Central Queensland ... Our new Home for a Year !

We had been home, in Sydney, less than 24 hours when it was time to head off. So leaving our family once more, we traveled 1800kms north west this time to Central Qld. 

Our new position is on a station situated 70kms north of Alpha with only about 30 kms of dirt to the station. We are working on a family-owned property that is one of many managed by the sons who have carried on from their father. 

The drawcard for this property was its proximity to the coast, only 450kms to Rockhampton and Mackay, and only 200kms to the town of Emerald which is a much bigger centre than Longreach. So much so it has 3 reasonable size shopping centres, and a complete range of services. We are very excited to be so much closer to a major centre this year.  As usual the position comes with accommodation, a three bedroom house.

 Below: Our house and the green helicopter shed next door to us. Boss often goes out in the small 2-seater helicopter at sunrise each morning.

Horses in our side yard

We were fortunate that the grading cycle was kind to us !  

... and a good friend, Lance, over Christmas had worked with George to flip our axle on the caravan to enable us to travel on dirt. This gave us another 3 and a half inches of clearance under the van. They had also covered the under body with metal sheets to protect our water tank, pump and wiring from rock damage. (Thank You Lance !!) 

As a result we were able to take the more direct Tambo-Alpha Road, a 170kms of mixed dirt and bitumen that saved us a 450km circuit. Last year on our return home from visiting Alpha, we had to take a circular route west to Barcaldine and then south to home as the road was rough and our van not suited to this type of road. 

What a whirlwind start to our teaching year it has been. Leaving Friday morning late we'd stopped to visit friends in Bathurst for lunch then drove two very long days to arrive at the station on Sunday afternoon. With no time to spare we hit the ground running and organised ourselves and the schoolroom ready to begin teaching Monday morning, already three weeks behind in the teaching program.

Once more our work contract is a little different. We are teaching four girls, a Prep (Kindergarten in NSW), Yr 2, 3 and 5. I am in the schoolroom full time while George is in the schoolroom until lunch. He then does some gardening/handyman work and prepares dinner for the four ringers and ourselves. At times these numbers can grow as tradies, other staff and visitors come and go. The record stands at 17 people for dinner at present. It means late nights for George. So far we've found the days to be quite full on, long and with little time for breaks.
Below: A sunrise shot from our back verandah !

Once more, stand by  ... I will be posting blogs on everyday life for us on the station !

By Lynne

Our First Cruise !

Our final excitement before heading back to work on our next station was ...

Our First Cruise !

We chose to celebrate our 32nd wedding anniversary aboard our first cruise on the Explorer of the Seas, a Royal Carribean ship. It also happened to be the first time we had taken time out to celebrate our anniversary in well over ten years.

We were bound for New Zealand for 14 days, before heading back up to Queensland for another year. We had saved up for the cruise while we were out on our first station in south west Queensland and didn't leave the property for 10 weeks at a time

Below photos showing one of the exercise and pool decks, the promenade with cafe and shops, and the theatre which seated 2000 people.

After spending 2 calm days at sea we entered the three sounds at the base of the south island. It was a perfect day for cruising Milford, Dusky and Doubtful Sounds, and we were the first ship in a few weeks to have clear skies as we travelled through each sound.

We arrived earlier than expected at all three sounds so cruised through the first at about 7.30 in the morning watching from our stateroom while we had breakfast. The second we viewed over lunch from the dining room, and the last from the rear deck.

Above: seals 

Our first port and land based tour was Dunedin where we spent the morning on a Panoramic tour which included the gardens, the old train station and views from a lookout. After the tour we spent a wonderful afternoon at the Otaga Museum and had a stop at the Cadbury Factory before making our way back to the boat. The day would only have been made better if I had taken my scooter, but that's another story.

Our second port was Picton where we chose to do a tour which included a cruise through Charlotte Sound. Though the day was overcast to begin it cleared to a beautiful day. We enjoyed the cruise, but touring the town in the afternoon with my scooter was the best part of our day. What a beautiful town situated as it is on the bay with a walking path around the bay which we really enjoyed. To add to the mood in the afternoon, an older gentleman accompanied by a younger man marched through town and into the park by the bay playing the bagpipes.

After another day at sea, which enabled me to rest and get ready for another busy day, we arrived in Wellington where we'd decided to do our own touring which included a morning at the Te Papa Tongarewa Museum including the special ANZAC display, a 'walk' around town, a trip on the cable car to the top to Kelbourn Lookout  where we would have views of the city and visit the Cable Car Museum. The museum is a must on anyone's itinerary. I must say the trip in my scooter on the cablecar, which was very crowded, was a little uncomfortable and scary. It was also another day where we had difficulties with transport for anyone in a scooter, and I wound up disagreeing with a bus driver and refusing to move out of the way unless another gentleman in a scooter was also allowed to board.

Tauranga was our next port and George left me onboard to relax while he did a day tour to Rotorua. We had decided that the tour would be too difficult for me due to the uneven ground, the extended time in the bus, and a longer day. We were glad we had decided months ago to only book half day tours for me. I disembarked the boat on my scooter later in the afternoon in time to meet George as he exited the bus at 3pm so we could have an afternoon walk along the foreshore paths on both sides of the inlet and through the town. Staff, passengers, customs officers and NZ tourist officers were all very helpful this day as I disembarked on my own and laughed about George being on the last of 13 buses. (I am very lucky to have such a patient husband who is willing to keep going after a long day for 
me. It has become a common occurrence  during our travels. While traveling the gulf, George would walk to the top of a canyon only to return to an expectant/patient me wanting to do something else !)

In Auckland we once more started with a tour, this time to a cultural centre and participated in a Welcoming Ceremony and a Hangi. We then spent the afternoon visiting the Scenic Sky Tower. As each port was only a day visit, this was the best way to have an overall view of this large city which has so much to offer. The tower was 60 floors high and the first lift takes you to the first viewing area on the 51st floor which has a few glass floor panels. From here we could see people completing the outside platform walk and others preparing to do the base jump. The second lift takes to to a another viewing area and covers 10 floors in 7 seconds ! The view from both the viewing floors was amazing and the perfect way to see the city when you don't have much time.   

 Our final port of call was the Bay of Islands where we'd decided to have a short day in port as I was beginning to feel the effects of so much busyness. We did a tour of the Treaty House and park area, and the earliest trading post and mission house. It was an excellent tour which rounded out our tours of the history and culture of New Zealand. 
The only thing to mar this day was that it was a tender port and was to cause a lot of angst amongst passengers with mobility issues as each was given a different story about the tendering of mobility aids. I didn't take mine and noticed a few other passengers struggling, only to discover later that day that others had been allowed to tender theirs.

Two more days at sea and we would be home. George made the most of his time on board and participated in the choir and drama groups. I also made him do a few things I would have loved to do but couldn't, poor man, the dance fitness class, iceskating and the Flowrider. The last one I couldn't stop him once he started. I secretly think he enjoyed the dance fitness class too !

The Waitangi  Treaty House and Treaty Canoe... 

Original mission house and stores house 

Two more days at sea and we would be home. George made the most of his time on board and participated in the choir and drama groups. I also made him do a few things I would have loved to do but couldn't, poor man, the dance fitness class, iceskating and the Flowrider. The last one I couldn't stop him once he started. I secretly think he enjoyed the dance fitness class too !

Above: a photo with a waiters each night.


By Lynne

Home to Sydney for Christmas !

We have sadly left our family in Sydney and returned to Queensland for another 12 months of work....

But the good news is I now have time to update our blog ! It was impossible to do this over the last two months as life was just too hectic while at home. We try to make everyday at home with our family count ! So what have we been up to .... 

Our first week at home we attended our grandchildren's school events and Jessica's final Performance exam recital.

We arrived in Sydney in time to attend our eldest three grandchildren's school Friday Funday and were fortunate to spend some time with each one in their classroom and outside at activities. The following Monday was the youngest ones turn at their preschool Christmas concert and then two separate end of year school assemblies at which our eldest three participated in items and received awards.

Finally it was Jessica's turn to shine at her Performance Exam Recital at college, this was the end of her tertiary studies and the final exam towards her Bachelor of Music. She performed a 45 minute Jazz show of her own making, from choice of songs, musicians, staging, PR etc. It was a wonderful night for her to share with friends and family.

We spent the next few weeks following the family traditions of Christmas and our family summer holiday camping down the south coast of NSW. We travelled into the city to see the Christmas lights with our children, grandchildren and friends, attended Carols events at the Domain and our local Mt Annan Gardens, attended our home church, and caught up with family and friends.

Above : photos taken of St Mary's Cathedral Christmas Lights, Martin Place Christmas tree, and the Pitt St Mall.

Next was the traditional trip to the Tamworth Country Music Festival with a twist ! Our eldest daughter and six grandchildren came up to join George, Jessica and I. This meant we moved into tourist mode and did things we hadn't done in ages in between George's performances.

It was one of the best Christmas breaks with our family ! 

Our final excitement before heading back to work on our next station was our first cruise.

 BUT that's another blog post !!

Life on a Station out of Longreach

Station Activities

While our purpose at the station was to Home Tutor a Yr6 boy through School of Distance Ed, SODE or School of the Air, we were also involved in other activities. 

There was Swim Camp at Longreach SODE for two days, a trip into Longreach one Friday to drop our young boy off ready for Saturday cricket and swim squad, dinner at the pub and George busied himself with different jobs around the station.

Here is a snapshot of our quarters and activities!

A beautiful early morning sunrise, normally around 5am. As I turned to walk back to the house the glow on the oldgate and house was beautiful as well.

Looking back to our quarters and our caravan and ute. 

These absolutely glorious bottle trees are surviving the drought.

 A night out at the pub for dinner.
 Muttaburra is a small town with an old style pub, a small convenience store in the front room of a home where the fruit and veg are brought in on a Wednesday afternoon about 4pm for immediate sale, a community hall and small library.


The older brother had returned home from boarding school for a few days after completing his Yr12 exams and decided we should all go to the pub for dinner on his last night. We had been cooking while mum was away at a conference. He was returning to school the next day, a 15hr drive.

Station Work 

George's job while on the station has been to help with the feeding and watering of stock while everyone is away. 

There is no ground feed due to the long term drought conditions and the weaners and bulls they have left need feeding. The property has Spiky Acacia Bush which is a weed but at this time of year it has a seed pod which is very nutritious. The seed pods are generally too high on the bush for the cattle to reach so George has been cutting the bush down to supply them with feed. He has also been checking water troughs and cleaning them as with the high heat they grow algae. 

He has also managed to herd his first small group of cattle into the yard on his own riding the quad.

Above is a photo of the Spiky Acacia bush seed pod which is very nutricious weed.

Below: our young Year 6 student built this pig catching pen to catch the wild pigs which are such a problem pest on the land.

  

Really ... A Random Breathe Test ?

On our way into Longreach one Friday, dropping our student into town ready for cricket and swim squad on Saturday, we were  stopped for a random breathe test. We were about half way into town, 60kms from Muttaburra and 70kms from Longreach, on a development road that is part single lane bitumen and part dirt. Couldn't believe what we were seeing as we approached the policeman standing on the side of the dirt road.

On being asked if he had been drinking George answered, " we're Govies, we would be shot if we  drank and drove on the job. " 

When the policeman stated, " Going into the big smoke for the weekend ! " we answered, " No, we leave for home in Sydney next weekend," not realising he was meaning Longreach today. 

When realising we were from Sydney he said, " I'm getting closer to the coast, I was transferred from Winton to Muttaburra." It was a very different random breathe test !

A Nervous Drive on Wet Black Soil !

Swim Camp and the Wet Drive Home 

We headed into Longreach for the school Swim Camp, a wonderful opportunity for the children to catch up with friends and for us to catch up with some families. While there we re-stocked our food for the next two weeks and then set out for home. 

As we left the sky looked fairly clear and as we have become used to the clouds never fulfilling their promise we set out for the station. I was making the most of our phone service and had finally got in contact with our daughter and grandchildren so was making every last minute count. We had had no phone contact for at least 3 weeks. As such I was not watching which route George took when we headed out of town. 

There are two routes from Muttaburra to Longreach, each about 125kms in distance. We came into town on the one which had only 30 kms of dirt and returned on the road which was all dirt except the first section of bitumen, by accident.

As we continued up the road the black soil was dry but further along it was obvious it had rained as when the tyres hit what looked like dry soil it churned up from under the tyres. At this point we thought, no worries there's only about 20ks of dirt, but it just didn't seem to end. It was hard to judge distance as we were going so slowly.

Next it began to rain adding to the water both on the road and in the ditches on the side of the road. The channels were flowing with small debris but fortunately each channel had a concrete roadway so no trouble for our 4wd ute. Our only problem was the ditch on the side of the road which we needed to stay away from as it was filling and flowing in the opposite direction to which we were traveling. Unfortunately we had no choice when the ute lost traction on the road, swiveled and made its way into the ditch. George was struggling to get the ute out and at one point we stopped, used the UHF to see if there was a local repeater channel to no avail and we began to think we would be spending the night in the ute. Luckily

 on trying again he was able to get the front tyres up out of the ditch and onto the higher dirt on the road. 

The rain eventually eased, then stopped and further up the road it was once more bone dry. The last 60kms to the station as usual was dry, they had missed out on the rain once more. Since we had arrived two weeks before there had been storms across the Central, West and Northern Queensland areas but it has been so random that many people are still 

without the rain they need to survive and re-stock.

By Lynne