Community Display | Concord NSW

Wednesday: 22 October

A Sizzling Summer Afternoon
We travelled to Concord this afternoon knowing it was going to be a very hot day. The temperature soared to 41°C! We set up in a corner carpark in Concord, and with the heat beating down relentlessly, we quickly put up the gazebo to create some much-needed shade. The foot traffic was understandably slow as people wisely stayed indoors, but we managed to hand out a few books to the people who braved the heat. When a car left the carpark, we seized the opportunity and moved to a corner sheltered by the building—and suddenly the foot traffic picked up!

Colourful Support Arrives
Pastor Domenic from Concord Seventh-day Adventist Church arrived with his wife and grandson, bringing wonderful cheer in the form of colourful balloons for the display. It was nap time for the little one, so while Domenic stayed to help us out, his wife took their grandson home to rest.

Heartfelt Encounters
A delightful 91-year-old gentleman was absolutely thrilled to see Bubsie, excited by the fact that she’s only 11 years younger than he is! He was thrilled to receive The Overlander. Then came a wonderful surprise—a lady appeared who had travelled all the way from Perth and had been terribly disappointed to miss the send-off in Bickley. Imagine her shock when she turned the corner and spotted Bubsie on display in Concord! Her face lit up. She’s a devoted fan of The Incredible Journey on 9GEM and has been supporting the program for years.

The Weather Turns
Just as we were settling in, the wind picked up and cloud cover rolled in, dropping the temperature considerably. We gratefully packed away the gazebo. Then a lady from the church arrived with her children in tow, so the balloons came out again and we got to share the story with an eager young audience.

A Hot Finish
When it was time to pack up, we brought the trailer around and drove Bubsie in with a flourish. True to form, just as we were finishing up, one last interested person appeared wanting a book! Despite battling the intense heat and unpredictable wind, it was a rewarding afternoon. We shared between 40 and 50 books with grateful viewers—proof that dedication pays off, no matter what the weather throws at us!