Agnes and Ecstasy – vol XV 

December

WISE MEN: The magical Christmas month when Wise Men come from the East. You will note that being a pedant I have not fallen for the lazy trap of erroneously including a 'Three'. The number of Wise Men is unknown. We could go right off the beaten track here and mention two other salient points - i.e. that the unknown number of Wise Men 'entered into a house' (not a manger) and 'saw a child' (not a baby). But to remake all the treasured moth-eaten nativity scenes stored from year to year around the globe would be as senseless as redoing the solar system due to Pluto's fragile status.

Agnes Water is welcoming its share of visiting Wise Men this season also. They do not bring literal gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh but they do bring those gifts none the less. So far this Christmas, two have arrived. The Lone Ranger (aka Licensing Authority) rode into the Deep North to finally lop down that long time favourite illegal bar at 1770. Then Queensland Health saddled up to cure He Who Continues to Smoke Over Hapless Patrons at the local cafe. One more yet to arrive. I shall post an update when he gets here.

In Australia, its hot at Christmas time. And in Agnes Water, it's very hot. But there is no push and shove, no scramble to buy the last Barbie doll (well, there are no Barbie dolls for sale but keep with the concept). Folk are laid back and sleeping dogs lie. New friendships are made and old friendships seen for what they are. Fairy lights drape the decks to festoon the night and Daintree pine trees are dressed in their finest. Christmas cards arrive from long lost acquaintances, hopefully in time that you can flash one back in return. Hams are ordered, turkey recipes exchanged and Christmas cakes nourished with some more of the Bundaberg nectar. I miss seeing the Salvation Army on a corner or outside a shop - they don't march in Agnes. Mind you, it is saving me a tidy sum as it used to cost us a small fortune in Sydney where there is a very strong Army. But we obeyed my Dad's rule that you MUST NEVER pass a Salvo's collection barrel without making a contribution. Apparently in New Guinea during WWII, the only religious blokes he ever saw near the fighting were the Salvos. Some debts can never be paid.

COUNCIL MEN: (Please note I use 'men' in the legal sense representing both sexes) Before recounting the exploits of the last Wise Man to visit this season, I want to start a rumour. Please repeat it as often as possible and feel free to add any embellishments which you feel will aid the cause. I hear that Royce Beale will be standing for election to the Miriam Vale Shire Council in this coming year's elections. You know Royce - he is that tall good looking well mannered chap with a quite successful building business in Agnes Water 1770. He is also the chap who saved the 1770 Festival (arguably the only attraction this area holds outside of reef, fish and surf) from extinction this year and brought it in bigger and better than ever before. He also seems to have those rare attributes of decision making without dictatorship, ability to listen and say 'Hang on a minute' before others would throw themselves like lemmings into the next disaster for CMC to investigate and, admittedly, all but white wash. Now the sad truth is Royce Beale is most unlikely to stand for Council as between running his business and next years Festival and having a life he probably cannot afford to. But plenty of other wannabes will put up their unqualified hands and this little village will continue on with the self serving disastrous development path it has pursued over the past several years.

THE SPIRIT OF THE WAR MEMORIAL: There is a fine War Memorial right in the centre of Agnes Water. Anzac Day and Remembrance Day find many folk gathered there to pay their respects and attend the services. So you can imagine my surprise when I passed by last week to see three blue arches erected three meters from the war memorial monument. Perhaps the arches are awaiting a roll of honour for local folk killed in battle? No - I am assured by someone on the local version of a chamber of commerce. They are in readiness to display names and contact numbers of local businesses and maps of the area. I know of course that this is a joke and I am having my leg pulled. Not even in Agnes Water would commercial interests be so crass, right? Wrong! That is just what these Philistines intend to do.

There is a spirit to the place of a War Memorial - it holds part of the psyche of our nation whether about the Australian War Memorial in Canberra or our little though beautiful sea change village memorial. I believe it should be respected and kept free of lolly pop vendors or shop keepers' bill boards. But it seems, that's just me.

TRAGEDY: The Deck at 1770, by far the best restaurant in the whole region, will be closing in January as Angie and Fred (Licensee and The Chef) seek a broader canvas for their great talents. I cannot blame them but it will be a huge loss for Agnes Water 1770. For all the talk of the multitude of new eateries to open in Agnes Water 1770 when the multitude of new resorts are built and opened, I have my doubts. Maybe it's a chicken and egg situation - will folk put money into fitting out, staffing and stocking food places to attract future clientele or will they need to see the potential customers occupying or at least making bookings first? Glad it's not a cunundrum that I have any money on.