Thor Prohaska - Moongunya Years

Moongunya, officially known as Collinsville, is 100 kilometres due west of the Whitsunday islands. My father was born in Australia in 1911. His parents migrated to Australia from Austria in 1908. My mother's family history in Australia goes back to before 1830 when my great, grandfather was born in Tasmania.

I attended primary and early secondary school in Moongunya. Growing up in a small country town was a grounding experience that gave me plenty of opportunity to get out into the bush. The heavens could be seen clearly at night and I have early memories of wondering about how the universe could be infinite and wanting to know the answer to that question. I was in Cubs and Scouts and ended up as the leader of Magpie Patrol in 1969. My time in Moongunya ended when my mother died prematurely from Alzheimer's in 1971.

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