A CALL THAT ECHOES THROUGH THE AGES
A BUGLE that once sounded its plaintive call across the battlefields of World War II will be heard across the sands of Currumbin this morning.
Gold Coasters, who will gather in their thousands to honour the sacrifice of our greatest Australians, will hear the bugle played by Adam Turner from Southport, whose grandfather carried the instrument through the horrors of war in the Middle East, Ceylon and on the Kokoda Track in New Guinea.
THE cavalry has arrived to resolve a neighbourhood standoff and give an old soldier the Broadwater view he has been missing since a neighbour began parking motorhomes outside his duplex.
Housebound war veteran Frederick Griffiths told the Bulletin that at age 96, all he wanted to do was gaze at the Broadwater from his duplex at Paradise Point and watch boats sail by.
But Mr Griffiths, who served for two years in North Africa in World War II and in post-surrender Germany, complained his view of the Broadwater from his home had been blocked by a neighbour’s motorhomes and his pleas for them to be moved had gone unanswered.
Late yesterday the Gold Coast City Council told the Bulletin the matter would be solved very soon, with area councillor Cameron Caldwell revealing the plan was to paint a yellow line along the kerb, making parking on the street outside Mr Griffiths’ home illegal and granting his wish to see the boats again.
Mr Griffiths claimed a neighbour had been regularly parking motorhomes in Muscovey St, which he said blocked his view of the water from his duplex at the rear of an address on The Esplanade.
The neighbours had moved in close to his duplex about four years ago.
“I’ve been trying to get help about this for years,” said Mr Griffiths.
“I’m totally alone. All my friends are dead.”
Until the council paints the yellow line, it is not illegal to park motorhomes in Muscovey St, which runs on to The Esplanade.
Mr Griffiths said his neighbours continued to park there even though he explained about his loss of the view.
Yesterday, Mr Griffiths’ neighbours did not return phone calls. When the Bulletin went to the Paradise Point property a woman there declined to comment.
Cr Caldwell told the Bulletin Mr Griffiths had been told the council would act to settle the dispute.
He said council traffic officers assessed the area after Mr Griffiths contacted him.
Cr Caldwell said that following the assessment, a yellow “no parking’’ line was planned to be painted along the section of street where the motorhomes were usually parked.
“Mr Griffiths contacted me with a request relating to large vehicles parking adjacent to his property. That has been assessed by council traffic officers and action taken to address his concerns,” Cr Caldwell said.
Mr Griffiths said he had lived on the block for more than 40 years.
“I quite like to see the boats go past,” he said.
Mr Griffiths said he subdivided the block about 16 years ago and moved into the rear duplex away from the street following the death of his wife.
Mr Griffiths’ only son, Grant, who lives in Sydney, said the issue had upset his father.
He said the house was his father’s pride and joy.