Moonta Gang of Fourteen

In spite of dire weather predictions, Saturday dawned bright and sunny with the promise of spectacular clouds and an enjoyable day.

Fourteen intrepid souls met at the old Moonta Railway Station for the family photo and a briefing from that Oirish couple Pat and Mick. The mandatory tourist trip was taken on a little train around the old mine sites. All sorts of fascinating stories were told about the early days and how hard life was for the mine workers in the latter half of the Nineteenth Century. Did you know that the very first prospector to find copper in the area was a wombat? That little creature led the way for the two legged ones to follow.


Lunch, of course, consisted of traditional Cornish pasties in the local park, followed by visits to an old miner’s cottage where the guide Rosie, who was a descendant of the man who built it, proved to be a fount of interesting information. A trip to Hughes Engine house and chimney followed, where the clouds lived up to their promise.

In the course of the day Pat nicknamed Kath and I Kath and Kim but we didn’t like that so we called ourselves the Old Biddies (er I mean the Old Buddies); we heard Alberto’s family history; found out that Steve Robertson is nicknamed Rolly from his youthful days of rolling 4WDs; and Greg wouldn’t tell anyone where the house was with the beautiful blue and white gables that he had shots of (meanie).



By late afternoon, everyone was at Pt Hughes to photograph the jetty against the setting sun (we look forward to myriads of photos of same), Stephen (Rolly) was observed on the Beach trying the “Bounce Flash” technique off the darkening sky !!!!! under the guise of trying rear curtain sync. after which we repaired to the nearby Tavern for a meal.

After a very convivial evening El Presidente was heard to remark that he intended to ‘get up early in the morning to catch the sunset’! Durr !!

Altogether a great day with perfect conditions for taking photographs and – without a “CANON” in sight except the one we all passed on the left at the Army Proof Range Entrance, Pt. Wakefield. Pentax (2) , Nikon’s D40, D80, D90, D300, D700 and D3 ‘s Rejoice !!!!

Thanks to Pat (our coordinator ) and Michael.

Yvonne Hill.

Photos Courtesy : Yvonne Hill, Michael Tapping