Marshmead

Found a few missed photos from our Christmas Hols in Hanmer Springs - the day we arrived in Hanmer and explored our neighbouring creek. Just as well we did - it was the only decent weather we got during our few days there.

On April 24, at the crack of dawn, Sophie left for her term away at the school farm, Marshmead. The closest town is Mallacoota, near the NSW border.

Four weeks later, on May 19, we were waiting at the Mallacoota jetty, having driven for about 7 hours, to meet the boats full of Marshmead girls for the traditional visiting weekend. Sophie spent the Saturday afternoon and night with us in Mallacoota.

Pretty early on Sunday morning, we packed up and drove 40 minutes to a meeting point where we transferred to a school 4-wheel drive for the drive into Marshmead itself. We gave Sophie all available extra blankets we had with us since she was feeling the cold on the farm at night. On the drive in, our driver took us off the main track to give us a great view of the vast expanse of bush and forest surrounding Marshmead and our first glimpse of the little farm community in the distance.

On arrival we checked out Sophie's house and room then did the walking tour of the property, meeting and harrassing many animals along the way. After a simple bbq lunch and more hanging out it was time to begin the long drive out and back to Melbourne.

It's a testament to how much fun she's having there that when we left on Sunday afternoon, Sophie gave us hugs and a wave and, before we were 2 seconds down the road, she'd already turned and hurried off to resume her real life without us! The girls were having movie night that night pigging out on the lollies bought in Mallacoota the day before and the leftover goodies the families had brought to pad out lunch - mainly cakes.