Arrived at Ilfracombe

The Brolga became a friend

Percival allthego

We have today arrived at Ilfracombe, which is about 25k from Longreach. A internet problem has held up the blog for a day or so but we are now althego.

After leaving Tambo the road took us through Blackall up to Barcaldine where we stayed for two nights. Balcaldine is the claimed birth place of the Labor Party, formed out of the aftermath of the shearer’s strikes in the 1890s. Much of the town is given over to this celebration of political birthing. When one reads some of the material in the Australian Workers Heritage Centre (which was not here when we last  made a visit some 20 years ago) the unions have certainly made ground over the last hundred years. One can speculate on what conditions would be like today without their input. Some of today’s work claims look like trifle compared to the issues faced 100 years ago. The Tree of Knowledge memorial is also impressive. The original tree was posioned a few years back and a ‘Yung-un’ is planted at the Heritage Centre. The ‘Yung-un’ is a genetic clone of the original and is now about 20ft high. The actual memorial for the tree was made by a colleague of mine out of recycled timbers, it s a most impressive structure.

In ourVan Park we were treated to a happy hour of billy tea and damper and also had the company of a young Brolga.

Percival allthego