Thursday 14th July - Evening - Fireside

After the Cemetery service project, it was on to the Temple Accommodation where we would all be staying. After unloading from the bus, everyone was called in where Pres Horsburgh gave out the room allocations. It was the chance for many of the youth to meet others from around the Stake that they didn't know.

Brothers McKeehan and Wang had driven up earlier in the day, directly to the accommodation, meaning that fine vittles of tacos and chili were served up for the first night's meal. They were ably assisted by the Horsburgh family, who along with the Easts, had come along as families to assist with the Conference

After dinner, the youth all changed into their Sunday clothes, and headed off to Paramatta Chapel for a fireside. There, talks were given by an Area Authority (Elder Vincent?), Pres Horsburgh, and several of the youth.

After coming home, it took a while for the youth to settle down - a number of the Young men went down to the oval nearby and played rugby, whilst others practiced dancing in the dining room. Eventually everybody started settling down as the leaders sat down for a meeting to plan out the busy Friday activities that wer planned.

I'm a bit fuzzy on the exact details of the Fireside, as our family didn't go. Not long after dinner, Jewel, our youngest, started complaining of a sore stomach. She then proceeded to spend the rest of the evening throwing up. Fortunately, she managed to pretty much get to the toilet or a bucket all 8 times she vomited. We were concerned if she was contagious, if the rest of our family was contagious, that we would no longer be able to help during the big activities that we had planned for the following day, and so on. Brother McKeehan assisted me in helping give Jewel a Priesthood Administration, following which Jewel settled down to sleep.

It was a shame as I am told the Fireside was good. Elder Vincent spoke of the Church members in Papua New Guinea where a Stake had recently been formed. Of the dedication of the Saints in attending Stake Conference. Several having to travel by canoe for 3 days to get to Stake Conference, of others being attacked on their travels, and so. He spoke of the great faith exhibited by these members.

After getting back from the Fireside, some of the boys went down to the neighbouring oval to play rugby, others cleared the dining room chairs and tables to practice dancing, whilst the girls ... actually, I don't know what the girls did. I'm pretty sure many coaxed some leaders to go with them to the shop across the road to buy junk food, whilst the rest presumably socialised.

Eventually, as the night wore on, the Youth settled, and the leaders met together to plan out the busy day ahead for the Friday.

Thursday 14th July - Afternoon - Rookwood Cemetery

Following lunch, the bus continued up to Sydney, with the first stop in Sydney itself being the Rookwood Cemetery, an 149 year old cemetery in Sydney, containing the remains of nearly a million individuals.

Cemeteries aren't designed for Large Buses to drive around them, and as the bus drove, trying to find the rendezvous point, it was regularly driving over the roundabouts in the cemetery, rather than around them.

Eventually we met up with the head gardener, Gary, who split us up into 3 groups. Two groups were going to be weeding and cleaning up small "islands" which they had constructed walkways out onto. The third group was going to be cleaning up around one of the small lakes - the island in that waterway currently the home to a mother duck and nine ducklings.

The groups split and worked hard. The levels of enthusiasm varied, but everybody seemed to pitch in and help - even if it was only when the camera was out.

Group 1

Group 2

Group 3

The Service project seemed to be a success. There was a noticeable difference in where the groups had been, and it gave the youth a chance to work together, start to get to know each other. It also introduced them to the Conference theme of "Doing Good".

Thursday 14th July - Lunch - Fitzroy Falls

First stop on the drive up to Sydney was Fitzroy Falls. This is a scenic spot off the main freeway near Moss Vale. The views are very reminiscent of the Blue Mountains, with the Falls themselves being a 240 foot drop.

Upon arrival at the visitor's centre, there was the obligatory rush to the toilets, followed by general organisation. It was here that Sister Jovanoska introduced the idea of the "Sound Off" - each youth having a designated "number" for the trip. The Sound Offs would come in handy throughout the days ahead.

Everybody then trekked down to the first lookout over the Falls - several of the boys experiencing "Marilyn Monroe" moments on the viewing platform as the winds coming from below lifted their jackets up about them.

The group then proceeded onwards to the far viewing platform to get a better look at the falls from a distance. It was a good chance for everyone to stretch the legs and see a natural beauty.

Upon returning to the centre, lunch was broken out and consumed. Lunch was typified by the Polynesian boys all wanting to instead play Rugby, a Lyre Bird making an appearance near one of the picnic tables (and scaring one of the girls), and many of the Tuggeranong youth preferring the comforts of the Visitor's Centre cafe rather than having brought their own lunches.

Leaving Canberra - Thurs 14th July 9AM

It was a cold and foggy morning as the youth from the Canberra Stake waited to board the bus ready for the 2011 Youth Conference. The Conference was being held up in Sydney, with 44 youth, 10 leaders and 4 younger kids (children of leaders)  making the trip. The youth and most of the leaders were heading up in a 54 seater bus, with the remainder heading up in 3 cars. Sister East called everyone into the chapel just before 9AM, where a roll call was done, the Conference rules reiterated, and then it was off. The bus was packed, everyone settled in for a couple of hours watching DVDs on the drive up Fitzroy Falls.

Unfortunately, a number of youth failed to get their registration forms in by the scheduled time, and tried to get onto the Conference during the last week, but by then it was too late. Bus and accommodation were already booked and full. I suppose it's a matter of making sure that you don't wait until the last minute.

Photos are up on Facebook!

Elissa has posted up our photos onto Facebook. It's a public link, so you don't need a Facebook account to view them.

We're still in the process of writing up the events of the Conference, but should be more entries on here soon!

Scavenger Hunt is hard work

We have arranged an activity that we're calling a scavenger hunt. We trialled it with our kids and it's a lot of walking. But I have to say, typing up the instructions for the leaders on what to do for each group as a part of this activity is probably a longer and harder task than the walk itself.

Youth Conference is almost here!

The Canberra Stake's Youth Conference starts Thursday 14th July!
Are you ready?????

The plan is to have photos of the Conference put up onto this blog to share. Also, for people to share comments/posts/entries/thoughts. Just drop us an email or leave a comment if you'd like to have something put onto the blog.

In the meantime, let's get some pictures up here. Here's a photo I took of the Temple last year ...