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Sunshine Coast Dragon Boat club’s mens premiers. Pictures: JOHN NAPPER, ACTION IN FOCUS

Sunshine Coast Dragon Boat Club’s over 50s members at the Coast to Coast Dragons. Sunshine Coast Dragon Boat Club women’s premiers.

Mixed Premiers.

Dragon boaters fired up

The Sunshine Coast Dragon Boat and Outrigger Canoe Club paddled its way to an impressive haul of medals at the most recent interstate championship at Lake Kawana.

The Coast-to-Coast Dragon Boat Festival saw 27 dragon boat clubs from across Queensland as well as Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra compete at the three-day event.

The Sunshine Coast team, named the state champions a few months before, finished the weekend with a record 10 gold, four silver and three bronze medals across the premier, 40-plus, and 55plus age divisions.

The Lake Kawana-based club, formed in 2005 by founding member and head coach, Deb Matthews has evolved and expanded since that time and are now back-to-back state champions.

Jack Green, 52, first became involved in dragon boat when he was looking for a low impact, but competitive sport, that also provided a physical challenge.

“What got me hooked from the start was the power of 20 people paddling in unison,” Jack says.

“I remember the first time I sat in the boat and we took off I wasn’t prepared for the thrust of the boat moving forward and nearly slipped back off my seat.”

Jack is part of the club’s strong men’s crew and finished the Coast-to-Coast championship with an impressive six gold medals – not a bad result for a relative newcomer to the sport.

“There are so many ways to describe how much I enjoy this sport. I love the training, competition, inspiring people, team spirt, plus, the motivation to improve physically on and off the water. We train hard but it’s well worth the effort and reward,” Jack says.

Chrissie Bellert, 68, started dragon boat racing more than 15 years ago after crossing paths with the sport via a corporate regatta.

“From a young age I was always involved and enjoyed competitive team sports, footy, roller derby and squash, which are all very taxing on the joints, so after a long time of abuse my knees and other joints said no more, which was so devastating,” Chrissie recalls.

“I was hooked on dragon boating from the first outing. It was the best workout you could have sitting down, so, I really felt like I had hit the jackpot!

“I’m now 68 years old and am healthy, fit, still competing locally, nationally and internationally and happy to boot – all due to being part of such an amazingly diverse club.”

More information on the Sunshine Coast Dragon Boat and Outrigger Canoe Club can be found at scdragonboatclub.com.au

A bus stop at Alexandra Headland’s which is now compliant.

Better bus stop access

Sunshine Coast Council reached a major milestone in early June providing 719 (98 per cent) bus stops across the region that meet disability access requirements.

Mayor Mark Jamieson said the major milestone benefited everyone in the community including people living with a disability, carers, parents with prams and many of the region’s senior residents.

“While the state government through TransLink is responsible for providing and operating public transport, all councils have a role and responsibility in providing accessible bus stops,” Mayor Jamieson said.

“Our council, in partnership with the Queensland government, is completing its Bus Stop Accessibility Upgrade Program 18 months ahead of the Federal government’s target completion date of December 2022.

“The bus stop upgrades started in 2007 as part of meeting the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA) and the Commonwealth Government’s Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002 which were developed to make public transport accessible for everyone in our communities.

“Thanks to council’s Transport Levy, introduced in 2014, council has contributed more than $3.9 million from the Levy funds towards this initiative, in addition to the $3.8 million from general funds.

“As a healthy, smart and creative region, it is incumbent on us to ensure our public facilities are safe and accessible to all.”

As part of this program, existing bus stops were upgraded and new bus stops were installed to achieve DDA compliance.

Almost all of Sunshine Coast bus stops from Caloundra to Peregian Springs and from Mooloolaba to the hinterland have been upgraded to provide the community with: concrete bus stop surfaces, signage, installation of tactile ground surface indicators, handrails, manoeuvring areas and upgraded footpath connections to bus stop locations.

Member for Caloundra Jason Hunt said the Queensland government has contributed more than $4.2 million to Sunshine Coast Council in upgrading existing passenger facilities.

“Accessing essential public transport services so you can maintain independence and participate in society is a basic human right,” Mr Hunt said.

“Upgrading bus stops to be more accessible is one of the simplest ways to remove some of the barriers that people with disability or mobility issues find challenging when using public transport.

“The Queensland government is committed to creating a single integrated transport network accessible to everyone, and Sunshine Coast Council plays an important role too through upgrade programs like these.”

“I congratulate Mayor Jamieson and council for pushing this program forward and improving the quality and accessibility of bus stops right across the Sunshine Coast.”

The remaining 11 sites are difficult to make compliant and consequently are under detailed review by the Department of Transport and Main Roads.

For more information on how to plan a journey visit TransLink’s journey planner.

FAST FACTS

·The Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002 expect 100 per cent of bus stops across Australia to be compliant by 2022 · 719 (98 per cent) compliant bus stops out of 730 stops on the Sunshine Coast upgraded to meet DDA compliance · 526 of the 730 bus stops provide overhead shelter for patrons · Nearly $12 million contributed from council and the Queensland government to deliver the upgrades

Bus stop upgrades include

·Concrete bus stop surfaces. · Signage. · Installation of tactile ground surface indicators. · Handrails. · Manoeuvring areas. · Upgraded footpath connections to bus stop locations.

One of the 719 bus stops across the region now meeting disability access requirements. Community Portfolio Councillor David Law, Caloundra MP Jason Hunt and Mayor Mark Jamieson inspecting a DDA compliant bus stop at Alexandra Parade.

Ninderry MP Dan Purdie hosted a group of Coolum Lioness members for morning tea.

Pride of the region

To celebrate National Volunteer Week this year, Ninderry MP Dan Purdie hosted a group of Coolum Lioness members for morning tea in honour of their many years combined service to the local community.

Earlier this year, Lions International issued a directive forcing the closure of the group, which has been active in the local community for over 40 years. In that time, 112 individuals have volunteered their time as members.

Mr Purdie said the Coolum Lionesses, who began their journey in 1978, had raised more than half a million dollars, but had invested much more than money in the local community.

He said they leave behind a litany of tremendous legacies, such as the beach wheelchair in Coolum, and vital fundraising support for valuable programs like school chaplaincy.

“They have freely given their time, compassion and hope for a better life for those less fortunate,” Mr Purdie said.

“As I said in a recent speech in Parliament, I thank each and every one of you for your selfless service to our community, and I can assure you that each act of kindness will long be remembered in the hearts of locals, and in the pages of Hansard.”

Mr Purdie presented each of the ladies with a special handcrafted commemorative trophy in recognition of their service.

Aged care budget package welcomed

Queensland community services group Be has welcomed the multi-billion dollar investment in aged care and the expansion of home care packages for older Australians announced in the Federal Budget.

Be (formerly ComLink) has operated for 30 years providing home care packages, home support and transport services.

Be chief executive Liam Mayor said Be was a leading contributor across Queensland helping older people maintain their quality of life and wellbeing and looked forward to helping implement the new initiatives.

“The budget announcement is a very welcome investment for older Australians and something Be will play an active role implementing in the communities we serve across Queensland,” Liam said.

“The way we care for our ageing population is a measure of our strength as a society.

“Be supports clients to live healthy and independent lives in their own homes, for longer.

“We achieve this through our emphasis on building relationships with our clients, giving them a voice in the things that are important to them.”

He said the budget included 80,0000 new home care packages, 33,000 training places for personal carers and a new Indigenous workforce, increased access for respite services for carers and a strengthened regulatory regime to monitor and enforce standards of care.

“Be is well placed to respond to these initiatives and deliver more for our clients,” Mr Mayo added.

“Our dedicated team of staff and volunteers has a fine track record. As a team we will look strategically at this announcement to grow our services across Queensland.

“With an ageing population, I welcome the focus on training and education in the aged care sector and the increase in the available workforce that will flow from that investment in skills.

Active aid

Noosa Community Support (NCS) has leapt into 2021 with lots of new activities and support programs for local seniors.

The Centre, located at 11 Wallace Drive Noosaville, offers a wide range of wellness and social activities that are fun, healthy and entertaining.

“Due to Covid, our clients couldn’t participate in their normal Centre-based socialisation,” she said.

“This year we have been excited to get back together and offer some engaging activities that will suit any local senior, still taking Covid -19 precautions.”

Morning or afternoon tea is included when participating in art therapy, gardening, the tool shed, music and movement sessions, as well as social outings and local trips.

Noosa Community Support can also provide advice with navigating My Aged Care, and work closely with Carer Gateway.

Other services available are home maintenance, in-home care, shopping, transport and centrebased respite for loved ones. For more information view the timetable of activities on their website noosacommunitysupport.com.au or phone 5329 6175.

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Garden Expo blooms again

For those bitten by the gardening bug during the 2020 lockdown, the return of Queensland’s premier gardening event – The Queensland Garden Expo – might just be the helping hand they are looking for.

The event, ironically cancelled last year due to Covid, is on track to welcome thousands of visitors from far and wide to a three-day celebration of all things gardening in July this year at the Nambour Showgrounds, Coronation Avenue, Nambour.

Expo Event Manager Marion Beazley said while it was disappointing that the 2020 Expo had to be cancelled due to the pandemic, the resulting increase in people gardening provided an exciting opportunity for this year’s event to attract new visitors.

“The Nursery Industry Survey captured the growth in people wanting to invest time in creating their own backyard oasis, particularly as more people are working from home and many are restricted in their ability to travel for holidays,” Ms Beazley said.

“We’re confident the Queensland Garden Expo will provide ample opportunity to nurture this newfound love for gardening with 350 exhibitors — including 55 nurseries — and around 45 guest speakers presenting an actionpacked program.

“This year we have included a number of ‘Back to Basics’ talks each day to encourage visitors who are new to gardening, in addition to the wide range of gardening topics that have become firm favourites with our more experienced gardeners.

“Attendees can learn, explore and get inspired; and can then find everything they need at the Expo, including a choice of more than 60,000 plants ready for sale each day of the event.”

The 36th annual Queensland Garden Expo will take place from 9-11 July at the Nambour Showgrounds and nurseries are now preparing stock to ensure there are plenty of plant favourites, new lines to launch and unique and rare plants to offer attendees.

The Expo offers more than seven hectares of inspiration including guest speakers on all sorts of gardening topics and there is plenty to do for grandkids, including a range of interactive sessions such as kids craft, seed planting and of course our popular free kids playground.”

The Queensland Garden Expo speaker program is the biggest in Australia and will welcome back crowd-favourites such as ABC’s Gardening Australia gurus Sophie Thomson, Costa Georgiadis and Jerry Coleby-Williams as well as event favourites Adam Woodhams, Dr Kevin Redd and Phil Dudman.

Tickets are $20 for adults, while children under 15 are free. For more information, visit www.qldgardenexpo.com. au.

Fast facts — Queensland Garden Expo 2021

·Three-day event · 60,000 plants on sale each day · More than 7 hectares of gardening inspiration · 350-plus exhibitors and displays, including 55 nurseries · 120+ free lectures and demonstrations · 11 speaker stages

History keepers: Treasures of the past at Noosa museum

By Margaret Maccoll

Stepping into the Noosa Shire Museum at Pomona is like being transported to a past time. Its rabbit warren-like rooms are laden with treasures, which tell the story of the shire. At each turn there are items of interest from photographs and clothing to documents and displays. Significantly, the museum is also the Keeping Place of objects and memorabilia sacred to the local Kabi Kabi / Gubbi Gubbi people, setting it apart from regional museums that restrict their displays to European history.

The museum is no longer a place where history is stored away in boxes. It has changed its focus to become an information and education centre relevant to present day life, according to Cooroora Historical Society president Jeanette Alfredson.

Noosa Today dropped by the facility recently to speak to the keepers of the regions history.

The Noosa Shire Museum has been based in Pomona since the mid-1980s at the former Shire Council Chambers, which moved to its current facility at Tewantin in 1980.

The museum is operated by a committee and a group of dedicated volunteers and one paid employee, operations and development officer Ann Podobnik. Jeanette was among the museum’s founders, members of the Cooroora Historical Society, who lobbied Noosa Council to establish the Heritage Levy which helps preserve the shire’s significant buildings and culture.

As a descendant of one of the area’s pioneering European families Jeanette has a long-standing interest in the shire’s history. Her family was a timber family whose father operated his business from Pomona’s Alfredson building which now houses a brewery. After WWII housing was in short supply and her father, a cabinetmaker, built pre-cut houses which were sent by rail across the state to be assembled.

The museum’s role has been to preserve and interpret its past. It contains 6000 items of historical significance and 1500 manuscripts and family histories. The museum also houses an extensive and impressive collection of 9000 photographs, capturing many moments of the shire’s pioneering past as well as modern moments that will one day be an important part of local history. Ann said her role has included sorting through collections that had been stored away for 30 years. “About 90 per cent of the collection has come out of storage boxes. It’s a good opportunity to show the community what we’re housing,” she said.

The museum benefits from a small annual grant from the Council. However, this year, Noosa Council set aside an additional $20,000 to help the Cooroora Historical Society prepare a new strategic plan, train volunteers in conservation practices and purchase a computer program, known as Mosaic, which is used to track the collection items and report on each item’s history and condition.

The museum has embarked on its plan to make its collection more relevant to visitors by reorganising exhibits into ‘themes’ of history, innovation, environment, community engagement and education and are beginning a process of refreshing displays.

“We should be relevant to what is happening today,” Jeanette said. “There’s a responsibility to the community to provide information on social issues.”

Committee member Brian O’Connor said two matters which stood out in the review were the need to do more to focus on coastal Noosa history and to showcase local Indigenous culture.

Brian said through its participation in the review those who guide the museum have been challenged to accept change and have become emboldened with the confidence to tackle it head-on.

“We realise that, while our task is to preserve and interpret the past, it is not where our thinking belongs,” he said. The changes wrought by this process have already begun in the areas of governance, removing items for sale and procurement, he said. “And we realise more the importance of our volunteers and the additional training we must give them.”

The museum is also co-operating with Pomona’s other historic sites to enhance the historic experience for visitors. The museum and the Majestic Theatre aim to attract visitors for a ‘blast of the past’, combining a silent movie, lunch in the park and a guided tour of the museum and its memorabilia.

The museum welcomes visitors from far and wide. Jeanette said about 10-15 per cent came from Britain, some from New Zealand and many from Victoria. “A lot of people come here to do their family histories,” she said. In addition a steady stream of students visit as part of their school curriculum and learn about the changes that have happened over time.

Brian said the museum provided people with a sense of place. He sees the museum having a significant role to play in relation to the Noosa Biosphere

“We are a people that, in everything we do, we must consider our impact on the environment ... and that goes to the heart of how we live,” he said.

“So interpreting ourselves and who we are ... the Noosa Shire Museum sits at the heart of Noosa Shire’s Living Heritage Town at the centre of the Noosa Biosphere. That is a pretty important space to occupy. We should be the Biosphere Museum. That sets us apart from other museums in country towns. Ours is a bigger role, on behalf of the entire shire. Noosa’s story is important and needs to be told well.”

Ann Podobnik, Jeanette Alfredson and Brian O’Connor at Noosa Shire Museum.