David French | 16/11/2012 9:00:35 AM

This article was originally published as 'Shoalwater Bay' in http://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/ on 6 October 2012.

Flicking back on previous articles (of which there are now several hundred), it strikes me that since the GFC I might have become all too serious. Earlier articles talked a lot of my excitement of coming back to live in Rockhampton after 18 years away, and of the joys and challenges of raising a young family. Twelve years later, with the responsibilities of a busy financial service firm, the pressures of the GFC, and a family getting older by the day, I’m sometimes wondering if I forgot why it was so important to come back here to raise my family.

Last weekend, it all came back to me, with an impromptu trip to Shoalwater Bay. Stanage is a great place to relax, but this time we launched the boat, and motored south till we found a beautiful camping site. Passing countless turtles and whales, Sam kept track of our speed and distance on the handheld GPS, Lewis kept lookout and Alex looked after the dogs. When we found the place, it was totally deserted. The immediate view included more than 18 islands, keeping Sam busy for hours while he compared the map with what he imagined lay on their shores, just out of reach. Sandra read walked and read her book, and I gradually slipped into that calm that can only come with serenity and beautiful surroundings.

We were all intrigued by Rufus’ the dog’s reaction to a smelly green thing he found and ate on the rocks, and I caught reef fish right off the shore. At night the moon’s reflection suggested a sequinned matt, rising first across the army territory, and then lighting up the whole bay. Alex was very keen to know what the soldiers did at night, the answer to which is of course very complicated and depends not only on whether they are on duty, but whether off duty involves R&R.

The tide came in and went out creating superb photo opportunities on a beach with no footprints at all. The rockpools were abundant with corals, starfish and other sea life, and a short bushwalk uncovered a boar’s skull.

Back home Noel Patrick’s Curtis Coast is back on the kitchen table, with all the family flicking through its maps and descriptions. We are all sharing the same experience, and dreaming. That’s why we came back here and I am glad I remembered.

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