There's more than mis-guided children who want to live in the tranquil Stoney Creek, on the outskirts of Cairns.
The area has been identified as a location for a Department of Communities Youth Intervention Centre. Basically, this is where some off the rail kids will be sent, to be managed and guided by some social counselling experts.
If I'd been along to one of these facilities when I was young, maybe I wouldn't have to take all my frustrations out by writing this Blog.
Now, I dunno if you've been to Stoney Creek. It always get flooded around the height of the wet season. It's also a nice spot for a Sunday picnic. However, further up the road are some rather nice spacious properties, set amongst thick new generation forest. It's certainly a picture out of some happy family movie.
It was bound to be a shitfight, when you propose to put two extremes of society alongside each other. Would be like Val and Kevin going on a blind date to see the latest Arnie flick, called "I'll Bean Bag." Wait for it, you'll get it.
If I lived in pitcueesqe Stoney Creek, I'd have no problem with them becoming neighbours. They're welcome to build their new facility in Yorkeys. We've got plenty of old sugar cane fields lying around, hardly even usual for anything nowadays.
Now, be aware, I haven't put my suggestion before the Yorkeys Knob Residents' Association, and frankly, I don't know what they would say. Maurice and Wayne would probably be okay about it, but then hardly anything fazes these lads that are a local institution. Then there's Jasse on the Knob. She has a huge dog. Bigger than her I think. I don't Jasse would want a rowdly mob of wayward kids moving into Yorkeys. Pam-I-did-over-Toma-Bigelow, who has two rowdy kids of her own, wouldn't mind a bit. Of that I'm sure.
Recently the locals crowned resident copper Anthony Kirkman and radio queen Pat Morrish, King and Queen of the Knob. I'm sure they would both endorse a bunch of ratbags living on the edge of our community. I mean, Anthony has a job whereby he doesn't sleep anyway, and Pat will soon be retiring and I'm sure she'll happily bake muffins and drop them down.
Also, I think Janine would welcome having a youth facility in Yorkeys. Any opportunity for some new young male talent in the neighbourhood, would be happy.
However the Stoney locals were rightly pissed off when they were barred from the "public consultation" meeting last night. This behaviour harks back to the days of the last Council. Submissions were asked for and only after that was done, the 'rules' were changed. It was announced that only those that sent in a submission, would be allowed along to the community meeting. How very dare they (appols to Catherine Tate).
The angry mobsters at Stoney Creek voted to have no confidence in their MP Steve Wettenhall. Hear, hear!
Come on Steve, you have two initials after your name, that we gave you. MP = Member of Parliament. You're not a lawyer anymore. You're here to listen and consult with the people. All the people, regardless of their opinion. Now it may have not been your idea to exclude some, however you should have vetoed that stupid decision if it was some official sitting in a plus government office. The locals would have respected you for it, regardless of the outcome of the meeting.
Sadly, this reminds me of our lovely Sno Bonneau, who famously hates attending community meetings. My neighbour Janine and I are about to take delivery of the first shipment of "Where Are You Sno?" t-shirts. They were produced by child-labour we sourced in a back alley in Vietnam. They were a bargin, as they only cot .20 cents each, including freight. We are such an entrepreneurial couple. You can order one from http://www.snot-shirt.vn/vn at $29.99.
By the way, I've learnt that this Stoney Creek Youth facility will be an 'adventure based learning centre'. Gosh, I think I might book myself in there for a weekend away.
