STRING ENSEMBLE AND SENIOR STRINGS TOUR TO CANBERRA – Bus Driver’s Diary.
Day 1: Concert at Cann River P-12. Huge morning tea provided. (Students ate a lot)
Concert at Bega NSW for Mumbulla Steiner School. Huge afternoon tea provided. (Students still eating)
Dinner at Merimbula RSL – Huge dinner/Huge dessert. (Students must be full by now)
Ten Pin Bowling at “Top Fun”. Lots of lollies (OMG, didn’t know kids could eat that much)
Day 2: Concert at Nimmitabel Public School. 35 kids. One kid wanted to buy a remote controlled
Tarantula so he could scare his mum. (?) (Teachers begged us to take him with us) Huge Morning Tea and lunch provided. (I’m full from last night – kids still eating)
Concert at Dalgety Public School. Only 5 kids in the school but a few mums came too. Yet another afternoon Tea supplied (argh…. not more food!)
Stayed overnight at Jindabyne. It snowed and we woke to a white carpet over the Great Outdoors and several wallabies. HUGE Breakfast! (I’ve put on 2 Kg so far – how can String Players eat so much?)
Day 3: Fantastic Concert at an Elderly Citizen’s in Canberra. They clapped and clapped then we ate and ate. (I can’t take much more of this food!)
After a great tour of the Australian War Memorial, ex BSC student James Larsen gave us a personally guided tour of ANU. Everyone was very impressed. Isabella and Jennarita got to play a huge Steinway Grand Piano on stage at Llewellyn Hall. What a buzz! Thankfully, no one tried to feed us. But wait……. then we went to Woolworths for MORE FOOD !!!!
At night, AFTER DINNER (no salads for the students – only chips and grease to keep them healthy), we went back to ANU to watch a dress-rehearsal of a 300 year old opera with extraordinary “Hip-Hop” dancing and modern sets and costumes. It was truly fantastic. Back to camp via Woolworths to buy MORE LOLLIES !!! (OMG !)
Day 4: Performance at the “Great Hall” in Parliament House, Canberra. What can I say? It was
the best place to do a gig. Really !! AFTER LUNCH (!) we had a great tour of Parliament House and the Upper and Lower Houses. THEY FED US TOO! (Drinks and munchies on Ms Gillard! HOORAY!)
After yet another dinner we went to a beautiful performance of the Chopin Piano Concerto No.2 and Brahms Symphony No.2 by the Canberra Symphony Orchestra. We were allowed to go back stage to speak with the performers. It was just stunning! (No more food – we went to bed hungry! Hooray !!)
Day 5: Travelling all the way home. Only a few (5 or 6) stops for food on the way. All kids had
fun and were delivered safely home. (only 5 to 6 Kg heavier – on average)
Thanks to all the String students for a very successful Tour. Also Michelle as “Teacher in Charge” and Mrs McStephen for helping us out on the trip and driving the emergency car all the way. You are a marvel, Cynthia.
Kees Dogger – Bus Driver (now dieting)