2nd February 2002

Have we got a travel tales for you this time!!!!!

After a terrific New Years Eve, which signalled finally, the year that Campfires Against Cancer would commence, it was time to prepare for our reconnaissance trip to Goondiwindi and back. I arrived at Bears place in Tooma at 7:00pm (Approximately 8 hours late !) and from there we drove further into the Snowies to Jindabyne to pick up John Williams for the trip. John's role is to cater for people wanting to make a holiday out of the trek. He will run a horse operation alongside our own ride for riders who want their horses, feed, and gear catered for. Of course riders are still welcome to join us at $50 per day (donated to The Cancer Council), BYO everything - including horses.

The three of us have appeared in too many papers and on too many radio stations to mention but the main interview that stands out was the one with seasoned personality Colin Munro on the Australia All Over program on the ABC. Colin is also an Ambassador for The Year Of the Outback 2002, and was the chief judge at the Toyota Starmaker competition at Tamworth.

The trip was a long and hard one with little or no playtime. We marked out all the travelling Stock Reserves (TSR's) from Albury to Goondiwindi, and along the way at each town we spoke to Councils; Rural Land protection Boards; TV, Radio, and papers; Stock and Station Agents; Tourist Info's; Pubs and Clubs for functions; and anybody else we could think of that may be of help.

We first arrived at Tamworth on the way through to the Queensland border, and stayed with friends Bruce and Nancy Hymen. Bruce and Nancy live only 4 kilometers out of Tamworth on a thousand-acre property. Bruce's father Major Eric Hymen DSO was an officer in the legendary charge of the Australian Lighthorse at Beersheba, and was highly decorated for his gallantry. Bruce himself served in the second World War.

Upon returning to Tamworth we had the great pleasure of speaking with several celebrities. We spoke to legend comedian and singer Chad Morgan firstly, who put on a great show for us, and after taking Chad's details we will be asking him to do a show for us while we are in Queensland somewhere. This year marked Chad’s 50th year recording, he is truly an Australian Legend.

Travis Sinclair is an up and coming country star and has just released his first album. I bumped into Travis in a photo shop in Tamworth. I asked him if the friend he was with was his 'old man'.

It was actually the hugely accomplished producer Garth Porter who has worked very closely with Trav, Lee Kernaghan, and other stars. Talk about opening your mouth to change feet! After my initial embarrassment, I snatched a disposable camera off the shelf to take advantage of the opportune moment to get a photo of Garth for the travel tales section. After getting one of the staff ladies to take a photo, Garth asked me if the photo I had taken would come out with fish across it. I looked down at the camera and realised that of all the camera's I could have chosen I picked the underwater one - it was a very funny first meeting. I was lucky enough to meet with Garth again a couple of days later and get another photo (right). Garth is going to try and organise a Campfires Against Cancer CD with all of the stars laying down a track - very exciting stuff!

Darren Coggen, Starmaker winner; Golden Guitarist winner; and performer in the Happy Days and Grease musicals, is also on board to help out with our project. Not to mention Starmaker finalist Korey Livy. Korey is married to Nicole, the sister of Ian's mate Duane Boswell who died of cancer, so it is great to have Korey involved.

I am yet to meet a Kernaghan I don't like, and after catching up with Tania again after quite a while it just emphasised what I think about them. They are terrific people. Tania is catching up with us at some stage of the ride and will probably be riding out of Darwin with us. I was a bit disappointed that Lee wasn't in Tamworth while I was there, but the prospect of having Tania kick off the ride in Darwin and Lee to be doing the big concert to finish it, is a nice sentimental touch as the Kernaghans are family friends There will be some big things happening with 'Campfires' at Tamworth next year and I can't wait !

On Australia day weekend Ian, Col, Bruce, Dale, Bec, and myself attended the Corowa Australia Day parade. There were approximately 22,000 people in attendance and it was certainly one to remember. There is no prouder moment than carrying the Australian Flag in a parade on our nations proudest day

See you again in a month.
Best Wishes
Danny Phegan
Campfires Against Cancer Inc