Shipping Reporter strikes it rich on pirate paradise
Our waterfront roundsman is still reeling , not from excessive rum consumption, but due to the many stories he found at the weekend launch of the fabulous Greetings from Magnetic Island Souvenirs Exhibition, at the Magnetic Museum,Picnic Bay , shamefully not covered by the mainland media .
The event kicked off with an interesting talk by historian and collector Nick Shailer ,a member of the North Queensland Antique Bottle and Collectors Club , a veteran of 40 years on the railways , about various souvenir items made over the years and the collecting thereof.
He displayed some Townsville travel brochures and an album containing many postcards , a large number directly related to Magnetic Island from early days , two below .
In answer to a question, Nick created much interest when he said he had once come across photos of nude passengers , male and female , grouped about a swimming pool on a cruise ship. The Shipping Reporter did not find those snaps when he rifled through the postcard album, although he stumbled across the following one showing the island was caught up in the Hollywood movie craze back in the l930s.
With his extensive knowledge of Queensland railways, Nick said a Paramount Studios sign had once featured on a train , perhaps in connection with a special trip.
Overseas travellers from North Queensland went to far away places -England, China , Italy - and came back with a wide variety of souvenirs ,including small marble statues.
He told of having to help sort out a collection of a much travelled Townsville woman , China one place visited, a member of a prominent family , who lived in a house once occupied by the Japanese Consul in town . A telescope which had belonged to her father was one of many items in her collection .
NEXT : Inside the Museum , souvenirs galore and Captain Kidd's Treasure Chest with a strong link to Indonesia .
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