By Margaret Maccoll
When Noosa Today visited Johns Landing, a group of residents were gathering in the afternoon to share food and play darts.
“No-one goes hungry here. We look after each other,” Warren (Was) Riuhi said.
Was stopped work three or four years ago for medical reasons and has lived at his Johns Landing campsite by the river ever since.
He and fellow campers live mainly “off the river” on a seafood-rich diet. Was doesn’t know “where he’ll go or what he’ll do” and having a dog, Gypsy, makes finding a rental he could afford more difficult. He will miss above all the friendship.
“I’ll be dragged away and shoved in a unit. It won’t be the same,” he said.
“A couple have moved out to a unit and are sitting around wondering what to do.
“I don’t blame the (Johns) wanting to retire. They’ve put people up for a long time.”
Snow Royle has lived six or seven years at Johns Landing. He prides himself on never collecting the dole and has always earned a quid as “a jack of all trades” but with no formal qualifications finds it difficult to gain a job.
Snow is philosophical about his future.
“I’ll just hitch up my van and head north,” he said. “Life’s a challenge. I’ll just go with the flow.”
John, who is unable to work because of an injury, thinks there should be more places like Johns Landing for the growing numbers of grey nomads.
“This place is a joy. You’ve got lovely people around to have a chat with every day,” he said.
John’s search of local rents has shown him there’s nothing he can afford in Noosa.
Coast2Bay Housing Group CEO Andrew Elvin said the organisation had been working with the Department of Housing and Public Works and other agencies to help residents of Johns Landing find accommodation in the area or further afield if that was their choice.
“More than 75 per cent have registered for this help and support,” he said.
“Our understanding is that two families have already found accommodation and we will continue to support the remaining families in their decision-making over the coming months.”
