A weekend in Townsville

Last weekend marked two weeks after I was booked to fly back to NZ. It was also my Mum's birthday. When it was looking unlikely that trans-Tasman travel would resume, I started looking at places to go if I was to take a road trip around Queensland.

Then I read that the All Blacks were playing the Springboks in Townsville (as a result of Queensland having low enough cases to host various sporting events). Although I'm not a massive rugby fan, it was an opportunity too good to pass up - especially when tickets were only $49 for a double header: New Zealand vs South Africa and Australia vs Argentina.

I logged into the MIQ lobby/lottery system on Monday morning and was allocated 11,139th in the queue. Naturally I missed out on a space. So I booked a ticket and set about booking accommodation - the only option being an unpowered site at a campground! Not to worry - I could survive a couple of nights in my tent.

I did a couple of walks while I was there (pics below). If the aquarium had been open I would have paid a visit, but it is closed for renovations until 2023!

Friday

Old shopfronts on Flinders St in Townsville

Going for a walk along the Strand

Kissing Point fort

Saturday

View from Mt Marlow (Many Peaks track - a bit of a
misnomer as the track sidled around the hill to the top)

At the stadium nice and early for the game(s)

Capacity crowd, messy game

Sunday

View of Magnetic Island from Castle Hill

News from Timor-Leste: Los Palos delivery

While I was in Timor-Leste about this time last year, MAF International CEO Dave Fyock invited all programmes to submit proposals to obtain a small amount of funding (around US$5,000) for a community project along the lines of Covid relief. Having had a bit of experience writing such documents in my previous life, I talked with Aldo and we set about finding a project that we could do that fit the bill.

Los Palos is the most remote airstrip that we fly to in Timor-Leste - around 12-14 hours by road if the roads are passable (which during the wet season, are not). Aldo was aware of a school that was quite close to the airstrip that was struggling for funds and resources. There were not enough desks and chairs for all the students, so in many classes the children had to sit on the floor. We quickly realised that we couldn't solve this particular problem (other than bring it to the attention of people in positions within the government whom we knew), but we could help on a smaller scale by providing sanitation and learning supplies.

The proposal was accepted in November 2020 but with the change of personnel in programme, and the sheer magnitude of acquiring bags, masks, soap, buckets, school books, pens and pencils, it has taken many more months to complete.

Yesterday the Timor-Leste team loaded up the aircraft and flew out to Los Palos to deliver the supplies to the school! You can tell from the photos below how much they appreciated it. It never ceases to amaze me how far a relatively small amount of money can go, if we only try.

Aldo and Nirmala along with 325 kg of supplies for the school

Unloading the aircraft at Los Palos

Transporting the supplies to the school

There are around 450 students at EBC Cristovão de Raça

Aldo presenting a MAF poster to one of the teachers

Pilot Nick Hitchins presents a student with her gift

Nick and Aldo present a box of supplies to one of the teachers