Why winter in Queensland is the best time of year

There’s nothing like a Queensland winter ... there are so many things to look forward to, from public spectacles like the footy and the Ekka to simple pleasures like hot chips on a cold day.

A humpback whale breaching off the coast ... what a marvellous winter sight!

First day of winter. Notice the change? Sometimes in Queensland it’s a little hard to tell the difference, as my old pal PB is wont to say, because whatever the weather, it’s just another day in paradise. But both he and I can sniff a change in the air. The soft light of autumn takes on a crisper tone and a pair of flanny PJs don’t go amiss during the colder nights.

The three months of winter in Brisbane are, to my way of thinking, some of the best times of the year, not just because of the chance to jump into the flannies. Three months of winter may be a bit of
a chore to some, but I think of what they bring: hot chips and humpbacks, chutney, old chums and warm memories.

William McInnes rediscovers his love of Minties and why they are a dentist’s best friend

William McInnes: Brisbane bridge spotting makes me happy

It’s the beginning of the great migration of humpback whales up Australia’s east coast, the spouts from Moreton Bay, the explosion of water from breaching and the sheer wonder of these creatures. And then those hot chips

A few winters ago, I walked along Point Lookout with a freshly bought bag of hot chips from the Point Lookout Roadhouse, seeing a whole series of whales leaping from the water. I stood and thought it spectacular that we shared the world with living things as big as those whales.

And I thought it spectacular that the humble Point Lookout Roadhouse produces hot chips as marvellous as the ones I was popping into my cake hole. Seriously fine bits of fried spud and in their own way as wondrous as the big watery mammals off the coast, well at least to me. That’s the wonder of winter.

Winter means it’s Ekka time, but you can’t have the Ekka without the Redcliffe Show in late June, which in turn means the seasonal gathering of middle-aged boofheads, myself and a collection of chums from the Peninsula, entering a chutney in the cooking competition and a “piece of art” in the art and craft section.

This winter the chutney is eggplant, or aubergine if you are trying to be fancy.

As far as the piece of art goes, there was talk of a string thing, or a revisionary attempt at manual training – creating a utensil from Paddle Pop sticks – but thankfully it was decided a painting was the go.

Winter is a time to enjoy the events, such as woodchopping, at the Redcliffe Show.

The gathering of the boofheads also means the traditional attempt to eat a Dagwood Dog, a feat that is beyond me.

And of course, the winter brings footy, on both a humble suburban level and on the grander scale of State of Origin.

No winter is complete to me without an afternoon spent watching a game of league at Dolphin Oval.

It may be a stadium now with a sprawling club, gaming and entertainment edifice that mocks the old Besser Block clubhouse at the Redcliffe Showgrounds, but spending a winter’s arvo with a pal or two makes me remember all the winter arvos spent cheering on the Dolphins. All the old friends and family you might have gone there with, and how some of those folk and some of the players you cheered, even commentators like the late Billy J Smith, may now be memories.

But these are memories that warm your soul on a winter’s afternoon, as the sun sinks over the Glass House Mountains, mirroring the bay with a golden sunset.

Now, some people don’t think much of Origin, seeing it as a commercialised mishmash of parochial emotions designed to make corporations a lot of coin.

But it’s also a hooting good time. I like getting all “Queenslander-y” as my daughter calls it. She describes this state as yelling and jumping while sitting, talking quickly to the TV, cuddling and then yelling at the dogs and repeating: “Chiko Roll, Chiko Roll, Chiko Roll.”

This is pure madness and goes back to the first State of Origin game I attended, at Lang Park. I ate a Chiko Roll and the Maroons won. So, it’s only natural that if the boys need a bit of a lift, I call upon the power of the Chiko.

Winter, marvellous winter, all these things to look forward to.

William McInnes is an actor and author