Lee McCarthy
Geoff and Annette Cochrane hitched up their Roadstar Caravan and said goodbye to Rainbow Beach last weekend after 27 years managing the Rainbow Beach Holiday Village and BP.
Annette said it is going to be sad after 27 years but that it was time to move on.
“We want to get out there and have a look around.”
She said they have many wonderful memories of Rainbow Beach and said it will always hold a special place in their heart.
“Our daughters Jessica and Karly were brought up here and went to school at the Rainbow Beach Primary School until grade seven.”
“Our eldest daughter was married in Rainbow Beach and my grandson was born at the doctor’s surgery by Dr Smith and he is now 13 years old.
“Having the distinction of having a grandchild actually born in the doctor’s surgery is one of our most vivid memories – we can say he really is born in Rainbow Beach.”
Geoff and Annette have seen a lot of changes in the region over the years.
“I remember when we first came, the kids said, we don’t want to go here there’s not even any power lines.”
“A lot of the businesses have changed hands; the main street is so different now.”
“My mum and dad followed us up here. They got the last block of land in 1999 in Cypress Avenue for $60,000 and built their house on it.”
“We sold that last year as they have both passed away over the past two years.”
Annette said she remembered when the Gazebo Motel was where Freedom Backpackers is now, and the Mikado Motor Inn was at the top of Cooloola Drive where Rainbow Ocean Palms is now.
“We went there for Jessica’s grade seven graduation so that’s all changed.”
“When we came the caravan park only had ten cabins with old caravans along the front, no pool and the park has changed so much.”
“We put in the new two bed cabins we got from the Sydney Olympics, as well as the pool and that was when the log cabins were still above us and there was vacant land beside them where Rainbow Sea is now.”
“There was a very small Rainbow Shores with just the golf course and then a few houses but nothing like it is today.
“We’ve seen major changes to The Surf Club and the Sports Club, and the old pub and motel were still here with publican Kerry Dreger.”
“There was a caravan park owned by two policemen at Carlo Point which had a lot of permanents and when we put in the six new cabins, we had a few permanents relocate to the Carlo Park or they moved on.”
“All the people we have met, with some coming before we started, and now their children have sites and now their children too, so we know three generations of one family.”
“We have met a lot of lovely people, and we will remember them all.”
Annette said it is the longest they have been in the one place so it will be sad as it has been home for so long.
“We were so happy the owners took a chance on us to manage the park and we have lived on site the whole time; it is just part of the job.”
Annette said they have been married for over forty years and worked together for the last thirty-nine years.
“We just work as a team; we go home we are a team; it’s just the way it has always been. I don’t know how, it just worked. If he has his football, he will be right.”
Chris and Anna Keddie are now in the role and will also be living on site and have had experience with caravan parks before.
“They are younger than us and still in their early years, but it will be a new adventure for them as well. They have lived in Gympie but have just come down from Bowen and have family living in Gympie.”
“We have had Tony Simpson and Janine Kent here for over twenty years and Sharon Whitney worked with us for thirteen years and Tony and Janine will stay on as assistant managers.
Annette said, “If not for all the sadness of losing my parents over the last few years we would stay.”
They will tow their Roadstar Caravan and head south, then over to Tasmania in February for a couple of months.
“We will then travel in Victoria then Darwin for winter, but we are just winging it. We have never been so it will be a big adventure.”
“We would just like to thank everybody in Rainbow for their friendship and it will hold a special place in our heart, thank you everyone.”
“I try not to get sad; I try to hold it in, but we are looking to new beginnings and getting on to the other side of the counter.”
“We are going to miss the place and the people; our visitors are like family.”
To find out more about the Rainbow Beach Holiday Village phone 07 5486 or email info@rainbowbeachholidayvillage.com for information and bookings.
