In May, Tom's sister Penny came to visit from Canada. The kids enjoyed a number of adventures with their aunt. Veronica and Penny did their own version of Master Chef, experimenting with different dishes. We all visited Melbourne and took a spin on the Melbourne Star. Highlights of Melbourne included a visit to the Melbourne Museum to see the World War One Centenary exhibit and exploring the Docklands area. While in Melbourne we took in a hockey game. It was a Junior A level game between Canada and the US at the Rod Laver Arena.Canada won 9 to 6. We also took Penny to our friends Sue and Derrick's to see the kangaroos and wombats. They run a wildlife sanctuary near Trafalgar that rehabilitates injured animals. Mike's school team won regional's in soccer and he showed Penny his Aussie Rules 'footy' moves on the oval at Trafalgar. Penny also visited Valhalla, the old gold mining town about an hour drive from Trafalgar. Our friends Carl and Deb have a cottage there and we went up for an afternoon.

Ron  and Mike feed the Kangaroos at Sue and Derrick's

Mike's new friend

Ron and 'roo

Even Penny took a turn

Master Chef and a tray of quail

Potato roses

Some serious soccer

A turn in goal

At the new Quay Apartments in docklands

Artwork on the Esplanade

Supper in Docklands

The Melbourne Star

Inside the Ferris Wheel

At the Melbourne Museum

Studying a map of pre-war Europe

Taking a rest

We hired a carriage to take us to the arena

A happy girl , and Flinder's street station in the background.

Hockey Night in Melbourne.
They even played Stompin Toms' 'Good ole Hockey Game'

The final score. Canada wins!

On the Esplanade at Docklands

In Wahalla with Carl

In the old Wahalla post office

Inside the mine shaft

Mike on a huge stump in the old Wahalla cemetery

Dinner in the pub at Wahalla. But first, a card game.

The Trafalgar Football club, under 12's

Number 18

The kids get to ride up front with the driver

Melbourne Star
Wahalla