Open Water at Charleville or Ocean Swimming at Mollymook?

John Sarich (nee Smeeth) sent through some pics and writes, “The Charleville chapter this season for this (distant) Mollymook ocean swimmer has just started at the Ward River, 20 kms. west of Charleville (just off the Diamantina Development Road). It took me longer to get in and out of my wettie than I spent in the water. It was freezing. Still 14 ° it can only get warmer now.

I enjoyed catching up with Ken and June and later on with Bobby White. Cheers, John”.

(The Ward River is over 455-km. long and flows down into the Darling River)

In fact, when I was in Charleville, John offered to take me out to the Ward River. I graciously declined. I thought, Ken just stick to taking some bird pics whilst out here in the Queensland Outback.

It’s hard to imagine John who was so into ocean swimming at Mollymook and venturing off to various ocean swim meets up and down the coast, receiving numerous community recognition awards and being the local Ulladulla swim coach retiring to Charleville, Outback Qld. But he is very happy and still doing what he had done on the Coast, SWIM!

John ready for his open water swim at the Ward River

Ward River, Outback Queensland

Ocean Swimming this morning at Mollymook.

How beautiful is this? Although a little cloudy, the water was ideal for ocean swimming with Don measuring the temp. at around 16 ° as the boys and girls hit the water.

Mollymook ocean swimmers

Ken’s Bird life experience in Outback Queensland.

Charleville, is the largest town in the Murweh Shire, Outback Qld. It has a population of 3,000 and is highly recommended for a visit. Besides seeing John and having a swim with him in the Ward River, there are a variety of ‘must do’ attractions. It is 747 km west of Brisbane.

Once again I came across some wonderful bird species that I (a novice) had never before seen / photographed. Such as: A Brolga that stands over 1 metre tall and has a wing span of 2.4 metres, Splendid Fairy Wrens, Nankeen Kestrel’s, Major Mitchell Cockatoo’s and many more.

Click on images to enlarge