John and I looked after this park for 9 weeks while the owners Lorna and Agan went overseas to Bosnia.
I had a wonderful time acting as relief Manager. The park has 16 units that are rented out, 35 caravan sites and a few permanents that live in caravans.
John worked with Glen on the farm while I managed the park during the day.
They had Allen who did the lawns and gardens and three cleaners on call that did the cleaning of the units.
When we first went there Lorna said to me it is the quiet season so you won't be very busy. That was a under statement, We had only one weekend when the units were not fully booked out. The caravan park people came and went on a regular basis. We got some wonderful reviews on Wotif.com and Booking.com which are both booking sites for caravan parks etc. These made our stay even better. Its is great to know that you have helped people learn more of the area of the Atherton tableland.
Allen and I did the gardens together when I could get out of the office.
There was a couple Jimelie and Grey Ryder who we met there. What a lovely couple . They are staying there until February while Greg's work contract lasts. They have two very friendly dogs ( both being rescued from SPCA), who always welcome you with there tails wagging and a little bark.
While we were there sad to say some scum broke into the office and stole the till and a few other items including our Iphone. Hence no one has heard from us for a while due to the Iphone having all our contacts etc on it. The police are still looking for the other items and seem to think that they may get our phone back as they are 80% sure of who did it, time will tell.
So If you can send us a quick email with your contact numbers etc them we can up date our new phone and make sure that we have all your contacts on our laptop as well.
Lorna kindly replaced our I phone with another one. Which was very much appreciated.
Hopefully there will be more work there for me when they go on holiday over Christmas.
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| BBQ area |
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| Deluxe cabins |
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| Looking down to caravan sites |
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| Nicole & Adrian Walsh our friendly park cleaners |
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| Jimelie and Greg relaxing with John at the Park |
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| Digby and Maggie-May at the caravan park |
Malanda State Primary school had there Centenary Anniversary on the 14th September 2013. Johns Dad went to this school then followed John , then Glen and his sister Ann, then Kathryn there niece went there, a really family affair school. John was pleased to be able to catch up with a few of his old school mates from that time.
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| Aboriginal art work at school |
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| Johns rolling skating area when at school |
John ready for class
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| Dad returning to class |
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| Anne ready for class |
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| Kathryn the youngest of the Drury family |
Ian & John, old school mates also born 3 days apart
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| John and Ian checking they know the alphabet |
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| John and Glen Drury |
After work for 9 weeks straight without a day off John and I decided to go to Taylor’s Beach which is near Ingham for a weeks R & R.
Once we had set up the caravan it was time for a walk to the beach. The ground was so dry it was is like walking on a good frost very crackly underfoot.
The beach has been laid out great for fishing. A lot of seats and tables also bbq's for people to use. The interesting thing we found was the local caravan park owner was telling us that he requested that the council put some fishing rod holders and bait shelves near the seats so people can relax and enjoy fishing at the same time. A brilliant idea and these are used often.
We went fishing one evening with the neighbours at the camp; had a lot of nibbles on the bait but no one caught anything. But a pleasant evening was had.
We went into Ingham on the 21stOctober for a wheel alignment. We got a lovely surprise as it was only $50.00 . A great job done by Ingham Tyre Service agents for Goodyear. While we were waiting we walked from one end of the town to the other. We found a wonderful fish and Chip shop called Johnny's fish shop. With a little discussion we decided it was time to see if they could match the fish and chips in NZ. The fish was beautiful (Spanish Mackerel) and a good portion of chips. It was lovely eating it out of wrapped paper again. Sure would recommend Johnny's fish shop if you get to Ingham.
Yummy fish & Chips (mobile phone photo)
These birds are known as Willy wagtails. There was three baby's in this nest which was built just outside a main entrance to a local store here in Ingham. A parent of the baby dive bombs people outside the shop so as to protect them. They are small birds, smaller than a fantail.
Another day of relaxing and meeting Anne (Johns sister) & Paul travelling on their way home from a holiday down south.
John was hoping to find a couple of friends he went to boarding school with but sad to say after a couple of phone calls he found out that both of them had passed away a few years ago. We will be visiting the cemetery while we are here to pay our respects.
The area around here is very dry at this present time. While the odd shower comes over and passes very quickly the result is that there is not enough rain to make a difference.
Went to Lucinda wharf this morning to try our luck in catching fish for tea . There were 8 other people all trying for the big fish but sad to say none of us got one, just a little sun burnt in the process. But it was very relaxing and that was good. John did some soduku and I read a book.
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| John preparing a trace (mobile phone photo) |
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| Lucinda wharf (mobile phone photo) |
Another hot day here at Taylor's beach. No fishing today, the fish would get sunburnt if they come to the surface. Went into town today to visit the cemetery. After that we had a lovely afternoon tea with Ian and Gail our next door neighbours at the caravan park. Gail was celebrating her 65th birthday.
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| Taylor's Beach Caravan Park |
Our 5th day of a holiday where does the time go when you are having fun. Retirement is looking good yeah right that’s another few years away. Time to look for more work hopefully another caravan park to look after.
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| Kiwikoala van flying the Australian Caravan Club flag |
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| Green ants nest |
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| John having a 5 minute kip |
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| Two Pelicans resting |
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| Pelican looking out for fish |
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| Seagull walking along the beach |
On our way back we stopped off at Cardwell for a coffee. We stop here every time we go through as its such a lovely township on the coast and the pies and coffee are lovely. The local people are very friendly. When we walk along the walkway the locals always stop and say hi what a nice way to be greeted when you are new to a area.
I noticed that they had put up 3 beautiful painted figures on the southern end of the Cardwell Foreshore walkway. The three large Bagu (statues) stand like sentinels against the back drop of Rockingham Bay and Hinchinbrook Island .They realise a long held desire by the Traditional owners to demonstrate the uniqueness and vitality of the Rainforest culture for all to see. They Bagu are normally painted only on one side . But these are painted both sides so they are about history, the past and the present. These Bagu were inspired by the traditional fire-making tools of the Rainforest people of North Queensland . Placed so that they look out to sea and back inland they conjure up a different time and way of living. A time when life and the tools of life were inter-dependant with the environment and the resources if provided. The artist are Charlotte Beeron and Eileen Tep. Congratulation guys a fabulous piece of artwork.
Many thanks to Thea Ormonde the Co-ordinator at the Bush Telegraph Museum Cardwell and volunteer who spent time telling me all about the area. The Museum is also an interesting place to visit and see how in the olden days things were done. Every month next year in Cardwell from January 2014 they are having diffident activities for one and all to participate in. A great way to show off a beautiful piece of the coast going to Cairns or Townsville.
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| BAGU on the Cardwell foreshore |
These are the wharf posts that were rescued when Cyclone Yazi passed through the area in January 2011. The posts have been turned upside down to show the public the workmanship that was used long ago.
After having a lazy relaxing time on the foreshore and John talking on the phone to Keith for 40 minutes in a catch up, it was time to get back to Malanda for work at the RSL club at 5.00pm.
On a recent drive out to Yungaburra we visited the Avenue of Honour for Australian solders that died in Afghanistan .
A local lad was killed in Afghanistan and his family wanted to do something for the solders of Australia. After approaching the council and having a few discussions, the out come of it was a wonderful avenue of Flame trees. When these trees are in full bloom the colour is a crimson red . Each tree represents a soldier and there is also a place for the K-Nine that were killed, they are not forgotten either. There are at present 42 trees planted.
On a recent drive out to Yungaburra we visited the Avenue of Honour for Australian solders that died in Afghanistan .
A local lad was killed in Afghanistan and his family wanted to do something for the solders of Australia. After approaching the council and having a few discussions, the out come of it was a wonderful avenue of Flame trees. When these trees are in full bloom the colour is a crimson red . Each tree represents a soldier and there is also a place for the K-Nine that were killed, they are not forgotten either. There are at present 42 trees planted.
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| A beautiful peaceful resting place for one and all overlooking the Tinaroo Dam at Yungaburra |
Can you send over that sunshine getting sick of the rain here. Looks like some great camping grounds
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