Page 110 - Port Douglas Magazine 38

CASSIE

& MARK

FLINN

They say home is where the heart is. However, were supported by some truly amazing people who After you have visited Port Douglas it’s one of those
for dynamic duo Cassie and Mark Flinn, owners believed in them. places that lives rent-free in your heart.
of the new Ray White Port Douglas it also flows Cassie and Mark are living in the centre of the sphere “Through selling real estate it is amazing how many
into the workplace. of living and working together that wholly balances people I have seen leave the town for different
It’s safe to say for Cassie and Mark life has been each other. Mark is the engine; he is the power and reasons,” explains Mark, “for example to live closer
anything but cookie-cutter. From finding love inspiration behind the entire team. Cassie is the to family, but then eventually move back again.
during schoolies, something that seems as far- creative one and the background organiser, which “I always ask them what brought you back again,
fetched as finding affordable property in the Eastern allows Mark to help look after all their amazing and most will say I wanted to bring my kids up in a
Suburbs of Sydney, to beach-hopping and surfing clients and awesome team. better place or I missed the weather and the town.”
the East Coast which finally led them to palm When not working, the family is enjoying the
fringed Port Douglas. splendours that make the region special, whether
The charismatic pair have been the yin to the other’s it’s camping with friends, fishing, wakeboarding,
yang working together as travel partners, parents, trail bike riding, beach hangs or dining out in one raywhiteportdouglas.com.au
renovators, and now in real estate for more than 21 of the amazing restaurants. The uniqueness of their
years. home is never lost.
Before navigating life and business on a daily basis,
the plan was simple; pack up and hit the open road
from their home in Melbourne to wherever the next
beach town was. Working to save up for the VW
Kombi, their adventure was accelerated with an
impulse auction buy from Cassie’s devoted dad. A
Coaster Bus decked out with a kitchen, bathroom,
bed, two ex-postie motorbikes on a trailer, and a
tinnie on the roof, it was time to scratch their feet.
The sun-kissed blonde nomads set off with a convoy
of mates who farewelled them at the NSW border as
they continued, living the dream.
Reality set in as the petrol kitty started to dry up by
the time they reached Cairns. Jobs were needed to
replenish and keep the adventure moving. On a hot
tip, they were told to head north to Port Douglas to
the Sheraton Grand Mirage. Once their home on
wheels turned the bend up the jaw-dropping Great
Barrier Reef Drive and revealed the palm trees and
the Coral Sea at Ellis Beach, a place where dreams
come true, the two young lovers knew they were
never going back. That was 23 years ago.
Location. Location. Location. The kerb appeal of
the Douglas Shire’s natural beauty, sunshine, and
relaxed lifestyle captured them. However, it was
the bones of the community that sold them, even if
DYNAMIC DUOS
it meant being far from family, friends and Mark’s
beloved Geelong Cats.
“The friendly nature and community spirit of the
town, it’s like no other town in Australia in my
opinion. It is a special place that has lots of unique
people who all call it home,” Mark shares.
“We have treasured friends from all over the world
that we met in this little North Queensland town.
It’s a kaleidoscope of amazing people and everyone’s
story is different, yet we all have a sense of gratitude
to be able to call this amazing region home,” says
Cassie.
They wouldn’t have any other place to raise their two
beautiful girls in the caring close-knit community.
When the opportunity was presented for Mark to
become a Selling Principal of an all-new Ray White
Port Douglas, they took a leap of faith knowing they

110 Port Douglas Magazine & Travel Planner