Best of the best: Sunshine Coast winners voted as top in their industry in 2023
From cake decorators to baristas to teachers and cleaners, these people were crowned the best in their field on the Sunshine Coast by our readers. See the full list of 2023 winners.
Sunshine Coast
Don't miss out on the headlines from Sunshine Coast. Followed categories will be added to My News.
From top dance teachers to the region’s hottest tradie, these people were voted the best on the Sunshine Coast for doing what they do.
We asked our readers throughout the year who deserved to be crowned the very best in their industry and had hundreds of nominations flooding in.
See the full list of winners crowned this year:
Nail technician
Nova Nails Studio in Buderim won the title of best nail technician on the Sunshine Coast with 24 per cent of votes in the Daily’s poll.
Caroline Richards opened the studio in late 2020 with her husband Tyler Richards.
Mr Richards said his wife taught all their staff and apprentices and has provided training within the nail and beauty industry.
Mr Richards said they had no idea they would be voted as winners and they were “a little gobsmacked”.
Manicure Nail Studio, run by T’Neil Tonkin came came in a close second with 19 per cent of votes. Hannah from Lush Nails and Lashes placed third.
Hairdresser
Dannielle Rossetto and Jayde Smith from Coastal Artistry were named best hairdressers on the Sunshine Coast after more than 170 people voted in the poll.
Ms Rossetto and Ms Smith were “thrilled” when they heard the news of the win.
“We are both so excited and amazed by the incredible support that we have from our loyal clients,” Ms Rossetto and Ms Smith said.
Their win came about a month after opening their salon in Mooloolaba.
Cleaner
Magic Touching Cleaning owner Anna Marshall and manager Nichole Molloy won the title of Sunshine Coast’s best cleaner, sweeping up a whopping 36 per cent of votes.
Ms Marshall opened her Baringa-based business with her husband Michael in 2012 and Ms Molloy has been a part of the team for more than eight years.
Ms Marshall said it was a privilege to be seen by the local community.
“We really are encouraged by the support,” she said.
Deb and David from Oceans Deep Cleaning came second with 13 per cent of votes, and Fresh Bond Cleaning Carpet and Pest and Charlene Wright from Mate With A Mop tied for third with 10 per cent of votes.
Dance teacher
Kate Matti of Encore Your Dance Family dance studio was voted as the best dance teacher on the Sunshine Coast.
Ms Matti described the accolade as an honour.
“It’s so exciting to know that I’ve touched so many kids’ lives in a positive way, it’s really what I do it for,” she said.
She joined Encore Your Dance Family about 15 years ago, going onto become principal of the dance studio.
The runners-up for the competition included Karla from Starz Dance Academy, Chloe Paix of Studio 2 Dance, Nikita Whalley from the ELITE Dance Institute, and Sophie Barlow from Dance Energy Studios
Gym and personal trainer
Wattfit in Little Mountain became known as the Sunshine Coast’s best gym after they received 33 per cent of more than 500 votes.
Wattfit owner Jacob Watson, known by members and friends as “Watto”, said he was grateful for the support for his gym.
His gym celebrated its first birthday at its current home at Little Mountain in October, where they offer group fitness classes and personal training as well as boxing, cardio and yoga and pilates.
Mr Watson said the gym was best known for its over 50s sessions.
“It feels good to know the hard work has been recognised on this scale as well as within our community,” he said.
Mr Watson was crowned Sunshine Coast’s best personal trainer not even a month later and also ranked in the Sunshine Coast’s Power 50.
BFT Caloundra came second in the best gym search with 27 per cent of votes.
Hottest tradie
Tiler Wade Kelly won the title of hottest in the region after weeks of competition, snatching 37 per cent of votes in the final round.
Mr Kelly said he would “take the win” and thanked his mates for the “stitch up.”
He started his own business in 2018 and now runs We Lay Tiles and We Do Clips on the Sunshine Coast.
“My biggest plan was to make money but as I started running my business, I got more of a kick helping these kids,” he said.
Following the death of two mates in the past as well as struggling with cancer, Mr Kelly has focused on providing fun, positive experiences and mental health support to his team.
Early childhood educator
Cherry Murtagh from Goodstart Early Learning Centre Little Mountain won among 199 nominees in the search for the Sunshine Coast’s top early childhood educator.
She was closely followed by her colleagues Katie King and Jill Foreman.
A surprised Ms Murtagh said she was grateful for the “beautiful family” she had at the centre, as well as the supportive staff.
“I have always wanted to work with kids, I knew that right from when I was in high school,” she said.
She said her favourite part was making the children which come into their care feel loved, welcome and safe as well as “giving them a big cuddle first thing in the morning”.
Ms Murtagh was closely followed in the competition by her colleagues Katie King and Jill Foreman.
Cake decorator
From working at the cheesecake shop to becoming Sunshine Coast’s best cake decorator, Mary Made Co owner and young mum Hanna Gale is an example of a generational love for baking.
Her passion for baking stemmed from the close relationship she had with her grandparents growing up.
“I would always do all the baking with my Pop, he used to teach me a lot,” she said.
She worked a job at the Cheesecake Shop from 15-years-old, going on to work there for 10 years and becoming their head decorator for around seven.
To this day, her grandfather is still very involved with her baking, asking for videos or photos of her cake creations.
Ms Gale’s business was originally named All Things Icing when it first opened in 2015, but she rebranded to Mary Made Co in 2021 in honour of her grandmother who passed away earlier that year.
Noosa’s best restaurant
Lanai Noosa was crowned the best restaurant in the region among 100 nominations.
The business is a sustainability-focused dining experience serving dishes with “underused” seafood and cuts of meat and native, locally-sourced ingredients.
Chef Ryan Fitzpatrick opened the Noosaville venue in May 2023, at the site that was formerly the iconic Thomas Corner Eatery.
“It is super refreshing to know we do have a good little following,” he said.
Mr Fitzpatrick said the former Thomas Corner Eatery was one of his favourites, so he loved reactivating the iconic spot into something new.
Coffee shop
Emjays Birtinya won the Sunshine Coast Daily’s vote to find the best coffee makers of the region, as voted by readers.
Owner of seven years Mark Barton said the staff was proud of the coffee quality and they made about 2500 coffees a week.
“Coffee is a big part of everyone’s business these days, particularly here on the coast, and to win that is a great, great effort from our staff,” Mr Barton said.
Mr Barton also began selling roasted coffee beans whole or grounded for at-home use because some customers are spending up to $2500 on coffee machines in their own homes.
Food truck
Husband and wife duo James and Chloe Demos jumped for joy when their business Yassou Greek Street Food was voted the region’s favourite.
“I broke down crying, James and I were jumping up and down and literally did a celebration dance in the middle of the gym,” Mrs Demos said.
Coming from a Greek family, Yassou, which is the equivalent to saying G’day in Greece, is a way for Mr Demos to honour his heritage and culture.
The food truck serves authentic Greek cuisine including souvlaki pita wraps, loaded fries, and the mammoth Hercules box.
Cutest babies of 2023
Maggie Lindley Harris was one of two adorable bubs crowned cutest baby of 2023, with her mum Abbey Lindley Harris recalling the moment her newborn stopped breathing.
The first-time mum said a lot of people rushed into her hospital room to work on her daughter, but she knew all would end well.
Six months on, Maggie is a thriving, smiling, healthy baby who has won the final Sunshine Coast cutest baby vote for the year.
Maggie’s win is alongside the other Sunshine Coast Daily 2023 cutest baby winner, Kennedy Alderson, who was crowned in June this year.
Mum Rachel Alderson said although she was biased, she was “totally besotted” with her daughter.
She is the first daughter to Mrs Alderson and her husband Luke, who were married in 2022, and the first grandchild to both of the their parents.
“She’s just a very generally happy bub … she’s a dream so far,” she said.
Best Plumber
BNC Plumbing Solutions was crowned the Sunshine Coast’s best plumber after sweeping up more than 25 per cent of votes in the Sunshine Coast Daily’s poll.
Runners up included Top Dog Plumbing in second place with 15 per cent of the vote and Wurtulla Plumbing and Drainage coming in third place with 10 per cent of the vote.
Mechanic
More than 40 car mechanics from across the Sunshine Coast were nominated to win the title of the region’s best mechanic, with David Garry from David Garry Automotive snatching the top spot.
Peter Ritchie from Premier Motors took second place and Travis Wakeling from Nambour Automotive Service came third.
Pilates instructor
Celia Day from Align by Cecilia came out on top after more than two rounds of voting to find the Sunshine Coast’s best pilates instructor.
She racked up 42 per cent of the total votes in the final top ten round, with more than 70 instructors in the running.
Formally a registered nurse in Melbourne, Ms Day packed up her life and moved to the Sunshine Coast in 2016 after reformer pilates changed her life.
100+ Names: Top performers from AFLQ Schools Cup finals
The AFLQ Schools Cup state finals have come to a close after a number of nail biting matches. Discover the star players from every single division now.
Sunshine Coast sale and auction results, week ending October 13
Sunshine Coast recorded 36 property sales over a million dollars last week, the latest auction and sales results reveal.