Well Folks this is Townsville, just 400 Klicks (250 Miles) East of Hughenden and after 6 hours of careful driving, via the A6 Flinders/Bruce Highway which, like the previous road before Hughenden, is in urgent need of repair but, as I got nearer to Townsville, there was a rapid change to better road conditions.
I am ensconced just 4 klicks from the Town Centre, in The Rowes Bay Camp-site and alongside a 10 mile long sandy beach, overlooking Magnetic Island (so-called by Captain Cook, due to his Compass being put out of sync’ by the magnetic pull of the Island) Townsville itself is called after a Governor called Towns, about 150 years ago.
The last time I was here was 20+ years ago and Boy! Has it changed! From a small sleepy township of circa’ 60,000 people, to a Hustling, Bustling City of 250,000 people, with all that goes with that rapid growth, Plus it has a very large Military Base, used by all 3 services and recently 27,000 Americans and Aussie Troops took part in an exercise from here, it is this that sustains the City’s core Wealth.
But it still looks as inviting as it did then. Here for 2 weeks a) to catch my breath and b) to undertake 2 Lions and 1 Rotary Club presentations for Sightsavers, plus recall the sights asof 20 odd years ago, (The Townsville Sunrise Rotary presentation was on Friday 31st July @ 6.30am, which included breakfast, and attended by 65 Rotarians, the most ever to-date)
You may recall one of my 1st Blog’s, that noted that I viewed the journey from Bunbury to Townsville as a great adventure, and it has been all of that, even the small problems with NCS I have viewed as par for the course but in that, as I arrived on the East Coast of Australia (an area that I had worked extensively in the 80’s) I did express that perhaps it would not have the same excitement and boredom may set in, we shall see as I go!
Whilst here I will catch up with Tim Thomas (The Carpenter from Hughenden) who is working locally and also doing up, with a friend of his (Dave), a very large Catamaran, I have had the grand tour and have booked my around the world cruise as a deckhand in 3 years time, when it will be ready.
NCS: She cost less than what I thought, although I must tell you Spiro (The Garage) had primed me to expect a huge bill! It was actually A$1,600 (£800) instead of the initial estimate of A$3/4,000 (£2,000) that was a great relief I can tell you. She drove majestically all the way, even allowing for the suggested halts by Spiro, to check oil, water etc etc; which I did religiously, but it was nerve-racking all the way, listening for each odd sound, cough and splutter! But, I am here!
I have also had a small financial break with the Katherine Toyota Garage, the one that fixed everything? then it all fell apart once I was safely 200 klicks away from them, I took them to task and threatened legal action if they did not redeem me for the so-called shoddy workmanship they had done to NCS, after much to-doing on their part, they eventually coughed-up my A$481 that I had paid them, on pain of death and public exposure!! That will buy a few more Cigars!!
Spiro who had asked me to keep him posted on NCS’s progress! That is to be a two-edged sword; does he want to know how good his work has been? Or is he expecting a major calamity? I shall test the water on your behalf’s.
Post this paragraph, I had cause through Tim Thomas to utilise a Garage Friend of his to double-check NCS, you would not believe this Folks, but the timing was 21 Points out and the connecting cable to the Temp’ gauge had not been reconnected !!!!! Costs for correcting them A$20 (£10) what are we to do with these Guys??
Miscellaneous Info’: Did you know that Australian’s invented Corrugated Sheeting, which is now used throughout the World?
That 1 in 2 Australians will contract some form of cancer during their lifetimes, 50% of the population, the highest figure in the World?
That Road-Trains were created in
Have to explain the Aussie BBQ, it is indeed a National Institution, and relied on by all travellers who have a need to cook something up whilst on the move, this is facilitated by both the National and Local Governments, with rest areas, parks, etc: all having in-place a Gas fired BBQ, paid for by the authorities, and appreciated by all as a National right, they go along with the camp open wood-fires, that are part and parcel of Australian historical life, encapsulated in the song Waltzing Matilda - “Once was a Swagman camped by a Billabong” – all of that is in the psyche’ of the National Culture and ardently fostered by the powers that be.
An interesting note: It seems that all Australians talk about Towns & Cities like they are just around the corner, I believe this epitomises the great travelling desire of Aussies to know and experience their Country, with walk-about’s come drive-about’s being the core of that need and they yearn to do it! No matter what age, I have met 19 year old and 78 Years olds, Men, Women, entire Families, Couples, that are on the road or have been one the move for periods of “Just starting, to being in their 10th Year”.
NHS UK v NHS Australia: I had a need to replenish my stock of diabetes tablets and approached the local Doctor in Hughenden, it turned out that she was a Torres Islander, extremely pleasant and well versed in matters Diabetes (They had just finished a National Diabetes Awareness Week) she understood that there was a reciprocal arrangement with the UK NHS, but informed me that her Surgery was a private one and a 10 minute interview would cost me A$100, she instead pointed me to the local Hospital, where she took the afternoon surgery, (and it was for free) she also took my blood count which was at 6.2% (Very good) and gave me a prescription for 500 Tablets (A years supply for A$110) not a better service anywhere in the World, and I know!!
Funnies: Remember the American Grocer in Hughenden, well I went and placed a small bunch of grapes in a bag and proffered payment, he refused payment, and insisted that they were “Free of Charge”!
Then, same day when I visited the Butchers and asked for 4 rashers of Silverside, which he then cut for me, and said that they too were “Free of charge”!
I was truly amazed at the generosity of the people of Hughenden (Perhaps they thought I was need of feeding-up, since I have been told my weight loss is taking its toll).
Message on the wall of a Gents Toilet in Torrens Creek: “Sex is like Snow, it is unexpected and may be more than a few inches, when it comes, it is a surprise, and when it is gone, you miss it”
Signed: (Believe it or not by a) Nigel.
Good News Week:
Now the Real “Good News Story” after a bit of researching, I found “Max the hat” (The Pentecostal Minister who helped me when I was broken down) his real name is Max Wiltshire and if you browse the web i.e. www.tan.org.au you will read a truly amazing and interesting story on what this man has done, it is also a fact that he relates his involvement with the Tribal Peoples in a very pragmatic way, and after 32 Years of involvement he should know.
I am going to be in touch by email and ask him if he can assist with the development within the Tribal Peoples of Sightsavers International, as there is an urgent requirement in the Tribal communities for such help as specialist’s like Sightsavers can give regarding Cataracts, which many Tribal people suffer from.
Wildlife: A flock of Emu’s crossed my path enroute to Townsville, what a wonderful sight that was, I now have White Ibis’s everywhere, saw my first Sea Turtle on Sunday, whilst having a coffee on the Esplanade, and Sea Eagles & Buzzards, who have to fight off all the Seagulls at every turn, are in abundance. There is here a hidden menace, it is the Brown Stinger, a sea dwelling creature, not unlike a jelly-fish, but with a deadly set of tentacles that give a nasty toxic sting, which can be fatal. (The cure is an instant application of vinegar – bottles everywhere – and an emergency visit to Hospital)
Communications: I now have 24/7 coverage for my mobile (which is from the UK 0061 0420555829). The Major Telecom people boast that they cover 90% of the Country, what they actually mean to say is that they cover 90% of the population, and they all live on the East Coast!!
What they really have is Geographic 10% coverage; I now know that as a fact.
For those I have not been able to text, apart from the above fact, I have after 30 years lost the use of my hand-held computer, that contained all the important info' if you text me with your details, then I will re-enter into my lap-top.
Daily Routine: My routine has changed, as I am within striking distance of the Town Centre, about 8 klicks (there and back) away, I hoof it every day, have my coffee and newspaper (Crossword) and contemplate my navel for about 2 hours, then look at the nearest Tourist attractions that I can walk to, problem is that having been through here before, there is not much to see, but a walk up Castle Hill (Highest Peak) with views to kill for across the Countryside in one direction and out to Sea in the other direction, are stunning, and is on the cards to do!
One Morning had an emergency on my hands, a Tribal Lady had fallen down suffering a Fit, a young tribal girl asked me if I had a phone and could I call the Emergency Services, (what a pickle!) So I dialled 000 (The Emergency Number) they put me through the hoop, I had to explain exactly where I was, and what was actually wrong with the Lady in distress (I would know wouldn’t I, being a tourist an’ all) anyway we prevailed, and they arrived too sweet! The Lady fought tooth and nail against anything they attempted to do, whilst being caressed lovingly by her Husband. (A moving experience!)
The ambulance crew were great, but with a huge amount of Swine Flu about in the Tribal communities, they had to be very careful, but all ended well, she recovered and I hope she will be OK.
Petrol Prices: Mike just for you! the price of Petrol (Fuel) now at 0.59p per Litre, do not stamp your foot or write a letter, it will hurt!!
That is all Folks for this edition of the Nigel J Gauder Bulletin of events
Keep pedalling along.
Nigel J Gauder.
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