2021 Sunshine Coast news: 30+ of the best storytelling photos
Photographs carried the big news throughout 2021 from the tragic to the heartwarming and everything in between.
Sunshine Coast
Don't miss out on the headlines from Sunshine Coast. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The effect pictures can have to tell a story is truly remarkable.
Form the tragic to the heartwarming and everything in between, here are some of the best 2021 picture stories with links to the full story.
After 111 days in a hospital and rehabilitation ward, the amazing homecoming of Sunshine Coast triathlete Alexa Leary was truly special.
Sunshine Coast skaters turned out in force to bid a fiery farewell to the Dicky Beach Skate Park in preparation of construction of the new park.
Journeyman striker and Scott Rocker unveiled his ultimate Sunshine Coast teammates in a side so stacked he said it would hold its own at A-League level.
Residents lined the beach to send a powerful message to the Sunshine Coast Council that it must ditch light rail as a beachfront transport option.
The Sunshine Coast were proudly represented at the AFLQ Schools cup finals with Mooloolaba State School being crowned back-to-back primary female champions.
Sunshine Coast property owner, Kate Cornish was gobsmacked to find flags and a “for sale” sign outside her house when it wasn’t yet on the market.
Just three years after picking up the wooden spoon, Nambour Yandina United celebrated securing their first piece of major silverware since entering the competition.
He’s the Beerwah boy who overcame personal tragedy to become an Australian champion and now Dana Coolwell is ready to punch his way onto the world stage.
It was glitz and glamour for Sunshine Coast year 12 students who lit up the red carpet and celebrated their formal evenings in style.
A Caloundra cafe owner battling the challenges of small business during a pandemic refused to bump up her prices in a bid to support everyday workers.
Sporting talent Thomas Sly decided to take matters into his own hands to secure an Intrust Super Cup contract and move closer to his childhood rugby league dream.
The amazing Tewantin mural painted by artist Andrew Grassi over the course of two weeks had bystanders watching on in awe.
Grand Finals are a day to remember for some and one to forget for others but the University Barbarians claimed their first premiership since 2015 with a nail biting victory over Noosa Dolphins.
Olympic hero and Sunshine Coast swimmer Kaylee McKeown was all smiles after returning home to a surprise celebration following her major gold medal success in Tokyo.
Coolum superstar surfer Julian Wilson broke the news he would be stepping away from the World Tour indefinitely to spend more time with his young family and focus on his wellbeing.
Racing trainer and punters alike were ‘over the moon’ when it was announced that one of Australia’s favourite horses will be based on the Sunshine Coast and reunite with rising Queensland trainer Damien Batters.
A trip down memory lane revealed memories of sticky floors, sweaty bodies and $4 basics that drew big crowds to a Sunshine Coast nightclub 240v.
A gutsy 22-10 grand final win over the Maroochydore Swans at the Sunshine Coast Stadium saw Kawana Dolphins promise their supporters to party for as long as possible.
Four Sunshine Coast rugby union players stood out during gruelling trials to be selected to represent the state with one going a step further to be selected in the Australian U18 merit side.
A convicted criminal and “ex-gangster” who punched a security guard and spent almost two years in jail says he has turned his life around and wants to inspire young men.
Nathan Richards has recreated his image from a gun-slinging rapper to a mixed martial arts trainer no longer interested in the “tough guy” persona.
Mr Richards said his life was unrecognisable now after he opened his first MMA gym at Bulcock Street, Caloundra earlier this year.
Four men are very lucky to be alive after their boat capsized north of the Sunshine Coast on April 24, 2021.
The group were found clinging to the overturned vessel by the Coast Guard after they were alerted to the rescue by the water police.
It's understood the men were attempting to cross the Wide Bay bar when they were hit by a freak wave and their boat overturned.
A fun wedding shoot re-enacting an old family photo had painful consequences for a Sunshine Coast bride who snapped her ankle during a jump and ended up in hospital.
Liz Costello said the radiologist who assessed her ankle had never had to x-ray a patient in a wedding dress before.
Despite the injury, the Sunshine Coast University Hospital nurse still managed to attend her own wedding reception, albeit with a foot in a moon boot resting on top of a chair all night.
Kawana Dolphins’ stalwarts Joel Fitzgerald and Tommy Hearn say they’ll hang up the boots and finish decorated careers as Sunshine Coast Rugby League A-grade premiers.
The Dolphins claimed its first premiership since 2015 with a hard-fought 22-10 win over a stubborn Maroochydore Swans at Sunshine Coast Stadium on Saturday night.
Fitzgerald had played more than 150 games for Kawana while Hearn was the A-grade club captain.
After Australia changed perception tests earlier this year, sight deficit flight students like Nicholas McKerrow can get above the clouds.
The 23-year-old was born with deuteranopia and has no “green cone” in his eyes.
Deuteranopia makes it difficult to differentiate between shades of red, green, and yellow.
A petition with nearly 5000 signatures is gaining momentum against a multimillion-dollar roadway upgrade in Caloundra which threatens to harm bushland teaming with wildlife.
Residents have rallied against the $37.4m Caloundra Transport Corridor Upgrade Project which if it goes ahead will impact on wildlife in Ben Bennett bushland.
Conservationist and resident Jasmyne Case said the 21 hectare forest contains many different ecosystems that will be greatly affected if the project goes ahead.
An exclusive movie experience featuring alcohol and film festivals is coming to Caloundra as its local cinema gears up to reopen under new management.
The Strand Cinema Caloundra will open its doors on November 24 after extensive renovations to its five-screen theatre.
Owner Luke Warburton has spearheaded the iconic cinema’s revival after its closure earlier this year during the pandemic.
It’s always hard to pass up a chicken parmigiana when you see it on the menu and now it’s even easier to make sure you pick the right choice when ordering.
Beach Bar and Grill Mooloolaba were crowned one of the best, receiving the most votes of any of the regions with 44 per cent of our readers saying they love their chicken parmigiana.
Walking through the grounds of Kuluin State School, it’s clear to see why Nicky Baker has been voted the Sunshine Coast’s best teacher.
Children from past years keep running to the grade one teacher to give her a big hug on their lunch break, even though they’re now in a different classroom.
The Sunshine Coast Daily readers voted Ms Baker the best in the region in a recent poll.
The harsh reality of homelessness has taken a toll on a Sunshine Coast mum who is desperate to find a place to live for her and her children.
The owners behind a new and revamped Sunshine Coast restaurant say their trying to add a “fresh breath of life” into what used to be one of the most popular eateries in town.
Owners Jonathan and Claire Powell opened the doors to their restaurant The Eumundi Bungalow on December 17.
After relocating back home to the Sunshine Coast from Sydney the husband and wife duo said they couldn’t pass up on the opportunity.
Covid cases continue to rise across the Sunshine Coast and Noosa region, as new rules about close contacts are rolled out across Queensland.
Vaccination rollout was key in 2021 to ensuring the Coast was protected against Covid-19.
More Coverage
Originally published as 2021 Sunshine Coast news: 30+ of the best storytelling photos
ICED OUT: Why cocaine is new king of meth-scarred cities
Meth’s decade-long reign of Queensland’s drug scene is over as experts warn white powder power is rising in its place. MAPPED HOTSPOTS, DRUG CRIMS NAMED
Suspended learner driver’s dangerous acts on hinterland road
A young man who has never held a licence has been hit with a whopping fine after making his getaway from police during a routine traffic intercept.
$600k paths, roads: Where big bucks are promised on Sunshine Coast projects
More than 40 projects worth millions have been promised across the Sunshine Coast, from crucial road upgrades to local sports club improvements.
$200m investment. New data centre to power up AI capacity
The Sunshine Coast’s AI and digital innovation credentials will be turbo charged with a leading digital infrastructure provider to spend $200m on its second data centre in the region.
SEQ development war: State caught in councils legal crossfire
Queensland councils are racking up hefty legal bills in development disputes, with ratepayers footing the tab for an explosion of planning court cases.
Woman’s worrying Timezone antics with stranger’s kids
A woman who grabbed a stranger’s children at a popular arcade while on parole for violent crimes has left a magistrate with an impossible choice about her future.