Monday April 5, 2010 – Longreach

More shops were open than we thought on this Easter Monday. We were up and out by 9:15 to go to the Visitors Centre. We found out how to book for the sunset cruise on the paddle wheeler. When we got to book the cruise there were only 4 spaces left. The cruise had just started back up again after the summer. They do not operate in the summer when it is too hot.

We took in the local craft fair. I got a couple of books and a book mark made by a young girl around 12. I also had a scone with jam and cream.

After doing some grocery shopping, we returned back to the cabin. We then went over to the Qantas Founders Museum. We started with a tour of a retired 747. Qantas donated it in 2002. It was great to see it up close and personal. We had our picture taken in one of the engines. We saw the outside and found out what all the bits and pieces were for on the outside. Inside we heard about the black boxes, the slides, the cockpit and the upstairs in the front. As this was a domestic aircraft the upstairs was economy class and not first class. It was interesting to see other parts of the plane one does not normally see. In the same area is a 707 that is being restored and an old DC3. It was hot and we were hungry so we went back to the cabin and had a swim and something to eat. Longreach is having a locus invasion. They are big and everywhere. When we got to the pool there was a lady skimming locus out of the water. There must have been 50 in the pool. Charles took over the job and soon the pool was locus free for at least a few minutes. They are very good swimmers. Seem to do the breast stroke. As we swam we also got more loci out. It was a very refreshing swim.

One nice thing with the Qantas Museum was you could come and go. So after lunch we went back to see the rest of the museum. It was fun to find out how the airline got started, by whom and when. We also found out what Qantas means. It stands for Queensland And Northern Territories Aerial Service. It was started by two men who learned how to fly in WWI. They saw a need in Outback for an air service. They got a backer and finally started up by 1921. The first board meeting was held in Winton but they thought Longreach would be a better place to set up as it was the rail head. They started with a small two seater plane. For quite a while when you boarded a plane you go a leather flying cap and goggles as you were in an open plane. One of the original men dropped out just after the first flight. The other man went on to give the outback its first airline. He was very forward thinking as he thought someday this airline would fly worldwide. One thing that really sent them on their way was winning the contract to fly mail to Cloncurry. The first planes only flew at about 140km/hr which today does not seem like much but then as fast. Here were men who saw something that was needed and set about making it happen.

A number of years later the original founder met up with Rev. John Flynn who wanted to use the aircraft for transporting sick patients. Together they talked about what would be involved. Eventually John Flynn started the Flying Doctor Service.

One thing that made outback seem more accessible was the short wave radio. With no power at the stations the pedal driven radios fit the bill. The stations staff could pedal and make enough power to run the radio as needed.

We got back to relax and get ready for the cruise this evening. Unfortunately, the sky had clouded over and we did not see the sunset. The hour cruise on the Thomson River was very relaxing. We were given crackers with some vegetables, cheese, grapes and dried fruit to snack on. To young people, a girl and a boy served us these goodies. The captain kept us entertained with jokes and facts about the river. After the cruise was finished, we went ashore to have supper. The captain then picked up a guitar and entertained us with more jokes and songs. Soon a delicious stew was served with bread. This was followed by an apple tart with a custard sauce. Tea was made over the open fire in a billy. The way it was made by the bushmen of the past. We also had damper which is a bread made with flour, water and salt served with golden syrup. After we had finished eating we were entertained by the barefoot poet. He did not write the poetry he recited. He was very expressive. We laughed at some of the poetry he recited. Other poems were thought provoking. The only thing missing was the singing of Waltzing Matilda. Soon it was back on the bus and back home. When the bus started down the road the locus took to the air. Some smashing against the windshield. It was magical in the dark seeing all these locus in the lights of the bus. What a wonderful way to end this day.

We realize that we could have had another day here to see everything.