Page 8 - BOL Feb 22 Edition

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Magnetic North Wins Overagnetic North Wins Over

As Garth Family Makes Mango Hill Village Their Home.s Garth Family Makes Mango Hill Village Their Home.
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As so often happens in Brisbane, the tug of the magnetic fields and other events such as Christmas & Halloween and children
from north to south across the Brisbane River, is a consequential played in the streets and the local forest area (yes, North Lakes had
outcome “when boy meets girl” in the Valley nightclub precinct. not yet reached our northern border).
However, that outcome was never in doubt as Kallangur born
(literally) Debbie Druery met Mansfield (south of the river) Lad
Cameron Garth at Sibbles’ Night club in the Valley in 1993 and
their life’s journey together commenced, marrying in 1996. The
decision as to what side of the “river” home was to be located
was never in doubt.

For Debbie, “K-Town” (Kallangur) was “home-town” having on (18
Oct 1967) seized the opportunity to enter into this world even
before the local ambulance arrived at the family home (which
remains opposite Theos Nursery on Old Gympie Rd to this day).

Back in Mansfield, despite the single generation of southside
living, car enthusiast & rally driver Cameron could not resist the
magnetic pull to the north given the Druery family pull and also
Grandad Garth of Redcliffe was President of the local Car Rally
Club & where Aunty Joy still lives today.

Whilst for the first 3 years, their home was close to the Kallangur
Water Tower, the lure of a country lifestyle quickly took hold.
With brother Brian and his family having moved into Mango Hill
Village in the early 1980’s, it was no surprise when in 2000, Debbie
& Cameron with their growing family (Jennifer born 1997 & Troy
born 1999) took the opportunity to move into their current
32 perch (800sqm) John Street home, shortly after the arrival
of water & sewerage in the Village and the commencement of Despite my not living in the Village at the time, I was one of the
Westfield in North Lakes. This small village on the other side of “Originals”, who attended the foundation meeting of the Mango
the Bruce Highway, was now neighbouring a new Town Centre Hill Progress Association in 1986 to protest against the proposed
with all its growing facilities, yet it still retained its semi-rural rubbish tip in what is now North Lakes. It had been fun turning up
character. to the Mango Hill Festivals of the 1980s and 1990s, all part of the
Pine Rivers Festivals of those years.

So, it was no surprise when on our arrival in the Village, I
endeavoured to help out the Progress Association, where I caught
up with former Teacher and now Progress Association Volunteer,
Ken Hatchman (“Mr Hatchman” to many 1000’s of local kids over
40years of teaching.)

Living a Village Lifestyle & joining in the Fun: (by Debbie
Garth)

Even before Cameron and I came to live in John Street, I had been
very much aware of the great community spirit that existed in our
new community. Families joined together for Skate Nights on the
local Tennis court, including Australia Day. There were street parties