The first round of judging has been completed and the Sunshine Coast Business Awards are excited to announce the finalists for the 2022 Awards.
There are 143 finalists across 17 industry categories.
Sunshine Coast Business Awards Chair Jennifer Swaine said this year’s entries were again of a very high calibre, with all entrants doing a lot of work putting their entries together.
“I would like to congratulate this year’s finalists and also thank everyone who entered,” Mrs Swaine said.
The Colours of a Buderim Spring Carnival will be full of colour, with fashions fit for the Spring Racing Carnival and will include a gorgeous afternoon tea and fashion parade.
Buderim Foundation Events Committee Chair Jenny Cant said the event had been months in the planning and would be quite different from the two very successful fashion parades previously held by the Foundation, with the clothing showcased to include men’s and women’s fashions to suit all ages.
“The fashion parade will feature spring fashions from five local fashion businesses and will include a lovely, seated afternoon tea, with champagne on arrival,” Jenny said.
She said the event, which was also being supported by other local Buderim businesses, would be an opportunity for Buderim Foundation Ambassadors to invite friends to find out more about the important work of the Foundation, to support the local community and enjoy an afternoon out with friends.
The Buderim Foundation is today awarding almost $60,000 in grants to be shared by 14 community-based organisations, as part of its annual Community Grants Celebration.
The Buderim Foundation 2022 Grant recipients – photo by Cheryl Nonmus
Buderim Foundation Grants Committee Chair, Rebecca Ramsay said the Foundation was delighted to once again provide support to community organisations supporting the 4556 postcode area.
“The grants come from earnings made from the Foundation’s investment fund, so it is thanks to everyone’s donations and the hard work of our Investment Committee, that we are able to deliver the much-needed funding,” Rebecca said.
“This year we will be awarding 14 Community Grants with a total value of $59879.54.”
The special Grants Celebration will be held on Saturday 10th September at the Buderim War Memorial Hall and is a Covid-Safe event.
“The Buderim Foundation concept is simple and has three key components. Money in, where donations and bequests are received, money managed, where these funds are carefully invested and then money out, with the income from the investments distributed as grants to organisations supporting the 4556 community,” Rebecca said.
This year is the 15th year grants have been distributed. Since 2008, a total of $731,826 has been distributed to 90 community organisations supporting the 4556 postcode area.
The National Junior Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Program is coming to Murgon in the South Burnett on Saturday 6th August, thanks to Suncoast Spinners Wheelchair Sports Club, which is working in partnership with Basketball Australia.
Suncoast Spinners South Burnett Wheelchair Basketball Coach Michael Oxley said the organisation was really excited about the opportunity the program would offer to wheelchair users as well as able-bodied players in the region.
The Program will include a private training session where 15-year-old Taylor Peterson from Kingaroy will train alongside Australian Under 25 Squad member Emerald Wilmshurst, from Maryborough, and they will link in via zoom for skills training with National Coaches including Australian Women’s Junior Head Coach Janna Mizens and young female players from around the country. After the program, the girls will also participate in Suncoast Spinners regular social wheelchair basketball program.
Suncoast Spinners Wheelchair Sports Club member and coach James Hill has returned to the Coast jubilant after being part of the Queensland State of Origin Wheelchair Rugby 
League win in Townsville on the weekend.
The Queensland side claimed back-to-back State of Origin shields for the first time in their history with a dominant 49-24 win over New South Wales.
Suncoast Spinners head coach and Disability Support community project manager James Hill said the game was great preparation for the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup in the UK later this year.
With just one month until entries close, the 2022 Sunshine Coast Business are set to be another great celebration of business achievements across the region.
Sunshine Coast Business Awards Chair Jennifer Swaine said everyone was really excited this year, with over 150 businesses having already started their applications in the Awards online entry system.
Mrs Swaine said there is some work involved in preparing entries, it was a rewarding process because it allows for reflection that is often overlooked in the day-to-day of business operation.
“Our past winners and finalists all tell us the process of preparing their entries has improved their businesses because it is a chance to review what they have done, see how far they have come, and also identify new opportunities.”
The walls are up, and the roof is on as construction proceeds on a new Sunshine Mitre 10 at North Lakes due to open later this year.
Sunshine Mitre 10 GM Neil Hutchins at the site of the new North Lakes Mitre 10 store as construction progresses.
The new store will employ more than 30 staff and cater to the strong and increasing demand from the building and trade sector in the area.
The groundbreaking on the new store at Stapylton St took place in March, with plans approved by Moreton Bay Regional Council in December, and even with the record-breaking rainfall, the project is progressing well.
Need some award-winning secrets for your business? Well, they are on offer at the 2022 Sunshine Coast Business Awards information sessions which will be held across the region starting on Wednesday 15th June.
Sunshine Coast Business Awards Chair Jennifer Swaine said the Awards application process was rigorous, so each year they offered information sessions where attendees could pick the brains of past winners and get advice from experts.
“Past entrants are always telling us the benefits the application process helped improve their businesses, giving them an opportunity to take a more holistic look at their operations, rather than being stuck in the every-day functional work,” Mrs Swaine said.
Dress fit for royalty and come along to a very special celebration for Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee.
Buderim Foundation Chair Dr Russell Stitz said with people all over the Commonwealth hosting events to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II ascending to the throne at the beginning of June, the Foundation thought it would be a great opportunity to join the fun.
“The event to be held on Thursday 2nd June will see attendees welcomed by a piper as they sip Pimms cocktails or a glass of champagne on the BWMCA War Memorial Hall lawn. There will also be an array of delicious British-inspired savoury and sweet treats to enjoy,” Dr Stitz said.
The Sunshine Coast Chamber Alliance is today launching a special series of videos that explores business through the eyes of four award-winning Sunshine Coast entrepreneurs from their Humble Beginnings to Making the Future.
The series called “Let’s be Frank about Business”, supported by Sunshine Coast Council’s Community Grants Program, is timely for Queensland Small Business Month, and gives the community a rare glimpse into the inner workings of these businesses, offering tips that are relevant across all industries.
