2012 AGM held at Mossman

The weekend started off at the Mossman Bowls Club Friday night. The conference room was opened up for the RFA to be able to sit with fellow members and talk. Local members turned up to greet the visiting members from all down the coast. Some as far south as Brisbane.

Next morning with threatening rain clouds hanging over us, we drove up the Whyanbeel  valley  to Alan and Susie Carle’s place “Botanical Ark” which is right in the middle of the rain forest under the great dividing range.  The majority of the” Rarefruities” were there early, a keener mob you’ve never met.

Alan and Susie our hosts for the day were members from the start. 30 years ago Mossman RFA was started and it’s still going. That’s a milestone. Their place which is nestled in the rain forest is beautiful. They have many rainforest trees from all over the world mostly bearing fruit at different times of the year.

After a short talk Alan took us on a tour of his place set in a natural setting of jungle and water running into large waterholes surrounded by large and small trees too numerous to mention. Some with medicine values as well as edible berries and fruits to make your mind boggle.

After a lovely healthy lunch with lots of rare fruits to savour it was on to the business of the AGM which Nick chaired very efficiently. It was great to see such a roll up at the meeting with lots of branch reports and input.

The clouds hung around on Sunday 7.30am as we drove north, arriving at the Daintree ferry behind a long line of Rarefruities. It seemed they were also keen to kick the day off. The long line weaved their way north along the narrow strip to “Cape Tribulation Exotic Fruit farm”. No chance getting lost just follow the leader as we pulled into Alison and Digby Gotts Rare fruit farm and rainforest.

Digby started his talk as the rain came down on the roof, but just as Digby had said the intermittent showers soon passed. With raincoats and umbrellas in hand we followed him up the pathways through the rainforest. Digby had a wide variety of unusual rare fruit trees and the mangosteen orchard was impressive. With five metres of rain per year in the rainforest most tropical fruits grow faster than any other place.

After a couple of hours walking though the orchards lunch was sausages and salad with lots of tropical fruit to try. The ladies had been constant with their cooking results of date loaves, cakes and tropical fruit tarts. We owe a lot to their hours of cooking and preparation.

After lunch again, we followed the leader to Colin and Dawn Gray’s place of “Farmstay” a short distance away. Colin was well into his informative talk when we arrived.  The walk started with a large palm tree then off to a paddock of newly pruned breadfruit where 14 tonnes of produce where harvested each year; then over to a large orchard, with lots of mangosteen, and a wide variety of tropical fruits.

Once back at the house afternoon tea and an auction of one of Colin’s marcotted  Rambutans  and it was time to head back home.

The next day a few Rarefruitie diehards continued to visit and even though it rained it didn’t dampen their enthusiasm. Two rare fruit farms in Julatten were visited calling in to another on the way back to Mossman.

It’s a strange and unique breed of people who are into Rare Tropical Fruits, but one thing is common they all delight in getting back to nature and enjoy eating fruits and vegetables to maintain their health, especially in the latter years. It’s important to share the knowledge gained at these meetings in the interest of fellowship.

A special thanks to the ladies for their cooking delights; without them it would not have been possible, and thanks again to Dawn, Susie and Alan Carle, Digby and Alison Gotts, and Colin Gray for a great weekend.

Les Drew

Mossman Branch