If you live on Kangaroo Island, you are better off than 99.9% of the world’s population
Kangaroo Island is one of Australia’s largest islands, with an area some seven times that of Singapore (but with several million fewer residents!). The Island has more than 500 kilometres of stunning coastline and beaches, and nearly half its landscapes are free of development and home to some extraordinary wildlife.
Kangaroo Island is often described as a paradise, especially by its tens of thousands of annual visitors, though as a place to live it’s remarkably real. In fact, there’s a bumper sticker you’ll spot on some Island vehicles – ‘If you live on Kangaroo Island, you are better off than 99.9% of the world’s population’. What does that mean and how can you measure it? Well, you can’t measure it, but you can certainly value it – priceless.
What it means is affordable seafront, township or bush real estate, easy access to beautiful beaches, the chance to participate in satisfying and life-giving activities and the opportunity to belong and build real relationships in a place where business is routinely mixed with pleasure.
What it means is a summer evening picnic with friends at Emu Bay, joining the pilgrimage to the Stokes Bay fireworks, home-made soup at the Parndana Sports Club on Saturday night after sport, or a spur-of-the-moment decision to camp under the stars at Antechamber Bay.
What it means is joining DolphinWatch to play your part in marine conservation, getting your hands dirty at the annual tree-planting festival or picking grapes with mates as a fundraiser for your club.
What it means is running and growing a business or working in extraordinary natural environments, with world-class tourism operators, agricultural businesses that make the most of responsible management, premium produce and export partnerships, all from one of the most beautiful and restorative places on the planet.
For those who call Kangaroo Island home, it means a life with freedom, opportunity, space and time to choose your lifestyle and way of life – how you work, rest and enjoy yourself.
That’s what it means to be better off than 99.9% of the world’s population.
Planning for our future is achieved through integrating social, economic, and social environmental outcomes for the community while respecting the island’s values.