Big Dreamers (ATOM Study Guide)

When the local sugar industry in the Queensland town of Tully is crippled by Brazil's decision to dump its sugar on the world market in the 1990s, times became tough for the cane farmers and the traders in town.

Come 2002, the town decides it needs something big to economically reinvigorate the once prosperous town.

In an effort to boost tourism and the town's morale, Tully's Rotary Club commissions local artists to design and build a big gumboot. Why a gumboot? Tully claims the distinction of being the wettest place in Australia, drenched by a record 7.9 metres in 1950.

While some are convinced the Big Gumboot is a massive waste of money they no longer have, and others doubt how tourism will be boosted by broadcasting the fact that it rains in Tully more than anywhere else on the continent, local Rotarian, town elder and life-long resident Ron Hunt believes that the boot will change Tully for the better.

Work begins, costs increase, construction is endlessly delayed by rain and the question still remains, will the Big Gumboot actually save the town from financial devastation? When the finishing date keeps being extended, Ron starts to have misgivings not only about one of the artists, Bryan Newell, but his own motivations. Six months later the town wants to know, where is their boot? Ron's reputation is at stake.

Not being one to knock back a challenge and determined to prove his critics wrong, Ron rallies his fellow Rotarians and decides that come rain or shine the gumboot will be ready for its gala opening on April Fool's Day.