We started really early for us, arriving at the Townsville terminal just after eight o’clock in the morning. I was surprised at how regularly the ferry service ran to and from Magnetic Island. When we got there, lots of high school kids who obviously lived on the island we sitting around waiting for school buses. We found out later that the island has a primary school and when students are at high school they have a 20 minute ferry journey each morning followed by a bus trip to their high school in Townsville.
The ferry trip was soon over and we went to hire a car for the day. When Trevor last visited here 23 years ago he and his family rode around the island in a Mini Moke. We were keen to try this, so chose one too. Trevor quickly was used to a manual car again, and I was impressed that he didn’t stall it once during the day. The Moke was great – it is so good to sightsee with it and we all thought the window-less door-less car was neat. Harry regularly asked “Dad! Can you put down the window!” and then burst into near hysterics! A main reason for visiting the island was to see Uncle Colin. Colin Fulford arrived in Balingup in the 1950s and spent a lot of time with Trevor’s Dad David’s family while working as a trapper. Many high jinx took place as David is one of five brothers and a sister living and working on the family farm. We were very keen to see Colin as he is soon to turn 95, and has told us lots of stories about his forty three years living on Magnetic Island.
He has moved since Trevor last visited into a two bedroom home which I am struggling to find the right ‘house word’ to describe. It is sort of a Queenslander style townhouse but all of the home is on the top storey. You need to climb a steep driveway and a tight flight of stairs to reach the house itself. I was so impressed that Colin could patiently pad up and down the stairs each day.
We quickly settled into stories over cups of tea. We met Tim and Sue, two parrots that visit Colin daily, and were lucky enough to see Jacky the friendly kookaburra.
Colin declared that he would give us a tour of the island which we were very happy to do. We spent time at Nelly Bay, Alma Bay, the popular Horseshoe Bay and finished off at Picnic Bay. Max and Harry just loved playing in the sand, as the water flowed through which meant they could make dams and channel the water where they wished.
 |
| After fish and chips at Horseshoe Bay |
 |
I was taken with the many murals around the town …
Even in the busiest bay, Horseshoe Bay, there was such a relaxed feel. A real holiday town with an easy pace to enjoy.
The ferries used to use Picnic Bay as their harbour, but some time ago it was decided to change this to the safer Nelly Bay. Colin wasn’t particularly impressed with this. We walked through the once busy shopping area with playground equipment and now tired landscaping. Colin said that the area was to be redeveloped some time ago, but the couple who started this found they both had terminal cancer and have since died. The redevelopment work looks as if workers simply packed up their tools one day and walked away when the money stopped.
The old jetty was to be demolished but community pressure meant that it has now been Heritage listed. Over $500 000 was poured into the restoration of the jetty and work was completed towards the end of 2010. Cyclone Yasi struck in February 2011 which caused a lot of damage, and the jetty is currently blocked to public access.
 |
| The jetty at Picnic Bay |
 |
| Uncle Colin and Trevor having one of many chats. |
It felt a bit strange and almost eerie walking through this area. The bus terminal is nearby so people are around. Maybe one day redevelopment will successfully occur.
We had to get the car back by 5pm, and it was so very hard to leave Colin after a wonderful day. We would love to spend longer there, but that’s not happening on this trip.
We caught a 6pm ferry home and by this time the wind had set in. We sat on the top of the three decks and the boys loved standing up and having the wind blow through their hair and everywhere else.
Max declared Magnetic Island to be the best place he’s ever been to and that it is the only place he’s found to be as good as Gelorup to live. That’s high praise from young Max!
Thank you Colin for making our day so special!
No comments:
Post a Comment