AUSTRALIA-1

FOUR years on and this time with brother Ron and sister Enid we flew south for another 4-week holiday in Oz. This time we had a 2-night stopover in Singapore and saw a bit more of that great place. Arriving in Oz we had planned to see a bit more of the country on this visit and our first expedition was down to the Snowy Mountains with sister Cherry and her husband Brian. In the Oz winter this is where they do their skiing but at the time of year we were there (April) there was no snow but the scenery was great and we enjoyed several days in a log cabin in the National Park. After that Ron and I flew to Alice Springs to experience the Red Centre, leaving Enid with her sisters. From Alice Springs we took a three-day tour out to Ayers Rock and Kings Canyon including a bumpy light aircraft flight over the Rock and the nearby Olgas. Back from the Red Centre and it was time to climb aboard another plane and head for Cairns up on the east coast in Queensland. Trips on the Kuranda Railway and a visit to the Great Barrier Reef (with a helicopter ride over parts of the reef) were the definite highlights of this part of our holiday. After once again enjoying all the sights of Sydney including a harbour cruise and a visit to Manly and a weekend stay in a caravan at a place called Mollymook on the coast south of Sydney (including a game of golf with my brother-in-law Wally) it was not too long before the four weeks were up and we had to be winging our way back to the UK.

ANOTHER four years on and brother Ron and I were on our travels once again. This time we had planned to visit Perth in Western Australia to see that part of the country. Changing planes in Bangkok we arrived in Perth on time and after two days exploring this beautiful city which included an all day cruise (with wine and food) on the Swan River we headed up the west coast on a coach trip to Monkey Mia where the wild dolphins come into the shore to be fed. This trip also included a visit to the Pinnacles and Shell Beach and we both really enjoyed our visit to this part of Oz. On one evening we met up with three former colleagues of mine from the Essex Chronicle who now live and work in the Perth area. Leaving Perth it was a four-hour flight and a two-hour time change to Sydney where we were met by our two sisters. It was not long before we were off on our travels again . . . this time with Cherry and Brian we headed for a place called Lightning Ridge in the north-west of NSW where opals are mined, then it was across country and back to Cherry's home in South Kempsey where we had not visited before as they had moved up here in between our visits to Oz. Leaving Cherry's, we flew down in a small aircraft to Sydney and the next morning flew back up to Cairns for a 5-day visit and to see some more of the sights in and around Cairns including our second trip to the fascinating Great Barrier Reef. Finally it was back down to Sydney and then a final few relaxing days in a cabin near the beach at a place called Jervis Bay which is south of Sydney (including an 18-hole round of golf with the brother-in-law) before it was time to head back to the UK.

Off to Oz for the first time in March 1988 , , , originally I had booked up to go on my own but then brother Ron wanted to come along and then when we were discussing it with brother Rob he decided that he would like to visit again (having visited the previous year). As Rob had made up his mind very late he travelled out a day or two behind us other two. Ron and I had decided on a stopover in Singapore as I was keen to revisit the place where I had spent most of National Service 32 years previously. Due to flight delays we arrived in Singapore in the early hours of the morning and were due to travel onwards later the same day but we still managed to cram in quite a bit and I was able to visit the camp where I was stationed although not being allowed inside. However it was quite nostalgic and I took several photos of places, etc, which I had earlier photographed back in 1956. Eventually we all three arrived in Sydney and met up our sisters there and in my case I was meeting two brothers-in-law for the first time. I really enjoyed my three-week stay in Oz . . . visiting Sydney and seeing the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge in the flesh! We later all travelled up the coast north of Sydney for an 8-day break staying at caravan sites and motels and visiting such areas as the Myall Lakes, the Hunter Valley wine making region and the Blue Mountains. All in all a really fantastic introduction to Australia.

SWAN RIVER, PERTH, WA

FIRST VISIT TO AUSTRALIA

February-March 1988

SECOND VISIT TO AUSTRALIA

March-April 1992

a 1992

FOURTH VISIT TO AUSTRALIA

September-October 2002

a 1992

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THIRD VISIT TO AUSTRALIA

September-October 1996