REUNION OF BRISBANE WEST GROUP and SUNSHINE COAST MORNING GROUP
On Saturday 5 August , which turned out to be a gloriously warm sunny day , our two groups met for what is now an annual get‐together . Seven members from the Sunshine Coast and six from Brisbane West were to rendezvous at 10.15 am at the historic Shingle Inn Café , located inside Brisbane ’ s City Hall . As it happened , we all arrived a little before time . The Brisbane West members were particularly happy to have finally made it , after much to‐ing and fro‐ing of texts and emails when we discovered , quite by accident , that Queensland Rail was planning to close the Ipswich‐ Roma Street line , on that day , for track maintenance . Luckily , one of our prospective new members stepped in and offered to drive us to Yeerongpilly , from where we caught the train to Central Station .
After morning tea , which was a delicious and leisurely affair , we gathered in the foyer of the magnificent stately building for a guided tour . We were joined by several members of the public and our guide admitted to being a little overawed because she had never had such a large group before . Our tour included the basement area , which was added when the building was renovated in 2010‐13 , and was full of historical interest , including the Signature Wall , which contains graffiti left on the walls by servicemen during the Second World War . After our tour , two smaller groups of NWR members took tours of the impressive clock tower , which included a look at the bells and clock faces . The antiquated lift was another talking point ! Several ladies also took a turn through the Museum of Brisbane , which is also housed in City Hall .
Having by now worked up quite an appetite , we took a tenminute walk to Mélange Café in the Roma Street Parklands for lunch , and lots of lively discussion on a multitude of topics . After lunch , we all had time for a stroll through the Parklands , most of us gravitating to the Spectacle Garden , which was a riot of colourful and heady‐scented flowers . By now , our day was drawing to an end . Our two groups bid farewell , parted company , and headed for the station to catch our trains home .
We had all had a wonderful day out and will all be looking forward to our next “ reunion .”
Yvonne Fraser BRISBANE WEST GROUP
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