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Free information sessions hold the key to help win the Sunshine Coast Business Awards

Published on: June 15, 2021Category: News

Previous Sunshine Coast Business Awards winners are often asked what the secret is to winning the prestigious awards?

The answer many of them say is planning and finding out all the tips and tricks at one of the free information sessions held by Awards Chair Jennifer Swaine and Judging Chair Bruce Williams.

Mrs Swaine said while the applications process for the Awards was something that took a little time, previous entrants had said the process was a great opportunity to step back from day-to-day operations and critically examine their own business.

“We pride ourselves on the quality of the Awards applications process – it’s not a popularity contest, but instead entrants are judged according to a criteria, by business experts, with finalists also participating in interviews,” Mrs Swaine said.

whale-breaching-in-front-of-glasshouse-mtns-1-photo-by-katie-jackson-web

Whales here and ready to watch us humans!

Published on: June 3, 2021Category: News

The Humpback Whales are back, and the 2021 Whale Watching Season on the Sunshine Coast is set to start this weekend, presenting a special opportunity for locals and Queenslanders.

Sunreef Mooloolaba’s Dan Hart said this year’s whale watching season was set to be another fantastic one, with 35,000 humpback whales expected to travel north, and then back south through Sunshine Coast waters this winter.

Dan said the number of whales migrating north up Australia’s east coast was continuing to increase by about 10% a year, according to whale researchers.

“If last year’s season is anything to go by, we will see whales from now through until the end of the season in early November, and we expect we can expect more than 25,000 people on our whale watching and swim with whales experiences.

Buderim Foundation 2020 Grant recipents

Grants of up to $10,000 available to local community organisations thanks to Buderim Foundation

Published on: May 25, 2021Category: News

Buderim Foundation will soon be opening their 2021 Grants Programs for applications, with up to $10,000 each available to community organisations serving the local 4556 community.

Buderim Foundation
2020 Grant recipients celebrate, with COVID safe social distancing. Photo by Ross Eason

Applications open on Monday 7th June, and eligible applicants will need to apply online before 11thJuly. Successful applicants will be announced at the Foundation’s 2021 annual community grants celebration on Sunday 12th September.

This year grants can be used for projects, or organisational operational costs, that directly benefit residents within the 4556 postcode area.

The Buderim Foundations Grant application program attracted a lot of interest last year, and $85,022 in grants was awarded to 20 local organisations, taking the total amount distributed over 13 years to almost $629,000.

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Sunshine Coast Business Awards 2021 entries officially open at Small Business Month Breakfast

Published on: May 20, 2021Category: News

Entries for the 2021 Sunshine Coast Business Awards, powered by LPE, will open today after the official launch at the Sunshine Coast Small Business Month Breakfast.

Breakfast panelists and 2019 Sunshine Coast Business Award winners Peter Peter Kuruvita, Brigid Woolnough and Vicci Oliver – photo by Barry Alsop, Eyes Wide Open Images

More than 250 people will attend the sold-out celebration of Coast businesses “Bounce Back Better”, following one of the most challenging business years in living memory.

The Breakfast will see Sunshine Coast business people come together and give them the opportunity to hear from 2019 Award winners, Australian chef, restaurateur & media personality Peter Kuruvita from Noosa Beach House, Vicci Oliver from Wildlings Forest School, and Brigid Woolnough from Kokopod, about how to set themselves up for success with their applications for this year’s Awards and how they navigated COVID to “Bounce Back Better”.

Sunshine Coast Business Awards chair Jennifer Swaine said the Small Business Month Breakfast, sponsored by Sunshine Coast Council, Regional Development Australia, Maroochy RSL and the Queensland Department of Employment, Small Business and Training, was the perfect event to officially launch the 2021 Awards, with the national theme for the month, “Bounce Back Better” being particularly relevant as Sunshine Coast businesses have worked hard to not only survive, but thrive, the effects of COVID-19.

Sunshine Mitre 10 - Aura

Sunshine Mitre 10 to call new Aura Business Park Trade & Construction Precinct home

Published on: May 6, 2021Category: News

Sunshine Mitre 10 – Aura

Sunshine Mitre 10 will be the first to call the new Trade and Construction precinct at

Stockland’s Aura Business Park home, having signed a contract for three coveted commercial blocks of land.

The sale marks the launch of the new precinct within the thriving Stockland Aura Business Park.

This new purpose-designed Trade and Construction Precinct, ideally positioned alongside the Bells Creek Arterial Road which will shortly be directly connected to the Bruce Highway, will house key brands in the construction and trade industry to create a one-stop destination for all tradespeople and residents’ construction supply needs.

Sunshine Mitre 10 General Manager, Neil Hutchins said Aura Business Park’s new construction precinct provided a unique opportunity for the business to open the 20th in the Sunshine Mitre 10 network, which is this year celebrating 110 years in operation.

© 2019 Eyes Wide Open Images

Small Business Month Breakfast to celebrate resilience

Published on: May 6, 2021Category: News

The Sunshine Coast business community will gather to celebrate Small Business Month will a special breakfast celebrating resilience and focusing on how to

The Sunshine Coast Small Business Month Breakfast in 2019 – photo by Eyes Wide Open Images

Bounce Back Better.

The annual event on Thursday 20th May 2021, hosted by the Sunshine Coast Chamber Alliance, is the perfect forum to join fellow small business professionals in sharing stories of success, strategies for growth and to reflect on learnings from the past 12 months of business resilience.

Buderim Foundation chair Dr Russell Stitz with Nola and Roy Thompson - photo by Ross Eason -024 2

$5 million Thompson Trust entrusted to the Buderim Foundation

Published on: April 29, 2021Category: News

The Buderim Foundation, together with philanthropists Roy and Nola Thompson, are pleased to announce that the Buderim Foundation has become the Trustee for the Roy and Nola Thompson Charitable Trust, which will support people in need throughout the Sunshine Coast region.

The Buderim Foundation Thompson Fund will provide grants to support those experiencing financial distress in the Sunshine Coast community.  Organisations and groups that provide services for those unable to achieve a modest standard of living, due to challenges of homelessness or domestic violence, are invited to assess their eligibility for the 2021 grants program from 1st May 2021.

Buderim Foundation Chair Dr Russell Stitz said the Buderim Foundation already has a community investment fund of more than $2 million which is used to support the people who live in the 4556 postcode area.  Grants are also provided to not-for-profit organisations outside this postcode area, provided there is a benefit to those who live in this local community.  Since its inception in 2004, grants to the value of almost $637,000 have been distributed to 83 local community groups.

Damien Glanville & Jennifer Swaine

Sunshine Coast Business Awards back to celebrate and acknowledge local excellence

Published on: April 16, 2021Category: News

THE Sunshine Coast Business Awards are back in 2021 and will be a celebration like no other this year, following one of the most challenging business years in living memory.

LPE CEO Damien Glanville with Sunshine Coast Business Awards chair Jennifer Swaine

LPE CEO Damien Glanville with Sunshine Coast Business Awards chair Jennifer Swaine

While the region has fared better than most, the COVID-19 pandemic definitely took its toll on many businesses, including causing the cancellation of the 2020 awards.

But the region’s most prestigious awards are back and will be officially launched at the Small Business Month Breakfast on Thursday 20th May 2021.

Sunshine Coast Business Awards chair Jennifer Swaine said this year’s Awards, powered by local energy provider LPE, were an important opportunity to recognise excellence in business from across the region’s many different industries.

“COVID-19 has created challenges for most businesses, and this year it’s time to celebrate everyone’s successes whether it be responding and adapting as a result of the pandemic, or simply maintaining and growing their business in one of the most challenging business and economic environments in living memory,” Mrs Swaine said.

Buderim Foundation back to school voucher presentation 1

Buderim Foundation lends record level of support to local families for school expenses

Published on: February 16, 2021Category: News

The Buderim Foundation is providing $32,000 worth of $50 vouchers to support local families who need assistance with school expenses like clothing, shoes and stationery.

As part of the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) Back to School Program 2021, this year’s record amount will help up to 640 students attending Buderim Mountain State School, Chancellor State Primary and State College, Kuluin State School, Mountain Creek State Primary and High School or receiving assistance from Sunny Kids.

Buderim Foundation Director Rebecca Ramsay said this year the funds included an allocation from the FRRR of $20,000 to the Buderim Foundation. Further donations of $1,500 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.

“This is the 17th year Buderim Foundation together with our local supporters have been involved in the FRRR Back to School Program and we are very grateful for the generous financial support of everyone involved,” Rebecca said.

Suncoast Spinners Wheelchair Basketball 1

Suncoast Spinners throw open doors to invite community to come and try wheelchair sports

Published on: February 5, 2021Category: News

The Suncoast Spinners Wheelchair Sports Club is throwing open the doors to its social wheelchair basketball and wheelchair rugby sessions and inviting everyone to come find out more about the sports, and try them for themselves.

Suncoast Spinners president Bridie Kean said the club offered social wheelchair basketball and wheelchair rugby sessions every week, for people of all ages, with and without a disability.

“When people think of wheelchair sport, they sometimes assume that its only for people who use a wheelchair in their everyday life, but it can be fun for everyone,” Bridie said.

“Even at an elite level, there are people with a disability and people without any disability playing these sports because of the unique challenges and competition opportunities they provide.”

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