Excellent The story of my trip to our Southern Island State in 1966. Geoffrey's Musings. : A Visit To The Apple Isle by Sankey

On the first morning of the May School Holidays, in 1966, I was so excited that I awoke at four o'clock. Finally arising at 5.30, I found Mother making a final check that all was ready for my holiday. This would be my very first time away from home. Or at least so far away and alone from anyone I knew. My sister, who had offered to take me to Sydney Airport at Mascot, arrived at eight o'clock; and soon after nine we left home for the airport, which we reached at ten. I walked across the tarmac and boarded the plane which, in a few minutes, taxied to the end of the runway. We sped along it until, suddenly, the ground fell away from us as we climbed to 25,000 feet. After about half an hour the tall chimneys of Port Kembla Steelworks could be seen through the window and some 40 minutes after this we were jolted about as we passed through clouds on our descent to touch down at Essendon Airport in Melbourne. Another aircraft was alongside us when we landed, so all we had to do was board it and we were on our way to Launceston. We flew across Bass Strait, and touched down at Launceston at two o'clock. There I was met by the people with whom I was to stay for the next 9 nights. During my visit I went to inspect the Hydro- Electric Commission's underground power station at Poatina. Further up the mountains we visited the Great Lakes where it was freezing cold. Water from the lake runs down the mountain through a large pipeline to the turbines at the power station and empties itself into a river at the foot of the mountain. This supplies the water for Launceston as well as electricity for Launceston and the surrounding districts. On another afternoon we were taken for a 'Mystery Tour' to one of the great attractions in the area "The Cataract Gorge". As an aside: This was May in Tasmania, where each morning we got up to see a quarter of an inch of ice on the host's car windows! All this to add the afternoon tea that day was NOT cocoa and buns, ie WARM! They gave us a soft drink (soda) and ice-cream! Brrrr! I also toured to Hobart, where I had hoped to go to the pinnacle of Mount Wellington, but bad weather prevented this. On Sunday, May 22nd, I flew back to Melbourne, then came on to Sydney in a fan jet travelling at 41,000 feet. Although I didn't actually see where apples were growing, I really enjoyed my visit to Tasmania. Author Notes I believe the "fan jet" mentioned was probably either a Boeing 727 or maybe an earlier model. I was 15 when I wrote this originally. First time away from home all alone.

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