Sandy Point

When Anna and I drove to Sandy Point, we visited a number of galleries on the way. The house and garden are wonderful and we made the most of fine weather with walks on the beaches and drives to picturesque Walkerville and the Foster market.

Anna's canine friend, Otto, is a real water baby and we spent much time chasing the happy hound as he frolicked in the smooth water of Shallow inlet and the main beach (not so smooth). He also loves rabbiting and is very persistent.

One morning Anna noticed a big koala in the boughs of a young gum tree in the garden very close to the house.

Exhibition

13th November

The Friday evening launch of my open house exhibition was a happy, exciting experience. Family and close friends joined me to celebrate my work and with Andy's ideas for hanging, the paintings and prints looked great. Bek's support really pulled things together.

More than 40 people came over the weekend and I was delighted.

One of each edition of the lino cut prints hung together

Cudgewa

Mum and I had 4 lovely nights at Cudgewa (near Corryong) with Bubby and Greig - I drove up on Friday with plenty of stops on the way, checking out the Bakery at Yea, a road side stop for lunch and arvo tea at Talangatta. We pottered about the farm, helping where we were able and just enjoying the beautiful weather, scenery and hospitality. I bottle fed two calves and had my first droving experience!! I even drove the ute down to the creek to look for platypus - no luck yet I'm afraid.

On Monday Greig took us all to the Bluff - a great place for photos of the waterfall.

The photos of country style gardening at 'Ryburgh' are good too... I haven't seen a front end loader used to fill plant tubs before! Rain on and off didn't spoil our big drive home on Tuesday - we lunched at Benalla and followed the Midlands Highway from there.

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Cowra
9th September
We visited the beautiful, tranquil Japanese War Cemetery before going to the site of the Cowra Breakout at the POW Camp. The written and audio information is very informative, here and at the town Info Centre. Later, at the Japanese Gardens which are set on a hill sloping up to very rocky ridges, I took many photos of the fabulous garden, water falls, running creeks and little tea houses. The shop and cafe were fantastic too!
Thursday 10th September
Driving south from Cowra we were struck by the flurescent yellow swathes and stripes of canola contrasting with the rich green of other crops and the soft, muted blues of distant ranges. A truly beautiful country we have! From Young I drove to Wagga Wagga where we viewed 3 great exhibitions - textiles, printmaking and glass. Irene drove again from Wagga Wagga to Rutherglen where we stayed for a couple of days, lapping up the comfort of a deluxe cabin, glorious weather, a terrific shopping experience and the lovely old town. From our deck at sunset we heard pobblebonks and other frog calls and the bird list continued - currawongs, ducks, plovers, parrots, galahs and swallows. At lunch time there were: a blue faced honeyeater, red rumped parrot, baby magpie, ducks, pee wees and currajongs.
Our drive home to Melbourne took us through Alexandra to Marysville for lunch. The town was busy with weekend visitors and the landscape was yet another contrast to all that we had seen in our grand adventure.

8th September
On the way out of Dubbo, we visited a Japanese Garden and a separate Biodiversity Garden at Elizabeth Park. The latter is a project demonstrating all the native vegetation of the area and I took photos for Michele. I found it fascinating. Irene drove south on the Mitchell Highway to Wellington, where, instead of visiting the caves, we had morning tea at a well established, but now rather tatty Japanese Garden opposite the entrance to the caves. The water courses were slimy, the hedges unclipped, and the black ducks have really taken over - what a shame. At the turnoff to Wellington we had noticed an artistic landmark which we examined efore driving on. It was (to quote Kath and Kim ) unusual! Indeed I thought it looked like a metal domed frame being used by triffids to gain height. Not the most pleasing sculpture I have seen.
From Wellington, I drove south to Molong, a very pretty town we would like to have explored. There I turned off (missing Orange altogether) towards Canowindra (pronounced Canoundra) where we ate a sandwich in a park. The afternoon stint at the wheel was Irene's, and she took us on into Cowra to our deluxe cabin by the river. At the nearby Information Centre we watched a great multimedia presentation about the Cowra Breakout, then walking on up through the main drag, we rang the World Peace Bell - a terrific feeling, bought a bottle of merlot and wandered back to our cosy nest. This had been the coolest day so far, with light showers; we found it quite a contrast to the previous 35's to 37's!

Charters Towers to Lightning Ridge

We loved the architecture of Charters Towers and enjoyed following a CD guided tour of interesting places (it was weekend so a good way to get around) The Community Day was in Centenary Park, a lovely shady venue and many interesting stalls & exhibits. Boy did we use up that marvellous pool and spa. Inthe afternon, as we walked under the huge trees in the park, we disturbed hundreds of bats - they took off in fright, quite unusual during the day.
On the way to Clermont, caravan in front of us fishtailed on a down-hill straight and ended up off the road, jakknifed, with its van tipped onto its side resting on a bank.Luckily they were not injured and the B double that pulled up after us was apparently able to help so we were able to drive on after checking all was under control.
At Clermont our donga accom was basic, with electric cords and power board draped over and resting on the electric hot plates. Great. Luckily, sleep was our first concern. The Theresa Creek Dam nearby is a popular camping and fishing venue, very pleasant for an afternoon stroll. I enjoy listing our daily bird sightings.
I drove from Clermont to Emerald and Irene drove through Springsure and Rolleston to the Takaraka Bush Park at Carnarvon Gorge. The permanent tent accom had comfy beds and a fridge, wallabies were pottering about all around. We did a 14 km walk / climb with 10 stepping-stone creek crossings; fabulous, exhausting, aching. The bush kitchen encouraged relaxed chat with other campers. A spectacular place - Carnarvon Gorge and its side gorges, each one amazing and different.
The rough road out of the Nat'l Park was through some great pastoral country. We fluked upon a great little art exhibition at Injune where I bought a one-off print, then on to St Geoirge for a comfy stop over on the way to Lightning Ridge.
A bus tour of The Ridge took us throught diggings where we saw camps and castles, mulloch heaps and mines. We went underground, noodled (not canoodled) and soaked up the amazing atmosphere of that diverse community. There are certainly people who hide away here - many are only ever known by there nick names. We were even treated to a great lightning show on our first night and on the 2nd we bathed in 41.5 degrees thermal pool under a full moon and cloudless sky beofre driving back to the cabin to bed. Just a bit different!
Luckily, on our noodling, I picked up a bit of a flashy stone and had it polished into a tiny, pretty opal. A cute little souvenir.
On to Dubbo yesterday and some very good rain overnight. We spent 2/3 of the day at the Western Plains Zoo and now I am up to shot 900 on my camera - I have downloaded 250 onto a dvd as well. Ho hum.
We are looking forward to yet another experience - Cowra tomorrow.
Cheers all.

Mt. Isa to Charters Towers

Friday 21st August:- Mt Isa
After visiting the historic underground hospital, we we had a revitalising swim in Lake Moondara, about 13 km out of the Isa, waterskiers and much bird life added to our interest from one of the gazebos on the well mown grass by the lake. There was also a great bird watching spot a few hundred yards from our cabin, so that made up for the poor accom.
We stayed overnight at Cloncurry and enjoyed their pretty landscaped pool for a long time.
On Sunday 23rd, I drove from The Curry to the Burke and Wills Roadhouse and after lunch at a lovely spot by the Gregory River bearby, Irene drove on to Lawn Hill and Adel's Gorge where we stayed. Our pre arranged tent was pitched within its own gazebo, the floor of which was up off the ground and the roof of pitched galvanised iron allowed breezes to flow. It is a beautiful spot but a running river in which we swam as often as possible.
Monday A half day tour of the Riversleigh Fossil installation, the surrounding area and Riversleigh Stn (which is run in conjunction with Lawn Hill Stn) was terrific. In the afternoon we drove to Lawn Hill Gorge and canoed through the gorge sticking to the shady side - beautiful, cool, fun, I was in the back with the double paddle so I let the water run down the handle onto my sarong over my legs - you can't get better than that! Back at Adel's Grove, we walked throught he remains of the original grove of trees planted by Albert de L... now it's used by caravaners and campers as a delightful, sheltered camping area. Worth looking up on the internet I'. sure.
25th
Sunrise at the nearby hill top was beautiful with 360 views and interesting cairn constructions by many travellers. On the road back to the highway, the air was thick with locusts; we say a jabiru (Aus b/w stork), an emu and 3 chicks and 11 brolgas! From the road house I drove 200 km to Normanton. Boy was that big pool a welcome spot; much more welcome than the intruder Irene saw in our cabin at 1:50 am, head inside our doors, but that's all thank goodness. Of course, next morning we discovered our sarongs were missing. Bugger!
26th
Karumba beckoned and I dipped my toe in the Gukf, duly recorded by Irene on my camera. There many bird stops there and back - 170 - 200 brolgas at just 1 of them and 2 jabirus separately caused sudden u turns.
Thursday 27th
I drove to Crodon, stopping on the way at Black Bull Siding where the old Gulflander happened to be stopped - good timing. At Cordon we ate the remains of the prawns for lunch - we had bought them at Karumba and had them for a posh dinner in Normanton. Irene drove on to Georgetown stopping at a beautiful lagoon by the old Cumberland Chimney - I saw my first bee-eater bird.
The cabin at Georgetown was horrendous and was topped off by the smoke alarm which decided to go off several after we went to bed .
Friday
The TerrEastrial display is an incredible exhibition of minerals collected by an amazing man - Ted Elliott. I drove from G. to Mt Surprise where we had a seed removing car wash. Great.Irene drove on to Undara Resort in the Undara National Parl. Our tent accom was fabulous - it looked like a pyramid shaped, hovering space ship.
We enjoyed an afternoon tour of the lava tubes and a campfire talk about the wildlife of the park. Look upwww.undara.com.au I'm sure it will show a bit.
29th
We climbed Kalkani Volcano before I drove to Greendale, flinging Daisy off the atrocious road to doge numbers of big trucks, Bdoubles, trebles and vans!
On to Charters Towers and a spa and swim.

Chunk 1. Longreach and Beyond.

Scenic Tours, Planes, Birds and so on
After writing up a great new blog I found that the library computer in Mt Isa would not accept my USB, *#!***!# So I must use the short time available for this post.
My good friend Cherril took me the scenic way to the airport up Lygon St, across to Moonee Ponds and out along Mt. Alexander Road. My trip to Brisbane had a tail wind so we arrived 15 mins early after a clear trip on which I could have plotted the flight path if I had a NSW map. I spent a great night with my cousin Jan and her husband Trevor who have a coffee lounge in Carindale Shopping Centre - French Twist. Great coffee, yummee pastries! Very French. Jan and I had a terrific time catching up, then she too gave me a scenic tour of Brisbane - a city I have not seen before. I was delighted.
The flight to Longreach was booked out and I had an aisle seat on the Fokker Friendship; but someone missed the plane, so after take off I was able to move to the window seat in front on mine and use my map to plot the sights below. Much burning off and smoke, but otherwise a very clear view of the Carnarvon National Park, the landscapes, the small towns etc. We were told that we had special passengers aboard, the descendants of the Qantas initiators, so I guess we were in the best plane with the best staff etc.
Irene met me at Longreach airport and drove me and my no-wheels bag 200 m along the road to our caravan park where we had a very bushy site, across the paddocks from The Stockmens Hall of Fame. The pool was inviting and the G&T that followed, greatly enjoyed.
We drove to Lily's Lagoon and saw some wonderful birds - white necked heron, fly catchers, spinifex pigeons, great egret and .... a black feral pig. The nearby cattle hardly rate a mention. I will have many wonderful photos from this trip!
The next day we walked to the Qantas Museum for a tour of a 747 and a great stooge around the history of the airline. Then a short walk along the road took us to the Hall of Fame. I love the architacture and the environment of that building. The exhibits are also excellent. As we stocked up the next morning in town, we saw a T-Model Ford driving along the street with 3 passengers dressed in khaki, one wearing a pith helmet. An hour or so into our drive to Winton, we passed it and its support vehicle. Most of the traffic came from the opposite direction, however, we were passed by a red greyhound bus, which flew past off the road at roadworks where the speed limit was 60 km. We were pleased not to be passengers!
We repeated our exercise of swim followed by G & T (Irene's tipple was whisley and coke). There is a brand new dinosaur museum just out of Winton and we booked in for a tour. We heard there would be a street parade to celebrate the pioneer Qantas chaps searching for good sites for landing strips 90 years previously. The T-Model Ford turned up!!!! The jigsaw pieces fell together. The Australian Age of Dinosaurs property was donated by a loval grazier- it is atop a tabletop mountain 12 Km out of Winton and their preparation lab is the largest in the world. We were able to walk through it, talk to the techies, be excited by their latest find, they even used our cameras to photgraph it! We handled Wade's bones and viewed those of Matilda, Clancy and Banjo. It was an inspiring experience. I bought some fossils and postcards (esp for Christos) and promptly left them on the counter, so I am very angry at myself!
Winton to Boulia brought changing landscapes, empty grassy plains as far as the eye could see followed by ranges of eroded. tabletop mountains. We ate lunch at the Hilton - a grass topped shelter in the centre of Middleton. Middleton also has a pub over the road, a telephone booth and a monument. I took one photo of the lot, just to show its grand size.
Boulia had no accessible pool, but the front verandah was a draw card for Irene with her binoculars - there were so many bird varietie she was in bird heaven! Before we left, the van decided to alert us to a flat battery (thank goodness it happened there). Despite the local mechanic being away, we were assisted by the man at the supermarket who "only does tyres". He fixed Irene up with a new battery and our stress levels lowered. We envisaged being caught there for another day or two.
The stonehouse museum was the focus of our attention, because Dick Suter (Dinosaur Dick - it's on his t-shirt, really!) showed us his fabulous display of marine dinosaur bones and the work he is doing. Unfortunately, professional jealousy abounds, and because of his lack of qualifications, Q'land Uni boffins, use his ability to find but do not acknowledge his work otherwise. Silly them!
We also viewed the Min Min Encounter, also worth a visit.
Now we're in Mt Isa for 2 nights - washing, internetting, and a little sight seeing.
Hold on for Chunk 2. Goodness knows when I'll be able to send it. My new phone is the pits, so I don't have much luck contacting that way. Cheers to all, Sue.

Longreach and Beyond

After staying overnight in Brisbane with my cousin, Jan, I will fly to Longreach to meet Irene.

Our list of destinations in Queensland from Longreach:-

Winton, Boulia, Mt. Isa, Cloncurry, Lawn Hill

Normanton, Karumba, Georgetown,

Mt. Surprise - (Undarah; lava tubes), Charters Towers, Clermont, Carnarvon National Park, Roma, St. George.

Then into NSW:-

Lightning Ridge, Gilgandra, Dubbo, Cowra, Wagga Wagga,

Our final stay will be in Victoria:-

Rutherglen.

We expect to arrive home on about September 12th.

Painting with Michele and Planning for Longreach

Last week, Andy's partner Michele and I continued with the job of making signs for the nursery where she volunteers. They'll be going in to the veggie patch at Mornington Peninsula Youth Enterprises, a nursery set up to provide skill training for unemployed and disadvantaged youth on the Mornington Peninsula. The website is http://www.mpye.org.au/
Our young friend Christos designed the font and helped with the painting the previous week. Michele has a great blog http://www.landforveggies.blogspot.com .

I leave for Brisbane on Saturday 15th August and fly to Longreach on the Sunday, where I will meet my friend, Irene. We have planned our trip carefully, allowing flexible stays at various places, with our eventual arrival home about 12th September.
Our first few days will take us from Longreach to Winton, Boulia, Mt Isa, Cloncurry, maybe Lawn Hill, Normanton and Karumba, where Irene intends that I should "dip my toe in the Gulf"!
What an excitement - the only part of Queensland that I have seen is Brampton Is - on our honeymoon in 1970.

Painting - at last

I have decided to set myself a goal - I will work towards an exhibition in November; so I have a weekly routine of at least 2 days painting. I came home from Wiluna so inspired that I decided this time I won't let time fly away. I am pleased with my progress so far, having several paintings on the go and a few only needing minor details when they dry. I'm excited.

July activities

This week I have been looking after Luna, Michele and Andy's dog. She is a little hussy and she gives Byron a hard time, taking over his bed whenever she has the opportunity. But at least she acknowledges me as top dog, and so I continue to assert myself and boost Byron's confidence. I was pleased to see that today the game of chasey had Byron as the chaser ... good boy!
Yesterday when I arrived home I found the back deck covered with what looked like snow, but what was actually the insides of Luna's bed - they had torn it in half and the stuffing had floated everywhere. I sewed her a new mattress and stuffed it with all I collected - she's a lucky girl.

Newsletter from SW WA

Newsletter 5
…and so I leave Wiluna with mixed thoughts: I’ve had a most incredible time; I look forward to the south west of WA; I wish I could stay to help and to continue to enjoy; I’ve been away from my home and family for ages and I miss them all.
Marce and the children met me at Skipper’s air port; how excited the littlies were, it was marvelous to see them again. Bailey proudly lent me her pretty bedroom and we settled into a young family’s domestic bliss. I really enjoyed myself and I very much admire Marce and Al for all their love and hard work, it is NOT easy.
Hearing that two of the Wiluna artists had been taken to Royal Perth hospital, Marcie kindly took me to town so I could visit Sheila Yakka Jones and Nyapurla Morgan. Sheila is diabetic and her trip to hospital was for an organised treatment, but Nyapurla was flown down by the Flying Doctor with pneumonia! Heather and I had been upset to hear about this because we were so worried about her condition on the trip, we took her to the Warakurna Health Centre where she was carefully checked over by a nurse and again be a doctor. At that time, she did not have pneumonia, but we really tried to care well for her in the ensuing days of our Desert Art Tour.
Coincidentally, I met Sheila in the foyer of the hospital; she was visited by young family and she was off on a walk. How surprised she was to hear I had come to visit her! I gave her a copy of the photo of us all at Laverton, standing as a group by the bus. Knowing she is so on the ball and obviously well looked after by family, I went on up to find Nyapurla – she cried! … totally surprised by a visit from anyone, least of all me. She is one of our (Heather and my) favourites. She is a very cheerful lady and she hugs those she likes and shows emotion – unlike many of the other indigenous people we know. She even hugged Basil Hall! Now that is most unusual, for an indigenous lady to hug a white man. We love her. I sat with her for some time and she insisted I display her photo of the Desert Art Tour group on the wall next to her bed. She was very proud when I told her room mates and nurses that she is one of the best artists in Wiluna. Although she asked me for money, I said I was not able to. Not knowing what the future held for her visit, I paid for two days of television for her and I included in our conversation the lady opposite who was able to translate for her a bit with nurses – Nyapurla has a different language from the usual Martu people of the area round Wiluna. This lady, who lives in Karatha, had known a man in Leonora who spoke the same language. I hoped that she would be good company for Nyapurla in hospital.
That afternoon I had the opportunity to babysit Bailey and Baxter and Judy came over too. We walked to a great pizza place to collect a take away which we enjoyed before Judy drove back to her hostel for the first time at night. On Friday, after her treatment, Judy collected me and we had lunch with Bailey and the kids at a nice café before setting off for Bunbury for the weekend. The weather was appalling and every time Judy said to watch out for something special, a squall flew through and all we could see was the water logged windscreen and the dim tail lights of the car ahead. Therefore, at that time, I missed the views from the bridges at Mandura and the wonderful sand dunes at Australind; but I saw them on the Monday when I went back to Al and Marcie’s with Judy to collect the art works that I had left at their house!!!! Take two! I bussed to Bunbury on Monday evening and Russell collected me from the bus port.
We had a lovely weekend, shopping (I recovered from my lack of retail therapy that day!) in the very pretty little town with Judy while Russell worked on Saturday; a great dinner at a special restaurant that night; then a Sunday drive that included lunch at Capel Vale Winery and a walk on Peppermint Cove Beach where the WA Grays all spent Easter. Very nice.
On Tuesday I bussed to Busselton and was met by Rosemary MacPherson whom I had met at Wiluna when she camped in Heather’s driveway with Kaye and Graham Swiney in August last year. I was in “hog heaven”; Rosemary has a lovely home and garden that she has built in less than four years. Her art collection is exciting and after working two days each week, Rosemary attends art classes and creates great art works. I am inspired by her experimentation and was delighted by her company. Her lovely dog, Dougie, was a great companion and helped me recover from missing Byron so much. Our last activity together was a folding book with watercolour washes that I will detail when I am at home. What fun!
On Thursday, Kaye and Graham collected us for a drive to Knee Deep Winery and Restaurant where we enjoyed a delicious luncheon. Graham is a font of information and a great story teller, what wonderful hosts they were over those few days – I felt so relaxed and welcome. My map of the area from Busselton to Augusta is now covered with red lines showing all the beautiful places Graham took us to and I took many, many photos! Finally, we all met up again in a great little café for lunch and a quick whip through a local gallery before they waved me off on the Saturday bus to Perth.
My flight from Perth was at a civilized hour and I was greeted by gorgeous Allison at the airport. She has looked after the house and Byron all this time and I am most grateful. She had prepared pumpkin soup and after tea and lots of excited chat, she left, allowing me to enjoy my first night at home.
What an adventure! Love to all
Susie.

4th Newsetter

Newsletter 4
Well, what an experience this holiday has been. A working holiday really; however, my last weekend with Heather was celebrated at Gwalia (pronounced Gorlia) – Google it! The history is amazing.
We went to Lake Ballard first – a salt lake with an amazing installation of metal statues of the local people, you can imagine I went wild with my camera Walking on the damp salt lake was good for the thighs – step one, slip one, it felt like an intricate knitting pattern. Luckily, it was not too hot, so I coped with the time there very well.
Heather booked us into Hoover House in Gwalia for the Friday and Saturday nights. This old home is now a B&B, built by Herbert Hoover as a young man, when he was manager of the gold mine at Gwalia. Later, of course, he became President of the USA. The house has 3 bedrooms which are available for guests. The beds were very comfortable and we enjoyed our stay immensely. This Victorian brick home, surrounded by cool verandahs, is actually on the lip of the open pit gold mine – Sons of Gwalia and about 40 goats roam the upper terraces. Incredible … as are the colours through the day as the sun moves over and lowers to the horizon. I will bore you by insisting you watch the slide shows of my photos.
The whole property is a museum and we were locked in by the cyclone wire gate from 4pm each afternoon - luckily they trusted us with a key to the gate so we could escape to the Leonora pub for dinner if we wished. Down the hill from Hoover House is the ‘ghost’ town of Gwalia. The miners’ houses were built mainly of corrugated iron (Al tells me they are like the Kalgoorlie houses … (which makes sense, because even the Wiluna houses were moved to Kalgoorlie when the mine there closed). Before I came to WA, I had read Roland Roccicchioli’s autobiography (thanks to Irene). I was so taken with the book, I bought one for myself and one for Heather; it gave wonderful descriptions of Gwalia where RR spent his childhood. In Gwalia we walked through his house and several others – a photographer’s paradise.
Another highlight of our weekend was the time we spent at Lake Ballard, walking on the slippery, damp, salt surface to look closely at the sculptures that are sited all over the lake. An amazing spectacle, what textures!. A thousand km in Heather’s Drawstring Studio, who would have thought it! The van travelled very well and brought us safely home to Heather’s shire house.
Heather is facing a difficult environment in the shire, her fabulous work in the galley is clouded by the attitude of others who work in the building. It is a shame to think I can’t stay and offer moral support. I am so impressed with the relationships she has developed with the artists – they really seem to respect her and come to talk to her in her office, even though they expect her to run around after them in the studio.
Although my time here is coming to an end, I have a lovely time ahead before I go home to Mitcham. I will stay with Marcie, Al, Bailey and Baxter in their lovely home in Kensington before driving down to Bunbury with Judy on Friday. In the following week I also hope to see Kaye and Graham Swiney in Busselton, they visited Heather in Wiluna last year while I was there.
What an amazing time I am having. Love to you all, Susie

3rd Newsletter from Wiluna

Wiluna 3
Gidday at last!
After 12 days in the desert with a very mixed group of women, I am finally in the peace of Heather’s little house, enjoying mundane pleasures and loving the fact that we are no longer expected to rush to the aid of someone equally able to do whatever it is we are called on to do. The demands are always very simple :
“Tea; gimme … ; old girl – what dinner?; cooler on; cooler off (air con in the bus); toast; jam; eggs 3; coke; fanta; toilet paper; you carry; you bring me…; ………..mostly in shouts 
There were 6 artists and two young children (4 & 7!) and three are around 70. They had great difficulty getting up and down in the night and they all needed to – we were on duty 24 hours a day for the duration.
Heather arranged the artists’ trip and Sam, the CEO and her partner, Deb, the tourism officer, decided it would be good pd for them to come! They also invited a woman artist (Robin Dale) from Perth to illustrate the write up of the trip. She and I had the task of helping Heather with the artists and certainly Heather and I were constantly on the go. Nevertheless, it was an incredible journey and I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity. My written account will be published by the shire and I have hundreds of terrific photos.
We travelled via Leonora, Laverton. Tjukayirla Roadhouse to Warakurna, where we spent several days in backpackers’ accommodation. Unfortunately, our visit coincided with sorry business so there was not as much painting done as Heather had hoped. But they did one collaborative work with the local ladies and a few individual pieces. Heather had lots of fabulous chats with the Edwina, the Gallery manager, which was invaluable for her.
We were taken out to Walu country one day, led by acclaimed artist Mr Tom Mitchell in his Toyota. He pointed out rock holes and willy willy affected country that are the subject of his fabulous paintings. After digging out the bogged bus, we enjoyed a picnic lunch in a shady spot on his land.
At Blackstone, we were involved in the annual festival – Heather and I set up a fun beauty parlour and decorated the hair and nails of many locals. Robin sold second hand clothes that she and a Perth Op shop had sent up for the occasion. The art work in Blackstone is also amazing and Anthony, the Gallery Manager was again a great help to Heather. We were invited out to a clay pan where we watched ladies traditional dances and we were thrilled to be invited to learn 2 dances with them. What a privilege. Staying altogether in one room of an unused child care centre / kindergarten, was an experience in itself and many midnight giggles and whispered comments accompanied the incredible human orchestral sounds within whose clouds we lay.
We called at Singing Rocks on the way out of Blackstone – a sacred site with rock paintings and musical tors which rang when struck by tossed rocks. This was the site of the original Blackstone community when the people moved away from Warburton in the 70’s.
We stayed at a roadhouse in Warburton and our last night on the road was at Laverton Downs Station, where we were actually served a delicious 3 course meal in the old homestead. What bliss!!!!! No cooking and washing up. Everyone accommodated in different groups in rooms!!!!!
Yay.
For the last few days, after helping to scour the bus, I have been writing up the journey for a publication for the shire. Hope it is received with appropriate acceptance!!
Tomorrow, Friday, May 15, Heather and I are going to Lake Ballard to see the amazing Gormley sculptures and back to Gwalia to stay in Hoover House for 2 nights. We are keen to fossick at Gwalia, since reading Roland R’s autobiography. Hopefully, Leonora will provide good food shopping opportunities to stock up Heather’s pantry, since the shop at Wiluna is the most pathetic excuse for a shop that one could imagine. Empty shelves all through all the time are the go. Must be a bit like shopping in Russia, Judy. I also hope to catch the PO on our way through tomorrow, since the one here is not reliable. I have some stuff to post home and I want it to arrive in Mitcham.
The time here has flown, I can’t believe I go next Wednesday. Lots to do before then.
Love and hugs to you all
Susie

2nd Newsletter

Wiluna 2
What a week this has been! The Print making workshop in Tjukurba Gallery was a great success. Basil Hall, print maker from Darwin, arrived on the 9:30 flight from Perth. After settling into his accommodation in the shire complex and a quick cup of coffee, he immediately started preparing for the workshop. The new printer was set up, wood-cut blocks and lino boards were prepared. Fortunately, no artists arrived to work; a couple popped in to see what was happening and they were interested in the preparations.
The next day, after Basil explained all the processes, the artists set to work enthusiastically, finishing their first cuts very quickly. Then they had to wait while we printed off a limited edition of each block. That was very hard because they are not used to waiting and most started a second and even a third, which meant we had more and more printing to do! Most wood blocks were printed 3 – 4times, after each cut, each time with a new colour. Some of those editions are stunning.
On another occasion, they experimented with lino cuts, which is easier than the wood, particularly for the 3 elders. One artist took a couple of wood blocks to have a go at pocker work at home while sitting around the fire. That work is also special, because these blocks were also printed and “cut” 3 times. Punugraphs, as they are called, are usually only printed in one colour, but on this occasion, it too was worked on at the fire over 3 nights and so they both had 3 colours – a breakthrough for Tjukurba Gallery, since no one else does that.
Heather, Basil and I had a ball, even though the days printing were very long – one night till 9 pm. and 3 days with little or no lunch time. The final results will be most popular, indeed, several have been sold before they are even signed, numbered and ready to go.
Basil left on Friday and because Saturday was Anzac Day, there was no rest for these wicked ladies. Up at 4ish for the Anzac Dawn service, Heather was roped in to read a long passage. Well, what a performance. They had the wrong music for the National Anthem – an instrumental version of the hymn “Oh God our help in ages past, our hope for years to come…..”. The MC at the microphone was singing along, since the words of 4 verses of the national anthem were written in the hand out booklet. He sang on until the music ran out half way through the 3rd verse. I couldn’t believe it – and I couldn’t understand why the 2 women pressing the buttons on the CD player, on the top of the steps just behind the poor man, didn’t turn off the music and let us start again, because no one else sang of course. (Heather calls it the “Spicks and Specks Anzac Service” with guess the song as they play it).
A bbq breakfast was provided by Newmont Jundee mine, snags, bacon, eggs and tomatoes with juice, coffee and toast, all inside, sitting around tables. Very much appreciated after the cold air outside in the dark. Some of the miners wanted to see the gallery, so Heather opened up and we finished up working through until 2pm. One young, English miner bought his mum a painting for Mother’s Day. The preparations for the big trip to Warakurna and Blackstone, which begins on Tuesday filled the rest of the time.
We both needed a Nanna nap in the afternoon, we were so tired. Later on we went for our daily walk, in the dark, before cooking up a nice veggie Thai curry. At last we didn’t have to worry about a work day routine on Sunday morning.
The weather has been around the 30’s and fine this last week, so I have started the little garden on top of kitchen scraps trench and one bean has already shot. I am growing cress on cotton wool in the bedroom and there is a large pot of nicely growing mixed salad sprouts in the kitchen – how healthy is that!
I’m sure that the next newsletter will be fascinating… the trip should be most unusual. I hope you have all looked on the maps to find us – Wiluna, Leonora, Laverton, Warburton, Warakurna, Blackstone and return to Wiluna on the 10th of May.
After all her extra work, Heather will take the following Friday off (15th May) and we will go away on our own to Gwalia, Menzies and Lake Ballard. Thanks to Irene, our interest in Gwalia is enhanced by the great autobiography she lent me by Roland Rocchiccioli “And Be Home By Dark”. I was able to bring Heather a copy and she too, is loving the descriptions, having visited the old town before. We will B&B in the late Pres. Hoover’s house on the lip of the open cut mine. Another wonderful adventure booked up.
It has been great to speak to some of you and sms others. I look forward to showing you photos, will try to send one or two. Thanks to Andrew, you should all be able to open this file, despite the ghastly problems caused by Vista. Sorry everyone who copped it.
Love to you all,
Susie

Newsletters from Wiluna

Hi Everyone,
I arrived in Wiluna at lunchtime on Friday and luckily, Heather was able to collect me herself. I settled in over the weekend, doing Saturday shopping at the supermarket (an experience in itself), walking around the streets late one afternoon evening and through the scrub into the old town another.
Thunder storms brought some great rain and everything looks green again. Heather’s bouganvilleas are a picture, but the poor small citrus trees suffered over summer and need lots of TLC.
We attended a multicultural dinner on Sunday evening, organized by the shire community development officer. Only 6 households turned up; everyone took something to share so we made vegetable curry puffs. The entertainment was obligatory participation in children’s games – musical chairs, a clapping game called concentration and a chasing game called Dog & a Bone. Not my cup of tea; so after slipping in a puddle, I used my very wet trousers and undies as a good reason to excuse myself.
After Heather went to work at 7:45 on Monday, I pottered about the place, doing domestic chores, weeding around one orange tree and digging a compost trench where I will later plant vegies.
Basil Hall from Darwin, arrived by the morning plane from Perth to conduct printing workshops with the artists. We prepared lino, wood blocks and paper, ready for much activity. The 4 artists who came in, promised to return in the afternoon today, but no one arrived. After all our work since Basil arrived, we hope that the rest of the week will bring lots of creative production and plenty of photos too.
It was lovely to receive messages and calls from family and friends on this special day and I thank you all with love and hugs.
On Tuesday the artists came and they were keen to begin woodcut prints. Because they are all at the same stage in their work, they had to wait their turn, so some who had complex designs left earlier than they ought. Hopefully they will be patient tomorrow when they see the success of 2 colours so far on some prints. Basil, Heather and I ran out one at a time for a quick bite of lunch. If we had all left, the artists would have lost enthusiasm and maybe not return tomorrow. That is always a concern in communities.
Tonight we went to a mine dining room for dinner in a group of about 12 shire and agency people. Magellan Mines P/L is along the Meekatharra road and we enjoyed a bottle of red with the tasty and filling meal. 3 courses were available and some of the blokes went back for seconds and thirds.
Love to you all, Susie.

The Long Walk

Tjukurba - Here I Come
The plane slewed out of the bumpy thunder clouds and thumped onto the tarmac. Two of the five passengers looked at each other with raised eyebrows across the narrow aisle of the small aircraft. I had been watching the airstrip slide from side to side through the cockpit windscreen between the heads of the young pilot and co-pilot. Even so, the landing came as a surprise and I couldn’t contain an audible gasp. I hoped the others hadn’t heard, but they probably did.