Honey, honey!

Friday 27 September was the big chance to catch up with Paul and Judy who had not been seen by many for some time. Paul wrote "[you many have heard] that our youngest son Luke suffered a severe brain injury nearly 2 years ago. It's been a very tough time and he is recovering slowly from basically nothing. Jude is his carer and therapist so it's pretty full on for her" and suggested 'a coffee down on the river'. Upon learning that Luke liked to see people we felt it better to visit at home and see them all.

We left Noosaville with time to enjoy the view from Laguna Lookout, a place I had been but even Ros did not know, and checked out the playground at Lake Cooribah before becoming a little lost down a gravel road to an 'alternative' campsite which went past some suspiciously blue lakes.

Views over Noosa River mouth with Mt Cooroy on the horizon

We heard that kangaroos can appear to walk on water on the very shallow Lake Cooribah

These eye-catching ponds were hidden behind a mound of earth

Luke was indeed sociable, and it was clear to see how much all of his family, especially Judy, had contributed to his recovery so far, when doctors had given up hope. Not least, Luke was a well built lad of 6ft 4ins, and there was an art to supporting his walking. Clearly a lot of hard work was still ahead. Richard and Sylvia had thoughtfully sent homemade scones and cream, and as soon as tea was made others mysteriously appeared. Nathan then showed us how they extracted honey in the nearby shed, and we learnt that most of their hives were about 900km out west, somewhere past Cunnamulla. That explained the big truck in the yard! Mum had been told that one thing she certainly must not take on the plane from Perth was honey, and now we started to learn that it can be difficult to know what we really buy. 

L to R: Ros, Nathan, July, Paul, Jason, Graham and Luke

Nathan, observed by Ros and Luke, shows frames full of honey about to be extracted

We took a look around Cotton Tree. Much had changed and Mum could not really recognise where they used to enjoy still water as an alternative to Mooloolaba's surf. As the day had become cloudy and breezy we were not tempted into the water, so it was not a problem that we really did not have time to swim.

1963 at Cotton Tree

The beach at Mooloolaba

In the Foote Sanctuary Mum searched in vain to find the bottom of the steep plot of land that had belonged to Auntie Ella and on which had gown pawpaws, mangoes, monstera deliciosa, bananas and other tropical delights; up on Buderim Mum thought she could see the side of the cottage, set well back from the road.  Google revealed that the flat front garden amazingly remains, and the original wooden cottage now has a roof connecting it to the what was Ella's brick home.  At least two new houses had been built on the sloping land behind. Eckersley Avenue, with its magnificent views to the sea, had been discovered and now seemed to be the preserve of the well-to-do.

A little down the mountain we visited Shirley and Heinz in their retirement home. Afternoon tea was followed by toasted sandwiches, and it was lovely to be there when son David and his New Zealand wife Jenny called by.

Shirley and Heinz with David and Jennifer

Next morning it would be time to pack up and leave the Sunshine Coast :(