Keynote Address

I was invited last week to address the Queensland Local Government Association annual conference in Hervey Bay, all expenses paid. It's a nice gig if you can land one, and this spot was rather nice as we shall see. However, it was my fourth visit to the district in three years so I knew my way around. The following images have little to do with the conference and there's no image of me strutting the stage!

After checking in at my hotel, I simply went for a walk and this is what I saw. First comes the view from by bedroom window down the street to the Urangan boat harbour.

Once there, the first object I saw was the car ferry, which hasn't a busy schedule at this time of the year - mid winter. For those in Britain who think that 24 C is a heatwave, the temperature during my walk was about 22 C ... in mid-winter!

A couple of guys launching their little run-about.

The conference venue was the boat club - rather nice, but a lot of presenters complained about the distracting view of yachts and Fraser Island in the background! Tough.

And here's Fraser Island, the largest sand island in the world so I've been told. We had to cross the water to get to the conference dinner, but the sea was flat because the island intercepts the Pacific swell.

More boats. There's no shortage o money in this retirement spot.

And, I could live in one of these apartments.

AS