Oscar pointed to the plaques in the porch - Anna Bligh is a descendant of Cornishman William Bligh who is famous for the Mutiny on the Bounty and being the 4th Governor of New South Wales. The name Bligh comes from the Cornish language word Blyth meaning wolf. In the second plaque we giggled at the ‘Responsible Government’. We then bimbled the Botanic Gardens and on to the Queensland Club.

The Queensland Club building was constructed between 1882-84. The club was established in December 1859 following the apparent success of the North Australian Club in Ipswich, and coinciding with the establishment of Queensland as a separate colony. Adopting the British tradition of private clubs for influential members of the community, it provided a recreational venue and accommodation for men of common interests and socio-economic backgrounds. Members were mainly pastoralists, politicians, and business and professional men. The club met initially in small premises in Mary Street. As membership increased, a larger venue was required and in 1881 the club purchased three allotments on the corner of George and Alice Streets, which was known as Hodgsons Corner. Francis Drummond Greville Stanley (1839-1897), a member of the club, was appointed architect.

Stanley was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, on the 1st of January 1839, the son of actor and painter Montague Talbot Stanley and his wife Mary Susan (née Eyre). Stanley studied and practised architecture in Edinburgh, prior to emigrating to Brisbane in 1861-2. There, he joined the Lands Department in 1863 and became the chief clerk of works, under the Colonial Architect Charles Tiffin.

On the 27th of April 1865, he married Margaret Bennet at Toowoomba. Stanley was appointed to the post of Queensland Colonial Architect in July 1873. He held the post until 1881.

His younger brother, Henry Charles Stanley, was also an early immigrant to Queensland, becoming the Chief Engineer of the Queensland railways.

The proximity to the seat of government made it an appropriate locale for the new club premises. Stanley's plans were modified by the members and finally approved in March 1882. The contractor was J Smith and Sons and the contract sum was £14,150.

The building was opened in June 1884 and contained 41 members' bedrooms, eight bathrooms, a clubroom, dining room, billiard room, smoking room, visitors room, offices and the necessary kitchens, servants rooms and toilets, providing a "home away from home" for society's male elite.

In September 1888 the club purchased the adjoining site in Alice Street for £4,000, and stables, laundry and a bottle house were erected. Three years later these buildings were demolished and a bowling green established. The green remained mostly unused and in 1900, it was converted to a tennis court.

Wiki says: The 2014–15 Volvo Ocean Race is the 12th edition of the round-the-world Volvo Ocean Race. It started on the 19th of October 2014 in Alicante, Spain, and concluded in June 2015 in Gothenburg, Sweden. After 38,739 nautical miles of ocean racing, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing led by skipper Ian Walker claimed the overall trophy.

Yachts: For the first time, the race was a one-design event. The Volvo Ocean 65 was designed by Farr Yacht Design in response to concerns about safety and cost. The Volvo Ocean Race ensures a minimum of eight boats are built. The aim is to reduce participation cost to around fifteen million euros per entry. Plenty of amazing video clips are available to watch – impossible angles of sail, water sloshing as sails were changed and all so closely fought.

What a delight to listen to the madcap adventures of being part of the first all-ladies team. Stacey had planned to do this race as a youngster and spent her learning years, apprenticeship and participation in several Sydney-Hobart Yacht Races just to get the necessary qualifications to pass the interview. Bear’s favourite part of her incredible story was her persistence, at first turned down – only due to lack of big oceans passages, she didn’t give up, ringing and pushed for the answer she so desperately wanted, it paid off. Then the hard graft training began over many months until the team became a cohesive unit and ‘who did what’ was founded. Stacey had pictures changing behind her and it was difficult to sneak a peek so absorbed were we in her stories. My favourite was her coming off duty and being caught soundo with her spoon full of porridge half way to her mouth. The ladies may have got off watch time but plenty of that was taken up with washing, changing, eating and settling, only to be frequently disturbed for sail changes – an all team chore. At the end of each leg a doctor checked them over and took a battery of tests before declaring them fit for the next leg. Another tale was ‘the waking of the not so wanted to be woken’. Ladies who got on with some were the wakers of the potential growlers. Going around Cape Horn the ladies made a couple of snowballs in seas that looked none to happy judging by the pictures. Considering the conditions, lack of sleep and extreme physical demands we were very surprised to hear the ladies only suffered minor bumps and scrapes. Stacey, being the qualified sail maker even managed running repairs with the machine between her knees in a very awkward position. Much applause met this lovely, inspirational and smiley lady.

After Tony had thank Stacey, members present, a couple of special introductions we were wished all the best and applauded – so very touching. Oscar took our picture, a treasured one with Stacey, then it was off to continue our road trip to have a look at Southport.

ALL IN ALL AN AMAZING DAY  

                    LOVELY OPPORTUNITY TO SEE BRISBANE AND STACEY