Oh SaVonnah (Way)
A Von Blog...(you have been warned)
Yes, a blog in quick succession to Shazza's offering the other day but we are behind in our musings and so I thought I would take the opportunity, whilst parked up in the low cost ($2) camp site in Mount Molloy, to bring us all up to speed.
We were definitely enjoying our time in Karumba but on the Thursday I started to feel a bit, shall we say, dodgy. My sinus' felt blocked and irritated which could have been the water in the swimming pool (too many children germs)(and yes Mum, I certainly should not have put my head under the water) or, if not the pool, then perhaps a decidedly hot pickled chilli which I ate whole (and yes Mum, again, perhaps not a wise idea). By Friday the possible sinus irritation had become a definite 'cold' with some symptoms inline with Covid symptoms.
What to do? A moral conundrum if ever there was one. If we ignored the symptoms and then it did transpire to be Covid I could, potentially, be infecting a whole heap of people because, whilst we are reasonably self isolated in the van, we do still share a lot of communal facilities. I checked out various Government web sites and the Queensland site was quite specific; if you have ANY Covid like symptoms then get a Test. OK, best I get a test then. Further exploration of the Queensland Govt site revealed that there was a testing station in a place called Croydon, some 220km from Karumba. By this time it was Saturday and the testing place was opened between 1000 and 1300 at the weekend. We departed Karumba just after 0700 and duly arrived in Croydon as the centre opened. However, in line with the instructions I called the test centre first. "Hi, I am from New Zealand and am currently travelling around Queensland, I have come down with a cold and so think I ought to get a Covid test, what do you reckon?". "Mmm" came the answer down the phone. "If you get a test here today then the results won't be back until Wednesday at the earliest, so you'd be here all that time, perhaps you'd be better going to the drive thru' test centre at Atherton". The unspoken sub text being, 'as we don't want your filthy traveller germs here thank you very much'. A quick check on Google maps showed that Atherton was another 460km down the road... Thanking the lady for her useful advice (not) I said I would do a bit more investigating and get back to her should I still need the test. Thinking another medical opinion might be handy, I called the '1300 HEALTH' line which is the Queensland Government's number for all things Covid. These people would be right on the button for what we ought to do...
"Ooh, so you are travelling around, ooh, I don't think we've had that issue, let me see what I can find out for you". Sound of keyboard being tapped. "There is a testing centre in Atherton". Yes, I knew that because I can also use the internet. "You probably should get a test, and then you will have to self isolate". "Thanks, I kind of figured that would be the case, is there any guidance on what my partner, who is also in the van, should do". "Well, umm, they should probably self isolate but I guess that might be difficult, umm, well I am not really sure, best to check with the testing people". As much use as a chocolate fireguard.
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| We had planned on staying at the Cumberland Chimney campsite instead, it was a a quick photo and not much else |
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| 'Doggers Delight' from the road... |
The next day, Sunday, we did the final leg into Atherton and, specifically, to the Showground where the mobile testing clinic was. Or, as it turned out, was not. We drove around and around - lots of signs for the clinic but no actually clinic in sight. The adjacent hospital was our next port of call and after a few false starts I eventually found an Entrance and a lady who told me that, yes, they were doing Covid tests. For those who don't know, the Australian health system is partially run through a free scheme called 'Medicare' and, as a NZ citizen, I am allowed to access this healthcare but not before handing over half an arm and a few pints of blood. Only kidding. Thankfully, I had my NZ Passport to hand and so the very nice lady at Reception registered me to the Medicare system and before I knew it, Robert was my Dad's Brother, and I was getting a metal swab stuck up my schnozz. As advised by the lady on the health line, I asked the Nurse whether Sharon should also have a test "No, no requirement for family members to take the test too, if your test comes back positive then we will just assume she's positive as well". "Oh, OK and does she need to self isolate too?". "No, no requirement for that". Mmm, there is a distinct flaw in the logic here but I was feeling a bit rough and not ready for any 'chicken and egg' philosophical discussions. "And what about us staying in camp sites, I do not want to lie on the forms [mandatory forms asking whether guests are displaying any signs of Covid] so what should we do?" The Nurse handed me a certificate, you will need to self isolate but they will have to let you stay when you show them this certificate. "Oh, OK". And with that, I skipped back to the van.
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| It's ok, I have a certificate... |
I told Shazza what had occurred and she very quickly picked up on the flaw in the logic. Mmm. Well, let's just call a local campsite and book in for the next few nights until we get the result back. I called the Atherton Campground and decided it was best to come clean with regards the Covid test. "So you've had a test but the person travelling with you hasn't?" The campground owner very quickly picked up on the flaw in the logic. "Perhaps it might be better for you to stay at the free camp down the road" The unspoken sub text being, 'as we don't want your filthy traveller germs here thank you very much'.
As it turned out the Rocky Creek Memorial Park ($5 donation) was the perfect spot to hole up until we got the result. During World War Two, Rocky Creek was developed in record time as the largest military hospital in the Southern Hemisphere. The first patients being admitted within three weeks of installation of essential services! Eventually Rocky Creek included two 1200 bed hospitals, a convalescent 'depot', a laundry and an entertainment 'igloo' and employed 2,000 staff. As many as 60,000 men and women were treated between late 1942 and 1945. After the war, the site was abandoned and most of the buildings were either demolished or sold on (the beauty of wooden buildings). For over 50 years the site lay forgotten but in the 1990s some keen local historians decided they would revitalise the importance of the site. In 1995 the park was dedicated as an official memorial and now is home to many plaques and monuments honouring those who serve and have served...including war time carrier pigeons!
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| Dennis admires the military animal memorial plaques |
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| The entertainment 'igloo', ripe for renovation |
Although we were pretty positive that it was 'just a cold' there remained the possibility of a positive Covid result and, if that were to occur, not only would it really put the kibosh on our plans but would also highlight the realities of living in a small van with not much of a safety net. I will acknowledge we have friends around the country who, I am sure, would open their doors to us in any hour of need but would we want to put them into harms way? Thankfully, at half five on Monday night I received a text informing me the test was negative. Phew.
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| Atherton Tablelands in all the green glory |
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| Ahh, the serenity |
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| Dennis keeping a safety watch on lake users |
As Sharon mentioned in her previous blog, the 'greeness' of the Atherton Tablelands was striking after so much time in the brown of the outback and we decided we would like to drink it in for a bit longer so headed to a caravan park by Lake Tinaroo. The fresh water lake and many lakeside walks appealed to us all and we had three lovely nights before heading down to Cairns and to Les & Julie's oasis.
The four nights in a house were kind of weird after so long in the confines of the van but very welcomed. Dennis loved the cold tiled floor although was not so grateful for his dunk in the pool. We also took the opportunity to give Cilla a good clean, inside and out and availed ourselves of the (free) washing machine. Oh, and we voted in the NZ elections! Two ticks...
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| Health & safety? Nothing to see here, move along... |
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| Our incredibly generous hosts |
Les & Julie had been up in the Daintree Rainforest but we were able to catch up with them on the Monday night. We had got to know them during our Navy sojourn in Sydney and so the night was spent 'spinning dits' and reminiscing about friends past and present. A very convivial evening and, as they are about to move to Adelaide, one we hope to repeat in a few months time. Noting their impending removals we left them on the Tuesday and after replenishing at Coles (the supermarket) and Dan Murphy's (the alcohol superstore) we headed back up to the Tablelands.
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| A family photo at Emerald Creek Falls |
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| Banana |
A challenge for you all! After we published the last blog, Maggie Bolam asked whether it would be possible to have a blog where we answered people's questions (I suspect Maggie has loads for us so we are bracing ourselves...!). We think that's a great idea so, if you have a specific question about the van, our food, our planning, our clothes, our routines (one very dear to my heart) or whatever you'd like to ask then, please, email us (Bonfield.gray@me.com) or direct message on Messenger/Facebook (Sharon Bonfield) or text (+61432192655). Like a political press conference but different - we look forward to hearing from you...
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