Gordon & Juanita Around Oz: More from The Atherton Tablelands

From Yungaburra, we took several day trips into the surrounding “Waterfall Circuit”. There are so many, many glorious waterfalls all within an easy half-day drive. Due to health issues (my crook back playing up again) we were not able to walk all the way down to the base of all the tracks. Still – there were some beautiful photo opportunities. Some of the falls we visited are Malanda, Milla Milla, Zillie, Ellinjaa and Mungalli.

http://www.millaamillaa.com.au/maps/MillaaLocal_map4.pdf

Malanda – Not very high, but wide and the swimming hole is deep.

Ellinjaa

Zillie

Milla Milla – If you look closely, you can see Gordon at the base of the falls.

Not a waterfall, but another “must see” – Mount Hypipamee Crater.

There is a waterfall walk from here, Dinner Falls.

And the birds – well some of them. . .

Red-Shouldered Parrot Fig Bird

Magpie Flying Home at Sunset

August 18th is Vietnam Veterans’ Day, and as the RSL sub-Branch in Atherton is in hiatus, we travelled back to Mareeba to participate in the march and service there. Mareeba may be a small rural town, but it sure attracts some ‘big’ people and crowds. There were over fifty members of the (formerly known as Vietnam but now just) Veterans’ Motorcycle Club, including Federal MP for Leichhardt Mr Warren Entsch who is a Patron, in attendance. There were also several recently returned Afghanistan Veterans, one of whom was listed to give the Commemoration address. Unfortunately he was booked for speeding at the base of the Kuranda Range and delayed long enough to miss out! Some other poor chap was ‘volunteered’ from out of the crowd – “Just like in the Army” he said – and he did a creditable job off the cuff. The gathering was also addressed, briefly, by Federal Member for Kennedy Mr Bob Katter.

The following day, we headed back to Ringers Rest. It was almost like ‘coming home’. Instead of setting up down in the yards, we were invited to set up near Dave & Barbara’s house, where we had access to their house power & water. Apart from checking in any travellers, we were also asked to look after the chooks – who were all laying well – and drop in from time to time to see Mum Berry. Dave’s mum lives in another house on the property, and at 98 years of age is a right royal treasure. We played a couple of games of cards, Euchre mainly, with her and she is as sharp as a tack! For her birthday earlier in the year, she was taken for a joyflight in a gyrocopter. Wow, what a lady!!!

We took the opportunity of walking around the property at different times of the day for photographs – early morning mists, late afternoon wildlife and birds, typical “farmer’s finds” – all of which gave us a whole new understanding of the people who live here on the Tablelands; not just Dave & Barbara but people from all around from different backgrounds and the “tough” times Mother Nature brings. Remembering of course, the welcome all visitors are given when driving into Mareeba -

Three hundred sunny days does not leave much time for rain; and all people on the land rely on rain!

Misty Mornings . . .

Flowers and Wildlife . . .

Above: Black Mareeba Orchids Below: Golden Orchid

From top to bottom, below:

Hawk in Flight; Mother Duck; Kookaburra in Silhouette; Brolgas Taking Flight; Pied Butcher Bird; Soft-Footed Wallaby; Spoonbill.

All of these plants and creatures are found on the grounds of Ringers Rest.

Ringers Rest was originally established as a Function Centre (check them out on Facebook). The hall and its furnishings were made from timber felled on the property. There is some stunningly beautiful workmanship on show here, as well as some ‘quirky’ touches – all of which are individual, to be found nowhere else!