Rockhampton City - Home to Australias' Next Champions

I received a radio station profile yesterday. Part of the presentation listed Rockhamptons main industry as "grazing". I assume they meant cattle grazing. The beef industry is a major industry of Rockhampton. However our Beef Capital of Australia tag does lead to some interesting perceptions of Rockhampton being created - cattle grazing in each backyard!! Here's my aspiration for our city. Rockhampton already boasts some great champions, arguably one of the greatest - Rod Laver. Imagine the perceptions that would be created of a city tagged as "home of Australias' Next Champions".

The direct flight from Singapore was landing as scheduled.  The destination read Central Queensland International Airport, the passenger remembered it as Raglan.  The town had certainly changed in the eight years she had been away.  Shops in the airport terminal included the usual book, souvenir and food shops, along with booking agents for the Capricorn Tropic (Bullet Train) service to Uluru, helicopter flights to Great Keppel Island Resort, Heron Island, Stanage Bay and Curtis Island.  Ignoring the people mover she walked outside to the awaiting Hassel bullet train.  Within 18 minutes she would be in Rockhampton.  Along the way she noted the Capricorn Region sign – Welcome to Rockhampton City – home to Australia’s Next Champions; the Beef Capital of Australia tag has been replaced.  The interactive on-board video presentation enabled her to choose and book accommodation and dinner on the banks of the Fitzroy.  The video presentation also mentioned Rockhampton was a city of 88000 people, offering a family friendly environment with excellent sporting, educational, cultural, medical and retail facilities.  The fast train service between Rockhampton, Gladstone, Blackwater made it possible for workers to easily commute to their location and return to their home after each shift.  This piece of infrastructure was instrumental in the now healthy population growth Rockhampton City was experiencing.

The limo trip down Quay Street was what she was expecting; beautiful old buildings, but the tenants were now restaurants, day spas, creative hubs, book/coffee stores, and dance and art studios.  The slight left hand veer into Victoria Parade was a bigger surprise though.  Six to seven storey hotels, residential and office apartment complexes stood side by side.  Each architecturally designed to compliment its neighbours and the river it overlooked.  Rockhampton had come of age.

In the hotel room the video wall was displaying beautiful graphic still shots of the city and region.  Local sporting, cultural and academic images of youth were interspersed amongst the picturesque city and landscapes.  The investment in international standard sporting and cultural facilities along with the growing reputation of the regions education facilities was paying dividends.  Rockhampton was now recognised as a nursery for future champions – in the pool, on the field, on the stage, in front and behind the camera, in industry, in academia.  Major youth sporting competitions, eisteddfods, and academic challenges were now being hosted regularly, filling the city accommodation places and shops.

The spin off was flowing through the whole region and the rest of Central Queensland.  A satisfied smile spread across her face as she started to think of her sold out home coming performance tomorrow night at the Pilbeam Theatre.

This aspiration can happen, if we make it happen.  Our future is not to see, but to create. 

By showing how Central Queensland can continue to make a significant contribution to the state and nation’s economy after the resource boom gives us a stronger argument for the infrastructure needed.  Infrastructure that’s needed now to help create the CQ we aspire to.