JUNGLE DRUM: Go back to where you came from

It's really frustrating when people move to a new place and want to change it. I can't pretend that it doesn't annoy me when I see people waving flags from their former country that was so bad that they left it for ours, but are seemingly seeking to create what they left.

But despite that, I also hate it when people tell me that I should leave if I don't like my place. I should probably try and explain what seems like my own hypocrisy.

Firstly, I cannot seek to create what I left, because I was born here. However, even those who have only lived in the jungle for a couple of years mostly don't want to recreate the city they left.

But they do beat the drum when they want to improve their life in an area they love. And usually that desire to improve a place they love comes from love of the land and desire to protect and present the area better.

When I was born, 32 volt power was common. Nobody uses it now. Refrigeration was kerosene, and it's been a while since you could easily buy kerosene unless you are Qantas. Snap in half Landrovers, and Landcruisers pre-dipped in salt were the common 4WDs of the day.

We have moved on. But in spite of my views on the mechanical side of things, the rainforest was being cleared by people who were presumably good mechanics because they kept the primitive gear going. But strangely enough these days with our flash gensets and Ford Rangers we have managed to make the forest area increase!

I often see a pattern. People arrive, love the place on sight and either buy a house or move here as an employee and renter. Initially they love EVERYTHING. Then, those that stay, start to notice things that are less than ideal. But many can't handle the reality and mould and just disappear in a cloud of dust (or mud!). But the ones that stay (a lovely lady who didn't stay calls them Daintreefied) often want to improve the place, but to do so within a guideline of protecting and enhancing what is their home.

Some make their life growing more rainforest, revegetating. Others buy tourism businesses and start new unique ways of providing local foods, accommodation or guiding. Some are retired and make music, or just enjoy living in the forest. Some are hermits, others are at every dogfight. Some like a drink, others seek out organic natural foods and eschew vaccines and mainstream medicine.

But it matters not if you are an energetic exotic fruit farmer, a hermit hippy, an innovative ice cream maker, a cash mad businessman or a friendly 'forest bather'. In time you can see the folly of bad planning.

You probably would not buy a clapped out ferry for four times its price. You can see the jerry cans getting filled at the servo and wonder at how electricity could be better produced. You wonder at bridges taking nearly a decade to build. You see the poor disaster planning and ponder how we could improve it. You get too old to lug fuel and gas around.

And if you wonder out loud, you become a target. 'Go and live in Manunda'. 'It's the same people again and again.' 'You are lucky to live there.' 'You moved there, suck it up.' Why should we spend so much on so few?'

Seemingly such commentators have no real idea about folk who live here. Or about the realities of Australia and just how many people are subsidised to live where they do. You do know FNQ gets 'tariff equalised' power right? And certainly no idea that without Daintree serviced by locals, Port Douglas is just another tourism town in a state full of them.