The Newcomer Who’s Been Here 22 Years

Jim Hodge may call himself “a newbie” to Hinchinbrook, but after 22 years in Ingham, he has become a well-known voice both in person and online.

Born in Victoria in 1957, Jim spent little time in his birth state before moving around Australia. When it came time to settle, Ingham stood out. “It ticked enough boxes,” Jim said. “It was big enough to have Coles and Woolies, but not the traffic woes of bigger places. And the people were my kind of people.” He admired the strong work ethic of the Italian community in particular, which helped him feel right at home.

Jim’s working life was spent as a postie in New South Wales. He recalls long hours, especially at Christmas, when mail reached its peak. “One year, I didn’t start the round until five in the afternoon after a full day of sorting,” he said. The heavy workload eventually took a toll on his health, and he has been on a pension since his forties.

Life in Ingham has brought both challenges and new beginnings. Jim lost his first wife nearly 13 years ago after caring for her through illness. Today, he is married to Olivia, who has encouraged him to reconnect with the wider world. “Thanks to her, I got out in the world again,” he said. “The spirit wants to go, but the body doesn’t always agree anymore.”

Jim is a regular at the Seniors Morning Coffee Club, which he admits is his main form of socialising. Away from gatherings, he spends much of his time on the computer. While Olivia is active on Facebook, Jim also uses the platform, often adding his perspective to local conversations. “Somebody’s got to rock the boat,” he said with a smile.

Among his strongest views are the need for better community infrastructure, particularly footpaths. “It’s fine in the fancy parts of town, but down Perkins or McIlwraith Street, there’s nothing,” he said as he sees firsthand how difficult accessibility can be.

Before his father passed aged 94, Jim went to visit him as often as he could, always sporting his lucky hat so his father could recognise him. He suffered from dementia linked to a lack of vitamin B12, which has shaped Jim’s awareness of health services in regional areas. His own struggles with eyesight and the long wait for treatment have only reinforced his concerns about access to specialist care in smaller towns.

Candid, humorous, and never afraid to speak his mind, he continues to be an active presence in the Hinchinbrook community, and newcomer or not, Jim Hodge has found his place in Ingham.