Bobj

Why not? Cheers, Bobj.

The old Main Roads Camp 8 miles out from Broome, 1965 I lived in the extreme left one.Shiiii*, 58 years ago.

Dunedin, New Zealand ANZ bank accepted mine from Qld. Cheers, Bobj.

Just another day in Paradise.. Cheers, Bobj.

@Marisawright In my wife's situation, it was definitely not justified My wife, Jo, had metastatic breast cancer and the Dr from Townsville was so very patient with Jo, due to Jo's dementia. Indeed, all the staff at the Icon Cancer Unit in Mackay were extremely helpful when Jo came in every month for a blood transfusion. After a year of treatment, Jo's red blood cell count was doing fine and she was prescribed a pill a day rather than a blood transfusion. Sadly, her dementia got steadily worse and she succumbed to that most insidious illness last October. All the staff at the 2 big hospitals in Mackay were always helpful and always gave that enormous feeling of compassion to us. Costs, Not important for a loved one . Cheers, Bobj.

One thing I forgot to mention; Griffith is in an area known as 'The Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area', or, MIA and Armidale is in the 'New England' area, which speaks for itself. Cheers, Bobj.

Armidale by a country mile. Both get bitterly cold in winter, Griffith is flat country whereas Armidale is almost 1,000 m above sea level and has some really beaut scenery. Lived in Glen Innes, only 60 km away and used to do weekly shopping in Armidale. Cheers, Bobj.

Same with me. When the ship docked in Smellbum (Oct 1963), we were all marshalled to various officials for places of accommodation, which meant that I roomed with a bloodnut for 6 weeks in Essendon. I went on to WA and the the Kimberlies, where I worked on the Main Roads Dept. I was working out from Broome and, on a Sunday, went into town to have a break from tent life. I went in to "China Town" and in one shop, saw this bloke's arm, resting on the counter, the Timex watch and hairy 'orange' arm was a give-away, . I walked up to him and said, "Hello, Mike" to which, he turn to see me. Yes it was my room mate from Essendon, He was on a bus tour around Australia. That was in 1965. Cheers, Bobj.

Just pull ya head in, @Blue Flu. Cheers, Bobj.

And I thought this thread was about memories of landing in Australia, not drugs and native title. Seems @Blue Flu has a hang up as far as any subject matter other than his/her own and seems to change the subject. Gerroff yer soap-box, mate! Cheers, Bobj.

Odd, innit? I wrote a few lines called 'Reminiscing' please check it out @Phoenix16 It is all about my adventures in this magical land. Just a tad over 59 years ago (28th Oct 1963) when I first landed here. Cheers, Bobj.

@VERYSTORMYHad a quiet giggle at that train line, I worked in the roundhouse in 'Bumbry' as a trainee engine driver in late 1963 to early 1964 and used to ride free to Perth....16 hours each way. But the "Australind" used to take 3 hours and Mandurah was a sleepy retirees' village. Wonder if the "Australind" still runs there? BTW, Loved my time in 'Bumbry' and fishing off the land backed wharf for skippy. In those days, Bunbury had a population of about 9-10,000 people. Cheers, Bobj.

Can’t remember my last meal in the UK. as it was almost 60 years ago On the other end of the scale, I hope my last is in at least another 20 years. Then I will settle for a home made curry. Cheers, Bobj.

When boiled down, all countries are just rock and dirt, it is what one does and how one manages in them that counts. Off my soapbox now and off fishing. Hooroo, Bobj.

Bundy gets flooded quite often, so check the low areas. Cheers, Bobj.

WOW! Cost my Dad £10 for me to come to Australia...That was in 1963 when a weekly wage was £10 Cheers, Bobj.

Most likely the big breeder cod managed to evade capture. Now, where is my cod fishing gear? But then, we have barramundi in the sea in front of us. Cheers. Bobj.

@BeachBabe2022 Some good murray cod in the Condamine-Balonne system, which is a feeder to the Darling River, which is a feeder to the Murray River. Indeed the whole Murray-Darling System is the natural home for them. Actually I have never seen murray cod as a commercial fishery. A beaut looking fish with its green mottling. It is also known by its Aboriginal name of goodoo. Have caught many of them in the New England ranges of NSW, in the Severn River. Virtually every westward flowing stream/river in NSW and south east Qld holds murray cod. Cheers, Bobj.

This evening, Ball Bay, Qld. Cheers, Bobj.

@BeachBabe2022 Lived there for 22 years but only saw snakes in the Beardy Waters valley and the headwaters of the Macintyre River, which were red bellied black snakes. I don't remember seeing any in the town. Cheers, Bobj.

I have always said that if you look forward, you will see the bad spots, but if you keep on turning your head, you will surely fall into one, or two of them. I find it so very sad that people are pessimistic on approaching a new life. They should be full of energy and enthusiasm, but then, I am an old bloke who has had a fabulous life, looking for adventure rather than being a sad sack and moaning in my morning latte. BTW, I always thought of Perth as a good place, but apparently I am completely wrong according to some ne’er say wells on this fine forum. Ahh, Perth, the City Of Light. How true that phrase is. I’ll gerroff my soapbox now… Cheers, Bobj.

One of my jobs was to record the daily max/min temps and rainfall at the MKMO main camp near the new town of Wickham and recorded 29 consecutive days over the old century, a drop to 99 F for 2 days, then another 27 days over the 100 F. The hottest day was 115 F and a cold shower was not possible until 10pm. To the op, is the Pilbara the only region you have been given? Cheers, Bobj.

G'day, young lady, I lived in the Pilbara for a few years when it was a 'fledgling' region. Indeed, when I first went there, Karratha was only a sheep/cattle station. It is now the admin centre of the region and has exhorbitant costs for accommodation. PortHedland was a sleepy, 2 pub town but now is a huge iron ore port. Much as I loved the region, I would be very hesitant to recommend it to a young family straight out of the UK. It can be done, though, if one has that certain attitude to heat, dust, flies and the redness of it all. If you are determined to do it, I recommend Dampier to all the other towns that have sprung up 'overnight'. It has a sea breeze and views that make it liveable. And yes, I have lived in most towns except for Newman and Goldsworthy, building railroads and roads. I wish you well. Cheers, Bobj.

G'day mate, first off, Ballina, Grafton and Lismore, the three major towns are very flood prone, as is happening now. However, it is a beautiful region, mostly agriculture and minor fisheries for work. Cheers, Bobj.

A very good trip, @ramot, thanks for that. in the early days of Queensland, Chinchilla was infested by prickly pear, so, too, the Darling Downs and the town erected a Community Hall in honour of the little caterpiller, cacto blastis, that ate all the cactus up Only place in the world with that honour. There is also a great area around there where one can dig up petrified wood. Cheers, Bobj.