RENTAL SHORTAGE SURVEY

One of the sad stories of the year was just how deeply Douglas was affected by the rental housing crisis – accounts of locals sleeping in their cars, camping out and lounge hopping, while backpackers were staying in chock-a-block full share houses or being turned away due to a lack of regular accommodation.

With simply not enough rentals to house the number of people wanting to work in the area, in July Tourism Port Douglas Daintree and Douglas Shire Council launched a critical new survey they wanted locals and other stakeholders to fill out, so the two entities could get a clearer picture of the region’s ongoing rental crisis.

The COVID pandemic was resulting in many properties for sale being snapped up by interstate buyers and those owners using their new acquisitions for Airbnb purposes – but choosing to leave them vacant without tenants, or themselves relocating to the region to live in them.

The flow on effect meant that local businesses weren’t able to get workers to fill hospitality and tourism positions.

MENTAL HEALTH RUNNERS

Newsport told the story in July of two ambitious men with a joint dream to channel their inner Forrest Gump and simply run, run and run – until they couldn’t do so anymore, putting the finishing touches on an adventure that would stay with them for the rest of their lives.

Ash Currie and Jamie Candler arrived at the Tip of Australia on July 11, their final steps being the incredible culmination of a three week running adventure which the duo had started back in Port Douglas on June 18.

The sole purpose and motivation of the trip dubbed ‘Port to Pajinka’: to raise money for men’s mental health and favoured charity, Movember.

In a wonderful development the pair confirmed across their social media channels that they had done exactly that, raising close to $32,000.

“Humbled, absolutely humbled, this is for all of us, it’s done, we got the dog,” a jubilant Mr Candler said from Punsand Bay at the time.

“Remember you are never alone.”

MOSSMAN SHOW’S 70TH!

Newsport regular contributor Paul Makin joined many in congratulating the Mossman Show in celebrating 70 years of being an integral part of our Shire.

“It all goes back to 1952 when a fledgling Mossman show fired up for the first time to provide a place for the agricultural folk to display their stock and goods and for families to be entertained,” Paul wrote in July at the time of the landmark show. “It remains to this day a real local country show.”

“The Victor Crees pavilion was completed in 1953, named in honour of the first President of the Show Society.

The current President is Matty Hatfield and like Mr Crees is immensely proud of what the Mossman Show offers the good folk of the Douglas Shire.”

Mr Hatfield told us “It’s always been supported by locals and hopefully they’ll do it all over again this year and being the 70th year it’s all important to make this year a special one”.

DOUGLAS TAXI DRIVER’S SELFLESS GESTURE

July also brought us the heart-warming story of how Douglas taxi service showed goodwill, understanding and kindness towards a Whyanbeel man in need of a reliable transport service for trips across the local shire.

Graham O’Donoghue, a paraplegic, was 100% reliant on transport services to move about the area but a series of misunderstandings meant that he had been unable to head back from Miallo to the family farm for seven months.

Confusion had reigned because Miallo was in the jurisdiction of Mossman taxis and on top of that, that taxi company didn’t have wheelchair accessible taxis.

Upon hearing the plight of Mr O’Donoghue, a very accommodating John McRoberts, owner of Douglas taxi service, confirmed with Newsport that he was going to ensure Mr O’Donoghue’s future transport needs were taken care of.

“But common sense needs to prevail, Mossman taxis don’t have a wheelchair assisted taxi, we do, so it makes sense, pending approvals and us ticking the boxes, that we get the right permissions to be able to pick Mr O’Donoghue up when he needs to go somewhere,” Mr McRoberts said.