million back to the com munity. Cooroy Rag, July 2000

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wythes.com.au

FREE I Phone: 5442 6699 I Email: editorial@cooroyrag.com.au I 7 September 2022

It’s showtime!

ROLL up, roll up, for the Noosa Country Show on 9 and 10 September at Pomona Showgrounds.

Read all about this year’s

"Where town meets country" show, on page 6.

Woman’s desperate plea to stay in Cooroy

BY ALEX PURCELL

AN English woman living in Cooroy to look after her elderly mother, is making a desperate plea to stay in the country.

Fiona Nelson has been coming to Australia for 15 years to visit her parents, who are Australian citizens.

After a lengthy and costly process in September last year, Fiona was granted a one-year visa on compassionate grounds: her father had been diagnosed with a “particularly aggressive cancer”.

Sadly, her father passed away and now, one year later, Fiona is being expedited from the country, leaving her 85-year-old mother alone.

Fiona said she is asking for anyone willing to sponsor her.

“My present employment in the UK is as a support worker, which I have been doing for the last five years, assisting people with a range of learning and mental health difficulties.

“I believe there is a shortage of eligible workers in this field here in Australia at present.

“But I have been informed by a solicitor that the only way I can obtain work here in Australia is by going down the route of sponsorship.”

Fiona said she has contacted numerous companies in both the care and hospitality sectors to no avail.

“As soon as the word sponsorship is mentioned, the barriers come up.

“I am prepared to contribute to the relevant sponsorship costs and also obtain and complete the necessary paperwork required.”

“At present, my mother is relatively independent but I would like to think I could be here for her when and if she needs my support,” Fiona said.

At the time of printing, Fiona will have left the country, leaving behind her mum and her voluntary work at LifeLine.

Fiona hopes to return next year for a visit - or longer, if she finds a sponsor.

Noosa Hinterland Property Growth Remains More Robust Than Other Major Markets

From the desk of your roaming editor

Alex Purcell, Cooroy Rag Roaming Editor

IT has been absolutely lovely being home for a bit, catching up with family and friends, staying in our beloved home in Pomona and attending functions (wonderful to see Cooroy Mountain Spring Festival was so busy and I will have a wrap-up next edition on the Mingle with the Mayor’s Ball) that are all part of being your roaming editor.

But I have to admit, it’s been difficult too.

You see, we’d only just really found our feet with our travels before we came home.

After six months on the road, we’d only just started free camping more, we had a great routine going on to accommodate my work, Matt’s work, the kids’ schooling and of course, exploring and enjoying events in the areas we were in.

Interestingly, it has been the kids that I've noticed the biggest change in. They have grown so much. To say they struggled being confined to a house block this past month is an understatement!

With all that said, I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to have this incredible adventure with my family, to travel and work, and yet, so lucky to be able to come home to this beautiful part of the world and amazing community.

But we are looking forward to loading up the van and hitting the road again in September.

And I look forward to continuing to bring you editions of our wonderful community newspaper from somewhere in Australia.

I’m enjoying being able to share our travels with you – your feedback is amazing and hey, if I can do it, so can you.

The world is a different place now; businesses are diversifying and with the technology available anyone is only ever a phone call away.

Thank you all for your unwavering support.

Your soon-to-be-roaming-again editor,

Alex

From the archives

AS the Cooroy Rag prepares to give money back to the community, we thought it was fitting we share this photo for this edition of From the archives.

Pictured is the team responsible for bringing the Cooroy Rag back as a 100 per cent community-owned newspaper.

In 2000, Judy Painter and Debbie Boyle relaunched Cooroy’s longstanding newspaper, the Cooroy Rag, as a non-profit publication.

Since then, the Cooroy Rag has given more than $1 million back to the community.

Cooroy Rag, July 2000

Bouquets & Brickbats

BOUQUETS to the wonderful volunteers (and there were many ) who made the Cooroy Mountain Spring Festival such a wonderful event.

BOUQUETS and welcome to the wonderful new doctors at Cooroy Family Practice. I have found my skin specialist. BOUQUETS to Qld Police for 1) deciding to include communities and consult on details for designs on rural police stations, and 2) for providing a great afternoon tea.

BOUQUETS to Noosa Hospital staff for taking such good care of my mum recently. You truly are all heroes.

BRICKBATS to owners of off-lead dogs that are left to roam the pony club grounds and leave their calling cards – your number plates are being noted. BRICKBATS to people who abandon cars and leave the mess and the bill for others to clean up.

BRICKBATS to those who write on our beautiful historic buildings (pictured) like the Pomona Memorial Hall. Your “tags” are ugly and unwanted. Grow up. Community help lock in new station design ....................3

Second fatality for Cooroy Noosa Road........................4

‘Hi Mum’ scam alert ...........4

Rate discounts extended for Black Mt residents .............5

Louis Bazzo Drive speed limit under review................6

Council gives community benefit priority.....................6

Man hunts for sold painting...............................7

Record-breaking numbers for festival...........................8

Town meets country at show ..................................9

New owners, branding for Cooroy store.....................10

Cooroy business gives $500 for local kids.............10

Your Say......................12-13

Letters to the Editor.....12-13

Dining ......................... 14-15

What's On................... 16-21

People ........................ 18-19

Community ................. 22-23

Sport............................24-25

Health...............................26

Classifieds....................... 27

Trades & Services ...... 28-29

Schools............................ 30

Puzzles............................ 31

Real Estate................. 31-43

Cooroy Rag Contacts

OFFICE Phone: 5442 6699 EDITORIAL Alex Purcell editorial@cooroyrag.com.au ADVERTISING Judy Painter sales@cooroyrag.com.au ADVERTISING & ADMINISTRATION Jodi Brennan advertising@cooroyrag.com.au PRODUCTION Kristina Tindall production@cooroyrag.com.au

PO BOX ADDRESS: Cooroy Rag, PO Box 898, Cooroy, 4563 Every 3 weeks, 7500 copies of the Cooroy Rag are distrubuted throughout our community to Tewantin, Doonan, Eumundi, Noosaville, Boreen Point, Imbil, Gympie, Cooroy and Pomona

“ We genuinely give a SHED!”