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Buderim Foundation Commits $32,000 For Students In Need

Buderim Foundation announced in February 2021 that it will be giving away $32,000 worth of $50 vouchers to help local families who need assistance with school expenses such as clothing, shoes, and stationery.

It’s part of the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) Back to School Program, which aims to assist over 640 students from Buderim Mountain State School, Chancellor State Primary and State College, Kuluin State School, Mountain Creek State Primary and High School, and Sunny Kids.

According to Buderim Foundation’s Director Rebecca Ramsay, the funds in 2021 included an allocation from the FRRR of $20,000 to the Buderim Foundation. Around $1,500 of the donations came from Buderim Lions Club, $1,000 each from Buderim Rotary Club and the BWMCA and $2,500 from the Buderim Foundation were then matched dollar-for-dollar by the FRRR, totalling $12,000.

In the past 17 years of collaboration with FRRR through the Back to School Program, the Buderim Foundation has distributed around $197,000 worth of vouchers to families facing financial hardship.

Buderim Lions President Brian McBride said: “Our Club is well aware of the difficulties many families are facing at present and we welcome the opportunity to co-operate with other likeminded organisations in providing vouchers to help ease the burden and to show that we are part of a community that cares.”

For further details about the student vouchers, visit https://www.buderimfoundation.org.au/.

About Buderim Foundation

Buderim Foundation is not-for-profit organisation registered under the Commonwealth Corporations Act. The purpose of the Buderim Foundation is to build a stronger community by harnessing the power of giving. It does this by receiving donations and bequests; carefully investing the funds to generate income; and distributing the income as grants to organisations that provide services to Buderim.

Take the Plunge At 2020 Mooloolaba Swim Festival

Photo Credit: World Series Swims/Facebook

Has joining open water swim races always been part of your bucket list? Tick an item off that list and join the Mooloolaba Swim Festival, one of Australia’s most popular annual ocean swims.

This year’s Mooloolaba Swim Festival in Sunshine Coast will be two days of fun and fitness. On Saturday 7 March 2020, the 2.5 kilometre race will begin at Alexandra Headland and will finish at Mooloolaba Ocean Swim.

Then on Sunday 7 March 2020, you can take part in the popular Mooloolaba Mile (1.6 km), Mooloolaba 3.0 and short course events. Beginner swimmers can also take advantage of a free clinic with leading coaches at Swimming Australia.

Saturday course map (Photo credit: World Series Swims)

Sunday course map (Photo credit: World Series Swims)

There will be car parks, restaurants, and licensed bars at the venues. Entry fees include:

Free Stretch Yoga Session (Sunday)
Event T-shirt or Mesh Cap
Branded swim cap
Fresh fruit at the finish line
Digital Timing with Live Online Results

If you’re going as a group, take on the new 4wesome Teams Challenge for a chance to win free team entries into 2021 Mooloolaba Mile. Children 8 years and above are allowed to join the Junior Giants.

The Mooloolaba Swim Festival is presented by Sunshine Coast Daily with partners, Visit Sunshine Coast, Engine Swim, and The Surf Club Mooloolaba. To enter and to get more details about the Mooloolaba Swim Festival, visit the World Series Swims’ website.

Latest Updates On Brisbane Road Car Park’s $18M Redevelopment

Artist’s impression of the North Elevation of the car park (Photo Credit: sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au)

Sunshine Coast Council recently issued a notice about upcoming traffic changes at Smith Street, Mooloolaba as Brisbane Road Car Park’s $18 million major overhaul progresses.

A section of Smith Street, between First Avenue and Muraban Street, will be periodically closed, from mid-February to early October 2020. Signage and traffic controllers will be present during these closures. Current woks involve:

Delivering large quantities of reinforced steel and concrete
Pouring concrete floor slabs, columns and walls for the new multi-deck car park
Use of long reach mobile concrete pumps spanning the full width of Smith Street

Because of the work going on, residents and nearby businesses should expect construction noise with increased levels expected when the concrete pump is in operation. Reduced speed limits and changed traffic conditions will be in place. Additional truck movements should also be expected as concrete trucks arrive and depart from the construction site.

Depending on weather and site conditions, the construction of multi-deck car park is expected to be completed by December 2020. Construction hours will primarily be between 6:30 am – 6:30 pm, Monday to Saturday.

About Brisbane Road Car Park

Brisbane Road Car Park east elevation (Photo Credit: sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au)

The new eight-storey multi-deck car park will increase public parking on the site from 176 spaces to more than 700 car parking spaces, with a further 54 motorcycle spaces and 50 bicycle spaces.

Design rendered by Evans Built showed it drew inspiration from the natural environment and incorporates local references of the Mooloolaba area and the Placemaking Mooloolaba Masterplan.

Based on the Council’s timeframe, works will commence on the eight-storey building structure by early March 2020 to late March 2020. During construction, Council provides a range of free on-street and off-street parking throughout Mooloolaba

For the latest updates about the project, visit the Sunshine Coast website or contact the council’s customer service team on (07) 5475 7272 during office hours from Monday to Friday 8:15 am-5:00 pm.

Sweetness Overload At The Sunshine Coast Dessert Festival 2020

Calling all dessert lovers! It’s time to prepare your taste buds as Sunshine Coast Dessert Festival returns this 15 February 2020 at Aussie World.

*Photo credit: https://www.aussieworld.com.au/*

This year’s festival is happening at Sunshine Coast’s Aussie World from 10:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 15th 2020.

Compared to the previous Sunshine Coast Dessert Festival, this year is set to be bigger, better, and sweeter than ever!

What to Expect?

Get ready to devour a variety of delectable desserts from various dessert food trucks as well as other goodies prepared by the Sunshine Coast Collective Markets.

There will be dessert pizza, brownies, waffles, chimney cakes, donuts, ice cream, dessert dumplings, crepes, lollies and so much more!

The fun doesn’t stop at the dessert food trucks and other drool-worthy stalls alone as there will be live music entertainment all day long, dessert wine tasting, food demonstrations, and loads of kid-friendly activities for everyone’s enjoyment.

Ticket Booking

Ticket for Sunshine Coast Dessert Festival 2020 is available for $10 only. There is also an optional upgrade of $30 for those who want to enjoy unlimited rides pass throughout the day at Aussie World.

To book your ticket, click here.

Be advised that your ticket does not include any dessert as these are sold separately from each vendor at the festival.

Maroochydore’s New CBD Boosts Real Estate Growth In Sunshine Coast

According to real estate analysts, Maroochydore City Centre’s development helps boost real estate growth amongst surrounding suburbs of the Sunshine Coast.

The first stage of the Maroochydore City Centre was unveiled in August 2019 after more than a decade of careful planning by the local Council and the State Government. This city-making project has a full timeline of 20 years of construction and is estimated to cost $ 2.1 billion.

The City Centre is viewed as one of the largest CBD projects to be accomplished on a green field in Australia due to its size of 53 hectares.

*Photo credit: Maroochydore – The Bright City/ Facebook*

According to SunCentral’s CEO, John Knaggs, once the entire CBD is complete, it would strengthen the entire region by providing sustainable infrastructures for the purpose of commercial, retail, residential, and civic uses.

Included amongst infrastructure developments that are soon to rise in the region are the expansion of the Sunshine Coast Airport and the completion of the Sunshine Coast University Hospital.

*Photo credit: https://www.health.qld.gov.au/*

“Maroochydore’s CBD will be at the heart of a region where unprecedented investments in private and public infrastructure are being made,” said Knaggs.

“Maroochydore’s new CBD is expected to create more than 15,000 permanent jobs on the Sunshine Coast and bring in more than $ 4.4 billion to the local economy.”

Real Estate Growth in Sunshine Coast Suburbs

With Maroochydore City Centre slowly taking shape, the demand for real estate in nearby Sunshine Coast suburbs has significantly increased.

*Photo credit: https://www.maroochydore-city.com.au/*

real estate report by analyst Terry Ryder shows a 37% increase in average property prices in the suburbs of Sunshine Coast last 2019. Specifically, Twin Waters suburbs grew 21%, Mooloolaba by 14%, Sunshine Beach by 37%, and Doonan by 19%.

“The new CBD is at the heart of this growth. It provides a center for the growing economy and employment opportunities of the Sunshine Coast while helping to boost housing price increases in the region,” said Ryder.

“Population growth leads to higher demand for real estate, which in turn leads to higher values.”

Enjoy Guilt-Free Sweets at Buderim’s Soul Kitchen Bakery

Satisfy your sweet tooth and fill your cravings without feeling guilty by visiting Soul Kitchen Bakery at Buderim.

Are you worried that your cravings will ruin your current diet? No need to worry because Soul Kitchen Bakery has you covered.

Located at Buderim’s Middy’s Shopping Centre, Soul Kitchen Bakery is a colourful and cosy cafe that offers a variety of sweet and savoury pastries that are as tasty as they are nutritious.

*Photo credit: https://www.soulkitchenbakery.com.au/*

Soul Kitchen Bakery prides itself on being a plant-based bakery that offers organic, gluten-free, and vegan baked goods.

This cafe is ideal for those who have food allergies or dietary requirements, such as those with nut allergies and other food-related sensitivities. All items are handmade from scratch, and many of the ingredients used are locally sourced.

It’s also good to know that all their products are available to both retail and wholesale customers.

Their Story

The idea behind Soul Kitchen Bakery’s guilt-free offerings and quirky interiors came from its owners—Hugh and Shirley Forster.

Both Hugh and Shirley are gluten-free and plant based experts. More specifically, Hugh is a graphic designer, an environmental scientist, an avid meditator, and a Qi Gong enthusiast; whilst Shirley is a certified holistic nutritionist and an elite master in the kitchen.

Together, Hugh and Shirley have created Soul Kitchen Bakery as a vehicle to express their love for fresh, clean, and allergy-friendly food to the world.

Must-Try at Soul Kitchen Bakery

Having trouble deciding what to eat? Check out these must-try options at Soul Kitchen Bakery.

Raw Oreo “Cheesecake”

Raw Oreo is a healthier version or the classic cookies and cream cheesecake. It has a creamy white filling with a crunchy and crumbly raw chocolate topping and crust. Cheesecake lovers will definitely enjoy its right blend of smooth and crunchy texture on each bite.

White Chocolate Raspberry Muffin

A super moist and luscious muffin packed with lots of raspberries and pure white chocolate on top.

Classic Lemon Meringue Pie

Soul Kitchen Bakery’s Classic Lemon Meringue Pie has been a crowd favourite because of its mouth-watering taste of the classic American pie with a twist. This pie has a rich almond crust, gorgeous lemon centre, and a whipped cream topping made from aquafaba.

Want to know more? Visit Soul Kitchen Bakery’s webpage and Instagram for updates and full menu list.

Soul Kitchen Bakery is open from Tuesday to Saturday starting at 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.

Buderim Educator Named 2020 Queensland’s Australian of the Year

Photo Credit: Stymie/Facebook

Rachel Downie, a social entrepreneur and educator from Buderim, has been named Queensland’s Australian of the Year for 2020. She got the recognition, along with three other Queenslanders who will join the national awards ceremony in Canberra.

Ms Downie founded Stymie, an anonymous online reporting system that enables children experiencing bullying or other mental health challenges to seek support. Following a student’s death by suicide, Ms Downie decided she needed to find a way to support young people to say something when things are not right.

“After this boy died, the students came forward with what we believed was life-saving information. They told us he was bullied and excluded, that he was experiencing family violence and that he had been talking about not wanting to be ‘here’ anymore,” Ms Downie said.

She said the boy was too frightened to tell them what was happening despite checking in with him every day. “I know that if we had the details of this harm, we could have helped him,” she said.

Ms Downie with the Stymie team (Photo Credit: Stymie/Facebook)

Stymie (old word for stop) works with school communities both nationally and internationally, to connect students with their empathy and conscience so that they can, in an empowered and courageous way, enhance or change the culture of care in their school.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk commended Ms Downie for making a stand against bullying, which is a significant national problem. The latest survey revealed three in five students have experienced bullying.

“Last year she spoke to more than 83,000 students about creating a culture of care in their schools, conducting workshops with students, staff and parents covering topics such as eSafety, cyberwellness, personal safety and boundaries,” said in a media statement.

Australian of the Year Awards

The Australian of the Year Awards is a program of the National Australia Day Council, managed in Queensland by the Queensland Government. The other recipients of the award are:

Peter Dornan AM (Toowong) – 2020 QLD Senior Australian of the Year
Ashleigh Barty (Springfield) – 2020 QLD Young Australian of the Year
Adjunct Assistant Professor Nick Marshall (Mermaid Waters) – 2020 QLD Local Hero

Ms Downie, along with three other Queensland recipients will be joining those from the other states and territories for the national awards ceremony at the National Arboretum in Canberra on 25 January 2020.

Help Save Lives By Being A Blood Donor Today At The Maroochydore Donor Centre

The Maroochydore Donor Centre, together with the Australian Red Cross Lifeblood, is looking for volunteers who are willing to come and donate blood for those in need.

Did you know that one in three Australians will need blood or blood products in their lifetime—may it be due to an accident, difficult pregnancy, cancer, or other medical conditions, and yet only one in thirty Australians donate blood each year?

Australia is in need of more than 29,000 blood donations each week in order to supply the growing demands of patients and hospitals. Given these general statistics from the Australian Red Cross Lifeblood, more and more accredited donor centres are now seeking volunteers who are willing to donate blood.

*Photo credit: Australian Red Cross Lifeblood/ Facebook*

By donating blood, you get to help save the lives of those in need. A single blood donation can save up to three lives.

Blood Donation

There are three types of blood donation. These include blood, plasma or platelets. Each type of blood donation is used for different medical treatments, and a person’s blood type determines the best donation for him/her to make.

How does it work?

Blood is simply collected straight from a donor without anything taken out first. After the blood is donated, the manufacturing team separates it into three components—red blood cells, plasma and platelets—inside the laboratory.

The team also tests samples from every donation to ensure patients are receiving high-quality and safe blood products. After completing the entire testing process, donated blood products are then delivered to different Australian hospitals.

Thinking of Donating Blood?

If you’re interested in being a blood donor, here’s a checklist guide for eligibility:

Feel fit and healthy
Age must be between 18 and 75
Weighs over 50kg

You may be temporarily unable to give blood if you:

Are on certain medications or antibiotics
Have a cold or are feeling unwell in any way
Have certain medical conditions
Changed medications
Recently had surgery
Have had recent dental treatment
Recently travelled
Had a piercing

Click here to view the full list of guidelines for eligible blood donors.

Donating blood is simple and easy. Make your appointment now at the Maroochydore Donor Centre, one of Australian Red Cross Lifeblood accredited blood donor centres.

Maroochydore Donor Centre is open from Monday to Sunday. Click here to view the centre’s complete schedule and Holiday period open hours.

For more information and bookings, please call 13 14 95.

Synthetic Track of Sunshine Coast Turf Club Is Soon to be Replaced

The Palaszczuk Government has approved $2.5 million worth of funding for the replacement of the Sunshine Coast Turf Club’s synthetic track.

Since April 2008, the Sunshine Coast Turf Club has been the home of the first synthetic racing and training surface in Queensland.

The track consists of a formulated mixture of long and short synthetic fibres, rubber, silicon sand and wax. This synthetic track was also made and specifically designed for Queensland’s weather conditions and in particular Corbould Park.

Having synthetic surfaces at the Sunshine Coast Turf Club for more than a decade has resulted in a handful of benefits for both the club and its users, including minimal irrigation, low maintenance costs, all-weather surface use even in the most inclement conditions, and improved rider safety and substantial reduction in soft tissue injuries in horses.

race track — *Photo credit: Sunshine Coast Turf Club/ Facebook*

Synthetic Track Replacement

With the synthetic track showing its age, the Sunshine Coast Turf Club has presented plans for track replacement, which is estimated to cost $7 million.

The State Government has approved funding coming from the Racing Infrastructure Fund (RIF) to be invested in the club’s track replacement project, in the hope of contributing to the growth and sustainability of Queensland racing. It’s also aimed at helping the industry generate income as well as lasting community benefits.

According to Racing Minister Stirling Hinchliffe, replacing the synthetic track would result in having wider benefits for the racing industry throughout southeast Queensland.

“By working together with SCTC and the Sunshine Coast Racing Unit Trust, this investment will improve safety for horses and riders alike,” he said.

“A new synthetic track can stand up to a heavy workload than is possible on turf tracks, able to deal just as easily with too much water or not enough.

“That means we will be able to lean on the Sunshine Coast to carry more meetings when renovations are being undertaken at other tracks, or when meetings might otherwise be abandoned due to weather.”

Peter Boyce, Sunshine Coast Turf Club’s chairman, said that the new track would give the club a different stance from other racing venues.

“We have 400 horses using the track every day, so this is funding for an essential upgrade and most appreciated,” he said.

“The surface needs to be replaced urgently – it’s a racing track as well as a training track so all participants will benefit from it.

“The important thing is that it’s not just a track for us – it’s a track for the industry as well.”

Red Rooster Stores Across Sunshine Coast Reopens

A week after its sudden closure, six out of seven Red Rooster stores in Sunshine Coast are back and running, thanks to the combined effort of their head office and their administrator.

Last 15 October 2019, the owner of seven franchised Red Rooster stores—Sunstate Foods Pty Ltd— went into voluntary administration due to insufficient funding, according to administrator Robson Cotter Insolvency Group.

The company’s voluntary administration resulted to the sudden closure of these seven stores—Sunshine Coast at Buderim, Currimundi, Sunshine Plaza in Maroochydore, Noosa Civic Centre and Mary St, Noosa, and in Moreton Bay at Burpengary and Deception Bay.

In light of this unfortunate situation, Red Rooster’s parent company, Craveable Brands, immediately began working with the administrator and landlords of the temporarily closed stores.

Craveable Brands’ aim was to reopen the stores as soon as possible with all staff entitlements fully settled.

Reopening of Red Rooster

Red Rooster was able to negotiate successfully with the administrator and multiple landlords of the six out of seven Red Rooster stores within the Sunshine Coast area. Employees at these stores resumed work again after having been temporarily closed for four days.

Likewise, stores at Moreton Bay and Deception Bay are back on its day-to-day operations as well.

Red Rooster’s main approach in reopening its stores were to stabilise jobs for all affected workers and also to have little to no impact on other Red Rooster outlets within the region.

Red Rooster team members — *Photo credit: https://www.redrooster.com.au/*

It was indeed a successful community-focused initiative in re-opening these six Red Rooster stores within less than a week after its sudden collapse.

At present, Red Rooster is continuously working with the administrator and landlord of the remaining closed Red Rooster at Sunshine Plaza, with high hopes of reopening soon. The team members for this branch have been offered shifts at other Red Rooster stores for the meantime in order to ensure continuity of work for everyone.