We had a good show and left on the Sunday for barcaldine
where we had 3 days before we set up for the show. As our van was behind our stand I had a
chance to relax while Stuart did his thing.
Right behind us was a group who had an animal nursery and
I was concerned about animal smell but there wasn't any which was good. They also had chooks and so we got a fresh
egg as well.
We went to see the Australian workers heritage centre
while there and although it proclaimed that it wasn't politically affiliated
obviously it leant very much to the labor side.
We also saw the Queensland electoral role for 1992 where we found many
names.that we knew including my own and some from Ferguson street Mackay.
We also visited the Tree of Knowledge which was regarded as the birthplace of the Australian Labor Party (ALP). This was because the town was the headquarters of the 1891 Australian shearers' strike where policy and decisions were made It was poisoned
many years ago and after being sent away and preserved now stands on the
original site.
Had a great show and for the $30 site fee we stayed a
week and saw some history and made some money, along the way.
Then it was on to longreach where we got onto our site at
the show grounds on Sunday and had til Friday to be tourists before the show
starts. I don't think this will be a
resting place for me given the figures from last year but well see.
We did a river cruise on the Thomson river on a paddle
boat originally from gympie which was just fabulous.
It started at about 4pm and we could take
drinks. So at 4pm we were waiting at the
gate of the show grounds like Japanese tourists with cameras at the ready and our
dilly bag of wine waiting for the courtesy bus to pick us up.
With glass of wine in hand and nibbles (which were
supplied) we cruised up the Thomson river getting some spectacular photos of
reflections oof the river and then the sunset on the way back.
When we docked there was a great camp fire
with billy tha on the boil and after "Scotty" recited some bush
poetry...
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| The "Chook" Wagon |
 |
| Scotty |
... we were all served up some good old bush stew and later a paniken of
billy tea and damper folloepwed by more poetry before we all piled back on the
bus for a ride back home.
Next on the tourist map was a visit to the qantas museum
where we saw everything aeronautical pertaining to qantas emergence in Australia and how it all started.
Wednesday we spent the day at the stockmans hall of fame
and although it was great I expected a little bit more. We were entertained by a stockman with
horses, cows and a camel for props which was very entertaining.
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| The tour included lunch and this was open-air with a fan the entire width of the ceiling - huge! |
The show here was only for Friday and Saturday but we were
here for 7 days for about $75 rent as well as site fee with electricity which
was good as it got down to 8' a few mornings so I needed the van warmed up and a cup of tea in bed before I got out -
works for me!
Now its off to Alpha, Capella, Clermont and Emerald. Hopefully, the door hinge for the fridge catches up with us by Emerald and we can get it fixed and buy in some meat. We bought a 60ltr Waeco portable fridge/freezer and it should arrive about Emerald as well. That will give us a chance to stock up on extra frozen stuff and also give us room to put the red claw we catch somewhere to die humanely (if we get to catch some)
