Community & School Displays | Townsville & Aitkenvale QLD
Friday: 25 July
Townsville Community Engagement – Right Around Australia
Community Food Service Visit
Early morning media engagements began with Kevin’s 7 AM ABC radio interview, followed by a Kool FM radio interview from Innisfail just after 8 AM. The team then visited the Central Church facility’s weekly community food distribution service, which operates every Friday to support local residents experiencing hardship.
Bubsie’s presence from 8:30 to 10:00 AM generated tremendous enthusiasm among service recipients, with an entire box of books distributed to grateful and excited visitors. Many expressed amazement that such a historic and celebrated project would take time to visit their community gathering.
The morning provided an ideal opportunity for Gordon and Julia Smith to begin their leadership transition as they prepare to guide the team’s journey further north next week, ensuring continuity in both project management and community engagement approaches.
Friday: 25 July
Riverside School Visit
The team’s next destination was Riverside School, beautifully situated alongside the Ross River. Children erupted with excitement as Bubsie arrived and was unloaded from the trailer. The visit commenced with Kevin’s presentation about Nevill and Bubsie’s historic Australian journey in the school library.
Following the presentation, Principal Bronwyn Goodwin addressed the gathering and offered encouragement for the team’s continued journey. A special celebration cake honouring Bubsie’s visit was then shared with all attendees.
The educational program continued with age-appropriate demonstrations for different year groups: Prep through Grade 2, Grades 3-4, and finally Grades 5-6, with older students asking particularly insightful questions. The visit concluded memorably when Principal Bronwyn experienced sitting in Bubsie, generating renewed cheers from delighted students.
The remainder of the day was dedicated to practical tasks, including errands, shopping, and sightseeing for team members. The day concluded with community fellowship as evening approached.
