15 AUGUST 2021
The last few days have been so exciting, I don’t know where to start. Maybe I will start with today, Sunday and work backwards.
This is the day when we remember and commemorate the end of World War II in the Pacific. It is also the day that the last operational RAAF Mission took off from here, Coomalie with Australia still at war, and mid flight received the the news that Japan had surrendered and Australia was no longer at war. When they landed back on Coomalie, the runway was lined on both sides by their mates, welcoming them home to Peace.
Today the local Minister, Rev’d Ruth Walton conducted a Remembrance Service at the Coomalie Creek Chapel. During the service one of the prayers was from the Christmas Service at Coomalie Chapel from back on December 25, 1943:
Our Heavenly Father,
who has bestowed upon us
the dear comfort of early friends,
look down in love upon our furthest kindred,
protect and keep them from all harm,
prosper and bless them in all good things,
suffer them never to be lonely, desolate or afraid;
let no shadow come between them and us to divide our hearts.
In thine own good name may we be united in fellowship of sight and hand,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
AMEN
The Rev’d Ian McDonald gave a wonderful sermon based on the Parable of the Sower from Matthew 13: 1-9.
The Ode was recited, followed by a moving rendition of the Last Post and Reveille played by one of the Darwin City Brass Band players.
Communion was then served and we all gathered after church for lunch (sausage sizzle) in the nearby shed.
/
Carli 
Sausage Sizzle
Early this morning i joined many others on the tarmac to watch several of the pilots perform some aerial acrobatics as well as a couple of the ultralites buzzing around.
On Friday morning Nick dropped down in a 3/4 replica Mustang.
Pilot Nick
Denise had invited us to a Seniors event down at Adelaide River, where her Grey Panthers dance group, joined by others were to perform. They treated us to some very entertaining sets, “Nothing Matters When You’re Dancing”; “Spice Girls”; “Close to You”; and “Cabaret” in which Denise performed a brilliant solo as Elsie.
Back at Coomalie, in the last hour or so of daylight more amazing aeroplanes arrived: The WIrraway and the Tiger Moth.
Yesterday morning Rosie and I took a walk around a track between the hangar shed and the cricket pitch. There were so many kangaroos, wallabies and joeys hopping away from us as we walked that Rosie finally could not help herself – she somehow found top speed and disappeared into the long grass and up the hill. Although i wandered after her, following the various wallaby tracks through the tall grasses, I could not find her. I was not keen to return to camp and confess to Norm that I had lost Rosie, so I continued along the track to the awesome cricket field, hoping the recalcitrant animal would return to me. As I was admiring the amazing ant tower cricketers and exploring the cricket pitch, Norm rang to report the girl had returned home, and he was wondering where I was!.
Before I did return home I was treated to some great low level flying as the Tiger Moth Pilot trained somebody in touch and goes.
Cracks on the wicket favour the bowler 
Comallie Stonehenge? 
That went for 6 
Last night many of us (and our dogs) gathered together at party central to dine, chat, and party together.
Being back here at Coomalie has been the most wonderful experience for me. The old military vehicles, the amazing flying machines, the fabulous people, the variety of pet dogs from a Great Dane right down to the tiniest Chihuahua; the awesome countryside and of course catching up again with dear friends, Denise and James Wright and Richard Luxton. There have been so many WOW moments but for me there a a couple of huge highlights: When the DC3 flew in, and sharing in today’s service in that very special Coomalie Chapel.
ON THE ROAD 