A BIG BIG CORK TREE AND AN OLD OLD STATION

While we were in Tenterfield we heard about a Cork Tree, which was supposed to be the biggest in Australia. We looked on a map where to find it. It is actually in a residential area. It was brought from England by Edward Parker and planted in 1861.

My friend Val and the big cork tree. I couldn't move any further back to get the whole tree in the photo.

Then we went to see the old Tenterfield Railway Station. The trains no longer run through Tenterfield since 1988. The line was moved to a new route from Sydney to Brisbane.In 1991 it was opened as a museum.

The station was opened in 1886 by the Governor of NSW and officially named "the great Northern Terminus. It was described as one of the most extensive and handsome buildings on the Northern Line.
130 years later the building still has its charm.

Each of the rooms housed artifacts and old photos. Val and I took in the exhibits. Peter was interested in the role the station had helping transport soldiers north during WW2.

I found these two old farts in the Waiting Room.

Val and I passed this lovely house walking home. Typical of country homes. Next morning we drove home via a different route. We passed mountains. We passed farms. We passed Sugar cane fields. We passed rivers.

This one is the Tweed River, which forms part of the border between Queensland and New South Wales. Then home sweet home.

TENTERFIELD ROAD TRIP

 Tenterfield is a small town in northern NSW in the New England Region, which is a very fertile, cool, highland area. It was originally inhabited by the Bundjalung, Jukeembal and Kamilaroi people. The first European came in 1840's. Sir Stuart Donaldson, a London merchant had 18,000 sheep on a station which he named Tenterfield Station. By 1870 there were churches, a school, the School of Arts, hotels and "the Chronicle" were established and there was a population of 900. In 1886 the Great Northern Railway was opened it was originally the junction of NSW and QLD rail lines. 

In those days Australia was a collection of colonies all administered by England. Some of the population wanted all the colonies to join together and become a federation of Australia. During this campaign,  Sir Henry Parkes delivered his famous federation speech in the School of Arts in Tenterfield in 1889, which ultimately led to the federation of all Australian States in 1901. Since then Tenterfield is known as the 'Birthplace of our Nation'.

The School of Arts is now a Museum and cafe. Bill and Peter, who both have trouble walking and standing for any length of time, returned to the Bowls Club for a drink and lunch, while Val and I explored the museum and had lunch there and walked home dropping into some lovely country dress shops on the way.

The table where people came together to hear Sir Henry Parkes' speech. There is a photo of the meeting on the glass wall at the end of the table.

Earlier that morning we drove up a windy road to the Mt MacKenzie lookout where we could only just see the township through the hazy atmosphere.

In the afternoon we checked out the local parks to see the autumn colours, even though we were a bit early for the full colours. Last time we went to see the trees we were too late.

A local enjoys doing Tai Chi under the trees.

Then we found a pretty street.

with a cute old house.

This is a map of our road trip.

CHASING AUTUMN COLOURS

After Stanthorpe we drove on towards Tenterfield. We stopped at the Warrangarra Heritage listed Railway Station Museum and Cafe for morning tea. This station was built in 1877 and is no longer used as a railway station. It is on the border of Queensland and NSW. When the colonies built railways they were different gauges. The two colonies, QLD and NSW, could not agree on a standard gauge. Passengers travelling from Sydney to Brisbane had to change trains at Warrangarra. The two different sides to the station are two different architecture styles and rail gauges. The left side is Queensland Rail style and the other side is NSW Rail style for back in those days.

From the station cafe I could see a colourful autumn tree through the window so I went outside for a better look.

There were more across the old railway line, which was the twin town of Jennings. It is in NSW while Warrangarra is in QLD.

After morning tea we drove on to Tenterfield. We arrived too early to book into our motel so Peter, our driver, said lets keep going onto Glen Innes for lunch and then come back.

Not far out of Tenterfield is Bluff Rock and some brightly coloured Poplar Trees.

As we drove into Glen Innes the streets were lined with colourful trees. We found a comfortable, old hotel for lunch, where the staff were very friendly. After lunch we drove the one and half hours back to Tenterfield and booked into our motel home for the next few days.

ANZAC DAY 2023

ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. On the 25th April 1915, Australian and New Zealand soldiers formed part of the allied expedition that set out to capture Constantinople the capital of the Ottoman Empire and an ally of Germany. The Anzacs were landed on the beaches below the cliffs where the Turkish soldiers resisted the invasion. The campaign lasted eight months and at the end of 2015 the allied forces were evacuated. Over 8,000 Australian soldiers were killed. From 2016, the 25th of April became the day to remember the soldiers who were killed. As time went on it became the day that we remember all Australians killed in military operations.

Today in our little village our veterans and their families march around the village to the Community Centre where a service is conducted and wreaths are laid followed by morning tea and drinks.

Chiou See, our managing Director leads the march with marching music and Fred a disabled veteran.

The little group of veterans march or scooter to the Community Centre.

Villagers clap in recognition of their services to their country.

Ian gives the Welcome Speech and the meaning of Anzac Day.

Then some of the veterans laid wreaths representing the Army, Navy and Airforce.

Chiou See lays a wreath representing the residents. 

Then we had Bob say the Ode of Remembrance and the Last Post was played followed by a minutes silence. 

Then Reveille is played and the flag ,which is at half mast during the ceremony, is raised by Roy.

Then residents are invited to lay poppies with the wreaths.

Afterwards it is a time for camaraderie with families and friends.

HIT THE ROAD AGAIN AFTER A LONG BREAK

It has been a long time since we have done a road trip or any trip thanks to Covid and getting older and lazier by the day. However, we made arrangement with friends, Peter and Val, to go to Tenterfield for a short break and hopefully to enjoy some Autumn colours. We decided to stop overnight on the way at Stanthorpe and have dinner at Anna's Italian Restaurant.

Stanthorpe is a small town in SE Queensland close to the NSW border. It is in the Southern Downs Region and is 690m/2,260ft above sea level. It is Kanbuwai Country of indigenous people but in 1860's  the local Catholic priest encouraged grape growing to produce altar wine. There were plenty of Italian settlers who found wine making a pleasant pastime as well as growing fruit and vegetables.

In 1870's tin was discovered and with the influx of miners the township grew and was named Stanthorpe which means 'tintown'. When the tin prices fell the miners turned to growing fruit and vegetables. Today, Stanthorpe is known for its apples and wines. It is also popular with coastal dwellers to holiday in the cool climate.

Driving towards the highlands through the pretty Scenic Rim region. 

We stopped for lunch in Warwick at a cafe in a nursery. It had a funny sign outside.

Our friend Peter enjoyed a burger for lunch.

Then we drove onto Stanthorpe. We had a bit of excitement when we arrived at our Motel accommodation where we had booked. The owner told us their hot water heater had broken down and he had booked us into a different Motel. This one had hot water but no breakfast. Anyway we settled in and then went for a walk to the pretty park.

Not so pretty bats/flying foxes hanging upside down asleep waiting for nightfall.

Dinner at Anna's Restaurant. I had lasagna.

PERFECT POND

 Our Zen Garden in the village is 13 years old. It is a fenced garden with a pond. The pond got choked with weeds and got very murky. So our wonderful gardner, Damien, emptied the pond and removed all the weed. Then he refilled it and added some lilies and goldfish. He also tidied the garden, renewed some plants and put in a concrete border on one side. It is looking very pretty again. I tddled over to have a look the other morning. The garden is at the end of our street about 30 metres away. It's a nice place to sit, read, relax and navel gaze. There are three small waterfalls but only one is working at the moment the others are being renovated.

Enjoy some Zen: