Chasing laughs, donuts and $5,000: My SeaFM challenge

Catherine with Nicklin MP Marty Hunt and Foz, who was run off his feet in Nambour. 

From Catherine Grayson, SweetInk Images, Nambour

About a fortnight ago, I threw myself into a local SeaFM competition — the Live with Foz & Brooke Cutout Challenge. The goal? Complete as many quirky, community-based challenges as possible to earn points. At the end, there’s $5,000 up for grabs, and I’m giving it everything I’ve got!

One of the biggest challenges — worth a whopping 5,000 points — is to appear on TV and share my journey. That’s still in the works, but I’ve already ticked off a 1,500-point milestone by getting featured in the local paper (thanks to Tanya and Cameron Outridge for making that happen!).

I started by introducing cardboard Foz to Nambour with the help of Nicklin MP Marty Hunt. Then we made coffee at Banksia Espresso, got a shave at Dukes on Queen, had a blow-dry at Uptown Hair Studio, and hit the gym — where I also happen to work. Even the Nambour Crushers lent a hand, lining up team photos with their U8s and U9s.

A highlight was our “date” at the Ginger Factory, complete with train and boat rides. The staff were legends and helped me knock over several challenge items. We even stopped at The Namba for a beer, where I ran into one of Foz’s mates from Sunreef Mooloolaba — totally unplanned and totally brilliant.

This week’s adventure took us to the Big Pineapple for the Treetop Challenge and a classic location snap, followed by a celebratory gin at Sunshine & Sons.

And what’s a Coast challenge without donuts? A stop at the Kenilworth Bakery store in Mooloolaba — and a cheeky recreation of the famous Robert Irwin/Jeff Bonds photoshoot — ticked another box (donut snake included).

There’s more to come, with plans to visit more iconic Sunshine Coast spots and keep the laughs rolling. Wish me luck — the winner is announced Friday 30 May, live on SeaFM’s breakfast show from 6am–9am.