Archives

Winton the Pawn

“A gigantic political fraud had been perpetuated on this district”There was once a strong belief, ‘inevitable,’ Queensland would be divided into 3 states prior to Federation, in 1901. A belief not seemingly shared by the power brokers in Brisbane, despite the size of the state, poor location of the capital and the wishes of the […]

Succinct CQ Stories, Big Insight

If you were asked to nominate a club/organisation, team, or individual(s) to receive a sizable amount of someone else’s money and give a succinct reason why them, who would you nominate and what would you write?Central Queensland polyethylene tank manufacturer, Nu-Tank, recently offered the auction proceeds of a brand new 25000 litre water tank to […]

If You Can, I Can

Do you have to see something aspirational before you can dream about it? After all, if you never saw it (or some form of ‘it’) how can you dream about it? Or are dreams something totally random, drawn from unknown sources? Pardon, this personal rambling, I’m wondering how some things get invented, refined, or going […]

Return to Sender – the (131 year old) Petition and Passion please

“The administrative centre of the state was so far removed from the rest of the huge state, leaving Central Queensland, not only lagging, but used as a source of revenue for the aggrandisement of Brisbane and Southern Queensland.”This quote could have been said yesterday, but (not quite word for word) was included in a petition […]

Move Rockhampton High School

Move Rockhampton High School 2024 should be a year of vision. A local government election next month and a state election in the latter half of the year would usually bring out the big vision statements. But as I listen to Brian Eno’s ‘Passengers Original Soundtracks 1,’ I am reminded that one’s vision might not […]

There’s One in Nearly Every CQ Town

An industry that typically gets overlooked, or just gets lumped in a broad category, is a very important one in Central Queensland. One that deserves greater individual recognition for the vital role they play. You will find them in nearly every Central Queensland town, in some cases more than one. Some are owned and run […]

Backing Local Businesses SE

While I suspect many you who by chance come across this post will not read the above article in full, I believe the headline. “Businesses shape towns”, pretty much sums up the content. My submitted headline to the paper arguably says it better, “The businesses you back shape how your town evolves.” Can you imagine […]

David’s Slingshot For Sale, Faith Hopefully Not Included

“I will always encourage people to support the battlers and small businesses because they are what our country was built on and will die without,” said Milko on his Facebook post on the 24th November, 2023. This was at the end of a, self-announced ‘long winded’, post advising the imminent closure of Central Queensland Dairy […]

Backing Local Businesses

While I suspect many you who by chance come across this post will not read the above article in full, I believe the headline. “Businesses shape towns”, pretty much sums up the content. My submitted headline to the paper arguably says it better, “The businesses you back shape how your town evolves.” Can you imagine […]

Gardening for Outback Population Growth

Barcaldine, an outback town, arguably in the shadow of near-by, larger, Longreach, but just as famous, if it not more, in outback folklore, has the potential to double its population in the next 10 years. Something not many outback towns can boast. Barcaldine is more than a town though, it is also a regional council, […]

Ode to CQ

Over the long weekend we had strong reason to reflect on what it is to be Australian, after all as the advertising for Australia Day said, we are all part of the story. What does it mean to be a Central Queenslander though? Is it any different, is it important to reflect on our part […]

Spend Local

How much do you want to vote for me? It’s as if the 4 letter D word is of no consequence; spend, spend, spend to create jobs seems to be the only election catch cry. Debt, what debt, we don’t even worry about budgets now, at least not in Queensland. An aged or disability support […]

Think Small

The answer is, ‘more infrastructure’. Whether the question is how to increase job opportunities, how to improve livability, how to grow the economy, how to retain talented youth, how to attract major acts, how to win the election; increased infrastructure spending is pretty much the only answer being put forth. Of course, you get an […]

Hockey 2021

12 months ago, Rockhampton hosted an international sporting event, an Olympics Games qualifying tournament no less. How easy it is to forget that is was only this time last year considering what has happened since. With Queensland now the new sporting capital of Australia and a national cabinet decision to possibly drop border restrictions by […]

Sustainable Village Our Second Chance

The Capricorn Coast is currently experiencing a bumper period, across accommodation, hospitality and real estate, that is possibly leaving their Gold Coast counterparts (and definitely Victorian ones) envious. Comments like, ‘the last 3 weekends have been like Easter’, ‘restaurant is again booked to capacity’, ‘we’re busier than the boom times’, have been heard. I imagine […]

CQ Wings

Has Rockhampton been a good Capital of Central Queensland? Last week I not only suggested Rockhampton needs to now re-establish itself as the Capital of Central Queensland but act like it as well. In doing so it would help give Central Queensland a stronger identity, and with that attract more visitors, investment and residents, making […]

CQ’s Aces

Rockhampton needs to re-establish its title as the capital of Central Queensland and strengthen its claim as the Beef Capital of Australia. Back in March 2019 at a Futures CQ presentation it was mentioned that Rockhampton needed to re-establish its position as the capital of Central Queensland, even though in the same presentation it was […]

Go West

Where are you going this long weekend? Go west young man, was the call back in mid-nineteen century to encourage American’s to head west for opportunity and colonise the ‘public’ lands. Of course, a totally inappropriate phrase in this century, however the compass direction is still a good one to follow. West is where you […]

Inland Stupidity

What do you do when you present a logical case to government that would save them (us) billions of dollars and they produce a feasibility report that says your argument is flawed, not economically viable, do you just forget about it? That appears to be the case with the advocated inland rail link to Gladstone. […]

CQ’s Slam Dunk

If you have started reading the Courier Mail lately you can’t help notice the amount of space given to the near daily stories on the Brisbane Bronco’s. Why does a sport team get so much attention, and not just on the back page? A one team town in a rugby league mad state might be […]

Qld’s Victoria

When Banjo Patterson wrote of Clancy (Clancy of the Overflow) droving ‘down the Cooper’ there was no mention of dust, flies and the heat of the outback, only the foetid air of the dirty city and the uninviting language of children in its streets, but not of the stockmen. Why the ongoing romantic notion of […]

The CQ Perception

I’ve been doing a 12-week marketing masterclass and on the last day of the online course the Professor, who lives in Tasmania, shared a personal insight, one-way covid-19 has affected his wife. She does yoga classes and with covid-19 restrictions the teacher stopped the off-line sessions and offered online classes. This had been an acceptable […]

Whole CQ

Last week I ended my column with the suggestion of Livingstone and Rockhampton Councils doing a joint campaign to more effectively sell the region (rather than running separate campaigns) to those residents of identified Brisbane suburbs looking at making a shift within the next 3 years to regional centres, believing it would also be a […]

David’s Right Stones

Do you know the story of David and Goliath? A biblical tale where a smaller David, against all odds, kills the much bigger Goliath with his slingshot and a well-aimed stone. What was the stone he used though – after all the choice of which was vital to the outcome? To small and it would […]

Last Thanks and Thoughts

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 […]

Ode to a United CQ

I straddle the Tropic of Capricorn with sand dunes east and west, but ocean only on one I am part outback and part Great Barrier Reef, the land that dinosaurs once roamed, inspired Australia’s unofficial anthem and where a national icon began. I am the land that produces food, fibres and minerals for the world […]

Community Treatment

While my column still appears in print, I like to add more thought to what I wrote last week concerning the cessation of printing 112 community and regional newspapers and the opportunities that can arise from this shock decision. How will community/sporting groups get information broadly disbursed about their activities? That was one question that […]

Shock Treatment

Scrutiny, how many journalists do you need to properly scrutinise the actions of local councils, the delivery of politician promises for example and to advocate on behalf of the communities it operates within? Or is the question, how many readers/viewers/listeners do you need for any such scrutiny and advocacy to be effective? From June 29 […]

Midnight Changes

Capitalism is unfair! Have you ever thought if the economic system we live and breathe was fair or not? I see that National Retail Association has flagged allowing supermarkets to open till midnight would help in the post covid-19 recovery. No big deal you might think, if businesses want to open longer hours why not […]

2500 Reasons Why Now

If you knew in 2 years’ time that you would have 2500 job vacancies and be unable to fill them locally, what would you be doing now? Promote the hell out it, would be my response, especially now, as many people are re-evaluating decisions about their careers, how they live, where they live. 2500 was […]

Creative Day Pass

If you had a full day to spend in the solitude of the currently closed Archer Park Rail Museum, Mt. Morgan Railway museum, the Rockhampton Heritage Village, CQ Military Museum, top floor of Customs House, or the Rockhampton Art Gallery what would you show for it? What if you are an artist, photographer, poet, writer, […]

Sports Capital JR

It had been decades since Rockhampton had hosted a major football (soccer) tournament and the organisers were waiting for the influx of 1000+ players, parents and siblings to the new grounds and facilities on Yeppoon Road. Dedicated change rooms for the female teams were certainly appreciated by the local players, as were the small seating […]

12 Indicators

If you could grant anyone 2 things, what would they be? Health and happiness! Two of the indicators used to indicate China’s economy is on the road to recovery from covid-19 restrictions are the increase in air pollution and coal consumption. Is China the litmus test for Australia’s recovery? Or, will Venice be, when the […]

Character Towns

Character Accolades For Our Town How would you describe the character of Rockhampton, Gladstone, Emerald, Yeppoon, Moura, Springsure, etc.? What goes to the character of a town? It’s buildings?, open spaces?, location?, events?, people?; there are a lot of factors that go the character of a town/city. And it is very important that each town […]

Ideas Lying Around

“Only a crisis – actual or perceived – produces real change. When that crisis occurs, the actions that are taken depend on the ideas that are lying around. That, I believe, is our basic function: to develop alternatives to existing policies, to keep them alive and available until the politically impossible becomes the politically inevitable.”― Milton […]

It’s up to You

If you have got out and about, two things you may have noticed, the lack of people around and the number of businesses that are closed. Both related to each. Which businesses will reopen when this pandemic is over? Hopefully all, but it is most likely that some won’t. Whether it be that covid-19 was […]

End of April Fools

What jobs are going to be in most demand when this pandemic is over? Where will they be located? What jobs won’t be in such current strong demand? I’m hoping someone has the answers to these basic questions now. Definitely not waiting to address them when the pandemic is over. My grandmother used to say […]

12 Indicators

If you could grant anyone 2 things, what would they be? Health and happiness! Two of the indicators used to indicate China’s economy is on the road to recovery from covid-19 restrictions are the increase in air pollution and coal consumption. Is China the litmus test for Australia’s recovery? Or, will Venice be, when the […]

Rockhampton Reimagined

Let’s hold an event and invite all of the Rockhampton region to it! But wait, this can’t happen in the present COVID-19 climate. Depends how it is conducted, it could be held online. Why would people of Rockhampton want to be involved in an online event, because it is about them, their post COVID-19 future. […]

Job Fair ECQ

It used to be said if United States sneezes Australia catches a cold. Now it appears if China has a virus the world goes into recession. Recession normally means businesses will close or put off staff, unemployment thus rises, share prices fall, dividends decrease, self-funded retirees earn less, real estate prices drop. Not a pretty […]

Democracy Divided

Rockhampton Region has 12 candidates for 7 councillor positions, yet over a third of those eligible to vote can’t vote for any one of them. Is it a democracy when you can’t vote for a Councillor, voting being a cornerstone of democracy? Around 23,000 people can’t vote for a Councillor (but can for Mayor) in […]

Rockynats the Culture

A hologram of a raging bull in the middle of the burnout pad, what a statement that would make about Rockhampton during the Rockynats burnout sessions. Apparently, I may be a bit pre-emptive in claiming Beef Australia to be the region’s biggest event, as there is a lot of passion for the Rockynats coming in […]

Archer Rail Beef

In 14 months, Rockhampton will be hosting its biggest event, attracting 100,000 visitors to town with the tri-annual Beef Australia. I imagine some event will be held over the May day long weekend this year to acknowledge that it will then be only 12 months away. While the temptation will be to have a beef […]

Dreamtime Dream Still Alive

If asked the question, what 3 places would you recommend to an international tourist to check out when in Rockhampton, what would be your response? Mount Archer, Botanical Gardens/zoo, Quay Street, I assume would be some of the more popular responses. If you asked an international tourist, doing the Frazer Island to Whitsundays road trip […]

Localised Milk

Rightfully there has been an outcry over the forthcoming closure of the Pauls Milk factory in Rockhampton and the loss of local jobs. The globalisation juggernaut will roll on nevertheless, with more centralisation of production and reduction in associated jobs. Will this closure be enough to awaken another potential juggernaut that could see the local […]

CQ Utd

Over the long weekend we had strong reason to reflect on what it is to be Australian, after all as the advertising for Australia Day said, we are all part of the story. What does it mean to be a Central Queenslander though? Is it any different, is it important to reflect on our part […]

WLT so far

Did you buy a Keppel Cash gift card as a Christmas present? If so, congratulations on making and taking a conscious effort to help make one of our local communities more vibrant.  $28, 990, that is the amount of money spent on buying Keppel Cash gift cards so far. 210 of these cards being bought […]

If The (Rockhampton Heritage) Village Were A Trial Site For A Healthier World

Last week I suggested we might all (Generations Bb, X, Y, Z & Alpha) unite to making our planet healthier, hypothesising the more people involved the quicker and longer lasting the changes, with the journey only needing to start with small steps. So, what are the first small steps to take? Recognising that there is […]

A 2020 Vision

Will 2020 be better or worse than 2019, or much the same? How many of you have answered this in the last week? Are you really a pessimist if you answer worse, an optimist if you believe better or a realist if you honestly think much the same? If you did answer with one of […]

People v Infrastructure

Infrastructure appears to be the word for 2020, the need for it, planning for it, accelerating it, building it; all the politicians are keen to include the word ‘infrastructure’ in their media bites. As new infrastructure means jobs and more jobs will re-invigorate regional Australia. Is infrastructure really the only panacea for regional Australia’s future? […]

Shop Locally

There was a story in Monday’s paper encouraging shoppers to buy locally this Christmas, as opposed to unsaid overseas web sites. The accompanying picture caption included that the shopper ‘prefers to buy from Australian brands at bricks and mortar stores’, she is holding a Sephora bag. Sephora is a French multinational retail chain. Is this […]

The YEEZ Journey

Sam is 17 years old, just finished high school in Brisbane and awaiting the all-important OP score before tackling the next stage in life. Expecting to get a good OP score and not sure what type of job appeals a Brisbane University is the most likely next step; but taking a gap year is tempting, […]

Plaid Indies

Did you know it is Black Friday this Friday? November 29th; not a Friday falling on the 13th of the month but the Friday following the fourth Thursday in November is marketed as Black Friday. Why, because the fourth Thursday in November is United States Thanksgiving Day. Since 1952 the day after Thanksgiving Day has […]

A Firey Community

Help thy neighbour. That is pretty ingrained in the bush, maybe not as much in cities. We’ve been reading about it over the past week with our Livingstone neighbours, how they’ve helped each other, and continue to do so, in fighting the bush fires and in the recovery. Another neighbour of Rockhampton, Central Highlands, is […]

WKD Everyday

Happy World Kindness Day. Seems like a rather inadequate, perhaps even inappropriate, greeting to those affected by the current bush fires. Am I even supposed to prefix WKD with the word ‘happy’? I suspect when this day was launched back in 1998 it was not to be a greeting of happiness that wishing someone Merry […]

Rockpocalypse

A couple of friends of mine are in the process of re-inventing their lives; after years in other professions and now in their mid to late 50’s have gone back to University to become teachers. By the time one of them graduates and is able to teach high school students he will be 59 years […]

JDRF 1 Walk

Another week of politicians blaming each other about Rookwood Weir which just means another week of nothing tangible happening about it. Meanwhile a local Dad with the help of family and friends just gets on with organising a fundraising walk for this Saturday. I’m sure he would like to lash out and blame someone for […]

Pay to Move Here

It seems that Rockhampton has come to the point where Council needs to pay people not only to build new homes but to move here also with their recent incentive announcements. Hard for the people who live here to possibly comprehend. Is it an indictment on the Council that these decisions have been made, or […]

Emu Park RMP

Who decides if a town should and/or how it should progress? The residents, politicians, visitors, developers? On Monday night there was a meeting in Emu Park about pushing for a proper boat ramp for the town. There is an unquestioned need for another major boating outlet on the Keppel Coast, the question though is where. […]

Do the Weekend

There’s a radio commercial playing at the moment that starts, ‘this weekend you can do the mountain, do the hockey or do the data’; which is exactly what you can do this weekend in Rockhampton. There’s Challenge the Mountain, the Oceania Cup over 5 days starting today and GovHack running all weekend. As well as […]

Art Gallery

Why does our region need a new, bigger art gallery and why, when completed, it needs to regularly host controversial exhibits? Disruption. Who doesn’t know a new art gallery is to be built in Rockhampton and not have an opinion on the costs? Imagine the talk when it hosts the first controversial exhibition. A conversation […]

Passion Bid

In 2 weeks, Central Queensland’s biggest sporting event will commence, so why did Rockhampton bid for the 2019 Oceania Cup, featuring global hockey giants Australia and New Zealand men’s and women’s teams? An international sporting spotlight will be shining on Rockhampton for the 5-day tournament. Especially as the Australian and New Zealand teams are all […]

Small is Beautiful and a bargain

Would you pay $2.25 a litre for milk at a supermarket? Would knowing that the milk was sourced solely from Central Queensland dairy farms influence your answer? And that all the farms are family owned, some for more than 100 years. Well 21 dairy farms across CQ are hoping people will buy it, having formed […]

Wagner’s Inspired Dreams

Langkawi, a small island off the coast of Malaysia, in 2002 had cable car infrastructure up one of its mountains built. This steep but scenic ride annually attracts around 1M people. Build it and they will come. How many would a cable car up Mt. Archer attract? Last week I mentioned that Denis Wagner, a […]

Wagners Field

‘Build it and they will come’, a quote often attributed to the Kevin Costner movie Field of Dreams. Imagine if a big production remake of the movie was made and instead of the Kevin Costner character being a Corn Farmer, he was a Public Works bureaucrat. Risking being the longest movie ever made, would a […]

Timeshare Apprentices

If you were an employer and had a job vacancy, who would you fill the position with? The person most qualified would be the logical answer. What if this person wasn’t a local, should that change your choice? And if you couldn’t fill the vacancy and an employment agency could fill it with a suitable […]

Hockey Environment

With all the local infrastructure projects on the starting grid just waiting for the green light and the ones already on the go, hearing the comment it is not good for local business is something you possibly don’t expect to hear. But it is being said by some. Several of these projects require a level […]

Figuring Out Small Business

I recently received an email with a snap shot of some statistics on the Capricorn Coast and Rockhampton region, particularly with you were looking to invest in the region. Amongst the statistics was the figure 8034, being the number of registered businesses in the region. The same source, Australian Bureau of Statistics, indicated 24.3% of […]

Change is Coming

Since writing last week’s column another state budget has been delivered and Adani has basically been given the green light. With the increased spending in infrastructure, payroll tax concessions for some regional businesses and the regional jobs going to be offered by Adani, the only way from here (just like the state’s debt and public […]

Gone Fishing

Fishing is part of the answer to attract skilled workers to move to our region. That’s what one local business owner told me last week. Doing some crystal balling, this business owner sees the short to medium-term prospects for our region being positive. More even than the south east corner, where they also operate. Which […]

Biloela Tax Cut

One of the promises by a minor party in the federal election campaign that didn’t appear to have any winning appeal, or maybe it was the person promising it, but is worth discussing was a lower individual tax rate for those living in regional Australia. Any fair dinkum politician in Canberra or a state capital […]

Adani Answer

Is Adani the answer? Before you automatically answer yes or no, ask what is the question. If it is, how do we positively stimulate our local economy, then the answer is money. I qualify this answer with extra, regular, significant injections of cash circulating through our local economy. Money to stimulate more local spending, leading […]

Keppel Cash

Have you ever received a gift card as a present? Those wallet sized plastic cards with a magnetic strip, be it as a thank you, birthday, or Christmas present. The easy gift and the only thing to think about is the amount. Easily accessible, shops will even sell you other business’ gift cards. You can […]

WWOOF Fishing

What makes a place a destination for an international visitor? Last week I was introduced to the acronym WWOOFer. And learnt we have WWOOFers who come from overseas to spend time at an organic farm on the outskirts of Yeppoon. World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) is, as the name indicates, an international call […]

Election Attention

Between the time that I submit this column and it is read a federal budget will be outlined and an election date possibly announced. Then for the next 6 or 7 Saturdays we will be bombarded with ‘don’t trust them’ advertising and lots of ‘Clayton’s’ (remember the drink you have when you’re not having a […]

YINC Substation revised

About 40 local youth skipped school to protest about lack of government action on climate change. Should we congratulate or criticise them? If local youth were to skip school to protest the state governments seemingly obstructive actions towards Adani, would your opinion differ? It shouldn’t in my opinion, I would congratulate either protest. The freedom […]

Futures CQ

I attended Futures CQ on Friday morning, not sure what to expect but hopeful that it would be more than a talkfest. We got told the stats, told Rockhampton’s population is going to grow, albeit slowly, told of the major projects that are in the pipeline, told we need to take more pride in being […]

Charging Cultural Bull

Does the promise of $10M for the construction of a new Art Gallery mean Rockhampton is one step closer to becoming the Cultural Capital of the North and ditching the Beef Capital of Australia title? After all, can one, in this era of gold fish attention spans, successfully wear (market) two seemingly very different hats? […]

Capricornia Game Changer

I was surprised by Monday’s front page; a proposed stadium for Victoria Park and financial support to build it promised by Pauline Hanson. I thought in the lead up to the yet to be announced federal election in regards to stadiums I would read a commitment from the Labor candidate to a Browne Park located […]

Mobile v Stayers

Each day we are reminded of the multi-million, even billion-dollar, projects touted for Central Queensland. Be it Shoalwater Bay, ring road, coal mine, wind farm, solar farm, levee bank, and the promises that local businesses will get preference in their construction. While some may be thinking: it’s an election year, we’ve heard it all before […]

Outback Spir ‘it’

How can a town (if it can be called that), with a population of zero, each year organise a race meet that attracts hundreds? The outback Queensland ghost town that is Betoota, even boasts a newspaper, the Betoota Advocate, but there is a story to that! Is it the resilience of the outback that makes […]

North Qld Spir ‘it’

Last week I was trying to work out what that ‘it’ factor is, that some communities seem to have in abundance, enabling them to do extraordinary things like organise a 2-day horse racing meet in a ghost town. I asked the question, could this ‘it’ be bottled? As we find out more about the utter […]

Spirit of the Outback flip side

2019 is the ‘Year of Outback Tourism’, as proclaimed by the Queensland Government last year. Last week I saw a full-page Queensland Government advertisement in a rural publication of Outback Events with a simple road map linking all the events, I imagine to encourage people to do a road trip and attend as many as […]

Sports Museum

The announcement that the international hockey matches being played this year in Rockhampton are to be telecast live across the nation (Foxtel), into New Zealand and parts of Asia and then replayed into Europe, should have our tourists bodies licking their lips and preparing plans to maximise the benefit of the coverage for the Rockhampton […]

Benaraby Drivers

“We get each teenager who does the course to fill out a questionnaire first. One of the questions is to rank their present driving ability from 1 to 10. This lad wrote down an 11. After finishing the first session of the 2-day course he asked for his questionnaire back. We gave it to him […]

Stomp the Crack

A question was asked of me, why get involved in organising a drought appeal concert? If you have been reading this column over the past few weeks you know that I’m involved with Stomp the Crack, the McDonald’s Beef Capital Cares Drought Appeal Concert this Sunday at the Great Western Hotel. I answered,’ I just […]

Stomp the Crack Result

Something special happened on Sunday that nearly didn’t, and hopefully it can continue. The day started at about 4.00am in the morning with Brendan O’Rourke’s sound guys setting up, the Rockhampton Grammar School bus arrived around 10.00am with about 15 volunteers, that Stewart Norford had organised to help set up chairs and tables, and members […]

Maccas Care

Over the last few weeks I’ve used this column to update you on the progress of the Beef Capital Cares Drought Appeal Concert. Well there’s been a name change, it is now the McDonald’s Beef Capital Cares Drought Appeal Concert. On Monday morning Garry St. George, the franchisee of the Rockhampton and North Rockhampton stores, […]

Musicares

‘Oh, Rocky we love you, oh Rocky you’re our kind of town, the place I was born in, the place I’ll be settling down.’ I think that was the opening lyrics to a jingle for the Rockhampton Permanent Building Society back in the 1970’s. I’m sure some of you remember it and some may even […]

Beef Capital Cares

My Grandmother used to say ‘a plate takes longer to fix than break’. The rain we enjoyed on the weekend doesn’t end the drought. Even those out west who got some rain would have seen it slip away into those cracks on the ground, temporarily halting them from growing wider. Last week I mentioned how […]

Drought Concert

We’ve all heard about the hardship’s of the drought and efforts like parma for a farmer to raise much needed funds. Unless you have a direct connection to it the stark images may not do enough for city people to realise this drought is resulting in bank repossessions and premature deaths. Fellow Central Queenslanders are […]

Orchid Town

Rockhampton puts on the best display in the state, it is the only one outside metropolitan areas that does 2 a year, and the society running them is one of the longest continuous clubs of its type in the state. What, who is it? About 1200 people visited it on the weekend. Nearly 100 of […]

Rockhampton International

Apparently on the weekend you couldn’t get a motel room in Rockhampton. Between the visiting rowing and tennis teams, the Browne Park rodeo, plus the Food and Wine Festival; staying at Yeppoon and travelling to Rockhampton was for some their only accommodation option. You might draw from this that Rockhampton’s motel industry is buoyant. But […]

Shop Local Campaign that Sticks

Do ‘Shop Local’ campaigns work? It was a question asked of me last week. After some thought I said, “if done well”. After all, the motivation behind a Shop Local campaign is to get more money circulating within a community to stimulate job growth, investment, greater variety of offerings; all integral to the continual strength […]

Involve the Beneficiary

  A 15-year-old, with ambitions of making millions online, last Saturday said to his mum, “I can do this from Yeppoon.” Prior to this he was convinced he would have to move south on finishing his secondary schooling. What changed? Last week on Wednesday there was a session on building apps, Thursday was the inaugural […]

What is your Mission?

What is your mission? If you had to answer this what would you say? It is the question Young Change Agents (YCA) challenge kids under the age of 16 with. If you have difficulty answering the question, ‘what is your mission’, imagine how these kids respond when put on the spot, challenged to not only […]

YCA Pitch Night

Duncan Armstrong will be in town next Thursday night. I said this to one colleague and was greeted with Duncan who. I added, the Olympic gold medalist, born in Rockhampton; that didn’t help him recall the name either. To keep the conversation going my colleague asked, what was he coming to Rocky for. I said […]

Indie Capitalism

Good to see in Saturday’s paper Emu Park getting some attention with its proposed foreshore development. It does seem at the moment that the Capricorn Coast revolves around the Yeppoon lagoon, the further away from it the lesser the attention, promotional and financial. Yet Emu Park keeps quietly ticking away and every now and then […]

Back to Iwasaki

It was decided (not that I had a say) that on Saturday night the family get together and have dinner at Tsuruya, the Japanese restaurant in the old Iwasaki Resort.  On the drive down I thought we be the only diners at the restaurant and wondered how it viably stays open. Particularly as all Yeppoon […]

Good Sports Volunteers

Tomorrow my daughter shares her birthday with arguably Rockhampton’s most famous son: Rod Laver. To the younger readers he was today’s equivalent of Roger Federer, perhaps even better, having won 2 calendar grand slams, that’s the Australian, Wimbledon, French and US Open’s in the same year. The only tennis player to have currently achieved this. […]

Cultural Change YCA

Could you as a 15 year old stand in front of your peers and strangers, and admit that you used to be a real pain in the butt; it was your response to how you felt, alone and unwanted after your parents divorced, then with the mentorship of the man, who was to later become […]

Industry Growth Centres

“But we risk losing the immense opportunities from digital technologies if we don’t drive commercialisation of new technologies [such as] predictive analytics, automation of knowledge work, robotics, additive manufacturing, cloud and mobile technologies.” I found this quote in a story about the federal government funding (as part of a $100M package) for six dedicated ‘Industry […]

On the Mount

What a great weekend to be in the Rockhampton Region. Fantastic weather and much to do throughout the region. The Riverside Festival goes from strength to strength attracting its biggest crowds yet. Plus on Saturday, for the first time the CQ Crane Hire Gold Rush Hill Sprint was held. Millions of dollars of privately owned […]

Roundhouse Revitalised

We’ve been invited to give our thoughts on the proposed redevelopment of Browne Park into a 10000-15000 seat stadium, what about another prominent landmark, that has been in the news recently, but little detail provided about its future. The redundancies of the Rockhampton railway Roundhouse workers have been rightfully well covered by local news, but […]

Musical Entrepreneurs

What a privilege it was on Saturday night to see Broadway and Beyond at the Rockhampton Leagues Club. A sold-out fund raiser, showcasing the region’s current and former musical performers. As many have said in the past, our region continually nurtures fantastic talent in the arts. Broadway and Beyond was a resounding testament to this […]

Keppel Cove GKI

Apparently, there are three groups interested in buying into the resort development on Great Keppel Island. Speculation is one of the groups is headed by Ding Zuo Hong, the recent purchaser of Keppel Cove – a work in progress tourism and residential development at Zilzie. Wouldn’t this be interesting, dare I say exciting, should the […]

The Forgotten Manufacturing Hub

Do you remember the promised ‘Manufacturing Hub’ for Rockhampton? “The hubs will assist businesses be more productive and achieve best-practice standards”. It was a state election promise made last year. $30M for Manufacturing Hubs in Cairns, Townsville and Rockhampton. I was excited with this promise, last year writing that the hub would be focussed on […]

Singapore Learnings

I was fortunate enough to spend several days in Singapore and to be amazed at what has been labelled an economic miracle. Largely attributed to the vision of former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore a mere speck on the globe of 718.3 km2 is one of the world’s most advanced economies. I got a […]

Mount Kandos

Ever heard of a town called Kandos? It is the town that built Sydney. Been where limestone was sourced, turned into cement and used in many Sydney buildings, including the Harbour Bridge. With a present population of around 1200, the town was built in 1913 to house the workforce of what was once the largest […]

Closing Stadium

They say first impressions count, closing ones obviously do too. Rather than join the chorus of Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony disappointment I like to remember all the great moments prior to it and wonder what Rockhampton could learn from the Games. It was terrific to have our local lad Mark Knowles lead the Australian team […]

Utopia Paradise

Over Easter I found myself between Paradise and Utopia. We put the camper in for a few nights at the Biggenden Caravan Park, appropriately called Mountain View. For those that don’t know, Mt. Walsh overlooks the small town of Biggenden. Only a modest mountain at 703 metres it appears to be a kind of magnet […]

Bohemian Rocky

Bohemians help make this city ROCK. The place of a champion has now been built, it is what we do with and within it that will determine if the conformity of Rockhampton will be overwhelmed by a new bohemian spirit. If you didn’t see the musical We Will Rock You on the weekend that introduction […]

Amazon Drucker

“The aim of marketing is to make selling superfluous”. I came across this quote and stopped in my reading tracks. First reading of the quote, it sounded ridiculous. Selling/advertising is to many the most visible and essential component of marketing. How can you move product without selling it? On the second reading, I thought these […]

Why YEEZ

If you were asked what can be done to improve things (economically) locally without having to rely on the actions of outsiders, what would be your response? I was at a presentation last week by the CEO and CFO of a company spending millions of dollars within our region. They justified the company’s decision on […]

Youth Platform

  “This event gave the youth of Rockhampton a platform where our opinions would not go unheard, and our ideas could amount to something”. That is a quote from last week’s column written by a secondary school student who attended the two and half day Youth Change Agents event in Rockhampton. Ten days later what […]

Young Change Agents Article

Last Friday I was one of 3 judges of the first Youth Change Agents event to be held in the region. Instead of me writing about the extremely valuable experience it was for the 36 students who attended the 2.5 days workshop I felt it better to read what one of the participating students thought […]

Escape from the City

Remember the movie Escape from New York, starring Kurt Russell and directed by John Carpenter? ABC TV have commissioned a series called Escape from the City and the production company FremantleMedia Australia want Rockhampton to be included in the series. You may recall from the movie that New York had become a dystopia; Manhattan Island […]

YINC

It is happening. Rockhampton youth getting practical entrepreneurial experience while at school. Next week about 40 students from Rockhampton High, North Rockhampton High, Glenmore High and Emmaus College will spend two and half days looking at society’s problems as opportunities for them to solve. It is a kind of Social Entrepreneurship 101.  They’ll be empowered […]

Oak Tree Group

  What value to an economy is the older generation – retiree’s? Many of my columns have argued the importance of creating an economic and cultural climate that retains our youth. Enable them to realise their ambitions here, invest here, have families here, contribute here; rather than move away. If we don’t, a region can […]

Social Innovation Youth Group

The city of Maryborough, Queensland, is possibly not perceived as a magnet for primary and secondary school STEM (science, technology, engineering & maths) students from across Australia and New Zealand. Yet last year it attracted over 1600 students to the Fraser Coast Technology Challenge.   The blue-ribbon event for the 3-day Challenge is the 24-hour […]

Driver Training

Have you ever wanted to do something to help others; make things better; make a difference? What about trying to decrease the number of youth who die in motor vehicle accidents! Important project, but what can I as an individual effectively do? Well the local board of the Calliope and District Community Bank® branch of […]

The 1% Project

A belated Happy New Year. I noted an economist outlook for Central Queensland was for much of the same this year. This is despite continuing high coal prices and new investment in mining, beef prices remaining strong, the introduction of National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), Singaporean military investment, Beef Week, a promised manufacturing hub for […]

Community Christmas 2

There are signs on the horizon that 2017 is shaping up to be a better year; Adani, Rookwood Weir, Great Keppel Island, Singaporean investment, Mt. Morgan mine, are all possibly to positively feature in 2017. If one or two do start then combined with the stronger agricultural/coal prices, 2017 should economy wise be a better […]

Manufacturing Rail Hub

Still no word about the promised manufacturing hub for Rockhampton. Last week I mentioned this was the only promise made by Labor in the state election that could trigger a game changer for Rockhampton, yet since the election no mention of it. While we wait for the Minister for Manufacturing and our local member to […]

Manufacturing Hub

Now the state election is effectively over and both major parties are starting to forget about the lessons learnt from the results, I like our new member for Rockhampton to recall one promise that was made should Labor be successful. It was $30 million for Manufacturing Hubs to be established in Cairns, Townsville and Rockhampton. […]

Passion Pitch

Ever had a continual thought going through your mind, not sure what to do about it, but when you shared it with relative strangers the thought becomes something more real and you become more inclined to act on it? I was fortunate last Tuesday night to host Start-Up Capricorn’s Pitch Night. I mentioned it in […]

Pitch Night Double Act

Last night was Pitch Night, a double act actually, 4 of the candidates for the seat of Rockhampton doing their best to impress the audience to invest their vote in them this Saturday and on the other side of town budding entrepreneurs also putting on display their verbal communication skills to gain investors to help […]

Election Fun

The most inspiring, fun and innovative thing that has come out of the local state election campaign so far was the announcement of a wave pool being developed opposite Mt. Jim Crow. And really it was just the timing of their announcement in the middle of the campaign. No promises or candidates for the publicity […]

Cynically Idealistic Preference

If the major party politicians hate it, then that’s a good reason for voters to like it. I’m referring to the current likely result of the state election, the major parties doing deals with minor parties and independents in order for one to form a government. Scare campaigns from the major parties along the lines […]

Rockhampton Mono Darwin

What do you tell a person living in regional Queensland complaining about their poor internet reception? ‘Move to where there is good reception’, according to a practical straight talking prominent Queenslander. So, what do you tell a person living in Brisbane complaining about their transit times to and from work? If it is an issue […]

Nutbush Rockhampton

Do we all know what highway the town Nutbush is on and its speed limit? After Saturday night I’m convinced we do. It was interval in the bull riding events at the Great Western Hotel and the kids were invited to come into the ring and dance. There was song I’m not familiar with that […]

Community Business Model

What kind of community would we have if all the businesses within it put back 80% of their profits into local projects that enhanced the liveability factor? One could assume a dynamic, vibrant community would be the result; that attracted others to live and invest in it, thus continually enhancing its vibrancy and growth. But […]

Brahman Opportunity

“Sold to the brothers from Port Hedland”. I heard that at least twice on Monday morning out at Gracemere. They had travelled from a western extremity of Australia to the east coast to buy cattle.   It was the first day of the World’s Biggest Multi-Vendor Cattle Breed Sale – Brahman Week. An annual event […]

Utopia at Nankin

Could 250 square metres of Nankin land help make this region a better place? I got a phone call last week from a reader of this column. He wants 15 community groups to each take on the responsibility of one row on the 250 metres square plot he has set aside for growing organic fruit, […]

Self Propelled

First it was mountain bikes on the back and even top of SUV’s and 4-wheel drives, now also fighting for space are SUP’s (stand-up paddleboards), kayaks and canoes. They seem to be the latest must for the adventure tourist; young or old. Is there an opportunity for this region to capitalise on this? A mate […]

Fahrenheit 4701

Everything starts with a story. A timely story is being written now and it started with ‘I’m from the government and I need your help’. Scott Brook from National Parks and Wildlife attended this year’s GovHack at Smart Hub Rockhampton. He did a pitch asking participants to develop an application ‘APP’ from the open source […]

E-Stories

Have you heard the story about an indigenous guy raised in Blackwater that produced content for Sesame Street? No; some parents may recall the song ‘5 Kangaroo’s’ sung by Jessica Mauboy. The video was produced by the Brisbane company Carbon Media, founded by Blackwater raised Andrew Denning.  Andrew’s company not only produced the video, it […]

Enchanted Mt Archer

This Saturday is Challenge the Mountain; ride, run, walk up Mount Archer. What about surf it! Tree surfing technically. In Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula is an amusement park called Enchanted Adventure Garden. It claims to be the Home of Tree Surfing. A visit of their web site shows how challenging and fun it is. Can Mt. […]

Emu Entrepreneur

Did you know an emu never walks backwards! It can only move forward. I became aware of this on Friday when the Welcome To Country was conducted for the Lunch and Learn event. The person doing the Welcome To Country in both Darambul and English believed the relevance of the emu being only able to […]

Mind Over Mountain

“It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves”. An inspirational quote that has much more potency when you find out it is attributed to Sir Edmund Hillary. What is Central Queensland’s ‘mountain’ to conquer? I suggest it presently is to be perceived as a place where you can make things happen, be successful. I […]

Entrepreneurial Story

If you could get a one on one with the Chief Entrepreneur of Queensland what would you ask him? You could be cheeky and ask him how much he is getting paid for the fancy named gig; but that question will fall a bit flat when he say’s ‘nothing’. Many I suspect though will first […]

Hillbilly Mountain

Has a song ever been written about Mt. Morgan? If not why not and what genre should it be? Hillbilly; please don’t take this as a joke; the location and supposed repute of the town could in fact be used as a strength. Mt. Morgan the Hillbilly Bluegrass Music Capital of Australia. On what existing […]

Data is the new Oil

Would you agree to using your car to help the Council freely identify where pot holes are? What if the technology used also indicated if a vehicle ahead of you has suddenly slowed down or stopped on the blind corner you are approaching? This app is being developed, it basically converts your smart phone into […]

Dream Weekend

Does your mind still have room for dreams? Or is it clouded with the concerns of risk? Congratulations to everyone involved with Riverfest, particularly the person(s) who dreamt of the concept and dared to push for it. Also, congratulations to the Acton’s who dreamt of building Australia’s finest horse sports facility and doing it. No […]

GovHack Meetup

If necessity is the mother of invention, could the father be collaboration? Many of the more recent notable inventions and innovations only came to being via collaboration. The founder had an idea but only by working with others did the idea (or a metamorphosis of it) gestate into something of commercial value. Would Apple have […]

ADANI FIFO Gear Up

Let’s imagine Rockhampton does become the FIFO hub for Adani; after the initial excitement dies down how would we maximise the benefits it will provide? The workforce will need to be recruited, this will be from a combination of locals and people moving here. A percentage of those moving here will bring their families and […]

Talisman Games

Next week the region gets an influx of around 1600 people on top of the Talisman Sabre contingent already here for the military training exercises involving 30000 Australian and US Defence personnel. Extra people mean extra dollars circulating in our economy. The 1600 may not be as flash with the cash as perhaps the defence […]

Rocky Tim

Tim Glasby, one of tonight’s new Queensland State of Origin recruits, in a way pretty much reflects his rugby league playing home town of Rockhampton. Not the biggest player, not over hyped, a willing, reliable player that more than pulls his weight. Then when Queensland gets a kick in the guts, as Aurizon just did […]

Appreciating 3DS

  There is a start-up business opportunity that could commence in our region within a matter of weeks with global demand and job creation potential. It’s not the next Facebook or Microsoft, it is a quite simple concept, it just needs the right support to get it started. The support needed is not just money, […]

Startup Weekend x 2

Last Friday night I walked into the Start-Up Hub at 212 Quay Street not sure what I would see. Startup Capricorn, CQUniversity and the Start-Up Hub held Rockhampton’s first Startup Weekend. How many entrepreneurially minded locals would commit to a full weekend creating and developing an idea into a real business opportunity? 40 plus people […]

CQ Moth Balls

There’s a little more anxiety today, not about the future of the Adani mine or bleaching of the Great Barrier Reef but if Queensland has the player depth to win tonight’s game. Lose Game 1 and we might see a NSW team win a series; that will haunt us for at least a year. Central […]

eNDIS

 850-1000 new jobs to be filled in Central Queensland from January 1st next year! No it’s not an opening of a coal mine or the construction of a gas plant; it is the expected result from the rollout of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). We’ve possibly all heard about NDIS, but don’t fully understand […]

C2C Real Estate

    With the average price of a 4 bedroom home in Sydney being well over a million and a similar well positioned home in Rockhampton could be bought for around $450 000 to help attract people to move here place a full page in Sydney’s major real estate guide featuring quality Rockhampton homes and […]

3DS

Cam Houser is coming to Rockhampton. Cam Who you might be thinking. Cam is the CEO of the world’s leading 3 Day Startup (3DS). For a locality that wants to be a region of innovation this should be front page news. At a recent meeting in Rockhampton with the Chief Operating Officer for the Office […]

Ghostly Attractions

Interested to go on a ghost hunt? A lot of local teenagers apparently do. There a particular spots around Rockhampton that with the right story can raise goose bumps on warm nights. Are there beckoning enterprise’s to be created involving Rockhampton ghosts? One enterprising lady was running ghost tours. It is a way to reinvigorate […]

Easter Games 2018

Have you seen the TV commercials for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games; they are only a year away. Some of the world’s greatest athletes will be in Queensland in less than 365 days. I have asked the question before; are we going to get any of these athletes to train in the Capricorn region in […]

Flood of Attention

With the flood peak imminent Rockhampton will only be in the national spotlight for just a few more days. We need to maximise the benefit of this! There is vision of flood waters lapping homes, the obligatory Fitzroy Hotel and politicians looking as decisive as possible; but whilst sensitive to those affected can we organise […]

Rocky High Ducks

One benefit from writing this column is people willingness to share some of their ideas. With the news stories of the possible future sale of CQUniversity Canning Street campus it was suggested to me that Rockhampton High School should buy it. Why the school is not growing from what I understand was my reply; no […]

Innovative Rail

Whatever happened to the idea’s boom? Part of Turnbull’s Innovation Statement; from memory just before the last federal election there was a huge marketing campaign pushing Australia’s drive to be an innovative economy. Is the 43 year old Snowy Mountain Hydro-electric scheme now to become the federal governments beacon for the idea’s boom. Gee aren’t […]

Startup Community

“I’m 46 now and 10 years ago I was too old to be making decisions on behalf of young people. You need to super encourage and get enthusiastic, highly skilled young people and let them go. Don’t give them any boundaries.” If I said this I be criticised for not telling my real age and […]

O Rockhampton

This week the Rockhampton economy should see a bit of a boost. Not just because of the Queensland’s Chief Entrepreneur road trip, but with term 1 starting at CQUniversity. Students have made their way to Rockhampton from near and far to start or recommence their studies. Perhaps only when driving past along the Bruce Highway […]

Change

Change your life; would you go to a presentation with this stated goal? You probably want to know ‘how’ before deciding. Become an Entrepreneur and change your life; interested if a 2 hour session can achieve this? Why not find out this Tuesday night when the Chief Entrepreneur of Queensland, Mark Sowerby, brings his State […]

E Roadshow

If you’re a student or know a student who has an entrepreneurial aptitude have him and her circle March 8 and get to the CQUniversity, North Rockhampton campus. Lucas Patchett will be speaking and answering questions. Lucas who, maybe you’ve heard or even 2 years ago used Orange Sky Laundry, a social enterprise he and […]

Beef N Barra

Could a fish help Rockhampton be Adani’s FIFO mining hub? The offer to build and run an airport near the Carmichael mine is indeed a bold move by Rockhampton Regional Council to become the major (or only) FIFO hub. What about a $33 a kilo fish, could that be the clincher? Worker satisfaction is a […]

Negative Never

Negative: lacking positive or affirmative qualities, such as enthusiasm, interest, or optimism. A cynic: believing that people are only interested in themselves and are not sincere.   Mayor of Rockhampton Region wanted to paint me as ‘part of the problem’ for my comments in this column last Wednesday! I think anyone who has been reading […]

Dreamtime

Let’s just dream a little that whilst the Premier was in Rockhampton she had a one on one meeting with the Mayor and during the conversation Premier Palaszczuk asks Mayor Strelow if she was to give the Rockhampton Region $6 million no strings attached what you would spend it on. What might be the response, […]

Australia Day

I consider myself fortunate to be born and live in Australia. There are numerous reasons why but one of the most important is everyone’s right to a good education; education as distinct from propaganda. It may not be perfect but our education system increases one’s knowledge enabling independent thinking and decision making. Most of us […]

Water Park Back to the Past

Council plans for Kershaw Gardens do look exciting and the justification of the expense that Rockhampton needs attractions like this not only for locals to enjoy but a reason for the drive through tourists to stop and spend time (and money) is a valid one, with or without a future ring road. You only have […]

Buck Stops Here

I wonder out of the thousands that frequented Stockland last week how many knew what they were specifically going to buy that day and checked the internet to see if they were getting the best bang for their buck. “No one cares about shopping local these days, it’s all about price; hey things are tough […]

Rockhamption Region Ltd

A belated happy new year! Here is to making 2017 a better year. If Rockhampton Region was a business would we (the residents) be its shareholders or employees? If you believe shareholders, is Rockhampton Region Ltd (RRL) returning a satisfactory return on your investment (rates)? If you think employees, do we have a good understanding […]

Community Christmas

As we get closer to December 31 the predictions for the following year blossom. Optimistically for 2017 the predictions I’m hearing start with ‘look like being’, ‘it’s shaping up to be’, ‘might be’ a better year. Yet to hear though, ‘we will make it a better year’. When I started writing this column some 4 […]

Beef Capital To Jump Over the Moon

23.5 degrees south and 150.5 degrees east is the place on the planet that would make an ideal place to launch satellites into space. That just happens to be the latitude and longitude for Rockhampton. Apparently it would cost less to launch a missile carrying a satellite from here than most other parts of the […]

The Winners Curse

The winner is Townsville. What has it won; the bid to become the regional Headquarters for Adani Australia. Oophs, wasn’t Rockhampton holding out for that, what now? We are likely to be a fly in fly out (FIFO) hub for the Carmichael mine project, along with Townsville. Charters Towers and Moranbah are mentioned as service […]

Solly’s 2016

  Would the former discount variety retailer Silly Solly’s be as successful today as it was 15 years ago?   The TV commercials were hard to miss, if not impossible, each reasonable size town from Mackay to Sunshine Coast had at least one store and with a few dollars you had numerous buying options.   […]

Top 40 M&S

If you were to list the top 40 most famous people from Rockhampton, I imagine Rod Laver would top the list along with quite a few other sport identities; Anna Meares, Jamie Dwyer, Duncan Armstrong, Mick Dittman being just some of them.   If you were to do a list of the top 40 entrepreneurs […]

Tennis Museum

Something different happened after last week’s column, I had people ringing me. On the odd occasion someone might bring up the contents of this column in conversation, I’ll receive a text message, support on LinkedIn or get hammered on Facebook. But to get 4 phone calls on the day of publication was a first.   […]

Cressy 70th

Ever looked at a display of historical items and thought little of it. But hear the stories about them; how they were gained, lost, built, gambled for, fought over, suddenly they become that more interesting. There is a small collection of tennis memorabilia at the Rockhampton Regional Tennis Centre that largely goes ignored. Partly because […]

City Deals

Each level of government professes its desire to achieve sustainable economic growth and improve liveability. Yet there appears to be a need to actually get each level of government to make a deal between them to be focussed and efficient in achieving it; but only in select cities, Townsville, Launceston and western Sydney. This United […]

Chitty Ring Road

Is the most innovative solution to the reasons Rockhampton arguably needs a ring road to be revealed this Friday night? A flying car; with these and flying semi’s who needs roads let alone ring roads. Just fly over the 17 sets of traffic lights. Yes this Friday a car will fly here in Rockhampton. (Google […]

Eastern By Pass

If you want to sell something, first give it a name that excites or doesn’t sound negative. By-pass sounds negative, ‘ring road’ that doesn’t sound as negative. Secondly sell the benefits; a truckie confronted with 17 sets of traffic lights isn’t going to win over the majority. Job creation should though; proving long term sustained […]

C2C Thank You

I saw a sign yesterday saying 11 weeks till Christmas. It’s only 6 weeks to Schoolies, when around 1500 students in the Fitzroy region will finish their secondary schooling. Quite a few will go on to university or vocational training but many will be seeking full time employment. In the Fitzroy region it has been […]

Brahman Blaze

“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work”, Thomas Edison. There are 2 opportunities happening today that are both very important for the region. One is the worlds biggest of its type, the other a first for the region. Today is day 3 of the World’s Biggest […]

Mentor Blaze

The question was, is the Rockhampton region a good place to commence a start-up business? I asked it at the last Startup Capricorn Meetup to the guest presenter Dr. Terry McCosker. Terry has been involved in 2 start-up’s, the latest one 13 years in development since deciding to act on his idea. An idea that […]

CQLX

I went to my first cattle sale on Monday, the 5 Star Senepol Stud Sale out at Central Queensland Livestock Exchange (CQLX), Gracemere. One of the smaller sales during the current stud sale season, it was still a good eye opener. Obviously there were people from outside the region in attendance. Conversations about where you […]

Tamworth AELEC

While you are here you must see AELEC. “Sure”, I said not knowing what or who AELEC was. I was in Tamworth, the Country Music Capital of Australia and instead of the giant Golden Guitar our gracious host wanted to make sure I saw AELEC. Wow, the giant Golden Guitar certainly is a second fiddle […]

Gold & Green Bulls

Directly east of Rockhampton, also on latitude 23.5, is currently the worlds biggest and most expensive party, the Olympic Games. Tonight as the front page indicates we might see one former local win gold, when Sasha Belonogoff tackles the not so calm Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas in the quad scull.   Rockhampton/Central Queensland is rightfully […]

Meet up IV

Last week I mentioned CLARA, the plan to build 8 new cities from the ground up between Melbourne and Sydney, all connected by high speed rail.   This ambitious $200 billion project should not be considered nation building though.   As Australia slowly transforms from a resource based economy to a knowledge based economy regional […]

Clara

8 new cities to be built in Australia! 6 in New South Wales and 2 in Victoria, think of the jobs that will create. From the ground up, sustainable smart cities at no cost to the taxpayer. Unbelievable, visit www.clara.com.au and see what could be starting within 5 years by acknowledging a problem and living […]

Pan the Problem Solver

“All the work we do together will serve as a reminder that we are capable of more than we imagine, both as individuals and a team”. This is a quote from a local high school musical program. Some might think a strange place to find an inspirational quote. But it is a most apt place. […]

Election Truth

There are two basic methods on how to advertise to an audience, treat them as idiots or as your partner. Both methods are effective. Yell, scream, repeat and only use the vocabulary of a year 7 student in your advertising message is seen most nights on TV or heard on radio. Logic, reason, validity, are […]

Be the Change

Would a 1% improvement in an athlete performance be noticeable? Possibly not; what if it was 1% improvement in each of 10 different parts that affect their performance. Wouldn’t that be easier and more effective for the athlete to achieve than striving for a 10% improvement in just one area? Could we apply this concept […]

CQ Union

Why would you highlight in election advertising something you’ve promised to another region, knowing this region wants one too but our call goes ignored? Strange tactic rubbing one’s nose in it I think, but perhaps most people don’t think about it, bored by the lengthy election campaign rushing to the pre-poll stations to just get […]

Meetup III, Mistake Avoided

Would it be better to make a mistake as opposed to knowing how to avoid one? We are told to learn from your mistakes, so you don’t repeat it. “Make a mistake once and it becomes a lesson. Make the same mistake twice and it becomes a choice”. If you knew how to avoid making […]

Advertising Economic Growth

By the time you read this the state government budget will have been delivered and so I suspect an announcement for a car park at the Rockhampton Hospital. No doubt jobs, jobs, jobs will be the continuing mantra. And short term fixes will be the hailed solutions to the unemployment crisis. What I don’t expect […]

Sustainable Left Wanting

In the lead up to the federal election I’m wondering where is the debate on what this region needs now to achieve higher economic growth. A hospital car park appears to be the dominant topic instead. Our fixation on band aid patches isn’t going to solve the underlying problems, problems that are contributing to poor […]

Rocky Today

I turned on the TV yesterday morning to watch how the Today Show was going to portray Rockhampton to the rest of Australia as they broadcasted live in front of the Great Western Hotel. $2M of advertising exposure, unbelievable opportunity to showcase the city and region as a place to visit, invest and live. Admittedly […]

Mega CQ Show Up

“80% of success is just showing up”, Woody Allen. This Friday see’s one budding young entrepreneur ‘show up’ when she co-ordinates her first major event, the CQ Mega Lifestyle Expo at Callaghan Park. The sleepless nights of planning, worrying and second guessing really count for nought until you actually put the dream into action by […]

Malcolm Bill Fairy Godmothers – Yeez

Its election time, that time about every 36 months we get some of our wishes granted, well conditionally granted, well maybe conditionally granted, but definitely considered! Here’s one wish that I like unconditionally granted, the declaration of a Youth Entrepreneurship Economic Zone (YEEZ) for the Rockhampton and Livingstone Council regions. I’ve broached this several times […]

15 Minute City

Imagine if you were to buy today’s national paper, The Australian, and on the front page was an advertisement with the headline, “30minute City! #WhyWaste$50M #Rockhampton – the Smarter Choice”. With the federal budget likely to have mentioned $50M funding towards the dream of enabling a 30 minute commute to and from work for our […]

Mt Morgan Character

Potential; great word, especially when defined as having latent qualities or abilities that may be developed and lead to future success or usefulness. So when a town that is the butt of jokes, has very high percentage of the population living on social welfare and has 2 steep gradients as major entry points and the […]

WNBL Startup

A national sporting team based in Rockhampton in 2017, not an NRL one, a WNBL one! Last week it was announced that through a collaborative initiative between Rockhampton Regional Council, CQUniversity and Rockhampton Basketball Incorporated a bid will be made to have a Rockhampton team in the 2017-18 Women’s National Basketball League season. The necessary […]

Startup Meetup

Last week’s column led to a radio interview with Laurie Atlas. One of his questions related to getting a share of the $1.1 billion the federal government is committing to the ‘Ideas Boom’. The question was along the lines why should the Fed’s spend a share of this money helping develop startup’s (new innovative businesses) […]

YEEZ a bit of a Stretch

We apparently aspire to be like other regions and want a convention centre for Rockhampton, or more correctly the government money to build one. Fair enough there are good reasons for both building and running one. However let’s make our number 1 aspiration for the region to be different, stand out, not just be ‘I’ve […]

Election Review

Who finishes first is important, but more important are people willing to have a go. Over the past two weeks we’ve had our chance to indicate who we believe are best to help shape our communities future. Yes I did have a go in Division 2 and it looks like I’ll be unsuccessful, so the […]

CQ Mega Expo

  The days of expecting customer walk-in’s just because the retailer is open are over. People now shop when and where they like. So if customers aren’t coming to the retailer, the retailer needs to go to the customer. (Excuse the variation on this old saying.) Having an e-commerce website is one way; but actually […]

P&O Gladstone

Could the Rockhampton Region do with a $400000 cash injection tomorrow? I can’t imagine anyone saying no, even to getting a share of it. This is what Gladstone region is expecting tomorrow when the P&O Pacific Dawn docks at Auckland Point. 2000 people maybe spending $200 each during their time in Gladstone. Imagine if there […]

Start Up Capricorn

I got an email last week, it just read ‘you need to go to this’, and after scrolling down I found that ‘this’ was a meeting about creating a group called Start-Up Capricorn. It’s not a political group; actually there were no politicians present, government employees, about 13 out of the 18 who attended, and […]

Youth Vs Water

Senator Canavan, Minister for Northern Australia I have a proposal for you. A proposal that fits perfectly with the ‘ideas boom’ the Federal Government is promoting and in your new role overseeing development opportunities in Northern Australia. It’s a Youth Entrepreneurship Economic Zone. Yes I have mentioned it before, as recently as December 2015 where […]

GKI Youth

In supporting the ongoing actions of Our Keppel Our Future (OKOF) last week I did receive some disagreement. Basically that trying to keep Great Keppel Island in as pristine condition as possible by protesting against a major resort development is something they would be happy to tell and justify to their kids. I welcome their […]

FOGKI

So the only thing building on Great Keppel Island is frustration, even the goats are locking horns. I’m not going to defend Tower Holdings, but I imagine they find it frustrating too. What I find disappointing is knocking the efforts of OKOF (Our Keppel Our Future), local people spending their resources in trying to get […]

Murray Lagoon Resort

Years ago at a tourism meeting a suggestion was made to approach the TV stations and get them to drop Rockhampton from their weather map and replace it with Yeppoon. The reason Yeppoon is always cooler than Rockhampton and arguably this lower temperature on the weather map would be conducive in attracting more tourists to […]

RV Isn’t FREE

Well I got told what is stopping a free RV camping site in Marmor or Bajool to cater for adventure anglers from happening. Last week I suggested a free RV site in Marmor or Bajool to not only stimulate a micro adventure (fishing) tourism industry in either of those towns but also to boost visitations […]

Bajool Marmor

Tourism has hardly being the strongest pillar of the Rockhampton Region economy. The net ban in the Fitzroy River is supposed to encourage a tourist boom with recreational fishers flocking to Rockhampton being one of the few places in Australia one can fish for barramundi during the day plus dine on one in a choice […]

A Feasible Beef

What would Walt do? Up to $200000 is needed to do a feasibility study on a development that could be a real game changer for the Rockhampton region. Should rate/tax payers money be spent on it? In November I mentioned a concept that could make Rockhampton the Beef Capital of the World and international tourist […]

Tailgaters Business Hurdle

A belated Happy New Year. With the rain this could set Central Queensland up to have a good 2016. What resolution should we hope our local politicians made for CQ? Making CQ more attractive for business to establish, expand and create extra jobs should feature. Rockhampton in particular, after research established the region has about […]

Underlying NYE

  It was interesting what others believe Rockhampton Region needs. Most of the priorities mentioned just solve an existing surface problem, not an underlying issue, like the brand, ‘Rockhampton’. A convention centre will put Rockhampton on the list of cities to hold an exhibition, conference, etc., but without attending to the Rockhampton brand will we […]

Rockhampton Atlassian

Just over 12 months ago I suggested in this column developing a Youth Entrepreneurship Economic Zone as a game changer for CQ. A zone that encourages innovation and risk taking in industry particularly inspired and carried out by start-up’s run by local youth and youth drawn to such an environment. Recent developments may actually make […]

Revenue By Pass

“Rockhampton Ring Road, by-pass sounds negative, ‘ring road’ that sounds less detrimental to the city economy, let’s call it that”. It would appear that the Western Ring Road or By-Pass is closer to reality with the recent purchase of affected land by the Department of Transport and Main Roads. We’ve had at least 4 years […]

Renewable Opportunities

The hot weather makes camping outdoors a bit uncomfortable but certainly helps keep the batteries charged to run the fridges, water pump and lights with. As soon as the Anderson plug connected with the 180 watt solar panel the instrument panel indicated a jump in voltage. For the next 3 days we were self sufficient […]

Love this City

1 night, 1 mission, 1 city impacted. You may consider this relates to the recent events in Paris. It’s actually a call for action in the city of Auckland. Saturday March 12, 2016 from 6.30pm Auckland will be #lovebombed. Quite the opposite to what happened in Paris. Strangers will approach people and offer a gift, […]

Dr. Seuss Script for CQ

  End of this month approximately 1000 students in the region finish their secondary schooling and embark on their next stage of life’s journey. 1000; some will be our children, or children of people we know and to others it is just a number. Through RING’s C2C (Communication to Careers) I talked to a number […]

Beefland

In 1955 population of Anaheim was around 14000. By 1960 it was 104184. Phenomenal growth, many know why, Disneyland opened. In contrast, population of Rockhampton City in 1954 was 40670. 57 years later (2011) it was 61724. If only Walt Disney was a Rockhamptonite! I use this contrast to show how an entrepreneur’s vision can […]

Big Dream Night

In 1988 I along with most of Australia was glued to the television set as the swimmers turned for the last lap of the men’s 200 metre Olympic final, American Matt Biondi turned first, but right on his shoulder was Rockhampton’s Duncan Armstrong, as if body surfing Bondi’s wake Duncan passes him within metres of […]

Moore Dreams

As adults we don’t encourage kids to dream big, afraid that if they don’t realise their lofty goals they’ll live with constant disappointment. I wonder as a 6 year old running around Mount Morgan what dreams Stephen Moore had, could they be as big as what is to happen this Sunday morning. 2.00am this Sunday […]

International Golf

Amazing what issues one tries to solve at a BBQ with a beer and some friends. What was needed to keep both of the golf courses at Capricorn International operating? More paying golfers obviously. They charged too much for the green fees and the beer, that’s what kept the locals away. Didn’t attract enough tourists, […]

Run my Own Bathurst

“Look I agree with what you are trying to do but I’ve got different views to yours, so I’ll just run my own race”. I wonder if this is what Jamie Whincup said on Sunday afternoon to team boss Roland Dane when defying orders to pit. It was a response I received to a call […]

RING Rock Strong

Longer than Cowboys celebrations, the Rockhampton Regional Council election campaign should be able to establish if substance remains once the fluff is blown away on the policies to be presented. I believe it will be round 3 of the 2016 NRL season when the election is held. Fluffy statements, ‘we are standing to realise our […]

Syria II

“Of course, rising population growth naturally would create economic growth”, says Harry S. Dent. Who is Harry S. Dent? Let’s first identify two benefits of economic growth – improves living standards and helps create jobs. One constant in the discussion started from last week’s column about relocating around 500 Syrian refugees to Central Queensland was […]

Syria

Population growth is a stimulator for economic growth. This premise is generally accepted as correct. Central Queensland’s population has decreased with the decline in employment levels in the mining and construction industries. Jobs are the most likely reason people will uproot from where they live; or persecution. It was quite brave of Michelle Landry to […]

Birdsville

The green light is flashing; the barrier gates open, the record crowd roars. It’s not the first Tuesday in November, it’s the first Saturday of September and this race day has an 8500% impact on the town’s population, who knows on its economy; this is Birdsville. After being there for the races I feel instead […]

Keep Rock Strong

Locavore, do you know what it means? Word of the year in 2007 according to the American Oxford Dictionary. A Locavore or Localvore makes a commitment to eat food produced in their local region. Within 10 years the word now identifies a worldwide movement. Two weeks ago I questioned if a Central Queensland 1st Buy […]

JetGo Reside

The announcement of JetGo providing direct flights between Rockhampton and Gold Coast will certainly have the theme parks and Commonwealth Games organizers down there excited with prospects of getting more people from CQ frequenting them, but how will JetGo fill the return seats. Rockhampton needs at least another 10000 people to reside here for the […]

CQ First

Winning the 2nd cricket test had us even prouder to be Australian, State of Origin time sees us strongly identify as Queenslanders; what would make us more parochial Central Queenslanders and why should we be. Buying Australian Made has long been pushed as good for our country; in creating jobs and profits for reinvestment in […]

C2C Thank U

Thank you, I said this on Thursday morning with utmost sincerity to 44 business people who took time out of their day to attend our second largest C2C (Communication to Careers) session. Having our third largest on Monday I was really concerned on Thursday how many business people would back up, but back up they […]

Grease Challenge

A line from a program my business produced reads, “…all the work we do together will serve as a reminder that we are capable of more than we imagine, both as individuals and a team”. 115 teenagers this week take part in Emmaus College production of Grease. For most this will be the only time […]

Quay Lane

Congratulations to those involved in making Rockhampton River Festival a reality. As a friend of mine positively commented on Sunday it is so unRockhampton like. This comment seemed fitting at the time but now writing it makes me question what does unRockhampton like imply. A beach on the river bank is unRockhampton like, amusement rides […]

C2C Help Wanted

It appears this column has a fan in George Street, Brisbane. Getting feedback, positive or negative, is good. Hearing stories of school students gaining work experience from attending Communication to Careers (C2C) or applying what they gained from it to assist in getting part-time employment is even better. We can debate the differences between ‘no […]

C2C Invite

A media release issued on Friday by the State Treasurer and Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations and Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships proclaims a positive initiative of the Government, headlined ‘Students Speed Date to Dream Jobs’. The Minister refers to the initiative as ‘speed careering’; helping students consider their career goals […]

S2J

With a column called Aspire CQ I get asked why do I write so much about youth unemployment? Aspirations I’m told shouldn’t dwell on negatives, they need to be positive. Ignoring the negatives doesn’t make them go away and can be counterproductive in trying to achieve the aspirations. (And we are talking about local 15-24 […]

NRL Rockhampton Post Game

$650 000 to host an NRL game, would it have been worth it? As a 1 off event no. As the catalyst for a national marketing campaign promoting Rockhampton as a place to visit and live, yes. On Saturday night a regular visitor to Rockhampton asked what was amiss; after 7 minutes in a taxi […]

C2C 252 Reasons

Today free lunch is being offered to encourage senior business people in Rockhampton to hear the benefits of hiring people over 50 years of age. What about 15-24 year olds? ‘If you are frustrated about the lack of interest from the Department of Education to developing C2C (Communication to Careers) then why do it, it’s […]

Community Cabinet Outcomes

Here is an outcome that is measured, arguably not accurately, our regions youth unemployment rate is around 20%. What are the measurable outcomes of a 15-17 year old student spending about 2 hours of their class time once a year meeting and having one on one conversations with around 25 different business people? Will 70%, […]

Community Cabinet Take 2

It will be interesting to see what headlines accompany the Community Cabinet meeting in Rockhampton this Sunday and Monday. Jobs has been the repeating mantra of the new State Government but tangible results proves harder than chanting jobs, jobs, jobs. Unlikely we’ll read of any reversal on the Great Keppel Island boutique casino licence decision […]

At the GKI Table

Tower Holdings resort development for Great Keppel Island cannot proceed without funding. Funding is apparently not available without a casino licence being granted. Is it a game of bluff or a stalemate? What’s at play; $600 million dollar investment, 1500 jobs, a reason for young people to stay in the region, a huge shot in […]

GKI Why?

“Was not a game-changing project for the region and would not deliver significant regional economic benefit”. I understand this is the condensed reason a boutique casino licence was not granted to the Tower Holdings Great Keppel Island resort development. Do those who make this decision think GKI is just off the Gold Coast, not Capricorn […]

Eat Street

Have you eaten a cronut yet? It’s a cross between a croissant and donut, very tasty my daughter tells me. She found it in Eat Street. Eat Street markets in North Shore Brisbane. When I visit other cities I speculate what ideas could transfer to Rockhampton. The thousands of people, simplicity of the set up, […]

Byfield Brew

The morning trip to the Post Office can be a drab affair, most times just collecting another bill, unless you bump into someone like John Day. He started telling me about Rockhampton Brewing Limited that use to have a brewery along the Emu Park railway line, near where it crossed Coorooman Creek well over a […]

Tribe CQ

The Tribe has spoken it’s time for you to go… and sell Central Queensland to the world! Are you an Ehrenberg-Bass (E-B) or a ‘Tribe’ grocery shopper? When doing the grocery shop have you thought what triggers you to buy a particular brand of product. Price can be a major factor, but if it was […]

QLD Plan the Sequel

Central Office of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries is to move from Ann Street, Brisbane to Rockhampton. My attempt at an April Fool’s Day Joke; not funny but could it happen? A new date has been set for the Regional Qld Showcase. Haven’t heard of it! It was to be held this year on […]

Rockhy Rejuvenated

Between now and Beef Week in May Rockhampton needs to move from Rocky Recovery to Rocky Rejuvenated. Our leaders are rightly talking up the speed of the cyclone recovery work encouraging people to come to the region for their Easter holidays, but many will remain sceptical, after all you don’t expect to hear ‘wait there […]

C2C Cross Generation

In numerous ways the past month has been community building as many of us have gained an insight into our neighbours’ lives from helping each other recover from cyclone Marcia. Community building is not just re-building what was damaged in our communities; it is developing deeper, more authentic communication with the people who make up […]

Marcia A 2 Way Street

“Thanks to Cyclone Marcia we’ve got enough work for the next 12 months”. There are a reasonable number of businesses saying something similar to this at the moment. Hopefully majority of these are locally owned businesses. Good for these businesses, not so good if you’re waiting for up to 12 months to get a job […]

Concrete Marcia

Why do they continually use bitumen to fill pot holes where storm water always gathers? Wouldn’t concreting that section be a better long term solution. Take a bit longer to do, cost more initially, but there be less maintenance, last longer, thus in the long term a smarter cost effective solution. It’s like fixing up […]

Ms Marcia

How do we turn a negative into a positive? The disaster that was Cyclone Marcia we can’t change, it’s what we do over the next couple of months that may provide some long term benefits to our region. I quite understand those who have lost their home may not agree there are any benefits to […]

Social Benefit Bonds

Are you really concerned about decreasing child homelessness or affordable housing for the poor or addressing children’s obesity rates; would you put your money where your concern lies? What if you could recoup your outlay at the end of a specified term and receive a yearly dividend if set targets were being achieved, government guaranteed? […]

00.7 Licenced to Govern

Agents 00.7 you are now licensed to govern. Imagine the Queensland Governor (M) saying this to the Katter boys. Then saying, “your mission  if you choose to accept it (I know, now borrowing from another spy series, but its title seems more appropriate to the task) make the Queensland economy prosper without increasing debt, taxes, […]

Show Back 2 the Future

Previously I suggested a Showcase CQ exhibition be held the weekend before Beef Week commences. A showcase highlighting the innovative practices and entrepreneurial talent of CQ (outside the Beef Industry); reinforcing and reminding us what a dynamic, diversified region we live in. Unfortunately this opportunity looks like going through to the keeper. (We keep the […]

5 Years

Contradictory, is a word to describe this state election (if not all elections); contradictory claims is pretty much standard fare for any election campaign. Then after the election, contradictory actions; saying one thing but doing another is not unexpected. What I find contradictory is on a recent visit to Brisbane the number of inner city […]

CAD

One TV commercial says I’m living in a state where 1,100 jobs are being created every month. A few minutes later, another indicates youth unemployment is 20%, then another just straight out says the current state Government is lying about their record on jobs. For a television commercial to be broadcast, it must be approved […]

Christmas

Tomorrow morning how many kids, for that matter any of us receiving a present, will ask “why am I getting these presents today?” Be they from Santa, parents, grandparents, aunts or uncles it would be nice to think that some of us might stop before madly unwrapping the gift to think why are people giving […]

One Plight

  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 […]

Winding up Youth

A service that been involved with 2398 schools, 1811 businesses and 1986 community organisations throughout Australia will literally be thrown on the tip at the end of this month. The intellectual property gained from its operations, the people who have gained specialist skills from their work and the documentation recording how some goals were achieved […]

Rio de Rocky

“Rockhampton the Hockey Capital of the World”. Wow, not only the Beef Capital of Australia, but now a world capital city as well. Mayor Margaret Strelow’s claim maybe viewed (and said) as light hearted, though with Australia Men’ team being the world champion’s and Rockhampton boasting 3 Kookaburra’s (Australian Men’s team), including the current Australian […]

Victoria Park

With the imminent official opening of the south side pool (Rockhampton’s 2nd World War Memorial Aquatic Centre) an opportunity exists to highlight all the activities within the Victoria Park precinct and further tackle Rockhampton’s obesity image; a unique multi sport challenge. Like the successful Rocky River Run the sporting challenge should involve fun and serious […]

Real CQ Video

Why I love CQ? I would think there are many reasons why residents and even investors love Central Queensland. Be it the ability to fish for barra within the city reach, the short drive to and from work, the uncrowded beaches, even more deserted islands of Keppel Bay, the wonders of Carnarvon Gorge, the educational/recreational […]

G20 CQ

Excited, 3 sleeps and it will be here, well Brisbane anyway? Not sure what I’m talking about, try visiting Brisbane CBD this weekend. G20, the monumental slap in the face to Skype, shuts down Brisbane CBD this weekend. Assuming regional Queensland isn’t that excited about G20, except maybe P.M. Abbott’s one on one with President […]

Showcase CQ

On Saturday night I watched a showcase of this regions fantastic talent. Legally Blonde the Musical, presented by the Rockhampton Musical Union Choir (RMUC), was thoroughly entertaining. Once a year a crew of 80 odd people come together collaborating their individual talents to entertain the audience and flaunt their awesome abilities. For some it may […]

Silicon CQ

“Central Queensland, Australia’s Silicon Valley, you’ve got to be kidding, this place is bloody backwards”, not quite the quote that I received to last week’s column, just a couple of words short of it. Writing an opinion piece does result in some praise and criticism. I’m just content someone has read it and comments, though […]

Sugar Fix

I bumped into a well known local businessman on Saturday, one who has experienced the highs, lows and in-betweens of business. I asked how business is; he said “slow” and added “I’m not sure if it will ever pick up”. Last Thursday this paper included a summary of the Capricornia Business Dashboard Report indicating some […]

CQ Show

The Rockhampton Show returns back to the community. What a peculiar way to explain that the Rockhampton Agricultural and Citizens Show Society (RACSS) would be organising the Show next year not the Council. Isn’t the Council an instrument of the community! Anyway it will be interesting to see what changes RACSS will introduce in 2015. […]

CQ Uniform

What would be the CQ uniform and message that retailer’s would wear during Beef Week next year? That was a question to last week’s column suggesting instead of wearing Levi’s and chequered shirts, that Rockhampton retailers wear a CQ uniform to encourage Beef Week visitors to explore the region. The uniform should be made of […]

CQ Week 2015

Was the offer to buy Rockhampton’s bull statutes our ‘stolen’ Bowen Mango? For an issue that could of being simply responded to with just a ‘no’, it did generate some publicity for Rockhampton, Casino and the Beef Expo’s they hold. Not as creative or logistical as a 10 tonne metre mango disappearing but points for […]

Mens Shed NR

Two weeks ago I suggested linking youth seeking more work skills with the men who attend Men’s Sheds to help overcome the ‘experienced persons need only apply’ criteria for advertised positions and asked if any organisers were interested in developing this connection. I had 3 phone calls, all from people associated with the AFS Pharmacies […]

Minister Met

Several weeks ago I questioned what would a Grade 12 student say to the State Minister for Education, Training & Employment if they had the opportunity. On Sunday I got an opportunity at Community Cabinet. As one of the organisers of RING (Rockhampton Innovative Networking Group) our request for a meeting with the Minister was […]

Mens Shed

  Experienced persons need only apply; how disheartening must this message be for youth who just want a chance. Apparently the trade training and certificates students can now obtain through school aren’t enough to meet the level of skill and knowledge desired by many employers seeking experienced workers. Men’s Sheds; there are over 1000 registered […]

NBL

What next? The Rockets back to back Queensland basketball champions, a three peat is the obvious response to what’s next; can we set our sights higher? Is a Rockhampton team in the National Basketball League probable? The venue would be a hurdle; I suspect regular patronage of 3000-4000 for home games would be required to […]

Local Power

What a weekend; 15000 at the Rockhampton Home Show, 12000 at the Village Festival, a packed house at Hegvold Stadium to watch the Cyclones and Rockets advance to the Queensland basketball grand finals. Feedback I’ve heard about the Home show and retailers on the Yeppoon foreshore was businesses did really well, at least one achieving […]

Cabinet C2C

    If you were a Grade 12 student and had 3 minutes one on one with the State Minister for Education, Training and Employment what would you talk about? Hopefully this scenario might eventuate here in Rockhampton. With the Keppel Community Cabinet Meeting to be held in Rockhampton on September 14, RING (Rockhampton Innovative […]

OLDERPRENEURS

During my short hiatus I was asked why this column has changed from talking about bullet trains, cycle ways and international airports to a focus on youth employment. I believe it is Australia’s most important issue. Roy Morgan Research in their March 04, 2014 report indicates the national unemployment rate for 18-24 year olds is […]

C2C Landmark

Monday was a landmark day for C2C (Communication to Careers), the biggest event held with both the number of students and business representatives. 102 Grade 10 male students, 61 business representatives; the transference of information between the 2 groups was staggering. ‘Mutually beneficial’ was the comment from one business representative. From entering the hall saying […]

C2C Give

It’s amazing what you take for granted; I was involved in organising the Len Bauer Massage and Rejuvenation Centre Charity Tennis Challenge on Saturday. The chosen charity was Transplant Australia. The reason being 2 guys in the club had transplants. I asked Steve if he would mind doing a media interview to discuss his transplant […]

Make Money

If you asked a business person what business are they in, what would be the response;  marketing, build homes, engineering, retail. This question was asked at a presentation I attended. I thought I knew the response the presenter was seeking, I’m in the business of meeting client’s needs. But no, the response he was after […]

C2C Biggest Yet!

Your life is enriched by the people you meet and the books you read. Imagine being 17, looking forward to end of Grade 12 and life after school. An opportunity comes to meet local business people and have short conversations with them about life after school. Timely, daunting but enriching, both for the students and […]

CQ Origin

McQueen kicks the ball ahead, Hayne runs, gathers, fumbles; we all hope that somehow the ball will fall beyond his reach, but he regathers and runs the ball dead, the siren sounds, the dream for nine consecutive series is over and Queensland television viewer’s dry retch as Hayne stands Messiah like on the boundary fence. […]

CQ Clout

On State of Origin game day last year my aspiration was for the Queensland team to run onto the field with ‘Carried by CQld’ emblazoned across their jersey. A year on this aspiration looks less likely to happen. Apparently it is official we’ve entered the post mining boom construction phase. So where’s all the money […]

Project Youth

Confidence appears to be in short supply at the moment. Businesses aren’t as confident about their future prosperity, workers about having on-going full time employment and the unemployed about getting a job. There is one segment of the community that are confident, they are getting prepared to make their mark on the world; school leavers. […]

Work Inspiration

“Business has an obligation to the community to support our young people’s transition into the workforce”. This quote by Joseph Healy, NAB Group Executive Business Banking is on a ‘Work Inspiration’ flyer. Yesterday 19 business people took 2 hours out of their work day fulfilling part of this obligation. Through Rockhampton Innovative Networking Group’s (RING) […]

Youth Grass Roots

Congratulations to the organisers, sponsors and participants of the Rocky River Run and Relay for Life.  The attendance at both events was awesome. Excellent demonstrations of what a community can do at grass roots level. The other pleasing feature was the number of youth participating. A generation stereotyped as self obsessive, incommunicative (face to face) […]

Youth Divest

For a federal budget that proclaims it is in Australia’s future best interest’s there seems more attention on the older than younger generation. A $10000 incentive to hire over 50 year olds and keeping people working longer; what about getting more youth into fulltime employment? This Tuesday night could be one of the last opportunities […]

Emu Park Airpark

By the time you get to this I imagine you’ve read enough about the budget so instead of more about selling assets why not look at some of our underutilised ones and speculate if they could generate more capital or income than they currently derive without disposing of them. The airport, not the Rockhampton airport, […]

Home Rot 2

If building or buying a new home would you like full disclosure of all costs involved and profit made. How would the builder feel in having to disclose the profit they were to make? This was one action discussed at a meeting last week of local builders and suppliers to the building industry as a […]

Home Rot

Monday’s story about CQ housing prices dropping was good and bad news depending if you’re buying or selling. The market coming off the boil justifies some of the decreases in centres like Gladstone and Mackay. But Rockhampton, a bigger percentage drop on a lower base compared to its neighbouring cities was ‘most interesting’. Apparently banks […]

Asset sales+jobs

Asset sales now so there is money available to make future investments in roads, schools, health and other infrastructure, instead of paying off debt; that’s part of the sell the Queensland Government is pushing, using a proportion of the small available funds to market it.  Democracy in action will be part of the justification for […]

C2C – Communication to Careers

If a secondary school leaver had the opportunity to meet and talk with around 20 local business people would you allow it or ignore it? I attended a meeting last week where I heard the reluctance of some local high schools to take up such an opportunity. I was stunned by the comment, especially since […]

Beam Me Up Energy

Watching the latest Star Trek movie on Sunday night I recalled how the original TV series  was nearly canned during its second season in 1967, but through public support it was granted another season and the rest is history (though not all of it triumphant). It might be a point of reference for our National […]

Gina’s Airport

What if Clive Palmer wanted to buy the Rockhampton airport? Would Council make public the offer? How would the Rockhampton region ratepayers respond if Council was to? What if it was a situation of Clive buying either Rockhampton or Whitsunday airport with the intention to develop one of them as a base for FIFO workers […]

ROCKhampton

I’ve mentioned previously the image issues Rockhampton region apparently has. “A place you wouldn’t want to end up in”, according to a Brisbane PR expert. If Rockhampton is to do our bit by the Queensland plan and increase its population by 10% within 2 years, which is a big goal considering recent OESR figures only […]

Community Ring

Last night over 60 local business people made the effort to know more local business people, develop likability and trust between themselves, to help strengthen their business and our community. Grass roots’ networking, sometimes over looked as bigger projects that create new jobs and bring new people to the region are pursued. Projects of this […]

Food and Wine RING

People do business with people they know, like and trust.  Makes sense, and you could expand this to businesses they know, like and trust. So one of the secrets to having a successful business is to get as many people to know, like and trust you and your business. The internet has made it a […]

Mango Bull

Who didn’t hear about the missing Bowen Mango?  10 tonne, 10 metre tall Big Mango just disappears. It’s on social media (its own Facebook page), traditional media, you can even buy it on Gumtree; what fantastic exposure this has given (and continues to give) the town of Bowen. From a marketing perspective it’s brilliant. As […]

Resi Bus Estates

The new land estate release was eagerly welcomed. National broadband network connection to each home, allowance for large mailboxes at the entrance beside the car park big enough for courier trucks to easily manoeuvrer in, walking tracks to the planned licensed Wi-Fi coffee shop, child care centre and clerical support office with dedicated meeting rooms. […]

Amazon Local Levee Bank

What has Woolworths and Coles looking over their shoulder concerned that their market dominance could be seriously threatened? Amazon.com; the once online book store that started in a garage, now the largest online retailer in the world has a bricks and mortar presence in Australia and is expected to expand with mega distribution(fulfilment) centres. Retail […]

Bike It

How would you solve congested inner city parking problems? Reduce the number of car parking spaces! Sounds ridiculous; I believe it was a former Sydney Lord Mayor who proposed this as a solution. The rationale being the more congestion the more people will switch to public transport, thus less parking congestion. Local drivers are use […]

Airport 2014

“We’re beginning our descent into Rockhampton, for those passengers flying on to Mackay please stay onboard, we will be refuelling and ask that you do not turn on any electronic devises while this is occurring”. A message similar to this I imagine happens several times every day. What do the passengers staying on board the […]

Bouldercombe Coffee

  Rockhampton and Livingstone, which one would you buy coffee from and what aroma would they exude? It was an interesting analogy that Mayor Strelow used to describe the relationship between the 2 councils. Together the 2 attract more people, but compete for their share of them. Mayor Strelow pointed out that Rockhampton needs to […]

Age CARE

2031 the area within West, North, Quarry and Cambridge Streets, Rockhampton is zoned a health precinct, anchored by the 2 hospitals, 2 nursing homes, a range of low maintenance independent living facilities and health care professionals that are able to share (not necessarily duplicate) resources. The decision to develop the precinct was made in 2014 […]

Sale CRM

A belated happy new year, 2014 is already better than the start of 2013, a little hot but the southern highway doesn’t look like getting cut by flood waters or Rockhampton airport likely to close. I suspect the hot weather has benefitted retailers (as well as Ergon and Fitzroy River Water). If you’ve hit the […]

Reflective 2013

Have you heard the story of the blind man selling oranges? His son, an economist, tells him a recession is looming, he needs to cut his order with suppliers as people won’t be buying as many oranges. So he does and being blind doesn’t see the numbers of customers who walk past as he begins […]

1967 Tennis

Nadal to play Federer here in Rockhampton could you imagine it. Temporary grand stands would be needed to accommodate the crowds as nowhere would be big enough to host it. The entourage of umpires, referees, lines people, security, racquet stringers, caterers, physios, and media would be beyond comprehension for just 2 players. It couldn’t happen, […]

Extend your Local Network

Extending your local network is a great way of bringing people and ideas together. So I would like to take this opportunity to mention there is an upcoming Ring Event in Rockhampton on the 17th December 2013 at the CQ NRL Bid Club. I will be there and hope to see many faces there creating […]

Random Ring

Last week’s column on Random Acts of Kindness (RAOK) generated some interest, which is always nice to get. Perhaps not surprising, a story about paying it forward and the positive benefits it can provide to the giver, receiver, shop where it occurs and community in which they are all apart of is interesting and hopefully […]

Random Acts

“Giving is the lifeblood of happy living” Todd Parish. Receiving can leave you feeling pretty good to. Let’s make it happen more often, the giving and receiving; that is basically the premise behind Mark Ricks Random Acts of Kindness®. It’s a customer incentive idea of Mark’s to encourage people to shop at specific businesses. Businesses […]

Wear Sunscreen

We hear how January 1st will be a new start for Livingstone Shire Council; it is also for the Rockhampton Region. Bit smaller in size with bigger challenges; but it is the start of a new chapter, one Rockhampton region residents should look towards with optimism. I attended a Grade 12 graduation last week. A […]

Maximising our Assets

A criticism one attracts ‘aiming high’ with aspirations is that we don’t have the population to support it. Could more be done to attract more? We could hope a viable mine opens close by, maybe seek our own LNG plant or look at what is here and do more with it. One asset more could […]

MoCQ

A few weeks back I suggested that the block surrounded by Victoria Parade, North, Bolsover and Cambridge Streets be developed into something that reflects the livability (character) of the city – our own South Bank. It is heartening to read further ideas for the riverbank. A meeting with some members of the Museum of Central […]

Livingstone Split

Let’s get married and in 12 months I’ll start on the divorce proceedings; would you say ‘I do’ to this proposal? That appears to be the sell to the voters north of Ramsay Creek to win their vote in the Livingstone Shire Council elections. A clever strategy of saying what the voters want to hear! […]

First Stop Rocky

“The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark”. Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni is credited for this quote, many may know him only by his first name, one if not the greatest artist of […]

Livable Community

We reside in a livable community, I know this as the Council has a huge sign on leaving the airport car park saying ‘Welcome to Rockhampton Region – Livable Communities’ must reassure visitors they are not about to enter a dead, dispirited or non-existent community. (‘Character Communities’ may create more interesting impressions in the visitors […]

Character Community

Last week I raised the idea of committing a percentage of discretionary spending to majority marginalised owned or benefitted local enterprises to help them out of a self perpetuating existence, in doing so strengthening the community they live in. I received some support for the idea; however the question of where one finds these enterprises […]

LNP VS NBN

An expected result on Saturday night is it to be followed by the ‘the deficit is worse than we were led to believe and some promises will have to be delayed’ speech in a few days time. One issue that needs to be fought for, that our local politicians unfortunately don’t appear to prioritise, is […]

RTQ Rules

This Saturday night there will be a few parties happening; at one an election victory will be celebrated. I’ll be attending a party this Saturday, not to sit in front of a television screen waiting for glimpses of the Capricornia or Flynn scoreboard, but to celebrate 50 years of television. At 7.00pm on Saturday September […]

A CQ Story

Watching 60 Minutes on Sunday thinking what a great promotion for the Fraser Coast the whale story was. It will directly boost tourist numbers and indirectly the whole economy. I started thinking what story could 60 Minutes do on Central Queensland to have a similar effect? After the break Gladstone was mentioned, not in a […]

Forgotten Vote

Are you already bored with the election campaign? Only 26 days to go! In 33 days was to be another call to vote, in conjunction with the original federal election date, the now forgotten and postponed till who knows when referendum on the constitutional recognition of local government. A referendum 3 years in the making; […]

Geoblock Committees

Government committees; amazing how they spend a lot of time and money to come up with findings we already know. One of the latest was information technology (IT) products cost more in Australia than in the USA. A trip to the local computer store armed with a smart phone would give you confirmation. Admittedly I’m […]

Flood Levee

It’s Monday night, Newsroom has just finished and I’m chewing on the end of a pen wondering what to write for this column. I recall sitting at a meeting once, the President quite loudly asking me several times ‘what part of not negotiable don’t you understand’, my response ‘if it is not yet built it’s […]

Can Do in CQ

Friday last week was a powerful day in emotions and rhetoric; 6 speakers spoke positively of Capricornia and Central Queensland. The powerhouse of Queensland or was it the nation. If you want it to happen and work hard you can do it in Central Queensland – opportunities abound. I had attended the launch of the […]

More Please Sir’s

What a week, the Prime Minister in town yesterday, the Prime Minister want to be in town today, State of Origin tonight; all rather appropriately in the same week that young orphan says the famous line “please sir, I want some more”, when Oliver opens this Friday night. (I know a contrived plug for a […]

Xciting Shopping

It was early morning, the grass was still wet from the mist, the family finished packing the SVU and jumped in excited about their shopping trip into Rockhampton. Mum had an appointment with the hair dresser, she had a few ideas for a new style and was eager to see the simulated looks that the […]

Mobile Locally

Was talking to a business owner about last week’s column, he agreed about the importance of keeping it local but thought digital advertising wasn’t worth the time it took to manage! This year for the first time in Australia more advertising money would have been placed online than with free to air television. A few […]

Keeping It Local

Last couple of weeks haven’t been good on the local job front with staff lay-off by 2 major employers. Blame is apportioned to outside factors; we can just accept this or decide what we as a community going to do to help those people affected find local jobs. If we don’t our community not only […]

Community Fund

This week when you are in a shopping centre turn your head towards the stores, continue walking and what will you see – SALE, the sign is in nearly every store. Local retail trade is currently slow. On-line shopping though continues to increase. Brick and mortar retailers are told they need to adapt to the […]

Stage of Origin

There’s one subject people will be talking about today, State of Origin –  how much will Queensland beat the Blues by tonight? While I aspire for  fast trains between Rockhampton and Gladstone, wave pool in Yeppoon, an international airport near Raglan; my aspirations for Central Queensland don’t include a State of Origin being played at Brown Park, […]

The Bold and the Bland

The flood  waters had started to fall; the peak up there with the big ones; the cars  travelling south across the Neville Hewitt bridge could glimpse the emergence  of vivid colours on the concrete walls in front of the Pilbeam Theatre.  Whether you loved or hated it the image below  the waterline that was called […]

Rockhampton International

No announcement accompanied the digital display in the  Rockhampton airport terminal indicating the departure of a direct flight to  Mumbai. The last forklift departed the bowels of the huge plane, hydraulic  lifts activated closing the rear entrance, a final check and the plane was  ready for takeoff. The cargo wasn’t military this time, instead food […]

RV Avoidance

$3.2 billion spent in Queensland last year. Did you read the 3 page spread in Saturdays Morning Bulletin about the cashed up grey nomad army driving their RV and caravans around Queensland.  “Voting with their feet by avoiding the areas that are least hospitable and the 60,000 members of the Campervan and Motorhome Club of […]

Dual Future

Rockhampton region 2031, what will it be like? In 18 years the population is expected to range from 150810 to 175293. (It’s presently around 120000) The average age 39.8 years and the only age range to increase in proportion to the total population will be people 65+, increasing to 20.6%. Just over 1 in 5 […]

Beef Week 12 Months On

How many businesses in the Rockhampton region have looked at  last years sales figures for this equivalent week and scratched their heads wondering what happened to get such a spike. This week last year was the lead  into Beef Week. People from all over were coming into the region, filling  hotels and motels, frequenting restaurants, […]

Place whats to be Missed

What is the Rockhampton region going to miss in a Livingstone less future that will change the Council status to weak? Higher population growth and higher rateable properties appear the main missing ingredients to affect the status change. What does the Livingstone less Council do to replace these ingredients? Large increases in rates are not […]

Top 100

Rockhampton has made the Top 100 locations in Australia to invest in property as compiled by “still Australia’s most trusted and widely read property investment magazine” (their quote) Australian Property Investors (API). “Rockhampton is mounting a comeback after a couple of years in the doldrums. It has appeal as an important regional city with a […]

ED vs Tourism

Save and sell our way to success. That seems to be the strategy the Mayor (and possibly the Councillors) of Rockhampton Regional Council seem to be taking.  One of the proposed savings is cut Capricorn Enterprise funding to the provision of tourism services only (withdrawing economic development funding). I don’t believe I’m the only person […]

RING

Who is it more daunting for; an older person talking one at a time to 20 seventeen year olds who they don’t know, or for the 17 year old talking to 20 older persons they don’t know?  On Tuesday a RING event was held at the CQUniversity. This RING event was an off-shoot of Rockhampton […]

Proactive Rocky

The ’De’ decision has been made and it appears that Livingstone Shire will again exist. Rockhampton Regional Council now not only has to concern itself with the asset/debt split, but how is it to react to the realities of the decision. The Livingstone part of the region is/was the population growth engine. It also was […]

Right Decision

Who is it more daunting for; an older person talking one at a time to 20 seventeen year olds who they don’t know, or for the 17 year old talking to 20 older persons they don’t know?  On Tuesday a RING event was held at the CQUniversity. This RING event was an off-shoot of Rockhampton […]

Emu Park the Gateway

With the reported likely approval of the Great Keppel Island Revitalisation Plan ‘backcasting’ needs to be undertaken now to ensure the Rockhampton region does realise the maximum benefits from this major development. Completion of each of the stages in the development has the potential to attract more boat traffic on Keppel Bay. We already know […]

Local Chamber

“Wow we have to usually offer free beer to get this many people to attend”, this was pretty much the opening sentence from the Chamber of Commerce Industry Queensland (CCIQ) Brisbane representative at the meeting to get a Rockhampton Chamber of Commerce started. Approximately 50 people attended, some just observing, most though out of interest. […]

It Will Happen

2014 Rockhampton to welcome new business to employ 180 and see 20 families relocate to the region. Spokesperson for the business Ms. Itwillhap Pen announced the decision to locate the business in the Rockhampton region was made after an extensive analysis of a number of possible Central Queensland locations; however the website rockhamptononline.com was instrumental […]

Short Sleeves

“You know what is needed, a fast train service between Gladstone and Rockhampton”. Yes I’m onboard the fast train push again, however the preceding sentence wasn’t said by me this time but to me by a visiting Brisbane businessman. Naturally my eyes grew larger, ears sharpened and head automatically nodded in agreement. The Brisbane businessman […]

Shoe Fail

‘Shoe fail’, you may have heard Jim Courier say it on Friday  night as Andy Murray lost his footing during a rally with Roger Federer. My marketing mind immediately pictured how the other major footwear brand that  Roger was wearing could capitalise on these 2 words. Recreating the ‘slipping’ scene  with same ankle guards, coloured […]

Employers

More employers would soak up more of the  unemployed.  In very simple terms this  sounds logical.  What if you helped an  unemployed person become an employer?   Wouldn’t this be even more effective in decreasing unemployment?  With the necessary support structures in  place it can work.  Would an unemployed  person want to become an employer though? […]

Train Him

‘Train them!  If I train them,  when they’re finished they’ll just get a job at the mines’. So is it better that you  don’t train them and they stay!  You’ve probably heard something like this.  More  disturbingly is hearing an employer say “I don’t plan to employ anyone, too  much trouble and the good ones […]

Worksphops Response

Last  week I quoted George Elliot,”What do we live for, if it is not to make life  less difficult for each other?” I  had mentioned that Melinda White from Biz Pro Solutions is offering to organise  free workshops for unemployed and ones affected or about to be affected by  labour force layoffs/cut backs to help […]

A Rocky Image

A Brisbane PR expert was quoted saying Rocky has  an image problem – ‘the place you don’t want to end up’.  Is this true?   Unfortunately I feel there’s some truth to it – the image problem that  is.  We could ask how Rockhampton got  that image.  We should ask how we change it.  (The answers […]

Council Support for Fast Train

Do we want more people to move to the Rockhampton region to live?  The peak of the resource boom may have  passed, but Central Queensland is still a hive of activity, the envy of most  other parts of Australia. A fast train service between Rockhampton and Gladstone should be seen  more than just a way […]

Dare to Take the Dream Journey

This week a 16 year   old Slovenian girl has found her way to Rockhampton because of a dream. Dream, some will do just that,   for others it is the start of a journey. Rockhampton is part of her journey.   With not much more than a change of clothes, a couple pairs of sandshoes and a   bag of racquets […]

A Rocky Reunion

Where you from?            Where’s that? What about yourself?  Rockhampton.  Oh yeh   I know where that this. For a city of around 70000 people Rockhampton or Rocky seems pretty   well known.  I’ve rarely had to explain   where it is when I’m away.  It got me   wondering, why is this so?  (I know I’ve   pinched that TV […]

Amalgamation, Not Perfect but….

Will the future of our region be better by staying amalgamated or   de-amalgamating?  To me this is what the   primary argument about de-amalgamation should be about.  The difference between population and rate   revenue percentages argument may seem reasonable, but is that how any region   should be managed?  For example if the   ‘spend money where it […]

Amalgamation: Lets have a proper debate

Amalgamation, that’s the flip side of the de-amalgamation debate, the   side we hardly hear about.  Actually   debate is the wrong word as it requires at least 2 opposing arguments.  Where’s the pro amalgamation team? After all   there were good reasons to amalgamate in the first place, weren’t   there. I recall attending an amalgamation meeting in […]

Doing More with the Less Known

Interesting that old gold mining equipment can be a historically   significant attraction.  At some sites   sign posts are constructed describing what the equipment did.  The area around it maintained, with arrows   pointing where further pieces of historically significant litter can be   located.  Litter, at the time it was left   there, that’s what it was.  […]

Government Versus Household Spending

Interesting how Government react the opposite to the way a household   does.  When times are tough household’s   tighten the belt make do with the old TV, repair the old fridge not replace it,   forget about the extensions, etc.    Government though borrows more money and spends it, big time.  When things improve the household splurges a   […]

Trying to find an Australian at the Coal Face

“Mate, this will be the last time, going back to Caboolture   tomorrow”.  “So the job with the mines   didn’t work out”.  “No, he never returned   a phone call, looks like better opportunities back home after all”.  This was part of a conversation I had at   tennis last week. Other conversations during the week included the […]

Iron Boomerang: Why aren’t we hearing more about it?

At school I was taught a developed   nation exported value added products, a developing nation its raw   resources.  I wonder if they still teach   that.  Before Gina Rinehart there was   Lang Hancock (her Dad) and he along with former Premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen   mooted a west east railway line transporting the iron ore to where […]

Statistic’s – Believe it or Not – They Need to be Challenged

Lies, damn lies, then there’s statistics.  It’s amazing what can be done with    figures.  Practically halve the   unemployment rate for one.  Roy Morgan   Research figures claim Australia’s unemployment rate is 8.2% not the Governments   4.9%.  One reason for the discrepancy is   apparently Government figures don’t include people not actively looking for a   job, but […]

The 4 D’s – Dream, Debate, Decide, Develelop

“Tell her she’s dreaming”, that    would be the response from Darryl Kerrigan (of ‘The Castle’ fame) to Kirsten   Livermore’s call for an eastern highway bypass of Rockhampton and relocating the   airport to Hedlow.  That’s one of the   responses I got to a previous column about establishing an international airport   at Raglan and an eastern […]

Lets Take the Hot Air Out of the Carbon Tax Debate and Hear the Facts

From July 1 the Carbon Tax kicks in.    The Gillard Government has presented a budget arguably designed to lessen   the impact of the tax on low and middle income households.  Will that be the end of it? With an election due next year, Labor tenuous hold on power and   Abbots Liberals saying if elected they […]

Church Could Prove More Effective Than State

The Chinese solution might be build a city and then move people to   it.  However in Central Queensland it’s   the reverse, people are moving to it and infrastructure is at best in catch up   mode.  As highlighted in centres like   Mackay, Gladstone, Moranbah and Emerald. “The last thing we want is politicians   sticking their bib […]

Democracy: Why do we take it for granted?

First defence: ignore the issue and hope it goes away. Second defence: state the official line and hope the issue goes   away. Third defence: oops (or similar 4 letter word), looks like the issue   is not going away, start regretting taking actions one and two, looming public    relations problem, scapegoats list to be prepared. […]

How Can A Mistake Like This Not Cause An Outrage

It’s the 79th minute, Queensland two points ahead is   parked on New South Wales ten metre line.    Smith is brought down on tackle four; he plays the ball to Cronk who   passes to Thaiday, who bursts through the first tacklers.  Pierce hangs on; Gallen throws himself at   Thaiday as he stretches for the try line, […]

What is Acceptable to the Community

Community acceptable development, that appears to be the big   challenge for our new council.  The   Rockhampton region needs to keep growing in population unless residents are   happy to pay higher rates and/or receive fewer services.  Costs are unfortunately going to continue to   rise, greater efficiencies alone in how Council business is conducted I imagine   won’t […]

An Enthralling Bricks & Mortar Journey

“Hey we got to go into the store   on the corner, they’ve got a football field in the middle of it, I bet I can   score more goals then you.” “Not before we go into this dress shop I just got a   text saying they’ve just received a new range from my favourite designer in […]

What’s the Plan for the Region

Trundle, ever heard of it?  Up to a few weeks ago I hadn’t, but this town   in NSW of less than 500 people now has its own weekly national television show –   Country Town Rescue.  To attract people   to live in their dying town five homes were offered at a $1 a week rental.  […]

Make One of the Lights at the End of the Tunnel a Train

Be interesting to see if any of   the Mayoral aspirants respond to this column with their   aspirations. A producer of Sixty Minutes was on   the phone to the Mayor’s office, “we want to do a feature story on Rockhampton,   a city that despite being in the heart of Australia’s greatest ever resource   boom is identified […]

Demonstrate Our Attention at Election Time

3:30pm, as if on cue the afternoon south easterly   picked up.  Being a fresher breeze meant   it was going to be worse today.  Though   hard to see in the air, it could be noticed on the once white roofs of homes in   Keppel Sands and on top of windscreen wipers of cars parked along Lakes […]

Backcasting Helps Make the Forecasting A Reality

It was slick, built for speed, a   closer inspection revealed the Monaro inspiration in the design.  The Premier, Mayor and dignitaries tightly   grouped together for the media photo.    With a large pair of scissors the Premier cut the ceremonial ribbon to   signify the bullet train service between Rockhampton and Gladstone was ready for   passengers.  The […]

A HEC’s on Mine Jobs

We give our resources away to   multi-national companies, let them introduce FIFO, let them discharge whatever   into our rivers, let them use the infrastructure we the taxpayers have funded;   so at the very least shouldn’t we insist they invest in one of our resources,   our youth, by giving them the opportunity to be gainfully employed and learn […]

What the Hell is at Yeppoon?

What kind of future do we want? A   quiet, relaxed environment sounds enticing, but how is it economically   sustainable? Yeppoon/Capricorn Coast is a beautiful area, Queensland best kept   secret as one politican called it. Without careful development though to   encourage more people to live and invest in the area rates will arguably have to   increase […]

Enough of Band-Aid Solutions

The direct flight from Mumbai was   about to touch down on the new tarmac at the Alpha International Airport.  Disembarking passengers were directed to a   large shed where custom and quarantine officers who themselves had only just   flew in a few hours beforehand processed their arrival documentation.  The ignition switches on the coaches waiting   outside […]

Rockhampton to host Commonwealth Games!

Managed to get into a   little hot water about my reference in a previous column about the Gold Coast   Commonwealth Games.  Just for the record   I think it’s great that Queensland is holding the Games in 2018.  For an Australian athlete to compete in a   world class event on an Australian stage is something for all of […]

The House CQ Political Aspirants Built

Have you ever thought about how   much money is wasted in political campaigns. Theories of what is enough   advertising to reach people go out the window as the major players spend more   than their opponent believing more is better. And the funny thing they’ll   probably be advertising their credentials in cutting waste and reducing   debt. […]

4 Kids

If you talk the talk, will you   walk the walk? This week’s aspiration is a simple   one.  It’s that by May this year four   Gladstone children and their carers can continue to live together in one   home.  No fast train, schweebs, eastern   by-pass, or international airport at Raglan.     Just a simple aspiration that many […]

To A Happy ‘Fitter’ New Year

Many of us tonight will make a resolution or two.  A popular resolution will be to get fitter in 2012.  Could we extend this to making a resolution for a fitter Central Queensland in 2012 also?  What would it mean if we were to make this resolution?  ‘To get in good health and physical condition’, […]

A Christmas Apsiration for the 3H’s

A Christmas Aspiration for Happiness, Health & Harmony. When did money become the goal and not a vehicle to obtain a goal? ‘Show me the money’, ‘Follow the money’, ‘I want more money’; long forgotten it seems that money is supposedly the root of all evil.  It now appears to be an aspiration itself; not […]

CQ’s Game Changer The Justification

Hopefully the below explains why CQ needs a game breaker. Because just going along thinking if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it isn’t going to work out forour kids. Planning to benefit them should be happening NOW. CQ’s Game Changer – The Justification Why does Central Queensland need a game changer? Last week my aspiration […]

A Dr. Suess Precription for Rockhampton

Can Rockhampton take Some Medicine from Dr Seuss? “This year the school had seven Australian representatives………”; this is no aspiration for a future speech night at one of Rockhampton’s high schools.  This was said last week at North Rockhampton State High Schools Presentation Night.  Similar comments were no doubt echoed by other high schools throughout […]

What History Can Teach Us

Generally when faced with a problem, we (mankind) have found a solution. It seems though at the moment we are more intent on creating problems than finding solutions. There must be a huge problem, that we allocate so little to finding solutions to the extra problems being created in attempting to fix the big problem. […]

Development CQ, is it worth Singing About

Billion dollar projects planned Here in our Central Queensland Plenty of jobs going about They’ll even fly you in and fly you out Export income is the goal All we got to do is dig more holes We’re told its all good news Let’s hear your view Is there enough infrastructure about Does the only […]

Where’s The Welcome Mat

Hit the road Jack, and go see Australia…. that would be an aspiration for most of us, well of mine anyway.  For many this involves the purchase of a motor home.  The Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia (CMCA) has 61000 members.  Just over two years ago they held their national rally here in Rockhampton.  […]

Time to Claim a New Title (Slogan)

I just read today that Queensland Rail are to consider a fast train between Rockhampton and Gladstone. At last. Lets hope this consideration process doesn’t take too long and we see some action. The below column questions the benefits of the Beef Capital of Australia title that Rockhampton carries. Should it be the city’s slogan […]

Regular Spot

Looks like I’ve gained a regular spot in Saturdays Morning Bulletin. Here’s a column that was published couple of weeks back. Thought I might had someone from either the cycling club or multi-cultural association call me to discuss it. But to date nothing. Be interested to know if you think its a good idea. The […]

Mt. Morgan – There’s Still Gold There

Over the past 2 weeks I’ve written an aspiration for Mt. Morgan. I really hope some from CQUni might find it interesting enough to follow through with. Future to the Back Aspiration for Mt. Morgan Was it fate or just chance? The offer of the helicopter pilot to take the student camera operator to get […]

Game Changer Needed for Central Queensland

Too much reliance on 1 industry is going to leave this region vulnerable in the future. A game changer is needed. And planning for it should be happening NOW. And maybe it could be happening like I described in last weeks newspaper column. Top of the agenda was approval for funding a business plan for […]

Capricorn Tropic – The Bullet Train

I’ve made the editorial pages in the local paper. For the next 3 weeks anyway, while the usual Friday provider is away. So I wrote this piece on an eastern highway by-pass of the city. Something that doesn’t seem to be a favoured option. Not sure why. Because if a highway by-pass is part of […]

Eastern By-Pass Aspirational Boost for Emu Park

I’ve made the editorial pages in the local paper. For the next 3 weeks anyway, while the usual Friday provider is away. So I wrote this piece on an eastern highway by-pass of the city. Something that doesn’t seem to be a favoured option. Not sure why. Because if a highway by-pass is part of […]

Rockhampton City – Home to Australia’s Next Champions

I received a radio station profile yesterday. Part of the presentation listed Rockhamptons main industry as “grazing”. I assume they meant cattle grazing. The beef industry is a major industry of Rockhampton. However our Beef Capital of Australia tag does lead to some interesting perceptions of Rockhampton being created – cattle grazing in each backyard!! […]

Hedlow Aspiration Makes Horse Sense

Not sure if my column in the paper is now going to be Saturday or Mondays. Anyway the below aspiration was in todays paper. Hope you find it interesting and feel free to comment. The horse came to a brief stop its chest heaving after the series of jumps, the rider pressed his knees in […]

Aspiration for Yeppoon Main Beach

The following article was published in the daily paper on Saturday. The Weber Wave Pool and Schweeb actually exist. Google them. Imagine what they would trigger (development wise) on the Capricorn Coast. Hopefully a private developer might find it interesting enough to pursue it with Council. Looking over their shoulder they manoeuvred their boards in […]

Constructive Noise

This is the 3rd letter I sent to the local paper. However it never got published, they said it was too long. If we all start talking more about what this region needs then more notice will be taken. This blog is part of the constructive noise. You can add to it. Central Queensland is […]

Aspiration for CQ Letter 2

As a follow up to my first letter I sent the below to the local paper for publication. Love to see a similiar web site developed to the one mentioned below. I welcome any comments you may have about the letter. A click on the mouse starts the video in the centre of the website. […]

An Aspiration for Central Queensland

A paper lasts a day maybe two if your lucky, the internet is forever… I thought it best to publish my musings, that have previously been published in the local newspaper the Morning Bulletin, for a greater readership and longevity. Hope you enjoy the first, I will continue to add new content each week. 26th […]