Your Local Lifestyle: August 2026

SCHOOL OF MUSIC

The Art of Hinterland Living

Where visionaries flourish, passions prosper, and creativity thrives.

Winter reveals the true character of the Noosa Hinterland - a region shaped by artists, makers, designers, and visionaries who choose to live with intention.

From the Noosa Open Studios Art Trail to the precision of Murphy Racing, discover the people, homes, and stories that defineThe Art of Hinterland Living.

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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Alan Lander

Matt Golinski

Tony Wellington Hayley Saunders Andy Flanagan

www.yourlocallifestyle.com.au

PO Box 125, Cooroy Qld 4563

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Distributed in Noosa Hinterland & surrounding areas

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

ROTARY - MUCH MORE THAN SAUSAGE SIZZLES

WHILE Rotary clubs conduct sausage sizzles and BBQs it’s only a fraction of what they’re about.

Chartered in May 1993, the Rotary Club of Cooroy has been dedicated to serving the community, providing disaster relief locally and globally, contributing to medical research and supporting youth empowerment. This is consistent with Rotary International’s (RI) motto of “Service Above Self”.

Over 33 years the club has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for a wide range of initiatives including:

• Supporting local welfare organisations including Sunshine Butterflies, Katie Rose Cottage, Hoofbeats and PTSD Dogs, as well as local service providers such as the SES and Rural Fire Brigades.

• Sponsoring and mentoring young leaders through Rotary’s various youth development and international exchange programs. The club mentors an EarlyAct Club at Pomona Primary School and an Interact Club at Noosa District High School. These Rotary, student-led clubs organise community service projects, develop leadership skills, and promote international understanding.

• Contributing to RI’s marquee goal of eradicating polio worldwide, developing a malaria vaccine and in providing critical disaster relief following local, regional and international emergencies such as

earthquakes, floods and droughts.

• Developing, as a member of the local Rotary for Mental Health Committee (R4MH), initiatives to address the scourge of domestic and family violence, including raising awareness of this issue among

school students in line with school’s curricula.

To discover more about activities, projects and membership of our Club, all are welcome to attend an information night at the Cooroy CWA Hall between 6-7pm

on August 10 or a regular club meeting at Cooroy RSL at 6pm on Monday evenings. We regularly have interesting guest speakers covering a wide range of topics. Dinner and fellowship follow each meeting. Website: www.cooroyrotary.org.au

Celebrate a Century of Community at the Cooroy Memorial Hall Street Party

FOR 100 years, Cooroy Memorial Hall has been far more than a landmark - it has been the heart of the community.

Within its walls, generations have gathered to dance, celebrate, perform, fundraise, debate, commemorate milestones and create lasting memories.

The celebrations run across the weekend of August 21–23.

On Friday August 21, the Cooroy Genealogical Group will mount an exhibition inside the hall; a great excuse to drop in and see the names, faces and stories behind our district.

On Saturday August 22, between 1 – 5.30pm the community is invited to honour this remarkable milestone with a vibrant vibrant Street Party to celebrate the Centenary – a day dedicated to celebrating the people, stories and spirit that have shaped Cooroy Memorial Hall over the last 100 years.

Step back through the decades as Maple Street comes alive with live entertainment, nostalgic displays and family-friendly activities celebrating the hall’s rich history and enduring place in community life. Visitors can enjoy:

• A vintage and classic car display over the decades

• Roving street performers

• The stirring sounds of the Noosa Pipe Band

• Dancing and entertainment across the decades

• Historical displays by Corooy Genealogical Society and Noosa Historical Society

• Community performances by local schools, kindies, sporting clubs, and dance schools

• Family activities, fairy floss and plenty more to discover

Please note that Maple Street will be closed between Garnet and Emerald Streets for the event.

And on Sunday 23 August, ‘Back to Cooroy Day’ is exactly what it sounds like: call in for a cuppa, a sandwich,a catchup and some birthday cake along with some good local company. Make sure you check out the facebook event to say you are coming!

Whether you remember attending a dance, a concert, a meeting, a wedding or another special occasion at the hall, this celebration offers the perfect opportunity to reconnect with its history and the community it continues to serve.

August 21-23, Maple Street, and Cooroy Memorial Hall 23 Maple Street, Cooroy. Free entry. Bring the family, gather your friends

and join the celebration of one of Cooroy’s most treasured community landmarks as it marks 100 extraordinary years.

To receive the latest event updates follow Cooroy Memorial Hall on Socials.

The Cooroy Memorial Hall 100th Anniversary Street Party is proudly supported by Noosa Council and event partners: Hinternoosa, Your Local Lifestyle, McDermott Aviation, Bendigo Bank Cooroy, Cooroy Rag, Cooroy RSL and Suttons.

DISCOVER THE GIANTS

OF HERVEY BAY

JUST a short drive north of the Sunshine Coast lies one of Australia’s most peaceful and rewarding wildlife experiences - whale watching in the calm, protected waters of Hervey Bay.

From July through to late September, the Freedom Whale Watch offers a fullday premium cruise that suits seniors particularly well. The day runs from boarding at 9.10am to approximately 3.30pm, with all meals includeddelicious morning and afternoon tea and a hot and cold buffet for lunch. Guests can choose between airconditioned indoor seating or outdoor decks, depending on the weather and their preference. We aim to provide a relaxed experience with plenty of time to simply enjoy the scenery and the company of these gentle giants.

approaches are common, all viewed from the comfort of a modern, stable vessel designed with passenger comfort in mind.

Scenic Rhine River voyage

The vessel is fully licensed and operates with experienced skippers and crew who provide informative commentary and excellent service. Free tea, coffee and filtered water are available throughout the day, and a licensed bar is on board for those who want something extra.

The Freedom Whale Watch Cruise holds a strong 5-star Google rating and is proud of its consistent focus on comfort, safety and genuine wildlife encounters.

Bookings made direct through their website currently attract a special discount using the code SAVE15.

Every year, hundreds of humpback whales pause here on their long migration.

Unlike the open ocean, these sheltered bay waters allow the whales to rest, play and interact in a way rarely seen elsewhere.

Breaching, spy-hopping and close

For Sunshine Coast seniors looking for a memorable day out or a short overnight escape, Hervey Bay’s whale season offers an easy, well-organised and deeply satisfying experience.

The whales are waiting for you! www.freedomwhalewatch.com.au

NOOSA STEINER SCHOOL CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL

CELEBRATING ‘30 YEARS OF PENGARI’

JOIN us for a day full of fun and excitement. This year’s theme is especially meaningful: ‘30 Years of Pengari’ - a celebration of the 30th birthday of our beautiful school.

We opened in 1996 with ten children taught in a borrowed scout hall at Noosaville, and have around 350 students now.

There is something for everyone at this popular Festival which offers a variety of activities for children of all ages. Enjoy the sounds of live entertainment throughout the day as you browse the mini market stalls or

taste the variety of nourishing and locally sourced food. There is a gem hunt, river run, pony rides, tie-dye, candle dipping, a low ropes course and climbing wall. Tickets are required for selected craft stalls and activities. Purchase your tickets here: www.trybooking.com/events/ landing/1585789?embed

WHEN: SUNDAY AUGUST 23

WHERE: NOOSA PENGARI STEINER SCHOOL

86 NYELL ROAD, DOONAN TIME: 10AM TO 3PM ENTRY: FREE

EUMUNDI WRITERS FESTIVAL 2026 IS HERE!

THE Eumundi Writers Festival 2026 is set to inspire readers, writers and storytellers with a program celebrating creativity, ideas and the power of human connection.

This year’s festival explores The Human Condition, inviting audiences to reflect on what it means to be human during challenging times, through stories of love, family, conflict, crime and resilience. The program celebrates the unique connection created through words and storytelling,

something that brings people together in a way technology cannot replicate.

Featuring an exciting line-up of authors, professional development opportunities, workshops, mentoring sessions and social events, the festival offers something for aspiring writers, published authors and curious readers alike.

Writers are encouraged to take part in opportunities including MiniMentoring with published authors, Pitch to a Publisher, Meet an Author sessions,

writing competitions, poetry recitals and the Eumundi & District Community Association Awards, with prizes including cash, writing residencies and book vouchers.

A highlight of the program is the Write-In workshop, where writers can work alongside others to develop ideas, overcome creative blocks and build productive writing habits.

Visit www.eumundiwritersfestival.com.au for the full program and participation details.

HELP WELCOME REFUGEE FAMILIES

BUDDIES Refugee Support Group is calling on local families and community members to support its ‘Living in Australia’ program, now in its 16th year.

Held during the April and September school holidays, the program brings refugee families from Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast for six days of connection, learning and community experiences. Families stay with local homestay hosts while taking part in classroom and outdoor activities that help build English skills and confidence in their new country.

Buddies is seeking homestay hosts and volunteers to help create a welcoming experience for participants. Supported by local schools, businesses and community partners, the program aims to build friendships and a sense of belonging.

To get involved, visit www.refugeebuddies. org/lap-program

A DECADE OF GROWTH

COOROY LANDSCAPE SUPPLIES & GARDEN CENTRE CELEBRATES 10 TERRIFIC YEARS

SUCCESSFULLY running a small family business for 10 years is no small achievement, and for James and Siona Howard, the milestone is one they mark with pride, gratitude and a deep appreciation for the community that has supported them along the way.

Ten years ago, on the August 1, 2016, James and Siona purchased Cooroy’s sand and gravel business from long-time locals the Bonnell Brothers. At the time, James was working away, and the couple wanted him to be closer to home and to their two young daughters, who were then aged 11 and 8. They also wanted to create something of their own, stay connected to the outdoors which they both loved, and become more involved in the Cooroy community.

With a new name, fresh ideas and plenty of

motivation, Cooroy Landscape Supplies & Garden Centre began to take shape. James brought his quarry, earthmoving and machinery knowledge to the business, while Siona contributed her administration, creativity and marketing skills. Together, their hard work and shared vision helped transform the site into the bustling local hub it is today.

Over the years, the business has helped families plant their first veggie gardens, homeowners transform bare backyards into beautiful retreats, landscapers bring outdoor visions to life, and contractors improve hundreds of properties across the region. Countless customers have returned with stories and photos of gardens that flourished beyond expectations.

Community has been at the heart of the business from the beginning. Over the past decade, Cooroy Landscape Supplies & Garden Centre has proudly supported numerous local sporting clubs, schools and events, including Christmas in Cooroy, Pink Up Cooroy, Cooroy Pony Club, Pomona Pony Club, Noosa District Rugby League, the Noosa Country Show, the Ridgewood Photo Fair, Rotary, Cooroy Car Club and the Cooroora

Woodworkers Club, among many others.

The Howards have also welcomed several students from Noosa Adventist College and Noosa District State High School for Year 10 work experience, while their daughters Annie and Maggie completed schoolbased traineeships and Certificate III qualifications in Business and Administration through the family business. The team has played an important role in reaching the 10-year milestone. James and Siona are grateful to the many wonderful staff members who have contributed over the years, from Larry and Jenny, who helped during the early transition, to today’s excellent team of Cathy, Liza, Jacinta, Darcy, David, Jackson, Blaise and Lennox, (plus everyone in between!)

Cathy Breed, a long-time local and longest serving employee, has been part of the business for

eight years and is described by James and Siona as “an absolute treasure” who is loved like family. It is this mix of loyal staff, trusted suppliers, returning customers and local connections that has helped make each year brighter.

Today, Cooroy Landscape Supplies & Garden Centre offers a huge variety of bulk landscaping and earthmoving materials, paving and garden edging, colourful pots, garden inspiration and friendly service. More than a supplier, it has become a familiar place where locals can find practical advice, fresh ideas and the friendly faces that make Cooroy feel like home.

As they celebrate 10 terrific years in business, James and Siona say they are filled with gratitude for every conversation at the counter, every load of soil delivered and every shared gardening tip. They extend a heartfelt thank you to their loyal customers, professional suppliers and exceptional staff for being part of their story so far. Here’s to many more years of growth, greenery and community!

Cooroy Landscape Supplies & Garden Centre - Growing with you since 2016.

10 YEARS OF MUSIC AND MENTORSHIP

KATE MILLER-HEIDKE TO HEADLINE EUMUNDI SCHOOL OF MUSIC’S 10TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

FOR the past decade, a quiet musical revolution has been unfolding in Eumundi. What began as a simple idea to inspire young musicians has grown into one of the Sunshine Coast’s most successful grassroots music programs, nurturing more than 300 aspiring performers and helping launch the careers of the next generation of Australian musicians.

Now, as the Eumundi School of Music (ESOM) celebrates its 10th anniversary, the not-for-profit organisation is marking the milestone in spectacular style, with one of Australia’s most acclaimed performers, Kate Miller-Heidke, headlining its annual Mini Festival on Saturday August 22 at the Eumundi School of Arts.

The anniversary concert promises to be far more than a headline performance. It is a celebration of community, creativity and a decade of mentoring young talent, showcasing the 2026 scholarship bands alongside ESOM alumni before culminating in a special performance by Kate Miller-Heidke, who will share the stage with some of the school’s exceptional young musicians.

For Music Director Jimmy Halliday, the event represents everything ESOM has worked towards over the past 10 years. Founded in 2016 by five-time ARIA

Award-winning singer-songwriter Katie Noonan and a team of passionate Sunshine Coast professional musicians, ESOM was created to bridge the gap between learning an instrument and performing confidently on stage.

Rather than simply teaching students to play, the program was designed to immerse young musicians in the complete band experience, collaborating with others, developing stagecraft, writing music and performing before live audiences.

“We set out to mentor these young musicians, give them expert tuition, and help them develop stagecraft and live performance skills,” Katie says.

“A vital part of the program is bringing our young rockers together in bands, with the opportunity to collaborate, create and experience the magic of making great music.”

That philosophy has clearly resonated.

Over the past decade, more than 300 students from across the Sunshine Coast have received mentoring and tuition scholarships through the program. Many alumni have gone on to study at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music and the University of the Sunshine Coast, while others are now forging careers as professional musicians in their own right.

Katie says watching those journeys

unfold has been one of the greatest rewards.

“Seeing ESOM flourish over the past 10 years has been enormously rewarding, and it’s something we’re all deeply proud of,” she says.

“To see these young people come through the program, forming bands, building confidence and developing lifelong friendships through music, is incredibly moving. ESOM has always been about community, creativity and the joy of making music, and I’m thrilled to celebrate this milestone with our students, alumni and supporters.”

Each year the program begins with a competitive audition process that attracts talented young musicians from every corner of the Sunshine Coast.

This year’s auditions were held over several days at The Imperial Hotel Eumundi, where hopeful vocalists, keyboard players, guitarists, bass players and drummers auditioned for coveted scholarship places.

Jimmy Halliday says the calibre of applicants continues to rise every year.

“There’s some serious talent in the students selected this year, across all areas of vocals, keys, guitar, bass and drums.”

Once selected, students are carefully matched into bands according to both their musical abilities and aspirations.

“We then held a wonderful gathering in Caplick Park Eumundi, where the students all came together, met their new bandmates and brainstormed band names,” Jimmy says.

This year’s emerging acts certainly haven’t lacked creativity, with names including ‘Compass’, ‘Red Bin Chicken’, ‘Real Creations’ and ‘Solidified’ already generating plenty of excitement ahead of the August showcase.

The students are now working one-onone with professional musician mentors to refine their skills before band rehearsals begin in earnest.

It is this unique mentoring model, combining individual tuition with realworld band experience, that has become the hallmark of ESOM.

Helping celebrate the milestone will be one of Australia’s most respected and versatile performers.

Kate Miller-Heidke has built a remarkable career spanning contemporary pop, folk, opera, musical theatre and classical music. Since emerging onto the Australian music scene, she has released five Top 10 studio albums, including the double-platinum Curiouser, which featured the enduring hits The Last Day on Earth and Caught in the Crowd

She represented Australia at the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest with her

unforgettable performance of Zero Gravity, winning her semi-final before finishing in the competition’s Top 10 and receiving the prestigious Marcel Bezençon Award for Artistic Achievement.

Away from the concert stage, Kate has enjoyed an extraordinary career in musical theatre and opera. Together with husband and long-time collaborator Keir Nuttall, she wrote the music and lyrics for the awardwinning Muriel’s Wedding The Musical, while her debut opera The Rabbits won four Helpmann Awards, including Best Score and Best New Australian Work.

Television audiences have also embraced her as one of the coaches on Channel 7’s The Voice Australia, where she has inspired another generation of emerging performers while introducing her artistry to an even broader audience.

Despite an impressive list of achievements, Kate says supporting young musicians remains one of the most rewarding aspects of her career.

“It’s always inspiring to see young musicians finding their voice and discovering the joy of making music together,” she says.

“The Eumundi School of Music has created something really special over the past 10 years, nurturing creativity, confidence and community through music.

“I’m thrilled to be part of this celebration and can’t wait to share the stage with these incredibly talented young artists.”

Katie Noonan says Kate and Keir are the perfect guests to help celebrate the anniversary.

“The incredible Kate and her husband and collaborator, Keir Nuttall, bring extraordinary musical talent and mentoring experience, and the students are beyond excited to share the stage with them this year.”

While the performances are the public face of ESOM, the organisation’s impact reaches much deeper.

Students don’t simply learn songs. They develop confidence, communication skills, resilience and lifelong friendships through the shared experience of making music.

Many arrive as talented individuals but leave understanding what it means to perform as part of a band: listening, collaborating, supporting one another and finding their own creative voice.

That community spirit has become one of the defining characteristics of the school and reflects the supportive culture that has long made Eumundi a hub for

artists, musicians and creatives.

The program also relies heavily on community support.

The 10th Anniversary Mini Festival will run from 4pm until 10pm on Saturday August 22 at the Eumundi School of Arts.

Audiences can expect an afternoon and evening packed with original music, energetic performances and inspiring collaborations as ESOM’s newest bands perform alongside alumni before Kate Miller-Heidke and Keir Nuttall close the celebrations with what promises to be an unforgettable headline performance.

For many of the young musicians taking to the stage, it will be their biggest audience yet. For others, it may well be the beginning of a professional music career.

Eumundi School of Music’s 10th Anniversary Mini Festival promises an afternoon and evening of music with all the feels – talented ESOM rockers showcasing

their skills in a variety of performances that are sure to impress and fill your hearts. The celebration will reach a spectacular finale with an unforgettable all-in performance of Eastern Rosellas. Bringing together current students, alumni band members, Soleil, Kate Miller-Heidke, Katie Noonan and the teaching team, the epic collaboration will showcase the incredible talent, creativity and community spirit that has made the event so special.

Tickets are on sale now through Eventbrite, priced at $49 for adults, $39 concession and $20 for children, with children under five admitted free. More info https:// eumundischoolofmusic.com

ESOM is supported by Sunshine Coast Council, Regional Arts Fund/Flying Arts, Eumundi District Community Association, Experience Eumundi, Mooloolaba Music, The Imperial Hotel, Infinite Music, Rode Australia, Eumundi Rotary, Eumundi Historical Association, various local businesses, MP’s/ Councillors and a team of volunteers.

SHEPHERD’S FAIR Celebrates 40 years

THERE’S a particular kind of magic that happens when a school community throws open its gates and says, ‘come on in’. On Saturday August 8, from 12–6pm, Good Shepherd Lutheran College will do exactly that, and this year it’s extra special. Shepherd’s Fair 2026 isn’t just our beloved annual tradition of stalls, rides, and questionable-but-delicious fairy floss; it’s also woven into our 40th Anniversary celebrations, meaning you’ll be able to

wander down our Walk Down Memory Lane, visit the Chapel Hall Anniversary Hub, and watch four decades of GSLC history come to life alongside the usual Fair-day fun. Bring the kids for Hoop the Bottle, and grab an unlimited ride pass from noon so they can hit the rides as many times as their little legs (and stomachs) can handle. Bring your wallet for the Silent Auction (closing hour is when the real drama unfolds).

Bring your appetite for everything from the

Country Market to Crazy Jars. And bring your sense of nostalgia, because whether you’re a founding family or brand new to the GSLC community, there’s something here that belongs to you too.

Shepherd’s Fair only happens once a year. Forty years only happens once. This is the one to show up for.

See advert on page 3.

ABOVE & BEYOND AWARDS

THE Sunshine Coast community rallied behind the inaugural Above & Beyond Awards, with more than 3500 votes cast before voting closed.

Presented by Member for Nicklin Marty Hunt, the awards celebrated those who went above and beyond to support their community. Mr Hunt said the overwhelming response reflected the region’s strong community spirit.

“The response has been incredible, with thousands of people taking the time to recognise those who make a real difference,” he said.

“These awards celebrate the volunteers, businesses, community groups and everyday locals who quietly go above and beyond without expecting recognition.” Winners to be revealed at the Above & Beyond Awards presentation on Saturday, August 15.

Mr Hunt thanked everyone who nominated and voted, saying the awards had exceeded expectations in their first year.

WILD ABOUT NOOSA

JUNK BUG

ONE may not notice a JUNK BUG until a tiny pile of detritus seems to move. They look like vagabonds, carrying their possessions on their backs.

The Junk Bug, also known as an Aphid Lion, is a vicious predator. If one looks closely at the pile of rubbish it uses as a disguise, it often includes the exoskeletons of its victims. In the case of the one pictured, the camouflage incorporates a snail shell.

Junk bugs love to eat aphids as well as scale insects, whiteflies, leafhoppers, thrips, and small caterpillars. So, they’re a gardener’s friend. The Junk Bug uses its sharp, pincerlike mandibles or mouthparts to stab its victim. These are hollow, allowing it to inject enzymes that liquify the prey’s insides. The Junk Bug then slurps up the soft innards, like a child sucking through the straw of a juicebox. Sometimes, the empty husk at the end of a meal is added to its cargo.

Junk Bugs are the larvae of delicate Green Lacewings. After a few weeks of feeding, the larvae spin a protective cocoon, sometimes beneath their protective junk. After around a week or so, the adult Green Lacewing emerges.

Lacewings generally feed on nectar and pollen. Thus, while their larvae are useful for pest control, the adults are also important pollinators.

with Tony Wellington

ARTIST’S GIFT OF SECOND SIGHT

JULIE ‘Jules’ Bennett is learning to see life through someone’s else’s eyes – literally.

Two people, in fact, having undergone procedures replacing her corneas from two different donors.

The journey started many years ago and has been a long time coming.

“I was raised about halfway between Goondiwindi and Moree on a station, though actually born in Goondiwindi,” Jules, 71, said.

The two families of Jules’ parents bought land in the Qld/NSW border region and were sheep, cattle and wheat farmers, offering her an idyllic upbringing – but the 1950s and 60s were also a time of limited knowledge around the use of chemicals.

“I couldn’t tolerate chemicals, including steroids, nor could my father,” Jules said

And that would later in life prove critical for her.

“[As kids] we used to be in the wheat bins when the trucks came to collect. They’d open the chute, we’d have to get in and make sure it went down, with all the dust.

“We’d get crop spray on us, and it would drift over our tank water. And we were sheep-dipping and we’d push them in when in just t-shirts and thongs.”

Jules’ family suffered hereditary sicknesses, asthma being a major one, from which her own kids suffer.

But there were no early warnings of related eye conditions back then.

One thing Jules knew was “I was never ever, ever, going to stay on the land”.

“Don’t ask me how, I just knew, from the beginning of my life.”

School was a hotch-potch of changes:

boarding for the first two years, with family at Redcliffe and at a hostel, then a couple of years’ correspondence with a governess, the rest of primary in a very small school in a map dot called North Star in NSW, (“My dad tackled the bureaucracy for a school bus – the ‘bus’ was only a VW van, though”), where she was school captain and dux.

She then lived with her grandmother in Goondiwindi while attending the local high school and survived the ‘Mean Girls’.

“That was significant in my life – that’s why I’m so short because I turned off my growth hormone. I wore the same size shoes from grade 8 to grade 12.

“It was sheer terror; you just didn’t want them to turn on you. I actually had one come back as an adult and apologise.

“These kids had all grown up together in primary for years. I had learned from a different curriculum and NSW encouraged art development.”

Jules’ academic levels and health eroded during that time. A teacher had dissuaded her from continuing art, instead to favour science and maths.

Her earliest painting endeavours started at home.

“We used to make our own Christmas cards. My mum encouraged painting.

“We used to use the paper in the stocking boxes - that was our best paper.”

She got through Grade 12 and applied to study marine biology until James Cook University rejected her application due to her asthma.

Instead, she followed friends to Toowoomba for teacher training.

Jules qualified and was posted to various state schools including Humpybong, Elliot Heads, Bundamba, Churchill and Boondall.

She met her husband, Tony, while only in second year, and knew instantly “I had met my person!” There was no going back with her family selling up at the border and relocating to Toowoomba.

Jules loved teaching in the threeteacher school at Elliot Heads. Tony had secured a HR role in Bundaberg where they bought a home.

“It was absolutely the best little school and we loved Bundaberg but then Tony’s job went with his employer closing down, and his career aims were bigger than mine so we moved to Brisbane.”

Jules’ teaching qualifications included working in open classrooms and newer English teaching methods set up a collision course for her cohort with more conservative teachers.

“We were a maverick group, doing lesson plans and workbooks that could be used in computer learning.

“At one school there were very few reading books. I had a guidance officer who was progressive. He said ‘you can’t read unless you can write’, so I said why don’t they write their own books, and they can illustrate them?”

The initial stories were simple but grew

more sophisticated as fantasy books as the children developed.

“When we finally got the schoolbooks they didn’t want to read them. I was getting library books beyond their age. The principal had my back.

“It was a chance and I learned to trust my instincts.”

From there, Jules taught in a variety of

locations including working with a set of feeder schools in Brisbane’s St Lucia area.

Meanwhile she and Tony bore three children: Danica in 1977, Blaize in 1981 and Lachlan in 1983.

In 1986, Jules left teaching.

“I went back to uni and did a degree in behavioural science.

“Life does funny things: I’d got a job offer at the end of Year 12 for a Guidance Officer trainee job in Warwick, but I knocked it back because I was scared of leaving home.

“Now I’d come full circle.”

She completed a post graduate qualification in applied psychology, “then I went to work in a prison”.

“One of reasons why I did psychology was I’d had pupils that were being abused.

“One time, there was a young kid throwing kids downstairs and exploding in class and I was saying ‘what is it?’

“And he just choked up and said ‘I can’t tell you’, and I didn’t know the question to ask. His mother was making him write death threats to then-premier Joh BjelkePetersen.

“And that is what he was doing with the writing skills I taught him. The mother was charged. The father apologised for running away from their mother’s insanity.

“But I knew I didn’t have the skills [to deal with it].”

The Borallon Correctional Centre was the first privately run prison in Queensland, opening in 1990, and Jules was hired as one of two psychologists.

“We had already booked holidays with my kids so I started later than the other staff, but as no prisoners were arriving then, there was time to settle in.

“I arrived and was just finding out where my office was when suddenly we were told to gather at the gymnasium as buses of prisoners arrived.

“The front gates weren’t even on! There were no doors in some units. It was supposed to be a medium-security facility but then all these ‘lifers’ show up.

“It was so weird. But the good thing was the lifers were the best: this was to be their home and they didn’t want anyone mucking it up. They were happy to be getting out of those old institutions.

work. We had to make the lifers promise not to escape overnight.”

In Jules’ one year there, no riots took place, “but my life was threatened a few times”.

“They were instigated by external sources and should never have happened.”

Jules stayed the year but became exhausted through lack of replacement staff, inmates’ mental health issues and rarely getting home on time for her kids.

Her next role was as a school psychologist for three public schools in the Logan area who privately funded the program.

Jules then went on to become a Guidance Officer still in the Logan area.

Life got ‘interesting’ – and one event stands out.

“I had to help a principal disarm a parent with a knife threatening people. We were in a staff meeting; when the guy turned up in the school grounds, the admin staff had barricaded themselves in, and let us know where he was.

“Then (principal) Dennis grabbed my arm and said “it’s just you and me. You can talk and I’ll take the knife”.

“We disarmed him. The guy had been beating his wife and we’d reported it. He was angry because he then had police around. Eventually he did the right thing and handed his knife over.

“The principal had decided I knew what to do.”

After many years she left, and worked with a well-known girls’ private school, only to discover that elite private schools are not all they’re cracked up to be.

be and was making full strides – but then her eyes started failing her. They had been slowly deteriorating since she was 30, but her condition was getting serious.

“By the time I was in my late thirties they were able to see something wrong with my corneas, and a specialist said I had Fuch’s Corneal Dystrophy.

When we left work that day the prison was still trying to get the front gates to work. We had to make the lifers promise not to escape overnight

“I was going to retire at 55 but I did at 49. And that’s when I started painting.”

In 2005 they moved up to Noosa Shire.

“I wandered this area for a long time, then finally went to an event in Pomona where I met [artist] Don Milner.

“I went to do classes with him and it was mind-blowing. I did some pastels there

“It was actually the corneas breaking down. I’d already had cataracts from living out west and got those dealt with but still had this. I could no longer see the stars.

“I am allergic to tissue anti-rejection drugs and this would be a tissue transplant so my ophthalmologist and I put off the surgical transplant treatment for 15 years because if you take the cornea out, you can’t put it back in.

“It wasn’t until I saw a holistic doctor and found I had this other condition which is Ehrlers Danilo’s Syndrome with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome which helped me

“I had to lie on my back for 45 minutes every hour for a week. But I could see.”

The first donor was a 72-year-old man. The second, transplanted in January 2025 was from an 82-year-old woman.

“The second one worked but didn’t focus as well. Then I got contact lenses, so now I have contacts – and glasses.

“And that’s how I do art – with glasses, contacts, and corneas.

“I had been to the edge of being legally blind. I’d just adapted and adapted.

“Now the world is completely different.”

Jules is excited about art again – and has paintings currently exhibiting at Cooroy’s 15 Diamond Street café bar.

“Before I’d started to down tools I was disappointed with what I could produce.

“But now I have this exhibition called Dark Still Life. I didn’t know that genre existed.”

“When I go to my studio now, time stands still. I could go five hours and not even notice.

“So now when four o’clock comes Tony brings me a glass of wine. Time’s up!”

NOOSA’S NEW COMMUNITY COURTYARD

A VIBRANT new community mural has transformed the courtyard at the Noosa Visitor Information Centre, creating a welcoming space for visitors, volunteers, Tourism Noosa members and the wider community.

The Project has delivered a calm outdoor area where people can enjoy a quiet moment, share a cuppa, have lunch or simply take time to pause and recharge. Designed with accessibility and wellbeing in mind, the space provides a welcoming environment for everyone, including those who may experience anxiety or live with a hidden disability.

Tourism Noosa CEO Sharon Raguse said the Visitor Information Centre had evolved into much more than a place for visitor enquiries.

“This courtyard has been thoughtfully created as a shared space that encourages connection, inclusion and wellbeing,” Ms Raguse said.

The mural also complements the Centre’s new DV Safe Phone collection point, which allows the community to donate old mobile phones to support people experiencing domestic violence.

Mayor Frank Wilkie said the project celebrated Noosa’s connection to its natural environment and community values.

Designed by local artist Ilana McBain, the mural draws inspiration from Little Cove Beach and Noosa National Park. With paint donated by The Paint Place Noosaville, the artwork was brought to life with support from Tourism Noosa volunteers, staff and community members.

RAILWAY HOTEL

Bottleshop - OPEN 7 DAYS 10am-8pm - (7pm Sunday)

POMONA PRIDE PARTY

POMONA will come together for an evening of celebration, connection and inclusion when Pomona & District Community House presents its annual Pride Party, Wear It Purple, at the iconic Majestic Theatre Pomona.

Held on Saturday August 15, the free all-ages event celebrates the spirit of Wear It Purple Day, which takes place on Friday August 28, by creating a welcoming space for LGBTQIA+SB people, families, friends and allies to come together and celebrate authenticity, visibility and belonging.

From 7 to 9pm, guests can enjoy an evening filled with music, dancing and community connection, with the doors and bar opening from 6pm. Refreshments and light snacks will be available throughout the evening.

Organisers said the event aims to foster a community where diversity is embraced and everyone feels safe and supported to be themselves.

“Pride Party, Wear It Purple, is about bringing people together, celebrating diversity and creating a space where everyone feels welcome,” organisers said.

The event also highlights the importance of the national Wear It Purple campaign, which supports rainbow young people and promotes safer, more

inclusive and empowering environments for LGBTQIA+SB youth.

Bookings are essential for this free community event, which will be held at the Majestic Theatre, 3 Factory Street, Pomona. Pride Party – Wear It Purple, Saturday August 15, 7pm–9pm. Majestic Theatre Pomona.

COMING FULL CIRCLE AT HARBOURSIDE HATS

FOR Tracy Atkinson, returning to Noosa isn’t just a move home, it’s the culmination of a journey that has come full circle.

After spending eight years away and owning a successful hat shop for five of those years, Tracy was searching for her next opportunity when she discovered Harbourside Hats at Noosa Marina was for sale. It was the perfect fit, allowing her to combine two things she loves most; hats and her hometown.

Taking over the business in May this year, Tracy has already relocated the long-established store to a larger, brighter premises at Shop 1e, Noosa Marina, creating an inviting space where customers can browse one of the region’s most extensive collections of hats.

Although Harbourside Hats has been serving customers for 13 years, Tracy brings with her more than two decades of experience in the hat industry, along with a passion for helping people discover the perfect hat for both style and protection.

“We specialise in hats, and that’s what makes us unique,” Tracy says. “A lot of people think hats are only about sun protection, and of course they are, but they’re also a fashion accessory that can completely elevate an outfit and reflect someone’s personality.”

Finding the right fit is something Tracy takes seriously. Harbourside Hats stocks sizes ranging from XXS through to XXXL, ensuring customers of all ages and head sizes can leave with a hat that’s comfortable, practical and stylish. Her goal is simple; to make Harbourside Hats the Sunshine Coast’s premier destination for hats while

contributing to Noosa Marina’s growing reputation as a must-visit shopping and lifestyle precinct.

“We pride ourselves on customer service and finding the right fit,” she says.

“We want every customer to enjoy the experience, and it certainly doesn’t hurt that we get to do it with beautiful water views.”

Tracy welcomes both locals and visitors, connecting with customers through social media, local signage and even a sign-written bus travelling around the Sunshine Coast.

Looking ahead, she hopes to expand the business online while preserving the personalised service that has become its trademark. Developing a Harbourside Hats range featuring exclusive Noosa Marina branding is also firmly on the horizon.

Beyond business, Tracy values the supportive community within Noosa Marina, where neighbouring businesses work together to attract both locals and tourists. She also believes maintaining a healthy work-life balance is essential, enjoying walks on the local dog beaches with husband Steve and their much-loved shop dog, Murphy, along with regular hot yoga sessions just a few doors from the store.

Reflecting on her journey, Tracy says she’s grateful to be back where it all began.

“It’s been a whirlwind ride. I still can’t believe I’ve done a full circle back home to where it all started. I’m incredibly grateful for all the support and encouragement I’ve received from my wonderful customers and family.”

Harbourside Hats can be found at the Noosa Marina. https://harboursidehats.com.au

Every answer matters

If you know where you’ll be on Census night, Tuesday 11 August, you can complete the form for your household as soon as you get your instructions. Complete online, on paper or with help from us.

census.abs.gov. au

NATIONAL TREE DAY boosts local bushland

COOROY’S Bagnalls Bushland Reserve came alive last week as more than 180 volunteers joined Noosa Council for a sunny and uplifting National Tree Day celebration. The community planted over 2200 native trees, shrubs and groundcovers, adding 100+ species to the expanding revegetation site.

Bushland Care Officer Renata Neumann said the community’s enthusiasm made the

day special. “Over 100 species were planted today, with more rainforest species this year,” she said.

The event offered face painting, live music, plant identification, wildlife talks and environmental education activities. Volunteers also enjoyed a free small coffee from the on-site van while taking in the relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere.

With tools, gloves and guidance

provided, even first-time planters found it easy to dig in and make a difference.

National Tree Day once again highlighted the strength of community involvement in caring for Noosa’s natural environment.

Locals can join an existing Bushcare group or start a new one in their area. To discuss your interests, phone Council’s Bushland Care Officers Emma or Renata on (07) 5329 6500.

LLEW O’BRIEN Federal Member for Wide Bay

JUNE marked Men’s Health Awareness Month, an important opportunity to raise awareness of the preventable health issues affecting men, break down stigmas, and encourage men to prioritise their physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing.

There are alarming statistics that show men are significantly more likely to die prematurely compared to women. The life expectancy gap between men and women, with men living around five per cent fewer years on average, tells only part of the story. A clearer picture emerges from looking at the potential years of life lost, which measures the years lost through premature death.

According to the Australian Government Institute of Health and Welfare, in 2024 Australia lost more than 930,000 potential years of life from premature death, with males losing 70 per cent more years of life than females.

More than 26,000 Australian men are expected to be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year, and almost 4,000 of them will lose their lives to the disease. Shockingly, more than 75 percent of suicides in Australia are male, with the number of men and boys who took their own lives in 2025 almost double our national road toll. Men also have higher rates of lung cancer, liver disease and heart disease.

As Shadow Special Envoy for Men and

IT’S time to have your say on our State’s next youth justice reforms. Keeping our communities’ safe means having strong laws that protect victims, hold repeat offenders to account and help break the cycle of crime.

Our Government’s Adult Crime, Adult Time laws are beginning to make a difference, but there is more work to do.

That’s why the next phase of reforms will strengthen bail laws to target reckless and repeat young offenders who continue to ignore the law. The proposed changes include creating a new offence for breaching bail conditions for offenders charged with Adult Crime, Adult Time offences. Repeat offenders who breach bail will go to jail. If you repeatedly ignore the conditions of your bail, there must be real consequences that prioritise community safety and the rights of victims.

Alongside these tougher laws, our Government has introduced legislation for Circuit Breaker Sentencing - a nationleading rehabilitation program that will provide courts with a powerful new option for repeat youth offenders before detention.

Circuit Breaker Sentencing will be the first program of its kind in Australia. It will remove repeat offenders from the communities they have harmed and place them in a highly structured, court-ordered rehabilitation program for up to six months in remote locations.

Participants will undertake education,

Boys, I am rolling out a series of forums to give local communities a voice on the challenges facing men and boys. These forums are helping to advance advocacy and inform policy development around health, wellbeing, education and training, ensuring men and boys have the support they need to reach their full potential.

The forums provide men and boys, dads, and families with an opportunity to share powerful and often confronting stories about the physical and mental burdens many men carry, as well as the challenges they face in their daily lives, particularly in regional communities.

The message coming through from the forums is clear: we need more open conversations, better resourced support networks, and stronger communities willing to step up and support those who are struggling. Governments must do more to address the factors contributing to poor mental health and male suicide. Just as importantly, we need to continue breaking down the stigma around asking for help and encourage men to seek support when they need it.

My office is always here to help in any matter controlled by the Australian Government. If you need assistance please contact me on telephone 4121 2936, email llew.obrien.mp@aph.gov.au, my website www.llewobrien.com.au or on Facebook www.facebook.com/llewobrienlnp.

AUGUST has been another rewarding month across the Sunshine Coast, and I want to thank everyone who has taken the time to say hello, share their ideas and get involved in our community.

Over the parliamentary break, I completed my annual Winter Road Trip, travelling right across Fairfax to meet with local businesses, community organisations, volunteers and residents. These conversations are one of the most valuable parts of my job. They provide an opportunity to hear firsthand about the issues affecting our region, celebrate local successes and better understand where I can make a positive difference. Thank you to everyone who welcomed me into their community along the way.

Looking ahead, preparations are well underway for the Buderim Garden Festival this October. This much-loved event has become a highlight on the Sunshine Coast calendar, showcasing not only the incredible creativity and dedication of local gardeners, but also the strong community spirit that makes our region such a special place to live. I encourage everyone to get along, enjoy the displays and support the volunteers who work so hard to bring the festival to life each year.

A highlight of July was the 14th Nambour Cup Toad Race, which once again brought

our community together for a great cause.

This year’s event raised $1,200 for the STEMM Program (Supporting Teenagers with Education, Mothering and Mentoring) at Burnside State High School, helping support young mothers as they continue their education. Thank you to everyone who entered a toad, attended the event or contributed to this fantastic community fundraiser. It’s a wonderful example of how a fun local tradition can make a real difference in the lives of others.

As always, if there’s an issue I can assist you with or you’d like to share your ideas about our community, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with my office.

I look forward to seeing many of you around the Sunshine Coast in the weeks ahead.

vocational training and practical, handson activities while receiving intensive rehabilitation designed to address the causes of offending. They will develop practical skills, build discipline and take part in programs designed to reduce reoffending and create better opportunities for the future. Every participant will wear an electronic monitoring device to ensure compliance, accountability and community safety throughout the program.

These reforms are about striking the right balance - delivering meaningful consequences for repeat offenders while giving young people who are willing to change one final opportunity to turn their lives around before detention becomes the only option.

Community safety is one of the issues I hear about most often from local residents. Families, businesses and community groups want safer streets and stronger laws that put victims first.

As part of the consultation process, you now have the opportunity to have your say on expanding Adult Crime, Adult Time through the proposed Breach Bail, Go to Jail reforms.

Whether you’ve experienced crime firsthand, own a local business or simply want safer neighbourhoods, your feedback can help shape these important reforms.

I encourage you to take a few minutes to share your views and ensure your voice is heard. You can have your say by visiting listen2qld.com/breach-bail-consultation

PROTECTING

DISASTER RECOVERY FOR our hinterland towns, disaster recovery funding is what helps get roads repaired and reopened, drainage fixed and communities back on their feet after major weather events.

That’s why we’ve joined councils across Queensland in opposing proposed changes to the Federal Government’s Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements. The changes would reduce the level of Commonwealth support available after disasters, potentially shifting millions of dollars in recovery costs onto state governments and local councils.

We’ve seen the value of the current system first-hand. Since 2018, Noosa has received almost $200 million to help restore essential infrastructure after floods and storms. This includes the $40 million Black Mountain Road landslide reconstruction, a project made possible through disaster recovery funding. If what is now proposed had been in place during that time, state and local governments would’ve faced an additional $27.7 million in costs.

With natural disasters becoming more frequent and severe, now is the time to strengthen recovery and resilience funding, not weaken it. In addition to signing a state petition, Council will write to the National Emergency Management Agency, the Federal Member for Wide Bay and Queensland senators to express our concerns.

We’ll also provide feedback to the Local Government Association of Queensland as part of a statewide response.

BIOSECURITY NEEDS YOU

Council is seeking community feedback on its Draft Biosecurity Plan 2026-2031, which outlines how we’ll tackle invasive weeds, pests and emerging biosecurity threats over the next five years. With climate change creating new challenges, community input is important. Take a look at the draft plan and have your say at yoursay.noosa.qld.gov.au by 24 August. Every contribution helps protect Noosa’s unique environment.

VIBECAMP COMING TO THE HINTERLAND

If you’ve been hearing all the buzz about artificial intelligence but aren’t quite sure how to make use of it, there’s a great opportunity coming to the Noosa hinterland next month.

Vibecamp, from 21 to 23 August at Habitat Noosa on the shores of Lake Cootharaba, is a relaxed, family-friendly event that aims to help people learn how to use AI tools in practical and creative ways. One of the great things about this event is that you can come along for individual sessions or make a weekend of it by camping onsite. Teenagers can get involved and childcare activities are available for younger kids aged 5 to 12.

For more information or to register, visit our digital hub website: www.peregianhub. com.au/events

NOOSA SURFILM FESTIVAL

REVEALS BIGGEST PROGRAM YET

THE Noosa International Surfilm Festival (NISFF) has unveiled its biggest and most diverse program yet, with 21 films from 14 countries set to screen across four days from August 13–16.

Showcasing 12 Australian Premieres and two Queensland Premieres, this year’s festival brings together inspiring stories of surfing, adventure, conservation and culture at The J Theatre and Noosa Event Cinemas.

Festival Director Jesca Maas said the program demonstrates how surf films can connect audiences through powerful storytelling.

“This year’s program takes audiences from Patagonia to Senegal, from Gaza to Hawaii, from Japan to South Africa,” Jesca said. “These films go far beyond surfing. They explore our connection to nature, community and the ocean.”

Opening night features Beyond Borders Patagonia, an Australian adventure following surfers and filmmakers into Chile’s remote wilderness, alongside a collection of acclaimed short films.

Other highlights include Finding True North, documenting adaptive surfer Josh Bogle’s remarkable journey, a dedicated Women in Surf showcase celebrating female surfers and filmmakers, a new Surf

closing feature Australian Dream, following six Portuguese surfers chasing success in Australia.

Every screening includes filmmaker Q&As hosted by surf writer Tim Baker, while the festival’s annual awards will recognise excellence in surf and ocean filmmaking.

Tickets are now on sale. For the full program,

NOOSA residents are being asked to keep an eye out for sick or dead wild birds following the first Australian detection of the highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu strain.

The virus was detected in migratory seabirds along Australia’s southern coastline recently. While there is currently no evidence of the disease spreading through Queensland wildlife or poultry, authorities say early reporting is essential.

Residents should look for birds showing signs such as difficulty standing or flying, poor coordination, tremors, twisted necks, breathing difficulties, swollen eyes or sudden death. Anyone

who discovers five or more sick or dead wild birds together, or sick or dead seabirds, shorebirds, waterbirds, birds of prey or marine mammals, should report it immediately to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.

People are advised not to handle sick or dead birds unless necessary. If contact cannot be avoided, wear gloves, wash hands thoroughly afterwards and keep children and pets away from affected wildlife.

Queensland Health says the risk to people remains low and human infections are rare. Anyone who develops flu-like symptoms after contact with sick or dead birds should seek medical advice.

What's ON!

GYMPIE MUSIC MUSTER

AUGUST 27-30

AMAMOOR CREEK STATE FOREST

AN iconic festival that brings together the best of Aussie country, blues, and rock music in a family friendly atmosphere with camping options. Enjoy live performances, explore various unique food and craft stalls, learn to line dance plus more. www.muster.com.au

PLUS

FRIDAY 21 AUGUST HISTORICAL DISPLAY

SUNDAY 23 AUGUST ‘BACK TO COOROY DAY’

YANDINA COUNTRY MUSIC - LEGENDS OF ROCK’N’ROLL

SUNDAY AUGUST 16

ACMA 'HALL OF FAME' 11am-3pm 24 Steggalls Road, YANDINA - Entry $15 members $10

BE entertained with popular country, including more diverse, crowd-pleasing favourites. Special guest artist Michael Healy performs tributes to Elvis, Roy Orbison and Buddy Holly. Guaranteed entertainment! Raffle and door prizes, refreshments, sausage sizzle, free tea and coffee. Enjoy a great afternoon!

@FB Yandina Country Music Hall of fame

SUNSHINE COAST - LET’S GO CARAVAN & OUTDOOR EXPO

FRIDAY-SUNDAY - AUGUST 21-23 NAMBOUR SHOWGROUNDS

THE latest models of caravans, motorhomes, campervans, camper/ tent trailers and slide-ons on display during the three day event.

www.caravanqld.com.au/show/lets-gosunshine-coast-caravan-outdoor-expo

YANDINA STREET FAIR

SUNDAY AUGUST 23

11AM-7.30PM - ENTRY FREE

THE Fair is a family-friendly event. Several outdoor stages where local talent performs, lots of stalls and entertainment. Come with an appetite because Eats Street will surely captivate your palate. @Yandina Street Fair

SCONETIME COOROY

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 8

COOROY MEMORIAL HALL 10-11.30am TICKETS $10 www.trybooking.com/DIMQG

L L

STREET PARTY

SATURDAY 22ND AUGUST

FRIDAY AUGUST 8

@ GORECADIA - 11 B Wimmers Lane, Cooroy - 7-10pm - $10

WHETHER you’re new to the area, looking to expand your social circle, or hoping to meet someone special. BYO drinks (nibbles provided), Gelato & soft drinks available to purchase, Arcade games included. For more info contact Connie 0429 432 199

OPEN MIC AT BELLI HALL

WHEN: The 4th Sunday of every month TIME: 1:00 pm

WHERE: Belli Park Hall

ENTRY: Gold coin donation (all donations go directly toward the upkeep of the hall).

CALLING all musicians, singers, and karaoke stars! Whether you’re playing an acoustic set, performing an original track, or ready to belt out your favourite karaoke classic, the stage is yours. Bring your instruments, your vocal cords, for an afternoon of pure music and fun! Food & Drink: BYO, and a sausage sizzle will be fired up and available if you’re feeling hungry! @FB Belli Community Hall

NOOSA COUNTRY SHOW

SEPTEMBER 11-12

POMONA SHOWGROUNDS www.noosashowsociety.org.au/

KENILWORTH SHOW & RODEO

SEPTEMBER 19

KENILWORTH SHOWGROUNDS

@FB_Kenilworth Show & Rodeo

MITCHELL CREEK

ROCK & BLUES FEST

SEPTEMBER 17-21

MARY VALLERY

@FB_Mitchell Creek Rock n Blues Fest

MARY VALLEY

SCARECROW FESTIVAL

SEPTEMBER 1-30

MARY VALLERY maryvalleyartslink.com.au/mary-valley

CONGRATULATIONS

to Amrita Park Meadery for their AwardWinning Mead! We’re delighted to share that Amrita Park Meadery has won Best Melomel (Fruit Mead) at the inaugural Toowoomba Mead Competition 2026! Their Sweet Lillypilly and Macadamia Honey Melomel took out the top honour, showcasing the unique flavours of native Lillypilly fruit and beautiful Australian Macadamia Honey. CUTENESS OVERLOAD -

YOUR SEASONAL PRODUCE WATCH with Matt Golinski

MUNG BEANS

THE mung bean (Vigna radiata), also known as green gram, is a small, green legume widely cultivated across Asia, particularly in India, China, and Southeast Asia. Belonging to the pea family (Fabaceae), it has been valued for centuries as both a nutritious food source and a soil enriching crop. Mung beans grow quickly, often maturing in just 60–90 days, and thrive in warm climates. Like other legumes, they host nitrogen fixing bacteria in their root nodules, improving soil fertility for future crops.

Nutritionally, mung beans are a powerhouse. They are rich in plant based protein, dietary fibre, folate, magnesium and antioxidants. A 100 gram serving of cooked mung beans provides around 7 grams of protein and is low in fat, making them an excellent choice for vegetarian and vegan diets. Their high fibre content supports digestive health, while their low glycaemic index helps regulate blood sugar levels.

Culinary uses for mung beans are remarkably diverse. In savoury dishes, they are often cooked whole in soups, stews, and curries, or split and hulled to make dal. In sweet preparations, mung bean paste is a popular filling in Asian pastries and desserts. Sprouted mung beans, which develop within a few days, are crisp, mildly sweet, and commonly used in salads and stir fries.

Beyond the kitchen, mung beans play a role in sustainable agriculture. Their ability to fix nitrogen reduces the need for synthetic fertilisers, and their short growing season allows farmers to fit them into crop rotations, improving both yield and soil health.

From their humble size to their impressive nutritional profile and environmental benefits, mung beans prove that small seeds can have a big impact—on our plates, our health, and the planet.

MUNG BEAN , CUCUMBER, RICOTTA, WALNUT AND DILL SALAD

INGREDIENTS:

500gm mung beans

2 Lebanese cucumbers, diced

½ small red onion, diced

150gm firm ricotta

100gm walnuts, roughly chopped

½ cup dill

75ml lemon juice

1 tsp Dijon mustard

50ml extra virgin olive oil

2 tsp salt

½ tsp ground black pepper

METHOD:

Cover the mung beans with cold water, bring to the boil, then reduce heat and simmer until tender (around 30 minutes).

Remove from the heat and add 1 tsp of salt. Allow to cool down in the water for 10 minutes, then drain and rinse under cold water.

Whisk together the lemon juice, Dijon mustard, olive oil, remaining teaspoon of salt and pepper. Mix the mung beans, cucumber and red onion with the lemon dressing and spread out on a serving platter.

Crumble over the ricotta and sprinkle with the walnuts and dill. Serve with warm flatbread to scoop up the salad.

Serves 4

Preparation time: 45 minutes

BOOKS with Hayley Saunders Grease is the Word

WHEN LEMONS GIVE YOU LIFE

BY ANNA JOHNSTON

RETIRED Michelin-starred chef Griff Barlow has had enough. Of life.

Consumed by guilt and grief, he is living in the dementia wing of an aged care facility under false pretenses. But he has decided it is time end it all.

Deciding that he should cook one last fabulous meal before then, Griff breaks into the nursing home kitchen, and, in the process of baking a delicious lemon tart, he rekindles his passion for food and flavour. Griff knows that all of the residents at Sunny Glen Aged Care facility deserve to be eating better that the bland tasteless slop they are served every day.

And so begins his secret double life.

Meanwhile, his half-sister Lisa is living a chaotic life while looking for love. After losing her best friend, and receiving an ADHD diagnosis, she is still hoping that one day Griff will be the big brother she always needed him to be. Despite their fractured relationship, and the fact that she isn’t sure he even knows who she is, Lisa refuses abandon her big brother.

When Griff realises what is at stake, can he cook himself out of the mess he has created? Is there anyway he can reconcile with Lisa without causing her even more heartbreak?

When Lemons Give You Life, is the second novel by Australian author Anna Johnston. It is a story that explores flawed characters, complicated family relationships, long held secrets, love and hope. It is a book full of all of the flavours of life, which will leave you feeling all warm and content.

" TELL me more, tell me more..."

More than 50 years after it first burst onto the stage, GREASE remains one of the world's most beloved musicals. With its unforgettable songs, larger-than-life characters and timeless coming-of-age story, it continues to delight audiences of every generation.

This September school holidays, Little Seed Theatre Company will bring the iconic musical to The J, Noosa and The Events Centre, Caloundra, in a vibrant new production featuring more than 50 talented young performers from across the Sunshine Coast.

For Artistic Director Johanna Wallace, the show's enduring appeal is its ability to connect families.

"Parents know every lyric, grandparents remember the original production, and today's young people discover characters they instantly connect with. It's one of those rare shows that genuinely brings generations together."

Packed with classics including Summer Nights, Greased Lightnin', Beauty School Dropout and We Go Together, the production celebrates months of dedication from a cast who have immersed themselves in singing, dancing and acting to bring the world of Rydell High to life.

In an age dominated by streaming

services and digital entertainment, live theatre offers something increasingly rare: the chance to share an experience together. There is something magical about hearing the overture begin, watching the lights dim, and seeing young performers pour their hearts into a story they love.

Whether you're reliving your own teenage memories or introducing GREASE to a new generation, this school holiday production promises to be one of the Sunshine Coast's feelgood theatrical events of the year.

So dust off your leather jacket, grab your pink scarf and get ready to return to Rydell High. Because GREASE is still the word.

MUSEUM MAKEOVER BEGINS

THIS photo may not look very exciting, but trust us— it marks the beginning of something very exciting!

The Eumundi Museum team and dedicated volunteers have temporarily relocated to the Conservator’s Workshop in the Eumundi School of Arts while the museum undergoes a long-awaited transformation.

If you’ve passed the corner of Gridley Street and Memorial Drive recently, you may have noticed the museum building is currently under renovation. Thanks to the incredible efforts of the Eumundi and District Historical Association, the upgrade will create more exhibition space, allowing many of the museum’s treasured artefacts to be placed on permanent display, while also providing a larger, more flexible area for feature exhibitions.

Behind the scenes, there’s just as much happening. Director Joe Hextall is leading the team through the mammoth task of

updating the cataloguing and filing of the museum’s extensive collection, ensuring its rich local history is preserved and more accessible for future generations. We can’t wait to welcome everyone back to a bigger, better Eumundi Museum in the months ahead!

NOOSA OPEN STUDIOS WELCOMES 15 NEW ARTISTS

THIS year’s Noosa Open Studios Art Trail welcomes 15 new artists, each bringing a unique style, perspective and creative practice to the much-loved annual event. Based in the old St Luke’s Anglican Church in Kin Kin, ALAN HANSON has developed a spacious studio where his practice has evolved into creating intuitive, large-scale and colourful artworks.

AMY CLARKE is recognised for her abstract paintings, which explore her connection to landscape, memory, family and lineage.

BETTINA WALTER has now (mostly) abandoned digital technology and is getting down to it painting again with a big brush.

CAROLINE SOARES’ practice is embedded in an appreciation for the

natural world seeking to celebrate the beauty of animals, still life and landscapes.

CATHERINE INGLIS has become interested in Textile Deconstruct, leading her to a new Medium of Oils and Mixed Media Abstract Elements using textiles and Japanese/Korean papers.

LEIGH TABRETT paints in acrylics, seeking to observe and capture moments of beauty in her ordinary world.

LENNI GREEN is a ceramic artist creating functional pieces, specialising in cups & bowls, to be used, held and lived with.

MAKAELLA CONIAS is an Abstract Expressionist painter currently working with acrylic paint and ink who explores her deep connection to the natural world through symbolic storytelling.

NIKO DUJMOVIC works with traditional Renaissance glaze techniques as well as oils and acrylics, building luminous layers that create depth, softness, and subtle movement.

ROBYN BEESTON uses watercolour and acrylic to celebrate everyday objects and memories they hold. She also coaches others to surprise themselves creatively.

SONIA BORDER paints with the Tinberwah Art Group where she enjoys the company of similar minded people and exhibits her work in local galleries as well as Kilcoy, Toowoomba ,and Goondiwindi.

STACEY FRANKS’ work reflects a deep love of the natural world with her paintings capturing quiet moments. Stacey’s ability to observe subtle shifts in tone and illumination brings warmth and immediacy to her subjects.

STEPHEN MCGILCHRIST draws upon images from Matisse, Whiteley, Henry Moore and Norman Lindsay in order to find a sensual figurative pose that will then be painted in multiple layers into a composition.

SUELLEN TOMKINS’ landscapes sit somewhere between memory, imagination, and the physical experience of being in a place. What matters to her is how a place is felt rather than seen, and how the feeling lingers once you leave.

VIEUX KYLE-LITTLE’S (Atelier House) creations express her love for nature via pencil, press and watercolour. The cheerful cartoon characters, botanical prints and colourful textile designs are presented in a unique collection of originals, cards and gifts.

https://noosaopenstudios.com.au

YOU’RE A GOOD MAN CHARLIE BROWN

COMING this September to Noosa Arts Theatre is a fun musical “You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown”. Everyone knows the beloved Peanuts comic strip and this production brings all the characters to life on the stage.

The musical was created by Clark Gesner, who initially wrote songs inspired by the comic strip just for fun. He sent recordings to friends before seeking permission to use the characters. It wasn’t based on a single comic strip.

Instead, the show is a collection of short scenes and songs inspired by hundreds of Peanuts comics by Charles M. Schulz.

The show premiered Off-Broadway way back in 1967 and despite its small scale and simple staging it became a huge hit running for over 1500 performances and that’s an impressive achievment for an Off-Broadway show.

Charles Schulz was famously protective of his characters, but he liked Gesner’s songs and gave his blessing to adapt Peanuts into a musical. A revival show in 1999 on Broadway added some of the show’s biggest songs such as My New Philosphy and Beethoven Day written by Andrew Lippa. These songs have become very popular audition songs for young performers. The show was first performed in Australia 10 years ago at the Hayes Theatre in Sydney.

Noosa Arts Theatre is thrilled to present this production starting on September 11 and running until September 27. It’s such a fun show full of vibrancy and and will appeal to all ages of audience. The cast comprises of a lot of new young faces on the Noosa Arts Theatre stage and emphasises what an amazing pool of talented artists we have here on the Sunshine Coast. What a great way to kick off the Spring season and we guarantee you’ll leave with a big smile on your face. Whatever you do don’t miss this fabulous show. You can book your tickets online at www.noosaartstheatre.org.au or call the Box Office on (07) 5449 9343 Tuesday to Friday between 10am and 2pm.

Live MUSIC

HEART OF GOLD invites you to

‘Have a Heart’

HEART of Gold International Short Film Festival has launched its Have a Heart fundraising campaign, inviting audiences, filmmakers and supporters to help secure the future of one of regional Australia’s most-loved film festivals.

As the festival prepares to celebrate its 20th anniversary in September, tax-deductible donations through the Australian Cultural Fund will support inspiring films, emerging filmmakers, youth programs, industry workshops, school initiatives and free community events.

Festival Director Nicole Harper said community support is vital as costs continue to rise across the arts sector.

“For two decades, Heart of Gold has celebrated stories that remind us of our shared humanity. The Have a Heart campaign gives people the chance to invest in a festival that has had a lasting impact on filmmakers, audiences and our regional community,” she said.

Held annually in Gympie, Heart of Gold attracts thousands of visitors, showcases outstanding Australian and international short films and delivers significant cultural and economic benefits to the region.

The 2026 festival runs from September 12–20. Donations of $2 or more are tax deductible.

Winter Art School

A variety of art workshops from Aug 8 till Sept 13 including paint your pet ’s portrait

ADVERT

Art Jam

Artists set up their studios in the gallery.

Giving visitors a great opportunity to find out more about their artwork and arts practice

New Homes for Old Art

Resale of artworks, this exhibition provides a financial opportunity for those wishing to downsize their art collection to resell artworks.

COOROY CREATIVES A TRAIL WITHIN A TRAIL

FOLLOWING a successful launch event at 15 Diamond Street Café, Cooroy Creatives is now preparing to welcome visitors for this year’s Noosa Open Studios Art Trail with a unique ‘trail within a trail’ showcasing some of the finest artistic talent in the Noosa Hinterland.

The launch brought together artists, supporters and members of the community to celebrate the collective of six established creatives who have joined forces to offer an inspiring and easily accessible arts experience in the heart of Cooroy.

The collective features renowned abstract landscape painter Trevor Purvis, acclaimed ceramic artist, teacher and mentor Rowley Drysdale, multimedia artist and storyteller Robyn Beeston, painter and renowned award winning painter and printmaker Wendy McGrath- Lakeland, the makers of Azure Pottery(Sue Moyle) and jewellery artist Beryl Purvis, whose contemporary statement pieces are inspired by Africa and her extensive world travels.

During Noosa Open Studios, visitors will be able to enjoy a short drivable art experience while exploring Cooroy’s cafés, galleries, boutiques and welcoming country atmosphere. The Cooroy Creative trail offers a chance for visitors to immerse

themselves in distinctive artistic practices, meet the artists, hear their stories and experience the creative spirit that makes the Hinterland so special.

The Collective aims to encourage visitors to spend more time in Cooroy, enjoying local hospitality, supporting local businesses and discovering why the town has become a thriving creative hub.

Building on the enthusiasm generated at the launch, Cooroy Creatives hopes the initiative will strengthen community connections, promote cultural tourism and showcase the depth and diversity of artistic talent found in the Noosa Hinterland.

For art lovers planning their Noosa Open Studios itinerary, Cooroy offers many compelling reasons to make the town a must-visit destination on this year’s trail.

There will also be workshops held during and after the art trail in the studios of Rowley Drysdale, Trevor Purvis and Robyn Beeston

ABSTRACT PAINTING WORKSHOP

PAINT UP A STORM

DISCOVER the joy of expressive painting at Paint Up A Storm, a oneday abstract landscape workshop with internationally recognised artist Jan Murphy in Doonan this August.

Running on Saturday, August 29 or Sunday, August 30, from 9.30am to 3.30pm, the workshop invites beginners through to experienced artists to explore a fresh and energetic approach to painting. At just $100, all materials are included, making it an accessible opportunity to learn new techniques in a relaxed and supportive environment.

An accomplished abstract artist, printmaker, photographer and experienced art teacher, Jan is known for her vibrant landscapes that capture movement, colour and emotion. Her artwork Ancient Lands was awarded second place at the 2023 Mary Valley Art Exhibition, and she is a participating artist in Noosa Open Studios 2026.

During the workshop, participants will learn to create striking landscapes using a minimal colour palette, large brushes and a variety of mark-making tools. Jan encourages artists to embrace loose brushstrokes, textured layers and

intuitive techniques that bring energy and life to every piece.

Drawing inspiration from her own photography, Jan digitally manipulates images before translating them into expressive paintings using collage, acrylic textures and bold sweeping marks. Her process celebrates creativity, experimentation and confidence. Places are limited, so bookings are essential.

For more information or to reserve your place, contact Jan Murphy on 0499 551 700 or email jgfiji1988@yahoo.com.au.

THREE OUTSTANDING GUITARISTS

ONE EXCEPTIONAL NIGHT

THREE of Australia’s most accomplished guitarists share the stage this August as the Acoustic Guitar Spectacular returns to Queensland, presented by Red Chair.

Hosted by internationally recognised guitarist and composer Michael Fix, the 2026 concert series brings together Jason McGregor and Craig Claxton for a program that spans fingerstyle, blues, rock, jazz and beyond.

Michael Fix is one of Australia’s most respected guitarists, with a career spanning more than three decades, multiple CMAA Golden Guitar Awards and an international touring profile that has taken his music to audiences around the world. His playing draws from classical, jazz, blues and world music traditions, combining intricate fingerpicking with percussive technique in a style entirely his own.

Jason McGregor is a former National Fingerstyle Guitar Champion whose technical precision and soulful musicality have made him one of the most soughtafter guitarists in the country. He has performed and toured alongside Adam Brand, Lee Kernaghan, Tania Doko, Paulini, The Veronicas and Broadway vocalist Shoshana Bean.

Craig Claxton brings more than 50 years of experience to the stage. Shaped by blues, rock and jazz, he has played and

PRESENTS

recorded with Robben Ford, Carol Lloyd, Wendy Saddington, Chris Wilson and Ross Wilson, among many others. A respected educator, session player and founder of Guitar Brothers, one of Australia’s premier guitar stores, Claxton’s depth of knowledge and range of style is unmatched.

“This is a concert for anyone who loves the guitar,” says Red Chair Director Angie Dunbavan. “Fix, McGregor and Claxton each bring something distinct to the stage, and together they create

something genuinely special.”

Presented by Red Chair, this tour brings high-quality live music experiences to South-East Queensland regional communities, connecting audiences with some of Australia’s finest artists.

Sunshine Coast August Performance Dates: Maleny Community Centre - Friday 21, Coolum Civic Centre - Saturday 22, The Events Centre - Caloundra, Thursday 27, Majestic Theatre - Pomona, Saturday 29, Eudlo Hall - Sunday 30.

A ROMANTIC RENDEZVOUS

PACIFIC Chamber Players’ first programme for the year is a very special one. They are presenting works by female Romantic composers, in particular Louise Farrenc, Cécile Chaminade, Clara Schumann and Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel.

The music of these composers and pianists added an emotional depth and enchantment to the canon of Romantic music. Farrenc’s Nonet for wind and strings is full of rich textures and intricate scoring. Schumann’s piano trio is lyrical

with inventive harmonies and Fanny Mendelssohn’s Nocturne is pure emotion in a pianistic style. Chaminade’s Flute Concertino explores the subtle tonal qualities of the instrument. Be prepared to be transported to another world, subtle and delicate.

The concert is 2.30pm Sunday August 16 at the Cooroy Memorial Hall. Tickets are $35 adult, $33 concession, $10 school student. These are available online at www.pacificchamberplayers.com or cash at the door.

Creative season springs to life AT COOROY BUTTER FACTORY

ITS that time of year again when the Cooroy Butter Factory Arts Centre (CBFAC) rolls out some of its most innovative programs – Art Jam, New Homes for Old Art and pARTicipate winter arts school.

Art Jam is a popular program as it allows the audience to discuss art with the makers. The gallery is set up with a range of small artist studios where artists hang or display their work and work on new artworks in situ. It is an incredibly lively program with artists and visitors in conversation and ideas being shared.

New Homes for Old Art has been a great success. Whether community members are downsizing or just want to refresh their collections, this show gives them the opportunity to resell works they have acquired over time. The exhibition also provides a chance to pick up artwork at a good price.

pARTicipate is the Butter Factory’s first-time workshop program over several weeks. It provides a chance for the community to get some intense skill development over 2- or 4-day workshops. Apart from some wonderful painting workshops the program offers book making, small scale sculpture, drawing, porcelain and natural ink workshops.

Also included is a new workshop called Psychologically Informed creative wellbeing

experiences. Through guided creative activities, simple neuroscience-informed learning, watercolour exploration, and reflective practices, participants are invited to slow down, reconnect with yourself, and explore creativity in a supportive and safe environment.

The program is also reaching out to the Eumundi Writers Festival with the CBFAC’s coordinator conducting a one day writing workshop for artists to better express in words what their art practice is about. This all-day workshop takes place on Friday September 4. Go to eumundiwritersfestival. com.au to book.

August also ushers in our third term pottery program with new classes added on Saturday. Bookings will open soon for term 4 and our teaser program. Finally look out for the Cooroy Butter Factory Art Centre call for submissions for the 2027 exhibition program. https://cooroybutterfactory. com.au/

GREASE is the word! The electrifying, smash-hit musical bursts onto the Sunshine Coast for a high-octane, strictly limited, season this September. After a sizzling summer fling, Danny, Sandy and their unforgettable friends return to Rydell High where love, friendship, and teenage drama collide in spectacular style. Get ready to be transported back to the 1950s with a non-stop, nostalgic soundtrack featuring iconic hits like “Summer Nights,” “Greased Lightnin’,” and “You’re the One That I Want.”

So grab your poodle skirts, slick back your hair, and drive in to the ultimate feel-good musical that’ll have you dancing in your seat and singing all the way home! Sep 24 - Oct 2 | Tickets from $49.50

EXERCISE: IT’S NOT JUST THE PHYSICAL Cooroy Food Pantry

Providing temporary food support for the community

Drop in for free support

Campus Chapel

Noosa Adventist College 20 Cooroy Belli Creek Road, Cooroy

Open Sundays between 3-5pm

MOST people simply exercise to get fit. The goal is usually to build muscle. Lose some weight. And fit into those favourite jeans this winter.

But there are so many more benefits to exercising than just being buff and toned. Sure! Being fit is fantastic. And something you should be proud of with the hard work involved. But the emotional wellbeing and mental benefits gained from working out can far outweigh the physical elements.

Being active is so good for your mental health. It releases endorphins (the happy hormones) making you feel amazing and putting you in an instant good mood. Also, when you notice the positive gains you are achieving, that can make you feel pretty good about yourself too.

Working out with others is also an instant mood enhancer, being social in an active, wholesome way. Sometimes a simple, positive interaction with someone can really lift your mood.

Winter can be a time when we can often shy away from the world. Our usual routines can be put on hold, slowing down our motivation for wanting to be active, thereby decreasing our mood levels. The cooler days call for being cosy at home in front of the fire… and eating heavier, richer meals. And so the cycle can begin, losing our mojo a little over the cooler months.

Don’t let the chill factor stop you!!!

I know it can be tougher… but try and commit to moving your body. Even just a little bit each day during winter.

You’ll feel better and be more inclined to keep going. And then when it starts to warm up again (and let’s be real… we don’t even have a very long winter around here!!!) it will be so much easier to get back into your usual swing of things.

So grab a mate. Book a class. Go for a jog. Hit the trails.

Be active - Somewhere - Somehow. And keep those endorphins running high!!!

Happy active winter wishes. E x

To find out where Erin is teaching and training from now, please email erin@efitnesspomona.com.au

TEACHERS TAKE THE ICE BUCKET CHALLENGE

ON the brisk afternoon of July 17, with temperatures sitting at a chilly 18˚C, six brave teachers from Noosa District State High School stepped forward to face an icy test of courage. Their mission was simple but powerful: raise awareness and vital funds to support Australians experiencing homelessness. Their method, however, was far from ordinary. In front of a buzzing crowd of students and staff, each teacher was drenched in freezing water as part of the school’s Ice Bucket Challenge for Homelessness.

ULNAR NEUROPATHY

The nerve behind your hand symptoms

This event was organised by the Noosa District State High School Interact Club, a studentled service group dedicated to community action. Determined to make a meaningful impact, the club set its sights on raising money for Backpack Beds—portable, weatherproof sleeping solutions designed to support people sleeping rough across Australia. To achieve this, students coordinated a twopart initiative: a school sleepout to simulate the challenges faced by those without secure housing, followed by the highly anticipated Ice Bucket Challenge.

Months of planning and promotion paid off. As the teachers took their places, an excited crowd gathered, cheering loudly in anticipation. Buckets filled with ice and water were lifted high, and with a dramatic countdown, the volunteers were soaked in a shock of freezing cold. Laughter, applause, and gasps rippled through the audience as each teacher embraced the challenge with enthusiasm and good humour.

But behind the fun and spectacle lay a serious message. Homelessness affects more than 122,000 Australians on any given night, and youth homelessness continues to rise. By staging events that are both engaging and educational, the Interact Club aims to encourage students to think critically about social issues and take action to support vulnerable members of the community.

Their efforts have already produced remarkable results. Thanks to the hard work of students and the generosity of families, staff, and local supporters, the school has raised an impressive $6,247—and counting. These funds will go directly toward supplying Backpack Beds to people in need, providing immediate comfort and safety for those sleeping without shelter.

Interact Club members say they are thrilled with the turnout and the community’s response. They hope the event not only raises funds but also inspires ongoing conversations about homelessness, empathy, and social responsibility.

As the last bucket was emptied and the teachers shook off the cold, one thing was clear: the spirit of compassion at Noosa District State High School is stronger than ever. Through teamwork, creativity, and a willingness to get a little uncomfortable for a good cause, students and staff have demonstrated the power of community action—and the difference a single school can make.

Lucy McDonagh, Year 12, Noosa District State High School.

NUMBNESS, tingling, or weakness in the hand can be frustrating and confusing. Many people wonder whether the problem is coming from their neck, elbow, wrist, or hand. Because several conditions can cause similar symptoms, a thorough assessment is often needed to identify the underlying cause.

One possible explanation is ulnar neuropathy, a condition that occurs when the ulnar nerve becomes irritated or compressed. The ulnar nerve travels from the arm, around the inside of the elbow, and into the hand. It provides sensation to the little and ring fingers and helps control many of the small muscles responsible for hand movement and grip strength.

Symptoms may include numbness or tingling in the ring and little fingers, pain in the elbow, reduced grip strength, hand weakness, or difficulty with tasks requiring fine motor control. Some people notice symptoms are more pronounced when

leaning on their elbows, sleeping with their elbows bent, driving, or performing repetitive activities.

Assessment may involve a clinical examination, imaging of the cervical spine, and nerve conduction studies. Nerve conduction studies are specialised tests performed by a neurologist that assess how well electrical signals travel through the nerves. These investigations can help determine whether symptoms are arising from the neck or the ulnar nerve at the elbow.

If symptoms are ongoing or affecting daily activities, speak with your GP. They may arrange appropriate investigations and referral to a specialist experienced in these conditions, such as a neurosurgeon. Alternatively, our Nurse Practitioner can assess concerns without the need for a referral and help guide further investigations and management options.

DR STEPHEN BYRNE, VIKKI BROOK NP & SARAH PAPP RN

Sunshine Coast Neurosurgery

Vitality Village, 5 Discovery Court, Birtinya 5437 7256 | www.scneurosurgery.com.au

The Hearing Experience That Puts Less Drain On Your Battery

Are you putting off addressing your hearing loss?

You aren’t just missing volume — you’re sacrificing the richness and crucial details of everyday life.

Traditional hearing aids often treat all sounds equally, resulting in a flat, one-dimensional, and often tiring listening experience.

Oticon knows that the true goal of people with hearing loss is higher social participation through better conversation.

That’s why the revolutionary Oticon Intent™ hearing aid is engineered with advanced 4D Sensor technology — a

system designed to work in harmony with your brain’s natural process of understanding speech.

This advanced system goes beyond simple amplification. It uses four sophisticated sensors (tracking head movement, body activity, voice activity, and the environment) to accurately determine your focus.

It then constantly adjusts to deliver superior speech clarity, exactly when you need it.

This ensures you can participate in regular conversations without always missing out.

Rediscover life’s special moments

the soft rustling of leaves, the distinct pitch of a grandchild’s laugh, and the punchline at happy hour.

Life is too short to settle for muffled, incomplete hearing.

You don’t need to struggle any longer. Demand to live with better sound clarity.

Call us today to book a risk-free trial of Oticon Intent™. It’s time to address your listening fatigue.

NATIVE SHRUBS FOR NOOSA’S COASTAL URBAN GARDENS

THE following native shrubs are suited to smaller urban gardens in Noosa and will improve biodiversity and attract wildlife. These plants are naturally found in the challenging sandy soils of Noosa’s coastal suburbs, providing an attractive and sustainable garden. Seek advice from your local native plant nursery about many more species suited to Noosa coastal areas.

Elaeocarpus reticulatus - Blueberry Ash

With striking attractive flushes of pink foliage and dainty flowers, this small tree prunes readily into a screening shrub ideal for urban gardens. It is particularly suited to protected coastal locations where the foliage is resistant to salt spray.  Plant it in full sun.

This is a tall open shrub to 3 metres

with weeping fine foliage and spectacular yellow flowers. Use as a background shrub in the garden, and prune after flowering to maintain bushiness.

Melaleuca linarifolia - Snow in Summer

This tea tree can grow to 10 metres, but with pruning can be maintained as a medium shrub to 2 metres. It has soft grey foliage with citron aromas and abundant cream coloured flowers that are so thick they replicate snow over the foliage. It enjoys a light prune after flowering to maintain bushiness. There is also a cultivar called ‘Claret Tops’ that is cultivated due to its flushes of red new foliage growth. Its dense foliage provides excellent protection for many smaller birds and various butterflies and moths – a real haven for wildlife in the garden!

This low growing shrub to 1 metre can be clipped as a tight foreground species with attractive fleshy green foliage and discreet white flowers. It is ideal for mass planting banks on steep slopes or as a foreground feature.

appealing, soft velvety leaves and attractive pendulous growth. It is well suited to coastal gardens and is a butterfly host plant. Clip regularly to maintain shape and bushiness. It is ideal in more formal gardens as a hedge.

Phebalium is a great garden plant, with attractive foliage and dainty white flowers, which responds well to pruning. It can be sourced as both an upright shrub and prostrate (groundcover) form, and can be planted in sun or dappled shade. It is ideal in mixed shubbery in garden beds.

Shaun Walsh

YOUR LOCAL GARDEN with Urban Wildlife Gardens noosariver.com.au/urban-wildlife-gardens

THOUSANDS TURN OUT FOR SE QUEENSLAND’S BIGGEST EV AND ELECTRIFICATION EXPO

MORE than 6500 people flocked to Sunshine Beach Road on Sunday June 21 for the 8th Annual Noosa EV & Electrify Everything Expo, making it the largest event in the Expo’s history.

Hosted by Zero Emissions Noosa (ZEN), the free community event showcased the latest electric vehicles, e-bikes, e-scooters, home batteries, rooftop solar, EV chargers, induction cooking, heat pumps and other energysaving technologies. Visitors were able to speak with ZEN’s independent EV, Home and Business Energy Champions, compare products from multiple providers and hear directly from local EV owners about their personal experiences. 85 per cent of surveyed visitors said the Expo helped them make decisions about electrifying their home or business. Almost two-thirds of visitors were attending the Expo for the first time, demonstrating growing community interest.

ZEN Program and Project Coordinator Rex Halverson said the Expo’s success reflected a growing appetite for trusted, independent information.

“The technologies and options have evolved significantly in recent years and many people have questions about what will work best for them. The Expo

provides an opportunity to compare products, speak directly with experts and owners, and make informed decisions without pressure.”

This year’s Expo featured the largest display of electric vehicles ever assembled at the event, with over 30 EV’s representing more than 20 automotive brands, alongside demonstrations of

induction cooking, e-bike and e-scooter experiences, and carport solar displays.

The event was made possible through the support of over 50 ZEN volunteers, 100 exhibitor staff and the event supporters, Noosa Council and the Noosa Junction Association.

As households continue to look for ways to manage rising energy costs

communityengagement@zeroemissionsnoosa.com www.zeroemissionsnoosa.com.au

and embrace cleaner technologies, the continued growth of the Expo suggests the community’s interest in electrification has never been stronger.

If you missed this year’s Expo but would like to learn more visit the Zero Emissions Noosa website for independent advice, practical tips and trusted resources to help you get started.

OUTDOOR ADVENTURES with Andy Flanagan

SUMMER GARDENING AND

BALLROOM CAMPING, FOSSIL CREEK & BABYLON

HAVING completed nearly 2 weeks of our NZ South West Coast odyssey, with two amazing multi day hikes under our belts we thought we had seen the best of it but the land of the long white cloud just kept on giving.

We headed north from the Copland trail to Greymouth and Punakaiki. Lots of limestone in these parts so I was hoping to explore some caves. As usual NZ did not disappoint. First stop Greymouth Top 10 Holiday Park for a couple of nights rest and reset, plus the first of many caves, the Cobden cave. Located minutes from downtown Greymouth on the banks of the Grey River, it’s a small, muddy little grotto but worth a look. If you are lucky the big black shiny eel in the pool near the back of the cave will show its self.

Next up is a day walk out and back on the Moonlight track. It takes us up to its Paparoa trail junction. This is an old gold miners trail with lots of relics, ruins and mines. It starts at Andersons Flat about 40 min out of Greymouth. It’s a tough but beautiful trail, took us nearly 8 hours; 10km each way with nearly 1000m of elevation. Highly recommend. Magnificent views from the top.

The Inland Pack track is our last overnight hike for this trip. It’s a through walk but for ease of logistics we hiked out and back from the Fox River trail head, to a most unusual campsite called ‘The Ballroom’. The trail follows the river, it is fairy flat and we are soon winding our way though beautiful thick forests of tree ferns. After an hour or so with dry feet it’s

time to get them wet, there are multiple crossings as we get closer to our campsite. The crossings are wide and shallow but I imagine things could get dangerous very quickly with some heavy rain in this deep river valley.

The Ballroom is a big flatish area beneath a huge overhanging rock sheltering the area of nearly half a football field. Photos just don’t do it justice. We were expecting to be sharing this amazing space with many others, but we had it all to ourselves!

Our walk in was under 2 hours so we setup camp and headed off to explore Fossil Creek up to the Dilemma Creek junction. 3 hours of wandering up this creek with its crystal clear waters and towering limestone cliffs was just magnificent.

Next Morning we headed back towards the trail head with plans to take a look at a closed trail that leads to the Babylon Cave system. We found the trail and it started out easy but soon became steep, very slippery and overgrown. We persisted for an hour or so and our efforts were rewarded 10 fold!

A magnificent cave system full of deep dark corridors and big expansive caverns full of every limestone feature you could imagine. Being in this beautiful underground wonderland all on our own was very exciting and yet so serene.

Till next issue, wishing you all happy and safe adventures.

Andy Flanagan.

www.SaveOurSummits.org

CONGRATULATIONS to Noah Ellison Noah is officially the Australian Champion in the 50m Breaststroke, taking home Gold at the School Sport Australia 13–19 Years Swimming Championships! He also backed it up with an outstanding Bronze medal in the 100m Breaststroke.

DOUBLE GOLD!!

A huge congratulations to Bianca Benham and Jack Benham, from Good Shepherd Lutheran College, who delivered outstanding performances, showcasing incredible skill at the National Karate Championships in Hobart! Bianca and Jack both won Gold Medals!!

CONGRATULATIONS to Isaiah Martin on his outstanding performance at the Queensland State Cross Country Championships. Representing both the Sunshine Coast and Noosa District State High School, Isaiah finished an impressive 13th in Queensland in his age group.

Join us for an afternoon celebrating the Cooroy Possums & everything we love about Cooroy. Massive raffle prizes, Food & drink stalls, Live music & DJ, Learn to bowl & green activities, Kids games & activities, BYO picnic blanket. When: Sunday 16 August Time: 12pm–5pm Where: Crackerjack Cooroy Let’s bring the Cooroy Bowls Green back to competition standard! Save the green and write A True Crackerjack Story. www.crackerjackcooroy.com

ANOTHER AUSTRALIAN CHAMPION!

IMPACT BOXING & FITNESS CENTRE

ONCE again, Impact Boxing & Fitness Centre has produced another Australian Champion!

A massive congratulations to Theo Rivera, who claimed Gold at the 2026 Australian Under-19 Championships, earning the title of Australian Junior Male 63kg Champion and cementing his place as the No. 1 ranked 63kg junior boxer in Australia.

Theo delivered an outstanding tournament from start to finish.

• Quarter Final: Defeated his South Australian opponent with a Round 1 TKO.

• Semi Final: Advanced with another dominant performance, stopping his Victorian opponent by Round 2 TKO.

• Final: Against a very worthy opponent from New South Wales, Theo produced a spectacular third-round knockout, bringing the crowd to its feet and securing the Australian title.

Theo was also awarded best junior male boxer of the tournament.

Theo’s success is a testament to the countless hours of hard work, discipline and dedication he has invested behind the scenes. Early mornings, tough training sessions and unwavering commitment have all led to this incredible moment. Seeing his hand raised as Australian Champion is the ultimate reward for the effort he has put in.

Mika Davey also had an exceptional tournament in her first Australian Under-19

Championships, bringing home a Silver Medal after a highly competitive final against Victoria’s Belle Spicer, the current three-time Australian Champion.

For Mika to reach the final and win silver so early in her boxing career, against such an accomplished opponent, is an outstanding achievement and one she should be incredibly proud of.

Not to be outdone, Jackson Davey produced another fantastic performance at just his second Australian Championships, earning a Silver Medal after meeting two-time Australian Champion Nash Wall from New South Wales in the final.

All three athletes exceeded every expectation, displaying exceptional boxing skills, ring IQ and composure throughout the championships. As a coach, I couldn’t be prouder of what they have achieved. They represented Queensland with pride on the biggest stage in Australian amateur boxing and did themselves, their families and our club proud.

A huge thank you to all of our teammates, families, supporters, sponsors and everyone who has been part of this journey. Your encouragement and belief mean the world to our athletes.

Congratulations again to Theo, Mika and Jackson. The future of Impact Boxing & Fitness Centre is incredibly bright, and we can’t wait to see what comes next.

ELITE NOOSA HINTERLAND LOCATION

PRIVATELY positioned on a picturesque

1.3-acre parcel surrounded by established gardens and natural beauty, this substantial brick residence offers an exceptional opportunity to embrace the relaxed lifestyle the Noosa Hinterland is renowned for. Combining generous proportions, versatile living spaces and the flexibility of dual living potential, this is a property perfectly suited to growing families, multi-generational living, home business operators or those simply seeking space, privacy and a connection with nature.

From the moment you arrive, you will appreciate the peaceful atmosphere and sense of seclusion. The gently landscaped grounds provide a wonderful balance of open lawns, mature trees and established gardens, creating a tranquil setting where children can explore, pets can roam, and family gatherings become lasting memories.

Designed for effortless family living and entertaining, the home features generous indoor and outdoor living spaces that flow seamlessly together. Multiple living areas provide flexibility for families of all ages, while the adaptable floorplan presents an outstanding opportunity to create a self-contained dual living arrangement for extended family, guests or supplementary

income (subject to any required approvals).

Step outside and discover your own private resort. The sparkling in-ground swimming pool and adjoining spa create the ultimate space to relax, entertain and enjoy Queensland’s enviable climate year-round. Whether it’s hosting family celebrations, cooling off on a summer afternoon or unwinding beneath the stars, this exceptional outdoor setting is sure to

FINDING HOME IN THE NOOSA HINTERLAND

WHEN my family and I found our home in the Noosa Hinterland in 2016, we weren't just looking for a house. We were looking for a different way of life.

We wanted space, a sense of community and somewhere our children could grow up surrounded by nature. Over the years, this region has become home in every sense of the word. I've embraced acreage living, become part of the local equestrian community and discovered just how special the Noosa Hinterland and Mary Valley really are.

That lived experience shapes the way I work today.

When I meet buyers and sellers, we're often speaking the same language. We talk about the use of the land, water security, fencing, riding trails, bush tracks, privacy and the little details that can make all the difference. Whether someone dreams of horses, a productive hobby farm or simply more space and peace, understanding the lifestyle they're searching for is just as important as understanding the property itself.

Every property has its own story, just as every family has its own reason for moving. It's a privilege to help people discover this remarkable part of the world and the lifestyle I've been fortunate enough to call home since 2016.

Lori Kerr

surrounding greenery, creating a seamless connection between the indoors and the beautiful hinterland beyond. Covered outdoor entertaining areas provide the perfect place to relax with friends, enjoy weekend barbeques or simply take in the peaceful outlook.

Positioned within easy reach of the vibrant township of Cooroy, Noosa River, the world-famous beaches of Noosa Heads and the many cafés, markets and walking trails that make the hinterland so desirable, this property offers the rare combination of lifestyle, convenience and future potential.

Whether you are searching for your forever family home, a peaceful lifestyle retreat or an investment with flexibility for years to come, this outstanding acreage property presents an opportunity not to be missed.

become the heart of the home.

Comfort is assured throughout every season with ducted air conditioning, while an extensive solar power system with battery storage provides outstanding energy efficiency and helps reduce ongoing running costs - delivering both lifestyle and longterm savings.

Large windows invite natural light throughout the home while framing the

ADDRESS

10 FANTAIL CRESCENT, COOROY

5 BED - 3 BATH - 3 CAR VIEW - BY APPOINTMENT

AGENT - WARREN BERRY WARREN@HINTERNOOSA.COM.AU

PHONE - 0407 730 987

A Timeless EUMUNDI TREASURE

SOME homes tell a story. This one has been part of Eumundi’s story for more than a century.

Believed to date back to around 1916, this remarkable Eumundi residence has stood through more than a century of the township’s history. Constructed from timber milled at Eumundi’s historic Etheridge Sawmill, it is a rare reminder of the craftsmanship and heritage that helped shape the community. Held by the same family since 2002, the home has been thoughtfully extended and carefully updated over the years, allowing its history and modern comforts to sit side by side.

Original VJ walls, stained glass casement windows, French doors and beautiful ironbark floors celebrate the craftsmanship of a bygone era. At its heart is a welcoming country kitchen, warmed by a combustion wood fireplace. The floorplan offers four bedrooms, three bathrooms and a dedicated office, including a beautifully renovated ensuite with a freestanding bath and

double shower. Refined finishes have been thoughtfully selected throughout. Wide verandahs and a generous covered rear deck provide inviting spaces to relax or entertain. Beneath the home is a substantial lockable workshop.

A new 4 x 7 metre swimming pool and enclosed chook pen complete the property. Positioned on an extraordinary 2,496sqm block in the heart of Eumundi, cafés, restaurants, the famous markets and everyday conveniences are all just a short stroll away.

ADDRESS

105 MEMORIAL DRIVE, EUMUNDI

4 BED - 3 BATH - 4 CAR VIEW - BY APPOINTMENT

AGENT - KESS PRIOR KESS@HINTERNOOSA.COM.AU

PHONE - 0404 344 399

AS demand for quality housing across the Noosa Hinterland continues to grow, locally focused developer Altum Property Group is proud to be delivering much-needed new homes to the Cooroy community through its boutique Canvas Cooroy development.

Now complete and ready to move in, Canvas has been thoughtfully designed to provide low-maintenance, highquality living within walking distance of Cooroy's vibrant town centre.

The development has been warmly received by buyers seeking a modern home while remaining connected to the character and lifestyle of the hinterland.

With all but one residence now sold, the final

Altum believes developments such as Canvas play an important role in increasing housing choice while complementing the existing character of Cooroy. By delivering well-designed homes in established communities, projects like Canvas help support local businesses, attract new residents and contribute to the long-term growth of the region.

opportunity is Townhouse 3, priced at $915,000. The spacious two-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bathroom home features open-plan living, a secure lock-up garage and a beautifully landscaped private courtyard, offering an ideal lifestyle for downsizers, professionals or those looking to enjoy the relaxed pace of hinterland living.

For buyers seeking a brand-new home without the wait, this is the final chance to become part of the Canvas Cooroy community.

For further information or to arrange an inspection, contact Vanessa Lawless at Milestone Property Group on 0438 559 538 or vanessa@milestonepg.com.au

54. Carnival

55. Barcelona bar food

56. Cedes

57. Non-coms (1,1,2)

60. Periods

62. Frozen drop

65. Spotty

67. NW Italian city

69. Abated

70. Glances quickly

72. Doll couple, Barbie and ...

73. Comprehends writing

75. Throat growth

77. Snake-like fish

79. Savoury jelly

81. Tiny songbird

82. Upper crust

84. Ill-suited

85. Scarcer

86. Limp

87. Smartened (up)

88. Damp & cold DOWN

1. Stride

2. Embellish

3. Large rodent

4. Actress, Goldie ...

5. Directs attention (to)

6. Uproar

7. Actor, ... Ifans

8. Hoo-ha

9. United (2,3)

10. Wiry-haired dog, ... Terrier

12. Coldplay vocalist, ... Martin

14. Singer, Paula ...

16. Snigger

19. Laptop memory units

22. Greek capital 23. Loft

25. TV reception pole

26. Small whirlpools

29. Mismanages

32. Appraise

35. Magic lamp master

37. Foot joint

38. Renal organs

40. Accounts check

41. Prima donnas

42. Unpunctual

43. Old hat

44. Keyboard instrument

47. Reflective road marker

51. Salt/water mix

52. Became tedious

53. Japanese martial art

54. Baggy

58. Commends (for bravery)

59. Respectful address

61. Valuable possession

63. Around (that time)

64. Christian festival

65. Type of ulcer

66. Social outcast

68. Remove (brooch)

71. Film star, ... Knightley

72. Philosopher, ... Marx

74. Picnic pests

76. Pig fat

78. Welsh vegetable

80. Squid defence

83. Steered

THE ARTISTRY OF HINTERLAND LIVING

TOWN HOUSE THREE $915,000

2 spacious bedrooms, including a master suite with ensuite and walk-in robe. Light-filled open-plan kitchen, dining and living area flowing to a private courtyard. Secure single lock-up garage.

Imagine a light-filled, architecturally designed townhouse nestled in the heart of Noosa’s lush hinterland – where modern comfort meets natural beauty. A boutique enclave of new two- or three-bedroom townhomes, Canvas Cooroy blends style and simplicity, with clean lines, quality finishes, and a thoughtfully designed layout that maximises space and privacy. Step outside into your own secluded courtyard, ideal for morning coffee, afternoon sun or entertaining. Whether downsizing, investing, or seeking a peaceful retreat close to Noosa’s beaches, boutiques and hinterland villages, Canvas Cooroy lets you enjoy the best of both worlds.