Tropical Palette

On Easter Sunday, Peter paid a visit to Atherton's conservation park. This was a rain forest walk by a flowing creek. He realised just how different this part of Australia is to what he is used to in Vistoria. It is worth comparing the blog pictures of Gembrook in the autumn with these "all year round" colours he snapped as he walked along the track that day. The walk was a blessing of God, a spiritual moment.

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Atherton Visit

Because Peter's Mum suddenly got very sick and went into hospital, he flew up there at short notice to be with her and his family up there. His brother John picked him up from the Cairns Airport and took him the rest of the way to Atherton. From there it was onto the Atherton Hospital for a visit straight away.

As the days passed and it is now the third day Peter has been up there, his Mum has made good improvement and will soon be allowed to be discharged. This is good news for all the family. Peter can't take the credit for her great improvement. She is simply a pretty tough piece of humanity and it is not her time yet.

Even though they were all together last year, this was the first time they had the opportunity for a family photo. John set up his camera on a tripod and Mum, Dad, and the three sons (Peter, Phillip and John) grouped together for a series of memorable captures. Peter picked what he thought was the best one for use on this blog to share the happy moment.

Chestnut Harvest

There is a special annual event that happens at the Gembrook Retreat that Peter has been working at in the capacity of a builder. It is the Gembrook Retreat chestnut harvest day, and this is a humble attempt to tell the whole world about it.

This year, the Saturday chosen is 19th April, from 11am onwards. Gembrook Retreat is located at 215 Beenak East Road (a dirt road), just out of Gembrook [Melways map 299 E10].

If you are able to come, phone beforehand to help Steve and Jane know numbers. Their phone is (03) 5968 1211. And bring lunch, gloves, bags or baskets for chestnuts and sturdy shoes. Children are most welcome.

Salvation Themes

We have concluded the first term of Childrens Church. It was a short term because Easter was early this year. The five themes built onto each other and pointed to the reason for our Easter celebration. The order they went were: The Ram in the Bush (Abraham and Isaac story), The Passover (Moses in Egypt story), The Law (the Ten Commandments in particular), Jesus crucifixion, and Jesus resurrection. These theme pictures were added to the pin board each Sunday to help make the connections.

Next term will be about living in God's house.

Ride 21

Melway 12: 11D 11E 11F

Barb, Peter and nephew Dave went on a bike ride from Eltham recently. It was the perfect day for it. After parking at Eltham Station we had our obligatory coffee this time at Volumes Cafe across the street. When we were done with coffee, we unpacked the car of three bikes, which just fitted somehow, and we were off, following a prescribed circuit called Ride 21 in our Bike Rides Around Melbourne book. The book recommended that we go by train to Eltham Station but we were picking up Dave on the way from the other direction so we cheated.

The special feature along the circuit was the Maroondah Aqueduct, built in the 1880's to channel water into Melbourne. It snaked its way through the hilly terrain and always at a steady decline so the bike ride beside it, as an incline, was a sensationally easy ride and extremely "restful", sometimes under pine trees sometimes in open country. All the time we were climbing higher and higher, so when we left the aqueduct on a different bike track back to Eltham Station, there were breathtakingly fast downhill slopes to experience, and they were exhilarating. It would have been tough if we had gone in the opposite direction!

We had an enjoyable lunch back at Volumes Cafe to finish off our excursion in style, and yes, we did have plenty of water and iced tea as very necessary refreshment.