Gold Weekend at Beechworth and Youth Retreat
Hi everyone!
What a weekend (5th-7th April 2013) it was at Murmungee / Beechworth, Victoria with 21 people- Keepers of the Flame and their children – ( coming together and camping out in a country hall 15 kms from Beechworth, a town built on gold discovered in the early 1850’s. Our purpose -to find GOLD and to make a ‘joyful noise unto the LORD’!
A Bit of History and Lots of Fun at the Burke Museum
We began with an informative and fun game at the Burke museum on the Friday afternoon, where we enacted the gold rush times.
Each of us was given a role of one of the many possible characters that would have lived and worked at this gold mining community of Beechworth. This gave us and understanding of the local area; conditions miners lived in through the gold rush and a smart way to make money on the goldfields. This was so much fun for everyone.
At the Burke Museum – We were all ears – even the little ones were all rapt as we listened to some fascinating info about gold mining in Beechworth.
Christine Cooke playing the role of seller of washed dirt from whence hopefully gold is hidden!
Melena and Mario – hoping to find gold! (in this case, clear marbles).
Make believe lane in Beechworth during the gold rush.
Elena, purveying her cures for cholera, typhoid and other dreaded diseases!
Michael and Harrison searching for those ‘gold nuggets’ – ‘must be here somewhere’
Celeste and Genavieve selling the all important pans.
We achieved both and had a lot of fun at the same time as well as discovering new and interesting things….especially the Provender –a local café with the best hot chocolate and coffee ever.
Jenny and Joy at the Provender – where they serve the very BEST cappucino
Must Have A Cuppa
Some of us even discovered a marvellously quaint tea house which seemed to come out of a fairy tale, it was sooo pretty with white and pink crockery and table linen!
Tea House at Beechworth
Delicate pink and white crockery on lovely pink and white table cloth. Very elegant.
Friday evening, we shared a meal together and people set up their sleeping gear at the Murmungee Hall.
Saturday morning began at 5am with morning decrees for some of us broadcasting from the hall followed by a huge breakfast of every food imaginable!
Here We Go…!
The whole company of very eager prospectors, young and old, took a hike to an old mine shaft called ‘Heaven” at Silver Creek.
The trek upward is worth the inconvenience…..there’s gold in them thar hills!
The gang’s all here. See the tunnel on the right – believe it or not, some adults and kids actually went inside this pitch black tunnel. And yes, they all came out safe and sound, but expectedly, all covered in dirt. No gold though!
Some of us thought it was better to sit on the fence and enjoy the view! Good on you, Angela and Christine!
Lunch at Lake Sambel
The expedition was followed by a tasty barbecue lunch cooked on the shores of Lake Sambel. One thing we discovered about Beechworth – it seemed to have the best coffee, the best sausages and burgers, the best bread, the best community, the best bbq facility, the best ……you get our drift.
Somebody’s got to do it. Michaela, David and Joy manning the food.
Now you see them …now you ..
Michael, clearly having a great time.
Jude and Michael enjoying a swing at the park.
Our youth enjoying new friendships over lunch
Eureka!
We then went convoy style to ‘Woolshed’ to meet our knowledgeable guide and panning instructor, Alan, who gave us some history lessons and taught us gold panning skills.
Taking our lessons from Alan, the panning instructor.
Gold panning is pretty serious business.
Michael and Genavieve really getting into it!
Is this how it’s done?
This was really a hands on experience, where most of us were willing and eager to get ‘dirty’ so to speak and get into the water, dig up the dirt and pour it into our pans, hoping to find those gold nuggets!! Lots of gold specs were found by most, as well as getting cold feet. Fortunately NO leeches! Something we all learned, it’s not as easy as it sounds to find gold this way, but we had a whale of a time.
After about a couple of hours, we headed back to camp where a delicious dinner was prepared and served by young and old and greatly appreciated by us all.
Saint Germain’s Youth
Saturday means Saint Germain service, and this was held at the hall with 11 youth leading us in blue and violet decrees…wow, what a session!
Saint Germain service powerfully led by our youth! So proud of them!!
So Long…Till Next Time!
Sunday morning was free time and general clean up with some shopping, four‑wheel driving, swimming and a tour of Beechworth Montessori.
Tatiana, Kauri, Gabby and David after climbing the highest mountain in the 4WD
It was really a most memorable and unique community bonding experience, thoroughly unexpectedly enjoyable in many ways. So grateful to everyone who made stellar effort to drive a long way away (some for over 600kms!) to come together and make this a truly wonderful weekend.
Thanks everyone!
(by Michaela and Joy) 🙂
ALWAYS VICTORY!
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Below are some snippets from people about their what was special experience for them:
(Rhianna)
(Celeste)
(Tatiana)
(Harrison)
… (Jude)
…Gabby
…(Michael)
(David)
..(Angela )
-(Kauri)
. – (Tim)
. … (Christine)
(Joy)
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