IN NOOSA Magazine | Autumn 2023 | IN35

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THE TEAM

Editor’s Note

Welcome to a new year - and hasn’t it set a cracking pace already?!

This edition is jam-packed with stories of INspiring people - from our front cover artist to local business owners; entrepreneurs turning personal tragedy into life saving initiatives; and the creative sparks who are finalists in Sunny Coast Showdown.

You’ll also find out what OzHarvest Sunshine Coast & Gympie founder and Sunshine Coast’s Citizen of the Year is cooking up next to help those in need.

Looking for some style INspiration? We’ve got you covered with our stunning fashion shoot, homewares pages and pet products for pampered pooches.

Get your art on with a season full of exciting exhibitions, open studios and artistic inspiration; and if food is your thing, don’t miss our chats with chefs and the latest foodie events to suit any appetite.

Our experts offer insights into what’s happening on the property market and you’ll find a world of wellness awaits with insights into how to find your happiness, fitness and the hottest wellness trends.

Buckle up because at this rate, 2023 is set to be a whirlwind! Let’s enjoy the ride together IN Noosa!

DEB CARUSO

PUBLISHER + EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Deb has more than 30 years’ experience providing strategic communications and brand reputation advice to clients in the government, business and not-for-profit sectors. She started IN Publishing to connect the community through storytelling and is passionate about working with local businesses and hanging out with her boys John and Maximus.

PAUL BIRD PUBLISHER

Paul is the Publisher and co-Director of IN Publishing

He has enjoyed a successful career spanning almost 40 years working in media and corporate communications industries and more recently in the profit-forpurpose charity and business sector as an Independent Director and Corporate Advisor

JOHN CARUSO WRITER/PODCASTER/MC

After 30 years in radio, John now runs the Everyone Has a Story: Conversations from the Sunshine Coast and Noosa podcast and in between being our writer,delivery driver and event MC; he spends time with his first love, recording a daily Drive program for regional radio while also raising his son Maximus.

ALI SMITH

DESIGN + OPERATIONS

MANAGER

Ali is our go-to girl when it comes to design, deadlines and digital. An experienced graphic designer with nearly 20 years’ experience in advertising, magazines and publishing, she brings creativity and efficiency to the team. When she’s not at her computer, you can find her on the water with her husband and three kids.

CARLIE WACKER ASSISTANT EDITOR

Carlie has spent the last 30 years in the media and entertainment industry. She is our Editor + Fashion Editor for Hello Sunshine Magazine and Fashion Editor IN Noosa Magazine and keeps busy managing our social media pages, churning out stories and as an event MC. She also owns menswear label Wacker Clothing Company and is dog-obsessed.

JAKKI GOODALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

With 30 years’ experience in Marketing, Advertising, Sales and Promotions and an MBA, Jakki loves to develop local businesses which can be seen through her position on the Executive of the Maroochydore Chamber of Commerce as well as other local networks.

CHOLE TREMBLE DESIGN

Freelance designer Chole is a proud member of the “everyone spells my name wrong club” but she is well experienced in marketing, business and publishing having worked in print for years before moving into the online space of website design. She also has a legitimate reason for working from home in her PJs after launching her own sleepwear line, PJS & BED.

GEORGIA BEARD

WRITER + CONTENT CREATOR

Georgia is a feature writer and storyteller exploring the triumphs and concerns of everyday people. With a Bachelor of Creative Writing and Publishing and a Minor in Journalism under her belt, she’s passionate about giving a voice to local communities. When she’s not out in the real world, she’s lost in a novel or writing one of her own.

Deb Caruso

FIND

DebUS

#innoosa

Stay INformed with our e-newsletter: www.innoosamagazine.com.au

WINTER DEADLINES

Bookings close: 8 May 2023

Art Deadline: 15 May 2023

hello@inpublishing.com.au www.innoosamagazine.com.au

RHIANNON COX DESIGN INTERN

Rhiannon is a fourth-year student at the University of the Sunshine Coast studying a Bachelor of Design (Visual Communications) with a Minor in Photography. She has just launched her freelance photography business and loves to capture the personalities of her clients. When she isn’t studying or working, she’ll be planning a trip overseas or lost in a book and some good music.

JODIE CAMERON MARKETING CO-ORDINATOR

Jodie is a city-turned-countryturned-coastal chick. With a degree in Journalism & PR and a passion for pulling together events with flair. Her 15+ years’ experience is diverse (including launching a macadamia nut farm)! In her spare time, she’s beachside with her two tiny treasures and furry love Staffy x Red Cattle dog, Rudi.

PHOTOGRAPHERS

CONTRIBUTORS

HELEN FLANAGAN TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE

Noosa’s sophisticated charm, vibrant food culture and the magnetism of a subtropical paradise surrounded by national parks, inveigled Helen’s manic world and flipped it on its side. She pursues the good life with gusto, instinctively understanding the joys of travel, the art of story-telling, a candid review and surviving another reno whilst thriving on the motto: Live Laugh Love!

JENNIFER SWAINE BUSINESS

A born storyteller and connector of people, Jennifer works with a number of SMEs looking after their branding, marketing strategy, communications, PR and events. As Chair of the Sunshine Coast Business Awards, Vice President of the Sunshine Coast Chamber Alliance and a Non-Executive Director of Visit Sunshine Coast, Jennifer proactively engages with local businesses on a daily basis.

TONY COX DRINKS

After 25 years of sniffing, swirling, spitting and slurping various vinous temptations our drinks writer has decided that his future lies firmly planted on the consumption and storytelling side. Tony not only still enjoys consulting about wine and other beverages but is now part of the successful Kate Cox Real Estate Team at Reed & Co Noosa.

KATRINA THORPE WELLNESS

With qualifications and years of experience in health, wellness, beauty, management and business, culminating in the creation of the award-winning ikatan Spa, Katrina has a passion for everything relating to the wellness world and loves to share her knowledge, experience and research. She is an active member of our community with involvement in tourism and charity work.

PETE GOODLET GARDENING/ART

Artist, landscape designer and man about town, Pete brings his love of gardens, design and all things green to IN Noosa. Having worked with design greats Rick Eckersley and Jamie Durie and having been featured in all the top mags, Pete loves to renovate with the patience and support of his partner Dave and Oscar Wilde (man’s best friend).

MELISSA MIRAGAIA FITNESS

Noosa Studio owner, ayurvedic gut health specialist and fitness trainer, Melissa Miragaia’s passion is helping others to find balance whilst enjoying life’s simple pleasures. Working alongside her husband Raph, aka Noosa Personal Chef, Mel has lived in Noosa for 17 years and has 10 years’ experience coaching and training customers in the health, wellness and fitness industry. She specialises in identifying an individual’s physical and mental needs to treat their health from the inside out.

MATT GOLINSKI FOOD

A highly regarded chef with a passion for simple, producedriven cuisine based on seasonal, fresh local ingredients. Matt is an active member of the Slow Food movement, a champion of artisan producers and a generous mentor to keen young chefs. When he’s not cooking up stories for IN Noosa you’ll find him at food festivals and giving back to the many charities he supports.

MICHAEL BRENNAN ART

The Director of Noosa Regional Gallery has been described as an ‘accidental curator’ as a prize-winning painter and sculptor who has moved from creating works to curating them. It all began when he opened The Trocadero Art Space in Footscray to build an arts community in the area. Sixteen years later it is still standing and we are lucky to now have him taking the arts to a whole new level in our region.

PENNY BRAND WRITER

Born with an innate desire to understand everything and anything, Penny’s mother nicknamed her ‘Miss Questionnaire’. Growing up in Toowoomba, Penny pledged to live here after a holiday in Mooloolaba warmed her soul. Fresh from university, she landed a job at the Sunshine Coast Daily and while she has travelled the world and worked in newspapers, magazines and online, this is where she always comes back to.

JACKIE

HILLEGERS MINDFULNESS

Jackie holds Mindfulness Workshops, teaches Mindful Photography and is a Holistic Integrated Creative Arts Therapist & Holistic Counsellor. Her passion is working with children and teens to help them reduce stress and anxiety and increase self-love. She loves to create art and learn about the mind and brain from her Tewantin studio. For workshops visit www.pheatherine.com

AMANDA STEVENS INSIGHT

After growing up in Noosa and studying in Brisbane, Amanda moved to Sydney, where she built a marketing agency from scratch, selling it to a multi-national after 15 years of double-digit growth. She soon returned to Noosa and is now one of the most in-demand public speakers in the country as a renowned thought leader and consultant on consumer trends and customer experience.

NEKITA ROBERTS POETRY

Writing as The Australian Poet, Nekita’s observations of nature, the ocean, and the beauty of the Coast have captured the hearts and minds of her readers and thousands of Instagram followers. Nekita’s love of the printed word can be found in her beautiful hardcover poetry book The Native Heart featuring stunning illustrations by her sister Jaclyn. Discover Nekita and her work at www.theaustralianpoet.com

MORE THAN A MAGAZINE

Print | Digital | Social | Podcast | Events

Stay INformed with our e-newsletter: www.innoosamagazine.com.au

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/PUBLISHER: Deb Caruso, 0428 853 224 deb@inpublishing.com.au

PUBLISHER: Paul Bird

ADVERTISING: advertising@inpublishing.com.au

SUBSCRIPTIONS, EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS & DISTRIBUTION ENQUIRIES: hello@inpublishing.com.au Suite 1b/36 Sunshine Beach Road PO Box 542, Noosa Heads Q 4567 www.innoosamagazine.com.au

DISTRIBUTION: For autumn, 13000 printed copies available throughout Noosa and surrounds in locally-designed and handcrafted magazine stands.

IN Noosa Magazine is also supplied to local businesses and visitors through its tailored distribution process with 100% takeup rate.

IN Noosa Magazine is a free publication (subscriptions available) published four times per year by IN Noosa Magazine Pty Ltd (The Publisher). All rights are reserved and the contents are copyright and may not be reprinted without the express permission of The Publisher. IN Noosa Magazine Pty Ltd ATF IN Noosa Magazine, their related companies and officers hereby disclaim, to the full extent permitted by law, all liability, damages, costs and expenses whatsoever arising from or in connection with copy information or other material in this magazine, any negligence of The Publisher, or any persons actions in reliance thereon. Any dispute or complaint regarding placed advertisements must be made within seven days of

IN SPIRE

IN DULGE

Matt Golinski shares his favourite ways to prepare one of his favourite dishesgnocchi.

We would like to acknowledge and pay respects to the traditional owners, the Gubbi Gubbi/Kabi Kabi people, whose country we create on and we would like to extend our respect to their elders, both past, present and emerging.

IN FASHION

Be inspired by stunning autumn fashions shot in one of the sexiest locations in Noosa!

IN THE STUDIO

Face up to the mesmerising power of portraiture.

IN THE HOME

Including:

Harri Jones, Josh Smallwood, DÈ SAINT, Peter Kuruvita, Mark Webber, Mayor Clare Stewart, Matt Golinski + more...

Silent Strength by Wayne Quilliam

EDWARDS-A-GO!

Event: EdwardsAndCo Salon Opening

Venue: EdwardsAndCo, Noosaville

The welcome mat was rolled out for EdwardsAndCo’s ninth Australian salon - and the first one outside a major city centre.

The partnership with passionate Noosa local and global keynote speaker Amanda Stevens and hairdressing icon Jaye Edwards is sure to turn heads, colour our worlds brighter and create a lot of buzz!

PHOTOS: DEB CARUSO

LUCIOS

Event: End Of Summer Party

Venue: Lucios Marina

The most colourful of crowds showed up for the End Of Summer party at Lucio’s Marina which was transformed into an epic riverside cocktail lounge with Ayala Champagne on arrival, signature cocktails and Taylors Wines flowing all day. Guests enjoyed an oyster bar, cheese and salami bar and a constant flow of exceptional canapes while DJ Nico Tropico kept the old school vinyl bangers entertaining the party goers. What a way to end a sensational summer! Bravo Lucios! Keep your eye out for the next one!

PHOTOS: KATJA ANTON

BONZA

Event: Bonza’s first flight

Venue: Sunshine Coast Airport to Whitsunday Coast, return

A sea of purple celebrated the first Bonza flight taking off with a return trip between the Sunshine Coast and the Whitsunday Coast.

Guests gave the thumbs up to a waterfront seafood feast and local hospitality and all agreed that everything was... well... bonza!

PHOTOS: DEB CARUSO, ROBERT HAMMER AND SUPPLIED

Tag yourself and your friends at our events #innoosa @innoosamag

HELLO HAPPINESS

Hello Sunshine Mag Summer launch

Venue: The Met, Maroochydore Summer was hot hot hot with a spectacular celebration of the latest Hello Sunshine Magazine at The Met, Maroochydore. Giddy Geisha served up delicious treats while guests enjoyed tunes from DJ Tilly while sipping on Smug AF non-alcoholic cocktails, Sunshine & Sons award-winning gin, Heads of Noosa brews and fine wines. What a way to say hello to summer and goodbye to 2022!

TREAD LIGHTLY

Event: Tread Lightly Progam Launch

Venue: Noosa Regional Gallery

By the Noosa River and under the shade of trees in Tewantin Park, Mayor Clare Stewart, Noosa Council and Tourism Noosa took the first step in lightening our environmental footprint!

Conservation groups shared the importance of protecting biodiverse landscapes before officially launching Tread Lightly - a new program that widens the path to preserving our beautiful region with six eco-tourism experiences!

PICS:GEORGIA BEARD

PHOTOS: MEGAN GILL

Georgia Beard reveals how our autumn cover artist, Darren White, reflects our own memories of childhood and the natural world in his abstract, nostalgia-tinted landscapes.

IMMERSED IN Memory

After a heavy rain, Darren White and his friends stand on the beach. Mellow but disturbed after another torrent of seasonal rain, the white-tipped waves dare the boys to plunge in with their surfboards. Heard above the breeze, their conversation is always the same:

“It’s so murky and uninviting.”

“More than murky.”

“True, it’s totally feral. Is it worth risking an ear ache?”

“Think so, I’m still keen!”

Darren is familiar with these moments when the calm conditions of the ocean meet the dirty reality of run-off, but his choice has always already been made.

“It doesn’t really seem to matter what you’re thinking,” he said. “If you ask the question, you’re following suit — in this case it means going in anyway, even with the decent amount of hesitation in your mind.”

Darren’s memories of this regular, post-storm surf session eventually spilled onto a canvas.

His generous layering of acrylic paint and free-flowing black markings became Washed Out, the texturally-stunning front cover art for this Autumn issue of IN Noosa Magazine

The canvas looks like a dreamscape on an overcast day, undulating coastal dunes of pink, orange and green sinking into a flat, milky-white ocean. It’s a familiar place you might visit several times in your sleep.

From his childhood in New Zealand to his adult life in Noosa, the contemporary

painter has always tapped into visceral memories to inspire his minimalist abstract landscapes.

“They’re not clear photographic moments but they’re incredibly powerful,” he said. “Kind of like how the smell of a long-forgotten sunscreen has the power to transport you to another time and place.”

In his mind and on the canvas, Darren often revisits his own past – the small coastal town where he grew up, nurtured by creative people and the natural

PHOTO: KATJA ANTON

Fading Light

Which Headland

Darren in his studio

environment.

“My first inspiration was the landscape — I grew up eating my breakfast in a house on the side of a mountain, facing the ocean and looking up the secluded west coast beaches,” he said.

“This led to constant daydreaming and is something that still comes to me in the studio in different ways.”

His career developed organically, earning him recognition when he naively entered one of Australia’s most prestigious landscape art prizes, The Paddington Art Prize

“When we turned up to the awards night, my work was right there at the front of the room,” he said. “That was all it took to boost my confidence and share my work.”

After taking his artwork to art fairs in Sydney and Melbourne, Darren grabbed hold of new opportunities and fostered long-lasting relationships with collectors, dealers and galleries across Australia and New Zealand.

Now basking in national acclaim, his work has also appeared in local exhibitions including Noosa Open Studios 2020 and 2021, the Bentley’s 40 Under 40 Art Prize 2022 at the Butter Factory Arts

Gallery.

Darren’s artistic process is heavily influenced by freedom, as he allows his subconscious to guide his hand and create by happenstance.

“At a certain point, I relinquish control and allow the paint to do its own thing,” he said. “It gives the final paintings an energy that I couldn’t achieve if I tried to control everything.”

While his memory-based works of Australia have a tone of maturity, he believes his paintings of New Zealand landscapes are much more fantastical.

“Naturally, I tend to question how true some of my young-life memories are,” he said. “Often, it’s fun to just fully believe them. Did I actually often head around the mountain on the wild, winding gravel road, crammed in the back of an old wagon, or was it just once and a super short trip?

“The visual space in my work allows people to slow down and just remember, without photos or technology, allowing their memories to be free to fill in the scene.

“At times, it could be sparked simply by a colour I use or an unexpected reference like a clamshell soap dish, kitsch homewares in a holiday house or a gravel road filling the car with dust.”

Although Darren develops each painting from a personal connection, he loves discovering how audiences bring their own nostalgic experiences to his work.

“I want to gift people a sense of peace through my work by reminding them of positive memories. The ones that come

from the deepest places of security and familiarity are opened through nostalgia.”

Although memories may be nebulous, shapeshifting things, Darren’s abstract recreations of the past will always encourage us to take comfort in what was and find hope in what is to come.

On 5 May, discover the release of Darren’s new online collection with Sarah Birtles Art + Advice and an upcoming solo show at The G Contemporary.

His work will also appear at the Affordable Art Fair in Sydney from 15 to 18 June and in Melbourne from 31 August to 3 September.

To view more of Darren’s work or for updates and complimentary tickets to his exhibitions, visit www.darrenwhite.com.au

Centre and the Local Artists – Local Content Art Prize 2017, 2018, 2021 and 2022 at Caloundra Regional

At a certain point, I relinquish control and allow the paint to do its own thing...

PHOTOS: SUPPLIED BY ARTIST

Washed Out

Top of the Valley

Heavy Air

Amanda Stevens meets a local entrepreneur who has turned his personal loss into a lifesaving product driven by purpose.

PRODUCT WITH Purpose

In 2011, adventure lover Raphael McGowan had set off from Australia to embark on an epic cycling trip across the United States with two mates. The trip was months in the making and Raph was riding high on life; in the previous year he’d celebrated his sister Tess’s wedding and the news that she was pregnant with her first child.

On day 62 of the trip, while the trio were cycling through Kansas, Raph received a phone call from his father that would change his life forever.

His sister Tess had been diagnosed with stage three melanoma after her husband noticed a mole on the middle of her back that had changed.

Raph immediately flew home to Australia to support Tess in her fight, which sadly ended with her passing on

June 22, 2012. She was just 31 years old and had given birth to her first baby Mabel only a few months earlier. Witnessing Tess’s heart-wrenching and decline as she bravely battled her illness motivated Raph to find out more about Melanoma. He soon learned that it’s an epidemic facing tens of thousands of Australian families, and countless more around the globe. He also discovered that Queensland, and in particular South-East Queensland, has the unfortunate title of the melanoma capital of Australia.

“The instances of melanoma in Queensland are significantly higher than other states”, says Raph.

Further research revealed that the middle of the back, where Tess’s melanoma appeared, is one of the most

common places of severe sunburn.

“It’s the one spot on the body that’s almost impossible to self-apply sunscreen,” says Raph. “So if you’re on your own and heading out into the sun, it’s often an unfortunate, unseen area of exposure.”

Raph, determined to solve this problem and driven by Tess’s memory, set about to design a product that enables anyone to apply sunscreen to their back.

The result is bakslap, a lotion applicator that makes applying sunscreen to hard-to-reach places possible.

Described as ‘the perfect extra helping hand’, bakslap is now stocked in hundreds of pharmacies across Australia and is a booming e-commerce success story, with global expansion on the horizon.

“Since we launched in 2019, we’ve had double digit growth year-on-year,” explains Raph.

“The product is doing exceptionally well on Amazon and we’ve just sent some samples to a major retailer in the United States, so it’s exciting times.”

And while expanding internationally is a core focus of the brand, Raph is proud of bakslap being founded on the Sunshine Coast.

“It’s a core part of our brand and our

increasing global exposure has enabled us to educate our customers about the Sunshine Coast and Noosa as tourist destinations,” he said.

The other unexpected aspect of the brand has been the demand from consumers who are finding uses for the product beyond sunscreen application.

“We’re selling a lot of bakslaps to the elderly and people with mobility issues, who are using it to apply all sorts of lotions, not just sunscreen,” he says.

WE TEST THE WATER, SO YOU CAN DIVE IN

With innovation and consumer insight at the heart of business, Raph believes that the key to the success of the product has also been the strong brand story and the commitment to manufacturing a superior product.

“We’re not the only product of its type on the market but when you’re committed to quality and your brand has purpose, it resonates with consumers,” he says.

And when reflecting on the success of bakslap, Tess is never far from Raph’s mind.

“This business has enabled me to speak Tess’ name daily and ensure her legacy lives on as we continue our mission to educate the next generation on skin cancer and the dangers of sun exposure,” he said.

Visit www.bakslap.com for more information and a list of retailers.

KEEP TRACK

Keep track of the UV Index and get alerts, reminders and advice via the SunSmart App. www.cancer.org.au

Find out more Melanoma Institute Australia: www.melanoma.org.au/patientguides

While other insurance companies will advise against taking risks, we acknowledge that some risk is good and needed for success to be achieved in business.

VICTOR, TESS & MABEL. PIC SUPPLIED

Join us for Kidchella!

A free Kidchella festival is coming to Noosa Civic!

Each session will feature a festival themed craft and dance party with giant boom box and light up dancefloor.

Crafts include, flower crowns, tie dye caps and bucket hats, macrame wall hangers, stencil canvas art and more!

DATES:

Monday 3 - Friday 14 April (excluding Good Friday)

LOCATION: Near the Food Court

Bookings are essential, and spaces are limited. For more information and to book your session, visit noosacivic.com.au

We thrive on local love in Noosa – morning coffee, groceries and artisan businesses a short drive away; a vibrant arts and cultural scene in our galleries and theatres; and friendly faces and open spaces.

As change-makers and innovators invest in Noosa’s future, positive progress can only come when their vision supports our small-town spirit.

For more than 15 years, listening to the voices of community has been a priority for Noosa Civic Shopping Centre. They’ve gone beyond consumerism to create spaces for all local demographics and service not only our daily lives, but our environment, our health and our joy.

Looking ahead to vital and exciting changes, Noosa Civic is investing further into the services we love while evolving to meet our growing needs.

Developed by Stockwell and approved by Noosa Shire Council in August 2022, the Noosa Civic Medihub will be the precinct’s first dedicated centre for health and medical professionals.

Tertiary health care services for Cardiology and Radiology and General Practitioners, such as Noosa Civic Family Practice, will occupy new spaces in the Medihub, allowing locals access to the care they need within their community.

Noosa Shire Council Mayor Clare Stewart is enthusiastic about the benefits of such a close-to-home medical centre.

“I am very proud of Noosa Council’s support of the Medihub, which will provide life changing and lifesaving medical services to our community,” she said. “It is a game changer for so many in our community, not just those dealing with cancer and other critical health issues but also their families, friends and loved ones who provide care and support.”

With an ageing population and latest figures from the Cancer Council showing one in two older Australians will receive a cancer diagnosis by the time they are 85, the region is in desperate need of further cancer care investment.

Improving access to world-class cancer care services, Icon Cancer Centre is set to build a state-of-the-art radiation oncology service in the Medihub.

The radiation therapy technology can treat all tumour streams and provide more than 900 new courses of radiation therapy each year.

This will allow locals to access worldclass lifesaving treatment closer to home and within their community network.

A VISION FOR Community

Noosa Civic is not just actively improving the lives of our older generation but also continuing to create spaces to welcome our youngsters.

Weekly activities and school holiday programs have been a highlight for families and young kids in the Centre, offering them a chance to connect, learn and play in a safe and fun environment.

This year, Noosa Civic is hosting the very first Coachella-style Festival for kids next to the Food Court – Kidchella!

In the spirit of the bohemians, they’ll provide lively, kid-friendly tunes and creative spaces while your little ones bring all the good vibrations, groovy dance moves and flower power fashion!

From 3 to 14 April, kids can jive and jam on the light-up dancefloor while the giant boom box jumps with a playlist you can’t help but boogie to!

Alongside the dance parties, festivalthemed craft workshops will inspire the kids’ creativity with a series of bohoinspired activities.

Craft workshops kick off with a chance for kids to fashion their own colourful crowns of feathers or flower garlands adorned with blossoms and leaves. Next, the opportunity to master the art of knotting to create a macramé wall hanger for their bedroom.

With an ode to the free-spirited style of Woodstock, kids can also learn to tie-dye caps and bucket hats with an explosion of colour! Their artistic flair

will only flourish as they later use festive stencils to create vibrant canvas art.

In the final craft workshop, kids must draw on their previous skills in knotting, weaving and pulling to create a macramé key chain to clip onto their backpack!

As the festival hype takes over Noosa Civic, your kids will keep their minds and bodies active by celebrating their favourite songs, getting in some discoworthy exercise, exploring their imagination and making new friends!

Visit www.noosacivicshopping.com.au to discover Noosa Civic’s exciting new developments and explore the school holiday program!

Check out page 122 for some Kidchellainspired fashions!

KIDCHELLA CRAFT

Monday 3, Tuesday 4 April

Flower Garlands and Feather Crowns

Wednesday 5, Thursday 6 April

Macramé Wall Hangers

Good Friday 7 April, Centre Closed

Saturday 8, Sunday 9, Monday 10 April

Tie Dye Caps & Bucket Hats

Tuesday 11, Wednesday 12 April

Stencil Canvas Art

Thursday 13, Friday 14 April

Macramé Key Chains

Each Kidchella session runs for approximately 30 minutes. As spaces are limited, bookings for children are essential. Adults don’t need a ticket!

Book at www.noosacivicshopping.com.au

From the youngest families to the eldest generations, Noosa Civic has always taken care of our local community. Georgia Beard explores the much-needed developments and school holiday activities coming to the Centre this season.

SHOWDOWN Superstars!

Sunny Coast Showdown is building a local film industry to rival production hubs across the globe. Georgia Beard reveals the aspiring filmmakers given a golden ticket to develop their screen projects with support from local legends.

Raising funds for an emerging screen industry on the Sunshine Coast, cinephiles and aspiring filmmakers gathered at Noosa Waterfront Restaurant to celebrate the Rolls Royce and Sunny Coast Showdown Cocktail Party

More than $11,000 in donations and auction bids went to the production budget of Sunny Coast Showdown 2023, Jon Coghill and Dan Munday’s not-forprofit incubator for local screen projects.

Far from the bright lights of Hollywood studios, the Sunshine Coast is home to an as-yet undiscovered community of talented screenwriters and producers.

In the past, these up-and-coming filmmakers could only imagine their work on the big screen. But Sunny Coast Showdown offers the chance to bring their dreams to reality with mentorship, guidance and professional production services to bring their vision to film.

The Sunny Coast Showdown received 92 submissions of outstanding quality, revealing the true depth of creative talent in our region. As Producers Louise Hayes and Heather Macfarlane sifted through

scripts and treatments with the Sunshine Coast Screen Collective team, seven clear winners emerged across five categories.

The projects will now receive funding, mentoring and support to enter production with a local cast and crew between March and May with the final products aired at the Sunny Coast Showdown Showcase on 24 June.

Alongside community funding, Sunny Coast Showdown’s productions are made possible by the professional guidance and incredible knowledge bank and talent of Sunshine Coast Screen Collective, volunteers, patrons and donors as well as a major sponsorship from the local branch of Bendigo Bank, run by Sunshine Coast Community Financial Services Ltd.

Fostering community and cultural initiatives has always been a priority for Bendigo Bank and their support will allow local filmmakers to create stories that resonate nationally and globally, leaving an impact on the screen industry.

We can’t wait to see what these talented teams produce! Pass the popcorn!

PHOTOS: KATJA ANTON

Sunny Coast Showdown founders Dan Munday and Jon Coghill with 2021 Gold Yewie winner Sam Robinson (centre).

SHOWDOWN FINALISTS

Presented by Bendigo Bank

CONGRATULATIONS to the following finalists whose scripts and ideas will now be brought to life thanks to the sponsors and Sunny Coast Showdown crew!

SCRIPTED: ‘Bin Day’ by Ryan Butler

A pacifist woman and her lazy husband must work together to rid their home of an unwanted, undead pest during the apocalypse.

‘Slow Dating’ by Adam Szurich

When an elderly lady tries speed dating it leads to a night with a charming stranger and a heartbreaking revelation.

COMMITTEE’S CHOICE: ‘Stripper Trade Off’ by Stephen Walker

A stripper and a tradie walk into a club... going about their respective businesses... just for the wrong clients.

POWDERFINGER MUSIC VIDEO TREATMENT:

‘Rockin’ Rocks’ by Jessie Hughes

An adrenaline-fuelled pirate pursuit for fools’ gold to rock music.

INDIGENOUS PROJECT: ‘Tia Pitman’ by Jakob Lydford

Local indigenous girl Tia Pitman’s life and story as an Indigenous roller skater, navigating the male-dominated skatepark, finding creative freedom and self-expression in a gorgeous way.

UNSCRIPTED: ‘My Dream Hideout’ by Anita Poteri

My Dream Hideout is a family show featuring a team of experts who will visit a selected family/person and transform their secret hideout idea to reality in their backyard - but it’s a surprise!

‘A-Wake’ by Catherine Mack

An epic journey of the soul. How Abi Wake found her roots on the Sunshine Coast, and within herself. Moving from trauma to freedom through dance - but not like you’ve ever seen it before.

To volunteer as part of the production cast and crew, visit www.sunnycoastshowdown.com.au

A CULTURAL Extravaganza

AWAITS

Noosa is set to explode in a spectacular of colour, music, food, wine and fun for Noosa Alive’s 21st anniversary celebrations! Penny Brand takes a sneak peek at what we can expect.

The iconic beachside village of Noosa will again be transformed into a world-class cultural epicentre when Noosa Alive! returns from July 21-30. This year will be bigger than ever as the famous festival of arts and culture rings in its 21st anniversary.

Spread over 10 days, the multi-genre festival, originally called Noosa Long Weekend, will showcase a titillating program of events covering theatre, ballet, comedy, visual arts, and more at stunning local venues.

With more than 25 events yet to be announced, the festival will deliver an exciting array of eclectic and diverse performances from local and national acts set around Noosa including The J Theatre, local schools and in stunning open spaces including Noosa Main Beach and The Woods.

Past years have set audiences’ hearts and minds on fire and the 21st

anniversary promises to deliver more with a smorgasbord of thoughtprovoking, spine-tingling, sensoryoverloaded shows and performances for all tastes, ages and budgets.

It’s live. It’s intimate. It’s showtime!

While the official progam is yet to be released at the time of print, Festival Director Ian Mackellar said the 21st anniversary was a special milestone and he was planning some very special perfomances to surprise and delight.

“We are extremely excited to announce that we will be opening Noosa Alive! with a three-day program on Noosa’s Main Beach in the Evie Networks Marquee from 21-23 July,” he said.

“Last year we presented Moonlight Serenade under the Stars with three Divas and this year we will present Tenori Under the Stars, an intimate two-course dinner and show on the beach with three tenors.”

David Kidd, Craig Atkinson and Andrew Pryor will bring their sense of fun and sophistication presenting classics from the worlds of Opera, Music Theatre, Jazz and everything in between. They will be joined by guest soprano Laura Coutts and harpist Hayley Ellen for one magical evening.

“And for the final weekend of 28-30 July, we will present Music Alive! in the Woods, a 21st anniversary spectacular in Noosa Woods with a hot line up of artists, food vans, bars and headline acts taking to the stage all-day, every day.”

The family-friendly event will offer fully-catered VIP tickets as well as the option to BYO chairs and rugs and sample delicious local food and drinks from exquisite local provedores and sommeliers paired with breathtaking world-class performances.

“Expect a fabulous line up of music, dance performances and celebrate the

CIRQUE BON BON ENCORE!

stars of tomorrow with the Noosa Stars Alive! finalists as part of the program.

Between the Festival Village weekends, the actionpacked program will scale from the Australian Chamber Orchestra with Artistic Director and Violin Virtuoso Richard Tognetti; to the dizzying heights of Cirque Bon Bon.

Back by popular demand, Cirque Bon Bon’s Encore! will feature new acts sprinkled with some original favourites, and all jam-packed into an astonishing night of unexpected wonder and suspense that fuses mind-bending contortion, aerial artistry, sensational dancers, and death-defying feats of acrobatics in a heart-stopping 70-minute show.

Expect comedy, literature, dance, music theatre and so much more when the full program is announced and ticket sales open on 20 March.

Ian said the diversity of the program, from orchestra and opera to cirque and comedy - and everything in between was fantastic.

“We are extremely excited about what this year will bring as we always strive to welcome back muchloved favourites while also presenting a few surprises,” he said.

We can’t wait for the program to be LIVE!

Visit www.noosaalive.com.au to sign up for the Festival e-newsletter, view the program or book tickets.

BOOK NOW!

Noosa Alive is an award-winning festival which has built a reputation as one of Australia’s premier regional arts and cultural events. The not-for-profit organisation, this event would not exist without the generosity of volunteers, sponsors, patrons, friends and business friends, who commit their time and money for the success of the festival.

If you would like to contribute financially or voluntarily to the program, or for ticket sales and more information, visit www.noosaalive.com.au

TENORI

Australia’ newest and only independent low-coast airline has already helped its home base at Sunshine Coast Airport receive sweet success and recognition from industry peers as Jennifer Swaine discovers.

ICING ON THE Cake

All over the world, birthdays, weddings, christenings and other important milestones are celebrated with a customary cake taking centre stage as it is ceremoniously cut.

A celebratory cake will also make an appearance in the business environment to celebrate promotions, retirements and just about anything else worthy of a morning tea.

However, in the world of aviation, cakes are a very serious business, as I discovered while working with the Sunshine Coast Airport on the launch of the first flights for new airline, Bonza.

The tradition of cakes being used to celebrate the commencement of a new airline route started in 2007 by UK-based aviation publication anna.aero who ran a ‘route of the week’ competition. The shining star of the photos, submitted by the various airports as they vied for the title of ‘route of the week’ was the diversity of the cakes – and so ‘cake of the week’ was launched.

And while it might seem a bizarre ambition, when you ask those who work in aviation it becomes clear that this is a highly coveted and contested title and airports pull out all stops in order to win.

‘Cake of the week’ is a world-wide competition, and the Sunshine Coast Airport is no novice at this, having been awarded the title numerous times.

In an industry that is fast paced and highly regulated, Sunshine Coast Airport CEO, Andrew Brodie said taking ‘cake of the week’ was great for team culture as it provides a unique way to recognise and celebrate the hard work, innovation, and progress that is happening at the airport.

“There are limited opportunities to enter ‘cake of the week’ because it is only done when a new route is launched,” he said. “It is something the whole team can get involved with and

throw their ideas into the mix, because the cake has to incorporate iconic elements about the new destination. We need the creative input from everyone to give us the best shot at the title.”

Once the team have their ideas together they brief a cake maker. Being big supporters of using local suppliers wherever they can, the team at Sunshine Coast Airport reached out to local cake maker, Cake Yard who had previously baked them a winning cake in August 2021 for the recommencement of services between Auckland and Sunshine Coast.

However, this was not just going to be any cake. With Bonza initially introducing 13 new routes this cake had to be something special and include iconic elements representative of each of the regions they will service from the Sunshine Coast Airport.

Sunshine Coast Airport General Manager Corporate Communications

Kylie Ezzy said although the competition was a bit of light fun for the team, a new route is of critical significance for the airport with the impact far-reaching.

“The commencement of the Bonza flights will bring an additional 772,000

seats into Sunshine Coast Airport and generate around $86 million in domestic visitor spend in the first 12 months of operation,” she said. “It also means the Sunshine Coast Airport is connected to more destinations than ever before which is a significant achievement in its own right.

“This cake will be the largest we have ever created, and this is fitting given we are launching 13 destinations which is a game changer for our region. It’s a significant occasion and the cake that was created by Cake Yard, is reflective of this,” Ms Ezzy said.

Armed with the brief, Cake Yard set

We are building a legacy for generations to come and the Sunshine Coast Airport will play a pivotal role in firmly putting the Sunshine Coast on the map as a destination for business and pleasure.

about planning a cake that could accommodate so many elements.

The creative genius and cake creator behind Cake Yard, Samantha Nolan, was not phased by the task presented to her.

“I love the opportunity to use my creativity to create something uniquely special for every client and designing cakes for the airport is a lot of fun,” she said.

With a reputation for creating intricate novelty cakes, finished to perfection using her artistic air brushing skills, Samantha and her team delivered spectacularly, with a 60kg, seven-tiered cake featuring icons from every destination Bonza will fly to out of the Sunshine Coast – and every layer was completely edible (and delicious!).

From the Big Banana in Coffs Harbour to a guitar for Tamworth, the home of country music; and grapes in Newcastle – every element was carefully curated and meticulously executed. Crowning this masterpiece of a cake was the Big Pineapple herself.

Following the successful launch of Bonza’s first flight, where the cake was unveiled, the team submitted photos of the cake to be considered for coveted ‘cake of the week’ title and waited with bated breath. They were among entries being considered from all over the world and the stakes were high.

However, the team need not have worried as early Saturday morning word came through that the Sunshine Coast Airport had won another title to add to

their mantle.

“A lot of work goes into launching a new airline and new routes, and the team works very hard to deliver at a high standard.” Mr Brodie said.

“Cake of the week is a bit of fun but it’s symbolic of what we have achieved as a team so we accept the title with pride.

“The Sunshine Coast Airport is embarking on a period of significant growth and change which will benefit all of southeast Qld and we are only just getting started.

“The first stage was completed in June 2020 when we opened the new longer and wider runway and over the coming years our domestic terminal will double in size, there will also be an expansion of

the Aerospace Precinct and our Southern Gateway will start to take shape.

“We will be investing up to one billion dollars in infrastructure which will have a significant impact on the regional economy. We will create jobs, attract investment and support the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“We are building a legacy for generations to come and the Sunshine Coast Airport will play a pivotal role in firmly putting the Sunshine Coast on the map as a destination for business and pleasure.

“We cannot wait to welcome visitors from across Australia travelling on these brand-new routes – and there is plenty of cake for everyone!”

Sunshine Coast Airport (SCA) General Manager Corporate Communications Kylie Ezzy; CEO Andrew Brodie; Bonza CEO Tim Jordan; and SCA Commercial Marketing Manager Jake Cosmai.

Sunshine Coast Airport CEO Andrew Brodie.

UP, UP AND Away!

It’s not often that you get a chance to reinvent a century-old industry. Deb Caruso discovers what’s so bonza about Australia’s newest airline.

Throwing out the rule book and bringing Australia’s aviation industry into the 21st Century is no mean feat but Australia’s newest and only independent low-cost airline is ‘bonza’ by name and by nature.

With a larrikin spirit and a team referred to as Bonza Legends, the first airline to launch in Australia in 15 years is a game changer on a number of levels.

Before the first flights ever left the ground, Bonza shook things up by redesigning and challenging not only airline uniforms but food and beverage service; and the Fly Bonza app is where customers will book, manage their bookings, check-in and place in-flight food and drinks orders onboard. Customers named the first three planes to be based out of the Sunshine Coast – Sheila, Shazza and Bazza.

Uniforms were designed to reflect the tropical destinations including ‘wear it your way’, mix and match tailored shorts or pants, white cotton t-shirt and a blazer which features purple trim and the Bonza values stitched on the lining.

There’s also a shirt dress and sleeveless coat as well as custom sneakers and accessories such as a Bonza thumbs up pin, branded socks and a

purple scarf that can be worn as a hair, neck or pocket accessory.

Pilots uniforms feature a crisp white button-up shirt, tailored pants and charcoal blazer with silver stripes and touches of Bonza’s signature purple. In a break of tradition, there’s no pilot hat.

Bonza’s Chief Commercial Officer Carly Povey said everyone agreed it was better to pass that saving onto customers.

Bonza is also the first airline to offer an entire menu sourced from its home country and the Sunshine Coast region features strongly. With no trolleys onboard, travellers will have items delivered directly to their seat after ordering on the app.

The market responded with more than 10,000 seats sold in the first three days of flights going on sale with prices starting at $49.

Carly said they were committed to low-cost fares which would stimulate new markets for Australia’s domestic tourism industry.

“It’s important that Aussie travellers know we’re on sale, not having a sale,” Carly said.

And that’s pretty Bonza to us.

Bonza’s initial route map includes 27 routes to 17 destinations. Download the Fly Bonza App to find out more and to book. www.flybonza.com

WHAT’S SO BONZA?

Australia’s newest and only independent low-cost airline, Bonza will enable Australians to explore more of their own backyard at low-cost prices. They aim to connect communities, make air travel accessible and stimulate new tourism markets with a focus on regional Australia.

So what’s so bonza about Bonza?

• The Fly Bonza App provides fast and full booking management and on-board services, reducing paper and providing direct and accessible communication

• 93% of routes are not currently serviced by any airline and 96% are not currently serviced by a low-cost carrier (26/27 routes)

• Brand-new Boeing 737-MAX 8 planesthe most technologically advanced and fuel-efficient aircraft in Australia and 40% quieter than the Next-Generation 737

• Australian-designed ‘wear it your way’ nonbinary uniform range, featuring on-trend white custom sneakers and cotton T-shirts

• 100% locally-sourced menu with snacks starting from $2 and including non-alcoholic beer, cold drip coffee and a snag in a bag

• Reuseable Turn Cups and thoughtful packaging as part of a plastic-free and paperless pledge

• Its home base, Sunshine Coast Airport, is the only carbon neutral airport in Australia

• The Bonza Backyard head office was furnished with upcycled items using a social enterprise that helps to employ people living with disabilities.

Bonza Chief Commercial Officer Carly Povey

OF THE APPLE A Big Bite

With more songs written about New York City than any other place on earth, John Caruso was dreaming of a White Christmas in the Big Apple.

The train thunders into Rector Street Station on its way uptown to Pennsylvania Station and 42nd Street where the sheer number of people can be intimidating for our family of three preparing to spend almost a month in New York City (NYC), aka the Big Apple.

We’re dreaming of a White Christmas, but secretly hoping the mercury doesn’t drop much lower than the ‘feels like minus-8’ displayed on our phones most days when we leave our hotel.

It’s the wind chill straight off the Hudson and East River that funnels through the avenues to make your fingers numb and your feet cold. We’re prepared though - puffer jackets, scarves, multiple layers, thermal underwear, socks, gloves and beanies.

The subway system is both complex and simple; and the most efficient and cost-effective way of getting aroundand you need that when the Aussie dollar is so dreadful against the USD. A 30-day ‘unlimited ride’ Metro Card will cost about $190 AUD and give you easy access to the five boroughs of NYC.

Our accommodation, The Marriott Downtown is a block from the 9/11 Memorial. The two reflecting pools with water cascading down into a void symbolising the loss of lives, an emptiness that can never be filled; with the names of the 9/11 victims and those killed in the 1993 World Trade Centre bombings etched around each pool.

It’s a sombre experience, travelling underground to see twisted pieces of metal marking the point of impact from the first plane; FDNY engines that were destroyed at the scene; helmets, uniforms and other assorted bits and pieces that belonged to those who

sacrificed their own lives to save others; videos and phone messages to loved ones, recordings from the planes and calls made just before the first of the two 110 story buildings came crashing down.

The 9/11 Memorial is poignantly and respectfully presented and a ‘must-do’.

Leaping tall buildings in a single bound is Superman’s job in Metropolis and Batman perches above the streets of Gotham. They’re all synonyms for NYC, and if getting a bird’s eye view of the Big Apple is on your bucket list then there’s no shortage of sky-scraping observation decks to choose from.

Go modern with Edge at Hudson Yards or SUMMIT One Vanderbilt, all glass and steel erections opened in 2021.

At 1,131 feet (more than 345 metres) high, Edge is the highest outdoor sky deck in the Western Hemisphere extending almost 80 feet (24m) into the sky from the 100th floor in a trendy new precinct. You can spot its glass wedge from just about anywhere on the ground.

SUMMIT One Vanderbilt offers four rooms of unique art installations across three floors that combine art, technology and architecture - TRANSCENDENCE is

30,375 square feet of mirrors; glass sky boxes called LEVITATION jut out of the building 1,100 feet above Madison Avenue; and ASCENT is an all-glass elevator that travels up the the building. Meditate on art installations, an outdoor deck and grab drinks and food at Aprés

How about something classic with stars of the silver screen, Empire State Building and Top of the Rock Observation Deck at Rockefeller Centre.

Both projects started just after the Great Depression with construction taking just 12 months. The art deco designs are striking. For me, Empire State building was the star - its interactive museum is fantastic, with views from the 86th and 102nd floor.

If you don’t go to a Broadway show, you’re missing out on some of the best live performances in the world! Go to TKTS Times Square for same-day or next day matinee tickets up to 50% off.

We secured superb seats to Chicago, the second-longest running broadway musical (to Phantom of the Opera); and Some Like It Hot – both brilliant!

The beauty of a city the size of NYC is that there’s always something

Times Square

PHOTOS: DEB CARUSO

happening. One minute I’m surfing Twitter and I spot that Jerry Seinfeld is at the Beacon Theatre! Next minute, we had tickets to see one of the greatest comedians in the world that night!

In the heart of the theatre district, at 315 W44th Street you’ll discover Birdland Jazz Club where an impressive list of greats have graced the stage over the decades. A snap decision and we’re at a Monday night performance of Jim Caruso’s Cast Party. No direct relation, but we adopted each other as ‘family’. Jim’s event has been running at Birdland for almost 20 years and each Monday night you’ll see a swinging little trio of Steve Doyle on stand-up bass, Daniel Glass on drums and Billy Stritch on piano and some of the greatest voices and acts in town, all stepping up to the open mic.

If it’s history and art you wish to explore, then NYC is the place. There’s the Museum of Natural History, my son’s favourite because it was where A Night at the Museum was filmed. With approximately 32 million artefacts spread across four city blocks, 25 buildings and 45 exhibition halls, don’t even plan on seeing everything in one day.

The Brooklyn Museum is equally spectacular, less crowded and just as worthwhile; and MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) houses one of the world’s finest collections of modern art over six floors including Van Gogh’s Starry Night; Monet’s Water Lillies and works by Matisse, Dali, Picasso, Cezanne; plus

feature events and exhibitions. Our tip, start at the top and work your way down.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is another beast with over 5,000 years of art from around the world over four floors. You’ll find Self Portraits by Van Gogh’s and Rembrandt and Monet’s Bridge Over a Pond of Water Lilies but the most impressive exhibition is The Temple of Dendur, the only complete Egyptian temple in the Western Hemisphere. Plus there is more than 30,000 Greek and Roman Sculptures dating between 4500 B.C. to A.D.312; and the Arms and Armor Room are nothing short of amazing with armies of knights on horseback in full regalia. Days, even weeks’ worth of exploration - allow plenty of time!

The Museum of Ice Cream was more wonderland than museum with colourful and playful rooms themed with ice cream (yum!) and including swing sets, a three-storey slide and a pool filled with millions of sprinkles. Insta-worthy.

Madam Tussaud’s lets you get up close and very personal with your favourite (wax) actors, musicians, sports stars,

political leaders or literary heavyweights. Some look spookingly real!

For sporting fans, there’s hockey, American football and basketball all running during winter. A trip to Barclays Center, home to the Brooklyn Nets, is a must even if you don’t follow basketball.

The place holds about 19,000 fans and every seat is filled for the Nets vs Milwaukee Bucks game. The Nets win and my son’s ecstatic after seeing his favourite NBA stars including Kevin Durant, Aussie-born Kyrie Irving and Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks player with the bright red shoes and the subject of the autobiographical film Rise The train ride back to our hotel is filled with discussion about which NBA team Max will eventually play for, and what kind of sportscar he will buy his father.

New York is both exhilarating and exhausting. It’s loud, it’s ‘in your face’, attitudinal, rough, and tough. We leave tired and looking forward to returning home to familiar surrounds.

My mind replays scenes, sounds and experiences from our 25 days in NYCGrand Central Park, Statue of Libertyand there is an allure (a siren call?) and desire to return to the bright lights of the Big Apple sometime in the future.

For all our planning and talk of White Christmas, we never saw a single snowflake, despite temperatures as low as minus-28 degrees. Still, Manhattan in December was a blast. Wonder what Spring would be like?

The author of this story and his family made and paid for their own travel and accommodation and some attractions and events. Visits to the 9/11 memorial, American Museum of Natural History, Circle Line Sightseeing Cruise, Empire State Building and Top of the Rock Observation Deck were courtesy of CityPASS New York; Edge, SUMMIT One Vanderbilt, Museum of Ice Cream, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, MoMA – The Museum of Modern Art; and Brooklyn Museum were arranged by NYCGo.

IF YOU GO

For all there is to see and do across New York City’s five boroughs, visit www.NYCGO.com

A CityPASS offers discounts on shows and sights as well as your choice of five of the following attractions:

- Empire State Building

- American Museum of Natural History

- Top of the Rock® Observation Desk OR Guggenheim Museum

- Ferry Access to Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island OR Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises

- 9/11 Memorial & Museum OR Intrepid

Sea, Air & Space Museum

www.citypass.com/new-york

Next minute, we had tickets to see one of the greatest comedians in the world that night!

John enjoys a New York Slice

Museum of Ice Cream Grand Central Park

Edge at Sunset - Courtesy of Related-Oxford

There’s always plenty of people ready to give you their opinion on where to invest your hard-earned money. John Caruso meets the local team who are committed to fostering long-term community relationships as well as helping locals secure their financial future.

ENRICHING Community

THE

Whether you listen to it, watch it, or read it, the news can often scare you. Nice headlines don’t sell too many papers.

Add the often-confusing details and data in the financial reports and you can be left with more questions than answers.

Wealth creation and planning for an independent financial future and retirement needs to be managed by a team that’s not only trustworthy, but also experienced and respected. It needs to be managed by someone you can trust to make sense of the options available.

Morgans was established in Brisbane in 1982 as a full-service retail stockbroker and financial management firm. Their brand and reputation has grown over the years, becoming Australia’s largest wealth management firms with over 60 offices around the country.

Andrew Stafford is the Principal of Morgans Noosa and after founding the office in 2004 continues to manage the branch on Mary Street in Noosaville.

Andrew is an advocate for the arts and local charities, President of Noosa Alive! and a passionate local heading up a professional team of financial advisors and stockbrokers.

“Our client base is diverse, which reflects a large demographic of the area we operate in,” he said.

“We manage wealth for many retirees in our community, and also local families and high-net-worth individuals.

“Our team of advisers who work for

Morgans Noosa have been with the company for many years, and have many local community connections; including one of our team members who has had a long relationship with the Association of Independent Retirees for about 15 years.

“We understand the importance and benefits of having our clients deal with a local advisor and having an office filled with professionals who are entwined in the Noosa community.

“The team is diverse, so no matter what our client’s requirements are, we can match an advisor to their needs.

“We offer a premium service. Our processes and advice are streamlined, friendly and down-to-earth.

“The people that choose to do business with us experience this every time they walk into our office or speak to us on the phone.”

A full suite of financial services is on offer at Morgans Noosa including stockbroking and financial planning with access to shares listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) and global stock exchanges if clients are looking for international exposure.

Initial public offerings, or IPOs as they’re known, are part of the Corporate Finance offering.

This means Morgans Noosa can provide clients with exposure to new companies that are about to list on the ASX.

“With our financial planning we can help create and manage your wealth depending on what stage in your life

you’re at, from wealth accumulation through to transition into retirement, and retirement planning itself,” he said.

“Part of our core business is wealth creation via superannuation, including Self-Managed Super Funds (SMSF) and our service includes set-up advice, roll-overs, investments, administration, and compliance.

“Estate planning is another area we manage along with margin lending for clients looking for leverage into the market, tax planning and fixed interest arena.”

Trustworthy advice, nurturing clients and high-quality service driven by strategy and not by product are some of the local brand’s most important values.

“We’re driven by a strategic view with a wider autonomy over where and how we invest for our clients,” Andrew said.

Morgans Noosa have built relationships with many iconic and renowned institutes and associations over time including sponsoring Sunshine Beach Surf Club for more than two decades and supporting the Noosa Rugby Union Club and Noosa Yacht Club for many years.

“Being actively involved in community initiatives is really important for us and I hope existing clients and potential new clients see the value in what we do at a local level,” Andrew says.

DISCLAIMER: Financial advice in this article is of a generic nature. For personally tailored advice and a comprehensive assessment make an appointment to speak to the team at Morgans Noosa.

The team at Morgans Noosa

PHOTO: IAN WALDIE

The volunteers at Coast Guard Noosa keep our community safe on the water. Georgia Beard discovers the local Community Bank keeping this vital emergency service afloat.

TO THE

Rescue

With our culture entrenched in the ocean, the passionate volunteers at Coast Guard Noosa ensure our safety and security on the water.

During December 2022, the not-forprofit organisation fielded more than 2600 radio calls, 250 phone calls, more than 430 trips, 68 activations and provided 24 incidents of assistance; not to mention being a beacon of the community supporting events like Noosa Tri, Clean Up Australia Day as well as the Noosa Waters Christmas Parade, Santa on the River and the Christmas Convoy.

Founded in 1974 by a small group of boaties and commercial fishermen to provide first-response emergency services on the water, 24/7, this branch of the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard provides direct law enforcement and works alongside other Emergency Services organisations including the Queensland Water Police.

Volunteers work on a rotating roster released 12 months in advance, working one weekend in four and remaining on call throughout the week – talk about running a tight ship!

Flotilla Commander Ian Hutchings said their biggest challenge was people not maintaining their craft properly and heading out without a thorough check; jet skis breaking down on the challenging Noosa Bar and house boats untethering and damaging other craft.

To stay afloat, Coast Guard Noosa has to apply for grants from the Noosa Council every year as well as undertake fund raising and seek support from other sources, including sponsors.

Every rescue mission they do on the water, big or small, is covered by the volunteer Coast Guard.

Recognising and assisting their vital lifesaving services, the local, community-owned branch of Bendigo Bank run by Sunshine Coast Community Financial Services Ltd (SCCFSL) has come to the rescue to fill the gap for a Major Sponsor of Coast Guard Noosa with a much-needed $30,000 per year over three years to assist with running costs.

Now the Coast Guard will be able to continue the considerable ongoing maintenance, fuel costs and general operation of one boat in the fleet, now renamed Bendigo Rescue with an official call sign response of the same name.

For a not-for-profit organisation with a lifesaving operation that never sleeps, that’s a big deal.

“It’s give-and-take,” said Flotilla Purser Chris Strawson. “We bank with Bendigo Bank. They help us, we help them, and that helps the community. When you see the grateful look on somebody’s face after you have returned them safely to shore, it’s all worth it.”

With strong naval backgrounds, the volunteers are delighted to pass on their knowledge to new generations in Noosa.

They pay it forward with more than 50 services from scattering ashes at sea to free training for young sailors at the Noosa Yacht & Rowing Club; and educational courses in First Aid and CPR, Navigation, Bar Crossing, Marine Radio Licence, Basic Seamanship and Elements of Shipboard Safety.

SCCFSL Chair Trish Radge said they

were pleased to support Coast Guard Noosa to ensure the safety of the community on the water.

“This is a major sponsorship for us and we salute the work of these skilled, professional and passionate locals,” she said. “Managing the Community Branches of Bendigo Bank at Tewantin, Cooroy and Marcoola, allows us to support the communities that support us and this is is just one of the community initiatives we get behind.”

Trish said a share of profits was also allocated directly to the branch managers to sponsor their communities.

In the Tewantin-Noosa and Cooroy branches, dedicated Art Spaces showcase local artists who can apply to be featured as one of the Artists in Residence.

The Retail Pop-Up in Tewantin-Noosa also allows small businesses to connect with customers and gain vital feedback and connections from bank customers; and the purpose-built, fully-equipped boardroom and meeting rooms are free for businesses and community groups to access for meetings and functions.

Larger requests are considered by the Sponsorship and Marketing Committee. Apply for funding with SCCFSL at www.sunnycoastcommunityconnection. com.au

GET ON BOARD!

Want to make a difference in your community and help save lives?

Coast Guard Noosa are currently looking for volunteer radio operators!

Tto volunteer, donate or register for an educational course, call 5474 3695 or visit www.coastguard.com.au/flotilla/qf5-noosa/

Coast Guard Noosa’s Flotilla Purser Chris Strawson and Commander Ian Hutchings

Concours Culture

MAKES ITS MARQUE

Expect the extraordinary when globally-famous Concours d’Elegance brings its glitz, glamour and class to Noosa for the first time, enthuses Helen Flanagan.

The magnet for the multi-day celebration of Noosa Concours d’Elegance, will undoubtedly be Noosa Concours on Hastings Street, bringing together some of the world’s iconic luxury brands, enthusiastic owners and collectors.

Hastings Street will be closed for the display of more than 60 of the finest from across the decades with cars already entered being individually valued well into the millions, whilst historically it is back to 1911. Look out for a car fit for a Queen, yes literally!

Featuring renowned judges and esteemed personalities, the event will be the ultimate gathering of motoring

connoisseurs and officiated by Sandra Button, the president of famed Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in Carmel, California, regarded as a force to behold within the global motoring world.

It is also a one-off chance for enthusiasts and aficionados to marvel at eye-catching automobilia and join a guided tour, strolling, stopping and becoming totally immersed in the amazing stories of each vehicle.

Visit the Motorsports Salon, where speed meet style - place for car enthusiasts and motorsports fans alike, also enter the People’s Choice Award and vote for your favourite car.

Which one would you take home… in

your dreams!

Live music and entertainment will add to the ambience of the street and there will be dining options aplenty at alfresco cafés and restaurants.

If your penchant is aeroplanes as well as automobiles, the official launch of Noosa Concours d’Elegance, at the Sunshine Coast Jet Centre has your name on the ticket.

The evening’s festivities for Where Art Meets Engineering: Aeroplanes and Automobiles, commence at dusk with an awe-inspiring aerial performance by the Red Bull Air Race Australian Champion, Matt Hall.

Inside at the opulent cocktail event,

Sandra Button, President, Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance at Carmel, California officiating the inaugural Noosa Concours d’Elegance

guests will be able to ogle at a splendid showcase of business jets and fine automobiles, some of which will be showcased at Concours on Hastings Street the next day.

On the outside tarmac, attendees will be captivated by a select display of larger business jets, available for inspection and enjoyment. Meanwhile, inside the hangar, guests will experience culinary delights, entertainment and beverages. An auction supporting a local charity is sure to tantalise the most discerning.

DIARY MARQUES:

Friday 14 July 2023

Aeroplanes and Automobiles Sunset Launch, Sunshine Coast Jet Centre, Saturday 15 July 2023, 10.30am - 5pm

Inaugural Noosa Concours Prestige Car Display on Hastings Street

Sunday 16 July 2023, 9.30am - 11am

Private collectors brunch & The Future of Motoring manufacturer display, Sails Noosa Associated events, Saturday 15 July:

- Perrier-Jouët Champagne Luncheon, Noosa Beach House, Sofitel Noosa

- Shaw & Smith Wine Masterclass & Wine Dinner, Sails Wine Bar

- Unveiling Ellies: A premium pearl exhibition, Isabella’s Jewellery

- Seafood and Champagne D’Elegance, Champagne, caviar and canapés alfresco as the sun sets, live music (also on Sunday), Locale Ristorante and Bar

- Solo exhibition by Steve Rosendale, Champagne Reception, The G Contemporary

- Motoring Classics Q&A: A forecast to the future, Lily Pond by Sofitel Noosa Ballroom Keep up to date including how to book: www.noosaconcours.com.au

BT23/1 was driven by Jack Brabham during the 1967 F2 season as part of the three car works team and will be included in the Motorsport Salon display at Noosa.

SIPS BITES AND

What’s brewing, cooking and happening...

YOUR NEW LOCAL

The Comiskey Group’s multipurpose, gardenthemed venue with indoor and outdoor dining, beer gardens, bars, a pizzeria, ice creamery, cellar door, multiple function spaces and lots of room for the kids, is now open! The Doonan is just down the road from our favourite Noosa Reds, which feature on the menu alongside other local food and beverage producers. Bookings highly recommended after more than 4,000 people joined the waitlist to book a table in the first week!

Keep an eye on our social media for a special event as part of The Curated Plate!

APPS AWAY!

Ordering organic food for healthy families just got easier with online ordering and the launch of the Organika App that includes free membership to its reward club.

ORGANIC OPENINGS

Moving all the way from California, M & Love Café brings their self-loving foods to Gympie Terrace, Noosaville with a 100% plant-based and gluten-free menu!

Flannerys Organic & Wholefood

Market is now open in Tewantin with gluten-free goodies, plantbased products, organic skincare and bulk wholefoods.

Stop by The Cart Cooran, the new family-owned corner store offering baked goods, homegrown fruit and veggies,

organic deli items and some of the best coffee in the hinterland!

COMFORT COFFEE

Visit Café on Carramar from STEPS Pathways Charity, offering young adults with disabilities and autism the chance to learn industry skills at the café space in NoosaCare Inc.

ALBA ALL WEEK!

On the 1st Saturday of every month, indulge in Alba Noosa’s shared feast for family and friends, the Sri Lankan 5-Pot Curry Lunch! PLUS, Margarita

Mondays from 4pm to 6pm, BYO Wednesdays from 5pm with 10% off wine at Alba Providore, Wine on Us Thursdays and the Chef’s Choice weekly three-course

Lunch Special!

RELISH THE SEASON

Relish Restaurant at Noosa Springs is savouring autumn with their First Friday of the Month Themed Dinners including Irish, Moroccan, Spanish and Greek; and Burger & Beer Special available until 31 March! Bookings are essential!

CUISINE CONNECTIONS

Sunshine Beach Surf Club is collaborating with local producers for a homegrown menu featuring House of Salsa’s hand-crafted salsa, Blue Plum Noosa’s authentic gyoza and premium BBQ brisket from the Noosa Hinterland.

FROM THE KITCHEN

This March, step inside Culinary Noosa, The Culinary Academy’s new restaurant in Noosa Junction offering realworld experience for hospitality trainees with locally-sourced lunches and dinners to be offered!

HATS OFF!

Our favourite local venues went home hatted at the 2023 Australian Good Food Guide Chef Hat Awards!

Cogratulations to Alba by Kuruvita, Lucio’s Marina, Noosa Beach House, XO Sunshine Beach, Locale Noosa, Rickys River Bar & Restaurant, Sails Beach Restaurant and Bar, Noosa Waterfront Restaurant, Sum Yung Guys and

Relish

Sumi Open Kitchen! THE SPIRIT TO WIN IT

Congratulations to Noosa’s homegrown gins in the Hottest 100 Aussie Gins of 2022 – Noosa Gin coming in at #59; 2020 Distillery: East London Dry at #72; 2020 Distillery: Pink at #91; and Pomona Signature Dry at #94!

BREWS AND BARS

Launching mid-March, Heads of Noosa’s third Limited Release beer is a Germaninspired beauty, full of autumnal flavour and plenty of malty goodness!

Taste the fresh flavours of the land and sea with a new menu of seasonal cocktails (including boozefree options) at Seabourne Distillery Bar with former Sum Yung Guy’s mixologist Dylan Campbell and his brother Duncan joining founder Hayden Weir on the gin journey. Open Fridays 4-8pm adn 12-8pm Saturday and Sunday. Let the good times roll at Your Mates Bowls Pub, now open for craft brews, delicious food, live entertainment and barefoot bowls in Cooroy!

Alba

Organika

“

AUTUMNharvest

As long as Autumn lasts, I shall not have hands, canvas and colours enough to paint the beautiful things I see” - Vincent Van Gogh

Up until this time last year, I would have passed this off as just another quote from a one-eared, absinthe addled creative genius trying to make a new season sound romantic.

But then I moved to a property with a huge Liquid Amber tree that hangs over my front verandah, and now I understand, what he tried to say to me. (Sorry, that’s cheesy)

Every day for about two months, I watched that glorious tree change as it prepared itself for winter - the bright green chlorophyll slowly draining from its leaves to reveal ochre-like pigments that morphed from yellow to orange to red, and then finally the American name for the season, ‘Fall’ suddenly made

perfect sense.

Poets often describe Autumn as the ‘melancholy’ season – a time of dormancy, sadness and decay. But Vinnie and I see it differently.

In Europe up until around the 16th century, the period between Summer and Winter was known as ‘Harvest’ – a good way to describe the same months here on the Sunshine Coast.

This beautifully prosperous, diverse growing region comes alive, firstly the deciduous fruit trees like persimmons, pecans and figs hit their peak, then join the Liquid Amber in its skeletal snooze. Then the avocadoes, dragon fruit, passionfruit, strawberries and citrus all come into full swing.

It’s cool enough to grow small crops like tomatoes and beans, and all the leafy stuff stands a chance of surviving

Matt Golinski revels in the changing season and the fresh, new produce and possibilities it brings.

without the long days of blistering heat.

Farmers market stalls will start to fill with different varieties of pumpkins, and brassicas of all shapes and colours. Cauliflowers, broccoli, cabbages, kohlrabi, kale and cavolo nero thrive in the cooler weather and always look so vibrant and alive at this time of year.

Many of our strawberry farms open the gate to visitors between May and October, so that everyone from toddlers to grandparents can experience the joy of picking fully ripe, sun kissed berries straight from the bush and eating them on the spot. It’s educational and delicious all at once.

The public’s increasing appetite to learn more about food and how it is grown has seen some big investment around the coast over the past 12 months, with spaces like The Doonan (in Doonan) and Barns Lane Farm in

Coolum, both creating multifaceted and interactive venues with a major focus on agriculture and preparing to open in the very near future.

This is the ultimate picnic weather, and it doesn’t take much searching or effort to fill a basket with local goodies and go and enjoy a feast at the beach, in a national park or beside a waterfall.

There are so many options for country drives, with the Blackall Range, Kenilworth, Rainbow Beach and the Mary Valley all within easy reach of the coast, and all offering something different.

As the weather becomes a little more predictable, event season gets underway, with the Noosa Festival of Surfing, Noosa Ultra Trail, Mooloolaba Triathlon and Runaway Noosa Marathon bringing thousands of visitors to the coast, filling our accommodation houses, restaurants, cafés and bars during what is traditionally a quieter time for tourism. And while it’s more the beaches and bush trails drawing the crowds than the

museums and patisseries, the ingredients produced here and the gastronomic offerings are every bit as good as anything you’ll find in the south of France.

I like to think that if Vincent was a Queenslander, he’d see the same Autumnal beauty in the shedding eucalypts and blooming wattle of the hinterland as he saw in the sunflowers and olive trees of Arles.

Farmers market stalls will start to fill with different varieties of pumpkins, and brassicas of all shapes and colours. Cauliflowers, broccoli, cabbages, kohlrabi, kale and cavolo nero...

RECIPES BY MATT GOLINSKI

“To a lot of people, gnocchi are those doughy little white lumps you buy in a packet from the supermarket once and never make the same mistake again. But there is a whole world of gnocchi variations out there and they are all simple to make and delicious in their own special ways.

I’ve chosen to share my favourite flavours for Autumn as they all make the ultimate comfort food we crave when the weather starts to cool down.” - Matt

Gnocching

ON HEAVEN’S DOOR

GNOCCHI PARISIENNE WITH TRUFFLED MUSHROOMS AND GRUYERE

Ingredients:

• 125 ml water

• 125 ml milk

• 60 gm butter

• 125 gm plain flour

• 1tbs chopped parsley

• 1 tsp Dijon mustard

• 3 eggs

• 250 ml milk

• 20 gm butter

• 20 gm plain flour

• 1 egg yolk

• 100 gm gruyere, grated

• 2 tbs black truffle paste

• 250 gm oyster mushrooms, roughly shredded

• 30 ml olive oil

• 50 gm butter

• 1 golden shallot, finely sliced

• salt and pepper

SERVES 4

This version is based on the French choux paste, piped into boiling water in small amounts to form little dumplings. It can be fried in butter and served with a squeeze of lemon, or baked with mushrooms, bechamel and cheese like this version. Don’t be put off by the idea of making choux paste, it’s not as critical to get it as perfect as when you make profiteroles.

Method:

• Bring milk, water and butter to a simmer and stir in the flour with a wooden spoon. Beat continuously over a low heat for 2 minutes.

• Add parsley, mustard and eggs and beat until well combined. Transfer the mixture to a piping bag with a 1cm nozzle.

• Pipe small lengths of the gnocchi mixture into a large pot of salted boiling water. Remove them to a tray as they rise to the surface and refresh in iced water.

• Drain the gnocchi, gently toss with oil and divide between four small baking dishes.

• Sauté the mushrooms in olive oil until

lightly coloured, add the shallot and butter and cook for 2 minutes.

• Scatter the mushroom mixture over the gnocchi.

• Heat the 250ml of milk until almost simmering.

• In a small saucepan, cook the butter and flour over a medium heat for 2 minutes.

• Gradually add milk to form a smooth béchamel sauce.

• Remove from the heat and stir in the truffle paste, egg yolk and half of the Gruyere.

• Spoon over the gnocchi and mushrooms, sprinkle with remaining Gruyere and bake for 15 minutes at 160°C or until golden.

MATCHING WINES

BY TONY COX

SERVE WITH

PERFECT

2020 Ashton Hills Estate Pinot Noir, Adelaide Hills, SA $65-$70

PRETENDER

2020 Armand Heitz Julienas Beaujolais, Beaujolais, France $45-$50

PRETENTIOUS 2018 Paolo

PHOTOS: IAN WALDIE

Scavino Barolo Bric del Fiasc, Piedmont, Italy $225-$230

SPINACH AND RICOTTA GNOCCHI GNUDI

The gnocchi with the cutest name in the business, ‘gnudi’ from the Italian ‘naked’ are often baked and served with brown butter or cream. I like to make them healthier by sitting them in homemade tomato sauce and cooking them in the oven until they are golden brown on top. Buy the firm ricotta from behind the deli counter, not the soft type from the fridges. This is my absolute favourite version 0f gnocchi to make and eat.

Ingredients:

• 500 gm firm ricotta

• 500 gm spinach

• 75 gm Parmesan, grated

• 2 eggs

• pinch nutmeg

• 1 onion, diced

• 1 clove garlic, finely sliced

• 1 tbs olive oil

• 1 tbs tomato paste

• 1 x 400gm tin crushed tomatoes

• salt and pepper

Method:

• In a hot pan, wilt the spinach (a quarter at a time) with a few tablespoons of water and transfer to a tray to cool.

• Once it’s cool enough to handle, squeeze out all excess moisture with your hands and chop the spinach finely.

• Mix together the spinach, ricotta, Parmesan, eggs, nutmeg and salt and pepper until well combined.

• Roll heaped dessertspoon amounts of the mixture into balls.

• Sauté the onion and garlic in the olive oil until soft.

• Add the tomato paste and cook over a medium heat for 1 minute, stirring constantly.

• Add the tinned tomatoes, bring to the boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.

• Season with salt and pepper.

• Pour the sauce into a greased ovenproof dish and space the ricotta balls evenly on top.

• Bake for 25 – 30 minutes at 180°C.

POTATO GNOCCHI, LAMB RAGOUT, KALE AND PECORINO

This is the classic version and the one most people have trouble with. My advice is to always use unwashed potatoes, and as soon as they are cooked, pass them through a sieve, make the dough and shape them while the mix is hot. Once they are cooked and refreshed, they can be reblanched to reheat them, or fried in a pan to make them crispy and golden.

Ingredients:

SERVES 4

• 400 gm unwashed potatoes, peeled and diced

• 100 gm (approx.) plain flour

• pinch nutmeg

• salt and white pepper

• 500 gm diced lamb shoulder

• 30 ml olive oil

• 1 clove garlic, sliced

• 1 onion, diced

• 1 carrot, diced

• 1 stick celery, diced

• 1 bay leaf

• 1 stalk rosemary

• 2 tbs tomato paste

• 2 cups chicken stock

PERFECT

Method:

• In a medium saucepan, cover the potatoes with cold water, bring to the boil and simmer until just cooked. Drain well and pass through a sieve, mouli or ricer.

• While still warm, mix in the flour and seasonings until just combined.

• Roll pieces of the dough into logs 1-2cm in diameter, then cut each log into 2cm pieces.

• Cook the gnocchi one half at a time in boiling salted water until it rises to the surface, then transfer to a bowl of iced water to refresh. Drain well and toss with a little olive oil.

• Fry the diced lamb in the oil until well coloured. Add the garlic, onion, celery, carrot, and bay leaf and continue to fry for 5 minutes, stirring regularly.

• Add the tomato paste and cook for another 2 minutes.

• Add the chicken stock and rosemary, cover and cook in a 170°C oven for 90 minutes.

• Add the kale and simmer for 5 minutes.

$35-$40

• 1 bunch kale, stripped from stalks and roughly chopped

• 60 gm pecorino,

grated

• Add the gnocchi and gently stir through.

• Divide between 4 bowls and serve with pecorino.

$225-$230

• salt and pepper

finely

PRETENDER 2019 Argiano Rosso di Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy

PRETENTIOUS 2019 Marchese Antinori Guado al Tasso Bolgheri Superiore, Maremma Tuscany, Italy

2019 Antinori Peppoli Chianti Classico DOCG, Tuscany, Italy $45-$50

PRETENDER 2021 La Guardiense Fiano Sannio, Campania, Italy $25-$30

PRETENTIOUS 2019 Antinori Badia a Passignano Chianti Classico DOCG Gran Selezione, Tuscany, Italy $100-$105

2020 Chionetti Dogliani San Luigi Dolcetto, Piedmont, Italy $40-$45

CRÊPE Expectations

Name

Florian Guillemard

Position Owner

Restaurant Flo’s Crêperie Noosa & Mooloolaba

How/Why did you become a chef?

I have always had a passion for restaurants and have always been fascinated by the theatrical aspects of a restaurant.

Technically, I am not a chef; I’m more of an all-rounder. I can work in the kitchen, behind the bar and on the floor.

I went to hospitality school in France for five years, so my training included everything from cooking to management and accounting. My main experience has been in restaurant management.

What have been your career highlights?

When I worked at The Ivy in London, I learned about the importance of attention to detail and this really shaped my approach to management and running successful restaurants.

Opening Flo’s in Noosa with my wife Michelle was a definite career highlight – we could visualise a crêperie in Noosa for a long time. Even now, looking at it, we’re so proud to be serving our food to locals and tourists.

The response has been so fantastic that we also opened Flo’s Crêperie at The Wharf, Mooloolaba

What do you love about what you do?

I consider myself as a people pleaser, so seeing people enjoying our food is very satisfying.

What do you love about local produce?

Connecting with the producers.

One of my favourites is Lee Fishing from Tin Can Bay, where we get our prawns. Peter, the owner, always comes in and delivers them personally.

What is your approach to food?

Cook it the way you would like to eat it – and that’s also what I tell my chefs. If you wouldn’t be happy to be served that crêpe, make another one.

What is your favourite dish to cook or eat?

Crêpes, of course! Our kids love food, so my main focus is making sure they are building their palettes, eating well and enjoying food.

I have lots of favourite dishes such as couscous, beef bourguignon – but the one thing they have in common is that they must have lots of sauce!

Who is your culinary inspiration?

I’m inspired by people who work hard to not only master their product but also constantly take it to the next level.

I’m also inspired by chefs who think outside the square and try new things. Do you cook at home?

I love to cook at home. I usually stick with what I know and cook French food, but I would love to have more time to cook other cuisines.

Who would you love to cook for?

I’d love to cook for my dad, who passed away in 2010. We used to go to crêperies together, and my dad always used to say nothing had been done in crêperies, it’s all too traditional, so much more can be done.

I got inspired by that, and that’s why our menu is very versatile.

We have Aussie and Asian influences, and vegetarian options. I think he would have approved of Flo’s!

What do you love about being IN Noosa?

The community feeling, and the lifestyle. Michelle and I do a lot of trail running, so the national park is just awesome for that. We surf a lot with the family, so the beaches are perfect.

We like eating out, and the variety of restaurants here is excellent.

I’m inspired by people who work hard to not only master their product but also constantly take it to the next level.

We have many amazing friends around. For me, Noosa has it all.

Any advice for young chefs?

It can be hard to find the right kitchen to work in where you can grow and enjoy your learning process, so don’t hesitate to try different restaurants if you’re not happy or if you’re bored after a while.

It can be an unhealthy industry if you’re not careful, so it’s important to stay healthy, drink a lot of water, exercise and look after yourself – avoid the negative spiral.

What is your favourite kitchen tool?

The rozell, which is the wooden crêpe spreader.

What is your favourite ingredient? Butter!

Anything else to add?

Flo’s would not be where it is without our managers, Paloma & Lucas, our head chefs, Yann and Stephane, and our amazing team. Crêpes are so much more than a dessert, so come and explore our flavours!

PHOTO: FLORENCE LEMYRE

PHOTOS: IAN WALDIE

COOKING UP Success

Alba Noosa first opened at Noosa in December, 2021. Penny Brand sits down with chef Peter Kuruvita and wife Karen to reflect on its success.

It’s been well over a year since Alba Noosa first swung open its doors to the public, with the now-famous venue proving it has what it takes to be one of the Coast’s premier foodie destinations. Not that we expected any less from local celebrity chef Peter Kuruvita, whose career in cooking has spanned a lifetime across many countries and countless kitchens.

Alba Noosa heralded a new dawn of one-stop gastronomical experiences as a hub of food and beverage offerings.

The beautifully-designed space promised to perfectly embody the essence of fine food and the natural elements of its coastal surrounds, and has since become so much more than a stunning restaurant and wedding venue. With a cocktail bar serving wood-fired pizza and bar snacks, takeaway and a Providore and bottle shop, Alba Noosa also offers a cooking school, private dining room and a wired kitchen film studio!

As an internationally-renowned chef, restaurateur, television presenter and

author, Peter’s irrefutable passion for fresh produce was nurtured in his grandmother’s kitchen as a child growing up in Sri Lanka.

This has inspired the various restaurants, signature dishes, cookbooks and television series that followed throughout his career.

Peter first came to Noosa to open Noosa Beach House by Peter Kuruvita at Sofitel Noosa Pacific Resort (thenSheraton Noosa). And he never looked back, settling into our picturesque seaside village with wife Karen and their three sons.

During his eight years at the helm of Noosa Beach House, the restaurant received many accolades including Business of the Year at the 2019 Sunshine Coast Business Awards.

Peter’s said his time at Noosa Beach House was a truly memorable era with an incredible and hard-working team and strong community support.

“I thought I was done with restaurants, but the opportunity to do a restaurant alongside a cooking school

really excited me,” he said.

“The potential of this site was too good to pass up.

Situated on Alba Close at Parkridge and tucked behind Noosa Springs, the venue was built on the original Noosa White sand quarry site in an enclave called Alba Close.

Fittingly, Alba is the Latin word for ‘white’; is Spanish for ‘sunrise’ and the highest grade of Ceylon cinnamon.

Since opening its doors, locals and visitors alike have lapped up laughs and meaningful conversations, combined with tantalising dining experiences and special celebrations.

Food and wine lovers have been particularly drawn to the thriving locale’s Chef’s Kitchen, which showcases state-of-the-art cooking classes and private chef’s tables.

This autumn guests can experience masterclasses in Sri Lankan curries, French classics, Mexican feasts, subcontinental vegetarian, and fresh seafood.

PHOTOS: TOURISM NOOSA

The hands-on classes are set in the venue’s stunning kitchen studio space, featuring Peter Kuruvita and offering a range of culinary delights and skills.

For a more intimate dining experience, private Chef’s Tables cater to small groups of up to 20 people, offering the ultimate dining experience to budding gourmands.

Karen Kuruvita says in this more intimate setting Peter can curate a bespoke menu tailored to any occasion and personally cook meals in front of patrons.

“Alba’s success has been dependent on working well with clients, and knowing just the right blend of environment and experience to allow guests to connect with one another,” she said.

“Peter speaks with clients to understand their preferences, looks at the beverage package they have chosen and curates to these guidelines, working with seasonally-available local produce.

“Our cooking classes are a four-hour session, including all ingredients and food to cook and enjoy, and usually includes three or four courses and sides, two glasses of wine or beer, and a

take-home Chef’s Kitchen apron and recipe booklet.”

Classes are $210 each with private classes also available for groups accommodating up to 24 people. Head online to book or make an enquiry.

Also this year, Peter will share secret family recipes, as seen on his SBS Television series, My Sri Lanka

The Sri Lankan 5-Pot Curry Lunches return with a delicious spread of traditional Sri Lankan curries and sambals changing every month.

Held on the first Saturday of each month, patrons can enjoy five totally

unique curries, festive rice, pappadams and a range of sambals served in the traditional family- style.

Each curry focuses on a star ingredient, enhanced by the aromatic spices, fresh coconut and curry leaves that Peter’s island home is famous for.

The long lunches are complete with a traditional Sri Lankan dessert, and at just $65 a head, these shared feasts are the perfect way to catch up with family and friends.

If you prefer pairing your meals with the perfect vino, be sure to mark on your calendars the upcoming Cullen Winemaker Dinner on 18 May.

Nature trailblazer Vanya Cullen, who is at the helm of one of Margaret River’s founding wineries, Cullen Wines, has never been afraid to go her own way.

The highly decorated winemaker and businesswoman harvests and renews biodynamic soils to the solstices, stars and moons, Karen says.

To book a seat at the next cooking school, chef’s table or 5-Pot curry lunches; or for more information on the upcoming winemaker dinner and other events, visit www.albanoosa.com.au

3 Alba Close, Parkridge, Noosa Heads 52 111 555 | hello@albanoosa.com.au albanoosa.com.au

Featuring Chef Peter Kuruvita’s signature style of local produce spiced with global flavours.

RESTAURANT - BAR - COOKING SCHOOL FUNCTIONS & WEDDINGS

Sink your toes into the sand, let the sun kiss your skin and settle in for a pleasure picnic IN Noosa with Carlie Wacker and the Bird.

BIRD BY THE Beach

Fine dining overlooking main beach is a part of what we love about our fabulous Noosa and when it comes to picnics on the beach we are doing that in a rather sophisticated way now too.

It’s all thanks to BIRD Noosa – the go-to charcoal rotisserie chicken specialist that have recently opened a BIRD booth in Hastings Street.

Nested beside the Sofitel Beach House at the entrance to Bay Village from the street, you’ll find the baby brother of the much-loved BIRD in Noosa Junction.

The idea of Bird was born over a charcoal chicken, buttery baguette and bottle of French burgundy so its origins are a bit fancy.

Since then the team led by Chrissie and Peter Degotardi have been serving up delicious, juicy free-range chickens with rotisserie chap potatoes and roast gravy; freshly-baked French baguettes and smoked butter; as well as signature

salads; the longed-after chicken finger sandwiches and freshly-made wraps.

The secret to succulent bird starts with quality ingredients and BIRD uses free-range Elgin Valley chicken that is cooked over a pure Ironbark charcoal rotisserie imported from Madrid to deliver that deliciously smokey flavours that transports our tastebuds to holiday heaven!

PHOTOS: KATJA ANTON

BIRD’s baguettes are baked in-house and they even smoke their own butter. The result is one bangin’ bird!

What BIRD brings to Hastings Street is the convenience of a passionatelyprepared and bloody delicious dinner or lunch; even brunch! Why not do BIRD and bubbles for breakfast?!

If you’re holidaying on Hastings Street, you can now grab a fantastic feast and chill by the pool or laze in your room while listening to the crashing waves and hubbub of the street below.

We love an opportunity to sink our toes in the sand and soak up the stunning Noosa sun and a picnic is the perfect way to bring a little romance to your world.

And, as I always say - if you’re going to do it, do it in style.

Uncle George is a quirky colourful shop across the road from BIRD on Hastings Street and the friendly team there have all you need for the perfect picnic setting - gorgeous beach mats and baskets; napkins; beach and pool friendly wine glasses and tumblers.

PLACES TO PICNIC

Noosa Main Beach – views of Laguna Bay Little Cove – short walk from Hastings Street for a picture perfect beach

Noosa Spit – overlooking the bar at the Noosa River Mouth, good boat watching Noosa Woods – lots of green space and peace overlooking Noosa Woods Bay Lions Park – playground for the kids and views of waterfront mansions - aspirational

Why not wow your picnic pal with champagne and chicken – a classic and classy combination (and yes - you can get your booze from BIRD - Peter has curated an exceptional wine, cider and craft beer menu!).

With food and beverage in your basket you are just a hop, skip and a jump away from a Noosa beach, spit or woods picnic and you’ll have won the heart and filled the belly of someone you love.

PS - for a quick fix, park undercover at Bay Village and grab your BIRD - there’s free parking for the first half hour.

SHOT ON LOCATION OUTSIDE THE STUNNING SEBEL NOOSA RESORT

The Ligurian love was flowing at Lucio’s when Matteo Galletto was joined by his father Lucio as guest Maître ď for a special Ligurian-themed lunch by Head Chef Alberto Vitassovich, who also hails from the region.

An Aperol Spritz on arrival felt necessary until the hand-selected Ligurian wines started flowing.

LIGURIANLove!

Each wine was expertly matched to the dishes and to start, the 2020 Bandamatia Prosecco Rosatto stole our hearts and was perfect with the convivial servings of house-made rosemary focaccia; Ligurian olives; and seafood dishes honouring Liguria’s coastal villages - Polipo e patate, braised octopus roast potato & black olive; and Cono di Alici, flash fried anchovies with salsa verde.

The standout dish of the day was the Testaroli, a ‘pancake’ pasta served with a classic pesto from the mountainous areas that are home to the prized Taggiasca olives as well as pine nuts and basil that form the base of the freshest pesto, made in house. A 2021 Sassarini Macaia Cinque Terre Vermentino balanced out the freshness before our tastebuds were taken back to the Italian coast with Pesce all’inzimino, a roasted fish fillet on a classic Ligurian inzimino. Challenging the theory of only drinking white wines with fish was the 2020 Corte San Marttia Rosso Veronese IGP - light and intriguing enough to let the food shine.

A Pinolata Ligure, pine nut and almond cake served with a pine nut gelato, brought a showstopping finish to the feast, particularly when presented with a 2017 Sassarini Sciacchetrá DOC served over ice with rosemary salt - what a sensation!

The only thing better than the flavours were the personal and engaging stories and experiences that Matteo and Lucio shared with each diner as they wandered from table to table.

Bravo! Bellissimo! Let’s do it again-oh!

Father and son Lucio and Matteo Galletto teamed up to host a celebration of all things Ligurian and share tales and tastes from home.

Deb Caruso delighted in the decadence!

2017 Sassarini Sciacchetrá DOC

Pesce all’inzimino

Matteo & Lucio Galletto

Identifying ways to address food insecurity and minimise food waste has been a lifelong passion for the Sunshine Coast’s Citizen of the Year. Matt Golinski finds out what Michele Lipner is cooking up next!

EATS SunnyCoast

Most of us go food shopping each week and buy the ingredients we know we’ll use to make breakfast, fill school lunch boxes, or for the staple dinners we know how to prepare and that won’t get rejected by the fussier members of the family.

But for an ever-increasing number of Australians who are struggling to keep up with creeping mortage rates and crippling energy bills and fuel costs, the luxury of choosing what they put on the table is a thing of the past.

It’s estimated that in the past 12 months over two million households in Australia went hungry due to a lack of funds, sometimes skipping meals or going whole days without eating.

Demand for food relief is now higher than ever. In 2019, Foodbank estimated that 15% of Australians experiencing food insecurity were accessing food relief at least once a week. At the peak of the pandemic, that figured jumped to an alarming 31% - one in three households!

Food rescue charities have been overwhelmed over the past few years by people needing assistance just to ensure their kids don’t go to school or to bed hungry.

OzHarvest was born in 2004 with a vision to not only help feed those in need, but also to address the enormous issue of food waste in this country.

It’s a serious matter with food waste costing the Australian economy approximately $36.6 billion per year, with approximately 7.6 million tonnes of quality food finding its way to landfill.

Concerned by this growing trend, a small group of local volunteers, led by Michele Lipner, took on the challenge of building a network within their own community to tackle these issues, launching OzHarvest Sunshine Coast and Gympie in 2014.

They currently partner with food suppliers and recipients as far north as Gympie, down the coast to Caloundra and into the Sunshine Coast Hinterland. Food suppliers include local farmers markets, major supermarkets (including their national partner Woolworths), BP service stations, independent fruit and vegetable markets, local producers/farmers, bakeries, butchers and schools.

Nine years later, with the help of over 100 volunteers, they support 47 recipient organisations including schools, charities, community organisations and churches.

Since commencing operations, OzHarvest Sunshine Coast & Gympie has collected and redistributed approximately 800,000 kg of food – the equivalent of 2.2+ million meals.

Each month, this translates into anywhere from 15,000 – 18,000 kg of food being rescued and redistributed to their recipient agencies.

Michele Lipner, founding member and Coordinator of the local chapter, has been a driving force behind its success and growth for over close to a decade. Her passion and dedication to her community’s welfare, the environment,

Sunnycoast Eats

and for education around food waste saw her awarded Sunshine Coast Citizen of the Year in January.

In 2017, Michele identified a need for some sort of resource to help recipients of the food boxes they were being delivered get the most out of them –she could see that not everyone had the knowledge and experience to literally Ready, Steady, Cook a random bunch of provisions into a coherent meal, and that not everyone had seen a fennel bulb or cooked an eggplant before.

Over six years, she brought together a small group of dedicated local community members and volunteers with different skills to drive the development of a product that would be much more than a compilation of recipes.

Sunshine Coast University Bachelor of

Sunnycoast Eats

PHOTO: KATJA ANTON

Sunshine Coast Citizen of the Year and OzHarvest Sunshine Coast & Gympie Founding Member and Coordinator Michele Lipner.

Dietetics and Bachelor of Nutrition students assisted with needs assessment, design and recipe testing, and everything from the photography, graphic design, even the hand-made ceramics used for styling recipes were donated to turn her dream into a reality.

The result is SunnyCoast Eats, a 100page collection of useful information about various ingredients that an OzHarvest recipient may receive or that you might find in the bottom of your fridge. Sorted alphabetically by ingredients, there’s also basic nutritional information and advice on how to store and cook them.

It also contains tips on how to reduce food waste at home; a problem that accounts for more than a third of the country’s food waste.

Of an initial print run of around 2,000 books, half of the books will be sold at a very reasonable price to cover the cost of production and to fund the donation of the rest to those who need it most in a ‘buy one, gift one’ philosophy.

SunnyCoast Eats can be purchased online or direct from OzHarvest Sunshine Coast with proceeds going back into OzHarvest Sunshine Coast & Gympie to

support its operations.

With 53 easy-to-make and budget friendly recipes that champion local ingredients along with tips on kitchen basics, food swaps and reducing food waste at home; it’s sure to be a muchloved go-to guide, whether you are a kitchen novice or pro.

SunnyCoast Eats is a labour of love, and the result of hundreds of dedicated hours by local OzHarvest volunteers and community members passionate about food, reducing food waste and helping

BUY THE BOOK!

SunnyCoast Eats is now available from the OzHarvest Sunshine Coast office in Coolum or look for the friendly yellow shirted volunteers at Noosa Farmers’ Market most Sundays.

To find out more phone 0431 094 136 or email sunshinecoast.info@ozharvest.org

Order online using the QR code:

Price:$30 incl postage.

Chilli Beans from SunnyCoast Eats. Visit www.innoosamagazine.com.au for the full recipe and listen to our podcast interview with Michele.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

BANQUET Beauty

Nourishing us in more ways than one, Georgia Beard experiences the connection and camaraderie served up at XO’s Yum Cha Banquet.

On a hectic Friday in February, the team from IN Noosa Magazine meet at the staircase to Sunshine Beach’s sanctuary of Asian fine dining.

Our New Year’s celebrations are long overdue and we are on deadline for this edition with our Editor-in-Chief Deb taking a break from a full day’s photoshoot and Fashion Editor Carlie working her lunch break around collecting garments for the fashion shoot to be held on Monday.

The rest of the team are in full story writing or ad-creating mode and finalising the last of client contracts. With our time joyfully spent connecting the community through storytelling and enjoying and championing all that Noosa has to offer, we don’t often get to raise a glass to each other.

Nonetheless, we all recognise the importance of coming together and taking time to reconnect and regroup.

So when the Yum Cha Banquet returned to XO Sunshine Beach, we knew there would be no better way to celebrate the year that was and toast to a succesful year ahead.

We’re warmly welcomed with a long table with treetop views matched with a cooling seaside breeze providing a respite from a steamy summer’s day.

An intimate ambience arises from warm crimsons and browns, lamps dangling like Banksia seed pods overhead and the enchanting mural by artists Loretta Lizzio and Cam Scale.

As we take our seats, the team is united in our anticipation for XO’s fresh share-style feast - the soft roar of the waves drowned out by conversation and

the excitement of taking some time out.

Translating to ‘drink tea’ in Cantonese, ‘yum cha’ originates from the traditional Chinese custom of late-morning or early-afternoon tea with dim sum, or light bites served in bamboo baskets.

Shared in local teahouses between families and friends or travellers along the Silk Road, yum cha became a regular occasion to meet, converse and relax with one another.

“When I was growing up, my extended family would get together every second weekend for yum cha and dim sum,” says XO’s Executive Chef James Wu.

“The experience is one that has always provided many happy memories of spending time with family and enjoying a tasty meal.”

Combining the spirit of tradition with authentic flavours and ingredients, the Yum Cha Banquet at XO recreates those memories of connection as our team share James’ tasty treats and toasts the occasion with glasses from a curated wine list.

We begin with Spring Rolls, smoky Pork Sandwiches and Duck Pancakes; with vegetarian and gluten-free alternatives also well taken care of.

Steaming side dishes of Wok Tossed Asian Vegetables (all from James’ own farm) and Fried Rice overflowing with lap cheong, pork, and scrambled egg.

As we unwind with full plates, we catch up on each other’s daily lives, toss fragments of local news back and forth and share stories of overseas travel.

Our conversations abate just a little when bamboo baskets appear on the table. Lids come away, steam erupts from within, and chopsticks reach for a spread of dim sum delights.

Commonly translated to ‘touch the heart’, these small dishes stir up our joy and tenderness with each bite. The Beef Dumpling is fragrant with full-bodied, grass-fed flavour while the Crystal Skin Prawn Dumpling offers a lighter touch of sea spray from Mooloolaba.

Bringing the palate to a new depth, the Lamb and Mushroom Dumpling and Pork

PHOTOS: MEGAN GILL

& Prawn Sui Mai seep with a rich umami flavour. We’re almost too stuffed to try the Steamed Duck Buns from Megan at The Steamed Bun Co, but as we tear through the sweet, cloud-like dough, the pulled duck falls apart on our tongues, and we can’t resist!

Those who opt for the Vegetarian dim sum experience the succulent, gardenfresh flavours of Garlic Chive Dumplings, Spiced Sweet Potato Dumplings, Zucchini Flowers, Tempura Tofu and Mushroom & Tempeh Buns - all superb dishes.

James sources most of the ingredients from local producers and suppliers such as Wolvi’s Tagigan Rd Produce and Kin Kin’s Eastwell Farms while all the wok vegetables, herbs, edible leaves and flowers are harvested from his own Joyous Farms in Cootharaba.

“The team has over four decades of experience,” he said. “This allows us to experiment with flavours and textures, resulting in the creation of many exciting dishes which are mixed with time-tested XO favourites like the Duck Bun and Pork

Sandwich. Dumplings are a specialty with all aspects of the dumplings, including the skins, made on site and hand-created by the team who are proficient with over 20 different folds.”

This steady stream of delicious cuisine and matched wine nourishes our conversation and as we head back to work, we only have one question left to answer: when can we do it again?

Visit www.embassyxo.com.au to make a reservation. Meat and Vegetarian Yum Cha menus will be reworked seasonally.

Noosa has a well-earned reputation for producing fabulous food that is adored, appreciated and passionately brought to life by the outstanding chefs and restaurateurs of the region.

Our readers like to go beyond the dining table and into the kitchens where culinary masterpieces are plated and to delve into the gifted minds of those that concoct mouthwatering menus.

There is no better way to find out mroe about what it takes for local produce to reach our plates and the people behind it than from the chefs themselves!

Since 2018, our podcast Everyone Has A Story: Conversations from the Sunshine Coast and Noosa has welcomed many of the region’s producers and chefs behind the mic - and globally has reached more than 38,000 downloads, growing daily!

They always have a riveting tale to tell, from growing up in families with rich food cultures to working in acclaimed kitchens across the globe before settling in this place they now call home.

As an extension of the power of storytelling in print, our podcast invites you to create a deeper connection with our guests, sharing the emotion, the anecdotes and the spontaneous morsels of information that enhance the relationship between people and plate.

The more stories we hear, the more our foodie icons feel like old friends. It’s a relationship we passionately cultivate in every issue of IN Noosa Magazine

CONVERSATIONS Kitchen

Our Chef Q&A series in each edition takes a closer look at the inspirations and approaches behind some of Noosa’s tastiest venues and when we host our seasonal, sell-out wine lunches, each chef curates an exclusive menu showcasing their passion for local produce and how to celebrate it.

As the presenter for Resonate Radio Network’s Queensland Drive program and podcaster for Everyone Has A Story, John ‘JC’ Caruso brings more than 30 years of experience to the chat, including previous roles as the Regional Manger and drive presenter for ABC Sunshine Coast and SeaFM breakfast host.

John has recorded conversations with the likes of Matt Golinski; Peter Kuruvita

IN THE

from Alba; Jodie Williams from Black Ant Gourmet; Josh Smallwood from Noosa Cartel; Nilla Tomkins from VanillaFood; and Geoffroy Marcq from Whisky Boy.

“All of them start with a desire and a passion for food that can be traced back to a food relationship with their parents, predominately their mothers,” John says.

“A lot of them loved being in the kitchen, experimenting with flavours, and were introduced to cooking because of their parents or grandparents.”

No one knows this experience better than Peter Kuruvita who shares tales of his childhood surrounded by family feasts and communal cooking in Sri Lanka before venturing into commercial kitchens and fine dining in Sydney and

IN Noosa we know you love to connect with those who nourish us. Georgia Beard reveals how our ‘Everyone Has A Story’ podcast digs deeper into the stories of our hospitality heroes.

Matt Golinski

Peter Kuruvita

Geoffroy Marcq

Josh Smallwood

Jodie Williams

Nilla Tomkins

Podcast host John ‘JC’ Caruso

Fiji, before his love of Noosa led to the creation of Alba with its cooking school, providore store, bar and restaurant.

Although their careers reached new heights and the celebrity of cooking intensified, fame’s allure never resonated with the chefs featured on our podcast.

“By the time you talk to these chefs, most have already been through the rigour of their apprenticeship and there’s no glamour or fame in what they’ve been through,” John says.

“They are still in the industry because of their passion for food. Their enjoyment comes from preparing and serving food and having a shared experience with their customers.”

With each conversation on Everyone Has A Story, we’ve discovered that those who dish the goods are not in the business of transactions; they’re in the business of relationships.

Whether you listen during your morning run, your commute to work or your household chores, you take part in that connective experience.

The next time you walk into their restaurant or café, you can see beyond the walls and into the inspirations behind the business; the people behind the passion; and the culmination of a life’s work.

And doesn’t that make everything sweeter.

evolution of Herbert Restaurant

discover how this dynamic duo is redefining the plant-based experience! Find the new episode on Everyone Has A Story: Conversations from the Sunshine Coast and Noosa, free from our website and available on all podcasting platforms, including Apple and Google Podcasts and Spotify.

Conscious plant-centric food utilising local and foraged ingredients.

Next-level cocktails and an eclectic wine list served in a stylish casual bistro setting. We are vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, flexitarianmost of all we are Herbert!

1 Arcadia Street, Noosa Heads Phone 0460 858 060

Book Online herbertrestaurant.com

Dinner Mon-Sat + Lunch Fri-Sat

EVERYONE HAS A STORY: HERBERT John Caruso sits down with Leon Johnston and Alex McKechnie to share their fascinating stories and chronicle the

to

Alex McKechnie & Leon Johnston, Herbert

JOURNEY OF Discovery

It’s always exciting when a new chef comes to town – and when they’re heading up the kitchen at one of Hastings Street’s most iconic venues, you can be assured the journey of discovery works both ways.

Deb Caruso meets Noosa Beach House and Sofitel Noosa Pacific Resort’s new Executive Chef.

Ever had those days when everything just seems to fall into place?

For Noosa Beach House and Sofitel Noosa Pacific Resort’s new Executive Chef Bret Cameron it seemed the universe was sending him a message.

“My wife and I had returned from a trip to New Zealand, the United States and Mexico and decided we wanted to live somewhere warm so we headed to Noosa for a few days to check it out,” he said. “On day two we decided we loved it and then things just fell into place.

“Like, we jagged the perfect car park in Noosa National Park in the summer peak; we were in the right place at the right time to get a front row table at Noosa Surf Club; and then I saw this job advertised.

“We came to Noosa Beach House for a drink to check it out and I walked in the wrong door which meant that I ran into Marty (Martijn de Boer), the Food & Beverage Director, who I know from Sydney. I told him I had applied for the job that morning and two days later was offered the role.

“It felt like it was meant to be as there was a lot of synchronicity and ease.”

The New-Zealand born chef moved to Australia when he was 21 and landed in Sydney, cooking in various restaurants before heading to London working at a Michelin-starred restaurant.

His return to Australia saw him work alongside Colin Fassnidge at Four in Hand to develop and execute a constantly evolving menu, specialising in ‘nose to tail’ cuisine before earning accolades for his effortless passion and knowledge of native Australian produce at venues including Byron Bay’s Three Blue Ducks, The Pacific Club and Harvest Newrybar.

“My food is very produce-driven and I love finding good produce and treating it with respect,” he said. “I’m excited about discovering and working with the abundance of amazing produce in Noosa, and across the Sunshine Coast where some of the best seafood can be found.

“My ethos is flavoursome and honest food, cooked simply to let the produce shine.”

With his love of native ingredients,

Bret says there’s a bit of wildness to his dishes with Wattle Seed and Davidson Plum listed as two of his favourite ingredients.

“I like to make a Wattle Seed ice cream which when mixed with chocolate creates an interesting flavour profile of chocolate, coffee and hazelnut and acustard-like texture,” he said.

The newly-released autumn menu sees Bret’s love of native ingredients start to come into play with a Dark Chocolate Mousse with Hazelnut Crumb and Wattle Seed Ice Cream expected to become a firm favourite for dessert lovers; and the entrée of Smoked Beetroots, Macadamia Cheese, Davidson’s Plum with Beetroot Macadamia Crumb destined to become a signature dish.

“The beetroot dish is a winner for anyone who tries it,” he says. “I cook, smoke and marinate the beetroots and serve them on macadamia cheese with a crumb made from dehydrated beetroot, roasted macadamias and a little bit of salt and sugar to bring out the sweetness in the beets - they become a bit chewy,

PHOTO: MEGAN GILL

almost like candy,” he teases.

Bret said a sprinkling of Davidson Plum powder was the finishing touch.

“It’s vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, dairy free – and full of flavour; it ticks all the boxes,” he said. “It might be the Kiwi in me but I will always offer a braised lamb shoulder, It’s such a crowd pleaser even though I’ve been doing it for 10-15 years. Put it in the middle of table, surround it with some side dishes and everyone loves it!”

When not in the kitchen or at the beach, Bret is exploring the farmers’ markets and foraging for native ingredients. As he discovers the region and its producers, expect to see a sophisticated yet approachable celebration of all things wild and sustainable to come into focus at Noosa Beach House.

Together with Martijn and the addition of renowned sommelier Remon Van de Kerkhof as Head of Beverage, we can’t wait to be part of the exciting journey of discovery at Noosa Beach House and Sofitel Noosa Pacific Resort.

DON’T MISS!

Noosa Beach House’s famous Champagne Lunches include a mouthwatering threecourses of coastal cuisine with expertlymatched champagne to delight your senses!

$139 pp paired with Mumm Tasmania.

$159 pp paired with Perrier Jouet. www.noosabeachhouse.com.au

NEW CHEF AT NOOSA BEACH HOUSE

Noosa Beach House keeps the excitement alive on Hastings Street with a fabulous new menu coming to life by our new Executive Chef Bret Cameron.

An abundance of events and tastings continue in our bar & restaurant including the popular Champagne Lunches!

For events and bookings, follow the QR link below!

Hastings St, Noosa noosabeachhouse.com.au

Smoked Beetroots, Macadamia Cheese, Davidson’s Plum, Beetroot Macadamia Crumb

...there’s a bit of wildness to his dishes...

A FINE DINING Evolution

Proving that your forties can be fabulous, Bella Venezia firmly positions itself as a dining experience that will never go out of style. Deb Caruso discovers what’s next for this powerhouse palate-pleaser.

For four decades Bella Venezia at Mooloolaba has been one of the Sunshine Coast’s favourite dining destinations with an awards list that keeps growing.

After a year full of global and local accolades in 2022, this year is already off to a cracking start with the modern Italian restaurant earning an Australian Good Food Guide Chef’s Hat as well as the Readers’ Choice Award for Best Italian Restaurant for 2023 – Sunshine Coast Region!

Business owners Kristine and Todd Young said they were absolutely thrilled to win an AGFG Reader’s Choice Award for the fifth consecutive year.

“The Readers’ Choice Award means a lot to us as it is voted for by our customers,” Kristine said. “This is fantastic recognition for all of our team’s hard work and dedication.

“Bella Venezia has evolved over the years to become a beloved and iconic Sunshine Coast dining institution and we are honoured to win this award again. We are very grateful to our customers for voting for us!”

With all the accolades, the couple are not resting on their laurels with exciting plans for the year ahead.

Todd said they were focused on refining the menu and the dining experience during their 40th year and since returning from a trip to Europe last year, the focus has been on bringing the outstanding experiences home.

“We want to create magic here that

you don’t have to travel across the world for,” he said. “We believe we can deliver a fine dining experience with a Sunshine Coast flavour to suit our coastal lifestyle.”

For Todd that started with elevating the experience in the two fine dining rooms from start to finish with a different menu as well as more refined table settings, cutlery and specific stemware to match the wine choices.

The menu features the most outstanding dishes from the venue as well as a four-course degustation with the option of matching wines that have been hand-selected from the extensive and award-winning wine list.

“We can deliver an exceptional experience where all the right notes are hit – the food, the wine, the service – with a relaxed, friendly vibe that makes our customers feel special.

“So when people leave hopefully we’ve nailed all the elements and they feel like they’ve had something really special and look forward to coming back and sharing the experience with others.”

Kristine said Bella Venezia would still offer relaxed dining options, including the champagne garden, where guests can order handcrafted pizza as well as a la carte and access the full wine list.

“The experience needs to match the occasion,” Kristine said. “We know guests love Bella Venezia for celebrations and special occasions and we can offer

options to suit their needs.”

Kristine said seasonality and sustainability was important to the restaurant with most of the food sourced from local farmers within a hundredkilometer radius.

“That has always been really important for us and we’ll be focusing more on highlighting the regionality of the dishes on the menu,” she said.

Also inspired by the Europe trip, they are looking to introduce a Breakfast experience in time for Easter.

“We want to provide a five-star breakfast option that’s currently not catered for,” Kristine said. “We want diners to enjoy a sophisticated breakfast by the sea with white tablecloths, ocean views, table service and healthy, fresh options with a global flavour.

Todd said there’s been a high demand from customers, and they are focusing on filling a gap.

“We’ll have beautiful Italian roast coffee, fresh produce, amazing service - there’s nowhere in Mooloolaba that offers tablecloth service for breakfast,” he said.

Introducing breakfast will allow Bella Venezia to be an all-day dining destination – from mimosas in the morning to after-dinner dessert.

Kristine said they would be able to offer options all day to capture the holiday spirit.

PHOTOS: MEGAN GILL

...a fine dining experience with a Sunshine Coast flavour...

“Whatever you’re in the mood for, we’re here,” she said.

“Our senior staff are industry professionals who have been working with us a long time so it’s nice to also offer them different opportunities.

“They are our A-team and they put a lot in because running this business is 364 days a year.”

“They’ve worked so hard all summer to ensure everything is delivered in the right way,” she said. “Todd makes sure all the boxes get ticked and empowers our team of 58 staff with dedication and expertise. We make an incredible team.”

Since we’ve been sharing the Bella Venezia story in IN Noosa Magazine, Kristine and Todd said they have loved greeting customers from Noosa.

“We love helping customers access amazing wines through the Coravin system that allows for rare and specialized wines to be ordered by the

glass and matched to award-winning dishes,” she said.

The evolution of Bella Venezia from a pizza and pasta restaurant to one that offers a fine dining experience has been a while in the making. While Kristine has been involved in the business for almost eight years bringing marketing skills and creative direction, Todd has been managing the business for 20 of the last 40 years.

The evolution continues for Bella Venezia which is now owned by Kristine and Todd.

Like me, you might remember going to Bella Venezia in the day when it was a

pizza and pasta bar. And if you had your photo taken in front of the mural of Venice, don’t worry, it’s still there behind the glass – like a time capsule of dining history.

The expansion of Bella Venezia has seen a lot of changes, including expanding into space at the front and most recently, adding an additional prep kitchen where they handmake most of the ingredients including pasta and pizza.

Kristine and Todd, together with a talented team of chefs, sommeliers and front-of-house staff honour their own skills while tapping into the nostalgia of amazing food experiences from around the world and delivering it to our doorstep.

“We love that we are that place where people go for their first date, engagement dinner, birthdays and special occasions,” she said. “We have clients who have celebrated all the key milestones here –and now their kids are doing the same.”

It’s evolutionary.

Deb Caruso chats with the local chef on a mission to enrich people’s wellbeing and excite their tastebuds - one mouthful at a time!

FRESH & Wholesome

Like a lot of chefs, helping her mum in the kitchen sparked a lifelong love of food for Nilla Tomkins of VanillaFood and the soon-to-open Nilla’s Pantry.

“I have always loved cooking so I decided to do my chef’s apprenticeship and here we are,” Nilla said. “Creating in the kitchen is my favourite thing and I love nothing more than going into the garden at the restaurant to pick herbs and flowers and see them go from the garden to the table.”

The Danish-born chef and business owner is celebrating her tenth year in business since opening her first VanillaFood café and kitchen inside Belmondo’s Organic Market in Noosa’s industrial precinct.

Her flagship restaurant opened four years later in the summer of 2018 in Noosa Junction and continues to be a hive of healthy activity with fresh, seasonal and local food and ideas that continue to inspire us.

Wholesome breakfasts and lunches, gluten-free baking, raw and vegan sweet treats and nourishing smoothies are all on offer – plus coffee from some of the best baristas in town!

The menu changes seasonally with daily specials, and customised dinner experiences have been introduced.

Nilla’s appreciation of organic food was born from a desire to nurture the health of her two daughters.

“To me, the most important thing is to look after your health and family first. If you don’t have that, you have nothing,” she said. “I slowly changed the way I cooked at home and that followed through to my businesses and was the key driver for the cookbook.”

VanillaFood the Cookbook features more than 230 pages of recipes, stories and tips and tricks for fuss-free, wholesome and real food, including many of the

favourite dishes, dips, drinks and sweet treats from the cafes.

Beautifully and authentically written and styled by Nilla, all the dishes are vegetarian, many are vegan – and all are certifiably delicious!

For Nilla, it is always about good food, health and the environment. She embraces the power of food as medicine and its ability to connect people and bring them together.

Her signature squeeze of fresh citrus and use of fresh herbs and edible flowers (mostly grown in the garden behind the Noosa Junction restaurant) brings every dish to life while adding a fresh and healthy touch.

As she prepares to open Nilla’s Pantry (more on that on the next page) and say goodbye to Belmondo’s, one thing is certain: Nilla’s knack for nurturing us through food will always be a winner!

organic / fresh / easy

Coffee from 5.30am

Fresh and Frozen Take Home Meals

Salad Bar - made fresh inhouse daily

+ Nilla's signature favourites

coming soon

Lanyana Way, Noosa Heads

Accessing healthy, wholesome and real food is about to get a lot easier as Deb Caruso discovers.

NILLA’SKnack

Keeping it fresh has always been a priority for local chef, cookbook author and business owner Nilla Tomkins of VanillaFood.

After almost ten years of dishing up the delights at VanillaFood inside Belmondo’s Organic Market in Noosaville, Nilla will be opening a new chapter in her fresh, organic and wholesome food story.

Nilla’s Pantry will be located a few metres down from her flagship VanillaFood cafe and restaurant in Noosa Junction and will be a go-to for accessing food that not only makes you feel good, but is also good for you.

For Nilla, the new space will allow her to increase production of her already popular lines including her all-organic dips and dressings; soups and curries as well as other popular products including Kat’s Gluten-Free sourdough loaves.

“At Nilla’s Pantry we want to make it easy for people to access organic food that has been freshly made in house and with love,” she said.

This will include a fresh salad bar, grab-and-go meals as well as preprepared fridge and freezer meals and other goodies to take home.

In line with Nilla’s commitment to sustainability, all products will be made using the freshest, seasonal organic ingredients and with minimal waste.

Going one step further, Nilla’s Pantry will serve takeaway coffee in the iconic HuskeeCup, a reusable coffee cup that features recycled coffee husks as a raw material.

From 5.30am Monday to Friday, when

you grab your cup of Joe, you will become part of the global HuskeeSwap coffee cup exchange program which offers all the benefits of a reusable coffee cup, with additional convenience.

Each time you purchase a cup of coffee to-go, you can drop off your previously

used HuskeeCup, and the drink you order will be served in a freshly cleaned HuskeeCup.

Once again, Nilla has a knack of making us feel good while nurturing our needs and creating a brighter future for us all.

At the heart of Noosa’s favourite health food store is a wholesome team who live and breathe wellness.

Carlie Wacker walks us through the community focused hub of all things good for the people and the planet.

HEARTS Wholesome

Since 2007 Organika has been Noosa’s home of all things organic, sustainable and healthy.

With a mission to make organic and real food available for everyone, Organika offers everything a household could possibly need in one warm and welcoming location.

Stepping into Organika instantly lifts the spirits. It’s bustling with customers catching up for a coffee or chai tea.

During the breakfast and lunch peak periods the place is full of happy faces enjoying healthy and delicious food that is freshly prepared daily.

Shoppers pop in for organic bread or milk, others are taking their time browsing the aisles to discover the latest organic goods and enjoying the tunes.

Organika feels like home – it’s relaxed, the staff become your friends and the mood is always positive.

This local store is so much more than you expect – you feel better when you enter the building and you know every product is going to do you good.

The team have done their research, they walk the walk and are passionate advocates for making organic choices for a healthier you.

I can understand why Organika attracts such knowledgeable staff – they all hold the same values of living your best and fullest life with health and wellness the top priority. They care about the health of their customers and there is a level of trust that they know what they are talking about and are genuine in their

recommendations.

Shopping at Organika is the healthy alternative to our big supermarkets – it alleviates the need to visit one actually.

You can shop for everything your household needs - organic, farm-fresh produce, fridge and freezer items to pantry staples, cleaning, baby and pet products, supplements, make-up, even wine.

They have the widest range of organic and dietary requirements available to everyone. And just so you know, eating healthy doesn’t have to hurt the hip pocket, there are options for all budgets for people that put wellness first. Organika is THE destination for

everything health.

Fresh, organic food is prepared daily by the kitchen team who constantly assess ingredients to ensure quality, flavour and ultimate wellness for their customers.

It’s important to note that sustainability is at the forefront of everything they do, from biodegradebale packaging to the elimination of single use plastics wherever possible.

Bulk food refill stations have been set up to further help customers be more environmentally-friendly.

You can even refill your cleaning and body care products. There are unpackaged bulk foods stations where you can fill your own containers with nourishing necessities; a Kombucha station takes pride in the centre of the store; and the latest addition is a Mt Beerwah water refill station - Noosa’s first spring water refill station - with more to come.

I can understand why Organika attracts such knowledgeable staff –they all hold the same values of living your best and fullest life with health and wellness the top priority.

PHOTOS: ELLA TAUBMAN FILMS

My favourite addition to the Organika experience is the new app. If you are time poor like me you can pre-order your coffee or smoothie and soon the full extended menu will be available to order online. They also have a membership program that allows you to redeem points against purchases instore. As a business that sources the best

organic produce from small, sustainable and local businesses they have a very close relationship with their suppliers.

Throughout the year we get to meet the makers, growers and producers when they hold pop up events in store.

I love that we get to know the people behind the healthy products we consume, it just adds that extra layer of connection

with Organika.

The nurturing at Organika team are the heart to this health food shop – its no wonder you tend to linger longer once you step inside the iconic doors.

MATCH MADE In Noosa

Pairing wine with food enhances the dining experience, creating a heightened appreciation of the texture and taste of the finer things in life. Carlie Wacker unveils a series of perfectly paired dining experiences to whet your appetite at Gusto Noosa.

The IN Noosa Magazine family have long spruiked their love of a good wine lunch and this year our much-loved Gusto Noosa is serving up a series of food and wine events to showcase different wineries and encourage us to all be a bit more adventurous in our food choicesand confident in our wine selections. Owner of Gusto, Timothee Lepoutre and full-time sommelier Dale Potts appreciate and know their wine.

Dale (who you may recognise from Gibson’s) joined the Gusto team last year to bring his extensive knowledge and passion for wine to the restaurant and their lucky diners.

Timothee said they were privileged to have Dale join the team.

“Dale knows his wine and is a real asset to Gusto,” he said.

“He is so engaging with customers.”

With a team of enthusiastic food and

wine aficionados you just know the series of wine lunches and dinners on the calendar are going to be memorable. In fact, there is an event planned for later in the year that pits Timothee and Dale against each other in a competition between each of their home countries.

The France vs Australia wine event promises to as entertaining as it is educational. And as guests you get to make the final call – are French or Australian wines better?

Each month, Gusto will share a unique experience which kicked off with a sold-out lunch exploring wines from the Derwent Valley in Tasmania.

Upcoming experiences include a foray into Mitchell Wines from the Clare Valley. This vineyard is run by the third generation in the Mitchell clan and the wines are a reflection of a true passion and dedication to winemaking.

In May, you can indulge in a Sunday Long Lunch feasting on shared plates matched with handcrafted small batch

wines from the winery with a hard name to pronounce but an exceptional wine to drink - De Iuliis from the Hunter Valley.

In July, experience a night in Burgundy for Bastille Day and in September, journey through Barossa Valley, Eden Valley and the Adelaide Hills with a dinner featuring Michael Hall wines.

See, swirl, sniff, sip, and savour your way through 2023 with the best in food and wine at Gusto Noosa! Cheers to that!

SAVE THE FOOD & WINE DATES

Fri 28 April - Mitchell Wine, Clare Valley Sun 21 May – Long lunch featuring De Iuliis wines from the Hunter Valley.

Fri 14 July - Bastille Day

Dates TBC

France vs Australia Michael Hall

Dale Potts

BOAT-IFULBrides

‘Together’ is a beautiful place to be especially when it becomes a floating fairytale. Carlie Wacker explores a uniquely Noosa venue ideal for those about to seal the deal or celebrate a special occasion.

There is one venue in Noosa that ticks all the boxes for a fairytale wedding and it starts with a stroll across the fairylight-lined boardwalk.

Noosa Boathouse has long been a favourite spot for visitors and locals to celebrate. Its breathtaking location highlights the beauty of our Biosphere with stunning river and sunset views.

There is something very special about a Boathouse wedding and this three-level floating venue offers three unique spaces to build your dream wedding reception.

Owner Sarah Bradford said the River Room was the most popular waterfront

space on the second level with floor-toceiling water and sunset views. It is perfect for a sit-down reception of up to 120 or up to 200 for cocktail-style.

“It has a private balcony and bar and a dedicated team of chefs allowing guests to experience the best flavours the region has to offer,” she says.

The Sunset Bar on the top level oozes chic Noosa vibes. You will not get a better view of the sunset anywhere in Noosa. This is the spot for a very cool cocktail and canapé style reception for up to 100 guests. It has an inside bar area plus an outdoor covered in deck area to

Rachel and John’s wedding on 10 November 2022 in the River Room.

PHOTOS Aleisha Edwards Wedding Photography. STYLING Simply Style Co.

Noosa River Ferry Service operating between Tewantin and Hastings Street 9 times daily

capture the romance of sunset.

For smaller parties of up to 30 guests, the Eastern Deck offers a private covered deck area perched over the water.

Noosa Boathouse have two event managers on the team to help plan the best day of your life and a dedicated function operations manager who is onsite on the day to make sure your wedding goes off without a hitch!

“We work closely with and highly recommend three of the best wedding stylists on the Sunshine Coast: First Class Functions, Splash Events and Simply Style Co.” says Sarah.

You know you will have the prettiest and most profesional wedding reception with the best views of Noosa River.

Why not add the luxury of arriving via boat to Noosa Boathouse’s private jetty?

The Noosa Ferry is also a gorgeous addition to your big day. Sarah and the team recommend booking a Sunset Cruise to transport your guests. They can supply staff and add canapés and drinks to ensure your guests arrive in style.

“We also have the ability to provide a waterfront indoor wet weather backup option if (God forbid!) the weather on your wedding day doesn’t live up to our

usual “Sunshine” Coast standards,” adds Sarah.

The Noosa Boathouse has your wedding reception covered – sensational food, superb sunset views, fairy lights and the fanciest rooms to create the dreamiest Noosa wedding reception ever.

It’s no wonder the happy couples leave rave reviews. Here’s what some say about a Noosa Boathouse wedding reception:

“What a venue! ...we felt incredibly welcomed... the staff made us feel really special... guests were raving about the beautiful views, the amazing food and drinks and what a perfect night... we love the Boathouse fam!” - Carla & Matias, 24/04/2022

“...thank you again for everything leading up to the wedding and the day itself. Everything was perfect... guests are still raving... amazing food and service. ... absolutely amazing to deal with... very grateful for you!” - Elise & Nic, 9/09/2022

“...thank you to the marvellous Boathouse team... amazing and seamless wedding... attentive service and friendly staff, the food, the organisation was just 10 out of 10. We haven’t stopped smiling! ...such a magical evening... blown away by how perfect your venue and staff were... such a special night.”

- Rochelle & Zac, 15/10/2022

COUNTRY Hospitality

Friends and family enjoyed a sneak peek of the region’s most exciting and highly-anticipated venue, The Doonan. Deb Caruso was there to experience the country hospitality.

It was ‘cheers’ all around as the team behind The Doonan hosted family and friends to explore and adore their $6 million masterpiece prior to opening. Since acquiring the two-hectare site in 2006, Comiskey Group have worked to create a paddock-to-plate dining experience showcasing local produce and craft beer in a sprawling site that honours and incorporates the original and iconic 1990 German restaurant.

The family-owned company behind the multi award-winning Sandstone Point Hotel and Eatons Hill Hotel have partnered with long-time friends and hospitality veterans, Josh Jones and Neville Allen to bring another unique venue to life.

Lush landscaping, rustic brickwork and stunning lighting will see this place shine day and night. With several bars, a dedicated ice cream station, pizzeria, Bottleshop and indoor and alfresco dining spaces; as well as herb and vegetable gardens and ample green spaces for kids to explore, The Doonan is set to become a favourite destination for locals and visitors.

If the friendly and attentive service and hospitality by the relatively young team is anything to go by, Comiskey Group are sure to have another multi award-winner on their hands - and that makes us all winners! Cheers to that!

PHOTOS: DEB CARUSO AND KATJA ANTON

SUMMERSensations

Renowned artist Colin Passmore opened the doors to his Art House in Cootharaba to celebrate the launch of IN Noosa Magazine’s sensational summer edition!

Guests explored a gallery of stunning works by Colin and fellow artist Deb Hutton with mouthwatering canapés by Josh Smallwood from Noosa Cartel.

As the sun set over the lush landscape, a few of us would have happily stayed in that rural paradise forever!

Call or text Colin to visit Art House on Louis Bazzo Drive and view the stunning art on display, 0428 775 154.

PHOTOS: MEGAN GILL

A contemporary tropical fruit salad gin packed with flavour that tastes like a holiday. Pineapple, passionfruit, strawberry, mango, vanilla and coconut combine to make a surprising, delightful and evocative gin. See you at our Distillery Door or online!

SHINING ON ABigger Stage

Prior to establishing the award-winning Sunshine & Sons, Matt Hobson had a pretty clear vision of what he wanted to achieve – to become a nationally-recognised craft spirit brand.

Matt saw how Victoria had Four Pillars, New South Wales had Archie Rose and Western Australia had West Winds as craft distillers making a name on the national stage and felt that there was an opportunity for a Queensland craft distiller to fly the flag on the same level.

Never one to shirk a challenge, the distillery amongst the rolling green hills of Woombye, was set up from day one with enough scope to scale up and supply volumes required to achieve that goal.

Coming up to three years’ young Sunshine & Sons are now the largest craft spirit brand in Queensland and the fastest growing craft spirit brand in the Stateall achieved from commencement under a pandemic economy.

In fact, the 12 months from 2021-2022 saw the business grow 10-fold in a 12-month period. Nothing like a lockdown to make people thirsty.

With distribution in both key national retailers underpinning that growth, the next step has been to partner with Proof Drinks International to open national channels across both the gin-led Sunshine & Sons business and the Nil Desperandum rum operation.

Whilst all this growth is exciting the team always ensure they are loyal to their Sunshine Coast location and to the people that reside here.

There continues to be seasonal releases

incorporating local produce grown and farmed on the Sunshine Coast which are only available at the distillery door. For instance, the Love Dragon Gin features gin infused with local Red Dragonfruit and Kaffir Lime – perfectly timed for its release on Valentine’s Day.

We can’t forget that a key part of the distillation process is the magical Woombye Water that is gravity-filtered through millennia-old Sunshine Coast volcanic rock and in addition, their organically-certified waste from rum production is used for feedstock in dairy and beef cattle, contributing to a more circular vision within the agriculture cycle. Anyone for a rum(p) steak?

There are also considerable contributions to Not-for Profits and

charities with their Kherson Liberation Gin and Patron’s Peace Vodka already raising more than $30,000 to help fund metal detectors to locate land mines in Ukraine.

Featuring the work of street artist Yuriy Krasnoshchok, the Kherzon Liberation Gin, features his uplifting image of Jumpman, a sign of hope and liberation; while Patron’s Peace Vodka was released to mark the anniversary of a whole year without peace for the people of Ukraine. The label again featuring Yuri’s artwork, this time honouring Patron, the Jack Russell Terrier who received a medal from Ukrainian President Zelensky for his heroic efforts locating unexploded land mines and ordinances.

At a local level, the Laguna Bay Dry Gin supports the Board Meeting Surf Charity which has been operating for close to 20 years and assists Sunshine Coast children with disabilities, mostly through the provision of equipment or learning aides.

In three short years Sunshine & Sons are well on the path to achieving Matt’s initial vision of having a highly respected craft spirit brand with national penetration.

Never one to rest on his laurels, we can only ensure that we continue to visit the distillery door next door to the Big Pineapple at Woombye to sample the seasonal releases and try the expanding range.

Just as important is to ask for a Sunshine & Sons G&T at your favourite Sunshine Coast and Noosa watering holes.

Cheers!

Tony Cox discovers how one of our favourite local distillers are taking the Sunshine Coast flavours onto the national and international stage.

SELECTIONS Chardonnay

Tony Cox shares his chardonnay choices from interest-rate rising budget considerations to special occasions.

You can get it walking. You can get it talking. You can get it at a party. That thirst for a chardy!

Chardonnay in all its wondrous guises is my go-to white wine from nervy, saline-tinged Chablis through to rich, buttery, oaky numbers from California and every style in between.

I always try to find a home for a bottle on my table. Okay, to be honest it happens to be my wife’s favourite varietal and wanting to maintain a harmonious existence on the homefront I ensure we have some on hand at all times.

What can you say about Chablis?!

Chablis comes from a specific region located north of Burgundy yet south of Champagne in France. Its flavour profile owing much to the fossilized chalk

seabed which prevails in the region – think linear, a touch briny, with citrus nuances and minerality.

From Petit Chablis through to Grand Cru these are super refreshing drinks. To think you can get Chablis under $40 is pretty good.

At the quaffing section of the market - and let’s be honest, interest rate rises are forcing your scribe to not only the affordable end of the market but also the odd alcohol-free day lest the efforts of Phillip Lowe drive me to rehab - and we encounter year-in year-out smart drinks under $10.

De Bortoli Sacred Hill Chardonnay from the Riverina is a case in point. For anywhere from $5-$10 per bottle you get plenty of fruit, medium bodied all cleaned up with some bright acidity.

Best of all it is almost as ubiquitous as Coca Cola.

Occasionally, I still like to spoil myself and one worth digging up is Fighting Gully Road from Beechworth. Stonefruit, citrus, some texture, a little oak and great length all combine for a smashing drink.

First encountered at a barrel tasting on a four-degree winter’s afternoon at the old maintenance workshop in the grounds of the former Beechworth Asylum, it was absolute magic (and no, I wasn’t being admitted; it is the actual location of the winery).

At around $40-$45 I would like to think that some of us can still pull something out deserving of a special occasion – and this wine certainly fits that bill.

At the more generous end of the spectrum is the Kendall-Jackson Vintners Reserve Chardonnay which sits around $30. Think tropical flavours, vanilla, honey, texture, roundness all finished with a lick of oak.

Chardonnay in all its styles is an enticing and interesting drink. Best of all there is great value to be found at all price points from as well-priced as $5 a bottle.

Just because we are experiencing restraint in our budgets doesn’t mean we have to forego quality and value for money at whichever level we choose to purchase.

Matter of fact, I’ve got it now… Cheers and good drinking!

...it happens to be my wife’s favourite varietal and wanting to maintain a harmonious existence on the homefront I ensure we have some on hand at all times.

De Bortoli Sacred Hill Chardonnay

Fighting Gully Road Beechworth Chardonnay

Kendall-Jackson Vintners Reserve Chardonnay

HAPPINESS & WHERE TO Find it

Everyone experiences highs and lows in life but the emotion we would like to feel more of is ‘happiness’.

Happiness is not a ‘constant’ emotion; it ebbs and flows between our daily ups and downs. How boring would life be if we were stuck in one emotion all day, every day?

As humans our prime function on earth is to survive and reproduce, and this is the same for every living creature.

In order to survive our brain has a ‘fight or flight’ response, which is like a turbo-boost for when we sense danger. It releases the hormones cortisol and adrenaline which provide a burst of energy in order to escape a potentially dangerous situation.

If we were always happy we would be walking around smelling flowers all day and feeling relaxed which would lower our awareness and ability to keep safe from predators.

So, since happiness is not necessarily the main reason for our existence – why and where does happiness come from?

The exact meaning of happiness cannot be defined as it means different things to different people. It can be a feeling you get when you do something you enjoy.

Jackie Hillegers explores the importance of happiness.

You may find happiness in rescuing animals and showing them love for the first time, it may be seeing your children growing up and doing well at school or spending time in your garden and seeing the results of your hard work in spring.

It may also depend on how you were raised as happiness to some people may mean success - such as having the lastest model car, the biggest house in the street or rising to the top of your field in sports.

As you can see all things great or small can make you happy and it is not our place to judge where others find their happiness from. Best to just smile as when you smile your brain releases tiny molecules called neuropeptides which helps to reduce stress.

Your brain also releases the chemicals dopamine, endorphins and serotonin which is an antidepressant. The cool thing is that you can trick your brain into releasing these chemicals by smiling.

For content and happy people, these are some of the principles they live by:

• Don’t set high or unrealistic goals

• Learn to manage your emotions

• Don’t be materialistic

• Love yourself unconditionally

• Be grateful for the small wins

• Work on and improve yourself daily

• Go with the flow and don’t take life too seriously

• Don’t rely on others to make you happy

• Live in the present moment

Don’t get tricked into thinking that people on the internet are happy all the time, remember you are only seeing their highlight reel.

We do not have to look a certain way or have certain things to make us happy.

Put your social media on hold for a while or delete the people you follow if they do not make you feel good about yourself. There are so many happy little moments awaiting you – you just have to go out and find them.

According to brain scientist Dr Jull Bolte Taylor, when we have a reaction to a situation there is a 90-second chemical process that occurs. If that emotion stays longer, it is the person’s choice to stay in that emotion. Choose wisely.

I truly believe that you find your own happiness internally. Learn to love yourself and learn to talk to yourself as

you would talk to your best friend; and enjoy being in your own company.

When you have self-doubt or negative self-talk, your brain believes what you are telling it. This can lead to anxiety or depression and leave you feeling unmotivated and unhappy.

So take a good look at yourself and think about what is stopping you from being happy right now. Do not waste another day waiting for happiness to come knocking at your door - open that door and go find it!

Go for a sunset walk along the river, have coffee with a friend, indulge in a day spa, enjoy fabulous food and good wine. As Miley Cyrus says You can even buy your own flowers!

STEPS TO HAPPINESS

• Look after your physical and mental health

• Find your purpose

• Practice self-love

• Find gratitude in small things

• Give back to others

• Be more in control of your emotions

• Walk and embrace nature

• Stress less – just let things go

• Have healthy relationships

• Set boundaries

• Be childlike and have more fun

So no matter what condition your brows are in or what style of brow you desire, we can help you achieve a fuller-looking, defined brow resulting in an amazing organic facelift. C & B xx

MOTHER Nurturer

An INspiring Noosa woman proves that kindness is the key to happiness and a healthy business. Carlie Wacker introduces us to an inspiring mumpreneur with a heart as big as her day spa’s delightful waterfront deck.

Over three years ago Jo A’Hang floated into a whole new world when she took over the day spa at Noosa Marina and rebranded this picture-perfect pampering place asNuYou Natural Day Spa.

Jo has always been drawn to beauty but specifically services that help people feel their very best and offer more than a quick cosmetic fix.

Jo was being pursued by a lad - a long haired teen named Adam and he quickly won her heart. Adam, a proud Ngarrindjeri man, didn’t hesitate introducing Jo to the family and she was warmly welcomed by all.

It’s no surprise that this solid foundation of love blossomed into a marriage, they were engaged at 21 and soon welcomed two gorgeous babies into their world.

Jo has always been a nurturing soul and a woman made to be a mum and is exceptional in her role with children Jikara and Lukaya.

“I have raised my children with open

communication and no judgement,” says Jo who lost her own mother as a young child.

Jikara (their first-born child) struggled with identity as a pre-teen and has battled through mental health issues which, if not for the strength of the family bond and the raw, open and honest communication, may have resulted in a different outcome.

To this day, Jik has transitioned and now identifies as a male.

“I am happy to share this journey as it helps other families in a similar situation and let’s them know they aren’t alone,” Jo shares. “Sadly there is not a lot of help out there.”

This empathy and care for people is what makes the experience of time spent at NuYou Natural Day Spa unique.

NuYou Natural Beauty was born and the devotion to care continues.

What makes Jo so special is that she is buoyed by a super supportive family and radiates a genuine sense of love for family, community and her lucky clients.

I wanted to soak up some of her empathetic energy and find out why she is the Mother Nurturer (as I like to call her) she is.

Let’s start with her love story – it begins at 17 years of age in a small town named Tungkillo in South Australia.

Clients feel no judgment and an immediate sense of relaxation with Jo’s gentle and understanding demeanour and the waterside location also helps to wash away your worries (even if only for the time it takes to get your lashes lifted of your aching muscles massaged).

I love the openness of Jo – that’s what keeps families together and that’s why she is so good at what she does.

Her communication in getting to know, love and understand her clients and their needs is a real stand-out in this family-run business.

“I love my job and I do treat my clients like family,” she says. “I don’t want people to come here to change themselves – I want them to leave here

I wanted a space that clients could immerse themselves in, forget their troubles and leave feeling brand new..

feeling a more relaxed version of themselves.”

The commitment to creating the ultimate experience rather than offering a simple service extends to her support of the business community around her.

Noosa Marina is a hub of family-run businesses and Jo has grand plans to bring the retailers and vendors together with a number of events and activations that include fundraising and collaborative dining experiences to further grow the awareness of this

important part of our region.

Noosa Marina is the easiest place to get to with the Noosa Ferry regularly transporting locals and visitors between Hastings Street and Tewantin.

So when you need a moment that feels like going home – make an appointment with Jo the Mother Nurturer at NuYou Natural Day Spa and experience that

special feeling you get when you surround yourself with people who truly care and allow you to embrace a NuYou (plus you’ll leave with gorgeous skin or lovely new lashes).

POSTURES IN Peace

When we arrive in the lush, sun-dappled space on the river’s edge, Noosa Woods is just waking up. Swapping our daywear for activewear, the IN Noosa team finds yoga mats stretched out on the grass and instructors waiting to guide us through a physical and mental reawakening.

We kick off our shoes to ground ourselves in the environment before claiming a mat. Although some of us are familiar with the experience of yoga, we’re all seeking some renewed balance and inner peace.

Holistic Health Hub’s mobile yoga sessions encourage a unified wellness of the body, mind and soul

Georgia Beard reveals how the team at IN Noosa Magazine develop newfound unity between the body, mind and soul during Holistic Health Hub’s riverside yoga session.

in the serene natural environments of Noosa.

As we settle into warm-ups and sun salutations, this unity arises from the combined expertise of Personal Trainer Josie and Yoga Coach Marlena.

As the Director of Holistic Health Hub, Josie takes a multifaceted approach to physical fitness with strength training, body mechanics and nutrition for holistic transformation. Marlena enhances this approach with traditional yoga practices for self-reflection and internal healing.

Inspired by historic Hindu spirituality, the instructors lead us through hatha yoga which engages

the body in breathing techniques and slow, mindful postures to build core strength.

Throughout the session, Josie and Marlena give us the freedom to follow movements at our own pace.

As we shift from Warrior to Tree Pose to the Cat/Cow, we adjust the poses to match our physical abilities, and pause if needed.

Maintaining flexibility, balance and breathing techniques is not as ‘soft’ as it sounds and before long i am sweating as my body comes to life. The further we progress through the poses, the easier our bodies respond to their physical demands.

PHOTOS: KATJA ANTON

After the recovery pose of Savasana, Marlena guides the team into a loving-kindness meditation, breathing from the chest or ‘heart centre’ and repeating positive affirmations for the self and for others in our lives.

As we emerge from the meditation, tensions wash away, the mental fog lifts and connection grows between our body, mind and emotions – and we’re left wanting more.

Alongside hatha yoga, Holistic Health Hub can deliver stronger flow sessions of vinyasa, Iyengar and yin yoga which engage the body in more stamina-based workouts.

Holistic Health Hub Noosa’s team of fitness, Pilates and yoga coaches also offer massages and training sessions from the comfort of your home, holiday rental or nature-based meeting place.

Taking holistic wellness to the next level, the Coaching Program allows you to take control of your health with structured and personalised fitness regimes in your own space.

After a free consultation, coaches customise your program to fit your goals, develop a sustainable diet for your body and keep you accountable.

The result is a long-term transformation in your physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.

Holistic Health Hub has enlightened us to the transformative power of yoga and seeking to exist in harmony with ourselves and one another.

I feel stronger inside and out - and ready to take on the approaching deadlines!

Get active, reenergise, revive and renew with our experienced trainers. We come to you with complete gym and mobile services from 1:1 to large groups.

0474 497 714 Available 7 Days

Marlena guides the team into a lovingkindness meditation, breathing from the chest or ‘heart centre’ and repeating positive affirmations

IN 2023?

ARE YOU trending

Have you changed your way of living, habits, diet, or your environment with a shift towards more selfcare for a better lifestyle?

Along with prioritising how and where we live; what we consume; and how and why we choose our purchases has been at the forefront of the minds of most of the population over the past few years.

Most people have taken the opportunity to re-assess their lives towards improving their wellbeing with some opting for a sea or tree change; places with more sunshine; or going off the grid or a more sustainable, slower pace of life.

Recent studies provide interesting insights that predict ‘wellbeing’ trends upward for 2023 where we will see an even greater appreciation for nature; preferences for green and clean product and value, spending more time with family and friends.

It’s not about money, it’s about happiness, and what makes us thrive to be alive. There are some stand-out wellness areas we have seen increasing in popularity that are predicted to continue growing for those seeking ways to improve and maintain their health and wellness. Here’s the top three:

1. Nature is Nurturing

Living with nature, surrounded by it and embracing a greener life has never been more popular. We no longer take our environment for granted - it’s more than a view from a window, we crave to be amongst it. People seek to spend more time in nature, buy natural and bring nature inside to embrace a more natural lifestyle. It’s sought after in every dimension, from natural household cleaning products to clean beauty products; and fresh, local, and organic food, beverage, and supplements. Natural fabrics, surfaces, paint and air filtration are just some of the trends in homes and workspaces that are in demand to provide a better quality of living.

2. Keeping Younger

Statistics show that more of the younger generation are making wellness a part of their life with increased investment of time and money on gyms, yoga, pilates, personal trainers, running groups and day spas. It seems that it’s not just about the activity but also about feeling connected with a sense of emotional attachment and the sociability aspect that provides the foundation for a better lifestyle.

We are also seeing a trend where older generations are also making the most of their lifestyle choices by taking early retirement, embracing the opportunity to

downsize, travel, exercise, and actively invest in their health and wellbeing.

Early retirees have time to commit to the same fitness activities the younger generation enjoy; they also spend time lunching with friends and being involved with their family and community groups or travelling - taking off in their RV or caravan for slow travel and a simpler way of life. All of which they tell us makes them feel happier and younger.

In the past few years there is no doubt that we have all become aware of how vulnerable we are when it comes to our health and how important it is for us to lead a healthy, happy and well life.Living life to the fullest has now become living life to thrive so we can live our best life.

The research shows that living within a healthy environment; eating less food, with a trend towards more sustainable and organic choices; and regular exercise contribute to a longer, well-lived life.

Daily self-care routines, particularly for mental health, seem to be as important as what we consume.

We’ve seen the trends of mindfulness meditation, functional fitness, fasting and ice bathing as hot topics and it is predicted to be the future wellness version of the way to give our bodies what they need to rest, restore and rejuvenate so that we can thrive.

Katrina Thorpe explores what’s trending in the world of wellness.

3. Connection

The past few years have highlighted the importance of human connection in our day-to-day lives. It’s why we see an upward trend towards group fitness, human touch and care from beauty and wellness businesses.

Seeking a sense of connection and community is a very important part of our wellness.

Giving back to others and our community has also seen a major

increase in popularity.

It may just be paying it forward for a coffee, volunteering, living a sustainable, eco-friendly lifestyle and helping with disaster relief or beach clean ups.

Mostly it’s as good for our own wellness as it is for the environment and the community to belong, help and give back as it offers the important sense of connection to others.

That’s a trend we hope is here to stay.

A BALANCEDLife

A wellness goal without a plan is a plan to fail. Fitness Coach Melissa Miragaia shares her top tips to balance health and wellness with work and life.

It is very common for us all to set health and wellness goals at the beginning of a new year but how many of us can say that we have actioned these good intentions. It’s common to be super focused for a few weeks then lose direction.

In my experience as a personal trainer and business owner it is imperative to have clear strategies and timelines in place to stay on track and provide a strong foundation to help achieve our goals. However, life should not be all about goals and work we must prioritise time for family, friends, health and wellness.

Balancing life is essential to maintain sanity and happiness so here are my top tips to live your best balanced life:

JOURNAL - take a seat in your own space and journal your wellness goals. This could be weight loss, fitness, healthier lifestyle etc.

CREATE A VISION BOARD - collate images of what you want to achieve. For example if you are wanting to lose weight this could be an image of your favourite beach and bikini.

Having a vision board is important because it will allow the subconscious mind to be constantly reminded of your intentions. Place the vision board where you are most likely to see it often.

CALENDAR - each Sunday sit down and schedule your coming week. This can include work, children’s commitments and activities, food preparation, shopping, exercise and other appointments. It is important to refer to your goals and vision board during this step. If your goal is to lose weight, are you prioritising this into your week by waking up that little bit earlier? The calendar method is probably one of my favourite steps as it creates a clear focus

Sp a

for each week. It removes falling back on that old “no time” excuse. We are all busy but this weekly practice and a commitment to preparation is the answer to being able to do it all with balance.

SELF CARE – create a list of the things you love the most - surfing, going to the beach, spending time with family and pets, cooking, outdoor exercise. Once you have your list, go back to your weekly calendar and schedule these things. You will soon realise that you are able to fit in the things you love whilst also achieving your goals. Now you have

created the perfect plan to achieve wellness/work/life balance.

SOCIAL LIFE - Do you have a holiday, wedding, big social event coming up through the year? It is important to document them on your annual calendar so you can enjoy them without stress. For example – you can plan cleaner eating around these times so you feel fabulous for an event or put in extra hours of work the weeks leading up to a holiday so you can enjoy the time off stress-free.

By following these tips you will experience a better quality of life, your stress will decrease dramatically, your health will improve physically and mentally, relationships will prosper and you will be reaching your goals faster than you ever have before. The best part is you will have MORE TIME to fit in the things you love.

Start achieving your goals and start living that balanced, healthy and well life that you deserve.

...a vision board is important because it will allow the subconscious mind to be constantly reminded of your intentions.

AMPLIFIEDCommunity

Alone we are strong but together we are stronger. Carlie Wacker shares how three Noosa businesses came together to support a community of health seekers.

The endless pursuit of health and happiness saw me sign up for my second fitness and food challenge with Studio Pilates Noosa and it really shone the light on how much stronger Noosa is when we come together.

Studio Pilates Noosa, Organika and Noosa Cartel joined forces for the Amplify 6 Week Challenge proving that a community working together cements a sense of belonging and how we all reap the rewards by supporting one another.

The Challenge by Studio Pilates is designed to equip clients with tools and tips to create sustainable healthy habits.

By partnering with other local businesses, they are not only bringing awareness to the wellness options

available in Noosa but ensuring the new habits that challenge participants form can be accessed and continued long after the six-week period. The result is a happier, healthier community.

Laz Pocze and Timea Pocze-Graf are the Studio Pilates Noosa owners and since I became a member, I have been

impressed by the way they seek to build a community around their studio that extends far beyond Pilates.

Their networking and engagement has resulted in some very successful collaborations and they are passionate about promoting other likeminded local businesses to clients.

For Studio Pilates, the Amplify 6 Week Challenge is as much about food as it is exercise. While fitting in four or more Pilates classes a week, we are also encouraged to follow a calorie-controlled diet that will teach us how and what to eat moving forward.

To assist us on the journey, Laz and Timea chose our much-loved local health food shop Organika as the breakfast and supplement partner. They offered discounts on Nutra Organics Super Green + Reds to support gut health and Collagen Build for muscle strength and repair. With the launch of their new app we could also order our chia bowls or smoothies for after a workout.

Noosa Cartel supplied our lunch and dinner menu, which was nothing short of spectacular. Having an amazing chef like Josh Smallwood (formerly Rickys Noosa) made it feel like I was eating out every night – not dieting.

I’ve long enjoyed the convenience of Noosa Cartel’s frozen gourmet meals but Josh designed a special menu that was ready-to-eat and calorie controlled. Lunch options included dishes such as roasted broccoli, almond and buckwheat salad with green goddess dressing; and teriyaki salmon noodle salad. The dinner options were just as mouth-watering with the likes of Miso chicken noodle bowls; and Mediterranean eggplant with spinach and ricotta. At no point did I feel hungry or like I was missing out –everyone else was missing out! After the success of this partnership Josh is looking at offering a calorie cotrolled menu option on a regular basis.

The cross promotion between these three health and wellness legends gave

us Challengers the best support to amplify our results.

I lost four kilos, dropped centimetres and gained a better understanding of how eating healthy doesn’t have to feel like you’re missing out.

The encouragement from all parties

involved just secures my loyalty to these caring, community-focused businesses.

Bravo Studio Pilates Noosa, Organika and Noosa Cartel - you make living in the Noosa community so special. Turns out we do more than get by with a little help from our friends.

A CUTabove

Discovering the future-proof movement in hair colouring and styling at EdwardsAndCo, Georgia Beard and Jakki Goodall take their seats in the salon for a transformative beauty experience.

When Jakki and I open the doors to Noosa’s new EdwardsAndCo hair salon, the first to greet us are a lively pair of dachshunds!

As we give Loric and Heidi generous pats, the staff welcome us like familiar friends with warm smiles and cool glasses of sparkling water. Right away, we realise we’ve never known a salon environment quite as comforting as this.

Between my split ends and dull colouring and Jakki’s lack of texture, our self-care had momentarily taken a back seat in life. Some beauty therapy was just what we needed – an external change to coax out the radiance within.

Since Jaye Edwards opened his ninth Australian salon in Noosa late last year with partner and Noosa local Amanda Stevens, EdwardsAndCo has brought innovation to the local hairdressing industry with forward-thinking colourists and stylists.

Naturally, we were delighted to experience the revolution for ourselves.

The staff invite us to sit at the tenseater colour table for our initial consultations. My stylist, Macie, steps me through the look I want to achieve –a shaggy, layered cut with a lived-in textural bronde colour – before quoting the treatment and recommending hair care products.

After I show her my image inspiration, Macie explains her approach for a solid baseline, naturally blended layers, and graduated bangs to frame the face. She then determines the health of my hair by asking about any previous colouring and hair care.

As someone with a rare head of virgin hair, I’m entirely in the professional hands of EdwardsAndCo and Macie reassures me the balayage technique of hand-painting the blonde highlights will create a seamless flow of colour.

Remington Meyer, freelance

hairdresser and loving owner of salon dogs Loric and Heidi, explains EdwardsAndCo’s unique approach to toning and glossing the hair with a new colour range from Original & Mineral.

“When we highlight or balayage, we do a lot of zone toning,” he says.

“Your roots will be Zone 1, your frontal area will be Zone 2, your mid-length will be Zone 3, and your ends will be Zone 4.

“We’re also one of the few salons that have that big colour table. We get you away from the mirror and colour your hair there so you can have space to catch up on work or the latest magazines and you’re not staring at yourself for hours.”

At the table, Macie separates and lightens my hair in sections while I enjoy the creative space to work, read and relax with access to power outlets.

I soon order a mug of hot chocolate and a bowl of pretzels from their curated menu of beverages and light bites. Clients have the choice of coffees, traditional organic teas, wellness teas, spritz, beer and French wines.

Throughout my treatment, Macie explains each stage of the process from toning to glossing to washing to drying to cutting.

Across the room, Remington revitalises Jakki’s long, thick hair with a lighter colour, swooping layers and soft bangs.

As staff banter with clients and weigh in on each other’s styling, EdwardsAndCo starts to feel less like a salon and more like a community.

It’s an environment Jaye and his team have cultivated since they started up ten years ago.

Through EdwardsAndCo Education, Jaye personally oversees the in-house training of apprentices to elevate his signature styling techniques and inspire his stylists’ passion for bespoke service with connection at the core.

This philosophy has seen the hair agency expand from one space in Sydney with just eight staff to nine highly sought-after salons across Brisbane, Gold Coast, Byron Bay, Sydney and Melbourne and their own original product range, Jaye Haircare.

“We don’t have a hierarchy here,” Remington says. “Everyone is on the same level, which really makes a big difference in a team environment. You feel it when you come in.”

When the hairdryers have been switched off and the salon smocks removed, Jakki and I take a moment to truly absorb our transformations.

I marvel at my new blonde waves blending organically with the brown and feel a fresh part of my identity finally visible in my reflection.

As the team at EdwardsAndCo share in our newfound joy and confidence, it’s clear this celebration of beauty is the reason their approach will never go out of style.

Check out @innoosamag Facebook page for before and after INspiration!

PHOTOS: KATJA ANTON

OF THE REST A-Head

There is a saying that if you do what you love, you will never work a day in your life. This is true for Adrian Payne of Adrian J Hairdressing.

Growing up in the UK, Adrian would accompany his father to a men’s hair salon and with the innocence of childhood remarked “I think I’d like to do this one day”.

Today, Adrian loves being a hairdresser as much as he did more than thirty years ago when he moved to London to train with Vidal Sassoon, who were a global force in hairdressing at the time.

“As soon as I went to London at aged 19, I knew this was it,” he said. “I found my place. It just felt right and I’m as driven today as I was then.

“It’s not a job to me. It’s my life and I love it every day. I still get as much from it as I did the first time I picked up a pair of scissors.”

Among the reasons Adrian lists for this love are the creativity, interaction with clients and the ability to give somebody confidence to create change.

“Vidal Sassoon were the architects of hairdressing – literally,” he said. “Everything we did started with a graphical element and fundamental shape which was architectural in form.”

This taught Adrian the importance of incorporating structural elements with a design methodology, an approach that has followed him through life.

“The start point is basically understanding what you’re going to create, what you’ve actually got in front of you and the method you’re going to use to get to where you want to end,”

he said. “Client consultation is the most important part. We need to understand what they are looking for and then we consider the texture of the hair, lifestyle and their personal style – are they up for something that pushes the boundaries or something more classic.”

Adrian owned a large and very successful salon in Sheffield, England for eleven years before returning to his love of hair education. He moved to Australia nearly 20 years ago to set up a salon for a friend before taking up the role of Creative Director for one of Australia’s leading salon groups based in Melbourne. The group also had an Academy that provided education as global ambassadors for L’Oreal.

For the next eight years, Adrian travelled Australia delivering a specialised cutting program in all major cities and working on the Fashion Weeks in both Sydney and Melbourne.

Accolades followed, including being crowned Victorian Men’s Hairdresser of the Year and being a finalist in multiple awards including the L’Oreal Colour Trophy.

It was in Melbourne that Adrian met his now-husband Alexander, who always planned to move back to Noosa after having lived here and spending annual family holidays here in the 60s and 70s.

Kindred spirits with a love of design and architecture, Adrian said the marriage they have now with him hairdressing and Alexander working in real estate was good because we both talk to lots of people.

“We also understand that buying a house and changing your hair can be two of the most personal, biggest decisions somebody ever makes,” he said.

While Adrian bought an existing salon, it didn’t come with clients which makes him even prouder of what he has achieved over the last nine years.

“In some ways it’s actually easier to start from scratch because you have full ownership and your clients choose you,” he said. “I found the salon on Gumtree, of all places!

“I now have the most amazing team that have been here for a while. So I think that’s the testament to what we’ve built.”

The team (or Adrian’s Angels as I call them) includes Creative Director and Senior Stylist Hayley James, who has been at the salon for five years; Salon Stylist, Lana West who has been there for four years and is about to have a baby; and Deni O’Connor, who has been there for three years and is preparing to

Changing your hair can really change your life. Deb Caruso meets the local hairdresser with almost four decades of experience in changing lives – and loving every minute of it.

PHOTOS: IMEGAN GILL

Adrian Payne.

“As a team we gel nicely, it just works,” he said. “We’re like family.”

This is apparent on the salon floor where they actively seek each other’s advice and discuss options to achieve the best results for a client. Adrian gives as good as he gets with technical advice as well as friendly banter.

“We cater for discerning clients and we are here to make them feel good, that begins with listening to them and providing advice and insight,” he said. “Without that, you’re just cutting to what you know or what you want to do and not considering the client.

“If we’ve got a new client or a client that is looking for a big change, we will do a dual consultation, so the client gets the full brains trust.”

Adrian encourages clients to share images of hairstyles they like as part of the consultation.

“It’s important to understand what the client wants as the starting point,” he said. “We still look at face shape and lifestyle, where their hair is at with regards to thickness, condition, natural or existing colour - and then we can offer the best professional advice.”

I can speak from experience where

Adrian regularly greets me with a moodboard of ideas based off a discussion we have had earlier.

“It’s a partnership and it’s about trust. And that shows in our repeat and forward bookings,” he said.

Adrian says they do a wide spectrum of colour work, specialising in blondes and that they are actively looking for new apprentices to join the team.

Clients are mostly local with a number of regulars who fly in from interstate or drive from Brisbane, even Roma.

“We have an amazing clientele who

have been so supportive, particularly the past few years and we can’t thank them enough,” he said.

After almost four decades in the industry, Adrian says retirement is far from his mind and as Adrian J Sunshine Beach enters its tenth year, expect a refurbishment and some new additions to the team.

Adrian can’t believe how much the salon has flown and grown.

“It’s all about things that make you feel good – and for us, making our clients feel good is the key,” he said.

PHOTO: IAN WALDIE

“ “

CHIC SUNSHINE BEACH - COCO

complete her apprenticeship.

Adrian’s Angels: Deni O’Connor, Lana West & Hayley James.

THE DAILYGrind

It’s a tough gig being a serious grinder. The daily impact of chronic tooth clenching and grinding creates head, tooth and jaw aches, reduces concentration and damages your teeth – it also hurts the hip pocket. Carlie Wacker chats with Dr Chris Burton about an issue close to her jaw (… and heart).

Tooth grinding – I’ve done it all my life. I did it so well that I recently had to every single tooth in my mouth built up to resemble normal teeth and correct my bite.

It got to the point that I had to have a tooth removed and muscle relaxant injected into my masseter muscles to provide a little bit of relief from the daily pain in my face.

Until you have spent 12 hours over two days in a dentist chair getting a composite filling to build up every tooth, you don’t realise how important it is to get your dental situation sorted early.

Dr Chris Burton is the trusted local dentist I called upon to find out a bit more about how this issue can be prevented and what we should all do to care for our precious pearly whites.

“I think everyone grinds at different times in their life – some just do it better,” says Dr Chris. “Clenching and grinding is usually caused by bite interferences so early intervention and orthodontic work to get the bite right will prevent a lifetime of painful teeth.

“Having braces is much more common now and we are more aware of the need to improve orthodontics to prevent adult oral health issues,” he adds.

It seems, the next generation are not going to suffer as badly from grinding and clenching as us older generations. So, for those that have already done the damage there is light at the end of that grinding tunnel.

You can reduce impact by wearing a dentist made and approved splint at

night (I wear one every night) and Dr Chris says you can even train yourself not to do it.

“When you become conscious of it, it’s all about being aware of where you position your tongue when you’re relaxing,” he says. “At rest, your tongue should be at the roof of your mouth behind your front teeth – you’re not pushing it there, that’s where it should sit naturally and while it’s there you cannot clench.”

I am checking my tongue positioning now – bet you are too!

Once the damage has been done there are ways to fix it.

Like me, you can have your teeth built up with composite fillings or crowns and many sufferers are having a dentist or cosmetic nurse inject the masseter muscles with relaxant – this certainly reduced the severity of daily headaches for me.

Avoiding acid in your diet is important too as acid erosion softens enamel and makes the effect of clenching and grinding even worse.

Foods you should steer clear of include citrus fruits, vinegarettes, salad dressings and sports drinks.

The worst thing you can do is have something acidic then brush your teeth – essentially, you have softened the enamel and, by brushing, you are removing even more enamel.

Some fluoride-rich foods are helpful in restoring enamel naturally like dairy products, spinach, grapes and potatoes - even white wine (this is not a joke).

Enamel toothpastes will help but you are best to rinse with water first and give

your saliva a chance to naturally buffer your tooth enamel.

Remember, we only have a very thin layer of white enamel on our teeth so the more we scrub away, the darker our teeth become. Tooth bleaching will improve opaqueness though, even in older teeth.

No need to grin and bear it anymore.

With the right advice and action, you can let your pearly-whites shine without the grind.

Great Teeth, Great Smile!

PREVENTATIVE CARE

• Floss daily “the flossers of the world go down one road and the non-flossers keep the dentists busy” – Dr Chris Burton.

• Get a regular dental check-up.

• If you think something is wrong, get it addressed before it becomes a big and more expensive issue.

• Stick with a big-name brand toothpaste and alcohol free mouthwashes – they are the least abrasive.

• Use a soft toothbrush with a small head.

• Brush lightly or let an electric toothbrush do the work.

• Saliva is the natural protector of your teeth so ensure you keep a hydrated mouth.

• Drink more water.

Open Monday to Thursday 9am-5pm. Friday 9am-1pm Shop 1, 20 Lanyana Way, Noosa Heads Phone 5447 2964

Book online at www.chrisburtondental.com.au

Introducing Dr Matthew Speed Matt has a special interest in smile restoration and bite remodelling with over 30 years experience as a dental practitioner.

AUTUMN

Essentials

A change of season brings extra

Saya’s Argan Body Oil will nourish, protect and provide the ultimate hydration to the skin and hair. Loved by the team at ikatan Spa, it is formulated with an indulgent blend of Argan Oil, Vitamin E and essential fatty acids. Delicately fragranced with an exotic blend of Ylang Ylang, Mandarin Peel, Geranium Bourbon, Cedarwood and Patchouli essential oils.

The Brow Bar’s Brow Set is a clear brush-on brow gel. A lightweight luxurious formula that sets and seals brow product and brow hair to perfection. With a built-in brow brush applicator, the Brow Set tames brow hairs for a natural light feathery look.

Australia’s leading celebrity hair stylist and colourist, Jaye EdwardsAndCo, has bottled his secret weapon for perfectly textured hair. The newest edition to the range is the Invisible Hydration Treatment, which joins the Invisible and Conditioner, offering the perfect trio for hydrated, healthy hair. The treatment is a highly concentrated cream mask that infuses hydration deep into the cuticle and conditions dry, damaged, frizzy or stressed hair.

A brand new release from Ultraceuticals is Complex Recovery Night Cream, the complex works to intensely nourish, hydrate and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles to reveal a more youthful, glowing appearance. About Faces Noosa recommends a gentle massage onto the neck and face every evening.

Color WOW Coconut-infused Dream Cocktail is a leave-in treatment that turns blow-drying from a hair stressing session into a rich re-hydrating treatment. Vital, natural nutrients (like coconut oil) are activated by heat to smooth, silken and improve the overall quality of every strand. This is a favourite product from the team at Adrian J Hair who use it to restore silky suppleness and give a glossy, hydrated finish to your hair.

Revive7 Revitalising Lash

Growth Serum is formulated with 7 clean and natural ingredients. Tested by Dermatologists and Ophthalmologists, trusted by beauty experts and loved by Nu You Natural Beauty Day Spa The best lash growth serum for all skin types especially sensitive skin. And what we really love is that this product comes in a large 5ml tube, meaning it will last between 6-9 months.

LIVINGLa Pucci Vida

They are lovable, loud and have strong personalities, but in reality Helen Flanagan wonders if many seriously on-trend Dachshundsaka Wieners - have short dog syndrome.

Traced back to the 15th century in Germany, Dachshunds have appeared in ancient Egyptian and Mexican art, were exported to Great Britain with Prince Albert and also became popular in America throughout the 19th century. Miniature Dachshunds were used in lieu of ferrets to get rabbits out of their warrens, and during World War I, the breed lost popularity but once again the long-backed, short-legged, intelligent looking dog of diminutive height, has become a favourite family pooch.

Dachshunds have also been living the high life with celebrity owners and it seems they cannot get enough of them - from Jack Black, Kirsten Dunst, Adele, Clint Eastwood, David Bowie, Sharon Stone, Fergie and David Hasselhoff! Who would have thought?

Named after the founder of the famous Italian high-end luxury fashion house, Noosa’s very own ‘Gucci’ is a cute miniature long-haired dachshund with dark eyes, wet black nose, shiny coat and heaps of cuddle power, but on

arrival into the Gerrard household, was quite shy. Not surprising given she was rescued at 4.5 months from a breeder being shut down because of catastrophic conditions.

Lyndall, who was brought up with three dachshunds brought her home and it was love at first sight for her children Anika, Indi, Luca and Kahn; Brian aka King Kelpie smothered her with kisses; cat Kiki eventually joined in by cleaning-by-licking her pawsome new mate; but husband James was the least impressed, especially with the name. He eventually succumbed seeing the kids dressing her up with bows, bandanas and a tiny Gucci handbag.

Apart from enjoying Royal Canine

Dachshund dry food which keeps her coat soft and shiny, and treats of ham and barbeque chicken, Lyndall says she has a naughty-side: “She will destroy a stuffed toy in minutes, so it is only supervised plays with her Gucci bag and other ‘valuables’. I am sure she tries to blame the carnage on Brian but as a destroyer of cushions, we blame him for teaching her bad habits!”

There’s no denying Gucci loves the good life ‘driving’ the car to school drop-off, popping her head out the window watching all the kids; adventures at Rainbow Beach digging in the sand and being totally social; walking along the Noosa River accepting “pretty dog” compliments and stopping for treats at the Big Pelican.

Her first-ever outing was on a boat, and now it is a favourite pastime - sitting upfront in a couture life jacket with the wind blowing through her long hair and watching the kids reel in fish.

With a penchant for being in the limelight and such a famous name, could Gucci could destined for stardom modelling the latest fourpaws fashion on the dogwalk? Watch this space.

IT’S A Dog’sLife

Every dog must have its day and there is one very special day in Noosa that brings together all the canine cuties. Carlie Wacker gets paw deep in A Dog’s Life Pet Expo that’s set to get tongues wagging.

Imagine all the dogs of all different shapes and sizes, colours and costumes, playing and prancing and participating in pretty much all the things that humans like to do.

It’s a dog (and dog lovers) dream come true and it’s a reality in Noosa. The annual A Dog’s Life Pet Expo is puppy love on steroids.

It’s a day we grab our favourite humans and furry friends and set about cementing our increasingly growing bond between man and dog.

Almost 50% of Australian households have one or more dogs and the pet industry keeps growing to accommodate our canine commitment.

The dog food, fashion and accessory market is at an all-time high; we are glued to social media to watch dogs doing funny stuff; and our furry friends often eat and dress better than us!

We love dogs and Noosa continues to provide ways to include our pets in our lives from dog friendly eateries and shopping experiences to the ultimate dogs day out – A Dog’s Life Pet Expo

This event brings together the best of all the suppliers of dog products and services in our area in one action-packed day of doggy goodness.

You will find all the information you need to ensure your best fur mate is living its healthiest and happiest life.

Dogs will be spoilt with treats like pet popsicles and doggy donuts, new leads and collars, there is a pooch playground and this year there will be a doggy Picasso – yep, your dog can paint.

Demonstrations will take place during the day to highlight the incredible

abilities of working and assistance dogs; there is grooming advice, obedience training, educational speakers and panel discussions.

In the showcase arena I will be conducting furry Fashions On The Field with my Swiss Shepherd son and sidekick Harry Wacker. This year we will judge Best Dressed and Best Canine Mini-me (best matching pooch and person); the competition is always fierce to find the Best Trick Dog and in a first, we will debut the Hot Dogs Sausage Dog parade.

The expo will be officially opened by Noosa Mayor Clare Stewart with live music by dog-obsessed Andrea Kirwin, who identifies as a Golden Retriever!

A Dog’s Life Pet Expo is not only the most fun you will ever have with your fur kids but a celebration of the special bond between humans and their furry companions while raising much-needed funds for PTSD Dogs Australia.

The Sunshine Coast charity that rescues, rehabilitates, and trains

psychiatric PTSD assistance dogs for veterans and first responders who are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as a result of their service to our community.

All entry donations will go directly to this valuable community service and last year the event raised over $10,000 for PTSD Dogs Australia.

Register your attendance and donate to PTSD Dogs Australia through www.adogslifepetexpo.com.au

A Dog’s Life Pet Expo is presented by NexGard SPECTRA and proudly sponsored by pawsome partners including Tourism Noosa; Bendigo Community Bank Tewantin-Noosa; IN Noosa Magazine; Active Paws Rehabilitation & Fitness; Pet Resorts Australia Eumundi-Noosa; Wunderdogs Doggie Daycare; Petstock Noosa; and Noosa Stand Up Paddle brought to you by the team at Cartel Music and Events.

See you there you pawsome people with your pimped up pets!

WHAT'S ON

What: A Dog’s Life Pet Expo

2nd annual event

Family fun for dogs and their humans in support of PTSD Dogs Australia - The biggest PetFiesta on the Sunshine Coast!

When: Sunday 23 April 2023, 9am-3pm

Where: Tewantin-Noosa Lions Park, Gympie Terrace, Noosaville

Entry: $5 per person

$15 per family in support of PTSD Dogs

Scan the QR code for tickets.

PAWFECTLYPlayful

From playtoys to pet wipes, we unearth the best accessories for your furry friends this autumn.

Winnie The Pooh & Friends Collection Pablo & Co., Peticular, 5471 3418

No-Pull Adventure Dog HarnessWildling Pet Co., Peticular, 5471 3418

Beco, Bamboo Pet Wipes Peticular, 5471 341

Luca Rope Lead & Collar, EzyDog Peticular, 5471 3418

Native Flora Dog Travel Mat, Indie Boho, Peticular, 5471 3418

ZippyClaws Cat Toy Range Peticular, 5471 3418

Tackle Box Burrow Dog Toy, ZippyPaws, Peticular, 5471 3418

AUTUMNEffortless

Slide into the new season with effortless style inspired by our amazing local boutiques, designers and jewellers.

White T-shirt, puffer vest and pants from Cotton On, Noosa Civic Shopping Centre; ECCO Cozmo Slide Sandal from Feet First Footwear, 5447 2211; Peregian Beach Hotel stubby cooler from Peregian Beach Hotel Bottleshop.

Seasonal changes don’t need to disrupt your style – as we slide into autumn I have taken the stress out of daily dressing with some simple, stylish pieces for men and women that can be worn from brunch to the boat; then the bar. In this case, the stunning new Il Porto bar at Peregian Beach Hotel where we had a great time with local models Alison (who I met at Pony Beauty Bar Noosa) and Luke. Alison representing the growing demand for gorgeous mature models and Luke, not only showcasing the fashion but also the Micro Scalp Pigmentation skills of Michael Krehl – Director Owner and Professional Artist at SMP Noosa. Enjoy an effortless autumn!

Creative Director

Carlie Wacker @worldofwacker

HMUA

Craig and Lara Argent

@pony_beauty_bar_noosa

Photographer Ian Waldie @ianwaldiephotography

Style Assistant

Kane Rastovac @mr_rastovac

Location Il Porto Bar at Peregian Beach Hotel

White linen shirt and teal shorts from Wacker Clothing Company, wackerclothingcompany.com.au

On Cloud Swift sneakers from Feet First Footwear, 5447 2211

OPPOSITE PAGE

Elk shirt, earrings and necklace from Uncle George, 5474 5871

Hunter pants from Ella and Sunday, 5455 5656

Frankie 4 Shelly II Blossom from Feet First Footwear, 5447 2211

Transformation by Tamzin

Beautiful

BY APPOINTMENT NOOSA HINTERLAND

Kivari jumpsuit, Sunsoul ring, earrings, Birkenstock slides, sunglasses, Will & Bear hat - all from Bohemian Sundays, 0414 348 469 Woven bag from Sportsgirl, Noosa Civic Shopping Centre

Dusty pink linen shirt and sandstorm shorts, Wacker Clothing Company, wackerclothingcompany.com.au

Assorted bracelets and cuffs, Makers Mark Jewellery Studio, 0434 239 928

Birkenstocks Gary Suede, Feet First Footwear, 5447 2211

OPPOSITE PAGE

Linen blazer from Ella and Sunday, 5455 5656

Mint sapphire drop earrings, pendant necklace, Grace ring and stack rings from FREYA Noosa, 0466 977 731

COSMETIC INJECTABLES BROW TATTOOING AND SKIN NEEDLING NOW AVAILABLE

Shirt, pants, knit, earrings and bag from Sportsgirl, Noosa Civic Shopping Centre

Longline vest and wide leg pant from Sportsgirl, Noosa Civic Shopping Centre Earrings from Uncle George, 5474 5871

Turquoise shirt, denim pants and sunglasses from Cotton On, Noosa Civic Shopping Centre Sperry Nubuck Green boat shoes from Feet First Footwear, 5447 2211

18k white gold Amethyst and diamond necklace , 18k white gold diamond earrings from Makers Mark Jewellery Studio, 0434 239 928 Elk dress from Uncle George, 5474 5871

Romantic red Italian Silk/Viscose maxi dress and earrings from Treasure Store Noosa, 0434 320 130

Araminta James set, Damien Hall thongs, sunglasses, Nautical Desire handcrafted earrings from Bohemian Sundays, 0414 348 469

EXPRESS Yourself

Designing your own piece of jewellery is the most beautiful way to reflect your uniqueness. Carlie Wacker explores the intimacy of creating your own piece of forever jewellery.

Every little girl’s dream comes true when you walk through the cascade of floral arrangements and glistening gemstones and into the world of Freya Noosa.

The romance of this little Hastings Street jewellery boutique is both mesmerising and welcoming – a fairy tale come true.

The ready-to-wear creations by Lilli Frey and her team are irresistible and unique so it’s no surprise her clients continue to add more to their collection.

In my own personal experience, you will never own just one Freya piece –it’s a little bit addictive.

Adding an extra and even more personal layer to the Freya magic is the opportunity to design your own piece of jewellery.

Designer and Freya founder Lilli gets just as much joy out of her custom creations as her consumer.

“Clients usually start the custom design process after coming in store and being inspired by a piece on display, such as a vibrant colour or special stone arrangement or a particular gemstone,” she said. “This sparks a jewellery inspiration they’d like to explore.”

I can relate to this as Lilli’s designs are a celebration of femininity and colour supported by a price tag that is enticing to those dipping their toes into the fine jewellery world for the first time.

The hands-on experience of customising a ring with Lilli is such a fun part of the process; it’s inspire-ring!

“The custom design experience allows the client to experiment with different

gemstone combinations,” she says.

Lilli lays out all the gems and alloows you to play around with different combinations and colours – it’s so immersive and the closest you will ever get to bathing in gemstones.

“Most clients often gravitate toward particular colours that are meaningful to them,” she says. “Deciding on the final gemstone layout is a bit like putting together a puzzle with no defined ‘right’ arrangement.

“Sometimes people want to reimagine an existing ring they have, such as a wedding band from decades earlier or a piece they inherited.

“Often clients are sentimentally attached to their existing jewellery but are no longer fond of the design or are seeking something more modern.”

When creating your perfect piece with Freya you can choose from an extensive collection of natural or lab-grown gemstones including sapphires, diamonds, tourmaline, rubies, opals, topaz, amethyst and more. Clients can choose from either platinum or 9ct or 18ct yellow, rose or white gold.

Every piece of Freya jewellery tells a special story and there’s even more to the story when you have designed it yourself.

“One of my recent projects was a 21st birthday ring for a young woman

commissioned by her grandmother,” Lilli said. “The young woman, her mother and grandmother all came in store together to design a special cluster ring.

“The grandmother had two pink sapphires of her own she wished to incorporate into the design, and the young woman gravitated toward our collection of dusty green and pink natural tourmalines.

“The final colour palette and structure was reminiscent of a bouquet of flowers, and we added a few little diamonds for extra sparkle.”

It’s those beautiful, shared moments that make the experience of customising your own piece of jewellery so dreamy. I don’t think there is any better way to truly express your uniqueness than designing your own piece of jewellery. It’s so intimate and a most precious reflection of YOU.

...it’s the closest you will ever get to bathing in gemstones.

Lilli Frey

Two family businesses have put their heart and ‘sole’ into delivering extraordinary innovation and excellence and this year they stand side by side in celebration.

Carlie Wacker explores the fit between a global shoe innovator and a Noosa business that has always put our feet first!

Feet First Footwear Noosa is as iconic as the street on which it stands. This Hastings Street institution has been the preferred foot emporium for locals and visitors for almost three decades.

In 2023 this family-run business has also positioned itself as the exclusive Sunshine Coast partner for the significant celebrations of a worldrenowned, family focused footwear range – ECCO.

The label has been a leader in shoe design and manufacturing, paving the way for a more sustainable and ethical industry for an incredible 60 years!

The brand was founded in 1963 by shoemaker Karl Toosbuy in Bredebro, Denmark. The original design was a pointed thin heel which was released under the name of Venus and became a

SOLEMates

coveted high fashion piece.

To this day the brand remains at the forefront of shoe innovation and prides itself on disrupting the footwear and leather industry; always improving and setting new standards for their industry.

It’s no wonder this brand has been stepping out for more than six decades!

Equally impressive is the loyalty of the Feet First Footwear customer and extensive fitting experience of the team that sees our favourite Noosa footwear specialist celebrating an impressive 28 years in the game.

Dave and Sue Garozzo and their elite team of foot fitting experts are a step ahead of the happy feet game on

Hastings Street and welcome a steady flow of returning locals and visitors to their business.

It is obvious that they are the trusted purveyor of shoes that are as good for our tootsies as they look – comfort and style walk side by side.

Every customer strides out of Feet First Footwear Noosa with a sense of sole satisfaction (not even sorry for all the puns in this story).

They are a leading stockist for an extensive range of men’s and women’s ECCO shoes and sandals and they fit the brand with fervour.

Such is the worldwide reputation of our fine foot peddlers that ECCO

instinctively knew the exclusive Sunshine Coast party partner for their special 60th anniversary collection had to be Dave and Sue at Feet First Footwear Noosa.

To celebrate 60 years in business, ECCO is showcasing their brand with an exclusive anniversary collection offering a shoe for every member of the family from aged one to 60.

The range will feature every style reengineered with revolutionary new sustainability – including bio-based soles and DriTan™ uppers.

The ECCO DriTan™ leather, pioneered by the brand, is a revolution in the tanning process which reduces the volume of water that is normally wasted in leather manufacturing.

That’s a monumental move in the right direction considering leather tanning

around the globe uses an estimated 400 billion litres annually.

This new technology also reduces the amount of chemicals used.

Plus, a new ECCO waterproofing initiative has added a new membrane to each shoe which makes them easier to clean, reducing the need for chemical and toxic shoe cleaning products.

Nostalgia and new age technology meet your feet in 2023 and we are so proud that the Feet First Footwear team have been recognised and awarded the exclusive celebratory partnership for a brand that embodies innovation, sustainability and world-class style.

The ECCO 60th anniversary season at Feet First Footwear begins on 1 Aprilno fooling. Put your feet first!

It is obvious that they are the trusted purveyor of shoes that are as good for our tootsies as they look...

PHOTOS: MEGAN GILL

Name

Karla Spence

Business

Bohemian Sundays

SUNNY Sundays

Owning a business can be tough but Carlie Wacker meets an inspirational business owner who always brings the sunshine to brighten up our lives!

How and when was your business born?

I purchased the business just over three-and-a-half years ago. A few years earlier it started in a different location and was a much different store back then. However, our philosophy remains the same: at Bohemian Sundays we aim to enable women to express their true selves. We hope to empower, excite and liberate every woman through colour, print and originality.

My superstar employee Denise joined me just over a year ago and I truly don’t know what I’d do without her!

What do you love most about your business?

That it’s mine haha! I’m pretty proud of how Bohemian Sundays has grown and evolved over the time that I’ve owned it.

Retail has had a pretty crazy time over the last few years. It’s certainly been a wild ride and I feel blessed that I’ve survived and gained so many supportive customers and friends.

How would you describe your store style and aesthetic?

The store is very feminine with so many beautiful products to look at.

We sure do fit a lot into a small space! Denise and I have created a unique vibe and customers often say ‘they wish they could just hang out all day!’

What can we find IN store?

There is so much talent here on the coast and we are so proud to showcase them to our customers. Along with our clothing from Australian brands such as Kivari; Arnhem; Rowie; and Araminta James, we also carry beautiful local products.

Our Leather and crystal collection from

Nautical Desire make such unique gifts while our prints from Let Me Sea – Surf Photography will complement any luxe seaside home.

The sassy girls from Skinned Body oils have got your sun drenched skin covered with nourishing oils; and customers immediately smell the delicious aroma from our scented shell candles from Hunter Gatherer Noosa. These make an attractive table centrepiece or special souvenir.

What inspires your stock purchases?

Bohemian Sundays is situated right near the beach; therefore, the store embraces the idealistic beach lifestyle. I believe our products and clothing

choices reflect that. We strive to provide laid-back and comfortable clothing and most importantly, here on the Sunshine Coast, our clothing must be versatile.

Garments need to be able to be worn casually or dressed up for a night out or a special occasion.

What do you love most about working IN Peregian?

100% the lifestyle! I love that I can have an ocean dip before or after work.

Everyone is laidback and friendly as they are either on holidays or don’t have the stress others have in busy cities.

What advice can you share with fashion start-ups and retailers?

Business is hard, especially when just starting out. Have the belief that

the universe has your back and you deserve success purely because you are willing to put the hard work in and have the passion and drive to make it work.

Then just do it! Take the leap and don’t be afraid to ask for help and advice along the way.

What can we expect to see this season?

Australian brands are in high demand now, especially since Covid. Lilac and green are standout colours; sets are a must-have; and who doesn’t love a tropical print?

You can feel like you are on holidays everyday!

What item can you NOT live without?

My Will and Bear hat is on high rotation! It finishes off any outfit I wear instore and I even wear it on days off.

FAVE FIVE

Fave Hobby: Family days along Noosa River

Fave Drink: Bubbles

Fave Food: Chocolate

Fave Colour: Pink

Fave Accessory: My Calloway Cream Will And Bear hat

ARNHEM | KIVARI | ROWIE | WILL AND BEAR | WANDERING FOLK | ARAMINTA JAMES

PHOTOS: MEGAN GILL

Kidchella style is colourful, creative and comfortable. Anything goes but more is more! Make sure your lil party person is dressed to light up the dancefloor. Tie dye, rainbows and cute boots are a must - oh and glitter, lots of glitter!!!

WHAT’S ON? KIDCHELLA CRAFT!

Monday 3, Tuesday 4 April

Flower Garlands and Feather Crowns

Wednesday 5, Thursday 6 April

Macramé Wall Hangers

Good Friday 7 April, Centre Closed

Saturday 8, Sunday 9, Monday 10 April

Tie Dye Caps & Bucket Hats

Tuesday 11, Wednesday 12 April

Stencil Canvas Art

Thursday 13, Friday 14 April

Macramé Key Chains

Each Kidchella session runs for approximately 30 minutes. As spaces are limited, bookings for children are essential. Adults don’t need a ticket! See page 14 for more information, scan the QR code or book at www.noosacivicshopping.com.au

Girls denim short overalls, tie-dyed singlet, boots, glasses, necklace and pom pom headband - all from Cotton On Kids, Noosa Civic Shopping Centre

MORE THAN JUST a pretty face

Faces. We’ve all got them. I’ve even encountered a few people who seemed to have two.

It’s quite remarkable how much information we take on about others simply through this bulbous bag of flesh and bone that sits atop our torsos.

Not to mention the way we manipulate it to try to tell others something about ourselves – smiles, frowns, make up, hair styles, hats, glasses, Botox, piercings, full facial tattoos. Well, maybe not so much of that last one. And when you extend that to how we adorn our bodies, it seems, perhaps, there’s barely a need to even utter a sentence about ourselves before we’ve made assumptions about someone’s identity or tried to put across something about our own.

We all look in the mirror and make adjustments before we face the day.

The National Photographic Portrait Prize comes to Noosa in April, having toured

the country from its home in Canberra over the previous six months.

This captivating exhibition brings us face-to-face with artists and their subjects from throughout Australia, allowing us a momentary glimpse into their diverse inner worlds and the realities they each individually face.

At face value, it would be easy to just enjoy these works for their fantastic visual arrangements and dramatic use of colour and space.

But take a bit more time and it’s quickly revealed that this collection of work is not just about faces, but a series of windows into inner worlds.

In every photo we can recognise something of ourselves, but more

importantly, a whole lot more about someone else.

This year’s winner, Silent Strength by Wayne Quilliam, is a depiction of courage and defiance and culture, as the sitter faces off with an audience whose ancestry has often been responsible for the oppression of his own.

Meanwhile, four-year-old Mia puts on a brave face in Andrew Rovenko’s, The Shuttle – alone in her homemade space suit, her imagination allowing a momentary escape from the dangerous and unfamiliar world the pandemic has created.

The exhibition gives us 50 such images, shortlisted from a staggering 2,400 entries.

Michael Brennan faces up to the power of a portrait.

Silent Strength by Wayne Quilliam

Carlos Soyos, 34, A migrant from Guatemala City, Guatamala & his son, Enderson Soyos, 8, take a self portrait at EL Buen Samartino migrants shelter, Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, 2021 by Adam Ferguson

This being the 15th iteration of the prize, the collection gives us a snapshot of an extraordinary diversity of Australian identity captured across highly unusual times.

These are important projects as well as beautiful works of art.

They promote understanding and empathy and ultimately humanity. Together, they fly in the face of the divisiveness that seems to have become amplified in our communities over recent years.

Let’s face it, taking the time to understand each other makes its less likely that we’ll end up with egg on our face.

Flora and Fauna, Giara: White Cockatoo by Luther Cora

Cordy in the Clouds by Adam Haddrick.

FOR INSPIRATIONOne Space

Studio One Noosa offers an inspiring, virtual showcase of established and emerging artists where fine art prints and original work are just one mouseclick away. Georgia Beard reveals the creatives behind this online gallery and their vision for presenting local artists to the world.

When Juanita Van Den Bergh and Richard Donelly welcome me into their home studio at Peregian Beach, my gaze is drawn instantly to eruptions of colour and pattern on every wall.

Natural hues coalesce on Juanita’s many canvases, finding synergy in her abstract works. Nature-inspired originals and fine art prints by other local artists decorate the same space – an all-in-one gallery, photography studio and printing workshop.

This is the base of operations for Studio One Noosa, the online hub for showcasing and distributing exclusive collections of local art.

With Richard’s background in photography and printing, the couple launched the online gallery a year ago to provide Juanita’s original artwork broader exposure.

“Within 24 hours of posting our art collection online, we had our first sale,” she said. “That was very encouraging so we took that by the horns and decided we were going to make this happen!”

Juanita’s artistic career followed years of experience renovating houses and designing interiors in Noosa.

When she sought canvases to finish off her homes, she didn’t hunt for the pieces she wanted – she painted them!

Now, her nature-inspired abstracts are the showpieces of Studio One Noosa – and they all come to life in her dining room which doubles as an art studio.

Juanita’s creative approach is rich with improvisation and self-expression. In recent years, her fascination with the chemistry of colour sparked

spontaneously after a period hiding in the safety of black and white.

Starting with the background, she drags countless layers of colour over the canvas and encourages different paint opacities. Mixed with chemicals, each movement causes the paint to dissolve, bubble and blend into fluid shapes.

“With the weight of the paint, colours will break through. They might mix with white and turn pastel or they’ll stay true and strong,” she said.

“I’m partial to a few colours such as magenta; a green-gold; a dark, midnight blue; red and an ochre palette.

“White is the main play colour that creates all the different hues within the painting. By layering the paint differently, I get different results.”

When she steps back to see the finished piece, the meaning within the abstract takes shape – a landscape at sunrise; a churning ocean; a garden in bloom.

Every buyer sees something different in her artwork.

Whether they develop an emotional connection or find it suits their tastes, Juanita believes her art should jump out from their space with a dynamic statement.

As the Studio One Noosa collection continues to evolve, Juanita and Richard have created the opportunity for other local artists to offer original works or print reproductions to the world.

The idea surfaced after Juanita exhibited her work in Noosa Open Studios 2022 and discovered local artists were experiencing the same lack of opportunity she had experienced.

“We saw the need for this sort of online presence in Noosa because there didn’t appear to be any on-demand printing or in-house printing on a smaller scale, just for local artists,” Richard said.

When selecting artwork, Juanita and Richard seek pieces that offer a goosebump-inducing experience while allowing a cross-section of styles and subjects to suit everyone’s tastes.

After an interview process, they collaborate with the artist to decide whether they want to offer originals or fine art prints - or both.

Once the artist is on board, the dynamic duo at Studio One Noosa take care of the complete process –professionally photographing the artwork, listing and marketing it online, printing it on archival canvas or cotton rag paper, stretching and framing the

Juanita Van Den Bergh

prints and organising delivery and tracking.

Richard and Juanita have just launched a selection of fine art prints by three local artists – portrait artist Jeremy Tanner and expressionist painters Colin Passmore and Debra Hutton.

Inspired by his Gamilaraay heritage, Jeremy Tanner draws on creative and photographic practices to capture indigenous identities and natural environments in works such as

The Rainbow Serpent, The

Diver and his indigenous family series.

Featuring in our Summer 2022 issue, Colin Passmore is renowned for his experimental depictions of outback and coastal scenery. His first wave of print reproductions includes the searing and serene landscapes Australian, Pond Birds and Blossom & Birds on Pond

Debra Hutton evokes the natural wonders of Italian and Australian landscapes.

Currently, her impressionist recreation of memories from Giverny in Monet’s Garden is available as a fine art print.

As Richard and Juanita continue to work with likeminded creatives, established and emerging artists will have the chance to touch the hearts of art enthusiasts everywhere.

Studio One Noosa is set to become a cornerstone of the local art industry and a hub for desirable and accessible art. It is one studio space to watch!

Original Artworks & Fine Art Prints...

Distinctly coastal & exclusively local, these fabulous collections are iconically one off Originals or Fine Art Prints, created to fill a space in your home as well as your heart…

Our current collection of Artists include COLIN PASSMORE DEBRA HUTTON

JUANITA VAN DEN BERGH JEREMY TANNER and MORE....

Earth

When selecting artwork, Juanita and Richard seek pieces that offer a goosebump-inducing experience while allowing a cross-section of styles and subjects to suit everyone’s tastes.

PHOTOS: RICHARD DONELLY

it’s her birthday and the food and wine was so fine tripping out onto the sidewalk head’s a little dizzy spinning searching for her constellation in this sea of stars on this night so clear he steals a rose to tuck behind her ear come midnight and she’ll clamp it in her flower press locked away for some autumn day come sunrise and she’ll dive into an ocean blue wash the night away feel the seasons change cool breeze dancing with the giant gums where koalas play and she knows that we’re a part of it all and she never felt so beautiful gliding under breaking waves

ARTS RADAR

A new season brings exciting new exhibitions and Noosa's galleries, studios and arts centres have something for everyone!

NOOSA REGIONAL GALLERY

UNTIL 6 APRIL

MORE THAN THE SUM OF ITS PARTS

This exhibition brings together an ambitiously scaled ensemble of works to recreate the vast and varied ecosystem that is the Noosa natural environment. A salon hang of breathtaking proportions, the works of Noosa’s creative community are brought together in an installation that seeks to give a unique perspective on this special place they call home.

UNTIL 6 APRIL

TREVOR PURVIS: AUSTRALIAN SIENNA

Sunshine Coast-based artist Trevor Purvis presents a suite of recent works with an endless variation of texture and form as offered by the Australian landscape. He embraces an expressive palette and an intuitive approach to mark making that sets a spark under the compositions he brings to life.

FROM 14 APRIL UNTIL 28 MAY

NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC PORTRAIT PRIZE 2023

Australia is a country with myriad faces, and as we continue to live in disruptive times, the National Photographic Portrait Prize offers a sweeping view across the nation’s experience, one that reminds us that our lives continue on regardless of

wider circumstances. Now in its 15th year, this annual exhibition draws from entries submitted by amateur and professional photographers from across Australia.

Riverside, 9 Pelican Street, Tewantin

Ph: 5329 6145

www.noosaregionalgallery.com.au

NOOSA ARTS & CRAFTS ASSOCIATION

FROM 24 MARCH UNTIL 24 APRIL

THREADS: THE TIES THAT BIND

Discover the distinctive textile art and craft produced by members, including handmade paper and bookmaking, complemented by poems from the Haiku Poetry Group. Also discover displays of quilting, knitting, crochet, smocking, embroidery and beading.

FROM 2 UNTIL 23 MAY, 9AM – 12PM

PEN & WASH FOR BEGINNERS WITH LIZZIE CONNOR

Pen and Wash is a fresh and fun way of combining some watercolour techniques with your drawing skills. Using lightweight materials makes this process perfect for travel journaling or quick, inspired sketches with some colour added, and scenarios where there is a lot of movement and colour. $95 for members and $115 for non-members.

Nekita Roberts @theaustralianpoet www.theaustralianpoet.com

Cordy in the Clouds, A Haddrick

FROM 27 UNTIL 28 MAY, 9AM – 3PM

ANIMALS IN PASTEL WITH MAXINE THOMPSON

Master Pastelist Maxine Thompson will show you how to achieve the likeness and character of the subject. Dealing with shadows to light up the animal portraits and backgrounds to set up the subject, from choice of paper, colour, or tone and colours to enhance the edges of the subject or realistic scenes. $225 for members and $250 for non-members.

Wallace House, 1 Wallace Drive, Noosaville Ph: 5474 1211 www.noosaartsandcrafts.org.au

COMMUNITY BANK TEWANTIN-NOOSA

UNTIL 24 MARCH

KEVIN DICK

Kevin is a master sculptor, specialising in maritime and indigenous themes through timber, plywood, fibreglass, stainless steel and more.

FROM 27 MARCH UNTIL 21 APRIL

JACKIE HILLEGERS

Encounter wildlife through Jackie’s nature-based photography.

FROM 21 APRIL UNTIL 19 MAY

ANN MILLAND

Ann explores the delicacy and natural storytelling ability of watercolour.

FROM 22 MAY UNTIL 15 JUNE

DIANNE MCINERNEY

Dianne captures her love of adventure and spirit in charcoal, acrylic and oil-based depictions of landscapes, flora and fauna.

114 Poinciana Avenue, Tewantin Ph: 5440 5289 www.bendigobank.com.au/branch/qld/ community-bank-tewantin-noosa/

COOROY BUTTER FACTORY ARTS CENTRE

UNTIL 26 MARCH

EARTHLY NUANCES

A group exhibition of paintings and sculptures on the theme of Ocean Eyes encompasses both the relationship with the ocean in any form and the human archetype of the emotional, intuitive and dreamy aspect of a personal water sign/ type.

UNTIL 26 MARCH

MIRROR MIRROR

In conjunction with International Women’s Day, 17 local female artists explore self-discovery through their reflections in a mirror. Each artist interprets their identity through art imposed on a physical mirror, while leaving space for the audience to see themselves. A second artwork reveals their reflection by introducing a mirror into the dynamic of a painted scene.

UNTIL 26 MARCH

ARBOREAL CONNECTIONS

Artists of contemporary art collective Carte Blanche investigate their rich and diverse natural environment, exploring and developing their personal homage to individual trees. The exhibition is intended to raise awareness and bring attention to the importance of trees both on a global scale and in our immediate environments.

FROM 31 MARCH UNTIL 30 APRIL

SEEING THE SOUL: HOOFBEATS SANCTUARY ART PRIZE AND EXHIBITION

This major annual fundraising initiative to support and promote Hoofbeats Sanctuary’s work celebrates and showcases equine art and raises awareness of mental health. With over 40 local and interstate artists participating, 20 ceramic horse statues will be decorated by a range of Australia’s most loved and respected celebrities. The pieces will be auctioned live and online during the Closing Event on 29 April.

Eileen is a mixed media artist working in various mediums including alcohol inks and acrylics. She works on both large and small scale and intense bright colours are a feature of her art. bluethumb.com.au

To Be Free, Roslyn Nolen

FROM 31 MARCH UNTIL 30 APRIL BOTANICAL EXPRESSIONS: NAIDA

GINNANE

Naida’s works on paper and fine art photography focuses on humanity’s environmental impact. Her work uses floral motifs to represent the beauty, fragility and vulnerability of our environment, as well as the increasing and yet unknown effects of our disturbance.

FROM 5 MAY UNTIL 11 JUNE

ART JAM

A five-week mini-studio exhibition and demonstration where the art loving public can come face to face with over 30 different artists and find out about their work practices.

11A Maple Street, Cooroy Ph: 5442 6665 www.butterfactoryartscentre.com.au

COMMUNITY BANK COOROY

UNTIL 31 MARCH

JOSIE GABE

Josie explores narrative and complex meaning through a combination of contemporary and realist styles in her art.

FROM 3 APRIL UNTIL 2 MAY

DIANNE MCINERNEY

Dianne captures her love of adventure and spirit in charcoal, acrylic and oil-based depictions of landscapes, flora and fauna.

FROM 2 MAY UNTIL 19 MAY

JESSE CAMERON

Self-taught graffiti artist Jesse reflects urban landscapes and street-style throw-ups in his vibrant felt-tip pen artwork.

FROM 19 MAY UNTIL 23 JUNE

ANN MILLAND

Ann explores the delicacy and natural storytelling ability of watercolour.

36a Maple Street, Cooroy Ph: 5447 7131

www.bendigobank.com.au/branch/qld/ community-bank-cooroy/

POMONA RAILWAY STATION GALLERY

UNTIL 22 MARCH

DRAWING LINES: GLEN BUCKLEY

Influenced by famous artists such as Gustav Klimt, Aubrey Beardsley and M.C. Escher; Glen Buckley combines imaginary and abstract elements to create distinctive and themed drawings.

FROM 25 MARCH UNTIL 26 APRIL SECRET GARDEN

JANET LUTTRELL

Using a playful, contemporary style with acrylic on canvas, Janet evokes the delights of a garden, whether it be plants, birds, insects, flowers, trees or fantasy.

8 APRIL

ART MARKET IN THE PADDOCK

Pomona Railway Station Gallery is again holding its popular Art Market in the Paddock in the grounds of the gallery on Easter Saturday, with a huge variety of work on offer.

FROM 1 APRIL TO 3 MAY

A FAMILIAR LANDSCAPE

DEBRA DOUGHERTY AND JUDITH SPENCE

Long-time collaborators Judith and Debra use tendrils of line and colour to respond to nature’s own creations. Debra paints expressive scenes of nature’s abundance, while Judith works in hand-built ceramics, bisque fired with multiple glazes.

FROM 6 MAY UNTIL 31 MAY

A THOUSAND STEPS INTO COLOUR

ROXANNE MARIE

Roxanne celebrates colour through light and brilliance, using a broad range of techniques to create hand-painted wearable silks, artworks, drawings and original prints.

FROM 3 JUNE UNTIL 29 JUNE

SAMPLING THE SUNSHINE!

TOM & ANNE KERR AND KEN WALKER

The sea, the surf, the sand, the sunshine. Love of the Sunshine Coast, its warmth and its light are reflected in this exhibition. Oils, pastels, inks, glass, driftwood and more are used in a mixture of approaches.

10 Station Street, Pomona Ph: 5485 2950

www.pomonartgallery.com

THE EXPERIENCE

BYO drinks & nibbles

Public and Private events

Perfect for date nights, get togethers, special occasions, and anything under the sun! And the best part?

Frida's is also franchising to top locations all around Australia! Visit our website to download a copy of our info pack.

From coast to hinterland, explore the creative spaces where local artists are bringing the region’s diverse art landscape to life during Open Studios

Sunshine Coast 2023, as Georgia Beard discovers.

An artist’s body of work doesn’t take shape in galleries alone. Artists seek inspiration in worlds we don’t often get to see – secluded in rural sanctuaries, thriving in the mayhem of family homes or en plein air (French for the act of painting outdoors).

Their private studios and living spaces are the epicentres of artistic expression – and we are invited to witness this creation first-hand during Open Studios

Sunshine Coast 2023.

IN THE MAKER SPACE

Hosted over two weekends from 20 to 28 May, artists from all disciplines and mediums will open their doors to the public. Across seven local art trails, we can discover their artistic practice, spark conversations, take part in creative workshops and come away with an original piece or two!

Last year’s nine-day event attracted 130 visitors per studio across 74 studios and approximately $215,000 in art sales!

This year, the Art Trail welcomes 43 new artists and galleries exhibiting their collections for a fresh influx of tourists, locals, artists and art collectors.

With routes along the Coast Art Trail and the Hinterland Art Trail, Open Studios meanders across the Sunshine Coast offering the chance to explore the region and meet its artists in-situ.

As you embark on your self-guided tour, roam down forgotten backstreets, get lost in suburban landscapes and disappear into the hills where artists are quietly honing their craft.

You might catch an artist in the act of creation – splattering paint on a canvas, sculpting clay on a pottery wheel or welding and whittling recycled materials

into something originally evocative. Observing artists in their element gives us a better understanding and appreciation of the creative process and how inspiration is brought to life.

In some studios, workspaces transform into galleries for visitors to encounter an artist’s new collection or admire their life’s work.

If you feel connected to a piece, you

can purchase it direct from the artist!

Open Studios Sunshine Coast Coordinator Jen Braithwaite said the experience of an art studio offered visitors more than just a glimpse behind the scenes.

“It’s a chance to learn the true value of our local art industry,” she said.

“We envisage the visitors’ experience to be a rich, diverse and immersive experience that is educational, informative, connecting and social.”

This year, committee members at Arts Connect Inc. have curated a smorgasbord of artists and galleries, both new and recurring.

There are also a number of galleries participating including Sunshine Coast Art and Framing Gallery, Yandina Historic House & Gallery, Alice West Gallery, Art School Co Gallery, Caloundra Regional Gallery, 2nd Space, Spiral Visual

...roam down forgotten backstreets, get lost in suburban landscapes and disappear into the hills where artists are quietly honing their craft.

Sharon Hegarty

Arts Studio and Montville Art Gallery. Sunshine Coast Art and Framing Gallery is also set to offer creative workshops from their space on the Mooloolaba/Sippy Downs Trail including Paper Carving and Printing with Grace Hermann; Watercolour and Acrylic Floral/Botanicals with Sharon Hegarty; Earring Clay with Sharon Conboy; Journal and Book Binding with Dayle Botha; Pastels with Carole Oakley; and even Art-Themed Biscuit Decorating with Renee at Daisy Cake and Bake.

Along the Coolum/Mudjimba Trail, step inside metalworker Jules McCrae’s studio and blacksmithing workshop or visit Talking Feet Studio and Studio Six Art.

Celebrate the Immanuel Arts Festival on the Maroochydore/Buderim Trail alongside Alice West’s workshop space and gallery of whimsical, nature-inspired paintings.

In Caloundra, discover Damien Lange’s artisanal, ocean-inspired installations and paintings or Karan Gerard’s

PRESENTS

impressionist watercolours of natural environments.

The Hinterland Art Trail begins in the Yandina Historic House Art Gallery, highlighting a selection of artworks while offering Devonshire tea and light refreshments from the café between 9.30am and 2.30pm each day.

Across the Montville Art Trail and surrounds, unearth Sue Neale’s abstract, feather-based wall art; Robert Natoli’s mixed-media studio and ceramics workshop; or Liz Pepper’s expressive paintings of imperfect realism.

The ArtsCoast and Sunshine Coast

Council initiative 2ND Space will also invite visitors to explore their artists in residence for Project 24 and co-working studios incubating a variety of creative projects.

Nestled along the Maleny and Landsborough/Glasshouse Art Trails, visit The Joy Collective’s creative co-working and gallery space for workshops and exhibitions; explore the studio of figurative sculptural artist David Bongiorno; or nature-based oil painter Marcel Desbiens.

“This opportunity comes once a year in our area,” Jen said. “We are passionate about bringing arts to the awareness of our community, connecting us all and lifting those emerging and established to enhance their experience.”

Pick up the 2023 Art Trail Guide from Sunshine Coast Art and Framing Gallery and Yandina Historic House Art Gallery. Discover all the updated outlets or view the Guide and artist profiles at www.openstudiossunshinecoast.com.au

OPEN STUDIOS SUNSHINE COAST

A treasure trove of creativity awaits you with the annual Open Studios Sunshine Coast. More than 70 artists will open their studios along with galleries throughout the coast and hinterland. They will be showcasing ceramicists, metalworkers, woodworkers, sculptors, glass artisans, jewellers, mixed media, mosaic and textile artists, painters, photographers, printmakers and more. The event is presented by Arts Connect Inc, a not-for-profit organisation connecting artists with opportunities and the community. www.openstudiosunshinecoast.com.au openstudiossunshinecoast

Carey Nicky

Art School Co.

Kim Herringe

Art lovers and artists celebrated the launch of Noosa Regional Gallery’s latest exhibitions. Carlie Wacker was there to catch all the colour and excitement!

FOR THE LOVE of art

A huge crowd turned out for the launch of two exhibitions at Noosa Regional Gallery including much loved Sunshine Coast artist Trevor Purvis’ Australian Sienna as well as More Than The Sum Of Its Parts, a group installation featuring work by multiple artists inspired by our diverse natural environment. The exhibition runs until 5 April so pop into the gorgeous gallery on the river at Tewantin and be INspired! Congratulations to the Friends Of The Gallery on one of the biggest opening nights yet - good friends indeed!

PHOTOS: CARLIE WACKER

SUNSHINE MOSAICS

Jackie has recently moved into her new studio space, where she creates one-ofa-kind stained glass art pieces. Commissions welcome. Workshops and classes are available.

Unit 41/64 Gateway Drive, Noosaville Phone 0497 275 735 sunshinemosaicart@gmail.com

TRISH SHEPPARD ART

A fervent lover of nature, Patricia’s work embodies the essence of the environment. Her current works depict the harsh beauty of Australia’s outback in a vibrant array of colours using various mediums.

41 Hilton Esplanade, Tewantin Phone 0418 758 210 trishsheppardart.com.au

HELEN PEEL

Helen’s portraiture reveals a talent for reflecting the life in her subjects’ eyes; her paintings bring to life a world rich with colour and radiant light.

31 Shorehaven Dr, Noosa Waters Phone 0411 511 533 helenpeelartist.com

NOOSA REGIONAL GALLERY

The leading public gallery on the Sunshine Coast located riverside, exhibiting new and contemporary art.

9 Pelican Street, Tewantin Phone 5329 6145 noosaregionalgallery.com.au

We love art at IN Noosa Magazine, and so do our readers

BECOME AN ART MEMBER

Artists, art galleries, art supplies and more can become and art member for only $110 inc GST per month.

A 12 month membership includes an inclusion in our art directory, online listing and more each quarter. Find out more email hello@inpublishing.com.au

NATUREMUSE CERAMICS

Is an ecologically sustainable studio and home to award winning ceramicist Fiona Cuthbert O’Meara. Unique handmade functional ceramics, Sculptural Collectors pieces and inspiring artist led workshops. By appointment. 76a Grays Road, Doonan Phone 0439 654 471 naturemuse.com.au

EILEEN THOMPSON

A mixed media artist, Eileen takes inspiration from nature and loves to use bright bold colours. She paints in acrylics, watercolours and block printing on fabric. Private viewings by appointment in Noosaville.

Phone 0405 764 594 eileennoosa@hotmail.com

DARREN WHITE

Darren explores nostalgia and story in his minimalist abstract landscapes, inviting viewers to rediscover and reflect on personal memories of road trips and holidays.

Peregian Beach Phone 0450 478 861 darrenwhite.com.au

STUDIO ONE NOOSA

Distinctly coastal & exclusively local, these fabulous collections are iconically one-off Originals or Fine Art Prints, created to fill a space in your home as well as your heart.

Phone 0481 155 287

info@studioonenoosa.com.au studioonenoosa.com.au

Lauren Jones, Paint Install View, Noosa Regional Gallery 2022.

PHOTO BY WARWICK GOW.

Zebra Armchair & Table by Fast

AUTUMN ENTERTAINING Essentials

Cooler

Iused to hate the cooler weather and would hibernate inside under the blankets with a belly full of comforting food. But thanks to Cotswold InOut Furniture, I can’t wait to spend time outdoors, relaxing and entertaining in style and comfort.

Founded in 1981, this leader in furniture boasts must-have products that are as sexy as they are strong. Combined with superior knowledge and excellent customer service, Cotswold InOut Furniture services Australia with high quality, durable and unique furniture, including highly regarded international brands.

If you need me I’ll be giving my garden a seasonal update to make it perfect for cocooning on cooler evenings. There’s nothing like the warm glow of home comforts under a million stars.

Light

up

Meet Matteo and Edgard - your new best friends for outdoor entertaining! Match the Matteo dining table with a natural untreated teak top and powder coated aluminium base with the subtle, simple and oh-so-comfortable Edgar Dining Chair.

Edgard dining chairs bring the indoors out with a stylish resin weave and sleek steel for a contemporary and sturdy mix of materials that are super comfortable. The only question is:

Style My Home is an Australian retailer specialising in furniture, décor, rugs, lighting and artwork inspired by the Hamptons We have four showrooms located in Noosa, Sydney, Brisbane and Gold Coast

1 Gibson Road Noosaville QLD 4566

(Behind Hanks Optometrist)

Open Monday - Friday 10am- 5pm

@stylemyhome australia

australia

Wardian plant case from Merchants of Botanica 0413 338 958

Style pot from Merchants of Botanica 0413 338 958

Capri sofa from Style My Home, 5447 1972

Wooden service tray from River Shack, 5408 4377

Botanic gift cards from Uncle George, 5474 5871

Ceramic love mugs from River Shack, 5408 4377

TRENDY Grand Millenial

Take inspiration from grandma’s house – this quirky interior styling trend is all about floral, print and pattern on everything. This is a chance to proudly display heirloom furniture and ornaments and get the good china out!

Covered hangers from Manawee Garden Centre 5445 2406

Floral serviettes from Manawee Garden Centre 5445 2406

Mother Of Pearl trinket boxes from Style My Home 5447 1972

Quatrefoil Mother Of Pearl tray from Style My Home, 5447 1972 Clock from Manawee Garden Centre 5445 2406

Coral ornament from River Shack, 5408 4377

Table runner from Uncle George, 5474 5871

CAM Avairy Bird from Uncle George 5474 5871 Weaver Green, 5231 9805

Cup and saucer from Uncle George, 5474 5871

Casa Regalo Room Spray from Manawee Garden Centre 5445 2406

Ceramic head pot from Merchants of Botanica 0413 338 958

Feather bird ornament from Manawee Garden Centre 5445 2406

Flemington Acrylic wine glasses from Bohemian Sundays, 0414 348 469

Skinned Body oil from Bohemian Sundays, 0414 348 469

Travel jewellery cube from Uncle George, 5474 5871

LIVING Vivid

Bold, unexpected colours take pride of place in every space this year. Red in every shade from subtle to statement will add the perfect pick-me-up to your living spaces. Bold stripes and cheeky checks are so 2023.

White pot and Anthurium houseplant from Merchants of Botanica 0413 338 958

‘365 Days of Kindness’ book from Bohemian Sundays, 0414 348 469

‘Naked Cakes’ book Uncle George, 5474 5871 Orange and white pot from Manawee Garden Centre, 5445 2406

The Beach Blanket from Bohemian Sundays 0414 348 469

Cushion from Weaver Green 5231 9805

‘The Now of Work’ book from Bohemian Sundays 0414 348 469

Elliot Side table from Style My Home, 5447 1972

Red and striped pot from Manawee Garden Centre 5445 2406 Fresko flask from River Shack, 5408 4377

Pink coin pouch from River Shack, 5408 4377

Sunny Days tote bag from Bohemian Sundays 0414 348 469

Acrylic serving trays from Manawee Garden Centre, 5445 2406

Fresko coffee mug from River Shack, 5408 4377

Painted pot from Manawee Garden Centre 5445 2406

LIGHTING Lessons

Got a penchant for pendants to light up your life? Deb Caruso asks the experts at Hermon Hermon for their illuminating advice.

While we can all appreciate the difference between good lighting and poor lighting, there are a few lessons to learn so it doesn’t lessen our living environment.

The husband-and-wife team at Hermon Hermon are the brightest sparks when it comes to lighting up your lives. In fact, you could say the combination of electrician David Hulstone and former interior designer Susanne Anthony, who both studied Lighting at RMIT, are an illuminating combination!

Since going from being customers of the iconic Hermon Hermon range to owning the business, Dave and Susanne relocated from Melbourne to Noosa, bringing decades of experience and a passion for good lighting.

The duo believe lighting is the secret weapon to a stunning space and that a good lighting plan is everything.

But it’s the size that matters with Susanne saying it is one of the most important elements of interior design.

“Pendant light location and scale, shape and material are all important aspects of creating a cohesive look,” she says. “Even an already-stunning architecturally-designed void can become a major style statement with oversized feature pendants.”

According to Susanne, pendants need to be hung according to the height of the

ceiling in the room and what is placed below the pendant.

“A pendant that hangs over a dining table needs to suit the proportions of the dining table and the height of the ceiling,” she says. “You may even need two pendants over a long dining table to achieve even lighting.”

Good point – after all, who wants to be left in the dark at dinnertime?

While the rule of thumb is to hang the pendant with the base approximately 850cms above the table, Susanne recommends measuring 1650cms from the floor to the base of the pendant, as the electrician usually moves the dining table away while he’s installing the light and therefore has no point of reference.

Being in the lighting business with - and married to - a qualified electrician will give you that kind of ‘light bulb’ insight that makes these guys the go-to lighting experts.

From the dining table to the kitchen, Susanne says that kitchen benches and islands don’t necessarily need to have multiple pendants in a row.

“There is a case for task lighting in functional areas with an option of an oversize pendant or a waterfall of three smaller pendants at one end of the bench to create different zones and soften the hard edges,” she says.

When it comes to living areas and

bedrooms, Susanne says there are formulas for selecting pendant sizes but nothing compares to standing in the room to experience the space.

In a hallway, one pendant might look mean whilst a row of three may create a dramatic effect.

One thing Susanne and Dave always agree on is installing dimmer switches to allow changes of atmosphere - and to choose quality light fittings that will contribute to the room’s appearance.

LIGHT UP YOUR LIFE!

Hermon Hermon are offering free in-home lighting consultations IN Noosa throughout autumn where they will work with you to understand your space, lifestyle needs and provide insight and advice on the best lighting solutions.

To find out more, book a consultation or to make an appointment to view the entire range in the showroom in Rene Street, Noosaville, email Susanne at info@hermonhermonlighting.com.au

SHINING LIGHTS

Hermon Hermon have developed a reputation for sourcing avant-garde lights that are also ethically and sustainably created with each piece designed and handmade by expert craftspeople.

According to Susanne, these particular numbers are the leading lights in the Noosa showroom... drumroll please...

Fandango Pendant

FANDANGO PENDANT LIGHT

Designed by Danny Fang, hand made in The Philippines

Dutchman Danny Fang radiated from Design Academy Eindhoven in 1998. In 2007 Danny moved to Hong Kong where he set up Fang Studio Ltd. With the slogan “Create Love, Not More” Danny designs products and interiors for his clients from all over the world. His craftsmanship exhibits the essence of timelessness.

“I found a photo of a flamenco girl throwing her dress all around with great power and expression,” Danny says. “This photo inspired me to make a light with similar drama and expression to spice up our modernistic world. To achieve this theatre and energy we had to develop new materials. Through an intricate process of working on the materials, we created petals made of fabric that we could mould in any shape, diffusing the light and defying gravity. This light wants to dance in freedom, so give her space to work her gypsy magic.”

LITTLE PEOPLE PENDANT

Designed by Kenneth Cobonpue

Unique objects inspired by nature, designed with emotion and crafted by hand. Kenneth began his design career after studies in Industrial Design in New York, which led to further studies in Italy and Germany. Returning to Cebu, using locally sourced and organic materials, the designs make a bold statement about style and sustainability. Hundreds of individual figurines embody the playful nature of the Little People. Salago fibre is applied by hand to add volume and body to a sculptural composition of steel. The result is both dramatic and meaningful, showing what happens when people unite and work together. Look closely and you will find an accented figure that stands out from the rest… a symbol of the unique creativity that resides in all of us – and a stunning conversation piece.

by Danny Fang

Little People Pendant

Constellation Chandelier pendant Hermon Hermon Lighting 0466 787 277

Buri Infinity pendant Hermon Hermon Lighting 0466 787 277

Hush Hush floor lamp Hermon Hermon Lighting 0466 787 277

Name

Lorenn Crawford

Business Merchants Of Botanica

GREENScene

Old-world charm meets modern day style at Merchants of Botanica. Carlie Wacker digs a bit deeper into the inspiration behind this local haven of botanical bliss.

How and when was your business born?

I had the idea and concept for Merchants of Botanica but it was after an incredible trip to Paris that everything fell into place.

I was so inspired by the historic conservatories, classical details and architecture that it cemented the emotion I wanted to portray in my business.

Merchants Of Botanica began in 2018. The product range was designed to combine all these archival elements with a focus on showcasing botanicals as the main theme.

What do you love most about your shop?

I really love the opportunity to connect with customers face-to-face. My goal with opening the physical store was to create an environment I can share with clients - a space to inspire and showcase our style and range of unique pieces.

How would you describe your personal style and how it translates to your business?

My personal style is eclectic, earthy, layered and acquired over many years.

In all honesty my business is an extension of my personal style because I only buy pieces that I really love and that I believe are timeless.

Tell us about your unique stock.

Merchants of Botanica is quite different to other businesses, not only in our stock offering (much of which we have designed and had made ourselves) but our concept is about layering interior spaces with botanicals and plant life, using interesting vessels, furniture and homewares to elevate greenery and blur the lines between indoor & outdoor areas.

What are the current trends in homewares and interior design?

Current trends are leaning into organic shapes and sculptural forms, with a continued focus on biophilic design, which is an architectural approach to connect people more closely to nature.

Interestingly, the forecast for 2023 is ‘green’. I am always conscious of the changing trends however I tend to trust my instinctive taste and desire for timeless design.

What can we expect to see in future?

More considered purchases with quality pieces over quantity and a continued focus on products that are made sustainably.

How do you make a space come alive? Greenery. My number one thing to soften and layer a space is plants, botanical prints and vases of foliage. Followed closely by candles and the use of lamps rather than overhead lighting.

What are your top tips when it comes to finding the perfect style for your home?

Your home needs to reflect the people living within it. The pieces which you have acquired and collected tell part of your story.

Collect images and ideas of what styles you like and colours you are drawn to. Step back and look at the recurring elements you are drawn to. These elements, combined with pieces you have collected, form the basis of your own personal style.

What do you love about being IN Noosa?

I love living IN Noosa for the simple fact we are so close to the natural beauty of the ocean and the landscape. It is so easy to access this every day and time in nature helps you to focus on what is really important.

FAVE FIVE

Fave Hobby: Swimming in the ocean, reading.

Fave Drink: Red wine

Fave Food: Italian

Fave Colours: Earth tones - soft clay and terracotta, olive, soft blue

Fave Style: Stacks of books - not just to look at but to read

WIN an Interior Styling Session

AUTUMN Abundance

Autumn is here IN Noosa and its time to embrace abundance, as Pete Goodlet enthuses.

Noosa gardens embrace abundance with unbridled joy - abundant sunshine, warmth and rain give you the opportunity to create great beauty - and free rein to be a total lush.

Abundance as a lifestyle choice takes guts and imagination. Be brave; be wild; be free. Ignore rules and regulations and just keep planting. Be lavish - the best possible aim you can have for your garden is to make you happy.

Beware though, your lush landscape may just make Prue next door absolutely green with envy.

To embrace a lush lifestyle, one must first design a good layout. You need to create good pathways that still give clear access when your garden matures. Keep some sunny spots for warmth and shade for sitting under on those steamy days.

Lush growth will try and join you in your wanderings and celebrations so keep the taller plantings to the rear of your garden beds and fill the foreground with colour and whimsy, such as grasses that playfully tickle you as you pass by.

Jungles are beautiful but you don’t want to feel like an intrepid explorer with a machete and a pith helmet as you make your way around the garden.

Abundance in plants that feed you is also key in a joyful garden. Citrus such as lemons and limes love the Noosa climate - and all your need is some good gin and tequila and you are well on your way to a lush lifestyle.

Self-watering pots or wicking beds can supply you with a plenitude of fresh herbs, leafy greens and chillies. A simple pasta sauce can be whipped up in minutes with a few chopped shallots, garlic, olive oil and pepper. Toss in freshly-picked chilli and herbs and enjoy with your favourite al dente pasta.

The simple delight you get from whipping up a meal using produce of your own garden will inspire you to further explore the delights of growing your own. You just never know what life changing herbs you might discover!

Simple pleasures are what creating your garden of abundance is all about. Fill a vase with your own luscious foliage and flowers. A single leaf of a large leaf from a philodendron or monstera can look eye catching in the right vase. Or spot orchids in pots around the garden; enjoy their flowers where they grow or bring the pot inside to show off your horticultural genius.

Abundance is also prolific when it comes to a choice of beautiful plants for your subtropical garden. In larger gardens it is hard to beat the Delonix Regina, commonly known as the Poinciana, for a delightful shade tree.

Its sculptural trunk can be pruned and shaped to shelter your outdoor area in its welcoming shade and stunning red flowers. Surround the trunk with gravel and highlight it with uplighting for a delight at night.

Frangipani are the highlight of any lush garden. Enjoy the huge variety of colours and scents that make up the varieties of Plumaria Rubra or chose the Plumaria Obtusa with a choice of pink and white flowers, respectively. Often known as the evergreen frangipani it will hang onto its lush green leaves in a warm Noosa summer and will delight with

perfume that is the epitome of a lush, tropical summer.

For attracting bees with its stunning flowers, you can’t go past Leptospermum Laevigatum, commonly known as the Australian myrtle, tea tree or coastal tea tree. This species is native to Australia and believed to be a symbol of all things love, good luck, and prosperity

Bamboo comes in many varieties and is perfect to block out our dear friend Prue who just cannot seem to help herself from peeping into your garden to check out your private delights. Stick to the clumping varieties and if in doubt go for the shorter more elegant varieties. Against a stunning dark fence the trimmed culms of bamboo can add a touch of the exotic especially grown in pebbles and uplit with inground spotlighting.

The choices to add lush life to an abundant garden is unlimited. Walk around your neighbourhood and explore the local nursery to see which plants spark joy. For colour and drama you can’t go past Heliconia Hot Rio Nights and for vibrant cheeky pink my go-to is Cordyline Fruticose Ruby. Place this in front of the dramatic Elephant Ears Alocasia Macrorrhiza for a truly stunning display.

Stuart and his crew at Earth Creation Landscapes are the experts for creating lushness and joy. A garden created by this talented team will fill your life and garden with abundance and joy.

PHOTOS: IAN WALDIE

EARTH CREATION LANDSCAPES

Pots are quickly becoming the secret sauce to a achieving a stunning garden or outdoor area, Alison Smith shares how to ensure you meet your true pot-ential.

TRUE Pot-ential

No longer confined to corners of balconies or just used for small herbs and flowers, pots are becoming an essential component of garden and landscape design.

A large pot with the perfect plant can be a showstopping centrepiece; rows of pots can be used create private and intimate settings; and the right pot and plant combination can transform an outdoor area to transport guests to a Greek island, Mexican hacienda or the serenity of an English Garden.

Pots are also a great option for renters and become part of the family, moving with you until you find the perfect place for it in your forever home.

Today’s pots are often made using a lightweight fibreglass construction that dramatically reduces the overall weight to make it easy to transport.

Just like Sir Mixalot I like big pots and I can not lie but the best thing is that there are pots in every shape, colour and texture to perfectly suit every desire.

Simon from Manawee Garden Centre said shape was an important consideration when selecting a pot.

“Think about the shape of the pot and the plant and how they work together,” he said. “A shallow bowl will be best suited to a shallow rooted plant. Perhaps a favourite selection of succulents, or an assortment of high flowering potted colour would be ideal.

“A tall skinny pot will suit a plant of similar shape; so if looking at urns or cylinders consider Pencil Pines or Topiary to continue the strong lines and forms of these pots.”

Simon said it was important to take the time to consider the long term size of the plant in the pot to make sure you chose something that can last.

When it comes to choosing plants he says olive trees are ideally suited to our Sunshine Coast climate.

“Their silver foliage and loose leaf

Olive variety

PHOTO: EARTH CREATION LANDSCAPES

structure make them the perfect feature tree for a range of different gardens,” he said. “They can be trimmed for a more formal Hamptons style or left loose to create a Mediterranean feel. They are ideal in large pots in a courtyard and love a warm sunny spot.”

Simon said a real favourite amongst Manawee customers was the Magnolia Teddy Bear.

“This evergreen tree will bring a blast of green to your garden with its deep green glossy foliage,” he said. “From early spring and into summer they produce a stunning creamy white flower that can be as large as a dinner plate.

“Choose matching pots and this easy-to-grow plant makes a stunning feature entrance.”

Crepe Myrtle are among the world’s best flowering trees. A deciduous species they are great in a pot in a courtyard or on a balcony.

“Their colourful display of flowers can range from white, pink, mauve or purple and the bees love them,” Simon said. “For an even more stunning display look out for the new ‘Diamonds in the Dark’ Crepe Myrtle, with near-black foliage creating a stark contrast to the vibrant flowers.

“Just remember these guys drop their leaves and flowers so don’t place them overhanging white pavers or tiles.”

For a softer look to your pot, choose smaller plants to underplant with Simon recommending plants that flow over the side of the pot such as Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’ which loves full sun and is drought tolerant.

“Fruit or citrus trees are also perfect in pots,” he said. “Lemons and limes are easy to grow with minimal care and you’ll be rewarded with delicious fruit for years to come.”

According to Simon, the most important thing is to always use a good quality potting mix.

“Don’t be tempted to just add some extra dirt from the garden into your new

pot,” he said. “This can lead to drastic problems relating to drainage and long term success of a plant.

“If you have a super large pot, consider drainage gravel, or other free draining material to help fill some of the volume, before finishing with a high quality, premium potting mix.”

POTTING MIX ADVICE

- Potting mix is specifically designed for growing plants in containers and pots and is composed of ingredients that hold onto water and nutrients or promote good drainage.

- A premium or red tick potting mix contains a minimum of three-months plant feed, while a black tick or regular grade will need to be fertilised immediately.

Magnolia Teddy Bear Crepe Myrtle

HOMETruths

The New Year has started off at a steady pace for businesses but with inflation not yet in a place where the Reserve Bank is happy and interest rates continuing to rise, buyers are understandably nervous about investing in property. But there are exceptions to the rule as Jennifer Swaine discovers when she chats to Kirstie Klein Hunter on what she is seeing in the Noosa market and where she thinks we are heading over the next few months.

While many of us were hoping the interest raise rises would not continue into 2023, this has not been the case. The result is the borrowing capacity of those looking to take out loans has been reduced, while others are concerned about their reduced cash flow once they have paid their monthly mortgage.

So, how is the Noosa property market faring amidst the financial constraints many home owners are experiencing?

According to Kirstie Klein Hunter, a Buyer’s Agent who specialises in the Noosa market, the Noosa prestige property market has seen some slight adjustments but continues to withstand many of the outside pressures.

This is simply because there is limited stock in the region and the demand for that stock is always there.

Kirstie says that despite December and

January being relatively quiet, as is normally the case, there are some noticeable changes in the market.

“Not a lot happens during the Christmas period and that is primarily because people are on holidays or taking a break, so we never see a lot of activity during this time anyway,” Kirstie said.

“However, what I am now noticing is that the length of time a property is staying on the market seems to be increasing and as a result, a few vendors are adjusting the asking price to better reflect market sentiment.”

While this is good news for buyers, Kirstie believes that some buyers are choosing to wait out the market until interest rates stop rising and said it feels a lot like 2020.

“If I could compare the current uncertainty to what we experienced when Covid first impacted us I would say it is

very similar,” she said.

“People are feeling uncertain about the future and are choosing to wait and see what happens with interest rates.

“I disagree with this thinking as there are opportunities out there right now if you know where to look. Once the interest rate rises cease, the media narrative will change and confidence will return but people will have missed out on some really great buys if they hold out until then.

“I had a client that purchased a few months into the pandemic, and it was a smart decision. The property we secured has literally doubled in price and he is back to buy again in the current market. He knows that now is the best time to buy when uncertainty is high and there are less buyers in the market.

“He knows that now is the best time to buy when uncertainty is high and there

are less buyers in the market.

“When confidence returns and buyers come back in a rush you will simply not have the access to these properties because they will be long gone. If you have the capacity to snap up something now you should - or you risk missing out on a property you really want.”

Noosa is home to many beautiful properties, many of which have been tightly held for years, and because there is limited stock in the area, demand to buy into this special part of the world never really wanes.

Many of the properties that do come up and change hands are often transacted off-market. This is where it is useful to engage a buyer’s agent, such as Kirstie, who are often offered properties before they go on the open market for sale.

“Over the years I have built strong relationships with many of the real estate agents in Noosa and they know I have a number of clients, at any given time, all looking for something specific but often very different,” she said.

“The agents will contact me as soon as they know they are about to list a

property as my clients are already vetted and are often cash buyers so this makes transacting a deal relatively easy.”

Kirstie is also seeing a lot of interstate and international buyers looking to establish themselves in Noosa and demand from expats also remains high.

According to Australia’s largest virtual inspection platform, Little Hinges, “over 30 per cent of buyers looking to purchase on the Sunshine Coast are inspecting from other states.”

Furthermore, the Sight Unseen report released in January 2023 on Interstate and International Buyer Trends in the Australian Property Market said this number was

Klein Hunter Property Buyers specialise in sourcing and negotiating residential property purchases for local, interstate, and international clients.

“down from over 60% in December 2022” and that “buyers from New South Wales and Victoria make up the largest percentage of buyers looking to migrate.”

These numbers come as no surprise to Kirstie who said Noosa had a stellar reputation here and overseas.

“People understandably want to live here if they are relocating or returning home to Australia,” she said.

“On average I would get four enquiries a week to assist someone with a property purchase in Noosa, many of which I have to turn down because I am already looking for a similar property for another client.

“Demand is definitely still there –it is just that the sense of urgency we were seeing 12 months ago has all but dissipated.”

The smart money is there for people who understand that demand will always be high and are ready to take advantage of market hesitancy.

As Warren Buffett famously said, “be fearful when others are greedy, and greedy when others are fearful.”

Our professional team expertly project manages every step of the acquisition process, from researching, sourcing and negotiation through to settlementremoving the stress and uncertainty from your property purchase.

Contact Kirstie today for a no-obligation discussion about how a local, independent Buyer's Agent can help you secure your piece of paradise.

Kirstie 0449 640 204 kirstie@khpb.com.au noosapropertybuyersagent.com.au

...now is the best time to buy when uncertainty is high and there are less buyers in the market.

A LUXE Lifestyle

“Tree-change, sea-change, life change!” Christine Mount, founder of Luxe Coastal Property Buyers, explains that the drivers for a geographical relocation are as personal and unique as the people making the decisions to change the state or country where they live.

“The dream may be inspired by financial drivers, health, retirement, chasing an outdoor lifestyle, a better future for children - or to follow family and friends who have already made the move,” Christine says.

“Everyone has their own reasons for

pursuing a luxe life.”

The reports are in, interstate and international buyers are relocating to Noosa in droves! Deb Caruso asks a lcoal expert why - and how - to make the move to paradise easier.

With thirty years of industry expertise in residential, commercial and investment sales and property management and a Business Degree in Property Valuations, Christine’s career began in Melbourne’s historic warehouse homes before moving to Singapore to manage strategic property investments.

She understands the trials and tribulations of repatriation and finding a sense of community when returning home after living overseas.

Inspired by her property background

and personal experience of living her own ‘luxe life in Noosa’, Christine now guides expat, interstate and locals on how to make a lifestyle move.

From property consultation to settlement, Christine leads an all-female team that has more than 15 years of local knowledge, in both Hinterland and coastal properties.

Having relocated to Noosa for health reasons, Christine uses her experience to understand a client’s motivation to move and to ensure their new home matches their dreams and aspirations.

Nikki Nielsen

Senior

0407 008 000 nikki.nielsen@loanmarket.com.au

While she landed on her feet and found her community, Christine knows it’s not all smooth sailing for expats returning home or relocating to a new community.

“The lure of an exciting new life where you can swap the exhausting ‘treadmill’ for a stunning natural environment seems to be an easy decision but the key to a successful move takes careful consideration and planning,” she says.

“Reverse culture shock and integrating into a new domestic environment are often on top of the trouble list.

“There are also many logistical hurdles to overcome when dreaming of moving to a lifestyle location like Noosa.

“You have to be honest with yourself about what you and your family desire and be clear on your end goal. Gathering relevant data and key information is critical to ensuring you make a fully informed decision.”

While keeping an eye on the real estate fundamentals, Christine acts in the best interests of her clients to balance the emotional and practical considerations of purchasing a home, particularly when it relates to a significant geographical shift.

As a buyer’s agent, Christine and her team go beyond the transaction and

surround themselves with local professionals and experts in their chosen field to ensure clients have a soft landing and are able to build community connections and support immediately.

One of the ways Christine does this is to provide Lifestyle and Property Tours for clients to explore the lifestyle location through the lens of finding a “home”, not simply a vacation spot.

“Living here is very different to holidaying here,” she said. “The bespoke tours and advice allow clients to experience the area through the practical lens of a local.

“for example, if you are living in a big city or abroad, you aren’t likely to be familiar with how hinterland acreage properties operate or how to find your feet in small coastal towns.

“We provide all the resources to help the buyer be fully informed, so a decision can be made with eyes wide open and to mange expectations to enable a gentle entry into a whole new life.

“Fortunately, the community spirit in this region is second to none,” she said.

“One thing is certain, your luxe life is uniquely yours – you just need the courage to jump in and do it!”

CONSIDER THIS...

The excitement of a lifestyle change is often combined with fears of the unknown. Christine recommends asking these questions when considering a relocation:

• Is there a major city or international airport within a two-hour drive?

• What about work and career goals? Are there co-working spaces and access to high-speed internet?

• Is there access to art and culture?

• Is there a selection of food, fashion and shopping?

• What is the quality of schools like? How will my children settle into a new life?

• Where do I find quality coffee, restaurants, and bars ?

• How will I build community connections? Check out social media and websites such as www.aussieexpatscominghome.com and listen to Christine’s “Living Your Luxe Life” podcast with real stories, experiences and tips from women who have made the move to Noosa. Scan the QR code or visit www.luxecoastal.com.au

Designed by Coote & Co Interior Design. Photo Lisa Cohen

Designed

I’m a Believer? Or

A Column of Inconvenient Questions

Do you believe in something? Anything? Nothing?

If you do; do you hold tight to your belief/s, white-knuckling it through the ups-and-downs; clinging desperately to a-kind-of lifebuoy in a sea of uncertainty?

Do you become agitated when your beliefs are challenged – defensive and aggressive – and perhaps pensive and reflective afterward in private?

Or, do you lock your beliefs in a box for fear they will wreak havoc and mayhem wherever and whenever they arise, offend others and lead to rash and ill-considered actions?

Perhaps you hold your beliefs loosely, without tension, seeing them as merely guide posts in a sometimes confusing and ever-changing life? Do you see beliefs as social constructs designed to simply stave off our greatest fear (death)?

Are beliefs simply more human myth-making, a soothing balm of sorts?

Are beliefs necessary to a fully functioning and experiencing human life?

I have been thinking about a song penned by Queen and Paul Rodgers called We Believe. The song outlines a series of beliefs which the songwriters want to share with the listener.

A small excerpt:

We believe every creature has a being

Has a right to respect and feeling

To live and breathe and flourish in the sun, yeah That’s what we believe

Once again I am borrowing from the wisdom of popular song lyricists to kick-off this reflection (see Bob Dylan, Bernie Taupin, John Lennon and Paul McCartney, Jacques Brel, Don Walker, Tom Waits and the list goes on - masters in observing, understanding, interpreting and challenging the human condition with wit, wisdom, empathy and pathos).

A recurring theme which many great lyricists explore revolves around believing in something, the actions this believing inspires and the results of these actions, ranging from the great to the disappointing (Love being one such theme).

If you do actually have some beliefs, from which sphere of human existence are they drawn? Are they spiritual?

If so, do they fit neatly into an established religion or are they a bit messier than that, spanning across

Have you mistaken the immature, confused musings of youth and peergroup pressure for a belief system?

Some supposed beliefs aren’t really beliefs at all, more passing fads masquerading as beliefs.

I recall reading somewhere that a study had found people’s tastes in music changed significantly over any given 10-year period, which came as something of a surprise. For example, I remain an Elton John fan of approximately 50 years duration.

multiple religions? Is there a unifying, one belief which you subscribe to?

Are your beliefs rooted in political, economic or social theory, or simply formed by the “school of hard knocks”?

Did you develop any of these beliefs yourself or where they provided to you, handed down generationally and received without question?

Do you have any beliefs which could be called “original” (is there such a thing)?

Are your beliefs mainstream or fringe, perhaps destined to become mainstream in 20 or 30 years’ time?

Are your beliefs fact-based?

Is it possible that your beliefs have also morphed significantly, if not radically over the course of your life? If they have, are you aware of this?

I know I am posing lots of questions but I have found question asking to be a very useful decision-making approach in business and in life.

Answering the questions is the time-consuming part.

If I cast my mind back 10 or 20 years I see some fundamental shifts in my own beliefs. The sweep of history, back through millennia and in recent times helps inform certain beliefs – if we are open to the lessons of the past.

I know I am posing lots of questions but I have found question asking to be a very useful decision-making approach in business and in life. Answering the questions is the time-consuming part.

If you were forced to sit down (or forced yourself to do so) and pen your own I Believe song could you do it?

Would you struggle or would it be easy? Would this exercise lead to any questioning of what you thought you believed? Would it lead to an update/ revision of your values and the way you lead your life?

It may prove a simple, ‘no-questionsasked’ exercise for you. You may hold that firmly to what you believe.

Or, it may become a thoughtful work-in-progress, something you bother at an intellectual and soul-level until you have articulated what it is you actually believe.

Some beliefs die hard and abrupt deaths when new information or the zeitgeist shifts dramatically - the outbreak of a war for example when we had believed that nations had moved beyond this form of conflict.

Others slowly melt away, ebbing into the night silently without real

scrutiny or thought.

The evolution of our belief systems over a lifetime, especially a lifetime lived in the modern age of rapid technological and social change, can result in the emergence of newish and reinvigorated selves on a semi-regular basis.

Adopting new or altered beliefs can be a kind-of rebirth.

An example of a belief which I have shed is one which I held as a young person growing up in the latter half of the 20th century – that civilisation progresses in a linear fashion i.e. everything keeps getting better and improving as society and technology move forward.

I have now understood from a greater appreciation of history (see the Dark Ages in Europe following the collapse of the western Roman Empire) and also having observed the impacts of war and great dislocation on countries and people, that progress (material, technological, social etc) is certainly

not guaranteed and in fact, reversions to prior levels of poverty, autocratic government and social dysfunction is not only possible but always lurking if we do not continue to focus on the building blocks of what we now take for granted.

I also, rather naively as it turns out, grew up thinking that democracy was the natural and best state for humankind.

I know now that democracy is certainly not guaranteed as a system of government, and indeed, is a rather new form of governing with the jury still out on whether it has the longevity of the ages or is simply itself a passing fad in humanity’s long history of organisational models.

This updated knowledge or belief allows me to live with great gratitude and awareness of the many boons which we benefit from.

I believe … in not taking anything for granted.

The Mary Valley rewards with a landscape patch-worked with grazing cattle, macadamia farms, rainforests, endless rolling hills and quaint heritage towns.

The Noosa Trail Network is a series of world-class, multi-use trails for walking, mountain biking and horse-riding.

The Great Sandy Biosphere is home to the tallest and most complete rainforests growing on sand. It also provides the world’s best observable example of ancient sand dunes.

The Noosa region was declared a Biosphere Reverve by UNESCO in 2007. Adjacent is the Great Sandy Biosphere - the world’s only two adjoining biospheres.

The Noosa Biosphere Reserve is home to 2346 species of plants and over 700 species of native animalsat least 49 of these are internationally significant.

61 different regional ecosystems have been identified within the Noosa Biosphere Reserve.

44% of all Australia’s birdlife diversity resides within the Noosa Biosphere.

Explore the Noosa Everglades and Upper Noosa River by canoe, boat, kayak or on foot.

Noosa River is the only river system in Australia that has its entire upper catchment protected in National Park.

66% of the Noosa Shire has high value biodiversity significance.

There are more than 450km of public bikeways and walking paths through the Noosa Biosphere Reserve.

Noosa is one of 10 World Surfing Reserves around the globe.

RARITY FOR A SELECT FEW

Cape Bouvard Developments is proud to announce the final release of luxury residential apartments in Noosa’s award-winning Settler’s Cove precinct. Two exquisite penthouses boasting more than 500m2 of floor area are included in this latest offering, both of which feature unique 250m2 terraces with integrated planters that will allow the landscaping to link seamlessly with the surrounding bushland reserve. To secure your private sanctuary in this very rare and special corner of inner Noosa, contact the sales team today.

Visit www.tallowresidences.com.au or call 1300 10 10 50 for more information. Display apartment open by appointment.