Pat and I travelled to Maryborough to attend his school reunion. Pat left the Christian Brothers’ school in Maryborough in 1961, at the end of Junior (Year 10) to continue his education at the Christian Brothers’ boarding school in Gympie. Pat’s friend Mike Anderson drove us there and back (and also round about while we were there).
Stopping at a Matilda Servo just south of Gympie, we were very surprised to come across the actual iconic Matilda who made her world debut at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Brisbane in 1982. The entire world was captivated by the 13 metre mascot, as she majestically entered the QE11 stadium. Then her “pouch” opened, and out tumbled lots of children dressed as joeys, who ran and performed a jumping routine on a fleet of trampolines.
Matilda Fuel Supplies commenced trading in the same year, and established its name from the iconic kangaroo. The company acquired Matilda from her former home at Wet ‘n’ Wild Water World on 30.09.2011, her 27th birthday. Following refurbishment, Matilda took up residence at this Matilda Servo in January 2011.
Matilda captivated the Commonwealth Games audience (including the Duke of Edinburgh) by turning her head and seductively winking – a feat she is still performing today.
A detour was kindly made by Mike to discover the hidden Station Hideaway Hotel in Tiaro.
Lots of beautiful old pubs to photograph – 25 for the afternoon!
Beautifully maintained old buildings.
The steam train was waiting to take passengers.
Mary Whistler was playing her calliope.
The Mary River looked very attractive (Pat said better than he remembered it.)
Pat and Mike used to play in this fig tree (when they were younger than they are now.)
Mike with a “Crow-Beater” rubbish bin, manufactured by the local firm Olds Engineering.
Pat remembers the band rotunda in Queen’s Park from 50 years ago.
The steam train comes around the bend with members of a Garden Club on board.
Sausage tree (Kigelia africana) in Queen’s Park. This is a native of Africa, where two of its other common names are “Father of kit bags tree” and “Sagging boobs tree”.
Sausages (or whatever) on the Sausage tree.
P L Travers, the creator of the Mary Poppins stories, was born Helen Lyndon Goff in an upstairs bedroom of this former bank building in 1899. Although she moved to London in 1924, and remained there until her death in 1996, the people of Maryborough are very proud that she was born in their city.
St Mary’s College has been completely rebuilt.
St Mary’s Church.
Pat’s former house has been replaced by a block of units.
“The boys” – 50 years on.
Some of “the originals”.
Next morning, we were treated to a magnificent morning tea and lunch at Kev and Margaret Cordie’s farm, on the edge of the town.
Thank you to all the organisers for an excellent weekend.
What a wonderful weekend it must have been, Jan. That immense fig tree must have brought back memories, what a wonderful tree to play in. And that is a lovely rotunda. I remember Saturday afternoons with brass bands playing in park rotundas... not a feature of life nowadays.
ReplyDeleteAnd to finish off a superbly straight post and rail fence.