ICS Australasian Tribe Autumn Fly-In – Goolwa April 2024
On the weekend of the 12th to the 14th of April 2024, 37 International Comanche Society Australasian tribe members and guests enjoyed a weekend Fly-in to Goolwa on the Fleurieu Peninsula of South Australia, masterfully organised by Kerrie and Lawrence Paratz. This region, centred on the mouth of Australia’s longest river (The Mighty Murray) was chosen for its history, attractions and the world heritage listed Coorong wetlands.
On arrival at Goolwa Airport on Friday we were bussed to Gilbert’s Motor Museum in nearby Strathalbyn, where we were presented with a fascinating array of classic cars, motor cycles and memorabilia, plus a library displaying a comprehensive collection of historic publications. A number of our party enjoyed long conversations with the volunteer librarian and enjoyed his incredible knowledge of the museum and its history.
We returned to the Airport to enjoy a delicious BBQ of locally sourced meats, salads and desserts courtesy of our airport hosts Richard and Geoff Eastwood. Lawrence, John Ward and other helpers cooked the BBQ.
Early the next morning found us gathered at a café on the wharf for breakfast prior to boarding ‘The Spirit of the Coorong’ for a scenic journey along a length of the Coorong – a saline lagoon stretching 140Km separated by sand dunes from the Southern Ocean, and traditional land of the Ngarrindjeri Aboriginal Group. We were amazed and delighted at the quantity and variety of seabirds – thousands of pelicans and cormorants were the most easily identified. Long-nosed fur seals also amused us with their antics as they lolled about in the shallows, as well as proving they were agile climbers as they looked down at us from the top of a lock structure. We viewed the mouth of the Murray, one of Australia’s major rivers. The mouth of the river moves with tides and storms, and has many moving sandbars, making navigation out to the sea nearly impossible.
From the boat we immediately transferred to the famous Cockle Train, a volunteer run vintage railway which runs between Goolwa and Victor Harbor, the largest town in the region. After lunch, some of us walked across a causeway to the aptly named Granite Island, which afforded great views of the area. Others acquainted themselves with the shopping area of town, then we either returned to Goolwa on the train, our bussed back.
Dinner was at Port Elliot, a town midway between Goolwa and Victor Harbor (yes it is spelled correctly – the Surveyor general back when was a poor speller!) It was great to see Angela and Tony Read who joined us for dinner.
Early Sunday AM we gathered at our hotel for breakfast prior to bus transfer to Goolwa Airport for the ICS General Meeting, followed by departures.
Thank you to Kerrie and Lawrence Paratz for organising such an interesting and varied Fly-in, to our hosts at Goolwa Airport and to all the members and guests who attended.