If you have been following my blog, you would be aware of the adventure I was planning back in October 2024. This occurred in mid-November.
CQFHA.
The road trip began a few days prior to the 150 year celebration dinner of my old primary school. It wasn’t a race to get there, so two-overnight stops occurred, prior to the arrival in Mackay. The second stop was at Rockhampton.
I was able to visit the Central Queensland Family History Association (CQFHA) where the volunteers assisted me with a couple of inquiries.
One of these related to my father’s mother who had attended a school in Rockhampton, for reasons still unknown. The entry and leaving dates were located in the school registers. This information fills gaps in my grandmother’s story back in the early 1930s. Then, it was off north to Mackay.
Morning Tea.
A rough plan was made on how to spend the time prior to the Saturday night celebrations dinner and the Sunday would be Cemetery day! On Saturday morning, we headed out to Farleigh. Hopefully we located roughly where my mother’s grandparents once lived. There is a side note about this later in part 2 or part 3.
Morning tea was had at The Leap Tea Room which is located in the Yakapari Country Crafts building. A large variety of local crafts were on display and for sale. The morning tea was delicious. We had a quick look at the crafts before walking across to the Leap Hotel.
My mother’s father frequented this establishment on many occasions. There was a variety of “old things” on display in the public bar area as well as in a side-dining room. An old sewing machine similar to what my grandmother owned and used frequently was also displayed.
Melting.
We continued on our journey driving past where my maternal grandparents once lived before heading towards Marian. It was very hot when we stopped at Dame Nellie Melba’s house in Marian, even the bitumen was melting. From here, we drove to Allandale, where my dad’s mother’s grandparents once lived. Her mother was born at this location. I have no idea exactly where they lived but now know where the place is located. Driving back to Mackay, we passed through Walkerston where the event would take place later in the evening.
Celebrations.
Just on dusk, parking in McColl Street for a short walk through the Walkerston State School grounds where I once had played so many years ago. Crossing the basketball courts to the Main Hall, which is a new addition, to where the celebration dinner would take place. It was an interesting evening. A meal was included with the price of the ticket, along with some 150 year anniversary gifts
There was a Master of Ceremony to keep the evening rolling. A live band, Mango Junction, took us back to the past. There were 11 tables packed with former students, family and friends.
During the evening, I spoke with a couple of people I knew and listened to some students tell their stories of the past at the school.
Big Day Ahead.
Having a big day planned for Sunday, we left around 10pm and returned to our accommodation in Mackay.
To Be Continued in Part 2…
Acknowledgements:
All photos belong to the owner of this site except CQFHA which has been taken from their Facebook page.
CQFHA website: https://www.cqfamilyhistory.org.au/home
Mango Junction reference: https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1104129901715791&id=100063563737926&_rdr
Ancestor Family 