What life was like during Whitsunday islands’ glory days

Whitsunday island beaches were childhood playgrounds and where school formals were celebrated, now just memories until these incredible lands are accessible again, writes Janessa Ekert.

I have certainly had a very lucky childhood.

Growing up in Airlie Beach and with my parents owning a 42ft catamaran for a time, I spent countless days and weekends exploring the stunning Whitsundays both from the water and onland, as well as travelling up and down the Queensland coast.

Janessa Ekert as a child living on her family's boat Sundance.

In fact it wasn’t until I was an adult I appreciated how lucky I was to be able to access all those islands that no longer welcome visitors.

End of year school trips and school holidays involved day tripping to the closer islands. It was just a part of life growing up in the Whitsundays.

My friends and I would take day trips over to South Molle and Long, two of the closer islands, where we explored the bush walks and spent hours swimming in the pool – resulting in one of the worst sunburns I’ve ever had.

Club Crocodile Resort on Long Island Whitsundays.

There were sleepovers with school friends who lived on Hamilton Island.

My Year 12 formal was held on Long Island, which was always my favourite to visit. I can still remember lining up at the Shute Harbour jetty for the boat ride over, everyone dressed in beautiful gowns or suits.

After graduating university I even worked on South Molle and Long Islands in hospitality and as a cleaner before landing my first job as a journalist.

An Aerial view of South Molle Island in March 1996.

And while I did not enjoy the work per se, I never stopped loving the boat ride to and from every day.

These islands were such a big part of my childhood and adolescence and it was with a lot of sadness I watched one after another close. It’s time for state government to get its act together and take a closer look at how the leases are being managed.

I understand that times have been tough for tourism in the wake of Covid, but some of these islands have been sitting unused for years before the pandemic ripped through the country and rest of the world.

I can only hope that these islands which hold so many fond memories for me will again reopen.

Originally published as What life was like during Whitsunday islands’ glory days