Among the
much needed improvements, their wish list included;
Electric
Light Power and Telephone Connection,
Road Repairs,
Clearing of Drains, Beach Beautification
and the Provision
of Lifesaving Patrols.
By January 1969 they had already established
the Marcoola Surf Lifesaving Club and were
working towards the establishment
of their own Community Hall.
10 years later saw the Hall still a
dream as most of their efforts were directed towards the new
Surf Club
- Stage1 of which was finished in November 1980 about the same time as
our
Mudjimba cousins (with
no surf club aspirations to distract their attention from their goal)
opened stage 1
of their Community Hall.
Meanwhile
- The airstrip built by Pacific Paradise Development back in 1959 on an
area which
was perpetual
swamp 2 years before, was officially opened as Maroochy Airport on 12th
August
1961.- But by
1970 it was regarded as a white elephant until Council extended runway
18/36 to
allow direct
Fokker Friendship services from Sydney.
(The beginning
of the END for Marcoola Residents.)
On Dec. 8th.1970 - Ted Humphries opened the Marcoola News Agency.
On Nov.17th. 1971 - Felix Parry’s dream for Marcoola reached fruition with the opening of SurfAir.
Water was connected in 1972
1974 saw 10,000 people attending the Air Show and the Mt.Coolum Golf Club was opened.
May 1975 saw the opening of the Marcoola
Service Station _Things were really looking up.
(But 20 years later
it was turned into Graffiti Heaven when Shell pulled the plug on us)
A body blow was dealt to the association with the closure of our caravan park in June 1980
And when our efforts
to build our community hall were dashed on the eve of commencement in 1983
the heart seemed to go out of the association.
There was little spirit left to protest
when council decided to upgrade runway 18/36 to jet standard in 1984 --
and we have been struggling for survival ever since.
We became INCORPORATED
in 1994 at which time a new Constitution was written.
This LUXURY
costs us over $500 a year, and since our income totals about $180 a year
from membership fees we start out behind the 8 ball to the tune of $320.
The Sandpiper
also costs $25 each monthly edition and is printed from donations of our
Sponsors.
We are actually
surviving on the fundraising efforts of our predecessors who were saving
up to build the Community Hall. (Now a LOST DREAM)
An all time LOW was reached in 1996
when the Association looked like folding up through lack of support, but
we survived to fight the Bikeway Battle and community spirit was re-kindled
when the latest Airport Master Plan authors told us that Noise was NOT
a problem in 1998.
(See our Airport
Page for our reaction to this little gem.)
And now after 33 years of community service your Association is STILL here (A little the worse for wear) - And we plan to STAY.
Contact the Secretary:
Mrs. Debbie Johnson
6 Lorraine Avenue,
MARCOOLA BEACH,
Queensland,
Australia. 4564
Phone/FAX (617)
5448 8850
Alternatively
By email: - marcoola@mailcity.com
