A Different Australia
“Daryl! Have you finished packing the car yet?” yelled Mark’s mother from the kitchen window out to the car, where Marks father was leaning on their family car, a Toyota. Stubby in hand, Daryl was soaking up the beautiful, warm summer day in procrastination of packing the car, and ultimately leaving their large beach side home in 1770, a renowned surf town, in order to move to his parent’s citrus orchid just outside a small town named Mundubbera. Mark’s family, due to unwise financial decisions, were faced with large debts and the prospect of never again enjoying the care free lifestyle they had often took for granted. Instead Mark’s family would be depending on Daryl’s parents’ wealthy property investments.
“Just about darl’, ‘most everything’s been packed in” Daryl yelled, leaning back to position his head to face the direction of the house “You seen Mark? He hasn’t been ‘round all morning.”
Mark was sitting in his favourite spot; knee’s hugged close to his chest, watching as the waves rolled into one another. The sun was glistening off the transparent, greenish – blue water. This day was a typical Queensland summer’s day, the warm sun pounding down yet touched by a light, cool breeze, making the weather enjoyable. The water was crystal clear and the surf was up, a day Mark would often be found on his 5”8 surfboard, riding those waves. That was the only place where Mark could leave the rest of the world behind. When Mark was riding a wave, the voices in his head were hushed; his mind completely focused on the powerful force beneath him moving his board forward.
In the car, Marked watched out the window as everything he had ever known flew past him in a whirl of beautiful white houses and neatly cut green lawns. That was all now gone forever, replaced by run down property houses and the monotonous brown bushland.
“Oh! I’m so glad you’re here!” shrieked Doreen as Mark’s family sluggishly proceeded to get out of the car, “Come on in...