Great result from community groups working together Mapleton off-leash area up for discussion
Lucy, a caramel labradoodle and good friend to many, has been visiting patients and staff at the Maleny Soldiers Memorial Hospital with her owner Geoff Bridger for nearly five years. Geoff and Lucy provide a welcome distraction for many patients staying in the hospital and their visits are set to continue after the Maleny Hospital Auxiliary secured funding through a Maleny Rotary 2019 community grant. Geoff and Lucy volunteer their time through the national nonprofit organisation, Delta Therapy Dogs. Each visit, after the usual Geoff Bridger and Lucy with the director of nursing/facility excited tail wagging seeing the manager David Sprigwood, Rotary Club of Maleny president familiar faces of the hospital staff, Sherryl Gregory, Greg Williams and Maleny Hospital Auxiliary it’s down to business for Lucy, president Louise Hickey visiting the patients throughout the hospital. “It’s been a very rewarding experience for all of us.” While not everyone is always up for a visit those Fast forward five years and thanks to the grant, that are can almost guarantee Lucy will make Geoff and Lucy can continue their great work lifting herself at home and have a cheeky sniff to see the spirits of patients throughout the hospital. what’s for lunch. Maleny Hospital Auxiliary president Louise Geoff says Lucy brings smiles to faces everywhere Hickey said the committee was very pleased to she goes and has a way of engaging with people be awarded the grant as it would benefit Lucy’s that is truly special. continued visits. “Lucy knows the drill and she picks up on how Last week a number of Maleny’s Rotarians joined people are feeling – she’s very knowing,” Geoff Louise, Dr Kris McQuaid, acting director of says proudly. nursing/facility manager David Sprigwood and, Lucy’s job to bring joy to patients at Maleny came of course, Geoff and Lucy, on a tour around the about coincidently when Geoff's wife Val – who at hospital grounds and the walk of remembrance. the time was heavily involved with the auxiliary This provided a great opportunity to showcase - came home and discussed with Geoff their the work that Geoff and Lucy do in the hospital. difficulty in trying to find a support dog for the This was followed by a vocational dinner at hospital. the Maleny Hotel, in which Louise spoke about After seeing how caring and gentle Lucy was the work the Maleny Hospital Auxiliary does in with Val when she returned home after being raising money to purchase equipment outside of in hospital herself, without hesitation Geoff the hospital’s budget allowance, rehabilitation suggested Lucy. equipment, even magazine subscriptions, among “Lucy seemed an obvious choice as she has such many other things. a gentle nature,” he said. Louise said the auxiliary provided an excellent “We went through the assessment process community service through fundraising and with the Delta Society, which took about three support for the Maleny Soldiers Memorial months, and after being approved we met with Hospital. At the heart of their hard work is the hospital. maintaining the care of the patients.
Sunshine Coast Council has more than 30 dog off-leash areas (dog parks). These areas may or may not be fenced and allow dogs to run, exercise and socialise leash-free with other dogs and dog park visitors. Mapleton isn’t one of the lucky towns with an off-leash dog area but that may all change thanks to a community survey being undertaken by the council. Council has not identified a site in Mapleton that meets all the needs of an off-leash area. According to the council, early discussions have identified a diverse range of opinions and ideas on what an off-leash dog park would entail within the community. In response to resident requests, including a petition, the council is seeking input from the Mapleton community for a range of options in order to find a solution. This engagement is in the form of an online survey, with submissions closing at 5pm on Friday, November 22. The survey is on the council website at https://haveyoursay.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au and clicking on ‘Open Consultation’. Council information shows that Mapleton has about one registered dog per seven people (the Sunshine Coast average is one dog per 8.7 people). The nearest dog parks for Mapleton residents are Petrie Park, Nambour (9.3km away) and Federation Park, Palmwoods (11km). Possible sites identified are Mapleton Lilyponds Park, Mapleton Fire Brigade Park, Spring Pastures Drive Park, Carramar Court Park, Flaxton Drive Park and Kondalilla Scout Hall Park. With the exception of the Mapleton Lilyponds and Mapleton Fire Brigade Park, the other parks may be too far away from the centre of Mapleton for most residents. Mapleton Lilyponds was donated to the council and is held in trust for the purpose of ‘public open space and natural habitat’. If you are interested in an off-leash dog park in Mapleton, make your voice heard and fill out the survey.
Local generosity helps drought relief The Anglican Parish of Maleny held a morning tea recently and raised more than $5,500 for drought relief in Queensland. Priest in charge, the Reverend Jeanette Jamieson, who is vicar to three churches - St George’s Maleny, St Mary’s Montville and St Luke’s Kenilworth - was overwhelmed at the response and praised the help from the congregations. “The support exceeded all expectations with 180 people attending from Brisbane, Nambour, Coolum, Maryborough as well as the hinterland," Rev Jeanette said. “The church community was superb. Coordinated by Dell Somerville and St George’s Guild, members from all the churches provided a marvellous home-cooked morning tea. We had so much, we plated what was left over and made an extra $270. “We had 17 donations for raffle prizes so we spent a fun time drawing names. The raffle raised $1,300 and we are grateful to the donors for their generosity. Monetary donations before, during and after the event reached $1,500,” she said. 14
Speakers at the morning tea were Derek Tuffield, CEO of Lifeline Darling Downs, and Patsy Lee, president of QCWA Nambour North Coast division, who shared the money raised. Their anecdotes gave a picture of some moving individual hardships. “We can’t help with the big picture but we can support people on an individual basis in some cases of dire personal tragedy,” was the theme of both speakers. The atmosphere was enlivened by a fashion parade by Maleny boutiques Simply Stylish of the Riverside Centre and Imelda’s on Maple shoes. “Apart from their work in providing the stunning fashions, each firm gave a $100 voucher for the raffles and suggested the $20 discount they gave to guests might be forwarded to the drought relief funds," Rev Jeanette said. “There was a suggestion that people might like to donate some personal items, or chocolates with a card and handwritten message to be given to needy farmers and their families, especially with the Christmas so close.
“Imelda’s is the collection point for these personal donations and someone has offered to collect and deliver items out west. “Our assistance is sorely needed, even in this small way, and it is heartening to see so many giving generously of their time, talents, money and effort,” Rev Jeanette said.
Models for Simply Stylish and Imelda’s on Maple line up with compere Bobbi
Glasshouse Country & Maleny News
