Australia Overland—Day One—Monday, February 27, 2012
At 5AM the alarm rang announcing it was time to get ready for the first of our 5 days touring the Australian Outback of Alice Springs, Uluru (Ayers Rock), Cairns and Kuranda. We were met by our local guide, Alex and were off to Sydney Domestic Airport to board our 3 hour Qantas flight to Alice Springs.
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On arrival in Alice Springs, the Red Center of Australia, we first stopped at Todd Mall for a short stroll and quick lunch. We looked into many local shops, had a sandwich and observed the first sightings of many Aboriginal natives. Our touring began with a trip to the very historic Old Telegraph Station. Opened in 1872, the line suddenly reduced the isolation of Australians from the rest of the world. The exchange of messages now took hours instead of months it previously took by sea.
Next we visited the School of the Air, “the largest classroom in the world”; covering 521,000 square miles, double the size of Texas. Founded in 1951 to educate children isolated in the Outback, we discovered it was a school without students! All the teaching is done via satellite and computer equipment between teacher and student. We viewed the unique educational methods from the broadcasting station, watched a movie explaining the operation and asked many questions.
In an area equal to about two-thirds of the United States, medical care is provided by the Royal Flying Doctor Service, which, since the 1920’s has been coming to the rescue of the Outback’s sick and injured. This amazing service is offered to anyone in need including tourist visiting Australia. Today they operate 53 aircraft from 27 bases, health facilities and healthcare clinics, with a staff of nearly 1000. During our trip across the Outback we passed several of the remote landing strips – short and probably bumpy.
Finally as our day is coming to an end we head for our hotel, the Crown Plaza and dinner. We’re sure tomorrow will be another very early morning but this has been a very satisfying day!
