Yarrabee
Day 4 saw us up at dawn to do the run from Baralaba to Blackwater, past Woorabinda. It was one of those mornings you actually don't mind loosing sleep for, check out the photos.
Baralaba Sunrise
Mango on the Dirt
Once we passed through Bluff we turned off onto the coal haulage route, and made our way to Yarrabee mine. We were met by Adrian 'Bear' Restell, Harley rider and Blackwater Basilisks enforcer. Adrian had tee'd up for us to meet with Chris Wells, who kindly provided us with his RFDS story, which you can see on our main website - just a bit more proof for us of what the RFDS do for mining communities, thanks Chris.
Chris Wells, Adrian Restell and Tom at Yarrabee
Blackwater
We then headed back along the haulroad, using our UHF radios provided by Philcomm for the first time to make positive radio contact with the road trains before passing. A quick stop to fuel up in Blackwater was all we had time for before we headed out to BMA Blackwater mine, where a BBQ had been arranged by Karen Desira and Julie McNaughton. Everyone came out of the woodwork it seems and as Tom and I caught up with current (for Tom, former for me) colleagues, the donation box filled with $534, which will be matched through the BMA matched giving scheme, for a grand total of $1068 raised for the RFDS - another great effort.
Tom catches up with Doug McGibbon at Blackwater
Jellinbah
We couldn't linger though so we quickly made our way back to town, and back along the haul road north to Jellinbah mine, where we caught up with Paddy Kearney and the staff at Jellinbah for an afternoon tea, kindly put on by Jellinbah Coal Pty Ltd. We chatted for a bit about the RFDS's role in mining communities, and then were presented with a cheque on behalf of Jellinbah Mining by Paddy for $500... sweeeeet!
Paddy Presents Tom With a $500 Cheque
A long day for us, and a fruitful one, thanks to all who made it happen for us.
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