Y.I.R AUGUST 2023 Jack's ton, hoofing it, keep in your lane and Felix the teacher
CENTURY
Imagine watching Sir Charles Kingsford Smith (Smithy) fly over your house as a kid and being at the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and still being around to talk about it in 2023 over a whiskey.
Well, that’s exactly what happened in August of this year when a man who has a local connection in the Douglas Shire turned 100 and celebrated it with a huge party to mark the milestone.
Jack Coleman, whose son Warren is a well-known local, had a knees-up in Sydney no one in the family will forget.
"I feel really good," Jack told Newsport.
"The day was 100 years in the making, but it finally arrived, and I was happy to celebrate it with my family," he said.
Amidst laughter, shared stories, and heartfelt tributes, the Colemans, their extended family, and friends congregated in Sydney to fete Jack's century of life. Jack is particularly proud of his nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Over 200 well-wishers gathered to honour a beloved patriarch. When this reporter inquired about the secret to his remarkable longevity, Jack humorously quipped, "Well, I don't really know, maybe it's that daily ritual of a beer and a scotch”.
This reporter was honoured to break bread and share a whiskey with Jack at his home in Sydney. I bought a full bottle of Scotch, and Jack and I had a couple of glasses, but there was no way I was leaving with the rest of the contents.
As I got up to leave, Jack grabbed the bottle and placed it with several others on a shelf. Jack is a lovely man, but subtle he’s not. In recognition of his incredible 100-year milestone, Jack received congratulatory letters from dignitaries around the world.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Governor-General David Hurley extended their warm wishes to mark the centenary celebration.
Hoofing it
Back in August, I met up with two intrepid adventurers, Sophia Homor (26) and her companion, Stephanie Toms (22), on the outskirts of town. The duo was on an awe-inspiring journey along the renowned National Bicentennial Trail.
Joining them were their trusty companions, two horses named Cor and Future, once renowned on Hong Kong’s racetracks and floated from Brisbane to Cooktown to start their journey.
A third, Flint, a spirited brumby hailing from Gympie, fills the vital role of a pack horse. Newsport had the privilege of catching up with these enterprising young women as they were poised to make a transition onto the challenging bump track.
With a projected duration of nine months for this epic expedition, the resolute duo displayed remarkable nonchalance.
"Whether it takes ten or eleven months, our priority is the well-being of our horses," emphasized Stephanie.
In addition to their remarkable feat, which is still ongoing, Sophia and Stephanie are utilizing their trekking endeavour to raise funds for a charity initiative named Freedom Youth.
Freedom Youth is a network of dedicated youth mentors, counsellors, psychologists, and volunteers that has united to positively influence the lives of the next generation. The girls are expected to finish their trek around April of 2024.
Felix in town
In August, the renowned Australian actor Felix Williamson, son of the legendary playwright David Williamson, shared his vast knowledge and expertise in the world of theatre, films, and television with local aspiring actors. Having graduated from the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) and boasting over 25 years of experience as a lecturer, actor, director, and writer.
Among his career highlights in television productions are roles in "A Place to Call Home," "Wentworth," "Underbelly," "My Brother Jack," and "Hawke," where he portrayed the former Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating. Additionally,
Felix's remarkable performances can be witnessed in "Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries," "Rake Series 2," and Rachel Perkins' telemovie, "Mabo." The Douglas Theatre Arts group was thrilled to have secured Felix Williamson as both a director and actor to conduct two workshops at the esteemed Clink Theatre.
“I hadn’t been up to Port Douglas since we shot the war movie 'The Thin Red Line’ back in 1998, so I was thrilled to go back after such a long, long time,” said Felix.
When asked about his famous father David Williamson, Felix was glowing in his praise, “He’s a legendary playwright for sure and one of the world’s greatest, but an awful actor”
At least we now know that any future productions at the Clink won’t be starring David Williamson. His plays however will always have centre stage.
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