2023 - FIP Brisbane: 2023

Tuesday, October 3, 2023

Day 13: Mon 3 Oct - Home

A very sad day - all our visitors left. Wendy took Sylvain to the airport for the 9:45am flight to Brisbane and Greg took Ulf, Silke and Arne for the later Jetstar flight

Although the post conference tour was not as exciting for me this year, it was to the visitors. Whilst it did involve a lot of preparation, it was an absolute pleasure to have a group of international, like-minded people visit Hippo Farm and surrounding areas. It was also a great opportunity for Wendy to visit the rest of Fraser Island, and the rum distillery.

And, so ends another FIP Congress and visit/tour. Next year , we are off to Cape Town, South Africa. I still have family in South Africa, so will probably go a week before the Congress to spend some time with them and then stay a week after to do some stuff with the group. We still do not know where the Congress will be in 2025, so hopefully it will be somewhere I have not been and really want to go.

PS. I have booked my ticket for Cape Town and have arranged with the cousins for a visit pre-Congress. The group was going to do a visit to Vic Falls in Zimbabwe/Zambia, however, after receiving a few quotes, most have decided to stay in Cape Town and do tours from there. I do not remember ever having been to CPT, so everything will be new and exciting.

Monday, October 2, 2023

Day 12: Mon 2 Oct - Home

A sad day today, Jane and Ann left to return to New Zealand. Whilst Wendy transported them to the Hervey Bay airport for the first leg of their voyage, Greg took the others on a tour de Hippo Farm.

On Wendy's return, morning tea was had then we all went for a wander around Bamboo Land (our neighbours). It was a peaceful wander and a relaxing day afterwards, allowing everyone to catch their breath.

A BBQ dinner of steak (for the steak lovers) and Mullet for those that are not that fussed. Whilst Greg cooked the mullet, I was left in charge of the BBQ, and several comments were made about women not being allowed in a man's domain!! Hello, the forces have moved on and allowed women in the ranks, so why not in charge of the BBQ. Fortunately, I did a good job of cooking all the steaks to a perfect medium-rare, much to the amazement of the overseas visitors! Lovely food was consumed over hearty conversations about everything and anyone. It was also a sad occasion as all the visitors are leaving tomorrow.

Bambooland pics

Us at Bambooland - Arne, Silke, Ulf, Wendy, Sylvain

Post dinner chat - Ulf, Arne, Sylvain, Greg, Wendy

Sunday, October 1, 2023

Day 11: Sun 1 Oct - Home

We had a little sleep in this morning as we did not have to leave until 8am to be at the Bundaberg Rum Distillery before 9:30am. It took us a little longer than anticipated and we made it with only minutes to spare. Unfortunately, we had to leave all devices with a battery in a locker so we could not take any photographs. We suspect this is to preserve the intellectual property of the distillery.

For those that want to read about the process, here is the link.

Anyway, we toured the distillery, well, those parts they want to show you and were then ushered into the shop where we could taste two of their products in the hope you buy at least one. I tasted the Banana and Toffee Royal, and Coffee and Chocolate Royal Liqueurs and ended up buying a bottle of the banana and toffee.

After all that excitement, we decided to head to the macadamia farm as Google told us it had a cafe/restaurant. So, we headed out to Macadamias Australia where we all had very substantial and tasty lunches. After alcohol and food we were all ready for an afternoon nap. However, those in my vehicle had to accompany me to Childers to shop for the sausage sizzle dinner tonight, and refuel. Woolies was closed so we refuelled then visited the Childers IGA and procured a selection of sausages and some bread rolls (one of the advantages of being a logistician, there is always an alternate means of procurement). The passengers in Greg's vehicle had the opportunity to visit Woodgate Beach, a sleepy beachside hamlet where we occasionally spend 4-5 days at in the van. They had a walk on the lovely Woodgate Beach and joined us at HF a little later.

No photos of the sausage sizzle as we were all too tired. A relatively early night was had.

The iconic BIG Bundaberg Rum Bottle

Before the tour

After....

Before the tastings....

and after ....!!

Saturday, September 30, 2023

Day 10: Sat 30 Sep - Home

A beautiful day in QLD

We try to do a tour wherever we meet for FIP, and the tour must include at least one UNESCO listed site. This year it was Fraser Island. So, we were up early to have coffee and breakfast before driving to River Heads to catch the ferry to Fraser Island (now K'gari) for the day. We left home about 7am, and didn't get back until about 8pm!

We arrived at River Heads with plenty of time to spare. I checked us all in for the ferry ride and then it was just a matter of waiting to be allowed onto the ferry and for it to leave; it left a little later than the scheduled departure time of 8:30am. I need another coffee, so bought one onboard and it was reasonably priced and good coffee. Prior to board the ferry, we had to make contact with with our guide/driver for the day so we knew which bus to board when on the island. Can't remember what his name was though.

We arrived on the island about an hour later (there was a rather strong head wind) and found our drive/guide and hopped on the correct bus - named Zircon. First stop was at Central Station that was originally established as a forestry camp when there was logging on the island. It now stands as a display centre explaining the development of the island and its various flora and fauna. More info here.

It was then time for lunch and we had that at K'gari Beach Resort. It was an all-you-can-eat, buffet style lunch. Some had room for an ice-cream before jumping back on the bus to continue the tour.

We drive along the 75 Mile Beach until we reached the Maheno Shipwreck where we were given 15-20 minutes to walk around and photograph the wreck. All that remains is a rusty shell of a ship, but the colours were fantastic, not that the humble iPhone 13 could capture it all.

We then back-tracked along 75 Mile Beach to The Pinnacles. I was a tad disappointed as there was not that much colour to them. Apparently, they are best viewed in the morning when the sun is shining on them. Never mind, been there, done that, now!

The next stop was a bit disappointing - Eli Creek. I believe the only reason the tours stop here is for a comfort break. However, one has to cross Eli Creek, that can be as high as knee to mid-thing on a short person such as me! Our group chose to not visit the amenities and wandered the beach being mindful of the 4WDs racing along the beach as if it were a race track.

Our last stop for the tour was at Lake McKenzie. The white 'sand' and blue waters were stunning. However, the ever relentless wind was present making it a tad fresh to enter the waters. There were many brave souls, including our own Arne.

I had had enough of the island by now. The roads were very lumpy and bumpy, and the tour is not something I would do again in a hurry. Perhaps if we were in our own vehicle (smaller than a 40-seater 4WD bus) it would have been better.

We were delivered back to the wharf to board the 5:15pm ferry back to the mainland. We arrived on the mainland about 5:45pm and we went directly to the Miners Arms (a pub) at Torbanlea, that is one of our local dining venues. We all had very good meals (the reason we chose this place) and were back at Hippo Farm about 8pm. A very long day day, but a most enjoyable day with the military pharmacy family.