Harbour Plaza: Built on Dreams (PB) (2016)

OYSTER POINT, a small Queensland coastal town is dying.

As a child, EZRA GREEN and his father arrived here at the very beginning of the settlement. He knew and was part of the dream for the future of the town. A century and a half after his arrival in the town, he watches what was once a magnificent dream slowly die. Although now deceased for many decades, he remains at Oyster Point to protect his legacy. However, as everyone knows, a new mine is Oyster Point's only hope for survival... a new mine, and people willing to pursue their dreams.

Entrepreneur Geoff Robinson's foresight and courage to gamble on the future of the place creates new hope, and a cyclone that devastates much of the area provides opportunities. A new supermarket and the Harbour Plaza shopping complex rise from the rubble. The place's future looks assured when a new mine for the area receives approval. Harbour Plaza's opportunities lure many to the town to pursue their dreams.

Unseen, Ezra Green watches over the Plaza and all that happens there. When he determines situations involving Harbour Plaza's discrete 'family' of tenants require his help to achieve desired outcomes, he steps in to assist, smoothing the way and nudging things in the right Direction some dreams achieve reality, while others become nightmares. In the latter case, difficult though it might be, life lived as a nightmare for some period is the better outcome than a life ruined. So many dreams, so many different stories ... happy, successful, romantic, heartbreaking, poignant... it's all there in Harbour Plaza. In spite of his efforts, many unresolved dreams and desires remain. The owners of some of those dreams or desires are unaware of them at this time and cannot foresee what lurks in their future.

But Ezra's legacy to the town is no more, and the last of his family line charged with maintaining that legacy is gone too. Should he stay for a while longer, or finally bid farewell to Oyster Point? It has been an interesting and exciting year, not to mention a busy one at times. There remains more work to do for those unfulfilled dreams and desires. Would the universe deem it remiss of him to leave behind unfinished work? He has no wish to sully his reputation after all this time spent on doing good works.

In reflecting on the past year, some of its more memorable stories come flooding back. He chooses to share his recollection of those stories and events as he deliberates on his possible departure from - or continued residency at -- the Harbour Plaza.