Page 101 - Port Douglas Magazine 29

“maybe it’s the fact that people wear less clothes,
less layers, people are less covered up physically and

emotionally, they are so much more open”

WORDS by Rosie Wang
U nder the colourful flares of exploding fireworks to the pumping One day, as if in a “Eureka!” moment, Tik explained, “With kids of
tunes of the DJ at Danny’s Nightclub, two strangers kissed.
10 and seven we realised that now was the time to move. Why wait?
The night was morphing into sunrise as they found themselves
kids started high school, it would make any move more difficult. We
walking hand in hand along Four Mile Beach. Both knew that in this We didn’t juwant to wait until our retirement. We knew once the
magical place, under a balmy tropical night, they had found a special wanted to give them a chance to live in an environment close to
connection. It was New Year’s Eve 1998/99 in Port Douglas. the sea and realise their love the sea and sailing”.
Josh was visiting his brother, the DJ at Danny’s, and Tik was holidaying So much so, that when their son Rock – still a baby - first saw
with friends, when their paths crossed in true serendipity. the sea on Four Mile Beach, he whipped off his nappy and clothes
and ran headlong into the waves, much to the consternation of other
Since they were both from Melbourne, it was a natural progression that beachgoers and Tik.
their romance would blossom back at home. They ended up living
and working on Josh’s family’s lavender farm in Daylesford. Their life This year, Tik and Josh bought a house in Mossman which gives
was not only smelling of roses, but lavender too! them more space and property for the same spend in Melbourne.
Spread over three acres, it has total privacy and yet, as Josh says, “the
In 2000 they decided to return to Port Douglas, a place that was dear kids can ride their bikes to school and its only five minutes to the
to their hearts. Tik knew from her first visit, on viewing Port Douglas supermarket”. Which compared to their rural 25 acres in Daylesford
Natural Therapies, that she wanted to train in massage and work there. is a luxury.
By turning visualisation to realisation, that’s exactly what she did. Josh
waited at the Radisson Tree Tops, La Marina, hosted on Quicksilver They know that they don’t have a romanticised view of life up here and
and served at the Goanna Bar. are approaching their new life with practicality. Tik and Josh’s work
skills travel well to far north Queensland. Tik will continue working in
In 2002 they decided to return to Daylesford where Josh built Tik health and beauty and Josh in the construction and building industry.
her own day spa and he continued in construction. They visited Port They can’t wait to feel the sand of Four Mile Beach between their
Douglas regularly to catch up with good friends and revive their souls. toes as they walk their dogs Nacho and Simpson (after the desert, not
Their marriage on Four Mile Beach, reception at Salsa and the after Homer).
party at Nicky G’s Night Club secured Port Douglas as a place in their When asked about other reasons why they liked it here Tik replied,
hearts and memories.
“maybe it’s the fact that people wear less clothes, less layers, people
Tik and Josh throughout their lives in Melbourne always talked about are less covered up physically and emotionally, they are so much more
returning to Port Douglas and as the White family brood grew, with open”.
two children (even giving their son “Douglas” as a middle name) and Once they have finally moved up here, there is one special ceremony
two dogs, it was always a thought in the background. With a love of they have planned – a renewal of their marriage vows on Four Mile
the sea and sailing passing onto their family, the attraction to Port Beach, witnessed by their children and a beautiful sunset.
Douglas seemed stronger every day.
While on a road trip to Broome, Josh randomly pulled out his phone
and showed Tik a house he’d found for sale in Shannonvale that seemed Port Douglas and Mossman community would like to take this opportunity
perfect. They almost did a Starsky and Hutch turn onto Savannah Way to welcome Tik, Josh, Eve, Rocky, Nacho and Simpson White to their new
to detour 4,000 km to Port Douglas there and then. They realised a lives in our tropical paradise.
move would not only be a lifestyle change but an end to mortgage
repayments. The seed was sown.

PORT DOUGLAS MAGAZINE 103