Esk, Queensland

Stayed at Esk inland from the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane for 3 nights in winter 2019.
There is about 1,700 people living in this coutry town.
Esk is named after the Esk River in Scotland and England.
There is limited shopping in Esk, however, there is a small Supermarket, Coffee Shop, Take a way, Petrol, Swimming Pool, and a few other shops to get you by without going to a larger town for supplies.
We have often gone through Esk in our travels but never stayed there till winter 2019.
When our youngest son his ex-wife and their children lived on the Sunshine Coast (6 years), (they live in Tasmania now) we always went through Esk as it was quicker. (This son lives with us now and our home his children's second home).

Photos are of part of the town which I took one very hot morning, it was just over 40 deg C, (104 F).
Coming from a temperature of about 24 degC to that heat was rather exhausting.  We mostly stayed under the awing which was under a big tree at the caravan park.

Entry into town and some shops, most are pokey in that building.

Top one shows a picnic area and the bottom one leads to the caravan park.

Other side of the road the view of the footpath and ceiling in the IGA supermarket.

It's not often you see a ceiling like that these days.

Caboonbah, Queensland

I'd like to thank everyone who passes my way in blogland, also for those who post on blogspot.
It's a way of knowing that you all are alright in these troubled times.
Take care, be safe and stay well.

From the Sunshine Coast we headed south west to Esk for a few nights which ended up being for a few more nights as it was a long weekend and we got the last spot at Esk caravan park due to a cancellation.

On our way to Esk we had a stop, a rest at Caboonbah in a special recreational area on a corner with a fence and a gate which was open for several hours per day.
This area is called O'Sheas crossing and was once open all the time but not these days.
The river was very low, there was a table and chairs plus loos (toilets), and a barbecue.
Population of 14 scattered here and there.

Photos of O'Sheas Crossing and the rest area.  It's so very dry and the river level is low.

Anzac Day, Australia.

Due to the semi lockdown we can't attend the Anzac Day service at dawn, we have been asked to light a candle and go the end of our driveways at dawn.

Some information about Anzac Day which I obtained from the internet.

Today is ANZAC Day in Australia, a day we especially remember service men and women who have served our country. ANZAC stands for Australian New Zealand. New Zealand is not a part of Australia and we here in Australia require a Passport when going to New Zealand.

ANZAC Day – 25 April – is probably Australia's most important national occasion. It marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War.

When war broke out in 1914, Australia had been a federal commonwealth for only 13 years. The new national government was eager to establish its reputation among the nations of the world. In 1915 Australian and New Zealand soldiers formed part of the allied expedition that set out to capture the Gallipoli peninsula in order to open the Dardanelles to the allied navies. The ultimate objective was to capture Constantinople (now Istanbul in Turkey), the capital of the Ottoman Empire, an ally of Germany.
The Australian and New Zealand forces landed on Gallipoli on 25 April, meeting fierce resistance from the Ottoman Turkish defenders. What had been planned as a bold stroke to knock Turkey out of the war quickly became a stalemate, and the campaign dragged on for eight months. At the end of 1915 the allied forces were evacuated, after both sides had suffered heavy casualties and endured great hardships. Over 8,000 Australian soldiers had been killed. News of the landing on Gallipoli had made a profound impact on Australians at home, and 25 April soon became the day on which Australians remembered the sacrifice of those who had died in the war.
Although the Gallipoli campaign failed in its military objectives, the Australian and New Zealand actions during the campaign left us all a powerful legacy. The creation of what became known as the “Anzac legend” became an important part of the identity of both nations, shaping the ways they viewed both their past and their future.

Anzac Ceremony:
At the Australian War Memorial, the ceremony takes place at about 5am and or 10.15 am in the presence of people such as the prime minister and the governor general. Each year the ceremony follows a pattern that is familiar to generations of Australians.
A typical Anzac Day ceremony may include the following features: an introduction, hymn, prayer, an address, laying of wreaths, a recitation, the Last Post, a period of silence, either the Rouse or the Reveille, and the national anthem. After the Memorial’s ceremony, families often place red poppies beside the names of relatives on the Memorial’s Roll of Honour, as they also do after Remembrance Day services.

Moving on.

We moved from Hervey Bay to Mudjimba Queensland which is on the Sunshine Coast in Winter 2019.  First photo was taken at Tiaro, then at Bli Bli of a new shopping complex, moving on to the Bunnings store as we drove past, then the little bird who came to visit whilst staying at Mudjimba which was only two nights, it was school holidays and the park was full.

We visited B's Auntie in Brisbane for the day, so next photo is the approached to the Gateway
Bridge to get to her house.  That bridge is a toll bridge, we rang up to pay, gave the details when we returned to the caravan park, but to this day we haven't been charged.
Initially we were charged $1.00, then when we arrived home to Tasmania we noticed they had given us the $1.00 back! The fee for the bridge return is several dollars.

The photo of the Hotel/Pub, well that was once an Ettamogah Pub link here so you can see what I'm talking about.

Lucky I was sitting outside with the camera to get this shot.

Hervey Bay Beaches, Queensland.

First photo from Gatakers Bay as I forgot to add it last time.

On the way back to the caravan park in winter 2019 we came across the Ferris wheel with it's colourful lights just turned on.  It was school holidays so hence the Ferris wheel.

Below the beach in front of the caravan park looking both ways. So a few steps from the caravan to the beach.

It appears that some of my photos have gone from the blog - they might reappear, well hopefully they do as I didn't remove them.  Must be blogspot-Google gone mad!...lol

Gatakers Bay, Queensland.

On the home front: At last I have my new glasses, got them yesterday.
Remember I had my both cataracts done, one in mid December the other early January.  To read and do my blog I had to use magnifying glasses.
Photo of my new glasses below.

It appears that some of my photos have gone from the blog - they might reappear, well hopefully they do as I didn't remove them.  Must blogspot-Google gone mad!...lol

Evening time at Gatakers Bay, Hervey Bay Queensland.

Was talking to a Aboriginal women whilst there and she told me that once a year at this time Pelicans come to Gatakers Bay for the evening only.

Point Vernon, Queensland

From Bundaberg we travelled to Hervey Bay where we stayed several days.
During our visit we went to Point Vernon not far from Hervey Bay.
These are a few photos taken there in the evening time last year in winter.

This bay is called Gatakers Bay.

Happy Easter.

Happy Easter to all.  May you be safe and stay well.

Bundaberg, Queensland

Bundaberg Queensland is a city some 385 km above Brisbane Australia. It is inland about 16kms from the Coral Sea and situated on the Burnett River.
The urban population is well over 70,000 people.
The city is the business centre for a major sugar cane growing area, and is well know for it's namesake export, Bundaberg Rum.

We visited the city a few times whilst staying in Bundaberg but took these photos on a Sunday of part of the city. We did buy some clothes whilst there as many of the shops were open back in winter 2019.

The Burnett River bridge.

Snow

At home - from the home front it snowed on a few mountains Sunday night/morning on the Island.  The photo below is of Mt. Barrow a low mountain not that far from home, we can see it out the family room window and at the front of the house looking east. It has to be cold for snow to fall on this mountain, many years snow doesn't fall on Mt. Barrow.
It's 1,406 meters above sea level, 22 klms from Launceston. The rock is classed as Jurassic.

It appears that some of my photos have gone from the blog - they might reappear, well hopefully they do as I didn't remove them.

From Friday's post we move forward to some more scenery at Elliot Heads in Queensland.

The lookout below and what's on the Submarine Lookout, the Remembrance of those who fought in the Wars.

There is a man on that rock, fishing.

Back at the caravan park in Bundaberg the bird came to visit.