Summer usually includes a week or two at Thurra River. It's a time to chill out, read books, eat well, chat, walk, swim and relax. This year the little kids, a little over 1 and 3 were absolutely ready to get wet and dirty. Their parents (my kids and partners), had been looking forward to the break even more than most years.  None of us expected to be evacuated the day after we arrived. In hindsight maybe we should have anticipated evacuation. Maybe we did, but we didn't want it to happen so we employed the time honoured head in the sand approach, and packed our gear and headed East.

Sadly we left barely a day after we arrive. Thankfully we got home safely, albeit dazed and upset.  A few days later we had a fund raiser.  Easy really, prepare dough, advertise on social media, run out some cakes, sandwiches, coffee... It was a great day. 

All profits - i.e. takings less cost of food - was donated to the red cross. Almost $1200. And we had a good day. Plenty of regulars and friends came in, plenty of new faces said hello. It felt good to do something useful, and it felt great to pass the money on to Red Cross.