CIRCLE OF FRIENDS LADIES HEAD TO GLADSTONE FOR THE DAY...

 It's been a while since I have caught up with these lovely ladies.  We seem to have been away way for many of the outings this year so it was finally nice to be able to head out on an outing with them again...

The plan for this week's outing was to head Gladstone to check out East Shore for morning tea and then have lunch up at the Auckland Hill Lookout...

Morning Tea at East Shores Parkland in Gladstone

We had lovely views of the water from our table... Such a lovely area of Gladstone...  It sure is a showcase of their waterfront...

This iconic piece of Gladstone's maritime history, one of the South Trees Lead Lights,  is the latest addition at the Gladstone Ports Corporation's East Shores project.  The original lead light were installed at South Trees Inlet in the 1960's to ensure the safe passage of vessels navigating through the channel.  These lead lights at South Trees Inlet, planed an important role in the history of the Port of Gladstone, ensuring ships could safely navigate through the channel.

The orignial installation of the South Trees Lead Lights in the 1960's was a delicate process which was conducted out on the water.  The concrete piles that held the lead lights were built near Auckland Hill and transferred by barge to South Trees Inlet to be assembled.

A petrol motor winch drove the concrete piles into position.  To aid in the pile-driving process, two water hoses were temporarily attached to the pile being driven, allowing it to be secured in place.  Once the piles were in place, the pad for the lead heat to sit on was created by hand on site, as there was no ready-mix concrete available in those days.

The hut itself was fashioned from ironbark timber due to its hardiness and durability, and was fastened in position on the concrete base  standing in the water.  A qualified carpenter working on the lead lights had a reputation for being a strong diver, as he had to jump into the water to retrieve hammers, chisels or items that were accidentally dropped into the water during the installation process.

Fifty years onm the structure has stood the test of time, having weathered severe wind and rain events without the additional support of beams and bracing.

It is definitely worthy of being preserved for future generations at the East Shores precinct.

Lovely flowers growing in the gardens along the water front at East Shores

As we wandered up closer to the water's edge we came across the new outdoor boot camp area which makes use of a variety of gym equipment.  Of course some of the girls had a little fun on some of the apparatuses.  Who wouldn't want to come out here to exercise.  Honestly getting active in pure paradise hardly feels like exercise at all!...   

Kay using her upper arm strength

Eleonore giving it a go also...

A D6 Dozer, which dates back to 1947  is also on display at the Gladstone Ports Corporation's East Shores.  This dozer is a nod to the site's industrial history and will be on permanent display at the precinct.  It has been refurbished to replicate the bulldozers that were used at the Auckland Point Coal Terminal during the 1950's.  In 1954, the Gladstone Port Corporation employee Bill Turner suggested using a bulldozer, after a scraper repreatedly broke down disrupting operations.  Dozers have been used in Gladstone every since and even to this day continue to remain an integral part of the successful operation of the RG Tanna Coal Terminal, more than 65 years on.

A D6 Dozer which dates back to 1947.

One of the other new addition East Shores is the new Basketball hoops which have been installed on the old transfer tower at East Shores 1B.  It looks very impressive as it is set against a large mural of a Gladstone Port Corporation worker.  Some of those hoops look pretty high.  Wonder if anyone has managed to shoot the highest hoop..

The new Maritime Museum at East Shores  showcases the Port City's rich history.  The museum is filled with stories from the shipwrecked Jenny Lind figurehead carved in 1847 that was found washed up in a cave near Keppel Island 40 years ago, to the legend Ernie Pitts who has been building amazing model ships for 55 years.   The new location of this building is also within arm's reach of the HMAS Gladstone which now has it's permanent home at East Shores.

Beautiful street art adorns the side of the new Maritime Museum building. 

Auckland House - Gladstone's first micro-brewery...

We did think about going to Auckland House for lunch but prices were a little expensive for some of the girls.  Auckland House does however house Gladstone's first ever micro-brewery.  This new waterfront bar and restaurant  has probably one of the best locations in town.

One of the showcases of the East Shores Precinct is the HMAS Gladstone which has now made her permanent home here.  

The HMAS Gladstone was commissioned in September 1984, after being constructed by North Queensland Engineers and Agents in Cairns, and has been based in Cairns for her entire life.  She contributed to border protection and regional engagement for 22 years and covered over 618,000 miles (or 994574 kms).  She continued her mission with alacrity right to the end.  She along with her 14 sister Fremantle Class Patrol Boats were the Navy's principle contribution to the nation's fisheries protection, immigration, customs and drug law enforcement operations.  

The HMAS Gladstone was equipped with high definition navigational radar, high and ultra-high frequency communications equipment, gyro compasses and echo sounder.  She was also fitted with a satellite navigation system that enabled the ship's position to be determined with great accuracy.  Much of the equipment, although now disabled, remains on board. 

HMAS Gladstone 11 and HMAS Townsville were the only two ships that were marked for preservation as Museum Ships in their namesake towns.  The other thirteen ships that were used in our northern waters have either been sold for scrap or are awaiting disposal. 

 

 Acquiring the HMAS Gladstone for the City of Gladstone when she was decommissioned was a cherished ambition of the members of the Gladstone Maritime History Society.  Lobbying first began with with the assistance of the then Member for Hinkler, Paul Neville, who has also been a good family friend of our family.  Hopes were dashed when the Navy decided to extend the service life of their Fremantle Class Patrol Boats.  18 months before the extension of the service expired the Society advised the Defence Material Organisation that it was still very keen to have the HMAS Gladstone allocated to the City of Gladstone.  

From 2005, the Society went through a number of procedures, including Expression of INterest and then tendering for the vessel.  These documents had to be supported by letters of support from Member for Hinkler, Paul Neville, Member for Gladstone, Liz Cunningham and the Mayor of the City, Peter Corones, along with an Exhibition Business Plan.  A key component of the plan was the generous offer by the Gladstone Ports Corporation to allow the vessel to be displayed on a site at the mouth of Auckland Inlet, previously used as a slipway.

The HMAS Gladstone was finally decommissioned in her home base of Cairns on the 13th March, 2006 and the same day was gifted to the Gladstone Maritime History Society Inc.  Two of their members traveled to Cairns and made the delivery trip on board to her new home in Gladstone.

At a ceremoney at Gladstone on Friday 30th March, 2007, she was officially handed over to the then Mayor Peter Corones by her last Commander, Jonathon Dick.  The Mayor then handed her over to the Gladstone Maritime History Society.  For a period of several years, Gladstone lay at anchor in the Gladstone Marina.  She was visited regularly by a dedicated group of members from the Maritime History Society who gave her the attention she required. 

A volunteer driven project spanning several years has eventually bought the HMAS Gladstone to reside permanently at the East Shores - Gladstone Coal Exporters Maritime Precinct on 24th November, 2014.  The vessel has now become a centrepiece of the Maritime Museum and a focus of community interest.  Since opening for tours she has become an important attraction for the city.

The back of the Maritime Museum wall has become an impressive huge outdoor cinema for the townsfolk of Gladstone.

 The historic lighthouse from Sea Hill Point at the north-west end of Curtis Island from the late 1800's has found a new home at East Shores also.  This lighthouse used to aid coastal navigation by marking the east side of the entrance to Keppel Bay, on a passage to Fitzroy River and Port Alma.

 

We continued to way our way down along Flinder's Parade towards the water play park, and waterfront boardwalk.  The boardwalk incorporates a viewing platform over the water, and it is surrounded by an abundance of green open space to play as well as BBQ's and picnic areas scattered around.  The water park is excellent  and it would be a great place to take the kids.  The fountain is perfect for children to play beneath and it is open from 9am to 9pm in the summer months and then closes at 6pm in the cooler months.

 

Lots of lovely art installations around the park.

Viewing platform attached to the boardwalk.

Great water fountain for the kids to play under

The water park is adjoined by a great children's playground...

One of the other things I really enjoyed about our visit to East Shores was the quality of the art installations around the parklands.  

Walking along the covered boardwalk we noticed the jeweled boxes above our heads.  These works were created by Belynda Waugh, a local indigenous artist from around Yarwun and were beautifully done.  It was interesting to stand back and take it all in...

As you walked along under here, the jeweled boxes were above...

 

One of the other intersting installations was "Talltale".  This installaton was created by Davis Thomas and takes pride of place on the waterfront in the 1B parkland.  This artwork pays homage to one of the most iconic and long standing events in the region - The Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race.

Two large aluminium sails are adorned with numbers representing the navigation details for the mid points of the start and finish lines for the annual yacht race.  The third sail pays tribute to "Laurabada", the only yacht to have sailed 50 consecutive Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Races from 1953 to 2002

From the water's edge we decided to head across the parklands to the road way and cliff edges  to walk back towards our cars.   The parklands here were adorned with brightly coloured water buoys which added to theme of these parklands. 

There were a few park benches in this area of the park, and several of the ladies were resting their feet whilst we waited for others to join us on the walk back....

Joyce, Dot and I

Kay, Joyce, Dot and Eleonore

The waterfall is another popular feature of the East Shores Parkland and it cascades down the cliff face from the Auckland Hill Lookout.  The cliffs are quite stunning at the moment as they are also alive with colour as quite a bit of the bougainvillea is flowering. 

Marg and Kay

Looking back across to the HMAS Gladstone...

The cliffs are alive with colour.

Dianne and her twin sister Kay

Time to leave this lovely parkland.  It was close on 1pm by the time we left and we were all feeling a little hungry, so Dianne made the decision that we should all head up to the very popular "The Outlook Cafe" which was situated on top of the Auckland Hill.

Dianne had run ahead and booked a table for us all.  We arrived up there about fifteen minutes before our booked time so thought we would check out the lookout before heading to the Cafe for lunch.  

The lookout provdes views of the harbour and surrounds.  It is well elevated in a picturesque setting, and is an easy few steps from the car park.  The  lookout provides impressive 360 degree views  and presents a wonderful map of the laout and surrounds of the Port facilities, Curtis Island and  gives you a full appreciation of the scale of acitivity in the harbour and why this city is important as a trade port.

The Outlook Cafe is situated on top of Auckland Hill

The views are stunning from this Lookout...

The "Outlook Cafe" - our destination for lunch

To the left of the lookout there was a little walk way that took to for a walk to a small lookout that over looked the waterfall that we had observed from below.  This also had some stunning views over looking the water and islands off the coast of Gladstone.  

Beautiful views overlooking the Marina..

The gardens were well landscaped up here and as it was Spring they were mostly in flower as well which means that the bees were very active.  I was quite happy to get the following photos of the bees pollenating the flower...

The lookout on top of Auckland Hill

By now it was time to head to the cafe for lunch.  They had a table all set up for us.  I must say we were very impressed with the service that we all received. 

The Outlook Cafe is run by Bill and his staff.  We were pleasantly surprised by the top grade food and service we received.  Nothing seemed to be too much trouble for Bill and his staff, and Bill made sure that we were all happy with our meals and choices.  He was a pretty happy bloke and was up for a chat with us all.  In fact we were almost treated like family and nothing was too much trouble for him.

I particularly loved some of the posters that he had displayed around the place.  It showed that he was a pretty postivie person and like to see the best in people and situations...  My kind of person..

 

We had a wide choice of food to order from off the menu and even though there were a dozen of us, food arrived on our table promptly.

Seated for lunch at "The Outlook Cafe

Joyce ordered a wrap for lunch

Eleonore had a steak sandwich and the steak almost melted in her mouth

Pretty impressed with the price of $14 for this - Seafood platter...

Heather ordered the largest Coffee... I have no idea how she is going to manage to drink this one...

Kay ordered a Bacon and Egg burger.... It was massive...

Margaret and Coral shared lunch

Kay enjoying her burger... needed a knife and fork to eat it...

Dot had waffles.....

My burger... - there was no way I could eat it all..

Whilst my burger was lovely,  next time I would order a steak burger.  In the end, I just took the bun away and ate the salad and pattie... 

One of the other thing Bill does at this cafe is feed the birds.  He has plates with seed set up around the perimeter of his cafe and it was lovely to see the Parrots and butcher birds frequent them.  Apparently the birds are all pretty tame which was fairly evident when I walked in fairly close to them to photograph them.

This one had a beautiful song...

It was just on 2.30pm when we left and we still had a good drive back to Rocky.  On our way out, we decided to take a drive around the Marina which was actually quite lovely.  We didn't stop at all, although I would be happy to come back down to Gladstone and explore it a bit more.

It really was a great day out with great women.  It was after 4pm by the time we arrived back in Rocky.  Normally we only get together for the morning, but we managed to make a full day of it today...

It will be a few more weeks until I see these girls again as we head off again on the weekend...