Mum Alice's Trip to Port Stephens, March 2009

Robert Tyabji, Sydney, 7-10 March 2009

My intrepid mother Alice, 97, decided to go on a walkabout with nine other seniors from her Dougherty Apartments hostel. They got onto a bus to Port Stephens, 4 hours north of Sydney and checked into a farmhouse for 3 days and 2 nights. They then climbed onto a boat and headed out into the Pacific Ocean to frolic with the dolphins. Mum's account, as published in the April issue of the Dougherty hostel's newsletter, is reproduced below:

Our Trip to Port Stephens

This country has everything! A magnificent lush coastline, superb golden beaches and even the most remote dry countryside offered such beauties as huge old trees and fat cattle. Most of all I loved the peace and fresh air, which we all enjoyed on the lovely Kookaburra Cottage Farm. We could milk a cow, feed a horde of various fowl and even wind a huge python around our necks. Rea was scared but gave in to be photographed. Accommodation was very good, and the care and love given to us by Linda, Rea and Faye was splendid. We also enjoyed watching the dolphins and koalas. Hopefully we can make the trip again to see the whales come in later in the year.