This blog will be an unapologetic plug for the Standown Caravan Park. And this has nothing to do with the fact that we have some personal connections here. As I hope you will see, the park speaks for itself.
As will also be evident from some of the photos, this park has a decidedly 'returned services' feel. Rod, who has developed this park from scratch with his good wife Pam, is a Vietnam Veteran, and many of those who have assisted, like our mate Noel Peck, have also served in that theatre of conflict. And although, like several others of its ilk around the country, Standown welcomes those ex-service personnel who wish to find solitude amongst others who will understand, and a place to stay long term (of whom there are probably only half a dozen), the broader travelling public are more than warmly welcomed. Indeed they are the life blood of the enterprise.
Irrespective of the fact that we were to be here with friends, Liz and I are more than comfortable in an ex-services environment, and whilst I know this can be a little intimidating at first for some, we just loved it.
So, enough chatter....let me show you around. Three things stood out for us above all else....the Memorial dam, the green and open spaces and the beautiful gardens.
The park is divided into two main sections, either side of the entrance road. On the one side are angled slab sites, some of which like these are still under development.
Behind this row, the older sites are separated by hedges and shrubs
more clearly seen here.
Just to the right of this last photo, is the edge of the unpowered area of the park, a vast expanse of green where the rows and sites are delineated by various species of trees, large and small. This is a park where new plantings are constant. It is not uncommon for regulars to arrive with cuttings or small potted plants which they think will complement various sections of the grounds. They are more than welcome.
Close to this section of the park are the heads, enclosed as you can see by manicured hedges. This is the one area of which I would have some criticism....the facilities are more than functional and kept spotlessly clean, but there are only two en-suite type rooms for each gender. This means things can become a little busy here from time to time.
But I guess if one has to stand about waiting, there are far worse places in which to do so!
As you saw in my last, the sites allotted to us and the Pecks were in the area known as the 'dam sites', a term which covers all those which are to be found at either end of the huge open expanse of lawn which dominates this side of the park.
That's us, right down the other end of this marvellous open area, bordered as it is by the pines along the park boundary.
From our site, we could look right out over the most prominent feature of this wonderful park, the dam and its associated Memorial.
Below the flag poles the rock wall houses a number of memorial plaques and crosses. Here the Long Tan Cross stands amongst its clipped green surrounds.
On either side of this central feature a series of clay bricks line the pathway. These can be purchased for a modest sum and help to finance the park's upkeep.
Two had a personal connection for us. We had first met the Westerlands at 80 Mile Beach in May 2015, and later stayed with them in Brisbane en route back to Adelaide (there will be a postscript to this in a later blog!),
and, of course, we were enjoying the company of one NJ Peck and his wife Sue at this very time.
Despite the serious nature of this Memorial, there is no suppressing the larrikin sense of humour which has always been a hallmark of the Australian soldier. This is one of two 'salties' to be found inhabiting the dam. Fortunately there is nothing more to them than their rubber heads!
Looking back across this corner of the water, you can see why our sites are known as the 'dam sites.' And on the left of the shot is the huge camp kitchen which is another feature of this park.
This large shed, which is party central each afternoon,
has a decidedly military mess look and feel to it with its flags, unit plaques and other military memorabilia.
Standown is the venue for many special functions during each year. In fact we were disappointed to find that our schedule found us missing the next, by a mere week. And here this large, almost industrial, kitchen means the hungry hordes can be fed in style.
Here too, the military sense of humour is on show!
A small bar lies under the camouflage netting lining the ceiling above the rows of benches and seats.
At the far end of this comparatively cavernous cave (by most park standards) is the fire pit, an area with which we became very familiar during our three day stay.
Each afternoon at 1600 hours, the fire is lit and all and sundry are invited to join for a community happy hour around the flames.
I think it is fair to comment that some of the more battle scarred vets have a tendency to keep themselves to themselves somewhat, but that is always their choice, and they invariably show up. As for the rest, well it is a case of make your own fun, and we did, even if Sue was doing her best to avoid being photographed by Liz, the 'happy snapper' who was prowling about with camera in hand.
We did look forward to this time of the day whilst here, but this was not the end of our socialising.
I owed the Pecks a good roast dinner, and had been carrying a fine leg of lamb for just this occasion.....whilst we raised a glass or two around the fire pit, the good old Baby Q was doing its thing.
So with night fall it was an assembly Chez Marshies and a roast with all the trimmings. Another culinary triumph Chef Pierre! My poor wife, who does not eat red meat, does not know what she is missing.
On our final evening together we decided that drinks and nibbles in our private 'beer garden' would be just the shot....and it was. Max was pretty happy about this arrangement, too.
During our stay here we did pop into Gympie. Noel needed a few pits and pieces from Bunnings and we took the opportunity for a quick look around the main shopping area, Mary Street. This was enough to convince us that a return visit is in order, something we shall do in the future when we have more time available.
Before we leave Standown, a few more shots of the lovely gardens here.
The amount of work which has gone into developing these areas is incredible
and remains a real testament to the foresight and energy of Pam and Rod
who have created a park of both beauty and tranquility.
Finally, as night falls, two features come to the fore. This wire model of that inescapable feature of the Vietnam war, the Bell 205 Iroquios helicopter, know universally as the 'Huey',
comes to life in flashing colour
and spotlights bathe the central feature of the Memorial in a soft, distant glow which stands out starkly against the darkness of a country retreat.
Apart from the pleasure we had catching up with Sue and Noel, our park site and surrounds were such that we have placed Standown firmly on our list of resting places as we journey up and back chasing the Queensland winter sun.
On either side of this central feature a series of clay bricks line the pathway. These can be purchased for a modest sum and help to finance the park's upkeep.
Two had a personal connection for us. We had first met the Westerlands at 80 Mile Beach in May 2015, and later stayed with them in Brisbane en route back to Adelaide (there will be a postscript to this in a later blog!),
and, of course, we were enjoying the company of one NJ Peck and his wife Sue at this very time.
Despite the serious nature of this Memorial, there is no suppressing the larrikin sense of humour which has always been a hallmark of the Australian soldier. This is one of two 'salties' to be found inhabiting the dam. Fortunately there is nothing more to them than their rubber heads!
Looking back across this corner of the water, you can see why our sites are known as the 'dam sites.' And on the left of the shot is the huge camp kitchen which is another feature of this park.
This large shed, which is party central each afternoon,
has a decidedly military mess look and feel to it with its flags, unit plaques and other military memorabilia.
Standown is the venue for many special functions during each year. In fact we were disappointed to find that our schedule found us missing the next, by a mere week. And here this large, almost industrial, kitchen means the hungry hordes can be fed in style.
Here too, the military sense of humour is on show!
A small bar lies under the camouflage netting lining the ceiling above the rows of benches and seats.
At the far end of this comparatively cavernous cave (by most park standards) is the fire pit, an area with which we became very familiar during our three day stay.
Each afternoon at 1600 hours, the fire is lit and all and sundry are invited to join for a community happy hour around the flames.
I think it is fair to comment that some of the more battle scarred vets have a tendency to keep themselves to themselves somewhat, but that is always their choice, and they invariably show up. As for the rest, well it is a case of make your own fun, and we did, even if Sue was doing her best to avoid being photographed by Liz, the 'happy snapper' who was prowling about with camera in hand.
We did look forward to this time of the day whilst here, but this was not the end of our socialising.
I owed the Pecks a good roast dinner, and had been carrying a fine leg of lamb for just this occasion.....whilst we raised a glass or two around the fire pit, the good old Baby Q was doing its thing.
So with night fall it was an assembly Chez Marshies and a roast with all the trimmings. Another culinary triumph Chef Pierre! My poor wife, who does not eat red meat, does not know what she is missing.
On our final evening together we decided that drinks and nibbles in our private 'beer garden' would be just the shot....and it was. Max was pretty happy about this arrangement, too.
During our stay here we did pop into Gympie. Noel needed a few pits and pieces from Bunnings and we took the opportunity for a quick look around the main shopping area, Mary Street. This was enough to convince us that a return visit is in order, something we shall do in the future when we have more time available.
Before we leave Standown, a few more shots of the lovely gardens here.
The amount of work which has gone into developing these areas is incredible
and remains a real testament to the foresight and energy of Pam and Rod
who have created a park of both beauty and tranquility.
Finally, as night falls, two features come to the fore. This wire model of that inescapable feature of the Vietnam war, the Bell 205 Iroquios helicopter, know universally as the 'Huey',
comes to life in flashing colour
and spotlights bathe the central feature of the Memorial in a soft, distant glow which stands out starkly against the darkness of a country retreat.
Apart from the pleasure we had catching up with Sue and Noel, our park site and surrounds were such that we have placed Standown firmly on our list of resting places as we journey up and back chasing the Queensland winter sun.
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