Free Movies each Tuesday at 10.30am shown at the Casino Sportz Arena - Level 2 of the Casino.

Tuesday 6th October - Doubt (Rated M)
Drama - Starring Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman & Amy Adams

Tuesday 13th October - He's just not that into you (Rated M)
Comedy / romance - STarring Jennier Aniston & Juston Long

Tuesday 20th October - Passengers (Rated M)
Drama / Thriller - Starring Anne Hathaway & Patrick Wilson

Tuesday 27th October - Appaloosa (Rated M)
Drama / Western - Starring Ed Harris, Viggo Mortensen & Renee Zellweger

Rainforestation Army Duck Driver Murray Freeman has celebrated reaching his 30th year of employment at the award-winning Rainforestation Nature Park in Kuranda.

Murray started working at Rainforestation on 23rd September in 1979, when it was known as Mountain Groves. At the time, the only other army duck driver was founding Managing Director Charles Woodward.

Murray remembers starting his employment with the company particularly well as he married his wife Laura the following week.

“So techinically, you can say I’ve been married to my job longer than I have my wife!” he said.

In those early days, Murray’s duties were varied and extended beyond just driving an army duck, from serving behind bar, to helping out in the restaurant.

“I remember on my first day, I wore good clothes to work, then my first task was a trip in the old truck to the dump – with a particularly messy batch of rubbish,” he said.

Over the years, Murray has seen the attraction evolve from a small business employing six people, to an internationally successful operation with currently 75 employees.

Due to his extensive knowledge of amphibious war vehicles, Murray has often been used as specialist consultant for film and television productions, such as the Steven Speilberg produced mini-series The Pacific which is currently in production.

Rainforestation Managing Director Charles Woodward said it was great to see a long-term employee remain so dedicated and passionate about their work.

“After 30 years, his tours have remained fresh and interesting – although some of his jokes haven’t changed,” he said.

“Murray has been presented with many opportunities to move into more senior roles, but has turned these down as he is content in this role, and continues to give it 100%. We are pleased to see him reach this milestone, and are proud of his ongoing commitment to Rainforestation,” he said.

Today, Murray has the additional responsibility of training the army duck drivers on driving, safety skills and guiding.

The award-winning Rainforestation Nature Park in Kuranda has just completed a successful exchange of koalas with Alma Park Zoo in Southern Queensland for breeding purposes.

The aim is to introduce new genetics into the breeding programmes at both Rainforestation Nature Park and Alma Park Zoo, Queensland's longest running zoo, situated 30 minutes north of Brisbane.
Sakura, a 2 year old female koala born at Rainforestation in their successful breeding program, has
swapped places with Alma Park Zoo's Kodi, a 3 year old male koala.

Rainforestation Head Wildlife Keeper Kate Coughlan said it is hoped Kodi will become one of their
top breeding males, as well as a star in the "Koala Experience" for koala photos.

"Kodi has settled in nicely and is revelling in his new role posing in the Koala Experience, so we're
also hoping he will take to two of our female koalas in the next couple of months," she said.

Meanwhile, Sakura is also expected to be a future breeder at Alma Park Zoo, with Rainforestation to
receive the first female offspring she produces, bringing new genetics into the koala colony again.

Both Rainforestation and Alma Park Zoo plan to work together for Koala management for the future,
thus beginning a long term partnership between the two parks.

For more information or to arrange a photo opportunity, please contact CaPTA PR Manager Ben
Woodward on 0406 384 886 or 07 4041 9401.

GUESTS ENJOY THEIR STAY AT "AMAROO"

01/10/2009   Pinkwart Family, Germany   -   Perfect accommodation

01/10/2009   Berzins Family, London   -   Great place to stay

03/10/2009   Maree Jones, Melbourne   -   Great place. Staff very good.

01/10/2009   Karen Clarke, California, USA   -   A wonderful place to be.

09/10/2009   Annette & Dave Haworth, Australian Capital Territory   -   Great stay. We will be back.

10/10/2009   Anna, Sweden   -   Wonderful stay. Thank you

13/10/2009   Lisa & Michael Hall, Perth   -   What a lovely spot Trinity (Beach) is. Great service from the Amaroo

19/10/2009   Jackie Brown, Canada   -   Beautiful place

21/10/2009   Anthony & Nuala Corish, Ireland   -   THE BEST !!!

24/10/2009   David & Ang Murray-Blyth, United Kingdom   -   Brilliant

30/10/2009   Debbie Rotherham, New Zealand   -   Will be back!

04/11/2009   Olle & Cat Holmberg, Sweden   -   Loved every minute. Had a great time

Sea Change Beachfront Apartments at beautiful Trinity Beach is offering hot deals for the spring & summer months. So come out of the cold and experience Cairn's premier FIVE star property. The two deals are:

• Stay 5 nights, and only pay for 4 nights (from 1st September), and
• Stay 7 nights, and only pay for 5 nights - that's two FREE nights (from 1st November)

Both specials expire 31 March 2010 and conditions apply.  

Passengers aboard the Tropic Sunbird, operated by Sunlover Reef cruises were treated to the whale encounter of a lifetime on Tuesday when a very large female Humpaback whale and her newborn Calf treated them to an amazing acrobatic display only 5 metres from the vessel.

The vessel which operates out at thier pontoon on Moore Reef regularly encounter Humpback whales on their journey out to the reef during the Whale migration season.

This encounter was one of the best encounters ever experienced by Sunlover Reef Cruises as the mother and calf approached the vessel from a distance as the vessel stopped to observe the whales from a distance.

"The whales deliberately changed their course and tracked directly towards the Tropic Sunbird.

When they reached our boat the young calf put on a very close and deliberate jumping show just a few metres from the boat. it was just absolutely amazing, and overwhelming. The emotion I felt when the cute little calf danced around for us just blew me away. I couldnt contain the joy the calf gave me knowing it was showing off for us," said Gemma Bedlington, a dive Instructor from Sunlover, who witnessed the encounter.

Dear Valued Friends and Customers,

Another year has passed and I have the great pleasure to ask you to join us celebrating our

3rd Anniversary Dinner on Friday, 07 or Saturday, 08 August 2009.

For this occasion, our Master Chef David Bres has created another sensational menu combining some all time favourites from previous menus for $69 per person. For Friday night only, we were lucky to secure the services of the lovely, Emma Louise, our aspiring local singer and songwriter.

Mint-flavoured tomato and sweet potato Gazpacho served on a cucumber jelly with crab meat and buffalo mozzarella marshmallow
*****

Baked coral trout fillet served with crunchy vegetables, Great Barrier Reef Bouillabaisse reduction and saffron flavoured Mayonnaise
*****

Roasted lamb cutlets served with Creamy polenta, lemon aspen tuna cream, crispy capers and sautéed asparagus
*****

Assortment of the finest sweets from the past 3 years


As we have limited space, bookings are essential. A la carte will also be available on both nights.

Please phone our Maitre D' Stephanie Bosc on Ph. 40411221 from 3pm or book by email.

We hope to hear from you soon.

Best regards,

Oliver, David & Stephanie

The winners of our birthday celebrations who received a bottle of wine were:

Maryanne from Adventure North, Jo McGregor, and Andrew Cowan.

Numerous Customers wished us a Happy Birthday and received a complimentary glass of Champagne.

In addition to complimentary glass of wine, there will be mystery prizes offered through the week.

We would like to thank all our loyal customers for all their support over the last 3 years.

Dear Friends & Customers,

Every Saturday night our Master Chef David Bres creates a delicious
3-course set menu for $55.

The menu is themed around a secret ingredient that will only be revealed on Saturday nights.

We encourage our valued guests to actively participate and challenge our chefs by selecting the secret ingredient. It can be an herb, a particular flavour, a condiment or anything other than the meat or fish component of the main course.

You can email us or ring our Maitre D' Stephanie to place your challenge. The decision to take up your challenge is at David's discretion, and if he does so, he will let you know on which Saturday he will craft his menu around your secret ingredient.

Of course, if you do not wish to place a challenge, you will also be most welcome to sample David's special menu on any Saturday night.

We love to hear from you soon. Just ring Stephanie on ph. 40411221 after 3pm.

Best regards,

Oliver, Stephanie & David

we have been seeing a lot of eagle rays jumping from the water latley

also the osprey eagles are hunting the fish on top of the water right in front of the kayaks and there have been many blue spot lagoon rays in front of the double island resort along with 1 pair of long fin bat fish who seem to have taken up residents at the exclusive resort

Unlike any other hotel awards programs in the world, TripAdvisor® Travelers' Choice® winners are based on the millions of real and unbiased reviews and opinions about hotels on tripadvisor.com^TM and content from across the web.

Members of the world's favourite travel news source voted the five star eco lodge in at 3rd in the Pacific region for ‘Best Luxury', 6th in the Pacific Region for ‘Best For Romance', and 77th in the Worldwide category for ‘Best Luxury'. The award-winning lodge's deluxe timber bungalows, exceptional coastal position and friendly Australian service were the most appreciated comments on the website.

In addition to providing an unsurpassed accommodation experience, Thala Beach Lodge also operates a number of nature based initiatives, including guided bird watching, nature walks, beach discovery walks, star gazing at an outdoor observatory and Australia's only coconut odyssey; a comprehensive history and tasting of the prolific nut.