Power of One: Synonymous with proven uncompromising dedication and excellence, whilst harnessing the power of digital connectivity and innovation, drives strong economic participation, inclusion and premium results.
Backed by a thriving workplace culture of likeminded individuals, a cohesive team of hand-picked professionals who share the vision to exceed industry standards, and with impeccable meticulous systems and processes in place, no detail is overlooked. The motivation is to deliver a gold class client experience every step of the property way.
Number One: A database and local market knowledge accumulated over three decades, is the driving force behind the Sunshine Coast’s leading property agency, archetypically at the top end of town where in the past 12 months total sales in Noosa Heads and Sunshine Beach, Tom Offermann Real Estate has sold more than the next 4 agencies combined.
SUCCESS SINCE 1992
ell, here we are at the halfway mark of the year - and what a ride so far!
We’ve just wrapped up Noosa Eat & Drink 2024 with four days celebrating local food, drinks and unforgettable experiences! Kudos to the event organisers and all the local businesses that got involved to create a world-class showcase of just how delicious Noosa is.
There’s no time to rest as we lunge into the last half of the year with more exciting and engaging events in store!
Starting with Sunny Coast Showdown’s Showfest with our own Lights! Camera! Lunch! event at Bella Venezia; our focus will then turn to Earth, a four-day sustainable living event at The Village Peregian Beach; then it’s off to Hastings Street for the award-winning Noosa Concours d’Elegance. The end of July is a cultural feast with a Rob Dolan wine lunch at Sunshine Beach Surf Club; plus the return of Noosa Alive and The Curated Plate both offering ten days of starstudded and mouthwatering fun!
The final month of winter we’ll host an Italian wine lunch at Noosa Waterfront; celebrate Noosa Cup Raceday at Sunshine Coast Turf Club, and head into spring with the aweinspiring Australian Wearable Art and Noosa Jazz Festivals.
We’ll also hit the road for the Mundubbera Blueberry Festival, and Gympie’s Heart of Gold Film Festival. Get INto it!
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 local businesses and hanging out with her boys John and 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.
MELANIE ROSETTENSTEIN SENIOR WRITER + MARKETING COORDINATOR
Melanie is a passionate storyteller with 17 years of experience in journalism, communications, and PR. When not writing, she can be found beachside attempting to further her ‘murfer’ (mother who surfs) career, in a remote camping location or cheering her kids on from the side of the sport’s field.
CHLOE KNIGHT MARKETING INTERN
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.
ASSISTANT EDITOR + WRITER
Rebecca is a writer, editor and communications consultant with a passion for connecting people and brands through storytelling. When she’s not writing or reading, you might find her moseying around cute hinterland towns, stomping along a forest track, or hanging out at the beach with her husband, two small kids and rascally sheepdog.
MICHELLE TAIT ACCOUNTS + ADMINISTRATION
Michelle has a Bachelor of Business plus 30+ years’ Administration experience in both private and government sectors. She loves all things local, has a creative flair as a handbag designer and is passionate about sustainable fashion. She loves exploring the region with hubby Ian and puppo Daisy aka ‘Pocket Rocket’.
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.
JAKKI GOODALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
With 30 years’ experience in Marketing, Advertising, Sales and Promotions as well as an MBA, Jakki loves to connect with and 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.
MILLIE ROBSON DESIGN
Millie recently completed a Bachelor of Design and now works as a freelance designer. After spending her youth across the UK, USA, and Australia, she has called the Sunshine Coast home for almost a decade.
Naturally creative, Millie is passionate about graphic design and finds joy in sewing, cooking, and spending time at the beach.
Stay INformed with our e-newsletter: www.innoosamagazine.com.au
Bookings close: 29 July 2024
Art Deadline: 5 August 2024
hello@inpublishing.com.au www.innoosamagazine.com.au
Chloe will soon graduate with a Business degree and Double Major in Marketing and Design from the University of the Sunshine Coast. She grew up surfing, skating and swimming and is fuelled by a love for market research and social media, plus an açaí bowl here and there. Chloe is eager to ride the next wave of innovation in the dynamic world of marketing.
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!
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.
A musician, journalist and screenwriter, who learned to write songs with Powderfinger, spell and write sentences at the ABC, and make film from the internet. Warning: Jon is deaf and slightly unhinged from drumming, both prerequisites for working at IN Noosa Magazine.
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.
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).
Kimberley is a creative, driven individual with an effortless sense of style and a passion for creating magic on the page. She brings 20 years of media, retail and design experience, including managing stores and working as a commercial and residential interior designer and runs her own boutique styling agency, Jones Styling.
Luke is a seasoned meditation practitioner with 25+ years of dedicated experience in the realm of mindfulness and meditation. He was a Zenthai Shiatsu therapist and teacher for 15 years as well as running his own carpentry business since 2005. He divides his time between corporate mindfulness sessions, personal consultations and sharing guided meditation at events like the Woodford Folk Festival. You could also find him building something out of timber, writing a book or in the ocean.
A highly regarded chef with a passion for simple, produce-driven 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.
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.
Carlie has spent the last 30 years in the media and entertainment industry. She is a passionate storyteller and writer, event MC, ambassador for local businesses, owns her own fashion label, Wacker Clothing Company; and is dogobsessed.
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
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.
Jodie is a city-turned-country-turned-coastal chick with a degree in Journalism & PR and a passion for events. 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.
Bec was a television and newspaper journalist for 18 years before she swapped newsrooms for boardrooms to work in corporate and government communications. These days, Bec is happiest at the laptop, surrounded by words, people and stories – preferably with a strong black coffee nearby.
Stay INformed with our e-newsletter: www.innoosamagazine.com.au
FOUNDER/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
Unit 12, 2-6 Focal Avenue, Coolum Beach PO Box 542, Noosa Heads Q 4567 www.innoosamagazine.com.au
DISTRIBUTION: For winter, 15,000 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 publication. Inclusion of any copy must not be taken as any endorsement by The Publisher. Views expressed by contributions are personal views and they are not necessarily endorsed by The Publisher.
Discover Alsahwa Farm and its commitment to creating a better world for mind, body and planet.
IN appreciation! We would like to thank all the local businesses that have supported us, the people who have shared their stories with us and the team members who have helped us grow.
Raise a glass to the latest World Award winners from Woombye!
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 NOOSA Magazine is printed on 100% recyclable paper. Made with love. Please enjoy!
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Discover the secret weapon to balancing performance and recovery.
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The winter fashion forecast is hot - farm fashion and bohemian chic!
ON THE COVER Banksias in a Ceramic Vase by Emma Nancarrow.
Discover Emma's art and her story on page 10.
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Enter a world of colour and creative passion.
Download the Everyone Has a Story: Conversations from the Sunshine Coast and Noosa podcast with 200+ interviews and fresh content regularly!
Event: The Art of Luxe
Venue: The G Contemporary Gallery
Luxe Coastal Buyer's Agent Founder Christine Mount brought together an expert panel providing insights into the property market, interior design, economic growth and key trendswhilst also raising more than $3,000 for the McGrath Foundation.
Find out more, including the key insights from the night on page 176.
Event: Hello Sunshine Magazine autumn edition launch
Venue: Champagne Garden, Sunshine Coast Turf Club
Bright and beautiful was the theme for the launch of Hello Sunshine Magazine’s autumn edition at the equally-stunning Champagne Garden! Overlooking all the action of the Track, Winning Post and Parade Ring, it was odds-on favourite that the latest edition was sure to be a winner.
Event: Go With The Flow launch
Venue: Bendigo Bank, Tewantin-Noosa branch
Artists and art lovers united for the launch of Bendigo Bank’s latest public art exhibition at its Tewantin-Noosa branch. A range of works by local artists, including Noosa Arts and Craft Association members were carefullycurated to present a fee-free showcase of inspiring art. Keep an eye out for Bendigo Bank’s ever-changing exhibitions that are sure to spark a lot of interest!
PHOTOS: IAN WALDIE
Event: Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea
Venue: Sunshine Beach Surf Club
Sunshine Beach Real Estate and friends raised over $5,700 for the Cancer Council as part of Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea.
With a range of superb tea flowing from Tea Shop Noosa and raffle prizes generously donated by local businesses, it was all about coming together for a great cause.
PHOTOS: IAN WALDIE
Event: Women’s Wealth Legacy Lunch
Venue: Lanai Noosa
The Mojo Maker Nikki Fogden-Moore brought together an inspiring panel of powerhouse women to share their journey to financial freedom. The room was buzzing with beautiful food and inspiring conversations to break down the barriers around discussing wealth for women - everyone was richer for the experience!
What makes a piece of art speak, what attracts and entices you to cross the room for a closer look and what keeps you looking, holding your gaze? For Emma Nancarrow, our Winter cover artist, the answer is simple – colour, and her life would be unrecognisable without it!
Jodie Cameron visits Emma’s studio to unearth the inspiration behind this Noosa native’s strikingly serene and diverse collection of art…
Nestled in the foothills of Mount Tinbeerwah, as I arrive at Emma’s rural haven I am greeted by Buddy the Australian Shepherd, who clearly loves being part of the action and is right at home in the lush, natural landscapes and tranquil billabongs.
Emma’s home is a piece of art in itself – a rammed-earth residence laden with stylish treasures both old and modern, including the newest addition, a studio where Emma creates private commissions and custom pieces while combining her love of interior design.
Her keen eye is evident from the rustic and raw materials of her surroundings to the earthiness of her artwork that adorn the walls of her studio.
The first painting I see when I walk into Emma’s studio is Take me Back – a stunning free-flowing abstract of a gorge in the Northern Territory, its deep, rich ochre tones reminiscent of the Australian outback and the inspiration behind many of Emma’s landscapes.
“My best friend and our families travelled to Uluru to celebrate our 40th birthdays and we visited all the spectacular ranges,” Emma recalls.
“I took so many photos - the colours were amazing; as were the camel rides and dinner under the stars – I came back really inspired from that trip.”
As Emma’s son begins rounding up the cattle outside the studio, I can’t help but
relax as I take in the exquisite surroundings. Life is calm for this self-taught creative girl at heart – well, when there aren’t mowers, motorbikes or tractors on the go!
Growing up in Sunshine Beach, Emma was part of the first grade one class at Sunshine Beach State School and to this day, is still friends with her schoolmates.
“My parents have been on the Coast for over 50 years, I grew up with the best of both worlds – the beach and riding horses in the hinterland,” she says.
She studied Art and Commercial Graphics at high school and undertook many artistic courses over the years including ceramics, photography and floristry design.
Working exclusively with acrylics, Emma’s art brings to life abstract, aerial, native, floral, still life, landscapes and animals while drawing on inspiration from the world around her – including blooms from her gardens, as she loves bringing the outside in.
“I love gardening and native gardens; being outside and watching how new life grows and am amazed how I can chop it, bring it inside and paint it,” says Emma.
Undertaking a floristry course early in her career paved the way for Emma’s artistic adventures, while combining her deep love of colour and earthy interiors.
“I pretty much subscribe to every interior design magazine that’s out
there; I love the combination of finding that perfect piece of artwork that fits into a particular space and suits the overall design,” she says. “I love everything from country shacks to modern farmhouses. My style is eclectic, but contemporary with a homely feel, and I like to mix and match, old with new and some handmade too.”
Living an idyllic childhood on the Coast and now, a contented family life with her husband Carl and two sons Charlie and Levi, creative genes run deep in Emma’s family, particularly on her mother’s side.
“My Grandmother and my Aunt were both very experienced ceramicists so I inherited the pottery gene and I’ve enjoyed learning more about it throughout my life,” she says.
Emma’s Mum is also very creative, with the duo sharing a passion for floristry, the inspiration behind Emma’s floral series. Her mum used to enter Ikebana contests when she was younger; Ikebana or ‘making flowers alive’ is the Japanese art of flower arrangement and when you see Emma’s floral paintings, you can see the family talent runs deep.
Being an artist can sometimes be isolating, so Emma enjoys spending time with her artistic community, and participating in workshops at Cooroy’s Atelier 34 on anything from pottery and photography, to weaving.
“I love Atelier 34 because the space
is so inspiring and I am instinctively drawn to anything that’s creative where I get to meet other people and keep that creative flow going,” she says.
Emma’s naturally warm and gentle demeanour is endearing, and her pure passion for painting is evident in the way her eyes smile as she shares that most of her subjects are from her garden, just outside the studio.
Emma’s stunning native floral series and the way she captures the texture, almost looks like a photograph.
“I paint from memory some of the time, but I capture a lot of what I paint through photos I have taken myself of flowers in my garden or from images people send me,” Emma says.
While Emma adores painting florals, they are very detailed and tend to require more focus and accuracy so she loves
having artistic licence to mix it up with different styles, depending on her mood.
Her abstract work is a combination of both – an inspirational photo that she likes and adds her own style to, or photos from places she’s travelled to.
“When I am feeling really bold and loose, I will focus on something abstract,” she says. “I enjoy working in different styles and it’s nice to paint something detailed then switch and paint something free and varied.”
Working with local and interstate interior designers, Emma produces signature and large-scale pieces to enhance any interior space from hotel foyers to aged care facilities – anywhere that needs colour and vibrancy, including Imperial Hotel Boutique in Eumundi and Essence at Peregian Beach, where her art is featured in the individual houses.
studio, Emma is excited to be part of Noosa Open Studios which will give visitors a unique glimpse into the behind-the-scenes world of their favourite local artists from 30 August to 8 September .
“I work with colours based on the concept of what it’s going with in the house, so I like to use bold colours but with earthy ochre tones that will warm up a space while complementing the other items of furniture in the house or room,” she explains. “The artwork can bring the whole project together.”
The beauty of Emma’s work is the local elements she carries throughout, and I am particularly intrigued by her Aerial Series, which she paints from images of maps and features earthy masculine colours but also edgy freeflowing abstract work.
“The Aerial Series has been really popular with everyone, but in particular males because I think sometimes the guys find it difficult to find artwork that they really love or have something they can associate it with,” she says. “The aerials resonate because they can point out a lake or a golf course – it puts things into perspective.”
With the completion of her home
“I am looking forward to opening my studio to the public for the first time, it’s been a long time in the making but I am excited to be having my studio full of original artworks and reproductions for viewing and purchase,” she says.
I spy Emma’s thriving veggie garden out the window so we wrap up our time with a tour and as we meander through her gorgeous gardens, chat about a giant hare who keeps eating all of their lettuce; meet the family pony, Cowboy; and visit a glamorous chicken coop – I feel like this place really is heaven on earth.
Meeting Emma has inspired me to spend more time in the garden and bring some Ikebana into my home.
She has also reminded me just how important it is to stop, go slow and appreciate the natural beauty and colour in life that surrounds us with every turn.
“I simply cannot imagine my life without colour or art,” she says. “It is the finishing touch that can complete any space.”
Race against your friends or be matched with a fellow ninja warrior in the Ultimate Ninja-Kids Obstacle Course these school holidays.
Dates: Wed 26 June – Tues 2 July Times: 10am - 1pm
Location: Noosa Civic Food Court
Cost: Free
TjumpBoth parents and kids will be jumping for joy at Noosa Civic these school holidays as their Ultimate Ninja Kids’ Course provides children with the chance to scramble, swing and leap to their hearts’ content, discovers Rebecca Jamieson Dwyer
here’s one thing every parent looks for during the school holiday –activities that are guaranteed to tire the kids out. Luckily, Noosa Civic got the memo!
When it comes to these winter school holidays, don’t miss the arrival of their Ultimate Ninja Kids’ Course – a giant inflatable obstacle course where kids can scramble, climb, run and leap with abandon, racing against their friends to see who can be the fastest ninja.
Not only is this a great way to burn off excess energy come rain or shine, there are also multiple benefits to kids challenging themselves on the ninja course, including improving coordination, practising climbing and balancing skills, building core and upper body strength, discovering their own physical limits, challenging themselves to do hard things, and more.
Suitable for kids over 90cm high and five years old, it promotes risky play in a controlled setting, so you can grab a
coffee and sit down while they do all the hard work (or you can accompany little ones on there if you feel like helping them unleash their inner baby ninja).
The Ultimate Ninja Kids’ Course will be open from Wednesday 26 June to Tuesday 2 July from 10am to 1pm, and entry is completely FREE!
In other exciting Noosa Civic news, Sharp Jiu Jitsu and the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) have just arrived in the centre, giving you more options than ever before when it comes to fitness and finance.
A world-class academy, Sharp Jiu Jitsu teaches Brazilian Jiu-jitsu from ages three and up, fusing Brazilian Jiu-jitsu and self-defence with popular group functional fitness under the guidance of elite coaches. Meanwhile, CBA have relocated their only branch in the area from Noosa Heads to a brand-new $1.5 million branch in the business centre, giving customers an exciting new space in which to do their banking.
Work has also been forging ahead on the much-anticipated Noosa Business Centre – a thriving and sustainable enterprise-based centre, which will provide the community with a brand new Medihub, a modern, purpose-built Early Learning Centre, and a stunning, leafy Village Green-style entertainment precinct, complete with cafes, restaurants and a Reading Cinemas complex.
As part of this development, a stylish new residential complex, Hof Noosaville, is scheduled for completion in 2025, being described as ‘Where Noosa comes home’ and celebrating our coastal, casual lifestyle, these one, two- and threebedroom apartments will be nestled in leafy surrounds, and have been carefully designed to capture the light, beauty and breezes of the surrounding hinterland. Fun activities, amazing shopping, and exciting plans to build a strong community for the future? Make sure you jump into Noosa Civic this winter!
Trident Property Advisory and Cancer Care Associates have joined forces to create the truly innovative Specialist Medical Centre located at 36 Hofmann Drive, Noosaville, incorporating world-class facilities and treatment with biophilic design elements for a positive patient experience, Rebecca Jamieson Dwyer discovers.
The phrase ‘cancer treatment’ conjures up all sorts of images: clinical waiting areas, uncomfortable chairs, windowless treatment rooms and intimidating radiation oncology bunkers, to name just a few.
But for Noosa residents, these sterile surroundings will soon be a thing of the past with the opening of a modern, state-of-the-art Cancer Care Noosa centre created by developer Trident Property Advisory and cancer specialists Cancer Care Associates, within Noosa Business Centre’s brand-new Health Precinct in Noosaville.
Not only is the Cancer Care Noosa centre being constructed to the very highest quality standards, but patient experience has been considered through every step of the design process, resulting in a space that feels more reminiscent of a high-end hotel than a traditional medical facility, with the aim of making patients feel more relaxed and comfortable during their treatment.
Incorporating natural light is a huge focus of the design, as is including biophilic elements – the process of increasing occupant connectivity with the natural environment – through the
... patients will be spending a huge amount of time here, so it was important to us to create a facility that is serene, comfortable and nurturing.
inclusion of a rainforest area, which will be the first thing visitors see on arrival after they walk down the impressive porte-cochère entranceway.
Pleasant outlooks have been prioritised throughout the building, and the rainforest area will be the view for patients as they sit in the comfortable oncology chairs while receiving their chemotherapeutic or haematology treatment (a process that can take up to seven hours), helping them feel more at ease and connected to the outside world throughout the process.
The team at Cancer Care Associates have been providing care to cancer patients for over 30 years, and
understand that people undergoing cancer treatment are experiencing some of the hardest times of their lives, as well as the need to create a comprehensive, state-of-the-art facility that is holistic in its approach to care.
Trident Property Advisory Chairman, Shaun Douglas, says: “In terms of quality, design and aesthetics, there’s nothing else like it in the region.
“We teamed up with Cancer Care Associates because we wanted to help create a facility that matters – where people can feel comfortable as they receive their treatment.
“We know that patients will be spending a huge amount of time here, so it was important to us to create a facility that is serene, comfortable and nurturing.
“We’re trying to take away that hospital feel and bring a more human element to the environment.”
At 1,300 square metres, the class 9A Cancer Care Noosa centre will be the largest in the region, incorporating radiation oncology, medical oncology and haematology, as well as an oncology pharmacy and access to national and international clinical trials.
Agreements are also underway with a radiology provider, and a comprehensive breast clinic on an additional 1,200 square metres, making this a comprehensive precinct for a huge range of treatments – giving patients everything they need in one convenient, close-to-home location.
Cancer Care Noosa is being built for the whole community, aiming to provide treatment not just to the wealthy but to everyone who needs it.
Staff experience has been considered too, with facilities such as showers and
50 bicycle parks to encourage sustainable commuting for workers, alongside more than 150 car parks.
“Noosa Council has been highly supportive throughout the entire development and construction process,” says Shaun. “They recognise the value we’re bringing to the community through the creation of this world-class facility.”
Trident Advisory Group are currently looking for like-minded medical practitioners to join the Specialist Medical Centre as tenants, with the
With 70% of the space pre-committed to radiologist and cancer care providers, Noosa Health Precinct offers opportunities for medical consulting rooms or hospital use with facilities including:
• 3,800sqm of A-grade, class 9A certifiable medical space
• Sizes ranging from 70sqm to 1,033sqm
• Patient drop-off zone and dedicated ambulance bays
• High-quality end-of-trip facilities
• 150+ on grade car-parking for visitors and patients
• Power charging stations with solar power, strong green and sustainability credentials Visit www.noosahealthprecinct.com.au
opportunity for specific required elements to be incorporated into the design – an exciting opportunity for anyone with a bold vision who wants to be part of this next wave of healthcare.
With the greater Noosa region experiencing notable population growth and an ageing demographic, Trident Property Advisory’s vision for the medical precinct is to support a healthier and more connected community.
Due to open in December 2024, this purpose-built facility is set to seriously revolutionise healthcare in our region.
The Noosa Health Precinct has been specifically designed for medical specialties with patient and specialist convenience being a strong consideration during design. www.noosahealthprecinct.com.au
the QR code to find out more about leasing opportunities.
Vincart | Branch Manager
Move over Banksy, there’s a different kind of bank that has the art world talking. Bendigo Bank has gone gaga for gallery, proudly showcasing local artists inside local branches with new exhibitions regularly and retail pop-ups that are fee-free. Story by Bec Marshall.
Banks. Typically predictable, practical and ordinary spaces. No-nonsense places of business, where function overrides form.
Isn’t it a surprise, then, to walk into a local Bendigo Bank branch and experience something unexpected or memorable while sorting out your finances?
Known for doing banking differently, and with a proud tradition of giving back to local communities, Bendigo Bank has embraced the innovative concept of dual-purposing its Tewantin, Cooroy and Marcoola branches as year-round gallery spaces to provide unexpected and memorable experiences for customers and opportunities for creative spirits.
Colleen Ginty is art liaison and curator of exhibitions in all three branches and can help us understand the link between a bank and art.
“The connection came from the question ‘What is the future of a bank branch in our community?’” Colleen said. “The reality is that more people are banking online, but there is still a need for personal banking so we see our bank branches predominantly as customer support centres and then we looked at what else the branch could be used for.
“We see art as an essential part of our community; the act of creating art, of appreciating art and, in some cases, earning an income from art. There is a mutual benefit to the artist who gets to display and sell their work in our branches and our bank benefits from ever-changing, visual feasts.”
Bendigo Bank does not charge artists to exhibit their work and does not take any commission on sales the artists make or insist that the artists are a customer of Bendigo Bank (but why wouldn’t you?!).
ancestors carved for us.”
Nikita said she hoped to contribute to a conversation that was a continuous part of our education and history.
The Tewantin branch also has a Retail Pop Up space that supports local makers and creators to pilot a new product, a retail concept to engage with a new audience.
Colleen said exhibitions were refreshed every 4-6 weeks with each new showcase changing the vibe of the branch and creating conversation amongst the staff and customers.
“And you don’t need to be a customer to come into the branches to look at the artwork – everyone is welcome,” she said. “The staff absolutely love how the space changes with each exhibition. It’s an opportunity for them to connect with customers as well as the exhibiting artists. A number of the staff have even purchased artwork.”
Colleen has locked in a sublime selection of First Nations’ artworks for a special NAIDOC Week exhibition series from the end of June to early August.
As one of the featured artists, Nikita Fitzpatrick said she was excited for the NAIDOC showcase at the Cooroy branch.
“I’ve got new works in the pipeline and I’m eager to show my new digital set and a few collaborative photographic works and installations,” she said. “The specific piece I’ve chosen tells the story of our people from all backgrounds standing together in solidarity to keep our stories relevant and alive by using the art form and knowledge to showcase togetherness and the pathways our
“I hope my art can create a beautiful escape for people to see our stories from a different perspective and understanding,” she said. “I’m a contemporary fascinations artist; second generation self-taught. I would love for people to want to learn more once they see my art and the message I’m trying to spread, which is love and connection.”
Bendigo Bank’s commitment to the arts extends even further to continue as Platinum sponsors of Noosa Open Studios for the second year.
Noosa Open Studios President Carol Watkins said Bendigo Bank’s sponsorship had been “a huge support” for the much-loved event, now in its ninth year.
“Bendigo Bank and Noosa Open Studios have much in common, being community focused organisations and I know many artists appreciate the support and the chance to stage exhibitions in the local branches.
“It gives them a wonderful opportunity to showcase their work to Bendigo Bank customers and passers-by.”
COOROY BRANCH: 4 – 30 July
Nikita Fitzpatrick, New Dreaming Art MARCOOLA BRANCH: 25 June – 8 August
Zartisha Davis, Chilly Alma
TEWANTIN BRANCH: 5 July – 2 August
Mu’raay Mulcahy, Gaiungan Gallery
For information on the Retail Pop Up space: www.sunnycoastcommunityconnection.com. au/retail-pop-up
Noosa Open Studios: 30 August - 8 Sept www.noosaopenstudios.com.au
Understanding the power of LICs is as simple as transporting yourself to a time and space when comic books and confectionery preoccupied your thoughts. John Caruso explains...
Imagine buying a basket of Australia’s best performing companies, at a discount! That’s the magic of Listed Investment Companies or LICs as we’ll refer to them in this article.
Think of them as investment superheroes, pooling your money with others, then using that pool to buy a bunch of shares – however unlike some superheroes, LICs are transparent, so you’ll always know exactly what’s in their portfolio.
There’s a whole crew of LICs out there, each with its own specialty. Some focus on established giants like BHP and CBA (think veteran superheroes like Captain America), while others target up-andcoming companies (think Iron Man in his early days).
Here’s the best part: sometimes these LIC superheroes go on sale! Their share price can be lower than the actual value of the companies they own. For example, in April, the legendary AFIC was trading at a 6.6% discount, which is like getting a discount on a whole box of your favourite chocolates!
“AFIC is the oldest and the biggest LIC, founded in Melbourne in 1926 and the next biggest is the South Australian company Argo Investment Ltd, founded in 1946 and chaired in the early 1980s by Sir Donald Bradman.” explains Matthew Auger, a partner and stockbroker at Morgans Noosa.
“Of greater local interest is the Wilson Asset Management group of LICs, founded by a bloke who now lives locally, Geoff Wilson. His flagship LIC, WAM Capital listed in 1999, and famed Melbourne stockbroker and philanthropist Sir Ian Potter founded
Chris Riley’s Youth Off The Streets, amongst others.
... imagine buying a box of chocolates where each piece is individually priced, but you can get the whole box for a bit less.
Australian United Investment Company in 1953 and his charitable foundation remains its largest shareholder.”
LICs are also shareholder friendly. Many, like AFIC, kept their dividend payouts steady even during COVID, while some even donated their management fees to charities - like a superhero who gives back to the community.
Matthew said an example of an LIC with a philanthropic purpose was the Future Generation Australia Ltd (FGX) which Geoff Wilson set up a decade ago.
“With FGX, the underlying managers donate their management fee to charity,” he said. “In the case of FGX, the stock is selected by well-known fund managers like Regal Funds Management, and the charities they support include Father
“Over the year to April, FGX generated a 12.7% return compared with its benchmark, the All-Ords Accumulation Index, which was up 9.9%.
“Doing good doesn’t mean having to sacrife returns.”
So, how do you choose the right LIC?
Once you’ve picked an LIC that invests in the types of companies you like, maybe big, established ones or smaller up-and-comers, there are a couple of things to keep an eye on.
First, how well has the LIC been doing? Think team sport.
You want the team – the LIC’s management, for example – to be growing the value of the companies they own, their portfolio, faster than a similar group, let’s call them their benchmark, and this growth is called the Net Tangible Asset (NTA).
So, when you read or hear something like the following reported, you’ll be able to break it down into smaller chunks.
Geoff Wilson’s WAM Capital aims to beat the ASX All Ords Accumulation Index, and it did do well, growing its NTA by 22.2% compared to the Index’s 9.9% growth in a year.
You still with me? Great, let’s continue.
Everybody’s interested in getting a good deal these days, and sometimes you can buy an LIC for less than the actual value of the companies it owns!
This is called a “discount to NTA”, so back to the chocolates analogy, imagine buying a box of chocolates where each piece is individually priced, but you can get the whole box for a bit less.
Before you jump in, always check with your broker if an LIC is on sale (discount) or overpriced (premium) compared to its NTA. This can help you decide if it’s a good time to buy.
“LICs are attractive to investors as they take away single stock risk such as a profit downgrade, which happened to Telstra a few weeks ago, however they offer the benefit of diversification and a more reliable dividend stream which is important to retirees,” Matthew said.
So, if you’re looking for a way to diversify your portfolio, get some reliable dividends, and potentially score a discount on a basket of great companies, then LICs might just be your investment kryptonite! Just remember to consult your financial advisor before making any decisions.
The information in this article is generic in nature and you should always seek your own financial advice before making any investment decisions.
Did you know that between the Noosa and Sunshine Coast regions there are just over 40,000 smallbusinesses registered?
When you think about it – it is small business that is the heart and soul of our region.
They are in every industry from tourism to manufacturing, food and agribusiness, cleantech, professional services and everything in between.
Small businesses employ the people who work in the café and restaurants, or who do your accounting, provide you with legal advice or who treat you when you are unwell.
They also produce the local meat, eggs, milk, cheese and veges that we so proudly showcase across the region; and they fix our plumbing, build our homes, tile our bathrooms, help with maintenance, service our cars and publish first class publications (like the one you are reading).
Without small business, our economy ceases to thrive.
We succeed as a region because we have a thriving ecosystem of small businesses that continue to evolve, adapt, collaborate and pivot every year.
They are run by hardworking, committed, dedicated humans that are more resilient than even they realise.
It is for this reason that the Sunshine Coast Business Awards exist. Every year we encourage these incredible businesses to enter the awards and gain the recognition they deserve for running an outstanding local business - big or small.
And we are once again off and running for 2024, having launched this year’s awards at a breakfast attended by 250 people in early May.
The awards are an important platform for our business community as they allow us to recognise and celebrate the success of the talent we are very fortunate to have here on the Sunshine Coast.
Now in their 29th year the business awards have become a highly recognised business recognition program that I truly
Sunshine Coast Business Awards Chair Jennifer Swaine shares why she believes in the importance of supporting and celebrating local businesses.
believe is on par with any awards program in Australia!
Testimony to the value, people and businesses place on the prestige and recognition of these awards, every year we see an increase in entries and the calibre of the businesses who enter continues to rise.
The Sunshine Coast Business Awards are open to ALL Sunshine Coast and Noosa businesses that have been operating in the region for 12 months or more. You do not have to be nominated to enter and it is not a popularity contest – multiple nominations will make no difference should you choose to apply. But you should apply, or nominate your favourite local business!
The Sunshine Coast Business Awards belong to all of us and provides a platform that allows businesses from across our region to be recognised for their outstanding business efforts.
Please let an outstanding local business know that you value them by nominating them today!
Applications Close: Monday 26 August, 5pm
Finalists Announced: Thursday 19
September
Finalists Media Masterclass and Cocktail
Reception: 10 October
Sunshine Coast Business Awards Gala: Saturday 9 November www.sunshinecoastbusinessawards.com.au
As the world becomes more unpredictable, business insurance premiums are rising. Melanie Rosettenstein asks an expert why ensuring your business is covered for a rainy day is more important than ever.
It’s no secret that business insurance premiums are generally on the rise with some sectors stabilising but as a necessary line item in the annual budget, business owners should think twice about cutting their business insurance to save on costs.
Industry experts are anticipating a 10-15% increase in premiums across several types of insurance this year and attributes the uptick to various factors.
Alleviate Risk’s Morgan Appleby said that catastrophic losses from natural disasters together with high inflation and supply issues were having a significant impact on premiums as insurers face greater risks, a rise in reinsurance costs, and financial exposures.
“A tightening of underwriting capacity also means fewer insurers are willing to take on high-risk establishments, which also increases costs,” he said.
Despite rising premiums, Morgan said businesses must resist the temptation of reducing their insurance coverage.
“Insurance provides businesses with a safety net against operational risks and unforeseen events,” he says.
“It also protects businesses that have substantial investments in property, equipment and inventory by protecting these assets from damage or loss - and ensuring a quick recovery of essential items should something go wrong.”
To sustain an uninsured loss in a tougher economic environment where cash flow is tight can cause significant stress on all aspects of the business operations.
Businesses are also legally required to have different forms of insurance including workers’ compensation, liability insurance and motor insurance with failure to comply bringing the risk of fines, legal penalties, and even the suspension of business operations.
“Insurance also allows for business continuity in the face of unforeseen events that may cause damage to your property or halt operations,” Morgan said. “It enables businesses to continue
to operate after a major incident if it covers items such as lost income, and is important to help maintain cash flow while a business recovers from disaster.”
To get the best insurance deals for your business, Morgan recommends the following:
1. Assess your needs: Determine the types and levels of coverage your business requires.
2. Risk management: Implement strong risk management practices to reduce the likelihood of claims. This can include safety training for employees, installing security systems, and maintaining a safe work environment.
3. Review your insurance regularly: Regularly review and update your insurance policies to reflect changes in your business. This ensures you’re not paying for unnecessary coverage and helps adjust for any new risks.
4. Work with an insurance broker: A broker can provide expert advice and help negotiate the best terms as they have access to a variety of insurance
It also protects those who have substantial investments in property, equipment, and inventory protecting these assets from damage or lossand ensuring a quick recovery of these essential items should something go wrong.
Events like the Black Summer and multiple large-scale flooding events underscore the critical need for comprehensive business insurance. These events have shown how unpredictable and devastating largescale disasters can be, affecting businesses across all sectors and regions. By doing the research, implementing stringent safety procedures, and keeping your finger on the pulse of your insurance policies, rising premiums can be managed.
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. providers.
As a highly-qualified insurance brokerage, Alleviate Risk has a proven track record working with all types of businesses from start-ups to large-scale corporations and industry leaders, ensuring a safety net in case of disaster.
With access to multiple providers and a wide range of products such as Business Pack, ISR, Commercial Property Owners, Public Liability, Professional Indemnity, Management Liability, and Cyber Protection, Alleviate Risk is the ultimate partner for safeguarding against the unpredictable.
Isn’t it worth doing what you can today to protect your business against the unknown challenges you might face tomorrow?
Book an obligation-free insurance health check with Alleviate today, phone 5458 6880.
For General Insurance: Alleviate Risk Pty Ltd ATF The Alleviate Risk Unit Trust T/As Alleviate Risk Management & Business Insurance Is a Corporate Authorised Representative of Insurance Advisernet Australia Pty Ltd, AFSL 240549, CAR 1234983 www.insuranceadviser.net. Morgan Appleby Adviser Number No: 280983.
New to all of this insurance business? No problem!
The best is coming to Maroochydore
It was “Hello Sunset” for a Hello Sunshine Magazine launch that reached new heights in the Maroochydore City Centre.
We love bringing our clients together to celebrate the birth of another edition of Hello Sunshine Magazine, particularly when it’s in a stunning venue such as Altitude Nine in the Maroochydore City Centre.
Situated at the top of Sunshine Coast Council City Hall with sweeping views over Maroochy River and the hinterland, Altitude Nine puts you on Cloud Nine!
The multi-purpose venue is very conveniently located in the emerging City Centre and is the perfect space for weddings, celebrations, seminars and more with super friendly staff, an on-site commercial kitchen, full service bar and professional events team.
We sipped on a cool iced tea cocktail collaboration by Sunshine & Sons and Tea Shop Noosa, as our guests got into the giving spirit with donations to the SunnyKids’ Save a Life Tonight initiative as well as gifting goodies for fellow business owners to win.
We love our Hello Sunshine community!
In the heart of the Noosa Hinterland, Alsahwa Farm is an eco-lifestyle destination that curates and creates products and provides education that harness our guiding philosophy of MIND. BODY. PLANET - an ethos that is intertwined with the Alsahwa Farm experience.
To celebrate the launch of our KITX x ALSAHWA Collaboration we are giving away an Alsahwa Farmstore gift pack and a KITX x ALSAHWA Tee of your choice! (other styles available) Enter via the QR Code now for a chance to win. Full T&C’s Apply.
More than an eco lifestyle destination and regenerative farm, Alsahwa Farm is a place where a vision for a more sustainable world drives its entire philosophy. Rebecca Jamieson Dwyer discovers how the team are breaking new ground with their thoughtfully curated farmstore, hands-on educational events and new fashion collaboration all focusing on Mind, Body and Planet.
The sun is setting on the final day of the Alsahwa Farm launch, and as the last few golden rays filter through the macadamia tree leaves, founder Jo Walker and her team are experiencing the buzz that comes from sharing their huge vision and magical location with a community of like-minded people over three wonderful days.
From a free community tree-planting session (where 150 saplings were planted!) and community film screening of Rachel Ward’s film Rachel’s Farm; to workshops on beekeeping, eco-living, a Terra Firma Cooking Masterclass, plus an Introduction to Permaculture masterclass and so much more; there was a common thread running through the weekendlearning how to get back to nature, rediscover our roots, understand the power of holistic wellness, and nourish the precious planet that sustains us.
An ex-entertainment industry executive, Jo Walker’s career (and life) pivoted in an entirely new direction once she was exposed to concepts around regenerative agriculture, and as she began to understand the intrinsic link between soil health and human health, she came to appreciate how vital this concept is for the time we live in.
In 2019, while driving in Sydney with her friend Kit Willow – the renowned fashion designer behind the luxury sustainable fashion brand KITX – Jo had
a conversation that was to change the course of her life.
“We were discussing the state of the world, and Willow (Kit) said, ‘Joey, it’s not about sustainability anymore because we can’t sustain what we are doing right now, it’s about regeneration’,” recalls Jo.
“Minutes later in a serendipitous moment, an email popped up on my
phone about an earth regeneration weekend in Bowral.
“That weekend started my journey to the regenerative space that is now Alsahwa Farm.”
Alsahwa and Kit have since collaborated on the KITX series of activism tees made from pure organic cotton, which help highlight some of the
save our koalas and their habitat.
That weekend started my journey to the regenerative space that is now Alsahwa Farm.
regenerative work that’s occurring on Alsahwa’s 38 acres: the Mushroom Tee for the mushroom forest of Lion’s Mane, Turkey Tail and Reishi that grows on logs; the Bee Tee for the on-site apiary; and the Koala Tee for the wildlife corridor of over 1000 trees that have been planted at Alsahwa Farm in the last few years, including a wildlife habitat tree planting as part of The Queen’s Jubilee.
Kit Willow says she hopes these garments can help promote change.
“The more we know the more we care; the more we care; the more we have the ability to change,” she says. “We do need to save our bees, understand the power of the underground fungi network and
“The activism tees are designed to look good, feel good, and be good, and it’s an honour to collaborate with Alsahwa Farm to bring these tees to both men and women from one of the most beautiful nature havens on earth, the Noosa hinterland.”
The tees will be available at Alsahwa Farm’s permanent stall at Eumundi Square – a gorgeous space that features a range of thoughtfully-curated products such as lifestyle books, eco homewares, plants from their farm nursery and seasonal produce.
Alsahwa’s online store is launching 20 June, so no matter where in the country you hail from, it’s easy to support this mission-led brand and experience your own little bit of Alsahwa magic!
KITX’s range of activism tees, collaborated with Alsahwa Farm, will be available to purchase via the online store at www.alsahwa.com and through Alsahwa Farm’s Eumundi Square Farmstore, RRP $155.
Sign up for Alsahwa Farm’s newsletter to discover experiences coming soon, such as:
• VIP Picnic Experiences
• Long Lunches
• Bees & Brunch
• Film Nights
• Corporate packages and more!
Scan the QR code or visit www.alsahwa.com for more information.
Don’t miss our fashion shoot at Alsahwa Farm on pages 115-135!
Expect ten days of sheer delight mixed with mesmerising sights and sounds, a cacophony of laughter, riot of colour and a cultural feast like no other, effuses Helen Flanagan.
Curtains up, lights dimmed, sound on and tables set. It’s almost time to tune in and get ready to be enthralled when the stars align for the 22nd year of Noosa Alive!
Imagine Australia’s theatre royalty; a ballet world premiere; alluring sopranos; a country and western superstar; Gold Logie award-winning comedians; intoxicating musical artistry; operatic arias on the beach; literary masterminds; now-you-see-it, nowyou-don’t magic; a Taylor Swift extravaganza - and so much more!
A multiplicity of stages have been chosen from Noosa Main Beach to the Hinterland and in-between.
Queensland Ballet opens the Festival for the 11th consecutive year with two breathtaking works, including Papillon, a world premiere by acclaimed Australian choreographer Jack Lister; and Holberg Suite by Greg Horsman. Join Queensland Ballet’s new Artistic Director Leanne Benjamin AM OBE in conversation.
Noosa Main Beach ignites with Seaside Vibes a two day music festival with local bands The Froth, Gold Creek and Waiting For Tom, and ex-Noosa local, now multi-instrumental Nashville star, Wesley Dean (formerly Wes Carr) headlining day one; while a line up of DJs, De Saint, Joskie, Greg Sara & Tilly Saunders with headliner Luke Millions aka ‘The Synth Lord’ leading the dance party on day two.
The 7 Sopranos, Australia’s most beautiful voices, are a high impact classical spectacle, a unique fusion of contemporary and classical style combining entertainment, glamour, and power vocals!
International cabaret diva Meow Meow returns to Noosa, direct from her sold
out Carnegie Hall, New York debut, for one show only. Whilst there it only took one call from Festival Director Ian Mackellar, with an invitation to which Meow replied, “Absolutely! I adore Noosa Alive and would love to return... so excited!”
Bask in the dangerous realism of electro-acoustic collaboration by Satu In The Beyond, featuring an all-star cast of Australian musicians drawn from punk, indie and classical genres. Virtuoso violinist and vocalist Satu Vänskä leads ACO Artistic Director Richard Tognetti on electric violin, Midnight Oil’s Jim Moginie on guitar, Paul Beard on keyboards, Kiah Gossner on bass and Declan Kelly on drums to deliver a uniquely intoxicating blend of genredefying artistry and experimentation.
The Box Show by Junkyard Beats provides something unique, a beautifully crafted ecofriendly performance revealing the transformation of discarded Junk, converted into unique sounds and musical instruments. You’ll never look at a cardboard box the same way again!
A one-woman tour-de-force, a story about love, loss, laughter, surviving, and the dance of life set to the music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, Tell Me On A Sunday features at Noosa Arts Theatre; and at The J, Sunny Coast Showdown will showcase the award winners amongst 20 locally produced short films and documentaries.
Join the fun with Murder Village, two interactive improv theatre performances, where the audience decides whodunnit.
Are you ready for Taylor Swift? Reputation Preview - the ultimate Taylor Swift Tribute Show happens under a
on Main Beach. If you miss this Tay-Tay tribute, prepare to dance your heart out at the full production Reputation show at The J Theatre.
Opera on the beach with Twilight Classics, is an evening of fine food and wine plus exceptional music with a trio of flute, cello and harp by Carisma ABC classics group, String Quartet by Bridgerton Strings performing music from the hit period drama and superb vocalists Tarita Botsman, Natasha Veselinovic and James Shaw performing a mix of operatic arias, art song, musical theatre and contemporary classics.
Words & Music is an intimate event with Australian theatre royalty John Bell AO OBE who with extraordinary pianist Simon Tedeschi, will give a sneak peek into life ‘behind the curtain’. After decades of celebrated performances between them, they’re sure to have some wicked backstage stories from the Opera House to the Concert Hall.
Tim Ellis has been wowing audiences around the world including Hollywood’s Magic Castle, Le Double Fond in Paris and New York’s world-famous Monday Night Magic. He is the Guinness Record
Wesley Dean
Holder for The World’s Longest Magic Show at 85 hours non-stop and his exclusive Timeless Magic show will broaden the mindset of what is possible.
Close Encounters with Harry Milas invites you to get up close and personal in an intimate performance and teaching of sleight-of hand magic and card tricks. His Sydney Harbour Bridge shows have completely sold out for the remainder of the year. Be prepared to be astounded and amazed!
Amongst the literati, actor and writer William McInnes will share his journey and latest book Yeah, Nah!; a Crime Writing Panel brings together authors Michael Robotham, Candice Fox and JP Pomare for some whodunnit hi-jinx; enjoy morning tea with sexologist, counsellor and special education teacher, Jodi Rodgers as she comes to the rescue of families who deal with autism and spectrum disorder with the release of Unique a book about difference, connection and belonging; or brave breakfast with crime writer Chris Hammer to discuss his latest book, The Seven; also multiple
Walkley Award and Logie Award–winning Australian journalist and author Chris Masters will discuss his book on Ben Roberts-Smith, Flawed Hero: Truth, Lies and War Crimes
Sensational Seafood is a 3-course lunch at Ricky’s River Bar & Restaurant where seafood is the indisputable star of the show and Estampa entertains. The Italian Long Lunch at popular Noosa Waterfront Restaurant, inspired by Italian families enjoying warm conversation, good wine, and beautifully prepared food. Includes a glass of Prosecco on arrival, and entertainment.
Join the free Festival Wrap Closing Party on the Noosa River at the Lions Park and stage. A line-up of local bands will play into the winter sunset as the water laps the foreshore. Hosted by Damien Anthony Avery-Rossi (aka Mr. Hollywood in OZ) the event will also include the STARS alive! finalists who will battle it out on stage. Slow Food Noosa’s Film with Food is already SOLD OUT, as is Tom Gleeson (hard luck!) with many others close to capacity so look alive and book now!
The 10-day annual arts and cultural festival NOOSA Alive! returns from Friday 19 to Sunday 28 July 2024 with a jam-packed program of tantalising events to suit all budgets – even FREE. Scan the QR code or visit www.noosaalive.com.au for more information and to purchase tickets.
Fun, fashion and friendly vibesour autumn launch brought a fashionable element to the Noosa Festival of Surfing.
The autumn launch of IN Noosa Magazine combined all the things we love about Noosa - surf, sun, food and fashion.
Since launching IN Noosa Magazine a decade ago, it has been a tradition to host the launch party for our autumn edition at the Noosa Festival of Surfing and this year, we upped the ante with a seaside showcase of local fashion on the sandy catwalk!
A capacity crowd enjoyed the free fashion show featuring local models and designers strutting their stuff on the sand before clients and supporters enjoyed delicious local dishes by chef Wayd Bailey and flicking through the latest 180-page edition, hot off the press. Cheers to that!
The sustainable living movement is flourishing in our region! Melanie Rosettenstein discovers what’s on offer at Peregian Beach’s upcoming EARTH Sustainable Living Expo.
They are the masterminds behind more than 220 events and markets that take place in the Sunshine Coast and Noosa every year and now, Cartel Music and Events, in conjunction with the Peregian Beach Business Association (PBBA), is bringing another not-to-bemissed event to our favourite seaside village, the EARTH Sustainable Living Expo at The Village, Peregian Beach.
Sustainable living is fast becoming the foundation on which the socially conscious and environmentally aware build their homes, lives, and businesses.
It’s a lifestyle choice where people are reducing their reliance on the earth’s natural resources by altering how they live, eat, move around, and more.
Cartel Music and Events Director Lea Bye said sustainable living was growing in importance to residents in the Noosa and Sunshine Coast region, driven by a strong emphasis on eco-living and a heightened environmental awareness.
“It’s great to see our community making conscious choices about having a lighter impact on the environment,” she said. “Many people are already making small changes, such as using keep cups for takeaway coffee and living a plastic-free life - now it’s time to take the next steps, which is what the EARTH Sustainable Living Expo is all about.”
Taking place in The Village, Peregian Beach and celebrating Plastic Free July, the expo and events will run from Thursday 4 July to Sunday 7 July.
PBBA President Kylie Plunkett said that as a central point between Noosa and the Sunshine Coast, and with a rich history
breezy location for Saturday’s Eco Village with yoga classes, educational talks, a denim upcycling workshop, art displays, bush tucker tour and more.
The
sustainable living movement is growing quickly in the Noosa and Sunshine Coast region, driven by a strong emphasis
on eco-living and heightened environmental awareness.
of pioneering eco-friendly initiatives and events that celebrated sustainable living, Peregian Beach was the ideal location for an event such as this.
“We’re excited about hosting this event with its focus on people and the planet,” she said.
Those in the know and those who want to know more about sustainable living will be spoilt with a busy lineup of intriguing, family-friendly, interactive events and hands-on activities.
Kicking off on Thursday 4 July, the Expo’s Slow Food and Fashion event will feature delicious and stylish wares from Peregian Beach Village Square’s local retailers and restaurants.
Day two will begin with the EARTH Green Business Breakfast, featuring a mind-blowing glass-blowing display, and for the fashionistas who love a bit of pre-loved clothing, there will be a Sustainable Swap and Sip clothing swap from 6pm to 8pm.
Peregian Park will be the bright and
Wine enthusiasts can indulge in an Eco Paint and Sip, while foodies can tuck into the delectable offerings from the various vegan and vegetarian stalls. Don’t miss the 6pm film in the park!
On Sunday 7 July, the Peregian Beach Markets, well known for its variety of homegrown, handmade and upcycled goodies will be back with a host of workshops - and special celebrations for its 35th anniversary!
“Our region is already a shining example of sustainable living, with a community that’s passionate about conservation efforts and care for natural habitats,” Lea said.
“We look forward to seeing everyone at the EARTH Sustainable Living Expo to build on this fantastic foundation for a brighter future.”
Slow Food & Fashion
Village Square, Thurs 4 July, 3-6pm
EARTH Green Business Breakfast Fri 5 July, 7-8.30am
Sustainable Swap & Sip Clothing Swap Fri 5 July, 6-8pm
Eco Village with all-day events
Peregian Park, Sat 6 July, 8am-4pm
Peregian Beach Markets, workshops and 35th celebrations
Sun 7 July, 7.30am-12.30pm
More events to come - scan the QR code for the latest updates!
What’s better than a family holiday beside the seaside? A luxe beachside family getaway where kids stay and eat for free and every tiny detail has been taken care of! Rebecca Jamieson Dwyer discovers what makes Netanya Noosa the perfect place for a family vacation or staycation this winter…
Every parent knows that going on a beach holiday usually requires a mammoth packing effort involving not just clothes, but also towels, toys, swimmers, a large sun shade, hats and all sorts of other seaside paraphernalia. But at Netanya Noosa resort, the friendly team have truly thought of everything – making it easier than ever to rock up and have an amazing holiday, no packing stress in sight!
From FREE hire of branded Cool Cabanas (the ultimate family beach accessory for keeping your little ones safe from the sun) and innovative sand-free Netanya Noosa towels plus sustainable wooden beach games (think quoits, Finska, corn hole and more!), café games such as Connect 4 and Jenga, and a range of pool toys, your kids will be in absolute heaven at Netanya.
This is all part of the resort’s winter Noosa Family Time special offer running
from June to August, where families can stay from three nights from just $1,690 for a Hastings apartment (valued up to $2730); or $2,490 for a Beachfront apartment (valued up to $3,390), with children under 12 staying for free!
You’ll also get a voucher to use for the kids’ menu at popular on-site larder and café, Providore on Hastings. Parents are taken care of too, with two free coffees per day – providing a much-needed boost for keeping up with your little energiser bunnies!
Located at the Paris end of the iconic Hastings Street, right on Main Beach, Netanya Noosa boasts one of the most
enviable locations, making it the perfect space to get comfortable, relax and create unforgettable family memories.
The 28-degree heated pool overlooking the beach is bound to be a hit with the whole family, and it has a shallow splash area, making it extra safe and enjoyable for the small people in your crew.
When everyone starts to get hangry, hightail it to Providore on Hastings at the front of the resort for a range of tasty homemade meals and snacks and locally sourced gourmet groceries, including everything you need for the perfect cheese platter - even wine which can be purchased by in-house guests!
When
you’re on holiday with your children, you need everything to feel easy, which is what makes Netanya Noosa such a magical option...
And, of course, the pristine beach is literally footsteps away, offering hours of wholesome family entertainment as you swim, build sandcastles, play beach games, relax and repeat until the sun goes down and the luxe surrounds of your apartment start calling.
Just moments from the resort there are restaurants and shops galore (don’t forget to treat the kids – and yourself – to a gelato at the famous Massimo’s), plus the unbelievably beautiful Noosa National Park, where you’ll have fun spotting koalas in the trees and whales and dolphins out at sea. Core memories unlocked!
When you’re on holiday, you need everything to feel easy, which is what makes Netanya Noosa such a magical option for a family vacation or staycation - the kids or grandkids will love it!
Many of the Netanya Noosa team are parents themselves, so they understand what families are craving when they take some much-needed time away together.
“We’re so excited to offer this special Noosa Family Time package for winter and we hope families will feel very taken care of while they’re here,” exclaims Reservations Assistant Manager, Jessica.
“As well as the free hire of the games, Cool Cabanas, and more, our friendly team will go above and beyond to help make your stay extra amazing – whether that’s sourcing extra blankets, a bottle of wine, some delicious local meats for
Kids Stay Free & More!
Discover the magic of Noosa in winter
• Kids Sofa Bed use (up to 12yrs)
• Daily Coffee (x2) / $10 credit per day
• Providore on Hastings kids menu voucher
• Free family games hire
• Free Cool Cabana hire
From $1,690 for three nights.
Plus all the benefits of the resort life including housekeeping, concierge, free parking, ice machines, laundry and more!
Scan the QR code for package options, terms and conditions and to book!
a BBQ on your balcony, or anything else you need during your stay.”
Celebrating 30 years, Netanya Noosa is well-known as a spot where generations of families visit together, year after year, creating new memories in this very special location.
Isn’t it time you started a new family tradition?
Your beachfront apartment is calling…
The Sunshine Coast Turf Club’s winter racing lineup offers all the racing thrills and spills without the chill. Melanie Rosettenstein finds out more from Marketing and Events Manager, Taryn Delaney.
If there’s one thing we know for certain, the Sunshine Coast and Noosa regions are far from one-horse towns. And if you’re looking to experience the high glamour and thrilling drama of horse racing, then the Sunshine Coast Turf Club, the world’s busiest grass track, is right here on our doorstep.
Marketing and Events Manager, Taryn Delaney, is buzzing with excitement over the lineup of fantastic winter racing events punters, racing enthusiasts, fashionistas and merry makers can look forward to, especially after last year’s refurbishments which have seriously elevated the venue.
The turf club’s snazzy newly upgraded venues now include The Chairman’s Club, The Glasshouse and the Parade Ring Terrace. The Member’s Bar and Bistro, Atrium Bar and Dining, and Champagne Garden have alse been upgraded and the Turf Club now exudes modern horse racing vibes with a luxe coastal feel.
What’s more, ahead of the Noosa Cup, taking place on 18 August, the Sunshine Coast Turf Club proudly announces the opening of The Avenue, their newest off-track destination that will enhance feature raceday experiences with unparalleled live music, entertainment, fashion, bars and food trucks as well as brand activations.
“Our winter racing events are not only about the sport. They are a celebration of the lifestyle, luxury, and leisure that define the Sunshine Coast and Noosa,” Taryn says. “These events offer the thrill of the track coupled with the finest culinary experiences and fashion forwardness akin to having the ‘Birdcage’ right on your doorstep.”
And by ‘Birdcage’, Taryn is referring to that other racetrack down south which is generally freezing at this time of the year. But here on the Sunshine Coast, the weather will rarely (if ever) put a dampener on the Sunshine Coast Turf Club’s electric atmosphere or the ability to frock up without the chill.
Taryn says fashion is an important part of upcoming Noosa Cup Day and they
were thrilled to be collaborating with Sara Leonardi McGrath whose coastalinspired It’s a Fad wearable artworks have been integrated into the event’s artwork.
The culinary offerings at the Sunshine Coast Turf Club have also received a revamp and, in the capable hands of executive chef Brett Truloff and collaborating with former Flemington executive chef Matthew Haigh, the Turf Club’s new menus promise a galloping gourmet feast.
So, if you’re in the mood for glamming up, indulging in some fine food, and watching those incredible thoroughbreds thunder around the track, then be sure to check out the Sunshine Coast Turf Club’s exciting winter racing lineup.
Grab your favourite friends and fascinator and head to Sunshine Coast Turf Club for a premium racing experience in stunning surroundings!
Here is your winter racing lineup:
• Caloundra Cup Day – Saturday 6 July
• The Curated Plate - Racing Revolution: A Culinary Celebration – Sunday 4 August
• Noosa Cup Day – Sunday 18 August For more information, and to book tickets visit www.sctc.com.au
If world-class, ultra-luxury showstoppers exhibiting exceptional craftsmanship and captivating allure take your fancy, Noosa Concours has it all and more, extols Helen Flanagan
Imagine some of the most cherished and beautiful vehicles in the world, all signifying perfection, unparalleled aesthetics and technical superiority gliding into their designated spots on beautiful Hastings Street in Noosa.
Noosa Concours d’Elegance, is the only event to see the normally-bustling street closed for a celebration of automobile masterpieces for the curious - and the connoisseurs - to gather and admire.
Look out for one-of-a-kinds in Australia and making their first Queensland appearances such as a Ferrari LM250; a McLaren F1 regarded as the king of modern supercars, with less than 100 made globally; and a McLaren Speedtail; Lamborghini Miura SV, the only one in the country!
They’ll be cruising into the coastal Concours alongside many crowd favourites and coveted, drop-dead gorgeous coupes and convertibles.
Noosa Concours d’Elegance will also offer a unique opportunity for serious enthusiasts to have exclusive access via an up close and personal tour with a knowledgeable guide sharing valuable insights into the story behind the cars - all vying for the Best in Show Award, presented by Tom Offermann Real Estate.
The calibre of the judging serves as a guardian of authenticity and upholds the values of craftsmanship, innovation, and passion that define the automotive world. The task this year goes to three judges who reside in Australia and the fourth from the USA who has judged over twenty international Concours events.
In addition, through a strong relationship with Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, Martin Button will continue his connection as a consulting judge.
is Steve Padgett who admires event curator Alesha Gooderham’s enthusiasm and foresight for creating Concours. He became part of the steering committee as well as an event partner with his Sunshine Coast Airport-based companies of Flight Options and Sunshine Coast Jet Centre, which manages advanced jet simulator training and corporate jets for clients.
He is also the co-founder and chairman of publicly-listed Alliance Airlines, operating over 70 jet airline aircraft on FIFO operations and wet lease aircraft to Qantas, Virgin, and others.
“My car collection may be varied but has an interesting back story,” says Steve, who has visited Pebble Beach Concours numerous times and considers Noosa, especially Hastings Steet, the perfect match in so many ways.
“I have a 1911 Benz originally owned by General Sir John Monash, imported before WW1 and now restored,” he says.
“Another favourite is a 1957 Rolls Royce which was owned by worldrenowned American crime writer Clive Cussler, who I’ve always admired and
“As a young motoring enthusiast and pilot, I formed a friendship with three times world champion Sir Jack Brabham, responsible for FI drivers using light aircraft to fly to race meetings in Europe. I became custodian of his Formula 2 car which he drove in the 1967 racing season in Europe.”
New displays for 2024 will include honouring Max Hoffmann who played a pivotal role re-shaping the American automotive landscape.
“In 1954 Max fostered a global culture of performance and luxury that Mercedes, Ferrari, Porsche and the likes, still aspire to,” explains display curator Chris Bowden of Ecurie Bowden and Bowden’s Own Motorsports Display, the area where everyone will be fixated.
“In Australia, there are only a handful of Hoffman-era cars and the ones we’ve secured include the Porsche Speedster, and the legendary Mercedes-Benz 300SL.”
For over 36 years Sleeping Beauties, a company renowned for dedication and perfection in the classic car industry, has
been meticulously restoring cars for collectors and enthusiasts globally.
This year it has a display of classic beauties and is looking forward to encouraging and imparting knowledge and expertise to future generations. It will also present the Noosa Concours Next Gen Program
The Prestige Car Display will again be a haven of luxurious automotives with immense cachet including Maserati, Lamborghini, Bentley, McLaren, Aston Martin, Porsche, BMW and Mercedes Benz.
The Noosa Concours d’Elegance exhibition of 50+ expertly curated automobiles on Hastings Street, will be lined with live music and entertainment from 10.30am for the free event.
Expect a carnival-like atmosphere with interstate visitors joining locals to dream and mingle amongst the magnificent displays with cafés, restaurants and gelato bars bursting with happy people, and no doubt many others popping into the Sofitel Noosa’s Beach Bar for a chilled beverage while watching the colourful passing parades.
Saturday 13 July 2024: Noosa Concours d’Elegance 2024 on Hastings Street. Featured events throughout the day:
• Noosa Beach House - Truffle and Wine Lunch
• Sails - Degustation Dinner Icons of the New World
• Isabella’s Antique Jewellery - Special Antique Jewellery Trunk Show
• Nissarana Galleries – Local Artist capturing Noosa Concours
• Seabourne Distillery - Take-over at Moonstruck Noosa
• Curated Car Collection - Noosa Village Bookshop
• Miss Moneypenny’s + St Hugo + Daniel Riccardo - DR3 Luncheon
• Noosa Longboards + Adina Watches –Experience with a Difference Transport: Shuttle buses from 9.30am to 5.30pm between Noosa AFL Ground and Hastings Street. Free buses will also run throughout the region all weekend. Arrive in style and hassle-free on board the Noosa Ferry with half-price tickets. Scan the code when you catch the bus to go in the draw to win a dinner at Locale Noosa Sunday 14 July 2024: Numerous side events For a full program of events and activities including bookings visit: Noosa Concours www.noosaconcours.com.au
SATURDAY 13 JULY www.noosaconcours.com.au
As production wraps up on seven locally-produced films and documentaries for Sunny Coast Showdown, founder Jon Coghill revisits what it’s all about and what it means for the future of film in the region.
Little did I know when co-founding the Sunny Coast Showdown presented by Bendigo Bank Community Bank (Marcoola, Cooroy, Tewatin-Noosa)* with Dan Munday and the Sunshine Coast Screen Collective in 2021, that it would take a village to raise this child. It’s been a pleasant child at times, a confusing one at others, and a downright contemptuous one at its worst.
However, this child, despite being only three-and-a-half-years old, has grown into a fairly responsible teenager in 2024. Especially under the watchful eyes of our amazing production teamJanneke Williamson, Louise Hayse, Eve Donohue, Dan Munday, Martin Doyle and Liz Boyd.
The village is healthy too, and is made up of the blossoming community of screen workers on the Coast, some of who I’ll mention below. That community has gone from a handful to a horde of hardworking and creative souls that we’ve grown to love.
We’ve met and worked with local producers, directors, writers, cinematographers, assistant directors, art departmentalists, make-up artists, camera assistants, composers, editors, sound designers… and the list goes on.
And yes, it takes scores of departments to shoot a film (but it makes for a very long sentence, which hurts my fingers).
One of our projects, The Hoist, a short film by Coolum’s Emma Morgan and shot at Belli Community Hall in May, had more than 120 people on set.
In fact, more than 250 people in total have been involved in the production of
Our productions have been a testament to the enthusiasm and commitment that making local films can inspire.
seven Showdown short films and documentaries that will premiere as part of the Showdown Showfest - a two-day festival from 21-22 June that kicks off with the Pacific Islands Filmfest and culminates with the screening of the seven projects and judging of awards, including the Best in Show Gold Yewwy!
There is a huge amount of aspiring screen professionals, up-and-comers, and volunteers who want to make films here rather than have to travel elsewhere.
Our productions have been a testament to the enthusiasm and commitment that making local films can inspire.
Bendigo Bank Community Bank is backing us for that very reason - they want to see a sustainable industry here. Screen Queensland has also provided enough funds this year to specifically mentor nine people with our very own Screen Queensland Crew Accelerator.
For the accelerator, we identified a bunch of inspiring, aspiring, cool and good-looking people for targeted training from established pros, so they can lead a future Sunshine Coast film industry. Remember these names: Liz Boyd, Louise Hayse, Martin Doyle, Charis Gibson, Hing Ang, Esther de Shone, Elsie Bowditch, Beverley Marcusson, and Lincoln Knight - because they’re going stratospheric in the near future.
Of that group, Indigenous writer/ director Beverley Marcusson is remarkable. We met Beverley at our Showdown First Nations Workshop where she told us she’d never written a script. She’s gone on to write, direct and star in her own short film, Smiley, a story about a shy school cleaner’s encounter with the spirit of her long-time partner.
So let me finish with a reminder: Our raison d’être (the fancy version of why our production team suffers insomnia for six months) is to build the capacity to make quality film and TV in the region.
I believe we’re some of the way there, but there’s a fair way to go.
The next stage could be even harder: proving that we can make long form projects that the film and TV market out there wants to buy.
We’ve found the crews and casts that will make these shows but we’ll need
some smart business brains too, some executive producers who can see our potential and can make it happen.
We’ll also need some very cool projects the rest of the world wants to see and a community of film lovers and/or INVESTORS (did I say that loud enough?), that can help us make it happen.
If we all buck in, then maybe it will.
*The Showdown is a screen incubator (not for chicken eggs) that’s helping to build a sustainable film industry on the Sunshine Coast.
LIGHTS! CAMERA! LUNCH!
Friday 21 June, 12 noon
Enjoy an afternoon IN Conversation with Showdown Founders and Filmmakers over three courses with welcome drink at Bella Venezia, Mooloolaba.
Tickets: $125 pp.
SHOWDOWN SHOWFEST!
The Station, Birtinya
Day 1: Pacific Island Filmfest
Friday 21 June, 6-10pm
Music, film and fun! Award - winning short films from our neighbors in the Pacific.
Dress code: Island style.
Tickets: from $35 general admission.
Day 2: Showdown Showcase
Saturday 22 June, 6-10pm
A red carpet celebration of awards and fun!
Premiering six locally-made award-winning films by the Sunny Coast Showdown + Chris Sun’s ‘Loophole.’
Dress Code: Sunshine Coast formal.
Tickets: from $45 general admission
Early Bird, VIP and family packages available!
Scan the QR code or visit www.sunnycoastshowdown.com.au
Join Sunny Coast Showdown founders Jon Coghill and Dan Munday for an intimate and inspiring afternoon exploring the emerging film industry on the Sunshine Coast. Share in the journey of how two mates from Nambour High School went on to become a global rockstar as the drummer for Powderfinger and four-time Emmy nominee for work on hit TV show Survivor – and what led to them starting Sunny Coast Showdown; PLUS meet one of the Coast’s most talented emerging filmmakers, Emma Morgan.
Hosted by Hello Sunshine Magazine’s John Caruso, presenter of Everyone Has a Story: Conversations from the Sunshine Coast & Noosa podcast, enjoy an engaging conversation and Q&A session in the deliciously award-winning Bella Venezia Mooloolaba.
Bella Venezia Mooloolaba, 95 Mooloolaba Esplanade
Tickets: $125 per person, including three courses, scintillating conversation and a welcome drink on arrival.
There will be raffles with sensational prizes and all funds raised will go back to the not-for-profit Sunny Coast Showdown to help build a bigger, better film industry on the Sunny Coast.
To book, scan the QR code or visit www.hellosunshinemag.com.au
Music has the power to instantly transcend the mind and transport us back to a significant moment in time – I remember the first time I heard ‘real’ jazz, I was in New York and when the spontaneous symphony of sounds reverberated through me, I was hooked and I have been ever since.
From New Orleans to Noosa and everywhere in between, jazz music brings together cultures, connecting people of all ages and backgrounds –and the Noosa Jazz Festival guarantees to have you skipping to your own beat over 10 fabulous days!
For over three decades, the Noosa Jazz Club has been a beacon of jazz music in Noosa and this year, they present a program that brings together a stellar line-up of jazz stars, promising a memorable experience set to the backdrop of Noosa’s natural beauty.
Noosa Jazz Club Treasurer, Doug McGuffog said they were excited to celebrate the 30-year milestone with dedicated audiences and partners.
“Our celebration coincides with two other great Noosa not-for-profit organisations – the Tinbeerwah Art
From the smooth, sultry sounds of the saxophone to the bright, brassy tones of the trumpet, the rhythmic energy of jazz music is infectious, and 2024 marks 30 soulful years of the Noosa Heads Jazz Club!
Jodie Cameron discovers all the toe-tapping, spine-tingling high notes to be heard as part of Noosa’s premier music event – the Noosa Jazz Festival.
Group and Noosa Chorale - who are also celebrating 30 years, so it’s an extra special festival this year,” Doug said.
To celebrate three decades of the dedication and passion of these local organisations, The Joy of Music Exhibition will be held at The J from 1-30 August.
And from 22 August until 1 September, the annual Noosa Jazz Festival will again bring together some of Australia’s brightest jazz musicians and food creatives – complete with four Jazz Party sessions at The J Theatre, including two afternoon matinees, two evening concerts, and a special Sunday afternoon concert at the heritage-listed Majestic Theatre in Pomona.
If you’re a first-time festival goer, get ready to feel your jaw drop, because jazz musicians are fascinating to watch!
The way they use their instruments to communicate becomes a musical conversation as the musicians develop a language of their own. Jazz has all the elements that other music has: it has melody or the part you’re likely to remember; it has harmony – the notes that make the melody sound fuller; and it has syncopated rhythm, which is pretty much the heartbeat of the song.
But what sets jazz apart are two very cool things: improvisation and impromptu solos.
“Jazz can mean different things to different people – from classic jazz to modern jazz, it’s all thoroughly enjoyable, but what the Noosa Heads Jazz Club puts together each year is unique, unlike what you experience at other jazz festivals, and one of the reasons so many people return year after year,” Doug said.
“Our joint concerts with Noosa Chorale combine talented vocalists with some of Australia’s top jazz musicians, making for a stunning musical event. Noosa is spectacular all year round, but there’s something about jazz during winter –under the open ambient skies, it’s absolutely delightful.”
Founded on 25 October 1994, the Noosa Heads Jazz Club was born with Richard Stevens appointed as Chairman, Janet Uphill as Secretary and Patsy Stevens as Treasurer. The administration and management of the Club was then handed over to a Steering Committee, with Richard and the late Frank Johnson appointed to organise the operations and music for the first function; they were pivotal in staging the first ever Noosa
Jazz Party in 1992!
More than thirty years on, it’s still the stand-out event of the festival.
Kicking off the 2024 festival is the opening night joint concert featuring the Australian Jazz Ensemble and the Noosa Chorale on 22 August at The J Theatre. Under the musical direction of Paul
A spectacular opening night featuring the Australian Jazz Ensemble and Noosa Chorale. Enjoy exciting jazz with fine food and sunshine, on river cruises, at riverside restaurants, sunset cocktails and the Jazz Party concerts at The J and Majestic theatres.
Coppens, you’ll be enthralled by a selection of jazz favourites, along with the unique combination of seventy Chorale voices and the Jazz Ensemble led by jazz legend Brett Iggulden.
The centrepiece of the 11-day program is the Noosa Jazz Party, also at The J.
This is a unique event that challenges the individually invited jazz musicians who are formed into bands or ensembles that guarantee thrilling improvisation of traditional jazz.
The concert program includes a special tribute to the music of Louis Armstrong, featuring members of The Syncopators with Yvette Johansson, and also Gypsy Jazz extraordinaries – the Date brothers with Ian and Nigel on guitar, and George Washingmachine on violin.
As well as the river cruise program and theatre concerts, you can enjoy lazy jazzy lunches and divine dinners at riverside restaurants, bars and outdoor venues including Lucio’s Marina Restaurant, Tewantin; Miss Moneypenny’s on Hastings Street; the Noosa Boathouse
at Noosaville; a special sunset experience at Noosa Springs Golf & Spa Resort; and a Saturday afternoon gig at Trattoria Benati in Noosa Junction.
The festival wraps up on Father’s Day, Sunday 1 September, with the traditional family picnic concert, at The Lions Riverstage along the Noosa River.
Early bird prices and member discounts will be available for bookings made before 1 August for the Jazz Party concerts at The J Theatre and the special concert at The Majestic Theatre, Pomona.
Whether it’s a cruise along the river, a theatre performance or a family riverside picnic on the banks of the Noosa River, nothing beats jazz in Noosa, and this musical extravaganza will no doubt linger in your hearts and minds for decades and generations to come!
To explore the official program, sign up to receive the latest updates on the final lineup of bands and ensembles for the concerts and restaurant events and, to book tickets to the Noosa Jazz Festival, visit www.noosajazzclub.com
Local festivals need our support to survive more than ever - so why not please your palate and hunger for live music while exploring our broader region? Jodie Cameron explores the fantastic, jam-packed events on offer at the upcoming Mundubbera Blueberry Festival.
Food and music festivals today have completely surpassed the creative boundaries of the past, with organisers now competing for their piece of the (blueberry) pie by creating immersive experiences that keep punters coming back year after year – and Mundubbera Blueberry Festival celebrating one of Australia’s favourite fruits is a berry good example of this!
At the daily rate my boys consume those tubs of blueberry goodness, I really should be investing in my own blueberry farm. But for now, a trip to the Mundubbera Blueberry Festival will suffice!
With three huge events spread over two days from 27 to 28 September, the North Burnett’s premier bi-annual food and music event has something to suit all tastebuds.
Festival Coordinator Lisa Wain said with the recent wave of music event cancellations, she hopes the Blueberry Festival can be a beacon of hope and will continue to grow even bigger and juicier than its inaugural year in 2022!
“Festival-goers have the opportunity to escape the bustling crowds and immerse themselves in an intimate
setting beneath the wide-open country sky,” Lisa says.
“It’s going to be a spectacular weekend and it’s just a few hours’ drive from the Sunshine Coast.”
But don’t wait until September to purchase your tickets; book early and start planning your weekend getaway now – the early bird gets the berry!
Just three hours north-west of Noosa, Mundubbera is the perfect escape to the country for the weekend, with affordable accommodation options to suit all budgets.
If the Blueberry Festival brings you to Mundubbera for the first time, you may be wondering where to stay – from hotels, motels to camping sites, Mundubbera has ample accommodation options for all tastes.
If you are travelling with your RV or camper, ticket prices include campsites at the Mundubbera Showgrounds where you can easily access all the festival celebrations!
Book early to ensure you don’t miss out on being close to the action.
Kicking off the festival is the Locavore 4626 event on Friday 27 September,
...Matt Golinski will take you (and your tastebuds) on a gastronomical journey to a mystery location for a gourmet celebration.
where celebrity chef and Sunshine Coast food champion Matt Golinski will take you (and your tastebuds) on a gastronomical journey to a mystery location for a gourmet celebration.
Showcasing the finest flavours of the North Burnett region in every dish and every bite, diners will experience the vibrancy of farm-fresh ingredients sourced from local producers and artisans as expert Chef Golinski transforms raw materials into an epicurean centrepiece that will tantalise and ignite the senses before your berry eyes.
Whether you’re a natural born foodie like me (always thinking about your next meal, even while eating), a food
enthusiast, or just love experiencing new flavours, don’t miss out on this unforgettable dining experience that will unlock the mystery of the region while celebrating community, sustainability, and the art of fine cuisine.
Locavore 4626 tickets are $110 per person and include transport via bus from the Mundubbera Showgrounds to your mystery location, but tickets are limited so head to the website today to secure your seat!
music when the Mundubbera Showgrounds will transform into the Blueberry Jam Sesh!
Celebrating a full line-up of original Australian music with a sprinkling of homegrown talent, don’t forget your dancing shoes for the Battle of the Bands Final, grab some grub at one of the many on-site food trucks + bar, and secure your seat under the stars!
Tickets are $97 for adults, $45 for kids aged 5-14 years, kids under 5 are free!
As word spreads of this quaint country town’s mission to paint the town blue, grab the kids, your lover or your berry besties and flock to Mundubberra for the weekend. Help keep our local festivals alive while INdulging in berry-licious country and the wonders of the North Burnett’s abundant food bowl!
From 9am to 4pm on Saturday 28 September, the beautiful Bicentennial Park on the banks of the mighty Burnett River will come alive for the Berry Big Day Out – a vibrant artisan market and FREE family fun day!
Local producers, artists, crafters, community groups and food retailers will come together for a full day of markets, interactive stalls, activities and entertainment for the whole family. There will be something for all ages including free activities to keep the kids (young and old) engaged, roam the markets, and catch up with family and friends over delicious local food and refreshments. Enjoy the local entertainment on the Big Day Out Stage and get ready for an epic evening of live
Headlining this year’s Blueberry Jam Sesh are The Angels – one of the most enduring Australian rock bands, while electric and infectious riff-and-groovebased blue-billy-grass-rockin’-roots band 19-Twenty will have you dancing the night away!
Byron Bay-based Bourbon Street will perform all the fan faves from their albums as well as high-energy covers from The Doors, Neil Young, Led Zeppelin, The Stones, AC/DC and more!
Back by popular demand, Blake Beneckee, a homegrown country singer and songwriter will perform a mix of covers and original music; and the delicious sounds of Soul Tree UnionAustralian indie music duo Paully Rivers and Kate Marian Rose - will surprise and delight with their soulful mix of contemporary folk music to rock grooves.
Saturday Camping Package $108pp:
• 1 x Blueberry Jam Sesh ticket (15+)
• 1 x night showgrounds camping (Saturday night only)
2-Day Camping Package $229pp:
• 1 x Locavore 4626 (Friday Night Dinner)
• 1 x Blueberry Jam Sesh ticket (15+)
• 2 x night showgrounds camping (Friday & Saturday night)
Locavore 4626 Camping Package $121pp:
• 1 x Locavore 4626 ticket
• 1 x Friday night camping only (must leave the campsite Saturday morning)
Scan the QR code for the full program and tickets, including camping packages.
EAT, DRINK, REPEAT!
Lucio’s Marina lunch specials are back! Featuring a selection of dishes from the everyday menu and weekly specials, enjoy authentic Italian cuisine with warm, friendly service. Indulge in the Seafood Experience for Two or Happy Hour with halfprice oysters in the River Lounge from Wednesday to Saturday.
Chinadina in Noosaville is serving up the best of Cantonese cooking with its YumCha menu - from just $29pp, feast on the likes of pork buns, scallop hargow, prawn spring roll and more.
Calling all señores & señoritas, Bandita Mexican has launched an all-new, all-day
breakfast and brunch line-up packed with flavoursome classics! Arriba Arriba!
From their renowned long table feasts, Monday to Friday lunch specials (2-course + glass of wine $42pp OR 3-course + glass of wine $49pp) and Monday to Thursday dinner specials (2-course $42pp OR 3 -course $49pp), to their laid-back live music sessions (with fresh fish & chips) on the lawn every Friday & Saturday, Noosa Boathouse has the views and the vibes!
Did someone say lonnng lunch?
Gusto Noosa’s bottomless lunches are held on the first Saturday of every month and include five-courses + free
flowing wine for two hours. This is your permission to make *pour* decisions!
Noosa Waterfront
Restaurant & Bar’s popular Italian Long Lunches are back! On the last Sunday of the month, enjoy a sharing style antipasto, primi piatti, secondi and dolce with a glass of prosecco for $79. Enjoy a local’s two-course meal with a glass of wine for $69, every Wednesday and Thursday or grab a Bento-style lunch box special and a glass of wine for $45 every Friday and Saturday.
Get social at Park & Cove Restaurant in Peppers Noosa Resort & Villas! Gather, drink and dine every day with daily beer and wine specials, cocktail of the day and live music every Friday to Sunday.
Neat, straight up or on the rocks?
Enjoy Martini Hour in the Sofitel Noosa Pacific Resort Riviera Bar & Lounge and savour the art of French cuisine with a sumptuous selection of epicurean delights,
no reservations required. Plus the Noosa Beach House Bar is now offering breakfast!
Enjoy a delightful culinary experience of antipasti, secondi, insalata, dolce and a glass of wine for $75 per person at Locale Noosa every Friday and Saturday!
Enjoy weekly specials with a side of ocean views at the Sunshine Beach Surfy. Grab a Monday night steak special (250g steak for $22.50), Tuesday night $25 parmy; or 20% off all steaks for members on Wednesday night. You might remember Flo’s Crêperie Noosa’s sold-out ‘Go with the Flo’ tasting dinners featuring
French classics with a Flo’s flavour?! Well dinner just got Francier with Chef Francois Poulard’s new personally designed French dinner menu to complement their delicious crêpes and galettes!
NEW IN NOOSA
Matt Sinclair and the Sum Yung Guys team are opening a Mediterraneaninspired restaurant overlooking the Noosa River! Pelicano Noosa is set to open in September and will be the newest culinary endeavour for Matt and fellow chefs Michael Rickard and Jeremiah Jones
CHEERS TO AWARDS!
After winning Gold at the World Vodka
Flo’s
Awards, the CAVU Distilling team have added another global gong with their Nil Desperandum - Botanical rum winning Gold at the World Rum Awards! The team’s Locky Craven has been honoured with the prestigious Independent Stave Company Young Distiller Fellowship Congrats Locky! Unleash your inner mixologist at a Sunshine & Sons cocktail masterclass for $99 including crafting three cocktails + snacks for just $15, fully redeemable on any 700ml bottle purchase.
RECIPES BY MATT
GOLINSKIMatt has been busy with a feast of food festivals and events, so we’ve chosen three of our favourite recipes from the past 10 years (yes really!) that he has lovingly created! Enjoy!
- Deb CarusoEditor-in-Chief
Ingredients:
• 800gm whole grass-fed beef fillet, trimmed
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 clove garlic, finely sliced
• 1 tbs olive oil
• 1 cup grated cauliflower
• 150gm walnuts, roughly chopped
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp chopped thyme
• 200gm Brussels sprouts, sliced
• 1 bunch cavolo nero, roughly chopped
• 1 bunch kale, roughly chopped
• 2tbs olive oil
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 clove garlic, sliced
• 1 red chilli, sliced
• ½ tsp fennel seeds
• 50ml apple cider vinegar
• Salt and pepper
Method:
• Sauté the onion and garlic in olive oil until soft. Add the cauliflower and continue to cook over a low heat for 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and cool. Mix in the egg, walnuts and thyme and season well with salt and pepper.
• Using a long, thin knife, make an incision in the beef lengthwise through the centre to form a pocket for the stuffing. Stuff the walnut mixture into the beef and secure the ends with wooden skewers. Season the beef well with salt and pepper and sear all over in a hot heavy based pan. Transfer to a roasting tray and bake at 220˚C for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and rest for 5 minutes.
• Sauté the onion, garlic, chilli and fennel seeds in olive oil until soft. Add the Brussel sprouts, cavolo nero and kale and stir over a medium heat for about 5 minutes. Add the apple cider vinegar and season with salt and pepper.
• Slice the beef into 1cm slices and serve fanned over the cabbage mixture.
• 500gm baby golden beets
• 500gm rock salt
• 800gm goat fetta
• 1 cup torn radicchio leaves
• 200gm parsnips
• 2 cups vegetable oil
Method:
• 1/4 cup dill tips
• 1 golden shallot, finely sliced
• 30ml white wine vinegar
• 75ml extra virgin olive oil
• 1tsp Dijon mustard
• salt and pepper
• Lay the rock salt in a 1cm layer on a baking tray and arrange the beets in a single layer on top. Bake for 30 minutes at 170ºC or until tender when pricked with a knife and the skins slip off easily. Cool, peel and slice or dice the beets.
• Peel the parsnips and shred the long strips with a peeler. In a medium saucepan, deep fry in the vegetable oil until crisp and golden. Drain on absorbent paper.
• Whisk together the vinegar, olive oil and mustard, and season with salt and pepper.
• Mix together the beets, radicchio, parsnip, shallots and dill and dress with the vinaigrette.
• Arrange on four plates and crumble the fetta over. Serve immediately.
SERVES 4
Ingredients:
• 200gm dark chocolate couverture
• 200gm unsalted butter, diced
• 40gm cocoa
• 300gm castor sugar
• 3 eggs
• 80gm plain flour
• 40gm self raising flour
• 200gm white chocolate couverture pieces
• 125gm pecans
• 500gm strawberries, hulled and diced
• 100ml honey
• ½ tsp rosewater
• ¼ cup organic rose petals
• 200ml double cream
• cocoa to dust
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Method:
• In a dry, stainless steel bowl melt the butter and dark chocolate over a low heat without allowing it to get too hot. Whisk in the cocoa and allow to dissolve through the mixture for 2 minutes.
• Whisk together the eggs and sugar and mix into the chocolate mixture. Gently fold in the flours using a rubber spatula. Fold in the white chocolate and pecans.
• Line a 22cm square non stick tin with baking paper and pour the mix in, spreading it out so it covers the whole base of the tin. Bake at 180°C with the oven fan off, for 35 – 40 minutes or until set all the way through.
• Allow to cool in the tin before cutting into rectangular bars. Gently toss the honey and rosewater through the strawberries.
• Dust the brownies with cocoa and serve with the strawberry salad, rose petals and double cream on the side.
Jennifer Swaine meets a few local producers who are pleasing palates on a national and global stage.
The Sunshine Coast region has earned a reputation as being a stunning tourism destination – and no one can deny we tick that box beautifully.
We are increasingly becoming renowned as a foodie destination and recent wins from a number of local producers are turning heads for all the right reasons.
WINNING ON THE WORLD STAGE
Sunshine & Sons started the year off right with their Original Vodka being named the World’s Best Botanical Vodka in the highly coveted World Vodka Awards They outshone competitors from 20 countries around the world including Poland, Sweden and Canada.
This was followed up in May with taking the Gold at the World Rum Awards for their Nil Desperandum Botanical Rum - as well as a few Silver and Bronze awards to add to the trophy room!
With their impressive array of products earning accolades all over the world, it was fitting that their rum, Nil Desperandum, was named a finalist in the International Onboard Hospitality Awards in the category of Best Onboard Beverage. At the time of going to print the winners had not been named.
When talking about their recent wins, Co-Founder Matt Hobson said the wins reaffirmed that we were producing spirits of exceptional quality.
“Together with the team, we work incredibly hard to produce quality spirits that people will stand up and take notice of – and we do it from one of the best locations in the world,” he said.
SETTING A NEW STANDARD IN GOURMET SNACKING
Following hot on their heels were Silver Tongue Foods who make organic,
sourdough crackers and gourmet condiments which were awarded a haul of 11 medals at this year’s Royal Tasmanian Fine Food Awards!
Among the trophies were two Champions, three Gold, three Silver and three Bronze medals.
The sourdough cracker that started Kristina Kucan and Andy Tolson’s journey to launch their business four years ago took home the Gold and secured the title of Champion Baked Product (Savoury).
Appropriately named, ‘Fleur’, this cracker is adorned with seasonal and fresh edible flowers that are pressed into the dough before being baked in small batches to deliver a unique cracker where no two ever look the same.
The second Gold and title of overall Champion was awarded to the ‘Spiced Orange’ preserve in the Champion Preserve (Sweet) category; and the final product to be awarded a gold medal was ‘Cowboy Kisses’ in the Savoury Preserves category.
These umami flavoured, candied jalapeno pickles are crunchy and spicy, showcasing the artistic talents of Co-Founders Kristina and Andy in combining flavours and textures that truly resonate.
Co-Founder Kristina Kucan, said it was an honour to win at such a prestigious Royal event, particularly considering Tasmania’s reputation as home to some of the country’s finest artisan food producers.
“We entered the awards this year
seeking formal feedback on our products to gauge our progress and we are so honoured to have received the Champion titles in two categories,” she said.
“It is particularly meaningful that Fleur took the Champion (Savoury) title, as she was the first product we developed. We’ve been humbled by the positive feedback of this cracker, often featured as a special indulgence on grazing platters, both domestically and abroad.
“These awards come at a time when we have recently relocated into a larger premises in Chevallum, facilitating increased production and distribution of our product range.”
SWEET SUCCESS
If you’ve never tried black garlic, prepare to have your world changed!
Noosa Black Garlic is best described as the “Truffle of the Garlic World” and is being lauded for its rich, complex flavour and culinary versatility.
What began as a passion project by husband-and-wife team, Tony and Teneille has, in three short years, turned into an award-winning business that has not only won awards but drawn praise from chefs all over Australia.
Explaining the product, Co-Founder Teneille Newton said they used organically-grown Elephant Garlic sourced from Noosa and Sunshine Coast farmers.
“It is recognised for its sweet, dark, and umami flavours,” she said. “Aside from the many health benefits, it has the added benefit of not causing garlic breath
because the sulphur is broken down during the ageing process.”
While the original Noosa Black Garlic is a standout product on its own, magic happens when they infuse local paperbark honey from the Noosa Hinterland with pureed black garlic cloves that permeate the honey and result in a flavour that is truly out of this world!
The awards have been coming thick and fast for the team who also excelled at this year’s Royal Tasmanian Fine Food Awards, taking home six medals.
The Black Garlic Honey was awarded
Gold before going on to be named Champion Honey of the show. They also took home a Gold medal for their Black Garlic Salt; Silver for their Black Garlic White Balsamic Vinegar; and a Silver and a Bronze medal for their Caramelised Black Garlic Paste
Without a doubt, the Sunshine Coast has become a region that stands out for its exceptional food and produce and those mentioned in this story are merely the tip of the iceberg.
It’s worth mentioning that Woombye Cheese won a Silver medal in the Washed Rind category at The World Cheese
Awards in Wisconsin recently, making them the second best washed rind cheese in the world!
The list of award-winning artisan producers is both long and impressive.
From cheesemakers to chocolatiers, to honey and herbs and spices – you can pretty much find it in the region.
While the products are impressive, it’s also about the unwavering passion of the people who turn ingredients into unforgettable culinary experiences, solidifying the Sunshine Coast’s reputation as a true haven for food enthusiasts.
Rebecca Jamieson Dwyer meets a chef who takes inspiration from his family and his Southeast Asian heritage…
How/why did you become a chef?
My mum and grandma always loved to cook, and when I started to become curious about food they passed on all their skills to me. They taught me to make wontons, dumplings and lots of other traditional Southeast Asian meals, as well as pastries and cakes.
What has been the most rewarding moment of your career so far?
I worked in a restaurant in Melbourne prior to moving to Noosa, and built up a great customer base of people who knew and loved my cooking. They started to tell their friends and family, and word spread about my food – it was very rewarding being recognised for creating high-quality dishes, and many of those customers also became my friends.
What do you love about being a chef?
Being a chef can be very challenging but I love that I’m always growing and learning on the job. Whether it’s perfecting a new signature dish, getting comfortable in a new kitchen or learning
the best timing for cooking multiple dishes, I’m always striving to develop.
What do you love about local produce?
Any favourite local producers?
The seafood here in Noosa is great, and the beef is awesome too. Accessing the full range of Asian ingredients can be challenging, but I like incorporating Australian vegetables such as broccolini into my dishes to give them a twist.
What’s your approach to food?
My specialty is flavouring sauces and soups with fruit and other natural ingredients – I love lemons, lychees, longans, oranges, and ‘papples’, which are a cross between Chinese and Japanese pears.
Who would you love to cook for?
My nephew and my niece, who live back home in Malaysia. I miss them lots.
Who is your culinary inspiration?
Both grandma and my mum. My grandma taught me all her secret Asian recipes, and I’m so glad I learned from
her. Most of my mum’s side are hawker street-food vendors – one of my aunties is a great pastry chef, and my uncle is very famous for his flat noodle stir-fries.
So that’s where I picked up my wok skills.
Do you cook at home? If so, what do you cook?
When I’ve been cooking the whole day, mostly something very simple like noodles.
What’s your favourite dish to eat or cook?
Anything with crab – my favourite is Singapore chilli crab (which is actually hitting the menu this month!).
What do you love about being IN Noosa?
It’s very relaxing and beautiful, and there isn’t the stress that comes from living in cities like Melbourne and Sydney. And I’m lucky that my boss Tim is very supportive.
Any advice for young chefs?
Young chefs these days are very different from my generation because they’re focused more on plating rather than the most important thing when it comes to cooking, which is taste.
My advice to them is to learn the basics, work hard and be humble.
What’s your favourite kitchen utensil / tool?
My wok and knife.
What’s your favourite ingredient?
Pandan leaves because they have an attractive flavour and aroma for dessert.
You have to try our Chinadina Pandan Crème Brûlée with coconut ice cream!
Indulgent foodies hightailed it to the Noosa Eat & Drink Festival for a hedonistic love affair of local flavours, Helen Flanagan drools and enthuses.
antalising tastebuds and indulging the senses over four days of avantgarde drink and culinary creations, live entertainment, spirited sundowners, long lunches and lavish dinners, had the IN Noosa team - and all festival fanssalivating at every turn.
On the spectacular menu was a laidback attitude, as renowned chefs presented their pick of just-picked and just-caught produce with tantalising culinary creations and divine drinks.
In sun-drenched locations (mostly!), it was easy to drink in the mood as roasters, mixologists, winemakers and distillers impressed; Noosa Main Beach was heaving with toes-in-the-sand fabulosity; and there was much applause at the Festival Village in The Woods which came alive with entertainment, demonstrations, masterclasses and a bevvy of tastes and tipples for the delicious event.
Our roving photographer Ian Waldie captured mouthwatering moments!
Flavours of the Noosa Hinterland with a South Asian influence in a coastal setting? Amazing!
A tasty tour through Mexico paired with tequila, mezcal and cocktails - a perfect late lunch!
A creative and culinary collaboration with leading local businesses - divine!
Our IN Noosa Botanical Bush Tucker Lunch was fresh, fun and full of flavour!
A stunning sunset over the Beach Club Bar to end four delicious days! Heaven!
When the sun-kissed flavours perfected by Andrea Ravezzani are matched with fine Italian wines expect a brilliant lunch, says Tony Cox
If the good life is all about a table nudging the Noosa River, enjoying classic Italian dishes punctuated with modern panache and matched with regional Italian wines and generous hospitality whilst admiring the Moreton Bay Figs, then be sure to book early for an extra special wine lunch at Noosa Waterfront.
Joining supremely passionate executive chef and owner Andrea Ravezzani for the occasion will be fellow Italian-born friend and Sunshine Coast local Paolo Sandri, owner of Convivium Wines and a boutique importer of predominantly Italian wines.
The duo will showcase a finely-tuned
taste of Italy that will transport you to sun-drenched days living la dolce vita with four hand-selected wines to accompany Andrea’s homegrown flavours.
The ideal way to ease into the afternoon is with canapés to stimulate your taste buds and enjoy with a glass of Colesel Prosecco Superiore Prato Scuro DOCG from the Valdobbiadene sub region in Veneto. Made from the indigenous glera grape variety it is vibrant, fruity but delicate, and at eight grams residual sugar not as sweet as most of its counterparts from the region.
The second and third wines come from the same producer in Tuscany, Tenuta
Montecchiesi, based in the far eastern town of Cortona. The white wine is a blend of vermentino and chardonnay. Vermentino is widely grown in Central Italy, reaching its greatest heights in Maremma Tuscany and Sardinia and often features a saline/mineral tinge to the palate which your scribe finds delicious.
The vermentino/chardonnay blend has herbal notes which combine with a sweet citrus edge and slight saline finish. Fermentation occurs in stainless steel tanks which are temperature controlled to maintain freshness. Maturation occurs in stainless steel tanks with lees stirring adding a little creaminess to the middle
palate – ideal for simple seafood.
The red is the Selverello Syrah DOC. When most people think of Tuscany and red wine, Sangiovese is the grape that comes to mind but Cortona is one of the hottest areas of Tuscany and, despite a little altitude (just under 300m), it manages to sufficiently ripen syrah grapes whilst maintaining freshness.
Maturation takes place in large format oak which imparts more subtle flavours. Featuring dark fruits and spice notes the palate is medium-bodied with savoury notes and persistent length on the finish – ideal with beef tagliata.
The final wine is a return to the northeast and showcases Toblar’s Ramandolo. Grown in the Colli Orientali del Friuli region it is made using
CHEF ARTIST PLACE
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verduzzo friulano grapes and features dried fruit notes and citrus nuances with a touch of richness on the palate.
What isn’t to like – great food and wine, wonderful outlook and two passionate Milanese, admittedly both from the blue side of Milan but you can’t judge someone on the football team they follow. This promises to be a wonderful afternoon of all things Italian – and yes, Italians do do it better!
This collaborative showcase of more than 270 pages explores the boundaries between food, art and destinations with recipes by Andrea Ravezzani and stunning photography and creative direction by Andrew Maccoll.
A new book crafted by two creatives devoted to excellence.
Find out more @chefartistplace on instagram.
Enjoy an afternoon of Italian hospitality at Noosa Waterfront Restaurant.
Indulge in four courses of sublime, traditional Italian food with matching wines showcasing the very best wines of Tuscany!
FRIDAY 23 AUGUST, 12noon for 12.30pm start $120 per person
BOOK NOW!
Scan the QR code to secure your seat.
FRIDAY 23 AUGUST
12NOON FOR 12.30 START
PLUS! Don’t
The diverse range of Two Hands Wines - with whimsical yet meaningful names - as well as a perfectly matched Noosa Boathouse menu, exhibited innate quality without compromise, enthuses Helen Flanagan
As another stunning sunset hid behind the hinterland, winemaker Luke Willis explained how the party-talk of two mates morphed into the world-renowned Two Hands Winery. He was also handy with the stories and insights into the wines chosen for Noosa Boathouse’s Two Hands Wine Dinner, while executive chef Shane Bailey dissected the tantalising menu.
Spanner crab tzatziki and finger lime tartlets zinged with flutes of Lucky Duck Sparkling which displayed the freshness and vitality of lemon and green apple notes; fennel and avocado were a subtle foil for line-caught-that-day, fleshy, white knobby snapper with The Boy Eden Valley Riesling, which drinks writer Tony Cox said was “so delicious and often outshining its much-lauded Clare Valley counterparts”.
A generous prosciutto-wrapped quail ballotine with baba ghanoush and slow-cooked tomatoes with Yesterday’s Hero Grenache, a more pinot-esque style wine, married joyfully with the herbal notes of eggplant and saltiness of prosciutto. Thumbs up!
Main course of 350-day grain sirloin plus slow-cooked short rib was matched with the voluptuous richly-fruited Bella’s Garden Barossa Shiraz; and taking it up a notch for the finale cheese course was Dave’s Block Shiraz from Blewitt Springs, an elevated vineyard in the McLaren Vale which Tony described as “restrained and elegant with sweet spice notes, savoury medium bodied and some acidity… a knockout.”
Indeed it was! Full of flavour, fun and with stunning service and views. Don’t miss the next Noosa Boathouse event!
Winter is the time for comfort, good food and creating heartwarming memories.
Carlie Wacker dishes up a menu of Gusto moments to add to your cool season calendar.
Sharing a meal with great friends and family is nourishment for the soul, and pairing a delicious dish with a thoughtfully-curated wine list is what the team at Gusto Riverfront Restaurant do best.
As we ride the wave of winter in Noosa, let Gusto fill your soul, your stomach and your penchant for relaxed, fine dining on the iconic Noosa River.
With proud French owner Timothee Lepoutre at the helm of Gusto, the seasonal and modern Australian cuisine has always had ‘une touche de Francais’ and from now until the end of August, that touch becomes a full-blown Tour De France, with menus designed to transport us to two regions of France each month.
Enjoy the mild winter days dining on a one, two or three course menu with prices from $39 to $59; or layer up and lap up a magnifique three-course dinner for $65, all served with lashings of heartwarming hospitality.
If you’ve never tried the superb sips from Brockenchack Wines then do yourself a favour and book your table for Thursday 27 June at 6pm when Darren
...From Austria to Australia, the Clare Valley come to Noosa for a very special Mitchell Wines dinner...
Naylor will be presenting his family vineyard wines grown in the high Eden Valley in South Australia.
The evening will feature seven wines across a five-course degustation menu, plus the opportunity to purchase Brockenchack wines on the night for less than the cellar door prices. Tickets are $149 and you’ll be served up seven varietals and share a special night that you’ll talk about for years to come.
Come 14 July, the French flags are raised and the community will gather for Bastille Day. Lunch and dinner bookings are available, and while soaking up the live French music you will be served up three courses for $99 with a Kir Royal, glass of Taittinger or Kronenbourg 1664.
Dale Potts is the much-loved Gusto sommelier and who very cleverly curates wine pairings for each of the dishes at these events, and there is one in particular that is his favourite.
“On Friday 26 July, Tim and I will present our annual Christmas in July Spectacular,” he beams.
“This year we have a special treat of a fine selection of imported Austrian wines from Stift Göttweig, Stadt Krems, Bründlemayer and Moric.
“Some of the wine varietals will include Riesling from the high terraces of the Danube, Grüner Veltliner, Zweigelt, Blaufränkisch and St Laurent.”
Dale will bring his years of experience in Austria to match a sumptuous five-course degustation menu curated by Chef Sacha Ryan.
“I lived in Austria for many years and that’s where my love of Austrian wines began,” Dale says. “I did a spectacular tasting on a visit earlier this year and was in Kamptal, northern Austria, with celebrity winemaker Fritz Miesbauer, who represents wineries from Stift Göttweig, and Stadt Krems Stift, and we will be pouring these and other Austrian
Chef Sacha has created a bespoke mouthwatering menu and you can indulge in the five courses with wine pairings for $179.
From Austria to Australia, the Clare Valley comes to Noosa for a very special Mitchell Wines dinner on Thursday 29 August where Angus Mitchell will present the Annual McNicol Cellar Release launch - this year the 2015 McNicol Riesling and 2010 McNicol Shiraz - and at least five more wines from the range.
“It’s always great to have the Mitchells in town every year for the Cellar Release launch at Gusto,” Dale says.
“This year Mitchells also celebrates 50 years of winemaking and we are excited to announce that Angus will also be bringing a Special 50th Anniversary Fortified for all to enjoy.”
So lock in the dates and loosen the belts – winter is about getting up close and comfortable with fine wines and delicious dining at our gorgeous Gusto Riverfront Restaurant.
Tour De France – Winter Warmer
June to End of August.
Explore two regions of France each month! Lunch: one-course, $39; two-courses $49; three-courses $59.
Dinner: three-courses, $65.
Wine Dinner - Brockenchack Vineyard Thursday 27 June, 6pm. Enjoy 7 wines with a five-course degusation menu, $149.
Bastille Day, Sunday 14 July
Live French Music. Lunch from 12pm, dinner from 6pm with a Kir Royal, glass of Taitinger or a Kronenbourg 1664 on arrival. Three courses with choices, $99.
Christmas in July Spectacular – Austrian Wine Extravaganza, Friday 26 July. Five-course degustation with Austrian wine pairings, $179.
Wine Dinner - Mitchell Wines, The Museum McNicoll release and 50th Anniversary, Thursday 29 August. Degustation dinner with matching wines, $169 Tour of Italy, Thursday 19 September JJ Peyre will present five Italian wines from five different regions of Italy with a classic five-course Italian menu, $169. To book, scan the QR code or phone 5449 7144.
Our private dining space is suitable for 12-38 or can be combined with outside restaurant for larger groups. Packages and customised menus available. Visit our website for more info.
An evening at Flo’s Crêperie is about to get a little more Francey with the introduction of their brand-new French dinner menu – featuring plenty of beloved classics with that signature Flo’s twist, bien sûr! Rebecca Jamieson Dwyer discovers what’s on the menu and starts planning her next visit…
If you already love Flo’s Crêperie and their delicious selection of crêpes and galettes (and if not, where have you been?), then prepare to be delighted –their new French dinner menu has arrived, and it’s as fantastique as you’d expect!
Start your French feast with ‘Petits’ including Moules Gratinées topped with confit garlic butter and breadcrumbs; Chicken Liver Pâté with pickles and croutons; and the amazing-sounding Raclette Bombs (I’ve been obsessed with raclette since a childhood French skiing trip, so sign me up!).
Entrees such as Steak Tartare; Scallop Vol Au Vent; Flo’s Cured Ocean Trout with sauce vierge, black olives, dill, creme fraiche; and many more tasty offerings are hard to resist but leave room for heartier mains, including crowd-pleasers such as Steak Frites; Chicken Fricassée; and La Papillote, which is barramundi, mussels and local king prawns cooked in a paper bag with saffron potatoes and bouillabaisse – hard to pronounce, but easy to devour!
Sensational sides include Courgettes Grillées with confit lemon, pepitas and fresh herbs; Salade Verte; and Potatoes a la Flo layered with cream and chives. It wouldn’t be Flo’s without a selection of classic, seafood and vegetarian galettes (savoury crêpes) and divine dessert crêpes that everyone knows and loves. Très bien!
The philosophy behind our new dinner menu is affordable, approachable French food done well!
“The philosophy behind our new dinner menu is affordable, approachable French food done well,” says Flo’s Crêperie co-founder Michelle Guillemard.
“Alongside delicious crêpes and galettes, you’ll now also find dishes that capture the true essence of French cuisine. We want Flo’s to be the destination for French food on the Sunshine Coast.”
The menu will be rotated regularly, featuring plenty of new delights, and all dishes are designed to be shared, embracing the spirit of dining with loved ones and the cosy, casual surroundings. Why try just one dish when you could share a few with your table?
“We encourage diners to order a range of dishes and try different things – mix them up with our galettes, or with a
glass of wine, Flo’s French Cider or champagne,” Michelle adds.
“Since launching Flo’s for dinner, we’ve had so many amazing comments – people love the new dishes and attractive prices, and pairing these new dishes with a savoury galette or sweet crêpe for dessert has been a popular move!” she says.
But if you’re simply craving a crêpe, never fear: Michelle said diners could still enjoy a range of savoury galettes and sweet crêpes that Flo’s is famous for with the signature flambe crêpes offering the perfect finish to a French feast.
Alongside the new menu, you’ll find a revamped wine list, with beautiful French drops from many different regions suited to all budgets and tastes.
“Our personal favourite is the Château du Moulin Noir because Bordeaux is unbeatable and it really reminds Flo of his country,” Michelle says.
The dinner menu is a team effort, with Flo’s talented crew of chefs working together to create French foodie fabulousness.
“We are lucky to work with amazing chefs who not only know how to make crêpes and galettes just like they do in
France, but can also execute these classic French dishes to perfection,” she adds.
For a dish that celebrates the flavours of the south of France while showcasing the exceptional local produce of the Sunshine Coast, Michelle recommends the La Papillote.
“It’s Flo’s favourite, because the taste of the bouillabaisse really brings you to the south of France, and with our local fish it works so well to link French tradition and Sunshine Coast flavours together perfectly,” she said.
Craving fantastique French food? It’s time to go with the Flo!
A range of French classics with a Flo’s twist. Think Steak Frites, Fricassée, Rillettes, Bouillabaisse – all those dishes that are hard to pronounce but easy to indulge in. And, of course, the signature crêpes and galettes!
From casual pizzas and beers to a gastronomic celebration of fine food and service, John Caruso dives into the secrets behind Bella Venezia’s longevity and how they’ve stayed on top.
When I moved to the Sunshine Coast from Melbourne in 2000, one of my earliest memories was eating pizza and enjoying a few Italian beers at a spot on the Mooloolaba Esplanade. I vividly recall the wall mural of Venice in a room at the rear - and many laughs shared with friends. It felt like home and I was living the sweet life.
Fast forward almost 25 years and I’m in the same venue, sitting in one of the lush velvet booths with my wife and teenage son celebrating our May birthdays and enjoying a meticulously presented seven-course degustation with matching wines. The menu includes Mooloolaba Yellowfin Tuna Crudo; house made Ravioli with West Australian Lobster and Mooloolaba King Prawns; and Sous Vide Grain Fed Eye Fillet with a Leek and Potato Terrine - and to cap off the experience, Tonino our waiter was the perfect ‘master of ceremonies’.
The Venetian wall may have disappeared, however the atmosphere and anticipation of good food and good times remain at an establishment that clearly deserves its title as an awardwinning ‘institution’ - Bella Venezia.
Hospitality businesses don’t survive with a single string to its bow and for Bella Venezia, it has created a symphony of delicious flavours, expert hospitality and one of the most impressive and award-winning wine lists in Australia.
Todd and Kristine Young are the conductors of this success, leading with as strong a commitment to business management and marketing as there is to the overall dining experience.
“Bella Venezia is currently a 150 seat, 500 square foot venue and it would have been Carlo the original owner who commissioned the painting of those Venetian scenes, along with terracotta tiles on the floor and arches on the sides of the walls,” Todd recalls.
Since then, Bella Venezia has gone
through several refurbishments, the first in 2018.
“We wanted to modernise the back room while keeping it classic ensuring that the Venetian feel remained,” he says. “The mural is still there, behind the plaster, so if you were to refurbish, you’d find those original paintings.”
A background in sales and retail management grounded and sharpened Todd’s skills with budgets and cash flow.
“Working in retail taught me a lot about finance, especially running a large supermarket. It was all results-driven and it wasn’t unusual to get a call from your boss if your wages were over budget or if your sales were under,” Todd says.
“Understanding cash flow is very important and it’s hard to survive in this business without that knowledge. I forecast my cash flow and profitability every day, two weeks out at minimumI know exactly what my weekly costs are for food, beverages, wages. Everything.”
When you’ve been part of the hospitality landscape for decades and the awards flow as smoothly as the shiraz, I wanted to understand what kind of planning was necessary to keep growing and avoid becoming complacent.
“It’s about staying true to who we are, looking at our business model and tweaking it according to trends,” Todd says. “Running a restaurant in Australia is a tough gig, especially at that higher price point and we’ve seen iconic restaurants pull the pin because the cost of doing business was too high.
“For us, it’s about having different offerings. People can come in off the beach and share pizza and beers while in another area, guests are enjoying a silver-service, fine dining experience with a beautiful wine from Bordeaux,” he explains. “Our takeaway and delivery
service also keep the wheels turning.”
While staying out of the red from a business perspective is critical; delving into ‘reds’ is something Todd enjoys.
“I’m the wine director who creates the wine list and I’m lucky to work with our amazing sommeliers with brilliant pedigrees,” he says. “Like the restaurant, our wine list has evolved from twelve bottles to more than 550, all at different price points and we have earned a lot of awards and a three-glass rating, which I’m very proud of.”
I couldn’t help but think that the journey and transformation that Bella Venezia has undergone in the time I’ve called the Coast home, has mirrored my own - from youthful indulgence to a more considered approach and deeper appreciation for the finer things in life - la dolce vita!
WANT MORE? Download the interview with Todd from our podcast.
Celebrating a special occasion, want to spoil a friend, or simply fancy an escape from the everyday?
Book yourself into the new High Tea experience at Noosa Beach House for a colourful, decadent, Frenchinspired experience that’ll brighten your day. Rebecca Jamieson-Dwyer says ‘oui to high tea’!
In our busy world, taking the time to sit and chat to a friend while savouring dainty yet decadent snacks and sipping on delicious loose-leaf tea in a serene setting feels almost like a radical act.
It’s this sense of slowness, ritual and appreciation that makes the experience of high tea feel truly special: the carefully prepared selection of sweet and savoury bites; the beautiful fine-china teapot with matching cups and saucers; the friendly chatter of fellow diners and clinking of spoons; and the quiet reverence of taking your first sip, which all helps anchor us in the moment and savour the experience.
If this sounds like the perfect way to spend an afternoon, you’ll be excited to hear that Noosa Beach House restaurant at Sofitel Noosa Pacific Resort will be launching their new High Tea experience on 6 July – and it certainly doesn’t disappoint!
Reimagining traditional high tea offerings to include both French- and coastal-inspired elements, you’ll find their three-tiered stand laden with all kinds of deliciousness.
On the savoury front, there’s mini brioches with dill cream cheese, smoked salmon and caviar; a roti wheel filled with tandoori chicken and topped with raita; green and gold finger sandwiches filled with grilled Provencal vegetables; and Mushrooms Arancini with aioli.
And when it comes to sweets, the pâtisserie creations include cranberry and classic scones served with marmalade, jam and cultured butter; pink strawberry macarons; lemon and yuzu éclairs with meringue; hazelnuts
It’s this sense of slowness, ritual and appreciation that makes the experience of high tea feel truly special...
opera cake with gold leaves; and fresh berries tartlet with pistachio crumbs –a treat for the eyes and the tastebuds!
All made in-house by the expert team. Everything is served on luxury Cristina Re teaware that’s been designed and handcrafted with love, adding a special touch of elegance, sophistication and celebration (plus the founder Cristina is now based in Noosa, bringing this brilliant brand even closer to home!).
And when it comes to the contents of your porcelain cup, you’ll be tea-lighted by the organic, loose-leaf goodness from Indigenous-owned tea company Blak Brews, whose teas are sourced, blended
and packed in Australia using native ingredients and local, ethical suppliers. More of a bubbles person? You can guarantee the finest champagne from Mumm will add some sparkle to your afternoon!
The maestro behind this incredible symphony of flavours is the Sofitel’s new highly accomplished Executive Chef, Patrice Falantin, who hails from France and was recently the Executive Chef aboard a prestigious Silversea luxury cruise ship, where he led a team of 302 staff (to 392 guests) on the six-star vessel. He also spent 12 remarkable years as the Executive Chef at Sofitel Brisbane where, under his leadership, the hotel earned a coveted hat for its fine dining restaurant and witnessed the banqueting department flourish, serving up to an impressive 2000 guests daily.
Patrice is skilled at building and leading strong teams who are passionate about the projects they work on, and he’s excited about all that’s in store across the Sofitel Pacific Noosa Resort’s multiple venues.
“We’ve just launched an à la carte breakfast at our popular Noosa Beach House Bar, which opens at seven o’clock in the morning on Hastings Street when people are jogging and socialising and want to have a coffee or a fresh juice,” Patrice says. “Our signature dish is a Moreton Bay Bug Croque Madame, which is influenced by my childhood favourite, the Croque Monsieur. We’ve added a coastal twist to create a Croque Madame with a fried egg on top, and filled it with Moreton Bay Bugs and béchamel sauce with lobster bisque. Perfect with a glass of champagne to start the day!
“Our restaurant, Noosa Beach House, is very well-known for the quality of the cuisine, and our Head Chef Nick Blake
excels at creating coastal dishes showcasing locally sourced produce, including the best fish you can get on the market from our local fishery.
“Plus we’ll be launching a new bar menu at Riviera Bar & Lounge created by Nick and his team, which is influenced by the entrées and starters from the restaurant menu – so people can enjoy a sunset drink overlooking the water and experience something a little different to the usual bar offering. It’s a great way to give guests a taste of the amazing quality of the restaurant and get them excited before booking in for dinner.”
experience, Sofitel Noosa Pacific Resort offers something for everyone and is sure to impress.
“We’ve got a great team and are really proud of everything that’s happening in
Whether it’s sumptuous high tea, a beautiful breakfast, sensational bar bites or a truly fantastique fine-dining
There’s nothing more soul-filling than a weekend brunch. Ali Smith hit Bandita Mexican Cantina’s new brunch menu and found the Mexican take ‘excelente’.
Noosa has a unique breakfast culture. As a seriously outdoorsy community spoiled for choice with a wonderful natural setting and a plethora of places to dine, brunch gives us the chance to slow down and soak up the sunshine and good vibes until our hearts and bellies are full.
The newest player to the delicious weekend brunch scene is Bandita Mexican Cantina’s All-Day Mexi-Breakky which ticks all the right boxes.
Located on Gympie Terrace, Bandita’s front balcony is bathed in Noosa sunshine making it the ideal spot for people-watching. It’s also dog-friendly which makes it the perfect place to stop for a bite after you’ve taken your furry pal for a riverside walk.
Arriving at the cantina, Jakki Goodall and I were excited to see all the menu options noticing that there were a few traditional crowd-pleasers like their Açaí Bowl, Eggs Benny and a lightly spiced Avocado Toast for those not quite ready to make the full leap into a flavour-filled
Mexican journey.
But Jakki and I were ready to jump in tastebuds-first and it was the true flavours of Mexico that got us channelling our inner bandita.
I chose the Huevos Rancherossunny side eggs, Oaxaca beans, cheese quesadilla, salsa roja, guacamole, pico de gallo, pickled red onion, and coriander.
It’s a mouthful to pronounce but every bite of my Huevos Rancheros was a flavour-filled sensation, not too spicy but spicy enough to feel like we were hanging with the muchachos in Cancun. Plus, it ticked my gluten-free box.
Jakki had been dreaming of breakfast tequila so it was a challenge to pull her away from her reverie to order something more substantial. Thankfully, the Classic No-Meat-O Burrito teased her taste buds and ticked her no-dairy needs.
Setting aside her tequila fantasies, Jakki tucked into the burrito which was a balanced blend of scrambled tofu, white beans, chipotle, cashew, quinoa, corn slaw, pickles, and avocado.
Jakki reported that the milder flavours like the tofu and avo balanced perfectly
...every bite of my Huevos Rancheros was a flavourfilled sensation, not too spicy but spicy enough to feel like we were hanging with the muchachos in Cancun...
with the spicy chipotle while the beans, cashews, and fresh ingredients added texture. Overall, she was very satisfied with her burrito adding that it was also wholesomely filling - and would be great with a shot of tequila!
Alas, our dietary requirements didn’t allow for the W.T.FFLES of Churros waffles, caramel banana, dulche de leche ice cream, salted dark chocolate, honeycomb and berries but we’re sure it will become a must-do dish for the perfect Noosa brunch!
Using the freshest local ingredients, Bandita’s breakfast portions start at $12
for a meal, offering a great value option for brunch on a budget.
For those really looking to ease into the weekend, there are also breakfast cocktails to enjoy.
Brunch at Bandita is available every weekend from 8am to 3pm so there is plenty of time to make a day of it - and if it happens to spill over into dinner (you just never know), be like Jakki and sneak in a cheeky tequila - or two.
Bandita’s owner Amy was excited to share what was on offer.
“We have a fantastic line up of tequilas, mezcals and other Mexican spirits which are a must try and we have several types of margaritas available from the timeless classics to variations that feature chilli, coconut, mango, and more,” she enthused as we drooled.
Next time, for sure.
Whether you’re looking for an easy breezy brunch or fiery weekend fiesta vibes, grab your amigos and make Bandita Mexican Cantina your next stop. Sombrero, optional. A casual, modern Mexican restaurant, showcasing a bounty of local ingredients and producers from across the Sunny Coast, with a Mexican twist! Overlooking the Noosa River on Gympie Terrace we’re a neighbourhood Cantina that’s relaxed and suits any occasion, but best of all... the majority of our menu is gluten free!
In Chinese Medicine, winter is defined by ‘yin’ or resting energy, and is a time of retreat, reflection and regeneration where we revive our self-care routines and nourish our bodies with warm goodness. From fuelling the body with hearty veggie-loaded soups and stews to immunity-boosting smoothies and açaí bowls packed full of antioxidants to replenish the body, mind and soul,
Organika is your one-stop shop for all things wellness!
For us lucky sunshiners, our winters are relatively mild – blink and you’ll miss them – but that doesn’t mean we’re exempt from the occasional chilly morning or drafty day that can leave us fighting the seasonal nasties! From gut friendly go-tos and natural supplements to a full range of ethical and sustainable
Organika’s wholesome range of pantry staples, health supplements and immune boosting superfoods will have you waltzing into winter with a belly full of organic goodness! Jodie Cameron discovers five simple ways Organika can help you eat more seasonally, sleep more soundly, and boost your vital organs as we transition to the cooler months…
certified organic wines, Noosa’s favourite healthy hub has you covered for those cosy nights in around the fire.
But don’t wait to feel rundown –head into store today and let Organika enhance your yin energy with a heart-healthy breakfast, organic coffee, and start stockpiling all those winter pantry staples to nourish yourself from head-to-toe and inside-out!
When the weather gets cold, our digestion tends to slow down, which means cooked foods are easier on the digestive system than raw foods. From hearty soups to flavourful curries and comforting kitchari, Organika’s Ready to Heat at home meals are meticulously curated to deliver a symphony of flavours and nutrients. Experience the convenience of homemade meals without compromising on quality or flavour – a wholesome option crafted with care and commitment to certified organic ingredients, all prepared in-house. Say goodbye to meal prep stress and hello to wholesome goodness, conveniently packaged and ready to satisfy your cravings in minutes!
The kidneys are the primary organ associated with winter, and require a lot of rest in order to rejuvenate and consolidate energy to prepare for the growth, expansion and activity of spring – so a freezer full of Mt Wilder Berries can never go astray! Hand-picked at peak ripeness and flash-frozen to preserve their freshness, these organic wild-harvested berries are packed with nutrients. Blueberries, strawberries, raspberries and blackberries are all rich in antioxidants and bursting with flavour. Add to smoothies, stir into yoghurt, a steaming bowl of porridge or enjoy straight from the freezer. Kickstart your day with a delicious dose of berry goodness!
A cold winter’s day calls for a warming drink from the Organika Café and at home. The Hummble range of cacao is infused with potent yet specific adaptogenic superfoods, Ayurvedic herbs, medicinal mushrooms and masala spices to bring a new form of energy and vitality to your day. Cacao is rich in antioxidants, particularly flavonoids, which help combat oxidative stress and reduce inflammation in the body. A natural source of caffeine, cacao contains compounds like theobromine and phenylethylamine, which can promote feelings of happiness and wellbeing by stimulating the release of endorphins in the brain. A no-brainer pantry essential this winter!
Elevate your winter wellness and keep your gut in-check with NU JMU Turmeric + Ginger Pepper Shots! With anti-inflammatory properties, each shot is a powerful blend of organic, locally sourced ingredients designed to invigorate your body, mind and soul. Enjoy the rich, spicy blend of turmeric and ginger as a quick shot or mixed into your favourite beverage. Add to water, soda, coconut water, or juice, hot or cold, these shots are a versatile addition to your daily routine and an ideal energising pick-me-up or continuous immune and arthritis support. Also available in a convenient 6-pack.
Get a decent night’s sleep with Ancient Minerals Magnesium!
Ranging from highly concentrated magnesium oil to bath salts and lotions for sensitive skin, magnesium is known to improve sleep, reduce muscle tension, lessen pain associated with migraine headaches, and address neurological disorders such as anxiety and depression. Dreamy winter days are on the horizon!
Tea Shop’s aromatic array of organic, sustainably-sourced teas offers something special. Melanie Rosettenstein and the IN Noosa team have a tea-riffic time savouring all the special blends.
Is there anything more comforting than a cup of tea? The simple act of slowly brewing a carefully selected cuppa offers a retreat from life’s daily hullabaloo. And Tea Shop teas are our office go-to to maintain a bit of calm amidst the deadline-driven crazy!
Led by certified Tea Master, Kellie Marshall, the Tea Shop team is serious about the business of making tea. And even more so, it’s serious about its customers getting the most out of their tea experience.
This is why their range is roasted in small batches (no mass production here) using sustainably-sourced blends different to any other teas out there. Their blends are also packaged using recycled, reusable, or compostable packaging meaning that the sublime cuppa you are enjoying comes absolutely guilt-free. Score!
The IN Noosa Magazine team shares their favourite blend which we discover matches our personalities - to a T.
Mel: As a South African who grew up on the sweet taste of Rooibos, I instinctively reach for Tea Shop’s Orange Rooibos. I just love the citrusy, cinnamony taste which compliments the tea’s natural sweetness. As it’s caffeinefree, it’s ideal for an afternoon pick-meup. (Ed’s note: it’s also great with gin!)
Jodie: As a mum of two busy boys, I need the balance and harmony that Lemon Myrtle Green delivers! I love the combination of Japanese green tea with zesty Australian aromatics. You can taste the natural goodness and health benefits.
I just love the citrusy, cinnamony taste which compliments the tea’s natural sweetness. As it’s caffeine-free, it’s ideal for an afternoon pick-me-up.
Deb: Tea makes everything better and my favourite is the Liquorice Mint, a refreshing and invigorating blend of liquorice root and spearmint. It’s revitalising and delicious with a natural sweetness so it’s the perfect pick-me-up to get me through the day, naturally.
Michelle: Tea Shop’s Mountain Chai with its mix of exotic herbs and spices blended with black tea delivers a delightful and distinctive layer of complexity to deliver instant calm and warmth. Perfect any time of day.
John: I’m predominantly a coffee drinker but if there’s a tea that makes me cross the Rubicon and put down my cup of coffee, it’s the Tea Shop’s Robust There’s an earthiness, smokiness and a smoothness that sees me popping the kettle on and brewing one of these each day as a takeaway before I hit the streets delivering the magazines.
Bex: I drink ginger tea every day so Tea Shop’s Ginger Glow is my natural choice! So warming with a spicy kick, that delivers a light, invigorating and uplifting way to get me through the day.
Ali: Tea Shop’s Peppermint blend is my first choice! The cool minty tones mixed with earthy dandelion and a touch of fennel present an uplifting, cool taste that I just love. It’s refreshing, brisk and with a mild sweetness, just like me!
Jakki: Oui, oui mes amis! Gentle, floral French Earl Grey goes so nicely with my French beret and, with lavender and hibiscus, is my absolute favourite! Just a little bit tart and a little bit sweet, this delicious tea is a calming and aromatic addition to my day.
So there you go! Tea Shop’s fragrant blends are a firm and favourite fixture in our office.
Whether we’re looking for an energy boost, sweet sensation without the calories or something calming while we’re on deadline, we won’t change our minds for all the tea in China!
If you’re looking for something new to try or beautiful gift ideas, be sure to visit the Tea Shop on Rene Street in Noosaville or shop online for a tea-lightful tea-time treat!
And don’t forget to check our website for the tea-inspired cocktails created in collaboration with Sunshine & Sons. Drink responsibly.
We roast and blend in small batches to ensure quality and freshness
Afew years ago, Matt and Laura McNamara had a crazy idea: why not raffle off their successful wholefoods café in Phillip Island in order to follow their hearts and travel around Australia in a campervan?
With two small kids, a mortgage, and a thriving but demanding hospitality business, they’d realised that they were chasing fleeting joy on weekends rather than living a life that truly nourished them. So they sold up (raising money for charity in the process), bundled themselves and their children, Frankie and Myles, into a van, and hit the open road to discover where it might take them.
“We were seeking a life filled with travel, fun, adventure and more quality time with good friends and each other,” explains Matt. “We decided to take a leap of faith and just trust the process.”
Although they loved the freedom that came from their new nomadic existence, being removed from their careers, their possessions and their home was confronting and humbling, forcing the duo to dig deep to discover who they were without all the trappings of modern life. Part of their process of coming back to themselves was embracing stillness in the form of meditation and journaling, as well as the daily ritual of creating their own superfood-infused warm cacao – a recipe they honed and perfected as they moved from place to place.
“We shared it with friends, family and people we connected with while we were travelling, and I’d continually get feedback, which helped me tweak the recipe,” recalls Laura. “One day, while I was meditating, the name came to me: Hummble, with the double ‘m’. I shared my vision with Matt, and it immediately felt right. We knew this was a path we had to pursue together.”
Laura’s background in food science and Ayurveda and Matt’s talent for building relationships meant they had the complementary skills needed to bring
Hummble by name and humble by nature, Matt and Laura McNamara have created a wellness-focused cacao brand that aligns with their family values of health, sustainability and intentional living, discovers Rebecca Jamieson Dwyer
their fledgling business to life.
After much product development and research, Hummble was launched into the world – while at the same time, there was another exciting development in the McNamara universe: the news they were expecting a surprise third baby.
Their daughter Mabel and their business baby were born in the Noosa region, with Matt and Laura taking endless inspiration from the natural beauty of the area, as well as the closeknit, likeminded community they found.
“We just really fell in love with the area after discovering how many openminded people there were here,” says Matt. “And the brand became so accepted and embraced in Noosa that we really started to feel that this was our home.”
Because of their foodie backgrounds, Matt and Laura found it easy to connect with local health-focused cafés and wholefoods stores from Noosa to Byron Bay to get Hummble onto their drinks menus and shelves.
From there, word started to spread about this healthy yet moreish drink,
with the local community getting behind the homegrown brand that offers an indulgent, enjoyable way to honour, nourish and replenish both body and mind.
Created using inspiration from traditional Ayurvedic principles, Hummble is packed with organic, plant-based, sustainably sourced adaptogenic superfoods, such as medicinal mushrooms, botanical herbs and Peruvian sourced cacao.
Its three flavours – Awaken Cacao, Elevate Cacao and Calm Cacao – have been developed to support our nervous
system, immune system and energy levels in different ways, providing the perfect pick-me-up or calming drink.
“I’m obsessed with Calm Cacao because it’s infused with chamomile, passionflower and shatavari, all of which have been chosen for their calming properties,” Laura says.
“I take it every morning, and it helps me to feel really whole and balanced. It’s common to feel overwhelmed and stressed as a mum because of all the responsibilities we carry, but this helps bring my energy back into alignment and encourages a calm flow for the day.
“I serve it to my friends who are parents and now they’re all addicted!”
Elevate Cacao, Matt’s favourite, has been developed with Siberian Ginseng and roasted dandelion root powder to support an uplifted and energised state, and can even help temper those morning coffee cravings.
“Since drinking Elevate, I no longer feel the need for a coffee,” says Matt. “It’s very hydrating and doesn’t affect the adrenal system in the way that coffee does, but it definitely gives me a boost.”
And then there’s Awaken Cacao, the rebranded original version of Hummble
revitalising hug-in-a-mug infused with maca, cordyceps, shiitake, maitake and turkey tail mushrooms; and a hint of chilli – perfect for providing nourishment and rejuvenation.
In a sea of healthy drinks brands, Hummble floats effortlessly above the rest because of Laura’s passion for quality, its potent ingredients, and her commitment to ensuring that each sip is completely delicious.
“Each of the ingredients is at the maximum level for balancing its nutritional properties with flavour,” she says. “The health benefits are enhanced when you take a small amount of these ingredients every day – but if something doesn’t taste great then you won’t be called to have it every day. So that’s been a really important focus for me.”
And the proof is in the pudding – or in this case, the handcrafted ceramic mug – as I witness the genuine excitement in their kids’ faces as they’re called to the kitchen bench for a Hummble on the day I’m interviewing Matt and Laura at their Sunshine Beach home.
“They absolutely love it and will drink one pretty much everyday,” Laura says. Focus groups don’t get much better
For Matt and Laura, Hummble is so much more than just a drink – it’s a lifestyle that truly aligns with their values of health, sustainability and purpose, giving them the flexibility they need as a travel-loving family while enabling them to establish permanent roots in this special part of the world.
“The brand flows into our lives and allows us to live a purpose-filled existence doing what we love,” reflects Matt. And Laura agrees: “We all have that one thing we’re good at – our genius zone – and food and product creation is truly my passion. I’m just so grateful that we get to align with our truth and help nourish people through
drinks for vibrant lives.
ble. o .a
Perhaps it’s because of the milk chocolate eggs we devour at Easter time that our tastebuds are conditioned to reach for the milk chocolate when we feel a sweet craving come on.
But Noosa Chocolate Factory’s Nick Southon says the preference for milk chocolate is changing as more and more people swing towards dark chocolate to satisfy their sweet cravings with less sugar and increased health benefits.
“We used to see about one in three people preferring milk chocolate but these days we’re seeing about 40% of our customers opting for our dark chocolate options,” he says.
The reason behind this shift, Nick believes, could be a matter of taste as people get older or it could be due to Noosa Chocolate Factory’s unique manufacturing process which sets them apart from other chocolate makers.
“It could be that people’s tastes change as they get older or it could boil down to the chemistry of it,” he said. “We’re the only company that produces chocolate slabs the way we do, and we make all of our jellies from scratch. This allows us to meticulously control the balance between sweet and bitter, resulting in an exceptional taste experience.”
The best local ingredients, precise temperature control, and time are what make Noosa Chocolate Factory’s delicious slabs so good.
The ingredients such as mangoes, strawberries, honeycomb, nuts, and
For most chocolate enthusiasts, milk chocolate has traditionally been the favourite, but this trend is taking a dark turn with a better understanding of the health and flavour benefits of cacao-rich chocolate. Melanie Rosettenstein puts dark chocolate to the taste test.
a dozen other delectables are coated using a panning technique which involves slowly drizzling the chocolate over them until they are fully-coated.
Nick said they carefully blend different levels of chocolate to achieve the perfect taste with less sugar in the dark chocolate products.
To test this theory, Nick put me through my paces, to sample the dark chocolate slabs, starting with the 100% option which is ideal for the cacao purist.
Admittedly the 100% option was too bitter for my palate but as I proceeded through the percentage ranks, trying the 90%, the 85%, and 73% options, the chocolate tasted smoother and sweeter.
After I’d tried all options, Nick offered me his favourite to sample, the Black Cherry Slab. After admitting that he eats this particular slab with the same fervour as a labrador, he said he would eat his hat if this one did not become my favourite choice as well.
Well, Nick’s hat is safe. The Cherry Slab (with a high cacao content of 70%) is the perfect example of dark chocolate balanced with the sharp and satisfying sweetness of soft black cherries.
The benefits of dark chocolate, if consumed in moderation, are many.
It is rich in antioxidants with antiinflammatory properties, contains serotonin to reduce stress and anxiety,
and is an excellent source of essential minerals such as iron and magnesium.
those with dairy issues - and are absolutely divine!
...honeycomb, nuts, and a dozen other delectables are coated using a panning technique which involves slowly drizzling the chocolate over them...
Dark chocolate is also known to lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease by increasing good cholesterol and decreasing bad cholesterol.
Don’t let dietary or lifestyle choices come between you and the heavenly choices on offer at Noosa Chocolate Factory - all products are free from palm oil, most are coeliac-friendly, and the dedicated vegan-friendly range also suit
If this article has made you grab your car keys and head for the Noosa Chocolate Factory to buy one, two, or many slabs of dark chocolate then be sure to store your chocolate at room temperature in a cool, dry place to experience the best flavour profile.
With its health benefits and bold flavour hit, I’ve been converted to the art of dark chocolate so I’m not sure storage will be required for long.
John Caruso discovers a local species of fish that is one of the fastest in the world - and, when prepared with skill and passion - is also one of the tastiest and most versatile.
The Tuna Experience with Walker Seafoods at Lucio’s Marina as part of Noosa Eat and Drink was a celebration of the humble, yet tasty, tuna! Guests arrived with their eyes wide with curiosity and excitement and they weren’t disappointed.
Alberto Vitassovich, the head chef at Lucio’s Marina, had a vision to present a was a nose-to-tail approach honouring one of his favourite ingredietns.
“It’s common practice and part of the Slow Food philosophy to honour the animal by using every part of it and it’s quite common with livestock such as whole pigs,” he said. “I wanted to bring that approach to a whole tuna and develop different products right through to sausages and selling boiled tuna packaged in jars.
“This was not just about cooking; it was about showcasing the versatility of tuna, a tribute to the fish that is so integral to the culinary world.”
With the Noosa Eat & Drink program committed to celebrating local food and beverage that brings together the best of the region, Alberto saw this as an opportunity to do something different.
“In Italy, I worked at two different restaurants that had achieved a Three Michelin star rating and we would perform ‘live cuttings’ of a whole tuna in front of the customers regularly, so I wanted to offer that same experience to our guests here in Noosa,” he said.
From the introductory snacks of the tuna sashimi cracker, and the tuna tataki; through to tuna cannelloni; vitello tonnato; spaghetti al tonno and bistecca di tonno; you could say we were ‘schooled’ in the versatility and flavour profile of the freshest tuna I have ever experienced.
Lucio’s Marina owner Matteo Galletto, echoed Alberto’s sentiments.
“You take things for granted working in a restaurant however when you see our clientele reacting like they did on arrival tonight, and you see people’s reaction to Alberto cutting the slices of tuna for the sashimi crackers as people walked through to the restaurant with their Sakura Spritz, you can see they’re stoked,” he said.
“We love to present something different and engaging - theatre for the eyes and tastebuds!”
The tuna for the evening was supplied by Walker Seafoods, a local company committed to sustainable fishing practices with General Manager Daniel Jones, highlighting the quality and sustainability of the local catch.
“Tuna caught off our shores are being exported to North America, Singapore and Japan and it’s simply because our population isn’t consuming the amount we’re catching,” he said.
“The quality of what we catch is the best in the world and our methods and sustainability practices are also the best in the world, compliant with all Australian government regulations, which keeps our fishery well managed
and our product delivered in impeccable condition with the freshest flavour.”
The Tuna Experience with Walker Seafoods at Lucio’s Marina provided a newfound appreciation and respect for tuna as well as an educational journey that highlighted the versatility and sustainability of this remarkable fish.
If you missed out on this, be sure to get your seafood fix with Lucio’s newly launched Seafood Platter Experience for two - a celebration of the the best local seafood brought out over three courses of raw, antipasti and shellfish.
Together with a stunning waterfront location, cracking drinks list and the warmest hospitality, it’s hard to resist!
at the Noosa Marina at the Noosa Marina
Park & Cove’s Sunny Coastal Dinner as part of Noosa Eat & Drink 2024 was a masterclass in local flavours.
Local love was shining at Park & Cove, Peppers Noosa Resort & Villas for the Sunny Coastal Dinner as part of Noosa Eat & Drink 2024.
Director of Food & Beverage Andy Wilcox reunited with mentor and mate Matt Golinski as well as First Nations’s chef and Jarrah Boy beer founder Dale Vocale, to present a three-course journey through the flavours of Noosa, all locally-sourced and craftfully curated.
Each course was paired with a selection of beverages, including Sirromet Wines, a welcome cocktail by Park & Cove, and beers by Jarrah Boy (including Park & Cove’s own Ocean Ale).
Even the entertainment had a local flavour with X-Factor finalist and Noosa Local, Andrew Lawson, taking the stage.
Chef Andy’s showstopping dessert was such a hit, we just had to get the recipe!
Step 1
• 85g dried apricots
• 170g dried pineapple
• 85g dried dates
• 2tsp vanilla essence
• 2tsp bicarb of soda
• 565ml boiling water
• 100gm tamarind
Blitz the fruit, vanilla essence and bicarb of soda to a fine paste. Scrape into a bowl, add boiling water, mix thoroughly and let ferment for 30 minutes.
Step 2
• 85g unsalted butter
• 85-225g soft dark brown sugar or muscovado
• 2-3 drops vanilla essence
• 140ml double cream
Melt butter with sugar and boil until smooth. Add vanilla and cream, continue to cook and stir until thick and smooth.
Pour into a lined, buttered tin and chill in the fridge.
parkandcovenoosa.com.au
Step 3
• 115g unsalted butter
• 340g dark soft brown sugar
• 4 eggs
• 340g self-raising flour
Cream butter and sugar until pale. Add eggs slowly, one at a time, continue mixing for 5 minutes. Quickly mix in flour, do not overmix.
Step 4
Scrape mix from step 3 into a large bowl.
Pour in half the fruit mix (from step 1), fold in, and fold in remaining fruit until fully mixed. Pour onto step 2. Bake at 150-175°C for between 30-40 mins until risen.
Remove from oven and carefully turn out to let the caramel drip off.
Step 5
• 250g caster sugar
• Handful of bruised kaffir lime leaves Slowly caramelise the caster sugar with the lime leaves. Add a dash of
UNCOVER THE LAYERS OF NOOSA AT THE MEETING OF LAND AND SEA. WELCOME TO YOUR NEW HOME IN THE HEADLANDS.
SERVES 12
water to achieve a honey-like consistency (be careful, it’s hot). Boil and stir until smooth. Rest and strain through a chinois. To serve
Top with whipped cream, caramelised pineapple and drizzle with lime caramel (from step 5).
@PARKANDCOVE
33A VIEWLAND DRIVE
NOOSA HEADS QLD 4567
Locale’s Gala Dinner was the cherry on top of the Noosa Eat & Drink 2024 Program, Deb Caruso indulged in an unforgettable evening.
Locale Noosa ended the 2024 Noosa Eat & Drink Festival with a star-studded and simply sensational Gala Dinner!
The sell-out event featured Locale’s Head Chef Chris Hagan alongside Ben Williamson of Brisbane’s award-winning Agnes, and Jason Saxby of Byron Bay’s beloved institution, Rae’s on Wategoscreating what MC Chris Parsons described as a “chef supergroup, rivalling The Avengers”.
The event started with a series of Antipasti created by the superstars including Ben’s Pork & Prawn in Betel Leaf, Prawn Emulsion, Smoked Arabushi; Jason’s Kangaroo ‘Tart-are’ of Diced Kangaroo, Tonnato Dressing, Capers and Pickled Chilli; and Chris’ Scamorza, Anchovy and Rapa Panzerotto plus a Rosemary Focaccia with Whipped Cream Ricotta and Smoked Salt - divine!
Drinks were superbly matched, including finishing with Rio’s recommendation of an Amaretto as the perfect partner for Chris’ Semi Freddo!
In addition to the stunning fourcourse feast, the service was first-class service with the warmth and expertise that Rio and Corrado Capurso and their team are known for. Bravo!
Tony Cox sniffs out what will be on offer when one of Yarra Valley’s pioneering winemakers comes to town for a very special event.
How good is Sunshine Beach Surf Club as a venue to kick back, enjoy a few bevvies and savour some salt-tinged air in your nostrils, all whilst enjoying a vista over the pristine ocean?
Taking it one step further, the chefs are turning it on to provide a wonderful menu paired with Rob Dolan Wines from the Yarra Valley - an area that Rob has made wines in since he made Yarra Ridge into a success in the early 1990s.
More than 30 years later, and having been integral to the success of Sticks and Punt Road labels, Rob is still producing superb wines using Yarra Valley fruit.
I couldn’t think of a better venue to host this larger-than-life legend of the wine world than the expansive function rooms with the best views in the world.
The lunch will feature six wines paired with five courses alongside no doubt, lots of commentary and tales from Rob’s
impressive career. No need to hear it on the grapevine, this will be an up-close and personal affair full of beautiful wines, great conversation and delicious food - and did I mention the views?
We kick off with the Black Label Blanc de Blanc – think green apple, lemon, typical chardonnay flavours with yeasty elements derived from extended lees contact and mid-palate texture from a small portion of malolactic fermentation.
Next, the White Label Pinot Gris - with apple and pear nuances, a slight staining from skin contact and bright aciditydelivers a light–medium bodied wine ideally suited to the fig, goat cheese and balsamic accompaniment.
Stepping it up, True Colours Rosé is pale salmon colour and sits firmly in the savoury style category with melon and nectarine flavours working as a delicate foil to the prawn and avocado ceviche.
Third course is the classic match of duck and pinot noir with the fruit-driven and savoury White Label Pinot Noir spiced with enough acidity to cut through the richness of duck rillettes.
Next, Wagyu Striploin takes centre stage. The White Label Shiraz, being more medium-bodied rather than full-bodied, has red fruit flavours, spice and savoury edge, with the back palate combination of acid and tannin cleansing the palate between mouthfuls.
Fifth course completes the afternoon and the Yuzu tartlet sees citrus fruit and yuzu paired with the Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc. Left to shrivel on the vine (but without botrytis) the wine’s notes of orange blossom, marmalade and cumquat will be another perfect match!
Whilst the lunch promises to be a
wonderful event, remember that the Surf Club is accessible Monday to Sunday lunch through dinner and all points in between offering a fantastic selection of beverages at incredibly reasonable prices.
When was the last time you saw a wine by the glass at $7, drink in? There is a substantial number of wines by the glass below $10 including Rob Dolan’s Chardonnay or Paxton Shiraz from McLaren Vale at $9, as well as plenty of options from premium regions and producers.
For those wanting to splash out, chardonnay and pinot noir from Ten Minutes by Tractor sit comfortably beside a Champagne selection, where the two offerings from Duval-Leroy look incredible value at $100 per bottle.
The club actively promotes local producers with Heads of Noosa Japanese Lager being very popular and Sunshine & Sons Gin and Vodka being first pour in the bar, as well as Noosa Gin from Noosa Distillery and Diablo Ginger Beer.
Best of all, the more you support the club the safer the beach will be, as the Supporters Club provides financial support to the Volunteer Lifesavers, assisting with valuable equipment.
Perhaps we could make a case for our
contributions across the bar being a tax-deductible donation?
There are plenty of reasons to enjoy a drink and/or a bite to eat at Sunshine Beach Surf Club and the Rob Dolan Long Lunch is yet another. Look forward to seeing you there. Cheers!
Black Label Blanc de Blanc
Fig, Goat’s Cheese and Balsamic White Label Pinot Gris
Prawn & Avocado Ceviche
True Colours Rosé
Duck Rillettes
White Label Pinot Noir
Wagyu Striploin
White Label Shiraz
Yuzu Tartlet
Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc BOOK NOW!
Sunday 21 July,11.30am Scan the QR code or book directly at Club reception and save $10.
5-course meal, each paired with a selection of Rob Dolan Wines with special guest Rob Dolan himself.
SUNDAY 21 JULY | 11.30AM - 3.00PM
OR purchase direct from Club reception and save $10 on your ticket
Tony Cox raises a glass to the latest global success for the crew at CAVU Distilling.
There really must be something in the water at Woombye because the team at CAVU Distilling have won more global gongs!
Not content with winning World’s Best Vodka at the World Vodka Awards for the Sunshine & Sons Original Vodka, the team has just been awarded a Gold Medal at the 2024 World Drinks Awards for their Nil Desperandum ‘Botanical’ Rumproviding proof that it doesn’t matter whether the spirit is white or brown, the end result is always golden.
In fact, Nil Desperandum came away with five medals across their rum range with the ‘Botanical’, in the Contemporary and Botanical category, being the highest awarded - even rating above such esteemed brands as Pussers from Guyana – so the competition was pretty hot.
Other awards received include:
Traditional Spiced Category: Silver, ‘Artfully Corrupted’ Spiced Rum
Pot Still 5 Years & Under: Silver, ‘Special’ Rum; and Bronze, ‘Premier’ Rum
Flavoured: Bronze, ‘Artfully Corrupted’ Orange Rum
A huge achievement when you consider the team has been doing their thing for four years compared to some overseas producers with generations of experience.
The 1871 Club Membership entitles members to five releases each year, all bottles being numbered and not being readily available.
The second release for members for 2024 is now available and for those with sufficient palate memory if you cast your mind back to 2022, where The Wild Muck won Best Pot Still Rum at the 2022
Australian Rum Awards, some of that batch was put aside to age further in ex-bourbon barrels with previous sherry and port fill creating a stunning fouryear-old rum, The Muck Redux
Weighing in at a warming 53.7% ABV, it is limited to 101 bottles.
As always, if you are looking for something to do of an afternoon there would be nothing better than kicking back in the sun, the distillery taking the brunt of southerly winds in the cooler months, and checking out the warming rum selection or sampling the latest cocktail creations.
The Nil Desperandum Mai Colada is a hybrid of a pina colada and a mai tai. With 30ml each of Premier and Special Rums combined with 20ml each of Triple Sec, coconut milk, pineapple juice, lime juice and orgeat syrup all shaken with ice and strained over ice. Plenty of vitamin C to ward off winter sniffles. Best suited to those cooler months and a bit of contemplative sipping over serious conversation or just a little bit of friendly banter is the Nil Fashioned, a take on the classic Old Fashioned (your scribes favourite post-dinner non-wine
down). Two nips of Special Rum, 10ml of simple syrup made using dark Demerara sugar, two dashes Angostura bitters and a dash each of orange and chocolate bitters with ice in a mixing glass and stir. Strain into a rock glass with one large ice cube garnished with a twist of orange peel. Quality dark chocolate would make the ideal accompaniment.
Now that State of Origin is with us, what better way to support your team than with our much-loved maroonlabelled Nil Desperandum Special, OR if you hail from south of the border, the NSW Blues Limited Edition bottle will let you show your true colours!
What can we say about these guys that hasn’t already been mentioned (other than predicting the gongs that are likely to continue to flow for the team at Nil Desperandum and sister operation Sunshine & Sons).
To keep abreast of what is happening, drop in and enjoy a cocktail or cocktail class at their distillery door near the Big Pineapple at Woombye, visit the website or to sate your passion for premium rum, become a member of The 1871 Club
The annual Travis Schultz Winemakers Master Class raises the roof - and much-needed funds for SunnyKids to help kids in need.
The Travis Schultz Winemakers Master Class saw over 370 businesspeople and locals come together to raise over $187,000 for SunnyKids, aiding vulnerable children on the Sunshine Coast.
The funds raised will allow SunnyKids to continue delivering essential and life changing services for victims of domestic and family violence in the region.
Overwhelmed by the caring Sunshine Coast businesses, SunnyKids CEO, Kathleen Hope, said: “It’s the generosity of our wonderful supporters that enables us to continue to provide critical support to children who desperately need our help.”
Themed ‘A Day at the Winery,’ the wines were cold and the bidding was hot as guests enjoyed a four-course meal with fine Australian wines, winemakers and special guests.
Event founder and host, Travis Schultz said, “We are immensely grateful for the generosity and commitment of those in our local community to our cause. It’s truly inspiring connecting with local businesspeople at such a fun event all while raising money for SunnyKids.”
OPEN DAILY FROM 10:30AM SHOP 4/28 DUKE ST, SUNSHINE BEACH
Katrina Thorpe explores the rejuvenating benefits of taking time out to nourish and balance our body, mind and soul.
Can’t get away for a holiday? How about giving yourself 24 hours of rest, recovery, and recharge right here in Noosa.
During stressful times we tend to cope with situations but be aware that the after effects of stress can hit deeper than we realise.
Feeling trapped with demands on us can be a fragile time emotionally. Feeling angry, frustrated, overwhelmed and exhausted physically are just some of the feelings we may experience while navigating a way to balance our lives during and after stress.
How many times do we think or say, ‘I just need a break, some time off?’ which is easier said than done to get away for a week or more.
While you may not be able to take time from your busy life for a holiday, have you considered planning a selfcare 24-hour retreat in Noosa, even if you are lucky enough to already live here?
Our physical body, thinking mind and emotional core, work together as three elements to create how we feel and function, when either our mind, body or emotions are heightened due to stress, it will override the other two elements to upset our balance.
Have you experienced an upset tummy when you feel emotional or physically felt sick at the thought of something? That’s how connected our body, mind and emotions are, and at present we are hearing and seeing more emotional overloads than ever before with the desperate need for calming and balancing on the increase.
By caring for your body, mind or emotions you will find all three elements will follow suit to create a better balance for overall wellness.
Massage is a great example where the physical touch relaxes the body, which in turn helps your mind to drift, while your emotions either surface or settle - either
way it all leads to balance.
While seeking medical practitioners and therapists for health advice, only you can make the decision to seek what is right for you.
Firstly, be aware and recognise your feelings, be kind to yourself and plan an overnight Noosa Retreat, on your own or with someone special - you will be surprised what you can do with 24 hours of downtime in Noosa.
In planning your own retreat, think about what you find relaxing or maybe something that gives you energy is what you need to consider when creating an esacape to finding balance for you.
Here’s some recommendations for creating your retreat in Noosa.
1. Get back to nature – take a walk in Noosa National Park, surrounding yourself with some green therapy is well researched for its benefits to restore your energy. A swim in the mineral-rich ocean is a great way to revitalise your
body and during winter, the ocean temperature in Noosa sits around 23 degrees. That’s vitamin D with extra vitamin sea.
2. Eat and drink healthy – because in Noosa it’s very easy to find delicious, nutritious, and dietary selective food catered for and readily available at cafes and restaurants. If you find a coffee, cocktail or glass of wine relaxing, have it; you are not in a health retreat where rigid rules apply. You’re creating what’s right for you.
3. Book some relaxation time at a Day Spa - selfcare is not selfish and as much as you care for others, it’s important that
you have someone care for you. When you’re exhausted it’s important to select nurturing treatments that calm your nervous system, as this will encourage your body to let go of stress and help you sleep better.
4. Keeping active in Noosa is easy - with so many choices from spending time on the water, finding your space for yoga, pilates, a visit to the gym, all without having to squeeze it into your day. When you feel exhausted, choose activities that nurture your soul.
5. Mindlessly browsing while shopping is ‘retail therapy’ and it is ideal for distracting your mind and you might just
find something to take home. There’s also great benefits spending time relaxing, reading a book, sitting on the beach or other similar passive activities, even a nap but just limit time on devices.
Create what you need for your own 24-hour retreat in Noosa. It can make a world of difference to managing your stress levels and in turn, helps with building resilience to create more balance in your life.
Giving yourself time to enjoy an overnight stay and a day doing what restores your mind, body and soul might actually make you more efficient in everything you do.
When besties get together in the iconic, European-inspired aqua therapy temple we know as Noosa Springs Day Spa – memories are made and worries melt away. Carlie Wacker pens her thermal suite thoughts and explores the opportunities ahead.
My group of friends are all so busy in their active Noosa lives – the hustle is real for working mums and entrepreneurs. We find ourselves now having to schedule a catch up well in advance - and that can mean a long time between drinks.
So, when we do finally get together, we like to make a day of it and really look forward to writing that next chapter in our story of friendship.
Our favourite winter escape involves therapy for the body and mind (and champagne of course!). It’s a chance to slow down and really unpack the issues of the world, then reset before we return to our crazy lives.
Therapy like this is best taken as a girl’s day out at Noosa Springs Day Spa.
A Thermal Suite Experience is just the cutest thing to do with your bestiestreating ourselves to some pampering while catching up on all the goings-on iin our crazy lives.
My memories of our day spa adventures are full of laughter and support while we solve the serious problems in our worlds and workshop our way to success, serenity and sanity.
From the moment of arrival at the Noosa Springs Day Spa the energy shifts and we revert to our giggly teens, sip our welcome drink and make our way to the change rooms.
The very act of getting into your day spa robe and slippers switches the mindset and with relaxation mode activated, we swan in and out of the Steam Room, Infrared Sauna, Blitz Shower and HydroMassage pool.
I can recall some of the funniest and deepest chats I’ve had with my girls in that pool - it has many stories it can tell but as we always say, “what happens in the thermal suite stays in the thermal suite”. If only those walls could talk. We actually call it the ‘hydro cone of silence’.
Given how much we have to catch up on, we always book a full school day of treatments to accompany our thermal suite experience - a SpaCation if you will. Some of us treat ourselves to a massage while others opt for a indulgent customised facial..
The grand finale is a group of completely relaxed women with clear minds and innovative new ideas
enjoying high tea and sparkling wine in the peaceful and picturesque terraces - or a delicious lunch at Relish Restaurant overlooking the lush, worldfamous Noosa Springs Golf Course. Staying connected with friends is at the heart of health and happiness. Sharing precious time with your crew and doing something that is beneficial to your physical health at the same time makes more sense than a long lunch and a few too many chardonnays (not that we haven’t done that!).
The next girls day out at Noosa Springs Day Spa will be a new experience for us as we explore the new Okeoni Facial Treatments.
...utilises the natural healing powers of water and oxygen to penetrate and exfoliate the skin, resulting in deep hydration and revived skin health...
Okeoni is a local Noosa skincare range that harnesses the power of Australian Plant extract ingredients to deliver a result-driven product that is clean, pure and in complete harmony with the principles of nature.
adventure at Noosa Springs Day Spa, we may even make it an after-hours adventure with the newly-launched Thermal Suite After Dark.
adventure is just $110 per person and available Tuesday - Friday from 5pm.
With exclusive private access for a group of six or more to the Thermal Suite Experience with a bonus cheese and fruit platter and a glass of sparkling wine or
Thermal Suite Experience: Inspired by Roman Baths and harnessing the power of hot and cold therapies, the strong underwater jets in the HydroMassage pool massage your body and the near body temperature water relaxes your muscles and improves your circulatory system. Use with the Steam Room, Infrared Sauna and Blitz Shower to feel relaxed and invigorated! Starting at $75 for 55 minutes, you can also opt for a cheese & fruit platter and a glass of sparkling or juice for $100; or level up for a High Tea with a glass of sparkling or juice for $120 - book in advance for this one.
For the ultimate experience, add an Okeoni Facial with your choice of two specialised treatments including Hydro Dermabrasion, Microdermabrasion, LED Low Level Light Therapy, Micro Current Tightening & Lifting or Oxygen Infusion for $225. The expert therapists at Noosa Springs Spa will assess your skin’s needs and recommend the best options.
A THERMAL SUITE AFTER DARK EXPERIENCE FOR YOUR CREW!
Noosa Springs is offering you the chance to win a Thermal Suite After Dark experience for you and five of your besties.
Simply scan the QR code to enter. For the full range of options, including the heavenly flotation pool and top-to-toe indulgence packages, visit www.noosasprings.com.au
Not many of us can claim to run over 100 kilometres every week – but Beth McKenzie isn’t your average person. Rebecca Jamieson Dwyer meets the Noosa-based ultrarunner and former professional triathlete to find out what drives her, how she balances training and motherhood, and how Noosa’s TH7 clinic helps support her performance and recovery…
It’s 5am on a chilly winter’s morning in Sunshine Beach, and Beth McKenzie gets up in the dark, pulls on her activewear, and heads out on a 30-kilometre run alongside the ocean before returning home to her family.
This is an almost-daily occurrence for the retired pro-triathlete and Ironman champion, who now focuses on running marathons and ultra-marathons to keep herself fit and busy, in between spending time with her husband and two daughters, and running her own activewear business, WYN republic.
Beth’s list of career accolades is almost as long as the trails she races on, but she’s most proud of the fact she’s hitting her personal running bests as she’s moved into her 40s – winning the Sunshine Coast Marathon in a course record time in 2023 at the age of 43; and completing her first 100-kilometre Ultra Marathon in New Zealand in 2024.
These results may be impressive, but Beth’s drive comes from prioritising her own health and fitness and showing her daughters that anything’s possible.
“It’s not easy to find pockets in the day to focus on your own needs, but I think that it sets a good example for our children to see their mum still going after big goals,” she says.
“I want to show my daughters that their goals are worthy and worth pursuing; life as an individual does not end once one becomes a mother or has a demanding career.”
As someone who runs approximately 120 to 140 kilometres every week –something she admits is “a big ask for a 44-year-old body” – Beth is committed to prioritising her health and recovery through regular sessions at Noosa’s TH7: a recovery, wellness and longevity clinic that’s popular with people from all ends of the health and fitness scale, including highperformance athletes, casual fitness enthusiasts, and those who are simply curious to discover ways we can feel better and live longer.
“TH7 helps me stay consistent by keeping me healthy and recovered for the next session,” she says. “I’m not sure I could keep up the mileage without it anymore!”
Beth first discovered TH7 after she tore her lower hamstring in November 2023 while training for her first 100-kilometre Ultra Marathon.
Initially sceptical of recovery treatments, she decided it couldn’t hurt to give them a try, embarking on a regular schedule of Red Light Therapy, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) and heat and cold exposure in Pools and Saunas over a few weeks.
“I began visiting two to three times a week with 20 minutes of red light therapy followed by 60 minutes in the HBOT chamber,” she says.
A good place to start with research showing that Red Light Therapy can decrease oxidative stress while HBOT can increase oxygen blood levels by up to 50% and accelerate soft tissue healing.
“I also found the Nordic Protocol with a combination of Traditional Sauna, Cold/Hot Pools and Steam Room – to not only be a great recovery tool, but a fun social experience with friends,” she says. Initially Beth’s medical team had
advised that it would take six to eight weeks before she’d be back at training, but combining her coaching and physio sessions with consistent TH7 protocols, she surprised everyone (even herself) by recovering in half that time.
“I’m sure many variables were at play, but I absolutely credit some of the accelerated healing to the protocols I was doing at TH7 – especially my time in the HBOT chamber,” she says.
Because Beth’s hamstring healed so quickly, she was able to dive head-first back into training for the New Zealand
“Not only did I enjoy every step (giving thanks along the way to my body for allowing me to complete it) but I finished as the second female and the seventh participant overall. It was an unbelievable experience,” she says.
When it comes to both training and life, Beth’s philosophy is ‘just show up’.
“I don’t strive to have A+ workouts or perfect execution,” she says. “Instead, I focus on consistency and showing up every single day. Some days I don’t have much to give, but I still give it what
I have. Over time, it all adds up to a huge body of work and, eventually, success.”
These days, as someone who has huge goals and dreams for the future, she’s applying this philosophy to consistently supporting her overall wellness, health and performance through TH7.
“I love that TH7 has allowed me and many of my friends to have a more holistic take on health, fitness and wellness. It’s not just about the workouts and elite performance but being able to stay consistent, energised and focus on our longevity,” she says.
“Plus the facilities and team at TH7 are outstanding and make the experience rewarding– the facilities are serene and pristine, and going there feels like an absolute treat. The team go above and beyond to review the latest research and educate clients on the benefits of the various protocols.”
As well as keeping her in tip-top race condition, Beth has noticed improvements to her productivity, sleep, skin tone and mood after experiencing TH7 protocols, and loves how the effects of a session can have a positive flow-on effect into other areas of her life: “When I leave TH7 I definitely feel more energised and alive, and that carries on with me throughout the day,” she says.
TH7 is the only recovery, wellness and longevity facility in Australia offering unique science-based protocols to help you feel better, recover faster and live younger.
Let’s face it, winter can make even the softest skin a little rough around the edges, Jodie Cameron discovers the lotions and potions to keep hydration in motion.
Loving the skin you’re in can sometimes be a challenge, especially during the drier months so no excuses are necessary to treat yourself because who doesn’t love a good pamper sesh!
With more than twenty years experience and a recent Gold Award at the annual Dermalogica PRO Recognition Awards under her belt, Jenny Wilson and her experienced team of therapists at Noosa Body & Skincare are here to help you emerge your best radiant self!
The Dermalogica Awards honour outstanding achievements of professional skin therapists with regards to excellence and innovation, and this accolade marks the third major win for the team at Noosa Body & Skincare.
“We are thrilled to receive another Gold Award — understanding Demalogica and all its products really helps our clients make a preferred choice when purchasing skincare, getting advice or having skin treatments and facials,” Jenny said.
With an International Advanced Diploma in Beauty Therapy, Jenny and many of her therapists have undertaken additional training through Dermalogica to earn Expert level accreditation.
“Expert level can take a therapist about a year to achieve, but by doing this extra training therapists learn so much more than what’s covered in a basic Diploma of Beauty. My team and I are all very like-minded and we have a great balance of therapists with decades of experience as well as loving the vibrancy and passion that a young, newly trained staff member brings.”
From knowing the difference between sensitive or sensitised skins; teen acne versus adult acne; or identifying ageing in the skin, understanding how it happens and how to treat it; is imperative to her business.
“Working in the beauty industry isn’t just a job, it’s a career and you never stop learning. I love all aspects of my job, it’s rewarding and fun — even the Brazilians!” laughs Jenny.
“I have been lucky enough to collect a wonderful tribe of clients along the way, some of them I have been treating for two decades. I love that social aspect of my job — hearing about recent travels
and checking in on their family, it’s definitely one of my favourite parts of the job.”
Working across three treatment rooms in their chic European-style salon in Noosa Junction, Jenny and her team specialise in skin therapy and other beauty care services from indulgent facials and massages to identifying problematic skin issues using the latest technology.
“We often use face mapping during a facial to analyse the skin in sections because the skin isn’t necessarily the same over the entire face,” she shares. “DNA skin testing requires a simple cheek swab to be sent away for analysis and is amazing for the in-depth information it can provide.
“Looking into the future of your skin can be confronting but once we have that information, we can develop a strategy to address potential problem areas before they arise.”
DNA skin testing is broken into five categories: collagen; wrinkling/glycation; sun damage and pigmentation; free radical damage; and skin sensitivity.
“We love the skin sensitivity category because it helps to confirm if a client’s skin is sensitive or sensitised, and each
category tells us if the genes are normal, impaired or deficient,” Jenny says. “The test also provides recommendations of topical ingredients, internal supplements and professional skin treatments.”
In the forever changing world of beauty, keeping abreast with industry standards from the Aesthetic Beauty Industry Council is something Jenny is particularly passionate about.
“I think it’s easy to step out of your area of expertise and this is where things can go wrong,” she said. “We stick within our parameters and work on getting our clients their healthiest, glowing skin possible.”
So with winter just around the corner, how can we avoid dehydrated skin?
“Sorry to be abrasive but - exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate!” Jenny says. “This crucial step not only removes the rough dead skin by creating a smooth surface ideal for locking in moisture but ensures the oh-so-important serums and moisturisers can absorb into the skin.
“Gentle and intermittent exfoliation is important throughout winter, as is cleansing morning and night to remove further debris and dead skin cells.”
The skin is very intelligent, often giving us vital indications when it’s time
to mix things up or try a new product.
“If your cheeks feel tight after a cleanse, then it’s a good idea to change cleansers because your skin is communicating with you,” Jenny says. “Switching to a heavier moisturiser in winter also helps lock in extra moisture.”
For really dry skin, Jenny loves Dermalogica’s Super Rich Repair on your face and a shea butter moisturiser to keep the body hydrated.
“Bath with oils or milks like Pure Fiji’s Bath Milk or Exotic Oil are particularly nourishing - but don’t have the water too hot,” Jenny advises.
Unfortunately for many of us, we tend to look more aged in winter — due to the simple fact that the skin is dryer and not glowing with our wonderfully intense Queensland humidity.
“Staying hydrated inside and out can slow wrinkles but what your skin really loves is to be layered,” Jenny says.
“A hydration spritz like Dermalogica’s Hyaluronic Ceramide Mist, or Ultra Calming Mist can give your skin an extra boost. They’re ideal for travel and can be spritzed over makeup to lock in moisture.”
If facials are your thing, Jenny recommends indulging in a 75-minute
Signature Facial designed to identify your skin needs while incorporating extra time for a neck and shoulder massage — amen to that!
Winter is also the best time to get your peel on because it allows the skin to achieve the results it needs without the harsh summer elements.
If you’re looking for a hybrid approach, Jenny recommends a facial plus a treatment like the Pro Firm Skin treatment which combines a mild peel with micro current technology infusion, as well as an eye peel that’s gentle yet hydrating.
Jenny and her team love Dermalogica’s new Phyto Nature range which suits all skin types and addresses fine lines, wrinkles, loss of firmness and elasticity.
“The Phyto Nature Firming Serum features two serums in one; the Phyto Nature Oxygen Cream is one of our top sellers because it suits all skin types while treating dryness and dehydration; and the Phyto Nature Lifting Eye Cream is a transformative eye cream and the first ever that can be applied on the eyelids.”
Jenny’s favourite winter treatment is the MelanoPro Peel — a six week process that sees the skin gently flaked in the first week then continuously moisturised over the following five weeks with
Continuous Cream Morning and Night that keeps the skin active and turning over.
“The MelanoPro Peel isn’t as visually harsh as other peels so I was still able to work and cover up with makeup,” Jenny shares. “I am addicted, it’s such an amazing peel for pigmentation and fine lines and my skin looks fresh, vibrant and youthful.”
So, ditch the dry days and jump on the hydration train. Next stop: Glowing Skin!
To share in their glowing gold success, Jenny is giving away a Dermalogica Phyto Nature pack including the Firming Serum; Oxygen Cream; and Lifting Eye Cream worth $649 SCAN TO ENTER!
Simply scan the QR code and enter your details for the chance to WIN!
ISoft, beautifully-rejuvenated skin is just a treatment away, discovers Melanie Rosettenstein after experiencing Sensaura Day Spa’s Ocean Bliss Volcanic Mineral Wrap.
t was one of those Mondays when I needed another weekend to recover from my weekend. After being in the sun and wind supporting my children at multiple sports matches from Friday to Sunday, my skin felt battered and some pampering time was necessary.
Cue Sensaura Day Spa, a soothing sanctuary located just off Noosa’s bustling Hastings Street.
As I walked up the stairs I could sense my rushed feelings disappear as my therapist, the lovely and serene Annie, took me through the 90-minute Ocean Bliss Volcanic Mineral Wrap.
Annie explained that the first part of the treatment was quite a mechanical, cleansing process, where dead skin cells would be removed to improve circulation and skin renewal.
Followed by a relaxing mud wrap, a blissful head massage and facial and a nurturing application of the Ocean Bliss Body Lotion, this 90 minute treatment combines it all giving you time to truly unwind.
“Winter skin is dry, so full body treatments like the Oceanic Bliss Volcanic Mineral Wrap are great for getting rid of dead skin cells, promoting skin renewal, and improving circulation,” she said.
Just the ticket for a weary mum.
After showing me to one of the Spa’s tranquil treatment rooms, I was excited for my 90 minutes of bliss to begin.
Face-down on the treatment bed, Annie wafted Fragonia scent gently under my nose to alleviate stress and awaken the senses and I instantly felt my muddled thoughts clear as I relaxed into the experience.
The treatment began with an invigorating magnesium salt and coconut oil scrub. As Annie used this magic combination to gently scrub away dead skin cells, the magnesium helped to relieve my tight muscles.
Tingling all over and feeling oh-sosoft, it was time for phase two - the nutrient-rich purifying mud wrap with warm ginger root and sea kelp.
This ultra-hydrating wrap flushes out nasty toxins, reduces inflammation, and rehydrates your skin.
Once applied, Annie wrapped me up in a warm soothing cocoon, letting the wrap work its wizardry while treating me to a blissful mini facial and head massage.
A triple whammy of rich elements, the mini facial begins with the Synthesis Soothe Cleansing Oil which nourishes
Winter skin is dry, so full body treatments like the Oceanic Bliss Volcanic Mineral Wrap are great for getting rid of dead skin cells, promoting skin renewal, and
improving circulation.
the skin while gently removing any impurities and makeup.
Next, the Renew Enzyme Cleanser gently dissolves dead skin cells and helps reduce pore size before the All 4 One Facial Exfoliant and Mask, deeply exfoliates, detoxifies, and cleanses.
The cherry on top was a relaxing head massage to let the mask and wrap fully entrench itself on my skin.
Now fully out of my head and enjoying
a moment of pure zen, I reluctantly emerged from my cocoon and got up for a hot shower before settling back into the final stage of the treatment - the Ocean Bliss Moisturiser.
Rich with shea butter and jojoba oil, this lotion is designed to maintain the moisture and oil balance within your skin, leaving it with a revitalised glow.
Sadly, 90 minutes was up and my treatment had to end but as I emerged from Sensaura Day Spa (transformed but
admittedly a bit wobbly on my feet), my skin felt renewed and aglow and I felt ready for a productive week ahead.
For those like me looking for a zen-like full-body treatment that also has far-reaching benefits like improving circulation and supporting the lymphatic system, look no further than Sensaura Day Spa’s sensational Ocean Bliss Volcanic Mineral Wrap.
This could be easily become my new winter ritual.
Just 14 months after opening her doors, Bianca Dyda’s Cosmedic Lab is growing. Melanie Rosettenstein catches up with the former nurse who has introduced a new membership plan and a revolutionary treatment to keep clients glowing and business growing.
ianca Dyda, opened Cosmedic Lab, a high-end boutique for custom skin and anti-ageing treatments, just over a year ago. With her customary warmth and savviness on all things skincare, Cosmedic Lab, located in bustling Noosaville, is going from strength to strength.
Bianca’s clientele ranges in age from 35 to 65 and most of her clients are looking to rejuvenate their skin and combat the effects of sun damage and ageing.
With high living costs impacting people’s wallets, she recently introduced a new membership plan to help clients continue the skin care treatments they need without breaking the budget.
“I’ve found that people are currently cash-strapped but still want to attend to their skincare and anti-ageing needs,” she says. “Our new membership programs allows clients to sign up for a six month treatment plan that they pay for with smaller weekly amounts.”
The new skin membership plans are organised into three tiers: Emerald, Sapphire, and Diamond.
After an initial bespoke consultation,
Bianca will recommend the best program based on a client’s needs and budget.
“Each plan includes a certain cluster of treatments so we’ll decide which options would be best,” she explains. “The client can then come in for their monthly treatment which is paid off weekly.
“After six months we decide if they want to renew their membership or adjust the treatment plan.”
Bianca added that by signing up to her membership plan, clients also receive a 15% discount on Synergie Skin Care products which are great for complementing monthly treatments.
In addition to the membership program, Bianca has introduced the new Tribella triple photo facial treatment which offers to rejuvenate and enhance the skin, while also including IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) technology to target pigmentation.
According to the skin doyenne, the investment in this groundbreaking new
...a new membership plan to help clients continue the skin care treatments they need without breaking the budget.
technology was in response to frequent requests from clients seeking treatment to address skin pigmentation, a common side effect of living in sun-drenched Queensland.
The Tribella treatment offers three treatments in one: the first stage corrects discoloration, fades age spots, reduces sun damage, and improves skin tone; stage two is the anti-ageing treatment which reduces fine lines and wrinkles, and firms up skin; and the final resurfacing treatment smoothes out uneven skin texture and can correct
things like scarring, enlarged pores, stretch marks and other concerns.
Two or three sessions six weeks apart are recommended to get the full effect.
Bianca says the best thing about the treatment is that it can be done in one day with very little downtime afterwards so it’s a good alternative to having a surgical facelift or other invasive treatments.
“This triple skin rejuvenation targets all aspects of skin ageing and it’s minimal downtime afterwards where your skin just feels really dry and a bit swollen,” she says.
“But it’s nothing you can’t cover with makeup and we recommend lots of moisturiser for the first few days.”
On the treatment’s effectiveness, Bianca said while it was early days they’ve already had clients come through who’ve experienced really good results.
“Immediately there will be a beautiful plump result after the initial skin tightening treatment,” she said.
“Over a few weeks the pigmentation begins to lighten while new collagen growth is also stimulated.”
With winter on our doorstep Bianca says now is an excellent time to invest
in this new skin treatment.
“Tribella is a great winter treatment because it’s a lot safer to treat skin pigmentation when the UV index is not so strong and, especially being in Queensland, people aren’t spending as much time in the sun.”
Bianca recommends two to three sessions about six weeks apart and can offer the treatment as part of a bespoke
membership package. In fact, any custom treatment plan that a client needs can be incorporated into a custom skin membership.
With expert advice, the very best skincare products and technologicallyadvanced equipment, plus the benefits of tailored treatment plans and an easy-to-manage membership, there’s every reason to get your glow on.
Chilly winds, falling temperatures and retreating to heating – yes, the cooler months can often deliver the dry skin trifecta! But never fear, our resident beauty experts have you covered with their top products and go-to services to see you through the cool change!
Say hello to ageless beauty and goodbye to wrinkles with Synthesis Organics’ Replenish Elixir aka collagen alchemy for Mother Nature’s facelift! Offering a soft, velvety emollience that restores balance, hydration, and natural radiance, every drop is a testament to the power of nature’s bounty. Featuring ocean winged kelp and frankincense, this elixir will not only nurture your skin but uplift your spirit! Experience it for yourself at Sensaura Day Spa!
Did you know that winter is the ideal time to get Laser Treatment? Skin reactions are generally less severe because the skin is less likely to be tanned before any treatments and after treatments patients are less likely to have sun exposure or be in a hot environment. Visit leading Dermatologist, Dr Clare Patterson at her Peregian Beach clinic to find out how you can address unwanted pigment, scarring and redness!
Club Pilates classes are low-impact, fun and effective.
Hyperpigmentation be gone! Say hello to Dermologica’s Powerbright Dark Spot Peel, its innovative formula harnesses a targeted fusion of acids and revitalising algae for optimal exfoliation. Rapidly diminishing surface dark spots while effectively regulating inflammatory triggers that may worsen pigmentation concerns or induce sensitivity. Receive 20% off all Dermalogica products at Noosa Body & Skin. See page 103 to win a Dermalogica Hydration Pack!
Discover the secret to ultimate skincare with the award-winning Ultra DNA3 Complex Recovery Night Cream by Ultraceuticals. Featuring Dynamic Night Activator3, this luxurious night cream works with the skin’s natural renewal cycle to deeply nourish, restore hydration and smooth the skin. The rich texture melts into the skin, leaving a silky, supple and glowing complexion. Ask Angie from About Faces Noosa how you can make Ultraceuticals your skin’s best friend this winter!
Lock in moisture this winter with Ultimate Hydration by ASAP. This super rich, nourishing cream with evening primrose oil, sweet almond oil and shea butter, provides maximum hydration while noticeably improving skin elasticity, tone and texture and delivering immediate and visible results to dry and prematurely aged skin. The team at ikatan Spa swear by this winter wonder!
Your next night IN just got a whole lot better with Synergie Skin’s Masqerase! Designed for overnight use, this nourishing masque is enriched with collagen stimulating peptides, niacinamide and marine botanical actives to plump, soften and rejuvenate your skin as it nourishes and repairs while you sleep! Simply smooth a fine layer masque over your active night serums for maximum absorption and effect on the skin, once to twice a week. A winter fave at Cosmedic Lab, if just for its age defying properties but also for its delicious chocolate smell!
Meet the “curl whisperer” aka Dream Coat by Colour Wow, a light-as-water spray that air-dries to deliver the silkiest, glossiest, perfectly defined, “crunch-free” curls of your dreams! This anti-frizz treatment specifically designed for curly hair, is a totally new styling technology that combines a super light alcohol-free formula and three powerful polymers into one powerhouse tri-polymer complex, Elasta-flex, to solve frustrating problem curls. For perfectly bundled, hydrated curls with supernaturally glossy shine, visit the team at Adrian J Hair and get your curls under control today!
Keep your lips lusciously protected with an all-natural lip balm from Feel Good Inc. This SPF50+ balm not only protects from the sun’s harmful UV rays while providing intense hydration, but is enriched with natural ingredients like shea butter, cocoa butter oil, along with Vitamin E and antioxidants, to moisturise and protect dry lips all day long. Choose from Coconut, Kakadu Plum, Wild Rosella, Sensitive and Signature! Get yours at Noosa Springs Golf & Spa and pucker up!
Angie has over 30 years of dermal and beauty experience, with exceptional client service and the latest technology. Angie nurtures and creates healthy glowing skin at any age. • Skin Firming Technology • Medical Grade Lasers • Vascular + Hair Removal
Sunspots + Rosacea • Acne Treatments + Scarring • Needling + Omnilux • Facials + Micros + Peels • Skin Tag + Mole Removal
Brows + Tints + Lashlifts
Waxing + Makeup
Tixel Skin Tightening
Injectables
It’s no secret that there’s a cost of living squeeze happening, with people and businesses feeling the pinch. But as Meditation Instructor Luke Wright says, it’s the approach taken during such times that shows the foundation of people and businesses alike.
Fear is a natural response to external changes that are beyond our control, and feeling helpless isn’t lovely no matter which way you slice it..
However, for those with a solid foundation in the values of their business and themselves, fear is the uninvited guest who is welcomed to the dinner table nonetheless.
Often survival mechanisms can kick in without conscious consideration, with
anxiety and stress leading to an increase in the hustle or panic decisions – a reaction based in the psychology of lack. There’s no denying your work rate is important, however the atmosphere you inhabit while carrying out that work can make all the difference to how it is received.
Being conscious about our fear is the first door to walk through in the quest to transforming it and to be mindful of your
own atmosphere is the first step in the ability to contribute ‘calm’ to colleagues and clients alike.
To that end, what are the tools you need for your stability when the cycles of change sweep through?
It’s the same in business as it is for an individual: a foundation in values and principles with contingencies in place – rather than a foundation based in ideas and expectations – with trust in yourself
and expectations – with trust in yourself being the basis for everything else.
Therein lies the rub. To trust ourselves beyond the environment around us is no small task, for it’s the environment that has shaped us from the start.
To swim upstream despite the voices telling us otherwise is an exercise not so much in self-belief as it is in selfunderstanding.
Knowing your ‘why’, both individually and for your business, is the ballast required when the seas get choppy.
Another is seeing what you do have in your boat – your health, your family, your friends, your staff (if that’s the case) – rather than looking for what is currently lacking: revenue, leads, clients.
Acknowledge the reality of the situation and find your foundation in the things that will always be with you, not in what will always come and go.
In the words of spiritual teacher Anthony de Mello, prioritise your eulogy virtues not your resume virtues; who you are, not what you do
There’s nothing like a rough patch to find out what’s really important and why, and making that process conscious before it gets drastic will help counter decisions based on fear and seeking short-term comfort.
In the principles of mindfulness, it is the endured discomfort that leads to long-term stability, expanded capacities and experience for the next challenges.
You are the arbiter of your response to life, both personally and professionally, and tending to that everyday, even during stormy seas when your mind is insistently reacting with fear, is stability and long-term peace in the making.
First things first:
1. Stop for three minutes and give attention to what does matter most –this puts your system into a more open and receptive state.
2. Turn your attention to your circumstance, individual or business, while staying open and receptive as much as you can – this trains your system to view your circumstances from a less reactionary standpoint.
3. Allow yourself to feel the circumstance, even if it’s uncomfortable, without the need to actually do something about it.
4. Notice how what matters most is still the case, even if you’re uncomfortable – this trains your system to accommodate discomfort without going into a fear response.
5. Practice with the small things so that when the larger challenges arise your ballast stays true.
• Reduce Stress
• Increase Attention
• Better Focus
• Improve Memory • Enhance Willpower • Raise Productivity • Less Anxiety • Less Depression
Lower Blood Pressure
Improve Emotion Regulation
Greater Compassion
As the mercury drops, so does our motivation. Jackie Hillegers encourages us to foster healthy habits over hibernation.
Almost half our daily experiences and behaviours are formed out of habit. We come up with New Year’s resolutions on an annual basis and plan to start these new habits on the first day of the new year.
But on the Sunshine Coast, January is often our busiest social month: we’re still winding down from Christmas, the beach is beckoning, and social events and outings are at an all-time high.
In my opinion, the best time to form a new habit is now, at the beginning of winter! It’s the perfect opportunity to take advantage of the dip into cooler weather and decide which of our habits to swap out for new ones.
Rather than curling up under a blanket and hibernating, this season calls for trying new things and forming new habits - explore our beautiful surrounds; leave your phone on silent while you take
advantage of long slow lunches filled with chatter and laughter; practice self-care at a local day spa; attend a regular pilates class; or engage in regular café catch-ups with freshly brewed coffee, meaningful conversations and eye contact.
Now is the perfect time to support your community and invest in yourself by making these exciting, healthy changes.
So, what exactly is a habit, and why is it so hard to change?
A habit is a fixed way of thinking or behaving that accumulates through repetition of an experience.
Your ongoing habits mainly occur subconsciously, so you may not always be aware that you are repeating them.
The good news is that a habit can be changed by being more consciously aware of the thought pattern that you wish to change.
The three main components of a habit – or a habit loop – are the cue, the routine and the reward.
The cue refers to the trigger that starts your habitual behaviour; the routine is the repetitiveness; and the reward is the positive feeling you get each time you repeat your habit.
An example of a habit loop is when you binge-watch Netflix and the current episode finishes (cue), you run to the kitchen cupboard or pantry (routine) and grab comfort food to eat before the next episode (reward).
We must recognise the cues and rewards to change or modify our habits.
A healthier way to achieve that same reward could be limiting your Netflixwatching experience to just one episode per day, and taking a plate of fruit and nuts into the room with you before watching your episode.
A habit is a fixed way of thinking or behaving that accumulates through repetition of an experience.
When you engage in repetitive habits your neural pathways are strengthened, which helps your brain remember the action more easily or automatically for the future.
Our brain is always rewiring itself based on our experiences and actions, so by understanding your habits, you form valuable insights into your behaviours and allow positive changes.
Habits range from simple actions such as brushing your teeth, to more complex ones such as procrastinating or smoking.
Most of your habits are beneficial to help run our day-to-day lives, but we all have a few that do need changing.
Think about your worst habit that you would like to change, and why it is holding you back or not serving you.
You can follow these 6 steps to make your habit-changing process easier:
1. Identify the habit you want to change
Be clear about why you want to change this habit and think about how it currently impacts your life.
Understand your triggers
Pay attention to what triggers the habit and then develop strategies to avoid or manage those triggers.
3. Replace your habit with a positive behaviour
For example, if you drink too much coffee during the day, have a large bottle of water at hand so you can quench your thirst with an alternative when needed.
4. Create a plan
Write down your plan on how to change your habit in small, manageable steps. Create a timeline to hold yourself accountable.
5. Be consistent
Consistency is the key so stick to your plan, and push through any challenges or obstacles that stand in your way.
6. Celebrate your success
Celebrate small victories along the way, as this will keep you more focused and motivated. When you have stuck to your new habit for a month, reward yourself with a self-care gift.
Another way of changing your habit is called ‘habit stacking’. This is when you attach a new habit to an existing one. For example, if you go for a walk each morning but also want to do weights, why not purchase ankle or wrist weights to combine the two?
We have all heard the saying ‘we are creatures of habit’. So let’s be a little more unpredictable this winter – after all, seasons change regularly and so should our habits.
• Join the 5am club to increase productivity
• Start a side-hustle to earn extra income
• Complete a jigsaw instead of screen time
• Work on your body strength with regular classes
• Read a chapter of a book every day
• Study or learn a new hobby
• Support a friend and break your habits together
A cool change brings the opportunity to refresh our wardrobes with the latest in seasonal colours, styles and textures. We enjoyed a stunning day shooting at the glorious Alsahwa Farm. Find out more about this beautiful venue on page 28-31.
inter fashion, whether embraced in the hinterland or by the beach, is a symphony of romantic textures and earthy tones inspired by the rustic beauty of nature.
Layering is key this season, playing a pivotal role in crafting outfits that are both cosy and chic.
The colour palette draws from the natural surroundings, with hues of moss green, rich burgundy, and warm mustard while soft neutrals like oatmeal and taupe evoke muted tones of winter skies, frost-tipped fields and sandy beaches.
Texture take centre stage, with quilted bombers, corduroy coats and leather
jackets adding depth and dimension while scarves and shawls in wool or cashmere offer comfort, style, and protection against cold winds.
Accessories play a vital role - woollen hats, leather boots and suede touches exude luxury, warmth and rugged sophistication.
Vintage-inspired jewellery and timeless pieces reflect the colours of our landscape and add an elegant and stylish touch to each ensemble. Celebrate the beauty of nature and embrace the cool change in weather and in fashion.
Bay Village Noosa, Hastings St (Opposite the Milk Bar) 5447 3398 beaugentrynoosa.com.au
Latu wears:
Linen/viscose sage green maxi skirt, emblem tank top/ metallic detail, 100% fine cotton blouse (tied), super soft leather jacket in black, European Labels exclusive in Australia at Eliza’s Boutique, 0459 076 165
Okkia Chiara sunglasses from Bohemian Sundays, 5373 8063 Diamond band ring from Leskes Jewellers, 0407 127 567
Peta wears: Sage and Clare Benita Quilted Jacket, Kireina Celeste Jeans in 70’s Blue, Oscar and Frank Fairfax & 3rd/Tiger Tort Pale Blush Sunglasses, and Ellis & Co Structured Bag in Sand from Little Cove Collective, 5324 0042
Peta wears:
Erika Dress in Emerald Green, Vintage Kantha Dust Coat with Braided Belt, Leather tote bag in brown from Soul Song, 0412 246 550 Baskets of produce and Merry People Boots in Green from Alsahwa Farm, alsahwa.com
9ct fine gold fancy necklaces from Leskes Jewellers, 0407 127 567
Latu wears:
Cleo Dress in Petra, Kamiri Cape in Carmel from Soul Song, 0412 246 550
Basket of produce from Alsahwa Farm, alsahwa.com
Latu wears:
Amalie Maraien Linen Blend
V Neck Keyhole Maxi Dress in Valencia Print from Bohemian Sundays, 5373 8063
Ecco Sartorelle Boots in Cognac from FootMotion, 5474 2332
Will & Bear Calloway 100% Wool Hat from Bohemian Sundays, 5373 8063
9ct textured paperlink necklace; 9ct solid gold curb necklace; gold bangles; 18ct Gold pastel yellow sapphire and diamond Toi Et Moi ring from Leskes Jewellers, 0407 127 567
Earrings, model’s own
Alexander Rose Diamond Jewellery is a beautiful showroom with a Jeweller's Workshop located on our premises.
We source exceptional Rare Coloured Gemstones from around the world to suit your desire for the one elusive Luxury Gemstone.
Our clients speak directly to our Qualified Jeweller, discussing all the fine details associated with Custom Design and Custom Manufacture of your Fine Luxury Jewellery.
We specialise in Custom Hand Manufactured Luxury Jewellery, Diamond Engagement Rings and Diamond Wedding Rings, Restorations of Antique Jewellery and Repairs and Replacement of Diamonds.
Book an appointment to discuss your personalised design.
Our fashion shoots help bring your label to life!
We love local fashion brands, and put our heart and soul into creating fun, fabulous shoots alongside a team of professional photographers, hair and makeup artists, and stylists.
Not only will your label be showcased in a curated local setting, but you’ll receive professionally shot digital content to share via your own channels, making it easier than ever to connect with your audience.
Want to know more? Contact deb@inpublishing.com.au. We can’t wait to welcome you into our fashion family!
All About Eve Becca Pant in Vintage White from Bohemian Sundays, 5373 8063
Peta wears:
Luca Cord Jacket in Navy from Ella & Sunday, 5455 5656
Kireina Celeste Jeans in 70’s Blue, Sage & Clare
Benita Velvet Cushion from Little Cove Collective, 5324 0042
Alsahwa Mug from Alsahwa.com
Hummble Calm Cacao from hummble.com.au
Latu wears:
MOS The Label Juliette Shirt and pants in Juliette Print from Little Cove Collective, 5324 0042 Zierra Vendas Boots in Cappuccino from Foot Motion, 5474 2332
Pave Diamond Bangle; 14ct gold clover bracelet; 14ct gold clover necklace and gold chain; 14ct gold clover huggie earrings; 18ct gold pastel yellow sapphire and diamond Toi Et Moi ring from Leskes Jewellers, 0407 127 567
winter days at Alsahwa Farm!
Fashion Editor: Kimberley Jones @jones_styling
Fashion Assistant: Natalie Marenko
Photographer: Chevaune Hindley @chevaunehindley
Photography Assistant: Anamaria Turvey @anamaria.sunshinecoast
Hair & Make-Up Artists: Craig & Lara Argent, Pony Hair & Beauty @pony_beauty_bar_noosa
Models: Peta Butler @peta.b_modelling
Latu Rosenberry @latu.rodenberry.model Jason Quelch @jason_quelch
Location: Alsahwa Farm Noosa @alsahwa.com
“Welcome to our world of fashion, where creativity knows no bounds and every woman is celebrated for her unique style. At IT’S A FAD, we believe in the power of colour and pattern to transform not just outfits, but attitudes. Our designs exude positivity and honesty, reflecting the vibrant spirit of the modern woman who dares to stand out. With an emphasis on wearability, each piece is crafted to seamlessly integrate into your wardrobe, empowering you to express yourself fearlessly. Join us on this journey where exclusivity meets inclusivity, and let your style speak volumes.”
Little Cove Collective has been the go-to gift store for locals and visitors and, as Carlie Wacker discovers, it is a gift that keeps on giving as it grows up to become the nucleus of all things beautiful for all ages.
The colourful little gift shop in the corner of Bay Village has blossomed into a big, joyful playground for all ages – Little Cove Collective is a treasure trove and when it draws you in with its quirky, cute and colourful accoutrements, you’ll never want to leave.
Behind this growing business is a dynamic sister duo that prove women can do - and have - it all. Founders and co-owners Brooke Duley and Kimberley Taylor will inspire you to dream bigger and just do it.
Brooke is a mother of five children with a background in equities IT and banking; and Kimberley is a former retail buyer with three children.
In 2020, Brooke noticed that there was a space available in Bay Village and, as her business mind is always looking out for opportunities, wondered what she would want as a shopper in the Village.
“I pondered what that was and when I floated the idea of a gift shop with Kimberley, I discovered it had been her lifelong dream to have a gift shop,” Brooke recalls.
And so the sisterhood turned a little dream into a big reality with support and input from their husbands along the way.
When I first started shopping at Little Cove Collective, it was for special gifts for girlfriends and my grandkids and it was very clear that Kimberley had a real
talent in sourcing children’s toys, gifts and clothing.
This was the foundation for the business for quite some time and the children’s section kept growing with Brooke and Kimberley buying things they really liked and needed for their kids.
Build it and they will come – the siblings proved that buying what you loved was a clever tactic, and as a result the shop was always busy - but it was also quickly outgrowing its space.
Little Cove Collective was gaining a huge following from locals and visitors and just as the shop needed room to expand, the planets aligned with the space next door becoming available.
...truly
a place of discovery - where every nook and cranny reveals an element of surprise and delight.
The expansion has seen the business grow into the magical wonderland it is today, offering something enchanting for all ages.
Mums can immerse themselves in fashion and beauty, Dads can kit out in the coolest clothing and accessories, kids will be lost in a world of curiosities and cuteness - there are delights in this shop that you don’t see elsewhere, making it truly a place of discovery - where every nook and cranny reveals an element of surprise and delight.
I spot the highly sought-after and globally-loved charm and whimsy of Sonny Angel figurines which Brooke says almost sells out in store and online as quickly as they are restocked.
Not surprisingly, Little Cove Collective’s online store has grown exponentially too with the uniqueness and convenience it offers - and if you’ve
left the birthday or special occasion shopping too late, Little Cove Collective can save the day.
“We have people buying from interstate for guests staying in Noosa and we can wrap the gift and deliver it to their Hastings Street accommodation,” says Brooke.
As a local and typical last-minute shopper, I love the convenience of parking in Bay Village and running in to get a gift, knowing that I will always find that something special.
The expansion of Little Cove Collective has allowed for Kimberley and Brooke to
build the women’s fashion collection and offer labels not available anywhere else in Noosa and beyond.
You can now shop epic fashion brands like the luxurious Mos The Label, Sage and Clare, Cat Hamill, Gild and Kireina Jeans (you can even buy underwear that doubles as a cute bikini), and Banabae which has the cutest family sets including matching shirts, hats, caps and socks for the ‘Rad Pop’, ‘Rad Dad’, ‘Rad Mama’ and ‘Rad Kid’.
For Brooke and Kimberley, Little Cove Collective is full of everything they love - and you’ll love it too.
Business SoulSong
Rebecca Jamieson Dwyer chats to Donna Thordarson from slow fashion brand SoulSong about how her commitment to natural fibres, hand block-printed patterns, natural dyes and ethical production ensures each and every garment has been infused with heart and soul.
How and when was your business born?
SoulSong took shape in early 2000 with the creation of our Australian-made yoga cushions, bolsters and yogawear range, followed closely by a cotton batik clothing collection. For the past 12 years I’ve been producing a hand blockprinted slow fashion range in India using 100% cotton.
What do you love most about your brand?
That it’s sustainable fashion and I get to have lots of fun creating the designs. I love that we’re supporting an incredible community of artisans with traditional hand block-printing, indigo dying and many other creative talents.
Having an incredible team of women in our Noosa store is essential; I couldn’t do it without them! They do all the beautiful shop merchandising and are wonderful with our customers.
Why are ethics and sustainability so important to you?
I intrinsically seek an awareness and appreciation of natural textiles and traditional practices, which means I get
to meet and make genuine connections with real people. I see their workplaces and their pride in what they do, and there’s no pressure with unrealistic time restrictions and deadlines.
Aiming for quality over quantity is essential when creating beautiful timeless fashion that’s made mindfully and with LOVE. This is slow fashion.
How would you describe your style?
Unique and timeless with a touch of boho; we definitely have a vintage, eclectic feel at SoulSong.
As we’re mostly 100% cotton, our styles are created to be an effortlessly comfortable fit. Each hand block-printed
garment is exclusively individual and full of life.
Our clothing collections are not limited to being the latest fashion, and we don’t have mass-produced flawless prints – in fact, there will be slight imperfections that are inherent to handcrafted products.
What inspires your designs?
Ooh! Many things, but mostly feeling joyful in what we wear. Cool, breathable 100% cotton is a must for our Sunshine Coast location and Queensland climate.
Nature is a BIG inspiration for colours and prints. Women’s ever-changing body shapes and sizes certainly
influences many of our designs, as everyone loves 100% cotton in our gorgeous prints.
What can we find IN store?
Come in and browse our eclectic range of clothing, quilts, homewares and more.
The vintage textile collection is truly tempting, especially the vintage kantha jackets – if you’re a textile connoisseur, beware! Our interesting collection of vintage Indian furniture and other treasures will entice extended in-store browsing.
What do you love most about working IN Noosa?
The lifestyle! We have great supportive locals plus lots of happy, friendly holidaymakers.
What advice can you share with other fashion start-ups and retailers?
Believe in yourself and ensure your product is something you’re passionate about. Being a sole trader and running your own show takes courage and commitment and is hard work, however the joys of being the creator, navigator and global explorer are entirely worth it.
What can we expect to see this season?
The cooler seasons get interesting for
us. We boost our cotton hand blockprint collection with gorgeous knits, weaves and vintage textile jackets for layering up. We’re all about mixing flavours, so blending colours, prints and textiles is our specialty.
What’s the one item you can’t live without?
There are several. Our Jhali, Erika and Nazima dresses are my go-tos.
Fave Drink: Fresh coconut water, straight from the green coconut.
Fave Food: The Sweet Potato Paleo Muffins from VanillaFood.
Fave Colours: Green and indigo blue (of course).
Fave Saying: Oh f*ck!
Fave Accessory: My sandlewood and pearl mala beads.
There is a sense of fantasy at the Australian Wearable Art Festival and with the tickets selling fast, there is every chance this homegrown event will continue to feed the need for experiences that celebrate culture, art and escapism for years to come.
In August, 39 national and international wearable art pieces will come alive on the Australian Wearable Art Festival’s 27-metre-long catwalk at the Sunshine Coast’s Venue 114.
The visual feast will challenge the most fashion-forward, creative and artistic minds to think even further outside the box as the stage is set for a display of garments made from the most unexpected everyday bits and bobs - proving that trash is truly treasure when placed in the hands of a fertile, creative mind.
I remember the first Wearable Art Festival in Eumundi in 2019 where I created a paper mâché dress made entirely out of IN Noosa Magazine proof
...trash is truly treasure when placed in the hands of a fertile, creative mind.
sheets. It grew so quickly and in 2024 the Australian Wearable Art Festival is bigger than ever and has attracted a global following.
Curator and co-founder Wendy Roe is one of the legends behind the most imaginative event on the calendar.
“This is a meeting point of art, fashion, costuming and technology, the Festival fills a particular niche in the national art landscape,” Wendy says.
“From the moment guests arrive at the gala they are immersed in a world of wearable art where any found object – from coffee pods, bicycle tyres, flowers, softdrink cans, feathers –are
transformed into haute couture.”
Do not underestimate the power of wearable art – this event has attracted finalists from all over the world including Europe, South East-Asia and the United States who will showcase alongside the most talented local and national artists.
The Australian Wearable Art Festival opens the world to the Sunshine Coast and our eyes to a planet of extraordinary skill and vision.
“It’s a chance, especially for emerging artists, to have their works shown and our audiences are able to revel in an unbridled level of creativity that occurs when experimental creative minds blend genres and mediums,” Wendy says.
Brisbane-based artist and last year’s Australian Wearable Art Festival Supreme Winner Isabelle Cameron will once again showcase her Ukranian heritage through the underestimated art of crochet with a mind-blowing new work named Stardust
So, if you want to be sprinkled with that magical stardust and see something that might just make your jaw drop then secure your seat at the 2024 Australian Wearable Art Festival.
2023 Avant-Garde
Finalist: “The Princess and the Pea” by Kelcie Bryant-Duguid from NSW. PHOTO: Colin McLellan
Venue 114 , 114 Sportsmans Parade, Bokarina
Friday 9 August, 7pm Evening $125
Saturday 10 August, 12 noon Matinee $95
Saturday 10 August, 6.30pm Gala $145
VIP tickets available.
Pensioner and Student concessions available. Scan the QR code to book!
FRIDAY 9 AUGUST 7PM
SATURDAY 10 AUGUST 12PM & 6:30PM
114 Sportsmans parade, Bokarina, Sunshine Coast, QLD
Step into a world of captivating creativity at the Australian Wearable Art Festival’s Gala, where over 40 national and international entries take to the 27-metre runway.
For more information visit: australianwearableart.com.au
VENUE 114 TICKETS ON SALE NOW. BOOK TODAY.
Amazing dogs with black spots on a snow-white coat, Dalmatians are always attracting the eyes of passers-by, and for the aptly -named ‘Lucky’, as Helen Flanagan found out, the forever love of a pawsome family.
Dalmatians were originally bred as hunting and carriage dogs in days gone by, with origins of the breed traced back to present-day Croatia and its historical region of Dalmatia.
Today, the strong, hardy yet harmless, friendly and certainly elegant breed, is extremely popular with celebrities such as Ed Sheeran and Ariana Grande. They gained even more recognition with the release of Disney’s animated film 101 Dalmatians popularising the breed as beloved family pets, inspiring many to own these captivating canines.
Such was the case for Kain and Emma Damiani, who whilst living on Melbourne’s Mornington Peninsula, finally gave in to their kid’s wishes and drove to a breeder in Bendigo to pick up the last pup in the litter.
He was considered somewhat smaller than usual however it didn’t take long before Lucky’s size increase was rapidly overtaken by his puppy naughtiness, crazy habits and questionable sense of smell.
After the family’s relocation to Noosa, and rather than just leaving footprints in the sand at Marcus Beach, Lucky had a penchant for bluebottles - more a feast than a passing interest - and oblivious to the sting, he swallowed twenty, vomited in the car on the way to the Animal Hospital and seven hours later, he was home happily chewing the carpet.
Dalmatians have a unique sensitivity to
certain medications, primarily related to their liver function. A reduced ability to metabolise uric acid may lead to the formation of urate stones and as a result, the inability to pass gall stones naturally. And so, Lucky had an expensive operation to remove gall stones at Queensland’s only specialist hospital - in Ipswich!
A love of chicken did not deter Lucky from gutsing chicken skewer … yes skewers and all, and subsequent surgery for their removal was another costly affair.
Then there was the early morning walk along the foreshore of the Noosa River and Gympie Terrace, when an off-leash Staffordshire Bull Terrier took an instant dislike to Lucky and Kain, leaving both with puncture wounds before bolting, hopefully tail between his legs.
After giving up his adolescent days, for an 8km walk and sniff in the morning, and 5kms in the afternoon, Lucky is happy to languish on the lounge, watch television, check out the kitchen bench to see what’s on the menu, ‘vacuum’ any food that happens to fall from the kids’
A love of chicken did not deter Lucky from gutsing chicken skewers… yes skewers and all, and subsequent surgery...
dinner plates, and ultimately enjoy his pre-packaged refrigerated fish, designed for dogs with sensitive tummies.
When it comes to dream-time Lucky has to decide where he will sleep. Will he be able to squeeze his 62kg body onto Kain and Emma’s bed, 2-year-old Primrose’s, 7-year-old Vienna’s or 10-year-old Rachael’s?
Will the dashing Dalmatian also be thinking about the $60,000 bill for surgery and vet services thus far?
No way. He’ll be humming “I should be so Lucky, Lucky Lucky Lucky” because Kain and Emma have pet insurance! Lucky indeed!
For the hottest accessories and healthiest food for your furry friends, Peticular has the pawfect products.
We are all keen on living clean and green. Carlie Wacker sniffs out a range of affordable, all-natural canine care products created by one of Australia’s oldest companies.
The story of The Australian Eucalyptus Oil Company is a treasured part of our country’s history. In 1895, Anne McKean would hike kilometres in bushland near Bendigo in regional Victoria to collect eucalyptus leaves; she would boil them, scoop the oil from the top of the pot and bottle it. This would become her precious commodity to use to barter with travelling salesmen.
Five generations later, her great, great grandson Tony Taig continues the business of peddling the world’s strongest and purest eucalyptus oil products. It’s a story that conjures up a real sense of Aussie pride, and when you find out more about the eucalyptus tree it will inspire you to bring more of this native myrtle into your daily life.
The eucalyptus tree is the most sustainable in the world – rather than being uprooted, it is felled then regrows quickly, and it can do so in the harshest of environments. It sequesters carbon and the wood can be used to make all sorts of products.
“The same trees have been cut since 1895 to make The Australian Eucalyptus Oil Company products,” Tony shares. “Every two years they are fully cut, and they grow again rapidly making eucalyptus harvesting one of the most sustainable businesses in the world.”
While eucalyptus oil has a million different uses and is the non-toxic option for cleaning the house, it’s the use in pet products that I wanted to explore. It turns out this multi-use miracle oil has some great benefits for our canine family members too.
“Eucalyptus oil is also a bug deterrent – an insecticide,” Tony explains. “So, we think it’s a really good way to clean your pup as it has a residual flea deterrent.”
The Australian Eucalyptus Oil Company All Natural Dog Wash is made using liquid Castille soap - the most natural soap you can get, made out of olive and coconut oil which is really good for your pup’s skin and coat. They have added eucalyptus and peppermint oils as a natural flea and tick repellent - and it also smells divine.
The best way to maximise the benefits post-wash is to use the Pet Soap in conjunction with the Pet Bedding Laundry Wash. It again is made with a pure Castille soap, methylated spirits and Pure Blue Mallee Eucalyptus oil. The product promised to remove tough pet stains and odours and I will endorse that. I put the covers of my dogs’ beds in for a wash and they came out looking brand new and smelling better than I could have
imagined.
To get the longest lasting effects of natural pest deterrent for your dog, wash them and the bedding in one hit. Honestly, your house will smell so clean and be completely disinfected and bug-free.
With a puppy in training, I was interested in what products would be helpful in the clean-up after accidents.
“The Australian Eucalyptus Oil Company Non-Toxic spray is really good for deodorising and cleaning up stains on carpets,” Tony shares. “It doesn’t contain soap so it will evaporate out of the carpet and it has a super strong scent which will deter dogs from returning to the scene of the crime.”
I used it on the carpet, tiles and artificial turf to deodorise and clean.
Keeping your fur family fresh and happy with clean, green Australian products is made easy with The Australian Eucalyptus Oil Company.
I can even vouch for how clean and fresh we both felt after attempting to wash my crazy puppy Bazzil – no bugs on me!
The Australian Eucalyptus Oil Company Canine Collection:
• All Natural Dog Wash
• Pet Bedding Laundry Wash
• Non Toxic Spray
Noosa Regional Gallery Directdor Michael Brennan invites you into a world of works that delight and excite the senses and stimulate the curious mind.
I’m always kind of surprised when people tell me they don’t like art or don’t get it – or even, on occasion, question its value (and I’m not talking monetary value here).
But then I remind myself that, like all of us, I live in a bubble.
I don’t think people choose to not like - or not understand - art. Instead, a big part of it is because we’re so quickly told at school that art is a luxury or an add-on, getting pushed aside to make room for ‘proper’ subjects.
The other thing is, most children possess an innate curiosity.
New and different things bring about excitement and wonder rather than frustration or confusion (and, fair enough – if you always find art
frustrating and confusing, you’re not going to like it, are you?).
But sometimes you’ve just got to let yourself be inquisitive or even playful. Put practicalities aside for a short while and let your senses, rather than reason, take the lead.
You can do this any time you enter an art gallery – in fact, it’s encouraged – but every so often an exhibition is
presented where you have no choice, and the experience of kids is put before that of gallery-going adults.
Imaginate, is a sensory wonderland of colour, texture and form, with opportunities to make as well as see.
Pip and Pop have installed their immersive and colour-saturated installations in some of the world’s most exciting art galleries, and for three weeks this winter (just in time for school holidays) their fantastical work is coming to Noosa Regional Gallery.
Their psychedelic dreamscapes create fictional spaces where imaginations can run wild.
Their psychedelic dreamscapes create fictional spaces where imaginations can run wild. And while not all of their work invites tinkering, there are specific zones where visitors are encouraged to make and display their own Pip and Popinspired offbeat objects.
Imaginate
15 June to 7 July
Pip and Pop (aka Tanya Schultz)
Curated by Brooke Bowtell
Curious Novice
13 July to 8 September
Laura Cope, Angus McDiarmid, Dennis Foreshaw, Claudi de Salvo, Pimparat Tantisukarom and Anwen Thomas.
Curated by Nicole Maggs
This celebration of curiosity extends into the subsequent exhibition at Noosa Regional Gallery – even if in a little more restrained way. Curious Novice is all about clay – arguably one of the most tactile and malleable mediums of art.
This exhibition assembles a selection of Sunshine Coast potters, together with a couple from further afield, to look at what they spend their time making through a lens of infinite possibility as opposed to simply functional form.
Material transformation and the excitement of the reveal and the unknown is what is highlighted in this show, and much like Pip and Pop’s immersive installation, visitors are asked to shake free the shackles of purpose and indulge curiosity as an end to its own.
A one-of-a-kind gallery dedicated to showcasing local art in unique ways, Studio One Noosa is a creative force for good. Rebecca Jamieson Dwyer discovers the passion and care that goes into creating each exhibition – and why you simply shouldn’t miss the next one!
When professional artist and printer Juanita Van Den Bergh moved into her Noosaville studio space, she had an epiphanyinstead of just hanging her own art on the wall, why not create an artists’ collective where she could help showcase and promote the work of other talented local artists, lifting them all up in the process?
This spirit of community is the driving force behind Studio One Noosa – the gallery that Juanita and her partner Richard Donelly run, which is fast becoming known as the go-to spot for experiencing both highly acclaimed and emerging local talent in exciting new ways.
Studio One Noosa runs a number of solo exhibitions every quarter, giving artists the space to present their work as a whole, rather than just exhibiting a few pieces here and there.
Both originals and prints are available to buy, and the exhibitions are a way for artists to share their work, attract a new audience, and be part of this wonderful community that Juanita and Richard have created.
But these aren’t your ordinary exhibitions.
Rather than giving the artist the blank wall space and leaving them to it, Juanita and Richard are creatively involved in every stage of the process, using their excellent design eyes and many years of industry experience to create something truly special and unique that reflects each artist.
“We’ll often take whatever is the trademark of an artist and create graphics for the walls and the floors to help the exhibition come alive,” explains Juanita. “For Colin Passmore it was birds all over the walls, while for Debra Hutton’s Italiano exhibition we had Positano pouring down the wall and the Mediterranean Sea on the floor.
“We’ll have the television running and it might be showing a timelapse of the artist’s painting or talking about the inspiration behind their work. So we’re doing these quirky things that make it feel a little bit more of a show and more engaging than your classic exhibition.”
A highlight for Juanita is the artists’ reactions when they see the finished space for the first time.
“They’ll often walk in and say, ‘Oh, wow, I’ve never seen my art like this before’,” she says. “We take a huge amount of pride in how we curate their work – if the artist wants to work with us during that process they’re more than welcome to - or we’re happy to take the reins to create something amazing.”
Every exhibition has a buzzy, fun launch night where anyone is welcome to head along, browse the work with a glass of bubbly in hand, meet the artist to hear about their process, and just generally soak up the creativity, community and camaraderie that Juanita
and Richard have facilitated.
“We’re bringing together the artistic community, but we’d love to see everyone come along and experience our exhibitions – our aim is to get as many people as possible through the doors to be uplifted and amazed by the enormity of our local talent,” she says. “Whether you’re a long-time art lover, new to the
Every exhibition has a buzzy, fun launch night where anyone is welcome to head along...
world of art appreciation or just looking for something different to do of an evening, we look forward to welcoming you to our space!”
Studio One’s mission is to put Noosa firmly on the map as an art destination, and they’re currently looking for more professional artists to join their collective by signing up to the Artist Subscription plan.
Not only do artists receive help showcasing and selling their work (both originals and fine art prints), but they also receive a host of other benefits,
including professional photography for reproduction of work, printing on demand with flexible payment portals, printing of artist magazines and catalogues, and so much more.
Painter Bronwyn Barton, who recently had her bright and beautiful exhibition Pink Pears at Studio One Noosa, loves being part of their collective.
“Richard and Juanita curated my solo exhibition and I was absolutely over the moon with the result,” she says.
“They’re both very passionate and innovative, and they’re just so enthusiastic about helping and
promoting artists.
“Plus being part of the collective means that I’ve connected with lots of other local artists that I’d heard of but hadn’t met before, so we can all work together and help support each other.”
Juanita and Richard are currently working with the McGrath Foundation to produce an exhibition in conjunction with Breast Cancer Awareness Month – running from 1 to 26 October – called Pretty in Pink, showcasing a series of pink work from a range of local artists, with submissions open now.
InNoosa-WINTER24-190x130.pdf 1 10/5/2024 4:57 PM
As well as making exhibition magic
Dallas Lesley
9-20 July, launch party 12 July
Jen Jay Art – Jeanette Smith
23 July-3 August, launch party 26 July
Tara Spicer
6-17 August, launch party 9 August
CALLING FOR ARTIST SUBMISSIONS: Studio One is curating pink-hued works for a Pretty in Pink fundraising exhibition to be held in October for McGrath Foundation. Phone 0481 155 287 for more.
Scan the QR code for local art, workshops or exhibition details.
and nurturing their artists’ collective, Studio One Noosa runs their popular Sip & Pour – Colour Chemistry workshops, where you can head along with a group of friends or colleagues for a thrilling arts extravaganza where you’ll create your own amazing acrylic-poured masterpiece under Juanita’s supportive eye.
Our team totally loved this classit was so much fun and even better, we love the creations we made which proudly adorn our office walls!
So, if you’re looking for somewhere to be inspired - Studio One is the one.
G A
"At Studio One Noosa, we're more than a gallery... we're a platform empowering Sunshine Coast Artists to shine."
This season’s exciting new exhibitions in Noosa's galleries, studios and arts centres. CA GALLERY
18 JUNE-10 JULY
CALLUM FRANCIS: RISING AND RETURNING
Celebrating Callum’s deep connection to the Burrum River and the Maroochy River and cherished memories of summer days filled with swimming, fishing and family. 5/43 Access Crescent, Coolum Beach Ph: 5471 7366; www.coolartgallery.com.au
21 JUNE-12 JULY
CONNECTIONS, A NAIDOC EXHIBITION OPENING 22 JUNE, 4.30PM
Featuring Gubbi Gubbi/Kabi Kabi, Jinibura, Wakka Wakka and Butchulla artists, the opening includes the launch of the Dhakkan/Mundagudda Yarning circle, Gubbi Gubbi traditional performances as well as the Bangarra Rekindling Youth Program and other contemporary projects. 11A Maple Street, Cooroy, Ph: 5442 6665 www.butterfactoryartscentre.com.au
GALLERY
UNTIL 3 JULY, CARRIAGE ROOM TIMO BOERSMA: ART X TIMO
Boreen Point’s Timo presents a broad range of works including landscapes and bird portraits based on his travels. His landscapes focus on light and reflections, and he particularly loves depicting the character he sees in animals.
29 JUNE-24 JULY
CARRIAGE ROOM & BANANA SHED ARTFUL MOODS, ARTISTS ALLIANCE NOOSA
Explore 3D and 2D artworks in oil, acrylic, watercolour, mixed media and paper mâché by established artists from the region, dedicated to bringing their art to the public at affordable prices.
27 JULY-28 AUGUST
SHAY BALMANNO: FROM WHERE I STAND
Using acrylic paint and multimedia to capture Australia’s raw and atmospheric landscape, Australian landscape artist and Peregian Springs local Shay presents her interpretation of our majestic landscape and the beauty of nature.
3 AUGUST-4 SEPTEMBER
‘P’ EXHIBITION: PEREGIAN, PALMWOODS
& POMONA COMMUNITY KINDERGARTENS
Retired early childhood teacher Melindi Robertson presents the work of 60 children from three community kindergartens focusing on local fauna and birds starting with the letter ‘P’, and using paintings, pens, patterns, pottery and (loose) parts.
10 Station Street, Pomona, Ph: 5485 2950 www.pomonartgallery.com
5 JULY-2 AUGUST MU-RAAY MULCAHY
Peter Mu-raay Djeripi Mulcahy is a Gamilaroi man, cultural teacher and professional artist. His infectious passion and desire to share his knowledge gained from Elders and Spirit is at the core of all he paints, writes and speaks.
114 Poinciana Avenue, Tewantin Ph: 5440 5289
7 JULY-14 JULY NAIDOC WEEK ARTISTS
First Nations artists present work within the 2024 NAIDOC Week theme ‘Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud & Proud’. 4-30 JULY NIKITA FITZPATRICK
Nikita comes from a multicultural family of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mixed with South Sea, European and also Malaysian heritage. Her art overflows with emotions and feelings from the soul, bringing powerful and respectful stories to life on canvas with acrylic.
36a Maple Street, Cooroy | Ph: 5447 7131
UNTIL 7 JULY
IMAGINATE FEATURING PIP & POP: SUNSHINE DAYDREAM
Discover an enchanted, dreamlike world and a land of vibrant plant life, swirling in a pastel rainbow, where art and nature collide! This fantastical landscape is inspired by the beautiful flora found in the Noosa Biosphere Reserve. Play, create, dance and become part of how flowers dream in a Pip & Pop interactive video or get ready to roll at the Poppin’ Pins Bowling Alley!
13 JULY-8 SEPTEMBER CURIOUS NOVICE This group exhibition explores the
dynamics of ceramics with artists Laura Cope, Angus McDiarmid, Dennis Foreshaw, Claudia De Salvo, Anwen Thomas and Pimparat Tantisukarom. Riverside, 9 Pelican Street, Tewantin Ph: 5329 6145
www.noosaregionalgallery.com.au
STUDIO ONE NOOSA
9-20 JULY DALLAS LESLEY OPENING EVENT 12 JULY, 5PM
Known for bright, bold and colourful canvases, award-winning artist Dallas Lesley celebrates all things coastal in her self-titled exhibition featuring original works and limited-edition prints.
23 JULY-3 AUGUST
JEN JAY ART - JEANETTE SMITH OPENING EVENT 26 JULY, 5PM
Combining acrylic and watercolour on canvas, linen or paper using creative observation and personal expression, Jeanette creates joyful beachscapes with a variety of tools such as a palette knife, paint brush, hands or stencil. 10/64 Gateway Drive, Noosaville Ph: 0481 155 287 www.studioonenoosa.com.au
12-14 JULY, 9AM - 3PM ARTS & MINDS EXHIBITION
Discover ceramics, smocking, beading, printmakers, oil and acrylics, life art, and portraits from artists across the region! 1 Wallace Drive, Noosaville, Ph: 5474 1211 www.noosaartsandcrafts.org.au/
1-30 AUGUST THE JOY OF MUSIC
Celebrating the 30-year anniversaries of the Tinbeerwah Art Group, Noosa Jazz Club and Noosa Chorale, this exhibition marks the dedication and passions of these not-for-profit organisations. 60 Noosa Drive, Noosa Heads, Ph: 5329 6560 www.thej.com.au
16-18 AUGUST
30TH ANNIVERSARY ANNUAL ART SHOW
Tinbeerwah Hall, Cnr Cooroy-Noosa Road & Sunrise Road, Tinbeerwah
NOOSA OPEN STUDIOS
30 AUGUST-8 SEPTEMBER
Queensland’s largest open studios art trail event featuring 100 local artists over 10 days! Visit artists’ studios and sacred spaces plus workshops and events. www.noosaopenstudios.com.au
Tracyann (Tam) is a Transpersonal Art Therapist providing therapeutic interventions using visual arts for mental health diagnosis, wellbeing and development disorders. NDIS welcome. Hoffman Drive, Noosaville Phone 0408 618 056 lighthousearttherapy.com.au
Working exclusively with acrylics, Emma brings to life abstract, aerial, native, floral, still life, landscapes and animals while drawing on inspiration from the world around her. Emma creates private commissions and custom pieces while combining her love of interior design. noosaartists.com
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. 33 Hilton Esplanade, Tewantin Phone 0418 758 210 trishsheppardart.com.au
Dinah’s paintings are inspired by the light, the colours, and the natural beauty of Noosa. Her work is enjoyed in private and public collections across the world and throughout Australia.
Studio visits by appointment Phone 0419 491 323 dinahwakefield.com
We love art at IN Noosa Magazine, and so do our readers
Artists, art galleries, art supplies and more, be included in our Art Directory for just $350+gst per edition.
BOOK ONLINE NOW FOR OUR NEXT EDITION
Art Gallery
Exhibitions
Fine Art Printers Photography Sip & Pour Colour Chemistry Fun! Phone 0481 155 287 10/64 Gateway Drive, Noosaville studioonenoosa.com.au
A boutique art gallery representing dynamic emerging and mid-career artists. Fine art prints and original works are on view - visit us online, or get in touch to enquire. Phone 0413 477 947 leightoncontemporary.com
As a contemporary gallery in the Coolum Beach industrial precinct, ca Gallery hosts a stable of 18 artists, holds regular exhibitions and provides custom picture framing services. 5/43 Access Crescent, Coolum Beach Phone 5471 7366 coolartgallery.com.au
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
When winter comes knocking, there’s nothing more satisfying than adding a few cosy touches to your home to create the ultimate relaxing sanctuary. We asked the experts at Eclectic Style for their top picks for snuggle season!
If you’re after soft, stylish throws; cosy comforters; magnificent mugs; bright, beautiful furniture or something else, Noosaville’s Eclectic Style has everything you could possibly need to turn your house into a warm, inviting haven this winter – whether you’re relaxing as a family or hosting an intimate gathering.
Eclectic by name and eclectic by nature, this locally-owned and run homewares store stocks a huge range of quality homewares, furniture, art, textiles and more – in styles including coastal, boho, Balinese, minimalist and others – making it a one-stop local shop for helping your abode spark more joy. Ready, set, snuggle!
Velvet Rococo Sofa
Dive into luxury with this opulent and timeless piece that effortlessly blends comfort and style. Winter can be notoriously gloomy, but this sensational sofa with its jewel-like topaz hue is sure to give you the blues in the best possible way! Vibrant and sophisticated, this bold choice enhances the sofa’s visual appeal, making it a feature in any room.
Arna Comforter Set
On chilly nights, wrap yourself in the sumptuous Arna Comforter Set, designed with a soft and chunky aesthetic that promises warmth and relaxation. Adding textural elements into a room is the perfect way to add style and interest, and you won’t be able to help yourself from stroking the faux bunny fur exterior every time you climb into bed.
Fusion Mocha Mug Set
Handcrafted from stoneware and finished with a unique reactive glaze, the Fusion Mocha Mug Set will add a dash of charm to your hot cacoa sessions. It’s a hug in a mug!
Scallop Throw
this sensational seat blends tradition with style. Crafted for comfort and elegance, it adds a touch of tropicana to any room. Blooming lovely!
Indigo S/2 Flutes
Scallop patterns are so on-trend and this super-soft throw is a subtle and snuggly way to incorporate the look into your abode. With soft terracotta tones, faux rabbit fur front and micromink back, it’s a one-way ticket to cosytown.
Rattan Chair with Australian Flowers
Every room needs a statement chair! Hand-embroidered with Australian flowers on eye-catching green cushions,
Etched with beautiful botanicals, these elegant flutes bring biophilic design to your home! Sip and celebrate with this gorgeous glassware.
Baku Throw in Brown
This stunning hand-loomed throw has been woven, dyed and stitched by Indian artisans using traditional practices. With its earthy colour and rich hand-feel, it’s sure to add heart and soul to your home.
Here in Noosa, we are lucky not to have the bitterly cold, sub-zero winters our friends in the frozen south have to contend with. But it does get cold and our coastal homes aren’t always designed for cooler temperatures.
One of the most effective ways to keep our homes warm and cosy while also reducing energy bills, is to ensure the appropriate window coverings.
Marilyn Black from Harlequin Blinds explains that naked windows without any coverings will make your house cold during winter.
“If there is nothing on a glass window, the room will be much colder because there is no barrier to keep the cooler outside air out,” she says. “Uncovered windows allow the inside heat to escape when the day cools down and the glass stays cold until the sun warms it again in the morning.
“This makes a room - and a home
As the mercury drops, cosy cocooned homes are oh, so inviting! Melanie Rosettenstein discovers the best ways to warm your home this winter.
- much colder than it needs to be.”
To avoid shivering in her house at night, Marilyn keeps her home warm and welcoming during the cooler months by closing her window coverings in the late afternoon.
“If I am home by 4pm in winter, I will close my window coverings to warm the home before the cooler air hits the glass and seeps into the house,” she explains.
“Once the cold gets in, it takes a lot of energy to reheat the space.”
She says that there is a wide variety of window coverings that could be used to keep your home cosy and warm.
From curtains and awnings to blinds and shutters, Harlequin Blinds has an extensive selection of window coverings that will not only warm up your home but can also be carefully selected to suit your decor.
Whether you’re going for a classic look
with Venetian blinds; a clean, uncluttered look with roller blinds; or a more sumptuous layered look with some good quality curtains, Harlequin Blinds can custom-make your window coverings for your exact space.
“Adding just a basic roller blind will stop that cold air exchange and coolness permeating from the window,” she said. “Curtains also block out the cold and add a depth that helps warm the room and keep it warm as the temperatures drop.”
Harlequin Blinds will measure and install your blinds exactly according to the window opening, something that Marilyn says was very important.
“Fitting the blind perfectly into the opening creates a barrier between the cold air outside and the warm air inside,” she said. “This barrier prevents the warm air from escaping through the glassand the cold air coming in.”
For optimal use, on sunny winter days,
...window coverings keep our homes private and warm during winter, they look good, save energy and can keep bad luck away!
she suggests pulling up the blinds so that sunlight can be absorbed into the house.
Curtains are also very effective in keeping a room or house cosy and warm.
Not only do they stop the cold coming in from outside, but they also have a pleasing insulating effect. Plus there are some beautiful, thick fabrics that can add a luxurious, cocoon-like feeling.
“If they are good quality fabrics, and installed professionally, curtains can reduce up to 40% of heat loss when the cool night air arrives,” she says, adding that shutters can also reduce the heat and cold coming in from outside by up to 50%.
While awnings typically appear on the outside of a house, retractable awnings can be adjusted to allow the sun to warm
up your home. Straight drop awnings and Zipscreen blinds are ideal for keeping an outdoor patio warm, especially at night time if you are entertaining.
“Overall, window coverings offer the most cost-effective way to warm your home,” Marilyn says. “Whether cooling it down or heating it up, using them will keep your home warm and reduce your
energy costs at the same time.”
The Chinese believe that a naked window brings bad luck. So, whether a curtain, shutter, or a blind, window coverings keep our homes private and warm during winter, they look good, save energy and can keep bad luck away!
Why wouldn’t we cover our windows up when winter comes knocking?
We manufacture and supply the most comprehensive range of Blinds, Awnings, Security, Shutters, and Curtains.
Noosa and Maroochydore 5476 9888 Caloundra 5492 8888
5/46 Enterprise Street, Kunda Park
Creative, colourful and compellingRebecca Jamieson-Dwyer meets Bettina McILwraith, the founder of Appetite for Decoration – a unique concept store and online marketplace that came from her passions for travel, textiles and the beauty of handcrafted goods.
What inspired the name Appetite for Decoration?
Do you remember Guns N’ Roses’ first album Appetite for Destruction? Well, Appetite for Decoration was inspired by the positive flipside of that title. The opposite of destruction is creation, and A4D merges my love for good food, slow design and creativity. How did your business start?
Appetite for Decoration was seeded in my studio in East London in 2010, when I was managing a gargantuan print and textile archive alongside working in trend forecasting and launching an upcycled textiles homewares collection. Appetite for Decoration as an identity and mindset brought it all together and simplified it all for me.
How would you describe your aesthetic?
Soulful, inspired by nature, celebratory, ritualistic, joyful, adventurous, intentional, playful, personal, nourishing, regenerative, foraged and colourful!
Why are you so passionate about living a colourful life?
Colour has a language all its own; it nurtures our souls and our nervous systems. Colour creates a mood, and its combinations hold a particular frequency. There’s an intuitive process to choosing colour and listening into or thinking about how you want to feel in a space is imperative, I believe. Mine is absolutely inspired by nature and my travels. I get very easily excited by new-found combinations.
My mama had an amazing sense of colour, and she was elaborate with it. Every room was painted in a different colour: there was yellow, salmon pink, lime green, and her signature, hot pink. It was joyful, playful and generous. Where do you source your items from?
The custom A4D collections are cocreated with artisan groups that I have lived and worked with in Kenya and Ghana. I also work with communities and entrepreneurs in Zimbabwe, South Africa, Senegal and Morocco.
I’ve been sourcing vintage furniture, objet d’art and textiles since 2010 when I was living in London and trading at Spitalfields and Portobello markets. Vintage pieces add an element of surprise and nostalgia to a space.
Sourcing from brilliant worldly friends
and their offerings tie it all together. Why is stocking ethically made goods so important to you?
I’ve been working in the slow design and ethical fashion spaces since the year 2000, so for me, ethics and aesthetics go hand-in-hand naturally. I’m invested in the lives and wellbeing of the artisans and craftspeople we work with. I like to know who exactly made our special pieces, and that they’re being respected and paid well for their traditional skills and cultural knowledge.
What’s your best styling advice?
Be true to you and how you want to feel, and style your space in alignment with the seasons. In winter, introduce more textiles and rugs for warmth, cocooning and cosiness. Layer beds, sofas and windows with extra textiles that are
packed away and stored for the summer months. Plants change everything –bring the outdoors in!
Your home tells a story – your story. A successfully-styled space for me feels like reading someone’s autobiography, layered with personal stories, joy and intention. I’ve started offering colour consultations and home styling for clients, and a lot of this comes down to listening into how a client really wants to feel.
How do you make any room come alive?
Colour, texture and pattern make a room sing! I’m not interested in following home trends, so it’s about listening into how you want to feel in a particular room – rested, balanced or energised might be some examples – and then intuiting the necessary elements.
I study aspects of Sacred Architecture with Maria del Carmen Arevalo (follow @sumaranah), which looks at connecting with the soul and chakras of the spaces you inhabit, and from this perspective your spaces become a true reflection of you. My home and work spaces are consistently transforming, as am I. What are some of your favourite products? Textiles bring warmth, texture and personality during the colder months. We
cosy up with colourful, hand-woven rugs from Morocco in the living and bedroom spaces; bundle up beds and sofas with artisanal throws and vintage quilts, and a few extra cushions to encourage longer lounging.
Handwoven curtains that fall to the ground are a delicious luxury that soften hard edges and offer protection from the cold. Our placemats with purpose and hand-woven tablecloths grace tables and anchor daily dining rituals.
What do you love most about your store?
The community, absolutely – the incredible artisans, social impact projects and designers I have the privilege of collaborating and co-creating with, and the interactions and relationships I have with customers, especially on the shop floor.
I love to see people’s reactions to our wares – the basketry, in particular, has a rhythm and energy that holds a higher resonance in person.
In June we temporarily close our doors to travel back to Ghana to co-create with our beloved artisan communities. Discover our new collection in store in July & August. Stay updated and follow our travels. @appetitefordecoration
Sometimes it’s the little things that warm our hearts during the cooler months...
The big buzz about bees is that there are fewer of them than half a century ago and, according to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation, they are responsible for a third of the world’s food production. That’s a big stat for a tiny insect.
While bee numbers are dwindling, the good news is that there is something we can do about it. And that is to plant a bee-friendly garden that will become a sanctuary where these diminutive powerhouses can thrive.
A bee-friendly garden needs several elements to ensure it becomes a buzzing haven for these plucky pollinators. These include flowering plants, fruit, and vegetables to provide an abundant supply of pollen and nectar, a safe bee habitat like a bee hotel, and some wild meadowlike corners where less mowing allows the growth of low-growing lawn plants
As the world’s most prolific pollinators, bees are essential for supporting food security and biodiversity – but numerous factors have placed these tiny superheroes under threat. Manawee Garden Centre’s Simon Van Roy gives Melanie Rosettenstein the lowdown on how to create a BEE-autiful bee-friendly garden.
like clover and daisies.
In addition to ensuring the plants in your garden are suitable, the layout is just as important. Simon Van Roy from Manawee Garden Centre says plants should be strategically clumped in blocks to provide the bees with optimal access to them.
The garden also needs to be as sheltered as possible. Simon says a bee hotel is the best way to create a safe space for solitary (non-honey-producing bees that have left the hive) or native bees and other pollinating insects to nest and do their important work.
Simon says, “Bee hotels are ideal for solitary bees that are on their own but typically nest close to each other. These hotels also come with a sachet of pollinator-friendly flower seeds to help attract bees and other important insects
to your garden. So just like when we stay at a motel and still need to go out for a meal, planting flowers around a bee hotel provides bees with the sustenance they need.”
To set the bee hotel up, simply hook a piece of wire through the back of the hotel and attach it to a tree trunk or branch, or just place it in a sheltered section of the garden.
Simon says his top flowering plants that are a must for creating a garden that’s alive with the hum of busy bees are:
Lavender - Bees are most attracted to blue or violet and because it’s brimming with pollen and nectar, lavender is ideal to plant in your bee garden. This wonderful plant likes dry conditions and once it has taken, it adds a wonderful scent to your garden.
Swan River Daisy - This low-growing Australian native is also blue and is easy to grow in any corner of the garden. Because it is a meadow flower it’s perfect for foraging bees.
Buddleja – This fast-growing and free flowering perennial can be a mass of flowers at any time of the year, and comes in a variety of colours too which makes it perfect in a range of garden types.
African Marigold - Hardy and long flowering, Marigolds are great for bees and they are extremely effective at deterring pests such as white flies, cabbage worms, and mosquitoes.
Alyssum - This beautiful companion plant with its abundant, delicate white flowers is perfect for your vegetable garden and for bringing the bees back time and time again.
Calendula - These large self-seeding yellow and orange blooms make a bold colour statement in your garden, plus they flower throughout summer making them a real bee magnet.
While the winter months have arrived,
now is a good time to start planning a BEE-autiful garden that is brimming with bee activity when spring comes.
Simon says, “If you want to get your bee-garden going earlier, be sure to add winter flowering plants like Argyeranthemum daisy, Grevillea and Kangaroo Paw which flower during the cooler months and can fill the pollen and nectar gap, keeping those busy bees occupied until spring arrives.”
Size needn’t matter when it comes to creating stunning spaces in your garden. Pete Goodlet shares his top tips for creating tiny treasures.
Land is precious and our patches of paradise are getting smaller. In gardens, the smaller they are the more important it is to get the details right.
Like designing a tiny house, it is vital to make every element work cohesively and, often, perform multiple functions.
Not only must every element of the garden work together, but they also must, where feasible perform more than just one role - for example, a retaining wall can make an excellent bench seat; a feature wall the perfect place to hide a storage shed, and random, circular paved areas are great at drawing your eye down and creating an intimate feel.
Central features such as a firepit enhance the space and create a cosy winter gathering place as the flicker of flames dances with light, warmth, and magic. The introduction of ethanol fire pits has created amazing options for statement pieces to compliment your architectural style. Just don’t let Aunty Beryl hog all the toasted marshmallows!
Speaking of Aunty Beryl, make your seating stylish but sturdy. Sure, threelegged stools can look very cool, but the last thing you need is Aunty B going head over heels into the flames! This is bound to cause much hilarity, but you will most certainly be “Out of the will!”
A lovely, paved area can be
complimented with a green lawn and natural steppingstones. Think out of the box with a swathe of Native Violet, Viola hederacea or White Star Creeper, Pratia penductula
Another true landscaping gem is clumping grass such as the Korean Violet Grass, Zoysia Tenuifolia which can add an oriental feel and look spectacular on a mound surrounding a small feature tree while also providing space to spread out and read a good book - or magazine.
In a compact space, trick the eye with foliage. Small colourful leaves in the border can contrast with large architectural foliage. Be brave and wild, striking foliage is a feature to behold.
Deeper colours to the rear will recede and create a sense of space. Fences and even neighbouring walls can be painted in a dark tone to bring in neighbouring foliage or views, while splashes of white or coloured flowers will draw you out to explore.
A sense of occasion is always welcome in a garden. Even more so in a smaller space. A great example of this is the Tea House in a Japanese courtyard. It creates a spot to sit, relax and sip tea. Or maybe Sake is more your tipple? Whatever you chose to imbibe in do it with style and aplomb. It is the little touches that add the sense of celebration to an occasion.
Why not venture forth in a stunning silk kimono and curly toed slippers with bells? After all, it is your garden sanctuary - embrace it with gusto.
Harmony is vital in a small garden with one element blending into the other. Curves let the eye move gently around a space. Surprise the visitor with a beautiful sculpture or wall mounted artwork. The splash of a water feature will enhance the ambiance and add to the sense of unity with the space.
Encourage birds into your garden with a large shallow birdbath - the splashing and preening and pure joy bring a natural beauty to your space. Dry stone walls can become a multi-storey condominium for lizards that will gobble up your garden pests and amuse you with their sunbaking style. Insect hotels provide homes for predator insects and create more biodiversity in your garden, and they can be mounted on fences or under shed eaves. A frog pond will add colour and song, bringing your garden to life. Green treefrogs are a welcome visitor in any subtropical garden.
Speaking of welcome visitors and natural beauties, don’t forget that Stuart and his team at Earth Creation Landscapes are the natural choice to add elegance and beauty to your garden with award-winning designs and expertise.
Warmth and enthusiasm for people and places is palpable, generous and charming, and Tom Offermann’s smile comes through in a distinctive way – a naturally optimistic disposition – a glass half-full.
Over three decades Tom Offermann has set the benchmark for prosperous property marketing, and demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the local community, enthuses Helen Flanagan. waterways whether boating, jet skiing, or e-foiling, which I discovered during Covid as a substitute for snowboarding when we couldn’t travel.”
And it’s estimated that since setting up the eponymous Tom Offermann Real Estate, more than three decades ago, he and his team have helped over 20,000 buyers and sellers make life-changing decisions. The database is more than testament to the fact.
“Pride lies not just in the transactions but more the relationships and trust gathered along the way,” comments Tom whose wisdom, knowledge and experience is compelling. “Undoubtedly, laughter and shared excitement of new beginnings, ensures a balance between success and value every step of the real estate way.”
Whether in the office or at home, Tom squeezes in as much as possible. Sitting for long periods or reading a novel are given the brush-off in favour of maintaining an active regime which begins early every workday with a combination of jogging on the beach and paddling a surf ski.
“Exercise makes me much more energetic during the day, and at weekends I enjoy Noosa’s beautiful
Tom has a serious interest in cars and motorbikes and loves to go for a spin around the Hinterland on weekends.
He is a passionate event partner and supporter of Noosa Concours in Hastings Street, and when 50 of the finest and rarest cars in Australia are in their given spots for the Concours d’Elegance Best in Show judging, it will be impossible to wipe the smile off his face.
“When I first started in real estate, it was just a way to make a living, but it evolved into so much more,” he shares
“What a pleasure watching it continually grow as a family business plan… if I ever retire!
“It gives me great satisfaction doing things well, helping family, colleagues, and clients, and always with a spirit of kindness. I push myself quite hard and don’t allow many excuses.”
Tom says he really enjoys mentoring and training the sales team, making sure clients have skilled professionals working on their properties and that the team of 23 agents are successful and proud of their achievements.
“What I love about the talented
goodhearted people in my world, whether appraising and selling property, in administration and advertising, or the creative team behind photography, videography, socials and property writing, they are professionals in a class of their own,” he said.
Whilst focussing on optimum media platforms, relationships have been forged with IN Noosa Magazine to further harness the power of digital connectivity, and drive economic participation and social inclusion as part of a unique campaign.
“Tom Offermann Real Estate is a brand synonymous with the sought-after Noosa lifestyle and all it offers; as well as being a leading light as a results-driven, collaborative and outstanding business leader for more than three decades,” explains IN Publishing Founder and Editor-in-Chief of IN Noosa Magazine Deb Caruso.
“Working with such an established and respected business and brand, our objective is to act as an extension of their brand and marketing management to amplify their key messages to our readers and followers.
“We are more than a magazine so whether through our digital magazine; online stories; sharing the quarterly market report in our e-newsletters; sharing the Noosa Surf Report with Josh
...a coveted absoluteriverfront address - and almost on the doorstep of glamorous Hastings Street, considered the Holy Grail - takes the Number One position...
sharing the Noosa Surf Report with Josh Constable to our social media followers; and so much more - we are enjoying the mutual benefits of showcasing and sharing the very best of the region to our highly-engaged audience that look to us for all things ‘IN Noosa’.
“Everyone wins and we love working with Tom as a likeminded business leader committed to hard work, integrity and supporting the community.”
Tom Offermann Real Estate retains its position as Number One agency on the Sunshine Coast, and in the past 12 months, combining the suburbs of Noosa Heads and Sunshine Beach, it sold more than the next four agencies combined.
From waterfront paradise to one-of-akind apartments with eagle’s eye views to forever and to sigh for, and all in between, a street in each of those locales hits the two top spots in all of Queensland: Noosa Parade, a 700-metre row of 36 residences with a coveted absolute-riverfront address - and almost on the doorstep of glamorous Hastings Street, considered the Holy Grail - takes the Number One position; and taking Number Two, was Arakoon Crescent in Sunshine Beach.
“Fortuitously”, says Tom, “the in-house media team and listing agents were on the waterfront of 40 Noosa Parade filming when another long-term client in a boat noticed them setting up; promptly enquired if it was coming to market and within a day the unconditional contracts were signed for over $20 million.”
Tom Offermann Real Estate also had the privilege of listing 43 Witta Circle, nearby on The Sound for $35 million, striving to establish a new record for the owners.
“If any house was going to achieve the figure, this was it,” Tom says proudly.
“Our team combed the client base inviting qualified buyers to view the house privately, found the ideal match, and negotiated the unconditional purchase just two weeks into the campaign.”
No wonder his glass is always halffull.
There is only ‘One Noosa’ as locals acknowledge, however when it comes to streets, here are Tom’s thoughts on Noosa’s Ten Hottest Pockets:
• Hastings Street with views: top sale - 5/81 Hastings Street Noosa Heads, sold at auction, $16.1m, 2021.
• Eastern Beaches Beachfront, Sunshine to Peregian: top sale - 17 Webb Road, Sunshine Beach, $34m, 2021.
• Little Cove with views: top sale - 17 Allambi Rise Noosa Heads, $19m, 2023.
• Noosa Sound Waterfront – white-hot pockets are Noosa Parade, Witta Circle, and Mossman Court: top sale - 43 Witta Circle, Circa $30m*, 2024.
• Noosa Waters Waterfrontage: three top sales including - 60 The Peninsula, $10m, 2022.
• Noosa Hinterland: top sale - 116 Hayward Road, Lake MacDonald, $10.2m, 2023.
• Noosa Springs Golf Course Frontage: top sale - 701/61 Noosa Springs Drive, Noosa Heads, $8m, 2023.
• Hilton Esplanade Tewantin - amazing how many people ask about this riverside location: top sale - 41 Hilton Terrace, $4.64m, 2022.
• Ocean-view houses, walk to beach, always in hot demand: top sale26 McAnally Drive, $13.5m, 2023.
• Serenity Close, always a favourite: top sale - 20/10 Serenity Close, Noosa Heads, $6.52m, 2021.
Source: Corelogic, except 43 Witta Circle which is awaiting settlement*. All properties sold through Tom Offermann Real Estate.
The sun is still shining on the Noosa property market despite some gloomy economic outlooks.
Jennifer Swaine consults Noosa buyers agent, Kirstie Klein Hunter to uncover the diamonds in the rough.
With winter upon us and the cost of living starting to bite, the market has slowed in some areas although, according to Noosa buyers agent, Kirstie Klein Hunter, Noosa largely remained unaffected by many of these external factors.
Kirstie believes this is mainly due to the finite amount of stock in the area and explains that there are still some noticeable trends at the moment:
International Enquiry is on the Rise
Kirstie has noticed a marked increase in enquiry from ex-pats who are showing particular interest in the Noosa Hinterland.
“In the past, many of these buyers may have considered Byron Bay and the surrounding hinterland, but they are savvy and see the value in Noosa and all that we have here,” Kirstie said.
“In many ways we have an edge because of our quality private schools, restaurants and shopping precincts, and
if they can secure acreage close to Noosa it is extremely appealing,” she said.
With that in mind, Kirstie noted that there was still a cap on what people were prepared to pay which doesn’t seem to present when buyers were considering areas like Byron Bay.
“The Noosa Hinterland is still, to my thinking at least, a diamond that is only half uncovered,” Kirstie says.
“I personally feel it should be looked at the same way as people view Bowral or the Byron Bay Hinterland and it’s only a matter of time before this happens.”
As housing prices continue to rise across the Noosa region, Kirstie said the appetite for units had increased.
“People look for quality units for a number of reasons: it could be that they are downsizing but still want a great outlook in a highly sought after location, or it could be that this is a more affordable way to get into the Noosa market than buying a freestanding property,” she says.
“Either way, I am seeing a growing demand for units.”
The Noosa Hinterland is still, to my thinking at least, a diamond that is only half uncovered...
While the market tends to slow during winter months and buyers and sellers remain cautious, the arrival of spring should see new stock coming onto the market for the dry, warmer months.
The downside to this, Kirstie says, is that it is a view shared by the majority of buyers and sellers so there is increased
competition across the board for the properties that come onto the market at the same time.
“Spring brings out both the buyers and the sellers so it’s important not to neglect the winter months as a good time to do your research and really understand the market and organise things like finance so that you are ready to move when the market shifts,” Kirstie advises.
“In addition, savvy sellers should consider bringing their property to
market now to get ahead of the competition while listings are scarce.”
Buyers Prefer Renovated Properties
Kirstie also noted that while much of the stock that was on the market was quality, her buyers were showing a preference for properties that were already renovated or that required little work.
“A lot of my buyers are not locals so they do not want the hassle of having to oversee a renovation,” she said.
Klein Hunter Property Buyers specialise in sourcing and negotiating residential property purchases for local, interstate, and international clients.
“A quality property that is ready to move into will be more appealing to these buyers every time.”
Noosa continues to be a highly desirable destination for investors and those wanting to live in this special part of Australia and while the ebb and flow of the market will mean buyers and sellers have to adjust momentarily, one thing is certain and that is the appeal of Noosa and the surrounding Hinterland continues to rise.
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
Achieving market-leading results for over 15 years.
In the ever-evolving Noosa real estate market, Kate Cox stands out with her unparalleled experience and deep understanding of the local landscape. “The most significant change I’ve observed in the Noosa property market is the shift in how people purchase homes. Buyers now spend time studying the market, seeking value, and focusing on quality properties that will suit their family or investment needs.”
In a competitive industry, Kate’s authenticity and expertise set her apart. “My key point of difference is my deep market knowledge, premium negotiation skills, and the ability to understand buyers’ needs. My forte is asking the right questions and truly listening to clients to find the perfect property solution for their needs.”
Kate’s genuine approach and insightful market strategies have cultivated a loyal client base. “I’ve been fortunate to build lasting relationships with amazing clients who have entrusted me with multiple property transactions. Their referrals of family and friends are the highest compliments I receive.”
Behind every property deal, there’s a story of hope, perseverance, and realising dreams. And these stories have been increasingly female of late, Noosa real estate expert Kate Cox shares with Melanie Rosettenstein
There’s just something about property that captures people’s attention. Offering financial security, emotional fulfillment, practical benefits, and the chance for self-expression, the desire to own property is uniquely human.
Reed and Co’s Kate Cox has been in the Noosa real estate business for more than 15 years and lately has found the story of property to be uniquely female.
“It’s been a very interesting few months for me because the majority of my clients have been women, both sellers and buyers,” Kate enthuses.
She shares some wonderful stories behind her latest property deals and the protagonists who were all women.
NOOSA HEADS AND NOOSAVILLE - LEAVING A LEGACY
Two of her most memorable sales in recent months were both from deceased estates. Kate says both owners were women living on their own who owned their properties for more than 20 years. One was a holiday penthouse in Netanya Noosa Resort on Hastings Street, and the other was a beautifully converted townhouse in Noosaville.
These property sales were notable because both women believed strongly that their property’s value was superior; and interestingly this confidence was validated as both homes sold for higher than the asking prices, despite being an estate sale, which can often sell for less.
Kate said it was rewarding to help fulfill these women’s dreams of their homes being worth so much, even after they had passed away.
“They were both proud of their achievements and the properties they
owned, and this was evident when they went to market,” she shared.
NOOSA WATERS - DREAMS COME TRUE
Kate also sold a Noosa Waters home valued at around $2 million. The seller was a single mother who bought the home, and coincidentally, the buyer was also a single mother.
The buyer had worked incredibly hard building her own business over the last four years, enabling her to purchase this beautiful house for herself and her teenage daughter.
This home, complete with a swimming pool and garden, represented a significant milestone for the buyer, as it was the first large and beautiful property she could proudly offer her daughter, and where they could now gather with their family and friends.
The buyer worked six-to-seven days a week in her business to provide a life that her daughter could be proud of.
The seller, also a single mother who had returned to Melbourne due to work commitments, was overjoyed that someone else who had worked hard and had children would be taking over the house she had cherished.
Another lovely story: Kate recently sold a beautiful home in Noosa Heads for just under $3 million. The owner was a Sydney executive who’d relocated to Noosa to work remotely.
However, as it happens sometimes in life, the highly successful lady’s plans did not go accordingly, and she made a U-turn. Instead of continuing with her corporate career, her move to Noosa precipitated a much larger and momentous life change.
Taken with Noosa’s unique and relaxed lifestyle, she sold the house, and bought a smaller - but just as beautiful - home. This allowed her the freedom to start her own business and travel and she is even planning an adventure to climb part of Mount Everest.
Realising there was more to life and using property, ingenuity, and heaps of courage, she completely transformed her life, stepping away from the corporate world she had known for so long, and into a lifestyle that offered her more freedom.
This is how dreams come true, one property at a time!
Having worked as an HR Director for a large corporation in Melbourne for decades, it was selling his home ahead of a move back to Noosa 11 years ago that prompted Alexander Payne’s desire to move into Real Estate.
“I lived in my Melbourne home for 23 years and everyone in my life loved that house - with my eclectic collection of furniture and décor, walking in there was like getting a big hug,” Alexander said. “But my real estate agent said it needed to be styled to give it an edge and attract a wider range of buyers. I had to disconnect from the emotions surrounding the house so I could list it and move on.”
Now a Licensed Agent at Reed&Co, Alexander credits his HR background with helping him understand the emotional side of property transactions and says it was his personal experience of the process that piqued his interest and began his journey into property selling and styling.
“Styling your property is 100% about appealing to the broader market,” he says. “If you want to appeal to your target audience, and get your asking price, your home must have a ‘wow’
Choosing the right furniture, artwork, and colour schemes will appeal to more potential buyers and provide an edge in a competitive market.
factor, highlight its best features, and make a great first impression.”
Alexander recommends the first step is to hire a skilled property stylist who will work with your agent and research your target audience to create a welcoming atmosphere.
Choosing the right furniture, artwork, and colour schemes will appeal to more potential buyers and provide an edge in a competitive market.
Whether you’re downsizing, retiring or upsizing, perhaps for a financial reason, selling a home can be an emotionally charged process.
Alexander says that the challenges around styling a property crop up when people aren’t prepared for their move
using a property stylist to give your home the WOW factor in a competitive market.
or believe the home is fine as is.
“While there is generally nothing wrong with the home, it normally reflects the owner’s personality, which may not resonate with potential buyers,” he said. “Your home is just that - ‘your’ home, so it can be hard for others to picture themselves living there.
“Besides potentially facilitating a quicker sale at a good asking price, the styling process can also be a good way to let go and prepare to literally move on.
“It is the first psychological step and allows you to step back from the nostalgia and think strategically about what you need to do to achieve the best possible sale price.”
Because the process can be delicate, it is important to choose an agent that can gently guide you through the process.
Alexander understands that with some clients it requires gentle negotiation.
“I recently had a couple who had a lot of mixed furniture in their home, and while it was a very comfortable space, it wasn’t necessarily going to appeal to a wide range of buyers,” he said.
“So, after diplomatic discussions, we replaced some of the decor to appeal to
a wider audience and also so that when interested parties came in they could visualise making the space theirs.”
Alexander cites another example of the power of property staging or styling when he took over a home listing that had been on the market for several months with little interest and no offers.
“The home hadn’t been styled, and some awkward spaces made the rooms look and feel smaller than they were,” he said. “We recommended a staging package and the owner agreed so we brought in Blink Living to work their magic.
“The transformation was incredible and after new photos were taken and the property was re-launched, we had 22 groups at the first open house, and the property sold in just four days - much to the seller’s - and mydelight,” he said.
Finally, Alexander notes that not all homes require styling but sellers should ensure they depersonalise their home by removing personal items such as family photos, hiding pet paraphernalia, neutralising decor (and smells), and tidying up to present a desirable place for potential new owners to call ‘home.
The cost of styling your home depends on:
• The size of your home
• The number of rooms
• The level of styling needed
Most stylists offer a range of services from complete styling packages to a basic refresh of your existing decor.
A full styling package can cost between $5,000 to $10,000, but this investment can lead to a quicker sale and potentially higher offers, making it a smart investment.
It’s not what we say. It’s what our clients say.
I recently had the pleasure of working with Alexander as my real estate agent to sell my home, and I couldn’t be more satisfied with the outcome. Alexander delivered beyond my expectations, securing a fantastic outcome for the sale of my home. His dedication, expertise, and commitment to excellence make him a standout real estate agent, and I would not hesitate to recommend Alexander to anyone looking to buy or sell property.
SELLER REVIEW | 245 Edwards Street, Sunshine Beach SOLD for $2,000,000 a new street record!
Have you ever met a passionate property expert and car enthusiast who wants to come back singing and dancing on stage in her next life? Read on. Words by John Caruso
Pip Covell is a force of nature. Her energy is infectious, and she has a knack for bringing a room to life.
As Principal-owner of Sunshine Beach Real Estate, she was excited to show me the team’s new digs, replete with Di Henshall’s Interior Design touches, where a small but efficient team of professionals go about their business. A few laughs and the distant sound of the surf all forming part of the soundtrack.
The office has moved a few hundred metres east of its original location, closer to the water and following the quick tour Pip and I made the most of another gorgeously sunny Sunshine Beach day to record her journey for our podcast.
My first question wasn’t about property as I’d heard that she loves classic cars!
“My partner, Trevor and I have a little Alfa Romeo,” she begins, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “She’s in pieces now because we’ve just come back from a weekend in Warwick where we raced against other historic cars. We’ve been doing this for years with Trevor preparing the cars before we set off. I’ve always been around cars, my parents had Ford dealerships in the South Burnett.”
Her father passed away when Pip was young, leaving her mother to raise three girls. This early hardship instilled in Pip a resilience and determination that would shape her future.
As a child, Pip dreamed of studying law. However, dreams of legal case studies took on a different tune.
“My uncle, Roger Covell, was a professor of music and music critic for the Sydney Morning Herald and I ended up specialising in music in high school at the Kelvin Grove campus,” she says.
“My fondest memories are of family trips to Sydney to see him and attend shows and sing carols at Christmas.”
There’s a strong creative side to Pip and it continues to play a significant role in her life.
“Music and dancing are very important to me,” she says. “I came back from
Melbourne a few weeks ago with $300 worth of CDs, nobody buys CDs anymore!
“I’ve also recently discovered Nia, which is an activity where you use every part of your body, letting your creative side out while also getting a workout and I do that once a week in Tewantin.”
Sunshine Beach Real Estate has a proud history that spans forty-five years and Pip has been part of the brand for thirty-six years, heading up the team for twenty-four years as owner, principal, and hands-on marketing agent.
“Through that time, we’ve forged a reputation for sound business practice, effective communication across a broad spectrum of sales and leasing and, most importantly, a place in the hearts and minds of all who call this place home,” she says.
Their approach is somewhat unique to the industry in that they not only list and sell properties, but they also offer permanent and holiday rentals. There are more than seventy options in their holiday rentals brochure, everything from idyllic beach houses to selfcontained apartments, villas, and penthouses.
“Beachside properties are our forte,” Pip says. “We list and sell properties in the region, so it was only natural we extended our service to include permanent and holiday rentals.”
Ask Pip about her leadership style and she’s quick to complement the people around her.
“There are no secrets within my team,” she says. “I’ve surrounded myself
with the most wonderful like-minded people, and I genuinely believe I’ve got the best working in each department. We all help each other, and the move to our new space has revitalised us all.
“There’s a confidence amongst us, and I like to get everybody involved in all aspects of what’s going in the industry, from holiday conferences, to REIQ breakfasts, and we discuss and share and we build each other up. Surrounding yourself with a range of ages is also important. There’s an eighteen-year-old in our office, two or three in their thirties, a couple in their forties, fifty and sixty-year-olds, and we all learn from each other.”
Pip’s motto is simple yet profound.
“I live here, I work here, I play here. Specialising in properties at the eastern beaches - Sunshine, Sunrise, Castaways, all the way down to Marcus Beach.”
I hit stop on the recording and reflect for a moment on the whirlwind energy that is Pip Covell. Her approach to life mirrors the efficiency of a finely tuned Alfa Romeo, zero to a hundred in a matter of seconds with all the pieces running like a well-oiled machine.
WANT MORE? Download the interview with Pip from our podcast.
Despite our mild climate, winter is traditionally a slower season in the world of real estate – making it an attractive time of year for buyers to get into the market. Rebecca Jamieson Dwyer finds out how this - plus a range of other factors - are creating hot opportunities this winter.
After a highly eventful few years in the Noosa real estate landscape, the market looks like it’s taken its foot off the gas slightly – which could be good news for anyone looking to secure a property in this beautiful slice of paradise.
Buyer’s agent Bronwen Stacey has lived in Noosa for many years alongside three generations of her family, and has the experience and expertise to interpret market movements, acting as a secret weapon for clients who are looking to get a foothold in the Noosa region – either as owner-occupiers or investors.
If you’ve been dreaming of your own beautiful Noosa abode, Bronwen believes there are a few reasons why this winter might present the perfect sea-change or investment opportunity.
“Firstly, sales volumes in Noosa Heads have seen a decline over the first quarter of 2024, and according to CoreLogic, just 5.7% of properties were sold during that period, which is the lowest rate in over 10 years,” she says.
“In addition to this, the median
number of days a Noosa property spends on the market before selling – an indication of the speed at the market –currently sits at 64 days. And the Noosa Heads median house price is now at $1.805 million, which according to CoreLogic, has dropped by approximately 8.6% from the previous 12 months.”
These statistics are a huge departure from the market activity we’ve seen over the past few years, where, driven by the pandemic, real estate prices in Noosa rocketed to record highs. But how high is too high?
According to Tim Lawless, CoreLogic Research Director, in an Australian Financial Review article earlier this year: “Many areas in Noosa recorded a spectacular increase in values during the worst of the pandemic, arguably overshooting the mark of what could be considered fair value.”
As an area of unbelievable natural beauty with a thriving food and cultural scene, and a welcoming community –plus limited housing stock, which helps encourage high demand – Noosa prices
aren’t likely to dip too far and Bronwen says the recent change in conditions is certainly helping to create more favourable conditions for buyers than we’ve seen for a few years.
“The speed of sales has definitely slowed, and when there are more houses on the market for longer, this gives buyers more choice and more time to think, which can create really favourable buying conditions,” explains Bronwen. “So for buyers that may have been priced out during the pandemic and couldn’t plan their Noosa move or investment, there may still be opportunities.
“I don’t think we’d ever say there’s going to be massive drops or that it’ll be discount central, but it’ll definitely be better conditions for buyers.”
In contrast to Noosa, the Sunshine Coast Local Government Area continues to perform strongly, with prices continuing to rise, according to a recent market update from Colliers. But why the difference?
Bronwen says that there are a few factors contributing to this.
“The median price is a lot higher in Noosa, so perhaps people are becoming more cautious about taking on these bigger debts,” she explains. “Plus there’s a lot more affordability in other pockets of the Sunshine Coast – you can still get a beachside renovator for the $1.5 to $2 million price point and there’s lots of interest, which is perhaps why that market continues to grow.”
One thing’s for sure – the property market is never boring, and having an experienced buyer’s agent on your side will help you make sense of its fluctuations and hone an effective strategy that suits your unique goals.
“As a buyer’s agent, I’m not only across pre-market as well as off-market opportunities that might be available, but
I can also help provide insights on the properties that are currently offering better value,” says Bronwen.
“Seeing the data is one thing, but that combination of data with on-ground knowledge and trends is very powerful when it comes to making such a huge decision. I’m right in the heart of it, so I can help buyers refine their strategy and determine when’s the right time to jump in – whatever the market is doing.”
So what’s Bronwen’s key message to hopeful buyers when it comes to
searching for their dream home or investment property in Noosa this winter?
“If you have pre-approved finance and are ready to purchase, this year’s winter market could result in decreased buyer competition,” she says. “The trend is for property listings to gradually increase as we move towards spring, and if this does happen, it could create the perfect window for savvy buyers ready to jump on a great opportunity when they see it.”
Good luck and happy hunting!
‘The Art of Luxe’ event featured a range of special guests sharing insights into the property market, interior design, economic growth, and future key trends and opportunities – with a focus on giving back at its core.
The Sunshine Coast is witnessing sustainable growth in property investment, fuelled by a 17.5% surge in net migration.
This growth is driven by the region’s appeal as a top destination, particularly among Sydney-siders seeking new horizons.
The recent The Art of Luxe event by Luxe Coastal Property Buyers at The G Contemporary Gallery in Noosa, reinforced this with insightful discussions on property, design and the importance of giving back.
Former cricketer and founder of the McGrath Foundation, Glenn McGrath, opened the event with heartfelt speeches on the charity’s drive to deliver cancer care nurses, with a talk that was both enlightening and impactful and resulted in The G Contemporary owners, Karen and Steve Beardsley, showing their unwavering support by raising over $3,000 through raffle and art sales.
The informative presentations began with Christine Mount, founder of Luxe Coastal Property Buyers, highlighting the significance of off-market transactions, constituting approximately 30% of property deals.
Christine explained the benefits of engaging a Buyer’s Agent and how leveraging 30 years of experience, she
ensures clients can access exclusive opportunities to secure properties under favourable terms, and often before they go to market.
Stuart Greensill, Director at Herron Todd White, provided a comprehensive overview of current property market trends, noting that despite recent interest rate hikes, there was still a sense of confidence in the general residential market.
...an industry expert in valuing high-end luxury homes and acreage, observed that the prestige market remains strong, evidenced by seven sales over $10 million in Noosa in 2023.
His data showed that construction costs had surged by approximately 125% since 2021, posing challenges for developers but also highlighting the scarcity of new supply.
This limited supply, coupled with buyer demand, has driven the region’s growth, resulting in a 9.8% increase in median house prices over the past year.
Stuart also highlighted the need to be very mindful when quoting median prices as the devil is in the detail, not only to the exact property but also local
That’s why you need a good buyers’ agent to guide you through pricing, through very different sub-markets, even in the same suburb.
Stuart, an industry expert in valuing high-end luxury homes and acreage, observed that the prestige market remained strong, evidenced by seven sales over $10 million in Noosa in 2023.
Stuart added that 127 sales between $4 million and $10 million underscored the continuing demand for luxury homes and, when paired with the infrastructure spending due to the Olympic Games in 2032, he remains optimistic about the
region, the market’s stability and growth prospects moving forward.
The conversation moved towards how to maximise property potential through design - a perfect subject for Di Henshall, Founder of Di Henshall Interior Design and a multi-award-winning designer renowned across Australia and the world.
Di said that essential elements, such as colour, texture and space, were pivotal to success, particularly in sub-tropical homes. She illustrated her points with a compelling case study of a Noosa River home, showcasing the transformative impact of strategic design.
Overall, Luxe Coastal Property Buyers’ The Art of Luxe event provided a holistic view of the thriving property market in Noosa and the Sunshine Coast.
Attendees gained invaluable insights into navigating the market, accessing exclusive opportunities, and enhancing property value through design.
Leveraging Christine’s expertise as a Buyers Agent, alongside industry leaders is instrumental for successful property investments in this burgeoning market.
Tune into the Luxe Coastal Property Buyers’ Podcast to find out more about living the Luxe life and stay tuned for the next informative event.
Do You Believe in Linear Progress? Paul Bird ruminates on what this actually means and discovers that he might be a believer.
Iremember the first time I entered Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. Now a mosque, the impressive structure of today was constructed almost 1500 years ago during Byzantine Emperor Justinian I’s reign.
As someone who has spent a fair amount of time wandering through Europe’s Gothic Cathedrals, many of them built 500 to 700 years ago, the awe-inspiring interior space of Hagia Sophia was gob-smacking. It was full of… air.
The structure built centuries ago, and in some cases, many centuries before some of the most acclaimed Cathedrals of the world, had very few columns.
Interior light was abundant as Hagia Sophia was able to support its massive domed roof, the largest in the world until the 15th century, by techniques developed and refined during the Roman Empire. How come?
Someone told me it was because the engineering knowledge had been lost to the world in the intervening years.
I am not sure if lost knowledge is true but it seems to make sense. After all, medieval Europe following the collapse of the western Roman Empire was referred to as ‘The Dark Ages’ and all popular cultural references to this period of European history are grim and depressing. The plagues which afflicted the Continent in waves over this period and the seemingly endless warfare surely did not help with the advancement of scientific and engineering excellence.
For all its tyrannical, cruel dominance, which we decry from our modern perspective, the Pax Romana did provide a fruitful, extended period of peace in which arts and literature, science and engineering flourished.
Surviving infrastructure like Hagia Sophia attest to the enduring sophistication and ingenuity of the Roman civilization.
The regressive dislocation that followed also seems to reinforce the notion that there is no guarantee of progress being linear i.e. an everupward relentless trajectory of improvement.
Rapid technological advances (think AI, Quantum Computing, rapid-fire Covid vaccine development and production and thousands upon thousands of other improvements in recent years) give us cause to expect that things will always be getting better.
Indeed, it seems that we almost believe we are entitled to expect an everamazing array of new gadgetry designed to make us happy/ier.
For some, progress is a given, certainly not something to be questioned or queried. It’s logical and natural isn’t it?
Maybe, maybe not.
There are many ways and reasons a linear progress can be interrupted. We acknowledge these reasons and their potential for disruption – war, plague, catastrophic failures in our energy, water, technology, food production systems, haywire AI, cyber-attack and natural disasters, even climate change.
Linear progress believers see the myriad threats as bumps along the road to a brighter future. Bumps for which a solution will always be found. They have a point – Covid-19 vaccines are an obvious and recent case-in-point.
I like to read history. I like to watch history documentaries. (What a sad man I hear you say?)
The study of history is supposed to provide us with lessons, useful examples of what people have done in the past, and the consequences of these actions. This study helps us avoid an endless cycle of repetitive stumbles.
That is the theory anyway.
A wise friend of mine has pointed out that whether progress is linear or not depends on your timeline perspective.
If we look at the progress of humankind since our common ancestors first left Africa then progress is indeed linear and unquestioningly so.
The problem is that, as we only live for around 100 years currently (watch this space for the emerging 130 year-old cohort), our judgement on progress is limited to the span of our lives.
Each generation has its own take. And
that is to be expected. However, recent grandiose statements that we are “living in the most uncertain of times” or that “it has never been harder to…” do stretch credulity when one has a reasonable grasp of history and some of the circumstances that other generations have had to confront in order to survive with their lives and/or livelihoods intact.
For the peasant classes trapped within a rigid feudal system in the Europe of the Middle Ages, progress would have seemed to them to have been pitifully slow or even non-existent.
We are easy marks for postapocalyptic, dystopian sci-fi with its survival-of-the-fittest devolutions. We love nothing better than watching humans (eventually) triumph over the chaos and danger of such imagined futures. The problem I think is that for most of us (except the Preppers), we subscribe to the “it will never happen” category allowing our innate human optimism bias to provide the “progress is linear” comfort we crave.
I harbour a great hope that I will still be shuffling around this mortal coil when humans set foot on Mars and, despite the significant obstacles which need to be overcome, this looks like it might happen within the next 10-15 years.
At this moment, I believe it will happen and yes, that I could/should be alive to witness it. I also understand that anything can happen anytime to thwart this ambition.
It seems that, informed as I am by the missteps, eddies and catastrophes of history, I have also fallen for the linear nature of progress mantra as I fully expect humans to get to Mars.
So, it seems I do expect a linear progress after all.
