Museum a mecca for visitors from Australia and the world

Narrabri Old Gaol Museum is a mecca for many travellers criss crossing Australia.

The visitors’ book at the museum reveals that people from across Australia and the world come through the doors, spend a few hours exploring the exhibits and then no doubt spend some more time browsing the shops and other local attractions.

Last week, retired South Australian couple Frank and Fiona Brown dropped in to the museum on a two-day stay in town.

They have been ‘on the road’ for about 20 years travelling around Australia and overseas.

“We have found that country people are the real Australia,” Frank said.

They meet locals everywhere they go, chat, make friends and engage with community activities.

“We pulled in to Mareeba to see the car races at the speedway,” said Frank.

“As we were parking our motorhome at the track we were chatting to the lady at the kiosk.

“Volunteers helped out at the track but they hadn’t turned up and she asked us if we could help out for a while at the canteen.

“We were kept busy preparing some 700 to 800 rolls over the next four hours, then they were short of helpers for the evening so we continued on that night to serve the hot dogs – about 14 hours in all and happy to help.”

Frank’s career had taken him to the principal’s role at the big Port Noarlunga Primary School, Christies Beach, Adelaide.

Fiona was the long-serving office secretary – a key role as every school community readily acknowledges.

“But the school didn’t fall apart after I left,” she laughed.

Fiona and her family had emigrated from Scotland in 1953 when she was seven.

She participated in an historic event at a young age – “I attended King George’s funeral when I was staying with my aunt in London.”

They finished up in 1995 and have travelled more or less every year since, going overseas most years, but nowadays touring Australia with their pet Italian greyhound on board.

“We spend about four months on the road each year,” Frank said.

They have been just about everywhere but there are plenty more places to see.

Their travels brought them to Narrabri for the first time.

“We love the Narrabri Museum – it’s the kind of local attraction we enjoy, meeting people and seeing what’s here,” they said.

They set off in June and will return to SA ‘probably at the end of September.’

But every day is an adventure.

“We more or less decide on the spur of the moment where we will go next, day to day.”