Roma, Qld

We left Lara Wetlands and drove to Blackall, where we stayed the night as wanted to watch the Adelaide Crows play Geelong in the AFL Preliminary Final.  Booked into Blackall Caravan Park and with temperature at 36 degrees gave the air conditioning another work out. Had a bit of a drive around town before returning to the Van for the game.  After sun went down temperature was much more bearable.  Crows won the game so next game will be the Grand Final!!  Caught up again the next day with Kathy and Neville who stayed the night and with temperature around 37 degrees we spent most of the day in the Van with air conditioning.

The Blackall Black stump
"Beyond the black stump"

Kathy and Neville left before us next day but we caught up with them down the track with a blown tyre on their Caravan. I helped put spare wheel on in 39 degree temperature, which was far from pleasant.  Off they went down the road again only to have to stop when the spare tyre blew out. I thought our spare wheel would fit and it did, much to Kathy and Neville's surprise and relief. Stopped for lunch at Augathella (dry and dusty) and checked the wheel nuts before detouring to Charleville where they could purchase new tyres for the Van.  Checked into Bailey Bar Caravan Park where we were squeezed in and after a hot windy day we showered and headed to the RSL for cold drinks and a nice dinner in air conditioning!

Stopped at Tambo for coffee and saw this Border Collie minding the sheep. Never moved the whole time we were there!!
No wonder he was so skinny - was as thin as a sheet of corrugated iron!!

Drove out to the Evening Star caravan park, was very dusty and windy so decided to go into Charlieville.

Neville organised new tyres to be fitted first thing in morning so we picked up our spare wheel which was kindly lifted back on by the Service man.  Continued on Warrego Highway stopping in Morven for coffee then onto Mitchell and finally Roma where we visited the bakery for lunch!  Kathy and Neville arrived and had booked into the Roma Gun Club on recommendation from people they had met travelling.  Great for an overnight stop - approx 20 vans camped and participated in their Happy Hour meeting travellers and locals.

In the morning after hitching up the van we drove to the Roma Saleyards for a free guided tour of the cattle sales.  Roma Saleyards is the largest cattle selling centre in Australia with 300,000-400,000 head of cattle sold through the facility annually. Cattle are usually sold by cents per kilogram of their live weight.  In some cases, very light weaner calves, pregnant cows and cows with calves are sold at dollars per head.  Auctions are conducted twice weekly with a store sale every Tues and a prime sale every Thurs. A store sale is comprised of cattle purchased for fattening or to breed from (usually attracts around 7,000 head of cattle).  A prime sale is comprised of cattle fattened on grass, fodder crops or grain and are ready to be sold for meat production.

The tour guide giving a brief introduction before we move into the sale yard area.

The auctioneers in action selling the penned group, however if one is not wanted or to be sold separately a mark is painted on its back - note the man holding the long pole.

Waiting to be auctioned

On the day of the sale, licensed agents represent sellers and buyers.  After the sale cattle are weighed and moved for delivery or into spelling yards.  From there they are trucked to their destination, which takes place on the evening of the sale or the next day.

We witnessed a store sale and under the guidance of a tour guide, was able to get up close to the buyers and auctioneers to watch the sales.  Amazing how the auctioneers pick up when a buyer is bidding as we could not see any movement whatsoever!  Thoroughly enjoyed this informative and interesting tour and would recommend to anyone.

All the pens with groups of cattle to be auctioned

This group is being weighed after the sale and the kg price shown on the group.

After a coffee at the Bakery in town we continued on the Warrego Highway to Miles, Chinchilla and onto Dalby. Kathy and Neville decided to stay another night at the Roma Gun Club.  Because our AFL team the Adelaide Crows made it into the Grand Final, we made the decision to go to the Gold Coast for the weekend and watch the Grand Final with both Todd and Briony.  This would also give us the opportunity to spend time with our kids and see Todd and Tenelle's home for the first time.

Stayed a night at Dalby Pioneer Caravan Park then headed to Toowoomba on Warrego Highway, turned off onto New England Highway towards Warwick then turned off 15kms before Warwick and headed to Boonah via Clintonvale, Aratula and Kalbar.  Stopped at Boonah Showgrounds for lunch and decided to stay night.  Had a walk around town in the heat and was happy that the evening cooled down considerably.

From Boonah we drove to Canungra where we stayed at the Showgrounds.  Very busy as it was a long weekend.  Once again the air conditioner was used as temperature rose to 38 degrees.  Departed early in the morning and headed to Kirra Beach Caravan Park where we stayed for 3 nights (long weekend).