No bypass can cut off Walkerston

Walkerston has been Lee Cunningham’s home most of his life and he says the community is there to stay

Owner of the Walkerston fuel station, Len Cunningham at the front of his shop. Picture: Aidan Cureton.

THE mateship and community found in Walkerston is there to stay says long-time resident Len Cunningham.

Owner of the Walkerston service station, Mr Cunningham has lived close to Scrubby his whole life and was not shaken when Mackay Ring Road threatened to change the small town.

Owner of the Walkerston fuel station, Len Cunningham, behind the counter. Picture: Aidan Cureton.

Mr Cunningham has worked at Walkerston Fuel for seven years and owned it for the past five. After almost a decade of commitment to the business, he said he would like to think he'd met at least everyone in his hometown.

Scrubby has had its shake-ups in that time, but Mr Cunningham said he could always rely on the community to support one another.

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"One thing playing on people's mind is the Walkerston Bypass, and what will happen with the main street of the town if it goes through," he said.

"What I've seen is people who support the service station … it's all locals; the people you see day in, day out. They're the ones who visit me and you can only assume it will be the same across the board."

The Walkerston Bypass will join Peak Downs Highway west of Walkerston, near Greenmount, and connect to the Bruce Highway near Bakers Creek.

"Your normal traffic will travel the same way that they've done for the past 15-20 years," Mr Cunningham said.

 

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Mr Cunningham was raised at Eungella until he was 10 but moved to Palms Road, along Mackay-Eungella Road, during his high school years.

Walkerston quickly became home as he would ride his pushbike into town each day to catch the bus to Mirani High School.

On his ride he would pass the historic fuel station along Dutton Street, the one he now calls his own. The bright orange shop is the first thing that catches your attention if you are travelling west from Mackay along the Peak Downs Highway.

The popular petrol station owner said Walkerston had mostly been an area for "older families" but he had noticed a spike in young regulars in his store.

"Being a nice, close-knit community it's quite attractive for young families," he said.

"These young people are giving me tips on the social media, which I didn't know much about."

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