Back to school – 28 July 2009

First day back at school for Callum and Conrad after the mid year holiday. Yesterday was a pupil free day so they didn’t have to return until today. Last week we spent three days in Kangaroo Valley and were there for the 40 anniversary of the first moon landing. As it was a New Moon the stars were amazing and with no city lights around the starry sky was amazing. Steven even saw a passing satellite and we could identify lots of constellations. We did lots while we were in Kangaroo Valley but I will have to write about that another time.

Steven had last week off and went back to work yesterday. They boys felt a bit funny about having to go to school today, because they had a great time in their two weeks off, but Conrad came home jumping up and down and telling me what a fantastic day he had and when I picked um Callum he also said that he enjoyed his day. He said in the afternoon he did ‘sewing’, which will be taught this term. He is not too excited but I told him that he might like it considering that my grandad was a taylor and my mum and her three sisters were excellent at sewing. It is sad that Mum can’t be here to see all this happening. She would so have loved to be part of the boys lives and experience them growing up. She was always so enthusiastic in everything she did that she could have taught them so much and could have passed on so much of our language, culture and traditions. So when Callum told me about his sewing class I immediately thought of her and how she would have thought of a fun way of showing him sewing.

Kangaroo Valley July 2009


View Kangaroo Valley in a larger map

Places to visit:

  • Tallowa Dam – take the Mount Scanzi Road out of Kangaroo Valley Village, which turns into Tallowa Dam Road. This ends up on the southern side of the Kangaroo River. (20 kms)
  • Bendeela Campground – Bendeela Road comes off Moss Vale Road just north of the Village. Turn left after a few kms (7km)
  • Upper Kangaroo Valley – north of the Village turn right on the Upper River Road. (12 km)
  • Cambewarra Lookout – head south along Moss Vale Rd, turn left at Tourist Rd (10 km)
  • Red Rocks Nature Reserve – instead of turning left at Tourist Rd, turn right into Leebold Hill Rd, a dirt road on the hairpin (10 km)
  • Mannings Lookout – head back towards Fitzroy Falls but turn right before you get there (16 km)

This list from the KV tourism website

  • Three waterfalls: Carrington Falls, Belmore Falls and Fitzroy Falls
  • Two vantage points to enjoy the view at Hindmash Lookout and Mannings Lookout
  • National Park access at Fitzroy Falls visitors centre
  • Hampden Bridge (National Trust listed)
  • Delicious places to stop are Source, CafĂ© Bella and Jing Jo Thai, the Barrengarry Pie Shop or you can take a picnic and stop at Fitzroy Falls Visitors Centre to admire the views
  • Kangaroo Valley historic walk with heritage buildings
  • Kangaroo Valley Cemetery (National Trust listed)

Things to take or do:

  • Stargazing: binoculars, tripod for camera, warm clothes, star-charts/notes. Ian Musgrave’s Southern Sky Watch and the Kangaroo Valley tourism website also has a page for stargazing.
  • Bug collecting: extension cord, lamp, white sheet, glass jar.
  • Games: balls, raquets, cards.