What ONE thing could be done to improve the plight of families in this region? That was a question in a survey recently by a not for profit social welfare organisation. I found it a tough question to answer. It has been established that around 48000 people in the Rockhampton and Livingstone Council areas would find it difficult to raise $2000 for an emergency. Obesity is affecting over 40% of us. Is there ONE thing that would make a difference for many families other than winning lotto? A fast food operator told me most of his home deliveries are to the less affluent areas of Rockhampton. I thought that strange believing generally less affluent households would be keener to save a few dollars by picking up as opposed to paying a premium for delivery, but he hypothesised many just look to survive one week to the next, a couple of dollars saved isn’t going to make a significant change to their circumstance. Last week I met a person who is very passionate about our region and has extensively researched ways to enhance its image. Clearly frustrated in his attempts to make a positive difference he is nearly resigned to believing his efforts are in vain. Listening to the roadblocks he keeps encountering didn’t leave me feeling overly positive either. Yet positivity is what he wants to encourage, showcasing positive stories about people from Rockhampton. Other than Lorna McDonald’s historical books of Rockhampton, what books can you buy about Rockhampton; its character, people, future? This passionate gentleman has interviewed many successful products of Rockhampton; Kendrick Tucker, Glenn Housman, Leanne Benjamin, Rhys Wesser, Jamie Dwyer, and wants to put these interviews and more into a book. A book to inspire Rockhamptonites that great personal goals can be achieved, not believe surviving is the only goal. My answer to the question, what ONE thing could be done to improve the plight of local families; provide inspiration and the environment for people to want and do more than merely survive; the difficulty I had in answering was how to make this response tangible. A book (medium) showcasing Rockhampton success stories is part of the solution. The content is largely collected, it needs a sponsor to see it realised.