Coffs Harbour in NSW, Australia—my beloved hometown—is known for its bananas and tourism. It’s a place filled with some of the most down-to-earth people you could ever meet—a hidden treasure that only a fortunate few discover. But what about the dangerous chemicals sprayed all over the town in the past, which have impacted people’s lives? All in the name of keeping a few bugs off the bananas.
Growing up as a young grub who loved playing in the dirt right next to a banana plantation (and sometimes in it), I enjoyed watching the spray planes unload on us over the years. Unfortunately, this fun pastime would have serious effects on people’s health and wellbeing.
I now can’t help but think that contamination from organochlorine and organophosphate pesticides has a rippling generational effect. Did you know that a mother gives birth to both her child and grandchildren at the same time? A baby girl comes into this world with her lifetime supply of eggs. While I’m no expert, I wouldn’t be surprised if some health issues were passed onto the next generation due to these chemicals.
Don’t get me wrong… Coffs Harbour is a wonderful place surrounded by gorgeous national parks on the one side, and some of the best Australian beaches on the other. Plus, there are many tranquil hideaway spots within the region that anyone can escape to with little effort. All in all, it’s a lush place with a close-knit, friendly bunch of people.
But the problem started when a few folks got greedy. They wanted to produce more and more bananas, cheaply and easily, by using toxic chemicals. This greed created a generation of “Chombies” (Coffs Harbour Zombies) who wreaked havoc. If the chemicals didn’t reach you by air, they contaminated the water supply. Thankfully, most of the harmful substances were banned in the late ’90s.
Not everyone turned Chomby… unless you lived in the red zone for years which increased your likeliness of Chombyism. I lived in the red zone, as you might expect.
Here’s a picture of gorgeous Coffs Harbour… Overall, it was probably worth it and I’m just carrying on with first-world drama.
https://www.visitnsw.com/destinations/north-coast/coffs-harbour-area/activities