This weeks show we visit Dubbo. Dubbo is a major town in central NSW. First up on the show, Phill tells us a few things to do and see around the town. Dubbo Gaol is a heritage listed former gaol and now a museum and also a tourist attraction. It was built from 1847 through to 1945. It is also heritage listed back in 2004.
The Old Dubbo Gaol is a small compact gaol located within the central business district of Dubbo. The gaol includes the main male cell block with 12 ordinary cells, 2 solitary confinment cells a padded cell a condemed cell, the female cell block comprising 2 cells a bathroom and exercise yard. Complete with infermary and kitchen block library and bathroom and exercise yards. https://www.olddubbogaol.com.au/
If you love visiting the zoo why not visit the Western plains Zoo. Open pens for the animals but you still get the close feel, you can either walk, cycle or drive your own car around stopping of at the various enclosures. A must see experience in Dubbo. https://taronga.org.au/dubbo-zoo
Something relaxing for the family is to wander through the Dubbo Botanical Gardens. The Japanese Gardens are not to be missed.
The name of the Garden. ‘Shoyoen’ means ‘strolling and refreshing garden’. Shoyoen is recognised as being one of the most authentic Japanese Gardens in Australia. It was gifted to Dubbo by our Sister City Minokamo, Japan.
The abstract and highly stylised miniature landscape is a distinguishing feature of this style of traditional Japanese Garden and is full of religious symbolism and cultural references.
We camped up for a couple of nights at Terramungamine Camp ground about 10 minutes ot of Dubbo. Its a small campground on the Macquarie River. Whilst here take a short stroll and view the Rock Grooves, carved by the Wiradjuri Tribe to sharpen tools and spears and also a meeting place for the Tubbagah people.
Whilst there we started up a conversation with a couple doing some work there, and also their car was another reason tfor our curiosity. It had Zoo2Zoo on the side we we were a little curious about what it was about. We met Andrew and Julie and they took the time to chat on air with us about this non for profit organisation that do bike rides between the zoos. The point of this is providing a safe and enjoyable ride during the event and the second is to raise funds and awareness for The Black Dog Institute. The ride starts at a zoo, so this year is Taronga Zoo and works its way through the towns and finishes at the Dubbo Western Plains Zoo. Check out the websites for more information. https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/contact-us/
Next up on the show Phill is once again chatting with Ken Wilson from Truck Friendly Caravan Road Safety Program. This weeks topic is interacting with heavy vehicles on the road. One of the things that you should not do is to indicate on the right hand side for trucks to go past. Many an accident can come from this. The best way to signal a truck is via the UHF radio.
Tune in and listen to this interesting subject. https://www.truckfriendly.com.au
One of the easiest ways to help other drivers is by communication: talking with the truck drivers via a UHF radio, and them talking to you. If you have a caravan or RV it is a very good idea to invest in a high quality UHF radio for the tow vehicle or RV. You will also find it a great investment in an emergency when you are out of mobile phone range.
The accepted ‘Highway Channel’ used by most truck drivers throughout Australia is Channel 40.
However, if travelling on the Pacific Highway, some other areas and Pacific Motorway in northern NSW and southern Queensland you may find channel 29 is used more frequently by truck drivers and others travelling in those areas.
There is also some valuable information passed on via Channel 40 like road conditions, animals on the road, car accidents, wide loads ahead, roadblocks to avoid up ahead, speed camera locations, cyclists riding two abreast on the highway, and other things of safety interest.
Traditionally, caravanners have been using channel 18 to talk amongst themselves but will need to change to Channel 40 to talk with the truck drivers and hear what is happening up ahead or behind, and how you can help.
You will not make any friends by clogging up Channel 40 with a long conversation or swapping recipes and will often be asked, (not always politely) to change to another channel for a chat.
For these reasons, I strongly recommend that you have your radio tuned to Channel 40 and change to 18 or another channel for a longer chat with a fellow caravanner or RV driver. Keep it brief and to the point is the rule on Channel 40.
Always keep an eye on your rear vision mirrors and be aware of who is coming up behind you and immediately tune the UHF to Channel 40 so you can hear any truck drivers trying to talk to you.
