LAWRENCE Hardwick has seen the Redlands evolve from farmland to bustling suburbs over his 68 years in the region.
At 71, Lawrence has lived almost his entire life in the Redlands after arriving from England with his parents in 1956 as part of the “10-pound Poms”.
Settling in Birkdale, the Hardwick family began their new life in a small caravan without power or running water, eventually building their own home.
“I would walk down to the Birkdale foreshore to go swimming and fishing for whiting,” Lawrence recalled.
He played junior football for Thorneside United, now Mooroondu Soccer Club, and later for Redlands Soccer Club, once located at Cleveland Point, where the VMR and Cleveland Boat ramp are today.
Reflecting on the region’s transformation, Lawrence recalls witnessing the disappearance of farmland and the rise of housing estates over the years.
“The Redlands was known as the ‘Salad Bowl’ for Brisbane, but now all we grow are houses,” he said.
“The changes over my 68 years have been many and would fill a book, some good some not so good.”
Lawrence hopes the future of the Redlands will see improved infrastructure and that the community’s needs and desires are prioritised.
In the 1970s, Lawrence’s passion for community service flourished through the Waterloo Bay Apex Club, where he served as president, secretary, treasurer, and dinner notice editor, and met his wife, Michelle.
“I was cooking and serving hot chips out of the Apex Chip Van and Michelle was volunteering selling lucky tickets for the Redlands Ambulance at the German Beer Festive at Sheldon,” he said.
Their shared commitment to community led to a marriage spanning 44 years and raising three sons.
His civic involvement continued with leadership roles at Cleveland High School and Wellington Point Rotary Club.
A Justice of the Peace for 45 years, Lawrence remains active in the JPs in the Community Program.
In retirement, Lawrence finds joy in travelling, fishing, and participating in the Circle of Men, supporting male residents in aged care facilities.
“I would have to say that my favourite place in the Redlands would be the Wellington Point Reserve,” he noted. “Even after travelling around, the beauty of the reserve cannot be beaten.”
