(Left to Right) – Max Guthrie, Mayor Rob Chandler, Brian Green & Tom Nesbitt

BARCALDINE LLOYD JONES WEIR PROJECTS.

Weir toilet painting project.

Barcaldine Regional Council Mayor, Rob Chandler thanks the Grey Nomad Volunteers on behalf of the Barcaldine community for volunteering to paint the toilet block at the Lloyd Jones Weir.

“Max, Brian & Tom who stay at Lloyd Jones Weir on a yearly basis, are Grey Nomad visitors that have agreed to Volunteer and be part of the Barcaldine Grey Nomad Volunteer Project,” the Mayor said.

Angelo Rampino and Max Guthrie volunteer to paint the tables and seats at Lloyd Jones Weir

Picnic table painting project.

Anglo and Max camp at the Lloyd Jones Weir when in Barcaldine and had offered to paint all the tables and chairs spread around the park grounds. The volunteers staying at the Weir are happy to help the Council maintain the infrastructure previously painting the toilet block.

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Grey Nomad Volunteers enjoying the outdoors

BARCALDINE BOTANICAL WALK

Grey Nomad Volunteers have given there time to help keep the Botanical Walk safe and enjoyable for all to use by clearing the walk of any obstructions. The walk is around 900 metres long and is all on flat ground. The volunteers have removed any dead wood and overgrown grass from the path.

PETER & JAN BATES

 BARCALDINE 60 & BETTER PROJECTS.

New computer installation project.

Peter & Jan Bates who had struck a bit of wet weather in Longreach, and decided to change their plans and come to Barcaldine and volunteer. We were only too happy to put them to work helping the 60’s & Better group Co-ordinator Jean Williams to install some new computers in the groups  facility. 

The computers are a welcome addition to the group which will enable senior citizens to learn how to access the internet and email in a familiar environment.

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DAVE & NARELLE WATT

BARCALDINE STATE SCHOOL PROJECTS.

Manual Arts Class tool sharpening project.

Recent visitors to Barcaldine, Dave & Narelle Watt from Watts Sharp, Mobile Sharpening Service travel out to Western Queensland every year to get away from it all. On their recent visit to Barcaldine the couple generously offered their time to sharpen chisels for the Manual Arts students at the Barcaldine State School. The School is very grateful for their efforts as normally the chisels need to be sent away to be sharpened which can incur a large cost on the school budget and leave the school without equipment.

Teacher Anna Stevensen (left to right) volunteer Janine Stewart and teacher Nadean Wilson.

 Grade 1, 2 & 3 reading project.

Teachers Anna Stevenson and Nadean Wilson were happy to receive the assistance of volunteer Janine Stewart who will do one on one reading with Grades 1, 2 & 3 students. Janine is travelling around Australia and will stop in Barcaldine for a week or two and was happy to volunteer while she is in town to keep her busy.

Wendy Braniff reading to young student.

Wendy Braniff who is a Canberra resident stopped in Barcaldine for a while to get to know the community. While on her visit to Barcaldine Wendy very kindly decided to volunteer at the Barcaldine State School to do reading to the young primary school students from grades 1, 2 and 3. Wendy said her experiences with the children was very rewarding, worthwhile and enjoyable.

Joe Wouters reading to Seth.

Joe and his wife Helen are travelling the country in a large bus. The two had decided to stop in Barcaldine for an extended period and offered to volunteer while here. Joe who is a retired carpenter decided to try something different and rewarding by taking on the task of one on one reading to grade one and two students.

Helen Wouters reading to Madelin.

Helen has been very busy since stopping in Barcaldine. Helen has not only volunteered at the State School but has also helped out teaching sewing to the local Girl Guides and helped with sewing of costumes for the Central West Aboriginal Corporation's NAIDOC week fashion parade.

Jack Kennedy, Cedric Radford and Ray Ardler (Right to Left)

Push bike assembly project.

The Barcaldine State School has set up a road safety program for the primary school children to teach road rules. The school was fortunate to enough to have a number of push bikes donated to them to enable the program to proceed. All the bikes were still in their box.

Jack, Cedric and Ray  who have volunteered a number of times on other projects during their stay in Barcaldine offered their time yet again. The volunteers who were assisted by Norman Heinz (not in the photo)assembled all the bikes in readyness for when the children return from school holidays. 

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TOM & DAWN BOWMAN

BARCALDINE MOTORSPORT ASSOCIATION PROJECTS

Revfest competitors and spectator survey project.

Grey Nomads Tom & Dawn Bowman regularly travel to Barcaldine for the tourist season from their Bundaberg home.

Tom & Dawn are also car enthusiasts who were very keen to visit RevFest while in town. Tom’s enthusiasm extended to offering to volunteer at the event for the Barcaldine Motorsport Association (BMA).

Tom was put to work collecting feedback for the group from contestants and spectators on how the BMA can continue to improve the event in 2010.  Tom also got into the thick of the action in the staging area by delivering time slips to the drivers and motorcycle competitors as they returned from their time trials.  Due to Tom’s efforts on the day, the BMA has received very positive information on the event and suggestions on how competitors and spectators felt things could be improved. The Barcaldine community thanks you Tom as your efforts will go a long way to improving the 2010 event for all those attending. 

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Cheryl & John Stapleton (far right) with Diversional Therapy Group at Barcaldine Hospital.

BARCALDINE HOSPITAL PROJECTS.

Diversional therapy activity assistance.

Cheryl is a keen photographer and loves to take photo's of wild flowers while on their travels. Cheryl has developed a DVD with backing music and photo's of all the wild flower they have seen during their travels. She has very kindly donated a copy of the DVD to the Barcaldine Hospital for the Divisional Therapy group to view at their will. Barcaldine thanks you John & Cheryl for the time you have taken to enrich our community.

Roberta Boni volunteered to do a Belly Dancing display for the Diversional Therapy group at the Barcaldine Hospital.

Roberta Boni and her husband George have recently visited Barcaldine on route to Western Australia. Roberta contacted the coordinator for the Barcaldine Grey Nomad Volunteer Project offering her time to volunteer doing what ever she could. It turns out that Roberta is a keen Belly Dancer and agreed to volunteer to put on a display for the Diversional Therapy Group at the Barcaldine Hospital. The Diversional Therapy group was set up to connect hospital patients with the community and break down barriers between community and the hospital. The group meets on a weekly basis enabling patients to be involved with a range of activites to improve there quality of life during their hospital stay.

Young German backpacker Uta Bockenkamm singing for the Diversional Therapy group patients

Uta Bockenkamm is our youngest volunteer to become involved in the Barcaldine Grey Nomad Volunteer Program. Uta is not grey but she is travelling around our beautiful country and decided to stop for awhile in Barcaldine. Uta generously offered her time and musical skills to entertain the Barcaldine Hospital patients. Her pleasant renditions were well received and appreciated by the patients. A video of Uta in action can be seen by clicking HERE.

Ray Ardler, Jack Kennedy, Walter Frank, Cedric Radford and Ge'za Elek volunteered at the Barcaldine Hospital.

Raised garden project.

Ray, Jack, Walter, Cedic and Ge'za all volunteered to build a raised garden at the Barcaldine Hospital. The raised bed will allow wheel chair bound patients from the Hospital easy access to the garden, enabling the patients to plant flowers or vegetables from their wheel chair. The volunteers have travelled from Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania to stay in Barcaldine for the winter. They all regularly meet at the Weir during winter and stay for a couple of months. The garden project has taken the volunteers a few days work to complete with some hickups which encluded hitting an under ground gase line. All ended up well though with the Hospital and the volunteers very happy with the finished project. The efforts of the volunteers will enable patients quality of life to be improved during their stay at the Hospital.

Hospital raised garden flourishing.

The efforts of the Grey Nomad volunteers are baring fruit with tomatoes and a number of other plants planted by patients flourishing in the purpose built raised garden.

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John & Cheryl Stapleton

BARCALDINE RADIO THEATRE PROJECTS 

Sound system repair project.

John & Cheryl Stapleton have been travelling around Australia for many years and last travelled through Barcaldine 33 years ago. They decided to stay at Lloyd Jones Weir while waiting for some friends to meet them there. The group will then make their way to Mt Isa and travel on down through the Simpson Desert. They hope to be in Tasmania by October. While in Barcaldine John offered to volunteer at the Radio Theatre which has been in existence since the 1920's. John is skilled in Electronics and was able to repair the theatre sound system which has been faulty for some time. John and Cheryl will be able to enjoy the fruits of John's work when they attend the movies with the free tickets given to them by the Arts Council in appreciation of their efforts.

John and Narelle Foote

Canvas seat frame repair project.

John & Narelle volunteered to repair the canvas seat frames at the Barcaldine Radio Theatre. The seats which have been part of the furniture of the theatre since the early 1920's have been in need of some maintenance for quite a while. John & Narelle very kindly spent several days during their stay in Barcaldine doing repairs to the seats. The seats will now hopefully stand up to the test of time for another 90 years or so. Movie goers will notice the difference.

John & Narelle were very keen to do other maintenance work at the theatre but unfortunately had to cut their travels short and return home. Thanks for your efforts John & Narelle and hopefully you can enjoy the fruits of your labours next time you are in Barcaldine by attending the movies.

Val McIntosh and Janine Stewart painting the seat frames at the Radio Theatre

Seat frame painting project.

Val McIntosh and Janine Stewart have been working hard to complete the painting of the Radio Theatre seat frames. Val and Janine are members of the Solo group from the Camping & Motorhome Club of Australia. The ladies are travelling around Australia in their own motorhomes taking their time to stop off in Barcaldine and help out.

Angelo Rampino (left) Brian Green & Max Guthrie volunteer at Radio Theatre

Anglo, Brian and Max volunteered to work on the painting of the seat frames at the Radio Theatre. The group are continuing the work started by previous volunteers in an effort to complete the painting of all the seat frames in the theatre.

Barry Nowne & Brian Green volunteer at Radio Theatre

Barry Nowne and Brian Green volunteered to finish the last of the seat frames at the Radio Theatre. A total of six volunteers have worked on the painting of the seat frames at the Radio Theatre. It has been a large task but Barry and Brian are determined to see the project completed and got together to finish the final chair frame. The Radio Theatre looks a picture (no pun intended) with all the old seat frames now painted. 

Grey Nomad Volunteers trying out the new seat covers

REPLACEMENT OF 40 YEAR OLD SEAT COVERS

In 2011 the Grey Nomad Volunteers have returned to the Radio Theatre to carry on with helping the Arts Council rejuvenate the old theatre to it's former glory. Grey Nomads first volunteered to help in 2008 and have returned each year to carry on with the work needed. This year they have replaced the 40 year old canvas seat covers with new and vibrant coloured covers which the Arts Council hope will be in use for another 40 years.

Angelo Ramponi and Max Guthrie work on restoring furniture at the Sacred Heart Catholic Parish Church

BARCALDINE SACRED HEART CHURCH PROJECTS.

Furniture restoration project.

Angelo Ramponi and Max Guthrie have been working hard breathing new life into some of the old furniture at the Sacred Heart Catholic Parish church. The church is under going renovations. Angelo and Max have very kindly offered their time to sand and varnish pieces of the old furniture bringing it back to its former beauty. 

Ray Ardler, Jack Kennedy and Cedric Radford working at the Catholic church

Ray Ardler, Jack Kennedy and Cedric Radford have been spending a lot of their spare time while on holidays in Barcaldine volunteering. 
They have offered to help a number of community groups achieve outcomes that have previously been put on hold because of a lack of skilled labour being available.

The volunteers had previously helped build a raised garden at the Barcaldine Hospital and decided to then go to the Catholic Church to help with refurbishing the old church furniture. They have been doing alterations to the pew chairs and other small maintenance tasks.

Barry Howden (left) & Denis Walker working at Sacred Heart Church

Floor height adjustment project.

As part of the Church renovations it was decided to lower the height of a raised section of the church floor to the same height as the rest of the building.

Barry and Denis put their hands up to complete the project. The two worked continously for over a week until the job was complete. The project involved ripping up all the raised section and relaying the flooring.

Rodney Callow volunteered to help out at the Catholic Church.

Replacing weather beaten floor boards on verandah project.

Rodney and his partner Heather are taking their time travelling around western Queensland and decided to stop in Barcaldine for a while. They had heard about the Barcaldine Grey Nomad Volunteer Program and decided to get involved. Rodney offered his skills as retired Carpenter to replace verandah flooring at the Catholic Church. Rodney ended up staying for a few weeks helping out at the Church and while their enlisted Lester Mayes to help.

Volunteers restoring gravestones in the RSL section of cemetry.

BARCALDINE RSL LAWN CEMETERY PROJECTS.

Gravestone restoration project.

Cedric Radford, Ray Ardler and Brian Green all Grey Nomads with the assistance of Kel Egan and Robert Duncan (local volunteers) completed four new headstones and numerous surrounds to help beautify the gravestones in the Barcaldine RSL Lawn Cemetry.

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Barry Nowne volunteering at Golf Club

    BARCALDINE GOLF CLUB PROJECTS.

Kitchen landing replacement project.

Barry Nowne took a short break in Barcaldine after riding his pushbike up from Tweed Heads. While in Barcaldine Barry decided to volunteer at the Golf Club. Barry replaced the landing outside the kitchen which had deteriorated badly from exposure to the elements. A number of Golf Club members come along to work with Barry during the project.

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Tom & Roma McCullough volunteer at Council office.

BARCALDINE COUNCIL VOLUNTEER PROJECTS.

Cemetery database update project.

Tom & Roma who have travelled up from Victoria were very keen to get involved in the reviewing of the Council Cemetery Data Base. The project involved cross checking the entries in the data base with written entries in the still used original hard cover book used to register burials in Barcaldine since the first burial in 1889. Tom & Roma volunteered for two weeks and meticulously checked 1062 of the 2629 current entries in the book. The couple are  experienced museum curators and have taken a great interest in Barcaldine history since being involved with the project.

Fay Walker volunteered to help out at the library.

Barcaldine Library volunteers.

Fay and her husband Denis had only planed to stay in Barcaldine for a couple of days, that was until they decided to volunteer to help out in town. Their two day stay ended up being over a week. Fay's interests in computer work found her volunteering at the library helping the Librarian Julie Mitchel with filing and record keeping.

Heather Schafferius helps Julie Mitchell out in Library

Heather had planed a short stay in Barcaldine with her partner Rodney, but when Rodney decided to volunteer at the Catholic Church Heather offered her time at the town Library.

Michelle at the Barcaldine Library with Julis Mitchell the librarian.

Michelle's visit to Barcaldine included a visit to the Barcaldine Library where she volunteered a day of her time to helping Julie with some much needed and appreciated help archiving and other data entry.

Local volunteers Glennie O'Toole (left to right) & Betty Wason working with Grey Nomads Sharon Howden and Wendy Wouters.

CENTRAL WEST

ABORIGINAL CORPORATION

PROJECTS.

NAIDOC fashion parade project.

Grey Nomads Helen Wouters who is travelling the country with her husband in a bus and Sharon Howden from Lavington NSW also travelling with her husband have been working with local Barcaldine volunteers Betty Wason & Glennie O'Toole at the Central West Aboriginal Corp building. The group is working on sewing costumes for the upcoming NAIDOC fashion parade to be held on the 11th of September. The material for the costumes has been sourced from Alice Springs.

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Brian Green volunteered to brighten up the Barcaldine Kindergarten

BARCALDINE KINDERGARTEN PROJECTS

Painted pathway project.

The Barcaldine Kindergarten wanted to brighten up the pathway entering the facility to make it more interesting and exciting for the children attending.

They were interested in painting a hop scotch course on the pathway and painting the pathway edging with different colours to brighten things up. Brian put his hand up to do the job.

Colour brightens up the pathway

Brian spent his saturday doing the painting so as not to find himself being helped by lots of little hands.

Greg Walker oiling floors at Museum

BARCALDINE AND DISTRICT HISTORICAL SOCIETY PROJECTS

Verandah decking project

The Historical Society needed help with a number of projects at the local Museum. Greg Walker and his wife Michelle had heard about the Barcaldine Grey Nomad Volunteer program and generously offered their time to volunteer in Barcaldine during their visit. Greg offer to do some work at the Museum, oiling all the verandah floors and one floor in the Museum aswell. Greg also volunteered at the Senior Citizens Club while Michelle offered help at the Barcaldine Library.

Greg putting the vax to work.

BARCALDINE SENIOR CITIZENS CLUB PROJECTS

Carpet cleaning project

Breeze air filter cleaning project.

Greg Walker put his hand up and volunteered for a couple of busy days while in Barcaldine. Not only did he volunteer to oil the verandah floors at the local Museum but he also offered his time at the Senior Citizens Club. The ladies at the club were very pleased to accept a helping hand and put Greg to work cleaning the carpet in the building and cleaning the filters on the Breeze Air. The club members who are allways happy to meet new people, invited Greg and Michelle to join them for lunch, which was enjoyed by all.