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Year off around Australia
  • Andrea McClure
  • Andrea McClure

Year off around Australia

Roger and I setting off in the Dmax Ute with our Goldstream caravan in tow to explore our country Leggi altro
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  • Andrea McClureYear off around AustraliaViaggiatore

    Hallam's Hut Strathallan

    29 mar–2 apr, Australia ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    Clare directs us to pull our caravan into Hallam's Hut yard. Roger gets the caravan set up, and unhitched from our ute. Clare is insistent that we are to make use of their accommodation for a break from our van. No wonder we love this family - so caring and generous for sure. Clare leaves us to settle in, telling us to come over and join her, Mitch and Caitlin for lunch at their home. 15 minutes later we drive the 200m to their house (we've got 2 loads of washing with us!) and get fed with yummy freshly made sourdough (Clare's) and homemade sausage rolls. Clare is quick to get us sorted with our washing too - showing me how to program her washing machine to get our washing happening. While we are enjoying catching up with Clare and 'kids', Muddy arrives home from doing a RSA course to help with their community run hotel. We spend a lovely afternoon chatting and relaxing out on their veranda - while Clare is cooking brisket in the BBQ, and I'm getting our washing done and hanging out on their clothesline. Tea tonight is brisket rolls with gravy, followed by slices Clare has made - mmmm. We return here to get to bed, Roger has a shower first, at around 9.30pm.
    30/03/25 Sunday We enjoy a lie in until after 8am. Then Roger gets up and gets organised to cook up our breakfast using the bacon and eggs supplied (yes we are totally spoilt). I get up and do my bit - toasting the sourdough bread and putting on the sauce, avocado and cheese - which then gets Roger's cooked stuff, bacon, egg and mushrooms put on and served with marinated goats cheese. Well no plans today - just want to relax and enjoy this lovely space here. Roger happily works on the ute - sorting some electrical issue, and I enjoy a wonderful catch up call to Sharon. Lunch I just have some fruit as I'm still full from our breakfast, Roger makes up a cheese and vegemite sandwich using Clare's very nice sourdough bread. Continue relaxing at Hallam's Hut - Roger who has gone visiting to the main house, returns with the invite to go to the 'Sunday Sesh' at Clare and Muddy's nearest pub - which is their community run one that they are very involved with. Head off in Clare's vehicle (Ford Everest) just after 3pm. Return in time for tea - just before 6pm. We're having a BBQ here at Hallam's Hut. Clare and Muddy providing all food - chops, sausages, salads. Mitch and Caitlin come over to eat once the food is ready. Lovely evening with this beaut family. They've shown us how to heat the hot tub to use - Rog jumps in it before tea - I wait until after tea, when Hamson's have left us to it. Rog and I have a wonderful soak together. Just as we've finished and come in to go to bed - there is a nice shower of rain. Beaut to go to bed and listen to it on the roof.
    31/03/25 Monday I get up before 7am to go for a walk - lovely strolling about Strathallan property - return 8.30am. Roger has had breakfast, so I have mine and then have a shower. We get organised to go out with Clare this morning. Clare is taking us into Lockhart to show us some of it's sights. We head off shortly after 9.30am.
    Get back around 12.30pm and have lunch with Clare and Muddy at their place. Lovely leftovers - brisket, chicken, salads with fresh sourdough bread. Then Rog and I return here (we walk) to relax and let Clare and Muddy get on with there day. Roger paints up the portable picnic wine table we just got with our box of wine purchase (Roger had it delivered here), and I update our budget books and travel spend app. Around 5pm we head back to Clare and Muddy's - Roger is cooking up his Prawn and Chorizo Paella at their place tonight. Another lovely evening with their company, Mitchell home as well (day student, Caitlin is a boarder - home for weekends). Dessert is chocolate self saucing pudding - Clare does it in the slow cooker like Rog. After our meal, Rog and I return here to have another hot tub - just great! Next is relax before bed. I'm writing this up, before having a read until ready for sleep.
    1/4/25 Tuesday Ohh last day here, Rog has decided we will leave tomorrow. So grateful for the chance of 4 nights here - it has been bliss! We get up after 7.30am. I decided to go for a run - similar route to what I walked yesterday morning. Get back and have my breakfast. Roger has gone over to the main house and sheds area to see what Muddy and family are up to. When he returns he's been 'out and about' learning about grain loading to trucks, around Clare's cattle and having fun on their lawn mower. Next he's tootling around on their Polaris cutting and carting wood. I have a nice relaxing morning - includes a nice catch up call to Barb. On the countdown to our 'in person' catch up at MFSR Bush Festival next week! Lunch today, Roger cooks up sausages (left from BBQ get together the other night) - enjoy with Clare's homemade tomato sauce. Follow with bananas and yoghurt. I get productive and do some 'mending' sewing on a top and my jacket. Roger has a quick 'kip' before getting into his bathers to go and have a swim in the pool (he did this yesterday too). After more relaxing around Hallam's Hut I go and join Roger over at the main house, we sit outside on the veranda again, chatting with Clare - who's got a beef roast happening for us tonight - until Mitch and Caitlin arrive home from school. Caitlin usually boards through the week, but has come home this evening to pack and get organised for her school camp which is happening for the rest of the week (they did say where - uh hum I've forgot). Muddy arrives home shortly after the kids, so we move inside, ready for our tea. Magnificent roast - with roast vegetables and gravy. We don't require dessert tonight!. Roger and I don't stay too long - we're keen to go use the firetub (Rog has it heating) - and want to leave the Hamson family 'to it' - getting Caitlin sorted etc and work and school tomorrow.
    Get back to the firetub - it's warm alright 50°+!! We have to add some cold water and calm the fire (shovel out coals to a near by fire pit)- and we're right to enjoy our soak in no time! Another beautiful night. Head inside to bed around 10pm. I read for a while.
    2/4/25 Wednesday. Up we get around 7.30am. Breakfast - we both have cereal and cuppas. I have a shower, then get into cleaning mode in the Hut. Roger is already well into tidying out in the shed where the tub and outdoor stuff is. Clare has provided clean bedding this morning - so I can happily 'reset' the Hut, ready for its next guests. We're moved out from Hallam's Hut and heading off just after 10am. We stop at the main house to say our goodbyes to Clare - who presents us with a freshly baked (still cooling off) sourdough loaf. Yes we're so fortunate to be part of this family - so wonderful. Now to travel only 70 odd kms to our next camp - Howlong here we come.    Leggi altro

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  • Andrea McClureYear off around AustraliaViaggiatore

    The Pleasant Hills Community Hotel

    30 marzo, Australia ⋅ 🌬 25 °C

    Come here with Clare and Muddy - this is where they met 21 years ago! Since then the pub had closed down - and this community rallied and have purchased it and running it as a community co-op with all adults involved volunteering their time on a roster system to keep it running 3 days a week - Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Clare is Treasurer for it's finances and also cooks 1 night a month. Caitlin is looking forward to turning 14 (13 at present) so she'll be able to work here. Juniors get paid - and gain fantastic work experience.
    We have a beaut couple of hours here - enjoy a few drinks and meet lovely friendly locals. We purchase a takeaway bottle of red wine and a Beanie - memento of a great pub because of community endeavour and spirit.    Leggi altro

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  • Andrea McClureYear off around AustraliaViaggiatore

    Lockhart NSW

    31 marzo, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    Clare brings us to Lockhart. Another lovely well cared for main street 'the veranda town' with all of its historic buildings. Has plenty of sculptures to check out too, as well as great artwork on its water tower.
    Clare drops us off to go visit the museum. Then collects us a while later (easy to spend alot of time in the museum!) to go and have a cuppa down the street.
    We enjoy this sitting outside the cafe, Roger has a baked biscuit, Clare and I share a Citrus tart. While sitting here, I spy a nearby clothing shop - with a sales rack out the front, mmmm like what I can see! So after my cuppa I go and check this out, while Roger and Clare do some grocery shopping. After we've got what we want (I did buy a dress), Clare takes us driving about Lockhart for a tour, then drives us out to Galore Hill. Once we've had a nice look here, we head back 'home' to Clare's place.    Leggi altro

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  • Andrea McClureYear off around AustraliaViaggiatore

    Greens Gunyah Museum Lockhart

    31 marzo, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    $7 each entry fee. Worth it for sure! Amazing displays and great representation of local talent and histories.
    The Doris Golder Gallery is mind blowing to me - with her wool landscapes and portraits! Truly would think they are pencil sketches until you are shown what they are really done with. Incredible work!
    I definitely want to come back to this museum.
    Roger and I had a great time here.    Leggi altro

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  • Andrea McClureYear off around AustraliaViaggiatore

    Howlong NSW

    2 aprile, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    Into town we come - and park in the mainstreet area with the van. We get out for a walk to go to the Bakery (Hamson's assured us it's worth a look) for our morning smoko. Yes it is a lovely Bakery - Roger just disappointed there's no Kitchener buns! He survives with a lovely Beesting with his cappuccino, and I have the cream and choc topped vanilla slice (no drink). Next we head back to our vehicle to go drive and find our overnight spot.
    Later in the day, I walk back into Howlong main street with Roger. He gets some cash out at an ATM, then we check out the Op Shop - I purchase for $1 a mop head that I think will fit my mop at Dunkeld. Then go and look at the IGA supermarket - it's a neat one, and get some groceries. Now happy to walk back to our camping spot (3km return trip).    Leggi altro

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  • Andrea McClureYear off around AustraliaViaggiatore

    Lions Park Howlong NSW

    2–3 apr, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    Roger finds this park he's looking for, and we work out where we'd like to set up for camp. I'm mentioning to Roger that this place isn't listed as a camping spot (on Wiki Camps it is a day use area) - Roger feels sure from talking with Muddy that people can camp overnight here 🤞 We choose our spot - not much set up to do, as we're keeping the ute hitched and not using the awning etc. Now we make our lunch - using Clare's sourdough for our cheese and vegemite sandwiches- yum! Roger's keen to go for a walk to Howlong's shopping area to get some meat from the butcher - I decide I'm happy to stay at the van and catch up our budget books. Roger returns, very pleased with the meat he has purchased, reckons it is a terrific butcher shop. Now we both relax beside the water (me in the caravan lol) reading our books. Mid afternoon Roger decides he'll go for another walk into town and I decide I'd better go too this time. We get back in time to have evening drinks before tea. Roger cooks up chicken snitzels (from Howlong butcher - they are good) and boiled vegetables. Roger has his shower, I get the dishes washed. Now our usual evening relax before bedtime.
    3/04/25 Thursday. Wake up to relief that we haven't been asked to 'move on' or to pay a fine for camping here! We did have more fellow campers arrive yesterday evening- so we weren't alone! We're up around 7.30am and have breakfast - both have porridge, which Roger follows with some sourdough toast. Enjoy our cuppas. Get tidied up and ready to move on by 9am. My main aim this morning is to get our card and birthday gift posted to Robert in the hope it will make it in time for the 10th. Just trying to make sure Robert knows how much we love him and let him know that even though we're away travelling, he's in our thoughts. Have decided 'main' gift - update his runners (footwear), and include a cap, a Beanie (these from places we've enjoyed) and a quick pick Tattslotto ticket. We get this done in Howlong at Howlong Post Office. Now driving to Wodonga - to do a grocery shop.    Leggi altro

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  • Andrea McClureYear off around AustraliaViaggiatore

    Wodonga VIC

    3 aprile, Australia ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    Have to be creative with our parking - we're wanting to do a grocery shop at Aldi - but the car parking around here isn't really set up for long vehicles like us. Roger does well in finding a place to park that we can get out OK.
    We go do our shopping, and then get on the move again. So our visit to Wodonga is really just a drive through - looks to have plenty of shops!    Leggi altro

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  • Andrea McClureYear off around AustraliaViaggiatore

    Tallangatta Showgrounds VIC

    3–4 apr, Australia ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    This is Roger's designated camp spot for today - as we are approaching, we realise by signage and looking towards the showgrounds that there's definitely something 'horsey' going on here! Roger still keen to check it out - so we come in and find the 'bookings office', a caretaker's camp. The lady assures Roger there is room for us so he pays our $25 for the night - listens to her instructions (I've stayed in the ute, so not sure what is being said). Roger drives us past alot of campers with their horses - takes us onto the oval - I'm nervous as think this could be horse arena area - but Rog knows what he's up to. Meets the caretaker at the edge of the oval and works out with her, where we can set up to have use of power. We set up between other caravans - all good. Now that I'm sure we can be here, I'm enjoying this camp, as it reminds me of 'pony club camps' - being surrounded by floats, horses etc. It is a very picturesque area and the showgrounds provide toilet and shower facilities. On investigation - find that we're here on a National Team Yarding Championships weekend - event being run over 3 days - starting tomorrow. So we are here as people have arrived, are arriving and setting up - ready for this evening's briefing and sausage sizzle for competitors and families. Roger and I, once settled, have lunch - open toasties with the last of Clare's yummy sourdough. Had with garlic& truffle sauce, avocado, tomato, salami and cheese - delicious. Now relaxing for the afternoon - while watching the goings on with the horses - very relaxed 'warm ups' and settling them in their temporary pens. Sad we're not going to be here to see all the event - especially Sunday finals, but do have MFSR Bush Festival to make up for it!
    Roger gets a call from Shane (leases Woodbank) enquiry to do with water (setting up more troughs etc and cost share?). That has me sending a text to Leigh - something will need to be sorted.
    Enjoy chatting with neighbouring campers - before returning to our camp. Tea tonight is lamb chops and boiled vegetables, followed by yoghurt and strawberries. Roger goes off for his shower, I do the dishes. I get a call from Leigh, much appreciated, he'll follow up with Shane. Now time to go to bed to read for a while.
    4/4/25 Friday. I get up to go for a jog - decide to head to the Tallangatta Lookout. Leave just before 8am and return after 9am. Roger has had breakfast - purchased over at the Team Yarding and enjoyed watching the action with the event. He's now going to walk down the street into Tallangatta to get some bread, while I have a shower and then go over and get my breakfast at the Team Yarding too.
    Once Roger returns - he joins me at the Team Yarding. We come back from this around 11.30am and finish packing to leave. Get underway before midday.    Leggi altro

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  • Andrea McClureYear off around AustraliaViaggiatore

    Tallangatta Lookout

    4 aprile, Australia ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    This is my destination for my morning run - though believe me, I did not run up the hill here to this lookout - phew! Great morning - though there is a haze for my scenic viewing. Beautiful spot - and I can hear the Team Yarding (started 8am) commentator quite clearly while looking down into the valley where the showgrounds are (a couple of kms away).Leggi altro

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  • Andrea McClureYear off around AustraliaViaggiatore

    Team Yarding Championships

    4 aprile, Australia ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    How lucky are we that these Championships are happening right where we are camping! It is such a great day for it - not too hot and no wind - just a lovely mild sunshine day. I wander over to where the event is taking place - at the stockyards at the far end of the showgrounds oval. I've taken my camp chair with me to have a seat. I come across the friendly campers I chatted with yesterday (the lady anyway - and met their greyhound Blaze). They have a beaut seating place and are happy for me to sit with them. We introduce ourselves - I'm meeting Peter and Katie Meadows. They're travelling around in their motor home 20+ months so far - and intend to keep going as long as they can. Peter (who I'm guessing is younger than me, and even Rog?) has got cancer (3 years since diagnosis) - he tells me his treatment has worked so far in keeping it stable. He looks good - I would not have realised! I go off and get my breakfast - bacon and egg roll and a hot chocolate. Return to my seat, and enjoy watching the team yarding competitions with Peter and Katie with their dog Blaze lazing at our feet. Great to watch the skills of the competitors - gorgeous horses too. Roger arrives, after being down the street, he meets Peter and Katie and happily watches some more team yarding heats with us. Rog and I decide as the morning is almost done - we'd better get going, so we say cheerio to Peter and Katie, and head back to our caravan 200m away.Leggi altro

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  • Andrea McClureYear off around AustraliaViaggiatore

    Boggy Creek Trestle Bridge

    4 aprile, Australia ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    Roger decides we'll have a look at this on our way to Colac Colac. We turn off onto a narrow gravel road to come here - and I think we both got a little nervous as to how we'll manage this checkout with turning around with the caravan. We get to the parking area - which is definitely not fit for larger vehicles. Thankfully as the only other visitor leaves as we arrive, and Rog has great backing skills, he manages to get us turned around. We park and go for the short walk to check this historic bridge out. Amazing how they built them!Leggi altro

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  • Andrea McClureYear off around AustraliaViaggiatore

    Colac Colac Caravan Park VIC

    4 aprile, Australia ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    Pronounced 'Clack clack' Caravan Park, we pull in and stop at the office. We are staying 2 nights and have already booked and paid a deposit of the 1st night's rate - Roger has requested that we use our G'day Parks membership offer of a free night (after a certain amount of bookings - which we've achieved) for our 2nd night here. This causes a little confusion for the lady checking us in - but all works out as requested. We are allocated site 40, so we go to it and settle in. As we're staying 2 nights with power - we happily do our full set up. Once we are, I'm keen to drive into Corryong for our 1st look and to get something for a late lunch. Roger agreeable - he points out we can also go and collect our MFSRBF volunteer kits. We return from our drive into Corryong just before 5pm. Roger gets straight onto preparing for our tea, and I get onto putting 2 loads of washing on. We have our relaxing pre dinner drinks while waiting for the washing to be ready to hang out. I get the washing out on the caravan park's clothing and Roger continues to take care of our roast tea - chicken and vegetables in our BBQ. We enjoy our roast with gravy and some boiled vegetables. I use my Thermie to make us some custard for dessert. We tidy up and do our dishes. While Roger goes off to have his shower, I get enthused and make up a batch of Anzac biscuits. This caravan park is a beauty - it has a lovely modern camp kitchen with 2 ovens! After returning with my cooked biscuits, I tidy and do the dishes, Roger makes us a cuppa. Now relaxing before bed.
    5/4/25 Saturday Get up with Roger at 8am. We have breakfast and get organised to go out for a drive, Roger relaxes reading until I'm ready (dishes and tidy up) - then we organise our eski to take food for us to have lunch out and about. We head off around 10am, and return here 2pm. We get our dry washing off the line for me to fold and pack away. We're relaxing about our camp when we get a call from Tegan. Nice to catch up with her - all is going well. Next I decide to make a batch of yoyo biscuits - then decide to make another batch, different recipe - as an opportunity to compare the results. Unfortunately, I stuffed up the icing on the 2nd batch - didn't put in enough icing sugar. Oh well, still might get an idea of which recipe we like best (one uses plain flour, the 2nd uses SR flour - 2nd one certainly makes more biscuits). By now it's tea time - so we reheat leftovers from last night's tea - roast chicken, vegetables and gravy. Roger has some yoghurt and banana for dessert. Roger goes and has his shower, I do our dishes. Now to relax until bedtime.    Leggi altro

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  • Andrea McClureYear off around AustraliaViaggiatore

    Corryong VIC

    4 aprile, Australia ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    We drive into Corryong - keen to check it out, and see what it looks like before the hustle and bustle with next week's festival being held here. We head straight to the MFSRBF office which is at the back of the MFSR Corryong Visitor Centre. We park, and go into the office and collect our volunteer kits - very exciting, seeing all the Merchandise (organised chaos - stuff stacked all over the place) as well. Next go for a walk to see what we can find for lunch. We're too late in the day for the cafes - so we just catch the Bakery in time to get a pie, beesting and iced coffee (carton) for Roger, and sausage roll, jelly cake and fruit juice for me. We return to the park behind the Visitor Centre (beside where our ute's parked) to sit at a picnic table and enjoy our meal. Next we hop back in the ute - me thinking we'll drive to check out where the festival's held (we do, but a little later) to have Roger find where he can get some medical attention - his ears are playing up. We start with Corryong Medical Clinic - they tell Rog to go to the 'next driveway along' to follow signage to 'Urgent Care Centre'. Roger is 'wrapped' with the service he received here - nurses (2) checked his ears and immediately organised a doctor 'phone consult' as they could see his ears are infected. Doctor prescribed antibiotics (Amoxycillin SNZ capsules 500mg) and organised the script to be sent to the local chemist. We go to chemist and get them (I'm across the road, in the Visitor Centre getting my hatpin). Now go driving about town - checking out festival area and where we'll be camping - before returning to our 'Clack clack' camp.Leggi altro

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  • Andrea McClureYear off around AustraliaViaggiatore

    Cudgewa VIC

    5 aprile, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C

    Come here on our morning drive - stop and check out a vegetable stall someone has set up beside the main street - honesty box for payment. We'd love some carrots - but none on this stall. It has lovely pumpkins, garlic, marrows and lemons. I buy 1 lemon 40c.
    Neat little town. Countryside surrounding is stunning. Now keep driving - Roger's taking us to a waterfall?    Leggi altro

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    Cudgewa Bluff Falls

    5 aprile, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    These are in Burrowa-Pine Mountain National Park. Park in the carpark and walk a short distance to admire. Just gorgeous, would be really something to behold in the wet season, with more water flowing. Roger surprises me - and says he's happy to do the walk to the nearest lookout from here. I have to shake my head - with no mention we could be 'walking around in mountains' I'm not really prepared (wrong shoes and no water/backpack). Anyway - very happy to do this short 1.6km return walk. If prepared - and Roger not stuck waiting on me - I'd enjoy hiking further here.Leggi altro

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    Campbells Lookout B-P M N P

    5 aprile, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    Happy to do this walk from Bluff Falls even though I'd prefer to have my runners on. I'm walking in my Teva sandals - they're great, but I'd prefer full foot coverage when I'm clambering on rocks and going through leafy, moist areas. Luckily Roger has his water bottle - which he's kindly sharing with me (always would). This is a great walk with a stunning view at its turn around point.
    Once we've returned to our ute - there is a picnic table beside the carpark - we decide to have our lunch here. There is already another couple sitting eating at the table - but we figure it's plenty big enough to share! They're quite happy for us to join them - and the wasps that are hovering around the food! Roger and I prepare and make up our own meat and salad sandwiches, which Roger follows with a couple of Anzac biscuits. While eating we chat with the couple - Colin and Bev (guessing a similar age to us) to find they're from Queensland and they've come here to be going to the MFSRBF. Turns out they've been once before, a few years back, and loved it - so they felt the 30th Anniversary event would be a good one to come back for. We're now going to keep an 'eye out for each other' - see if we bump into each other during the event. We all laughingly agree it will be fun to see if we remember each others names if we do! Finish our lunch - and ready to go back to camp.    Leggi altro

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    Walk from Colac Colac into Corryong

    6 aprile, Australia ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    I decide to walk in from Colac Colac Caravan Park (as we're moving out this morning) and go along the walk/bike trail into Corryong. Lovely flat easy walk - just over 6km - with beautiful countryside to enjoy. Even got to watch some Angus bulls 'rough housing' with each other (hopefully just frisky - not too serious) sending up dust! I arrived at our campsite in Corryong after Roger had driven in and got us parked in our site.Leggi altro

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    Jac and Tones Campground Corryong VIC

    6–15 apr, Australia ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    Roger brings our caravan here - to Jacky and Tony's private blocks beside their home within Corryong town boundary. As we're the 1st campers to arrive - Roger has no problem settling our van onto the designated site that is marked out for us. When I arrive, from walking in from Colac Colac, I get greeted by Warren - friend of Jacky and Tony - who is camping here as well (whoops so really he's the 1st here in campground) and acting as 'caretaker' while he's not busy helping volunteering for the festival. Warren leaves us to it - to finish our set up - which Roger has done in no time, so we can sit out under our awning with cuppa and yoyo biscuit and enjoy our view. Apparently we're about 2km from the MFSRBF grounds - and on event days there will be a courtesy bus available from the gate at this property (100m). All good!
    Lunch time sees us make our own (usual!) - Roger having a meat and salad sandwich and I toast up a couple of my open toasties under the grill - bread, avocado, capsicum, tomato, ham, cheese and 'the junior' flavour enhancer - yum!
    After lunch tidy up we decide to go for a walk and test out how long it would take us to walk to the festival area ( turns out 15mins ) as we find it's 1.5km to get there. We have a good time, walking around getting the idea of the layout - it will look very different in a few days time with people and animals (horses, cattle and dogs) all about the place. We call in at the Corryong Golf Club and have a drink, beer and CC. The Golf Club's fairways will turn into a caravan park for this festival - with over 1000 vehicles camping on it. Next we wander down the street to do some grocery shopping at IGA. Then back to our campsite to relax for the rest of the afternoon. We have some cheese and biscuits nibbles etc. Warren comes over for a chat - a lovely 'bushie' - certainly the lovely lay back friendly attitude he's showing with us. Also have Tony and Jacky arrive to introduce themselves and opportunity for us to pay them for our stay $160 - probably be here 9 nights. Enjoy a lovely chat with them as well - meet their two dogs Baz (blue heeler) and Sadie (brindle staffy?) and 2 cats (wandering happily with the dogs) Hudson (dark tabby) and Mighty Mouse (tabby Burmese cross). After they leave, it's time to think tea - Roger prepares his sausage surprise casserole to cook on our campfire! Yes! A campfire at last - it's been a while. Enjoy sitting out beside our fire - have our tea and a cuppa. Before coming back inside the caravan so I can do the dishes and Roger can have his shower. Resting before bed - and making sure I have things 'at hand' to be organised for our 1st volunteer shift at this festival - woo hoo!
    7/4/25 Monday Start with a laugh/shrug! I set my travel clock alarm for 7.30am and we got up with Rog telling me it's 6.30am. Time changed yesterday and I missed the brief! Oh well, plenty of time to get ready for our volunteer shift start of 9am. We have our breakfast and tidy up. Get ourselves in our vollie gear and pack our backpacks with what we want to have on hand ie sunscreen, waterbottle, sunglasses, phone, tissues, lip balm. Now relaxing until we drive to go to 'work'. May walk for our shifts on other days - Roger has a doctor's appointment today at 4.15pm - so we want to be able to get there in time when our shift finishes at 4pm. We leave 8.40am - and return 1.30pm. We have plenty of time to relax this afternoon. Roger heads off around 3.30pm to drive down the street to go to the Post Office (Robert is express posting a bankcard) before attending his doctor's appointment. While Roger away, I'm messaging Lisa to find that her and Tony are arriving in Corryong. When they have started setting up their campsite, Lisa calls me to let me know where they are. Roger gets back - he has another doctor's appointment Thursday morning - when they'll give his ears a good clean out (he has to continue with antibiotics and some drops to soften the gunk in his ears). Roger and I walk to where Lisa and Tony are camped. Return and have tea - reheated sausage surprise. Roger showers and then washes the dishes, I'm watching Australian Idol on 7+ to see who wins 2025 Australian Idol - Marshall Hamburger. Now time for me to put the dishes away, tidy up and get to bed.
    8/4/25 Tuesday. Nice fresh starts in the morning - so Roger gets our diesel heater working half an hour before we get out of bed - wonderful to get up into a warm area. I get up at 7am to have a shower, then join Roger for breakfast. Tidy up and get ready to head off for our 2nd volunteer shift - meant to be 9am to 12 noon. Roger wants to drive and leave earlier so he can take and empty our 'poo cassette' - so that's what we do. Leave here around 8.20am. Return at 2pm. We have a relax at our camp. Roger does his preparations for our tea tonight, we've got Lisa and Tony coming to join us - cooking our meats and vegetables on our campfire (Lisa and Tony bringing their own meat and supplying spuds ready to bake. Roger cooking us all golden syrup dumplings in his camp oven. We have cheese and biscuits for nibbles with our drinks in the afternoon. Warren comes over for a chat for a while - I've taken to him - a true 'bushie', with a great attitude. Lisa and Tony arrive around 5pm. We have a lovely evening, enjoying a beaut meal around the campfire. Glad to have it - the nights get cool. Lisa and Tony head off around 8.30pm. Roger and I tidy up (Lisa and I did dishes earlier), then Roger has his shower. Now relaxing before bed.
    9/4/25 Wednesday My alarm goes off at 7am so we get up and have a leisurely breakfast and get organised for what should be our longest volunteer shift today - starting at 8.30am. We leave here at 8.15am and return around 2.30pm. I have a shower and get into fresh clothes, then Rog does the same. I gather up a load of washing and drive down the street to the Laundromat. Roger stays at the caravan to top up its water tanks and then have a relax at camp. I find there is a queue to use the washing machines (there is 3) and I'm 3rd in line - which quickly grows to more! Luckily the ladies infront of me in the queue only have 1 load each - like me! So I wait around 25 minutes to get a machine - then have 40 minutes to wait until it washes. I go to IGA and buy a loaf of bread, and put it in the parked ute, before going to check out Corryong's evening market being held today. While here, I come across Lisa and Tony, they've enjoyed their 'day off' from volunteering - and have been for a lovely drive around the district. We agree to meet up later before attending the Volunteer 'Welcome BBQ'. I go and collect my washing and return to camp, where Rog and I hang it out to dry on the clothesline Roger has put up about our camp. Now we get ready to go out for our tea, grab a drink as a traveller, and walk to Lisa and Tony's camp so we can all go to the Volunteer BBQ together. We get back from this around 7.30pm. Immediately we both get ready for bed - and just relax until we decide on bedtime. Roger has gone to bed before me as I'm sitting up writing this.
    10/04/25 Thursday. Robert's 26th birthday today - send him messages and try to ring (no reply - work day for him). We get up 7.30am and have a leisurely breakfast. Roger has a doctor's appt at 9.30am, checking on his infected ears. He drives off to do this - will return here and leave the ute to walk to festival. I get organised, light back pack in use, to walk to festival and stay the day. Head off around 9.30am, I'll catch up with Rog later when he walks into the festival too. Quite excited this morning - Barb and Adrian are arriving today.
    We walk back from the festival late in the evening. Roger showers, bedtime.
    11/04/25 Friday. 2nd day of the MFSRBF event. Roger's alarm has us up at 6.30am so we can have our breakfasts and get organised to be ready to walk to catch a bus to get us to the MFSR Re-enactment. We want to get to the bus pick up spot by 8am (which we do) - so we leave at 7.30am. Turns out it feels like we needn't have hurried (though we would have been much further back in the long waiting for the bus queue!) as it's easily 8.45am before buses arrive to collect us (once we get to the venue - we understand why - no dedicated track just for buses, so get caught up with other vehicles)! Had arranged to meet up with Barb and Adrian at the main designated bus pickup spot, but while heading to it, get a call from Barb letting us know that they can catch a bus directly from their campground gate. That works well for them as I get another call from Barb shortly afterwards - letting us know they're already out at the Re-enactment area and where to look for them, while we're still in our queue! Lisa and Tony decided to drive themselves out there at 7.30am - that worked well for them (but not so great on return). Rog and I finally get on a bus......
    We walk back here from MFSRBF event area - it's 11pm so we just get ourselves to bed as soon as we can - Rog has his quick shower.
    12/04/25 Saturday. We get up at 7.30am. I have a shower while Roger has his breakfast. Then while I have my breakfast, Roger goes for a drive to do our 'caravan housekeeping' - dispose of our rubbish and empty the toilet cassette. When he returns we tidy up and get organised to walk down the street for the MFSRBF Street Parade. We leave just before 9am.
    Then return, walking back from festival ground, at around 10pm. Roger has his shower and off to bed. I'm having a cup of tea to relax and warm up and I'm to bed too.
    13/04/25 Sunday. We're up around 7.30am, Roger cooks up the favourite egg and bacon breakfast we enjoy having. Tidy up and get organised for the last day of the event. We leave, walking, before 9am.
    Get back from the Volunteer Thank You BBQ around 10pm. Roger has his shower, and we're to bed.
    14/04/25 Monday. Up we get around 7am. I have a shower to wake up properly and get dressed for my volunteer shift. Roger is straight into his volunteer gear and having his breakfast. I have my breakfast too. Roger is keen to go early so we can drive to the 'dump point' and do our van housekeeping before we start our shift - so we leave just before 8.30am.
    We get back after 4pm. Definitely time for another shower - I'm very grubby! Roger has a shower after me. We've been invited out to tea to the pub tonight with other volunteers - Peter and his wife Leanne............. Rog and I get ready to do this, then walk to Lisa and Tony's campsite to catch the pubs courtesy bus with them. We enjoy a drink or two with Lisa and Tony while we wait for the bus to come get us. It arrives about 6.15pm - so perfect for the 6.30pm booking that's been made. So glad we're doing this - lovely way to finish up our volunteering. Terrific group of people, and beaut pub meals. Bus is ready to take us back to Tony and Lisa's camp at 9pm - works out beautifully. Roger and I walk briskly (cold) back to our caravan. Have a cuppa, tidy up and off to bed.
    15/04/25 Tuesday. Roger gets up around 7am, I stay in bed and read until 7.45am. While I'm having my breakfast (Rog has had his) Roger goes for a drive down the street to do some grocery shopping. When he returns, I'm about to have a shower, and Warren calls over to say goodbye - so I'm caught out still in my PJs. Too bad I'm happy to go out and say cheerio and give Warren a hug - he's a lovely bloke. Once Warren goes, I have my shower and get organised to leave. When we're packed and right to go - Roger and I go and say goodbye to Tony (turns out Jackie away having surgery - but will be home tomorrow) and thank him for their hospitality. We're enjoyed our stay here. We head off around 9.30am.    Leggi altro

  • Andrea McClureYear off around AustraliaViaggiatore

    Check out MFSRBF grounds

    6 aprile, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    Roger and I come for a walk to check out the festival grounds again - it's got more coming in from yesterday's drive around look. Happy that it's quite walkable from our camp - just need to allow 15 minutes to get here. It could be the getting 'home' late in the day that could be interesting lol!
    Next we walk down the street to get a few groceries, before going back to Jac and Tones Campground.    Leggi altro

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  • Andrea McClureYear off around AustraliaViaggiatore

    1st Volunteer Shift MFSR Bush Festival

    7 aprile, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C

    We arrive in good time for our 9am start of shift. We find out from the event office where we should go to start - we meet some people - but not really given any idea what we're doing. Left behind to wait....for someone to give us something to do. Roger jumps in a ute with a worker - but I'm not required (no room in the vehicle) and off they go to do 'stuff'. Another volunteer arrives and waits with me, Vlado, he's a 3rd time volunteer at this event - he reassures me this is fairly normal behaviour by the organisers - we just have to wait until they work out what they can get us to do! Long story short - eventually I helped with putting up hessian as a screen on fencing frames. Had a morning tea break before this - and after this went and had lunch (all provided, slices, bars, chicken salad rolls with Easter eggs). Met up with Roger again before lunch - he'd been delivering gas bottles, working on pipes and electrical leads. After lunch we hung around waiting for further instructions - it turns out, that at this stage all is pretty much 'in hand'. There won't be anything else for us to do today. Just waiting on things to happen before we can proceed - should be plenty to do tomorrow? We're told we can leave early today. We get back to our camp 1.30pm. Today's volunteer shift was meant to be 9am to 4pm. Think I may have done about an hour of actual 'doing stuff'.Leggi altro

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  • Andrea McClureYear off around AustraliaViaggiatore

    2nd Volunteer shift MFSR Bush Festival

    8 aprile, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C

    Get here in plenty of time for our 9am 'start'. Join other vollies at the Volunteer Hub and sit around waiting to be given instructions on what jobs we can be doing. While waiting Lisa and Tony arrive - they're meant to be on a 8am to 10am shift doing something down the main street - but apparently not required to do this, so they've come here to see what else they can do. Wait with us! Peter (one of our Logistics co-ordinators) arrives looking for the couple who did the fairy lights around the trees last year....David and Val respond. They are quickly nominated to lead a team of 6 vollies to get this task done. Lisa, Tony, Rog and I happily get into this crew. This task involves putting up fairy lights in every 2nd tree around the oval. Roger and I work together, and Tony, Lisa and Vlado form a team as well. Roger and I have David join and work with us. This task probably takes around 1 and a half hours then we have morning smoko break. After this, I take Lisa for a drive in our ute to get down the street to the Volunteer office to collect hers and Tony's Volunteer kits. We return back to Roger and Tony to find they are waiting around still for our next job to be organised. By the time Tony and Lisa have their new Volunteer shirts on - there is a job we can help with - putting up eucalypt branches around the oval. This involves a trailer with fresh eucalypt branches being driven around the oval, stopping around every third post to have 2 vollies drop off branches to be cable tied to these posts. Roger and I worked together to get these branches secured to the posts - Lisa and Tony did the same, we alternated around the oval until completed. Now lunch time - nice young fella is serving food at the Volunteer Hub today - he informs us that as long as we are rostered on today (doesn't matter how long) we are welcome to have lunch provided. So we enjoy a nice meat and salad roll with 3 small Easter eggs and cuppas before finishing for the day. Now around 1pm.
    Roger and I drive down the street to do some grocery shopping - and for Roger to go to the Post Office to see if his BankVic replacement card has arrived - it had.
    Lisa and Tony walk back to their caravan - we all intend to catch up this evening at our camp for tea.    Leggi altro

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  • Andrea McClureYear off around AustraliaViaggiatore

    3rd Volunteer Shift MFSR Bush Festival

    9 aprile, Australia ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    Todays shift 8.30am to 4pm. Arrive and sit ourselves at the tables in the Volunteer Hub - waiting to find out what we'll be doing. We have a few things to do, when told what they are, but with many hands on deck we get them done quite quickly. There's a fair bit of waiting around between jobs - for things to happen in the right order, and waiting on how supervisors want things done. Things I helped with today - setting up the whip cracking area, children's play area, VIP drinking and eating area, putting up greenery (eucalypt branches), bar seating area and screens and banners in the Rodeo arena. We enjoyed a lovely morning smoko break - slices and fruit with our cuppas, and at lunchtime chicken burgers and chocolate bars. We were relieved from duties early again - as all under control for at this stage. Headed back to camp after 2pm.Leggi altro

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