Barry returns to Far North
There have been a lot of changes to Cairns since Barry Spilsbury (right) and his young family left in 1989. But heading north from his Caboolture home to celebrate his 70th birthday party, the humid conditions settled like a warm blanket.
THERE have been a lot of changes to Cairns since Barry Spilsbury and his young family left in 1989.
But heading north from his Caboolture home to celebrate his 70th birthday party with long-time friends and family, the humid wet conditions settled like a warm emotional blanket.
With fond memories of a childhood at Babinda, swimming at the Boulders and exploring the kilometres of lush countryside with mates, Mr Spilsbury’s relationship with the Far North has been an en- during one. It’s where he earned his first job as a fitter and turner at Babinda Mill.
During work he would also cut cane by hand and, as a side job, killed crocodiles at Russell Heads, giving the meat to local Aborigines as payment for skinning the reptiles.
He met his first wife Beverly, a local hairdresser, and married her at the renowned House on the Hill.
Later, having been conscripted, Mr Spilsbury toured Vietnam before injury from a landmine forced him to return home and to his life back in the tropics.
Through the years he kept an association with sugar mills and engineering throughout the country, working in Albury at Borg-Warner Australia and Marian Mill, near Mackay, and welcoming a daughter Susan (Gillespie) and son Matthew along the way.
Fondly he recalls years working at long-term shipbuilding company NQEA and building the Fremantle class patrol boats during the 1980s, where he met and worked with men who became friends for life.
Mr Spilsbury’s engineering experience was called on in the initial stages of the construction of the first highrise building in Cairns, the Pacific Hotel, where there were concerns about building on swampland and how it would affect the future development of the esplanade.
He also worked at the Northern Australian Brewery Limited (later bought by CUB), where they made the famous Cairns Draught and NQ Lager.
The Spilsburys moved to Townsville in mid-1989, where Barry became manager of the showgrounds there.
Sadly, Beverly would lose a battle with cancer.
A new venture would present itself on Magnetic Island, owning and operating the local hardware store, which he did with his partner of more than 20 years, Robyn.
Together they have travelled extensively around Australia in their caravan and overseas and, when at home, tend to their beloved garden.
Tonight, the keen fisherman and crafty mudcrabber will reminisce with about 50 people at a function at the Brothers Leagues Club’s Dreams Cocktail Lounge, no doubt with his favourite beverage – a Bundy Rum – in hand.
(Happy birthday, Poppy, from Layne, Matt and Just Jen)