Rise Above

About Childers

An ancient volcano made its mark on the town of Childers in Central Southern Queensland, with the volcanic loam presenting perfect conditions for fruit and vegetable production. The distinctive ochre soil is studded with fruit trees of every description, and row upon row of vegetables; fields are patch-worked with thick green leafy sugar cane. Some 3000 people call Childers home, with the population swelling during harvest times due to the influx of seasonal pickers.

With a proud sense of place, the townsfolk throughout the ages have worked hard to preserve the architectural style that defines Childers to this day. Popular with tourists, Childers is a short three and half hour journey from Brisbane. Formerly governed under the Isis Shire Council, Childers now comes under the banner of the Bundaberg Regional Shire Council, due to recent State Government-driven amalgamations.

On the 23 June 2000, Childers was put under the spotlight and hounded by the media, due to the tragic fire at the Palace Backpackers Hostel where 15 people were killed.

This is a story that will move you to tears and cause your heart to soar with pride. It is an account that proves the ingredients of resilience, hope and courage are a recipe for making the most difficult problem surmountable.

Tragedy Strikes

“The image will never leave me,” reflected Bill Trevor former Mayor of the then Isis Shire Council.

I got the call in the early hours of the morning and arrived to see the silhouette of young people huddled in blankets – staring up into nothing wishing for the horrific event to be erased. Some were sobbing mourning their loss; the air was thick with smoke, lights flashing,..emergency services everywhere…”

The main street of Childers is steeped in history, boasting a uniformly preserved architectural style indicative of the early 1900s.  The local council and the community have worked tirelessly to preserve the history of their town centre located on the main highway, where even the magnificent shady Leopard Trees (Caesalpinia)1 are heritage listed.

Haunted by fire, the Palace building was burnt to the ground in 1902. Located in the centre of the main street, it was rebuilt along with many other buildings that were destroyed by that fire. The Palace building was re-opened in 1903 and it operated continuously, serving as a hotel, accommodation, a dining room and even a grand ballroom before it was converted to a Backpackers in the early 1990s . But tragedy was to strike again, and on the 23 June 2000, fire swept through the Childers Palace Backpackers Hostel killing nine women and six men, sparing 69 people who miraculously managed to escape. On the 15 March 2002, Robert Paul Long was charged and convicted to 20 years imprisonment, found guilty of deliberating lighting the fire.

A popular destination for seasonal work, backpackers had become part of the way of life in Childers community. Working on local vegetable farms and fruit orchards of the fertile undulating red plains, the bring their cultures and traditions into the community and provide a welcome source of labour at harvest time.

Tragically, many nations mourned the loss of healthy young adults including the Netherlands, Korea, England, Ireland, Japan. Australia was not to be spared and one family received a double blow when they lost their twins girls.

“The feeling of sadness was indescribable,” said Bill still charged with emotion, recalling the event which took place 10 years ago.

“As a community we felt so responsible, it happened right here in our home, our place and it was shocking in every sense.”

“It was so ‘close to home’ for many in the community. In fact, I had two workers employed picking zucchinis on my farm at the time… My kids were of similar age at the time, and yes, I admit I had many sleepless nights.”

“There was so much pain. I put my arms around sobbing survivors, I comforted a mother who cried for over three hours on the phone. I witnessed mourners collapse in the street from the sheer emotion – it was hard not to take it on board.”

“But, we had to ‘get on’ with things. We had to work together and I am so proud of what our community was able to achieve.”

Emergency Response

The first priority was to look after the remaining survivors, and at the same time deal with the sheer logistics of coordinating the response, including emergency services teams, criminal forensics, a mobile morgue, clergy, heads of state from around the world, politicians and the media.

The community did what Australians are famous for, banding tightly together in the face of adversity. For 14 days straight, 1400 meals were served and temporary accommodation was sourced (protected by guards for privacy reasons).  The community’s Isis Cultural became the survivor’s refuge where telephone lines were opened for 24 hours, allowing them to make contact family and loved ones.

“History’s events have meant that we have forged a strong community, but how we worked together during that time was unbelievable,” said Bill.

“Not long after the news of the fire hit the media, an elderly lady stopped me in the street and presented me with pots of fresh herbs and cakes. She had been baking ever since she had heard the early morning news, it was one way she felt she could contribute.”

“So many people helped in so many ways.”

Two days after the fire, a memorial service was held at the cultural centre attended by the dignitaries at the time including, Prime Minister John Howard, Governor General Sir William Deane and Lady Deane, Queensland Premier, Peter Beattie, members of the clergy and a youth orchestra.

Lifting spirits even further, Her Royal Highness Princess Ann visited the community to meet with the survivors, extending her allocated visit time of 40 minutes, to over two hours.

Rebuilding the ‘Black Hole’

“We just felt we had to do something. Through all the shock and the horror we drew upon our strengths and got on with the job of rebuilding the ‘black hole’ that scarred our streetscape,” recalled Bill.

“The problem was that it [the fire] happened right smack bang in the centre of the main street and it was a constant reminder of the tragedy, for locals and tourists alike.”

A stumbling block occurred when the building appeared to be sold to a private investor. After lengthy negotiations, the building was once again handed back to community through ownership by the local council, with the exception of a small section which has been developed for retail purposes.

The next step was to begin planning for the re-construction at the Palace site, with the primary objective of erecting a fitting memorial for those who lost their lives, a quiet place for reflection where families and visitors alike could forever honor their loved ones.  Great care was also taken to maintain the classic architecture of the period in every aspect of the re-building process.

Fortunately some features of the ancient building were spared from fire, including the 1902 stained glass window feature at the entrance of the building.  From the onset it was a key objective to preserve the historical feature of the building to enhance the main street.

Bill Trevor and his council knew that this was not something they could plan without consultation. They involved the local community and the families of the victims, with Bill personally travelling overseas to gather feedback and to invite the families to contribute photos and stories for the planned memorial.

They will be remembered

Twenty-two months after the fire, on the 26 October 2002 “The Palace” was re-opened. The event crystallized the resilient nature of the Childers community – they clung to hope in what had seemed like a hopeless situation.

The Palace Memorial Building now proudly stands like a beacon of friendship, love, hope and respect in the town’s heart centre. Acclaimed artists and designers were consulted in the process that resulted in a concept based on ‘youthfulness, journey, and adventure.’

The memorial is located on the first floor of the re-constructed building and features a remembrance wall of glass displaying a uniquely designed collection of images and stories. The 7.8m long and 2.7m high frosted glass feature (weighing 1.2 tonnes) encourages the viewer to ‘take their eyes of on a ‘journey of life’.  An additional tribute of 15 glass image boxes tells each person’s story and provides a connection with the families located all over the world. The building also houses a Visitor Information Centre on the ground floor and the Regional Art Gallery is located on the first floor along with the memorial. To date, more than one million people have visited the Palace Memorial Building.

The refurbishments have maintained street appeal and are a vibrant addition. As part of the project, a ‘pavement gallery’ was created on the footpath, using colourful mosaics to tell the story of Childers. Distinctive sculptures are also dotted around the town, paying tribute to the region’s history and the diverse nature of the community. By night the ancient Leopard Trees are illuminated by newly installed lighting.

“Our main street is bustling once again. The economy is booming and there is a very positive vibe around Childers. The outdoor eating areas and mini-café have added to the buoyant feel,” said Bill

So when asked the formula for finding strength in the face of adversity, Bill concluded, “You have to find a committed band of positive people and gather them around yourself. Move your community to make decisions, making sure those decisions are endorsed by the community. Then, ‘step up to the plate’ and put your best foot forward.”

Note

1 The Caesalpinia or ‘Leopard Tree’ is often found as a street tree. The trunk is covered with smooth mottled bark hence the common name. The leaves have small leaflets (pinnules) with the small yellow flowers followed by indehiscent, thick flattened dark brown pods. (Source: www.jcu.edu.au/discovernature/plants).

Bibliography

The Palace: the story by Wayne R Heidrich, nd, printed by McTaggarts Hervey Bay, Queensland.

Website:           www.bundaberg.qld.gov.au

The Palace Memorial Building is located in 72 Churchill Street, Childers and has a lift for disabled access.

Location: Childers Community, Queensland Childers, QLD, 4660 Australia