June 12, 2024

Owner Darren Bailey will close this chapter on the popular Nambour business. Nambour is set to bid farewell to one of its iconic businesses, the Nambour Book Exchange, which will close its doors after nearly four decades of operation. Owner Darren Bailey announced the closure on Monday, expressing gratitude to his loyal customers for their support over the years. “The time has come for beautiful Nambour to lose another iconic long-standing business,” Mr Bailey said. “I was hoping to make it to our bookshop’s 40th year anniversary next year, but it’s not to be. So, 39 years in the same place is quite an achievement.” To bookend the sad occasion, the Nambour Book Exchange will host a farewell sale from September 16 to 30.  Customers can take advantage of great deals on books and receive free gifts with their purchases.  Mr Bailey encouraged the community to visit and support the store one last time before it closes. The Nambour Book Exchange is one of the largest book exchanges in the country.  “It is hard to say exactly how many books we have, but it is well in the order of hundreds of thousands,” Mr Bailey said recently.  “We have customers who come […]

Captain David Donaldson Amidst escalating challenges, the Salvation Army is gearing up to launch its 60th Red Shield Appeal in Nambour. As inflation and homelessness bite and the cost-of-living crisis deepens, recent research has unveiled the extent of the struggle faced by individuals and families in the community. A staggering 94 percent of respondents in a recent study admitted to grappling with the affordability of basic necessities such as housing, groceries, medical care, and utilities. This has meant 63 percent have skipped meals, while 45 percent have been forced to decide between paying for housing or purchasing food. One Sunshine Coast mother, who wished to remain anonymous, shared her distressing experience: “Having to constantly borrow money off friends due to not being able to buy essentials. I’m having to go days without eating so my kids can eat, cancelling specialist appointments that are a requirement for my health due to the cost of living.” This research, based on 1500 respondents who sought assistance from the Salvos Doorways financial relief service over the past year, underscores the urgent need for support. Captain David Donaldson of the Salvation Army in Nambour emphasised the severity of the situation: “It’s disheartening to see our

Shikani Sargent, the first Keeper, is engaging the community as a Street Philosopher Artists transform streets with public art via The Keeper Project, a public art initiative previously showcased in Coolum, has arrived in Nambour. The project features 11 local artists over 33 weeks, each bringing their unique creative talents to the streets of Nambour. Producer Angie Dunbavan said the project recently kicked off with Shikani Sargent, the first Keeper, who is engaging the community as a Street Philosopher. Each Keeper will hold their role for three weeks, passing the baton to the next artist, such as local photographer Fiona Harding who will document the town’s significant trees to create a texture data set. “The Keeper Project encourages conversations and connections between artists and the community, fostering a deeper sense of place and artistic appreciation,” said Ms Dunbavan. Nambour residents are invited to interact with the Keepers, share local stories, and witness the evolving art. The project’s progress and the artists’ experiences will be logged and shared on social media platforms. • For more information, visit The Keeper Project website – keeperproject.com.au–to get a sense of the diverse creative acts involved.

Sunshine Coast Foodie, Martin Duncan, and his scone squad are looking forward to having many “Sconeversations” in Nambour town square. Sunshine Coast Foodie Martin Duncan has been baking up a storm, and connecting Sunshine Coast communities since 2018 with his much-loved Sconetime morning teas. “Sconetime originally started in Cooroy after the Hall had been renovated,” said Martin. “We put it to the community that the occasion was meritorious of a special event to celebrate, and Sconetime was born. “We basically host a very beautiful morning tea, complete with tea and scones, served on vintage crockery, on tables decorated with linen and flowers. It is a wonderful excuse for our guests to get dressed up, be served food that has been prepared with love, and have conversations with fellow guests. “Loneliness and disconnect is such a huge problem in our community, especially amongst the elderly and this seemed like a lovely way to address it,” he said. As the event has evolved, people of all ages and backgrounds are taking part. “We now have school students getting involved which has been fantastic,” Martin said. “The Beerwah State High School band and the Buderim School choir have both performed at Sconetime, and we

by Cameron Outridge The Sunshine Coast Agricultural Show is hoping to welcome a record number of visitors this year. Show Society President Rowan O’Hara is optimistic about hitting the 40,000 mark, positioning it as the third largest show in Queensland, just behind Brisbane and Cairns. “If everything’s on trend and the weather is good, we’re striving for 40,000 people through the gates this year. From six years ago up to 2023, the show has grown 92 percent in numbers,” said Mr O’Hara. “We are really truly up there. We aim to be as popular a show as we can be, continuing to push those traditions of farming, agriculture, and local produce that make us unique.” The Show has become synonymous with family-friendly fun, agriculture and local produce. Mr O’Hara, who has been part of the Show for 25 years and president since 2019, emphasised the importance of agricultural education. “What I love about the job is the community surrounding agriculture and also the agricultural education. It’s important to explain to people about food and fibre, where it comes from, and its significance,” he explained. Entertainment Highlights This year, the June 14, 15 and 16 Show promises an array of attractions