Stop 3 - Hervey Bay - Standown Park
Tour Journal
Transit day - 17 March
- Met 2 veterans Tex & Spike on the way out and wife (2 vets / 1 family)
- Met Vietnam veteran and owner - Ray? Of Standown park
Day 1 - Nanna at Hervey Bay - 18 March
- Met a Young veteran named Judd (ex Engineer) - owns several snap fitness (Rochedale/ Kennore) - has program foe DVA sending vocational rehab workers transitioning to industry + service dog & partner (1vet, 1partner, 1 service dog)
- Richard Mann came to meet and greet at Standown Park today - 1 vet
- Grateful to see the kids Nanna at Hervey Bay and visit the botanical gardens..very peaceful
Day 2 - Hervey Bay hangs 19 March
- Visited the Reefville aquarium
- Presented at Gympie RSL sub-branch and listened to Veterans Retreat & Johnny Hoarau services announcement. 12 veterans / 2 families
- Have potential contact referrals from Johnny for Toowoomba & Gold Coast
- Suicide watch first aid (Angus), enacted Overestch network for high risk veteran
Day 3 - a rainy lay day - 20March
- 20min yoga flow
- Caravan maintenance
- Recorded first mix - tales from the road DJ Antix exclusives foe Invisible Injuries
- Hang out at the common area for arvo happy hour
- Kids shared their story of Nanna hangs
- Hi risk veteran checkup - He’s okay
Day 4 - lazy Sundays - 21 March
- 20min Sunday breather - squaring the circles
- 20min Day 1: yoga Tabata challenge
- Connected Gympie Veteran Patrick with PMA document to assist with his claims
- Met Peter who’s father was a veteran in WWII (1 family)
Day 5 - exploring day - 22 March
- Exploring the area according to local veterans recommendations from Standown park & YV Gympie
- Dolphin feeding experience in Tin Can Bay
- Recorded podcast with Richard Mann
- Met Ken ex sub mariner 20years and his wife Tilly 1vet / 1family
- Met Bill ex 5/7 & 3RAR cook 1vet
- Spoke with the Vietnam vets and local residents - 6 vets
- Photography for mindfulness - Standown park
- Met Kym from Cooloola berries who told us the story of the sunflowers planted at SP and community fundraising contribution
Day 6 - Admin & Homeschooling day 23 March
- Beeline back to Noosa day trip (just Andy) for WoRk Rehab specialist appointment. (DVA)
- Homeschooling kids
- Referred and connected to a veteran journalist for podcast ex-officer Matt Grant in Toowoomba
- 20min breathing movement and centering
- 20min Tabata yoga flows
Amenities
- Massive undercover area which includes,
- Camp kitchen & additional supply fridges
- Bush Bar…BYO drinks alcoholic or otherwise
- Cool memorabilia
- Digger memorial by the pond
- Camping, Caravans, RV’s
- Is a caravan park that’s veteran friendly and has older veteran long term residents willing to share a yarn or two
- Toilet and shower block
- Powered and unpowered sites with water
- Dump point
- Fire pit
- Service dogs a big yes!
Things to do
- Respite and chill out
- Dusk “Happy hour” yarns for social engagement at the camp kitchen, common area
- Feed the dolphins at Tin Can Bay
- Lunch and beach hangs @Rainbow Beach
- Beach driving and surfing at Rainbow Beach / Double Island point
- Day trip to K’Gari (Fraser Island) from Inskip point or Hervey Bay (4WD only)
- When its dry check out Inskip point to watch the 4WD’s get bogged..there’s even a youtube channel “I got bogged at inskip point”
- Mary Poppins trail at Maryborough
- Day trip to Hervey Bay & Reefworld aquarium
- Cooloola Berries is a must! They also are veteran & first responder community supporters
- Day trip to Gympie & surrounds
