Buderim Foundation’s biggest ever Community Grants Celebration

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 medical suites remain available in new Westside Private Hospital

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.

Gympie locals invited to become a Mate of the Mary Valley Rattler

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.”

First Mary Valley Rattler steam train run to Amamoor

The Mary Valley Rattler is even closer to being operational with the successful first run of the C17 974 steam engine and heritage carriages on the Mary Valley Rattler line, as part of continuing volunteer driver and safety training on the weekend.

The journeys are the next vital step in final preparations for relaunching the Mary Valley Rattler, according to Mary Valley Rattler general manager Lisa Raklander.

“This was the first time the steam engine has operated to Amamoor since September 2012 when operations were suspended until vital track upgrades could be made.

“There was lots of excitement on both Saturday and Sunday at Gympie, Dagun and Amamoor Stations as well as along the route, but this was also an important stage for us in terms of our driver and safety training.

“We are now closer than ever to the Mary Valley Rattler tours resuming which will be an important tourism boon for the region, with the tours previously attracting more than 33,000 guests a year.

Ms Raklander said driver and safety training would now continue for the next few weeks.

“We continue to urge caution around the tracks and encourage parents to use the opportunity to teach children about rail safety as for some this is the first time they have seen trains on the Mary Valley line.

“We will be ready to make an announcement about when we will launch soon.”

Sunshine Coast bars unite for epic afternoon to support struggling farmers

The owners of seven Mooloolaba bar venues are banding together to present Karma for A Farmer next month, a local initiative of our beachside businesses to raise money for drought-effected farmers.

From midday on Sunday 9 September, Taps, 313 Social, Dirty Moes, Good Bar, Beach Bar and Grill, Boston Shaker and The Dock Mooloolaba, will be offering thirsty patrons the chance to make a donation to the Aussie Farmers Foundation in exchange for a craft beer.

Organising the local event is the owner of Taps Mooloolaba, Steve Barber, who said it was just one way to help out those in rural communities, many of whom visit the area on holidays.

Buderim Foundation’s Community Grants Celebration set to be biggest yet

The Buderim Foundation is set to host its biggest ever Community Grants Celebration next month, with a record amount of funding expected to be awarded to local community groups.
On Saturday,15th September, the popular philanthropy group will announce this year’s grant winners, the recipients of which are all community-based organisations providing services and support for residents in the 4556 postcode.

This year, the Buderim Foundation will award more than $75,000 to be shared by 23 community-based organisations which provide services and support for residents in the 4556 postcode.
Buderim Foundation Grant Committee Chair Lisa Edward said the event is the most important day on the Foundation’s calendar and continues to grow each year.

Mary Valley Rattler takes safety message to schools by train

The “Safety Train” will this week travel along the Mary Valley Rattler track to local schools in an effort to spread the TrackSAFE message.

Mary Valley Rattler safety and training coordinator Julia Avis said the visit, on Thursday 16 August, is not only to illustrate the importance of rail safety, but also a unique opportunity for students to see one of the Mary Valley Rattler’s fleet of diesel engines in action.

“Children always love to see trains and the meticulously restored carriages in the Rattler fleet,” Ms Avis said.

Sunshine Mitre 10 scoop annual Hardware Industry Awards

Queensland’s largest independent hardware chain, Sunshine Mitre 10, has taken out the top honour at the Queensland Hardware Industry Awards, with its Kunda Park store beating out some tough competition to win the Trade Store of the Year category.

Sunshine Mitre 10 CEO Travis Cunnane said the award was recognition and reward for the long-term investments the business has made to increase their product offerings.

“We are absolutely thrilled one of our stores has been recognized as the Trade Store of the Year; we’ve made improvements including larger ranges, increased stock levels across all departments and new and additional racking,” Mr Cunnane said.

“The Kunda Park store, like many of our stores around Queensland, has been configured to give trade customers the easiest and best possible experience in store.”

“Our undercover Trade drive through offers a comprehensive selection of Trade Timber and Sheeting Products in conjunction with the latest ranging of Trade Fasteners and Building Supplies.

“Trade customers make up 70% of our business and we also offer daily site deliveries using some of our extensive fleet,” he said.

Unique artwork donated by local artists to be raffled in aid of Buderim Foundation 2018 Community Challenge

Eight beautiful works of art representing the remarkable talent of local Buderim artists and artisans have been donated to the Buderim Foundation as prizes for a very special raffle in support of the Buderim Foundation 2018 Community Challenge.

The unique work has been produced by members of art groups comprising Buderim Craft Cottage, a much-loved artists’ collective in the heart of Buderim village.

Some of the eight pieces of artwork included in the raffle have been created by individual artists. Others have been designed and made as a collaborative effort by a number of artists.

One of the prizes created as an artistic collaboration is a splendid contemporary quilt titled “Xanadu”. Designed by the Cottage’s Patchwork Group, and constructed from batik cottons, the quilt is designed for display in a foyer or large room, although it could be used as a bed quilt.

Budding philanthropists host movie night to help fund local projects

Senior students from two Sunshine Coast high schools will join forces next week to host an open-air movie night as part of a local youth initiative from the Buderim Foundation.

On Friday 27 July, budding philanthropists from Matthew Flinders Anglican College and Sunshine Coast Grammar School will present Disney’s Academy Award-winning film Moana as part of the Community Youth Movie Night.

Starting at 4.30pm at the Buderim Mountain State School oval, the Movie Night will have family friendly activities including face painting, sack races, prizes for best dressed, popcorn, sausage sizzle, lolly bags and a coffee van to enjoy before the film starts at sundown (5.30pm).

See what Reflected Image can do for you. Contact Us Today