A
weekly re-cap of the events that have made news in Cairns over the
past week.
Monday
June 17, 2002 70th Edition
News that the
North Queensland population is growing towards 250,000 bodes well
for local businesses, reinforcing the renewed confidence that the
region is experiencing. Tourist numbers have recovered well following
September 11th and real estate prices have started to climb with
demand almost out stripping supply.
North
Queensland populations approached 250,000
Cairns and Townsville continue to experience one of the fastest
population growth rates in the country. Based on current projections
the population of the two cities is expected to exceed 250,000 within
the next 12 months. Townsville continues to be just ahead of Cairns
in terms of total resident numbers.
Unseasonal
hot weather set to continue
Cairns temperatures in recent days were sultry to say the very least
with the highest June minimum temperatures on record. In what is
normally the coolest time of the year, the people of Cairns had
to deal with overnight temperatures of 23.3 C, almost 6 C above
normal.
Huge
advertising campaign aimed at new markets
A $16 million advertising campaign is being planned to coincide
with the international launch of Australian Airlines in September
2002. Most of the advertising budget will be spent in Asia, highlighting
the new flight options for the new no frills carrier. The campaign
is being co-ordinated by the Australian Tourism Commission and Tourism
Queensland, with the aim being to promote Cairns and the Gold Coast.
Cairns
Police round up missing "Gnomads"
Garden Gnomes around the world are often abducted. Cairns is no
different with pranksters often preying on these harmless garden
characters. Approximately 30 "Gnomads" appeared on a Cairns
lawn last week and most have been identified as coming from other
homes throughout the Cairns region. Police have been called in to
try and return the much loved garden creatures to their homes. No
details have been released in regards to the perpetrators of the
abductions.
Cairns
couple celebrate 70th wedding anniversary
Cairns couple Bill Lee Long and Felicia Lee Long celebrated 70 years
of marriage in Cairns last week. The couple tied the knot in 1932
and both believe that their key to success is "patience".
Cairns
set to feature in current affairs show
Sixty Minutes is one of the leading current affairs shows in Australia.
Cairns is expected to feature prominently in a pending show, which
is featuring backpackers travelling along the east coast of Australia.
60 Minutes reporter, Peter Overton, travelled with backpackers along
the well-traversed route to research the report.
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