Winton part 2

Read Winton (ie part 1) first.

While in Winton, we camped behind the Anglican church and did some work for them. We are registered as Bush Church Aid (BCA) Nomads.

My job (Peter) comprised helping with the computer and Lee prepared a lot of craft materials for school scripture. Thewre were some other BCA Nomads there as well. They were from the Blue Mountains. One of the ladies' jobs was sewing.

The husbands were given outside maintenance jobs, including raising and filling in the gaps between the foundations (stumps) and the church floor.

On the second Sunday, we had church at 8:30 am then a service at Winton Hospital and a quick lunch before driving 380 km to Boulia for a 6 pm service. There were 11 extras at this service, from Nambour Uniting Church. They were doing voluntary work in the district repairing airstrips on cattle stations for the Flying Doctor and Flying Pardre.

We were amazed to see an old friend in the group, Graham Warne, who was the minister of Engadine Church of Christ nearly 40 years ago

 

Boulia is a long way from anywhere, about half way between Mt Isa and Birdsville, and has a direct road link (4wd and road trains only) to Alice Springs.

The only settlement between Boulia and Winton is the Middleton Hotel. We stopped for a drink on the way out and for lunch on Monday on the return trip

Boulia is famous for the Min Min Lights, which can occasionally be seen in the isolated country east of town. The first recorded sighting was by a drover who got such a fright he galloped his horse back to Boulia. The exhausted horse dropped dead when he reached town.

The publican at Middleton has seen the Min Min Lights, he said they look a motorbile light in the distance, but sometimes jumped up and down. Their origin is a mystery

This "big sky" photo was taken at the site of the old Min Min Hotel.

This photo is the road from Boulia to Winton. It is bitumen all the way but much of the track is only wide enough for one vehicle. When two cars meet, both take one set of wheels off the bitumen. When you meet a road train, you give him the whole road, and get right off the bitumen.

The long road home, note the shimmer due to the sun and the very flat landscape. Note also the thick Mitchell Grass, due to the heavy rain earlier in the year.

We thoroughly enjoyed our time at Winton. The minister, Bob Witten, and his wife Sue, made us feel very welcome. A country parish like Winton is a huge task, and the Wittens are admirably qualified for the work they are doing at Winton.

Today (14th July) we are at Camooweal 13 km from the Qld/NT border, a week away from beginning our VISE placement. But this will have to wait till the next email.

Thanks to those who have been praying for us in Winton. Please continue to pray for Winton, especially for the church and for the new school chaplain, who started today, a young man from New Zealand named Lorenzo.

God bless,

Peter and Lee.