The Dish: The enormity of the CSIRO Radio Telescope at Parkes is amazing!!

                  CHRISTMAS CHILD

As Christmas comes around again
We’re conscious of the day
When Mary’s little baby boy
Will come again to stay.

For Mary’s little cuddly child
Was really God’s own Son
Who came to die upon the cross;
A victory was won!!

Because He died upon that cross
Our sins can be forgiven,
And if we trust Him as our Lord
He’ll take us home to heaven.

His coming for the second time
Will be with much more show;
He’ll come to reign as King of Kings
And every knee shall bow.

Summary

After a very happy Christmas with our two young families, the new year started with two funerals in the first month: Russ’s brother, Jeff, and a very good friend from Cairns, both succumbed to cancer.

Russ took the studies at the annual “Autumn Refresh Camp” again, and this year it was held at the Burleigh CYC campsite. This gave us the opportunity for some lovely fellowship as well as enjoying the camp excursions and activities.

A highlight for our year was a six week caravan trip to the Riverina area of NSW and the Murray River area of northern Victoria. Ruth was born in Ganmain, and grew up on a property to the north west of Coolamon until she was 11 years old.

Russ also spent the first three years of his air force career at RAAF School of Technical Training, Forest Hill, Wagga, so we both had connections to the area from younger years.

We caught up with family at Yackandandah and finished up with a week at a Yarrawonga caravan park. On

our return trip, we visited Tocumwal, and the CSIRO Radio Telescope at Parkes.

It was a lovely time but we did decide not to make a trip down that way in winter ever again!!

We did embark on another short caravan trip following our Grovely church camp.

This trip gave us the opportunity to catch up with Ruth’s oldest niece near Yamba NSW.

Considering our years, we continue to enjoy good health, and have so much for which to thank our wonderful Lord.

We trust our newsletter finds you, our special family and friends, well and happy, and again wish you all a very special and happy Christmas, and pray for God’s rich blessings for your New Year.

Love from us both, Russ and Ruth

The Year in Pictures

   Centre Below: Natalie’s induction into the Army Reserve in February. Nat is flanked by both Russ and her dad, Ben, representing three generations of military involvement.

Russ and his youngest brother, Athol,  at Jeff's memorial service

Melody and Joy shouted us lunch at the Summit Restaurant, Mt Cootha for Ruth's birthday.

Above: We joined nearly 9,000 people at the Riverstage Franklin Graham Brisbane Crusade in February. No media coverage whatsoever!!

Above: A river cruise excursion during April Autumn Refresh Camp

Above: Ruth with our girls at Simon’s Birthday dinner in May

Riverina Trip

Above, left to right: The Ganmain Private Hospital where Ruth was born; the property where she grew up; the site of her school.

Left and Right: connecting with childhood school friends.

Below, left to right: The original guard house where Russ began in RAAF; Yackandah cousins; Tocumwal.

Below: Beachside near Potts Point on our second trip in August

Below: On this trip we visited Kerry and Anzac

Below: Simon and Melody and family on the occasion of Jake’s graduation Formal

Family News

Jake graduated from grade 12 this year, the second of our annual graduations for our seven oldest grandchildren.

Katie now has her driver’s licence, and Jake should have his soon. Both Jake and Natalie now have part-time jobs, and Nattie has also joined the Army Reserve.

Holly and Victoria sing in the Australian Girls Choir, and Philippa is now learning the piano. With the exception of Amy, all the McHugh girls are also very involved with basketball.

Both our young families attend Village Avenue Community Church (VACC), and Ruth and I also attend VACC when not at other churches for ministry. We also keep in close touch with Grovely CCC, our commending church when we were missionaries in Thailand.

Simon and Melody and family are planning to spend three weeks in Germany over Christmas, and Ben and Joy are heading off for one week before Christmas. Because of clashes with differing commitments, we now plan to have a “Keanalley Christmas” early in January.

Below: Family Fathers Day outing 2019