South West Promotional Tour

We had a magic time, going to Williams, Boyup Brook, Wagin, Katanning, Mt Barker and Kojonup to promote “The WILUNA Solution” and “Hiding Place”. We started in that area because Dave was deputy-principal and acting-Principal in Kojonup when Tuck Waldron was still sprinting around football fields or whacking sixes, and the late Sid Simeon ran the bottom pub. They are two people whose memories are etched in Dave’s brain as lovely people. We had a great time in Kojonup all those years ago and it seemed logical to start in that region. Thanks to the people who run Libraries and Community Resource Centres in those towns for the their support in terms of organisation and the local members of the public who came along for the presentations, to chat and to be so hospitable. It was also great to catch up with people from up to five decades, which is going back to high school days for Dave. One reconnection in particular was moving for a range of reasons and he appreciates the time taken by that person to enable it to occur. It was also great to see how determined people in these towns are to preserve the identities of the places and develop new and different ways of growing and developing each place. Just as an example, Williams has the Woolshed and its Community Resource Centre, both of which are not only tourist attractions and providew a service, but offer employment to local people. Most times we tend to berate politicians, but whoever thought up the CRCs deserves compliments. They, and the people who run and work in them, are great.

Making contact with the members of the public in those towns was also fascinating. We continue to be surprised at connections that so many people have to Wiluna. Dave was told by Margie, for example, of a woman of 94 in or neat Williams, whose father was part of the last cattle drive down the Canning Stock Route, a track which features so strongly on “The WILUNA Solution”. Anyway, thanks again to all those we met for the time and the energy you gave. We are thinking of another trek shortly to another region where we lived some years ago.

Here are some photos from this week..