Hayman Island with Rotary and Airlie Beach History
Sat 28 Mar 2009Barely back a week and Rotary have been on my case about joining their organisation. The local group are a good bunch of guys and the organisation quite well-to-do. I did some work on their boat show website for a number of years and their local phone book implementation for the web which is now www.mywhitsunday.com.
Anyway, I could not resist the invite to go out to Hayman Island for lunch, transfers included for $30. What a great day out. I managed to find myself on the ferry (lux white boat) and at lunch chatting with Ros, wife of long time Airlie Beach businessman and sailor Peter. She was delightful and well reputed and involved in saving nearly everything that we hold dear, even citing her original march in the Airlie main street to stop the golden arches from being erected to scare the main street scape. Don't get me wrong, I love to sneak a cheesey quite often and now that the local store has free wifi internet, you can hardly get a seat at the place.
The weather was typical late march. Wind and showers, blue sky at times, but never be too far from cover if you worry about keeping the hair do right (I don't).
We were shown the carpet at Hayman Island. The staff are very polite, well dressed and helpful. Hayman as a resort has a few summers on it, but its well maintained and embedded in lush well tended gardens that enhance the tropical feel.
Lunch was something to behold on its own. Once again the service was super and the tucker very tasty. Naturally, the deserts were over subscribed, but we were the first table to access them, which worked out well for some.
The afternoon included a champagne ride home and discussion with local solicitor Bob Bogie, who's scottish accent augments well with his profession. We spoke about the IT improvement challenge that every small business has. I seldom appreciate that my IT savvy background and degree in geek-dom give me a substantial advantage in business, let alone having written my own blog software, all the function in Channelwhitsunday.com and my own accounting software.It only I had more time!
Jo was curbside in the ChannelWhitsunday.com Tigra at Shute harbour wharf. Thanks mate! We stopped off at a photo exhibition at the local PCYC where a couple of dozen old photos of the area reminded you of the humble beginnings of the region. Tourism and western inhabitation came late to this area, the Abell family including 10 kids decended on this place in the first years after 1900.
What a day out.
Sunday looks similar. Going to a BBQ with a local member of the council. He owns a naturalist colony.
I had to ask "Is this a clothes on or off function?"
He responded, "Well if you have nothing on Sunday afternoon, come out."
Should be interesting.
Related Links:Rotary Club of Airlie BeachWhitsunday Boat ShowLocal Phone guide
