An iconic Queensland Hotel, Cairns (photo the author) I have enjoyed going through my photos of Cairns. I’ve written about the food and the reef, the vast spaces and the experiences of travelling and staying with friends. But what about Cairns itself? I have been visiting this city in far north Queensland since 1977. I was going out with Bob, whom I had met in Canberra when he was the Naval Aide de Camp to the then Governor General. And he was then appointed as captain of a RAN patrol boat based out of Cairns. It was so romantic to head north on vacation into the tropical heat from the cold, dry environment of Canberra, and the enclosed walls of Parliament House where I spent most of my time working in the Prime Minister’s office. Port Douglas, about 1977 (author unknown) I remember the first time Bob drove me the 60 kms north to Port Douglas. It was about 5 years before the first large resort, The Sheraton Mirage would be ...