Kenmore - Port of Brisbane, prawns, and fisheries

17 April 2011

We started our Kenmore stay with a tour of the Gold Coast prawn aquaculture farm.  The business is a huge farm and facility with a fully integrated tiger prawn farming operation.  In addition to the numerous prawn ponds, they also have a deep water holding pond to fill whatever areas of the farm need water.  They also breed their own tiger prawn to stock their ponds.  We were also given a tour of the Port of Brisbane by Victoria from the Australian VTT that just visited south Louisiana.  We were able to view the mangroves along the port and visit the port's expansion and rock wall area.  The port uses reclaimed dredge material with rock walls to build new land for expansion.  We then spent two days with Mary from the Australian VTT and Queensland Fisheries.  We went to the Gold Coast where we boarded a boat for the day to view fish habitats and protected areas in southern Moreton Bay.  The following day we attended a fisheries meeting with members of Queensland Fisheries.  Quenton and I gave presentations on our research and south Louisiana fisheries and listened to talks about lungfish and artificial reefs in Australia.  We ended our stay in Kenmore with a dinner at Australian VTT leader Alan and his wife Lucy's house.  Quenton did some cajun cooking and Alan broke everyone into teams and had a south Louisiana/Australia quiz with prizes for the winners.

-Chris

Port of Brisbane

Tiger prawn

Mangrove habitat

Queensland Fisheries

Kenmore Rotary and VTT

Gold Coast

13 April 2011

Richard and Cliff from Karana Downs took the team fishing and to the Gold Coast for the day.  We weren't too successful fishing, mostly because we forgot to take bait but Quenton was able to catch a shell.  We then went to the Gold Coast and walked several kilometers along the beaches and boardwalks.  There are numerous condos, restaurants, and shops along the main road that runs along side of the beach.  The beaches were filled with all types of people from families with children to surfers looking for a wave.  We walked south along the beach until we arrived the New South Wales border and were able to stand in Queensland and New South Wales at the same time.

-Chris

Karana Downs

12 April 2011

Started with tea and coffee at Mt. Coot-tha.  Then went to a great barbque (Quenton was able to cook for us and let me just say he did well).  Had a lovely night in Ipswich, learned a new cultural game, and met many exciting locals.  Went to a waste water plant and met with members of DERM (great knowledge gained) and discussed their involvement in the Moreton Island oil clean up.  Went to Wivenhoe Dam and it was dam impressive.  We were able to have another night on the town and ate at a lovely Indian restaurant.  We all wish we could stay a little longer.

-Jonathan

The 'Barbie'

9 April 2011

One of the most common images of Australia shown in the US is the BBQ - or simply barbie as it is sometimes called.  We have been to several BBQ's since we arrived and are very happy about that!  Steak and sausages are usually on the menu along with several great side dishes.  Some of the dishes are typical in the states such as green salad and potato salad.  Other dishes are not so typical in the states such as fresh beets in a horseradish sauce!  We have also had shrimp on the barbie!  There is a shrimping industry in this area, although not near as large as in Louisiana.  In Australia, shrimp are called prawns.  The 'prawn' boats cook the prawns as soon as they catch them.  The prawns are sorted by size and then cooked in seawater only.  Once they are cooked, they are thrown into an ice bath to cool and then vacuum packed.  You can't get much fresher than that!  Of course they do not taste like our shrimp-boil flavor, but they are extremely good and taste very fresh!  Although most people here buy the precooked shrimp, raw prawns (called green prawns) are available.  The seafood markets carry a wide variety of whole fish, prawns, crabs, and bugs.  Bugs resemble a very flat lobster!  Overall, the food here has been fantastic and we have been able to try several things that are not typically available to us.  Good eats!!

-Quenton

Caboolture

 

 

Monday, April 4

 

Left early for Caboolture, our next stay.  Arrived at the Caboolture Golf Club and met by President Brian Nichol (my host) and others.  We we whisked away to the local radio station for an live interview.  All 5 of us fit into the booth with the interviewer.  Talked about 15 minutes.  Went pretty well according to the Rotarians at the station listening to us.  We proceeded to our host families for a quiet lunch and afternoon.  I actually swam for the first time that afternoon.  My hosts, Brian and Margaret Nichol, are English and have retired here with permanent VISAs some 8 years ago. 

 

Left early for dinner at the Golf Club.  I convinced Margaret to get out (she had not since the surgery) that evening so that she could see 5 good-looking guys make their presentation.  The presentation went well -- I believe our best thus far.  Then home for the evening.

 

Tuesday, April 5

 

Toured the Abbey Church and Museum, then headed for Bribie Island for morning tea.  Had lunch at the Surf Club and then went to a fisheries research facility on the island.  Quenton and Chris were in heaven.  I was quite impressed with the facility as well.  Home for the evening where Brian and Margaret prepared a lamb dinner which was quite nice.  Early to bed.

 

Wednesday, April 6

 

Following breakfast, left again for Bribie Island for a chartered eco-cruise of the Pumicestone Passage with the Ferryman Bribie Island tours.  A 6-hour cruise with morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and a great time.  Weather was great and we all got a little sun.  One of the Caboolture club members lives on the island and we concluded the day with a wine and cheese party at his home.  Great day!

 

 

 

Thursday, April 7

 

We departed for Kedron, a community right outside of Brisbane, to visit the SES facility.  This is the major command center for all of Queensland.  The offices were recently moved into and were absolutely fascinating.  State of the art, large screens on the wall with several different media, maps, reporting agency data, etc.  Looked like a scene from the movies with all of the desks, conference rooms, and smaller computer stations.  Presentations by the head of the office and fire and safety heads.  Very impressive.

 

We then headed for the Hall's residence for lunch (Jonathan's host family).  After lunch, a presentation by Paul of Queensland Parks & Wildlife on the oil spill cleanup on Moreton Island and other areas in Queensland.  Following presentation, the team was taken to Bribie Island for a stay in a motel (just the five of us).  After sitting around the pool with a couple of beers, we walked along the beach as the sun set and headed for the RSL club -- these are Retired Service League clubs that honor their retired military.  Quenton, Jonathan and I had to put on collared shirts they loaned us as no t-shirts allowed after 6pm.  Quenton and I were given these flowered shirts to wear and we all had a laugh about them  Had dinner and then Robert and I put $3 each into a nickel slot machine.  He quickly lost and I turned $3 into $40 which became the money we used to buy a couple of bottles of wine.  Following the wine, port, beer, scotch, etc., we noticed we were about the only patrons left in the club and the shuttle took us home.  It was only the 10 o'clock hour but this is late for Queenslanders in this area (lots of people retire here).

 

Friday, April 8

 

We were picked up about 8am and then were headed to Unity Water, a wastewater treatment plant in Murumba Downs.  Quite impressive as it is state of the art facilitywith a recent $160,000,000.00 renovation.  Lunch again at the Halls.  Presentation following lunch by John Simpson, an engineering professor who spoke about the Toowomba Floods.

 

To cap off a great week, we had a BBQ at the home of Charles and Rosemary Guesdon.  Wonderful colonial home.  Plenty of food, wine, beer and music by Ian, one of the Rotarian's husbands.  I even joined him for the only song I think I know all of the words to -- Kenny Roger's "The Gambler".  Who'd have thunk it, but again the wine was pouring!  Oh, and besides their club being in attendance, Brian and Chris Kennedy showed up and we caught up with them as well.

 

Saturday, April 9

 

We departed Caboolture and headed for our next host families.  We met them at Mount Cool-tha, an area with great panoramic views of the city of Brisbane.  Had morning tea and then told Caboolture goodbye and off to Karana Downs.  More later!

 

-Harold

 

Welcome to Buderim

Friday, April 1

Transferred by the Woombye-Palmwoods group to the Buderim Club.  Did a bit of shopping at the R.M. Williams store where I purchased a shirt and Jonathan purchased a hat.  The owner was in the Woombye Club and had been among us for the past 3 days.  Had morning tea and then toured an old home which was very similar to our Acadian style homes.  Many of their Queenslander homes are raised from the ground so as to allow the air to circulate under the house due to the hot weather conditions (as is the case with the Acadian homes).  We next presented at lunch to the Buderim club, then each of us home to our host families for a quiet evening.  My hosts, Ray and Jeanne Mazoletti, prepared dinner for 5 and invited another Rotarian Ken and their good friend Ros.

Saturday, April 2

Following breakfast at home, we then headed for the Nambour Show, a huge home show.  The Buderim club had a booth selling sausages and drinks.  When we arrived, they put an apron on me and I thought it was a photo opportunity so I grabbed a spatula and pretended to cook while a few pictures were taken of me in action.  Much to my surprise, I was expected to work and did so for the next almost 2 hours in the booth and we kicked butt selling plenty of sausage and drinks.  The rest of the guys went off to see the booths.  I ended up with an apron and a Rotary cap for my efforts.  For me, it was really fun working with the other Rotarians.  We left around noon and then headed for Montville, a very quaint town that overlooks the valley and mountains (my previous host family lived here).  Gorgeous views.  Had lunch, shopped, afternoon tea, and then went home to get ready for a BBQ with the club.

BBQ was held at a Rotarian's home on an island where most homes are extremely nice (this one was on the market for $2.5 million).  Wonderful BBQ - the food is really great here.  Ray kept picking on me earlier in the day that I would have to sing to the club after dinner as Chris had told him I was the singer.  Well, when they called me up to sing, the only thing I could think of was to explain to them was that in some clubs in our district we sing the 4-way test to the tune of "When the Saints Come Marching In".  I quickly sang it and Ray let me off the hook for any further singing.  Incidentally, they have a sports team whose mascot is the Saints and they sing the same song when the team plays.  We left the party and continued the partying at my host's home with Quenton and his host family joining us.

Sunday, April 3

This was our planned rest day at Noosa, a beach resort community.  Beautiful beaches, lousy weather that day.  Spent most of it in the local Surf Club eating and, of course, drinking.  We did walk around some exclusive shops and got a chance to walk the beach.  Left early afternoon and had afternoon tea at a coffee shop in the next town.  Had a quiet dinner with my host family joined by Chris and Robert and his host family.  Did some packing as we were leaving the next morning.

-Harold

Cow Candy

31 March 2011

There is a sugar cane industry in the area north of Brisbane.   Unfortunately, the regional sugar mill that was here for 106 years closed down a few years ago due to low sugar prices.  Most of the sugar cane fields just north of Brisbane are in a floodplain habitat and often become inundated, which makes the areas unsuitable for other crops.  A new business was created to use sugar cane as a cattle feed, similar to field-dried hay.  The company is called Cow Candy.  They take the entire cane crop, grind it up, dry it, and then bale it for export as a cattle feed.  They get approximately $300 per ton.  The cattle are not fed the Cow Candy exclusively, but rather have it mixed in with traditional dry feed.  It is believed that the sweetness of the Cow Candy will cause the cattle to consume more feed, therefore producing more milk.   The local community strongly supports this company, partly because of the aesthetic view the sugarcane provides to those living in the surrounding hill country.  Also, there is a long history of sugarcane farming in the region including some families that have been farming for at least four generations.  The Cow Candy company also produces a mulch for use in flower beds, similar to the company Organic Producers that was located in Thibodaux.  It amazes me how similar this region is to south Louisiana.

-Quenton