New year, new home

The early days of 2010 were spent finishing our small amount of packing and preparing to move to Hobart. On January 12 we headed to the Spirit of Tasmania and sailed across Bass Straight.
We returned to the state we have left twenty two years earlier.

There was a sense of familiarity as we landed at Devonport and made our way to Hobart via Launceston. A few days on and we are settled in Moonah. Our gear arrived as expected, and the unpacking process has been largely accomplished. Not everything is in its correct home yet, but we are getting there.

Our last home in Preston offered views of other houses and wonders of Northland Shopping Centre. Here we have a view of the Derwent River and Queens Domain, a hill the obscures any further view down the estuary. In the foreground if this vista is my workplace, a stately old mansion that has served many different purposes over the years. As we head off to work we also gain a perspective of Mount Wellington from the front of our house.

These things come at a cost. The vertical dimension of life in the physical realm is one of the facts of life in Tasmania. Having previously lived in the north of the island I had failed to appreciate that most of the inner suburbs of Hobart are akin to the steeper areas around Launceston.

This week it is back to work. After twelve months of choosing our own pace and place we are now gearing up to get back into a work-life routine. It starts in earnest on Wednesday.

Another year over, a new one just begun

New Years Eve 2009.

It began in Victor Harbor. Just after 8 a.m. history was made. The Roberts family - Bill, Graham, Russell and Lynda - hit the fairway at Victor Harbor Golf Club. It was the first time the four of us had played together in a competition, and probably the first time we had all played golf together.

Victor Harbor is the home course of Bill and Lynda, and father is well known at the club where he has been a member for over 20 years. Lynda has only commenced her membership this year.


The bird man is always popular, and attracts the magpies on a number of holes. By the time we got to the twelfth his stock of crumbs was still intact and sufficient to feed the crowd that gathered.

By the time we got to the twelfth the youngest member of the family had already set up a commanding lead with a birdie 2 on the 10th (4 stableford points) and a par on 11 for another 4 stableford points. Lynda hung on to her lead and get back to the clubhouse with 41 stableford points and a clear margin over the men. To win the day Lynda played 5 shots under her handicap and will lose a few strokes before she plays in another competition.

The octogenarian managed to finish the 18 holes in the heat (it got to 41 degrees at Encounter Bay) and performed creditably in difficult conditions with 32 points, about 4 shots over his handicap. That probably means that Lynda beat him off the stick!


After golf there was time for a quick bite and coffee before heading back to Melbourne. Until Horsham the weather was hot and storm clouds were brewing. From Horsham to Ararat the rain was torrential - good for a land in drought, but not for farmers in the middle of harvest. After hours of careful driving it was good to get back to Melbourne before the year was out.

2009 is now gone. The year of change is over and we prepare to resume work in mid-January in Tasmania.

We look forward to new opportunities, new challenges and new experiences as we settle into Hobart.

Wedding Number 2

Sydney is a crazy place - great to visit but the roads go everywhere. We managed to find what we needed to, and were mostly on time. It was great to share again with family and to celebrate a major milestone in the lives of our extended family.

Congratulations to Dave and Jess on their wedding, we wish them all the very best for the years to come. The reception was a lot of fun - and Jess was smiling all day.

It was a great celebration, and it was great to be there for the occasion.

Family Connections

From a wedding in Melbourne we headed to wedding in Sydney. After months of travelling together Beth and I went in separate directions - Beth drove up with her parents while I went a little west to Orange to catch up with my brother and his family and t play a little golf on the way.

Fortunately Tocumwal Golf Club is on the way. A three night stopover was pleasant, with golf each day on the two well maintained courses. It is remarkable what can be done with an ample supply of recycled water.

At Orange it was more golf - with rounds at Orange Duntryleague, Wentworth Ex-Services, Blayney, and Cowra, as well as the odd nine holes at Orange Ex-Services either early in the morning or in the cool of the evening.

Five competitive rounds - and in the sibling contest I was second once more than I was first.



Considering the lack of water in Central NSW the Orange courses were in fairly good condition, although there is a lot of run on the fairways. For so many places the lack of water is having a devastating effect. Where recreation is concerned it is an issue that detracts from the experience. When it is your livelihood it can be a matter of financial survival. For golf clubs across the country the extended drought is tough but most will survive. For golfers we might just have to pay more to play golf, or get used to playing in less than ideal conditions.

Family and celebrations

One of the main reasons for being in Melbourne at this time is family - and especially family a family wedding.

Friday afternoon it was great to share at the wedding of Andy and Rachel. I cannot remember the last wedding I attended, and after six months of casual clothes putting on the glad rags for a wedding is a bit up-market. We did, and enjoyed the ceremony and the wedding breakfast.

The faith of the individuals and the families was evident in every aspect of the day. Among the highlights of the day were the speeches. Now it must be said that father of the groom (B.i.l. Bill) may need to add some brevity to his remarks. It is also something that yours truly can do some work on as well. The younger participants spoke exceptionally well - and with good humour allowed us to share some aspects of the journey to adulthood and this significant day. Well done guys.

The scary bit was thinking that these kids are now adults, holding down responsible jobs and exercising leadership in church and community. How can it be that my nephews (and my children) are now mature adults? They cannot possibly be old enough yet!

Sunday was a time to get back on deck and show some leadership myself. In a relaxed ceremony at Ocean Grove we gave thanks for the gift of Alana Ruth Kerr to her parents James and Loretta.
It was a privilege to share in the day, and see this young family and the community of friends that surround them.

In between I managed a round of golf at Whittlesea Golf Club. That was also cause for celebration bit that is another story.

Show me the money.

Last financial year the World Bank’s private sector arm more than doubled its support for fossil fuel projects to US$2.2 billion, while funding for renewable energy in the same period was a mere US$243 million. (Random fact from Rooted: Nourishing the environment debate)

So near and yet so far.

The drive to Geelong from Port Fairy caused us to reflect on the change in our environment. Up north your could drive a hundred kilometers and only see one or two houses. Here it seems like there is a line of settlements along the road. SO many people - and of course the traffic.

I had to get away from it for a while, and found a nice little spot about 4 kms south of Colac. It was called the Colac Golf Course. A couple of hours there was enough for me to get perspective back and travel on to Geelong and family.