Mareeba

Today was a long day, but we had a whole bunch of fun.  We were up with the sparrows and driving through the fog at 5.30am on our way to the Mareeba Markets, with a loaf of jam sandwiches for breakfast on the way.  We helped Bruce set up his massage station and then left him to earn the big bucks while we went exploring the markets and the Mareeba Heritage Museum.
 

We seemed to spend a lot of our time at the playground and bouncy castle, but I did manage to drag them away long enough to pick up some fresh produce.  Oh, and some Spanish donuts with salted caramel sauce!  Yum!

The Heritage Museum, part of the visitor centre, was right next door to the markets.  It contains one of the most comprehensive collections of social history in far north Queensland.  Many of the exhibits have interactive components, and many of them can be handled and used.

 

Great for the kids!   I enjoyed it too!  I got to give them the cane in the interactive school room!  Jack entertained all the seniors by playing his whole repertoire on the piano (twice), they got to milk a fibreglass cow and we all got to go in the largest rail ambulance ever used!

They had a really interesting exhibit on the local (now non-existent) tobacco industry.  The Mareeba area has the now dubious honour of once being largest tobacco producing area in Australia.  At the height of the industry, it was responsible for over half of Australia's $90 million annual tobacco income.  In 2003 the last crop of tobacco was grown here.  The Australian government revoked all licenses and it is now illegal to grow tobacco anywhere in Australia.

After the markets it was off to the annual Mareeba rodeo and show.  Mareeba boasts 300 days of sunshine per year and we weren't to be disappointed!  We sat in the sun and watched the log chopping, then checked out side show alley before planting roots at the rodeo ground.

 

It was fun watching the Saddle Bronc, Steer Wrestling, Barrel Races, Bareback Riding and Breakaway Roping, and we particularly liked watching the kids (some not much bigger than Fletcher) competing in the Junior Steer Ride.  (Jack has put in a request to enter this event as a competitor for his upcoming birthday!)

Everyone's favourite, though, was the bull riding.  It is such a thrilling event!  We watched with concern, however, as two young cowboys got taken away in ambulances.  Not surprising, really, when they are taking on bulls weighing 800 kgs or more!  Now you see him...



Now you don't! 

Yup, he's now under the bull!!

 

In the evening they held a Qld vs NSW showdown, where NSW tried to redeem themselves after getting smashed in the State of Origin (rugby) last week.  There was some great spectator rivalry, and the crowd went wild when a very angry bull took on the rodeo mannequin.



The poor bloke got absolutely torn to smithereens!

The Queenslanders loved it!

After a bunch of sugary drinks, a bag of fairy floss each, a ride on the bumper cars, a turn in the 9D movie ride and a Bertie Beetle Bag, the fireworks ended a very long and happy day. 

It was a tough drive for Bruce back to Yungaburra through the fog with four very sleepy passengers.  Back safe and sound, we all fell into bed still fully clothed!