Yes, a brighter future’s no longer just fantasyland

WELL, let’s not stop there!

We all gazed with Walt Disneyinspired bliss when we saw the lagoon splashed over the front page of our very own paper! We revelled in the tree- lined streets, bridges to stadiums and conference centres, to Hives and galleries, concert halls and malls ( oops, did I say malls, silly me!). And so much more.

I loved it, and I know those who are a lot cleverer than I, which is most, say it’s great too. It really is our turn, eh? The word in the hairdressers ( not that I’d know, I don’t go to them often nowadays sadly), taxis, bars and backyards, is WIG ... or Will It Go. I reckon it will. There’s some dynamic young developers and visionaries in our city; if they’re given a chance to improve our lifestyle, they will.

Like the wonderful concept of Panorama House stopped in 2011. Oh dear, but all go ahead now, isn’t it? Now I’m on holidays shovelling mulch: well, looking at it anyway, and I’ve had a chance to look at this stuff we saw here in the Bully, and I believe it would be great for our next generations to enjoy, and give work to those starting out, or indeed in the last few years of work before retirement.

So as I said, let’s not stop there; raspberry cordial flowing from the Big Bucket in the Water Park for an hour a day, mums and dads would love that. Barra fishing in The Strand Fountain, or champers from The Strand Waterfall ( the owners up the top said they would supply it). The list would be endless, and why not, the basics are all there; wonderful northern beaches and tropical isles, and enthusiastic locals. We just have to do it ... with help from our councils and governments, of course.

Townsville is like a pack of jelly beans: plenty of colours, we are great to enjoy; in fact, like a pack of jelly beans you just can’t stop loving it, once you actually open the pack. Or is that just me?

And it’s a see- through packet: what you see is what you get, very much like us honest, fair dinkum great North Queensland Aussies. That analogy thanks to my girl, as she hid a pack of jelly beans in my lunch box, and I just can’t put ’ em down. She never leaves a bottle of wine though.

And what a time ahead: the magnificent Watpac 400 V8s, the Chamber Music Fest, and Strand Ephemera. As I’ve been scribbling, two sunbirds are building their nest on an old power cord dangling off the deck: incredible. I’ll call her Ergon, and the boy with the bright blue chest, he better be ... um ... I know, Bill. And it’s going up quick too, Ergon Bill.

Happy V8ing, Happy Hammockin’, Happy Days. Ooroo