A weekly re-cap of the events that have made news in Cairns over the past week.

Monday December, 1 2003 122nd Edition

$5.5m for beachfront villa
Property prices in Cairns continue to soar with a Port Douglas beachfront villa sold off the plan for $5.5 million this week. Belle Property chief executive office Chris Meehan said the sale was one of three villas sold for over $5 million at the yet to be built Gecko Resort, Port Douglas. The three villas range in size up to 350sq m. The buyers were all from interstate. Gecko Resort is positioned for the top end of the market with the 35 beachfront villas priced from $1.8 million. Mr Meehan said the development was selling quickly with the majority of the larger villas already sold.

New technology for school of air
Tradition gave way to technology at the Cairns School of Distance Education this week as the school replaced their high-frequency radio lessons with state of the art teleconferencing. Principal Richard Huelin said the radio network had been used since 1972 but new telephone technology was now available for the 400 students across the Far North. “The students will be able to communicate with each other and the teacher, as though they were sitting in a classroom together,” Mr Huelin said. “They will be able to speak and listen at the same time. With HF radio, it’s all one-way conversation, very ‘over and out’.”

Day for buying nothing
The Cairns Buy Nothing Day group wants people to refrain from spending their money, say no to consumerism and to live simply for a day. “Spend time with family and friends rather than spend money on them,” organiser Kate Park said. Ms Park said the day was first started 10 years ago and exposed the environmental and ethical consequences of consumerism. “We are not saying people are bad because they go shopping but if you’re going to consume, do it wisely,” Ms Park said. The Cairns Buy Nothing Group celebrated outside Cairns Central Shopping Centre this week.

Cairns radio breakfast hosts take award
Sea FM Morning crew Bridget Daley and Todd Widdicombe won the Most Outstanding Radio Comedy Performance in Queensland award at the inaugural Australian Comedy Awards in Melbourne recently. Ms Daley said they were very happy and surprised by their win. The winners were selected by a ‘comedy academy’ of 40 people from the Australian entertainment and comedy industries.

Sunlander still going 50 years down the track
Over 6.35 million passengers have taken the trip from Cairns to Brisbane on the Sunlander and 50 years on, people are still lining up to take the journey. Cairns recently celebrated the golden anniversary of the historic train.”The Sunlander train is an integral part of our state,” Member for Cairns Desley Boyle said. “The service has evolved over the past 50 years to take in the different needs of the communities and industries it serves,” she said. QR chief executive officer Bob Scheuber said the Sunlander was one of Australia’s great rail journeys.

Wheelbarrow race may be next tourist attraction
A 140km wheelbarrow race has been considered for the Wheelbarrow Way between Mareeba and Chillagoe. The concept was proposed at a quarterly briefing of Mareeba Shire Council by the tourism industry and has had a positive response. Mayor Mick Borzi said “Of course it would have to be run over two or three days, but events tied into the race could benefit local charities.” The Wheelbarrow Way was named due to the way early settlers and miners travelled about with all their possessions loaded in low tech vehicles. “We are still investigating but if it went ahead it would probably be the longest wheelbarrow race in the world,” Cr Borzi said.

Local clubs help Captain Starlight
Captain Starlights will be able to visit special schools and the pediatric wards of Far Northern hospitals more regularly thanks to donations from local clubs and the RSL. The captains me with bowls, golf, RSL and other sporting club representatives to receive $12 000 in donations which will cover the cost of the Starlight Express Van and the granting of a wish to a seriously ill child. “Seeing the effects of starlight magic has inspired the clubs to get back to work for Starlight to allow even more local children to have their lives brightened,” Clubs Queensland Far Northern Zone chairman John McCallum said.