#11
March 10, 2020
Angaston, South Australia
Flying into Brisbane on February 05, 2020, it was obvious rain clouds had returned to Queensland. Down the coast to Sydney there were faint patches of green where fires had previously left only charred remains. The rains fell long and hard exceeding 400 mm (16 inches) in some areas in one day. The interior remains dry, but the fires are under control or out. Severe fire danger still exists in some parts of the interior.
The foreign and domestic tourists are not here. They cancelled months ago when the fires started to take hold. We are often the only visitors in small towns and where we seek accommodation. We make a point of spending money in these places even if it just amounts to filling up the gas tank.
Billions have been lost, but the Australians people cope. They call it “The Lucky Country”, but they have to endure a lot of hardship to enjoy their luck. In the years we have been coming here, we have experienced cyclones, floods, extreme heat, dust storms and two places we stayed were subsequently razed by bush fire.
Life goes in in this town in the hills above the Barossa Valley. They just celebrated the Angaston Show, a local agricultural fair at the cricket oval. Equestrian events, sheep shearing, equipment displays, produce judging and all of the events you would expect at a small town fair. No midway! It would interfere with the peaceful and friendly nature of the place.
Five sixty plus guys play Neil Diamond and Eagles songs from a temporary bandshell. They all sit when they play, probably due to the heat. Local food trucks provide the food. You can dive into the calamari at the “Squid Truck”.
These fairs, like other events in Australia, are organized by many volunteers. Community service is part of the fabric of the people. Recreation, community works and fire fighting, whether bush or buildings are all covered by unpaid volunteers. You can find a rest stop in the smallest of towns with rest rooms, picnic tables and a shaded area all maintained by volunteers and free for visitors to use.
Now Australia also faces the Corona Virus. They do so with more calm than what has been demonstrated on the news from North America. From here we go to Queenland, then two more stops before Ottawa in April.
Hope to see all of you on the ball field.
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