We have now made it to Duaringa, a small village more or less midway between Rockhampton and Emerald on the Capricorn Hwy. We stayed here in the McKenzie Park free camp a few years ago, much the same today. Still like a donation of $10 which is quite ok, nice setting and good facilities. Since leaving Theodore we have tracked the Dawson River as it flows north, nearby it joins the McKenzie River and so becomes the Fitzroy River.

After Theodore we had a night in Moura, beside the Dawson. This is where Mouraites cut loose on the river in their power boats. Some more sedately than others. As soon as the sun sets they head off and it is a very peaceful spot. Moura is where there were three major coal mine disasters in the 1980s early 90s, some 36 miners died in the events. The old Moura mines are now known as the Dawson mines. In the centre of town there is a memorial to each of the lives lost in the disasters, as well a good number of ones off deaths over the years down and around the mine areas. A stark reminder of the danger ever present in underground mines. All mining these days in the Dawson mines is above ground. Nearby the memorial is the water tower mural.

Leaving Moura for Biloela, we stopped in at the miner’s memorial garden near one of the coal mines. Quite impressive little spot, nearby the mining rumbles on. Quite a hole in the ground and footprint on the environment. It seems these things will go like the dinosaurs in the years ahead, replaced by mighty wind farms and solar arrays.

Biloela is a larger town and has more than ‘one of everything’. Stayed here a couple of nights in the Discovery Caravan Park, aka miner’s camp. Enough said about this place, except that the pool was very welcome. Allthego had a couple of cooling off plunges in the late afternoon.

More coal mining here in the nearby Callide Valley, and there is the associated power station that supplies a significant proportion of Queensland’s grid. Big place! The town’s water tank also has the now required mural. A little different in that it tells the area’s history from the perspective of women.

So, we have moved on and are sitting under the awning at Duaringa as rain patters down. Some dark skies earlier as the storm approached. The flocks of corellas, galahs and sulphur crested cockatoos got quite exited.

Next stop is Nebo.