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Making a difference

21 Apr 2016

Probus South Pacific Limited and core sponsor Trade Travel are teaming up to make a difference in the Queensland Outback.

From themed lodges to many highlights hosted by Kinnon & Co. including visits to the Qantas Founders Museum, the Outback Hall of Fame, the iconic Camden Park Station and Nogo Station, a night on the Thompson River, an exhilarating gallop through the scrub and main street on the Cobb and Co Coach, a trip to the Age of Dinosaurs in Winton; Longreach has more to offer than you can imagine.

Trade Travel is offering a famil to visit Longreach to showcase what Longreach has offer in October, 2016. The famil is open to one person per club (preferably the tours/outings officer) that would be interested in taking their club members to Longreach in 2017 or 2018. 

The famil will be highly subsidised and will allow interested clubs first hand to see the wonders of this great destination.

A group of very happy Probians have just returned from Longreach attending the Probus 40th Anniversary tour hosted by PSPL Chairman Douglas Geekie and PSPL CEO Silvana Martignago.


We invite you to register your interest with Trade Travel today.

Tel: 1800 034 439



Here are some testimonials from Probus members who recently visited Longreach

What an absolutely fantastic experience we have had recently whilst on a Trade Travel organised trip to outback Queensland and destination Longreach. 36 Probus members representing every State in  Australia travelled  by bus from Brisbane via Toowoomba, Chinchilla, Roma, and Charleville to Longreach where they were joined by another 12 Probians who chose to join the tour by other means of transport. 

The Trade Travel itinerary covered many fabulous places of interest.  Friendly hospitality, comfortable accommodation and generous food  exceeded our expectations.

We can honestly recommend this tour to all Probians. 

Richard and Julie Hastings

Probus Club of Geelong Central Inc. 

 

Fun, Friendship and Fraternity was never more evident than Probians celebrating the 40th Probus Anniversary in Longreach in April. I thoroughly enjoyed the  experience, meeting other members from all states of Australia, promoted by Trade Travel on behalf of Probus. Their attention to detail, arranging functions with Kinnan  and Co. of Longreach, for food, accommodation and entertainment, looking our after members and promoting our ethos. I would encourage club members to gather other groups and enjoy the journey, supplying good support for a community doing it tough in Longreach.


Regards Gary Pennifold

TTG Probus Club, Adelaide, SA.

 

Carmel and I decided some months ago to go to Longreach with a trip organised by Probus Sth.Pacific through a Group Travel Specialist “Trade Travel”. (This had always been on our “Bucket List”.). We joined 53 other Probus members, including the CEO of Head Office and the Director. Members represented all States and Territories of Australia with the exception of the ACT.  

Flying to Brisbane on the Sunday morning we flew to Longreach in a smaller propeller driven aircraft arriving late afternoon, picked and taken to our rustic lodge which was to be our home while we were there.(They were near new, built to look like the 1800’s.)

All meals, excepting one lunch, were provided and mainly served “buffet style”, you were offered meals the size a working stockman could eat but could request smaller portions.

During our short stay, 5 days, we saw stockman’s shows, the Dinosaurs Museum, (many bones have been found in the area), Qantas Museum, Stockman’s Hall of Fame, Old Time movie (Smiley) followed by a Tent Show, visited the School of the Air, had sunset nibbles and dinner at Camden Park sheep/cattle Station, morning tea at Nogo Station, (both working stations), a sunset cruise on a paddle wheeler followed by a “Light Show” and a Stockman’s evening meal. (you balanced it on your knee while sitting around a camp fire). A highlight was a half hour ride in a Cobb and Co. Coach which went through the main street of Longreach, on to the common land, where we were treated to a “gallop” for a short distance, all good fun. 

Home on the “Spirit of Queensland” to Brisbane Airport, an overnight trip in our “First Class Sleeper” on the train with about thirty other Probus members. 

All in all, a fantastic trip with an excellent Travel Company. No complaints from any

participants. The Longreach community have been in severe drought for 4-5 years and make no secret of the fact they badly need tourists to keep the area going. A quote from a Station Owner, “We used to milk cows, now we have to milk the tourists”.

Dave Nary   

Past President

Port hacking Probus Club

 

We were delighted with our trip to Longreach recently to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Probus. We found it very interesting to see the outback and all it had to offer. It was distressing to hear what the drought has done to the farming community, but we learnt that some of these farmers are now diversifying and going into tourism very successfully.

Trade travel put together a very good program and made it a wonderful trip that we thoroughly enjoyed.

Wilma and Neil

East Keilor combined Probus Club

 

We strongly commend this Longreach/Winton program that shows the indomitable spirit of the Kinnon family who provide our tours, commentary, re-enactments (with a lot of humour too), real life experiences, country meals, sunset river cruise, show, artefacts, and accommodation. Their pet cremello stallion was a gem and all the value-added exploits (nothing like a good stagecoach ride).  They have turned to tourism and true hospitality to save their rural sheep/cattle/horse breeding interests in a time of extreme drought.  

Trade Travel have packaged a special outback learning holiday as we go on to other rural properties and excursions as well to not only witness resilience and creativity, but also the beauty of the land.  It’s an authentic, heritage, bush experience providing a rich understanding of past and modern pioneers.  The exposure to life in central western Queensland and the merits of regeneration in a country town which also houses the Qantas Founders Museum and the Stockman’s Hall of Fame is enriching.  Even the dinosaurs are included with a visit to the laboratory and the efforts of the Elliott family (who discovered that first bone) in creating a foundation to support further digs and the exhibition centre on a mesa. 

For Mum, it was an exceptional trip – she wanted it to continue; for Peter and Denise, a testimony to the deep history to cherish that makes our country. (Probus Club of Kenmore Village Inc.) 

Denise, Peter & Mary

 

The group of Probians from Maffra who ventured outback on “the Big Week in Longreach,” all had a thoroughly enjoyable time. The fun and fellowship with Probians from every State in Australia,was amazing.

The organisation by both P.S.P.  and Trade Travel was excellent. The itinerary was packed with many places of interest to see and interspersed with much fun and entertainment.

We found the people of Longreach to be very friendly and hospitable,and we were so impressed by their cheerfulness and resilience in coping with the extreme difficulties they face through isolation and years of drought.

This is a trip well worth experiencing.

Valda Hackwill

 

Trade Travel organised a wonderful trip for the celebrations of the 40th year of Probus Birthday at Longreach. Was wonderful to see all of Australia represented , but I was dissapointed that more Probians didn,t take the opportunity to meet our fellow Members for a great experience provided by Trade Travel. A lot of Preparation went into the organisation of it.

Thank You Grant McGlashan and Co.

From Marlene White (President of the Combined Probus Club of Ouyen and District)

 

The “Big Week Out Back in Longreach” Tour for the 40th Anniversary Celebration of Probus exceeded all expectations, and was a fantastic event, characterised by the organisation and  continuous entertainment programme, the untiring efforts of the  Kinnon family and staff ,Trade Travel and Probus; set in the great surrounds of Longreach and the outback.

It was a great opportunity for our combined Probus group to make new friends and enjoy the fellowship and friendship of each other and the locals, while the programmes and arrangements were made to suit us at every turn.

Other Probus Clubs should seriously consider this trip on their future travel plans.

Trevor Gibbons (Probus Club of the Copper Coast)