ID :
169366
Sat, 03/19/2011 - 13:24
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/169366
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Cairns shows William some FNQ hospitality
Cairns has treated Prince William to a bit of far north Queensland hospitality - hosting a cocktail party for the future monarch at the end of the first day of his whirlwind Australian tour.
The prince was the guest of honour at a function to thank volunteers who answered the call for help when Cyclone Yasi ripped through the region last month.
Not wanting to miss the chance to showcase some unique local fare - the city offered a canape menu which included crocodile wontons and barramundi spring rolls.
The hundreds of residents who lined the barricade outside the event at the city's cruise ship terminal cheered as the prince arrived.
William acknowledged the crowd with a wave before venturing inside the venue - but reappeared a short time later to greet fans.
The prince arrived in Cairns via Black Hawk helicopter after touring the communities of Cardwell and Tully, which bore the worst effects of Cyclone Yasi.
Upon arrival at the airport he toured the local base of the Royal Flying Doctors Service
He paused to meet Cairns mother Melody Willis and her baby twins Ruby and Jala who were born on the eve of the cyclone and needed to be evacuated by the RFDS to Brisbane after the Cairns Hospital was closed.
"He said they were beautiful and he said they were so tiny they look like they should still be inside," she told reporters.
"I said `well they should be, they were born 10 weeks early."
She said she was looking forward to telling the girls about the encounter when they got older but was a little disappointed the prince didn't hold one of them.
William was also treated to a tour of an RFDS aircraft where staff told him of their work, covering isolated communities across north Queensland.
Senior medical officer Dr Charles Ellis described the prince as "a lovely guy".
"It was really interesting: meeting someone so famous who comes across as so normal," he told AAP.
"It would have been nice to have more time with him."
The prince and his wife-to-be Catherine Middleton have selected the RFDS as one of the charities to benefit from a fund established in honour of their upcoming wedding.
William will stay overnight in Cairns before travelling to south east Queensland on Sunday to tour areas devastated by January's floods.
The prince was the guest of honour at a function to thank volunteers who answered the call for help when Cyclone Yasi ripped through the region last month.
Not wanting to miss the chance to showcase some unique local fare - the city offered a canape menu which included crocodile wontons and barramundi spring rolls.
The hundreds of residents who lined the barricade outside the event at the city's cruise ship terminal cheered as the prince arrived.
William acknowledged the crowd with a wave before venturing inside the venue - but reappeared a short time later to greet fans.
The prince arrived in Cairns via Black Hawk helicopter after touring the communities of Cardwell and Tully, which bore the worst effects of Cyclone Yasi.
Upon arrival at the airport he toured the local base of the Royal Flying Doctors Service
He paused to meet Cairns mother Melody Willis and her baby twins Ruby and Jala who were born on the eve of the cyclone and needed to be evacuated by the RFDS to Brisbane after the Cairns Hospital was closed.
"He said they were beautiful and he said they were so tiny they look like they should still be inside," she told reporters.
"I said `well they should be, they were born 10 weeks early."
She said she was looking forward to telling the girls about the encounter when they got older but was a little disappointed the prince didn't hold one of them.
William was also treated to a tour of an RFDS aircraft where staff told him of their work, covering isolated communities across north Queensland.
Senior medical officer Dr Charles Ellis described the prince as "a lovely guy".
"It was really interesting: meeting someone so famous who comes across as so normal," he told AAP.
"It would have been nice to have more time with him."
The prince and his wife-to-be Catherine Middleton have selected the RFDS as one of the charities to benefit from a fund established in honour of their upcoming wedding.
William will stay overnight in Cairns before travelling to south east Queensland on Sunday to tour areas devastated by January's floods.
