The Rattler Picnic Train - picnic with the girls - photo by Leeroy Todd-web

Feel the love aboard the Mary Valley Rattler Picnic Train on Valentine’s Day

Published on: January 31, 2019Category: News

Long associated with the romance of a bygone era, the Mary Valley Rattler will celebrate this year’s Valentine’s Day with the launch of an ongoing new lunchtime service, The Rattler Picnic Train, on Thursday 14th of February.

Powered by the ‘Red Rocket’, one of the first railmotors introduced onto the Mary Valley line, The Rattler Picnic Train will leave historic Gympie station every Thursday at 11am, on a return 3-hour journey to Amamoor, with gourmet picnic hampers filled with local delicacies also available.

Mary Valley Rattler Chairman Ian McNicol said The Rattler Picnic Train is an excellent opportunity for visitors to sample the many delights the region has to offer.

All donations large and small make a difference to the Buderim Foundation

Buderim Foundation reveals results of ambitious 2018 Community Challenge

Published on: January 24, 2019Category: News

After the launch of its new fundraising initiative during Australia Day celebrations, the Buderim Foundation has revealed the 2018 Community Challenge was a huge success, with more than $400,000 raised for the local community through various fundraising activities and donor contributions in just 12 months.

All donations large and small make a difference to the Buderim Foundation -pictured Buderim Foundation chair Dr Russell Stitz with Community Challenge donors Roy & Nola Thompson and Jack, Charlie & Zara Wood in front of the Buderim Foundation tree. Photo by Reflected Image PRoductions.

Buderim Foundation Chair Dr Russell Stitz said a total of $433,000 was raised by the popular philanthropy group in 2018, comprising contributions from 7 local businesses, three community groups, two bequests, nine events and 68 individual contributions.

“We are absolutely delighted with the result of last year’s Community Challenge,” Dr Stitz said.

“All contributions are important, but what’s really exciting is the cross-section of the community who made individual donations.

SM10 kickboard comp poster

Sunshine Coast Wanderers kickstart 2019 season with design competition

Published on: January 11, 2019Category: News

Popular local sporting team the Sunshine Coast Wanderers Football Club have joined forces with Queensland’s largest independent hardware chain, Sunshine Mitre 10, in the search for a budding artist to design an illustration for a vital piece of equipment ahead of the start of the 2019 season.

As the Club’s Platinum Sponsor, Sunshine Mitre 10 is generously donating a $500 gift voucher as part of the prize, with the group’s CEO Travis Cunnane saying the competition was a great way to connect the wider community with the sporting group.

“Sunshine Mitre 10 is delighted to be the major sponsors of the Sunshine Coast Wanderers, and this competition is an extension of our support for the club, and the community,” Mr Cunnane said.

“We’re used to seeing our customers express themselves creatively through DIY and home improvement, so we’re looking forward to seeing the kind of design entrants come up with using a different sort of paints, pens, pencils or even digital tools.”

The winning illustration will feature prominently on the Sunshine Coast Wanderers’ kickboard, also known as a rebounder, one of the most visible surfaces on the pitch at over 8 metres long and over 2 metres high.

First Run Day Poster

All Aboard the Mary Valley Rattler’s Aussie Express

Published on: January 7, 2019Category: News

With a toot of the horn on its iconic steam engine, the Mary Valley Rattler will start celebrating the Australia Day long weekend early this year, with the Aussie Express Twilight Train departing the historic Gympie Station at 5:30pm on Friday 25th January.

It’s the first time the iconic heritage railway experience will mark the occasion since returning to regular services in October last year, and a rare opportunity to enjoy a very special trip on the Mary Valley Rattler at night.

Mary Valley Rattler Chairman Ian McNicol said the Aussie Express will be just the second time the popular tourism attraction has run a night-time passenger service, after running a similar return journey to Amamoor in mid-December.

christmaswreath

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

Published on: December 19, 2018Category: News

2018 has been a huge for us – and once again it feels like it is being running on fast forward most of the time.

Now that we are nearing the year’s end we wanted to take the opportunity to say

THANK YOU!

Il Vento - Ibrahim (Bob) Haddad and Dirk Long frmo The Wharf Mooloolaba 2

Exciting new eateries and more fashion open at The Wharf Mooloolaba

Published on: December 13, 2018Category: News

With Stage Two of The Wharf Mooloolaba’s multi-million-dollar refurbishment nearing completion, several vibrant new businesses join a bevy of food, retail and activity traders at the popular precinct in time for the start of summer and school holiday trade.

The new ventures are Ninth Street – a highly anticipated burger and dessert bar specialising in American-style favourites, and Il Vento – a traditional Italian restaurant and wood fired pizza bar, as well as Gingers Boutique who are opening a second location to their iconic Buderim fashion store. There is also a revamped El Bigoton – a casual food bar and take away dedicated to Latin Street Food, and Fudgees on The Wharf Mooloolaba – the ever-popular fudge, ice cream and confectionary shop now occupying a larger premise.

Snow Globe 2

Snow forecast for Sunshine Mitre 10 Gympie

Published on: December 11, 2018Category: News

Despite temperatures expected to hit the mid-30’s, snow is forecast for parts of Gympie next week, with the arrival of an interactive Christmas-themed Snow Globe at Sunshine Mitre 10’s Langton Street store.

Lightly filled with artificial snow, the inflatable Globe can comfortably accommodate up to 5 people and will be instore over two Saturdays in December, the 15th and 22nd between 9am and 2pm.

Much like a Santa photo, the Snow Globe is the ideal setting to capture the magic of Christmas, but one that comes at no cost.

Mary Valley Rattler High Resolution-4

Mary Valley Rattler schedules record number of services

Published on: November 28, 2018Category: News

The Mary Valley Rattler will mark a major milestone next month, with a record number of train journeys scheduled for December, as strong demand from visitors builds.

The heritage railway experience is on track to run 34 services in December, a 30% increase from its regular timetable of the 26 services spread across Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays since the popular attraction reopened in early October.

Mary Valley Rattler Chairman Ian McNicol said the significant jump is a result of special Christmas services, an extension of the Retro Fridays trial and the demand for group bookings.

“We’re thrilled with the way Queenslanders have embraced the return of the Rattler, so much so that we will continue with our trial of Retro Fridays, the short haul trip to Monkland on the Silver Bullet rail motor paired with breakfast or lunch at the Platform No.1 Café throughout December. We have also planned some very special trips to celebrate Christmas,” Mr McNicol said.

“There will be a special Christmas service scheduled next month, with two additional charter services to run for private functions.

Mary Valley Rattler Christmas -wreath only

All aboard the Mary Valley Rattler Christmas Train

Published on: November 26, 2018Category: News

The Mary Valley Rattler will celebrate its first Christmas since regular services resumed with a special Twilight Christmas Train journey, along with the opportunity to take your own photos with Santa Claus every Sunday in December in the lead up to Christmas.

The inaugural Mary Valley Rattler Twilight Christmas Train will depart historic Gympie Station on Tozer Street on Friday 14th December at 5.30pm, on an extended return trip to Amamoor Station.

Mary Valley Rattler Chairman Ian McNicol said the Rattler’s Twilight Christmas Train is a rare opportunity to take in the sights and sounds of the scenic Mary Valley at night.

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