The Choir Goes On the Road!

The Toukley Ward invited our humble little Senior Missionary Choir to come up to their area (an hour north of the city), and volunteered to host each of us couples for the day. We took the train up, and the hosts assigned to us were Peter and Genny Barr. We met them while we were in Perth--just before they left for him to be Mission President in the Baltic Mission. It was so good to see them. Sister McLaughlin came with us--as her husband was sick and couldn't make the trip.......


They fed us pasta, we laughed and visited, and then they showed us around the area. Down to the sea we went--but it was a windy, stormy day, and the waves were incredible. No surfing for anyone today!

Not too stormy for us all to pose for a minute--just before the rain really hit!

After a fun afternoon of sightseeing, we headed for their chapel for dinner and a program. We were so excited that our new friend, Kylie Giovanni, came to join us. She is a schoolteacher, and we met her at a fish and chips place a couple of weeks ago........

After a chapel tour for Kylie and dinner for all--the program began. There were a variety of different performances, and then it was our turn. Our first number was "Waltzing Matilda." What were we thinking--all of us Americans singing "their" song for a bunch of Australians??? But they told us we gave it a "nice try!"

All the men are really into it--Dad and Elder Osborn singing tenor--right on the front row!
(Sister McKnight is our conductor.)



Dad smiles........................


Mom plays...............

And we ask the audience to join with us as we sing our last chorus of "As I Have Loved You."

Then---Malcolm--the one who invited us, and our emcee for the evening--stands up to say they have a special surprise. They have "lined up" a violin for Sister Nally to play! O my--it was a "clunker" that belongs to the community theater, had been in a moldy case for ages, and had only been played (years ago) by the guy who did those famous notes in "Fiddler on the Roof."

"Da-DAH-da-da-da-daaaaa"--you know--that part?

So---Mom played. ("I Know That My Redeemer Lives"--in two keys.) Thank goodness there was a little pianist who could get through our last-minute "arrangement!"

It was a fun evening, though. And Kylie--visiting here with Peter Barr (our host--and now serving as Bishop of the Toukley Ward) made a lot of friends and seemed to enjoy the evening.

Blankets and Soccer

Mom and some of the sisters have been crocheting baby blankets to donate to a worthy place--and finally found a hospital in the Newcastle area which cares for premature babies and babies with birth defects. We loaded up with Elder and Sister McLaughlin on Satuday--and off we went.

First stop--"The Entrance," a small little village on the shore, where we wandered through the village, visited their craft fair, and enjoyed the sun and blue skies.

Mom and Sister McLaughlin pause to visit with a little "knitting" lady......



The "Fairy Floss Cottage" - cotton candy!

And a little traditional carousel--which has been there for 75 years!

We saw a little boy having a game of chess with his grandpa---

A very "family-friendly" environment...................all on the shore overlooking the ocean.

And--all kinds of little shops! We loved this fishing one.....

Every town in Australia--large or small--has a memorial to their soldiers who have served. They are always labeled, "Lest We Forget," and list the names of soldiers from the particular town who have served.

(Note the reflection of Dad and Elder McLaughlin....)

ANZAC stands for the "Australia-New Zealand Accord"--and the joint army formed for World War I from the two nations.

There was a little train tootling about the area--and the kids love it.

Here we are with the McLaughlins--waiting for our lunch of fish and chips.............

We finally arrived at Cave Beach--a suburb of Newcastle, and met Cassandra Malone, who is president of the women's guild for the children's hospital. She has had five pre-mature babies, all of whom made it! She will see that our little contributions reach the mothers and babies there.

Near Cassandra's house is the beach--of course! Here we are--looking to the right. You can see two ships on the horizon, but we counted 16, all lined up across the horizon, waiting to get into the Newcastle port to load coal, which is mined in the Newcastle area.

And--looking to the left. Beautiful, beautiful!

We ended up at a soccer game, where one of our former elders (Peter Watts) was playing. He was instrumental in helping to form Christian league (from various churches in the area) of teams who wanted to play on Saturdays, rather than on Sunday. "Our" team--the Latter-Day Warriors (in the orange and black), were ahead 2 - 0 when we left.

With Peter at half-time.