At the beginning of March, the spotlight was turned on Bluewattle with a great crowd of Townsville residents getting involved for a weekend of celebrations at our residential development.
First up was the opening our community park in Bluewattle. Federal MP, Ewan Jones and Managing Director Peter Howman officiated the ceremony by naming the park in honour of Jeff Caddies, a Second World War veteran and a Changi prisoner of war. Mr Caddies is widely known in Townsville for his contribution to the local community. We were honoured to have Mr Caddies’ wife Grace, and daughter Judy, along with his grandchildren at the official opening. The moving tribute from Peter included the reading of a poem written by Mr Caddies during his imprisonment.
The Rasmussen State School performed during the event, singing the national anthem in Mr Caddies honour. After the official ceremony, children from the State School, Good Shepherd Catholic Community School and Mr Caddies grandchildren were the first in the community to play on the new park equipment.
On Sunday the community gathered again for a day of fun to mark the opening of the Bluewattle Sales and Information Centre and the official start of sales. Locals had the opportunity to interact with DHA and Colliers to enquire about the benefits of living in the 98 hectare development, as well as speak directly with builders about designs for the land lots.
The event also gave local residents the opportunity to kick a footy with players from the NRL North Queensland Cowboys and Canberra Raiders, with many taking the opportunity to get signed autographs following their match the previous evening.
The sausage sizzle – hosted by the local scouts – popcorn, snow cones, rides were extremely popular. Many of the young and young-at-heart had fun wearing butterfly wings, created to reinforce Bluewattle which is named after local butterfly species the Wattle Blue.