Museum Display | Portland VIC

Sunday: 14 December

A Wonderful Day at the Portland Museum

Early Birds Catch the… Museum Visit!
We rolled out of bed bright and early, full of excitement for what the day had in store. After safely parking our caravans at the welcoming Portland SDA Church (with power hookups—thank goodness!), we headed straight to the Car Museum.

A Warm Welcome Despite the Chilly Weather
What a treat it was to be greeted by Pastor Landry, his lovely wife, and their daughter, along with some wonderful members from the church! The museum volunteers were already there with friendly smiles, ready to help us get set up.
Now, let me tell you—the weather outside was absolutely freezing with winds that could knock you sideways! So we were beyond grateful when we learned we’d be setting up indoors where it was nice and cozy. The thoughtful church folks even provided Up’n’Go drinks, biscuits, and water to keep everyone refreshed throughout the day. Talk about hospitality!

The Community Comes Together
As the morning unfolded, people from the community started trickling in, curious and eager to see what we had to share. One of the museum volunteers was particularly enthusiastic—and no wonder! He’d been interviewed on ABC regional radio just the day before to help spread the word about the car coming to the museum. The local newspaper even sent someone to cover the story. How exciting is that?

A Day to Remember
The hours flew by as we chatted with visitors, shared stories, and connected with the community. By the time we started packing up, we’d spoken with around 100 people and handed out approximately 50 Overlander books! As we said our goodbyes and posed for photos, there was such a lovely sense of warmth and connection in the air.
The small but mighty Portland church really outdid themselves—it was truly an amazing effort. Even the museum workers mentioned what a great day they’d had, which warmed our hearts.

To the Next Adventure
With full hearts and happy memories, we crossed the border into South Australia, ready to set up camp at the Mount Gambier church for the next leg of our journey.

What a beautiful day it had been!