March Forward – IWD Theme and Cyclone Alfred
I knew Cyclone Alfred was around and thought it would not affect me. I planned to visit the OWN branch at Mackay in 2025, and was asked to speak at their International Women’s Day morning tea on March 4th, so I agreed and made plans. Would I fly to Mackay? Or catch a train? The latter appealed to me more, and I booked the train, which was an overnighter, with me to arrive early on the morning of the event.
It could have been easy – except for the arrival in Queensland of the cyclone Alfred, which played around the seas off the coast – threatening and challenging us. I wondered if I would make it to Mackay as planned, and I watched closely its adventures. But it was as it came further south that affected me in the end.
The Train Trip North
On Monday 3rd, as planned, I set off from home via train to Roma Street Station, where the long-distance trains departed and all was going well. We did have a drama on the train when a young lady had an epileptic seizure, and were delayed at North Gympie Station when the Ambo’s came to assess her.
We arrived in Mackay nearly an hour late – and my welcome party was there – and slightly upset by the longer than expected wait. We had a quick breakfast at a lady’s home before heading to the event. My talk was well received, then we had lunch, and I headed to the motel I had booked, hoping to have a swim. But it was so hot and there was no shade so I abandoned that idea.
But I was soon to learn that Cyclone Alfred had landed around Brisbane and my return train trip was no more. I searched for other options, but there were none. One of the wonderful ladies offered me a bed – but neither of us knew that it was going to be longer than we originally thought.
Touring Mackay and Districts.
I had been through Mackay many years earlier, but was a much smaller town than it is now. I was really quite gobsmacked. Much of the area is sugar cane growing area.
Cane Fields
On my second day in Mackay, I was taken on a great tourist drive up through Pioneer Valley, west of Mackay. We passed through townships of Marian, Mirani, Gargan and Finch Hatton, up to Eungella, which overlooks the valley.
The Pioneer Valley
The scenery really is spectacular – surrounded by hills covered in great trees and views for miles and miles. Some of the road are really steep as it heads up to Eungella, Broken River and Crediton. My tour guide/friend/driver knew so much of the area and its history as she had spent her childhood on a property in the region.
Plenty of information
We walked along a track to explore and visit lookouts to get better views – but there had been a storm the previous night and there was a lot of debris and at one point it was so much that we had no choice but to turn back.
Walking tracks
On this path as we were walking back – a snake slithered across the path – it didn’t stop and probably didn’t see me, but I saw it!!!
Platypus at Broken Creek
Have you ever seen a platypus in the wild? At Broken Creek there are a couple of viewing platforms where on most days you can see a wild platypus or two, swimming around the creek. And there are tortoises too enjoying the water.
Mother and baby tortoise having a swim
I tried to get a photo of a platypus, but it is not clear, so only the tortoise can be seen.
More at Mackay
Around Mackay
Over the next few days I saw the Hay Point Coal Terminal, Sarina, the port of Mackay and much more. Too many photos to add at the moment.
Hay Point Coal terminal from the lookout.
I did eventually (on the Monday afternoon) get a flight back home to Brisbane.
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