Tully

We left Cairns and stopped at Babinda where we looked at the Babinda Boulders - the highest rainfall 8800 ml is rated for this town.  A Devonshire tea was enjoyed for morning tea.

We arrived in Tully and drove to the Showground where we had been advised they we gathering to assist the victims of the Yasi Cyclone which devestated the town in February.  We signed on to volunteer to help the people on their properties in return for accommodation at the showground and our meals...Eugene was in charge of Blaze Aid and was doing an excellent job
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Sunday was a "day off" for the troops, so we all drove out to Tully Heads to see some of the devestation there, then onto Mission Beach .  We were told about Paranella Park, so had a look at that, but the entrance fee was far too high, so we just had a drink in the cafe and continued back to Tully.

Next day we had an early morning start at the home of Cecelia and Jim's home at Tully Heads, where we assisted them in clearing up their yard and were rewarded with freshly made cake for morning tea, then some home made spring rolls for lunch.

There was a  greater need for our help on a 3 acre property owned by Elaine, she had so many palm trees knocked down, and other trees left hanging,  There were also the corrugated iron roofs belonging to a neighbour two houses over which had been blown into her yard which we were able to remove onto a pile for the council to collect.   As she had such a huge yard, we were able to cut down the trees with a chain saw and drag them onto piles and burning them - we had a huge bonfire !   Next day we went back again, and this time there wasn't quite as much work to do, and we made 3 huge bonfires for her to light at another time, as she had to leave to be with a friend whose Mother had just passed away

Tully Beach

We all felt very rewarded for helping out, but our muscles told us a different story the next day.