As we pull out of the van park in Longreach we feel a bit sad to leave...a place with so much heart and soul in it. A place where 'the smiles linger a little longer and the handshakes are a little stronger' as the bush poet so aptly described last evening. The van park owners intentionally make their park a home to whoever passes through, by putting on a morning and avo smoko, at the sound of the cowbell, for all to share in if they wish. Oh what people you meet and tales you hear at the smoko circle!
We used Wednesday to catch up and settle with school, shopping, washing and reorganising after a few days on the road and schooling in the car. It was good to set up for a few days stay again.
On Thursday we decided to do the Longreach School of the Air Tour which was really interesting and insightful. It was great for our kids to see how these children on properties so many miles from anywhere were able to do school and be part of a school community. We were able to watch a lesson in progress with Year 1s- very cute. We also had a look at the Airport as Longreach also claims to have founded Qantas. Thursday afternoon was hot! We went looking for water. Some folk had mentioned swimming in the Thomson River, a few kms from town, so we went to check it out. Ok, I'm pretty game, but I took one look and said "lets find the town pool"! I wasn't prepared to swim on the mud with the redclaw and neither were the kids! So we went to the pool and swam in the heated indoor section as the outdoor pool is closed for winter! How funny! Its 33 degrees people! Not winter in this Melbournians eyes!
Friday was very special. We had managed to book a Longreach History and Heritage Experience with Kinnon and Co. which commenced at 8.30am in town with a Cobb and Co stagecoach Gallop through the scrub for 45minutes followed by a traditional smoko back at the station store. We then watched an old classic movie in the old theatre and then a live 'Capt. Statlight show' based on the history and fame of Harry Redford (Robbery under Arms) who came from this region. We had a great chat with Richard Kinnon and his sons who own and run the whole experience over lunch and they shared with us their true Aussie battler story of nearly losing everything they had on their property after 7 years of drought, and deciding to start this enterprise to save themselves and try and excite fellow Aussies with some of our history. An amazing story...as they now still have their property and a successful business bringing history alive for others to experience!
The day wasn't done yet though. In the evening, we went on a gorgeous river ride to watch the sunset and take in the site of the Thomson River at dusk(which looked much nicer than the day before at 2pm when we were going to take a dip)! We hopped off the boat to then sit around a campfire under the stars and eat homemade damper, stew and billy tea while listening to a fantastic bush poet, bringing the stories to life. Wow, we went home feeling full and satisfied, not only physically, but emotionally and spiritually. So much to take in. Longreach, we loved you.
I have included a link to Kinnon and Co and if you are ever in Longreach I would highly recommend it.
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