Stories from Home

Hobart – the conference and the rest

The final instalment – this takes place over 4 days. As we take in the learnings over the 3 conference days, the outside view is something spectacular and easily distracts. Hobart has turned on some beautiful weather and when there is no wind and the sun is shining, 5 degrees can be quite warming. This photos attached here also include the landing in Hobart afternoon before I started exploring and 3 days before the conference I was there to attend

The learnings gained on this trip are huge. There is confronting material, there is thought provocation but most importantly there are connections and the travel of several thousand kilometres to put a face to a name. We have the illustrious company of people from Singapore and elsewhere overseas as well as many colleagues from Brisbane, my home town.

At the end of day 1, it is dinner at the hotel – very easy, no real thought required and a lovely meal had after partaking of a local whiskey. Day 2 finished with Van Diemans Icecream and the bonus was it was happy hour so 2 scoops for me (just quietly, I was always going 2 scoops and the lemon curd and honeycomb scoops were divine). Day 3 started with skipping skool (with my affectionately nick-named “boss”) to go to the Salamanca Markets where there is a fabulous array of local distillers, some wineries, fabulous food and gorgeous product, where a little more than planned was spent but one does need a memento of one’s learning experiences….

A visit was had to Narryna, the Merchant’s House. $10 sees a self guided tour through this beautiful building which had many identities. Charles Dickens has a connection through one of the convicts on whom it is thought The Artful Dodger in Oliver Twist is based – might just have to read up on that some more. The front rooms v back rooms is alive and well here as is the convict quarters at the back of the house away from the family. The property was originally 2 acres stretching down to the water, which was lower at that time. It is not so much land now but retains a lovely market garden and the stables have become an event space. The gardens are simply beautiful, a quiet space for reflection and contemplation.

Having sated the curiosity as to this property, it was time to mooch on down to Jackman & McRoss for a pork sage and apple sausage roll which was a meal in itself. Walking back through the markets, I studiously avoid a jewellery shop which has lovely unconventional wares. I arrive back at the conference to finish the learning day listening to a small part on sexual dysphoria and then child protection and family law.

After the days of learning, it is time to debrief with my now face to name colleagues then back to my wonderful space to ready for the return home, do the washing and drying, pack, sort and wonder why I bought what I did and then consider there could have been more, before sitting down to write some blogs, talk with my partner in life and read some more about the Hangman of the settlement Solomon Blay. It is an interesting book and easy to read so far. Of the books I have bought, all 3 on this trip are convict related. I am nearly finished one of the books I bought last trip in April, with some still to read and I have started and finished reading another during this trip. It has been a wonderful time of reading, contemplating and learning, minimal imbibing this time yet also walking, exploring and partaking.

If there are photos from Sunday, and I haven’t updated this blog, they from Battery Point – a walk before boarding the bus to the airport for the plane home. Thank you Hobart, you have been gracious and kind and you have grown on me. I suspect I will be back to Tasmania, there will be reasons (not excuses) to come back again and continue to enjoy your kindness and hospitality.  

What do you think?

%d bloggers like this: