Willow | All Stars.
A different country
When I arrived in Cairns, I immediately knew I was in a different country. The plains were enveloped by mountainous rainforest - the highest peak was dripping with clouds like treacle on a warm scone. My nostrils were filled with a mixture of mango, frangipani and something else, perhaps molasses.
It was early morning, and steaming hot.
I've seen a fair bit of the world: Asia, the Pacific, America and Europe several times over. But I had never been this far north in Australia. Yes, I was still in Australia, but FNQ was a different country to the one I left down near New South Wales.
I was in Cairns to see some Rugby League, a trial match between St George of the Illawarra and the Cowboys of Townsville.
My first port of call was the Brothers Leagues Club. There was a line out the door. A staff member - the bouncer - took me aside. Not sure why I got special treatment. Perhaps I was over-dressed; trousers, shoes, Hawaiian shirt... come to think of it, the shirt was a stand-out.
"You right bro? After a ticket for tonight?"
"No, I already have a ticket... I'm just after some parking."
"No worries, come in."
The hospitality was outstanding. No one grumbled, not even the flies. Yes, the beer-soaked carpet had a hovering over the member's sign-in area. In a patriotic display, the Aussie salute was in full swing throughout the crowded foyer.
For reasons that escaped me, I was invited to wait in the bar while my new mate got my parking pass. It was still pretty early, but in a country where cyclones are only interrupted by heatwaves, and it is almost illegal to ignore a shout, I opted to sit with those bar recipients of Brothers Confraternity.
During my wait, I noticed the staff dealing with locals failing to meet the dress code.
"Sorry mate, you cannot come into the club with bare feet!"
"I just want to buy a ticket, can I come into the foyer?"
"Mate, go home and get some thongs. And while you're there, whack on a shirt!"
Seconds later, an assistant entered the foyer. With a can of fly spray, he led an assault on the aforementioned pests. Within minutes the ground floor became a no fly zone.
I think that's when I fell in love with Cairns.
My parking was sorted half way through my second schooner. I thanked my new mate and departed.
After checking into my hotel, I found a pub on the pier that sold $5 pizzas and cold beer. It was a welcomed sight after walking for hours, chasing the shade and discovering that Cairns is really not that large. The waterfront is vibrant and there exists a healthy mix of people from loads of backgrounds, making Cairns the special place it is. No pretensions.
Two streets back from the tourist strip you'll find yourself in the real township, half a dozen streets more and you're enjoying the bush.
It was somewhere between these two dimensions that I eventually landed at the pristine location of Barlow Park, the venue for the night's main event.
At 5:00, I sat on the hill to catch the curtain raiser. But it was still hot... I needed another beer. Couldn't see a bar anywhere. WTF? Is this a dry venue? Surely not!
Then I saw a bloke carrying four cans of local brew.
"Excuse me mate, where'd you get those?"
"Over there... in f**k corner!"
'F**k corner' could mean only one place. I ventured down below the hill, onto the back path and to a far corner under the biggest tree... and there it was. Beer! Indeed, Cairns has no shortage of fair dinkum courtesy and downright commonsense.
I returned with my refreshment to the hill to find my spot had been taken. In fact, there wasn't a blade of grass to be seen. The place was packed and fans were standing four deep on the upper concourse.
These were the real people of Cairns, they love their football. I arrived to see a game a of football but witnessed the greater atmosphere of being there.
It has since been recorded that the North Queenslanders won, scoring a late try to overturn a St George comeback. The result is of no consequence, it was only a trial after all.
But the people of Cairns turned out in force. Our kindred spirits of the North. Don't change. :thumn
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