Community Displays | Nambucca Heads NSW
Monday: 22 September
Nambucca Heads: School Stories and Coastal Farewells
Morning Dew and School Setup
Despite awakening to heavy dew, the day promised beauty as we arrived at Frank Partridge VC School in Nambucca Heads. After signing in, we quickly positioned Bubsie in the student drop-off circle just as children began arriving – perfect timing for immediate engagement.
Sequential Class Presentations
The 5-6 class arrived first, gathering around as Kevin shared Bubsie’s story. Next came the Kindy and 1-2 students, who received Veronica’s age-appropriate version of the tale. An entertaining interlude occurred when a visitor in an interesting car demonstrated his dog’s tricks for the delighted students before classes resumed.
Double Class Coordination Challenge
The morning became wonderfully chaotic when a 3-4 class arrived while Glenda was presenting to another group. Kevin quickly stepped in to handle the second 3-4 class, creating a bustling scene with both groups simultaneously hearing the story and vying for class photos with Bubsie. Sometimes popularity creates pleasant logistical challenges!
Missed Opportunity and Staff Engagement
Unfortunately, the special class arrived during our busiest moment, with two groups congregated around the car. Rather than wait, they returned to their classroom – a reminder that timing in school visits requires flexibility. We ensured all staff, parents, and workers received books alongside the engaging storytelling experience.
Efficient Departure
After signing out and loading Bubsie, we returned to the church property, reflecting on another successful school visit where multiple classes experienced the magic of meeting a 102-year-old car and hearing stories of adventure and perseverance.
Monday: 22 September
Family Fun Afternoon Festivities
Returning to Nambucca Heads SDA Church, we discovered the property transformed into a bustling community fair. Cars filled the yard while the grassed area hosted numerous stalls, a jumping castle, and an ice cream van. Everyone worked energetically, setting up merchandise and food displays.
Diverse Community Stalls and Gazebo Setup
We erected our gazebo and positioned Bubsie underneath with our resource table, joining an impressive array of health stalls, book vendors, food vans, government service displays, and a Pathfinder/Adventurer stall. This diversity created something for every community member’s interests.
Meaningful Connections and Program Impact
The afternoon flourished with personal stories and experiences shared alongside Overlander book distributions. People enjoyed relaxed table conversations while children obviously delighted in the ice cream van. A particularly meaningful encounter came from Hannah, who shared how watching “The Incredible Journey” program led her to start attending this church. Several others also mentioned being regular viewers – demonstrating how media outreach creates lasting community connections.
Afternoon Wind-Down and Future Preparations
After 3:00 pm, stalls began packing up, prompting us to load Bubsie back onto the trailer. We completed additional preparation tasks for upcoming events, ensuring smooth transitions as our coastal journey continues northward.
