Pomona Queensland/Suncoasters and Yellow !!
On this visit to the monthly meeting of the Queensland Suncoasters me and Annie (after 3 compulsory visits) are now fully fledged members of the club and as usual there is a theme this month being that everyone wore something YELLOW !! and of course me n Annie dressed for the occasion Parked at the base of the magnificent MT Cooroora we had ,as usual a fun filled weekend and enjoyed a bit of music and afeed at the local Bowling Club (even tho the meal took 90 mins to be served !)
Pomona is a town located at the base of Mount Cooroora at the northern end of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia. The town was originally called Pinbarren siding and was renamed Pomona in 1906, after the Roman goddess of fruit and orchards. Pomona is 166 kilometres north of Brisbane Now it is a heritage and lifestyle town and formally declared the region’s ‘friendliest town’ (2004 and 2010), Pomona was first settled by Europeans in the late 1880s, but had been home to the Gubbi Gubbi indigenous peoples for thousands of years before that. Early settlers collected timber from the area. The railway to Pomona was operating in 1891, opening the land to farming. Pomona is notable for three things: a relaxed streetscape of distinctive timber and art deco buildings, the heritage-listed Majestic Theatre and the annual King of the Mountain race up the nearby, Mount Cooroora.( I was told the course from the town centre return has been clocked at under 25 minutes !! )The Majestic, built in 1921, is claimed to be the world’s oldest continuously operating silent movie theatre built for that purpose. However, it is not the first theatre in the world in which silent films were screened. The Majestic has been a community-owned enterprise since October 2006.
Australian musician Darren Hanlon’s album “Fingertips and Mountaintops” was entirely recorded in the Majestic Theatre.
July in Australia is my favourite Month because of Xmas Celebations here !
Tomorrow we will be holding a Xmas in July Party at our home Christmas in July refers to Christmas-themed celebrations held in July.
In the southern hemisphere, winter falls in July.Countries such as Australia, New Zealand in order to have Christmas with a winter feel .Christmas in July events are undertaken.However, Christmas in December, the usual month, is a far more common practice, despite it being summer here in Oz bringing the atmosphere of Christmas but with warmer temperatures. Parties may include Santa Claus, ice cream and other cold foods, and gifts. Nightclubs often host parties open to the public.
Meals on Wheels Hervey bay
Me and Annie have been delivering meals for 2 months now and the job is interesting,varied and never boring .The FIRM is always looking for volunteers and we have already met some lovely peopleincluding clients and the people we work alongside.
Meals on Wheels is a name familiar to Australians and is at the heart of many communities. It represents helping hands, teamwork and looking out for each other. It is all about people in the community joining forces to help others. While age and disability may reduce some people’s capacity to get out and about, Meals on Wheels helps make it possible to stay in their homes, where most are happiest, and maintain some independence. Delivery of nutritious meals, social interaction and regular visits ensure a clients’ well being and can help people live the lives they choose.
From its inception over 60 years ago, Meals on Wheels has grown to become a driving force of care in the community. In the course of a year, over 14.8 million meals are delivered by more than 78,700 volunteers to about 53,000 recipients Australia wide in cities, regional and rural areas.
The changing face of Meals on Wheels reflects how the organisation is responding and adapting to the changing face of the community. The multicultural nature of society is echoed in the food, faces and friendships that typify Meals on Wheels.
While the tradition and values of Meals on Wheels remain true to its’ origins, a focus on engaging people of all ages from all walks of life is unfolding and bringing renewed energy, ideas and vision to help the organisation continue to provide a vital service and meet the needs of the community.
Meals on Wheels has had a place in the hearts and homes of Australians for now 60 years. Helping the frail older people and younger people with disabilities and their carers stay in their homes where most are happiest is at the heart of the matter.
Every day a friendly smile, a chat about the weather, a nutritious meal and knowing someone will drop by to say hello, changes the lives of many Australians. It’s not just the clients who value this contact, ask any of the 78,700 volunteers and they will tell you reaching out and making a difference in somebody else’s day, makes their day too.
Independence is something we all value and to have that taken away through not being able to go to the shops for groceries or to cook regular meals, should not be an obstacle to autonomy.
Maheno History beached on Fraser Island
Having visited the fantastic Fraser Island ans observing the shipwrecked maheno I became interested in its history and some of the writings below have been plagiarized along with some pics BUT some of them are mine also…….
S.S. Maheno
Union Steam Ship Company
Built by William Denny & Brothers Dumbarton,
Yard No 746
Engines by shipbuilder
Port of Registry: Wellington
Propulsion: Triple screw, steam turbines.
1914: Fitted with geared turbines and reduced to two screws.
Launched: Monday, 06/19/1905
Built: 1905
Ship Type: Steamship
Ship’s Role: Intercolonial passenger and cargo service
Australia / New Zealand / Canada.
Tonnage: 5323 grt | 3318 nrt
Length: 400 feet
Breadth: 50 feet
Draught: (Depth 31 feet)
Owner History:
Union Steamship Company of New Zealand
Status: Sunk – 09/07/1935
Remarks:
ON 117588.
1905: Delivered 29 September.
War service as Hospital Ship 30.
For many tourists enjoying the sites of Australia’s beauty, one wonders if they stop long enough to question the history behind the natural and man made wonders before their eyes. The Australian coast is littered with the ‘remains’ of many seafaring wrecks, which have today become some of the most popular of tourist attractions.One such example is Fraser Island’s most famous wreck, the ‘Maheno,’ which was driven ashore in July 1935 during a cyclone.
Drawing on local cultural ties, the word Maheno means ‘island’ in Maori, which is the native language of New Zealand. At the time of her maiden voyage, her name stirred quite a bit of interest, based on it’s unusual origins.
THE MAHENO
To The Editor
New Zealand Evening Post
December 12, 1905
‘Sir – at the luncheon on board the Maheno on the 22nd inst., Mr. H. Beauchamp mentioned that he had been informed that the meaning of the word ‘maheno’ was ‘the passing!’ It is often difficult to trace the meaning of Maori proper names, and it would be interesting to know the reason the Maoris called the place after which the steamer is named ‘Maheno.’ The common Maori word ‘maheno’ means to ‘untie.’ A broad interpretation might be ‘let her go,’ as you would let a greyhound slip from the leash. Mr. Beauchamp’s pronunciation of the word was not the Maori pronunciation. He made the ‘e’ long and called the ship ‘Maheeno.’ The a, e, and o are all short, and a Maori (or at any rate, a North Island Maori) would pronounce the ‘MAhEnO!’ 24th November, 1905’
Built in Dumbarton, Scotland in 1905 the Maheno was the world’s first triple screw turbine steamer luxury liner. Cutting through the water with her knife like prow, she had a top speed of 19 knots and broke all previous records on the run between Melbourne and Sydney. She held the Sydney to Wellington speed record of 2 days 21 hours, a record that would stand for 25 years.Designed as a rakish Edwardian nautical beauty, she served as a luxury liner, accommodating 254 first class and 201 second class passengers for Trans-Tasman crossings. Employed upon the Trans-Tasman Australia – New Zealand route, the Maheno took in the ports of Melbourne, Sydney and Hobart on passenger service.
After nine years of panache and service to the upper crust from both sides of the Tasman, she was refitted and was enlisted in the Navy as a hospital ship for service in the First World War.During the war the Maheno served as a hospital ship in the Mediterranean, Gallipoli, and the English Channel. Some 25,000 sick, wounded and dying soldiers were valiantly transported and cared for as she traversed the English Channel over the five years of her military service.
After the war, she was returned to her former glory as a luxury liner, and made six New Zealand to England voyages. But the advent of internal combustion engines, ironically improved by the war, lead to her demise as newer, faster and cleaner vessels took to the high seas, leaving the Maheno in their wake. In 1935, the ship was declared outdated and withdrawn from sailing. The Maheno was auctioned off and sold as scrap metal to the Japanese firm, Taminosuke Myachi of Kobe. At the time, Taminosuke Myachi was running very low on funds. As a result, the company made the decision to sell the huge brass propellers from under the still-working Maheno. The reason behind this was to fund the towing of the Maheno by a ship named the Ottawa back to Osaka, Japan. Once in Japan the Maheno was to be dismantled, melted down and then sold as scrap metal. This would turn out to have disastrous results.
The Maheno left Melbourne on June 25, 1935 in tow behind the Oonah, a 1700 ton coaster which had also been sold to the same buyer. It was while on this sad final journey that the Maheno was hit by an unseasonal cyclone off the eastern coast of Fraser Island. During the storm, the tow rope broke and the Maheno drifted ashore and became stranded between Happy Valley and Cathedral Beach on Fraser Island on July 9th, 1935.
Luckily, there was only a skeleton crew on board. Some of the stories of the ship washing up on Fraser tell the tale of the Japanese crew being too afraid to get off the vessel after hearing of the cannibalistic traits of the local Aborigines.Attempts were made to refloat the Maheno unsuccessfully and eventually it was left abandoned on what is now known as 75-mile beach. Another classic yarn tells of the ship being on a tilt of 20 degrees plus. One of the politicians from Maryborough held their wedding on the angled deck and photos have been found with all in sundry enjoying a slightly ‘leaned’ wedding with the Model T Ford cars parked on 75-mile beach.At the beginning of World War II the ship was used as target practice by the RAAF’s Bundaberg aviation training school. Square holes remain in the middle section of the hull, resulting from World War II demolition practice by the Z force commandos, using limpet mines.
Allan Dyball, Senior Queensland Parks and Wildlife Ranger explained:
‘During World War II she was used for bombing practice from above and also had shells fired at her from the sea,” said Allan, “She also had commandos climbing all over her, blowing her up. So she had a bit of a hard life, even after she came to grief on the island.’
Now the reclining former beauty, that the years have dressed in layers of rust and sand, stands today, a relic of her once great glory, but it is a case of ‘look but do not touch,’ as the Queensland government has declared her dangerous and off limits. As a result, and in spite of the temptation, climbing on the shipwreck is not permitted. In fact, fines are issued to those who breach the 3 meter ‘no go zone!’ Nevertheless, she remains one of Fraser Island’s most visited and photographed attractions.
Fraser Island
We rose at 6.30 am and caught our connecting bus to the Ferry enduring a 25 min drive,,The ferry took around 35 minutes to land us on Fraser (not bad ONE hour away from home !) After being introduced to our 4 wheel bus driver we set off on our travels via a very sandy,bumpy drive. Ian didnt spare the horses and the drive was exhilarating similar to Blackpools Big Dipper !! Within minutes we were “thrown” into a deep shady tropical forest and the scenery out of this world ( actually featured on BBCs Walking with Dinosaurs) The trees were incredibly high and some young ones we viewed are approx 8500 yrs old !The island is made up entirely by sand being the largest of its kind in the world and its existence apparently helped evolve the Great Barrier Reef (in Australian terms,just around the corner from us!) Fresh water streams over sand is SO clear the water is hard to notice on film .The “jungle” is reminiscent of a Tarzan movie with so many vines hanging from the ancient trees Altho I have visited this Island before it was a short stop for a couple of hours at the hotel,this time the Ferry took us to a small almost desolate landing. After a drive thru a lot of magnificent scenery and after a great all you can eat lunch we drove onto the beach and were amazed at the amount of cars on the 75 mile stretch of sand we drove on (4 wheel drives ONLY are allowed on the Island as all interior roads are very spongy sand) We drove lots of fresh water streams that drained into the ocean,spotted a couple of dingos,various bird species and a Whale that was frolicking off shore. The highlight (for me) was the wreck of the once magnificent Maheno Liner as it lay in the sands rusting away (info soon a long with some Island background) it was a very full on day going ever so quickly over a 12 hour period .Driver Ian was magnificent in his historical and interesting narration
from Wikipedia..
Fraser Island is a heritage-listed island located along the southern coast of Queensland, Australia, approximately 200 kilometres (120 mi) north of Brisbane.Its length is about 120 kilometres (75 mi) and its width is approximately 24 kilometres (15 mi).It was inscribed as a World Heritage site in 1992.The island is considered to be the largest sand island in the world at 1840 km².It is also Queensland’s largest island, Australia’s sixth largest island and the largest island on the East Coast of Australia.The island has rainforests, eucalyptus woodland, mangrove forests, wallum and peat swamps, sand dunes and coastal heaths. It is made up of sand that has been accumulating for approximately 750,000 years on volcanic bedrock that provides a natural catchment for the sediment which is carried on a strong offshore current northwards along the coast. Unlike many sand dunes, plant life is abundant due to the naturally occurring mycorrhizal fungi present in the sand, which release nutrients in a form that can be absorbed by the plants.Fraser Island is home to a small number of mammal species,as well as a diverse range of birds, reptiles and amphibians, including the occasional saltwater crocodile. The island is part of the Fraser Coast Region and protected in the Great Sandy National Park.Fraser Island has been inhabited by humans for as much as 5,000 years.
Fraser Island has over 100 freshwater lakes,as well as the second highest concentration of lakes in Australia after Tasmania.The freshwater lakes on Fraser Island are some of the cleanest lakes in the world.A popular tourist area is Lake McKenzie which is located inland from the small town of Eurong. It is a perched lake sitting on top of compact sand and vegetable matter 100 metres (330 ft) above sea level. Lake McKenzie has an area of 150 hectares and is just over 5 metres (16 ft) in depth. The beach sand of Lake McKenzie is nearly pure silica.
Diabetes.me and a 10 yr old girl named Harper
Yesterday I had the misfortune of being diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. My world has changed ! I was overwhelmed and what the future holds and very ignorant of the disease. I was sat in the Diabetic Information Office awaiting my pre arranged appointment .At the reception desk was sat a lovely bright 10 yr old girl who kept me entertained with her music and drawings (she would let me have a go at drawing too !) Harper (her name) was filling in for her mother who is the Diabetes nursing specialist and Harper was their courtesy of school holidays. I was sat with Annie who was giggling away at our senior/young person interaction and the very delightful Harper asked which of us is Diabetic.After confirming it was me and she was really up to date with info I asked if her family had history. Without flinching she showed me the Machine that was (almost) permanently attached to her young body and she informed me she was a Type 1 Full blown insulin dependant “victim” My self esteem and self imposed “feeling sorry” for myself disappeared Immediately ! I am one of the lucky ones and will (hopefully) take care of myself considering my family have a history of this disease Sadly this young lady will have this horrible affliction for the rest of her life,whilst I now consider being lucky contracting diabetes after 68 yrs !! and able to enjoy our life style thanks to my very supportive wife All thoughts of self pity etc are GONE and look forward to the future..Just a little of background courtesy Diabetes Australia Newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes …When you are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes you may feel a variety of emotions. Perhaps you are relieved at finally being given a diagnosis to explain your symptoms or you may feel shock and disbelief. These feelings are completely normal when you are diagnosed with a chronic disease.The important thing to remember is that you are not alone. There are many people who can help you understand and manage your condition and live life to the fullest without compromising the things that are important to you and your family. Many people find when they start managing their diabetes they often feel better than they have for years. This is because managing diabetes is really about improving your health – and everyone should do this! I am thankful to my Doctor for diagnosed my Diabetes Dr Lwin
Watch me play Didgeridoo
Geoffs Life After Work ! 