Day 6 Longreach School of Distance Education and Ilfracombe

Today we had a tour of the Longreach School of Distance Education, it was very interesting hearing how things have changed from Radio schooling to the computer link ups they have today. The children get together for annual sports and swimming carnivals and the bi annual stage show. They also have cluster days about once a term that most children are able to attend. Some that are 700km away are not able to attend all the in person days. The children follow the Qld curriculum and do about 4 hours per day on screen the rest is done by governesses or mothers such as cooking, music, sports etc. They have a dormitory house for 90 children when these in attendance days are happening, and the children are welcome at any time that the parents may be in town etc they can be dropped off for the day and do in person lessons with the teacher and children on line.




We then went into town to look around and check road conditions for our drive to Mt Isa tomorrow as many roads are closed due to the flooding. A visit to the art and craft centre, which appears to be a brick and sandstone corner building is actually a pressed tin to give this effect. Kevin was chatting to a lady who hired his brothers in Longreach many years ago, such a small world.







In the afternoon we drove to another thermal pool at Ilfracombe and had a look at the machinery mile outdoor museum.