Noosa takes shape in print

ONCE upon a time not so long ago, there was a kingdom of sand at the edge of a sea.
For many years, no one cared very much about the kingdom, except for its villagers because they lived there. The kingdom was a place of sandy beaches, secluded coves and deep blue-green waters. Every day was pretty much like the next, and the next day was pretty much like the one that followed after.
Until one day when some careless opportunists came to the kingdom. They told the villagers that they could be a lot happier if their kingdom had more houses on it and many more people living there.
But the villagers were not to be fooled by such talk. They decided they would be happiest if they kept the sand exactly as it was, so they banded together to protect their kingdom from any such thing ever happening.
This is the story of Noosa and the National Parks Association, a book entitled, The Shaping of Noosa by Michael Gloster.
The story is passionate and intense for, after the very hard and persistent work of the Noosa Parks Association, the government and the council was convinced to set aside 4000 hectares of a complex dune system that could have been turned into housing to form The Noosa National Park.
Four thousand hectares of natural bush and a few winding tracks leading to those unspoilt headlands for the entire world to enjoy. This remarkable story is available at Noosaville Library.
And the villagers lived happily ever after. (Until amalgamation, but that’s another story).
Review by SuzAnne King, of Friends of Noosa Library, where this book is available.