First Ship for 2012

At yesterday lunchtime, the first sugar ship (in fact the first ship) arrived at the Port of Bundaberg for the year. The "CSL Atlantic" arrived from Melbourne via Brisbane, and was met with the two tugs dancing in the river. They weren't dancing actually but just moving to their position the greet the ship. Once again, "SMIT Leopard" had come down from Gladstone for the occasion.



"SMIT Leopard" and "Ballina" await the ship  ©2012 WoJo12

 Always the best part of bringing a ship into a river port is swinging the ship around. At the moment this takes place between the Sugar Terminal and the molasses/oil berth. This is always done before the ship is loaded, when it is more controllable.

Thanks to Pilot Liz for another successful docking.

See you at the Port around 2pm today for the sailing of the "CSL Atlantic"

Customer Service in Bundaberg

Much has been written about the low standard of customer service in Bundaberg. But like any subject, there are exceptions. If any of my followers have experienced good service in Bundy, please add them to this blog by way of a comment.

Here is my list, so far -

No matter what time of day, whether it's raining or really hot, at the Neighbourhood Store in Elliott Heads Road Kepnock, I have always been welcomed with a smiling face and great service - well done to the owners and staff.

Justin at Bundaberg South Post Office always manages to greet customers with a smile, and remembers a lot of them by name.

The crew at the service desk at Kmart always seem to work well as a team to ease the queues at the other checkouts, and even when the queues are long, they always manage a smile.

Of all the sports stores in Bundaberg, the one with continual great customer service would have to be Avanti Plus in Bargara Road, East Bundaberg.

Bruce and his team at Hansens Auto Electrical are always happy to see you and the girls at the counter are always helpful.

I was ready in the newspaper today about someone having difficulty in getting good burgers and chips around Bundaberg area. Obviously they haven't been to the kiosk on the beachhead at Elliott Heads. Not only is the food great, but the staff are polite and courteous. I am always impressed by the way the younger staff address us oldies!!!

I needed to get my car serviced last week, preferably at home. I called Coral Coast Mobile Mechanic and was impressed with the thoroughness of the work - well done Michael.

Each time I go to Peter Walton Tyres, the staff and waiting room are always clean and tidy. The staff always great you with a smile. It seems to be the only place in Bundaberg to get a wheel alignment done correctly.

That's it from me for the moment - I'll add to the list when I remember or experience more great customer service.

HMAS Aware - the final chapter

For many years, the former Attack Class patrol boat , “HMAS Aware” has been rusting away in the Burnett River between the Sugar Terminal and the Bundaberg Port Marina. Launched in Brisbane in 1967, the “HMAS Aware” was based at Darwin for a time, seeking Vietnamese refugee boats, and later transferred to Adelaide. It was decommissioned and sold to private ownership in the 1990′s. For sometime it was used as a dive boat and then arrived in Bundaberg in 2006.  It had been an ugly sight – it was listing to one side and there had been some very unsympathetic additions above the deck (believed to have been added in Melbourne). At one point, it was advertised for sale for a mere AUD$85,000. See photo below, courtesy of http://www.boatsamillion.com/

In 2010, the surviving owner, a former crewman from the vessel, was fined $10,000 for failing to keep the vessel insured. This action has probably prompted the removal of the vessel from the river. Here are a couple of photos I took today of the 33m beauty as she lay awaiting the cutting torches.

What absolutely beautiful lines - the former "HMAS Aware" 22 Nov 2011 © JoWo12

 

The last resting place of the "HMAS Aware" 22 Nov 2011 © JoWo12

 By crikey, I just got those first photos in the nick of time – have a look at this …………………  

The stainless steel driveshafts beside the stern section ©2011 WoJo12




HMAS Aware - the following day

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