Farewell Mitchell

Mitchell to Roma: Thursday 16

Awoke to a lovely sunny day although the wind is a tad chilly, with a late departure we did not have to rush to get away being able to casually take our time. We departed Major Mitchell Caravan Park at 1130 and headed casually to Roma. We had a good drive with Chris driving for approx 30kms which gives me a break. Arriving at the Roma Gun Club (Clay Targets) around 1.30pm was told by the resident manager to just find a spot and he would catch up with us later for payment, he also advised on a Thursday night that the club hold a BBQ for $5 and the bar opens, he said we will start cooking around 6.00pm. We set Poppy up on a good spot, all the main van spots are in the actual car park therefore they are all sealed so no worries about dirt or if it rains. We had a cuppa and lunch sitting outside then in the middle of the afternoon the wind came up and man was it cold. We headed to the BBQ and met some of the locals and other campers who are staying here. Headed back to the van around 8.00pm where we locked ourselves in for the night out of the cold wind. We have been as warm as toast in the van which has been great.

Pic below is leaving Mitchell 

Below two photo's is our spot at the Gun Club.

Misc Mitchell

Mitchell was in undated with flood waters in 2012 to a height of 9.7mtrs high this approx 3 stories high and it was the 3rd flood in as many years.

Below pic is a large bottle tree on the main road

 

 

 

Mitchell 4

Wednesday 15:                 Happy Birthday Patricia Moyse

Decided not to go to the pool this morning being another very chilly morning not alot of use

with the pool being cool, so we decided to go back again in the afternoon it was just beautiful warm and so soothing, worse thing was getting out into the cool air. 4.00pm the fire pit was toasty warm and John was once again telling his poems and yarns, bonus today the van park manager's wife made a damper for all around the fire however it looked amazing when she bought it out of the camp oven, it was not fully cooked a bit doughy still in the centre so we declined any 2nd helping, John finished his poems and yarns at 5.00pm and we headed back to the van and started to organise the car and van for our departure tomorrow when we head to Roma. As we only have a drive of 87kms from Mitchell to Roma we asked if we could have a midday checkout, we had rung Roma and booked a powered spot so there was no rush to get there.

 

 

John Major

Well known Australian Bush Poet:

John Major worked his 2,000 acre Central Queensland Cattle property for almost fifty years. Co-founding the Australian Bush Poets Association in 1994, he's since sparked renewed interest in Bush Poetry, and the country characters that are its lifeblood. John Major was born on his father's farm at Kokatunga, where he lived until the age of five. After finishing school, he spent most of his life living and working the farm that he cleared and contoured from 2,000 acres of raw scrub at Baralaba in Central Queensland during the early 1950s. He stayed there for almost fifty years until retiring to the Sunshine Coast. John told ABC Open participant Tony Bryant about his first experience of reciting bush Poetry at school. John was inspired by the works of Banjo Patterson and Henry Lawson, who he says wrote then about things that are history today. John says that today, modern writers are writing tomorrow's history. John has been part of a revival of interest in Bush Poetry over the last twenty years, and believes its as relevant to people today as it was back in the early settlers' days.

John has in many ways lived the stories he tells, as they describe his world, and his life on the land in Country Queensland. John Major is a true man of the bush. He has run cattle properties and has roamed the outback. Now in semi retirement, John takes tours into his beloved outback and writes poems to record what he sees and hears. APART FROM working his 2000 acre central Queensland cattle property for almost fifty years, John Major co-founded the Australian Bush Poets Association in 1994. Retiring to the Sunshine Coast John has since sparked renewed interest in bush poetry, and the country characters that are its lifeblood. NOT many Australians can say they have attended two Olympic Games on home soil in their lifetime. But bush poet John Major attended both the 1956 Melbourne Olympics and the 2000 Sydney Olympics. John was inspired by the works of Banjo Patterson and Henry Lawson, who he says wrote then about things that are history today. John has in many ways lived the stories he tells, as they describe his world, and his life on the land in country Queensland.

 

 

Mitchell 3

Tuesday 14:

Went to Artesian Spa and got a two day pass getting a concession the total came to $18.00 unlimited entry from 0800am til 6.00pm daily, a beautiful day today after a very chilly night and morning apparently it was zero this morning but by the time we got out of bed it was much warmer. Had a soak in the pool while we were there getting our pass but went back later in the day as the pool had not heated up to full in the morning due to the cold morning. We went of over and listened to John tell some more of his poems and yarns we only stayed for 3omins before heading to the pool. He told a couple of shearer's poems - Brian had asked him yesterday if he had any, he said yes and he told them today before we headed off.

Mitchell 2

Our Camp Spot at Major Mitchell Caravan Park:

And onto Mitchell We Go

Arrived Mitchell July 13th

Mitchell:

Mitchell is a town in the Western Downs district of Maranoa Region, Queensland, Australia. It is on the Warrego Highway, 587 kilometres west of Brisbane and 176 kilometres east of Charleville.

Soaking in the soothing mineral springs at Mitchell is just one of the surprises that awaits you in this quaint town on the edge of the outback.

Just 87 kilometres west of Roma via the Warrego Highway, Mitchell sits peacefully on the banks of the Maranoa River. It lies in the westerly-most reaches of Southern Queensland Country and services the adjoining communities of Amby, Muckadilla and Mungallala.
Many a sun-scorched traveller has found bliss floating in the thermal mineralised waters of the Great Artesian Spa. It's relaxing for the body and therapeutic for the soul, and a precious natural resource that the locals proudly share. Located in Mitchell's aquatic centre, the Spa offers two large pools, one warm and one cool, of natural artesian water.

Arrived into Mitchell after a great drive although the road through was a shocker in parts, and down to 1way in others, it was great though as there was not much traffic on this road it was not the main road.
The scenery was really nice, we came across a real muster's camp on the roadside complete with bivac,campfire and horses for rounding up the cattle - true outback style. Arrived at the Major Mitchell caravan park on the banks of the Maranoa RIver. Great spot on the rise and a walk over the bridge into town. Each day at 4pm the well known -  Australian Bush Poet recites his poetry - John Major must be in his 80s +, how he remembers the poetry is amazing. We went over and had a chat and listened sitting around the camp fire while he told some great poems all kinds good sad funny and rude a great old bloke

Below two photos are leaving St George.

 

Our Roadside Lunch Stop

Last Day here see ya from Mitchell

12 July:

Today was our last day here and we had a big tidy up, did the washing and shopping, pulled the awning down and rolled it back up so that if we get any rain and or a shower overnight we are not rolling it up wet in the morning. We have had a great stay here and really enjoyed the small country town. While we were here there was also a group called "Walking Wounded" Walking Wounded has been established to assist in the psychological rehabilitation and recovery of returned Australian soldiers who are experiencing hardships after their time in service. A key focus area is assisting in the training and employment of returned service personnel into the civilian workforce. The charity is working to intervene and prevent the concerning incidences of suicide in the young veteran community through counselling and other support. Walking Wounded is also committed to supporting the Families of our Fallen (Afghanistan) and upholding the memory of their loved ones. 

These two photos below were taken yesterday around the campfire area and the top photo shows the Park owner shaking the hand of Brian who is the main walker in the group.

 

Misc Golf Course

Budgie

Cockatiels

 

 

Eastern Rosella's

And this lovely cat just smooched Brian