The Buderim Village Park will come alive with festive spirit, with the date set for the Buderim Community Carols on Sunday, 9th December.
The 2017 BWMCA Community Carols Crowd – photo by Ross Eason
With pre-show entertainment from 6.00pm for a 6.30pm start, 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.
Australia’s worst trauma, World War 1, left a legacy of sorrow felt to this day. Buderim was no exception. The tiny farming community lost ten of its young men from the 49 who saw active service.
These words are part of the address to be delivered by veteran Drew Miller at Buderim’s Remembrance Day service on Sunday 11 November, marking the 100th anniversary of the Armistice of 1918.
Mr Miller, who served with the UN in the Australian Peace Keeping Contingent in Rwanda and is now a science teacher at Sunshine Coast Grammar School, will lead the service that takes place at the E.J. Foote War Memorial Sanctuary in Park Lane, Buderim commencing at 10.30am.
Inexpensive drones are offering scientists from the University of the Sunshine Coast a spectacular birds’ eye view of migrating humpback whales.
Two times a day, three days a week, researchers are setting sail in a Sunreef tourist boat into the waters off Mooloolaba.
Tourism researcher Dr Vikki Schaffer said the drone was an inexpensive consumer-grade model chosen so that the experiment could be replicated in other areas.
“Drones offer an aerial view that is absolutely changing the game for whale research which, to date, has been challenged because of the logistics around getting close to whales,” she said.
As part of The Wharf Mooloolaba’s $10million refurbishment, some exciting new retail ventures will open their doors this week, joining a mix of cafes, restaurants, bars and recreational attractions already busy operating in the open-air precinct.
The launch of these new retail businesses is further evidence The Wharf Mooloolaba is firmly re-establishing a reputation as the place to meet, eat and explore at Mooloolaba and on the Sunshine Coast.
The historic Gympie Railway Station will be the place to be this Saturday, as the Mary Valley Rattler celebrates its First Run Day with a very special inaugural return trip to Amamoor via Dagun on the historic railway, alongside a fun-filled day of activities and entertainment.
Doors open to the free event at the station on Tozer Street at 8am for what promises to be an unforgettable start to the iconic railway’s welcome return to regular services.
Tickets for Saturday’s First Run Day are close to selling out so if you want to be on the historic first train, buy your tickets now. While you are at the station enjoying the festivities, you can also book future trips or jump online and book at maryvalleyrattler.com.au.
Highlights of the packed day-long program include musical performances from X-Factor contestant Caitlyn Shadbolt to a classical harpist, a live broadcast and giveaways from local radio station Zinc FM and a slew of children’s entertainers.
It’s full steam ahead for the Mary Valley Rattler, with the iconic tourist attraction hosting a day of festivities for First Run Day early next month after the announcement today of the start date for the historic railway’s regular services.
To celebrate, the beautifully refurbished historic Gympie Station on Tozer Street will come alive with a carnival-like atmosphere from 8am on Saturday 6th October, 2018.
Along with live entertainment from The X Factor Australia contestant and local, Caitlyn Shadbolt, a broadcast from local radio station Zinc FM, face painting, and station tours.
There will also be exclusive opportunities to be the first to ride the trains – these exclusive First Run Day tickets are $100 for adults and $50 for children and include a return ride on the train on Saturday 6th October as well as a welcome drink, a gift bag for each passenger and a First Run Day certificate.
In what promises to be the most elegant dining experience of the year, 
Lunch En Blanc, an afternoon of fine food and entertainment inspired by the global phenomenon returns to Buderim next weekend Sunday 7 October at the Buderim Memorial Hall.
After the runaway success of last year’s inaugural event, 2018 Buderim Foundation Lunch En Blanc is the perfect opportunity to celebrate with friends, and to raise funds that go to supporting the Foundation’s philanthropic activities.
Inspired by the original Parisian chic picnic, Lunch En Blanc is now a worldwide event in which people dressed in white gather in a public space and set up a temporary, chic dining area to share food and comradery.
Locally, it is a chance to dress (fearlessly!) in all white and assemble your own bountiful picnic basket to share with others amid a splendid setting of long white tables.
The Buderim Foundation awarded a record amount of more than $75,000 in grants to 23 community-based organisations today, as part of its biggest ever Community Grants Celebration. During a lively spring afternoon filled with community spirit, the popular philanthropy group announced the grants from the grassy lawn of the Buderim Village Park located on the corner of Gloucester Road and King Street.
The Buderim Foundation 2018 Grant recipients – photo by Ross Eason. Click to see link to high-res photo. Please include photo credit when publishing.
Buderim Foundation Grants Committee Chair Lisa Edward said this year’s Community Grants Celebration marks not only largest total amount of annual funding ever awarded by the Foundation, but the largest number of recipients.
“We’re absolutely thrilled to be able to award a total of $75,605 to community groups here today, in what is the 11th year of the Community Grants Program,” Ms Edward said.
Only nine of 22 medical suites remain available in what will be a hospital for the future – Westside Private Hospital – due to open in October.
Transact Property Solutions agents Brett & Matt Beamount in front of Westside Private Hospital, due for completion in October.
The Evans Long and Montserrat Hospital joint venture development, at 32 Morrow Street, Taringa, is almost fully leased and it’s not hard to see why, when you examine the building’s facilities.
The ten-storey building will not only be home to Montserrat’s newest short-stay overnight facility but represents a new approach providing patients with a more integrated model of healthcare, where everything is centred around the patient.
In addition to two floors of specialist consulting suites, the hospital floor will include four operating theatres, a large procedure room and three treatment rooms as well as Westside Haematology and Oncology, a new addition to Montserrat Cancer Care Services, located on the third floor.
Essence Medi Apartments & Suites will occupy three floors and offer an affordable, conveniently located, out-of-hospital accommodation option for the surgical and oncology patients before, during and aftercare.
The building also includes a Guardian Child Care Centre, Allied Health facilities, a café and food retailers and concierge services. There are 185 car parking spaces, 90 of which will have 3-hour free parking for Westside Private patients. The location also offers easy access to train and bus services.
With the Mary Valley Rattler soon to be back on track, the not for profit community organisation behind the prominent tourism attraction is offering Gympie residents the chance to be part of an exciting new membership program.
Rattler Mates membership is available exclusively to Gympie Regional Council residents and rate-payers and provides card holders with one complimentary train ride, a 50% discount off subsequent single fares and a range of other discounts valid until June 30 2019.
Mary Valley Rattler Chairman Ian McNicol said Rattler Mates would give members the opportunity to experience the timeless character of the Rattler’s magnificent heritage trains and a chance to share in the region’s history.
“We hope Rattler Mates will give members a sense of ownership of the Rattler,” Mr McNicol said.
“Our train tours offer a great rail journey through the Mary Valley, with spectacular scenery, that changes not only with the seasons, but with the time of day as well.”
