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QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA
– Tuesday 4th May to Friday 20th May 2005
Gordon BONNER
(49B) & his wife Muriel
[Reporter: George MILLIE]
Day One –
Toowoomba Arrival
Wednesday 4th May
Gordon
and Muriel had originally planned to leave Aberdeen, New South Wales,
on Monday 2nd May, but were delayed for 24 hours because Muriel
was unfit to travel. Following an overnight stop which broke their journey at
the approximate mid-point, they decided to deviate slightly from the
recommended direct route to Toowoomba along the New England Highway, instead taking an
alternative and slightly longer route running parallel to the westward, to
arrive on our doorstep mid-afternoon.
Day Two – Japanese Gardens, Toowoomba
Thursday 5th May
Following
their long drive during the previous two days it was decided that we should
remain within the city boundaries and visit the Japanese
Gardens adjacent to the University of Queensland Toowoomba Campus. Although
not the best time of year to visit, there was much to see and photograph,
particularly the water fowl on and around the lakes and waterfalls. We had a
very nice leisurely lunch at the Springs Garden Centre Restaurant before
driving back to the CBD to permit Gordon to visit a camera shop and Muriel to
browse the clothing shops.
[Photographs: George Millie]
Marion & Muriel
Day Three –
Crow’s Nest
Friday 6th May
Crow’s
Nest lies 26 km north of Toowoomba along the road to Kingaroy. Although in
normally picturesque surroundings the farming country is currently very dry
and brown as we are in the eighth year of a seeming endless drought. We
parked the car outside Salt’s Antique Shop, one of the small town’s main
attractions, and spent a while wandering through. It has changed ownership
since Marion
and I last visited and to our disappointment it has gone downhill. It is now
more of a junk shop rather than the genuine antique shop that it had famously
been for a number of years.
The
town was rather quiet and most of the establishments were closed for the
Crow’s Nest Country Show. Gordon took some photographs; we refreshed
ourselves at the local café, and then drove out of town taking the road
eastward to Ravensbourne
National Park and a
picnic lunch.
[Photographs: George Millie]
(above and below) Australian Mynah
Kookaburra
Day Four –
Wineries Tour
Saturday 7th May
This service
for tourists has only recently been introduced and we first became aware of
it through TV advertising. Making enquiries over the telephone on Thursday 25th
April I spoke to Bev Lindenberg who fully explained
the tour and we were most surprised at the cost – normally $45 per head
including lunch and wine tasting – reduced to $40 per head for pensioners.
Without further ado she arranged to come round to the house the following day
to make the final arrangements and collect the money.
E-mail address: rlcservices@bigblue.net.au
At
about 9.40 am as arranged
the 22-seat air-conditioned coach picked us up at the top of the street, Bev,
our hostess and tour guide welcomed us aboard and off we went, driving out of
the city towards Crow’s Nest but on this occasion only as far as “Yesteryear
Fudge & Collectables” at Highfields, where we arrived at 10.00 am.
Gordon photographing bees in the garden of “Yesteryear
Fudge & Collectables”
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Promptly
at 10.45 am the
fifteen passengers boarded the coach to commence the scenic journey to
Preston Peak Winery, arriving at 11.30
am. The first item on the agenda was some wine tasting and a
look at the views from the top of the Great Dividing
Range. At 12.00 lunch, consisting of
a selection of platters and pizzas, was served and washed down with wine or
other drinks of one’s choice.
By 1.00 pm we were all feeling quite
jolly and again boarded the coach for the cross-country drive to Gowrie
Mountain Estate Winery, arriving at 1.30
pm. This is a relatively new vineyard which has been open for
only about eighteen months. Wine tasting is not free here and costs $2 per
person, refunded with any purchases. We departed at about 1.50 pm.
The
coach arrived at our final stop, Wedgetail Ridge
Winery, at 1.45 pm.
There is a very extensive selection of wines to taste and purchase, and for
my palate the best of the bunch. Afternoon tea is available for those who
feel the need of it, but has to be purchased. At 3.15
pm we boarded the coach for the return trip to Toowoomba.
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Day Five – BBQ
Sunday 8th May
Our
very old and close friends, the Lamont Family – Jeanette and Robin, their
eldest son Neil and his wife Robyn and their children Amy, Caitlyn and Shauna
– were invited to a BBQ and to meet Gordon and Muriel once again.
Unfortunately their daughter Heather, her husband Doug and daughter Kirrin were unable to attend due to illness. But a very
good time was had by all, and Jeanette, a folk artist of some renown, presented
Gordon and Muriel with one of her paintings (below).
Day Six
Monday 9th May
Breakfast
taken at a leisurely pace and the packing completed, Gordon and Muriel said
farewell and departed Toowoomba precisely at 9.30 am bound for Kingston
and ‘Yetaboon’, the home of Gerry and Margaret
Peck, arriving at 11.00 am.
Kingston
Published: May 2005
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