More than $350 was raised for CQU scholarships and awards from an education tour hosted by the CQU Foundation /Division of University Relations. 106 Central Queensland community members visited and studied significant archaeological sites connected with the early settlement of the Australian South Sea Island population in and around the Rockhampton, Farnborough, Yeppoon, Keppel Sands and Joskeleigh area.

The tour took them through the Farnborough area where the Sugar Mill once stood, past the sugar trail at the back of Yeppoon, down to the Sandhills and Joskeleigh area. The Flats, most commonly called Kanaka Town in Rockhampton were also visited, where the sites of former wells and market gardens as well as the churches of the area were pointed out by Archaeologist Trudy White and historian Jilly Lander.

Once at Joskeleigh, visitors were treated to a tour of the exhibition at the Museum, entertainment and a magnificent Lap Lap.

Participant Cliff Warkill was able to point out the tree under which he was born and his mother died during a period when the islanders lived in large sturdy huts constructed from blady grass with whitewashed bagged room dividers inside.

Livingstone Shire Community Liaison officer Peter Scott spoke about the contribution of the island population in the past and the value of preserving and sharing vital historical information with tours such as this one..

“The Foundation organized the tour as part of their ongoing focus on building bridges between the University and the community and tour participants all donated around $3.00 each toward a prize and scholarship fund put in place to encourage our students to perform to the best of their ability. Thus the outcomes from the day have been twofold,” said CQU Foundation Co-coordinator Glenys Kirkwood.