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Yes, the sand was white, it really did squeak!
Walked barefoot on the white squeaky sand on Great Keppel Island.
Swam in the warm water.
Snorkeled on the Great Barrier Reef.
Played in the boom nets off the side of a boat.
Took a cruise to the Great Barrier Reef to watch the sunset.
Join me in a GKI Resort Holiday flashback from the 1980s.Â
"I got wrecked on Great Keppel Island"
Indigenous Name
The Indigenous name for Great Keppel Island is Wop-pa.
And the Woppaburra people lived on the Keppel Islands.
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Flashback to the 1980s
In 1980, I flew from Melbourne to Rockhampton in Queensland.
On route by another small airplane flight from Rockhampton to Great Keppel Island.
We called the island GKI. And, GKI is off the coast from Yeppoon.
1980 Photography
Here is a picture representation of what it was like on the island back then. They show some old photos of the Great Keppel Island Resort.
And yet, I can visualize in my mind some of what it used to look like.
Photography was quite different due to the cameras. And they were not digital. 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 was created by me.
Great Keppel Island Resort
When I holidayed at GKI. It was a resort-like accommodation with everything included.
I remember, every day you received the GKI newsletter. It listed organized activities that you could participate in.
At these events, you met other people who holidayed on the island.
There were walks. The swimming pool races included eating a cold pie and drinking a warm beer. And, there was Hawaiin night.
You took cruises on the boats to the Great Barrier Reef. And, played on the boom nets, sailed to other beaches on the island, and watched the sunsets.
On one of these walking group activities, I met Sue. And even though we live in different states. We are still friends today,
My favorite dish was the Moreton Bay Bugs.
Great Keppel Island Now
GKI today is very different from when I went about 40 years ago. About two years ago, most of the resort was demolished after standing derelict for around a decade.
Now, the accommodation is mainly cabins.
And, you catch a ferry from the mainland to GKI.
A small airplane landing on the airstrip
The view from my room
The entrance to the Great Keppel Island Resort
The beach in front of the GKI resort
The Boom Nets off the side of a Boat
The boom nets off the side of a boat were 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.
What's a Boom Net Experience Like Now!
See what a boom net experience is like now at Huskisson in Jervis Bay, New South Wales.
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Map of Great Keppel Island
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Island Holiday at Great Keppel Island Resort in the 1980s
Have you been on an island holiday? If so, what's your favorite island?
Great Keppel Island is quite different from what it was like in the 1980s.
I read that there is interest in the island being bought by a new owner.
I wonder if things will change. And, it'll come back to its days of fun.
Did you get wrecked at Great Keppel Island Resort?
There're many islands to visit in Queensland. Here's a couple:
I have been looking for photos of the pool area back then in 1980. Would you have any. Wish I took more when I was there
I’ll have a look. I remember the pool and swimming in a competition in the pool.
oh this is a cool idea! I like what you did here
Thank you Jen
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.
Looks like you had a great time !
Yes, thank you, Courtney
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.
I too noticed the “wrecked shirt” very funny.
It was the slogan of the island when we were there, Missy.
Glad someone lent you their shorts! These are super fun photos!
Me too! Thank you Lori
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.
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.
I love what you have done with the photos! Some of them look like paintings!
Thank you Trisha
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 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.
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 can see why you have such wonderful memories of this Island vacation! What fun it looks like you all had.
Thank you Stacey
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.
The pictures are really cool!
Thank you Lisa
aw lovely memories! hopefully you get to go back one day!
Thank you Lucy. I hope so too and they rebuild the resort.
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.
What great memories! Those boom nets must have been super fun!
Thank you Melissa. I love the boom nets.