While most stalls at Get Ready Day at Riverway baked bravely in the sun, NQCC found itself in a rare paradise: a shady tree that became a beacon of relief for passers-by. Ironically, our theme was heat - one of the most underestimated and deadly natural hazards in Australia.

Every year, extreme heat kills more people than any other type of disaster in our country, and with climate change turning up the thermostat, the risks are rising. Heat spares no one — even the toughest among us - yet it’s our most vulnerable who face the greatest danger: elderly residents, infants, pregnant people, and those with health conditions.

At our stall, we had a simple but striking demonstration: measuring the temperature differences between shade and sun.
Under our tree, on cool grass and near leafy branches, the thermometer read a comfortable number - but just 50 metres away, on the sun-baked concrete path, it was a full 8 degrees hotter. That difference can make or break a body’s ability to cope.

To spark conversation, we invited locals to share their “cool spots” around Townsville — the places they go to escape the heat. The responses painted a beautiful, breezy map of our region’s natural and communal havens:

• Riverway and the lagoons,
• The Strand, always with that loyal sea breeze,
• Bushland Beach and Pallarenda,
• Crystal Creek and Rollingstone,
• Loam Island
• and the humble backyard shade tree or well-ventilated home.

Others shared the practical cool spots they turn to when the mercury climbs: libraries, local pubs, shopping centres — all proving that coolness can be communal.

We also asked what Townsville could do better as a community to protect ourselves from extreme heat. Locals suggested:

• More green corridors and shade trees across suburbs
• Cooling water fountains and mist sprayers around town
• Houses designed for airflow, not heat radiation
• Education about hydration, electrolytes, and recognising our limits

A few people working outdoors shared sobering stories - from heat stroke and fainting in the shower to an electrician who drinks 16 litres of water a day to stay functional in summer. Toughing it out, we were reminded, isn’t always toughness - sometimes it’s danger in disguise.

(Left: Disaster prepping tips shared by locals)

To support our community in staying cool and safe, we raffled off a fan and two reusable water bottles - essential items for managing the heat.
Congratulations to Pamela Hancock (our lucky fan winner!) and Molly Anderson and Pamela Refern, who took home bottles to help them stay hydrated through the hot months ahead.

It was a fantastic day connecting with the community, trading stories and solutions under the shade, and finding common ground - and cooler air - together.

A big thank you to the Climate Action Group for all their wonderful work in making this day happen - including equipment donations that kept our activities running smoothly - and to Carly Sheil for creating a beautiful hand-drawn map of Townsville that helped people share their favourite cool spots.