Sunshine Valley Gazette

Whether you’re a seasoned cowboy or just looking for some family-friendly fun, this year’s Ray White Nambour Rodeo promises non-stop action and entertainment for all ages. The rodeo, at the Nambour Showgrounds on Saturday 11 May,  features a full rodeo program of popular events: bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, bull riding, steer wrestling, team roping, barrel racing and much more. Ray White Nambour Principal Matt O’Grady said last year’s rodeo, in just its third year, raised a remarkable $97,773 for Nambour community groups.  Money was shared between Reimagine Nambour, Nambour Tramway Company, Sundale Community Foundation and Nambour Men’s Shed. Mr O’Grady said he was proud to support Nambour’s development through the funding.  “This is exactly what we envisaged for this rodeo,” he said. “The rodeo brings the community together. The money is for people that are on the streets doing the work. And the funds go to the people that need it. That’s what we want to see.” Each year increasing numbers reflect the rodeo’s growing popularity, with ticket sales last year reaching 3983. Ticket sales data revealed that 84 percent of attendees were from outside Nambour, highlighting the event’s ability to draw people to town. Mr O’Grady thanked sponsors, […]

From left, Club Secretary Tarsh Gardner, Ben’s parents Nat Gorzalka & Chris Hunter with their son’s jersey and Club President Leith Hensley. by Cameron Outridge Nearly a year on from the accident that ended his life a young rugby league player has been honoured by his beloved footy club family.  Nambour Junior Rugby League Club on Wednesday (April 24) unveiled a memorial garden and bench in memory of the popular young man. Ben would have celebrated his 17th birthday this week. Juniors President Leith Hensley said Ben’s teammates from the under 17 side, along with their parents, came down to join in putting the garden together. “It was a special afternoon seeing many of his mates getting together for him once again and contributing to what will be a very special and significant place at Nambour Rugby League Club.  “This will be somewhere that people can come to share laughs or shed some tears. To maybe take some time out if they need a moment to themselves or with Ben.” The garden setting  includes a lychee tree. BJ worked on a lychee farm in between his school and football commitments.  “It will be somewhere that we can continue to remember

The 8.55am Parade commences and marches down Ann Street onto Mathew Street and into the Memorial Park Remembering the fallen:  by Janine Hill PAST and present servicemen and women and members of the community are invited to ANZAC Day services in Nambour on 25 April. The Nambour RSL Sub Branch has organised events to remember and honour the service and sacrifice of those who served Australia during all conflicts. The ANZAC tradition will be remembered from the first landings at ANZAC Cove, Gallipoli on 25 April, 1915, where the ANZAC tradition was founded, to the more recent Vietnam War in the 1960s and 1970s. The gatherings will remember the 103,021 servicemen and women who paid the ultimate price as a result of their service with Australian units. The day’s events will consist of a dawn service and breakfast, a street parade and a morning service, with activities centred on Quota Park. Nambour RSL Sub Branch president Kim Symmons said the services were always well supported. “It’s always a large roll-up, for the morning service in particular,” he said. “A lot of people will stand in the streets and watch the parade go past before they end up going down to

Lots of traffic but not enough people: Some businesses are struggling despite their CBD location. by Janine Hill WHEN the doors of Brown Sugar Espresso at Nambour closed last Thursday, proprietor Tracey Reno breathed a sign of relief.  No longer would she have to struggle to make dwindling income at the small Mitchell Street café to cover rising outgoings. “It’s just, basically, there’s not enough flow of people,” she said simply.  Tracey had gone into the café on a good rent deal and with her eyes wide open, prepared to work hard to make a go of it, but that was not enough. “I knew what I was up for,” she said. “But the Council moved out, down to Maroochydore, and Sundale, which had its office around the corner, they moved back to their own premises,” she said. “That was my bread and butter that left. They were the ones coming in buying coffees and toasted sandwiches. “It was nothing for me to take $500 before 10am and now I can’t make $500 in a day.” Tracey said business was usually quiet post-Christmas, in hospitality and retail, but things did not pick up this year. “It’s just got harder for

From left, Nambour Chamber of Commerce’s Mark Bray, with Marion Beazley, Banksia Espresso’s Nicole Hoffman and Sunshine Coast Foodie, Martin Duncan. by Tanya Outridge This July marks the 40th anniversary of the Queensland Garden Expo, and the Expo team is joining forces with the Nambour Chamber of Commerce to promote an event that brings thousands of visitors to Nambour each year.  The Expo is Queensland’s premier gardening event, and is the second largest expo of its kind in Australia. “For 40 years the Garden Expo has been such a significant event for the area and has gained in momentum post the Covid years, when many large-scale events unfortunately disappeared,” said Expo Director Marion Beazley. “We typically draw crowds of between 38,000 – 40,000 people over the 3 days and we expect even more this year as the event is extended to four days for the first time this year. With exhibitors and visitors traveling to Nambour from all around Queensland and interstate, this influx represents a wonderful opportunity to draw visitors into the town itself and to show people what our area has to offer.” Nambour Chamber of Commerce President, Mark Bray, agreed. “With so many visitors coming to the

Nambour Junior Crushers Rugby League is honouring Ben “BJ” Hunter with a memorial. Nambour Junior Crushers Rugby League will honour fallen former player Ben (BJ) Hunter with the opening of the BJ Memorial Garden at Crusher Park.  A working bee will take place on Sunday, April 21, followed by the opening on Wednesday, April 24 at 4.30pm. The memorial garden will feature a lychee tree planted in Hunter’s honour, as Ben had been working on a lychee farm before his accident. A bench seat and plaque will be dedicated to him.  BJ passed away after a car accident last June. He was riding home from training, on Image Flat Road, where he was fatally struck by a hatchback.    Club Secretary Tarsh Gardner said the Crushers community was honoured to be paying tribute to their beloved former player and invited the community to join them in remembering him. The 16-year-old was a member of the Melbourne Storm junior academy, a Caloundra State High School student and Langer Trophy player, a Brisbane Broncos supporter and a talented Nambour Crushers and Sunshine Coast Falcons player. Up to a thousand rugby league supporters from clubs across the Sunshine Coast paid tribute to Ben

Cr David Law: “The arts brings communities together and this is very true right now in Nambour.” Leave no-one behind:  by Janine hill DIVISION 10 Councillor David Law has emphasised his support for the environment and the arts during this term of council. In a speech at the Sunshine Coast Council’s post-election meeting, Cr Law said he looked forward to working with the community to drive positive change for the hinterland and northern Blackall Range for the next four years. “We will continue to work together to improve and enhance our environment through Bushcare, through Catchment Care, tree planting and bush regeneration,” he said. “We will reduce emissions pollution and landfill. We will continue to work together to make sure that the hinterland gets its fair share and we all benefit from the strength of the Sunshine Coast economy, and no one is left behind.  “We will help each other, and in particular, those who have no-one else to help them at all, and ensure no-one is left behind.  “We will continue to grow and develop the space and opportunities for the musicians, the creatives, and the artists who are vital for us all.  “The arts brings communities together and

Sunshine Coast Council Mayor Rosanna Natoli, centre, with hinterland representatives Cr Winston Johnston, left, and Cr David Law. by Janine Hill THE Sunshine Coast Council’s new mayor, Rosanna Natoli, has promised to put Sunshine Coast residents first and make them proud. In a speech at the council’s post-election meeting on 11 April, Ms Natoli gave a pledge to the people of the region. “During the election campaign, I promised I would bring a fresh new style of leadership, (and) to work with my councillor colleagues, and our state and federal members, to secure the infrastructure the Sunshine Coast so desperately needs,” she said. “I developed a 10-point plan. I promised to be open and accountable, available, accessible. Most of all I promised to listen. This is an exciting time in our region’s story. We’re facing enormous growth, which brings challenges but also tremendous opportunities, the chance to make the Sunshine Coast a better place for us all and for future generations. These are the pledges I make to you today.  I will work every day to represent our community. I will always do my best to serve you and put the people of the Sunshine Coast first.” Ms Natoli thanked

Pictured, from left,  Rhonda Billett from I Am Nambour and Aaron Borg from Bad Habit Records are joining forces for the Mega Market day. Steve Hadlow, right, will also be there with his stunning 1965 Ford Falcon. An art show, a vintage market, a mini-record fair, a preloved, pre-owned treasure trove and a handmade and homemade alley full of stall holders. That is what you can expect in Nambour this Sunday April 21 along with a few very special  old cars gracing the streets throughout the morning.   It’s all part of a “Mega Market Sunday” from 9am to noon across two locations:  Bad Habit Records area in Howard Street and the Council Forecourt in Bury St.  “The two locations will be filled with only the best Nambour Sunday market vibes,” explained organiser Rhonda Billett.  “As it’s the 3rd Sunday of the month it’s our regular Sunday Nambour Rummagers Market but this time we’re joined by the team from Bad Habit Records Nambour for their First Birthday community celebration comprising of an Art Show, Vintage Market and a Mini Record Fair. “We would love everyone to come along, bring your market basket, grab a coffee from your favourite hinterland cafe

The March Rummagers Market attracted people to Nambour on Sunday. by Janine Hill AN indoor market at Nambour is the latest addition to the Sunshine Coast’s market calendar. The Nambour Indoor Market will be launched on Sunday, April 7, in the Dance Art Etc space at 120 Currie Street. The market will run from 9am to 2pm with a variety of stallholders selling candles, crystals, jewellery, knitwear, baby clothes and macrame art and more, all under cover.  Market coordinator Daniel Gibson said the indoor market would offer stallholders and marketgoers some security in unpredictable weather. “You know the weather we’ve been having recently. I’m sick of waking up in the morning wondering how muddy it’s going to be or if a market will be on,” he said. “You plan for a weather change and it stays dry when you think it’s going to be wet or it’s wet when you’re expecting it to be dry. It’s really hard to prepare.” Daniel hopes the later start and finish will appeal to people who want to take weekends slower than during the working week. “Who wants to get up early on a Sunday morning? Sundays should be more casual,” he said. Daniel,