HALLS GAP

I went to Halls Gap this week. Ang came along too. While I was working Ang went golphing.

Halls Gap is located on the floor of the picturesque Fyans Valley, 250 metres above sea-level. By road it is 251 km north-west of Melbourne via Ararat. It is essentially a tourist village at the eastern edge of Grampians National Park - one of the state's most outstanding natural features and a major destination for holidaymakers and bushwalkers.

Unfortunately the day we went there the weather was terrible, rain and hail and a terrible wind storm and of course freezing cold. The next day however was lovely and Ang had a great golf day.The drive home was relaxing looking out at the scenary.

Barmera & Loxton North

Last week I went to scho0ls in Barmera & Loxton Nth district. Barmera is on the Sturt Highway past the Barossa & Clare Valley. So the driving was quite enjoyable. However it took me 4 hours to get there as the traffic in Adelaide was fairly heavy and they were doing roadworks pretty much up to Truro.

Barmera is part of the Riverina. I travelled over the Murray many times to get to the various towns. Besides wine, the area is of course famous for its fruit especially citrus fruit.

I stayed at the Barmera Hotel. The staff were very nice and I was surprised as to how the hotel was busy even early in the week. My room overlooked Bonney Lake

To get to Loxton Nth I travelled through Berry. Again that was a pleasant drive and because it had rained recently it was quite green all around. The fruit trees were beginning to blossom.

I was worrried I was not going to make my 3:30 plane so I rushed a bit getting home. I hope I don't receive any speeding tickets!

Balaklava Yorke Peninsula

Last week I visited Balaklava Primary School on the Yorke Peninsula. Balaklava is a delightful historical town well worth a visit.

It's history began in 1849, Balaklava began as a stopping point for Bullock Trains, which traversed the Gulf Road from the Burra Burra copper mines to Port Wakefield. In 1870 the first large grain stores were built by an Adelaide Grain Merchant, Charles Fisher, opening up the area to farmers. The town was surveyed in 1877 and named after the Battle of Balaklava in the Crimean War.
Balaklava today is one of the main agricultural townships in the Yorke Peninisula area. It took me about an hour and half to travel there. The country side is quite flat but surprising green compared to other parts of South Australia considering the drought. The township has a lot of lovely buildings but I was most impressed by a mural I found on a children's playground/garden situated at the entrance to the town.
The garden and mural situated at the entrance to the Balaklava Community Library was created in memory of the late Des Ross AM in recognition of his remarkable leadership and service to his community, state and nation. The mural depicts the town community and is very interesting to look at. The mural was made from tiles depicting building and scenes of the community. The one representing the local school is of a teacher giving a history lesson. The flooring was made from individual tiles painted by the people of Balakalva. I had a delightful day working with the teachers at the local Primary school and a most enjoyable trip home.

Perth to Victor Harbour

Been extremely busy since Townsville. Had an opportunity to go to Perth for a staff meeting . It was great because I got to catch up with our other trainers and catch up with the goss. We also had a visiting techo from Atlanta, USA to discuss the finer points of the polyvision board. Unfortunately we had a little too much merriment after work at the various pubs we took our visitor too. The photo above is from my hotel overlooking the outer suburbs of Perth.

Last week I flew to South Australia and drove to Mt Compass. I arrived early so I decided to continue on to Victor harbour. Quite a nice little spot. One can see they are starting to develop it for tourists and possibly retirement residents.

The drive down there was lovely. Adelaide has had a fair bit of rain so all the fields were green.

On the way back from Victor Harbour I stopped at a look out just as I was entering Mount Compass and took these pictures. I was lucky that I stayed with a teacher from Mt Compass Area school. They had a great house and were excellent hosts. They told me that Mout Compass is the wettest area in South Australia. They never need to water their gardens and have never been on water restrictions.

Townsville

I went to Townsville at the beginning of April. I visited two High Schools and met a dealer. I also went to a corporate group to show them how to use the Easiteach software. As usual I suffered from the heat and was glad when I arrived at my hotel to find a fine working airconditioner.

Townsville is in Queensland, Nth of Brisbane and south of Cairns.

What I did like about Townsville were the mountains that surrounded the city everywhere you looked.

I had a pleasent walk along the beach and the people were friendly.

I found lots of typical Queensland houses dotted around the place. They look lovely and cool inside.

Townsville! Not bad I say.

Hahndorf

Early in March I went to Hahndorf in South Australia. It was a terribly hot day 42 degrees and the school I was suppose to go to had cancelled because their boards had not been put up. I had been to Hahndorf before but didn't have time to check the place out so I thought what better way to use my day up.

Hahndorf is situated in the Adelaide Hills and it was a very pleasent 20minute drive to get there. Once in Hahndorf the first thing that strikes you is the lovely avenue of trees that greets you and extends throughout the town. It was quite refreshing walking underthem to get away from the heat.

Hahndorf's first settlement took place in 1839 when Prussian Lutheran families arrived. The name "Hahndorf" was derived from Captain Dirk Hahn of the ship named 'Zebra', which arrived in Adelaide in 1838 with a party of immigrants from the Eastern Provinces of Prussia. Captain Hahn stayed on to see the new arrivals were settled, after having survived a horrendous journey by sea. He eventually selected an area near Mt Barker which his passengers named after him in recognition of his efforts.

Hahndorf's attraction lies in the historical value of the town. I was taken aback by the beautiful buildings that are dotted up and down the town. I spent my time walking from one end to the other checking out the architecture.Apparently t is the ideal place to buy traditionally made wursts and German smallgoods, there are also museums, galleries, antiques, soaps, fabrics, and a crazy leather shop. Unfortunatly lots of places were closed so I wasn't able to get in. I also noticed that for every one shop there were about 5 eateries. They must think people only come here to eat.

I did buy some cottage craft to show the Hurstbridge CWA and I managed to get into one of the art galleries and had a long chat with the curator.

Darwin To Katherine

Well I decided to make a blog of all the different places I go to while I'm in my new job. Although I started last October it is only now that I have been organised to do anything. Also my camera was broken so I couldn't take any pictures

This week I flew up to Darwin then drove to Katherine. I still do not understand why we have to fly so late and get into Darwin so early in the morning. Anyway I did and because it was dark it took me ages to find my car. I finally fell into bed at 2am only to rise at 7am to start my trip to Katherine.

The weather was very humid, 92 degrees humidity, and every time I got out of the car my glasses would fog up. The last time we came to the top end it was with our good friends Ron and Charmaine. Everywhere was dry but now the grass is a lovely green cloour and there is water everywhere. In fact on my way home from Katherine I struck a mini cyclone and was drenched.
On my way, I stop off at Adelaide River and went to look at the war graves. The Adelaide River War Cemetery is a sobering reminder of the impact World War II had on this part of Australia. There are 434 military burials in total and the adjoining Civil Cemetery honours 63 civilians including the post office workers who were killed in the 19 February 1942 bombing of Darwin. Also there is the Memorial to the Missing, where 292 service personnel are remembered, who lost their lives in Timor and other northern regions. The memorial is well looked after and is a tribute to Adelaide Council who look after it.

I stopped off at Pine Creek for lunch then went onto Katherine. It took me around 3 -4 hours to reach Katherine and I was a little pooped.

When I arrived at Katherine it was mid afternoon and very hot. I had a little rest then took advantage of the swimming poool and spent a couple of hours floating in it.

The following day I went to Clyde Fenton Primary school. Lovely staff. Unfortunately I forgot to get a photo as I was preoccupied with getting back to Darwin.

As I wrote earlier I was caught in a mini cyclone while approaching Darwin, I was also out of petrol and needed to stop at a petrol station. I was there for a while trying to figure out how to open the petrol tank. I rang Ang who had to ring Ron to work out how to open it. In the meantime I was getting wetter and wetter. A fellow came past to help out but he couldn't work it out either. Eventually help came in the form of a woman- Hettz assitant and I was on my way. When I got to my hotel to my surprise they upgraded me to a hotel room - as oppose to a smelly outside cabin. So I was very delighted.

The following day I went to Stuart Park Primary. Another lovely school and even though we endured a black out early in the day, the training went well.

When I finished I went for a little drive around Darwin then set off for the airport around 4pm. I was thinking I'll wait for the 12.30am plane in the Qantas club. Unbenown to me I discovered that everthing is closed at the airport including the club and cafes until 10.30pm Why do they do this. So I waited in the foyer for 8 hours reading my book and chatting to a few locals. The book "Voices from the Fortress" about Australian & New Zealand POWs who were put into a concentration camp and endured horrific treatment, was a good read.

I staggered home 8am in the morning to be greeted by Ang who was very happy that I was home.