Airlie Beach

You know, it was, and life was good.

You know, a nice property out here at Conway Road at Preston, you know, living near Airlie Beach.

We're in fucking paradise.

Like, you know, got the big boat in the driveway.

It's funny.

I always say that, you know, the cards that get dealt.

I remember years ago, I worked at, I worked at TradeLink in Airlie Beach here back in 99, 2000, long time ago.

And I met, and this manager there, he had a conversation one day and he was leaving, he was leaving his job as manager and he was, he was off doing something else with his family.

And I think we did a couple of little spots.

So we went to Rockhampton, Airlie Beach.

Is that right? It's not in Rockhampton.

Oh, that's right.

Not good.

Some of us woke up a bit grumpy and only had a few hours sleep, didn't we, Port? Yes.

But Airlie Beach and Harvey Bay were our next spots.

We couldn't stop there.

Nice.

So we, we thought we'd go to Airlie Beach the night before, stay as a big family, you know, and then get on the boat nice and early.

So we go to the hotel, there's, there's eight of us, and, uh, we go to book in and we go, "Yep, 1st of September 2018." They go, "Yeah, we got your booking, but your travel agent's booked it for 2019."

Oh.

Oh, no, Timmy.

But I don't know if you've been to Airlie Beach.

Yes, I have.

But I had to walk, I had to walk around and try and find this hotel.

I think it's one of the biggest ports in Australia.

Airlie Beach, you've got the Whitsunday Islands, which is Hamilton, Daydream, Hayman, Long, South Mole.

Even somewhere like Mackay is only three hours drive.

So there's so many areas that they could do and they could really build up a great holiday area.

Yes.

How many rooms are actually in good enough shape to actually be let out would be another question.

But, I mean, Mark, the point, though, is that Airlie Beach is a long way from Rocky, but your point is fair.

Your point is fair.

You've got the Gold Coast, you've got Fiji, and you've got Bali.

I reckon Airlie Beach is

still going,

though.

Uh, I just wanna...

Well, we're going to Airlie Beach over Christmas, um, so I just wanna take the boat up there, and at worst case scenario, I would like to just take my mother and my niece around the islands and the rest-

Beautiful

... of the fam and just, uh, but those two especially, 'cause I, uh, last time Madeline went around, uh, Airlie Beach, she was, goodness, three years old maybe.

Yeah.

Wow.

So we now have a lot more locally branded souvenirs, a lot more local produce available.

I mean, our markets are very popular on a Sunday and they're very popular in Airlie Beach on a Saturday.

But if you come during the week and you want chutneys or jams, you just come to the information centre and we've got them there.

Now, I've got Wayne Cliff with us still.