212 
BARKER, Conference and Camp 
r The Emu 
L Jan. 
Three launches were commissioned: The Brolga (J. Smart), 
Gara (C. Allen), and Valeta (A. Paterson). At seven miles a 
halt was made at the club grounds, and the party divided, some 
going to the fruit and poultry farm of Mr. J. T. Coates at Har- 
veston, where evidence of up-to-date methods was appar¬ 
ent, both amongst the chickens and the fruit trees. Mr. 
and Mrs. Coates entertained the party with some of the farm 
products. The other half of the party crossed the river 
and visited “Old Glenmore,” the homestead of Mr. A. D. 
Birkbeck, whose holding has been in the family for over 
sixty years. Here again the party were hospitably enter¬ 
tained, and during their ramble added a number of new birds to 
our list. Unfortunately, whilst ashore at this spot, the rain, which 
had been threatening for some time, fell in earnest, and some of 
the party under temporary shelter got rather damp. When the 
rain ceased the journey was resumed, but before our destination 
was reached it set in properly, and we reached the island right in 
the thick of it. However, it ceased for a while, but just as the 
billy boiled, down it came again and ruined our chances of any 
shore work, a start being made for home shortly after lunch. 
The weather cleared on the way down and some interesting 
observations were made, a number of nests of the Whistling 
Eagle being observed. The city was reached again just at dusk. 
On Monday a trip was made to the Fitzroy Vale property of 
the Central Queensland Meat Export Co. On this occasion we 
rode in Rowland’s new char-a-banc, doing the fourteen miles in 
easy time. As this was the vehicle destined to make the Byfield 
trip, its easy running pointed to a comfortable run for Wednes¬ 
day. We reached Goose Lagoon at 10.30, and the party rambled 
round the area armed with their cameras. Messrs. Alexander 
and Barker waded out from different sides of the swamp and 
flushed the Geese for the benefit of the visitors. We were back 
in town for lunch, and at 4.30 we had packed up and settled our 
business and were off to the station for the Yeppoon train, on 
which the Railway Department had placed a special car for our 
use. 
Yeppoon was reached at 7 p.m., and the party drafted to the 
different hotels. Some of the more energetic soon disposed of 
their luggage and a meal and visited the local picture show, 
which is famed for its one-man orchestra—a combination of 
about 43 more or less musical instruments, including an organ 
and a piano. Tuesday was greeted by most members with a dip 
in the sea, and the rest of the day was spent in rambles round the 
township and in preparing for the real work of the camp. 
In the evening several members of the party wended their 
way, despite a threatening thunderstorm, to St. Faith’s School, 
a Church of England Grammar School for Girls, which nestles 
at the foot of the little range running north from Yeppoon. Mr. 
Charles Barrett was the lecturer on this occasion, and Mr. Alex¬ 
ander acted as lanternist. The Rev. Bradfield filled the position 
