Volunteering At Ballina to Byron Bay Charity Walk

Ballina to Byron Bay Charity Walk

“Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they just have the heart.” “You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give.”

The NSW coast is an unbelievable location with prestige beaches, breathtaking lookouts, fresh seafood and a mix between the beach lifestyle and relaxed country living. We headed out early Sunday morning for the 2 hour drive south to Broken Heads NSW.

Only ten minutes south of Byron Bay, Broken Heads has preserved its unspoilt image to the point that you would swear you were a million miles from development. At the end of a bush road through the littoral rainforest, Broken Heads is the next headland south from the fabled Cape Byron, about 15km away. There's a beach resort and a caravan and camping park right near the beach, and a walking track over the headland to a string of isolated beaches. Even how persevered and unspoilt it is, you don’t what to spend any time here what so ever. Seven Mile Beach Rd is a dead end with massive unregulated tourist car impact. Emergency vehicles have been unable to access Seven Mile Beach. The roadside environment is degraded with pot holes everywhere.  Accidents and near misses are a regular occurrence and the local unemployed environmental hippies in the local caravan park are quick to rip into you if they see a dog in the car park.  We only were here because Kim volunteered in the Ballina To Byron Bay Charity Walk.  She helped out first at the 3nd finish line, drink and food station at Broken Heads and then she moved onto the finish line at Byron Bay.

The Ballina to Byron Bay Coastal Charity Walk started at Missingham Park in Ballina, following the coastline north to Lennox Head, Broken Head, Tallows Beach to Cape Byron Lighthouse finishing at Denning Park in Byron Bay, next to the Surf Life Saving Club. The spectacular scenery creates an awe inspiring backdrop for the Charity Walk. Participants can walk or run at any pace however it is a non-competitive social event. The Charity Walks are a major fundraiser for Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter. The walks are an all-terrain challenge across sand, bush track and roads and should not be underestimated by any walker.

Studies have found that when you stop thinking about your own problems and focus on someone other than yourself, your stress levels start to decrease and your immune system is strengthened and your overall sense of life satisfaction increases. This is because helping someone else interrupts tension-producing patterns and replaces it with a sense of purpose, positive emotions and high confidence levels. That’s why Kim loves volunteering, and being around inspiration people participating in these event.

This was the first time for this event and she loved everyone and will try to pencil it in for next year.

“Volunteers are the only human beings on the face of the earth who reflect this nation's compassion, unselfish caring, patience, and just plain loving one another.”

Day Trip Up The Toowoomba Range

A TRIP UP THE RANGE, TOOWOOMBA

“Never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.”

Up early Saturday morning we headed to the gateway of Queensland’s west, Toowoomba which is a casual two-hour drive from Brisbane and perches on a crest of the Great Dividing Range, 700 metres above sea level. Once a quiet farming community with some well-heeled residents and numerous private schools, the region is now embracing the arts, food and multiculturalism.

A friendly, small-town vibe prevails in the Garden City, with its distinct seasons and heritage buildings.

Australia’s biggest regional inland city is getting a bit hip in its old age. A food-and-arts scene has sprung up to complement the aroma of flowers and the sense of history that permeate Toowoomba’s fresh mountain air.

We headed up the top of the Great Dividing Range and stopped first at Picnic Point. You’ll be mad not to check out the views. It was a great start to the day by taking the short drive up to Picnic Point and feasted our eyes on the Lockyer Valley and Table Top Mountain.

The Picnic Point Cafe and Restaurant offers superb breakfasts (try the wholemeal buttermilk pancakes with bacon and maple syrup or grilled chipolatas with scrambled eggs and herb-crusted tomato) in a stylish space with big windows that make the most of the vantage point. You may be lucky enough to be there on a clear day, like today but a Toowoomba fog can be just as dramatic as last time we were here.

We also recommend The Finch. The café recently doubled in size by expanding into the space next door and is now a light-filled place of exposed brick walls and a high pressed-metal ceiling

Toowoomba isn’t called the Garden City for nothing. You should make time to explore at least a couple of the 150-plus public parks and gardens. Our next stop was a Monument to poet George Essex Evans (1863 -1909).  George was husband of Kim’s 3^rd Great Aunt – Blanche Eglinton. Evans was born in London in 1863, emigrated to Australia in 1881 working initially as a farmer and later as a teacher, journalist and Toowoomba`s Registrar of Births Deaths and Marriages. He contributed articles to numerous journals and newspapers, particularly The Queenslander, for which he wrote as `Christophus`. Two of his books of verse were published, in 1891 and 1897. In 1901 he won the Commonwealth Poetry award for his " Ode for Commonwealth Day." The memorial was located Dudley Street, Webb Park, Toowoomba. Dudley being Kim’s 2^nd Great Grandfather. 

We then decided to head to the heritage-listed Drayton and Toowoomba Cemetery to check the graves of George, Blanche and Sister Amy Eglinton. The cemetery is large, containing over 45,000 burials.

We then headed to one of Toowoomba's most peaceful and beautiful parks - the four and a half hectare Japanese Garden at the University of Southern Queensland. Located on the northern side of the campus, it's Australia's largest and most traditionally designed Japanese stroll garden, and you can take your pup around on a lead.

Its elements of mountain stream and waterfall, Dry Garden, central lake, Azalea Hill, three kilometres of paths, 230 species of Japanese and Australian native trees and plants, and lawns combine in a seamless and restful harmony.

Japanese gardens emphasise the use of rocks to create three dimensional pictures. All of the large rocks in Ju Raku En were placed by the garden's designer, Professor Kinsaku Nakane of Kyoto, to appear naturally dispersed in a random way.

You can stroll through the garden or relax on the seat near the Dry Garden; it's not uncommon to see artists quietly painting a scene or children feeding bread to the fish or birds, which include swans, ducks, geese and smaller natives. Japanese maples provide a riot of autumn colour, while in spring masses of lilac blossoms hang from the Wisteria Pergola - the perfect backdrop for a wedding. Being there nice and early we had the place almost all to ourselves. Only when leaving we noticed more people just coming in.

We headed back to the CBD which is home to one of Australia’s largest outdoor galleries? Yep, you heard right! Toowoomba is now the proud holder of this title and home to over 55 street art murals.

Thanks to the First Coat Festival, Toowoomba’s streets and laneways are awash with an ever-evolving exhibition of colour, giving residents and visitors a whole new reason to get outside and explore.

The festival started in and has added new murals in 2015, 2016 and 2017. Grab your camera and take a little walk to check out these 36 new works of art from the 2015 First Coast Festival.

While checking out the murals, Kim popped in and out of shops.

In the last decade or so Toowoomba has done a 360. It's embraced the fact it's beautiful,  a viable tourist hotspot, and homes some of the richest people in Queensland who don't mind putting a bit of coin back into the town. Toowoomba is known for its gardens and flowers, so be sure to check out all the parks in the area; Laurel Bank, Queens Park and Picnic Point are the top three. Ground Up Espresso is king of the café scene, showing off an insane eggs Benedict and Toby's Estate coffee. The Spotted Cow is the top pick for a craft beer or Saturday night gig.

Trip To Timewarp Festival Palmwoods Sunshine Coast

TimeWarp Festival, Ricks Garage, Palmwoods, Sunshine Coast

“It's just a jump to the left, and then a step to the right, and a shimmy, shimmy, all down the street”

Nothing beats a good old-fashioned road trip. Whether it’s a leisurely Sunday drive or an extended journey to places without postcards, hitting the road offers unbridled freedom. On a quiet Sunday morning we headed to catch up with friends at Woombye once again at Hugga Mug Café.  This quirky little café is great for light breakfast and last time we were in town we had the most amazing food.  Very friendly staff, excellent menu offering full English breakfast ( the works ) or half a brekkie which suited us just fine. With tummies all full we headed to Palmwoods for the TimeWarp Festival. We penciled this festival off at the start of the year and we were glad we attended.

The TimeWarp Festival has been held every year since 2015, at the iconic Ricks Garage in Palmwoods on the Sunshine Coast. The increasingly popular TimeWarp Festival is becoming such a must-do attraction in the little town of Palmwoods we had put this on our top festival priorities. The rural township of Palmwoods is near the eastern foothills of the Blackall Range, close to popular family attractions such as The Big Pineapple, which of course is now 'home' to the highest and biggest Tree Top Challenge Adventure Park in Australia.

When the TimeWarp Festival first started four years ago, it was initially held as a private event, commemorating all the things that make Ricks Garage a Sunshine Coast institution, namely, rockabilly music, hot rods and pin-up dress. Add some good quality local food, an electrifying atmosphere and family entertainment to the mix of this fabulous era, and it soon becomes evident why the Time Warp Festival has become so hugely successful in such a short period of time.

Very quickly the Palmwoods Community and Business Association saw the TimeWarp Festival's benefits to the local economy and were very happy to join forces, helping to bring the Festival to what it is today. In 2016 for the very first time in Palmwoods' history, Margaret Street was actually closed, allowing more than seven thousand local and interstate punters to enjoy the revelry at TimeWarp Festival. It was soon becoming apparent that this festival had serious potential.

The Time Warp Festival celebrates everything Kustom Kulture – hot rods, rockabilly, food and family – based around iconic Rick’s Garage in Palmwoods and showcasing the Sunshine Coast hinterland to over 11,000 daily visitors.

Time Warp creates a beautiful hinterland experience that blends local history with the region’s forward looking coastal culture. Individuals are transported from the bustle of daily life to a centre of regional food, family and revitalisation – built on community values and hospitality whilst showcasing a true hinterland treasure. Kim and Kate loved exploring the Homewares, boutiques and gifts shops like; Little Miss Boh, a beautiful store in a historic building full of charming homewares & decor with a theme of boho and LouLou’s Creations

Ricks Garage Diner is a great place to drop into when exploring Palmwoods, Motville, Maleny. The restaurant admits a buzzing meeting place that will transport visitors back to the 50’s. The walls and ceiling are plastered with old school posters and classic memorabilia and out the front visitors will find the real deal – with vintage cars and bikes lining the street on any given day.

A daytrip to the Sunshine Coast Hinterland usually conjures up ideas of tea, antiques and boutiques. While there might be a comfortable husband’s waiting chair or possibly even a mantique section, it might not be every man’s cup of tea. A bit of live music and a jiving good time at Ricks Palmwoods the one destination on the Sunshine Coast that you have to check off your visit list.

Enjoy milkshakes and super-sized burgers at an upbeat diner, with retro decor and a large beer garden.

We have been very blessed in our life and rewarded with good friends and good health. We are grateful and happy to be able to share this.

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