A vintage seaplane may not scream “environmentally friendly” at first glance, but a flight with Paradise Seaplanes is one of the most sustainable ways to explore the beautiful Sunshine Coast.
Paradise Seaplanes owner and pilot Shawn Kelly said Willy, as their post-world war Wilga Warbird (PS104-80) is affectionately known, is the only commercially-operated seaplane between Port Macquarie and Gladstone, and the only seaplane of its type in Australia.
THIS December, two Sunshine Coast men will be rowing 5000km across the North Atlantic Ocean from La Gomera in the Canary Islands to Antigua in the Caribbean as part of the 2020 Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge.
The Atlantic Challenge is a unique event that pits man-power of competitors against the might of ocean currents, tumultuous waves and extreme weather.
It will see Sippy Down’s George Hugheston-Roberts and Mooloolaba’s Matt Mountain row 2 hours on, 2 hours off, 24 hours a day for up to 60 days to complete the journey.
“It’s a giant challenge but we both love adventure and are training hard so we are ready for the race starting in December this year,” George said.
George, 27, a productional dive instructor at Sunreef Mooloolaba, said while the pair were close friends, their reasons to take on the challenge were very different.
For Matt, 26, who grew up in Dalby and works in property development, the Challenge presents a chance to extend himself.
“I moved to the Sunshine Coast during high school and have always loved adventure and the chance to challenge myself,” Matt said.
“In 2017, I and 19 other mates paddled 20km on stand-up paddleboards to raise money for the Movember Foundation and now the Atlantic Challenge will mean I can challenge myself even more!”
For George, who grew up in the UK, the Challenge is about continuing a family legacy.
“I grew up near the Coast and have always loved marine environments, but my motivation came from reading about my late Great Uncle, Major William Ellery-Anderson MC, who after a career in the Special Forces, lead a group of researchers and explorers in Antarctica,” George said.
“From him, I have learnt that with a well-trained and planned expedition, you can face and overcome many challenges and I want to one day follow in his footsteps, but not before Matt and I take on the Atlantic ocean!
“The Atlantic Challenge is a huge adventure and Matt and I are very excited and training hard to prepare for it.”
George and Matt, said though it wasn’t just countless hours of training ahead of them.
“We also have to raise funds to build our vessel and register for the Challenge and we can’t do it on our own so we are seeking support from the Sunshine Coast community,” George said.
George and Matt said they need to more than $175,000 to fund the purpose-built rowboat, Challenge entry fees and to start raising funds and to raise awareness for ocean conservation.
“We are looking for commercial sponsors and also asking for community members to support us in any way they can,” George said.
To find out more visit their website – www.aquaatlanticaustralia.com – and follow them on Facebook @aquaatlantic2020 – and Instagram @aquaatlantic.
Just four months after forming, Musos 4 Mates @ The Dock Mooloolaba has held their second fundraising event raising $4,128.50 for IFYS Foster Care, bringing the total raised for locals in need to more than $6,700.
The brainchild of The Dock Mooloolaba owner Jared Hart and musician and friend John Veloso, the concept of Musos 4 Mates is simple – musicians coming together to donate their time, with The Dock Mooloolaba providing the venue and local breweries and businesses donating kegs of beer to be sold and prizes to be raffled.
As The Wharf Mooloolaba nears its initial target of attracting 1 million people a year, the new Rice Boi Beer Garden is officially opening today.
The opening of the Rice Boi expansion, also comes almost two years to the day that award-winning Sunshine Coast restauranteur Tony Kelly opened the restaurant, which has developed a cult following.
“Our initial goal when we opened was to create a great neighbourhood restaurant that locals loved. I didn’t dream then that now we would be expanding to have a 400-seat restaurant,” Mr Kelly said.
“The Wharf is a great location and we really excited to expand so we can offer the river-side alfresco dining that is perfect for our region.”
The Wharf Mooloolaba co-owner Dirk Long said similarly the success of The Wharf came down to giving locals what they wanted.
“It’s almost three years since we started redeveloping the precinct and we have worked hard to create the perfect relaxed environment, as well as the right mix of restaurants, eateries, shops and activities, to attract locals and visitors alike,” Mr Long said.
“Numbers have been building steadily, particularly over the last twelve months, and we are now looking forward to our biggest summer season ever, which will take us to the million visitor a year mark.”
Mr Kelly said the Rice Boi Beer Garden would offer all the things that saw the restaurant listed in the Delicious Top 100 Restaurants in Queensland, in which it also took out the popular vote for Best Family Friendly restaurant.
“We will have the Rice Boi menu with more curries, more dumplings, more specials and there will also be 8 beers on tap including Kirin, national beers as well as some locals.
“There will be a great cocktail list as well as an Aperol Spritz menu – all perfect for the relaxed alfresco dining we have added.
Mr Kelly said internally the expansion also included more kitchen space, a dedicated dumpling-making section, larger cold room and prep spaces.
“We have grown from a team of 18 two years ago to 65 now so we are excited to open the Beer Garden and welcome even more people in.”
Rice Boi and the Rice Boi Beer Garden is open from 11.30am to 9pm daily with no reservations. Function bookings are available for groups of 20 or more.
Mr Long said 2020 would be another huge year for the Precinct as a whole, with the refurbishment and expansion of the Hogs Breath building, the Tower, the upstairs area and the opening of the Wharf Alley which would include even more food offerings,
“The Alley, which runs from the carpark through to the courtyard, will open around Easter and include a great mix of food that people can share at communal seating in the Alley or throughout the precinct,” Mr Long said.
“We will make an announcement in the new year about the eateries coming in, but it will include the reopening of Tony’s Saltwater Fish and Chippery, which closed to make way for the Rice Boi expansion.” To stay up to date on everything happening at The Wharf Mooloolaba, check out the website – www.wharfmooloolaba.com.au – and follow The Wharf Mooloolaba and Rice Boi on Facebook or Instagram.
The Buderim Village Park will once again come alive with festive spirit, with the date set for the Buderim Community Carols on Sunday, 8th December.
With pre-show entertainment from 6.00pm for a 6.30pm start, local identity Rosanna Natoli as MC along with a special appearance by Santa Claus, locals and visitors alike are invited to join in on the popular annual event, hosted again this year by the BWMCA and Buderim Bendigo Community Bank.
Those attending Foote Sanctuary for this year’s Buderim Commemoration of Remembrance Day will see considerable changes, including a new memorial to Sgt Eric Foote M.M. (Military Medal) after whom the area is named.
The volunteers who maintain and enhance the Sanctuary with weekly working sessions have constructed a new covered sign which features Eric’s life and military service on one side and background to the establishment and history of the volunteer organisation on the other.
The memorial tells of Eric Foote growing up on the farm, then going off to France as a volunteer in the First Australian Imperial Force in World War 1. He was Killed In Action (KIA) in September 1916 in a battle on Mouquet Farm near the Somme River, in France, earning his Military Medal for bravery during this action.
The Sunshine Coast Council which is responsible for major works has recently considerably upgraded the picnic and bbq area.
A 15-year-old entrepreneur has raised more than $3000 for Rural Aid’s Buy a Bale program, after installing and managing arcade games at The Wharf Mooloolaba.
Sam Pilgrim started the business venture about 18 months ago, after convincing his father Philip to help him buy a second-hand machine so he could ‘tinker’ and repair it.
The Wharf Mooloolaba and SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast will host the third of their very popular 
Family Fun Day for 2019 on Sunday, 27th October.
From 10am to 3pm on the Sunday, locals and visitors are invited to join in on any of the family-friendly activities available onsite including face painting, petting zoo, hands-on reptile display, jumping castle – all absolutely free.
There will also be free stand up paddle board and kayak hire at Sunreef Mooloolaba as well as three free river cruises with Coastal Cruises Mooloolaba.
Buderim fashion boutiques Gingers, Soul Diva and Sedgwick’s are joining forces with the Buderim Foundation to hold the “Colours of a Buderim Summer” fashion parade to raise money for the Foundation.
Gingers Boutique owner Suzanne Mailey said the parade would feature a palette of bright colours, feminine florals as well as gorgeous fabrics like linens and silks.
Sedgwick’s owner Nikki Miller said the fashion parade was the opportunity to get inspiration for the season ahead.
“Summer will see us herald a new decade so why not get inspiration with the great fresh, upbeat and versatile colours of summer. With colours ranging from violet tones to mellow yellows, this season is going to be a season of fruity fun and elegant shades.
Colours of a Buderim Summer will be held at Connections on Kings, Buderim Uniting Church on Saturday 2nd November starting at 2pm.
The third annual Bli Bli Unite Fun Run & Walk this year was a huge success breaking records both in terms of the number of participants and the funds raised for domestic violence education and victim support.
The event on Sunday 22nd September, organised by Bli Bli Neighbourhood Watch and Bli Bli Little Athletics, attracted 411 participants and raised an enormous $20,606.19.
Bli Bli Neighbourhood Watch president Edith Blanck will present the funds raised to White Ribbon Sunshine Coast and Sonshine Domestic Violence Refuges on Monday 30th at 1.30pm at the Bli Bli Boardrooms.
Mrs Blanck said $10,000 would be provided to White Ribbon Sunshine Coast, $1,000 each to Sonshine Refuge and Lily House with a further $4,000 worth of IGA food vouchers to be provided to domestic violence victims through the refuges. As part of Bli Bli Neighbourhood Watch’s Youth in Community Program, $2500 would be provided to Bli Bli Little Athletics with $2,000 to be used by BBNW directly for its programs.
