The Sunshine Coast Literary Association will host its annual Awards Presentation Night on Wednesday, 19 June, to announce the lucky winners of the 2013 SCLA Writers’ Competition.

The dinner will be held at the Fourth Floor Restaurant on the Mooloolaba Esplanade at 6.00pm for a 6.30pm start.

President of the SCLA, Kerri Jackson said we have had a great response to the competition this year, which has been open to writers from the Moreton Bay and South Burnett Council areas as well as the Sunshine Coast and Gympie.

“If last year’s entries are anything to go by, our panel of judges is certainly going to have a tough time deciding the winners,” Kerri said.

The Sunshine Coast Literary Association is a not-for-profit association dedicated to nurturing, showcasing and celebrating literary talent throughout the Sunshine Coast region.

“The Writers’ Competition was first held in 2007 and has been run every year since 2009 so it is a key part of the Association’s calendar,” Kerri said.

“The competition is designed to provide an outlet for talented writers to showcase their work to peers and receive valuable feedback from professional and accomplished writers,” she said.

“We have returned the Awards Dinner to the Fourth Floor Restaurant again for 2013. Last year’s event was a fantastic night and a great opportunity to celebrate the literary talents of writers in the region,” Kerri said.

Queensland author and journalist Matthew Condon is this year’s guest speaker. “Matthew will entertain guests with tales of this experience as the author of a number of novels and short stories,” Kerri said.

Tickets to the event are $50 per person and include a delicious three-course meal.

Numbers are limited, with the event selling out in the past, so book early to secure your place. For more information or to make a booking, please visit www.scliterary.org.

Community transport and care organisation, ComLink will mark the launch of its new Bundaberg Region Community Transport Management Pilot Project with a special event on Monday, 27 May.
The launch event will be held at Café 1928, Bundaberg Botanic Gardens from 3.30pm for a 4pm start. Local ABC radio personality, Ross Peddlesden will MC the event and Bundaberg Mayor, Mal Forman will officially launch the project.

More than 150 ladies will come together this Sunday, 19 May to celebrate the bonds of womanhood and raise funds and awareness for Bloomhill Cancer Help at its inaugural high tea fundraiser.

Tickets to the ‘High Tea for a Blooming Good Cause’ sold out within weeks with the event promising to be an afternoon of good food, sparkling wine and amazing company including WIN News weather presenter Hannah McEwan, Cr Jenny McKay and rising ‘acoustic-pop’ songstress, Lucy Hannah.

Bloomhill Cancer Help General Manager, Mervat Thompson said everyone at Bloomhill was looking forward to the event and spending the afternoon appreciating the relationships between mothers and daughters and the other important woman in their lives.

Guests will be invited to showcase their skills with a round of croquet and even capture a memory at the ‘natural’ photo booth, encompassing the spectacular Flaxton Gardens’ setting.

More than $2000 in raffle and lucky door prizes will be drawn, with all the money raised from the event going towards supporting Bloomhill’s more than 900 clients and their families affected by cancer.

Bloomhill Cancer Help is a Sunshine Coast based charity and provides support and assistance to those affected by cancer. Operated by a team of dedicated staff and volunteers, Bloomhill offers counselling, transport to appointments, respite care and a range of complementary therapies and other practical help.

In celebration of National Volunteer Week, from 13 to 19 May, Bloomhill Cancer Help i hosting a special Volunteer Day to show appreciation to the charity’s more than 500 volunteers.

The Volunteer Day will be held on Thursday, 16 May at the Bloomhill Cancer Help Centre, Ballinger Road, Buderim and invites Bloomhill’s volunteers to come together to celebrate the spirit of voluntarism.

Bloomhill Manger of Volunteer Services, Alexsandra Bert said the Volunteer Day was about acknowledging the volunteers for their commitment and support not only to Bloomhill, but also to those living with cancer on the Sunshine Coast.

“Volunteers are at the heart of Bloomhill and without them, the charity would not be able to continue to provide the high level of care to its growing number of clients,” Ms Bert said.

The Volunteer Day will begin at 10am with a workshop on Compassion Fatigue, followed by morning tea, a Share and Support Group Discussion, sausage sizzle and concluding with an afternoon meditation session.

“The day’s activities are focused on providing practical skills to the volunteers that they can apply both in their volunteer roles and also in their personal lives,” Ms Bert said.

Bloomhill Cancer Help is a Sunshine Coast based charity that provides support and assistance to those affected by cancer. Operated by a team of dedicated staff and hundreds of volunteers, Bloomhill offers counselling, transport to appointments, respite care and a range of complementary therapies and other practical help.

“Volunteering is a great way to give back to the community and can be really rewarding, knowing you have made a difference in the lives of others,” Ms Bert said.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please contact Bloomhill on 07 5445 5794 or email admin@bloomhill.com.au.

Bloomhill Cancer Help’s inaugural fundraising event, ‘High Tea for a Blooming Good Cause’ is just around the corner and tickets are selling fast.

The event, to be held at Flaxton Gardens in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland on Sunday, 19 May, will include good food, sparkling wine and entertainment from local ‘pop-acoustic’ artist, Lucy Hannah.

Bloomhill Cancer Help general manager Mervat Thompson said it was promising to be a very special afternoon celebrating the relationship between mothers and daughters and the other important women in our lives.

“Just one of the special touches will include the blooms that all guests will take home with them, thanks to the team at Manawee Garden Centre, who are generously supplying 150 plants, an assortment of pansies, petunias, violas and marigolds, so everyone will have a lasting memento of the event,” Ms Thompson said.

Manawee Garden Centre Manager, Simon Vay Roy said he was proud to be doing his bit to help a local charity blossom.

“We hope our gifts will become a lasting reminder of the event and of Bloomhill Cancer Help”.

“We’re a family owned and operated business so we’re naturally passionate about supporting a charity like Bloomhill that has a focus for helping people with cancer and their families on the Coast,” Mr Vay Roy said.

Bloomhill Cancer Help is a Sunshine Coast-based charity that provides support and assistance to those affected by cancer. Operated by a team of dedicated staff and hundreds of volunteers, Bloomhill offers counselling, transport to appointments, respite care and a range of complimentary therapies and other practical help to more than 900 clients.

Bloomhill’s ‘High Tea for a Blooming Good Cause’ is a celebration of the bond between women – mothers, daughters, sisters and friends, and aims to generate awareness as well as much-needed funds for the cancer charity.

Tickets to the High Tea are $40 per person and are available online via the ‘online payments’ section of the USC website, www.usc.edu.au or by calling Bloomhill directly on (07) 5445 5794. Seating is limited, so book today to secure your place.

Sunshine Coast year 11 and 12 high school students are invited to consider their post graduation employment options at the North Coast Careers Forum on Wednesday, 8 May.

Organised by Queensland Youth Industry Links (QYIL) in partnership with Coolum State High, Noosa District State High, Sunshine Beach State High, St Teresa’s Catholic College and the Sunshine Coast Council, the North Coast Careers Forum will be held at Coolum State High School from 9am to 11am.

QYIL Partnership Broker, Lee Shea said the forum would provide students with a great opportunity to engage with local employers and understand the different career options available in the local area.

“The forum will include group workshops hosted by industry professionals who will assist in teaching the students work readiness tools such as how to interview and contact employers,” Mr Shea said.

“It also aims to help the students determine their area of interest and highlight the importance of volunteering as a means to gain experience, whilst contributing to the community,” Mr Shea said.

Mr Shea said it was wonderful to have the support from local employers, providing such a valuable learning opportunity for students to explore their options and career paths.

Coolum State High School Deputy Principal Dr Robyn Burton-Ree said the school was extremely pleased to host the Careers forum at Coolum High School.

“We welcome schools and industry participants to this valuable event which provides an excellent opportunity for students to obtain information that will assist them in making informed decisions about possible pathways post year 12,” she said.

QYIL is the Sunshine Coast and Moreton Bay region provider of the Partnership Brokers Program, funded by the Australian Government, to build partnerships with schools, businesses and community groups and develop partnerships at a strategic level which influence the region’s response to Youth Attainment and Transition. The National Program consists of more than 1,450 active and self-sustaining partnerships involving more than 4,700 partner organisations. New Partnerships continue to form every week across Australia.

To celebrate the huge fundraising success of the Buderim Challenge, which was part of the B150 activities last year, the Buderim Foundation is looking for an artist to create a lasting memory in the way of public art.

The artwork which will ‘celebrate Buderim’s philanthropic spirit’ will be part of the construction and restoration of the Martins Creek Viewing Terrace and Creek Corridor, on Lindsay Road.

Chair of the Buderim Foundation, Paul Clark said the $220,000 raised in just the 12-months of the B150 celebrations was fantastic and meant that the Foundation’s investment fund now totalled over $720,000.

“All of the money raised for the Foundation is kept in an investment fund and preserved, so with the new funds raised it means there will be more money available every year from the income of the fund to provide grants to support Buderim community organisations.

“During the B150 year we had the fantastic ‘philanthropoles’ in the main street measuring the fundraising progress but not we would like to see a more permanent reminder of the success established.

“We want to celebrate not just this achievement, but the incredibly generous nature of the Buderim community who have raised all the money in our investment fund while also supporting many other charities and organisations,” Professor Clark said.

The Foundation is looking for Expressions of Interest (EOI) from suitable artists for the design, fabrication and installation of public artwork. A full brief on the project as well as an EOI submission form is available on the Buderim Foundation website.

EOI submissions must be received by 5pm on Monday 3 June 2013.

The Buderim Foundation is a philanthropic organisation that aims to enrich and enhance the quality of life for Buderim and its residents, past and future, by generating income and donations and bequests and providing grants for worthwhile community projects.

For more information on the Buderim Foundation, please visit, www.buderimfoundation.org.au.

Local emerging acoustic-pop musician, Lucy Hannah will be performing at a special charity fundraising event for Bloomhill Cancer Help at Flaxton Gardens on Sunday, 19 May.

Lucy will delight the guests of Bloomhill’s ‘High Tea for a Blooming Good Cause’ with her musical talents, helping to raise awareness and generate much-needed funds for the Sunshine Coast charity.

The 23-year-old Woombye local is no stranger to the stage, having already performed at several large-scale festivals across Queensland including the Caloundra Music Festival, World Youth Day and more recently, Easterfest 2013.

Having begun her singing career only six years ago, Lucy has already produced two albums including her debut album featuring Cold Chisel’s Ian Moss.

Lucy, who recently lost an Auntie to cancer, said she wanted to use her gift of singing and song writing to help people affected by cancer.

“We all seem to know someone touched by this terrible disease and I hop I can help raise money and bring some joy to people affected by cancer,” Lucy said.

“It’s great that there’s a charity like Bloomhill on the Coast that shares a focus for supporting not only people with cancer, but their families too”.

Bloomhill General Manager, Mervat Thompson said she was thrilled to have Lucy’s support for the event.

“Her talent and optimism is certainly something every cancer charity can do with,” Ms Thompson said.

Join Lucy, WIN Weather Presenter Hannah McEwan and cancer survivor and councillor Jenny McKay at Flaxton Gardens on Sunday 19 May for an afternoon infused with good food, good wine and good company.

Tickets to the High Tea are $40 per person. To purchase, visit www.usc.edu.au and click ‘online payments’ or contact Bloomhill on (07) 5445 5794.

Both of Lucy’s albums will be available for purchase at the event, with $5 from every sale going directly to Bloomhill.

Sunshine Coast-based charity, Bloomhill Cancer Help is searching for selfless volunteers to offer their precious time to work in its Cooroy Op Shop.

The Cooroy Op Shop, located at 21 Maple Street, Cooroy, is the newest one of six Bloomhill Op Shops situated throughout the Sunshine Coast, opening its doors late last year.

Bloomhill Manager of Volunteer Services, Alexsandra Bert said volunteers were at the heart of Bloomhill and without them, the charity would not be able to continue to provide the high level of care to its growing number of clients.

“Bloomhill services more than 900 clients from across the Sunshine Coast, including Cooroy and surrounding areas,” Ms Bert said.

“We are in particular need of volunteer workers for our Cooroy Op Shop, but all volunteers are welcome.

“Volunteering is a great way to give back to the community and can be really rewarding, knowing you have made a difference in the lives of others,” Ms Bert said.

Elaine Funch, one of the Cooroy Op Shop volunteers, has been donating her time to Bloomhill for more than 12 years and said there were many reasons why she enjoyed volunteering.

“Being a volunteer is great because of the sense of satisfaction you feel knowing you are making a real contribution during your spare time,” Elaine said.

“It really is a social activity where you make life-long friends with your fellow volunteers and regular customers,” Elaine said.

Bloomhill Cancer Help is a Sunshine Coast based charity and provides support and assistance to those affected by cancer. Operated by a team of dedicated staff and hundreds of volunteers, Bloomhill offers counselling, transport to appointments, respite care and a range of complementary therapies and other practical help.

Bloomhill relies on support from the community to provide valuable service to people with cancer and their families throughout the Sunshine Coast.

Ms Funch said Bloomhill were fantastic to volunteer for.

“My husband and I are both cancer survivors and we understand the value of organisations like Bloomhill and how much they are needed,” she said.

The other Bloomhill Op Shops are located in Buderim on Main Street, Nambour opposite the hospital, Maroochydore on First Ave, Mooloolaba on Brisbane Rd and Caloundra on Bullcock Street.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please contact Bloomhill on 07 5445 5794 or email admin@bloomhill.com.au.

Year 10 students from throughout the Sunshine Coast will participate in a special culinary masterclass on Friday as they prepare for the Queensland Junior Secondary Schools Culinary Challenge.

The Culinary Challenge program, being coordinated on the Sunshine Coast and Moreton Bay regions by Queensland Youth Industry Links (QYIL) in association with the Australian Culinary Federation, is an opportunity for the students – all studying Home Economics or Hospitality – to get a taste of the pleasures, challenges, excitement and gravity that can accompany a career as a cook or a chef.

QYIL Partnership Broker Lee Shea said the Masterclass at Chancellor State College, was the first of two, and would see special guests Novotel Twin Waters Spa Executive Chef Steven Forrester and Australian Culinary Federation Sunshine Coast Region Coordinator, David Tupper give the students tips to help them in the competition.

“On Friday, 44 students from 11 different Coast schools will see Mr Forrester and Mr Tupper cook and explain the competition rules.

“These great chefs will also provide students with some great strategies and skills to use during the competition,” Mr Shea said.

“In the second masterclass, students will learn about cooking techniques and incorporating fresh produce into their dishes and also be provided with more information from the judges.”

Mr Shea said the competition would see pairs of students from schools within the region compete for the opportunity to represent the Sunshine Coast at the Grand Final Cook Off at the Brisbane Ekka, against the winners of the other regions – Redcliffe, Caboolture, the Gold Coast, Toowoomba, Cairns, Brisbane North and Brisbane South.

“With over $4000 in prize money, medals and a trophy for the Australian Culinary Federation Queensland Champion Junior Secondary Challenge, competition is set to be intense and satisfying for all the students involved.”

QYIL is the Sunshine Coast and Moreton Bay region provider of the Partnership Brokers Program, funded by the Australian Government, to build partnerships with schools, businesses and community groups and develop partnerships at a strategic level which influence the region’s response to Youth Attainment and Transition. The National Program consists of more than 1,450 active and self sustaining partnerships involving more than 4,700 partner organisations. New Partnerships continue to form every week across Australia.