Visiting Family

Late August we set off on our long time coming trip to the Sunshine Coast to catch up with the Heinrich Family. We had promised Jill and Daryl a visit and finally it eventuated. We set off late on the Monday afternoon. We had our first camp a few kms short of  Moulamein. Had smoko the next morning with a farmer at Booligal. He was shifting him cattle from one farm to another. We saw lots of road kill, plenty of kangaroos, goats and emus in paddocks. Our second camp was on the road to Carinda near Meranda Station. We stopped in at the little town of Carinda and found...... 

Kangaroos grazing on the Oval

An early one for Sunday Service

 

On our way into Mungindi we stopped to look at a ring tank and followed the road into this...…..



 A Fencers Hut at the One Ton Post site on the Barwon River marking the Qld & NSW border

 

 

 We arrived at Jill & Clarrie's that evening and spent a few days catching up with them, Daryl, Izzy, Warren, Fi and boys.

 

 Leon (Pa) had a birthday while we were there so Aunty Jill hung out the Birthday Banner

 

 Happy Birthday Pa

(Jack got to celebrate his by himself this year and he had a great time with his friends)

 

 Family Photo   Leon (Pa)  Jill  Daryl

 Daryl and Izzy

 

We left our Qld Family and headed down to Sydney to spend a few days with Sami, Relle and girls

 Leyla had her Dance performance at the Dame Joan Theatre in Penrith. We were very excited to be around to watch her performance.

 

 She had two shows at the Dame Joan and then another at the Cranebrook High Auditorium. Everyone got to see one of her shows.

 

 We go to meet this gorgeous ball of fluff......Rosie.

 

Had lots of cuddles and enjoyed watching the girls play with her.

 

After leaving Sydney we stopped into catch up with Dave, Cassie and family. Dave & Jess were off on a camp so we had just a little while with them. Thanks Cassie & Lachie for the wonderful catch up over night. Hope that you and Jess enjoyed your camp!

We stopped in at Echuca on our last leg. Lovely to see Nathan, Lexie, Mitch, Zetty and Wal.

We had a visit to the Beechworth Bakery after Lexie had a little shopping spree and enjoyed afternoon tea.  Had a Pizza carpet Tea on Sat evening. Thanks for a great time.

Alice Springs and Beyond

 Early July when Relle and the girls made their trek back to the Farm, we ventured off to Alice Springs to help out at the Papunya Community along with others of our Church Family. Matt, Kara, Jack, Will, Lucy, Rory, Mark, Rose, Karl, Henry, Archie & Claire Dahlitz, David & Jessame Wags, Tracy Smith, Jono, Jo, Luke, Adam & Carly Graetz, David, Tania and Daniel Obst where our fellow travellers. A great bunch to go camping with and we all had a wonderful time.

Our first camp was at Appila, the Pinecreek congregation. They put on a super night for us. A wonderful meal and plenty of games to keep us entertained. They also provide a big bonfire. It was great to catch up with them. We visited them in 2010 on our trip to Titjikala.

 

 So nice to eat brekkie around the camp fire

 

We set off and made it to Coober Pedy by mid afternoon. We had a quick look around the town and then set off to find a camp site north of the town.

 

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  We found our campsite about 60 kms from CP behind the Mt Willoughby Telstra Station. Mama & Pa have used this spot on several occasions.

 

Next morning we ventured off towards Alice Springs. We made camp at the Wandgardi Caravan Park. We can have a camp fires here.

 

 Henry and Daniel cutting up the wood.

 

 We all fitted into a small spot. The Park was very busy.

 

On Sunday after going to church and having lunch in Alice, we moved off up the Tanami towards Papunya.  The road was in good condition so that made it easy travelling. We stopped along the track to collect some fire wood before we arrived at Papunya.

 

 This is the state of the Manse yard that greeted us when we arrived!!!

 

 We all found our camp spot in amongst the mess and settled in.

 

The next morning we spoke with Pr Paul and found out what was to be done. So then it was all hands on deck.

 Boganvillea's were cut back very hard. There were so many of them and of all different colours.

 Yard mowed after Henry and David fixed the mower. Trees & shrubs trimmed, rubbish got rid of, old shower & toilet shed boarded up, wood cut up and trees removed.

 

 

 Some horses paid us a visit during the day.

 

The next day Pa and David Wags were able to obtain the use of a Bobcat and a trailer. That made the whole process of getting rid of the rubbish much easier.

 Pa only lasted in the Bobcat a very short time. Second in Charge, Karl, deposed him of his seat. Karl took such a liking to it that he was keen to buy it and take it home. Wasn't able to raise the funds. He had a couple of ideas to find the cash but they didn't come off.

 

 All in to help pull the tree over.

 

The shed had many years of stuff in it. There were 12 loads of garden rubbish and 5 loads of steel that went to the tip.

 

These 2 had a wonderful time getting dirty!

 

 The girls spent many hours playing in the tree.

 

  A few of the many fires to burn up the dry garden waste

 

On one of the afternoon when there was not much to do, we went down to the oval to kick the footy around with some of the local kids. Our lot spied an old walker and made their own fun with it.

When it was time to go back, the local kids took it over and had their own fun.

 

 The end result!

A bit of levelling

 

 A group photo

 

On the Thursday there was to be a funeral at Papunya so we decided to go out to the Newhaven Wildlife Sanctuary. It has been dry for so long we did not see any bird life and very few animals. A mob of camels was all we saw.

 

 Pa and David Wags having some R & R

 

 Our campsite

 

 Up on top of the ridge above the camp ground.

 

 Rory hiding in a little cave

 

On the Friday afternoon we went back to Papunya. Pa and Mark Dahlitz went into Alice from Newhaven to collect the Perspex windows and louvres for the church.

The louvres were installed that evening and the big windows the next day.

 

Cutting them to size

 

 Pa sealing them in

 

 David Wags, Pastor Paul, Pastor Graham and Pa

Baptism - Charlotte Rosie Carter

Last Saturday we were invited to witness Charlotte Rosie's Baptism in the beautiful St Paul's Catholic Church, Mount Gambier. It was a lovely service just for the Family.

Welcome to God's Family Charlotte.

 Tash, Sam, Charlotte and her God parents and Tash's mum

 

 Receiving the Baptismal Certificate

 

 Nonnie, Sam, Tash and Charlotte

 

After the service we had Coffee and Cake at Café Belgiorno for afternoon tea.

 

The Carter Clan with Maddie, Charlotte and Lewis