Multiple Events | Meekatharra WA
Monday: 23 June
Traveling to Karalundi: A Challenging but Rewarding Journey
The day began with an early start, as the team hit the road by 6:30 am. They met up with Roger Millist and Gary Kent, along with the cameramen, at Bindoon to coordinate the filming required for the day.
While the Raams’ and Amos’ vehicles continued north, the May’s, Roger, and Gary headed off to capture additional footage of Bubsie on the open road, including a gravel farm road. This detour allowed them to give the car a good long run in top gear, rather than just maneuvering around in first gear.
Along the way, the team encountered a minor setback when the trailer’s towball nut came loose, causing it to come unhitched. Fortunately, Roger was able to locate a new towball and drive back to assist the May’s, getting them back on the road quickly.
Despite the challenges, the team pressed on, reaching Mount Magnet in the early afternoon. There, they were able to locate and pray with an Aboriginal lady who had been recently affected by a house fire, offering their support and committing her situation to God.
As the day wore on, the team continued their journey, eventually arriving in Meekatharra just after 5 pm. However, due to a lack of outside power and no contact details for the local church, they decided to stay in the caravan park rather than push on to Karalundi, as their event was scheduled for the following day in Meekatharra.
Overall, the day was marked by both challenges and blessings, as the team navigated the long journey and provided support to those in need along the way.
Tuesday: 24 June
Right Around Australia – Meekatharra Town Display & Filming
A Change of Plans
While initially directed to set up our display at the discovery park, a quick tour around town and chat with the local Shire office led us to a better spot. We positioned Bubsie right near the main shopping area, which turned out to be perfect for connecting with the community.
Meeting the Locals
Our central location drew plenty of curious visitors throughout the day. It was wonderful to meet so many friendly locals, including one couple who had spotted our story on Channel 9’s Sunday evening news bulletin and made the effort to come find us in person.
Capturing History
Meekatharra’s rich heritage provided a stunning backdrop for our visit. The town boasts some remarkable old buildings, including historic hotels that were constructed before 1925. Glenda seized the opportunity to film Bubsie making her entrance into town with these beautiful heritage structures as the perfect setting.
School Visit Invitation
One of our visitors took the initiative to contact the local school and returned with exciting news – we were invited to visit after lunch! It’s always special when communities open their doors and welcome us to share our journey with the next generation.
Tuesday: 24 June continued
Right Around Australia – Meekatharra School & Drone Practice
School Visit Success
After lunch, we made our way to the local school, which caters to students from Reception through Year 12. With around 60 students in attendance (numbers vary daily), we had a wonderful audience eager to meet Bubsie.
Veronica kicked things off with the younger students, who were absolutely delighted by our little car’s unique features, especially the different horn sounds and starter mechanism. Their excitement was infectious as they gathered around to explore every detail.
Roger then engaged with the older students, who came prepared with thoughtful questions about our vintage vehicle. The enthusiasm didn’t stop with the students – all the teaching staff were thrilled to receive copies of our book, and Glenda shared some special Bubsie activity sheets with one of the teachers.
The highlight for Principal Ross Griffin was taking a spin in Bubsie herself – his joy behind the wheel was a perfect end to our school presentation.
Drone Photography Adventure
Following our school visit, we ventured out of town to some scenic bushland with winding gravel tracks – perfect for Warren to practice his drone photography skills. The remote setting provided excellent opportunities to capture Bubsie from unique aerial perspectives.
During our filming session, we had an unexpected visitor – a local gentleman walking his dog who recognised our distinctive van and trailer setup. As a regular viewer of “The Incredible Journey,” he’d spotted us and couldn’t resist coming over for a chat about our adventures.
Evening at Karalundi
Our day concluded with the journey to Karalundi, where we were warmly welcomed and shown to our designated parking spots. We had the pleasure of meeting Principal John Corcoran, who walked us through tomorrow’s planned activities and events.
With everything organised for the next day, we settled into our evening routine – setting up the vans, attending to minor trailer repairs, and hanging out wet cleaning cloths and our gazebo to dry after the weekend’s rain. The day wrapped up perfectly with a shared meal and time to catch up on uploading photos and tackling various administrative tasks.
