Tag: Keeping Promises

Ghost Gates, an Owl, and a Bestie with a Shovel

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A local adventure story of two parts

Every so often, Belinda or I decide to go for a drive to see what we can see. On this occasion, it was a drive to see a piece of Southern Downs lore, the Ghost Gates. I had not heard of these gates, but always ready for an adventure, I said, “Let’s go”.

We’re driving along chatting as we normally do when Belinda turned onto an unsealed road. This road rapidly turned into more track than road. Now, I had no idea where we were going. I don’t know, dear reader, if you have seen the movie, Wolf Creek, but I speculated that this track had a very Wolf Creek-ish feel to it. Belinda laughed at that suggestion just slightly maniacally. I looked over and she had the cheekiest grin on her face.

The track continued to narrow; it was definitely more suited to goats and cattle than to the Rav 4 in which we were travelling.

“Are you sure you know where we are going?” I asked after we’d been travelling for some time.

She responded in the affirmative. I then enquired as to whether she had a shovel and a tarp in the back of the car. Worryingly, she had. Fits of giggles ensued as I feigned my concern of being rolled up in a tarp and buried in a shallow hole. These types of conversations are quite normal when we are together; constant laughter is a key part of our friendship.

Eventually, as the track narrowed to almost nothing, we came to the gate. Beside it, the metal sculpture of the Owl. Knee-high grass greeted us. We would have been a sight if the ghost were watching. Two women of mature years, stomping around in that long grass, because it was snake season, so we could get a decent photo. Just another one of our local adventures.

The story about the owl follows below.

Ghost Gate Road, Goomburra, winds its way through farmland, although it looks more like untouched bushland. If you didn’t know about the gate, you would have no reason to travel the round unless you had a farm to visit. There are other gates along the “road”, although you can’t really call it that after a certain point, but only one set has the owl sculpture. Only one gate has the story.

The tale, as I have heard it, is that a young bushman was about to dismount his horse near the gate when he felt a shadowy figure push past him, and the gate swung open. There was no wind, not a leaf was stirring, so the gate could not swing on its own. He didn’t have much time to ponder as his horse, also spooked by the shadow, bolted. As the story goes, this young rider had savoured more than a few rums before mounting his horse in the first place, so the story’s validity was fragile.

He eventually managed to get the horse under control and went back to the gate, which was now closed. The bushie dismounted and walked over to the gate with his horse. Cautiously pushing it open, he leapt back onto his horse and took off through it at great haste. As he looked back, a white owl was sitting on the gate, watching.

Many others allege to have seen the gate move, and every time the white owl was on the gate. A tale of truth or drunken visions? There was certainly no ghostly apparition during our visit.

A history lesson – Visiting the USS Arizona

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When I found out our trip to Hawaii was taking us to Oahu, I knew that I had to visit Pearl Harbour. I never understood it; however, there was a need in me to pay my respect to the people who died on the USS Arizona.

We managed to find a bus tour that took us to Pearl Harbour, and we were lucky enough to have fine weather, so the boats were ferrying people out to the memorial. Belinda and I lined up and awaited the arrival of our boat. I had not imagined the emotions I was feeling about this moment in time. It was a mix of honour at being able to be there and sadness at the tragic loss of life. Members of the United States Navy still man these boats, and the operation is run with perfection. Everybody is shepherded on and off with maximum efficiency, as you would expect.

There is a low rumble of noise coming from the people who are about to board the boat from which we just alighted. As I move further into the memorial, there is a silence only broken by the gentle slapping of water on the supports of the structure. Everyone understands that this is not the place for loud voices. Toward the centre is a fenced-off space that opens to the water below.

Looking over the edge of the barrier, the first thing I notice is two fish. Silver with black stripes down their bodies, to these fish, this spot is a good place for food.

My eyes adjust to the light difference, and the shape below me starts to take form. This shape takes my breath away, just for a moment. I am looking down on the remains of the midship of the USS Arizona. A small section of the 185 metres of the battleship that had first set sail in 1915. She had served through the First World War with honour and continued her career as a naval vessel for a further 26 years.

At the time of the Second World War, in which the United States were not initially involved, Pearl Harbour was a training, maintenance and provisions base. In 1940, the Pacific Fleet was moved there to act as a deterrent to any attackers. The Arizona had been out of the harbour, returning on the 6th of December 1941, mooring where she still lies today.

Many of her crew had gone on day leave, which meant they had to be back on board at midnight on the 6th. Fifty men remained on overnight leave. Fifty men who called the Arizona their ship. Fifty men who survived and grieved for the loss of the 1177 shipmates who were on board when the Japanese planes dropped their bombs.

The commander of this Japanese attack knew exactly what he was doing. He had been an attache to the United States Navy for several years prior to World War II. He knew the layout of the Arizona well. On December 7th, at 7.48am, Chuichi Nagumo ordered his men to attack Pearl Harbour and to drop an 800kg bomb directly over the ammunition store on the USS Arizona. This detonated all the munitions on board, including all the torpedoes.

The Arizona blew up, literally. The explosion lifted her hull nine metres above the water. She burned so hot that the fire could not be contained. Even being in the water, it took two days for the fire to burn itself out.

When you look down on the USS Arizona, you are looking at the final resting place of 900 crew members. They remain on their ship, unable to be separated from the molten metal. Only 277 bodies were recovered, and 335 crew members survived.

This was the moment that the US could no longer remain neutral. This was the day that they went to war with Japan.

The memorial wall has too many names to read in the short time you have to visit, but I can say just seeing the many columns brought tears to my eyes. So many lives gone in an instant. Many of the 355 men who survived have had their ashes spread with their shipmates, together forever. There are no more left to tell the story as the last of the survivors, Lou Conter, passed away on the 1st of April 2024. Conter was responsible for saving several lives as he pulled men out of the burning oil on the water’s surface and into a lifeboat.

May they all rest in peace.

Journey to the Destination

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The Journey to the Destination – Quantum of the Seas, Royal Caribbean Cruises 2024

When getting there is half the fun

The centrepiece of the room is a black grand piano. I am resting on its surrounding bar, a gin and tonic beside me. The ice bobs in the glass as the two-metre swell affects our ship, Quantum of the Seas. Best not to make jokes about ice cubes in this environment.  

It is midway through the evening on our fourth day on board; four more days until land. It’s a mellow time of the night. People come and go from their dinner venues. Most are looking forward to an evening of entertainment. Many are well on their way to doing damage to their livers via their $ 128-a-day drinks package offered on board. Some have already achieved their maximum today and wander around the ship, sharing stories or jokes and giving hugs to anyone who passes.

With bars open at 10 am, access to alcohol is easy; those on the drink’s packages are limited to 15 drinks a day. When you figure out the math that 15 standard drinks in 24 hours gives the average adult a Blood Alcohol Content of 0.3, you have to be responsible for your intake. Everyone is there to have a good time, and we are all grateful for fabulous service.  Personally, I was not so grateful about being accosted on the way out of dinner by one of the patrons of this package, clearly well into his double-digit drinks. Being put in a headlock, which was supposed to be a “hug”, whilst attempting to take photos of my sister, really opened my eyes to the negative side of a drinks package. The bruises weren’t a deterrent from the fun. One man does not spoil a holiday.

We all find evening entertainment in many forms, for me, it comes as a night beside the piano, waiting for the talented young pianist to take us on a tour of decades with music. Songs that we love to sing along to, songs that inspire melancholy moments. All bring delight to the members of the audience. Some raising their eyebrows at the Australian versions of some classics. Alice, Alice, who the (bleep) is Alice.

The pianist enters the bar, and all attention turns his way. It doesn’t matter the age of the patron; Daniel Burnett has something for everyone. He is all of 23 years old but already knows how to hold his audience, regardless of their age, from the minute he sits down. Well into his 7-month contract on Quantum of the Seas, he has seen more of the world than most of the people surrounding his piano.

He takes his seat,

“Good Evening everyone, I’m Daniel, I know we are going to have some fun tonight” introducing himself whilst warming up his piano keys.

His fingers start to rapidly fly across the keyboard, playing a pub classic tune to get everyone bopping in their seats. It takes the newcomers a while to get into the swing; in the meantime, those of us who have already become regulars are writing out requests on the sticky notes he has provided. A good mixture of old and new. Daniel’s motto is ‘If I know it, I’ll play it’. Some of the songs being thrown at him are unusual and not yet in his repertoire. These songs often get tucked in his pocket to take away and learn. He clearly wants to make his clientele happy.

“Play Piano Man”, yells a drunk at the back of the room.

From where I sit, I see Daniel’s shoulders slump a little. Every night, he is asked for this song. He would clearly love to say no this time, but the most important ‘person’ in the room to him is his audience. As his fingers fly, his eyes are constantly flicking, checking out the people around him. Looking for signs that they are entertained or not happy. Every person in the room is engaged and singing along. He knows he has the audience in his hands and continues to play his tunes until 1 am, with a handful 10 minute breaks tossed in.

Daniel Burnett

The number of stragglers left behind after midnight has steadily increased from the first night, when a few bodies at the piano bar table were all there was. Everyone has heard about Daniel, and it’s now a full bar room. Every person in that room is important. He plays their songs and takes them away from their everyday world to a place in their mind where their favourite song lives, eliciting the memories out of the deep corners that hide their past in their brains. Smiling, singing and applauding, all full of endorphins, dopamine and a little or a lot of booze, making it a good night all round.

New friendships are being formed over laughs and much loved tunes. Australians share a sense of humour like no other. Light-hearted jibes bounce around, teasing about song choices, or whatever funny moment that has just happened.

As Daniel walks away for a break a few people leave. The race is on, the seats that have been left are prime territory, you cannot drag your feet to get a seat. They are swooped upon from all directions. Only one can win, the losers go back to leaning against the wall.

The seats around the piano are gold, and we regulars get there early, two hours before Daniel’s evening starts. Getting up to go the the bathroom is dangerous, you have to ask the person next to you to guard your seat. Human vultures constantly circle in the hope that one of us will leave. It doesn’t matter if you leave your drink and bag in front of your seat. You leave, and they dive, hoping to gain a place and become one of the cool kids. Your new mate guards your spot.

A four-hour set is a long night for an entertainer, but Daniel takes it in his stride. The smile never leaves his face. His fingers may be sore, and his eyes desperate to close but he keeps the energy going in the room until 1am. The bar staff work just as hard. Keeping a drink in everyone’s hand, remembering our names and our drink of choice.

The Schooner Bar is a special place to be.

If you ever meet Daniel at his piano, make sure you throw some bread