TODD RIVER RUNNING - Central Australia

It's normal to see the river banks winding waterless along through the tree's of this inland town.

In the cool of the evening looking across camp fires burn bright sending sparks high into the starry sky.

Indigenous people clustered around keeping warm whilst listening to dream time stories, into the night.

Next day dawning, whilst enjoying a coffee, we are given a warning rain fast approaching - will swiftly flow southward filling every waterhole and river cleansing the earth as it tumbles along.

Through the Alice it flows moving swiftly down river what excitement is felt as we join a group of tourists and locals lined along the bridge above delighted to witness the Todd River running.

In the river bed the water has spread wider, as it twists and turns like a snake, it's top skin shimmering like silver, in the early morning light. Todd River running with delight! The river flowed for a couple of days then receded allowing life to return to normal.

- AMJB

Becalmed by healing

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SILVER TIPPED WINGS

I dream of one day flying high above this earth, Just like an eagle soaring free amongst the clouds.

In the vista below tall mountain peaks and valleys are covered with snow. Over the range as I journeyed on, spread out across the landscape.

A patchwork quilt of fields in warm earth colours of green, brown, ochre and gold with here and there a touch of blue water gleaming in the sunlight whilst a long line of dark green river gums form a perfect binding along the edges.

During this journey a little turbulence is encountered, I falter, twist and fall before re-gaining balance and once again begin to soar high my trusty pilot my side, the perfect guide as we move through the air wings outspread,With wings silver tipped at the edge.

- AMJB

"TIM' of the Australian Outback

A man of the outback, a little stooped, with an inbuilt toughness and strong sense of character recognised in the firmness of his handshake.




Tim's lined weather-beaten face, was a friendly face, with twinkling blue-grey eyes and a direct honest gaze shining forth beneath his battered much loved Akubra.

Tim's skin was burnt mahogany brown from years spent outdoors during his working life as a Drover on Queensland Cattle runs Riding the stock routes in blinding dust storms, swimming across flooded creeks after unexpected rains, spending weeks in the saddle under the harsh summer sun.


Tim and I enjoyed a yarn in the shade of the building whilst he rolled his own cigarette before attending to the day's tasks requiring the use of his many talents about the motel grounds at the Roadhouse at Bedourie with Dawg, a friendly Fox-terrier, his constant companion.

- AMJB

CLIMBING BLACK HILL

Narrow red earth path reaching high,
meandering through thick scrub land,
how much further ahead along this rock strewn difficult pathway until I see the sky?
Close by on narrow ledge the path curved around between trees and crossed over creek beds.

Ancient of rocks glimpsed beneath soft green ferns,
growing in abundance along path edges,
with just a gentle scattering of soft yellow flower heads,
intermingling throughout lush green meadow grass.

Afraid to look down too long lest I stumble and fall,
brief glimpses I gain of Olive trees,
and Red River Gums growing tall!
On weary legs and in some pain ,
I turn around and sit down to rest awhile,
observing my surroundings and the steepness of the terrain.

Along the red earth, rock strewn path below, native shrubs bearing masses of white and red flowers, in quiet abundance grow, whilst bushes with long green thorny spikes warn the hiker
not to get too close!

Climbing higher I am aware of a deep peace surrounding me, and as I stop and listen, the only sound I hear is the whisper of a breeze, through nearby trees and the soft tuneful songs of nearby birds.

I glance over my shoulder as the sun touches the tops of trees down in the valley, highlighting the emerald grass growing beneath.

Retracing my steps I look out across our city and suburbs, my gaze resting on the far expanse of ocean, where the suns rays turn calm deep water silver.

As daylight rapidly fades I move on down, delighting in sunset colours of soft pinks, mauve, orange and rich gold
adorning the night sky.


- AMJB

Black Hill Conservation Park covers an area of 684 hectares and is bounded to the north by the valley of the River Torrens and Gorge Road. To the south it joins Morialta Conservation Park by Fifth Creek and Montacute Road with the suburb of Athelstone adjoining the western boundary of the Park.

The Park conserves spectacular rugged ridges and offers gully scenery. A comprehensive network of management tracks and walking trails exists in the Park together with a wide variety of native plant species ranging from giant River Red Gums in the valleys, to low heath plants on the ridge tops. Common amongst the heaths are the low sheoaks, which give Black Hill its name. The foliage of the sheoaks gradually matures to a dark rusty, almost black colour, as summer progresses so that , looking from the Adelaide Plains, the hill appears to be black in colour.

THE LEYLAND BADGER

By the side of the Birdsville track at Mungerannie, I paused to inspect a remnant of yester-year. Standing amongst drifting desert sands, slowly rusting, tyres deflated, doors, windows and other body parts missing this once proud warrior of the Outback was a reminder of the days when it was driven by the indomitable Tom Kruse fighting his way over rough tracks and through inhospitable country.




Climbing over the tops of the highest red sand dunes and through flooded river-beds, which often resulted in delays of several days.


Tom and the Badger always delivered, always made it through to be eagerly greeted by station residents waiting for Mail and supplies. I salute another true legend of Outback Australia.

Esmond Gerald (Tom) Kruse, born at Waterloo on 28 August 1914, the son of Harry and Ida Kruse, conquered sand hills, sand and dust storms, flies and floods, swollen rivers and creeks, bugs and bogs and numerous mechanical breakdowns but delivered the mail without fail, although sometimes a little late. Between 1930 and 1960, for twenty years once a fortnight, through summer heat or rain, when Tom had the contract, never did the people along the Birdsville track go without their mail. Tom is, and was, an outback legend in his own time.

Tom's truck, a Leyland Badger built in 1936, gave up the ghost in 1957. After being abandoned in Sturt's Stony Desert more than 40 years ago, Tom's Badger has been restored and driven by 85 year old Tom for the last time to its permanent home at the Birdwood Motor Museum. After this last run by Tom Kruse in October 1999, to deliver more than 7000 letters from all over the world, his truck is now housed at the Birdwood Museum. During that trip $12,000 was raised for the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

Tom used to call at such places as Lake Harry, Dulkaninna, Cannuwaukaninna, Ooroowillanie, Mirra Mitta, Mulka Store, Burt's Hole, Mount Fitton, Alton Downs, Mount Gason, Roseberth, Goyder Lagoon, Kalamurina, Kopperamanna, Killalpaninna, Mungarannie, Clifton Hills, Pandie Pandie, New Well also known as by its Aboriginal name Mulkanundracooracooratarraninna, Lyndhurst, Glengyle, Durrie, Birdsville, Clayton Bore, Etadunna, Oodnadatta and numerous other places.

One of Tom Kruse's Leyland Badgers is pictured somewhere along the famous Birdsville Track while carting frame timbers to rebuild the burnt-out Birdsville Hospital, following its first-time fire in 1937. Fred Teague is at the wheel, accompanied by offsider Wally Blucher. Fred was the owner/operator of the Hawker garage from the time he married at the outbreak of war, but had been running the mails for 18 months pre-war on his own account until the time he settled down and was virtually on call for Tom. When the hospital burnt down again almost a quarter of a century later, Fred was at it once more, engaged by Tom Kruse in bringing up the materials for the next rebuild of the hospital.


When he resumed the mail contract after the outbreak of WWII, Tom Kruse bought another Leyland Badger, this time one equipped with a powerful 5.7 litre diesel engine in contrast with the lesser-performing lower-spec'd petrol-engined models he'd run in the past. He rated it as the best of the bunch he'd had up to that stage, but once the war was over and ex-Army disposals sales brought four-wheel drive Blitzwagons into the market, Tom reckoned :"Life became a little easier and we didn't do nearly as much digging out of the sandhills as we had to do with the older trucks."

- AMJB

HOMEWARD BOUND

I may often feel alone in your garden on earth Lord but never completely, as I am aware you are always there by my side as I walk my daily journey along the path of life with a song in my heart trusting you Lord.

You will always remain my loving, faithful true friend and guide. Though the way I have trod has often been rough and steep you have led me, your lost sheep safely up and down Mountain tracks, returning from the darkness into light!

What delight for me to be able to see clearly once more as I gaze out across the ocean from the wide shore. Where sea birds sore high above and children swim or paddle at the water's edge happily building castles in the sand, guided by your almighty hand.

I stand still and listen to the sound of the sea, soothing, comforting as it reaches out to me. There is no where else I wound rather be. I am inspired by God, to capture these precious moments drawing them closer once more.

- AMJB

TEN MINUTES OF FAME - Birdsville Track

I moved to the front stage amid much applause, and with a tremble of my hands and a thumping heart, retold the story of my past journey. Traversing five hundred and seventeen kilometers along a dusty, bumpy unsealed road through an area of Australia's arid outback, down to Marree, along the Birdsville Track.


During the event, I paused as I became aware of the stillness, the lack of sound in the crowded room, and with a quick glance around - noticed only smiling faces, nods of approval and chuckles of enjoyment - as I continued to relate tales from the past, of how the early pioneers struggled on, regardless of dust storms, illness, death and years of drought!


I spoke of Mungerannie where we stopped for lunch, the only place for food, fuel and a place to rest, situated roughly half way along the track where I had a chance to relax and explore a beautiful wetland area and a heated artisan spa pool surrounded by Gum trees, covered in White Corella's and Pink Galah's.


On the road map I noticed the names of many large cattle stations that had strange sounding names, Pandi Pandi, Mungerannie, Oorawilanie and Mulka where there was only the ruins of a store which had once served the Cattle Drovers, Camel Trains and travellers that had passed that way, many decades before.


At Coopers Creek we paused once more to check out a twelve foot steel barge that had been left as a reminder to the passer by, of the inconvenience of rare floods in the region which had isolated properties and disrupted travel and supplies along the inland tracks.


At the end of my talk I was over-whelmed by the support and encouragement,
hearing words of " well done" , "great story, "
"I could hear every word, so clear was your diction,"
Will you come again? A photo please for our news letter!
I left the meeting feeling relieved, elated and gratified my story had been so well received.

- AMJB

My first attempt to drive a large 4WD down Deep Creek!!

IN THE DRIVING SEAT I SAT TRANSFIXED
AS I VIEWED THE ROAD BEFORE ME
NARROW, STEEP AND ROUGH
WITH LARGE BOULDERS AND DEEP RUTS,
TWISTS AND TURNS I WAS NOT CONFIDENT I COULD NEGOTIATE
THIS RUGGED TERRAIN WITH SAFETY.


WAITING DOWN BELOW, BLOW HOLE BEACH
BECKONED TO ME LIKE AN OLD FRIEND
KANGAROO'S WERE GRAZING EACH SIDE OF THE TRACK
SOME HOPPED ACROSS WHILST OTHERS STOPPED AND WATCHED
AS I BUMPED MY WAY FORWARD
EAGER TO REACH THE END!

I HAD NEVER BEEN BEHIND THE WHEEL
OF AS LARGE AND POWERFUL A VEHICLE AS THIS MANUAL FOUR WHEEL DRIVE
I THOUGHT I HAD JUST COME ALONG FOR THE RIDE
I GRIPPED THE STEERING WHEEL SO TIGHT

MY KNUCKLES BEGAN TURNING WHITE
AS SLOWLY I DESCENDED THE TRACK TO THE RIGHT AND WITH
THE OCEAN IN SIGHT I ASKED MY HEAVENLY FATHER TO GUIDE ME SAFELY
WHILST MY FRIEND SAT PATIENTLY AT MY SIDE
THROUGHOUT THE RIDE
I HOPED HIS FAITH IN ME WAS JUSTIFIED!

- AMJB

UP THE TRACK - my first story "Written 28/8/2005"

This is my own adventure, as written on the 28/8/2005 , at that time I had just had surgery for removal of a skin cancer.

The pain in my back and right leg was increasing each step I took up the track. I was determined not to give in, but to reach my objective before turning back!

Eventually the peace and serenity of the area reached through to me, allowing my senses to take in the beauty of the area through which I was passing on this peaceful Sunday morning.

The perfume from the variety of Acacia bushes I brushed past along the way, the sound of a frog croaking in the nearby river and further up river the morning territorial call from Kookaburra's which I was pleased to hear again after a brief absence.

Looking out over the green paddocks of Oats struggling to grow due to a lack of rain, to the cattle eating hay recently distributed that morning and beyond to the distant hills, was for me familiar and a reward for my efforts on reaching the highest point of the track.

I paused awhile absorbing the scene before me, with sulphur crested Cockatoo's screeching noisily as they flew overhead and landed in the adjacent paddock. The chatter from Galah's and tuneful song of the Willy wagtails as they accompanied me on my walk.The comforting presence of my favourite, the Blue Wren that frequent the bush in this area.

I could see the paw prints before me in the sand left by a family of grey Kangaroo's.
I turned and retraced my steps downhill, realising as I slowly moved along how my back pain had eased as I communed with nature and all of God's creatures that lived along the way.

I paused again as I became aware of an unfamiliar small bird, high up in the over-head branches of a Gum tree. The call it made soft and melodious!

The sun rising higher, threw shadows across the track from the many trees and bushes, highlighting the golden wattle our Australian floral emblem.

How privileged and blessed I felt as I returned to the farmhouse for refreshments. I thanked God for his companionship on this wonderful morning on my walk up the track.

- AMJB

A LIGHT THAT SHINES

Let me be like a Light that shines
Through the darkness
Allowing others to see the beam
And be drawn, stumbling
From the deepest shadows
Where feelings of hopelessness
Rejection and aloneness
Have held them bound and chained
To the old ways!

They no longer wish to hide,
Desiring to break free
And embrace with freedom this
NEW LIFE,
For them so long denied!

Help me to reach out to them
Extending my hand of friendship
To pray they grow in confidence
Learning to TRUST again
to let go of anger, rejection and
past hurts and to follow a new pathway
Towards a future filled with hope
Peace and harmony.

Share with them knowledge
From God’s Word and an awareness
Of his constant presence at all times
during this new journey and
when they stumble and fall.

Remind them he is with them
to comfort and guide
and listen to them
as they talk with him in prayer
Learning of the everlasting life offered free
From a forgiving heavenly father
A GOD OF LOVE!

- AMJB

CLIMBING MOUNTAINS

I have set out along many bush tracks
In eager anticipation of all I may see, hear
and smell along the way.

My pace is brisk until I see the first difficult section
of the climb ahead!
Undaunted I move on and with the help of my walking stick
most times, I climb it with ease!

Down we go
into steep valleys below
where every now and then I pause
to admire a tree, a bird, the view
whilst taking a short break
to gain strength anew, to continue

I will not surrender
I will move onward and upward
with God's help
I will rise and conquer
each new challenge
presented along the way!

Often I stumble, then fall
getting up again
I begin to climb
at a slower pace
I must remember it is not a race
I will reach the summit of my Mountain
With God's help and grace.

- AMJB

COLOURS OF THE NIGHT

Quietly I sat and waited as days end drew to a close my gaze lifted skyward whilst I watched as the sun slowly disappeared beyond the horizon.

Nearby trees with birds resting on their branches, added an interesting silhouette to the evening scene as it unfolded before me.

Glorious colour from various shades of Pink, yellow and red in a light blue sky, changed to a golden orange and deep indigo.

The first of the evening stars appeared as darkness enfolded the countryside and Heaven's lights shone brightly from above.

The moon lit a pathway for me as I moved about to ease my cramped limbs and smiled a shivered in the cooler evening air.

I listened to the sounds of the night, a bird calling, a dog barking, people talking, out walking, car's passing.

Wind whispering through the trees.

I thanked God for this moment given me to pause and reflect on this day with the realization of how fortunate I have been throughout my life in being able to hear, see and feel the beauty of my surroundings.

Time to observe the Colours of the Night.

- AMJB

THE GIFT OF GRACE

Red Carnations, a Parlor Palm.
a beautiful book and biscuits
given with gratitude for help received.

These outward gifts I had not sought
God had provided this opportunity
A chance for me to give back
to serve in love and friendship
A time to forget self, in service to my friends
With humility and grace!

- AMJB

WINGS OVER THE OCEAN

I headed towards my home, alone the ache in my head and heart eased as I gazed out across a vast stretch of our Great Southern Seas.

I stood quietly while the wind ruffled my hair It felt delightful, wild and free! My earlier sadness at missing my friend Pete, my usual Sunday companion had passed as I concentrated on the power of God's hand as he whipped up the ocean's waves into an excited dance, as they rushed closely together almost tripping over each other in their eagerness to reach the shore!

Amongst these waves I noticed figures in black, young men pitting their strength against these waves and enjoying the excitement and freedom of the moment! Attached to their bodies, long ropes held a colourful parachute which as it caught the wind, like the wings of Eagles stretched wide it increased their speed on the waves sending them in exhilarating style for quite some distance, before they returned to shore.

On this day I was reminded of the power and majesty of God, of his presence in my life and his forever love.

- AMJB

BROKEN BOUQUET

I awoke in the night, searching blindly around for a light getting up to go and investigate what the noise could have been that disturbed my slumber giving me a fright.

I ventured cautiously into the next room, looking around, everything seemed okay, nothing was on the ground, broken or smashed, but something had definitely fallen down with a crash!

Then on looking above the Piano I noticed, where once a bouquet of colourful flowers had graced my wall it was blank, gone!

It was then I discovered behind the piano, battered and torn, my beautiful Bouquet of Roses lay broken and forlorn!

- AMJB

A Place Of Peace

A place of Peace is
often hard to find
on city streets
bustling with Mankind
rushing about like frantic Ants
before a deluge of rain
their faces blank, intense
as if in pain!

Maybe they do not know of our special friend
who walks with us
and holds our hand
in times of stress
who helps us learn to share and care
and smile
as we walk the extra mile

To bring a needy soul to hear
of the love and forgiveness
found in his Word
and to know they are never alone
as he walks beside them daily
is a wonderful gift to share
during this coming Christmas season


Invite them to enter through the doors
into a Place of Peace
to participate in worship
and join in songs of Praise and thanksgiving
as we celebrate our Saviours birth
A time of grateful praise and thanks
for the gift of Jesus!

- AMJB

MISS PRIM OF DENILIQUIN

Off the Bus, all in a row, we march to school, some with a book and pen eager to learn all they can. Into the classroom we clatter, making lots of noise amid much chatter and speculation of what is in store from Miss Prim the school teacher from Diniliquin.

To our desks we move and are told to be seated, she wraps her cane on the desk and demands us be silent, whilst she reads us a list of school rules.

From this she draws our attention to the blackboard on which she had written her name -----------MISS PRIM, and asks us to repeat it.

In her Black mortarboard, cap and gown she looks very dignified, but with difficulty she is trying to hide her mirth at the situation she has encountered, of students from across the boarder - in particular Miss Nancy, in the nearest front seat, who is trying to outsmart her! With relief for Miss Prim the end of lesson bell is rung and happily we leave her!


DANCING EMU'S! If you've never seen Emu's dance, come along now's your chance, great entertainment for young and old! Dancing Emu's a special treat, we are told by our coach captain as we hurry along Echuca's High Street!

At the door we pause to be greeted by Betty, who bids us come in and be seated! I move to the left in a shop full of toys, what a wonderland full of colours, enchantment and delight for girls and boys!

Row upon row of colourful Teddy Bears, Lions, Tigers, Leopards from the jungle. A farmyard full of cows, sheep, dogs and horses. An exquisite Victorian Dolls house, miniature furniture and people, definitely a shop one should never miss in as friendly an environment as this!

A soft brown monkey gains my attention and with a cheeky smile he tumbles across to settle
on my shoulder, clapping his hands to encourage applause!

At this introduction the curtains part as EMMA and EDDIE from ECHUCA take a sweeping bow at the start of their performance. With some leaps, twists and twirls, these long legged puppets, guided in dance by Betty, who from above with the twist of her wrists and arms, lifts them from a Quick step to a Jive, bringing the audience alive, then with a final bow, kiss and cuddle Emma and Eddie leave us to smile and laugh and reminisce!

- AMJB