WARNBRO, WESTERN AUSTRALIA - Monday 9^th to Friday 13^th September 2002

Contributed by Pat HAYNES (49B)

(above and below) Gordon BONNER and Pat HAYNES

(standing) Pat and Dale HAYNES

(sitting) Gordon and Muriel BONNER

Pat HAYNES, Gordon and Muriel BONNER

Still pulling the birds then, Gordon?

A message for Gordon and Muriel from Nannup, down south in the uplands of the southwest of W.A.

Just starting a delicious meal

(left) Muriel and Gordon BONNER, (right) Pat and Dale HAYNES

Gordon and Muriel’s seafood platter – fish ‘n chips Ozzie style

Perth airport departure lounge - the final farewell

Pat HAYNES and Gordon BONNER

Muriel and Gordon BONNER

News From The West

Adaptation of an email from Pat HAYNES

Muriel and Gordon arrived at Perth airport on 9^th September at the end of a trans-continental flight aboard an aircraft of the Virgin Blue fleet. Richard Branson’s airline, famous for cheap fares, plenty of no in-flight meals, and outside toilets, prompted Dale to prepare a picnic lunch to be consumed without delay after leaving the airport precincts. By that time it was doubtful whether Gordon could have survived the hour’s drive to Warnboro, and as Pat remarked: “…he would have eaten the legs off a chair if we had waited much longer.” According to a reliable source the picnic was consumed on the banks of the Swan River; Gordon in particular loved the curried egg sandwiches to which he developed an insatiable addiction, and a capacity to produce large volumes of methane.

Pat and Dale introduced their guests to the very laid-back Australian lifestyle, and treated them to a drive down to the southwest of the State where they enjoyed the local flora and fauna, especially the W.A. floral emblem – the kangaroo paw. Emus, kangaroos, and kookaburras were on show in abundance, and they were most impressed with the native bird life – it was the first time they had seen them in their natural habitat.

It would appear that although Gordon quaffs the occasional pint his preferred medication is a good red wine; he enjoyed a W.A. Merlot the other evening at dinner, a feast comprising a seafood platter – the Australian equivalent of the traditional British fish ‘n chips – that included among other marine delicacies barramundi, a succulent and delicious Australian fish.

The global travellers were accommodated in a B & B that proved much to their liking, and discovered that the parents of the lady who runs the establishment are Yorkshire folk, a happy coincidence as Muriel and Gordon also live in the County. They plan to visit them some time in the future.

Pat and Dale drove the intrepid travellers to the airport at noon on 13^th September and saw them safely off, complete with haversack rations - curried egg sandwiches - to sustain them on the flight. Gordon rang that evening to confirm their safe return to Sydney, and their enjoyment of the sandwiches en-route.

(Note: Gordon has successfully ‘passed’ all entry requirements and is now an Honorary Far East Old Fart – George MILLIE).

Contributed by Gordon BONNER (49B)