Coolum News Inform know grow Volume 1. Issue 6
January 2021
INSIDE..
Fun times at Quota Christmas- p14
Bay to beach a big hit More than 100 swimmers braved the ocean to swim from First Bay to Main Beach at Coolum last month in the inaugural Bay to Beach event organised by Coolum’s Surf Woman of the Year ambassador Jessica Appel. Jessica’s role in the Surf Woman of the Year program is to represent the Surf Life Saving movement in promoting sun safety, fundraising and the role of Surf Life Saving in the wider community. She said the Bay to Beach event was made possible with the help of many volunteers and
supporters who helped it run smoothly on the day. “My goal was to create an event to encourage people from across SouthEast Queensland to come to Coolum to give it a go,” Jessica said. “I’m proud to say we achieved this, with participants coming all the way from the Gold Coast, Brisbane and Noosa just for the swim. “To create an event with a balance between the diehard competitors and total newbies is something which I am proud to say we have accomplished… Continued, page 4 Coolum News, January 2021
Can you spot a rip? p18
Meals on Wheels changes- p23
From the Ed’s desk:
Happy New Year! As we head into the unknown that is 2021 I suspect for many of us there’s some sense of hope it simply has to be better for everyone than the year that just was. While we’re still going to be living with COVID-19s’ shadow for the months and years ahead, hopefully we’ll keep it under control and our scientists will find a way to protect us into the future. In this month’s edition it has been great to learn a little bit more about our local Surf Woman of the Year representative Jessica Appel and to share her love of Surf Life Saving with our readers. Full kudos to all involved in the Bay to Beach event held in December. It takes many hands to make these events successful, and it is a pure case of people volunteering their time and talents to help build community and awareness for the sport they love. Congratulations!
Coolum News
Well done also to those involved in Visit Coolum and Coolum Business and Tourism for pushing ahead and doing all you can to make Summer in Coolum as close to normal as possible with the Flicks in the Park events that are popular with locals and tourists alike. Be quick to grab a spot on the grass for Saturday, January 9. For those readers involved in local community groups there’s a story on page 10 that could be well worth a read with the Sunshine Coast Community Foundation (a branch of the Queensland Community Foundation) opening its latest grants round looking to help Sunshine Coast not for profits to continue to support our most vulnerable people. Thanks for your continued support of Coolum News - it’s hard to believe it’s six editions already! If you have a story to share, please don’t hesitate to get in touch on 0413 988 333. Until next month, Geoff
Inform know grow
Coolum News thanks our readers and asks you to please show support for the businesses whose advertising dollars allow us the space to share your stories. ADVERTISING DEADLINES FOR NEXT TWO EDITIONS:
Edition February March
Booking & Copy deadline January 25 March 1
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Phone: Geoff on 0413 988 333 or Email: info@yourcommunitymedia.com.au Copies are delivered monthly as a combination of residential letterbox deliveries (to those that do not carry a no junk mail sign) and bulk drop locations in the Coolum area including The Shop, Aussie Coolum, Coolum Bowls Club and the newsagent near Woolworths. Advertising rates and sizes are at www.yourcommunitymedia.com.au Coolum News - independently produced and published by Your Community Media Pty Ltd atf G.E. Investment Trust T/As Coolum News (ABN 80 382 001 417). Those making advertising placement and/or supply copy material or editorial submissions to the publication undertake to ensure that all such material does not infringe the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 CTH as amended from time to time or other laws, regulations or statutes. Further to this, these persons agree to indemnify the publisher and/or its agents against any investigations, costs, claims and/or judgements.
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Local News
Join the fun flicks at the park They’re back! With COVID-19 restrictions lifting a little the teams at Visit Coolum and Coolum Business & Tourism have been able to proceed with planning for the annual Flicks in the Park event at Tickle Park, with Oddball slated to be on the big screen on Saturday, January 9 from 6pm. The movie is based on a true story of a chicken farmer who traines his dog to protect a wild penguin sanctuary from fox attacks. It stars Shane Jacobsen as the farmer who is trying to save his family, his town, and the penguins.
The screening will be a COVID-19 Safe Event, with limited numbers and registration essential. Those attending will be required to set up their picnic spots a minimum of 1.5m from the nearest groups. To register your attendance, go to www.visitcoolum.com/events
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Local News - Surf Woman of the Year 2021 From page 1 “Our entrants ranged from 12 years of age to 78 years of age! How awesome is that.” For Jessica, getting involved in the Surf Woman of the Year program is her way of sharing the passion she has for the surf lifesaving community with as many people as possible. “I want people to experience the same joy and fulfilment that being part of this community brings me,” Jessica said. The program, formerly known as Surf Girl, started in 1964 and has raised more than $17 million since its inception. In terms of future fundraisers Jessica said there are at least four planned, with early dates in place (subject to change). These events are: • 20 Feb — Coolum Eat Street • 05 March — Coolum Beach SLSC Golf Day • 13 March — Women’s Open Day • 17 April — 250 Club Jessica will continue to work on new fundraising ideas and provide updates to the community via her instagram @coolumsurfwoman, her Facebook: @CoolumBeachSurfWomanoftheYear and on the Coolum Beach Surf Club website: www.coolumsurfclub.com.au. If you have any ideas to share, feel free to email Jessica directly on surfwoman@coolumsurfclub.com.au 4
Top: The competitors in the inaugural Bay to Beach swim.
Below: Coolum Beach Surf Woman of the Year representative Jessica Appel in action. Picture by: My Salty Life
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Local News in Brief FAILED BUNNINGS SITE SELLS Land where Bunnings wanted to build a warehouse at the Motorway entry to Coolum has been sold. A Title Search of the Barnes Lane property, next to Coolum Primary, shows it is still owned by Bunnings Holdings (as at mid-December) but a company registered in Brisbane, BLF Coolum Pty Ltd as trustee, is waiting in the wings on the Title with a caveat interest on the Land. It’s not clear yet what business BLF Coolum conducts however an ASIC search indicates the Director has been involved in property development companies previously and it has been reported elsewhere a rural, tourism-type use is on the cards. COUNCIL OUT OF NEW APPEAL Sunshine Coast Regional Council has been removed as a Party in the new Supreme Court - Court of Appeal action lodged by local community group Development Watch Inc (DWI). The latest action, launched in July this year, has DWI seeking leave to appeal the Planning and Environment Court's 2019 decision to uphold the Council’s earlier approval in 2018 of Sekisui’s proposed Yaroomba beachfront development. DWI named Sekisui House Coolum P/l, Sunshine Coast Environment Council Inc as Respondents, also naming the Council as a third respondent to the action. A search of the Supreme Court online file register shows an order was made in October to remove Council as a party to the Appeal, with Sekisui House Coolum and SCEC Inc both in August filing Notices of Address for service for Court documents. As at going to press, however, no further documents in the matter have been filed. We’ll continue to follow the progress. 6
HAVE YOU FOUND THE GRUFFALO? If you’re looking for something a little different to do these holidays to entertain children or grandchildren, a trip to The Ginger Factory at Yandina could be it. Entry is free, with some costs involved to ride the Ginger Train or the Overboard boat ride. A new, free, attraction on offer in January is The Gruffalo Trail where visitors are encouraged to follow the trail and search for the mouse, the owl, the snake and the hungry Gruffalo making use of a phone app complete with augmented reality technology. The Gruffalo will be popping up in real life on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 11.30am for photos. Ginger Factory is at 50 Pioneer Rd, Yandina.
DISCOVER THE RAINFOREST’S SECRETS: The team at Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve has been working hard to create a bit of school holiday fun. The result is the Agents of Discovery Program which is based on an award-winning app. To play, parents download the app and one of two missions onto their phone and then follow the guides to walk through the rainforest trails and uncover its secrets along the way. The park is at 148 Mountain View Rd, Maleny. WIN FOR YOUR ART Budding artists rejoice – the Local Artists – Local Content 2021 Art Prize is now open. The competition is open to any artist living on the Sunshine Coast. Entries are open until 15 January 2021, with finalists announced early February. To find full entry details go to www.gallery.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au and click the link to the Art Prize.
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Coolum News, January 2021
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Local News
Running out of ideas to keep the brain ticking over while on summer holidays, looking to distract the kids, or simply keen to learn something new? While sadly COVID restrictions have made it difficult for Sunshine Coast Libraries to host events in their venues of late, the positive side is that a whole range of these workshops are now available online. A quick look at www.library.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/ Whats-On/ reveals a wealth of great ideas that are free to access and targeted at Adults, Young Adults, Teens and Children. For the Adult audience information, videos and book ideas are available on topics including: Bush Tucker Gardens; How to play your next chess move; Coffee Time – how to brew happiness at home; Collagen Creations – how to make food with benefits; Side Hustle or new start up – Turn Your Passion into Profit; Bees – the littlest livestock; Upcycle – spruce up your home; Cross Stitcher XX – Handmade hobbies; Speak emoji; Cool crocheting – Handmade hobbies and Learn to Watercolour. For the children – there’s information on topics including: Just the bat facts; Be an ecotourist; A pirate’s life for me; Freaky plants; World’s smartest animals; How deep is the ocean; Weird world records; Olympics; Horrible Histories and Out of this World (explore the solar system). For the Young Adults, workshops include Shark Week, How to make your pet #instafamous, Movers & Shakers: Influential Young People, Famous last words, Surviving study, 8
COFFEE TIME: How to brew the perfect coffee at home is just one of many topics covered in a range of free online workshops available online at Sunshine Coast Libraries.
exams and end of year stress, Music camp, Get Coding and Abandoned Australia. Parents and toddlers get a look in too with an Author Spotlight showcasing a list of great authors for parents to explore, Parent Files – full of parenting resources, Rhymes with Ryan, Toddler Tuesday and Keyword sign program which helps people to learn how to sign. If you’d like to know more about the Sunshine Coast Libraries programs then send an email to the team at libraries@sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au or phone 5475 8989.
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Coolum News, January 2021
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Local News
Community grants up for grabs If you’re involved in a local charity or not-for-profit group that could use some extra funding to help to deliver critical support to our communities, then the Sunshine Coast Community Foundation’s 2021 grant round could be just right for you. Since it was founded in 1997, with the help of Sunshine Coast philanthropist and humanitarian Sir Clem Renouf, former Queensland Premier Mike Ahern AO and Bill Taylor of Big Pineapple fame, the SCCF has helped local charities with grants totalling $303,000. This year the SCCF is offering four grants, of between $8000 to $10,000 each, to help Sunshine Coast groups deliver projects that support the most vulnerable members of our community. Previous projects to receive funding include providing school supplies for children affected by domestic violence, wheelchair access for a social enterprise nursery, a hospice CCTV system, and the purchase of a double horse float for an animal-assisted therapy program for people with a disability. SCCF chair Dr Caroline Osbourne said the next round of grants are particularly important given the tough we have all had. “2020 has been an incredibly hard year for families and communities on the Sunshine Coast, which is why the 2019 Sunshine Coast Community Foundation Grants have never been more important,” Caroline said. “This year, we are excited to announce that we have increased the dollar value of our grants.” 10
Coolum HeARTS have accessed SCCF grants before.
“We want to hear from charities and community organisations that have an amazing project or idea to assist local people and communities and are looking for funding. “We will grant between $8,000 $10,000 each for up to four projects that can demonstrate impact for our community.” The Sunshine Coast Community Foundation is part of the Queensland Community Foundation which manages an annual regional grants program that has distributed more than $30 million dollars in grants throughout Queensland since its inception in 1997. All donations to the Sunshine Coast Community Foundation are pooled and invested, with the income from the fund granted only to charities operating on the Sunshine Coast. To apply for a grant or to find out how to help build the capacity of the SCCF and ‘give where you live’ contact QCF on 3360 3854, or visit the website at www.qcf.org.au or email enquiries@qcf.org.au. All donations are tax-deductible.
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Coolum News, January 2021
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Local News—Quota Christmas fun
Christmas fun at Quota Fun and games at one of their member’s homes was how the ladies of Quota Coolum Beach celebrated Christmas 2020. Pictured right are: Ursula Tuxford, Bev Haines and Robyn Brydon; Pictured below left are Jenny Miller, Judith Bowerman and Jan O’Brien. Picture below right are: Gayle Sowter and Beryl Briggs.
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Coolum News, January 2021
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Local News
Dates to remember in 2021 With the December rush out of the way for those families with children at school, now’s the time the mind starts clicking forward to school shoes, uniforms and planning life around school terms for 2021. The Queensland State Government lists the terms as follows: Term 1 – Wednesday, January 27 to Thursday, April 1 Term 2 – Monday, April 19 to Friday, June 25 Term 3 – Monday, July 12 to Friday, September 17 Term 4 – Tuesday, October 5 to Friday, December 10 Those with children at private schools need to allow for longer holidays in the winter break, with end of Term 2 pencilled in as June 17.
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Other key dates for the 2021 calendar and holiday planning include public holiday for Australia Day on Tuesday, January 26, Good Friday on April 2, Easter Monday on April 5, Labour Day on May 3, Nambour Show Day on June 19 and Queen’s Birthday on October 4. The year 2021 is now an Olympic Year thanks to COVID-19 with Tokyo scheduled to host the Summer Olympics from July 23 to August 8.
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Local News – Surf safety
A few tips on how to spot a rip If the waves are rolling in at the beach this summer and you spot an area of calmer water between them, don’t be fooled into diving in. As the beaches fill with family, friends and locals who are not frequent users it’s timely to talk about “rips” which are one of the most common causes of swimmers getting into trouble on our open ocean beaches. A rip current is created when water from the waves crashing towards the shore returns to the ocean by the path of least resistance - creating a tunnel or funnel of fast flowing water heading back out behind the breaking waves. They can be spotted by deeper, darker, water, fewer breaking waves, sandy coloured water extending beyond the surf zone, debris or seaweed and significant water movement (see diagrams). The RACQ estimates there are 17,000 rips recorded in Australia every year and about 100 deaths attributed to them. The deaths generally occur when swimmers try to fight the rip current, panic, wear themselves out and drown. There are three types of rip: Flash rip: where a current forms suddenly and vanishes just as fast due to decreasing water levels or increasing wave heights. Fixed rip: a funnel formed by waves breaking in the same spot for a long time, eventually making gaps in sandbars. As the name suggests, these rips can stay in place for a number of days, weeks or months. Permanent rip: can be found around areas such as reefs where permanent obstacles create a hard edge on the funnel back to the ocean - they are 18
dangerous as swimmers can be pushed against the hard edges and hurt. The easiest way to avoid getting caught in a rip is to make the most of the experts and swim between the flags where lifesavers will be constantly monitoring for rips and danger to swimmers. If you do find yourself in a rip, Surf Lifesaving Queensland advice is to either swim out of it, by swimming left or right, parallel to the beach, or to float and raise your arm to attract attention, letting the rip take you out and conserving your energy. Once the rip weakens, swim parallel and then use the waves to help you swim in. For more beach safety tips see Safety Info at www.lifesaving.com.au
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Local Heart GOVERNMENT REP CONTACTS Coolum – Local Sunshine Coast Councillor Maria Suarez, office (Division 9) Tel – 5441 8086 State (Ninderry) - Dan Purdie (Liberal National Party) Tel - 5406 7900 Federal (Fairfax) Ted O’Brien (Liberal member of Liberal National Party) Tel- 5479 2800
FREE WHEELIE BIN SPEED SIGNS Have you got your FREE Wheelie Bin Stickers yet? If you live in a 50km p/h street and would like some of our stickers simply text 0418 263 863 or email info@coolumcoastalproperty.com.au or call (07) 5231 9831 and we will pop them in your mail box! Share with your friends, family & neighbours to spread the word! LOCAL CHURCH CONTACTS Call the Churches or see their websites for service times. Coolum Beach Anglican Church -Cnr Perry St & Beach Rd Coolum Beach 0447 002 573 email ang.coolum@gmail.com Or see www.anglicanchurchcoolum.com Coolum Beach Baptist Church 1912 David Low Way -call 5446 1957 or www.coolumbeachbaptist.com/ St Peter’s Catholic Church 28-32 Elizabeth St, Coolum 5443 3488 www.saintsonwaves.com.au Coolum Christian Family Church 2 Arcoona Rd (Coolum Beach Christian College) http://ccfchurch.org.au or call 5446 1295. Coolum Uniting Church, Cnr Elizabeth St & Heathfield Rd ,Coolum www.maryburnettpres.org.au or 5446 1815 Salvation Army, Meeting Rooms 127, Greenoaks Drive Coolum. Call Warren or Denise 0400 797 480 / 0418 214 723. 20
LOCAL SCHOOL CONTACTS Coolum State High School - Havana Rd East, Coolum Beach - 5471 5333. Coolum State Primary School - School Rd, Coolum Beach - 5471 9300 Coolum Beach Christian College - 2 Arcoona Rd, Yandina Creek - 5446 4780 LOCAL BUSINESS CONTACTS Coolum Business & Tourism - 5440 9870, info@coolumbusinessandtourism.com.au, www.coolumbusinessandtourism.com.au QUICK REFERENCE PHONE NUMBERS Alcoholics Anonymous – 1300 222 222 Beyond Blue - 1300 224 636 Crime Stoppers - 1800 333 000 DVConnect Womensline - 1800 811 811 DVConnect Mensline - 1800 600 636 E-headspace (12-25 years) - 1800 650 890 Kids Helpline - 1800 551 800 Lifeline - 131 114 MensLine Australia - 1300 789 978 Narcotics Anonymous Australia - 1300 652 820 Policelink - 131 444 Smart Recovery Australia - 02 9373 5100 Quota Coolum Beach meet at the Lions Den (next to Fire Station) Russell St Coolum Beach at 2pm on the third Tuesday of the month. We are a community group raising funds for disadvantaged women and children and the hearing impaired. Contact: secretary@quotacoolum.com or Sandra 0427 889 750.
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Puzzles
FOR THE ANSWERS, TURN TO PAGE 23 Coolum News, January 2021
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Local Connect
Top job Rob!
Coolum Meals on Wheels president Rob Cobb’s 10 years’ of service in the role was honoured at the start of December with a commemorative medal and certificate of recognition from the State Government, presented by State Member for Ninderry Dan Purdie at MOW’s end of year function. Sue Green has taken on the top job. Dan said: “I was proud to be able to present him with a special token of appreciation for all his efforts. “A big thank you to the current president Sue Green who has taken on the job. Big shoes to fill, but I know she will be a fantastic advocate for Coolum Meals on Wheels.”
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