Is Cruising on the Decline ?

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by At sea

(aka banana benders)...trust you get my drift.

for the rest of us, what does "banana bender" mean

[savoir]

Originally Posted by Factor

Queensland is indeed broke - not entirely sure that I blame Lehmann or anyone elses brothers. Currently the 3rd largest expenditure item on our state books is interest on debt, so thats after Health and Education and in front of every other govt service or expenditure - sooooo definitely not economically healthy, but like I said - I thinks its a home grown problem as a much as an imported one.



No its too obtuse for me - you see I am a Queenslander - so obviously I am far too busy bending bananas to understand your witty and ironic comment.

Always found the banana bender term strange given that NSW produces more bananas and indeed has the "Big Banana as a key tourist attraction.

I maintain Meyermm moved here from Victoria.

BTW - had a look at your angus inlet website - got some interesting stuff there, and seems like an interesting group. Good luck with the collections.

Strange people these Queenslanders be. The State of banana denial.

" More than 90 percent of Australia’s bananas are grown in Queensland "

Growing bananas in Australia

[Factor]

Originally Posted by Don Lucas

for the rest of us, what does "banana bender" mean

Its an endearing term of derision - every state in australia has one, Queensland is banana Benders or Cane Toads, New south wales is Cockroaches, South Australia is Crow eater Western Australia is sand groper Victorian is Mexican, tasmania usually involves references to two heads or inbreeding etc.

Its all in good fun. The difference between the various states of australia is minuscule compared to the provinces of Canada (where I lived for a while) and I think even more minuscule to the states of the USA (haven't lived there but travelled through it a bit whilst living in Canada).

" More than 90 percent of Australia’s bananas are grown in Queensland "

I stand corrected, (but the Big Banana is still in NSW - coffs harbour to be exact

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by Don Lucas

for the rest of us, what does "banana bender" mean

As a professional ex Banana Bender I believe I can take the liberty to explain further by reposting some information that I originally posted back in July 08 on another thread. While this may break several CF rules, I suspect it will as interesting as much of this thread .

For the record is has been many decades since Queenslanders bent bananas only when they had nothing better to do. It is not like that any more.

Although I have left the trade due to "bend out" which is a type of workplace stress (I am officially classed as "bent out"), my family is still bending as they have for generations.

The first bananas were bent in the late 19th century and soon became very popular all around the world. Right though to the 1950's almost all bent bananas originated from Queensland. However the demand out grew the supply and even with the benders working 24/7, the demand could not be met. Then came the machine bent banana, this alleviated the supply problem for some years although the best bends were (and still are) the hand bends. Queensland hand bent bananas still command premium prices on the world banana markets.

Around 1970, an act of parliment was ammended that allowed the export of the bending technology and the worldwide bent banana crisis was over.

More recent developments include GM bent bananas where selected benders donated their genes to be spliced into the actual banana trees - the so called "smart banana". These have taken off like wildfire and can be found growing in most tropical anchorages of the world.

What has this got to do with cruising you ask. Well look at it this way, part of cruising is the travelling to new destinations, meeting the locals and getting to know the local traditions. As Queensland is a popular cruising destination (like the Great Barrier Reef), I feel it is helpful for visting sailors to know some of the history of this fascinating place. Most Queenslanders never give this aspect of their history a second thought and like myself, would never think to mention it at all. I think it would be fair to say that most of you who have sailed in Queensland waters would not have heard any of this before.

That is, until Gord posted some basic information here on CF. Even noonsite (or wikipedia) does not carry this amount of detail.

Very few people eat straight bananas anywhere anymore - all thanks to the early Queenslanders who had nothing better to do with their time.

In that respect, I am still carrying on that great tradition - now back to boat refit and solvent fumes .

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by beau

The other side to this is, as cruisers we do not want to see the world decend on us en mass. And be told that we could be the next US state if we play our cards right.(quote)

Rest easy Beau... its very unlikely that the World will decend on you en-mass....
I think 95% of cruisers are perfectly happy with what they have and the 'Joy's of OZ' hold little interest...
My cruising grounds are the Med, N Atlantic and Carib... more than enough variety to keep me happy till now and probably the remaining few years left...
Sure you get the 'Boat People'... but come on... they're passengers not 'Cruisers'...

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by Wotname

As a professional ex Banana Bender I believe I can take the liberty to explain further by reposting some information that I originally posted back in July 08 on another thread...

Thanks for reminding us.
➥ http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...lly-17074.html

[meyermm]

Originally Posted by tgzzzz

morons
free be rabble


One thing I like about cruising is it's easy to get away from disagreeable people. If that $800 Visa fee is keeping you away from the US, all the better mate.

Not sure why but you and a small minority seem unable to understand my points. The $800 is not stopping me from travelling to the US I was using it unsuccessfully to demonstrate that most places cost to travel. So the obsession with the Aus.300+ dollars is obviously more about bagging Australia than the subject of the thread just like the nearly total avoidance of the FP return air fare. Just like the US writers reference to "average country entry $200".

[meyermm]

Originally Posted by VirtualVagabond

So others do notice it too.
I'm pissed off with myself for letting him get under my skin, but I don't like plain nasty, to the point I'm becoming it myself

I'm sure he still wonders why he always ended up eating his school lunch on his own... If he hasn't worked it out after 6 decades it's probably a lost cause.

VV - You seem to be under some illusion that because a few forum writers agree with your views that they are superior to mine and others.
The fact is that there is a silent majority out there that only participate in forums up to the reading stage. But never or very seldom write their view. There is usually another group of regular participants who over time become illusional as to the importance of there views ( hence appologising on behalf of others). (not well written). Be carefull of that silent majority they might have a totally different view to yours or mine.
A saying in Australia which has grown in popularity since a Sydney Muslim cleric told his congregation last year (LOVE IT OR LEAVE).

[SurferShane]

Now back to some healthy conversation! Looks like there will be one more boat out there soon. I have given notice on the house, had the phone and broadband disconnected and am packing.

[Therapy]

Originally Posted by Wotname

OK, I guess it is time for some serious thread drift stuff
I just use the little line through icon (ABC)that is at the other end of the line that has the Bold icon (B)

Never have seen that.

Amazing.

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by Therapy

Never have seen that.

Amazing.

¡ɹǝʌǝןɔ s,ʇɐɥʇ 'ɥɐǝʎ

[Therapy]

Originally Posted by David_Old_Jersey

¡ɹǝʌǝןɔ s,ʇɐɥʇ 'ɥɐǝʎ

OK.

Is that another button I have missed?

[hummingway]

Originally Posted by SurferShane

Now back to some healthy conversation! Looks like there will be one more boat out there soon. I have given notice on the house, had the phone and broadband disconnected and am packing.

Way to go SurferShane! Where to first?

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by David_Old_Jersey

¡ɹǝʌǝןɔ s,ʇɐɥʇ 'ɥɐǝʎ

ROFL....
Shane... good on yer...

[Blue Crab]

I understand how to fip the letters over too!