by Janine Hill

THE Today Show’s weekend weatherman Dan Anstey will combine forecasts with Father’s Day to put his old stomping ground in the national spotlight.

The former Nambour High dux will present the program’s weekend weather reports from Nambour and Woombye on September 1 and 2.

Dan lives in Brisbane where he hosts the Triple M breakfast show during the week but tries to get up to the Sunshine Coast, where his parents and a younger brother live, about 12 times a year.

His father, Doctor Chris Anstey, and mother, Janeen, a physiotherapist, still live in the family home at Nambour Heights.

Dan has fond memories of growing up a Nambour kid. “We’d ride our bikes around with the neighbourhood kids. In those days, there were still some vacant blocks around Burnside and tracks and jumps would be made.”

There were family trips to the Big Pineapple and the neighbouring macadamia plantation, and movies and maths tournaments at the Nambour Civic Centre, which has now become the Majestic cinema at C-Square.

By the end of high school, Dan had graduated from two wheels to four and ventured further afield with friends. “We’d do hot laps around Mooloolaba in a Mitsubishi Magna or whatever cars we could acquire,” he said.

These days, the car rides are a little more sedate. Dan and his wife, Clare, bring their children, Augie, 2, and Halley, 4, to visit their grandparents, who are more than happy to babysit. “My wife and I sometimes go and have a meal. There’s some great places to eat around the cinema. We might go and watch a movie,” he said.

He said it was always a pleasure to come home. “I have a lot of nostalgia around Nambour and as soon as I get on the Bruce Highway, my heart’s full of joy because I know I’m going home,” Dan said.

Father’s Day will be a family day for the Ansteys. Dan and his family will stay at the Woombye farm retreat, Sixty6 Acres for the Father’s Day morning weather broadcast and will be joined by his mum and dad.

Nambour ambassador Rhonda Billett, a local hairdresser who suggested the Nambour broadcast, said it was a big positive for the area. “Nambour has definitely moved with the times. There’s so much for people to see and do, so we want to show that.”

The local coverage continues on September 3 with a Weekend Today Father’s Day Special from Sixty6 Acres Woombye.

“I can’t believe how well this has come together,” said Rhonda who has worked around the clock for weeks to help bring the showcase together. “The glitz of the Today Show cameras and lights will promote all things Nambour and locals will get a chance to be a part of the action.

“Everyone will be able to come down, be a part of the show in the Forecourt on Saturday. We want as many people as possible down from 7am for our first live cross. People who follow the show would be aware that Dan is extremely Nambour proud, he mentions his hometown frequently to the nation and now it is time for him to come home and have a whole lot of fun in the Nambour CBD with us throwing him his very own ‘Homecoming Party’.

“Being able to get Jon and Dan here as well has blown everyone’s mind. It’ll be a proud day for Nambour and a chance to promote the whole area to a huge audience.”

 The forecourt event will feature a free community BBQ hosted by the Nambour Chamber of Commerce and Nambour Tram Co alongside free face painting for kids and vintage cars from Nambour Antique Car Club. 

There will be an ice-cream truck on site and other lively morning activities including a local competition, with locally-donated prizes for a Best Weekend Today Show Sign competition judged hourly, in between crosses, with prizes up for grabs. 

Wildlife HQ will make an appearance and Nambour’s food offerings will be showcased including samplings from Downtown Burgers, Maiori Pizzeria and Small Change Espresso.

The Sunday special will feature a Father’s Day barbecue beside the lake including local produce from Frankies Woombye Cafe & Bar and Woombye Cheese and music by local artist Angela Newcomb. 

While space for the Sixty6 Acres Woombye Sunday event is limited due to the private location, locals can catch the special on Channel 9 from 7am to 10am.  

For full, up to the minute details, stay tuned to I Am Nambour’s Facebook and Instagram pages or the Sunshine Valley Gazette website (www.svgazette.com.au) for final details.

There will be some special presentations and typically-Nambour surprises in store for  guests and viewers.

“It will be a perfect ‘Happy Father’s Day Australia’ from the Gateway to the Sunshine Coast hinterland region,” said Rhonda. 

“And it will showcase much of what the hinterland is famous for, from our food to our laidback rural lifestyle and tourism drawcards. 

“The whole weekend is supported by our Nambour Groups under our I Am Nambour brand and our working partner Sunshine Coast Council.”

Huge $7000 Nambour package giveaway

The Channel 9 weekend broadcasts will also launch a $7000-plus Explore Nambour and Surrounds, Gateway to the Sunshine Coast Hinterland package giveaway, organised by Nambour Groups under the I Am Nambour banner.

The prize includes 5 nights at Sixty6 Acres  Woombye for 2 adults and 2 children, flights from anywhere around Australia for 2 adults and 2 children, Car Hire, Family Pass to Wild Life HQ, A family pass for Sunshine Pinball Nambour, Family Pass to Majestic Cinemas, Various vouchers for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner from Maiori Pizza Nambour, Small Change Espresso Nambour and Down Town Burgers Nambour.  

“This is a family-focused, community-led promotion, with so many community business organisations and local business owners working together and achieving some great outcomes,” said organiser Rhonda Billett.

“The competition prize is family-focused, and the Nambour Groups are grateful to work alongside Channel 9 to deliver the package.”

The competition is being run by the Weekend Today Show in collaboration with I Am Nambour, Sixty6 Acres Woombye, Uptown Hair Studio and the Nambour groups working with Sunshine Coast Council. 

To enter the competition, visit the Today Show Web Site for full details, terms and conditions.