A retired couple has dedicated almost three years to the construction of a 100-kilometre bike trail, in Queensland’s tropics to bring new life to their small community. All the while, Mike and Margie Browne have been battling a devastating cancer diagnosis.
00:00Planning a new bike trail in their North Queensland home town has been a welcome distraction for this retiree couple.
00:09Mike Brown was diagnosed with lymphoma in January.
00:13It's actually given us a reason to get out of bed in the morning.
00:16Leading a group of volunteers, Mike and wife Margie Brown have built 40 kilometres of bike and horse riding track.
00:23Starting from the town of Gargit west of Mackay, the Pioneer Valley Rail Trail covers lush cane farms and cattle country.
00:31I've had to rely on other people to do physical things but it's given us something to think about rather than dealing with anything to do with health.
00:38The path follows a well-known cane train track before passing historical whistle stops and farming towns.
00:48In our experience of riding rail trails throughout Australia, we've found that the rail trails bring quite a lot of economic benefit to the small communities.
00:56According to Rail Trail Australia, more than a thousand kilometres of historical track like this has been built since 2014.
01:04The track already proving popular with local cycling clubs.
01:08The delight that we get in seeing people come here and use it, it's very rewarding for us.
01:14Finch Hatton pub owner Adam Carter believes the attraction alongside a bike park opened last year can bring in more tourists than ever before.
01:23I know a number of local people that have adapted and getting involved in starting up businesses and Airbnbs especially.
01:31Volunteers now plan on connecting the trail to the regional centre of Mackay.
01:36Day 12th Avenue
01:47Day 10th Avenue
01:50That is not a number of people that have come here
