Tessa Mapstone
Maroochydore, QLD
Tessa produces the Breakfast radio program on ABC Sunshine Coast. She's also a journalist, and occasional photographer and videographer. She's been a digital and social specialist, but above all else loves a great yarn.
Latest by Tessa Mapstone
Silent film organ player Ron is retiring after three decades of keeping the score in this tiny Queensland town
Silent films started screening at the Majestic Theatre almost by accident. Thirty-five years later, they are still rolling — and they still come with musical accompaniment.
'Versatile and amazing' brumbies show what they can do
They started out wild, feral and fearful of humans. Now these brumbies are showing just how loyal and capable they can be when given the chance.
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Clean, green snorkelling buddies find lost treasure at the bottom of Noosa River
By Tessa Mapstone and Michael Black for Make Me Feel Good
Keeping the river clear of rubbish has long been a selfless act for these three Queensland eco-warriors, but it had an unintended pay-off with the discovery of a vintage Rolex watch.
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Wildlife carers inundated with baby birds as RSPCA warns good Samaritans against 'kidnapping' chicks
Queensland wildlife volunteers say young birds that are not sick or injured, but have been found on the ground while learning to fly, are being "rescued" unnecessarily.
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Boaties concerned Noosa River proposal could limit activities on popular stretch
Noosa boaties and fishers are ringing alarm bells about a new plan that could result in the Noosa River being declared a conservation park.
This 'extreme dream' McMansion with a nuclear bunker is being demolished. And neighbours are relieved
The building, which had sweeping ocean views, was the centre of controversy for decades, with neighbours even launching a court bid to have the newly built palatial residence knocked down.
Drivers 'very lucky' not to be hurt in Rainbow Beach landslip
A major landslip has buried a car and damaged another at a popular tourist destination. Residents say it is the biggest slip they have seen in the region.
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Young netball umpires sworn and yelled at during games on the Sunshine Coast
The Sunshine Coast Netball Association writes a letter warning players, parents, and even coaches to stop the behaviour.
Outrage after trees killed opposite luxury beachfront properties
Coast care volunteers have been left dismayed by the "senseless destruction" of more than a dozen trees at Coolum and Marcoola opposite beachfront properties.
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'Huge relief' as osprey pair accepts man-made home, perched '25m in the air'
A daring treetop mission has seen the years-long nesting site of a pair of eastern ospreys rebuilt on the Sunshine Coast after it was badly damaged during a storm.
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Why Australia fell in love with a beauty competition for chickens
The search for Australia's Next Top Chicken started as a bit of fun, but turned into a viral celebration of the most unlikely of feathered friends.
She couldn't go to Mars so Dianne McGrath is circumnavigating Earth instead
Dianne was one of seven Australians shortlisted for the Mars One project. But that collapsed, so she's doing the next best thing.
Custodians call for closure of Mount Beerwah to climbers
Pressure is building for authorities to close a hiking trail up a culturally significant peak in the Glasshouse Mountains.
Sunshine Coast, Illawarra drownings as hazardous surf warning remains along east coast
Hazardous surf continues to batter the coastline from South East Queensland down to the South Coast of New South Wales, with drownings on the Sunshine Coast and in the Illawarra.
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National campaign launched ahead of public holiday to highlight dangers of swimming at unpatrolled beaches
The campaign comes after a drowning at a Sunshine Coast beach on Sunday and as the search for a missing man off the Cooloola Coast enters its third day.
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Wild horses, deadly snakes and a lot of flies: James trekked 5,100km, what suprised him most was the people
COVID-19 made James's dream of walking across Australia possible, but then derailed his journey halfway through. Two years and 13 days later, he has finished what he started, crossing some of Australia's most remote and desolate landscapes, with the help of generous strangers.
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Schoolies on Sunshine Coast swap schooners for smoothies
The class of 2022 say they "don't want to waste a day being hungover" and just want a "chill, fun time", reflecting a trend among young people towards drinking less.
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A dog saved Hare's life on the first voyage to Antarctica 120 years ago
Legend says young Clarence Hare's dog helped him survive two days in an Antarctic blizzard 120 years ago. Now you can read Hare's diary.
‘Extremely strange’: Pet detective joins search for vet clinic’s missing cat after suspected theft
A Queensland veterinary clinic is desperate to find its beloved resident feline, as members of the public report seeing a man pick up a cat from the street and drive away with it.
Sunshine Coast's hot housing market comes to 'abrupt halt' as prices fall
Sunshine Coast house prices have recorded a 2.4 per cent decline over three months, but market pressures continue. A property analyst says the region needs to build the equivalent of a new suburb each year for the next 20 years to keep up with population growth.
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Athletics in your 90s? This couple is proving age is no barrier
They are an inspiration to many, but Maurice and Christiane insist there's no secret to their success — just Sunday morning track and field training followed by a croissant and the newspaper puzzles.
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'Huge' new music festival site for the Sunshine Coast aims to attract big-name events
Creators say the new festival venture could attract events like Splendour in the Grass and Byron Bay Bluesfest.
Sweet bum-breathing turtle! The Easter treat helping protect an endangered species
First came bunnies. Then bilbies. Now the peculiar, shy and threatened Mary River turtle is benefiting from the sale of chocolate treats. And they need all the help they can get after massive floods.
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Drifting down the Darling, dwarfed by river gums, these paddlers enjoy a dream run
While summer flooding has caused much heartache, for a group of paddlers, it's meant the realisation of a 10-year dream: to paddle more than 200 kilometres down the flooded Darling River.
Queensland Transport Minister accuses federal government of $1.6b rail line budget hoax
Mark Bailey says the $1.6b set aside in the budget for a crucial rail line amounts to an election bribe.
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