Hugh Gilroy’s raffle winners

Riding his motorcycle around Australia in 46 days covering 15,294 kms,  Hugh sold tickets along the way to raise funds for prostate cancer research.

Elite Camper Trailers of Maryborough donated first prize valued at $8500 and the winner was K Presnell of Tennant Creek. “She was visiting the area for a funeral, bought a ticket and the prize has been delivered to relatives in Torbanlea,” said Hugh.

Other prizes drawn by Mayor Lorraine Pyefinch on May 30 at Woodgate Beach Hotel went to:

T Taylor , Torrence Creek west of Townsville; Molly Courts of Carlyle Gardens Bargara; Terry Byers,Woodgate Beach; S Adams, Glenbrook NSW.

Nina heads out west to recharge her batteries…..by Sherry Barnes

Taking a well earned break before National Seniors Week kicks in, Secretary and Peer Educator for COTA, Nina Higgins is off to explore The Kimberleys in Western Australia, particularly Kunanarra and Wyndham.

“I am really interested in seeing the live cattle being loaded for export in Wyndham,” she said.  “I’ve seen sheep loaded in Freemantle on eight levels of a huge boat and I’ve been wondering what they do with the cattle.”

 Nina is also looking forward to unravelling the mystical qualities of the Boab Trees which line the street of Kunanurra. “They are all individual, looking like weird wonderful people, and it’s easy to see why they feature in the aboriginal Dreamtime stories,” she said.

 Over 1500 years old, the Boab Trees are the oldest living beings in Australia, originally used by aborigines for food, medicine and shelter, and landmarks by white settlers.

 Nina will also indulge in a favourite past time, fishing for Silver Cobbler and plans to visit the Argyle Diamond Mine. “Guards check to make sure you don’t look down and see some still in ground – you’re not allowed to pick them up,”she said.

Fancy a Tango in Buenos Aires? ……….by Sherry Barnes

 What do The Kimberleys, Antarctica and Russia have in common? They’re the only places in the world Daphne Tighe hasn’t been and next on her list.

“On the way to Antarctica I plan to stop off at Buenos Aires and learn how to tango,” she said. “Wouldn’t you?”

 
This year the 73 year old globetrotter has been to the Pyramids and is off to Verona to learn Italian in September.

From day one, Daphne’s life reads like a travel diary.  Born in Chinchilla, she moved to Bargara six years ago after living in Melbourne for 40 years.

 Many years ago, with late husband Frank a GP, and children Francine and Lucas (then aged 10 and 11) she toured Europe for seven weeks in a van with Frank attending conferences along the way. (Winnebagos didn’t exist back then).

“It was a wonderful education for the kids – London, Holland, Vienna, Dusseldorf, and my favourite is Paris. I love Paris any time of year,” she said.


 A different drum

 
Daphne belongs to the Pandanus Drummers, a small group of women who meet regularly at Bargara Beach for some therapeutic beating, but her drum is slightly different. She bought it in Timbuktu on the edge of the Sahara Desert; a poor dusty city where visitors still flock to experience the aura of mystique and legend that surrounds it.

 
Exotic, far-away places that will remain exactly that for most of us armchair travellers, fall easily into the conversation as Daphne recalls her holiday memories – Tahiti, Brazil, Peru, the Amazon, New York, the North Pole, Cambodia, India and Israel –she’s been there, done that.

 
Along with wanting to meet actor Colin Firth, she harbours another wish that will remain secret.

“15 years ago I put a letter in the Wailing Wall at Jerusalem but nothing’s happened yet- I’m still waiting,”

Rotary’s big success in Solomon Islands…..by Sherry Barnes

14 members of combined Rotary Clubs of Rockhampton and Bundaberg made a huge difference to education and health facilities in the Solomon Islands on a recent two week project centred in the community of Munda.

Ian Mylrea was one of seven from Bundaberg who carried out extensive work at one of the three training hospitals in the Solomons, the Helena Goldi Hospital, setting up its first medical library complete with books;  sealing and painting floors and ceilings for the first time and other general maintenance work.

"This was the biggest Rotary group that’s ever gone out there and I loved it even though the weather was hot hot and hotter,” he said. “The people have absolutely nothing but are so happy – I’d go again,”

The mammoth project organised by Terry Daley of Rockhampton provided many “firsts” including uniforms for Goldi College; new classrooms and library books for the primary school, and the establishment of a garden to grow their own produce.

 Shirley Chiu a patchwork enthusiast taught the village women how to knit and sew, with materials from Bundaberg Quilters and Inner Wheel Sunset, while waiting for the generator to be repaired to use the 14 sewing machines Rotary had brought. (there is no electricity).

“These people have nothing, they are really really poor, but judging by the work on the school blackboards the students’ standard of education seems really high,” she said.

 Rotary is looking for Project Volunteers to make another trip to the Solomon Islands in October.

Re-union on the railway track

Since 1982 Bob Truscott has played a large role in the childhood memories of many Bundaberg children when their playgroup, kindy, pre-school or party of mates went round and round on the famous Truscott Train in Elliott Heads Road.

Recently the not so tiny kids from the 90s Barolin Playgroup caught up with Bob who was delighted to catch up with them and their parents.

Both Bob and wife Dorothy were awarded the OAM  and on July 1 they celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with telegrams from the Queen, Governor-General and new Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

“She was right on the job wasn’t she?” said Bob.

 “In my hey-day I used to operate the train about three days a week with 25 to 30 kids in the morning and afternoons from May to December;  one year we had 2000 children and 1500 adults.”

 Bob now makes miniature steam engines to join the extensive collection of railway memorabilia that was part of the Truscott Train experience and takes bookings when his health allows him.

 

Kokoda – a woman’s viewpoint…..compiled by Sherry Barnes

“Courage, Endurance, Mateship, Sacrifice.”  These four words sum up “The Kokoda Track” both for the former brave young men who paid the ultimate sacrifice, and for the new generation of younger, and older, women who venture into the Owen Stanley Ranges.”….Jane McRae

With three other Bundaberg women, Carolyn Hoffmann, Leasa McLean, Lynne Madle and Jacqueline Tubb from Melbourne, Jane completed a nine day trek organised by St Luke’s Anglican School.

This is her story.

 “The bonding was instant , a wonderful experience that was certainly challenging, but our porters protected us with their lives, knowing what help we needed before we did.  My porter, Nigel, was a 15 year old boy on his first trek and he carried my backpack.  His older and more experienced brother, Bowen, ensured I safely managed both the very steep ascents and descents of the mountains which were part of our everyday experiences.

 One thing that stood out was the absolute stillness and quiet of the jungle; not noisy like the Australian bush can be; it had a very calming effect.

Each morning was the same ritual.  We had two minutes to be ready. Trek Leader would say, “Packs on!” then give the motivational chant of “Aussie Aussie  Aussie”  Our group would reply appropriately and then our  porters would send us on our way with their own spirited  motivational chant.

 Sometimes the girls and I chatted, but at other times I became immersed in my own thoughts as I walked.  It felt refreshing to be, “back on an adventure,” again. Arriving as an exchange teacher from Edinburgh to Bundaberg over 20 years ago was an adventure in itself, and here was another, and very more challenging, experience.  As a history graduate it filled in a lot of gaps, but as an Australian it made me so appreciative of the sacrifice of our diggers who ensured that we can enjoy the freedom in our beautiful country today.

 On my 20^th wedding anniversary we arrived dirty, tired and muddy at the village of Buna which was the scene of some of the most horrific fighting as the Japanese gradually retreated from the Island.   Our Trek  Master , Adrian, arranged a fantastic welcome for us and we were greeted with  a traditional welcome dance and a great feast prepared in the traditional underground ovens.  The next day we experienced another part of Papua  New Guinea which was changed forever as a result of the invasion.  It was wonderful to be taken by boat to Gona and Sanananda , both of which are of such historical significance in the final stages of the new Guinea Campaign.

 As I return to my more routine life here in Bundaberg I remember day by day the experiences I encountered and the challenges I faced.  I did not have the enemy in the foxholes nearby; I did not have to carry guns, ammunition  or even food. I did not have to suffer the dreadful tropical diseases and never saw a mosquito or a leech.  One starts to understand why so many of our WW2 Diggers never wished to talk about their experiences.

 To do Kokoda you have to have the right mental attitudeo be able to rely on the elements, expect the unexpected, go with the flow ; it takes courage.”

Happy birthday Priscilla

Carolyn Hoffmann from Innes Park carried a precious cargo all the way for Priscilla who owns a campsite at Kokoda.  Her daughter, also of  Innes Park, had sent letters for Priscilla from her grand-children which Carolyn handed to her on her birthday. “ They were damp and a bit raggedy after nine days in the jungle but Priscilla was overjoyed to get them,” said Carolyn.

The three women,all at different fitness levels and not knowing each other all that well before doing Kokoda, trained in various ways.  Carolyn walked up the Hummock several times, Leasa put in quite a few hours at the gym and Jane walked, climbed stairs and did yoga.

“Trust me – it’s football”……………by Sherry Barnes

What’s in a name? Everything according to Tam Finlayson, formerly of Glasgow who said it will take time for everyone to call soccer what it really is – football.

He knows a lot about names and able to drop some famous ones including fellow Scot Billy Connelly (The Big Tam) who he met back in the 60s in the Gorbals, the tough neighbourhood on the south bank of the River Clyde. “I was a plumber working on a children’s playground and my boss Mark McGinn used to give Billy banjo lessons,” said Tam. “He was a shipyard worker then, playing banjo and telling jokes in bars; he was a very clever man picking up life’s little peculiarities and making people laugh at themselves.”

About 15 years ago Tam saw Billy perform again, this time to a packed audience at the Sydney Opera House. “He’d come a long way, making Aussies laugh at themselves too – a very clever man,” he said.

Just one of the lads

Tam’s been coaching football for 36 years from juniors through to seniors, now with Across The Waves Under 15 teams, United and Rangers.

“A lot of my lads have played for Australia,” he said.

 One of them was Craig Moore who represented his country more than 45 times, with the Socceroos during the 2006 FIFA World Cup; Captain of the Olyroos at the 2004 Athens Olympics; with much of his career playing for Glasgow Rangers.

“When he was with Rangers I went over to Scotland to visit him and his wife,” said Tam. “I tell my lads my job is to teach them the skills, then the winning will come naturally.’

With still a strong accent after 39 years in Australia, Tam said “We Scots don’t give anything away for nothing.”

Also known as “Tam O’Shanter and Tim Tam”, that is not his real name.

Trust me, it’s Thomas.

Uganda – a learning experience for all………..by Sherry Barnes

St Luke’s teacher Ron Preuss, along with wife Ulrike and 19 year old twins Maren and Fynn spent three months last year at Entebbe Early Learning Centre, founded in 1993 by one person, Agnes, who rescued three children living in appalling conditions on the street.

“It snowballed from there and now has 180 children, 70 are boarders and many are Aids orphans,” he said. “With occasional government grants there is a constant lack of funds and despite their disturbing backgrounds, these kids are hungry to learn.”

 Ron first heard about Agnes and her need for help at a Christian Music Festival the year before. “We’ve been travellers all our lives and wanted something different to do as a family. This was our first time in Africa and certainly not your usual holiday,” he said.

 By a stroke of luck another teacher at the school was returning to England and Ron’s family lived in his home, a small unit with no TV, unreliable electricity and scarcity of water.  “By Uganda’s standards this place was a palace,” he said.  “We ate mostly vegetarian – maize, green cooking bananas, and all fruit including tomatoes had to be boiled first.”

 Major projects

Ron took mainly an administrator/co-ordinator role with a rainwater harvesting project a top priority. “They get so much rain but have no gutters or tanks and water from Lake Victoria (which can be seen from the school) has to be pumped, boiled and is very expensive,” he said. “So we had gutters especially made as well as a rainwater tank and there are now three water-fountains at the school.”

 To generate income for the school they also developed a poultry farm constructing hen houses, runs, buying chickens and selling the eggs. “African chicken eggs are highly sought after,” said Ron.

 Every second year he takes senior students from St Luke’s on an exchange trip to Germany and is considering taking a group to Entebbe in the future.

“I also want to get sponsors for some of the Aids kids and have profiles on them all for anyone interested,” he said.

“I certainly want to return to the school – to check on the chooks,”