SPA Week 2
Day #7 Brisbane
We had a day of leisure in Brisbane prior to the start of D30 conference. The most convenient sight seeing option to the conference was South Bank, a development along the Brisbane River used for Expo 88. Now it includes museums, entertainment venues, pool, gardens and walkways. 
The area was flooded earlier in the year. Restitution of the gardens and pool continues. We were told the plants require hand cleaning individually to remove the flood residue. The river side restaurants will not reopen. The water marks are visible halfway up the doors.
We found the appropriate bus route into town. I typically have good sense of direction and rarely have difficulty finding a destination if I have looked at a map. Coming out of the bus station, a glance to the rising sun in the east assured me we were heading north toward the river. I failed to recognize that we were on a peninsula and south bank does not always mean the bank is due south. After 8 blocks of walking we found the street map near the Lipton Tea bicycle rental return stand, and identified the error.
At last we arrived at the South Bank, just one block from the bus station. That made it easy for the return trip. We missed the return bus by 5 minutes and not wanting to wait an hour for the next we hopped on a route that would drop us at the stadium in eyesight of the hotel conference center. The bus dropped us off on the opposite side of the stadium. Although I wanted to believe the 30 minute walk to the hotel was good exercise after a week of traveling and meeting, my legs were disagreeing.
The D 30 conference opened on Friday evening. It was a great conference and I am glad I was able to attend. I will write more about that later.
Day #9 Sunday
Charles was invited to attend the Baptist church with Chris, Karen Murphy’s coworker. In addition to being a full time pharmacist Chris is a part time music minister. They share a common interest and Charles enjoyed the opportunity. Later in the day he attended the rugby union game between Brisbane Reds and the rival New Zealand team with Peter Brown, Governor Shelly’s husband. A record setting attendance was present for the important match. The hometown faithful were rewarded with a close contest, Brisbane winning on the final kick as time expired. Charles appreciated the enthusiasm of the crowd for their sport. Shelly who had given up her seat to attend the Listening tour with me, was jealous of his opportunity.
The focus group on Sunday was the Gen YGC branch of QI Gold Coast. The women are all solicitors, in their mid- late 20s. I was happy to have the opportunity to hear the responses to our questions from this group of women who had already chosen to join QI. I enjoyed hearing their plans for the branch. I was proud to present each of them their Quota pins.
Day #10
We were honored to be the guest of the Queensland Governor for morning tea. I expected a brief visit at the stately mansion. We were cordially greeted and privileged to spend 90 minutes with the Governor. She is always well informed about her guests. She had Googled Monroe, Louisiana and asked me immediately what instrument I play in the orchestra, remarking that Charles played clarinet. The conversation included the recent floods, the impact on citizen’s psychologically, QI service in Australia, our participation with the UN, and the Listening Tours. We were accompanied by Beris, who is well known everywhere in Queensland. Also Governor Shelly Brown, Past D 30 Governor Robyn, Sec/Treas Faith, and SPAD Karen Murphy.
We had lunch at Q1, the largest highrise on the Gold Coast. It was under construction during the Gold Coast convention of 2007. It is a magnificient view! 
Ok, I was not going to admit I have a problem with heights. I stayed away from the windows, avoided looking down, and when I needed him Charles knew to hold my hand.
Later in the day Shelly and I traveled to Jimboomba for a Listening Tour event. The group was a mixture of young adults and teenagers. I was pleased to have a couple of men among the group. I began to notice at that time the Australian young people have less experience with virtual meetings compared to American and Canadians among our focus groups.
QI Jimboomba was having its regular business meeting in the evening. The word Jimboomba means big boom in the native language. That is exactly what we heard as a hail storm began right along with the meeting. Thankfully, a covered car park for the shopping center was convenient to the restaurant location. It was a great opportunity to meet the members of QI Monroe’s friendship club. I was excited to greet their newest members, all joining in the last 6 months.
Come on Monroe! If Jimboomba in a small community can recruit these new members, we can! This club is dynamic. They stole the show with their black and white attire and dancing at the district conference Saturday evening. They are a fun loving group that is really having an impact in the community. On Saturday they were awarded the community’s chamber of commerce award for the best volunteer group!
Day #11 Beenleigh
QI Beenleigh JQ club meets on Tuesday mornings at 7 am. After waking at an awful hour to travel across the range of mountains from the coast, Shelly and I attended. The group is year 9-12 in school. They started slow, typical of the early hour. They became excited talking about the recent sleep out fundraiser for the homeless and the money that will be donated to several projects. 
Beenleigh organized 2 focus groups. The morning group was university students. They were an energetic group and once again a few men attended. The afternoon group was slightly older and were already in the work force. As you might expect the answers between the 2 groups were slightly different regarding how much time they spent on social media and how they would want to impact the community.
The day concluded with a visit to QI Beaudesert, the home club of President Elect Chris. Chris was still in New Zealand after attending their conference on the weekend at my request. I enjoyed the conversations and opportunity to talk Quota with this club. They are of course extremely proud and supportive of Chris. They arranged for me an interview on public radio. I spoke about the purpose of my visit to Australia. You can imagine the radio host wanted to talk about Chris and the local member rising to the top of Quota leadership. I was happy to oblige him.
Charles spent Tuesday cooking at the home of our hosts Shelly and Peter Brown, known as Brownie. Brownie had asked Charles to teach him how to make gumbo during our stay. The guys had an adventure trying to find okra in Queensland and were not successful. The chicken and sausage gumbo Charles has grown fond of recently turned out well, even though it was Charles’s first attempt at roux. ( Secret: He has been using a bottled roux, blasphemous in Louisiana but available. I forgive him, he is from Mississippi. Even though I prefer a seafood gumbo, if he is willing to do the cooking I am not complaining, well not until he repeats the same dish frequently. I do like variety.) It was a warm and cozy taste of home at mid trip.
Day #12
We were scheduled to join Beris for a morning flight to Mackay in northern Queensland. My history of travel trouble and our late arrival at the airport gave her a stressful morning. After taking an early exit from the freeway we arrived at the check in desk within 5 minutes of closure. We proceeded straight to the gates for our departure. Australia does not have as much security as the US. I was never even asked for an ID.
A Listening Tour was planned for 11 am at the Botanical Gardens meeting room. The young women were delightful. QI Mackay members were excited to hear their responses and began discussing ways to adapt their meetings and activities to the interests of the younger generation.
As we traveled by car to Proserpine, the Whitsunday island area, and Airlie Beach where D40 conference was held, we passed large fields of sugar cane. The harvest was just beginning. We passed along the highway between the small communities that comprise Mackay Rural North, now joined together by a new Quota club this year. I saw the multiple town meeting halls that serve as the rotating location of the clubs meetings. PDG Jeannette arranged for a coffee break at the world’s only coffee plantation at sea level. Charles and I were convinced good coffee could not be grown at sea level. Happily we were mistaken. Thank you Ally for the hospitality!
The evening Listening Tour was in Airlie Beach. Jeannette gathered a group of young business women that she is already working on to begin a branch or new club. Strategically, 2 women are connected to the local newspaper. They returned to the conference later in the weekend. Jeannette believes in the power of promotion. She surprised me with this billboard greeting. 
Day # 13 Whitehaven
It was time for a little leisure and relaxation. I did not even set an alarm this day. After a leisurely breakfast overlooking the calm waters of the bay, Charles and I made our way down to the local wharf for our departure on a ½ day cruise of the Whitsunday islands. The water is a gorgeous turquoise and calmed by the Great Barrier Reef. The mountains are volcanic and beaches silicon sand.
The Whitehaven beach is pristine, a part of a national park reserve. A couple hours sitting in the sun or shade here will drive all concerns from mind. It was a wonderful day!
Day #14: Conference
The D40 conference was scheduled for Friday and Saturday to accommodate my travel schedule. I am grateful to the district leadership and members for making the adjustments so willingly and welcoming me so warmly. The Pepper’s Resort was giving a 3 nights for price of 2 deal to our conference attendees and many took advantage of it. The region has suffered greatly from the rains, floods and cyclone this year. Tourism, the lifeblood of the community, is down dramatically. I am glad Quota could make an impact on their economy this weekend.
