The Queensland Gold Coast

This evening we are attending a reunion of the remnants of a group of teacher trainees who were trained in Papua New Guinea in the 1960s. There were, in total, probably around 500 graduates. This first and almost certainly only, reunion only managed to attract only about 20 survivors and partners. On the course I attended, I am the youngest survivor at age 70.

We will be cabbing to and from the show at the Gold Coast Convention Centre. If it seems a bit grand to have so few people meet there, it is only because we have piggy-backed on another PNG reunion, The Bikpela Pati. You don't need to know much Pidgin English to work that name out! Their reunion is expected to have over 1,000 attendees.

Tomorrow we check out of this hotel and head for Caloundra, and if Joan is up to the walking, take a look at Australia Zoo. Overnight in Caloundra and next day head back to Brisbane airport for our flight back to Perth.

Some more pics...
Interior of Brisbane Art Gallery











Very stern Gallery Attendant











The Story Bridge













A 'Queenslander', a typical Queensland style of housing...built high on stilts, made of timber and iron (steel) roofing.










The timekeeper's office at the Ipswich Raillway Museum. At its peak there were 3,000 workers employed there. In cooperation with the Queensland Museum it is maintained as a working museum with steam and diesel trains continually being rebuilt and maintained.




One of the engines in the main entrance.

There is a working loco which was one of 30(?) brought to Qld in the lend-lease program from the U.S. in the 1940s. A massive machine!