2007 brought many joys to us as this year journeyed through our individual and collective lives.
Sometimes these joys were small everyday things like a beautiful morning, the fresh country air on our cheeks, Saturday morning brunch on our deck or the birds coming to the feeding dish or the surrounding trees.
We hope life has been able to bring you special, yet simple joys over the last year.
We will try to share some of our special moments (and plans) from this year.
The whole extended family got together in June this year for the first time since H&R were married.
Extended Family on the Deck
The grand occasion was to help celebrate Roger's 50th and Emma’s 18th birthdays plus Tristan’s 20th as well. It turned out to be unforgettable weekend as it coincided with the biggest storm since the 26 May 1974 - "Sygna" storm, massive 1:100 year local flooding in Newcastle CBD, Cardiff and Wallsend and the biggest Hunter River flood since 1971. (If you aren’t familiar with Newcastle - Cardiff and Wallsend are our two nearest neighbouring suburbs.) There was in some doubt as to whether we would be able to go ahead with the party - especially as the power at home was cut (as well as most parts of Newcastle) for more than 24 hours.
Flooding in King Street, Newcastle (less than 100 metres from Roger's office)
The best part was that the storm left a big red boat on the beach providing all our visitors with a glimpse of Newcastle’s temporary tourist attraction – something to see after the celebration lunch on the Sunday afternoon.
Roger received a State Medal (along with hundreds of other paid specialist coordinators, emergency workers and volunteers involved in the emergency response and recovery) for the engineering emergency response that he headed up in Newcastle.
Roger receives State medal from Premier Iemma
The Medal - out of it's case (for a very brief moment)
H & R “escaped” from their busy lives in July to celebrate Roger and Doug's 50th birthdays at Billabong Moon in the Hunter Valley. It was great couple of days sharing lots of great wine, food and friendship. It was a chance to relax as well as visit some smaller Hunter Valley boutique wineries and hear some great stories in the Broke region.
Dark glasses essential for serious wine “tasters”
Doug and Roger went on a Helicopter joy flight to celebrate a final farewell to their youth.
Panoramic view of the Hunter Valley
The concept of short breaks in the Hunter Valley is really growing on H & R so a new venue (this time Cedars – Mount View) was “road tested” in October.
The Creek
This was Emma’s big year and she has :-
- “graduated” from High School
- passed her driver's licence test
- completed her HSC with a 90 in Music and a UAI of 78 (she’s very happy with her results)
- been accepted into Southern Cross Uni in Lismore to study for a Bachelor of Contemporary Music) and starts in up there in late Feb.
- attended (with boyfriend Luke) the combined Church debutante ball in May
- was a backing vocalist in our Hunter Gov’t Schools production – Starstruck. Normally held in June Starstruck was postponed ‘til August due to to the flooding of the Newcastle Entertainment Centre.
- flew over with a large contingent of youth from the Hunter and spent 2 weeks in WA touring around the Busselton – Margaret River region and attending the 2007 NCYC in Perth. A great time for her to self evaluate, reflect and grow in her faith and extend her leadership.
Emma, Tim and Amanda at NCYC
Angus has had an extremely full year with lots of extracurricular activities and the school certificate. He received a Principals award at the Year 10 Graduation reflecting his efforts and maturity for which we’re all very proud.
Sailing continued to fill Angus’s weekends most of this year. He is now the proud owner of a 14ft Arrow Catamaran, having graduated from his 11ft Arafura Cadet (see 2005 Blog) which he hopes to sell soon.
As well as club sailing from Speers Point on Lake Macquarie, he’s become an integral crew member onboard the yacht Following Sea, (a Supersonic 27) sailing every second Sunday with an experienced Croudace Bay SC member and good friend - Michael.
Along with school mate Hamish, they enjoy each others company and joy of sailing and Michael is thrilled with the racing results they have been able to achieve together.
Angus has yet one more family of people who love and care for him through his evolving skill and enthusiasm for sound and stage lighting production for a small local dance and drama company. He’s quickly progressed this year from being an assistant on standby to becoming a permanent member of the production team. They’ve also transferred some of their larger productions to the Hunter Theatre - a brand new 380 seat auditorium at the HSPA (Hunter School of the Performing Arts). The school’s new theatre was a major building project designed and managed by Roger’s project management team (Public Works, Newcastle).
The Hunter Theatre @ Hunter School of the Performing Arts
Unfortunately this new and evolving passion of Angus’s has torn him away from the sailing on some weekends this summer. It’s still a couple of years before he can work the larger theatres in town - by that time he should have quite a resume compiled.
As if he hasn’t got enough on his plate Angus is still committed to the HSPA Senior Concert band (they went to the National Band Comp in Melbourne at Easter time this year and took out 2nd place in their division) and now has been invited to join the school Stage (jazz) Band plus the marching band.
As is the custom, we “escaped” after Christmas to be with our wonderful friends Doug and Lou in Camden and this year Angus came with us. We visited the Zig Zag Railway for the day during this holiday period and had some fun playing on the trains.
A motor bike that he acquired for a VERY good price earlier this year is almost roadworthy and with learners lessons passed and L’s paid for Tristan is now trying out this alternate form of transport. Given the cost of registration and insurance, plus the comfort of his Mazda Metro, we doubt that this phase will last much longer than getting his full bike license. Angus now has his L's and is learning with Roger.
Tristan, Honda, Angus and Mazda Metro
Making Easter Camp happen in 2008 (as a key member of the coordinating team) is pretty high on Tristan’s list of priorities. About 150 young people across the Hunter Valley come to Easter camp at Singleton Showground every year. Our whole family will probably be there in 2008.
Emma and Tristan from Emma's graduation
Roger and Helen joined a few of Helen’s work colleagues in a one day caving adventure that involved exploring deep into the Mammoth Cave - Jenolan's most extensive labyrinth - still the scene of a great deal of continued exploration.
It was a true adventure (Helen needed about a week to recover) - exciting and scary all at the same time.
This could be Helen (but isn't)
The extended Hargans Family Christmas celebration was held on Sunday prior to Christmas at Phil and Heathers (in Burwood) followed by Lucas’ baptism in the evening. Lucas is Helen’s newest nephew born in June.
Phil and Heather announced at the gathering that they would be moving to Launceston in March where Phil has been appointed operations manager of James Boag Brewery (Lion Nathan’s latest acquisition - subject to FIRB approval)
NYE Celebrations seem so long ago now that they would not normally deserve a mention but the pics of us “misbehavin” were worth uploading so here they are.
R & H had lots of fun with wonderful friends from our church family at a dinner + entertainment (period themed) show. It became worthy of inclusion in this year’s News, Stories and Pics blog because of the picture below.
R & H out on the town
R & H are VERY MUCH looking forward to a week’s very relaxing one week holiday on board Pacific Dawn’s “Pacific Glitter” Cruise to Noumea and Isle of Pines from Jan 18 to 25th. The passports have arrived and the bag packing has started already.
Pacific Dawn is the latest member of the P&O Australia fleet operating out of Darling Harbour, Sydney. She arrived in Australia in November for her renaming and her maiden voyage under the new name (she was previously called Regal Princess). With 2050 passengers P&O claim she’s Australia’s first superliner. She has a very distinctive domed entertainment area designed by world-renowned Italian architect Renzo Piano.
Pacific Dawn
If our Christmas message arrived by snail mail and you have an email address it would be great for future greetings if you could send us an email at davison@idl.net.au so we have your email address.
We wish you a very happy and safe Christmas and a wonderful 2008. Love and best wishes,
Roger, Helen, Tristan, Emma and Angus.
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