Charleville and the crow

I played golf at the Charelville golf course - which has nine grass greens and nine sand 'greens'.

Seeing the off-white golf ball against the dried grass tufts was sometimes difficult, so on the 10th hole I tried a Vision ball. They ARE easier to see, and the yellow ball stood out well amongst the grass. Unfortunately a little slice had it off the fairway, but it was in the open.

I could see it clearly as I made my way towards it.

I could see it clearly as the big black crow picked it up.

I could see it clearly as it left the ground in the crow's beak.

I could see it clearly as the crow flew across the fairway.

I could see it clearly until the bright yellow ball and the big black crow disappeared to a new home somewhere in the bush.

Those Vision balls ARE easier to see, and they are particularly easy to see if you are a crow.



P.S. Thanks Russell for that bright yellow Vision ball you gave me. I hit it ONCE.

Charleville and the Bilbies

We actually rode to the information centre and booked for the Bilgy Experience. That night we learned about the two men who together initiated the campaign to save the endangered greater bilby from extinction. Peter, a zoologist, enlisted Frank to the cause. The cause gave meaning to Frank's existence. His communication skills and passion for the cause brought impetus and energy. The result - a fenced 5 square kilometer area in the outback dedicated to rebuilding a wild bilby population.

Still low in numbers the bilbies remain endangered, but now there is hope. Losses of habitat, foxes and feral cats all have their impact. The experience gives cause to think carefully about the environment in which we live, and how we treat it.
(For more information www.easterbilby.com.au/Project_material/stbf.asp)

Mitchell

Mitchell was a pleasant overnight stop on our way to Charleville.

First there was a friendly welcome at the Major Mitchell Caravan Park on the highway. A campfire was burning strongly when we arrived and a crowd had gathered. We were a little late to join in but here in the middle of the outback was an attempt to build community, even temporarily.

The next morning we walked into town (just a short walk across the Maranoa River) and enjoyed a morning spa. Water from the great artesian basin reaches the surface here at 45 degrees. It was just what our aching muscles needed.

In this country artesian bores provide the water needed for survival. For tourist like us they are helpful, and for towns like Mitchell a reason for tourists to stay and spend some money.

Each town has its features, be its spas, murals, historic sites, murals or events to draw and hold visitors. It is all part of life in this part of the world.

Amby Adventure

As magnificent as our walk through the gorge was I spent time reflecting on the difference between his part of our year and the earlier stay in Africa. My one word answer is people.

On our way to Mitchell we stopped to check out the 'no horse' golf course at Amby I had read about. There I had some people time.

'Scrubber' and Paddy were packing up their golf cart when we arrived, but were happy to give it another run. We followed them across the railway tracks and on to the golf course. A few hours later our 9 holes was over, and 'Scrubber' beat me by 3. While local knowledge played some part, and my errors made it easier 'Scrubber's accuracy to the greens and ability to play on the 'sand greens' was decisive. Along the way I learned a little about life in the central west of Queensland. Thanks 'Scrubber'.

Why is it the 'no horse' golf course? The course was once the centre for lot of sports, including gymkhanas. With a decline in the population and change in the community the area is now exclusively given over exclusively to golf. Hoof marks and golf really don't go together.

Seen and heard

"Goodness most often speaks in whispers." Southport Baptist Church Notice board

"You pay peanuts and you get monkeys. We are paying bananas and getting big greedy gorillas." Talkback caller on ABC Qld Country about shire councils and their administration.

Carnarvon Gorge

Carnarvon Gorge came on our radar, and we opted for a two-night stay. It meant that we passed through Roma fairly quickly, but Beth still found time to give their biggest bottle tree a hug.
Overnighting at Injune allowed a midday arrival at the gorge. The afternoon involved some minor exploration and enjoyment of the open air and prolific bird life.


At 8.20 a.m. on Saturday 20th we left the visitor information centre and headed to Cathedral Cave. At 4.50 p.m. we returned, tired and sore, after 24 kms exploring the various features of the gorge. Boominda Gorge, the Amphitheatre, Moss Garden and Ward's Canyon were all magnificent and distinctive, while Cathedral Cave and the Art Gallery gave us glimpses into the past of the indigenous Australians.


Our original intention had been to walk out to Cathedral Cave and then explore each of the gorges on our way back. The evening before we left we sat in on a sales pitch for a guided walk - and the guides' favourite was Boominda Gorge. When we arrived at our planned destination we discovered that it was just 100 metres further on. A short walk took us to the gorge opening, and we could wander in as far as we liked. The going was a little tough, not like the well-maintained paths we had walked for most of the morning. Instead we clambered carefully over rocks large and small, making our way up the winding passage carved into the sandstone. Softer portions of the rock had been worn away over the centuries. Raging torrents had forced their way through the narrow channel, cutting ever deeper into the rock.


These periodic expressions of brute strength left their mark and we marveled at the sculptured walls that now towered over us. One hundred metres became four hundred or so before we headed back to the other exhibits of natures majesty, power and beauty.

We left the gorge the next day and resumed our trek west.

Weekly worship

Uniting Church - 'New Life' Robina, Queensland

The contrast could hardly have been more stark. From a country congregation of thirty or so to a city church with hundreds (best guess 3-400) is a significant jump in numbers and culture.
The presentation was polished, songs and music contemporary, and the venue modern and purpose built. Those present spanned the ages, with what appeared to be a reasonable balance of age groups, all dressed in neat and casual attire. Sadly my first thought was of my church, the Salvos. Experiencing and sharing in worship here gave me a sense that somehow we salvos had been caught in a time warp!

With a simple an uncluttered order of service we moved easily to the message, that was the focal point of the service. The preacher, the lead minister of the church, continued a series on the Sermon on the Mount (we must have got week 2).

His clear message left me reflecting on Matthew 5:4 'Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted'
Taking the translation of mourning as 'grief' it was suggested that followers of Christ should:

• grieve over sins grip on us personally - as seen in the sinful actions and attitudes that surface repeatedly in our own lives (Rom 7:21,24)

• grieve over sin's curse over the world (Ps 119:136) - as seen by us all on the nightly news with war, violence, greed and selfishness featuring prominently. The death of the unborn (the easy acceptance and condoning of abortion) came in for a deserved 'special mention' here

• grieve over death and the bondage of decay - and the condition of our world.

While what we experience now is not the end of the story, because there is victory and renewal through Christ.

On a personal level I have continued to be challenged about the things over which I grieve... do my own tendencies to think/do wrongly AND the bad stuff I see and hear about each day, or have I become so desensitized to sin and its impact that I just accept it as 'normal'.

Just where is the balance between caring and being concerned about the bad stuff that happens, and being able to experience "life in all its fullness"? Perhaps the balance lies in being committed to dealing with the cause of that grief of pain.

Weekly Worship

Uniting Church - Orange NSW 7/6/2009


9.15 a.m. is a bit early to get to church during a cold snap - and despite a late decision we made it, and enjoyed worshipping at the early (and less traditional) service. It was the first of the three they hold most Sundays -the evening service being given over to the 'youth'.

After a period of singing praise and worship songs the service was fairly relaxed and interactive. Leadership was shared by a number of people (both male and female) and people were invited to participate in prayer, to respond to the Scriptures with a plasticine model, and to share with the neighbours their response. We were even invited to greet others while our offering was received. Even the sermon/message had its interactive moments!


Coming away from that worship service I was left with two streams of thought.

The first was about public speaking. No matter how passionate you are, or how fired up you are about a subject, remember three things: do your preparation, be clear about your purpose, and get to the point.

The second had a more immediate application for all - relationships are important. Sadly our technologicaly advanced and materially prosperous society has resulted in far too many isolated and lonely individuals. We were created for relationship - the challenge for all of us is to make sure all our relationships add meaning and value.

Weekly Worship

Presbyterian Church - Tocumwal 31/5/2009

On a cold winter morning we srrived late for the 10.00 a.m. service. The service was under way but the worshippers gathered in the youth hall welcomed us warmly.

It was there I learned that we were part of the VIAGRA set - Vitally Indepedent Aged Going Round Australia.

While the congregation was small (not unexpected in a country town of less than 2000) it represented most of the generations and the leader (a lay preacher) did well to cater for the range of people present.

Musical accompaniment (keyboard and violin) added to our singing, and coffee following the service offered the chance to meet and to greet each other.


The challenges of 'doing' church in a small community are enormous - 'being' church is not as hard and certainly more important. The challenge will always be the perceptions of the world around us, where profesional presentaton and numbers seem to be more important than relationships, reality, and integrity. .Regardless of attendance statistics we are the church - we must live in our communities in ways that reflect the God who loves us all.