Museum & Historic Vehicle Display | Naracoorte SA

Wednesday: 17 December

A Wonderful Day in Naracoorte: Celebrating History, Cars, and Friendship

Arriving in Naracoorte: Good Food and Great Company
Our hearts were full of excitement as we rolled into Naracoorte just before lunch! After tucking our caravans in snugly at the Museum and getting them hooked up to power, we all set off together on a little adventure to find some lunch. You know how country towns can be at midday – most places take a well-deserved break – but we were blessed to discover a local hotel serving up the most delicious food. Sometimes the best finds are the unexpected ones!
But here’s what made the meal truly unforgettable: we had the absolute joy of celebrating dear Kevin and Glenda’s 53rd wedding anniversary! Fifty-three years! Can you imagine all the love, laughter, and memories they’ve shared? Our hearts just overflowed with happiness for them. We raised our glasses and prayed that God would continue to bless their beautiful marriage with many, many more joyful years together.

Bubsie Takes Center Stage at the Museum
With happy, satisfied tummies and even happier hearts, we made our way back to the Museum. The Australian sun was already turning up the heat (as she loves to do!), so we found the perfect cozy spot for our precious Bubsie in the front display shed of the car club. She looked absolutely magnificent sitting there, like a treasured piece of history coming home.
And oh, the warmth of the community response just filled our hearts! Car club members wandered over with genuine curiosity in their eyes, admiring every detail of the car and eagerly scooping up copies of the Overlander book. The National Trust chairperson had been such a blessing, taking the time that morning to distribute books throughout the local businesses, spreading the word about our visit.
Soon we were surrounded by friendly faces! Pastor Fine dropped by with his warm smile, and lovely Karena Brine from the church came to say hello.
As the afternoon sun grew fiercer – soaring well into the 40s (the kind of heat that makes you grateful for any shade you can find!) – visitors naturally began heading home to their cool houses. The Citroën cars that had come to keep Bubsie company made their way home too, and the museum staff decided to close up a little early. We completely understood! We found ourselves a lovely shady spot and simply relaxed together, chatting and laughing as the temperature slowly, mercifully began to drop.

An Evening with the Historic Vehicle Club: Stories and Supper
As the evening brought cooler, gentler temperatures, we gathered with a wonderful group at the Historic Vehicle Club. Small gatherings have such a special intimacy about them, don’t they? Kevin had the honor and joy of sharing the incredible story of the very first car to circumnavigate Australia. You could see the fascination in everyone’s eyes as they imagined what that pioneering journey must have been like – the adventure, the challenges, the absolute determination it took!
The ladies of the club absolutely melted our hearts with their generosity, laying out the most beautiful spread of homemade supper. You know that kind of food – made with love, every bite tasting like home. Country hospitality truly is something extraordinary! It’s these moments of genuine kindness that touch your soul and remind you what really matters in life.
We had such joy giving out Overlander books to everyone gathered there, and we made sure to leave a little stack for the members who couldn’t make it that evening. No one should miss out on being part of the story!
Pastor Fine shared some encouraging news – he’d made some wonderful contacts from the meeting. These connections, these relationships we build along the way, they’re the real treasures of any journey. Sweet Karena Brine joined us again (what a blessing she’s been!), and we made absolutely sure to ask her to pass along our deepest, most heartfelt thanks to Sharyn Hole. Sharyn had organized everything so beautifully in Naracoorte, and we wanted her to know just how much her efforts meant to us.

Carrying Warmth in Our Hearts
As the stars began to twinkle overhead and the evening wrapped around us like a comfortable blanket, we carefully and lovingly loaded dear Bubsie back into her trailer. We hitched up our caravans – our homes on wheels – and prepared to continue our adventure.
As we pulled away from Naracoorte, our hearts were so full of joy and gratefulness! The genuine welcome, the beautiful hospitality, the warm smiles and open hearts we’d encountered – these are the gifts that money can’t buy and that make traveling through Australia such an absolute blessing.
Off we went toward Keith, where we’d rest our heads for the night, but we carried Naracoorte with us – in our memories, in our hearts, and in the reminder that wherever we go in this beautiful country, there are good people ready to share a smile, a story, and a cup of tea.

Treasuring Every Moment
What a truly special day it was – woven through with threads of friendship, rich with history, and absolutely glowing with the kind of genuine country warmth that reminds you what life’s really all about.

Traveling with history is always an adventure, but it’s the beautiful people we meet along the way – the Kevins and Glendas, the Pastor Fines and Karena Brines, the generous club ladies and curious car enthusiasts – who make every mile truly memorable. This journey isn’t just about where we go; it’s about the hearts we touch and the hearts that touch ours.