Great Keppel Island Australia
Fly from Melbourne via Rockhampton to Great Keppel Island
In 1980, I flew from Melbourne to Rockhampton in Queensland.
On route by another small airplane flight to Great Keppel Island. GKI for short.
Here is a picture representation of what it was like on the island back then.
Photography was quite different due to cameras and being non digital. Thus, photo taking was much less in quantity due to the expense of developing film. And, the photos with me in them, were not taken by me.as selfies weren't really a thing back then. The post-production for this post were created by me.
When I holidayed at GKI. It was a resort like accommodation with everything included. I remember, every day there were organised activities that you could participate in. At these events, you could meet other people. There were walks, swimming pool race which included eating a cold pie and drinking a warm beer, cruise on the boats, the boom nets, and Hawaiian Night.
On one of these walking group activities, I met Sue. And even though we are in different states, we are still friends today,
My favorite dish was the Moreton Bay Bugs.
"I got wrecked on Great Keppel Island" is the slogan on the t-shirt.
GKI today is very different to when I went about 40 years ago. About two years ago, most of the resort was demolished after standing derelict for around a decade.
The Boom Nets off the side of a Boat
The boom nets off the side of a boat was my favorite activity at GKI.
From the side of the boat, you slid out along the boom. Then, you went down into the nets whilst the boat was moving. The water current was so strong that you had to hold onto your shorts. Luckily, someone had lent me their shorts. And, I helped others back up higher onto the nets out of the strong current. It definitely wasn't an activity for bikinis.
Great Keppel Island
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What great memories! Those boom nets must have been super fun!
Thank you Melissa. I love the boom nets.
Haha, I love your “I got wrecked” shirt. This looks like it was so much fun!
Thank you Holls. I think I still have that t-shirt.
aw lovely memories! hopefully you get to go back one day!
Thank you Lucy. I hope so too and they rebuild the resort.
The pictures are really cool!
Thank you Lisa
Looks like you had a blast! Boy how the qualities of photos have changed since 1980!
Thank you Brianna. Yes, and how they fade with the yellow-orange tint.
I can see why you have such wonderful memories of this Island vacation! What fun it looks like you all had.
Thank you Stacey
What a fun flashback and would love to try those boom nets!
Thank you kmf. yes, the boom nets!
Love seeing these photos. Such a fun flashback!
Thank you Cathy
I wish I had all of those photos from my younger years. You are lucky to have held on to them. Great memories!
Thank you Tricia. Yes, and I’ll need to scan more.
Wow! It’s awesome that you kept those photos all these years and it looks like you had a grand time!
Thank you Shirley. Yes, lucky I kept the photos.
I love what you have done with the photos! Some of them look like paintings!
Thank you Trisha
Australia is still on my bucket list. I’ll have to remember this area when we go!
I hope you travel to Australia. And, the Whitsunday Islands.
The pictures from the boat and amazing. I have also partaken in a full pig roast and it certainly was a memorable experience. I loved all the traditions around it.
Thank you Leeanne. Glad you love traditions.
Glad someone lent you their shorts! These are super fun photos!
Me too! Thank you Lori
I too noticed the “wrecked shirt” very funny.
It was the slogan of the island when we were there, Missy.
I love your photos from then too! So cool you met someone there that you remain friends with before social media. That is very special. Looks like a great time. Thanks for sharing your flashback island holiday!
Thank you Amanda. That’s true, we would send snail mail letters and cards to each other over the years.
Looks like you had a great time !
Yes, thank you, Courtney
How fun! I love finding and going through old photos. I did not start scrapbooking until my oldest was born. I hope to go back and do the same for those photos in my youth.
Thank you Heather. That’s a good idea. Thanks for the suggestion.
oh this is a cool idea! I like what you did here
Thank you Jen