This is your challenge for the day......what do Poona on the Great Sandy Straits and the area around Conway Beach (just out of Proserpine) have in common? And the answer is.....very unusual letter boxes. But of course, everyone knows that!
Well no they don't, and neither did we until we began our daily fitness walks around the streets of Poona (when it wasn't pouring with rain). And whilst doing so we discovered another feature of this town we found amusing.......the penchant for the locals to name their houses, all of which include 'Poona'.
In the course of bringing these local oddities to you, dear readers, hopefully you will also gain an appreciation of the variety of housing and the suburban landscape of what we have come to now recognise as a very interesting and pretty place.
We first came across the 'Poona names' as we walked along the length of Boronia Street which took us from the end of the beach front walk back to the caravan park.
One thing which is always of interest to us where ever we travel is housing styles and her on Boronia Street we came across all sorts. These 'originals', for example
stood in complete contrast to this two storey Queenslander.
'Moonglo', the starkly white contemporary holiday home, could not have been more different from its low, yellow neighbour.
Along this street we found new homes with delightful gardens
and galvanised iron sheds surrounded by nothing but lawn.
A few of the Boronia Street residences are downright ugly,
whilst the owners of others showed a great sense of humour. It took me a while to cotton on to what we were seeing here. I invite you to note that this modest home has no boundary fencing other than the short lengths either side of the front gate. There is absolutely nothing to prevent folk coming and going at will.
And then, on the gate itself I spotted this....now here lives someone with whom I would be happy to share a beer!
It was also here on our walk back to the park that we came across the first of what we later realised is something of a Poona obsession....fancy letter boxes. Just look at the work in this one.
I'll bring a few more of these to you shortly, but before that.....the other feature of many Poona homes.....their names. And again, many residents have demonstrated a sense of whimsy.
These home names came in all shapes and sizes,
but all were prominently displayed on front fences, gates and walls,
or stood alone in the front garden.
I could go on. This was far from the end of these, but I think enough is enough!
We did spend many an hour wandering the streets of Poona. which are generally pretty broad, and make it easy to indulge in a good ramble. One one of these jaunts we set ourselves to find more of the Poona letter boxes, other than one of Australia Post that is!
As we toddled off down Livingstonia Street, past some delightful flowering shrubs in full snowy display,
and the unusual sight of a fruiting pandanus (not to be confused with the buoy hanging below the branches)
we came across our first letter box.
But here, in the front yard, there was much more to be seen, including this model of the Sydney Harbour bridge
and a fisherman perched under an umbrella on the old hull of a catamaran. And there were more of this sort of thing dotted throughout the large front yard. We concluded that the owner of 'WESODO' has far too much time on his hands!
Still shaking our heads we plodded on past some of Poona's wide open areas where palms and eucalyptus trees rub shoulders,
past this large Queenslander
and this small neat cottage
until we came to one of the newer sections of the town where there is plenty of developmental land on offer.
And here we found our letter boxes. They came in all shapes and sizes. Some very cleverly matched the design of the home they fronted, ether in choice of materials,
or shape.
Other home owners shied right away from this concept and let their imaginations run riot. This lighthouse is one of many which have a nautical theme.
At the entrance of this rather grand driveway
the postie slips the mail into the mouth of young 'Nemo', struggling to escape from the jaws of his nemesis.
Here, at the front of this house which we noted became very busy on weekends,
postal deliveries find themselves in the maw of a large local 'muddie', mounted on an anchor and surrounded below by nautical nick-nacks.
Even home owners who have not gone to the extraordinary lengths of some of their neighbours have graced their front yards with letter boxes which are 'different'.......both stylised
and themed.
I could go on, but as with the house names, I think this sample more than adequately demonstrates what I mean by the 'letter boxes of Poona'. For home owners here, the issue of mail delivery is certainly no laughing matter!
And as I have mentioned before, and hopefully you have now seen to some extent, the housing in this town is just as varied, ranging from large, two storey mansions set on wide, lawned blocks
We first came across the 'Poona names' as we walked along the length of Boronia Street which took us from the end of the beach front walk back to the caravan park.
One thing which is always of interest to us where ever we travel is housing styles and her on Boronia Street we came across all sorts. These 'originals', for example
stood in complete contrast to this two storey Queenslander.
'Moonglo', the starkly white contemporary holiday home, could not have been more different from its low, yellow neighbour.
Along this street we found new homes with delightful gardens
and galvanised iron sheds surrounded by nothing but lawn.
A few of the Boronia Street residences are downright ugly,
whilst the owners of others showed a great sense of humour. It took me a while to cotton on to what we were seeing here. I invite you to note that this modest home has no boundary fencing other than the short lengths either side of the front gate. There is absolutely nothing to prevent folk coming and going at will.
And then, on the gate itself I spotted this....now here lives someone with whom I would be happy to share a beer!
It was also here on our walk back to the park that we came across the first of what we later realised is something of a Poona obsession....fancy letter boxes. Just look at the work in this one.
I'll bring a few more of these to you shortly, but before that.....the other feature of many Poona homes.....their names. And again, many residents have demonstrated a sense of whimsy.
These home names came in all shapes and sizes,
but all were prominently displayed on front fences, gates and walls,
or stood alone in the front garden.
I could go on. This was far from the end of these, but I think enough is enough!
We did spend many an hour wandering the streets of Poona. which are generally pretty broad, and make it easy to indulge in a good ramble. One one of these jaunts we set ourselves to find more of the Poona letter boxes, other than one of Australia Post that is!
As we toddled off down Livingstonia Street, past some delightful flowering shrubs in full snowy display,
and the unusual sight of a fruiting pandanus (not to be confused with the buoy hanging below the branches)
we came across our first letter box.
But here, in the front yard, there was much more to be seen, including this model of the Sydney Harbour bridge
and a fisherman perched under an umbrella on the old hull of a catamaran. And there were more of this sort of thing dotted throughout the large front yard. We concluded that the owner of 'WESODO' has far too much time on his hands!
Still shaking our heads we plodded on past some of Poona's wide open areas where palms and eucalyptus trees rub shoulders,
past this large Queenslander
and this small neat cottage
until we came to one of the newer sections of the town where there is plenty of developmental land on offer.
And here we found our letter boxes. They came in all shapes and sizes. Some very cleverly matched the design of the home they fronted, ether in choice of materials,
or shape.
Other home owners shied right away from this concept and let their imaginations run riot. This lighthouse is one of many which have a nautical theme.
At the entrance of this rather grand driveway
the postie slips the mail into the mouth of young 'Nemo', struggling to escape from the jaws of his nemesis.
Here, at the front of this house which we noted became very busy on weekends,
postal deliveries find themselves in the maw of a large local 'muddie', mounted on an anchor and surrounded below by nautical nick-nacks.
Even home owners who have not gone to the extraordinary lengths of some of their neighbours have graced their front yards with letter boxes which are 'different'.......both stylised
and themed.
I could go on, but as with the house names, I think this sample more than adequately demonstrates what I mean by the 'letter boxes of Poona'. For home owners here, the issue of mail delivery is certainly no laughing matter!
And as I have mentioned before, and hopefully you have now seen to some extent, the housing in this town is just as varied, ranging from large, two storey mansions set on wide, lawned blocks
to seaside shacks on the edge of the waters of the Straits.
If you are beginning to get the impression that we were really taken by Poona you are right. And apart from what we saw walking around the town, we soon learnt that there is a vibrant local community spirit here.
The focal point of much of the activities of the locals is the Poona Centenary Hall which is to be found next to the Emergency Services shed.
Here the 'Poona Arts' are continued in the form of this tea setting in the side garden.
At the rear of the large hall the back deck
looks out over the tennis courts
and the local sports oval complete as it was with its quaint miniature metal kids soccer goals.
At the side of the hall buildings stands the Poona Centenary war memorial
which includes this circular garden bed in which a cutting from the original Gallipoli 'Lone Pine' is growing.
The driveway to the hall leads in off the roadway on which our park was situated (you can just see some of the vans mid shot).
and all the regular weekly events.
The 'Friday 6.00 pm Kitchen and Bar' was of particular interest to us. The manager of our park had been effusive about the value on offer.....we were more than keen to put him to the test.
In fact, after the first of our two Friday evenings here at Poona, we had become similarly enthused, and were more than eager to present again for a meal and a few drinks.
This entire operation is run by volunteers. Two main courses are offered each Friday together with a sweet dish, and as you can see, with a price tag for visitors of $10 for a main and $4 for desert, this is a steal.
This entire operation is run by volunteers. Two main courses are offered each Friday together with a sweet dish, and as you can see, with a price tag for visitors of $10 for a main and $4 for desert, this is a steal.
Whilst Liz took her place in the food service queue, the hall was beginning to fill.
By the time our meals were on the table I was reserving, the back deck was coming alive with those who chose to eat outdoors.
We had no sooner tucked in at our 'table for two', when a group of local lads dining next to us insisted that we should join them rather than sit on our own. We did so with relish and had a marvellous evening in what turned out to be very good and varied company.
And here we discovered that folk come from near and far to enjoy Friday evenings at the Poona Hall....the chap at the end of the table lives at nearby Tuan, 10 kms or so to the north. This is certainly the way to learn all about what is going on in the district, including the latest fishing news.......all of which was not good, much to my relief given I had not tightened a line!
To add to the joys of a Friday evening meal here, the bar prices are more than reasonable and the range of drinks presented is adequate. What more could a travelling visitor wish for? Nothing, as far as we were concerned. And at the end of the evening, a walk of no more than 200 metres saw us back in our van where we planned another day's activities whilst here....a visit to the nearby small towns of Boonooroo, Tuan and Maaroom. Could they possibly be as quaint as their names?
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