So here we are in “Sunny & Very Dusty” Mount Isa.
WE ARE HERE!!
That’s Lake Moondarra up the top right!
The company has supplied us with a nice easy care home, close to the town centre and across the road from the Hospital. In fact our front door was in line with the access door to the Sexual Health Clinic! That made for interesting viewing every now and again!!
Doreen St was not a big street (maybe 5 houses) but 80% of them were Housing Commission homes. This also ensured additional excitement from time to time. The locals are very vocal after a period of time refreshing their “hard earned thirst”!! Thankfully our house was well secured by a high fence and gate and that made me feel a little bit safer!!
Within days of arriving we did the obligatory Sight Seeing – that is possible in a normal car (most of the good stuff round here you need a 4wd to get to it!!) – we drove out the Moondarra Dam or Lake – I still have not worked out which one it is!! This dam/lake supplies the town and the mine with all its water. Below are some snippets of information taken from some websites that may be of interest.
After the lake we went up the “Lookout” to see pretty much 360 degree view of Mount Isa – and well that was it for sightseeing!!
Graham celebrated his 40th birthday a few days after arriving. It was not a big affair – all presents had been exchanged prior to us leaving Perth – but I did allow him to feast on FISH!! He got a new weber bbq and tickets to see the Wallabies get beaten by the All Blacks (as it turned out!!). I organised for both Graham and Jess to have a couple of days in Brisbane and see the game. However – this was not until September!! So he had to wait a bit!! Sorry no photos – I did not have my camera until late in the month and was using my mobile for the earlier photos.
Moondarra Dam and Surrounds
Lake Moondarra is an artificial lake on the Leichhardt River, 16 km downstream from the town of Mount Isa. It provides water supply to the town and the adjacent Mount Isa Mines (MIM) mining lease.
Construction began on the Leichardt Dam in 1956, and was completed on 6 November 1958 at a cost of £1.7 million. The dam was built for Mount Isa Mines and, at the time, was the largest water scheme in Australia financed by private enterprise.[1] The original construction was started by Utah Construction, but Thiess Brothers completed the project.
On 11 July 1961 the dam officially became Lake Moondarra after a competition to name the dam was won by a Mount Isa local, Danny Driscoll. The aboriginal name means "plenty of rain also thunder".
The lake includes picnic areas, pontoons, a ski jump, and water sports facilities. The lake is also popular with birdwatchers, sailors and anglers, as it is stocked with barramundi and sooty grunter.
The road to Lake Moondarra splits into two just before the lake, with the left fork leading to the boating area, and the right fork leading to Transport Bay, a lookout, the dam wall and a park (Rotary Park?) at the bottom of the spillway.
Transport bay was so named because tonnes of sand was deposited on the banks of the lake by MIM trucks to create a beach. There was a shop at the top of a grassed area and change rooms with toilets and showers nearby. Another feature was a raft anchored in the bay for swimmers to rest or sunbake on. This had timber decks and was supported by 44 gallon drums welded together.
In the nineteen sixties and seventies, Lake Moondarra is a very popular recreational area, particularly in summer. (taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Moondarra)
Moondara Dam was constructed in 1957 for the purpose of town water & industrial use.
The lake's name, Moondarra, came from a public contest held at the time. It has a surface area 2375 hectares and holds 106 000ML of water at an average depth of 6 meters when full.The lake is used for various recreational activities such as canoeing, sailing, boating, skiing, swimming, picnics, and increasingly, fishing. The lake is also the main source of freshwater for Mount Isa and a Fresh Water Lagoon was built to allow the water to naturally filter through reeds and for particles to settle out before pumping to Mount Isa.
Fishing
Fish Species available are Barramundi, Sooty Grunter, Saratoga, Alligator Gar, Fork-tailed Catfish, Jew, Archerfish, Spangled Perch & Sleepy Cod.
Lake Moondarra is the main target for fish stocking in the Mount Isa region. The MIFSG also has a fish breeding facility located at the Freshwater Lagoon adjacent to the lake. (taken from http://www.sweetwaterfishing.com.au/Moondarra.htm)
Moondarra Dam when we first arrived – it was only 35% full
A big friendly cow in the park/playground area!!! Apparently he was quite often there. Used to break through the fence. Just him – no others!!
Lake Moondarra is still a very popular place to go for the locals. There is plenty of bbq facilities and toilet blocks. Every weekend you will find sail boats or water skiers or kids on those donut things pulled by boats and plenty of people on Jet Skis. Little dinghys are popular with locals to catch a fish or two or just travel around and look at the scenery. I personally love to go and take photos – there is a variety of birds and lots of lovely flowers. Mother Nature really does have the best colour palette and at different times of the day the same spot can be seen in a variety of colours.
Jessi’s first day at School in Mount Isa.
Jess started school at the beginning of Term 2. It was full of the usual trepidation and bravado – it pretty much took her til the middle of 2009 (yes writing this way after the fact!) to settle into a routine and know who her friends are. Sadly – it has not been a smooth run for her at school here – but she has done a great job of enjoying herself none the less.
Here’s Jess in her “Happy Valley State School” uniform. She looks so young!!!
Cooper’s Got Chicken Pox!!
Not long after arriving – Poor Wee Cooper was all spotty and given that Jess had been diagnosed with Chicken Pox 3 days before leaving Perth – we knew that is what Coop had!! He is such a trouper – we had no idea he was crook or coming down with anything! So apparently he now has a natural immunisation to the Varicella Virus rather than needing a needle!!
Within days of arriving – poor wee Coop looked like this!!
Out and About in “The Isa”
We managed to get Jess into a Gymnastics Club and within a few weeks she was taking part in a ‘display’ at the local Tourist Bureau called “Outback at Isa”.
Look at those lovely pointed toes!!
These photos are of a Gym Display that Jess participated in for her gym club Leichardt Gymnastics, at the Outback at Isa Markets.
Local Wildlife!!
You all would have heard about “Cane Toads” – well here is our first brush with one! Sleeping in the retic (called Automatic Sprinkler System over here!). They really are very ugly. We disposed of this one by pouring Cooking Salt on it!! You can also use a spray bottle with a mix of Detol and Water – or my preferred option is Whack ‘em on the head with a big stick!! We have had to dispose of quite a few since getting here!
A very Yucky Ugly Cane Toad!! The first some of us had seen!!
Cooper is 1!!
On the 31st of May – just a few weeks after getting here, our Baby Cooper turned 1!! Given we were still living at supplied accommodation – I bought an ice cream cake and had a few limited affair. He was after all only 1 – he didn’t care!! He got plenty of presents to play with and (as is always the way with Cooper) had a great time.
Just some of the goodies!
Yay – Ice Cream Cake!! But this paper cup is soooo much better!
What a Happy Boy!
Silly Daddy!!
Don’t let go Emi!!! Oh – Ok then – let go!!!
