MILITARY BALL
Mood:  party time!
MILITARY BALL
In keeping with Remembrance Day, the Military Ball was a celebration of the music and happiness of the end of war.

There were two bands. The Gold Coast Big Band played a selection of pieces of the Big Band Era. There were plenty of couples dancing. Then `CUD' played pop and rock music to cater to the younger audience. It was a family affair in the Tamborine Mountain Coummunity Centre and it was packed with people old and young. Another great event organised by Bernie and the community of Tamborine Mountain.

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SAFFIRE at Mt Tamborine

SAFFIRE guitar quartet at Mt Tamborine
Saffire, the award winning guitar quartet have just played on Mt Tamborine as part of their Renaissance National Tour. What a brilliant performance. Set in the rainforest at St Georges Anglican Church, the venue was supurb. Karin Schaupp, Gareth Koch, Steve and Leonard Grigoryan entertained us with a thrilling performance which had tingles running up and down my spine and such energy flowing. No wonder they are such great artists. If you can possibly get to see them at any of the Australia-wide venues do so. I know a few in the audience will be at their Gold Coast performance on Friday 3rd Nov. 2006 at 8 pm at the Gold Coast Arts Centre. I'll be buying a copy of their Renaissance CD.



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CRAFT EXTRAVAGANZA
Mood:  smelly
Craft Extravaganza
Gosh there are a lot of crafty people on the mountain and their busy fingers have been creating some fine work.

Over the weekend I went to the Craft Extravaganza at the Vonda Youngman Community Centre and bought some hand crafted Christmas gifts. I was supporting the Tamborine Mountain Rural Fire Brigade - a worthy cause.

These are regular events, the next one is Pre Mother's Day on 27th, 28th, 29th April 2007. Mark it in your diary now.

Springtime on the Mountain - Flower and Garden Trail
Mood:  celebratory
Springtime on the Mountain - a garden trail that featured 7 private gardens and the featured floral display at St Georges Church in the rainforest.

My favorite garden was a 7 acre property Glenloch, a newly established garden featuring huge ponds and landscape features of steps, arches and hidden spots with over 2,000 trees and shrubs including Maples (Japanese and Canadian), Magnolias Camellias, Azaleas, Rhododendrons, Liquid Ambers, and Jacarandas and lots more.

As well as the gardens there was lots of activity around the mountain, I sang at St Georges Church with the Tamborine Mountain Ladies Choir on Saturday and we all involved had lots of feedback on how good it was. On the rest of the weekend I listened to live Jazz at Nardoo Nursery, the Earl Greys on Saturday and the Caxton Street jazz on Sunday.

Make it an event on your calendar for next year.

Japanese Homestay
Welcome to Mt Tamborine,
Homestay
Japanese English Students

I have been hosting Japanese students since 2002. Here’s what some of them have to say:

`I really enjoyed staying here and bushwalking. Everyone who I met are very kind and nice. You have good friends, daugher and grandson. “Try harder”, is a good message from nature, I will do that. Thank you for your wonderful food and kindness.’….Kazue

`I had a nice time in Australia. Christine very,very,very very, thank you. Good Luck”….Shiho, NAGOYA CITY AICHI-KEN JAPAN

` I live a nice time in Australia!! You make foods is very very delicious. This house is my second house. I miss you. I want to stay at here all the time. But I want to say “See you again” with a smile Thank you for everything I will never forget.’…. Maiko, 17 from IBARAKI, JAPAN

`I had a good time in Australia. I was very happy to stay with you at your house. This trip was my most unforgettable trip. I like Tamborine very much. I felt the beauty of innumerable stars. It was very beautiful. Christine took me for a drive to many places and it was very interesting. I have a lot of memories of Australia. I will never forget. Thank you for everything, I can’t possibly put my thanks in words. Please come to Japan.’ …Reiko 16 from KYOTO, JAPAN

`I’m lucky to come here and meet you and everyone.. Tamborine is very nice place, Fresh air, little cold wind, beautiful starry sky, beautiful sunset, sweet ice chocolate, your delicious cooking, friendly people and so on. I had many nice memories, I like here very much. I had good time. I want to v isit here again in future. Thank you and see you again… Mutsumi, KYOTO, JAPAN

`I had good time in Australia. Mrs Christine, very thank you. I had good memory. I like Dreamworld, I like Movieworld, I like Australia. I go to sea is happy I like Paradise Country. Thank you Christine’ …..Shota and his brother Daikai were 9 and 11 years old from HAMAMATU IN JAPAN


`I’m a lucky girl because I met you and I had a good time in your house. You are very kind, and your friends are too. My new friends who I met in Australia are my greatest treasures. Not only friends but also memories with you. My life in Australia was very comfortable for me. I will never forget and please make a sushi with Ruby one day. Thank you very much. See you again. PS You ‘re a good singer `Donna, Donna, Donna, Love Yuki’…Yuki is from HYOGOKEN, JAPAN

FROM A PARENT ` Dear Christine
My daughter Reiko came back on August 17th with a big smile on her face.
Though it's a short period, she had a great experience with you.

Thank you so much for taking care of her !

Take care.
Sincerely yours,

Sanae Kumokawa. From KYOTO, JAPAN
I’d like to take this opportunity to say Thank You to all the students who have stayed with me. You have taught me as much as I’ve taught you.

There are a couple of things I’d like to say to prospective students. Remember Australia is in a different season to Japan. Our summer is your winter and our winter is your summer. Mt Tamborine can be quite cold about 5 degrees colder than the Gold Coast.

So please bring appropriate clothing and a jumper.

Australian food, while different to what you are used to, can be quite delicious. Be prepared to eat Australian food. As you can see from the student comments, they find it delicious

Send a card to someone you love today!

Free Birthday Greeting Cards

MARIAN VALLEY
Mood:  bright
My Song

On the road to Binna Burra, in the Gold Coast hinterland lies a valley where the energy is very healing. In the valley is a retreat centre called Marian Valley.

Today I went there with hundreds of others to celebrate the Assumption of Our Lady into Heaven. Coinciding with this was the arrival of Our Lady of Fatima statue on its journey around the world.

At a time when church attendances are dropping, today was a powerful representation of Mary's power in the world. To draw so many devotees to this remote valley to pray for peace, just as a fragile peace has been declared in Lebanon, was a magnificent sight.

Phoenix Rising Concert
Mood:  energetic
A house fire for two of our mountain residents over the weekend has left everyone from the mountain music crowd wanting to do something for them. Keep 22nd July available. Phoenix Rising will be the best concert ever.

OPERA AT SUNSET A SUCCESS
Mood:  celebratory
OPERA AT SUNSET

by Christine A Deacon

OPERA AT SUNSET Christine Deacon

The hills came alive with the sound of music last weekend as Opera Eagle’s Nest and the Tamborine Mountain Combined Choir put on a magnificent performance at Cedar Creek Winery. The backdrop of autumn colours, the sunshine and the sounds of beautiful singing made for a superb day for the large audience.

The event was organized by the Tamborine Mountain Residents Association to raise funds for Careflight which provides life saving support to residents of Tamborine Mountain and much of South East Queensland. A number of other charities also benefited.

The Governor of Queensland Ms Quentin Bryce opened the event as part of Queensland Week and said she loved coming up to Tamborine Mountain and the happy memories she associated with the mountain.

The soprano Sarah Crane, comes from singing the lead in Romeo and Juliet for Opera Queensland.Together with Glenn Lorimer Tenor, Lionel Theunissen, Baritone and Soprano Tania Edmonds they performed a 4 hour program of pieces from popular opera and operetta including many of the ABC’s Top 100 Opera Favorites from a recent polling.

Christine Deacon is a writer, artist and healer. In Australia Down Under she wrote about Australia underwater. She has written a film script about the bushranger Thunderbolt and his Aboriginal wife Mary Ann. She may even be related to him!

Christine A Deacon may be contacted at http://www.geocities.com/christinedeacon/index.html or christinedeacon@dodo.com.au