Bileola - small Queensland town, two claims to fame
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382658)
Rockingham, Australia
June 30, 2024 3:54am CST
I’ve talked before about some topics/words turning up one or two more times after the first mention. I’ve just read about an young Australian swimmer who is in the team for the Paris Olympics.
He is from Biloela, a small town of approximately 5,700 people in Central Queensland in the shire of Banana, which is itself a strange name for a shire. Biloela is believed to come from an aboriginal word meaning cockatoo. Over the years, his parents drove him thousands of kilometres to training sessions.
A few years back Biloela was at the centre of a long-running case where a refugee Tamil family were removed from their home in a dawn raid in 2018 and held on Christmas Island for several years. They had come to Australia as asylum seekers. Concerted efforts by the townpeople eventually resulted in their release back to the town in 2022.
I wonder if Biloela will feature a third time. The photo is from Queensland. It’s the nearest we’ve been to Biloela.
12 people like this
10 responses
@LadyDuck (502886)
• Italy
1 Jul 24
@JudyEv - I know their daughter very well, our gardens are "attached" and we share the same private road to reach our houses. She pedaled on her little tricycle all the time when she was a toddler and she "invaded" our space in front of our garage.
2 people like this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
30 Jun 24
It's amazing that his parents were willing to drive him that far. I hope he does well.
2 people like this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
4 Jul 24
@JudyEv I agree that the parents went above and beyond to support him. I hope he succeeds.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (209193)
• United States
30 Jun 24
I guess if he wins a gold medal it will be mentioned where he is from at least on some platforms.
2 people like this
@allknowing (153529)
• India
1 Jul 24
Credit goes to the parents of this boy who played their role in making him an ace swimmer.
2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (98127)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
30 Jun 24
An ambitious young man I wish him well in the Olympics,
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (222898)
• United States
1 Jul 24
I wish the best of luck to the swimmer. I'm sorry to hear about the refugee.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (382658)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Jul 24
We can be very tough on refugees. I think we are too tough really. These folk had made a life for themselves within the community and suddenly the government found grounds (supposedly) to get rid of them. Luckily the community wasn't going to let them go without a fight.
2 people like this
@Fleura (35156)
• United Kingdom
4 Jul 24
@JudyEv Immigration is always a contentious issue. It's the age-old problem of crowds vs. individuals. When we see a mass of immigrants we don't want them, but when we get to know a few individuals of course we feel differently about those. But a lot of individuals = a huge crowd of course!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382658)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Jul 24
@Fleura The problem here was that the youngest girl had some medical issues. I don't think they were that bad but it was enough to put the immigration department into a spin. I'm just glad we're more or less an island and can keep some sort of control over who comes in.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382658)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Jul 24
They were big news when they were fighting for the Muslim family to be allowed back. The family had settled in nicely for quite some time. I can't remember the details now but they were picked up at night and it wasn't too long before they were on Christmas Island of the WA coast. Another shameful blot on our history.
1 person likes this
@thedevilinme (5216)
• Northampton, England
6 Jul 24
I did the Bungee jump there ...the 'awesome foursome'..
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382658)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Jul 24
Good for you. I've been on a zipline in France but no bungee-jumping for me.
