We were off to see the Wild West Show, the animals and the Kangaroos….. Oh, O.K. then, be pedantic!! 

We were 'really' off to Gympie and Imbil, but why let small details get in the way of a good story! It was Monday, June 12, and at some god forsaken hour of the morning (9.30am) we were loaded, like cattle, onto two and a half buses and we headed to Gympie for our jaunt on the Mary Valley Heritage Railway Steam Train.

But lo, upon our arrival, the railway station looked more like Flinders Street Station at peak hour – what on earth was going on? Well it appears that they had held theGympie Annual  ‘Race the Train’ Fun Run that morning (although the guy, stetched out on one of the benches, being attended to by the paramedics didn’t look like he was having too much fun). Poor demented things - I was about to say they’ve obviously spent too much time in the hot Queensland sun but after the previous three rain filled days one was compelled to ask the question “What sun?” Our train journey to Imbil begun and it wasn’t long before word got around that Bob Bell (being the good and thoughtful President that he is) had organised, with the railway management, the supply and sale of beer and champagne for the two hour train trip to Imbil.  Thus, all happy little Vampires, champagne and beer in hand, proceeded to do what they do best and that is ‘have a damn good time’. Much laughter and merriment mingled with the voices of those who decided that this was the opportune moment to regale the world with long remembered (or half forgotten) songs from their childhood (On ya, Casey Jones). A fifteen minute rest stop was taken at ???, where a fresh produce stand enabled those who just couldn’t live without a bag of macadamias a moment longer to give into their cravings. It also enabled those members, who for some reason or another haven’t yet grown up, the chance to climb on board the steam engine to play with the ‘train whistle blowing’ – not to mention another chance to take photos. After arriving at Imbil - and after many, many, many (a lot) more photo opportunities with the steam train we sauntered across the road to the Railway Hotel where we enjoyed a nice buffet luncheon on the upstairs balcony whilst bathed in – now, wait for it – “SUNSHINE!” (that, by the way, was a shout of joy and happiness). Lunch finished, it was time to participate in all that the town of Imbil had to offer. For some, that meant “Where’s the bar?”  and for others, it meant a game of pool, or a dollar or two in the pokies and listening to a few ‘golden oldies’ on the juke box. During our lunch we had enjoyed the distant sound of a lone street busker ‘buskering’ beneath the balcony and it was towards this person that a few of our more intrepid members congregated. To cut a long story short – they kept us amused and entertained by dancing in the street. Jennifer Pollard and Kathie Watts (better halves of Leon Pollard & Tom Byrne) took to line dancing and Ann Healey was seen waltzing the afternoon away with one of the locals.  After rounding up the multitudes for group photos in front of the Railway Hotel, then making them run to the other side of the road for another group shot (much to the amusement of the locals) we boarded our buses for the return trip to Twin Waters Resort.

I am pleased to announce there was no ‘encore’ performance by those people “Lost at the Reunion” in 1998 and I thank them for behaving themselves this reunion.