Cooktown - Freedom of the City.

Below are some pics taken while in Cooktown when

35 Squadron was awarded the Freedom of the City.

20th August 2016

Click the pic above for a bigger view.

This pic was taken by the Cooktown Local News.

Andrea and I travelled to Cairns by the Spirit of Queensland. Using the new rail bed system is very comfortable. The seat is an adjustable seat during the day and at night it converts to a sleeping bed. The bed is actually attached to the back of the chair. It is electronically controlled and it unfolds and the staff make the bed for you. I guess it is like sleeping on an aircraft going through turbulence all the time and yes, you do get some sleep.

The cost for me with my TPI Gold Card was $150 that includes all meals and a beverage with your meal. All they sell is light beer, wine etc. The Gold cans are six dollars. The trip takes 24 hours. There is a TV screen in front of each passenger where you can watch movies, replays of TV series or listen to music. Also there is some history of the towns that the train passes through. We overnighted in Cairns and then we flew to Cooktown by Hinterland Airlines. We arrived in Cooktown about midday, booked into the Sovereign Resort (across the road from the R.S.L.), then went to the R.S.L. to meet up with all the others who also attended and the new 35 Squadron and the R.S.L. committee.

Friday night was an informal meet and greet most of the Squadron attended. Saturday we marched up the main street of Cooktown. The cannon (pictured below) was fired at 2 p.m. signifying the start of the march. The march and ceremony lasted about an hour and a half and then we returned to the R.S.L. A formal ceremony and dinner was held on Saturday night.

Sunday 35 Squadron played Cooktown in cricket with the locals winning by three runs. John McDougall then drove us to Cairns on Monday. We stopped at the Lion's Den Pub (also pictured) on the way. We overnighted at Cairns and returned to Brisbane by Jet Star on Tuesday.

We are now on Facebook as Wallaby Airlines. Please join in and post stories, send photos etc. We really need to get this up and going with the information/memories/funny things that you have experienced during your time in the RAAF.

As Wayne Bennett said 'Don't Die with the Music in You".

Sambo

The People's Champion.

Troops lined up at the Cooktown RSL - for a debrief!  Click the pic.

Food up there wasn't too bad, we managed to survive.

A Caribou prop, outside of the Cooktown RSL

John Sambrooks and Jarrod Pendlebury (CO 35 Sqn).

The Lion's Den Hotel is situated on the coastal road from Cairns to Cooktown, about four km. south of where the coast road joins the inland road. You simply can not drive past this one, a stop here is an absolute must to admire the collection of memorabilia and of course to have a cold beer to wash down the dust inhaled on the road. It has been known to happen that one beer could led to another, and another, and a few more. Not to worry, they also have some safari tent style accommodation here nestled between the trees if you do get stuck there.

Ted Mac took his trusty video camera along and you can see his masterpiece below