Community Display | Queenstown TAS

Tuesday: 24 March

What a Wonderful Surprise of a Day! — IGA Railway Store Display, Queenstown
You know those days that don’t go to plan, yet turn out to be absolutely beautiful? Today was one of those precious gifts!

A Little Detour Led Us Somewhere Wonderful…
We had been so looking forward to visiting Mountain Heights School first thing this morning, but with a teachers’ strike closing public schools for the day that was not possible, and yet, rather than feeling discouraged, we simply smiled, trusted, and asked — Lord, what do you have for us today instead? The answer was more wonderful than we could have imagined!

Bubsie Draws the Crowds!
We filled up with fuel, found a lovely spot just around the corner from the IGA Railway Store, and by 10 am our dear Bubsie was shining right there in front of the main entrance — and oh my, the people came! All day long, without barely a minute’s pause between visitors, people of all ages wandered over with curiosity and left with warm smiles on their faces. Locals and tourists were so delighted to see Bubsie, and we were just as delighted to meet every single one of them. What a joy it was to also spot some familiar faces from earlier on our journey — people we had met before, crossing paths with us again. It truly felt like family!

A Story That Melted Our Hearts
Among the many beautiful souls we met today, one conversation left us particularly moved. John Hisco came to visit and lovingly shared the story of his grandfather, Arthur Entwistle, and his new bride Violet. In 1927 — can you imagine! — this brave young couple drove a Model T-Ford all the way from Adelaide to Perth across the Nullarbor for their honeymoon. They are believed to have been the very first self-financed private crossing of that legendary stretch. We sat together comparing websites, old photographs and stories, drawing the most wonderful connections with Nevill’s own crossing back in 1925. Our hearts were so full hearing this piece of living history straight from family!

The Precious Conversations That Fill Our Hearts
Dear John’s story is just one of the many treasures we have been gifted along this journey. Everywhere we go, we are welcomed by people who carry the most extraordinary stories of courage, faith, and determination from the pioneering days of this beautiful country. Their resilience in the face of hardship is nothing short of inspiring, and we feel so deeply honoured that they trust us with their stories. Every conversation is a reminder that people matter — their stories matter.

The Sweetest End to a Beautiful Day
We loved every moment so much that we stretched our display all the way to 2:30 pm — and even then, it was hard to pack up and say goodbye! Just as we lovingly loaded Bubsie back into the trailer, a gentle afternoon shower rolled in, as if the sky itself was giving us a little wink. Throughout this incredible day, we were so blessed to share over 100 Overlander books with the most wonderful people — each copy going home with someone whose heart had been touched.

We go to bed tonight with full hearts and grateful souls. This day was such a beautiful reminder that when we put our trust in Him, not even a cancelled visit can stop the blessings from flowing. Thank you, Lord — and thank you to every precious soul who stopped by today.