Scorchers up the ante at training and other top stories.

• Scorchers up the ante at training

  

  THE Sunshine Coast Scorchers have upped the ante at training to avoid the sort of late season fade-out which destroyed its title claims last year. The Queensland Premier Grade outfit is in fine form and holding down the fourth and last finals berth with four rounds remaining in a 16-round competition. It's a similar scenario to last season; when the team claimed a string of first innings wins but suddenly staggered out of contention in the last fixture. They want to avoid that this t..

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• Coast farewells respected citizen

  

  DOUG Jewry knew for a long time before he died that the end was drawing closer. On October 15 last year he called celebrant Rod Schafferius in to plan his funeral, saying it would be an event with 15 people under a palm tree because no one would come. There was not a palm tree in sight but more than 600 people packed the Lifepointe Baptist Church yesterday to honour a man (pictured) who helped not only transform the Sunshine Coast we see today but also the community that inhabits it. ..

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• Ellie encourages other victims to speak up

  

  THE more people she told, the easier it got for Ellie Cardell to come to terms with her stepfather's betrayal of trust. Ms Cardell, 20, detailed her relief yesterday at gaining closure to an invasion of her privacy by her mother's ex-husband at their Mooloolaba home in November 2013. She also encouraged other victims of such crimes to speak up about them. Bruce Alexander Gregory, 46, pleaded guilty in Maroochydore Magistrates Court yesterday to watching his stepdaughter through a win..

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• Life changing program in danger of closing down

  

  JUST 11 months ago, Nambour builder Justin Todd's marriage was in turmoil. Years of appointments with counsellors and psychiatrists failed to bridge the growing gap between him and his partner. With nowhere else to go, Justin turned to the award-winning Breaking Free Program facilitated by former Queensland Mental Health Week Achievement Award winner Dianne Spencer. Now, the couple with four young children have started repairing the family unit and spend most nights of the week toget..

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• Great Gatsby! Barry Hall signs on for Coast calendar project

  

  ONE of AFL's biggest legends has thrown his 'guns' behind the next Vintage Calendar Girls project. Former Sydney Swans star Barry Hall will feature on the cover of the 1920s Great Gatsby-themed 2017 calendar alongside a Sunshine Coast cancer warrior. Calendar founder Misty Bland was "super excited" to have Mr Hall on board. "I have had him in the back of my mind since we watched I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here and he seems like a really genuine guy," Ms Bland said. "He also ha..

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• Fall-from-grace jockey doubts he will return to saddle

  

  THE elation of a career-highlight race victory was a distant memory for suspended jockey Luke Tarrant as he walked down the front steps of Maroochydore Court House. Mr Tarrant said during a frank interview with the Daily the enormity of his fall from grace was yet to set in after being disqualified from driving for two years. He doubted he would ride professionally again. A year and a fortnight have passed since the top apprentice hoop celebrated victory aboard Le Chef in the $2 Mill..

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• Accidental hero eyes debut Paralympic gold in Rio

  

  BEING first across the line at this month's Australian Paratriathlon Championships on the Gold Coast was nothing out of the ordinary for Bill Chaffey. But what came next was a little surreal for someone even as accomplished as the 40-year-old who has been dominating his sport at national and international level. "A lady came up to me and said her son was inspired by me and asked me to sign her running cap," Chaffey explained to APN. "I had never signed an autograph before. My daughter..

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• Mariners striker lays out welcome mat for Garcia

  

  REACTIONS to Central Coast's signing of Spanish veteran Luis Garcia this week have been mixed to say the least. The 37-year-old is a former Champions League and FA Cup winner, but most recently has been plying his trade in the Indian Super League, causing some critics to question what value he can bring to the struggling A-League team. One person who is more than happy to see him at Gosford, however, is Mariners striker Josh Bingham. "His football calibre and experience will be unrea..

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• School shooting in Canada leaves five dead

  

  FIVE people have been killed and another two are in a critical condition after a school shooting in western Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says. The attack took place at the community school in La Loche, a mainly aboriginal community, 600 kilometres from Saskatchewan. Mr Trudeau said the shooter is in custody and the situation is under control. The Prime Minister described the attack as "every parent's worst nightmare". "The country's heart is breaking for the people of La ..

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• Beer: Best enjoyed after a game of cricket

  

  INDECISION is quickly becoming the beer lover's biggest hurdle. Today, a visit to even a half-decent bottle shop to "just grab a six-pack" has become an exercise requiring multiple decisions. Whereas it was once XXXX or something else; nowadays we have to think through our requirements as to style of beer; country of origin; alcohol content; major or craft - the possibilities are endless. I have always thought of this as the "Chinese Menu Conundrum" - when faced with page after page of ..

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Coast to host Oztag state comp .	Coast airport records highest passenger growth nationally .
Tough guy Troy Giess joins the Sunshine Coast Falcons .	Sunshine Coast Council property rates notices are on the way .