John Collier

[John F Collier]

Hi everyone, in the late 1950s I remember the outskirts of a town that had some homes built on stilts
and a white painted building that had a big advert on the side reading, Kerosene light of the age, also
had a great bar with refrigerated piped beer. My thoughts are, Townsville - Rockhampton and Cairns, I
think Cairns is the most likely as it was mostly sugar beet plantations, it's bugged me for years I hope
somebody can recall this place, cheers. PS it was definitely Queensland.

[Frederick Lacey]

Hi John, Unless you took a rail journey I don't think it would have been Rockhampton, Port Alma was the nearest Port.
which is about 30 Miles away on a single track, called there a couple of times, meat wagons came usually once a day
and unloaded at the wharf, I'm talking about the early fifties, were there normally about 2 days, there is a thread by
Brian about Port Alma, a good read. Fred.


There is a photo on my photo's which gives you a little idea what was there,
sheds where the dockers used to bunk down and have meals etc, they used
to come down on the first train and go back on the last one when the ships
were loaded. F

[John F Collier]

Hi Fred, Thanks for that I've learned some things from it, I knew about the railway line etc, but only that the nearest town
was 40 miles away, I didn't know it was called Port Alma though I always thought that was Rockhampton. So I'm still leaning
towards Cairns as I think it was a bit sub tropical there, I will have a look your photo's and Brian's thread on it. Cheers, John.

[Ron B Manderson]

welcome to the site John.
Lets hear your stories then
Ron the batcave

[John F Collier]

Hi Ron, thanks for the welcome I'm just wandering around the site trying to learn how things work at the moment, it's
great to see the banter going on. I do have a few bits to talk about that some of you might find interesting (hopefully),
all the best, John.

[Captain Kong]

Hi John
The stories of Port Alma are in `Seafaring Stories` in the Swinging the Lamp forum.
on Dunedin Star and Adelaide Star later.
hope you like them,
Cheers
Brian

[judith george]

Hi John do you remember seeing a canon or a big gun there ?

judith

[John F Collier]

Hi Brian, I will definitely have a look at that now I know where it is, thanks very much, cheers, John.

[John F Collier]

Hi Judith, no I can't remember that, in fact I can't remember what came after the white building with the sign on it, I
can only think that must have been the pub, and we went no further the beer was cold the sun was hot, say no more.
I think it was Cairns, all the best, John.

[judith george]

My mother has a photo of my Dad in Townsville next to a big gun/canon