There were several ideas such as a Manse ministry (Minister's House), tourism and art, and respite, a place where community members might come to share ideas and explore philosophical themes and where those in need might seek some wisdom, guidance and encouragement. For a small rural community, idea had significant ministry merit.
Although six visits were made from 2002 and with the support of a local developer, who had those sub-divisions yet to be approved by Mackay Council, the idea was never quite able to sustain itself.
Then November and December 2010 Well-Being Australia chairman Mark Tronson and his wife Delma were visiting friends on another of their Country Town Tours to the region. They toured the various sub-divisions which had finally been given the green light by Mackay Council.
The approvals was largely due to misfortune.. He had been struggling to see his various sub-divisions projects get the green light for more years than he would like to say. These included sub-divisions north of Midge Point, within Midge Point itself and several along Midge Point Road towards Laguna Quays.
In the Midge Point town project there were 106 house blocks he wanted to see developed and a rural setting on a significant hill which overlooked the Whitsundays with larger blocks, and even more so, north of Midge Point itself, an ocean front sub-division.
This developer had built a block of shops and only one of those had remained open by the end of 2010. The whole sub-division scenario looked bleak and with it the possibility of Well-Being Australia establishing a community ministry.
In March of 2010 a strong cyclone devastated the Midge Point and Laguna Quays area with roofs coming off, houses destroyed, sheds moved from their blocks, even a private air strip owned by the developer saw hangers shifted. Council signs became a nightmare in the area and as a result, the Mackay Council representatives visited and considered it provident to make the region a propriety. (The Whitsundays Council begins a few kilometres north of Laguna Quays).
This is a far flung region of Mackay Council. Many thought it should have been part of the Whitsunday Council when the amalgamations of little Councils took place eight years ago.
After this March 2010 cyclone this developer met with the Mackay Shire Council on site along with sub-divisions, which were subsequently given the green light. This immediately reinvigorated the commercial viability of the region. He held a Tradies Lunch (Tradesmen) at the local tavern in which 39 local business traders and Shire Council representatives attended which gave much spirit to the future for the region.
The developer suggested to Well-Being Australia's Mark Tronson that to boost community good-will he could provide one of his empty shops as a community networking base for the ministry.
Mark Tronson saw merit in this as it could offer an office presence for a wide range of community agencies with work space and computer availability.
The idea was a very positive step towards Well-Being Australia's goal of providing a community based ministry, but the reality was that it was still 12 months away (the sub-divisions needed to get finished). Then it started to rain and the rainy season has not let up for five months and work on the sub-divisions has been minimal.
Part 3 tomorrow will demonstrate how perseverance has benefits.
