"We run 16 kilometres and pull into 21 pubs for a pot on the way. This year (1992) there are 17 competitors. You run with partners who make sure you don't cheat and you keep your beer money in your bumbag."

Liam with Dave and John

"I'm blowed away if I know why but the TAB here is the only one in Brisbane without chairs. I worked 43 and half years for the bank — some of it relieving here in the Valley. I've been around so long I knew Happy Jack when he was sweeping the store at TC Beirne's."

Keith Alexander

"I like living here. It is quiet and nobody bothers me. My father was German and my mother was from Manus Island so I guess I fit the Valley's multiculturalism."

Elizabeth Enquera

"We came here 2 years ago mainly for more space and a fenced yard for our Siobhan. There is a good sense of community. It can be noisy at times during the day but after work hours and on the weekends the area is pretty quiet."

Helen & Roger

"I have lived here in this house for 35 years. Eddy Cuzzunino bought it in 1951 for 2500 quid. In those days families would go window shopping on a Saturday and Sunday night."

John Grant

House Painter, migrated to Australia from Italy in 1957. "I don't like to see the people begging near the main shops. I'm friendly with all my neighbours except the woman with all the cats. They mess all over the place."

Val Marchetto

George is a Greek Cypriot and lived in the Valley since 1948. He ran the California Cafe. "Nobody leaves hungry. When more people lived here we were all big Valleys Football supporters and I would decorate the shop in blue and white."

George Apostolos

Communist Party of Australia member 1968-1991. "For decades the Valley was a home to the Communist Party before it closed in 1991. Labour Day was always a big event with people from various parties and unions packing into the CPA rooms for drinks and songs."

Doug Eaton

McWhirter's Art Space Manager. "We curate exhibitions, organise large scale exhibitions, or artists can simply run their own show. There are not too many places for artists that are so accessible to the public as Artspace."

Janene Gardner

The Father of Chinatown, Eddie Liu. In 1980 Eddie Liu was awarded the OBE for community service. It was his efforts in establishing Chinatown in Fortitude Valley that has earned him the title 'Father of Chinatown'.

Eddie Liu

Not a regular cop. "People got to know me and knew what I liked. The bit with the arms and the dancing — well that just developed. I was always a bit of an unorthodox character. I had a few crashes during my time. It wouldn't be right if you didn't."

Dancin' Dickey Daniels

"I don't want to see too many changes. People should appreciate the Valley for what it is, not what they would like it to be. One of the charms is the mix, including the tougher elements. I'd hate to see it sanitised to the boring stage."

Mary North

Two Valley regulars

Michael developed McWhirters Marketplace. At one stage or another Michael has either owned or optioned up at least half of the Valley's central real estate holdings. "You have to be both passionate and emotional about the Valley to work and invest here..."

Michael Brown

"Since opening in 1974 we have had exhibitions by leading artists including Bret Whiteley, Charles Blackman, Ray Crooke and Margaret Olley. I looked around other sites but to me the Valley seemed to be a destination in itself. Art and the Valley, a definite yes."

Philip Bacon

"I have lived in the New Farm area for thirty years. It was sad to see the closure of McWhirter's. I'm encouraging a cosmopolitan atmosphere to the area, otherwise people have no way to stop and look at the shops."

Bennito Difeliche

"This was not in my job description, but it sure beats waiting for a bus!"

BCC Bus Driver

The Tivoli Theatre Restaurant. "The Valley had a very cosmopolitan feel and with the energetic, imaginative people now re-establishing businesses it will again return to the Valley of the fifties."

Ann Garms

Dawn worked in the Coles Cafeteria for more than 20 years. She came to the Valley when she was 14. "This job has been my whole life and I have seen all the changes, the trams go, the mall go in. I would not trade my job for the Prime Minister's."

Dawn Brown

Jim has been a meatworker and truck driver all his working life. "Having the Exhibition close is good but I would like to see the Broncos playing there. Bingo used to be big in the Valley but it's died down now. I think the pokies have killed it."

Jim Lawson

"I have been a tenant here of Mrs Chappel's for 14 years. This is my favourite chair. I love the Valley because of the public transport and Saturday mornings I often wander down to the mall to listen to the live music, I guess it's a bit of an outing."

Fred Kleidon

On the door at Hot Lips. "I've been on this corner for seven years. Why? Because I enjoy it. We're sort of like a mini-Kings Cross. There is no violence. At least no more than you'd get at a suburban pub on average."

Tiny

Migrated to Australia in 1969 from Bologna Italy. He worked for major hotels before establishing Lucky's in 1973. "If my customers are happy then business is good. At Lucky's nothing has changed except the numbers on the calendar."

Lucky Morselli

I came from Germany and have lived in the Valley for 31 years. I often come to the California Cafe for breakfast not just for the price but the quantity. You can watch the Valley come to life through these windows.

'A Regular', Frank Neumayer

Yuen's Chinese Supermarket. "Chinatown is a unique centre for businesses, residents and migrants alike. It is a place where Brisbane's Asian community can feel they are in a familiar environment similar to their own country of origin."

Kevin Yuen

"I was born in this house 67 years ago. I live here and I'll die here. My mother taught dancing in this house. The interfering old coot next door keeps complaining about the cats. They even took up a petition, but we got one of our own against him."

Winifred Affleck

One of the first teams to enter the comp and won the premiership in 1909. They won more premiership's than any other club. They earned the diehards label when they won a Brisbane grand final from a hopeless position — seven points down with 8 minutes remaining.

Fortitude Valley Rugby League Club

Empire Hotel. "This part of the Valley is really coming on. It's a bloody good place, for a beer, for a meal, for a whole night out. I like the fact that down here people from all walks of life can meet and mingle."

Lou Bickle

"I enjoy the pool. There are some good memories here."

Hayley Lewis

Dimitri's Restaurant. "In the beginning we found the Valley to over-bearing. It has a has a very sentimental meaning and it's nice to know that our contribution to the its revival may be looked upon one day as being a contributing factor."

Tony Michael

Swampies, mods, gays, straights, foodies, hippie burgers, yuppies, trendies, bikers, business people, politicians, journalists, radicals, stirrers, bingo addicts, caffeine addicts, artists, entrepreneurs, eccentrics, pacifists and critics all play in the Valley.

Playing in the Valley

"I've sold virtually everything I owned to other people in the street and really can't say I'm sad about going. Sure there are a lot of memories, but I'm fed up with the big city. I'm not going to wait for the council to do it all up. I'm out."

Jessie Gibson