Hamish Holcombe
- May 14, 2022
- 2 min read

TI Party-People & Poems

FOUR: ;The Location' & 'Why Not'

Location is Thursday Island and our visit came to be after the idea was [ha ha] floated.

I was in Western NSW pastoral zone following my passion, regenerative agriculture.

Caretaking and guiding for a Sydney based investor feeling his way on unfamiliar ground .

At the time of the offer, I had too options:

Rust away my time or wear myself out.

Thought process evolved to a clear 'Why Not'

A thought struggle questioned why one would leave a comfortable house and location to head into a western summer of mosquito's and 40 plus degrees with no air conditioning or television.

What on earth was my job description ?

Answer came from party girl Rukhsana.

We were both having a 'Mature Gap Year'

Simultaneously we were both testing waters outside the comfort zone.

So if we were insane, then stands to reason, we could be insane together.

So it came to pass when came excuse of a 60th party on a tropical island.

The answer as clear as a bell, without hesitation OK Why Bloody Not !!

Followed a 900 km drive to Goondiwindi, a further 400 kms to brisbane, a flight to Cairns, another flight to Horn Island where we couldn't land due to rain, flew on to Weipa to sit in the plane on the tarmac for two hours, to finally land at Horn Island and final ferry trip to Thursday Island.

Island Time Experience:

Some island time just came to me. Had no idea what I would feel or see. The occasion was a 60th party time. For a mate to celebrate in her prime. Support were a noisy, busty happy lot. Inclusive, no one left out or put on the spot. All small stuff rules were totally ignored. Bubbles, beer, wee dram’s, music on the floor. Laugh, gusty songs and dance filled the happy air. Not sure about octaves but no one seemed to care. When came the time for malnutrition sustenance, The table filled like magic, but wasn’t just by chance.