Our veins flow maroon

THERE’S NO DOUBT WE SOMETIMES NEED A FAIRER GO IN FNQ, THAT’S WHY WE WANT YOUR INPUT IN OUR SURVEY, LAUNCHED TODAY, SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO CHAMPION THE REGION AS WE’VE ALWAYS DONE.

THERE is trouble brewing among the natives and their voices are getting louder. But do they scream the rebel yell on behalf of all of us? Calls for a breakaway state are nothing new above the Tropic of Capricorn. It’s a bit like, should Australia become a republic, or introducing daylight saving — you can set your annual alarm clock to the debates and then hit the snooze button for another year. There is a determined crew now though, it seems, angling for secession and it has a target in mind: State Election 2020. There’s no doubt we sometimes need a fairer go in FNQ, that’s why we want your input in our survey, launched today, so that we can continue to champion the region as we’ve always done. The survey will help us in planning our future cam- paigns to fight for what you care about most. I must admit, that while there are some things that just aren’t right or fair, I’ve always been quite fond of calling myself: “Queenslander!”

I wonder if the Down South and Up North are so different after all.

We all love footy … especially kicking the Blues in State of Origin.

Billy Slater is our man but this year is his last throw of the ball for representative footy. It wouldn’t be the same if I couldn’t cheer for Andrew McCullough or Gavin Cooper. Their veins flow maroon, and so do mine.

North and south, we all hate busy roads.

A traffic snarl from the CBD to Smithfield and a bumper-to-bumper snail ride from Brisbane to the Goldie — all drivers feel the rage and dream of a golden highway to their front door.

Paid parking … and just somewhere to park.

While it stings like a scorpion to have to pay for parking on Sundays and it’s almost impossible to find one anyway in the city, a lack of space to put your wheels is a gripe we definitely all have in common. The difference is, southerners have better public transport options and they’re more inclined to walk further than we are.

We love the outdoors.

So we have THE Reef and rainforest, but I would prefer to walk my lab along a coastline without fear she’ll be taken by a monster. Queenslanders love their beaches but it’s more sun and sand up here than sun and surf.

We love a good drop.

Whether it’s a beer from up here or a pale ale from down there, spring water or sparkling, white wine or red. As for coffee, don’t think for a minute we’re any different from the city-slicker latte sippers — there’s a coffee shop on every corner in Cairns.

We have much in common, we Queenslanders, we just need to even things up a bit so we remain the Top Spot.