RUSSELL ISLAND

Island in the sun

Shyly smiling to the morning sun,
with bustling shops, cafes and fun.
Treasures hidden in places of splendour,
dugongs and turtles - giants so tender.

Waterfront Accommodation

Motel Style Room

FROM RUSSELL WITH LOVE - PART 1: HOW IT ALL BEGAN

I come from Scandinavia and until three years ago my acquaintance with Australia was limited to Sydney where I had been a few times during my annual holiday to visit a friend of mine who married an Aussie in the 1970s.

Then three years ago I arrived to Australia with my brand new Australian husband. We didn't have a home since for a couple of years my husband had been a gypsy travelling around in his motorhome.

So there we were, the two of us plus a couple of oversized suitcases plus four respectable sized cartons we had sent to my friend in Sydney in advance of our arrival to Australia. Travelling a bit too cramped for comfort in the motorhome in full Summer on Newell Highway wandering here and there, blowing a tyre in the heat, looking for that special place - home.

One night, unable to sleep, my husband was surfing the internet and came across the name Russell Island, Queensland, one of the Southern Moreton Bay Islands. In the morning we made a beeline to Redland Bay. Lucky for us there was space on the next vehicular barge and off we went. The sun was shining hot, the sky was the bluest blue, it was a glorious day on water, and I could swear even the dugong we sighted was smiling. The barge weaved its way from Redland Bay to Karragarra to Macleay to Lamb and finally to Russell Island.

FROM RUSSELL WITH LOVE - PART 2: ISLAND IN THE SUN

Russell Island charmed us. How often does it happen that you go for a walk and complete strangers stop to ask if you need a lift? After the third offer I started feeling guilty and accepted and so ended my walk. How often do people just wave you at a Saturday market and ask you to sit at their table to join them for a coffee and bacon and eggs which the Lions' Ladies supply? And it is this making people feel good and welcome and part of something more, that is so endearing and that we try and hopefully to some extend succeed to give to the guests of our B&B. See www.russellislandbb.com.au

When you step out of the passenger ferry (you can take your bicycle on the ferry) or drive off the vehicular barge on Russell Island, you inevitably follow High Street along which you find most of the island's businesses. Not to mention the swimming pool, the police station and the brand new supermarket (with mainland prices) and speciality shops. Most of the old shops, and a few new ones, moved into the new complex.

And what a change it has made to the island. No more going to the mainland to do the "big shopping". No more carting around shopping trolleys and shopping bags on the ferry and on the mainland where islanders were recognisable in any shopping centre - resembling more camels than humans - with everything from microwave ovens to lamb chops and anything in between packed one atop the other in a most imaginative way. Mind you, old habits die hard and there have been more than a few laughs in the new supermarket when you fill your trolley up to the rim and then realise that it is not necessary, that you can come back anytime that the supermarket is on Russell.

Russell Island is about 9km long and 3km wide. It has a population of over 4000. There is a Bowls club and a RSL which both serve really tasty meals. And there is a lovely picnic area at Lions' Park where you can also swim and marvel at the small crabs hurrying along doing their daily chores.

We are only 55 minutes from Brisbane city centre by car and only an hour away from the Gold Coast. And yet when you mention Russell Island so many people have no idea where it is. So near the city of Brisbane and yet so far in its relaxed tranquil lifestyle.

Imagine sitting on a veranda overlooking water, watching boats go by: sailing boats, houseboats, yachts, tinnies, runabouts. Watching also the blue sky where you can see eagles and hawks circling and swaying in the gentle breeze that seems to be a permanent phenomenon every afternoon. And closer by there are parrots, galahs, bush turkeys and many many others. Every now and again you can see a bandicoot carefully making its way, minding its own business. You might also spot a lizard on its way to check the gum trees for food.

And the weather, it is just lovely. When it is very hot and humid and unbearable on the mainland, the weather on Russell is always less hot, less humid with a breeze. You feel the difference every time you come from the mainland to Russell. The weather is quite mild all year round. For me, coming from Scandinavia, it is still almost unbelievable. A gift to be enjoyed and cherished and appreciated. And the traffic: no queuing bumper to bumper. Heavy traffic on Russell means you have to wait at crossroads for another car to pass.

I know I am being partial but even so, it is all worth experiencing: The Island In The Sun.

FROM RUSSELL WITH LOVE - PART 3: BED & BREAKFAST & BLUES

My favourite colour - blue. The sky is blue, the bay is blue, the house is blue - well, blue and cream. And blue is the shining vivid colour of the little bird swaying on the yellow electric cord. I don't know the name of the bird, I only know how beautiful it is when it sways in the sunlight, the white of its breast almost blinding. In my native country in Scandinavia, there are no birds like this.

This is my house and my husband's house -our home. And I am sitting on the veranda watching the little blue bird sway. My husband and I were sitting on the veranda one morning after we had settled in our new home. Birds were singing, parrots were screaming and a lizard of about 70cm came slowly from the mangroves and climbed casually a tall gum tree looking for food. And that's when the idea of sharing this island experience came to us. Why not have a home which is also a B&B? And that is exactly what happened. We got the permits, the shire put up the B&B signs and above the number on our cream coloured mailbox we added - in blue of course - the name Russell Island Bed & Breakfast. During the three years we have been on Russell Island we have had some lovely guests from different countries, we have shared ideas and had interesting conversations with people of different cultures. We are semi-retired and go away quite regularly travelling around in our caravan, but when we are at home on Russell we welcome guests. It is such an interesting life and you meet such interesting people.

So that is my wonderful life now: Bed & Breakfast & Blues. See www.moretonbay.biz and I think I will never tire of watching the different birds and I am especially proud because last year a pair of Curlews decided to make their home under our veranda and we - and our guests -had a month of tiptoeing around the house to avoid one angry parent bird shooing us away from any corner we rounded to make sure we didn't go near the parent sitting on the eggs. And when the little ones hatched the whole family seemed to prefer to stay in front of our garage doors which made life very interesting indeed. We hope they will be back this year. That is Russell Island: many little things that you have to notice, many little things that make you happy, many people who make you feel you want to stay or at least to come again.

You wake up early - well, relatively early - go down to the shops, to the bakery and buy a cup of coffee and a tasty all Australian meat pie or a slice of naughtily sweet cake, sit down at an outside table under a big umbrella and watch the morning unfold. And If you took your bathers with you, there is nothing better than to visit the swimming pool for a cooling plunge.

And if you are interested in fishing, just throw in your line from the jetty, like many locals do, and while you are waiting for that hungry nibble, you can watch the ferries and their passengers come and go.

To be continued ...