Thank you, thinking on how to start this final printed column, I would like to first thank you for reading it. To those of you that gone a step further and either made a comment via text or written a letter to this newspaper, thank you for voicing your thoughts on the subject. Then there are those who contact me with their thoughts on what is needed in CQ, what is happening that they believe shouldn’t be, offers of help to achieve an aspiration and what they thought of my recent column, thank you to them to. I still get the odd comment about my fast train columns, which I think one of them kicked off this column some 7 years ago. Special acknowledgement and belated birthday to James, who turned 96 a week ago. James, after reading this column a fortnight ago, rang me offering to give money towards preserving a printed community paper in Rockhampton, believing in the importance of a daily paper in keeping people, particularly the elderly, connected to their community. Like many of the aspirations for Central Queensland I write about we’ll have to wait to see if this happens.
Inspired A Song
One aspiration, I wrote about this year, that has produced a gem is a song written by James Langan. It was in response to an idea I broached, that Archer Park Rail Museum was happy to proceed with, local iconic landmarks inviting local artists to spend some creative time in solitude during their enforced shut down to produce new content, young James, well he is younger than 96, has written a song appropriately called ‘Platform’. Providing a lyrical story on the history of some railway platforms, like the one cared for by the volunteers at Archer Park. To listen to this terrific song, visit the Aspire CQ web site and click on the contributed content page.
The DNA of CQ
Having used nearly half of my allowed word count I would like to leave you with something that I believe has been the DNA of these columns; that we are the major determinants of the Central Queensland’s future. Other’s may decide what investments/infrastructure are funded (and withdrawn) in CQ, market forces will determine cattle and coal prices, but it is our mind-set and respect of the land in which we live that will have the biggest impact on the type of future CQ will have.
Do we just allow our valuable resources to be shipped away as is, or do we look for value add opportunities; opportunities CQ owns and manages, that creates more diversity, jobs and prosperity? To achieve this, we must demand and gain more respect. Respect for our resources, capabilities, character and stories. But this can only come after we more strongly identify as being Central Queenslanders and respecting our connection with the land and people within it. Sit back and just let outsiders decide, then can we really be critical of what does or doesn’t happen in our backyard, like a multi-national digging a big hole with a FIFO workforce, then after exporting most of its valuable contents sell the mine for a $1 to avoid rehabilitation costs?
Affordability, Opportunity, Vibrancy
Did you know that in the recent Weekend Australia newspaper, Rockhampton is listed in Australia’s top tree change towns? Leading the way in the affordability stakes, indicating it takes about 14 years to pay of your home. While, using the same modelling, it takes 65 years in Parramatta.
Affordability, opportunity and vibrancy, these core tenets are what CQ needs to be continually promoting if we want this part of the state to provide us more of the prosperity that is presently exported out.
But this involves more than getting a favourable affordability story in a national newspaper, major infrastructure projects being announced to provide new opportunities and Councils sponsoring key community events to enhance vibrancy; we need to also gain greater respect. Respect lasts longer and has greater impact than one newspaper story, especially when diluted with a negative online comment. However, to get this respect we need to first truly respect ourselves as proud Central Queenslander’s and the land that is Central to Queensland’s continued prosperity.
I hope you might continue to follow my columns in the forthcoming digital editions of the Morning Bulletin or via the website, aspirecq.com. Thanks for reading.