Pamper Day Quombone

Natasha O’Neill Uniting Care Drought worker

 I headed  out to Quombone to join the team in this great day. We had 20 booked in for this day of fun and pampering.  There were two gentlemen also there for the day - both had hair cuts and a massage and felt so much more relaxed.

I had great conversations with our guests, hearing from young and and longtime residents. The guys, both 5 generation, coping with land size changes as they seek to find ways to make it work. Crop and cattle seem the go- sheep did not work out. The ladies loved it. Their hair cuts and styles -Wow!- the 3 girls knew their craft! Not one unhappy camper- or pamper! Some were not sure if their partners would know who they are.

It is good to see people come in happy but worn down to leave looking and feeling great. The food was great, lots of non- healthy snacks with the odd bit of non- dipped fruit.
 Did it work? Yes, it did. How do I know? I saw their faces. I was told  by many of the farming folk -male and female- their children had a great time with trained child care. The picture on the left taken by Catherine is one of the only live shots. Permission given for this one but for the privacy I left my camera in the car. Having facials is a private moment more so when you have a white beard - ouch!

Who would think behind this school people's lives are transformed 

The Pamper packs where given by Uniting Church Ladies Fellowship from NENW Presbytery.

Loading the car in Tamworth 

Stored in the kitchen 

There is more to this area if you go and look Quombone is the door way to the Macquarie  Marshes. The part I drove to was quite dry. It is a bit better if I'd gone a few more k's down the road but it's well worth a visit out to Coonamble and Quombone. Spend your tourist money at the shop, stay at one of the many motels. If you read my FaceBook page you read how they even change flat rivers.This is one way we can help rural towns -visit and spend money in the shops and services.

The Start of the Marshes 

 I drove round Gulargambone on way through and got a drink. It was beautiful town but sadly many shops had closed up but there was still lots to see.

May we have a very wet Christmas  and a fire free New Year!

HOPE. THE CLOUDS PROMISE  RAIN

As we head into Advent - Hope is it will rain, Joy is it has rained, Peace is we live with this and be gentle to ourselves and each other, Love is God is with us, Christ is in us, the Holy Spirit is all around us.

Merry Christmas  from Phill Matthews Rural Chaplain to NSW 
madpom52@gmail,com  0418627875