Scorchers batsmen to rise to challenge and other top stories.

• Scorchers batsmen to rise to challenge

  

  YOUNG Sunshine Coast opener Nick Selman is confident the Scorchers batsmen can step up in the absence of captain Sam Northeast and press claims for a spot in the Queensland Premier Grade finals. The second day of the team's round 16 two-day clash against ladder leader University at Buderim was abandoned yesterday, so the sides shared competition points. It left the Scorchers in sixth place, outside the finals-bound top four, with two rounds remaining. With Northeast due to return to ..

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• Burkina Faso kidnapping: Australian woman released

  

  UPDATE: An Australian woman has been freed after she and her husband were kidnapped by an Al Qaeda-affiliated group in Burkina Faso, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull confirms. President of Niger Mahamadou Issoufou presented Jocelyn Elliott to journalists at a news conference in Dosso, south-western Niger, and said authorities were intensifying efforts to secure the release of her husband. The circumstances of her release and how she arrived in Niger were not immediately clear. Mr Turnb..

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• World champ Isabella Nichols gets new set of wheels

  

  THAT new car smell is something Sunshine Coast junior world champion Isabella Nichols better get her head around - it will be delighting her senses for some time to come. It's all thanks to a sweet deal struck by her management, creating a partnership between the young champ and the local business. Isabella giggled with delight as Ky Vogler, the general manager of Sunco Motors, handed her the keys late Friday afternoon to what she described as her dream ride. The Coolum 18-year-old's..

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• Diving in to save turtles with beach clean-up

  

  VOLUNTEERS from the Turtle Care program, Reef Check Australia, Sea Life Mooloolaba and the community have heeded the call to give local turtle hatchlings the best chance of survival by joining a massive beach-to-sea clean-up event. The group of more than 300 volunteers collected 548kg of rubbish in an area stretching from Coolum to Caloundra. Something as simple as a discarded false fingernail can have a devastating impact on our natural environment. This strange item was just one thing..

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• Bikeway helps close Coast pathway gaps

  

  FAMILIES and bike riders of all ages and abilities celebrated the opening of Mooloolaba's new separated bikeway yesterday. The official opening included a barbecue breakfast, free face painting, live music and roving entertainment, as well a prize draw for people who rode along the route. Councillor Chris Thompson said the bikeway provided a safe cycling route between Minyama and Mooloolaba. "People of all ages are already enjoying the ride along the bikeway," he said. "It's the f..

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• Battling pain to help Save A Warrior

  

  HUNDREDS of beachgoers at Mooloolaba yesterday were certainly not there to relax. Unlike the many others who were lazing around enjoying the sun, surf and sand, the participants in the Save a Warrior Challenge were busy pushing themselves through the pain barrier. In fact, they pushed hard for six hours doing leg-ups, step-ups, sit-ups, lift-ups and a host of other physically demanding routines - all for a good cause. TOUGHING IT OUT: Participants work hard on Mooloolaba Beach for ..

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• Cambodia calls for teen with big heart

  

  A MUDJIMBA 18-year-old studying nursing science and midwifery at the University of the Sunshine Coast, to follow her dream of helping people in Cambodia, has won a category of the Pearson Student of the Year Awards. Rubie Orman, a former OP2 student and Maroochydore State High School captain, received the $1000 award from Pearson - a global educational company - for demonstrating outstanding effort, dedication and academic achievement in the field of nursing and allied health. Studying ..

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• Good signs from crews in lead-up to Aussies

  

  THE expected swell may not have arrived but it didn't detract from the surf boat action at Alexandra Headland yesterday. Sunshine Coast clubs dominated proceedings in a promising sign ahead of The Aussies, which will be held at the same venue in April. The host club was impressive, with its open men's teams making the most of the light conditions to claim victory in the fourth and final round of the Queensland arm of the Australian Surf Rowers League. Maroochydore Minx won the open w..

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• Woman dead after caravan destroyed by fire

  

  POLICE are investigating after a fire destroyed a caravan and claimed the life of a woman in Darra early this morning. Just before 6am emergency crews were called to a paint and panel shop on Gravel Pitt Road following reports that a caravan at the rear of the yard was engulfed by flames. The fire was extinguished however the body of a woman, believed to be aged in her 30s, was discovered inside the caravan. The incident is being treated as suspicious and a crime scene has been estab..

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• Australasian titles to lure strong fleet

  

  THE invitation has been issued for Etchells sailors from around Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong to join in the 20th anniversary of Mooloolaba Yacht Club's Etchells Australasian Championship. Each year the June long-weekend event attracts a fleet that is often larger than the summer Australian championship Chair of the Australasian's organising committee, Trevor Martin, will "absolutely" be on the water for his home event. He's predicting 50 plus boats on the start line off Mooloola..

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Track spokesman won't bail on Sunshine Coast rail .	Sunshine Coast man victim of one punch attack .
International bomb hoax reaches Sunshine Coast schools .	Police finish search of Buddina school, staff back in charge .