Retirees’ ukulele group banned from Sunshine Coast park

What started as a small gathering to play live music during lockdowns has ended on a sour note after a group of retirees were recently evicted from a Sunshine Coast park.

Ukulele-players claim they have been “rocked” by the Sunshine Coast Council’s decision to ban them from playing at a Caloundra park.

The Hot Curri Jammers, made up of around 50 retirees, previously played together every Friday to small crowds that often gathered in the park to watch.

Ukulele player Tina Thornton said the group had started playing at the BBQ shelter at Lake Currimundi during the Covid lockdowns, when parks were one of the only places the group could play together.

Libby Morrison and Tina Thornton, who both play in the ukulele group.

“When Covid happened, everything shut down and so when you were allowed 50 people in the parks we all decided to just get back together and just play in the park,” Ms Thornton said.

“Initially there was only about 10 or 11 of us and it just got bigger as people walked by, even people who don’t play the ukulele, we often had about 20 people who would sit on the bench listening to us.”

She said the council had been aware of the live music over the past few years and no issues had been raised until two months ago when they were told the music was to be “shutdown immediately”.

“Not only were we not allowed to stay there and play, we weren’t allowed in any park,“ Ms Thornton said.

The Hot Curri Jammers previously played each week at Lake Currimundi.

Ms Thornton said for retirees, ranging in age from their 60s up to their 80s, the social aspect of the group was incredibly important.

“For people in retirement if they didn’t have this ukulele group it would be a big chunk out of their lives, it is very uplifting and there is so much joy,” Ms Thornton said.

“We get people who come along there every week because they know we are going to play, it is just fun.

“Now people are walking by and asking where’s the music gone? What’s happened?” she said.

A Sunshine Coast Council spokesperson said they had received a noise complaint regarding the ukuleles, prompting the ban.

“All musicians/ buskers performing on council-controlled land within the Sunshine Coast region must hold a current permit issued by Council. More information can be found at Council’s website, including a list of approved busking locations,” they said.

“Council has provided the group with information relating to Street Performance permits and how to go about obtaining a permit.”

Ms Thornton said on Friday, September 22, the permit application had not yet been approved.