My next guest says he disappointed his father when he made the decision not to take over the family’s farm in rural Victoria. Instead, a career in aviation lay ahead and these days my guest is one of the founders of Sunshine & Sons on the Sunshine Coast.He says that the business is not a transaction business, it’s a relationships business and in this episode, we’ll hear how a major supermarket chain helped the start-up find its feet.

Conversations IN Noosa

Matt Hobson - We're not a transaction business, we're a relationships business

My next guest has spent a lifetime involved in music. She was classically trained however her teacher at the time said she had the talent but not the discipline. My guest on today’s episode has performed in bands and entertained huge crowds as a DJ all over the world, even working for iconic fashion labels like Louis Vuitton.Everyone Has A Story and today I’d like you to meet Niki De Saint.

Niki De Saint - An exchange of energy

Mark is the father of two girls who suffer from eating disorders. He founded endED with the goal of giving hope to those suffering from an eating disorder by creating an alternative to the medical model. The first residential eating disorder facility has opened and it’s here on the Sunshine Coast.

Mark Forbes - Pulling a community together to help others

David Williamson is Australia’s most successful playwright celebrating fifty years in the arts with the release of Home Truths, a memoir, in September of this year. He and his wife Kristin were instrumental in launching the Noosa Long Weekend, now known as Noosa Alive. In this episode of Everyone Has A Story, we talk about his work, his kids, grandkids, the Collingwood Football Club, and Graham Kennedy.

David Williamson - "We had to embed ourselves in the community and do something useful."

Today’s guest on this episode of Everyone Has A Story has been the principal of Sunshine Coast Grammar for many years. As a parent, I really enjoyed this chat, we talk about the impact of social media on kids, online bullying, why a cookie-cutter approach to teaching is not an option for students at Sunshine Coast Grammar and we discuss how the school is helping raise kids today that will turn into the positive community leaders of tomorrow.Everyone Has A Story and today I’d like you to meet Maria Woods.

Maria Woods - What I say, is what I do!

My guest on today’s episode of Everyone Has A Story is a guy whose parents were both Maltese. He lost his mum when he was only eight years of age and his passion for the 1960s and the 1970s, his collectibles, his music, the films he’s collected, and his cars, all remind him of his late mum. He’s got all of this incredible memorabilia together in what most blokes would describe as the ultimate ‘man cave’ on a property that he and his wife Lisa Curry, are preparing as a Sunshine Coast hinterland retreat called, Mali Retreat.He’s an entertainer who brings the music of Elvis, Tom Jones, John Lennon, and many others to life up on stage.Everyone Has A Story and today I’d like you to meet Mark Tabone.

Mark Andrew Tabone - Walk A Mile In My Shoes

Lisa Curry has been a recognised name, or brand if you like for 40 years. From gold medal performances in the pool to launching her own business, Happy, Healthy, You and now she’s preparing a new site with her husband Mark Tabone, a property in the Sunshine Coast hinterland called Mali Retreat. Lisa’s experienced the highs and the tragic lows. Everyone Has A Story and Lisa has a few to share with us in this episode of our podcast.

Lisa Curry - A life in the spotlight

A great story of resilience and of never being afraid of getting your hands dirty. From establishing the Solbar in Maroochydore to the newly opened Rooftop Bar and now onto brewing with Diablo Co Queensland, Dimi has seen and done it all!

Dimitris Limnatitis - I get knocked down, I get back up again.

Tony Kelly is a well-known Sunshine Coast business owner and entrepreneur who first made his mark in Maroochydore about two decades ago with the iconic Wine Bar. His brain is always at work thinking up new ideas and new business opportunities and I think this chat offers a wonderful insight into how this local identity 'ticks'. We talk about the COVID shut down last year and why he dove headlong into launching new business ventures just as local restrictions lifted, while others were paralyzed to move. 

Tony Kelly - Hospitality is simply all about maths

The story may be a familiar one, your parents or grandparents grow older, their health deteriorates, and a nursing facility is where they spend their final days.But have you ever wondered where you end up if say you’re a teenager or twentysomething and you need ongoing care?Youngcare is an organisation that recognised that there was work to be done in that area.Anthony Ryan is the CEO of Youngcare.

Anthony Ryan - There's still work to be done.

About twelve months ago Clare Stewart was elected Mayor of Noosa and she became the first female Mayor in Noosa Council history. However, that’s not what’s remarkable about Clare. Twenty-one years ago, in Sydney, Clare was struck by a truck with her legs pinned under the weight of the truck for more than half an hour. She was conscious the whole time. The accident and Clare’s recovery are detailed in her book Standing On My Own Two Feet, and what you’ll hear with our chat here is the story of someone who overcame the odds, continued to pursue a professional career in law, and then eventually found her way into local government.

Clare Stewart - Noosa's first female Mayor

For Gudanji people, only a select few are storytellers. It’s a testament to Ryhia Dank’s skill as an artist, that someone so young, has become one of those storytellers, depicting the neutral, natural tones of her traditional land, Gurrinjiny, together with the brighter colours that surround her, here on the Sunshine Coast.

Ryhia Dank - Storyteller

Opening and successfully running your own business is one thing. Doing it when you’ve been diagnosed with epilepsy, cerebral palsy, and autism is an achievement that deserves recognition and much respect. A year ago, my next guest was out of a job and out of options. Today he’s operating a successful coffee shop on the Sunshine Coast.Everyone has a story and I’d like you to meet Harrison Hedges.

Harrison Hedges - Espresso Love

If you Google the name Ashton Wood and the brand Jeep, you’ll discover that my next guest had a protracted ‘beef’ with Jeep over a vehicle that he called a ‘lemon’.The relationship between Ashton and Jeep is a lot better these days, in fact, Jeep dealerships are helping Ashton with a project, getting unwanted mobile phones into the hands of victims of domestic violence.Everyone has a story and today I’d like you to meet Ashton Wood.

Ashton Wood - Discovering your purpose

My next guest’s adventurous spirit saw her leave her rural setting in the north of England and settle in Australia when she fell in love with an Aussie bloke which resulted in her mum promptly buying an airline ticket to head down under to see what all the fuss was about.A back injury many years ago was the catalyst for Julia to start painting and the walls of her gallery on Gateway Drive, Noosaville are full of bright inspirational work.And that’s where we met to record this podcast.Everyone has a story and today I’d like you to meet Julia Carter.

Julia Carter - "I never felt like I fitted in"

Everyone has a story! Unearth the story behind the lives of those that call Noosa, Queensland home. Conversations In Noosa will inform, indulge and inspire!

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Conversations IN Noosa

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