WHAT'S ON

Hoofbeats Sanctuary Art Prize

Entries are open for the 2024 Seeing the Soul Hoofbeats Sanctuary Art Prize and Exhibition. CEO Barb Blashki invites entrants to submit works that depict Seeing the Soul: The humananimal connection. She welcomes “Works in any medium that show the connection between people and animals at liberty, without restraints of any kind”.

Prizes range from $500 to $2,500 with a new under-18yo emerging artist prize of $500. Entries can be submitted online at: seeingthesoul.org.au by 8 March 2024 and will be exhibited at the Cooroy Butter Factory Arts Centre from 12 April to 12 May. Located in Doonan, Hoofbeats Sanctuary is a grassroots mental health charity that supports women and girls impacted by trauma.

Art on Yabba

Art on Yabba fine art gallery at Imbil has an exhibition of small works throughout December. This comprises paintings, ceramics, prints and collages and offers an easy Christmas shopping experience. The small works are by 15 artists from the Gympie region.

Mary Valley Artslink is also hosting regular lifedrawing sessions with artist Pat Cale at the Imbil RSL Hall. For 2024 bookings and dates contact Pat on 0456 263 747. Each session costs $20 which includes the model’s fee. Visit: t.ly/KtuIg.

40 Under 40 exhibition

The 40 Under 40 exhibition and art prize is a group exhibition to be held at Cooroy Butter Factory Arts Centre from 12 January to 25 February.

Pomona Railway Station Gallery

It’s a family affair at the latest exhibition at Pomona Railway Station Gallery. Anton Koch, his partner Kara, her sister Nikki and mother Rain Dunnage showcase their talents in Journey of Four running until 28 December. The result is an eclectic exhibition of artworks including lighting, sculptural timber, thrown clay, acrylic and watercolour paintings as well as ink and charcoal drawings. Opening hours are 10am4pm Tuesday to Friday and 10am-2pm Saturday and Sunday. Visit: pomonartgallery.com.

The exhibition will showcase a diverse range of young and emerging artists aged 18-40 from the Noosa, Sunshine Coast and Gympie regions. Founded by Amanda Bennetts the project aims to build a community of young artists who previously felt they didn't fit into the current art scene and to give them an opportunity to connect with like-minded artists. Also returning are the art prizes awarded to our region’s most promising young artists. Visit: 40-40.com.au.

Young Entrepreneurs Christmas Market

Support the Young Entrepreneurs Christmas Market from 9am-1pm on 19 December at the Yandina School of Arts. Grab a coffee and pick up some Christmas presents. There will be Christmas decorations and cards, jewellery, home produce, home baked goods, a cafe and live music. Visit: fb.me/e/4QZaRwKo8

Thank you Cooroy RSL

Community groups gathered recently at Cooroy RSL for the second round of its community giving program. There was a record amount of community donations this year supporting around 40 local organisations with more than $100,000.

This funding has enabled local community organisations to deliver a wide range of services and activities with the help of dedicated volunteers. Support given to Eumundi groups included Eumundi District Swim Club and Eumundi Christmas Extravaganza. Thank you Cooroy RSL for your generous support!

Artists thrive thanks to RADF support

Four local creative industries projects received more than $28,000 in the latest round of Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF) grants. These include a Cooroy Future Group project to hold the 40 Under 40 exhibition and art prize at the Cooroy Butter Factory Arts Centre. This exhibition showcases a range of artists aged 1840 from the Noosa, Sunshine Coast and Gympie regions.

Another recipient is local band Ampersand with a grant enabling them to record, market and release multiple singles, film a music video and host a free launch event for their debut EP in early 2024.

Ampersand manager and keyboard player Jarrod Tutbury praised the RADF funding: “As an independent young musician and manager this grant makes all the difference to my own and Ampersand's career plans. We are self-funded and could not possibly hope to front the kind of funds required for a project of this magnitude and quality.”

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The long-established RADF grants have supported a vast number of professionals, creatives and organisations to develop and present work and engage with audiences. Other recipients include local artist Lucy Laino and The Shelter SC Pty Ltd organisation which will use the funds to present a month-long development project culminating in an art exhibition combining music and immersive art installations.

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Noosa Libraries Christmas closures

All branches of Noosa Libraries will be closed for Christmas from 25-26 December. Mobile library services will be closed for longer from 21 December until 3 January. Visit: t.ly/V_M9e.

What’s happening at Joe’s?

You can’t miss the construction at Joe’s Waterhole on Memorial Dr, Eumundi with lots of tradies, scissor lifts, cranes, trucks and installation of a pedestrian safety footpath. The redevelopment will transform Joe’s into a Matso’s brewery before the end of the year and now has steel framing and roofing visible out the back.

The site will be able to host up to 500 people, produce around a million litres of beer annually and offer six bedrooms above the public bar. Visit: t.ly/CfXbJ.

its face reflects the diversity of the Australian community. The answer isn’t just about the LGBTIQ community but the history tells the story of how that group of Australian diplomats fared over the years as DFAT employees.

Let’s Dance is the story of how an organisation succeeded or failed to make the best use of its people’s talents and was published by the Australian Institute of International Affairs.

Let’s Dance

One of Eumundi Voice’s writers, Rhonda Piggott is now a published author with the recent launch in Canberra by Senator the Hon. Penny Wong, Minister for Foreign Affairs, of Let’s Dance: A History of LGBTIQ staff in the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

The history covers the period 1950-2020 and the title Let’s Dance is taken from the view that “tolerance is being invited to the party, inclusion is being asked to dance”. Rhonda wrote Let’s Dance to put on record what went before so we can have a better grasp on what might come in the future.

DFAT is the face of Australia overseas through its network of embassies, high commissions and consulates. The question arises as to whether

Living with wild horses in Eumundi

Growing up with horses gave Eumundi’s Lynn Scott an appreciation of horse life way before dressage, pony clubs and events were common. Lynn rode freely through the Blue Mountains but then years without a horse left an emptiness, until now.

In her semi-retirement she has the freedom to choose to live with a herd of 12 horses, mostly brumbies, at Moon Mountain Sanctuary Eumundi maintaining the gift of a Iife of wildness. The brumbies at Moon Mountain have taught Lynn and the other horses a different way of life. Learning wild horse rituals is the basis of connecting with the horses and takes the relationship to a new level. Lynn said that herd life is based on harmony at Moon Mountain which in turn shapes the way Lynn manages, trains and has become one with her herd. Visit: moonmountainsanctuary.com.au.

Lynn recently authored and published A Horse Story of Wildness which provides an insight into herd life based on wild herd behaviour and rituals. An early bird order price of $100 rather than $125 makes the book a great Christmas gift. To register your order or for more information email: lynn@moonmountainsanctuary.com.au.

‘Butterfly’ has gone from strength-to-strength and is now seen as one of the leading organisations in this field around the world. Claire's vision is to inspire the hospice to grow as a leading not-for-profit community service.

Board members and CEO after AGM 15 November:

L to R Simon Gamble, Les Godwin, Jill Morley, Claire Middleton (chair), Glen Elmes and CEO John Gabrielson

Katie Rose Cottage Hospice AGM

Claire Middleton was recently appointed chair of Katie Rose Hospice following the retirement of inaugural chair Carol Raye in December 2022. Les Godwin temporarily filled the position until a permanent replacement was recruited.

Claire has made a life-long commitment to palliative and hospice care. There were eating disorders in her family some years ago and at that time adequate support could not be found. As a result Claire took it upon herself to establish the Butterfly Foundation dedicated to providing the very best care and support for those affected by eating disorders.

Walk without worrying

The replacement of at least one section of the old, uneven footpath in Memorial Dr out the front of the Eumundi Museum – which made walking while looking at the pavement a necessity – is complete. It looks great with sections in brick to add some eye-appeal as well as a wonderfully even surface. For that section we can now walk without worrying about twisting an ankle. Thanks SCC!

SunnyKids XMAS appeal

SunnyKids and The Ginger Factory have come together to support Sunshine Coast families with Sunny XMAS for Kids at The Ginger Factory. As the drop-off point for the Sunny XMAS for Kids Appeal, until 18 December visitors to The Ginger Factory can leave a gift at the base of a huge Christmas tree installed in the piazza. Last year the appeal enabled Sunny Kids to bring magic and joy to the lives of more than 350 children with over 1,300 gifts donated to vulnerable families in time for Christmas. It aims to help 150 vulnerable families over the next 12 months and ensure every child has a present under the tree and food on the table on Christmas morning.

If you can’t make it to The Ginger Factory donations can be made online. “For as little as $600, or $50 a month, people can sponsor a family and make 2024 a year filled with hope and opportunity,” said SunnyKids General Manager Kathleen Hope. To sponsor a child visit: sunnyxmas-for-kids-2023.raisely.com or use the QR code at The Ginger Factory.