the tour

It came around again, the annual Tour de Prairie, whilst the real riders biked around the hills of France.  Costume deciding was weeks in the planning (as of course, our bike ride was FANCY DRESS). Mum layed down the rules: must be kept SIMPLE.

Georgie originally had other plans (of which I have forgotten) but embraced my Huck Finn suggestion with gusto (we did have to google some images though, as she hadn’t heard of him before!) Kate wanted to be a rock star, along with her little mate Grace, so they hatched plans to be matching rock stars. Angus, recycling his Where’s Wally glasses, was of course Harry Potter with the addition of a borrowed cape (and use of eyeliner pencil on his forehead).

The dress up theme was embraced by the school and community. Really the bike ride itself (a 14km round trip) is just an excuse.

This one is of Wally NOT TOUCHING THE BABY (if he doesn’t look at her and his butt touches her arm it doesn’t count) Baby is my niece Violet.

A sausage sizzle was enjoyed by all and recovery on the lawn. Then they had to ride back again….some deciding to catch a ride half way.

Kids slept well that night.

Sports Day

Around the State it seems that schools of all shapes and sizes are having their sports day and our school was no exception. On Thursday just past, on a brisk windy morning, we packed up our running shoes and jumpers and headed into town for the Annual Small Schools Sports Carnival. With the closure of the third small school in recent years, and the decline in school populations in both Distance Ed and the remaining rural small schools, we combined with the local Catholic School to run the carnival. Having the extra kids (40) teachers and parents makes a great atmosphere.

Athleticism isn’t something that The Husband and I have as part of our skill set, and so our kids aren’t overly gifted in that department either. However they do have unbridled enthusiasm and if nothing else, our school certainly teaches them to have-a-go and encourage their fellow sportsmen.

March pasts were marched, with some kids displaying more knowledge of their lefts and rights than others.

War cries were cried with gusto and passion.

Races were run. With the cross wind, records were fairly safe this year.

Some of us looking more photogenic whilst running than others. My task for the day was to take a few snaps and then record the scores as they came in. Not too rough a job, sitting in the shade in the tent, especially when the day warmed up. Talk about a contrast in temperatures.

The day ran smoothly, and relays and ball games were greatly enjoyed by spectators and competitors alike. Some teams in the ball games seemed to bring in some rather large children…that needed some reminding of ball skills and rules not employed for quite some years.

At the end of the day ribbons and awards were presented.

The biggest and littlest kid in the family coming home with age champion (which, to be brutally honest, wasn’t hard for the oldest being the only girl in her age group, and Angus having one other little boy). The middle child quite surprised and chuffed to be chosen for the Upper Primary Sportsmanship Award.

All over red rover by 3:15pm is a good Sports Carnival in my books. And then to top off a day which was quite exhausting (even watching makes one fatigued apparently!) we got this:

A nice way to end a day indeed.

Age shall not weary them

Nor the years condemn

At the going down of the sun

And in the morning

We will remember them.

Lest we forget.

---

Those are amongst the most moving words ever written I think. As usual our little community commemorated Anzac Day with the school children running the service. Short and sweet but full of meaning. We were honoured to have a Major (Military Medal) of veteran  of 35 years Army Service not long moved to the area, give a short address alongside the kids.

 

And it wouldn’t be a gathering in Australia with smoko and cup of tea to follow.

Lest we forget.

First day of school

and the annual first day of school photo.

Totally photo-bombed by horse looking for his morning treat of a bread crust.

Is it just me, or does it feel like we only just finished school the other day, and this SO does not feel like a whole new year?!!!

the toure

Long time blog readers will have read with amusement of our annual Toure de Prairie over preceding years. Why stop a good thing, and so we squeezed it into the first Friday of this busy term. Costume demands become more and more complex each year, ebay being my saviour this time round, with a firm hand on ever changing minds.

The ride goes down the road to a homestead about 6kms away, a family that once had children at the school, and whose daughter had cerebral palsy.

(Where's Wally, Alice in Wonderland, Mad Mexican and the spare kid, a feisty kitty cat )

Children raised money for the Cerebral Palsy Foundation this year, for a local lad's (from the property we rode to) fundraising efforts, which he hopes will go directly to a NQ family in need.

Turnout was great, and enthusiasm for costuming high:

Local truck driver, dad and husband of superwoman also got into the spirit. We want him to wear the costume on his next triple road train delivery :-)

  

Sausage sizzle lunch was enjoyed, with birthday cake and pavlova for a few celebrating. The hosts explained to the kids about cerebral palsy and how it affected their Alex, who passed away at age 8. The kids have all seen photos of Alex at school and know about her, so it was great for them to get a little more information to process.

And then they all mounted their bikes and rode back to school, with THE most wicked headwind ever, making some of the littler ones get a lift home (my boy, full of snot and coughing, one of them). Another great event that the community as a whole really enjoys and supports.

We love our small school :-)

School Camp - Part Two

We had a very full week of activities planned for school camp in Longreach. Its clear to see that Longreach has embraced outback tourism and would be the epicentre of the tourism in the west. SO much to see and do there.

So it was a very brisk and cold morning that we started out first adventure with Kinnon and Co which take on the "olden days" aspect (in particular about Harry Redford). We were most excited to go on a stage coach ride - the whole school on two Cobb and Co coaches, one drawn by heavier Percherons and the other drawn by a Waler like breed. We were all loaded on , the last three of us getting to ride shotgun, literally, on the top back of one coach.

It certainly made us contemplate just how LONG it would have taken to get from A to B back in the old days. After our coach ride and fairly sedate gallop (Percherons not known for their speed) and being highly entertained by the red cattle dog that obviously loved his life as part of the Kinnon Family, we were treated to smoko. Scones with cream and jam and copious cups of tea which of course were annihilated by the kids. The old days theme continued with an old kids movie, and then onto a hilarious play. Featuring the same stage coaching driving smoko serving family/staff members an animals, and a great deal of ad lib-ing,  it was very much enjoyed.  By the time this was over, the kids were starving again, so back to the quarters for lunch, then to get ready for our evening out, by the river.

Kinnons also have a paddle steamer, so all aboard for a river cruise on the Thompson River, which given the season wasn't as mighty as usual. Very tranquil. And no child lost overboard. After the cruise, and getting bloody cold, we had a fireside dinner and some bush poetry, followed by a wonderful sound and light show about the Harry Redford story. Did I mention it was cold?

   

Moving on, the next day we had a Tour of the Longreach School of Distance Education, which I am sure the kids would have gotten more out of had there not been a zillion other grey nomads also doing the tour. Then we ducked down the the river to see if the fish were biting (they were not!). The afternoon for the kids was then spent visiting the big Qantas 737(?) plane and the Qantas Founders Museum. As chef for the night I elected to stay home. (Supersized mince and spag, and garlic bread whipped up by co-chef...was well received)

 

Thursday brought a nasty cold wind and a visit to the Stockmans Hall of Fame. Most of which was pretty much lost on the kids, the place was also crawling with the travelling tourists, AND must have had a lighting issue as was annoyingly dark inside. (a more guided tour for school groups might get more info across to the kids, instead of SO MUCH READING which is otherwise required here). The Stockmans Show however was well received and had the kids in fits of laughter. Nothing they really hadn't seen before, but entertainment is still entertainment!

And then, off to the Powerhouse museum for the kids (which seemed a bit yawny to me! which the kids confirmed) and that evening a dance off/show thing and PIZZA times lots for all.

Friday saw us packing up and then heading back home via the Age of Dinosaurs near Winton. Not having heard much about this, but knowing a bit about its beginnings, I was expecting to see a shed out the flat. Was I ever mistaken. What a first class facility!

Amazing building and architectural detail, and amazing view out the other side, the museum and laboratory are built up on top of one of the large outcrops/jump ups that are in the Winton area. The road up is an road building feat in itself.  The kids got a great tour and explanation of the bones and the work they are doing on Banjo, Matilda and Clancy (the discoveries) and got to touch and see real bones, and help "process" some bones. Kids were all engaged and fascinated. There was also a great presentation and a viewing of the finished, exposed bones in their special room (something quite rare apparently). They have great plans for expansion and this indeed a special place to visit (just sitting having a coffee overlooking the edge of the jump up is something!)

 

And that was that! Home James after a quick pit stop in Winton, back in town in time to grab some groceries and home before dark. And home to find livestock numbers somewhat depleted, of course that would be the case on husbands watch. One dead chook (natural causes) and one dead duck (suspect foul play, or in actual fact, wild feline to be accurate!)

It was quite nice to visit our own back yard, and see what it has to offer. But so nice to be home, and on school holidays as well!

School Camp - visiting our own backyard - part one...

Something strange must have come upon me, as I happily volunteered to be a parent representative and transporter for this years school camp. As part of their Australian History, it was decided that we would visit Winton and Longreach and the great wealth of history at our fingertips in the last week of Term Two.

To say that it was a very full week would be an understatement.

We departed bright and early on a very brisk Monday morning, very much loaded up with warm clothing and bedding.  First stop was in Winton, for smoko at the musical fence and a visit the the "truck museum".

Husband would have been in seventh heaven at the Truck Museum, full of restored OLD stuff. And a backyard full of non restored, antiquated machinery which quite frankly resembled some that we still have in service at our place!

 

The kids were amazed at the really really old ones...Angus was very taken by the fire trucks.

Winton is also home to the Waltzing Matilda Centre. Here the group split, with some wanting to take advantage of the opportunity to see shearing in action at Miss Mac's parents place, and some not wanting the additional driving (an extra couple of hours) chose to do the Matilda Centre and then be in Longreach before dark. Me being the driver that really didn't relish those extra couple of hours of dirt roads chose the latter (even though the kids probably would have loved the shearing, but too bad kids).

Take head visitors to the Matilda Centre. Lots of reading is involved, and lots of time needed. We didn't do it justice I am afraid, its probably not all that interesting to primary aged kids (a tour guide or more interactive displays might be more suited to this age group).

Art exhibition was great (travelling or local artists, am not sure, but the theme seemed to be outback) -  was very taken with this native flower watercolour. A large section of the centre devoted, naturally, to the origins of Waltzing Matilda and memorabilia surrounding it and the swagman etc.

Much historical station and household equipment is on display, as well as a large room devoted to old pastoral maps (love old maps) and records of the early days of settlement in the region.

Onwards and upwards, we travelled onto Longreach after lunch. Entering sheep country, seeing one very large mob of cattle heading south on the stock route and seeing some country getting very short on feed. Our destination and accomodation for the week being the Longreach School of Distance Education Quarters. Dormitory style bedding and full catering kitchen with plenty of space for all, wide verandahs, spacious gardens and great playground, this truly is a great facility.

 

Holy smokes, all that for just the first day...I think this will be a recap of many parts - or some better summarisation needs to happen!

Kids were all tucked in after a dinner of hotdogs...and holy cow wasn't that first night in Longreach COLD. A trip to the loo in the wee hours and a check on the kids found quite a few huddled up teeth chattering. Blankets were retrieved and wrapped around cold little souls and heaters turned on (in the dark, a true miracle I got it going!). 

Anyhow, Tuesday was a day full of adventure, which I will share - hopefully much shorter - soon!