Our Flagging Flag

For a long time Peter has felt concerned that Australia has not "bitten the bullet" and opted to change to our national flag design, and to dispense with the "colonial" Union-Jacked flag we have at present. After all, Canada changed their's and they have a sensational design that should last indefinitely.

Most Australians want a change to reflect our multicultural character but we just can't make a collective decision on what the change will be! There has been the occasional competition in past years but the process has stalled somewhere in the corridors power. Pity.

A few years ago Peter posted his preferred version on an internet site which is now non-existent. So here it is afresh. The concept is not super-original since some of the competition designs were similar. The design below incorporates the "Southern Cross" (Constellation Crux) in the sky, over a hot, dry land with a hint of a sunset. Hey, don't laugh! Anything is better than the embarrassment that presents our nation to the world.

High School Musical

We were invited to the Altona Civic Theatre to watch Heathdale Christian College's production of Disney's High School Musical. It was a musical about a musical. We attended the last night and heard afterward that there was not a hiccup. It was a perfect way to celebrate the fuss and fun that the week had been. The energy was apparent, and we could see that everybody, though tired from so many nights at it, was fired up for a good final effort.

We had young friends in the show, Tyler (as the basketball coach) and Alison (one of the skater dudes). We sat with their proud mum, Janet, and their younger sister Stacy. The audience was filled with the friends and family of those on stage, as one would expect for a show like this.

The Heathdale Christian College has been presenting musicals roughly every second year since 1985. Naturally, there have been strained and anxious moments, building up towards each event, but the trouble has always been worth it because it has enhanced friendship and cooperation within the school and local community. And we benefited by seeing an excellent show, a celebration of life by the young.

Gembrook

Last weekend Peter and Gord stayed two nights at the Gembrook Retreat, where they started a carpentry project. Barb and Bec with Piper and Jasper, stayed in Melbourne for some mother and daughter time.

The Gembrook Retreat is a project in progress. Most people who visit and stay at present are there as workers, bringing the place up to a 'retreat' standard. Steve and Jane, and their children, live there and are Quakers. They see this place as their ministry for city people who are searching for a 'space' to rejuvenate their spirits. The panorama shows the majestic vantage point the place has.

Steve, Gord and Peter constructed new internal walls. These walls will be trimmed and insulated by others the following weekend. This was a blessing both ways, because needed rooms were made and the workers gained skills through the challenge.




Gembrook Retreat is five minutes drive out of the town of Gembrook and overlooks a small valley with natural eucalypt growth, and over a few ridges further on is the Bunyip State Forrest. As well as the native flora, there is an large chestnut orchard that produces a massive crop each year and there are numerous deciduous fruit trees, planted by the previous owners. In the Autumn the colours are breathtaking as the picture shows.

Spirit of Tasmania

Barb's sister Donna and her new husband John stayed with us for a few days on their way to set up home in Devonport, Tasmania. Part of the process of moving involved taking their two cars there, and that meant taking the ferry, the Spirit of Tasmania.

Because Bass Strait was blowing a gale that day and the departure time was reset to closer to midnight rather than the usual 9 pm. Donna and John stayed on with us conscious that they might receive further 'delay' notices on their mobiles.

So we saw them off quite late. We had to watch at a distance as both Donna and John, each in their own car, had to queue up behind the hundreds of other vehicles all waiting to drive on. The driving on took ages but we got the idea that the closer to the front of the queue you were the sooner you were to driving off at Devonport.

We took note of all the arrangements because Barb is intending having her 50th birthday party at Donna and John's new home, and we might want to take our car over so that we can do some scenic drives while we are in Tasmania. This will be the first time we have ever visited the island.

The picture shows the entrances in the bow of the ship. The lower entrance was reserved for 'truck loads' of goods, and there seemed to be hundreds of those. The ramp above that entrance led to another opening. This was to an upper deck, for all other vehicles. The whole loading process from start to finish seemed to take hours.

It was a huge ship, doing the crossing to Tasmania from the mainland a number of times each week, effectively Australian's 'highway 1' to Hobart.

Gord

Gord Funk is our intrepid son from Canada. After they married, both Bec and Gord proceeded to fill out reams of government forms, and jump through multiple hoops with uniform precision, in order for Gord to be granted permanent residency in Australia. Laws on this in our country have changed to the point that the subjective notions of love and commitment now have to be proved objectively through testing and endurance. Those that 'crack it' will fall by the wayside. They came through this intensive experience with flying colours and almost by default the approval came. Well done Bec and Gord for patience, persistency, organisational skills, and attention to detail.

Gord brings with him great maturity and stick-ability. With a gal like Bec this is indeed an essential asset. Gord's world has been blown apart and reassembled as a twosome, then as a threesome, and now a foursome. That's awesome. He embraces the surprise and dares to dream.

The recent pic is of proud father and son.

Brothers together

When Peter's Mum had complications after surgery there was a good reason for him to fly to Cairns and spend some time with her. Peter's brother John (Mon) had promptly flown up, and Peter (with Bec, Piper and Jasper) flew up four days after that. Mum who is known as 'Ma' to the grandchildren and great-grandchildren, was slowly recovering on a fluid restricted diet, but was feeing very tired and definitely 'out of sorts'. She was heartened to see her sons: Phillip (who lives up there close by) and John and Peter who flew in to be with her and Dad during this critical time. This was the first time for about 20 years that the brothers have shared the same space together, and the reunion was a great encouragement for their Mum. It was a bonus to have Bec come up as well, bringing Piper and Jasper in tow. Bec's husband Gord would follow a few days later. It was special to see Piper talk with her 'Ma'. The first picture shows 'Ma' with Jasper and Bec.

There were a number of family times up there apart from visiting the hospital each day. There was even a family cricket game which involved chasing Phillip's dogs when they fielded the ball and took off with it. Peter's son Simon also happens to be living near by and he was a part of these family events. Peter's Dad has got his own terminal ailments and has become quite worn out with all the travel each day to the hospital, and we are very appreciative of the support John has given him, doing the driving and cooking each day for him. Fantastic you are, Mon.

This second picture shows John, Phil, Dad, and Peter - a proud father with his three sons.

Mum and Dad are now hoping for a twin lodging at the nearby nursing home with a very good name.

A Night at the Duck

This event came together without the usual drawn out, meticulous planning. It began when Kelli and Bruce wanted to go to a "Pie Night" at the Flying Duck Hotel, Prahran. They were told it was better to come when the roast was on and that was Sunday. OK. Sunday. Bruce's parents, Con and Gina could come. Hey, why not open it up to more people?

So with two days notice the word spread to Kelli's brother Dave as well. She messaged us about it. We messaged our son Dan. When cousins Dave and Dan met they both knew they were out for that night but took a while to realise that it was going to be the same event.

On Sunday, we (P&B), with Michelle picked up Dan and Dave in the afternoon, and visited with Bec, Gord, Piper and Jasper until nightfall. From their place it was a 200 meter walk to the Duck. The picture shows us walking there. It has been pretty amazing out of all the hotels that Kelli has worked in, it is one of the closest to the Funks. But tonight Kelli was sitting with us, and we made up a long table of thirteen (counting Jasper who did not take up a seat or take a bite).

There were six roasts left in the kitchen because the midday meal session had consumed most of that. As it turned out it was not a problem with half of us at least choosing something different. For the record the food has always been good the times we have been there. And Dan must have hollow legs.

The reasons for the event were numerous. Kelli could claim her 22nd birthday (coming up). Michelle could as a special meal with all possible (and local) family members before she departs for Canada in a little over a week. Bruce could as a "meet the parents" night with our first meeting with his parents Con and Gina (future in-law-in-laws). The night was sensational whatever the reason.




There was a fun photo session before we left. This snap shows Dav, Kelli, Bec, Dan, and Michelle, cousins from three branches of the Berkeley family, Donna, Barb, and Chris. A memorable night.