The brain child of local developer Gary Poole, Farm Fest was established last year so as to link the community as a fund raiser for the local school situated at Bloomsbury.
Gary Poole's property and private airfield at 61 Whitsunday Drive, is the venue for Farm Fest and the entire community gets involved and participate from everything across the board –
Aircraft display
SES and Rural Fire Brigade
Classic Cars
Miniature horses and ponies
Trash and Treasure
Poultry display
Wildlife greet and meet
Whip cracking
Carlisle Coast Fishing Club
Moreover the stalls were in full display:
Pest management
Hay and Mulch
Honey' Strawberries
Food and Takeaway
Coffee, Tea and cold drinks
Face painting
Greasy pig competition
Plant and garden supplies
Carlisle Coast
This part of the Whitsundays is recognised as the Carlisle Coast along Repulse Bay, Midge Point is known for its fishing, crabs, flat ocean water wind surfing, boating and more recently its Laguna Plaza has seen both a General Store open and the Post Office relocate to its prescient where the local fish and chip shop is located with the Point Tavern a little up the road.
Bloomsbury is 18 kilometres inland (connects with the Bruce Highway). South is Mackay and north is Proserpine and on the way the road to Gunyarra with its WWII Chemical Warfare display is expected to be greatly improved into highway condition to connect the Carlisle Coast direct to the mines at Collinsville and the new Alpha mines.
Laguna Quays on Repulse Bay with its marina is at the northern end of Midge Point towards Proserpine. These major roads act like a triangle from the Bruce Highway – Laguna Quays - Midge Point – Bloomsbury. The Laguna Quays Resort closed its doors in March as did other Whitsunday Island resorts with the tourism downturn, and Laguna Quays Resort may open in another life sometime down the track.
Laguna Quays Respite for missionaries
The Basil Sellers Laguna Quays Respite cottage for missionaries is situated at the northern end in the Mackay Shire's Laguna Quays zone: the missionary cottage backs onto Laguna Quays Resort land.
My wife of 35 years Delma and I established the missionary cottage which was opened in June last year after five months of refurbishments. Many years ago, 1992 we established Basil Sellers House in Moruya on the NSW south coast for elite athlete respite for the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra and in 2006 a second athlete respite facility in Tweed Heads, Basil Sellers Tweed.
We had done a number of Country Town Tour missions to the area where we initially met Gary Poole and became friends. We sought his wisdom and soon had this cottage secured as the missionary house. We squeeze in visits between missionary stays and we became the No 1 Ticket Holder for Farm Fest.
Dr Mark Tronson is a Baptist minister (retired) who served as the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years (2000 ret) and established Life After Cricket in 2001. He was recognised by the Olympic Ministry Medal in 2009 presented by Carl Lewis Olympian of the Century. He has written 24 books, and enjoys writing. He is married to Delma, with four adult children and grand-children.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html