ABC Sunshine Coast

04/09/2026

"Our family lost our superhero."

Bindi and Robert Irwin have each shared heartfelt tributes to their late father and Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin, 20 years after his death.

04/09/2026

The sound of bagpipes marked Sergeant Kyle Bates’ final return to shore at Mooloolaba this morning, as he completed his last shift after more than four decades with the Queensland Police Service.

Sergeant Bates became Officer in Charge of the Sunshine Coast Water Police in 1995.

“It’s been a privilege to work in the water police and without a doubt, every person that I have worked with here, I have learned something from, and I will take those learnings away,” he said.

During his time as the Sunshine Coast’s search and rescue coordinator, Sergeant Bates was involved in countless operations, including searches for Daniel Morcombe.

He says while those jobs will stay with him, it is the people he worked alongside that would leave the greatest mark.

“The thing I'm going to take away after 40 years and 9 months in the service is the camaraderie,” he said.

“The friendship extends, the ranks disappear and the friendships form in this job.”

Now, Sergeant Bates says he is looking forward to finally being able to “switch off the mobile phone”.

“Next is just to kick the feet up and see what it's like to be a person that gets weekends off and what real people do on the weekend.”

04/09/2026

🐊One camera. 16 tapes and stacks of personality. This is how Steve Irwin became the Crocodile Hunter.

In this 2003 Australian Story, Steve explained how his big break came when he was catching crocs for a living in Queensland.

Today marks 20 years since Steve Irwin died while filming a documentary off the coast of Port Douglas. He was 44.

03/09/2026

🥲🐊 Steve Irwin still in hearts and minds 20 years after shock death 🥲🐊

It was a tragic day that became etched into the minds of millions of Steve Irwin fans around the globe, but the Crocodile Hunter's legacy lives on.

02/09/2026

The Queensland Police Union lodged a formal complaint with Workplace Health and Safety Queensland in March, citing severe overcrowding and unsafe staffing levels inside watch houses, including Caloundra.

Workplace Health and Safety issues multiple regulatory notices to the police service regarding conditions at the state's watch houses.

02/09/2026

Queensland Police are investigating an alleged r**e at a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre in Gympie earlier this year.

Police are investigating an alleged r**e at a Queensland rehabilitation clinic, while several former patients have also raised safety concerns.

01/09/2026

❤️'Remarkable love story' honoured at funeral for philanthropist Roy Thompson ❤️

A love story that spanned almost seven decades has been honoured on the Sunshine Coast, as the community farewelled philanthropist Roy Thompson OAM.

Stella Marist Church's Father Peter Brannelly told mourners Roy and his beloved Nola would have been married 70 years this November.

"It is a remarkable love story," he said.

"They died eight days apart."

The pair were loved by eight children, 15 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.

Fr Brannelly described Mr Thompson as a person of faith, a simple pilgrim "trying in his own way to run the race, fight the fight, keep the faith".

Mr Thompson's reputation as a philanthropist was impressive, donating $15 million to the University of the Sunshine Coast.

His donations helped create scholarships for students in need, create the End ED eating disorder centre, and supported the Thompson Institute which carries his name — a hub for mental health research, education and clinical services.

Mr Thompson was also a co-founder of the region's rescue helicopter service, which would become LifeFlight.

His family remembered him as "a father, grandfather, great-grandfather, carpenter, building, businessman, property developer and philanthropist".

They described their belief that he likely died "of a broken heart" after the loss of Nola.

Mrs Thompson died on Thursday July 30, and Mr Thompson died peacefully the following week on August 7.

01/09/2026

A local Olympics advocacy group is being wound up, amid pressure from the official Brisbane 2032 organising committee.

Sunshine Coast 2032 was formed in 2022 to maximise opportunities for the region ahead of the Brisbane Olympics and Paralympics.

The group's directors include Dawn-Lorraine Fraser, Olympian Duncan Armstrong, and former MP Mal Brough.

But the group says the Games Organising Committee asked it to reconsider its name, branding and future operations.

Sunshine Coast 2032 chair Roz White said that would have fundamentally altered the organisation's purpose, so it will now be wound up.

Brisbane 2032 organisers thanked the group for its involvement.

31/08/2026

🐍🦘 Caption this: 🐍🦘

Mick Swain captured this unlikely pair, sharing a patch of sun in his bush backyard at Mudjimba.

They hung out for half an hour before heading off on their separate ways.

30/08/2026

A Sunshine Coast plastic surgeon has successfully replaced a patient's lost thumb with her second toe, moving her to tears of joy when she was able to move it post-surgery.

A plastic surgeon has successfully replaced a patient's lost thumb with her second toe, moving her to tears of joy when she was able to wiggle it post-surgery.