CocoBongo: Biography

The name McCracken seems to come part in parcel with controversy. Not many people who meet the McCrackens would know that they are the most devoted and hard working of families. Google them and you will find a multitude of articles dedicated to this love hate relationship the iconic name brings but very little from the Mc Crackens themselves. It’s not that they are shy. Or that they are unwilling to stand up to the media. It’s more so they choose to surf beneath the radar.

Born in a small town on the west coast of New Zealand-Jarrod McCracken was born into an anything but easy middle class family. His mother and father owned a taxi cab business, working long hard hours away from home with his father working a second job in the abattoirs durning the day. Though Jarrod’s environment was isolated, it gave him the much-needed drive to focus on extreme sports such as Rugby League. At age 17, he decided to leave New Zealand for the foreign shores of Australia to for-fill his dreams in what ever life threw at him but always held that childhood desire to be a successful football player in the back of his mind.

Married 1993

Jarrod’s new home was now Australia. At 19 years old, Jarrod first met Michelle Byram in Port Macquarie. Sharing similar lifestyles the duo-loved motorbike riding, fishing, and swimming at their local beach forming a close bond, which was the foundation to the strong relationship they still have to this day. Michelle remembers, “Although Jarrod and I were brought up with vastly different upbringings, we had similar interests”

Michelle came from a loving and hard working family in Sydney. Her father had a very successful sand dredging and machinery business. A series of unfortunate circumstances, which included a tragic drowning along the dredging pipeline and an unjust bureaucratic system through the Greens, brought the family enormous pressures. Over the years, this proved to be too great and her father made the decision to sell the company. This is where the family relocated for a quieter, less stressful life in Port Macquarie. Her father left a lasting local contribution by landscaping some of Sydney’s beautiful parklands, which are still used by families today.

Summer-Lilly, Jarrod, Tahnay, Michelle, nephew Nathan, Tony and Kathy Byram, Bronnte, Alli and Caeser Kehoe

Building from the ground up Michelle’s father started a small pest control business, not shying away from hard work; his number one focus was on family quality time. Michelle recalls, “He was adamant he wanted no stress”. Witnessing her family financially flourish then to almost lose everything, gave Michelle the insight to deal with unexpected challenges, stating “Never quit on trying to be successful but always make sure you have quality time for your family because it’s essential to a meaningful life”.

Jarrods 40th Birthday 2011

It wasn’t long before Jarrod made it to the top of the NRL. His professional life was a high profile existence, training and playing hard with a tough and fiery presence he could easily be hated one minute and then loved the next. A proud moment was in 1998, Jarrod became the New Zealand captain, he remembers even at that top level the scrutiny from the sidelines “Fans would yell out from the stands ‘go home you Kiwi C***! “ These opinions reflected by some of the Australian football fans was something Jarrod recalls with a humorous indifference. It was this sporting rivalry that set the tone between Australia and New Zealand fans. With Australian and New Zealand patriotism running deep the Aussies held distaste for Jarrod’s heritage with the Kiwi’s boasting a renegade admiration. Making the relationship with the Australian supporters tolerably strained. His media portrayal read headlines like, “Bad Boy Jarrod” and they thrived on the turbulent circus the game created. Jarrod put a lot of bums on seats with people waiting in anticipation to see what could happened next.

Along with great football and loads of dedication came an extraordinary social life which would be hard for most people to imagine. With the press feverishly hatching sensational stories whether professional or personal, it was all down to one thing, Jarrod sold papers.

Jarrod’s successful rugby league career ended suddenly, with an illegal tackle breaking his neck. The accident not only finished his career but also began the complex and unsubstantiated media scrutiny. Jarrod like any other successful player was insured against such events and paid accident and injury insurance accordingly. With his football payments ceased Jarrod was under pressure to look after his new family’s future and consolidate his real estate investments. Jarrod explains “The media portrayed I was suing the two league players Stephan Kerny and Marcus Bai which is a complete false accusation. I was entitled to take legal action through my insurer which many players had done before me.”

Jarrod and son Tahnay

Michelle recalls the day the accident happened “I remember being called into the dressing room during the game and seeing the doctor stick needles into Jarrod’s feet, the doctor had said to blink if he could feel anything and there was no response” For Michelle at four months pregnant seeing the whole scenario was overwhelming “witnessing your husband, the person you love so dearly, somebody as big and strong as Jarrod lying there and not being able to move was heart wrenching. I could feel the room going dark, I felt sick and passed out for a moment.”

Accidents and injuries like Jarrod’s were not exactly rare. Ex team player David Penna, had also broken his neck in a similar but a less serious circumstance with a pay packet a eighth of Jarrod’s salary, David’s court settlement reached over $300,000. The history of previous players insurance claims made the McCracken’s and their Lawyer Keith Bagly undoubtedly confident that they would win the case. Jarrod says “ I remember thinking at the time, why would this ruling and case be any different?”

Leah & Jim Dymock

Michelle can remember a funny side to the whole account with a good friend and fellow player Jim Dymock phoning the hospital telling Jarrod “Geez mate it’s lucky you landed on your head or you could have really hurt yourself” something they still laugh about to this day.

Over the next 5 years waiting in the court system, Jarrod and Michelle had no choice but to make it work. The adrenalin loving sports that Jarrod once loved became a distant memory. Michelle says “ Weeks on, everything died down and Jarrod was forgotten, I remember thinking he was just another number.” They were left to juggle and sell their real estate investments which they had so carefully accumulated. Life for the McCracken family was turned upside down. Having a professional athlete one day to an almost immobilize patient the next created an nearly unbearable situation for both Michelle and Jarrod. Michelle says “Jarrod had zero tolerance, he couldn’t withstand light or noise, I had to help lift his legs and hold him up for support. He was in constant pain which made driving him to see specialists tough, it was such a horrible time for us.” Focusing on the positives Jarrod invested more time in real estate which was a welcome relief from the constant reminder of sport that once dominated his life.

The case finally went to trail and what they were fighting for, the judge decided against. The legal system had obviously not seen the strain the accident had put on the family and ruled that since Jarrod had excelled in his business prospects he was only awarded his court costs and not entitled to any accident or injury money “He had done well for himself” the judge said.

Family boat

They moved from Sydney to Port Douglas for Jarrod to rest and recover giving them the opportunity to focus on their new real estate passion. Moving to Townsville in 2001 Michelle recalls “Townsville was an accident. We owned a custom made fishing boat called ‘Crackers’, we were sailing down the coast to the Whitsundays for our holidays eighteen months after Jarrod’s accident and ran into bad weather”. This journey turned into a change of destination, when bad weather hit and their daughter Summer slipped and put her teeth through her lip, forcing an unscheduled Townsville visit. The conditions persisted for a week giving the family time to explore the area. Realising the city’s potential they decided to stay, “We loved the lifestyle the surrounding area provided, we had room to grow, create and inspire” Michelle says, “We fell in love with Townsville instantly”. It was to be the last stop on their whirlwind journey across the country, to find somewhere they would call home.

The fishing trip 'Jarrods Lucky Charm'

The Lucky Charm worked. Jarrod chooses now to only tag and release as Marlin pair for life, if one is captured it swims by it's self forever. (this is something Jarrod feels strongly about)

Initially the McCracken’s mostly had real estate and property interests Jarrod and Michelle set their sights on revitalising the restaurant and club scene. One of their first pioneering moments garnering commercial success was buying a small restaurant called Wally’s on the Strand, now known today as the Watermark, back then Wally’s was- a laid-back beach shack aimed to give customers access to the Strands amazing views. This was a small revolution in Townsville’s hospitality industry with no one utilisiing the idea before. Along with these innovative ideas, an innate respect of Townsville was central to the Mc Crackens position. Bringing a new and exciting lease of life to the area was the family’s goal and something they decided to dedicate their lives too.

Watermark construction

Today this idea seems run-of-the-mill, but at the time, restaurants and clubs in Townsville were a very basic idea with no modern appeal. The Mc Cracken family started their first venue from a little pub on the strand; they were left craving a new position in the market. The notion that North Queensland was behind their southern counterparts lead the family to help shape the town into a modern and diverse city. This concept is something that, over a decade on, continues to shape the Townsville business landscape, now well established in the area of cuisine; entertainment and travel easily employing over 200 staff.

Jarrod and eldest son Jaycob

From humble beginnings, Jarrod and Michelle’s business grew swiftly. Buying some of the best landholdings in Townsville the Mc Crackens snapped up essential inner-city real estate which they have built on or renovated over the years. The new venues quickly became a favourite of the culture starved, forward-thinking people, of an increasing lifestyle conscious Townsville. Such was their popularity they were compared to innovative venues of the south, winning awards and setting new trends. Rather than following the old recommendations they pushed the new concepts. Jarrod states, “Townsville deserved a chance to showcase its potential and meet high standards just like any other Australian city; it should be exposed to these great opportunities”

The second generation of the McCracken clan has now joined the ranks by way of their children Jaycob, Wade, Summer-Lilly and Tahnay. Michelle says, “Jaycob has a love of football like his father. He likes Union over League though, which he gained from his tradition focused school. Now he has started a career in civil works and works for a well renowned Australian company. Wade has had an accomplished career in snowboarding and excel’s in extreme sports such as motocross, down-hill mountain biking, surfing and now likes bodybuilding. Summer and Tahnay the youngest of the McCracken’s follow in the rest of the family’s sports orientated lifestyle of skiing, swimming, tennis and Tahnay chooses to play league like his father, he also learns kickboxing."

Jaycob McCracken

Wade McCracken

Tahnay McCracken number 15 playing Ice Hockey whilst living in Canada

Wade McCracken 13 at the time living in Whistler Canada

Summer-Lilly McCracken

When asked if the children have an interest in the business, Michelle adds, “Our Children need to show that their interest, or anything they choose to do in life is not a choice by default but of the heart, they have to want to do it themselves. At the moment they have different passions and are seeking out their own paths”

Michelle McCracken is a multi-tasking genius. Running successful businesses and a busy household of four children how could you accurately encompass a character as a vast and fast moving as Michelle? At the tip-top of the business pyramid, she is one woman that belongs to the leaders of reinvention. “We like to go beyond, we listen and then we take it to the next level because we love what we do and are never scared to have a go”.

Michelle McCracken the Consortium relaunch

Jaycobs Birthday with Michelle and Jarrod

With the company’s wide and varied events like High Tea’s at the Watermark, sponsoring major music festivals and events through their night club Consortium, to renovating or redeveloping major land holdings, the business will try to remain at the top its game.

Michelles says “Trying to be successful is not easy, there are often many hurdles and people will always try to bring you down. We always stay positive and always enjoy ourselves.”

More popular than her husband Selina Doohan, english royality Caren Brown, Nicole Perrin the smartest one of the Billabong chain, Michelle and Grace Kelly looka like Dana Rameau

Sonia and Michelle

Emma and Michelle

Continually in the media, the McCrackens are armed with determination and the support of family, staff and the people that are associated within the business, these are the people that know the real McCrackens. CocoBongo was created to provide a more insightful platform. Coco, standing for the tropics and Bongo is the drum used to get the message across. Jarrod states, “Being committed and passionate about what we do, and wanting to share that with a wider audience is what drives us”

Michelle adds “People can say the most extraordinarily hurtful things, this only challenges us to be more resilient and mentally tough. Our support of each other, gives us strength, especially when times are difficult. It sends shivers down my spine when I think that people believe what they read in the media so easily.”

Summer-Lilly and Michelle

Tahnay and Summer-Lilly

The McCracken’s believe there is excessive trust in the media with many stories considered as “Muckraking” This describes a type of investigative journalism which prints unproven and misleading stories to increase their circulation through sensationalism. Michelle’s opinion is of the fact “A story should be balanced and unbiased, covering both angles, it’s hard to believe once these incorrect stories are printed it’s actually called history? This is why we created CocoBongo”

The McCracken family and company is a colourful one and one that sees Townsville with great pride and promise. Jarrod’s favourite quote which he uses often “Six again, play on”. A quote passed on from his football days, which means, your six tackles of play in the game are done, but the game isn’t over. He believes throughout life you get knocked down, you need to keep getting back up and move on if you want to do well. Michelle’s quote. “behind every great man, is a great woman” and you better believe it she says laughing!

TO BE CONTINUED........