Our esteemed Past President Russell provided an interesting adventure story about his recent bus trip with Corporate Travel to a few towns in South East/West Queensland. The trip was around an area 1000km from Brisbane in an arid, barren country where only the tough survive.

The discovery in 1887 of the Artesian Basin was instrumental in the successful development of the area. 

He explored the dinosaur museum at Eulo where thigh bones over 2 high indicated a megafauna species inhabited the area in ancient times.

Russell saw the remnants of the Cobb & Co stagecoach routes and the history surrounding the development of towns and “stages” to serve the coach routes.

The sheep and wool history was fascinating , from the introduction of a train network in 1880’s facilitating the transport of wool at a fraction of the early labour intensive bullock trains, to the recent introduction of Dorpers breed of sheep to serve an expanded meat market.

Being the eternal economist, Russell was fascinated by the relationship between the ups and downs of the English manufacturing base and the demand for our wool. Innovation in Australia often followed boom times in England.

Brahmin cattle have another unique story, and are surviving in the harsh climate to provide mincemeat to the US market.

Finally, we learned out a Bilby sanctuary in Charleville.

What a trip!

Thank you for a very exciting expose', Russell.

Ed.