Buderim Mountain State School celebrating 150 years

Buderim Mountain State School will celebrate it’s 150th anniversary in June with past students coming ‘home’ from throughout the country to join present students for the celebrations.

BMSS Principal Neil Jenkins said the school was established in 1875 as Buderim Mountain Provisional School on a nearby site before moving to its present 6.06ha site in 1887 in the centre of town.

“Over the years the school has grown from just dozens of students and a single building to almost 1200 students and the large campus of buildings and facilities we have today.

BMSS P & C Operations Manager Rachel O’Brien said the P &C is planning a huge “Back to Buderim Mountain State School” celebration to showcase the school’s history.

“We want to provide current students and the community insight into what school days were like for the generations gone by,” Mrs O’Brien said.

“As part of that, with the generous support of the Buderim Foundation, we have commissioned local video production company Reflected Image PRoductions to produce a short documentary talking about the school days of generations of Buderim Mountain students.

“From how students got to school to classroom lessons, sports and activities, students have been sharing their memories of their ‘school days’ and we can’t wait to see the documentary which will be premiered as part of our celebrations.

Mrs O’Brien said the celebrations starting at 9am on Saturday 21st June would also include School Tours for past students and families, an opening ceremony including the unveiling of a new sculpture commemorating the milestone, and the opening of a time capsule which was buried as part of the schools 125th anniversary in 2000.

There will also be historical memorabilia display of photos and artifacts, as well as performances by the school’s musical groups and a special Roll Call of students past and present with morning tea available. There will be a finale event on Saturday afternoon/evening for all the family to enjoy.

“We are really looking forward to seeing everyone come together to celebrate so if Buderim Mountain State School is part of your history, or you know someone who attended, please let them know about the celebration.”

To find out more about Buderim Mountain State School and plans for the 150th Anniversary celebrations visit www.bmsspandc.org/150 and follow the School’s P & C Facebook page @buderimmountainpandc and the Facebook 150 celebrations event for updates. You can also email at 150@bmsspandc.org.

Suncoast Spinners kids’ wheelchair programs launch for 2025 with new dance sessions added

The Suncoast Spinners Wheelchair Sports Club is expanding its kids reverse inclusion programs this year with a new ‘Dance to Move’ program in addition to their Wednesday night ‘Wheelchair Basketball Kids Club’.

Suncoast Spinners president Bridie Kean said the success of the Kids Club which brought together children in wheelchairs as well as their able-bodied siblings and friends had led to adding the Dance session to the program.

“Our Kids Club is great and helps the children build confidence and wheelchair skills while playing sport with their siblings and friends.

“Now, in conjunction with Sorelle Dance Studio, we are offering the opportunity for the kids to have even more fun with our wheelchair dance program ‘Dance to Move’.

Suncoast Spinners to host Australia’s largest wheelchair basketball tournament

The Suncoast Spinners Wheelchair Sports Club will be hosting Australia’s largest invitational wheelchair basketball tournament, the Suncoast Spinners T25, this weekend.

Suncoast Spinners president and Paralympian, Bridie Kean said the Open Tournament would bring together players from across the country.

“Our T25 is unique because it brings together wheelchair basketball players from beginners to the elite including several Paralympians to the same tournament.

“This means that not only is there great competition across our premiere, A and B grades, but our beginners get the opportunity to see their heroes in action and spend time with them.

“This makes the T25 not just an important opportunity to compete but a great skills development opportunity for current and future athletes as we get closer to 2032.”

Buderim Community Carols to herald the beginning of the Christmas season

It’s only a few weeks until the Buderim Community Carols will once again herald the beginning of the Christmas session.

 

 

This year’s event presented by the Buderim War Memorial Community Association (BWMCA), with the support of the Community Bank Buderim Bendigo Bank, will be on Sunday, 8th December, from 5.30pm, at the Buderim Village Park, Church Street, Buderim and the BWMCA Carols Committee has been working for months, planning the event, which will be the best yet.

BWMCA Carols organiser Andrew Butterworth said last year’s event attracted over 3,000 people, with families coming from across the Coast to celebrate together.

“This year’s entertainment is once again directed by local entertainment professional Riley Cope, and we are delighted that Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli joining us again as MC.

Riley Cope said this year’s program would feature performers from Buderim Youth Theatre, Musical Theatre Holiday Intensive and Cope Creative.

“There will also be plenty of opportunities for the community to join in and sing together,” he said.

Mr Butterworth said more community organisations were also getting involved to offer a wide range of food for sale so families could really make a night of it, enjoying dinner or some treats while enjoying the Carols.

Food and refreshments available for purchase will include a sausage sizzle from the Buderim Scout Group, hamburgers from the Buderim Rotary Club and hot dogs from the Buderim Lions Club as well as fairy floss from the Buderim Foundation. These volunteer organisations will be raising funds for their local charities. Entry to Carols is by gold coin donation, and safeflame candles and other fun products will also be available for purchase, with funds raised going to the BWMCA to help fund the event.

“We hope the Buderim community will join in on the spirit of peace and goodwill as we head into Christmas, and we would love to invite families from communities throughout the Coast to join us,” Mr Butterworth said.

“So bring your chairs or picnic rugs and come and celebrate together.”

The new Community Bank Buderim Bendigo Bank branch manager James Gibson said the Carols would once again be a great way to welcome in the festive season and come together as a community.

“This will be my first Buderim Community Carols, but definitely not the first for our bank. We are so fortunate to have such a talented line-up of performers. It will be a very special event and one which the Bank again is very proud to support,” Mr Gibson said.

Mayor Rosanna Natoli said she was looking forward to sharing the event with the people of Buderim.

“I simply adore Christmas and carols in particular. It’s not often we can come together as a community to celebrate something as pure, universal and heartfelt as the joy of sharing time with family and friends at this time of year.

“I love singing and candlelight – so to be able to combine them for an evening is simply heaven for me!”, Mayor Natoli said.

The event is made possible through the generous support of event partners including major sponsor Community Bank Buderim Bendigo Bank and proudly supported by the Sunshine Coast Council’s grants program, Hopkins Manttan Solicitors, the Rotary Club of Buderim, Reflected Image PRoductions, Cope Creative, JPG Print and Design, Fenwicks Fruit Emporium, and 104.9 Sunshine FM.

Like last year, in addition to printed programs, there will also be electronic programs available via QR code so you can get Carol lyrics on your phone or mobile device. Grab the QR code from the BWMCA Facebook page – it will be posted a couple of days prior to Carols or ask one of the volunteers at the event.

Parking close to the Buderim Village Park is available at the Buderim Mountain State School, Main Street, Buderim and will be operated by Buderim Lions. $2 donation on entry.To keep up to date with weather conditions in the lead-up to the event, stay tuned to 104.9 Sunshine FM and the BWMCA Facebook page – www.facebook.com/buderimwarmemorialcommunityassociation. In the event of severe weather, the show will go on in the Buderim War Memorial Hall next to the park. Numbers attending will be limited to the hall capacity.

Buderim community to come together for Remembrance Day

The Buderim Community will come together for Remembrance Day (Monday 11th November) to honour veterans with a special service at the Eric Joseph Foote War Memorial Sanctuary.

As part of a long-standing tradition a long-standing Buderim tradition, a local veteran will be honoured as part of the Remembrance Day service. This year’s veteran is the late Sergeant Arthur Scholes.

The anthem and hymns will this year be performed by the Buderim Mountain State School Senior Choir under the direction of music teacher Peter Jackson. The Last Post will be played by local bugler Ms Tess Banner.

The service will be held at the Eric Joseph Foote War Memorial Sanctuary, Park Lane, Buderim from 10am for a 10.30am service. Parking is limited so please plan ahead to park and walk, leaving sanctuary car park for those with accessibility issues.

Buderim Foundation Thompson Charitable Fund provides more than $80,000 in funding to support people in crisis

Sunshine Coast families in need, and those affected by domestic violence, will receive vital food and rental assistance thanks to new grants from the Buderim Foundation Thompson Charitable Fund, totaling more than $80,000.

Lily House’s Jo Higgins, Buderim Foundatioin chair Rod McKinnon, Aus Living Suppoort’s Leanne and Ian Harrison, Dessi Mitzeva and Kent Roberts

The grants to two local community organisations will be announced today at a morning tea at Courtyard Kitchen in Buderim at 11.00am.

Buderim Foundation Chair Rod McKinnon said the Buderim Foundation Thompson Charitable Fund was proud to be providing further funding to Aus Living Support and Lily House.

“Many in our community are doing it tough in the current economic climate and we are pleased to be able to provide this support to these organisations who do such vital work,” Mr McKinnon said.

The grants details include:

  • $50,000 to Aus Living Support for their rental supplement program to assist 200 vulnerable Sunshine Coast residents find more permanent housing
  • $36,040 to Lily House to provide support those fleeing domestic violence including food, linen, toys, emergency provisions, and to pay for household utilities and vehicle expenses

Huge weekend celebration to commemorate 100 years of Buderim War Memorial Hall

A historical reenactment, variety concert, vintage car procession and a supper dance are just some of the huge plans to celebrate 100 years of the Buderim War Memorial Hall on Friday and Saturday, 8-9th November.

BWMCA President Errol Richardson said the celebrations were very special, commemorating the establishment of the memorial to those who served and died to defend our values and way of life, as well as the 100 years of community events and activities held since it was built.

“The Buderim War Memorial Hall is very special – it’s at the heart of the BWMCA and the Buderim community so we have huge plans for our celebration and we hope everyone will get involved across the weekend,” Mr Richardson said.

Buderim Foundation grants provide over $110,000 for community projects

Community projects including emergency response, disability surfing, youth development and theatre are to share in more than $110,000 from the Buderim Foundation’s 2024 Community Grants Program.

The Buderim Foundation 2024 Community Grant recipients. Photo by Cheryl Nonmus.

The successful recipients will be announced at a special Grants Celebration to be held on Sunday, 15th September at the Buderim War Memorial Hall.  The Grants Celebration is one of the most important days on the Foundation’s calendar.

Buderim Foundation Chair Rod McKinnon said the Foundation was pleased to be assisting 22 different community organisations supporting the people in the wider Buderim area in this year’s program.

Mr McKinnon said the grants were at the heart of what the local Community Foundation provided, with the grants coming from the earnings made from the Foundation’s investment funds.

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