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Members Stories

This is what two of last year’s holiday makers said about their experiences.

Joyce and Davis Penman from Innisfail wrote:

We have just returned from a very quiet and relaxing stay at the Melaleuca Motel, Yeppoon. We drove down from Innisfail, staying overnight at Mackay.

We were very impressed with our accommodation, the surrounding resort and the caring staff. We shared our stay with a large group of ‘seniors’ from a Brisbane Church. We felt like one big happy family.

We took the opportunity while in Yeppoon to look up Dave’s cousin who grows sweet potatoes near Mt Etna. We had a lovely day learning about the growing and marketing of sweet potatoes.

Another enjoyable day was spent with my cousin on her son’s 32 foot Mustang cruiser. We sailed to Keppel Island – the best part was that I didn’t get sea-sick!

We spent another day visiting an orchid nursery, (David’s passion) and into Rockhampton. The best part of all was that we didn’t see one house with a tarpaulin no the roof, twisted or missing guttering, or decimated tress and scrub. We don’t realise how Cyclone Larry has affected us until we go away and see other places intact.

We would like to thank QRAI most sincerely for giving us this opportunity to go away and also the Iwasaki Foundation, Wendy and Ron for their hospitality.

 

Nola and Ken Ridgeway from Maryborough share their story:

Thanks to QRAI and Iwasaki Foundation for making these one week holidays available at the Melaleuca Motel. The motel, located within the precincts of Rydges Capricorn Resort, Yeppoon, caters for disabled, infirm and aged guests.

These special guests are invited to enjoy the beautiful bushland facilities and surrounds of the resort. Ron, the motel manager, took the group for a guided tour of the resort on the first day. Guests are able to use the resort’s two swimming pools, spa, sauna, gym, tennis, lawn bowls, golf, archery, hire bikes and the beautiful beaches.

Management arranged outings to suit the peoples’ choices. Those available include a trip to Yeppoon for shopping, a boat trip to Keppel Island, picnic in the Rockhampton Botanical Gardens (with a zoo and Japanese garden), visits to At Aubyns Nursery and Heritage Museum in Rocky, bus trip to Mt Morgan, the ever popular caves trip, and Footlights theatre restaurant. These trips are at the guest’s own expense.

Meals supplied were very good, and the rooms are serviced daily with laundry facilities available. The ground of the motel attracted kangaroos, brolgas, and native birds. They have the gardens set aside for memorial plaques from various organisations that have stayed there. QRAI, Fraser Coast and Bundaberg Branches have each given one.

Our trips included the Footlights Theatre Restaurant. This was a top class comedy variety show which included a lovely light lunch. We also went on a Walter Park Eco Tour at Byfield. This tour included a horse-drawn ride around the historical farm, a rainforest river cruise, and the main attraction, the Tea Tree Plantation and distillery tour. Morning Tea was also included.

We had a wonderful time, and ‘Special Thanks’ go to all those who make this holiday available, and to Ron and Wendy Handley for their hospitality. We hope future guests enjoy themselves as much as we did.