August 30, 2023

Artist’s impression of the Ann Street hub. by Janine Hill THE Nambour (Namba) Place Plan has arrived on most local business operators like a surprise birthday present: unexpected, not what they really wanted, but better than nothing.  The plan, released on 23 August, focuses on the Howard and Currie Street intersection, and Bury, Mill and Ann Streets. The council media release which announced it spoke about greener streets, shade, art installations and wider pathways. But there was no mention of what businesses in Nambour have repeatedly asked for – more parking. Trees in the concept drawings make it difficult to see how much will remain of existing street-side parking spaces. The Gazette approached a number of small business operators in the centre of Nambour to seek their opinions on the plan. None of them had been aware the plan had been in the making and some did not know it existed while others were disillusioned after years of wheel-spinning by authorities to care. “I’ve been here for 20 years and there’s been so much talk and (yet) nothing but it’s good to see young ones getting in there and giving their opinion,” said one business owner. Another preferred not to […]

Radio and TV personality Dan Anstey, above, will be joined by fellow Nambourians Hollywood producer Dan Munday and Powderfinger drummer Jon Coghill, below, for a national Nambour & hinterland Weekend Today Show promotion. by Cameron Outridge An Aussie rock drummer, a Hollywood heavyweight and a TV and radio personality are coming back to their hometown this weekend to give Nambour national coverage on Channel Nine.  In a major coup for the town, organised by I Am Nambour ambassador Rhonda Billett, Powderfinger drummer Jon Coghill and Hollywood producer Dan Munday (Survivor, The Apprentice and Real Housewives producer and 4-times Emmy nominee) will join Weekend Today Show weather host Dan Anstey live from Nambour on Saturday September 2.   Everyone is invited to the Nambour Forecourt (Council’s Eddie de Vere Building in Currie Street) for the Saturday special featuring the three former Nambour High students.  The local coverage continues on September 3 with a Weekend Today Father’s Day Special from Sixty6 Acres Woombye. “I can’t believe how well this has come together,” said Rhonda who has worked around the clock for weeks to help bring the showcase together. “The glitz of the Today Show cameras and lights will promote all things Nambour

Andrew Pitcher and Rhonda Billett are glad to host Dan Anstey, inset, and the Today Show at Andrew’s Sixty6 Acres homestay for Father’s Day.  by Janine Hill THE Today Show’s weekend weatherman Dan Anstey will combine forecasts with Father’s Day to put his old stomping ground in the national spotlight. The former Nambour High dux will present the program’s weekend weather reports from Nambour and Woombye on September 1 and 2. Dan lives in Brisbane where he hosts the Triple M breakfast show during the week but tries to get up to the Sunshine Coast, where his parents and a younger brother live, about 12 times a year. His father, Doctor Chris Anstey, and mother, Janeen, a physiotherapist, still live in the family home at Nambour Heights. Dan has fond memories of growing up a Nambour kid. “We’d ride our bikes around with the neighbourhood kids. In those days, there were still some vacant blocks around Burnside and tracks and jumps would be made.” There were family trips to the Big Pineapple and the neighbouring macadamia plantation, and movies and maths tournaments at the Nambour Civic Centre, which has now become the Majestic cinema at C-Square. By the end of

Nambour Forecourt Live celebrated its two year anniversary in style on Friday August 25. Originally launched as a Council initiative to activate the Nambour Special Entertainment Precinct the event has grown into a much-loved monthly gathering for Nambour.  “Nambour Forecourt Live has been a fantastic monthly event that showcases not only the world-class local talent we have here on the Coast, but also highlights the great local support for live music within our community,” said event programmer and promoter Andrea Kirwin from Peace Run Records.  “The social events calendar in Nambour continues to grow with new venues opening including a revamped Small Change now located on the corner of Bury and Currie St extending their trading hours to include Friday and Saturday nights and featuring live music,” she said.  “Also Dance, Art Etc have been hosting some fantastic events since their recent opening (next door to Small Change). And of course the Old Ambulance Station and Black Box Theatre have been a cultural hot spot with Bad Habit records opening up next door.”  Andrea admitted it had been a slow burn over the past two years “but the Nambour Special Entertainment Precinct is definitely reaching a new level of excitement