Cooroora Connect March Edition

Cooroora Connect March 2020

An Initiative of Pomona & District Community House

Markets every week?

Toilets inaction unblocked After more than two years of not having access to toilets in Stan Topper Park adjacent to their emergency services building, Pomona SES personnel can look forward to new toilets being installed on the premises.

The Pomona Country Markets attracts an average of 45 stallholders, with operators changing their offerings to suit new tastes, including organic salads and specialist breads.

An application to allow the Pomona Country Markets to operate weekly is being prepared for Noosa Council’s approval, with the first of the more frequent markets likely to be held in April.

Pomona Arts Inc., which benefits from the market profits, has already ratified the proposal.

Market manager, Jason Egan, said the move from fortnightly markets to weekly had come about at the request of 80 per cent of stallholders, but also had been made more feasible by the opening of new businesses bringing additional visitors to town. He named the Pomona Distilling Co. as one of these.

“The distillery and the prospect of new businesses attracting visitors all coincides nicely with what we are doing,” Mr Egan said.

Another motive for the change was the current schedule of the markets on the

second and fourth Saturday of the month. “About four times a year there are five Saturdays in the month, so there can be three weeks between market days, confusing some people, and stallholders are saying why can’t we open on the fifth Saturday. The more practical alternative seemed to be to go weekly.”

With the exception of the sale of fruit and vegetables, Mr Egan said there was very little duplication between established town businesses and market stallholders. “All businesses benefit from the higher number of people in town on market days,” he said.

The Pomona market had a different character than other weekly markets in towns nearby, such as Yandina, he said.

Mr Egan said that to make the markets work, stallholders needed to be persistent and have a regular presence.

“People know you are there and will seek you out.”

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services and the SES have been aware of the toilet issue, which has the potential to affect the operational efficiency of Pomona SES personnel during an emergency.

In a statement dated 31 January, Peter Clarke, Chief of Staff to the Minister for Fire and Emergency Services, Craig Crawford, said: “Funding has been secured to build toilets within the Pomona SES facility.”

A meeting was scheduled with Noosa Council and the SES Area Controller on 5 February to discuss building approval and interim solutions.

In further news, Noosa Council’s Director of Infrastructure Services, Carl Billingham, says that “the matter of public toilet facilities in Pomona will be considered during future budget deliberations”.

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State ‘should rethink koala habitat mapping’ Noosa Council says the Queensland Government has left thousands of hectares of Noosa koala habitats unprotected by rushing the release of koala land maps before Christmas, without adequate consultation.

We have far more accurate mapping than they do.”

“Some areas that were previously mapped as koala habitat have been wiped from the state’s new mapping at a time when our struggling koalas need all the protection they can get,” Mayor Tony Wellington said.

Noosa Mayor Tony Wellington with a koala at the launch of the Yurol-Ringtail State The mayor said the state should be Forest Conservation Project. doing more to help councils protect koala habitat, particularly in the “Where clearing of koala habitat was wake of recent devastating bushfires unavoidable, Noosa Council used to across Queensland. be able to insist that developers plant koala food trees in other koala The council has called on the habitat areas to offset the loss. Under Queensland Government to reconsider and re-issue amended and new administrative arrangements, the Queensland Government will accurate maps. now manage offsets, instead of local “Our local mapping includes councils. This is madness, because remnant and regrowth vegetation, we have the local knowledge,” the yet the state’s maps exclude much of mayor said. Noosa Council had the regrowth, despite the fact we supported koala surveys to inform know koalas live in these areas,” Mr our koala habitat mapping in our Wellington said. own planning scheme.

Mr Wellington said the state government has told his council that the Draft South East Queensland Koala Conservation Strategy would not result in a net loss of koala habitat.

“However, that is not the result of their rushed regulations. In our own shire, fires burned through a significant amount of bushland last year. Protecting our struggling koala populations has never been more important.

“The state’s strategy includes a target of protecting 1000ha of koala habitat over the life of the strategy. That’s nowhere near ambitious enough. In Noosa, our own Yurol-Ringtail State Forest Conservation Project will achieve more than this alone.”

Noosa Council’s Environment and Sustainable Development Director, Kim Rawlings, said the council had written to the state government, voicing its concerns.

COOKS SOUGHT URGENTLY BY MEALS ON WHEELS Pomona Meals on Wheels is urgently seeking a back-up cook and also a dessert cook to join the team. Some experience in cooking is required for the back-up role, which is a paid position. However, those interested in the dessert cook position, as a volunteer, just need to have a love of cooking desserts. All recipes, training and support will be provided.

These positions are not required on all days of operation. Pomona MOW operates on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 6.30am to 12.30pm. Ph: 5485 1777.

CORRECTION A front page story in last month’s Cooroora Connect stated that land which Club Pomona is seeking to sell in order to advance its development plans was ‘floodprone’. In fact, the land has a one-in-100 year flood rating, meaning there is a statistical chance it will flood once in the years to 2100.

This does not preclude buildings being placed on the site, subject to the normal Noosa Council building regulations. The council is in the process of rezoning the land from community facilities to multi-use, similar to other blocks within the retail centre of town.

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Public meeting to discuss pool lease options A public meeting has been called for this month to discuss ways the Pomona Swimming Pool can be leased for public use and made available for the last of the warm weather around Easter.

is all about.”

“There must be some ideas we can explore and that is what the meeting

School.

The meeting will be held at the Lawson Shed on Monday 16 March, 5.30pm for a 6pm start.

“The fee covers things such as electricity and chemical costs,” she said. The pool can be heated.

“The lessee is responsible for the Noosa Council makes a contribution quality of the water when the pool is to the pool lessee to make its public not used by the school, and they The pool has been used only in must have their own public liability operation attractive and viable. Ms school hours during the past summer Tatchell said she had discussed the insurance and have someone in so that children from district schools possibilities to improve the offer with attendance who holds appropriate can learn to swim. It has been closed Cr Joe Jurisevic. first aid and life saver qualifications.” outside school hours, but not for A full pool lease prospectus is “Let’s not forget this pool was built want of trying. using funds that were raised publicly. available from Pomona State School For a $3000 fee and subject to safety It just happens to be located on and Pomona and District and public health conditions being Department of Education land,” she Community House. met, the pool is available for lease to said. a private operator who can charge “Hopefully the meeting can toss admission fees for pool use before and after school on weekdays and at around ideas about how we can get the pool working again so that the weekends. public can enjoy it outside school The meeting has been called by Jo hours. Someone must have some Tatchell and Mary Hindom, who ideas.” have moved before when the pool closed for two years without a lessee. In years when it has been open to the public, the Pomona Pool has “There is very little money in it, but operated before 8.50am and after we need to look at all angles to see 3.15pm. Pomona State School is how the pool can be got up and responsible for the pool and its running again,” said Ms Tatchell. operation.

“Many of those who use the pool out The $3000 lease fee had been of school hours are women or those reduced from $5000 in order to with health issues who find attract greater interest among those swimming and exercising in water who might wish to operate the pool, beneficial,” she said. said Barbara Harch of Pomona State

NEW FOCUS ON ECONOMY The Noosa Local Economic Development Plan will be reviewed in 2020, Economic Development Manager, Anthony Dow, has revealed.

The plan identifies industry diversification, effective land use planning, enterprise support, essential infrastructure, skilled and connected businesses as key themes. Healthcare and wellness, the digital economy, environmental industries, rural enterprise, creative industries and professional services are recognised as priority sectors to provide employment opportunities.

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Preparing for body art festival

Australia’s premier body painting event will take place in Cooroy on the weekend of 4-5 April at Apex Park, with the theme this year being ‘Time Travel’. The results promise to be stunning, as in this image by Owen Lyell from Bullet Photography.

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Thousands head to Cooroy to celebrate body beautiful event Nine thousand people from the region and around Australia are expected to descend on Cooroy’s Apex Park next month for the 2020 Australian Body Art Festival, which this year will have a time travel theme.

CBD with musicians and street performers to generate an amazing and unique community feel that is typically Cooroy.

It’s such a wonderful festival with some terrific artists and a great community, family vibe. Artists registrations have been flowing in steadily. We can’t wait to see all the wonderful living artworks that are created,” said Danielle Taylor, one of the hard-working organisers.

Based on the success of last year’s event, the Cooroy Chamber of Commerce estimates the festival will inject $1.5 million into the local economy through visitor spend.

The festival will be held over two days, Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 April, from 9am to 4pm each day.

Admission is free.

Each year, festival visitors are mesmerized as boundaries are pushed to transform human canvases into magnificent works of art.

The event is centred around competitions in temporary body painting, with competitions in the categories of brush and sponge, airbrush, special effects and face painting.

The Australian Body Art Festival has been held at Cooroy since 2017. Last year it received a Sunshine Coast Business Award in the small business festival As well as showcasing world class body painting, and events category. The photography and wearable event has received state art, the event fills Cooroy’s and federal government funding support.

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NEWS BRIEFS Business as usual It’s business as usual for constituents of Llew O’Brien MP after the Federal Member for Wide Bay announced he would not sit in the Nationals or Liberal party rooms while retaining his LNP Party membership under an arrangement with Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

Burden of loneliness sometimes hard to bear – for young and old Many of us — including young people who appear popular and connected — lack strong meaningful relationships to enrich our lives and protect our physical and mental health and wellbeing.

In the Noosa Hinterland, one in four households is occupied by a single person, so it’s important that our communities offer ‘connectedness’ through social relationships and participative means, such as social gatherings, morning teas and chat sessions.

Not all those in single-person households are lonely, but ABS statistics reveal 25 per cent of us feel lonely at least one day a week. With an ageing population, some of us will have mobility issues not helped by poor public transport. The possibility exists for some of us to become ‘shut in’.

It’s also important to note that loneliness means different things to different people. Some think of it as sadness because one has no friends or company; others believe it’s simply experiencing feelings of being alone.

Either way, it suggests a discrepancy between one’s desired level of connection and one’s actual level of

connection.

Many people comment on the friendliness of our small towns – Kin Kin, Cooran and Boreen Point –and twice in the 1980s, Pomona was named officially as the friendliest town in South-East Queensland.

This year, Pomona and District Community House will trial a ‘chat chair’ – a place where people can come and sit and enjoy a chat. This is in addition to the other opportunities the House provides for people to express themselves and interact, such as the ‘Cuppa, Cake and Conversation’, which is held on the second and fourth Friday of the month.

Expect to see the ‘chat chair’ pop up from this month in Pomona. The subject of loneliness will be discussed at a one-day forum to be held at the TAFE Mooloolaba Campus, Lady Musgrave Drive, Mountain Creek, on Thursday 16 April, 9am to 4pm.

Tickets are $20 plus a small booking fee, which covers the cost of morning and afternoon tea, as well as lunch.

This is the link to register and pay for a ticket: https:// events.humanitix.com.au/lonelinesslet-s-be-connected-forum

Mr O’Brien, who is the newlyelected Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, said he would continue to support the government on money bills and votes of no confidence.

Mr O’Brien retains his staff based at his Maryborough electoral office, phone 41212936, and continues to represent his electorate in all matters.

Hospital milestone There has been a hospital at Cooroy for 110 years, making what now is the Eden Private Hospital the oldest on the Sunshine Coast. The milestone was commemorated last month with the unveiling of a ‘history wall’. The current hospital operators, Health Care Australia Pty Ltd, propose a $14 million redevelopment, including a new dedicated mental health unit.

Praise for newspaper Last month’s bumper issue of Cooroora Connect has won praise from the administrator of the industry association representing Queensland’s independent country town newspapers.

“The Cooroora Connect is a credit to the Pomona and District Community House organisation and volunteers who are responsible for a great community publication. It contains the essential ingredients to be well-read and supported,” said Greg Watson, secretary of the Queensland Country Press Association.

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Butter Factory celebrates Queensland Women’s Week A series of four exhibitions at the Cooroy Butter Factory Arts Centre, featuring 11 female artists, began on 22 February, leading to a display of work and a talk by humanitarian artist, Lorissa Manners, and others, on 12 March, all part of International Women’s Week celebrations.

Her Passage: Into the Heart of Resilience exhibition is supported in part by Women Initiating New Directions Organisations (WINDO). It is an in-depth exploration of the journey of human displacement. The supporting works give expression to personal statements of women, each weaving the artistic threads of environmental, social and emotional themes – all distinctly through a female lens.

The culmination will be the talk on the 12th, titled Behind the Fence, about Manners’ experience painting the stories of refugee women.

Special guest artist Jandamarra Cadd will be present.

Aimee Stanyer and Kathryn Shewring

There will also be floor talks from the other female artists, including Carol Watkins and Pam Miller, who will speak to their show, Marks and Memories. Planned for Saturday 14 March is a masterclass, involving Amiee Stanyer and Kathryn Shewring called Unfolding: Exploring Our Strengths Through Art Journaling. The masterclass will take place between 10.30am and 3pm. Drop-in sessions (no bookings required) will be happening Saturday 29 February and Saturday 7 March From 10.30am to 12.30pm.

Empowering women book launch and talk Following the recent launch of Meghan Markle’s, the Duchess of Sussex’s, clothing line in conjunction with Smart Works – a similar service to Dress for Success in the United Kingdom – The Changing Room by author Christine Sykes captures the stories of women working with these clothing charities and explores female empowerment. She proves there is more to fashion than just clothes.

The former senior public servant worked as a volunteer at Dress for Success in Sydney for more than four years. Her paid job involved social planning and public policy. Her volunteer role was as a stylist helping women find clothes for work interviews and as a coach for disadvantaged women.

Ms Sykes introduces her work and talks of her life in a presentation to be held at The Lawson Shed, Pomona, on Wednesday 11 March. Tickets are $5 and must be booked by phoning 5485 2427.

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Wellington wants more indigenous tourism ventures A stronger relationship between Noosa’s First Nation peoples and council could help foster indigenous tourism opportunities according to mayoral candidate and current mayor, Tony Wellington.

“There is an obvious missing piece from Noosa’s tourism offerings,” Mr Wellington said. “And that is opportunities for visitors to better understand Noosa’s pre-European history.”

Jandamarra Cadd's first portrait of Jack Charles stands more than two metres tall.

Photo: Amy Cadd

Jandamarra Cadd displays his soul in retrospective showing of artworks Prominent Pomona artist Jandamarra Cadd held an exhibition of his distinctive indigenous-theme artwork recently – the Our Culture, Our People, Our Way collection receiving accolades for its depth and visual story-telling in 30 paintings showcasing his unique style and vision.

He brings together a beautiful synergy between his distinctive contemporary portraiture style and traditional aboriginal painting techniques.

Intermixed with his portraiture was an array of other pieces that highlighted the value and beauty of First Nations culture, together with paintings that shared through a visual narrative the message of walking together ‘proper way’.

Jandamarra expresses himself through bright, bold and emotive subjects where he successfully portrays the human condition like no Art is very much a part of who other.

Janmandarra Cadd is and proved to In the words of the artist himself: be an important factor in overcoming challenges during his early life.

“This exhibition was a visual culmination of the evolution of my works over the past 10 years, ranging from an Archibald Prize finalist painting of Uncle Archie Roach, to four people’s choice winning portraits from a variety of prestigious art prizes such as the Black Swan Art Prize and the Sunshine Coast Art Prize.”

“The primary motivation for my painting is the fulfilment found in using specific subject matters in ways that bring awareness to essential truths of unity, empathy, compassion and acceptance,” he said.

Held at Brisbane’s Birrunga Gallery and attended by contemporaries and Noosa luminaries, the exhibition contained the largest number of pieces ever assembled of Cadd’s work.

“I plan to take my career overseas. I look forward to gaining an international audience in the near future,” he said.

The exhibition might prove a turning point in the artist’s career.

He said connections he had initiated between Kabi Kabi representatives and Tourism Noosa would come to fruition soon in the form of local indigenous tours.

“Ultimately, I would like to see a dedicated first nation cultural centre in Noosa, a place where visitors to our shire can learn about the richness of Aboriginal culture, and where local indigenous artists like Jandamarra Cadd can display their work. This requires a good deal more discussion and planning.”

Mr Wellington said: “The current Noosa Council has increased its engagement with the Kabi Kabi on a range of matters, most recently decisions around the Yurol and Ringtail Forest rehabilitation project.

“Recently, with funding from Council’s Heritage Levy, we have begun the process of documenting the history of the original inhabitants of Noosa. The first such documentary, Place of Crowes, honours one local family.

Hopefully this will be the first of many such projects.

“It is essential that the next Noosa Council continues to build on our relationship with the traditional owners of this area,” he said.

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Recipe right for Butter Factory’s ongoing success Noosa Council has renewed the Cooroy Future Group (CFG) management of the Butter Factory Arts Centre (BFAC) for a further three years, praising the efforts of volunteers such as Beatrice Prost and the rest of the team (pictured) that installs new exhibitions and invests around 3000 hours into the operation of the Cooroy facility each year.

“Their contribution has been a major part of the CFG’s management of the centre and we look forward to seeing the not-for-profit group and its volunteers build on their success,” said the council Libraries and Galleries Manager, Tracey King.

“CFG has developed a healthy exhibition program. The gallery is booked out a year in advance, and it’s been that way since 2017.”

CFG President Carol Watkins welcomed Council’s decision to give the group another three years.

“Without the support of our staff and fantastic team of volunteers, we wouldn’t have experienced this amazing outcome,” she said.

Volunteers are an important part of Cooroy Future Group's successful management of the Butter Factory Arts Centre. there that the Butter Factory’s event drew a crowd of more than reputation travels far and the waiting 1000 people,” she said. list is long.”

“Certainly, the CFG has put BFAC on The centre welcomed more than the map, which is a great outcome 15,000 visitors in 2018. In the six for the community, but it’s also great months to June 2019, 107 artists for ratepayers as the subsidy the exhibited 15 exhibitions at BFAC, council provides CFG to support its drawing 9188 visitors. There were work is far less than what it would more than 100 workshops or venue cost the council to run and manage hire activities, attended by more than the facility itself,” Ms King said.

600 people.

CFG generates income from its

For volunteers such as Beatrice, contributing time and skills to the running of BFAC brings its own rewards. “It is a pleasure to be part of the volunteering team responsible for Ms King especially mentioned the the hanging of new shows,” she said. host of niche national events the BFAC had attracted to Cooroy, “The thrill of being exposed to such a including the Australian Pottery variety and flow of new art and new Throwdown, where world-class artists is so rewarding. No surprise potters compete for prizes. “That

artisan shop and other fundraising activities. This management model had delivered the greatest benefits to the community while reducing the financial and operational burden on Noosa Council, Ms King said.

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Tall Trees: Growing success from the community

by Mia Hacker Tall Trees artists are now well known for a flare for creating amazing pieces of artwork in so many different mediums.

They have kicked off 2020 with an inaugural first Friday of the month social gathering at roaming venues.

The Pomona Distillery was a perfect venue for the first catch-up of the year.

Road trips to suit the avid creative person are happening also. Recently Birrunga Gallery and Dining in Brisbane featured with an artist’s floor talk by Jandamarra Cadd. (See separate story this issue.)

The most recent road trip was to view the Women United exhibition, hosted by the Gympie Regional Gallery on 22 February.

More recently, Tall Trees artists Damien Kamholtz and Rachel Price reworked their Play on Play Community mural from the 2019 Tall Trees Art Exhibition, ready for its new home at The Vintage Junction,

guests will meet at The Bonsai Brewhouse on Friday 6 March, from 6pm onwards.

Cooran, where it can continue to be enjoyed by the community.

Tall Trees Art Inc. now has more than 100 members and is still growing! Last year saw more than 1000 visitors from the hinterland and beyond who were able to view the work of 90 artists at 18 venues around Cooran.

With fresh membership and committee members, Tall Trees is already exploring new things for the whole Street Affair Art Exhibition to be held at Cooran from 3–5 July.

On Friday 1 May, Tall Trees Inc. will be hosting a ‘think tank’, where brainstorming and planning will take place for this year’s event.

The next two social gatherings will be in Cooran. Members and their

The following month, on Friday 3 April, they will meet at The Hinterland restaurant.

The social events and meetings are a great way to meet other artists, exchange ideas and make new connections.

If you’re interested in coming to any of these events and becoming part of the vibrant and diverse Tall Trees community, please email Michelle at michelle.kurth@gmail.com.

POMONA COMMUNITY CHOIR TUESDAY 6.30PM—8.30PM Cost $12 (1st Night Free) THE MAJESTIC THEATRE 3 Factory Street POMONA

Contact Jo 0403 841 856

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A delight for the senses coming to Cooran Hall The vaulted ceiling of the Cooran School of Arts Hall that enhances any musical and coral performance presented there will give added resonance to what will be a delightful experience to those attending a truly unique cultural amalgam at the hall on Sunday 15 March, at 3pm.

The combination of a duo known as Dangerous Song and ‘Bukhu’ (Bukhchuluun Ganburged), a master of Mongolian folk music and song, earned the trio three standing ovations at the WOMADelaide and Cygnel festivals. To hear their unusual harmonies is a moving experience.

by the sounds of humpback whales, giant lemurs, gibbons and other animal calls as well as Bukhu’s incredible Horsehead fiddle.

Dangerous Song is Linsey Pollak and Lizzie O'Keefe. Linsey plays endangered animal calls using a digital wind instrument. He ‘live loops’ layers of music using those animal sounds.

Lizzie O'Keefe is an incredibly versatile singer with an unbelievable range and an absolutely beautiful voice. She works across genres and is an extraordinary improviser.

In this project they are joined by Bukhu, who is a This promises to be a master musician musical journey that takes performing the folk music the audience into a world of Mongolia, and exploring of sound where the human the aural dimensions of and the animal combine, a sounds generated by sort of sonic morphing – a traditional instruments and new musical language with harmonic overtone vocal structured, yet very free techniques. improvisation at its core.

Bukhu combines The combination of these virtuosic Morin three musicians is Khuur (Horse Head Fiddle) extraordinary with two very and Khuumii (Harmonic different but totally Overtone Throat Singing). enchanting voices floating Bukhu’s music has a in a bed of sound created contemporary take on the

tradition of Mongolian bards of ancient times.

Bukhchuluun Ganburged (Bukhu) is a master student of the Music and Dance Conservatory of Ulaanbaatar.

His music brings a contemporary take on the tradition of Mongolian bards of the middle ages and those of ancient times, acting as a national memory bank by working

mythologies, historic figures and events into traditional verse form.

Tickets cost $25 and are not available on-line and may be purchased only at the door.

ART GROUP Pomona Railway Station Gallery Banana Shed

Wednesday @ 10am Cost $2

Ph: 5485 2950

Mother’s retrospective exhibition is nostalgic for Pomona photographer Pomona man Duncan Macqueen’s artistic talent took him in the direction of photography and video production, but the roots of his creative expression come from his mother, Mary Macqueen, who features in an exhibition of her paintings at the Noosa Regional Gallery from 13 March to 26 April.

Drawn from private and public collections Australia-wide, the

retrospective exhibition surveys the life and works of this modern Australian artist, born in Melbourne in 1912, later to become widely appreciated for her expressive, gestural and experimental style in drawing, painting and printmaking.

She was essentially a graphic artist, mainly producing works on paper, with a strong foundation in drawing but exploiting the

decorative possibilities of colour.

Her favoured print medium was lithography and her preferred subjects animals, birds and landscape.

She won numerous prizes for drawings, prints and watercolours and is represented in the National Gallery of Australia and most state art galleries.

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Reference group formed to work on update of shire cycle path strategy Noosa Council has begun updating the existing Noosa Cycling and Walking Strategy, including an implementation plan for future projects. The strategy will re-establish a vision for cycling and walking for the next 20 years, as well as produce a five-year and a ten-year capital works program of prioritised projects.

“It is anticipated that the updated Walking and Cycling Strategy will simply refine the directions of these existing documents.

Targeted stakeholders from across the shire have been invited to participate in the project reference group to provide input and feedback,” Mr Moes said.

He said the Walking and Cycling Project Reference The council has consulted a Group was a closed group.” select list of stakeholders Those wishing to pass on about two as yet unnamed additional ideas or projects. The first meeting of suggestions should contact the project reference group councillors, a member of the was held on 14 February. group or via Noosa Council’s Lewis Moes, the council normal customer service project officer within avenue.” The three Future Infrastructure Services at Noosa candidates standing Noosa Council, said the for the March local group and consultants government election say working to the council that, if elected, they will get would prepare the strategy the council bikeways using community program moving before the engagement already end of the year, beginning gathered during preparation with path mapping and of the Noosa Transport construction in priority Strategy, Noosa Sport and areas. The proposed Cooran Active Recreation Plan and –Pomona bike path will be a Noosa Trails Master Plan. focus, they say.

ART IN THE PADDOCK - BOOK A STALL The call has gone out for artists wishing to participate in the Easter Art in the Paddock event at the Pomona Railway Station Gallery. Each of these events is highly anticipated due to the depth of creativity on show.

Artists and crafts people are invited to register their interest in operating a stall at the next paddock showing on Saturday 11 April, from 9am to 1pm.

For further information, contact the gallery, pomonagallery@gmail.com, or download a form, www.pomonaartgallery.com/artmarkets.

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ADVERTISMENT

YOUR POMONA YOUR FUTURE YOUR NOOSA

Karen Finzel, David ‘Fletch’ Fletcher and Andrew Squires have been working together as independent councillor candidates to make a difference to our Council, our Shire and Pomona.

OUR COMMITMENTS TO POMONA 

Reinstate the Pomona Master Plan process previously ditched by Noosa Council.





Investigate establishing a Council hinterland branch office at Pomona.

Instigate a progressive program of sealing 200km of hinterland gravel roads.

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Fight tooth and nail to retain an adequate hinterland mobile library service.

Appoint an Ombudsman to resolve public complaints against the Council.

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Restart bike path construction after 6 years,

Complete an updated regional gallery and deliver more support for the arts.

including Pomona–Cooran link.

READ MORE ABOUT FUTURE NOOSA HERE:

www.futurenoosa.com.au NOOSA & THE HINTERLAND. MOVING FORWARD TOGETHER. Authorised by Ingrid Jackson, Suite CA 6-10, 28 Eenie Creek Rd, Noosaville Qld 4566 Pomona & District Community House - Keeping You In Touch With Your Community

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SPECIAL REPORT:

ELECTION 2020 NOOSA COUNCIL – YOU DECIDE

CANDIDATES CHASE HINTERLAND VOTES With 42 per cent of the residential population of Noosa Shire, 65 per cent of roads by length and 80 per cent of the shire by area, the Noosa Hinterland and its needs have become an unexpected hot topic among a phalanx of candidates vying for our attention and votes in the Noosa Council election to be held on 28 March.

Ratepayers head for the polls,

talented crowd of hopefuls, among them Phil Moran, the respected general manager of Noosa Landcare. There are seven candidates who call the Noosa Hinterland home. (See separate story.)

Hinterland issues that have risen to the fore so far through the campaign include effective representation, resulting in some We will be required to elect a mayor and candidates calling for a return to divisions six councillors. Voting is compulsory. instead of the current arrangement where six councillors and the mayor represent The contest for the mayoralty is a twothe whole shire. The condition of rural horse race, but the greater interest is roads, the impending scrapping of the among the 18 candidates nominated for the six councillor positions. The successful mobile library and a lack of council contenders will hold office for four years. support for small business and the cultural sector have emerged as additional There will be at least two new faces lively issues. around the council table after Cr Frank Pardon was ruled ineligible to stand, while Ratepayers will have an opportunity to quiz candidates at a meet the candidates Cr Ingrid Jackson – the sole woman night to be held at the Cooroy Memorial councillor – is not nominating again, Hall, 17 March, from 6pm. Admission is citing what she says is an old boy’s club free, but tickets are required. Go to the atmosphere among current elected Cooroy Chamber of Commerce website for representatives. details. Resident and community Instead, she is supporting a trio of representative groups have a similar candidates, all independents, who have evening planned for the Christian united under the marketing banner of Outreach Centre at 6pm on Tuesday 10 Future Noosa. They are up against a March.

Clare Stewart – running for mayoralty

Mayor Tony Wellington – wants to hold position

All Earthworks       

Shed / Houses Sites Trees / Stumps Cleared Lantana / Scrub Cleared 12 Tonne Machine 4 In 1 Bucket / Ripper On Board Laser Steep Slopes

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Hinterland seven vie for place on Noosa Council Just over one-third of the 18 candidates who have nominated so far for a spot on Noosa Council reside in the hinterland. Here is a little bit about each of those particular nominees.

Phil Moran: Outside existing councillors, Phil Moran is perhaps the best known of those seeking council office due to his work as General Manager of Noosa Landcare. He has lived in Noosa Shire for the past 30 years and during that time has been a strong advocate for not only the environment, but also youth employment and community cohesion. As a councillor, he pledges to seek out all views in the community.

“I am for supporting and diversifying the Noosa economy and creating new, sustainable jobs, while protecting our strong environmental credentials,” he said. He will ‘protect fiercely’ the Noosa Plan and low-key development that it allows.

Phil Moran – Cooran

Karen Finzel – Pomona

Nathanael Ford – Pinbarren

Tom Wegener – Cooroy

Janet Kake – Cooroy Mountain

Alan Lander – Lake Macdonald

responding to it. We need progressive councillors who can safeguard Noosa’s future. The council also requires more women councillors and a strong and authentic hinterland Karen Finzel: For the past 11 voice,” she said. years, Karen Finzel has On her ‘to do’ list are worked in administration, support for creative customer service, accounts industries, environmental and volunteer coordination protection, local growers for Eden Private Hospital, and producers and Cooroy. She has been a strengthening positive liaison officer in Noosa engagement with the Kabi Council’s community Kabi people. development unit.

Nathanael Ford: From one A Pomona resident, she is of the early pioneering also a talented artist who families of Noosa, Mr Ford seeks to use her art to is also offering to be a influence social change and strong voice for the Noosa render social justice.

Hinterland. Overcoming congestion woes in “The community needs a Hastings Street, as well as council that reaches out better bus services to the and goes the extra mile in

hinterland are on his agenda. Better rural roads, connected footpaths and easier access to council service for people of the hinterland are other priorities. An SES volunteer, Mr Ford sees a need for Noosa Shire to overhaul its emergency and disaster planning.

“If elected I’ll be perusing what is needed to help better prepare the Noosa Shire for future fires, floods, cyclones and drought.”

Tom Wegener: Originally from California USA, Mr Wegener saw small towns decay into ‘soulless consumer land’ and strongly supports sustainable small business

Brian Stockwell – Lake Macdonald culture providing jobs locally. Local manufacturing was the subject of his PhD thesis.

Formerly a lawyer, his arrival in Noosa 19 years ago, together with his wife, marked a turning point. He is an internationallyrecognised surfboard designer.

Pomona & District Community House - Keeping You In Touch With Your Community

17 What motivates me to run for council is to maintain Noosa’s culture and preserve this way of life. I grew up in Southern California and watched many a small town turn to soulless consumer-lands. I am all in favour of growing a vibrant hinterland economy with new opportunities. There is a set of shared values that the hinterland community shares, which respects the past and the simplicity of local business and the faceto-face way of doing things.

We in Noosa Shire have worked hard to preserve those values.”

Janet Kake: The former president of the Noosa

Chamber of Commerce says her business background shows in a motivation to support jobs for locals, with a focus on youth traineeships. She sees business opportunities in aged care and tourism, but nothing that would compromise lifestyle or the environment.

staff and the community.

“With a desire to preserve and improve upon all things great in Noosa Shire, I am concerned that the council is lacking effective communications and sometimes shoots itself in the foot. I am determined, if elected, to do all I can to better inform ratepayers by better informing staff on all matters, and fulfil on my slogan – Let’s Make a Good Council Better.”

planner. A sitting councillor, Mr Stockwell chairs Noosa Council’s Planning and Environment Committee. He says the Noosa way of life and plan are under threat from developers and what he calls ‘inexperienced’ candidates. “They want to walk away from our community’s goal of Alan Lander: A journalist, carefully managed growth, muso and former worker which is essential to on the Sunshine Coast and protect our environment Noosa councils in areas of and lifestyle.” Mr Stockwell Brian Stockwell: His is a marketing and economic has informed himself of development, it is not familiar face to ratepayers hinterland local issues via a surprising that Alan Lander from decades of believes one of the community service and for series of community forums. Community problems Noosa Council 14 years of local resilience, cohesion and has is effective commgovernment experience, unication and appropriate both as a councillor and as transport are among the rapport between council an environmental and town issues revealed.

HOLIDAY AWAKENING FOR EXPERIENCED CAMPAIGNER

SURFING THE WORLD OF SUSTAINABLE INDUSTRY

CANDIDATE WILL PUT HER BUSINESS SKILLS TO WORK

A recent holiday in Tasmania and a ride along the renowned mountain bike trails of the island state’s North-East and East Coast has Noosa Council candidate Brian Stockwell imagining how the concept could be transferred here and made to work in the Noosa Hinterland.

After 20 years living in Noosa Shire, building a worldwide reputation for shaping surfboards from his Cooroy workshop and completing a PhD on local manufacturing, Tom Wegener believes a sustainability culture holds the key to attracting and growing innovative businesses.

Janet Kake says her role as the former president of the Noosa Chamber of Commerce, her family life at Cooroy Mountain and community work with the Cooroy Rotary Club have equipped her well to stand for election as a Noosa councillor.

He rode the 42km downhill descent from Weldborough to the Bay of Fires. The $4.5 million St Helens Mountain Bike Trail network was funded by the state and federal governments.

“Noosa has fostered my surfboard manufacturing business and has nurtured my family. I honestly believe Noosa is the best place on earth, largely as a result of decades of excellent governance. With my experiences as a lawyer, academic, manufacturer and artist, I will bring fresh ideas to Noosa,” Mr Wegener said.

She writes business systems, then trains and implements them for Business. Her particular professional skill is in writing business systems and training staff to implement them.

The trail is generating new business opportunities – from the shuttle service to the trail head to the opening of a new bike shop in St Helens and a new MTB bunk house village with bike washing maintenance and storage facilities at the local caravan park.

Mr Stockwell said he had explored the Noosa Trail Network extensively. “This trip has given me lots of ideas about how to enhance the experience,” he said.

“Noosa attracts like minded people and gives us a fertile environment go grow.

As a Noosa Councillor I will maintain Noosa's unique environment and support local business. This is the Noosa Way.

Her passion as a councillor will be driven by an ‘employ local’ policy.

She wants the council to explore creative ways to boosting the economy without impacting adversely on the environment. She wishes to explore industry opportunities around sustainable tourism and aged care.

Affordable housing is another interest. Ms Kake comes from a large family. Her ancestors were among the early pioneers of Pomona and Kin Kin.

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Push for council branch office at Pomona Almost 40 years after Noosa Council packed up its offices at Pomona and moved headquarters to Tewantin, a trio of candidates at the 28 March local government elections is proposing that the possibility of establishing a council branch office at Pomona be explored.

Karen Finzel, David Fletcher and Andrew Squires – independent

candidates running under the Future Noosa banner – also say they will push for an assembly of hinterland representatives to meet bimonthly with the mayor should the ‘hinterland imbalance’ on the council continue after the election.

Karen Finzel, of Pomona, said the 24,000 residents of Noosa Shire comprised 42 per cent of the population and its businesses

represented more than one -third of the shire’s 7500 firms.

“The average income of people in the hinterland lags that of the whole shire and the unemployment rate is higher.

The region also lacks a representative voice on the council and many hinterland residents see this as an issue that can

lead to the inequitable allocation of council resources,” Ms Finzel said.

“The council must ensure that the hinterland is given a voice and receives its fair share of resources.”

Ms Finzel said Future Noosa would maintain and publish metrics on council spending in the hinterland and coastal communities.

Mountain’s popularity leads to safety review A consultant engaged by the State Department of Environment and Science has reviewed the condition of Mt Cooroora’s summit trail ahead of the 2020 King of the Mountain race on 26 July.

While the report is under consideration, the department will continue to ensure regular safety assessments are made and maintenance is carried out as needed.

The assessment is in response to the growing popularity of the mountain for walkers and climbers, according to Mr Angus Sutherland, senior policy advisor to the Minister for Environment and Science, Ms Leeanne Enoch.

“An assessment of the track is completed before and after each King of the Mountain annual run in July. Maintenance is scheduled routinely to repair loose posts and sections of the track and to remove exposed rocks and any dangerous trees,” Mr Sutherland said.

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Pomona & District Community House - Keeping You In Touch With Your Community

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Mary River catchment requires more attention While welcoming a focus to protect the quality of Noosa River’s water, its headwaters and riverside environment, Noosa Council candidate Phil Moran, of Cooran, says more needs to be done to look after the catchment of the Mary River in Noosa Shire.

Chair of the Mary River Catchment Coordinating Committee, Ian Mackay (left), with Noosa Council candidate Phil Moran.

ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS ADULT WATERCOLOUR CLASSES Friday 1pm to 4pm $25 per session Afternoon Tea Provided For Booking Phone Gay Scholes 0488 111 477

“Noosa River gets the headlines for very good reason, but 30 per cent of Noosa Shire is in the Mary River catchment and it is significant that the Mary empties into the Great Sandy Strait and is the southernmost river system affecting the Great Barrier Reef,” Mr Moran said.

His is a familiar face, having been a crusader for conservation values across the shire since first moving here 30 years ago.

supports, a fee to meet the cost of trees planted in the hinterland on land within the Mary catchment.

“This outstanding initiative shows that tourism and the environment are not mutually exclusive,” he said.

“We should applaud the foresight of the tourism sector to tangibly contribute to improving our natural environment.

“I support diversification of the Noosa economy and creating new sustainable businesses while protecting our strong environmental credentials.”

If elected to Noosa Council, Mr Moran said he would protect the Noosa Plan and its support for low-key development.

He pledges to listen to all community voices and not He drove the campaign just the ‘loudest and bestthat Tourism Noosa took up to include in charges for funded lobby groups’. major events which it

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Prospective councillors get together

FULL LIST OF NOOSA CANDIDATES For mayor: Clare Stewart Tony Wellington

*For councillor:

Chances are that some of the faces in the picture above will become familiar to the ratepayers around the Noosa Council table. The get-together recently of some of the council candidates was arranged by mayor hopeful Clare Stewart and Noosa social media commentator Carlie Wacker.

The candidates were able to meet in a social setting, discuss common issues and coordinate launches and events so as not to clash. A side benefit is that when the new council forms after 28 March, new members will be able to hit the ground running, knowing each other and their agendas.

Julien Cahn Karen Cook-Langdon Karen Finzel David Fletcher Nathanael Ford Jess Glasgow Megan Halverson Joe Jurisevic Janet Kake Alan Lander Patrick Lloyd Amelia Lorentson Phil Moran Brian Stockwell Andrew Squires Frankie Wilkie Tom Wegener Yanni Van Zijl *Only six candidates will go forward to council.

How many of the people above will ratepayers vote into office?

Who will be mayor of Noosa Shire after 28 March?

The race for mayor on 28 March will be between an experienced player and councillor with the Sunshine Coast and Noosa councils, the incumbent Mr Tony Wellington, and someone with a sharp mind and no previous council experience, Ms Clare Stewart, mother of three, board member and former barrister.

community,” she said.

“I bring a deep understanding of local issues and I bring a passion for a region that I love. As a former barrister-at-law, I bring openness and accountability, but I also bring resilience and strength.”

Tony Wellington is running on his record of strong commitment to the Noosa lifestyle, the environment and sensible and sustainable economic growth among the best in the state.

Being relatively unknown to the electorate hasn’t daunted her, however. Ms Stewart has been a tireless campaigner, meeting groups “Since 2014, I have helped rebuild the across the shire to produce a 10-point new Noosa Council. Today the action plan.

Council is a responsible local “My leadership will create a healthy, government, winning national dynamic Noosa Council with a awards for its achievements and culture that effectively supports our consistently keeping rates down for organisation, environment and our its residents,” he said.

Contrary to the assertions of some candidates, Mr Wellington said his council was at the forefront of Queensland councils in its approach to community consultation and transparency.

“My vision for Noosa couldn’t be clearer. My top priority is to protect the very elements that make Noosa so special.

“Over the past four years, I have been at pains to strengthen those values, while also ensuring that our economy continues to diversify, so that we are not so reliant on our tourism sector. I have also worked to entrench Noosa as an exemplar in genuine sustainability,” he said.

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22 Responsibility for unattributed election content in this issue of Cooroora Connect is accepted by the editor, Heather Manders on behalf of Pomona & District Community House.

Young candidate promises passion and commitment to represent the hinterland All his life, Nathanael Ford has enjoyed a Noosa lifestyle from his home at Pinbarren as a descendant of one of the oldest hinterland families and now he believes it is time for him to give back in ways that will make a difference to how and where we live.

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operating from hinterland community facilities on a rotating basis so as to avoid travelling to Tewantin [to conduct council business].

“I fully intend to try and fix the public transport system we have currently, by having smaller, more environmentally friendly buses that better connect the towns of the shire.”

Mr Ford becomes the youngest candidate Improving and upgrading standing for Noosa Council the shire’s footpath and office. bike path network is Should he become a another objective. councillor, Mr Ford said he Among projects he wants would work to address a completed, Mr Ford cited disconnection the people the Cooran–Pomona bike of the hinterland feel they path and the Pomona cross have with Noosa Council -town path to Factory while also having a shire Street, where he wishes the purview grouped around street crossing to be made three broad areas of safer. population and settlement, “If elected I’ll be pushing the impact of increased for the footpath network in tourism numbers and bushfire risk and drought. Pomona to be reviewed and completed, as a The health of the Noosa number of areas lack River system and what sufficient footpaths and happens on the waterway some too dangerous to be and around its shores is used have been brought to another of his passions. my attention,” he said.

He proposes a number of An accelerated rural roads interventions to address improvement is among his these issues. list of priorities also.

“What I have found is a community disconnected from the current council.

Hinterland residents largely feel forgotten and without a voice. My motivation is to be that voice,” Mr Ford said.

Mr Ford said he believed cooperation among stakeholders was the best way to achieve a better outcome for the Noosa River.

A river advisory committee would bring all players “In my first term in council, together and would be a I would pursue a return to better way to illicit action. divisions, with a council administrative presence Pomona & District Community House - Keeping You In Touch With Your Community

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Tony Wellington stands on proud record Tony Wellington is aiming to be reelected as mayor of Noosa. He has certainly had a long time in the public eye, initially as the Councillor for Tewantin and the Noosa hinterland on the amalgamated council, and then as councillor and finally mayor on the reformed Noosa Council.

In this article, he argues that rate payers should have had plenty of opportunity to judge his capabilities.

by Tony Wellington “Over the past four years as mayor, the Noosa Council has achieved a massive amount. We have restructured the organisation and increased many services. I was just adding up all the policies and strategies we have consulted on, developed and endorsed during the last four years. There are over 50 of them.

– a showcase that will demonstrate to the world how we can maintain a wonderful lifestyle for our residents, as well as a healthy environment and a buoyant economy.

Noosa will continue to be a local government leader in climate change adaptation and response. And I will build on my existing great relationships with politicians at “I will seek to establish a stand-alone Federal and State level to ensure regional gallery for Noosa, one that is Noosa continues to receive their attention, not to mention financial capable of accommodating large touring exhibitions. I will continue to grant funding. work towards improved fire “I guarantee that I will continue to management methods. And I will see resist those forces that aim to a Kabi Kabi cultural centre developed undermine Noosa’s special qualities.” in Noosa. “Under my leadership,

“Throughout my time as mayor, we have kept all rate rises at or below CPI or the Local Government Cost Index. We have also run a surplus budget Mr Wellington every year, and managed to pay down $10 million dollars of high-interest rate debt that we inherited.

“Importantly, we have seen the local economy expand and grow. Noosa achieved a 5.18% growth in Gross Rating Point (GRP) last year. This compares with a state average of just 1.23 per cent.”

“So what do I want for Noosa into the future? I want to see that trajectory of economic diversification continue.

“I want to continue to roll out transport solutions that maintain a focus on new technologies.

“I want Noosa to become a real global exemplar of sustainable living Pomona & District Community House - Keeping You In Touch With Your Community

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NOOSA VOTES MARKETS VALUED IN THE LOCAL ECONOMY

ART WORKSHOPS at The Old Railway Station Gallery Pomona

Children's Workshops Wed 8 &15 April Adult Workshops Wed 22 April Tutor Debra Dougherty Phone 0439 749 248

Op In @ Pomona 1 Memorial Ave, Pomona

(Ground Floor Pomona Community House)

Monday to Friday 9am - 4pm Saturday 9am -12pm ** Donations Welcomed ** Hampers Available To Purchase Ph: 5485 0206 Operated by Anglican Church Pomona

It is perhaps not surprising that the former president of the Noosa Chamber of Commerce would see in a visit to the Kin Kin markets an opportunity to grow and strengthen that aspect of our local economy.

Janet Kake said markets were a way of life for shire residents. Many stallholders supplemented their income and satisfied their desire to create, grow or make through these local events.

“If elected, I would promote to Noosa Council the concept of implementing a detailed plan that supports all our markets and stallholders in our region through marketing and go-to information, as well as workshops [that will allow] for growth and support to increase their income from markets,” Ms Kake said.

She said a more diversified local economy in the hinterland and the need for small bus routes linking rural communities were among ideas pitched at her on the day.

CANDIDATE’S PASS MAKES HIM JOB READY Alan Lander’s former job as a local journalist has given him insights into myriad local issues and he remains the only councillor candidate standing who has worked previously in the marketing and economic development areas of the Sunshine Coast and Noosa councils under the tutelage of Bob Abbot as mayor.

Mr Lander also worked previously in a small private recruitment consultancy specialising in staffing for international banks. His goal is to make a good council better.

He sees a need to set up what he calls Noosa’s ‘signature industries’, such as tourism, to withstand future shocks and to better plan residential growth happening within the population cap across the hinterland and around Cooroy.

“To me, the key is to carefully manage change in the way that preserves as much as possible about Noosa’s way of life, yet allows us to evolve to meet 21st century challenges,” he said.

Memorial Avenue upgrade Contractors working for Noosa Council have begun work on reconstructing kerbing along a section of Stan Topper Park facing Memorial Avenue, between Reserve and Hospital streets.

Expect minor delays as the work continues, including concrete pours.

Meanwhile, the council continues to plan the further extension of the cross-town path at the Factory Street end.

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Clare Stewart commits to Noosa Hinterland The Noosa Hinterland has been a well-kept secret for too long, according to Noosa mayoral candidate Clare Stewart who this week vowed to support the local community in a bid for better recognition and greater allocation of resources. Ms Stewart said she had consulted extensively with residents of hinterland towns and had understood their frustration at feeling second-best to other areas in the shire.

“For too long Noosa Council has focussed too heavily on selected areas rather than the Noosa Shire as a whole. In doing so it may have missed valuable opportunities while also letting down the hinterland community when it comes to the provision of resources and amenities,” Ms Stewart said.

“It’s patently obvious this two-way communication is something sadly lacking at the present and has resulted in persistent issues which have not been addressed.”

She said that regardless of whether a specific hinterland councillor was elected to represent the region, as mayor she would consistently have

the community’s best interests at heart. “One of my immediate plans is to appoint a dedicated Community Engagement Officer to the hinterland within 60 days of taking office,” Ms Stewart said.

community to ensure that best practice fire hazard reduction is implemented to mitigate any losses of life, homes and wildlife.”

Ms Stewart said she was of the unwavering view the hinterland had “This role would involve liaising with a range of unique assets that were the community and devising under-utilised in terms of local use, strategies to better service, better tourism promotion and business support and better market the opportunity. hinterland area. Whether or not this “The bike trails spring to mind as a officer would be based at an office in prime example. Connected bike trails the hinterland is a topic I would between places like Cooran and explore with council staff, but Pomona are just one way the foremost, this officer would be the hinterland could be showcased as a council’s direct connection to the unique tourism destination with a community,” Ms Stewart said. truly eco-focus. This would benefit On roads, Ms Stewart said: “Without accommodation providers, cafés and doubt there needs to be a return to businesses alike,” Ms Stewart said. increased gravel road maintenance “Then there’s the obvious missed and additional construction of roads opportunity that’s evident in the in the hinterland. This includes thriving arts culture, rich history and making the upgrade of the Jam Pot dynamic primary production of the Creek Road between Pomona and hinterland.”

Cooran a priority. This road needs to Ms Stewart said there should be be built to all-weather standard to greater focus on how these attributes allow emergency vehicle access could shape Noosa Shire as a whole during the regular flood events that and making them integral to the isolate these communities. wider experience of the Noosa “There also needs to be greater region. liaison with the hinterland

TOM WEGENER IS A SHAPER OF COMMUNITIES Tom Wegener is a world-renowned shaper of surfboards, creating boards from his Cooroy base.

He is also a candidate for the Noosa Council elections, a former lawyer, businessman and a student of reshaping rural communities by strengthening their economic base. He has a sustainable eco-business vision for the shire.

To learn more about Tom and his business philosophy, watch the ABC TV Landline show with Sean Murphy on Sunday 8 March.

He shows how a sustainable plantation timber called Paulownia becomes a ‘cork’ applied to extruded Polystyrene to form what Tom says are the best surfboards he has experienced to date.

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Sailing club going 74 years

Young Women’s Collective Youth Group Age 12 - 18 Years Beginning Tuesday 11 February (Fortnightly) 3.30pm to 6.30pm

Young Men’s Collective Youth Group Age 10 - 14 Years Tuesday (Fortnightly) 3.30pm to 6.30pm Lawson Shed next to Pomona Community House Bookings & Information Phone 0432 561 270 or 5485 2427 Youth Group is hosted by Pomona Community House and supported by Pomona Community Branch Bank Bendigo, Nestle, Department Of Communities

Sailing has been synonymous with Lake Cootharaba and Boreen Point since the 1940s.

Attention is turning to how to celebrate appropriately 75 years of organised sailing activity on Lake Cootharaba. The Lake Cootharaba Sailing Club will reach the milestone next year.

necessary to get the job done and share the workload.

Those members had an ethos that has carried on throughout the years. They were all prepared to put in the effort that was

members undertook most of the work themselves.

Today the club has more than 200 members.

The club occupies land at the centre of Boreen Point.

Members purchased the land and built a timber clubhouse themselves. No The inaugural meeting that concrete trucks or marked the club’s excavators were used. It formation was held on 12 was all done by hand.

February 1946, and was Similarly, in 1960 when attended by 14 prospective construction of the present members. clubhouse began, the

BOUTIQUE PROPERTY EXPO Cooroy Chamber is gearing up for the Noosa Hinterland Property Expo which will showcase the most knowledgeable property experts in the region. Applications are now open for local businesses to get involved as an exhibitor or activity sponsor for the inaugural expo to be held on Saturday 8 August 2020 in the Cooroy Memorial Hall.

FAMILY DRUG SUPPORT FDS runs regular Family Drug Support Group Meetings .

For 24 hours a day support, call toll free 1300 368 186

www.fds.org.au Pomona & District Community House - Keeping You In Touch With Your Community

27

Students taught to use rail crossing safely Queensland Rail (QR) safety education personnel were in Pomona last month to teach students at the Pomona State School the correct protocols for accessing the newly completed railway station and cross-town pathway.

school assembly and many parents. “It is always good to come to country towns such as this.

QR Customer and Community Engagement Coordinator, David Millward, said children at the Pomona State School had been interested in his presentation to the entire

He also walked Station Street, explaining the safe working of the new crossing to businesspeople and shoppers.

Queensland Rail Customer and Community Engagement Coordinator, David Millward (left), with Pomona Primary School students

“They (the students) appreciated the work done on the crossing and also our safety message,” Mr Millward said.

Pomona State School leaders showing the way Famed author and speaker John C. Maxwell once said: A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way. Even at a young age, it’s important to recognise this in our future leaders.

Keen to share their select group with our community, Pomona State School has unveiled their leadership group for 2020 at an assembly this week. It’s a fine collection of eight Year 6 students who are already putting their best efforts forward at the historic school.

To celebrate their induction, Pomona Community Bank’s Jo Winter was on-hand to present the students with

the leader badges and wish them well. As a long time and valued sponsor of the school, Jo celebrated the special occasion with Cameron, Tayla, Piper, Harry, Rylan and Lachlan, along with the two school captains, Luc and Naomi.

School principal, Alyson Covey said the team of leaders are ready for the year ahead.

“Our leaders will work throughout the year on various projects revolving around school improvement and making our school a great place for kids, as well as endeavours to support charities within our hinterland community.

“We’re fortunate to have

Bendigo Bank Representative Jo Winters (left) and school principal Aylson Covey (right) with school deputy Barbara Harch (second from right) with the new school leadership team. sponsorship from our local Pomona Community Bank branch of Bendigo Bank for some of those projects.

“Mrs Harch and I are very proud of this group of

enthusiastic young people who are embracing their opportunity of leadership at Pomona State School.

It’s going to be a great year ahead," Mrs. Covey concluded.

POMONA PACERS WALKING GROUP Pomona Pacers is a friendly group whose members walk for around 60 minutes at a medium-brisk pace on a variety of town routes and bush tracks, interspersed with regular coffee mornings and excursions. To join, simply meet outside Pomona Community House at 1 Memorial Ave, Pomona every weekday (except public holidays) - 6.30am October to March and 7am April to September. Enquiries to Leonie on 0409 628 646.

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Pomona Community House Groups & Services 1 Memorial Ave, Pomona PH: 5485 2427 FAX: 5485 1702 Pomona & District Community House acknowledges funding from Qld Government Department of Communities and Noosa Council.

Making Music at A432

Wednesday - by appointment Donation $3 per visit Booking Essential

Office Services 9am to 4pm

Teaching Piano & Things With Strings

Wednesday Mornings $5 per 1/2hour PH: 5485 2427

One on One Computer Lessons

REFERRAL & INFORMATION

Pomona Astronomy Club 4th Wednesday of the month 7.00pm Cost $3 per person Lawson Shed

 PHOTOCOPYING  COLOUR PRINTING  SCANNING / EMAILS  LAMINATING / FAXING  TYPING

Venue Hire & Room Hire Workshops Functions Meetings

Cliff 0474 025 215

Phone 5485 2427

PH: 5485 2427

BOOMERANG BAGS POMONA

RUMMIKUB Wednesday

Come & Sew A Reusable Bag

Pomona Community House 1pm - 3.30pm

Share Conversation & Friendship

Monday - 9.30am to 3.30pm @ Lawson Shed, Pomona Anya 0457 042 782

Donation $3 includes tea & coffee

Free Legal Advice & Referral Tuesday Fortnightly 6pm – 7.30pm Ph: 5443 7827

Centrelink / Medicare Access Point

9am to 4pm Self Service Access Point  Computer/Printer/Fax  

Stan Topper Park Pomona Friday 8am to 9am Cost $2.00 per Class

Pomona & District Community House - Keeping You In Touch With Your Community

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Cooroora Connect Cooroora Connect is an initiative of the Pomona & District Community House Inc. The material published in Cooroora Connect may be reproduced only with appropriate authorisation and acknowledgment.

Cooroora Connect Advertising/Editorial deadline for the next issue 20 March 2020 heather@pomonacommunityhouse.com.au

The views expressed in Cooroora Connect are not necessarily the views of the editor, publisher or Pomona & District Community House. Inc. Claims in advertisements are those of the advertisers and not the publisher.

Our aim is to produce and distribute Cooroora Connect in a timely manner to ensure we meet all deadlines. However, due to unforeseen circumstances that are beyond our control, we take all care but no responsibility if circumstances arise.

Cooroy Pomona Lions Club

Containers For Change Feeling generous? Want to give back to the community? You can by donating your excess bottles, cans, etc to the Cooroy Pomona Lions Club.

Simply bag them up in a white plastic bin bag, go to the Cooroy Bloomhill Op Shop and just inside the door is a machine which prints out labels.

The Cooroy Pomona Lions Club number is C10041804.

Stick the label on the bag and place in the industrial bin located at the side of the Op shop. Bloomhill Op Shop is located between the Cooroy RSL and the Kindy – parking available right outside.

Lions Recycling Project Pomona Community House is now officially a collection centre for used spectacles without cases.

Lions Recycle for Sight Australia is part of the Lions Clubs International Worldwide Eyeglass Recycling Program which collects used spectacles and sunglasses.

The program cleans, grades and re-labels 450,000 pairs annually of used spectacles and sunglasses at our three centres in Queensland. The re-labelled end product is packed into boxes of 200 pairs, half of one prescription and 100 of the next higher prescription, under strict quality control rules.

Social Indoor Bowls

Pomona Tennis Club

Pomona Table Tennis

Harmony Dance Club

Pomona Memorial Hall

Pomona Showground

Social Ball Room Dancing

Wednesday 9am - 11.30am Arrive 8.30am for a 9am start

Tues Social Tennis 9am - 12pm - $2.50

Pomona Hall Lower Room

Fri Social Tennis 7pm $4.50

Casual Dress & Flat sole shoes

Thurs Juniors /Beginners 3.15pm - 4.15pm

Contact Alan Ph: 544 76223

Contact Roger Ph: 0419 886 101

Next to Red Cross Op shop

Wed/Fri 9am-11am Contact Peter 5485 0259

New Vogue & Old Time Dancing Pomona Hall Tuesday 7pm - 9.30pm

Pomona State School Mon/Wed - 5pm

Cost $4 includes supper

Contact Bernard Ph: 5485 0888

Ph: 5485 2007

Contact Pat & Norm

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Top secret A fair few of you probably think policing is largely a negative, conflict -ridden, challenging occupation.

PLOD’S PAGE

Almost every second person we meet says either: “I don’t know how you do it” and “I wouldn’t do your job for quids” or “They won’t let me have a pistol for good reason” etc, etc.

However, can I say, that despite

by Sgt Dan McNamara OIC dealing with the misanthropes we Pomona Police Station regularly see, there is a lot of good in Ph: 5480 1733 the community. divulge that for quite a while some As police we’re also pretty good at keeping information secret, squirrel local animal doctors have been helping out down on their luck locals so. I can’t really divulge that there are currently a number of people and on a regular basis. Your good works are important to this small organisations in Pomona that are community and appreciated - and quietly going about supporting the don’t worry, Steve, Buzz and Brooke, many that need a lift to continue your secret’s safe with me! down an often tough and lonely

School and also Cooroora Mountain park. Obviously, keep anything valuable secured and out of sight and doors locked, even if only away for a few minutes, to deter these grubs.

Parking zones I often see cars parked on the corner of Memorial and Rectory streets in the No Standing area outside the Pomona Post Office or, infrequently, parked in the disabled zone in Rectory Street without clear authorisation.

Vehicles stopped on the corner in this signed no standing zone effectively block driver vision when turning into Memorial Avenue, creating a collision hazard.

Unauthorised parking in any disabled zone is pretty hard to fathom, enough said. Being country road.

Points and peeves cops, we generally give verbal With school safety in mind, speed Because they’re generally modest, I warnings re parking offences and won’t embarrass them, other than to zones will be enforced, so please note people are pretty good. However, the schools 40kmh speed reduction say that we have a local pastor and should it continue, we may go the friends providing a weekly free meal times and zones morning and more expensive ‘plan B’. afternoon, because we do. and good company to the Also, to reduce the workload and community at a local spiritual rehab We’re experiencing a steady rise in frustration of the mail contractors, premises, no strings attached. the unlawful entry and thefts from please try and keep the loading zone There’s no preaching, just the best motor vehicles within Pomona CBD. clear in the afternoons as these zones part of Christianity, sorry, There has been a recent stealing and are really for commercial vehicles “spirituality”, in today’s PC realm. attempted theft of power tools from employed by and engaged in I also won’t break under pressure and unattended vehicles at Pomona State supplying the business.

Pomona & District Community House - Keeping You In Touch With Your Community

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Hey, take junk to the tip!

For all your local Advertising

Cooroora Connect heather@pomonacommunityhouse.com.au

This is not a convenient place-stop for those using the trails through Yurol State Forest, but an illegally dumped item of furniture that must be removed using ratepayers’ money. Report illegal dumping to Noosa Council and record number plates of suspicious vehicles, time and day.

And take your rubbish to the tip. The Pomona landfill and resource recovery centre is located in Louis Bazzo Drive, open 8am to 1pm, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Forestry HQ as a makers space?

Imagine the former forestry headquarters building in School Street, Pomona, as a craft makers space – well, that is the task set for architectural students from the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) as they make their annual pilgrimage to town as part of their coursework.

structure and possible future uses in 10 years time.

This year, 120 students are involved. They will visit Pomona in March and make their presentations on their reinterpretations of the three buildings midyear. Senior lecturer in architecture at the QUT, Yasu Santo, said he was The Pomona Memorial particularly keen to see the Hall and the Pomona students’ work to redesign Showgrounds pavilion are the forestry building on among other buildings the land also occupied by students will assess as they Men’s Shed Pomona. consider a more functional

Pomona Anglican Church COMMUNITY DINNER Cnr Memorial Ave & Rectory St, Pomona (Opposite the Post Office)

Every Tuesday from 5.30pm All Welcome - Free Meal Phone 5485 0206

COOROORA SCREENS & BLINDS 19a Factory Street, Pomona P: 5485 1287 / M: 0419 655 901 * Screens & Security Doors * * Shutters * Awnings * * Verticals * Venetians * * Roller & Roman Blinds *

Pomona Barber No Appointment Necessary

Open Tuesday to Friday Located behind The Caltex Garage Factory Street, Pomona

PH: 0477 043 071 POMONA True Value Hardware PH: 5485 1351 10 Reserve St Pomona HARDWARE, TIMBER, GARDEN, PAINT, LP GAS, RURAL & PRODUCE NEEDS

Pomona & District Community House - Keeping You In Touch With Your Community

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Pomona & District Community House - Keeping You In Touch With Your Community