2011 Trip: Cardwell, beautiful Cardwell

On our trip last year with Steve & Glenda we passed through Cardwell. It was our first time up the coast in Queensland and we thought Cardwell was just beautiful. The main highway, the Bruce Highway, is the waterfront road in Cardwell. Shops on one side and an expansive lawn area and markets on the beach side.

I wish I had taken photos.

In February this year, just 7 months ago, Tropical Cyclone Yasi crossed the coast at Mission Beach. Cardwell is just a few short kilometres south and also received a direct hit. We watched from home, hoping for the best.

This shows TC Yasi overlaid on a map of Europe, just look at the enormity of it.

After a night of 300 kph winds, this is what the residents of Cardwell woke up to:

This is the marina at Port Hinchenbrook, just a stone's throw away.

This is the newsagency, just to the right of centre in the photo above of the wrecked foreshore. The gent in the yellow shirt owns it. We spoke to him today. A good man, and is back behind the counter in his shop. Personally, I would have walked away. He has my admiration, as do all the other residents of Cardwell and the other towns, Mission Beach, Tully etc, battered by Yasi.

Saturday , 3rd September:
This is the foreshore at Cardwell today. What trees remain are shredded of their foliage and the grass reserve that used to hold the markets has gone.

Behind the CWA (Country Womens Association) building is a clothesline that could not resist the onslaught.

Neither could the building itself.

We spent some money in town. Cardwell and many other towns like it, rely heavily on tourism dollars and we did what we could.

We drove north to spend the night at Hulls Head Recreation Area (QLD26 in CAW6) on the southern banks of the Hull River. On the north bank is South Mission Beach. We wanted to stay here after seeing this photo in Mick B's blog (http://niknoff.blogspot.com/).

Here is the area now. The big tree in between the 2 palms in Mick's photo has virtually disappeared. The hill on the northern bank was not visible in his photo.

This is the beach. There were vacant waterfront blocks where houses used to be. As we drove out the next morning we saw a large area filled with piled up building debris, all that remained of several houses. All that remained of peoples lives and dreams.

We left the Cardwell area feeling shocked and helpless on our way to Mission Beach, just a few kilometres away. Here we would catch up with friends from Mandurah, Richard & Jill, who have a holiday home there.