Gembrook Yard Art

Last weekend we stayed in the Hut again. It was nice to reacquaint with the place. No power. Just a gas burner stove top to cook with. A comfortable enough bed. Sounds outside in the night. No mosquitoes for a change. In the morning, Peter started to notice how interesting the accidental yard art looked. There were places where metal and other commercial materials had been left to find their place with the surrounding nature. This will be worth following up in more detail on some later occasion.

Community Night

We were indeed privileged to be included at the second community night of the Gembrook Retreat. There were more children than adults and it seemed just so normal and natural to celebrate such a multigenerational event... to be together... to find meaning and fun together.

Into the Light

We recently joined members of the Whittlesea community to remember Black Saturday (and acknowledge the beginning of Spring 2011) in a “walk through” exhibition. There were images of the surrounding bush, a fractured heart, a choice of pathways, presented as a journey for groups and individuals. There were many creative pieces of group or individual works to contemplate over while on the walk. The occasion was called “Into the Light” and was quite religious from a universal/community perspective.  It was very much a collaborative effort from many parts of the local community and supported financially by a number of local and state institutions. This seemed the next right step in the process of healing out of Black Saturday and accepting a forever changed life ahead.

The Whittlesea mayor Councilor Rex Griffin opened the exhibition and the Whittlesea Singing Group sang a number of songs (very engaging harmonies) as a way of calling us, who were present, to get up and do the reflective walk. 

Whittlesea Primary School kids carried lanterns into the exhibition at dusk as part of the official opening of this three day exhibition in the Cattle Shed of the Whittlesea Showgrounds (10 - 12 September). A humble place to birth new life.

Family Funk Moments

Hi, all you Funk followers. Here are a few snaps we took on the Gembrook working bee day. It was really nice to see the grandkids. We saw Bec and Gord but did not have the presence of mind to grab the camera and catch them too. We went back to their place afterward for a short while. It was a very nice day.

Compost Toilet Doors

This is an update on the state of Gembrook Retreat. It is looking as wonderful as ever, a blessed place. We went there for the monthly working bee. Barb had a nice time with the kids, and Peter went down to the compost toilet and shower building to hang the second door. He was going to stick at it till it fitted. It was a bit slower than normal because there is not any power supply down there. Hand planing the door back was a bit of a trick but in the end it fitted a treat. You can tick that job off. Both doors are special hand-me-downs in pretty good nick.

Woodcraft Elective

Life at the school for Peter now includes a series of woodcraft sessions for a time. Other teachers are offering other electives. The last session for five Wednesdays will be school electives, some of which are cooking, board games, dancing, drama, drawing, science.... and there is one woodcraft elective which is led by Peter and a teacher called Pam. The pictures show the effort of each member of the woodcraft class made on their first session. They all did very well and Peter is very proud of them.

Craft Update

There is not much time these days to post blogs. So much of what happens in a week rushes by without a second look. But here is something from Peter's craft club at the school. Sometimes he gets up to 25 kids in the room, quite a busy time.

The projects continue to change about. Recently there has been a nautical theme. They are pretty easy to make and the kids are proud of their achievements. The raft with the four corks actually floats but the model ships are only for show.