Monday, January 08, 2007

Australia Update 01/07/07

Sunday

Greetings from Cherbourg!! Six out of the 10 team members have arrived as scheduled - meeting at the Brisbane airport. The remaining 2 couples missed connections stateside yesterday and supposedly are expected today. Our Team Leader Kaz was off early in the AM back to the airport to retrieve them. Clipping along at 130 kph, it was a 4 hour drive from the airport North up the Coast and then West into the South Burnett Region. Allen out "coach" driver kept us entertained en route!

Departing from Brisbane and its suburbs, we drove through farm land and cattle grazing pastures. There has been enough recent rains to green up the grass. Besides fruits, there is a variety of crops grown in this area including peanuts and ginger. Arriving in nearby Murgon (pop. 6,000) we met out Host, Walter Collins, who as a government employee is the appointed head of the Cherbourg Community Council. We had dinner with him at the local "hotel" and then drove the last 7K to Cherbourg. Saturday night in Murgon!! Gotta love it!

Our "digs" remind me a little of The Kiiki Motel in The Cooks without the view BUT with complimentary cattle roaming through the yard! ….and they don't seem to sleep. We were cautioned about them and "aggressive" dogs (whatever that means) and loose horses! My "Roomie" for the stay, Shannon, a fellow from Minnesota and I decided better on keeping the doors open for a breeze. Each unit has a twin bedroom upstairs and a sitting room with pull-out down and our own bath and shower! I opted for down thank you. I am already missing the Stamford Plaza Hotel but this is certainly do-able for the time. Surprisingly the temperatures are remaining quite tolerable in the 80's with a breeze but are told that will soon change. On a positive note – I have found Cherbourg is a government subsidized community built for the Aboriginal Wakka Wakka Tribe. It has its own separate structure – The Council – but is ultimately "answerable" to the Queensland State government in addition to the Federal Govt. Similar issues and concerns to those of our Native American reservations are clearly apparent: unemployment – minimum income producing opportunities or development and substance abuse.

Today is a quiet day allowing those jet-laggers time to catch up. I am so glad I decided to come a couple days early and feel rested and ready to roll. Tomorrow, Monday, we hit the streets running meeting the various folks that we will be working with. I passed the "hospital" and it appears to be the size of a small clinic. Will know more later.

A few initial "bits and pieces"

  • Land Rover sightings for the day – of interest probably only to Andrew!: 1 LR3; many Disco 1's - a good number with snorkels ; 2 late model 110's; a couple of 110's with flatbeds; and quite a few classic RR. Have not seen any Series trucks except one beater 109 nor any late model RR.

  • Some interesting town names along the way: Gymbie; Mudjimba; Noosa Heads

  • Passed Steve Irwin's famous Australia Zoo leaving Brisbane – Oh Crikey!

  • Drivers' License: New Law after July 1st: Under 25 yo - limit to size of engine can drive!! No big 'ol V-8's. Huge crash statistics in 18 – 25 age group. Speed & alcohol

  • Terminology: No Overtaking = No Passing; No worries = no problems; car hire = rental car; Give Way = Yield; white tea = tea w/milk (duh!); Caravan Park = RV Park. More to follow later.

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