AUC 1995 - Lake Maraboon (Qld)

Lake Maraboon (Qld): 10th July.
Rolleston, Springsure (Dawson Highway) 205 kms

Our route would take us north once we reached the Carnarvon Highway, 19 kilometres to Rolleston and then on through Springsure, to Lake Maraboon.

Petrol was obtained at Rolleston and a search was undertaken for Sue's wallet - but no more needs to be said about that! It appears that her wallet still has a penchant for vagrancy and from time to time, it likes to disappear on her and lay about where it shouldn't.

Lunch was a roadside stop at a small rotunda in Springsure. The rotunda had been erected to provide shade and information for travelers in this quiet little town, nestling beneath Mt Zamia - an escarpment notable for the section on its face which resembles Mary and Baby Jesus. Weathering has taken its toll on this feature, but the likeness is as unmistakable. The town was nicknamed "The Holy City" in the late 1800's, owing to a town ordinance that saw all wagon movement in the town stopped between sunset on Saturdays and sunrise on Mondays.

After our lunch of sandwiches and a financial top up from the Post Office, it was on to Lake Maraboon and the Sunrover Caravan Park, which is south of the town of Emerald. The lake has been formed by the Nogoa River banking behind Fairbairn Dam. The caravan park was very pleasant - if a little pricey at $26 a nightfor our powered tent site. Our site was grassy, but hid some substantial rocks about half a peg depth under the surface. However, our dome tent was up and away in no time and the afternoon was soon over as tasks were completed to ensure our night was pleasant.

Feeding the Rainbow Lorikeets

Immediately prior to dinner, the children engaged in an activity more widely known to be conducted at Currumbin Bird Sanctuary at the Gold Coast. Noticing the gathering flocks of Rainbow Loriketes, the children held out scraps of bread and were soon acting as bird stands for as many as thirty birds at a time. Covered in squawking, hungry birds, they were a moving kaleidoscope of colour, as the birds hopped from head, to arms, to shoulders to hands ... all in search of a portion of bread.

Another bird also attracted our attention. A caged, Sulphur Crested Cockatoo entertained us for a long time with his combination of physical and verbal antics. Many times, he mumbled in such a way that he sounded like someone standing nearby, talking in conspiratorial tones. He also had a liberal vocabulary which included many nautical terms ... well, terms sailors would use, at least!

TODAY'S PHOTOS

During the early evening, we visited Gog and Pa's caravan and previewed the video footage we had shot to date. This was a pleasant - if crowded - family evening and we retired to the warm evening, which was in stark contrast to many of the nights at Carnarvon Gorge.