Sydney South Christmas Zone Conference

You all have to realize that missionaries do some really silly things. One of those things is eating TimTams by sucking milk through them. TimTams are a favorite Australian biscuit or cookie that comes in different flavors. Basically it is a cookie covered with milk chocolate with a filling of either caramel, mint, chocolate, etc. Some senior missionaries have been known to take suitcases full of TimTams home with them. Not this senior couple!

The elder on the right had a TimTam eating contest for his talent. The elder on the left is one of the assistants to President McMaster. Note how they suck the milk up through the TimTam.
Eating TimTams

Aussie 12 Days of Christmas

On the Twelfth day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me,
Twelve possums playing,
Eleven lizards leaping,
Ten wombats washing,
Nine crocs a-snoozing?
Eight dingos dancing,
Seven emus laying,
Six sharks a=surfing,
Five kangaroos,
Four lyrebirds,
Three wet galahs,
Two snakes on skiis,
And a kookaburra in a gum tree.
Aussie Elders sing Aussie version of 12 Days of Christmas.

AUSSIE JINGLE BELLS

Dashing through the bush
In a rusty Holden Ute
Kicking up the dust
Esky in the boot
Kelpie by my side
Singing Christmas songs
It’s summer time and I am in
My singlet, shorts and thongs.

CHORUS:
OH, JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE BELLS
JINGLE ALL THE WAY
CHRISTMAS IN AUSTRALIA
ON A SCORCHING SUMMER’S DAY
JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE BELLS
CHRISTMAS TIME IS BEAUT
OH WHAT FUN IT IS TO RIDE
IN A RUSTY HOLDEN UTE.

Engine’s getting hot
Dodge the kangaroos
Swaggy climbs aboard
He is welcome too
All the family is there
Sitting by the pool
Christmas day, the Aussie way
By the barbeque.

CHORUS

Come the afternoon
Grandpa has a doze
The kids and Uncle Bruce
Are swimming in their clothes
The time comes round to go
We take a family snap
Then pack the car all shoot through
Before the washing up.

CHORUS
Aussie Elders sing Aussie version of Jingle Bells.

Sydney South Mission Christmas Zone Conference

The first Zone Conference was held in Mortdale. We both forgot our cameras. These pictures were taken at the second Zone Conference in Cambelltown. They have a big, beautiful stake center, just like our stake center in Round Rock, same plan.
The main meal was chicken quarteres, baked white and sweet potatoes, corn, carrots, rolls and salads.
Pavlova - a very sweet, delicious Australian dessert served at Christmas time. It is made of a meringue shell with whipped cream in the center, decorated with fresh fruit.
Passion fruit cake, chocolate cake filled with whipped cream, brownies and fresh strawberriey, more chocolate cake with cream, fresh fruit. The man walking toward the camera is the President Tupuo, the Stake President. He runs a catering company and they did the desserts.
Brownies and fresh strawberries. Creme filled cakes.
Trifle - layers of custard, gelatin, fresh fruits, creme.
Creme filled chocolate cake next to the fresh fruit display.

Sea Cliff Bridge

On Sunday 30 November we took a Sunday afternoon drive through the Royal National Park and then on the Sea Cliff Bridge. These pictures were shot as we walked across the bridge and enjoyed the warm, sunny weather with no flies. The color of the ocean was beautiful and the sky was almost cloudless.
View of bridge from top of hill.
Sea Cliff Bridge
Elizabeth on Sea Cliff Bridge.
Sea Cliff Bridge.
Sea Cliff Bridge going towards Sydney.
Rocky beach below the bridge.
Rocky shoreline, bridge
More rocky beach.
Note designs in rock.