River St Lawrence

River St Lawrence, originally uploaded by Ladymaggic.

St Lawrence River

St Lawrence 

St Lawrence is situated approximately 155km south of Mackay, 177km north of Rockhampton and 6km east of the Bruce Highway.  The town has a varying population of approximately 150 with the main employers for the town being Broadsound Shire Council and Queensland Railways.  One of the oldest towns on the coast, its demure is firmly linked to its historical beginnings which are well seen about the town.  Several cattle properties surround the town and it also supports a locally based professional fishing industry.

The township was established originally to service a major port facility in Broadsound which is no longer used.  One historical building still remaining from this time is the Shire Office.  Originally built to service the Customs Office for the Port of St Lawrence, it was sold to the Shire of Broadsound for 100 pounds in 1901.  The remains of the Port and Abattoir constructed using convict labour are also accessible. The Court House/Police Station was built in 1879 and has been repainted in its original colour scheme.

St Lawrence has a school with education to Grade 7 and an occasional childcare service operates in the town once a week.

St Lawrence has a hotel, two grocery stores, a post office, an electricity depot, honorary ambulance service and a police station.  Limited banking with the Commonwealth Savings Bank and Pioneer Permanent Building Society can be conducted from the Post Office.  Passenger trains can be utilised approximately four (4) times a week north and south of St Lawrence.  A daily bus service is also available.

The Centenary Pavillion located at the Sportsground (beside the tennis courts) was constructed to celebrate the Shire's Centenary in 1979 with the collection of past machinery and relics.  The Pavillion is open 24 hours a day for viewing

The town’s sporting facilities include Lawn bowls which is played on a green situated next to the Community Hall. There is a 9 hole golf course, tennis courts and a small swimming pool available for use.  There are weekly darts competitions at the Hotel and annual sports days held at the sportsground facilities. St Lawrence Creek is also a favourite recreational fishing area.  In the cooler months the Recreation Group hold a weekend of Gymkhana and Campdraft and the Polocrosse Club have their Annual Polocrosse Weekend.    The Recreation Grounds on the outskirts of town provide all year round camping facilities and amenities for travellers and is available for hire for functions.

The Anglican Church was built in 1898.  Prior to its construction, services were held quarterly in the Courthouse.  The 100^th Anniversary of the church was marked with an ‘open’ party on May 17, 1998.  Services are held at both the Anglican and Catholic Churches.

The St Lawrence Cemetery has also been noted as historically important.

Although not all graves are marked, there is a register held at the Broadsound Shire Council Library at St Lawrence listing most of the graves, with some dating back to the 1800’s

The Craft Centre, located in the main street, exhibits local crafts for sale.  Part proceeds from these sales go towards the Queensland Ambulance Service.

The Historical Railway Building is also located in the main street of St Lawrence.  The old railway station has been recently restored and the St Lawrence Library and Internet Café have been established for use by both the local community and visitors to the area.

http://www.broadsound.qld.gov.au/visitors/InfoStLawrence.shtml

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ladymaggic/4824933211/in/set-72157624574525026/

Carrawong at Undarra

Carrawong, originally uploaded by Ladymaggic.

Currawongs were very popular and lively and frequented the area around the Camp at Undarra Resort.

They were very cheeky and lively and quite tame, maybe used to being fed tidbits from travelers despite notices about not feeding the Native wild life.

The Pied Currawong is a large, mostly black bird, with a bright yellow eye. Small patches of white are confined to the under tail, the tips and bases of the tail feathers and a small patch towards the tip of each wing (visible in flight). The bill is large and black and the legs are dark grey-black. Both sexes are similar, although the female may sometimes be greyer on the underparts. Young Pied Currawongs are duller and browner than the adults.

Similar species
Two other species of currawong are found in Australia. The Grey Currawong, Strepera versicolor, lives in Australia's south, while the Black Currawong, S. fuliginosa, is restricted to Tasmania. Both of these species differ from the Pied Currawong in lacking white on the rump. The Grey Currawong is variable across its range, grey in the east, blacker in Tasmania and browner in the west, with regional differences in the amounts of white in the wing. Another Australian species that is sometimes confused with the Pied Currawong is the Australian Magpie, Gymnorhina tibicen, although the two are quite different in plumage. The Magpie has a grey and black bill and a red-brown eye. The Australian Magpie also has large areas of white on the body.
http://birdsinbackyards.net/species/Strepera-graculina

St Lawrence Queensland

Am at The St Lawrence Polo Grounds which is now a free caravan park for travellers with their own vans, tents or vehicles.
It is one of the best sites I have stayed at with the best and cleanest toilets and facilites.
It only misses Power, and right now I am sitting in a Luxury caravan helping Mary try to decipher security codes whilst I am using their power using their generator and electricity.
The Location was a Caravan Park, but now it is private property owned by the Polocross Club, who permits free parking to bring people into the town, whoich consists of a shop and a Post Office and a Railway Station.
The area is all bush rich with birdlife and trees, with glorious sunsets and sunrises.

http://www.broadsound.qld.gov.au/visitors/InfoStLawrence.shtml
St Lawrence  

St Lawrence is situated approximately 155km south of Mackay, 177km north of Rockhampton and 6km east of the Bruce Highway. The town has a varying population of approximately 150 with the main employers for the town being Broadsound Shire Council and Queensland Railways. One of the oldest towns on the coast, its demure is firmly linked to its historical beginnings which are well seen about the town. Several cattle properties surround the town and it also supports a locally based professional fishing industry.
The township was established originally to service a major port facility in Broadsound which is no longer used. One historical building still remaining from this time is the Shire Office. Originally built to service the Customs Office for the Port of St Lawrence, it was sold to the Shire of Broadsound for 100 pounds in 1901. The remains of the Port and Abattoir constructed using convict labour are also accessible. The Court House/Police Station was built in 1879 and has been repainted in its original colour scheme.
St Lawrence has a school with education to Grade 7 and an occasional childcare service operates in the town once a week.
St Lawrence has a hotel, two grocery stores, a post office, an electricity depot, honorary ambulance service and a police station. Limited banking with the Commonwealth Savings Bank and Pioneer Permanent Building Society can be conducted from the Post Office. Passenger trains can be utilised approximately four (4) times a week north and south of St Lawrence. A daily bus service is also available.
The Centenary Pavillion located at the Sportsground (beside the tennis courts) was constructed to celebrate the Shire's Centenary in 1979 with the collection of past machinery and relics. The Pavillion is open 24 hours a day for viewing
The town’s sporting facilities include Lawn bowls which is played on a green situated next to the Community Hall. There is a 9 hole golf course, tennis courts and a small swimming pool available for use. There are weekly darts competitions at the Hotel and annual sports days held at the sportsground facilities. St Lawrence Creek is also a favourite recreational fishing area. In the cooler months the Recreation Group hold a weekend of Gymkhana and Campdraft and the Polocrosse Club have their Annual Polocrosse Weekend. The Recreation Grounds on the outskirts of town provide all year round camping facilities and amenities for travellers and is available for hire for functions.
The Anglican Church was built in 1898. Prior to its construction, services were held quarterly in the Courthouse. The 100th Anniversary of the church was marked with an ‘open’ party on May 17, 1998. Services are held at both the Anglican and Catholic Churches.
The St Lawrence Cemetery has also been noted as historically important.
Although not all graves are marked, there is a register held at the Broadsound Shire Council Library at St Lawrence listing most of the graves, with some dating back to the 1800’s
The Craft Centre, located in the main street, exhibits local crafts for sale. Part proceeds from these sales go towards the Queensland Ambulance Service.
The Historical Railway Building is also located in the main street of St Lawrence. The old railway station has been recently restored and the St Lawrence Library and Internet Café have been established for use by both the local community and visitors to the area.

Biting Midge..Sandflies

Biting Midge

Biting Midges (Sandflies)

modified from: Kettle, D.S. (1995). Medical and Veterinary Entomology. CAB International. Wallingford

Natural History Clinical Presentation Laboratory Diagnosis Treatment and Control Confirmation and Enquiries

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Natural History

Biting midges are small robust insects with piercing and sucking mouthparts that belong to the family of flies Ceratopogonidae. Only a few groups within this family are known to suck blood and their distribution is almost world wide. These small flies are renowned for their nuisance biting associated with habitats such as coastal lagoons, estuaries, mangrove swamps and tidal flats. In Australia these flies are commonly known as sandflies but are correctly referred to as biting midges.

The biting activity of adult biting midges is mainly limited to the periods of dawn and dusk; they will remain inactive through very windy weather, finding shelter amongst vegetation. Biting midges will usually disperse only short distances from their breeding sites. Only female midges feed on blood, but both the females and males will feed on vegetable fluids and nectar. Adults midges are 1.5-4.0 mm long with stout short legs, and at rest fold their wings, which are often mottled, over the abdomen. Their mouthparts are short and projected down. Female midges may attack humans in large numbers, biting on any areas of exposed skin, and often on the face, scalp and hands. Some species will blood feed on a wide range of animal hosts. The egg batches contain between 30-100 eggs, and are laid on selected substrates such as mud, decaying leaf litter, damp soil or other vegetative materials, dependent on the species. The small eel-like larvae hatch in a few days; their larval habitat must contain a proportion of organic material with a high moisture content to provide optimum conditions for the larval stage to thrive and pupate. The whole life cycle takes 3-10 weeks, dependent on species and environmental conditions, particularly temperature.

Clinical Presentation

Biting midges are responsible for acute discomfort, irritation and severe local reactions. Itching may commence immediately after the bite, but often not for some hours later, and most individuals are unaware of being bitten at the time. Biting midges have their greatest impact on people arriving to an area or tourists. Local residents seem to build up some immunity to the biting. In some sensitive people, midges can produce persistent reactions that blister and weep serum from the site of each bite and these reactions may last for several days to weeks. Biting midges are not known to transmit any disease-causing pathogens to humans in Australia.

Laboratory Diagnosis

Identification of biting midges is performed with the use of light microscopy and taxonomic keys, after the specimen has been especially prepared on a glass slide.

Treatment and Control

There are no known efficient methods of controlling biting midges, but personal protection will help in reducing exposure to their bites. Avoid localities, especially at dawn and dusk, that are known to be frequented by biting midges; wear protective clothing (long sleeves/pants), and apply a repellent to exposed skin. These measures will assist in limiting exposure to these biting flies. Irritation associated with bites may be alleviated with anti-pruritic preparations such as EURAX^�, but severe reactions may require medical treatment with antihistamines.

Dense undergrowth at Djuiru Park

Dense undergrowth, originally uploaded by Ladymaggic.

The dense undergrowth at the Tam O Shanter National Park, now known as the Djuiru National P{ark at Mission Beach.

The walk across was closed and so was the other walks closer to the beach.
This is a Cassowary Protection Area

Tropical Walk at Djuiru National Park Mission Beach

Tropical Walk, originally uploaded by Ladymaggic.

http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/parks/djiru/about.html

The Walk took 45 minutes through dense Rainforest.
The entire walk was well documented with photos and descriptions of the Cassowaries, their food and protection Program.
It was very quiet in the Rainforest. There were very few birdcalls, and in the entire walk I only saw one small bird. I walked quietly and searched the dense undergrowth. There were Cassowary droppings saying they were around recently, but I did not hear any young or see any cassowaries.
It was a wonderful walk through the forest, up steep steps, over creek and over a bridge with a beautiful waterhole.
The path returned to the Parking area in a circular walk

The Licuala and Lacey Creek day-use areas have been developed for visitor use within Djiru National Park.

To get to the Licuala day-use area and carpark, turn north off the Tully–Mission Beach Road onto the signposted unsealed road, about eight kilometres east of the town of Mission Beach. The day-use area and carpark are 1.6 kilometres along this unsealed road. It is accessible by conventional vehicles.

Lacey Creek day-use area is beside the El Arish–Mission Beach road, eight kilometres from the junction with the Bruce Highway and 7.5 kilometres from Mission Beach town.
Wheelchair accessibility

The toilets at Lacey Creek day-use area and part of the 1.3 kilometre Fan Palm walk at Licuala day-use area are wheelchair accessible.
Park features

Since Europeans began to settle north Queensland, over 80 per cent of the lowland rainforest in the wet tropics has been cleared for agriculture and housing. Much of the forest in Mission Beach was spared, or has regrown after timber was harvested. A large tract of this now rare forest type is preserved as national park.

From the Licuala day-use area, the short fan palm walk takes visitors through dense groves of native fan palm. The splayed fronds, which create a bright green, patterned canopy overhead, are a popular subject for photographers.

At Lacey Creek, visitors can follow the circuit track through the rainforest along, and across, the creek. Many of the features of mature tropical rainforest can be seen: tall trees with wide buttressed trunks; epiphytic ferns perching on tree branches, high in the canopy; and twining vines climbing up and over other plants to reach the light.

Cassowaries are often seen in this park, appearing from the surrounding forest and then melting away again.

Balgal Beach

Balgal Beach, originally uploaded by Ladymaggic.

View from where I am now sitting using the Internet.
The bank opposite is where the resident crocodile likes to sun when there are not so many people around. He was there yesterday but I missed him.
The river is rich with fish and this is a very popular fishing place as well as a place where locals and visitors from as far as Townsville come for a day out or simply to enjoy a fresh fish dinner, at a very reasonable cost, at Fishermans Landing.

http://www.exploroz.com/Places/76720/QLD/Balgal_Beach.aspx

Balgal Beach Boatramp

Balgal Beach Boatramp, originally uploaded by Ladymaggic.

Balgal Beach

Beautiful Beach north of Townsville marred only by the sandflies who have feasted on my body every morning and evening while I enjoy the the sunrise and sunset. Even now, I am being eaten alive while I type this at the Cafe Outside area.
I am at a 48 hour Council Caravan Park right on the beach and enjoying the quiet and the peace and beauty.

Balgal Beach is a beachside community popular as a day and overnight trip destination for locals and tourists to Thuringowa and Townsville. Just a few minutes from Rollingstone, Balgal Beach features a stinger net, which is installed and patrolled from November to May, and an excellent boat ramp facility with easy access to the Palm Island group. It boasts a superb sand beach as well as a wide creek mouth and is a renowned beach and river fishing location.

Other activities include visiting the Anzac memorial, viewing the interpretive historic signage, having a picnic and barbecue at the park, bird watching and fishing.

There is also a licensed cafe and a variety of accommodation which includes Holiday Units, Bed and Breakfast Retreat, and Council's two designated limited tent camping and vehicle camping areas. Download the flyer from their websites for more information on free camping.
http://www.queenslandholidays.com.au/things-to-see-and-do/balgal-beach-9001758/index.cfm

Karumba-Sunset colors

Karumba-161, originally uploaded by Ladymaggic.

The sunset cruise was a wonderful experience.
The boat was surrounded by color. It was like being in a bowl of sunset.
The Barge which works 24 hours cleaning the sand from the river provided a colorful silhouette.

Karumba QueenslandKarumba is situated on the mouth of the Norman River