Sunshine Valley Gazette

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,

Vaughan Jones’ pinball business was in good shape but its position is untenable without the cinema. by Janine Hill THE pending closure of Nambour’s Majestic Cinemas means the Sunshine Coast’s only pinball arcade will also fall as collateral damage. Sunshine Coast Pinball, which is next to the cinema in the C-Square complex, will trade through Easter with the Majestic before owner Vaughan Jones shuts up shop. Vaughan knew the future was uncertain for his business when it was announced in February that Majestic Cinemas had entered voluntary administration.  For six weeks, he had hoped that the Nambour cinemas would remain open but news of the closure forced his hand. “I’m okay, however, it’s been a bruising and crushing week or two, and it’s not been any easier in the last week, that’s for sure,” he said. “I’ve been in a position of uncertainty where you’re desperate for some news, one way or other, but then reality is hitting you and you realise it’s the thing you expected all along.” Vaughan said times had been tough and would have been made more difficult by a planned refurbishment of the centre even though the business had been in a good position. “It was challenging but my business was trimmed up really well. It was ready to capture the next busy period. I

Majestic Cinema Nambour in better times.Photo credit: Mike Korsos – Korsos Photography by Janine Hill SIX WEEKS after Majestic Cinemas went into voluntary administration, the company has announced it will close its Nambour venue. The company CEO, Kieran Dell, had been hopeful of re-negotiating rents with landlords to retain as many of the Majestic cinemas as possible but planned work at the C-Square building thwarted his hopes of hanging on to Nambour. “Unfortunately, our current administration process coincides with plans for an impending major refurbishment of the C-Square building, and as a result, it makes sense for us to close our doors at this time,” said a Majestic Cinemas statement. The cinema will remain open for the Easter break and school holidays but will cease trading on 14 April. The closure comes despite a call by community members, such as Sunshine Coast councillor David Law, for people to go to the movies to save the cinema. In the same week that the closure was announced, members of the public posted online that there were only one or two people seated at some screenings. The numbers were poor despite tickets being competitively priced compared to Event Cinemas at Maroochydore, the nearest

The precinct, between Nambour Connection Road and the Bruce Highway,  is labelled ‘Nambour Woombye District Sports Park’ on Google Maps. by Janine Hill ABOUT 200ha of land bought by the Sunshine Coast Council for hinterland sports facilities remains unused while clubs look for ovals and courts. Ten years ago, the council announced it had bought 100ha of land in two parcels fronting Diddillibah Road, Woombye, to meet the sporting and recreational needs of the growing population in the Nambour, Woombye and Palmwoods areas. However, former councillors Jenny Mackay and Greg Rogerson, who were both on council at the time of the Woombye purchase, are wondering when that land will be used for its intended purpose. The council did not provide a timeframe for the Bli Bli or Woombye sports faciltiies when the Gazette submitted an enquiry, instead offering the following statement by a spokesperson: “These parcels of land were purchased by Council for $2.28 million for future sport and recreation purposes.  Council is investigating the feasibility and costs of developing the sites.” Fields would relieve pressure Ms Mackay, former president of the Sunshine Coast Show Society, said the Woombye sports grounds were needed to take some of the pressure off

President Rowan O’Hara says show patronage is on track to beat numbers not seen for more than 30 years by Janine Hill THE Sunshine Coast Show has become so successful it verges on outgrowing the Nambour showgrounds. Sunshine Coast Show Society president Rowan O’Hara said in the last six years, show attendance had grown 92% to almost 36,000. Mr O’Hara said patronage was on track to beat numbers not seen for more than 30 years when a house-and-land package was given away in a 1990s show promotion. “That was probably the last year they had 40,000 people at the show and we’re probably set to hit that mark this year, all going well,” he said. He put the show’s success down to the good work of a strong committee. “I have a very good committee that are very much driven to put on the best product that we can achieve, and it’s all volunteers apart from a couple of paid positions,” he said. He said the Sunshine Coast Show was now the fourth largest and biggest show in Queensland and brought $4 million into the region, “all in a ground that’s smaller than most country shows”. Mr O’Hara used a

‘The Bank Manager’ stars Gyton Grantly. lickerfest, renowned as Australia’s premier short film festival, marks its 33rd year with a showcase at Majestic Cinemas in Nambour on the 22nd and 23rd of March at 7 PM. Celebrated for its Academy® Qualifying and BAFTA Recognised status, the festival brings a selection from over 3,400 entries, providing audiences with a glimpse into some of the world’s most compelling short films, fresh from their Bondi festival premieres. The festival’s National Tour is set to captivate Nambour film enthusiasts with the ‘Best of International Shorts’ on Friday, featuring an array of globally-inspired tales. Notable screenings include the UK’s heartfelt drama ‘My Week With Maisy’, starring Joanna Lumley, and ‘Last Days Of Summer’ from the Himalayas, a film that entwines mystery with youthful curiosity. Ireland contributes ‘Clodagh’, a story of exceptional talent that disrupts the monotonous life of a priest’s housekeeper. Saturday’s ‘Best of Australian Shorts’ programme pays tribute to local talent and cultural narratives. Standouts include ‘Cold Water’, a poignant film interspersed with humour and led by the iconic Bruce Spence. Comedy enthusiasts can look forward to ‘Ashes’, showcasing the genius of Michael Caton and Michala Banas, and the Queensland-based ‘The Bank Manager’, featuring

Dean Hartley said a safe parking area, where people living in their car could camp and have a shower was desperately needed. by Janine Hill EIGHTEEN months ago, Dean Hartley had a job and a roof over his head.  Now he lives in a tent and survives on sausage sizzles, church burger nights, food hampers and whatever else he might be offered by a passer-by. Dean, 57, is one of the homeless folk in the Nambour area who have been campaigning for disused buildings to be turned over as shelter and for the provision of safe parking for those living in their cars. Dean became homeless when working as a cleaner when 13 hours a day became too much and he threw in his job. “The cleaning just got too busy – six days a week,” he said. He had been living on a boat for $200 a week because renting a room had been too expensive. But he realised he could not keep that up without a job. “I was sleeping in my car for a while. It’s probably been a year in the tent.” While homeless, he has written two books which he said he had been tasked

Watching Venus Axiax bowl are Peter Cole, Peter Nixon, Gerry Peterson & Robyn Perren. by Janine Hill “HUMP day” might be a little easier for Nambour’s workforce to take next month. The Nambour Bowls Club has organised Business Bowls Challenge in April for workers to have some fun and to promote the club. The challenge will run over four Wednesdays – the 3rd, 10th, 17th and 24th – from 6-7pm, finishing up with a sausage sizzle each night. The challenge is open to up to 24 teams of four, who can be workmates, friends or family representing a business. To keep the match-ups fair, registered bowlers are not allowed in the challenge. Entry is $12 per person, per week, with no experience necessary. Bowlers must wear flat-soled shoes, runners or go barefoot, and team shirts are encouraged but not essential. Organiser Peter Nixon said the short, sharp sessions were designed to be a bit of fun after work without taking too much time out of the week. “I’ve been involved with bowls a long time and if you have it too long, it becomes too much of a commitment,” he said. Peter said the business challenge was one way the