Moreton Island - Jan '09

Graham and Ann Thatcher
Ken Winders
Graham, Jan, Nat and Leah Corbett and Anna Rusis
Alan Jefford, Minna Ludlow and Sons x 4
Glenn Cottrell and Lyn Conroy
Adrian & Marilyn McDonnell, Kids and Partners
Dave and Bev O’Hara
Pat, Trish and Damon Morrow
Bernie and Judy Cox and Bernie’s Mum
Garry and Pam Broadhurst
Graeme Clarke and Debbie Doherty
Richard Murphy
Rudy Adrichem and Gabrielle
Tony and Naomi Ritchie
Greg and Sue Dunstan

17^th January (Saturday) – The 8.30am barge from Brisbane heralded the arrival of the first of the group of the annual Moreton Island-Australia Day trip. The morning was spent setting up in the extreme heat, followed by swimming at the beach right outside our front door. For those who haven’t been lucky enough to come on one of the Moreton trips, most of the time is spent relaxing, with a few drives around the island, as well as swimming, fishing, snorkelling, dolphin watching and ship-spotting. With the main shipping channel in and out of Brisbane running right past the island, it provides an excellent opportunity to see massive oil tankers, car carriers and container ships sail past, as well as the odd cruise liner, such as the Pacific Star which sailed out this afternoon.

18^th January (Sunday) – After a lazy morning with more people arriving and setting up, the afternoon saw a drive to Taylor’s Bight at the northern end of the island and then back through Bulwer for an ice cream at the shop we all believed to be closed, but had actually reopened! The award for the first bogged car of the trip went to Alan, who found himself stuck entering the Cowan bypass road where the sand was extremely soft.

19^th January (Monday) – The main activities for the day were a trip to North Point for a swim and a chance to get out the body boards and catch some waves, then to Blue Lagoon to wash off all the salt and sand in the pristine clear freshwater.

20^th January (Tuesday) – Some of group decided that North Point from the previous day was simply too good an offer to pass up again, and so visited again. Others preferred to stay and swim at the beach outside our campsite, with more relaxing the order of the day.

21^st January (Wednesday) – Apparently North Point was the place to be, with another drive and swim there on the cards for the day. More of the group arrived off the barge today, bringing the running total of the group to 24 people.

22^nd January (Thursday) – In the morning, the group headed off on a trip to the Desert for the annual Sand Tobogganing Championships. Once again, sheets of masonite were the choice of toboggan for most, with the male mark being set by Andrew McDonnell and the female mark by Ann Thatcher. This was followed by a refreshing swim at the Wrecks to wash out all the sand after some serious competition. That afternoon, happy hour was held on the beach with the beautiful sunset over the water in the background.

23^rd January (Friday) – Most of us were awoken in the early hours by fierce wind and rain lashing the camp, resulting in collapsed awnings, tarps and shower tents, as well as some rather large puddles of water and debris, so the rest of the morning was spent cleaning up as well as welcoming new arrivals off the barge. We also saw an old Endeavour style ship sail past, perhaps into Brisbane for Australia Day celebrations. For the drive today, we headed off across Middle Road, down the eastern beach and around the bottom of the island for lunch in the tiny fishing/holiday village of Kooringal. Some of the group purchased locally grown oysters and prawns, while others chose to wait...and wait...and wait for takeaway fish and chips. Apparently there was only one person working in the kitchen of the shop!

24^th January (Saturday) – The last people to join our group arrived on the barge, bringing the total number of the group to 41, with 16 vehicles. Most of the group headed off on a trip to North Point (stopped on the way by the local police contingent eager to up their breathalyser averages for the day) for a swim/surf, but due to the strong northerly winds, decided to swim at the base of the cliffs along the eastern beach instead. This was then followed by a walk up to the lighthouse at Cape Moreton and then a swim in Blue Lagoon. That afternoon, the ship-spotting continued with the Pacific Sun cruise liner sailing past our front door. This year, the tradition of dressing up for happy hour brought the theme of “Australian songs”. Some of the fantastic ideas and costumes included:

After happy hour, we all sat down to the Australia Day communal roast dinner at “Café Cowan” with tables set up in an al fresco café setting complete with Australian décor and lit by candles and fluoro lights strategically strung between trees.

25^th January (Sunday) – Today a few people went driving around the island, catching up on any sights they may have missed including Kooringal, the eastern beach and North Point. That afternoon, a bocce tournament was held on the beach which led into drinks on the beach. Imposing black storm clouds from the north made some people start to batten down the hatches in preparation, but luckily enough, the clouds skirted around the island to leave us dry and unscathed for the final night away for most of the group.

26^th January (Monday) – The morning was spent packing up with people gradually migrating towards the barge site for a swim. A few of the group who were lucky enough to be staying another one or two nights headed into Tangalooma Resort for lunch, while the rest of us waited for the barge which was running half an hour late.

MORETON ISLAND 2009 - AUSTRALIA DAY LONG WEEKEND

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