David French | 14/06/2011 9:58:11 AM

This article was first published in The Morning Bulletin Titled (The Show) dated 11 June 2011.

As a teenager, showtime was exciting. First, Stapleton Park came alive with all the latest rides, and Jimmy Sharman (or was it Fred Brophy?) took on all comers. I’ll never forget the come-upperance delivered to one cocky individual (now a successful and likeable real estate agent). The perennially anticipated clash between the bikies and the showies never happened, but testosterone fuelled the desire for fast rides, and the bravado needed for asking fancy girls along.

Thirty years later, the show is an altogether more wholesome place. The showies are polite, professional almost, one giving my kids an extra go on the laughing clowns to even the score. Another replaced a broken toy, while yet another observed attentively so as to prevent tecnicolour yawns on the Break Dance. Times have changed, and it is to the credit of the show movement.

Just five days earlier Rockhampton hosted a music festival with the most incredible names. Havana Brown, Timmy Trumpet, the Potbelleez and Evermore (to name a few), are the face of electronic music. Many of these acts are international, and some are in the charts right now. A wake-up call to the “community leaders”, Electronic Vibes shows that a 20 something can achieve things the establishment does not even comprehend.

A week before that, I was lucky to be invited to the fundraising for Have-a-heart, Give-a-gift, which raised money for organ donation, and impressed the need to let your family know your wishes. Hosted by para-olympian and radio presenter Karni Liddell, and featuring the funny and intelligent Amanda Keller (and others), the organisers assembled not only some quality names but an influential audience that had no trouble combining a good time with the support of a worthy cause.

In the last month, the Capricorn Diversified Investment Fund became live, and made its first investment - in a Wide Bay Australia bond yielding 9.6 per cent. And Geoff Murphy continues to pump money and effort into the CQ NRL Bid..

The show has moved with the times, but not so our region. These initiatives were all driven by individuals who want to achieve something. None relied on Government, and consequently avoided the squabbling and do-nothing mentality that we are saddled with. After more than 10 years back here, the problem is clear. There is simply too much politics – bring back Brophy.

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