It’s only a few weeks until the Buderim Community Carols will once again herald the beginning of the Christmas season.
This year’s event, presented by the Buderim War Memorial Community Association (BWMCA) with the support of Buderim Bendigo Community Bank, will be held on Sunday, 14th December 2025, from 5.30pm, at the Buderim Village Park, Church Street, Buderim. The BWMCA Carols Committee has been working for months planning the event, which promises to be the best yet.
In a powerful demonstration of community supporting community, the Buderim Foundation is today hosting its inaugural Thompson Charitable Fund Grants Celebration at the Buderim War Memorial Hall, to award $372,200 in life-changing grants to organisations supporting those in need across the region.
Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli is joining Buderim Foundation chairman Rick Woods, grant recipients, Foundation volunteers, and community champions at the event, which honours the generosity of Roy and Nola Thompson, who established the fund. The event celebrates the three local organisations providing a lifeline to people facing their toughest moments.
Five grants totalling $372,200 are being awarded to grassroots organisations addressing homelessness, domestic violence, and financial hardship across the Sunshine Coast and Noosa regions, support that will help local families and individuals find stability, hope, and a path forward.
The new 2025 Grant Recipients include:
Today’s celebration marks the first official recognition of the Thompson Charitable Fund’s impact since its establishment – a fund born from one couple’s deep commitment to their community and designed to support the most vulnerable among us.
Buderim Foundation chairman Rick Woods, who is presenting the cheques at today’s celebration, said the Thompson Charitable Fund embodies the spirit of community looking after community.
“The Thompson Charitable Fund was created to address some of the most pressing needs in our community – supporting people experiencing homelessness, domestic violence, and financial hardship across the Sunshine Coast and Noosa,” Mr Woods said.
“Through the incredible generosity of Roy and Nola Thompson, local people are helping local people in their hours of need. These grants enable our partner organisations to provide emergency accommodation, essential goods, rental assistance, and support services that can make the difference between crisis and stability for families and individuals doing it tough.
“What moves me most is that this is our community rallying around our neighbours who need help. The Foundation is proud to work alongside organisations like SunnyKids, Aus Living Support, and Gateway Care who are on the frontline every day, providing not just practical help but genuine hope to those who need it most.”
With spring blooms already in bud, the annual Buderim Garden Festival is set to return from Friday 17th to Sunday 19th October 2025, 
celebrating the season with a comprehensive program of open gardens, exhibitions and plant markets.
Now in its 49th year, the Festival represents the showcase event for the Buderim Garden Club, which has been nurturing the region’s horticultural tradition since its establishment in 1946.
Buderim Garden Club President John Lyon said the Buderim community has always had an affinity with gardening, with the Festival at the heart of their annual program since 1975.
“We are very proud that the Festival attracts visitors from around the state, and this year’s Festival is coming together better than ever,” Mr Lyon said.
The Buderim Foundation is launching an ambitious 21-week Community Challenge with the goal of raising $2.1 million to mark the organisation’s 21st birthday and amplify its community impact for generations to come.
The challenge, which runs until Saturday 17 January 2026, aims to boost the Foundation’s investment funds to increase the annual grants available to support Buderim and Sunshine Coast community organisations.
Buderim Foundation chairman Rick Woods said the Foundation was proud to have provided more than $2.3million in funding to Buderim and Sunshine Coast community organisations through its Buderim Community and Thompson Charitable Funds.
“We have only been able to provide funding thanks to the generosity of our donors – all the funds donated are invested, and our grants are made from the earnings from those funds, so we can continue giving in perpetuity,” Mr Woods said.
Mr Woods said the new Community Challenge would build on the groundwork laid by everyone who has contributed over the past 21 years.
“We have a huge goal – to raise $2.1million for our investment funds in just 21 weeks, which runs until Saturday 17th January,” he said.
Mr Woods acknowledged that while the $2.1 million target is ambitious and many community members are facing financial pressures, every contribution will make a lasting impact.
“There is no amount too small to make an impact. Even $5 invested in our funds will grow and in turn lead to increasing returns to the community,” he said.
“The larger our investment funds, the more earnings we will have to distribute as grants. This approach means we can continue supporting our community in perpetuity.”
Already the Challenge is off to an incredible start thanks to the generosity of Buderim Foundation ambassadors and supporters who attended the Foundation’s Moonlit 21st Birthday Celebration on Saturday.
Mr Woods said it was a fantastic night which included a keynote address by humanitarian Rev Tim Costello AO.
“Not only was it a great night but there were some very generous donations pledged on the night.
The Grant family, Ken, Beverly, Allen and Susan with Buderim Foundation chair Rick Woods
“We were also delighted to announce a very special “Gift in Memory” donation of $1million made in memorial to long-time Sunshine Coast local and co-founder of Sunshine Coast Coaches, the late Alastair Grant.
While Alastair sadly died in 1995 at the relatively young age of 58, the contribution that he and Beverley have made to transportation in the region is significant, as is the family’s generosity in making this donation in memory of Alastair. As part of the Foundation’s Gift in Memory Program, a story about Alastair Grant has been written and is available on the Foundation’s website. Alastair Grant’s is the 50th Gift in Memory made to the Buderim Foundation and you can explore them all here – https://www.buderimfoundation.org.au/gifts-in-memory/.
“We are so grateful to the Grant family including Alastair’s wife Beverly who started the coach company with him, and to their children Susan, Ken and Alan, and we were delighted to have them and their family with us for our celebrations,” Mr Woods said.
Beverley said she hoped that their family’s donation would inspire others to also become donors, however big or small that donation may be.
The idea behind the Buderim Foundation is simple – we invest donations and bequests and distribute the earnings through grants to community organisations supporting the local community. The original investment is never spent so the fund can continue to support the community in perpetuity.
“Now, 21 years on, this idea includes the Buderim Community Funds that provide a service and support to residents in the Buderim area as well as the Thompson Charitable Fund which provides grants to organisations supporting people experiencing homelessness and financial hardship across the entire Sunshine Coast.
“Over $2.3 million in total has been distributed back into our communities since inception and we hope, through the generosity of our community, we can amplify the impact of our grants long into the future by raising $2.1 million in 21 weeks to boost our investment funds,” Mr Woods said.
Community members can get involved by making donations themselves, or by organising their own mini fundraisers. Donations can be directed to either the Buderim Community Fund, which supports organisations serving the Buderim area, or the Thompson Charitable Fund, which assists people experiencing homelessness and financial hardship across the broader Sunshine Coast region.
For more information about how to get involved or make a donation go to the Buderim Foundation’s Community Challenge – www.buderimfoundation.org.au/buderim-foundation-21-week-community-challenge/ or follow the Buderim Foundation on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn. If you don’t want to make a donation online, you can email info@buderimfoundation.org.au or drop into the old Buderim Post Office, which the Buderim Foundation shares with the BWMCA.
As many Sunshine Coast families continue to struggle with the cost-of-living crisis, the Buderim Foundation is proud to have provided a $100,500 grant to Gateway Care Food Centre to provide urgently needed food for local families.
The grant from the Buderim Foundation Thompson Charitable Fund is the third provided to Gateway Care Food Centre and brings total funding to a total of $302,000 to the organisation since 2023.
Buderim Foundation chair Rick Woods said the grants have provided much-needed support to families in need, including those experiencing homelessness, living in poverty or with domestic violence.
The Buderim Foundation will host a very special Moonlight Celebration with humanitarian Rev Tim Costello AO as our special guest to celebrate our 21st Birthday – 21 years of community, generosity and impact.
The Moonlit Celebration will be a formal evening on Saturday 23rd August with live music, a delicious sit-down meal, a keynote speech from Rev Costello AO and lots of surprises at the new Buderim Mountain State School Hall.
Buderim Foundation Chair Rick Woods said the Foundation was honoured to have Rev Tim Costello AO as a special guest for the evening.
“Tim is well-known for his humanitarian work, which aligns with the philanthropic philosophy at the heart of the Buderim Foundation.” Mr Woods said.
“As a community, we are very lucky that the founders created the Foundation in 2004 by establishing investment funds to help support the community. The idea was simple, invest donations and bequests, and distribute the earnings through grants to community organisations supporting the local community. The original investment is never spent so the fund can continue to support the community in perpetuity.
“Now, 21 years on this idea includes the Buderim community grants program that provide a service and support to residents in the Buderim area as well as the Thompson Charitable Fund which provides grants to organisations supporting people experiencing homelessness and financial hardship across the entire Sunshine Coast.
“Over $1.8M in total has been distributed back into our communities since inception.”
The Buderim Foundation is opening applications for its annual Community Grants Program for 2025, with grants available for local organisations making a positive impact on the Buderim community.
The Buderim Foundation 2024 Community Grant recipients. Photo by Cheryl Nonmus.
Applications open on Monday, 19th May, to organisations serving the local Buderim community, and eligible applicants will need to apply before Tuesday 1st July 2025.
Buderim Foundation Chair Rick Woods said this year marks the Foundation’s 21st Anniversary and, thanks to the success of the Foundation in managing the community’s generous donations, the maximum grant amount for an individual organisation had been increased from $10,000 to $15,000.
Mr Woods said the application process details and 2025 guidelines are available on the website, with successful applicants to be announced at the Foundation’s 2025 annual Community Grants Celebration on Sunday, 14th September.
Buderim Mountain State School will celebrate it’s 150th anniversary in June with past students coming ‘home’ from throughout the country to join present students for the celebrations.
BMSS Principal Neil Jenkins said the school was established in 1875 as Buderim Mountain Provisional School on a nearby site before moving to its present 6.06ha site in 1887 in the centre of town.
“Over the years the school has grown from just dozens of students and a single building to almost 1200 students and the large campus of buildings and facilities we have today.
BMSS P & C Operations Manager Rachel O’Brien said the P &C is planning a huge “Back to Buderim Mountain State School” celebration to showcase the school’s history.
“We want to provide current students and the community insight into what school days were like for the generations gone by,” Mrs O’Brien said.
“As part of that, with the generous support of the Buderim Foundation, we have commissioned local video production company Reflected Image PRoductions to produce a short documentary talking about the school days of generations of Buderim Mountain students.
“From how students got to school to classroom lessons, sports and activities, students have been sharing their memories of their ‘school days’ and we can’t wait to see the documentary which will be premiered as part of our celebrations.
Mrs O’Brien said the celebrations starting at 9am on Saturday 21st June would also include School Tours for past students and families, an opening ceremony including the unveiling of a new sculpture commemorating the milestone, and the opening of a time capsule which was buried as part of the schools 125th anniversary in 2000.
There will also be historical memorabilia display of photos and artifacts, as well as performances by the school’s musical groups and a special Roll Call of students past and present with morning tea available. There will be a finale event on Saturday afternoon/evening for all the family to enjoy.
“We are really looking forward to seeing everyone come together to celebrate so if Buderim Mountain State School is part of your history, or you know someone who attended, please let them know about the celebration.”
To find out more about Buderim Mountain State School and plans for the 150th Anniversary celebrations visit www.bmsspandc.org/150 and follow the School’s P & C Facebook page @buderimmountainpandc and the Facebook 150 celebrations event for updates. You can also email at 150@bmsspandc.org.
The Suncoast Spinners Wheelchair Sports Club is expanding its kids reverse inclusion programs this year with a new ‘Dance to Move’ program in addition to their Wednesday night ‘Wheelchair Basketball Kids Club’.
Suncoast Spinners president Bridie Kean said the success of the Kids Club which brought together children in wheelchairs as well as their able-bodied siblings and friends had led to adding the Dance session to the program.
“Our Kids Club is great and helps the children build confidence and wheelchair skills while playing sport with their siblings and friends.
“Now, in conjunction with Sorelle Dance Studio, we are offering the opportunity for the kids to have even more fun with our wheelchair dance program ‘Dance to Move’.
The Suncoast Spinners Wheelchair Sports Club will be hosting Australia’s largest invitational wheelchair basketball tournament, the Suncoast Spinners T25, this weekend.
Suncoast Spinners president and Paralympian, Bridie Kean said the Open Tournament would bring together players from across the country.
“Our T25 is unique because it brings together wheelchair basketball players from beginners to the elite including several Paralympians to the same tournament.
“This means that not only is there great competition across our premiere, A and B grades, but our beginners get the opportunity to see their heroes in action and spend time with them.
“This makes the T25 not just an important opportunity to compete but a great skills development opportunity for current and future athletes as we get closer to 2032.”
