SEPTEMBER
PUCK’S GOLF DAY RAISES $50,000
Glenn ’Puck’ Puckeridge is the driving force behind an annual local golf day, raising incredible funds for the Smile for a Child Foundation. This year the event raised $50,000, taking their total tally close to $560,000 in 17 years. There was a packed room at Noosa Golf Club on Friday 15 September, where they handed Glenn a token of appreciation for his charity work.
CITIZENS GO PUBLIC FOR YES VOTE
Leading Noosa Shire citizens and friends went public with their support for a Voice referendum Yes vote, sharing their stories in a full page advertisement in the hope of inspiring
others. Prominent Noosa citizens lending their names and stories to the initiative included; Kabi Kabi man Brian Warner, former Powderfinger drummer and co-founder of the Sunny
Coast Showdown film talent incubator Jon Coghill, and playwright and journalist Kristin Williamson. They were joined by leading Yes23 campaigner, Jade Ritchie, a Gooreng Gooreng woman who has lived on the Sunshine Coast and returned to lend her support to the local Yes campaign.
NOOSA SHOW WAS A BLAST
Noosa Country Show was hailed a great success with perfect weather, big crowds and a huge array of entertainment, competitions, rides and activities which was all delivered at Pomona Showgrounds. Show president Rob Graham said at least 5000 people attended across the two day show, there were spectators across all exhibits and competitions and about 2000 people filled the newly constructed grounds and tiered seating to watch the Honky Tonk rodeo.
OCTOBER
SHARK NETS IN DEBATE: The entanglement of a whale calf in shark nets on Main Beach in October drove home the importance for stakeholders to bring together factual data, community education and, as a united front, find an alternative solution to the nets during whale migration to keep both humans and marine life safe at Noosa beaches. Led by Surfrider Foundation Australia secretary Caz Lansdown, Noosa MP Sandy Bolton and Noosa councillor Amelia Lorentson, a meeting was called to discuss the shark nets.
NO TO VOTE BUT CAMPAIGN ONGOING
The people spoke loudly in Wide Bay with more than 75 per cent of voters saying No to the Voice referendum, but it has not halted a growing Noosa group in their campaign for recognition and justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. In Noosa 63.12 per cent of people voted no in the referendum, which was above the national result of 60.69 per cent for a no-vote. Noosa for Yes campaign leader Dr Geoff Evans said their campaign continues. “While we did not get the result we hoped, still we now know that there is a strong wellspring of people in this community who will work for justice and a fair go for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have sustained a culture in this continent for more than 60,000 years,” Dr Evans said.
STUDENTS DRESSED TO IMPRESS
Good Shepherd Lutheran College’s Year 11 Formal event, held on Saturday night 21 October, was a memorable night for students, parents, and staff. Held at the Sunshine Coast Convention Centre, students arrived in style, some even on bikes, and walked the red carpet, dressed in their most stylish outfits. The girls were dressed in stunning evening gowns, while the boys looked sharp in their suits.
NOVEMBER
TENTH TRI WIN FOR GENTLE
Ashleigh Gentle claimed a record 10th title at the 40th anniversary edition of the Garmin Noosa Triathlon, while Kiwi Hayden Wilde won his first in a new course best time. Gentle lived up to her billing as the Queen of the Noosa Triathlon as she ran her way to victory, a 10th title and her ninth on the bounce, in a time of 1:55:13. It was an all-Australian women’s podium, with Sophie Malowiecki second and 21-year-old Richelle Hill third.
END FOR ESPRESSO
“An opportunity wildly missed“ is how Cr Tom Wegener described Noosa Council’s refusal of an application by Cooroy resident Rob Noy to continue to operate a food and drink outlet at his Bus Stop Espresso from his property at 201 Mary River Road. Mr Noy submitted an application to council to retrospectively approve his Bus Stop Espresso that serves his own and locally sourced food and beverages from a 1948 Victorian omnibus on his rural property about 2km from Cooroy.
CONCOURS CLAIM TOP GONG
Australia’s newest motoring event, the Noosa Concours d’Elegance took out the Rising Star Award at the UK-based Historic Motoring Awards at the Dorchester Hotel in London in November. The Noosa Concours won for its inaugural event, which saw Hastings Street, Noosa closed in an historic first on 15 July 2023, as more than 50 iconic and historic automobiles lined the street to the delight of motoring enthusiasts and the public alike.
TRAGIC FATAL ROLLOVER
A man in his 20s died and four others were injured when their car, a Toyota Prado, rolled multiple times on Teewah Beach. Police said the driver, an international tourist, died at the scene and four passengers, a woman and three men, also in their 20s, were transported to Sunshine Coast University Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
DECEMBER
CLASSY HELPERS UPLIFT NOOSA
It was a beautiful scene of organised chaos as more than 100 volunteers helped Santa’s Classy Helpers charity founder Lorraine Kenway prepare to open the doors of The J for their
biggest event in 11 years. With the generosity of their supporters, donors and local businesses, the charity was able to help 500 families with about 1200 children on Tuesday 4 December.
DEAL OF THE YEAR
A beachfront house which sold for $28 million on Noosa’s Sunshine Beach, is Queensland’s highest reported residential sale for 2023. The five-bedroom home on 3520sq m of absolute beachfront land at 33 Ross Crescent was negotiated by Tom and daughter Rebekah Offermann of Tom Offermann Real Estate. It is situated just 600m south of 17 Webb Road, which the company sold two years ago for $34 million, an all-time Queensland record.
RIVER CONSERVATION VITAL
River conservation and restoration activities led by community groups are still going ahead, even though Noosa Council and its joint River Advisory Committee with State Government have not yet agreed on any integrated river management plan. In November, council deferred the draft Noosa River Catchment Management Plan (NRCMP) until July 2024, despite the plan having undergone years of planning and consultation and been recommended by staff for approval.
