I present the community a very serious question and I could not possibly ask or say it any better than my old pal Cat Stevens:
I know we’ve come a long way, We’re changing day to day, But tell me, where do the children play?
Beerwah is changing day to day and for that I am very thankful, we have a wonderful Streetscape and a wonderful place to hold Street Parties and many new places to spend money, but I am not entirely sure we are changing in ways which benefit our children.
- I know we have a wonderful Street Scape and I like it
- I know we have the Beerwah Skatepark and I appreciate the Skatepark,
- I know we have Beerwah Sports Ground and the Sports Ground is wonderful
- I know we have the Glasshouse Sports ground and it’s amazing,
- I know we have the Beerwah Swimming Pool and Brendan is a fantastic role model.
- I know we have the Cauldron or Washing Machine at the Beerwah Water Hole and I really enjoy going there, and I am sure you do too.
We also have Skippy Park, and I think that it’s a wonderful community asset, and I have very fond memories of crawling under the fence with a few of my friends and passing our road bikes over the fence and enjoying Skippy Park long before it was officially opened.
I also have quite recent memories of watching one of my dearest friends skateboard on his tummy through a drainpipe under and across the Landsborough Road. The irony was while my friend is a little closer to 100 years than he is to his 1st birthday, and he was, for those moments, closer to being a teenager than many of the youngsters who roam Beerwah’s Streets searching for something to do or to enjoy, to learn or to find someone to communicate with and learn from.
I feel that if we as Adults are looking for a bit of fun, how much more so do the 2500 kids who visit Beerwah five days a week during term time need places to enjoy, something a bit more than the skatepark.
the first thing we built when we settled in Australia was a prison, and the first thing we built when they established a young community is a skatepark. … ke! say what?
I have developed a very healthy respect for Editors in general, writing is not easy, and writing sensibly is even harder, (this may explain why in 10 years of writing I only have 4 editorials), so I can only imagine how difficult it must be to write sensibly week after week about topics which impact our society and culture in a way which can withstand serious discussion or debate.
I was asked by someone this week about this website www.glasshousecountry.com and what it’s all about, and because the question came from a very genuine source I attempted to give her complete answer and immediately realised that I did not have an ‘elevator pitch’, a 60 second explanation about what I was doing or where I was going with this community adventure.
In the same way, I’m sure if you asked our community leaders the question “Where do the children play?”. I doubt they would be able to offer you a 60 second explanation.
Proverbs says: ‘Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.”
In the same way, I feel if you ask any parent living in Beerwah what’s important to them you might initially get answers like: improved road infrastructure, raised pedestrian crossings, new seating and provisions for outdoor dining, active open space and civic areas, including increased footpath spaces, improved lighting, shade trees ….. all very good things of that I’m sure.
Please take a moment to complete our poll below.
[poll id=”2″]
However if you take the time and dig a little deeper you might well get to the question Cat Stevens asked us in 1970.
I know we’ve come a long way, We’re changing day to day,
But tell me, where do the children play?
Other Puzzles to Solve
- Puzzle 06: Would you prefer Bunnings or Masters or Hungry Jacks or McDonalds?
- Question: Where do you shop? ALDI, IGA, Woolworths, Coles or CostCo?
- Puzzle 05: Which will Beerwah choose to be like? Maleny Noosa or Caboolture?
- Puzzle 04: But tell me, where do the children play?
- Puzzle 03: How to reduce your Monthly Bank Fees by $60 a Year?
- Puzzle 02: Why Is the Beerwah IGA and Target Carpark turning away customers?
- Puzzle 01: The Puzzle 02: Tale of Two Estates, (Lushland and Coochin Twins)
- Puzzle 00: What is really Important?
- Will Beerwah get a Reject Shop? or King Kong Sales? Gone Bonkers? or One? Both? None?
Wow! This looks fantastic. I live at Booroobin and hadn’t heard about this. I’m for anything that brings the community together.
You’re welcome plenty of room for everyone
Thanks for sharing this, a very thought provoking article and in combination with watching Cat Stevens and the message he was trying to convey through music, produced a moment of conscience in me and transported me to a deeper quieter place inside.
This to me is what is really missing and when children haven’t lost that connection with themselves, they are fulfilled in the most simplest ways.
When they have lost this connection nothing outside can really fulfil them, because life then loses it’s magic and becomes mundane.
I think the topic is interesting, about where do the children play, but I am disappointed that the person who wrote this mentioned a few places where they do play, but did not come up with any thoughts or suggestions as to what he or she had in mind?? I am an active member of the Rotary Club, and we are very interested In our local Community. Which age group have you in mind, and what are your suggestions?? Maybe we can help??
Totally agree. Skippy park is great, but not covered from the sun & not the best for younger kids. Beerwah definitely needs an amazing park like the ones in the Bells Reach Estates.
I think local teenagers would benefit from something like a PCYC – a big, indoor space in Beerwah with supervised equipment and physical activities to go to after school/on weekends. I don’t know where the funding for such a venture would come from. Is there an existing space that could be used??? Maybe the empty RSL building???
I take my kids to the park behind the library , and the one next to the dog park ,close to home and I don’t have to drive
What? there are heaps of parks for Children, Turner, Dog/Kids park, Skippy Park, Woodgrove Estate Park, Skate park and footy fields. My question is where is the park gym equipment like in Kawana or Centenary Lakes to promote exercise in all ages
Nola:
We have lived here for over a decade. All of my kids have finished school now, but they could not get to school by themselves safely, and I have asked EVERY elected representative about this and they all have said “valid point, we will look into it”. I have even met a couple of them at Kello Road and showed them how the foot bridge floods so quickly, and how it is not safe to walk across the road bridge into town from south of the town.
With the population growing so fast it is annoying that this keeps getting ignored. Councillor Rick even made this one of his issues when he was looking to be elected.
Linda:
Thanks for sharing this, a very thought provoking article and in combination with watching Cat Stevens and the message he was trying to convey through music, produced a moment of conscience in me and transported me to a deeper quieter place inside.
This to me is what is really missing and when children haven’t lost that connection with themselves, they are fulfilled in the most simplest ways.
When they have lost this connection nothing outside can really fulfil them, because life then loses it’s magic and becomes mundane.
Kelly:
I take my kids to the park behind the library , and the one next to the dog park ,close to home and I don’t have to drive
Zac:
What? there are heaps of parks for Children, Turner, Dog/Kids park, Skippy Park, Woodgrove Estate Park, Skate park and footy fields. My question is where is the park gym equipment like in Kawana or Centenary Lakes to promote exercise in all ages
Elizabeth:
Totally agree. Skippy park is great, but not covered from the sun & not the best for younger kids. Beerwah definitely needs an amazing park like the ones in the Bells Reach Estates
Bit of a shame the new Turner St entrance isn’t wheel chair friendly…
Skippy park is great but needs lighting for night use of the bbq area n more shade, skate park needs regular visits from the local police to stomp out bad habits happening there. A basketball court, table tennis n pod style cafe playground would be great in one area designed to be family friendly.
pcyc would be great for our teens n somewhere for them to hang out at night