Palm Cove News


Palm Cove News
MARCH 2004

Double Island : meet the owner

"INCENTIVE groups and conventions have used the island a few times. There has been one local wedding, and another is planned for a few month's time," Sean Howard said.Howard was being interviewed by editor Linda Cooper of City Life published in February edition.The Sydney businessman said he was still developing the facilities of the island which is hired out for $21,000 for one night without food.
"Another four rooms are being built in the saddle area between the two peaks which will be even more private and exclusive.
"We are building a sports hut to house the jet skis and kayaks," he said.
Sean Howard, the founder of market leading internet service provider OzEmail, confirmed he sold his company in 1999 to MCI WorldCom for $530 million.
He bought Double Island for $4.5 million after local owners Island Holdings went into receivership.
"It was a very good buy, probably one of my better buys. My wife was pretty impressed," he said.
Howard said Island Holdings had done a magnificent job in developing Double Island.
"Their use of the small amount of land available was very clever. I've been in business all my life and I admire people who take risks. I felt sorry for them that they had to sell under that situation," he said.
And what about the film stars who have supposed to have stayed : Keenu Reeves, Brad Pitt, Jennifer Aniston and Keifer Sutherland?
"Keenu Reeves is the only one who stayed. We built a gymnasium for him. Steve Ballmer was a recent visitor to the island. He is the part owner and CEO of Microsoft and the second largest shareholder in Microsoft behind Bill Gates; so since I have been in the computer and internet industry for many years, him staying on the island was impressive," he said.
Howard said the benefit of booking the island was that spouses and children could be brought along because the accommodation (50 resort rooms) allowed it.
"When you break it down, it's only $400 a room for accomodation and there are plenty of other places around the world that are far more expensive and not as exclusive."
However, some people come for free.
"You might have heard about Youth Insearch on the 7.30 Report of A Current Affair,"he said. "It was started and is run by a fantastic couple called Ron and Judith Barr (both OAMs). They run camps in Queensland, NSW and Victoria for kids who are having trouble. The kids have usually been juvenile offenders or been sexually abused or caught up with drugs and alcohol. So far they have helped about 23,000 kids with a huge success rate. A lot of them are given the choice through the legal system of attending the camps or going to detention centres. It has had such an impact on some of them that they end up going through a leadership program and end up returning to Youth Insearch as mentors. Youth Insearch can't afford to pay these kids so we bring them up to Double Island about four times a year. It is a wonderful experience for them and a unique part of Australia for them to see."
Sean Howard visits Double Island about once a month.

Angsana goes self-sufficient

"If you want fresh herbs and vegetables as often as possible for your restaurant, you can't go wrong if you grow your own," says Tony Lewis.
The executive chef of Angsana's Far Horizons Restaurant says the resort has gone back to basics by creating its own herb and vegetable garden and says there should be more of it in the region.
"Travel time and freight damage is often the cause of a lot of spoiled produce now available around the country, but the old style ways are forgotten. Call me old style, but growing my own produce is just the way I like it," he said.
Tony said he didn't expect the garden would supply all his herb and vegetable needs, but he was working on it.

(Ref : City Life, Feb.)

Footnote : Novotel Palm Cove also grows its own herbs and spices for its award-winning Spice Market Restaurant.


Big Daikyo block sells

Daikyo has sold its 60 hectare stretch of land to the south of Sweet Creek to Thakral Holdings for $40 million.
The large tract between the beachfront and Capt Cook Highway covers an area similar in size to the entire Palm Cove settlement. Thakral Holdings, the developers of Amphora Palm Cove (next to Clarion) and Trilogy in Cairns, plans to build 600 dwellings and a resort on the site.
Last month, the company reported a six-month operating profit after tax of $20 million, mainly from the sale of apartments in Amphora and Trilogy.
Amphora should be completed in July.

(Ref : Cairns Post, 25/2/04)

Veivers Road home torched

THE CRABBE FAMILY'S home at 65 Veivers Rd was destroyed by fire on Feb 24 by someone who stole a video camera and jewellery before setting the main bedroom alight.
Anyone with information about the arson attack should call Smithfield Police at 4055 6055 or Crime Stoppers.

Art gallery for Cove?

MARGARITA of Palm Cove Plus, the new tourist agency on Capt Cook Hwy (next Coachhouse), would like to start an art galley.
She invites local artists, potters, craft workers, etc to think about a small gallery for the display and sale of their work.
"Anyone interested is invited to drop in for a coffee or call 4055 3844," she said.
Margarita is also thinking of starting a book exchange.

Cove's population

PALM COVE has a small resident population but with visitorscounted usually has around 1990 people in the township.
Aged 65 & over - 13.4%. No. of postal addresses 640. Propn in workforce 56.4% . (Clifton Beach has a population of 2269.)

Ref : Northern News, Feb 04.

Published by Jerry Dukes
52 Terebra St
Palm Cove 4879 QLD
Ph 4059 1610 Fax 4059 0058
Email : jgdukes@ozemail.com.au
On website : http://www.palmcove.net

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