The weekend started off a bit slow with a delayed takeoff time due to Fog at Murgon, once off at about 9.30 we diverted via Melany to a clear run into Murgon for their famous breakfast and get together.
After topping up with fuel , Mark and I headed off for the final leg to Rockybar Station, upon arrival we were met with approx 12 other aircraft and the hosts : Liz & Dave See, Toni Fitzpatrick and Len Neal of the Callide Dawson Flying Group.
Everyone was treated with lunch and most participated in a 3 hour tour of the Rockybar Station with its caves, aboriginal history, rock art and old Gold mines, one of the highlights for us all was visiting the R.M. Williams Memorial site on top of a nearby hill before getting together for a great dinner (country style) around a large dining table in front of a wood fired stove with a huge array of foods and deserts on offer.
We heard many stories in particular the history of R.M. Williams by his son Peter and and were shown his original box of shoe blanks from which he made the first boots from for children up to adults, all in all a great privilege and honor to be invited guests into Dave William’s home, “who by the way flies a drifter for mustering”.
After many flying stories we bedded down into the shearing quarters with a roaring fireplace, even with the station dog on our bed, Can’t get more country than that.
Next morning we woke to another thick fog and a hearty cooked breakfast before a pilots briefing prior to departing to Cracow Station some 20nm away.
A dusty departure and arrival and meeting our new hosts Richard and Sarah Cox and family who transported us all a short distance over a running creek to their magnificent homestead.
We enjoyed a historic tour of the buildings some well over 100 years old and were then treated to a history lesson of the Crocow Station by Sarah followed by a very informative talk on the Cracow area with its famous Golden Plateau Mining area, aboriginal history etc by Bill Walker from 'The Brae' a nearby station closer to Cracow.
We all said our goodbyes to everyone before departing our dusty strip for home Caboolture, 2hours 15 min later we arrived home a bit weary with smiles on our faces after what could only be described as a fantastic experience.
The Callide Dawson Flying Group who worked so hard to make our stay so memorable, we say thank you.
PS: Special thanks to Roger, Mark and Peter Williams and his station tools for assisting with my tyre repair on Our Savvy at Rockybar and Kerrie Western for her photo contribution.
Graham Pukallus