I blame it all on Mr Mcdowell. He was our history teacher when I was just a 10 yr. old, in fourth class. The detail he went into about Australia, and it's many explorers fasinated me. John McDowell Stuart, Capt. James Cook, Blaxland Wentworth and Lawson, John Sturt, Burke and Wills, etc, etc, etc. Even as a little kid, I promised myself that when I grew up, I would go to as many places the teacher told us about, as possible. I started my "quest" in 1960. Since then I have managed to see many of the places that the explorers travelled to.
A couple of years ago I pulled up in Albany. I had been here many times, as for over twenty years I was a professional tour driver, and really loved the place. Then I got back in motorcycling around the south west. Loved it! But a recent 10,000 klm motorcycle trip across to the other side of the island, (SA, Vic. NSW) and the travel bug bit me, again. I recently "reinlisted" with the solo's group, serviced my small mobile home, and will be at Laidley by October.
Regards
"Pipes"
pricey43 said
11:16 PM Jun 27, 2012
Well pipes, I was the opposite to you. History wasn't my thing and it went in one ear and out the other.
It wasn't until we started our travels that something clicked. Standing at 'The Dig Tree' and looking at the countryside, I really started to understand what the explorers went through.
It was bad enough for us in our 4x4 with air conditioning on cleared tracks.
They must have been amazing people to endure what they did and still keep going.
Colls said
12:45 AM Jun 28, 2012
Sounds great. How long will it take to get to Laidley and do you have a prefered track to take? I hear the fossiking around that area is good.
Maybe we'll catch up along the way.
Regards Colls
tonyd said
06:41 AM Jun 28, 2012
Very good point, Pipes. I often wonder if kids today are taught about our explorers and their exploits. And do they learn about and study the works of Banjo Paterson and Henry Lawson, for example? Any teachers/ex-teachers out there care to comment? Cheers, Tony
Happywanderer said
03:32 AM Jun 29, 2012
I don't think they learn anything near like we did as kids. Even in NZ I could draw a map of Australia and mark all the relevant areas as needed. Could do NZ too of course. Geography and History were major subjects.
jimricho said
01:21 AM Jul 1, 2012
It seems like you had a very good history teacher. Would I be right in saying Mr. McDowell had the ability to turn historical facts and figures into an enthralling narrative?
To understand a nation (including our own) we have to understand its history. We cannot know where we are or who we are or where we're going if we don't know where we've been.
Beth54 said
04:18 AM Jul 1, 2012
Happywanderer wrote:
I don't think they learn anything near like we did as kids. Even in NZ I could draw a map of Australia and mark all the relevant areas as needed. Could do NZ too of course. Geography and History were major subjects.
My Kiwi mate mustn't have been listening in class then Marj. She's terrible at Australian Geography! She's getting better now though, between my travels, and her s-i-l truckie. Even her 3 year old grand-daughter shows her on the map, where Dad is!
spida said
09:37 AM Jul 1, 2012
So what is the attraction at Laidley? I am trying to decide where to go come September.
-- Edited by spida on Sunday 1st of July 2012 09:38:00 AM
Beth54 said
07:55 PM Jul 1, 2012
Laidley Qld, or is there another Laidley?
jetj said
08:44 PM Jul 1, 2012
I think the CMCA solos have a rally there in Sept before the main rally at Boonah.
pipes said
12:20 AM Jul 3, 2012
It's a solos rally, I hope.
Regards
Pipes
pipes said
12:22 AM Jul 3, 2012
I hope it's the Laidley in Qld; or else I will be the only one there.
I blame it all on Mr Mcdowell. He was our history teacher when I was just a 10 yr. old, in fourth class. The detail he went into about Australia, and it's many explorers fasinated me. John McDowell Stuart, Capt. James Cook, Blaxland Wentworth and Lawson, John Sturt, Burke and Wills, etc, etc, etc. Even as a little kid, I promised myself that when I grew up, I would go to as many places the teacher told us about, as possible. I started my "quest" in 1960. Since then I have managed to see many of the places that the explorers travelled to.
A couple of years ago I pulled up in Albany. I had been here many times, as for over twenty years I was a professional tour driver, and really loved the place. Then I got back in motorcycling around the south west. Loved it! But a recent 10,000 klm motorcycle trip across to the other side of the island, (SA, Vic. NSW) and the travel bug bit me, again. I recently "reinlisted" with the solo's group, serviced my small mobile home, and will be at Laidley by October.
Regards
"Pipes"
Well pipes, I was the opposite to you. History wasn't my thing and it went in one ear and out the other.
It wasn't until we started our travels that something clicked. Standing at 'The Dig Tree' and looking at the countryside, I really started to understand what the explorers went through.
It was bad enough for us in our 4x4 with air conditioning on cleared tracks.
They must have been amazing people to endure what they did and still keep going.
Maybe we'll catch up along the way.
Regards
Colls
I often wonder if kids today are taught about our explorers and their exploits. And do they learn about and study the works of Banjo Paterson and Henry Lawson, for example?
Any teachers/ex-teachers out there care to comment?
Cheers, Tony
Even in NZ I could draw a map of Australia and mark all the relevant areas as needed. Could do NZ too of course. Geography and History were major subjects.
To understand a nation (including our own) we have to understand its history. We cannot know where we are or who we are or where we're going if we don't know where we've been.
My Kiwi mate mustn't have been listening in class then Marj. She's terrible at Australian Geography!
She's getting better now though, between my travels, and her s-i-l truckie. Even her 3 year old grand-daughter shows her on the map, where Dad is!
So what is the attraction at Laidley? I am trying to decide where to go come September.
-- Edited by spida on Sunday 1st of July 2012 09:38:00 AM
Laidley Qld, or is there another Laidley?
It's a solos rally, I hope.
Regards
Pipes
I hope it's the Laidley in Qld; or else I will be the only one there.
Regards
Pipes
Cheers