My South Side Story: Sandra Charlton

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Sandra Charlton

Gordonvale is my hometown, it’s where I was born and educated. My father was the local dentist and my mother assisted him with his practice. Dad was also a grazier  with a property on the Mulgrave River for his cattle and horses. My leisure time as a child was often spent on horseback or in a canoe. I was delighted to be able to return to North Queensland on completion of university to commence my teaching career.

Having taught in many schools in Cairns, particularly the southside of Cairns, I became aware of the uniqueness of the communities.

I am a lover of the outdoors and the outdoors was and continues to be one of the main things that attracts me to Gordonvale and surrounds. It boasts the natural beauty of the mighty Mulgrave and the Little Mulgrave Rivers; the pristine Behana Creek and Gorge, the majestic Walsh’s Pyramid or Djarragun and much more.

Gordonvale also hosts the Great Pyramid Race and more recently the Sugar Solstice. These community events bring together people from all walks of life and help in establishing a strong town identity. The friendliness and comradery at these events and in the local shops and organisations is amazing as people enjoy the company of those they know and talking to those they don’t know. I love being part of all this.

My children, Steve and Kate were fortunate to experience some of the lifestyle I had as a child and I am sure they are appreciative of that.

To satisfy my yearning to connect to community, in 2017 I started a Gordonvale community newspaper called Pyramid Views. I am heartened by the spirit of goodwill I feel from our readers and contributors. Pyramid Views continues to grow, reaching more people and sparking positive conversations in and out of the community.

Something I did not count on was the reconnecting of people once residents of Gordonvale, and now living elsewhere, back to the community through the Pyramid Views by invoking feelings of nostalgia and belonging, fostering family and friendship networks.

I still live in Gordonvale and can’t see myself leaving anytime soon!