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SHARK SIGHTING PAGE 3
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CASEY'S SPIN ON SPORT PAGES 16-17
COVER STORY
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POSITIVE SINGING SISTERS KEEPING BUSY IN LOCKDOWN PAGES 4-5
MORE TO LOVE The editor’s desk While we are a long way from the end of the Covid-19 crisis the fact that movement restrictions in Queensland were partially eased last weekend - and the state government is talking seriously about tourism and hospitality venues re-opening, albeit with no clear timeframe - have to be seen as positives. And likewise with pre-school and senior education set to resume next week. It’s easy to get bogged down in the day-to-day response to Covid-19 and lose sight of the bigger picture, which is that businesses large and small need to focus on the ‘recovery phase’. It’s hard to see an end-point right now but there will be one, appreciating that resumption of regular business activity will continue to be incremental. Jeremy Sollars
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SPIN ON SPORT Long-time Queensland sports columnist and commentator Casey O’Connor joins the team at Noosa Today, sharing his views on sport during the Covid-19 lockdown and beyond. He will provide an insight into the wider sporting world and touch on what matters locally as well. See Casey’s Spin on Sport on pages 16-17.
HOOK, LINE, SINKER
A more common sight... thankfully. Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS
There’s a chill in the air, which means there’s plenty of action in the water. Fishing columnist Jack Mangrove says the cold water fish aren’t too far away - and they get big! Read his thoughts on page 18.
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Thursday, 7 May, 2020
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NEWS
SHARK SIGHTING IN THE RIVER BY ROSE ASTLEY One lucky pooch narrowly escaped becoming a lunch time treat for an alleged 4-5 foot bull shark in the Noosa River on Monday 4 May. Owner Bec Amson said her eightyear-old Border Collie named Bella was swimming around the shallows of the river when a dorsal fin could be seen close behind her. “My dad recognised it first and noticed it was coming quickly straight for my dog, so (we) started calling her back and as she was
coming in the shark obviously hit shallower water and was splashing around trying to get closer,” Bec said. “Luckily it was too shallow and it turned around the other way.” Bec took to social media to warn others of the fact that there is definitely sharks in the Noosa River, and they’re not shy. “Keep them close and a good eye!” Bec said. The incident took place near the Noosa North Shore Ferries around 11am. ●
VOLUNTEERS MAKE CLOSE TO 300 RESCUES Surf Life Saving Queensland volunteers from Forrest Beach to Rainbow Bay have saved more than 700 lives this 2019/20 patrol season. Since the September school holidays and start of May, more than 320,000 hours had been dedicated by volunteers to protecting the lives of beachgoers. During this time, the red and yellow army performed 71,723 preventative actions to proactively safeguard swimmers, and applied a staggering 2,395 first aid treatments in Queensland. For the Sunshine Coast, 20628 prevenative actions were taken for swimmers, 879 first aid treatments were given and 296 rescues were made along Coast beaches. Surf lifesavers patrolled beaches one last time on Labour Day, before Surf Life Saving Queensland’s (SLSQ) 2019/20 patrol season officially ended May 4. This season has been like no other with lifesavers not flying the red and yellow flags for the past five weeks due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however throughout this period volunteers have continued to ensure beachgoers safety by conducting surveillance patrols. SLSQ Lifesaving Services Coordinator Sunshine Coast Caige Price said it had been a challenging end to the season for the state’s volunteers who had performed a remarkable job. “We could not be prouder of our surf lifesaving volunteers,” he said. “Their efforts over the past eight months have to be commended, especially in light of some difficult circumstances. “Our members have continued to man their post throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and remained committed to our vision of zero preventable drowning deaths in Queensland public waters. “The work of our lifesavers has been nothing short of remarkable, noosatoday.com.au
Queensland Lifeguards have made than 700 rescues across the state, and almost 300 of those from the Sunshine Coast. especially when you consider the number of lives saved this season.” Over the past season, SLSQ delivered several initiatives across the state in a bid to offer even greater protection to beachgoers, including the Summer Surf Safety campaign. Mr Price said the successful campaign was rolled out over summer, following a spike in drownings last season. The campaign highlighted the fact that most drownings are preventable. “The campaign aimed to reduce beach-related drowning deaths amongst males over 50 years old, while also increasing general beach safety and awareness,” he said. “The shocking images of a man in difficulty in the water calling for help as lifesavers rushed to his aid
formed the basis of the campaign. “The overall aim of the confronting imagery was to remind beachgoers that by swimming between the flags, you not only protect yourself, but you also prevent a loved one’s potential grief.” In addition to the Summer Surf Safety Campaign, SLSQ’s Community Awareness team assisted in implementing an International Student Water Skills Assessment across that state. This assessment was introduced to prevent drowning deaths amongst international students by ensuring homestay students were able to demonstrate basic water safety competencies prior to undertaking any aquatic activities while in Australia.
Throughout the season Surf Crew Cars have continued to operate on the Gold and Sunshine Coasts, delivering free educational clinics and educating more than 44,000 beachgoers on how to stay safe. Mr Price urged beachgoers to take care during the COVID-19 pandemic and continue to put their safety first. “Lifeguard services will continue to conduct surveillance patrols to ensure beachgoers safety at Queensland beaches, however please follow the advice and stay at home,” he said. SLSQ will continue to follow all government advice and will put the red and yellow flags back up at the appropriate time. ●
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Sisters Briannah and Tiana Dennis are putting their time in lockdown to good use.
SINGING SISTERS MAKING THE MOST OF LOCKDOWN BY RON LANE
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mongst the many who are fronting COVID-19 with a positive attitude are two local Noosa musicians, Briannah and Tiana Dennis. Formerly known as the Dennis Sisters but now singing under the name Oh Harlow, they had earlier 4 NOOSA TODAY
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this year made the music industry sit up and take note when, at the Queensland Music Awards evening held in Brisbane, they won the award for Country Song of the Year. Their song, entitled Give It A Miss, was at the time sitting at five on the Official Country Airplay Chart known as the Music Network; but then their win saw it go to number three.
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“Oh boy, were we excited. We were over the moon just to make the final four; we never expected to win. To tell you how unexpected it was,” added Tiana. “We had not even written an acceptance speech.” Following this many doors started to open and several gigs were booked; however, the outbreak of the virus saw cancelations and like many other young Australians Briannah,
20, and Tiana, 19, accepted what was to be: they took it well and adapted a positive attitude. Accepting the program of Isolation at home, the girls formulated a work plan, thus using their situation where possible, in a positive fashion. “We drew up a work plan that we are now ad-hearing to,” said Briannah. noosatoday.com.au
THE PLAN WAS TO: · Create a small home studio in a bedroom for media interviews and recording. · Be more creative. Song writing, develop file of photo shoots for press releases. · Organise phone interviews on radio with such as Kix Country (located in Bundaberg, now one of the most established country radio shows in Australia), i Heat and ABC Country Australia, plus local and other small community radio stations. · Take this as an opportunity to increase their market place with regard to social media. · Work hard on increasing notability (after the success in Brisbane, cancellation of gigs owing to the virus, unfortunately, reduced their chances to increase our notability). It was 20 March that the girls commence their isolation at home, an isolation that was to see the cancellation of interstate gigs: a big one of which was the opening support act in Sydney for Busby Marou, winners of the Blues/Roots, at the Queensland Music Awards. In early April the girls took part in a livestream show conducted from home: they were the opening act on the Facebook page of Andrew Swift (the artist who in 2019 won the Golden Guitar Alt Country Album of the Year entitled Call Out the Cavalry). Then on 30 April they travelled to Brisbane, this time to take part in noosatoday.com.au
another livestream gig as an opening act for the Brisbane band Sheppard (now of global renown). The reason for this was to support the FIFO (Fly In Fly Out) workers and their families while in isolation: a gesture that was sponsored by Anglo American. The reason for the girls driving to Brisbane was that it was work related: immediately on completion they once again returned to their life in isolation. For some, the everyday routine of isolation can be tedious and boring: for others such as the Oh Harlow girls it also has a very satisfying aspect. “As much as having to forfeit many good gigs and touring there is,” said the girls, “for us a major plus. Normally our father (an accountant) is working long hours running his own business and, as musicians, we are often on the road, attending gigs and travelling. But with family isolation it brings us all, mum, dad and young brother James, together on a daily basis. This is something regardless of the circumstances, we should take advantage of.” Despite the negative and in some cases fatal outcome of their current situation, the bringing together of families on a daily basis, must surely be seen in many cases as a consolidation for our country in the days ahead. We wish Oh Harlow all the very best. ●
Accepting the Country Song of the Year award at the Queensland Music Awards evening in Brisbane. Thursday, 7 May, 2020
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NEWS
Year 12 student Lauren.
Year 12 Student Virgo Nash.
Year 12 student Andy.
ST ANDREWS ADAPTS Where there is a will, there is a way, and staff and students at St Andrew’s Anglican College certainly have plenty of will. Despite the many challenges Covid-19 has brought for schools, the Peregian Springs based school has chosen to use this period of forced change to get creative and try new ideas. Team sports, music groups, interest groups, training, competing, volunteering and all the additional things that make up the schooling experience have all been postponed due to Covid-19 restrictions. However recognising that not all lessons are necessarily learnt in a classroom and the important role co-curricular activities play in selfdevelopment and connectedness, staff at St Andrew’s spent time during the term break developing a range of additional opportunities for students to join and collaborate in the online space. Although impossible to replicate the College’s extensive regular cocurricular programs exactly - almost all students participate in at least one co-curricular opportunity at a time - students at St Andrew’s Anglican College will continue to engage in a range of cocurricular activities this Term, albeit in a slightly different format. “Co-curricular opportunities are where students learn more about themselves, about working in teams about achieving a goal outside of the classroom,” Principal Chris Ivey said. “It’s where they learn persistence, how to deal with failure, how to 6 NOOSA TODAY
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Virtual Cross Country challenge.
Year 12 student Thomas Cowley. push themselves, how to serve others and so many other qualities we want each of our students to develop. “Our students thrive on opportunities and experiences because they value the connections both with each other and with our staff. “If we believe this, then we need to find ways for these opportunities to continue in an online environment. For many of our students they are quite alone at the moment and we want them to stay connected both within and outside the classroom. The classroom is just one facet of learning.” Beginning with a virtual cross country, which commenced during the school holidays, the first range of activities have been released to
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students from Prep to Year 12, with more planned as the term continues. So far more than 400 students have taken up the Virtual Cross Country Challenge, logging more than 2300km using apps like the Nike Run app or similar, and earning House points similarly to the annual school event.
OTHER OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDE: Online Open Mic using ’Flipgrid’ Art recreation challenge Saints Soapbox challenge Service opportunities 100 Club with Brett Holman +more to be released College Principal Chris Ivey reflected positively on the past · · · · · ·
weeks as a learning opportunity and a chance to think outside the box, rather than just doing what has always been done historically. “We are an agile school. We have a culture of always ensuring we stay on top of what is happening, one that looks to improve where appropriate and to reflect carefully. We are adapting all the time, this is just on a bigger scale,” he said. “I have challenged members of the Executive Team and Senior Leaders to ask the questions ... what have we learned from this experience that we want to retain? Are there some aspects of what we’ve done in the past that we don’t want to go back to? Let’s consider everything, staff, students, learning, pastoral care ... everything.” ● noosatoday.com.au
NEWS
STAND AGAINST VIOLENCE May is Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month and Sunshine Coast Council, together with the regional support service Centacare, is calling on the community to show their support for those affected by domestic and family violence. Many support groups anticipate an increase in the incidents of domestic and family violence during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic as a result of increased financial pressures, self-isolation and perpetrators of violence being with their partners and other family members for extended periods of time. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the annual community march and candle lighting vigil will not take place this year, however the community can still pay tribute to those who have lost their lives as a result of domestic and family violence. Sunshine Coast Council Mayor Mark Jamieson encouraged everyone to pay their respects on National Domestic Violence Remembrance Day on Wednesday (6 May) by
The Sunshine Coast Council is asking the community to pay respect this National Domestic Violence Remembrance Day. lighting a candle at home or participating in a virtual vigil. “Domestic and family violence is an insidious problem within communities and its impacts are often inter-generational,” Mayor Jamieson said. “This scourge is something we must all take a stand against. “During the Covid-19 pandemic, it is just as important to pause and remember all of those brave individuals affected by domestic and family violence - and particularly,
those who are no longer with us as a result of abuse.” Centacare Family and Relationship Services Area Manager Adam Beck said Covid-19 had changed the way the community will mark Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month in 2020. “While we can’t gather together as a community this week it is still extremely important we all take a stand against domestic and family violence by lighting candles in our own homes,” Mr Beck said. “This is an opportunity for residents of the Sunshine Coast to unite and send a clear message that domestic and family violence will not be tolerated in our community. “So far in 2020, Centacare has supported 2119 clients experiencing domestic and family violence on the Sunshine Coast. Of these, almost 50 per cent would identify as at serious or high risk of harm. “It is important that all members of the community know that Domestic and Family Violence Services, including Centacare, continue to operate and are ready to provide support.”
In April, the Queensland Government announced a $5.5 million boost to domestic violence services during the Covid-19 pandemic including an increase in funding to crisis hotlines and accommodation. The Queensland Police Service has also introduced an online contact option for victims in a situation where it is unsafe for them to call police about domestic and family violence: https://www.police. qld.gov.au/domestic-violence To participate in a virtual vigil on May 6 visit https://qdvsn.com/event/ candle-lighting-vigil/ The Queensland Government also has online resources at https:// www.qld.gov.au/community/gettingsupport-health-social-issue/supportvictims-abuse/domestic-familyviolence For help please call: · In an emergency call the police on Triple Zero (000). · DVConnect Womensline - 1800 811 811 · DVConnect Mensline - 1800 600 636 · 1800RESPECT - 1800 737 732 ●
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Last week the Noosa region sadly said goodbye to Tricia Bradford, artist, author and founding Noosa Open Studios member. Tricia excelled in an abundance of different mediums including acrylic and watercolour painting, clay and porcelain. “We are deeply saddened by the passing of Tricia Bradford last week. “Tricia was a founding committee member of Noosa Open Studios five
years ago. She undertook the role of President in year two. “A tireless bundle of visionary energy, Trish championed the development of the arts in Noosa Shire, through her beloved Wallace House. Just recently, Tricia was asking how she could be of help to the current Noosa Open Studios committee. “We will all miss you deeply Tricia. R.I.P.,“ Noosa Open Studios President Trevor Purvis said. ●
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NEWS
MOTHER’S DAY RECIPES With Mother’s Day (10 May) fast approaching, we're sharing a selection of recipes from Australian Eggs, perfect for a Sunday brunch at home, to help show appreciation to that special Mum. The recipes are delicious and easy for kids to recreate at home. RASPBERRY AND PEAR PANCAKES
BAKED VANILLA CHEESECAKE WITH BERRY COMPOTE Prep: 30 mins (plus 30 minutes and overnight chilling) Cook: 1 hour Serves: 10-12 Ingredients 250g digestive biscuits 125g butter, melted 750g cream cheese, at room temperature 3 tsp vanilla essence 3 eggs ¾ cup caster sugar 300g sour cream 2 tbsp cornflour, sifted Edible flowers such as strawberry flowers, optional, to serve Berry Compote 1/3 cup caster sugar 250g strawberries, hulled and halved 125g raspberries 2 tbsp water Method 1.Release the base from a 23cm (base measurement) springform pan and invert. Secure the base back into the pan and line it with baking paper. 2.Place the biscuits in a food processor and process until finely crushed. Add the butter and process until combined. Transfer to the prepared pan and using the back of a spoon or a straight-sided glass, spread and press the biscuit mixture firmly over the base. Refrigerate it for 30 minutes to set. 3.Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 170°C/150°C fan-forced. Using an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese, vanilla 8 NOOSA TODAY
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and sugar until the mixture is smooth. Beat in the sour cream and flour. Once combined, start to add the eggs one at a time. Continue to beat the mixture until all is combined. 4.Pour the cream cheese mixture into the prepared pan. Bake the cheesecake in the oven for 1 hour or until almost set in the centre and turn the oven off. Leave the cheesecake in the oven with the door slightly ajar until it has cooled as this will prevent the cake from cracking. Refrigerate it overnight. 5.To make the Berry Compote, place the caster sugar and 2 tablespoons of water in a frying pan and bring it to the boil while swirling the mixture occasionally. Continue this for 2-3 minutes or until the syrup thickens and reduces. Add the strawberries and gently stir to coat them in the syrup. Cook for 1-2 minutes or until the syrup turns pale pink and the strawberries are slightly warmed through (do not overcook). Remove the Berry Compote from the heat and stir in the raspberries. Set the mixture aside to cool. 6.To serve, remove the cheesecake from the pan and decorate the top with the berry compote and edible flowers. ●
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Cook & prep: 25 mins Serves: 5 (makes 10 pancakes) Ingredients 1 1/2 cups (225 grams) wholemeal (whole wheat) plain flour 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ground 1/3 cup (60 grams) brown sugar pinch of salt 4 eggs, separated 3/4 cup (180 ml) milk 2 tsp vanilla bean paste (or extract) 1 cup (150 grams) fresh or frozen raspberries 1 pear, grated Butter (for frying) To serve Fresh raspberries Yoghurt Honey Method 1. Place the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, brown sugar, salt, egg yolks, milk and vanilla into a large bowl and whisk to combine. 2. Place the egg whites into a clean bowl of an electric mixer and beat until stiff peaks form. 3. In two batches, add the egg whites to the batter and gently
fold to combine. 4. Gently fold through the raspberries and pear. 5. Heat a non-stick fry pan over low-medium heat and grease with a little butter. Ladle 1/4 cup measurements of the batter onto the fry pan. Cook for 2-3 minutes or until bubbles begin to appear on the surface of the pancake. Carefully flip the pancakes and cook for another minute or two, or until the pancakes are golden and bounce back when touched. 6. Place the cooked pancakes onto a plate lined with kitchen paper and continue frying until no batter remains. 7. Serve pancakes with fresh raspberries, dollop of yoghurt and drizzle of honey. Tip: Pancakes are freezer friendly once cooled. ●
MUSHROOM SOUFFLÉ OMELETTE Cook & prep: 30 mins Serves: 2 Ingredients 1 tablespoon olive oil 400g Swiss brown mushrooms, sliced Salt and pepper 4 eggs 2 tablespoons milk ¼ teaspoon table salt 20g melted butter ¼ cup finely grated parmesan ¼ cup crème fraiche Finely grated parmesan, extra, to serve 2 tablespoons finely chopped chives Method 1.Heat oil in a large 25cm nonstick frying pan over mediumhigh heat. Add the mushrooms, season with salt and pepper and cook for 6-7 minutes or until golden. Remove, cover and keep warn. Wipe out the pan. 2.Separate eggs, placing egg yolks into a small bowl and egg whites into a large bowl. Add milk to egg yolks and whisk with a fork. Using a hand beater, whisk egg whites and the ¼ teaspoon salt
until stiff peaks form. 3.Heat the frying pan over medium heat. Brush with butter to grease. Using a large metal spoon, gently fold the egg yolks into the egg whites. 4.Pour half the mixture into the pan and cook for 4-5 minutes, or until golden and the eggs are just set. Spoon over half the crème fraiche, parmesan and mushrooms and carefully fold the omelette in half. Cook for 1 minute or until almost set. 5.Transfer to a serving plate (omelette will continue cooking once removed from heat). Repeat using remaining eggs, crème fraiche, cheese and mushrooms. Sprinkle with chives, extra parmesan and pepper to serve. ● noosatoday.com.au
NEWS
MOTHER’S DAY IN LOCKDOWN BY TANIA PHILLIPS I don’t think I can remember a mother’s day where I felt more like I needed to be made a fuss of than this one. It has been full-on in the past few weeks and even though I don’t really leave the house I don’t feel like I stop either. So I’m looking forward to putting my feet up, sipping a champagne or perhaps a nice blend of chai and watching what I want to watch for a change. Like most mums, I’m down the totem pole when it comes to television time and so while there has been a lot of television consumed not a lot has been by my choice. One of my nicest Mother’s Day memories was getting up early before a planned trip to the mountains and slumping on the couch with a tray of barely-cooked mushrooms, overcooked toast and lukewarm tea, snuggled under a doona with (then) Miss 10 and Seven watching Keira Knightley’s version of Pride and Prejudice. Last year we went for high tea and The Favourite at an arthouse cinema (tip: don’t take your blokey-bloke to see The Favourite). This year is different though isn’t it? The cold has set in, we can’t really go out and that doona is looking good - here are some possibilities for mother’s day watching. Love Wedding Repeat Netflix: Who doesn’t love a rom-com and in these days of slowed down movie production - a new release? After revisiting Sliding Doors the other night this innovative romantic comedy about the power of chance kind of appeals. Alternate versions of the same wedding unfold as Jack (Sam Claflin) tries to make sure his little sister has the perfect wedding day. But he’ll have to juggle an angry ex-girlfriend, an uninvited guest with a secret, a misplaced sleep sedative, and unexpectedly reuniting with the girl of his dreams who got away. Discovery of Witches: Foxtel On Demand - somewhere in Wales it is my hope that there is a team working on the finishing touches to series two of Discovery of Witches (it had finished filming before lockdown). So while we wait, why not go back and revisit how Diana the historian and witch met Matthew the centuries old scientist vampire. This Beautiful Fantastic: SBS on Demand. This is the movie I watch with Miss 17 when her world goes pear-shaped. A beautiful modern fairytale made in 2016 starring Jessica Brown Findlay, noosatoday.com.au
Olivia Coleman wears The Crown in series three.
Alexander Drayman stars in The Last Kingdom. Tom Wilkinson and Andrew Scott. Bella Brown is a quirky girl with obsessive-compulsive disorder and a unique past who works in a library while trying to write a children’s book. She also hates plants, but as a condition of the lease on her house, she must maintain the garden. The Last Kingdom: Netflix. A guilty pleasure of mine and there’s a new series of the Saxon drama set Britain at the time of Alfred the Great (think Vikings but from the English point of view). As Alfred’s health weakens -- and with it his dream of a united England -- Uhtred must take command and confront a new threat, Danish warlord Sigrid. The Crown: Netflix. With the fourth series hopefully on it’s way it might be a nice time for little gin, tonic, cucumber sandwiches and a visit to Buckingham Palace for the first three series of the story of Queen Liz Two. Nailed It: Netflix. In this time of all of us pitching in to cook (ha ha) this show has become a bit of a guilty pleasure for the female members of our family. Hosted by
Elanor Tomlinson and Sam Claflin in Love Wedding Repeat.
The very funny Nicole Byer and Jacques Torres host Nailed It. Nicole Byer and Jacques Torres, home bakers with a terrible track record take a shot at re-creating edible masterpieces for a $10,000 prize. It’s part competition, part hot mess and reminds us that we aren’t the only ones sometimes out of our depth in the kitchen.
Meanwhile for Mother’s Day music head to Foxtel music channels for a selection of Mother’s Day special events including MOTHERS DAY WITH TINA ARENA - on Foxtel Smooth - Sunday 10 May, from 10am and 4pm. Happy Mother’s Day! ●
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COMMUNITY UPDATES RETIREES MEET The Association of Independent Retirees (AIR) Noosa Branch is the peak National not-for-profit organisation supporting self-funded retirees. Their next meeting is on Thursday 14th May, 2020 at 10am, accessible via Zoom to PC/Tablet or phone. Speaker: Rob McGregor, Principal Adviser of McGregor Wealth Management, a Noosa based firm looking after the Retirement Planning of Independent Retirees for over 20 years. Topic: The Coronavirus Crisis - Economic Impact and Impact on Retirement Investing. Members please register via email link sent on 30 April. For further information please telephone 0478 479 049 or email: airnoosasecretary@gmail.com www. facebook.com/AIRNoosa
SOCIAL BALROOM DANCING Every Tuesday evening from 7 pm to 9.30 pm Pat and Norm Young organise a social evening at the Pomona Memorial School of Arts Hall - the cost is $ 4-00, which includes supper. It is a very enjoyable evening as Pat and Norm provide New Vogue as well as Old Time Dancing.
Email your community news to: newsdesk@noosatoday.com.au
Come and be a Spectator, and see if you will enjoy it. Everyone is welcome. Phone 0407 456 939 for more information, or come and visit.
NOOSA OPEN STUDIOS The Noosa Open Studios dates have been adjusted to better fit with Wallace House’s timetable and happily, the event will still be achievable in 2020. The new and final dates are now the 9th to 18th October and as usual, will be held over a ten-day period. This gives artists and supporters about five and a bit months to paint, sculpt, potter, draw, glue, weld and create more and better artworks to show and sell on the trail. If your juices have not been flowing into your art, now is the time to renew that pursuit with the new dates as your goal. This year they will be depending more than ever before on your registration to fund the printing of the guide and other essential expenses. So, please make sure that you all help with recruiting artists to be part of this 5th Anniversary event, and make sure that you register. Registration will now close on 1 July. ●
Councils and local organisations are now able to apply for funds to help replenish fire affected areas.
$1.8M IN FIRE GRANTS Applications are now open for Wide Bay community groups, local councils and non-government organisations to share in $1.8 million in flexible funding grants to support recovery from last year’s devastating Queensland bushfires. Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien said grants of between $2500 and $50,000 and
larger grants of between $50,001 and $100,000 were available to support community-led recovery and resilience programs in fireaffected communities. Grant applications close at 2pm on 3 June 2020. More information on the grants can be found at https:// www.communities.qld.gov.au/ industry-partners/fundinggrants/funding-available. ●
THINKING OF SELLING? Speak to your agent about listing on realestateview.com.au.
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NEW ‘BIRD’ WALKING TRAIL The Yandina Creek Wetland has transformed into a bird watcher’s delight, with a new 1.7km (return) walking trail and native bird viewing hide open to the public. With Covid-19 restrictions easing from this weekend, the community can now enjoy the site and all it has to offer, while adhering to public health directions. More than 100 bird species call the wetland home and other flora and fauna are thriving. The wetland forms part of the Blue Heart Sunshine Coast, an Australian-first partnership announced last year between Unitywater, Sunshine Coast Council and the Department of Environment and Science to protect and manage more than 5000 hectares of natural floodplain in the Maroochy River Catchment. Unitywater Executive Manager Sustainable Infrastructure Solutions Amanda Creevey said plants in the Yandina Creek Wetland took up nutrients and sediments from the water to improve water quality and overall river health. “An added bonus of the wetland is the boost in biodiversity we’re seeing, including increased marine
Birdlife Australia Sunshine Coast Convenor Ken Cross enjoys the new trail walk and bird viewing hide at Unitywater’s Yandina Creek Wetland. life, mangroves and wetland plants, and birds, with some migratory birds even returning to the site,” she said. “The addition of the trail walk and bird viewing hide means we get to bring the community along for
the ride, take a walk with nature and maybe spot some of the incredible creatures here. “With Covid-19 restrictions easing we’re proud to provide this environmental facility to our community. We see it as the
beginning of an environmental hub in this area.” Ms Creevey encouraged anyone visiting the wetland to wear longsleeved clothing and carry mosquito repellent, as well as following social distancing and hygiene measures. Sunshine Coast Council Mayor Mark Jamieson said the Blue Heart beats strongly within the Sunshine Coast and the addition of the walking trail added to the opportunities that it would provide for the region and its landscape for decades to come. “Through the Blue Heart we’re continuing to demonstrate our commitment to sustainability and enhancing our natural assets,” Mayor Jamieson said. “Importantly, the Blue Heart is another tangible demonstration of how our Council is working with its partners to strengthen our region’s climate resilience and taking real action to assist our communities to adapt to a changing climate.” The wetland trail walk is located at 362-328 River Road, Yandina. For more information please visit www.unitywater.com/yandina-creek ●
HOLIDAY PARK UPGRADES PROVIDE JOB OPPORTUNITY Sunshine Coast Council will inject a further $355,000 into the local economy to support construction industry jobs during the novel Covid-19 pandemic. This is in addition to the more than $2 million in direct financial support that council has provided to the community through two business support packages and up to $3 million brought forward in capital works projects announced earlier this month. Council will now call for submissions from suitably qualified contractors to upgrade holiday parks across the region through its Supplier and Procurement database. Council has been accelerating programmed maintenance and capital works at a number of its facilities while they are closed due to public health directions. Council has six Holiday Parks, located at Dicky Beach, Mooloolaba Beach, Maroochydore Beach, Cotton Tree, Mudjimba Beach and Coolum Beach. Sunshine Coast Council Economy Portfolio Councillor Jason O’Pray said the accelerated program would allow upgrades to be completed efficiently due to reduced visitors. Disruption caused by construction impacts would also be minimised. noosatoday.com.au
Sunshine Coast Council will inject a further $355,000 into the local economy. “Council is focussed on supporting the community during this unprecedented global pandemic,” Cr O’Pray said. “This project is part of a range of measures we’ve announced over the past month to ease some of the impacts our local businesses are experiencing. “We’ve made good progress on keeping the community safe during the pandemic. “Projects like this and the local jobs they sustain, will help our region recover. “The work will includes upgrades to bathrooms, hot water systems, roofs, power supplies and other amenities and will ensure the holiday parks are ready to support visitors to our region when national public health directions allow travel. “Under ordinary circumstances, projects would require stop-start
programming if the parks were open. “Our holiday parks will be crucial to the economic recovery of our region,” he said. “This is just another part of the ongoing business support being provided to the community from council.” The first business support package focused on waiving fees and easing regulations where safe to do so, while the second included community and commercial lease relief, a professional advice support program, provision of signage to help businesses adjust and the earlier capital works projects. In addition to these support programs, council has provided further support to local businesses and suppliers by processing our payments to these businesses within seven days rather than the usual 30 days. This has placed an average of $1.8 million earlier into the local economy each week. The local stimulus program has benefited more than 3,000 business and community groups directly and more than 10,000 indirectly via business advice, support, assistance and referrals. Council also meets with Chambers of Commerce and
Industry Groups every fortnight to discuss assistance, support and what the business community needs to get through the current crisis and recover as quickly as possible. To further support the community, council continues to review its Capital Works Program to identify opportunities to bring forward approved and budgeted projects, as a further measure to support the local economy and businesses. Local contractors can go to https://www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov. au/Council/Tenders and register for tender alerts as well as head to https://www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov. au/Business/Business-Programs/ Business-Gateway and ensure they have an up-to-date profile on our ICN Gateway or create your ICN Business profile on the ICN webpage. As announced on 26 March, Sunshine Coast Council’s six holidays parks have been closed to holiday makers due to national public health directions. Businesses are encouraged to visit council’s business webpage for information on council, Federal and State government assistance available during Covid-19. ●
Thursday, 7 May, 2020
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NOOSA TODAY 11
NEWS
TIME TO RECOGNISE ACHIEVERS The Queensland Community Achievement Awards will soon be open for nominations again in late May, but early nominations can be made now if there is someone outstanding in the community. The awards are all about the passion of people who are committed to making Queensland a better place to live. Stuart Stoddart, who won an Outstanding Achievement Award in 2019 was nominated for his efforts in crisis counselling, said the award was a humbling and uplifting experience. "Being nominated and then going on to win a 2019 Queensland Community Achievement Award was a special experience in so many ways. "Firstly, I was invited into a forum of amazing people that do so much for the community and listening to their stories and passion was a humbling as well as uplifting experience which provided me a view of the huge amount of work and caring that goes into our community on a continuous basis. "Secondly, it was wonderful to see an award body that seeks out these
on Thursday 28th May 2020, and the state-wide search for local contributors who are making a real difference in your region will begin. Here is a sneak peek of some of the categories that will be open for nominations; · Prime Super Agricultural Innovation Award · Prime Super Employer Excellence in Aged Care Award · Australia Pacific LNG Community Hero Award · Ricoh Australia Customer Service Award · Awards Australia Community Group of the Year Award Great prizes are up for grabs, plus every person or group nominated will receive a certificate of achievement. For further insight on determining which category to nominate into or to read about the other categories available visit www. awardsaustralia.com/qcaa Already thought of your community champion? Put in an early nomination by contacting the Awards office on 1300 055 096. ●
Cr Kate Richards, Pullenvale Ward, Brisbane City Council presenting Stuart Stoddart with the Pullenvale Ward Outstanding Achievement Award at last year’s Gala. stories and recognizes so many for what they do and I enjoyed the way the award process is celebrated. "Thirdly, the awards are not just about the awardee; it is also a thank you and celebration with the family and support that is critical for every nominated person. "In my case special thanks to
my wife Mary, my nominator Barry Searle and the Pullenvale Community Award sponsor, Cr. Kate Richards," Mr Stoddart said. If someone has impressed you with their community spirit, why not nominate them! The Queensland Community Achievement Awards will launch
PUZZLES Quick Clues
How to solve Sudoku!
SUDOKU
7
5 1 7 8 6 5
2 1 7 9 4 7
Fill the gr every row 3x3 squar the digit 2 8 4 9 6 3 5 7 1
3
Solution 3 6 7 1 5 4 2 9 8
noosatoday.com.au
5 1 2
6
9 1 2 5 4 7 3 8 6
4 7 6 3 2 8 9 1 5
5 3 8 6 1 9 4 7 2
7 4 3 2 6 5 8 9 1
1 8 5 7 9 3 2 6 4
Solution No.4295
6 2 9 1 8 4 5 3 7
Fill the grid so that every row and every 3x3 square contains the digits 1 to 9
Thursday, 7 May, 2020
3 6 4 9 7 2 1 5 8
|
DOWN 1. Got lit up in a fight and produced a weapon (8). 2. Joint holder (6). 3. Sullen, the doctor got out of bed (6). 4. You can’t walk away from it! (4). 5. Tries to find why the cutlery was returned? (6). 6. Not flushed with success, we come out (5). 11. Starts talking about how one fosters? (6,2). 13. Consider, as you form part of the audience (4,2). 14. Beneath, upset and dishearened, is the Greek (6). 15. Acts it out in the rooms (6). 16. Turn off now, to be precise (5). 18. The bird in the other nest (4).
8 9 1 4 5 6 7 2 3
12 NOOSA TODAY
a bookkeeper? (2,2,7).
2 5 7 8 3 1 6 4 9
ACROSS 6. Studded and very much so (4,5,2). 7. Charge for the programme (4). 8. A great many - or all (5,3). 9. He advises the chaps to take the rise (6). 10. Take on half of them, chief, to do relief work (6). 12. Nearly lost, am distraught (6). 15. Had resulted from an escalation in it (6). 17. Completely out of, all right (4,4). 19. Quickly pick up and talk a wee bit of Russian in it (4). 20. Unimportant to a bookkeeper? (2,2,7). DOWN 1. Got lit up in a fight and produced a weapon (8). 2. Joint
8 2
2
CRYPTIC PUZZLE NO. 7632 - SOLUTIONS Across - 6, With knobs on. 7, Bill. 8, Whole lot. 9, Mentor. 10, (th)Em-boss. 12, Almost (anag). 15, A-rise-n. 17, None left. 19, G-R(ussia)-ab. 20, Of no account. Down - 1, S-til-et-to. 2, Skewer. 3, Mo-rose. 4,Isle. 5, Snoops (rev). 6, W-hit-e. 11, Brings up. 13, Look on. 14, Theban (anag). 15, Attics (anag). 16, Ex-act. 18, (oth)Erne(st).
Cryptic Clues CRYPTIC PUZZLE NO. 7632
9
2 5 6 7
4
DOWN YPTIC PUZZLE NO. 7632 1. Fungus (8) ACROSS
ACROSS 6. Country (5,6)
5 6 7
6
5
5 7 9
How to Sudo
3 7 5 3 5 6 4 7 8
1 4
8
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 11. 13. 14. 15. 16. 18.
DOWN Fungus (8) Bird (6) Assert (6) Ascend (4) Girl (6) Rage (5) Sword (8) Foolishness (6) Dimension (6) Astral (6) Multitude (5) Stick (4)
4 5 7 1 7 4
9
5
CRYPTIC PUZZLE NO. 7632
Scottish lake (4)
No.4
Fill the grid so that every row and every 3x3 square contains the digits 1 to 9
QUICK PUZZLE NO. 7632 - SOLUTIONS Across - 6, South Africa. 7, Loch. 8, Universe. 9, Smooth. 10, Mussel. 12, Dismal. 15, Stitch. 17, Virginia. 19, Iron. 20, Countermand. Down - 1, Mushroom. 2, Thrush. 3, Affirm. 4, Rise. 5, Lassie. 6, Storm. 11, Scimitar. 13, Idiocy. 14, Length. 15, Starry. 16, Crowd. 18, Glue.
6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 12. 15. 17. 19. 20.
SUDOKU No. 4295
ACROSS Country (5,6) Scottish lake (4) Cosmos (8) Flush (6) Shellfish (6) Gloomy (6) Sew (6) US state (8) Metal (4) Revoke (11)
1
QUICK QUICKPUZZLE PUZZLENo. NO. 7632 7632
1 9 5 2 8 7 4 3 6
8 2 3 6 1 5 7 4 9
7 1 9 3 4 2 6
LIVE
LOCAL ARTS STORE IS ONLINE While the Cooroy Butter Factory Arts Centre is closed to the public, the staff have been working behind the scenes to get everyone’s favourite Artisan Store online. The eclectic range of gorgeous gifts which include ceramics, jewellery, cards, candles, textiles, resin and photography are available
through Cooroy Butter Factory Arts Centre’s website “As a community arts centre our first priority during this lock down period is to support our local artists, especially those we represent in the Artisan Store”, says Coordinator Alicia Sharples The Artisan Store showcases gifts
from local artists that are locally made, the collection of beautiful gifts have gone online just in time for Mother’s Day. The Online Store has shipping or pick up options as well as an option for us to wrap and write in a card so you can send your gift straight to Mum.
The Artisan Store are also taking retail shoppers by appointment if it’s hard to make a decision online. It boasts a beautiful range of creative gifts that really capture the spirit of the Noosa region, supporting the Artisan Store during this time supports your local artists and you local arts centre. ●
The online store boasts an array of local creations available for purchase. noosatoday.com.au
Thursday, 7 May, 2020
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NOOSA TODAY 13
NEWS
SALVOS DIGITAL DOOR KNOCK After more than 55 years of knocking on doors each May, The Salvation Army is taking the Red Shield Appeal digital in response to Covid-19’s impact on social contact. Salvos living in communities from Cairns to Albany are asking locals to become digital fundraisers by going to digitaldoorknock. salvationarmy.org.au and using a suburb or postcode to find their nearest Red Shield Appeal to help those doing it tough. Australians are facing an economic and social crisis unlike anything witnessed in recent decades and The Salvation Army is preparing to provide hardship support on an unprecedented scale. The Salvos hope to enlist 10,000 virtual collectors to sign up and fundraise for the Red Shield Appeal Digital Doorknock on 23-24 May to help meet the challenging times ahead of us. The Salvation Army’s Major Warren Parkinson says they are anticipating more people in need than ever before. “We anticipate seeing some of the greatest need that we’ve ever
The Salvation Army hope to enlist 10,000 virtual collectors. seen in our 140-year history serving Australians. The Covid-19 crisis has financially crippled many Australians and it will take months to see the real impact it will have”. The money raised from the Red Shield Appeal Digital Doorknock will stay in the Noosa/ Coolum area and help fund emergency relief and
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particularly the Sunshine Coast Individualised Learning and Support Program. The Salvation Army’s most recent annual report noted its social services provided more than one million sessions of care to Australians in need; helped 46,000 people experiencing homelessness,
provided financial counselling to more than 65,000 and offered care to 13,000 people who were coping with family violence.* The past year also saw an ongoing response to drought, while Salvation Army Emergency Services responded to the rolling bushfires crisis by providing more than 500,000 meals and refreshments to first responders and displaced people. “The Salvos are going digital this year and it’s easier than ever to volunteer your time and help raise money for those in need. “We are asking our local community to partner with us to provide the critical care needed as we face these challenging times. We know when the chips are down, Aussies come together and do what they can to give hope, this is no more important than now,” Major Parkinson said. Sign up and volunteer to fundraise: digitaldoorknock. salvationarmy.org.au To leave no one in need, please donate at salvationarmy.org.au or call 13 SALVOS (13 72 58) ●
Thursday, 7 May, 2020
Sealing completed on Tewah road.
LESS TRAFFIC EQUALS REVAMPED ROADS With less vehicles on the road during Covid-19, Noosa Council crews have been making inroads into the construction and maintenance programs. Work has been completed on
sealing Hector Street and Tewah Road at Boreen Point. The project also involved the replacement of kerb and channel at the Woongar Street end of Hector Street. ● noosatoday.com.au
LETTERS
Send your letters by email to newsdesk@noosatoday.com.au
LENSCAPE
Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS
NICE CHAMBER BALANCE
RUBBISH PLAGUE FOLLOWS
Congratulations to the Noosa electorate for choosing what seems to be a very well balanced council. Six months ago, after Ingrid Jackson announced that she wouldn’t be running again, I wrote a letter to this paper, encouraging strong local women to put their hand up and take the challenge front on. My wish has been more than answered, and I am confident that this new council will perform well. It has a good balance of men and women, conservative and progressive candidates, strong hinterland representation, candidates who are very keen and able to help small businesses, and are open to more consultations and transparency. I also believe that any of the other four female candidates (Karen Ford, Yanni, Meghan or Janet Kake) would have been more than capable if elected. I was surprised that David Fletcher and Janet Kake didn’t make it, and that someone like Jess Glasgow still managed to collect around 4-5000 votes! But overall a very promising council who will have to be strong and innovative in difficult times. Dom Massoni, Verrierdale.
On my run the other day, it made me rather despondent to note the overflowing bins along the Mooloolaba esplanade, crammed full with plastic takeaway containers, utensils and coffee cups. Whilst, we are shown beautiful, clear skies over India, the clear waters of the Venice canals teeming with fish, and the cityscape of Los Angeles, evidently breathing better, the great irony is that we will all awaken from lockdown with a monumental garbage crisis. I too have sacrificed my values during this pandemic, and have bought takeaway items in plastic. We can no longer dine in and enjoy a meal or drink inside a restaurant or café, and eat off a plate, and use proper utensils, like a civilised human being. Furthermore, most cafes and restaurants won’t allow customers to bring their own containers, defaulting to disposables, which generate copious amounts of plastic waste. This means many consumers cannot reduce their plastic waste, even if they wanted to. The only way to reduce waste in such places is to avoid them all together. Demand for products such as tissues, toilet paper, disposable wipes,
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cleaning agents, hand sanitiser, disposable gloves and masks is at a record high. Unfortunately, the plastic packaging and the products themselves are also being thrown out in unprecedented volumes. I have also noticed in supermarkets, shoppers continue to take masses of fruit and vegetable plastic bags, but not for their intended purpose some mysophobic shoppers use them as makeshift gloves during grocery shopping. I cringe at such ruinous behaviour, but can I blame people for being super cautious about hygiene? In ordinary times, I would have considered this anal, obsessive-compulsive action as wasteful usage of plastic. Now, I cannot fault someone for being overly cautious. The cynic in me also wonders if our recyclables are actually being recycled or whether the contents of our yellow-top bins are going straight to landfill. When oil prices fall, plastic is cheaper to make. This corrupts the economics of recycling. To be financially viable, a recycling operation has to make more money than what it costs to gather the waste and process it. If oil, and therefore plastic, is cheap to begin with, it doesn’t make economic sense for a company to process and sell recycled materials if they end up being
more expensive than the virgin plastic another company is making. I can’t wait for this pandemic to end, so we can go back to naming and shaming the people who apathetically throw out a lot of plastic. Brigid Muir
SEND IN THE TROOPS Will sending in their front row forwards to battle, to tackle and defend through blood, sweat and tears be the solution to stopping a deadly enemy? Margaret Wilkie, Peregian Beach. Proudly Australian Owned & Independent
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Editorial newsdesk@noosatoday.com.au Published by Star News Group Pty Ltd ACN 005 848 108. Publisher/Managing Director, Paul Thomas. All material is copyright to Star News Group Pty Ltd. All significant errors will be corrected as soon as possible. For our terms and conditions please visit noosatoday.com.au/terms-and-conditions/
Thursday, 7 May, 2020
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NOOSA TODAY 15
THE SPIN
HERE’S HOPING THE KNUCKLEAll NRL fans will be breathing a sigh of relief this week as clubs and players get down to training. For some it means a significant sacrifice. For others it will be an irritation and inconvenience to comply with the rules (all 40 plus pages of them). If the recent form of a few knuckle heads is anything to go by we are likely to see a few slips along the way but hopefully no landslides. Peter V'landys has certainly demonstrated from the outset of this crisis that he was the right man in the right place for Rugby League. Todd Greenberg was on a shaky footing for what seemed to be a long time and while many thought he had done a great job and was a good bloke history may not reflect those sentiments. Acting NRL CEO Andrew Abdo looked to have the inside running for Greenberg's vacant chair. There is now a school of thought that his chances may have been cruelled after he slapped Latrell Mitchell, Josh Ado Carr and Nathan Cleary with a limp lettuce leaf after they thumbed their noses at the social distancing regulations we have all been living with. For those who think their punishment was a little too harsh spare a thought for the Queensland apprentice jockey who was slapped with a six month disqualification for breaching Queensland Racing's Covid-19 zoning regulations. Zoe White who appealed the decision had her disqualification halved by the Queensland Racing Integrity Unit after an internal review. She will serve three months and will be eligible to return to riding on 1 July. The apprentice believed she was not guilty of breaching quarantine rules but was guilty of misunderstanding a steward’s directive. No suspended sentences or suspended fines in the racing industry no matter who you are. One of Gai Waterhouse's most trusted employees, Neil Paine copped a one month ban from attending race meetings after breaching coronavirus protocols after he ran across the mounting yard and hugged trainer Adrian Bott after their horse Farnan bolted to victory in the world's richest twoyear-old race, the Golden Slipper last month. While jockeys, trainers and some sections of the industry cop their fair share of flack the one thing they do know about is discipline. It takes plenty of discipline to rise every morning at 3am and start work no matter what the conditions. 16 NOOSA TODAY
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Looking forward to the Noosa Pirates getting back on the field soon. For a jockey, plenty of discipline is needed to think about food and then deny you are hungry to give yourself a chance of making some unrealistic weight in the hope of maybe riding a winner. Few trainers or jockeys reach the lofty heights of the industry superstars and even then those that do might not ever see the pay cheques that some of our rugby league players receive. Peter V'Landy's also wears the hat of the Racing NSW Chief Executive and board member. No doubt right at the moment he would love to engender some of that racing discipline into our rugby league players.
SUPPORT FOR PIRATES Like all Rugby League clubs in the state and across the nation Covid 19 has hijacked the Noosa Pirates Rugby League Club season. While it is a tough time for players from junior ranks through to A Grade, supporters and sponsors, the club itself has been thrown what could have been a potentially devastating financial curve ball. Fortunately for the Pirates they have received overwhelming support from their sponsors, players and their families associated with the club. While NRL clubs will be back in action (fingers crossed at end of May) and are currently back on training paddock news is not yet as positive for grass roots footy. The QRL is yet to announce a firm recommencement date. Current advice from the QRL has
Thursday, 7 May, 2020
confirmed that all community rugby league activity will remain suspended until at least 1 June, 2020. How this plays out for grassroots clubs after 1 June is yet to be determined. While there is talk of shortened seasons, the Pirates like most other clubs would prefer to see an extended season and finish later in year to among or things help shore up their financial viability. There has been a great level of support for the Pirates since the season was suspended. Only a handful of players have requested a refund of their registration fees and that is good news for club officials while sponsors have indicated they wish to stay on board. Like every or footy club in Queensland and across the country there are big challenges ahead for the Pirates but there is no doubt those at the helm will soon be steering a course back to bigger and better things.
PREMIER KICKS QUEENSLAND ROADBLOCKS As Queensland and the rest of Australia prepares to return to a new normal way of life Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has kicked aside one of the last road blocks to resumption of the 2020 NRL season much to relief of NRL officials, players and fans. In a phone hook up last week with the CEOs of the Broncos, Cowboys and Titans and the ARL Commission chairman Peter
V'Landy's, the Premier confirmed clubs would be permitted to resume training this week in preparation for the much anticipated kick off to the 2020 season take two on May 28. Palaszczuk said: “The only condition was that it did not put our excellent work containing the spread of Covid-19 at risk and the Chief Health Officer advises that the NRL plan is workable.” The thoughtless actions of several players put the whole plan in jeopardy after breaking restrictions and the Premier demanded further assurances about enforcing the home-quarantine measures that form the cornerstone of the NRL’s plan. . The NRL and Queensland Health Officer will continue to have ongoing discussions on those measures. One of the bonuses from a competition perspective was the decision to give Queensland clubs permission to travel across the Queensland border to play. Queensland players will be deemed to be working and therefore allowed to travel because they are in quarantine. Most importantly unlike the Warriors and Melbourne Storm the Premier’s announcement will allow players from all three Queensland clubs to remain at home with their families. While the draw for the updated season is set to be announced later this week, it is believed first round games will be played at all Queensland venues. noosatoday.com.au
email: wickets-stpe@bigpond.com
CASEY O’CONNOR
HEADS IN LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN This is a review long overdue and while it will initially focus on South East Queensland the results are likely to have a much broader impact on Rugby League and competitions state wide.
It is also understood that the Premier also put a strong argument to V'Landy's for Queensland to host a grand final. She also emphasised that Queensland will look forward to hosting State of Origin which is set to be played as a stand-alone competition after this year's grand final. All we need now is players to buy into the arrangements (please)
NOOSA GOLFERS PLAYING BY RULES
DRS UNDER MICROSCOPE? While cricket is in hiatus and all manner of things about game are under review as with other sports I cannot help but wonder if the power brokers might take this opportunity to review the review system (DRS) after some glaring failures last season. While Australian captain Tim Paine and former captain Ricky Ponting are far from fans of the DRS as it stands there is a growing whisper from within that the third umpire position should be held, not by a former or current umpire but perhaps by an independent person who is far more computer savvy. As technology advances, the question has been raised - Is it time for a technology geek to be in control of hot spots, snickos, keeping count and requesting replays while also keeping an eagle eye out for sandpaper lurking in inappropriate places? Ian Gould the recently retired Test umpire was the TV umpire at Newlands, during the third Test between South Africa and Australia. He was front and centre in the ill-fated 'Sandpapergate' incident. Gould recently revealed it was the TV Director who alerted him to Cameron Bancroft's indiscretion. Gould said in an interview in the UK: "I was sitting there minding my own business when the TV director said ‘I’ve got some pictures for you. “I told the lads in the middle what I had been shown and asked them to ask Bancroft what he had in his pocket”. We know of course that Bancroft produced a black sunglasses cloth from his pocket. However only a couple of balls later the director advised Gould, "We’ve got a lot more footage". That footage showed Bancroft putting the infamous yellow sandpaper down his trousers and as they say in the classics - the rest is history. Gould's revelations confirm that the incident could easily have gone unnoticed had it not been for an eagle eyed TV director. It begs the question how much more has been missed? In 1993 when cricket fans were introduced to the concept of third umpire it was jokingly referred to as noosatoday.com.au
Golfers are still enjoying a hit at Noosa, albeit at a distance. the cushiest job in world sport. It was a standing joke that on the odd occasion the third umpire was called upon, racing form guides, cups of coffee and chip packets would be sent flying because the umpire would be busy filling in the day in ways other than paying attention to game. Back then they (third umpires) were called upon to adjudicate on an odd run out, stumping or occasional boundary ruling. How times have changed. With more and more technology introduced it is a far more complex position now and perhaps in 2020 and beyond a new skill set is required for the off field Umpire. He or she is now required to be part time mathematician overseeing Balls per over, field restrictions, over rates and a multitude of other responsibilities even before you reach a game-breaking DRS decision. Going forward cricket will need to fill these positions with people who are stimulated by the technology and challenges of the job rather than confused by it.
QRL ANNOUNCES BOUNDARIES COMMITTEE Queensland Rugby League announced last Friday the establishment of a new Boundaries Committee to be chaired by QRL independent director Naomi McCarthy. The committee has been tasked with undertaking an extensive consultation process with key stakeholders, including leagues and clubs as the organisations works to provide the best possible opportunities and experience for participants and stake holders. The review is driven by the forecast of significant population growth in South East Queensland.
An initial meeting with league boards from across South East Queensland has been set down for this week. “Our charter is to provide the best possible strategic advice and to deliver positive outcomes for community rugby league as well as our state wide competitions,” McCarthy said. “Essentially, we’re here to look at what an ideal local league may look like. We also want to make sure we have sustainable competitions that are administered effectively and efficiently to meet community needs.” Joining McCarthy on the committee are QRL managing director Robert Moore, state operations manager Darren Shoot and South East representatives Brad Tallon (region chair) and Adam Vanzanten (region manager). Moore said the committee was eager to hear the views of all stakeholders through group meetings and surveys. He said, “I believe it’s important to recognise as well that our teams are making some great progress on numerous projects and initiatives like this one while our competitions are suspended due to the current Covid-19 health emergency.” A key objective of the Boundaries Committee is to ensure NRL standards of club governance, operations and facilities are maintained. The QRL managing director said it is important to recognise that this project is not about being critical of any current leagues or structure but about ways to deliver better experiences for all. He acknowledged that it has been about 40 years since the game has collectively reviewed these boundaries. Since then the demographics of some of areas have changed and continue to change dramatically.
Despite the strict social distancing rules currently in place golfers continue to enjoy the Noosa Golf Course. Club officials confirmed that it has been heartening to see such a high level of compliance to social distancing restrictions from members. Club captain Bob Upham recently said golfers are truly fortunate to still be playing golf, especially with the course and weather conditions that we are experiencing. There have however been a few indiscretions and he reiterated that it is extremely important everyone remains aware of the club's current requirements. These include not approaching the next tee or green until the preceding group has left. It is no longer acceptable to play through the group in front even if it they are frustratingly slow. All groups must maintain their position in the field and keep up with the group in front to prevent congestion behind. Members and visitors are reminded that under the current conditions of the club's liquor licence alcohol is completely banned. Anyone found to be in possession of alcohol will be asked to immediately leave the course and will face disciplinary action. Don't be the person who had the course shut down because they could not play a round without having a beer. Officials are asking members to report any behaviours that maybe contrary to the rules currently in place. The overriding philosophy of the committee remains to ensure as many people as possible can still enjoy a game of golf while observing the highest safety level possible. Members appear to be thoroughly enjoying match play and say they are satisfied with the current arrangements despite not playing competitions. The time sheet is close to full most days and players are asked to respect tee times and be on course a few minutes before their tee off time. If you are unable to fill your allotted time sheet slot please contact the club, preferably the day before. Do not simply be a "No Show" as all golf enthusiasts endeavor to navigate these changing times. ●
Thursday, 7 May, 2020
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NOOSA TODAY 17
HOOK, LINE & SINKER
JACK MANGROVE
Johnny Beck with a nice sweetlip from the southern end of Sunshine.
CHILL HAS A NICE BITE TO IT bait jig and load up before heading to your reef of choice. If using live bait be sure you use a stinger rig to prevent the classic tai bite off. If you don’t use live bait then whole slow trolled slimy, gar on bonito is the go. Ensure you break the backbone of any fish intended as a troll bait so it swims well and use elastic thread to help keep it in place. Pilchard floaters topped off with a tinsel flasher help trigger aggressive bites as the sun comes up. If there is
With morning temperatures less than 10 degrees those who got up early certainly felt the chill. The winds are showing more west in their direction which is keeping the seas calmer and the surfers happy! Offshore, the near shore reefs of Chardons, Sunshine and Halls reef have been the pick. The pelagic run continues and with the full moon next week we should see an increase in activity. Live baits of yakka and slimy have been favoured so drop a
Tide Times Thursday 7Th May To Wednesday 13Th May 2020 Time
height
Time
24 / 19 °C
Fri 8 MAY
0.32 m 1.83 m
1:49 PM 8:15 PM
0.20 m 2.10 m
Mostly sunny
2:30 PM 9:01 PM
0.22 m 2.11 m
sAT 9 MAY
3:11 PM 9:48 PM
0.28 m 2.06 m
sun 10 MAY
3:52 PM 10:37 PM
0.37 m 1.98 m
4:36 PM 11:28 PM
0.48 m 1.88 m
Fri 8Th MAY 2:33 aM 8:27 aM
showers late. More sun than clouds
Height
Thurs 7Th MAY 1:44 aM 7:42 aM
noosA WeATher ForeCAsT Thu 7 MAY
0.33 m 1.73 m
24 / 18 °C high level clouds 25 / 16 °C
sAT 9Th MAY 3:24 aM 9:12 aM
0.39 m 1.61 m
decreasing cloudiness
sun 10Th MAY 4:16 aM 9:58 aM
0.47 m 1.48 m
Mon 11Th MAY 5:12 aM 10:46 aM 12448529-FA19-20
Tues 12 6:15 aM 11:43 aM
showers late. scattered clouds
0.57 m 1.36 m Th
MAY
0.65 m 1.25 m
5:25 PM
0.60 m
rain showers. Cloudy 19 / 14 °C
Wed 13 MAY
1.78 m 0.70 m
18 NOOSA TODAY
22 / 14 °C
Tue 12 MAY
Wed 13Th MAY 12:24 aM 7:24 aM
26 / 17 °C
Mon 11 MAY
12:53 PM 6:23 PM
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1.19 m 0.72 m
Thursday, 7 May, 2020
showers late. sunny. 23 / 12 °C
current, lightly weight your floater as you want it to drift down slowly. Metal slugs for casting into bait balls are still a must have so make sure you always have a rod rigged and ready as you never know when the fish will show up. Reef species including snapper are getting bigger. These big fish will come off the bottom to feed so don’t think you need heavy rigs and big snapper leads to reach them. If you want to try something different keep leaders around 20-25lb max and drift a soft plastic squid or octopus down as you drift along. Big snapper and jewies are showing up and they love to crunch these during lower tide run times. Talking of jewies, these fish are showing up and with the cold front you can expect to see a few more and maybe some tailor after dark too. Other fish include whiting in the shallows during the daytime and bigger dart from out the back of the surf zone. These fish taking fresh beach worm and pipis on single hook size four paternoster rigs. The Noosa River has seen schooled up tailor becoming more frequent. These fish are attacking bait balls around woods bay and the
ski runs and are a great sight cast fish. Surface lures skipped across the surface work very well when they are pack feeding. For lower down fish a simple jerk shad style plastic wound through the schools will also trigger a bite. Both of these options work well for other species including trevally. The lower estuary has been holding good numbers of smaller flathead to 55cm. These fish will take a range of soft baits as well as whole whitebait and frogmouth pilchards on a snelled rig. To target flatties them look for sandy drop offs or areas where currents converge as they are an ambush predator and wait for fish to pass overhead. Bigger bream are making their presence known and flicking the rocks and jetties during low light periods certainly sees some bigger fish come out and crunch all sorts of lures. These fish love prawn profile soft plastics, especially ones covered in scent. Lastly be sure to carry a big net as the cold water fish aren’t too far away and they get big! So on behalf of Jack Mangrove, best of luck on your fishing adventures! ● noosatoday.com.au
LIFE OF BRINE
PHIL JARRATT
Protests in full swing at Huntington Beach one day, gone the next as beaches are closed again. Picture: PT
Last Friday was a cracker for surf all over the South East, with east swell and glassy conditions, but very few places were better or less crowded than this. Where is it? I could tell you, but I’d have to kill you. Picture: SD
EASING THE LOCKDOWN The easing of Covid restrictions across Queensland seemed to go pretty well last weekend, at least from where I was sitting - yes, sitting and soaking up a bit of late autumn sun after a pleasant surf at First Point, and how good was it to feel okay about a socially-distanced beach hang! The beautifully crisp weather and the fun little east swell we enjoyed on the points and the beaches definitely helped the enjoyment factor along, but there also seemed to be a palpable sense of relief that, while we certainly haven’t nailed it yet, we’re moving in the right direction, and as long as we don’t get ahead of ourselves, it won’t be too long before life and the economy starts returning to some kind of normality. But getting ahead of ourselves is key: it’s still not time to throw a party and start hugging everyone, it’s still not time to have 20 mates around for a backyard barbie, and it’s definitely not time to start whining about “basic human rights”, like the armed morons we’ve all seen on social media protesting across the US, encouraged by the even more moronic occupant of the White House. The fact that these protests in states where the curve is nowhere near flattened are resulting in the lifting of restrictions at a dangerously premature rate is scary enough, but what has really put the noosatoday.com.au
shivers down my spine this past week is the ferocious blowback in California beach towns against Governor Newsom’s harsh but successful lockdown measures. My good mate and 1976 world surfing champion Peter Townend is in the thick of it in Huntington Beach where last weekend the beach, the boardwalk and the Main Street Mall were thick with as many protesters as beachgoers and surfers one day, and closed again the next. PT has been around Huntington for long enough to have clear memories of the alcohol-fuelled riots and fires at the 1986 Op Pro, and I know scenes like these frustrate the hell out of him. As he posted on social media: “What a difference a day makes, a little different scene at the HB pier today, but still a few sneaking some waves in! At the moment Chief Rob Handy is being cool and just telling his guys and the lifeguards to request you to move on. Listen to them, they're just doing their jobs!” PT himself, as a vulnerable senior, has been obeying the law and keeping a low profile, reorganising his vast storage shed full of surf memorabilia and watching reruns of Hawaii Five-O and Magnum PI on TV. “Mainly for the Hawaiian backdrops,” he tells me in a text. Yes, he’s missing being able to surf and travel, but mainly he’s bummed about missing his annual March/April vacation in
Queensland, catching up with family and sliding a few at Snapper and Noosa with old mates.
REMEMBERING CAPTAIN COOK AND MR ORTON’S EARS It’s been somewhat overshadowed by the pandemic as a news story, so you may have completely missed the 250th anniversary late last month of James Cook anchoring the Endeavour in Botany Bay and claiming Australia for the King of England. The hype around this event is fraudulent for at least two reasons - “Captain” Cook was a mere lieutenant at the time, and the continent he laid claim to had already been “discovered” at least four times previously, the first being more than 5000 years before him. Still, everyone loves a good seafaring yarn, and I’m no exception, which is why at this time of year - a quarter of a millennium ago next week - I like to commemorate Cook sailing right past Noosa without noticing its five perfect point breaks, but noticing and naming Double Island Point before heading further north in search of an easy landfall to ease the pressure on his stir crazy and dead drunk crew. Which brings us to Town of 1770, a dead but tasty bustard and hapless Mr Morton’s ears. It’s a story I’ve shared with you before, but as we salute Cook and his
ship of rum-soaked fools as they sail by, one more time. On the afternoon of May 23, 1770, in fine weather with light winds, the Endeavour sailed into a broad bay and dropped anchor in shallow water six miles offshore, the first time the ship had done so since Botany Bay. This was cause for some celebration, as landing parties might soon be expected to return with fresh food. No one celebrated harder than Cook’s clerk, Orton, whose normal heavy rum drinking had been escalated to a full-on binge. Cook wrote: “Last Night some time in the Middle watch a very extraordinary affair happened to Mr Orton my Clerk, he having been drinking in the Evening, some Malicious person or persons in the Ship took advantage of his being drunk and cut off all the cloaths from off his back, not being satisfied with this they some time after went into his Cabbin and cut off a part of both his Ears as he lay asleep in his bed.” Boys will be boys, of course, as anyone who has been on an all-male surf charter will attest, but this was a little extreme. Cook located the main culprit, relieved him of his duties and confined him to quarters. Perhaps by way of explanation of this beating with a feather, Cook wrote: “With respect to Mr Orton he is a man not without faults.” But now without ears. ●
Thursday, 7 May, 2020
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LIFE OF BRINE
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Mini Chef Sessions Join us for mini chef sessions at Noosa Civic these upcoming school holidays. You’ll also get your own mini chef hat and apron to take home as our gift to you! Dates: Monday 23rd September to Friday 4th October daily Times: 9am and 11am Cost: $5 donation to Slow Food Noosa Location: Outside Red Rooster Bookings essential. Visit noosacivic.com.au for details.
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Join us for mini chef sessions at Noosa Civic these upcoming school holidays. You’ll also get your own mini chef hat and apron to take home as our gift to you! Dates: Monday 23rd September to Friday 4th October daily Times: 9am and 11am Cost: $5 donation to Slow Food Noosa Location: Outside Red Rooster Bookings essential. Visit noosacivic.com.a u for details.