The Tamborine Mountain Bushrats held their senior men's end-of-season awards dinner at St Bernards Hotel on September 26. Ethan Sutherland received the Ned Kelly Award for courage, and also won Most Improved Forward. Daniel Macauley took the Slammin' Sam Backo Best Forward Award, and Edward Brimelow was voted Players' Player by his teammates. Coach Todd Tasker said the group had stuck together through a challenging season and built a culture based on accountability and effort.
Tamborine Mountain resident Betty Birch has died at the age of 83 after several years of illness. She is remembered for her devotion to family, her love of cooking and her collection of teddy bears. Born in Victoria in 1942, Betty later moved to Queensland with her husband Richard. The couple ran a bed and breakfast on Tamborine Mountain, where Betty took over the local shop Teddies on Tamborine. The shop drew collectors from across the country and overseas until changing retail habits and online shopping led to its closure.
A new comedy called O Woe Is Me will be staged at the Zamia Theatre on Tamborine Mountain from October 16 to 31, 2026. The production reworks scenes from Macbeth, Othello, Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet, mixing original Shakespearean text with contemporary dialogue, physical theatre and Australian pop-culture references. It explores why the women in Shakespeare's tragedies so often end in madness, violence or death. Audiences do not need prior knowledge of Shakespeare to enjoy the show.
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The Tamborine Mountain Scarecrow Festival returns from Friday 30 October to Sunday 1 November 2026, marking its 19th year. A free Scarecrow Trail runs across the mountain over the three days. The main festival is held at Cauldron Distillery on Saturday 31 October, with gates opening at 12.30pm and entertainment from 1pm. Live bands, face painting, animals, pig racing and food trucks are planned. Tickets cost $12 for adults, $7 for children and $35 for families. The Tamborine Mountain Chamber of Commerce organises the event.
Club Tamborine is bringing back its Halloween Party and Melbourne Cup Luncheon, encouraging locals to dress up. Events coordinator Helen McAteer says adults often enjoy Halloween and welcome the chance to join in. Prizes will be awarded for best-dressed, including staff's choice and people's choice, and a costume parade is planned at both events. The Halloween Party runs on October 30 from 5.30pm to 8pm, followed by live music from local band Lock Stock & Blues until 11pm. The Melbourne Cup Luncheon is on November 3 from 11.30am, with tickets at $90 per person.
Tamborine Mountain Little Athletics will start its 2026/27 season next month with two Come and Try meets on October 9 and 16. The meets let new athletes try the sport before committing to a full season. Club president Hope Kerslake said about 30 athletes had registered so far, and she expects numbers to grow. The club will again run its Tiny Tots program for children aged three to five, alongside regular Friday meets. Committee plans include permanent throwing circles and discus cages at the Long Road Sports Centre.
Grapes of Mirth will hold its comedy and wine festival at Cauldron Distillery on Tamborine Mountain on November 10. Six comedians, including Tommy Little, Mel Buttle, Rhys Nicholson, Pete Helliar and Urvi Majumdar, will perform, with founder Merrick Watts as MC. It is the festival's first visit to South-East Queensland. Festival director Rowan Smith said the event will also feature Queensland wineries and a closing dance set by DJ Pedro Moshman. The event is 60 per cent sold out, and organisers expect it to sell out six weeks before the date.
Southern Africans on Tamborine Mountain are invited to a second social gathering at Cauldron Distillery on Sunday, October 25, 2026, from 2pm. The first gathering in February drew around 120 people for an afternoon of conversation and shared stories. Organisers say there will be no speeches or formal agenda, and anyone with ties to Southern Africa, or who simply wants to attend, is welcome. Boerewors rolls will be available for purchase. Attendees are asked to RSVP by October 20, 2026.
Councillor Amanda Hay has reported that an unapproved short-term accommodation business operating from a shed on Tamborine Mountain has stopped trading. The business removed its booking platform listings after compliance action by Council. Fines are the next step for operators who do not follow the rules. Hay also said she is not responsible for an order to kill a wild dog or dingo, and warned that rehoming or relocating the animal is unlawful. Her next community chat with the Mayor is on Friday October 9, outside the library.
Local business Mountain AV is bringing its Silent Disco Wireless Headset system to the Zamia Theatre on Tamborine Mountain. Owner Marc Hackenberg will host the Not So Silent Disco on November 14 for guests aged 16 and over. The theatre will be split into three spaces, each with different music and local artists, and guests can switch between three audio channels on their headsets. A Family Silent Disco follows on November 15, letting parents and children share music channels in the same room.
