Murdering Point? What an odd name for a winery....in fact what an odd place to find one, a couple of kilometres along the Kurrimine Beach road off the Bruce Highway. We visited this in person on one of our previous visits (you may recall that it is set in the most delightful tropical garden), so again I'll not repeat photos and blurb, but the story of the name bears telling.
King Reef, the large, flat reef just off the shore of Kurrimine Beach, had been the undoing of many ships plying this coastline in the 1800's. In August 1878, the 'Riser', sailing northwards out of Cardwell, met its fate on this very lump of barely submerged rock. As the ship broke up the crew took to dinghies and made their way to a sandy spit on the shore at the northern end of what is now Kurrimine Beach.
Their relief was short lived (as were they!). Members of a local aboriginal tribe killed them all. A later investigation by the Cardwell Constabulary culminated in a dawn raid on the tribe which was still camped nearby. Here the ship's compass, tools and European clothing were found, together with several burnt and partially consumed bodies. There is no record of the outcome of that raid.....I strongly suspect 'Murdering Point', as the sand spit became known, was the site of two mass killings, but only one features in recorded local history.
The road from the Bruce Highway to Kurrimine Beach and the winery are the only two remaining features in the area to retain the name. The sand spit has long been washed away.
The Murdering Point winery is devoted to the production of tropical fruit wines. Black sapote, mangoes and lychees are but three of the fruits from which the various somewhat exotic products are made. We have tried most of them.....our verdict? They are definitely different. Liz did develop a liking for their white port (with sparkling water), but that was it for us.
Each year the winery supplies some of its eclectic product for a 'tasting' at the Kurrimine Beach Holiday Park. What better excuse for another Friday night 'knees up' in the camp kitchen.
It had been suggested that we all provide some nibbles to share. As this rather blurred shot demonstrates, we did our best at our table.
But we need not have been quite as enthusiastic (try telling that to Italians and Poles...renowned for their food hospitality!) As we set up I noticed 'the boys' in a planning huddle around the BBQ area. Whenever Corey, Neil and Wayne take up station here we know we are in for a treat.
The fact that Tracey was hovering around what is normally the 'serving table' in 'organizing mode' was further evidence.
And what a treat it turned out to be. The park management surprised us all with the most delectable barbecued scallop skewers.
This is typical of the effort taken here by the park management to ensure that those who stay over winter have the times of their lives socially....is it any wonder that the 'Kurrimine Beach Boomerangs Club' is expanding?
And, for me, tonight brought with it another surprise. If you look closely you will see the name 'Brighton' printed in red on the white top being worn by the bloke at this end of our table. Surely not? Surely yes.....a fellow 'seal' from the old stamping ground, the Brighton SLSC.
Rick Manuel and his good wife Margaret are social members of the club where Liz and I also held a similar membership (it was just down the road from our house in South Brighton). As I continue to say, there are no more surprised left.
We had all settled in well by the time the guests of honour darkened the doorstep. The notice advertising tonight's festivities had made mention of 'The Marquis' and we had assumed this was a play on Marcus' name, but the get up did take us by surprise. Who said park owners have to take life seriously? What a wonderful pair of dags! The entire camp kitchen was in stitches.
I strongly suspect that by this stage of the evening none of us was gasping for alcohol, but this was a 'wine tasting' after all. 'The Marquis' and 'Lady Kaye' did the rounds with offerings from Murdering Point. Refusal would have been churlish.....and was impossible anyway...'No' was not an acceptable answer.
But then good old Silvio took things to another level. We couldn't work out who looked sillier in this extraordinary hairpiece. At least Marcus had worn it under a hat!
By now things were getting really chirpy and one of the small tasting cups was no longer upright. What a waste!
Don't panic, Silvio, all is forgiven....there's more where that came from.
And there certainly was, much more, most of which was fortified. By the time we all had to sing for our suppers everyone was an Elvis, a Dame Melba or a Pavarotti. Tracey had little trouble getting everyone up....Ladies first!
Trish, Liz and Yadja were right in the thick of things.
Then it was the boys' turn. 'Delilah' has never sounded better! (except to anyone and everyone outside the camp kitchen)
And for a final treat, tonight ended with Tracey's signature song, 'I Did It My Way'. It all started serenely enough,
but that didn't last long. "Come on, Trace...up on stage".
"If you insist". What a trooper! I made comments in a previous blog about skills relative to enthusiasm....and was caught out....so I shall now say no more,
other than it was great to see a traditional ending to another fantastic Friday night in the Kurrimine Beach camp kitchen.
King Reef, the large, flat reef just off the shore of Kurrimine Beach, had been the undoing of many ships plying this coastline in the 1800's. In August 1878, the 'Riser', sailing northwards out of Cardwell, met its fate on this very lump of barely submerged rock. As the ship broke up the crew took to dinghies and made their way to a sandy spit on the shore at the northern end of what is now Kurrimine Beach.
Their relief was short lived (as were they!). Members of a local aboriginal tribe killed them all. A later investigation by the Cardwell Constabulary culminated in a dawn raid on the tribe which was still camped nearby. Here the ship's compass, tools and European clothing were found, together with several burnt and partially consumed bodies. There is no record of the outcome of that raid.....I strongly suspect 'Murdering Point', as the sand spit became known, was the site of two mass killings, but only one features in recorded local history.
The road from the Bruce Highway to Kurrimine Beach and the winery are the only two remaining features in the area to retain the name. The sand spit has long been washed away.
The Murdering Point winery is devoted to the production of tropical fruit wines. Black sapote, mangoes and lychees are but three of the fruits from which the various somewhat exotic products are made. We have tried most of them.....our verdict? They are definitely different. Liz did develop a liking for their white port (with sparkling water), but that was it for us.
Each year the winery supplies some of its eclectic product for a 'tasting' at the Kurrimine Beach Holiday Park. What better excuse for another Friday night 'knees up' in the camp kitchen.
It had been suggested that we all provide some nibbles to share. As this rather blurred shot demonstrates, we did our best at our table.
But we need not have been quite as enthusiastic (try telling that to Italians and Poles...renowned for their food hospitality!) As we set up I noticed 'the boys' in a planning huddle around the BBQ area. Whenever Corey, Neil and Wayne take up station here we know we are in for a treat.
The fact that Tracey was hovering around what is normally the 'serving table' in 'organizing mode' was further evidence.
And what a treat it turned out to be. The park management surprised us all with the most delectable barbecued scallop skewers.
This is typical of the effort taken here by the park management to ensure that those who stay over winter have the times of their lives socially....is it any wonder that the 'Kurrimine Beach Boomerangs Club' is expanding?
And, for me, tonight brought with it another surprise. If you look closely you will see the name 'Brighton' printed in red on the white top being worn by the bloke at this end of our table. Surely not? Surely yes.....a fellow 'seal' from the old stamping ground, the Brighton SLSC.
Rick Manuel and his good wife Margaret are social members of the club where Liz and I also held a similar membership (it was just down the road from our house in South Brighton). As I continue to say, there are no more surprised left.
We had all settled in well by the time the guests of honour darkened the doorstep. The notice advertising tonight's festivities had made mention of 'The Marquis' and we had assumed this was a play on Marcus' name, but the get up did take us by surprise. Who said park owners have to take life seriously? What a wonderful pair of dags! The entire camp kitchen was in stitches.
I strongly suspect that by this stage of the evening none of us was gasping for alcohol, but this was a 'wine tasting' after all. 'The Marquis' and 'Lady Kaye' did the rounds with offerings from Murdering Point. Refusal would have been churlish.....and was impossible anyway...'No' was not an acceptable answer.
But then good old Silvio took things to another level. We couldn't work out who looked sillier in this extraordinary hairpiece. At least Marcus had worn it under a hat!
By now things were getting really chirpy and one of the small tasting cups was no longer upright. What a waste!
Don't panic, Silvio, all is forgiven....there's more where that came from.
And there certainly was, much more, most of which was fortified. By the time we all had to sing for our suppers everyone was an Elvis, a Dame Melba or a Pavarotti. Tracey had little trouble getting everyone up....Ladies first!
Trish, Liz and Yadja were right in the thick of things.
Then it was the boys' turn. 'Delilah' has never sounded better! (except to anyone and everyone outside the camp kitchen)
And for a final treat, tonight ended with Tracey's signature song, 'I Did It My Way'. It all started serenely enough,
but that didn't last long. "Come on, Trace...up on stage".
"If you insist". What a trooper! I made comments in a previous blog about skills relative to enthusiasm....and was caught out....so I shall now say no more,
other than it was great to see a traditional ending to another fantastic Friday night in the Kurrimine Beach camp kitchen.
BRAVO!!
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