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Wet Tropic Times | 19 The ball is up in the air about Riversdale Tennis Court

LEXY MARQUIS

A crowd of about 60 attended a recent community meeting at Riversdale Tennis Courts near Davidson Road. As kids played and rode their bikes around the Court, the Council Spokesman explained cost-saving measures occurring in the region. However, after seeing the large, passionate crowd in attendance, it was evident that the Tennis Court would not be demolished.

The Council would like the community to take over the facility to cut down on Council overheads said to be $3,000 - $4,000 per year; however, how and if this could occur remains to be seen.

With its attached undercover area and toilets, the Tennis Court is the one and only community place in the area. It also has ample parking. There are a lot of kids growing up in the area as well, so it is viewed by the community as an essential place for all to gather, said, Locals.

Councillor Barry Barnes said to the Wet Tropic Times “I am over the moon there is community participation and an appetite for more public usage and it’s good to see everybody coming together. Given the short notice of the community meeting, I couldn’t attend as I had previously confirmed I would have to stand in for the Mayor at a progress meeting.”

First Nations Elder Clarence said during the group meeting, “I know most of these people around here, and I grew up with Christine, and I grew up right here, I’m 62 and I’ve lived here all my life, I went to school here at Riversdale and my Aunty Doris who is here tonight lived here before that.

This foundation has been here a long time, and as a Traditional Elder, we’ve all got heritage, and I support these guys who have heritage right here. They should not lose their heritage here for their children.

That’s why as a traditional owner, I stand for all these guys, just like they supported my Grandfather back in the day. Heritage is important for everybody, and it’s important for the next generation to still have this place.’

His comments were met with thunderous applause.

Christine Jenkins has strong ties to the community and is a well-respected former Councillor and local artist. She is extremely disappointed at the situation as “there has been no forethought for the future of Davidson Road, there is a younger generation coming up in the area and it’s important all the people have a local place where they can gather and get to know one another.”

The Tennis Courts have had great meaning to the community for near on 70 years.

Christine’s Great-Grandfather Issac Henry was the first to buy land in Tully, along with James Tyson and Edward Hewitt.

The Henry Family donated the land for the Tennis Court, and Christine’s Grandmother Jean Henry donated the land where the then Riversdale school was located.

After Jean Henry passed, the property was left in the will for her daughter, Anita Flegler. The latter arranged to survey off the blocks and separate the tennis courts from the other land. The tennis courts went to the locals.

The parents and children of the school physically built the tennis courts themselves, which were given to the community in the early 1950s.

The Cassowary Coast Regional Council Communication’s lead sent an email to the Wet Tropic Times responding to questions asked with a statement attributed to Councillor Barry Barnes, which reads:

“I confirm there is a previous resolution by the council to decommission the Lihs Road Tennis Court based on its limited use, the strength of the Tully Tennis Club and the excellent facilities available in Tully. Council acknowledges the recent community gathering and the community’s interest in the continued use of this facility.

Council’s asset rationalisation principles consider a number of factors, and engagement with community groups is critical to ensure the best resolutions are reached for the whole community. Council will continue to engage with groups who express interest in facilities that result in community benefit and better use of community assets.”

UAP Plan to Repay $1,000,000,000,000 National Debt with our resources

THE United Australia Party discussed their policies recently at the National Press Club event. One of the many policies announced is regarding the trillion dollars of national debt and proposes a way to manage it.

The Party says in an extract from their website ‘... In the 1960s, Australia had an export license on the export of iron ore. The United Australia Party will introduce a 15% export license on the export of all Australian iron ore.

The export license receipts will be isolated for the sole purpose of repaying our national debt which will relieve every Australian from that burden and set up our future. We will do this so Australia can be all it can be without the financial destruction the Labor and Liberal parties have imposed on our country.

The export license receipts will be isolated for the sole purpose of repaying our national debt which will relieve every Australian from that burden and set up our future.’

It is understood that the proposed policy would apply to Mr Palmer’s controlled iron ore reserves also.

The Australian Democrats Announce Queensland Senate Candidates

THE Australian Democrats (est. 1977) are pleased to announce their Queensland senate candidates for the 2022 federal election.

We have two exceptional candidates in leading candidate Luke Arbuckle, supported by second candidate Chris Simpson.

Luke is a 33-year old agribusiness graduate and farmer from Goondiwindi, and Chris is a licensed builder and former project manager from Brisbane, who now works in the arts.

Luke runs a 3300-hectare grain and grazing property near Goondiwindi, and is the Democrats’ national spokesperson for sustainable agriculture, rural and regional, and the environment.

He is an agribusiness graduate of UQ’s agriculture college at Gatton, and previously held a position on AgForce’s grains board.

Chris finished a master’s degree in project management and previously worked on major gas and oil projects.

He left that behind when he became concerned about climate change and felt he could no longer continue to work in that industry.

He is the Democrats’ national spokesperson on affordable housing.

The pair were recently featured in a Brisbane Times article: Democrats’ Qld Senate hopefuls aim to ‘keep the bastards honest’ in 2022