The Great Wall… of Hervey Bay

15/03/201304/03/2015Leave a comment

I have very fond memories of the Urangan sea wall. As kids my brother and I would sit on the wall and let the water splash over us, or jump into incoming waves.

Until recently it was almost impossible to imagine such scenarios. The tide barely made it to the bottom steps of the wall, let alone offering up enough water to leap into without doing oneself an injury.

In October 2012 when I was looking at the apartment that was to become my home, the Real Estate Agent told me that the Fraser Coast Regional Council was planning to fix the sea wall (which was looking a little worse for wear). I knew it meant I’d have to suffer through some noise and disruption, but was basically pleased the iconic wall would remain.

I had a big moan however, when the Fraser Coast Regional Council finally started work on the Urangan sea wall back in December.

“Why on earth would you block off part of the esplanade at one of the busiest times of year?” I wondered. Aloud. And in a ranty way.

Unsurprisingly no one listened and work commenced a few weeks before Christmas.

Cyclone Oswald (officially Ex-tropical Cyclone Oswald… or as I like to think of it: the Tropical Cyclone formerly known as Oswald!) and king tides put work on hold for a few weeks, before Council staff got back to work with a vengeance.

As someone who lives across the road I’m trying to be patient. And sympathetic. And patient. (Oh, did I mention that?!)

BUT IT HAS BEEN BLOODY NOISY! From my expert eye I’ve noticed worker using a jack hammer to dig up the old wall; a big drill-thingy to dig holes in the concrete for the new wall supports; chain saws to presumably chop up the old wall; as well as many other noisy implements.

When all are unleashed at the same time it’s a nightmare for those trying to sleep work across the road.

But, I’ve tried to bear it bravely with only minimal (*ahem*) moaning and groaning.

The wall already needed replacing before the advent Cyclone Ossie (I’m allowed to call it that as we go way back!) and its wild winds which washed* concrete bricks out of the old wall.

I’m not overly sure that the new wall is the most aesthetically pleasing one that could have been chosen, but… that’s all water under the bridge (or over the wall).

I’ve seen no point in whingeing to the Council workers out there doing their job about the noise. Not when I can moan and groan on Twitter instead.

And – weather permitting – another month or so the noise will be a distant memory; I will again have my gorgeous ocean views (sans ugly fencing and road barriers) and – hopefully – the next Cyclone or high tides won’t result in chunks of the wall floating across the road.

Do others have fond memories of the sea wall, I wonder?
Or perhaps you’re as frustrated as I am about the disruption. (Albeit a necessary one!)

* apologies for the accidental alliteration. But now it’s there, it’s staying!

Deborah

Get fit for free on the Fraser Coast!

13/03/201304/03/20153 Comments

Argh! I now have absolutely no excuse at all not to exercise. And I blame the Fraser Coast Regional Council.

Since moving back into the area I’ve scoped out gyms but procrastinated about joining any. It’s easy to find excuses: the sessions don’t suit; it’s too expensive; I don’t have time.

But the Fraser Coast Regional Council’s latest initiative has put an end to my most-definitely-believeable array of ~~excuses~~ legitimate reasons.

From 18 March 2013, Council is launching its 8 week community exercise program across Maryborough and Hervey Bay. And… there’s something for everyone: from Boxercise, Circuit Training and Pilates in Maryborough to Aqua Aerobics, Bootcamp, Slacklining* and Stretch, Strengthen and Sculpt classes in Hervey Bay.

Specific classes target Mums and Bubs while others are aimed at Seniors.

All classes are absolutely free and all you need to do is turn up on the day with: closed-in shoes, water, towel and a hat, along with stacks of enthusiasm. (You might want to get in early though as classes are limited to 25 participants.)

A full timetable is available on the Council’s website along with terms and conditions and additional detail.

* You don’t know what this is? Nah, me either! I did google it though!

Z-PAC: The Importance of Being Earnest

11/03/201304/03/20152 Comments

Rehearsals are underway for an Oscar Wilde’s masterpiece, The Importance of Being Earnest, which will open at Z-PAC Theatre, Zephyr Street Scarness on Friday 22 March.

Oscar Wilde’s masterpiece, The Importance of Being Earnest, has stood the test of time like so few others. This is a farcical comedy of manners that is often regarded as one of the greatest plays of all time.

Wilde’s acerbic wit and tantalising manipulation of the English language have crafted a satire so perfect it has remained unmatched for well over a century.

The play follows Jack and Algernon: two bachelors in Victorian England who, bored with the hypocritical nature of their society, both adopt the pseudonym ‘Ernest’ to escape from their routine lives.

When Jack falls in love with the sharp-tongued Gwendolen, and Algernon with Jack’s innocent ward Cecily, whilst both under the guise of Ernest, each man must find a way to shed his alias without disrupting the delicate thread of romance.

The production stars Michael Ware as the nervous and uptight Jack, Taylor Dunn as his icy girlfriend Gwendolen, and welcomes another talented newcomer, Tayla Harding, who brings an air of sweetness to the role of the innocent Cecily. Familiar faces of Z-PAC regulars Judith La Forest – as Cecily’s tutor Miss Prism, a kind lady with a dark past – and Tamara Bailey as Gwendolen’s draconic mother, Lady Bracknell. Neil Gee brings a gentle naivety to the role of Dr Chasuble, and Jonathan Dunn is hilarious as Algernon’s long-suffering butler.

Z-PAC’s production of The Importance of Being Earnest is directed by newcomer Bradley Chapman, who also plays Algernon. Brad, a Gold Coast native who arrived at Z-PAC Theatre last year. A senior drama teacher at Hervey Bay High School, Brad holds a Bachelor’s Degree in drama and film and another in secondary education, with a Performer’s Certificate from Trinity College of London. He is thrilled to have the opportunity to direct this masterpiece.

The show is rated ‘G’ and runs from March 22nd ’til April 13th. Tickets on sale soon at Mary Ryan Bookshop, Pialba. Adults $20, Concessions and/or groups 10+ $17.

Sem gas

11/03/201304/03/2015Leave a comment

(First published in Debbish.com on 31 January 2013)

I’ve been struggling with cravings since last week. Hot and sweaty and enroute home from a Zumba class in my new hometown I decided I was too lazy to cook and stopped at the first ‘Asian’ takeaway I came to. Thai and Chinese are my favourites and the place I ~~found~~ chose was Thai. After a few false starts I discovered which dishes could be made gluten-free (for I am coeliac) and left 25+minutes later (having been told 10mins) with two dishes and rice in hand.

I scoffed most of the meal that night and had the rest for breakfast the following morning. The garlic and pepper chicken was TO DIE FOR!

It kills me that I cannot cook Thai / Chinese food that tastes as good as the stuff I buy.

As so often is the case, it gave me a taste for something delicious and spicy and I’ve pondered the idea of takeaway almost every day since.

However, earlier this week I convinced myself I would be satisfied with a more logistically-simple option, available at a cafe just a few hundred metres from my apartment.

When I first arrived here I indulged in Salt Cafe‘s steak sandwich on gluten-free bread and served with chips a number of times. In fact, the friendly waitress who served me the day I hung out waiting to get into my apartment (while I waited for settlement and the removalist) remembered me each time I went back.

And before I knew it I was imagining myself biting into the sandwich, onion relish dripping down my chin.

For various reasons I didn’t get there yesterday so while phaffing about this morning I texted my aunt and uncle who live nearby, asking if they were keen to meet for lunch. Fortuitously we agreed on Salt and I sauntered down in the oppressive heat eager for my steak sandwich.

Once settled however, I was greeted by a waitress I didn’t know and handed a dodgy one page menu aptly named “Emergency Menu – available all day” and listing cereals, bread rolls, a couple of salads and chicken or ham toasted sandwiches. What. The. Fuck?!

“The gas is out,” the waitress explained.

Not convinced she wasn’t conspiring against me to avoid offering me the fulfillment I needed (ie. steak sandwich and chips) I turned to Twitter and Facebook to have this confirmed. And sure enough… my Facebook feed was full of local cafes and restaurants either announcing their reduced menus or sprouting that they use electricity and were offering their full array of food.

Apparently a gas pipeline was damaged a bit further north during our recent storms and until flood waters have receded it can’t be fixed… and there’s no gas. (I have to confess I’ve never really thought about where the gas comes from or how it gets here!)

I’m not a gas-y girl you see. I’d love a BBQ but only gas makes sense and the notion of a gas bottle freaks me out. I’ve always bought places which have electric ovens and stovetops rather than gas cos of the whole ‘freaking me out’ thing. And… I always thought I would be the one to suffer – during an electricity outage; that I’d be regretting my no-gas decision.

And yet… here I am, still with electricity with which to cook, while the cafes and restaurants of Hervey Bay serve cereal.

Are you a gas or electricity person? Or perhaps both?

* Sem gas = without bubbles (in Portuguese and possibly similar in Spanish and Italian!)

Life in a Tourist Town

11/03/201304/03/2015Leave a comment

(First published 5 February 2013)

Three months have passed since I moved into my esplanade apartment at Hervey Bay, and I have just survived my first holiday period as a local* amongst a throng of holidaymakers.

The biggest fear I had about my choice of ‘home’ was that – my esplanade view and lovely modern accomodations would be counteracted by living in an apartment complex which would possibly be home to noisy holidaymakers on a regular basis.

I’m not, you see, the most (ahem) tolerant of people… so I had visions of myself screaming at drunken tenants partying at 1am or devil-possessed children frolicking about our complex pool.

But, I have to confess – it hasn’t been as bad as I expected.

Sure there were the guys in the apartment below me trying to channel Freddy Mercury before dinner one night; and there were a few badly behaved children in the pool – torturing siblings or crying hysterically about some world crisis or another. (Bloody little sooks!) And of course, the place in general has being busier than usual with overflowing caravan parks and beachside apartments.

But, on the whole… it was quite pleasant to see my new home AND hometown being enjoyed by so many visitors.

The people-watching is surprisingly interesting and has the potential to be quite exciting. Like Hotel. Or Adventure Island. Or Melrose Place. Or similar.**

I got a giggle out of a couple of oldies who seemed to strike up a bit of a romance friendship at the poolside. And smiled every time another guest headed off to the local pier with his fishing rod and supplies (and came home empty-handed); proud that my new hometown offered such simple pleasures.

And then there’s the opportunity to chuckle in a smug superior manner when visitors do those silly things that cause we locals to roll our eyes. “Tourists!” we groan.

And now… school’s back in and the Vacancy signs are again littering the esplanade as the holidaymakers have headed back to their own part of the world.

Although I haven’t been too disrupted by our visitors, I must confess I much prefer having the place and the town to ‘ourselves’ again.

There’ll be no more queueing for a table at the Boat Club for a while, no need to book at pub down the road and no need forpatience at the overflowing playgrounds. And the supermarkets will again (mostly***) belong to we locals.

* I grew up nearby so feel I can call myself a local despite having only lived here for thee months!
** There could be a TV series in this!
*** I say mostly because I DO live in a beachside town so there are always a few overseas tourists and weekend vacationers here.

PS. Am showing my age and channeling The Dream Academy’s Life in a Northern Town in the title. In case you didn’t get the ~~way-too-clever~~ reference!

And your thoughts…Tourists: love em or hate em?

Fraser Coasting

Tag: Hervey Bay