The Sunshine Valley Gazette is a locally owned and operated, free community newspaper published fortnightly and circulated throughout the Sunshine Coast Hinterland.
This local paper has circulated in the area for more than 20 years, formerly Sunshine Valley News, until it closed in late 2011. Long-time Palmwoods resident, journalist and author, Kerry Brown knew the local paper had been integral in informing, entertaining, connecting and reflecting life in the Hinterland.
So, in early 2012 she revived the paper and gave it 150% effort. Within days the first Sunshine Valley Gazette was published on 7th March. Despite print media challenges the Gazette tripled in size after one edition from a 12 page A4 size paper to a 12 page tabloid paper. The Gazette has continued to grow in circulation, size and popularity; Kerry’s column was appropriately called ‘Just Do It’.
The Gazette is circulated every second Wednesday to letterbox and bulk distribution locations across the Hinterland. Initially circulation was limited to Woombye, Palmwoods and surrounding areas. The local ‘feel good’ content had tremendous appeal and requests to broaden circulation extend into Nambour, Mapleton and Montville then later into Maleny and Yandina.
Residents and businesses are welcome to contribute letters, news tips and stories concerning life in the Hinterland. Our content is all local because the readers love to know who, what, where, when, how and why life is so good in our part of the world.
As a journalist and active community resident Kerry believed content is the most important aspect in any newspaper. A strict 50/50 content policy meant 50% editorial and 50% advertising. The Gazette’s integrity was built on Kerry’s proven commitment to ethical journalism and making the Hinterland a great place to live.
Advertisers are crucial to the Gazette. Around 75% of advertisers are small business operators on a regular advertising schedule. They continue to advertise because they get results and we work with them to ensure their advertising is effective. We encourage you to call any advertiser for a reference.
New Owners Back In Print
After careers in newspapers and media and having owned and operated The Range News in Maleny from 1997-2007, we have been continually drawn to make a return to the industry we loved.
Since we sold The Range News to the Sunshine Coast Daily, we’ve worked in digital marketing. And while the internet is undeniably powerful, the further we got away from print media and newspapers the more we missed its traditional strengths and simplicity — especially when it comes to local businesses.
There is nothing that rivals print's ability to reach a mass audience of local people in a short period of time. And, at a price that isn't crippling.
We have missed the connections we made with local businesses and organisations, and the feeling of being involved in something incredibly positive and worthwhile.
Most of the work we did in online marketing was part of a long-term strategy. Building websites and sales funnels. Attracting and nurturing leads. Blogging for “authority”. Navigating Adwords and Facebook. Instagram. SEO. Re-marketing. Digital moves and changes at the speed of light, with the promise of a pay off in the long run. And that’s all good. Not everything can pay off instantly.
But that’s why newspaper advertising — advertising to an engaged local readership, is so powerful. The instant pay-off an advertisement or a business feature about your business can provide is a thrill for us and our advertisers. It is true that online, your story, or cause or advertisement is out there for the whole world to see. But how do you know if anyone is seeing it? In the Sunshine Valley Gazette, your information is surrounded by other local content and put in front of up to 20,000 people every fortnight. That’s a lot of potential connections and customers.
Helping small business owners to plan their marketing so they get best bang for their buck is something we have done for 23 years. The advantage of having had the experience in digital, is that we can help people make sense of it all, and figure out what they do and don’t need.
Kerry has nurtured many long-standing clients who have used the strength of advertising in her popular newspaper to help grow their businesses. In fact 75% of her advertisers are permanents. There can be no greater testament to quality than return business. We hope to help grow your business, too, in an engaging and affordable way.
In 2019, when the opportunity arose to purchase Kerry Brown’s Sunshine Valley Gazette, we jumped at the chance. We hope we can do justice to the tremendous foundations Kerry has built through her passion, hard work & love of the community.
— Cameron & Tanya Outridge
