DEMENTIA ACTION WEEK 
Dear editor,

On behalf of the estimated 446,500 Australians living with dementia and 1.7 million people involved in their care, thank you to the community for showing your support this Dementia Action Week.

Across Australia, individuals and organisations supported Dementia Australia’s call to talk about dementia, encouraging everyone to create dementia awareness, one conversation at a time.

A national conversation about dementia is made up of thousands of smaller ones – in GP clinics, workplaces, community halls, places of worship, family homes.

Every conversation about dementia tells someone they can speak up. That they’re not alone. And that help, and people who understand, are closer than they think.

For tips and information on talking about dementia, please visit dementia.org.au/get-involved/dementia-action-week

For support at any time, please call the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500 or visit dementia.org.au. It’s free, confidential and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Merran Kelsall AO,
Chair, Dementia Australia.
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GOOD NEWS THANKS 
Dear editor,

Hello, a big shoutout, hugs, and all things wonderful to the lady who paid for my shopping a few days ago. I am an older male and did my shopping at one of the big shops. At the register, I  realised there was too much in the trolley, so I reached for the phone to transfer money from the secret beer/chocolate account to the shopping account.

With the queue growing with impatient shoppers, I stood aside while attempting to make a simple transfer. Eventually, the on-screen notice advised, “Our online banking is experiencing some difficulties; try again later.” Now the obvious thing to do here is to take stuff out of the trolley so that you have the cash to pay for what you really need.

While looking at the phone and the trolley, the checkout person said, “You’re good to go; it’s been paid for.” At the register, a bespectacled lady now known as my Super Fairy Godmother (SFG) looked at me smiling, “I have enough, don’t worry about it.”

SFG was wearing a grey polo-style top with the word Coolum embroidered on the right-hand side. Was it Coolum CWA, Coolum Northshore Coast Care, the Residents Association, or maybe the Coolum Silly Shoppers Saviours, whoever you are, thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Charlie Brookfield,
Mudjimba.
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PRAISE FOR TEACHERS
Dear editor,

Every few months, another report tells us what teachers have been saying for years: the profession is running on fumes. One in three plan to leave early. Seven in ten say their workload is unmanageable.

None of this shocks anyone who’s ever stood in front of thirty teenagers and one wheezing air conditioner. I did it with no air‑conditioner — character building, apparently!

The usual fixes get trotted out: better pay, smaller workloads, clearer career paths. But new research points to something deeper — something we’ve ignored for far too long.
When teachers are happy, students learn more. Not in a fluffy, “good vibes help” way.

Properly. Measurably.

Higher teacher confidence, motivation, job satisfaction, even just a positive mood — leads to better grades, stronger student motivation and greater belief in their own ability.

And when teachers are stressed, burnt out or running on empty, student outcomes slide.

It’s hardly surprising. A supported teacher has patience to spare. Creativity to draw on. Enough emotional oxygen to laugh when the projector dies for the third time before recess. They can notice the quiet kid who suddenly shines, or the struggling one who needs a gentle nudge. Their wellbeing becomes part of the classroom’s emotional climate — invisible, but powerful.

So let’s stop framing teacher support as charity or crisis management. It’s an investment in the kids in those classrooms — the ones who notice far more than we adults think.

If we want students to thrive, we need teachers who can breathe. Who can cope. Who can remember why they loved teaching in the first place.

Happy teachers don’t just make better days. They make better futures.

Garry Reynolds,
Peregian Springs.
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SILENT D&FV VIGIL 
Dear editor,

On Monday, September 28, we held a silent vigil outside the Hon Dan Purdie MP’s office to highlight our despair at the rising number of deaths and injuries from domestic and family violence.

I would like to thank the good local men who joined us. A father and son were also compelled to stand and say “enough!”

We also had the opportunity to engage with a number of Coolum youth.

We hear so much about all that is wrong with young people.

I want to say the opposite. As this group walked past, they made supportive gestures. A little further down the path, they had some louder (still supportive) things to say.

I asked if they would come back so we could talk about it all. They did. They were so respectful; they understood fully the reasons we were quietly being there and how sometimes loud young male voices and bodies can seem aggressive.

All of us women gathered were highly impressed. They were interested, wanted to understand and engaged.

We wished them well and continued our vigil, which received a lot of support from passers-by.

Young people are worth our time and effort always.

Jo Justo,
Coolum Beach.
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FRENCH STUDENTS  
Dear editor,

What is happening in France indicates a complete breakdown of “western culture”. A $54 billion cut to a country’s education system is a complete and utter abomination!

No decent society would undertake such an act of complete sabotage or show such utter contempt for the next generation.

And when these students react with understandable fury – what’s the response? Tear gas and truncheons! Like something out of the dark ages!

Dylan White,
Coolum Beach.
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TWIN WATERS WEST  
Dear editor,

The controversial planned residential community project, Twin Waters West land release, with 84 homesites selling from $ 1.15 million, is sold out. The next stage will range from $ 1.17 million, with larger lots, some of which have larger, premium river frontages.

Rates will bring a windfall for this council after years of lower-priced homes and homesites north of the Maroochydore River. Formerly, this large 104-acre development was waterlogged and home to many kangaroos. The second stage is already underway, making over a million from each homesite, which has set a precedent for land sales in the Pacific Paradise/ Mudjimba/ Twin Waters Region.

Meanwhile, established locals are subjected to the noise, the continual array of trucks and equipment scattered over the area.

Roadworks planned will create disruption to David Low Way, which has been a bottleneck for decades from Coolum to Pacific Paradise. Vegetation has been cleared by council, while water and sewerage services are relocated.  It’s a plan since 2008, but twice rejected by council and subjected to 100 conditions, approving 450 homesites finally in 2023.

As for local feedback, locals are concerned about the reality of so many residential homesites. The historic David Low Way could not cope with the vehicles before, and how will this new construction be accepted locally?

Where did the kangaroos go, and how will the new development cope in our very wet seasons? Profit before people is the unconscionable aim of the council.

E. Rowe,
Marcoola.
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CORRUPTION REPORTING  
Dear editor,

Having lived through the Joh era, it was disconcerting to learn that the Crime and Corruption Commission’s annual report revealed that the CCC had assessed 6,198 corruption complaints in 2025-26 and subsequently referred 4,244 back to the agency concerned, including the police, local government and public service departments.

Only 20 were retained for the CCC to investigate.

The CCC annual report also stated that the number of corruption complaints has been steadily increasing, up about 47% in the last four years.

University of the Sunshine Coast criminology professor Tim Prenzler said the statistics showed the state was still operating a “discredited” approach, “facilitating misconduct through impunity.”

It has been reported that police have robust systems when it comes to complaints about police – that does not seem good enough.

Will we learn from the mistakes of the past, or learn from history and scrutinise every allegation of misconduct?

Justice must be done, and it must be seen to be done.

Robyn Deane,
Nambour.
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DONATIONS  
Dear editor,

Is it true that “You can’t take things with you” spoken by one of Australia’s billionaires who is donating generosity and hope, plus $520 million in cash and shares?

In a truly noble action, these millions should go to vulnerable children, First Nations and women because “the greater the dividend for the society where they live!”

Margaret Wilkie,
Peregian Beach.
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COOLUM LAKES  
Dear editor,

I trust that the Halpin Property Group, the developer behind the proposed 832 dwellings (up from 700), proposal at “Coolum Lakes”, has provided for a budget to raise the height of South Coolum Road so that residents will be able to access their flooded houses at times of extreme flooding when this road becomes totally submerged?

Also, when assessing this DA, the Sunshine Coast Council should be aware of the mess of unfinished work left behind by the Halpin Group with their proposed development at Paradise Palms (the Palms), north of Cairns!

Richard Payne,
Yaroomba Beach.
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THANKS CR BUNNAG 
Dear editor,

A big thank you to the Sunshine Coast Council and our local councillor, Taylor Bunnag, for our new pathway at Melville Court, Mount Coolum. The contractors did a terrific job as well.

The pathway has made it much safer for wheelchair access, as well as for prams and all other pedestrians. There was originally limited visibility, with busy traffic coming in and out of the court and because of parking on both sides, which went down the narrow and curved road of the court.

As we are close to the base of Mount Coolum and the climbing track, there is much more parking here than in other areas. This work and new pathway are very much appreciated.

Joy Bourke,
Mount Coolum.
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