Property Point

My car had a sleep-over at Harrup Park Country Club last Saturday night after delivering me to the venue on the first day of the Australia-Bangladesh Test.

I was there well before the start with a few friends and the day started with a Mitchell Starc wicket on the first ball, followed by numerous more as the morning progressed.

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It was a fantastic day and, as can happen when you watch a full day of cricket with friends, driving home was not an option. Hence the car’s sleep-over.

A friend dropped me in to Harrup Park the next morning to pick up my car from the car park. I felt fine, although a little foggy headed, as I juggled keys, phone, wallet, coffee cup and jacket and jumped into my car.

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I headed to Mt Pleasant to pick up another friend to go and see a mate of ours who was in the Mater Hospital after badly injuring his back a few days earlier.

I had a missed call on the way to pick up my Mt Pleasant mate and I thought I’ll get back to that when I get out of the car.

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But when we arrived at the Mater I couldn’t find my wallet and I spent the next 10 minutes searching under and around car seats, in my jacket etc trying to find that little leather life-support system that contains the licence, credit cards along with other cards and about $200 in cash.

I had no success but decided to go up to the ward with my Mt Pleasant mate to see my injured friend.

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The hospital is a peaceful, orderly, professional sanctuary for the injured and unwell and a good example of Mackay getting things right. I spent 20 minutes or so chatting and catching up and then said I would have to head off in search of my wallet.

I searched up Harrup Park’s number on my phone and immediately noticed it was the same number as the missed call I received as I drove away from Harrup Park a little earlier. I rang Harrup and a lovely woman said someone had found it in the car park and  handed it in.

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If that person is reading this, I thank you.

As I drove away from Harrup Park with my wallet and all its cards and $200 in cash I thought: Good old Mackay. Where else does that happen? If I had parked outside the MCG or any other major cricket venue in the country, what chance of me getting my wallet back? Zero.

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And what about the actual event I was attending the day before? Harrup Park put on an absolutely superb event, with a terrific pitch, superb outfield, excellent facilities and the weather we love.

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I met people who came up from southern regions who had not heard of Mackay prior to the test. They were blown away by what they saw. Many of them kicked on to venues like the recently renovated Mackay Hotel where, again, they were surprised by what is offered in this regional city.

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I don’t know what all this means for property values but my point is that the day reminded me that while Mackay might not be perfect, there are a lot of reasons to move here and stay here.

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People hand in lost wallets. The medical facilities can’t be the same as Sydney but you can get good care in excellent facilities and get transported to those other centres if you need them. We can put on major events and our venues are evolving in a way that means things like test matches will be a more regular occurrence.

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A decision to live in a regional centre means you miss out on some things but there is a big upside to buying in Mackay and making it home.

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