Ingham and Tully appear much as they ever did: quiet, unprepossessing, home-spun and humble still. Not really moving terribly quickly with the times. Given the Italian influence in these parts we had expected the world’s best coffee. Sadly, that has not been our experience. Even when served by an Italian deli master in a darkened little shop where the appetising smells of salami, cheese and olives the size of enormous green plums wafted as they do all over Italy, our coffee tastes little better than unappetising coloured water.
The further north we go the less we anticipate finding good coffee. Instead, we’re rating our experiences closer to the 'worst ever end of the coffee spectrum' and keep wondering how all the European backpackers here for the cane and banana picking are managing without a decent daily hit. A small but excellent coffee chain would surely make a fortune in this little corner of the world.
One lovely feature about Ingham when we were there was an art project being conducted by one of the local artists who, along with volunteers from the community, was building wonderful Gaudiesque town murals from chipped coloured tiles and filling many of the public spaces with the history of the place as told on these murals.
The art design is transferred from a computer onto giant rectangles of silicone mesh backing; then a thick lashing of glue is applied to the mesh. Chopped and chipped tiles, donated by the community, are laid out onto the prepared design in gorgeous colour combinations, then it is grouted to glue it all together. Anyone can help: tourists, townsfok and visitors from abroad as it is such a well planned activity and so carefully designed that you only need the shortest bit of training before being able to contribute to something that should last decades, and well beyond.
The stunning murals are then fitted vertically on to the wall spaces set aside for them. Each piece will eventually have its story attached, pointing out the more intricate details of the work.
This is an admirable artistic endeavour, inspiring terrific community spirit. It is such a great model, too, for other small towns to follow and use as a catalyst for town improvement, civic pride, or, simply, just for fun.
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| An earlier work in town by the same artist |
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Cane fire.
See the cane toads and the children playing
under the 'black rain' of ash. |
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| Such detail to organise |
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| Men at work |
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| Machines at work |
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| The tale of cane growing in the north |
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| Under the blazing sun |
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| Lunchtime in the canefields |
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| Then time for play |
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