1st January 2025

HAPPY NEW YEAR - 2025 has arrived

This photo was taken this morning as soon as the sun appeared through the fog. Approx. 640am, Kookaburras were beside themselves with laughter just as the photo was being taken. A happy welcome to 2025!  

 Earlier in the morning another Conondale lady photographed the glorious sunrise seen, above the clouds, from on top of The Range. 

                                    

           She had a kookaburra watching and laughing as well!  

What a lovely beginning to 2025

 many hands make light work - Conondale community matters - share, care, tread softly

 ALL WHITE CROCUS flower blooms have now died. NO sign of any floods coming our way.  

The Weather Bureau has forecast storms for tomorrow evening - New Year`s Eve - in South East Qld. including the Sunshine Coast. 

According to Mother Nature we should have nothing to worry about! Well at least no major storms, though Conondale maybe hit by a fast moving storm.

Nice way to end the year ?! 

            POSSIBLE VERY HEAVY RAIN                              in approximately 3 days time

The White Crocus have started to flower - WARNING - likely to have heavier flooding than just flash-flooding starting in about 3 days time. Maybe a very wet soggy New Year!

IF the weather reports in a couple of days, do in fact, also predict a deluge, then it would be a good idea to stock up on medicines, easy to cook edibles (on a gas burner),fill gas bottles and water bottles and a couple of toilet flushing buckets of water. Also make sure your car has a full tank of petrol. Check radio and torches and keep your phone and computer charged. Also check on neighbours if in fact we are flooded for a few days.

It is better to be safe, than sorry. 

The weather nowadays is often unpredictable with sudden changes in wind and rain patterns. In the past power has been cut, as well as the roads cut, off for a few days. 

Please Note:

Only a few White Crocus have bloomed. Usually all come in flower, but so far they have not. So

It will be interesting to see if a huge rain event does happen. 

                                  

When very heavy flooding is going to happen we usually also see turtles crossing the Maleny - Kenilworth Rd. near the Conondale Memorial and Recreation Park (Green Park) and sometimes on the flats near the bridge over the Mary River. They temporarily move to drier land.

 

       HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO CONONDALE

More rain is coming. Our beautiful Mary River is happy along with her friends - turtles, fish, frogs, dragonflies and all other wildlife including the birds, lizards etc.  

Rolling hills, dressed in dazzling green, are teeming with life. Creation`s song rings loud. 

We hope everyone also has a wonderful Christmas and New Year.

Cheers, 

The Conondale Community Matters Blogspot crew

many hands make light work - Conondale community matters - share, care, tread softly

                STORM LILLIES ARE FLOWERING

 

When the storm lillies are in flower, a storm is on the way. Even     when humidity is low, if a storm is on its way, the lillies will appear. The grass-like leaves first pop up, followed by the gorgeous pink flowers. The lily is also known as rain lily. zephyr lily, or rose amaryllis.

When huge floods are coming the beautiful Zephyranthes candida - White Crocus suddenly pops up. First their grass-like leaves appear followed by small white flowers. Time to stock up with food etc.!

These are not in flower at the moment - sleeping. When they do wake -up and bloom I will take a photo of them and post it. 

So, NO major floods in sight, though we may have roads under water in some areas. 

To check out if the Maleny-Kenilworth Rd is under water at Minchenton Gully (it can suddenly be under and usually clears in an hour or two) go to:

https://disasterhub.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/#Dashboard 

and click on Road Closures - cameras

There is now a camera at Minchenton Gully

Conondale Community Matters acknowledges the traditional custodians of Conondale and the Upper Mary River Valley, and pay respect to their elders past,  present and emerging

           END OF YEAR COMMUNITY CUPPA

              Everyone had a fabulous morning

               

     Community Morning Cuppa recommences                       the 1st Monday of February 2025. 

                           See you in Feb.  

                          Happy Holidays

       many hands make light work - Conondale community matters - share, care, tread softly

 

KENILWORTH SHOW & RODEO 

Date: 21st September from 8am

Cost: Adults $20.00, children $5.00

A fabulous family fun day with many events including dog jumping, horse events, chainsaw ripping, bull and bronc rides, roping, barrel races, steer wrestling etc.

 COMMUNITY WILD DOG BAITING

7th September - 15 October

Wild dogs can result in livestock losses, attacks on domestic pets and the loss of native fauna including koalas. 

Conondale, Cambroon and Elamon and Kidaman Creek are included in this dog baiting program.

For more information please contact

Sunshine Coast Council

E: mail@sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au

pH: 07 5475 7272

many hands make light work - Conondale community matters - share, care, tread softly

INVASIVE PLANT & ANIMAL WALKS and TALKS CONONDALE

Sunshine Coast Council  Biosecurity Education Program

When: Friday 6th September 9am - 11.30 am

Where: Green Park Reserve, Conondale

Why attend? Learn about the significant impact invasive plants and animals are having on our wildlife, farm animals and the functioning of ecosystems.  

We live in the headquarters of the Mary River Catchment. The Mary River is home to these threatened species - the Mary River Turtle, the Giant Barred Frog, the Mary River Cod and the Lungfish.

Council officers will be available throughout the morning to talk to you about invasive plant and animal identification and management and council services to assist you in managing invasive species at your place.

Morning tea will be provided

More info: Sunshine Coast Council  Ph 5475 7272

many hands make light work - Conondale community matters - share, care, tread softly

 

 MINCHERTON GULLY 

FLOOD CHECK

There is now a camera observing Mincherton Gully on Maleny - Kenilworth Rd. This gully often gets flooded in wet weather.

To check if road is flooded go to

https//qldtraffic.qld.gov.au/cameras.html

or Google   Qld traffic cameras

Updates are every 30 minutes from 6am - 6pm

Conondale Community Matters  pay respects to the Gubbi Gubbi people who are the traditional custodians of this land on which we all play, work and live. We also pay our respects to the past, present and emerging elders who continue to care for, and share their knowledge of, Mother Earth 

SWAP & SHOP at Community Cuppa Mornings 

Ist Monday of the month 10am-12MD in Conondale Community Hall 

RECYCLE your clothing that is in good repair

Shopping is by gold coin donations. Please put your donations in the community cuppa tin. This money goes towards serving our community. Thank You

many hands make light work - Conondale community matters - share, care, tread softly

 Have Your Say

The Sunshine Coast Council has invited us all to have our say

Sunshine Coast Council is preparing a Concept Plan for Maleny District Park and is seeking community input to help shape the plan. 

Our Sunshine Coast Council is seeking our input to understand:

• How you would like to use the park
• How you would get to the park
• What you would like to see included in the park
• What are your priorities for the development of the park; and
• What is the look and feel you want for the park.

Let us all put our thinking caps on and help produce an outstanding District Park  - a brilliant Park for EVERYONE to find joy and relaxation. Activities for children and adults, interesting wheelchair friendly  footpaths, and beautiful landscaping, maybe walking distance from shops??????????????? 

We can make a difference by giving the Council our thoughts and feelings of what we would individually love to see/use in the Park !

Please go to:

https://haveyoursay.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/maleny-district-par

 Small Schools Sports Day

CONONDALE PRIMARY SCHOOL recently hosted the annual small schools sports day, and what a fabulous fun day it was! 

Blue skies, and sunshine, graced the day as children from other small schools participated in many events and made many new friends.

MALENY SHOW PRIZE WINNER 

Maleny Show Prize Winner – Two first and Two second Prizes

Conondale prize winner Allan Noon moved to Conondale in 2021. His childhood was spent in Brisbane where his family finally settled in Carina Heights and where Allan lived for 54 years.

As a child Allan, being the eldest of five children, was expected to help out at home. To Allan`s delight his mother Margaret taught him the basics of sewing so he could assist her with mending using the old treadle Singer sewing machine. It was during these early days that Allan`s interest in costumes and fashion was first ignited through his love of watching old movies on the television and seeing all the beautifully designed costumes. 

Allan soon started to dabble in making clothing for his younger sister and buying hats from op shops that he creatively transformed into vintage hats. His love of design and creative costume making has continued to be his hobby since those early days.

    

“ When I moved to Conondale my creative ideas suddenly magnified. The environment, and the craft shops and art galleries in the Hinterland, has inspired me. This year I thought I would enter some of my creations in the Maleny Show and to my surprise I won two firsts and two second prizes! This has inspired me to be even more creative”

Allan does not make professionally clothing, costumes and hats although, over the years, he has sold some of his fabulous hats. Allan sometimes attends Conondale`s Crafty Cackling Crones monthly gatherings and also loves the Community Cuppa mornings where all sorts of community connections are made. We are lucky having him joining us in Conondale. Well done. Great creations.

 MARY RIVER CATCHMENT

The Upper Mary River Catchment area for the Mary River needs to be protected and preserved as all ground water flows into the incredible Mary. Conondale is the headwaters of the Mary,

Watch the whole video to learn a bit about the Mary and the dedicated `catchment` volunteers who are helping to preserve the water creatures unique to the Mary.

YouTube channel : bmrg4nrm  (Burnett Mary Regional Group)

`Our Last Chance`   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXUcAVntqXM

It is REALLY worthwhile checking out the Mary River Coordinating Committee   https://mrccc.org.au/

There is a wealth of fantastic information, workshops, fact sheets and videos etc. for you to peruse and enjoy.

The MRCCC gratefully acknowledges the support of the Sunshine Coast Council, Noosa Council, Gympie Regional Council and Fraser Coast Regional Council, the Australian Government Department of Environment, Seqwater, the Burnett Mary Regional Group, the Queensland Department of Main Roads, the Department of Environment and Science, HQPlantations and landholders throughout the Mary Catchment.

DONATIONS TO THE MARY CATCHMENT PUBLIC FUND ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE

Mary River Catchment
Coordinating Committee

Phone: (07) 5482 4766
Email: admin@mrccc.org.au

Conondale Community Matters acknowledges the traditional custodians of Conondale and the Upper Mary River Valley, and pay respect to their elders past,  present and emerging

 TWO MORE FIRIES FOR THE UPPER MARY

CONGRATULATIONS to Tracy Lewis and Beau McKnight who are now fully fledged fire-fighters with Conondale and Crystal Waters Fire Brigades.

WELL DONE LADIES and a huge THANK YOU for volunteering to serve our Upper Mary community.

many hands make light work - Conondale community matters - share, care, tread softly

 

Council`s PROPOSED DARK SKY RESERVE will encompass the Mary River catchment and adjoining State protected areas within the Sunshine Coast local government area.

The area includes Maleny, Mapleton, Montville, Witta, Flaxton and CONONDALE

Council`s survey lets us HAVE OUR SAY. The survey ends on SUNDAY 16th JUNE

For details re proposal and how it will effect Conondale and the Upper Mary Valley, plus the survey, go to:

https://haveyoursay.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/dark-sky/

Conondale Community Matters acknowledges the traditional custodians of Conondale and the Upper Mary River Valley, and pay respect to their elders past,  present and emerging

 Conondale Valley Association (CVA)

WOULD LIKE TO INVITE EVERYONE TO:

ANZAC DAY AFTERNOON TEA

At Conondale Memorial Recreation Park (A.K.A. Green Park)

Maleny-Kenilworth Rd.

THURSDAY 25th APRIL 2024  from 2pm - 5pm

TEA & COFFEE will be provided

BYO Drink (NO ALCOHOL please)

BYO Plate of goodies to share ( if you can )

BYO chair/s

MEET UP NEAR THE CREEK

😀  We look forward to seeing you there  👪😀

Conondale Community Matters acknowledges the traditional custodians of Conondale and the Upper Mary River Valley, and pay respect to their elders past,  present and emerging

THE WAM GUIDE - to Reuse, Repair and Recycle Household Items

WAM stands for Waste Action Maleny a non-profit community group focused on developing, and supporting, a range of initiatives to inform, educate and empower local people to find local solutions to the global problem of waste and its many related issues. 

WAM CONTACT : 

Contact – wasteactionmaleny

waste action maleny

https://wasteactionmaleny.org › contact

EMAIL US. You can reach us by email here. FACEBOOK GROUPS & PAGES. You can also join our Facebook group called WAM Waste Action Maleny where you can share

Sunshine Coast Council also has a booklet/guide about waste and recycling.

NB.Council`s booklet/guide is available at the monthly Conondale Cuppa in the Hall 1st Monday morning of the month.

Cheers,

 many hands make light work - Conondale community matters - share, care, tread softly

EASTER MONDAY COMMUNITY CUPPA  -  IN THE HALL 1st April 2024

CATCH-UP, MEET OTHERS, LAUGH, SHARE - ENJOY

 10am - 12MD  BYO a plate of goodies (if you can) to share

 ALL WELCOME

 

PAST CUPPAS

LOCAL ELECTIONS this SATURDAY 16th MARCH

Voting at Conondale State School and at Maleny High School 8am-6pm

EARLY VOTING Maleny Community Centre commencing 4th March Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm 

WE ARE IN DIVISION 5

 CONONDALE CUPPA Monday 4th March

                      A terrific way to meet others in our community.

                                            ALL WELCOME

                                    your chance to

        MEET OUR CANDIDATES for Division 5

     

                     WHEN?  Tuesday 20th February

               TIME?    6.00pm

               VENUE?  Maleny Community Centre

       

        COUNCIL ELECTION Sat MARCH 16th

 

SPORTS & REC CLUB COMMUNITY XMAS PARTY

Louise Sanderson, secretary of the Sports & Rec Club, having a terrific time at the Xmas Party

EVERYONE had a fabulous time. Thanks go out to the Sports & Rec Club.