Townsville residents reveal their plans and hopes for 2025

Townsville residents were asked what they have planned for their New Years. These were their responses.

St Patrick’s College graduate Lilly Hannay has an exciting 2025 planned, as she plans a move to Brisbane on her long-term quest to become a pilot.

The barista is planning to study a double degree at Griffith University in engineering and aviation, which is expected to take her five years to complete, and she will make the move by the end of February.

“I’ve always wanted to be (a pilot), but yeah, it’s expensive and hard,” she said.

“So I’m going to use the degree to get my theory and sim prac hours up, because you get them in the degree and then I’ll get my licence.”

But Ms Hannay had a personal resolution which she came up with in the last two minutes of the previous year.

Townsville CBD resident Lilly Hannay plans to study a double degree so she can become a pilot. Picture: Shae Beplate.

“My New Year’s resolution is to not let other people skew my choices or my decisions this year and to follow my heart,” she said.

The Townsville Bulletin asked visitors at The Strand this week if they had any New Year’s resolutions or plans, with many saying they had nothing in mind or that they did not set them.

But they were also generally positive about the year ahead.

Tobruk Kiosk owner Kelly Behrens, Aitkenvale, said she did not have any resolutions and that it was not normally her habit to set them.

“I just enjoy the moments and enjoy life and do the best I can, and be the best version of myself,” she said.

“I think 2025 is going to be a better run.

“2024 was a whole mixed bag but that’s okay, you learn from that.”

Tobruk Kiosk owner Kelly Behrens said she had no plans or expectations this year. Picture: Shae Beplate.

Tim Staatz, from Gulliver, said his resolution was to spend more time with his three-year-old son Tripp.

“Otherwise, pretty simple this year, just keep trucking through and try and get ahead a bit more,” Mr Staatz said.

“I give 2024 an eight out of ten on a scale.

Tim Staatz said he would like to spend more quality time with his son, Tripp, 3. Picture: Shae Beplate.

“Hopefully this year we’ll get to see cost of living come down a little bit and a little bit lower crime rate.”

Born and raised Townsville raised resident Lisa Lawlor, was visiting her mother and sister in North Queensland after driving to Melbourne last year to become a Salvation Army officer.

She was in the middle of her studies to follow “this calling” and it had been challenging getting used to Melbourne.

Lisa Lawlor was on holiday to visit her mother, having made the move last year to Melbourne to become a Salvation Army officer. Picture: Shae Beplate.

“It’s been a huge exciting adventure seeing lots of new places and seeing lots of new people and (I’m) just really really happy to be back home now, it’s just amazing, I feel so happy today.”

Her mother Cheryl Lawlor, Kirwan, said she stopped making New Year’s resolutions.

“I’ve seen so many years come and go that I’ve stopped having any kind of expectations of what might happen,” she said.

Cheryl Lawlor from Kirwan said she no longer sets New Year’s resolutions. Picture: Shae Beplate.

“I think 2024 had a few upheavals around the world with everything so I’m hoping for a better year.”

Dean Shelly, Mount Louisa, was having a coffee in North Ward with his five dogs Zoee, Peter, Katie, Yogi, and Doona.

He did not have any huge plans but was planning to have a family trip at Magnetic Island in coming weeks.

Dean Shelly from Mount Louisa with one of his dogs, Peter. Picture: Shae Beplate.

“What I do plan on doing is spending a little bit more time at home,” Mr Shelly said.

“2024 was really really good and I think 2025 is going to be even better.”

Originally published as Townsville residents reveal their plans and hopes for 2025