Qantas Founders Museum in Longreach.

Hello again.  We are seeing so much good stuff that it is really hard to find the time to get it all onto my blog because it takes over an hour for each one.  Generally it is loading the pictures that takes the time, but they are so worth the effort, don't you think?

On Wednesday morning we started out by heading straight down to the LSODE or Longreach School of Distance Education.  This is where the education is sent out to all the children on remote stations in this part of Queensland. We watched a teacher taking a preschool class over the radio and took a tour through the building.  They have 7 studios, but they need eight. One for each grade.  They also have students come to stay for up to a week at a time to meet others in their grade and it also gives the mothers time to socialise with mothers of other children.  The parents, usually the mothers have to supervise the children at their lessons.  Each family has a computer and a radio, and the work is sent out each fortnight by mail.

This is a picture of part of the administration area, showing some of the children's assignment work which has been sent in for marking.

After we left the school, we headed into town for a coffee at Kinnon and Co, where they have lots of old time memorabilia.  This stagecoach was in one corner of the yard.  Looked very uncomfortable inside.

Then in another area was this display. I giggled when I saw the empty beer bottles in the crate as I haven't seen that sight for a long time.

We had our coffee and some scones and jam. R had some delicious looking gluten free loaf.

Then off to the Qantas museum.  It is easy to find. Just look for the 747 parked beside the main road into Longreach.

Inside the museum there is so much to see. Lots of displays about the founders of Qantas. A couple of motor vehicles, such as this Model T.

And this bus. The seats looked a bit hard on this bus too.  Old timers must have been pretty tough and hardy.

I liked this display! Took the words right out of my mouth.

They had lots of models of the first planes circling on a track above our heads. Here are two of my favourites.

This was an impressive plane, but still not one I would have had the confidence to fly in.

J, G & R took a tour of the Boeing 707 and had a look in the door of the 747, then we went out to the engineering workshop where they used to make the first planes.  It was warm enough when we were there, but it would have been most uncomfortably hot for the first mechanics. We took a look in this plane. It seated 7 people, but the pilot sat alone in a seat up behind them.

That was enough sightseeing for that day. We were worn out.  This place is definitely worth a look if you ever get to Longreach.

Tomorrow we leave this town and head over to Winton.  See you there.