Early morning start for showers and breakfast, with the need to be at the ferry terminal by 7:30am for departure by 8:00am.
The ferry takes approximately 70 minutes for the 36klm trip, We are never out of sight of land as the twin hulled vessel weaves its way through the various islands on a flat sea.
Arriving at Thursday Island [or TI to the locals], you are in another world – deep harbour sheltered by the surrounding islands, some only 5klm away.. The sea is a beautiful clean sapphire blue, with the sea breeze making their winter temperature very comfortable.
We are booked on an 11:15am bus tour of the island, so we have a coffee and then wander around the couple of blocks. The Cultural Centre was most interesting, giving an overview of the Melanesian island life.and a recent king – E. Bani. We were so impressed Dot has bought a book on his life and meaningful sayings. A visit to a couple of pearl shops did not damage the wallet!!!!
A Festival of Winds for the local islands was being held on the sports ground, but activity was restricted to late afternoon and evening, so we missed out.
The Bus Tour was most informative taking us around the very small island, which is the central hub of all Queensland Government offices for management of the Torres Strait Islands and the Cape York area of Qld. We were taken to the old Fort [3 large canons installed in the late 1800s due to the Russian invasion of Crimea]. The Fort is now the local museum managed by the local historical society. We had over 30 minutes to explore and take it all in.
The information displayed related to:
the original set up of Government offices etc following transfer from failed Somerset on the Cape due to white ants and inappropriate harbour facilities;
the pearl shell industry; and
the war efforts and impact on the local multi-cultural population, which included many Japanese decedents [pearl divers].
Back on the bus for further information on the island from the Tour Bus Driver finishing up at the very old Cemetery. The Cemetery was very colourful with many of the basic graves decorated in plastic flowers, then covered up in black plastic following the erection of headstone and surrounds to await the official unveiling commemorative service followed by a big party. This was the end of the official mourning period. The headstones were very elaborate with photos of the deceased included.
A part of the old section was devoted to the Japanese who died on the island, with a very large memorial installed by a Japanese sister city to commemorate the lives lost of Japanese and other pearl divers over the past 100 years.
After a leisurely lunch back to the Ferry Terminal for 2.30pm return. At the Terminal was a Government Customs vessel with some pretty quick runabouts on board [ powered by 2 x 90 Hp outboards]. They had just retuned from 27 days straight patrolling the island waterways.
The return journey was not on a flat sea, with spray up to 1.5 – 2 metres coming off the hulls as they powered through the waves.
Dot has been waiting for the Cray fisherman's boat to come to the foreshore, but again was disappointed with no show.
After tea sitting around our cooking camp fire we could vaguely see a fireworks display that was coming from the Festival on Thursday Island.
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