On August 13 we headed out to Bendigo for the weekend. This was a weekend excursion arranged by the International Teaching Fellows from Bendigo for current Victorian ITF people. We were billeted in the home of John and Sue Williams. 
Imagine our surprise when we discovered that they had been on exchange to Manitoba in 1999, the same year that my Dalhousie school had had its first exchange teacher from Australia. Then we were even more shocked to find that he had been posted to teach in Lorette, Manitoba at Dawson Trails School, the same school where my girlfriend, Susan Berry, had been the music teacher! What a small world!
Imagine our surprise when we discovered that they had been on exchange to Manitoba in 1999, the same year that my Dalhousie school had had its first exchange teacher from Australia. Then we were even more shocked to find that he had been posted to teach in Lorette, Manitoba at Dawson Trails School, the same school where my girlfriend, Susan Berry, had been the music teacher! What a small world!We arrived in Bendigo in good time on Friday night to have a great dinner and visit together. Early the next morning we took a tour of the Central Deborah Gold Mine,
a deep actual working mine from 1939-1954 of 17 levels that was now open to visitors on the second level. 
The mine was the last working mine of its kind to close in the Bendigo area. First we needed to get suitably attired. 
Then we descended via an old miner’s elevator into total darkness, 
and emerged to the damp and dank-smelling tunnels. 
We then needed our helmet lights to light the way along the long tunnels. 
I even got to operate one of the drilling machines! 
We learned all about the operations of the mining industry in Bendigo. 
Check out their makeshift toilet! 
Once the underground tour was complete, we could walk around the buildings of the mining complex 
and try our hand at panning for gold. 
provided a narrative commentary as it traveled along the rails throughout the wide streetscapes 
and grand architecture of the city, 
and grand architecture of the city, 
telling us about the golden past of Bendigo, the city founded on one of the world’s richest goldfields. We even saw the riverbeds where the first gold nuggets had been discovered! 
We felt privileged to be on the very same old authentic tram 
(ceiling view) that Prince Charles had driven on his visit to Bendigo many years ago! 
Lunchtime found us at the Leadlight Cafe, 
where we met all the other ITF people who had signed up for the weekend. 
Unfortunately the weather did NOT cooperate as we started out on our walking tour of the city, but we continued on anyway. 
We still were able to visit the city's central park. As we passed through the park, we walked under a bower of smelly bats hanging upside-down! 
These "flying foxes", as they are called in Australia, 
had taken over the trees in the park and the locals were not sure what to do about these unsightly creatures! 
The walk through the park led to led to a central observation tower from which we could get a panoramic view of the city. 
Unfortunately the weather did NOT cooperate as we started out on our walking tour of the city, but we continued on anyway. 
We still were able to visit the city's central park. As we passed through the park, we walked under a bower of smelly bats hanging upside-down! 
These "flying foxes", as they are called in Australia, 
had taken over the trees in the park and the locals were not sure what to do about these unsightly creatures! 
The walk through the park led to led to a central observation tower from which we could get a panoramic view of the city. 
We could gaze down on a mosaic floor that had been created under the tower itself. 
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The tour guide pointed out many historical buildings from the Gold Rush era. We saw the old Post Office, 
the original Sidney Myer retail store which had started up in Bendigo in 1903, 
the famous Shamrock Hotel, 
and Australia's grandest Visitor Centre! 
The walk concluded at the Bendigo Art Gallery, 
and Sue Williams showed us numerous paintings of interest. We also stopped at the huge Sacred Heart Cathedral, 
and Australia's grandest Visitor Centre! 
The walk concluded at the Bendigo Art Gallery, 
and Sue Williams showed us numerous paintings of interest. We also stopped at the huge Sacred Heart Cathedral, 
the only Gothic cathedral to be constructed in the southern hemisphere in the 19th century. Here we were fortunate to drop in while the church organist was rehearsing, and we were serenaded with some lovely organ selections as we toured about the church. Later that night we all went to a community hall just outside the town for a bush dance! The live band was called the Emu Creek Bush Band 
and John was the Lagerphone player in the band. In Australia, this instrument constructed with beer-bottle tops, is a variation of the traditional Aborigine instrument using shells. 
I was invited to play violin with the band all night, 
and John was the Lagerphone player in the band. In Australia, this instrument constructed with beer-bottle tops, is a variation of the traditional Aborigine instrument using shells. 
I was invited to play violin with the band all night, 
and had a blast playing gigs, polkas and reels as the bandmaster called the dances for the crowd. Each family brings along a basket of food to eat during the evening. Rick even won a door prize! At the end of the night I received an honorarium for my services – my first playing and paying gig in Australia, and in a bush band at that!! Never mind that I was playing on an old violin that could hardly keep a tune with a bow that lost hairs every time I set bow to string! But it was great fun indeed! The next morning saw us take a tour of the Golden Dragon museum, 
a living history of the Chinese people 
in Bendigo from the gold rush of the 1850’s to the present day. 
The museum displays ornately carved furniture, 
It also serves as the storehouse for several large celebrated dragons. The world’s oldest dragon paraded annually in the Bendigo Easter Fair Festival from 1892-1970.
Now Sun Loong, the world’s longest Imperial Dragon, 
Now Sun Loong, the world’s longest Imperial Dragon, 
parades annually through the streets of Bendigo every Easter in a lavish processional! Outside we could walk through the beautiful Yi Yuan Classical Chinese Gardens 
and the Kuan Yin Temple. 
We were even able to feed the goldfish. 
Our last stop in Bendigo was at Bendigo Pottery, 
Australia's oldest working pottery establishment. The building houses an interpretive museum, different galleries with art and ceramic exhibitions, 
and displays old kilns and equipment used over the years since 1858. 
My $50 honorarium from the previous night was spent several times over! Although it had rained for the better part of the weekend, we could still see signs that spring was just around the corner, as Australia's wattle trees were in full bloom in Bendigo! 
They looked magnificent! We returned home to Melbourne just in time to take in a concert by the Stonnington Symphony! It was truly a full and wonderful weekend! 
