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INSIDE
PR OP ER T Y
OAM for young Paralympian It was a day to remember when Callum Simpson in Year 12 at Matthew Flinders Anglican College received an official letter from the Governor General of Australia’s office, informing him he could soon add three letters to his name: OAM. The Sunshine Coast student was one of 320 people across Australia named on the 2025 Australia Day Honours list and announced by the Governor-General Sam Mostyn on Sunday 26 January. Callum was awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for his “service to sport as a gold medallist at the Paris Paralympic Games 2024”. He achieved three medals in the pool in Paris: Gold, Mixed 4x100m Medley Relay, Para Swimming Gold, Men’s 100m Freestyle S8, Para Swimming Silver, Mixed 4x100 Freestyle Relay, Para Swimming Continued page 3
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Callum Simpson and Flinders principal Michelle Carroll. (Supplied)
A new hub for all By Margie Maccoll The first step in creating a community-driven Hub to help people in need in the community was taken last Saturday with a meeting held at Events4GreaterGood’s (E4GG) new office at the former Tewantin police station on Poinciana Avenue. Well known as a global philanthropist who has long helped people through organising music festivals and thrill-seeking events and in Noosa for helping the disadvantaged and disabled, Oz Bayldon initiated the meeting that was attended by
about 50 people. “It was awesome,” he said. Oz said people came from different facets of the community to share their ideas on the initiative. “E4GG’s aim is to create a family of volunteers as well as businesses that operate around the charity and raise money so that 100 per cent of all public donations genuinely go directly to the cause,” he said. “E4GG is looking for volunteers who are passionate about using their heart to help others and
help E4GG to find accommodation, furniture, food, school supplies etc for those in true need. “From the new community Hub E4GG plans to deliver wellness and lifestyle workshops for homeless and domestic violence survivors, events for people with disabilities such as silent discos, a variety of markets including car boot, garage, vintage, record fair etc, networking days for people who can’t afford to live on their own so they can get to know each other and see if there are people they can happily share with.” Planning is well underway for this year’s Noosa Come Together, a new initiative “Comedy with
a Cause” and more “OzFest” events. Next steps are now in progress and involve putting together a number of meetings with Hub participants and organisations and individuals involved locally in existing services in areas such as disability services, domestic violence and homelessness. Oz is calling on the community to be involved in the community hub. He said people with skills in administration, IT and tradespeople were particularly needed. Continued page 7
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