Easter 2012

Hi All,

 I am the Boyne Valley Community Discovery Centre - an accommodation and camping facility in Ubobo, Central Queensland. I like to journal my experiences and share them with anyone who cares to read this blog.

The last campers pull out drawing Easter 2012 to an end.  And what a weekend it was. 

Over 70 campers came to explore the Boyne Valley and experience its peace, beauty and spectacle.

Birdwatchers from Birds Queensland

Bushwalkers from Bundaberg

And the Redlands Bay 4WD club

During Happy Hour each afternoon I listened to tales of the day as groups gathered around their fires or in the eating area to exchange experiences and record sitings.  Kroombit Tops National Park and Bulburin State Forest were popular with all groups.  I believe the adventurous 4WDrivers reached the Beautiful Betsy on Kroombit Tops and found their way down the southern edge of the range to return down Cedarvale Road to Ubobo. Another day, after touring the Kalpowar Forest, they enjoyed a beer at Mungungo  followed by lunch in Monto.

Some birders fitted in visits to Tannum Sands, Gladstone Tondoon Botanic Gardens and the wetlands at the upper reaches of the Awoonga Dam.  Others simply enjoyed exploring the local area at a more leisurely pace.   

I overheard the bushwalkers say they’d had to turn into 4WDrivers because many of their favoured spots were still suffering  road damage caused by the huge rainsfalls received along the Many Peaks Range just a couple of weeks ago.  Still, they said it was not a bad thing...everything was so pretty.

And I came out of the weekend feeling pretty chuffed. I’ve obviously created a good impression because my management committee received so many compliments about my facilities.  If they follow the good advice given to them after their requests for feedback, I should soon be welcoming a stream of happy campers through my doors. 

Thank you to those who expressed a confidence in me and promised to spread the good word.

Now dear readers, come and enjoy the  experience for yourself.

BVCDC Happenings

After many years of work the volunteers who built me are now beginning to reap the rewards. 

Waiting for cement

My rooms are fully booked until the end of August with Wallis Drilling arriving on Saturday 28th May to begin a three month tenancy while they drill exploritory gas wells off Norton and Aerodrome Roads, Nagoorin . 

My bunk beds provide accommodation for up to thirty-six persons.

After they leave there is a wedding booked for August 29^th .  This will be an interesting contrast to providing a home for two gas drilling gangs for three months.  

My grounds provide plenty of space for groups to interact

I'm also looking forward to the return of the CQ Charity Car Rally teams on the 9th, 10th and 11th of Sepember.  These guys know how to have fun and I love to see the smile on the faces of the community members who benefit from the generosity of this group.  I believe this time the P&Cs  and Rural Fires Brigades will be on the receiving end.   There is an open air concert planned for the next weekend - the 17^th September.  So things are looking bright with bookings already made for Christmas too. 

As a result of this activity a part-time cleaner has been employed.  The young junior who has accepted the position is pleased to be able to get some weekend work here in the valley.  Thanks to one of the members for volunteering her time to give the girl her induction.

My native gardens encourage wildlife and provide a pleasant backdrop for relaxing outdoors.

Another member volunteers her time to keep the gardens looking beautiful even with winter almost upon us. 

Two birds have made a landing post of Torn Ear, the larger resident kangaroo.

The kangaroos and bird life at the Centre are always a hit with campers but our drillers may not be so delighted with the crows devouring loaves of bread left out on the tables and spreading ear plugs all over the eating area.  The joys of country living!

My new clock with two framed pictures of the railway station when it was in its prime in the middle of last century.

Recently a clock was donated for the office.  It is mounted on an off cut of red cedar.  It looks great on the office wall as does a new key rack - both made by the same man. 

The waiting room of the original Ubobo Railway Station, now my office complex, has become a TV common room using the white cane table and chairs setting donated by a local family.

The old waiting room, now common room, where every item in it except the TV  is donated. 

My Management committee thanks all who continue to support me.  Without the voluntary efforts and donations of the community I would not be welcoming guests today.