Timely reflection on rich past and promising future
AND what a movie it is! Created by famed director of the early Galah Wars trilogy, Steven Speilburdekin, and starring Michael Mt Fox! A new year’s masterpiece Forward To The Past!
The storyline follows Marty McFruitfly being thrown back 35 years and seeing what Townsvillians enjoyed in the past. Pushing a modified De- Mini Moke to the top of Horseshoe Bay Hill and letting it start, hopefully, and scream down towards Alma, and by the time it reaches the unheard of speed of 63.572km/ h, it’s thrust into the ’ 80s and ’ 90s of the paradise, Townsville.
As he breaks the time barrier, the first thing he hears is children’s laughter, and there in front of him, a glorious open blue bus, with the name “Galloping Gerty”. They’re on their way to the beach to watch Captain Cook arrive, along with 5000 other funloving souls.
Past Jeff’s Place, the very first backpackers on the Isle, and now Bungalow Bay, to the beach where there’s a band, markets, coconut raft races, camel rides, and true outrageous tropical fun.
From there to the mainland, and that means Picnic Bay, in the ’ 80s it was a mall, full of shops, kids playing under the figs, and a band on the little stage, it was truly a wonderful place. Then the walk along the jetty to jump on the famed Hayles ferry to Australia – an adventure in itself.
As the blue ferry slowed down, not that it wasn’t slow before, but a little slower in the creek, we pass Doug Tarcas Reef Link, the daily trip to pontoons on the Great Reef. A trip for all ages to see the greatest living wonder in the world, and after the pontoons, we even had the world’s first floating hotel.
The ferry pulled up at the Flinders East Terminal in the heart of the city. Marty McFruitfly wandered Flinders East and the magnificent buildings there on the way to Flinders mall, green and lush, even a restaurant in the middle, games for the kids, and the most amazing rainforest trees full of rainbow lorikeets, Milkwood trees.
He noticed signs advertising a Pacific Festival, a Brown Water Classic, a Bird Man Rally, an Anything Goes Show and so much more. Close by he saw a rocky beach transformed into one of the best beaches in Australia. He saw a determined, fun- loving people who will make a great city even greater, and looked forward to jumping in his DeMini Moke and travelling ahead 35 years ... I wonder what he’d say?
I have an idea, because I’ve been thinking of it since new year, my 35 wonderful mango seasons here. We reflect on a year, true, but I reflected on all of them, and realise how blessed I am to be here.
We learn from the past, but don’t live in the past, hope for the future, but again, not “live” in it I guess. So I hope we can all be positive about paradise, I am. Happy New Year, may it be full of laughter and kindness. Ooroo.
P. S. No end to the movie, he never left the island!