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Protest calls grow By Margie Maccoll “We’re here to voice our disapproval of the ongoing shark nets, particularly during the whale migration season,“ former Mayor Tony Wellington told about 200 people who gathered in Noosa Heads Lions Park on Saturday before delivering their message in a peace-
ful protest march along Hastings Street and Main Beach. The protest, led by local teacher Madeleine Boyd, brought together a group of key local speakers and began with a welcome to country from Kabi Kabi Elder Dr Hope O’Chin (Aunty Hope). Continued page 4
Madeleine Boyd leads a protest to remove shark nets in Noosa. (Rob Maccoll)
Lifeline for hut The Tewantin Heritage and Historical Society which has operated the Tewantin Visitor Information Centre known as Parkyn’s Hut for the past 24 years, has been thrown a lifeline by Noosa Council in the form of a three-year community grant after Tourism Noosa informed the society they were no longer able to provide funding. Operated by 56 volunteers who share their local knowledge with residents and tourists Parkyn’s Hut opens 361 days a year, contributing to the region’s visitor experience. The centre has three times been recognised as
Queensland’s Best Visitor Information Centre including the most recent 2025 Visitor Information Centre of the Year Award. In the 2023–24 financial year, the centre welcomed more than 14,500 visitors, with local residents making up the largest group (5,723), followed by interstate travellers (4,383), Queensland visitors (2,629), and international tourists (1,769). Volunteers contributed more than 10,900 hours during this period. Beyond operating Parkyn’s Hut, the Tewantin Heritage and Historical Society (THHS) also un-
dertake historical research and host community events, including the much-loved annual Pioneer’s Luncheon. Financially the centre has relied on an annual contribution of about $7500 from Tourism Noosa for the bulk of its funding along with member subscriptions and donations to support its operations. At council’s committee meeting on Tuesday staff said Tourism Noosa had advised the society they would no longer provide financial support from the 2025–26 financial year onwards,
apart from covering their 2025 insurance giving reasons that they were making changes to make savings in their budget and this was a change they would make as they were not responsible for funding what was a separate organisation. Council said the decision would have placed the society in a financially unsustainable position which would likely see the imminent closure of the Parkyn’s Hut Visitor Information Centre. Continued page 7
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