Since that time he and other Well-Being Australia board members have visited the Midge Point and Laguna Quays areas with a view to exploring ministry possibilities of various kinds in the area.
A local developer also saw potential in a number of areas for Christian community ministry and they kept in touch which saw six visits of Well-Being Australia personnel from that initial 2002 tour.
The Midge Point region is 25 minutes south of Proserpine and a little further south than the Laguna Quays Resort which established itself as a golfers haven and a magnificent Marina.
There were two matters of concern to Well-Being Australia, the first was that the proposed international airport for Laguna Quays in line with the Japanese golfing tourism trade didn't get off the ground. This in effect led to the second, that the population could not sustain anything more than a corner store, albeit a GIA shop.
To alley the second concern, the developer built a separate complex of shops, but he was having difficulty in seeing his sub-divisions approved by Mackay Council. Most of these shops closed their doors, even the fish and chip business, although the Laundromat kept open.
Well-Being Australia was considering a community based ministry in the area where a manse (Minister's residence) might be established as a place for a wide range of people to visit over a cuppa, like a friends' abode.
The idea was to be a place set-apart where people of good-will might share philosophical ideas and where too, those in need might come for support and encouragement. This is after all, the concept of a Manse quite apart from where a Minister lives.
Well-Being Australia was also interested in linking in tourism into its orbit as this is an area where Well-Being Australia has significant experience with its Australia's Bush Orchestra in Moruya on the NSW south coast. Mark Tronson was keen to link in art as he had done in Moruya.
Midge Point itself is known for its crabs and fishing, cabins within a rain forest setting and a caravan park. Apart from the Laguna Quays golf course, it is sleepy hollow, albeit on the Whitsunday coast.
Although the 'manse' concept was a positive one, there wasn't enough wherewithal from within Well-Being Australia or the availability of sub-division land from the developer, to see anything come to fruition.
So although there was much positive feedback, it never had the impetus to get off the ground. Then the developer came up with an idea.
Part 2 of this story continues tomorrow.
