25 th July  After leaving Cloncurry we stopped to see the Burke & Wills Memorial

26th july We went to the look out at sun set and then after dark.

The 360 meter high stack abov the mine which decends 1.8 kms below,

each red light are 60 mtrs apart

The spectacular waterfall within the park is modelled on the Tufa falls of the Boodjamulle Lawn Hill National Park 

27/7/12....... Today we visited the Riversleigh Fossil Centre it was very well done.

(10,000 year old) Just another big lizard !!!!

                                                             Bullockornis a giant flightless bird suvived until about   

   26,000 years ago. Looks like an ostrich to me.

28 July 

Today we went to the man made lake "Lake Moondarra" this holds 17,394,000,000 gallons of water.

It suppliues the town and the mines.

 

You van fish for Barrumundi plenty there. They have some beautiful parks around the dam and at one there are some very friendly as Rosie found out peacocks.

 

                                  

Post 23 rd July

21st July.......... Today was a first, we attended the camel races at Winton. There were 10 races the last being the Camel Cup. There was a Calcutta ran on this race which made it more interesting for those how took part and a greater prize. Both Graeme & I had a bet to no avail.

Some camel's were not too happy at the idea so they just sit down on the job.

22nd July.........We travelled 25kms out of Winton to the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Fossil Preparation Facility. The first stage of a multi-million dollar Natural History Museum, it is the biggest fossil preparation facility in the country  and home to the world's largest collection of Australian dinosaur fossils. It is situated on a majestic "jump up" one of the shire's most picturesque locations.

Below is the femur  

       Using compressed air tools to get all the rock away from the bone

                                                                         

                                                                      

We than headed for Lark Quarry Dinosaur Trackways 110km from Winton on mostly dirt roads.

The scientific evidence of Lark Quarry Dinosaur Trackways assisted in the creation of the stampede scene in Steven Spielberg's movie "Jurassic Park". The dinosaurs involved in the Lark Quarry stampede are known only by their footprints, but scientific interpretation judges three different types of dinosaurs were involved in the stampede- Coelurosaurs, Ornithopods and a large Carnosaur.

It's a bit hard to see but you can make out the large foot prints on the right hand side, there are two long lines and then some large foot prints, these are of the Carnosaur.

All these dinosours are unique to Australia and they are no where else to be found in the world

On our way back home we saw an echidna so we stopped and said hello

23 rd July  We visited the Matilda Centre. We experienced the magnificent Billabong courtyard, enjoyed the interactive displays Gallery and explored the mystery, myth and romance behind the story of Waltzing Matilda.

Also in town they have a unique way of collecting their litter.

17/07/12
Today we travelled to Ilfracombe stopping at Blackall Memorial Park for morning tea. Their memorials to the fallen soldiers of all wars was very impressive. There was a statue of Lieutenant E T Towner VC MC "Towner, Call" he was a local grazier.

We arrived at the Ilfracombe caravan park settled in and went on a tour of the Langenbaker House.This little heritage house (110 years old) presents a rare insight into the hardships, the 'make do' approach to life and the simple pleasures experienced by the pioneers who opened up the Central West

18/07/12

We cruised along the river on a beautiful Paddlewheeler, watched the beautiful sunset and enjoyed a drover's dinner

and entertainment provided by Scottie ( Bare Foot), while sitting around the camp fire. 

. They also showed us their next entrant in the Melbourne cup "White Caviar"

19/07/12

Back into Longreach to see the QANTAS Founders Museum, we were given a talk on the workings of the 707 "the Spirit of Canberra", the first 707 in the Qantas fleet & the 747 "City of Bunbury"

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12/07/12
On to Charleville.
We changed our plans and stayed at the Evening Star Tourist Park "Thurlby Station" a 33,000 acre working cattle station where we enjoyed spacious surroundings, entertainment every night by the camp fire and the brilliant outback night sky when is doesn't rain. We enjoyed camp fires at night.

13/07/12
The School of Distance Education : We found out how 260 children on remote stations attend school. The classroom is over 420,000sq km in size and were able to sit in on a lesson for year 2 children. What a great experience.

Here's a teacher talking to 4, year 2 students

Charleville is home to the captive breeding programme of the endangered Bilby. The dedicated volunteer shared his knowledge and passion for the preservation of the Bilby. We learnt about the time and effort of two men (the Bilby Brothers) to ensure the survival of the  species and was able to see the Bilby's in their enclosure.

Sorry a bit hard to see as it is infrared lights as they are nocternal animals

16/07/12

Stopping over night at Tambo, it is the oldest town in Queensland's Central West.

10/07/12

Headed for Cunnamulla 292kms we travelled Balonne Highway stopping at Bollon for morning tea by the river, a very peaceful place.

Cunnamulla Fella Bronze Statue, it personifies the famous Slim Dusty song, this statue is an icon of the town.

07/07/12

St GEORGE QLD

On the bank of the river a Memorial for Squadron Leader John Francis Jackson DFC, a Queensland grazier & business & Warrant Officer Leonard Victor Waters, the only known Aboriginal fighter pilot to serve in World War 11, a very impressive memorial.

Went down town to see "The Unique Egg" display. The artist is Steve Margaritis, who first came into contact with the Emu egg when he migrated to Australia in 1954.  His natural curiosity and instinct to create led him to start carving eggs, entirely self taught he applied the skills he had acquired while carving wood as a hobby in Greece. He never attended school  and is self taught. Steve derives a great deal of satisfaction from creating an object of beauty & it gives him pleasure to see other people appreciating his art.