @HAMILTONBANDAU, WEDDING DRESS: @SPHEREBRIDALGALLERY, BRIDESMAID DRESSES: MOSSMAN, SUITS: @__FEMALE.STORE, CAKE: @CAFESISLY, STATIONERY: @CUSTOMWONDERSEMPORIUM

jewels BRIGHT

South Sea white and pearl

South Sea white and golden pearl strand, $4880, Diamonds of Distinction, Buderim, 5445 5709

Aquamarine ring, set in silver and fine gold, handmade in Australia, The Opalcutter,Montville, 5442 9598

Handmade double flower 18ct gold and diamond ring. $5795, NY2K, Cotton Tree, 5443 1955

Freeform sapphire and lab-diamond ring, from $5900, Set Together Jewellery Design, Forest Glen, 0421 201 456

AUTORE Hercules knot South Sea pearl earrings, $9010, NY2K, Cotton Tree, 5443 1955

Platinum and 18ct yellow gold engagement ring, Diamonds of Distinction, Buderim, 5445 5709

Art Deco platinum diamond, emerald and ruby dress ring $22,500, Avenue J, Mooloolaba, 5444 4422

18ct white gold and diamond ring featuring 1.81ct Queensland Boulder opal, Opals Down Under, Glenview, 5494 5400

Ruby and diamond Art Deco ring c1930, $14,900, Avenue J, Mooloolaba, 5444 4422

MALLORY argyle pink and white diamond ring, $21,150, NY2K, Cotton Tree, 5443 1955

Hexagon sapphire and diamond halo ring, $12,500, Set Together Jewellery Design,Forest Glen, 0421 201 456

9ct white gold hinged diamond bangle, $4260, Diamonds of Distinction, Buderim, 5445 5709

18ct yellow gold and diamond ring featuring 0.91ct Queensland Boulder opal, Opals Down Under, Glenview, 5494 5400

, Glenview, 5494 5400

5444 4422

UNIQUEshine

18ct yellow gold and diamond bangle, $6230, Diamonds of Distinction, Buderim, 5445 5709

14ct white gold and diamond pendant, featuring 11.36ct Queensland Boulder opal, Opals Down Under, Glenview, 5494 5400

East-west pear lab diamond in 18ct yellow gold, $5950, Set Together Jewellery Design, Forest Glen, 0421 201 456

New location from mid December. Noosa Homemaker Centre

Shop 12, 18 Thomas Street, Next to Eclectic Style. Open 7 days

50 Mary Street, Noosaville

Parking behind the store

Mon to Sat 9am-5pm

Eumundi Square Market

Wednesday, Friday and Saturday

1800 804 776

Let’s talk menopause

IT CAN START subtly. A slightly shorter fuse, a sleepless night, a period that isn’t quite like it used to be. For many women, these early signs of perimenopause sneak up while juggling work, family and life’s daily demands, making them easy to miss or dismiss. But understanding what’s happening in the body can make this transition less confusing and even empowering.

Local leading expert in perimenopause and menopause Dr Hilma Starostina says the signs can be different for each woman and sometimes they are even attributed to something else, or missed altogether.

“Some women might notice emotional changes

such as feeling less lively, losing their temper more easily, difficulty sleeping, or even severe anxiety and depression,” Dr Hilma says.

“Physical signs can include changes in period patterns, joint aches, sports injuries, hormonal migraines and subtle changes in internal body temperature. Many women describe feeling ‘not quite themselves,’ and that’s because hormones are fluctuating unpredictably during this stage.”

Dr Hilma says during perimenopause, estrogen and progesterone levels swing in ways the body hasn’t experienced before.

“Estrogen can spike higher than ever and then drop suddenly, causing mood changes, breast

Nunkeri

tenderness, migraines and heavy periods.

“Meanwhile, progesterone levels are often lower, which can lead to anxiety, sleep disturbances and irregular cycles. But each woman experiences this differently, which is why an individualised approach is so important.”

Most importantly, Dr Hilma can’t emphasise enough how crucial lifestyle is during this time of life.

“Sleep, nutrition, stress management, movement, social connections and avoiding harmful substances, what I call the six pillars of health, play a huge role in how a woman navigates this stage. Poor sleep and high stress can disrupt hormone regulation, while diet affects liver and gut function, which in turn impacts how hormones are processed,” she says.

Dr Hilma says practical ways to ease symptoms naturally include exposure to morning light, regular micro-breaks with deep breathing, reducing alcohol and eliminating ultra-processed foods. Complementary therapies such as yoga, acupuncture and counselling can also help.

When it comes to hormone replacement therapy (HRT), Dr Hilma stresses context and perspective.

“Modern body-identical HRT carries a lower breast cancer risk than older non-body-identical HRT, as the earlier studies suggested, though the risk is still present. The risk can be optimised, for example, by maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding a sedentary lifestyle or regular alcohol consumption, and it should always be considered alongside a woman’s personal health, symptoms and family history.”

Her biggest advice for women? “Focus on lifestyle first. Get a comprehensive health check, prioritise sleep, nutrition, movement, stress management and meaningful connections. Other treatments can be layered on top of this foundation.

“And most importantly, avoid relying on social media for medical advice. Speak with a qualified doctor if you need guidance.”

Culturally, menopause has long been a taboo topic. Thankfully, that is changing with more women talking openly about their experiences, and healthcare is taking a holistic approach.

“It used to be that women’s experiences were swept under the carpet, partly because of societal stigma around ageing and partly due to lack of knowledge,” Dr Hilma says.

Community support from friends, workplaces and local networks also plays a vital role.

“Acknowledging what someone is experiencing, listening and helping them seek appropriate support can make a huge difference.”

Finally, one myth she wants to see disappear is: “That perimenopause has to be tough. It’s actually a wonderful window of opportunity to optimise health and thrive.”

HEALTHY + GLOWING

skin

As the temperatures rise and the days get longer, our skin faces a whole new set of challenges. From intense sun exposure to heat, humidity and increased sweating, summer can take a toll on even the healthiest complexions. We spoke with the owner of Australian Skin Clinics Kawana, Georgie McDonald, for her top tips on how to keep skin hydrated, protected and radiant through the hotter months.

Why is it important to adjust our skincare routine for summer? While SPF is essential year-round, it’s especially important in summer when we sweat more – meaning reapplication is key to keeping your skin protected. Switching to a lightweight moisturiser will help you maintain that fresh, summer glow without feeling oily. It’s also the perfect time to introduce antioxidants like vitamin C to protect against sun damage and hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid to keep your skin plump and dewy. Finally, remember to cleanse twice daily and exfoliate once or twice a week, depending on your skin type, to keep pores clear and your complexion bright.

What are the most common skin concerns you see during the hotter months? We often see an increase in perioral dermatitis, which can be improved with regular LED treatments and the right skincare products. Sunburn and pigmentation damage also become more common, making daily SPF, antioxidants and gentle skin repair treatments essential for maintaining a healthy, even complexion.

How does heat and humidity affect skin hydration levels? In summer, our skin works harder to keep us cool, which can impact our skin’s hydration levels. Heat increases water loss through perspiration, a process known as transepidermal water loss (TEWL). Without restoring this hydration, the skin can quickly become dehydrated and feel tight or dull. High humidity can trigger increased oil production, leaving the skin feeling shiny or congested. Balancing hydration and oil control during warmer months is key to maintaining a healthy, comfortable complexion.

How can diet and water intake contribute to healthy, hydrated skin? Our skin is our largest organ and it reflects what’s happening inside our bodies. Because our body prioritises hydrating internal organs first, it’s important to drink enough water to ensure the skin stays healthy. A balanced diet, rich in water-dense foods, healthy fats and antioxidants also supports the skin’s barrier and helps lock in moisture from within.

Are there particular ingredients we should look for in moisturisers or serums during summer? Look for hyaluronic acid to hydrate, niacinamide to strengthen the skin barrier and vitamin C to brighten and protect. For oily skin, salicylic acid helps control excess oil and keep pores clear.

AUSTRALIAN SKIN CLINICS

How can professional treatments complement an at-home skincare routine? Professional treatments elevate your at-home skincare by targeting specific concerns with advanced technology and personalised care. At Australian Skin Clinics, we tailor each treatment and home routine to work hand in hand, helping you maintain healthy, glowing skin between visits.

Are there any in-clinic treatments you recommend before or during summer to boost skin health? Deluxe HydraFacial, High-Performance Microdermabrasion or HydraGlow Facial.

What post-sun or after-sun treatments do you suggest if someone has had too much sun exposure? Our Balense Recovery Laser Gel is perfect for soothing and repairing skin after sun exposure. It helps calm irritation and supports the skin’s natural healing process. If you’re sunburnt or have had recent sun exposure, we require you to wait two to four weeks before proceeding with any in-clinic treatments.

How can lifestyle factors like sleep, stress and exercise affect our skin during summer? Quality sleep gives your skin time to repair and regenerate, while lack of rest can cause dullness, puffiness and slower recovery from dehydration. Regular exercise boosts oxygen and nutrient delivery to skin cells, promoting a natural, healthy glow

perfect for summer radiance.

For Georgie McDonald, owner of Australian Skin Clinics Kawana, the journey into the mediaesthetics world has been built on passion and pride.

After five years managing the Kawana clinic treating it as if it were her own she was offered the chance to officially take the reigns. “It was an amazing opportunity,” she says.

She’s supported by her “right hand”, Katrina, who has been with the company for 10 years.

Together, they’ve cultivated a warm, long-standing team culture that clients instantly feel when they walk through the doors.

The clinic offers an extensive selection of advanced treatments, and Georgie is proud to introduce Sylfirm X, their latest RF skin-needling technology that targets multiple skin concerns in a single session.

Laser Hair Removal remains one of their most popular services. “Gone are the days of waxing,” she laughs.

“People come two or three times and can’t believe they didn’t start sooner - it’s painless and truly affordable.”

With a dedicated team, advanced technology, and a genuine passion for people, Australian Skin Clinics Kawana is committed to helping every client achieve their best possible results.

Unwrap Serenity This Christmas

Give the gi of relaxation this Christmas

HYDRATION

When the summer sun is in full swing, keeping your skin and lips hydrated is essential for a fresh, glowing look. A nourishing lip gloss infused with hydrating oils and butters helps lock in moisture while giving your lips a soft, glossy finish that won’t dry out under the heat. Follow with a hydration mist throughout the day – a lightweight spritz packed with soothing ingredients like aloe, rose water, or hyaluronic acid can instantly cool and revive sun-kissed skin. To seal in lasting moisture, a hydrating serum works wonders beneath your sunscreen or makeup, replenishing your skin’s natural barrier and maintaining that dewy, radiant complexion all summer long. Think of hydration as your skin’s best defence – keeping you glowing, supple and sun-ready from morning to golden hour.

MISTY MAGIC

DEWY SERUMS

THE TIME

capsule

Introducing the groundbreaking Time Capsule, your ultimate solution for revitalising ageing skin. This innovative product effectively reduces the appearance of wrinkles and sagging, promoting a smoother and firmer complexion. Enriched with antioxidants, it provides essential environmental protection while ensuring quick absorption. Suitable for all skin types, especially mature, ageing and sun-damaged skin, the Time Capsule promotes even skin tone and enhances firmness, delivering comprehensive skincare benefits in every application, $395.

AUSTRALIA HIFU, 0408 200 059 australiahifu.com.au

At The Waterfall Day Spa Mooloolaba, their goal is to design treatments to bring you back into balance and create a sense of wellbeing through result-orientated therapies, using nurturing high-touch approaches and unique sensory experiences. Be nurtured and renewed by massage, facials and body treatments. Indulge, correct and soothe within the Eminence Organics professional facial range and Waterlily professional body care. The Waterfall Day Spa in Mooloolaba is located in the beautiful Landmark Resort, just metres off the Mooloolaba beachfront. THE WATERFALL DAY SPA MOOLOOLABA, 5444 3050, waterfalldayspamooloolaba.com.au

A BUILT legacy

IF YOU’VE SPENT any time on the Sunshine Coast in the past 50 years, chances are you’ve walked through, driven past or even lived in one of Murphy Group’s projects. From community centres to classrooms, health facilities to homes, this is a business that has helped shape the fabric of our landscape.

What began as one man’s dream has become a story of family, success and the kind of determination that builds more than structures. It builds legacies.

Murphy Group is celebrating 50 years since Leigh Murphy began the company at Mooloolaba in 1975. What started as a small family business has grown into a multi-division group employing more than 90 people across its sub-brands, Murphy Builders, Murphy Homes and MP Build. In this time, the team has played a significant role in commercial construction, industrial superstructures, government projects, multi-residential developments and luxury family homes within Queensland and New South Wales.

Projects have spanned from Kakadu to Sydney, each leaving a mark on its surroundings. Yet for those who know the company’s story, the journey was far from smooth. Leigh’s early years were marked by challenges, but they gave him the foundation that would later define the company’s spirit.

Despite setbacks, including a $4000 debt when a client failed to pay, Leigh refused to give up. To make ends meet, he sold pot plants at the Caloundra flea market every weekend while working hard to build up his business.

By the late 1980s, that persistence was paying off Leigh’s work became integral to developments at Kawana and Mount Coolum. The 1990s brought a new chapter with commercial projects such as the Maleny Wine Barrel and the Mooloolaba Seashells Units, both of which are distinctive landmarks that signalled the company’s growing influence across the region.

The 2000s ushered in a period of expansion and strategic change. Leigh’s daughter Brooke Bastien and long-time team member Mark Berry joined the board, steering the company through a new era of growth while staying true to its family roots.

“As Sunshine Coast locals, we are deeply committed to building quality within our community and beyond,” Brooke says. “We need to say a heartfelt thanks to the Sunshine Coast community for their ongoing support and trust.”

Her words carry the weight of experience. The global financial crisis tested the industry in ways few could have predicted, and COVID, of course, brought another wave of uncertainty.

“This 50-year milestone is a testament to Aussie grit and determination,” Brooke says. “We wouldn’t be here today without the ongoing dedication from our incredible team and the strong partnerships we have forged over the years. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to our founder, Leigh, whose commitment to excellence is the reason for our success.”

Leigh is quick to share that sense of gratitude.

“We will continue to keep our fundamental values and our great team. It is not that the sky’s the limit, there is, in fact, no sky,” he says.

It’s a statement that feels less like ambition and more like philosophy – a reminder that for the Murphy family, the measure of success isn’t simply in what they build, but in how they build it.

That community spirit has always run deep. Through the years, the Murphy Group has supported local sporting clubs and events, including the longstanding Murphy Homes Maroochy Classic, and partnered with local charities. One of the company’s most meaningful collaborations has been with the vital Daniel Morcombe Foundation.

In 2019, the Murphy Group team threw its expertise and passion into planning, designing and

“it isn’t just about building a house. it’s about building a safer future together.”

building Daniel House, the foundation’s headquarters in Palmwoods. From here, the foundation runs its national operations, providing counselling and support services for young victims of crime.

And now, that partnership is continuing with a new initiative. The Daniel Morcombe Foundation and Murphy Group are teaming up to create a charity home. The home will be built from the ground up and hit the market for auction in 2026.

The Build it for the Kids concept is simple but stands for so much. Every single dollar of profit from the home’s sale will go straight to the foundation, funding education, awareness and support for victims – all aimed at keeping children safe from harm.

“This is our second Build it for the Kids charity home with the Daniel Morcombe Foundation,” Mark explains. “It isn’t just about building a house. It’s about building a safer future together.”

The group is currently seeking services, products and donations from businesses and the community. “Your generous donations of services or products will play a crucial role in constructing this special home, making a tangible difference in the lives of young people,” Mark adds.

“By contributing, you’ll be directly supporting the Daniel Morcombe Foundation’s vital work in child safety education, awareness and victim support.”

As the team reflects on 50 years of building, it’s

also looking forward. This year, work will begin on Muse, a multi-residential luxury sky home project located directly behind the group’s head office in the heart of Mooloolaba. It’s a project that delivers a full-circle moment, linking the company’s future back to where it all began.

Leigh has been building throughout Mooloolaba since the 1970s, shaping the coastal skyline long before cranes became part of it. Now, half a century later, the next generation is preparing to do the same.

“As Mooloolaba locals, we are delighted to be embarking on the Muse project in early 2026. We are building contemporary coastal sky homes of only one unit per floor, just steps from Mooloolaba Beach,” Leigh says.

“Muse is a bespoke high-end project, and it is both sentimental and significant for us,” Brooke adds.

It’s a story defined by family and determination: the young builder selling pot plants at the markets, a new business that faced tough times and the team that continues to work together with a purpose of giving back.

There is little doubt that the Murphy Group will achieve far more in the coming five decades.

Robbii Designs brings effortless elegance to Peregian Beach. Curated by hand and guided by a love of beautiful living, our boutique showcases globally sourced homewares, bespoke furniture, and a collection of pieces crafted by local artisans. From timeless ceramics to statement textiles, each item is chosen with intention and a designer’s eye.

3/214 David Low Way, Peregian Beach robbiidesigns.com.au

RELAX WITH A HOLIDAY TREAT AT THE NOOSA SPRINGS SPA

Make this festive season all about relaxation with NOOSA SPRINGS’ coveted Christmas spa packages, newly released for the holidays. There are five amazing treatment options to choose from, packaged with the unique thermal suite experience. This includes access to the hydromassage pool, steam room, infrared sauna and blitz shower. These are perfect to purchase as a gift voucher or to treat yourself. Visit Noosa Springs at Links Drive, Noosa Heads. For further details visit the Noosa Springs website or call 5440 3355. noosasprings.com.au/spa

LOCALS love

There are plenty of things to explore, see and do on the Sunshine Coast, so get out there and enjoy the range of activities, events, experiences and attractions.

SUNSHINE COAST GEM CELEBRATES 40 YEARS

Celebrating 40 years on the Sunshine Coast, OPALS DOWN UNDER showcases a dazzling range of unset opals, jewellery, crystals and fossils. It’s famous Scratch Patch Gem Fossicking now has five pits of gem-collecting heaven for kids and adults, where you can fill up a container of assorted semi-precious gems. If you’re interested in discovering a world of gems, then be sure to put this local ‘gem’ on your list this spring. Located at 11 Ballantyne Court, Glenview, Opals Down Under is open daily from 9am to 5pm (4.30pm on Sundays). opalsdownunder.com.au

ANCHORS AWAY ALONG ICONIC NOOSA RIVER

Treat yourself or impress your guests with the newest luxury barbecue pontoon boats on the Noosa River. LUXURY BOAT HIRE is an ideal way to enjoy the delights of Noosa from the water. With plenty of room to move around, a pizza oven and gas barbecue, onboard toilet and sink with running water – everyone will enjoy a relaxing day out with family and friends. There are a variety of boats to choose from, including some with no boat licence required and options to add on catering or a skipper. luxuryboathirenoosa.com.au

WHERE HISTORY, CRAFTSMANSHIP AND CHARACTER COME TOGETHER

Discover the charm of MALENY COUNTRY ANTIQUES AND COLLECTABLES. Nestled in the heart of Maleny, this delightful store offers a thoughtfully curated selection of vintage treasures, rustic furnishings, timeless décor, unique curios and a diverse collection of vinyl records that spark nostalgia and inspire creativity. Whether you’re a seasoned collector or simply searching for a standout piece, you’ll find something truly special. Explore the past, embrace the beauty of old-world charm and take home a story waiting to be told at Maleny Country Antiques and Collectables.

facebook.com/malenycountryantiques

FREE SANTA PHOTOS AND FESTIVE FUN AT THE GINGER FACTORY

Get into the Christmas spirit and enjoy a free festive photo with the man in red at THE GINGER FACTORY. While you’re there, treat yourself to a day of fun with rides, tours and delicious food the whole family will love. It’s also the perfect spot to tick off your Christmas shopping, discover unique local gifts, yummy treats, homewares, toys and seasonal goodies across the Ginger Shop, Toy Emporium, Playback Games and Essential Herbs and Scents for something truly special. Check the website for Santa dates. gingerfactory.com.au

A FREE EXPERIENCE THE WHOLE FAMILY WILL ENJOY

Seeking a break from the heat or the rain this summer? Head to LANDSBOROUGH MUSEUM for a free experience the whole family will enjoy. You’ll find a school holiday program packed with activities and events, talks and experiences, plus carefully curated exhibitions set in the newly renovated modern display space. The museum is just 400 metres from Landsborough Station, so make the most of Translink’s 50c fares. Visit Landsborough Museum, 4 Maleny Street, Landsborough. Open Wednesday to Sunday from 10am to 3pm. Entry is free heritage.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au

Cruise the Noosa River in style with Luxury Boat Hire Noosa’s premium barbecue pontoons. Designed for comfort, they feature a full-size toilet, running water, BBQ, and pizza oven.

Perfect for families or groups, enjoy over 20km of waterways with stops for swimming, fishing, or relaxing on the sandbanks.

Voted Queensland’s number # 1 Best Boat Hire Lux Global Excellence Award 2023

CAPTURE THE ESSENCE OF SUMMER AT EUMUNDI

Relax and immerse yourself in the summer magic of I LOVE EUMUNDI MARKETS. The markets are full of street entertainers, fun for kids and opportunities to connect with locals, friends and family for an amazing day out. Christmas shopping transforms into a magical experience for everyone, with traders collectively offering one of the largest choices of unique gifts, summer wears, fashion, and jewellery. Food lovers are spoilt for choice with fresh seasonal produce, gourmet delectables and some of the finest locally made condiments. I Love Eumundi Markets includes the Eumundi Square, Eumundi Parkside Markets and The Terraces. iloveeumundimarkets.com

THE OPALCUTTER CELEBRATES 35 YEARS OF AUSTRALIAN CRAFT

Favourite THE OPALCUTTER is celebrating a milestone anniversary, with October marking 35 years since the business opened its shop in Coober Pedy, South Australia. Back then, Barbara and her late husband Piet were mining the opal, cutting, designing and having the jewellery made in Australia. Then, 13 years ago, Barbara and Edi opened The Opalcutter in the pottery building in Montville, where you can see contemporary jewellery and art from Australia and the world – to love and give. opalcutter.com.au

NOOSA MINI GOLF TEES UP THE PERFECT DAY OUT

NOOSA MINI GOLF is the perfect place to enjoy a fun and memorable day outdoors with family and friends. Set in beautiful sunshine, the course is a scaled-down version of a full golf course and follows the same rules, making it a great introduction for beginners while still offering plenty of challenge. With two-hole locations on every green, players of all ages and skill levels can test their accuracy, strategise their shots and enjoy friendly competition. It’s a relaxed yet exciting experience for families, kids and even seasoned golfers. noosaminigolf.com.au

Discover Landsborough Museum

renovated, modern exhibition space alongside the original 1924 state heritage-listed council building.

• First Nations heritage to European settlement stories

• diverse events and exhibitions

• virtual tours available via Cerge

La Dolce Bokarina

TUTTO FREDDO IS what happens when a third-generation Sunshine Coaster marries a Melbourne-born Italian, and together they bottle that mix of salt air and Italian soul into one cool little fro-yo bar on Bokarina Boulevard.

Kirryn grew up on the Sunshine Coast, while her husband Dom brings his Italian roots and love of bold flavour to everything they do. Together, they’ve created a modern Mediterranean self-serve frozen yogurt and açaí bar in the booming Bokarina Beach precinct, just a short stroll from the sand.

local pineapple, mango and strawberries alongside Italian favourites like biscotti, cannoli and crostoli. The premium yogurt bases are all Italian, with that authentic yogurt tang that feels both nostalgic and new.

Tutto Freddo means “all cold” in Italian, and that’s exactly what you’ll find. It’s a breezy coastal spot with a bold Italian accent, where nearly everything on the menu is served chilled, frozen or icy. The hero is self-serve frozen yogurt and açaí, ready for you to swirl into your cup and top just the way you like.

“The idea was simple,” Kirryn says. “Take the tropical sunshine and the Italian spirit to make something that feels like a summer holiday, every day.”

“For me, it’s about bringing a bit of Italy to the Coast,” adds Dom. “Good ingredients, good flavour and that simple joy of sharing something sweet.”

The flavours tell a story of both Queensland and Italy:

For the vegans, there’s soft-serve earthy açaí and coconut cream, with a new vegan yogurt on the way soon.

At the topping bar, you can keep it light with fresh fruit, granola, seeds and nuts, or lean into indulgence with pistachio crunch, biscotti pieces and a generous drizzle of Nocciolata (chocolate and hazelnut sauce).

Just thirsty? Tutto Freddo also serves Sicilian-style frozen granita in zesty lemon and blood orange, as well as a velvety caffè crema, all poured icy cold and ready to refresh on a hot day.

The best way to enjoy it all is under the shaded umbrellas, where sea breezes and laidback coastal energy make Tutto Freddo feel like a small slice of Italy by the sea, right here in Bokarina.

CREATIVE LEGACY

SUMMER HOLIDAYS ARE a time when many people treat themselves to what they don’t have time for during the rest of the year.

For David Hinchliffe, it was always a chance to put aside the demands of life in local government and get the paint brushes out.

Now a full-time artist, David was a Brisbane City councillor until 2012 and at one stage, deputy mayor, but painted throughout his political career, usually during Christmas holidays at Noosa.

“All of my early work was paintings of the family at Noosa, because that’s the only time I could get off and I would spend it playing with the kids and painting the kids,” he says.

While answering a question at a recent exhibition about how he had been able to fit everything in during his career, David apologised to one of his sons, who was in the audience, “because I’d spend more time painting than I probably did playing with the kids.”

His son piped up: “I can confirm that.”

A woman in the audience later showed David a painting that she had owned for about 35 years.

“It was a painting of my wife with my newborn son, Joe, who was the one in the audience, my other

son, Tom, and my wife’s sisters and their husbands playing in the surf at Noosa and I was staggered.

“I couldn’t even remember having painted it but what I was doing, I was painting the family even if I wasn’t devoting as much time to the family as I should have, and it’s now a permanent record of that time.”

David has had more than 100 solo exhibitions during an artistic career spanning more than 50 years.

He began painting and selling works at 12 and spent his teen years around adult artists, but also developed an interest in politics at the same time.

“I was torn between the world of the arts and the greasy, grimy, slippery world of politics,” he says.

“In part, I reconciled that by, at times, doing political cartoons,” he says.

“It was a nice conjunction of art and politics, but in the end, I thought I wanted to change the world for the better, so politics took control, but I stayed painting throughout my political career.”

David thinks he devoted too much time to politics and painting at the expense of his family.

“Painters can be very selfish, especially male painters. I think that’s an issue and I think that with many male painters, they become so absorbed it

“Almost overnight, my work took Off and so did i, travelling around the world”

dominates their lives,” he says.

“I’ve studied the lives of many artists. I think many artists use the passion of painting, the compulsion, and it is an obsessive-compulsive thing. I think they use that sometimes to justify the time that they spend.”

He is grateful, though, that he was in the position he was artistically when he retired from politics.

“I did not know how to leave politics. I hung on for 25 years. It had become my life, it was the air I breathed, and I had to struggle to say to myself that I’ll give it up, but when I gave it up, the whole world opened up,” he says.

“I thought I’d be painting enough to have an exhibition once a year, but almost overnight, my work took off and so did I, travelling around the world.”

David’s work was in international galleries within a couple of years, but he still found it difficult to consider himself an artist.

“I didn’t really call myself an artist for several years after I left politics. I had imposter syndrome. [I thought] I’m not really an artist. I’m an old, has-been politician,” he says.

“But I had to get a new passport about three years after I left politics, and you had to put your occupation, and I wrote down a-r-t-i-s-t and then I knew I was actually an artist.”

David paints prolifically in his Brisbane studio in a contemporary impressionistic style, choosing acrylics over oils these days. He favours streetscapes, landscapes and figurative work but has also ventured into sculpture and photography over the years.

More than a dozen galleries and dealers in London, New York, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore, Sydney and Perth represent his work.

David’s works will be showcased in January at The G Contemporary at Hastings Street, Noosa Heads, where he will also paint live.

“David’s works have had a far-reaching impact over the years, both nationally and internationally,” gallery directors Karen and Steve Beardsley say.

“We first worked with David a decade ago, exhibiting his work in Singapore and Hong Kong.

“We had several trips together to Hong Kong, where we exhibited David’s work and showcased his remarkable ability to live paint in front of a crowd, displaying exceptional skill and rhetoric.”

One of the most exciting things for David at this point in his career is his workshops with people evolving into artists.

“Almost every workshop I have has two or three people who go, ‘Oh no, I was told by my teacher, or a parent, that my painting’s no good, but I’ve always felt I should paint and now I’m retired, I’m going to try’,”

David tells salt

“I love working with those people. Painting had become a job for me, a lovely job, one I adored, but the thrill and joy that painting can create had dissipated. I’m so busy, I’m not doing the joy thing, but when I’m with these people in workshops, that’s the joy.

“I see the absolute excitement and astonishment

they have about creating a painting that they’re proud of, that they’ll put a frame around and hang up.”

David derives great pleasure from painting with his grandchildren, too.

“Every painting that my grandchildren do is on canvas and it’s framed. I buy lots of small canvases with a frame, and the moment they come to my place and do some painting, it goes into the frame and up on the wall next to Pa’s, and that has an amazing effect on kids,” he says.

David’s other joy is found in Indigenous art. He has amassed a collection of more than 1800 works.

“Someone hooked me on Indigenous paintings, and to my shame, eight years ago, despite having painted myself for 50 years, I knew very little about Australian Indigenous art, particularly from the central region, and so I started collecting indigenous art,” he says.

“When I would paint a painting, I would use the money to buy an Aboriginal painting, and I collected about 50 or 60 within a couple of months and thought, what am I going to do with all these paintings and how do I share the discovery that I had with Indigenous art with other people who, like me, hadn’t been aware how rich, how extraordinary and complicated it was?”

David has loaned almost 1000 of his Indigenous paintings to public institutions and he estimates he spends as much time finding loan locations as he does painting.

The sharing of Indigenous art at his own time and expense is a generous gesture for a supposedly selfish man.

“Selfishness takes different forms, but I’m definitely selfish with time. For me, I’m in my seventies, I’m in the latter stages of my life, so every second counts,” he says.

“Time is my enemy and I want to make the best use of it.”

MONTVILLE ART GALLERY

37 artists on permanent display

Open Thursday to Monday 10am - 5pm

(Closed Tuesday & Wednesday) 138 Main Street, Montville QLD 4560

www.montvilleartgallery.com.au 07 5442 9211

GLITTER MAKER

CREATIVITY STRIKES MANUFACTURING

jeweller Vanessa Nock most often after the sun goes down. It is then, when the business of her business is done – when her cup has been filled with her support network and the many emails, calls and consultations have been attended to – that the creative genie is released.

A favourite playlist is started and off she goes: she picks up a colour-coded hammer – tools somehow elegant in dusky pinks and soft greys – or one of the many sets of pliers she has lined up in meticulous order. She lays out the metals and carefully places the stones she will use to conjure something beautiful, elegant and utterly unique.

Vanessa is in all ways an artist, and via her business

Uniqueness Designer Jeweller, she expresses her art through jewellery.

“I can make things that I know will enhance people’s lives – keepsakes of a special event or a significant milestone – and what I create brings joy. How lucky am I?” she says. “My work is so often a legacy piece: that one piece a person might own, the one piece that they invest in.

“I make golden sculptures for people’s legacies. That’s powerful, right?”

Vanessa delivers a little of herself in each piece. She prides herself on listening to what a client envisages and channels her connection with them to help shape the piece she crafts.

“People view my pieces and I have had people say, ‘I would love that but it is too bold’, and I say ‘bold for whom? This is about you, a statement piece, and if you feel it, I can create a piece that is meant for you. Then all you have to do is embrace it’. There is nothing better for me to see the dawning, the realisation that this golden sculpture will always remind them of something significant and that they contributed to the expression of that.”

In person, Vanessa oozes confidence, is bold and direct. She is elegantly dressed with perfectly matched accessories and of course, her fine, manicured fingers are adorned with the most sublime rings of her own making.

Vanessa says she has never before felt so much that she is “nailing it” in her business and life, and a key to unlocking this new level of success has been to connect with others of like mind. Through the Sunshine Coast Business Women’s Network, she has found belonging.

“I attend every month for coffee catchups or

breakfasts or lunch – I prioritise it – and the purpose is for connection.

But we actually have a question each month to answer. And last time it was about pivotal moments. In considering my answer, I said ‘I followed my heart. I absolutely trusted my inner soul and my heart to go well’. And it has all led to here, which is very cool – to have found your soul’s purpose, my life’s purpose, is such a significant feeling.”

Vanessa is proud to have been a 2025 finalist in the SCBWN’s Micro Small Business Woman of the Year Award, revelling in the glow of affirmation from her peers and judges. While she occasionally draws on contractors to do valuations, pearl threading and stone setting, she is a one-woman show.

“My mum is my business mentor and has been since I started, but my world has expanded by connecting with other women who are in business when I started my own,” she says. “The Sunshine Coast Business Women’s Network is just what I needed to learn and to grow: I was immediately inspired. Seven years ago, I found my tribe there; I found life-long friends.”

Vanessa says that on reflection, her career path has had incremental, scaffolded steps. And although Vanessa has told the story of her career many times, she still gets a tear in her eye in the telling.

At school in Bundaberg, she surprised everyone, including herself, by excelling in metal and woodwork, but was uncertain of her post-school career path.

A tentative visit to a Hervey Bay college to scout out hairdressing courses resulted in Vanessa completing a visual arts course majoring in jewellery and securing an apprenticeship with a well-regarded Bundaberg jeweller Bill Proctor, where she stayed for seven years.

After moving to the Sunshine Coast, Vanessa worked for Underwood Jewellers at Sunshine Plaza

“the new piece will hold the past and be beautiful in the present”

for 13 years and McLean and Co Jewellers at Kawana for more than two years.

But she felt the need to stretch and grow, envisaging her own studio, and she launched Uniqueness Designer Jeweller in 2018. The first creation to come from her solo business was a $35,000 bikini, made in collaboration with The Veve Swimwear owner Vanessa Bryce to raise awareness about the importance of attending to mental health. It was certainly a conversation starter and instantly announced to the world that Uniqueness was open – and its creations were bold as well as beautiful.

A workshop and studio space were crafted to Vanessa’s specifications when she and her husband built their immaculate new home in 2023.

As well as featuring tools and devices to make her jewellery, it is her haven, her ideas incubator, her place of peace.

Woven into Vanessa’s business model is philanthropy and charity work. Her rose pink aura shares the beauty of her creations beyond her loyal client base and into the broader community.

With her dusky pink colour signature theme and timeless elegance, Vanessa is not your typical tradie. She says with a wink that she is a professional glitter maker and maker of tiny golden sculptures and beautiful adornments.

“There is so often emotion in the story that leads to people to come to me,” she says. “It might be that I am asked to integrate parts of a piece from a relative or loved one. The new piece will hold the past and be beautiful in the present, and while you might not be able to hug a certain person, you can hold that piece of jewellery, and that’s what gets me.

“It’s the stories of love or loss or hope or beauty my clients share that make me emotional.

“And I get to play a part in creating something beautiful for them.

“It is a bit cliché, but I really am living in my dream.”

ARTFUL CONNECTION

CREATIVE SPARKS ARE firing in the backyard of a suburban Palmwoods home. Sitting on a sandstone plinth in a garden planted with Australian natives is artist and sculptor Cam Crossley’s entry to the 2025 Sculpture on the Edge.

She’s called After the Swim and is forged from weathering steel, which has oxidised (or rusted). Her face, lit by the sun, is finished in 23-carat gold leaf.

Inside, Kolin the Koala is perched on a bench in Janice Pryde’s art and pottery studio, which extends from the second bedroom of the couple’s home.

Fired from clay, Kolin is Janice’s debut entry to the nine-day, large-scale outdoor and indoor sculpture exhibition, which is held late November / early December each year at a hinterland venue.

It’s curated by not-for-profit organisation Arts Connect Inc, which supports and connects artists across the Sunshine Coast and hinterland. The organisation’s mission is to help artists grow, share their work and connect with the community.

Sculpture on the Edge (2021) was Cam’s first local “outing” as a sculptor. The former architect has entered the arts event for the past four years and says it really helped make a name for himself as a sought-after sculptor. Cam also conducted portrait and figure sculpting workshops for up to 10 artists at this event in the past.

“It’s been really good because I enjoy talking the artists through the basics of anatomy and expression and gesture, which are so important when sculpting in 3D.”

He says the public finds it fascinating to watch the artists in action. Onlookers frequently ask

questions of him, particularly about the process of sculpture in bronze. Cam says living with sculpture is completely different to having paintings hanging on your wall at home.

“The beauty of sculpture is its appeal constantly changes,” he tells salt

“As the sunlight moves across a sculpture in the garden, it looks totally different in the morning to what it does late afternoon. And when we use outdoor lights to illuminate it at night, it looks totally different again.

“Sculpture on the Edge is a great way of pushing that aesthetic more into the public awareness.

“The venue at Flaxton Gardens allows a great display of both indoor and outdoor sculptures. The many indoor works make it quite different from other major sculpture festivals around Australia.

“Sculpture is not just about big public works, it’s

The Language of Laws: the colourful life of Judith Laws

Friday 5 December 2025 – Sunday 1 February 2026

A deep insight into the extraordinary making of one of the Sunshine Coast’s favourite contemporary artists, Judith Laws. With works drawn from private and public collections, this exhibition examines the depth and breadth of Laws’ making. A survey of her early works through to her extraordinary and vivid recent works – drawn from trips to Western Queensland, the Northern Territory, overseas and her own backyard on the Sunshine Coast.

See what’s on at gallery.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au Tues to Fri 10am-4pm, Sat

“Every art movement started with likeminded souls getting together… ”

also something we can all enrich our own homes and lives with.”

For some time, Cam worked out of the couple’s small garage while Janice painted and did drawings in the spare bedroom. Cam works with steel, so he did a “fair bit” of welding on the back patio and also made moulds from clay. But when he casts in bronze, he uses a foundry in Brisbane.

Cam’s larger public works include The Eternal Flame at Cotton Tree, the Bli Bli Cenotaph at Parklakes and the life-size bronze sculpture of WWI nurse Sister Greta Towner at Blackall in central Queensland.

Cam and Janice searched for another property to meet their creative needs, but when COVID hit and house prices went “silly”, they opted to stay put and renovate. Cam drew up the plans and he now has a dedicated workshop, which is separate to the house, and Janice has her own studio space.

The day I visited the arty couple at home, Janice told me they were hosting a life drawing session for artist friends that afternoon.

“Afterwards we encourage people to stay and talk about art, and we encourage each other in what we’re doing.”

With a hint of wry humour, Cam adds: “Every art movement started with likeminded souls getting together over a glass of wine, or absinthe!”

Janice says it’s an opportunity for everyone to talk about what art movements they’re into, what kind of art they like, what kind of art they don’t like and why.

“It’s all those things that we need to question. It’s also great to explore how 3D work influences and informs our 2D work.”

With the renovation complete, Cam and Janice want to share their art space more. Next May, they hope to be part of Open Studios Sunshine Coast, another annual event run by Arts Connect.

This self-guided art trail gives art afficionados an opportunity to visit artists on their home turf to see how and where art is created. It’s a nine-day event running over two weekends. Typically, 60 to 80 artists participate each year and it attracts 6000 visitors.

Arts Connect president Jen Braithwaite says the

conversations that this forum facilitates are “really pivotal” to artists’ work because they get feedback from the people viewing their art.

“When you just put your work in a gallery or competition, you don’t really get critiques,” says Jen, who is a practising artist herself.

“But when people buy your work in your studio and they find out how you do it, they develop a relationship with you, and you learn what people like.

“It’s an evolving thing and you can see those connections being built and getting stronger because the same people come back every year.”

Jen says Arts Connect runs workshops for participating artists during the lead up to Open Studio, that are geared towards equipping emerging artists with business skills and helping them with professional development.

“We also did a member’s workshop [in 2025] with Gary Myers, a beautiful landscape painter who has his own gallery in Maleny,” she says.

“He shared stories from his career, creative insights, and practical tips for navigating the art world.

For artists to hear about other artists’ journeys is just so inspiring.”

Jen serves as the president because she’s seen the transformative power of art, both for the artist and the art-lover. However, after three years in the role she is stepping down, and Arts Connect will be calling for a new president at its general meeting in early 2026.

Jen says it’s an exciting chance for someone who believes in the power of art and community to help lead the organisation forward.

“We’re also hoping to bring a few more committee members on board especially people who love art and have some business know-how under their belt.

“Maybe you’re an entrepreneur, maybe you’re retired and have some great skills to share. You don’t have to be an artist; we’d just love some extra energy and fresh perspectives to support the amazing work our artist members already do.”

ART dates

Take a moment to peruse some of the finest works from some of the best galleries on the Coast.

ONGOING

1. Hearts and Minds

Hearts and Minds Art continues to showcase a stunning range of works by artists including: Pepi Wren, Maree Welman, Lais Perske, Ray Wilson, Fi Clark Photography, Leigh Karen Joyce, Jeanette Smith, Erin Hughes, James McKay, Veronica van de Vorst, Tamara Huntington, Christina Power. when Open daily.

where Hearts and Minds Art, 1 Hastings Street, Noosa Heads. 0418108299 or heartsandmindsart.com.au

DECEMBER

2. SUMMER COLLECTIONS

See new works by gallery artists in time for Christmas at The G Contemporary. when Throughout December where The G Contemporary, 6/32 Hastings Street, Laguna on Hastings, Noosa Heads. 0400 716 526 or thegcontemporary.com

3. THE LANGUAGE OF LAWS

Enjoy a deep insight into the extraordinary making of one of the Sunshine Coast’s favourite Contemporary Australian artists, Judith Laws. With works drawn from private and public collections, this exhibition examines the depth and breadth of Judith’s making from her early works through to her extraordinary and vivid works all drawn from trips out west, from the top end, visits overseas and her own backyard.

when Until February 1 where Caloundra Regional Gallery, 22 Omrah Avenue, Caloundra. 5420 8299 or gallery. sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au

4. THE FLOWER ROOM

Ten highly talented multi-media artists

– Kendall, Leisl Baker, Roger Lane, John Maitland, Jay Feather, Karen Gemming, Dawn Lewis, Farley Cameron, Sam Pettigrew and Natasha Ruschka – all united by a single, timeless theme: flowers. From expressive brushwork to intricate mixed media, The Flower Room, celebrates the beauty, fragility and diversity of floral forms through the distinct visions of each artist.

when Until December 19

where Art Nuvo Gallery, 25 Gloucester Road, Buderim. 5456 2445, artnuvobuderim.com.au

JANUARY

5 DAVID HINCHLIFFE

David returns to the gallery for a New Year’s painting demonstration. Always a gallery highlight and the perfect introduction to 2026.

when January 3 to 4

where The G Contemporary, 6/32 Hastings Street, Laguna on Hastings, Noosa Heads. 0400 716 526 or thegcontemporary.com

6. THE BLUE NOTE WROTE ON BRICK MOUNTAIN

Prepare to be captivated and indulged by the rich narrative paintings of Mitchell Cheesman.

when January 15 to February 1. Opening night is January 17 from 5.30pm to 7.30pm. RSVP essential.

where The G Contemporary, 6/32 Hastings Street, Laguna on Hastings, Noosa Heads. 0400 716 526 or thegcontemporary.com

7 THE ANDROMEDA COLLECTION

Caloundra Regional Gallery in collaboration with Sunshine Coast Libraries proudly presents the next exhibition for the Maroochydore Library Artspace.

when Until January 10

where Maroochy Library Artspace, 44 Sixth Avenue, Cotton Tree, 5475 8989 or gallery. sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au

8. JANUARY EXHIBITION

Featured artist Svetlana Soldatova works in the fields of painting, book illustration and graphic design and has participated in many solo and group exhibitions in Ukraine and Australia. Her heavily textured works are held in private collections in Europe, Australia and North America. when Throughout January where Montville Art Gallery, 138 Main Street, Montville. 55442 9211 or montvilleartgallery.com.au

FEBRUARY

9. THE BROTHERS GRUCHY

The Brothers Gruchy is a new media exhibition featuring 10 key artworks from Tim and Mic Gruchy, focusing on recurring themes of human perception, artificial intelligence, synaesthesia, memory and cultural identity. Nature and our human impact is a strong thread of this exhibition. The Brothers Gruchy is a touring exhibition curated by Bundaberg Regional Galleries and presented in partnership with Museums and Galleries Queensland. This project has been assisted by the Australian Government’s Visions of Australia program and is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queenslan

when February 6 to March 22

where Caloundra Regional Gallery, 22 Omrah Avenue, Caloundra. 5420 8299 or gallery.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au

10. DIRECTORS CHOICE

An eclectic collection of artists rotated weekly, with a special showcasing of work by Peta Minnici. when Throughout February where The G Contemporary, 6/32 Hastings Street, Laguna on Hastings, Noosa Heads. 0400 716 526 or the gcontemporary.com

11. FEBRUARY EXHIBITION

An exhibition featuring the curator’s choice, a wide range of hand-picked artworks from the galleries of 37 artists. The gallery is open for viewing Thursday through to Monday. when Throughout February where Montville Art Gallery, 138 Main Street, Montville. 55442 9211 or montvilleartgallery.com.au

MARCH

12. DIRECTOR’S CHOICE

An eclectic collection of artists rotated weekly, with a special showcasing of spectacular oil paintings by Anne-Marie Zanetti. when Throughout March where The G Contemporary, 6/32 Hastings Street, Laguna on Hastings, Noosa Heads. 0400 716 526 or thegcontemporary.com

Fine bespoke jewellery, designed and made by award-winning

0421 201 456 d win nin g Clu ne.

B4/354 Mons Road, Forest Glen settogether.com.au | designs@settogether.com.au

BUDERIM

Art Nuvo, 25 Gloucester Road, 5456 2445

Koningen Art, 0490 778 462

Tiffany Jones, 0407 452 024

CALOUNDRA

Caloundra Regional Gallery, 22 Omrah Avenue, 5420 8299

COOLUM BEACH

Cool Art Picture Framing & Gallery, 5/43 Access Crescent, Coolum Beach. 5471 7366

COOROY

Cooroy Butter Factory Arts Centre, 11A Maple Street, 5442 6665

EUMUNDI

Apma Creations Aboriginal Art Gallery & Gift shop, Shop 3 Eumundi Village Centre, Eumundi, 0437 617 390

Artisans Gallery, 43 Caplick Way, 0409 848 098

David Suters Timber Craftsman, 43 Caplick Way, 0413 509 482

Red Desert Gallery, 43 Caplick Way, 0414 504 360

GLENVIEW

Opals Down Under, 11 Ballantyne Court, 5494 5400

Solitude Art, 163 Glenview Road, 0413 013 882

MALENY

David Linton Gallery, 14 Maple Street, 5429 6831

Peace Of Green Gallery, 38 Maple Street, 5499 9311

MAPLETON

Art Antiques Antlers, 3/1 Post Office Road, 0414 782 079

MINYAMA

Sunshine Coast Art and Framing Gallery, 3 Longwood Street, Minyama, 5444 0009

MOFFAT BEACH

Seaview Artists Gallery, 4 Seaview Terrace, 0434 917 610

MONTVILLE

Ben Messina Landscapes

Gallery, 178 Main Street, 5478 5164

Illume Creations Gallery, 4/127-133 Main Street, 5478 5440

Montville Antiques, 162 Main Street, 5442 9400

Montville Art Gallery, 138 Main Street, 5442 9211

The Opalcutter, 4/171-183 Main Street, 5442 9598

Tina Cooper Art & Glass, 0417 194 329

MOOLOOLABA

Avenue J, 14/47-51 Mooloolaba Esplanade, 5444 4422

Bluechip Investment Art Galleries, 23/13 Mooloolaba Esplanade, 5452 5600

Gallery Beneath, 5444 7775

NOOSA HEADS

Art by Brooks, 41 Sunset Drive, 0417 071 336

Enigmatic Drawings, 75 Hastings Street, 0490 395 346

Hearts and Minds Art, 1 Hastings Street, 0407 840 745

Explore the region’s many galleries, artists’ studios and antiquestores from Noosa down to Caloundra.

Isabella’s Fine & Antique

Jewellery, 2/41-47 Hastings Street, 5449 2626

Poeta Herford On Hastings, 5/62 Hastings Street, 5455 4899

The G Contemporary,6/32

Hastings Street, 0400 716 526, 0400 716 553

NOOSAVILLE

Noosa Arts & Crafts, 1 Wallace Drive, 5474 1211

PALMWOODS

The Shed, 3-5 Main Street, 5479 6603

PEREGIAN BEACH

The Gallery Peregian Beach, 12 Grebe Street, 5448 2314

POMONA

Pomona Railway Station Gallery, 10 Station Street, 5485 2950

SIPPY DOWNS

University of the Sunshine Coast Art Gallery, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, 5459 4645

TEWANTIN

Gaiungan Gallery, 11b Tewantin Plaza, 113 Poinciana Avenue, 0401 742 678

Gallery93, 93 Poinciana Avenue, 0439 752 543

Noosa Regional Gallery, 9 Pelican Street, 5329 6145

TINBEERWAH

Art Tours Noosa, 0424 456 877

Phillips Gallery, 0406 198 300

YANDINA

Stevens Street Gallery, 2 Stevens Street, 0414 687 895

Yandina Historic House, 3 Pioneer Road, 5472 7181

“ IS BORN OF THE PUREST PARENTS, THE SUN AND THE SEA” PYTHAGORAS