The GC Minute: The Hinterlander

Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month: what you can do to help

Courtney Mulder — Wed, 06 May 2026 11:05:19 GMT

A recent Be There session at Mudgeeraba Community Centre

“Together Queenslanders can prevent domestic and family violence” is the theme of this year’s Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month.

It encourages every community member to play their role in ending violence, but people may rightly wonder what exactly that means in practicality. What action…

Gamifying disaster resilience: new augmented reality missions for kids

Courtney Mulder — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 02:57:02 GMT

Children’s App Benowa Gardens

The City of Gold Coast is taking disaster readiness and resilience to a new dimension, with new interactive augmented reality (AR) missions now available in the Agents of Discovery app.

Designed specifically for primary school students aged between 5 to 12 years, these digital missions transform the serious business of sever…

The Beauty of Broken Things: A Memoir by Melissa Sharman

Courtney Mulder — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 04:00:38 GMT

“Even broken wings remember the wind. And in time, I would too – not with grace, but with grit. Each awkward take-off was proof I hadn’t forgotten how to move towards the sky.” – Melissa Sharman, 2026.

It feels strange to read a book as eye-opening, gut-wrenching, and hopeful as The Beauty of Broken Things, and somehow recap it in a few hundred words. Th…

A year defined by Gold Coast authors

Courtney Mulder — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 05:59:58 GMT

Gold Coast Authors

The Gold Coast is known for its beaches, tourism, nightlife, and fun. But below the surface, there is a thriving creative writing scene, with many of our home-grown authors becoming international best-sellers.

Here is a list of books I read this year (which were not necessarily published this year) by talented Gold Coast-based authors.

…

‘Infinitive Perspectives’ exhibition to showcase diverse artists of all abilities

Courtney Mulder — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 07:16:57 GMT

All abilities artists at the Doyles - many of these artists will exhibit at Infinitive Perspectives

Nestled in the picturesque hinterland suburb of Gilston on leafy Kookaburra Drive, sits the aptly named Kookaburra Art Studio. Founded by artist and passionate disability advocate Diana Penaloza Aponte, the art studio provides people with disabilities an o…

The Sky Called Her Home… to the Hearth Café

Courtney Mulder — Tue, 11 Nov 2025 11:01:57 GMT

The Sky called her home flat lay by @everything_inbetweenbooks

Gold Coast author B.J. Wilde launches her debut novel at The Hearth Café & Providore in Mudgeeraba

Like many Australian millennials, I grew up reading Harry Potter, Artemis Fowl, The Hobbit, and Tomorrow When the War Began. When I wasn’t busy studying at the library or drinking at the uni bar,…

Christmas Markets in Mudgeeraba

Courtney Mulder — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 10:05:42 GMT

These days, it feels like as soon as November hits it’s time to get festive- the Council trees are going up and the weather is hot.

We’ve leaned into this vibe and produced a list of all the upcoming Christmas markets in Mudgeeraba where you can grab a festive treat or do some gift shopping.

Mudgeeraba Village Market

Saturday 8 November 8am-2pm: Christmas…

Severe weather preparedness in the hinterland

Courtney Mulder — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 06:46:55 GMT

The recent Bonogin Valley Rural Fire Brigade Community Day was a chance for locals to chat with experts about how to prepare.

On Sunday afternoon, a storm hit. Monday was unbearably hot and windy, reaching 39 degrees, with vegetation fires breaking out in bushland areas. Tuesday was 18 degrees and poured all day.

It feels like we are living in a climate s…

Celebrating seniors in the hinterland

Courtney Mulder — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 06:19:34 GMT

Photo painting (upper middle photo) by Petronella van Leusden of Austinville

The contributions that older people make to our community are invaluable. According to the Centre for Ageing Better, people in their 60s and 70 provide the lion’s share of unpaid caregiving for disabled and older family members, friends and neighbours, as well as being the age g…

Gold Coast hinterland gears up for disaster resilience weekend

Courtney Mulder — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 07:15:20 GMT

Austinville Causeway

Local community groups in Mudgeeraba and Bonogin are set to host a weekend of natural disaster preparedness, recovery, and resilience events on Saturday 11 October and Sunday 12 October 2025.

The resilience drive kicks off at Mudgeeraba Uniting Church (89 Franklin Drive) on Saturday 11 October 1pm-4pm, where there will be a range of s…

Rapid Relief Team supports firies battling Springbrook bushfire

Worthview Group — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 07:45:00 GMT

RRT support firefighters battling an uncontrolled bushfire | Photo supplied

What’s happening?

The Rapid Relief Team (RRT) has stepped in to support firefighters battling an uncontrolled bushfire in Springbrook, in the Gold Coast Hinterland.

Over the weekend, RRT volunteers from Brisbane served more than 100 meals to Queensland Fire and Emergency Services …

Compassion in action at King’s Community Care

Courtney Mulder — Tue, 23 Sep 2025 07:42:15 GMT

A room full of hampers ready to be given out.

I was recently treated to a tour of King’s Community Care in Reedy Creek, as part of my day job. Shirley Skyes leads this incredible organisation with a steady warmth and enthusiasm that’s contagious. The organisation has helped over 12,000 adults and 6,000 children so far this year, thanks to the passion and…

Pedal assisted parenting

Courtney Mulder — Tue, 09 Sep 2025 03:28:04 GMT

The hinterland bike mum set up

The only form of legitimate exercise I’ve done since having children, apart from chasing them around to get ‘one more bite’ into them, is riding my trusty ebike.

It’s been almost two years since I invested in the entry-level bright blue electric bicycle, strapped a double seater bike trailer to it, and pedalled to kindy, sch…

A day out with your four-legged best friend

Courtney Mulder — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 07:26:50 GMT

Dogs were domesticated from wolves as early as 20,000 years ago, long before even the development of agriculture, when our ancestors were still hunter-gatherers.

It is a relationship that has stood the test of time to provide hunting assistance, companionship, and protection across the millennia.

Visitors enjoy the doggie market stalls

In celebration of …

Connection, conversation, and creation at Commune

Courtney Mulder — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 08:14:51 GMT

In this space, you are not a role, a title, a list of responsibilities. You are a woman. That’s enough.

I don’t know of a single woman who doesn’t have at least 10 tabs open in her brain right now. Running a household, parenting, staying healthy, kin keeping, texting people back, performing in paid work, running errands, avoiding danger in public places,…

The Doyles Art Award: Mudgeeraba’s creative heartbeat is back this July

Courtney Mulder — Tue, 01 Jul 2025 05:11:20 GMT

Doyles signage at the Mudgeeraba Community Centre

Over the past few days, hundreds of artists have been dropping off their prized paintings in Mudgeeraba for the much-anticipated annual Doyles Art Award. Some paintings have even flown in from interstate to take part in this Gold Coast hinterland tradition.

It’s little wonder that being a finalist in the …

The Magic of Mudgeeraba

Courtney Mulder — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 05:04:00 GMT

The Village Green’s ‘yarn bombed’ trees in winter

Insurance comparison service iSelect recently released its data about the best areas in Queensland for new and expecting parents to live. Factors surveyed included: proportion of children developmentally on track, number of available childcare places, average childcare costs, local healthcare system perfo…

Mudgeeraba’s new indie romance hub

Courtney Mulder — Wed, 21 May 2025 12:33:00 GMT

Tucked away in the charming and historic Mudgeeraba village sits brand-new romance bookshop Ivy and Ink. It’s a haven for the bookishly inclined, with a dark, moody, and cosy vibe, full of titles from local and international independent romance authors.

Ivy and Ink Bookshop is the latest creation from local author and internet sensation Melinda Terranova…

Tourist in my town: Hinze Dam

Courtney Mulder — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 03:28:29 GMT

When you think of the Gold Coast, what comes to mind? Famous beaches, meter maids, theme parks, nightlife, traffic gridlock, endless summer, to name a few.

What if I told you that just half an hour inland from Surfers Paradise there is a place that feels like you’re in another city? That’s what it feels like visiting Hinze Dam in Advancetown.

The stunning…

Entries are now open for the Doyles Art Award

Courtney Mulder — Sun, 23 Mar 2025 22:00:47 GMT

A selection of landscapes from the 2024 award

From 1 March to 16 May 2025, artists from across Australia are encouraged to submit their entries into the prestigious Doyles Art Award, a 10-day exhibition on the Gold Coast with a prize pool of over $33,000.

If you have a love of landscapes, can add soul to still life, or feel your fate lies with figurative,…