Tasmania Photographs

Here are a few of the photographs from Taz. So far I have taken over a thousand. Ill be posting them when I return to the UK. I'll also be udating the blog with further comments and reflections.

Arrived in Launceston, Tazmania

 

We arrived in Launceston yesterday. I'm only now sitting down to put something on the blog as at the farm there are no phones, phonelines, mobile signals, wifi, etc...... We arrived at Howie's at 4.00pm (Howie is VP of GSCMC Australia - Launceston Chapter. We had a great time out with the brothers last night, first at the clubhouse with the usual squad antics and frolics, then out to a party at one of the clubs. A good time was had by all. The story of the snake is Dale found a rubber one and thought it would be good to have a prank with it. Guess who was Dale and the snakes victim? I got the fright of my life!

 

We got up this morning and were treated to a cooked breakfast by Howie. Howie's house is an old turn of the century home. Which was a nursing home for a while before it was purchased as a family home and began a scheme of renovating. It is huge. Two mugs of coffee and fried egg on toast with bacon. MMMM....

 

Finished breakfast and deciding to find an internet cafe to update the blog. We took a small drive into Launceston to the "Cyber King" Internet lounge so that I could update the blog.

Visit to the family farm near Avoca.

 

We left Hobart on Thursday morning bound for a small 1200 acre farm just of the main highway next to a village called Avoca (Pop 129) Dale and I were visiting the family farm with Moggy who is the President of GSCMC Australia - Hobart Chapter. The scenery on route was amazing and the weather was very very very hot. I got sunburned AGAIN! We had a great time at the farm, a spot of clay pigeon shooting, Open air fry up and a night under canvas. The farm would make a great retreat place and outdoor centre.

I would love to come back to Taz as it reminded me so much of Scotland. Even the place names are the same. I was watching out for snakes and poisonous spider but I have not seen any. Although we got out into the woods at 1.00 am with a spot light to see the animals in there own environment. We saw loads of possums up in the trees, a few Kangaroos, four deer, a few rabbits, and wombats. It was amazing.

Visit to Randal's Bay........Australia Day BBQ

 

 

We all had a great time today at a BBQ in Randall's Bay, outside of Hobart. The weather was great and the scenery was fantastic. Was good to be with club brothers and their better halfs. We had Roo Snags, ordinary Snags, Burgers and Kilkenny Ale.....Life is good. Had a good few conversations with guys from the GSCMC Australia - Hobart Chapter.

Happy Australia Day

I would like to extend a "Happy Australia Day" greetings to everyone in the UK and all who I have the pleasure of knowing in Australia.

Visiting Tazmania

Arrived in Hobart at the Home of Claire's mum and dad. Dale met me off the plane at Launceston. 2 Hour drive down to Hobart. So good to see Dale and Claire again. We are going to have a ball. I managed to Phone -Skype my Thomas today as he is five, it was great to see family again. I'm missing them. Now let the festivities begin............ 

Roadtrip to Melbourne....The Return Journey

We are about to leave on a 9 hour return ride from Canberra. The weather is overcast, with high possibility of rain. We will stop at Aubury with is just before the border between NSW and Northern Victoria. Hoping to arrive back by late afternoon. I'm leading and "Doc" wants to sit at the back. Don't know the roads, or the area, but the hume highway to Glenrowan looks straighforward and then ill let "Doc" take over. I'll post some of the photo's when I get the chance. We are having tea at "Bubba" and Ruths this evening when we get back and then in the morning I'm off to see Dale and Claire Williams and all the Taz chapters. Flight is at 11.00 at Tullamarine (Melbourne) gets me into Launceston at midday.

A Visit to Tuggeronong Baptist Church.

Today we also visited Tuggeranong Baptist Church where Glenn and and his wife Ros with others run the other Zac"s Place. It was great to see all the hard work and hard miles that are being done in NSW for the sake of the kingdom of God. It is fantastic to see people rising to the call of God and engaging in their own culture, with the marginalised and people on the edge. I real inspiration to me. Much to reflect on and think about.

Visiting the Garden City - Canberra

Today we got up at 7.00pm. We stayed at Goulburn last night in a motel just outside of the town. We were in the city last night at a party. We had breakfast and the rode down the highway back to Yass, for a morning at "The Vine" Church, which is a pentecostal church in Yass. After the service we then rode to Canberra which is in ACT. (Australian Capital Territory) Here are some of the many photographs I have taken. We are staying here for the night with Glenn and Ros Stewart. We set off for Melbourne in the morning. the ride to Melbourne will be the return journey that we made on Friday (Approx 9 hours in the saddle of a Harley Electra Glide)

Staying overnight at Yass

Doc and I arrived at Yass yesterday after a 9 hour road trip from Melbourne. We met up with friends and went back to stay at the home of Woody and Deb and their family. Woody is helping Glen out with work on the new Zac's Place in Yass. We had super hospitality and had a really good time with them. Woody and deb go to a church in Yass called the VINE Church which Doc and I will be visiting on Sunday. We left Yass and have moved onto Goulburn which is just outside Canberra. We are here in a motel and it is fantastic. We will be returning to Yass in the morning for a church service at VINE church. We met the pastor today his name is Gary. After church we will then ride back to see the capital. More from tomorrow.

The follwing photos are of the working party at the new Zacs Place in Yass. We had a great day. Working together brings some great friendship and fellowship it was enjoyable and productive at the same time. In effect it was what church should be.



Dog on a Tuckerbox

The Dog on the Tuckerbox is an Australian historical monument and tourist attraction, located at Snake Gully, five miles (8 km) from Gundagai, New South Wales. It was sculpted by local stonemason Frank Rusconi and was unveiled by the then Prime Minister of Australia Joseph Lyons on 28 November 1932 as a tribute to pioneers. The statue was inspired by a bullock driver's poem, Bullocky Bill, which celebrates the life of a mythical driver's dog that loyally guarded the man's tuckerbox (lunch box) until death. "Doc" and I went to see this monument. On our road trip. Gundagai is between Melbourne and Canberra.

Canberra Road Trip -Visiting Glenrowan

Glenrowan is the town before the Hume Highway that takes you straight to Sydney. Renew who is the President of the North Victoria chapter of God Squad, lives just on the outskirts of Glenrowan. It was great to meet up again with Renea. Last time we met was in the UK. The first thing that gets you when you drive into Renea's yard is the many cars and bikes that he has. (Old Cars and old bikes) We stopped off there before heading to Yass, which is just outside Canberra.

Canberra Roadtrip - Visiting Glenrowan

This is the sign that is above Renea's block of Garages. Inside he has a collection of machinery that would not be lost in a engineers workshop.

Houses, Houses, Houses

I have taken lots of pictures of houses and landscapes. They look awesome and are very different from one another. This was taken Just outside of St ELISA on the coast. I've been impressed by the houses by the sea.

1964 Rolls Royce

We got to the beach today and old guy, who looked in his 80's drove into the car park in this Rolls Royce 1964, I said "Nice piece of British Engineering" he said "good Onya mate" and got his bowls out of the back of the car and went toward the bowling green(I think) Where else would he be going with bowls?

At the beach with spearfish man......otherwise known as Marshall

 

Went down to the coast today with Marshall for some R&R. It was great to sit on the rocks while Marshall went spearfishing. It was really hot and I got sunburn. Ouch.......

Sitting on a beach..........

I'm due to pick up John's Harley in the morning after that I'm going to the beach with Marshall and one of his mates. They are both going Spearfishing, I'm simply going to sit on the beach and vegetate and read a few books. There is no way in a million years that i'm getting into the same water were there is "SHARKS". Ill just stay on dry land. It has promised 30+ degrees in the morning. I'ts not actually work, but a day off. I'll enjoy that. I've been fairly flat out since I arrived over here, a day off will be great! To chill, relax, on a warm beach with sun cream on and a baseball hat to stop the top of my head from burning. I'll be taking lots of pictures, so look out for them.

Harley road trip to Canberra

I go in the morning to pick up John's bike for the road trip I'm making to Canberra on Friday with "Doc". Im staying with "Doc" on Thursday night at Healesville. We set off up the Hume highway bound for ACT early Friday morning. We will be visiting some of the brothers on the way. It will be good to see what awaits us in Canberra. Glen who is a brother has begun an Australian version of Zac's Place in Swansea, Wales. Glen was in Swansea for a couple of years, before returning to Australia. "Doc"and I are with Glen and the brothers  for the weekend, returning on Monday. I will be posting photo's of the adventure to ACT. It's a seven hour trip on the Harley's. It's promised to be good weather. 

Visit to Concern Australia.......Looking at the Archives.

I rode in from Marshall and Tammy's at about midday, along the eastern freeway in blazing hot sunshine. I arrived at Concern Australia, Collingwood, they had me set up with a computer terminal and access to the archives and off I went back and forward to the photocopier to "Scan to email" I was able to get lots of archive material of the early days of the Jesus Movement in the 1970's and of the foundation of God's Squad. I will need to go back again to CA before I leave Australia to get more archive material of the St Martin's communities of faith, and of God's Squad as well, especially when God Squad commissioned the other Australian chapters.

Meeting for coffee with Prof Rev Dr Sean Winter

Spent time today with Rev Dr Sean Winter (Sean is a Baptist Minister from the UK and is Professor of NT Studies at Queens College.) We met in Carlton, at Brumetti's. Wonderful coffee and great fellowship. It was good to see Sean again and the Melbourne climate suits him, We chatted about my visit to the city and to Australia. Also what It's like to be at the Uniting college. I then got on the Harley and cruised up the Eastern Freeway (M3) to Boronia. I'm eating this evening at the home of John Waters and family.

Visit to Concern Australia

I was able to visit Concern Australia today. The day started at 9..00am with a trip to St Martins Lillydale and the home of Marshall and Tammy Smith. I picked up Marshall's Harley and set off down the Eastern Freeway, for a time with the staff and director at Concern Australia. in Wellington Road, Collingwood., Melbourne. I arrived at 10.00 am and joined in with Staff devotions, where I was able to tell my story and what has led me to come to Australia. The staff gave me a good welcome and set me up with the ability to scan to e-mail on their photocopier and a computer terminal, which will be of great use for copying archive material of the early days of the Jesus movement and of God's Squad. I've been given freedom to come into the office over the next 4 days to scan and copy as much archive material as I want. I then spent an hour and a half with Moses (See picture) who is the CEO of Concern Australia. I was able to talk to Moses about what has been the journey of CA (Including all the projects) so far and where he saw God;s Squad and the Communities of Faith (St Martin's Collingwood and Lillydale) I also asked him what was the heartbeat of CA, and where he saw CA in the future. I was also given some archive material on 3 Cd's A DVD of CA's Foundations and Purpose, A Cd of 140 Media Articles in PDF format and a complete CD of short radio broadcasts which John did on Light FM. I left CA 2.30pm  a happy man, armed with the sort of historic material that I was hoping for. I rode back up the M3 and got slightly detoured in Ringwood, before I picked up the road again to Edinburgh Road. Lillydale. and back to Marshall and Tammy's at St Martins Lillydale. What a day! Found out today that William Haigh MP was in Canberra for talks, I'm going there on Friday, whats the bet I'll have a more productive time then he has had.

I found this in the boardroom at CA it stands  roughly 7 foot tall and  3 foot wide and is in a very large frame. What a picture! this seemed to sum up some of the things I was looking at today, The Historical and The Contemporary.