Married couple Simon and Tanya Hamilton have only recently started forging their new careers as CQUni education graduates and are now based in Longreach.

It was their 18 years of experience in the hospitality industry that led to a brush with royalty during the visit to Longreach by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall.

Simon and Tayna HamiltonSimon was one of four chefs who catered for 300 customers including the Royals, the Governor-General, the Governor of Queensland and the Premier of Queensland.

Meanwhile, Tanya's role for the day was to oversee 15 front staff including eight hospitality students from Longreach High School. She was also responsible for looking after the Royals' support staff and managed to have a chat with Her Royal Highness Camilla.

"My role was to oversee the kitchen and to guide staff on presentation and cooking of the food," Simon said.

The Big Red Truck that takes Tanya to Outback schools

"Security was extremely tight and the food itinerary changed three times throughout the day. For example the Prince of Wales was scheduled to cook on the barbecue while myself and another chef were to assist, but he departed immediately after speeches which was disappointing. So unfortunately I was unable to meet His Royal Highness, although I did take a photo when he was making his speech."

Simon said that he and Tanya had spent their time in hospitality operating large hotels, fine dining restaurants, clubs and cafes. Over that time they have owned three hospitality businesses.

 "Four years ago, Tanya decided that she needed to change her career as we now had two young children and the catering industry was hard enough without children. Teaching was the one career that was calling out to her.

"She decided to study a Bachelor of Learning Management (Sec/Vet) in Hospitality and Business at the Bundaberg Campus. After a year of her talking to me about the degree and the information she was learning it was enough to motivate me to start my teaching career as well.

"Tanya finished her degree in three years and took a job with Impact (a training organisation that taught Certificate Two in Hospitality) for a year and half while I was finishing off my degree.

"Two months ago, Tanya applied for a position at Longreach State High School teaching Hospitality and the very next day she received a call from the Principal offering her the position for which she was to start ASAP.

"Tanya left two weeks later and started work the next Monday. I was still on my internship at Gin Gin State High School. Fortunately, we had Tanya's parents in Bundaberg and myself and the kids moved in with them until I finished my internship. Then we moved to Longreach to be with Tanya again.

Simon's photo of Prince Charles

"Tanya's job consists of teaching the Certificate One and Two in Hospitality to five schools in the area which are Longreach State High School, Barcaldine State School, Winton State School, Aramac State School and Blackall State School, through the Outback College of Hospitality's Big Red Truck.

"Her classroom is the truck; she spends one week a term at every school with the truck. The truck is also leased out to private caterers and events throughout the outback.

"I am hoping for a position at Longreach State High School next year as my disciplines are Hospitality and Maths."

Inside the Outback hospitality truck