Watch This Space
I’ve spent the past two months researching the lives of Fred and Sybil Pucknell. Not a minute has been wasted. Not one email or one letter. I have enjoyed receiving every piece of the puzzle. I have been thrilled when someone has given me information and it has linked with someone else’s view or knowledge of them. It’s been bit of a rollercoaster. I’ve gone from exhilaration to disappointment to being very puzzled and then to having connections and details sorted out and things making sense. The downside of this project I feel, is that too many years have gone by and the means for finding out more information has been lost along with those who were the Pucknells’ contemporaries especially during their years in China and Sabah. Yet my Maryborough connections have been extremely helpful. The... Read more
As Unto The Lord
He was born in 1898 in London, England. While studying engineering, World War One was devastating countries, people’s ideals and families. The Army Flying Corp which later became the Royal Air Force became his home and occupation for the next few years. But the highlight of his time in the army was during his service in France when someone introduced him to Christ. With a whole new outlook and meaning to life, he was drawn to Hudson Taylor and the work of the China Inland Mission. After being commended from his assembly in Lewisham, England, he sailed off to China to introduce others to the Christ he had grown to love and serve. He was not to know what awaited him there. Trials of all descriptions, growth in the knowledge of Christ and even his future bride were several of those thi... Read more
Let It Be
Ahh, a Beatles song isn’t it? Maybe that’s what went through your mind when you first read the title. Maybe, maybe not. Depends how old you are, what kind of music you prefer (or once preferred) or what you were thinking about as you sat to read this post. For me, it’s not about “Mother Mary coming to me, speaking words of wisdom” but God speaking words of wisdom. It reminds me of a verse that I draw on when I need to be reminded of the TRUTH. The rest of the sentence is vital though. It’s the part that makes sense and gives me perspective. It comes from the words of a woman who was in a particularly unique situation. In the book of Luke, we find Mary, young and engaged to a kind man. She was most likely busily doing her daily tasks and biding her time till her wedding would happen. But t... Read more
Sticks, Sand and Slingshots
Children live in Pormpuraaw. They can be found in many places around here. You don’t have to look far even if you’re just driving into town. They could be playing marbles on the road, throwing rocks at certain trees to get the fruit down or chasing one another around the yard. Sometimes a bang on a roof or a pole tells you someone might even be using a slingshot. They can be seen in their family’s car, heading down to the river for a fish or maybe a play in the sand or even a splash in the shallows. They can be walking with their friends, slowly ambling along, talking and laughing (and they really like to laugh!) or down town at the shop with a fistful of money, buying treats for themselves or their siblings. They might be seen riding on rip sticks or throwing a ball to each other over at... Read more
A Photo Won’t Do
Pormpuraaw has two rivers. The Moonkan River to the north and to the south, the Chapman River. Beach stretches between the two mouths of the rivers and of course looks out to the Gulf of Carpentaria. Not far from the rivers are camping grounds with an amenities block and a sheltered barbecue area. The Chapman River has a boat ramp made out of cement and beside it, a platform with a bollard to tie up the barge for when it comes in the wet season and of course there’s a place to park your car. The Moonkan River has no ramp- just sand to get your boat into the river. Crocodiles infest both rivers so they are not places for swimming but definitely places for fishing. The beach at the mouth of the Moonkan River is renowned for something else though. As you drive down onto the sand, you realise... Read more
